Ere night Sun-burnt so bright As thou by suff'ring neer The righteous Phoebus here Thus grew'st acquainted Thus Sainted He of thy shame partook thou of his glory Blest change beyond conceit or story Thy Cross each wise Invention Stiles thy Ascention 5. Laverna now No longer hath thy vow But he alone hath thy belief Whose inn'cence suffers with thee as a Thief This craft He thee hath taught To rob hell of her aim Though Death not of her claim Not to redeem esteem For thou giv'st Christ the praise thy self the shame Though Dismas doth blaspheme his name And ev'n in death pants His wicked taunts 6. Peace Satan's martyr Though Christ nor law nor charter Hath broke the Scriptures have not slumber'd Which have foretold that Christ must thus be number'd But if Th' hadst been no Thief Christ had t' appease their pride With Barabbas thus di'd In equipage Of rage But now thy theft 's in grain thou dost contract Blood to 't while thou approv'st their act And while thou shouldst condole Dost vex his soul 7. Didst never read Good thief lift up thy head With th' eye of faith look and condole The Brazen Serpent on you cursed pole The grief Thou wert a Thief Did wound his soul more fierce Then nail or spear can pierce How for thy deeds He bleeds His bloody sweat sweat through each gracious pore Claims but unfeigned tears no more His giving up the ghost But sighs at most 8. Thy Scripture's Lord Thy gracious Record That shining light which through the dark Directs us in our race unto that mark But this Thy passage is A circumstance more ample For precept then example We finde this one Alone Whose late repentance Christ in death vouchsaf'd Although thy wisdom hath me taught This Scene not to prorogue Till th' Epilogue On the Resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Cnrist Matth. 28. 5 And the angel answered and said to the woman Fear not for I know that ye seek Jesus which was crucified 6 He is not here for he is risen as he said Come see the place where the Lord lay 1. ARise my active soul and run Keep measure with you dancing Sun Who seems as weary of his Sphere As thou to be confined here Look how his sprightly beams do spark So David danc'd before the Ark. How he descends his Chariot he in this Worships Christ's rising as the Persian his 2. But why doth Phoebus mount his head So soon up from Aurora 's bed The tother night when we my soul Our Saviour 's Passion did condole The frighted Sun forsook our clime Two hours before his wonted time And therefore now the sooner gilds the heaven By two hours time to make his course up even 3. But how rid Satan and his Legions In triumph th'row th' infernal Regions The Sp'rits which Christ out-cast did come With Songs of triumph on his Tomb All mankinde was proscrib'd whom death Did in conceit to hell bequeath Oh how death gloried that all now was safe And hell in triumph wrote his Epitaph 4. How did the Devil Man upbraid That Christ so weakly was betraid And he who took not Angels seed But Abraham's fail'd in the deed And by that seed spurn'd to his grave Whom he in mercy came to save That now the God of life was dead this mirth Had balm to cure the wounds made by his birth 5. But Satan at the third days dawn Christ now hath re-assum'd his pawn Thoughtst thou on his t' insult as once Thou proudly didst for Moses bones Thy two days triumph 's like the story Of the Persian pris'ners glory So thought the Gazites Samson safe till day When he arose and bore the gates away 6. Descend damn'd sp'rits as you began Howl on The death of great God Pan At this Christ's conquest we may call Your ruine Satans second fall Come King of terrours yeeld thy trophies On Heroes Souldiers and Sophies Unto our Saviour for thou art undone Thy Triumph 's but an empty Skeleton 7. My soul that Christ was born nay di'd Did not so much quench Satan 's pride But when he rose this blessed morn Hell was confounded Death forlorn Were 't not for what this day brings forth The rest had lost that solemn worth Hence on this day let no foul spirit dare T' ascend the Regions of our earth or air 8. Lord as by thine I am assur'd My bodies rise shall be procur'd So let my soul feel 't here begin Her resurrection too from sin Lord 't is too much she 's thus confin'd But is she buried in this kinde Oh raise her up if thus thou please to do My heart my bodies Sun shall triumph too On the Ascension of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Psal 24. 8. Lift up your heads O ye gates and be ye lift up ye everlasting doors and the King of glory shall come in 9. Who is the King of glory even the Lord of hosts he is the King of glory 1. YE blest immortals Divide your glorious portals Who not dilates The everlasting gates While that the King of glory mounts his throne Though by his own Here nor receiv'd nor known We rather worry The blessed Lamb of glory Your Wisdom knows him God's eternal Son 2. His work is ended Nought partial or suspended Blest Angels too He purchas'd hath for you A nature fix'd which seem'd before unfinish'd And of a worm Though here he took the form It since he di'd Is so much glorifi'd His Godhead 's neither clouded nor diminish'd 3. 'T is now no Shrine T' his Godhead more divine His glorious flesh He needs not now refresh With food or rest from hunger or from labour And if he here Shone on the mount so clear As if the Sun With rays his coat had spun How brighter shines he now than on mount Tabor 5. Since Christ so clear Shines in his Manhood's Sphere That at its graces Ye Angels hide your faces See in the Trinities transparent myrrour How he 's instal'd And in his robes impall'd How he 's renown'd And by his Father crown'd With gracious Majestie and awful terrour 5. At his return The Pearlie gates do burn Jerusalem Shines with each kinde of Gem The new Jerusalem with glory burnisht Nought here is built With superficial gilt But all in gold The Citie is inrol'd All thus against his blest Ascention furnisht 6. Of Precious stones Are her foundations Her Pearlie streets Do brandish beaming sheets Reflecting from the Lamb 's most glorious face Here 's constant noon No need of Sun or Moon Our glim'ring Globe Deck'd in his azur'd robe Here an Eclipse were to the lowest Grace 7. How are we blest That have so sweet a rest Got by the care Of such a Harbinger Who all things can command all consummate The way to heaven He hath made plain and even And what with thorns Was choak'd his grace adorns With rose-beds makes wide heav'ns narrow gate 8. As Olivet Some say retains as yet Thy foot
worst imagine still 't is worse If heavens joys can't draw me home Let these true terrors fright me till I come The second Part. On several occasions and several texts of Scripture Psal 119. 37 O turn away mine eyes lest they behold vanity 1. LOrd what 's a Beauty but a paint at most Which with a breath 's gone 't is so vainly glost What beauty 's dy'd so deep in grain that dolour Or age or sickness cannot blast its colour Since there 's within 't no principle to nourish Its verdant vigour to a constant flourish Lord let me think 't but a more specious worm And wink its beauty to an Antick form 2. Lord what 's a beauty in it could I see The Image which I lost in losing thee I 'd court and gaze till through mine eyes that face Reprinted on my soul that former grace Here 's no such form although indeed some few Think that in it we may thy footsteps view What 's beauty then for which we so much brawl But flesh transparent th'row a smoother cawl 3. Lord what 's a Beauty Did a more divine Saint dwell within 't I would adore the shrine My captiv'd heart with zealous love should boil I 'd count each beauty as this beauty's foil But since the soul the better part is tainted Can th' outward part be free must that be Sainted What 's beauty then if it be void of grace Thy Philip's Blackmore had the fairer face 4. Lord what 's a Beauty our fair Grannam Eve Soon prov'd a strong Suadela to deceive This treach'rous White Red hath bred more war Then they did once 'twixt York and Lancaster Lord let me think those eyes by th' wanton Muse Stil'd Stars are Ignes fatui to seduce Those Coral-lips my credit would explode These Yv'ry teeth my good report corrode 5. Lord what 's the world Thou didst not mean I ghess Th'worlds for Impostures either great or less Nor mean'st the lesser whom thou mad'st compleater Should be at all seduced by the greater Yet as they represent each others parts The greater too hath its delusive Arts. Since then they 're objects both to tempt mine eyes O turn them from beholding vanities 6. Lord what 's the world 't is but a turning Globe Which whirls us now on high then lowe as Job Or a toss'd ship whose now-aspiring Mast Seems for to boar the clouds then back doth cast Her rolling passengers to seek a Tomb In some vast Sea-shell or some fishes womb Then what 's the world a bubble 't is at most With winde 't is onely full with winde 't is tost 7. Lord what 's the world I will not wish me blinde Because mine eyes thus tempt me though I finde A grave * Bp. Hall one bid one of one eye bereft Not t' weep that loss but that one yet was left Nor will mistake thee when thou bidst not doubt If that mine eye offend to pluck it out Lord turn away mine eyes all 's one to me If so thou dost as if I did not see 8. Lord what 's the world indeed the heav'ns aray'd Are in thy Livery we see display'd In them thy glorious Coat they each night story In Starry characters their Makers glory But since a fly worm or the meanest elf If animate excels the world it self Why then 's the world by noble man thus held In such esteem that is by such excell'd The Author 's Epainicron to God for his Recovery from a sharp Fever Psal 118. 