there is no mention made as when I leave this seruple to be Judg'd by men And will according to Gods word proceed To what he has Created or decreed Behold the formless Earth confus'd and void Its matter and formation now enjoy'd This time the darkness that did vail the face Of the great Abbisse found its proper place Which deep no doubt the waters were whereon Gods breathing Spirit had his motion His Spirit on these waters surface mov'd By which the watry Element was prov'd And made productive that therein might breed Those various Broods for aye should thence proceed This Element does not alone produce Supply for food but is it self of use To heal Diseases this will do beside Since by Gods Holy Spirit qualifi'd Note those effusions that from hence do flow And those extractions God gave men to know From Chimick misteries in things below But to return to what should follow next Let 's take a view of what lies in the Text 'T is not amiss to look a little back The Text implies of light there is a lack And God who did Eternally foresee The need of light commands that Lamp to be Who in this manner said let there be light And it appear'd in presence of his sight It seems that God no sooner this had said But lightimme diately his voice obey'd Such was the ruling power of his word That every thing could but obey the Lord And with his pleasure presently accord God saw the light that it was good and he From darkness made the light divined be Which light he called day it 's glorious sight Render'd the darkness to be named night By this time light and darkness both display The Evening and the Morn of the first day One act is acted God leaves this aside Nights Curtain draws the Terrene stage to hide A Scene of the Second Days Creation AGain God said whose pleasure did invent 'Twixt Heaven and Earth a fixed Firmament Amid'st the waters or betwixt them let The Firmament my word has fram'd be set And to regard command we find the skie Render submission to his potencie To shew subjection gains sublimity Thereby exalted unto that degree The highest thing that mortal eye can see Wich firmament created was apply'd The waters from the waters to divide That is by its attraction do's retain The Clouds sometimes permits them not to rain Upon these lower springs which would increase Our floods too great but as its greatness cease And thus we find the showers congeal'd to Snow Or unto Hail not long prevail below God having made this sirmamentall frame Above it waters were beneath the same Likewise were waters as God had decreed At the Creation and 't was so indeed The water that 's above the firmament Is mixt with fire sometimes in its descent When thus 't is seen the Heavens seem to shake Their voice of thunder makes the Earth to quake Till consternation mankind over take Thus Water seems for to wage war with Fire While trembling mortals at their sound admire The noise so loud as if design'd to rent In sunder the Caelestial Firmament Which firmament admits an other Name And that is Heaven thus God calls the same What I have said with Scriptures will accord Which Oracles most magnifie the Lord And thus I have endeavour'd to explain What on the Second day God did ordain Until the Evening from the Morning Tide Clos'd up the day and drew this Scene aside A Scene of the Third Days Creation NOw God was pleas'd who all things did design For his own Praise the waters to confine And gather these together to one place Which by appointment in a little space Effected was and at the Lords command Immediately appeared the dry Land To this dry Land God did ordain a Name The which is Earth from its Terrestial frame To th'gathering of the waters he did please As he knew fit to give the Name of Seas Which deluge rage his power did since appease So God himself saw that all this was good And pleased him as may be understood He gave command that Earth should bring forth grass At whose command the Earth brought it to pass All things obeying him who had decreed From evermore the Herb to yeild its seed The Fruit Tree to yeild Fruit each in his kind To the fulfilling of his will Inclin'd Whose Seeds in these remain and have their birth In them to propogate upon the Earth This barren Earth thus Fruitful now became Through their supply replenishing the same And since thus fertile every thing is found According to his kind in 't to abound It brings forth grass to satisfie the need Of what God should Create on Earth to breed That is all Creatures which threon should feed Thus bounteously did God give every thing It s proper species that from Earth do's spring Likewise the Herb did render of its Seed And so the Tree according as decreed And this was good in God Almighties eye When he reviewed all things with their supply These are the works of God and safely may Be said t' have been Created the third day And now the Morning and the Eve restore This days Perfection as the dayes before Thus wise this Scene seems to dismiss our sight Vail'd by the sable Curtain of the night A Scene of the Fourth Days Creation AGain God pleas'd to dictate thus and said Let there be lights and lights themselves displaid Which lights fixation in the firmament Of Heaven was design'd for this event The separation of the day from night Or if you please the darkness from the light And these were constituted by decree For signs for Seasons Dayes and Years to be These Luminaries God was pleas'd to fet In the Caelestial firmament and let Them render brightness on the Earth and be Light to all things God should Create to see For nothing more can satisfie the sight Than from the darkness to distinguish light And to behold its glory when most bright When to Create the light our God enclin'd Some passages observable I find This for a Truth methinks I might relate God did command and his command Create He never did command the least of things But presently from him its fountain springs Immediately from nothing some thing brings This Author of the Great Creation he Made two great lights and makes them rulers be To Rule the Day appoints the greater Light Commands the lesser for to Rule the Night Thus having made the Sun and Moon now he Proceeds to make the Starrs which in degree Exceed each other as in Influence So in proportion there 's a difference Who reads the Scriptures Astrologick story Will find them likewise differ in their glory In his Caelestiall Orbe the God of might Did fix these shining Lamps on Earth to Light Which Lights God gave unto a power to sway Not only o're the Night but o're the Day And to divide the Darkness from the Light Which thing was good in the Almighties sight
