shame would bring so bold He is that he doth claime a due and right To all the world dispose it by his might He would if God did not subdue his power All men he would by treason soone devoure And now he 's vext that sin and death is cast By Jurie and God hath the sentence past Vpon them hoth and now he comes to sue For a reprieve as to his Kingdome due The Devill sueth for a reprieve for Sinne and Death and useth sundry Argumsnts Lord am not I thy creature thou didst make Me glorious when with Angels I did take Delight to doe what thou didst me command And pleasure tooke to waite then at thy hand I sinn'd but once yet by that sinne I fell From heavens glory to the pit of hell Thy creature man on which thou sett'st thy love Still sinneth and his sinning doth not move Thee to reject him but in favour still He doth receive the fruits of thy good will Seeing it is so that I no hope have ever To be restor'd though I should use indeavour I set my selfe to stablish me a throne Except thy selfe I le be controul'd by none Now sinne and death are servants unto me They doe my worke and alwayes willing be To bring me honour profit they converse And trade with men I have a rich commerce By both their meanes the pillars of my state I them esteeme and I at any rate Would not them lose they both do know my bents I cannot worke without such instruments Why dost thou me before the time torment Condemning them to hinder my intent Thou know'st my time is very short to stay Here I am bound unto the Judgement day In chaines of darknesse then I must abide Thy burning wrath to recompence my pride That is as much as Justice can desire Now I of thee this onething doe require If I may have this favour at thy hand As devils are I le be at thy command That sin and death may both their freedome have By a reprieve this is the thing I crave And doe my worke as they were wont to doe it Give liberty for they are willing to it Thou didst at first permit me for to enter Into the serpent I to tempt did venter The woman first then in the second place Ore man prevail'd and bronght on both disgrace The King that was according to thy heart Thou gav'st me leave to tempt too but the smart He quickly felt the people were incumbred With plagues destroy'd soone after they were nūbred Thou didst permit me for to try that King Who wicked was by lying him to bring To an untimely and a fearfull end That sold himselfe and ne're did good intend That man that great was dwelling in the East Approv'd by thee to be of men the best Thou didst permit me for to trie him so That he almost did count thee for his foe Thou didst permit me for to try with fan Th'Apostles faith so I did man by man And by that meanes they blessed on record Doe still remaine with all that kept thy word Nay when I was from him that was possest Cast when I askt thou granted'st my request Into the Swine to enter thou said'st goe Without thy leave I could not have done so Now art not thou as kinde as heretofore To all thy favours adde this favour more To free my servants Kingdomes if divided Long cannot stand this was by thee decided By me thy justice shall the more appeare And mercie too in freeing some from feare Though I am bad it best he comes a devill But thou art good so render good for evill Let sin and death be quit that they may still Rejoyce with me and execute my will Sathan is sharply rebuked in sundry particulars by the Lord. Why dost thou claime a priviledge that thou My creature art thou art a devill now Thou tri'st all meanes to make all like to thee For desperation and for miserie Thou wast in heaven where no sinne did dwell Yet thou through pride against me didst rebell Thou wast not tempted man by thee was tempted Why should not he by mercy be exempted From wrath which is for evermore thy due With all that fell which are a cursed crue For man I have redeem'd him by my Sonne Which paid a price else had he been undone No price nor means can serve to helpe thee out Of thy curs'd state if thou should'st goe about It were in vaine though thou a Kingdome hast And men cannot yet I will lay thee wast Though Sinne and Death he still at thy command What canst thou doe when they are by my hand Supprest why dost thou now so much desire To have reprieve for them because hell fire Reserv'd for thee is to that judgement day Me thinks these thoughts thy malice might allay That still the more thou art to sinne inclin'd The more in hell of torment thou shalt find The more of men thou drawest to thy will The more with wrath I will thy spirit fill Though I in justice did some time permit thee Dost thinke that for such sinnes I doe acquit thee T' intice the good or make the bad grow worse To make me powre on them the greater curse Thou dost accuse my Saints and mak'st me try them I nothing finde but that thou dost belye them If I command thee not to use thy power 'Gainst man then thou wilt the beasts devoure If what thou would'st thou canst not bring about Thou 'lt play at small game rather than sit out Not parted but ore throwne thy Kingdome shall Ere long be then with cursed great and small If sinne become thee comely thou shalt be Enough shalt thou have with sins miserie Thou monster vile should I thee good reward When none for sinne with thee can be compar'd If sinne and death repriev'd are this thy choise How much how long would'st thou with them rejoyce A Reprieve is granted that Gods justice might the more appeare Now though I grant thee this thy vile request Of all thy evils this is not the least My justice shall on thee the more appeare In sinne and sinners horrour guilt and feare Shall waite and death shall be by me restrain'd So sin and death together shall be chain'd Accurst from me they shall be men shall know It s but the fruit of raging flames below And as they band against men so their hire Shall be the more in hels tormenting fire They shall not hatch the mischiefe they intend I le crush their force and crosse their cursed end But for my foes that side with sin against me They earnest give for death and miserie Repriev'd they shall be but on these conditions That never they orepasse these strict commissions Sinne and Death prohibited in sundry particulars remaine both under sentence till the time of execution Sinne shall not raigne in any of my owne Redeem'd then he shall soone be overthrowne Death shall not strike the just before their time When they are
ripe I le pluck them in their prime Sinne shall not raile nor persecute the best Death shall not fright them though that he be prest Against then they shall willing be to part From worldly pompe before he kill the heart Sinne shall not set up tyrants in high places Lest they should bring their betters to disgraces Death shall not venture on such presently That wicked men judge worthy for to die Sinne shall not take all fat aud sweet away And let men beg or starve or goe astray For want of comfort casting truth behinde Nor slight the cries of them distrest in minde Death shall not shew his face to any one In the new birth untill the worke be done Sinne shall not mocke at men that serve the Lord With upright hearts this I have still abhort'd Death shall not vexe those that are griev'd for sin With purpose for a new life to begin Sinne shall not be in painted shewes set forth To hinder truth that is so great of worth Death shall not seaze for small things on the poore Or free the rich of greater for their store Sinne never more shall turne the streame away Nor with the highest er'e shal beare the sway Death shall not touch a man without my leave Or any thing else of its life bereave Let sinne and death still under sentence dwell Till they with thee together meet in hell FINIS ROM 12. 9. Abhorre that which is evill cleave to that which is good PSALM 51. 2. Wash me from mine iniquitie and cleanse me from my sinne REV. 2. 7. To him that overcommeth I will give to eate of the Tree of Life which is in the middest of the Paradice of God Serious Directions and Instructions for our practice touching Sinne. 1. SEeing Sinne hath got reprieve againe About the world he 'l use his might To flatter men their soules to staine With filthy sinne then with great spight He 'l lay upon men heavie weights And briug their mindes to dreadfull streights 2. The best advise that I can give I readie am to shew to thee How through Gods mercie thou maist live From sinnes Dominion ever free And from the guilt that followes sinne Though Sinne and Sathan bring it in 3. Over thy heart be watchfull still Subdue the rising of the minde And bring thy soule to hate all ill That now or after thou shalt finde The bent of all thy heart let bee To serve the Lord he 'l honour thee 4. The evill motions first of all Resist before thou doe it like Thou easie maist keepe out of thrall If thou defend when sinne doth strike When he doth finde that he 's descrid'd He 'l soone desist his face to hide 5. The temper of thy nature finde And chiefly there keepe strongest guard Against what sinne thou' rt most inclin'd For 't will thy labours well reward Sin will be weake grace will be strong Sin leave thee will ere it belong 6. Occasions shun which else will draw Thee unto sinne and by degrees Thou wilt neglect or hate Gods law And plunge thy selfe in miseries For if sinne get the upper hand Then tyrant-like he 'll thee command 7. Count no sin small that thou dost know The least's enough to make thee dwell To thinke thus makes sin greater grow In the eternall pit of hell There 's no sinne small in Gods account But sinne his mercies doe surmount 8. Bethinke thy selfe what good there hath At any time come in by sin And thou shalt finde nothing but wrath It brings as now so hath it been No good but bad in sinne remaines Though seeming good 't is cursed gaines 9. Consider why God doth thee feed And cloth to sinne it is not so To thee his workes he shewes indeed Thou might'st him serve not like a foe Which of Gods blessings is a grave That giveth naught yet more doth crave 10. Acquaint thy selfe more with Gods word With all things in t there thou shalt see That sinne and sinners on record Are curst to all eternitie And that the godly have reward Though them the world did not regard 11. Love truth divine and precepts still Lay up as treasure in thy heart Thy minde with comforts ever fill They 'l ease and qualifie thy smart The best parts of Philosophy Must stoope unto divinitie 12. When sinne comes thinke it's poyson sweet He brings to take away thy life He is thy foe be so discreet To keepe at distance and at strife Against him all thy power bend If to thy felse thou good intend 13. If Sinne intreat or if 't command Or suit with humours of thy minde Tempt yet be not at any hand To fancies vaine be still unkinde If sinne doe not thee first disarme Thou need'st not feare of taking harme 14. When sinne doth so deforme the shape Of men then looke how comely they When like an Anticke or an Ape They are nay worse than beasts of prey What 's bad in others to behold Thinke worse in thee this case unfold 15. Men would with sinne share in the best Th' account at last all would avoid The sowre must goe with the rest Such men by sinne will be annoyd For when their monsters come to birth None would them father on the earth 16. There 's none in sinne desires to die Though live in sinne they doe desire 'T is best to leave sinne willingly Else sinne at last will bring its hire What 's bad at death bad now appeare What 's good at last is good now here 17. Avoid the Company that 's ill Lest they thee poyson with their breath Resort to such as love truth still Such shew thee life the bad bring death God will preserve the godly heart When wicked men shall feele sinnes smart 18. The worst with God acquaintance claime When all their friends doe them forsake In this they shew their cursed aime Not for himselfe they would him take Though he be lovely but to free Them from sinnes wages miserie 19. When they that love sinne goe to hell They leave such witnesse them behinde A dreadfull stinking noysome smell And ill examples men doe finde Their names from honour leave they free They 'r curst to all posteritie 20. See what an honour God bestowes Vpon his servants here below They daunt the world and sinne orethrowes They doe Gods will for him they know And when that they goe to their rest They leave behinde a name that 's blest 21. Let hatred rise 'gainst sinne and why Not for the shame but for Gods cause And 't was for sinne that Christ did die And so by sinne we breake Gods lawes Because 't is cursed from the Lord Let sinne by thee be still abhorr'd 22. When sinne doth seeme so Angell like Then take good heed lest he on thee His poyson spit his sting thee strike With it no plague compar'd can be The sweet meats surfeit kils the strong With meaner diet weake live long 23. Distrust thou most what most doth please Be
