things above Seeing it is the grace of Christ alone Which makes the Soule to be with God at one Endeavour for it give thy selfe no rest Till feelingly thereof thou be possest The fifth Meditacion SUch is the force of each created thing That it no solid happinesse can bring Which to our minds may give contentments sound For like as Noahs Dove no succour found Till shee return'd to him that sent her out Just so the Soule in vain may seek about For rest or satisfaction any where Save in his presence who hath sent her here Gods omnipresence I do not deny Yet to the Faithfull he doth spec'ally Alone his gracious presence evidence VVho seeing all true blessings flow from thence Are troubled onely when he hides his Face Desiring still to apprehend his Grace This Grace of God is taken diversly And first it doth his Favour signify That independent Love of his so free Which mov'd him to his mercyfull Decree His Merum beneplacitum it is That 's motive of all good conferd on his The fruits of this his Love or Favour deare Are likewise called Graces every where Election and Redempcion graces are And these his Favour cheifly do declare Faith Hope Repentance Knowledg and the rest Which do the new Creac'on manifest Now these are counted Grace habituall And lastly this the Grace of God we call His actuall Assistance on our side VVherby we overcome when we are tride How ever then the word is understood Grace is the cheif desirable good T is Summum bonum is it so for why Because without it no Prosperity Or earthly Honours in the high'st degree Can make one truly happy sayd to be For as we might their miseries condole Who should inhabit neare the Northern-Pole Though Moon Stars may there apear most bright Yet while the Sun is absent still t is night And therfore barren cold and comfortlesse Vnfit for humane creatures to possesse More fruitlesse empty comfort is the Mind Who finds the Sun of Righteousnesse declind Yea though all earthly glories should unite Their pomp and splendor to give such delight Yet could they no more sound contentment bring Then Star-light can make grasse or flowers spring But in that happy Soule that apprehends His Loving kindnesse which the Life transcends There is no lack of any thing that may Felicity or tru delight convey As whilst the Sun is in our Hemisphere We find no want of Moon nor Star-light cleare So where the Fountain of tru Light displayes Hâ—â—â—â—â—nes there is no need of borrow'd joyes For wâ—â—re he is who made all things of nought Tâ—eâ—◠〈…〉 presence still â—resh joyes are wrought Nor â—eâ—d he â—elp to mâ—ke a happy one Sith all peâ—fection is in him alone Grant thâ—n hiâ— Gracâ— is most to be desir'd And nothiâ—g else to be so much requir'd But here a carnall crew are to be blam'd By whom the Grace of God so much is nam'd Who are experienc'd in nothing lesse As do their course and practises expâ—esse For though they say the Grace of God's worth all Yet will they hazzard iâ— for Trifles small Hereâ—f they 'll put you out of all suspicion VVhen Gods Grace coms with mens in competicion For holy duties lightly such neglects Whereby Gods Love is felt with its effects The favour of a mortall man to gain Though but a shew thereof he do attain And that perhaps for some employment base VVhich one cannot perform and keep tru Grace Therefore t is probable how ere they prate Gods Grace they value at too low a rate For to be purchast by them sith they leave Their hold of it a shaddow to receave But they that do in truth of heart professe That they have found this Pearle of Blessednesse Will not adventure it for any thing Whatever good it promiseth to bring Because they know the choisest quintesence Of earthly pleasures greatest confluence Cannot procure that sweet blissefull peace Which from Gods Favour ever takes encrease Yet many times it comes to passe we see Tâ—at those who have tru grace so senslesse be Of it that they in seasons of distresse Abundance of impacience do expresse But t is their sin and brings an ill report Upon their cheifest Comfort Strength and Fort Such therefore should endeavour paciently To beare whatever crosse upon themly And that by strength of this consideracion Thaâ— they have need of this theyr tribulacion It may be to mind them of some offence Which they committed have perhaps long since Yet they remaine unhumbled for it 1 Pet 1.6 Or elce may be some Duty they omit In which remissive course they will remain Till with a Rod they be brought home again Or if they would consider how they prove The Lords great Pacience towards them and Love In wayting for