First examples of Virginity And blest are those she Saints amongst you all Who now will hearken to the Scriptures call So to become these Converts here we see And recollect their lost Virginity Which thus is swallow'd up in sin and vice As a lost Pearl deep drowned under Ice Ye Matrons and young Maidens take to Heart What here I tell you e're you feel the smart Of your vain lives when once the dreadful Rod Shall strike you all by a just hand from God For the Virginity which here I mean Is conscience pure that salves and makes all clean â—nd can restore you to a Virgin mind Virgins in soul and body new refin'd Not Foolish Virgins but Wise Virgins all Whom Christ will own and his true Bride-maids call For such Bride maids you Females ought to be And so make good this Converts History ☞ The Third Application directed to the Martial Gallants of the Time in Special To become real Fighters in this War YE Sworded Gallants who in Wars delight Weak Mortal Creatures only strong to fight Who in your Pride and your vain valour swell â—s if there were no Heaven nor no Hell â—hink not that you were born to fight and kill â—ut humbly to obey your Makers Will Cease cease from Wrath and lay your weapons down And now begin on sin and self to frown Laugh at the Gilded Bullrush by your side Much like the wooden Horse that Children ride Be wise in time and whil'st time serves relent A time may come when you cannot repent Now put new Armour on new Weapons take To war with Devils for your Saviours sake Your Baptism make good i' th bloudy Field Of Christ's Red Cross under his peaceful Shield D' of then your Sword and Belt and Martial Mode There is more beauty in a Snake or Toad Ye Gallants know your Lord and Master all For he your valour will to judgment call E're it be long Hark hark your Passing Bell The Trumpet rings and your last Funeral Knell For dye you must your Swords will do no good When Inquisition shall be made for blood O turn true Christians all on Christ's word fix For 't is hard kicking Sirs against the Pricks The Fourth Application To the Wilder sort of Gentry and Commonalty in General WHat joy hath Truth unto those souls to write Who hate to be reform'd and scorn the right Tell them of Grace or Truth or Christ or God Who laugh at Vertue and contemn the Rod Who justifie their pride and vain excess In all their dainty fare and gaudy dress But ' though nor Plagues nor Pox both great and small Yet if Dame Conscience prick the Gallants heart He 's soon Crest faln and humbled with the smart Then let the Heralds come with all their train And try if they can cure him of his pain His Scutchion then will give no ease or rest His Glory 's flown and he 's faln dead i' th nest He 's faln he 's faln his Gallantry is gone And he is left in pain and shame alone And now by sad experience he may cry All 's loss all 's dross all Pride is Vanity And thus perhaps brought low upon his knee He may make good this Converts History ☞ The Fifth Application To the Gallant Wits of the Time Poets and Players as Instruments of Uanity without Truth or Reality BE silent now ye Law reats of the time And learn henceforth a New Refined Rhime Change your old strains and lay your Lawrels down Your Pride of Wit and all the Wits Renown That is no place to worship in or pray Was ever Soul Converted at a Play There is no room for Penance or Confession No Offering there for Sin or for Transgression All 's but imposture which your wits devise To cheat the Gallant with your Amorous lyes Poets and Players rightly to descry The one doth make the other act a lye ☞ Nay the whole World our Ancient sages say In every Trade and Function act a Play There 's Nothing real which this world affords All 's but a shew and full of empty words But lo this Herauld in his New born youth Holds to you all a Looking-glass of Truth And bringeth Conscience too upon the Stage To teach reality to this Mimick age Which shining clear with its impartial beams Doth dazle all the lustre of your Scenes You all must yield to those convincing lays And blush for shame at your conceited Bayes The Sixth Application To Scholars in General 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ANd you the Famous Scholars of the time Learned Composers both in Prose and rime Deep Students all men of admired parts Through the large Circle of the seven Arts Make Conscience your best guide what e're you write What e're you read or study or indite Make not an Idol of your book or wit Self-admiration soon will poyson it Be not with Wit with Wine or Women drunk Many fair Vessels in those Gulfs have sunk But in the midst of all your Volumes look Into your selves and read the inward book And that you may the better find the truth Scorn not to read this New-Converted Youth Where you may learn to take degrees in grace To which all Learning should of right give place And so invested in a New Degree You may make good this Converts History Application to the Plebian Party and all inferiour Ranks Concerning vulgar Pride and Gallantry ANd now in love I le write a line or two Unto the Vulgar or Plebian crew And to the laughing quaffing Multitude Compos'd of several humours proud and rude For they have all their share in Pride you know Equal with those who in their Silks do go Both from one root do spring and from one Tree The Gentry stock and vulgar Pedigree And both make up one body in the main Like an huge Army marching o're a Plain The Front whereof I shew'd with either side And now at last bring up the Rear of Pride Therefore to them in order after all To stir them up I here must sound a Call The Call to the Rear of Pride THink not ye vulgar party here and there That you are safe and unconcerned here Nor that this Gallants Hist'ry doth belong At all to you of the inferiour throng Mistake it not it reacheth to you all Of the Mechanick Tribes in general In every Trade and calling rich and poor None are excepted from this general score For all of them though in a course degree Can act the Gallants part as brave as he They all can brag and boast and tell a story Of their own worth or wit for their own glory Yea they can swear as the mad Gallants do And in their fury can out-sweare them too Their words and looks with madness oft do swell As frantick furies broken loose from hell Nay to their power they will be in fashion What ere comes up within our modish Nation And they can complement in their
