that vntill a fitter time In my next booke from thence shee hies To speake of Humane miseries By Adams fall and how the times Are now corrupted ore with crimes At length shee falls with weeping eyes To treate of mine owne miseries VVhere shee declares how first I fell Away from God and lay in Hell As Prisoner fast till his free Grace Releasd mee from this wofull Case VVherein a large dispute as t were Twixt God and mee shee doth declare My penitence and how I lye As one that hath deseru'd to dye By lawes iust doom but yet depend On His sole Grace Thus doth shee end My former booke and lets me lye To waite for mercies sweet Reply I That had sate neere famous Isis shore The space of twice twelue moones and somewhat more And there had heard those Heauenly Muses sing That vse to solace by that sacred Spring At length I gan recall my selfe and thought What shall I stand and hearken still for nought Sure no I will be doing too altho It cost me deare enough much time and wo Come then VRANIA come thou sacred Mayd And Muse of Heau'n goe onwards in the ayd Of my great God whose sole commanding spright Shall alwayes guide thee in thy wayes aright Goe on I say in his sole strength and sing This dreary Canto to the weeping Spring A Song befitting well the time I meane The Story of that lamentable Scene Which earst my Sauiour acted here whilst He Was yet on earth Come then along with me And beare a part come quickly on I say For lo my passions will no longer stay No sooner can an earthen Caesar dye But Kingdomes flow in weeping Poesy Our dayes are nighted and the heau'ns o're-hung With sable clouds as with compassion wrung Of what we feele and seeming sad to rue Our great missehaps distils a weeping dew To beare vs company while all our eyes Make silent teares to blab our miseryes And this the cause we say of dreary night Our Sunne is set and we haue lost his Light Is 't so indeed And could that King of Kings That Humane-God of whom the Angel brings Such happy Tydings and the noblest Traines Of Heau'ns Musicians warbled out their Straines To solemnize his Birth which then began To preach Saluation to that Miser Man Could He I say be crucified and die Yet Man not melt into an Elegie Obdurate Clay so sweet a Sunne to see And not dissolue but still more hardned bee Ah cursed cruell Iewes where were yoâ— Scribes They could not write What blinded â—h your bribes As were your Watch-men Did you 〈◊〉 their eies For feare they should bewray your villanies By some sad Poem writ with sable Teares Vpon his death Which when the peoples eares Had heard and how you 'd shed his guiltlesse blood They needs would wish their heads a Water-flood To wash his wounds and to bewaile his losse Whom causelesse you thus tortur'd on the Crosse But Tyrants tell how could you gaze on Him With tearelesse eies who suff'red for your sin Had you a heart and could it choose but bleed Or were you men to act so vile a deed As murther Him whose very wounds did weepe To wash those sinnes that wounded you so deepe Or when you 'd don 't I wonder faithlesse Elues With Judas straight you had not hang'd your selues To see your Tragick Action or with speed If yet you liu'd bewail'd that horrid deed In lasting Teares of penitence and all Turne sudden Mourners to his Funerall But t was not so your infidelitie Was fore-decreed from all eternitie You did this not by chance but to fulfill The sacred Scriptures and resistlesse will Of Heau'ns great Lawgiuer who gaue you eies To see and weepe at others miseries But stubborne you peruerting all to ill Did what you could to crosse the Giuers will Blinded your selues and would not see the Light Till forst you were by vnexpected Night To see by opposites As those your kinne Who ryde in Poast the thorough faires of sinne With hood-winkt eyes and dreaming all is well Ne'r thinke on Heau'n vntill they feele a Hell But then too late alas the smarting Rod Doth make them learne a Heauen and a God! Such ill Disciples you whose faithlesse hate Did play so long the wanton till too late Sad Terror taught you Lectures Heau'ns and all Did seeme to checke you this Terrestriall Ball Did quake and tremble that it should sustaine Your selues the Off-spring of that cursed Cain The Temples veyle and very Rockes were rent As toucht with Passion seeming to lament Your deeds and wanting tongue and teares to plaine They brake their stonie hearts for griefe in twaine And glorious Titan Heau'ns all-seeing Eye The sad Spectator of this Tragedy Withdrew it selfe put on its sable weeds Wherewith it doth lament such dismall deeds And all the Creature clad in mourning blacke Did sadly seeme to mutter out it's lacke Meane while a secret terrour did inuade The hearts of all and an vnwonted shade O're-vaild the Earth on suddaine all was Night And reason good the Sunne that gaue you Light You banisht from your Eyes and would not see Though wrapt alas in rags of miserie Hee came to bee your obiect but in vaine Hee had but hate and labour for his paine Iust as his followers now that shew his Light They 're ouercome with hatred and Despight Thus did you entertaine Him with the crosse Whâ— harmelesse suff'red to redeeme your losse Anâ—â—lessed Sauiour thus with pitious Cry Hee seemd to call on his Diuinitie For aydance in that Agony wherein Hee now lay gasping burned with the sin Of mee and all the world vntill at length His God-head gaue Him all sufficient strength Whereby Hee ouercame which done Hee cry'd T is finisht gaue the ghost and thus Hee dy'd Here passionary Eye that dain'st to view My weeping Meeter writ with sable Dew Come beare mee company and let thine Eie Afford me Inke to write his Elegie Come weepe by Art make euery teare a verse The saddest now that euer hung on hearse And solitary Muses bring your Traines Of skilfull'st Mourners to intrust my braines With most Patheticke tenors that my pen May Eccho sorrow through the world agen And skilfull passions come assist mee now With sorrowes sad Materials shew me how To frame a sable Monument for Him Who payd his life a ransome for my Sin Come weeping Mourners Muses Passions all Come solemnize with mee his Funerall His funerall alas where am I led To seeke the liuing thus amongst the Dead What Maries passion hath possest my braine To hurry me thus vp and downe in vaine To seeke his graue I 'm quite out of the way I haue none Angell tells mee where he lay Or if I had what Marble Monument Can reach so high as bee his Continent Or were that Virgin sepulcher wherein His Virgin body lay so free from sin Before
