And will not let his vnderstanding flye To see what goodly clusters there doe grow In heau'nly Canaan where Milke and Hony flow We hardly here of things below discerne And with great paines what is before vs find Ah how shall we than able be to learne Thy Wisdome which no limits haue confin'd Thy Spirit onely can into our mind These hidden mysteries in Christ reueale In which the Princes of the world were blind For from man naturall thou dost conceale This Wisdome spirituall which thou to thine do'st deale For as none know's the Spirit of a man But that same Spirit that within doth dwell So nothing apprehend this Wisdome can But that wise Spirit that all Truth doth tell Oh Sacred Spirit of Truth my heart compell This holy Sapience to entertaine Thou only giu'st to drinke of Wisdom's Well Mans wisdom's wickednesse his thoughts are vaine His knowledge is but errour and his pleasure paine Thou didst create eu'n all things by thy Word And by thy heau'nly Wisdome didst ordaine Man of thy handy workes to be the Lord That he in Truth and Equitie might raigne And with an vpright heart the right maintaine Oh therefore downe thine heau'nly wisdome send Me in all Truth and vprightnesse to traine She shall my Words and Works to thee commend And bring my small beginnings to a perfect end And here with Praise and Prayer I will end Oh who aright can know or vnderstand Except thou Wisdome from thy Throne do'st send To giue vnto him what thou dost command Then grant me Wisdome alway's to withstand Hells subtill Plots and Worlds base Blandiments Let sacred Prudence euer be at hand Still to direct my words acts and intents To yeeld Obedience to thy Commandements MEDITAT II. Of OBEDIENCE WHen first th' Almighty by his only Word Had fashion'd all within the Firmament He made Man last to be their King and Lord That he to him might be obedient But Man not with this Monarchy content Diuide his homage to omnipotence And hauing but one small Commandement Transgressed it by Disobedience The easier the Command the greater the Offence This all the Sonnes of Adam doe deriue From him and call it guilt Originall Which by th' Eternall Law did vs depriue Of all Gods Benefits and did enthrall To endlesse Bondage till Christ for this Fall The price of his most precious bloud did pay Which vs recouers from Sins actuall And by obeying Gods whole Law doth stay His wrath And merits Heau'n for all that him obay For as by first mans Disobedience On all men commeth Death and Condemnation So by the seconds true Obedience We haue eternall Life and sure Saluation Thus Disobedience by deriuation From Adam bringeth endlesse wretchednesse And true Obedience by imputation Conuay's from Christ eternall Happinesse So by the first comes sin by second Righteousnesse The glorious robe of perfect Righteousnesse Which they that are obedient onely weare To couer that foule shame and wickednesse Which Adams Disobedience layed bare Ah! let a Disobedient Sinner dare The aid of the Obedient Lamb desire My Will and Actions Tongue and Heart to square In due proportion to his heau'nly squire Whil'st I of true Obedience prayses doe enquire Deuoutest Lady Handmaid to the Queene Of heau'nly Loue And so in duty bound That shee 's alway's prest and ready seene To doe what thing soeuer she propound Her heart words will and deeds all one are found Seruing for Loue and not for Feare or Gaine No Subiect merits better to be crown'd For who can best obay he best can raigne And she is shortly sure eternall Crownes to gaine If I may square Her by the Rules of Art I her define to be our Wills subiection To Him that ought to rule both will and heart And by his will disposeth our best affection The rule of Reason may be our direction How our superiours Statutes we obay But when the Lord commands there 's no election Nor doubting what we ought to doe or say Gods will 's the rule of Right which none may disobey Here in two Branches I might her diuide Obedience first to God and secondly To our Superiours that on earth abide But all is but to one Authority For there 's no Power or precedency But that which highest Power doth ordaine Who therefore doth resist mans Soueraignty Gods ordinance resisteth and againe Who duly it obay's Gods Statutes doth maintaine Thus must our hearts eares hands be all attent His Word and Will in all things to obey Who ouer vs hath lawfull Regiment Which is one God eternall blest for ay Whose seruants all we are And therefore may Not chuse a Lord or Master whom we will Nor serue two masters least we disobay The one when we the others mind fulfill For that which pleaseth one doth crosse the others will Thus our obedience is only due To him that all did for his seruice make And 't is a firme position sound and true God only for himselfe But for his sake All that from him Authoritie doe take We truly and sincerely ought obey Or else our bounden dutie we forsake As those which doe their Princes disobey When they their lawfull Officers commands gainsay For this whole world is like a family In all things well and iustly ordered Where God hath the supreame authority And Rulers theirs from him deliuered By which they doe command as in his stead Who then to them are disobedient They may be said to disobey the Head For whil'st they rightly vse their gouernment We ought them to obey in things indifferent Indeed all ought regard the Supreme Will As first commanding cause and end of all Which all that Being haue ought to fulfill From which as all things rise so all must fall Here therefore first we into mind will call To whom that will commands vs to obay For in obeying their commands we shall Obey that Supreme Will This is the way To make Gods Will the Cause of all we doe or say To Him we must be subiect first of all To whom all Power in Heau'n and Earth is lent The Sonne of God begotten naturall Next to his Ministers which he hath sent Apostles Pastors Doctors here are meant Which by his Word doe teach their Masters Will And rule his Church by godly Gouernment And those which heare these his commands fulfill And those which them despise despise his heau'nly Will As Kings which with great Honour doe conuay Princes Ambassadours it doe intend Vnto their Lords So we our Lord obay When we obey the Legates he doth send The second Power is that which God doth lend To Kings and Princes for to delegate Iudges to punish those which doe offend And to maintaine the Life Peace and estate Of eu'ry member that maintaines the Bodies state To this all Subiects owe Obedience The third obedience is which wife doth owe Vnto her Head who due Beneuolence For Dutie ought vnto his wife to shew For as the Church so ought the Wife to know