a Wonder doth appear Of such a One our News-books never told Nor yet the Belgick's Mercury of old And therefore marvel not if I supply The Old Defect with this New History Two kinds of Birth the Scripture well explains Esau the First Jacob the Last obtains These Names two Natures do imply and so The Last supplants the First and brings it low For a New Nature doth a New Name take And a New Birth doth a New Christian make 'Till now this Gallant did Usurp that Name But his New Birth makes him to be the same And far more Noble is this Second Birth For this from Heaven comes but that from Earth Yea this is Born of God but that of Man This calls God Father That nor will nor can This Noble Birth transcends each Coat of Arms. All natural Extract or the Field Alarms And for this Birth this Youth himself bereaves Of his First Birth and its Vain-glory leaves With all its tinckling Titles of Degrees To which men bow their heads and bend their knees This was the third hard Cross to this poor soul For all the Powers of Hell this work controul Old Satan's Kingdom cannot stand one hour In that poor heart where Pomp hath lost its power Nor can Gentility in its Pride agree With Christianity in true sympathie For these to Princes are as opposite As Light and Darkness or as Black and White The Jew and Gentile don 't more different seem Than Gentleman and Christian in esteem Dam me to Hell the sinful Gallants crie Hell is their Portion sin their propertie To whom this Convert stands a Pattern here Of True Repentance and of Holy Fear Of true Nobility in the highest kind Born of Humility in the lowest mind Who to obtain a New-name as New-born Leaves all vain Trappings which his Name adorn And here degrades himself of Gentile Pride So to be made for Christ his lowly Bride For such a one each Gallant ought to be And so make good this Gallant 's History The End of the Third Degree in Conversion Descending and Third Mortifying Virtue Called Execution of Iudgment and Will In forsakeng all Vain Gentility The Fourth Mortifying Grace or Virtue Being the Fourth Step or Degree in his Conversion Descending Called Rationality or True Discretion In Bridling of the Wit and Lordly Tongue THus now bereft of his Gentility For Conscience sake in deep Humility And of that Vain Imagination late Which Airie Titles bred in his first ' state Such as the Vulgar their Commanders give Though ne're so Vile ' though ne're so Vain they live He now doth wonder how he play'd the child With those fine Rattles which his Wits beguil'd And next he strives with all the Power he can In all his Words to prove a Rational Man For Speech is given unto all but few Attain in Speech the Moderation due Therefore himself he now doth Recollect And both his Tongue and his wild Wit Correct He that can Rule his Wit doth Rule his Tongue Else it will prove oft-times too large too long Thus a new work he now doth undertake As well for Credit as for Conscience-sake And so becomes a well composed Soul Whose Babbling Wit true Reason doth controul His words are few he in deep silence dwells And only to the Wise his Minde he tells Lest he be made at any time or season A scorn to Fools that understand no Reason Reason's the Jewel which his Soul doth prize As giving sight to his awak'ned Eyes Regenerate Reason now becomes his Guide In all his Words Works Thoughts beside A God-like Image and a Light Divine When saving Faith its grossness doth Refine But 't is Preposterous Piety to make Reason the Ground of Faith and Truth mistake For God's the Lord of Reason and of Sense Of Phancy Judgment and Intelligence Yea he is Lord of Language and doth give Reason to Man in Language pure to live And by that Light to Rule his vagrant Tongue Least he exceed in Talk or speak what 's wrong To guard his lips as with a flaming Sword For Man must give account of every Word Of every idle saying jest or story Which he of vents for his own praise and glory The Tongue 's a Bruitish Member void of Wit And Man must keep perpetual Warr with it And stand upon his Watch to keep it in Lest it fly out and fall to deadly Sin For all Man's talk is either good or evil So he an Angel Acts or else a Devil Therefore observe in each Particular How Reason leads this Convert through this war Where he finds several Enemies at hand They against him he against them doth stand The several Particulars follow concerning Vanity in Discourse and here Forsaken As the Enemies to Reason Faith and Truth 1. The First Particular Vanity in Speech Namely Lightness Iesting and Laughing Forsaken by this Convert ANd now this Noble Princely Youth begins To take account of all his Verbal Sins Which seem'd before an Ornament and Grace To his High-Birth his Quality and Place But now this Laughing Spirit he Corrects With solid looks and his light humour Checks For Manly Reason in his Sober School Permits no Scholar there to act the Fool To vent his With or laugh at his own jest Or to make Sport in vain for all the rest For nothing more corrupts the work of Grace Than a loose jesting Tongue and laughing Face 2. The Second Particular Forsaken in Vaniloquie Viz. Complement ANd next he leaves his nimble tongues activity In Complemental Fine and False Civility False Flāttering Titles now he gives no more Nor lends the Name of Madam to a Whore Nor Sir unto a Knave All Gentile Oaths And Humble Service he both leaves and loaths For all his Care is to serve God aright With Lips unfeign'd in all the Peoples sight 3. The Third Particular in Vaniloqui forsaken Viz. Amorous Discourse Songs and Uerses ANd to proceed he now no more rehearses To his Fine Misse his Amorous Books Verses Into the Fire he casts his Playes burns them For fume they are and into fume he turns them Like unto like from Wanton Flames they came And must again return into a Flame His Aerie Sonnets and his wild Romances Tales Fables Fictions and a thousand Chances Of Wandering Knighthood and brave Chivalrie Are now all mute and in deep silence lie One Penitent Psalm doth more his Soul delight Than all the Books of Mirth that Wit can write Saying O Lord with Grace my Heart renew And fill my lips with language chaste and true 4. The Fourth Particular Vanity in Talk Forsaken Viz. Telling of Uulgar News NOr tells the News from any forreign Part For he finds News at home in his own heart There 's Civil Warrs begun and like to hold For Sence by Reason scorns to be controul'd Because he long hath reign'd as Elder-Brother And frets to be supplanted by the other Nature and Custome would not yield to Grace Nor to