admire thy Nature and thy Name Thy Nature for its Sanctity so bright Thy Name as the Immortal God of Might So Wonderful thou art who can display What is the Lord should he require a day Well may'st thou be most wondrous unto me That didst him puzzle who required Three * Symonides desired three days to consider what God was but could not find out his perfection Symonides his Tongue was ty'd by thee This I foresee and this thou hast foreshown Hereafter Man shall know thee as Man 's known I know thee but in part the which therefore Makes me ambitious for to know thee more The more I know thee more I do admire Yet in admiring more I still desire Till Heaven makes my Knowledge more entire I lose my self in searching after thee Since Comprehensive thou art not to me O manifest thy self unto me more Hereafter then thou hast done heretofore That I may know thee as thou may'st be known Of those that do themselves thy Servants own I would Importune more but fear I should Who am a Worm be with my God too bold In being too familiar some thereby Create Contempt through familiarity Lo then my Muse let 's for a while be mute Admiting God in every Attribute As in his Wisdom Goodness Justice Might Love Mercy Meekness let us take delight And all he makes apparent to our sight In all Transactions still on him depend That neither had Beginning nor has end Whose Knowledge as he is Mans Thoughts transcend It is too high a Theme this God to know Essentially by Mortals here below Whom Angels do admire may men adore That ever liv'd and lives for evermore Know God essentially no Creature can Within this world that is a living man For God he is a Spirit and therefore In truth and Spirit men should him adore To know him as he is man is deny'd The sight 's too glorious till mans gloryfi'd Abraham's Isack's Jacob's God is he One undivided and in Persons Three The Father Son and Holy Ghost each one Of these Three Persons make but God alone The Essence is but one none can divide The Godhead where Three Persons do abide Though this mans Reason cannot comprehend To this belief man must his Faith extend Till death unvails this hidden mistery By mans translation to Eternity Mean while may men beware lest they should make An Idol God and the true God forsake Some things there are ador'd as Gods the same Bear no relation to God save the name Therefore to worship such is sin and shame Though there be Idol Gods the God of might From Heathen Gods I thus declare the right God is my God and God my God shall be No God but God the God of Gods is he Three Persons in one Godhead that agree Of the Consubstantiality of the Trinity of Persons in the Vnity of the Divine Essence These Trinity of Persons be For Nature Co-essential Co-equal each for Dignity For Time they 're Co-eternal The Father's God the Son is God The Holy Ghost likewise Is not a person that is odd But both these equalise To Father Son and Holy Ghost The Godhead appertains Who 's Lord of the Caelestiall Host Eternal that remains SUBJECT II. Of the Incomprehensible Eternity There is no Subject save our God so high To treat upon as is ETERNITY Observation I. WHat head what heart what tongue of mortal man Imagine apprehend or utter can The meainng of this word Eternity In it 's extensive latitude that prie What it imply's not one aright can tell Unless he were in Heaven or in Hell Observation II. Some things there are whereby it is descry'd As though by these it should be signifi'd But few comparisons that can descry It 's boundless bottomless profoundity When these cannot be Fathom'd I declare It is superlative and not t'compare Observation III. Some in their shadows of Eternity Present a wheel the same to signify This signature is endless and therefore Do's represent Eternity the more It 's being endless like a wheel or Ring Pourtrays Eternity some wheeling thing Observation IIII. By wheels and Rings the Antients did of Old Eternity as endless then behold All things Orbicular in their esteem Like to Eternity it self did seem They thought of it when they themselves turn'd round And by their making Circles on the ground Observation V. These Metaphors are helps to signifie The things that be obscure to mortal eye But not the things as in themselves they are What 's signifi'd by signs are not t'compare For Instance when mans Pictures drawn by Art Though 't is mans Picture cannot act mans part Observation VI. No Sphere nor Globe nor round Circumference Can represent the magnitude Immense Of boundless bottomless Eternity For aye continuing in its constancy Without all doubt there is no emblem fit Whereby resemblance may be made to it Observation VII Of all the temporal things mine eyes have view'd I Have not seen its true similitude Some to describe it did proceed thus far That it resembles what 's Orbicular If to their thoughts herein we condescend The Reason is because it has no end Observation VIII Circles and Rings Sphears Globes the Sun and Moon Eternity foreshews like night the noon The night so gloomy that it vails our sight The noon so glorious by Meridian light Thus what 's Eternity not one can tell On this side Heaven nor on this side Hell Observation IX Number the Sands that on the shoar do lie The Grass o' th Fields or Stars i' th Azure skie All creeping flying and all swimming things All Gravel Stones and all the watry springs As these mans apprehension do excell So what 's Eternity no man can tell Observation X. Yet some resemblance thus to it is made As if we meant the Sunshine by the shade Or like a thing hid by some noted mark That 's seen by day but groap'd for in the dark By glimering light somtimes we chance t' espy The duskish shadows of Eternity Observation XI * Eternity considered in Hell is a night of Sorrow And such a night as never knows a morrow This side the grave what mortals Estimation Admits of it's nocturnal Termination Let him conjecture it in Hell remaining For evermore remain without refraining Observation XII * Eternity confidered in Heaven Eternity is such a day of Pleasure As everlasting and immense for measure Such endless joy and such surpassing glory As farr transcends the reach of humane story Of which these Characters may well be given If but considered as it is in Heaven Observation XIII * Eternity considered both in Heaven and in Hell Eternity is sorrow dread and sadness Eternity again is joy and gladness In Hell 't is grief 't is horror and damnation In Heaven glory Honour and Salvation And thus you see by this my breviate story 'T is Hells dishonour and 't is Heaven's glory Observation XIII No mortal man can in his heart or brain The meaning of