theyr turning to his wayes They would not think so greivous of delayes Of restitucion to that solace sound VVhich in the sence of Grace is ever found VVhich whoso will in Heart and Life preserve These following directions must observe The first is to purge out inniquities VVith all that might offend Gods puer eyes The next is to have Faith in Christ and Love Of God and that which he doth best approve Humility must likewise have a place In them that will be sure of tru Grace Iam. 4.6 Then there must be sincear Obedience To all Jehovah's just Commandements For God will manifest himself to those Who by Obedience Love to him disclose Ioh. 14 Now lastly that which fits one to embrace The sence of God's exceeding Love and Grace Is skilfulnesse in that most blessed Art Of walking with the Lord with upright heart That is to manage all things heedfully As in the veiw of Gods omniscient eye And so by consequence by Faith to joyne In union with the Trinity divine This is the very life of happynesse Which one may feel far better then expresse But lest whilst being wrapt above my sphere â—ith sweetnesse of the Theame I should appeare Quite to forget the nature of a Song â—nd to some this might seem over-long â—y thoughts theyr workings speedily suspends â—nd at this time my Meditacion ends Finis Verses on the twelvth Chapter of Ecclesiastes ALl Earthly Glories to theyr periods post As those that do possesse them may behoâ—d Who therfore should not be at too much cost With that which fades so soon dies growes old But rather minde him in their youthfull dayes Who can give glory which shall last alwayes Ere Light of Sun or Moon or Stars expire Before the outward sence eclipsed be VVhich doth direct the heart for to admire These works of God which obvious are to see The Fabrick of the Earth the Heavens high Are to the mind discoverd by the eye Again before the strong men low shall bow And they that keep the house shall tremble sore Ere natures force be spent or quite out-flow And wonted courage shall be found no more VVhen weaknesse shall each part emasculaâ—e And make the stoutest heart effeminate Moreover ere the grinders shall be few VVhich for concoction doth the food prepare And Dames of musick shall be brought so low That for their melody none much shall care Harsh and unpleasant then the voyce shall bee The breast being not from obstructions free Also before that causlesse feares arise By reason of much imbecility Conceit of harmes will in the way surprise Such feeble ones which would from shadowes fly VVhen chilling Frost of sad decrepid age The force of vitall vigour shall aswage The Almond Tree shall blossoms then declare Gray hairs presage to them the end is nigh Naturall heat havinâ— no more repaire Desires fayle as flames wanting fuell dy Notâ—ing remayning wheâ—â—y strength s suppli'd The marrow wasted and the moysture dri'd And ere the â—lâ—er coâ—d â—e loose and weak Before the veâ—nâ— be stopt and sinews shrink And 〈…〉 or Piâ—cher break â—e 〈…〉 for want of spirit shrink The â—eâ—â— whereas he animals reside Now full of maâ—adies and â—â—upyfide The Body thus out-worn and quite decayd The dust returneth to the Earth again To God who gave it is the Soul convayd VVho doth with it as be did preoâ—dain How ever som to vent their falacy Conclude the Soul doth with the Body dy VVhich if were truth why did our Saviour say Feare him not which the Body kils alone Mat 10 And hath no might the Soul for to destray If with the one the other must be gone But that they may declare impostors skill Twixt Soul and Spirit they distinguish wi l. The Soul say they doth with the Body dy Then there 's a third part which they Spirit call VVho doth return to God immediatly Leaving the Dead till judgment generall And then returning breathing doth infuse In Soul and Body wherby life ensuâ—s For which they have no Sâ—ripture I suppose Save what they wrest unto theyr own Perdicion As this where 't is said the word with power goes Twixt Soul Spirit by divine commission Twixt joynts and marow it doth penetrate Hâ—b 4.12 Seeing all secrets heart can meditate The joynts and marrow of the Body be Not sev'rall species but of kind the same The Body to support each part agree And ev'ry member hath its sev'rall name So Soul and Spirit is one entire thing Immortall by the vertu of its Spring More texts of Scripture these Deceivers wrest Which should be answered Truth for to defend But seeing here I have so long digrest What I begun I hasten now to end Which is to stir up youth their God to mind Before effects of evill dayes they find All here is vanity the Preacher sayes Yea use of many books are wearisome If cheifly don for self-respect or prayse It doubtlesse will to such a snare become Of all the matter then the End let 's hear Keep Gods commandements with son-like fear FINIS
