Consolation The Christian Souldier the Devil Resisted the Flesh mortified yâ— World Crucified O Crocodilian World whose Shining gloss Is guilded Emptyness and painted dross Thy Fawns or frowns I matter not not I Crucifie th' I must Thy Sister Flesh must die And Soul destroying Devil whose malice t is T' accuse th' Brethren that seek to bliss Thy Roaring rage is nought Stand off or I Will make thee th' Worlds Captain captively POEMS SACRED AND SATYRICALL viz. Prayers Paradice The World The Flesh The Iesuite The Devill Mans Misery Sinnes Infirmity Sinnes Impudence The Penitent Sinner The Soules-sea-fight The single Married-life Teares Tryumph Mercies Miracle Faith Hope Charity Midnights Meditation Virtues Pyramid Chastity and Lust The Divine Dreame The Divine Eccho Deaths Masqueing-Night By NATHANAEL RICHARDS Printed at London by T. Paine for H. Blunden at the Castle in Cornehill 1641. THE AVTHOR N o man so high but er'e he die may fall All Flesh is fraile all subject unto thrall T her's no content on Earth none certaine bred Healthfull to day we live to morow dead Art nor Promotion meuds not each Man's state Nor are the Greatest truly fortunate Advanc'ments but a Breath delight a Toy Each glitt'ring Pompe each soule-seducing joy Like Hell-bred poyson workes the soules annoy Reject all lewd all vaine affecting pleasure Jntend thy future good Celestiall treasure Contest with sinne still strive the conquest weare He that will conquer patiently must beare At such rare Combats aide from Heav'n is sent Respecting Man sinnes danger to prevent Deare is the Love of God in him delight Seeke Heavenly joyes those comforts infinite TO THE RIGHT VVORTHY AND NOBLY DISPOSED THOMAS SOAME Esquire Alderman and one of the Burgesses of Parliament for the Honorable City of LONDON Sir THough a Sranger to your Person I am no Stranger in my thankefull Heart to the All-glorious Majesty of Heaven for such as you You whos 's knowne worth inward Candor nor frownes nor Flatterie could ever force from its true Goodnesse for the generall good Monster Ingratitude cannot say I flatter Witnesse this Cities approbation unanimous consent free choice of you that are the All-guiding hand of Heaven be praised free from the aspersion Spots and staines of this Worlds Vicious and Ambitious Greatnesse Let it not then seeme strange that I incouraged by your Noble Vertues have here made bold out of an honest heart Right worthy Sir unto your selfe to Dedicate this Booke It is a knowne Maxime to approved Iudgements that Illicita non prohibere consensus erroris est which being the full scope of this my endeavour intended only for the exaltation of Vertue detestation of Vice and like the Sea-mans Compasse to direct soules from the dangerous Passage indirect The Scylla and Charybdes Shelfes and Rocks of this uncleane and most uncertaine Ocean of the World This being my intent as caveats against sinne not to be cavilled against but by guilty Persons Accept then vertuous Sir this my good will take it from him who leaving you and yours all your faire Actions and occasions present to the All-pure God which never leaves his remaines Ever devoted to your Worthy Virtues NATHANAEL RICHARDS POEMS SACRED AND SATYRICALL Prayers Paradise ALL-Potent Scatt'rer of Man 's o'r rancke state Thou that dost raise the humble the proud hate Soule-saving God joy to the best of men Great terrour to the damned guide my Pen Head hand heart all apply my soule to win Soules to thy glory let the sence of sin Companion still to misery affright Times scoffing Idiots from the lewd delight Of soule confounding sinne make us to pray With ardency of soule great God of day Fashion our wills to thine let each proud eye Humbled with teares admire thy Majestie The spirit of Prayer must amend us all So writes the Churches Atlas holy Paul We shipwrack else soules that will Heav'n inherit Must pray and pray with confidence of Spirit Pray for our King pray for the blest event Of this our Englands present Parliament Have we not cause do's not this Nation know Warre and the Plague so threats our overthrow We soone were lost did not sweet mercy yet Protect our Peace let us not then forget To fast and pray Lord make us all inclin'd To praise thy Name Eternally to mind Thy mighty favours unto this Realme more Then all the World for Peace and plenties store While neighbouring Nations perish by the sword Fierce Fire and Famine wanting the sacred word To solace soules this Nation lives at peace And might continue did our murmuring cease We heare the word preach't have our recreations Walking abroad our peacefull preservations Our streets have seene no Rider and his horse O're whelm'd in bloud nor have we seene what 's worse Big-belli'd women ript the insants braines Dasht in their Fathers faces nor whole lanes Of Armies in the field wheltering in bloud Nor thousands famish't in our streets forfood Our blessed time of Peace did never spie Cities a fire poore people's dismall crie Age torne by th' haire o'th'head Virgins defil'd Dainty Dames ravish't and the tender child Stab'd in the Mothers Armes God grant such sights May never fill our Land