of Death too for that sprung from thee EVE My Lord I have transgrest and do with tears Confess my fault Oh let thy gracious ears To my request incline and let the heat Of kindled wrath abate now at thy feet I prostrate lye God knows my heart is thine My Love and high esteem whate're is mine Through my means true is is thou art accurst But know the Serpent hath beguil'd me first Dost think I would have done 't had I foreseen What would the consequence thereof have been Oh! pity me dear Adam for I do My crime acknowledg and bewail it too And if that such intreaties might have sped I 'd beg the punishment upon my Head Might wholly light and God would thee restore To all the happiness thou hadst before On those terms welcome sorrow welcom pain I all would freely bear of none complain Be kind unto me Adam me forgive My great offence and let me with thee live Broken my heart is multipli'd my fears My sighs consider and observe my tears In this my sore distress do not me leave Me a part of thy self do not bereave Of thine advice and aid A look give down A look of love on her who is thine own ADAM Here 't is my Dearest for thee come arise And those o'reflowing tears wipe from thine eyes Which my displeasure caus'd alas that is The least effect of what thou didst amiss His wrath I dread whom we provoked have And from that wrath I gladly would thee save By bearing all my self I 'd loudly cry Let Eve live in thy sight and let me dye But this discourse is vain though I am loath To see thy miseries yet since we both Have sinned both must suffer and feel smart Our Judges sentence carv'd us both our part What then remains but that we study do Love to each other how to shew it too In all ways possible for so may we Somewhat alleviate our misery EVE My Lord with thankfulness I do admire Thy love to me just object of thine ire Which great and undeserved love doth raise Hope toward God that we shall speak his praise For if man thus forgiveth how much rather Will he forgive of Mercy who 's the Father ADAM Most sweet these words dear Consort and my mind Gives me that we and ours shall favour find In the eyes of our God Methought there did Great comfort lye in th' very sentence hid A sudden death was look'd for but lo He In stead of death only impos'd on thee Travailing sorrows And it 's richly worth Considering thou Children shalt bring forth For all those pains and when a Child thou hast Forget thou wilt all sorrows that were past In stead of me our Judg did curse the ground Which now will grow more wild and will abound With thorns and thistles It s face will be marr'd With vexing weeds so I must labour hard But sleep by labour will be made more sweet And I by labour shall get bread to eat But above all this hath my comforts fed One day thy seed shall bruise the Serpents head On these encouragements let us both fly Unto his mercy-seat and there let 's lye Cover'd with shame and drown'd with tears let 's now Before him like poor malefactors bow Of this our sin let full confessions Mixed with fervent supplications Ascend before his Throne He may relent And mercy shew unto us penitent It is the only way to scape the Rod Humbly to seek our refuge in our God SON of GOD. Father the Sentence I have past Thy will And pleasuâ—e therein I did all fulfill Nor have I finished that work alone But from th' offenders took their heart of stone And gave them one of flesh so that they melt For now the burden of their sin is felt Yea more behold they pray and sue for grace Nothing will please them but thy pleased face As Priest their names upon my breast I bear And now an Advocate for them appear Presenting their requests all incens'd and With Intercession back them Let thy Hand Of Love reach out a Pardon Let them obtain Thy choicest favour for my sake again From those deep sighs rising from hearts opprest And kindly broke smell a savour of Rest. Now that they seek thee be thou of them found And where Sin hath let Grace much more abound Despise them not who unto thee do fly If thou dost them thou shalt me too deny I will their sins for ever take away For their offences I by death will pay What is done I would not have thee undo Most highly it becomes thee to be true Unto thy righteous threats They did forsake Thy Law and thy Commandments did break And visited let their transgressions be With Rods and with stripes their iniquity Let their own wickedness correction give And backslidings reprove them while they live May they and theirs by sad experience know It is an evil thing and bitter too That they forsook God and made it appear By that departure they cast off his fear Yet thine own purposes of Grace fulfill Do thou them good and be their Father still Some sign of favour give them Let them see That thou art