may have a firme superficies Hollow vaults a hard roofe The soule that takes things by the outside is like to goe away with out-side comforts that is not penetrating bottom-searching inward-looking is like to fall low for want of looking low Build then cauteously O my soule tread warily take heede of the rashnesse of fooles Esa 32.4 walke accurately circumspectly precisely keepe thy selfe close to thy God loase not thy hand thy hold the least time the least distance walke humbly love him intirely cleave to him inseperably follow him at every turne thou canst never be out of thy way while thou keepest thy way thy Christ whom thou sha't onely find in his fatheas who is who is already found of all them that seeke his face not themselves but him his holinesse his glory who of his just goodnesse and gratious wisedome to the manifestation of the power of his light of his love hath left thee among so many false lights fooles-fires in such a mist in such a night of darkenesse among so many misguiding guides like so many false voices in a wildernesse Now to know his from a strangers now to discerne is grace wisedome c. in its richest attire Resigne then thy selfe to thy Christ to thy God live by faith in all and feare not but when thou art gone out of thy selfe his spirit shall teach thee when what c. to see heare doe c. for while thou art with so farre as thou art with the Creator thou canst not want wisedome how to use the Creature so as it may bee most for his glory and that is the height of thy wisedome Certainly so long a wee are with him hee will bee with us counselling directing in all our wayes All our miscarriages ill doing and ill farings being from our departure from him our light life comfort so that not onely true faith is rationall in beleeving God beyond and against sence but true reason is faithfull in conversing with God in and thorough sence And hither I conceive lookes those places I am crucified to the world and the world to me am dead and this that I live in the very flesh incarnall sensuall things seeing hearing talking eating drinking commerce c. I live by the faith live the life of the son of God We are dead and our life is hid with Christ in God ARe dead and the spirit that raised up Jesus quickneth our mortall bodies the soule of our soules the life of our lives Senses spiritualized Whatsoever is not of faith is sinne c. Neither can there be any thing pleasing to God but what is done in him in whom onely he is well pleased but what wee doe in him we doe by faith The nature whereof were wee so happy fully to know wee should fully know our owne happinesse VVIsdome begins with ends makes first its last Not stirs a foot till wary feare forecast Vnto what good but good thence End 's but One Then doe speake thinke an act till feare hath shewne Thy faith that kinde to come from lead to God A sinfull folly ' t is Thus faith will plod Hee 's then the man that 's only wise That keepes his God before his eyes The head of wisdomes feare but there Are wisemens eyes see with their feare His Optick nerves his moving hence Derive their animall influence THings as their principles decay and thrive Th'most dying Christians are the most alive Reduce all ills to sin all sins to 'th First All goods to grace all graces unto Christ Then place thy selfe i' th' midst and thou sha't see How good 't is in a trembling joy to be VVhile every act and accident shall show Thee thee not thee ere blest thee so to know Thus shake thee from thy selfe and thou sha't finde How good 't is to enjoy anothers minde Thus shake thee from thy selfe and thou sha't see How good 't is in anothers life to be VVhile seeing whence and whether brought th' ast bin Grace shall thee humble make and faithfull sin But may this humble faith still acted be Still't wu'd from sin and sinfull sorrow free THere is nothing wherein we are more wanting then in what we thinke our selves least the grounds and principles of Christianity VVhat more commonly confessed than that we are all sinners children of wrath by nature More readily professed then that we believe in Christ that we preferthe will the glory of God above all c. and yet what is it we beleeve we do lesse What is it is more hard more excellent VVhile they are things meerely notionall and superficially swimming in the braine or at most but glide and coast upon the heart and carry it on in a way of action so far as pleases our selves and corrupt nature the devill lets us run on with the undoubted uncontraverted conceit that we know them that we believe them till they have at length brought us thither where we shall too late be forced to believe know that we believed that we knew them not But then is it that we meet with the crosse windes the stormes fluctuations temptations doubts questionings of their certainty their equity c. When they come with that weight upon the soule as to sinke into it to be received and entertained of it into its seriousest and solemnest consideration when they come with that force and power upon it as not to Herere inprimis viis to stay in the common sense fancy but to take the judgement and by that the heart and by that the whole man into their possession that they are not only on the soule but In it and it wholly given up to wholy in these things when we come to suck sweetnesse from them to live upon them to digest them throughly to gather strength from them to draw them forth to practise to make them such to our selves as they are in themselves c. certainly could wee fully understand firmely beleeve cordially affect and frequently or rather continually actuate these things what manner of men should wee be O could we experimentally know in all holinesse in all happinesse of conversation we should be Christians farre more in reallitie then wee can be in profession in substance then wee can be in shew It is as impossible for that heart to make the world know what it sindes within it selfe as it is to speake proportionably to make them know what is heaven Not the thousandth part of it selfe is that soule able to discover that hath the powerfull workings of these thoughts these meditations within it though too they be such whose very nature is to carry forth the soule in the most operative activitie The cause once knowne the cure 's halfe done the soule And why not adde the body purg'd o' this foule Distempering humourous faithlesse pride thou' rt sound Though sinne shame paine want div'ls beset thee round The man 's within and all 's in vaine without If he that 's hid in Christ will