Her due Subiection vnto her Head And as our Christ directs his Church below So wiues must be by husbands ordered But this of wiues is better knowne then practised So is th' obedience which Children owe Vnto their Parents by Commandement And promise they shall long and good day's know If they to them will be obedient The fift and last is Masters Gouernment And Seruants Duty which they should them beare Which ought to be with single true intent Not for eye-seruice wages or for feare But as they would obey eu'n Christ their Master deare Thus ought we to obey these fiue degrees Set ouer vs Because we so obay The highest Power And if their iust decrees We sleight that highest Power we disobay Far wide then disobedient spirits stray Which by Religion would all reuerence Exclude due vnto Magistrates and say They vnto no man owe obedience A false excuse of Schisme and all vnreuerence Obedience preserueth Vnity And helpeth to this great worlds conseruation As Heau'ns and Earth doe by due Obsequy Obey their glorious Makers Ordination Behold how all things in this worlds Creation Doe by their Makers order stand or moue Earth keepes her Center for mans preseruation The Heau'ns turne all in motion round aboue Without Obedience one would out another shoue And thus we may Obedience obserue To hold our members in due motion ay Whil'st one doth to another member serue And all vnto the Spirit doe obay The Soule of man which doth by reason sway Eu'n all the members to their preseruation And if the least of them doe disobay Shee either seekes their better reformation Or one endangers all to endlesse condemnation For whilst man here doth on the earth remaine Sin and corruption in his Body dwell Seeking therein as Lord and King to raigne But Grace doth striue by force them to expell If bondslaues we our selues to Sin doe sell And giue our members here Lusts to obay We yeeld vnto such Lusts as lead to Hell But if that Grace our Soule aright doth sway Then all the members follow Her the narrow way Remoue this Vertue of Obedience From Soule or Body Subiect City Towne Or from the Creatures wanting life and sense And all vnto Confusion tumble downe The Tower of Babel might to Heau'n haue growne Had all obay'd with mutuall diligence But suddainly we see it ouerthrowne When to obay they want intelligence For without vnderstanding no Obedience As to maintaine Heau'ns perfect vnitie All to one surpeame Trinity obay So all that haue with it Affinitie Subiect themselues to that one God for ay No wonder if those that him disobay To many Errours Schismes and Sects doe fall For one true Vnity they doe gainsay When they resist his Ordinances shall And disobey Gods Word that here directeth all Mee thinkes my Muse could here her selfe transcend By musing of th' obedience aboue Which from the Sonne to Father doth ascend And Angells who obeying Feare and Loue Alas what can th' eternall Power moue Obedience of poore wretches to require But vs to ioyne to Christ our Head in Loue As he is ioy'nd to God in due desire Vnto no other end Obedience doth aspire For as when in a wild and fruitlesse stocke We doe some noble impe inoculate The fruit erst base and wild like to the Blocke Is made as goodly faire and delicate As Tree which first this imp did generate So the least imp of Christs Obedience In vs ingraft doth vs regenerate And makes vs beare fruit of like excellence As liuely tree from which it first had influence For all that from stocke of first Adam come Beare those sowre fruits of Disobedience But all that doe ingraft againe become In second Adams true Obedience Bring forth sweet fruits like liuely tree from whence They haue receiued first their sap to spring Swee liuing Vine whose sacred influence Vs makes obedient to our Lord and King Ah! who the praises of thy noble fruit can sing It did aduance that holy Prophets quill When He in volume of the booke did find Written that thou shouldst Gods whole Law fulfill Whereto thou wert withall thine heart inclin'd And when the time was come thereto assign'd Thou wert obedient to all Gods will Performing it with all thine heart and mind Ev'n till the Iewes thee on the Crosse did kill When thou resisted'st not though they thy bloud did spill Obedient Lamb this was the sacrifice The offering God did for sin require Thus We must offer vp to God likewise Our Soules and Body's with like zealous fire To dye if not indeed yet in desire Quick holy acceptable Offering To pacifie Gods Iustice and his Ire Is when to him obedient hearts we bring And crucifie those Lusts which from our Flesh doe spring As from the boundlesse Ocean doe run All streames which doe returne into the Maine So from one paterne of Obedience come All ours and thither doth returne againe The Lamb that was from worlds beginning slaine Gaue the first blow to Disobedience Which Isaack imitates when he is laine On Altar to be sacrificed thence Whom truly Abram offer'd by Obedience This was that quiet sauour God did smell When offring one of each cleane bird and beast The good old Noah pleas'd the Lord so well Obedience was the Seasoning to the feast What made the Lord Sauls sacrifice detest But that he did his Word then disobey When he did spare of Amalec the best To offer vp But therein did obay His own corrupt inuentions not what God did say Better then Sacrifice is to obay And then the fat of Rams to giue good eare Happy though we doe all the world gaine say If we obay our Lord and Master deare But ah whil'st we remaine as Pilgrims here Flesh World and Deuill daily vs perswade To follow Pleasures vaine and to forbeare Obedience to the Lord which vs hath made Whose Statutes to obey should be our onely trade Oh Sacrifice of Fooles with tongue to pray But harbour no obedience in thine heart Who dost in word professe God to obay But by thy workes dost all his Law 's peruert Behold it is not without iust desert That Beasts to thee are disobedient When thou to God a faithlesse rebell art To whom obey Sun Moone Stars Firmament Nor Sea against his will inuades the Continent Whil'st I about this sinfull Body beare Lusts and corruptions will therein remaine Yet neuer let them so much domineere As here of Grace the mastery to gaine For if I suffer Sinne in me to raigne That all my members will to sinne obay That sin whereof Saint Paul doth so complaine Oh! who me from the same deliuer may It is not I but sin that Christ doth disobay If that the Iudge by his Authoritie Inioyne me to performe or speake a thing Against the will of Soueraigne Maiestie Here my Deniall no Offence doth bring And if I be commanded by the King To doe against his will that is aboue I here no Rebell am though suffering For
THE BRIDES ORNAMENTS Viz. Fiue MEDITATIONS Morall and Diuine 1. Knowledge 2. Zeale 3. Temperance 4. Bountie 5. Ioy. IOHN 17. 3. This is life eternall that they may know thee the onely true God and Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent LONDON Printed by WILLIAM STANSBY 1625. THE CONTENTS of the whole Booke The third Booke 1. Knowledge 2. Zeale 3. Temperance 4. Bountie 5. Ioy. The fourth Booke 1. Prudence 2. Obedience 3. Meeknesse 4. Gods Word 5. Prayer 1. VRania 2. The Authors vow or wish atthe Consecration of the Right Honourable the Lord Maynards Chappell 3. The Muses health to the same 4. The Conuerts Conquest TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE AND REVEREND FATHER IN GOD GEORGE LORD Bishop of London Lord high ALMENER to the Kings most Excellent MAIESTIE TO me thy Fauour to thee my Relation Doe tie mee in a double Obligation These Graces fiue to thee to dedicate Which best I think thy worth accommodate Who art the bounteous Almener of the King Of Bounty whose great wisdome did thee bring For thy large spirit and well tempred zeale His Temples broken head and sides to heale Whose loue to Knowledge Humane Diuine As in the Schooles so in the Church doth shine These outward Vertues plainly doe declare What inward Graces in thee likewise are The chiefe is spirituall Ioy which in thy Breast God make thee feele as wee doe see the rest Your Lordships bounden in all dutie and seruice ROBERT AYLETT To Reuerend Diuines MOst honor'd belou'd Enquire you why A Lawyer meddles with Diuinitie I diue no seas profound of disputation But wade in shallow Fords of meditation I write no Systema no Institution No Babels Fall nor Sions Restitution Nor whither Tithes by Law diuine are due Or doe to you by Positiue accrew These mysteries I leaue to sound