which 't is hard to sail And not be shipwrackt here prophanenesse stands With all it's brood of vices at iâ—s tayle There superstition with its numerous bands Of false traditions 't was the main intent Of our late Pilots between both to steere But froward fate to seamen incident Made them mistake their way for whiles they fear To sink into the gulf of superstition They in the gulfe of profanation fal And in the furious heate of opposition 'Gainst Papists are like to turn Atheists all So some of th' ancient Fathers in dispute Against one heresie did too much bend Unto another and their arrow shoot Besides the mark thus marre what they would mend But cannot we keep in the middle region Except we sink too low or soar too high Is there no moderate temper in religion But we must either scorch'd or frozen die What hath the Church no habitable part Betwixt the torrid and the frozen Zone Nor hath the Churchman learnt as yet the Art O' th' moralist that vertue leans to none Of the extremes but in the center lyes So doth religious Truth if we could find It's track out but the fault is in our eyes That wil not see or rather in our mind That wil not keep the road and safest way Which by the best and wisest men is gone But rather through unbeaten deserts stray Which lead to nothing but confusion O God be thou out Pilot once again Or put some Pharos up that by the light Our ship the Church may saile safe through the main And not be swallow'd by these gulfs i' th' night Upon Lay-mens preaching ART thou offended because thou dost see Eldad and Medad both to prophesie Within the camp although they came not neer The Tabernacle nor inabled were Til th' instant by the Spirit Do not say Moses forbid them rather wish and pray That all Gods people Prophets were for so The meekest man on earth Moses did do But when an Ignoramus shall professe Himself a Prophet and inspir'd no lâ—sse Then Moses or Elias and pretend The Spirit is on him to no other end Then to foment a faction and decry All learning in the University When that Mechanick fellows from their trade Shall Aarons office offer to invade And mount the Pulpit publickly expound The Sacred Scripture though they have no ground For what they say but meerly what proceeds From spleen or fancie so they sow their weeds I' th' furrowes of weak hearts which grow apace Choaking the good seed and the herbs of grace Sowne by the Ministers of God before 'T is time high time that they be bid give o're And that with Joshua we cry My Lord Moses forbid them to abuse Gods word But if both we and Moses silent are And none the madnesse of these Prophets dare Reprove either the simple Asse wil do 't The vulgar sort and spurne them with his foot Scorning to learn of those who nothing know But what they bring from shopboard or from plough Or else let them expect their doome to hear From Gods own mouth which the worst Judgment were These Prophets run yet them I have not sent I have not spoken to them yet they went And prophesied deceits even in my name I am against them therefore to their shame And wil confound all those that lies do teach No more my people do you hear such preach But seek the word at their mouths who are wel Train'd up at feet of learn'd Gamaliel Elisha's double portion do inherit Being call'd both by the Church and by the Spirit Who can my holy mysteries unfold And forth their treasures bring things new and old Who can confirm their truths by strength of reason Mercy and judgment sing each in their season That can their several portions give to all Humble the proud and raise up them that fall Have milk for babes and meat for stronger men Can teach both by their preaching and their pen Prune the luxuriant prop the weaker plants Have fords for lambs and depths for Elephants The men thus qualified are those I send To such and only such you must attend Upon the contrary effects of Tobacco in himself and his friend IS it not wondrous strange that there should be Such different tempers 'twixt my friend and me I burn with heat when I Tobacco take But he on th' other side with cold doth shake 'To both t is Physick and like Physick works The cause o' th' various operation lurks Not in Tobacco which is stil the same But in the difference of our bodies frame What 's meat to this man poison is to that And what makes this man lean makes that man fat What quenches ones thirst makes another dry And what makes this man wel makes that man dye So the same Sun we see hardneth the clay By his reflex but melts the wax away So the same word of God doth Saul convert And softneth his but hardneth Pharaoh's heart What ere the difference of our bodies be Lord let the temper of our souls agree That so thy Word the same effect may have On both of us not to