iorney with great paine But with farre greater Honor came againe My Prince I know thy day disolu'd my night Thy heauy burthen made my burthen light Thy purple robe di'd red with my offence Bought me a coate as white as innocence Thy thorne's my crowne thy reeds my scepter and Thy death 's my life my faith doth vnderstand Thy blood 's the fountaine wash'd my soule from sin Thy wounds the gates to let me enter in And that wound in thy side doth this impart That thou intends to lodge me in thy heart And made thy passage ready the vailes rent Makes me despise th' earth for I 'm consident Thy cities gates wide open I behold And who'ill be pleas'd with leade that may haue gold My Lord I will not heauen is my home And I 'll not let thee goe before I come To share part of thy glory I am thine And my faith tels me that thy kingdome 's mine I know and do beleeue this and I trust My seat's made in the mansion of the iust And for that place I 'm bound in the meane time That I in all my actions may shew thine I 'm furnishing my selfe and I will ayme To weare my robes for th' honor of thy name I 'll first put on obedience and applie My selfe t' attend vpon thy Maiestie With dilligence and with religious feare Thy law I 'll study and thy world I 'll heare Stife-neck'd rebellion I will neuer know My power shall be bestow'd for to bestow Loues legacies on thee at thy command My inward heart and my externall hand Shall purpose and dispose and to thy throne I 'll offer both my owners and my owne Thy messengers and ministers I 'll giue Their honor and respect and striue to liue So carefully and free from all offence As one that ne're knew disobedience Although whilst my poore soule is lapt in flesh It 's cloth'd with sorrow and with sinfulnesse Yet with such holy feare I 'll spend my time Thou 'll please to say my sinnes are none of mine They shall be done s'vnwillingly my flesh I know well is betroth'd to guiltinesse But not by my consent I doe much ill And Lord thou knowest I do 't against my will Sinne dwelleth in me and muah'ill contriues T' effect much mischiefe and vnkindly striues To burthen me Lord how shall I 't preuent Since I am both guilty and innocent The flesh being mine the sinnes say so are they Yet since my will ne'er will'd to disobey Thy ordinances do thou plead my cause And if I perish vnder Moses lawes Let me appeale to my Messias grace And there find comfort I will seeke thy face But not presumptuously as Mary came Poore woman burthen'd both with sinne and shame Into the house where once thou sate to eate And well considering that her sinnes were greate Presum'd not to behold thy face but kept Behind thy backe and there kneel'd downe and wept And for a sinners sacrifice most meete Dropt pearle-like teares vpon thy pretious feete And gladly washt them and with her heads-haire Carefully wipes them dry to leaue them faire And with th' imbraces that best fits a friend And many louing kisses makes an end Euen so my gracious Lord I come to thee With many faults and much humilitie Knowing my blemish I 'm afraid of blame And being laden both with sinne and shame Willing to bide my face wash wipe and weepe Or any measures sinners ought to keepe Wishing with Mary my release to winne I craue my loue might couer all my sinne My Christ my loue is true and as it were Ioyned and mixed with a reuerent feare To make it perfect lend thy gracious skill To make my worke as proper as my will Vouchsafe to mend what is in me amisse It is both for thy honor and my blisse The old man 's crucifi'd and I 'm new borne I 'ue left my chaffe and I expect thy corne FINIS THE EPISTLE OF THE BRIDE TO her Lord containing her Petitions A Legacy spiritually composed for the gracious suruey of the Right Reuerend Father in God IOHN Lord Bishop of Chester c. By Augustine Taylor Preacher and Minister in the Church of God LONDON Printed by Nicholas Okes. 1623. TO THE RIGHT REVERENT FATHER IN GOD IOHN by Diuine Prouidence Lord Bishop of Chester c. Most Worthy Lord IF for your gracious fauours vnto mee My loue and seruice can e're make amends Both are at your dispose and you shall see I 'll ranke your name amongst my noble friends And no dishonor to your Honor for I bring not th' offring of a monitor But of one that wonld be admonished At your dispose you are as'twere my head Learn'd Prince of Preachers whose celestiall voyce Contracts a King to willing audience Accep't these lines and I 'll maintaine my choyce Is the true Image of true excellence 'T is inward ioy to mee to see men note Me clothed in a shâ—ed of Chester scoate It is a robe of honor and maintain'd By Chesters Lord vnwronged and vnstain'd My gracious Lord mistake me not I do Present with reuerence and humility These to your Lordshâ—p they belong vnto Your Honor onely Not presumptuously I eternize your name but with regard And your free Patronage is my reward Bestow it then and for your share doth rest Both all my all and of my all the best Contracted to your Lordship with the bands of true affection Augustine Taylor THE ARGVMENT As harrowing after sowing fits So the Bride wraps her will In prayers and her plants commits Ther Lord in Syon hill LOrd be not angry that I stay so long I would I will not leaue thee if I wrong Thee or my selfe with troublesome attempts Since mercies lawes poore weakenesse still exempts From punishment for commonly we see Weaknesse acts none but her owne iniury Then since she punisheth her owne transgression To chastice her againe were meere oppression Pardon me Lord for I am forc'd to speake Channells o're charg'd with water needs must breake Into the neighbouring lands and cooles the plaines With the moyst land-blood of their too full vaines My heart 's the fountaine and my tong 's the brooke Wherein flowes all my passions Ouer-looke Her fruitlesse inundations I request Conceiue the baser but receiue the best They both proceede from loue and can loue cire I know she may but what man will preferre Complaints against vnfained loues offence None for 't would argue hate to innocence I know thy nature's gracious and Intreate Since thou art better pleas'd to blesse then beate Say not my sinnes are sinnes make good of ill Although they be my workes th' are not my will My God thou knowest it well and since I haue Promis'd thee some good seruice I must craue Thy fauours to performe it thou must breede Th' originall in me of will and deede For any good and first I humbly pray Increase my faith that the foundation may Vphold and honor all the vpper parts Of
all my buildings thou do'st know my hearts Desire is onely t' entertaine those things That my saluation and thy honor brings Furnish me so with faith that my grand-foe Attempting to effect my ouer-thowe May faile and fall and vanish giue me that Faith that set Noah vpon mount Arrarat That which remou'd Henoch from of the earth And without death a gaue caelestiall birth I doe but wish that sword to vanquish sinne Which Dauid brought gainst th' vgly Philistime When woes be set me round and sinne and death Then let my faith aduance me from beneath To thy abiding City'mongst the iust Lord of thy mercy change my faith to trust Faith doth confesse Christ but trust doth perswade The spotlesse offerings that my Iesus made Were mine and for my sinne and soules reliefe This I beleeue Lord helpe my vnbeliefe Another thing I craue is patience to Accept contentedly and vndergo Afflictions that may happen grant to mee Such store of patience in all misery That my deserts may cause report to spread Iobs dearest daughter liues though he be dead Teach me to welcome sorrow ' mongst the rest Of other passions that possesse my brest Make patience power the greatest that I may Passe the worlds nights to heauens glorious day Next furnish me with strength make me of might To maintaine combate in thy Gospells right And to my strength adde valour for these too Being diuided can no seruice doo To merit thankes or prayse the foes intent Preuaileth when my valour 's impotent And when my