Diuines That searched haue profundest Scripture-mines Seditious superstitious Nouelties I hate my mind I onely exercise In your pure easie sweet diuinest notions And them at leasure suit to my deuotions To Iohn a Nokes THou lik'st my Verses well but not to flatter Dislik'st Diuinitie should be my matter What now will Lawiers turne Diuines that 's braue No By no meanes They haue no soules to saue THE BRIDES ORNAMENTS MEDITAT I. Of Heauenly KNOWLEDGE A Daily warfare is a Christians life Where Souldiers all not onely stand in need Of Armes and Valour to maintaine the strife The cursed Serpent makes with Adams seed But of this Treasure Knowledge both to feed Their Soules with food most pure Celestiall And furnish with such Weapons as they need I therefore her Loues Treasurer doe call For we in daily want stand of her Treasure all By feigned Treasure did the Serpent traine Our two first Parents to their cursed sinne Pretending they should goodly treasure gaine And Knowledge both of good and euill win But good doth end where euill doth begin For drosse they doe exchange their purest gold The Serpent bad without themselues within They find the euill as the Serpent told But vp to Heav'n flies good which can no ill behold Thus all our Treasures lost we had before The Knowledge of Gods nature and his will And we become vnarm'd rude naked poore Of all things ignorant but doing ill Now vs our enemies may easily kill We hauing lost our weapons and our treasure Which wealth and weapons if regaine we will We must attend this heau'nly Ladys pleasure Diuine sweet Knowledge not confin'd by weight or measure Thou Word incarnate whom aright to know Is Life eternall Ioy and happy rest To mee this Ladies wondrous Beautie show And richest treasures which in golden Chest. Thou hid'st from Hell and malice of the Beast Knowledge contain'd in either Testament Wherein thy Will and Nature is exprest How we should liue and Serpents sting preuent How conquer Hell and serue thee with a true intent Some Knowledge call th'habit of demonstration Some her to know by causes doe define Some th'vnderstandings sound determination Wee her to heau'nly Doctrine here confine Which in a threefold Booke to man doth shine Of Creatures first and latter Testament The Booke of Creatures shewes Gods power diuine The Law is much in types and shadowes spent Whereof the Gospel is the full accomplishment In Booke of creatures all men may obserue Gods Wisdome Goodnesse Power and Prouidence By which he made the world and doth preserue In truest motions its circumference Sending from Heav'n raines sweetest influence Filling our hearts with Mirth and Ioyfulnesse And giuing all things Motion Being Sense This doth Gods power and God-head plaine expresse But not his Will which leads to endlesse happinesse Yet by this Booke are left without excuse Idolaters who downe to stocks doe fall Which their owne hands haue made for such abuse And leaue their Maker blessed ouer all Who as his Power and Goodnesse generall Appeares most plainly in this Worlds Creation So doth his gracious Bountie on them fall In sending food for daily sustentation And in their healths and liues continuall preseruation The next two Bookes most plainly doe disclose Gods will particular and generall Particular to Patriarchs Prophets those That till Christs time on God aright did call For this did not on all the Nations fall Gods will was then in Iury onely knowne But now the Gospel soundeth out to all The seed thereof in eu'ry Nation 's sowne Which doth reueale hid mysteries before vnknowne The first Gods power and prouidence doth shew The second types out our Regeneration The third directly leadeth vs to know All that is needfull for our owne Saluation Ev'n from Election to Glorification This Booke reueales all secret mysteries Hidden in Christ before the Worlds foundation Though worldlings this as folly doe despise Yet this true Knowledge onely happy makes and wise As some great Princes might and Maiestie Is often to the meanest stranger knowne But his most secret counsell and decree To friends and counsellours is onely showne Ev'n so the King of Kings holds not vnknowne From Heathens sight his Maiestie and might But hath disclosed onely to his owne The secret of his counsells and delight Whereby they may him worship please and serue aright This is the Knowledge which I seeke to trace This onely doth true happinesse affoord Whereof the onely cause is inward Grace And vnderstanding Gods most holy Word The helpes which humane Learning doe record Law History Arts Physicke Poetrie Are but as seruants waiting on their Lord And hand-maids to their dame Diuinitie All Knowledge without this is foolish vanitie Sweet Grace which dost true Knowledge of Gods will To Babes and sucklings oftentimes reueale When from great Clerkes of Wisdome and deepe skill Thy pleasure is this treasure to conceale Oh sacred breath which in our hearts doth steale Like sweetest Zephyrus most pleasing wind Whence no man knowes yet doth it surely seale That certaine Knowledge which I seeke to find Knowledge of God and Christ the Sauiour of mankind All Graces that doe serue Loues Royall Queene
giue content withall By her we freed from perturbations are And hauing daily bread doe take no farther care For from her Temper shee receiues her name As being of extreames the moderation The golden meane that doth affections frame Actions and Words to natures ordination Vnspotted pure as at our first Creation Thus wee abstaine from Lust and Violence And though on earth is yet our Conuersation Wee hope ere long to be receiued hence Meane while our Life 's a sacrifice of Continence Thus see our protoplasts first cloth'd in skins The greene herbe of the field their onely meate The Beasts their Conuiues and the Woods their Inns To shield from cold and saue from scorching heate And all this must be got with toile and sweate No liuing thing was then allowed good For as the learned thinke man might not eate Of any liuing creature till the Floud But since as the greene herbe God gaue them all for food How often did the Fathers pray and fast And some from women some from wine abstaine Till sixtie yeeres they keepe their bodies chast A Temprate and chast seed here to obtaine When Ruth at Booz feet all night had laine He ladeth her with corne and sends away From lawlesse Lust he doth himselfe containe Though he had dranke and cheer'd his heart that day An habite of true Temperance see here you may Ioseph would not against his Maker sinne For Pharoahs Stewards Ladies soft embrace Yet easier 't is a walled towne to winne Than to resist temptations vile and base Nought sooner doth our liues with Lust disgrace Than bathe in ease and swim in foule excesse Had Dauid beene at warre in Ioabs place He had not falne into such wickednesse Adultery the fruit of fulnesse Idlenesse Oh tell me Dauid where was then become Thy fasting wont thy soule to humble so That it was wont to thy reproach to come And weakned so thy knees thou couldst not goe Thy teares which did to such great plentie grow They were thy meat and drinke both day and night All watering thy couch so they did slow That eu'n my Muse weepes at thy piteous plight Yet had thy soule therein vnspeakeable delight I cannot but admire the Temperance Of that great Monarch mightie Phillips Sonne Who when he had vnto his gouernance Darius Empire Wife and Daughters wonne Their beautie would by no meanes looke vpon Esteeming it a most vnworthy deed When he so many men had ouercome To be of one weake woman conquered Like Temperance of so