for her comfort I did thus begin Sweete Lady be not sorrowfull I am he Will pay the debt and end all misery Be not amaz'd the great Kings sonne am I A Prince that will not let his mercy die I 'le dye to giue thee life and thou shall rest Henceforth for euer in a Princes brest And this I 'le do to make an end of strife With my owne death I 'le purchase thee a life FINIS THE EPISTLE OF THE LORD TO his Bride vpon her Redemption A Spirituall legacy for the Benifite of the Honorable Lady the Lady Gerreard Written By Augustine Taylor Preacher at Hawarden LONDON Printed by Nicholas Okes. 1623. ⧠TO THE NOBLE Lady Ellenor Lady Gerrard wife to the late Honorable Gilbert Lord Gerrard c. Honorable Lady VVHen sorrowes nights are ouer-past There followes ioyfull day Haplesse extreames can neuer last But styes and posts away To bring glad tidings in sad times I hold it wondrous fit And so doth all our best diuines And you may thinke of it I do present you with a gift Fit for a Princes hand Pray take it 't is the meanes to lift Soules to the holy land The full redemption of mankind I offer to your view A subiect to translate the mind From th' old man to the new I know you seeke Gods holy place And clothes you for his feast With pious loue purenesse and grace True zeale and all the rest Of those rich garments faire and meete For such a Princes Court And doubtlesse you shall one day see 't Though now my by report Imperfectly you are but told Yet quickly you shall see In Syons City wall'd with gold The Lambe in 's Maiestie Aduance your thoughts to heauenly things And you in the end shall soare Vnto that Court where's none but Kings Reioycing euer-more Your Honors deuoted in any Christian office Augustine Taylor THE ARGVMENT The promised Messias birth Conquers hell death and sinne And t' Eden backe with mickle mirth Brings Adam and his kinne IMmortall soule and my elected Queene Though hitherto thou hast most carelesse beene T' obserue my will yet now incline thy neart Or thou and I for euermore shall part See this epistle truely vnderstood Read it with teares for it is writ with blood A pretious price is found to pay thy det A sacrifice not ordinary to get For thou had but one God God but one sonne That sonne one life that life to death was done To bring old Adam backe to Edens blis And now learne what it cost to finish this I being promis'd came man did disdame me The world was proud and loft to entertaine me My earthly mother had so poore a kinne She was deni'd a lodging in the Inne When night and paine and teares and trauell tooke-her poore Mary was alone and all forsooke-her Sighing and seeking to find place for rest And at the last a stable was the best That could be spar'd this I had power to mend But I came rather like a lowly friend Then like a maister and so caus'd it try'd I came to shew my loue and not my pryde My pathes were plaine my cradle was a cratch I had no friends none shew'd such loue to watch For my arriuall the worlds loue was small Mary was mother mid-wife nurse and all No costly robes nor silkes nor cloth of gold Prouided was to keepe me from the cold Nothing but poore attyre and homely things Thus Princeps Regum terrae King of Kings Begun his Lambe-like raigne yea my pretence Was onely peace my armor innocence I did not many nights in safety nappe Vpon my louing mothers lowly lappe But warning came I must to Aegypt flee Herod was mou'd and making search for mee And I must runne or die for his intent's To wash his hands in blood of innocence The time wherein he did the infants slay Shall still be noted for a dismall day He aym'd at my fall but he fell we see And murther'd many to haue metwith mee But he mistooke himselfe and miss'd his ayme And I to Bothlem safe return'd againe In spite of Herod prophecies did ring That Dauids sonne was borne to be a King I did sustaine temptation for thy sake Much toyle and trauaile I did vndertake To make thy burthen light I dare presume To sweare betweene my cradle and my tombe I knew no perfect rest I had no bed Foxes had holes and birds were furnished With nests and lodgings but my head had none Mine was like Iacobs state when he left home And his old parents to procure his rest From angry Esau with his kin in th' east He was benighted in a strange land where He neither found friends nor companions there His pillow was a stone his bed was earth A naturall musitian made him mirth Surmis'd the Nightingall he could not get Wherein to wrape himselfe from nights could sweat His vncoth roome was all with greene be spred And rouing cloudes were curtaines to his bed His canopy was heauen where he might view Millions of Starres fixt in the blackest blew He went to bed as mildly as a lambe And slept as moderatly as a man And rose as earely as a Larke and fed With more content then e're he went to bed Then towards his vncles he doth post amaine To proue if Rachels loue he may obtaine And at the last his prentiships and paine Winnes his faire bride and he comes home againe With 's Lady in his hand his slockes before His seede about him and his Princely store Comes after with his seruants and thus hee With beauty riches health and dignitie Comes home attended I with Iacob may Compare my trauailes so that by the way I make some difference by the difference gather I left a fayrer home a better father To tread strange pathes where I was neuer knowne I sought for strangers loue and left my owne Iacob was neuer in such miscrie I was both worser cloth'd and lodg'd then he I went to fetch my bride from amongst those That dwelt farre further off and were my foes He payd but loue and seruice for his bride I payd my seruice loue and life beside He brought his home with riches and renowne With ioy and gladnesse vnto Sichem towne And for her mouing tents he hath her giuen Faire fixed temples stately types of Heauen His bed was on the earth mine was within He slept for sorrow but I slept for sinne I rose more earely to prepare thy way For I saw sun-rise before he saw day I 'll bring thee home adorn'd with better things The power and honor of all earthly kings And let their powers together lincked bee All cannot make one worthy t'waite on thee I spent my dayes in sorrow for thy good I sayl'd to th'Cradle in teares to th' graue in blood And more then this I was content to doo My middle time had mickle sorrowes too I liu'd releeuing poore healing and feeding I wipt those eyes that wept wounds that were bleeding I cur'd
loose The beauty of thy sonne let me boast euer Where my Lord Lord loueth once he looseth neuer That I am thy elect and that I may Vnto my enemies and the heathen say As day doth night my state doth theirs excell And that my Lord call'd my name Israell Crown'd me with Isaacks blessings did decree Prophanest Edom seruant vnto mee That this is thus I can but prayse and pray My thankes my Punce is all I haue to pay I do remember when by thy command I multipll'd and into euery land My members were disperst yea it was I The Caldean Priest beheld so strangly lie Shapelesse and liuelesse in the valley sowne As thicke as haile which some great blast hath blowne Into the lower-lands my bones once lay Dis-ioynted broke and scatter'd till the day It pleased thee most graciously to make A perfect vnion for thy chosen sake For my vocation that I was by thee Reform'd and knit in happy vnitie And call'd by Dauids Cimbals Aarons bels Esayes loud trump th'Euangellists and cls What musicke men and Angels could deliuer Sounded so loud my parts ioyn'd all together Earst being dispersed in t' all parts as farre As lights the arcticke or th'antarcticke starre And now collected onely for to bee A marriage for the Trine-vne-maiestie By these Caelestiall motions that I am Call'd out of Aegypt into Canaan I giue thee thankes and it is all I can My Lord I do remember my estate When in the open field so desolate I lay contemn'd of all when passers by Scorn'd at my life and laugh'd to see me die And I do likewise carry in my minde The great