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A26856
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Additions to the poetical fragments of Rich. Baxter written for himself and communicated to such as are more for serious verse than smooth.
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Baxter, Richard, 1615-1691.
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1683
(1683)
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Wing B1180A; ESTC R26683
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25,832
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82
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ADDITIONS TO THE POETICAL FRAGMENTS OF Rich Baxter Written for himself and Communicated to such as are more for serious Verse than smooth LONDON Printed for B. Simmons at the Three Golden Cocks at the West-end of St. Pauls 1683. A Supplement TO THE POETICAL FRAGMENTS I. Grace GOds perfect Power did this great World Create Gods perfect Wisdome all in Order Plac't Gods perfect Goodness made all very Good But Sin Gods Image on Mans Soul defac't Power caus'd Necessity and Wisdome Order And both by Goodness caused Harmony All in one perfect Frame Gods Glory shew Praise him and please him with pure Melody Sin could not change Necessity nor that Disorder which God fixt above Mans reach But the Free Lord Free Agents also made And there by Sin Fâ—â—â—e-Will did make the breach This Breach to Man was Punishment it self For God before had order'd Nature so That Poyson would cause Pain Wounds cause smart And Sin to Sinners Misery and Woe Goodness is Love delighting to do good Wisdome resolves this fowl breach to repair And make advantage of Mans Sin and Woe Iustice and Mercy largely to declare Hurt is soon done the Wound was quickly made The Cure must be performed by degrees A Saviours Grace must exercised be Wisdome with Love to do the Work decrees Mans Soul Incorruptible Substance is Essential Life not made it self to die It s final State then like it self will be Durable Happyness or Misery But it is plac't in Corruptible Flesh And the Compounded Frame that 's called Man Must be dissolv'd for Sin hath caused death And Flesh must turn to Earth whence it began But He who Mans Salvation undertook Is perfect Primitive Life Light and Love And will give Compound Life again to Man In joyful Glory with Himself above But as in Nature God great difference made Stones are not Men all have their proper place Men are not Stars and Stars are not the Sun So he will make great difference in Grace Man is not helpless left to mear despair Life is again made possible to all The former terms of Innocence now cease Mercies all Sinners to Repentance call A Law of saving Grace is newly made All that accept it and consent shall live Trust but a Saviour for that blessed Life And he will freely Grace and Glory give But yet Mans Life on Earth a Warfar is Gods Grace and Satans Malice daily Fight And all that will be Sav'd must overcome Sin 's vanquished by Grace Darkness by Light Each part their Captain have they their bands Not made by Force but Doctrine and Consent Each Man as Rational and Free Commands One draws to Sin the other to Repent Sin hath its Punishment the worst within When for neglect of Grace God it suspends But the correction of the Flesh for Sin Furthers Repentance and the Soul amends Thus all on Earth have some degrees of Grace Which Reason tells us they should not abuse Which bringeth some so far to Adam's case They stand or fall as they these Mercies use But God will not his Grace at randome give And leave the event to uncertainty But hath his Chosen who shall surely live In whom his saving Grace shall never die The two first Brothers did this War begin he killed and conquer'd who was first by birth He that seemd Conquer'd Triumphed by death The Victor's a curst Vagabond on Earth This War continu'd is unto this day Between the Holy and the Serpents seed These Brothers the prognostick Instance were Of all that ever after should succeed But the worst War is inward Grace and Sin The controversie daily there debate That which the Final Victory doth win Determineth Mans everlasting state A Law of Grace thus made to all Mankind In Adam and