Strangers Fate Should be neglective of his owne estate Where is this love become in later age Alas 't is gone in endlesse pilgrimage From hence and never to returne I doubt 'Till revolution wheele those times about Chill brests have starv'd her here and she is driven Away and with Astraea fled to heaven Poore Charity that naked Babe is gone Her honey's spent and all her store is done Her winglesse Bees can finde out ne're a bloome And crooked Aâ—â— doth usurpe her roome Nepenthe's dry and Love can get no drinke And curs'd Arâ—enâ—e flowes above the brinke Brave Mariners the world your names shal hallow Admiring that in you that none dare follow Your friendship 's rare and your conversion straÌ„ge From Paganisme to zeale A sudden change Those men doe now the God of heaven implore That bow'd to Puppets but an houre before Their zeale is fervent though but new begun Before their egge-shels were done off they runne And when bright Phoebus in a Summer tide New risâ—n from the bosome of his Bride Enveloped with misty fogges at length Breakes forth displaies the mist with Southerne strength Even so these Mariners of peerlesse mirrour Their faith b'ing veil'd within the mist of errour At length their zeale chac'd ignorance away They left their Puppets and began to pray ¶ Lord how unlimited are thy confines That still pursu'st man in his good designes Thy mercy 's like the dew of Hermon hill Or like the Oyntment dropping downward still From Aarons head to beard from beard to foote So doe thy mercies drench us round about Thy love is boundlesse Thou art apt and free To turne to Man when Man returnes to thee THE ARGVMENT They cast the Prophet over boord The storme alay'd They feare the Lord A mighty Fish him quick devoures Where he remained many houres Sect. 6. EVen as a member whose corrupted sore Infests and rankles eating more and more Threatning the bodies losse if not prevented The wise chirurgion all faire meanes attented Cuts off and with advised skil doth choose To lose a part then all the body lose Even so the feeble Sailors that addresse Their idle armes where heaven denyes successe Forbeare their thrivelesse labours and devise To roote that Evill from whence their harms arise Treason is in their thoughts and in their eares Danger revives the old and addes new feares Their hearts grow fierce and every soule applies T' abandon mercy from his tender eyes They cease t' attempt what heaven so long withstood And bent to kill their thoughts are all on blood They whisper oft each word is Deaths Alarme They hoyst him up Each lends a busie arme And with united powers they entombe His out-cast body in Thetis angry wombe Whereat grim Neptune wip't his fomy mouth Held his tridented Mace upon the South The windes were whist the billows danc't no more The storme allay'd the heavens left off to rore The waves obedient to their pilgrimage Gave ready passage and surceast their rage The skie grew cleare and now the welcome light Begins to put the gloomy clouds to flight Thus all on sudden was the Sea tranquill The Heav'ns were quiet and the Waves were still As when a friendly Creditor to get A long forborne and much-concerning debt Still plies his willing debter with entreats Importunes daily daily thumps and beates The batter'd Portals of his tyred eares Bedeafing him with what he knowes and heares The weary debter to avoid the sight He loathes shifts here and there and ev'ry night Seekes out Protection of another bed Yet ne'rethelesse pursu'd and followed His eares are still laid at with lowder volley Of harder Dialect He melancholy Sits downe and sighs and after long foreslowing T' avoid his presence payes him what is owing The thankfull Creditor is now appeas'd Takes leave and goes away content and pleas'd Even so these angry waves with restlesse rage Accosted Ionas in his pilgrimage And thundred Iudgement in his fearefull eare Presenting Hubbubs to his guilty feare The waves rose discontent the Surges beat And every moments death the billowes threat The weather-beaten Ship did every minuit Await destruction while hee was in it But when his long expected corps they threw Into the deepe a debt through trespasse due The Seagrew kinde and all her frownes abated Her face was smooth to all that navigated 'T was sinfull Ionah made her storme and rage 'T was sinfull Ionah did her storme asswage With that the Mariners astonisht were And fear'd Iehovah with a mighty feare Offring up Sacrifice with one accord And vowing solemne vowes unto the Lord. But he whose word can make the earth's foundatioÌ„ Tremble and with his Word can make cessation Whose wrath doth mouÌ„t the waves toss the Seas And make theÌ„ calme smooth wheÌ„ e're he please This God whose mercy runs on endlesse wheele And puls like Iacob Iustice by the heele Prepar'd a Fish prepar'd a mighty Whale Whose belly was both prison-house and baile For retchlesse Ionah As the two leaf'd doore Opens to welcome home the fruitfull store Wherewith the harvest quits the Plowmans hope Even so the great Leviathan set ope His beame-like Iawes prepar'd for such a boone And at a morsell swallow'd Ionah downe 'Till dewy-check't Aurora's purple dye Thrice dappell'd had the ruddy morning skie And thrice had spred the Curtaines of the morne To let in Titan when the day was borne Ionah was Tenant to this living Grave Embowel'd deepe in this stupendious Cave Meditat. 6. LO Death is now as alwaies it hath bin The just procured stipend of our sinne Sinne is a golden Causie and a Road Garnisht with joyes whose pathes are even broad But leads at length to death and endlesse griefe To torments and to paines without reliefe Iustice feares none but maketh all afraid And then fals hardest when t is most delaid But thou reply'st thy sinnes are daily great Yet thou sittst uncontrold upon thy seat Thy wheat doth flourish and thy barnes do thrive Thy sheepe encrease thy sonnes are all alive And thou art buxom and hast nothing scant Finding no want of any thing but want Whil'st others whom the â—quint-ey'd world counts holy Sit sadly drooping in a melancholy With brow dejected and downe-hanging head Or take of almes or poorely begge their bread But young man know there is a Day of doome The Feast is good untill the reck'ning come The time runnes fastest where is least regard The stone that 's long in falling falleth hard There is a dying day thou prosp'rous foole When all thy laughter shall be turn'd to Doole Thy roabes to tort'ring plagues fel tormenting Thy whoops of Ioy to howles of sad lamenting Thy tongue shall yell and yawle and never stop And wish a world to give for one poore drop To flatter thine intolerable paine The wealth of Pluto could not then obtaine A minutes freedome from that hellish rout Whose fire burnes and never goeth out Nor house nor land not measur'd heaps of wealth
