Riotous appears In Words Deeds nor Intent And yet they 'l boldly swear the same So wickedly they 're bent But certainly the time 's at hand God will his Children dear That serve him uprightly in Truth From all false Charges clear And they that wrongfully accuse And hate them without cause Shall bear his Righteous Judgment fierce And Rigour of his Laws Who Rigorous to his Lambs have been Severe beyond all Reason Conspirators against the Lamb And guilty of High-Treason They at his Bar of Justice then Arraigned all shall be And sentence from the Judge receive For their Iniquitie Depart from me ye Workers of Iniquity and Sin Unto the place prepar'd of old Tophet 't is call'd wherein The Worm ne're dyes and Fire burns Exceeding hot and fierce A flame of Brimstone kindleth it Where Piles of Wood's not scarce In Everlasting Torments they Their Teeth shall gnash with Pain In Chains of Darkness they 'l be bound Not to be free'd again Therefore to those that persecute The Righteous and the Just I say Repent before God say Depart from me ye Curst For if Repentauce ye don t know And from these Evils cease Then into Thraldom must you go Ne're more to have release And what you have to good Men done And that without just cause The same to you shall measurâ—d be By those contemn your Laws Oh! that my Native Country-men And Subjects of this Realm To Moderation might incline And those set at the Helm The Cry of the Oppressed and The Case of all the Poor Would hear and those in Goals now lie To Freedom would restore And grant to all the Israelites Free leave to serve the Lord And go to New-Ierusal'm to Praise him with one accord Then Blessings from above will come Upon this Nation great The Nations round about shall all Not only hear but see 't When Truth and Righteousness prevails Iustice and Iudgment to The want of which where-e're it be That Nation will undo Where Iudges for Rewards do judge More then the Case o' th' Poor The Righteous Judge of Heav'n and Earth Will judge with Vengeance sore Where Priests that preach are Hirelings found And tear the Wool from Sheep They Shepherds are void of Gods fear Not fit his his flock to keep And God whose Eye goes to and fro And all things doth behold His Controversie with them 's great As Prophets said of old That Light is come and now doth shine False Teachers doth discover And It must break forth more and more And spread all Nations over For to discover Babylon And all her Merchants great That so the Whore may reign no more But come down from her Seat She long has sate and reign'd as Queen No Sorrow she would see But now the time 's at hand in which Will come her Destinie She long the Blood of Saints hath drunk ' Cause from Truth they 'd not turn But now the Kings shall hate the Whore Her flesh with Fire burn B. A. A Tripple Plea Law Physick and Divinitie Were at a jarr could not agree To prove their Right which of all three Should have Superioritie The Law pleads It preserves Mens Lands And keeps their Goods from Ravenous Hands Therefore of Right challengeth he To have Superioritie Physick prescribes Receipts for Health Which men prefer before their Wealth Therefore of Right challengeth he To have Superioritie Then steps up the Priest demure That of mens Souls takes Care and Cure Therefore of Right challengeth he To have Superioritie LEt Judges judge this Tripple-Plea Then Lawyers shall bear all the Sway. Let Empiricks their Verdict give Physitians most of all shall thrive Let Bishops be Judge in this case Then Priests shall have the highest place Let Honest Sober Wise Men judge Then all these three away may trudge For let men live in Peace and Love The Lawyers Tricks they need not prove Let men forbear Excess and Riot They need not live by Physicks Diet. Let men attend what God doth Teach They need not care what Priest doth Preach But if men Fools and Knaves will be They shall be Ass-rid of all Three T. C. THe Day of God doth now draw nigh From which the Wicked fain would fly Which Day discovers all their Deeds And plainly shews they are but Weeds And fit for nothing but the Fire And to be burned in Gods Ire Who now will throughly purge his Floore And save the Wheat for evermore Christ is the Door he is the Way Where all should walk where none can stray Turn in thy mind without delay That thou mayst joy in Gods pure Day To God Most-high Antient of Dayes My Soul aloud doth sound forth Praise This is the thirsting of my Heart That God his Love would more impart My Soul doth magnifie the God of Light For my Redemption great out of the Night Blessing and Praise to him for evermore Who hath inricht me with his heavenly store And gave me Entrance in by Christ the Door To dwell with him now and for evermore Glory and Praise be unto God I say Who brought me from the Night into the Day HOw fresh and green Things are in time of Spring How sweetly then the Turtle Dove doth Sing A heavenly Song of Praises pure I hear The time of my Redemption now draws near Praises pure Praises unto God forever Who by his Word my Soul from Sin doth sever And fit the same to enjoy endless Life By perfect Freedom from all Iars and Strife To live in Peace and in a joyful state With Christ my Head my Portion and my Mate Now I no longer in the World may dwell To me to live therein seems like to Hell The Course of the whole World which lies in Sin Too much therein I heretofore have bin But now my Life it stands in God most pure And here O Lord let me for a'ye indure And when that Satan did draw out my Mind I oft did in me hear a Voice behind Which said to me keep to the Good within For by It thou mayst be preserv'd from Sin Keep to its Teachings and mark the effect For by Its Power All Sin thou mayst reject Of this thou need in no wise for to doubt For by Its Power the Devils are cast out And that State known that 's always pure and clean Wherein no Spot nor Wrinkle can be seen And here the Soul may now for a'ye Rejoyce And Praise the Lord with a pure holy Voice The Lord hath often knocked in my Breast That my Immortal Soul might have its Rest And be Redeem'd from all that hath opprest To have my Life in Freedom which is best And so know Death through Life destroyed quite And Mortal cloathed with Immortal Light THe Day of God most holy is and pure Which Day and Light the Sinner can't endure He hates the Light appearing in his Heart Because the coming of it is his smart For as an Oven it will fiercely burn All that is bad and to Truth will not turn Yea all that is in Man it now will try And all that is Impure must surely dye And be consum'd as with a burning Fire And be destroyed in Gods dreadful Ire So only that which can the Fire endure Shall stand and so come forth holy and pure And shall be crowned with a Crown of Life Prepared as a Bride and the Lamb's Wife Therefore ye Sinners hear lest that ye dye The Voice of Christ Gods Son with him comply Who is the Saviour great and kiss him straite And to him bow before it be too late And take his Counsel for I plainly tell Those that reject the same go down to Hell Therefore with speed come turn your Minds within Obey that Voice which doth reprove for Sin And say This is the Way come walk in it That you with me upon my Throne may sit Go not therefore in Ways and Works of Evil No longer live in Sin and serve the Devil But follow me in those Ways that are Pure For dark and sinfnl Ways I can't endure My Soul in all respects doth loathe the same Those walk therein dishonour Gods pure Name My Counsel heed and do not run before Incline not to the Spirit of the Whore