18 The Lord hath chastened and corrected me sore but he hath not given me over unto death Isai 38. 18 For the grave cannot praise thee death cannot celebrate thee they that go down to the pit canner hope for thy truth 19. The living the living he shall praise thee as I do this day 1. Lord THough Scripture say A thousand yeers one day Are unto thee yet must I think again To thee appears Each day a thousand yeers Till I thee thank for freedom from my pain 2. Late I was sick 'T were vain with Launcet's prick To vent my blood corrupted too too long I look'd for death As he that lay beneath A threatning sword which by a thred was hung 3. The active strife For hope or help of life Now fail'd me quite And while the Doctor lingers How did I feel A hastie Death to ceel My falling eye-lids with her Ycie fingers 4. The quick results Within my fev'rish Pulse The minutes were by which the hours I counted Wherein delay'd The tarder Doctors ayd So hours to days and days to weeks amounted 5. To hold me home My last Viaticum Was tender'd to sustain me in my journey Nor was I mute For to present my sute To th' mediation of my sweet Attorney 6. Life's influence Scar'd from my outward sence Now to my hearts Metropolis was gone And in this strait My ready soul did wait With nimble wing for dissolution 7. But like a brand Pluck'd by thy gracious hand I have escap'd the burning unconsum'd Though death by Fever Did rage as bad as ever Caldee's King on the furnac'd children fum'd 8. But as they freed With one consent agreed To praise thee for thy kindness and thy love So let me praise Thy mercy all my days So shall this mercy not my judgement prove Temptation Ephes 6. 14 Stand fast therefore having your loyns girt about with truth and having on the brest-plate of righteousness 15 And your feet shed with the preparation of the Gospel of peace 16 Above all taking the shield of faith whereby ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked 17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God 1. NOr was with Death my combat such But now I 'm tempted all so much So that me thinks my Senses halt 'Twixt two which was the worst assault Unless thou Lord who conquer'dst Death And lately crown'dst me with that wreath As thou hast vanquish'd Hell too I 'm undone Unless thou finish what thou hast begun 2. Is' t not enough by the sinister Temptations of her whisp'ring sister My soul 's seduc'd with frailty cloath'd And to infirmity betroth'd That th' easie soul by flesh is tempted Nor night nor day nor place exempted As if in slights she did the Devil ape And meant them no temptations but a rape 3. Is' t not enough that by the fraud of Hell that makes the World her Band I 'm by the World seduc'd and Sense Wooes not refists its influence Whose very blessings are but Baits As if th' air breath'd nought but deceits So that we all might breathe our mourning thus False world Imposture is thy Genius 4. But are we subject to the darts Of hellish Fiends which seize our hearts Like subtil Lightning's fierce inquests Which melts the gold within the chests As if they aim'd t' usurp thy part Who onely know'st and try'st the heart Into whose Closets they themselves convey Unless
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Or A PRAYER-SONG BEING Sacred Poems ON THE HISTORY OF THE BIRTH and PASSION OF OUR Blessed SAVIOUR And several other choice texts of SCRIPTURE In two PARTS By Daniel Cudmore Gent. LONDON Printed by J. C. for William Ley in Paul's Chain 1655. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or A Prayer-Song Being Sacred Poem◠On the History of the birth ◠passiō of our Blessed Savioiur And several other choyce texts of Scripture by Daniel Cudmore Gent. And Wee are his witnsses of these things Acts. 5.32 Behold a Virgine Mathew 1.23 This Iesus which is taken up into Acts. 1.11 Behold the man Iohn 10.5 Hee is not heare but is risen Mat 28.6 La Printed by I C for William Ley at Paul's Chayne 1655. To his honoured Friend HENRY WORTH Esq Sir IN Italy they have a Proverb that Paper blusheth not intimating thereby I suppose that what we are ashamed perhaps to tender in person the pale messenger of an Epistle will not blush to present On these terms it is that having usurp'd your Name in this Dedication and being more happy if in either in my Pen then Tongue and so more obliged to the Printer then to Nature I beg your pardon and acceptance I am not ignorant what censures I shall incur in this adventure viz that the foundation indeed is good as being portions of Scripture but the superstructure wood hay and stubble as being not supplied with materials from those Hurams of Spirit and Learning and so rather apples of lead than of gold in these pictures of silver that what Socrates said in modesty of his Works may be said in earnest of mine That the Paper is more worth then the Work These Objections and more than I can anticipate much less prevent have pursued me to Sanctuary under the shadow of your EAGLES wing where I doubt neither of acceptance nor safety Not that I would make your Patronage an Asylum for Ignorance or your Protection a Refuge for inconsiderate Boldness but that I know your Noble nature to be ever ready to countenance the endeavours and to protect the studies of Vertue and Honesty whereof as I shall still endeavour to be a constant embracer so of you always a true honourer in token whereof I humbly devote my self From my Study in Tiverton this _____ of _____ Your obliged servant Daniel Cudmore To his industrious Friend Mr. DANIEL CUDMORE I Dare presume to tell the bold-fac'd Times Divinity looks best thus cloath'd in Rymes Of all the Factions that have crept of late Into the bowels of our whining State None 's like the Momusites for ev'ry one Studies to carp nay scarce le ts God alone Destroy'd by tongues the tow'r of Babel lies Heav'n grant we fall not by our Heresies Believe me Friend thy Labours shew thou art Indu'd with Wisdom and thy serious heart Hath no outragious Faction but each line Distil'd from heav'n tells us that they are thine Go on with courage though Religion lie Now groaning under sad Deformity And at this time bears an Ecliptick stain 'T will end in conquest and shine bright again Jo. Quarles To the worthy Author GOod works are their own praisers they that show What 't is to praise a work praise what they know I 'll tell thee friend thy labor was my pain In reading and that reading was my gain I did not onely reade but understood What 't was I read and therefore say 'T is good And if my erring judgement have mistook Let the world judge my Judgment not thy Book I 'll therefore second what I said before 'T is good I 'm sure 't is good and what needs more Ric. Harrison Inte. Tomp To the ingenious Author upon his Book TO praise thy work were but to work thy praise 'T is Vertue that thou aimst at not Bays Thy Work is thy Encomium therefore I Will spend no time in Prodigality Of flatt'ring praise but this in short I 'll tell I read I lik'd I prais'd and so farewel Charles Hubburt Gr. Inne The Introduction Psal 90. 