's Sonne it finisht on his laid foundation Who gold and siluer vessels in did bring It making Iudahs Ioy the admiration Of all the World the Seat of the great King Whither the Tribes goe vp for his true worshipping I may with this example dignifie The noble zeale of our late famous Queene Who much desired to reedifie Paules Temples ruines which so fearefull seeme And make her faire as euer shee was seene But warres abroad and broiles within her Land Most fatall to this pious worke haue beene So as it still most ruinous doth stand Expecting helpe from Solomons pacificke hand Zeale like a Torch it owne selfe doth consume whil'st burning it to others giueth light And like to sweetest incense and perfume For others Good spends all her force and might Oh blessed fire if kindled aright It burne with Loue of Heauen and holy things Retaining in our hearts both day and night His sweet imbraces who is King of Kings Loathing the worlds vaine wanton wicked dallyings This Cupid be thy soules and hearts delight Whose Bow and golden shafts of Zeale and Loue Doe conquer Fury's Fates and worlds despight And stay the thunderbolts of angry Ioue Oh see the force of Loue and Zeale doth moue All powers that in Heau'n Earth Hell transcend Grant thee alone I zealously may Loue And let thy Iealousie me safe defend That neuer to strange Gods I my affection bend Let vs learne zeale of him that in the day's Of 's slesh did offer Prayers supplication With strongest cry's and teares to God alwayes That able was to saue him from his Passion And learne of him true holy indignation To be ev'n eaten vp with feruent zeale To see theeues den in Gods owne habitation But first let Knowledge our Commission seale That where this Feruour wounds our Charitie may heale But ah our zeale of Prayer now growes cold Zeale of Gods glory like our Charitie And as the world declines now waxing old Ev'n so doth all our zeale and pietie We raise our houses ev'n to dare the skie But raze Gods Temples equall with the ground Our Fathers built them for posteritie And left with Ornaments adorned round But we them with their Ornaments seeke to confound As for the Temples of the Holy Ghost I meane our hearts the Bridegroomes habitation We will bestow on them no spirituall cost But leaue them foil'd with vilest prophanation Pride Lust Vaine-glory all abomination T is time to wish this holy Bishops zeale Would make of them to God new consecration And that the Holy Ghost their doores would seale Against all spirituall theeues that holy goods would steale Oh that some holy fit of Heau'nly fire Raising my Muse to zealous contemplation Would in mine heart that feruent flame inspire And zealous Loue Saint Paul bare to his nation When as hee could haue wish't eu'n reprobation For their sakes from whose flesh Christ did descend Or of the Prophet by predestination Most sure his name in Booke of Life was pen'd Yet wisht it wiped out Gods glory to defend But I confesse we rather doe enuy Gods gifts and graces in our Bretheren And Iosuah-like forbid them prophesie Shewing more zeale to honour Greatnesse then To Glorifie the King of Heau'n yea when We in our hearts find any emulation 'T is for vaine-glory and the praise of men To build our houses not Gods habitation And leaue faire large possessions to our generation Let vs with Dauid make a sacred vow And to th' Almightie God of Iacob sweare Neuer to come within our house nor bow Our Limbs vpon our Beds till we prepare A place Gods spirituall Temple vp to reare Nor euer suffer sleepe within our eyes Or slumber in our eye-lids to appeare Till we an habitation doe deuise Where we may to th' Almightie offer sacrifice My mind inflame Lord with that hot desire And zeale to glorifie thy holy name That like thy Martyrs I may dread no fire Because I feele within a hotter flame Hot Coles therefore shall be to mee the same As to the Martyr was the Boiling Oyle Which did more coole indeed than him inflame Because his zeale within did hotter boile Sweet heau'nly dewes doe most inrich the hottest soile Oh were mine head a conduit full of teares Mine eyes two rocks continually to run As well to cleanse foule Lusts of youthfull yeeres As coole the zealous slames in me begun Had I thus once my Bridegroomes presence won I neuer would let goe my well-laid hold Till hee into my Mothers chamber come With sweet embraces ay mee to infold His ardent Loue would neuer let my zeale grow cold MEDITAT III. Of TEMPERANCE MY Muse now fares like to some Pilot wise Who hauing some dread stormes of danger past That tost his vessell oft vp to the skies Now sailing in the calme with temperate blast Goes gently on lest too much dangerous hast His ship vnwares on hidden rocke impight And him and all his hopes away should cast For thus it oft befalls some carelesse wight To wreck in fairest calme when they the storme haue quight I late was tost in rough and boisterous Sea Of Zeale and Iealousie which hauing past I am to saile in calme and fairest Lea Of Temperance most abstinent and chast Therefore my Muse goes on with sober hast Knowing against her many dangers lie Which by the touch tongue smell eye eare or taste Would her entrap and bring in ieopardy Which Poets by the Syr'ts and Syrens doe imply And therefore did the famous blind Bards quill Preferre Vlysses in his Court of Fame Who of this Temperance had got the skill Fore Aiax Hector or Achilles name His Odysses may testifie the same Which were compos'd his Temperance to commend By which he men and monsters ouercame And did life honour chastitie defend 'Gainst Syrens and Enchantments to his latest end And sure the Heathen to all Christians shame Seem'd wondrously vs herein to transcend But that they wanted that most holy flame Of zeale which I so lately did commend And knowledge which should guide them to their end All that they had by natures light was showne But God his holy Word to vs doth send Whereby his Will and Counsell is made knowne What fruit then ought we beare where so good seed is sowne Eue was the first Author of Intemperance Led by her eye nice tast and fond desire Of Knowledge with proud wicked Ignorance And chang'd Gods Loue to euerlasting ire The Garden loosing for eternall fire But what shee lost his Temperance doth gaine Whose aid now in mine entrance I desire Who from all food did fortie dayes abstaine And all 's Life from intemperate thought word deed refraine This Vertue some doe make so Cardinall That all the rest in her they would imply As Loue Peace Concord Pudour Virginall Gentlenesse Meekenesse Liberalitie Thrift Silence Friendship Goodnesse Grauitie Honesty Purenesse all true moderation Which doth withhold from Sin and Vanitie And bringeth vnto true humiliation Most happy Mother of so
