Calls for a Sword and tells them he The live Child will divide The Mother of the living Child Fearing it should be slain Yields that the other it should have And thereby makes it plain That she the real Mother is He it on her bestows The King for Wisdom is renown'd His Name more famous grows XXIII Elijah fed by Ravens 1 Kings 17. IN Ahab's Time great Wickedness Was acted in the Land For which God now resolves they shall Feel his afflicting Hand Elijah came and in the name Of God to him declares No Dew nor Rain upon the Earth Shall fall in full three Years Ahab is wroth the Prophet flies And by the Lord's Command At Cherith hides till God remove The Famine from the Land And there saith God by Ravens I Thee constantly will feed They ne're shall fail thee to supply With what thou stand'st in need Elijah nothing doubts but goes Where God did him advise Had we but Faith to trust in God We ne're should want supplies Of what is fit and good for us Which this good Prophet found Who is so far from wanting that He seemeth to abound The Ravens every Morning come And bring him Bread and Flesh And every Evening do the same Wherewith they him refresh Thus of the most unlikely means God sometimes maketh use Birds Beasts and Fishes do his will They cannot it refuse A Lion did with Honey feed Good Samson from the Jaw The Waters burst to quench his Thirst All must obey Gods Law XXVI Vpon Elijah 's Fiery Chariot 2 Kings 2. GOod Man how weary was thy Soul of violence and strife So great were thy Afflictions thou Wast weary of thy life Thou hunted wast from place to place Hid in a Den or Cave Because thou didst Repentance preach And Israel wouldst save Then God gave ear unto thy Pray'r And bid thee to prepare Thou now must into Heaven fly Thy Heart before was there This welcome Message having heard He goes to Jericho And thence to Jordan he makes haste For quickly he must go Triumphantly he marches on Elisha doth attend And all the way the Prophets say Thy Master must ascend When they were unto Jordan come Elijah smites the Flood The Waters presently give way All turns to him for good When safe got through Elijah says What shall I do for thee Ah says Elisha that thy Spirit Might doubled be on me Now as they walk a Chariot Of Fire does appear Takes up Elijah into th' Air But leaves Elisha there Swiftly he through the Sky doth ride And into Heaven's receiv'd Elisha having lost his Lord Exceedingly is griev'd XXV Vpon the Bears destroying Forty Children 2 Kings 2. ELijah gone Elisha now At Jericho does stay The Prophets Sons perswade him that His Master find they may He them forbids but they persist And urge him to 't again But after three days seeking him They find it is in vain The Citizens then him intreat He would their Waters cure Which he performs and healthfulness Doth unto them procure Then doth he toward Bethel go But as he past along Many young Children from the Town Him followed in a throng And mocking him they loudly cry'd Go up thou Bald-head go He meekly hears them for a while Which made them bolder grow They still mock on at length he turns And sternly doth them eye His angry words are worse than blows As they find instantly He doth them in the Lords Name Curse And quickly there appears Out of the dismal neighbouring Wood Two ravenous fierce she Bears Who soon do these young Scoffers seize And them in pleces tear They in a moment forty slay While others fly for fear Thus these Youths justly lost their lives Because they did miscall Gods Prophet Ah! Young Men let this A warning be to all XXVI Vpon Jezebel eaten by Dogs 2 Kings 9. KIng Ahab was a wicked Man And had a vitious Wife Call'd Jezebel She treacherously Robb'd Nabal of his life Because he would not let her have His own Inheritance And prospering in her wickedness She therein did advance The Prophets of the Lord before She caused to be slain Yea she did strive to Murder all That there might none remain When she her course had finished For her Inquity And for the Blood which she had shed This Jezebel must die Out of a Window she is cast And falls upon the ground Thus Jezebel doth find at last That God can her confound Her Blood is sprinkled on the Wall And on the Horses falls She innocent Blood had often spilt Which now for vengeance calls The Dogs did eat up Jezebel And nothing now remains Of this proud and ambitious Wretch But Skull and Feet and Hands They then that sought for Jezebel No Jezebel could find The rest of her devoured is Here 's all that 's left behind She that i' th' Morning painted had Her false bewitching Face E're Night by Dogs is eaten and Of Burial found no place XXVII Vpon Haman and