death will ease When rage has done its worst and us release Nor may the worst of tortures be compar'd Unto the future joys for us prepar'd Yea let your bloody Instruments with strict And cruel plagues my tender flesh afflict Beyond its strength this shall be my relief My breast shall chear me in the midst of grief Though on soft fires I should be laid to burn Or with red Tongs should be asunder torn Or dropt with scalding pitch whilst I am frying Or broken on the painful wheel or dying Through extream tortures long endur'd yet I To God with comfort would advance mine eye He will I know the force of these asswage Or strengthen me in their extreamest rage That whilst my hangmen in their malice toyl I in their looks in spight of them shall smile If then 't is ask'd why suffers thus this youth While I can speak I 'll answer Of a truth Because he rather chose this dismal end Than in foul pleasures all his days to spend But when my honest deed shall come to light Nor can truth long lye hid in envious night Then so much earth I would but onely crave Where rest at last my mangled bones might have Next that this Epitaph might likewise be On that black Marble rent which shadows me Hereunder lyes a slave in dismal grief who fell Because he lov'd his Mistriss and his Lord too well A little beast there is of snow-white skin Which placed down upon the ground within A ring of muck from whence it cannot flee Unless its Fur shall all-defiled be There shall it stand nay death much rather chuse Than the lest filth its pureness should abuse O if my Marble likewise this exprest In life-like action 't were my third request Thus then at least I shall this rest obtain Where such as you no more shall grieve again My persecuted Soul and this same thing Among my bones shall make my spirit sing Adieu vain world alas how vain to me That wouldst not yield me one days rest from woe My days though but span-long yet in them be A world of griefs which me did over-flow Now they are done and with them done my fears Of restless evils with my restless tears When in the world I liv'd with wordly men Their wicked Souls deep stain'd in sinful spot Would either stain me too or grieve me then Nor might I ' scape their scourge if so their blot But now I 'm there where wicked numbers cease From troubling more and where I rest in peace Because affliction sat upon my brow And was my mate how men did chase my life Nor Goal nor Prison could suffice for how Men most might plague me was their manly strife But now their rage is done no more I hear The fierce Oppressors voice far off or near How have I groan'd beneath the toylsome yoak Of sin and woes which sinful deeds infold How have I wept my sins which God provoke So wearyed out till all my days were told Now my tir'd bones this grave which doth receive From all these toyls gives me a safe reprieve And while I thus rejoyce here yet will be Those that will bless my happy memory In Sacred Hymns composed for this sake When in their hearts chast melody they make Thus I shall ever live though dead when you In infamy shall live for ever too Whose memory will but exalt my name And infamy encrease my greater fame From which of your perswasions then should I Fear all your deaths since I can never dye No since my death will be a gain to me And by your rage from trouble set me free Well I 'm resolv'd death then I 'll rather chuse Than my chast body with vile lust abuse Think not I shall relent I 'm fix'd herein As much as you are to commit the sin Alas you 're still deceiv'd not pleasures past Shall the tormented then with ease repast If the effects of sin 't is guiltlesness Shall comfort such in their extream distress 'T is known they who are plagu'd for sin do dwell That while as in the dismal woes of Hell On God 't is I depend he 'll make me tast Of his sweet life in death Methinks I hast Towards him with all joy though through the fire You threaten with insatiate desire O therefore think not I for fear of you Shall God offend and lust with you pursue SEPHYRA NOw must I say though sorry for thy sake Thou than to bend dost rather choose to break As clear as day I find it now most true What fancy will in sturdy humours do But what 's this Spirit thus that all things weighs That against every pleasure so inveighs Surely a sickness in the crazy mind When that to melancholy is inclin'd The lunatick of Castles in the air So dream and labour with ludibrious care Something they know not what to bring to pass So thou but dream'st of things that never was 'T is fumes of brain which in a foggy state Of weather cloud it and do dissipate When east-winds purge the air and skyes do smile This to regard I think not worth the while Shall I add more JOSEPH N No 't is enough forbear Nor may you say nor may I longer hear Such Blasphemies O thou long-suffering grace That such reproaches suffer'st to thy face You speak but by him yet that tongue employ To utter words that would himself destroy This Spirit is no dizziness of brain But what in flesh and blood no faith can gain I do not marvail you cannot conceive What in your thoughts you never did receive The Spiders cob-web can infold no winds Nor can the Spirit rest in carnal minds Night-Owls and twilight-Bats abhor the light And Sol's bright rays but chear the blest with sight The Spirit in our Souls from God above Is given as an earnest of his love This is our comforter our guide our light Our Sanctuary in this gloomy night Of grief of errour darkness and distress By this our wants in prayers we express Without it we 're unsafe nor can we say What 't is we want much less for blessings pray Hereby our heart 's celestially sublime And rais'd become above the Moon to climb Above the stars even to the sacred breast Of God the Summum bonum of our rest His hereby we are known this is his Seal Which us his own and him doth ours reveal It clears the clouds of ignorance away Us to our selves doth needfully display Begets all graces in us kindles love Within our breasts which towards God doth move Destroyeth then all wordly love from thence And shields us from its hurtful influence The flowing honey-combs delicious tast Is not comparable to the repast This gives the Soul in which its beams when shot It changes earthly pleasures into nought SEPHYRA NO way I see there 's for me to prevail This Spirit or I muâ—â— with might assail For all what I produce and oâ— thee gain This wind repels and renders