Her Cup of Wine is Fornication great Vials of Wrath shall come upon her Seat THe Lord doth feed his Flock and give them Rest In pleasant Pastures where they richly feast And drink of Shiloes Brooks that run so clear For they only the living God do fear They hear his Voice and do his Will aright In Holy things their Souls have great delight But this unto the Sinner seemeth strange Whose great delight in Darkness is to range And rove about and from the good to raven Walking in sinful Ways yet hope for Heaven 'T is a false Hope the Hope o' th' Hypocrite It leads not out of Darkness into Light Therefore that Hope I say trust to no more But come to Christ within the Hope the Door Come from that place where Satan has his station Enter the Kingdom through great Tribulation For all that will live godly in Christ they Shall meet with Persecution in their Way But God preserves the Humble and the Meek The Proud and Persecutors Head he 'l break Therefore thy Neck subject unto Christ's Yoke Fear not thy Bands though strong shall all be broke His Yoke is easie Burden light and shall Give to thee Rest and bring out of the Fall Into that Way which narrow is and straite Bow to his Yoke before it be too late J. C. THE END Page 9. line 8. read look not thou thereon l. 16. r leasure p. 10. l. 9. dele who l. 24 for placed r. plac'd p. 14. l. 23. f. doth r. do p. 16. l. 26. r. like to a post
maintain Nothing more plain is writ in Letters Red Than Antichrist where they mens Blood do shed About Religion and Religions things This is a truth Conviction with it brings To all that sober serious moderate are It is an Argument great weight will beare For Christ commanded that the Wheat and Care Should grow together till the Harvest were The Tares to be pluckt up he gave no leave Lest that thereby the Wheat should hurt receive He also told to his Disciples all When that from Heaven they would Fire call They did not know nor understand aright What spirit they were of for his delight Was Mens Lives for to save and not to kill For this end did he come to do Gods will He also said when that you Cursed are Then you should Bless when Persecuted bear It patiently and Pray for Enemies Do Good to those that hate you none despise Because they are not now just as you are The time may come they may Gods Image bear Though now Adverse Idolatrous and Vain The time may come they Mercy may obtain If now their Way be False Erroneous and Not Right in time they Truth may understand The best way then is still to let them live And let your Light so shine as it may give A better Understanding that they may Receive the Truth and walk in the Right Way After this manner Christ his Scholars taught And those ' teach otherwise their Doctrine's naught They ne'er did learn it of the Light the Lamb. For Persecution from the Devil came 'T is he that sets men to this Work and they Shall of him have their Wages and their Pay Therefore let none that this bad Work attend Expect Good Wages in their latter end Their Work is bad and their Reward will be Gnashing of Teeth to all Eternitie Thus much concerning Persecution here A thing from which all Christians should keep clear LOrd God Eternal by thy mighty Power Preserve I pray thee in the approaching hour Thy Lambs thy Babes thy little Ones yea all Who in Thee trust and on thy Name do call Support them Lord by thine Out-stretched Hand And give them boldness valinntly to stand True Witnesses for thee thy Truth and Light And bear their Testimony in despite Of Wicked Men who wilfully oppose That saving Light their deeds of Darkness shows ' Gainst their false Worships and Idolatry Which holds the Seed in sore Captivity That so the Righteous Seed o're all may rise To praise thy holy Name thou only Wise To whom be Glory Honour and Renown Who only worthy art to wear the Crown Concerning the Philosophers Stone BLest is that man can want and can abound And rest Content in all states he hath found That precious Pearl much hidden and unknown Which may be term'd the Philosophers Stone For it turns all to Good the chiefest Gold What-e'er it haps on either Heat or Cold Sun-shine or Rain Riches or Poverty Stripes or Reproaches all things well comply And with this Stone so joyntly mix and change Its course most swift throughout the World doth range And by its sublime Vertue still convert All things to Riches and great Joy of Heart Press forwards Chymists and this Stone attain For 't is the Sumnum Bonum and the main Point of Religion and Divinity Thus in Gods hand in true Content to lie And at the ordering of his mighty Power With true submissiveness even every hour In still and quiet Resignation stand To his disposing Providential hand Concerning Covetousness THere is a Sin too much liv'd in It many Cloakes doth wear These Cloakes much us'd and much abus'd Are almost grown Threed bare The Rich Men yet these Cloakes will get And wear them frequently As if so be no one could see What under them doth lie Alas Alas these Cloakes may pass Avarice to cover Yet all won't do to tell them true Though wrapt over and over This Sin which hath so many Cloakes Is named Covetousness Here ye may see Idolatry In some great things profess Although this sin so much liv'd in Be meer Idolatry Say what one will they 'l live in 't still 'T is Truth none can deny Concerning Pride Avarice and Luxury PRide Avarice and Luxury these three Are Evils great avoided for to be By all who Christ profess and bare his Name His Life and Doctrine did condemn the same Pride was the Evil which did first prevail Mis'ry on all through Adam to entail Pride and Self-love desires to grow so great Persues and craves to know what is not meet And when obtain'd it works a strange exchange Drives out from Paradise on Earth to range So Pride before Destruction goes and all That are of Haughty minds must have a fall Proud man God did resist and doth so still But doth the Humble teach to do his Will His Will then done Man does enjoy Gods Peace Rests in his Sabbath and from Sin doth cease Avarice is an Evil great indeed Because from it all Evils do proceed A Root of Mischief 't is Idolatry A Sin from which we all should swiftly fly But having touch'd on this great Sin before The less need say and so now pass it o're Luxury next is that of which I write An Evil great to indulge th' Appetite 'T is an Excess of Pleafure and Self-ease With Christian moderation ne're agrees To say What shall we eat or drink or weare It was the Gentiles for those things took care But Christ to his Disciples thus did say Take ye not thought he shew'd another way First seek Gods Kingdom and his Righteousness All other things the Lord will add and bless By which those that Luxuriously did feed And drink excessive are reprov'd indeed Indeed the same severe Reproof doth merit For those it use strange Mischiefs shall inherit Not only to their Bodies and Estates But on their Souls brings burdens and great weights Impareth Health it shortens Life and still Unfits the mind to do Gods holy Will And those in Luxury and Self-ease dwell Forget God so must be turn'd into Hell There 's One thing more to you I now may name Apparels first ordained to hide mans shame And why of these should man be proud I pray And for what reason should they be so gay Since the first Coat which Adam wore was spun By Sin a Threed and Work hath all undone Why then should Man use so much Cost and Care His Lapse to show thus trim the Badge to wear As if to all he meets he would impart His Innocency lost and Pride of 's Heart Well this I say Pride Avarice and all Luxurious ways sprung up through Adam's Fall And as Man comes to be Restor'd again By Christ these Sins are mortifi'd and slain But those live in such Evils and Excess Be no good Christians what e're they profess TEMPERANCE is a Vertue choice and rare This Age these Trees are scarce such Fruit doth bear This is an Age Intemperance and Sin Too much in Fashion is