Eternity contain So great will be mans weal so great mans wo None ever did or shall on Earth it know Exceeding mind surpassing memory Transcending reason is Eternity Observation XV. What metaphor or figure can be found Whereby Eternity for to expound Save Sun and Moon Globes Circles Sphears and Rings Lustres Olimpaids Jubile's which things Are all uncertain that none can descry By transcient things what is Eternity Observation XVI Eternity does evermore abide And there are no Eternities beside For were there more Eternities to be Time with Eternity would thus agree Beginning and of end it would admit But it is only one that 's Infinit Observation XVII Thus much is said and now I know no more To say unless what I have said before Of this Grand Subject which secludes mans heart Deluding Humane Reason Wit and Art To search its nature where confusion's found Impossibilities so much abound Observation XVIII Eternity some knowledge now I have Of thee thou dos't reside beyond the grave Thou art not to be found this side the same Thy natur'es there although we have thy name Thou art mens Portion they must thee possess Beyond the grave in wo or happiness Observation XIX Terrour thou art to some to others joy Aud thus thou canst both comfort and annoy Because thou dost for ever more abide Where sorrow and where solace is beside Where sorrow is thou dost augment the grief And that is Hell from whence is no relief Observation XX. Of vast Eternity I this can tell What thing it is not that I know full well But what it is my Reason do's extend It s boundless limits do my thoughts transcend Though 't is resembled oft to this or that It s true resemblance is I know not what SUBJECT III. Of Time and Death with the Vncertanty And the Certanty of them both Both Death and Time are certain things to be Yet make my life uncertain unto me WHen God began all Creatures to Create The space of Time did these Anticipate Or else God could not properly begin For to Create had no beginning been And this beginning was the very prime Or first production of the space of time This modicum of Minutes Hours and Dayes God made for to perpetuate his praise And for the greatest Creation he requir'd But six dayes space the more to be admir'd Accomplishing what things himself thought best In these Six dayes the Seventh day to Rest Time is an Infinite thing for time began Not long to be e're God Created man And has a termination to decay With man again at Gods great Judgements day Without permission to endure for aye Time is that space or circumstance wherein Angels and men acquaintance got with sin 'T was in this space both Heav'n and Earth did err That Adam fell and lofty Lucifer All good and evil acted is in Time Which will diminish or increase mans Crime This time although a pittance or a span Yet 't is a mercy lent to mortal man When man in Time against God did rebel He might have turn'd Man from Time to Hell But God who did Eternally decree The great Messiah of mankind to be Forbore this rigour and exalted Man The universal Metropolitan And gave man means whereby he might repent And through Repentance to be Innocent Thus for this end this interim of time Enjoyes fall'n man to make him more sublem But so uncertain's Time not one can say With safety he shall see another day Time steals away and takes its flight with speed Of transient Time may Mortals take more heed It is a Thought a Shadow and a Dream A Bubble that soon glides along the Stream So short is Time its length is but a Span And yet of greatest consequence to Man God oft sollicits man Time to redeem As if Time precious were in Gods esteem From which we might derive this inference Time is regain'd by double diligence That is by taking care and minding more The things of God hereafter then before He that does thus no doubt but every crime By him committed perish with his Time And when the Term of Time Man thus expires Eternity compleats all his desires What 's Time but Finite and do's soon decay As when the Sunshine drives the shade away With some declining thing I might it stile To be and yet is not within a while Minntes and Hours Dayes Weeks Months Years It spends it self and yet has not to spare declare And when it 's fully spent no more appears This season to supply the place of years Methinks the true description of Time is A circumstance in a Parenthesis It seems to be beset as in this kind Eternity before it and behind And yet the stile remaining still the same Eternity nor Time will bear the Name * God Created some things in the space of time which shall in duration exceed some other things though from all Eternity Though God in Time did every thing Create Some things with Time shall never terminate As Angels and Mens Souls these shall exceed What God from all Eternity decreed Some things God did before Times space ordain Which after Time were never to remain There were decrees e're time which did relate To man in Time with Time to terminate For instance God appointed Christ to be Mans great Messiah by Divine Decree For sin to suffer on a Cursed Tree His merits may be pleaded during Time But afterwards they expiate no crime Marriage ordain'd has been e're Time began But there 's no Marriage after Time for man And thus I prove some things to be decreed Eternally yet shall not Time exceed * Some things there are that have neither beginning nor ending as God himself Again some things there are and these admit Of no beginning nor of end to wit As God himself Eternally to name From everlasting evermore the same Eternity it self is God alone He no beginning had nor end has none And hence we learn time's temporality Bears no proportion to Eternity But is so short a space describ'd to man Its Longitude and Latitude a span And this small Circumstance of Time has bin The stage of mans transactions and mans sin And will be while that mortals do traverse The great Theatre of this Universe By wilful Sports and Comick Tragedies Or other mischiefs which from sin arise Until the final fatal overthrow By Death and Time of mankind here below Death is uncertain and 't is sure no doubt Times torch-light wasts and quickly will be out Both Death and Time unconstant are to men In every Circumstance how where or when That still at unawares men are bereav'd Of life and so by Time and Death deceiv'd * Death varies oft and is full of uncertanties As for example he that is but Young So surely dyes as he that lived long And thus we see mortality presage Our Infancy Youth Manhood and old Age. Somtimes our sinful Lives we do expire In floods of waters or in flames
