Handmaid am but of a short time and too weak for the understanding of thy Judgments and Laws Although a man be never so perfect among the children of men yet if thy Wisdom be not with him he shall be of no value O send her out therefore from thy Holy Heavens and from the Throne of thy Majesty that she may be with me and labour with me that I may know what is acceptable in thy sight for she knoweth and understandeth all things and she shall lead me soberly in my works and preserve me in her power So shall my works be acceptable by Christ our Lord to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be all Honour and Glory World without end Amen The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom and the price of Wisdom is above Rubies HOLY RULES FOR The Devout Christian. IF thou art learned be also pious for Learning sanctified is an Ornament to Grace but Learning corrupted is an Advocate for the Devil Call to minde and oftentimes examine thy self accounting thy thoughts thy words and deeds especially after much business discourses pastime c. Silence is commendable in things that appertain not to thee to the end thou mayest the better call to minde the sufferings of a crucified Saviour If God hath blessed thee with an Estate relieve thy Brother and so live as having little yet possessing all things For remember that Meat Drink and Cloath are the Riches of a Christian and since Christ gave himself for thee well may'st thou give some Fruits of thy labour unto his Let Death be oftentimes the subject of thy Meditations yield thy self wholly to God If thou art poor and hast nothing to requite him with but thy prayers and thy self yet if thou givest thy self to his disposal thou then givest all thou hast The Apostles left their Ships and their Nets The poor Widow gave only her two Mites to the poor mans box and she was preferred before a wealthy Croesus He easily despiseth all things of this world that doth but remember he must die In open Assemblies use not ordinarily all spiritual things lest thou shalt be thought to be singular except thou may'st edisie others and by thy example stir them up to the like On all occasions prefer the glory of God and his service above all things Be a comfort to the Afflicted reconcile Dissentions visit the Sick and the Imprisoned and forget not to relieve the Poor and needy Above all things have servent love for love shall cover a multitude of sins Fast one day in each month or oftner if the strength of thy body will bear it and remember to distribute thy Alms for Fasting and Alms are the wings of Prayer If perturbation or discontents arise in thy minde apply thy self to Prayer Go not to thy rest in wrath lest thou givest the common enemy to mankinde an opportunity to surprize thee Beware of immoderate Cares lest you dishonour or deny God for such cares are 1. Needless 2. Bruitish 3. Bootless 4. Heathenish 1. Needless What need we care when Our heavenly Father knoweth we have need of these things And saith Be careful for nothing but let us cast our cares on him for he careth for us 2. Bruitish Consider the fowls of the air and ravens that he feeds they toyl not 3. Bootless and in vain Which of you by taking thought 〈◊〉 one cubit to his stature or peny to his estate 〈◊〉 4. Heathenish For after all these things the Gentiles seek Repent dayly let not the Devil have the Flour of thy age and God the Bran. The Spirit of Prayer is far more pretious than Treasures of Gold and Silver Despise not the Ministers of Christ for Christ is the Word and they are his Embassadors God requires we should mortisie our lusts for Prayer without that is the service of a Hypocrite Sin bringeth shame and sorrow but Piety hath the portion of everlasting joys Let us cloath our selves with Righteousness it is the safest Armour against the darts of Satan The two Roads that lead to Heaven are Innocence and Repentance Sin is the Christians greatest sore and Repentance his surest salve who then would want the rare Jewel of Repentance since If ye seek ye shall finde An Alarm to the Drowsie PErmit not sluggish sleep To close your waking eye Till you with judgement deep Your dayly actions try He that his sin as Darling keeps when he to quiet goes More desperate is than he that sleeps Amidst his mortal foes At night lie down prepar'd to have Thy sleep thy death thy bed thy grave DIVINE ADVICE TO THE Devout Soul THy Soul is spiritual and thy Body is flesh make not then flesh of thy spirit for an habitual familiarity with corrupt lusts perverts it into the basest flesh God hath made man a lovely Creature do not then make thy self a Monster He dignified thee at first to glorifie thee at last Then let not Carnality deprive thee of thy Blessings With thy sins God will not own thee then tremble to think who it is will take thee If by Lust thou hast lost the sence of Honour and Glory study to recover it by Grace Thy Soul is immortal cannot die thy Body is mortal must die Let not then thy Body be preferred above thy Soul Thy Body hath but a lease for Life then let not a Moment be preferred before Eternity Study not to satisfie thy Body and neglect the salvation of thy Soul It is madness to seek for an unreasonable welfare for the body and thereby eternally ruine both soul and body For so the immortal is made damnably mortal and dies to bliss and the mortal miserably immortal ever living to wo. Remember thy Soul is the noble part of Humane nature wherefore to set thy affections on Earth is infinitely below thee such is thy Nobility Thy Arms are the Minde and Will which were created to embrace Mercie Truth Justice Charity c. and all the Vertues of a heavenly