can never have Access From it their Canon-Law receiv'd its Birth To which they all obedience profess But the false name of Councils-General Is now a Cheat to serve the Roman-King Where are those Councils whence who must them call Who them from all the Earth together bring Could not our Lord without all this adoe Have made sufficient Universal Law But our Religion must have so much new Which th' ancient Christians never heard or saw Communion's made Subjection by this Cheat None can be Sav'd that are not Canon-proof Obey them or they 'l say you Separate They Build the Church beginning at the Roof Thus can the Flesh such Learned Men deceive And make them love their Enemies as Friends And rule their Faith and make them all believe That all is good which serves their Worldly Ends How Wise and Holy should that Person be Whose Daily Business is to search Gods Law Who should in Heavenly Pleasure Live but he That Heaven and Hell as in a Map still saw Doth Pride and Envy bitter Strife and Wrath Church Tyranny or Hatred of the Good Become that Man who such an Office hath To Preach Gods Love Seal'd with Christs Flesh Blood What is his Calling but Souls to Convert And Build them up in Faith and Love with Peace In what Art should he rather be expert Then to breed Love and Hurtfulness suppress If he love Christ he 'l gently feed his Sheep Cherish and Love the good strengthen the weak The Flock from Wolves hurtful Beasts he 'l keep And not against the Just and Upright speak Self-contradicting is a Madmans mark Judg then what these Malignant Preachers are Self-damning Self-confuting in the dark Heart Tongue Hand are in a constant War They are Church-Shepherds yet hurtful Wolves They Preach for Love to Foes yet hate Christs Friends Preach Life to others choose Death to themselves Heavenly words they speak for Worldly Ends. They Pray that Gods great Name may Hallowed be Which they profane by pleading it for Evil They Pray as if Christs Kingdom they would see But mean their own that 's ruled by the Devil They hate Gods Will Pray it may be done Ev'n as it is in Heaven A high degree Yet if one plead Gods Will against their own Who 's hated more or used worse than he They Pray for Daily Bread for Life Health But without Plenty are not satisfi'd But seek Preferment Fulness Rule Wealth And grudg if Fleshly Lust be but deny'd The' ask pardon of the Sin they Love Cherish And that but as themselves forgive another Yet to fear God Sin Hell as loath to perish They 'l not forgive to a dissenting Brother They pray God not to lead them to Temptation Yet tempt themselves love most tempting things Strong baits of Flesh are their chief consolation Greedy of all that deadly pleasure brings They ask deliverance from all that 's ill Yet Sin the worst they love and will not leave They ask what 's full against their Vicious Will That which God offers and they 'l not receive They seem to own a God They Preach his Law But Man and Flesh must be before him serv'd The World 's more lov'd of Man th' are more in awe As if God but the Tongue Knee deserv'd The Image is their God and hath the Heart God's made an Image and hath but the name Religion is with them meer Form and Art Kept up for Peace by Custom Fear Shame Christ is their Saviour call'd their King Lord To Preach his Grace and Glory is their Trade But to be Sav'd from Lust Sin 's Abhor'd And he an Underling to Flesh is made They say they do believe the Holy Ghost But his refining work will not be born A Fleshly Worldly Life doth please them most The Spirits Name Work some make a Scorn And yet for Holiness who hath more Zeal Meaning great Names Interest of their own They against Sacriledg to God appeal As it would Rob their Flesh and it Dethrone It s none to hurt Christs Flock withhold their Food His Faithful Ministers to Alienate Nor feed proud Flesh with what belongs to God All 's Holy that to it is Dedicate Religion ends with them as it begun They were Baptiz'd and made the Sacred Vow But this was by a strange Godfather done It s with great Grief that I must tell you how It s known an Infant hath no Will to choose The Parents Will and Choice do stand for his Till he be capable his own to use He in the Power of his Parents is And God obligeth Christians to devote Themselves and Theirs in Covenant to Christ This he accepts as many Scriptures note The Parent being Dedicated first But now some other doth the Parents part Vows for the Child and its due Education And though he never meant it in his heart To see it Taught all needful to Salvation Atheists and Infidels and Sadduces Their Children are all freely taken in If they have but such Godfathers as these Baptism is said to save them all from Sin Men forbid Parents Godfathers to be And Ministers their presence to require Foreign Kings stand for those they never see Poor Men get such as they for Money hire Parents these Undertakers do not ask Will you these Vows and Promises perform Baptismal