God from whom they spring And on whom they depend XII Created beings rational Nay sensible as Brutes And Vegetables likewise shall Display Gods Attributes XIII Behold his Wisdom in their frame His Power to appear In the Enlivening of the same His Providence them chear XIV Man Beast Fish Fowl and every thing Created does explain Its species sprang from such a Spring None could but God ordain XV. * God is the efficient cause of all causes The efficient Cause of all Effects Is God and only He In either of these two respects Creation or Decree XVI Ascribe le ts not to Nature what Do's properly belong Unto the God of Nature that Were a Blasphemous wrong XVII * Nature is a Second cause For Nature is no otherwise Than as an Officer A Second cause which does arise From God the cause of her XVIII And hence we are Informed then No Science Skill nor Art Nor Nature wond'rous were to Men Should God not Act his part XIX For God first moves and whithout doubt Gives motion to the rest He brings in order things about Although by these exprest XX. Though Nature Science Art and Skill Occasion mens applause More these admire than God do ill Who 's their primordial causes XXI Nay let men but conjecture this 'T is God that gives man wit For to accomplish and not miss What else he could not hit XXII Unless it be when as that Man Do's project and do's Plod With all the cunning Plots he can Regardless of his God XXIII This is not wisdom which derives From God where goodness dwell 'T is madness which the Devil drives Within Mans heart from Hell XXIV There are which be reputed wise But in mischevious Acts Such as in falshood excercise Themselves or such like facts XXV As for the wisdom from above 'T is sacred and secure ' Its relatvies are Grace and Love So peaceable so pure XXVI But all the wisdom from below Absurd to God dos seem And those that know it most do know The least in Gods esteem XXVII 'T is Pious prudence Elevates Mans mind when seriously He Gods Creation contemplates For his complacency XXVIII He gains both knowledge and delight That ponders oft upon The objects which delight mans sight Of Gods Creation XXIX Behold the Earth the Sea the Sky The Rivulets that run From Sea to Sea continually Keep course like to the Sun XXX As swift as do the Rivers glide So swift the Sun and Moon In motion are for Time and Tide These slip away so soon XXXI God made the Sun the Lamp of day To render mortals light The Moon a Lanthorn to allay The dimness of the night XXXII The darkness and the light do seem To God as if the same The night is bright in his esteem That both of these did frame XXXIII The luminaries of the Skie Those sparkling Stars so bright Display on Earth although so high Their Influence and light XXXIIII Such influence from Stars derive Astrologers do hold As governs every one alive Poor Rich or Young or Old XXXV * If the Stars Govern men yet God Geverns the Stars Suppose that Stars do thus Rule men And over them bear sway God Rules the Stars he 's Ruler then Whom Stars and men obey XXXVI The which do's plainly intimate The Rule and Government Of every Creature to relate To God Omnipotent XXXVII And this may serve for to convince * The opinion of the Atheist and the confutation thereof The Atheist who maintains The world to make it self long since By chance and so remains XXXVIII If thus 't was chance that did inform Just Noah to prepare An Ark to Lanch the delluge storm Himself and his to spare XXXIX But otherwise 't is understood God Noah gave command To build an Ark and float the Flood Which should surmount the Land XL. Then Noahs God not Atheist's chance Informed Noah's mind To build an Ark the same to Lanch With Creatures of all kind XLI It is an Odium to relate What Atheists have reveal'd As how did chance the world Create Of Atoms small congeal'd XLII And since that chance has took the pains To frame so large a space They have a course which now remains For to supply Chance place XLIII Thus are they grown so politick Not God in Heaven does dwell The Devil by some cunning trick They would deprive of Hell XLIV Now course is made for to succeed What chance afore did frame All comes by course they have agreed To nullifie Gods Name XLV Denying both and Attribute To chance what does belong To God that all did constitute Whom Atheists should not wrong XLVI Of things seen and unseen the cause Jehovah is indeed All for his Pleasure and applause Were made and not for need XLVII God never stood in need of one Created Creature he God all sufficient was alone E're one was made to be XLVIII One Cubit to his stature add No Creature is that can When as it is not to be had From Angel nor from Man XLIX For both these Creatures did excel All others in degree None but these Twain were made to dwell With God like God to be L. But not like God in every thing For he did both Create That the Creator might be King Of Angels and Mens state SUBJECT V. The Model of the Mravelous Creation To wit the Heaven and the Earth And all the Host of them with their Accomplishments in the space of Six Dayes THE PROLOGUE All things that are of nothing God did frame In Six Dayes space to magnifie his Name Save him no Actor ne're could Act the same A Scene of the First Days Creation I Thus might speak and think it proves no crime Eternity conceiv'd and brought forth time Time now appears a space which was decreed By God himself all living things to breed Thus God alone from all Eternity Design'd a time and what should time supply E're time began there was no form nor place But a confused Chaos was the Case Of Heaven and Earth until by Gods decree Their true Materialls should Created be And these compriz'd for to enlarge his praise Within the bounds and limits of six dayes When God determin'd this he did begin To frame the Heav'ns what he pleas'd therein * Rreason allow's the Creation of Angels to be on the first day By consequence the Heavens to possess Now Angels fram'd gave them this happiness We have no witness neither can we say They of a Truth Created were this day But yet we may assurely this scan They had Creation e're God formed man Pardon me Reader if herein I erre E're Adam was a Hell found Lucifer And by this Plea we seem to intimate That Hell was one thing God did first Create * It may be supposed that Hell was Created the First Day Heaven was First did First gainst God Rebel And this Implies the Second fram'd was Hell To damn those Angels which from Heaven fell But since