Christ is to none that turn to Christ deni'd The smallest grain of Faith in time of need Prevails with him and never fails to speed By whom the peace is made for ever sure 'Twixt God and Man which can and will indure Through a Resigned Will to his good pleasure Taking what he will give and wait his leasure Christs will with mans united in mans heart Make that firm tye which time can never part Grace and free-will set both their Seals thereto Which all the powers of hell cannot undoe But the Seir'd heart whether men chide or praise it No Counsell can to Grace or free-will raise it â—ecause it can no true Repentance find â—or Faith nor Conscience nor least change of mind Thus some attain that everlasting Bliss Which others by neglect for ever miss â—he Saints above in several mansions raigne â—nd several Regions sure in Hell remain â—nd thus according as our works shall be â—ach man receives his Measure and Degree â—is measure and degree in joy or pain â—nd so shall rise in glory or in shame â—he End of the Third Part of this Book and of the Third Direction to the Reader THE Fourth Part of this Book And Fourth Direction TO THE READER OF THE Book aforesaid Concerning the Application thereof in general and in special ☞ The First Application General Directed to all Real Converts and real Readers hereof as lovers of the Truth and as Legitimate and true Christians I Love that Reader who shall view this Book With serious thought and to himself doth look Who learns to read his inward soul thereby And the whole matter to himself apply â—or 't is not made for vain applause or praise Or the vain glory of the Poets Bayes But for a light to every one that reads To guide him right in all his words and Deeds â—nd though some few should give it commendation â—nd thereto set their seal of Approbation Yet he 's the Reader whom my soul most loveth Whom this small Book commendeth and approveth To praise the Truth is but lip-labour vain Except the truth doth him approve again Him do I love whom these lines justifie â—nd so makes good this Converts History And blest is he that rightly can apply This story to himself without a lye â—ea happy is that Convert who can say My Friends 't is I I am this youth this day This day I find and tell what I have found That my Conversion's built upon sure ground â—is no Fiction which was told to you â—y me this day the Story is made true â—ecause I hear and fear and do obey â—nd murder not my Conscience any way And besides this I clearly feel and find Christ's Kingdom ruling in my heart and mind â—nd thereby know I am his promis'd Wife â—nd that my Name stands in the book of Life With all those faithful Converts now at rest 〈◊〉 Abrahams Bosome and their Saviours Breast The Second Application General directed to Apostate degenerate Christendome And all false Hypocritical Christians LEave Christian leave thy old Hypocrisie And learn to own thy close Adultery Which thou do'st act as I before have told In the wrong use of Creatures manifold Leave leave thy Church and good books read no more Till thou for shame leav'st playing of the Whore Though to thy self thou may'st seem chast and just The Holy Law will manifest thy Lust For all Gods laws and each Commandement Were writ by his own hand and so were sent Into the World to teach man how to serve And Worship him without a close reserve In spirit and in truth man must obey them Without excuse and in no wise betray them Watch therefore thy false Heart thine eye and ear And keep within the bounds of holy fear Have a suspition and just jealousie O're thy best deeds thy zeal and piety â—rove thy Conversion out that it be right â—east thou be found within the ballance light When Law and Death before Christ's Throne shall cite thee â—nd with a Cat'logue of thy sins Indite thee â—nd tell thee how thy Conscience thou hast slain â—nd Crucifi'd the Lord of Life again Thy light thou hast extinguisht oft in Theft â—o many Murders and Adulteries left Which thou count'st good and lawful for thy part â—ecause Gods Law 's not written in thy heart But now be wise and just why wilt thou dye â—â—ke to a fool in thy Hypocrisie Learn to escape O man that secret snare Of the Great Whore by which most ruin'd are To the Female Sex in General Gentry and others AN honest Wife in some respects may be Her Husbands Whore when both in sin aâ—gree Yea she that ne're knew Man may be a Whore To her own self and to a thousand more When Woman of Mans Rib at first was made She was ordain'd for his meet help and aid But she became his Murderer in part A deadly wound she gave him to the heart For she soon turn'd unfaithful and unjust And so upstart his Whore in Pride and Lust. His Wife became his Whore and tempted him To Whoredom first by acting unknown sin For till that time sin was as yet unknown Though now with men women common grown Thus in the sin the woman was the first And man the next so both became accurst â—et when to God their Whoredom they confess'd â—â—eir curse was taken off their Marriage blest And to this day most women act the woman Eve first did by tempting to undoe man 〈◊〉 so to boot undo themselves for ever â—hen death at last shall soul and body fever â—â—less they first turn Converts in their lives â—nd so become true Virgins and true Wives For lo this story doth concern you all â—f that fair Sex and sounds a General call â—oth to the Married and Unmarried lass 〈◊〉 view themselves in this unspotted glass â—hat e're is said of this young Gallant here â—â—tends to every Female far and neer For Lust and Pride is their Inheritance 〈◊〉 they run on within the Devil's dance â—â—om head to foot they put his livery on â—all vain fashions by the vain begun 〈◊〉 meats and drinks in cloaths and dresses brave â—hich many damn but never any save And thus they play the Whore with ev'ry creature 〈◊〉 several Fashion and of several Feature â—he very Church is now become a Stage â—f all She-Gallantry this wanton age â—he poor do act the rich the rich each evil 〈◊〉 Eve when first she hearkned to the Devil And so her Maydenhead she lost though young Unto the Devil by a Serpents Tongue And thus the Serpent in you seems to dwell Of him you savour and of him do smell Your wanton nimble Tongues so full of Tattle Within your lips incessantly do rattle Tale upon tale and story upon story Boasting and telling of your own fine glory Thus on you go in Pride in Lust in Lying O that you went as fast in self-denying That in this worst last age you all might be The