with like affrights Importune Heav'n on God alone rely True prayer to God is what Nuncius Coeli Mercies sweet messenger that sweetly beares To Heav'ns bright Majesty mans trickling teares Wrapt up in sighes hearts-griefe sorrowes sad face Wrinkled with cares for sinne which conquers grace What humble soule mounts heav'ns celestiall Ayre In up-flying fervent purity of Prayer But God sends downe a pardon Age and Youth Through ardent prayer prove the sons of truth Fear'st thou stearne War Fire Sword Times deare yeares dearth Pray fervently cease not till Heav'n and Earth Eccho the Spirit of thy Supplications Teares of contrition holy meditations So shall no Devills ruling in the Ayre Nor difficult passage stop zealous Prayer The want of prayer proves the soules decay Men cease to prosper when they cease to pray We all are sinners sinne raises such a storme In our base blood reason can ne're reforme Vrge reason to us it will doe no good Fervent Prayer onely masters flesh and blood T is Clavis coeli which unlockes Gods treasure Fervent prayer opens and shuts Heav'n at pleasure The Elements Fire Water Earth and Ayre Are all at the command of fervent Prayer Elijah prayed that sier might descend From Heaven and heav'n alone did him befriend Elijah pray'd it rain'd not for the space Of three yeares and sixe moneths on the earths face Fervent prayer never did true solace lacke Moses he prayed and the Red-sea fled backe The prayers of the faithfull never fail'd Moses and Aarons fervent prayers prevail'd Gainst Korah Dathan and Abirams sinne Earth open'd swallow'd them with all their kinne Earnest prayer truely is Heav'ns truth to say From man to God from God to man the way Prayer maugre all Earths Villanous entices Makes man at peace with God at war with vices O
Text of Truth never to be denide Celestiall prayer quells Luciferiall Pride Cooles raging lust tames the Malicious Envie Wrath Gluttony cures the Covetous Heav'ns in that prayer when circl'd round with vice Man conquers sinne that 's Prayers paradice Firme Prayer steeres soules to each soule-saving motion Sighes Teares repentance and to all devotion As the true skill of a Pilote is unknowne But in a Tempest or a Captaine prone To noble deeds his valour is unseene But in a battell where the field hath beene His mount of Honour so the rare worth Of a true Christian can be ne'r set forth Nor ever of th'All-viewing eye discern'd Till like the Hebrewes Gen'rall he has learn'd Heav'ns pleasing science the Celestiall Art Of fervent Prayer that 's the true Christians pare When the Hearts tooke with a delight to pray Soules clearely see sinde a compendious way To know Heav'n savingly to curbe offence And burne in ravishing joy truth's Excellence Such sweet content all mortalls Mundane wit Humane delights can never equall iâ— The fixing of our hearts on heav'n by prayer Heales sinnes deepe festering wounds kills killing care Cures the distracted minde proves soules defence Mercies subduer sacred conference O thou Ens Enrium sempeternall light Give me the spirit to pray to pray aright Lest Tempest-tost with cares thinking to shunne Sinnes guife on ruints Rocke my soule 's undone Pray then O pray he that prayes willingly Be rich or poore can ne'r live wickedly Prayer is the wing by which the soule do's flie To Heav'n and meditation is the eye Wherewith we see God by prayer we talke And by our Charity with God we walke Soules that will mount gaine a Celistiall Crowne Must pray with ardency looke up not downe Like times too many mumblers that doe fall To pray on the halfe knee or none at all Nor desperately like such as thinke no sinne To come to Church till Sermon time beginne Entring O most abhorr'd so sneakingly So rude in rev'rence pray so peakingly As doth amaze religious fortitude To see lewd Mortalls base ingratitude To their Redeemer he that dreads heav'ns Rod Prayes ardently t' appease the wrath of God Else like the sickles edge or Razor keene Heav'ns wrath works worldlings quick dispatch unseene Sharpe Vengeance undiscernd full swift do's fall Leaves not a life uncut but mowes downe all All grumbling Nations for their sinnes excesse Pride to the poore and rude unthankfulnesse All Sects all Schismes that dare by booke maintaine And for their owne base ends their godlesse gaine Make Scripture fight with Scripture fatall ill Sanctity save Kingdomes from such cursed skill O the deepe folly that on man attends Our flesh and bloud are to our selves salfe friends We aske and pray but both amisse and why We neither aske nor pray with fervency Our mindes at randome runne this way and that Vpon a world of vanities Idle chat Fashions and fooleries heav'n pardon sinne We oft are out in Prayer seldome in Sinne like a whirlewind circles feeble prayer Snatches it up then whirles it into ayre Infections ayre whose fatall poyson spreads Powers downe hot vengance misery on our heads Crosses continuall cares perpetuall paine Weake Prayer makes bitter still the fruit of gaine Converts the key of kindnes into lust Carelesse prayer makes the life of love unjust Dulls noble wisedome over-rules all reason To the forgetfull