compassion that I then did finde Flow from thy breast when I was falne so low The seas of miseries did ouer-flow My aiery substance and my earthly show And when with these sad thoughts my heart is full Passion comes in and makes each sence as dull As ignorance then do I'gin t'admite What was th' occasion such an ardent fire Of holy loue was kindl'd in thy brest To me-wards knowing that in me did rest No good I thus my Princes thoughts did measure My Lord chose not for merit but for pleasure I had no beauty my poore soule within Was like an Ethiop wrapt in clouds of sin My flesh impress'd with vlcers in worse state Then Lazarus dispis'd at Diues gate My wised ome was but folly and my health Was deadly sicknesse all my store and wealth Was store of woes and pouerty in mee Was the true image of all misery And what was I most vile and wretched thing That I should be the daughter of a King What 's my discent or what 's my fathers house That I should we are a crowne and be the spouse Of Gods eternall sonne My Lord my tong Shall still confesse thy mercies euen among The greatest congregations I 'll make knowne Th' hast set a beggar on a Princes throne And alter'd her condition and I 'll sing Th'vnworthi'st bride hath Queen'd the worthi'st King FINIS THE EPISTLE OF THE BRIDE TO her Lord containing her Thankfulnesse A Legacy beneficiall for the Right Honorable HENRY Lord Clifford c. By Augustine Taylor Preacher and Minister in the Church of God LONDON Printed by Nicholas Okes. 1623. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE HENRY LORD Clifford Sonne and Heire to the Right Noble Lord Francis Earle of Cumberland c. Worthy Lord I Must intreate you to prouide Your selfe with proper speede T' attend the Nuptials of the Bride Our kin it is a greede 'Twixt Isr'els of-spring and Gods soone A marriage must be made And messengers abroad are runne All good men to perswade To come to see it solemmiz'd And I am one of those That haue some worthy friends aduis'd To free them from these woes That times and men are subiect too And it 's become my lot By Gods Commission t' inuite you And I know I shall not Want audience nor place nor time To tell my Embassie Imbrace it Lord for 't is diuine And the best legacie I can bestow I know you are Religious learn'd and wise And noble therefore I shall share Your fauours I surmise Your Lordships in all humble loue Augustine Taylor THE ARGVMENT Isr'els infirmitte's confess'd Her gratitude's proclaim'd The bounties of her Lord 's express'd And her best loue 's explain'd MY Lord I know thou knowes before I speake What I would vtter since I 'm wondrous weake And of my selfe deficient teach thou mee To publish pious pleasant harmonie Such as thou wilt vouchsafe to heare that when My pensiue soule with miseries of men Is guarded round my voyce to thee may come And find some grace to helpe the gracelesse sonne To helpe my sinnefull sorrowfull soule in time Let the bright sunne of mercy freely shine Vpon my guiltinesse that thy bride may Be white as innocence and as bright as day For all thy blessings though I be but poore Yet both of praise and thankes I haue such store As shall record me debtor vnto thee In songs and himnes to all posteritie I must confesse but cannot pay thee due For my redemption that thou pleas'd to view My state so poore with mercies eyes so pure My soule reioy ceth and I 'm very sure The price of my redemption's payd so well Sinne hath no strength death hath no sting and hell Hath now no victory I am not so Blinded with ignorance but that I know My selfe both as I am and as I was As different as the Dyamond from glasse So is my former from my latter state Thou didst repaire what I did ruinate From gyues and fetters thou hast loosed mee To tread the pathes of life and liberty From hellish endlesse sorrowes thou hast quit My captiu'd soule out of the lowest pit Euen as a Lilly ouer-growne with thornes That is not benific'd by the springing mornes Vntill the carefull husband doe deuise To rid the thornes to helpe the Lilly t'rise So 't was with me my soule suppress'd with sinne Knew nought but sorrow till thou did beginne To vndergoe my burthen and since then I haue found grace with God and peace with men For this great freedome and for all my blis In esse and in posse I 'ue but this Towards recompence my gratitude's my store Thankes 't is a proper payment for the poore And yet I 'm bound for greater fauours such For which I cannot manifest so much Affection as they challenge therefore still Lord when my action failes regard my will Since it did please thee to make me thy bride It seemes thou pleas'd I should be sanctifide For that I 'm now reformed like to thee In hollinesse and perfect puritie And that so inwardly and outward faire Thou hast made me that I 'm without compare And since my spots and wrinckles are disolu'd And that in holy white I 'm now inuolu'd It resteth that I sacrifice my best And what I offer 's but the interest Of what I owe I 'll thanke thee whil'st I liue And
all my buildings thou do'st know my hearts Desire is onely t' entertaine those things That my saluation and thy honor brings Furnish me so with faith that my grand-foe Attempting to effect my ouer-thowe May faile and fall and vanish giue me that Faith that set Noah vpon mount Arrarat That which remou'd Henoch from of the earth And without death a gaue caelestiall birth I doe but wish that sword to vanquish sinne Which Dauid brought gainst th' vgly Philistime When woes be set me round and sinne and death Then let my faith aduance me from beneath To thy abiding City'mongst the iust Lord of thy mercy change my faith to trust Faith doth confesse Christ but trust doth perswade The spotlesse offerings that my Iesus made Were mine and for my sinne and soules reliefe This I beleeue Lord helpe my vnbeliefe Another thing I craue is patience to Accept contentedly and vndergo Afflictions that may happen grant to mee Such store of patience in all misery That my deserts may cause report to spread Iobs dearest daughter liues though he be dead Teach me to welcome sorrow ' mongst the rest Of other passions that possesse my brest Make patience power the greatest that I may Passe the worlds nights to heauens glorious day Next furnish me with strength make me of might To maintaine combate in thy Gospells right And to my strength adde valour for these too Being diuided can no seruice doo To merit thankes or prayse the foes intent Preuaileth when my valour 's impotent And when my strength wants valour I am like To loose the field because I dare not strike Therefore I sue for both th' are fit'st for mee Because I but desire them t'honor thee Then make a sword of both to cut off strife Venter thou it and I will venter life And yet I venter nothing for I know I haue nothing but what thou didst bestow And as thy owne command it thine I rest ' The best of seruants can but do her best Yet gracious Lord direct me how to make Euen for thy passion and compassion sake My prayers more compleat because I haue Great neede of many things and cannot craue So as I may obtaine except the most Powerfull assistance of the holy Ghost Helpe to preferre my sacrifice if thou Will some more pacience vnto me allow To temper all my passions in such measure That neither sorrowes nor deluding pleasure Possesse me with excesse then I shall doo Thee soueraigne honor and me subiect too To make thy Bride victorious I do pray With reuerence loue and feare that I still may Inioy that pacience which can bring me past The blew-red vaile with victory at last Into thy holiest holy here beneath Afflictions miseries cares feares doome and death Fills all my dayes so full of discontent That till I see that ladder thou once sent Vnto my Father Iacob set for mee T' ascend I looke for noe felicity My Lord by all the gracious promises Of thine betweene the first of Genesis And the Omega of thy sacred booke And by the paines that my Messias tooke By his vnualeu'd merrits and by all He sayd