Master walking thus did hear him cry And to him call'd Friend why dost Adam blame O Sir said he I need not tell the same 'T is full well known how I by Adam's fall Not only I but We his Off-spring all As he himself with sweat o' th' Face i' th' Dust Must work since he from Paradise was thrust Had He not sin'd we 'd not subjected bin Think I to work i' th' Earth But for his Sin God sent him forth to Till the Earth He came From it and to 't he must return again Thou Adam blames but how if in his stead Thou wert then thou wouldst do just as he did For this observe these Words I speak to thee Cast down thy Spade leave Work and follow me If my Command and Precept thouâ—lt obey Two strokes of Work thou shalt not do all day But live at ease and from thy Labour cease Taking thy Rest in Safety and in Peace If this my one Command thou keep 't is small Thou shalt not want for any thing but all Thou canst desire to thee I 'le freely give And thou as 't were in Paradise shalt live Thou at my Table shalt set down to Meat And eke Diurnal of my Banquets eat Of Dishes rare of every Mess but one Which shall be cover'd look not thereon I mean not that thou may not see th' out-side But don't uncover't in thy place abide Lust not to know what 't is but do refrain From touching it if I thee entertain Then if thou dost this one Command obey And keep my Precept thou shalt with me stay Living at Ease with Comfort Joy and Pleasure Rise when thou wilt and lie down at thy pleasure Touch not the Mess the Dish uncover not But let it stand alway clos'd up and shut So whilst thou dost this my Command obey Within my House thou may'st be sure to stay But if my Precept thou do not observe But disobey and from my Counsel swerve Then of my Dainties rare thou mayst not feed But from my House shalt be expel'd indeed So for some time this Poor Man he remain'd Within the House being bravely entertain'd For he had all his Heart could well desire Food in due season when cold a good Fire If weary then a Bed his Bones to rest Surely thinks he now I am greatly blest But on a time when he to Dinner went Sate down at Table none being there present Then in his mind it secretly did spring This is the time to see what 's in this thing So up he starts the Dish uncovers then Out leaps a Mouse away it runs and when He sees this Mess no other Rarity had Forbidden Fruit to take doth make him sad In comes his Master who brought him to his House What now saith he Why sad Hast seen the Mouse Yea quoth the Man I in the Dish did peep And suddainly a Mouse there out did leap So says his Lord Now see leave off for shame No more blame Adam Self's only to blame When Adam sin'd from Paradise he went So hast thou now broke my Commandment And from my House and Table thou must go Because what in the Dish was thou wouldst know Couldst thou have been contented in thy place Thou happy wert but now art in disgrace And to thy Work iâ—th ' Ground with sweat o' th' Brow Return again thy Mind to digging bow And learn for time to come content to be When placed where thou mayst live so happily And learn for time to come not Adam blame But Self Self do Self have 't is still the same If this be so although the case was sad Yet 't was no more than his Desert he had TEach me O Lord thy Fear which will begin Wisdom in me and lead me from my Sin Teach me O Lord thy Truth and I thy Fame Will spread abroad trusting in th' holy Name Teach me O Lord of One Accord to be And of One mind with Those that Trust in Thee Teach me O Lord that I acquainted may Be with the Children of the Light and Day Teach me O Lord by thine Admonishment In all estates fully to be Content Teach me O Lord for to rehearse thy Acts And let my Hands commit no Bloody Facts Teach me O Lord according to thy Will To ask in Faith that thou my Heart may fill Teach me O Lord my Wayes for to amend And grant I may to Idols never bend Teach me O Lord when Vain Thoughts do arise I Christlan-like by Prayer them surprise Teach me O Lord by thy Eternal Might Against thy Foes couragiously to fight Teach me O Lord that I may never Mock At Sin as Fools nor be a Laughing-stock Teach me O Lord Offences for to take Yea ten times told rather than once one make Teach me O Lord as I desire of Thee To be forgiven to Forgive Injurie Teach me O Lord to slight all Earthly Toyes And let my Heart be fixt on Heavenly Ioyes Teach me O Lord a true account to give Even of my Stewardship whilst that I live Teach me O Lord that I my Sins to thee May all confess and by Christ be set free Teach me O Lord by Divine Inspiration To sound thy Praise amidst a Crooked Nation Teach me O Lord that what in Hand I take With Wisdom I accomplishment may make Teach me O Lord Ambitious Pride to shun That nought may be Mis-thought Mis-said Mis-done Some Breathings of Love which truly do move Vnto such that do Wisdom desire Declaring the Way in which Wisdom may Be found of those for her enquire WHo seeks for Wisdom and would Virtue find A secret Treasure and a quiet Mind A fruitful City and a pleasant Hill Whose glorious Prospect Sharon's Rose doth fill Dropping down Virtues Distillations sweet Cooling the Sons of Zions ardent heat Whose strong Desires as lively Sparks aspire Still upwards as doth naturally the Fire It s Scituation towards the East doth stand Or rising of the Sun its Soil or Land It s Fâ—rtile Pleasant Amiable and Faire Which Bâ—shans Oaks and Lebanon's Cedars bare With all the stately Trees o th Forrest and The choicest Garden Spices in this Land Do grow as Myrrh Spiknâ—rd and Cinamon With Trees of Mence Calamus and Saffron A goodly Place 't is pleasant to the Eyes A Place to be desir'd where dwell the Mise And Prudent Minds who value Vertue more Than precious Stones or Gold within the Ore Because compar'd unto Her all things are But Dross and Dung A Spotless Virgin faire In whose Right-hand is Time with length of Dayes Her Left-hand Honour Riches all her Wayes Are Paths of perfect Peace and Pleasantness With her's great Treasure Joy She doth possess A Crown Immortal on her Head she wears Deckt with bright Diamonds like to glittering Stars Her Tyer is rich her Necklace of pure Gold Her Bracelets fill'd with precious Pearls ne'er told For number numberless innumerable Unto all Vertuous Minds most delectable This is that Queen of Wisdom who her finds A