THE MINDE OF THE Frontispiece TIme censures all things Darknes envies Time Light from above doth in its beautie shine Discovering sinfull plots 'cause 't is divine True Life is honoured finding out the crime Th' impartiall Judge foreshewes the horrid fate That Sinne and Death will be unfortunate Bold Ignorance doth plead with Sinne he 'll dwell Death brings At tornies for to plead his cause The Grave maker being idle blames the Lawes The Divell takes his vassall backe to hell All their defence does prove but emptie breath Sinne 's by the sinner staine Life conquers Death POEMS Occasioned by a melancholy vision Or Amelancholy vision vpon diuers Theames Enlarged Which by seuerall Arguments ensuinge is showed His gaudit musa tenearis By H. M London printed by ID for Laurance Blaike locke and are to be sould at his shopp at the suger loose next Temple barrin Fleetstreet 1639 Iohn Droes hout sculy TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE MY VERY good Lord THOMAS Earle of Winohelsee c. RIGHT HON WHen I had compos'd these unpolish'd lines and being urg'd by some of my friends to put them into the wide world to shift for themselves I thought it somewhat an unnaturall part to turne my new-borne Muse out of doores harbourlesse being unknowne lest she should be tost to and fro with some hollow blast of arrogant breath Then musing on the many undeserved favours that I have received from your Lordship which I know not how to requite I thought of presenting my home-bred Muse to your Honour being the first fruits of my poore indeavours in this kinde and as part of the testimony of my humble service in thankfulnes to your Lordship Although somewhat discouraged when I considered the greatnesse of your person together with your worth and gifts of minde meeting with learning and pietie which makes you shine as a fixed Starre in our English region And then looking backe how unworthy my plaine Muse is of your Honours acceptation But when I considered againe what small and weake indeavours such which might claime kindred with this of mine have beene accepted of great personages when they have been drawn as a clew from the bowels of love which I hope your Lordship conceives no lesse of mine And the Eagle though shee soares aloft doth not disdaine to stoope low and the Sunne that is so glorious doth not deny his spangled beams nor cloud his smiling countenance from these infereour darke bodies here below and that the noblest spirits are accompanied with the humblest mindes which I have ever found in your Lordship then my doubts vanisht as the mist before the heate so I resolved to present as here I doe these lines to your Honours protection Humbly craving your Lordships acceptation that they may beare your name So with your Honours countenance they shall passe secure Thus praying that the Lord will inrich you with spirituall blessings and that the dew of heaven may sweeten the fatnesse of the earth to you and your noble off-spring forever And remaine your Honours most humble Servant HUMPHRY MILL TO THE READER WHen first I entertained thoughts of composing a few lines for my own private use having opportunity more than enough without begging or borrowing from other occasions I did not intend that any unlesse it were some familiar friend should so much as see my melancholly Muse in her closet much lesse to see her in an open market especially in so meane a dresse it being no other but that which shee was wrapt in at her first breathing without altering matter fashion or trimming But because I kept her not so close as I might have done some which I call friends have betrayed her and prevented me in my purpose for shee was seene walking abroad without my consent Thus when I perceived that when I gave her an inch she did take an ell I sought to restraine her But ever when she was faultie in this kinde shee came not home alone but brought one or other to excuse her and to plead for her libertie and so being backt by her acquaintance which she had got in a short time shee grew bold then I conceived that if I did not give her leave shee would take it unaskt then partly for feare that she might be corrupted and partly by perswasions whether willingly or unwillingly I gave consent that shee might come and goe at her pleasure But withall charging her that shee should keepe a good decorum that I by her meanes might receive no blame I suppose it is not expected that she should goe in gaudy attire neither doe I desire that shee should take up any upon trust nor borrow much for she hath no necessitie of it I have not mounted upon Eagles wings nor pierc'd the clouds for words to advance her worth but in tearmes nearest at hand such as I am best acquainted withall and as any indifferent Reader may well understand Shee is not adorned onely with leaves but she beareth fruit too is blacke frosts hinder not or wild beasts crop not the branches before it come to maturitie or a worme ingender in the root from envious tongues to cause it to wither If she meet with any that will not afford her a good word yet let him vouchsafe her a good looke aud shee will not die in his debt wherein she failes if thou be able to judge take it in the best sense she gives occasion to use thy charitie in conception in that she sung in winter her throat might be hoarse and being the first time that she sung she would not over-straine her voice I make no question but she can answer for her selfe to give satisfaction to any reasonable man But because I have knowne her from her infancie and seene her behaviour being alwayes modest temperate sober loving and honest not apt to flatter or dissemble nor yet to hide the faults of her friends neither censorious or harsh to any but to such as doe more than deserve it I cannot but commend her and I could wish that shee were grafted upon a better stock that her fruit might be more pleasant Shee began to plucke at the wings of Time but seeing the feathers fal so fast of themselves she stept upon vanitie which shee found to be nothing but the ruines of time so staid not there then beeing cloathed in mourning weeds and in a melancholly humour with a sad tune shee sings a Tragedie of Darknesse but Light comming in she changeth her note putting on fresh garments falles in love with him and sings his praise But hee proving somewhat inconstant here could not make a match but remaines in promise for after times But Life being the thing that hath gained such report and so much desired she tunes a Comedie but finding the miseries of it breake in here upon her and that it is not the thing that it is taken for being full of changes her concords falls into discords Then shee sets her selfe against Sinne the cause of all disorders
having assistants which beares their parts and the burthen of the song with the heavenly powers and hell is forced to sing the base then being in triumph she ventures upon Death as a party with Sinne and gets the day But finding the day of execution rejourned she frames her songs of degrees for her friends to take off their hearts from those dying comforts and sets them in a way that they might not out-live their happinesse The Verses are various in kinde as the subjects are each one hath his severall I need not shew how those that are interwoven doe agree with the bases and how the couplets are entire c. For such that know the nature of them already and for such as doe not let time and experience teach them Let those that are wise affect matter more than words but chiefly that which tends to raise the soule in her flight heaven-ward which my Muse in her songs desires Now I leave her with you use her well shee hath undergone a heavie Presse to gaine your acquaintance shee will beare her owne charge she will bee constant to you her acquaintance will bring you profit if you turne her not out of doores howsoever she will speak the best or say the least of her ill usage TO THE READER GOod Readers still in silence doe passe by The faults incident to humanitie And in the inward Chamber of the heart A Lodging findes and takes all in good part These precious lines by wisedome were obtain'd From him that govern's still the starres unstain'd And now by whom he doth the truth declare Observer he of time is it not rare And in the eye of such as light doe hate Which hell hath hardned and made obstinate Emptie darknesse waites on them at noone Like Egypt dogs they 'l barke still at the Moone But where there 's grace compos'd with policy Heavens influence waiting constantly About the heart that he shall so indite Matter sweet for the soule or hand to write If instances for witnesse be produc'd The wise will conclude that time is abus'd But now the Authour of this lively booke Studently ingeniously hath forsooke The windie froth and vaine glorious sound Can have no footing here upon this ground Judgement affections in reading is desir'd No admiration but divine's requir'd Those sweet perfumes which sweetens every verse Read marke againe unto thy selfe rehearse If information of the wiles of sinrie By reading this unto thy soule comes in Instead of sleights or jeeres thy soule will praise The Lord that gifts men so in these our dayes Thus to unmaske the devils brats and sinne And shews such life that all should strive to win I have to say in truth of commendation More from experience than by relation If evidence unskill'd in poetrie Proves not a blanck in any lótterie Then here stay not but step within the doore There 's Poetrie varietie and store W. G. OF THE POEMS of his Friend I Read those lines in them a worth I spi'd I turn'd them back and found this empty side To praise the worth I had a minde unto it 'T will praise it selfe what need I then to doe it I tooke my pen no longer did contest To try my skill my love will prove the best The lines are usefull sweet and full of matter Composing words which men at randome slatter They are like darts to those that live in sinne They leave all speechlesse that have shamelesse bin And sinne it selfe is followed with such strength With all his power he 's overcome at length To all that loue truth cordials comforts sweet They doe convay to all directions meet Plaine things are rais'd the loftie levell made Things lasting priz'd those slighted that doe fade In pleasing tearmes not strange nor yet too low They beare a grace yet such that all may know And if this be thy Musestuning strings How sweet wil't be when she both tunes and sings Goe now with praise feare not to finde successe What 's here 's thine own thou hast not rob'd the press Had I but hope that I so well could doe I 'd wish that I were melancholy too P. H. To his Friend H. M. HOnour is due to him that doth advance VNdoubted truth with lively circumstance MVch of this skill this Authour hath found out PVts Sinto silence questions out of doubt HAving pursu'd the cause of desolation RAising the hearts sweetly with meditation YOur soules may see their enemies descri'd MAns wit is pliable truly sanctified IN laying siege 'gainst sinne thy Poetry LEaves it accurst in hellish destiny LEt not thy conquest die let 's know the thing SAlly forth little booke feare no deadly sting In Libri Authoris Encomion I Need not praise this Booke nor more to tell But that the matter in 't will make it sell. The worke it selfe wants nought to set it forth 'T will fast enough away through its owne worth Though some the Carver not th' Authours skill Doe more admire the pencill than the quill Such Empericks indeed may fashion it The perfecting's compact by Art and Wit Some men there are that for their worthy parts Their vertue and their skill in many Arts Deserved honour here and those that can Discerne the sequell will applaud the man And must confesse he hath deserved fame And everlasting praise but marke this same And to succeeding ages after tell The period of his life may end and well His name forgotten be but yet this know The worke remaines for ever not for show But for instruction of a civile life Abasing vice too common frequent rife Excluding it yet still in briefe refines True vertues worth eminence throughout his lines Now this to adde and so conclude my Muse Reade it then censure't for it 's meet for use THO COLLET The Arguments A Melancholly Vision Of Time with its use Of the Vanitie of the world Of the Nature of Darknesse Of the Nature of Light Of all sorts of Life Of the Condemnation of Sinne. Of the Arraignment of Death The Reprive of Sinne and Death Advise about Sinne. Instructions touching Death The Resolutions of the Muse. AN ACCIDENTALL Melancholy Vision which occasioned the Poëms ME thought I saw Time in his speedie course His sithe new ground his glasse being almost run All men did strive in vaine to breake his force Tears would not stay him til his work were done He cut downe all none could his fury shun Alas thought I he 'l take me in his way My heavie heart tooke earnest of decay Me thought all sorts me company did beare My eyes did fail my tongue grew speechlesse to My eares were stopt my breath grew short my feare Did so increase I knew not what to do But yet I heard from whence or what or who I could not tell my spirits were agast With world adue me thought I breath'd my last But yet my spirits were but in a trance For Darknesse with his mantle spread me ore With that I did
my courage much advance 'Gainst darknesse yet the combate was so sore That I grew sadder than I was before But yet thinke I I le in defiance stand For I will never be at his command Like one destract I was o'rewhelm'd a while With griefe and care lest I should lose the day Then in comes Light and with a cheerfull smile Revives my spirits Darknesse slinkes away So on the sudden ended was the fray Light shin'd a while but what will 〈…〉 ever What 's made for time a little time 〈…〉 Then light began much like a pleasant spring My heart grew warme I had the sense of it The winters past thought I now birds dosing Why should I thus now melancholly sit Come come rejoyce I hold it very fit I was on suddain ravisht in my soule But that which follow'd did my joyes controule For life brought Care she lookt on me so strange Best things below doe prove but pleasing toyes I found his friendship subject still to change Worm-eaten pleasures breeds uncertain joyes And are like Rattles onely fit for boyes Alas said I how am I thus deceiv'd I catch at comfort and am still bereav'd Then Sin he promis'd full content to me But on such tearmes I should take his direction Feare not said he for we shall well agree But then thought I t wil breed a worse infectiō To staine my soule with horrour and dejection I gave deniall to his cursed sute And did resolve his vilenesse to confute I turn'd about and law sin was in hold Nay now thought I I le have of sin my will Seeing that he was so impudent and bold To tempt me by his promises to ill The soules of many he doth daily spill I gave my voyce against him by and by I turn'd my face and saw him sentenc'd lyc Well now thought I I hope the worst is past I will rejoyce and while my Muse doth sing I le over-looke my sorrow and fore-cast To tune my soule and strike the pleasant string But Death peept in which more ill newes did bring What must I die is all my labour lost Sin set him on seeing he by me was crost But yet resolving while I had my life To try an action so my cause was tried And Death was cast which ended all my strife But then the Divell he could not abide That sin and death should die for then his pride Would be abated so he got them quit Now farewell world I must into the pie But then at last I found another shift I slighted death and thought on heaven above I thought it best to make it still my drift To get the sense of Gods eternall love Me thought'twas brought me by the heav'nly Dove And musing of him when he was ascended And what he brought so was my Vision ended 1 COR. 7. 