Noe common roots of all Ill entertainment with fall'n Man did find Who mostly to Idolaty did fall The strength of Sin is Love to Flesh and World And averse strangness to a better life It stronger grew by custome and abhor'd All motions tending to the Souls relief But Gods Electing Grace shall not be void In Abel Henoch Noe he this declar'd But specially in Abraham whose great Faith He with a special Promise did reward Not calling back the common Law of Grace He chose his Seed as a peculiar Nation Gave them a proper Law and of them rais'd The Lord Incarnate Author of Salvation Yet was their Dignity most Typical As was their Law to shew what God would doe When he the Nations unto Christ would call And build his Church as Catholick anew Sin soon prevail'd their Land was dry and small Seldome from under Enemies and Wast But they Gods Oracles preserv'd for us And from their Vine we all Salvation tast But as in Nature God works by degrees From Seed to Infancy from thence to Youth From thence to Manhood and Maturity So did he in revealing Grace and Truth Faln Man his Infancy and Childhood had In the old Laws dark Types and Prophesies But in times fulness God Incarnate came The Sun of Righteousness to Man did rise Three Laws he did fulfil one as a Man Once made for all Another as a Jew The third as Saviour proper to himself Then for his Church he made another new He Preacht Gods Will Proclamed saving Grace Brought to light Life and Immortality Declar'd Gods Love shew'd Man Gods pleased Face A Sacrifice for sinful Man did die He came to conquer Satan destroy Sin And heal sick Souls of Worldly Fleshly Love To raise the Earthly Mind of Man to God And bring him to a better Life above Words were too weak for this his works must do it He was to teach Man how to bear the Cross To deny Life and live above this World For Heav'n to count all here as Dung and Loss Wonder of Wonders God appears in Flesh Preacheth to Sinners calls them home to God Dies for them as a Sinner on a Cross Till the Third day among the Dead Abode Himself the greatest Wonder many wrought Heal'd all diseases gave the blind their Sight Raised the Dead by present bare Command Long before many in the open Light The Third day rose from Death stay'd Forty days Describes his Laws Church-Covenant and Seals Commissions his Apostles promiseth His Spirit which all saving truth Reveals Ascendeth up to Heaven before their Eyes And before Multitudes at Pentecost Gives them the gift of Miracles and Tongues By giving them the promis'd Holy Ghost They Preach Christ to the World speak various Tongues Work Miracles Heal Sickness Raise the Dead Convey this Power and Spirit unto others Thus through the World the word of Life they Spread These many Wonders not in Corners wrought Converted Thousands Conquer'd unbelief But above all his great Convincing Works The Spirits Sanctifying Grace was Cheif The erring know the Truth Fools are made Wise The Proud made humble Wrathful ones made meek The worlds fondâ—lovers now do it despise Kill fleshly Lusts and Heavenly Glory seek Sin is a hated
hath no such work there 's no such Men Nothing is there the Blessed to Annoy With Christ Angels Holy Soul shall then Praise God in perfect Life Light Love Joy Amen Decemb. 17. 1682. VI. The Exit MY Soul go boldly forth Forsake this Sinful Earth What hath it bin to thee But Pain and Sorrow And thinkst thou it will be Better to Morrow Love not this Darksome Womb Nor yet a Gilded Tomb Though on it Written be Mortal Mens Story Look up by Faith and see Sure Joyful Glory Why art thou for Delay Thou cam'st not here to stay What tak'st thou for thy part But Heav'nly pleasure Where then should be thy Heart But where 's thy Treasure Thy God thy Head 's above There is the World of Love Mansions there purchas'd are By Christs own Merit For these he doth prepare Thee by his Spirit Look up towards Heav'n and see How vast those Regions be Where Blessed Spirits dwell How Pure and Lightful But Earth is near to Hell How Dark and Frightful Here Life doth strive with Death To lengthen Mortals Breath Till one short Race be run Which would be ended When it is but begun If not defended Here Life is but a Spark Scarce shining in the Dark Life is the Element