opposition Exasperate the more A gloomy night Whets on the morning to returne more bright A blade well triâ—d deserves a treble price And Vertu 's purest most oppos'd by Vice Brave mindes opprest should in despight of Faâ—â— Looke greatest like the Sunne in lowest state But ah shal God thus strive with flesh and blood Receives he Glory from or reapes he Good In mortals Ruine that he leaves man so To be or'ewhelm'd by his unequall Foe May not a Potter that from out the ground Hath fram'd a Vessell search if it be sound Or if by for bushing he take more paine To make it fairer shall the Pot complaine Mortall thou art but Clay Then shall not he That fram'd thee for his service season thee Man close thy lips Be thou no undertaker Of Gods designes Dispute not with thy Maker Lord 't is against thy nature to doe ill Then give me power to beare and worke thy Will Thou know'st what 's best make thou thine owne conclusion Be glorifi'd although in my confusion THE ARGVMENT Satan the second time appeares Before th' Eternall boldly dares Maligne Iobâ— tryed Faith afresh And gaines th'afflicting of his Flesh. Sect. 4. ONce more when heaveÌ„s harmonious queristers Appear'd before his Throne whose Ministers They are of his concealed will to render Their strict account of Iustice and to tender Th'accepted Sacrifice of highest praise Warbled in Sonnets and celestiall Layes Satan came too bold as a hungry Fox Or ravinous Wolfe amid the tender Flockes Satan said then th' Eternall from whence now Hath thy imployments driven thee whence com'st thou Satan replies Great God of heaveÌ„ earth I come from tempting and from making mirth To heare thy dearest children whine and roare In briefe I come from whence I came before Said then th' Eternall Hast thou not beheld My servants Faith how like a seven-fold shield It hath defended his integrity Against thy fiery Darts Hath not thine Eye Thine envious eye perceiv'd how puâ—ely just He stands and perfect worthy of the trust I lent into his hand persisting still Iust fearing God eschewing what is ill 'T was not the losse of his so faire a Flock Nor sudden rape of such a mighty Stock 'T was neither losse of Servants nor his Sonnes Vntimely slaughter acted all at once Could make him quaile or warpe so true a Faith Or staine so pure a Love say Satan hath Thy hand so deepely counterfeiting mine Made him mistrust his God or once repine Can there in all the earth say can there be A man so Perfect and so Iust as He Replyes the Tempter Lord an outward losse Hopes for repaire it 's but a common crosse I know thy servant's wise a wise forecast Grieves for things present not for things are past Perchance the tumour of his sullen heart Brookes losse of all since he hath lost a part My selfe have Servants who can make true boast They gave away as much as he hath lost Others which learning made so wisely mad Refuse such Fortunes as he never had A Faith 's not try'd by this uncertaine Tuch Others that never knâ—w thee did as much Lend mee thy Power then that I might once But Sacrifice his Flesh afflict his Bones And pierce his Hide but for a moments space Thy Darling then would curse thee to thy Face To which th' Eternall thus His body 's thine To plague thy fill withall I doe confine Thy power to her â—ists Afflict and teare His flesh at pleasure But his life forbeare Meditat. 4. BOth Goods and body too Lord who can stand Expect not Iobs uprightnesse at my hand Without Iobs aid The temper of my Passion Vntam'd by thee can brooke no Iobs Temptation For I am weake and fraile and what I can Most boast of proves me but a sinfull man Things that I should avoid I doe and what I am injoyn'd to doe that doe I not My Flesh is weake too strong in this alone It rules my spirit that should be rul'd by none But thee my spirit 's faint and hath beene never Free from the fits of fins quotidian Fever My pow'rs are all corrupt corrupt my Will Marble to good and Waxe to what is ill Eclipsed is my reason and my Wit By interposing Earth 'twixt Heaven and it My mem'ri's like a Scarce of Lawne alas It keepes things grosse and lets the purer passe What have I then to boast What Title can I challenge more than this A sinfull man Yet doe I sometimes feele a warme desire Raise my low Thoughs and dull affections higher Where like a soule entranc't my spirit flies Makes leagues with Angels and brings Deities Halfe way to heaven shakes hands with Seraphims And boldly mingles wings with Cherubims Frem whence I looke askauns adowne the earth Pity my selfe and loath my place of birth But while I thus my lower state deplore I wake and prove the wretch I was before Even as the Needle that directs the howre Toucht with the Loadstone by the secret power Of hidden Nature points upon the Pole Even so the wav'ring powers of my soule Toucht by the vertue of thy Spirit flee From what is Earth and point alone to Thee When I have faith to hold thee by the Hand I walke securely and me thinkes I stand More firme than Atlas But when I forsake The safe protection of thine Arme I quake Like wind-shakt Reeds and have no strength at all But as a Vine the Prop cut downe I fall Yet wretched I when as thy Iustice lends Thy glorious Presence from me straight am friends With Flesh and blood forget thy Grace flye froÌ„ it And like a Dog returne unto my vomit The fawning world to pleasure then invites My wandring eyes The flesh presents delights Vnto my yeelding heart which thinke those pleasures Are onely bus'nes now and rarest treasures Content can glory in whilst I secure Stoope to the painted plumes of Satans Lure Thus I captiv'd and drunke with pleasures Wine Like to a mad-man thinke no state like mine What have I then to boast what title can I challenge more than this A sinfull man â— feele my griefe so enough nor can I be â—edrest by any but Great God by thee â—oo great thou art to come within my Roofe â—ay but the word Be â—â—â—le and 't is enough â—ill then my tongue shall never 〈◊〉 mine Eyes â—â—e're cloze my lowly bended knees ne're rise â—ill then my soule shall ne're want early sobs My cheekes no teares my Pensive brest no throbs My hart shall lack no zeale nor tongue expressing â—le strive like Iacob till I get my Blessing Say then Be cleaâ—e I 'le never stop till then Heaven ne'r shall rest till Heaven shal say Amen THE ARGVMENT Iob smote with Vlcers groveling lyes Plung'd in a Gulfe of Miseries His Wife to blasphemy doth tempt him His three Friends visit and lament him Sect. 5. LIke as a Truant-Scholler whose delay Is worse than whipping having leave to play â—â—kes haste to bee inlarged from