greater Treasure hath than all Earth's Mines Of Gold and Silver For shee 'l guide thy Way From Darkness gross unto Light 's perfect Day Who doth her seek assuredly may find Her in the Closet of an Humble Mind In which she dwells darting her Beams of Light Into the Heart that she discover might The crooked Paths and sinful Wayes wherein The simple Soul a Captive long hath bin To free the Soul that if it will it may Refuse Night Darkness and embrace Light 's Day O! then come all who Wisdom doth desire And thus as once I did for her enquire Who sought not long for her but she reveal'd Her dwelling in my Heart had been conceal'd To Wisdom I my Mind will bend And Understanding she will send To me for on her I 'le depend And she alone shall be my Joy I 'le seek for her and she will be A Guide delightful unto me Walking i' th Paths of Equitie With her alone will I rejoyce Where e're I do her Works espye They are delightful to mine Eye For she 's of Assiduity With those that on her do depend She 's better than the Silver fine And Richer than the Golden Mine As bright as Sol himself doth shine With her dwells Immortality I 'le prize her more than Gold most pure And on her would be fixed sure For she 's a Rock that will endure And conversant with Elohim She 's Comly Beautiful and Faire All precious Pearls cannot compare To her a Tree of Life so rare And she alone will I exalt THus seeking Wisdom Wisdom as a Light Within my Heart appear'd most glorious bright Like to the splendor of the glorious Sun Expelling Clouds and causing Mists to run Like scorched Scrowls and vanish quite away That Truth and Righteousness might now display Its self and put forth Fruits o' th' heavenly Vine Against the which the Esaubites combine But let them know their Combinations are To Samson's strength no better than a Hair The Stone cut out of the Mountain without Hands Must now increase and greatly fill our Lands Assuredly on whom this Stone doth fall It s ponderous weight to Powder grind them shall But they are happy Fall upon this Stone Whose Hearts are broke with true Contrition They shall be mollified with holy Oyle And by the Lamb's Blood cleans'd from Filth and Soyle That they as Virgins pure array'd in White Prepar'd may be to walk in Wisdom's Light Which shineth in their Hearts who It obey Even more and more unto the perfect Day Yea Wisdom cryes without her Voice i' th' Street She utters loud the Simple for to meet And turn them from that Way to Death doth lead Wherein like to Post they haste with speed Calling amongst the press of all desiring And thronged croud of Thoughts that We retiring May seek for Wisdom O! ye Fools saith she Why will ye dye Return return to me That I my Mind may pour out to yon and May give you Knowledge for to understand Dark Words and prudent Sayings of the Wise With Parables in Wisdom to surmise And recreate your selves with Solace sweet That to embrace her in your Hearts you meet Then keep her and to you she 'l be a Guide Receive her in your Hearts and she 'l abide And to your Souls with Knowledge bring delight And cause you through her Counsel walk upright O! seek her early while she may be found She oft Instruction with Reproof doth sound To those her seeks that they may understand The Fear of God is the Beginning and First Gate of Entrance to that City where None but the Sons of Vertue do appear Who sought for Wisdom more then Gold refin'd And till they found her could not rest in mind But rove from Hills to barren Mountains where Like scattered Sheep amongst the Wolves they were Grievously bitten pritcht and torn with Thorns Yea often pushâ— with Bashan's Bulls Brass-Horns Till almost tyr'd yet at last did appear Where think you even in their Hearts most near The proper Habitation of her Rest That those who seek may of her be possest Who so doth find her hold her fast be sure Fot she 's a Rock that will for e're endure A hiding Place a Covert and strong Tower Whereto the Righteous run God's Arm of Power His Word by which all things created were That in the Heavens Earth Sea and Land are A Queen before the Depths with Honour crown'd And Virgin fair for Beauty most renown'd He that approach into her presence will Must Self-deny Self-mortifie and kill And enter with the patient Crown of Job And she will cloath thee with a princely Robe Wouldst thou her blessed Company enjoy Then bid adue to all Lusts base annoy If thou desirest to have her for thy Friend With Peace towards all what may be thy Mind bend For where is Peace there Wisdom may be found But where is Strife can any thing be sound She is a Virgin of more purer Eyes Than to behold Sin 's base Deformities She is a precious Pearl and valued high Come who can part with all thou may her buy Stay I 'm not bought with Money nay saith she Come buy come buy without Price I am free Come buy ye Milk and Honey is My Call Come buy without Price 't is free for you all Why spend you Labour for that is not Food And Strength for that which will not do you good Awake awake 't is high time ope ' your Eyes Obey Christ's Voice let Wisdom's Light arise Within your Hearts that checks for Evil and Be sure Obedience yield to Its Command That as a Sword and Hammer by great Power It may smite down and as a Fire devour The Stubble for I know the Lord demands The Fruits of Righteousness at all your hands You great Professors that long time have been Talking of Righteousness but found in Sin And you who to God's Light and Truth confess Have felt its Virtue yet do not posses It in you I a word of Exhortation Unto you give make you the Application Consider First why God discovers Sin The strait Gate and broad VVay the VVorld walks in Vain Customs Pride Hypocrisie Deceit Truth Righteousness and sound VVords these more meet Are your Profession to accompany Yea perfect Fruits of true Christianity As those who in the Life of Christ do dwell Experimentally to you can tell Are not these things thus laid before your Eyes That you the best may chuse the worst despise And now a word to you that hate the Light And to Gods gracious Spirit do despite ' Counting that an Unholy thing and Low A Natural Light which doth to all men show Their secret Sins a Common Grace whereby There 's no Salvation thus you villifie Christs precious Blood that on the Cross was shed For your Redemption who through sins are dead Counting Gods only Son our Prince and King The Lamb Christ Jesus an Unholy thing Despising Gods Free Grace and tender Love That in your Hearts
from time to time hath strove Calling that Natural Light and Common Grace VVhich gives true Knowledge of God in the Face Of Jesus Christ Gods Covenant of Light Unto the Gentiles and his Arm of Might By which Salvation he doth work for all To th' ends o' th' Earth that on his Name do call But Lord who hath this our Report receiv'd And who hath in thy Christ the Light believ'd And to whom is thy powerful Arm made bare And Out-stretched Hand by which all Nations are Invited and allured by thy Love To taste o' th' Bread of Life comes from above And drink abundantly for now Christ says He that believes in Me though dead I 'le raise I am the Resurrection Life and Light Believe in me to Day before the Night Of Darkness nigh o're spread your Land wherein That Light once shin'd which manifested Sin And secretly reprov'd when none was nigh The Evil to discover or discry This was Gods Love and is his Grace to all Which ne'er consents to Evil but doth call From Sin to God from Darkness to Light clear Breaks down Partition Walls and so draws near To God and Christ by Love's strong tying Band Against the which the Gates of Hell can't stand Its Strength 's so great it Armies over-powers Its Scent more sweet than Garden spiced Bowers Its Nature such makes stoney Hearts to bleed Forgives its Foes its Enemies doth feed Seeks not Revenge but puts up Injuries Forgives and covers Faults and so discryes Its heavenly pure divine immortal Birth From that below born and brought forth i' th' Earth ARise O Lord in this the mighty Day Of thy great Power and richly do display Thy glorious Light and Truth abroad this Land That all both Old and Young may understand The Riches of thy matchless conquering Love Thou God of Glory who dost dwell above To whom on well tun'd Instruments let 's sing Praises and Honour Glory to our King Who Rules in Power on Earth and Reigns o're Hell And in the highest