there Which Souls reside in Much like as Air is here Which we abide in Hither thou cam'st from thence The Divine Influence In Flesh my Soul did place Among the Living To be of Humane Race Was his free giving There I shall know God more There is the Blessed Chore No Wickedness comes there All there is Holy There is no Grief or Fear No Sin or Folly Ierusalem above Glorious in Light and Love Is Mother of us all Who shall enjoy them The Wicked Hell-ward fall Sin will destroy them O Blessed Company Where all in Harmony Iehovah's Praises Sing Still without ceasing And all Obey their King With perfect pleasing God there is the Saints Rest God is their constant Feast He doth them Feed and Bless With Love and Favour Of which they still possess The pleasant Savour God is Essential Love And all the Saints above Are like unto him made Each in his Measure Love is their Life and Trade Their constant Pleasure Love Flame 's in every Breast The Greatest and the Least Strangers to this sweet Life There are not any Love leaves no place for Strife Makes One of Many Each is to other dear No Malice enters there No Siding Difference No Hurt no Evil Because no Ignorance No Sin no Devil VVhat Joy must there needs be VVhere all Gods Glory see Feeling Gods Vital Love VVhich still is Burning And Flaming God-ward move Full Love returning SELF makes Contention here Love makes all Common there There 's no Propriety Mine is my Brothers Perfect Community Makes One's Anothers Go out then lingring Soul From this Vile Serpents Hole VVhere Bred as in a Sink They Hiss and Sting us VVill not Christ dost thou think To better bring us Think not that Heav'n wants store Think not that Hell hath more If all on Earth were lost Earth's scarce one Tittle To the vast Heavens at most Exceeding little All those Blest Myriads be Lovers of Christ and Thee Angels thy presence wish Christ will receive thee Then let not Bruitish Flesh Fright and Deceive thee Gladly my Soul go forth Is Heaven of no more worth Then this Curst Desert is This VVorld of Trouble Prefer Eternal Bliss Before this Bubble VVish not still for Delay VVhy wouldst thou longer stay From Christ from Home so far In Self-Denyal And live in longer VVar A Life of Tryal Souls Live when Flesh lies Dead Thy Sin is Pardoned VVhen Christ doth Death disarm VVhy art thou fearful And Souls that fear no harm Should pass forth Chearful Cherish not causeless Doubt That God will shut the out What if he thee assur'd From Heav'n by Letter His Son his Spirit and VVord Have done it better Hath Mercy made Life sweet And is it kind and meet Thus to draw back from God VVho doth Protect thee Look then for his sharp Rod Next to Correct thee VVhat if Foes should make hast Thou wilt the sooner tast VVhat all Blest Souls enjoy VVith Christ for ever VVhere those that thee Annoy Shall hurt thee never Fear not the VVorld of Light Though out of Mortal's sight As if it doubtful were For want of seeing Gross Bodies Vilest are And the least Being Vain sinful VVorld farewel I go where Angels dwell VVhere Life Light Love and Joy Are the Saints Glory Gods Praises there employ The Consistory Christ who knows all his Sheep VVill all in safety keep He will not lose his Blood Nor Intercession Nor we the Purchas'd Good Of his dear Passion I know my God is Just To him I wholy Trust All that I have and am All that I hope for All 's sure and seen to him VVhich I here grope for Lord Jesus take my Spirit I trust thy Love and Merit Take home this wand'ring Sheep For thou hast sought it This Soul in safety keep For thou hast bought it Amen Decemb. 19. 1682. The Valediction 1. VAin World what is in thee What do poor mortals see Which should esteemed be Worthy their Pleasure Is it the Mothers VVomb Or Sorrows which soon come Or a dark Grave and Tomb VVhich is their Treasure How dost thou Man deceive By thy vain Glory VVhy do they still Believe Thy false History 2. Is 't Childrens Book and Rod The Lab'rer's heavy Load Poverty under-trod The VVorld desireth Is it distracting Cares Or Heart-tormenting Fears Or pineing Grief and Tears VVhich Man requireth Or is it it Youthful Rage Or Childish Toying Or is Decrepite Age VVorth Mans Enjoying 3. Is it deceitful Wealth Got by Care Fraud or Stealth