stark naked to himself does seem Yet cloath'd with Righteousness in Gods esteem One of his worth and merit never brags But strips himself of his unrighteo us rags He makes himself as naked as was Job For Christ to cloath him with his righteous robe And thus you see the Christian man is one That would be righteous either all or none Although to this he has a willing heart He 's never righteous here but in part He on the one hand will himself deny Thereby his God the more to glorifie And on the other hand he will confess That Christ is all in all his righteousness One thinks him rich enough whilst he can plead His Saviours merits and that Christ was dead 1 The Christian his behaviour towards God The Christian man foresees it him be fit When God commands he should to God submiti Let God rebuke him then will he not faint Nor yet of his correction make complaint When vile temptations seek to do him wrong He sheilds himself with faith and so is strong He ever dreads he shall himself disgrace Thus to the Devil never will give place He Souldier like keep-Guard does watch pray In these is exercis'd both night and day Through Christ his merits still he recommends To God his Soul and God his Soul defends He alwayes trembles at the Almighties Rod Which makes him more religious towards God All his deportment does derive from grace Whose love and meekness mercy will embrace His duty towards God discern I can But what 's this Christians duty towards man 1 His deportment towards man His carriage towards man is just and true For he will render to all men their due He hates contention and the cause of strife Loves Peace and Friendship as he loves his life Of quietness he does so much approve He would have all things to be done in love He bears in mind no bitterness nor gall To none but pure affection towards all He is not willing Gods commands to break Therefore will use forbearance with the weak He honours others does himself debase Gives them the better keeps the worser place Of others sins by no means will partake But warily these and their guilt forsake And thus his carriage towards men you see In all respects is from offences free Yet some would know since that it may be known What 's his decorum to himself alone 1 His descency towards himself Truth to declare he does in very deed At all times to himself take care and heed Is alwayes sober and does duly watch That no temptations unawares him catch Since Christianiz'd he holds it fit that he His sins of Youth and Youthful lusts should flee Christ is his Captain Devils him despite With whom Faiths battel he 's ingag'd to fight Though Devils aim his strength and force to blast He questions not to overcome at last He 's found in Armour fears no stab nor scar During the manage of his holy War He knows this is well doing is not tir'd In hopes his warfare will be soon expir'd His youthfull Time he now seeks to redeem Which he found lost in his and Gods esteem With wickedness resolves he to contend Till God shall bring his life unto an end Which times he knows shall gain so great renown God will himself reward him with a Crown 2 His carriage towards the World His carriage to himself we saw would see What yet might to the world his carriage be Within the world he Circumspectly walks With whom herein converse's wisely talks He views the world which is by him forgot And seems to use it as if us'd it not Himself he fashions not nor will he frame Like to the world because he shun's the same Nor with the cares thereof will he like some That are unwise be likewise overcome Nor lay up treasure on the Earth where rust And moth corrupt mens riches unto dust Content he 's with the tallent God him gave For to maintain his life this side the grave He meddles with no business but his own For he would not a meddling Fool be known During his life in this world all his care Is how for life Eternal to prepare To God to Man himself the world thus I In brief have writ the Christians History Which may all ever practice till they die SUBJECT XI A Discovery of the Faithful and devout Christians Quality and Conversation A Christian by belief those things obtains Promis'd in Time and after Time remains DEad was this man that 's now alive His death from Adam did derive In Adams sin he lay as dead Till Christ awak'd his drowsy head No sooner did this man awake But presently he does forsake His bed of sin wherein he lay And to the Temple goes to pray 1 The Christian resembles the Publican The gesture of the Christian man Is like that of the Publican Who thinks himself to be so base Not worthy there of the worst place He villisies himself that he The chief of sinners thinks to be And seriously will it confess Christ is alone his Righteousness He 's meek in Spirit and is Poor Therefore will pray hard by the door T' approach the Altar fears affront Till he does pennance at the Font. There falling down upon his knee O Lord be merciful to me A sinner prayes 't is not deny'd And by this prayer is Justifi'd Now since his Maker made him just In his Redeemer put 's his trust To whom he bears an upright heart Till death his Soul and body part He 's now alive and dead to sin When the dull world lies dead therein But he while living lives to God And fears his wrath to shun his rod. 1 He will not bring forth Fruit to himself He 'l not be found that fruitless Elf Like many one lives to himself By him shall