soules Eternall Treason We pray to heav'n yet mind not heav'nly things O foule ingratitude to the King of Kings Mans mingling prayer with Earths cold cogitation Merits swift vengeance cloath'd in blacke damnation Think on thy God then in thy dayes of youth Search in the Morning of thy yeares for truth Early betimes before the evill day Of sinne and Satan that does ev'ry way Stops mans Colestiall journey scatters snares In every place we are not safe at Prayers No sooner man to heaven divine thoughts rease But straight the Devill whispers in his eare Thinke on the world thy wealth thy poore estate Meanes must be had thinke on thy neighbours hate Thinke on revenge thinke on thy change thy crosses Thy law-suites ships at sea thy land thy losses Away with Prayerâ— puzzell not thy braine Mind thou what 's present what 's to come resraine Thus speakes the subtile Fiend of purpose bent To put us out of practise to repent Like a false Sexton he sets backe the Clocke To delay time makes that our stumbling blocke Makes Time our Bawd with flat'rie to betray And put us quite out of the mind to pray With glorious outside and deceitfull riches Satan fooles mortalls wisest men bewitches Note but the whore-like minde of mans condition So generally in all when they petition Their earthly King Lord what a stirre we keepe The busie braine 's in labour cannot sleepe Nor take it's naturall rest the carefull minde Is totally tooke up wholly inclin'd To give each word his weight for to relieve Our wants to sue for pardon or repreive Profit or gaine then head hand heart and all Knees that ne'r bend at Hean's high will can fall Prostrate in all obsequiousnes for place Lofty preferment and a Princes Grace Then tongue and heart both jumpe in one agree Minde nothing but his Earthly Majestie Beg kneele implore we fervently importune Pardon for some foule fact some brittle fortune This we can doe we can with hot pursuite To compasse our vaine ends ne'r cease sinnes suite The trot the amble and the full cariere No speede is wanting nor no paines too deare To purchase sinnes Exchequer riches store Ambitious aymes Times glory Beauties whore This too too many can and in that way Eager like hungry hounds soone sent sinnes prey But to the King of those Eternall sires That spangle Heav'n lukewarme in their desires Impudent in all Vice in basenesse bold Christians halfe coddl'd neither hot nor cold O Hell of hells Man to 'th Celestiall Race Do's seldome runne but with a Iade-like pace Never considering how the mind that 's wrapt In wilfull wickednesse is ever apt To pine at Princes snarle at pious lawes Scold people on to fight Religions cause When truth and all true Christians know Religion Consists in true obedience not Rebellion Men that give way to ill t' increase their good Bring famine on a land fierce fire and blood All villages in a Kingdome Sinne do's delude Leaves it a prey to 'th law-lesse Multitude In true obedience then with humble knee Eye head hand heart pray to Eternity Throw from thy minde all worldly cares temptations All wandring idle vaine imaginations Abandon flaring pride close fisted bribes And like the Father of twelve potent Tribes Tugge with Aimighty God still strive to winne Pardon for each foule fact times uggly sinne Like Arts rare engin 's Excellent 's defence Gainst fires in Cities which to cleare offence Raises from Earth so sweet a watery showre As slacks the furious flame extincts her powre So let the Art of fervent prayer raise Our watery teares to Heav'n to
Heavn'n that paies In the descent mans penitent desires With plenitude of grace to quench sinnes fires God made the eare to heare the happinesse We have from him the tongue still to expresse The glory of his name the eye to see The workes of his divine Integrity Eye head hand heart God the whole man did frame All to rejoyce in his All-Sacred name Happie the soule that prayes with sincere sorrow Repent to day deferre not till to morrow And when you pray thinke unto whom you pray T' is to the Worlds great builder Lord of day ' Mercies bright Majestie th' Almighty strong Iust grand decider of each poore mans wrong That tumbles downe the mighty only can Make the most Potent Prince the poorest man The peace of Kingdomes in a breath disjoynt Spit all Earth's Children on warrs Rapiers point Turne fruitfull fields to yron burne the grasse And for our sinnes convert the Heav'ns to brasse Swell surging seas the dreadfull deepes with waves Stormes famine fire and sword to dig our graves How dare proud mortalls then ne'r take to minde Heav's sacred eye-fight shall darke deedes so blinde Mans Machivilian mischiefe as to thinke Rais'd on Ambitions top he cannot sinke He must he must bad states-menne'r so big Fall of themselves in time breake like a twig As one naile drives another out of place So time cleares truth drives flat'rie to disgrace Flatt'rers are fearefull Fiends bright honours sting Serpents the worst of Traitors to a King Court-Eare-wiggs nimbly wrigling in the Eares Of greatnesse mighty profits madnesse feares So painted o're shaddow'd for sound advice A good King cannot knowes vertue