Mordecai Esther 3. ESther's Belov'd Wedded and Crown'd A Treason Mordecai betray'd The Traytors are pursu'd and found Their Lives they for their Treason paid Haman th' Amalekite by Race A Favourite and in much grace His rage to Mordecai exprest For his not bowing as the rest Unto the King proud Haman sues For the destruction of the Jews The King consents and in his Name Decrees were sent t' effect the same The Jews and Mordecai lament Their miseries and great distresses But Mordecai the Queen possesses With cruel Haman's foul intent Her aid implor'd the Queen refuses To help them and her self excuses But urg'd by Mordecai consents To die or cross their Foes intents Unto the King Queen Esther goes He unexpected favour shows Demands her Suit She doth request The King and Haman to a Feast Mordecat's want of reverence Great Haman's haughty pride offends Acquaints his Wife with the offence And asks her Counsel and his Friends The King asks Haman what respects Becomes the Man whom he affects And with that Honour doth repay The good deserts of Mordecai The Queen brings Haman's accusation The King 's displeas'd and in a Passion And for his Crimes commands that he Fifty Foot high shall hanged be XXVIII Upon the History of Job Job 1.2 SAtan appears and then professes Himself Mans Enemy confesses Gods love to Job questions his Faith Gains power over all he hath The frighted Messengers tell Job his fourfold loss he tears his Robe Submits him to th' Almighty's trust Whom he concludeth to be Just Satan a second time appears Before th' Eternal boldly dares Abuse Job's tried Faith afresh And gains th' Afflicting of his Flesh Job plagu'd with Ulcers groveling lyes Plung'd in a gulf of miseries His Wife to Blasphemy doth tempt him His three Friends visit and lament him O'rewhelm'd with grief be breaketh forth Into impatience ' gainst his Birth Professes that his Heart did doubt And fear what since hath fallen out He counts his sorrows and from thence Excuses his impatience
Describes the shortness of his time And makes confession of his crime Rash Eliphaz doth aggravate The Sins of Job and his sad State Whom Job reproving justifies Himself bewails his miseries God questions him and proves that Man Cannot attain to things so high As Divine Secrets since he can Not reach to Natures Secrecy God speaks to him the second time Job yields his Sin repents his Crime God checks his Friends restores his Health Gives him new Issue double Wealth XXIX Vpon the three Children in the fiery Furnace Dan. 3 VVHen Israel was Captive led For Sin to Babylon â—â—â—e Youths the King chose and them fed With his Provision These Children were well-favoured Such whom he could discern Had Wisdom Knowledge and were apt All Sciences to Learn Now among these four Youths there were Who did the rest excel Whom the King Governours did make Which Trust they manag'd well Shadrach Meshach Abednego O're his Affairs were set But Daniel lived at the Court And ruied in the Gate The King a Golden Image made And set it in the Plain And whosoe're won't worship it Must certainly be slain Yet these three Men do this refuse At which the King is wroth And doth command that instantly Before him they be brought Into a fiery Furnace he Orders that they be thrown But they receiv'd no hurt thereby They trust in Heav'n alone One like the Son of God was there Which when the King did see He calls them forth and doth declare Their God his God shall be He also them restores unto Their former dignity And doth command all shall adore Their God as the Most High XXX Vpon Daniel in the Lions Den Dan. 6. DAniel escap'd the Fire but yet Was cast into the Den. He envied was because he rise Higher than other Men. And since they could not him insnare In matters of the Crown Of his Religion they complain Thereby to bring him down They cry O King make a Decree And Seal it with thy Ring That those be to the Lions cast Who will not do this thing All Men as God shall thee adore And unto thee shall pray And whosoever doth refuse This Edict to obey He shall into the Lions Den There cruelly to die This Daniel knew and yet did still Serve God as formerly Then to the King they do accuse Him of Disloyalty Because unto the Kings Decree He dar'd not to comply For this he 's cast into the Den Of which the King repents And for his Servant Daniel He wofully laments The Lions will not touch him but Do seem to stand in fear Daniel in safety there remains For Daniel's God was there At which the King doth much rejoice And soon does him deliver His Enemies the Lions tear God loves his Servants ever XXXI Upon the History of Jonah Jonah 1. 