Christ be glorifi'd To him will live for whom he dy'd 2 He hath content in every state In every state to be content He learn'd all dangers to prevent The Christian can for truth relate He has content in every state 3 He has nothing yet possesses all things He nothing has yet does possess All things because Christs Righteousness And should he not possess the same He all things else would nothing name He seems to sorrow and to joy Enjoys both comfort and annoy He 's like a Ship by waves that 's tost Somtimes all his Intents are crost He 's oft cast down like one forgot And yet we find him Perish not Sometimes to fall God gives him scope To rise again by Faith and Hope Likewise he seems for to decay Yet is renew'd that very day So that no man on Earth can know The Christian's state by outward show He 's poor but rich can many make That of his Councel will partake Whose Treasure 's there where is his bliss In Heaven's Kingdom not in this One that 's in darkness to our sight But in this darkness find's
there is no mention made as when I leave this seruple to be Judg'd by men And will according to Gods word proceed To what he has Created or decreed Behold the formless Earth confus'd and void Its matter and formation now enjoy'd This time the darkness that did vail the face Of the great Abbisse found its proper place Which deep no doubt the waters were whereon Gods breathing Spirit had his motion His Spirit on these waters surface mov'd By which the watry Element was prov'd And made productive that therein might breed Those various Broods for aye should thence proceed This Element does not alone produce Supply for food but is it self of use To heal Diseases this will do beside Since by Gods Holy Spirit qualifi'd Note those effusions that from hence do flow And those extractions God gave men to know From Chimick misteries in things below But to return to what should follow next Let 's take a view of what lies in the Text 'T is not amiss to look a little back The Text implies of light there is a lack And God who did Eternally foresee The need of light commands that Lamp to be Who in this manner said let there be light And it appear'd in presence of his sight It seems that God no sooner this had said But lightimme diately his voice obey'd Such was the ruling power of his word That every thing could but obey the Lord And with his pleasure presently accord God saw the light that it was good and he From darkness made the light divined be Which light he called day it 's glorious sight Render'd the darkness to be named night By this time light and darkness both display The Evening and the Morn of the first day One act is acted God leaves this aside Nights Curtain draws the Terrene stage to hide A Scene of the Second Days Creation AGain God said whose pleasure did invent 'Twixt Heaven and Earth a fixed Firmament Amid'st the waters or betwixt them let The Firmament my word has fram'd be set And to regard command we find the skie Render submission to his potencie To shew subjection gains sublimity Thereby exalted unto that degree The highest thing that mortal eye can see Wich firmament created was apply'd The waters from the waters to divide That is by its attraction do's retain The Clouds sometimes permits them not to rain Upon these lower springs which would increase Our floods too great but as its greatness cease And thus we find the showers congeal'd to Snow Or unto Hail not long prevail below God having made this sirmamentall frame Above it waters were beneath the same Likewise were waters as God had decreed At the Creation and 't was so indeed The water that 's above the firmament Is mixt with fire sometimes in its descent When thus 't is seen the Heavens seem to shake Their voice of thunder makes the Earth to quake Till consternation mankind over take Thus Water seems for to wage war with Fire While trembling mortals at their sound admire The noise so loud as if design'd to rent In sunder the Caelestial Firmament Which firmament admits an other Name And that is Heaven thus God calls the same What I have said with Scriptures will accord Which Oracles most magnifie the Lord And thus I have endeavour'd to explain What on the Second day God did ordain Until the Evening from the Morning Tide Clos'd up the day and drew this Scene aside A Scene of the Third Days Creation NOw God was pleas'd who all things did design For his own Praise the waters to confine And gather these together to one place Which by appointment in a little space Effected was and at the Lords command Immediately appeared the dry Land To this dry Land God did ordain a Name The which is Earth from its Terrestial frame To th'gathering of the waters he did please As he knew fit to give the Name of Seas Which deluge rage his power did since appease So God himself saw that all this was good And pleased him as may be understood He gave command that Earth should bring forth grass At whose command the Earth brought it to pass All things obeying him who had decreed From evermore the Herb to yeild its seed The Fruit Tree to yeild Fruit each in his kind To the fulfilling of his will Inclin'd Whose Seeds in these remain and have their birth In them to propogate upon the Earth This barren Earth thus Fruitful now became Through their supply replenishing the same And since thus fertile every thing is found According to his kind in 't to abound It brings