yong a Prince I neuer read Not that the Heathens Temper I compare To those that haue beene truely sanctifide Of which Iob is to vs a patterne rare Who least his eyes should draw his heart aside Did couenant they on no Maid should glide How infinite are watchings fastings cold Which to subdue the flesh Paul did abide But aboue all th'examples I haue told The Locust-eater and 's Disciples liues behold And though whilst that the Bridegroome pleas'd to stay The children of Bride-chamber did not fast Yet when from them he taken was away Behold they then did pay for all was past And oft did hunger whip and prison tast No Poets quill ere able was to faine Like Temp'rance of pure Lamb most temprate chast Reuiled scoffed scorned scourged slaine Yet opn'd not his mouth to scoffe or speake againe Oh shall the King of Angels and of Men Abus'd by workmanship of his owne hand Endure such wrongs and neuer turne agen Whose one word could haue call'd th' whole heau'nly Band The Fury of these wretches to withstand And shall the Lord of Life so meekly dye For our intemperate affections and Shall not we them all with him crucifie And fleshly members of our Body's mortifie But we like Foxes build a stately hall And like the Birds in stately cedars nest When Hee that did of nothing make them all Had not a place to lay his head to rest Wee see his glorious members here distrest Want lodging food and raiment for the cold Whil'st we abound in meates and fill our chest With change of raiment and with store of gold And in birds softest plumes our looser limbs infold Alas how many hunting worlds gay showes By base Intemperances sweetned baite And vile Ambition which downe headlong throwes Are brought to ruine most infortunate Oh grant that I may liue in meane estate And my freed soule with Contemplation please My clothing warme my diet temperate Freed from all tempests of worlds raging seas Which tosse poore sailing soules in dangerous disease Most happy who with little is content That though he want yet neuer doth complaine Ne wisheth more his sorrow to augment Knowing that he by heaping wealth doth gaine Nothing but care vexation and paine What more than daily bread here doe I need What need of forraine cates or feathers vaine Let fields my food my flocke my clothing breed No other would I weare no other would I feed In vaine doe foolish men the Heau'ns accuse Of sad misfortunes paines and iniuries Which doe if we knew truely them to vse To eu'ry man what 's fittest for him size That 's not the best estate which most we prize Nor that the worst which most men seeke to shun Each as he list his fortunes may deuise Which wishes no man happinesse hath wun Such wishers cease to liue before their life begun It is mans mind that maketh good or ill Wretched or happy sad glad rich or poore He hath abundantly all things at will That hauing little yet desires no more When he that 's drown'd in wealth swims in store Doth liue in want to satisfie desire Which neuer hath enough fond fooles therefore Are they that feed Lusts and Ambitions fire Which like base Auarice doth more and more require When first I saw the glory of the Great I then them onely happy men did hold For sumptuous houses lodging rayment meat Honour Attendance Iewells Siluer Gold But when the cares and dangers I behold Of those whom Fortune doth so high aduance How to dissembling slattery some are sold Lust Fulnesse Idlenesse Intemperance My life I happy deeme in quiet lowly chance Thus of late folly's I though late complaine And that sweet Peace which doth not there appeare Now in mine homely Cell I entertaine Which by her want I learne to loue more deare Sweet holy quiet life where meanest cheare To hungry stomocks is a daily feast Where thirst like Nectar makes fresh cooling beere Where in a cabbin is more quiet rest Than on Downe Persian beds with Gold and Feathers drest In this estate I no man doe enuie Nor would enuied be of any one Great store of wealth doth store of cares supply That little that I haue is still mine owne I reape with Ioy the crop that I haue sowne Without least care but onely to attend it The Lambs I weane are daily greater growne What haue I but to praise him that doth send it And with a cheerefull heart vnto the poore
quite Shining like glorious Lamps in worlds obscurest night This inward heate this holy heau'nly fire Most what concealed vnder ashes ly's Which one till into flames they doe respire At home more easie than aborad descry's Because it selfe within best testify's In Abraham appear'd this holy flame When as he saw his Sauiour with his eyes Who of his blessed seed long after came For Abram saw Christs day and ioyed in the same Vp Miriam vp thou merily canst sing Now through the Red Sea thou art safely past Hereby our Baptisme then prefiguring That when Repentance vs with teares hath wash't With Ioy wee Egypts Bondage of should cast But neuer did more Ioyfull musicke sound Than Dauids when he of this Ioy did tast Restore mee to those wonted Ioy 's I found And euer let thy holy Spirit in me abound Oh blessed Bridegroome of the fairest Bride How often when shee seeketh thee by night Doest thou thy Ioyfull presence from her hide That wanting shee in thee may more delight How oft againe when thou do'st her inuite Rise my belou'd and ope to mee the doore Such is her nicenesse and her sluggish sprite Shee will not rise to let thee in before Thou thence art gone And then thy losse shee doth deplore These are the apples odours nuts and wine Which comfort her when shee is sicke of Loue These Christs embraces that doe her entwine The kisses which he giues his Turtle Doue Milke spice pomegranats which shee so doth loue All these are inward Ioy 's the Bride hath here Whereof she with the Bridegroomes friends doth proue And eates and drinkes with Ioy and merry cheere Yea drinkes abundantly with her beloued deare This was the Ioy that him was set before That did endure the Crosse despise the shame And Lord of all became low naked pore Enduring death vs to excuse from blame His Martyrs and Apostles in the same Suffrings and crosses him haue followed And trode the Wine-presse as their order came Where some in scorching flames more Ioy 's haue red Than wearied Limbs could find in softest downy bed This 't was the Kingly Prophet so admir'd When loathing all worlds pompe and glory vaine He this one onely thing of God desir'd For euer in his Temple to remaine To view the Beautie of that heau'nly traine This made him leaue his purple Crowne and Throne And in a linnen Ephod dance amaine For this would Constantine be rather one Of Christ his members then the Empires head alone But why seeke I for witnesses without Since 't is the Spirit within that testify's Our Soule that without wauering or doubt With Peace of Conscience Abba Father Cry's Vnto whose Soule this Spirit eke reply's Be glad and Ioyfull I am thy saluation Be not afraid-My Grace shall thee suffice To conquer Hell And to resist temptation And yeeld the soundest Ioy in greatest tribulation I will make glad thy soule delight thine heart And with a cheerefull countenance will smile For I am thine and mine againe thou art And though afflictions here thee square and file No power in Earth or Hell shall thee beguile Of those sweet Ioy 's which are for thee prepar'd Oh tarry thou my leasure but a while And thy petitions all I will regard Delight in mee I am thy hope and iust reward Oh! who can heare these Ioyous inuitations These blessed promises and yet complaine That hee 's afraid of crosse or tribulations Oh! neuer let these worldly