his own teeth doth dig his Grave Who loves his Humour to fulfil His Humour is himself to kill Who doth aspire be great and tall Should carefully beware a fall Who with good works delights to dwell Sails fair for Heaven far from Hell ¶ On Age. THe Painter's Pencil sure must go astray In painting to the life a lump of Clay Who does but seem to live dies every day How can he lively paint a man that hath The cold effigies in his face of Death ¶ On Man and Wife SIlence and Patience are the Twins that make Concord 'twixt Couples never to forsake A Husband good in Words ought to be wise In Conversation wary hating lies Careful Provision ought he to provide In ordering circumspect a careful Guide A Father Master and a Friend beside The good Wife when abroad she should be grave Discreet in governing at home and have Patience to bridle Passions when they move Learning her Husband to obey and love Kinde to her Neighbours courteous unto all Careful of Children be they great or small But chiefly herein there should be no flaws She should her Husband fear and he the Laws ¶ The free Prisoner WHat though a Prisoner I am now Time doth allow Instead of liberty to walk To write or talk What though 〈◊〉 make me sicken They do me quicken My body in confinement lies But my Soul flies What though by nature I am dumb Then I be â—…ome A silent sinner and my tongue Doth no man wrong Or what although I loose my sight Yes if the light Of Divine Graces shine in me My Soul can see Let sorrows come when God thinks best They are my Rest For in afflictions 't is my Psalm The Bruise 〈◊〉 Balm If I 'm afflicted in this World I am but huâ—…'d â—…o Heaven where all pleasures stand At God's right hand Th' afflictions of this world of care Cannot compare To those blest Mansions Christ hath wrought And dearly bought Dear may I say because his blood Is that choice flood That drowns my sorrows and my grief Gives me relief Thus all things work together for their good That have lov'd God and for his honour stood A Jayl's the centre of this Iron-age Yet not my Prison but mine Hermitage He that can boldly dare yet justly do Fortune 's his Subject and his Vassal too ¶ On Sunday THis is the day the Lord hath made Then let not Christians be afraid Laying aside all sin Rejoyce therein The clearest radiant day that shines Upon the Christians golden Mines God's holy Torch and Light That leads aright The day of our Consession The Ease of our Oppression The day of Peace and Rest Churches our Nest. A Light it is to all the Week A Summons to the Proud and Meek That says to Conscience Fie Ye go awry The day that pulleth man from Death And crowns his head with holy Wreath That guides him to his Grave Yet doth him save The Day of God so God of Days It is above my reach of praise God's with his free accord The Sabbaths Lord. It is the Day-book of a Saint A Spring for those that thirst or faint Nor can we say there 's one day Like to Sunday But we 'll such thoughts in silence smother Till we can finde out such another ¶ The Petition STand by me Lord when dangers STARE Keep from my Fruit such choaking TARE That on Confusion grounded ARE. Thou that from Bondage hast me BROUGHT And my deliverance hast ROUGHT 'T is thee that I will praise for OUGHT O Lord to evil make me CHILL Be thou my Rock and holy HILL So shall I need to fear no ILL ¶ Faith's Mystery WIth all the pow'rs my poor Soul hath O humble Love and loyal Faith Thus low my God I bow to thee Whom too much love bow'd low for me Down busie Sense Discourses die And all adore Faith's Mysterie Faith is my Skill Faith can believe As fast as Love new Laws can give Faith is my eye Faith strength affords To keep pace with those pow'rful words And words more sure more sweet than they Love could not think Truth could not say O dear Memorial of that death Which still survives and gives us breath Live ever Bread of Life and be My Food my Joy my All to me Come glorious Lord my hopes increase And fill my Portion in thy Peace Come hidden life and that long day For which I languish come away ¶ On the Judgment GReat God that hast at thy command Both Leaden feet and Iron hand How shall I stand How can I look When thou call'st for thy Dreadful Book Oh save me Lord I then shall say I do confess I went astray Thy Judgment stay O let thy Rod Chastise with mercy O my God O Christ my Saviour may it please Thee thy dear Father's wrath appease And making peace Then I alwaies Will strive to magnifie thy praise Some it is like may shew a Book So full of Blanks that when you look Thereon a Rook You 'll think that man That shews a Scrole with nothing on But so to do is highly vain For he that doth just Judgments rain Can see each stain Keeps just account How ev'ry Sinner's sins amount I am resolv'd when God doth call To hide not one but shew him all That wrought my fall But if my will Exceed my skill Lord do not kill ¶ On the Pharisee and the Publican TWo men into the Temple went to pray The one a Pharisee who thus did say I thank thee God I am no common man No unjust person As this Publican Twice in the week I fast from my excess And I give tythes of all that I possess The humble Publican at distance stood With head and eyes dejected as if food Or heavenly Manna then was to be found Carelessly scatter'd on the dusty ground But as in bitterness of Soul distrest He with his hand smote on his troubled breast Of his Petition this was the beginner O God be merciful to me a sinner The other shew'd rather than Zeal his pride But the poor Publican went justifi'd God doth delight the proud look to abase And on Humility bestows his grace ¶ To God the Father BEfore the closing of the day Creator we thee humbly pray That for thy wonted mercies sake Thou us into protection take May nothing in our mindes excite Vain dreams and fantoms of the night Our Enemy repress that so Our bodies no uncleanness know To Jesus from a Virgin sprung Be Glory given and Praises sung The like to God the Father be And holy Ghost eternallie ¶ To God the Son LEt others take their course And sing what Name they please Let Wealth or Beauty be their theam Such empty sounds as these I never will admire A lump of burnish'd Clay For though it shines it is but dust And shall to dust decay Sweet Jesus is the Name My Song shall still adore Sweet Jesus is the charming Word That does my Life restore When I
for the frames Yielding such fruit as few have born but he Zealous for Heaven where he in Glory reigns so his Losses turn'd to be his Gains ¶ On Christ's Death MY God my God turn not to night my day Shall Mans black Crimes be Darts my heart to slay Must my dear blood on sinful dust be spilt To pay his debt and wash away his guilt My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Must I come from a Diadem to Death Leaving my joys in sorrow spend my breath Must I that am coequal with the Father Be crucifi'd that man may comfort gather My God my God c. I that e're now was cloath'd in state of Glory Am now in Rags of Flesh to tell my story I that fill ev'ry place in spight of danger Yet I in fear was cradled in a Manager My God my God c. To Egypt I compelled was to fly I am the Life yet I my self must die I am the sole Dictator of the Law Yet must be subject now and stand in aw My God my God c. 'T was I that both the Earth and Heavens made But working now at Joseph's homely trade Children of men I have ye ost exempted Can binde the Devils yet must I be tempted My God my God c. I made the World of Nothing Man of Dust Yet I have hungred and have been athirst I am become Life to the Lunatick If God can die Nature may well be sick My God my God c. Must I that keep the Keys of Death and Hell Pay visits now where griefs and terrours dwell Must Kings be made the subjects of their scorns And wear instead of Stars a Crown of Thorns My God my God c. My Senses all extreamly are agriev'd My eyes beholding whom I have reliev'd Mine ears with hearing lewd blasphemous Taunts Instead of Hallelujahs sung by Saints My God my God c. Smelling I finde my nostrils streight grow full O' th' evil scent of some corrupted skull My Taste is chang'd with Liquor like my Thrall Sower and bitter Vinegar and Gall. My God my God c. My Feeling with the Spear that pierc'd my side That man might live I thus was crucifi'd At length my Father heard me bad me die But nothing fear sor he himself stood by ¶ An Hymn By St. Ambrose and St. Augustine OUr tongues O God thy praise record We thee consess our Soveraign Lord. To thee Eternal Father all Who dwell on Earth do prostrate fall To thee the Angels at all hours To thee the Heavens and heav'nly powers To thee with voice incessantly The Seraphins and Cherubs cry Thou Holy Holy Holy one Of Sabbath Lord and God alone Fill'd is the Earth the Heavens the Skie With glory of thy Majesty The bless'd Apostles glorious Quire The Prophets whom