2. THE Word of God to Jonah came Commanded Jonah to proclaim The vengeance of his Majesty Against the Sins of Nineveh But Jonah toward Tarshish went A Tempest doth his course prevent The Mariners are sore opprest While Jonah sleeps and takes his rest The Pilot thumps on Jonah's Breast And rouzeth Jonah from his rest They all cast Lots being sore affrighted The Sacred Lot on Jonah lighted They question Jonah whence he came His Countrey and his Peoples Name He makes reply they moan their woe And ask his Counsel what to do The Prophet doth his fault discover Persuades the Men to cast him over They row and toil but do no good They pray to be excus'd from Blood They cast the Prophet over board The Storm allay'd they fear the Lord. Almighty Fish him quick devours Where he remained many Hours Within the Belly of the Whale He doth his misery bewail God hears his Pray'r at whose command The Fish out casts him on the Land The second time was Jonah sent To Nineveh now Jonah went Against their crying Sins he cry'd And their Destruction prophesied The Ninevites believe his Word Their Hearts they turn unto the Lord In him they put their only trust Since he 's both Merciful and Just XXXII Vpon the Prodigal Son St. Luke 15. TWO Sons unto a certain Man Were Born with whom they live Until they were grown up but then The youngest seems to grieve That he must always dwell at Home Therefore abroad will he Let me says he my Portion have I 'll Travel presently His Father though unwillingly Unto him doth consent Who taking all his Goods with him To a far Countrey went Where he with Riot soon doth waste All that with him he brought Women and Wine and Gluttony His Ruin quickly wrought And which did much increase his woe A Famine in that Land Then happened which caused him In want of Food to stand Yet if in this necessity On Husks he could have fed It may be he would ne're have thought Of coming Home for Bread But hunger forc'd him to recall His Fathers House to mind Then Home he goes and after all He finds his Father kind With Kisses Robe with Shoes and Ring And Musicks lofty strain With th' fatted Calf and all good things He doth him entertain And pleads that so it ought to be None should of it complain For this my Son was dead saith he And is alive again XXXIII Vpon Dives and Lazarus St. Luke 16. DIves was blest with happiness But Lazarus was poor Dives lives high but Lazarus Doth beg from door to door The very worst of Dives Slaves Far'd better far than he Whose Cloaths were Rags he nothing hath But Sores and Misery At Dives Door Lazarus begs Only some Crumbs of Bread Which from his Riotous Table fell Wherewith he might be fed At length both on their Death beds lye And both now equal seem But after death Dives is vile And Lazarus in esteem The Beggar goes to Heav'n and there In Abraham's Bosom lies The Rich Man is in Hell and there Though dying never dies From whence he Lazarus sees and doth Of Father Abraham crave He would send Lazarus back again His Brethren to save Yea being in great misery He humbly doth intreat A drop of Water for to cool His Tongue inflam'd with heat But this his cry and strange request Abraham doth now reject Upon his former Luxury He bids him to reflect Remember Son saith he that then Thou good things didst enjoy But Lazarus evil therefore now He reaps Eternal Joy XXXIV Upon the death of Ananias and Saphira Acts 5. THese two dwelt in Jerusalem And did the Faith profess Yet these two lost their Lives because They acted wickedness They come and deal deceitfully Before the Lord of Hosts Yea they presume to tell a Lie Unto the Holy Ghost For selling their Possession they Part of the price kept back It may be they were covetous And fear'd themselves should lack And then they falsly did affirm They nothing did retain Thinking St. Peter to deceive But found it was in vain He soon discovers the deceit And plainly doth declare Satan had fill'd their Hearts
with Lies ' Cause God they did not fear To them his word was like a Sword He need do nothing more Vengeance o'retakes them and they dead Are carried out of door Great fear from hence falls upon all They the Apostles dread Since God even by their word alone So soon strikes sinners dead Let this a warning be to all That they avoid a Lie But speak the truth in righteousness And in sincerity Lest such a sudden dismal Fate Do unto them befal As unto these two happened God's Justice can reach all XXXV Upon the Stoning of St. Stephen Acts 6 7. Chapters STephon was a Man of mighty Faith Who many Wonders wrought The Doctrine of Christ his Lord With Pow'r the People taught His Spirit and Wisdom was so great He his Opposers foil'd