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
am'rous play But he Yet youth must wedlock rules obey She cryes My fervent flames O quench I frye Then he To them no stranger may come nigh Yet she Slave to my will thou â—t bought to be But not to sin returns he there I 'm free By reason fâ—yl'd she threatens plagues unkind But he makes clear Nought hurts a peaceful mind She storms but he 's compos'd threats doth abide And curses from her prays and steps aside Till she lays lastly hold Skill'd in this fight He then his cloak le ts go and flees her â—ight Wonder of men 't was Joseph in thy prime Of youthful days the veâ—â—ure of thy â—ime When thou thy flesh subdâ—'dst In ways of truth O guide and pattern rare for tender youth Assist my numbers let my flowing Verse As is his due his solid praise reherse If that can be And thou thus Laureate Vouchsafe though slender to commemorate Thy victories renown chast Boy that we May read with wonder and thy followers be But Zoilus is come methinks I hear His murmuring Sons at our blest Joseph jear Whom they a mind devoyd of Spirit name A vein of blood a torch of spriteful flame But sure abus'd in reasonings you appear O sons of error better reason hear Is freedom yours 't is then an easie case In times when lewd to run a sinful race Nor is it hard when youthful eyes espye A beauty strait in lustful flames to frye For lo how facile 't is to loose the rein That curbs the flesh that doth its lust restrain Nor easie less when pregnant showrs do flow To you of wealth then earthly soul'd to grow If love if honour wait on you if gain Such things with pleasure you can entertain But when the flesh with overmatching power Storms on the Soul like a tempestuous show'r That manly breast that stands that will not yield A Champion worthy is to Lord the field Vain worldly men those Spirits valiant praise That Armies rout that walled Cities rase But in deeds truly brave none higher rise Than such a mind who it s own lusts denies Let then Cimmerian ignorance revile Whilst virtue triumphs with a peaceful smile But thou if young let this example thee So chast so virtuous so Divine to be THE INTRODUCTION WHen Potiphar's fair Wife in various kind Had oft undress'd the passions of her mind To youthful Joseph and when this her pain In sighs she shew'd but ever sigh'd in vain Yet would she not for this the palm resign But having fixed a new-fram'd design Secur'd her houshold ordered the hour Lo yet once more she summons all her power Much like a Prince who with success unbless'd A walled Town hath long with War distress'd Now draws up all his Men and with a cry Once more sets on to gain the place or dye So she who now had well observ'd the room In which she knew young Joseph was to come Where when the youth alone she spy'd thus she Her mind display'd as she might entring be SEPHYRA HOw long sweet boy shall scorn thy breast possess Towards my grief and I in vain express That grief to thee how long a suppliant knee Shall I yet bend unentertain'd by thee â—he more my sighs discover am'rous fire â—he more thy frozen Soul with cross desire Fronts those kind flames whilst I the while in vain Pursue blew shadows and no substance gain O dwells in thee such barbarous desires And must I thus consume in tedious fires That noble blood that in my heart resides And but for thee yet in its veins abides Advise thy actions that 's but kindness feign'd By importunity which is or force obtain'd For what by flatt'ry with long pains is sought Though priceless gain'd yet is it dearly bought Let him who for his help would thanks receive Th' afflicted's case without delay relieve For him alone we count of courteous mind Whose help we readily performed find But thou' rt of Marble sure that can'st refrain Of thy bland youth to loose the sturdy reign And view me thus o'rewhelm'd with plenteous grief Nor cruel less deny yet all relief What may I think thou with thy self so days So nights revolv'st O most distasteful ways To me they are But wherefore thus should'st thou Thy young desires to sullen slavery bow What can more aptly suit youths soft desires Than with a Paramour to cool his fires For Natures instinct 't is to all imbred Delights to seek in Loves triumphant bed So lumpish soul'd so phlegmatick none are Who with their kind seek not their kind to pair Behold diffus'd it is in ev'ry thing Youths teeming pleasures forth by force to bring Nor