pleasures vaine Make me so great a looser for their gaine And let me here all worldly griefes endure Lord onely free me from eternall paine This inward Ioy shall euer me assure And on thy merits I in all will rest secure Who would not rather couet there to dwell Where fulnesse is of Ioy for euermore Than in false vaine delights which leads to Hell Voluptuous Diet flatt'rings of a Whore I rather had with Dauid keepe a dore Where inward Ioy may in my soule abound Than swim in pleasures and preferments store In Princes Courts where vaine delights are found Which like faire flowers fade and quickly fal to ground But I confesse this prouerb true I find That where Gods Church is raising there to build His Chappell is the Deuill most inclin'd And where best seed is sowne in Ground well till'd He with most tares and weeds it alway's fill'd Vaine pleasures are his tares true Ioy 's our wheate Till haruest both together grow in field Then will the Lord of Haruest surely beat The cockle from pure corne at his owne board to eate Fountaine of Ioy oh set thy whole delight Into thy Lawes and Statutes to enquire To meditate thereon both day and night My soule than Gold doth more these Ioy 's desire Let others honour wealth and wine admire Lift Lord on me thy louing countenance Thy louing fauour shall my Soule raise higher Than Princes highest fauours can aduance To heau'nly spirituall wealth not subiect vnto chance In holy Writ I many places find From whence doe flow these Ioy 's spirituall But no where faster than within my mind Oh Lord Thou know'st not I from whence they fall God of all Peace and Ioy perpetuall Let not my Ioy A temporary proue But with her in mine heart thy Graces all Infuse Faith Mercy Patience Peace and Loue To passe by things below and seeke for things aboue Of endlesse Ioy how should I make an end My Muse is neuer weary of delight Since I this Meditation did intend I neuer scarce could sleepe by day or night So doth the pleasing matter me inuite So full of rimes and so the numbers run That I in shorter time haue finish't quite This tast of Ioy than I haue earst begun Some other Graces But my hower-glasse hath done FINIS THE BRIDES ORNAMENTS Viz. Fiue Diuine and Morall MEDITATIONS 1. Prudence 2. Obedience 3. Meekenesse 4. Gods Word 5. Prayer IOB 28. 28. The feare of the Lord is wisdome and to depart from euill is vnderstanding LONDON Printed by WILLIAM STANSBY 1625. TO MY MOST TRVE WORTHY LOVING FRIEND AND dearest Brother RICHARD CRAKANTHORPE Doctor of Diuinitie and one of his Maiesties Chaplens in Ordinarie NOt Nature Order or Affinity Can Friendships sacred knot so surely tye As choice For euer there we find the ground Of Loue and Friendship most entirely sound As their Desires are like so one there end Which is to be and haue a faithfull friend I that vnto mine owne defects am conscious Of such an honour durst not be ambitious Tell thou wert pleas'd to call mee Friend and Brother I know not that thou deign'st it any other Wherefore whil'st Time Life to my Lines shall giue Our Friendships memory in them shall liue Who of true Friendship know no other end Than here to haue and bee A faithfull Friend ROBERT AYLET THE BRIDES ORNAMENTS MEDITAT I. Of WISDOME and PRVDENCE THE first degree to Wisdome is the misse Of Folly For as Darknesse the priuation Is of Lights Being But no Being is So
a prudent mind Which they who want or foolishly misprise Walke on in Folly and in Errour blind We many ignorant vaine Fooles doe find So wise in their conceit and estimation They thinke all wisdome in their breasts confin'd These being bound by double obligation To Folly there 's no hope of any reformation Prudence and Folly in the Soule of man Like Health and Sicknesse in his Body are As Health the Body keepes so Prudence can The Soule deliuer from the Deuills snare And as Diseases here the thread doth share Of Body's Life So Folly soone doth rend The Soule with pleasures vaine and worldly care For as strong men within a Fort defend So Prudent Thoughts our soules from Satans fury shend And as among the noble senses fiue The Sight doth all the rest in worth excell Because all doe their Light from her deriue And shee all that offends them doth repell So Prudence all the vertues doth precell Because by Light God sends her from aboue Shee counsells all the Graces to do well For without her no Grace aright can moue Prudence of all the rest the Gouernour doth proue Vlisses Prudence Aiax Fortitude Whil'st they each other doe accompany Win City's conquer men and monsters rude But if they square for Gaine or Dignity And Aiax leaues Vlisses company His valour turnes to Folly or to rage So men of greatest magnanimity When they the Guidance leaue of Prudence sage Grow beastly mad or foolish in their later age I may her liken to the Prince of Day From whom all lesser Lamps doe borrow Light Who when he doth his glorious Beames display The rest all seeme to be extinguish't quite So when as heau'nly Wisdome wondrous bright Her selfe amongst the Graces doth disclose They all doe seeme to vanish in her sight As all the Glory that they haue arose dispose From those bright Beames which wisdome doth on them As God the world The Emperour his host The Gouernour his Ship the Sunne the day And as the Body 's ruled by the Ghost So doth faire Prudence all the vertues sway And as these like good Guides direct the way Vnto their charge to reach their proper end So doth true wisdome all that her obey To endlesse happinesse and pleasure send Most happy man who doth her holy hests attend May his heart die like Nabals churle and foole Or like Achitophel end with a string Laugh in the stocks cleaue to the scorners stoole That listens not to heau'nly counselling Of Wisdome and her sweet admonishing Shee hath prouided victualls powr'd out wine Sent out her Maids vs to the feast to bring To bid those that seeke Knowledge come and dine And those that Prudence want to tast her grapes diuine For shee 's the Vine whose grapes yeeld pleasing smell Whose Fruit and Flowers Wealth Life Honour are The Garden where Christ dearest Spouse doth dwell Planted with all the Herbs and Spices rare Which to adorne his Church he doth prepare Would thou one word which should her worth containe He hath true Wisdome who the Lord doth feare And who know's holy things doth entertaine Right vnderstanding without this the rest are vaine She as the Prince or Generall doth guide All other Graces in Loues sacred band Doth order marshall and for them prouide As th' Eye which all the members doth command The Gouernours of Men of Cities and Of Families and each mans priuate state She orders wisely by her prudent hand And they that duely on Discretion waite Command the Stars and rule eu'n ouer Time and Fate As shadow's more directly opposite To Sunnes bright Rayes seeme short by being neere When those which are much farther from the light More goodly faire and long by farre appeare So who small Knowledge haue attained here Thereof doe alway's make a greater show Than those whose vnderstanding shining cleare Doe all the Paths of heau'nly wisdome know For with true Wisdome alway's Humblenesse doth grow And as Gods Wisdome doth no lesser seeme In smallest creatures as a Gnat or Fly Than Greater so we ought no lesse esteeme Wisemen in low degree then Dignitie The Snaile a mirrour is of Politie Who with her hornes keepes alway's sentinell And neuer commeth out before shee try If things without be all in Peace and well Else she retyring home liues quiet in her shell Oh sonnes of men that you could but behold The