Which made them so malicious they Would not be reconcil'd False Witnesses they then set up His Life a way to take Who swear that he blasphemously ' Gainst th' Law and Temple spake He to the Councel's led by those Who ' gainst him did combine His Face when he began to plead Did like an Angels shine Having their leave he then begins And shews how God did lead Of old his people Israel And them delivered But coming close and charging them With guiltless Blood they cry Out all at once Let 's him condemn For he shall surely die Mean while he looks up stedfastly To Heaven and there sees stand The Son of Man in glory great Placed at Gods right hand Out of the City then he 's cast And stoned till he dies But Stephen ev'n to the very last Like a true Martyr cries Lord lay not to their charge this sin My Soul receive and keep He gain'd the Crown of Martyrdom And then he fell asleep XXXVI Upon St. Paul 's Shipwrack Acts 26 27. chap. SAint Paul was sailing unto Rome When lo a storm arose Which was so fierce and violent They could it not oppose The Men were much affrighted since They saw no hope at all They fear destruction on them will Inevitably fall St. Paul them comforts and assures Though they in danger are Yet all shall save their Lives for so God did to him declare The storm more furious grows and all Their labour doth confound At length the Ship in pieces breaks By being run a-ground Each Man then for himself shifts so By skilful swimming and The broken pieces of the Ship They all come safe to Land Having this danger thus escapt They are on Malta thrown And there by the Inhabitants Much kindness had them shown But when St. Paul had gathered sticks To make a Fire at Land A Viper came out of the heat And fastened on his Hand Whereat the people look on him As he a Murderer were Who though he had escap'd the Sea Yet vengeance follow'd there But when they did observe that he Receiv'd no hurt thereby They quickly change their minds and now He is a God they cry Vpon Death CAn he be counted Fair Who withers at a blast Or he be Strong one breath of wind Into the Grave can cast Can he be counted Wise Who knows not how to live Or can he be a Rich Man call'd Who nothing hath to give Can he be reckon'd Young That 's feeble weak and wan So Fair so Strong so very Wise So Rich so Young is Man So Fair is Man that Death Even with one parting blast Blasts all his fair and dainty Flow'rs And makes him Earth at last So mighty Strong is Man That with a gasping Breath He totters falls and then bequeaths His boasted strength to Death So Wise is man that if With Death he once do strive His Wisdom never can him teach How he one Hour shall live So Rich is Man that when He once his debts hath paid His Wealth 's his winding-sheet wherein Even he himself is laid So Young is Man that when He 's broke with care and sorrow He 's old enough this very day That he may die to morrow Why brag'st thou then thou Worm Who art but five Foot long For thou art neither Fair nor Strong Nor Wise nor Rich nor Young Vpon Judgment THE dreadful Trump shall blow The Dead awak'd shall rise And then unto the Clouds they all Shall turn their wandring Eyes The Heav'ns shall opened be The Bridegroom forth shall come To Judge the World and to bestow On all the World her Doom Joy it shall be to th' Just To th' Wicked endless smart To those the blessed voice bids Come To these it bids Depart Depart you must from life Yet dying live for ever For ever you will dying be And yet you will die never Depart from me like Dogs With Devils take your Lot Like Devils all depart from me Because I know you not Like Dogs like Devils go Go cry and howl and bark Depart and into Darkness fly Because your deeds were dark Let yells and roarings be Your Musick and your Food The Flesh of Vipers and of Toads Your Drink shall be their Blood Let Devils you afflict With scorn reproach and shame Depart depart away from me Into Eternal Flame If Hell the Portion then Of wretched sinners be O Lord give me my Hell on Earth Lord give me Heaven with thee Vpon Heaven WHen I do contemplate The New Jerusalem Wherein there is reserv'd for me My Crown my Diadem Oh! what a Heaven of Bliss My Soul by this enjoys All on a sudden I am wrapt Into the Heaven of Joys Where there are Troops of Powers Of Virtues Cherubims There Angels and Archangels are With Saints and Seraphims Who still are singing praise Unto their Heavenly King Their Songs and Hallelujahs they For ever to him sing Where joys are full and pure And are not mixt with mourning Where they continue without end From which there 's no returning No Theft nor Cruelty No Murder harbours there No hoary