Though against me your utmost you engage Yet I 'll oppose but with a juster rage Blest he who in this quarrel doth persist With sin its cursed dictates to resist Happy that mind which evermore doth fight With its own lusts and contradicts their might There is a blest contest a holy war An upright enmity a gainful jar Again there is a peace a rest a joy Which doth our Souls of all its peace destroy 'T is not our loss that lusts a war maintain Within our Souls and put our flesh to pain Our sins to see doth not proceed from sin To feel sins evil doth from good begin Though this seems strange and wounds you to the Soul Yet it is true our lusts we must controul That evil which our certain death will prove We by its death should surely first remove Our most beloved lusts our dearest pleasures Our carnal comforts all our earthly Treasures We in our hearts must not endure to dwell Or else their fierce allurements there repel The most occult recesses of our mind That whereunto our nature is inclin'd Our frame our constitution we in chains Must bind as Rebels and afflict with pains For by the Fall so hapless man declin'd That all was spoylt within his heedless mind And since so totally did sin deprave His Off-spring that 't is onely sin they crave Would it were with me as I 'd wish to be Both from this world and from my self I 'd flee Such treacherous Companions do I find Remaining in my bones and in my mind Why hug we thus this world and worldly things Which no content but sour vexation brings How is it that our Heaven-born Souls so prone Are unto Earth and not to God alone They that for Heaven intend of Heaven must speak Heaven-wards must look and through Heavens gates must break And they by constant labour must outdo The restless malice of the Tempter too But why thus heap I words where words are vain Briefly Heavens road not easie is or plain A thorny way and through a thorny gate It is that leads unto that blissful state Our hearts I know are full of crook'd desires In our best duties much of sin suspires Yet comfort we unspeakable may find That are his Children for our troubled mind 'T is beyond doubt the blessed Prince of peace Shall come and make our expectations cease His day I saw already in my mind And press'd his lips with salutation kind Long since I have beheld as from afar A strange far-blazing glory a bright star Boding great light prepar'd for Zeb'luns day To visit those who in deep darkness lay Behold the wonder which on earth is done A Maid conceives and doth bring forth a Son A Child a wondrous Child Heav'n us doth grant Emanuel call'd Prince o' th' new-Covenant He was a man of grief by 's own neglected Despis'd abus'd defamed mockt rejected Patiently he upon his own self brought Our shame for sins which we had onely wrought His Soul God fill'd with plagues his Limbs were rent With wounds he by himself our punishment Sustain'd and we are by his stripes his pain To God aton'd and wholly heal'd again In unknown paths we wander'd from our way As scatter'd sheep without their shepherd stray But by the blessing of his Spirits guide Thenceforth a better way he doth provide As like a Lamb he 's to the slaughter brought There as dumb sheep when by the shearers caught He opens not his mouth himself prepares For greatest plagues and all with patience bears For our cause he to our Tribunal went There sentence took and thence to death was sent Whom when they first with bitter scoffs revil'd They from the living to the dead eâ—il'd But when his blood he shall for offering give His seed shall rise and through him ever live For by his sufferings as our debt he paid So shall the Fathers wrath then quite be laid Well cheer up then my Soul noâ— now give way To thy corruptions or their laws obey Though thou by nature wast in lust conceiv'd Yet from this Fall thou art by grace up heav'd God gives his Spirit which with might assails Our lusts and with sure victory prevails Which sanctifies the feeble Soul withal That else would down to each temptation fall SEPHYRA NOw I shall loose my wits Preposterous fool Am I no neerer all this while my goal Still so unmov'd no Songs but of constraint Come 't is enough this is the old complaint Base is that mind that quiet peace disturbs To freedome that prefers enslaving curbs Withhold thou cry'st afflict deny restrain Force over-rule suppress torment with pain Banish nay kill out-right Great Nile what 's here Unheard of Prodigies by humane ear Ah slave how well the ornament of chains Befits thee who delight'st in slavish pains But thou'dst enslave us too through sly advise Fool didst thou then believe us so unwise My blood now rises into scornful spite To see thee in such follies take delight At once thou subject of all scorn and hate Methinks I in thy looks now read thy fate Fantastick sop that tak'st delight in woe Besotted friend of Tears soft pleasures foe Rebellious-minded soul at rest in jars In peace as restless friend to cruel wars Thou perfect Bugbear to refining love Who ominous against thy self