29. This I say Brethren the Time is short ECCLES 3. 2. There is a Time to be borne and a Time to die ECCLES 9 10. Neither doth man know his Time but as the Fishes that are taken in a not and the snare so are the Children of men snared in an evill Time when it falleth upon them suddainly EPHES. 5. 16. Redeeme the Time because the dayes are evill A DESCRIPTION OF THE NATVRE AND QUALITIE of TIME As also the abuse of it with the good use of TIME POEMS Time thou art that precious part that God doth give to man That living here may in Gods feare proceed the best he can Time's more of worth when 't is set forth in Nature sweet and kinde Than Gold being lost the man is crost that seekes to gaine or finde Time being gone sure there is none can call it backe againe It s in God hand Time cannot stand the Lord of times doth raigne When Time is past though thou make haste to o're-take it s seldome seene But if thou creepe time doth not sleepe but swift hath ever beene If thou but goe time doth not so it runnes thou runn'st 't will flye Get time before and keepe in store lest God thee time deny Thy great estate time will but hate to stay for thee therefore Time knowes not how nor God allow to differ rich from poore Time 's like wise short though fooles in 〈…〉 to make it shorter strive Poore fooles indeed that whipps with 〈…〉 time gone yet thinkes to thrive Alas aday I who is 't that may more then his day stay here What mortall can exceed his span though living now in cheere Death hath time prest that all the rest that on the earth abide Ere it belong though nere so strong the dust may under hide Uncertaine too not much adoe can make us know our time Our suddaine change should not be strange though it come in our prime When men minde not then 't is their lot to die they naught desire it Time will away it must not stay though all the world would hire it Though men do deeme and some esteeme time long yet short's the flower When men are strong it lasts not long times cream's but like an houre Long doe we grow ere we know how to use our time and then We eate and drinke and little thinke to die like other man Much time we sleepe some time we weepe some time we sport and play Some time we win most time we sin thus spend we many a day Some time we joy and vainely toy saying come lets merry be For when death comes we in our tombes this mirth shall never see Some time we dresse we take no lesse time to put off againe Sometime we walke sometime we talke these things who can refraine When strength doth faile old age is fraile and natures ruines are Though old men be we seldome see them for their soules prepare Unlesse before they had in store a stock of comfort got They cannot pray not truely say O Lord thou art my lot Not first nor last of time that 's past our time we vainely spend The creame and flower us'd by Gods power brings comfort at the end This being true I heard one rue how vile a beast am I Lost time I have what may I crave but like a beast to die O time thy price if good advice had wrought upon me then I had thee bought and for thee sought wil 't never come agen Thy front was faire adorn'd with haire but balde behinde thou art To follow thee boots not for me for griefe hath kild my heart Thou art too swift for me unthrift whether I doe goe or runne My friend also is turn'd my foe alas my thread is spunne Short is the pleasure of sinfull leasure but still the sting remaines Long lives the smart which kils my heart with never dying paines I did beleeve that on my sleeve time and Repentance fast Was pin'd and when I car'd not then they both were quickly past Then thou my friend that seest my end take heed at any rate For now in hell I goe to dwell all comforts come too
late Make use of time now in thy prime lay hold on saving grace Lest at the last God doe thee cast from heaven his dwelling place Into that Lake where lives the snake with hell-hounds yelling fast Where thou shalt crie and burning lye thy dolour still shall last GOOD VSE OF TIME With meanes to bee used to make advantage of it VVEll now I see what miserie that time ill spent doth bring Hearing these words they cut like swords teares from my eyes they wring Time be my friend I le make an end and leave my vaine delights I will thee use and not abuse and give to thee thy rights Thou art of price I will be wise to make of thee such gaine As through Gods grace I le thrive apace Gods love shall me constraine Though short time is I will not misse in time to serve the Lord And then will he still present be and comfort me afford Then time make haste and run as fast or having wings thou flye Then to my fort I will resort under Gods wings I le lye Though suddenly thou com'st to trie how ready I shall be Then thus I say I le watch and pray from feare I shall be free Against that houre Lord by thy power of comforts give mestore Live thou my soule free from controule when time shall be no more Now thou my friend that good intend use well the time while here Thou stay then sure thou shalt endure fresh comforts shall appeare Alas how may I thou wilt say make use of times sad story I may at last when time is past by grace attaine to glory Serve God while young when thou art strong to overcome thy Lust Make haste also and with time goe or be behinde thou must Deny thy strength and now at length make God thy chiefest guide Let in thy brest sin never rest but chiefly downe with pride Beleeve thou art freed from the smart of sin of death and hell By him that came from heavens frame sometime on earth to dwell Be good and kinde to all that minde the God of time to serve Serve all in love from God above let thy heart never swarve Unloose thy joyes from earthly toyes and willing be to part For worldly things no comfort brings let heaven have thy heart So now we see how we may be of time good stewards then Let us be blest Lord to thy rest and enter may Amen FINIS 1 JOHN 2. 17. The World passeth away and the Lust thereof 1 COR. 7. 31. The fashion of this World passeth away THE FADING CONDITION OF EARTHLY THINGS With the Application of it THe Vanity of earthly things appeareth on this wise False joy true discontent it brings who could them not despise What are the Nobles of the earth but honoured clodds of clay Though they are made so great by birth such time consumes away What are the learned'st here below but reverend heapes of dust Also the wisest that I know dissolved be they must What are the richest of the time ere growne they fade away So doe the greatest in their prime euen fade till quite decay What are the fairest of this age but skin thicke beauties found Must not the stoutest though they rage lye even with the ground And must not poore and lowly too at last be lower brought All of all sorts though much adoe ere long must turne to naught If Nobles be though honoured so mortall in their kinde I le be content though meaner bred and comming thus behinde Shall finde as much respect with death the wormes and eke the grave As truly honoured Nobles sith they there no Lordships have If learning will not much availe when time begins to close Though they are like when they prevaile the Lilly and the Rose The learning of the truth shall be the thing I most intend When all things changed thus shall be my comfort shall not end If worldly wisedome doth no good to helpe in time of need I le not adore the serpents brood nor run with them to speed My wisedome for to know my God his Christ through his good grace My selfe my sins and eke Gods rod 't will make me mend apace If rich men and their riches are thus subject all to fade O pitty them that with much care their gods of them hath made My care shall be to be as rich in God I may or can To bring my selfe up to the pitch to feare nor flatter man What cannot greatnesse death withstand nor shun his mortall dart Let no man thinke to take in hand to free him from that smart My care shall be to frame my life and daily die to sinne And living may thus free from strife a heavenly life begin Nor cannot beauty with her smiles once charme deaths frowning face Who then so hard y thinkes his wiles can turne his common trace I love the beautie that 's within and in the heart doth lye It 's fresh in heaven being freed from sin when death it selfe shall die Cannot the man that is so stout himselfe free from the dread What is the man that goes about redemption from the dead I desire to take away the sting from death and him disarme Being done by faith to God I le sing his praise thus fre'd from harme And why must poore and lowly men lye lower in the dust It 's so decreed I say agen that all men living must Poore be content for you shall see the rich for all their store As low interr'd in earth shall be though men doe them adore Let low in heart rejoyce that have a Kingdome for their owne The King of Kings will all them save when proud are overthrowne Let 's all prepare our selves for change We must not long stay here That God to us may not be strange then come thou King of feare Not noble birth nor learning high nor wise nor rich nor great Nor faire nor stout poore nor lowly 〈…〉 must be wormes meat Come downe proud hearts for thus I say that death hath no remorse Obend to God and to him pray lest thou be broke by force Then farewell all contents below all must to judgement come How they have liv'd so shall they know for to receive their doome FINIS GEN. 1. 2 The Earth was without forme and Darknesse was upon the Deepe ROM 13. 12. Cast away the workes of Darknesse EPHES. 5. 11. Have no fellowship with the unfruitfull workes of Darknesse but reprove them rather POEMS DARKNESSE DISCOVERED With the dreadfull effects thereof The Argument in Charge 1. COme come my Muse put on thy sad aray Black darknesse scorning in a hatefull tone And if thou canst him banish quite away Thou shalt have praise almost of every one Be bold and by him be not thou out-fac'd If he 'll not part let him remaine disgrac'd 2. Thou black and hideous monster on the earth Darknesse I meane I never yet could finde That he which made the world brought thee to birth Thou art
of hellifh nature kin by kind To that curst fiend that rules in thee by might Thou must give place he claims thee for his right 3. If hell had been before there was a Divell I should have judg'd that thou hadst bin the same As first so worse than any other evill Thou art till now I never knew thy name A dreadfull night-hag blacknesse type of death Thou hinder'st light thy vapors poyson breath 4. An evill spirit thou art there is no doubt Thou do'st so haunt me where so ere I goe Though I remote be thou do'st finde me out And lookst so ghastly like a deadly foe If I haste home yet thou art there before Waiting my comming for to vexe me more 5. Thou art so bold no company or place Can shake thee off thou most unwelcome guest The comeliest creature thou do'st still disgrace Onely with blinde men thou art in request Or hatefull creatures that doe shun the light Doe follow thee and so play least in sight 6. Had not the glorious light appear'd still thou Hadst kept possession of the world and then None ever could at any time tell how To differ beasts though wilde from sons of men Gods praise of all his works had quite bin lost Had he not brought in light and darknes crost 7. But still thou shar'st with light of time and place And shew'st thy swarthie visage every where I de make thee creepe in holes not snew thy face No more thou shouldst if I could powerst care Th' obscurest den should ever be thy tombe Till hell did take thee at the day of doome 8. Men were not made with eyes and not to see Such pleasant colours made were for delight What use of these when men in darknesse be What dost thou then but rob us of our right Dost peepe in now be gone or else I le fire Thy horrid shape let cursed be thy hire 9. Thou envious viper why so long dost keepe Possession of some countries ere thou part Wouldst have a creature halfe a yeare to sleepe No fruit thou hast poore beasts do feele the smart Thou keepst frō others mē must wait thy leisure Ther 's no excuse nor reason 't is thy pleasure 10. A man that travels on his way he thinkes No harme is neare him but thou hid'st the way Then suddainly into a pit he sinkes So by thy meanes that doth his life destroy Thou dost not care thou wouldst not blush awhit If all that lives should fall into a pit 11. Contrarily when men in Darknesse goe They see a bush but take it for a Theefe And so a friend is taken for a foe Of all mistakes in mischiefe thou art chiefe I never knew thee to repent of any Of all such wrongs though they were nere so many 12. Thou hant'st the day that it can never rest Thy fury shewes the curstnesse of thy spirit And when the chāpion hides him in the west Thou tak'st his place there thou wouldst stil inherit But light doth conquer and breaks up thy fort Monrun from thee to light they doe resort 13. What use of thee can any creature make For any good what profit dost thou bring Or what delight can any creature take In thee thou envi'st every living thing But Batts and Owles are companie for thee And graves remote how noysome ere they be 14. Nay worse thā al that I before have told Thou' rt good for nothing but with sleeping dreams Thou cheatest men the blindest are most bold And whē they wake their wants are in extreams Thou fright'st men too mak'st some fools sōe mad All this is true o this is worse than bad 15. Yet worse I le say that no man can deny it Thou coverest sin and dost still take his part Thou art reserv'd and close I doe defie it Thou hid'st sins vermin that should feel the smart And good that should lye open to the world Thou hid'st it so that in a grave 't is hurl'd 16. A traytor thou art guilty of the treason That traytors act in vaults and hideous Cels Thou keep'st their counsels is there any reason But thou should'st share with thē in deadly spels Nay thou are first in all things that are ill Thy partners die but thou remainest still 17. By thy assistance theeves doe seeke