The Portraiture or Platforme of the Humane Mind in its twofold State or Nature Unconverted and converted 〈…〉 Mans Understanding in its Eclips or Natural Darknes Unconverted 1. From Darknes and Ignorance of the Saving truth Mans Understanding Out of thâ— Eclips or Natural Darknes Converted 1. Unto Light and knowledge of the Saving truth The Old Wâ—â—â— The Mount of Natural Hautinesse in the Heart of Man Unconverted 2. From Pride and Greatnes Luke 14.14 Deâ—ending The Mount of Spiritual Holiness In the Heart of Man Converted 2. Vnto Grace and Goodnes Hebrewes 12.22.23 Asending The Old Affections Man in his Unconverted Wrathful Nature Armed 3 From Wrath and Lust. The Old Adam Condemnation Man in his Converted Innocent Nature Naked and Unarmed To Peace and Love diVine The New Adam Salvation  〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And bee not Conformed to this World Rom 12.2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But bee yee Transformed by the Renewing of your Mind Iohannis Drapentier sculpâ—it Mentis Humanae Metamorphosis sive Conversio THE HISTORY OF THE Young Converted Gallant OR DIRECTIONS TO THE Readers of that Divine Poem WRITTEN By BENJAMIN KEACH INTITULED Warre with the Devil Here shewing the Readers thereof how to Read the same Poem aright in these four Respects viz. I. In Reference to the Substance or History thereof II. In Reference to the Intent or Mystery thereof III. In Reference to the Consequent Doctrine thereof IV. In Reference to Practical Application thereof Compiled in a Poem by J. Mason Gent. of Fordham in Cambridge-shire Licensed Sept. 27. 1675. Roger L'estrange London Printed by F. L. for B. Harris at the Stationers Arms in Sweethings-Rents by the Royal Exchange 1676. THE MORAL ARGUMENT of this BOOK Concerning the New Creature or Regenerate Man under the six Types foregoing DArk Ignorant Creatures are we all by Birth Of Earth first form'd still lovers of the Earth Fools were we born and so continue still Fools in our passions Fools in our wit and will All Natural Fools as to the Truth or Mad-men Proud poor and blind and all by nature Bad-men Till Man's eclipsed Soul from earth doth rise By a new Birth enlightning his blind eyes For when his Pride sinks down wrathful Will And so his Mind Ascends the Holy Hill When once the Truth doth shine within his heart Wrath Pride and Ignorance must all depart For naked came we from our Mothers Womb And naked must return to our last home Yea Naked we should live as Babes new-born Or like the harmless sheep clean wash'd shorn Rob'd of his fleece he envies not the wearer Nor opens he his mouth against the Shearer Uncloath'd unarm'd no Weapon to defend him No Lordly Powers to favour or befriend him Thus on the Cross Christ Jesus naked hung A Prezident of Life to old and young To shew how Man should alwayes naked stand Under Christ's Cross with open heart and hand Ever Resigned in his Makers sight And nothing claim as his peculiar Right For all Man hath he ows to God alone Nothing but Sin and Death he calls his own O take it deep to heart ye men of Wit Of Wealth Worth though neer so high you sit For such by right each Christian ought to be Of whatsoever Title He or She. THE DEDICATION TO THE Whole Universe with the Princes and People thereof TO the wide World I Dedicate this Glass To shew a Wonder that must come to pass The World's New-Birth and Gallantry Refin'd To a more solid and substantial Kind And because much in few I would express I write my mind in plain an pithy Verse For lo in my divining thoughts I see The last fulfilling of that Mystery Which sacred Scriptures have concealed long Vnder a Vail or dark Prophetick Song The Gentiles fulness with that wonderous news The Calling and Conversion of the Jews A promis'd truth which few or none believes Though for that Day the whole Creation grieves But Time will cut each mystick knot in sunder That God may have the Honour of the Wonder For then Jew and Gentile both shall know There is a God can bring the Haughty Low Perhaps the sound may rouse some Prince or Peere Now to begin the Worlds Reforming Year To stop the stream of Vice and turn the Tyde Of Wrath and Lust Debauchery and Pride And as the Rising Sun with Powerful Light Dispel the darkness of the Worlds long Night That all the World New-born may speak one Tongue Or no man think or do his Neighbour Wrong For such by right all Mankind ought to be And so make good this following History Art thou a Master of Israel and knowest not these things Namely Thine own New-Birth and the Worlds New-Birth to come John 3.10 THE Young Converted Gallant The First Part OR First Direction General to the Readers of the Divine Poem aforesaid in Reference to the Substance or Personal History thereof GOod Readers see who take that book in hand You read aright that is to understand For else I fear that some Misapprehension May judge that work at best but Man's invention Some Pious Fancy not a Real Truth Concerning this un-named New-Born Youth Had but the Author told this Convert's Name All might have given Credit to his Fame But since his Praise and Virtue is so much Without a Name he may be called None-such For in the compass of our Hemisphere No-such New-star or Comet doth appear There 's no such Figure in the Heav'nly Plain Between Orion's Hilt and Charles his Wain No such young Saint which by just steps doth clime The Ladder of Conversion in his Prime Descending and Ascending by degrees Christ's Cross betimes with humble heart knees Yet to cut off all doubt I 'le here proceed And take for granted what I there do read And tell the progress of this Converts Way In his low state and first Refining Day For such by right each Reader ought to be And so make good this following Historie Advertisement SIRS IN the Reading of this Convert's Story observe aright the several Steps or Degrees of his Conversion namily six Descending and six Ascending the six Descending shew the Virtues and graces proper to Repentance and Mortification in forsaking and eschewing of evil the other six Ascending shew the Virtues and Graces of Obedience and Renovation in Practising the Good I. The First Mortifying Grace or Vertue or First Step and Degree of his Conversion Descending viz. Humility of Spirit VIew here a Princely Youth the Sts. delight From the wrong way converted to the right Conscience and Truth as Witnesses appear Against his Pride and strike his Soul with Fear His Height and State Astonishment soon dashes When he conceives himself but Dust and Ashes And thus Baptized in a new white Dress Begins to shine in Robes of Lowliness For like as Drossie Oare doth change to Gold When pure Refining Fire dossolves the Old So minds new chang'd new Manners soon do take And hearts by Grace