strength wants valour I am like To loose the field because I dare not strike Therefore I sue for both th' are fit'st for mee Because I but desire them t'honor thee Then make a sword of both to cut off strife Venter thou it and I will venter life And yet I venter nothing for I know I haue nothing but what thou didst bestow And as thy owne command it thine I rest ' The best of seruants can but do her best Yet gracious Lord direct me how to make Euen for thy passion and compassion sake My prayers more compleat because I haue Great neede of many things and cannot craue So as I may obtaine except the most Powerfull assistance of the holy Ghost Helpe to preferre my sacrifice if thou Will some more pacience vnto me allow To temper all my passions in such measure That neither sorrowes nor deluding pleasure Possesse me with excesse then I shall doo Thee soueraigne honor and me subiect too To make thy Bride victorious I do pray With reuerence loue and feare that I still may Inioy that pacience which can bring me past The blew-red vaile with victory at last Into thy holiest holy here beneath Afflictions miseries cares feares doome and death Fills all my dayes so full of discontent That till I see that ladder thou once sent Vnto my Father Iacob set for mee T' ascend I looke for noe felicity My Lord by all the gracious promises Of thine betweene the first of Genesis And the Omega of thy sacred booke And by the paines that my Messias tooke By his vnualeu'd merrits and by all He sayd or did from 's birth t' his funerall Free me from all my sinnes and now remoue The clouds of sinne and vengeance from aboue That my voyce may come to thy sacred eares And fetch my pardon from these cares and feares Lord quit me out of hand and let me see The glorious state of immortalitie I 'm weary of these nether-lands and would Come see my dowery that with purest gold Thou hast so richly wall'd and pau'd so faire With Berill Topaz and such stones as are Most fit in forme and beauty I intreate That as thou hast prouided me a seate In Syon thy most holy heauenly hill Thou'll place me in 't O let it be thy will To helpe me home in hast that now I may Change my blacke night for thy bright endlesse day FINIS AN EPISTLE OR A Legacy for the vse of the Right Reverend Father in God IOHN Lord Bishop of the Isles of Man c. By Augustine Taylor Preacher and Minister of the Lord our God at Hawarden LONDON Printed by Nicholas Okes. 1623. TO THE RIGHT REuerent Father in God Iohn by the Diuine Prouidence Lord Bishop of the Isles of Man Rector of Hawarden c. MY Lord you know a heauenly muse should bee Esteemed as men prize eternitie I know your brest containes a muse diuine And therefore will not vnder-value mine Of all that liue I dare a fauour claime But those whose all shall perish with their name Right Reuerend Phillips Phillip the great King Of Macedon did cause a child to bring Quotidian warning thus for him to scan Phillip remember thou art but a man A fairer title I deliuer can Phillis consider you are Lord of Man Both men and man approues it in that I le You haue sate graciously a happy while Vnto mans makers glory and your prayse Among'st most reuerent Bishops all your dayes Shall be accounted happy many aime At profitable Lordships and for gaine Are Lords of more but baser mettle farre As farre as doth the Sunne exceede a Starre Men should beleeue it because God hath sayd Man doth exceede all workes that e're God made Stay man the soyle no man the soule is blest I grant that truth and then it needs must rest Y' are Lord of both others but of the soyle Their couetous carefulnesse and temp'rall toyle Affirme no lesse whereas your Lordship may With much content with Princely Dauid say The place wherein my lot to me befell Is passing faire and like me wondrous well You might haue bathed in a greater fountaine But a small Dyamond's worth a mighty mountaine Some lesser things are priz'd the great'st aboue The quality not quantity breeds loue Happy was man to haue the man of God Find out her port he hath remou'd the rod Of wrath and fury out of all her coasts And how to call vpon the Lord of Hoasts In her owne language he hath taught her know Such benefits good Bishops doe bestow Vpon their flocke Now babes and sucklings can And doe extoll the Lord of Heauen and man Pitty't had beene you should haue left the I le For your preferment better many smile Then one and it is better that one loose Then many I haue knowne your Lordship choose To preferre generall before speciall good Your pious learned care 't is vnderstood Hath truely newly setled all the land And taught the ignorant to vnderstand The holy word of God and 't is thought fit You honor God your King and selfe by it In seeing that establisht yo 'aue begune Ioy in it Lord you haue more honor woone By making th' ignorant intelligent Of God and men then euer shall be spent My friends the cause I prayse this Lord 's to mee As neare and deare as Paul to Tymothie What erst was ruin'd by the great neglect Of 's predicessors he doth re-erect In sumptuous stately
friends so did thy father and mother As death doth fetch one nature brings another To keepe earth in repaire vntill there come The members of my Bride all knit in one Th' art now ship-like still flitting restlesse and Floting in miseries on this nether-land And cannot anchor yet but shall land at The Mount aboue th' Armenian ararat I know thy poore Barke is in danger still Betwixt the promis'd good and present ill My Bethels plenties and thy Babels wants Drawes thee as Iron cast amongst Adamants Yet know if thou like Lots wife wauer do Thou'll loose the City and the Mountaine too Fergetfull loue I must first send to thee That thou shewes these signes of disloyalty I do not take it well thou art so slow That thankes for all the blessings I bestow Is yet vntruely payd Now I could chide But it becomes not me to vse my bride Discurteously I 'ld not be angry yet My loue to thee commands me not forget My patience therefore arme thy selfe with hast The dayes of peace will soone be ouer-past Hearken my spouse I haue some things to tell Concernes the health and wealth of Israel I do remember thee euen from that day Thou lay vnshapen in a lumpe of clay Voyd of forme life and beauty I begun Then to behold the workes that I had done In number many and in fashion faire T' adorne the earth and beautifie the Ayre I blest them all with order then I meant To make some pretious peece more excellent Then all the rest and to place that aboue And make that chiefe and that should be my loue And that I would preferre and raise to honor And that should be my bride and still vpon her Angels should waite And this is my decree What wrongs are done to her as done to me Shall be reueng'd Thou art this Bride I say And all I promise I haue power to pay Let all thy enemies thinke on 't my intent's That all like faults shall feele like punishments Thee pretious peece when I did meane to make With care and loue I thus in hand did take Let vs make man of other things I sayd Let there be such and they were form'd and made The Earth the Seas the Ayre the Fire and all That 's made in or vpon this neather-ball The Starres and Lights aboue the Moone and Sunne I did but speake the Word and these were done And they were well done but when I apply'd My powre and skill to frame my selfe a Bride I made thee matchlesse thus pure faire and free The blessed Heire of Immortalitie I 'ue made thee wise because true wisedome should Shew like a Ruby in refined gold And lodge in Princes breasts I 'ue made thee strong To vanquish all thy foes that thou a long Through Iordans flood to Syloes streame may passe And that as farre as Diamond doth glasse Thou may exceede the rest Truth did entreate That in thy breast she might possesse a seate And she shall keepe it for to keepe thee free From flattering lying and hypocrisie From enuy error and the worst that soe Thy substance may be better then thy showe The clod I made thee of was clay the time When th' earth