teaching and admonishing Thus Aaron-like to God he doth present Our prayers praises tythes and offering For Aarons Office Christs did represent And makes them giue to God an acceptable sent Prayer is mans best fence the Angells ioy The Deuills torture Gods sweet sacrifice We by her meanes all blessings here enioy By prayer we obtaine here to be wise By prayer with th' Almighty we aduise By reading he doth answere vs againe But our Lip-labour he doth all despise Ah what doe then those simple people gaine Which in a tongue vnknowne doe mutter praiers vaine Oh! when the Spirit with vnderstanding pray's And ev'n the Heart with sighs and groanes vp sends To him that willing able is alway's Vs from Hell Death and danger to defend Then as a Bullet doth the welkin rend Blowne with the force of Powder and of Fire So doe our Prayers vp to Heau'n ascend By Zeale and Force of spirituall desire Where they of God obtaine all things they can require Moses gain'st Amalec doth more preuaile By Prayer and by holding vp his hands Then mighty Iosuah though he doth assaile Them with his strong and most selected bands At Iosuahs short sweet Prayer the Sun still stands Till hee 's auenged of his enemy's Elisha all the Host of God commands Him to relieue in his necessity's Ev'n Fiery Horse and Charrets keep him where he lies Prayer is able by plaine strength to wring From hand-breadth Cloud an Ocean of Raine And Captiues out of Babylon to bring To worship in Hierusalem againe The Angell striv'd with Iacob but in vaine Without a Blessing he will not vnloose Zenacharibs whole Host was spoyl'd and slaine By Hezekias Prayer when we close With God by Prayer we our holds must neuer loose The Rains-horns Trumpets which seav'n Priests did blow Most liuely doe strong Prayer represent Which with the peoples shout did ouerthrow Proud walls of Iericho to astonishment Of all the wicked that therein are pent This was the musick Aarons sonnes did sound With Trumpets when to warre the people went When Daniel in Lyons Den was found True Prayer from their jawes him kept both safe and sound T is not our words God lookes on but the mind Not to the place but to the true intent In dungeon Ieremy did comfort find And Iob vpon the dunghill takes content Three Children in the fiery Fornace pent Are heard when Praises they to God doe sing The Thiefe from Crosse as gratefull Prayers sent As from his Temple Solomon the King The Hermits Cell may oft as loud as Steeple ring Not that from publike Prayer I purloine Of which Gods house hath her denomination Where Priests and peoples hearts and voices ioyn To teare the skies with cryes and supplication Oh Force vnited of a Congregation In Gods owne house of Prayer gathered For Praise Petition or for Deprecation God nought denyeth so petitioned And wee thus from all euill are deliuered When Peter slept with chaines in prison bound On each side Souldiers Keepers at the doore The Church doth pray though hee sleepe fast and sound And God him loosed from his chaines therefore And when the Angell lighteth him before The Iron Gate opes of his owne accord Pauls Dauids Samuells a thousand more Of Prayers you may find vpon record All which may seem to bind toth ' Peace our angry Lord. I all conclude with his most heav'nly one Who did in day's of his Humility With loudest cry's in Spirit sigh and groane For Freedome of that dire calamity Which came on him for our Iniquitie And though he Legions could of Angells call To saue him from inhumane cruelty Yet Lamb-like did before his Shearer fall Submitting to his Fathers will and pleasure all Without vs God will nothing for vs doe We therefore must prepare to fight alway And without God we can nor stand nor goe And therefore must be alwayes swift to pray If these so pray'd when Foes did them assay When Flesh and Bloud with Flesh and Bloud did fight What shall we in this dangerous great affray When we encounter with spirituall might Which in his Agony did Christ our Head affright But ah we at our first conuersion pray Most feruently oft for the nouelty But after negligent cold sleeping say Our Pater-noster in security Thou sleep'st secure but ah thine Enemy Doth watch thee thyn ev'n napping to surprise We then to God withall our hearts doe cry When as no thoughts withdraw vs otherwise Alas but few or none pray often in this wise Oh! that a man of base and filthy mould Should dare fall downe before Gods glorious Throne His wants and imperfections to vnfold And haue his heart like Nabals dead as stone When Angells that come neere that holy One Are faine their face to couer with their wings So bright his Glorious Maiesty hath showne Who is the Lord of Lords and King of Kings The searcher of our reines and tryer of all things When I no longer able am to fight Like Moses let me lift vp hands and pray Against the inuisible Amalekite That spiritually doth seeke my soule to slay When I with Faith two words Our Father say I pardon beg for Sin Freedome from paine Gods Heyre and Sonne Christs Brother I that day Am made and gifts of Holy Ghost doe gaine Then let me neuer mumble ouer words in vaine But I confesse though I doe often proue There is no comfort like this one to pray That is bestow'd on man from Heav'n aboue Yet find I Satan prest and busie ay Mee in this holy duty to assay By wandring Thoughts and vaine imaginations Which oft'doe lead my Mind so far astray I am bereau'd of Heav'nly cogitations And change for idle fancy 's holy meditations But Prayer doth so please my Muses straine That I omitted haue of Praise to sing The Sacrifice we offer here againe For all the Bounty of our heav'nly King I liken her to Prayers either wing Forgiuing wrongs and Almes vnto the poore Our holy liuely spirituall Offering Of Body Soule Heart Tongue and all our store With true Obedience to God for euermore Whilst here of Benefits no end we find How should we euer make an end of praise Oh happy Bands that vs for euer bind Ev'n when our Soules and Body's Chrisi shall raise Our praise shall be eternall like our day's He that his time in praise and hymnes would spend I him referre to Dauids heav'nly Layes Diuinely by the holy Spirit pend My Muse now out of Breath cannot this Mount ascend Oh let my voyce and heart together ioyne God of the lips accepts not but the heart Grant that my life in Holinesse may shine That Conscience may euer beare apart Presumptuous man that darst thy Maker thwart To poure out fond petitions base and vaine When thou consid'rest before whom thou art Him that doth all leud lying lips disdaine And Hypocrites rewardeth with infernall paine If prayer be right pure sincere and meeke It neuer empty shall returne againe For God will