Ascending viz. Upright Dealing and Sincerity in his place and calling The Third Degree in his Conversion Ascending consisting of Liberality Hospitality Bounty Charity And the like Uertues proper to his Calling GO and sell all thou hast House Land and Store Saith Christ unto the Rich and give the Poor So come and follow me and thou shalt have Treasure in Heaven and thine own soul save This rich young man believing what Christ says Unto his Word submits and it obeys In love to him he visits oft the poor And oft doth feed the hungry at his door Yea oft he cloaths the naked in compassion For Christs own sake not for vain praise or Fashion Oft doth he aid the pious in distress And feeds the woman in the Wilderness Nor is he wanting to the Painful Preacher To every faithful Flock and faithful Teacher He frees the wrong'd and pleads the poor mans cause That is opprest by violence of Laws And to the Prisners oft his Bowels turn Who in their Bonds without all mercy 〈◊〉 All his delight is now in doing good Unto the good with rayment and with food With Gold and Silver and with his best store And only grieves that he can do no more For he counts nothing now his own but Grace And only is a Steward in his place Thus by his Love to Christ most firmly wrought To perfect Self-denyal he is brought Lo such a one each Gallant ought to be And so make good this Converts History The end of the Third Degree Ascending viz. Liberality in his place and calling The Fourth Degree of his Conversion Ascending Consisting of Verity Essentiality and Reality in his Words Belief Prayer c. in his Calling IN his next step he unto great and small Now speaks the Truth the hardest talk of all Without Excust or Mentall Reservation A double Tongue or slie Equivocation For what to Gallants is more hard or rare Then to speak Truth and neither lye nor Swear Nor yet to laugh and scoff to jest and jeer To boast and brag to dare and domineer A work which one of thousands cannot do So hard it is to Mankind to speak True In all mens trades or talk we seldome find The Man whose words hold current with his mind Yet truth he speaks the mark of his Profession Seal'd in his inwards by a deep impression His Promise is his Bond his Word full sure His Yea and Nay more firm then Law endure And next a true Belief to all Intents He now doth yeild to Gods Commandements A Work full rare 't is to believe indeed The Word of God and to obey our Creed O where 's the Man that doth believe aright What he believes and followeth his own light Two kinds of Faith there are both known full well One Saves on Damns one Heaven makes one hell This saving Faith this Convert hath obtain'd The other he hath left and quite disclaim'd Besides both these a wonder strange to tell He Prays aright his words all ordered well A true Confession now he makes of sin And so a true remission followeth in His new Devotion doth his old surpass With real Prayer not with verbal Mass And thus this Convert makes the truth his care Truth in his talk in his Belief and Prayer Lo such a one each Gallant ought to be And so make good this Converts History The End of the Fourth Degree Ascending viz. Uerity and Reality in his words Belief and Prayer in his Calling The Fifth Degree of his Conversion Ascending Consisting of Equity Justice Impartiality Magnanimity Wisdom and the like Vertues in the Administration of Justice call'd thereto HAving well learn'd to rule himself aright He 's fit to rule th' unruly by his light By truth's just light I say not might alone For might ne're governs well when light is gone Thus arm'd with Christian Courage Truth and Grace He next accepts a Ruling Elders place Resolv'd to serve his Country with his Sword Like Joshua dreading no mans look or word Adorn'd with every virtue power and state Essential to a true-made Magistrate To guide and judge to Counsel and direct To curb the Proud and lowly to protect For he keeps not his Courts of Law and Leet For Fees and Fines but Justice due and meet His Sword and Belt are now no more his own But Consecrate to Justice and her Throne His two-edg'd Blade he wears no more in vain For Fancy Fashion Favour Feare or Gain But as a needful Instrument of Power Vertue to serve when Vice would her deflowre For he that 's just himself may others guide And wear the Sword of Justice by his side A Joy to good and to the bad a Terrour A Friend to Truth a Foe to Vice and Errour The Sword belongs unto the just and true To give to Just and Unjust both their due And for no other end should it be worn By any man that to the Truth is sworn Lo such a one each Gallant ought to be And so make good this Converts History The End of the Fifth Degree in Conversion viz. Impartial Iustice in his Office Place and Calling The Sixth Degree in his Conversion Ascending Consisting of Sanctification Illumination Divine Knowledge Right Information and Instruction with the like Graces proper to an Eminent Converted Person in his Calling RIghtly adorn'd with Robes of Sanctity He takes his highest and his last Degree Which to the top of Syon Hill doth reach Where he the true and living word doth Preach For fill'd with Light Divine free from all taint He of a Gallant â—urnes a Preaching Saint Not for base Lucre Honour or Renown A Golden Miter or a Triple Crown Nor yet for high Preferment Tythes or Hire But from an inward call and free desire He to his birth accounts it no disgrace Well to perform a Teaching Elder 's place To high and low he doth Instruction give Exhorts Reproves and shews them how to live Confuting all the Atheists of the Land And all Apostates who the Truth withstand Yea in the Faith his Family he teaches His House a Temple is in which he Preaches Nor doth he Preach by Notion or conceit From other hands which often proves a cheat He needs no book the book he preacheth by In his own soul doth ever open lye For he that speaks the thing that he is not Is often hit and often makes a Blot But he that writes or speaks the thing he is Can neither write or speak that thing amiss For he is taught of God who well can teach Both high and low his saving truth to preach And now he wears a Breast plate shining bright With twelve rich Pretious stones all full of Light The Vrim and the Thummim he doth wear Both his pure life and his pure Doctrine are For there is none too Great or Honourable To preach a Saviour born within a Stable To Preach Christ Jesus in the open light There 's none forbidden neither Lord nor Knight For he