condemne but save Upon a good yeer of Corn and a quick harvest HAve we not had a fruitful yeer of grain Fair weather too to bring it in amaine And shall we not an offering to him pay Who gives us richly all things to enjoy Did not the heathens shew their thankfulnesse To their Corn goddesse Ceres and expresse The same by sacrifices of the best And shal we faile our thanks to manifest To our true God who bears the Christian name O let not us fall short of them for shame But what wil he accept What shal we bring A sheafe of wheat or some such trivial thing That were but paying him in his own coyne A single penny out of his whole Mine We should present the best we can devise A reasonable living sacrifice Our souls and bodies purified from sin That ô that 's it which he delighteth in That is the Corn which Angels shal with joy Reap and into Gods heavenly Barne convey Upon his walking one day abroad when sometimes the Sun shone warm an sometimes the winde blew cold on him THis emblem 's forth the world aright Which now shines on me hot and bright Now it blowes cold on me But ne're wil constant be 'T is just like the weather Hot and cold together One while it mee with many favours crownes Anon it stabs me with as many frownes Why do I then my trust put in it Seeing it varies every minute I may goe court the moon And stop her course as soon As bind the world to stay My faithful friend a day If it be so inconstant I intend To seek out if I can a surer friend But where is he Not here below Where Sun doth shine and wind doth blow But in the heaven above There do I fix my love On one that changeth never Being the same for ever It is my God who is so fast
him I could eat The Author now and sel him to buy meat Cartâ—right is Wit throughout but I read o're More then his four playes his â—ast pious four And then his several Gratitudes unto Him whose head taught him and purse fed him too Who gave him to buy books and gave him skil In each of them to chuse out Well from Ill The Learned Pious Conâ—â—ant Duppâ— hâ— Who was and is stil Reverend in those three Whom these three voice and pen and heart cannot No not Cartâ—rights own enough celebrate In these he kept Christs law lov'd God and then His next act was to pay his debt to men He did it here for this one to him wou'd Be Universal ev'â—y neighbourhood Though he out-sobers out-out-words out-wits all Grave Virgil Horace nice Salt Martial Yet more then in 's though unprofane verse wou'd â—â—rench my soul in his Diviner stood Those Sermons in which he did wind about Our passions more then Cicero could do 't In which he did out-sense deep Plutarchs skil And taught so wel almost all else taught ill Unlesse when 's Father Duppae 'gan to preach Who us to live and taught him too to teach Oh for that Text where he forbad to ly And prest home truth in unbound Poetry Where David like he did instil and charme Us to be honest though to our own harm Charg'd truths upon us such as do shine here In this smal volume scorn'd and damn'd elsewhere O for his Passion-text that we might buy Th' inestimable price at Sixpence fee That we that winepresse which at Edom was And Christs Church trod might taste from a new press And here we hav 't i' th' dialogue between Christ Angels and Apostles of slain sin Jesus is up again he did not die He but lay downe that death it self might lie I who this book throughout love Adore here As though all Horace was to Scaliger Precious and rich yet above all the rest He did affect his Lydia dialogue best He who t' ave made That would give Empire though A world he offer here he bids too low For as the whole is sacred and each line Though 't is not God yet it is each Divine So here 't is not Apostle only who Does speak and Angel but 't is Jesus too What would that Learnings lover now impart To speak with an Apostle heart to heart For they did not converse as some of late With face of love but with a brest of hate What would his inquisition give to hear An Angel vocally round him i' th' â—are What would he nay what would he not bestow A world almost another Jesus too To hear his own Christ speake who since sixteen Last hundred yeers was neither heard nor seen This Copy is the blessed Jesus and The rest do all as one John Baptist stand Round about this before behind each where To make that way plain for the Lord t' appear This Copy is the Word and the rest are The Voice and Eccho of this Character This is the supreme heaven without this Is heaven too and what 's in heaven Blisse But O when he does joyes of heaven tel Chearfull and without dread paines of hel Whither the Saviour Christ does convey some And whither the Judge Christ does others doome How does he with mixt artifice contrive Either for fear or love that all should