forth grass to satisfie the need Of what God should Create on Earth to breed That is all Creatures which threon should feed Thus bounteously did God give every thing It s proper species that from Earth do's spring Likewise the Herb did render of its Seed And so the Tree according as decreed And this was good in God Almighties eye When he reviewed all things with their supply These are the works of God and safely may Be said t' have been Created the third day And now the Morning and the Eve restore This days Perfection as the dayes before Thus wise this Scene seems to dismiss our sight Vail'd by the sable Curtain of the night A Scene of the Fourth Days Creation AGain God pleas'd to dictate thus and said Let there be lights and lights themselves displaid Which lights fixation in the firmament Of Heaven was design'd for this event The separation of the day from night Or if you please the darkness from the light And these were constituted by decree For signs for Seasons Dayes and Years to be These Luminaries God was pleas'd to fet In the Caelestial firmament and let Them render brightness on the Earth and be Light to all things God should Create to see For nothing more can satisfie the sight Than from the darkness to distinguish light And to behold its glory when most bright When to Create the light our God enclin'd Some passages observable I find This for a Truth methinks I might relate God did command and his command Create He never did command the least of things But presently from him its fountain springs Immediately from nothing some thing brings This Author of the Great Creation he Made two great lights and makes them rulers be To Rule the Day appoints the greater Light Commands the lesser for to Rule the Night Thus having made the Sun and Moon now he Proceeds to make the Starrs which in degree Exceed each other as in Influence So in proportion there 's a difference Who reads the Scriptures Astrologick story Will find them likewise differ in their glory In his Caelestiall Orbe the God of might Did fix these shining Lamps on Earth to Light Which Lights God gave unto a power to sway Not only o're the Night but o're the Day And to divide the Darkness from the Light Which thing was good in the Almighties sight
might scan That from this Earthly slime God formed Man Made him a perfect substance of this slime And then inspires him so became sublime When God mans substance to mans shape did frame In this he breath'd so man alive became And thus this man was made a living Soul Who once o're Gods Creation did controul When thus he was perfected God did seem To have this object Man in great esteem Whose pourtraiture he was to represent His Maker in his inward liniament God in his Image now takes great delight And plants a Garden pleasant to his sight East ward in Eden where he plac'd the man Whom he had form'd through which a River ran A glorious River that did rarely glide To water Edens banks on either side Even Euphrates thus Paradice supply'd These silver streams by their fertility This pleasant Garden made to fructifie That from the ground the Lord God caus'd to grow Even every Tree that pleasant was for show Unto mans sight and likewise that was good Not only to his sight but for his food I' th midst of this fair Garden was the Tree Of Life so stil'd a glorious sight to see And th'Tree of knowledge both of good evil Where man first grew acquainted with the Devil Thus-wise God pleac'd the man in happiness Even in this Eden it to keep and dress Where God informs him and thus wise said he Eat freely that thou may'st of every Tree But of the Tree whence knowledge does derive Of Good and Ill eat not if thou wilt live The day thou tasts thereof assuredly Shall fatal prove and by it thou shalt die Beware O man t' incur this destiny Now God conjectures with himself sayes he It is not good for man alone to be First God considers what course he should take And then a help meet for this man did make But from the ground the Lord God he did frame Each Beast o' th Field each Fowl and brought the same To Adam whom we find by name to be Related to his Earthly Pedegree Before whom all the Creatures great small God brought to know what Adam would them call What ever Adam every thing did Name Remain'd the appelltion of the same What kind soever whether wild or Tame * Adam gave Names to all Creatures according to their kind But though he did behold variety Of Creatures none was found for his supply Untill that God Almighty caus'd a sleep To fall on Adam and the same was deep So fast he slept he could by no means wake Till God a Rib out of his side did take And close the Flesh instead thereof e're he From so profound a sleep could waked be And of this Rib that God from man did take A woman was the help meet he did make For Adam and when she to him was brought He knew that of his Rib ' God had her wrought For when he did behold her thus said he Bone of my Bones Flesh of my Flesh is she Made of my side a Bride to comfort me To call her woman Adam now began Because that she was taken out of man As much this woman did to Adam seem Himself as was himself in his esteem * Adam gave Names to all Creatures according to their kind Thus Marriage was ordain'd by God alone In Paradice to make of twain but one Therefore this obligation must remain That nothing sever these united twain A man must now his Father leave and Mother And