dost prove Mankinds misfortune in a hapless time Who sure wast born and in a fatal clime Thou neither must nor wilt resolv'd thou arâ— But unto what thy riddle pray impart Forsooth a strange conceit within thy mind There is of lagging miseries behind Didst ever feel them fool who told thee so O grave Tradition whether true or no. But thou shalt feel them now thy self then tell If greater this or thy conceited Hell I 'll now conclude nor think that I 'll regard Compassion more let death be thy reward Or happy life as thou shalt yield or chuse Yield to my passions or that love refuse Fool thou' rt too frail thy passions to defie To a fierce conflict or thy flesh deny Who with too rigid force his youth constrains Provokes his mind to break with-holding reyns Jos Since now you have been pleas'd with snaky guile As for the flesh to argue stiff some while I pray permit me then accordingly That for the Spirit I may make reply Seph No Joseph time will thus be spent in vain What I have said I now repeat again To my request if thou no ear wilt give Thou shalt repent that thou on earth didst live Observe it well Yet how can I believe That Joseph should himself of Bliss bereave Sure if I 'm right more wit doth in him dwell And he 'll be wise when he considers well Thus by these things thou mayst behold my heart How thou most truly there beloved art Accept my caution Joseph have a care Embrace thy fortune and of woe beware That which by th'chiefest Nobles of the Land Hath been pursu'd now thou hast in thy hand What erewhiles Potiphar
his restless brain Fumes Oven-like that cann't its heat contain Thence hies to th' Prince where yet again his mind Must move with humours of uncertain kind Nor less his Wits must work since none is more Esteem'd than flatterers that Crowns adore Nor yet is this enough lo home-bred sorrow Genders new care for this day and to morrow That so no hour there is throughout the day Wherein his Soul might rest he once can say Unhappy Lord enslav'd by too vast things Thy purchas'd greatness thee but sorrow brings Forsake the Court 's too cumbrous cares and come Joyn with thy Wife to manage things at home But whilst my Lord him in these cares imploys Therewith his buzzing head and Soul annoys I his forsaken his forgotten Wife Wish for this cause a more delightful life And am resolv'd nor deem it void of reason Not so to lavish this my youthful season Let him since he will always be at Court Frequent strange beds one shall to mine resort And thou art he selected hereunto Sweet Joseph who of this long since didst know Mine eye my heart bewray'd that did descry What kind of passions in my breast did fry When once the heart feels Love hath made a wound The Senses dislocate the Tongue is bound The Mind with grief possest is fill'd with dread And then the eye the tongues defect must plead â— know thou hast observ'd my strong desires From my sad eyes dart symptomes of my fires Nor less didst thou perceive those flames in me When neer my bed I sent so oft for thee O long ere them I know this tongue express'd Thou felt'st these dire commotions in my breast And yet thou glori'dst ever to appear As if thou nothing wast of this aware If thee alone I found where none could see Or over-look what pass'd 'twixt thee and me Away thou fledst when thou but thought'st 't was I As though some Ghost thee thence compell'd to fly These were the pressures which so mov'd my mind That shame no longer could my passions bind Which forc'd broke forth constraining me to bow My neck to thee and court my servant now Yet woe is me though I disclose my fires All I can say cann't thaw thy chill desires T is neither Rhetorick nor deep-fetch'd groans Can move thy spirit to regard my moans O can no languid sighs no Eloquence Thy marble-breast to tenderness dispence Nor can yet goodness once prevail with thee Then rigour shall which thou shalt quickly see Though I am more 〈◊〉 perswasions rather Will melt thy Soul and we shall yet together Joyn flames to flames come â—hen why should such fell And rough desires in such sweet savour dwell JOSEPH ME what prodigious things do I now hear Are these your wâ—â—ds and Madam I so near Surely you mean them not Ah me but why Seek you then once again my â—oul to try It is confess'd that I am yours and his Who is your Husbandâ— but to none of this Sure was I sold we are not sold to 〈◊〉 Till of our selves we do that Sale begin Has providence lent you such gifts in vain To which so many wiâ—h they might attain So fair a flower has God created you That to your Lord you should be found untrue Though pâ—â—tly body amiable face Though wise discourse your Sex so much doth grace These yet if modesty you set to sale Will not that loss of Vertue countervail You 're of Illustrious Race of Royal kind With beauty gifted and transcendent mind Remember this and let your Soul disdain Your honour so with Staâ—â—ion lust to stain Much more to love your 〈◊〉 Ah me what is 't Has poyson'd you such matters to insist Why should thus Reasons beauty be defac'd Why should your glory thus become disgrac'd Why should lust reign and why that spirit Divine That doth the Soul to vertuous ways incline And therein guide be quench'd and force aâ—â—ay'd Through base-born lust and that the Soul invade For shame adjourn these Soul-deluding dreams Youths base product which you so ill beseems Which death portend let them be straight deny'd Fire's quickly master'd when help 's soon apply'd He who from lusts vile bondage would be freed Its primier flames to suffocate must â—eed Sin is a plant which if not from the root Soon pluckt will soon to spreading mischief shoot Which if it does its venom soon we find Infecting all our blood and all our mind And that 's