bringeth vnder And 'gainst all disobedience soundeth out like thunder This was the Sword wherewith our valiant Head When he was tempted in the Wildernesse And with a six-weekes-fast sore weakened Did free himselfe from Hells malitiousnesse When first on him his Enemy did presse He vs'd the hilts himselfe for to defend But when he could not thus his Foe represse Loe he the point against his Breast doth bend Behind me Satan All Gods worship must attend Those that will vse aright this holy Word Must not the letter but the sense apply Or else they vse the Scabbard for the Sword Wherewith none euer wun the Victory It is the Mystery of Iniquitie To take the letter and to leaue the sense To forge of Antichrists Idolatry The feigned Rocke the Key 's of Heau'n from whence He claimes to vniuersall Power Obedience A multitude of words but all one sense And tending all to that grand mystery To which all mysteries haue reference Mans personall vnion with the Deity The which to God was knowne infallibly In his election ere the worlds Foundation And all the Bookes it seemes to typifie From Genesis vnto the Reuelation Sublime transcendent mystery's of mans Saluation How should my Muse these hope to comprehend In this short fainting breath of meditation Which doth all humane wit and skill transcend Whos 's each word hath an hid signification Each letter pricke and point an obseruation All fauouring of Wisdome true diuine And far beyond mans weake inuestigation In it such rare profound deepe Learning shine A Volume is not able to expound a Line Fie then on those that swolne with vaine ambition To sway all Kingdomes with materiall sword Preferre before this Word their vaine tradition Which nought but vainnesse like themselues afford Their names be wiped out of the Record And Booke which all thy Saints names doth containe That thus doe seeke to vilifie this Word Which to accomplish Gods owne Sonne was slaine And thousand Martyrs spent their bloud it to maintain So deale with Prophets that to hide conspire From simple people Food spirituall Which they as new borne Babes do milke desire That they may grow vp to be strong and tall I grant as Mothers breasts doe best of all Nourish the Child so doth Gods holy Word Which from our Mother-Churches breasts doth fall Best nourishment vnto her Babes afford So as it be sincere Else be it all abhor'd True Angells Food sweet Manna pure diuine My Spirits dayly bread and nourishment Which wanting shee doth hunger statue and pine And yeeld to Body's sleshly Regiment My Soule with fat and marrow is content When I with ioyfull lips thy praises sing And feed upon thy Lawes great wonderment Which to subiection doth my Body bring And makes the Spirit rule and order like a King The Spirit it compares to Looking Glasse Where we our Faces Spots may all behold But soone out of our memory they passe Like to a Dreame or Tale that 's idlely told But who his mind thereon doth daily hold Doth walke in perfect Law of Liberty Which to him doth apparantly vnfold His Soule and Fleshes least deformity And sheweth him the meanes the same to rectifie Eu'n as the Raine indiffereutly doth fall Vpon the fruitfull and the barren ground So preached is this Heau'nly Word to all Though to the faithlesse it be fruitlesse found Oh! where this Word doth powerfully sound The strongest holds of sin it shatters downe And things most high exalted doth confound It 's smallest-smallest-Seed in lowly Valley sowne Est suddenly is to a mighty Cedar growne It is reported of the siluer Doue She neere the purest Streames doth most delight In which Shee may espy the shadow moue Of towring Faulcon or the rauenning Kite Whereby she is forewarn'd to scape by flight From cruell Hawkes that seeke her for a pray So if in spirituall streames we take delight Our spirituall Foes we there discouer may That so our Soules forewarn'd like Doues might flye away Most glorious Sun-shine where it doth enlight More comfortable Light hath showne But when Shee doth withdraw her Beames is night And darknesse spirituall far grosser growne Than that which three day 's was to Pharaoh knowne Hard-hearted Pharaoh thou that didst despise This Word and all the wonders by it showne Eu'n all thy plagues light on them that deuise To hide this heau'nly Light from simple peoples ey 's It is the doore whereby the pastours may Spiritually ascend into their Fold Those that doe enter in another way We doe as rauenning wolues and robbers hold This Word 's a touchstone which doth try from Gold All mettalls base Inuentions of mans braine Of which such store at Latium now are sold Not for the Flocks but for the Shepheards gaine Masse Dirges Pardons Trentalls and Traditions vaine Nothing describe her nature better will Than Touchstone th' vse of which simplest may learne But one had need of cunning Gold-smiths skill True Touchstone from a false one to discerne Oh how did those noble Berreans earne To try those things that Paul deliuered The things which our Saluation did concerne By that which in the Scriptures they had read The Scriptures that the Spirit had canonized Who from