life and that in coggitacion Is not-with-standing subject to damnacion Thus when the heart is fitted and prepard The seeds of Faith foth-with are cast therein VVhich in their orders briefly are declard The first is when one wearied under sinne To feel the wiaght thereof doth now begin And thereupon acknowledgeth with speed That of a Saviour much he stands in need The second is a vehement desire Or ardent longing to participate Of Christ and eke his benifits entire And nothing else can this desire abate Consume oâ— limit quench or mittigate As doth the Hart the water brook desire So humble Souls a Saviour doth require The third iâ— flying to the Throne of grace Even from the sentence of the Law so strict Which doth profane security deface Becaâ—se that thereby the Conscience is prict Which doth the humble man for good afflict By shewing such the danger of their case And for a euer sending them to grace Now this is done by fervent supplications By constant prayer most prevailing known â—xprest with hearty strong ejacculacions For Gods especiall grace in him alone In the forgivenesse of his sins each one And in his prayer persevear will hee Vntiâ—l the thing peticion'd granted bee Then God as he hath promised will prove Propicious to the sinner penitent And let him feel th' assurance of his Love His Favour Grace and Mercy Excellent The which in Christ appears most emminent A livâ—ly Faith this full assurance is Wrâ—â—◠〈◊〉 by Gods Spirit in the hearts of his But there are divers measures or degrees Of Saving Faith the least whereof is this When he that hath a humble Spirit sees He cannot feel his Faith so little is As yet the full assurance inward bliss Of the forgivenesse of his sinnes so free Yet pardonable findeth them to bee And therefore prayeth they may be pardoned And with his heart the same of God requires Recals himself as formerly misled Giveing no rest unto his large desires His Soul it faints not nor his Spirit tires Although he be delayd yet still he praies On God he waites and for an answer staies That such a man hath Faith it doth appeare For these desires doe plainly testifie He hath the Spirit of his Saviour dear For t is his speciall work or property To stir up longings after purity Now where his Spirit is there Christ resides And where Christ dwels is true Faith though weak abides Of saveing Faith the largest quantity Is when a man comes on in Faith untill He finds the full assurance happily Of Gods free mercy favour and good will To him in Christ which doth his joy fulfill Finding he hath obtained free remission And that he 's safe in Gods divine tuision This full assurance of his grace and love The Lord vouchsafes his servants true who he Doth for their inward sanctity approve VVhose outward doeings also righteous be For such alone the evidence may see Of his inheritance true happinesse VVhich for Christs merits sake they shall possesse A Christian in his insantcy in grace Finds not this full assurance usually Vntill he hath been practis'd for a space By sound Repentance with Sincerity And finds Gods Love to him aâ—undantly Then shall his soul this full perswasion see VVhich is the strength of Faith or highest degree By Faith in Christ much profit we do gain For thereby only are we justifide At peace with God free from eternall pain And thereby only are we sanctifide VVhere faith is by those friuts it may be tride True faith being by friuts discovered A barren faith must deeds be false and dead Now to be justifide is to be freed From gilt and punishment of sin likewise To be accepted as for just indeed VVith God whose grace it is that justifies And not our works as vainly some surmise But that we may still orderly proceed It followeth next how we from sin are freed The sins of those that God will justifie Were by Chriâ—â—s sufferings so abolished As that they caâ—not hurt them finally VVere they as Scarlet or the Crimson â—ed They shall be wâ—ite as Snow and clâ—ared Esay 16.16 Even by Christs Blood the w to free was sp nâ— The faithfull from deserved punishâ—ent Now comes to bâ— considered how tâ—ey may VViâ—h God for Perfect just accepted be VVho of them-selves by nature truth to say Are in no part from sinnes corruption free How such are tane for just here may we see Christs righteousnesse is theirs by impâ—â—â—cion And so esteem'd