from vice Till Heav'n that brings the darkest deedes to light Produce in time the truth twixt wrong and right Man whosoe're thou art take this advice 'T is Angels counsell Prayers Paradise Walke after Gods way in the day of light Or end thy journey in the darkest night Ther 's but one univerfall remedy For all our ills each soules extremity And that is fervent prayer all must resort To Prayer or perish there is no safe port In this worlds Mare Mortuum for man To put into but prayes prayer only can Powr'd out in fervency of soule prevent Plagues famine bloud and death warr's dire event Bred by seditious subjects whose desires Are still the fuell unto popular fires Prayer shall confound dead all the divellish deedes Of forraigne foes all home-corrupted seedes Dissembling Hypocrites by hells aide appointed To stiffe truth and grieve the Lords annointed Prayer like to hastie powder sir'd shall choake Flame viperous Rebels to a sudden smoake Pray then through fervent prayer imitate Moses and Iacob wrestle with blessed fate Subdue thy sinnes ' gainst sinfull flesh and bloud Importune heaven and heaven will doe thee good Gods promise is if fervently we pray And use our best indeavours ev'ry day To fly from sinne resolving to betake us To holy meanes he never will forsake us Never did any doe their faire endeavour To pray to God that ever lost his labour Nay more if God but see thy inclination To pray he will prevent thy supplication Answer thy full desire e're thou canst crave Grant that thy heart did never hope to have Witnesse good heaven 't is true ther 's no deniall For I have found th'experimentall triall And were for ever like a soule in hell Worthy to burne should I forget to tell In midst of dangers how I call'd on thee Mercifull God and thou did'st set me free At home abroad at Sea upon the land Here there and ev'ry where thou Lord did'st stand My sure protector ' gainst griefes infinite Times flatt'ring ruine and the worlds despite Sicknesse sad discontent when I and care Shooke hands with sorrowes Minion deepe despaire That very hower in heavinesse lockt up Beyond all hope of health then mercies Cup I freely tasted blessed be thy name To me my Gracious God prove still the same Circle me round thou All-Bternall health Gainst all enticements Honour Beauty Wealth Those fatall slies of sinne which though best men Do ne're so much flap off slie on agen Arme aâ—me good heaven Times Microcosme in me Through Faith Hope Love enable me to be Truths Champion Troopes of Furies to withstand And stave Hells Tempter off dead sinnes command Times expert faithfull souldier is a Iewell Fit for a King to fight a Kingdomes Duell Valour and honesty are Princely twinnes Ther 's nothing makes a Coward but his sinnes Lord let a watchfull Centinell within My weake mortality so keepe out sinne That when so e're we meet Morne Noone or Night I with my good sword Faith may in thy sight Heavens Saint-like Souldier prove subdue and winne At truths close constant fight conquest o're sinne Heare me my God mount thoughts with admiration Vpon the highest step of contemplation Irradiate Lord my mind past sinnes controle Conari Sancta Angelize my so ule Give what thou dost command great God and then Command even what thou wilt Amen Amen EArnest prayer and the committing of sinne Will never lodge together in one Inne For sure if prayer cannot make thee cease From sinne sinnes sure to rob thy soule of peace And make thee leave off praying God's all Eye Let our petitions then with fervency Flie unto him whose Majesty is such It comprehends all power do but touch Trie and then trust petition but his name In ardency of soule you le find a flame All-heav'nly holy thrill through thy vitall blood To quell corruption turne all ill to good O that the Soules of Mortall 's to the life Would Act this part subdue sinnes stormy strife Through fervent prayer and in that swift course runne Firme as the golden taper of the sunne Which hourely sailes the Circuit of the Skie That were excelling heav'nly harmonie 'T would make this Globe on Earth whereon we tread Times glorious Theater the rich stage spread And hung all-round with silver shining starres Prickt fall of holy thoughts in them no jarres Of times discording musicke dare appeare The Musick-roome of concord being there There Truths faire Actor where so e're he turnes His penitent Eye with holy raptures burnes Sees the All-sole Spectator Three in one Seated in gloryes Gallery where none But his Omniscient blest beatitude Sits the sole Iudge of soules Ingratitude Actors and Action mans good part and his ill Th' unworthy Actors dull imperfect skill Bred by distemper grosse neglect in studdy Carelesse Rehearsalls and a skull so muddy As never minds th'infinite paines and Art Penn'd to advance and fit him with a part That might immortalize inflame desire Ravish his sinne-sicke sence his soule inspire With sacred extasie high apprehension Seraphicall love divine affection Heav'ns gracious Actor makes this pretious use Of his faire Part ne'r turnes it to abuse Nor wrongs the writer but amaz'd with wonder As one shot through and through with holy thunder At pious lines whose powerfull Energie In Noble spirits frustrates miserie Tames Pride cooles lust makes