the simple people these doe hide Deale as with Israel did the Cananite Who no Smith suffer'd in their Coasts t' abide To make a weapon for an Israelite Therfore no speare nor sword when they should fight But in Sauls hands and Ionathans were found Chams hellish pollicy most deu'lish sleight To hold in Ignorance and Bondage bold By taking way such helpes as Liberty propound As first God by his Word and Spirit wrought And fashion'd all things in this worlds Creation So by this Word and Spirit he hath brought All things to passe in this our renouation And as he for our Bodyes preseruation Hath here materiall Bread and Wine prepar'd So 's Word and Spirit is for sustentation Of all our Soules that rightly it regard Such neuer need of thirst and hunger be afeard As Appetite 's a Signe of Body's Health So of the Soules is hunger of his Word And as to him that seeketh store of wealth A Myne can best what he desires afford So he that spirituall treasures vp would hoard Come to this sacred Word where he shall find It doth a world of mystery's record The richest jewells to adorne the mind True treasure's no where else reuealed to mankind For it 's the Megazine where pastours haue All gems and treasures to enrich their fold The store-house whence they all abundance craue Of liuing food their Lambs in plight to hold The armory from whence they may he bold To fetch all armes and weapons to withstand The wolues which them infest and to vphold Truth and the right against all Satans Band Falfe Heretickes base Lusts and worlds encroaching hand But as the Manna that from Heau'n was sent Bred Wormes if wrong but Food if rightly vsed So breeds this Word our Soules due nourishment But neuer-dying
her Sauiours knowledge in her brest Than that shee bare him in her wombe yet tender For One all Generations call her blest By th' other one of his true members shee doth rest But though this onely necessary is And first for our saluation to be sought Wee onely at our last of it haue misse As too meane subiect for ambitious thought Thus the vnlearned rise and heav'n haue cought When greatest Clerks with Sciences profound Heartlesse and comfortlesse to Hell are brought For God doth their great wisedome oft confound Because their inward parts are not sincere and sound Alas of knowledge here we haue no care But all our youth in follies idely spend Our strength in lusts and strifes away we weare In age we worldly profit all intend Alas what gaine we by this at our end When our fraile Body doth returne to dust Our Soule to him that gaue it must ascend Whereof least iot of time account they must Which hath been spent in discord profit folly lust Oh! knew we but the vertue of this treasure Like to the Merchant wise we would sell all To buy it where we should find profit pleasure Such Ioy as neuer on our hearts did fall Oh heav'nly Comfort Ioy spirituall Delight vnspeakeable in hearts that ' grow Of those that shee is conuersant withall What Ioy can there be greater than to know Gods endlesse Loue in Christ which shee to vs doth show Sure I could wish my whole life here to spend In this diuine most holy contemplation whereof I know not how to make an end Shee yeelds such plentie of sweet meditation Most heav'nly mysteries of our Creation Wherein appeare Gods might and Maiestie But aboue all his loue in mans saluation This is that wondrous hidden mystery Into the which eu'n Angels did desire to pry But we confesse though thou dost here reueale Abundant knowledge yet we little know Wherefore 'gainst vs the Heathen may appeale Who though thou didst to them but glimpses show Of Truth and Iustice did more righteous grow Than wee that doe thy sacred Truth confesse And make of Puritie a glorious show But to adorne the Gospel we professe With workes of Charitie Ah! wee doe nothing lesse Oh it is meate and drinke we know not of To know and doe our heav'nly Fathers will Our blessed Sauiour alwayes fed thereof And hereof Saints and Angells eate their fill These are the fruitfull plants which flourish still Milke Hony liuing Water spiced Wine Which doe refresh Christs Spouse when shee is ill These richest Iewells which her make so fine Locks Ribands Roses which so gloriously do shine For this shee is the Bridegroomes darling Doue And vnto her that bare her onely deare For this the daughters when they see her loue And all the Queenes and Wiues make merry cheere This makes her looke than Sunne and Moone more cleere Her nauell belly head necke brests adorne With these shee to her husband doth appeare More beautifull than is the fairest morne Or faire like twinning Ews on Gilead washt and shorne Thou that such heav'nly Knowledge didst instill Into plaine Fishers that they could confound By argument ev'n Clerkes of greatest skill And diue into thy Mysteries profound Who by their clouen-fiery tongues forth sound The Knowledge of thy Truth to ev'ry Nation Canst make this Knowledge in mine heart abound By one sparke of diuine illumination And rauish my weake soule with heav'nly admiration And though imperfect here our Knowledge be By reason of our humane imperfection And for by Faith alone we things doe see And nothing know indeed in true perfection Yet when thy Spirit cleares our minds infection Wee shall then know ev'n as we now are knowne And things now seene by mirrour-like inspection To vs shall be most euidently showne In Knowledge we shall reape what we in Faith haue sowne What then 's imperfect shall be done away Knowledge shall perfect our felicitie Which is our free beholding God for ay In his great Goodnesse Loue and Maiestie So farre as finite may infinitie Farther to reach my Muse dares not be bold When Angels of so high sublimitie Gods Light and Maiestie cannot behold Finite with infinite can no proportion hold MEDITAT I. Of ZEALE and godly IEALOVSIE OH that some holy fire enlightening My Soule now rauish would with thoughts diuine Whilst I of Iealousie