their prey They rob and steale thou dost their counsell keep When they breake houses 't is not in the day 'T is in thy presence when men are asleepe Thou cozening varlet dost not thou partake With all such villaines thou dost share a stake 18. Mē spend whole nights in play their means al Thou dost them shelter with a sable hue They 'l turne thee into day but they inthrall Themselves day is their night shame their due For when light peeps on them they slink away Thou mak'st them bold but light doth them bewray 19. What art thou but a Pandar to the whore To countenance such basenesse that they doe When thou hast curtain'd light and not before They serve their lusts art thou not guiltie too Such things are cover'd yea maintain'd by thee As clownes blush at and mad men hate to see 20. Thou go'st with death you both agree together If one goe first the other followes fast Who is the master 't is no matter whether How can you ' gree too slow thou he too fast Runs death in darknes throws his dart so right You both conspire against the blessed light 21. Darknes thou tak'st on thee such dreadfull state That sin and death doth still upon thee waite Having their love thou dost procure thee hate Of all that know thy trickes and finde thy baite Thou art accurst of all that see thy shape 'T is more ugly than any Beare or Ape 22. Thou chargest men with candle torch and tapers Those that doe purchase any time of thee When thou dost come and bring thy hatefull vapors Shall buy it deare if they would constant be Thou ever still dost seeke for to undoe us And enviest much when any light comes to us 23. Though I chide thee yet stil thou star'st upon me And dost not shrinke a whit thou mak'st me fret Thou dost out-face me pressing more upon me With thy blacke guard thou dost upon me set I call for light but thou dost wait till when My candle 's out and then thou com'st agen 24. Mans time is short yet thou tak'st halfe his life He answer must for that blacke time that thou Dost bring on him 't is that that breeds us strife To be redeem'd from thee we know not how The willinger to part from earth I le bee Freed from thy shade I perfect light shall see 25. Unlike to God thou art no darknesse dwell With him may thou hast nothing else thy name Is darknesse thou wilt soone all light expell If thou hadst might for free thou art from shame Thou dar'st not looke in heaven this I know God lets thee stay for punishment below 26. Most fitly unto
too enjoyes her fill Of thee and dwels in heaven still Wishing that that black storme were past OF THE LIFE OF GLORIE 81. At last the bodie thou wilt meet With triumph and with joy so sweet To welcome home thy ancient friend The bodie and the soule rejoyce That ever they made thee their choyce This joy shall never have an end 82 Now thou in heaven dost excell Thy glory there I cannot tell How to expresse the least degree The Saints above that weare thy crowne Can truly blaze thy rich renowne I wish that I were there to see 83. No death nor sorrow there doth waite There is no sin to lay a baite Nor yet the shadow of distresse There is no cause of feare for ever The Divell durst nere to indeavour For to attempt thee more or lesse 84. Thou art so full of beautie then Thou shin'st so in the soules of men Their bodies doe enjoy the same Their soules and bodies are more bright Than starres are in the clearest night All life to this doth seeme but lame 85. That 's nothing else but light divine Thou in the meanest Saint dost shine Transparently and sweetly still All Saints and Angels doe accord With thee to praise the living Lord And all of them there have their fill 86. Thou art so active too that now All things are pleasure to thee thou No stop at all haste in thy wayes Thy vigor's quicke and nimble too The worke that thou hast there to doe The living God 't is still to praise 87. Thy glory is exceeding great Otree of life who of thee eate Are no way subject to decay And all that doe enjoy thee there Their glory doth in thee appeare Most blessed evermore are they 88. The God of life doth honour give To thee himselfe doth with thee live Thy worth is farre above the skie He rules by thee and in his Love Thou shalt be blest with him above Past time to all eternitie FINIS POEMS Pleasant and Profitable THE ARRAIGNMENT Together with the condemnation of Sinne and Death OR A Discovery of the alluring sleights of Sinne. And then Tormenting For which he is accused and legally condemned So likewise Death being unsatiable he 's accus'd and condemned A Repreive beg'd by Sathan for them granted by the Lord upon condition Whereunto are added sundry Directions and Instructions for our conversations touching Sinne and Death BY H. M. London Printed by John Dawson 1639. THE ALLVRING SLEIGHTS OF SIN AND PROMISES First for the Thoughts The Argument with charge to the Muse. MUse raise thy voice arm'd with revenge to sin Disclose his plots and evidence give in Against him though he his defence do make Dasht with reply for the poore sinners sake Bring verdict in then sentenc't let him be To hell his pleaders judge to miserie The alluring nature of sinne When sinne with heavens Angels found successe And since that time on earth hath found no lesse It goes on still to bring men downe to hell Where Sathan is which once above did dwell Yet for reward doth promise much content So serpent like it doth men circumvent Sinne first begins much like a rubbing sore A little give that little cals for more Thus many littles doe rise to a summe And so insnar'd from sin then few do come Man loves his sin but sin returnes him hate Man bids a price but sin holds up its rate Man gives his hand his eye or any part All will not serve till sin hath got the heart What think'st thou me saith sin to be so base That give delight to any of that race That doth me love and tread my pleasant wayes I le give thee mirth come now fulfill my joyes If rich thou wilt then rich thou sure shalt be Or to be great I le greatnesse promise thee If to be wise thou set thy hearts desire Come follow me and men shall thee admire Name what thou wilt and thou shalt have thy minde Unto me onely loving be and kinde I le change my selfe to Angell shape to please Thy humours fond and so I will thee ease If merry thou then merry will I be If sad thou art I le seeme to greeve for thee If play thou wilt then will I make thee sport And shew my face when thou art all amort Come please thy thoughts thy thoughts are now as mine Thy thoughts are free to sin thy thoughts incline Sometimes to pride sometimes to lust and rage Sometime to scorne the best men of the age Sometime sin past let on thy thoughts long stay Sometime let present sin drive that away Sometime thy thoughts for sin to come be prest Till it come forth let thy thoughts never rest The desperate temptation of sinne to vile words And let thy words be lying proud and stout Still make thy selfe the best of all the rout Great words of slanders malice strife wrong Why art thou made but thus to use thy tongue Say what thou wilt to any never care Speake loftily to fooles they 'l thinke thee rare Draw men with words to me I le thee reward When they by meanes of thee doe me regard Plead thou for sinne but for the adverse part Sweare curse them down vex them to the hart The cursed temptation of sin to hellish practises So let thy practise answerable be To thoughts and words as thou hast learn'd of me Deny no sin no pride or want on lust Grow rich by fraud see on the world thou trust What needst thou care for rich when thou art fed Both full and fat with the deceitfull bread And for the poore what are the poore to thee Care for thy selfe poore thou in time maist be Get what thou canst returne it not againe And seeke thy ease though others are in paine And if on any goods or money spend Let be on such as such like things intend Resort to such as goe in the same way Which Sathans guard attend on every day Care not to pray good books read not nor heare Love pleasant things for back and belly cheare Detract from good men see thou honour give To those that serve me and most rudely live Shame truth in practise out of favour strike it Be still perverse and I shall ever like it And to observe these things be thou addrest What 's wanting now ere long shall be exprest The blasphemous consent of the sinner to the temptations of sinne If this be true that sinne doth promise me I le follow it and so we shall agree To please my selfe shall be my chiefest care Oppose me not I thinke no man doth dare Why should I not in sinfull thoughts delight Why should I not speake proudly in despight I le be perverse in practise say who will Turne backe thy heart in sinne take not thy fill What can I wish but pleasure and content This I shall have I need not to repent I shall be rich and great I like it well And counted wise with them 'mongst whom I
againe let Sathans will be crost And then will I thy goodnesse still unfold And cause poore sinners mercy to behold Hee findes successe in his suit with God Alas poore man I pitie on thee take I doe intend thee my redeem'd to make Thou shalt from sinne and Sathan be set free Onely thou shalt be servant unto me I heard thy mone my bowels could not stay To grant thy suit no longer I le delay Thy dreadfull passion came before my sight Then my compassion sent down heavenly light I will thee make an instrument of praise To fight with sin and Sathan all thy dayes Seeing I have brought thy soule and body back From hell whether sin commanded thee to pack And after thou hast serv'd me herein love Then thou shalt dwell with me in heaven above And sin and death that sought to ruine thee Shall be arraign'd and both condemn'd by me The nature of Death with his unsatiable speech and lamentation VVhen death by sin had once possest the earth And found that man was mortall made by birth Still since that time he strikes at all mankinde As well the great as those that come behinde The first man living though a mighty King Death ventred on and struck him with his sting All good bad that liv'd in ancient time Though some liv'd long yet some died in their prime The best that ever on the earth had breith Though free from sin yet was not freed frō death So till this day experience proveth true He darts down some and claimes the rest for due His hungry jawes will ner'e be satisfied While one doth live and on the earth abide And if that once the man that lives he have Brought down to death he bars him in the grave And so triumphs and rules among the slaine For where his kingdome is there he doth raigne When he hath pill'd the world of all her store Though this is done yet still he wishes more O that there were an other world or two I would to worke and make no more adoe O that I mght but use my kingly power Then I would seek mans ruine every hower Graves yeeld no food that give me such content As living flesh to that my mind is bent Nothing there is so pleasant to my taste As lives of men when I doe lay them waste What am I made a King but for a time No power can I use amongst the flime Unlesse it be the silly wormes to slay That can I in the least part of the day I thought I should have been a King for ever Sin set me up I doing my indeavour Perform'd the worke that I was bid to doe I fear'd no man for I was hardy too Assure so quicke for in a little space All nations people were brought in deadly case And must I needs give ore this mighty trading Which cōstant was though all the world was fading This is not all I think I heard some say I must be bound ore to the judgement day If it be so I my defence will make As Kings of all their subjects place doetake Untill that time you 'l heare no more of me How stands the case then all the world shall see Sinnes probable destinie Sinne 's now accus'd with all his sinfull crimes Laid to his charge 't is corrupt are the times The righteous man which doth against sin stand Is very like to have the upper hand Unto the seate of Justice sin is brought An equall judge doth never stand for nought But tries the truth and gives to each his due When once of it he hath had a carefull view Sinne being apprehended is accused before an impartiall Judge Sinne hath me vext ere since I had a being And all men else that carefull are in seeing Shall finde him plotting mischiefe with his will VVith malice murther striving for to kill The seed of good that in mans heart are sowne And every plant that is not of his owne If one be good that hee would from him take If one be bad he tries him worse to make From bad to worse from worse to worst of all More could I say sin counts these things but smal Sinnes vile answer and Request Answer to this what is this true or no T is all but lyes he is my deadly foe He speakes for malice his words have no savor Hee 's but a foole and thinkes to curry favour Because forsooth I am not so precise Though I doe sweare he tells as many lies He hates my waies and I hate his as much I doe him scorne as also loath to touch What though in mirth I take my liquor well What though I brawle rail with them I dwel What though I play and sport both day night Though I blaspheme and court what I might I force no man if I can any draw With craft or fraud I hold it in good law This I will add I 'le open all my store Seeing he is vext I 'le vexe him ten times more Because indeed I doe not often pray And when I doe my heart shall be away He 'd have me read and heare a blacke reproach Poore foolish things yet farre above my reach Pray Sir consider this and free me quite Out of the hands of this malicious wight The Impartiall Iudge his answer he turnes over Sinne and Death to be tried by the Judge of the world Now well it is I heard you each oue single But thy vile words have made my eares to tingle What he did say thy words have now made worse What cāst expect but Gods eternal curse His words are true thine most unjust appeare Sin 's the Delinquent the Righteous man I cleare I le turne thee over to that righteous Judge To whom the world must yeeld though many grudge There thy confession shal be on record Besides the rest that will come word for word I have no baile must I in prison lye That matters not from God thou canst not flye And Death of whom I heate such ill report I understand to be thy great confort Call him to me it 's no matter let him stay Both are reserv'd unto a greater day The righteous man that did thee apprehend Will ruine thee thou canst it not defend And Death by Life will be und one also Your seeming friends each one will turne a foe The Righteous man hath leave granted to prosecute Sinne and Life to prosecute Death Who 's that below that faine would speak with mee A poore sinner Lord that lies in miserie What is that other which by thee doth stand Lord this is Life that doth preserve a land What would yee have speak both for both have breath Free me from sin Free me likewise from death What hath Sin done or Death seeing you desire Sin promis'd good but death comes for sins hire Here they are both give us both leave to speake If thou deny Lord both our hearts will breake Both speak your minds the Saints I made the