Vows are made a formal task Thus they began Thus Men Christs Laws reform Thus Christians by false Ceremony made Religion 's made a Ceremony now Not minding what Suborn'd Men Vow'd or said They boldly break what others falsely Vow'd And when in Play Sin their Childhood's spent For Canting a few words not understood Mindless what Faith is or their Baptism meant Confirm'd they boldly claim Christs Flesh and Blood A Lifeless Image being thus receiv'd More Forms and Ceremonies it adorn And Hypocrites by Shadows thus deceiv'd The unknown Holy Life do Hate and Scorn Thus Life is fool'd away till Death seem near Which doth disrobe their splendid cheating Sins But to ease Conscience waken'd now by fear Forc'd Penitence Mans Absolution wins And at the Grave when Men as bad as he Do hear that God in Mercy took his Soul And Charity for this hope pleaded be False hopes which should be broken are kept whole Thus Sinners are befoold till time is done From first to last spent in Hypocrisie And endless sorrow when all hope is gone Tell them what Mercy they did long deny Yet still the reverend Masters of the Game Cherish the Malady with Zeal and Art Being themselves diseased by the same By mortal habit both of Head and Heart Tradition Ceremony Pomp and Rule A humane Image without Divine Life By Pharisees was used as the tool Of self-deceit and of malignant strife Dead Saints they honour'd and the living killâ—d The Dead molest them not by their reproof Their Relicks Days and Monuments they held In their Devotion as of great behoof Yet none were fiercer Enemies of Christ
ADDITIONS TO THE POETICAL FRAGMENTS OF Rich Baxter Written for himself and Communicated to such as are more for serious Verse than smooth LONDON Printed for B. Simmons at the Three Golden Cocks at the West-end of St. Pauls 1683. A Supplement TO THE POETICAL FRAGMENTS I. Grace GOds perfect Power did this great World Create Gods perfect Wisdome all in Order Plac't Gods perfect Goodness made all very Good But Sin Gods Image on Mans Soul defac't Power caus'd Necessity and Wisdome Order And both by Goodness caused Harmony All in one perfect Frame Gods Glory shew Praise him and please him with pure Melody Sin could not change Necessity nor that Disorder which God fixt above Mans reach But the Free Lord Free Agents also made And there by Sin Fâ—â—â—e-Will did make the breach This Breach to Man was Punishment it self For God before had order'd Nature so That Poyson would cause Pain Wounds cause smart And Sin to Sinners Misery and Woe Goodness is Love delighting to do good Wisdome resolves this fowl breach to repair And make advantage of Mans Sin and Woe Iustice and Mercy largely to declare Hurt is soon done the Wound was quickly made The Cure must be performed by degrees A Saviours Grace must exercised be Wisdome with Love to do the Work decrees Mans Soul Incorruptible Substance is Essential Life not made it self to die It s final State then like it self will be Durable Happyness or Misery But it is plac't in Corruptible Flesh And the Compounded Frame that 's called Man Must be dissolv'd for Sin hath caused death And Flesh must turn to Earth whence it began But He who Mans Salvation undertook Is perfect Primitive Life Light and Love And will give Compound Life again to Man In joyful Glory with Himself above But as in Nature God great difference made Stones are not Men all have their proper place Men are not Stars and Stars are not the Sun So he will make great difference in Grace Man is not helpless left to mear despair Life is again made possible to all The former terms of Innocence now cease Mercies all Sinners to Repentance call A Law of saving Grace is newly made All that accept it and consent shall live Trust but a Saviour for that blessed Life And he will freely Grace and Glory give But yet Mans Life on Earth a Warfar is Gods Grace and Satans Malice daily Fight And all that will be Sav'd must overcome Sin 's vanquished by Grace Darkness by Light Each part their Captain have they their bands Not made by Force but Doctrine and Consent Each Man as Rational and Free Commands One draws to Sin the other to Repent Sin hath its Punishment the worst within When for neglect of Grace God it suspends But the correction of the Flesh for Sin Furthers Repentance and the Soul amends Thus all on Earth have some degrees of Grace Which Reason tells us they should not abuse Which bringeth some so far to Adam's case They stand or fall as they these Mercies use But God will not his Grace at randome give And leave the event to uncertainty But hath his Chosen who shall surely live In whom his saving Grace shall never die The two first Brothers did this War begin he killed and conquer'd who was first by birth He that seemd Conquer'd Triumphed by death The Victor's a curst Vagabond on Earth This War continu'd is unto this day Between the Holy and the Serpents seed These Brothers the prognostick Instance were Of all that ever