to all the world how they dissemble Pray with the Lip not heart wrest sacred Text To serve their owne ends first and then Gods next Provide to live in pestilent Times beginne Take greater care to fly from death then sinne Ther 's nothing in our Flesh but wickednesse 〈◊〉 to live and obscene wantonnesse O vaine desire of mortalls can there be In flight or Physick crue ' gainst heav'ns decree No no ther 's no escape no way to this Mans good life onely meets with mercies kisse We forget now that dreadfull dismall chance The terrible Arrow of Gods vengeance When death buried farre more then the earth could swallow And no man to the Grave his friend durst follow O why should Mortalls wish long life to live What comfort what true joy do's this live give Ther 's nothing not one thought that do's us good But it is strangl'd straight by flesh and blood Holy Saint Paul finding the fleshrebell Desir'd to be dissolv'd proud flesh to quell And Sacred Symeon sung ' gainst sinnes increase Lord let thy servant now depart in peace Shall such soule sweenting preparations be Forgotten quite O blind securitie What is it we behold in this vaine life But daily dangers soule-bewitching strife The Flesh is full of dagger never quiet 'Mong fullfed dishes and Luxurious diet When my Soule-Erring Eyes staring behold A dang'rous strumpet flame in glittering gold And murd'ring beauty sparkling from her Eye Burning temptation then me thinkes I spie My most apparent mischiefe plainely see How I ne'r strive to please my God as shee Strives to please men such is the flaming pride Of the vaine flesh it hurts on ev'ry side Ther 's nothing constant in us if to day Vertue we love to morrow Vice obey What a notorious Coxcombe unto sinne Lust makes of Man slave to a whores soft skinne What 's a delicious Harlot but a cheater A poyson'd Marmalad Box that rots the earer A Harlot Man most fitly may compare To Quicksilver whose Mertall like asnare When er'e it meets with gold does evermore Mlingle it selfe so commonly a whore 'T is not the Man but money she respects And mingling with the one she both infects Drinks deepe in Taverns Swaggers Sweares and raves Gets gold from fooles to spend it upon knaves The cheife praise of a good wise do's not lie In outward shew but inward pietie If Vertue rules her bloud she merits love If not I will assure thee shee will prove Like a deceitfull glasse where man may see Hee 's meerly cheated in her O miserie Man makes lewd women proud with looking at And wondrous wanton to beleeve that The onely cure Lust's raging flames to quench Is Aqua Lachrymarum that will stench The wounds proud women so delight to make On the poore soule of Man make him to quake Afear'd to stand on that false rocke of Ice Idlenesse feeder of foule carnall Vice Nurse of blacke thoughts south-Fogg which rots the minde Leapours the soule and is the Northerne winde The cause of all sinnes stormes that dang'rous flood Lusts surging Ocean swelling in Mans blood O Devill desire of Lust me me forsake I charge thee hence by him that made hell quake By that Almighty One in sacred Trine All holy spells and Charmes Magick Divine By that sweet Excellent Sacred Puritie Sister of Angells Virgin Chastity Fly from me all base thoughts be just mine eyes And be your selves hate wantons Witcheries Impendet periculum omnibus THE IESVITE NOt like that Masse-Priest he whose mouth is cram'd With words that speake all Protestants are damn'd Him nor his slocke I dare not censure so Nor meane to write more then I justly know To be most true in which knowne Path I finde Counterfeit Catholiques so grossely blinde They dare outface Heav'ns Truth forg'd lies maintaine To Cloake the cunning Iesuites subtile Braine He that do's Theefe-like waite for vertues fall Lives in perpetuall watch to blow up all The President recorded stands for ever In this Realmes safety which hell's Plot can never Wipe from Rememb'rance never shall the Evill Of that close Secretary to the Devill That Iesuite Garnet live forgot while I Have Pen or Hand to write his Tragedy That Myne of Murther Mischiefes Master-vice Lodg'd in the Politicque skull of Avarice His desp'rate Soule was such he durst to swimme A Sea of Vice be rackt in ev'ry limme All tortures suffer rather then reveale The Treason his Religion bids conceale Witnesse thou Ghost of Garnet this is true He that han'gd drawne and quarter'd had his due To him was knowne the powder pitchie Treason Never to be forgot he knew the season When where and how that suddaine bloudie blow Black Hell-bread Thunder flaming overthrow Should have beene given knew the Times short space When no soule should have time to pray for Grace Or cry God helpe The Treason was so foule The Traitors would have damn'd both body and Soule If in their power and ev'ry soule i' th Ayre Tost up sent unprepar'd of heav'nly prayer With all their sinnes O horrid horrid Act All this the Iesuite knew conceal'd the fact And rather then disclose least warning give King Prince and Nobles not a soule