thy lust tush thou wilt nere be shent If filthy lust take thus the guilt it brings Goes not alone but with it other things I observe those that he doth conquer when They 'r so insnar'd doe never turne agen Now save us Lord from all those cursed wayes And cut off sinne we 'll serve thee all our dayes Humilitie the fourth Sinne with his breath would puffe me up so full Of great conceits who foolish am and dull That what I doe the best I doe exceed Such thoughts in me sinne labours still to breed Of what I doe I lose the comfort still For sinne doth trie my heart with pride to fill And then I must my betters still contemne All of all sorts I proudly must condemne Though I doe ill and all men know the same I must deny 't as quit from any blame And if I am to any man a debter Tush let him waite for am not I his better Nay sinne would make me set my selfe most out When cursed pride my folly spreads about If men do not give me the cap and knee I scorne them must as enemies to me Will they not bend to such a man as I I 'de make themknow their carriage I defie If I doe good it 's seldome and not much A worthy worke sinne telles me of all such If one good thought comes in or word goes forth Sinne saith it is esteem'd of wondrous worth Of all that 's ill account God doth not take But takes all well even for my persons sake 〈…〉 trouble 's much but much I cannot speake 〈…〉 am I Lord help else my heart will breake That good I doe or have Lord 't is thine owne The ill is mine let sinne be overthrowne Then shall thy praises be exalted high By humble men that doe on thee relie The Lord commands the Saints in heaven to speake what they found of sinne Now have these mortals each one spoke his mind So let immortall spirits speake in their kinde As they have found and knowne let them bring in Their testimonie so ' I le judge of sinne And as he did my creatures still betray So from my wrath he shall receive his pay For what is done so Justice by my hand He shall receive 't will bring ioy to the land A speech of the Saints in Heaven against sinne We dwelt on earth but now in heaven are To serve the Lord it was our daily care Mongst many troubles sinne was still the cheefe And by his factors did procure our greefe Both day and night he waited still to catch To trap our soules he evermore did watch He 'd speake in men they bold would not deny it And so by sinne our lives were made unquiet And we through weaknesse many times did yeeld Then sinne did triumph when he got the field Then did he blaze our faults throughout the nation And striv'd to bring us all to desperation The strong offended th' weak made weaker were The bad grew worse and at our falls did jeere But when by thee we got our former strength Against all sinne we did resolve at length Then sinne did strive to force us to his bent Against all conscience seeming good intent Propounding law which claimes it as a due To have us yeeld to that which was untrue But when we would not gree unto their charmes We were betraid and brought to deadly harmes Some were adjudg'd in prison to be cast And were brought out and burned at the last Some of us starv'd some cut in peeces small Some rackt to death which death was worst of all So many torments ages can record That sinne did bring because we kept thy word So sinfull men with mischiefes set us round Till they had laid us underneath the ground But thou O Lord when ended were our dayes Brought'st us above where now we sing thy praise The man presseth God by Argument to destroy sinne And now thy Saints that live upon the earth They doe despise sinne makes it still his mirth Though they be pillars of the time and place Uphold the world still for mans living race Take them away the world would soone be fit'd Sinne with his imps against the just are hir'd Lord cut off sinne for now his cause is tri'd And free thy Saints which on the earth abide The Angels reply against sinne Although we were not made like earthly creatures But more Divine and of celestiall natures Sinne was so bold with Angels he attempted Against the Lord sinne was not there exempted Then Legions did such treason there conspire Sinne was ador'd the Angels had their hire Sinne was the cause that they were cast to hell Sinne made escape and still on earth doth dwell Why should not he which was the cause of evill Partake with wrath and torment with the devill Sinne did the Angels blessed state prevent So let him now share in the punishment Lord thou dost keepe us by thy blessed power Else we should fall by sinne within an houre We now attend and looke to thine elect We know that sinne doth daily them infect Drawing from them the comforts of thy grace So bringing them into a dreadfull case Sinne doth de face thy image in the minde An other stampe when we returne we finde So sinne doth quell the motions of thy spirit Yet by their works sinne tels them they shal merit Sin doth destroy the worke of thy creation Doe thou destroy sin for mans preservation The Damned are called to witnesse against sinne Come now yee fiends of darknesse shew and tell What yee on earth did what ye finde in hell You cursed furies and you damned spirits That wrought for sin and now you have your merits Ye horrid factors ever were for sinne Survey your gaines returne and bring it in You liv'd in sin and with sin did converse Your living death will helpe you to rehearse You were his friends doth friendship still remain If all be lost where is your sinfull gains Speake now you hell-hounds of this dreadfull story Sinne will be silent ever to my glory First how they were deceived by sinne and compares sinne to contemptible things and how he failes of his promise Sinne did bewitch us with his cursed smiles And by deceipt he trapt us with his wiles He hid the light darknesse before our eyes Was set and still the truth we did despise Like Batts and Owles that hate the lightsome day And as the theef loves darknesse for his prey Such is the sinner having cursed ends Against whoever any good intends We hated all and never had regard To man nor cause unlesse 't were for reward VVe were like bruits save onely we could talke VVe liv'd by sense and did most vilely walke Ocursed viper who can set thee out Great part of hell thou art there is no doubt Thou limbe of Sathan none can match thy evill God made thee not but thou didst make the devill Thou ugly serpent monster of the earth Thou bring'st forth daily thy
unshapen birth Thou scum of vermin thou art worst of any And if there were ten thousand times as many The Plagues of Egypt cannot equall thee Nor all that have been are or ere shall be The Serpent hath his place where he abides The lesser vermine on the earth so glides They seek not me they sting but once for all The body not the soule they cause to fall Thou in all places hast thy subtill snares To bring all men to everlasting cares The more thou sting'st the more thou dost delight Both soule and body thou seek'st to stroy quite Sinne didst not thou like fooles lull us asleep And darkensse bring when light did once but peepe All seedes of evill in us thou didst sowe All seeds of good thou still did'st overthrowe Our thoughts of God our souls our death our change Our sins heaven hell all these were very strange We had our fills of sin we made our boast And they that in their sins exceeded most Were most belov'd with us of all the rest The worst of men wee counted still the best Though knowledge we did want to purchase fame Wee 'd sweare and lie and thereby raise a name If good we knew we never did intend To do that good or if bad strive to mend Sinne promi'sst us to free us still from strife And give us good the daies of all our life And at the end we need not feare but we Should dwell in heaven to all eternitie Some n'ere were raised from the sleepe of sinne Till they in hell close prisoners were within But some on earth began their hell before The first of that of which they now have more This we can say and more if need require Now one alone relate sins fearfull hire And how we are and in what wofull place Our company and endlesse easelesse case Some of them in a dreadfull manner relate the torments of hell and cries out for vengeance upon sinne and departed O heavens heare and earth what sin hath brought Upon all us that sold our selves for nought We are through sin accursed from the Lord Of men and Angels we are all abhorr'd I want a tongue to shew this wrathfull rage And fury to remaine times after age The blacknesse and the darknesse is so great Light there is none but still abides the heate Of fire and brimstone burning in the flame The dregs of sinne is mingled with the fame We live yet die and dying still remaine Our soules with horrour bodies fill'd with paine How dreadfull 't is and in what grievous sort Laid on all parts and persons I le report We drinke our teares and sorrow is our food Curses our portions we see nor heare of good The fearfull cries and howlings that below We heard these all the damned soules do know The ghastly lookes and lamentable grones The great complaints with heavie griefe mones Sin there attends and acteth still his part Blows up the fire there worms still gnaw the heart The dungeon is exceeding large and deepe Where ugly vermine evermore doe creepe The devils doe attend us every houre And bring fresh torment by their cursed power No dram of comfort ever doth come neare it This heavie doome we hellish Imps must beare it We have no friendship none to shew us favour And all are fierce and of a rude behaviour No ease at all at any time we finde Our bodies burne and anguish burnes the minde Diseases all strangullion stone or gout The least part of our torment set not out But one thing more and that is worst of all Our paines to all Eternity stay shall When dayes and yeares and ages are all past Our plagues remaine our torments still do last No comfort friends no ease nor end will be Found now I sinke under my miserie Thou curse of curses thou the cause of it That I and all that in the infernall pit Must stay yet thou art never a whit asham'd Of all thy vilenesse that hath now been nam'd Let all that live for ever still disdaine Thy name and cursed let it so remaine O Damne him damne him to a horrid cell Not here with us but in another hell For if with us our sinnings wil not cease And him to see our torments will increase Ah worse yet is the friend if worse may be I must away the Divells come for mee The Charge to the Iury. The case is cleare ther 's none that can deny it That sins the canse of all our great disquiet The heavenly host with men on earth concluded The damned too all were by sinne deluded These things and more I do aberre be true And so the case doth now appeare to you Now as you finde so give your verdict in Accordingly I l'e sentence give on sin The Introduction to the verdict Against thy person sin was ever bent And all thy workes to spoyle was his intent Thy sonne from heaven downe to earth did goe But sinne to him did prove a deadly foe And did oppose the worke of his redemption Which sinfull men should give from sins exemptiō But when in this he could not have his will His bloud he shed the worth remaineth still He watcht with death to keepe him in the grave Of what was done men might not comfort have But all in vaine 't was sinfull labour lost Man was redeem'd and comfort had sinne crost Against the Spirits blessed worke in hand He sets himselfe and goodnesse doth withstand And from all men all comfort he would take And in mans heart an I doll God he 'd make 'T is time t is time to take with sinne a course With men 't is ill in time it would be worse The verdict of the Jurie against Sinne and his witnesses We have concluded in our consultation And finde sinne guilty by the information For his defence to be most rude and vaine His witnesses as bad appeareth plaine They guilty are as parties in the cause They broken have nay they condemne thy lawes The reply proves and their examination We finde them worthy of a deepe damnation The Preface to the sentence Now sinne thou art convicted all may see The Jury to thy judgement doth agree Thy wickednesse is open laid to view To all the world which say that hell 's thy due And those foure men which for thy cause did stand The cursed'st worke that ere they tooke in hand For love of thee themselves have now undone They plaid for sweet they have the sower wonne The Sentence against Sinne. I sentence Sinne for ever to be cast In lowest hell where furious flames doe last In dungeon darke where fire is divided The light from heate there thon shalt be derided All torment that the devils can invent With all their store of curses shall be spent On thee from thence thou never shalt returne In flaming wrath thou evermore shalt burne To all delights now thou shalt bid farewell Away begon into the pit of hell The sentence against Sinnes