glorious Heaven doth dwell A Princely Tribe all Wisdom's Children are Deckt with a Crown Immortal which they wear A Precious Light in all Hearts doth arise Take heed thereto be sure all who be wise BElieve in Christ the Light who checks for Evil God's mighty Power in all to slay the Devil CAnst thou O man complain for want of Power When God's Love Light and Free Grace every hour DOth in thy Heart for Truth and Justice call That thou mayst be redeemed from the Fall EXamin well thy Heart and thou mayst see God's Love Light and Free Grace is great to thee FOr oftentimes a Light thou can't deny Within thine Heart doth Wickedness discry GReat is Its Power for this I right-well know Could Satan with Hell-Gates It overthrow HE would by no means suffer That to be Makes known his dark Deceit so perfectlie INnto that Light then let thy Mind return Which as consuming Fire all Dross will burn KEep low in It and It will purge thee so Thou shalt appear more White than driven Snow LIke one of Sion's Sons in Righteousness Whose Robes are Grace and Truth a comly Dress MInd mind that Light all who desire to be Freed from the Bondage of Iniquitie NO other Power but Christ Gods Sons of Love Can from the Bondage of Corruption move O! That mens Eyes were open'd to behold Gods Light and Love more worth than finest Gold PRepare your Hearts this Tydings to receive Great Joy and Gladness to all those believe QUake Quake ye Stout before this Light to stand Which is the Thunders of Gods great Command RAise up your Forts and let your Trench be cast Call all your strong prepare to War make haste SEt up your Standard and your Ensign show Sound Babel's Alarm and her Trumpet blow THis is the Day the Lord of Host will be A King in Zion and set Israel free UNto the Lord ye Lambs of Light sing Praise Now and forever bless his Name always WO to the stout and lofty Cedars tall Who hate the Light and slight Gods Mercies all YOu stubborn hearted Ones who still persist To smite the Harmless with a bloody Fist ZEalously will the Lord in flames of Fire Render you Vengeance in his dreadful Ire ADAM by Sin brought Death o're all Mankind B ut Christ is come to quicken Soul or Mind C AIN did his Righteous Brother Abel slay D estruction comes on all walk in his Way E VE she the subtll Serpent s Voice obey'd F orbidden Fruit did eat so was betray'd G OD curst the Serpent Dust must be his Meat H e on the same all dayes on 's Life must eat J OSEPH was by his Brethren sold away K indred unkind their Brother thus betray L ittle they dream'd when it they did effect M ight come the time to Io. they must subject N o other Project would these Men content O nly poor Ioseph from them must be sent P osted away into dark Aegypt's Land Q uite from his Country yet in this God's Hand R ight well is seen Poor Joseph he became S o great in Aegypt as to rule the same T his was his Portion he the Lord did fear U nto Temptation would not yield nor hear W hat did his Mistris unto him propose Y ou see deny'd the same and would not close Z ealously bent ' gainst Sin did her oppose To Out-side Professors YOu great Professors who possessors are Of earthly Riches but of heavenly bare Why do Ye thus for Husks and Shels contend Figures and Shadows which must have an end To Rich to Poor to Old to Young to all I sound Alarm and with loud Voice call Awake awake rouse up ye Slugs arise Shake off the Dust with Eye-salve ' noint your Eyes That you this great and glorious Day so nigh Approaching yea now Dawned may espy In which Gods Promises fulfilled are Of which the holy Prophets did declare How that i' th' latter Dayes the Lord would be A God to Iacob his Captivitie Return and eke Jerusal'ms Walls rebuild I' th' Cituation of a pleasant Field And that Mount Zion's holy Hill should be Above all Hills exalted in Glorie To which the Nations round about should flow And many People say Come let us go Unto the Mountain of the house o' th' Lord That he may teach us and with one accord We in his Wayes may walk From Zion shall The Law proceed and Gods Word unto all Within the New Jerusalem plain be heard That he may Reverenc'd be obey'd and fear'd Who shall judge Nations many he rebukes And makes them beat Spears into Pruning-Hooks And Swords to Plow-Shares Nations shall not learn To War nor lift up Hand to fight again The time draws near these things fulfilled must be And happy are they that these things shall see For Christ is come mens Lives not to destroy But them to Save and this is cause of Joy He is not come to Kill men but give Life And free from
that which is the cause of Strife That men may live in Vnity and Peace And Amity and Wars and Blood-shed cease A Time of Darkness o're this Land has bin So thick so dark so gross because of Sin That many People Truth will not receive That God is Light nor in his Son believe Although the Scriptures amply do declare That God and Christ the Name of Light do bare And first concerning God who all things made By his eternal powerful Word He said Let it be so and so it came to pass That all in Heaven and Earth created was This God is Light and in the Light doth dwell As doth the holy Scriptures plainly tell In many places you may plainly find Who read the Scriptures with an humble Mind And that his Son our Christ who is the Lamb Is call'd the Light who from God's Bosom came To lead Man up to God out of the Fall In which through Sin we are concluded all And so through Sin in Death and Darkness be Till by the Light of Christ we are set free Who came to lead all those that him obey Out of the Night into the perfect Day O blessed Day O glorious Day of Light Which conquers Darkness and expels the Night Blest be time in which thy Day-Star bright And Morning redness of Eternal Light Our Hearts did visit and by splendant Rayes Reveal the Glory of these latter Dayes In which the Lord of Host our God most-high According to his Promise doth draw nigh Unto his People and their King will be And by his powerful out-stretch'd Arm set free His Sons and Daughters who long Captives were Under oppressing Pharoah and did beare The heavy Yokes oppressing Burdens and Increasing Talks of black dark Egypt's Land Of Divine Love WHat shall I say of Love the chiefest Good 'T is Bread of Life the Soul 's Coelestial Food The blessed Mansion of Eternity The Residence and Dwelling of the high And lofty One the New-Ierus'lem bright Fill'd with that glorious Splendor and great Light Which doth the seven-fold Light o' th' Sun transcend Which Light transparent never shall have end O depth of Love and boundless Ocean wide Under the shadow of thy Wings us hide And keep us Lord in perfect Rest and Peace Shower down thy Mercies make all Discords cease Reveal thy Light thy glorious Truth make known And by thy conquering Love bind all in one That in a Oneness all may sing amain Iehovah-King on Earth in us doth Reign An Exhortation to dwell in Love DWell Friends in Love and then no Strife will be Nay nor Contention but a Unitie For Love in all things doth for Oneness call Thinking no Evil but pure good to all Yea Love is God and God is Love and Light Fulness of Pleasure Joy and great Delight Dwell ye therein and ye shall witness Friends Such sweet Enjoyments can't be writ by Pens For since the Lord in mercy hath made known This Dispensation of his Love and shown To me its Vertue and choice Nature pure To ye with boldness this I dare assure That Love 's the highest Dispensation yea That ever hath or will dispensed be Christ the true Light Christ the Son of God's Love DWell in the Light