And thus the Evening and the Morn again Compleats that work the Fourth Day did explain And now this Scene so splendid and so bright God drew behind the Curtain of the Night A Scene of the Fifth Days Creation GOd spake whose words the Thunder do's out-vie Let th' waters now bring forth aboudantly The moving Creatures that have life to move And Fowl which may take flight and soar above The Globe of Earth in the ope firmament Of Heaven as the place of their Assent With these great Whales Created God and all Live Creatures that have motion great and small Which by the waters were abundantly After their kind brought forth to multiply And every winged Fowl in his own kind Obey'd his Maker sought to please his mind Wherefore he every Creature had design'd When he renew'd his works we find that he Affirmed the sight was good which he did see By reason good we find him recommend To them his blessings which did then descend Upon these Creatures unto which said he Replenish Multiply and Fruitful be With plenteousness the waters of the Seas Ye Fishes fill and on the Earth increase Ye winged Fowls that for a full supply Your species may produce most plentiously At your Creation this was my intent Then gender in your liquid Element Be still increasing to a greater store You had Creation to supply the shore Thus to be Fruitful seems to intimate That Creature Man whom God was to Create The Inhabitants of the great Ocean God did Create to serve the Creature man Without dispute 't was only for Mans use He caus'd the Seas so flush Fish to produce In these productions aid the God of might Rejoyce they were his raptures of delight Deriving from his Wisdom and his Might The Evening and the Morning now display The Sun of Gods Creation the Fifth Day This Evenings darkness dims its Mornings dawn And thus the Curtain o're the Scene is drawn A Scene of the Sixth Days Creation THe great commander speaks and constitutes The Earth for to bring forth all living Brutes Each one according to his species and The groveling thing that creepeth on the Land The Beast of the Earth and Cattel he confin'd To be brought forth according to their kind And so it was which words do here attest The verity of what God hath exprest Again we find by powerful command The Beasts the Cattel what creeps on the Land Each after his own kind he made and lo All this was good for God did find it so Which Epithete he us'd his mind to show He gave the word once more and spake it thus As in Plurality sayes God let us * Man was made the Image of God Make man according to our Image he After our likeness shall Created be And let them have Dominion where I find The Plurall Number note what God design'd E're this Dominion was conferr'd on Man Over the Fish in the great Ocean Or o're the Fowl i' th Air or had command O're Cattel or what creeps upon the Land We find the blessed Trinity consult Here Mans Creation what could the result Of this so wise a consultation be But to make Man next Angels in degree Thus in his likeness God Created Man Both Male and Female Metropolitan And Universal Potentate to Reign O're all in Earth in Air or in the Main To whom his Blessing he did not deny That they should Fruitful be and multiply Replenish all the Earth herein be abound That plenteousness in it for Man found The which unto Gods Glory should redound Again to speak we find the Lord began And say behold unto this formed Man I give you every Herb that beareth seed Which on the surface of the Earth do breed Likewise the Fruit of every seeding Tree To you for meat appoint I it to be To every Beast of th' Earth each Fowl that flies Up in the Air beneath the lofty skies To every thing that on the Earth doth crawl Wherein is life are given even all Green Herbs and these to be their proper meat For them to feed themselves therewith and eat So God looks back on every thing which he Created and of nothing made to be And when he these review'd he understood And said that all his works was very good Again the Evening and the Morn attest What God the Sixth day fram'd that he might rest * The Epilogue This Sixth and last Scene now I do present And hope herein spectators to content Expert the Actor is it was but Play With him to Act Creation every day Doubtless delightful this had been to view When every day God did this Play renew Six dayes the Lord his pleasure did ingage To Act Creation on Time's transient Stage God had a certain Scene for every day Or new additonals unto the Play Which was but his command and all obey Creation Recreation needs must be To him that had design'd it by decree But God to clear the Stage did not refrain To draw the Curtain o're the Scene again And thus the Evening darkness did allay The Morning Light and Lustre of the day Three persons Acting every Act I 've shown And yet no Act was Acted save by one SUBJECT VI. A Reflection on the wonderful Creation With the Formation of Adam and Eve Their happiness in the state of Inocency As also the Institution of Marriage This pleasant story plainly do's relate In Paradice how happy was Mans state THus were the Heav'ns the Earth compleated And all their Hosts in their right stations seated And on the Seventh day from the Creation God fix'd a Period and a termination Unto the Six dayes works and for a closure Upon the Seventh took his blest reposure From all the things that he before Created And from all Creatures which he animated Thus-wise the Heavens had their generation And thus the Earth when all had their Creation The very day when they of God were fram'd The Heavens and the Earth they then were nam'd Of him by these for ever shall be fam'd To every Plant God Planted in the Fields And every Herb its flower and Seed that yields He gave production that thereby might grow And appellation by which men all know Though when God planted these their growth was slow To nourish which his wisdom found away Whereby to moisten Earths obdurate clay Cause these to root afterwards to spring Their gendring Seeds and gay flowers forth to bring This means God us'd the Lord caus'd it to rain The which these Vegetables would sustain And make them to increase and grow amain But yet one thing most needful was not found And that was Man for to manure the ground Yet God Almighty would not form the same Without a liquid matter in his frame He from the Earth a mist made to ascend The which dssiolv'd in Dew and for this end The Superficies of the ground to wet That God the mould to make this man might get And now methinks we easily