life Thy Body is servant to thy Soul let it tread upon the Earth for that is likewise its subject Let not then the Soul which is the Soveraign of the body set its heart upon that Earth on which its subject sets his foot In thy Soul is the Image of God let it not then be stained with the similitude of beast Let Reason not Sense direct thee a Rational will not the appetite of a Bruit He that lives a negligent and careless â—…ife does what he can to outdo the Deâ—…il in his own undoing For God hath given him Reason â—…nd his depraved nature acts against 〈◊〉 If thou wouldst be in eternal bliss act like man but appear like God for Heaven hath no room for beasts If a wicked Spirit hath deformed thee let an holy one transform thee Every child of God should maintain his Father's likeness that he may enjoy his inheritance Thy Soul is the Spouse of God the great Creator is its Husband no Creature is worthy
to be thy Match or Mate then consult thy Honour if thou lovest the World and embracest the Earth canst thou hate Adultery with man and be an Adultress to God Let not a Strumpet stand in thy sight but especially suffer not thy heart to whore after Vanity If thou fallest into ill Company that shall court thee let not the Devil wooâ—… thee O my Soul thou most beloved above all Creatures that hast God for thy Huâ—…band Heaven for thy Dower and Eartâ—… for thy Service suffer not Hell to 〈◊〉 thy Pander to dote upon the World let thy Heart be an Habitation for Goâ—… and Heaven Thy Soul is the Lord of thy Body take then thy bodies homage not thine own ruine let thy Soul act the will of God and command the body to execute thine Let not thy body be thy God lest thou becomest a Devil to thy self Thy Soul is an Angels peer let it not then be a companion for Satan Let not thy Lordship be sold for slavery and misery for if thou maintainest not thy right Hell must be thy harbour Torments thy terrour and wicked Spirits thy company Thy Soul under God is the supream Soveraign of thy body be not then a subject to thy subject let not the law of the Members be the law of the Minde for the Senses are Handmaids to the Soul and she is the Princess of Heaven Thy Soul is a free-born-childe of Eternity Heir of Immensity the Daughter of Almighty God who is beyond all bounds of Time and Being to whom then oughtest thou to pay thy duty but to him alone Thy Body is but a prison to thy Soul thou art inclosed in the walls of Mud and gates of Sense Can there then be more pleasure in a Prison than a Palace Shall a Bodily Restraint be preferred before a Spirits Liberty Canst thou count thy Bondage to be thy Bliss Are Chains of Iron to be esteemed above the Treasures of Gold Are Fetters better than Freedom Earth is but a Goal to Heaven then be not so rash as to prize thy Goal before thy Delivery lest thou art cast into that Goal from whence there is no redemption It is most just that the Soul that prizeth the Devil's Chain before God's Liberty should have the Devil's Prison instead of God's Palace and befor ever his slave in Hell that would not be God's servant for a time on Earth O thou beloved Dove of God fly to thy Coelestial home belime not thy spiritual wings in slime and mud in Heaven is thy Treasure and where canst thou finde more Riches to invite thee Be not like the Crow to feed upon Carrion or like the blinde Beetle to place thy blessedness in Boggs Make not sale of thy self to buy a Goal when thou partest with a Palace for the purchase and becomest a Familiar to Bolts and Shackles Thy Soul is God's Jewel and thy Body is the Casket then keep thy Body clean that thy Soul may the better be preserved It is a bright Diamond of Heaven a Spark of the Divinity a Ray of Divine Glory set for a time in the Foil of Flesh till it pleaseth God to take it to himself and keep it for ever in his Cabinet Let not then thy Soul that transparent Diamond be an ornament to the Devil's finger when it may sit at the right hand of God where there are Pleasures for evermore Thy Soul is the Purchase of Christ bought with no less than the blood of the Son of God then sell not that for a Trifle which cost thy Saviour so great a price it is better to enjoy the Riches of Eternity than to purchase Vanity for a Moment Is thy body distemper'd then thou requirest Physick if wounded thou sendest for a Chirurgeon if naked it must have Cloaths and if hungry it must have Food For these thou shouldest depend upon God for he knoweth all these things are necessary But when thy precious Soul lies sick of sin hath wounds of the spirit stript of its innocence and starv'd for grace no regard is given thereunto not considering though thou usest humane helps it is God that gives the Blessing and is the Physitian both of Soul and Body That Soul that acts the part of a faithful servant to the Lord shall have a double reward The Crown of a Saint and of a Sufferer Certain Considerations worthy the Devout Souls Meditation THe Soul is Spiritual sin makes it Carnal The Soul is Immortal sin is the death of the Soul it makes it die to Grace and live in Grief The Soul is Noble sin makes it Ignominious The Soul is Lord sin enslaves it The Soul is Soveraign sin brings it in subjection The Soul is God-like sin makes it beastial The Soul is the Spouse of God sin makes it the Strumpet of the Devil The Soul is the Jewel of God sins casts it in the Devil's fire The Soul is a free-born Citizen of Heaven sin keeps it in perpetual imprisonment The Soul is God's Purchase sin cheats God of his due and the Soul of eternal Bliss A MISCELANY OF Divine Maximes OR Words fitly spoken Like Apples of Gold in Pictures of Silver 1. WOuldst thou be truly