AVSTINS VRANIA OR THE HEAVENLY MVSE IN A POEM FVLL OF MOST FEELING MEDITATIONS for the comfort of all soules at all times By S.A. B. of Arts of Ex. Colledge in Oxford Aut perlegas aut non legas What e'r thou be whose eyes doe chance to fall Vpon this Booke reade all or none at all LONDON Printed by F.K. for Robert Allot and Henry Seile 1629. An Apologie for my Muse that it chose this subiect before any other which might seeme more pleasing to the Times I Write not newes of Ree or our late Fleet For Rochels ayde or of the States that meet In our great present Parliament to cure Those wounds our dearest England doth endure For her both hid and open sinnes Oh no It is not fit for me who am so low To speake when greater tongues are tyde but I Bring newes from Heau'n wrapt in a mystery The sweetest newes that e'r was heard and such That cannot chuse but please yet 't is not much And therefore easier to be borne In briefe It is a remedy ' gainst euery griefe Of these our present troublous times I meane To those alone that crie Vncleane vncleane And faine would be washt white from sinne and be Secur'd also from all the miserie That followes it those Iudgements now that threat Our Englands fall if Mercy proue not great Thus haue I thought the safest way to please By writing what might giue to all men ease S. A. E Musaeo meo in Coll. Exon. in Oxonio 26. Maij 1628. AVSTINS VRANIA OR THE HEAVENLY MVSE Being a true story of mans fall and redemption set forth in a Poem containing two Bookes whereof one resembles the Law the other the Gospell Wherein is chiefly imitated the powerfull expressions of holy Scripture very necessary to be read of all both Diuines and others especially those who labour vnder the heauie burden of their sinnes and would faine be comforted By S.A. B. of Arts of Ex. Colledge in Oxford 1. TIM 4.12 Let no man despise thy youth c. IOHN 3.16 For God so loued the world that he gaue his onely begotten Sonne that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue euerlasting life ROM 5.19 21. For as by one mans disobedience many were made sinners so by the obedience of One shall many be made righteous That as sinne hath reigned vnto death euen so might Grace reigne through righteousnesse vnto eternall life by Iesus Christ our Lord. LONDON Printed by F.K. for Robert Allot and Henry Seile 1629. TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL THE especiall fauourer of my Studies Mr. Dr. PRIDEAVX the Kings Professor of Diuinitie and the most deseruing Rector of Exeter Colledge in Oxford Grace and peace c. Reuerend Sir IT may haply seeme strange vnto you to receiue such a Present as this from my hands but when you haue well consider'd it and the occasion of it I doubt not but without further wondring you will be ready to challenge it before any other as your owne principall due It is not your minde I know that I should here proclaime vnto the world the many dutifull ties and speciall engagements wherein I stand bound vnto you how that next vnder God I haue liu'd in this happy place aboue this foure yeeres especially by sucking in the sweet ayre of your continuing fauours and not so onely but how in a neerer kinde of reference you haue vouchsafed to take me into your owne Diuine Tutorage and honour'd me beyond all desert with the priuiledge of vsuall disputes before your selfe amongst those that were your Noble Scholers How much these and the like may serue for the illustration of your goodnes I well know not in that you plac'd your fauours on so low and worthlesse a subiect but I am sure they stand with my credit for euer to remember them for which and for diuers other particular respects if I had not iust occasion to present you these first fruits of my Studies which were nourish'd vp in your owne Garden yet here againe I could appeale vnto you as to a common Patron or Godfather as it were of the Diuiner Muses If I had made choice of any other Muse then Vrania or if my Subiect were not Diuine I would not haue presum'd to approach your eyes with it or intreate the world might know it vnder your Patronage But since all these circumstances doe so happily conspire and if these my labours may also prooue any way beneficiall to Gods Church and Children by your good approuement let them I beseech you as my first conceptions haue leaue to breathe forth their sorrows to the world vnder your Name Neither let it bee accounted my pride that I seeke after the vain-glory of the world by being in Print for these I hope can sufficiently witnesse for mee that if I glory in any thing it is with Paul in my infirmities after this manner would I haue the world take notice of me and to amend in themselues what they finde defectiue in me but if any thing herein seeme praise-worthy I would intreate all men to know that this came from a higher Spirit and my selfe can glory in nothing of it but by being the Instrument If you knew but the paines I haue suffer'd in trauell hereof how many precious houres and dayes I haue detain'd from those sports and vanities which are common to others yea how much time I haue stolne from my other priuate Studies which lay of necessitie on mee in this place and sacred them onely to this and then againe when I came about it with earnest intents how vnaptly I was disposed for it how ready for any thing besides it what drowzinesse would set vpon me and when I went sometimes more happily onwards by the strength of Gods Spirit what Legions of euill thoughts would suddenly interrupt me in briefe what heauy and hard conflicts and what a tedious trauell I haue had as God knowes in the producing of it I dare promise my selfe it would make your yeelding heart e'en bleed to thinke on 't Had I gone about any any worke of vanitie I am sure I should haue had the World Flesh and Diuell at hand to forward it but this hath shewed it selfe to be a worke of a contrary nature and hath had all these as earst Nehemiah had Sanballat and his complices conspirators to hinder it But now thankes bee to my God after two yeeres tedious trauell I haue at length finished it And since it has growne vp hitherto vnder your Tuition I doe here also humbly commend it to you for its future preseruation and fauour in publishing it which if you please but daine mee I dare promise its life shall prooue so thankefull vnto you as besides mine owne prayers procure you the blessings of many other soules for preseruing it To which great fauour I shall onely craue this one addition for the crowning of my desires that I may alwayes retaine my wonted priuiledge in being euer Your Worships