either grant vs what we seeke Or giue vs that shall be our greater gaine Mine Heart mine heart Lord doth reioyce amaine Ay in thine House of Prayer to abide Where Swallow's build and Sparrow's are full faine To lay their young ones by thine Altars side Mee neuer let the Spirit of Prayer be deny'd But since I ought to pray continually How should my Pen of Prayer make an end My Sauiour praying on the Crosse did dye With Prayer Steuen his Soule to Heav'n did send But I began with Prayer let mee end With Praises to the Horne of my Saluation Who sure I hope his blessed Spirit did send To guide mee in this holy Meditation Which fills my Tongue with Praise Heart with Admiration FINIS VRANIA OR THE HEAVENLY MUSE LONDON Printed by WILLIAM STANSBY 1625. TO MY EVER HONORED FRIEND M. IOHN MAYNARD one of the Gentlemen of his Maiesties Priuie Chamber in Ordinarie MY deare Vrania wilt thou now forsake My Cottage and to Court thy selfe betake Dost hope thou there as here shalt find retire I cannot but thy simplenesse admire But since thou needs wilt goe I 'le thee commend vnto the Muses most familiar Friend Who had not his great Princes Loue and Grace Him brought from Muses Groues to 's Royall place Might on his Front haue worne thy Crowne of Bays And beene the Prince of Poets in his dayes Hee 'le leaue all profit pleasure honour gaine The heav'nly Muse alone to entertaine Oh happy Court most blessed Courtiers yee That from the Muses Springs transplanted bee This 't is makes Arts and Learning so increase Hence followeth all our happinesse and Peace The Muses needs must dance when Courtiers sing All follow the example of the King Yours truly deuoted R. A. VRANIA ABout the Season Lawyers tongues doe rest And make for Ceres honour long vacation I freed from tumults which me erst opprest Dispose my mind to holy Meditation And thinking how I might a subiect find Delightfull pleasing sweet and profitable My heart to better and inrich my mind And tongue acquaint with Phrases delectable As Traueller that meets with diuers wayes I long deliberate to chuse the best And fairest Path to Mount where Lawrell Bayes The Numbers crowne that are diuinely drest One while I sought in measures Comicall To maske the Graces all vpon the Stage Or in a Tragique Scene vp Ghosts to call Of Worthys slaine by cruell Tyrants rage Anon I would the Vnion celebrate Which made a Damaske Rose of Red and White The fairest Flower of Brittons happy State Which Roses then now Kingdomes doth vnite I thought likewise to sing that happy Peace Our Iland-world enioyeth by this Vnion Which makes our honour riches strength increase And haue with Heav'nly Arts such free communion Then I th' admired Prudence would rehearse Of Brittons Scepter-swaying Solomon Matter which would immortalize a Verse And saue such Splendour from obliuion Prone was my flesh the winged wag to sing Of wanton Venus and her Bitter-sweet That glads the Tast but doth the Bowells wring For chaster eares a Subiect far vnmeet Whilst wauering thus in fruitlesse inquisition Yet vnresolv'd of any course I roue Behold I see an heav'nly Apparition Some Herauld doubtlesse from the Queene of Loue Her gesture and her grace Angelicall With wings whereby her selfe to heav'n shee reares Her countenance faire sweet celestiall Her voyce like Musicke of the heav'nly Spheares A glorious Garland crown'd her golden head Bedeck'd with all the Flowers sweet and gay That could on Tempes Plaines be gathered By learned Sisters in their fairest May. Immortall Flowers which spring and flourish ay And ay their verdure and sweet sent retaine Like heav'nly Arts which neuer doe decay But by their vsing greater glory gaine On shoulders hangs her azure mantle light With siluer spangles all adorned faire Twinkling like brightest Starres in frosty night As they are moued by the gentle aire Her nether parts to hide from vulgar eye A Kirtle like Heav'n Conopy did couer Where all the Signes of Heav'n embroidred fly And all the Graces seeme about to houer I saith shee am Vrania to thee sent From thine adored Mistresse Queene of Loue I rauish Soules aboue the Firmament That they in Numbers like the Spheres may moue With Siluer Key I doe vnlocke the mind Of Mortalls sealed vp in Ignorance That oft their Soules aboue the Stars they find When Bodyes lye on ground as in atrance For I the Spirit am of Contemplation Th' Ehxir of Ambrosia diuine Pure Angells food Soules sweetest delectation The Helicon where both the Sisters nine Art teacheth Art Experience Policy And Practice guild's the tongue with Eloquence But none reach lofty straines of Poesie That haue them not by heav'nly insluence Hence 't is that Clerks which gaine immortall praise By their deepe learned Eloquence in Prose Their numbers cannot to such honour raise As one that scarce the Rules of Grammer knows It is beyond the reach of will or wit A holy Flame of heav'nly Loues pure fire A soaring high transcendent furious fit Whose Life light heate and strength loue doth inspire Loue 's her Beginning and her End is Loue Loue is the Soule and Life of Poesie No Poeme without Loue did euer proue No more then Musicke without Harmony The Loue of Honour and of Cheualry So rais'd the old blind Greeks Heroique quill Hee lifts Achilles valiant acts more high Than his that conquer'd all the world at will The loue of Ciuill and Self-gouernment Him taught to frame such an exact Ulisses That hee who by this Patterne did inuent Roomes glorious author such perfection misses Eglogues of Loue are Muses first delights Till thorough country pleasures shee doth come To sing in state of Honour Armes and Knights And out of old Troys ashes raise vp Rome The wanton all whose speeches were in Verse Who sings in Fictions all Dame natures story In ev'ry sentence doth his Loue rehearse But ah base Lust obscureth all his glory So Loues old rigid Cato vertues lore He makes them dance the measures cunningly To loues Lucretius Dame natures store Hee turnes all Pliny into Poetry And as the obiect of our Loue exceeds So strikes the Muse on high or lower strings Who lowly late did maske in Shepheards weeds In high Heroiques of Armes and Honour sings My Darling Bartas who on Angells wings Beholds the Six Day 's of the Worlds Creation Was so in loue with Heav'n and heauenly things Hee wholly on them fixt his Contemplation And wen he on the Seuenth Day comes to rest He them all orders to his Makers Glory Doubtlesse he fram'd a new world in his brest Whereof he so Diuinely sings the story It was this heav'nly Loue that did incite The warlike Shepheard such sweet notes to sing His loue vnto Gods Statutes day and night Doe strike so loud his Harpe and Violls string And as Wind-Instrument to him repay's That sounds it sweetest musicke for his breath So
bringeth vnder And 'gainst all disobedience soundeth out like thunder This was the Sword wherewith our valiant Head When he was tempted in the Wildernesse And with a six-weekes-fast sore weakened Did free himselfe from Hells malitiousnesse When first on him his Enemy did presse He vs'd the hilts himselfe for to defend But when he could not thus his Foe represse Loe he the point against his Breast doth bend Behind me Satan All Gods worship must attend Those that will vse aright this holy Word Must not the letter but the sense apply Or else they vse the Scabbard for the Sword Wherewith none euer wun the Victory It is the Mystery of Iniquitie To take the letter and to leaue the sense To forge of Antichrists Idolatry The feigned Rocke the Key 's of Heau'n from whence He claimes to vniuersall Power Obedience A multitude of words but all one sense And tending all to that grand mystery To which all mysteries haue reference Mans personall vnion with the Deity The which to God was knowne infallibly In his election ere the worlds Foundation And all the Bookes it seemes to typifie From Genesis vnto the Reuelation Sublime transcendent mystery's of mans Saluation How should my Muse these hope to comprehend In this short fainting breath of meditation Which doth all humane wit and skill transcend Whos 's each word hath an hid signification Each letter pricke and point an obseruation All fauouring of Wisdome true diuine And far beyond mans weake inuestigation In it such rare profound deepe Learning shine A Volume is not able to expound a Line Fie then on those that swolne with vaine ambition To sway all Kingdomes with materiall sword Preferre before this Word their vaine tradition Which nought but vainnesse like themselues afford Their names be wiped out of the Record And Booke which all thy Saints names doth containe That thus doe seeke to vilifie this Word Which to accomplish Gods owne Sonne was slaine And thousand Martyrs spent their bloud it to maintain So deale with Prophets that to hide conspire From simple people Food spirituall Which they as new borne Babes do milke desire That they may grow vp to be strong and tall I grant as Mothers breasts doe