reconcil'd with them in me GOD. Be it my Son according to thy will Whatever thou hast spoken I 'le fulfill In thee I reconciled am and can For thy sake pardon all the sins of man He shall be sure to feel my smarting Rod Yet I will be to him a loving God When thou art suitor what shall not be done What 's too much for thy Intercession Which I know thou wilt ever live to make With me in Heaven for poor Sinners sake Therefore to th' utmost thou shalt Saviour be Unto all those that come to God by thee Who shall be happy Go ye Angels then And Peace proclaim on Earth Good will to men ANGEL Adam I hither come Tydings to bring From our and your Creator Heavens King Unto thy Pray'rs he hath inclin'd his ear Although a sinner thou to him art dear Upon thy sin Death might have seizure made And if it had done 't thou must have obey'd Its summons but behold there 's a reprieve Which Grace hath issu'd forth and thou shalt live Many and many days that thou thereby When e're Death comes mai'st be prepar'd to die Unto thy Makers pleasure it is fit Having offended humbly thou submit Bad will be mixt with good thy days will be Sunshine and cloudy God lays out for thee Sore trials But of sin do thou repent And learn in every state to be content One called Abr'am shall from thee descend Whom God will own and honour as his Friend From him in David's line also shall spring The promised Messiah Zions King Born of a Virgin overshadow'd by The Holy Ghost power of the most High He upon David's Throne shall sit full sure His Kingdom shall for evermore endure From Gentiles he thick darkness shall dispell And be the Glory of his Israel He out
which resembles Deity Put on a smile and do not that brow bend Where Majesty and Love seem to contend I was created dumb but do rejoyce That now I can with an articulate voice Applaud the charms of thy beauty Divine And tell thee I by gift and love am thine Yea so are all things else and were there more They all thy beauty always would adore Yet they of me fall short for lately I Some distance hence did happily espy A goodly tree laden with fruit which might Tempt the most dull and sluggish appetite I had no sooner seen it but my mind Was for a tast sharp set So I did wind About the body of it and at last I did get up being so I could not cast Mine eye on any twig but I did meet With numberless temptations to eat Restrain my self I could not any more Sin it was not to eat where was such store Venture therefore I did and don 't repent For I return much better than I went Here is my former shape my former skin But there 's great alteration made within The strings that once my tongue ti'd now are loos'd Into my mind a glorious light 's infus'd I that before was beast throughout now can Hear and discourse and understand like man When upon me this great effect was wrought Duly I it considered and thought It crime unpardonable should I smother Such an advantage and acquaint no other With what my self had found 'T was in my heart Good groweth better when we it impart My Lord I dar'd not tell of this His brow Is with such Majesty array'd we bow Before him all amaz'd without dispute His very look will strike a speaker mute But from thy milder aspect I did take Encouragement humble address to make And tell thee what I find This is the Tree Which in a moment wrought this change in me If such a Servitor would please in haste I 'd up again and fetch you down a taste Do it your self sweet Lady look up and Gather an Apple with your lilly-hand Had I but ought to pawn it pawn would I That eating would advance you Lady try EVE Serpent thou mightst of thus discoursing me Have sav'd thy self the labour 'T is a Tree We are forbidden thou may'st go and boast What good thou foundest to the numerous host Of creatures lately made and let them try If eating of it will them edifie As thee it seems it did what is thy gain Should I tast too would surely be my bane Our great Creator did by words express Command us to forbear and ne'rtheless Would'st thou have me to meddle Shall a Law So strict be given and I not stand in awe Is disobedience the way to rise Or can sin be the way to become wise What e're advantage this Tree hath thee brought I do conclude thy counsel now is naught SERPENT My Sovereign Mistris I thy pardon crave If I in any thing offended have For that offence did from pure love proceed And love deserves a pardon when there 's need With mine own gain I could content have stood Had I not zealously desir'd thy good At what else could I aim As for this Tree I could have kept its virtues hid from thee Yea had I thought its fruit forbid sure I Should not have dar'd to cross that Majesty Whose great creating-Word did being give To thee and me and by whose Word we live Your patience