Ionah sleepe so sound Could he sleepe then When with the sudden sight of Death the men So many men with yelling shrikes and cryes Made very heaven report Were Ionah's eyes Still clos'd and he not of his life bereaven Hard must he wink that shuts his eies from heaveÌ„ O righteous Isr'el where O where art thou Where is thy Lampe thy zealous Shepheard now Alas the rav'nous Wolves will worr ' thy Sheepe Thy Shepheard's carelesse and is falne asleepe Thy wandring flockes are frighted from their fold Their Shepherd's gone and Foxes are too bold They they whose smooth-fac'd words become the altar Their works dissent first begin to faulter And they that should be watchlights in the Temple Are snuffes and want the oyle of good example The chosen Watch-men that the tow'r should keep Ate waxen heavy-ey'd and falne asleepe ¶ Lord if thy watchmen wink too much awake theÌ„ Although they slumber do not quite forsake them The flesh is weake say not if dulnesse seize Their heavy eyes sleep henceforth take your â—ase And we poore weaklings when we sleepe in sin Knocke at our drowzy hearts and never lin Till thou awake our sin-congealed eyes Lest drown'd in sleepe we sinke and never rise THE ARGVMENT They question Ionah whence he came His Country and his peoples Name He makes reply They mone their woe And aske his counsell what to doe Sect 4. AS when a Thiefe's appr'hended on suspect And charg'd for some supposed malefact A rude concourse of people straight accrewes Whose itching eares even smart to know the newes The guilty pris'ner to himselfe betraid He stands dejected trembling and afraid So Ionah stood the Sailers all among Inclosed round amid the ruder throng As in a Summers evening you shall heare In Hives of Bees if you lay close your eare Confused buzzing and seditious noise Such was the murmure of the Saylers voice What was thy sinfull act that causes this Sayes one wherein hast thou so done amisse Tell us What is thine Art another sayes That thou professest Speake man Whences awayes From what Confines caâ—â—'st thou A third replyes What is thy Country And of what allies What art thou borne a Iew or Gentile whether 〈◊〉 he could lend an answer unto either A fourth dâ—â—ands Where hath thy breeding beene All what they askt they all askt o're agen In fine their eares impatient of delay Becalm'd their tongues to hear what he could say So 〈◊〉 humbly rearing up his eyes Breaking his long-kept silence thus replyes I am an Hebrew sonne of Abraham From whom my Land did first derive her name Within the Land of Iury was I borne My name is Ionah â—etchelesse and forlorne I am a Prophet ah but woe is me For from before the face of God I flee From whence through disobedience I am driven I seare Iehovah the great God of Heaven I feare the Lord of Hosts whose glorious hand Did make this stormy Sea and massie Land So said their eares with double ravishment Still hung upon his melting lips attent Whose dreadful words their harts so neer impiercâ—t That from themselves themselves were quite diversâ— As in a sowltry Summers evening tide When lustfull Phoebus re-salutes his Bride And Philomela 'gins her caroling A Herd of Deere are browzing in a Spring With eger appetite misdeeming nought Nor in so deepe a silence fearing ought A sudden cracke or some unthought-of sound Or bounce of Fowlers Peece or yelpe of Hound Disturbs their quiet peace w th strange amaze Where senslesse halfe through feare they stand aâ— gaze So stand the Sea-men as with Ghosts affrighted Entraunc'd with what this man of God recited Their tyred limbes doe now waxe faint and lither Their harts did yern their knees did smite together Congealed blood usurpt their trembling hearts And left a faintnesse in their feeble parts Who trembling out distracting language thus Why hast thou brought this mischiefe upon us What humour led thee to a place unknowne To seeke forraigne Land and leave thine owne What faith hadst thou by leaving thine abode To thinke to flye the presence of thy God Why hast thou not obey'd but thus transgrest The voyce of God whom thou acknowledgest Art thou a Prophet and dost thou amisse What is the cause and why hast thou done this What shall we do The tempest lends no eare To fruitlesse that nor dot the bâ—llowes heare Or marke our language Waves are not aâ—tent Our goods they flâ—at our needlesse paines are spent Our Barke's not weather proofe no Fort 's so stout To keepe continuall siege and battry out The Lot accuses thee thy words condemne thee The â—â—ves thy deaths men strive to overwhelme thee What she we doe Thou Prophet speake we pray thee Thou fear'dst the Lord Alas we may not stay thee Or shall we save thee No for thou dost flye The face of God and so deserv'sâ— to dye Thou Prophet speake what shall be done to thee That angry Sea may calme and quiet be Medita 4. GIve leave a little to adjoyne your text And ease my soule my soule with doubts perplexâ— Can he be said to feare the Lord that flyes him Can word confesse him when as deed denies him My sacred Muse hath rounded in mine eare And read the mystery of a twofold feare The first a servile feare for judgements sake And thus hells Fire-brands doe feare and quake Thus Adam fear'd and fled behinde a tree And thus did bloody Cain feare and flee Vnlike to this there is a second kinde Of feare extracted from a zealous minde Full fraught with love and with a conscience clear From base respects It is a filiall feare A feare whose ground would just remaine level Were neither Heaven nor Hel nor God nor devil Such was the feare that Princely David had And thus our wretched Ionah fear'd and fled He fled asham'd because his sinnes were such He fled asham'd because his feare was much He fear'd Iehovah other fear'd he none Him he acknowledg'd him hee fear'd alone Vnlike to those who being blinde with errour Frame many gods and multiply their terrour Th' Egyptians god Apis did implore God Assas the Chaldeans did adore Babel to the Devouring Dragon seekes Th' Arabians Astaroth Iuno the Greekes The name of Belus the Assyrians hallow The Troianâ— Vesta Corinth wise Apollo Th' Arginians sacrifice unto the Sunne To light-foot Mercury bowes Macedon To god Volunus Lovers bend their knee To Pavor they that faint and fearefull bee Who pray for health and strength to Murcia those And to Victoria those that feare to lose To Muta they that feare a womans tongue To great Lucinâ— women great with young To Esculapius they that live opprest And such to Quies that deâ—ier rest O blinded ignorance of antique times How blent with errour and how stuft with crimes Your Temples were And how adulterate How clogg'd with needlesse gods How obstinate How void of reason order how confuse How full of dangerous and foule abuse How sandy were