should liue Here was a Villaine yet I 've knowne in Spayne The Traitors death so moan'd such Credit gaine Though here he dyde for Treasons just complaint There Monster Iesuites make a Martyr'd Saint Mischievous Masse-Priests to his meriting fame At the high Altar in a spacious frame Advance to him as to a Saint most blest His Body-mangled Picture thus exprest Garnets Picture Bare Head white Beard Lookes sober in his Gowne Him over head Angels with Laurell Crowne About his Neck a long large Haltertide Hangs as befitting such downe the Left side His Belly ript bloud seeming open straw Holding in his righ hand his pictur'd draw Beneath his right side flames a Heart in fire Bove his left Limmes quarter'd Treasons hire Presented on a Tower which Pictur'd storie Straw-fainted set up to 'th Arch-Traitors Glory Invites each eye yea all the world to see Iesuites Protectors of all Villany Poys'ning of Princes held as trifling things With them 't is meritorious to kill Kings Can this Religion be they thinke it pure But man ne'r knew Religion more impure Their Church is but their Cloake bad deeds to further The only sanctuary for bloud and murther Plots Practizes hellish abomination Pardons for Treason holy approbation Of that ill-Sainted wretch his cursed fault That Father to Faux the Divill i' th vault Such Iudas-Iesuites ever Traitors prove To King and Prince disloyall in their love Yet outward fawning seeme on bended knee Low as the earth O true hypocrisie Vnder the mild aspect of Reverence In duty and submisse obedience With Oylie Eloquence best pleasing Phrase Catching Orations full of flatt'ring praise When in the heart abides no spot of good All treach'rous thoughts all thirsting after bloud The fall of Princes changes alteration The Protestants Religion 's desolation Such is
wee Never like straying sheepe stray Lord from thee Heare me Miraculous Majestie and give A period to my cares let me not live Frustrate of Honest meanes O send redresse Imploy my Pen keepe me from Idlenesse From all ill Company all waies unjust Sinne Satan and the Labyrinth of lust Like Ioseph Mighty Maker make me fly The tempting Bates of Beauties bravery Suffer me Worme unworthy not in vaine To call on thee let me some solace gaine Or kneele for ever happie man were I To kneele and pray and at my Prayers die To live for ever ever more to sing Glory to thee O God Heavens glorious King O you that stand on Pinacles of state Let not the World deceive you lest too late From off your slipprie height you come in thrall To pash your selves in pecces past recall Sell not faire Lordships to keepe Ladiships Nor sucke damnation from a Strumpets lips Touch not those spells of Sparta let 'em rot When Vertue lives in man lust is forgot One onely Iemme that 's all the store I have Great of that little nothing which shall crave Of Heav'ns great Ens not for my selfe alone But for thee Reader thee and every one Rarenesse of rare example and withall An everlasting skie of Grace to fall Vpon our Warre on Earth desiring Heav'n For waies on Earth are crooked all unev'n O Heav'nly Father glorious Diety Pardon O Pardon my impiety I that have imperfections on my head Past Starres in number or those sands that spread The Vast Seas bottome shall not I confesse How oft ' gainst God I desp'rately transgresse Put off Repentance still from day to day Abuse his mighty Patience still delay His dread Command and like a sencelesse sot Vnmindfull of his mercies minde them not No sooner doe I finde a good thought take me But from that vertue flesh and bloud doe shake me Forgive me O forgive me thou that art Heav'ns universall searcher cure my heart At my dull follies I le no longer winke Sorrow shall be my Pen sad teares my Incke Misery my Paper whereon I 'le write The sorrowes of my soule my youthes delight My pathes of pleasure Prodigall expences My Scarlet Crimes and all my blacke offences This Booke I 'le dedicate unto my heart My heart chiefe Actor in sinnes Tragicke part My heart unprincely Revelling within My body that Banquetting house of sinne There Chain'd to ' th Magicke Musicke of free will Riots in poyson'd pleasure lewdly ill All that belongs to th'body ev'ry part My soule alone excepted serves my heart Best pleas'd and best at ease with pleasures bane Most glad to be most bad and in that vaine Traitor to Truth each limbe a Mortall foe To worke my universall overthrow O false false heart false to thy dearest freind Wound me no more for pittle make an end I pitty thy blacke life nor can forbeare For thee to shed many a bleeding teare Thou art my foe and yet to see thee feed Fat for Hells Shambles my poore soule dosbleed Bleeds inward indiscern'd of any eye Except my God and my owne misery What shall I doe faine would I shunne the sinne My frailty most delights to wander in And yet I cannot when I strive ' gainst vice To stand most firme I 'me tript up in a trice O What a mis'ry 't is to have a minde For to be truely honest well inclinde And not to be sufferd such is the state Of my sad bleeding soule unfortunate Field honour 's but a Vapour the sound brest Puts on Church-Armour Faith and