perfect love God with all thy heart and thy Neighbour as thy self 2. Let thy eye be always upon God and thy self and thou shalt never see him without goodness nor thy self without misery 3. None shall see God so much as he is visible and none shall ever love God so much as he is amiable 4. He that doth not covet to love God more and more can never love him enough 5. To whom God is all the World ought to be nothing at all 6. Let us be what God will so we be but his and let us not be what we will our selves against the will of God 7. In the service of God there is nothing little enough to be rejected 8. To meditate much upon God is good but the Souls greater advancement in Vertue consists in much loving him 9. He to whom God alone is pleasing is displeased with nothing but that which displeaseth God 10. In Divine matters a generous Soul finds greatest contentment in believing things most difficult 11. All our actions take their value from their conformity to the Will of God 12. Love and Suffering are the greatest duties we owe to God they being the two causes for which he died for us 13. He that neglects his own will complies best with God's 14. So love thy Neighbour upon Earth as that thou mayst enjoy his love in Heaven 15. Thou canst not love thy Neighbour too much but thou mayst too much shew thy love 16. One great argument of our love to our Neighbour is to bear with his imperfections 17. We should never endure to hear evil spoken of any but our selves 18. We should never under value any person the workman loves not that his work should be despised in his presence wherefore beware for God is present every where and and
Wine enough when this is gone we 'll then Revive the Banquet with the blood of men Jud. My Lord now will I drink because my state Is more by much exalted now of late Then e're it was since Nature did display Over mine eyes the banner of the day Hol. This Wine benums my joynts my limbs do feel As if each one would with the other reel Since so it is I 'll stretch me on my bed Jud. Do so my Lord And I 'll secure thy head Thou need'st not fear those at Jerusalem They shall not come to thee thou go'st to them ¶ Judeth's Song of Thanksgiving WIth Timbrels and with Cymbals raise A tune wherewith our God to praise Divinity afford me Balm For sins and skill to sing a Psalm Of praise to God did Heaven frame Exalt him call upon his Name He breaks the Battels of the strong And I that was the Camps among Of proud King Assur even then When Israel seem'd a Prey to men Then did the Lord direct my ways I came from thence to sing his praise Out of the Mountains from the North The Enemy came thundring forth Their strength did threaten dismal ills Their numbers covered the hills He brag'd he would my Borders burn And make Jerusalem an Urn And kill my young men with the Sword Dash Infants brains against the board And make my Virgins prove their spoil But God prevented hath their toyl A Female hand By his command Hath conquer'd the Assyrian Land Our mighty foe he did not fight Nor did the Sons of Titans smite Neither did Giants force his care But Beauty was his only snare The daughter of Merari went With resolution to the tent Of Holofernes drank him dead And safely brought away his head Thus Lord I ventur'd to commit Two sins and sacrifice my Wit But with a chast and holy eye I shun'd ways of Carnality My people Lord I knew should live And thou art ready to forgive I boldiy went was not afraid Because assured of thine aid And to allure I thought it good The Garments of my Widowhood To lay aside and did attire My head to raise my beauty higher My Sandals ravished his eyes And he became my beauties prize For then to give his pride a check I strook his Faulchin through his neck Which act did make The Persians quake The Medes stout hearts did likewise ake Thus my exterminating arm By inspiration did alarm A mighey Host and did destroy Their chief Commander once their Joy A new Song to the Lord I 'll sing Thou art a great and glorious King Wonderful in strength and might Invincible the God of Fight To praise thy Name all things accord For thou mad'st all things with a word In thee all Creatures shall rejoyce Not any can resist thy voice Mountains and Waters shall remove Rocks melt as wax if they not love Shall man be subject to obey And his Inseriours go astray Do we not see year after year God's merciful to them that sear All Sacrifice too little is For him that is the God of Bliss The savour of the heart is sweet And he that sears the Lord is great Wo to those Nations that arise Against my Kindred they a prize Shall be to Worms their flesh as meat The Ravens of the field shall eat Whilst in Bethulia all my days I 'll spend to celebrate his praise ¶ On Man's Greation WE were created with a Word a Breath Redeemed with no less than Blood and Death How much a greater labour is it then Sinners to cleanse or breathe Souls into men ¶ The Mornings Ejaculation NOw that the Day-star doth arise Beg we of God with humble cries All hurtful things to keep away Whilst we in duty spend the day Out tongues to guide so that no strife May breed disquiet in our life To shut the casement of our eye Lest it admit of vanity Preserve the heart both pure and free From vain and troubled phantasie To tame proud flesh while we deny it A full cup and a wanton diet That when the day-light shall go out Time bringing on the night about We by leaving worldly ways May in silence sing God's praise ¶ The Evenings Ejaculation O Lord now night 's return'd again Our Bodies and our Souls refrain From being soil'd with filthy stain Let not dull sleep oppress our eyes Nor us the enemy surprize