yet most humbly I implore And beg you would consider well before You positively determine any thing In this one case Unto your mind first bring What God indeed did say so you may see You 're under some mistake I will be free Did he say Madam did he say indeed On all these Garden-trees ye shall not feed Did he not constitute you Lords of all Hath he not made you owners general Of Fish and Fowl and Beasts Did he not give Unto you all things that on earth do live And all the herbs that bear seed in the field With fruit of all Trees too that seed do yield And hath he after all excepted one Bounding thereby your vast Dominion Have you at last a confin'd liberty Freedom that is not where all is not free EVE I well remember what our Lord did say As well as if he spoken had to day We may the fruit eat of all Trees that do Within this most delightful Garden grow But for the fruit of this Tree which doth stand In th' midst of Garden this is his command This I am sure he said for I was by Ye shall not eat nor touch it lest ye die And though what Death is I as yet can't tell I judg that Death containeth in it Hell SERPENT Lo here the reason of a rigid Law Meerly to keep inferiors in awe Did God say thus when ye do eat ye dye Look down and see that threat a foppery See 't so in me a kind of pious cheat I live and yet I of that Tree did eat Nay that my eating quickly was attended By nobler life than e're was me intended The best was thee design'd sure then at least Eat thou maist what is eaten by a beast Shake off vain fear I tell thee even I What e're he said surely ye shall not die For God himself doth know it what day ye Do eat thereof your eyes shall open'd be Yea unto gods ye shall be like for so Both what is good and evil ye shall know Good the more known it is the more enjoy'd By knowing evil you may it avoid And doth not this invite Knowledg is one Nay a great part of Gods perfection With it you should be filled since the fates Have made you Universal Potentates For he that is advanc'd to highest Rule Should be at furthest distance from a Fool. Nor can your knowledg hurt God if he be As we suppose from imperfection free He knoweth all things sure and what if you Who bear his Image be made knowing too When your eyes opened are you will thereby Resemble him the more who is all eye But why should we more words thus spend in waste Stretch out thy hand gather and freely taste That tasting will us change but with these odds Me it makes like to you you like to Gods EVE What time of day is it Hath the swift Sun His morning up-hill-course already run Me-thinks I feel a sharpned appetite Which calls for food and this Tree doth invite To come and eat thereof If I compare All Fruits together there is none more rare Presents it self in th' Garden none so well Doth with its fragrancy delight my smell And sure some hidden virtues in it lie Concealed hitherto from human eye And understanding yea the very name God gave it doth greatly confirm the same Himself the Tree of knowledg did it stile Can such a Tree destroy can it defile Besides experience good now hath me taught This lovely Tree was not design'd for nought But a shew only for one taste did
raise And teach a creature dumb to speak its praise Which is an argument I shall not dye The Serpent eat and dy'd not why should I Are only we restrain'd Death only found Us two to fright and keep us within bound Was this rare fruit designed for a beast And must we die the death if taste the least I 'le not believe it I will take and trie Yea and taste too although I taste and die But if when I have eaten I do live And like I will some unto Adam give ADAM My Dear where hast thou spent so many hours What work could thee detain what pleasant Could keep thee from me or what could supply bow'rs Thy Husbands room so long for certain I Did greatly miss thee and do find it true Upon this earth is nothing like to you Nor only so for I did strangely find A discomposure in my thoughts and mind Which boded ill methought a sudden blow Was given though by what hand I did not know The earth beneath did tremble and withall Off from their trees the fading leaves did fall Upon a sudden beauty left their fruit And all the pretty warbling birds stood mute Some creatures fearful grew and others fierce Their looks were stern Eve I cannot rehearse All that I did observe My blood waxt chill My heart misgave me there was something ill Had fallen out and though I had e'en wove Of choicest flowers a Garland for my love Out of my hands I threw it would not stay A minute longer but did come away In haste to find thee glad to meet thee here How dost thou feel thy self how is 't my dear EVE It never better was never so well Unless I judg amiss since I could tell What Being means