who hath made these latter ordinances in their time as well as those former And that the God of nature who made nothing in vaine hath given forth such a diversitie of commands not with most wise ends To shew what concord he can make in such a seeming discrepancie betweene worke and worke men and men betweene heaven and earth in such a multiplicitie of imployments in due time and place while they are all According to his will And make an inconceiveable melody in the answering of a good conscience to him To shew thorough what a varietie of occurrents he can carry the faithfull soule while he still keepes it with Him And that hee might keepe them in an humble dependencie on him to learne how to bring forth their fruits in due season To set forth the glory of Christianitie in the sutable composure of such a change of Ornaments The excellencie of it in over-comming so many difficulties in passing so many turnings and windings conducted by the thus-more-commended manifold wisedome power goodnesse of God That takest it for so much superstition so much idolizing of the best duties and therefore for so much no duties while they are set up against the will of God Thou whom prosperitie keepes praying adversitie praysing That art exalted by thy humiliation incouraged by thy feare rejoyced by thy sorrow that gettest thy life by throwing it away that findest thy selfe by losing it that art watchfull in every thing carefull in nothing That art encountred with often doubts scruples irresolutions self-disputes and yet livest at the highest rate of assurance of the divine favour That yea by feeding thy selfe with feare thy watchings prayings fastings art carryed forth in the liveliest vigorousnesse and luxuriancy of spirits 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mic. 4. Thou that art now at the top of the third Heavens in the highest exaltations of thy spirit and now againe at the bottome of the lowest Hell while thou still lyest as fast in the hugging imbraces of the omnipresent as ever Thou whose modest sober pure peaceable guilelesse discreet unblamable zealous lively active deportment of thy selfe speakes the one that hath been brought up at thee feet of Jesus Thou whose generous magnanimous God-resembling Spirit stoopes to humilty and overtops Pride That while thou lyest below the lowest dejection of the meanest Sainted Pesant bearest thee above the most disastrous dismallest aspects of the arrogantest Prelatickst highest-aspiring Kingdome-dooming Comet as far as the third Heaven is above the Meteory Region Thou that canst gladly stoope with that meeke Lamb to wash the feete of the meanest Minister of the Gospell Lay downe thy life for the God-loved and therefore world hated brethren while Lyon-like thy righteous soule rouseth up it selfe against the Hypocriticall Pharisee with the most contemptuous and undervaluing disdaine Thou that with a heartie willingnesse canst gladly abase thy selfe to unloose the latchet of the meanest Saint while thou knowest not how to give a Pontificall Peacocke the dissembling Complement of thy hast though he swell though he burnish though he bustle though he crow it never so domineeringly till he be furtivis nudatus coloribus Thou that like thy Heavenly Father knowest how to bee afflicted in all the afflictions of his holy ones his humble ones while wherein soever the Presumptuous deale proudly Thou wilt in Him be above them and make their proudest wrath to praise Him Thou that seest far more beauty on the very feet of the poorest Embassadour of the Gospel then on the honour-pleasure-profit-Triple-crowned head of those enemies to the Crown because to the vertue because friends to the signe of the Crosse of Christ In making the earth their study their belly their God their glorious Titles their shame themselves destruction and their Country distraction Thou that knowest how to turn the other cheeke to him that smites thee and to let goe thy cloake too to him that wud take away thy coate and yet knowest thy time too when to sell it for a sword and thy life by it as deare as thou canst While yet thou seekest not so much the destruction of the enemy no nor the preservation of thy selfe as the obedience too as the glory of God by it Thou that hast learnt how to render blessing for cursing and pray for them that despitefully use thee while still thou remembrest that the same Michael that brought no railing accusation against the devill called the Pharisees a generation of Vipers the evill-working Jewes the children of the devil Thou whose well tempered soule knowest the meaning of a zealous meeknesse a milde indignation a faceat gravity a sollid pleasantnesse c. Thou who while thy cautelous heart is still agitated with the most quick resentments readiest apprehensions of dangers art most firmly setled in a most unshaken peace of a providentiall security Thou whose giving heart is streaming it selfe forth in the most inlarged and selfe-loosing compassions the most liberall supplyes and contributions to the suffering Saints and hast thy awakened feare continually exercised with the alarmes of war and death while thou standest with an undaunted magnanimity in a close fast fixed Communion with thy God like Mount Sion that cannot be shaken triumphing over Hell and Death That while thou bleedest in their wounds art bound in their bonds dyest in their death blessest for thy wounds art freed with thy bonds livest in thy death That walking in the shadow of death in the presence of thine enemies hast a set banquet of heavenly delicacies thy head annointed with the oyle of joy and gladnesse by the over-shadowing hand of the Almighty Redeemer while thy soule is like a brim-full Cup over-running with joy and praises with joy and praises Thou that amandest the wicked from thee that thou maist keep the Commandements of thy God whom thou findest so so inapprehensibly good Thou that abhorrest none more then pragmaticall busie-body censorious men as the most slight-spirited idle self-ignorant worthlesse men that are and yet seekest not thine own things but the things of others and canst not so hate thy brother in thy heart as not to rebuke him and therefore as not to rebuke him in love Thou in whose eyes a vile person is contemned whose God-acquainted spirit can not sit with vaine empty triviall-spirited persons Sons of Belial whose foolish hearts are not lift up in-to the wayes of God that are above to the wise Triflers away of precious houres in frothie frivolous fruitlesse communications that have no and therefore can administer no grace to the hearer Men not of Heaven-ascending discourse spirit life Thou that hast found the two edged sword of the word dividing between the soule and the spirit and raising this as far above that as that is above the body That thou mayest serve him in the spirit of thy minde in the more extracted as it were and more sublimed quintessence the morefree noble 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of life love zeal Thou that like that Purites
command them off is indeede to command a mans selfe the most noble conquest And surely this magnanimitie this inlargeing this heighthning heate and vigour of heart is conveyed in equally with those beames of divine illumination Which wonderfully marvellous light which kingdome of Heaven first entering into us and wee into it at our first entrance on Mount Sion workes thus diffusively on the understanding-the-heart-the whole All things are as they are compared to God but him in the face of Christ I see the onely good and therefore as contraries illulustrate each other whom have I in earth in Heaven but Thee I see nothing in the whole creation in its best and setledest state but a blacke and horrid Caos of vanitie of deformitie farther then it partakes of him farther then I can espie in it the scatterings of the divine Raies And surely the men of the world comparing themselves with themselves and the things with the things of the world are not wise Rectum est index sui obliqui The light of the manifestation of it selfe and darkenesse He then that doth truth commeth to this light to see whether his workes be of God T 's the shining Sunne discovers those motes of sinne Those subtler mists of fleshie steames betweene Our spirit our light our life and us those beames Of shadowing lusts that darke our lightfull beames Still shine lo'd Sunne discovering still dispell And in dispelling discover our heart-bred hell Those uncouth Cells those shades