by Gods helpe thou shalt against them all preuaile 51 So by this mightie Power we shall at length Be Victors though Sinne seeme vs here to foile Lord grant me this spirituall Pow'r and Strength That though my Body suffer here a while And like a Coward oft doth take the foile I may with courage so my Soule defend No Power me of spirituall Armes despoile Lord grant I practise may what I commend So I with prayse my Booke and Meditation end 52 Thus as one of the Bridegromes meanest Friends I to adorne the Bride doe offer here These Ornaments The gift no worth commends But He to whom the Widdowes mite was deare Because shee all her substance offred there Will well accept of this poore Offering That when I shall at that great day appeare Before the Iudge to giue my reckoning This time may be allow'd me for Gods honouring FINIS The third Booke consisting of fiue MEDITATIONS viz. 1. Knowledge 2. Zeale 3. Temperance 4. Bountie and 5. Ioy. And The fourth Booke of viz. 1. Prudence 2. Obedieâ—ce and 3. Meekenesse 4. Gods Word and 5. Prayer Were Likewise intended by the Authour at this time for the Presse But the euer-lamented losse of his most honored Lord which hath changed all his Ioyes into Sorrowes and Songs to Lamentations hath beene the cause of deferring their publishing A FVNERALL ELEGIE Consecrated to the memorie of his euer-honoured Lord IOHN KING Late Lord Bishop of London LEt others call their Muse to helpe them mourne And books of Tragique Scenes and Stories turne My Heart abundant matter shall indite If but the halfe I of my sorrow write Were it a priuate losse of mine alone I could it smother with a priuate grone But ah I ring my Fathers Fathers knell The Charet and Horsemen of Israel Happy Elisha when the fiery Horse And Charets thee did from thy Master force Whilst he in Whirlewind vp to Heauen ascends His Spirit doubled downe on thee descends But ah I haue no Spirit but to mourne And wash with teares this sacred Fathers Vrne His 〈◊〉 is not left me to diuide Mine Eyes from Teares as Iordanes floods were dride Yet had I but his Spirit here to tell How stoutly he opposed Iezabel And all her Baalling superstitious crew Of Prophets and their Idols ouerthrew How firmely he in his Religion stood Readie till Death to seale it with his blood Without least Bastard thought to change that Truth Which was in him firme rooted from his youth I then might iusâ—ly hope my feeble Verse Had done full right vnto thy wronged Herse For I should muzzell those that wrong thy fame And die them like their whoare scarlet in shame Should force into their face that modest blood That left them ere since they left Truth and Good Yet why should I thinke much that Calumnie Labours to cloud thy Names bright memorie Since that Iust One thy Sauiour after Death Could not auoid Slanders envenom'd breath And if thy Lord and Masters fate were such Let not thy Ashes grieue to beare as much Oh sacred Spirit enclos'd in frailest mold Of britle Clay when I did thee behold Praying Elias-like thou couldst constrayne The Heau'ns to water all the Earth with rayne And when thy zealous tongue touch'd with the flame Which Seraphin had from the Altar taâ—ne Thou like to Paul or Peter didst diuine Three thousand Soules conuerting at a time When thou didst sit on Iustice sacred Throne Thy Prudence shin'd like that of Solomon And Samuel-like so equall didst diuide Thou often gau'st content to either side Like Aristotles thy Schole Disputations Thy Speeches Tullies eloquent Orations Thy Lectures all Ideas most diuine Where Arts like Starres in Firmament doe shine Did â— behold thee in thy Familie Thy House a Temple of the Deitie Thou Dauid-like didst to th' Almightie sweare No wicked riotous Person should come there You worthy Tribe of Leui when you want And find your shorne allowance all too scant His 〈◊〉 which refresht you often blisse And gaue you Liuengs free as they were his You Poore lament whom he so often fed Not with his Doctrine onely but his Bread And Strangers when you want his losse lament Who vnto you such large allowance sent One and the same Rule in things Temporall He did obserue as in Spirituall Who so on Earth doth plentifully sow May well expect a like increase to mow Most happy Man if Vertue Honour Right Or any worldly Blisse make happy wight Home and abroad honour'd belou'd and fear'd Him Grace and Learning vnto all endear'd But oh what Mortall stands so sure and fast That here may be call'd happy till his last To whom the People erst Hosanna cride When he in triumph doth through Sion ride Ere many dayes was on the Crosse so shaken As if he fear'd himselfe of God forsaken So when this Saint like Paul the â—ged sung To build vp Sions ruines with his Tongue The rauish'd Hearers with thy message strooke Sate as they had no powr's but Eare and Looke Both which did yeeld thy Worth such loud applause As if an Angels Trump had lent thee voyce I thinke their strict attention did fore-see They neuer more should heare so much from thee A Swan-like Dittie for it was his last For ere the Sunne had round his circuit past He that for Sions building vp did pray Did in his owne fraile Temple feele decay My Soule eu'n trembles but thy groanes to heare Alas how couldst thou them with Patience beare Afflictions which would breake a brasen Wall And hardest Milstone grin'd to powder small But Hee in Heau'n that heard thee groane and weepe And all thy teares did in his Bottle keepe When it was full doth take of thee compassion And freed thee from thy paynes and bitter passion Eu'n on that Day whereon we celebrate His Passion whom thou liu'dst to imitate Loe God doth millions of his Angels send Thy sorrowes here with heau'nly Ioyes to end Shall we bewaile thy happy commutation Now chang'd from Earth to heau'nly Habitation Where as thy Ioyes the Angels farre surpast Which neuer of thy Miseries did taste For there thou dost that Psalme of comfort ring Which none but Saints afflicted here can