assistants And you that for sinne acted such a part And 'gainst my truth have tried all your art Receive your doome for this will be your hire Ye cursed goe into eternall fire Where divels dwell and monsters doe inherit The fruits of sinne there each one hath his merit There you shall stay for ever and from me No light of comfort you shall ever see In sorrow you eternitie shall spend Depart from me for now you know your end FINIS POEMS CONCERNING DEATH AN INDIGHTMENT AGAINST DEATH by LIFE being Plaintiffe With the Event and Issue thereof LONDON Printed by John Dawson 1639. OF DEATH 1 Cor. 15. 56. Death where is thy sting Hosea 13. 14. O Death I will be thy death 1 Cor. 15. 26. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is Death The Argument in charge to the Muse. ADdresse thy selfe my Muse to that sad tale Of Death though grim ghastly wan pale His looke feare not for I will see thee righted Speake bold for life thou need'st not be affrighted Accuse him answer with a sharp reply His vaine defence and sentenc'd let him dye A Plea against Death Lord now I have brought Death to be arraign'd A Traitor he already is proclaim'd To be against thy sonne the life of all The world that hath been are or ever shall Remaine on earth unlesse some course in hand Be taken now to cut him from the Land O let me never beare thy name in vaine To yeeld to Death my losse he counts his gaine Now let this tyrant be by thee destroy'd That hath so long so much my peace annoy'd An examination of the case a commana to speake their mindes What wouldst thou have done to him speak thy mind What he hath done that 's il that he shal find To him I shall returne againe like measure As he did mete I le open now my treasure Of wrath and vengeance and upon him poure And he shall know what 't is life to devoure I le heare you both now life speake what of Death Thou know'st death why he stroys living breath And testimony that about the cause You can produce according to my lawes For so I le Judge and give to each his right My truth appeare shall in all peoples sight The Indightment against Death in generall When thou at first didst breath me in the soule Of man alive he was who did controule His living state but death when he for ever Might then have liv'd with doing his indeavour But fearfull Death did stare him in the face And did his glory utterly disgrace His name was fearfull and men at it bend The thoughts of Death brought forth untimely end To some the rest that liv'd the course of nature The feare of him did weaken so their stature That when he came he had not much to doe Halfe dead before for they were sinfull too And captives like he chain'd them in the grave Close prisoners none out of his hands could save A man so cruell as it doth appeare Men durst not aske he kept them so in feare He scorn'd to take a courtesie from any Nor did regard their teares though nere so many The old mans plaint he never did regard The strong mans valour with death did reward The young mans person never did respect The infants smiling ever did neglect The virgins beauty he did still defie The fathers griefe he slighteth presently The mothers weeping he did still disable Although she mist her children at the table The childe though kneeling begs life for his father Then death in fury saith he 'l have him rather The loving daughter seekes life for her mother But death lookes in and cries give me another The masters cares considers not a whit The servants paines with death so payes he it The Bridegroomes joy he turneth into sorrow The Brides delight today he spoyles tomorrow Or any one that sueth for his friend If he grieves much death brings the sooner end On him but helpes him not a jot but brings On all men death and kils all other things Thy servants Lord that were by me maintain'd In all the world yet death hath all them gain'd And while they had a being here on earth They trouble had but seldome knew what mirth Did meane yea some of them that I am sure Through feare of death a bondage did endure At home abroad or ever where they went They still did thinke his bow was ever bent No comfort in the world then did they take Of any thing that God did for them make I was to them aburthen yet they call For joy but then the King of feare spoyl'd all And fresh discō for t brought into their harts Frighting their mindes death breeds such inward smarts The thoughts of death bring out the guilt of sin Annoye without distemper all within And to this day it is his practice still With darts of death the bloud of all to spill Where as he findes me he doth hate me so His venome spits and is a cruell foe The birds the beasts the fish all that have sense A suit of death against him doth commence And he by might doth ever get the day And as his right he takes them all away The plants that live a bare life and no more Scarce men can see life in them 't is so poore Death findes it out as plainly doth appeare And kils their fruit some once some twice a yeare At last the stock to death must give a place For fruit and stocke death doth at last disgrace Nay if there were of persons or of things A world of millions more he 'd use his stings Till all were gone if thou didst not restraine His power then still like a King he 'd raigne The more he slayes the more he doth desire The lower men are he is rais'd the higher He hath confest the ruine of mans life Is that he seekes he gaines they lose so strife Hath been betwixt us ever since the first I doe perceive he for mans bloud doth thirst Till he himselfe doe die he 'l never cease To kill his name 's enough to stroy mans peace Against Death in particular What have I done that death should envie me Was I not made to quicken men by thee Why then should death a greater power have I being free to make me like a slave If I doe ill correct me with thy hand But why should Death have me at his command Death had his being at the first by sinne And as a vassall to him still hath been Sinne goes before then Death he takes his place They both conspire against mans living race For they agree in all that suits with evill And with consent doe gratifie the Devill For his device and subtill slights that he Did still invent brought all to miserie Should Death that by thee never being had And workes for sinne O this is too too bad Rule over all that goodly worke of thine To spoile it too his malice doth
Sexton dyed the Parson stood my friend To helpe me in such good he did intend To me the Parish with a full consent To him agreed so to the place I went Death brought me in great part still of my gaines What else I had I ever did take paines For it what I for ringing of the Bell Had then for rich when 't was their dying knell Or any other I will not now relate it I scorne to brag I ever yet did hate it Or all the Bels being rung what ere I got 'T was so and so I ever had my lot With other things which now I will not name He did me helpe let no one then me blame To take his part alasse who can doe lesse Seeing he to me such friendship did expresse I cannot hold for to maintaine my charge If death be gone the Parish is not large Enough for vailes to keep me in such sort To pay my debts live free from ill report The trading's lost that little that I had Nor can I worke being old my sight is bad O free Death now or if thou him destroy For company take me with him away The Searchers complaine of their losses and beg that Death may be quit We are old women weake and very poore We trade with Death and so increase our store Death he is first we second in the place To search the corps of what and in what case They died we bring of them a true relation And groates a peece allow'd for preservation But some times more as cloathes or else some food That 's mony worth and is to us as good We past our labours are 't is knowne full well Allowance we have i th' Parish where we dwell If death should faile our place would faile us too We must goe beg and make no more adoe Vnloose him now for he hath been our friend Or let us goe with him to know our end Let Life decay and Death take up his place Our life else is but Death our wants deface Vs better we with death should lie in grave Than live on earth we little comfort have Th Coffin-maker makes mone for the absence of death and desires his libertie I ever have been brought up to a trade By death maintain'd for Coffins I have made Apprentiship most hard I did indure I thought to live so well and be so sure In constant trading shall my expectation Thus die in hand my meanes of preservation Faile me what then will now become of me I perish must or live in miserie No other way to live but boxes small I make sometimes to finde me worke withall I sell them cheape not worth the while to make For coffins still good rates I ever take Men will not stand in this case for a friend When they shallbuy the price and so an end We make and this will countervaile my paines And for this worke I have sufficient gaines What shall I doe if death be kept through strife Away 't will make me weary of my life Let all men speake of death as they doe finde I liv'd by him and 't is against my minde To see him troubled life did bring him hither Discharge him then that we may trade together The Bearers speech for death and laments their losse Our places are to beare the dead to grave With watchings that is all the meanes we have To live we tried our friends to helpe us in And ever since we constant in 't have beene We were so poore we could not well tell how For to subsist the case is alter'd now We got so much by death within a yeare The better still we are as doth appeare Now we have goods and money too at need We pay our rent and of the best we feed We still have wine and sometime other things We do rejoice though some their hands stil wrings When we from home doe beare the dead away To their long home they in their grave must stay Our constant gaines to all is knowne so well We need not speake therest we will not tell What ere it be we would not willingly Now lose our gaines nor change it till we die 'T is nothing worth if death should lie in hold Alas we might our sorrowes then unfolde We were undone and perish all we must Release him now thou wilt doe so we trust The Grave-makers lamentation missing Death I am a man I need not here be nam'd Though I can dig to begge I am asham'd I make the graves to bury dead folkes in I am imploy'd for idlenesse is sinne I have no meanes but what I labour for I' th sicknesse time though men doe me abhorre My trading's best when other trades decay I make of graves some five or sixe a day I labour hard and all men finde me willing Some give me sixe pence and some give a shilling If in the Church some two or three somemore Thus I 'm maintain'd and lay up mony store Thoughtimes more healthful were yet work I had I 'm crasie brain'd yet this wil make me mad If death be tooke away my trading then Will faile me quite and never come agen For other worke I am a stranger to it To watch at night alas that will not doe it To maintaine me my wife and children small It 's but a groate so want will starve us all Death holpe me still O free him else my grave I le dig then die I there no want shall have The Grave wants Death and begges him to come to bring meate to the wormes and him Death what 's the matter thou art now indighted The newes I heare hath me full sore affrighted My hungry belly thou wast wont to fill With flesh I sweetly did digest it still My mouth is wide my stomack hot like fire The more I care the more I doe desire My bowels large my sides and limbes are strong Give give me food I shall continue long I thought some evill had oretaken thee Thou brought'st not meat as thou wert wont to me Thou for me wast I for thee in like case Thou me releev dst I found thy dead a place We are all friends and if we now should part The thoughts of this would almost kill my heart But life that doth accuse thee in this sort He envies thee and rais'd an ill report On me likewise and pickes a quarrell too Again all such with whom he hath to doe Be not dismaid I hope thou shalt againe Come dwell with me and rule amongst the slaine The wormes my tenants they doe misse thee now They seek for meat to help them who knows how But thee O come and bring us flesh they cry Or else we 'l come and follow thee and die I give them houses if thou canst not give Meat to them then long here they cannot live They are so silly and so feeble they Now cannot goe nay scarce can creepe away They call to me for food and I have none My flesh is eat and
nothing but the bone Is left when I had any they did feed With me it was a charitable deed But now alas I hungry am and poore What 's done is done now I can doe no more Death come away why should'st thou not be free The wormes and I will ever honour thee Death and his friends are checkt Life is urged to speake to the purpose Death thou thy friends also have spoke their mind Thou think'st thy cause is good but thou shalt find Vaine thy defence with thy corrupted crue Living by sense they nothing speake that 's true They doe not care so they have private gaine Come in by thee though all the world be slaine They helpe thee not thy cause the worse made They parties are and with thee drive a trade As for thy selfe when life doth make reply Thy shew of truth best prove is but a lye Life to the life of death the dreadfull story Speak now declare the truth shew forth my glory The Reply of Life to all the particulars against deaths defence When God did make man blessed in his kinde And all things else according to his minde When man did breake the Law of God by sinne Thou as his curse did'st presently step in God bid thee 't is true but thou run'st fast For to destroy his worke thou didst make haste But to obey Gods will or his decree Was never yet intended so by thee For Truth or Justice thou car'st not a whit And yet thou sayest thou hast a right to it Dost thou divide the world is it thy due Or any part 't were so if lyes were true Thou willing art to ruine me and still Thou seek'st about my living bloud to spill Thou dost thy worst to keepe me still from rest The worst of workes thou callest still the best Thou shamelesse art and impudent to all Thou throw'st thy darts at rich faire great small Thou bidden art but yet without commission Thou would'st destroy me crying for permission Whether good or bad it 's all one still to thee Thou car'st for none for his integrity If in Gods hand thou art why dost thon now Thus vexe and fret and wilt not me allow A being but dost labour to destroy Me still my glory thou would'st take away A tyrant if a King thou art 't is so To all thy subjects first or last a foe Thou shew'st thy selfe most curst so vile