best of all Nourish the Child so doth Gods holy Word Which from our Mother-Churches breasts doth fall Best nourishment vnto her Babes afford So as it be sincere Else be it all abhor'd True Angells Food sweet Manna pure diuine My Spirits dayly bread and nourishment Which wanting shee doth hunger statue and pine And yeeld to Body's sleshly Regiment My Soule with fat and marrow is content When I with ioyfull lips thy praises sing And feed upon thy Lawes great wonderment Which to subiection doth my Body bring And makes the Spirit rule and order like a King The Spirit it compares to Looking Glasse Where we our Faces Spots may all behold But soone out of our memory they passe Like to a Dreame or Tale that 's idlely told But who his mind thereon doth daily hold Doth walke in perfect Law of Liberty Which to him doth apparantly vnfold His Soule and Fleshes least deformity And sheweth him the meanes the same to rectifie Eu'n as the Raine indiffereutly doth fall Vpon the fruitfull and the barren ground So preached is this Heau'nly Word to all Though to the faithlesse it be fruitlesse found Oh! where this Word doth powerfully sound The strongest holds of sin it shatters downe And things most high exalted doth confound It 's smallest-Seed in lowly Valley sowne Est suddenly is to a mighty Cedar growne It is reported of the siluer Doue She neere the purest Streames doth most delight In which Shee may espy the shadow moue Of towring Faulcon or the rauenning Kite Whereby she is forewarn'd to scape by flight From cruell Hawkes that seeke her for a pray So if in spirituall streames we take delight Our spirituall Foes we there discouer may That so our Soules forewarn'd like Doues might flye away Most glorious Sun-shine where it doth enlight More comfortable Light hath showne But when Shee doth withdraw her Beames is night And darknesse spirituall far grosser growne Than that which three day 's was to Pharaoh knowne Hard-hearted Pharaoh thou that didst despise This Word and all the wonders by it showne Eu'n all thy plagues light on them that deuise To hide this heau'nly Light from simple peoples ey 's It is the doore whereby the pastours may Spiritually ascend into their Fold Those that doe enter in another way We doe as rauenning wolues and robbers hold This Word 's a touchstone which doth try from Gold All mettalls base Inuentions of mans braine Of which such store at Latium now are sold Not for the Flocks but for the Shepheards gaine Masse Dirges Pardons Trentalls and Traditions vaine Nothing describe her nature better will Than Touchstone th' vse of which simplest may learne But one had need of cunning Gold-smiths skill True Touchstone from a false one to discerne Oh how did those noble Berreans earne To try those things that Paul deliuered The things which our Saluation did concerne By that which in the Scriptures they had read The Scriptures that the Spirit had canonized Who from the simple people these doe hide Deale as with Israel did the Cananite Who no Smith suffer'd in their Coasts t' abide To make a weapon for an Israelite Therfore no speare nor sword when they should fight But in Sauls hands and Ionathans were found Chams hellish pollicy most deu'lish sleight To hold in Ignorance and Bondage bold By taking way such helpes as Liberty propound As first God by his Word and Spirit wrought And fashion'd all things in this worlds Creation So by this Word and Spirit he hath brought All things to passe in this our renouation And as he for our Bodyes preseruation Hath here materiall Bread and Wine prepar'd So 's Word and Spirit is for sustentation Of all our Soules that rightly it regard Such neuer need of thirst and hunger be afeard As Appetite 's a Signe of Body's Health So of the Soules is hunger of his Word And as to him that seeketh store of wealth A Myne can best what he desires afford So he that spirituall treasures vp would hoard Come to this sacred Word where he shall find It doth a world of mystery's record The richest jewells to adorne the mind True treasure's no where else reuealed to mankind For it 's the Megazine where pastours haue All gems and treasures to enrich their fold The store-house whence they all abundance craue Of liuing food their Lambs in plight to hold The armory from whence they may he bold To fetch all armes and weapons to withstand The wolues which them infest and to vphold Truth and the right against all Satans Band Falfe Heretickes base Lusts and worlds encroaching hand But as the Manna that from Heau'n was sent Bred Wormes if wrong but Food if rightly vsed So breeds this Word our Soules due nourishment But neuer-dying
faire a Generation But in some limits that I may her bound I her define to be a moderation Of such desires as are within vs found In Diet Actions Words and Affectation For with these fow'r I bound my Meditation In Diet shee requires Sobrietie In Actions true vnfain'd humiliation Her Words she graceth aye with Modesty And her affections charmes with Meeknesse Chastity See in her Diet first Sobrietie In words and actions true humiliation Accompany'd with precious Modesty Last Continence from Lust and angry Passion The cause of all is prudent Moderation The aged Palmer Spencer Guyons trustie guide That stands against all stubborne perturbation By whose sage helpe secure and safe we slide By whirle-pooles and deepe gulfes which gape for vs so wide For all through this worlds boistrous Sea must passe Before we at our quiet Hav'n arriue The Boate our Body is as brittle glasse Our Steeres-man Temperance it right doth driue Besides the Rocks that threat this Boat to riue Are many Gulphes and Whirle-pooles of decay Which wait th' Affections and the Senses fiue By force and sweet Allurements to assay Some fall by rage and diet some by lustfull play But in that Body where doth reason sway And Sense and Passion be obedient There the affections all behold you may In happy peace and goodly gouernment There Temperance adornes her glorious Tent With vertues all to make it shine most bright The mirrour of Gods workes most excellent And to them all such bounteous banquets dight As may be best for Health Praise Profit and Delight Most glorious frame of nature which shee built The whole world in one point t'epitomize Iust pure and perfect till intemprate guilt Her Makers Hests by Pride did foule misprise Since that shee learned to belowly wise And not obey intemperate desire Thus shee her glorious house reedifies And most of all doth lowly Cells admire The loftiest is no place for temperate retire Shee therefore neuer comes in company Of such as swim in pride and bathe in blisse Wasting their dayes in ease and luxury For in such ease men easily doe amisse But hee whose mind in studie watchfull is Whose limbs are toyl'd with labour mind with paine Shee these as her sweet darlings deare doth kisse The idle life cannot to her attaine Before her Gate high God employment did ordaine Excesse doth make the minde of beastly man Forget his first created excellence That pure estate in which his Life began And as a Beast that wants intelligence 'Twixt sense and reason put no difference But like a Brute of base and swinish kind Delights in filth and foule incontinence For Lust and Wine so far transforme the minde Affections beare the sway and royall reason binde Thus Bacchus Fountain's turn'd to puddle lake Wherein like filthy beasts base men lie drown'd And Swines of Gods faire Images doe make This vice hath now with vs such footing found As Drunkennesse with glory doth abound Pure Liber wont to be the Muses friend All musing Wit and Learning doth confound The Flemings this did first to vs commend But herein we them and all Nations now transcend No better stratageme doth Satan know I alwayes must except base drunkennesse Then gaming all our youth to ouerthrow The