Now thou hast pleasant and smooth way Th' art even within sight of thy happiness As'scaping storm thou now mayst Anchor cast Th' art come to much perfection in Christianity when thou attainest to Self-Resignation and the contempt of the world Thou hast escaped and got out of the jaws of a world of trouble th' art in sight of thy Port heaven is in thine eye the storm is over Thou hast a calm in thy breast Bid sowre and bitter things farewel Sweets tast Thou takest leave of pain and care For comforts come not to thine eye only but to thy enjoyment See fertil Land enrich't by ploughmans pains This alludes to the Parable of the husbandman or the sower that went out to sow seed S. Matth. 13. 3. The Ploughman here is that Husbandman that Sower The fertil Land is the hearts of the Faithful The enriching of that Land by the Ploughmans pains is the culture of the Ministry of the Word that by ploughing up those wild and overgrown hearts breaking in sunder and turning up their inordinate affections they are enriched and fitted to receive the sown seed of the word and to bring forth a full and plentiful Crop in due season according to the expression in the next verse Does shew him plenty plac't in several veins That is Our blessed Saviour Jesus Christ from whom the Apostles in Primitive times received the Apostleship as he had received it from his Father and the Bishops in that and after Ages received and derived the same successively from them as also the Pastors and Ministers of the holy word who likewise receive their subadministrations from those superiour hands that Church Congregate whereof Christ is the head is that Ploughman meant in this Allegory who behold the plenty of the Crop appearing the Congregation of the faithfull in the Church Militant arising and shewing the Saints upon earth being part of the number with those in the Church Triumphant that were given to the Son by the Father to bestow upon them eternal life when all Power was given him over all flesh as it is in the 17. of S. Iohn Making manifest his Doctrine in his holy Gospel by their Christian profession and Godly conversation by their believing and stedfast faith and their active Obedience to his commandments .. The fields with fulness laugh the Swain at pregnant gains The Lord delighteth to see his Vine fruitfull and the Saints rejoyce in the strength of his Salvation As Solomon singeth Cant. 8. 5. Who is this that cometh up out of the Wildernesse leaning upon her well-beloved Swain is a Pastoral tearm for a Shepherd The fields by a Metonymie that is continens pro re contentâ that which contains is taken for that which is contained are the sheep that feed in the fields Who is she that cometh up out of the wildernesse like pillars of smock perfumed with Myrrh and Incense and with all the spices of the Merchant Cant. 3. 6. Thy teeth are like a fleck of sheep in good order which go up from the washing which every one bring out twins and none is barren among them The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want sings David also He maketh me to rest in green pastures and leadeth me by the still waters Ps. 23. 4. T is pleasant news the crowing Cock It is a sign that they have past the Wildernesse and are come near some habitation which is no little comfort to the Pilgrim and traveller Poor Christians in this world are glad when the wilderness the world is behind them when they are near their happy expectation when they draw towards their journeys end Cupio dissolvi esse cum Christo was Saint Pauls longing he fain wu'd put off his mortality that he might put on immortality He was sick of love needs must he be with Christ. The crowing Cock Victoriae Hieroglyphicum is the Hieroglyphick of victory Hinc lacedaemonii as Plutarch relates cum hostem viribus profligassent Gallum immolabant upon this account the Lacedaemonians when they had worsted and scattered their enemies the crowing Cock vigiliarum signum a sign of watching therefore dedicated to Mercury Alciate is of the like opinion making him the Emblem of vigilance Instantis quod signa canens dat Gallus Eöi Et revocet famula ad nova pensa manus Turribus in sacris effingitur Aerea mentem Ad superos pelvis quod revocet vigilem Rendred by the Author Because the crowing Cock doth trumpet up the Sun Calls houshold hands to vie with day begun On hallow'd Pinacles he 's plac't that 's guilded head To heaven the watchful thoughts of men may lead Alciate hereby intimating a twofold