Or short uncertain Health VVhich thus befool Men Or do the Serpents Lies By the VVorlds Flatteries And tempting Vanities Still over-rule them Or do they in a Dream Sleep out their Season Or born down by Lusts Stream VVhich Conquers Reason 4. The silly Lambs to day Pleasantly Skip and Play Whom Butchers mean to Slay Perhaps to Morrow In a more Bruitish sort Doe careless Sinners Sport Or in dead Sleep still Snort As neer to Sorrow Till Life not well begun be sadly Ended And the Web they have Spun Can ne'r be Mended 5. What is the time that 's gone And what is that to come Is it not now as none The present stays not Time posteth Oh how fast Unwelcome Death makes hast None can call back what 's past Judgment delays not Though God bring in the Light Sinners awake not Because Hells out of Sight They Sin forsake not 6. Man walks in a vain shew They know yet will not know Sit still when they should go But run for shaddows While they might tast and know The living Streams that flow And crop the Flowers that grow In Christ's sweet Medows Life's better slept away Than as they use it In Sin and Drunken Play Vain Men abuse it 7. Malignant World adiew Where no foul Vice is new Only to Satan true God still offended Though taught and warn'd by God And his Chastising Rod Keeps still the way that 's broad Never amended Baptismal Vows some make But ne'r perform them If Angels from Heaven spake 'T would not reform them 8. They dig for Hell beneath They Labour hard for Death Run themselves out of Breath To overtake it Hell is not had for nought Damnation's dearly bought And with great Labour sought They 'l not forsake it Their Souls are Satans fee He 'l not abate it Grace is refus'd that 's free Mad Sinners hate it 9. Vile Man is so perverse It 's too rough work for Verse His badness to Rehearse And shew his Folly He 'l die at any rates He God and Conscience hates Yet Sin he Consecrates And calls it Holy The Grace he 'l not endure Which would renew him Constant to all and sure Which will undoe him 10. His Head comes first at Birth And takes Root in the Earth As Nature shooteth forth His Feet grow highest To kick at all above And spurn at saving Love His God is in his Grove Because its nighest He loves this World of strife Hates what would mend it Loves Death that 's called Life Fears what would end it 11. All that is Good hee 'd cursh Blindly on Sin doth rush A Pricking thorny Bush Such Christ was Crown'd with Their Worships like to this The Reed the Judas Kiss Such the Religion is That these abound with They mock Christ with the Knee When e're they bow it As if God did not see The Heart and know it 12. Of Good they choose the least Despise that which is best The joyful Heavenly feast Which Christ would give them Heav'n hath scarce one cold wish They live unto the Flesh Like Swine they feed on VVash Satan doth drive them Like weeds they grow in Mire VVhich Vices nourish VVhere warm'd by Satans Fire All Sins do Flourish 13. Is this the VVorld Men choose For which they Heav'n refuse And Christ and Grace abuse And not receive it Shall I not guilty be Of this in some Degree If hence God would me free And I 'd not leave it My Soul from Sodom flie Lest wrath there find thee Thy Refuge-rest is nigh Look not behind thee 14. There 's none of this adoe None of the Hellish Crew Gods promise is most true Boldly believe it My Friends are gone before And I am neer the Shoor My Soul stands at the Door O Lord receive it It trusts Christ and his Merits The Dead he raises Joyn it with Blessed Spirits Who sing thy Praises Ian. 14. 1682 3. FINIS The Titles I. Grace pag. 1 II. Wisdome 19 III. Madness 25 IV. Hypocrisie 34 V. Man 48 VI. The Exit 62 VII The Valediction 70 Books lately Printed for B. Simmons at the Three Golden Cocks at the West-end of St. Pauls 1683. MR. Rich. Baxter's Dying Thoughts preparatory to his approaching Change Octavo Of the Immortality of Man's Soul and the Nature of it and other Spirits Two Discourses Octavo By Mr. Baxter Truth and Peace promoted Or a Guide for young Christians in the way of Salvation past the danger of Errors and Difficulties of Curiosity In a familiar Dialogue between a Minister of Christ and a Devout private Christian. Twelves By Adam Martindalt