thou didst inspire And all the White-rob'd Martyrs sing Eternal praise to thee their King The holy Church does loudly sound Thy blessed Name throughout the ronnd Of the whole Earth confessing thee Father of boundless Majestie The same is dutifully done To thy sole Venerable Son And to the Holy Ghost that arms The Soul with consolating Charms Thou Christ hast Kingly Glories won Thy Father 's dear Eternal Son Thou man to free from endless pain A Virgins womb didst nor disdain That death subduing didst unlock Heav'ns Realms unto thy faithful Flock On God's right hand thou fit'st as bright As in thy Father's radiant light Our Judge to come thou art esteem'd Thy servants therefore help redeem'd With thy most precious blood and make Us with thy Saints of Bliss partake Lord save thy people in distress Thy Heritage vouchsase to bless Rule and exalt them without end Our dayly blessings thee attend Thy glorious Name we magnifie From age to age eternally This day sweet Lord we now are in Preserve us from committ'ng sin Have mercy on us Lord efface Our sins with thy Coelestial grace Let mercy on us Lord be seen As in thy self our hopes have been Lord I have fix'd my hopes on thee Then let me ne're confounded be ¶ On Christ's Cross. CAn we spell Chris-cross row and yet not read That Christ for us was dead How he himself did humble unto death Loosing his life to give us breath But now he shines in the Coelestial Frame And hath receiv'd a Name To which all knees shall bow and tongues shall say This is the Lord we must obey He that doth disregard the Cross of Christ Of Happiness hath mist Destruction is his end his glory shame But happy he doth love the same I will not hate the Cross nor yet adore Any but he it bore I 'll not blaspheme the Cross because t was dy'd With his rich blood was crucifi'd Rich beyond price for when that blood was spilt It cleans'd a world of guilt It bought mankinde for when Christ's blood was flown As Lord he call'd us all his own Wherefore I will not worship any one But my dear Lord alone Take up my Cross and bear my Cross I will I 'll love it and embrace it still But to adore my Cross I will not dare All knees should that forbear In reverence to his Name all hearts shall bow With pious Zeal as mine does now Christ never wanted crosses scoffs and scorns His ways were strew'd with thorns Then may we judge by his most sacred birth He 's cross'd wants crosses here on Earth ¶ The Cross. Then let us count all things as loss And Dung compared with the Cross. This is the Figure of that Tree That bore the fruit of life for me The Emblem of Humility Express'd in him did on it die To it was nail'd the God of Life Who did in Love to end our Strife God had one Son who had no sin But all his Sons have crossed bin ¶ The Resurrection HE 's risen now behold the stone is gone Which late was rolled to inclose the Son Had the weak Jews so little wit or grace To trust to that when he fills ev'ry place Earth is his foot-stool yet he dwells on high Holy his Name himself 's Eternity ¶ The Ascention HOw nimbly and with what a quick ascent Heaven was scal'd by the Omnipotent But one days speedy journey surely then Sinners are sots that won't be happy men ¶ An Adoration to the Lord of the Sabbath BEhold we come dear Lord to thee And bow before thy Throne We come to offer on our knee Our Vows to thee alone Whate're we have whate're we are Thy bounty freely gave Thou didst us here in mercy spare And wilt hereafter save But oh can all our store afford No better gifts for thee Thus we confess thy Riches Lord And thus our Poverty 'T is not our tongue or knee can pay The mighty Debt we owe For more we should than we can say Far lower than we bow Come then my Soul bring all thy powers And grieve thou hast no more Bring ev'ry day thy choicest hours And thy great God adore
every person is his work 19. It is a spiritual injustice to desire to know the secrets of others and to conceal our own 20. We ought not to love our Neighbour onely because he is good or because we hope he will be so but because God commands us so to do 21. In holy duties we should speak little think much but do more 22. It is a great evil not to do good 23. The just man never dies unprepared for he is well prepared for death who perseveres in Christian justice to the end 24. Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth and a foot out of joynt 25. As he that taketh away a Garment in cold weather and as Vinegar upon Nitre so is he that singeth Songs to a heavy heart 26. It is no shame to be poor Nature brought us so into the World and so we must return 27. Dost thou want things necessary grumble not perchance it was necessary thou shouldest want however seek a lawful remedy if God bless not thy endeavour do thou bless him that knoweth what is fittest for thee Thou art God's Patient prescribe not thy Physician 28. Art thou calumniated examine thy Conscience if that be spotted thou hast a just correction if not guilty thou hast a fair instruction Use both so shalt thou distil honey out of gall and make to thy self a secret friend of an open enemy 29. If thine enemy be hungry give him bread if thirsty give him drink thou thereby heapest coals of fire upon his head and a reward unto thy self 30. Charity makes God our debtor for the Poor are his receivers 31. Hast thou an Estate and wouldst increase it divide thy Riches to the Poor those Seeds that are scattered do encrease but hoarded up they die 32. Correction without instruction makes the Master a Tyrant and the Servant a novice 33. That man is a Conquerour that can subdue his own passions 34. Faithful are the wounds of a friend but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful 35. Arm thy self against a profest enemy but he that dissembleth friendship strikes beyond a caution and wounds above a cure from the one thou mayst deliver thy self but from the other Good Lord deliver thee 36. A man that flattereth his Neighbour sâ—…eadeth a Net for his feet 37. The Touch-stone trieth Gold and Gold trieth men 38. Virtue must be the guide of all Qualities otherwise the Professors are undone 39. As the servants of God are known by their two Vertues Humility and Charity so the servants of the Devil are known by their opposite Vices Pride and Cruelty 40. The best way to keep good acts in memory is to refresh them with new 41. To boast is to be vain since the greatest Conquerour if he measure his own shadow shall finde it no longer than it was before his victory 42. Believe not Soothsayers for Prophesies are never understood till they are accomplished 43. The World is a wide Prison and every day an execution-execution-day 44. Our Stomachs are common Sepulchres for Birds Beasts and Fish they all die to feed us Lord with how many deaths are our poor lives patched up How full of death is the life of man 45. Beware of Drink where Drunkenness reigns Reason is an exile Vertue a stranger and God an enemy Blasphemy is Wit Oaths are Rhetorick and Secrets are Proclamations 46. Whosoever will arrive at a New life must pass by the death of the Old 47. He that is truly humble never thinks himself wronged 48. The good man lives contented with a moderate Estate not so much taking notice of those that have more as those that have less than our selves 49. He that most mortifies natural inclinations receives most supernatural inspirations 50. To shun the accidental troubles of this life is to meditate often upon Eternity 51. It is the great misfortune of man to desire those things which he should only use 52. To have a desire to be poor and not to receive the inconveniencies of it is too great ambition For it is to desire the honour of Poverty and the commodity of Wealth 53. There is no better way to end happily a true spiritual life than daily to begin it 54. He that would have a part with Jesus glorified must first take part with Jesus crucified 55. We should live in this present World as if our Souls were in Heaven and our Bodies in the Grave 56. In the death of our Passions consists the life of our Souls 57. It is not Humility to acknowledge our selves miserable that onely is not to be a beast but it is Humility to desire that others should esteem us so 58. There is no reason to be given for the fault we commit in sin for the fault would not be sin if it were not against Reason 59. Virtues never have their full growth but when they bring forth desires of advancing which like spiritual seeds serve to produce new degrees of Vertues 60. We should never speak of God or of things which concern his service carelesly by way of discourse or entertainment but always with great respect and humble minde 61. We should sear the Judgement of God without discouragement and encourage our selves without presumption 62. The ready way for the Soul to have peace with it self is to obtain its peace