doth in barren lands so dearth abound Wherein no memory of Love is found As in all-pleasing Ver to bring things forth Soft procreation to our widow'd earth Gently descends which then the leaf doth shoot And fragrant flowers and sweet delicious fruit This teeming time when come there where it sets That Land 's straâ—t checquer'd with soft Violets Guilt-bowly-Daffadils each thing anew Gets life on which it breaths its fruitful dew Lo whilst it thus begins to fan its charms The lofty Cedars wide out-stretching arms Yet bald with Winter-blast and Rime yet gray Now put on green against a Summers day Goes it through smiling fields or ambient airs Beasts joy in frisks of birds in Notes appears â—f on the strand the fish that scaled be Bubble in streams and dance upon the Sea Salute's it man what wonders works it then â—f pensive he it comforts him again Refines his mind if he is swain-like â—oul'd Makes him if dull his sluggish arms unfold â—f bred a Clown in Courtship smooth him skills Or else if mute in him swift speech 〈◊〉 There needs no more Thus when possesâ— with Love Our time we spend our joys thus soar above Their usual strain and then each youthful Male All means assays how he may oft prevail To gratifie his flames how here and there He in his toyls a beauty may ensnare Auspicious youth how singular's thy hap Whom Love with liberal hands flings in thy lap Her balmy pleasures thou who ne'er hast been Afflicted for her or yet sighing seen When Midianites thee of thy Brethren bought And in our Memphian Egypt thou wast brought â—rom that time I was made thy Regent Dame And mighty Potiphar thy Lord became A man enslav'd to splendid Court-affairs And wholly bent to mount on Honours stairs A head for great attempts of restless kind Who for the world nor body spares nor mind Before the morning-blush can night intrance And with unmuffling light in day advance Before the gray-brow'd dawn can early day Fore-run I grope but Potiphar's away Already clad he strikes him on a light In lucubrations spends that part of night And therein drown'd reads meditates and writes Till him to other things high day invites Then hastes to Court within those busie Halls Then walks where care to thoughts uncessant calls In Consults dwells until
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
with doubtful fears With dangers long with pains with Lovers tears Obtained at length and that by wondrous hap That of its self now tumbles in thy lap Sues for thy favour prest with restless fires Sports with thy Net and to be caught desires Hangs on thy Neck to thee flings up that dore Through which our youth have sought to go before That craves thy aid towards thee lo that wings Offers itself about thee gently clings Not to become thy Wife but Love invites Not unto Wedlocks yoak but lusts delights Needs must thou be a stock devoyd of pleasure Empty of every amiable treasure Nay humane sense and sure if so must then Deserve exile from reasonable men If thy own happiness thou wilt forsake Nor wilt of these my choice delights partake Needs must thou be some stone some sapless leaf Froward as seas or than their banks more deaf Than Tops more whimsical than hoary Ice More nipping cold and more than fools unwise â—ut no it cannot be I shall prevail Nor longer thus my grief in vain bewail Whom do not courteous smiles move inwardly What heart can stand before a woeing eye What inclination is so strangely nice Whom ruby lips should not to kiss entice With whom don 't mirth prevail smooth-fac'd delight Whom tempt not dainties bless'd with appetite Who if to him I say Thee 't is I chuse So kind a Love yet basely can refuse Who can those arms wherein he 's straitly clasp'd As like the Oak with clustering joy grasp'd Break loose with unkind force Who can refuse A beauteous Female for his Love that sues Well I have done what 's said shall now suffice And sure enough is said to make thee wise Lo for a while thy sight I will suspend But instantly to come again intend Be no more fond thy self that while advise To take good warning to beware be wise I leave thee thy own judge thou from thy choice Thy self may'st sentence with unerring voice Exit JOSEPH alone DEar Soul awaken thou 't become the game Against thy life is now this womans aim Swell'd with revenge By her fierce looks appear And wild behaviour what thou hast to fear She now her utmost valency assays To fright thee from all chast and