fruict Intemperate of Idlenesse Oh horrible infernall wickednesse To heare a wretch his Makers name blaspheme When Dice or Carding crosse his good successe And eu'n his Soule which Christ's bloud did redeeme With his estate to hazard to a dyes esteeme Intemprate drinking Play smoake in excesse Is now our gallants onely occupation The poisoning fruits of their loose Idlenesse Base Gourmandizing filthy Fornication Is turn'd from foule reproach to commendation Now vse of Armes and manly exercise Are held a toile and not a recreation Who so is moderate chast valiant wise Him as precise and cynicall they doe despise Oh foolish Man learne Temperance of thy Dog Thine Horse and Hawke wherein thou tak'st delight Which when they should shew sport thou dost not clog And fill with food their greedie appetite Thou them dost diet that they may be light And keepst from Lust their courage to prolong One dulls the Body th' other kills the Sprite But Abstinence doth make both swift and strong The temperate mans dayes are happy healthfull long And may vnto Pauls Pilote be compar'd Whose vessell with exceeding tempest tost Vnlades and lightens hauing most regard To saue his Life though all his goods be lost Eu'n so the temperate man in this world crost With baits of appetite lust anger pride Makes vse of those that for his vse are most But needlesse things wherewith his vessels cloid With his owne hands doth to the hungry fish diuide When I behold the stately Firmament Adorn'd with glorious Lamps of heau'nly fire The Stars with their appointed roomes content And neither other to supplant desire Their Temperance in Heau'n I doe admire But then I view the anbitious sparkes below Who to possesse the whole Earth doe aspire And all poore Cottages to ouerthrow That stopt their prospect great alone on earth to grow Nature with small no plentie Lust can bound Vnlimited desires here satisfie No Gold nor Siluer can though they abound Like stones amongst the wise Kings vanitie Though Iesses Sonne haue such varietie Of Wiues and Maids yet comes the stranger Lust Vrias onely Lamb for him must dye No home-bred fare can satisfie base dust But strange rare cates from forraine nations haue we must The temprate man I to a Brooke compare Contented with sweet Fountaines of her owne Which runs most pleasant pure delightfull cleere But if with flouds her channels once be flowne Then streight her troubled waters foule are growne So whil'st we Temperance with vs retaine And no excesse of Diet 's in vs knowne Our heart from ire our bed is free from staine But cease from Temperance and all is foule againe And as pure Streames continue sweet and cleere Whil'st they within their Channells swiftly flow Refreshing all the plants and flowers neere But if they idlely stand or run but slow Then thicke and foule like idle lake they grow Ev'n so the man that doth his minde aduance His Makers heau'nly will to doe and know To honour shall be rais'd aboue all chance But he that idle grow's falls to Intemperance Shee is a short but a most pleasant way Wherein small labour is but much delight The Empresse that doth our affections sway The Genus of all other vertues hight Piller of Fortitude The Helmet bright Against Lasciuiousnesse The eyes best guide Bond of goodwill of cogitations light Restraint The Enemy of Lust and Pride The Soules chast counsellour her vow ' and prayers to guide Of Prudence and true Wisdome the foundation To him that hath her can no ill befall No greater wealth can be then Contentation Who hath her hath that who lacks that wants all Who nothing need eu'n Gods the Heathen call Fortune may bring vs wealth and royall fare But Temperance must
quite Shining like glorious Lamps in worlds obscurest night This inward heate this holy heau'nly fire Most what concealed vnder ashes ly's Which one till into flames they doe respire At home more easie than aborad descry's Because it selfe within best testify's In Abraham appear'd this holy flame When as he saw his Sauiour with his eyes Who of his blessed seed long after came For Abram saw Christs day and ioyed in the same Vp Miriam vp thou merily canst sing Now through the Red Sea thou art safely past Hereby our Baptisme then prefiguring That when Repentance vs with teares hath wash't With Ioy wee Egypts Bondage of should cast But neuer did more Ioyfull musicke sound Than Dauids when he of this Ioy did tast Restore mee to those wonted Ioy 's I found And euer let thy holy Spirit in me abound Oh blessed Bridegroome of the fairest Bride How often when shee seeketh thee by night Doest thou thy Ioyfull presence from her hide That wanting shee in thee may more delight How oft againe when thou do'st her inuite Rise my belou'd and ope to mee the doore Such is her nicenesse and her sluggish sprite Shee will not rise to let thee in before Thou thence art gone And then thy losse shee doth deplore These are the apples odours nuts and wine Which comfort her when shee is sicke of Loue These Christs embraces that doe her entwine The kisses which he giues his Turtle Doue Milke spice pomegranats which shee so doth loue All these are inward Ioy 's the Bride hath here Whereof she with the Bridegroomes friends doth proue And eates and drinkes with Ioy and merry cheere Yea drinkes abundantly with her beloued deare This was the Ioy that him was set before That did endure the Crosse despise the shame And Lord of all became low naked pore Enduring death vs to excuse from blame His Martyrs and Apostles in the same Suffrings and crosses him haue followed And trode the Wine-presse as their order came Where some in scorching flames more Ioy 's haue red Than wearied Limbs could find in softest downy bed This 't was the Kingly Prophet so admir'd When loathing all worlds pompe and glory vaine He this one onely thing of God desir'd For euer in his Temple to remaine To view the Beautie of that heau'nly traine This made him leaue his purple Crowne and Throne And in a linnen Ephod dance amaine For this would Constantine be rather one Of Christ his members then the Empires head alone But why seeke I for witnesses without Since 't is the Spirit within that testify's Our Soule that without wauering or doubt With Peace of Conscience Abba Father Cry's Vnto whose Soule this Spirit eke reply's Be glad and Ioyfull I am thy saluation Be not afraid-My Grace shall thee suffice To conquer Hell And to resist temptation And yeeld the soundest Ioy in greatest tribulation I will make glad thy soule delight thine heart And with a cheerefull countenance will smile For I am thine and mine againe thou art And though afflictions here thee square and file No power in Earth or Hell shall thee beguile Of those sweet Ioy 's which are for thee prepar'd Oh tarry thou my leasure but a while And thy petitions all I will regard Delight in mee I am thy hope and iust reward Oh! who can heare these Ioyous inuitations These blessed promises and yet complaine That hee 's afraid of crosse or tribulations Oh! neuer let these worldly pleasures vaine Make me so great a looser for their gaine And let me here all worldly griefes endure Lord onely free me from eternall paine This inward Ioy shall euer me assure And on thy merits I in all will rest secure Who would not rather couet there to dwell Where fulnesse is of Ioy for euermore Than in false vaine delights which leads to Hell Voluptuous Diet flatt'rings of a Whore I rather had with Dauid keepe a dore Where inward Ioy may in my soule abound Than swim in pleasures and preferments store In Princes Courts where vaine delights are found Which like faire flowers fade and quickly fal to ground But I confesse this prouerb true I find That where Gods Church is raising there to build His Chappell is the Deuill most inclin'd And where best seed is sowne in Ground well till'd He with most tares