Thy company indeed Most sorely I did miss and shall take heed Of future absence for I felt such pain Upon that score I would not feel again But that which me detain'd so long was this The subtle Serpent who advanced is Unto a nobler state than what he had And is of that advancement very glad Most humbly came desirous to acquaint Me with his change and did most sweetly paint In lively colours virtues of that tree Which you and I by God forbidden be A taste of This he did in humane voice With words that were most eloquent and choice This secret not being selfish but most free Others should with him share he did to me Kindly impart and withal much perswade Me for to take and eat ADAM Ah! but I hope he did perswade in vain My Dearest tell me for I am in pain To know thee issue EVE My Lord he did perswade and did prevail I saw I took I eat What wil't avail Now to deny the fact neither despise Me for what 's done much clearer are mine eyes Scales off did fall my mind is more sublime Than e're I found it was before this time My spirits are dilated my thoughts flie Hither and thither with full libertie All my affections are rais'd I do Conclude my self a kind of Goddess too ADAM My soul is troubled thou hast troubled me Who formed wast my Comforter to be Upon me hath amazement taken hold My joints are loosed all and horror cold Runs through my veins this 't is to be undone By her that is my dear and only one Oh! that I ever suffer'd thee to go Alone expos'd alone unto thy so Had I deny'd thee then I had not now Known those sad sinking sorrows which I do Lately thou wast most lovely and most sweet In thee did all create Perfections meet But now thou art defac'd thou now art lost Which will a thousand thousand sorrows cost Oh! hadst thou ne'er been made or being made Wouldst have my counsel given thee obey'd Poor ruin'd Eve for I must change my note What e're thou think'st thou art to death devote Thy wound 's incurable who can it heal God never will the sentence past repeal EVE Did I feel what thou fearest I would be Alone a victim to that Deitie Which thou supposest angry and so end All that displeasure thou dost apprehend But whence these fears I pray and pray again That thou wouldst tell me Is not the case plain The Serpent did eat first afterward I And we do live why shouldest thou then die If thou shouldst eat but grant it hadst not rather If die we must that we die both together Where is thy love or where thy noble heart Art thou afraid to die shall death us part But where where is he if his fatal blow Must cut me off why don't he strike it now Come let me hug thee in my tender arm And so infolded fear not any harm I tell thee and with twenty kisses seal The truth of these my words I ne'r did feel Such extasies of joy as did insue My tasting of that tree Taste thou it too ADAM Since thou dost give my Dear I 'le take although I 'm not deceiv'd like thee but better know I know that eating this will do me harm But I am carried captive by thy charm My flesh and bone thou hast with them my heart We two are one and therefore will not part In happiness thou didst partake with me In miseries I will partake with thee My great delight thou hast been even thou Whatever comes I will not leave thee now What though this hour I fetch my dying groan It would be death to me to live alone Or if thou die and then another come That other never would fill up thy room Let God his pleasure do I will do mine In life and death resolved to be thine Eve I have eaten and now own my love To thee which threatn'd death could not remove DEVIL Of my ends thus I master am thus I With ease have triumph'd o're mine enemy God did intend to honour dust to raise And make these despicable worms a praise A race of men he was resolv'd should spring From Adam's loins forsooth them he would bring To those coelestial places whence we fell And while we do tormenting pains in hell Suffer without all hope there they should be As favourites crown'd with felicity And that at which my spirit most recoils Is they should be enriched with our spoils And could we Angels brook it though we are Fallen and ruin'd yet we cannot bear Such an affront I gladly would have prey'd On his Imperial Throne I would invade His stately Royal Palace if that it Would but a siege or storm or myne admit But its walls are too high for me to scale It 's gate so fastned no strength can prevail To force it open there he sits secure In happiness for ever to endure Well though his lofty Throne I could not shake I now have that atchieved which will make Some breach upon his peace and spoil in part His matchless joys and grieve him to the heart I call to mind how greatly he was pleas'd VVith our confusion when he had eas'd Heaven of us as