and kisse your neighb'ring floods Let peace and love exalt your key of mirth For now there 's peace in heav'n there 's peace on earth You holy Temples of the highest Kingâ— Triumph with joy Your sacred Anthemes sing Chant forth your Hymns heav'nly roundelaies And touch your Organs on their louder keyes For Haman's dead that daÌ„ted al your myrth And now there 's peace in heav'n there 's peace on earth Proud Haman's dead whose life disturb'd thy rest Who sought to cut and seare thy Lilly brest The rav'nous Fox that did annoyance bring Vnto the Vineyard â—s taken in a Spring ¶ Seem'd not thy Spouse unkind to hear thee weep And not redresse thee Seem'd he not asleepe No Sion no he heard thy bitter pray'r But let thee weepe for weeping makes thee faire The morning Sun reflects and shines most bright When Pilgrims grope in darknesse all the night The Church must conquer e're she gets he prize But there 's no conquest where 's no enemies The day is thine In triumph make thy mirth For now there 's peace in heav'n there 's peace on earth What man 's so dull or in his brains undone To say because he sees not There 's no Sun Weake is the faith upon a sudden griefe That sayes because not now There 's no reliefe God's bound to helpe but loves to see men sue Though datelesse yet the bond 's not present due ¶ Like to the sorrowes of our child-bed wives Is the sad pilgrimage of humane lives But when by throes God sends a joyfull birth Then find we peace in heav'n peace on earthâ— THE ARGVMENT Vpon the Queene and Mordecai Dead Hamans wealth and dignity The King bestowes to their discretion Referres the Iewes decreed oppression Sect. 15. THat very day the King did freely adde More bounty to his gift What Haman had Borrow'd of smiling Fortune he repaid To Esters hand and to her use convaid And Mordecai found favour with the King Vpon his hand he put his Royall Ring Whose Princely pow'r proud Haman did abuse In late betraying of the guiltlesse Iewes For now had Ester to the King descry'd Her Iewish kin how neere she was ally'd To Mardocheus whom her father dead His love did foster in her fathers ' stead Once more the Queene prefers an earnest suit Her humble body lowly prostitute Before his Royall feet her cheekes o'reflowne With marish teares and thus her plain'full mone Commix't with bitter singults she exprest If in he Cabin of thy Prinâ—ely brest Thy loyall servant undeserv'd hath found A plâ—ce wherein her wishes might be crown'd With faire successe If in thy gracious â—ight I pleasing or my cause seeme just and right Be speedy letters written to reverse Those bloody Writs which Haman did disperse Throughout thy Provinces whose sad content Was the subversion of my innocent And faithfull people Helpe my gracious Lord The time 's prefixt wherein th' impartiall Sword Must make this massacre the day 's at hand Vnlesse thy speedy Grace send countermand How can I brooke within my tender brest To breake the bonds of Natures high behest And see my peoplâ— for whose sake I breath Like stalled Oxen bought and sould for death How can I see such mischiefe how can I Survive to see my kin and people dye Said then the King Lo cursed Haman hath The execution of our highest wrath The equall hire of his malicious pride His welth to thee I gave my fairest Bride His honour better plac'd I have bestow'd On him to whom my borrow'd life hath owâ—d Her five yeares breath the trusty Mordecai Our loyall kinsman Let his hand pourtray Our pleasure as best liketh him and thâ—e Let him set downe and be it our Dâ—cree Let him confirme it with our Royall Ring And we shall signe it with the name of King For none may alter or reverse the same That 's seal'd and written in our Princely name Medita 15. TO breathe 's a necessary gift of nature Whereby we may discerne a living Creature From plants or stones 'T is but a meere degree From Vegetation and this hath shee Like equally shar'd out to brutish beasts With man who lesse observes her due behests Sometimes than they and oft by accident Doe lesse improve the gift in the event But man whose organs are more fairely drest To entertaine a farre more noble Guest Hath through the excellence of his Creation A Soule Divine Divine by inspiration Divine through likenesse to that pow'r Divine That made and plac'd her in her fleshly shrine From hence we challenge lifes prerogative Beasts onely breath 'T is man alone doth live One end of mans Creation was Societie Mutuall Communion and friendly Piety The man that lives unto himselfe alone Subsists and breaths but lives not Never one Deserv'd the moity of himselfe for hee That 's borne may challenge but one part of three Triparted thus his Country clames the best The next his Parents and himselfe the least He husbands best his life that freely gives It for the publike good he rightly lives That nobly dyes 't is greatest mastery Not to be fond to live nor feare to dye On just occasion He that in case despises Life earnes it best but he that over-prizes His dearest blood when honour bids him die Steales but a life and lives by Robbery ¶ O sweet Redeemer of the world whose death Deserv'd a world of lives Had Thy deare breath Beone deare to Thee Oh had'st Thou but deny'd Thy precious Blood the world for e'r had dy'd O spoile my life when I desire to save it By keeping it from Thee that freely gave it THE ARGVMENT Letters are sent by Mordecai That all the Iewes upon the day Appointed for their death withstand The fury of their â—oe-mens hand Sect. 16. FOrthwith the scribes were summon'd to appear To ev'ry Province and to ev'ry Shire Letters they wrote as Mordecai directed To all the Iewes the Iewes so much dejected To all Liev-tenants Captains of the Band To all the States and Princes of the Land According to the phrase and divers fashion Of Dialect and speech of ev'ry Nation All which was stiled in the name of King Sign'd with his hand seal'd with his Royall Ring Loe here the tenour of the Kings Commission Whereas of late at Hamans urg'd petition Decrees were sent and spred throughout the Land To spoile the Iewes and with impartiall hand Vpon a day prefixt to kill and slay We likewise grant upon that very day Full power to the Iewes to make defence And quit their lives and for a Recompence To take the spoiles of those they shall suppresse Shewing like mercy to the mercilesse By posts as swift as Time was this Decree Commanded forth As fast as Day they flee Spurr'd on and hast'ned with the Kings Command Which straight was noys'd publisht through the Land As warning to the Iewes to make provision To entertaine so great an opposition So Mordecai disburthned of his griefe Which now found