mine Eye yet sure my mazed wit Could neuer frame an Epitaph to fit That sacred Monument for if that I Should write as vsuall Here He lyes I ly For Hee is Risen and I 'm sure is gone To sit vpon his euerlasting Throne In highest Heauens where Saints and Angels sing All Glory Honour Power to Him as King And surely Hee is worthy But mine Eye Presumes too farre in soaring vp so high As pry into the Heau'ns and there to looke On him that opens that seu'n-sealed booke I am not Iohn nor haue I Moses face Thus to presume ascend that holy place To gaze on God Alas I 'm quite awry To seeke his Tombe or write his Elegie Ne'r Poet yet presum'd to cast a verse Vpon his graue and shall I bee peruerse Did they refraine for feare they should bespot His vndefilednesse with Inky blot Of natures braine which cannot reach so hie As feigne a Graue aboue Heau'ns Canopie Where nothing is corrupt And shall my braine Presume to feigne Him backe on Earth againe To bury Him with Man as though that Hee Might see corruption as wee sinners see Oh no I may not Art and natures Eye Stand quite amaz'd at this great Mysterie Which faith alone conceaues my feebled sense Doth want alas the high intelligence Of Heau'ns pure Substances which might endite A higher straine by far then Humans write And here I want an Angels hallowed quill To bee my Pen and then I want to fill That sacred Pen in stead of stayny Inke Those Christall Nectars which the Blessed drinke The purest drops of that e're-liuing Fount Which issues from the Holy Holy Mount Of God and of the Lambe that so my Pen Soaring aloft aboue the eyes of Men Might Touch his Tombe and write an Elegie Beyond the limits of Mortalitie All these I want and here I fayle in all Foole that I was to name his Funerall But pardon Sauiour pardon here I craue That thus I err'd in seeking out thy graue I did it not to erre but t was to show My loue vnfain'd to Thee to whom I owe My selfe and all I haue and sure mine eine Had they but seen that sacred Tombe of thine Would thought them blest to weepe ere they we 're dry Thereon to write with teares thine Elegie Might these my teares as Maries shew to Thee I lou'd thee much that didst so much for mee Somewhat I faine would do thee e're I dye That I might part with thee in misery Who partst with mee in blisses but t is vaine I must receiue yet cannot pay againe Without thy help and then my pay shall bee None other but the same I had of Thee And thus thy fauours haue o'recome mee quite I know not what to say or what to write Thy graue I may not seeke or fly so hie To blot thy purenesse with my Poesie The Heau'ns thy Monument the blessed Traines Of Saints and Angels stead of mourning straines Proclaime thy triumphs in their sacred layes Where euery pious period Ecchoes prayse Which sweetly seemes to lull Heau'ns soules asleepe And steales away their teares they cannot weepe A fit Consort so high an Harmonie Or none should dare proclaime thy victory And Blessed Iesus let this soule of mine Though now in flesh imprison'd yet in fine 〈◊〉 with these blessed Quiristers and sing All honour glory to my God and King Meane while I craue although my feeble Eie May not stand gazing at thy Deitie Yet teach it see thy passions teach it see The wondrous things which thou hast done for me Say but the word and this my worthlesse pen Shall tell such wonders to the eares of men When it reports thy fauours that thy Glory Shall bee far greatned by my Infant Story For who am I alas my childish braine Hath nothing in it selfe but what is vaine How dare I speake or write my mouth and quill Are both alike bee inked ore with ill My very thoughts are euill all my man Corrupted is I neither will nor can The thing that 's good and yet by Thee I will This very good I doe and cannot ill Here show thy power lest now I haue begun I faile before the halfe my worke bee don Call me as earst thy Samuel from his sleepe And as thy Dauid from his flocke of sheepe To sing thy prayses Let my Poesy Be as the words of weeping Jeremy To pierce the stoniest heart and to inuite The dullest Eares attention when I write Thy Spirit bee my Vrania to distill Such sacred Measures into this my quill That euery line it writes may reach a straine Beyond the high conceits of Natures braine To shew from whence it came and then my Layes Shall still bee Ecchoes of my Makers Praise And when our brauest Poets chance to see The vertue of Diuiner Poesie They 'le change their Tenors all and glory most To bee the Pen-man of the Holy Ghost And now in briefe I le shew if ought I can The many fauours thou hast done for Man But chiefly those thy fauours since his Fall Nor mine nor Moses pen can vtter All When first my Speculations fled so hie With Eyes of faith to see thy Deitie My reason was o'recome and I amaz'd Was forst to seek the thing at which I gaz'd I seekt and saw 't but all I saw alas Was this there was a God but what Hee was I could not see vnlesse by Opposite And so Hee was a Beeing Infinite Because not finite for His Excellence Doth farre transcend our weake Intelligencâ— I saw well what Hee was not for I 'm sure Hee was not ought dependent or impure As wretched Humans wee Hee was not ought That felt our passions or with curious thought Was euer vext for want for all was His Who gaue to all their beeing and their blisse In briefe Hee was not any thing that can Bee properly attributed to Man Or to Inferiors which might ought imply An imperfection or dependency These Negatiues I saw but here I stay I could not see th' Affirmatiues to say To say that this or this Hee was lest hapy I Should seem to lessen much his Deitie By these â—y weake assertions But at length It pleas'd this God of 's goodnes giue mee strength To finde him out as good Hee 'l not deny To those that seeke him in sincerity Hee wills mee search the Scriptures ouerlook The secret volumes of that sacred Booke Wherein most Gracious He vouchsafes to show As much as Humans ought or need to know Concerning Him till his Eternall Grace Immortals vs to see Him face to face And thither then I went where soon as I Had entred in and with a mazed Ey Had lookt on Moses writ my feeble sense Was quite o'recome at his Omnipotence For there I saw how first Hee did begin To make the spacious Heauens and earth wherein Hee placed Man as