by gracious accâ—pâ—acion The true beleevers benifits are great VVh ch they by beig justâ—fiâ—â— poâ—â—esse For such shall stand be ore Gods judgment seat As worthy of Eternaâ—l Happinesse Even by the merits of Christs Righteâ—usnesse For of themselves they cannot merit ought Who are not able to think one good thought Then far from doing any work whereby They might deserve Salvation on their part For God whose only perfect purity Will fâ—nd in our best works no true disart But rather matter of our endlesse smart For in Christs Blood the Saints which are most dear Must wash their Robes before they can be clear Though by good works we do not gain Salvacion Yet these good Duties that our God requires We must perform in thiâ— our conversacion With all our might endevours and desires Before this short uncertain time expires And at perfection must we allwaies aime Though in this life we reach not to the same For he that by his Faith is justifide It followeth also necessarily That such by Faith are likwise Sanctifide Corrupcion of our naâ—ure is thereby Disabled so as that inniquâ—ty No longer rules being by grace subdude Whereby the heart to goodnesse is renude Corrupcion of our nature purged is By vertue of Christs Precious Blood only Which when by Saving Faith applyed is Serves as a corrasive to mortifie And kill the power of inniquity Whence t is that those who Sanctified bee From sins dominion happily are free The other paâ—t of true Sanctificacion Is life or quickenning to holinesse And may therefore be called reâ—ovacion Like a Restorative it doth redresse And him revive that is dead in trespasse T is by the power of Christs Resurrection That we are rais'd from sinne to such perfection Sanctificacion must be then entire Not for the present perfect in degree Yet in respect of parts and true desire Each part and power Sanctified must bee Although no part from all Corruption's free Yet every power must with goodnesse sute Though in this life no part be absolute Like as a Child new born without defect A perfect man he may be sayd to bee Because his body 's perfect in respect Of parts though not in stature or degree Of grouth untill of perfect age he bee So have the faithfull imperfections some Till to a perfect age in Christ they come The graces of the Spirit will appeare And spring up in his heart that 's Sanctifide And these the fruits of Righteousnesse will beare Which in his conversacion
in winter seemed dead There by the Sun is life discovered So though that in the Winter Of sharp Afflictions fruits seem to dy And for that space the life of Grace Remayneth in the Root only Yet when the Son of Righteousnesse clear Shall make Summer with us our spirits to chear Warming our hearts with the sense of his favour Then must our flowers of piety favour And then the fruits of righteousnesse We to the glory of God must expresse And as when Nigh◠〈◊〉 paâ—â—ed The Sun ascending our Hemisphear Ill fumes devouers and opes the powers Which in our bodies are and there He drawes out the spirits of moving and sence As from the center to the circumference So that the exterior parts are delighted And unto motion and action excited And hence it is that with more delight We undergo labor by day then by night So though a Night of Sorrows May stay proceedings in piety Yet shall our light like morning bright Arise out of obscurity Then when the Sun that never declines Shall open the faculties of our mindes Stirring up in them that spirituall mocion Whereby we make towards God with devocion When kindled by his influence Our Sacrifice is as pleasing incense Now when we feel Gods favour And the communion with him we have Alone we may admit of joy As having found what most we crave Store must we gather while such gleams do last Against our tryalls sharp winterly blasts So dispairacion shall swallow us never Who know where God once loves there he loves ever Though sence of it oft wanting is Yet still Gods mercies continue with his So soon as we discover Our souls benummed in such a case We may not stay without delay W must approach the Throne of Grace First taking words to our selves to declare How dead to goodnesse by nature we are Then seeking by him who for us did merit To be enliv'd by his quickening Spirit Whose flame doth light our Spark of Grace Whereby we may behold his pleased face From whencc come beams of comfort The chiefest matter of tru Content Who tast and see how sweet they be Perceive they are most excellent Being a glimce of his presence so bright Who dwelleth in unapproachable light Whoso hath happily