vigilance One of the Body the other of the Mind Corporis vigilantiam Gallus referat qui homines ad labores solet excitare The Cock referreth to the former because his crowing awakeneth and stirreth men up to labour Campana verò quia mentem ad Deum excitat Symbolum interioris vigilantiae continet The Cock referreth to the latter as a Bell that raiseth up the mind to God and so doth signifie the Symbole of watchfulness unto the mind How he to comfort 's dawns the chaunting clock Candoris animi signum The crowing Cock is a sign of candour and integrity of mind For that Emblem of a Cock with the motto over his head of Sic animus expressed the same to the Life setting forth that he who demonstrateth the clearnesse of his mind cannot be disturbed cannot be offended à quavis externâ injuriâ by any outward injury whatsoever And as that lofty Wit Scaliger acutely mentions in his Riddle of a Hen it may be said of the Cock. Cui lux ante diem tenebrae sunt ante tenebras Fore day sees Light Fore dark sees night He discovers comfort and Emblematizeth Providence and foresight Which sense more particularly closeth with the Meaning of the Traveller here though all the rest are congruous to a Christian who though he meet with much offence in his journey yet the vigour of his spirit to God-ward clearnesse of his Conscience towards Man his foreknowledge of future happinesse and foresight of approaching evils makes him prudent in his walking comforts him preserves him amidst his troubles and leads him wisely on to Self-Resignation to the giving himself up to Gods dispose under which shelter is the only safety How he does wilde Beasts fright when he his Wings does knock The Cock for his Courage and Magnanimity is called Martis pullus Mars his Bird quasi ad bella pugnasque magnoperè propensus being exceeding ready to the Battel and very forward to the Combat He is animal solare for his regard of the Sun and he hath a Majestie in his Eye A Trumpet in his Throat and the Shock of a Battel in his Breast and the Stroak of the Day in his Wings and Daggers in his Heels If we may believe Plinie Solinus Aelian Proclus Lucretius and others it will appear Gallum à Leone
more then lovers of God having a shew of Godliness but have denied the power thereof Turn therefore from such For of this sort are they which creep into houses and lead captive simple Women laden with sins and led with Divers lusts which Women are ever learning but are never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth And as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses so doth these also resist the Truth Men of corrupt mindrs Reprobate concerning the Faith But they shall prevail no longer For their madness shall be evident to all men as theirs also was Examin and try the Spirits Have a care of falling either into Superstition or Atheism The One makes a Gay of thy Religion the Other throws down God to advance thy Sense and Reason As he does call so 〈◊〉 As the Holy Word directs thee Live As Christ guides thee Walk As the Prophets foretold as the Apostles witnessed as the Martyrs have sealed as Reverend Bishops in Holy Churches have delivered as Orthodox Divines Learned pious and carefull Pastors have instructed by their Religious Life and Sound doctrin so regulate thy Faith so order thy Life so accustom thy Conversation 2. Now look about When thou art in the way to Faith as it were in the Entrance of believing thou mayst discern the Vanities of the World and behold that nothing is comparable unto Christ. Thou findest a beginning of Repose and settlement of thy troubled Minde formerly busied with Cares Vexations and Anxieties But be watchfull Be thou Circumspect Th' ast past ore stumbling doubt Though th' ast been hindred by many Embraces of the Flesh by severall struglings with Nature though th' ast been shaken by various oppositions of the World though th' ast been amused with numerous Temptations and Allurements of Satan and divers questions concerning the Truth have troubled thee and not a few scruples of Conscience have tortur'd thee Yet when thou com'st to the true Knowledge of the right Religion and art principled therein when thou receivest the purity of the Truth and the Light of Faith appeareth thou art comforted in thy stedfastness and art growing every day stronger and stronger for thy encouragement Therefore be of good courage Faint not Thy worst is behind thee See some asleep upon that side Behold here Extreams go off and forsake