sing That Ioy which neuer had in Heau'n beene knowne But by those Saints that vnder crosses groane That Ioy which feeles God comfort vs againe After he hath vs plagu'd on Earth with paine And for a few yeares of aduersitie Rewards in Heau'n with Ioyes eternitie Which giues for Sorrow Ioy for Labour Rest A Hau'n to vs whom Shipwracke erst distrest From Danger Safetie Light vnto the eye Long blind in Dungeons obscuritie Life after Death doth make our liues more sweet Who here Christs plentifull afflictions meet Shall haue in him a plenteous consolation Then let vs all that wait for like saluation In Body like this Saint the dying beare Of 's dying Lord and let him neuer feare But his Lords life shall be made manifest In Him when He our Labour turnes to Rest. But more my Muse is as vnfit to write As are my sorrowes stupid to endite Onely Shee thus the publique losse bemones And what Shee wants in words supplyes with grones Act. 2. 3. Church Christ. Church Christ. Church Church Christ. Church Christ. Church Church Christ. Church Christ. Christ. Christ. Church Christ. Church Christ. Church Daugh. Church Daugh. Church Christ. Christ. Apples †Church Christ. Church Christ. Church Christ. Church a 1. Sam. 2â— 39. 40. b 1. Sam. 18. 18. c Mark 1. 3. d Iohn 3. 29. * Matth. 22. 9. f Can. 2. 14. 3. 7. g Caâ— 5. 1 2. h 2. Cor. 12. 1 2 3 4. i Matth. 22. 2 3 4. k Caâ— 7. 1 2 c. l Luk. 2. 32. m Luk. 14. 17 18 c. n Apoc. 22. 1 2. o Can. 5. 1. p Can. 4. 12. 6. 2. q Apoc. 21. 4. * Apoc. 5. 11. Quaere Iâ—dg 9. 8. * Pâ—nitentia * 〈◊〉 †Christs †Strength †Strength * Presumption a Infidelitie b Despaire †Heart †Iesus †By reason ¶ By sense * Reuel 6. 10. 11. †Mens merits * Separatists * 〈…〉 Truth of Iudgement Truth of Heart Truth of Speech Truth of Action †Potaâ—iana 3. Esdr. 4. * 〈◊〉 Gen. 32. 33. * Woman-Man * Cutter
with his taile 54 But I confesse I tremble at her rod As Moses did at his when he it cast On ground by the commandement of God And it became a Serpent that in haste He fled from it but all his feare was past When God him bid to take it by the taile Then it became a Staffe to stay him fast And wonders worke So though our hearts shee quaile At first we yet at last by Faith 'gainst her preuaile 55 We are as Satan hop'd Iob to haue found When as he said Doth Iob serue God for nought Whilst God doth hedge vs in on each side round And prospers all that by our hands are wrought Whilst by our flocks are multitudes forth brought So long we seeme his bountie to embrace But take away our goods and leaue vs nought Behold I say we curse him to his face Except as vnto Iob he grant preuenting grace 56 This is of wicked men the punishment That all their life Repentance haue despised Eu'n at their end they thinke not to repent This trade must in thy youth be exercised As Abel of his Firstlings sacrificed They that from sinne abstaine not till their last And to Worlds pleasures haue their Youth deuised Are like those that being sicke professe to fast When as alas they haue no appetite or taste 57 Such late Repentance seldome is or neuer We one example in the Scripture reade Not to despaire repent what time so euer But onely one example lest it breede Presumption 'T is meate and drinke indeede To Satan for to see youth doe his will And on the other side great ioy doth breede To th'Angels for to see young men fulfill Gods Statutes in their Youth and eke obay his Will 58 Oh! then embrace her whilst 't is call'd Today For most vncertayne is our life and fraile The longer I the lusts of sinne obay Against them I the hardlier shall preuaile Late med'cines of their cures doe most what faile Which would yeeld remedie in season taken The Serpent in the head not in the taile Is quickly kill'd young twigs are easily shaken But grow hard to remoue when they deepe roote haue taken 59 If in due time thou seekest to repent By godly sorrow which ne're comes too late And thou hells pangs dost feele Be confident Thou art by Faith in Christ regenerate Assure thy selfe most happy is thy state If thou least drop of Mercy dost obtaine The danger 's past sinnes stinging will abate The Spirit of thy mind 's renew'd againe And from least shew of sinne hereafter now refraine 60 Though like 〈◊〉 seruant first thou 〈◊〉 Nought but Hostilitie thee to confound If that thine eyes with his once open'd bee To looke vp to the Mountayne There abound Horses and Charets fiery about thee round Crie but alas Master What shall we doe Loe more for thee than there for them are found Thy light with blindnesse so confounds thy Foe Thou mayst them captiue leade and vnto others show 61 Thy Groat is found which thou before hadst lost Thy Sheepe's brought home that earst hath gone astray Thy dead sonne hath againe receau'd his ghost The prodigall 's come home that ranne away Vashti's deposed from the Scepters sway And humble Hester now hath got her place The workes of darknesse now are chac't away And in their roome are workes of Light and Grace Faith by Repentance shewes vs now Loues smiling face 62 Ioy after Sorrow after labour rest And after shipwrack the desired Port All men loue safety they discerne it best That lately haue escap'd some eminent hurt Loe light is pleasing vnto eu'ry sort To them most that in darkest Dungeon bee To passe from death to life doubles the sport Of 〈◊〉 But 〈◊〉 all the ioyes I see Is when â—â—om wounded conscience Gracâ— doth set 〈◊〉 63 And now o Lord vnabâ—â— to â—â—presse Thy wondrous bountie in 〈◊〉 first creation And much more here vnworthy to confesse Thy Loue and Grace in our regeneration Begun here first in vs by renouation And true Repentance Lord now cure my wound The sting of conscience by sweet application Of Faith the fruits whereof may still abound And to the riches of thy glorious Grace redound 64 You may be pleas'd with me to call to mind How when the humble Lady first me brought To Dame Repentance harsh I her did find And shee most strongly on my conscience wrought Yea though