was in her nonage in her prime When water earth and ayre were stor'd with plenties With seuerall sorts of many seuerall deuties The place where thou receiu'd thy first estate Was neere to Eden yet without the gate But I did bring thee Inn and did decree What I had done should be to honor thee And thou shall rule as chiefe thy rule shall stand I haue commanded all for thy command Consider thy state doth all else excell To haue a being and a being well Both argues power and mercy in the hand Of the great worke-man thou mayst vnderstand In this last act apparantly doth rest The difference betweene the man and beast Powerfull and pittifull thou shalt me proue Sure I thinke thou thinkes I deserue thy loue Do not mistake my loue 't is pure and free And thine 's deffectiue both in qualitie And in condition If the price were layd In ballance ' gainst the purchase 't would be sayd That I haue made a loosers match but still Power may performe and want may onely will What euer faults are thine if thou repent My pleasure is in mercy my intent Intends thy ioy my loue is setled so I had rather giue ten blessings then one blow FINIS THE EPISTLE OF THE LORD TO his Bride vpon her Election A Caelestiall legacy for the vse of the Honorable Sr. Thomas Sauage and his noble Lady Written By Augustine Taylor Preacher at Hawarden LONDON Printed by Nicholas Okes. 1623. TO THE HONORABLE Sr. Thomas Sauage Knight and Barronet one of the Prince his highnesse Priuy Councell c. AND TO HIS MOST NOBLE Lady the Lady Sauâ—ge Daughter and heire to the Right Honorable the Lord DARCY c. Truely Honorable AS two great riuers when in one they meete Makes faire and fruitful all the neighbouring lands Euen so our Country when you too did greate Felt strength and comfort by your clasping hands Your bounties plenties beauties wit and loue Makes both your Honors to slane wondrous bright In Court and Country and me first did mone At your faire lampes to giue my candle light And since you loue the pious life of grace I 'm bold to bring this sacrifice to you It is diuine and therefore claimes a place In your great bossomes Truth sayth 't is her due To lodge in the best roomes of euery brest Yea euen in Princes for because it brings Th'externallioy and the internall rest Truths life and Honor and rewards makes kings Of meane men and this part which I present Vnto your Honors is Iehouahs voyce Descending to our terrence continent Vpon th' election of his Bride his choyce Wonder not why I write you are the sunne To Chesters neighbours ' mongst whom I 'm a starre Though dim and therefore I should haue begunne To tender my affection sooner farre Since your faire Country is my friendly nurse I owe this loue vnto your Noble nest What treasure I entoy I will disburse To make both loue and seruice manifest For you if I can write or Preach or pray Command me freely for indeede you may At your Honors Command in the seruice of GOD. Augustine Taylor THE ARGVMENT The Soule 's the Bride and least she swerue Or erre in any act The Lord his Syon to conserue Doth to his sonne contract MY dearest loue Oh that thou had the wings Of true affection Loue that 's fit for Kings Ought to be pure and lasting then be wise Prouide to offer since the sacrifice I manifest vnto thee man prouide Or loose the honor to be call'd my Bryde I call'd thee Bride stay Did I not mistake Did I not erre a man a Bride to make No no I did not I did fall in loue With my owne Image and I must approue My proper seate is in the soule
bounties toward 〈◊〉 may be quit With loue and seruice I haue some such coyne Impresse thus with you names make vse of it It doth the soules of Saints together ioyne And Syons preseruation doth expresse And treats of nought but blisse and happinesse Prophane adulterous plots I do detest I ayme to please the soule and not the soyle To call and summon euery Holy ghest To the Lambs nuptialls is my pleasant toyle My Patrons glory my pen onely seekes And moues no blushes in most modest cheekes Right noble Henry I do know your brest Containes a spirit that is not cantain'd In ordinary limits Honor's best Approu'd and honor'd and her worth explain'd Being cloth'd with robes of purity most fit Lined with mercy valour grace and wit Y' are Lord of these I flatter not I know you And your good parts I honor and admire For all your loue and fauours more I owe you And what I do not do I do desire I could do for your good But I note still Imperfect acts may rise from perfect will And best deseruing Lady you haue beene The Patronesse of my yet infant pen If these more mature workes you do esteeme And countenance I 'le vrge both times and men To keepe your name aliue free from the dead So long as English shall be spoke or read My pen my sacred muse and sweetest breath Shall honor Henry and Elizabeth God guide protect direct and loue you still And send you good vntill I wish you ill Your Honors in all holy duty and Humaine loue Augustine Taylor THE ARGVMENT Thelpe Isr'els faults some good men striues But cannot make amends Iustice and truth her fall contriues Then mercy makes them friends HEare more my choice and thou shal more conceiue Go not for her I loue I would not leaue Why should we part no no it must not be And if we euer do it's long of thee No fault of mine thou ought'st to vnderstand I mildly do intreate that may command But rigour fits not Princes hatefull thing Base cruelty did ne're become a King Milde patience potency hath euer lou'd The Monarch would not Momus will be mou'd Meeke clemency with Princes euer rides Dauid's at Musicke diuellish Doeg chides So some may do and may vndoe and doth Some things at once are done and vndone both Compassion should in greatnesse beare great sway Mercy in Kings shines like the Sunne in day My mercy thou hast found It hath found thee And brought more blessings then dim eyes can see Or hearts of men conceiue not thy creation Choosing collection troublesome vocation Was all the charges I for thee disburst Thy limmes were soundest but thou trauel'd worst And left my wayes to wander in thy owne Thy heathen neighbours that haue scarcely knowne Thy beauties by report much wonder still To see so faire a creature do so ill When I saw thus thou had thy selfe forgot And other nations that I loued not Reioyce in th'disgrace I knew some paine Must be perform'd to wash thee white againe So foule was thy complection some did see That the whole peece of blacke impurity Was all Imploy'd to make thy coast sad Iob Desires to wash thy spotted sinnefull rob In his snow-water and he brings it in But 't was not that could send away thy sin So Iob mistaken his indeauours rest He 's worthy thankes good man he did his best But could not make thee better Aaron then The first and chiefe of earthly holy men Puts on his rich attire and meanes to bring A sacrifice vnto his Lord and King Prouides his alter and with reuerent feare Calues goates and pigeons he doth offer there And to make an attonement for thy good My priest and alter were both di'd in blood Actions that in some measure did perswade But there was other off'rings to be made Of better value and of greater price Good Dauid friendly brought his sacrifice And that was Isop water and with that His meaning was to wash away thy spot He did his best but 's best did not remooue Yuy sinne but onely manifest his loue Aaron and Iob and Dauid lou'd thee well Yet notwithstanding they did partly dwell At the vaine-labour their workes went to wracke They washt the Moore and he was still more blacke Angels descend and moues Bethesdas lake And yet the long-sicke man no shift could make To make his sorrowes cease these are but toyes Or rather types of price of better ioyes A faire oblation must amend these foule A spotlesse blood must make a spotlesse soule No other offering can disolue offence But luke warme-blood of harmeles Innocence When man had sinn'd and sinne had wrought the fall Of Adam Heuah and their seede and all Borne betweene the worlds birth and funerall God granted