with God 63. We may perform many holy actions yet not please God if we neglect to do what he requires of us no more than a Painter in representing an Eagle pleaseth him that desired a Bee 64. Let us never look on our Crosses but through the Cross of Christ thereby we shall finde them pleasant and have fresh desires to be afflicted 65. Desire to obtain the love of God makes us meditate but that love once obtained makes us contemplate THE TABLE A ANgel and Man A Dialogue Page 6 On Ambition 9 An Adieu to the World 14 Almost a Christian 21 St. Ambrose's Hymn 62 St. Augustine's Hymn ibid. The Ascension 66 An Adoration ibid. The Altar 72 The Ant 78 Antiphon 79 Of Angels 82 On Age 94 Acknowledgments 111 Advice to Prisoners 126 St. Austin's Prayer 134 On Alexander the Great 161 B On the Book misprinted the Tree of Life 21 On Beauty 41 The Bible 81 The Beatitudes 82 The Believer 136 Bad at Best 159 On Blasphemy 166 Blessings of the Righteous as they are recorded in Holy Writ 172 C The Christian and Worlding 11 On Conscience 24 On Contentation 30 The Christians Alphabet 59 On Christ's Death 60 On Christ's Cross 63 The Cross 65 On Christ 68 Christian and Death 71 The Candle 77 Of Christ's Passion 83 On Christ's Praying 84 On Christ's Nativity 102 Christ's Triumph to Jerusalem 103 Of Christ's Birth in an Inne 104 To the Creator 105 The Caution 112 On the Conscience 133 On Christ's Nativity expected 137 The Call 138 The Check 149 Christ all in all 152 The Careless Christian 154 The Colestial Painter 156 To the divine Creator 157
Piety And Trismegistus this assertion brings Religion is the ground of publick things God did not cast man out of Paradise That man might make another by advice Be therefore wary during time and leisure 'T is dangerous to take delight in Pleasure For 't is a Syren doth deceive us all It gives us dainties but they 're mix'd with gall The Pitch and Tar of Sin so close do cleave That Pleasure waiteth only to deceive Riches seem pleasant things to banish Care But are at best but an intangling Snare Our Meat and Drink when taken with excess Breaks forth to Surfeitings and Drunkenness Silver and Gold seem pleasant things yet they Like thieves from God do steal our hearts away That man that loveth pleasure shall he poor But God's right hand hath pleasures ever more ¶ On an Hour-Glass AS I in haste did through a Chamber pass I had almost destroy'd a Christal Glass With fear affrighted I too soon believ'd That I had broke it thereupon I griev'd But how much time more pretious than that sand Have I neglected and with ready hand Pursu'd my solly being round beset With sins yet I not thinking of regret Though that but Christal I my self condemn But minde not Time though every hour 's a gem The thought of breaking that did me affright The other 's minded not though lost outright That were but casual if it had been done But with consent my pretious Time hath flown A better Hour glass may be had for cost But Time ill-spent is once and ever lost For toys our griess can finde a certain leisure But have no vent for an unvalued treasure Lord let that Hour-glass for its service win me Not that stands by me but shall be within me Teach me to number so my days that I Right soon my heart to wisdome may apply ¶ Salve for the Sick WHenas some sharp Disease shall visit me I sear with pain I shall impatient be For I am Cholerick by nature made By temper tender apt to be afraid And such a stranger unto sickness am 'T would prove a Lions conquest o're a Lamb. O whither will my minde with wavering sail When a Disease shall over me prevail O whither will my giddy fancy stride When a Distemper's the unstable Guide Wilde-fire will sit upon my burning tongue When with a Feaver every Sense is stung Wherefore O Lord if it disclose my shame Let it give no dishonour to thy Name Teach me the Art of Patience whilst I 'm well That when grown sick that Vertue may excel In that day let me not assistance lack Lighten my burthen or improve my back In God I 'll trust when Life hath spun its length For In the Lord is everlasting strength ¶ On Perfection IN Humane life there no perfection can Be said to be an attribute of man Lust and the Senses have a constant Jar The Flesh and Spirit do maintain a War Against each other man may make his moan He perfect is in Imperfection None but the Lord that Badge of Honour wears But man may gain it with his Prayers and Tears Cannot enjoy it here but he must fly Where it is crowned with Felicity They are Coelestial plants or flowers both Of Paradise not of Terrestrial growth The best in this his Pilgrimage doth hault Like Jacob with one leg 't is Natures fau't Though we have many tongues as Paul are apt To climb like him till i' th' third Heaven wrapt Though we with Moses have in Egypt sought For all the Learning the Egyptians taught Though we as Ezra did should understand Each Article of every Command Within the Law of God Though eloquent In Scripture as Apollos we indent Too far with Sin and Satan that our care Hath no perfection but a perfect snare We are but Scholars here to use our Arts In pious duties to improve our parts The clearest Christian hath some soil or spot Noah with Drinking did himself besot Peter with Perjury eclips'd his fame And with Dissimulation Abraham With loud Contention Paul and Barnabas The Psalmist truly doth express the case The sons of men are so profusely prone None perfect are nor none good no not one The Vertue that a just man hath doth lie In Pious works and in Humilitie The Author to the Hebrews quotes the name Of many Worthies blemish'd in their fame Gideon an Ephod made and that let in Idolatry he Israel made to sin Had many Wives to nourish his designe Of Lust and with those Wives a Concubine Barak although a Souldier waxed faint Sampson a strong and a couragious Saint Defil'd himself with Strumpets Wretched fate Made Jepthe rash and Inconfiderate David was tainted with two horrid sins Murther Adultery as if two twins Or brethren both have his great honour checkt Samuel observ'd his Children with neglect No Prince or Prophet but his weakness had Virtues have opposites in things are bad Yet they were men that did with God accord And were most highly honour'd by the Lord Faithful to God obedient to his Law That Chrystal perfect is that hath no flaw Shew me a Garden that 's without its weeds I 'll yield man perfect by his words and deeds Yet let us not upon their errours play The Righteous man offendeth every day And if the righteous scarcely can be sav'd It plainly shews whole Nature is deprav'd Wouldst thou of a Perfection have thy share Repent like them for now they perfect are ¶ On a Rose-tree 'T Was in September I observ'd a Tree That then bore Roses stranger 't was to me Others of like kind round about it grew Yet all were barren and those not a few The Gardner kindly did the reason give In May 't was closely clipt that it might thrive And bud in Autumn Lord had I been kept Curb'd in my tender years whenas I slept Secure from punishment my life had been Grey in its Youth and when grown aged Green He that intends to win the happy Race Must learn in tender years to grow in Grace ¶ The Christians Alphabet AN Angel good Satan himself can make But the Apostles true bid men beware Christ had his Paul the drowsie to awake Daring even Death it self such was his care Earnest in zealous works did sharply tast Fortunes ill will in stripes of cruel measure Great was his troubles he did oft forecast Honour for God in counting Death his treasure In Prisons frequent from the fight o' th' Sun Kill'd oftentimes and yet he did revive Lashes five times he had forty save one Menacing terms did frequently receive Night and day in the deep and shipwrack'd thrice Once was he ston'd and three times beat with rods Perils came often cold he was as Ice Quips oftner came than did his days by odds Render he did his thanks to God for all Such was his holy love and fervent Zeal Though first he was a persecuting Saul Undoing such as bless'd the Commonweal Wreaths crown his head because he was a Tree Xactly good too pretious