with teares I oft her Grace besought That I might iudged be at Mercies seate Shee mee by force before Dame Iustice brought Where all my sinnes and faults shee did repeate But Faith me iustifide of whom I next entreate MEDITAT IIII. Of Faith 1 ONe Beeing that from all eternitee Most happy is Wise Iust Omnipotent And from eternitie all things did see As present though long after they were meant Of nought created Aire Fire Firmament With all the Spirits and Powers that are aboue Made and replenished Earths Continent The Sea and all that in them both doe moue All these he made for Man Man him to serue and loue 2 Man sure a Creature was most excellent Being of all created things the end To whom that Being onely being lent That he to 's Makers seruice might intend And in his ioyfull Presence his life spend Wherefore He him in goodliest Garden plac't And one Fruit onely did from him defend Of which Fruit onely he presum'd to taste Wherefore God him for eu'r out of the Garden cast 3 But as the glorious riches of his grace Was the sole-mouing cause Man first to make So gracelesse Man he leaues not in this case But to repaire his losse will vndertake A new worke likewise for his mercies sake To free him from sinnes guilt and Satans wile God will Mans flesh and guilt vpon him take And purge him from the sinne doth him defile Thus Satan is beguil'd that sought Man to beguile 4 As 〈…〉 Canâ—'d Man from earthly Eden to be cast So true Beliefe and 〈◊〉 Obedience Cause 〈…〉 And as on paine of death he was to fast From one fruit onely so this gracious King Commands vs now one onely fruit to taste Life to restore and for to kill Death's sting This fruit is Faith in Christ whereof I next doe sing 5 Thou that when Man most blessed was created But by sinne falne from his high happinesse Thine owne Sonne sent that he regenerated Might be and winne againe more perfect blesse Who here eu'n humbled'st God in humane flesh That thou by Faith might'st Man to thee vnite And safe deliuer from all wretchednesse Direct my Muse of Faith to sing aright And grant me first 〈◊〉 Faith before of Faith I write 6 Faith is a wondrous gift of God a Grace Whereby th'Elect apply particularly Christ right and all his benefits embrace By her our hope subsiâ—ts most certainely Shee shewes vs things vnseene most euidently Faith of the Gospell is a firme beliefe Whereby Christs benefits offred we apply And rightly doe receiue So
THE SONG OF SONGS WHICH WAS SALOMONS Metaphrased in English Heroiks by way of Dialogue With certayne of the Brides Ornaments viz. Poeticall Essayes vpon a Diuine Subiect Whereunto is added a Funerall Elegie consecrate to the memorie of that euer honoured Lord IOHN late Bishop of LONDON By R. A. REVEL 21. 9. Come hither and I will shew thee the Bride the Lambs wife LONDON Printed by William Stansby 1621. TO MY MOST BELOVED AND WORTHY GOOD FRIEND Mr. HENRY KING Arch-Deacon of Colchester IT pleased you long since at my request to present this holy Song to my honourable good Lord and your most deare and louing Father Whose worthy approbation hath encouraged me to publish it intending the Dedication to his euer-honoured memorie But God hauing now taken him to himselfe and left vs to bewaile our inestimable losse it being printed before his Death I resolue not to alter the Dedication but desire you his liuing Heire to accept it in his Name praying the Lord of all Grace who hath made you Heire of his Graces and Vertues to make you Coheire with him of eternall Happinesse resting alwayes Your owne R. A. TO THE RIGHT REVEREND FATHER IN GOD IOHN LORD BISHOP OF LONDON ACcept my Lord into your Treasurie Of Wisedome Learning this deuoted Mite In Widdowes offering out of penurie Thy Lord did more than richest gifts delight Your Lordships worthy fauours did inuite Mee to this boldnesse when you first did raise My lot which in obscuritie was light In better Fortunes for to spend my dayes For which I blesse your bountie and my Maker praise As little Brookes which from the Ocean wide Receiue their Source thence watering hollow vaines Of fruitfull Earth backe to the Sea doe slide Yeelding some Drops of Tribute for their gaines Euen so a thankfull heart my Muse constraines This Tribute to your Bountie to repay And consecrate my labour and my paines Vnto your Seruice which I humbly pray Like Mite to Treasure Drop to Ocean answer may My Muse once rashly sought to enterprise To ranke thine Honour in the Court of Fame But knowing Thou such Glorie didst despise In white stone seeking a new written Name Which he knowes onely that receiues the same I chose this Song of Christ and 's Church to sing Where if mine ignorance commerit blame I doe submit it to thy censuring Who art in pardoning and giuing like a King With Spirit of Moses Iosuahs fortitude The Faith of Abram Isaacks happy peace With Dauids heart Iobs patience be indu'd With Salomons wealth and vvisdomes good increase From Samuels dealing Iustice neuer cease Be blest like Iob in his last happy broode With Pauls content be it in paine or ease Let Churches hidden Manna be thy food Thy daies and strength like Calebs happy long good Your Lordships most bounden and deuoted R. A. The Pastor to the Authour I Out of Pulpit oft haue beene thy Teacher Now in this Booke thou art to me a Preacher God grant what 's there and here deliuered May daily in our liues be practised Io. Whyte To The Authour THis Worke diuine to paint with commendation Were sure a worke of supererogation In mee yet in plaine english I say this The Booke 's the theorie the practice His. B. L. WHen I at home thy Practice doe behold Me thinks it goes beyond all contemplation But soone this Booke hath that conceit control'd And rays'd my soule to heau'nly admiration Thy skill so here thy Practice doth transcend I see there 's none so good but may amend W. B. Affinis-domesticus OF making many Bookes there is no end And too much reading wearieth the flesh But more that I to reading