or did from 's birth t' his funerall Free me from all my sinnes and now remoue The clouds of sinne and vengeance from aboue That my voyce may come to thy sacred eares And fetch my pardon from these cares and feares Lord quit me out of hand and let me see The glorious state of immortalitie I 'm weary of these nether-lands and would Come see my dowery that with purest gold Thou hast so richly wall'd and pau'd so faire With Berill Topaz and such stones as are Most fit in forme and beauty I intreate That as thou hast prouided me a seate In Syon thy most holy heauenly hill Thou'll place me in 't O let it be thy will To helpe me home in hast that now I may Change my blacke night for thy bright endlesse day FINIS AN EPISTLE OR A Legacy for the vse of the Right Reverend Father in God IOHN Lord Bishop of the Isles of Man c. By Augustine Taylor Preacher and Minister of the Lord our God at Hawarden LONDON Printed by Nicholas Okes. 1623. TO THE RIGHT REuerent Father in God Iohn by the Diuine Prouidence Lord Bishop of the Isles of Man Rector of Hawarden c. MY Lord you know a heauenly muse should bee Esteemed as men prize eternitie I know your brest containes a muse diuine And therefore will not vnder-value mine Of all that liue I dare a fauour claime But those whose all shall perish with their name Right Reuerend Phillips Phillip the great King Of Macedon did cause a child to bring Quotidian warning thus for him to scan Phillip remember thou art but a man A fairer title I deliuer can Phillis consider you are Lord of Man Both men and man approues it in that I le You haue sate graciously a happy while Vnto mans makers glory and your prayse Among'st most reuerent Bishops all your dayes Shall be accounted happy many aime At profitable Lordships and for gaine Are Lords of more but baser mettle farre As farre as doth the Sunne exceede a Starre Men should beleeue it because God hath sayd Man doth exceede all workes that e're God made Stay man the soyle no man the soule is blest I grant that truth and then it needs must rest Y' are Lord of both others but of the soyle Their couetous carefulnesse and temp'rall toyle Affirme no lesse whereas your Lordship may With much content with Princely Dauid say The place wherein my lot to me befell Is passing faire and like me wondrous well You might haue bathed in a greater fountaine But a small Dyamond's worth a mighty mountaine Some lesser things are priz'd the great'st aboue The quality not quantity breeds loue Happy was man to haue the man of God Find out her port he hath remou'd the rod Of wrath and fury out of all her coasts And how to call vpon the Lord of Hoasts In her owne language he hath taught her know Such benefits good Bishops doe bestow Vpon their flocke Now babes and sucklings can And doe extoll the Lord of Heauen and man Pitty't had beene you should haue left the I le For your preferment better many smile Then one and it is better that one loose Then many I haue knowne your Lordship choose To preferre generall before speciall good Your pious learned care 't is vnderstood Hath truely newly setled all the land And taught the ignorant to vnderstand The holy word of God and 't is thought fit You honor God your King and selfe by it In seeing that establisht yo 'aue begune Ioy in it Lord you haue more honor woone By making th' ignorant intelligent Of God and men then euer shall be spent My friends the cause I prayse this Lord 's to mee As neare and deare as Paul to Tymothie What erst was ruin'd by the great neglect Of 's predicessors he doth re-erect In sumptuous stately
wise and whereas they But onely sought the land to fetch a pray And hauing found it would be blowne away If but a side wind came this doth not soe But with the hand of bounty doth bestow Vpon the land what it affords to him He doth not teach her plenties how to swim From her and leaue her poore a true report Sayth hee hath made a cottage in a Court That well may lodge a Prince and seated so Sit on the Towers and turne thee too and sro And all the Kings dominions thou mayst see England Cambria Ireland Albanie And in his Lordly house hee dayly spends Great pious plenty among'st all his friends Man was a woman before he came there And pluckt the fruit forbidden but now feare Of that sinnes punishment by him made knowne Hath set the man vp and cast the woe downe Long may Gods blessiâ—gs and my Lord together Transport from hâ—nce to man and from man hither And Lord be pleas'd that I both long and well M'attend the steps of my gamalie My Lord take this in token of my loue And when your better part is soar'd aboue And left the rest for earth these lines shall last When earth and men and times and Toombs shall wast Truely affected to see duely effected my office vnto your Lordship in Gods seruice AVGVSTINE TAYLOR TO HIS VVORSHIPFVLL AND WORTHY Faithfull Friends and Louers in the Episcopall Iurisdiction Parish of Hawarden in Flint-shire * ⎠* Truely beloued MY faithfull seruice and my purest loue Shall waite on you till loue and seruice failes I speake in earnest next those ioyes aboue I loue your Syon loue â—od sayth preuailes To couer many faults I doe desire My loue that 's kindl'd now with holy fire May purchace your affections and my best And all my all at your dispose shall rest Yet I beseech you not mistake me much If from the first to th'last any one doth Affect me truely my free nature 's such Those shall command my loue and seruice both I 'll doe my best for all yea euen for those If there be such that striue to be my foes I loue but doth not feare these earthly powers There is a will aboue this will of owers That can doe what he will It is with him That you and I must reckon for our sinne And not amongst our selues true Christians must Indeauour still to make each other iust And seeke the shame of none which blessed act Will men together vnto God contract Take this it comes from him that still will proue Yours both in duty and vnfeigned loue Augustine Taylor A VVATCH COMPOSED FOR AND DEDICATED to the seruice of the Right Honorable WILLIAM Earle of DERBY Barron Stanley Lord Strange of Knockin and of Man Knight of the most Noble order of the Garter Leiutenant and Chamber-laine of the Counties Palatines of Chester and Lancaster c. By His Honors most obseruant seruant Augustine Taylor Preacher and Minister at Hawarden in Flint-shire LONDON Printed by Nicholas Okes. 1623. THE ARGVMENT The times are spid'e to go on crutches and Goes very fast and therefore very ill Heauen is prou'd the best hauen where to land Respect of faithfull friendship 's wished still Honor 's examin'd and those parts made plaine Which best befits her brest to entertaine Blacke Enuy 's challeng'd and her force defide Nobillity rides by Derbyes Loraly side STay Derbyes Earle and pause a little for 'T is fit each Phillip haue his monitor As duely as his day onely to know Himselfe as well in substance as in show The time meanes mischiefe and her plots to smother Promiseth one thing and pretends another Gaine sayes the will of the great legislator And giues to Esau wine to lacob water Contemnes the best and doth the base adore Feeds the foole fat and keepes the wiseman poore Honors the bad and doth the good disgrace Lookes vpon merrit but with halfe a face Keepes true worth fasting yet deales out of measure But thus pence for desets and pounds for pleasure T' auoyde the worst that time and men can do Mans and times God appoynts vs here vnto To alter our affections and remoue them From earth to dwell where 's nought but God aboue them Watch noble Lord for I feare we shall see The times so sicke with mutabillitie They will intreate a purge and you shall trie The good shall be restor'd the wicked die My Lord we haue a warrant lets vs know There 's many things are done in earth below And all aut amissi aut permissi from A power that ruleth all but 's rul'd by none We are at his dispose when his decree Will breake the necke of Casars royaltie Rome cannot peece it therefore him to feare That