the perfect way They will to the Right or the Left They cannot keep the Mean Prodigality is alwaies asleep and Covetousness is ever waking Prodigality knows not when to spare nor Covetousness how to spend Prodigality is all Lace and Covetousness no Clothes Liberalitie's condemn'd by both Her Bounty is too prodigal in the greedy eye of covetousness Her discreet Parsimonie is too narrow for the humour of Prodigality Covetousness terms Liberality a Spend-thrift and Prodigality calls her a Churle She seems by turns the contrary to either as they are to her Extreams both It is even so with Opinions to Truth and Sects to the True Religion Truth is accus'd Religion is Despis'd by all sides condemned by all Factions The Conclave of Rome the Consistory of Geneva agree Eodem tertio though there be a hot and seeming quarrel betwixt them Both may be blamed herein It were to be wished that Geneva had somewhat of Rome's Charity and Religious Decencie I cannot wish Rome Genevah's though I pray for their Reformation Upon the present These Erre both falling into the Extream on the either hand The one makes it a great way about to Heaven by Intercession of Saints And the other goes so near the Gates of Hell that many a poor soul drops in by Despair The one puts a great efficacy upon the numerous Repetition of Ave Maries and Pater Nosters And the other no less confidence in indigested Long Prayers The one is for Merit by Works the other is for Salvation by a Naked Faith Auricular Confession is holden absolutely necessary by the One to the Priest Auricular confession is holden as necessary to the Classical Elders In this they differ therein The On s accounts it a Sacred thing to keep a secret which the Other set at naught to violate The One set up Images the Other Imaginations The One placeth Summary Appeal in Cathedra the other in the Consistory or Assembly The One makes the Eucharist a Transubstantiation the Other meerly a Sign The One puts Excommunication into Bulls the Other into Pulpits The One conceives Religion to be all Ear the Other all Hand I might mention many more Parallels but my Charity will not permit it I rather desire and wish that Faults were mended and Errors cured by an humble seeking and a meek submission to the Revealed Truth and a Returning into the right way That Christians might have Charity to one another and putting off Animosities might Worship the Lord in purity of Heart in the beauty of Holiness and that our Adoration might be with Outward and Inward Reverence as becomes us to the Majesty and Holiness of God Let all things be done decently and in Order They lay asleep upon that side Asleep with the Mists of Error clouding their understandings Too much enclining to their own Opinions Sopor est Mortis Imago The Jews may be pittyed for dreaming of another Messias so long upon this side and ought to be prayed for that their Eyes may be opened and that in the Lords Mercy they may be recalled home to the sight of the Truth That blinde Guides cast the further way about Blinde Guides are such Clergy as are themselves darkned with Errors When the blind lead the blind both fall into the Ditch With Images enarm'd Embracing Superstition In dreams lay round about their Guid. Pleased their Fancies they encompass as seeming to defend their Guides and their shewing great Affection to their Leaders who are overcom with ignorance of the Truth like themselves Thus have they Shadows in their Brains instead of Substance in their Hearts Worshipping God not his way but making Fantastick images of their own Devise being fed with their own Humors and regarding Traditions of men more then the Commandments of God so lying wrapt up in their beloved Darkness and Embracing the Vanities of their Rabbies the subtilties of their Priests and the misleading of Ministers instead of the Truth 3. On th' other Hand On the Left hand in the other extream A Root is there Signifying the Multiplicity and disorder of Sects of Error and Heresies that Defile the purity and resist the power of the Doctrin of Christ. For instance view that hurly burly raised by Demetrius the Silver Smith as it is recorded in the Acts. And the same time there arose much trouble about that way For a certain man named Demetrius a Silver Smith which made Temples of Diana brought great gains unto the Crafts-men whom he called together with the work-men of like things and said Sirs ye know that by this Craft we have our goods Moreover ye see and hear that not alone Ephesus but almost throughout