Loues daughter sing And godly Zeale which like the Sunne doth shine Alas Minerua and the Muses nine Are too weake helpes their aide here to intreate With Colefrom Altar let some Seraphine Touch my rude tongue and set my braine on heate The Glory of this Grace in loftie rhimes to sweate Fit Subiect for a sacred Poets Verse Which should it selfe in Extasie transcend Zeales sacred Praise with Knowledge to rehearse Both Method and Deuotion doe commend Who as the houshold Chaplaine doth intend To all that liue in Royall Court of Loue And Prayers for them all to heau'n doth send For without Zeale none possible can moue To high Olimpus Court the Seate of mightie Ioue For Prayers that to Heau'n seeke to ascend Without the Feruour of this sacred Zeale Fall downe like smoakie vapours that intend Into Aires middle region to steale But those that are supported by her seale Like Fumes of incense by the Lamb contend Eu'n in th' Almighties presence to reueale Our wants and craue his aid vs to defend 'Gainst worlds and Serpents poyson to our latest end Oh! thou to whom it was both drinke and meate To finish and to doe thy Fathers Will Whom Zeale of Gods owne house eu'n vp did eate And made thee on the Crosse thy bloud to spill Who whipst out Merchants that thy house did fill With doues and money theeues and merchandize Some Zea-lous iuice into my pen distill And raise my mind aboue her wonted guise That so my Muse may with her matter sympathise All other holy Graces disposition By rules of Art I formerly define But Zeale so feruent is no definition Can her containe or bound in any line Onely shee is by nature pure diuine Beloued daughter to the Queene of Loue Whose mothers Graces so in her doe shine Shee well the primate of her Court may proue And ranked be for place all other Peares aboue I here omit that Zeale which without hate Of others doth to vertuous deeds contend And vs enflames that good to emulate Which we to be in others apprehend I here that holy Iealousie commend Which onely doth from Loue diuine proceed When not for our but Gods cause we intend To loue both him and his in word and deed For this is that right Zea'le which of true Loue doth breed Truth comes by knowledge and from zeale deuotions When therefore zeale doth with true knowledge meete Shee doth inlarge our hearts with heav'nly notions Sublime transcendant admirable sweet But where this knowledge wants shee 's vndiscreet Rash violent seditious rude and blind Faults for so faire a Lady farre vnmeet You see two zeales here
to lend it But least corrupt my mind or body grow with too much ease or wanton Idlenesse My mind I set my Makers Will to know His Wisedome Power Truth and Holinesse I often ride or walke to wearinesse The members of my body to subdue And Temper 'gainst Lust and Laciuiousnesse Thus by sweet contemplation oft I view Such high transcendent things as yet I neuer knew Thus rapt with contemplation I find That all these worlds-gay show's which men admire Are but vaine shadow's to the ioy 's of mind Of those that lead their liues in safe retire Whose onely happinesse and hearts desire Is here the talents God hath lent to spend Vnto his glory as he doth require And vsing Temperately what he doth send Thus grant that I may liue Thus grant that I may end MEDITAT IIII. of BOVNTIE NOw will I raise faire Alma's stately tower On Temperance her strong and soundest frame And goodly deck Dame Bounty's dainty bower Whereby all Princes gaine immortall fame Some call her Alma some her Bounty name The trusty Almner of Loues Royall Court Who beares the bag to giue to blind and lame And Suitors all that thither doe resort Rewards most bounteously and feeds in seemely sort For on this heau'nly Dame the eyes of all Looke vp that of her liberalitie They may receiue and shee againe le ts fall Vpon them needfull things most plenteously Her bounteous hand shee opens willingly With blessings eu'ry creature full to fill To those that Knowledge seeke abundantly Shee giueth Wisdome Vnderstanding Skill To know their Makers Bountie Maiestie and Will Most glorious Alma when as Temperance Controlls the noble Plentie of her Hall And with her Staffe keepes out Intemperance Which doth abuse her Grace and Bountie all For where most Plentie is there most doe fall By want of Temperance to Lust and Sin Till they be brought low as the Prodigall For he that will true Praise by Bountie win Must first of all at home with Temperance begin For Temperance with watchfull diligence Are like two springs which waters doe supply To open handed free Beneficence And her discernes from Prodigalitie By Diligence we get sufficiencie By Temperance what we haue gotten spare To minister to Liberalitie For these two Lady-Bounty's handmaids are And for her iust and truly store of wealth prepare But they that liue in sloth and foule excesse Though they may seeme to be most liberall Oppression and Extortion mercilesse Are Lakes from whence their Bounty 's streamed doe fall And thus they rob the poore that therewithall They may themselues rich friends and children feast Blaspheming their great Maker Lord of all And imitating basest sauage beast Which fawnes vpon the great But doth deuoure the least God of all Bountie King most Liberall Who to thy vassall Man at his Creation Didst subiect make Fish Fowle Beasts creatures all And of thine handy works gau'st domination Who by thy prouidence and ordination Him needfull things not onely dost prouide But for his health delight and contentation That he may plentie to the poore diuide My Muse to sing heart hands to practise Bountie guide Bountie Beneficence Benignitie In name though diuers one in substance be Beneuolence and Liberalitie Make actions and affections agree If as they are in God you wish to see They like his Goodnesse are vnlimitted And as his Mercy Loue and Grace are free Which on his creatures are abundant shed But by my shallow Muse their depth cannot