thou art Some may in feare in love none takes thy part Thou dost usurp God made thee not a King A name that 's forg'd through feare thou hast the thing Put on thee God with wrath doth arme thee then 'T is for his foes but to all other men He mercy shewes but thou no pitty hast And friends or foes thou still dost lay them waste What good by thee doth come to any one 'T was by Gods hand for thou intendest none The Saints that did so much desire thee 'T was first because from sinne they would be free And for to see the Lord and with him dwell To speake his praises and his goodnesse tell Not for thy sake thy pale and dreadfull face Frights all by nature run from thee apace Can God dost thinke finde no way else to bring His Saints to blisse but thou must use thy sting To bring them down some are in heaven blest That nere knew thee and so might all the rest If God did please thou mak'st as if beholding God were to thee in thy defence unfolding For spoyling mee that life by thee they gaine Is not thy minde that life too thou would'st staine If thou hadst power but'tis above thy reach Thou didst on earth such fearfull lectures preach 'T is well thou hast but there a time to tarry 'T is true though once in this thy minde did varie No ill report I ever made on thee And this the Judge and all the world shall see Though I am guilty if the Lord forgive My sinne what 's that to thee I still shall live What ill I doe is done through sins temptation Thou bring'st the guilt which threatens condemnation Thou ruin'st time and ages to decay Thou also bring'st by takiag me away Is 't out of love to God that thou dost so Revenge the ils no no thou art a foe To all that live it is not for Gods sake It 's still in wrath that thou dost vengeance take Thou dost accuse me of the breach of right That so my darknesse may make thine seeme light Thy selfe thou praisest that thou dost Gods will And keep'st his lawes though thou dost break them still Thou lying serpent thou doe good to me When. where was it can good of evill be I will requite thee if thou good hast showne To me thy ill to all the world is knowne Can Life by Death a being here retaine When losse of life thou countest for thy gaine 'T is true I hate thee how can I doe lesse Thou dost on me thy malice still expresse An aggravation and disproportion betwixt death and the cruellest creatures and how he hath nothing that is praise-worthy belongs to him What shall I say thou cursed viper now Set out thee or thy hatred who knowes how A cockatrice thou art of poyson'd Aspe Thou step'st then in when men for me do gaspe The Lion's meeke when he 's compar'd to thee The Dragon 's tame how wilde so ere he be The Leopards doe shew some respect to men The greedy Wolves doe prey but now and then The hungry foxes doe sleepe all the day And in the night they onely seeke their prey But thou art worse than all that here are nam'd Thou spoil'st all men and never art asham'd Both day and night all times thou goest about And mak'st thy prey of all thou findest out The Panther when he doth destroy mans life Seemeth to grieve but thou art still at strife WIth me for murther thou dost not relent But if thou misse a blow thou dost repent Beasts may be seene and so may be prevented If not with one alone they 'l be contented Thou like a Thiefe dost come men not aware All thou must have for one thou dost not care Thy shape 's unseen I cannot paint thee out Not man nor beast nor fowle nor vermine rout Can thee discover in thy native hue Or by proportion give to thee thy due If thou be strong why doe men through disease Grow weake before thou dost upon them seaze If thou be bold why dost thou slily creepe And steal on men by night when they should sleep If thou art valiant why dost thou the brother Vse as thy meanes to make him kill the other When armies rise against each other fight Though there thou art thou play'st there least in sight If thou art noble why doe hangmen still Attend on thee to execute thy will Thou dost men starve is this a noble minde No favour shew'st thou art to all unkinde If thou art great why dost not shew the same To shelter men of
praise to get a name If thou art faire come now let 's see thy face Thy beauties markes may helpe thee in this case Especially if beauty be within But thou art foule and so hast ever beene If thou art wise why dost thou ever use To set thy selfe the wisest to abuse In this thy folly doth so much appeare To all the world 't is evident and cleare If thou art just why dost not rescve those That serve the Lord in striking downe their foes If thou hast mercy why dost slight the teares Of poore distrest thou dost increase their feares If thou art rich why dost not give a fee Both large and good for those that plead for thee But thou art poor thy halfe world 's nothing worth So well as I can I have set thee forth Deaths friends are reproved their al surdities are not to be answered but they are fitter for correction Comparisons and advice Thy friends that have stood up for thy defence Will from thee finde a deadly recompence They trade with thee but he that gets the gaines Comes off with losse his labour for his paines There 's none that doth the common good desire Of them like fooles they dote upon their hire On present things they dote but quickly they Will lose the sweet when death takes them away The Magistrate I le satisfie but for The rest like Atheists speake I doe abhorre To answer them absurdities their words Are them they use as mad men doc use swords Who ever speaks they will not take direction I le not dispute they 'r fitter for correction To side with death against the life of men That pretious is for gaines they wish death then Should men like beasts by sense live alwayes here Hath God no wayes but what to sence appeare To feed and cloath his creatures which he made He helpe him can though other helpes doe fade Must death of others life unto men give Or no meanes else is in the world to live Is there no gaines but must be others losses Or comfort have unlesse death bring his crosses Is this to do by others as to have The same repay'd to thee or would'st thou crave Death for thy selfe or shamefully to die Others to free that doe in bondage lie Anothers case in this make still thine owne Thou fain would'st live should others be o'rthrown Be not so brutish in thy curst desire Me thinks it smels of brimstone and hell fire Plead not for death he will not plead for you His friendship 's false his enmity is true The Magistrates speech is answered The Magistrate that pleads for death so witty That he should fall he thinkes it is great pitty There 's other wayes for Justice to take place Sharpe punishment and publikely disgrace Justice in rigor should not be exprest Injustice 't is to all but to the best Shew clemency and mercy to all such That are most rude let pitty ever touch The heart and then in love we shall agree When Death goes downe O then I shall be free Death none can quit when he once takes away The lives of men although they went astray Though death be gone stil thou maist use thy strēgth To chastise men and make them good at length A servant now he is but ere 't be long He 'l master be and prove for thee too strong Vnlesse he be condemn'd and silenc'd quite And by decree we take away his might Sinne s condemn'd if it get not repreeve Death may be spar'd men may in quiet live Although before some have deserv d to die I would not lose nor leave them willingly Though worst speed best best the worst receive Worst may be best if I doe not them leave Though theevs by death have here receiv'd reward Yet by thy stripes men will as much regard The law of life now if death be a friend Let others judge for I have made an end The charge of the Jurie You heare of death the case is open'd large Your verdict bring for this I give in charge You speake the truth and boldly as you finde Respect not parties freely shew your minde Death is a foe to all the case is cleare The best that live of him doe live in feare He is so grim that with his ghastly frowne He doth distract men then he sinkes them downe Life seekes but justice justice he shall have My subject he 's he shall not be deaths slave Life he is wrong'd the truth of this is tri'd Doe you consult the case I le soone decide The Preface to the verdict of the Jurie Lord this we finde to us is very cleare That Death to Life a foe is with his feare Doth men like slaves keepe under with his force Doth crush all things and never hath remorse He prides himselfe ore all he is so vile Next Sin the worst though you a King him stile The truth of this all ages that are past Have found for they by death were spoil'd at last O monstrous death when men use cursed art To torture men thou tak'st the tyrants part The information sets thy inside out But the reply brings it more cleare about Thy words thy friends doe no whit mend thy case But by contraries Justice now takes place The Verdict of the Jurie against Death For Death we finde him guilty of those crimes Of frighting men and killing them all times And all things else that little we can see Take other things that prov'd so strongly be 'Gainst him why he should not deserve to die Cut from the earth and times eternally Now doome him Lord and free us from his snare And let him lie in ever dying care The Introduction to the Sentence Death now thou seest thou art convicted truly Thy deadly plots I have observed duly Against my creatures for so 's the story That chiefly made were to set forth my glory When that my sonne tooke flesh and man became Thoudidstnot spare him thou join'st w th him shame And brought'st him downe but then he from the earth Was rais'd againe and had a second birth The sentence against Death I sentence thee to perish evermore With all thy malice set upon thy score A stronger death shall swallow all thy power And shall thy Kingdome utterly devoure Now helpe nor refuge none shall give to thee Eternall darknesse then thy part shall be Thou never shalt from thence returne againe To domineere or triumph ore the slaine Take wrath with thee be fill'd with curses store And so begon and see my face no more The Devill knowing that Sinne and Death are condemned his power and malice appeares but 't is restrained Sathan which once did dwell within the Court Of heaven thence was cast yet doth resort Thither againe to pry into Gods actions And what he doth against his cursed factions And what respect he shewes unto his owne That serve him still and make his power knowne The one he doth against the Lord uphold The other he to
jealous of thy knowledge when Its flesh in thee that pleads for ease Grace sinne resists though now and then It takes delight in friendly mirth His name 's not graven in the earth 24. Be ever low in thy conceit Of all be willing still to learne Though sinne for thee doe lay his baire Thou shalt through wisedome it discerne The lower men themselves doe deeme The higher God doth them esteeme 25. Though sinne doe vexe thee thou maist make Such use t' accomplish thy desires Though here it make thy heart to ake Thou shalt rejoyce when life expires The sower of sinne makes heaven sweet Long'd for the more God thinks it meet 26. Above the world free from sinnes reach Live still no hurt then comes to thee So from experience thou shalt teach Thy soule to keepe from miserie The sense of Gods love shall possesse The heart with heavens happinesse 27. Be fruitfull in the worke of grace On heaven ever set thy minde Deny thy worke in any case To all that 's good be thou inclin'd Of what thou hast or dost give praise To God that strengthens thee alwayes 28. Thinke 't is not long that thou shalt here Be so perplexed with sins ill Thy glorious conquest shall appeare If thou against sinne bend thy will If thou Gods glory dost intend Thy joyes shall be world without end 29. The more thou dost make warre with sinne The more thou sett'st Gods glory forth So thou shalt have true peace within And joy more than the world is worth Mad men and fooles alone forsake Gods counsell they part with sinne take 30. Commit thy selfe with thy successe To God and pray still for his aide He 'll give a sweet and full redresse To all thy griefes be not afraid Let feare and shame seaze on all those That hold with sinne to God they 'r foes 31. Remember still that by Gods power Sinne is restrain'd and bounded so He cannot hurt much lesse devoure Vnlesse the Lord doe bid him goe Keepe in with God and love him still Sinne workes thee good though he be ill 32. It is not sinne but sinne belov'd That cuts thee off from saving grace For what thou dost God is not mov'd To give to thee a dwelling place In heaven no 't is mercies store Laid up in Christ for millions more 33. Christ was on purpose sent to earth To free us from sins cursed sting And to destroy that monstrous birth That he might freedome to us bring Sinnes workes as for so in all those That with consent unto him close 34. If guilt of sinne doe once but looke Or stare thee in the face O then Beleeve that Christ when flesh he tooke 'T was to redeeme poore sinfull men From feare and wrath and power of hell They might in heaven with him dwell 35. If thou canst finde no blessed store Nor grace appeares unto thy sight Then thinke what thou hast felt before In darknesse thou must have some light Experience past will helpe at need Though fruit be spent thou maist have seed 36. If nothing of that store remaines Nor seed yet Christs owne work doth stay And with returne the soule constraines That from him he 'll not part away Though comfort here we can see none 'T is best to trust in him alone 37. Sinne at the last shall be destroy'd And cast into the darksome pit Although he hath thee so annoid His time is short then thinke of it Though for a time he vexe thee sore Thou shalt be freed for evermore 38. And after long and many teares Thou shedst for sinne O then at last Thou ever shall be quit from feares Thy sorrowes all shall then be past No more of troubles thou shalt see Then if for sinne thou greeved be 39. And if thou hast sinne overthrowne And kept the faith with all thy might To all the world thou shalt be knowne And shalt receive in open sight Thy portion with the Saints above The fruits of Gods eternall love 40. That glory cannot be exprest By mortall men that are below But they that dwell above are blest They doe the heavenly beauty know Lord bring us thither for to see The glory of thy Majestie FINIS LUK. 21. 