But above all prepare thy heart Whilst now 't is called day In humble duty bear thy part To sing to love and pray Glory to thee Eternal Lord Thrice blessed three in one Thy Name at all times be ador'd Till time it self be done ¶ Of God HE is the Author of the Worlds Creation Foundation The great and mighty Judge of mans Salvation Damnation The glorious Lord and only God Above Of Love That both to men and Angels is A God A Rod. He did the World create and by his hand Or word Foundations laid of Sea and Land Can save or damn as he doth best approve Will be our God or Rod as we shall love Thou that canst hold the Winds within thy fist Have mercy on us oh thou God in Christ. ¶ Of Christ. HE it is that gives us Peace Increase He to poor Souls cries I 'm your Jesu IESU He it is that is our Good Food The Saints with him do trust their Treasure Pleasure He it is can end our Life Strife He it is that gives us Breath Death He is to us a Judge and King Sting He is our Peace Increase our Jâ—…u and An Ease to those that wait on his Command Our Good our Food our Treasure and our Joy Our Life to see no Strife shall us annoy He gives us Breath can give us Death as King And unâ—…o death he is become a Sting He punish can or help us in our thrall For Christ is God's and God is all in all Wouldst farther know what God is silly Elf Go study first to be a God thy self ¶ God is Love GIve praise unto the Lord above Omit no thanks that thou canst move Dost thou not know that God is love In Word and Deed make him thy aim So shall thy Soul be free from blame Let his Commandments be in ure Obedience cannot be a clod Vs he hath spar'd and doth endure Ev'n still such is the love of God ¶ The Remembrance ANd now my Soul canst thou forget That thy whole life is one long debt Of Love to him who on the Tree Paid back the flesh he took for thee Lo how the streams of pretious blood Flow from five wounds into one flood With these he washes all thy stains And buys thy Ease with his own Pains Tall Tree of Life we clearly now That doubt of former ages know It was thy wood should make a Throne Fit for a more than Solomon Large Throne of Love royally spread With Purple of too rich a red Strange costly price thus to make good Thine own esteem with the Kings blood Hail fairest Plant of Paradise To thee our hopes lift up their eyes O may aloft thy branches shoot And fill the Nations with thy fruit O may all reap from thy increase The Just more strength the Sinner peace While our half-wither'd hearts and we Engraft our selves and grow on thee Live O for ever live and reign Bless'd Lamb whom thine own love hath slain And may thy lost Sheep live to be True lovers of thy Cross and thee ¶ Of Death 1 Cor. ch 15. v. 55 56. O Death where is thy sting The sting of death is sin O. Death forbear I yet must live Stay Death till God your Warrant give And then where you see best this heart Most willing is to seel your Dart. But Lord O let thy servants breath Preserv'd be from the sting of Death ¶ Of Grief THe tears come slowly Lord my sins remain O sting my shallow fords and make them rain Rivers of waters or if so thou please Send daring death my sorrows to decrease My grief is great 't is time to rise or fall Then cleanse me Lord from sin and ease my thrall That I may say O death where is thy sting And tell the world The sting of death is sin ¶ A Christian and Death A Dialogue Chr. COme valiant Death and welcome do thy worst Shew me the power thou claimst as being King Dea. Poor mortal know alas thou art but dust And I the Sexton that thy Knell must ring Chr. Away lean half-starv'd wretch go daunt a sool Think not to fright me with Thy glass is run Dea. Thou art my Scholar therefore come to School Delays but waste that time which might be gone Chr. Thou seemst a Student for thou lookst so poor That Famine in thy face I plainly read Dea. Come silly wretch you word it must no more See here 's thy Glass thy Doom and thou art dead Chr. Then boldly strike thou dost the body kill My Soul shall wait upon its Master's will Dea. Lie there proud dust all flesh is born to die Chr. This is the Road unto Eternitie ¶ The Altar A broken ALTAR Lord to thee I raise Made of a Heart to celebrate thy praise Thou that the onely Workman art That canst cement a broken heart For such is mine O make it thine Take out the Sin That 's hid therein Though it be Stone Make it to groan That so the same May praise thy Name Melt it O Lord I thee desire With Flames from thy Coelestial fire That it may ever speak thy Praise alone Since thou hast changed into Flesh a Stone ¶ Death Man and Grave A Dialogue Death COme down proud Lust. Man To what to Dust Grav I that you must and shall Man Thou thing of bones Grav That fetcheth groans Death From very stones and all Man From Dust I came Grav Thou must again Death Sin is thy bain and thrall Man That 's thee away Death With mortal Clay Grav Why do you stay you must Death Come leave your groans Man To go with bones Grav You must go once poor dust Death Nay do not frown Man Away rude Clown Death I 'll strike thee down proud lust Man Then I submit forbear your storms Seeing I must return a Guest To my Acquaintance old the worms Farewel fond World I 'll take my rest Grav I have a Charm will make you sleep And all you have you here may trust For Watchmen not a few I keep The harmless Worms that are so just With care they do befriend him That cometh here within this path Thus man one world of servants hath And when he on his Death-bed lies Another doth attend him ¶ Nature's Delight HArk my Soul how every thing Strives to serve our bounteous King Each a double tribute pays Sings its part and then obeys Natures chief and sweetest quire Him with chearful notes admire Chanting every day their Lauds Whilst the Grove their song applauds Though their Voices lower be Streams have too their melody Night and day they warbling run Never pause but still sing on All the flowers that gild the Spring Hither their sweet musick bring If Heaven bless them thankful they Smell more sweet and look more gay Only we can scarce afford Due thanksgivings to our Lord. We on whom his bounty flowes All things give and nothing owes Wake for shame my sluggish heart Wake and gladly sing thy part Learn
no ill Nor yet no good they hurt when fill To little purpose lying still And such a hurt may kill When I am praying to the Lord my God They often on my Prayers have trod And when I hope'd to scape the rod My sins have still abode The reason sure why I am thus possest With such a bold unwelcome guest Unto my shame be it consest It is because his Nest With my consent before was builded there Who now lies lurking like a Bear Watching my sinful Soul to tear When once got in his snare Lord be my Surgeon heal my wounded heart And give me grace that by that Art I may devise a Bolt or Dart To cause such thoughts depart For with repentant tears it is con'est Thou art a help to men opprest When we are most of all distrest Thou art our chiesest rest With fervent Zeal unto thy aid we flee Thou art our Rest Truly our hope 's in thee ¶ On Repentance REpentance is a gift which comes from high We are not with it born None of themselves repentantly can cry Or make the World his scorn They 're carnal Christians think it is enough To mingle Lord have mercy with their stuff We Jewels buy and they prove counterfeit So man himself undoes Thus in Repentance Souls themselves do cheat And their rich Jewel loose Which made one say Repentance would not lin Until it damned many more than sin If we repent for sin 't is nothing worth Unless we do refrain From it as well for if we from our birth Delighted to be vain Yet sometimes weep but still our hearts do harden God will us with a Contradiction pardon The sorrow of this World it worketh Death But godly sorrow that Repentance works and that eternal breath The Lord himself doth hate Man for his sins that numberless do flush And for those sins doth love as much the blush Repentance strips us of those Garments black That the first Adam's was It kills our sins and keep us from the wrack Though now we are but Grass It doth revive Our Tears do water so That we like Plants of Paradise do grow All above all thou art O God most just Repentance grant to me That I may cleanse my Carnal house of Dust And make it fit for thee Teach me that Lesson which doth still remain With dayly Tears to wash my dayly stain Repentance should appear before I die Nor can I know the when My dying-day shall come or when I flie From hence to thee agen Therefore gâ—…ve me Repentance ev'ry day So shall my flight be clear and thou my way No better showers extinguish can the flames Of Hell than sinners Tears Begin â—…etimes trust not to after-games Forthey bring after-fears Have little cause to say Wo's me that I Who liv'd a sinner must a sinner die We all are apt to think it is too soon Repentance to begin We put it off from morning until noon From thence do farther spin Whenas we hourly should prepare a room To entertain our God when he shall come Beda makes mention of a certain man Who lying very sick Was counsell'd by his Friends his life to scan And to repent while quick Who said His sins he would not yet shake off Lest if he should recover then a scoff To his Companions he himself should make But still he waxed worse His Friends then counsell'd him again to take Repentance not his Curse He answered them That then it was too late For he was plung'd in a condemn'd estate Better it is by far from sin to flie Than lack Repentant cure For he that hath no wounds fears not to die But liveth