cleave unto his wife and not another And they for ever after must remain Both as one flesh and no more termed twain Till death from seneration to abstain Both these were naked yet they had no shame Their Innocence thus farr kept both from blame Hereto mans History of happiness Consists unhappy further to express SUBJECT VII Of the Temptation and fall of Man The Subtile Devil in a Serpents shape On Adams Innocence did cast a Rape WE now shall treat of the most subtil Creature And that 's the Serpent which defil'd mans Nature How by his wily stratagems invented Deceived man to sinfulness assented * The Serpent tempts Eve As may appear by that it's disputation With Eve by Serpentine Interrogation Who question'd thus said God ye should not eat Of every Tree that 's in the Garden set †Eves reply to the Serpents Temptation To which the Woman answered and said As at the Serpent nothing yet dismay'd Eat of the Fruit that is on every Tree Within the the Garden liberty have we But of the Tree in Edens center plac'd The Lord allows us not its Fruit to taste Ye shall not eat of it he does deny To taste it or to touch it least we die * The Serpents reply to Eve Again the Serpent to the woman said Ye shall not surely die be not affraid For God doth know that in the day when ye Do eat thereof your eyes shall open'd be And then as Gods you shall the knowledge gain Of good and evil eat do not abstain †The Woman possest with the Serpents Temptation The woman now possest with this Temptation And with this Serpentine Insinuation * Eve be holds the forbidden Tree through avarice takes of its Fruit eats thereof her self gives Adam of the same and both alike do sin Beholds the Tree and view's it where it stood Perceiving that its fruit for food was good A Tree that was most pleasant to the eyes A Tree desirable to make one wise Puffs up the woman with Ambition she Through Avarice adventures on the Tree Supposing it for every thing compleat Took of its Fruit whereof her self did eat And gave unto her Husband of the same Who far'd with her and shar'd with her in shame And now because they both did thus transgress Their eyes were ope to see their nakedness * The Devil told Truth And here we find the Father of all lies Told them the truth by opening of their eyes That both of them were naked They did know And to prevent disgrace fig-leaves did sow Together for a covering to their shame And apron-wise 't is said they sow'd the same But yet alas these aprons were too thin And farr too scant for to conceal their sin The shady Trees nor yet the Paths untrod Could not obscure their sin and shame from God Now God in Eden walks and they should hear His angry voice the which pierc'd them with fear †Adam and Eve hide themselves from Gods presence And made them conscious so that both retire To hide themselves from the Almighties Ire * Adams excuse And likewise from his presence thus they made The Trees their refuge and their shield the shade Tohide them from his wrath would both invade †God calls upon Adam But God the Lord upon the mancalls now And sayes unto him Adam where art thou And Adam startling gave God this reply Thy voice within the Garden hear did I And was afraid because
sate upon his Throne Till Lucifer their Prince he thron'd in Hell To be the Prince of Devils that 's his name The Prince of darkness does imply the same X. * The names ascribed to the Devil and the distinction of Devils Pluto old Serpent Belzebub imply No more than what by Lucifer is meant These noted names do only fignifie The Prince of Devils or their President Those that Inferior are to his degree His Devilish Angels Imps and Fiends must be XI * None called Angels in Hell but those that fell with Lucifer As I conceive his Angels are no more Than those with him at first from Heaven fell The name of Angels they enjoy'd before Confer'd by Heaven not impos'd by Hell And since that Heaven canoniz'd the name Of Angels Hell cannot Create the same XII Tho Hell cannot Create it can confound Those Angel Spirits that have fallen therein Whil'st they in their ambition did abound Foresaw not this the consequence of sin Until experience did by wo convince Them of their doom with Lucifer their Prince XIII Dismall their case that from so happy state Were Damn'd Eternal to Infernall flame Kindl'd in wrath as their deserved fate That through presumption thus accurst became Objects of hatred Captives chain'd to wo In Hells Dark Region with those flames below XIV Proud Lucifer fell to the lowest pit Of sorrow from the highest place of Joy 'T was loftiness made him descend to it Where consternation does the damn'd annoy When they conceive how endless is their grief And how remediless is their relief XV. * Lucifers Court His subterranean and sub-marine Court Is Hell's Infernall fiery liquid Lake Th'admitted Subjects there to him resort Are those that Heavens Monarch do forsake Where all do envy men on Earth and hate Angels that still keep their Caelestiall state XVI * Lucifer tempted Adam and Eve in Paradice Prince Lucifer it was that cast a rape On Adams Innocence and that of Eve This Satan did assume the Serpents shape In Paradice both parties to deceive Perswading them that they should gain the skil Of God as Gods to know both good and ill XVII I steadfastly believe he cannot err Who sayes that Adam tempted was to fall And that his Tempter was this Lucifer God demoniz'd