and there true Love will be Dwell in true Love and great Light ye shall see For in the Light there true Love doth abound And in the Love there true Light may be found For Light and Love though they seem two by Name Yet one in Substance and in truth the same DEar Friend J. C. with true unfeigned Love I thee salute which in my Heart doth move Towards thee and all our tender Friends most dear Whose Minds are staid on God in his pure fear Feel me dear Friend a Member joyntly knit To all in Christ in heavenly Places sit And here to Friends no Stranger would I be Though they my Face as outward ne're did see For truly Friend I dearly love and own All travelling Souls who truly sigh and groan For the Adoption which sets free from Sin And works Redemption from that state wherein The Prince o' th' Power of Darkness long did reign But blest be God the time 's at hand a Chain In utter Darkness must his Portion be There to be bound and never more set free O! all the Riches that are here below Pomp State and Glory man esteemeth so What is It all if I It once compare Unto a Child that doth Gods Image bare But Dross and Dung yea filthy Dirt and Mire To purest Gold refined in the Fire How can I then but dearly love and own Those precious Members which are Bone of Bone And prize their presence and enjoyment more Than Butts of Wine and Oyl and Barns of Store THe man that lives in Sin walks in the Night And spends his dayes in Darkness not in Light A righteous man his Works to Life do tend But wicked men their Minds to Strife do bend Avoid the Ways of Satan they 're not right But traoe the Steps o' th' Just which Shine as Light Comfort the Comfortless in time of need Distribute to the Poor and Hungry feed A Complaint against New-England Professors O Sad New-England I have heard strange News concerning Thee Why didst Thou thus abuse Gods Children dear Male and Female Surely Their Blood Thou Slew and Hang'd aloud doth cry Unto the Lord who will avenge the same Upon Thy Head A Record to thy shame A shameful thing indeed what shall I say You are the stock of Cain this was his way Your cruel Works Your hardned Hearts make known Your Babel great must to the Earth be thrown Your boastings high like Caparnaum tall Must all come down your Pride shall have a fall You that so cruel and merciless were The Vengeance of Almighty God must bear Concerning Persecution SInce Abel's time unto this present day There is an Evil that hath born great sway An Evil Great A Horrid and Black Sin Call'd Persecution All that walk therein What e're they say profess or do pretend By Persecution People to amend Yet none of them could ever make appear Co-ercive Means was a good Course to stere It ne're did Mend but rather always Mar Who e're harpt on that ftring still made a Iar IT is a hateful foul destructive thing To King nor People It ne're good can bring The Work and Fruit thereof as many write Nought else produceth but a Hypocrite I think it strange why some should pleasure take And Toil themselves but Hypocrites to make It is work that Marks all in it are With Mark and Badge of Satan which they weare The Mark o' th' Flesh and Birth that 's from below A Badge with which all Persecutors go For as it was so still it is I say The Fleshly Birth the Spirits Birth would slay Nothing more certain is the Mark and Seat O' th' wicked Whore than Persecution great Nothing the mark of the false Church more plain Than Reformation per force to
too much liv'd in An Age so strange in which some strangely deem None can be Loyal Temperance esteem Temperance seems as banish'd from our Land While Healths and Huzza's in repute do stand Temperance yet good Men will highly prize It always was much valu'd by the Wise Because it leads in Ways preserveth Health Ought more to be prefer'd than earthly Pelf The Contrary great Ill Convenience brings Most of Diseases from Intemperance springs Extreams Excess in Meat and Drink anoy They hurt the Mind and Body do destroy Therefore the best Advice that I can give Is Abstinence not too much to receive More are destroy'd by Superfluity And dye than those through Want and Penury Besides the Sin is great men can't enjoy Gods Mercies and his Blessings but destroy And spend the Creatures on their sinful Lust Offending God provoking of the Just To bring their Heads down low unto the Dust IF Health and Happiness thou wilt obtain From Costly Food Rich Dainties then refrain If Health and Happiness thou highly prise Not many Dishes use Two may suffise For many sorts of Food not well agrees Hinders Digestion and breeds Crudities The first Concoction then if not made well The next can't mend it as Physitians tell The meaner Food and simple Diet plain The Bodies health most bravely doth maintain An Healthful Body and a Quiet Mind Amongst the Epicures who can them find What Health or Strength or Peace or Quietness Can those enjoy live daily in Excess If happiness in Health a man may find Surely much happiness in clean Mind A Man whose Mind is Holy Humble Pure A Treasure hath that alwayes will endure God gives his Creatures unto Man to use But Gods good Creatures many do abuse And on their sinful Lusts do spend the same Him they dishonour and blaspheme his Name Concerning the Cross of Christ THe Cross of Christ the Power of God The Enmity doth slay And bring the Soul from Death to Life From Darkness to Lights Day The Cross of Christ the Power of God O're Hell Gates doth prevail Whoever in the same doth trust To help it ne're doth fail The Cross of Christ the Power of God To Iews a Stumbling-Block Unto Believers precious is Elect their only Rock The Cross of Christ the Power of God To Greecians Foolishness They after earthly Wisdom seek But Folly do posses He that doth not take up Christs Cross And bear it willingly Cannot be Christs Disciple till Hunself he doth deny The Cross of Christ preserves from Sin And all who with it dwell Are ransomed from Death and the Grave And all the Powers of Hell True Christians love the Cross of Christ And highly prize the same They greatly do rejoyce therein To suffer for Christs Name Concerning the Soul's Travait after the Knowledge of the Right Way THere was a time in days by past When in my tender Years I greatly cry'd unto the Lord To free me from my Fears My Fears and Doubts and Questionings Which greatly did attend Lest that I should miss of that Way Leads to an happy End That Way in which the Lord alone To serve I might be sure That Way in which he 's worshipped By such whose hearts are pure Who do the Face of God behold And see his Glory great This was the thing I more long'd for Then for my natural Meat Then as I cry'd and sought the Lord The Right Way for to know The Lord was pleas'd in his due time The same to me to show But whilst among the Watch-men of The Night I did enquire The Way and my Beloved seek Whom my Soul did desire I could not find the Way nor yet See my Belovod dear Till past blind Guides and Watch-men of The Night I was got clear One cry'd lo here and one lo there One that 's the Way one this So I still here was in great fear Lest Right Way I should miss For all their Sounds Vncertain were Their Trumpets did not blow So as to give a certain Sound And Right Way for to show For all their Sounds and Cryes and Calls Were unto things without Wherein no Certainty was found For to resolve my doubt Then I remembr'd Christ foretold When some lo here shall say And some lo there then go not forth After them in their Way For Heavens Kingdom is within And who the Way will find Which unto Rest and