safe and sure 'T is good for any man more for his ease Neither to know the Cure nor the Disease ¶ On the Day of Judgment AH come it will that dreadful day Which shall the World in Ashes lay As David and the Sibyl both could say How men will tremble and grow pale When Justice comes with Sword and Scale To weigh the faults and sort the fates of all A Trumpet first shall rend the Skies And all whereever laid must rise And come unto the Bar in Pris'ners guise Nature and Death amaz'd will stand To see each one rebodied and Brought to reply himself to each demand A written Book lie open shall Containing each ones Charge and all By those grand Evidences stand or fall Then sits the Judge himself and tries No shifting from All-seeing eyes Nor scaping seen whoe're deserves it dies Oh then poor I what shall I do Which Friend or Patron take me to When Saints themselves are scarce secure from wo Dread Lord to thee thy self run I Who sav'st the sav'd without a why And so mayst me thou source of Clemencie Think who did once thy pity move And drew thee from thy Throne above Cast me not off at last thy former Love Thou tir'dst thy self in seeking me And for my sake di'dst on a Tree Let not in vain such pangs and labour be True thou hast dealt thy mercies home Yet acts of grace mayst deign to some At least before that day of Reckoning come I guilty am e're thou me try My looks and blushes me descry But Mercy Lord O Lord do not deny Thou who didst once a Magd'len spare And of a Thief condemn'd took'st care B'dst me by these examples not despair Not that my Prayers ought can claim But thou art good be still the same That wretched I burn not in endless flame When from the Goats thou shalt divide Thy Sheep let me with thee abide Plac'd in Eternal Bliss on thy right side And then those great 〈◊〉 ssizes done The Curs'd to flames tormenting thrown Say Come ye blessed meaning me for one Lord this I beg on bended knee With heart contrite as ashes be That thou take care both of my end and me ¶ On Sighs and Groans SIgh on sad Heart as hard as Diamond-stone At ev'ry breathing usher forth a groan For such although thou dost not speak Sufficient are thy minde to break Or if thy groans are smothered with grief And steal out softly as a cunning thief God hears and understands the cry Better than he that lets them fly For many sighs and groans are poured out Loaded with thoughts so that this heavy scout Hath such an Errand then to tell Where to begin he knows not well God hath a Bottle for the sinners Tear And ready is as we to speak to hear Heav'n is attentive to a sinners sute And sighs are vocal though the tongue be mute ¶ Knots WHo reads a Chapter when to bed Shall not have Aches in his head Who opes his Purse unto the Poor Shall finde it filling more and more Whose heart and tongue obey God's Word Both beats the bush and gets the bird Who keeps his thoughts from things amiss Is thinking on his way to Bliss Who keeps his Conscience pure and clear Is always feasting year by year Whose stomach doth for Dainties crave With
Wine enough when this is gone we 'll then Revive the Banquet with the blood of men Jud. My Lord now will I drink because my state Is more by much exalted now of late Then e're it was since Nature did display Over mine eyes the banner of the day Hol. This Wine benums my joynts my limbs do feel As if each one would with the other reel Since so it is I 'll stretch me on my bed Jud. Do so my Lord And I 'll secure thy head Thou need'st not fear those at Jerusalem They shall not come to thee thou go'st to them ¶ Judeth's Song of Thanksgiving WIth Timbrels and with Cymbals raise A tune wherewith our God to praise Divinity afford me Balm For sins and skill to sing a Psalm Of praise to God did Heaven frame Exalt him call upon his Name He breaks the Battels of the strong And I that was the Camps among Of proud King Assur even then When Israel seem'd a Prey to men Then did the Lord direct my ways I came from thence to sing his praise Out of the Mountains from the North The Enemy came thundring forth Their strength did threaten dismal ills Their numbers covered the hills He brag'd he would my Borders burn And make Jerusalem an Urn And kill my young men with the Sword Dash Infants brains against the board And make my Virgins prove their spoil But God prevented hath their toyl A Female hand By his command Hath conquer'd the Assyrian Land Our mighty foe he did not fight Nor did the Sons of Titans smite Neither did Giants force his care But Beauty was his only snare The daughter of Merari went With resolution to the tent Of Holofernes drank him dead And safely brought away his head Thus Lord I ventur'd to commit Two sins and sacrifice my Wit But with a chast and holy eye I shun'd ways of Carnality My people Lord I knew should live And thou art ready to forgive I boldiy went was not afraid Because assured of thine aid And to allure I thought it good The Garments of my Widowhood To lay aside and did attire My head to raise my beauty higher My Sandals ravished his eyes And he became my beauties prize For then to give his pride a check I strook his Faulchin through his neck Which act did make The Persians quake The Medes stout hearts did likewise ake Thus my exterminating arm By inspiration did alarm A mighey Host and did destroy Their chief Commander once their Joy A new Song to the Lord I 'll sing Thou art a great and glorious King Wonderful in strength and might Invincible the God of Fight To praise thy Name all things accord For thou mad'st all things with a word In thee all Creatures shall rejoyce Not any can resist thy voice Mountains and Waters shall remove Rocks melt as wax if they not love Shall man be subject to obey And his Inseriours go astray Do we not see year after year God's merciful to them that sear All Sacrifice too little is For him that is the God of Bliss The savour of the heart is sweet And he that sears the Lord is great Wo to those Nations that arise Against my Kindred they a prize Shall be to Worms their flesh as meat The Ravens of the field shall eat Whilst in Bethulia all my days I 'll spend to celebrate his praise ¶ On Man's Greation WE were created with a Word a Breath Redeemed with no less than Blood and Death How much a greater labour is it then Sinners to cleanse or breathe Souls into men ¶ The Mornings Ejaculation NOw that the Day-star doth arise Beg we of God with humble cries All hurtful things to keep away Whilst we in duty spend the day Out tongues to guide so that no strife May breed disquiet in our life To shut the casement of our eye Lest it admit of vanity Preserve the heart both pure and free From vain and troubled phantasie To tame proud flesh while we deny it A full cup and a wanton diet That when the day-light shall go out Time bringing on the night about We by leaving worldly ways May in silence sing God's praise ¶ The Evenings Ejaculation O Lord now night 's return'd again Our Bodies and our Souls refrain From being soil'd with filthy stain Let not dull sleep oppress our eyes Nor us the enemy surprize Nor fearful dreams our minde affright While the blackness of the night Holds from us the cheerful light To thee who dost by rest renew Our wasted strength we humbly sue That when we shall enclose our eyes Pure and chast we may arise Making Morning-Sacrifice All honour Lord to thee be done Thou ever-blessed Virgins Son With the Father and the Spirit As is thine eternal merit E're and ever to inherit ¶ On Tears TEars the sweet Musick of harmonious Souls Angels rejoyce and ready are in shouls To dance thereto it is their heav'nly skill Their Master's bottle with such pearls to fill And when the Soul in Sin 's consumption lies No Balsam's better than the briny eyes God loves not waters of a common ford All Rivers are not pleasing to the Lord. When Esau wept it was to think upon His Brothers fraud with indignation His Tears were mix'd his whispring thoughts within Cry'd 'T is my loss I prize beyond my sin Tears of Dissimulation too invite Men to believe God knows the Hypocrite When in devotion we our Case impart We should remember God requires the heart Tears of Contrition give the piercing voice At which both God and Angels do rejoyce Such as were Mary Magdalens who spent Full thirty years in weeping to repent St. Peter likewise waking look'd as sleeping His face b'ing surrow'd with continual weeping The Spouse of whom in 〈◊〉 her fears Like pools of Heshbon glaz'd her eyes with Tears As Musick on the water sounds more sweet Than on the land so Pray'rs with Tears they greet Almighty God with prevalence all hours God listens to effectual Oratours Then let our Tears into a deluge flow To drown our sins and wash away our woe May they shoot forth like showers in the Spring To bathe our Souls in 't is an Offering Well pleasing to the Lord. When Peter wept He look'd more lovely than as when he slept David pathetically ever sung When Heart and Harp with Penitence was strung When to repose he laid his weari'd head Not Diamonds but Tears adorn'd his bed And in the sacred Quire there 's much more mirth For one repentant sinner so by birth Than persons just Repentance needing none Though of an hundred there should want but one To Heav'n comes none but what are pure and cleer Heaven would not be Heav'n if Sin were there ¶ On Humane Frailty THe World 's a Monster And a humane life So full of strife That a dry morsel better may suffice With quiet than contentions sacrifice Man is conceiv'd In sin when born Become a scorn Addicts himself to vanities and lyes Poysons himself