whom we a Devil call His fraud through Envy Treachery and Spite Rob'd Adam of his Innocence and right XVIII * Since the Devil must remain in Hell he would have all be in his condition This Angel now infernall envies those Caelestiall Angels that remain in bliss He can no comfort to himself propose But misery since mercy he did miss Which adds unto his malice so that he In his condition covets all to be XIX Nor is his malice towards these alone But as unlimited it do's abound To Adams Race of mankind every one Should God permit he would then all confound For like a Roaring Lion seeking prey The world he ranges duly night and day XX. But to conclude and to encourage man The Devils chain'd by Gods Immortall might His force and power overcome none can Unless to do his will they take delight Which some attempt as if of reason void Dread no destruction till they are destroy'd A brief Appendix to the fall of Angels AS for these damned Spirits that have fell Through Sin from Heaven or from Earth to Hell They are confin'd for ever there to dwell There Lucifer can never more regain A place in Heaven him to free from pain He 's bound there Captive by Eternal chain To manifest a real truth in brief Hell shall deliver all not for relief But at the Judgement to augment their grief Pride and ambition did the Angels sway Unto Rebellion ' gainst their God and they Gain'd condemnation vengeance was their pay Though these from Heaven unto Hell did fall Their case did caution Adam not at all He through presumption throw's himself in thrall When God made Adam Innocent and free From sin almost an Angel in degree Like Lucifer this man a God would be * The difference betwixt Lucifer and Adams ambition But here the difference lies betwixt these twain Proud Lucifer Gods power sought to gain Fond Adam aim'd Gods knowledge to obtain One did the other tempt this that bewray'd 'T was Lucifer alone his lewres display'd For Adam and his Innocence betray'd And since that both did thus alike transgress God executes on both his righteousness Both sin'd both suffer'd Justice to express SUBJECT IX A Brief narration of the Second Adam Intimated by the Womans Seed in Genesis 3.15 as in repaying the loss of the first Adam and purchasing Heaven for his posterity who in the Loins of Adam had forfeited the same by his Prevarication in Paradice The first man Adam sin'd in him men fell The Second Adam men redeem'd from Hell ADam's destroy'ds the Woman him mis-led The Serpent poyson'd Eve his Seed are dead But yet her Seed shall bruise the Serpents head Of all Gods promises this is the prime Of mans Redemption in the space of time From death and Hell incur'd by Adams crime Though death from this first Adam did derive To all his Seed and all of Life deprive The Second Adam can make all alive In case that any should of me demand Do I mean those who are already damn'd I answer no all that on Earth shall stand Believ'd I not this Doctrine then too blame I were since under Heaven found no name Save Jesus and salvation by the same * Every Soul alive may be capable of Salvation I Question not but every Soul alive Might gain Salvation that will truly strive To know his Saviour and in grace to thrive * Christ di'd for every Soul alive The Universe so great so large so wide Can in no secret place obscure or hide One single Soul for which Christ has not di'd But yet it follows not because that he Thus di'd for all that all should saved be Faith and Repentance must to this agree On this condition Christ saves all from wo He saves not whether that we will or no To save he 's all-sufficient saves none so Salvation then was render'd on this-wise Christ made himself an humble Sacrifice That humble sinners might his Saints arise When the offender has through his offence To the offended offer'd violence He shall be freed through Faith and Penitence That freely sin'd as freely should confess All his offences be they more or less If he be Righteous by Christs Righteousness A Christian man himself learns to deny That Christ is all in all for him did die Is his profession and Christianity A Christiain is a man that 's full awake His eyes do see the care that God did take To find a Saviour him should not forsake This Saviour lacks no power to save all If all repent they all be saved shall Presumption leads through Justice unto thrall Acknowledge Justice we sincerely must And of a truth confess
gave it to maintain The Preacher as his Payment for his pain Them to defraud no doubt our God will Ire The labourer is worthy of his hire And God his due will at our hands require O let us not detain the Preachers mite Since Gods commands confirms the same his right But with his Tribute freely to impart To him as his not ours with all our heart For he takes pains and so 't is his desert So Honour to whom Honour every thing Commanded from the Beggar to the King As loving Subjects then God will us own Both to this Crown and that of Heavens throne And shall adopt us children of his own Implore we then his grace to live thereby While here on Earth in Love and Amity Endeavoring and daring to be true And to our power render all their due Pleasing our God and bearing right regard To his commands that will us sure reward SUBJECT XIV Gods love to mankind and the Terms of of Salvation consider'd from John 3.16 God so loved the World that he gave his onely begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life Man sin'd Hell gain'd and Heaven was his loss Christ to save men from Hell dy'd on the Cross GOds goodness did behold mans wretch'd case Since Adams fall in sin and void of grace This mov'd his mercy to commiserate Poor mans condition in so curst a state When welt'ring in his blood through sin he lay Gods bowels yearn'd that he consults a way For his salvation that so vile did seem In his pure eyes and how him to redeem From that so base a case in Gods esteem The means whereby he mans redemption wrought Was by his death mans life that dearly bought And that was God himself becoming man Who made Eternity to seem a span For God incarnate did himself behave As man excepting sin unto the grave Whose sinless nature never did deprave Christ was his name to death was crucifi'd Upon a cross and thus as man he dy'd To save believers that in him abide By vertue of whose death men life obtain Christ bore the loss and man enjoy'd the gain He suffer'd torments he endur'd the grief And sacrific'd himself for our relief Betwixt two malefactors as a thief The way the truth the life he since was found By those believers sin their souls did wound In him all these find mercy to abound We all things have in Christ and Christ is all And every thing to those on him that call For instance when our sins our Soul make sick Physitian-like does search us to the quick By lancing our corruptions so that we From sinful Ulcers are by him set free He pow'rs the Oil and Balm in every wound Of sin sick souls to cure and make them sound And now no more mans duty than belief In Christ repenting all his sins with grief And when this service is perform'd then he Shall to his Masters joy admitted be Will seem to God without a spot of sin As not defil'd by Adams Origin Christs blood and his repentant tears did flow To wash his Leprosie as white as Snow His crimson crimes no more their redness show SUBJECT XV. A Mediation on Esay the 55. vers 6. Seek the Lord while he may be found call upon him while he is near In seeking God by Prayer Invoke his Name And when he 's found O man extoll the same INquire my soul search earnestly and seek For him who is most mighty and most meek Use all the means thou canst till thou dost find Who is most mighty and most meek most kind Pursue thy search and doubtless thou shalt see who 's mighty most most meek most kind to thee And when thou shalt this truth experience 'T will quit thee of thy fear and diffidence By framing in thy heart a larger scope For faith to Act than was requir'd by hope Faith is that powerful grace whereby the soul Do's over all despondencies controul And does its self upon Christs merits roul But hope is oft assaulted by despair Somtimes dejections does poor hope impare Yet 't is renew'd again by fervent prayer Faith joyn'd to hope or hope in Faith to rest Are buckler's of such Armour-bearers brest These fortifie his courage so that he Will conquer more than conqueror shall be Whereas if he had neither of these twain Nor faith nor hope no conquest could he gain But Esau-like the Lord his God might seek With cares and fears and tears upon his cheek And yet in searching not find him at all Or finding of him in effectuall Because that love the best Grace of these three Within his Bosom is not found to be Where is true hope O there true Faith begins For love to cover multitude of sins This hope to no man does create a shame But rather renders credit to his name Then cease we not to seek God virtually Till sound through faith and hope and charty This is the day of grace wherein he ought For to be found and by his Servants sought Now is the accepted time when this is past No search for him no finding him at last Seek God my soul whilst thou canst not him see Least when he 's seen he 'l not be found of thee Seek him by hope and thou shalt find him near By Faith this day of grace though he appear Not to the eye of sense to see him clear All shall behold him at the Judgement day But those far off his Laws did disobey And others near to save their souls for aye If that we would not seek the Lord in vain We must seek him in Truth once and again Yea often-times or rather constantly Till with his presence he our souls supply Let us not seek an other thing to find Instead of God but God whom we design'd Nor any thing besides God wish in heart Nor yet for any thing from God depart And since that God is neer this day of grace Then let us seek the presence of his face With right regard to him and reverence Declining not this search dy deligence In Truth and Love then let us seek God ever Until we find him and when found let 's never Cleave unto what from him our souls may sever SUBJECT XVI A Contemplation on Job 20. vers 5. The triumphing of the wicked is short the joy of a Hypocrite is but for a moment An Hypocrite is not within devout All his Devotion 's visible without LO how he Tirumphs now puft up with pride Whose time is as uncertain as the Tide One day unto his dayes he cannot borrow To day he Triumphs tumbles down to morrow From goodness and from virtue he will vary Although he knows his time but momentary Thus then his Character to amplifie This is the Hyprocrites Hypocrisie 'T is said of Hyprocrites their Congregation Shall be destroy'd by certain desolation Good reason why the just is more in danger Of him although his neighbour than a stranger For