Therefore pray alwaies with all manner of Prayer Supplication in the Spirit and watch thereunto with all perseverance and Supplication for all Saints Ephes. 6. 18. Continue in Prayer and watch in the same with thanksgiving Collos 4. 2. Pray continually 1 Thessal 5. 17. And then in respect of our prayers there is a progression that God would make us holy more and more until the comming of Christ at which time and not before we shall be perfectly holy As S. Paul desireth 1 Thessal 5. 23. I pray God that your whole spirit and Soul and Body may be kept blamelesss unto the comming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Devotion is said to conduct thy pace because prayer must be considered and not hasty 11. Unto the Chancel of that holy place Still the Ascent of our prayer is resembled as the going up from the Body of the Church to a Chancel or as in Cathedral Churches from the Nave to the Quire Pious Christians by direction of the Apostolical power The Bishops and Pastors in the Church after the Gospel had in the Primitive times passed through the storms of persecutions and begun to shine forth in more peaceable Ages did build Churches which they Dedicated to God as most fit places for publick Worship which in memory of their former troubles and their great and wonderful Deliverances out of them they fashioned in the form of a Ship which is subject to be tossed to and fro with impetuous Waves and uncertainly forced up and down in the Sea of this World by the Tempestuous Windes of Persecution Being very well acquainted with that Text in Saint Luke speaking of Christ standing by the Lake of Gennesaret Chap. 5. v. 2. He saw two ships stand by the Lakes side and the Fishermen were gone out of them and were washing their Nets And he entred into one of the ships which was Simons and required him that he would thrust off a little from the Land And He sate down and taught the People out of the Ship The Ship is the Church Christ the Priest and Bishop of our Souls the Prease of people upon the shore are Christians the Followers of his Doctrine Nor were such Churches unlike a Ship in many kinds if supposed to be transverst or turn'd with the Bottome or Foundation upward The Roofe is the keele the Walls the sides the Foundation the upper Deck or Shroud the East End the Prow or Forcastle The Pinacle in the midst the Mast and the West End the Poop or Steerage These Churches in their scituation stand transposed to the Temple of the Jews at Jerusalem These face the East as That the West The Christians worship toward the rising of the Sun so acknowledging the Resurrection of that Messias who is come and ascended to the Father The Jew looked Westward and in the shadow worshipped him that was to come But here the Guides aime is by a Reflection upon both and by the Comparison of each with other to make a Discovery of the way gradation and operation of Prayer In the outward part of the Temple of the Jews were the Atria divided by a low Wall of three Cubits high which surrounded the Temple The one was Atrium Populi The other Atrium Sacerdotis Such places are those Churchyards and Common places heretofore dedicated to holy Use and consecrated for publike praise prayer and Preaching about Christian Cathedrals The people belonging to Prayer are Christian circumcised Hearts which have communion in Atrio Populi in the Congregation of the Saints Devotion is the Levite which prepareth the Sacrifice the Priest is the Minister of the Ordinances be it prayer for the People or Preaching of the Sacred Word who joyning with them in Thanksgiving sacrificeth the Calves of their Lips with a Quid retribuam Domine Thus is obedience the best oblation in Atrio Sacerdotis the places of the Ordinances The Sanctum the Sanctuary as the Body or Nave of the Cathedrals is a Holy Life and Conversation thus the Soul becomes A Temple of the Holy Ghost This as the Cathedral hath two Isles or Alae wings to the Body in position North and South As they belong to Prayer Saint Augustine describes them Hae sunt duae alae Orationis quibus volatur ad Deum Si ignoscis delinquenti that 's the North Isle or left Wing Coldness to Wrath that is to pardon and forgive our offending brother Et donas egenti that 's the South Isle or Right wing to sustain the Needy to give to the Poor who are Members of our Elder Brother Christ. Through this Sanctuary of a Holy Life prayer is carried by Ejaculation of the Spirit into that Quire of the Church the Holy of Holies into Heaven where Jesus the ever-blessed High Priest our Mediator and Intercessor is sitteth at the right Hand of the Father and receiveth and delivereth our Petitions before the Mercy Seat the Throne of God This resemblance looketh up to that of Exhortation of Saint Paul 1 Tim. 2. 