28. Lift up your heads for the day of your Redemption draweth nigh PHILIP 1. 21. For me to live is Christ and to die is gaine 1 THES 4. 16. The Dead in Christ shall rise first DIVINE POEMS Serious Directions and Instructions concerning Death Withall shewing who are unwilling to die and why As also who are willing and upon what conditions Concluding with heavenly Ejaculations 1. THough death be sentenc'd yet he still Remaines and will his freedome have While times doe last he 'l ever kill Mankinde and throw all in the grave That foe that shall be last destroy'd Is Death he makes all men afraid 2. When men looke on and see his face So pale and ghastly downe they sinke Then dreadfull darknesse takes its place And waites mans comming at pitts brinke Keepe company with wormes he must Till God doe raise him from the dust 3. This thing to Nature terror brings When man must leave his house though clay The comfort of all earthly things For sake he must his score then pay Then he that did not live to die Then dying dies eternally 4. The man that 's wicked dies before Death comes with horrour for his sinne That worme doth gnaw him very sore That lives in hell the soule within Death never comes but brings ill newes To all that love ill good refuse 5. Those that in honour wealth or ease Doe live they loth are to depart The thoughts of death doe not them please But death it selfe quite killes the heart A kinde of heaven they have here They would not change for worse they feare 6. He that is ignorant of good And lives by sense so like a bruit He 's never taken in that mood So fit for death to bring forth fruit This world he knowes no other he Knowes thinking death brings miserie 7. The man that 's weake in grace would stay A while to see the cloud of wrath Blow ore to see a glorious day That he of truth may see the path Though such are slighted in the land They are still on the mending hand 8. One that 's strong yet falles by sinne He would not die in that same case Vntill true peace he finde within By grace to live he begges a space Such cannot sinne so cheape nor sweet As fooles doe for they thinke it meet 9. For civill ends some would revive To gather and to give estates To children and to see them thrive And see him turne that counsell hates When they are dead alive may be Men live in their posteritie 10. Some higher ends have in their eyes They 'd see in Sion peace and rest Out live they would those fearfvll cries That thence are heard such ends are best To see the fall of Babels pride Then they would die
the cause is tri'd 11. My generall advice is this Remember death must seaze on all Thinke and prepare O doe not misse Thy selfe against when death doth call In expectation daily die And willing be in dust to Iye 12. In doubtfull things men use to feare On certaine things men doe resolve What doth more plaine than this appeare That death must all ere long dissolve Why should a man whose time is short Jest at mens death with sinfull sport 13. Repent of sinne the sting of death There 's no such thing as many deeme In't though that he do stop thy breath Thou maist be great in Gods esteeme Hold in with Christ then sweetly sing O cruell death where is thy sting 14. Death to the best a gaine indeed Is they doe change this place of strife Though in the grave wormes on them feed Yet they shall have eternall life They doe but mellow in the dust Till God new mould and make them just 15. Have still thy heart on heaven set And keepe Gods love fresh in thy heart Though Death doe catch thee in his net 'T will not be fired out by art Love stronger doth than death appeare Such love will free thee from deaths feare 16. Let wicked men so tremble still At thoughts of death that they may leave Their sinnes let sorrow their hearts fill Ere death doth them of life bereave That they may learne to hate their sin And may a new life once begin 17. It 's best for those that live at full To set the worst before their eyes And rouse themselves for such are dull And have regard to poore mens cries You 'd best give bread while here you dwell Lest you your water beg in hell 18. Learne to know want in midst of wealth And die to riches while you live And thinke of sicknesse in your health Doe not content to humours give Life will not be so strange to these If thou from earth dyest by degrees 19. The foolish must know though 't is bad That death will take them all away Then are not such men worse than mad That drive off all untill that day Till they doe see needs they must die And they despairing quaking lie 20. Beat downe conceit and thinke thou art A foole indeed then thou maist learne To know the turnings of thy heart And maist true wisedome then discerne That thou maist then receive at last Eternall life when this is past 21. Let tender hearted men beleeve Their grace is true though 't is not strong Let not the thoughts of death them greeve They shall be freed ere it be long Gods strength is thine which will prevaile Against all feares that thee assaile 22. Those that be strong yet be falne downe And feares of death oppresse them so That they have lost their great renowne And God himselfe seemes like a foe Strengthen your hearts and feeble hands Rescue your selves from feare and bands 23. If you be cowards you will shame The cause your selves and others will Be fearfull when they heare the name Of death such frailties shew the ill Vse well the gifts that God doth give That though death comes your joy may live 24. And ever after have a care Of falling from your stedfastnesse You need not then to feare the snare Of death but heavens happinesse Will tend on you and you shall see The glorie of eternitie 25. Those that would leave a happie seed Behinde them when death throwes his dart Must pray and labour still indeed That God with grace may fill the heart That they may live to God below When they above Gods praises shew 26. And they that long to see the peace Of Sion ere they 'd leave their life Let them not grutch their lives to cease For death will free them from all strife In heaven they at last shall see Their freedome with felicity 27. Some willing are to die when they Are vext or want their wils in things They thinke they have no score to pay Though death them endlesse torment brings They ignorant of death remaine Till second death bring such their gaine 28. Some desperate persons that doe kill Themselves they seeke for 't which they finde The curse of God their soules shall fill The effect will not please well the minde The first fruits of hell may suffice To reape the crop such fooles devise 29. Some of a better making doe Sometimes in passion wish to die Such in distresse are foolish too And fret disdaining miserie But when God chides them quickly they Were sorry that they went astray 30. Those that are Gods the truth so grace Confesse they will unto the death They willing are to give the place To tyrants and to lose their breath Before they will deny Gods name They 'l give themselves to burning flame 31. Such that have peace with God above Do draw from earth their hearts content And with their sins are out of love And to all good their hearts are bent Their blessed'st life doth then begin When death doth set them free from sinne 32. But yet if God would have them stay A while on earth they willing are To doe his will their soules each day Confirme how ere the bodie fare When the body growes towards earth The soule brings forth immortall birth 33. The wicked still are in extreames They would not die if God should call They of this world have then such dreames Of joy which they 'l not part withall They 'r so be witcht to pleasure here There 's nothing else but death they feare 34. And others that God bids to save The lives of others and their owne They 'r brought untimely to their grave And by themselves are overthrowne Such feare not death but downe to hell They headlong rush and there doe dwell 35. I cannot chuse but I must chide Those that in sullen fits would die The worlds disgrace cannot abide For trouble that upon them lie They must of this with teares repent Or else of God they shall be shent 36. Can any suffering be too much For God his cause or glory when They shall have a reward with such In heaven these are blessed men That never share in troubles more They now rejoyce though sad before 37. Such as are willing for to yeeld Their lives to death for Christ his sake By Death they conquer in the field In losing life a better take They leave a dread upon all those That unto God and them are foes 38. Who would not willing be to part With earth for heaven when they have Got peace with God by gratious art And knowing God their soules will save For heaven let all those be prest That fitted are thus for their rest 39. Yet let not any grudge to stay Till they have done the worke that he Hath set them to spending their day In good while they here present be Returning still their pay therefore Worke now then thou need'st work no more 40. The more men do or suffer
here For truth their crown they doe augment Their glory shall the more appeare Though death do close them in his tent God shewes his face here most to such That liv'd long wrought and did not grudge 41. It 's best for bad to die betime For living long their sins increase And sinfull acts grow to their prime Their sinnes live still though life do cease Though they are rotten in the dust Their sins are fresh they meet them must 42. They 'd best to tremble in such sort At thoughts of death that they may know And heare the dreadfull ill report Of sinne while here they live below Death puts an end to vaine delights Then doth begin hell horror frights 43. But to the just their sorrow ends They joy though 't was begun before With full increase which makes amends For trouble much their joyes are more Of this the blessed Saints can tell As damned can relate of hell 44. What though the soule and body parts Which loving friends have been so long The thoughts of this may glad their hearts That they shall meet both sweet and strong Refin'd and with each other joy In heaven still without annoy 45. Death is no death it doth but ope A doore the soule away may flie And so possesse that blessed hope It hath of true felicitie To leave fraile life who 'd thinke it strange To have eternall in exchange 46. Death 's but a blast that soone blowes ore And never more shall looke on thee The hurt is nothing feare is more Though dreadfull it do seeme to be God will it sweeten from above And thou shalt finde his constant love 47. I le feare it not for why should I For life and death together goes By every crosse I le learne to die They 'r both my friends but they are foes Life doth consent with Death each day To take part of my life away 48. Lord I will serve thee while I here Remaine what need I much to care For death when thou freest me from feare I will thy goodnesse still declare My life shall ever speake thy praise When death comes I shall live alwayes FINIS The Resolutions of the Muse in her Pilgrimage NOw I of Time and Vanity have sung Of Darknesse Light and Life sad sweet strong Of Sin of Death Instructions too among I le seeke my fortune now and goe about I shall be entertain'd I make no doubt Though I am naked love will finde me out I shall be cloth'd then in a sute of Leather And love and I both still shall dwell together And she 'l be glad that ever I came hither And if a Noble person do me grace To take me in in this distressed case I le do my service faithfull in my place If one that 's learned take me home to dwell I le pray him then that he will use me well Or to a better I my selfe will sell. If I should dwell with him that 's truly wise He 'l hide my faults what 's of worth he 'l prize And then my song to praise him shal devise If he that 's honest bids me welcome in I le doe my best to helpe to kill his sin I shall not lose yet he by me shall win If noble learned wise and honest too Doe shew respect to me who then durst doe Me wrong they cannot 't is no matter who If one ignoble seeing me doe grutch To shew me favour thinke it 's all too much That I receive I looke for none of such If one unskill'd in any learned art Against me proudly act a Tyrants part He 'l vexe in vaine he shall not greeve my heart For want of wit if any doe me blame Let them as fools keep in their spight with shame My song's the same and so are they by name If one that 's vile looke with disdainfull eye On me because I doe his faults espie I le leave him gall'd when I from him doe flie If any Senior looking big and grave Conceits he knowes yet he no knowledge have If me he slight I will his absence crave Or if I finde one with an emptie pate That nothing speakes though he doe ever prate I le shew his shame but not his person hate If one I finde that hath a barren soule And will not see 't yet doe my words controule Let him be put with stultus in his rowle If one that 's simple doe desire me To gaine experience constant I will be To doe my best to him that all shall see If any censure me is this the cause Their parboyl'd spirits cannot gaine applause They break both Gods Natures humane laws If one detract from good or turne to ill My honest meaning this may follow still That such like things his measure here may fill Such Imps to plead for sinne were very fit But seldome they have so much art or wit As pride or lust have for to manage it If one that reades and rudely breakes my feet Or spoyles my joynts my musicke is not sweet To him the Horne-book is for him most meet If one through envie proudly do disdaine To grant me favour others will obtaine The fruit but he hath labour for his paine If any mend my faults I will him praise And with my voice his honour I will raise His name in me preserv'd shall be alwsyes All that I crave is but a spotlesse name And not to mount upon the wings of fame Plain welcome likes me quit me all from blame You know my minde for what I speake is true Being modest I will not for favour sue Receive me else I le bid you now adieu FINIS