headed Care afflicts Nor yet no sudden Fear No pinching Want is there No griping fast Oppression Nor Death which is the just reward Of the first Man's transgression But dearest Friendship Love And Everlasting Pleasure Do there abide continually Without decay or measure Fulness of Riches Joy And Comfort sempiternal Excess yet without surfeiting With Light and Life Eternal Vpon Hell HEll is beyond all thought A state sad and forlorn No mortal Man can here relate The Pangs that there are born These Burnings cann't be quencht No not with tears of Blood No mournful groans nor doleful sighs Will here do any good Nay all that can be said T' express the pain of those In Hell comes short they are enwrapt In Everlasting woes For Time there finds no end And Plagues find no exemption Their cries admit no help for from That place is no redemption Where Fire lacks no Flame Therewith the Flame to heat To make their torments more severe Their miseries to compleat Where wretched Souls for ever To tortures bound shall be Where they shall serve a world of years Yet never shall
be free Where nothing's heard but yells And groans and woful cries And where the Fire ne're abates The Worm there never dies That Worm which ever gnaws And tears their Bowels out The Pit upon them shuts its Jaws It 's terrible no doubt But where this Hell is plac'd My Muse must needs stop there Lord shew us what its horror is But never shew us where Scripture Hymns and Songs upon several Occasions turn'd into Common English Verse With some others The Song of Moses when Pharaoh and his Host were Drowned in the Red Sea Exodus 15. Then sang Moses and the Children of Israel this Song unto the Lord and spake saying I To the Lord will sing for he Triumpht in Glory so The Horse he and his Rider down Into the Sea did throw The Lord 's my Strength and Song and he Is my Salvation My God he is I 'll him prepare An Habitation My Fathers God he is also I will exalt his Fame The Lord he is a Man of War Jehovah is his Name He Pharaoh's Chariots and his Host Into the Sea hath cast And his choice Captains Drowned were At i th' Red Sea they past The depths them hid to th' bottom they Sunk down even as a Stone Jehovah thy Right Hand in power Most glorious is alone Lord thy Right Hand in pieces dasht Those that against thee rose And in thine Excellency Great Thou hast o'rethrown thy Foes Thou didst send forth thy wrath which as The stubble did them waste Together gathered were the waves Even with thy Nostrils blast The Floods stood upright as an heap The depths in mid-sea rose The Foe said I 'll pursue I 'll catch I will the spoil dispose My Lust on them shall filled be My Sword draw out will I My Hand shall them again possess Or spoil them utterly Thou with the wind didst on them blow The Sea them covered They in the mighty waters sunk As if they had been Lead Lord who 's like thee among the Gods Who 's like thee glorious In holiness fearful in praise In doings marvellous When thou didst forth thy Right Hand stretch The Earth them swallowed The people whom thou hast Redeem'd Thou hast in Mercy led Thou by thy strength shalt guide them to That Holy Seat of thine The Folk shall hear and fear and grieve Shall they of Palestine Then Edom's Dukes shall be amaz'd And Moab's mighty men Trembling shall seize away shall melt All Canaan's dwellers then Fear upon them and dread shall fall By thy Hands mightiness They shall lye still as doth a Stone Until the People pass Until thy People Lord shall pass Which thou hast purchased Till thou hast them brought in and in Thy Mount established The Mount of thine Inheritance O Lord the place wherein Thou hast prepar'd thy Sanctuary For thee to dwell therein Lord which thy Hands established Jehovah he shall Reign For evermore through Ages all For ever Sovereign For Pharaoh's Horse and Chariots And Horsemen down they went Into the Sea Jehovah then The Sea upon them sent The waters of the Sea on them He turned back in haste But on dry Land i' th' midst o' th' Sea The Sons of Israel past And Miriam answered them Sing to the Lord for he excels In glorious renown He hath the Horse and Rider both Into the Sea cast down Samson 's Triumph over the Philistines when he had slain a thousand with the Jaw-bone of an Ass SAmson rejoice be fill'd with mirth Let all Judea know And tell the Princes of the Earth How strong an Arm hast thou How has thy dead inricht the Land And purpl'd o're the Grais Thou hadst no weapon in thy Hand But th' Jaw-bone of an Ass How does thy strength and high renown The glory of men surpass Thine Arm hath struck a thousand down With th' Jaw-bone of an Ass Let Samson's