these intend They more my Soule and Spirit doe refresh I. A. YOu carelesse Church-men that your time mis-spend In idlenesse or worldly cogitation Learne of the Learned in the Lawes to spend Your idle time in holy Meditation Denout Ciuilians of our English Nation Besides their true discharge of publique place Giue faire example worthy imitation By learned Pen to season soules with grace Hayward in Prose our Authour here in Verse Both Doctors of another facultie Doe sacred heau'nly Mysteries reherse As if they did professe Diuinitie Goe on braue Spirits while your deuouter Lines Shame them that falsly call themselues Diuines A. Magirus Pag. 10. Stan. 1. Lin. 6. for shine râ—ade shone pag. 11. stan 2. liâ— 7. for amidst r. amisse pag. 23. stan 2. lin 6. for confesse r. confessed p. 31. stan 2. lin 2. for will r. nill p. 67. stan 3. lin 1. for fellowes r. followes p. 75. stan 1. l 2. for heau'n r. hau'n p. 111. stan 1. lin 1. for assay'd r. asâ—ail'd p. 〈◊〉 sta 2. l. 1. for within r. which in p. 123. stan 1. lin 5. for abye r. abyes pag. 135. stan 3 lin 7. for religious r. Religions p. 139. stan 3. lin 9. for imperfections r. impeâ—fection's p 140. stan 1. lin 3. for fand r. fend p. 145. stan 4. lin 8. reade so mis-spend p. 152. stan 1. l. 5. for ioynes r. ioynts pag. 187. stan 3. lin 7. for will dread r. wildred THE SONG OF SONGS WHICH WAS SALOMONS The Argument MY Muse that whilome swaid by lust of youth Did spend her strength in idle wanton toyes Now viewes her vanity with mickle ruth And as awak'd doth seeke for solid ioyes Such as pure soules to blessednesse conuoyes This is the cause why shee so much doth long His grace implor'd who in a mighty noyse Appear'd in clouen tongues to teach my tongue To sing these sacred mysteries this SALOMONS song CHAP. I. The Churches loue to Christ shee doth defend And cleere her selfe from all indignitie She cals her Spouse who shewes her how to wend They bothdelight in sweet communitie WIth kisses of thy mouth doe thou me kisse Thy loue is better vnto me then wine Thine oyntments sauour good and pleasant is A sweet perfume is that blest Name of thine Therefore the Maydes all in thy loue combine Oh draw me and we after thee will run If to thy treasures thou our hearts incline We will reioyce and in that ioy begun We will recount thy loues with all that errours shun Scorne me not Sions Nymphes though I seeme browne For I am faire and comely as a Rose I till Sunnes scorching beames on me did frowne Was like those that in Salomons tents repose My Mothers sonnes my beauty did expose To the Sunnes heate and raging me abiected So did they me a baser way dispose To keepe strange Vineyards not to be respected Whil'st mine ay me lay vnmanur'd quite neglected Oh tell me where thou whom my soule doth loue Thou feed'st thy Sheepe and rests them at noone day For why alas should I a strag'er proue And feede my flocks with them that goe astray Fairest of mayds since thou know'st not the way Tread not in steps that into errours moue But leade thou forth thy Kids to leape and play Vpon the hills the Shepheards tents
Latines from Paine doe make their deriuation Next is a new mind by interpretation Both these describe her nature wondrous right In paine and sorrow is her inchoation When shee with Flesh and powers of Hell doth fight Then followes change of mind which bringeth sweet delight 38 For shee is bred in paine brought forth in gladnesse Sorrow is ouer-night but in the morne Comes soundest ioy to chase away nights sadnesse And when we thinke that we are left forlorne Then comfort 's nigh to lift on high our horne And though a while the Worldlings vs doe deeme The off-scumme of the people and the scorne Of wicked men yet God doth vs esteeme And by this change most precious in his eyes we seâ—me 39 Thus haue all holy men in former ages By griefe and change of mind obtayn'd Gods grace This eke is shadowed in those grand Sages That tooke great paynes and care to find the place Where Christ was borne that they might see his face Who after in a dreame forwarned were Not to returne againe in their first trace Thus after trauell long great paines and care With ioy and change of mind another way they fare 40 Of all the 〈…〉 Eu'n from 〈…〉 that â—its in her Tâ—â—one To low Humilitie that keepes her 〈◊〉 Our blessed Sauiour hath vs paternes showne Onely because no sinne was euer knowne To be in him He cannot well be said For to repent of sinnes that be his owne But sure for ours a ransome deare he paid And felt the wrath of God which on vs should be laid 41 His Soule was heauie eu'n vnto the death He fear'd to drinke this cup of bitternesse God did on him such wrath and vengeance breath That he sweat drops of blood in his distresse Such horror by Gods curse did him depresse That he cry'd out as if he were forsaken Such horror doth repenting â—oules oppresse But not in so great measure are they shaken For Christ the edge of Gods displeasure off hath taken 42 This was his way to heau'n This must be ours Before we be to true Repentance brought Consider now with are the bitter stowers Whereby our Fathers haue Repentance sought Let Abram tell from natiue Countrey brought Into an vnknowne Land to be a stranger Where he indured hunger cold and drought Whom Canaâ—â—â— famine made an Egypt 〈◊〉 Where of the losse of Wife and Life he was in danger 43 Afflicted Iob modell of true Repentance How was he plagu'd without frighted within Who though he seem'd most happy in his entrance Yet his last dayes were best Dauid did sin Most desp'rately but after did begin Sadly to crie when he Gods anger found Purge me without and make me cleane within When Solomon felt his sinnes accursed wound He a whole 〈◊〉 of true Repentance did compound 44 Good 〈◊〉 chattered like a Swallow Or like a Crane and mourned like a Doue And though his sonne Manâ—sses long did wallow In much foule sinne yet bondage did him moue To true Repentance Peter more did loue His Master aâ—ter