intended And O that Rome and we were both as one In life and faith pleasing to God alone And ever strive each other to excell In Grace and Peace where e're we live or dwell I unto Rome do bear that free respect That 's due to her and every Church or Sect And keep the Peace what in me lyes with all Provided that by none I stand in thrall And let them all give thanks to God and me His Servant bold for this discovery Thus from the left hand turning to the right From the Black House I 'le lead you to the White And having shewn you both not to deceive you Unto your own Election I will leave you Thus much of the Unconverted Parties Principle and Property in Reference to the Gallant Youth in his Natural State The Converted State and Party followeth The Exception or Excepted Party under a True Conversion Shewing what is meant by this Youth in his Converted State namely the Church Elect out of the World though in the World As also the Mind of Men in its New Birth and in its new essential Property or Principle of Divine Light and Grace THus having pass'd through Babylon the Great We now are come to Syons Holy Seat Where the true Church of Christ doth firm abide The Church Select that 's call'd his faithful Bride Whom he hath chose and mark't out for his own With his two Seals of Truth and Love well known And by those Marks as Sacred Scriptures tell You well may know them all where ere they dwell Not who they be but what they be I show How many or how few no man doth know And having told the Mystery of sin The Mystery of Grace I here begin The First Mystery of Grace and Godlyness opened Namely Purity of Life The First Mark. THough I in general terms have spoken much Of the Worlds way I mean not all are such All are not caught with snares of Lust and Pride Some few there are who have themselves deny'd There are some thousands never bow'd to Baal And a few names in Sardis righteous all Those Virgins chast and pure those few I mean Who like true Nazarites keep their Garments clean Such as are said to walk with Christ in White And are accounted worthy in his sight Who from the World do keep themselves unspotted And now no more are with her Wine besotted And whom no Romish Gentry can defile Nor whom the Baits of Mammon can beguile Nor yet the Gloryes of the Scarlet Whore This Church Elect is not her Paramour Having their senses exercis'd to know What 's good what 's ill and what they should forego Who keep the faith and true belief in God Ever depending on his Staff and Rod For they are taught of him and dayly learn 'Twixt right and wrong the difference to discern The Second Mystery of Grace opened being the Second Mark of the Church or Mind Elect Called Lowliness of Spirit A Gallant 's one who never knew the smart Of a Converted new created heart Nor ever felt the pangs and sharp affliction Of the souls inward work and true Conviction Nor ever found what a Desertion meant What 's right contrition what t is to repent His Tongue 's his own without controle he talks His Sword 's his own without a check he walks But with these Virgin Saints it fares not so All walk in life and spirit wonderous low For oft they pass the sharp and fiery tryal And so remain in humble self-denyal Yea they are Mourners all in meek behaviour Longing for him they rightly call their Saviour O 't is a comely and a glorious sight To see Saints walk lowly in the light A signal mark like to the Red Cross sayle Of the true Church when all the rest do fail The Third Mystery of Grace opened Or the Third Mark of the Church Elect Namely Soundness in Conversion LEt now some Gallant tell me if he can When from a Beast he turned to a man Or when from darkness he was brought to Light Or when with sin and Satan he did fight When he from Babel travelled to Sion When to a Lamb he turned from a Lyon When he began to be a Christian first Or for Christs bloud did find himself a thirst When first from greatness he to goodness changed Though he long time in his wild course had ranged And so transformed in his inward mind Became thereby a creature new in kind For this the Holy new-born Church can do Throughout the world here and beyond seas too They can declare their several alterations From ill to good and several operations Of Gods good spirit working by its grace Their total change they know both Time and Place And in their hearts an Altar do erect Of Thanks Remembrance and sincere respect On which they offer dayly Sacrifice As Abel did accepted in Gods eyes This is a Mystery of Grace I tell Which all that have found Grace do know full well The Fourth Mystery of Grace or Fourth Mark of the Church Elect Namely True Wisdom or the knowledge of the saving Truth THe World is full of knowledge in its kind And yet remains dark ignorant and blind But sure one beam of true and heavenly light More clears the soul then all that wits can write A mark infallible of this Church Elect Keeping it safe from errour and defect For the false light dares all Gods laws withstand And all the Ten Commandements command But the true light doth keep obedient still To all his laws and to his written will False light can turn the truth into a lye But the true light doth all its shifts descry Such is this Church Elect where all agree In saving truth and truth doth make them free Blest are those souls in whom the truth resides And as a living Principle abides A pure informing and reforming Spirit Working by Faith and Mercy not by Merit For Truth 's no notion but a substance bright A Heavenly real and essential light A firm Eternal and Immortal Being Which gives to all that have it life and seeing O with what freedom will the earth be blest When Truth shall spread its Wings from East to West When Wars and jars laws and Religions all On bended knees before the truth shall fall When no false Leaders reign in any Sect Or Church or State to bind blind or infect For sure the Badge of the true Church is truth By whom is meant this New-converted Youth The Fifth Mistery of Grace opened being the Fifth mark of the Church Elect Namely Love Divine or oneness of Spirit A Farther secret Readers here I tell They all are one though far remote they dwell All one in faith in life and spirit pure And Doctrine sound infallible and sure An Homogeneous body of one breed Descended from one Father and one Seed And as a thousand Needles far asunder Point to the North in their Magnetick Wonder All with the Loadstone toucht and set betwixt