be read They are too high to reach too deepe to sound For all the earth is filled therewithall In heau'n aboue Gods Goodnesse doth abound The Bountie of his Grace is ouer all Of all the Meditations which call My mind to holy Ioy and admiration None lets more comfort than Gods Bountie fall Both for my being and my preseruation But most in that he shed his bloud for my Saluation Here could I wish my Muse might euer dwell In viewing Gods great Goodnesse Bountie Loue Which three to th' holy Trinitie I well May here ascribe For Goodnesse first doth moue The Father to beget Eternall Loue From Loue and Goodnesse Bountie doth proceed Yet all these three as one in God doe proue In substance one although distinguished In working But this height my reach doth far exceed And therefore rauish't now with contemplation Beyond the compasse of my feeble eye My soule amaz'd falls downe to adoration Of this misterious holy Trinitie And from diuine come to benignitie And bountie which should be in men below A habit wee of liberalitie Her call and good affection we should show In thought heart word and deed to eu'ry one we know And must from goodnesse and true loue proceed The onely cause of true benignitie Wherefore except these be in vs indeed Our bounty is but prodigalitie Or some like froth of superfluitie The crums and leauings of Intemperance Which oft are dealt out with an euill eye More for vaine credit or base circumstance Then for goodwill or care Gods glory to aduance For eu'ry act hath then her true effect Which from true ground right aymeth at her end As when both loue and goodnesse doth direct What bounty truly gets aright to spend Loe thus doth heau'nly grace and Bounty send Her blessings temporall alike to all But doth for greater benefits intend To those that on Gods name aright doe call And in this heau'nly sort ought we be liberall Oh! then th' effects of bounty glorious are When Prouidence with true Frugality Doe seeke by Iustice to prouide and spare Fit sustenance for liberality Behold that heau'nly bounteous Maiesty Sends raine and fruitfull seasons whereby store Of Blessings th' earth may to his hand supply And many hidden treasures vp doth store For to exalt the rich and to refresh the pore Then humane bounty like her Makers is When as shee labours to doe good to all But most of all to bring poore soules to blisse And fill their hearts with food spirituall Oh Grace Diuine Bounty Angelicall With spirituall loaues in Wildernesse to feed Gods Saints when spirituall hunger them doth gal The ignorant which pine with inward need Diuine sweet comforts to their fainting soules to reade True Bounty 's knowne best by her company For shee in Truth and Mercy takes delight Faith Iustice Temperance Humility And is withall Loues graces richly dight Herein appeares her glorious heau'nly Sp'rite Shewing that shee of seed diuine is borne Of Loue and Goodnesse not of Vaine delight Or Fame and Praise of men when shee doth scorne To seeke feign'd bounteous shewes her goodnes to adorn For thus th' ambitious man is bountifull Thus belly-gods in plentie take delight Deceit with gifts his neighbour seekes to gull The couetous bribe large to conquer right From such false Bounty Truth is banish't quite Humility Faith Knowledge Temperance Nor any of Loues Graces in her sight May suffered be their ensignes to aduance There dwells Contention Pride Oppression Ignorance As daughters of the horse-leech still doe
Folly is of wise illumination And as in Chaos rude at first Creation There was all Darknesse by the want of Light So in all men before their renouation Are Folly's mists and errours blackest night Till there the Spirit moue which all things doth inlight The Poets which did wondrously transcend In making Mystery's by Fictions plaine All other Graces as diuine commend But Wisdome they to be a Goddesse faine Minerva who proceedeth from the braine Of Iupiter whom they the Mistris hight Of all the Graces and the Muses traine To whom shee oft descends for her delight Weary'd with toile of Gouernment and Martiall fight Thus her of Warre Peace Politie and Arts They Goddesse make as if they should her call The Wisdome God the Father thus imparts Vnto the Sonne to make rule order all With God the Father Coessentiall As all his Attributes Power Truth and Loue For on the Persons Consubstantiall No accident can fall or thence remoue This Soules faint eye conceiues of Wisdome from aboue Which is vnto my minds obscured eye As to my Body's Sunne in Firmament The farther off the easier to descry For neerenesse breedeth but astonishment Oh glorious Wisdome Sun most orient Into my soule with Folly clouded shine Some clearer beames of wisdome excellent The whil'st I sing these radiant rayes of thine Which make a mortall wight seeme gloriously diuine What and how great is wisdomes heau'nly skill No heart of man is able to conceiue Much lesse expresse by any tongue or quill For none but Wisdome wisdome can perceiue The cause vnknowne of nothing shee doth leaue A Numen of such wondrous excellence Shee doth no good but from her selfe receiue Being her owne end ayme and recompence No good in Heau'n or Earth but flow's from Sapience And therefore call'd the proper Good of Ioue Which though to Men and Angells hee dispence In wise proportion yet from him doth moue All wisdome and to him hath reference For as in Power so in Sapience He doth all other heau'nly Powers transcend For Wisdome Ground is of Omnipotence And as we Mortalls on her hests attend So neerer io diuine perfection we ascend Such is true Wisdom's glory that eu'n they Seeme much to doubt who doe her most admire Whither we properly possesse her may And by continuall industry acquire Or that the Heau'ns her secretly inspire In briefe no price or gold can her obtaine Shee seemes to be some flame of heau'nly fire In Adam breath'd before by Folly slaine Which therefore we must seeke to haue from