the Iayle â—his neglected Schoole turnes speedy tayle â—â—on his tedious booke so ill befriended â—â—fore his Masters Iie be full ended So thanklesse Satan full of winged haste Thinking all time not spent in Mischiefe waste Departs with speed lesse patient to forbeare The patient Iob then patient Iob to beare Forth from the furnace of his Nostrell flies A sulpherous vapour which by the envious eyes Of this foule Fiend inflam'd possest the faire And sweet complexion of th' Abused Ayre With Pestilence and having power so farre Tooke the advantage of his worset Starre Smote him with Vlcers such as once befell Th'Egyptian Wizzards Vlcers hot and fell Which like a searching Tetter uncorrected Left no part of his body unaffected From head to foote no empty place was found That could b'afflicted with another wound So noysome was the nature of his griefe That left by friends and wife that should be chiefe Assister he poore he alone remain'd Groveling in Ashes being himselfe constrain'd With pot-sheards to scrape off those rip'ned cores Which dogs disdain'd to licke from out his sores Which when his wife beheld adust and keene Her passion waxt made strong with scorn spleen Like as the Winds imprison'd in the earth And barr'd the passage to their naturall birth Grow fierce and nilling to be longer pent Break in an Earthquake shake the world and vent So brake shee forth so forth her fury brake Till now pent in with shame and thus she spake Fond Saint thine Innocence findes timely speed A foolish Saint receives a Saintly meed Is this the just mans recompence Or hath Heaven no requitall for thy painfull Faith 〈◊〉 then this What haue thy zealous Qualmes â—â—â—â—ious Fastings and thy hopefull Almes Thy private groanes and often bended knees No other end no other thankes but these 〈◊〉 man submit thee to a kinder fate 〈◊〉 to be righteous at so deare a rate 'T is Heaven not Fortune that thy weale debarres Câ—â—se Heaven then and not thy wayward flarres 'T is God that plagues thee God not knowing why Câ—â—se then that God revenge thy wrongs and dye 〈◊〉 then reply'd God loves where â—e chasâ—iz'd Thou speakest like a foole and ill adviz'd â—â—â—gh we to licke the sweet and shall we lowre If â—e be pleas'd to send a little sowre 〈◊〉 I so weake one blast or two should chill me I 'le trust my Maker though my Maker kill me When these sad tidings fill'd those itching eares Of Earths black babling daughter she that heares And vents alike both Truth and Forgeries And utters often cheaper then she buyes She spred the pinions of her nimble wings Advanc'â— her Trumpet and away she springs And fils the whispering Ayre which soone possest The spacious borders of th'enquiring East Vpon the summon of such solemne Newes Whose truth malignant Fame could not abuse His wofull friends came to him to the end To comfort and bewaile their wretched friend But when they came farre off they did not know Whether it were the selfe same friend or no Brim-fill'd with briny woe they wept and tore â—â—express their grief the garments that they wore Seven dayes and nights they sate upon the ground But spake not for his sorrowes did abound Medit. 5. SAy is not Satan justly stiled than A Tempter and an enemy to Man What could he more His wish would not extend To death lest his assaults with death should end Then what he did what could he further doe His Hand hath seiz'd both goods and body too The hopefull Issue of a holy straine In such a dearth of holinesse is slaine What hath the Lazar left him but his griefe And what might best been spar'd his foolish wife Cold mischief bin more hard though more in kind To nip the flowers and leave the weeds behind Woman was made a Helper by Creation A Helper not alone for Propagation Or fond Delight but sweet Society Which Man alone should want and to supply Comforts to him for whom her Sex was made That each may ioy in eithers needfull ayde But fairest Angels had the foulest fall And best things once abus'd prove worst of all Else had not Satan beene so foule a Fiend Else had not Woman prov'd so false a Friend Ev'n as the treachrous Fowler to entice His silly winged Prey doth first devise To make a Bird his stale at whose false call Others may chance into the selfe-same thrall Even so that crafty snarer of Mankind Finding mans righteous Palate not enclin'd To taste the sweetnesse of his gilded baites Makes a collaterall Suâ—e and slily waites Vpon the weakenesse of some bosome friend From whose enticement he expects his end Ah righteous Iob what crosse was left unknowne What griefe may be describ'd but was thine owne Is this a just mans case What doth befall To one man may as well betide to all The worst I 'le looke for that I can project If better come 't is more then I expect If otherwise I 'm arm'd with Preparation No sorrow's sudden to an expectation Lord to thy Wisedome I submit my Will I will be thankfull send me good or ill If good my present State will passe the sweeter If ill my Crowne of glory shall be greater THE ARGVMENT Orewhelm'd with griefe Iob breaketh forth Into impatience Bans his birth Professes that his heart did doubt And feare what since hath fallen out Sect. 6. WOrn bare with griefe the patient Iob betrai'd His seven-daies silence curst his day said O that my Day of birth had never bin Nâ—â— yet the Night which I was brought forth in Be it not numbred for a Day let Light Not make a difference 'twixt it and Night Let gloomy Shades then Death more sable passe Vpon it to declare how fatall 't was Let Clouds ore-cast it and as hatefull make it As lifes to him whom Tortures bid forsake it From her next day let that blacke Night be cut Nor in the reckning of the Months be put Let Desolation fill it all night long In it be never heard a Bridall song Let all sad Mourners that doe curse the light When light 's drawne in begin to curse this night Her evening Twilight let foule darknesse staine And may her midnight expect light in vaine Nor let her infanâ— Day but newly borne Suffer't to see the Eye-lids of the morne Because my Mothers Wombe it would not clâ—ze Which gave me passage to endure these Woes Why dyed I not in my Conception rather Or why was not my Birth and death together Why did the Midwife take me on her knees Why did I sucke to feele such griefes as these Then had this body never beene opprest I had injoy'd th' eternall sleepe of rest With Kings and mighty Monarchs that lie crown'd With stately Monuments poore I had found A place of Rest had borne as great a sway Had beene as happy and as rich as they Why was not I as an abortive birth The â—e're had knowne the horrors of the earth The silent