is impartiall and that scornes to beare Corrupt affection 't is our best to honor Grace should haue measure still to waite vpon her And constancy experience makes it knowne Fauours doe neuer spring that are not sowne Vpon the soyle of merrit I did dreame Minnions too mighty makes Monarcks too meane As sparing graces neuer pravse could winne So fauours out of measure are meere sinne The great King giues his graces t' all so true That none hath lesse that none hath more then due And his affection 's lasting Euen so I know you learne at him since you bestow Your graces vpon goodnesse doe so still And blest shall be your actions and your will Long may you liue to fill your noble seate A few such great men would make good men great Therefore I wish your life and that you may With much content tell many a happy day Of grace and one of glory t'euer last That your true honor ne'er be ouer-cast And that you euer may stand fast and faire A piller vpon earth a starre in th ayre Consider what these following lines afford The seruant may sometimes direct his Lord. There 's one thing necessary it is sayd And ipse dixit who hath all things made And that 's a summum bonum where at man Should onely ayme because he neuer can Be satissi'd vntill haue vnderstood The glorious fulnesse of this soueraigne good I know your ayme's at that so let it be The first foundation of nobillitie Was faith in God the building feare and loue Kings wills are powerfull but that will aboue Proceeding from Iehouah all of them That would change vana spe for certam spem Must reuerently obey those cutsed bee That onely trust in earthly maiestie And you shall see them perish he that would Reape houor to fetch home pure Ophir gold Scornes to returne with baser mettle so He that to Magnus Rex may freely go And 's promis'd entertainement doth disdaine To spend 's best time and treasure in the traine Of an Inferiour Prince man should delight In things that yeelds both God and Caefar right Therefore I say it 's good and I 'll say still It's best serue him that can doe what he will This dayly duely done the next you
and car'd for all that were in woe None can complaine that they away did goe Without a pardon for the great'st transgression All those that brought repentance found compassion I haue beene thine thine both in word and deede My tongue did preach and pray my flesh did bleede From my fresh wounds the smallest droppe that fell Is price sufficient to saue Israell I promise thee beleeue my promise then One drop may saue more worlds then this hath men It is sufficient Know I did not come To plead defficience and pay halfe the summe Let him that 's poore and needy and that must Confesse his pouerty and take on trust I haue no such occasion let him score That 's growne disable beggarly and poore Thy ransome all is payd and thou art rich And still within my store-house there 's so much It neuer can be empti'd do not want My bounty cannot make my blessings scant Desire and I will giue thee more and more Thou canst not make the stocke of mercy poore Presume not neither for I will expresse My Iustice on presumptuous saucinesse The meeke and lowly I delight to guide I owe the greatest punishments to pride My Israell my death hath bought thy life Forget not then the duties of a wife The office of a husband I haue showne In greater measure then the world hath knowne The graue is conquer'd death hath now no sting All foes are vanquisht by thy Lord and King And now thy Christ as chiefe aloft doth raigne And Edens gates are now vnbarr'd againe The Lambe being slaine the fity sword by him Is taken from the angry Cherubin And my faire bride may come and welcome in FINIS THE EPISTLE OF THE LORD TO his Bride vpon her Sanctification A Heauenly legacy properly for the vse of the Honorable Sr. Richard Mullineux c. Written By Augustine Taylor Preacher at Hawarden LONDON Printed by Nicholas Okes. 1623. TO THE HONORABLE Sr. RICHARD MVLLINEVX Knight and Barronet c. Worthily Honored THere is a sumptuous feast prepar'd Vpon Gods holy hill Of dainties and of plenties shar'd Amongst all those that will With reuerence and louing feare Attend to be the ghests At the Lambs nuptialls to be there The Lord by me requests Your worthy selfe therefore prouide Your wedding garments fit And you by Gods-sonnes-sacred side In glories seate shall fit Peruse these lines and though they be No measures that excell Yet th' are diuine and comes from me That knowes and loues you well Yet for my knowledge and my loue Accept it not but for His glorious name that fits aboue And is th'all gouernour I know you 'll giue this meete respect And for your Noble name Time shall preserue and still protect With the sweete lippes of fame To all posterities to come When this short life is past These lines shall liue and when your tombe Shall perish these shall last Your Honors in the sernice of the Lambe Augustine Taylor THE ARGVMENT Least nation rude should spie some spot In the Messias Bride By 's spirit and 〈◊〉 begot A new and Iustifi'd BEcause I 'm earnest and an vrgent mouer Do not thou take me for a doting louer Why I 'm so loth to leaue thee thou mayst know From her I loue I do not loue to go Something 's are wanting yet the prophet sings That holy men are seru'd with holy things And know I will be sanctifi'd in all That shall come neare me euery one that shall Into my Temple come by my command Shall put their shooes off for 't is holy land I loue this holinesse 't is a kind of beauty And to expresse thy loue and shew thy duty Thou mayst do well to learne it and thou so May be Queene-like in substance and in show Beauty or maiesty lookes well alone But ten times better if these two be one One beauty's honor'd seru'd and praised too And then for many what would many doo They could not do so much and so I thought When with so great a ransome I thee bought Thy spots and freckles all I washt away And made thee such that there is not one may Compare to be thy equall th' art that one Whom all doth like but can be-alike none Each tong tels forth thy praise each pen thy fame A peerelesse Princesse and a matchlesse Dame Chiefe of thy kind and fairest of thy sex A worke that makes admir'd the Opifex Conceiue thy owne estate and thou will tell God is a louing God to Israell I made thee happy yea and holy too For all that earth and earthly kings could do Thou hath beene carried safe on Eagles wings To th'prayse of thine to th'shame of other kings With blood and water I haue washen thee Thy spots of sinne and thy infirmity Are chang'd for honor strength and purity And thou so faire in holinesse art seene Thy heathen neighbours wonder and do seeme To enuy thy estate and maruaile so They make dispute if thou be flesh or no Thee of more pretious mettle they define Some small part mortall but the most diuine Thy pleasant beauty countenance and grace They thinke composed of no peece so base They know thy beauties from the Heauens are For th' earth cannot afford a frame so faire Nature amazed doth her selfe submit To her owne worke and loues to worship it And seekes to find the author of each obiect And findes but one for all and that one's subiect She willingly becomes and doth record Her selfe a seruant and thy loue her Lord. And thus my grace to sanctifie my creature Path blest thee with all helpes of art and nature Hut of thy coate it is the old mans weare Filchy polluted noy some gracelesse geare Made of a web in disobedience frame Stain'd with the spots of infamy and shame 'T was cut out by ambition shapen by pride And stitcht together by that Homicide Impiety and lin'd throughout with sinne Vncleane without but more vncleane within Butten'd with feare garded about with woe And spotted with a thousand plagues and so By flattery sold and bought by arrogance And dayly worne by doating ignorance The old man weares it such a one I say Whose sinnes are greene and yet his haires ar gray I meane him old in vices him eschew Old things are worne away all 's become new And so must thou the coate that 's made for thee Is cut out of the web of puritie Made large and long th' image of excellence Of colour white betokening innocence In-layde with ioy the skirt with safty bound And with true honor treble-garded round Clasped with comforts furnisht with content Ornated with each seemely ornament Fram'd by desire perfected with good will Seame-sow'd with loue and perl'd with holy skill Set thicke with starres attended on with day Compos'd with care and shall looke fresh and gay For euermore I haue thee so attir'd As thou cannot be equall'd but admir'd And it must needes be so since thou art wife T' a Lord in comprehensible thy