Nor fearful dreams our minde affright While the blackness of the night Holds from us the cheerful light To thee who dost by rest renew Our wasted strength we humbly sue That when we shall enclose our eyes Pure and chast we may arise Making Morning-Sacrifice All honour Lord to thee be done Thou ever-blessed Virgins Son With the Father and the Spirit As is thine eternal merit E're and ever to inherit ¶ On Tears TEars the sweet Musick of harmonious Souls Angels rejoyce and ready are in shouls To dance thereto it is their heav'nly skill Their Master's bottle with such pearls to fill And when the Soul in Sin 's consumption lies No Balsam's better than the briny eyes God loves not waters of a common ford All Rivers are not pleasing to the Lord. When Esau wept it was to think upon His Brothers fraud with indignation His Tears were mix'd his whispring thoughts within Cry'd 'T is my loss I prize beyond my sin Tears of Dissimulation too invite Men to believe God knows the Hypocrite When in devotion we our Case impart We should remember God requires the heart Tears of Contrition give the piercing voice At which both God and Angels do rejoyce Such as were Mary Magdalens who spent Full thirty years in weeping to repent St. Peter likewise waking look'd as sleeping His face b'ing surrow'd with continual weeping The Spouse of whom in 〈◊〉 her fears Like pools of Heshbon glaz'd her eyes with Tears As Musick on the water sounds more sweet Than on the land so Pray'rs with Tears they greet Almighty God with prevalence all hours God listens to effectual Oratours Then let our Tears into a deluge flow To drown our sins and wash away our woe May they shoot forth like showers in the Spring To bathe our Souls in 't is an Offering Well pleasing to the Lord. When Peter wept He look'd more lovely than as when he slept David pathetically ever sung When Heart and Harp with Penitence was strung When to repose he laid his weari'd head Not Diamonds but Tears adorn'd his bed And in the sacred Quire there 's much more mirth For one repentant sinner so by birth Than persons just Repentance needing none Though of an hundred there should want but one To Heav'n comes none but what are pure and cleer Heaven would not be Heav'n if Sin were there ¶ On Humane Frailty THe World 's a Monster And a humane life So full of strife That a dry morsel better may suffice With quiet than contentions sacrifice Man is conceiv'd In sin when born Become a scorn Addicts himself to vanities and lyes Poysons himself
¶ The Soul's Soliloquy COme Holy Ghost our Souls inherit With Beams of thy Coelestial Spirit Inflame our Hearts we thee desire With Sparks from thy Coelestial Fire Thou the anoynting Spirit art Who dost thy Seven-fold gifts impart Thy holy Unction from above Is Comfort Life and Fire of Love Enable with perpetual Light The dulness of our blinded Sight Cherish and cleer our soiled face With the abundance of thy Grace Keep far our Foes give Peace at home Where thou art Guard no ill can come Teach us to know the Father Son And thee of both to be but one That through the Ages all-along This may be our endless Song Praise to the Almighty merit Father Son and Holy Spirit ¶ The Enquiry TEll me my Soul where doth thy passion bend Doth it on Heaven or things on earth attend If worldly Objects do thy Reason guide Thou mayst desire but not be satisfi'd If thou dost Beauty love it is a shade But Righteousness doth shine and never fade If worldly Wisdom 't is but as a blast But heav'nly Wisdom doth the World outlast If earthly Riches they have wings and fly But heav'nly Gems do last eternally Estates on earth do as in shipwracks reel In Heaven's harbour are no thieves to steal All thou canst compass here is trifling store In Heav'n are Crowns laid up for evermore Would'st thou have Honour which the World depaints What Honour can be greater than the Saints Or is it Pleasure 't will thy Soul destroy The Just shall enter in their Masters joy But tell me farther what is 't thou wouldst have Both Heav'n and earth on this side of thy Grave Away vain fancies ye are Vertues moth Pitty 〈◊〉 the promise of them both These lustful thoughts lead thee to splendid folly But if thou wouldst be happy then be holy ¶ On Dives SEe with what splendor Dives sits at meat With choice of Dainties courting him to eat His Habit Purple and his Lâ—…nnen fine As if drest up on purpose here to dine How the Spectators look and seem to say There 's too much store provided for one day How many wretched Souls do beg for Bread Whilst this same Glutton hath his Table spread With all varieties And thus they show Their envy But alas did they but know And well consider what his wants are then They'd pity him as if the worst of men His Talent's rich on earth there 's none above it But he wants Grace and Wisdom to improve it All his Estate is but a mighty spoil He hath a Lamp but that Lamp hath no Oyl He hath a Soul but what doth that embrace Vain worldly Lusts the opposites to Grace His House shines gloriously but when all 's done He hath the Star-light but he wants the Sun A Friend to Vice and Vertue 's mortal hater Having the Creature but not the Creator This world 's a Torrent of false Joys the boat Is his vain life doth on it dayly float His Silver Anchor is as weak as Sand Nor can his Gold conduct him safe to Land But rather sink him to the Misers Cell There to inhabit where damn'd Spirits dwell Can he be worth your envy then forbear Rather in pity shed a Christian tear If he be happy May it be thy will O Lord that I be miserable still Give me thy Grace although I 'm clad in Rags Let Vice attend the Miser and his Bags ¶ On Lazarus THe wicked