17 Prosper thou the works of our hands upon us O prosper thou our handy-work LOrd thou without whose-blessing success Our Wits degenerate to Wickedness Who if thou bidst not Write that book may die In shame or prove the Author's Tragedie Who David 's tongue mad'st as a ready pen When thee he prais'd the fairest of all men O make my pen as ready as his tongue In this my Euchodie and Prayer-song Refine my Wit to Wisdom in this Poem Accept the Dedication speak the Proem Let Naaman love his proud Damascus streams And others hug their Heliconian dreams Those springs alone that flow from Sions hill Shall drench my barren brain and moist my quill But since all springs inspire not but befool Vnless thy Angel of Bethesda's pool Descend and move them with his healing grace Unless thy Spirit move upon their face Oh would they now descend and so baptize My childish fancie in these Mysteries Then should I sing thy Birth as if my brest With one of those thy Angels were possest And write thy deeds as if thou hadst afforded Me what th' Evangelists have not recorded So would I wail thy death that some should think Thy vinegar and gall my onely Ink My Pen should be so tart that it should tear And deeper pierce then did the Souldiers spear But thou who knew'st our weakness by the sense Of a dear-purchased experience Have pity on my Ignorance and daign Some sparks of native wisdom here again That in this men of a judicious head If not thy Image may thy footsteps read Yet let not th' earth thus by thy footsteps trod Be proud but still remember 't is a clod Lest it thy praises curtal and abridge Thee of thy right by Paper-sacriledge On the Nativity of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Luke 2. 10 Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy that shall be to all people 11 For unto us is born this day in the city of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord. LEt none hence wonder that the souls vast nature Is comprehended in so small a stature That wonder 's crampt that mirrour here exploded For in this child there is compriz'd a Godhead But stay do not the heav'ns crouch at his feet And beg the honour of a bearing-sheet Doth not the Sun descend on earth to shine And take his Palace for a nobler Signe Doth not the Moon like some great maid of honor With all the troops of stars attending on her Sue for some office No blest Childe my Muse Doth veil her crown and humbly begs excuse A Quill from th' Angel's wing that sung thy birth Were a fit Pen to carol forth our mirth Thou didst devest thy self of much more glory That thou mightst clothe us with intransitory The Sun 's too weak of lustre it would frown Amongst the glories of a Martyr's crown And the dull glory of the azur'd stage But a poor Pageant
I aside Might wander if thou hadst not been my guide 5. And as the earth held by thy secret hand Hangs in the air There is no thred or hair Supports the smallest dust or grain of sand So while some wonder how it is they fall To me 't is strange Lord how I stand at all 6. Blest God that took'st me from my mothers womb My heritance Here is not worth a glance In length and breadth all but a Tomb For as th' hast wean'd me ever since my birth So still th' hast wean'd me from my mother earth 7. Yet though my friends have thrust me from my right As from their nest The Eagles do devest Theirs who can't dare the sun by sight Yet this is still my glory in all things Th' hast born me th'row as 't were on Eagles wings 8. Wealth is no needful adjunct unto grace If riches are The true undoubted stayre That lead to glory Jacob 's case In purchasing his blessing were but poor For he liv'd mean while Esan swell'd with store 9. The blessing stood not in the promis'd land So much indeed As in the promis'd Seed Bequeath'd by Isaac's blessing hand God's right-hand-blessing's seldom clods of earth But such as fear invasion plagues nor dearth 10. Yet here each birth-right's not a Type of heaven As Canaan was T' Abraham 's seed but as Th' earth 's curs'd oft as a curse 't is giv'n But seldom for w' are oft deceiv'd in ghessing The Earnest or th' Appendix of a blessing 12. Lord be 't all as thy wisdom hath decreed Since th' art my portion I fear no such extortion I pass by all and bid God speed Let them go view their Landskips while that I Do with a better birth-right please mine eye Job 7. 20 I have sinned what shall I do unto thee O thou preserver of men 1. LOrd I have sin'd O weighty words what more Could Hell if it repentant were deplore It could but say VVe merit thus to die Ev'n so do I confess ev'n so have I. Yet though my sins do bear an equal bulk VVith some of Hell's unequal is our mulct 2. Lord I have sin'd to tell how much there wants A sea of Ink as many Pens as plants Grow on the teeming earth and sheets as large As are the heavens to contain the Charge As many Items to the Charge amount VVhich none but thy Arithmetick can count 3. Lord I have sin'd what shall I say O brief Yet full expression of sin and grief Thus humble Penitents vent much in little VVhile Pharisees yet vent their frothy spittle In self-applause But in my grief this clause I 'll onely vent and then sit down and pause 4. Lord I have sin'd when not in life and function VVhat time or age can plead a free dis-junction Not childhood for sin soon outgrew that age And prov'd a Graduate in my Pupillage So that I justly may lament that sin And I were born unseparable twin 5. Lord I have sin'd Nay sleep that locks my sence Can hardly bat that bold intruder thence Corruption still her centinel doth keep What Lullabee can rock her watch asleep Poets may feign at will but she nor weighs Dull Morpheus nor his bunch of leaden keys 6. Lord I have sin'd but if I once were clear VVhen wheels about that same Platonick yeer That I might hope when my now-tainted duty Might innocent appear in perfect beauty O for that Anniverse to set me free Hence would I fetch my blessed Epoche 7. Lord I have sin'd but were I free where 's found That happie and no less then holy ground O might I know the place there would I raise And dedicate a Temple to thy praise But thy blest winde that breathes at list his grace Can breathe his Zephyres here in ev'ry place 8. Lord I have sin'd and for my Irritavies If thou shouldst not vouchsafe me true Peccavies I still should sin let others use their mind My El'gies burthen still shall be I 've sin'd And since I can't weep for each sin till death I 've sin'd should be the burthen of each breath Mark 7. 21 For from within out of the heart of men proceed evil thoughts adulteries fornications murthers 22 Thefts covetousness wickedness deceit lasciviousness an evil eye blasphemy pride foolishness 1. IF could some Delius with divided hands Sound the Seas depth and on his souls recorder Imprint the wracks huge rocks and heaps of sands Which there lie scatter'd in confus'd disorder This could he do by Natures's strength or art Yet none could sound the bottom of the heart 2. Should some Ship-master make's fore-split the Probe Of Nature's secrets and so bring to view Land to make up a perfect earthly Globe Which Drake nor Kit Columbus never knew Yet as in the great world so in his own He must confess there 's yet much land unknown 3. The heart 's a Sea for depth like Sodom-lake Dead thick gross in it will sink no good Th' hearts land 's unknown wherein what monsters make Their hides and dens few yet have understood The centre may be purest earth yet th' heart The bodies centre 's the corrupter part 4. Our heart-strings are the cords of vanity Their caverns are the devil 's lurking-holes No fit Triangle for the Trinity An habitation more fit for moles Their cauls the veils of damn'd Hypocrisie Thus is sum'd up man 's wretched Majestie 5. If thus the Sun within our firmament Into a Meteor degenerate If thus the King within our continent Let 's sin and lust usurp his Royal state If thus corrupted be the bodies leaven How shall we manchets be prepar'd for heaven 6. Whe'er Hell be in th' earth's centre I suspend But in man 's centre 's couch'd an Hell of sin Nor do so many lines to th' centre tend As in a wicked heart fiends make their Inne Which yet most know no more then can be found Where Arethusa windes beneath the ground 7. Lord shew me in the Mirrour of thy Law The horrour of my heart by bright reflection In that thy Glass there falshood is nor flaw Though wickedly some scorn its true direction And whip the Tutor for his discipline Yet Lord direct me by that Glass of thine 8. Oh daign my heart with graces to perfume And th'rowly purge it from each noisome vapor Whose rank infection choaks each neighb'ring room And strives to damp my soul's aspiring tapor O make my heart-strings Lord thy cords of love So mine according to thy heart shall prove 1 Pet. 4. 18. If the righteous scarcely be saved where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear 1. IS then with fraud The way to heaven straw'd And is it granted that our race Is scattered with caltraps ev'ry pace Which if but trod on pierce us to the ankles And more no wound they give but rankles So that it seems a venter At all to enter The way to heav'n's not dam'd with trifling burs But block'd and barricado'd with demurs 2.