life Must be incomparable to expresse Thy loue is holy and in holinesse The seruice he admits of must be done Now thou art perfect it were best to come And seeke a fayrer habitation for So faire a Princesse me thinkes should abhor So foule a dwelling Dauid much laments That 't was his lot to dwell in Kedars tents Those mouing cabins onely but remaines To Ismaels issue on th' Arabian plaines Goodly great buildings I haue made for thee Where woods and meades and springs and riuers bee Now seeke thy Lord thy lodging 's furnished A holy Bride should find a holy bed FINIS THE EPISTLE OF THE LORD TO his Bride vpon her Iustification A Holy legacy for the vse of the Right Honorable William Earle of Northampton c. Written By Augustine Taylor Preacher at Hawarden LONDON Printed by Nicholas Okes. 1623. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE WILLIAM Earle of Northampton Baron Compton Lord President of Wales c. Right Honorable NVrst in the limits of your Lordly power I line and therefore boldned to present Vnto your view this holy newes this hower By Heauens King 's gracious commandement Amarriage feast is gloriously begunne 'Twixt Iacobs Daughter and Ichouahs Sonne To call to 't noble ghests there 's many sent And I am one and I am sent to you Right worthy Earle put on your ornament Such as may giue the Nuptiall day it due Your seate's prepar'd deckt with victorious bayes And shall stand more yeares then this world hath dayes My Lord I 'm plac'd vpon the mount of peace To profit Syons friends and not to please The reeling multitude such as would ken The path to paesse to new Ierusalem I haue Commission to direct theretoo With all the remnants I haue nought to doe Your honor of that body 's a chiefe part Of which Christ Iesus is the supreame head Vnto your hand therefore withall my heart I offer this praying your Honor read It is the word of truth and doth afford The fairest gilding for your Prineely sword It is the latest Honor great men wish To leaue their memories in leaues of brasse Or let or marble this meere weaknesse is Because it shall consume perish and passe Away with ruining time Therefore I giue This frame to you where in your fame shall liue Till men and time and English cease giue mee Your gracious count'nance and I haue my fee. At your Honors seruice submissiuely deuoted Augustine Taylor THE ARGVMENT Pollution must be layd aside For holy garments gay The Lambe hath shapen for his Bride T' adorne the marriage day STay yet more Iewels must adorne my loue Before she can be fit to fit aboue Vpon a Princely throne none shall deride At thine estate thou shall be iustifi'd The great Kings daughter must be faire within She 's blest to whom the Lord imputes no sin Then blest shall thou be mine shall be the blame And I will beare the burthen of thy shame And I will answere those that railes on thee They do mistake themselues and iniure me If thou find enemies that do beginne To blaze thy faults and publish all thy sinne Bid them behold themselues and learne to mend Tell them thou hast a father sent a friend To pleade thy cause and that Prince is content To take thy sinnes and beare thy punishment Bid them remember in the dayes of old My Prophets and Apostles truely told That sinners soules should die and euery one Should beare the burthen of 's owne sinnes alone So they must do be mindfull of it will-them Say thou that I sayd so so thou may still them They may obiect then thou shall answere thine For God loues right and will to right incline He will indeede for the most pretious summe Did satisfie for sinne e're pardon come That summe I paid and paid in thy name too The debt was thine but who hath ought to do Against this satisfaction to exclaime For thou art iust if I suppose the same To whom the Lord imputes no sinne th' are iust And so art thou and onely by thy trust There 's other adherent helpes but faith extends As the chiefe instruments that apprehend My satisfaction to be others share My merits by thy faith thy merits are Euen as a woman doth that's farre in debt If she a wealthy husband chance to get And he discharge it and then some demaunds If the bond woman forfeited her bands Or satisfied them Creditors ensue And iustiffies she payd them all their due The feast was hers the charge her husbands lot And thus she payd it though shee paid it not So thou art iustifi'd iustice of mine That 's vncreated hath created thine Thou was the woman husbandlesse and poore Millions in debt and at the prison doore To be deliner'd to the Iaylors hands And with thy death thou should discharge thy bandsâ— I was the man that spent none of the summe Yet in my loue thy husband I 'd become Examining my estate I treasure found To pay for euery peny debt a pound Then I did vndertake to set thee free And what I did I counted done by thee Such was my loue thou doest thy all inherit From me and by my mercy not thy merrit If any aske what moued me to fill Thy lappe with blessings say it was my will I can do what I will so can no other Iacocb I 'll iustifie but for his brother Esan I cannot loue for it was hee That first vs'd weapon to contend with thee And fares the worse for that Know I haue giuen All things a being betweene earth and Heauen And vnto some a perfect being well The bad I caused not to fall they fell By their owne will I left them being not tide To take directions where to choose my bride The vnderstanding may the rest perswade The maker is not subiect to the made Euen as the Potter may dispose of 's clay So the chiefe Lord of all his Creatures may Thou art my choyce thou art my sole elect To honor thee I did all else reiect And in contempt of all thine enemies pride I 'll pleade thee iust thou shall be iustifide And now if Sathan thy grand-enemy come And to affright thee gather all the summe Of thy blacke sinnes together still affirming Thy sinnes are such he comes to giue thee warning Thy soule is sicke and thou art doom'd to die And that for mercy 't is too late to crie Iudgement hath past Beleeue him not say thus Thy Lord 's a liue and good and gracious And did not the Crosse so freshly bleed To leaue thee drownd in misery and need Tell him thou washt when I was nayl'd on wood My feete in teares and I thy soule in blood And say I neuer will forgetfull be Of two such tokens betweene thee and mee Yet tell him more that thou art bound to bee At new Ierusalem to suppe with me Vpon a suddaine warning then away And if he moue or would procure thy stay Say th' art warn'd on my