's an Index to Eternity And gives a glance of what our cleerer eye In time shall see at large nothing's so slight Which in it nature sends not forth some light Or Memorandum of his Makers Glory No Dust so vile but pens an ample story Of the Almighties power nor is there that Which gives not man just cause to wonder at Cast down thine eies behold the pregnant earth Her selfe but one produceth at one birth A world of divers natures From a seed Entirely one things hot and cold proceed She suckles with one milke things moist and dry Yet in her wombe is no repugnancy Or shall thy reason ramble up so high To view the Court of wilde Astronomy Behold the Planets round about thine eares Whirling like firebals in their restlesse Spheares At one selfe-instant moving severall wayes Still measuring out our short and shorter dayes Behold the parts whereon the World consists Are limited in their appointed lists Without rebellion unapt to vary Though being many divers and contrary Looke where we list above bâ—neath or under Our eyes shall see to learne and learne to wonder Their depth shall drown our judgements and their height Besides his wits shal drive the prime coÌ„ceit Shall then our daring minds presume t' aspire To heavens hid Myst'ries shall our thoughts inquirâ— Into the depth of secrets unconfounded When in the shoare of Nature they were drowned Fond man be wise strive not above thy strength Tempt not thy Barke beyond her Cables length And like Prometheus filch no sacred fire Lest Eagles gripe thee Let thy proud desire Suit with thy fortunes Curious mindes that shall Mount up with Phaeton shall have Phaetons fall Vnbâ—nd thy bow betimes lest thou repent Too late for it will breake or else stand bent I 'le work at home ne'r crosse the scorching Line In unknowne lands to seeke a hidden Mine Plaine Bullion pleaseth me I not deâ—ire Deare Ignoâ—s from th'Elixars techy fire I 'le spend my paines where best I may be bold To know my selfe wherein I shall behold The world abridg'd and in that world my Maker Beyond which taske I wish no Vndertaker Great God by whom it is what-e're is mine Make me thy Viceroy in this World of thine So cleare mine eyes that I may comprehend My slight beginning and my sudden end THE ARGVMENT God questions Iob and proves that man Cannot attaine to things so high As divine secrets since he can Not reach to Natures Iobs reply Sect. 18. FOrth from the bosome of a murm'ring Cloud Heavens great â—ehovah did at length unshroud His Earths-amazing language equally Made terrible with Feare and Majesty Challeng'd the Duell he did undertake His grumbling servant and him thus bespake Who who art thou that thus dost pry in vaine Into my secrets hoping to attaine With murmuring to things conceal'd from man Say poreblinde mortall Who art thou that can Thus cleare thy crimes and dar'st with vaine applause Make me defendant in thy sinfull cause Ioe here I am Engrosse into thy hands Thy soundest weapons Answer my demands Say where wert thou when these my haÌ„ds did lay The worlds foundation canst thou tell me Say Was earth not measur'd by this Arme of mine Whose hand did ayde me was I help't by thine Where wert thou when the Planets fiâ—st did blaze And in their sphears sang forth their Makers praise Who is 't that tames the raging of the Seas And swathes them up in mists when e're he please Did'st thou divide the darknesse from the Light Or know'st thou whence Aurora takes her flight Didst ere enquire into the Seas Abysse Or mark'd the Earth of what a bulk she is Know'st thou the place whence Light or Darknesse springâ— Can thy deepe age unfold these secret things Knowâ—st thou the cause of Snow or haile which are My fierce Artill'ry in my time of warre Who is 't that rends the gloomy Clouds in sunder Whose sudden rapture strikes forth fire thunder Or who bedewes the earth with gentle showres Filling her pregnant soyle with fruits and flowres What father got the raine from what chill wombe Did frosts and hard-congealed Waters come Canst thou restraine faire Maja's course or stint her Or sad Orion ushering in the Winter Will scorching Cancer at thy summons come Or Sun-burnt Autumne with he fruitfull wombe Know'st thou Heavens course above or dost thou know Those gentle influences here below Who was 't inspir'd thy soule with understanding Aâ—d gave thy spirit the spirit of apprehending Dost thou command the Cisternes of the Skie To quench the thirsty soyle or is it I Nay let thy practice to the earth descend Prove there how farre thy power doth extend From thy full hand will hungry Lions eate Feed'st thou the empty Ravens that cry for meaâ—eâ— Sett'st thou the season when the fearfull Hind Brings forth her painfull birth Hast thou assign'd The Mountaine-Goate her Time Or is it I Canst thou subject unto thy soveraigntie The untam'd Vnicorne Can thy hard hand Force him to labour on thy fruitfull land Did'st thou inrich the Peacock with his Plume Or did â—hat Steele-digesting Bird assume His downy Flags from thee Didst thou endow The noble Stallion with his strength Canst thou Quaile his proud courage See his angry breath Puffes nothing forth but fearsâ— summ'd up in death Marke with what pride his horny hoofes doe tabor The hard resounding Earth with how great labour How little ground he spends But at the noyse And fierce Alar'm of the hoarse Trumpets voyce He breaks the ranks amidst a thousand Speares Pointed with death undaunted at the feares Of doubfull warre he rushes like a Ranger Through every Troop scorns so brave a dangerâ— Doe lofty Haggards cleave the flitting Ayre With Plumes of thy devising Then how dare Thy ravenous lips thus thus at randome runne And countermaund what I the Lord have done Thinkst thou to learne fond Mortall thus by diving Into my secrets or to gaine by striving Plead then No doubt but thine will be the Day Speake peevish Plaintiffe if th'aft ought to say Ioâ— then replyde Great God I am but Dust â—y heart is sinfull and thy hands are just I am a Sinner Lord my words are wind My thoughts are vaine Ah Father I have sinn'd Shall dust reply I spake too much before I le close these lips and never answer more Meditat. 18. O Glorious Light A light unapprehended By mortall eyes O Glory never ended Nor ere created whence all Glory springs In heavenly bodyes and in earthly things O power Immense derived from a Will Most just and able to doe all but ill O Essence pure and full of Majesty Greatnesse it selfe and yet no quantity Goodnesse and without quality producing All things from out of Nothing and reducing All things to nothing past all comprehending Boâ—h first and Last and yet without an ending Or yet beginning filling every Creature And not it selfe included above Nature Yet not excluded of it selfe subsisting And with it selfe