to their equipage But may I draw the veil and not deserve T' have one eternal on my visive nerve 'T was not long since thy fiery-pointed eye Did sparkle with consuming Majestie And is it all confin'd comprised all Within the circuit of this gellied ball 'T was not long since thou breath'dst in us our souls And since thy breath did kindle burning coles And do we dare thy nostrils heark O wonder He cries whom erst I 've heard to roar in thunder 'T was not long since such glory Moses drew From see'ng thy back-parts none his face could view And can we see thy face do not w'implore Brandish destructive glory th'row each pore 'T was not long since at thy commanding word The world sprung out of nought like Jonah's guord And since at Sinai's mount did Israel crie Let not the Lord speak to us lest we die And is the mighty Counsellor so weak And he that gave the tongue can he not speak And must their glories all be understood To be wrapt up in humble flesh and blood A Series of wonders which nor men Nor Angels can nor comprehend nor pen Therefore as Angels humbly veil at it Their Wisdoms crowns let us our crowns of Wit That Spirit who conceiv'd thee he can teach How to conceive a Wonder of this reach By him my soul a knowledge of thy worth Brings forth as easie as thou wert brought forth Hence then let 's fetch our Epoche and call This blessed day the birth-day of us all What did our carnal birth boot us this morn Redeems us who condemned were ere born O might I now by vertue of thy birth Be born anew 't would adde to this days mirth And th' Angels who did at thy birth rejoyce At mine in singing would lift up their voice Blest Childe that met'st the heaven with a span Yet in a span art couch'd that dost contain Th' earth in measure Lord yet 't is thy pleasure To be contained in an earthen measure The heav'n of heav'ns cannot contain thy grace Nor art thou straiten'd in a little place Come then take up my heart and until death O make my brest thy blessed Nazareth On the murther of the Innocents Matth. 2. 16. Then Herod when he saw that he was mocked by the wise-men was exceeding wroth and sent forth and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem from two yeers old and under according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise-men 1. GOod Babes of whom I may say true For Christ ye did an off ring fall And di'd for Christ ere Christ for you Although none could his love forestal Blest Infantry your Sov'raign's tasters To him of Herod's cup of Malice Ere Christ to finish his disasters Drank deep and free the final Chalice Blest Innocents with whom the case thus stood First circumcised then baptiz'd in blood 2. Sweet Saplings who to spell the Branch Fall subject under Herod's rape VVhose Boureauxes cut and blanch And rob you of your juyce and sap You got blest Cyons by this craft And you may bless curs'd Herod's knife Be'ng hence transplanted y' are ingraft And bourgeon on the tree of life Where each Herodian cicatrice doth bloom Like Aaron's rod so may you bless your doom 3. Curs'd Fox Hell with thy brains did club Thus needlesly to back thy claim But could not blinde rage spare thy Cub Must he fall too before thy aim Foxes use prey abroad but thou Although unwittingly at home Ambitious madness asks not now Whose't is thou prey'st upon or whom Just since thou hast no bowels that thy son Should fall amongst the rest a slaughter'd one 4. Thus Pharaoh like our greedy * The Arms of Rich. 3. who slew his brothers children Hog Or of the kennel with this Fox Who more ador'd Anubis dog Then the plainness of Isis ox Once fearing Israel's increase Enjoyn'd each one to drown each male Till Isr'el groaning for release Their prayers to their God exhale Till he descends and in one fatal morn Slew each Egyptian's and the King 's first-born 5. But you whose doctrine like the crabs Swims backward ' gainst the stream of Truth Speak In what Lymbus are these babes Or all the Isra'litish youth Say In what fold of Purgatory Purg'd in what streams of fire or water Are these Lambs whom this Fox did worry Or dog slew what can fancy flatter Name me what canonized Saint and Martyr Annex'd this truth unto the Scriptures Charter 6. Peace Rachel peace do not deplore The murther of thy children seeing They 're not yet are they not no more And than thou gav'st have better being VVeep not thy buds so soon do bleed Almost as thou didst them disclose They should have grown here amongst weed Now flourish with their Jesse's rose Let Herod grieve for his son's death and weep Thou hast no cause then do not sigh so deep On John the Baptist's being beheaded Mark 6. 27 And immediately Herod the king sent an executioner and commanded his head to be brought and he went and beheaded him in the prison 28 And brought his head in a charger and gave it to the damsel and the damsel gave it to her mother 1. THrice-happie morning-star that didst fore-run The Sun of righteousness his neer approach As that Postilion precedes the Sun And ushers to the world his glorious Coach Blest Prodrom who by th' art of Philip 's wife Didst Christ fore-run in death as well as life 2. Thrice-happie Jacob's Shiloh's Prolocutor Blest Mercury to Jacob's glorious Star Our Saviour's Harbinger the Gentiles Tutor To shew their expectation was not far Who in a purer stream then Jordan's flood At last baptiz'd thy Baptism with thy blood 3. Curst Herod who as John Elijah's spirit Had by a gracious influence bequeath'd So thou as by possession didst inherit Thy father's rage which here on John was breath'd Hadst thou no Trophee to adorn thy birth But th' Baptist's head no triumph but such mirth 4. Bloody Herodias that wert so rough To recompense Iohn's zeal with such requitals Was not thy Musick spirited enough Not joyn'd in consort with the Baptist's vitals Never was Musick of so gross a crime Arraigned guilty since old Iubal's time 5. Vile Wretch who thus wouldst make rash Herod's oath A Pander to a hot incest'ous Bed Neither did Thomyris that famous Goth As thou on Iohn's insult on Cyrus head Vile Monster thus to nustle up thy daughter Ev'n from her tender yeers to blood slaughter 6. Wretch'd Damsel thou whose too too active feet Were onely swift to shed the harmless blood Of th' innocent ev'n so a dancing Fleet Waits for her prey while 't wantons on the flood Ev'n so a Hawk doth quaver in the air Before she souse so danc'd thy wicked pair 7. Blest Iohn as was Elijah so wert thou Into a wilderness by fury banish'd Both forc'd by women both pursu'd by vow Though both not in a fiery Chariot vanish'd Yet herein thou an equal
share mayst plead Th' art member'd to a far more glorious Head 8. Good God! how are we honour'd that as John Fore-ran to fit Christ's way before his face Ev'n so our Saviour thy blessed Son Prepares our way and fits our resting place O let 's succeed where we shall be no other Then joynt-heirs with thy Son our elder brother On the woman of Canaan Matth. 25. 