Lord thou knowes I haue no more to giue But I 'm for more farre more indebt yet trust Since thou wilt iustifie me so vniust Thou wilt regard my nothing nothing breedes He that possesseth all things nothing needes That thou accepts my faith for righteonsnesse I can no more do and I will no lesse In words and actions then shew thankfulnesse Since it hath pleas'd thy greatnesse to admit My poore defectiue impotence vnfit To be a bride for thee I 'll hence forth striue T' extinguish all my illnesse and depriue Those vices of their lodgings that haue beene My welcome guests before I was thy Queene What I haue beene I 'll cease to be and frame My selfe to beare the beauty of thy name True modesty and loyalty shall rest To waite vpon thy spirit in my brest Assist me with thy grace and thou shall see All th' ornaments proper for Maiestie Prepared for thy seruice I confesse Thou might'st haue had thy spouse ' mongst princesses Of greater honor and of nobler race I know poore Ruth my grandame had no place Whereinto rest but by permission yet Because she 's faire and lowly Boaz will let Her gleane amongst his reapers and withall Strictly commands his seruants that they shall Not offer once to blame her tels her rather It is his pleasure that she stay and gather In his then goe t'an other field and thus Changes small fauours into Maximus And at the last this fruite his loue doth yeild Takes her and makes her mistris of the field Sure she was faire being honor'd with such store That lookt so louely when she was so poore Euen such was I a Ruth on whom no Ruth The word bestow'd vntill the word of truth Came to suruey his vineyard and gaue mee Commission to worke there and liberty To claime a sacred peny and in th' end Supposing that the office of a friend Was not grace great enough he chooseth rather To manifest th' affection of a father And builds againe of a poore wretch vndone A blessed bride for his eternall sonne My Lord I do not vtter this to thee For thou art sensible of my miserie I tell the neighbouring nations least they ghesse I 'm prone to ill but too proud to confesse I know my faults and betweene griefes and feares My body 's like a barke that sayles in teares Made to transport thy choyce the soule from th' earth Towards the faire land of euer-lasting mirth And on these seas of sorrowes Lord vouchsafe To be my Pylate and conduct me safe Vnto the shoares of peace and thou shall see My loue so beautifi'd with constancie That thou 'll be pleas'd to say I do approue The price of life is payd with coyne of loue Great Prince I 'm very poore infirme and weake Disable without thee to thinke or speake The smallest good therefore I 'll still intreate That as my dignity thou didst create Thou would'st maintaine it though the cause be mine Thou knowes it honors thee to honor thine As the Kings honor 's made of subiects duties So are thy glories made of thy Queenes beauties I take it such are thine no I mistake Thine are thy owne since thou didst please to make Me free t' inioy them when I thee adore I but repay what I receiu'd before Since by thy bounties I in plenties liue Giue thou me more and more that I may giue To others that to all it may be seene Of beauty and bounty th' ast compos'd thy Queene With hands that neuer err'd blest with the senses Of plenty the meet'st mettle to make Princes Lord lend me all thy graces till I rise From earrh to glory in thy Paradise In the meane time accept my sacrifice Which Baptist-like I send before aboue My soule flyes after with the wings of loue FINIS THE EPISTLE OF THE BRIDE TO her Lord declaring her Confidence A Heauenly legacy for the vse of of the Right Honorable IOHN Earle of Bridg-water and his most Noble Countesse the Lady Francis Written By Augustine Taylor Preacher at Hawarden LONDON Printed by Nicholas Okes. 1623. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE IOHN EARLE OF Bridg-water c. And to his most noble Lady Francis Countesse of Bridgewater The issue of the Ancient and Illustrious House of Derby * ⎠* Right Honorable IF you admire wherefore I bring This offring to your hands My reason 's this I saw day spring The first vpon those lands That was your birth-plot and for that My heart and hand this giues And know your Honor die shall not So long as English liues Another reason's I confesse I liue vnder the wing Of your good mother Patronesse Of Syon where I sing And Preach by Gods commission I Am sent to call in ghests To see the Lambe in 's Maiesty Where peace and plenty rests And dearely humbly I intreate Your Honors to that place Where you shall sit in glories seate And see God face to face Your Noble dispositions bee So generally approu'd That for your true Nobilitie Y' are both both prais'd and lou'd And so God grant you may be still 'T is that I wish to see And if you please t' approue my will Feare God and fauour mee Your Honors to be Commanded Augustine Taylor THE ARGVMENT The faith of Isr'el's here express'd Her disobedience done Humility's by her profess'd And all her good begone GReat King of Israell may I be so bold To speake a few words more some part 's vntold Of that I meant to vtter vouchsafe t' heare My speech preferred with a reuerent feare Thy ancient seruants prudently fore-seeing Him men deny or doubt to haue a beeing They can doe no true seruice doe expresse The first good that man doth is to confesse The being of one God and Scripture saith The Honor thou admits is built on faith Lord I beleeue and thou mayst shew thy might To helpe my vnbeliefe that in thy sight I may be perfect and I will approue My haruest's from the seeding of thy loue My Lord this is my faith I sted-fastly Beleeue all things deliuered of thee 'Twixt th'Alpha and th'Omega of thy booke And I 'm perswaded all the paines thou tooke Tends to my rest thy promises of grace Are th'euidence I keepe for glory's place The poorenesse of thy comming birth and kinne As I conceiue was onely for to winne The loue not prayse of men thou didst agree T'ore come temptations that we might be free Thou washt their feete that did attend on thee I take it to teach me humillitie And as a friend that is to take in hand A long and dangerous voyage doth command His kinted and acquaintance to be fit To share of 's friendly farewell and being met They sole mnize it sadly and then parts With discontent and heauinesse of hearts And this last token ties their loues t' attend Euen so my Lord my husband and my friend Did institute a supper that I might Keepe him though absent euermore in sight And then he tooke his
do Eu'ry attendant that belongs 〈◊〉 Your Honor either fastned by the linckes Of loue or duty wisedome 't were me thinkes And pollicy and honor to respect All loues and dutyes with such meete respect As prudence may proportion some there are Knowes you but by report that would not spare Their liues and treasures t' expresse Derbyes worth To keepe the Eagle famous in the North Pitty it were that those that loues you best Should loose their loues and be regarded least And pitty 't were that those that loues you not Should be respected and the rest forgot That peace and loue within your walles may stand Resolue like Dauid when he tooke in hand The gouernment of Israell these things He vow'd t' obserue vnto the King of Kings Mercy and iustice I will sing to thee And in my house with such integrity I doe intend to liue that men shall tell The Lord bestow'd his crowne and scepter well I will attempt no wicked thing at all The faithlesse and the froward neuer shall Possesse my smallest fauours I doe hate The proud and haughty and I 'll ruinate The slanderer the flatterer and the proud Neither my court nor kingdome hath allow'd A resting place all those that maketh ties And loues deceipt I vtterly dispise The charitable faithfull meeke and free Are onely chosen seruants vnto mee Right Noble Earle let Dauids Princely minde Lodge in your Lordly brest let all those finde Protection from your Honor that maintaine Publike and priuate Stanleys Stainlesse name Do not guild Parasits prayse it 's but a blast But guild that frame in which your name shall last Defend those that defend your Honor and Those that giue you their hearts giue them your hand Your countenance shining as it ought and may Comforts your followers as the Sunne doth day It is examin'd and 'tis vnderstood The Isles are peopl'd with more bad then good Since enemies doe spring as thicke as weedes The shrub's the saffest 't is the Cedar needes Supporting to withstand the furious winds 'T is onely my affection that me binds T' aduise my Lord although Idare not bet That super senes intellexi yet I know what 's fit to boast I 'm not allow'd I 'm proud of nothing but that I 'm not proud I 'll tell some things I know and some I doubt There are some setches their best treasures out Of