of friends goods or the like which come Indeed from God as sent to call vs home To him and teach vs thence that all beside Himselfe are vanitie and cannot bide Long time with vs. Yet here they also faile Those that lye sole on them for they are fraile Themselues and cannot be a remedy To any one but him that doth apply Them rightly to his griefes as mediums sent From God or else they are a punishment If made as gods as mostly now they be By such as place their sole felicitie In them for so they doe not heale but kill Although they giue vs not a sense of ill Alas they soothe our senses fast asleepe And then as enemies they slyly creepe Vpon the soule which if it stoope so low As homage them they quickly ouerthrow And make it wholly slaue to them and this Is quite indeed to reaue it of the blisse Which earst it had in God and that 's as bad As take away the essence that it had Which gone its beeing else is nought but ill And misery And is not this to kill Alas it is Nay shall I speake more free To be so ill is worse then not to bee Thus wheresoe'r I go or turne mine eie Within these nether vales of vanitie I feele no more of comfort or of hope Then Protestants in Pardons from the Pope They 're meere delusions all or worse they 'd keepe My fainting soule in a perswasiue sleepe That I am well and so I should not fly Vnto the Mercies of eternitie The soueraigne salue of soules from whence alone I must haue solace or I must haue none But here behold when I had throwly seen The miserable state my soule was in By nature and had read with wearied eies The tedious booke of all the vanities Which here I saw on earth for all that I Could see alas was nought but vanity And when I 'd seene that I was quite bereft Of all my good and there was nothing left In me but miserie for lo I saw My horrid doome was past and by the Law I needs must die the death and this within I saw engrauen in my soule by sinne And when I 'd also cast mine eyes about To see those wofull helpes that lay without Satan and faithlesse vanity and these As Iobs vnhappy wife would giue me ease By killing me for all their remedie Was this To curse my God despaire and die I say when I had seene what here I saw I gan repent my frozen heart gan thaw Into a flood of brinish teares that I Had doted earst so much on vanitie For here alas my terrors still increase My sore runnes more and more and will not cease Or day or night My soule is troubled so 'T will not be comforted and I in wo Am hurried in and out so sore opprest With killing griefes and feares I cannot rest I looke within and dye without I see There 's nothing left alas to comfort me But sad despaire Thus wheresoe'r I go From God I wander further still in wo. But courage here my fainting soule for now I bid defiance to the world and vow To prosecute with an eternall 〈◊〉 This miserable All which I of late Esteem'd so much and Satan here farewell And farewell all that leade the wayes to Hell For now alas vnto my griefe I see VVhat miserable comforters yee bee Physicians of no value as those friends Of patient Iob or rather Hellish fiends To vex distressed 〈◊〉 Lo here I fly From offâ—…ll and in my misery I run vnto my God for onely He That out of nothing hast created me Can now againe giue life vnto my smile And make it white as snow though e'r so soule Besides he 's mercifull and well I know Hee lookes vpon the troubled soule below Himselfe hath said it and he cannot lie Although his habitation be on hie He 's present with the humble to enlyue Their deadned soules and sweetly to reuiue The truly contrite heart or were not be Thus gracious as he cannot chuse but be Yet wheresoe'r I go besides I 'm sure Of nought but death for they are all impure Meere vanitie not good but bad as sin Saue as they haue dependency on him VVhat may I doubt of then Suppose I go And he denies his fauour as I know He cannot doe for where he daines to giue His Grace to come he giues the Grace to liue Yet howsoe'r I 'm sure I cannot bee VVorse then I am for here alas I see I am in Hell already and vnlesse He helpe me out there 's nought but glooâ—… Sad thoughts ne'r dying deaths and all that dwell VVithin the limits of a perfect Hell VVill hence be my companions and will be As hellish furies all to torture me Then welcome here ye sweet melodious sounds Of that reuiuing Trumpet whose rebounds VVithin the turning Labâ—inth of mine eares Did earstly so affright my soule with 〈◊〉 And wake'd me from that drowzie sleepe wherein I slumbred earst vpon the bed of sin And welcome here thou sweet celestiall Sprite Thou very God thou euerliuing Light That thus hast quickned me and with thy beames Hast daz'led both mine eyes to weeping streames Of penitentiall teares and made me see My miserable state and now to thee I humbly come againe to be my aide In these my high disputes that when I 'ue said I may finde mercy and my tongue and pen May sing thy mercies to the sonnes of men Thus humbly I appeale vnto thy Throne Of euerlasting Grace from whence alone I seeke for sauing solace and implore For mercy for there is enough in store And here as Esther when she entred in To th'awfull presence of the Persian King On hazzard of her life euen so doe â— Appeale my God and if I die I die O thou great Maker of this goodly frame And all therein at whose dread glorious Name The deuils tremble by whose Word alone This All had beeing and without had none And thou that hast thy seat of Maiestie Beyond the reach of any mortall eie Within the Heau'n of Heau'ns and as a King Of Kings dost sit in glory where each thing Is subiect to thy book and all those traines Of Heau'ns blest Citizens with highest straines Doe warble forth thy prayses and adore That Three-Vnited-Holy which tofore Hath been and is and shall hereafter be From this time forward to eternitie Lo here a wretch that 's summond to appeare Before thy seat of Iudgement there to cleare Himselfe within thy fight if that a soule In rags of humane flesh may dare controle As 't were thy high discourse and shew that hee Hath reason good whence to dispute with Thee See here he comes but lo my dazled eie No sooner saw thy glimmering puritie As shining through a cloud but there I gan To see the spots of miserable man As men by opposites more plainely see