28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her O woman great is thy faith be it unto thee even as thou wilt And her daughter was made whole from that very hour 1. GOod-woman who couldst thus not only brook A stern disdainful look But the disciples wrath who held thy suit Some clamorous pursuit As who would give no answer to a Cur But with a staff or spur Nay though that Christ retorted thy Lord help With no relief but Whelp And whom thou hop'dst thy Advocate we read Did thus against thee plead How heldst thou his denials of thy want A prologue to a grant As if repulse were the propos'd condition To faith before admission How by thy constancie was he esteem'd Then most propitious when he farthest seem'd 2. When he seem'd deaf how thy importun'd prayer To musick tun'd the ayr And with ingeminated violence Monopoliz'd his sence And when he seem'd to thee no less then dumb How for thy faithful crumb He having with his bread supply'd thy cause Dismiss'd thee with applause Denials made not thy affections froward Nor yet thy zeal a coward Thy quick-ey'd faith smiles through his frowns did view And through his wrath love knew It through his threats an invitation saw Which by repulse did draw And in the sharp reproaches he avouch'd Discern'd a welcome couch'd Let others hope of Force and boast of Fortune When they shall fail I gain when I importune 3. But how is Christ but now so much estranged Now all to mercy changed And thou at first a dog art now inrol'd One of his flock and fold For Faith 's the mark by which his sheep are known And such said he 's thine own Ev'n so wise Ioseph held the ten for Spies Though brethren in his eyes And Benjamin whom he reputed chief Pursu'd was for a thief But when he was disclos'd each threat of his Is changed to a kiss And for his late experimental check Wept on his brothers neck So as we ought to fear God's hand that savours Of peace and such-like favours So ought we not despair God oft doth frown And seems then strange when he intends to crown 4. Lord what she here would for her daughter have I for my sister crave I for my soul and she the better I Doth for her body vie That thou wouldst dispossess my haunted twins Of legions of sins Which though perhaps not devils yet the spawns Which here their father pawns I 'll not pray If thou canst for Lord I know it I know well thou canst do it Although with him I 'll pray with tears and grief Lord help my unbelief Come purge thy Temple let it not thus stink Like to a noysom sink Lord if thou wilt not hear me I will force Thy mercy for remorse The unjust judge at length did hear her sute Why then 's the Iudge of all the world so mute On the man heal'd at the pool of Bethesda John 5. 5 And a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty eight yeers 6 When Jesus saw him lie and knew that he had been now a long time in that case he saith unto him Wilt thou be made whole 7 The impotent man answered him Sir I have no man when the water is troubled to put me into the pool but while I am coming another steppeth down before me 8 Jesus saith unto him Arise take up thy bed and walk 9 And immediately the man was made whole and took up his bed and walked 1. AS one long wind-bound in the Cape of hope Until his gales Kinde Aeolus exhales Bans the too faithful Cable-rope And th' Anchors which of Hope true emblems are To him occasion matter of despair 2. So lay thy patience at Bethesda's pool The soul so waits Till death-divorcing straits Shall waft her hence So in a School A full-ag'd youth more ripe then rich waits long Till wafted thence to th' Academick throng 3. The Tyde did serve thee often to thy will By th' Angel mov'd Not by the Moon improv'd But gales of Love were wanting still To launch thee forth So far from Shore or Tyde I 've seen a ship lie on her useless side 4. But who would not than thee much longer wait If thus assur'd By Christ he should be cur'd And count all Physick but deceit The vertue of this pool's not worth thy strife Compar'd with Christ the Well and Well of life 5. Oh who with Lazarus would not sustain The pangs of death Ev'n to their utmost breath So by Christ to be rais'd again Much more with thee who would not wait a time With faithful patience to be heal'd by him 6. Lord thus I well remember when infected Expecting still Aid from the Doctor 's still Which yet in vain I long expected Yet evermore some passage intervenes And robs me of my hope of outward means 8. While thus I lay like an exposed elf While death upbraids My hope of future aids My best Physician came himself Thus if thou come let other Doctors stay And I will fee them after for delay 9. Lord when my heart 's thus troubled by thy Spirit Thy South nor North Can hardly launch me forth Neither thy love nor wrath can stir it I 'm anchor'd to the world but call the rocks They 'll come but I stick fast in leaden socks On the Prodigal Luke 15. 20 And he arose and came to his father and when he was yet a great way off his father saw him and had compassion and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him 21. And the son said unto him Father I have sinned against heaven and in thy sight and am no more worthy to be called thy son 1. FOol-hardy Prodigal what couldst not brook The disc'pline of thy father's house But wander'dst like the errant spouse Ev'n as a sheep that hath her fold forsook Among the vagrant goats to brouze From the tuition of her shepherds crook VVhen in a ragged fleece Each briar having snatch'd a peece He 's found and welcom'd as his Child or Neece 2. Thus didst thou rove rome thus wert thou errant Thus didst thou from thy Father range And leftst his Palace from some grange Thus thou embrac'dst a stranger for thy Parent Thy Native Land leftst for one strange Till Death arrests thee with a meagre warrant No Confessor or Flamine So can reduce check or examine Like th' Inquisition of exacting famine 3. Thy wine is turn'd to tears thy robes to rags Thy Father did not get thy Portion By griping us'ry or extortion That 's not the cause th' hast lavisht out thy bags Yet he
's last print That nought can close the dint Grave on my stupid soul Lord this days love Ev'n at the mention Of this thy blest ascention Let her aspire Like an excentrick fire To thee her Centre that art fix'd above On Christ his Session at the right hand of God Mark 16. 19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them he was received up into heaven and sate on the right hand of God 1. HOw well the throne Becomes God's holy One How fit the Rod Beseems the hand of God! How meet the Crown Befits him 't is his own How well meet fit his Throne Rod Diadem Deck him with glory but he much more them 2. We wish Good luck To thee with these go pluck Hell by the root Make it quake at thy foot To right thy Spouse Damn Death t' a Charnel-house Good luck have with thy right Oh how we bless Thee and thy Father for thy good success 3. With how sweet bliss Do Grace and Glory kiss So Light and Heat We see in Phoebus met By these 't is known Thou not usurpst thine own Good luck have with thy right we willingly Submit unto thy yoke of Liberty 4. We if we might Would not supplant thy right But yeeld as well As if nor heav'n nor hell Should crown or damn With endless bliss or shame Our better Natures will this just embrace Nor can we other by instinct of Grace 5. Satan as heir Long kept his steely Chair Nay yet usurps The unregen'rate corps But when Christ claim'd His right how was all maim'd Our blessed Gyant having run his course Now on the heavens rides as on a horse 6. On man 's agreeing With Hell sin had its being And by this blot Death had her essence got Should Christ these things Suffer as fellow-Kings No if they stir in us while here we breath They 're the last pangs but of a dying Death 7. But how large Scenes Hath this Christ's act What means He to prorogue His wished Epilogue And not concludes Without more Interludes Is not th' earths harvest ripe hath it so dull In sinning been yet are the Fat 's not full 8. Hell Sin and Death Which yet too strongly breath Seem to blaspheme As if they were Supreme Or their pow'r here Some Interregnum were Lord 't is long since long since thy promise spake These days I 'll shorten for my chosen's sake On Christ's Intercession with the Father for us Heb. 7. 