Worldling spends his time in laughter Having his Heaven here his Hell hereafter Contrarywise the good man whilst he 's here Lives as in Hell to sigh and shed his tear But when to Heaven he hereafter flies God wipes away all tears from off his eyes Though here he suffer scorn the worlds annoy Yet He that sows in tears shall reap in joy The Rich man hath his good things in this life Lazarus evil things slights scorn and strife But meets at last with what he here doth miss Eternal joy it is the poor mans bliss Whilst Dives lies as if with Scorpions stung Wishing for Lazarus to cool his tongue That Lazarus who whilome lay before The gilded Postern of the rich mans door Begging some mean remainings of his table Dives rapt up in Silks and costly Sable Glutted with sumptuous food and choice of wine Hath neither time nor ear for them that pine The very kinder Dogs in pity then Licked his Sores thereby instructing men To Love and Charity Observe the end Angels upon the Begger did attend He dies and they to Abraham's bosom fly Leaving him there to all Eternity Whilst Dives striving others to excell When here tormented is in flames of Hell Thus Worldlings ride in pomp to Hell's hot Nest And Penitents in Tears swim to their Rest. The Penitents Praise LOrd now the time returns For weary men to rest And lay aside those pains and cares Wherewith we are opprest Or rather change our thoughts To more concerning cares How to redeem our mis-spent time With Sighs and Tears and Prayers How to provide for Heav'n That place of Rest and Peace Where our full Joys shall never wain Our Pleasures never cease Blest be thy love dear Lord That taught us this sweet way Only to love thee for thy self And for that love obey O thou our Souls chief hope We to thy mercy fly Wheree're we are thou canst protect Whate're we need supply Whether we wake or sleep Either to thee is done By night we through our eye-lids peep As if the night were gone Whether we live or die Both we submit to thee In death we live as well as life If thine in death we be Glory to thee great God One Co-eternal three To Father Son and Holy Ghost Eternal Glory be ¶ Angel and Man A Dialogue Ang. LIsten Oh Sinner I shall make it plain Mankind is wicked altogether vain Nature instructs the bruâ—…ts to bear in mind A friendly consort to each others kind But Man more monstrous than of bruitish hue First preys on them then doth himself undo Devouring Widows houses in his way Pretending Piety seems oft to pray Will with himself and sins oft-times be vext When as his zeal is only a pretext Their very Prayers do themselves condemn As Citizens o' th' new Jerusalem They would appear whenas their chiefest care Should be to crave a Pardon for their Prayer Man What glorious Creature can a tongue rehearse May be compar'd to Man the Universe Is subject to him all things with applause Pay Homage to him and obey his laws God did not from the Angels nature frame His own he took the seed of Abraham Man hath his saults which causeth melancholy Even ye Angels God doth charge with folly Ang. Well have ye said therein we do agree For we are charg'd with such vain things as ye We are your Guardians so to direct Ye safely sleep we Watchmen do protect So great a truth it is no more but thus They are well kept that are secur'd by us And from the
Sacred Writ we cleerly know That ev'ry man makes Vanity his show Preferment Pleasure Profit are the three That do compleat the Worldlings Trinity He dies a sinner as when he began At first to live So vain a thing is man Man Well may the Angels feet ne'r step aside When ye have God to be your glorious Guide How can ye wander or how can ye stray When ye are always in and with your way Your Conversations must be void of Strife When ye have God your Way your Truth Life Ang. Man was created in no less degree Than the bright Image of the Deity He above other Creatures well may boast As he 's the Temple of the Holy Ghost But how hath he that glorious form defac'd Defi'd his Maker and himself disgrac'd Retaining principles his Soul bereaves Making God's Temple seem a Den of Thieves How can Ingratitude sound louder than Yours to your God So vain a thing is man Man But if we do repent and pardon crave As God can smite so the same God can save Then bring us Hallelujahs from your Quier We 'll vie whose notes shall sweetest be and higher Both All Glory be to God on High And to the Holy Trinity As first it was is now and may When fading time shall want a day ¶ Of Mirth and Mourning IN midst of Mirth there sadness is And so in Grief there 's joy Whilst wealthy sinners faces smile Their hearts do feel annoy Carnal delights they are but vam And bring vexations too They sound like musick in a strain Whose discord ends in rue Thus to the Sensualist they play Left he prove dull and sad But when the Reckoning comes to pay It makes him downright mad So true is that of Solomon In laughter there is grief The end of mirth is heaviness And Hell the salse relief But he that 's truly penitent And doth his Tears impart They are to Angels straightway sent Rejoycing his own heart They are the solace of his Soul If bitter they appear His comforts then the sweeter are The sinner's Pearl's a Tear His Sighs and Groans if they are deep And threaten to destroy In peace he may lie down and sleep The fuller is his joy The beams of Consolation shine Into this house of grief His Soul in travel is at last Sweet Peace is his relief So that I truly may conclude He that doth mourn for Sin Doth weep for Joy a multitude Of Pleasure lies therein Those Christal Rivers that do flow So nâ—…er the Heav'nly King They their original do owe Unto a