Already from aboue such sweet inspires Of quickning mercy kindling my desires With glad assurances of Grace that I Would not lay downe and change my misery For all the worlds best happinesse that can Be coueted by any carnall man To glut his greedy senses with for his Must haue its end but mine eternall is I meane my happinesse in that I see The sweet opposer of my miserie Is now at hand But here I must retire My wearied Muse awhile till my desire Obtaine its happy complement and I Behold my solace with a clearer eie Yet ere I rest deare Father lo I come To tell in briefe this is â—he totall summe Of these my weake disputes and this is all That I can answer thee as Prodigall Here I haue acted out my part and now Great Maker lo it doth remaine that thou Enter the Theater lest haplesse I By leauing't thus should leaue a Tragedy Imperfect to beholders eyes which might Strike them with sorrow more then with delight Come then and perfit it that all may see There 's nothing hath perfection but from thee Lo I remaine the Prodigall be thou The louing Father see with pity how I am beset with miseries and see What great necessitie I haue of thee That haue not ought without thee see agen How earnestly I thirst for thee and then Looke backe vpon thy promises whereby Thou' rt bound to vs that are in misery Thus Father pity me thy sonne and then With lasting fauour take me home agen Into thy armes of mercy where when I Am knit againe by that eternall tie Of thy redeeming loue my tongue and pen Shall be continuall trumpeters to men To tell thy mercies and what thou hast done For him that was so prodigall a sonne O quickly then deare Father quickly hie To him that is so full of misery Now is the time behold my tedious plaint Hath tyred out my soule and she 'gins faint In these her deepe extremes my teares and groanes Enforce a silence to her weeping Tones These are her latest words Come mercy flye And take me vp Come quickly or I dye Thus ouercome with griefe my dolefull Muse Kept silence with my soule for euery sluce My weepers had brast forth in teares to stop The passage of my plaints and ouer-top My sighes from flying vp aloft till 〈◊〉 Had grieu'd so much that all within â—as dry My braine had lost its moisture to indite Some dreary song my pen might weepe to write To giue continuance to my griefes and heere Because I saw that Mercy was so neere I did resolue to rest my selfe and stay Vntill my soule had seene a happier day Proclaimed from aboue I meane wherein She shall be ransomed from death and sin And all her present miseries till when Come rest with me my wearied Muse and Pen For here I vow you shall not speake againe Till Mercy raise you to a sweeter straine The end of the first Booke AVSTINS VRANIA OR THE HEAVENLY MVSE The second Booke Wherein is set forth the great mystery of Mans Redemption by Christ Iesus and the free-will and merits of Papists being experimentally confuted the true and only meanes whereby we are to obtaine saluation is plainely declared to the great comfort of all those that either are or desire to be true Christians By S.A. B. of Arts of Ex. Colledge in Oxford 2. COR. 1.3 4. Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort who comforteth vs in all our tribulation that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble by the comfort wherwith we our selues are comforted of God PSAL. 66.16 Come and heare all yee that feare God and I will declare what he hath done for my soule PSAL. 89.1 I will sing the mercies of the Lord for euer with my mouth will I make knowne thy faithfulnesse to all generations LONDON Printed by F.K. for Robert Allot and Henry Seile 1629. TO THAT HONORABLE GENTLEMAN Mr. IOHN ROBARTS Sonne to my Lord Robarts Baron of Truro in Cornwall the accomplishment of all true happinesse both in Grace and Glory c. Noble Sir I Haue here emboldned my selfe to intreate you also since you came hither so seasonably to be the second God-father of these my lowly conceptions and my hopes are that you will bee the easier wonne hereto because you haue so good a Compartner as my great Fauourer your diuine Tutor Neither is this all but I had many other most vrgent incitements to forward these my lawfull presumings first in that it was my happines to be your Countryman whence I thought it no meane disparagement both to my selfe and Country especially to your Honour that our Cornwalls Muses should not finde a Patron within their owne limits Secondly your happy growth in all vertuous perfections within these late yeeres as my selfe also amongst others haue seriously obseru'd to the great comfort of my soule with your extraordinary zeale and primarie deuotions to all diuine exercises hath been inough to inuite if not enforce mee to the humble presentment of these my desires and vtmost seruices to forward you If my Muse had here play'd the wanton I should haue thought her too toyish and altogether vnworthy your more serious and iudicious aspect but shee has been somewhat affected with those passions that were sometimes yours shee hath been bath'd in the teares of a deare mothers death but especially she hath desir'd to bee in all things heauenly and to please you euen in diuine contemplations and therefore cannot despaire of your good patronage I will no longer stand in commenting either on your vertues or mine owne endeauourings only I shall intreate you to know that there is none more sincerely desires your perfection in goodnesse then my selfe though haply you may haue many far better furtherers and in confirmation of this I haue heere humbly presented you this deare though poore conception of mine who like a weeping infant new brought into the world beseeches you with teares for its Patronage which if you but please to blesse it with and so make it liue famous in the world by being yours you shall not faile of his continuing prayers and thankfulnesse who desires to be euer Your true seruant in the Lord Iesus Samuel Austin From my Study in Exeter Colledge in Oxford this 11. of Aprill 1628. AN ADVERTISEMENT TO THE READERS ON my second Booke Good Readers IF I here come farre short of mine owne aymes and your expectations I shall intreate you to make this vse of it the apprehension of that great Mystery of saluation which I here treate of is a matter of far greater difficulty then at first I took it for yea sure it is an Art so hard and of so heauenly a nature that flesh and blood can neuer attaine the knowledge of it but it must be reuealed vnto vs from our Father which is in Heauen Whence it came to passe