POEMS IN TWO PARTS First An Interlocutory Discourse concerning the Creation Fall and Recovery of Man Secondly A Dialogue between Faith and a Doubting Soul By SAMVEL SLATER LONDON Printed for Tho. Cockeril at the Three Legs in the Poultry 1679. TO THE READER Courteous Reader AN itch of Scribling and appearing in Print hath not seiz'd me though I must confess my self easily perswaded to draw up this following Discourse An account of my publishing the Dialogue between Faith and a doubting Soul you will find before it That being delivered to the Book-seller and by him communicated to some of my Brethren they were pleased to signifie their approbation thereof wishing withal it might be accompanied with something about the Fall of Man The motion I readily closed with and so set to work in the midst of many affairs and under a very tenacious and afflictive distemper Yet I have in short time finished it and now send it abroad Be pleased to give it a fair and friendly reception If thou dost not like some things in it no more do I yet have not leisure to mend them I was much taken with Learned Mr. Miltons Cast and Fancy in his Book viz. PARADISE LOST Him I have followed much in his method and have been otherwise beholding to how much I leave thee to judg but I have used a more plain and familiar stile because I conceive it most proper Cast a mantle of love over failings wherever thou findest them and either do better or accept this from Thy Cordial Friend SA SLATER Febr. 6. 1678 9. A DISCOURSE CONCERNING The Creation Fall and Recovery of Man Iehovah Elohim I Am that which I am this is His Name Who happy always is always the same He Essence and Existence owes to none Whom can he owe it to being God alone Himself he his own happiness doth call What can he want who in himself hath all Both life and light and love and every thing Which may delight and satisfaction bring Of company there is no want for he Hath in himself a Blessed Trinity Before the World was he was not alone He then was and is still full Three in One. And in this happy that the Trinity Doth not divide his perfect Unity For the Three Persons are one Essence still One therefore in affection one in will The Son set up from everlasting is His Father's great delight the Father his Before him always he rejoiceth he Causeth and findeth matchless joy to be The Spirit too which doth from them proceed Doth the same joy both feast upon and feed But though no want of any thing could be Consistent with his sacred Deity His Goodness did not love to stay at home Communications did it become He did no Heaven need is his own place Yet for th' eternal glory of his Grace Heaven he fram'd and Earth both by a word Of power in both he is the Soveraign Lord. Above he Angels plac'd who all once shone As Morning-Stars about that Glorious Throne On which he sits an everlasting Sun Whose influence and beams can ne're be done A Law to them he gave that Law some brake And down he kickt them to the burning Lake Where they in everlasting chains shall lie Wishing for death though they can never die Yet Heaven is not empty for although Many did fall many do stand who do Attend upon him Thousands yea and more Ten thousand times ten thousand do adore His Majesty with veiled face and sing In th' highest glory to their God and King But besides Angels he from Earth did take A despicable clod and of it make A Creature whom he nobly did endue With Will and Understanding and did shew In him his own Image than Angels less He was but little for with Holiness God did invest him and resolv'd to make Him of ne're-ending happiness partake And with his chosen Progeny to fill His stately Palace his most holy Hill So he resolv'd so did and formed man One and no more in one the World began Of dust he formed him dust of the ground Yet he with Honour him and Glory crown'd His own similitude he gave him and Sov'raign authority for to command Fishes of Sea with Fowls and Beasts of sield Who all obedience unto him must yield And having made him for his pleasure-sake He commun'd with him and thus to him spake GOD. Adam who art my Workmanship know thou Unto none shalt but thy Creator bow Others shall bow to thee thee I have given All things that are under the cope of Heaven The world is thy dominion but my love Hath for thy Court chosen this pleasant Grove Eden I call 't a Garden where thou hast Varieties to please both eye and tast One fruit alone 's with-held and therefore see Thou do not venture once to taste that Tree Which knowledg doth of Good and Evil give Forbear to taste it as thou hop'st to live I who am Truth it self and cannot lie Say In the day thou eatest thou shalt die Death 't is I threaten therefore have a care Who e're shall tempt thee to 't Adam beware All other fruits