thiâ— mercy attayned Earnest of blessednesse endlesse hath gayned Where happinesse doth not decay There Spring is eternall and endlesse is day A Song declaring that a Christian may finde tru Love only where tru Grace is NO Knot of Friendship long can hold Save that which Grace hath ty'd For other causes prove but cold VVhen their effects are try'd For God who loveth unity Doth cause the onely union Which makes them of one Family Of one mind and communion Commocions will be in that place VVhere are such contraries As is inniquity and grace The greatest enimies Whom sin doth rule shee doth command To hold stiff opposicion Gainst grace and all the faithfull band Which are in her tuision This is the cause of home debates And much domestick woes That one may find his houshold mates To be his greatest foes That with the Wolfe the Lamb may bide As free from molestacion As Saints with sinners who reside In the same habitacion By reason of the Enmity Between the womans Seed And mans infernall enimy The Serpent and his breed The link of consanguinity Could hold true freindship never Neither hath neare affinity United freinds for ever For scoffing Ishmael will scorn His onely true born brother Rebeckahs sonns together born Contend with one another No bond of nature is so strong To cause their hearts to tarry In unity who do belong To masters so contrary The wicked ordinarily Gods dearest children hate And therfore seek though groundlesly Their credits to abate And though their words and works do show No colour of offences Yet are their hearts most they trow For all their good pretences And those that strongest grace attain Whereby sin is vanquished By Sathan and his cursed train Are most contraried Because by such the Serpent feeles His head to be most bruised He turnes and catches at their heeles By whom he is so used His agents he doth instigate To vex oppose and fret To slander and calumniate Those that have scap't his net Who servants are so diligent That like to Kain their father They whose works are most excellent They mischiefe will the rather Yet there are of the gracelesse crew Who for some private ends Have sided with prefessors tru As truly pious friends But to the times of worldly peace Their friendship was confined Which when some crosses caus'd to cease The thred of league untwined Such friends unto the Swallow may Be fitly likened Who all the plesant Summer stay But are in Winter fled They cannot ' bide their freind to see In any kind of trouble So pittyfull forsooth they bee That have the art to double Such will be any thing for one Who hath of nothing need Their freindship stands in word alone And none at all in deed How open mouth'd so e're they are They bee as closely handed Who will they know their service spare They 're his to be commanded Therefore let no true hearted one Releife at need expect From opposits to vertue known Who can him not afect For his internall ornaments Will ever lovely make him Though all things pleasing outward sence Should utterly forsake him In choise of Freinds let such therefore Prefer the godly wise To whom he may impart the store That in his bosome lies And let hâ—m not perniciously Communicate his favours To all alike indifferently Which shewes a mind that wavers Gods children to each other should Most open hearted bee Who by the same precepts are rul'd And in one Faith agree VVho shall in true felicity Where nothing shall offend them Together dwell eternally To which I do commend them A Song demonstrating The vanities of Earthly things SHall Sadnesse perswade me never to sing But leave unto Syrens that excellent thing No that may not be for truely I find The sanguin complexion to mirth is enclin'd Moreover they may who righteousnesse love Be soberly merry and sorrows remove They only have right to rejoycing allwaies Whose joy may be mixed with prayer and praise Wherefore rejoyceth the epicure As though his fadeing delights would endure VVhereas they are ended as soon as begun For all things are vanity under the Sun Riches and Honour Fame and Promocion Idols to whom the most do their devocion How fadeing they are I need not to show For this by experience too many doe know They that delight in costly attire If they can compasse the things they desire Have onely obtained what sin first procured And many to folly are therby alured Learning is sure an excellent thing From whence all Arts and Sciences spring Yet is it not from vanity free For many great Scholars prophane often be Whoso hath studied Geometry Or gained experience in Geography By tedious labour much knowledg may gain