it was and sweetly grew ¶ Prayer for Peace BLessed Saviour God of Peace When storms arise or shall increase Say thou the word and they shall cease Allay their fury quench their rage Whose factions would disturb the Age Their fiery zeal do thou asswage Be thou a Comforter to those That never do the Truth oppose Them strengthen and convert their 〈◊〉 ¶ On Mercy MErcy is comfort to the Poor 'T is that the Rich desire Lord we thy Mercies do implore 'T is that the Saints require Mercy it was that gave us life To move to think or say Mercy is Physick for our grief And teacheth us to pray O how can we for mercy call That have so wicked been Our Parents gave us such a fall 'T is hard to rise agen Yet 't is for Mercy still we crave 'T is that which must us raise Mercy first made and now will save And teach us how to praise Our sins increase more than our days Yet Mercy lets us live 'T is God that we for all must praise That doth these mercies give And shall we still run on the score Not paying any part Of what we ought to him before He asketh but a heart My Soul pay what thou canst of all thy store He that pays nothing ever owes the more ¶ The Swine LOrd I am thine Although possest O be thou mine And give some rest To me a beast O Christ be good To sinful man And with thy blood Lord wash me clean Be thou my food My staff my stay My King my God And thee alway I will obey Command my sins into the Sea That I may praise and honour thee ¶ The Penitent LOrd I 'm a sinner and my sins increase To such an unknown sum That should my rockie heart and eyes Nay my whole Microcosm a flood become And drown it self in Tears 't would not suffice To name my score Not then to pay But Lord thy blood is my rich store Thou art the Patron of the Poor But all the Balsam of thy blood Alas I know will do no good Unless I wash my griefs with Tears before O thou whose sweet and pensive face To laughter never gave a place Instruct mine eyes Without delay To melt away And then the less of Balsam will suffice ¶ The Soul awaked LOrd we again lift up our eyes And leave our sluggish beds But why we wake or why we rise Comes seldom in our heads Is it to sweat and toyl for wealth Or sport our time away That thou preserv'st us still in health And giv'st us this new day No no unskilful Soul not so Be not deceiv'd with toys Thy Lord's Commands more wisely go And aim at higher joys They bid us wake to seek new Grace And some fresh vertue gain They call us up to mend our pace Till we the prize attain That glorious Prize for which all run Who wisely spend their breath Who when this weary life is done Are sure of Rest in Death Not such a rest as here we prove Disturb'd with Cares and Fears But endless Joy and Peace and Love The Pleasures of the Spheres Glory to thee O bounteous Lord Who giv'st to all things breath Glory to thee Eternal Word Who sav'st us by thy death Glory O blessed Spirit to thee Who fill'st our Souls with Love Glory to all the mystick Three Who reign one God above ¶ St. Paul's Petition FRom Enemies where're they be My God do thou deliver me From them that do against me rise From private Foes inventing lyes From bloody men who loving strife Endeavour to ensnare my life The Mighty are against me bent Because I sinn'd and do repent Arise and visit with thy Rod Those Enemies of thine O God Their follies shew that they may be At last true followers of thee ¶ On the Conscience COrruption now adays doth spring so fast So regarded And rewarded That if my tender Conscience would be sold Or if for it a Dispensation Could be but got I doubt it not I 'd store up wealth in this our Nation One spark of Flattery would so increase My evil goods So that my woods Would make a lasting fire when I decease The World 's fond love might easily be bought If I could tell The way to sell The little honesty that I have got Were but this World my home perhaps I might Be apt to trade But here things fade Give me the Riches wherein Saints delight Though now I live in a corrupted Cell Which doth annoy I would enjoy The peace of Conscience there where Angels dwell Love upon Earth is good 〈◊〉 that doth last But the choice love Of God above Is everlasting and doth never wast Tush wicked World Heav'n is my Merchandize If in my way My sight should stray My home shall be the curtains of mine eyes A desp'rate fate it is the Worldlings run A Pearl to sell To purchase Hell They must be great or to be just undone ¶ St. Austin's Prayer Recommended to the devout Christian by P. Vrban the 8th BEfore thy holy eyes O Lord We sinners heartily accord Humbly to own our griefs of heart Are nothing to our just desert The evils we have done exceed What we can write or may be read Our Consciences our Souls affright And say Thy Chastisements are light We feel the punishments of sin And yet we do persist therein Weak Nature faints at ev'ry scourge Yet perverse wills do dayly urge Our restless minds do still provoke Thy Justice and despise thy Yoke We sigh away our days in grief Yet sorrow gives us small relief For when our sighs do once expire We wallow in our former mire If we repent 't is at a rate That we had need repent for that If thou revenge our stubbornness Thy Justice doth our hearts depress Thy anger fills our Souls with fears We weep but soon forget our Tears If thou stretch out thy hand we then Promise to turn to Saints from men But if thy Sword suspension shows We then forget to pay our Vows If thou dost strike we pardon crave And when thou pardon letst us have We sin again and ne're give o're With provocations more and more Thus we our guilty selves accuse Thus we thy mercies do abuse Yet Mercy Mercy still we cry Or we are drench'd in misery Then Lord O let thy goodness give Those streams by which the Angels live Our Souls inspire amend our days Touch thou our tongues and we shall praise All glory be to God on high The Father of Eternity To Three in One and One in Three ¶ The Believer HAppy is he that doth The truth Believe for he it is Shall kiss The Son of Righteousness shall surely come By his believing to believers home Let thy belief be true But few There are that do make that Their State Abraham left a Pattern good behinde him But few there are that seek him less that finde him I do believe a Tree Will be Pleasantly green when I With eye
In Winter judge how leaveless then it stood But I confirm it when I see the Bud. In Thomas 't was a fault To hault In waving Faith until His will Was satisfied but 't would a madness been So to continue having felt and seen Belief it may indeed Exceed The strength of Reason yet Doth let No opposition in Faith likewise will suspence 'T will get above but not against the Sense Whilst Faith assures I eat My sweet Redeemer with direct Effect Sense cannot so in ignorance allure me As that I cat not bread but will assure me Although I see not all that I believe Yet those things that I see I must believe Christians must guard their mouths and watch their actions Be pure in heart and keep their faiths from factions ¶ On Christ's Nativity expected WHen blessed Lord shall we Our safe Salvation see Dear Lord arise For our saint eyes Have long'd all night and 't was a long night too Poor man could never say He saw more than a day One day of Edeu's seven The guilty hours were blasted with the breath Of sin and death And have e're since worn a Nocturnal hue But in thy birth is hopes that we At length a splendid day shall see Wherein each poor neglected place Grac'd with the Aspect of thy face Shall glister like the porch and gate of Heav'n How long bless'd Lord how long The Nations thirst and throng All humane kinde Are now combinde Into one body wanting thee their Head Large is our multitude And almost vile and rude Headless Great God for lack of thee Unhappy for the want of thy bless'd face Then come apace And thy bright self to our dull body wed That thorough thy Almighty power Each part that hath confusion wore May order take so to appear Fresh as the dawning of the year When thou dear Lord shalt so united be ¶ The Call COme away my Lord my Life Thy presence doth preserve from strife Come away my Lord my