wondrous Beauty of this heau'nly Peare But nought on earth her Beauty can vnfold Her Glory in the Heau'ns doth shine most cleare In all Gods workes her splendour doth appeare She first from Heau'n vouchsafed to descend To liue in Iudah with her chosen deare But now her Beames more ample doe extend To all the Nations of the earth she light doth lend She taught our Father that was made alone To raise himselfe to Glory from his fall But Enuy turn'd from her his foolish sonne And made by Fratricide and Fury fall Loe when the Floud the world destroyed all She it preserues by one wise worke of Wood The dead Sea yet is the memoriall Of foolish City's fiue which there erst stood Where she sau'd Lot from fire as Noah from the sloud To tell what wonders haue beene by her wrought Were too to long for this short meditation They in Gods Booke are easily found if sought For there indeed is Wisdom's commendation Where she vs doth with wary obseruation Vnto the Cony and the Pismire send To learne to get our food and habitation Whose meaner Wisdome if we must attend Much more wise Heathens sayings most diuinely pend One being asked who was most wise reply'd He that sinn'd least when one of them desir'd To learne who was for youth the trustiest Guid He answer'd Prudence And in 's sonne requir'd Only three things which he in youth admir'd In his tongue silence Prudence in his mind Shamefastnesse in his Face when one requir'd How he the greatest in the least might find He answer'd prudent thoughts in humane breast confin'd This was an Ethnick But how doth she shine When she is ioyn'd with pure simplicitie When as that holy wisdome serpentine Combines with doue-like true sincerity Oh thus the Saints by holy subtilty Walke safe amongst worlds crooked generation Thus walk'd our Sauiour in Humilitie And though the wicked plot his condemnation Yet neuer could they touch him but by subornation Oh how should we that haue this mirrour bright This Sun of Wisdome labour here to shine Like Stars which from the Sun receiue their light And to sincerity true columbine Ioyne this wise holy Prudence serpentine Vs to conduct through this worlds wildernesse And a most safe and perfect way out line Through Iordans waues to Land of Happinesse Where Mansions ready built we shall for ay possesse And Vineyards planted whence the Cananite For wicked Treason 'gainst his Maiesty God hath expell'd to Hell and darkest night Proud Lucifer and all his company Oh why should'st thou aduance base dust so high Whose earthly Mansion keepes his Spirit low
Beasts Fish Foule to be at amity This Lady Mecknesse as a Queene did raigne And vnder Loue had all Authoritie But since the Iron Age which enmity Hath rais'd in eu'ry Riuer Towne and Field Shee hath resign'd her place of Soueraigntie To Iustice and delights now more to yeeld Than Scepters in age so turbulent to weel 'd And for she know's the noble gentle mind Most sensible of wrong and iniury And few or none can here so constant find As to dissemble foule indignity She all requests that loue her company Occasions to auoid and not inuite Which may prouoke least iarre or simulty Aed not like teachy Curres to barke and bite Or Frogs which Poets faine with Bulrushes to fight If thus they cannot as who ay can here Auoid some iniury's of them that reigne They must dissemble and with pleasing cheere What they can no wayes shift faire entertaine One ask'd how such old age he did attaine In Court reply'd by bearing Iniury's Sometimes remitting and sometimes againe For them gaue thankes thus surely he that 's wise By suffring beares and not prouokes indignities And since no earthly Power 's so great and firme But Iniury sometimes will dare to smite Let Wisdom's precepts so thee ay confirme Thou neuer swerue from rules of Reason right So arm'd the wrongs which on thine armor light Shall backe on him that sent the same rebound But whom vnarm'd she can prouoke to fight Though happily they thinke her to confound They sure are to receiue a deepe and festring wound He stands not right whom Iniury can bow Who ill beare old doe on them new inuite But he that beares the old with Patience how Shall any new be able him to smite He that is wise and valiant scornes her might And by braue bearing doth her spite confound He best o'recomes that sets by her most light Who by impatience addes is like him found That doth by rending make incurable his wound In many wrongs 't is better to be mute Than by repeating them oft very small To cause long trouble or a tedious suit Whilst all the shame doth on th'auenger fall Such better were not mentioned at all Inuoke the helpe of constant Patience Whose presence doth all Iniury's appall And with an equall mind beares all offence Or doth despise them in her guiltlesse conscience Thus many offring doe no Iniury's Because they are not so conceiv'd or taken Oh happy who all wrong can so despise With sense thereof ne're to be ouertaken Whose vnmov'd constant mind is neuer shaken So farre from muttring or least murmuring He laughs and smiles to see them so mistaken Nor 's only easie in their pardoning But passeth by them without least acknowledging He is aboue the reach of Iniuries Who can represse reuenges curst desire And to the full repay's his enemies Who thus can quench wraths hot iniurious fire Yet holy meeknesse leads vs a step higher Happy who can ascend vnto such height It is the summity which all admire Of highest vertue when we take delight All Iniury's with Benefits here to requite The jest is lost if it no laughter moue So 's Contumely if it be neglected He neuer will a valiant Souldier proue To beare hot Blow's that is with words affected He sooner is with noisome smells infected Who them with open nose doth entertaine Than he that stops it or beares some selected Preseruatiue for to defend his braine So 't is to stop or ope our eares to proud Disdaine Poets paint Scylla with a womans face But like a Dog in neather parts and taile Whom Hercules th' Idea of all Grace And Vertue did amongst the monsters quaile You giue her Life if you will heare her raile But shut her mouth with patient suffering Or stop thine eares and soone her breath will faile Here Mecknesse ends and here I cease to sing Shee doth more quiet Rest than all the Vertues bring MEDITAT IIII. GODS WORD SO mighty are the weapons manifold Wherewith our spirituall Foes doe vs assaile So many stratagems vs to infold So many terrours vaine our hearts to quaile That neither Brestplate Helmet Shield or Maile Vs helpe against their Forces can afford For if they close with vs they will preuaile Therefore we must vnsheath our keenest Sword Our weapon spirituall ev'n Gods most holy Word Which those that able are to wield aright Of farre more Force and liuely Power find Than all the weapons whereof Poets write To haue beene wondrous pow'rfull in their kind What Homer of Achilles Speare hath coyn'd I not vnfitly to this Sword apply Whose wounds to heale no Balme could be assign'd The Speare that hurt must only remedy So whom this Sword doth kill this Sword must viuifie Of wondrous weapons Heathen Poets tell Of Stygian Armour and enchanted Swords Whereby small Knights did monstrous Gyants quell Subdude and raigned ouer them as Lords Such fiction to vs good aduice affords Against these Gyants spirituall to fight Our Fleshly Lusts and for to bind in Cords Our vaine affections here that take delight In doing that is wrong and leauing that is right God of all might that hast vs giu'n this sword Not only spirituall Battailes here to fight But dost engraue in it as on record