shades may bid adue While his sweet rayes come vsh'ring in the day Or run as Iohn before to make the way And here great Lord come raise mee vp so high According to thy word that now mine eie May soare vp to thy Mercy-seate and there As Heau'ns pure eyes fixt in a holier Spheare Bee freed from all corruptions taint while I Go bathe my soule in that sweet Theorie Of thine eternall loue and when I see Those high prerogatiues I haue by thee How thou hast made mee free from death from sin From hell and all those miseries wherein I now lye plung'd and those whereto I tend As of my selfe and lesse thy Grace descend And quickly come and take mee vp alas I needs must fall and when it comes to passe That thy sweet Comforter shall come and tell To my sad soule againe that all is well VVith mee and when I feele thy quickning Sprite That harbenger and pledge of true delight Beare witnesse vnto mine that I am made Free man of Grace whereof I 'ue but a shade Whiles here on earth but shall hereafter haue The very substance much as I can craue Or shall know how to wish as earst to me Thou didst declare in that sweet mysterie Of thy great loue then shall my tongue and pen Be wholly votaries to thee and then My sad Vrania whose now weeping eies Are quite worne out with plainings teares and cries When she but apprehends those gladsome raies Shall metamorphose all her notes to praise And I myselfe with all I haue will be As one that 's wholly consecrate to thee Who am alone redeem'd by thee Oh then Here come my God here quickly come agen And take me vp here let me sweetly heare Those heau'nly tunes againe which did while-ere Giue such reuiuals to my soule that I Was almost past my Sea of miserie Ne'r to be plung'd in it againe if thou Hadst not so suddenly with-drawne the brow Of that sweet Sun-shine of thy Grace whereby I 'gan to see the blessed libertie Of those who are the sonnes of God But come Great Maker now and what thou hast begun In me thy creature perfit vp that so When after-ages shall both see and know How kindly thou hast dealt with me they may Appeale to thee in like extremes and pray To thee alone for helpe seeing that I Dauids poore man did humbly call and crie To thee and was deliuer'd for if he Were heard they 'le say then doubtlesse so shall we What wilt thou more This is the time and place As earst I said thou seest I want thy Grace So much poore soule as scarce I 'm able call To thee for Grace and if thou 'lt let me fall Alas I 'm ready to consent altho It be my thraldome to eternall woe Ne'r thence to be redeem'd againe nay more Alas I cannot chuse but fall so poore And weake a wretch am I that faine if I Might haue my will 〈◊〉 decreed to die I 'd seeke out opportunities wherein I would enact sâ—me higâ—â—vnhallowed sin That might exclude not quite from thee alas Such are the deeds my selfe would being to passe And none but such and then how canst thou haue A fitter opportunitie to saue Then now thou hast in me Was euer man Brought neerer yet to hell then now I am That want but one vnhappie step Oh no There 's none can fall to greater deepes of woe Vnlesse he fall to hell it selfe for I Am the next step so full of miserie As quite ore-come with it or one whose sense Is dull'd with its exceeding violence That so I cannot feele my selfe vnlesse It be like him that 's in a drowzinesse Or some vnhappie Lethargie whereby He dully feeles but knowes not how to crie Or plaine himselfe or call for helpe and sure This dangerous sicknesse is beyond the cure Of humans best preseruatiues which can At most but reach vnto the outward man To ease or comfort that awhile but when Those heauie pangs oppresse the soule O then All these are vaine for what were it if I Should liue in body whiles in soule I die Alas this were the life of death when that Which is my bodies life is dead But what What doe I meane Why is my troubled sprite Distracted thus Can griefe be infinite Which rises from that inward sight of sin Whereby we waile that wofull â—ase wherein We see our selues by nature and whereby We learne betimes to climbe so humbly hie As wholly to forsake our selues and cast Our hopes alone on thee who onely hast The treasures of eternall life Sure no This is that happie path by which we goe Into the way of sauing 〈◊〉 and this Is that sweet mâ—lium to our future bliâ— Through which indeed we must before we may Approach those 〈◊〉 of eternall day Here then deare God here will I humbly waite With lowly confidence in this my straite A straite more great then Dauids was when hee Did earst betake himselfe alone to thee Because thy mercies were so great and here Because thy mercies also are full neere In mid'st of humanes greatest deepes that hence We might obserue 't is thy Omnipotence And Goodnesse onely that relieues when wee Are ready to despaire because we see Nought else but death within our selues and how There 's nought beside can doe vs good that thou May'st be made all in all because I say Thou art so good here will I humbly stay Vntill thy mercies raise me vp euen here Confounded in my plaints without a teare To tell my further griefes to verifie That sorrow in extremes is alwaies drie Here will I lay me downe here will I stay Alas because I haue no more to say For lo I 'm dead in sinne and griefe Oh then Here let thy goodnesse shew it selfe my Pen And Muse can speake no more till thou descend And teach them more needs must I make an end And thus in deepes of this my silent griefe I humbly waite for answer of reliefe Here laying downe my selfe much like a man That 's carelesse growne I sleepingly began To drowzie out my dayes not caring how I plai'd the Prodigall with time for now Said I Sure I can doe no more mine eies Are wearied with my teares my sighes and cries Haue quite ore-whelm'd my feeble soule and I Am plunged in so deepe a miserie That now I know not what to doe alas For who am I My pilgrim-daies doe passe Away as shades and still the more I haue Of life the more I doe approach my graue All this I see aye me and more then this That very cloud that hinders all my blisse My sinnes doe still increase on me yâ—â— they Will haue no interruptions though my day Be clouded ere so much they will not cease To vex my soule nor let me liue in peace Alas and these distract me quite while I Haue not