elsewhere I wish I had no cause here to declare From your first Love how you declined are And with a panting Heart I deeply wish Some were not Neuters neither Flesh nor Fish Lest when e're long the judge in clouds shall come You all be found Apostates like old Rome Therefore I wish that as you have begun To mend Religion and a new-course run So would to God you might your lives refine And unto Papists as pure Patterns shine For all Reformed Churches such should be And so make good this Converts History Application and good wishes to the Modern Sects of Great Britain Concerning Religious Pride and Gallantry ANd now a fault of yours to you I 'le tell Religious Sects because I wish you well My words shall not be many rude or rough A word in Love is to the wise enough The Fault in General Of twenty several Sects well known by name I n'ere found two in judgment yet the same Nor yet in love in kindness and affection In sweet discourse in counsel and direction But all as cross and different in their minds To one another as contrary winds So shy they look and so with scornful eye Upon each other glance yet none know why And for my part as oft as I have seen them I never yet could state the case between them For in the midst of such a different throng 'T is hard to know who 's in the right or wrong Long have I been amongst them a Spectator In all their ways a faithful Observator And this I find that prejudice and pride Wanting true love hath poisoned every side A deadly Weed that doth the Sects besot Like th the Night shade in the Prophets pot A Scab it is infecting every fold And breeds ill bloud with humours hot and cold This is that spot which doth your light deface And all your sober carriage too disgrace Like to the Goat that fills the milking Payl And strikes all down again with heel or Tayl. Advice in this Case O Let no prejudice prevent the good Of Mutual Love which is the Saints sweet food Nor charge ye one another in despight With any errour till you have full sight Of that you charge then friendly write unto them And gently try unto the truth to woe them And so 'twixt right and wrong the truth discern And gladly teach and gladly also learn But for this End make Scriptures still your guide Above all humane wit or light beside Prize Love ye Sects above all self-fram'd sight Least you be found within the Ballance light Though you the Tongues of Angels could surpass And yet want Love all is but Sounding Brass 'T is Holy Love that Crowns all with perfection The surest mark of free grace and election By this shall all men know as Christ doth tell That you are his if you in Love excell That Love Divine the very bond of peace Which ceasing not makes all things else to cease All quarrels end and all disputes must fall When Love without dispute o're comes them all For unto Love must all Religions yield And all mens high opinions quit the field Therefore on this young Gallant fix your eyes Whose Pride in your own way you equallize For Robes and Silks do not a Gallant make But the high thoughts man of himself doth take Come down a step or two and you will see You need Humility as well as he Mark well my Counsel Sirs to what it tends Not light but Love can make you perfect friends Yet light is good when guided well by Love And Heavenly Grace descending from above And what I say to you I say to Rome And every Church throughout large Christendom That all should be Baptized as you see In the pure Fount of Peace and Amity Least at the last they wither quite away Like Churches old of Greece and Asia Therefore I wish that all who now be foes Might in the bond of Love united close For such by right all Christians ought to be And so make good this Converts History Application To the Iews ENough to Christians Now I 'le change my stile And to the scattered Tribes draw near a while Ye forlorn Jews since unto Sion hill You have a longing and a deep good will That you the better may attain your end Mark by what steps you thither must ascend For Scriptures yield a Promise and a call That when you turn to Christ your Vayl shall fall You are not cal'd to a veyl'd form or Letter But unto substance and a light far better Not to an outward Temple made with hands Framed of stones and built upon the sands For Christ is come to him your service yield And on that corner stone your Temple build For your old Temple is consum'd and gone And not a stone is left upon a stone Nor are you call'd to Sacrifices old Fetch'd from the wandring Herd or from the Fold A Contrite Heart is the true Sacrifice Required of all Jews with weeping eyes O Mourn a part in tears and sorrow due Turn to your Lord and he will turn to you For till you kiss his pierced feet and hands There 's no returning to your ancient Lands And then shall wandering Judah once more shine As new-born Christians in their Holy Shrine The Turk the Tartar will turn Christian Jews And India too Converted at the News Peace then will be on Earth both far and nigh Good will to Men Glory to God on high Amen The Address Wherein the Author Appeals to the Iudgment of the Conscientious Self-judging Readers who have Iudged the Whore within them JUdicious Friends who by an inbred light Can judge of truth beyond the vulgar sight To you I here appeal for I am sure There 's none but you can real truth endure And since to you an equall judgment 's given To weigh each word within the Balance even To your impartial eye I recommend These few Directions for the Truth 's sake pen'd Not that you need Direction from my hand But that by you the Victory may stand Against all those who the true light controle Though shining nere so bright in our North-Pole For truth hath many foes and friends but few Yet such it finds and such dear friends are you To you I here submit in equity You shall be Judges 'twixt this Whore and me Against whose Pride I yet have more to say When God and time permit a Judgment day Then will the stout and lofty like this youth Stand all as Mutes before the Throne of truth Learning and Valour Honour and high blood When that day comes will do the Whore no good Yours Veriloquus Dum relego scripsisse juvat quia Plurima Cerno Digna legi Populo principe digna legi THE Postscript INtelligent Readers either Convertible or Converted for your sakes I begun this small Book of Conversion under the Title of a Young Converted Gallant as a new and rare subject and now as