a Commission to these two Iustice and Truth and these should say and do And in the high Court on this high Commission These two were set and making inquisition How man that was so good became so ill And finding that he fell by his owne will Affirm'd no punishment could be too much For 's voluntary trespasse and begins To whip man willingly for willing sinnes And by decree in that high Court consents That wilfull faults with wofull punishments Shall be rewarded Is the law so sore For tasting but one apple mongst such store The smallest faults done willingly are great Sinnes done at vnawares shall pardon get Sinnes worthy pardon mournes and knowes no mirth And but begins conception after birth Sinnes worthy death are those that mourning scorne Those that are first conceiu'd and after borne When Truth and Iustice doom'd thy death for sinne Mercy came sorrowfull and sadly in Her body trembl'd and her head hung downe Vpon her backe she wore a long white gowne Her hands were lifted vp her eyes were weeping Her woes were waking and her ioyes were sleeping Her knees were bended begging thy offence They would iudge hers and with such reuerence She spoke in thy behalfe with such respect That as I liue a Tyrant would haue wept She had a palme but bore it very low And carelesly because she did not know How she should speede and humbly thus preferres Her plaint before the high Commissioners The iust Commissioners something mou'd to see So faire a Princesse beg so earnestly Another pardon sadly answer'd thus That one must die it is decreed by vs If thou canst make amends for Adams fall His faults we 'll bury at thy funerall And yet we cannot thus the man forgiue For if thou should die he cannot liue But this we 'll tollerate if thou can get A Prince to loose his life for subiects det Our God is pleas'd to Eden he shall come And thus the lost sonne may be welcome home Thinke with thy selfe speake with thy Prince and try Thy Prince must fall or man and men must dye Mercy being answer'd sate her downe and wept And being full of sorrow would haue kept Her selfe vnseene I see her stept in And
and car'd for all that were in woe None can complaine that they away did goe Without a pardon for the great'st transgression All those that brought repentance found compassion I haue beene thine thine both in word and deede My tongue did preach and pray my flesh did bleede From my fresh wounds the smallest droppe that fell Is price sufficient to saue Israell I promise thee beleeue my promise then One drop may saue more worlds then this hath men It is sufficient Know I did not come To plead defficience and pay halfe the summe Let him that 's poore and needy and that must Confesse his pouerty and take on trust I haue no such occasion let him score That 's growne disable beggarly and poore Thy ransome all is payd and thou art rich And still within my store-house there 's so much It neuer can be empti'd do not want My bounty cannot make my blessings scant Desire and I will giue thee more and more Thou canst not make the stocke of mercy poore Presume not neither for I will expresse My Iustice on presumptuous saucinesse The meeke and lowly I delight to guide I owe the greatest punishments to pride My Israell my death hath bought thy life Forget not then the duties of a wife The office of a husband I haue showne In greater measure then the world hath knowne The graue is conquer'd death hath now no sting All foes are vanquisht by thy Lord and King And now thy Christ as chiefe aloft doth raigne And Edens gates are now vnbarr'd againe The Lambe being slaine the fity sword by him Is taken from the angry Cherubin And my faire bride may come and welcome in FINIS THE EPISTLE OF THE LORD TO his Bride vpon her Sanctification A Heauenly legacy properly for the vse of the Honorable Sr. Richard Mullineux c. Written By Augustine Taylor Preacher at Hawarden LONDON Printed by Nicholas Okes. 1623. TO THE HONORABLE Sr. RICHARD MVLLINEVX Knight and Barronet c. Worthily Honored THere is a sumptuous feast prepar'd Vpon Gods holy hill Of dainties and of plenties shar'd Amongst all those that will With reuerence and louing feare Attend to be the ghests At the Lambs nuptialls to be there The Lord by me requests Your worthy selfe therefore prouide Your wedding garments fit And you by Gods-sonnes-sacred side In glories seate shall fit Peruse these lines and though they be No measures that excell Yet th' are diuine and comes from me That knowes and loues you well Yet for my knowledge and my loue Accept it not but for His glorious name that fits aboue And is th'all gouernour I know you 'll giue this meete respect And for your Noble name Time shall preserue and still protect With the sweete lippes of fame To all posterities to come When this short life is past These lines shall liue and when your tombe Shall perish these shall last Your Honors in the sernice of the Lambe Augustine Taylor THE ARGVMENT Least nation rude should spie some spot In the Messias Bride By 's spirit and 〈◊〉 begot A new and Iustifi'd BEcause I 'm earnest and an vrgent mouer Do not thou take me for a doting louer Why I 'm so loth to leaue thee thou mayst know From her I loue I do not loue to go Something 's are wanting yet the prophet sings That holy men are seru'd with holy things And know I will be sanctifi'd in all That shall come neare me euery one that shall Into my Temple come by my command Shall put their shooes off for 't is holy land I loue this holinesse 't is a kind of beauty And to expresse thy loue and shew thy duty Thou mayst do well to learne it and thou so May be Queene-like in substance and in show Beauty or maiesty lookes well alone But ten times better if these two be one One beauty's honor'd seru'd and praised too And then for many what would many doo They could not do so much and so I thought When with so great a ransome I thee bought Thy spots and freckles all I washt away And made thee such that there is not one may Compare to be thy equall th' art that one Whom all doth like but can be-alike none Each tong tels forth thy praise each pen thy fame A peerelesse Princesse and a matchlesse Dame Chiefe of thy kind and fairest of thy sex A worke that makes admir'd the Opifex Conceiue thy owne estate and thou will tell God is a louing God to Israell I made thee happy yea and holy too For all that earth and earthly kings could do Thou hath beene carried safe on Eagles wings To th'prayse of thine to th'shame of other kings With blood and water I haue washen thee Thy spots of sinne and thy infirmity Are chang'd for honor strength and purity And thou so faire in holinesse art seene Thy heathen neighbours wonder and do seeme To enuy thy estate and maruaile so They make dispute if thou be flesh or no Thee of more pretious mettle they define Some small part mortall but the most diuine Thy pleasant beauty countenance and grace They thinke composed of no peece so base They know thy beauties from the Heauens are For th' earth cannot afford a frame so faire Nature amazed doth her selfe submit To her owne worke and loues to worship it And seekes to find the author of each obiect And findes but one for all and that one's subiect She willingly becomes and doth record Her selfe a seruant and thy loue her Lord. And thus my grace to sanctifie my creature Path blest thee with all helpes of art and nature Hut of thy coate it is the old mans weare Filchy polluted noy some gracelesse geare Made of a web in disobedience frame Stain'd with the spots of infamy and shame 'T was cut out by ambition shapen by pride And stitcht together by that Homicide Impiety and lin'd throughout with sinne Vncleane without but more vncleane within Butten'd with feare garded about with woe And spotted with a thousand plagues and so By flattery sold and bought by arrogance And dayly worne by doating ignorance The old man weares it such a one I say Whose sinnes are greene and yet his haires ar gray I meane him old in vices him eschew Old things are worne away all 's become new And so must thou the coate that 's made for thee Is cut out of the web of puritie Made large and long th' image of excellence Of colour white betokening innocence In-layde with ioy the skirt with safty bound And with true honor treble-garded round Clasped with comforts furnisht with content Ornated with each seemely ornament Fram'd by desire perfected with good will Seame-sow'd with loue and perl'd with holy skill Set thicke with starres attended on with day Compos'd with care and shall looke fresh and gay For euermore I haue thee so attir'd As thou cannot be equall'd but admir'd And it must needes be so since thou art wife T' a Lord in comprehensible thy