faithfull seruant to be commanded in the Lord Iesus Samuel Austin From my Study in Exetâ—r Colledge in Oxford this 11. of Aprill being the day of our Sauiours Passion 1628. TO THE CHRISTIAN READERS Good Readers FOr I write onely to you that haue or at least desire earnestly to haue a part in that glory which is already in part and shall shortly be fully reuealed I haue here presented you with a birth as farre I suppose beyond your expectations as it seemes beyond the abilities of my younger yeeres but howsoeuer I shall intreate your kind acceptance of it and craue you all to foster it vp in your owne bosomes for I dare warrant you in the Lord that if you but saue it from death by your fauourable warmings it shall liue to giue you all wished thankefulnesse If I should but tell you of those fearefull conflicts I had in my trauell of it and my many grieuous cares in nursing it hitherto you would surely say it were an inhumane impiety presently to stifle it Pray peruse it well and I hope I shall not need much to speake for it it hath teares enough of it selfe to enforce your pity and is of so good a nature you cannot well chuse but foster it If you imagine it is too faire to bee mine I shall not be so presumingly proud on selfe-abilitie as quite to denie you for I must confesse indeed I haue had such large experience of mine owne infirmities in the trauell hereof that I can attribute nothing vnto my selfe but the imperfections herein and the glory of an instrument onely in producing its better parts I haue been indeed as a common Father as they say in bringing forth the matter but the forme life and soule of it was from God alone the Father of life to whose sole guiding and blessed aydance I must alwaies thankfully ascribe these my better performances When I began this worke I intended onely to treate of our Sauiours Passion but I was so led away by that all-ruling Spirit of my God that I ceased quickly from being mine owne man in it and brought this to passe which now you see according to the good hand of my God vpon me both beyond mine owne aimes and naturall abilities And now deare Christian friends I humbly beseech you in the Lord for your faithfull perusall of it and may the God of our Lord Iesus Christ the Father of glory giue vnto you the Spirit of wisedome and reuelation in the knowledge of him that the eyes of your vnderstandings being enlightened ye may know what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of his inheritance in the Saints Yours euer in the Lord Iesus S. A. From my Study the 11. of Aprill 1628. My Muse to my Censurers YOu that are troubled with the Dog-disease Pray reade me o're then censure what you please Vrania To that famous Nursery of Learning and Religion my Mother Exeter Colledge in Oxford all happinesse GReat Mother of the Muses thou whose fame Hath long time been more glorious by the Name Of thy Learn'd Rector let I humbly pray A worthlesse sonne of thine haue leaue to stray Abroad with his poore Muse a while to sing A timely welcome to the weeping Spring Let other Muses that deriue their birth From forraine Springs or from some baser earth Enslaue their wits to toyes of Loue but wee Must be Diuine that take our births from thee My Muse shall sing of Heau'n and in thy prayse Great 〈◊〉 shall scorne the momentarie bayes Of perishing mans applause which dies away Wâ—â—h those that giue 't but she shall sing a Lay Whâ—â—e Heau'n-borne wings shall raise thy Name so hie 〈…〉 it liue euen through eternitie The vnworthiest of thy sonnes S. A. TO MY EVER HONOVRED FRIENDS THOSE MOST REFINED Wits and fauorers of most exquisite learning Mr. M. Drayton Mr. Will. Browne and my ingenious Kinsman Mr. Andrew Pollexsen all knowne vnto me and to the rest vnknowne the Poets of these times S. A. wisheth the accomplishment of all true happinesse Austins aduertisement MY Noblest Friends you that deriue your birth From some thing that 's more excellent then earth From some sweet influence or some Deitie That liues aboue the base capacitie Of ignorant Spheares those rude vntutor'd braines That neuer trauell'd farther then their Plaines To learne of ought but Heards and Flocks or how They might dispose a Cart or guide a Plow To you alone I write what I of late Haue scene and heard the lamentable state Of these our latter iron times and hence It is I speake from sad experience The matter 's this Occasion did inuite Me hence of late to take a Summers-sight Of our farre-famouz'd London where when I Was come I tooke an opportunitie For venting of these plaints of mine which here My Vran ' hath brought forth with many a teare And speakelesse pang of griefe with losse of time Most precious to my soule O that a rime So poore as this should cost so deare but lo When I would faine haue let these waters flow Abroad vnto my Countrimen I went To see how well our Stationers were bent To further me herein but they reply Sure 't will not take for 't is Diuinitie Poems diuine are nothing worth but if I had portray'd a pretty Sea of griefe For some lost Mistresse or compos ' a toy Of loue in verse this would haue been a Boy Worth the conception each would take it vp And play with it or had I but a cup Of strong-breath'd Satyres mixt with spleene gall And could but powre it handsomely to fall Vpon some high-mans head Oh this would take Eu'n like Tobacco each Barbours shop would make A sale of it or had I but the time Neately to weaue some loose-lasciuious rime Stuft with conceits of wantonnesse Oh then I had been call'd one of the Wits for men Must haue their humours now they say but this Is quite against them euery one will hisse It off the Stage And is it so thought I Why then 't is time for our Diuinitie To stirre her selfe and speake in Verse if she Can ought perswade O what a miserie Is like to fall vpon this age when men Shall so forget themselues as turne agen To their first veines of childishnesse and will Giue any price to buy each toy of ill But will not giue a straw for good altho It be to saue their very soules What wo And horror 's this when men grow desperate To buy damnation at so deare a rate To pay a price for hell but will not giue A pin for heau'n O that my soule should liue To see such drearie dayes as these But now Since things are so what shall I say or vow Or doe to make them otherwise Why sure Great friends my present suit 's to you whose pure And heau'nly essences doe plainely say You are Diuine let me presume to pray And challenge you on all those bonds