of dismall death Those haunts of horrid Fiends whose mickle skeath Of mortall wounds hous'd in a golden sheath Of minion comforts steale away the breath With fatall kisses whilst th' guile-favouring night Maskes their infernall shapes till th' friendly light Of faithfull truth appeare and put to flight Their wilely force b' its wisely succouring might Thus more commended it my triumph more Increast such enemies so triumphed o're Thus the sincere heart brings himselfe and all the world to this all-revealing Sunne to see what they have of him in whom hee hath approved the onely and onely fincere-making excellencies by that single eye of faith that singles him out as its onely object as desiring to see nothing but him at least mediately if not immediately And though this latter is the way wherein the earnestly heartie desires of the soule run after the full and uninterrupted in oyment of God yet in regard of the frailtie of the flesh the weakenesse slendernesse imbecilitie of the intermediate spirits that are as the ties and ligaments betwixt the foule and the body and could not long conteine themselves without being utterly dissolved shud they be unintermittedly bent and held up to that extensive intensivenesse whereunto they are wrought by those great and glorious thoughts of those savoury and cordiall apprehensions which in the Lord Christ they have and without him they cannot have of that simple and infinite good which not onely carry forth the soule in a glad venture but transport it in an eager pursuit of this happy dissolution yet bethinking it self that there may be a selfe-seeking in this selfe-loosing that it is to live to others not it selfe to doe not receive it is willingly forced with a kind of unpleasant pleasantnesse to further entertaine its faith in naturall sense least it should wholly vanish into supernaturall So may our soules O Lord be incessantly continually devoted to thy feare so may they be devout even in all their earthly affaires may se devovere vow themselves from themselves and pay their vowes continually So may they ever live in thy fight in thy light that they may never depart from thy feare that they may never more give the lie to their professed knowledge fellowship with the light by walking in the wayes of darknes but shew forth the glory of their father in Heaven by the reflection of their serene sincere light some conversation on earth And certainly could we stand with this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this stretching forth of the head in an earnest looking on him and longing for him wee shu'd have such an assuence of light and life breake in upon our soules and shine on our wayes that we shu'd walke up and downe like starres shot from Heaven till having dazled the eyes of the world into an envious astonishment wee shu'd remount for ever fixed in our highest spheare Now according as our aspect is on Him so is it also to others if that but oblique this but dimme and obscure but if that perpendicular this lively and glorious O that wee were more excellently skilled in these holy optickes we cu'd not but be in Theologie and therefore in Ethicks Oeconomicks c. And cu'd we but live soberly righteously and godlily upon as we ran not but cannot chuse but upon the sight of God avant then false lights false comforts for ever then he that shall come will come and will not tarry for the Lord is certainly waiting to bee gratious to that soule that is thus stedfastly waiting to be guided by him This indeed being the product the effect of the sense of that Neither know I any such if any other sincere and constant seeking as that when I thought of an absent God I was troubled and refused to be comforted by any thing but himselfe as knowing nothing else true comfort Neither can there be such seeking but from a true and lively saith not such a waiting but from a sincere-and-fervent love therefore not unlikely the Apostle thus intimating the nature of these graces translates those passages of Esaiah 11.10 with Rom. 15.12 1 Cor. 2.9 with Isa 64.4 seeke trust waite love Seeking faith and waiting love Here is that great Art of a Christian to be seeking still seeking the face of God I have set the Lord Alwayes before my face therefore c. Seeke yee the Lord and seeke his face Evermore I am Continually With thee Be in the feare of the Lord all the day long Here is that great difference of sinceritie and hypocrisie Will the hypocrite pray alwayes Will he seeke God in prosperitie as well as in adversitie At mid day in his businesse all the day long hourely and minutely as well as morning evening and at the solemne assembly Will he live the life of faith in the flesh in all sensuall things is he crucified to the world and the world to him Is he dead and this that even his mortall body lives is it by the quickning of the spirit doth hee walke up and downe the world as a man that hath neither life nor soule but onely as inlivened as animated hence is he ever lifting up his face to God that that flood of light and life that thence with such mighty incomes flowes in upon the soule might beare downe before it every thought that exalts it selfe against the kingdome of the Lord Christ c. that wholy given over to the power sway and guidance of it wholly casting it selfe into its imbracings while it
nimble eye could not prevent His noble heart turnes to incouragement And counts small undertakings too too small For that Great minde that nothing great can call But God On on brave hearts What what temptation Dismaies the man whose danger 's recreation Not feares the hard'st injeopardingst and yet feares The light'st secur'st Imployment since he heares More Alsufficiencie in th' Aeternall's Word For th' difficult'st exploits and findes't confer'd On 's Heaven-raised soule then'n Himselfe sees To th' least good thought vast insufficiencies Thus by this feeblenesse made more apprehensive O' th' gratious supervenient strength'i's defensive Offensive succours He finds so sweet a greet In 's R'covering Heart where strength and weakenesse meet God and himselfe Here'd faine b'unchamber'd by 'th ' Free quickning Aire growne stronger ' d conflict with The ruder windes and yet his strength increast Stirres up the heartned Champion to request The King his Master to designe him to Some singular service which he passing through With perill-edging puissance might prove The Sovereigne vigor of his Soveregne's love Arm'd w'th ' All-powrefull Arme that rends in pieces The hugest hosts of foes as th' slender Fleeces O' th' slightest rottenest Woole What what temptation Dismaies the man whose Danger 's Recreation â—â—st not thy exercise I' st not to trie Thy strength that Thou mayest know 't and magnifie â—â—is Giver I' st not use legges and have them use travell And use shall teach thee nimbly trippe the gravill * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Epict. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And how thou' rt here mista'n 't is not th' affliction Whereby thou suffer'st but thine owne affection No man can hurt thee unlesse thou wilt what may An Heathen teach thee magnanimitie O pray Pray for more faithfull courage let men see Ethicks are yet to learne o'Theology What fear'st but sinne lookes 't after what but grace Since there 's so much in these then these imbrace Count them thy Pleasure Glory and thy Gaines For what gets more of Christ's well worth thy paines From the eater meate cruell sweet darke light ill good A Ridle in heaven's fully understood Here were our hearts s ' Inheaven'd in Holinesse As there they 'll be even here they 'd see no lesse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 SImplicitie-Immutabilitie Art thou O'Lord and am I as thou art One Spirit with Thee this contrarietie Whence is it then whence this inconstant heart Wer 't but that to thy sacred Image I 'M renew'd I 'd looke for more Analogie One spirit yet many loves yet many changes O be there now no mixtures no estranges O here 's my woe incorrespondency My deeds unlike themselves and all to Thee O trie refine rack supernaturalize Extract subtile sublime spiritualize O spirit spirit what shall I doe for spirit This body o' Sin this rotten Carkasse bury it How ' nweldy ' t is how over-grown with flesh How faintly it workes More spirits to refresh I can't indure these lame sick presents t' give Or make me lively or not let me live O cou'd I keep my Orb and constant shine I 'd draw up worlds with influence divine And mount their spirits but so dim low coole They 'le feare 't is but some Meteor to befoole Them not so wise to deem the different doome Between a setting Sun and falling Fume Much light 't is shewes the Sun much fruit the Roote The Roote the Sun Thou art then may my fruit My Light be much that men may wonder much What 's th'lightfull Roote whose fruitfull Light is such I am thine Image don't men judge of Thee By me Ah Lord let me no longer bee Or be more like Thee What no more holy yet More perfect yet Nay my heart intreats Thee let Me branded be for a damn'd hypocrite Or my-thy Light let it increase its might The soul Thou sai'st that 's clean-and sound promoves In strength the righteous man his Light improves Unto the perfect day but better I For ever perish then Thou once shu'dst lie They 'r foolish men and if I once doe ill From P'rticulars to Generals argue will From Man to God but how ever I be Yet Thou art good when wu't Thou come to me O that I could but wish to wish to bee For ever in Hell then be a jot from Thee This th' only Hell then may I there ne'r be O cou'd I keep my earth-freed wish to be For ever in Heaven then be a jot from Thee Thee Thee But ' die for feare for love of Thee Great Good what not but I sin shame Glory Grace Grace nay Then I le live Thy Name With loudest praises I le promulgate Then My heart my life shall say Amen Amen ORub me rub me He is passed by Pass't by my breath my life my I. O what but My hanging hands and feeble knees agree To joyne their suit for speedy remedy My yearning lookes and rowling bowels make A sad relation of Thy sad forsake My yearning lookes and rowling bowels make A glad petition for Thy glading sake For Thy forsake I faint I sinke I die But for Thy sake I live I rise I flie And over all I hie I post I speed I cannot stay For Faith is nimble in its way I post I speed I cannot stay For love and love know no delay I post I speed I cannot stay For Faith and Love are all my stay I post I speed I cannot stay For Love in Sence must end my way HEalth Wealth Name Liberty The World at will enough Take thy ease and minde thee The World what 's that to me Not elbow-roome enough To turn and winde mee Not peeping hole to see My Love not breath enough For m' Lungs to winde me Great great deficiencie Not lightsome roome enough To loose n'er finde me Wu'd not I die did not I eye Thee far before my self Wu'd not I pray my selfe away From all this paltry pelfe Wu'd I demurre when gone so far In love to thy Great Selfe Wu'd I descend and not there spend M' into Thy Endlesse Selfe No sure I de goe I de never hold my head And keepe my flushed spirits from their flight To roule their chantings i' the Darkelesse Light And sing inlargement from the living dead But that I heare me thinkes a voyce behind Sing Evangelick Anthems through thy life Thy Heavenly concords woo'the I ambe a wife Wives and more winne the spirit of their minde Corrivalls here increase their mutuall flame by 'th ' mutuall praysings of th' all pleasing Name O make me then thy Instrument So holding to thy hearts content So true unto the Touch each string Each straine so suite each Note so bring A grace unto the rest that they May fall in love that heare thee play May heare thee play that they may fall In love that raises above all To dwell with dwell in him that is Because the God of love of blisse VVHere wut thou goe this morning wandring soule With whom wut sport or where wut make
felicitie What 's Heaven if not a seeing face to face Sung heart to heart were here that full seene grace Sung to a perfect harmony of wills We might on Earth of Heaven take our fills Bless't God hath given us such an Heavenly Brother To tune us all to Thee and each to other O what a consort 's here but ah where finde I two or three strick Unisons in minde Yet were they thirds fifts eights yet unitie Runs sweetely through with a sweet Symphonie There 's one blest One i' th' mid'st who where he is In turning all to One turnes all to blisse One reconcil'd One Smpathy agree How full's my soule with heavenly melodie What 's sinne shame griefe what whatsoever's bad But discord from the good the God we had What else th' all-sinning sinne this Tree I will A sign of Soveraigntie I will not Hell Hell but what th' all-saving grace come doe Come suffer m'will thy will I come I doe Heaven Heaven How harsh'n answ'r t' a sweet injuction How sweet an answer to so harsh a function Thus fin-and-sorrow follow self-will'd pride And grace-and-peace the self that is denide To will thy will 's the sole humilitie Wherein thou dwel'st and that 's in Heaven to be How sweet a Heaven 's the heart still say it wu'd It is my God do he what seemes him good Here 's a belov'd sweet singing Israel Whose heart 's full set to God's consent's as well In all notes as in one and if he strike A jarre jarres with himselfe till strikes alike And that 's a jarre that playes a pleasant moane I'th'eares of Heaven and therefore in his owne VVhat to give Grace and Glory but to give According to thy sacred will to live VVhat i st to be in Hell To be at ods Men with themselves friends neighbours devils God's Cursing the cause of this their sad discent From th' just inflicter of their punishment Gnashing their teeth for envy at the thought Of that Salvation Reconcilement brought Thou only blest in being only One Make us to be One spirit with thine owne And so with one another ere may I be VVith them thee feare they feare to disagree VVhat was our blessers dying blessing His prayer VVe might be One as He and 's Father are O were I were I able to unfold The riches that one sillable doth hold There 's only One thing that is necessary Met we all there how cu'd we thus contrary One body one spirit one hope one faith one Lord Baptim God Father so many Ones afford Their help to keep all One and yet how few VVhose boysterous spirits will not bussle throw Soft peaces bounds so lewse loose unity For none but humble-candid-wise agree But proud-contentious-fooles will ne'r agree Nor vvith themselves nor others nor with Thee Their friendship 's but dissembled enmity Unto th'r owne soules Thee all since not agree In Christ they 're not at peace wi'th ' very stones O' th' field the whole Creation groanes Under this universall enmity It feeles by man his parting friends with Thee Now this Commune Vinculum is broke All flies in pieces and we doe but cloke Our differences if not seem to be Each for himselfe and then what friends we be How now afraid of injury from each other Shrink up our selves into our