sleights the rest In Love to Vertue and true godly feare Dwells Honour not in Dart Bowe Sling or Speare Not in vaine Beauty strength the pride of Wit Presuming Riches Learning Valour Credit High Birth Nobility nor gravitie Humanity nor yet Virginity But in the humblesoule whom holy storie Speaks to maintaine God and the Gospels glory The King and Kingdomes safety Churches peace The Virgins right Widdowes and fatherlesse These are the noble steps that ever waite On Vertues Court 't is the true Prop of state Save me O save me thou Eternall terrour To damned soules I doe confesse each errour The many thousand sinnes unseene unfelt Which long too long in my hard heart have dwelt To thee to thee thou everlasting being Of an Eternall Majestie all seeing With Penitent heart I come I call I cry Pittie me wretch helpe thou all viewing eye My armes are spread come sempeternall Essence Ravish my soule come blessed Penitence Give me thousand stabbs my soule has neede Of many thousand teares then let it bleede Pierce pierce my stubborne heart make that the Inne Of Grace which yet is but the house of sinne Looke downe soule saving sacred God of Truth Forgive th'infinite follies of my youth Shield me Divinity from Sathans ginnes Lord lay not to my charge my Parents sinnes Glory of goodnesse in thy mercy heare me Let hate Revenge nor Envie ne're come neare me Let neither Pride nor hope of gaine deceive me Nor pleasure nor the want of meanes bereave me Of sence lest sencelesse wholy I despaire And so become the wretched child of Care O sacred saviour give me grace to fly Delight in sinne I beg it earnestly In all my prayers enable me to be Blessed Lord Iesus pleasting unto thee Make me to doe thy will Lord make me grow Great in thy love thou that dost truely know Of all Earths blessings unto mortalls giv'n My sole desire on Earth is Grace from Heav'n Grace to be good grace to avoide hels ginnes And grace to grieve for nothing but my sinnes So shall thy mercy ne'r forgetfull stand While I have Tongue a Pen a head a hand The Soules Sea fight EMp'rour of Angells O thou King of Starrs Man's perfect solace ' gainst sinnes bloudy warres When I behold with contemplations Eye The silver spangles of the glorious skie Me thinks in that Blew-paper-booke of Heay a I see the waies of Mortalls all Vnev'n The wretched soule of Man in ev'ry place Lives Locally in hell Wanting thy grace Temptation on temptation past controule Alures the body to betray the soule Hells Blacke-Prince Troopes of spiries ev'ry day Invades Mans Sinne-seidg-Soule Furies display Infernall Banners while the Drum of death Beates a dead March and e're I can take breath Sounds shrill Alarums hot assaults beginne The soules fierce fight muffl'd in cloudy sinne I live beset Millions of spirits round Shoot at my soule 〈◊〉 stand on no firme ground But tread on Earth as on a Ball of ice I cannot stand nor stirre for sliprie vice My Soul 's a ship tost on the mountaine seas Of this vast world she never lives at ease Her Sailes are sighes her Anchor deepe despaire Her Compasse errour her sad Pilot care Farre off from safetyes shore floates on the waves Of fearefull billowes Soule-devouting graves Rough blustring stubborne stormes yeeld no reliefe On ev'ry shrowd each Tackling hangs a griefe Death like a darke cloud besets every place Here
his Tower of defence Thus speakes the Text discretion in a Wife Make 's fatt the Husbands bones delights his life Teares Triumph VVHat 's Honour Beauty and the damaske skinne But Dirty drosse ballanc'd with teares for sinne One trickling teare for sinne gaines greater pleasure Then a whole Ocean of terrestriall treasure Many can weepe to counterfeits 't is given But to weepe truely is the gift of Heav'n Mirrour of Truth give me the sacred Raies Of divine knowledge so to spend my dayes In sighes teares prayers that my poore soule may Mount to thy glory at my latter day Happy the man whose teares adorne the place Where he do's pray that 's the true signe of grace Teares joyn'd with Prayers are triumphant Twinnes Soft waxe hot Iron to disburthen sinnes Mingle thy Prayers with teares teares soules refresh Kills all the wanton Motions of the flesh Teares humble Pride makes chast insatiate lust Malice to Mercy turnes turnes time unjust Detracting Envie into Noble pittie Dull Drunkards to be temp'rate heavenly witâ—y Converts base Avarice from the abuse Of godlesse gaine to charitable use Teares Phisicks Gluttony to live content With meane course fare makes mortalls penitent Teares lengthens yeares to Man's last day teares give Sufficient meanes conentedly to live God that beheld King Hezekiah's teares Prolong'd his dayes added full fifteene yeares Peter that thrice denide his sacred Lord Teares gain'd his pardon without speaking word O blessed Teares teares that for sinne arise Are glorious Pearles i th' Petitidaers eyes Weepe for thy sinnes poore soule 't is Heav'ns advire Teares Orient Eâ—arles purchase Paradice Shall such Soule-pleading Pearles then I pray Be flung to Swine 'mong swine be cast away Resolve me thou whose conscience never felt A teare for sinne O let thy soule but