that nakedness Was now my cloathing and no other dress * Adams excuse Therefore I from thy presence went to hide My self for fear thou should'st me smartly chide †God Who told thee Adam that thou naked-wast Didst eat the Fruit forbidden tell me hast The man repli'd again repli'd so large That with his sin he God himself did charge * Adam For thus unto the Lord his God said he The woman thou thy self didst give to me Gave me to tast thereof and I did eat The same in Innocence she was the cheat * God What hast thou done thus God his mind displaid Unto the woman and the woman said That Creature which the Serpent thou dost stile †Eve Gave me to eat and so did me beguile 'T was its Temptation did us both defile * None knew but God which was worst Adam Eve or the Serpent As for the Serpent God the same accurst None knew but God which of these three were worst The Serpent in beguiling or the twain By it beguil'd their maker to disdain However God did first his wrath display Upon the Serpent cause it did betray This man and woman to degenerate And thus relapse from this their happy state Gods curse upon the Serpent fell out so That on the Belly it should ever go And by the Lords appointment also must During its life each day eat of the dust Betwixt thee and the woman Enmity I 'l place sayes God for this thy Treachery * The Seed of the Woman should bruise the head of the Serpent And so betwixt your seed thus God did speak Such envy as the Serpents head may break For truth thou Serpent shalt this hatred seel To bruise thy head when thou dost bruise mans heel †The Womanmust conceive in sorrow God said unto the woman now will I Thy sorrow and conception multiply Henceforth with grief thou shalt thy children bear And of him that 's thy Husband stand in fear Though thy desire be towards him yet he Shall notwithstanding bear rule over thee Obedient to thy Husband thou shalt be Again to Adam his Creator said Because that my command was disobey'd By thee and thou dids't listen to the voice Of her that is thy wife and hast made choice To take and taste of the forbidden Tree The which even I my self commanded thee Thou shouldest not therefore the ground I make To be accurst for thy Rebellion sake In sorrow thou shalt eat thereof always And in laborious grief wear out thy days Thistles and Thorns these shall it bear to thee And th' Herb o' th field likewise thy food shall be * Adam must eat Bread in the sweat of his face till he returns to the ground For such O man is now thy wretched case Thou shalt eat Bread but with a sweaty face And thus to do by my command art bound Until thou do'st return unto the ground Earth is thy Origin thence taken wast Art dust shalt unto dust return at last Thus-wise was sinful Adam doom'd to die And in his loyns all his posterity Death to himself and his this was the all That Adam purchas'd by his wilful fall He made all Satans slaves to undergo The warth of God in misery and wo Destruction was the Portion of us all Had not the womans seed us freed from thrall He interposing did Gods wrath abate Reduc'd our cursed to a blessed state How we possess a better for a worse I leave until a following discourse And will fall back to Adams state till I First period his unhappy History Again this is observ'd in Adams life How he impos'd a name upon his wife His wife by name he did call Eve ' cause she The mother of all living was to be And unto Adam and his wife did God Make coats of skins with which they both were clad And to the Councel of his will speaks thus Behold the man 's become as one of us Both good and evil he doth understand And now least that he should put forth his hand To take from the Tree of life and taste Its fruit and live for ever God made hast To send him forth from Paradice to till The ground from whence he came for doing ill Thus-wise from Edens garden God exil'd Adam and Eve because by sin defil'd And at the East Edens pleasant land Caelestiall Cherubins he plac'd to stand Gave these a flaming Sword all times to sway The Tree of life defending every way Thus wretched Adam never could regain His Paradice but must exil'd remain SUBJECT VIII On the fall of Lucifer and the Apostate Angels Declare how Angels fell in brief I shall From Heavens bliss to Hell 's infernal thrall * on Lucifer CReated Creature what can I suppose Blew thy Ambition great as God to be Thy wise Creator thought it were to lose The orb Caelestiall which he fram'd for thee Unless thy Glory Puft thy fond conceat Greater to be though none but God so great II. In thy Creation thou did'st far excell All Creatures thy Creator did Create His goodness plac'd thee with himself to dwell In Heavens bliss this glorious happy state Was thy endowment where thou might'st remain For evermore did'st thou from pride abstain III. I wonder since such glory was enjoy'd By thee thou should'st ambitious be for more Thy avarice of glory made thee void Of that too much thou did'st enjoy before Which ornament of thy Angellick name God took away cloath'd thee with thy shame IV. What Lucifer could'st thou like no degree Save that comparative with God alone Wa' st not enough superlative to be Above all Creatures when like thee not one This did afford thy loftiness the ground Of arrogance and thereby thee confound V. * On Lucifer and his confederate Angels Thou Lucifer to wo did'st find a way For thy rebellion like witchcraft sin More Angels did delude and them betray To thy confusion and thy shame wherein Both thou and they for ever must remain Wailing and Howling in uncessant pain VI. Caelestiall Spirits what Infernall Ghosts Are ye become since Heaven you forsook The habitation of the Lord of Hosts With your disorder could not justly brook Ye sin'd against a Justice could not spare For your destruction Tophet to prepare VII When God Created Heaven he design'd The best of Creatures should the same possess Which Angels were of nature more refin'd Than Earthly Man as touching holiness But having freedom some of them have fell To bondage in the horrid place of Hell VIII I question not but the supernatural Realm Was fram'd of God as large as it had need For lack of Room he did not overwhelm From thence the Angels with so swift a speed To be all Gods through Pride they did aspire For which God made them Devils in his Iro IX * Their Ambition They aim'd for Heaven either all or none As Governours therein to rule and dwell They envi'd God who