I give thee for thy meat Of them thou hast free leave freely to eat Be then content if this thou tastest sin Will draw the latch and so grim Death comes in ADAM O God my Maker I do thee adore For mine own being and this bounteous store Which thou providest hast O let my love Always flame high to thee my God above Yet grant me leave to speak and make my moan Unto thy gracious ear I am alone In midst of comforts comfortless since I My days do pass without society Whatever creatures in the world there are Of each sort of them I do find a pair Which I together see associate And sweetly please themselves each in his Mate But betwixt me and them 's disparitie No pleasure therefore 'cause no harmonie Man should not turn a bruit and no bruit can Be a companion suitable to man GOD. Canst not thou find pleasure enough alone What Prince would have another in his Throne Look round about thee see how I have made Others to serve and thee to be obey'd On thee shall all attend from thee take Law And of thee every one shall stand in awe Before thee they shall come to sport and play And various delights yield every day Names thou hast given them and so dost know Their nature and their duty they know too Be satisfied then and mind my charge Great are thy comforts thy dominion large Besides look up to me I am alone From everlasting beside me is none Heaven view Skie with Sea Earth and Air And who is there that can with me compare All Creatures I have made and all to me Be more inferior than they are to thee Yet be assured that I do possess In mine own self most perfect happiness ADAM Lord pardon me thy dust if I reply And once more speak unto thy Majesty I cannot
reputation Instead of glory I must take the dress Of one that hath no form nor comeliness In form of God I am and robbery Do think it none to claim equality With him but yet I must a man become And be found in a sorry servants form Nay more if I to man would bring relief Sorrows must my familiars be and grief Mine intimate acquaintance I must be Most sorely bruis'd for his iniquity For his transgressions wounded In that day On me thou their iniquities wilt lay Yet this doth not discourage nor much more I have of love and bowels as great store As thou canst have of wrath This pleaseth me Full out as much as Vengeance pleaseth thee More thou art not displeased with his sin Than I am pleas'd Salvation him to bring Him I will draw out of the horrid pit And on a rock most sure I 'le set his feet Thy Justice honour I will so secure As that thy Mercy shall for ay endure Look on me Father then and take my word Which it's impossible for me to break great Lord Thou know'st me faithful thou dost know that I Can upon no account my self deny Look then again I here as surety stand To pay what e're thy Justice shall demand Ask what thou wilt thou canst not ask amiss Performed it shall be what e're it is Can only blood pardon procure If so Rather than not a pardon mine shall go My life I 'le give for his and part with all Which I can part with Let thine Anger fall On me thine only Son that burden I Will take to take away iniquity In all its guilt and power And that I may Be a fit object for it in the day Thou shalt appoint I will to my Godhead The Manhood joyn and so have blood to shed Blood thou canst not except against for I As man will suffer as God satisfie Let men me as a worm tread underfoot And laugh and shake the head and the lip shoot Let Bulls yea Bulls of Bashan me beset And come like hungry Lyons me to eat Let me be poured out like water and Let all my bones as dislocated stand What though my heart melted must be and I Shall have my strength like to a potsherd dry What though in sorrows thou do me immerse And cruel ones my hands and feet will pierce I 'le bear yea welcome all since thus I can Redeem from wrath poor but beloved Man Nay when I am thus brought upon the stage Let death it self spend on me all its rage Let it strike fiercely with its Iron Rod And then boast it hath kill'd the Son of God My heart is glad my glory joys also My flesh shall rest in hope because I know My precious Soul thou wilt not leave in grave I incorrupt shall resurrection have Of life the path thou wilt me shew to store Of joys and pleasures which forevermore Are in thy glorious presence Thus although I seem to yield unto that mighty foe By him to be devoured yet will I Fall like my self and a brave Conquerour die My very weakness shall much stronger be Than men and Devils Devils and men shall see I at my lowest can their pride abate And be above them in their greatest height 'Gainst man the hand-writing shall not prevail Out of the way I 'le take it and will nail It to my Cross. All adverse powers I 'le spoil And give to principalities the foil So be