1. Concerning Prayer in general I exhort therefore that first of all Supplications prayers intercessions and giving of thanks be made for All men That is the Atrium Populi For Kings and all that are in authority that we may lead a quiet and a peaceable life in all Godliness and Honesty That is the Sanctum the Sanctuary For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God Our Saviour That is Sanctum Sanctorum the Holy of Holies From which place of Bliss comes the Bounty of Blessedness 12. Affections all about her kneel Denoting that Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God with all thy strength with all thy heart with all thy mind with all thy Soul c. The whole man must endeavour the utmost at so great a work at the performance of so pious a Duty Kneel Intimateth Reverence Upon the pavement Humility Made of Steel Of a steedy and firme Faith Reflected Heat Zeal On hearts Our Consciences From stones they feel From refreshing of the Holy Spirit breathing joy and Comfort into us after an unperceiveable manner Or may well be taken for our Charity to others which reflecteth a Heat upon our prayers The sum of this Stanza pointeth at Saint Pauls Direction to Timothy 1 Tim. 2. 8. I will therefore that men pray lifting up pure hands that is humble without wrath that is charitable or not doubting that is faithfully 13. I' th' midst a spire to Heaven doth straine Doth reach As in the midd'st of a Church the Steeple or spire is placed so the Ejaculations and groanings of Spirit rise as out of the midst of our souls where by our Prayers mount up to God and his Mercies like the Angels upon Iacobs Ladder descend down to us Wights Prayers Angels Mercies Hast thy wish obtainest thy desire and hast the Effect of thy prayer Pass doest gaine Hast obtained Assisting Grace to further thee to a Holy Resolution We must pray to be enabled to resolve as well as to do Refresh thou here
praise For high thy Way 's It leads Thee up to Skie To Stars thou shalt be nigh Where soaring Eagles flie Thou shalt pass Clouds that swim in Air Unto a Place that 's clear and fair No Fogs thy sight shall there impair Now Contemplations HOLY HILL ascend But Reverence bids at every Step to bend For humble climbing gains this Journeyes End And when th' ast gain'd the towring Top and look'st below All Things will then to Sight so pettie little show As Thou scarce Them or Mortals Thee will hardly know 12. Behold the Place A Narrow Space Like up-cast Face Or as some Perspective Through which Eyes Beams do drive At th' Object far t' arrive As in an Astrolabe the Dame Does pierce with sight the heavenly Frame To th' Onely One I AM by Name She with weak Eyes does God in Essence see And by Reflex of 's Word eyes in One Three Though Eyes too weak alas forâ—s Mysterie First in His ESSENCE Him she INFINITE does finde IMMORTAL Him INCOMPREHENSIBLE by Minde Subsistences so Three to GOD by'Inbeeing joyn'd 13. SUBSISTENCES Amaze such Eyes Wu'd be too Wise. In their Inb'eeing may see How every One o' th' Three Exceedes Capacitie IMCOMPREHENSIBLE th' are so INEFFABLE by all that know From such their In-beeing doth flow The Persons COESSENTIALITIE So does She apprehend the TRINITIE And so does finde it in the UNITIE Their Emanation or Procession there is none Can comprehend or utter All Conceits out-gone So Coeternall so Coequall Three in One. Let Gospel show Church read such Depth She lets alone 14. Her loftie Bower Or living Tower Whose top doth flower Although it raise her high And helps her piercing Eye To dart up through the skie And into Heaven to ayme aright Where Glorie is Eternall Light Her Eye 's too weak yet for the Sight But there sits mounted and her Garments are Embroid'red o're with many a Gemmie Starre An Eagle pierched from her standes not farre With constant Looke upon the Radiating Sunne As if he watcht his Steeds that 'bout the World do run Whose wings oft trye a Course before the Day be done 15. There thus alone With Love oregone Views Th' Only One Her Soul 's a spirie Fire Of Extasi'd Desire And flames the more the nigher So his Perfection does behold As in his Attributes are told None but