25 Wherefore he is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them 1. NOr is our Saviour so much given Unto the contemplation of himself That he forgets us now in heaven As once prophanely thought that glutton elf But having travers'd hence his journey He still remembers us amidst his glory He still remains our blest Attorney Whereof the least act on our true repentance Is able to reverse the strongest sentence 2. Hence then let 's Fortune fear nor Fate Or what blear-ey'd Star-gazers can rehearse Because we have an Advocate Who can each ominous presage reverse Let Satan never hence appeal To heaven in his wonted Dialect Lest he be doom'd by Christ his zeal As who would make his Death of none effect And aim'd to hinder him lest he inherit The dear-bought purchase which his death did merit 3. But if he dare us to attaint He 'll strait be silenc'd at Christ's counter-suit As daring to accuse a Saint To whom Christ will his righteousness impute You then whose troubled souls do languish In pining sorrow for your sins and follies Banish your fears and calm your anguish Exult and vent your joy in sprightly vollies Go see him with your tears leave the tryal To him alone whose Suit ne'er found denial 4. If Artaxerxes took so kinde A handful but of water from a Peasant Present thy tears and thou shalt finde More gracious acceptance of that present And if thy sins so thick should croud To fill heav'ns ears with a condemning matter And stand between you like a cloud Which not the windes of all thy sighs can scatter By him that sable cloud shall be dissolv'd Wherein the Sun of glory seem'd involv'd 5. In vain let Satan henceforth wander Like to a base accusing Ottacus As daring to inform by slander Him that 's all ear and eye concerning us Thus let us then forestal his malice Accuse our selves let not that seem uncouth Who will not so with Justice dallies But so we do his office stop his mouth Our Case thus op'ned if Christ intercede What envious boldness dares against us plead 6. What means that Man of sin that rallies The Saints as Christ's corrivals in this Function And if they were so neer his allies How was it purchased when was their Unction True with him are the Saints co-heirs But Christ did purchase it and them elected And they to whom now Rome repairs If Saints now by him reign so here expected He is our elder Brother and he sure Enjoys his right of primogeniture 7. Then have our hands transgress'd the warrant Of heav'ns Laws Christ pleads his hands bor'd through Or have our devious feet been errant He pleads his pierc'd by a sufficient proof Or if our hearts have Ill invented Christ pleads his for us by the Souldier pierc'd All was on him by stripes indented He sues the Fine of all on him amerc'd In him our sins were scourg'd bor'd nail'd and rack'd Nor will his Father them again exact 8. Our sins but whisper to that cry Which his wounds make the sorrow compunction Of his perplexed Agony Nay with our sins if hell howl'd in conjunction Our thanks he graciously perfumes Our supplications with odours balms Sweetens with myrrhe repentant rheums With incense sanctifies our vows and alms Blest be thy Father and that sacred Unction That did consigne thee to this blessed Function On Christ his final coming to Judgment Revel 5. 12 And the Sun became black as sackcloth of hair and the moon became as blood 13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth even as a fig-tree casteth her untimely figs when she is shaken of a mighty winde 14 And the heaven departed as a seroll when it is rolled together and every mountain and island were moved out of their places 1. NOr here our Saviour concludes His act these are his Interludes The eye of faith in these he asks As being an Interview of Masks But he upon a flaming stage In an Angelick equipage Now comes in person at the day of Audit When troops of angels shall trump forth his plaudit 2. When righteousness and equitie The pillars of his Seat shall be The elements together mixt And the two Poles of th' world unfixt Whose Genius shall feel that story Of the imagin'd Purgatory When wild Disorder and amaz'd Confusion Shall be the Whifflers to a sad conclusion 3. But Lord how long wilt thou defer To hear Wilt still our hopes
deter How long that Quaere wilt suspend Whether the world shall have an end Come let thy judgement and thy mercy Finish at length that Controversie Come come away our panting hearts are drumming At thy approach and yet thou seem'st not coming 4. Haste Lord descend thy Saints to gather And to resigne them to thy Father What wilt thou lose by that thy tender 'T is no surprisal or surrender Thou ' lt be the King of glory still For who dares to oppose thy will Safe in thy Eden grows the tree of life Thou now not doubtst of Adam or his wife 5. But stay my soul what canst thou meet Thy Judge with clean prepared feet Art thou not naked or art cloth'd As one to such a Lord betroth'd If so go meet thy coming Groom Thy wedding-wedding-day's the day of Doom But Lord we build wed feast we vaunt and jet As 't were but now thou saidst But th'end's not yet 6. As morning-light precedes the Sun Let grace thy glory here fore-run For glory never there will come Where grace hath not prepar'd the room Give grace Lord and with that the sinew Of strength and vigour to continue Thou hast been 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and begun to do But seem'st 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 too 7. O let not Hell upbraid thy power As his that 'gan to build that tower He could not end Finish at length My Citadel with mighty strength Yet faith and hope faint joys are sory Till grace be swallow'd up of glory As grace like Orphah leaves me when I die Let Ruth-like glory fill my Naomi 8. Blest God I know we ought to pray Thy kingdom come each day by day And should thy coming damn us all We durst but it a mercy call Thy time dread Lord 's the best and thou Long-suff'ring art of old and now O let thy grace make way for glory then Thy kingdom come thy will be done Amen On the Joys of heaven after the day of Judgment 2 Cor. 2. 9 Eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither have entred into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him 1. GHess now the Scenes of ev'ry age Upon one Stage Re-acted and all shifted clean Both Stage and Scene Each hath his pay and wafted home With Go or Come To act a better part or worse With bliss or curse Both play'd have to my Fancies eye A Tragi-Comi-Comi-Tragedy 2. As heav'n Astronomy confines To Zones and Lines And with conceited Poles supports The azure Courts And th'row its fancied Zodiack Can Titan track And takes heav'ns length and breadth if bid As th' Angel did Their Jacob's staff no less can do Then if they had got Jacob's ladder too 3. Yet all this serves but to advance Gilt Ignorance So heav'ns joys by blinde devotions Are cloath'd in notions Which onely gild our Nescience With seeming sence Them we are forc'd to ghess by pleasures And earthly treasures Since though the Turkish Alcharon Describes their Par'dise ours can be by none 4. But could our Merlins by discerning And Lynx-ey'd learning Who can the starry Alphabet In language set And though the clouds should blot their book Can th'row them look Could they define the blessed mansions B'yoâ—d these expansions I 'd love their Art Divinity Should then be handmaid to Astronomy 5. As on their Babel of Conceit They mount heav'ns height So though its beauty and dimension Befools Invention Transcends the Zenith of all mancie Of Art and Fancie Yet since that faculty of soul Doth more inroll Then 's seen or heard we ghess those joys Though far above our knowledge wish or choice 6. To call them Riches were not high But beggerly To call them Honours were a vile Inglorious stile To call them Pleasures were a gross And tedious gloss These Joys by myriads of pitches Exceed such Riches Though by such names the blessed Spirit Describes those joys which now the Saints inherit 7. Since no man th' heavens ever knew By Art or view Though some the Stars boast to describe By name and tribe As if when first the heavens were They had been there And knew them all as well as he His silver skie Not knowing these so plain and even Who can define the non-apparent heaven 8. Lord since more then I can conceive I must believe And far beyond my Fancies scope I still must hope Grant what 's conceived by my youth Agree with truth And whatsoever doth out-stretch My Fancies reach She at forbidden fruit not glance But flag her wing in humble Ignorance On the Torments of Hell Luke 16. 