selves and smother At least our mutuall hatred and not discover The depths of malice that our hearts doe cover Stor'd up against th'all-good all-powrefull God while self-wills and fond desires wu'd pull The Crowne from off his head so ' gainst our selves Who love they hate who hate they love themselves But whether are we brought by this sad breach Or what was 't brought it but our selfish reach Or what can binde it up but only Hee In whom alone we reconciled bee That bundle o'life b'whom His are gathered in To One to never part their hearts again Deare Saviour Cu'd we pattern lowly Thee How willing to our Farhers will wee 'd be Blest Love that spy'st so rare a policy Th'Athistick Florentine cu'd ne'r descry Stand soule this ground while Heaven can provide Himselfe of joy thy joy must needs abide Let him have all have all though I get none My joy 's my Gods content and not my owne Thou canst not Lord displease me ' nlesse thou wu't Displease thy selfe for I will what thou wu't Take take thee all deare Lord though I get none My joy 's my Gods content and so my owne So will the wilfull'st but passive instruments they But of thy grace we actively obey My care 's to please my husband so my self He that so loves so foolish fond an else Wu'd undoe all againe to put in selfe Though taught so well in him t' injoy it selfe Th' issue I nor know nor care t 's my blisse His pleasure 's mine and my displeasure's his He beares our burthen we injoy his yoake He weares our Thornes that hath our Thrones bespoke O cu'd we ever keep us at this pitch What an untroubled life wee 'd leade how rich In all contents nor wu'd there need descents To lower arguments that can't dispence Us sollid true substantiall comfort till We 're rais'd to sing it is our God his will The great'st content is none whose grounds not this Th' great'st discontent's swallow'd up in this vast blisse That beares the soule in an unstopped streame Of mightie force to 'th pleasure o' th' Suprearme The strength of all obedience is this It is his will and not it is my blisse The man that 's not alive can he be strong 'T is Love's the life of God beares all along With speed with ease the Councell ta'ne word given No parley 's with the flesh On on 's straite driven With conquering flames and if his blood shall rise Hee 'le lose his blood e're hee 'le his God despise What chalenge wo'nt he take what frowns what blows What death 's on deaths who such a Guerdon knowes Awaites his certaine victory such a Beautie As cheares him to and cleares him through his dutie VVhos 's thence infused vigour feares nothing more Then want of dangert ' make the world adore Those Heart'ning Splendors that in every Ray Th' all conquering strength o' th' Deity convey VVith what Luxuriances the turgent soule 'S borne up beyond the world and hells controule O how it longs it longs to be imploi'd I' th greatest worke the greater love 's injoy'd How't runnes at halfe a word how 't markes the lippes And heares before they speake away it trip VVith speedy dilligence and cannot stay Though th' thrungin'st pressing'st diff'culties beats it way Snaps off the strongest cords like rotten threads Dissects the massiest barres in shivering shreds And drives before it all the joyned force O' th' mighti'st obstacles oppugne its course And if it feele the least repulse returnes VVith thrice-redoubl'd couragious onsets burnes VVith spirit-incensing indignation to Be stop't in ought that for his Christ hee 'd doe The man 's in love
thy Spirits thankes The very Ethnicks don't they doe the same I nothing singular that beare thy Name Who sit'st i' th heavens farre above all feares When all the world 's together by the eares Thou' rt still thy self Happy Happinesse When all the world blasphemes as when they blesse Oh cou'd I keepe my proper place with thee How farre above the daring'st Ill 's I 'de be I 'de play with flames exsult at th' thoughts of death And make my troubles keep m' i' th' better breath I 'de dance upon a dunghill sing in fire I 'de make a bed of Roses on a briar I 'de teach my teares to smile my sighes to laugh My paines to sport I 'de make thy rod my staffe Wut teach me this deare Lord teach teach m'excell To be in heaven while I am in hell For so was Christ and he and we are Christ Be then my dust below I 'le be at th' high'st What ayl's the livelesse corps whose soule 's in heaven My soule 's soule 's thou is thou my soule in heaven Heav'n is thy armes thy everlasting armes Be they still under wher 's the hell me harmes Let blustering windes and ratling tempests beat About m'assaulted eares with threats on threats O' th' terriblest stormes while I inhoused lie Imbedded in his Alisufficiencie And gather up my soule the closer in To his inwrapping comforts while I sing And they me rock i' th' faster sweeter sleep Of praising rest i' th' armes alone shall keep M' in safety maugre all the enemies I' th' maddest forciblest fury while th' world lies I' th' armes o' th' airy Prince who hath the skill To make faire weather where he meanes to kill ANd have I Lord so often wisht to die And yet I cannot live Have I so lost My soule for thee yet finde it cannot I Well still thou' rt good how ever I be crost Still will I wish and wish it with mine heart Subvert me Lord or make me more convert What shall I die alive shall I survive My selfe Shall I endure this life of pleasure Not I pray day and night How doe I thrive Where are the precious sheaves the hidden treasure Where is my livelyhood my livelynesse Well yet I have them ' cause I so confesse A word soon said but truly but of those Whose bleeding-carefull-zealous heart it knowes VVOrk on my love spare not thy pains 't is good T 's a kindly heat and sweat what art a drie Hungry with exercise take for thy food My Flesh my Blood thy thirst shall satisfie Work on these putrid humours still transpire Fresh pure sound by these Alteratives acquire I hunger Lord thirst for thy Righteousnesse My zeale doth so consume me I must have More food or faint much lesse can work afresh Hast no vvine t' spare no Milk no Hony I crave For strength not lust not for my selfe but thee That by much strength much honor'd thou mai'st be Be they but crums yet be th' o' th' childrens bread Be they but drops yet be th'o ' Salvations Well Even those can make a dog a dog that 's dead A living man these greater wonders tell O had I but the bucket 't get a sup How soon unto th'spring head 't wu'd mount me up Here will I draw ingage here all my strength Tug pull again and yet again and yet I 'le not give over 't will come I know at length It 's very aire my hope that will not let Me faint but when 't comes and I get a drinke You that have felt those joyes what th' are may thinke Lightned inlivn'd inlarg'd extold transport Beyond my selfe unto my selfe resort I see I see O when shall I once account My selfe fram'd to this patterne i' the mount Vnto my Lord deare Lord make me So like that who sees me may see Him drawne to th' very life each feature Each lineament thus a new creature I Am the fountaine and I purpose through These neighbouring intermixed Channells to Convey my selfe to each he who 'l not part His interposing earth let out his heart Reciprocate the freshning streames I send May stand stink dry not borrow who 'l not lend They 're Idiots indeed who h've private spirits 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But who is not himselfe he onely merits Not to be counted mad and so sought he Us not himselfe in whom made wise we be We 