and weeds it alway's fill'd Vaine pleasures are his tares true Ioy 's our wheate Till haruest both together grow in field Then will the Lord of Haruest surely beat The cockle from pure corne at his owne board to eate Fountaine of Ioy oh set thy whole delight Into thy Lawes and Statutes to enquire To meditate thereon both day and night My soule than Gold doth more these Ioy 's desire Let others honour wealth and wine admire Lift Lord on me thy louing countenance Thy louing fauour shall my Soule raise higher Than Princes highest fauours can aduance To heau'nly spirituall wealth not subiect vnto chance In holy Writ I many places find From whence doe flow these Ioy 's spirituall But no where faster than within my mind Oh Lord Thou know'st not I from whence they fall God of all Peace and Ioy perpetuall Let not my Ioy A temporary proue But with her in mine heart thy Graces all Infuse Faith Mercy Patience Peace and Loue To passe by things below and seeke for things aboue Of endlesse Ioy how should I make an end My Muse is neuer weary of delight Since I this Meditation did intend I neuer scarce could sleepe by day or night So doth the pleasing matter me inuite So full of rimes and so the numbers run That I in shorter time haue finish't quite This tast of Ioy than I haue earst begun Some other Graces But my hower-glasse hath done FINIS THE BRIDES ORNAMENTS Viz. Fiue Diuine and Morall MEDITATIONS 1. Prudence 2. Obedience 3. Meekenesse 4. Gods Word 5. Prayer IOB 28. 28. The feare of the Lord is wisdome and to depart from euill is vnderstanding LONDON Printed by WILLIAM STANSBY 1625. TO MY MOST TRVE WORTHY LOVING FRIEND AND dearest Brother RICHARD CRAKANTHORPE Doctor of Diuinitie and one of his Maiesties Chaplens in Ordinarie NOt Nature Order or Affinity Can Friendships sacred knot so surely tye As choice For euer there we find the ground Of Loue and Friendship most entirely sound As their Desires are like so one there end Which is to be and haue a faithfull friend I that vnto mine owne defects am conscious Of such an honour durst not be ambitious Tell thou wert pleas'd to call mee Friend and Brother I know not that thou deign'st it any other Wherefore whil'st Time Life to my Lines shall giue Our Friendships memory in them shall liue Who of true Friendship know no other end Than here to haue and bee A faithfull Friend ROBERT AYLET THE BRIDES ORNAMENTS MEDITAT I. Of WISDOME and PRVDENCE THE first degree to Wisdome is the misse Of Folly For as Darknesse the priuation Is of Lights Being But no Being is So
Her due Subiection vnto her Head And as our Christ directs his Church below So wiues must be by husbands ordered But this of wiues is better knowne then practised So is th' obedience which Children owe Vnto their Parents by Commandement And promise they shall long and good day's know If they to them will be obedient The fift and last is Masters Gouernment And Seruants Duty which they should them beare Which ought to be with single true intent Not for eye-seruice wages or for feare But as they would obey eu'n Christ their Master deare Thus ought we to obey these fiue degrees Set ouer vs Because we so obay The highest Power And if their iust decrees We sleight that highest Power we disobay Far wide then disobedient spirits stray Which by Religion would all reuerence Exclude due vnto Magistrates and say They vnto no man owe obedience A false excuse of Schisme and all vnreuerence Obedience preserueth Vnity And helpeth to this great worlds conseruation As Heau'ns and Earth doe by due Obsequy Obey their glorious Makers Ordination Behold how all things in this worlds Creation Doe by their Makers order stand or moue Earth keepes her Center for mans preseruation The Heau'ns turne all in motion round aboue Without Obedience one would out another shoue And thus we may Obedience obserue To hold our members in due motion ay Whil'st one doth to another member serue And all vnto the Spirit doe obay The Soule of man which doth by reason sway Eu'n all the members to their preseruation And if the least of them doe disobay Shee either seekes their better reformation Or one endangers all to endlesse condemnation For whilst man here doth on the earth remaine Sin and corruption in his Body dwell Seeking therein as Lord and King to raigne But Grace doth striue by force them to expell If bondslaues we our selues to Sin doe sell And giue our members here Lusts to obay We yeeld vnto such Lusts as lead to Hell But if that Grace our Soule aright doth sway Then all the members follow Her the narrow way Remoue this Vertue of Obedience From Soule or Body Subiect City Towne Or from the Creatures wanting life and sense And all vnto Confusion tumble downe The Tower of Babel might to Heau'n haue growne Had all obay'd with mutuall diligence But suddainly we see it ouerthrowne When to obay they want intelligence For without vnderstanding no Obedience As to maintaine Heau'ns perfect vnitie All to one surpeame Trinity obay So all that haue with it Affinitie Subiect themselues to that one God for ay No wonder if those that him disobay To many Errours Schismes and Sects doe fall For one true Vnity they doe gainsay When they resist his Ordinances shall And disobey Gods Word that here directeth all Mee thinkes my Muse could here her selfe transcend By musing of th' obedience aboue Which from the Sonne to Father doth ascend And Angells who obeying Feare and Loue Alas what can th' eternall Power moue Obedience of poore wretches to require But vs to ioyne to Christ our Head in Loue As he is ioy'nd to God in due desire Vnto no other end Obedience doth aspire For as when in a wild and fruitlesse stocke We doe some noble impe inoculate The fruit erst base and wild like to the Blocke Is made as goodly faire and delicate As Tree which first this imp did generate So the least imp of Christs Obedience In vs ingraft doth vs regenerate And makes vs beare fruit of like excellence As liuely tree from which it first had influence For all that from stocke of first Adam come Beare those sowre fruits of Disobedience But all that doe ingraft againe become In second Adams true Obedience Bring forth sweet fruits like liuely tree from whence They haue receiued first their sap to spring Swee liuing Vine whose sacred influence Vs makes obedient to our Lord and King Ah! who the praises of thy noble fruit can sing It did aduance that holy Prophets quill When He in volume of the booke did find Written that thou shouldst Gods whole Law fulfill Whereto thou wert withall thine heart inclin'd And when the time was come thereto assign'd Thou wert obedient to all Gods will Performing it with all thine heart and mind Ev'n till the Iewes thee on the Crosse did kill When thou resisted'st not though they thy bloud did spill Obedient Lamb this was the sacrifice The offering God did for sin require Thus We must offer vp to God likewise Our Soules and Body's with like zealous fire To dye if not indeed yet in desire Quick holy acceptable Offering To pacifie Gods Iustice and his Ire Is when to him obedient hearts we bring And crucifie those Lusts which from our Flesh doe spring As from the boundlesse Ocean doe run All streames which doe returne into the Maine So from one paterne of Obedience come All ours and thither doth returne againe The Lamb that was from worlds beginning slaine Gaue the first blow to Disobedience Which Isaack imitates when he is laine On Altar to be sacrificed thence Whom truly Abram offer'd by Obedience This was that quiet sauour God did smell When offring one of each cleane bird and beast The good old Noah pleas'd the Lord so well Obedience was the Seasoning to the feast What made the Lord Sauls sacrifice detest But that he did his Word then disobey When he did spare of Amalec the best To offer vp But therein did obay His own corrupt