a Fort with ever-watchful eyes Which should be guarded from sins swift surprize But if we thus destroy it then with ease Our hearts may be secur'd from this disease And that calm-virgin peace as erst regain The greatest bliss that Souls can here obtain Well though it be which let me not believe That you 're inclin'd brief pleasure should bereave You of your fame your eyes in vain on me Yet look in whom those joys abhorred be Ah how may I my precious Soul resigâ— To such falacious lust how thus incline To wound my Conscience and supremely prize Those flames and therein my self exercise Am I not of that house which from the rest Of all the world God for his people blest Choosing them such or ever form he layd Of this huge Globe and of his promise made Peculiar Heirs Am I not Abram's seed The faithful's Father by Gods call decreed And Prince of Race Divine and should I prize Foul lust and these advantages despise These members so abuse that God upbraid Who his loves covenant thereon hath made And thus Soul-shipwrack in one instant make Help Lord nor me do ever thus forsake But how you erre although God did create In all he made a power to propagate As was its kind yet what alas makes this For you as blind so you the mark do miss But 't is perceiv'd what by your errour 's meant You brass to me for solid Gold present Which I should so say you with you believe That lust as love acceptance might receive Who sees not this but better things we know From our great God to man no lust did flow He at the first did then in him inspire In beasts in fowl and fish an upright fire Blessing them generally with words of these Be greatly fruitful and the earth increase Of these yet Man when he began to live One meet help onely did from God receive Flesh of his flesh bone formed of his bone And this command You two shall be but one Thus that delight is but 'twixt two confin'd Where one Male-female are together joyn'd A third destroys the pleasure sowrs the sweet For love is onely 'twixt two souls compleat And this thus God injoyns As with his hands He Man and Wife unites in wedlock-bands Which none may part To th'Bridal sheets this Seal By him affix'd their purity reveal How should it then seem strange if he consume Such who his work to sully dare presume If with fierce plagues hurl'd from his kindled Ire He satisfaction should from them require Who
and these joys reject But why should we that have not reach'd our Noon Think on the period of our days so soon Disturb by thoughts of other worlds our rest And flee those joys of which we are possest Age blith like Youth like hoary age Youth grave Things more discording not on earth we have Dalliance becomes best Youth as hand in hand With joy Youth couples knits in am'rous band Both their designs is Mirth and soft delight As doth their Names their humour 's so unite And both one soul so they agree possess What the one covets t'other craves no less Hymen in stricter union never joyn'd Two pleasant pairs of more agreeing mind Youth in his bloom and now when South inspires Life in the Spring and gathers into quires The scatter'd Nightingales and decks the Hills With cheerful green and Banks of gliding Rills When Gardens re-assume their Summers pride Where Art and Nature both in triumph ride Whose various Flowers deceive the rasher eye In taking them for curious Tapistry Then three chief pleasures he to him assumes With which the hasty minutes he consumes Jocundity the first compos'd of air That knows no sadness nor doth laughter spare Who not on Earth but as on Air doth tread Each step he makes with eâ—eâ— tossing head Next Play whose fingers strike the warbling string Which moves the Soul and into tune doth bring Whose musick regulates dividing feet That move in dance and makes both fitly meet And lastly Chace to fallow-Deer inclin'd But which in Cities not in Woods we find Hotly pursuing till within his toyls He has obtain'd some of those beautious spoyls Then sweet-lip'd Joy attractively array'd With soft Habiliments whereon pourtray'd Are Loves inventions though her brighter air Plunge hearts far deeper into am'rous care The Onyx and the Jaspers various die And Diamonds darken at her brighter eye The Saphyr's blew by her more azure veins Seem to confess they serve but there for stains And blushing Rubies seem to loose their die When her more Ruby lips are moving by The curious Apples of her swelling breasts In which a Paradise of pleasure rests Surpass the whitest Syndon which she wears And gazing eyes to ravishment ensnares Thus clad and qualified likewise she For her diversion has made choice of three Song first with quavering throat who in soft lays Of moving Verse Loves mysteries displays Or of Salmacis streams a Song indites Which turns her listners to Hermaphrodites Loose Riot next to revelling inclin'd So to supply the concaves of her mind Which must by merry â—outs a vent obtain Of that light Spirit active in her brain And lastly Snap the belly-friend whose taste In well-fed flesh than fruit finds more repast Whose blood like Kids upon a moâ—y plain Doth skip and dance Levalâ—â—'s in each vein Lo what a jolly company is here Methinks my youthful Soul with new-born cheeâ— At their remembrance over-spread I feel Which in each faculty doth gently steal We both yet young now flourish in our prime You twenty seven scarce reckon of your time I not so much if now it may not be A time to love that time we ne're shall see Ah why should youth his sweet desires controul And with too pensive thoughts torment his Soul Just when the fragrant bloom of Youth would sprout But 't is in vain for youthful lust will out It will have all its due let th' aged grieve Who now of love have took eternal leave Let