're not our owne we 're purchas'd with a prise To live no more t' our selves but now to rise To higher things to live beyond our selves In By To Him who bought's brought 's off the shelves ' ' F so great a death to bring us of our selves Our greatest death when selfe-besotted Elfes Were we dissolved in the open Maine What spatious libertie were gotten to refraine Th' land bordering Rockes O wu'd the righteous Sun Looke on our frozen hearts how fast they 'd runne Their hardned selfe contracted clods so oft Dash one against another into soft To giving inlarged streames wu'd friendly close Themselves wu'd quickly in each other loose And all with sweet concurrence nimbly flow To their imbracing Ocean O wu'd we soe Change each to other till we each were none With what advantage shu'd we be our owne For one have all thus happily unite Are growne too strong for th' world for hells despight We 're all disjoyned by our fall but set In one againe the greater strength we get What I lay out in prayers purse study paines For them with how farre multiplyed gaines Of quick returnes I finde them all in theirs Shu'd I as I shu'd not be overwhelm'd with teares Feares griefes grow weak and feeble or as I shu'd Be alwayes poore and needy in spirit how good How good it is to know that he who is In all my thoughts hath me in his Who is more beneficiall by one thought then all The world can be by all their deeds I fall No sooner now but straite one helpes me rise So farr 's two better in one how rais'd how high's My drooping soule though absent in the body Present i' th' spirit with all the spirituall body How heartily I joy in sweetly injoy Their better ordered more establish'd joy M' affections are not mine nor theirs are theirs But each in th' other's mirth and sorrowes shares How steddy stand in ballance't griefes and joys While others still supply fresh counter poyses I live not in my self but them-and-thee Live thou and they and that 's enough for mee I live not in my self but them-and-thee Live thou and they I needs must living be And if all comforts God-and-h's Saints comprises All comfort then from one another rises Conspire we then in one in one expire That makes his melting Saints a mounting fire 'T is good being here and hither rise might all Wh'have skill have will in t ' one and other t'fall But he that will be of himselfe May glut not glad himself with pelfe Yea let him laugh his belly full Yet doth the shark himself
th' creature can For he hath most of God and who hath so He little cares which way the world will goe 'T shall never touch his heart nor taske his braine To lay about to fetch it backe againe As he whose lines are fallen in a faire Large pleasant place is made for th' worse to care If 't 'll come by faire meanes well and good hee 'le use It when and as he thinks convenient loose 'T he will ere hee 'le imploy the smallest foule Imploy't he doth that lets it pinch his soule T 's the soundest body that feeds o' th' simplest fare The soundest soule that makes his God his fare A happy man the spirit ' f a healthie mind Can in a health-injoying body finde A happie man the spirit ' f a healthy minde Can in a health-deprived body finde LIft up prevailing hands in praysing action ' Gainst Edom and the Edomitish faction There are they fallen proud Prilistims withall Their Ashdod brats so let them let them fall And never rise while on our Harpes we sing The song of Moses and the Lambe our King Victorious meekenesse gird thy all-conquering sword Unto thy potent thigh give give the word Unto thy Heavenly Host they 'l straight conjoyne With earths celestiall Armies then combine Rome Spaine France Hell take the devill and all The Mitred Captaines of the high Priests Hall Come on brave Borgias with your pransing horse Yee Popes deare Nephewes or which sounds the worse Though th' same his Base Sons whom he hath begot On an unwedded Church Change Cannon shot Into the shot of Cannon Tout d'an coup Devoure th' Presicians they 're a slender soup T' a Pulpit full of Sack a slippery yolke In lustie Muskadine they 'l never choake So well wash't downe with blood but if you thinke You'z finde as hard worke as ye had to get a drinke O' th' wary Scot close noddles constult together Hoord up i' th' deep'st Abbisse ' f y'r holy Father Jesuitick plots say a confederacie But 't shall not stand till truth it selfe can lie Come gather then together and be ye broke T'irrecomposible peeces He hath spoke Still will he thinke ye ride upon an Asse No no his white steed 's mounted Hee 'l surpasse Your forciblest finenesses Jerusalem Leape leape for joy Thy King comes and doth hem Thee round with mightie mountaines and his Hoste Is all prepar'd thine enemies to accoast For His are thine for thou art His then boast The in thee Lord thy God when thou art in th emost Inextricable dangers Here I here 's A Saint-like patience thus to chant the blisse Of bleeding wounds while their Te Deums charmes Fond soules with Swan-like songs our harmelesse harmes Shall sweetly breathe in sighes triumphant layes Of conquering Iös while our blood shall praise That name above the proudest wrath and raise A generation that shall Babell raze Stones shall be Churches and dead bones shall live E're God his glory unto Rome shall give Ther 's breath enough in heaven and dust on earth To build more men to ruine all her mirth How heaven derides these Gotham sages wu'd Drowne Eeles i' th' water drowne the Church in blood What 's the Parisian massacre forgot How crown'd with many a thousand Huganot Or th' Marian flames how oft th' Prelatique hands Were crowded with increasing Puritans Or those Ten Prim'tive persecutions what But more Christs-honourers hath their crueltio got But still the devill 's the divill although he know He workes the Saints more weale himselfe more woe So mad is envie 't had rather loose both eyes Then 'ts neighbour's one shud see 'ts deformities Courage my hearts we nor our cause can die Nay we may live to see proud Aegipt lie Dead on the shore What feare we Th' Wonderfull In Skill Power Peace Love 's ours what shall they pull The Palme from Him or shall they rend a Limbe Fro' th' Father of Spirits hurt the eye of Him Whose voyce is thunder and his eves are fire Who hands their breath then have they their desire And ne'r till then Thus in my Fort my Peace My Castle-Christ my flaming Wall ne'r cease There are they fallen yea though I thinke I fall And all my fellow souldiers for thus call We death because we thinke it so when 't is The onely rise unto our perfect blisse Th' irrevocable word 's past decree 's sign'd All things are present to a faithfull minde For hee sees all in God but he sees all At once and thus while he beholds hee 'le call Things past and future present things that are As they were not that are not as they were Let kingdomes clash and their foundations shake Haughtie hearts shrinke to their heele let fury take The loftiest Hills and hurle them in the Maine Let th' lively Sun his sprightly raies refraine And wraps 's in sable might let heaven and earth Meet in confusion while hell yawnes our mirth Shall that be swallowed up by this our joy That none can take away no foe n' annoy Rouse up brave spirits glorifie the name Of that great God that ever is the same And we in Him life death principalities Powers things present things to come shall these Disjoyne us from our God if once in Him One as He is One What is it that can dim Our glorious inutterable joy That sparkles purer luster from th' alloy