Himself can God unfold Amazement seizes on her Dazzled Sence At Sight of the Mysterious Excellence O' th' TRINITIE All Energies from thence What Pen can write Or skill can read His Holy Name All tongues are Dumb and each attempting hand is lame Had he not told Himself how could she know I am 16. Her too weak Bow Shoots not to know What 's lockt from show As in Himself God None Does know but God alone Who 's Infinite and One. She studies not their Braine to cure Wu'd finde a Circles Quadrature Her Thoughts are hallow'd sober pure Enough 's for her His Back-Parts She behold She dares not further then 's reveal'd be bold Nor knows she how to go If not first told And what is so reveal'd enough to Good Life is She sees without bold prying into Mysteries No vein she has to search for what vain searching ' t is 17. With humble bent With meek Ascent With Minde intent From Gods Sufficience shee Doth his Efficience see Her knowledge such must be Such are her Faith 's attempting Wings By which she climbes to holy Things And to Capacitie Them bringes These unto Consolation are the Prop And Pietie's Provokers to the Top And in pursuit of these she makes no stop In Gods Sufficience all Fulnesse sees more shall In His Efficiencie as in His Publick Hall She views how wondrous in his Works Gods All in All. 18. HIM absolute None ought Dispute None can confute For in his Essence Shee Beholds ETERNITIE 'Fore world or ought was He. Thus does She raise a vig'rous Look 'Fore Time or storm but by one Book That any Their Creation took As Relative tow'rds Him She Eye does place Upon the first o' th Intellectual Race Reads Angels made Some stood some lost their place To those adher'd and stood the great Creator gave Their Confirmation Everlasting Blisse to have But those that fell were thrust to Hell in chains of Slave 19. Then Tophet told Ordain'd of old Prepar'd to hold Those Fiends in quenchlesse fire T' endure Th' Almighties Ire In Pains that ne'er expire Then Tophet was ordain'd to be And then prepared by Decree Prepared onely Shee does see And for those onely was that horrid Den For Reprobation absolute Decreed then As their Predestination it had been As Relative She GOD Creator doth perceive O' th' World call'd Visible Man second Race doth give Man second Race of Intellectuals then made did live 20. By Satans Spell Alas Man fell Deserving Hell Inward Adhaesion lost Outward Obedience crost Soul's Bodie 's curse it cost Forfeit was Nature with drawn Grace Glorie come short of from blest Place So fell both Man and all his Race Th' Interpellation of th' Eternall Word Did Mercie 's Miracle for him afford And was first means for Man to be restor'd His standing in the Gappe Did Execution stay His Superceeding It was stop in Sentence Way His Sponsion gain'd Decree that He the Debt should pay 21. 'T was co-decreed For such a Deed As Man did need The Word should Flesh become And satisfie God's Doome By Suff'ring in Mans Roome So sanctified was Nature then Grace Glorie was restor'd agen In that Decree to help fallen Men. As co-decreed coactuated were Th' Apostles place Mediators he should bear Though both distinct yet both on him t' appear Th' Apostleship by Unction of the Holy Ghost The Principle of Government for Church so tost And speciall Ordinances Fount choice Men t' accost 22. And those were given From bounteous Heaven In Portions even Yet were they severall As to those Patriarchs all As Moses speciall Call In Shadow Revelation was Redemption so in Type did passe So read first Times The future Case Administrations interlegal came By th' Baptists Ministrie before that Lambe To whom the Angel gave the Holy Name But th' Evangelical deliver'd were to th' Jews And to the twelve Apostles whom Christs Self did choose And to All Nations that would not the same refuse 23. Time did at full The Curtain pull And types annul In Substance Revelation In Truth appear'd Salvation To Jew to every Nation Then did break forth the shining Light O' th' Gospel to appear more bright Is represented to her Sight Of Jew was borne unto the Jew Christ came And to them first He published his Name Then to the Gentiles did He do the same To several Ages were all These Administrations In their respective times emergent Revelations Summ'd and upon Record were Scripture Affirmations 24. MEDIATORS Place By UNION was Of Natures as Redemptions Principle Regenerations Well Of Life to those that fell So Nature sanctifi'd new stood Restor'd is Grace Glory made