heau'n againe Schooles her to be the knowledge doe define Of things diuine and humane which in breast Of Mortalls if it pure and liuely shine Makes him like God vnmou'd and stable rest For as no chance of Fortune can molest The Power diuine So wisemen doe enioy Within themselues by Wisdome Peace and Rest Nothing that is without can them annoy All seeming Miseries giue place to Inward Ioy. Yet falls this Wisdome short of that Diuine Which Adam did possesse before his fall And as Sun-beames through clouds so doth she shine Through our corruptions scarse discern'd at all Wee common and more exquisite her call That see things that are past and things in sight This things which in succeeding times may fall Wee her as shee guides mens affayres aright Call Prudence Wisdome as shee doth in God delight Wisdome and Prudence in an humane breast Are one same Grace though diuers by relation Wisdome referres to God Prudence doth rest Most in a wise and vpright moderation Of States and Men by Law 's administration By Wisdome here we see the life of Grace By Prudence in a ciuill conuersation Prudence amongst the heathen had a place True heau'nly wisdome only Gods elect doth grace This heau'nly wisdome whereby we conuerse With God and take delight in holy things Doth our affections all and wills peruerse Set right and neere diuine perfection brings Shee first like good Musitian tunes the strings And then sends forth a most harmonious sound First lifts our Soules to heau'n vpon her wings Next orders all by Prudence on the ground Like Leach who ere he others cure himselfe makes sound She first within in order sets the heart Next is for outward things most prouident No Grace more Good to Mortalls doth impart Nor none more euills here on earth preuent She shew's her inward Graces God hath lent By outward manners habit graue attire Few words pure hands in all such complement Such gesture publike and in her retire As all her for a heau'nly patterne doe admire But most of all a wiseman striues to tame Both in himselfe and others Sin and Lust For hee that Good from Ill discern's doth blame False varnish't show's defil'd with inward rust He Pride Pompe Boasting Scorne away doth thrust And from a pure Serenity of mind A paterne draw's of Life most quiet iust Far from opinions false and errour blind And guides at sterne as in a calme so in the wind In Warre most valiant in Iudgement iust Ill vnto Good things hurtfull turn's to sound Will 's still the same because the best no Gust Of fate oppresleth him if Wealth abound Or Pouertie he still the same is found And doth with pleasing Constancy endure All Fortunes changes which doe others wound True innocent sincere iust simple pure And as his Life his Death is ioyfull sweet secure The Poets faine that in the golden Age Graue wise experienc'd men bare all the sway And the vnexpert young not yet growne sage To learne Law 's rules first practis'd to obey For Prudence all by leuell orders ay And by a long Experience doth discerne How she prouide for future changes may By precept and example much we learne But that imprints most deepe which doth our selues concern Examples Precepts and Experience Are euer ready at a Wisemans hand To teach him Iudgement Counsell Prouidence Of which we alway's here in need doe stand By Counsell we the Grounds doe vnderstand Of things we ought to doe or leaue vndone Iudgement our Wills and Senses doth command What things we ought embrace and what to shun And Prouidence prouides for things that are to come I praise not here that cunning Politie Which maketh of anothers Folly gaine This comes of Malice Guile and Subtiltie Which generous braue Prudence doth disdaine Such alway's euill counsell entertaine The Apes of Prudence Reasons deprauation Whose minds as hands grow hard by taking paine Are by base plots and subtill magination Inured vnto others wrongs and supplantation As Quicknesse wit As Soundnesse memory Graue lookes the Face and Plainnesse speech commend So Iudgements praise is in Equalitie Without least doing wrong to Foe or Friend And as salt sauours so doth Iudgement bend Eu'n all our words thoughts workes to good or ill Without this Iudgement Prudence doth intend Nothing for shee is Mistresse of her Will Which she with all her power labours to fulfill Counsell and Iudgement are the very eyes And Lamps here to direct
Her due Subiection vnto her Head And as our Christ directs his Church below So wiues must be by husbands ordered But this of wiues is better knowne then practised So is th' obedience which Children owe Vnto their Parents by Commandement And promise they shall long and good day's know If they to them will be obedient The fift and last is Masters Gouernment And Seruants Duty which they should them beare Which ought to be with single true intent Not for eye-seruice wages or for feare But as they would obey eu'n Christ their Master deare Thus ought we to obey these fiue degrees Set ouer vs Because we so obay The highest Power And if their iust decrees We sleight that highest Power we disobay Far wide then disobedient spirits stray Which by Religion would all reuerence Exclude due vnto Magistrates and say They vnto no man owe obedience A false excuse of Schisme and all vnreuerence Obedience preserueth Vnity And helpeth to this great worlds conseruation As Heau'ns and Earth doe by due Obsequy Obey their glorious Makers Ordination Behold how all things in this worlds Creation Doe by their Makers order stand or moue Earth keepes her Center for mans preseruation The Heau'ns turne all in motion round aboue Without Obedience one would out another shoue And thus we may Obedience obserue To hold our members in due motion ay Whil'st one doth to another member serue And all vnto the Spirit doe obay The Soule of man which doth by reason sway Eu'n all the members to their preseruation And if the least of them doe disobay Shee either seekes their better reformation