Peace doth lead Turn Inward must his mind For what is to be known of God Within is manifest And till the Mind be Inward turn'd None finds the way to Rest For till unto the Light within And gift of Gods Grace free The Mind and Heart of man be turn'd The Right Way he cannot see Therefore the great concern of all Who after God doth seek And long to know his Way and Truth Is to be low and meek For those who Meek and Humble are The Lord will teach his Ways And raise them up by his great Power For to shew forth his Praise And as the Lord in mercy did To me his Truth reveal So I will publish loud the same And not the Truth conceal Because I know the living God Would all the Truth should know And none perish for want thereof Nor to Destruction go For God that did all Nations make Of one Blood for to dwell Upon the face of the whole Earth Wills None should go to Hell He made not man to be destroy'd But for a better end Namely to serve and worship him And on him to depend The purpose of Almighty God Was man might glorifie And honour his Creator great To all Eternity And not live unto himself Nor Satan serve in Sin With Lust o' th' flesh or Lust o' th' eye Nor Pride of Life live in For Such things they are not of God But of the wicked World And all that from them ben't Redeem'd Must into th' Pit be hurl'd Now to the end that all Mankind Might answer Gods designe He his good Spirit freely gives And those to it incline Their Ears and hearken what it saith And do the same obey Be sure therein they cannot Err Nor miss Gods Perfect Way The Way of Light the Way wherein The just men all did go The Way of Life the Way of Truth The right Way all do know Who walk therein it is the Way That leads to Peace and Rest The Just Mans Path a shining Light All walk therein are blest This is the Path Avel trod in And Abraham also Our Fathers Isaat and Iacob In this same way did go It is a way the Vulters Eye Can't see no Ravenous Bea st Can tread or set a foot therein Nay nor no Hireling Priest It is a way for Ransom'd Ones From the Earth are Redeem'd Those walk therein are lov'd of God Though by men dis-esteem'd Blest be the time in which this way And day Light did appear Which leads to God out of all Sin And frees from slavish Fear And frees from Wrath and Vengeance sore For
Evil Deeds is due Which is the Portion o' th' Vnjust The Scriptures plainly shew Blest be the time in which this way And Truth and Light did shine To th' satisfaction of my Soul That for the same did pine I hungred after Bread of Life And â—â—â—â—ited for Drink sore That Bread and Drink which who receive Ne're hunger nor thirst more That is to say for other Food Or other Drink but still They daily pray unto the Lord Thereof to have their fill For they that hunger and do thirst For Righteousness most pure Are blest of God and shall receive Mercies that will endure And now the goodness of the Lord In making known his Way And gathering out of the by-paths Where many go astray And feeding of my hungry Soul With Bread and Peace and Rest Doth me constrain still to declare His Name forever blest Who has done more for my poor Soul Then I could ask or think 'T is said in times of Ignorance By past the Lord did wink But now the Lord to all men calls Repentance for to make And from their sinful ways return Or else go into th' Lake 'T is not he that Lord Lord shall say But he that doth Gods Will And through great Tribulations goes Shall stand on Zions Hill With Harps in hands singing aloud Praises to God most High Such they love not their Lives to Death But for the Truth can dye And those that can dye for the Truth And sor Truth lose their All They are the Sons of the most High And have obey'd his Call They are a chosen People and A Generation pure A Royal Priesthood unto God That shall for aye endure Concerning the breaking forth of the Word and Power of God WHen God appeared in his Power In his great Love and Light And to the Sons of men made bare His glorious Arm of Might When by his Word he brake their Hearts Which hardned were by Sin And clear'd their Understandings dark By Light shining within Then did they feel and see and know And understand aright That all the works which they had wrought Were but toiling i' th' Night Though they did read and pray and preach And frequently attend Duties and Exercise so call'd From Weeks end to Weeks end Yet being err'd in mind from that Which is the ground wherein All Sacrifice accepted is Which from the same doth spring To wit the Spirit of the Lord And gift of his free Grace Without the which none can approach To God nor see his Face What e're such said or thought or did It sinful was and vain Their Offerings did no more please God Than if a Dog were slain And when by Light and Truth and Grace These things were understood Then from Self-acting they did cease For that could do no good And into Silence they were brought On God alone to wait That in that Way they now might go Which Narrow is and Straight And in those pleasant Rivers swim Where no Galley with Oars Nor gallent Ship can pass thereby I' th' Channel nor near Shores Where Self no Reputation hath But Man's Will must be slain And all the Clory of proud flesh Into the Dust be lain Where all Flesh must be silenced And Death not dare to speak No Woman in Transgression here Nor Man i' th' Fall so weak But only they whose Hearts the Lord Prepares whose Tongues also The Lord hath touch't with a live Coal None else his Praise can show And till the Lord doth touch their Hearts And open their Mouthes wide In pure Retiredness they wait In silence they abide And when in silence they do wait And on the Lord attend To do what he commandeth them And go where he doth send They do not Speak until they feel His Word which is a Fire Within their Breast to burn as they To him their Minds retire Some then offended are hereat When they thus on God wait And say no Profit can be known In such a Silent state VVhat benefit can be say some VVhen none do Preach nor Pray But Dumb and Silent do remain It may be all the Day Thus they who call their Tongues their own Too much can Prate and Talk And gird themselves do as they list And where they please will walk But such as know the Lord to gird And lead them in that Way In which they would not go when they Formerly went astray They dare not Speak their own words then Their Tongues are not their own That Member so unruly was A Taming time has known Then as the work of God is wrought Upon the Heart within And Tongue is tam'd by that great Power Which frees the Soul from Sin Such they can open wide their Mouthes Gods VVorks for to declare And what they meet with for the same Inabled are to bear For they are past the Fear of man The Lord alone they fear And preach the Gospel 〈◊〉 that all The 〈◊〉 thereof may hear Inst ant in Season they are found And out of Season too Alway in readiness the VVill And Work of God to do And if by some they are for bid Thus to Preach in Christs Name More bold and more couragiously They do declare the Same The more the Truth opposed is The more the Truth doth thrive Like Camemile the more opprest The more it doth revive Truth may be blam'd cannot be shamed Truth stronger is than all And all that dwell therein shall stand When Babylon shall fall Mistery Babylon the great Mother of Harlots she Like to a Mill-stone shall be thrown And cast into the Sea Concerning Gods Powerful and Glorious Presence THe Presence of the Living God And working of his Power Doth rend the Rocks and scatter Clouds His Name is a strong Tower To which the Righteous fly apace And there in safety dwell It also precious Oyntment is The Virgins wise can tell The Presence of the Living God Is comfortable and Great Pleasures are forever more Enjoy'd at his Right-hand In his pure Presence there is Life And Peace and Joy and Rest And those that do not know the Same What they enjoy e'nt blest The Hills flow down the Mountains move The Earth doth reell and shake At the great Presence of the Lord Who all the World did make Therefore the Presence of the Lord From it where can man fly If he descend into the Deep Or mount up to the Sky Or do the Wings o' th' Morning take And to the Earth's end go The Presence of the Lord is there Man's Thoughts to him to show The Lord the mighty God of Hosts For so is call'd his Name Who did the Mountains form the Winds Create and all things frame The Upright in his Presence dwell And thanks to him do give For Mercies that from time to time From him they do receive But those that walk in sinful ways And in Uncleanness dwell Shall from the Presence of the Lord Be driven into Hell Concerning Maintenance for the Poor IN antient days as