Thy Rules whereby we muster may aright The Lanthorne to our paths our feets best light Direct my Muse to sing I humbly pray Of this thy Word by holy Words insight For but by it none can aright display That Swords eternall Power which Sin and Hell dismay That Word which in Beginning by a word Of Nothing made Heau'n Earth and Creatures all And was from all Beginning God and Lord Doth not within my Muses compasse fall That Word whereof now meditate I shall Is that reuealed written veritie Which first and second Testament we call Both which were first declared mightily By wonders signes and miracles from God on high For as the Lord most mighty wonders wrought By him that publikely did first record This sacred Word And by his Hand forth brought His Sonnes from Bondage of a cruell Lord So those to whom he did this Grace afford Of publishing his later Testament Wrought mighty wonders by this mighty Word To all Beholders great astonishment Confirming thus that they from God aboue were sent From whom this Word hath all Authority For by the holy Spirits inspiration Came Law and Gospell Prophets History And all Canonicall wise ordination The sacred Light that giues illumination Vntill the Day-starre in our Hearts arise Whose heau'nly Wisdome breedeth Admiration In all their Hearts that are diuinely wise But folly seemes to such as sinne doth blind their ey 's And sure it is a mighty pow'rfull Word If that the sense thereof be right apply'd More keene than any sharpe two edged sword And eu'n the Soule and Spirit doth diuide By it are all our Hearts intents descry'd The ioynts and marrow it doth smite in sunder No Creature from her sight it selfe can hide All high exalted things it
wormes if once abused He that for Egypts Flesh-pots hath refused This Heau'nly Food And mans tradition vaine His base false lying Legends rather chused Shall whilst this Flesh betweene his jawes remaine Be with his great and wealthiest chosen shauelings slain Fountaine of liuing water which doth more And faster spring as it is emptied Most fruitfull Vine which bringeth still more store Of heau'nly grapes as they are gathered Th' epistle of Heau'ns King which rightly read Brings vs the gladsome tidings of Saluation Whose harder sense strong men may chuse as bread The plainer babes may suck for sustentation We both aright concort by heau'nly meditation The Sword that doth spiritually diuide From vs all manner of concupiscence Our youths reformer and our ages guide Transcending reason more than reason sence Truths ground the Fountaine of Intelligence Loues complement the root of humblenesse Faiths hold the Rule of all Obedience Hopes anchor and the path of Rrighteousnesse The ladder which we climbe from hence to Happinesse Would you haue more it is the milke sincere Which can alone quench Hells eternall fire The only Daughter to her Mother deare The mystery which Angells doe admire The sweetest song of blessed heau'nly Quire Whose Praise eu'n all the heau'nly Powers sing Apostles Prophets Martyrs all desire With all their might to strike this lofty string Which Dauid in one Psalme a thousand times doth ring As Iacob with the Angell wrestled Nor let him goe without a blessing would So when words mysteries by vs are read We striue and struggle for the meaning should A goodly strife if we contending could Hold out till what we seeke we doe obtaine As Incense doth no pleasing smell vnfold Nor Spice till it be in a Morter braine So are words mysteries till study makes them plaine This makes the lips of Christs endeared Bride Than any Hony combe to drop more sweet And vnderneath her daintiest tongue abide Hony and Milke The Hony is most meet To heale the wounds Sin makes from head to feet The Milke for Babes Loe thus her either Brest Which like two twining Roes doe equall meet Yeeld most abundant Food if softly prest And both with Roses sweet and Lilly's faire are drest This is the Tower of Dauid which is built By th' holy Spirit of most costly stone Whereon a thousand Shields doe hang all guilt With swords and weapons for the mightiest One This is the Priuie Garden where alone The Spouse with Bridgroome doth her selfe delight Planted with Nardus Saffron Cinamon And all trees good for medicine tast or sight Through which doth flow a well of liuing waters bright Most heau'nly Paradise where tree of Life My Soule most heau'nly Fruits doth daily bring Fit for the Lamb to walke in with his wife And for the Spouse most Angell-like to sing The Soueraigne Grace and Bounty of her King Where though I often seeke to hide in vaine Mee from my Nakednesse discouering My blessed Bridegroome calleth me againe And clothes me with the Robes of Lamb most righteous slaine There Manna-like Loe eur'y Fruit doth tast Iust as we would none iustly can complaine Though his vnweeded garden lieth wast God send to good and bad alike his raine Let him where thornes and bryers doe remaine Take heed how he this heau'nly deaw accuse It is the root thy euill heart and vaine Which doth the sweetnesse of this raine abuse Which for to water weeds and nettles doth it vse How should this Word be sweet vnto the mouth Wherein is nought but Gall and Bitternesse Or how should heau'nly deaws from West or South Moisten that Heart which by maliciousnesse More hardned is than Flint in wickednesse Alas what Corne can sweetest raine forth bring In Ground that choked is with worldlinesse Where as the thornes vp with the wheat doe spring And from the root suck vp all heau'nly nourishing Ev'n as a Lamp without supply of Oyle Being daily had is soone extinguished So though we seeme to prosper here awhile In Faith and Grace all 's soone abolished Vnlesse that they be daily nourished With Hearing Reading Prayer Meditation In vaine it with our mouths is vttered Except it in our hearts makes habitation And we expresse it in our liues and conuersation Oh let this holy Words most heau'nly Fire My secret sound affections inflame And burne vp all vaine fleshly worlds desire Oh blessed Fire like that in Bush did flame But neuer did consume or burne the same The fire whereby Gold Catholike is tride And straw and ' stubbled errour brought to shame In whom this inward fire doth ay refide He well the scorching heat of outward may abide But as no fleshly ey 's can here behold The glorious Sunne but by that Suns sweet sight So no man vnderstanding may be bold To know this Word but where it doth enlight Lord in thy Light then let mee see this Light Whereby I may my sinfull life amend And in thy Statutes set my whole delight And wholly in the way 's of wisdome tend So shall my foot stand fast with ioy vnto the end For as the snow and raine from Heav'n descend But neuer thither doe returne againe Till that be done for which thou didst them send To make the fruitfull soile fit for the graine So neuer shall thy Word returne in vaine But sure accomplish what thou dost intend Then moisten daily with this heav'nly raine My hardned Heart that all my powers may bend To glorifie thy name who dost these showers send How should he feare to want his daily Food Who with this Word of Life is nourished Or who can thirst that drinketh of his bloud Let not this Word be vnderualued He that is with this Heau'nly Manna fed Eates of the fattest of Gods spirituall store Wherewith Christs tender Spouse is fostered Till Shee growes strong and faire to stand before Her Head And neuer thirst nor hunger any more This Words Eternall therefore hath no end I no beginning nor conclusion find I could herein my Life and Spirits spend It doth so feed my Soule and glad my mind But now my Muse to Prayer is assign'd And bow 's her knees to end her Meditation With Praise to Him who first mine Heart inclin'd To seeke this Heau'nly Food of Contemplation I hope vnto his Glory and mine owne Saluation MEDITAT V. Of PRAYER AS wise experienc'd valiant Generall When 's Souldier armed is from Foot to Head And hath at hand his Shield and Sword and all His Armour with his Belt fast buckled Yet him into the Battell will not lead Till he be taught his Sword aright to wield To take Aduantages if offered And to defend his Body with his Sheild Then him thus taught and train'd he leads into the Field So wee that in these Spirituall Battells fight Not with fraile Flesh but Principality's And powers of exceeding foce and might Besides their treason plots and policies Must first be taught in Armes to exercise That all in complete Armour ordered