wh câ— did nourish it Knowing that they who are judicious Have alwaies held it most pernâ—cious Looking to outward things I found Not that which Sorrow might abate But rather cause them to abound Then any Greife to mâ—â—tigate Which made me seek by supplicacion Internall Peace and Consolacion Calling to mind their wretchednesse That seem to be in happy case Having externall happinesse But therewithall no inward grace Nor are their minds with knowâ—â—â—dg poll sht In such all vertues are aboâ—â—â—â—t For where the mind 's obscure and dark Thâ—re is no vertu resident Of goodnesse there remaines no spark Distrustfullnesse doth there frequent For Ignorance the cause of error May also be the cause of terror As doth the Sun-beames beutify The Sky which else doth dim appeare So Knowledg doth exquisitly The Mind adorn delight and cleare Which otherwise is most obâ—cure Full of enormities impure So that their Soules polluted are That live in blockish Ignorance Which doth their miseries declare And argues plainly that their wants More hurtfull are then outward Crosses Infirmities Reproach or Losses Where saving Knowledg doth abide The peace of Conscience also dwels And many Vertues more beside Which all obsurdities expels And fils the Soule with joy Celestiall That shee regards not things Terrestiall Sith then the Graces of the Mind Exceeds all outward Happinesse What sweet Contentment do they find Who are admitted to possesse Such maâ—chlesse Pearles so may we call them For Precious is the least of all them VVhich when I well considered My greife for outward crosses ceast Being not much discouraged Although afflictions still encreast Knowing right well that Tribulacion No token is of Reprobacion Another Song EXcessive worldy Greife the Soule devouers And spoyles the activnesse of all the Powers Through indâ—â—posing them to exercise What shâ—uld demonstrate their abilities By practicâ—ll improvment of the same Unto the Glory of the givers name Though Envy wait to blast the Blossoms green Oâ— any Ve tu soon as they are seen Yet none may therfore just ocâ—asion take To shun whaâ— Vertu manifest should make For like the Sun shall Vertu be beheld VVhen Clouds of Envy shal be quiâ—e dispeld Though there be some oâ— no diâ—aâ—â— at all Who no degree in worth can lower fall Prefer'd before the Verteous whom they taunt Onely because of some apparent want Which is as if a Weed withouâ— defect Before the Damask Rose should have respect Because the Rose a leafe or two hath lost And this the Weed of all his parts can boast Or elce as if a monstrous Clout should be Prefer'd before the purest Lawn to see Because the Lawn hath spots and this the Clout Is equally polluted thoroughout Therefore let such whose vertu favours merits Shew their divinly magnanimious spirits By disregarding such their approbacion Who have the worthlesse most in estimacion For who loves God above all things not one Who understands not that in him alone All causes that may move affection are Glimpses wherof his creatures doe declare This being so who can be troubled When as his gifts are undervalued Seeing the giver of all things likewise For want oâ— knowledg many underprise A Song composed in time of the Civill Warr when the wicked did much insult over the godly VVIth Sibells I cannot Devine Of future things to treat Nor with Parnassus Virgins Nine Compose in Poëms neat Such mentall mocions which are free Concepcions of the mind Which notwithstanding will not be To thoughts alone confind With Deborah t were joy to sing When that the Land hath Rest And when that Truth shall freshly spring Which seemeth now deceast But some may waiting for the same Go on in expectacion Till quick conceipt be out of frame Or till Lifes expiracion Therefore who can and will not speak Betimes in Truths defence Seeing her Foes their malice wreak And some with smooth pretence And colours which although they glose Yet being not ingraind In time they shall their luster lose As cloth most foully staind See how the Foes of Truth devise Her followers to defame First by Aspersions false and Lies To kill them in good Name Yet here they will in no wise cease But Sathans course they take To spoyl their Goods and Wealths increase And so at Life they make Such with the Devill further go The Soule to circumvent In that they seeds of Error sow And to false Worships tempt And Scriptures falsly they apply Their Errors to maintain Opposing Truth implicitly The greater side to gain And to bind Soul and Body both To Sathans service sure Therto they many ty by Oath Or