stark naked to himself does seem Yet cloath'd with Righteousness in Gods esteem One of his worth and merit never brags But strips himself of his unrighteo us rags He makes himself as naked as was Job For Christ to cloath him with his righteous robe And thus you see the Christian man is one That would be righteous either all or none Although to this he has a willing heart He 's never righteous here but in part He on the one hand will himself deny Thereby his God the more to glorifie And on the other hand he will confess That Christ is all in all his righteousness One thinks him rich enough whilst he can plead His Saviours merits and that Christ was dead 1 The Christian his behaviour towards God The Christian man foresees it him be fit When God commands he should to God submiti Let God rebuke him then will he not faint Nor yet of his correction make complaint When vile temptations seek to do him wrong He sheilds himself with faith and so is strong He ever dreads he shall himself disgrace Thus to the Devil never will give place He Souldier like keep-Guard does watch pray In these is exercis'd both night and day Through Christ his merits still he recommends To God his Soul and God his Soul defends He alwayes trembles at the Almighties Rod Which makes him more religious towards God All his deportment does derive from grace Whose love and meekness mercy will embrace His duty towards God discern I can But what 's this Christians duty towards man 1 His deportment towards man His carriage towards man is just and true For he will render to all men their due He hates contention and the cause of strife Loves Peace and Friendship as he loves his life Of quietness he does so much approve He would have all things to be done in love He bears in mind no bitterness nor gall To none but pure affection towards all He is not willing Gods commands to break Therefore will use forbearance with the weak He honours others does himself debase Gives them the better keeps the worser place Of others sins by no means will partake But warily these and their guilt forsake And thus his carriage towards men you see In all respects is from offences free Yet some would know since that it may be known What 's his decorum to himself alone 1 His descency towards himself Truth to declare he does in very deed At all times to himself take care and heed Is alwayes sober and does duly watch That no temptations unawares him catch Since Christianiz'd he holds it fit that he His sins of Youth and Youthful lusts should flee Christ is his Captain Devils him despite With whom Faiths battel he 's ingag'd to fight Though Devils aim his strength and force to blast He questions not to overcome at last He 's found in Armour fears no stab nor scar During the manage of his holy War He knows this is well doing is not tir'd In hopes his warfare will be soon expir'd His youthfull Time he now seeks to redeem Which he found lost in his and Gods esteem With wickedness resolves he to contend Till God shall bring his life unto an end Which times he knows shall gain so great renown God will himself reward him with a Crown 2 His carriage towards the World His carriage to himself we saw would see What yet might to the world his carriage be Within the world he Circumspectly walks With whom herein converse's wisely talks He views the world which is by him forgot And seems to use it as if us'd it not Himself he fashions not nor will he frame Like to the world because he shun's the same Nor with the cares thereof will he like some That are unwise be likewise overcome Nor lay up treasure on the Earth where rust And moth corrupt mens riches unto dust Content he 's with the tallent God him gave For to maintain his life this side the grave He meddles with no business but his own For he would not a meddling Fool be known During his life in this world all his care Is how for life Eternal to prepare To God to Man himself the world thus I In brief have writ the Christians History Which may all ever practice till they die SUBJECT XI A Discovery of the Faithful and devout Christians Quality and Conversation A Christian by belief those things obtains Promis'd in Time and after Time remains DEad was this man that 's now alive His death from Adam did derive In Adams sin he lay as dead Till Christ awak'd his drowsy head No sooner did this man awake But presently he does forsake His bed of sin wherein he lay And to the Temple goes to pray 1 The Christian resembles the Publican The gesture of the Christian man Is like that of the Publican Who thinks himself to be so base Not worthy there of the worst place He villisies himself that he The chief of sinners thinks to be And seriously will it confess Christ is alone his Righteousness He 's meek in Spirit and is Poor Therefore will pray hard by the door T' approach the Altar fears affront Till he does pennance at the Font. There falling down upon his knee O Lord be merciful to me A sinner prayes 't is not deny'd And by this prayer is Justifi'd Now since his Maker made him just In his Redeemer put 's his trust To whom he bears an upright heart Till death his Soul and body part He 's now alive and dead to sin When the dull world lies dead therein But he while living lives to God And fears his wrath to shun his rod. 1 He will not bring forth Fruit to himself He 'l not be found that fruitless Elf Like many one lives to himself By him shall Christ be glorifi'd To him will live for whom he dy'd 2 He hath content in every state In every state to be content He learn'd all dangers to prevent The Christian can for truth relate He has content in every state 3 He has nothing yet possesses all things He nothing has yet does possess All things because Christs Righteousness And should he not possess the same He all things else would nothing name He seems to sorrow and to joy Enjoys both comfort and annoy He 's like a Ship by waves that 's tost Somtimes all his Intents are crost He 's oft cast down like one forgot And yet we find him Perish not Sometimes to fall God gives him scope To rise again by Faith and Hope Likewise he seems for to decay Yet is renew'd that very day So that no man on Earth can know The Christian's state by outward show He 's poor but rich can many make That of his Councel will partake Whose Treasure 's there where is his bliss In Heaven's Kingdom not in this One that 's in darkness to our sight But in this darkness find's