And taught how to assault our enemy's They with our Sword may be discomfited And we from Hell and Bondage safe deliuered I of this Military Art doe know No Tutor like to holy supplication Prayer who vse of all our Armes doth show The Serieant Maior of our Militation Diuinest Prayer holy Meditation Whereby with God we haue sweet conference About the mysteries of Mans Saluation And call the Angells downe for our defence 'Gainst Flesh's Worlds and Deuils hostile violence Prayer who though her knees bow in the dust Yet are her vpper parts aboue the sky And doe into th' Almighty's presence thrust To craue of all we want a new supply Which like to clouds of incense vp doe flye If offered by his Sonnes sweet mediation Whose iust requests no Father can deny Oh offer mine then That this Meditation May be directed by thy Spirits illumination True Prayer is the opening the desire Ev'n of our Heart and Soule to God aright Them powring out to him that doth require We should lay open all before his sight The Sacrifice wherein he doth delight A sure defence to him that right doth pray The Scourge wherewith we Sin and Satan smite And powers all and policies gainsay Our surest Refuge in each dangerous Affray For Christian Souldier neuer kneeleth downe And lifts his heart vp towards Heav'n to pray But all his Foes spirituall him arowne Assault and labour him herein to stay Then is it time for him about to lay With his sharp Sword to put them all to flight And for to arme each part lest they him slay With Greaues Belt Brestplate Shield and Helmet bright In Faith Hope Patience Truth and Righteousnesse to fight By rules of Art I Prayer may diuide To these two Heads Thankesgiuing Inuocation The second I in three doe subdiuide Petition Intercession Deprecation First seekes Gods Glory and our owne Saluation The second doth for others make petition So Christ doth intercede by mediation By last we doe intreat for sins remission And be deliuer'd from all ill and superstition But as the Sauldier be he ne're so strong Well arm'd and skil'd in points of Schoole-defence If that his spirit faint is laid along So if we in our Armes haue confidence And not relye on Gods sole Prouidence His Spirit which helpeth our infirmities And doth instruct to pray with reuerence Sending vp heart and soule by sighs and cry's For all our Armes and strength our Foes will vs surprise For Spirit is the cause efficient Of all our prayers that to Heav'n ascend Though Faith be the Internall instrument By which we all things aske doe apprehend With Faith and Spirit Prayer Heav'n doth rend And whatsoeuer shee in Christ his name Doth aske the Father downe to vs will send This Pagans saw though otherwise to blame That Christians nothing beg but they obtaine the same All Blessings spirituall and temporall Publike and priuate for our Selues and Friends All that in this life or a better fall To vs almighty God for Prayer sends When Heau'n is shut vp that no dew descends If we forsake our sins and pray for raine The Heau'n on vs abundant showers spends Though Foes vs captiue from our City's traine Yet Prayer makes vs Free and brings vs home againe If Dearth Drowth Pestilence be in the Land Or City's be besieg'd by enemies Then if the cause thereof we vnderstand Our sins And seeke by Prayer remedy God will be mercifull accordingly Yea if a Stranger of an Heathen Nation Doe call on God by Prayer heartily And of his life doe seeke a reformation His Prayer shall be heard by Christ his mediation Thus Prayer is for all things profitable If her true obiect she doe neuer misse One God who gracious willing is and able And of our Heart the only Searcher is All things that are in Heau'n and Earth are his We must no person in the Deity Omit when as we pray to him for Blisse All workes externall in the Trinity Are one though their internall haue variety Diuinest Pater-noster whose one Word In it more heau'nly matter doth containe Than one whole hour's babbling can afford Suddaine abortiues of an idle braine With tedious turnings repetitions vaine Out tumbling all that in their stomach lies Which often goe beyond this Prayers straine As if they were more feruent or more wise Than he that for our patterne did it first deuise Pure Prayer made by serious meditation Or by this holy patterne rightly pend Briefe spirituall sublime ejaculation With feruent Fury doth to Heau'n ascend And to the marke like swiftest arrow tend God is in Heau'n thou kneelest on the ground To him therefore no rash petitions send Therein let matter more than words abound And inward sighs and groanes than outward plaints and sound But Prayer though by thy two mighty wings Of Loue and Meeknesse thou to Heau'n canst sore And come in presence of the King of Kings By pard'ning wrongs and giuing to the poore Presume not on thy merits ere the more That Brightnesse who doth sit vpon the Throne Angells not able are to stand before Alas how dar'st thou then there stand alone Without the mediation of the Holy One. Like birdlime merits so thy wings besmeare That thou not able art to take thy slight Aboue the Firmament or to come neere That euershining Lamp of Heau'nly Light Which ought thy Prayers to direct aright In Knowledge Meeknesse and Humility By which we feele and haue and inward sight Of our vnworthinesse and misery And seeke else where for worth and true felicity Eu'n to that liuely Fountaine of the Lamb Which is a deepe well wondrously profound From which by Prayer breaking vp the dam We draw vp waters which doe there abound The depth of this rich Well no Grace can sound But feruent Prayer when as Shee doth desire To coole her thirst with waters therein found wherewith if once we coole our thirst like Fire The more we drinke thereof the hotter's our desire An Oxes lowing barking of a Dog Grunting of Swine doth more the Lord delight Than Prayers which the World and Flesh so clog They come not from vs with a Heart and Sprite And as no salue or medicine hath might To heale the wound which Iron doth containe So Prayer neuer profiteth that wight In whom Hypocrisie or guile remaine For these still fester deeper to the Patients paine God is our Soules Physitian and know's best What for her sicknesse is best remedy And therfore when we needfull things request Of him for this our lifes necessitie He better then his Patient can descry What is most fit to keepe him from the graue And cure him of his spirituall malady Wherefore when we receiue not what we craue We know Christ better know's than we what need we haue Gods Word 's the Sword whereby our Lord doth sway And rules his Church here as he is a King As Priest he offers praises and doth pray As Prophet he glad tidings vs doth bring Most wisely