Or one endangers all to endlesse condemnation For whilst man here doth on the earth remaine Sin and corruption in his Body dwell Seeking therein as Lord and King to raigne But Grace doth striue by force them to expell If bondslaues we our selues to Sin doe sell And giue our members here Lusts to obay We yeeld vnto such Lusts as lead to Hell But if that Grace our Soule aright doth sway Then all the members follow Her the narrow way Remoue this Vertue of Obedience From Soule or Body Subiect City Towne Or from the Creatures wanting life and sense And all vnto Confusion tumble downe The Tower of Babel might to Heau'n haue growne Had all obay'd with mutuall diligence But suddainly we see it ouerthrowne When to obay they want intelligence For without vnderstanding no Obedience As to maintaine Heau'ns perfect vnitie All to one surpeame Trinity obay So all that haue with it Affinitie Subiect themselues to that one God for ay No wonder if those that him disobay To many Errours Schismes and Sects doe fall For one true Vnity they doe gainsay When they resist his Ordinances shall And disobey Gods Word that here directeth all Mee thinkes my Muse could here her selfe transcend By musing of th' obedience aboue Which from the Sonne to Father doth ascend And Angells who obeying Feare and Loue Alas what can th' eternall Power moue Obedience of poore wretches to require But vs to ioyne to Christ our Head in Loue As he is ioy'nd to God in due desire Vnto no other end Obedience doth aspire For as when in a wild and fruitlesse stocke We doe some noble impe inoculate The fruit erst base and wild like to the Blocke Is made as goodly faire and delicate As Tree which first this imp did generate So the least imp of Christs Obedience In vs ingraft doth vs regenerate And makes vs beare fruit of like excellence As liuely tree from which it first had influence For all that from stocke of first Adam come Beare those sowre fruits of Disobedience But all that doe ingraft againe become In second Adams true Obedience Bring forth sweet fruits like liuely tree from whence They haue receiued first their sap to spring Swee liuing Vine whose sacred influence Vs makes obedient to our Lord and King Ah! who the praises of thy noble fruit can sing It did aduance that holy Prophets quill When He in volume of the booke did find Written that thou shouldst Gods whole Law fulfill Whereto thou wert withall thine heart inclin'd And when the time was come thereto assign'd Thou wert obedient to all Gods will Performing it with all thine heart and mind Ev'n till the Iewes thee on the Crosse did kill When thou resisted'st not though they thy bloud did spill Obedient Lamb this was the sacrifice The offering God did for sin require Thus We must offer vp to God likewise Our Soules and Body's with like zealous fire To dye if not indeed yet in desire Quick holy acceptable Offering To pacifie Gods Iustice and his Ire Is when to him obedient hearts we bring And crucifie those Lusts which from our Flesh doe spring As from the boundlesse Ocean doe run All streames which doe returne into the Maine So from one paterne of Obedience come All ours and thither doth returne againe The Lamb that was from worlds beginning slaine Gaue the first blow to Disobedience Which Isaack imitates when he is laine On Altar to be sacrificed thence Whom truly Abram offer'd by Obedience This was that quiet sauour God did smell When offring one of each cleane bird and beast The good old Noah pleas'd the Lord so well Obedience was the Seasoning to the feast What made the Lord Sauls sacrifice detest But that he did his Word then disobey When he did spare of Amalec the best To offer vp But therein did obay His own corrupt inuentions not what God did say Better then Sacrifice is to obay And then the fat of Rams to giue good eare Happy though we doe all the world gaine say If we obay our Lord and Master deare But ah whil'st we remaine as Pilgrims here Flesh World and Deuill daily vs perswade To follow Pleasures vaine and to forbeare Obedience to the Lord which vs hath made Whose Statutes to obey should be our onely trade Oh Sacrifice of Fooles with tongue to pray But harbour no obedience in thine heart Who dost in word professe God to obay But by thy workes dost all his Law 's peruert Behold it is not without iust desert That Beasts to thee are disobedient When thou to God a faithlesse rebell art To whom obey Sun Moone Stars Firmament Nor Sea against his will inuades the Continent Whil'st I about this sinfull Body beare Lusts and corruptions will therein remaine Yet neuer let them so much domineere As here of Grace the mastery to gaine For if I suffer Sinne in me to raigne That all my members will to sinne obay That sin whereof Saint Paul doth so complaine Oh! who me from the same deliuer may It is not I but sin that Christ doth disobay If that the Iudge by his Authoritie Inioyne me to performe or speake a thing Against the will of Soueraigne Maiestie Here my Deniall no Offence doth bring And if I be commanded by the King To doe against his will that is aboue I here no Rebell am though suffering For