this Similitude INtentive and Unanimous Readers let us for the Truth sake contemplate yet a little further this comparison and see into the Heighth Depth Length and Breadth thereof for it is worth the knowing that by the natural Mystery we may learn the Supernatural and try our selves thereby For verily there is not a greater secret in nature or art then this of the Compass if we rightly consider all the properties thereof And therefore having given you the Pourtraicture thereof I will also here in the next place give you the Description of it and so proceed to application for Instruction sake in the work of Conversion The Pilots compass is a round box of Wood hollow and plain In the Verge of it are set down the 32 Points of the Winds and in the middle or Center stands a sharp Pins point whereon the Needle by a hollow Dent becomes Voluble and turneth round thereon tumbling and shaking 'till it leaves them all and fixeth in the North point only toward the Polar Star And over it is a plate of Glass or Chrystal to preserve it from all violent motion by the wind and to keep it from the Air dust or any foulness least it lose its Magnetick vertue And so is placed in the Ship near the Helme as a Directour to the Pilot how to Steer his course aright from place to place till he come to his rest or wished Harbour But there yet remain two greater wonders Namely the Load-stone or Magnet and also the Load Star or North-point The Loadstone is the efficient cause of the Needles Conversion and the Load-star is as the final cause of its conversion for there it ends and terminateth in rest and from both these the Needle receiveth the power of Conversion else it could have none And it must first receive vertue from the Load-stone before it can turn to the Load Star as I have said before And then having been touched thereby and joyned thereto and as it were gendring together it attracts to it self a secret love or inclination to the North-Poynt with eager desire But why or how this can be in nature no wit of man could ever yet find out for it is Digitus Dei the Finger of God a wonder in Nature for a lesson to Mankind Now in the next place observe the unparallel'd properties of these three The Stone the Needle and Star For these three act as one in this work 1. The Load stone draws and attracts the Needles Point figured as you see like a Lilly and as it were kisseth and embraceth it and anointeth or baptizeth it with a secret invisible vertue and this is the first change 2. Then the Needle rejoyceth in the vertue thereof as made Convertible thereby to its place of rest and this the second change 3. Lastly the Star or Morth point standeth fixed and cnmoveable to receive the Aspect and Reflexion of the Needle towards it in mutual Conjunction and this the third and last change in this great Mystery of nature Further observe one Load stone though there be many can inspire and new inform a Million of Needles and no Stone else can do it Marble Coral Agate Diamond Ruby Saphyre or Pearle nor all the Stones in Aarons Breast-plate nor in the Royal Crown nor yet the rare Elixar or Philosophers Stone can give it the vertue of Conversion to the Heavenly North-Star Neither can a Needle made of any Mettal but firm Steel receive this vertuous Tincture of Love Gold Silver Copper or Lead are not capable of this hidden vertue with all their Worldly Glory and Splendour they cannot receive a kiss of Love from the Magnet for they have not a Magnetick Principle in them nor any Heavenly inclination nor are they capable of this Communion and Unity as to point all to one place in the Heavens Earth is their Center and there they end in the grave of Corruption But these Love-touched-Brethren stand ever in Communion though far asunder the place and object of rest make them one in nature and in society inseperable companions in love and vertue though differing in locality remote from each other The Spiritual Application A Little Application will serve to the Intelligent Reader The Mystery is written in Capital Letters he that runs may read at first sight Behold all of you young and old men and women the wonderful power of God in the Creation in this and in all his works of wonder and so let all fall down and worship him adore admire and be converted unto him who hath made Heaven and Earth O draw neer unto him as the Needle to the Magnet and he will draw neer to you Magnifie him and glorifie his Name that his vertue his power his Love Fear and Faith may touch your hearts and anoint them with his secret spirit of Grace in Conversion that you may become all Elect Vessels of Honour in his sight and so be renewed in soul and body mind and spirit ever looking up to Heaven and panting after your Saviour who is gone before to prepare a rest for the blessed that look towards him above all the Profits or Pleasures or Glories of this world For he is in Heaven looking down upon you and after you as waiting for you and I when I ascended saith he will draw up all men after me Namely all that are capable to be drawn unto him in real Conversion from this world and the things thereof Every Sinner Swearer Drunkard Thief Whore and Adulterer Extortioner and vain glorious or covetous soul he waits for to come unto him to rest in him from sin to take up his dayly cross and follow him for of such little Children is the Kingdom of Heaven and all that be his already thus do he knows them and they him for they have already received many a kind kiss from him they are joyned as the Needle and Magnet mutually together and receive vertue of his vertue daily and cannot be drawn from him their hearts are with him though their bodies are here below and thus they all make one Assembly of Saints on Earth fixed on him in Heaven For by this Needle of pure firm Steel understand the Heart of Man his Soul and Mind Mens Humana the Humane understanding mind spirit sanctified and made Heavenly and Divine The Lovers of Gold and Silver and Brass and Pretious Stones Jewels and Glories of this World Titles of Honour and Gentility pleasures of Sensuality attain not this Conversion Those 32 points must all be left when the Word of God and his Spirit touch the True Mettled Heart as prepared for the Bosome of Jesus Christ the True North-star in whom is their Rest and Peace through a pure Lile Faith and Conscience and in no other but him Readers Take it into deep consideration for it is Truth here told you Hereby you may see and know your selves and your sins your Salvation or your Damnation Much more might here be said but I bid