live I dare not name all left I emulate The bulk of his Town with my swelling Gate APOSTROPHE To the AUTHOR YOu Sir who study and sport too this way Whose spare hours heaven and whose serious day Whose two week Sermons are to others aim Whose whole week-life is to that your own claim Who preach both waies b'Example and by Rule Whose life 's a Sermon and whose house a School Who your own self do without hire supply With breath and patterne this twin Curacy Who make each day the Lords whilst there are some Do grudge him one in seven who make your home To be his pious house whilst some there are Who scarce allow him his own house for prayer You who do read and meditate and live Scripture and thereby midst of world's frowns thrive You know they who on Gospels first word look Learn from that first word this is all the book They who proceed and search on find that this Is only Scripture all else writ amiss They who wade further yet know there 's not one Word besides this This is the Word alone And yet though nothing else is Book but what God himself made the Man not that he wrote Though nothing else be Scripture but pretence Because if not the same with this not sense Though nothing else be Word 'cause Parrots may Without this talk to as good ends as we Yet as those birds are said to come more near To what we speak then other Foules o' th' air Because they imitate our Cadencies So we do more speak when w' approach to thee Blest be the charity then of your wise choice Not to vex us with an unmatter'd Noise Since though in hundred sheets of paper he Has silent been who does not edifie Since without this though Stentor he out roare He hath said lesse then th' mad Bul or wild Boar Since without this each other book 's a crime It robs my purse and what 's more deer my time Blest be your guidance too that t' all were giv'n Both to discourse and write and Print for heav'n He that writes next this is his praise or curse He makes the Reader if not better worse But friend you often aske why 't is that I Preach to th' next ear and not to th' distant eye Why 't is that I wh'ave taskt my self a scheame In learnings own behalf forbear that Theame Pray ask no more how can you wish my heir Were come to th' birth when there 's no midwife near Copy 't once more and tel the brave Lord N. Be he Mecaenas and I wil write Then HAbes haec è manu subitaneâ prope incogitanter effusa quippe ab eo cujus nulla in instituto pars est Tibi placere qui cum caeteris Dominantis fortunae ludibriis insultibus par es undiquaque similis et Tibi constans Soli illius Approbanti Lenocinio irasceres vir aliter Pacatissâ—mus sed lectori tuo voce invitatoriâ prodesse Ejus interest non tui quod Fercula haec è Promptuario tuoenatantia ut sitiat ipse Collaudo Unum hoc mihi cujus {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Facultatisque qualiscunque aut quanullacunque in animo est Res Angusta Domi Tumulus secundus Satis est utrumque quod est omne punctum tulisti Tu. Vale hìc sed è supra Internos Angelus ipse Tu diu Vale supra inter Affines Angelos tâ—os Semper sed Sero July 26 1653. GULIELMUS TOWERS B. D. On the Divine Poems of his friend the AUTHOR SOme say a Poet 's born not made but I Say he 's
away Honours are bubbles which the breath of men Blowes in and out agen Nor those nor these any true vertue have Body or soul to save But thou my Riches and my honours art That savest both and dost from neither part The Sun Moon Stars are goodly creatures yet As they rise so they sâ—t The Saints â—riumphant happy Creatures are But â—now not how I fare The Angels glorious yet but finite seeing They have from thee their being Thou art my Sun which only I adore Who once didst rise from deaâ—h to set no more Thou art all Saints in one they have from thee Alone their sanctiâ—y Thou art the Angel of the Covenant And wilt not let me wanâ— Thou mad'st me with thy word and with thy blood Redeem'dst me none so good So great as thee in earth or heaven abides And therefore I desire none besides Psalm 80.12 13 14. Why hast thou then broken down her hedge that all they that go by pluck off her grapes The wild Boar out of the Wood doth root it up and the wild Beasts of the field devour it Turne thee again thou God of Hosts look down from heaven behold and visit this Vine COme Lord and look how thy poor Vine lies wast Her hedg is broke down every hour And if thou dost not make the greater haste The Wild bore will her grapes devour Come Lord thine aid we crave Come quickly her to save Lord 't is that Vine which thy right hand hath planted And fenc'd about for thine own use But she alas too long thy care hath wanted And little fruit she doth produce Come Lord thine aid we crave Come quickly her to save Her Sprigs are dry the