them with sighs converse and groan to know High things who with a third leg added go As to like years we to like mood incline Of Sex both fit in acts of love to joyn So kindly Nature hath our tempers wrought That whilst we 're two we 're made thus one in thought Well then cheer up dull Soul noâ— longer now To spend thy days in grief thy self allow O do but see how all these joys do move To serve thee in the practices of love When aged furrows once thy face shall plough No more then these delights will Love allow Of things uncomely we the chiefest find When age like youth to dalliance is inclin'd Come then to Nature Mother of each thing Let 's for an Offring our youths verdure bring Her Priests we are her Temple my rooms name My bed her Altar and her fire ouâ— flame Our days worst part is when declining age Suddenly takes us with a deaths presage Pluck therefore flowers my youth e're spring be past Let 's love that most which doth but shortly last Dost thou yet muse Or is it timerous fear Withholds thy hand Behold thy blooming year With speedy feet to falling Autumn hies And he who gets this fall no more doth rise JOSEPH NOr reason nor Religion 't is that I Should wast my youth in carnal luxury Too soon you judge it that with prudent care I for my hasting end should now prepare But is there any one or can you tell When death shall ring us our departing knell None can the measure of his days divine Or when his Sun shall in its grave decline Even now we by that Pursevant may be Hurried from hence to that Eternity Where no repentance is allowed more To us nor mercy which we scorn'd before And yet you think the shortness of our days To so much more industry in the ways Of lust should us elicite O much beguil'd Nor unto poorest reason reconcil'd Should he who shortly must account produce Of his led life be therefore more profuse Of his most precious minutes and excite His youthful vigor to obscene delight 'T is as unreasonable as t is sure By many sins we many plagues procure O think how oft we crimson cheeks do view Suddenly change into deaths bloodless hue How oft vermilion-lips have been surpriz'd With hue more pale than box and sacrific'd By deaths inevitable stroak to dwell With Spirits just or evermore in Hell Nay though as young as you yet have we seen â—risk morning looks at evening who have been Wrapt in a winding-sheet and oft at night Eyes shut to sleep that more ne're view'd this light We daily see nor is it more a wonder â—ans Sun at noon declining going under And that which we on others acted see â—orewarns may happen either you or me Gay youths as smoak that quickly fades away We as our last should therefore think each day And strive as that perswasion did require By setling things before it should expire To God the fattest of the fold we yield And so the first-fruits of the tilled field How should we dare then with our own refuse Of feeble age his Majesty abuse 〈◊〉 to the flesh our youth we give and bring To God a crazy stump for offering â—embers repleat by age with pains and akes Whose palsie joynts for deaths approaches shakes What will he say or how can we conceive 〈◊〉 our performances should then receive More wisely therefore let 's our time redeem Whilst youth remains which God doth most esteem The
lay on Plagues which both cannot and yet must be born He 'll plague then like a God whilst wretched we Must bear them though we cann't eternally O thou Eternity what great amaze Does thy reflection in my inwards raise Thy endless thought creates another Hell In midst of it if not its woes excel But these things in your thoughts are fond you shâ—w And I in your conceâ—t for simple go Well though I do yet the divine Beliefs Of God in simple uprightness consists Then as a dreamer you ' gainst me exclaim Although than this I have no greater name Nay whosoever for this cause may frown Yet on my head I 'll bear it as my Crown And for it praise my God hereby I see That in my ways his Spirit is with me When Sov'raign sleep descendeth from on high And on their Couch these members stretcht do lye My sprightly Soul that part of Heavenly fire Nor sleeps nor slumbers but remains entire In action By strange visions of the night I in my soul perceive the God of light Whose Spirit then whilst others slumbers bind Graciously communes with my ravish'd mind Plainly fore-shewing to my self what shall And mighty Realms in future days befal Though from my soil for dreams Hate banish'd me Again by dreams yet I shall raised be And those this evil who have wrought me shall With suppliant knee unto my mercy fall That seek with contrite tears deep groans and see Their hate then past shall be forgot by me Nor shall I seek revenge but they shall find To them I 'll bear a loving brothers mind But grant I had power and should with crafty wile The watchful eyes of Jealousie beguile Alas what help yet for me in that hour When guilty thoughts should all my peace devour Who knows not though with care by th'vicious sought Yet their own mind to peace cannot be bought That lowdly vengeance crying each vile heart So Condemnation must to 't self impart You may obscure your deeds in graves below Or in thick darkness them abscond but know Although the Conscience you may charm asleep That yet you never shall long silent keep O no your injur'd God while drowsie night Your eye-lids close your thoughts with shapes shall fright Resembling just your guilt and unto day Your works produce which in oblivion lay That there 's a God nor need you seek to find Turn but within and see him in your mind Examine there and you will quickly know That he 's above and in your thoughts below When heat of lust doth in the lustful cease Strait deep remorse becomes their minds