Way Thy presence 〈◊〉 to obey Come away my Lord my Truth Thy presence turneth Age to Youth Come away my Lord my Light Thou dost both Sin and Satan fright Come away my Lord my Feast That my poor Soul may be thy Guest Come away my Lord my Strength By thee my days have health and length Come away my holy Joy Guard my Rejoycings from annoy Come away my dearest Love Lord let my Call thy presence move Come away Divinest Lamb My sins deface that seek to damn Come my Shepherd come away Thy Flock in danger are to stray Come my Safeguard and my Shield In Fights assist me lest I yield Come away Lord hear my Call Make no stay Thou All in All. ¶ The Extasie SUch a Lord and such a Life Whose presence bringe h Pleasures rise Such a way as leads to Bliss Who walks therein can't walk amiss Such a Truth whose Ray defies The Father and the Prince of Lyes Such a Light as leads us to Eternal Comforts not a few Such a Feast as doth rejoyce Compounded of the best and choice Such a Strength as doth desend Not for a day but to the end Such a Joy that giveth store Of Pleasures lasting evermore Such a Love as heard my cry Though sin made me his enemy Such a Lamb whose sweet abode Makes ev'ry Saint a Lamb of God Such a Shepherd of his Sheep There 's none can stray whom he doth keep Shuch a 〈◊〉 and such a Sun Desends 〈◊〉 shines till all is won Open my heart and such a God receive He 's All in All to them that do believe Delights of the Minde JEsus the only thought of thee Fills with delight my memorie But when thou dost thy presence show Heav'n seems into my breast to flow No Theam so sweet for voice can be Nor to the ear such harmonie No heart can thoughts for charming frame As Jesus his most pretious Name Jesus when for our sins we grieve Thy mercies all our wants relieve If good to those that seek thy Grace What art thou when they see thy face Jesus in whom we comsort finde Fountain of Life Light of the Minde Thou dost our hearts with comforts feed Our utmost wish thy gifts exceed No Eloquence of Tongue can teach Nor art of Pen this secret reach Only th'experienc'd Soul does prove What sweets they taste who Jesus love Him then I 'll seek retir'd apart Shutting the world out of my heart And midst my business him I 'll strive With fresh pursuit still to retrive Early with Magdalen I 'll come A Pilgrim to my Saviour's Tomb Weeping my sins in mournful cries I 'll seek him with my minde not eyes My Tears shall on his Grave distill And faithful Sighs the Garden fill Prostrate before him on my face His sacred feet I 'll fast embrace Jesus in thy bless'd steps I 'll tread Striving to follow where they lead Nor shall my Soul give o're to mourn Till to thy favour I return O Jesus most admired King Who didst triumph o'r deaths sharp sting Thy mystick sweetness first excites Then satisfies all appetites Thy quickning visits Life bestow Thy lights true good so cleerly show That they who once have relish'd thee Know all the World 's meer Vanitie Come then dear Lord possess our hearts Enflame our loves with thy chast darts All Clouds of errour drive away And change our N ght to thy bright day To thee our hearts and voices sing To thee our vows and pray'rs we bring That when we end this life 's short racc In Heav'n with thee we may have place ¶ On Death O Death the Serpents Son Where is thy sting once like thy Sire With Hellish torments ever burning fire But those dark days are gone Thy peevish spite buri'd thy sting In the sacred and wide Wound of a Saviour's side Now thou' rt become a tame and harmless thing A toy we scorn to fear For we hear That our triumphant God to conquer thee For the assault thou gav'st him on the Tree Hath took the keys of Hell out of thy hand And forc'd thee stand As Porter to that gate of Life O thou who art the gate be pleas'd that he When we shall die And that way flie May ope the Courts of Heav'n to us through thee ¶ On Judgment JUdge of the World we wretched sinners quake Our Consciences do ake And well they may whenas we think Of the fierce dreadful fire Of thine Ire And Phials thou fhalt make Us sinners drink For thou the Wine-press of thy wrath wilt tread With feet of lead Wretched notorious duft what uncouth place Can shelter from thy face The Earth will shrink out of thy sight The Heavens too that cannot erre Then shall fear Thee and thy Laws and from thee take their flight So burnt with glory their bright eyes shall dead Burst from their head Great God can we Thy Enemies abide to see Such a glorious Majesty We beg thy mercy Lord Thy Judgment-seat We dare not to
chance He call'd her his Sweet Sister Temperance When at her Table she sate down to eat She seldom us'd more than one sort of meat And did in Temperance so much delight She ever rose up with an appetite Nature is with a little satisfi'd Ebriety and Gluttony have tri'd And conquer'd many who to Death did dance One of the spirits fruits is Temperance ¶ On Persecution AS the poor Sheep is to the slaughter led In all humility and free from dread So all God's people may be said to be As Sheep the Emblems of Humility They harmless are and profitable too Obedient to their Shepherd in a crew Led into Folds and Pastures where as strangers They are obnoxious to many dangers Wolves Bryars Thieves Dogs Plagues both great and small But God their Shepherd rids them out of all Many desire the number may increase Of God's good Sheep but 't is a golden Fleece Which they desire to wear However they Most happy are that follow him their way Excellent things the Church of God hath won She 's like a woman cloathed with the Sun Crowned with Stars treading upon the Moon Yet travelling in Birth at night and noon The Dragon in pursuit of her and hers But under God they still ride Conquerers He that would be an Israelite indeed Must arm himself compleatly taking heed Of all assaults all persons places times Guard his own vertue resist others crimes Elias spoke against the craft of sin Then Ahab's hate against him did begin Isaiah as we read was sawn in two It was Manasses pleasure so to do And Jeremiah he was ston'd to please The cruel humour of Tahaphanes Stephen was stoned of the Jews and John Beheaded was Herod would have him gone Ignatius to the Lions had his doom The Clergy likewise hated Chrysostom But Justin Martyr slights these things as dirt Sayâ—… Persecutors kill but cannot hurt Tertullian well observ'd the more they mow The Christians down they much the faster grow Large Volumes might be fill'd with the bright names Of sufferers by swords by stones and flames True saith St. Paul all that will shun the grave Of hellish fin shall persecution have Well may the Christian with his God comply In persecution Christ himself could die ¶ On Sleep DEath in the Scripture is compar'd to Sleep When Death approacher then with care we keep A schedule of our wealth so to dispose Of those Estates we then are forc'd to lose So when Sleep comes methinks my Ev'ning-prayer Is like the making of my Will my care Ought therefore to provide betimes for why There 's danger in a drowsie Lethargy In perfect memory and when awake I 'll leave my Soul to God for if he take Not charge of me and me in safety keep The Devil will attempt me in my sleep Though day and night he seeketh to devour He keeps his markets in the darkned hour I on my pillow do my sleep confirm Thus mans Vacation is the Devil 's Term. ¶ Blessings of the Righteous as they are recorded in Holy Writ HEarken unto the Lord thy God His Covenants observe So will he kindly spare his Rod And not afflict a Nerve Bless'd shalt thou in the City be Thy God will Blessings yield At home abroad at bed at board And likewise in the field Blessed shall be thy bodies fruit and that upon the ground The wicked be they loud or mute Shall neither of them wound Thy Cattel shall inrich thy store With increase of their Kine Thy Sheep shall still wax more and more Thy Grapes shall yield thee Wine Bless'd shall thy Store and Basket be Blessings shall thence accrew Comings and Goings shall agree To make thee blessed too The Lord shall smite thine Enemies And put them to disgrace The chiefest he will make to flie And that before thy face Thy foes one way shall thee attempt But flie before thee seven From Judgement none shall be exempt But as the Chaff be driven Thy Store-houses the Lord will bless And all thou tak'st in hand And give to thee a large increase Of plenty in the land The Lord as he himself hath sworn He will establish thee And farther to exalt thy horn His people ye shall be Keep thou the Lord's Commandements And all the Earth shall see That thou art great in innocence And stand in fear of thee The Lord he shall his treasures ope The Heav'ns shall give thee rain If head or hand with business cope It shall be for thy gain No discontent shall thee attend As free from grief or sorrow To many Nations thou