we may read In Deutronomy plain The Lord ordained ways and means The Poor for to maintain Yea he took care and gave strict charge The Poor Reliev'd might be As also in Leviticus We may both read and see And in the Book of Samuell God made both Rich and Poor He lifteth up and bringeth low Let all his Power adore The Persons of the Princes great Accepteth not the Lord Nor more regards the Rich than Poor He made both by his Word The Rich who do the Poor despise And Needy Ones disdain The time will come that all their Wealth Can't free them from their Pain The expectation of the Poor Shall perish not nor fail Though Wicked men them persecute And in Pride them assail The Proud lay wait to catch the Poor Their Eyes are priv'ly set The Needy they seek to ensnare And take them in their Net But they are blest who do the Poor In their Distress consider And help the Needy in their straits Their Leaf shall not soon wither The Lord will certainly maintain The just Right of the Poor The Cause of the afflicted Ones For-a ye and evermore Although his Neighbours hate the Poor And Brethren him despise Much Food is in his tillage and A Blessing on it lies Whoever do the Poor Oppress And to them are unkind They do dishonour God them made I' th' Scripture we so find We also read that man is blest Hath a Bountiful Eye Because his Bread unto the Poor He gives when they do cry The Churle doth ill devices make For to destroy the Poor And them to slay with Lying words That they may rise no more The Person Vile no more shall be A Liveral man esteem'd Nor yet the Churle thought Bountiful It must not so be deem'd The Poor who walk in Uprightness And in Gods fear do dwell Are better than the Rich Perverse Whose ways lead down to Hell He that unto the Poor doth give Sha'nt lack in time of need But he that hides his Eyes shall have Many a Curse indeed Doth not the God of Heaven and Earth The Poor of this world chuse Doth not the Lord reject the Rich No kindness to them shews The Rich and Poor together meet The Lord them both did make And though the Rich regard them not God for them care will take Concerning the Vncertainty of Worldly Riches AS doth the Eagle soar aloft And towards the Heavens fly So Riches to themselves make Wings Gone from us by and by No Certainty nor Confidence A man can in them have His precious Soul they can't Redeem Nor Ransom from the Grave Those that them eagerly persue And to grow Rich make haste Do oft into great Michiefs fall And Heritage lay waste Therefore 't is good content to be With what the Lord doth give And whether thou be Rich or Poor Still in Gods Fear to live Mans Happiness and Life don't stand In his Abundance great Therefore let all contented be Not wanting Clothes and Meat For who so to Content is come A Creasure hath before That man whose Barnes are fill'd and throng'd So full they 'l hold no more The Cares and Riches of this World The good Seed oft doth choak When some grow Rich then they grow High And so casts off Christ's Yoak Therefore said Christ How hard it is For those have Riches store Into Gods Kingdom for to go More easie for the Poor How sorrowful it made th' Young Man Christ said lack'd One thing more Which was to Sell all that he had And give 't unto the Poor And thou in Heaven Rich shalt be And come and follow me But having great Possessions here How sorrowful was he More easie for a Camel 't is A Needles Eye go through Than for a rich man as saith Christ Gods Kingdom get into The Widdows Mites which she cast in The Creasury was more Than all the rest what they cast in Of their abundant store A Lamentation and Warning for England OH England England surely now Thy case is very sad When many in thy Borders are So wicked grown and bad That at good men they make a Scoff At Purity deride Disdain the name of Holiness Exalted in their Pride Contemn the Worship of the Lord In Spirit and in Truth This is a state to be lament In old men and in Youth Because of Oathes the Land doth Mourn Swearing is grown so great Daming and Sinking may be heard Too frequent in the Street Cursings Plague-rot and God-confound So commonly are used With Gluttony and Drunkenness Gods Mercies are abused Moreover and besides all this Wicked Informers are By some too much encouraged Christs flock to rend and tear Their Goods to Spoil Houses Rifle And them in Prison cast And go on still to work that ill Will Ruin bring at last But if these things encourag'd be And no stop put thereto The End will but Destruction bring And Nation quite undo For certainly the God of Truth That doth in Heaven dwell His great Displeasure will make known For such things I fore-tell But though to thee I tell the same Yet some will not regard But still will Mock at Warnings fair Their Hearts are grown so hard E're long the time will come in which A Reckoning God will make With them that do his People wrong And from them their Goods take 'T is not for Evil they have done But only and alone For worshipping and serving him Who is the Holy One Yea certainly the thing is strange Did you the like e're hear If one do either Preach or Pray He Fined is severe And if one neither Preach nor Pray But with Gods People meet Although in Silence they remain In Meeting-House or Street Then this is deem'd a Crime so great Some say they won't it bear And threaten if they stand i' th' Street A Riot they will swear They chuse not in the Street to stand But forced by Constraint Out of their hired Houses then To meet i' th' Streets are faint In Peace and Quietness they stand Upon the Lord to wait That so their Strength renew'd may be And bettered in their state For this they know their Duty is Assembled for to be And wait upon and Worship God In true Sinceritie And God the Searcher of all Hearts He their Intent doth know That for no other end they Meet And to Assemblies go They are a People principl'd Their Practice has made known No wrong to do nor seek revenge Good Will towards all they 've shown Their Principle and Practice is Superiors to Obey And do those things which they require Wherein God don't say Nay But if it happen to fall out Some things they have enjoyn'd The Lord contrary-wise requires I' th' Scriptures ye do find It better is God to Obey Than subiect be to Man To This all good Men do agree Let rest say what they can Their Meetings are Religious and Most Peaceable and Quiet And yet some Vile Ungodly Men Swears thus meeting a Riot Where nothing