disease Pleasures once over-blown and youth decay'd Regret and Trembling doth the Soul invade Who 's pleas'd when he compares his short joys spent With lasting woes their purchase which torment The Mind and Body with far greater pain Than all those joys before did pleasure gain For seeds of pleasure we but ever find Are cowardise and horrour in the mind Do go enjoy your swing choose carnal things These are those soft delights with deadly stings The death of Souls confusion of all grace The worm that gnaws for never-ending space Well then O much deceiv'd if true delight You yet desire then bravely shew despight To lust deny your eyes superbly spurn At Love which doth in lust forbidden burn Alas and what 's these joys youth swiftly flies To hoary age and with it Pleasure dies Our day-sun set and sable night come on Our woes so come and so our joys are gone Still to do good and overcome the heart Doth evermore unto the Soul impart All comfort and thence grief compels to flye 'T is the best pleasure Pleasure to deny O thou transcendent joy celestial rest How happy are those Souls by thee possest No joy or pleasure like to that we find Whose fix'd abode is in a righteous mind SEPHYRA WEll then I see that kindness is too weak Thy savage temper to subdue or break Which since it cannot my great cause defend That then on other motives I must bend I know that slothful jades refuse to stir Till in their sides they feel the gauling spur If thou art such and such thou seem'st to be Expect the fruits then of my hate on thee Once when a woman prostrates her good 〈◊〉 Her Honour Vertue Chastity her Fame To him she loves if her designs she miss As one besides her self stark mad she is Big with revenge therein impatient grows And frantickly all hindrance overthrows Crossing her end no charms may her asswage Even friends she sacrifices to her rage The sweeter wine at first is found to be The tarter when corrupted proves we see Of once denyed curtesies we find The strongest malice ever left behind And these all menace thee if to that joy I kindly woe thee to thou wilt be coy Where know thou shalt no sooner this deny But in extreamest Tortures thou shalt dye Our passions to extremities dilate Flying the mean we over-love or hate Thou then who art resolv'd no love to show Know from this hour my hate on thee doth grow Fierce and implacable War I declare And what I can devise I shall prepare To work thy woe all mischief then on thee That falls be confident it comes from me In deeds of black revenge we ever see The womans faculties more pregnant be Than those of man for in profound deceit And wise conduct she is the most compleat Well what invented or perform'd can be Of fiercest plagues shall all be flung on thee Each act of thine or word thou shalt have said Shall kill thee such constructions shall be made Nor yet enough things worse I 'll do than these This crime of mine such are our practices I 'le turn on thee and stifly this to be A truth affirm Thou wouldst have ravish'd me This to effect my thoughts now in me frye No holding helps all my inventions flye Where anger leads for me there is no cure Thou must my love obey or rage endure Like a brave Soul who when in prison pent Then more than ever in desire is bent T' enjoy lost liberty 'T is sâ—arce believ'd What by extremities have been atchiev'd This dire affair I must and will conclude Though Earth Sea Fire and Air should be renew'd In their first Chaos And although thou art Ne'r so resolved against my raging smart Yet I 'll proceed and imitate the snake Whose head if catcht a tail-defence doth make So if I find there is no other way Thou thy denial with thy blood shalt pay Hereto I am arriv'd with stedfast mind As links in Chains so sinful deeds are joyn'd Who ill contrives he must proceed therein And for his cloak with nimble skill begin His false complaint they who first audience gain Though criminal the just mans right obtain He who a villany hath undertook Upon no lyes with tender thoughts must look A face of brass must his defence become Lest ignominious shame should prove his doom When potent
where 's my help my breast cannot contain These differing powers where shall my Soul remain Lust to escape what by the Eye 's espy'd And crav'd by th'flesh by Reason is deny'd How strange a thing 〈◊〉 I what can express My composition in law 〈…〉 Half I am 〈◊〉 half Mâ—n half black half white Deform'd and 〈◊〉 and half wrong half right What dost 〈◊〉 do my Soul â—ith suppliant knee Go seek thy God in this thy 〈◊〉 go flee To him for help thâ—â— know'st him great and strong And so for those that unto him belong He is the Lord of Battle and will be Thy Conquest 〈◊〉 thou 〈◊〉 thy victory He 'll make thee 〈…〉 and will lend Thee safety and thy life from hurt defend Onely for this thou must approach his Throne Of mercy and to him address thy moan No sin so 〈◊〉 yet with cruel might Which prayer did not compel to shameful flight Prayer is our Harness which our minds doth shield That else to Satans fiery darts would yeild Then I begin Great God my Strength my Aid Grant I may stand this conflict undismay'd Give me the Conquest let successful speed Crown my weak 〈◊〉 thou Saviour in our need O let not lustful flames desires unchast Whereby so oft thy stamp's in us defac'd Prevail a jot but Father 〈…〉 me A Conscience pure to offer unto thee In myry Pits behold confounded I Am come where almost overwhelm'd I lye Where Lord I find no standing for my feet Thou must send help or I my 〈◊〉 meet Alas how frail is man whose holyest works Are but vile rags where ugly evil lurks His highest Sanctity's a withered leaf And even vile beyond his own belief His mind 's whole frame through his whole course of life With evil times as