22 And it came to pass that the begger died and was buried and was carried by the angels into Abrahams bosom The rich man also died and was buried 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes being in torments and sees Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom 24 And he cried and said Father Abraham have mercy on me and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue for I am tormented in this flame 1. POor souls whom endless flames do scorch Since that the earth flam'd like a pendant Torch Since at the Trumpets final sound Our Jericho's high walls fell flat to ground And all was burnt What Verse hath tones Sufficient to accent forth your groans 2. Should all the Poets adde each Fury And of the Muses Nine make up a Jury And beg their Verdict to define Hell 's miseries they must the Suit decline Should they exhaust their Helicon And these should drain their Styx and Acharon 3. Let Wit excite her fruitless strife To limn Eternal Death unto the Life And in a Synod call the Quire Or Arts all served but to paint a fire Fire which but makes the brain to sweat As void of true description as of heat 4. Reader let thy Orpheus-like Fancie Descend to Hell in some conceited Maney And with brisk Nectar oil the mouth Of tortur'd Dives which is parch'd with drouth All he could say how Furies wreak Their rage would be I know not what to speak 5. Aetna's to this an idle tapor Vesuvius a thin incensed vapor Or as the Pyramids whose spires Mount onely in proportion'd shapes of fires No fire to these is worth a name Even Sodom's but the shadow of this flame 6. And what need Poets feign a Styx Or Acharon since floods of tears here mix Into a Sea which wildly lurks In darkness and confused water-works Which all Hydrography no better Can quote then Xerxes th' Hellespont could fetter 7. But cannot Dives from These drench His thirst-parch'd mouth and burning liver quench No fire and water here are both One element which flaming streams do froth Both having purg'd the world so gross Meet in Hell 's furnace to consume the dross 8. Lord since Hell 's pains exceed conceit Each gloss on them 's a naked counterfeit Our Fancies still have some remorse Let us the
The world 's no less Than a vast wilderness Whence if heav'ns guides lead us not home Officious hell will seem to lend us some His fiery pillar of false joy he grants His cloudy one of Ignorance But to these who confides To be his guides Is straightway swallow'd in some dang'rous gulf Or prey'd by sin as by some bear or wolf 3. Who look well in 't The world 's a Labyrinth At each whose Maze who ever touch'd But found that damned Minotaur lay couch'd Who takes each yeelding for a firm contract And proudly will each grace exact Till he have all deflowr'd And all devour'd Let not thy Theseus Lord be too remiss My soul my Ariadne shall be his 4. Is then each path All thus scatter'd with wrath We hop'd amongst the Jewish scorns Christ from these ways had fetch'd his crown of thorns And from these Turn-pikes and these armed Rails Had daign'd to take his Cross and Nails And hence had fetch'd that dart Which pierc'd his heart And triumph'd had in conquest of these spoils And purg'd his high-way of these snares and toils 5. W' are not withstood By easie flesh and blood But Satan with our weakness wrestles The Prince of th' air which in our Region nestles Nay we with these like Gibellines and Guelves Do side and fight against our selves Fraud's Convoy and Deceit Th' Inne where we bait Though Christ have bought us heaven without doubt We both must sue for it and fight it out 6. No Saint nor Martyr Can boast of other Charter All at this Cross have Inn'd as well As Christ that went that way to heav'n by hell Vertue 's a narrow mean betwixt two Vices On each hand are deep precipices Let 's take if guide we lack That bloody track Which issu'd from that blessed Roe's five wounds When pierc'd and pursu'd by the Jewish hounds 7. It can't be wav'd The righteous scarce are sav'd Shall not the wicked then be swallow'd Up in the mire wherein they thus have wallow'd If trouble ever do attend on grace Shall peace wait on a wicked case If scarce be sav'd the just Shall pride and lust If thus the case stood with that verdant tree How shall the stubble and the chaff go free 8. In sack and down All thoughts of hell they drown Ev'n so th' Hart ends the controversie When he pursu'd flies to the Hunter 's mercy Ev'n so the Sparrow by the Falcon chas'd Did to the Stoick's bosome haste Each path with pleasure 's pav'd With beauty grav'd Until that footing fails them ere they think Oh then how quickly into hell they sink Grief for not grieving Psal 126. 6 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy 7 He that now goeth on his way weeping and beareth forth good seed shall doubtless come again with joy and bring his sheaves with him 1. IF ever any thing be heard or seen That might provoke or raise my jocund spleen How could I wish my lungs were made of buff For clasps to hold me till I 've laugh'd enough But godly grief cannot one tear extort As if my senses all were made for sport 2. Have I sustain'd a trivial loss how apt My active senses are for to be rapt To th' highest strain of passion I can gloss Heav'n never could impose a greater cross My floodgate-sense can stand wide ope at those But godly grief 's against the stream they close 3. If that I hear Death's universal doom Hath on my friend to execution come Methinks then had I at his funeral All Argus eyes I could supply them all But when one tells me what a Lethargie Hath seiz'd my soul I can nor moan nor cry 4. If little bigger then an atome fall Into my eye it smarts though ne'er so small But what 's an atome to a mountain such Like sins I bear yet start not half so much Why have I not within through conscience A sense of pain as outward pain of sense 5. If that the clouds some foggie mists have suck'd They 'll show'r them back what can their course obstruct The Moon by tides doth purg the frothy main The poison'd Spring doth clear it self again Yet I'm sin-tainted and what motions urge me Unto repentance that should clear and purge me 6. Were I to live the old Methus'lem 's yeers A living Conduit of incessant tears I could not vie a tear for ev'ry sin So vain and foolish all my youth hath bin Yet th' earth to bear our villanies may groan But I am dead and sensless of mine own 7. My Conscience Lord though I it light esteem Doth with a secret issue closely teem Oh let her pregnant womb be now disclosed Till that disease or age have incomposed My sense I now should court it as my friend Which then perhaps may prove my foe i'th'end 8. Lord wound me or I die for I although My case be deadly am not sick enough O let me know I 'm taken in Death's jaw Till I am quite digested in her maw For if any Conscience like a Lethargie Stir not till th' hour of death I sadly die Ephes 4. 