holy Sacraments Are stopt or run not free to all Her Watch men disagreeing make her rents So wide she doth to pieces fall Come Lord thine aid we crave Come quickly her to save Under her shade we did securely rest And comfort we did take in it But now we pine away with grief opprest To see her in th dust to fit Come Lord thine aid we crave Come quickly her to save Our hearts are broke our Harps unstringed be Our only Musick 's sighes and groans Our Songs are to the tune of Lachrymae W' are fretted all to skin and bones Come O come Lord Jesus Quickly come and ease us This is the last and worst Age we live in For the most righteous go to wrack Then set an end unto these dayes of sin And misery thy help we lack Come O come Lord Jesus Quickly come and ease us Punish the men are settled on their Lees And at our suffrings make a sport But lift the hands up that fall down the knees That feeble are do thou support Come O come Lord Jesus Quickly come and ease us Bind up our wounds and pour in oyl wine Give Cordials to our heavy hearts Make up the mounds once more about this Vine Repair her breaches on all parts Come O come Lord Jesus Quickly come and ease us Psalm 91.11 12. He shall give his Angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy wayes They shall bear thee up in their hands left thou dash thy foot against a stone HOw dear to God is man That he his mercy should enlarge To this poor span And thus to charge His Angels to keep every limb of him Such are his strict commands To them that they are bound to bear Him in their hands Secure from fear Of dashing but his foot upon a stone If they so careful are To keep his foot from hurt they have Much greater care His soul to save And it int' Abrahams bosom they convey Did we poor Creatures know How much unto their watchfulness And care we owe We would express Our thanks to God and his name praise alwayes For highly honouring us With this rare priviledg to be Attended thus By Angels he The greater makes to serve the less O bless The Lord for this and pay To these pure spirits reverence due That so they may Ne're forsake you Do no vile action which may these displease Or cause them to retard Their wonted aid each wicked deed Raiseth their guard In time of need Live so that they may you attend to th' end Psalm 95.7 8. To day if ye will hear his voice harden not your hearts A DIALOGUE Between GOD and a SINNER Sinner MAy I not this day take my pleasure And hear thy voice O God at leisure One day wil break no square men say And wilt thou be more strict then they O give me leave now to rejoice And hereafter hear thy voice Thy voice which doth to vertue call And to repentance summons all But that I do not love to hear It sounds harsh discords in my ear Whilst I am in my youthful blood When I grow old it may be good To take thy counsel and attend Thy will when I draw neer my end Then 't will be time enough I trust To be temperate chaste and just Till then I hope thou wilt dispence With my want of innocence With my sports and wickednesse I know Lord thou canst do no lesse Then hear my Prayer at the last For thou thy faithful word hast past To pardon me when ere that I Shall implore thy clemency The theif upon the Cross did find Thy mercy the same gracious mind Thou still retainest may I not then Expect to find the like agen I am resolv'd what ere comes on 't To hazard ev'n my soul upon'r God Bold sinner do not thou presume Upon my Grace a sweet perfume Or pleasing Sacrifice doth from A late repentance seldom come Canst thou believe that tree 's ought worth That not till winter fruit brings forth Or wouldst thou be content thy wife Should play the harlot all her life And at the last shou'd tender thâ—e Her love and service when that she Through age and sickness over worn Is most unfit to serve thy turn Judg then thy self if thou wouldst be So served as thou servest me Thou'dst have her to thy self alone Before her youth and beauty 's gone I must thy love and service have VVhen thou art dropping in thy grave VVhen thou art lame or impotent Then thou wilt be a penitent Fool not away thy soul with this Presumption for the high way 't is To hell a double danger lyes In such late conformities For that man that doth delay To hearken to my voice to day VVill be to morrow more unfit And have his eare quite deaf to it Each cranny there will be fast barr'd And his heart will grow so hard Through long continuance in sin That not a word can enter in Although I call and call again He is still deaf 't is all in vain Besides should he knock at my door When he is dying not before He shall perceive it then too late Fast lock'd will be my Mercy Gate Because my Justice will not bear That I should his Petition hear Who would not hear my voice at