discover The hidden Myst'ry till the time be â—ver Cease to importune then what cannot be My parents know it not as well as thee 〈◊〉 ought but this thy Suite shall overcome me Excuse me then and goe not angry from me Meditat. 11. HOw apprehensive is the heart of Man Of all and onely those poore things that can Lend him a minutes pleasure and appay His sweat but with the happinesse of a day How can he toyle for trifles and take paine For fading goods that onely entertaine His pleased thoughts with poore painted showes Whose joy hath no more truth than what it owes To change How are the objects of his musing Worthlesse and vaine that perish in the using How reasonable are his poore desires The height of whose ambition but aspires To flitting shadowes which can onely crowne His labour with that nothing of their owne We feed on huskes that might as well ataine The fatted Calfe by comming home againe And like to Esan while we are suppressing Our present wants neglect and lose the blessing How wise we are for things whose pleasure cooles Like breath For everlasting joyes what Fooles How witty how ingeniously wise To save our credits or to win a prize Wee plot Our browes are studious First we try One way If that succeed not we apply Our doubtfull mindes to attemt another course We take advice consult our tongues discourse Of better wayes and what our failing braines Cannot effect with faire and fruitlesse paines There crooked fraud must helpe and slie deceit Must lend a hand which by the potent sleight Of right-forsaking Bribry must betray The prize into our hands and win the day Which if it faile it does but seldome faile Then open force and fury must prevaile When strength of wit and secret power of fraud Grow dull constraint must conquer and applaâ—d With ill got vict'ry which at length obtain'd Alas how poore a trifle have we gain'd How are our soules distempered to engrosse Such fading pleasures To ore-prize the drosse And under-rate the Gold for painted Ioyes To sell the true and heaven it selfe for Toyes Lord clarifie mine eyes that I may know Things that are good from what are good in show And give me wisedome that my heart my learne The diffrence of thy favours and discerne What 's truely good from what is good in part With Martha's trouble give me Maries heart THE ARGVMENT The Bride she begs and beg sin vaine But like to a prevailing wooer She sues and sues and sues againe At last he reads the Riddle to her Sect. 12. WHen the next morning had renew'd the day And th' early twilight now had chac'd away The pride of night and made her lay aside Her spangled Robes the discontented Bride Whose trobled thoghts were tyred with the night And broken slumbers long had wisht for light With a deepe sigh her sorrow did awake Her drowsie Bridegroome whom she thus bespake O if thy love could share an equall part In the sad griefes of my afflicted heart Thy closed eyes had never in this sort â—in pleas'd with rest and made thy night so short Perchance if my dull eyes had slumbred too My dreames had done what thou deny'd to doe Perchance my Fancy would have bin so kinde Tunsolve the doubts of my perplexed minde T was a small suite that thy unluckie Bride Must light upon Too small to be denyde Can love so soone But ere her lips could spend The following words he said suspend suspend Thy rash attempt and let thy tongue dispense With forc'd denyall Let thy lips commence Some greater Suite and Samson shall make good Thy faire desiers with his dearest blood Speake then my love thou shall not wâ—sh and want Thou canst not beg what Samson cannot grant Onely in this excuse me and refraine To beg what thou perforce must beg in vaine In exorable Samson Can the teares From those faire â—yes not move thy deafned eares O can those drops that trickle from those eyes Vpon thy naked bosome not surprize Thy neighb'ring heart and force it to obey O can thy hearâ— not melt as well as they Thou little thinkst thy poore afflicted wife Importunes thee and woes thee for her life Her Suit 's as great a Riddle to thiâ—e eares As thine to hers O these distilling teares Are silent pleaders and her moistned breath Would faine redeeme her from the gates of death May not her teares prevaile Alas thy strise Is but for wagers Her 's poore Soule for life Now when this day had yeelded up his right To the succeeding Empresse of the night Whose soone-deposed raignc did reconvay Her crowne and Scepter to the new borne day The restlesse Bride feares cannot brooke denyall Renewes her suit and attempts a further tryall Entreats conjures she leaves no way untride She will not no she must not be denyd But he the portalls of whose marble heart Was lockt and barr'd against the powerfull art Of oft repeated teares stood deafe and dumbe He must not no he will not be ore-come Poore Bride How is thy glory overcast How is the pleasure of the Nuptialls past When scarce begun Alas how poore a breath Of joy must puffe thee to untimely death The day 's at hand wherein thou must untie The Riddles tangled Snarle or else must dye Now when that day was come wherein the feast Was to expire the Bride whose pensive brest Grew sad to death did once more undertake Her too resolved Bridegroome thus and spake Vpon these knees that prostrate on the floore Are lowly bended and shall ne're give ore To move thy goodnesse that shall never rise Vntill my Suit finde favour in thine eyes Vpon these naked knees I here present My sad request O let thy heart relent A Suitor sues that never sued before And she begs now that never will beg more Hast thou vow'd silence O remember how Thou art engaged by a former vow Thy heart is mine The secrets of thy heart Are mine Why art thou dainty to impart Mine owne to me Then give me leave to sue For what my right may challenge as her due Vnfold thy Riddle then that I may know Thy love is more then only love in show The Bridegroome thus enchanted by his Bride Vnseal'd his long-kept silence and replyde Thou sole and great commandresse of my heart Thou hast prevail'd my bosome shall impart The summe of thy desiers and discharge The faithfull secrets of my soule at large Know then my joy Vpon that very day I first made knowne my'affection on the way I met and grappled with a sturdy Lyon Having nor staffe nor weapon to relie on I was enforc'd to prove my naked strength Vnequall was the match but at the length This brawny Arme receiving strength from him That gave it life I tore him limme from limme And left him dead Now when the time was come Wherin our promis'd nuptialls were to summe And perfect all my joyes as I was comming That very way 'a