cause them to endure The Losse of lightsom Liberty And suffer Confiscacion A multitude they force therby To hazard their Salvacion Another sort of Enimies To Lady Verity Are such who no Religion prise But Carnall Liberty Is that for which they doe contest And venture Life and State Spurning at all good meanes exprest The force of Vice to bate Yet these are they as some conceit Who must again reduce And all things set in order strait Disjoynted by abuse And wakeing witts may think no lesse if Fiends and Furies fell May be supposd to have successe Disorders to expell How-ever Truth to fade appeare Yet can shee never fall Her Freinds have no abiding here And may seem wasted all Yet shall a holy Seed remain The Truth to vindicate Who will the wrongeds Right regain And Order elevate VVhat time Promocion Wealth and Peace The Owners shall enjoy Whose Light shall as the Sun encrease Unto the perfect Day Then shall the Earth with blessings flow And Knowledg shall abound The Cause that 's now derided so Shall then most just be found Prophanesse must be fully grown And such as it defend Must be ruind or overthrown And to their place defend The Sonns of striâ—e their force must cease Having fulfild their crime And then the Son of wished peace Our Horizon will clime That there are such auspicious dayes To come we may not doubt Because the Gospels splendant rayes Must shine the Worâ—d throughout By Iewes the Faith shall be embrac't The Man of Sin must fall New Babell shall be quite defac't With her devices all Then Truth will spread and high appeare As grain when weed aâ—e gon Which may the Sainâ—s afflicted cheare Oft thinking hereupon Sith they havâ— union with that sort To whom all good is ty'd They can in no wise want support Though most severely try'd Another Song TIme past we understood by story The strength of Sin a Land to waste Now God to manifest his Glory The truth hereof did let us taste For many years this Land appears Of usefull things the Nursery Refresht and fenc'd with unity But that which crown'd each other Blessing Was evidence of Truth Divine The Word of Grace such Light expressing Which in some prudent Hearts did shine Whose Flame inclines those noble minds To stop the Course of Prophanacion And so make way for Reformacion But He that
watcheth to devour This their intent did soon discry For which he strait improves his power This worthy work to nullify With Sophistry and Tiranny His agents he forthwith did fill Who gladly execute his will And first they prove by Elocution And Hellish Logick to traduce Those that would put in execucion Restraint of every known abuse â—hey seperate and ' sturb the State â—nd would all Order overthrow â—he better sort were charged so â—ch false Reports did fill all places â—orrâ—â—ting some of each degree 〈◊〉 whom the highest Title graces â—rom hearing slanders was not free â—hich Scruple bred and put the Head â—ith primest members so at bate â—hich did the Body dislocate Lying Spirit mis-informed 〈◊〉 common peeple who suppose things went on to be reformed â—â—ey should their ancient Customs lose â—d beside to courses ty'd â—hich they nor yet their Fathers knew â—d so be wrapt in fangles new â—eat multitudes therefore were joyned 〈◊〉 Sathans plyant instruments â—ith mallice ignorance combined â—d both at Truth their fury vents â—st Piety as Enimy â—ey persecute oppose revile â—en Freind as well as Foe they spoyle â—e beuty of the Land 's abollisht â—h Fabericks by Art contriv'd 〈◊〉 many of them quite demollisht 〈◊〉 many of their homes depriv'd Some mourn for freinds untimely ends And some for necessaries saint With which they parted by constraint But from those storms hath God preserved A people to record his praise Who sith they were therefore reserved Must to the heigth their Spirits raise To magnify his lenity Who safely brought them through the fire To let them see their hearts desire Which many faithfull ones deceased With teares desired to behold Which is the Light of Truth professed Without obscuring shaddowes old When spirits free not tyed shall be To frozen Forms long since compos'd When lesser knowledg was disclos'd VVho are preserv'd from foes outragious Noteing the Lords unfound-out wayes Should strive to leave to after-ages Some memorandums of his praise That others may admiring say Unsearchable his judgments are As do his works alwayes declare Meditacions The first Meditacion THe Morning is at hand my Soule awake Rise from the sleep of dull security Now is the time anon 't will be to late Now hast thou golden opportunity For to behold thy naturall