shalt lend But have no need to borrow Blessed are they that in him trust He will them bless with speed For do they hunger do they thirst He is their help at need Blessed is he whose sin is hid He may with gladness smile Whose errours all are covered Whose Spirit hath no guile Blessed are they that now lament As being poor in Spirit For they are promis'd by the Lord His Kingdom to inherit Blessed are they that now do mourn Thinking their joys are fled For though as yet they seem forlorn They shall be comforted The meek are blessed too for they That love not strifes increase Shall on the Earth bear happy sway Delighting much in Peace The hungry too and they that thirst For Righteousness as meat They shall be fill'd when those accurst Shall nothing have to eat Bless'd be the merciful to those Whom they observe in pain For he that mercily bestows Shall mercy reap again Thrice blessed are the pure in heart Whose Souls and hands are free From vanity and wicked oaths For they their God shall see Bless'd the peace-makers are for they His children shall be call'd And he that loves and doth obey Shall never be enthrall'd Blessed are they for Righteousness Do persecution bear Their great reward none can express But Heav'n it lieth there Blessed are they that are revil'd Because they seek the Lord Be they at home or if exil'd His grace will strength afford Rejoyce and be exceeding glad For great is your reward The Prophets by such usage bad Did get into regard ¶ Curses of the Wicked HE that doth hear the poor mans cry Shall never fare the worse But whoso turneth back his eye Shall never want a curse He that himself hath others curst His servant curseth him The blessings of his flowing Purse Shall him to ruine swim He that bla phemeth God his Lord Ought to be ston'd to death And cursed be that man abhorr'd Serves other God beneath Cursed be he that setteth light By Father or by Mother The people shall him dayly slight And none his Curses smother Cursed be he that doth remove His Neighbours Land-mark then The people shall him curse none love But each one cry Amen Cursed be he that leads the blinde In an erroneous way The Lord for him will torments finde And be the blinde man's stay Cursed be he that doth pervert The window fatherless Or stranger from an
sinners backs When 't is decreed their heads are for the axe ¶ On the Gospel THe Gospel ancient as Moses is Nay Adam it was preacht in Paradise 'T is true before the Gospel came the Law Yet from the Gospel we most vertue draw Likewise before the Day appear'd the Night Yet above Darkness we esteem the Light And before Man was made all Creatures were Yet he excells them they his servants are He that before his Lord the Sword doth bear Is not suppos'd superiour to the Mayor All things which in this world we splendid see Are not esteem'd by their priority Saâ—…th Jâ—…hn There comes one after me whose shooes I am unworthy too low to unloose The Law is most compos'd of forms of fears But in the Gospel streams of love appears The Law makes God our foe with pointing thus The Gospel cries Emanuel God with us The office of the Law is to accuse That of the Gospel is to heal a bruise The Law a killing letter 's stil'd by merit But th' holy Gospels is a quickning Spirit Besides the Gospel is the bell whereby We all are called to Eternity ¶ On the Lord's Prayer THat Pray'r of Pray'rs how meanly doth it look Of late as if Religion's frame were shook But if the Lord were just to use his powers With how much anger might he look on ours Some think that Lesson may their Spirits grieve Lord us forgive as others we forgive Others like Witches when in haste they pray They it repeat but do it backward say Many with zeal desire their dayly bread Thy Kingdom come not much concerns their head Thus temp'ral benefits we do prefer Before eternal blessings and adhere To what our present wants require but oh When Death appears and whispers we must go Then our Petitions all that we can gather From his take pattern crying Our Father Christ so began to teach us being weak So we conclude when we can hardly speak ¶ The Free Giver GReat Alexander when he youthful was A check received from Leonidas His Governour for being too profuse In wasting his perfumes in pious use For on a day being to sacrifice Unto the Gods to shew himself unnice Fill'd both his hands with Frankincense that done Gave it the fire as his devotion But afterwards when he became a man He conquered Judea over-ran That Country whence those spices took their birth Then to conclude his piety with mirth He sent Five hundred Talents weight by odds Too much to him grutch'd what he gave the Gods Thus they that sowing plentifully keep A zeal unspotted plentifully reap He that doth niggardly his Talent spare Shall sow but in the end reap but a Tare Give God the choicest branches of thy fruit For by that means God may give thee the Root ¶ The Friendly Advice THe Roman Senators as we may read Thirsted that Julius Caesar might be dead Wherefore they then conspir'd to seek his end Artemidorus who was Caesar's friend Gives him a Paper wherein lay his lot His life to save by finding out the Plot But Caesar being busie with applauds With salutations and the peoples lauds Pockets the Paper as if it had been Petition-like at leisure to be seen So onward walks not dreaming of that train And going to the Senate-house was slain The World the Flesh and Devil do beset Poor man contriving divers ways to get Him in their gin God's Ministers accord To bring a Letter namely God's own Word Wherein their plot is publickly reveal'd The wounded man hath offers to be heal'd Nay God himself in clemencie doth crie Oh house of Israel why will ye die But most men generally busie are About the worlds concerns though things of air They cannot mind their friends advice to write Is to present them with a Paper-kite Thus men run headlong to expend their breath Forgetting they before were doom'd for death ¶ On Sloath. THe idle man is like the heavie drone That wasts his time in contemplation This present hour he 's mightily perplext With studv'ng which way he shall spend the next Not like the wise man who with lesser pain Contrives to make Expences prove his Gain Winter he loves because the days are short Walks in the Summer as if A-la-mort When in the morning he bethinks to rise First stretcheth arms and legs then wipes his eyes His manners-lets the morning rise before him And when the Sun shines seeming to adore him Then he bethinks to stir but first affords A Prayer to God not making many words And sometimes none well knowing he can do With thoughts as much as words though more than few He commonly lies still his bed to keep More out of sloath than a desire to sleep Then yawns and turns himself for want of rest Anon for Dinner calls before he 's dâ—…est Which having eat he seems to be in pain At last concludes 't is best to sleep again That done he rises to his Neighbour goes And in sew words doth thus his minde disclose How do you Neighbour 't is a pleasant day What 's the best news what price are Mackrel pray The days do lengthen strangely and the Spring Bids us attend the Birds that sweetly sing Then in the end bethinks to bid adieu But first he yawns and cries What shall we do So he concludes his Speech Perhaps in fine They both agree to drink a pint of Wine When from the Church all Auditors are gone He is found sleeping in his seat alone He enters into Bond ne'er minds to pay But forfeits that 'cause he forgets the day To be a Jury-man is his disease Rather than fetch his wood he 'll chuse to freeze He 's half a Christian and half a Turk His Principle's to steal and not to work He is indeed a proper Standing-pool That needs must get corruption 'T is a rule Observable those Pâ—…ts do â—…oonest stink Whose mud assâ—…ns to overflow the brink The idâ—…e Soul shall finde his food grow scant Sloath casts a man into deep sleeps and want ¶ On Desperation CHear up my Scul thy griess in time will cease Despair is Satan's only master-piece Hearken to that the Devil soon will tell The ready road that leads the way to Hell My sin 〈◊〉 Cain is great and I am driven Justly to â—…ear 〈◊〉 never be forgiven With Murther first he did his Curse begin And furthers that by 〈◊〉 sin to sin Then to despair give neither ear nor scope Lay hold on Christ the Anchor of thy hope A PANEGYRICK To the Right Reverend And most nobly descended Prelate HENRY by divine Providence Lord Bishop of London ILlustrious Prelate whom the World must own A Father of the Church a Martyr's Son Of sacred Function and of noble Blood 'T is a dispute whether more great or good Thou second Ambrose of the Mitred Lords Northampton's Helmets joyn'd with London's Swords Will keep thy Vineyard from the Forest-boar Beyond the skill of them who went before In Rev'rend Heachman we beheld a Look