vnaduis'd denyall Thus all Gods seruants better Saints doe proue After they haue endur'd the fiery tryall Experience of Gods loue makes holy men more loyall 45 I should seeme partiall if I onely tell Of men who in this worke haue happy beene Since Women for this beare away the bell Witnesse her eyes which like two Fountaynes dreâ—ne To wash her Sauiours feete And Riâ—â—as teene When vnder sackcloth shee her life did lead Till the wish't raine from heau'n to fall was seene So long shee did defend the bodies dead That for the Gibeonites were hang'd vp by the head 46 But why seeke I for witnesses without Looke in thine heart if there thou hast not found This smart of horror thou maist iustly doubt Thy soule 's not yet vp in Lifes bundle bound Therefore vnto thy selfe with speede propound To view Gods wrath and thine owne wretchednesse Then griefe of heart and sorrow will abound Which thee vnto the brinke of hell will presse Till Faith thee raise by inward ioy to happinesse 47 Thou shalt not find her like fruit which to th' eye Was wondrous faire and pleasant to the taste Which poyson'd Adam and his Progenie Shee bitter is at first sweet at the last And when the cloud of sorrow 's ouer-past Shee brings of ioy and comfort so great store That all become new loe old things are past Shee is the Antidoâ—e that doth restore What Adam lost when he forsooke his Makers lore 48 No th'Antidâ—â—â— is Christs most precious Blood Repentance is but the preparatiue To make our soules taste this most heau'nly food Than which no other can keepe vs alâ—â—e And till Repentance out of vs doth driue In-bred corruption and all actuall sin This Balme of Gilead will not make vs thriue Oh then Repentance purge me cleane within And make my stomach fit this Manna to let in 49 The Spirit 's willing but the Flesh is weake Oh a most bitter pill is this temptation None but they that haue felt it right can spâ—ake What pangs it breedes in our regeneration Well let men-pleasers onely sing saluation Let not vaine fruitlesse hopes thine heart deceaue We must first taste the curse of our damnation Before saluation truely we conceaue As head so must the members that to it doe cleaue 50 We here must taste it or then when w'appeare At Christs Tribunall From which none can hide Himselfe but all stand forth themselues to cleare When Bookes are brought forth and are open'd wide In sight of God Christ Angels and the Bride When Satan and thy conscience thee accuse And no gold can an Aduocate prouide Oh who thinks of this day and can refuse To taste here of Christs Cup and scape the Deuils Cruse 51 Wherefore against thy selfe an Action bring And thus accuse examine iudge and trie Lest thou beest iudged of the righteous King First before Gods Tribunall prostrate lie And if he then beheld thee with his eye Confesse thy in-bred sinnes knowne and vnseene Against thy selfe pronounce vnfeignedly Damnation hell and horror when we seeme Most vile in our owne eyes God doth vs best esteeme 52 Death to all men the wages is of sin But vnto those the Heau'n of happinesse That thus on earth condemne themselues within And after bring forth fruits of Righteousnesse But to those that goe on in wickednesse Death is the Port and entrance into Hell Lord giue me here this pill of bitternesse Which may corruption from mine heart expell No wound can be so deepe but thou by grace canst heale 53 And though shee seemes like fiery two-edg'd sword That keepes from Man the way to Tree of Life Because her fiery triall is abhord And Cowards heart doth faint to see her knife Swouning away at Flesh's and Spirits strife Oh neuer yet let feare my courage quaile To hinder me from that sweet Tree of Life Better Repentance thresh me with her flaile On earth than hellish Dragon breake me
Sonne for vs What can be denyde Who dares condemne who by him saued are For whom his Death and Rising doth prepare Eternall blisse Shall anguish tribulation Nakednesse famine perill sword or feare Vs sep'rate from the Horne of our saluation In these Faith makes vs conquer by Christs mediation 75 My prayer gracious Lord shall euer bee Increase my Faith And as now in some wise Thou her faire Lineaments hast made mee see For which I praise thee Open so mine eyes That seeing I her worth may truely prise And for her sake most willing be to loose My life and all this wicked world despise And rather bondage here with Faith to choose Than liue in Egypts Court with vaine deceitfull showes 76 Now as a valiant Souldier strong and wise That would in open field defeate his Foe Suffers no sleepe to come within his eyes But keepes continuall watch For he doth know His En'mie Lyon-like about doth goe By force or sleight his life for to surprize Eu'n so good Lord grant thou me grace to doe That though sleepe often close my bodies eyes My Soule may still keepe watch 'gainst Satans subtilties 77 Hope was the Patron that with Faith did ioyne When to my triall me Repentance brought Who all their might and forces did combine Vntill my absolution they had wrought These not their owne good but their Clients sought And pleaded not for friendship fees or gayne Loues fauour was their vtmost ayme and thought They shew'd no Law their Causes to maintayne But Pardons wrote in 's Blood that for our sinnes was slayne MEDITAT V. Of Hope 1 REpentance Faith and Hope be graces three Which no where but in Israel are knowne Of other Vertues some resemblance wee Do find amongst the Heathen which are showne To them by Natures light and first were sowne Most pure till they corrupted were with sin But now they most vnlike themselues are growne For till Faith Hope them to restore begin They glorious seeme without but foule and vile within 2 For though of Knowledge Loue Truth Patience Right Mercy Fortitude Humilitie Prudence Zeale Temp'rance Bountie Obedience There doe in them remayne some memorie Yet wanting Faith and Hope like either eye Their blinded soules for to direct aright In all