pious ways To cool thy zeal for which she doth produce What to her Cause may seeming strength infuse Thee sometimes fain she would with lust possess Deny'd her note then doth in threatnings dress One while with flatt'ry stroaks then with constraint Cruelly chaâ—es alas who can 〈…〉 â—n such uncertain conflicts and so strong Where from our self proceeds our greatest wrong With what a shew of reason does she dress Her lustful Cause nor equitable less Does she in her unjustest force appear â—f we observe her with a carnal ear Alas how Piety is still opprest And innocency of right dispossest The way we walk most slippery is found Where a small trip deprones us on the ground â—ow am I baffled with uncertain things My heart if crost sinks low if prosperous wings Above aspiring Hermon more indeed That bears than can from humane strength proceed This lustful Eve to me her fruit commends â—nd with fair signs my observation bends To guess the taste whilst I its beauty view â—ut 'tis sure death if I her end pursue â—nd yet my flesh this danger will not see â—hough in the taste I know a death to be â—ur Father Adam so his wife believ'd â—efore his God and his dear Soul bereav'd Of all its bliss Ah! by his strength if he â—hough perfect could not stand how then shall we â—he Off-spring of his Fall in wavering ways â—hat are but constant toss'd in evil days â—he world's a Sea our strong Desires the Winds â—he Ship our Flesh the swelling sails our minds 〈◊〉 left we drive and when in straits we fall 〈◊〉 do we then find Ankors help at all â—hen mighty waves advance then sail our minds 〈◊〉 yet behold more tempests fiercer winds We whilst we rest pursue but toyl acquire And what should quench our griefs but feeds their 〈◊〉 When my fierce thirst to cool I do intend Enraged fires then lo my inwards rend My carnal gust in that great sweet doth find Which yet as Wormwood tasts unto my mind The vulgar tale if true my case then seems Like theirs on bed big with nocturnal dreams Who are with Night-mares as with charms opprest And then it seems a Rock is on their breast In which sad case their spirits a cold sweat Possess who labour from this load to get They cry unheard nor stir for fear yet shake Till they again become as when awake Or I am like one who through surges breaks And him t' a ship in lifes distress betakes Where whilst for help his hands upheaved be Lo by the Current he 's compell'd to sea Yet now methinks I'm like Rebecca more When she fierce Esau and my Father bore Where by two different natures of this pair She was of tumults in her womb aware Ay me what strong commotions what a fray Afflicts my mind I feel the thing I say But what 's more strange of one behold now two Mortally bent each other to subdue This is the fruit of Soul-beguiling sin I fear not forrain but strong powers within My bosome breeds the jar the field 's my heart Where two in battle each the other thwart To hate sins ways the Law instructs my mind Yet in my members sin possest I find I in the spirit upright paths would tread But by the flesh in ways perverse am led â— am in health and sick safe and forlorn â— live and dye am buried and new-born â—y zeal is hot sometimes than frost more â—old Now I 'm afraid and then again as â—old â— burn and freeze am blith and sad of mind I stand and down I fall I loose and find Provok'd by youth that which fond youth doth please I love yet contrite tears produce my ease What man yet ever of such wonders read My health is by perpetual sickness 〈◊〉 I'm chas'd though I pursue scourg'd though I strike Even my own affections I dislike I 'm my own slave yet my own self I fear What works my grief eftsoonâ— I count most dear â—y these mixt thoughts I 'm driven to and fro Sometimes I 'm tost on high then plung'd as low Alternately thus they disturb my rest Whilst one commends what t'other did detest Alas what benefits a bolted dore Since that 's within which is my greatest sore Whilst above earth sometimes I mount on wing My gross desires me down amain do bring Now I 'm refresh'd then with my tears agreed Now retrograde I fly then on proceed Now joys I feel then grief my joys offend Now towards Heaven then towards Hell I bend Now I 'm a Prince then nothing straight at all Now strong I stand then beneath thoughts I fall Now am I yea then no a storm then still Now ebb then flood nor know I mine own will Ah
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