Derbyes Earledome thence they cloath and feast And gaines most by you and yet loues you least Trust but a few let not those that delights To steale your Eagles feather t'imp their kits Steale both your gaine and Honor. Moses sings God carn'd Israell once on Eagles wings From Pharaohs sury and so did expresse His power and loue in seas and wildernesse Those he lou'd he deliuer'd all the rest He restlesse left to learne at him it 's best And charge your Eagle as she doth respect The fauours of her Lord that she accept None neither vnder nor vpon her wings But friendly ones that 's onely those that brings Pledges of loue and duty then shall those That publicke dares nor be but priuate foes To Derbyes Honor quickly proued bee And this a pious course and pollicie Scorne all base mettle and as Salomon would Haue all his vessells made of purest gold And counted siluer base doe you like him Shut vp your Lordly brest and let none in But choycest chiefest men and looke they bee All truely furnisht with some qualitie Worthy an Earles respect for sayth the stery The Moone among the clouds looseth her glory But if sh'attended be with Starres of light Showes as she ment to make a day of night He his owne goodnesse seales and 's greatnesse saues That keepes himselfe vnstain'd with fooles and knaues Maintaine your state and those that truely loue it And all shall stumble that would steppe aboue it For too much lowlinesse and clemencie None should be blam'd yet there 's some vice we see Proceedeth from these vertues some repent Their humblenesse because it breeds contempt Vertues may be mistaken blessings vs'd Are blessings still but cursings being abus'd Your gracious clemency hath beene to all So largly show'd that my pen freely shall Record it to the times to come Who can Not tell and testifie a noble man Should be both Lambe and Lyon-like the first To match the best the last t'ore match the worst So a Lambs meekenesse and a Lyons might In great men claimes a dwelling as their right Both lodge in you and I do smell a sauor Proceed from Derby both of force and fauour Which your crest claimeth in your rights defence Th'Eagle showes power the child showes innocence Your spirit 's Princely like the Eagles and 'T is as the infants meeke but vnderstand Least childishly you construe I 'll tell thee That comprehends not his no billitie And wonder not th' art not intelligent The earth is thine the ayre 's his element He 's witty wise and valorous knowes his measure He smites not Lazarus and he sooths not Caesar The good he nourisheth and the bad he spares not The lowly he loues well for the proud he cares not Mercy did neuer find a humaine brest Allow'd her better lodging ' mongst the rest Of 's vertues Iustice sits true Princesse like She will lift vp the sword but 's loath to strike Because she knowes God list not iustice try By 's threatning Isacke when the ram did dye Bounty adornes his hand and sacred loue Guids both his words and actions the white doue Of innocence hath brought him Manna t'eate And nurst him so well he 's as good as greate If any aske in whom this wealth is stor'd I say in Derbyes Earle my louing Lord They say in Courts men longest keepe their places If they can patiently receiue disgraces And tender thankee but it were better dwell With Lot in Bela where no dangers swell Then in the fayrer plaines that lyes too low Which Iordans streames hath leaue to ouer-flow The Eagle's wise and betweene tweed and d ee Inioyes such store of happy libertie As well might please a Prince tweed speakes your fame Ribl's your seruant mercy knowes your name Commands his fruitfull shores fayre dee doth meane The treasures in or by his holy streame To tender as your due and as his duty And in a word examine but what beauty The North containes and in loue as 't is fit Both are at your dispose the North and it God that doth all things well hath order giuen To beautifie the earth as well as Heauen Veiwe the aetheriall region and there see The glorious frame of that great canopie Seemes to be nayl'd with starres and in such wise They are asign'd their places in the skies By admirable skill the Heauens expresse About each greater light millions of lesse Doe still attend by loue together knit Both to adde honor to themselues and it Men are so plac'd on earth th' earth doth afford Thousands of seruants to attend one Lord You
are made strong by them they strong by you If there be any dim lights th' are vntrue And meanes to adde no honor to your name They liue with enuy and shall end with shame Now let pale enuy whose ill tutor'd tong Is hourely vtt'ring infamy and wrong Spit all her poyson vpon Derby's name She cannot adde a spot the lippes of fame Haue sworne and kiss'd the booke neither bee Silent nor subiect vnto flatterie My Lord my muse did vowe your worth and name To register and chose this lasting frame And hath made truth her witnesse any come And catch me with a lie and I 'll be dumbe For euer after know I scorne to proue A parasite either for for feare or loue Liue to augment your Honors still to be Belou'd of God King state land men and me Your Honors already and onely ready to be yours Augustine Taylor THE DEFENCE OF DIVINE POESIE Committed to the Protection of the Right Honorable William Earle of Pembrooke c. By Augustine Taylor Preacher and Minister in the Church of God LONDON Printed by Nicholas Okes. 1623. TO THE RIGHT HONOrable William Lord Harbert Earle of Pembrooke Barron Harbert of Cardiffe Lord Parr Roos of Reudall Marmion and St. Quintin Chiefe Chamberlaine of his Maiesties House-hold Gouernour of Ports-mouth and Warden of the Stauneries Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter and one of his Maiesties most Honorable Priuy Councell c. Most Honorable KIng Salomon did choose to haue his Throne Borne vp with Lyons and admitted none Of baser beasts that should imployed bee In office neare vnto his dignitie Accounting wolues and asses beasts too base To be imployd about a Throne of grace Your greatnesse being goodnesse doth affect The best supporters because you protect Both art and wit and grace I wish to bee Preseruer of your pious dignitie Great Earle a Diuine muse vnto you brings A sacrifice worth the respect of Kings Not for my merit by whom now it comes But for his merits that hath brought the sonnes Of Adam backe to Eden giue to mee Such fauours as befits the ministrie And for requitall God giue you I 'll pray Many good yeares and then one lasting day Willing to doe your Honor any Christian seruice in the power of AVGVSTINE TAYLOR THE ARGVMENT The season 's poyson'd with abusiue wits Faire poesi's vs'd to serue the basest vse Wit guilt with grace the subiect best befits No musicke 's equall to a Heauenly muse Wit choosing the best subiects to worke on Shall find glory with God and grace with man OVr Physicke-Doctors say the times are sicke But I say no the times are lunaticke Yet madnesse is a sicknesse but I know It is not in their el'ment to bestow Remedy on 't God hath sayd wisedom's mine They meddle with things carnall not diuine If God doe not in time some helpe apply Vnto these times both times and men must dye He that can well conceiue may much admire To see vnto what hight mens wits aspire T' aduance the Towers of Babell and to see So few striue to maintaine the dignitie Of blessed Bethell base vile god-lesse wits Counts it more grace to passionate the fits Of damn'd adultry murther blasphemie Deceipt and lying then it is to bee A carefull student in Diuinitie So many breasts sends forth vnhallow'd breath The very ayre 's infected clouds of death Are shapen in the skie for vengeance and Shall be disperst abrode by the left hand Of God in 's anger to kill and condemne Nations and people that doe him contemne I doe wish those that so abuse their times A dulterers-like conceiuing gracelesse rimes To humor earth those that delude the season With pounds of wit but not halfe drammes of reason T'reforme themselues for better harmonie