Weeping-spring One rich drop from a solid sigh Pure in a Christal-birth Is to be priz'd by far above Oceans of carnal Mirth ¶ On Ambition HOnour 's insatiate never satisfi'd Nor is the Beggar innocent from Pride The Labourer a Yeoman fain would be The Yeoman would a Gentleman's degree The Gentleman must worship'd be at Feast And to that end must be a Squire at least The swaggering Squire must needs be dub'd a Knight Then aims at Baron as his Title-right The Baron must be Lord to please his Girl If that won't do he must be made an Earl That done Ambition bids him still aspier Marquess in Heraldry is one step higher The Marquess then casts out his golden Hook With Cash and Crast till he becomes a Duke The Duke no arguments can him convince But that by merit he should be a Prince When Prince he elevates his foaring wing Flies to the Throne of a terrestrial King Yet there 's no rest so doth Ambition gull us He must be Caesar or he will be Nullus Caesar won't make him yet the World's Commander Wherefore he must be styl'd an Alexander And Alexander though the whole World's Rod Must be ador'd and worshipt as a God After his many wonders even then He sound himself to be as other men Base Pride eclipses those of high degree But before Honour is Humility Honour that Furnace which doth heat the blood Making men act things but profusely good Swelling Ambition makes a man its slave Till Death's sharp Dart doth post him to his grave But how in play first came this cheating Sin Adam would be a God so it came in Other sins fly from God and shun the chace This boldly flies in the Almighty's face All that the erring Children have to say Is this It was our Father led the way ¶ Spiritus Sanctus COme holy Spirit come and breathe Thy spicy Odours on the face Of our dull Region here beneathe And fill our Souls with thy sweet Grace Come and root out the poysonous Weeds That over-run and choak our lives And in our hearts plant thine own Seeds Whose quickning power our Spirit revives First plaâ—… the humble Violet there That dwells secure by being low Then let the Lily next appear And make us chast yet fruitful too But oh plant all the Vertues Lord And let the Metaphors alone Repeat once more that mighty Word Thou needst but say Let it be done We can alas nor be nor grow Unless thy powerful mercy please Thy hand must plant and water too Thy hand alone must give encrease Do then what thou alone canst do Do what to thee so easie is Conduct us through this World of woe And place us safe in thine own Bliss All Glory to the Sacred Three One Ever living Soveraign Lord As at the first still may he be Belov'd and prais'd fear'd and ador'd ¶ The Christian and a Worldling A Dialogue Wor. IS it not pleasant Christian to be great Chr. 'T is but a moral cheat Wor. Where lies the cheat when I receive the gold Chr. In crying sins untold Wor. Must I be wretched 'cause I'm growing rich Chr. Wealth is oft-times a Witch Wor. Amity with the World I never mist. Chr. That 's enmity with Christ. Wor. I cloath the naked I the hungry seed Chr. Those are good acts indeed Wor. My Purse for Alms flows like a Conduit pâ—…pe Chr. 'Cause ye the Widows gripe Wor. I fear my God and do my Neighbours love Chr. That men may well approve Wor. I relieve those that have in Perils been Chr. But only to be seen Wor. This do I do what is 't I should do more Chr. Give all unto the Poor Then may thy name be in the Christian-list And when thou' rt poor thy treasure is in Christ. ¶ On the Tree of Knowledge IN Paradise it was this Tree did grow Plac'd in the midst that man might thereby know It was the choicest Plant but Satan came And with his wiles beguiled Adam's Dame Taste Woman eat quoth he it doth descry Both Good and Evil eat and never die Forbear and perish herein lies the odds They that shall eat hereof shall be as Gods Is it not pleasant were it understood You 'd eat and say it is no common Food It is an Oyntment for your blinded eyes First taste then eat this Fruit will make you wise Eve like a silly woman then began To bite that Bait
eyes With God and Angels each one take his place To judge the World and try the finners Case Arise ye cursed naked Souls and take Your standing before God and Angels quake At the Tribunal great from whence shall come Your fearful final and your fatal Doom Lord the first voices let me hear with fear That the last voice I may not fear to hear ¶ On Beauty HAve you not heard o' th' bloody Siege of Troy Of Hellens beauty how it did destroy The lustre of her Beauty did decay And she was but a glorious heap of Clay Or have you read of Jacob how he serv'd Full fourteen years for Rachel never swerv'd From his affections She his hearts delight Was amiable and lovely in his fight Thus we adove those whom we think excel In Beauty though a painted Jezebel If these deserve so much then what doth he That made these Beauties he whose Majestie Is altogether lovely doth surpass The glories of an indigested Mass. The Beauty of the whole Creation is As dross to him for the Creation's his Be not discourag'd oh my Soul but place Thy firm affections on thy Saviour's face Though Enemies may watch for thy defaults Christ can secure thee from their fierce assaults Let him be beautiful within thine eye And thou shalt live although thou seemst to die Be not dsheartned oh my Soul for though Rules may be strict and Duties hard yet know They are as 〈◊〉 'gainst the worst disaster Heaven 's thy Wages Christ himself thy Master Lord let my heart thy Beauty understand No difficulty then shall reach my hand ¶ On Knowledge THis precious Jewel Knowledge may compare To those the Israelites of old did wear For if