inuentions not what God did say Better then Sacrifice is to obay And then the fat of Rams to giue good eare Happy though we doe all the world gaine say If we obay our Lord and Master deare But ah whil'st we remaine as Pilgrims here Flesh World and Deuill daily vs perswade To follow Pleasures vaine and to forbeare Obedience to the Lord which vs hath made Whose Statutes to obey should be our onely trade Oh Sacrifice of Fooles with tongue to pray But harbour no obedience in thine heart Who dost in word professe God to obay But by thy workes dost all his Law 's peruert Behold it is not without iust desert That Beasts to thee are disobedient When thou to God a faithlesse rebell art To whom obey Sun Moone Stars Firmament Nor Sea against his will inuades the Continent Whil'st I about this sinfull Body beare Lusts and corruptions will therein remaine Yet neuer let them so much domineere As here of Grace the mastery to gaine For if I suffer Sinne in me to raigne That all my members will to sinne obay That sin whereof Saint Paul doth so complaine Oh! who me from the same deliuer may It is not I but sin that Christ doth disobay If that the Iudge by his Authoritie Inioyne me to performe or speake a thing Against the will of Soueraigne Maiestie Here my Deniall no Offence doth bring And if I be commanded by the King To doe against his will that is aboue I here no Rebell am though suffering For
wormes if once abused He that for Egypts Flesh-pots hath refused This Heau'nly Food And mans tradition vaine His base false lying Legends rather chused Shall whilst this Flesh betweene his jawes remaine Be with his great and wealthiest chosen shauelings slain Fountaine of liuing water which doth more And faster spring as it is emptied Most fruitfull Vine which bringeth still more store Of heau'nly grapes as they are gathered Th' epistle of Heau'ns King which rightly read Brings vs the gladsome tidings of Saluation Whose harder sense strong men may chuse as bread The plainer babes may suck for sustentation We both aright concort by heau'nly meditation The Sword that doth spiritually diuide From vs all manner of concupiscence Our youths reformer and our ages guide Transcending reason more than reason sence Truths ground the Fountaine of Intelligence Loues complement the root of humblenesse Faiths hold the Rule of all Obedience Hopes anchor and the path of Rrighteousnesse The ladder which we climbe from hence to Happinesse Would you haue more it is the milke sincere Which can alone quench Hells eternall fire The only Daughter to her Mother deare The mystery which Angells doe admire The sweetest song of blessed heau'nly Quire Whose Praise eu'n all the heau'nly Powers sing Apostles Prophets Martyrs all desire With all their might to strike this lofty string Which Dauid in one Psalme a thousand times doth ring As Iacob with the Angell wrestled Nor let him goe without a blessing would So when words mysteries by vs are read We striue and struggle for the meaning should A goodly strife if we contending could Hold out till what we seeke we doe obtaine As Incense doth no pleasing smell vnfold Nor Spice till it be in a Morter braine So are words mysteries till study makes them plaine This makes the lips of Christs endeared Bride Than any Hony combe to drop more sweet And vnderneath her daintiest tongue abide Hony and Milke The Hony is most meet To heale the wounds Sin makes from head to feet The Milke for Babes Loe thus her either Brest Which like two twining Roes doe equall meet Yeeld most abundant Food if softly prest And both with Roses sweet and Lilly's faire are drest This is the Tower of Dauid which is built By th' holy Spirit of most costly stone Whereon a thousand Shields doe hang all guilt With swords and weapons for the mightiest One This is the Priuie Garden where alone The Spouse with Bridgroome doth her selfe delight Planted with Nardus Saffron Cinamon And all trees good for medicine tast or sight Through which doth flow a well of liuing waters bright Most heau'nly Paradise where tree of Life My Soule most heau'nly Fruits doth daily bring Fit for the Lamb to walke in with his wife And for the Spouse most Angell-like to sing The Soueraigne Grace and Bounty of her King Where though I often seeke to hide in vaine Mee from my Nakednesse discouering My blessed Bridegroome calleth me againe And clothes me with the Robes of Lamb most righteous slaine There Manna-like Loe eur'y Fruit doth tast Iust as we would none iustly can complaine Though his vnweeded garden lieth wast God send to good and bad alike his raine Let him where thornes and bryers doe remaine Take heed how he this heau'nly deaw accuse It is the root thy euill heart and vaine Which doth the sweetnesse of this raine abuse Which for to water weeds and nettles doth it vse How should this Word be sweet vnto the mouth Wherein is nought but Gall and Bitternesse Or how should heau'nly deaws from West or South Moisten that Heart which by maliciousnesse More hardned is than Flint in wickednesse Alas what Corne can sweetest raine forth bring In Ground that choked is with worldlinesse Where as the thornes vp with the wheat doe spring And from the root suck vp all heau'nly nourishing Ev'n as a Lamp without supply of Oyle Being daily had is soone extinguished So though we seeme to prosper here awhile In Faith and Grace all 's soone abolished Vnlesse that they be daily nourished With Hearing Reading Prayer Meditation In vaine it with our mouths is vttered Except it in our hearts makes habitation And we expresse it in our liues and conuersation Oh let this holy Words most heau'nly Fire My secret sound affections inflame And burne vp all vaine fleshly worlds desire Oh blessed Fire like that in Bush did flame But neuer did consume or burne the same The fire whereby Gold Catholike is tride And straw and ' stubbled errour brought to shame In whom this inward fire doth ay refide He well the scorching heat of outward may abide But as no fleshly ey 's can here behold The glorious Sunne but by that Suns sweet sight So no man vnderstanding may be bold To know this Word but where it doth enlight Lord in thy Light then let mee see this Light Whereby I may my sinfull life amend And in thy Statutes set my whole delight And wholly in the way 's of wisdome tend So shall my foot stand fast with ioy vnto the end For as the snow and raine from Heav'n descend But neuer thither doe returne againe Till that be done for which thou didst them send To make the fruitfull soile fit for the graine So neuer shall thy Word returne in vaine But sure accomplish what thou dost intend Then moisten daily with this heav'nly raine My hardned Heart that all my powers may bend To glorifie thy name who dost these showers send How should he feare to want his daily Food Who with this Word of Life is nourished Or who can thirst that drinketh of his bloud Let not this Word be vnderualued He that is with this Heau'nly Manna fed Eates of the fattest of Gods spirituall store Wherewith Christs tender Spouse is fostered Till Shee growes strong and faire to stand before Her Head And neuer thirst nor hunger any more This Words Eternall therefore hath no end I no beginning nor conclusion find I could herein my Life and Spirits spend It doth so feed my Soule and glad my mind But now my Muse to Prayer is assign'd And bow 's her knees to end her Meditation With Praise to Him who first mine Heart inclin'd To seeke this Heau'nly Food of Contemplation I hope vnto his Glory and mine owne Saluation MEDITAT V. Of PRAYER AS wise experienc'd valiant Generall When 's Souldier armed is from Foot to Head And hath at hand his Shield and Sword and all His Armour with his Belt fast buckled Yet him into the Battell will not lead Till he be taught his Sword aright to wield To take Aduantages if offered And to defend his Body with his Sheild Then him thus taught and train'd he leads into the Field So wee that in these Spirituall Battells fight Not with fraile Flesh but Principality's And powers of exceeding foce and might Besides their treason plots and policies Must first be taught in Armes to exercise That all in complete Armour ordered
