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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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and Heav'n may grope and creep Christians with joyful hope believe run But will Christ to such Sinners Saviour be Who long and wilfully contemn'd his Grace Yes if they have but hearts to him to come He excepts none Hee 'l all their Sins deface The Prodigal now hopefully resolves In Christ I 'le trust and to my Father go When there 's but one way who should stand doubt The Vanity of all things else I know If in his House I may the lowest be His wonderous Grace I will with thanks proclaim My Sin and Misery I will confess And in Repentance take deserved Shame And when repenting Souls are thus resolv'd And with design do towards their Father come They are surpriz'd with unexpected love Grace feasts forgiv's them bids them welcom home Now the returned Soul doth dwell with God And God in him for there his Spirit dwells God hath his highest Love Heaven his chief hope Christ is his Life he trusteth to none else O how much better is it with him now How wise how safe to what he was before What hee 's yet short of Faith hath in its view Hee 'l choose the way of Sin and Hell no more Now farewel mortal Sin stoop bruitish Flesh Now Pride Lust come down submit to Faith Farewel ensnaring Sports and Company Farewel Deceit I 'le hear what Scripture saith Now all is New new Judgments Love and Life New Hopes Delights a new intended End The means then must be new or better us'd New friends new thoughts all that to it tend But yet though out of Aegypt he be come Through the Red Sea he 's in a Wilderness Faith must be try'd by many Enemies Hard Journeys Wants delayed Hopes Distress And Flesh still strives Satan still busie is The World will tempt Sin 's not quite overcome Dark Fears and Unbelief do yet hang on We are in hope but are not yet at home But yet we have the leading Fire and Cloud The Law the Angels presence as we pass Moses fell in the Wilderness but there The Tempter by our Saviour vanquisht was The Law was weak and nothing perfect made Grace giveth light and life love and strength And though it long and oft assaulted be It Conquereth and Triumpheth at length It is the work of God who knows his own And makes them Christs beloved interest All that are given him he loves and keeps And brings them to the promis'd Land of Rest. Grace suited is to every Time and State To Childhood Manhood and decrepid Age An Antidote against contagious Pleasures Yet grief wrath fear and suffering doth asswage It useth every State for the true end It sanctifies Prosperity and VVealth Still doing good and doth to Godward tend To him devoteth time life wit and health It useth Friends and Enemies for God Improveth kindness easily bears wrong Loves others as our selves doth Right to all Hopes for a blessed end when sufferings long It takes not too much part with pained Flesh It ruleth Reason Appetite and Sense Conquers Temptation keepeth inward Peace Keeps neer to God who is our sure Defence It all the way foresees the blessed end Motives to Duty Comfort in all Grief It fetcheth more from God Heav'n than Earth In every Case from Christ it finds Relief It spendeth Health and Life in Preparation For foreseen Death and the Souls final change It s not surprized without expectation It trusteth Christ when things unseen seem strange All this Grace doth in various degrees In most but weak Imperfect in the best Clog'd here with Flesh and contradicting Sin But ends in Glory and Eternal Rest. It s whole work is to bring Mans VVill to God As our Original our Guid and End Thankfully take his Grace obey his Word And wholly love him as our chiefest Friend And more than so to love him for himself The final Object of Created Love This only perfect ones perfectly do VVho see Gods Glory in the world above Amen Ian. 6. 1682 3. II. Wisdom HE that by Faith sees not the World of Spirits Which Christ with his blest Family Inherits The Sense of Providence can never know Nor Judge aright of any thing below Things seem confused and neglected here Because in broken parcels they appear Who knows a Work in Arras by one Piece Small parcels shew not Workmens Artifice The Beauty of a Picture is not known When one small part or Limb alone is shewn They that on some few Letters only look Can never know the meaning of Gods Book Who knows a stately Building by one Post â—ts but short scraps that one Age sees at most Heav'n seeth all and therefore knows the Sense Of the whole beauteous frame of Providence His Judgment of Gods Kingdom needs must fail Who knows no more of it than this dark Goal If Heaven and Hell were open to mens sight Most Men of present things would judge aright Who would be griev'd at prosperous sinners reign Who did foresee their everlasting pain Who would grudge pride rage so short a pow'r Who did foresee its fall and dismal hour who 'd grudg Gods Patience to the greatest crime Which will scape Vengeance for so short a time who 'd grudge at any wrong or suffering here Who saw the World of happiness so neer If that one Sun a Thousand Fold excel This Earth in bigness where we Sinners dwell And what 's one Sun to all the Heav'n beside Is not Gods Kingdom Glorious and wide Who then dare say Gods work is not well done Because an Ant-hill is not made a Sun Or because Sin and devillish Rage do dwell In this vile Prison which is next to Hell who 'd measure Gods great Kingdom or his Love By us poor Prisners who in Fetters move God placed Man in Earthly Paradise Heav'ns outward Court the way to highest bliss And Man himself doing what God forbade His House a Bedlam and a Bridewel made Man turn'd it by his sinful base defection Into Gods Prison and House of Correction Gods wondrous Mercies which do never fail Fetch many Sons to Heav'n out of this Goal If the rest finally neglect Gods Grace And choose no better than this sinful place The Dream of Pleasure which will end in shame They had their choice and whom else can they blame who 'd censure God for one poor Bedlams sake But such as of his Madness do partake And though he rage and sober Men disdains Who loves his Case or longeth for his Chains Who envy wicked Men their hurting Power Who do believe their sad approaching hour VVho the Toads hurtful Venom envieth VVho'd have the Basalisks pernicious Breath VVho longs to be a Serpent for the Sting It s worse to be a Great but hurtful King Christians by Patience win a better Crown Than all the Bloody Conquerors Renown True Christian Kings who Rule in Peace Love A better Kingdom have with Christ above Our King may with more peace and safety Rule Than the
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