after should succeed But the worst War is inward Grace and Sin The controversie daily there debate That which the Final Victory doth win Determineth Mans everlasting state A Law of Grace thus made to all Mankind In Adam and Noe common roots of all Ill entertainment with fall'n Man did find Who mostly to Idolaty did fall The strength of Sin is Love to Flesh and World And averse strangness to a better life It stronger grew by custome and abhor'd All motions tending to the Souls relief But Gods Electing Grace shall not be void In Abel Henoch Noe he this declar'd But specially in Abraham whose great Faith He with a special Promise did reward Not calling back the common Law of Grace He chose his Seed as a peculiar Nation Gave them a proper Law and of them rais'd The Lord Incarnate Author of Salvation Yet was their Dignity most Typical As was their Law to shew what God would doe When he the Nations unto Christ would call And build his Church as Catholick anew Sin soon prevail'd their Land was dry and small Seldome from under Enemies and Wast But they Gods Oracles preserv'd for us And from their Vine we all Salvation tast But as in Nature God works by degrees From Seed to Infancy from thence to Youth From thence to Manhood and Maturity So did he in revealing Grace and Truth Faln Man his Infancy and Childhood had In the old Laws dark Types and Prophesies But in times fulness God Incarnate came The Sun of Righteousness to Man did rise Three Laws he did fulfil one as a Man Once made for all Another as a Jew The third as Saviour proper to himself Then for his Church he made another new He Preacht Gods Will Proclamed saving Grace Brought to light Life and Immortality Declar'd Gods Love shew'd Man Gods pleased Face A Sacrifice for sinful Man did die He came to conquer Satan destroy Sin And heal sick Souls of Worldly Fleshly Love To raise the Earthly Mind of Man to God And bring him to a better Life above Words were too weak for this his works must do it He was to teach Man how to bear the Cross To deny Life and live above this World For Heav'n to count all here as Dung and Loss Wonder of Wonders God appears in Flesh Preacheth to Sinners calls them home to God Dies for them as a Sinner on a Cross Till the Third day among the Dead Abode Himself the greatest Wonder many wrought Heal'd all diseases gave the blind their Sight Raised the Dead by present bare Command Long before many in the open Light The Third day rose from Death stay'd Forty days Describes his Laws Church-Covenant and Seals Commissions his Apostles promiseth His Spirit which all saving truth Reveals Ascendeth up to Heaven before their Eyes And before Multitudes at Pentecost Gives them the gift of Miracles and Tongues By giving them the promis'd Holy Ghost They Preach Christ to the World speak various Tongues Work Miracles Heal Sickness Raise the Dead Convey this Power and Spirit unto others Thus through the World the word of Life they Spread These many Wonders not in Corners wrought Converted Thousands Conquer'd unbelief But above all his great Convincing Works The Spirits Sanctifying Grace was Cheif The erring know the Truth Fools are made Wise The Proud made humble Wrathful ones made meek The worlds fondâ—lovers now do it despise Kill fleshly Lusts and Heavenly Glory seek Sin is a hated
thing God now is all Love makes all Common for it makes all One Zeal for good Works Patience in bearing wrong Were the true Marks by which Christs flock was known Had not Christ added this convincing Seal Tongues Miracles and Sanctifying Grace The Wonder of Redemption is so great That Faith to unbelief must needs give place Apostles Mortal were before they Die For future Ages they Christs sacred word His Deeds Laws Doctrine by the promis'd Spirit To guide the Church infallibly record As Moses gave the Iews the only Law Which following Priests and Prophets were to Teach So th' Holy Ghost by the Apostles wrote The word which after Ages were to Preach As Moses Law was Seal'd with Miracles When such the following Ages did not need So Christs Apostles did by Wonders Seal Those Records which the after Ages read The Spirit promis'd to the Apostles was To lead them to all needful saving Truth And bring Christs words to their rememberance What they by his Commission did Christ doth Their Writings are the Holy Ghosts own Book Though human Imperfection do appear In Modes and Phrases it 's no just offence But leaves the Truth and Use still sure and clear Words but the Vehicle of matter be Gods Spirit owns not the Translators words But if as signs they with his Words agree The Sense and Matter of them is the Lords This Spirit helps the Church but not to bring Another Gospel Law or Word from Heav'n Nor mend or change Gods Laws in word or sense But to preach and obey the word once given To bring new Laws or Messages from God A Prophets Office is and not a Priests To forge such or make Laws for all the Church The Authors prove