glorious name endure Till time shall bring forth One Whose greater glory shall obscure The glory thou hast won David 's Lamentation over Saul and Jonathan And David lamented with this Lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his Son 2 Sam. 1.19 THE Beauty of Israel is slain Upon the places high How are the Mighty fallen down In Gath this never cry Nor tell 't in Streets of Askelon Lest Philistines rejoice Lest Daughters of th' uncircumcis'd Make a triumphant noise Ye Mountains high of Gilboa Let there be never Dew Let neither Rain nor Fields again Of Offering be on you For there the mighty One his Shield Receiv'd disgraceful foil The Shield of Saul as he had not Anointed been with Oyl The Bow of Jonathan turned not Back from the Blood o' th' slain From fat o' th' Mighty and Saul's Sword Returned not in vain Lovely and pleasant in their Lives Were Saul and Jonathan And in their death and latest breath Was no division They swifter were than Eagles far They Lions did excel In strength O weep ye over Saul Daughters of Israel Who did in Scarlet you array With deckings manifold Who did on your Apparel lay Rich Ornaments of Gold O thou my Brother Jonathan I am distrest for thee A pleasant kind Companion Thou hast been unto me Thy love to me was wonderful Past that of Women far How are the Mighty fall'n and how Are lost the Men of War The Prayer of Jonah to the Lord his God out of the Whales Belly Jonah 2. I to the Lord in my distress Did cry and he gave ear Out of Hells Belly cryed I And he my voice did hear Into the deep i' th' midst o' th' Sea O Lord thou didst me cast The Floods me compast all thy Waves And Billows o're me past Then did I say I utterly Cast from thy sight remain Yet to thy Holy Temple I Will once more look again The waters even to the Soul Did me incompass round The depths me round inclos'd the weeds About my head were bound To th' Mountains bottoms I went down Earths Bars did me beset Yet Lord my God thou broughtest my life Up from corruptions Pit When as my Soul did faint in me The Lord remembred I Even then my Pray'r came unto thee Into thy Sanctuary They their own mercies leave that do Mind Lying Vanities But with the voice of giving thanks To thee I 'll Sacrifice The thing the which I vowed have To pay I will accord Because alone Salvation Proceedeth from the Lord. Conclusion O Holy Holy Holy Lord Th' Almighty God alone Which was and is and is to come Who sittest on the Throne Thou Glory Honour and great Pow'r Lord worthy art to take For thou mad'st all they are and were Made for thy pleasures sake A Poem upon Death and Judgment THE Day of wrath that dreadful day Shall the whole World in Ashes lay As both the Psalms and Sybils say What horror will distract your mind When the strict Judge who should be kind Shall have few venial faults to find The last loud Trumpets wondrous sound Shall through the cleaving Graves rebound And wake the Nations under-ground Nature and Death shall with surprise Behold the Conscious wretches rise And view the Judge with frighted Eyes Then shall with Universal dread The Sacred Mystick Roll be read To try the Living and the Dead The Judge ascends his awful Throne But when he makes all secrets known How will a guilty Face be shown What Intercessor shall I take To save my last important stake When the most Just hath cause to quake Thou mighty formidable King Mercy and Truths Eternal Spring Some charitable pity bring In Storms of guilty Terrors lost Forget not what my Ransom cost Nor let my dear bought Soul be lost Thou who for me hast felt such pain Whose precious Blood the Cross did stain Let not thy Death and Birth be vain Thou whom avenging Powers obey Remit my Debt too vast to pay Before the last accounting day Surrounded with amazing Fears Whose load my Soul with anguish bears I sigh I weep accept my Tears Thou who wast mov'd with Maries Grief And by absolving of a Thief Hast given me Hope Oh! give Relief Reject not my unworthy Prayers But free me from those dreadful Snares That hungry gaping Hell prepares Oh! let thy Bloud my Crimes Efface And fix me with those Heirs of Grace That thou dost on thy Right Hand place From that Portentous vast Abyss Where Flames devour and Serpents Hiss Call me to thy Eternal Bliss Prostrate my contrite Heart I rend My God my Father and my Friend Do not forsake me in my end Well may they Curse their second Breath Who rise to a severer Death Thou Great Creator of Mankind Let sinful Souls compassion find Could we divide a Moment to the Eye We should see Life the Moment that we die And Faith does fully that defect supply For though my Body Dies it is not I. FINIS