our Knowledge be improv'd but half Of that I ke them we but erect a Calf Their Gold was precious all that while commodious But in an Idol cast it then grew odious So the pure Wit of man well understood Was in the days of Innocencie good But when corruption seizes on his age He becomes vicious that before was sage Or it resembles an untilled field That barren lies and nothing else doth yield But Brambles Thorns unnecessary Weeds Till Grace manures it with its growing seeds The best of Minerals their poysons have Until extracted Flowers sweet and brave Their faeces do possess till art and skill By separation takes away the ill So the best Wits have folly until Grace Plucks up its roots and groweth in the place In things that do spiritually relate The Understanding when it 's tried by weight Will like 〈◊〉 much too light be found Lighter than Vanity or Verbal sound Then let not wise men glory in their parts But hoard their Wisdome in unspotted hearts For 't is a Jewel of an unknown price 'Bove that of Rubies or of mans device For he that getteth wisdom loves his Soul Dare oppose dangers feareth no controul It excels Folly as a glorious Star And better is than weapons us'd in War 'T is profitable to instruct direct Teacheth the Ignorant be circumspect Wherefore if any one do Wisdom lack Ask of the Lord for he will not be slack It is the gift of God and he alone Can Wisdom fix within a heart of stone Why are we dayly by our sins decoy'd For want of Knowledge people are destroy'd With Knowledge put on practice Satan's brood Have Knowledge but it does more harm thad good To Appreher sive Knowledge must conjoyn Affective Knowledge if those two combine They give a Christian courage No retreat Is needful when a Saint is arm'd compleat When as God's holy Spirit takes in hand To teach the Scholar soon doth understand To a good Soul nothing's of higher prize Than is the knowledge of deep mysteries Austin of God desir'd no worldly pelf But only to know God and know himself Knowledge and Love must both accord for why Knowledge puffs up but Love doth edifie Foolish were they that Knowledge did despise Because it puffeth up Rather than wise They were resolv'd continue ignorant And humble Pride and Arrogance to want Knowledge puffs up but Grace gives an allay For Knowledge can command and can obey But those were like Democritus half wise To shun Uncleanness pluck'd out both his eyes Though Knowledge nimbly on our Senses dance It 's greatest part 's the least of Ignorance Yet we are apt to think though can't discern't That we know all that can by man be learnt As in the host of Alcibiades All would be Leaders none Commanders please And Epicurus spoke but as a youth Boasting he was the first discover'd Truth For he in many things exprest his minde Not as a man but as a Beetle blinde Aratus the Astrologer did vent His brags he knew all Stars i' th' Firmament Laurentius Valla gloried there was none Writ Logick worth the reading but his own Nestorius the Heretick could boast That he alone on the European coast Did understand the Scriptures when he came The World awakned was with his great name Well saith th'Apostle and 't is truly so Man knoweth nothing as he ought to know ¶ On Magnanimity CAesar spoke proudly when he boldly said In midst a storm Pilot be not afraid The angry Surges know not what they do Thou carriest Caesar and his fortunes too The Cannibals as History doth tell Are for their courage thought invincible Rather than seem to fear remissly flie Or sue for life they bravely choose to die In Alexander's last and fatal fight He shew'd his Courage was his chief delight By boasting 't was his glory and his pride At once the Power of Persia to divide Mahomet the Persian Sultan overthrown His Passion was to such a fury grown He in revenge perhaps more mad than wise Caus'd his chief Captains ten to loose their eyes So to prevent their overthrow agen And threatned female habits for his men Lacedemonians were wont to cry It was a shame for any man to fly In time of danger but a cursed fate Lacedemonians should deliberate And Socrates Criton's advice did slight When by him wish'd to make a private flight Salisbury's noble Earl whenas he found The Sultans Army had inclos'd him round And he advis'd to fly answer'd in scorn Heavens forbid I should for that be born Or any of my Father's Blood or Race Should fear a Sarasin for force or face Much less then should a Christian fear whose eye Should fix on Christ who did for Christians die Bravely resolv'd it was of blessed Paul After Conversion his aspiring fall I ready am not only to proclaim But to be bound and die for Jesus Name Who sails with Christ fears neither Rock nor Sand Christians through storms must reach the promis'd Land ¶ On Ingratitude LOrd what a danger lately I escap'd Torrents of Terrours just before me gap'd Upon the brink I was yet scaped free They are well kept O Lord are kept by thee Surely thy meaning only was to fright As an advice that I might shun a smite Thus thy great