with the stream doth drive In this worlds sea with various blasts â—here 〈◊〉 And here Lord if thou help'st not he is lost My feet in slippery places now abide With my own lusts I 'm storm'd on every side All hands they break they to rebellion run Lord thy restraining grace or I 'm undone And thy directing Spirit give thou me Ease thou my groans support my feeble knee Defend thy child that trusts in thee from shame Salvation give and glorifie thy Name Distil thy Doctrine like a gentle showr Into my narrow breast there comforts powr Drench with thy living streams my thirsting mind And of thy right-hand-pleasures let me find That measure in my Soul that may exile Thence sinful joys as savourless and vile In times of old thy goodness thou hast shown To me whom thou adopted'st for thine own O then thine own defend teach me to fight Against my passions which in sin delight These are but strangers in my soul and she That takes their part a stranger unto thee On me O let them not gain any ground But their attempt do thou with shame confound I beg no worldly Power nor Wealth do crave Or Regent Thrones nor Monuments would have Rais'd to my Name nor pray I for great state Which Fame or humane glory might create This onely thing I wish I might obtain That of my heart a conquest I might gain At this sad hour If I 'm but safe within All outward force shall never make me sin Then cheer thee Soul God bows to thy complaint A willing ear I feel his loves constraint Rejoycing me In tears methinks my song I now can make at weakest I am strong O my dear Soul the riches of that grace Observe which fills thy heart thy Saviours face Go meet behold thy God doth now begin To knock at thy hearts door haste let him in What means proud lust to tempt my pure desire I in my Soul possess a better fire A holier Spirit a more cogent power Which liberally God in my breast doth shower The new tunn'd Must before it vent obtains Strong groans ejects as if opprest with pains In the strait Vessel wherein bridled long The bands at last it bursts and then too strong The staves asunder rends thence with uproar As with light feathers in free air doth soar Thus with mans mind it is now prone it lyes Dishearten'd then encouraged doth rise So exercis'd until the field it gains And by Gods hand firm victory obtains Until immortal powers it can withstand And as it's self so all the world command Well what remains shall this perswade my mind Because my Lady is to me inclin'd Shall her mad love enflame me with delight Or not much rather from such love affright For how detestable it is when wives Do sell themselves to lead lascivious lives When with unbridled lust the upright mind Themselves they tempt to deeds of bruitish kind Those Monsters with their eloquence impure Prompted by lust even men themselves allure Assault the chast and that from them request Which though desir'd should never be exprest Ay me how have these things afflicted me From this vile woman I could ne'r be free For when my Lord still absent was from home I could not go where she 'd not likewise come Where then in lustful Rhetorick she dresses Her lawless love or that by signs expresses Such as her eyes can yield or breasts expos'd When to Adultery she is most dispos'd O with what art she sounds my tender mind Whether or no it be as hers inclin'd Sometimes my hand she kisses then she woes With fervent looks nor know I what she does But who can love nay who will not detest That suit first vile and then by them exprest Who should be woe'd and in whose breasts should dwell That modest grace which doth in them excel 'T is monstrous if it does not since we see Of this by nature they possessors be And since a want hereof doth in the vile Constrain their love affrighted to recoil The most lascivious of their lust yet gain Do make and gold and lordly gifts obtain But me this woman gives no rest at all Her body prostitutes and gifts withal The profligatest wretch with lustful â—ires Although he burns in his deprav'd desires Will yet pull in his flames at such a time When lustful wives do court him to that crime Ah in my breast sha'nt I then horrour feel With her who her Lords bed defiles to deal To have to do with her who would constrain Me to submission to her lustful pain Sure modesty is womens chiefest grace A lowly eye an humble bashful face Even then that blushes with a conscious red When though of Marriage ought to her is said Nor do I think is any man more vile Than he who doth the Nuptial bed defile So he his Neighbours Heritage deceives And stones unknown upon his building heaves O thou luxurious flesh shall now thy flame Deprive my Soul of its most peaceful frame Of all its present ease and sacred rest O no thy valency lo is supprest Thy fire extinct thy chains shook off and broke Thy embers are now ashes flames but smoak Thy itch is cool'd nor
Thinna Gos all all pursue The wretch 't is highest time my name 's the aim I here endure unsufferable shame Jos Good God what impudence how will this end Seph Haste haste your Lady from a Rape defend A trayt'rous villain brought from Hebrons soyl Upon me runs my body to defile His violence aâ— quickly quickly tame The slave is full of lust and void of shame JOSEPH ME what anointed fraud Hark hark I hear Pursuing feet through all the house that bear Sure death Ah woe is me what purâ—ue cryes Now shall this woman cloak her guile with lyes And make a sad complaint me to accuse Of that which she against my self did use The Cloak I left her when from her I brake Shall for her fraud no small advantage make My God what help what safety then have I Alas I know not which way I shall fly The changes of these lower things behold They but what 's smoak and empty wind infold