their actions they doe moue awry For Faith and Hope like Sunne and Moones cleare light Direct repenting Soules which wander else in night 3 And though by reading in Dame Natures booke The Heau'n and Earth's most wonderfull creation They vpwards to their Maker oft did looke And saw his Power and Wisedomes manifestation And their owne wretchednesse Yet Humiliation For sinne in them no true Repentance wrought For missing these chiefe Agents of saluation The worke could not be to perfection brought For without Faith and Hope Repentance profits nought 4 Thou that the Finisher and Authour art Of eu'ry good and perfect Gift and Grace Who look'st not on the worke but on the heart Where eu'ry Vertue holds her seate and place Who lately hast me guided in the trace Of Faith the Mother now direct aright My Muse to follow on the Vertues chase And first of Hope Faiths daughter next in sight And make my Hope stand stedfast whilst of Hope I write 5 Hope is of things to come an expectation Which God hath promis'd and Faith doth beleeue For when th'Elect of their Iustification By Faith stand sure Then Hope doth them releeue With Patience to expect till God doth giue All the good things which he hath promised So that no crosse affliction can them grieue For by this Hope they stand assured The day will come their Hope shall be accomplished 6 Some Faith Hopes Mother some her Sister call Howsoe're betwixt them is so neare relation That if one faile the other needes must fall Faith brings forth Hope the Anchor of saluation But Faith is nourished by expectation A thankfull Daughter to a blessed Dame Who nonrisheth her Mother in this fashion And oft when Faith growes cold blind faint and lame Hopes brests Assurance Patience her restore againe 7 A blessed paire like Naâ—mi and Ruth Faith doth direct and Hope goes forth to gleane Faith searcheth first beleeues and finds the Truth Then Hope at Booz feete expects the meane And though at first a small reward shee gayne Yet being content Gods leisure for to stay Shee in the end doth to her Hope attayne Ruthâ—nto â—nto Booz married is that day And now may Naomi in her lap Obed lay 8 Hope is so like Faith and so neare of Kin As hardly we discerne a difference Faith is the ground whereon Hope doth begin Both haue alike assurance Patience From the same Spirit both haue their influence Both sauing Graces purge and purifie The heart and season with obedience Both last alike By both we'our selues denie Both make our conscience sound By both for Christ we die 9 But Faith is first for loe shee is Hopes ground Hope onely future sees but Faith things past Faith seales our euidence and makes it sound Hope waites till shee possession take at last Hope is the Helmet that on th' Head is plac't But Faith the Shield doth all the body hide And though our Faith oft faint our Hope stands fast From off the Shield full many a blow may slide On Helmet but there farther entrance is deni'de 10 Thus haue I shew'd how they are different The cause now As of Words immortall seede The Spirit begets Faith to giue firme assent Vnto Gods Promises Eu'n so indeede That Spirit out of those Promises doth breede A liuely Hope whose end is our saluation And that we shall haue all things which we neede In the meane time we haue our conuersation By Faith and Hope with Christ in heau'nly habitation 11 Similitudes make plaine and illustrate Things that are else mysterious darke obscure As when th' immortall Workman did create At first Man without helpe alone and pure He made him then a deepe sleepe to endure And tooke stuffe from him ere he did awake Of which he made for him a helpe most sure So the same Spirit that Faith at first did make To make now Hope Faiths help doth matter from Faith take 12 As Body Spirit Faith Lord and Baptisme's one So but one true and liuing Hope we find But as her Obiects infinite become We may distinguish her in different kind If heau'nly Obiects be to her assign'd Shee like the Obiect is Celestiall If shee on worldly Obiects set her mind As doth the Obiect shee doth rise or fall Loe then the Obiect of our Hope is all in all 13 We hope for that for vs in Heau'n's vp laid We hope to see Christs glorious Exaltation We hope for all things that Christ for vs praid We hope in Gospell that brings vs saluation We hope of all in Christ a restauration We hope Soules Bodies shall immortall liue We hope to reape what 's sowne in expectation The faithfull Pastor hopes his Flocke shall thriue Faith Author is of Hope
feruent strife For Apples things of order decencie That we alas neglect religious Life Faith Hope Repentance Ioy and Charitie Of things indifferent iudge indifferently The smaller things the greater consequence There is we should with all Humilitie Yeeld vnto them vnfeign'd obedience Not we the Law The Law must rule our Conscience 66 Now could I with Compassion Prayers Teares Beseech you all as to a common flame To lend your Hands your Heads your Hearts your Eares And all your aide and helpe to quench the same 'T is to our Church a foule reproch and shame Christs Coate that is without Seame to diuide When we in substance all doe hold the same Lets humbly in one Hope Faith Loue abide And not fall out for shells to make whose peace Christ di'de 67 But they say Ceremonies now are dead Why should we them againe then viuifie I grant all were in Christ accomplished Which his last Sacrifice did typifie But those of Order and of Decencie Doe for our imitation still remayne As Ephods Offrings Tithes Prayers Prophecie Kneeling such as Deuotion true maintayne The first we doe forbeare The last we doe retayne 68 But now I stray from Hope bâ—t not from Peace Which is the thing I hope for and desire What shall our strife for Ornaments encrease Whilst Aduersaries in our gates conspire To burne our Townes and blow vs vp with fire Now by our Hope that vp in heau'n is laid I instantly you pray beseech require To lend your publique and your priuate aid