life Must be incomparable to expresse Thy loue is holy and in holinesse The seruice he admits of must be done Now thou art perfect it were best to come And seeke a fayrer habitation for So faire a Princesse me thinkes should abhor So foule a dwelling Dauid much laments That 't was his lot to dwell in Kedars tents Those mouing cabins onely but remaines To Ismaels issue on th' Arabian plaines Goodly great buildings I haue made for thee Where woods and meades and springs and riuers bee Now seeke thy Lord thy lodging 's furnished A holy Bride should find a holy bed FINIS THE EPISTLE OF THE LORD TO his Bride vpon her Iustification A Holy legacy for the vse of the Right Honorable William Earle of Northampton c. Written By Augustine Taylor Preacher at Hawarden LONDON Printed by Nicholas Okes. 1623. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE WILLIAM Earle of Northampton Baron Compton Lord President of Wales c. Right Honorable NVrst in the limits of your Lordly power I line and therefore boldned to present Vnto your view this holy newes this hower By Heauens King 's gracious commandement Amarriage feast is gloriously begunne 'Twixt Iacobs Daughter and Ichouahs Sonne To call to 't noble ghests there 's many sent And I am one and I am sent to you Right worthy Earle put on your ornament Such as may giue the Nuptiall day it due Your seate's prepar'd deckt with victorious bayes And shall stand more yeares then this world hath dayes My Lord I 'm plac'd vpon the mount of peace To profit Syons friends and not to please The reeling multitude such as would ken The path to paesse to new Ierusalem I haue Commission to direct theretoo With all the remnants I haue nought to doe Your honor of that body 's a chiefe part Of which Christ Iesus is the supreame head Vnto your hand therefore withall my heart I offer this praying your Honor read It is the word of truth and doth afford The fairest gilding for your Prineely sword It is the latest Honor great men wish To leaue their memories in leaues of brasse Or let or marble this meere weaknesse is Because it shall consume perish and passe Away with ruining time Therefore I giue This frame to you where in your fame shall liue Till men and time and English cease giue mee Your gracious count'nance and I haue my fee. At your Honors seruice submissiuely deuoted Augustine Taylor THE ARGVMENT Pollution must be layd aside For holy garments gay The Lambe hath shapen for his Bride T' adorne the marriage day STay yet more Iewels must adorne my loue Before she can be fit to fit aboue Vpon a Princely throne none shall deride At thine estate thou shall be iustifi'd The great Kings daughter must be faire within She 's blest to whom the Lord imputes no sin Then blest shall thou be mine shall be the blame And I will beare the burthen of thy shame And I will answere those that railes on thee They do mistake themselues and iniure me If thou find enemies that do beginne To blaze thy faults and publish all thy sinne Bid them behold themselues and learne to mend Tell them thou hast a father sent a friend To pleade thy cause and that Prince is content To take thy sinnes and beare thy punishment Bid them remember in the dayes of old My Prophets and Apostles truely told That sinners soules should die and euery one Should beare the burthen of 's owne sinnes alone So they must do be mindfull of it will-them Say thou that I sayd so so thou may still them They may obiect then thou shall answere thine For God loues right and will to right incline He will indeede for the most pretious summe Did satisfie for sinne e're pardon come That summe I paid and paid in thy name too The debt was thine but who hath ought to do Against this satisfaction to exclaime For thou art iust if I suppose the same To whom the Lord imputes no sinne th' are iust And so art thou and onely by thy trust There 's other adherent helpes but faith extends As the chiefe instruments that apprehend My satisfaction to be others share My merits by thy faith thy merits are Euen as a woman doth that's farre in debt If she a wealthy husband chance to get And he discharge it and then some demaunds If the bond woman forfeited her bands Or satisfied them Creditors ensue And iustiffies she payd them all their due The feast was hers the charge her husbands lot And thus she payd it though shee paid it not So thou art iustifi'd iustice of mine That 's vncreated hath created thine Thou was the woman husbandlesse and poore Millions in debt and at the prison doore To be deliner'd to the Iaylors hands And with thy death thou should discharge thy bandsâ— I was the man that spent none of the summe Yet in my loue thy husband I 'd become Examining my estate I treasure found To pay for euery peny debt a pound Then I did vndertake to set thee free And what I did I counted done by thee Such was my loue thou doest thy all inherit From me and by my mercy not thy merrit If any aske what moued me to fill Thy lappe with blessings say it was my will I can do what I will so can no other Iacocb I 'll iustifie but for his brother Esan I cannot loue for it was hee That first vs'd weapon to contend with thee And fares the worse for that Know I haue giuen All things a being betweene earth and Heauen And vnto some a perfect being well The bad I caused not to fall they fell By their owne will I left them being not tide To take directions where to choose my bride The vnderstanding may the rest perswade The maker is not subiect to the made Euen as the Potter may dispose of 's clay So the chiefe Lord of all his Creatures may Thou art my choyce thou art my sole elect To honor thee I did all else reiect And in contempt of all thine enemies pride I 'll pleade thee iust thou shall be iustifide And now if Sathan thy grand-enemy come And to affright thee gather all the summe Of thy blacke sinnes together still affirming Thy sinnes are such he comes to giue thee warning Thy soule is sicke and thou art doom'd to die And that for mercy 't is too late to crie Iudgement hath past Beleeue him not say thus Thy Lord 's a liue and good and gracious And did not the Crosse so freshly bleed To leaue thee drownd in misery and need Tell him thou washt when I was nayl'd on wood My feete in teares and I thy soule in blood And say I neuer will forgetfull be Of two such tokens betweene thee and mee Yet tell him more that thou art bound to bee At new Ierusalem to suppe with me Vpon a suddaine warning then away And if he moue or would procure thy stay Say th' art warn'd on my