it was and sweetly grew ¶ Prayer for Peace BLessed Saviour God of Peace When storms arise or shall increase Say thou the word and they shall cease Allay their fury quench their rage Whose factions would disturb the Age Their fiery zeal do thou asswage Be thou a Comforter to those That never do the Truth oppose Them strengthen and convert their 〈◊〉 ¶ On Mercy MErcy is comfort to the Poor 'T is that the Rich desire Lord we thy Mercies do implore 'T is that the Saints require Mercy it was that gave us life To move to think or say Mercy is Physick for our grief And teacheth us to pray O how can we for mercy call That have so wicked been Our Parents gave us such a fall 'T is hard to rise agen Yet 't is for Mercy still we crave 'T is that which must us raise Mercy first made and now will save And teach us how to praise Our sins increase more than our days Yet Mercy lets us live 'T is God that we for all must praise That doth these mercies give And shall we still run on the score Not paying any part Of what we ought to him before He asketh but a heart My Soul pay what thou canst of all thy store He that pays nothing ever owes the more ¶ The Swine LOrd I am thine Although possest O be thou mine And give some rest To me a beast O Christ be good To sinful man And with thy blood Lord wash me clean Be thou my food My staff my stay My King my God And thee alway I will obey Command my sins into the Sea That I may praise and honour thee ¶ The Penitent LOrd I 'm a sinner and my sins increase To such an unknown sum That should my rockie heart and eyes Nay my whole Microcosm a flood become And drown it self in Tears 't would not suffice To name my score Not then to pay But Lord thy blood is my rich store Thou art the Patron of the Poor But all the Balsam of thy blood Alas I know will do no good Unless I wash my griefs with Tears before O thou whose sweet and pensive face To laughter never gave a place Instruct mine eyes Without delay To melt away And then the less of Balsam will suffice ¶ The Soul awaked LOrd we again lift up our eyes And leave our sluggish beds But why we wake or why we rise Comes seldom in our heads Is it to sweat and toyl for wealth Or sport our time away That thou preserv'st us still in health And giv'st us this new day No no unskilful Soul not so Be not deceiv'd with toys Thy Lord's Commands more wisely go And aim at higher joys They bid us wake to seek new Grace And some fresh vertue gain They call us up to mend our pace Till we the prize attain That glorious Prize for which all run Who wisely spend their breath Who when this weary life is done Are sure of Rest in Death Not such a rest as here we prove Disturb'd with Cares and Fears But endless Joy and Peace and Love The Pleasures of the Spheres Glory to thee O bounteous Lord Who giv'st to all things breath Glory to thee Eternal Word Who sav'st us by thy death Glory O blessed Spirit to thee Who fill'st our Souls with Love Glory to all the mystick Three Who reign one God above ¶ St. Paul's Petition FRom Enemies where're they be My God do thou deliver me From them that do against me rise From private Foes inventing lyes From bloody men who loving strife Endeavour to ensnare my life The Mighty are against me bent Because I sinn'd and do repent Arise and visit with thy Rod Those Enemies of thine O God Their follies shew that they may be At last true followers of thee ¶ On the Conscience COrruption now adays doth spring so fast So regarded And rewarded That if my tender Conscience would be sold Or if for it a Dispensation Could be but got I doubt it not I 'd store up wealth in this our Nation One spark of Flattery would so increase My evil goods So that my woods Would make a lasting fire when I decease The World 's fond love might easily be bought If I could tell The way to sell The little honesty that I have got Were but this World my home perhaps I might Be apt to trade But here things fade Give me the Riches wherein Saints delight Though now I live in a corrupted Cell Which doth annoy I would enjoy The peace of Conscience there where Angels dwell Love upon Earth is good 〈◊〉 that doth last But the choice love Of God above Is everlasting and doth never wast Tush wicked World Heav'n is my Merchandize If in my way My sight should stray My home shall be the curtains of mine eyes A desp'rate fate it is the Worldlings run A Pearl to sell To purchase Hell They must be great or to be just undone ¶ St. Austin's Prayer Recommended to the devout Christian by P. Vrban the 8th BEfore thy holy eyes O Lord We sinners heartily accord Humbly to own our griefs of heart Are nothing to our just desert The evils we have done exceed What we can write or may be read Our Consciences our Souls affright And say Thy Chastisements are light We feel the punishments of sin And yet we do persist therein Weak Nature faints at ev'ry scourge Yet perverse wills do dayly urge Our restless minds do still provoke Thy Justice and despise thy Yoke We sigh away our days in grief Yet sorrow gives us small relief For when our sighs do once expire We wallow in our former mire If we repent 't is at a rate That we had need repent for that If thou revenge our stubbornness Thy Justice doth our hearts depress Thy anger fills our Souls with fears We weep but soon forget our Tears If thou stretch out thy hand we then Promise to turn to Saints from men But if thy Sword suspension shows We then forget to pay our Vows If thou dost strike we pardon crave And when thou pardon letst us have We sin again and ne're give o're With provocations more and more Thus we our guilty selves accuse Thus we thy mercies do abuse Yet Mercy Mercy still we cry Or we are drench'd in misery Then Lord O let thy goodness give Those streams by which the Angels live Our Souls inspire amend our days Touch thou our tongues and we shall praise All glory be to God on high The Father of Eternity To Three in One and One in Three ¶ The Believer HAppy is he that doth The truth Believe for he it is Shall kiss The Son of Righteousness shall surely come By his believing to believers home Let thy belief be true But few There are that do make that Their State Abraham left a Pattern good behinde him But few there are that seek him less that finde him I do believe a Tree Will be Pleasantly green when I With eye