That Rulers not for feare but conscience be obaid 69 Hope still pricks on my Muse in this discourse In hope hereby Peace to our Church to gayne But method here doth stop her farther course Who preacheth Order Order must maintayne Hope must not passe her Mother Faith in trayne Lest I doe hope for more than I beleeue For which if I doe pray I pray in vaine God without Faith no prayers doth receaue Hope Prayer without Faith doe oft poore soules deceaue 70 Thou then that art of Faith and Hope the Spring I â—lesse thy Name for this sweet Meditation This light of Hope which thou to me dost bring Oh let true Faith direct my Supplication Vnto my Hope thy holy Habitation That Port of blisse purchas'd by thine owne Blood Spent on the Crosse to finish our saluation This is my Hope This is my heau'nly Food On this faire Hope to rest I hold my chiefest good 71 And here I hope I may haue leaue to rest And stop my Muse a while from following The Vertues praises late so readie prest In Loues high Court for my true welcomming Yet by Gods grace I promise here to sing Of all their praises in their ranke and place If this mine entrance and first hanselling Shall but obtayne amongst those Readers grace Who by these Vertues aide hope to behold Loues face FINIS THE BRIDES ORNAMENTS Poëticall Essayes vpon a Diuine subiect THE SECOND BOOKE Viz. of Iustice and Righteousnesse Truth Mercy Patience Fortitude LONDON Printed by W. Stansby 1621. TO MY MOST LOVING AND TRVELY BELOVED WORTHY GOOD FRIEND Mr. PHILIP KING IN whom for complement there is no roome With him doth so much honesty abound And Iustice to thy Patronage will come Whom I of all men haue the iustest found Thou art no curious Critick nor of those That nothing like in Verse but all in Prose All yours R. A. MEDITAT I. Of Iustice and Righteousnesse 1 WHen first Gods mouing Spirit forth had brought Beasts Fowle Fish creeping things after their kind Loe then He Man in his owne Image wrought And him a Ruler ouer all assign'd Writing within the Tablet of his Mind His Law which should eternally endure And all the Creatures in Obedience bind To Man their King and knit his heart as sure To King of Kings This Law was naturall and pure 2 Here first the right of Soueraigntie began All subiect to the Monarchy of one For euery Creature subiect is to Man While he is subiect vnto God alone This Monarch now is seated in his Throne And the whole World doth with his Scepter sway Here 's the first president that e're was knowne Of gouernment From hence loe Princes may Learne rightly how to rule and Subiects to obay 3 Thus Man of this great World the little King To shew his Soueraigntie gaue all a name And they their Lord as Subiects reu'rencing True Vassals to this little King became Yet Man in honour could not hold the same But did become rude disobedient Breaking that Law he merits hell death shame When he offends that hath the Regiment His double sinne deserues a double punishment 4 In all his workes before the Lord had showne His Loue Power Wisedome Truth and Prouidence But now Mans sinne his Iustice must make knowne Though most notorious was the Mans offence God will not iudge till he makes his defence Man cited then appeares vile naked lame There needes no witnesse but his conscience And though on others he would lay the blame The more his cause is heard the more appeares his shame 5 Besides th' eternall Law within the heart Of Adam God had wrote with his owne Hand He did one Precept vnto him impart Which was indifferent till God did command Of all the Trees that in the Garden stand From one on paine of death he must refrayne Lawes made we may not question or withstand Who breakes them beares the forfeit of the payne When Rulers cease to punish Vice they sinne maintayne 6 Thou that the hearts of all Men dost dispose Of Kings to rule and Subiects to obay From whom all Power proceedes to bind and lose Who humble Men in iudgement guidest ay Thou Iudge of all the World direct I pray Thy humble Seruant to discerne aright Of Iustice that I her delineate may In her true shape vnto the Peoples sight That teaching I may learne and practise to doe right 7 Shee is a constant and perpetuall Will That giues to euery Man what is his right First free from passion shee continues still Constant in her disposing things aright In action next shee taketh most delight And not alone in idle speculation There 's no respect of persons in her sight The same to all without vaine alteration For Law 's the Rule and Square of her administration 8 Iustice the Vertue Law 's the Rule and Square Whereby we truely Iustice exercise Wherefore if in the abstract you declare Lawes Nature shee 's perpetuall constant wise And so with God in heau'n for ay abye But if you view her in the concrete Would Shee varies as the Subiect her employs Then blame not Lawes when wrong we doe behould It comes from Man that 's made of corruptible mould 9 As when pure Wine in putrid Vessell put Becomes vnwholesome ranke vnsauory The fault 's not in the Wine but in the Butt Which doth the sweetnesse of the Wine destroy Eu'n so it fares with Law and Equitie In their owne nature they are perfect