Thy servants glory in thy ruine those That were thy private friends are publike foes Thus thus say they we spit our rankrous spleene And gâ—ash our teeth upon the worlds faire Queene Thrice welcome this this long expected day That crownes our conquest with so sweet a prey ELEG 17. REbellious Iudah Could thy flattring crimes Secure thee from the dangers of the times Or did thy summer Prophets ere foresay These evills or warn'd thee of a winters day Did not those sweet-lipt Oracles beguile Thy wanton eares with newes of Wine and Oile But heaven is just what his deepe counsell wild His prophets told and Iustice hath fulfill'd He hath destroy'd no secret place so voyd No Fort so sure that Heaven hath not destroy'd Thou land of Iudah How 's thy sacred throne Become a stage for Heathen to trample on ELEG 18. SEe see th' accursed Gentiles doe inherit The Land of promise where heavens Sacred Spirit Built Temples for his everlasting Name There there th'usurping Pagans doe proclaime Their idle Idols unto whom they gave That stolen honor which heavnes Lord should have Winke Sion O let not those eyes be stain'd With heavens dishonour see not heaven profan'd Close close thine eyes or if they needs must be Open like flood-gates to let water flee Yet let the violence of their flowing streames Obscure thine open eyes and mask their beames ELEG 19. TRust not thy eye-lids lest a flattering sleepe Bribe them to rest and they forget to weepe Powre out thy heart thy heart dissolv'd in teares Weepe forth thy plaints in the Almighties eares Oh let thy cries thy cries to heaven addrest Disturbe the silence of thy midnight rest Prefer the sad petitions of thy soule To heaven ne're close thy lips till heaven condole Confounded Sion and her wounded weale That God that smit oh move that God to heale Oh let thy tongue ne're cease to call thine eye To weepe thy pensive heart ne're cease to cry ELEG 20. VOuchsafe oh thou eternall Lord of pitty To looke on Sion and thy dearest City Confus'd Ierusalem for thy DAVIâ—S sake And for that promise which thy selfe did make To halting Isr'el loe thy hand hath forc'd Mothers whom law lesse Famine hath divorc'd From deare affection to devoure the bloomes And buds that burgeond froÌ„ their painful wombs Thy sacred Priests and Prophets that while-ere Did hourely whisper in thy neighbouring eare Are falne before the sacrilegious sword Even where even whilst they did unfold thy word ELEG 21. WOunded and wasted by th' eternall hand Of heaven I grovell on the ground my land Is turn'd a Golgotha before mine eye Vnsepulchred my murthred people lye My dead lye rudely scattred on the stones My Cawsies all are pav'd with dead mens bones The fierce Destroyer doth alike forbeare The maidens trembling and the Matrons teare Th' imperiall sword spares neither Foole nor Wise The old mans pleading nor the Infants cries Vengeance is deafe and blinde and she respects Nor Young nor Old nor Wise nor Foole nor Sex ELEG 22. YEares heavie laden with their months retire Months gone their date of numbred daies expire The daies full houred to their period tend And howers chac'd with light-foot Minutes end Yet my undated evills no time will minish Though yeares months though daies and howers finish Feares flocke about me as invited guests Before the Portalls at proclamed feasts Where heaveÌ„ hath breathd that man that state must fall Heaven wants no thunder-bolts to strike withall I am the subject of that angry Breath My sonnes are slaine and I am mark'd for death Threnodia III. ELEG 1. ALL you whose unprepared lips did tast The tedious Cup of sharp affliction cast Your wondring eyes on me that have drunke up Those dregs whereof you onely kist the Cup I am the man 'gainst whom th' Eternall hath Discharg'd the lowder volley of his wrath I am the man on whom the brow of night Hath scowl'd unworthy to behold the light I am the man in whom th' Almighty showeâ— The dire example of unpattern'd woes I am that Pris'ner ransome cannot free I am that man and I am onely he ELEG 2. BOndage hath forc'd my servile necke to faile Beneath her load Afflictions nimble flayle Hath thrasht my soule upon a floore of stones And quasht the marrow of my broken bones Th' assembled powres of Heaven enrag'd are eager To root me out Heavens souldiers doe beleager My worried soule my soule unapt for fleeing That yeelds o'reburthen'd with her tedious being Th' Almighties hand hath clouded all my night And clad my soule with a perpetuall light A night of torments and eternall sorrow Like that of Death that never findes a morrow ELEG 3. CHain'd to the brazen pillars of my woes I strive in vaine No mortall hand can loose What heaven hath bound my soule is walld about That hope can nor get in nor feare get out When ere my wav'ring hopes to heaven addresse The feeble voice of my extreame distresse He stops his tyred eares without regard Of Suit or Suitor leaves my prayers unheard Before my faint and stumbling feet he layes Blockes to disturbe my best advised wayes I seeke my peace but seeke my peace in vaine For every way 's a Trap each path's a Traine ELEG 4. DIsturbed Lyons are appeas'd with blood And ravenous Beares are milde not wanting food But heaven ah heaven will not implored be Lyons and Beares are not so fierce as Hee His direfull vengeance which no meane confines Hath crost the thriving of my best designes His hand hath spoild me that erewhile advanc't me Brought in my foes possest my friends against me His Bow is bent his forked Rovers flie Like darted haile-stones from the darkned skie Shot from a hand that cannot erre they be Transfixed in no other marke but me ELEG 5. EXil'd from Heaven I wander to and fro And seeke for streames as Stags new stricken doe And like a wandring Hart I flee the Hounds With Arrowes deeply fixed in my wounds My deadly Hunters with a winged pace Pricke forwards and pursue their weary chace They whoope they hollow me deride flout me That flee from death yet carrie death about me Excesse of torments hath my soule deceiv'd Of all her joyes of all her powres bereiv'd O curious griefe that hast my soule brim-fill'd With thousand deaths and yet my soule not kill'd ELEG 6. FOllow'd with troopes of feares I flie in vaine For change of places breeds new change of paine The base condition of my low estate My exalted Foes disdaine and wonder at Turne where I list these these my wretched eyes They finde no objects but new miseries My soule accustom'd to so long encrease Of paines forgets that she had ever peace Thus thus perplext thus with my griefes distracted What shall I do Heavens powers are compacted To worke my ' eternall ruine To what friend Shal I make mone when heaven conspires my end ELEG 7. GReat GOD what helpe ah me what hope is left