That streames more radiant luster from th' alloy Of foyling griefe A joy whose native heate Growes stronger by the winter winds that beate Upon 'ts concentred spirits A joy that rises Higher yet higher by the fresh surprises Of 'ts Arke-secured braveries from all The Ocean-inundations can befall Nay leade me captive griefe yet one I know Shall captive thy captivitie and show Thy open spoyles as Trophes while I sing How sweet's the memory of sower to bring To minde those tempests past while hous'd in heaven I feast on Leelesse Wines rich marrow and leaven Untouched bread So great ill turn'd to well 'T is makes his glory-and-my good excell Ther 's nothing nothing ill but all is well Is alway well to those whose wayes excell Thus is th' upright as farre from 's neighbour as hell From heaven here well is ill there ill is well Nullius addictus jurare in verba Magistri NO give me A Philosophick Ingenuitie A Bacon Luther truth-exploring braine Can cull the Wheate from th' Chaffe and bring a graine To th' graynarie of knowledge no lazie pate Will nothing else but reade heare transcribe translate And take what 's brought it at adventure an idle drone Will suffer any thing ere 't will worke but one Whose naturalls can't indure t' be Aristotl'd With ipse dixits nor his spiritualls throtl'd W'th a Spirituall Lord's irrefragable propositions But h's free-borne spirit mak's exquisite inquisitions I' th' depths of grace and nature scornes to have His judgement strangled like a Turkish slave B' usurping tiranny a noble soule Whose understanding w'll suffer no controule But from
rid Of halfe my selfe stand's in'ts owne light but bid Thou dost my stay and I 'le obey Till thou sha't call who art my all VVhose will 's my heaven My owne the leaven Sowes all my sweete thine sweets my sowre Makes me unwish my still-wish't houre COme flying on thy spicie mountaines on Thy saving hills and so convey along Those opening odours kindely work upon M' obstructed soule unlocke it from among These streights and let my spirits out of prison To praise thy name among thy second risen These meditations prayers thankes confessions Thus peec'd patcht interrupt when shall they end In endlesse praise what now by darke expressions These volumes of thy word and workes commend Me leafe by leafe b' one cleare intire view May the Synopsis of thy Face me shew Now see I one in all then all in one So may I see what is not all is none SIR No longer after my long Vacation in my travells to frustrate you of your desire though of force I must of the thing desired FEare I conceive may not unfitly be distinguished into a feare of aversion and a feare of adhesion of turning from and cleaving to and this may well be stupendious astonishing overcomming in respect of the immensitie of the goodnesse of its object such a feare as may be sayd to fall upon the soule and make the soule fall under it in a sweet God-injoying submissive humilitle Such a feare as one may be sayd to be In the seare of the Lord to be plunged in swallowed up of those great and glorious apprehensions This being both the effect and the cause of uniting the heart to God And hence is it a feare of such great joy and strong confidence The soule thus brought into God by love that is stronger then death and faith that interested in the power wisedome goodnesse of God can doe all things by this so neare approach to and communion with him discovering more of his fulnesse and in that of the creatures vanitie And hence are they so inseperably linckt together men of courage-fearing God-hating covetousnesse fearing the Lord-and Delighting Greatly in his Commandements It is rashnesse and madnesse that proceeds not from this feare it is basenesse and pusillanimitie that ariseth not from this courage The joy is sadnesse that is not accompanied with this feare and griefe the more kindly it is the more it hath of this delight For that other of aversion whether respecting morall or naturall evills it is either a bare and simple or a mixt and applicative a eare a feare of contraction or of dilatation of the spirit a meere withdrawing and flight or an aggressive resistance and repulsion And either of them is convenient pro re nata as warranted by the consideration of the thing time place person c. For morrall evills it is a feare of absolute resistance because they never consist with the will of God quoad nos for naturall it is a respective resistance and flying so farre as they shall appeare to be his will or not as we are called or not called to them So that there may be a feare of these evils well consisting with a willingnesse too and desire of them as it is said of Christ hee was heard in all that hee feared and yet againe I come to doe thy will as it is written of mee a body hast thou prepared me c. The spirit may be willing when the flesh is weake There may be and that lawfully an abhorrencie from evill as evill and yet a will ingnesse to it as the will of God and therefore good Father let this cup passe from me if possible but not my will but thy will be done The prayer of him who himselfe alone in his owne person so freely drunke up that so unimaginably terrible cup of the Aeternall wrath that shu'd have beene the portion of an everliving death to so many millions of soules And certainly could all the calamities of the world that were ever are or ever shall be suffered from Adam to the youngest of his sonnes steeped like so much Gall and Wormewood in one cup till all their ill-savoured tast were extracted from them they could never make a draught so intensively bitter so large a draught of bitternesse as that which was presented to him accepted of him pray'd for by him To which he comes brings his body as a Voluntier as ready as prepared for The Service The Suffering So in deede should this feare of aversion be subordinate to fall in with and be comprehended in as part of as comming from and tending to that of adhesion I therefore turning from evills because pro sua virili of their owne nature it would turne me from God but such being the never never sufficiently admired power wisedome and goodnesse of God that he can turne even the greatest evill to the greatest good the soule stands in aequilibrio with a kind of willing unwillingnesse or willing willingnesse disposed to it So as it may be said not to feare them but God fearing them because of him and him in by and through them as it may be said to love not the creature but God they being but as foyles and set offs for the further illustrating the otherwise not so apprehensible Glory So make the soule cleave the closer to him and gather more strength from him So these feares differing not in their being and nature but in the manner of action both being the feare of God now acting ad intra now ad extra now making good its primary object now evill its secondary Christ upon whom were the chastisements of our peace whose stripes hath purchast us the spirit of a sound and healthy mind who was troubled for our ease and tranquilitie that wee in him possessed of his fathers alsufficiencie might be of an untroubled mind having thus like that unparellel'd Queene to her impoysoned husband suckt out the venome virulencie and malignitie of our feares that naturally fill us with disturbance distractions evill-creating and evill-nourishing conceits over studious and over burdening preventions Their deadly qualitie and over-mastering power thus drawne away and onely so much left as is within the strength of inherent and continually supervenient grace and may by it be kept at an under subdued and worke't out daily to the further manifesting the power of God in us and by us as well as upon us The more then we prevaile against this distempering feare the more is our convalescencie the greater our recovery of that happy harmony that was betweene our affections before they were untuned in their fall Every affection being so farre good as it holds its correspondency with the other and all as they tend to their perfection action Good is the griefe the feare that after helpes A wary circumspective deliberating confultive prudentiall providentiall feare And to this purpose was it an answer well worthy its Author that Turkish Terrour that even-incredibly valiant Scanderbeg to the precipitate