accounted worthy for Christs sake To suffer scourging prison shame despite Which did them way to Crownes and Glorie make More happy 't is to suffer at a stake For Truth than end our dayes in ease and rest Paul for a wondrous fauour did it take That he not onely to beleeue was blest But that he suffered more for Christ than all the rest 53 The abiect and off-scowring of the World A gasing stocke to Angels and to Men Perill on Land on Seas with Tempest whirld Perill of Beasts and of false Bretheren Mock'd scourg'd bound stock'd cold hungrie naked thin Last Satans buffetting spirituall I here should tyre my Reader and my Pen If I his crosses all to mind should call Yet he with constant Patience conquered them all 54 So they that truely loue will ought endure For his sake onely they so truely loue Lord grant me Loue for then I may be sure In all afflictions patient to proue No power of Men or Hell their soules can moue That build vpon so good and strong foundation Temptation may vs shake but not remoue From Loue the ground and pillar of saluation Loue is the Cause of ours as of our Sauiours passion 55 This seasons all afflictions crosses payne Makes Death our Gate to Heau'n the Graue our rest This makes our Patience perfect and doth gayue Vs Heau'n as sure as if we were possest The God of Patience be euer blest The End and Authour of my Meditation And grant I constantly may euer rest Vpon his Loue in Christ my sure foundation Whose Patience paid my price of Reconciliation 56 Thus of true Patience hauing laid the ground I thereon Christian Fortitude will raise For neuer any valour true and sound Can well abide but where true Patience stayes No perill payne or shame that soule dismayes Where these two Vertues doe themselues combine Both ioyfull make vs walke through dreadfull wayes And like two Sunnes in Firmament doe shine Most glorious Fortitude but Patience most Diuine MEDITAT V. Of Fortitude 1 AL valiant Captaynes of the sacred Hoast Of Loues high Queene that fight 'gainst Hate and Hell Christs Souldiers muster vp from eu'ry coast And them to stand in complete Armes compell That Satans fiery darts they may repell But as in worldly Battaâ—les Armes are vaine If Cowards hearts doe faint or courage quell So in this spirituall Warfare all are slaine That with true Fortitude this fight cannot maintayne 2 I therefore her Loues valiant Generall And chiefe Commandresse of her Forces name For that the most braue Sp'rits heroicall Haue alwayes beene most honour'd by the same Amongst the Heathen men that sought vaine Fame This Vertue was in such great estimation Of heau'nly Seede they thought their Heros came Expecting not from humane propagation Such worth except the Gods concurr'd in Generation 3 And therefore those whose valour did transcend The ordinarie reach of humane Race By Pedigrees are lin'd out to descend From Ioues or some great Deities embrace Thus in a mist they seeme the Truth to trace For Vertues all but chiefly Fortitude Are not begotten but infus'd by Grace And in Kings hearts in larger amplitude As they it more doe neede than common multitude 4 For as small Waters faire and goodly seeme When little Channels doe their course maintayne Yet would a Man them scarsely Waters deeme If they ran drissing in some Riuer mayne Eu'n so a Subiects heart that doth contayne True Fortitude but in a measure small Great glorie to himselfe thereby may gayne But if in Princes heart the same should fall It scarsely would be counted Fortitude at all 5 Wherefore the Hearts of Kings are said to bee Like mightie Riuers in th' Almighties hand From which as from a little Ocean hee Disposeth Water ouer all the Land His Nobles which him round like Brookes doe stand Refresh and water eu'ry Dale and Plaine As from their Soueraigne they haue command But all their Waters haue from Ocean maine Where all their Tribute must reâ—urne with praise againe 6 And therefore since I find it all but vaine To seeke for any good and perfect Grace But from the bountie of my Soueraigne I here beseech th' Almightie guide my trace In finding out this Vertues royal Race That I her wondrous Glorie may expresse So here as all may striue her to embrace As th' onely strength of humane happinesse Till with Loues gracious Trayne shee bring vs vnto blesse 7 Thus strong in God and Power of his might â— Fâ—rtitude doe truely first explaine To be a strength of mind or valiant Sprite Whereby couragiously we doe sustaine Hard things for Vertues sake and not for gaine Betwixt Bâ—olâ—nesse and Feare a moderation True Fortitude doth from base Feare retaine Meeknesse from murmuring at Gods castigation And Patience mitigates the know of our passion 8 Patience is past and Meeknesse comes behind I therefore Fortitude here twofold name One of the Body th' other of the Mind This Fortitude of Body is the same We common haue with Beasts both wild and tame Encreast by feeding strength good constitution In stout sustayning is her greatest fame Next in on-setting with braue resolution This helps in Warre but minds it best in persecution 9 I twofold likewise call that of the Mind One true the other that which men doe fayne When for false ends we nobly are enclin'd Or when these Causes following constrayne Passion Experience Ignorance Art Gayne Passion of Feare of Fuâ—ie Hope and Anger By these we mightie things doe oft darraigne Experience Art make vs to dread no danger By Ignorance and for Gayne we boldly Life endanger 10 For feare of danger and t' auoid disgrace The Coward faint will like a Dragon fight Who can withstand the furie of the Base Experience Art preuaile oft against might And Ignorance of danger doth incite The fearefull great atchieuements to aduenter Custome of winning makes vs oft in spite Of Fate and Fortune into Battles enter By Sea for hope of gayne some to the Indies venter 11 But Fortitude which doth prepare the Mind For God and Goodnesse chearefully to die Is that braue Vertue formerly defin'd Which Death nor Hell it selfe can terrifie By this we onely on the Lord relie And strong in God and Power of his might Put on our armes to fight most valiantly Faith Hope and Truth with Patience Iustice Right And with the spirituall Sword vndantedly doe fight 12 Though of our selues we no more able are These mightie Armes to weare and wâ—ild aright Than little Dauid was King Sauls to beare When he Goliah met in single fight Yet if Gods power we consider right And set by all the worldly strength we haue Relying on his prouidence and might As Dauid we may say with courage braue Who me from Beare and Lyon from all harme shall saue 13 For from the Lord is all sufficiency Our Enemies in Christ we nothing feare But fight Gods Battailes most couragiously In whom we able to doe all things are And