wormes if once abused He that for Egypts Flesh-pots hath refused This Heau'nly Food And mans tradition vaine His base false lying Legends rather chused Shall whilst this Flesh betweene his jawes remaine Be with his great and wealthiest chosen shauelings slain Fountaine of liuing water which doth more And faster spring as it is emptied Most fruitfull Vine which bringeth still more store Of heau'nly grapes as they are gathered Th' epistle of Heau'ns King which rightly read Brings vs the gladsome tidings of Saluation Whose harder sense strong men may chuse as bread The plainer babes may suck for sustentation We both aright concort by heau'nly meditation The Sword that doth spiritually diuide From vs all manner of concupiscence Our youths reformer and our ages guide Transcending reason more than reason sence Truths ground the Fountaine of Intelligence Loues complement the root of humblenesse Faiths hold the Rule of all Obedience Hopes anchor and the path of Rrighteousnesse The ladder which we climbe from hence to Happinesse Would you haue more it is the milke sincere Which can alone quench Hells eternall fire The only Daughter to her Mother deare The mystery which Angells doe admire The sweetest song of blessed heau'nly Quire Whose Praise eu'n all the heau'nly Powers sing Apostles Prophets Martyrs all desire With all their might to strike this lofty string Which Dauid in one Psalme a thousand times doth ring As Iacob with the Angell wrestled Nor let him goe without a blessing would So when words mysteries by vs are read We striue and struggle for the meaning should A goodly strife if we contending could Hold out till what we seeke we doe obtaine As Incense doth no pleasing smell vnfold Nor Spice till it be in a Morter braine So are words mysteries till study makes them plaine This makes the lips of Christs endeared Bride Than any Hony combe to drop more sweet And vnderneath her daintiest tongue abide Hony and Milke The Hony is most meet To heale the wounds Sin makes from head to feet The Milke for Babes Loe thus her either Brest Which like two twining Roes doe equall meet Yeeld most abundant Food if softly prest And both with Roses sweet and Lilly's faire are drest This is the Tower of Dauid which is built By th' holy Spirit of most costly stone Whereon a thousand Shields doe hang all guilt With swords and weapons for the mightiest One This is the Priuie Garden where alone The Spouse with Bridgroome doth her selfe delight Planted with Nardus Saffron Cinamon And all trees good for medicine tast or sight Through which doth flow a well of liuing waters bright Most heau'nly Paradise where tree of Life My Soule most heau'nly Fruits doth daily bring Fit for the Lamb to walke in with his wife And for the Spouse most Angell-like to sing The Soueraigne Grace and Bounty of her King Where though I often seeke to hide in vaine Mee from my Nakednesse discouering My blessed Bridegroome calleth me againe And clothes me with the Robes of Lamb most righteous slaine There Manna-like Loe eur'y Fruit doth tast Iust as we would none iustly can complaine Though his vnweeded garden lieth wast God send to good and bad alike his raine Let him where thornes and bryers doe remaine Take heed how he this heau'nly deaw accuse It is the root thy euill heart and vaine Which doth the sweetnesse of this raine abuse Which for to water weeds and nettles doth it vse How should this Word be sweet vnto the mouth Wherein is nought but Gall and Bitternesse Or how should heau'nly deaws from West or South Moisten that Heart which by maliciousnesse More hardned is than Flint in wickednesse Alas what Corne can sweetest raine forth bring In Ground that choked is with worldlinesse Where as the thornes vp with the wheat doe spring And from the root suck vp all heau'nly nourishing Ev'n as a Lamp without supply of Oyle Being daily had is soone extinguished So though we seeme to prosper here awhile In Faith and Grace all 's soone abolished Vnlesse that they be daily nourished With Hearing Reading Prayer Meditation In vaine it with our mouths is vttered Except it in our hearts makes habitation And we expresse it in our liues and conuersation Oh let this holy Words most heau'nly Fire My secret sound affections inflame And burne vp all vaine fleshly worlds desire Oh blessed Fire like that in Bush did flame But neuer did consume or burne the same The fire whereby Gold Catholike is tride And straw and ' stubbled errour brought to shame In whom this inward fire doth ay refide He well the scorching heat of outward may abide But as no fleshly ey 's can here behold The glorious Sunne but by that Suns sweet sight So no man vnderstanding may be bold To know this Word but where it doth enlight Lord in thy Light then let mee see this Light Whereby I may my sinfull life amend And in thy Statutes set my whole delight And wholly in the way 's of wisdome tend So shall my foot stand fast with ioy vnto the end For as the snow and raine from Heav'n descend But neuer thither doe returne againe Till that be done for which thou didst them send To make the fruitfull soile fit for the graine So neuer shall thy Word returne in vaine But sure accomplish what thou dost intend Then moisten daily with this heav'nly raine My hardned Heart that all my powers may bend To glorifie thy name who dost these showers send How should he feare to want his daily Food Who with this Word of Life is nourished Or who can thirst that drinketh of his bloud Let not this Word be vnderualued He that is with this Heau'nly Manna fed Eates of the fattest of Gods spirituall store Wherewith Christs tender Spouse is fostered Till Shee growes strong and faire to stand before Her Head And neuer thirst nor hunger any more This Words Eternall therefore hath no end I no beginning nor conclusion find I could herein my Life and Spirits spend It doth so feed my Soule and glad my mind But now my Muse to Prayer is assign'd And bow 's her knees to end her Meditation With Praise to Him who first mine Heart inclin'd To seeke this Heau'nly Food of Contemplation I hope vnto his Glory and mine owne Saluation MEDITAT V. Of PRAYER AS wise experienc'd valiant Generall When 's Souldier armed is from Foot to Head And hath at hand his Shield and Sword and all His Armour with his Belt fast buckled Yet him into the Battell will not lead Till he be taught his Sword aright to wield To take Aduantages if offered And to defend his Body with his Sheild Then him thus taught and train'd he leads into the Field So wee that in these Spirituall Battells fight Not with fraile Flesh but Principality's And powers of exceeding foce and might Besides their treason plots and policies Must first be taught in Armes to exercise That all in complete Armour ordered