30 Grieve not the holy Spirit of God whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption 1. GRieve not the Spirit can it be believ'd The Spirit can be griev'd Thought we God void of passion could be vext Except we saw this text When Christ indeed was heres in flesh confin'd He wept and griev'd we finde But thought we that a Dove which hath no gall Could once be griev'd at all Oh I should groan 't not measur 't in an Ode Sin grieves the holy Spirit of my God 2. Who would resist that sacred Dove that pecks The conscience with checks Who would resist that Dove that helps to grone In an accepted tone Who would resist that Dove whose harmless beak Instructs us how to speak Who would resist that Dove whose in'cent feet Shew to walk as is meet Let not this Dove back to the Ark and grieve That we on earth will none of him receive 3. Here let him bring his Olive-leaf and rest And nestle in our brest O! never let us at his gracious billing Once shew our selves unwilling Until we new begotten are and breed Through his eternal seed O! let us never hence resist this Dove This blessed Bird of love This Dove at Mahomets ear never bill'd Though so he faign the Alcharon instill'd 4. Think we because some say Doves have no gall God's vengeance feign'd at all That we thus with his Spirit dare to dally As with our Friend or Ally Such wanton cruelty to Christ we dealt When he among us dwelt Such entertainment he whiles here receiv'd When he among us griev'd VVe could him to no other Inne bequeath But to his Grave and to no Hoast but Death 5. But let not sin usurp us but the Spirit His right in us inherit And since he made the heart let none abridge Him of that priviledge O let not sin be Porter still which mocks
His sweet his Patient knocks Delay like that false Brother cries I go But means no less then so VVho but a begger for a slender pittance VVould with such patience dance for an admittance 6. O let us open lest his wrath break through VVe are not thunder-proof O let us open to his calls such knocks Ev'n might awake deaf rocks VVho might enamour'd on his gracious gifts Divide their flinty clifts Lest he appear next in a Vulture 's shape T' act on our souls a rape Lest with his lightning he our bodies harrow Incinerate our bones and drink our marrow 7. Lord I am dull O let thy Spirit pierce Way for a quick commerce 'T is wholesome Physick Lord to be soul-sick Health to be pierc'd at quick When ere thou com'st I 'm either gone from home Or thou before I come Next if deny'd break th' house 't is thine and I Allow the Burglary And let thy holy winde with quick inquest Enter and raise his Earthquakes in my brest 8. Then purge thy Temple let my flesh ev'n long O give each pore a tongue To cry Come blessed Spirit let each mouth Breathe Rise O North come South Breathe on thy Spices breathe lest that thy garden Not blow'd or dew'd on harden Like to that quondam-Nursery of thine Once-fruitful Palestine Thus by thy grace refresh'd in thy good time It flourish may like Eden in its prime Psal 63. 4 For thy loving kindness is better then life it self 1. BEtter then life it self what 's life what blindness Prefers his life before thy loving kindness Were life possest of all that feigned bliss The Alchoran can promise after this Yet what were all these joys what gust or savor Had all these pleasures yet without thy favor 2. Could man re-purchase by some unknown price His ancient Mannor real Paradice Should he be re-saluted The sole Lord And seisin giv'n him by that flaming sword Could Man have all these joys what were 't to be At peace with Creatures and at war with Thee 3. Should man be with that chosen vessel rapt Up into heav'n and there in glories wrapt Should he with such a holy violence As was Elijah once be wafted hence Could man have these without thy love what were it To what Elijah and blest Paul inherit 4. If the wings of our time of life did flag Nothing below the age of crow or stag If in man's body fitly did condense An equal temper of the elements Yet what were life without thine from above Or breath without the breathings of thy love 5. Life is a noble thing by God 't was breath'd A jewel to man's carkanet bequeath'd To cherish 't by instinct is all our strife All good 's included in the Name of Life Yet if thy gracious Spirit not revive We but dead and onely seem to live 6. True a live dog exceeds a lion dead But a dead dog excells a life that 's led Without thy favour without thy direction Thy breath in us corrupts by sins infection Without thy love each creature 's both our Foe And all enjoyments turn to bitter woe 7. Except our money with thy stamp be coyn'd Except our friendship with thy love be joyn'd Except thy marrow do our dish imbellish Except our wine do savour of thy relish Our money friendship all our wine and sood Not currant is not true not sweet not good 8. Dear God! without thy love all creatures may Match me I live and am and so are they No difference without thy quickning presence There is 'twixt me and unbelieving peasants If here thy love bear witness of thy choice I in thy loving kindness shall rejoyce 2 Pet. 3. 10. But the day of the Lord shall come as a thief in the night in the which the heavens shall pass away with great noise and the elements shall melt with fervent heat the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burnt up 11. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and godliness 12. Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved and the elements shall melt with fervent heat 1. Thus learn'd Let 's be fore-warn'd And thus astonish'd In time let 's be admonish'd In vain our brains we pump To tell the terrours of that trump Cloud-rending thunders are but soft Quiet as night and silent as a thought Or as the noisless musick of the Spheres To this sound that shall deaf our ears No vapours bellowing from the ground At all are like this sound And if that Trump shall make The dead t' awake Where shall it drive Th' alive If shall the sensless graves and th' earth obey Shall we not quake and tremble worse then they 2. I wonder If that the Thunder Makes beasts to flee For safety to some tree Let 's think then with what terrour Shall that loud Trump wake sin and errour How do we tremble if we meet The eager flashes of a lightning sheet How do we wish to quench a burning City If possible with tears of pitie If with our fev'rish friend we fry In hearty sympathy How shall we melt as fast As th' heavens wast When I and you Shall view The heavens to dissolve the skies to swelter And stars in melting elements to welter 3. We count At Sinai 's mount When God propounded The Law all were confounded God 's thunder-rhetorick With lightning flash'd made Nature sick Sinai like some Vesuvius seem'd Its trembling womb with constant earth-quakes teem'd As if the feigned Cyclops there were under And there did forge and frame their thunder His Law God with such terrour spake It made the just to quake How will he then impeach His statutes breach And sin how strict Convict Shall they not feel those terrours of the Law Which they at Sinai onely heard and saw 4. The torrid Zone 's not so horrid As some do feign Nor is the dog-stars reign Our wits foment more fuel Then Nature gave they 're not so cruel But who hath so his thoughts indulg'd To think these flames less then they are divulg'd May fear to be cast from this burning frame Into an everlasting flame 'Mong those contemners of that Prophet Who did denounce that Tophet Whereon a forc'd belief Shame pain and grief Shall without end Attend Where sighs shall serve but to blow up the flame And tears the oil which shall foment the same 5. And thus We now discuss The world of old By Noah was foretold And as they at his Ark Some at our preparations bark The Atheist 's ready to ask whether Our Christ and Mahomet will come together Since both have been expected long t' invest Theirs in a Paradise of rest There 's none but both upbraids and pities Wretch'd Sodom and her Cities Ev'n they were thus surpris'd When unadvis'd They reck'ned not Just Lot And who knows Sodom 's fate but counteth