And taught how to assault our enemy's They with our Sword may be discomfited And we from Hell and Bondage safe deliuered I of this Military Art doe know No Tutor like to holy supplication Prayer who vse of all our Armes doth show The Serieant Maior of our Militation Diuinest Prayer holy Meditation Whereby with God we haue sweet conference About the mysteries of Mans Saluation And call the Angells downe for our defence 'Gainst Flesh's Worlds and Deuils hostile violence Prayer who though her knees bow in the dust Yet are her vpper parts aboue the sky And doe into th' Almighty's presence thrust To craue of all we want a new supply Which like to clouds of incense vp doe flye If offered by his Sonnes sweet mediation Whose iust requests no Father can deny Oh offer mine then That this Meditation May be directed by thy Spirits illumination True Prayer is the opening the desire Ev'n of our Heart and Soule to God aright Them powring out to him that doth require We should lay open all before his sight The Sacrifice wherein he doth delight A sure defence to him that right doth pray The Scourge wherewith we Sin and Satan smite And powers all and policies gainsay Our surest Refuge in each dangerous Affray For Christian Souldier neuer kneeleth downe And lifts his heart vp towards Heav'n to pray But all his Foes spirituall him arowne Assault and labour him herein to stay Then is it time for him about to lay With his sharp Sword to put them all to flight And for to arme each part lest they him slay With Greaues Belt Brestplate Shield and Helmet bright In Faith Hope Patience Truth and Righteousnesse to fight By rules of Art I Prayer may diuide To these two Heads Thankesgiuing Inuocation The second I in three doe subdiuide Petition Intercession Deprecation First seekes Gods Glory and our owne Saluation The second doth for others make petition So Christ doth intercede by mediation By last we doe intreat for sins remission And be deliuer'd from all ill and superstition But as the Sauldier be he ne're so strong Well arm'd and skil'd in points of Schoole-defence If that his spirit faint is laid along So if we in our Armes haue confidence And not relye on Gods sole Prouidence His Spirit which helpeth our infirmities And doth instruct to pray with reuerence Sending vp heart and soule by sighs and cry's For all our Armes and strength our Foes will vs surprise For Spirit is the cause efficient Of all our prayers that to Heav'n ascend Though Faith be the Internall instrument By which we all things aske doe apprehend With Faith and Spirit Prayer Heav'n doth rend And whatsoeuer shee in Christ his name Doth aske the Father downe to vs will send This Pagans saw though otherwise to blame That Christians nothing beg but they obtaine the same All Blessings spirituall and temporall Publike and priuate for our Selues and Friends All that in this life or a better fall To vs almighty God for Prayer sends When Heau'n is shut vp that no dew descends If we forsake our sins and pray for raine The Heau'n on vs abundant showers spends Though Foes vs captiue from our City's traine Yet Prayer makes vs Free and brings vs home againe If Dearth Drowth Pestilence be in the Land Or City's be besieg'd by enemies Then if the cause thereof we vnderstand Our sins And seeke by Prayer remedy God will be mercifull accordingly Yea if a Stranger of an Heathen Nation Doe call on God by Prayer heartily And of his life doe seeke a reformation His Prayer shall be heard by Christ his mediation Thus Prayer is for all things profitable If her true obiect she doe neuer misse One God who gracious willing is and able And of our Heart the only Searcher is All things that are in Heau'n and Earth are his We must no person in the Deity Omit when as we pray to him for Blisse All workes externall in the Trinity Are one though their internall haue variety Diuinest Pater-noster whose one Word In it more heau'nly matter doth containe Than one whole hour's babbling can afford Suddaine abortiues of an idle braine With tedious turnings repetitions vaine Out tumbling all that in their stomach lies Which often goe beyond this Prayers straine As if they were more feruent or more wise Than he that for our patterne did it first deuise Pure Prayer made by serious meditation Or by this holy patterne rightly pend Briefe spirituall sublime ejaculation With feruent Fury doth to Heau'n ascend And to the marke like swiftest arrow tend God is in Heau'n thou kneelest on the ground To him therefore no rash petitions send Therein let matter more than words abound And inward sighs and groanes than outward plaints and sound But Prayer though by thy two mighty wings Of Loue and Meeknesse thou to Heau'n canst sore And come in presence of the King of Kings By pard'ning wrongs and giuing to the poore Presume not on thy merits ere the more That Brightnesse who doth sit vpon the Throne Angells not able are to stand before Alas how dar'st thou then there stand alone Without the mediation of the Holy One. Like birdlime merits so thy wings besmeare That thou not able art to take thy slight Aboue the Firmament or to come neere That euershining Lamp of Heau'nly Light Which ought thy Prayers to direct aright In Knowledge Meeknesse and Humility By which we feele and haue and inward sight Of our vnworthinesse and misery And seeke else where for worth and true felicity Eu'n to that liuely Fountaine of the Lamb Which is a deepe well wondrously profound From which by Prayer breaking vp the dam We draw vp waters which doe there abound The depth of this rich Well no Grace can sound But feruent Prayer when as Shee doth desire To coole her thirst with waters therein found wherewith if once we coole our thirst like Fire The more we drinke thereof the hotter's our desire An Oxes lowing barking of a Dog Grunting of Swine doth more the Lord delight Than Prayers which the World and Flesh so clog They come not from vs with a Heart and Sprite And as no salue or medicine hath might To heale the wound which Iron doth containe So Prayer neuer profiteth that wight In whom Hypocrisie or guile remaine For these still fester deeper to the Patients paine God is our Soules Physitian and know's best What for her sicknesse is best remedy And therfore when we needfull things request Of him for this our lifes necessitie He better then his Patient can descry What is most fit to keepe him from the graue And cure him of his spirituall malady Wherefore when we receiue not what we craue We know Christ better know's than we what need we haue Gods Word 's the Sword whereby our Lord doth sway And rules his Church here as he is a King As Priest he offers praises and doth pray As Prophet he glad tidings vs doth bring Most wisely