loose The beauty of thy sonne let me boast euer Where my Lord Lord loueth once he looseth neuer That I am thy elect and that I may Vnto my enemies and the heathen say As day doth night my state doth theirs excell And that my Lord call'd my name Israell Crown'd me with Isaacks blessings did decree Prophanest Edom seruant vnto mee That this is thus I can but prayse and pray My thankes my Punce is all I haue to pay I do remember when by thy command I multipll'd and into euery land My members were disperst yea it was I The Caldean Priest beheld so strangly lie Shapelesse and liuelesse in the valley sowne As thicke as haile which some great blast hath blowne Into the lower-lands my bones once lay Dis-ioynted broke and scatter'd till the day It pleased thee most graciously to make A perfect vnion for thy chosen sake For my vocation that I was by thee Reform'd and knit in happy vnitie And call'd by Dauids Cimbals Aarons bels Esayes loud trump th'Euangellists and cls What musicke men and Angels could deliuer Sounded so loud my parts ioyn'd all together Earst being dispersed in t' all parts as farre As lights the arcticke or th'antarcticke starre And now collected onely for to bee A marriage for the Trine-vne-maiestie By these Caelestiall motions that I am Call'd out of Aegypt into Canaan I giue thee thankes and it is all I can My Lord I do remember my estate When in the open field so desolate I lay contemn'd of all when passers by Scorn'd at my life and laugh'd to see me die And I do likewise carry in my minde The great compassion that I then did finde Flow from thy breast when I was falne so low The seas of miseries did ouer-flow My aiery substance and my earthly show And when with these sad thoughts my heart is full Passion comes in and makes each sence as dull As ignorance then do I'gin t'admite What was th' occasion such an ardent fire Of holy loue was kindl'd in thy brest To me-wards knowing that in me did rest No good I thus my Princes thoughts did measure My Lord chose not for merit but for pleasure I had no beauty my poore soule within Was like an Ethiop wrapt in clouds of sin My flesh impress'd with vlcers in worse state Then Lazarus dispis'd at Diues gate My wised ome was but folly and my health Was deadly sicknesse all my store and wealth Was store of woes and pouerty in mee Was the true image of all misery And what was I most vile and wretched thing That I should be the daughter of a King What 's my discent or what 's my fathers house That I should we are a crowne and be the spouse Of Gods eternall sonne My Lord my tong Shall still confesse thy mercies euen among The greatest congregations I 'll make knowne Th' hast set a beggar on a Princes throne And alter'd her condition and I 'll sing Th'vnworthi'st bride hath Queen'd the worthi'st King FINIS THE EPISTLE OF THE BRIDE TO her Lord containing her Thankfulnesse A Legacy beneficiall for the Right Honorable HENRY Lord Clifford c. By Augustine Taylor Preacher and Minister in the Church of God LONDON Printed by Nicholas Okes. 1623. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE HENRY LORD Clifford Sonne and Heire to the Right Noble Lord Francis Earle of Cumberland c. Worthy Lord I Must intreate you to prouide Your selfe with proper speede T' attend the Nuptials of the Bride Our kin it is a greede 'Twixt Isr'els of-spring and Gods soone A marriage must be made And messengers abroad are runne All good men to perswade To come to see it solemmiz'd And I am one of those That haue some worthy friends aduis'd To free them from these woes That times and men are subiect too And it 's become my lot By Gods Commission t' inuite you And I know I shall not Want audience nor place nor time To tell my Embassie Imbrace it Lord for 't is diuine And the best legacie I can bestow I know you are Religious learn'd and wise And noble therefore I shall share Your fauours I surmise Your Lordships in all humble loue Augustine Taylor THE ARGVMENT Isr'els infirmitte's confess'd Her gratitude's proclaim'd The bounties of her Lord 's express'd And her best loue 's explain'd MY Lord I know thou knowes before I speake What I would vtter since I 'm wondrous weake And of my selfe deficient teach thou mee To publish pious pleasant harmonie Such as thou wilt vouchsafe to heare that when My pensiue soule with miseries of men Is guarded round my voyce to thee may come And find some grace to helpe the gracelesse sonne To helpe my sinnefull sorrowfull soule in time Let the bright sunne of mercy freely shine Vpon my guiltinesse that thy bride may Be white as innocence and as bright as day For all thy blessings though I be but poore Yet both of praise and thankes I haue such store As shall record me debtor vnto thee In songs and himnes to all posteritie I must confesse but cannot pay thee due For my redemption that thou pleas'd to view My state so poore with mercies eyes so pure My soule reioy ceth and I 'm very sure The price of my redemption's payd so well Sinne hath no strength death hath no sting and hell Hath now no victory I am not so Blinded with ignorance but that I know My selfe both as I am and as I was As different as the Dyamond from glasse So is my former from my latter state Thou didst repaire what I did ruinate From gyues and fetters thou hast loosed mee To tread the pathes of life and liberty From hellish endlesse sorrowes thou hast quit My captiu'd soule out of the lowest pit Euen as a Lilly ouer-growne with thornes That is not benific'd by the springing mornes Vntill the carefull husband doe deuise To rid the thornes to helpe the Lilly t'rise So 't was with me my soule suppress'd with sinne Knew nought but sorrow till thou did beginne To vndergoe my burthen and since then I haue found grace with God and peace with men For this great freedome and for all my blis In esse and in posse I 'ue but this Towards recompence my gratitude's my store Thankes 't is a proper payment for the poore And yet I 'm bound for greater fauours such For which I cannot manifest so much Affection as they challenge therefore still Lord when my action failes regard my will Since it did please thee to make me thy bride It seemes thou pleas'd I should be sanctifide For that I 'm now reformed like to thee In hollinesse and perfect puritie And that so inwardly and outward faire Thou hast made me that I 'm without compare And since my spots and wrinckles are disolu'd And that in holy white I 'm now inuolu'd It resteth that I sacrifice my best And what I offer 's but the interest Of what I owe I 'll thanke thee whil'st I liue And
are made strong by them they strong by you If there be any dim lights th' are vntrue And meanes to adde no honor to your name They liue with enuy and shall end with shame Now let pale enuy whose ill tutor'd tong Is hourely vtt'ring infamy and wrong Spit all her poyson vpon Derby's name She cannot adde a spot the lippes of fame Haue sworne and kiss'd the booke neither bee Silent nor subiect vnto flatterie My Lord my muse did vowe your worth and name To register and chose this lasting frame And hath made truth her witnesse any come And catch me with a lie and I 'll be dumbe For euer after know I scorne to proue A parasite either for for feare or loue Liue to augment your Honors still to be Belou'd of God King state land men and me Your Honors already and onely ready to be yours Augustine Taylor THE DEFENCE OF DIVINE POESIE Committed to the Protection of the Right Honorable William Earle of Pembrooke c. By Augustine Taylor Preacher and Minister in the Church of God LONDON Printed by Nicholas Okes. 1623. TO THE RIGHT HONOrable William Lord Harbert Earle of Pembrooke Barron Harbert of Cardiffe Lord Parr Roos of Reudall Marmion and St. Quintin Chiefe Chamberlaine of his Maiesties House-hold Gouernour of Ports-mouth and Warden of the Stauneries Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter and one of his Maiesties most Honorable Priuy Councell c. Most Honorable KIng Salomon did choose to haue his Throne Borne vp with Lyons and admitted none Of baser beasts that should imployed bee In office neare vnto his dignitie Accounting wolues and asses beasts too base To be imployd about a Throne of grace Your greatnesse being goodnesse doth affect The best supporters because you protect Both art and wit and grace I wish to bee Preseruer of your pious dignitie Great Earle a Diuine muse vnto you brings A sacrifice worth the respect of Kings Not for my merit by whom now it comes But for his merits that hath brought the sonnes Of Adam backe to Eden giue to mee Such fauours as befits the ministrie And for requitall God giue you I 'll pray Many good yeares and then one lasting day Willing to doe your Honor any Christian seruice in the power of AVGVSTINE TAYLOR THE ARGVMENT The season 's poyson'd with abusiue wits Faire poesi's vs'd to serue the basest vse Wit guilt