false Prophets or false Christs Christian Religion is one stablisht thing Which all the Church from first to last may know It is not human changeable or new Nor doth by Mens decrees increase and grow If Canons no part of Religion be But Laws for Rites and things indifferent Why must all Christians needs in these agree Or not agreeing by Church-Wars be rent The Church hath all one Head one perfect Law All justified be by Christs Blood and Merit All that are true though weak Christ doth receive For all are Sanctified by one Spirit The Holy Ghost in all true Christians dwells He doth illuminate and make them New This is Christs Agent and his Body formes His Witness proving that his Word is true This Spirit did the Gospel first Indite And on it did Gods Image first Ingrave And then by it as his great Instrument That Image Prints on all that he will save Though it be long of their resisting Will That any of this Grace deprived be Yet Scripture and Experience clearly tell That diffrencing electing Grace is free In Children it appears when God doth choose He gives a reachable and willing Mind Good Dispositions and Capacity By Grace their Nature is to good inclin'd Grace chooseth Parents careful of their Souls Helps them to educate them in Gods fear To commend Virtue and disgrace all Vice Teach them Gods word causeth them to hear Gods Seed in such is often early Sowd And as they grow it springs up by degrees As Plants and Fruits by Sun Moisture grow'd Whose present growth and motion no Man sees The first beginnings of the Spirits work Is in a learning Mind and fear of Sin A love and liking of good things and Men 'Gainst Sins for Duty Conscience strives within Grace watcheth over them provides them helps Meet Teachers Books Examples Company Keeps off temptations causeth them to hate Lying bad Words and Deeds and Ribaldry Bad Childrens Hearts are quite averst to good They love not Virtue relish not Gods Law Tempting Discourse Examples Vanities Catch on their Hearts as Fire doth on Straw If early helps Parents and Teachers fail And Sin the childish Mind and Life pervert If Folly Flesh and tempting Baits prevail Yet God his chosen will in time convert Hee 'l either give them better Company Or better helps and Teachers whom hee 'l Bless Or bring some useful Book unto their Eye And make their Snares their Temptations less Or hee 'l some sharp Affliction on them lay Which may awake the hardened sleepy Heart Or Conscience shall some quickning motion feel Tell them their Sins their Danger and Desert O! How the Case with Sinners now is chang'd Things all appear now in another Shape Sin now is Madness Mad he calls himself For loving Death and thinks now how to Scape Now God is Holy Just his Word is True He is in earnest though Sinners be in jest The Face of all his Works and Ways seem New Those things seem worst which formerly seem'd best The common Texts and Truths he daily heard Do now begin to have some Life and Sence He wonders how he past them by before As if they had been of no Consequence That wounds shames and grieves and breaks his heart Which formerly was his Delight and Pleasure That 's Vanity and mortal Poyson now For which he hungred as his Food and Treasure Now the Mad Prodigal comes to himself Perhaps the World doth him its Husks deny Why saith he did I leave a Fathers House There none do want here I must starve and die O that I had not tasted Satans Bait Nor Pampred Flesh and pleas'd vain Appetite Neglected Grace and things of greatest Weight Nor medled with Sins poysonous Delight But the time lost can never be recal'd The works of Madness cannot be undone I have undone my self is there no help I know all else is Vain there is but one A Fathers Love affordeth me some hope The World gives none I must return or die I 'le go and humbly all my Sin confess And cast my self upon his Clemency But God is Just and Holy how can I Defil'd with Sin and Guilt stand in his sight Now the sick Soul a sure Physicion needs There is one Saviour who is Gods Delight He is the Way by whom Men come to God He is the Truth to save the World from Errour He is the Life to save from endless Death Self-Murdering Souls subject to Hellish Terrour And now the Gospel's better understood Redemption seemeth not a needless thing His Thoughts are precious of Christs precious Blood His Mediator Prophet Priest King The Gospel now is Tydings of great Joy Pardon of Sin Adoption Peace with God Freedom from Terrour Satan Sin and Hell Mans self-made and Gods just Revenging Rod. He sees why Love in Mans repair must be As much Admir'd as Power in our Creation Sinners cannot immediatly God see But by a Mediator have Salvation Now all things else seem loss and dung for Christ Wisdom is folly where Christ is left out To know him is the true Philosophy The rest doth teach Men but to prate and doubt Some glimps of God and Heav'n blurd Nature yields But it s but as a Candle to this Sun Others towards God