estate And to repent and be regenerate Delay no longer though the Flesh thee tell T is time enough hereafter to repent Strive earnestly such mocions to expell Remember this try courage to augment The first fruits God requir'd for sacrifice The later he esteemed of no price First let 's behold our natural estate How dangerous and damnable it is And thereupon grow to exceeding hate With that which is the onely cause of this The which is Sin yea Disobedience Even that which was our first parents offence The reasonable Soule undoubtedly Created was at first free from offence In Wisdom Holinesse and Purity It did resemble thâ— Divine Essence Which being lost the Soule of man became Like to the Serpent causer of the same The Understanding Will Affections cleare Each part of Soule and Body instantly Losing their purity corrupted were Throughout as by a loathsom Leprocy The rayes oâ— Vâ—rtu were extinguisht quite And Vice usurpeth rule with force and might This sudden change from sanctitude to sin Could but prognosticat a fearfull end Immediatly the dollour did begin The Curse that was pronounc'd none might defend Which Curse is in this life a part oâ— some The fulnesse thereof in the life to come The Curse that to the Body common is The sence of Hunger Thirst of Sicknes Pain The Soules Callamities exceedeth this A Tast of Hell shee often doth sustain Rebukes of Conscience threatning plagues for sin A world of Torments oft shee hath within Unlesse the Conscience dead and seared be Then runs the soule in errors manifold Her danger deep shee can in no wise see And therefore unto every sin is bold The Conscience sleeps the Soule is dead in sin Nere thinks of Hell untill shee comes therein Thus is the Conscience of the Reprobate Either accusing unto desperacion Or elce benummed cannot instigate Nor put the Soule in mind of reformacion Both work for ill unto the castaway Though here they spent their time in mirth and play Yet can they have no sound contentment here In midst of laughter oft the heart is sad This world is full of woe hellish feare And yeelds forth nothing long to make us glad As they that in the state of nature dy Passe but from misery to misery Consider this my soule yet not despaire To comfort thee again let this suffice There is a Well of grace whereto repaire First wash away thy foul enormities With teares proceeding from a contrite heart With thy beloved sins thou must depart Inordinate affections and thy Will And carnall wisdom must thou mortify For why they are corrupt prophane and ill And prone to nothing but impiety Yet shalt thou not their nature quite deface Their ruines must renewed be by grace If that thou canst unfainedly repent With hatred therunto thy sins confesse And not because thou fearest punishment But that therby thou didst Gods Laws transgress Resolving henceforth to be circumspect Desiring God to frame thy wayes direct Each member of thy body thou dost guide Then exercise them in Gods service most Let every part be throughly sanctifide As a meer Temple for the Holy Ghost Sin must not in our mortall bodies raign It must expelled be although with pain Thou must not willingly one sin detain For so thou mayst debarred be of blis Grace with inniquity will not remain Twixt Christ and Belial no communion is Therefore be carefull every sin to fly And see thou persevere in piety So mayst thou be perswaded certainly Thâ— Curâ—e shall in no wise endanger thee Although the body suffer misery Yet from these ond death thou shalt be free They that are called here to Holinesse Are sure elected to eternall blisse A Taste of blessednesse here shalt thou say Thy Coâ—sciencâ— shall be at Tranquility And in the Liâ—e â—o com thou shalt enjoy The sweet fruiâ—i n of the Trinity Society with Saints then shalt thou have Which in this life thou didst so often crave Let this then stir thee up to purity Newnesse of life and speedy Conversion To Holinesse and to integrity Make conscience of impure thoughts unknown Pray in the Spirit with sweet Contemplacion Be vigilant for to avoid Temptacion The Preamble Amid the Oceon of Adversity Neare whelmed in the Waves of sore Vexaâ—ion Tormented with the Floods of Misery And almost in the Gulfe of Despairacion Neare destitute of Comfort full of Woes This was her Case that did the same compose At length Jehovah by his power divine This great tempestious Storm did mittigate And cause the Son of Righteousnesse to shine Vpon his Child that seemed desolate Who was refreshed and that immediatly And Singâ— as follows with alacrity The second Meditacion THe storm