And seeming men be as they seeme to bee A creature reasonable God did make man And he ought dayly to doe all he can To rayse his glory and his acts to tell That gaue him 's being and his being well Reasonlesse I esteeme those that doe spend Their adle braines on idle things that end In th' houre they are begunne and doe not prayse The acts of dayes of life but acts of dayes Of death and desolation pray you scan There is a man and a thing like a man 'T is plaine that euery like is not the same So some haue th' inward fruite some th' outward frame Some haue the substance some haue but the show Some bad are set aboue some good below Some diuine wits still sings of things aboue Some foolishly breaths nought but earthly loue Some loues the temp'rall some the spirituall food For some are fram'd for ill and some for good Some poets sings of loue and some of hate Some loues the common some commends the state Some flatters greatnesse some contemnes the poore Some men haue fewer faults and some haue more But all haue some and some haue all for still Some sparkes of enuy's mixed with good-will Some loues vnfit speech some words most meete Some haue a stinking breath and some a sweete Some liues in feare of men some feares but God Some seekes the staffe and some deserues the rod Man is inriched both with art and nature T' expresse the glory of the all Creator Weapons of Honor God giues man to vse And with those weapons they doe him abuse God giues vs arte and wit and reason 〈◊〉 And grace to will and likewise grace to do If we intreate so much you ne'r find shall From the first day vnto the funerall Of this old world did e're deny His mercy vnto men in misety If beg'd with faith and meeknesse whither hath His fond affection led him T' a wrong path That he forgets so good a Lord so long And with 's owne weapons seekes to doe him wrong All mans good parts are sent him from aboue And man to manifest his makers loue Should set them all to worke 't is vnderstood God doth require but thankes for all the good That he bestowes on all regard therefore His wage is potent though your worke be poore Mans tong should preach and pray his heart beleeue The care must heare th' eyes see the hands releeue Each member must remember th' head of all And all and each must serue the principall I 'm t'old and I beleeue it from aboue Gifts are descending from the God of loue Some with some gifts are blessed some with other But no man ought his gifts of grace to smother Or wrong apply them for the Lord hath show'd Gifts be apply'd to th' end they are bestow'd Some sings with Dauid some with Iob laments Some sinnes with both and some with both repents Some fights like Iosuah and like Iosuah winnes Some flyes the field when th' honor but beginnes Some shuns the danger those loose the renowne Some beares the crosse and those shall weare the crowne Some like the chaffe before the winds are gone Some like Cedars on mount Lebanon Prosper and
THat I thus Register your worthy names 'T is no dishonor for my gift's Diuine You are faire Chesters pillers and maintaines Her royalties since you doe all combine In such a perfect vnion that I find Though you seeme many yet y'haue but one mind You being at one I would your one proue Accept my seruice and giue me your loue Your Worships in Gods seruice AVGVSTINE TAYLOR TAYLORS EPISTLE to the Honorable and VVorshipfull Soâ—ieties of the well Gouerned City of West-Chester c. GOD that of nothing hath so great things made So many and so glorious may perswade The created the Creator intends Some speciall good whereto the finall ends Of euery creature leads which act discouers Nothing was made to serue it selfe but others As nothing made it selfe it must needs bee Nothing was made to serue it selfe we see A power that sends and suffers good and ill The made is subiect to the makers will The Heauens it seemes were made to serue the ayre The ayre to serue the earth the earth doth share Her store to serue the beasts and foules which feede Although to them vnknowne to serue mans neede The Sunne doth serue with light the clouds with raine The fire with heate the cooling springs remaine To serue the swelting soule all things that moue Are tokens manifest the makers loue Which both submit and serue at mans dispose The question is man being Lord of those By lycence giuen him from the onely king Let him beare rule if he bound to bring His seruice as a subiect or if hee Being seru'd by others may claime soueraigntie And onely seru'd himselfe I answere thus God did make all things good man optimus Iudu'd wrth reason onely to expresse His makers glory and 's owne holinesse But was not made to serue himselfe for God Teacheth subiection both with staffe and rod The good the staffe supports to flourish still The bad the rod corrects to punish ill Man is Gods Image and in that is showne God did make man that man shold make God knowne Gods power and prayse should euery where be spred For what 's not knowne cannot be worshipped Then ayme to do your office that you may With much content tell many a happy day On earth of grace and one in Heauen of glory Obserue the stature's in the sacred story Honor the Lord fight in his truths defence Cloath you and your in coates of innocence Euer support the good suppresse the ill This the meanes to keepe your station still Beleeue releeue and as you loue the Lord Maintaine such ministers as giue his word A perfect true construction haue a care The selfe conceipted Schismatickes that are Not pure in life but in opinion doo Not onely wrong themselues but others too Since there is but one God and that one hath But one truth to direct vs in one path That leads to endlesse blisse it fits your place To giue the Preachers of it so much grace As bounty and affection can afford As you haue grace by the incarnate word And promises of glory euer see Such honor giuen to the ministrie As God himselfe commanded and mongst all Th'Embassadors made Euangellicall Cut out rewards according to their merits And know thus much those that some gifts inherits Aboue the rest are worthy more respect Because those gifts are signes they were elect By Gods diuine decrees for we should still Farre more by heauenly then by humaine will Enter the Temple th' alter to imbrace Not with the armes of nature but of grace Truth should haue trumpets to divulge her will Not such as sounds too often but sounds shrill The Church is iniur'd by a number such As keepeth silence or else speakes too much Truth 's sicke and like to dye vnlesse she doo Find speciall friends both good and great ones too As Naomi is alone without a Ruth A sad forsaken widow such is truth Without'n true supporters be you then As you are principals mongst many men Of Dauids perfect mind when he did sing Of mercy and iustice to his Lord and King Oh imitate him with a free consent You are the Cities starres whose gouerment Commandeth millions and your houses bee The Cities schooles where all the rest should see Peace pyety bounty loue and decencie Cherish the vertuous and all goodnesse grace Looke on th' offenders but with halfe a face Banish the bad and doe the good adore Fauour not Parasites rather feede the poore Seeke for the loue of all because 't is prou'd The strongest man is he that 's best belou'd What you may do to learne do not request But striue to know what will become you best Your places are both great and worthy and Vnfit for those that doe not vnderstand Your City's free and ancient and may boast Of better Lawes then those that glory most Your orders and proceedings all are such I know no City that may speake so much Of her owne prayse so iustly there 's not any Hath had so worthy gouernours so many So generous still may faire Chester bee Blest with such heads that true prosperity And peace and plenty in your wals may dwell And that your charge you may discharge as well As Dauids worthies did in Israell Iacobs good God protect and keepe you still And make you Citizens on faire Syon Hill FINIS