As like a Bubble now appearing fair Which in a 〈◊〉 dissolves in humid air Earths greatest dignities and chiefest good Are like the flowing and the ebbing flood In splendid honour I this day did swell And now from thence am hurl'd as low as Hell Though guiltless now a shameful fall I bear Uncertain what must be my future share Ah me on what on what shall I resolve How in my breast shall I my case revolve Shall I with base subjection like a slave Her guilt my guilt confess and pardon crave Sure no If I till now have lust deny'd In that good mind I 'll to the end abide How then shall I unto the Court repair And there unto my Lord the truth declare O no that house with happy peace that 's blest May not be griev'd for my desired rest Well but what then Shall I my self betake Within and there to each relation make Of all that 's pass'd Nor that 't is not done well The crimes of Ladies to their slaves to tell What then shall I the Countrey fly with speed As guilty fly that were a shameful deed 'T is better patiently the worst to bear For flyers ever guilty we declare Besides when slaves presume to run away For that they with their backs or necks must pay What then shall I conclude high time 't is now Resolve then this my Soul not hence to go Then be it so I 'll wait here what may be By Gods Decree selected out for me To him I pray'd through him my fight renew'd With him stood firm and by him lust subdu'd From him the rest I 'll wait and laugh at shame What should he fear that trusts upon his Name Now I return to give due thanks to thee Great God that from my self hast rescu'd me Although vain beauty did assault my eyes Thou helpedst me its witchraft to despise My feet from shameful fall preserv'd thou hast My Soul from ruine when with lust opprest Be thine the praise I 'll in thy Name delight So well who hast instructed me to fight In thy dear cause Towards thee I aspire With longing Soul thou end of my desire Henceforward my endeavours I will bend In thy unspotted ways my days to spend Then shall my ways be in thy eyes upright When thou shalt aid me by thy Spirits might The Concluding DAYRY-EMBLEM Discovering the Mystery and Nature of this Religious Self-Conflict THis Churn behold without and inwardly As with thy bodies so the Spirits eye And thus whilst thou reflectest on this thing Instructing matter it to thee shall bring Without 't is still within is uproar loud Like hollow drums exciting battle proud When now two Armies in a Champain large Each others force prepared stand to charge The tumults cause is from two differing things Each other charging with enforced flings Within the Vessel The insipid stream Flows in the fat amongst the thickeâ— Cream Hence the fray rises where these each would smother Now one gets uppermost and then the other The Cream's now under then the tastless Whay Holding in doubt whose the victorious day At length shall be till after tedious fight The well-wrought Cream doth by degrees unite And now of hue become like tryed gold As in prevailing hands the Palm doth hold But though it floats above it must abide The dabblings of the Whay on every side Until a higher hand doth down convey That wherewithal it bears it thence away Then in pure water throughly cleanseth it Preserves with salt and into vessels â—it â—ncludes and lastly crowns Where this regard Who overcomes so shall obtain reward He who this discord 'twixt the Cream and Whay With profit now desires to overlay By an approved Limbeck let him bring A noble matter from this trifling thing The Vessel here is Man therein the Broyl Presents the War 'twixt thoughts both good and vile The Cream's the Spirit Whay doth Lust Intend With restless spight each other these offend Awake dull Saint learn what 's within thy heart The Spirit 's not alone nor th'flesh apart Their powers are mixed as together grown Both in thee are as interwove in one Much like the glimmering Dawn that goes before The ruddy day which doth mans cares restore Discov'ring neither Darkness nor yet Light Not Day not Night alone but Day and Night Or like refulgent White with Negro hue Nor white nor black but gray betwixt the two Or like cold streams which when to boyling thrown Is neither hot nor cold but lukewarm grown Well lo the war begins it goes to blows Each his All brings his Op'nent to oppose Fill'd with fix'd hate The Flesh embattel'd draws Incorrigible youth lusts ' nslaving Laws Sports void of bounds and Deeds of guilty Night As Drunkenness and all obscene delight Base worldly pleasures Envy and what 's worse Lyes treacherous Fraud and filthy tongue discourse The Spirit calmly comes begirt with Prayer With Gods pure word with words that season'd aâ—â— With penitence Humility true Love Hope conqu'ring Faith and th'innocence o' th' dove The Combat's hot where we may safely say It seems that Flesh and Spirit now display Th' effects of fiercest hatred as if so They the Souls powers would straitway overthrow Until at last the strugling Spirit 's found Though after many dangers many a wound Far more divinely beautiful and bright And more puissant than before the fight Yet not without all blemish since the mind That yet possesses which to lusts inclin'd Whereby in fight since though it keeps the field 'T is oft compell'd to secret lust to yield Until the Lord his hand doth down convey And him from Earth by Death doth take away Translates into a Throne purges from dross And glorifies whereby he gains by loss Thrice happy he this firmly let 's believe This Good who through Gods Spirit doth perceive Thrice blessed is that Soul who in this night This upright war upholds maintâ—â—ns this fight Immortal praise a Crown of great regard Prepared is for such a Souls reward Yet of pure mercy