hand Much lesse my head with Lawrell Bough adorne May I yet mine owne Passions thus command My Cost and Tilt's short of my Crop of Corne. FINIS The Authors Vow or wish at the Consecration of a Chappell newly founded by the Right Honorable WILLIAM Lord Maynard at his House in Eston in Essex LEt others heape vp Titles Lands and store Their names on earth for euer to maintaine Thou to thy house dost surer honour gaine By adding of this Consecrated Floore Where Thou and Thine may euer him adore That Proud throw's downe and Humble men doth raise Thy Father built the Palace in his day's But leaues Gods house vnto his prudent Sonne Who Numa-like now plants Religion Where Romulus the first Foundation lay's This Leauen makes the whole Lump to endure Shis Salt to Thee and Thine shall season all And gainst thy Foes shall be a Brasen Wall This shall Thee waking keepe most safe and sure And nigh this Altar thou shalt sleepe secure By this Thy Honour ay continue shall And Blessed make Thy Names memoriall Alas this worlds vaine seeming glittring Glory Is lubrike full of hazard transitory What 's built on this Foundation cannot fall So long as Sions Temple's vndefil'd The line of Dauid doth the Scepter sway But suddenly are captiue led away When Altars they with Idols had defil'd Wherefore they wise did Gods house rebuild When out of Babylon they were translated Then since Thou wisely has determinated Thine House and Honour by Gods Church to raise Hee Blissings send so long as You him praise So may both stand for ay vnruinated Be it like Sions Mount inaugurated Which is by Sions MOVNTAIGNE Consecrated The Muses Health To the Right Honourable WLLIAM Lord Maynard at the Consecration of his Chappell at Eston Lodge in Essex THis building thus adorn'd and rais'd in state Shall now be made a Chappell consecrate Embleme of Adam whom as God did rowle First vp in clay next breath'd a liuing soule So to these faire materialls preparation A Spirit shall be giuen by Consecration Not stol'n from Iupiter as ports tell Prometheus did for which he hangs in Hell Nor yet a sparke of strange or common fire Which brought on Aarons sonnes consuming ire But coales on Gods owne Altar kindled By right succession to vs fostered The sum is that the Bishop doth inspire Into this Edifice an holy fire A liuing flame which neuer shall goe out So long as they which tend it are deuout But aye thereby shall safe and quiet rest As swallowes which besides is build their nest Oh may this fire within these walls indure So long as Neptunes waues this I le immure And as from Mountaines comes that wholesome breath Which healthfull makes the Valleys all beneath So from this MONTAIGNE health come and saluation Vnto the Founder and his generation Let Prophets Priests in Prayers all combine To make this House a Blisse to Thee and Thine And when by their deuotions ioy'nd this flame Is kindled let thy Priests maintaine the same And offer vp thy prayers day and night Like fumes of Incense in th' Almighties sight Oh force vnited of a Congregation That ioyne in prayer at a Consecration With these my Muse now thine shall beare a part And whilst they pray by booke shee 'le pray by hart FINIS THE CONVERTS CONQVEST PSAL. 119. V. Ultimo I haue gone astray like a sheepe that is lost oh seeke thy seruant for I doe not forget thy Commandements LONDON Printed by WILLIAM STANSBY 1625. TO THE MOST SINCERELY RELIGIOVS AND TRVLY Vertuous Mistresse SARAH ARGAL Wife to IOHN ARGAL of Badew Esquire LEast I be deem'd a thiefe I will disclose I turn'd to Verse what you gaue me in Prose In so few lines I neuer yet did find More heav'nly Comforts to a grieued mind Mans sinfull Heart Hells Malice Grace diuine Is intermixed so in ev'ry Line I praise God I this speake with feeling Sense God grant the Reader like experience Good publish't doth more good by being knowne Wherein I seeke Gods glory not mine owne Of Reading and of Writing's but one end Repent beleeue for sake Sinne and amend Your true vnfeigned Friend R. A. THE CONVERTS CONQVEST ACertaine Christian which had often bin Tempted and by his weaknesse ouertaken To his great sorrow with one selfe same sin At last sate downe as if he were forsaken Where of sins bondage first he doth complaine And then himselfe thus comforteth againe From my all-seeing God I cannot flye Still in my loathed sins I may not lye Yet ought I not of mercy to despaire Yet dare I not for Grace to God repaire Pray would I but I cannot it intend Repent I doe but not my life amend I to beleeue desirous am yet doubt In this lewd wicked custome holding out God is by me dishonoured whilst I Professe to serue him true and faithfully Disples'd whilst I prouoke him to his face Both griev'd and quenched is his Spirit of Grace His Graces I abated withered find My sense benum'd besotted is my mind My memory dull'd more strong grows Satans dart My Soule 's aduentred hardned is my hart I grow in Sin rich poore in Goodnesse Grace My head 's vex'd Conscience is in wofull case My calling stain'd crack'd credit Time mispended My strength consum'd and my God offended As doth my sin my burthen doth increase My pain 's inlarged troubled is my peace I sigh but sorrow not aright would faine Be rid of it but soone returne againe I grieue not weepe Lord could I from it part Forsake confesse it with a broken hart How farre aduenture Lord how long shall I Dare to prouoke thy powerfull Maiesty How long shall he forbeare how often might He cut mee off Or suddenly dead smite How long shall hee chastise mee yet in vaine At length O Lord be mercifull againe Oh tarry not Lord tarry not too long But make my resolution firme and strong Oh loathsomenesse deceitfulnesse of sin Sweetnesse and bitternesse wee find therein Beginnings fawnings growing terrour smart Faiths weakenesse Satans enuy Mans false heart When shall I now these Oh that I could know Them better Lord by farre than yet I doe Yet wish though much asham'd thus to be tainted I were not as I am with them acquainted What shall I doe Goe on Nay God defend Shall I retire Stand idle Not amend Shall I despaire Why so Haue my sins quite Dride vp Gods mercies which are infinite Such thing to thinke were cursed Blasphemy Who succours all that are in misery Will not God heare what I in Faith desire Humbled with Griefe Then make I him a Lier Shall I presume yet longer Ah I haue Presum'd too much Oh let mee mercy craue By true Repentance and abundant teares What is thy heart so harden'd as it feares It neuer can be mollify'd againe Then Gods Omnipotence thou dost restraine What Hath this thing without God come to passe Hath Satan got the Victory Alas Is not th' Almightie far nore strong than hee Hath not my Lord Christ Iesus dy'd for mee Hath God ere lov'd thee Sure hee once me lov'd For then I it by good experience prov'd Then Loues he still for where he doth begin Hee loues for euer and his gifts haue bin Without Repentance hee for mee destry'd And vanquisht Death Sin Satan when he dy'd O Lord encrease my faith why should not I Beleeue in him obey him willingly How faine would I beleeue and him obay How fame would I repent amend and pray I cannot then conclude nor will nor dare That I am damn'd for these desires sure are The motions of Gods Spirit in mee indeed Who neither smoaking flax nor bruised reed Will quench or breake But all will satisfie Who thirst and hunger after equitie Blist euer be his name who hath begun To make me Conqueror through Christ his Sonne By his assistance gracious then I Vow To serue God better then I haue till now On his behests more carefully attend Thy Grace mee strengthen as a sheild defend Satan auoid thou hast in mee no part From the beginning thou a Liar art Before and after mine in Adams fall Thou to deceiue mee practisest in all But God is true iust mercifull to mee In Iesus Christ his blessed Sonne and hee For honour of his Name and Maiesty Will doe away all mine iniquitie So as the siftings here of Satan shall Not turne to my destruction But they all Gods Grace in mee shall further magnifie And bind mee to him more assuredly More hee forgiues the greater is his grace Him faster we with Loue in Christ imbrace Henceforth my soule remember well what gaine Thou reaped hast and oft maist reape againe By that whereof thou iustly art ashamed For which thy Name and Conscience now is blamed Restore me to the Ioy of thy Saluation Which better is then ioyes continuation For by the want the worth discerne we may And be stirr'd vp more earnestly to pray FINIS * Haruest Homer Alexander Aeneas Virgil. Ouid. Spencer Dauid * Bishop Montaigne