with grace the subiect best befits No musicke 's equall to a Heauenly muse Wit choosing the best subiects to worke on Shall find glory with God and grace with man OVr Physicke-Doctors say the times are sicke But I say no the times are lunaticke Yet madnesse is a sicknesse but I know It is not in their el'ment to bestow Remedy on 't God hath sayd wisedom's mine They meddle with things carnall not diuine If God doe not in time some helpe apply Vnto these times both times and men must dye He that can well conceiue may much admire To see vnto what hight mens wits aspire T' aduance the Towers of Babell and to see So few striue to maintaine the dignitie Of blessed Bethell base vile god-lesse wits Counts it more grace to passionate the fits Of damn'd adultry murther blasphemie Deceipt and lying then it is to bee A carefull student in Diuinitie So many breasts sends forth vnhallow'd breath The very ayre 's infected clouds of death Are shapen in the skie for vengeance and Shall be disperst abrode by the left hand Of God in 's anger to kill and condemne Nations and people that doe him contemne I doe wish those that so abuse their times A dulterers-like conceiuing gracelesse rimes To humor earth those that delude the season With pounds of wit but not halfe drammes of reason T'reforme themselues for better harmonie And seeming men be as they seeme to bee A creature reasonable God did make man And he ought dayly to doe all he can To rayse his glory and his acts to tell That gaue him 's being and his being well Reasonlesse I esteeme those that doe spend Their adle braines on idle things that end In th' houre they are begunne and doe not prayse The acts of dayes of life but acts of dayes Of death and desolation pray you scan There is a man and a thing like a man 'T is plaine that euery like is not the same So some haue th' inward fruite some th' outward frame Some haue the substance some haue but the show Some bad are set aboue some good below Some diuine wits still sings of things aboue Some foolishly breaths nought but earthly loue Some loues the temp'rall some the spirituall food For some are fram'd for ill and some for good Some poets sings of loue and some of hate Some loues the common some commends the state Some flatters greatnesse some contemnes the poore Some men haue fewer faults and some haue more But all haue some and some haue all for still Some sparkes of enuy's mixed with good-will Some loues vnfit speech some words most meete Some haue a stinking breath and some a sweete Some liues in feare of men some feares but God Some seekes the staffe and some deserues the rod Man is inriched both with art and nature T' expresse the glory of the all Creator Weapons of Honor God giues man to vse And with those weapons they doe him abuse God giues vs arte and wit and reason 〈◊〉 And grace to will and likewise grace to do If we intreate so much you ne'r find shall From the first day vnto the funerall Of this old world did e're deny His mercy vnto men in misety If beg'd with faith and meeknesse whither hath His fond affection led him T' a wrong path That he forgets so good a Lord so long And with 's owne weapons seekes to doe him wrong All mans good parts are sent him from aboue And man to manifest his makers loue Should set them all to worke 't is vnderstood God doth require but thankes for all the good That he bestowes on all regard therefore His wage is potent though your worke be poore Mans tong should preach and pray his heart beleeue The care must heare th' eyes see the hands releeue Each member must remember th' head of all And all and each must serue the principall I 'm t'old and I beleeue it from aboue Gifts are descending from the God of loue Some with some gifts are blessed some with other But no man ought his gifts of grace to smother Or wrong apply them for the Lord hath show'd Gifts be apply'd to th' end they are bestow'd Some sings with Dauid some with Iob laments Some sinnes with both and some with both repents Some fights like Iosuah and like Iosuah winnes Some flyes the field when th' honor but beginnes Some shuns the danger those loose the renowne Some beares the crosse and those shall weare the crowne Some like the chaffe before the winds are gone Some like Cedars on mount Lebanon Prosper and
flourish faire and free and fast Comely and seemely both to like and last Some bidden come not some vnbidden come Thus some proue wiser farre then other some Some like the driuen dust are parcht and dry'd Some like the branches by the riuer side Are faire and fruitfull and doe cause the streame Draw beauty and plenty with her siluer teame Vnto the good all good shall happen still And vnto th' euill ill because th' are ill Such thing desires it like and so it comes That Caine's at oddes with all his fathers sonnes For hating's brethren and contemning's God He ranne a vagabond to the land of Nod And liu'd vnlou'd vnpiti'd vnlamented And some thinke di'd vntimely vnrepented For so shall all that doe the Lord dispise Or offers him a broken sacrifice So our lewd poets doe God makes a poet And the thing made forgets or doth not know it A speciall good God meant vnto the earth First when he did intend a Poets birth Gods perfect image catch it those that can Is heauenly measures in an earthly man When Moses troope had pass'd the scarlet flood His inward ioy we had not vnderstood But by his Hebrew song and onely that Makes the man prays'd the maister wonder'd at Iordans obedience at braue Iosuahs feete When it show'd him a passage faire and meete When walls of water stood like walls of glasse Vpon both hands to suffer him to passe And bring his army in at Cana'ns doore The land Iehouah promis'd long before These things had beene vnknowne and beene vnsung But for the musicke of a sacred tongue With Baraks victory and Sisâ—raes fall We had not beene so well acquainted all But for the heauenly muse of Debora That Barak wonne the honor of the day That ancient Kishon washt mount Tabors feete And all our enemies away did sweepe That Heauen sent ayde to earth and all the Starres Behau'd themselues like souldiers in those warres That men intended mischiefe and God crost it That Iaell wonne the day and Iabin lost it We had not knowne these had been wrong'd with death But that th' are infants of a muses breath That God doth iustice loue but mercy rather And that although man's feeble earthly father Forget him and forsake him God will not This had beene vntold or told and forgot But that the sacred breath of holy man Preserueth more then Brasse or marble can That Iesses sonne was fetcht from following sheepe An hoast of men to leade defend and keepe That he once wore a sheepe-hooke in his hand And then a royall scepter did command That he sate in the field vpon a stone And after in the pallace on the throne That he was capt with wooll against the cold And after crown'd with purest beaten gold That of a Sheepheard God thus made a King And turn'd his fasting into banqueting That he that sometime â—llow'd ewes with yong Did leaue that labour and apply'd hiâ— tong To prayse Iehouah in an Hebrew song Gods greatnesse goodnesse highneste workes and wonders We know and had not knowne but for his numbers Dauid I meane he that in word and deede Both did and sayd for God and Iacobs seede Thankes be to Salomon we are not to search A sacred muse betwixt Christ and his Church To sing the nuptials 't is already done By Isr'els King and Dauids sacred sonne Asaph and Ethan well deserned thankes For placing th'Arke of God on Sylos bankes With triumph and reioyceing Amos sonne Seeing his Lord his Vineyard hath beguine Vpon a fruitfull hill sayd I will sing To my King Vineyard of my Vineyards King And so proceed and all the world yet heares When great Iehouah fell a dealing yeares To Hezekiah Iudahs holy King To gratulate his Lord no better thing Had of his owne to giue then freely trips A heauenly measure from his princely lippes Praysing the God of life death night and day The scripture warrants what