melt To penitent Pearles then then let it tell The infinite difference 'twixt Heav'n and Hel. With and without those ravishing teares the one Feeles joy free pardon but the other none Vnpittied plagnes attend the scorneful eye Ne're wet for sinne that 's endlesse misery When on the adverse part where soules bewaile Their wretched frailty God do's never faile To send releife frees them from all annoy Who sowes in teares shall reape eternall joy Teares winnes the soule to God raises it up From Earth to Heav'n drinkes deepe of mercies Cup Applies health's Plaister to the firme sicke pulse Teares with God never suffer'd a repulse Wee never weepe never devoutly cry Ne're drop a teare for finne but God stands by Puts all our Teares into his Bottle looke What saies the Psalmist are they not in thy booke Thou tell'st my wand'rings Lord put thou my teares Into thy bottle frustrate sinfull feares Teares trembles Hell pacifies Mortall strife Blotts all our sinnes out of the booke of life I le ' cry saies David to the King of Kings Prevailing teares with God performe all things God of the Spirits of all Flesh that can Rectifie soules looke on me wretched man As Holy Paul ne'r ceased for three yeares Night and day constantly to warne with teares The Elders of Miletum them to free From Sathans subtile temptings so leeme Night and day Lord forever never cease With teares to warne my warring flesh to peace True teares winne Heaven all impious thoughts controule Teares subdue Sinnes make white the spotted soule Perfumes the Body mortifies leud sence Calmes stormie cares and prove the quintessence To all our quiet no anguish no contention Troubles true teares want is ne'r thought upon Nor the worlds wide woe where a blessed teare Is shed for sinne it frights away all feare Gently allayes Earths tempest 's that arise Through times deceitfull riches beauties Eyes Lachryma nunquam patitur repulsam Mercies Miracle CHRIST'S Setting forth from 's Celestiall PALACE Lodg'd in the Virgins Wombe From that blest PLACE To th' Manger went from Marger to the Crosse From Crosse departed with his deare Blouds losse Vnto the SEIVLCHER there made all ev'n And so return'd Gloriously Home to HEAV'N To HEAV'N from whence LORD let thy SACRED FIRE GLISTER upon my SOVLE whose sole Desire Begges MERCIE for my Sinnes makes knowne to THEE THOV that hast RAVISHT ALL hast Ravisht Me. VVOnder of Angells O thou Flaming Glory Great Mercies Miracle thy Sacred story Shewes thy ne'r-failing Love it is thy love Thou Lambe of God celestiall Turtle-Dove Thy over liberall love that does restraine Sodomes just Plague which thou mightst justly raine In blew flames stormes of fire to consume Burne up this sinfull world and scortch the plume Of mortalls Pride soules wilfully misled Pamper'd with Chin-deepe Lust fullnesse of bread Man is to Man a Monster-hearted stone With God thet's mercy but with Man ther 's none God is the worlds miraculous Creater Holy just mercifull Man's glorious Maker God into hell for Pride the Divells hurld Gods Iustice drown'd Gods mercy sav'd the world God is all Eye he brings to open light The darkest deeds and secrets of the night Man's bell-bread plots against the Innocent God still contrives to 'th Authors punishment God is all goodnesse Greatnesse deare delight His anger short his mercy infinite Reade th' Everlasting Bible there you 'l finde His all abundant Excellence inclin'd To chide then smile long suffering but sure First he beginnes to strike and then to cure Drownes the rudd world for impious sinne and then Never to execute the like agen The Raine-bowe sends as a most sacred signe Of his ne'r failing mercy love divine O Mercy thy rich thought appeares to me Tymes golden spurre to quicken and make free Dull stupid spirits from their Iade-like pace Swiftly to runne Vertues celestiall race Haste soule to heav'n and thinke when thou dost faint A stately Pace too solemne for a Saint Plough through the dusty wayes the dirt and mire Of foulest sinnes temptations fiercest fire For Mercies sake Mercy makes blest the braine Curbs sinnes delight with contemplations Reine Mercies sweet thought stands the soules sacred spell ' Gainst all the Thorry Passages of hell Adam at first the second put to death The second dying gave us all new birth The Tree of good and bad and Apple gay Brought to the world to cast us all away Yet the sad Tree of shame bare fruit to save All that beleev'd from the infernall grave And as our Parents first notorious Vice Whipt them from out the joyes of Paradice So from mans crooked sinfull waies unev'n Christ entertaines us readily to heaven Thinke what a ravishing Act of love was there Figur'd toth ' life thinke thinke O Blessed Deare Soule-saving Saviour sacred Purity Ravish my soule to tell thy Charity Thou sempeternall ravishing Rose-bud Who for our sinner was sixe times dide in bloud Text in such Tragick letters as did show Men turn'd to Monsters the great debt we owe To his victorious sufferings that is Mirrour of Majestie man's only blisse Did the forgetfull wretch consider when Hell hast's him on to some hot sinne and then Finds no way left to