that be 'Twixt God and you 'twixt heau'ns eternitie In blissefulnesse and your deare soules that hence You aide me on with your high eloquence And heau'n-commanding tenors to reuerse If our Diuinitie can ought in Verse Those strong opposing humours of this age This wayward madnesse this prepostrous rage Of humane hearts which gape so greedily To swallow sinne and drinke iniquitie Like water as the Scripture speakes but good They will not taste so much lest their ill blood Should be infected by 't and so perchance They might be drawne from hellish ignorance Into the glorious light of Grace whereby They might be brought to heauens felicity Before they were aware of 't O my soule What fury 's this How should we not controle Such stupid waywardnesse when now aday Men labour more it seemes to finde the way That leades to hell then euer heretofore The Saints for heauen O how should I deplore This wretched hum'rousnesse How should I chide My Countrimen for this that they 'le abide This cursed Achan to remaine so long Within their tents which hath done all the wrong Our Countrey hath of late endur'd how-ere Some ignorant braines thinke otherwise But here O that I might obtaine but this of them Which is that these my deare-wise-Countrimen Would onely duly thinke vpon and wey The way wherein they goe knowing when they Haue had their filles of vanitie at last They must expect a change that fearefull blast Of the last Trumpe will one day sound and then That dreary doome also will fall on them Depart from me yee curst and they must goe Into those prisons of eternall woe The deepes of euerlasting hell where they Shall be in paine beyond conceite no day Or instant shall giue ease to them but still They shall drinke vp those poys'nous drugs of ill Hells most reuengefull torturings if they Doe not repent themselues while 't is to day I meane ere deaths blacke night approach O then Thinke you on this my dearest Countrimen And thou deare Drayton let thy aged Muse Turne now diuine let her forget the vse Of thy earst pleasing tunes of loue which were But fruits of witty youth let her forbeare These toyes I say and let her now breake forth Thy latest gaspe in heau'nly sighes more worth Then is a world of all the rest for this Will vsher thee to heau'ns eternall blisse And let thy strong-perswasiue straines enforce These times into a penitent remorce For this their sinfull frowardnesse and then Heau'n shall reward thee neuer care for men And honour'd Willy thou whose maiden straines Haue sung so sweetly of the Vales and Plaines Of this our Ile that all the men that be Thy hearers are enforc'd to honour thee Yea and to fall in loue with thee I say Let me intreate thee to transport thy Lay From earth to heau'n for sure thy Muses bee So good the Gods will fall in loue with thee As well as men besides 't is fit thy Layes Should scorne all Crowns saue heau'ns eternal Bayes Then bid the world farewell with Sydney he That was the Prince of English Poesie And ioyne with me the worst of all thy traine To bring these times into a better straine And dearest Pol'sfen last of all the three Which should be first by that affinitie And int'rest that thou hast in me I here Intreate thy helpe amongst the rest whose deare And precious apprehensions reach so high As nought but heau'n or pure Diuinitie Should be the subiect of thy straines for they Are farre too good e're to be cast away On earth's base worthlesse vanities which be At best but emblems of mortalitie So soone they die and quaile away but thine Thy wits I meane are heau'nly and diuine Emblems of Euerlastingnesse and can Create conceits were neuer form'd by man No nor so much as thought vpon ere thou Thy selfe gan'st being vnto them but now Since things are thus proportion'd out I pray Come aide me with that heau'n-commanding sway Of thy high Verse which rather will compell Men to be mad then let them goe to hell In such a childish hum'rousnesse nay will Enforce them to be good against their will If they can be so dull or voide of sense As not loue goodnesse for selfe-excellence Whose sweet and louely fairenesse at first sight Without gaine-say obtaines a soueraigne right Ore all ingenious hearts at least if Grace Reside in them then nothing else takes place Come then I say deare Drayton Browne and thou And all the rest that euer made a Vow To keepe the Muses sacred Lawes come here And ioyne with me let neither loue nor feare Make you proue partiall till this hum'rous rage Be banisht quite from off our Englands Stage What shall I vrge you more or why intreate Your Wisdomes see the cause is wondrous great That craues your helpe nay more it craues the Pen And tongue of our best Angels too for men Must not be humour'd thus in ill or if It should be so sure goodnesse then for griefe Would run away or hide her selfe when she Should be discourag'd thus alas and we That honour her should not once dare to speake O 't were enough to make our hearts to breake Be valiant then my friends and let all those That wish our England well and hate her foes Be of like minde with vs yea those that bee The Princes of our Ile so shall we see Our England flourish spight of Pope and all That thirst with bloody hearts to see her fall So Goodnesse shall proue Conquerour but ill Shall not dare shew it selfe within this Hill And holy Mountaine of our God which he Preserues by speciall prouidence and we To see it thus with gladsome hearts shall sing Our thanks to God who rays'd so good a King To sit on our late Dauids Throne and may He grow as great as good still let vs pray Yea Peeres and all ioyne with my humble Pen And so let all the people say Amen The true well-willer and seruant of you all in the Lord Iesus S. A. Errata Page 4. verse 27. for rhus reade thus v. 36. for intrust r. instruct p. 7. v. 9. for I'm r. ioyne p. 8. v. 31. to say in the beginning to be left out and in the end for hapy r. haply p. 10. v. 39. for an Ambassage r. in ambassage p. 24. v. 24. for the r. thy p. 25. vers 6. for Sonne r. Sunne p. 28. v. 18. for there r. here p. 32. vers 30. for Sonne r. Sunne p. 34. v 39. for gifts r. griefes p. 39. v. 27. for tremble r. doe tremble p. 41. in the Margine for Exod. 16. r. 19. p. 42. v. 21. for hight r. light p. 52. v. 33. for hell r. ill p. 53. v. 39. for enow r. enough AVSTIN'S VRANIA OR THE HEAVENLY MVSE THE CONTENTS FIrst my VRANIA from the Spring Doth take occasion here to sing Our Sauiours Passion but her rime Leaues