you heare me say That Maries soule so greatly did reioyce To heare the tidings by an angels voyce That she should be a mother and beare a sonne That should redeeme a wretched world vndone We had beene ignorant of these good things But that glad Mary had amuse that sings Vnto this day and by her muse we know Th' humble are set aboue the proud below That Simeon in the Temple sung to all His Sauiours lullaby and 's owne funerall That his old armes so happy were t' imbrace The Prince and heire of glory and of grace His owne tongue testifies and thus I chuse The sacred script of many heauenly muse T'exhort wits that are bearing and doe breede Choycest inuentions henceforth to proceede More regularly religiously I meane Leaue Babels partched commons seeke the streame That keepes the skirts of Hermon euer greene The on 's a strumpet th' other is a Queene And those that striue her beauties to expresse Shall know her matchlesse endlesse happinesse God sayd all those that sought her honor should Be fed with Manna and be cloath'd with gold And led with Angels and haue Saints society Ierusalem to dwell in and variety Of those delights and ioyes both all and some That God prouided for the world to come But Esaus timelesse haplesse gracelesse seede Shall lucklesse liue in misery and neede And be in bondage still a voyce diuine Sayth Esau must not drinke of Iacobs wine Then since there 's due rewards layd vp for merits And like deserts like punishments inherits We 'll idolize no more nor men nor treasure Let him that hath a muse can tune a measure To the worlds eare bestow it in such wise T' haue life and honor by his sacrifice Leaue all rediculous fictions take aduise Learne either properly to similize The truth or tell it plainely you should ken What 's vnlike truth should euer dislike men Make your proceedings perfect and then proue By outward actions your true inward loue Lasciuious voyces but makes deafe the season Th' are stuff'd with mickle rime but little reason That poesie may be honor'd lâ—â—'d and prays'd And like to him that 〈◊〉 with glory rays'd Out of the dust of ignorance and death Refuse your subiects and refine your breath By sucking sweeter ayre study to bring Such songs a Saints may sing before their King Like towers well built your workes shall last and then Both purchase grace with God and loue with men FINIS AN EPISTLE Dedicated to the Right VVorshipfull Sr. Thomas Smith Knight Maior of Chester and High Sheriffe of that County Palatine c. To the Right Worshipfull Sr. Randall Manwaring Knight c Edward Whitby Esquire Recorder William Gamwell Iohn Ratcliffe Robert Whitby William Aldersey Charles Fitton Hugh Williamson c. Esquires late Maiors of that ancient and Honorable City And to the Worshipfull Mr. Nicholas Ince Mr. Thomas Whitby Mr. Brereton Mr. Peter Drink-water Mr. Andrew Gamwell Mr. Robert Berry Mr. Humphrey Lloyd c. Alderâ—â—n of the same c. All temporall and eternall happinesse Right Worshipfull
THat I thus Register your worthy names 'T is no dishonor for my gift's Diuine You are faire Chesters pillers and maintaines Her royalties since you doe all combine In such a perfect vnion that I find Though you seeme many yet y'haue but one mind You being at one I would your one proue Accept my seruice and giue me your loue Your Worships in Gods seruice AVGVSTINE TAYLOR TAYLORS EPISTLE to the Honorable and VVorshipfull Soâ—ieties of the well Gouerned City of West-Chester c. GOD that of nothing hath so great things made So many and so glorious may perswade The created the Creator intends Some speciall good whereto the finall ends Of euery creature leads which act discouers Nothing was made to serue it selfe but others As nothing made it selfe it must needs bee Nothing was made to serue it selfe we see A power that sends and suffers good and ill The made is subiect to the makers will The Heauens it seemes were made to serue the ayre The ayre to serue the earth the earth doth share Her store to serue the beasts and foules which feede Although to them vnknowne to serue mans neede The Sunne doth serue with light the clouds with raine The fire with heate the cooling springs remaine To serue the swelting soule all things that moue Are tokens manifest the makers loue Which both submit and serue at mans dispose The question is man being Lord of those By lycence giuen him from the onely king Let him beare rule if he bound to bring His seruice as a subiect or if hee Being seru'd by others may claime soueraigntie And onely seru'd himselfe I answere thus God did make all things good man optimus Iudu'd wrth reason onely to expresse His makers glory and 's owne holinesse But was not made to serue himselfe for God Teacheth subiection both with staffe and rod The good the staffe supports to flourish still The bad the rod corrects to punish ill Man is Gods Image and in that is showne God did make man that man shold make God knowne Gods power and prayse should euery where be spred For what 's not knowne cannot be worshipped Then ayme to do your office that you may With much content tell many a happy day On earth of grace and one in Heauen of glory Obserue the stature's in the sacred story Honor the Lord fight in his truths defence Cloath you and your in coates of innocence Euer support the good suppresse the ill This the meanes to keepe your station still Beleeue releeue and as you loue the Lord Maintaine such ministers as giue his word A perfect true construction haue a care The selfe conceipted Schismatickes that are Not pure in life but in opinion doo Not onely wrong themselues but others too Since there is but one God and that one hath But one truth to direct vs in one path That leads to endlesse blisse it fits your place To giue the Preachers of it so much grace As bounty and affection can afford As you haue grace by the incarnate word And promises of glory euer see Such honor giuen to the ministrie As God himselfe commanded and mongst all Th'Embassadors made Euangellicall Cut out rewards according to their merits And know thus much those that some gifts inherits Aboue the rest are worthy more respect Because those gifts are signes they were elect By Gods diuine decrees for we should still Farre more by heauenly then by humaine will Enter the Temple th' alter to imbrace Not with the armes of nature but of grace Truth should haue trumpets to divulge her will Not such as sounds too often but sounds shrill The Church is iniur'd by a number such As keepeth silence or else speakes too much Truth 's sicke and like to dye vnlesse she doo Find speciall friends both good and great ones too As Naomi is alone without a Ruth A sad forsaken widow such is truth Without'n true supporters be you then As you are principals mongst many men Of Dauids perfect mind when he did sing Of mercy and iustice to his Lord and King Oh imitate him with a free consent You are the Cities starres whose gouerment Commandeth millions and your houses bee The Cities schooles where all the rest should see Peace pyety bounty loue and decencie Cherish the vertuous and all goodnesse grace Looke on th' offenders but with halfe a face Banish the bad and doe the good adore Fauour not Parasites rather feede the poore Seeke for the loue of all because 't is prou'd The strongest man is he that 's best belou'd What you may do to learne do not request But striue to know what will become you best Your places are both great and worthy and Vnfit for those that doe not vnderstand Your City's free and ancient and may boast Of better Lawes then those that glory most Your orders and proceedings all are such I know no City that may speake so much Of her owne prayse so iustly there 's not any Hath had so worthy gouernours so many So generous still may faire Chester bee Blest with such heads that true prosperity And peace and plenty in your wals may dwell And that your charge you may discharge as well As Dauids worthies did in Israell Iacobs good God protect and keepe you still And make you Citizens on faire Syon Hill FINIS