what they are like to finde he can make Musick of all things As well of the most harsh hidious terrours as the softest and sweetest sounding melodie can as well play with the most froward and wrastling so the word Psal 18. as the most pure-and peaceable disposition As being he who knowes how to be in perills often in wearinesse in painefulnesse in watchings often in hunger and thirst in fastings often in cold and nakednes besides his continuall sympathizing with the Churches knowes how to run through good report bad report how to abound and how to want and how in all to be content a most blessed concord in the spirituall eare the spirituall heart That can take joyfully the spoyling of his goods receive any word any precept of God as pure-holy-good-and-just and set about the actively passive obedience of it in much affliction with joy of the Holy Ghost Happy afflictions that helpe to such an holy joy O! where but I forbeare And if he griefe it is at the want of this cheerefull and thankefull deportment of himselfe And this is a higth that wee are carryed up to in the New Adam beyond the reach of the Old even in his innocencie Hee being altogether free from these evills and therefore nothing acquaint with these evill-conquering comforts The Almightie wisedome to the more eminently advanceing of his glorious Grace having thus wonderfully by our fall raised us up to an higher to a permanenter to an ever-highly-permanent Station Strike up then your allarum when you will you shall never carry him by force but shall but rowse up more spirits to man him repell you As hee is of a harsh rugged rough-hewne proud-cruell that is not alleviated with a sweet milde smooth temprature so is it an effeminated flaccid torpid dispirited enervated soule that is not quickned not inlivened with courage That alone being hydropicall this feaverish That too dull for action this is too quicke for councell for patience for endurance But both happily met together in one in a wise understanding actuating spirit like the naturall heate kindly fomented by the radicall moisture and duly agitated by the influent and insite spirits keepe the soule in a happy and healthy constitution because in an apt and proxime power for the well performance of its severall functions Hence may be it those Grecian Captaines were so well seene in Musicke as in feates of Armes and Philosophie as that brave-spirited Epimanondas c. it being a usuall custome after their feasts to have a Lute presented them to play on And certainly he is a man of a choice and compleate temperature that is well made up of a Scholler Souldier and Musitian A head full of discreet and sage knowledge a heart full of couragious and meeke love a hand full of indefatigable and difficultie-overcomming action Such a head such a heart such a hand That make such a Man And yet what are all these and were there a thousand more such suches but meere counterfeit spiritlesse and dead resemblances of that true and living way to compleatenesse of heart 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because to him the true and living God the Creator the compleator of the heart There being nothing good nothing of worth but what is in God in whom as in Christ we are in these and all graces Compleat In that meeke and immaculate Lambe that dreadfull and terrible Lion of Judah that brazen Serpent in whom are hid all the treasures of wisedome and knowledge Thus made conformeable unto that All-sweet All-wise All-mightie Being the Maker the Perfection of all things By whom we are made perfect through our likenesse to him our living in him And here onely here is the rise of that true magnanimitie that consists in the uncontroulable power of a sweet and humble wisedome God And now since I have so insencibly slipt thus far into the nature of this grace we know not how soon the Lord may settle our distractions of State and Church and so prevent us with his mercies and fit us by them who will never be fitted for them and it being the Carracter of an ingenious child to feare favours and not to be affrighted with frownes I will a little draw it forth into that part of it which may be most sutable to those times It being the nature of it upon the knowledge of God to know nothing else great no more goods then evills And yet either so weake is our knowledge or so seldome our acting it which makes it for so farre no knowledge to us that in those Halcyon dayes have wee most neede of the highest resolves and Princeliest circumspection not to have our spirits debased in the knowledge of things after the flesh But now to have a speciall care of exercising that mysterious that inheavening art of making all things become new knowing affecting doing all things under new notions from new principles by new rules to new ends so using the World as not using it medling with it as in transitu by the way as a viaticum a baite when needs but what needs c. See Page 27. 'T is then 's the danger when the danger 's past Th' inward foe fights wilier when the outward's cast Tacticks unheard of covert stratagems Sly in his Methods suddenly he hems Us in with tempting troops while w' thought h 'had been Distant by many miles we 're rounded in A Maze of fatall friends straite rout our thoughts To a desbausch't confounded yeelding brought Stand sentinell soule unlesse thou standst Perdu Loosest thy life thou 't not the losse escue Capua Hannibali Cannae Fuit A rich and pleasant Asia is more dangerous then a barren and hungry America lue and tepid bathes then harsh storming windes these confirming those consuming the hardiest spirits not guarded with discretion Neither indeed is it a thing so worthy a Christian to seeke for an abiding Citie when this inferior is like to be fired about his eares To make friends of the unrighteous Mammon when it is ready to be snatcht from us to estrange our selves from these things when they turne their backe upon us But when the world shail comes with its Cornucopia of riches pleasures glory c. and would poure all upon our heads and God on the other hand readie to poure downe more aboundantly of that anointing that teacheth us all things that qualifieth us with more Kingly Propheticall Priestly endowments and fills us with joy and gladnesse above our fellewes now not to leave the substance for the shade the Pearle for the Barly-corne is somewhat like him that lives by faith and hath made a true discovery of that onely excellent object Now when the world comes fleering in all her whorish attire with the most cunning and sophisticall insinuations and our spirits are in the height of their jollitie ready to throw themselves into her imbraces when the outward and inward temptations thus powerfully met in their united strength now to