most too blame Then shun we pride because a shamefull evil That hath its derivation from the Devil So base a thing is pride wise men it know T' have brought the proud to want from want to wo. A Spiritual Hymn to the praise of God who is Omnipotent Omniscient and Omnipresent Lord frame my tongue To sing a Song O Could I sing To Sions King A Song that would him please No doubt but he Would pity me And my griev'd heart soon ease Teach Lord my King My tongue to sing To God alone Besides him none I 'le make my moan that he May mercy take For his Sons sake On such a wretch as me I would thee praise My God alwayes I am defil'd Sin me beguil'd So wretched is my case Since Adams fall That I and all Gods Image did deface May I begin Lord to hate Sin God did Create Man in a state Of blessedness at first In Edens land Plac'd him to stand Where he became accurst O Lord do thee From sin me free In Paradice Did Satan tice Man to transgress Gods Laws Forbidden fruit There like a Brute Accepts his sin 's the cause Lord from the Devil Sprang all evil Man did rebell Deserved Hell But God to help mans need Procur'd a Friend Should man defend Of Adams womans seed Gods love descends Christ makes amends O! here is news Let none refuse The message that is sent Mans Saviour's found May praise redound To God Omnipotent God from above Shew'd men his love Messiah blest Gave man kind rest By restless agonies Man to restore Gods wrath Christ bore And on a Cross he dies Christ on the Cross Repair'd our loss Joy to all men Abounded when Their Saviour Christ was born The Angels prais'd Their God that rais'd A King whose Crown was thorn An Angels voice Made th' Earth rejoyce Glory above And on Earth love This Song did Angels sing With one accord Unto the Lord And Christ their new born King Glad tidings came With Christ his name Christ dy'd for those That were his foes This was exceeding love Which far excells All paralells Men in compassion move For 's foes Christ dy'd None so beside God him commends That loves his friends And with his friends his foes Though such as he may chance to be Not many are of those Man will deny For 's Friend to die Man for some end Affects his friend This I have seen most plain His love is set In hopes to get Some benefit or gain Save God above Few have true love Love is a cheat Or meer deceat As now a dayes 't is us'd This but in part 's lodg'd in the hear Which makes it thus confus'd Love oft-times skips From heart to lips Gods seeing eye 's ubiquity And his omiscience can know by his might And present sight The Inward thoughts of man God mans intent Knows and how bent Thrice blessed then Be God of men O Praised be his name For evermore Let 's him adore That sees and knows our frame Amen say I Eternally Divine Ejaculations or Pious breathings O Lord prepare my Soul to seek Thy self and make my Spirit meek O Thou preserver of mankind May through thy grace my heart Will Conscience Spirit Soul and mind From what 's impure depart Lord cleanse my heart and make it thine Then without doubt thou wilt be mine O rectifie each faculty That to my Soul pertains And every member bodily Redress from sinful stains O shew some token Lord on me That I am wash'd from sin by the. That in thy sight as Innocent And sinless I appear Possessing mercy to prevent The Judgement drawing near My Soul being freed from sin I say Will make me joy at Judgement day Because that then all works of men To Triall shall be brought As acted how and where and when Both good and bad they wrought All works I did Dooms-day shall try Lord pardon my iniquity There to receive their recompence And stipend of reward According as with Reverence To God they had regard If my good works out-poise my bad O this will make my conscience glad They that obediently did serve The Lord in Heaven shall dwell That disobediently did swerve From God shall go to Hell If that my evil works out-weigh My good I am undone for aye The significations of the word World in Scripture A formed world deform'd reform'd again I find a truth Scriptural proofs maintain Form'd first of God deform'd through Satan next Reform'd through Christ this tenet proves the text Form'd free from blame deform'd through shame sin Reform'd from faults as if they 'd never bin On the words Exploration Deploration Imploration Explore Deplore Implore these words contain Three certain grounds which proves the Christians gain First Exploration to search out his crimes Next deploration these bewail betimes Then Imploration to invoke or call On God for absolution from them all On the words Easeless Endless and Remediless Easeless and Endless and Remediless Are Hells amazing Torments to possess Easeless because no respite of the grief Endless in that no period for relief Remediless ' cause sinners would not turn From sin for which they chose for aye to burn On Faith Hope and Charity Faith Hope and Charity three Virtues are So transcendental none with these compare Faith flies to Heaven by Caelestial wings Hope waits till Faith from thence some comfort brings But Charity both Faith and Hope excels Man's Heav'n on Earth is love wherein God dwels On God the King and the Church God and the King to rule the Church agree Though th' King bear rule God rules the King she First God inclines the King to rectifie The Church-deformers with Conformity The Church enjoyes her union by this thing From that Communion of God and the King On the Personality of God to wit Father Son and Holy Ghost The Father Son and Holy Ghost all three To make man in Gods Image did agree The Father did command the Son Create The Holy Ghost this Image animate Thus man was made next Angels in degree By God that 's Three in One and One in Three Though God afflicts man for evil yet Gods afflictions to man are not evil The evils of chastisements truly are No evils nor with Evil things compare For from the chiefest good even God they flow Lead to the chiefest good this God to know And in the chiefest good likewise are found Even Jesus Christ abundantly t' abound Sometimes God will not hear nor regard the Prayers of his own Servants The Lord will not bow down his sacred Ear Nor will the Prayers of his own Servants hear When they ask either things in nature bad Not good for them nor by them to be had Or things right good for some malignant ends Such gifts as these bestow God ne're intends The Scriptures say according to his will Soshould we pray if God our prayers fulfill On Matthew 6.33 But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and