triumphant o're th' infernal crew And also of them all make open shew My people I will ransome from the grave From death I will them all redeemed have O cruel death even I thy plagues will be O grave I will destruction bring to thee And utterly root out mine enemies Repentance shall be hidden from mine eies In death I 'le fall that death may die by me In grave I 'le lie that graves may sweetned be To mine that shall come after I my head Will lay in dust that dust may prove a bed Of fragrant Roses yielding to them rest Who by sin were ty'rd out by world opprest Yea that same death which was brought in by Sin And was intended only to have been A way to Hell shall through my dying-love For mine be made the way to joys above A way to Heav'n for them I will it make When out of grave I shall rise for their sake As their head and first fruits I will disarm Death of its sting that it shall do no harm To mine As victor then in triumph high I I will captive lead captivity And to my Chariot-wheels will firmly bind All those mine Enemies who were combin'd Me to disgrace mine to destroy attend My triumph as slaves they shall when I ascend In clouds to Heaven and direct my course Father with gladness unto thee the source And spring of happiness when I will sit On thy right hand until under my feet My foes by thee be brought At length I will Descend again in state and so fulfil My joys and thy Decrees Father I 'le go Waited upon by Angels who shall blow And by their mighty breath that Trumpet sound Whose noise shall rough the Seas and shake the ground And make them both surrender up my dead Who with those living then shall me their Head Follow into thy presence where I shall Resign my Scepter that God all in all May be Father this I 'le perform and thus We shall rejoyce in them and they in Us. GOD. None could have spoken thus but He that is The brightness of my glory the express Image of mine own person in whom be All the perfections of the Deity My Son thou art my most beloved Son In whom I am well-pleas'd mine only one My works I took delight in because good Much more in man mine image while he stood Nor am I so incensed by his fall As utterly to ruin him and all Who shall of him proceed Now he is lost I am resolv'd to be at much more cost For his to be admired Restauration Than ever I was at for his Creation I made him with my word alone but will Ransome him with thy life and thereby fill Both Heaven and Earth with wonder that I part With thee who art so near unto my heart For man's Redemption I do not care What charges I am at I will not spare For cost but freely will deliver up Thee unto death and mingle such a cup For thee to drink as never one did taste For bitterness and yet I will no waste Admit of though it wormwood be and gall My pleasure is thou drink it dregs and all But thine own love will sweeten it for I Know for man's sake thou lovest to deny Thy glorious self and never wilt repine To shed thy blood so man may have the wine And as thy love doth prompt thee so I do Set everlasting joy before thee too For thy encouragement A just regard Shall be had to thee and a full reward Shall crown thy
I go With Angels not attended for I do No Witness want nor Jury and the Sun Almost to th' end of this days race hath run Evening approaches at which time blow fair And gentle gales of wind to cool the air A time fit for mans milder Judg and he Shall find that fury doth not dwell in me Where art thou Adam what dost thou not know My being in the Garden can I go So near thee unperceiv'd Hath not my voice ' Waken'd thine ear and made thy heart rejoice As it was wont to do it seemeth strange From me thou should'st absent Is any change In thee a cause thereof come and impart The matter as it is Adam where art ADAM Lord I thy voice did in the Garden hear And thereupon my soul did fill with fear My self I naked saw seeing did hide For being so Lord I could not abide Thou should'st look on me but away I fled Among the thickest trees to hide my head SON of GOD. Adam my voice hath often reach'd thine ear As oft it was thy joy my voice to hear It was thy sovereign delight and how Comes it to be a terror to thee now I see indeed that thou art naked well Of this thy nakedness who did thee tell Hast thou adventur'd to eat of that tree Concerning which I gave command to thee Eat thou should'st not ADAM The Woman thou did'st give With me as my Companion to live Whom I did count a token of that love Which thou to me dost bear could disapprove Nothing of all I saw in her but stood Inamour'd on her as a perfect good She thou did'st give gave of that tree for meat And being by her given I did eat SON of GOD. Hast for thy self nothing to say beside Was she by me given to be thy Guide An help she was intended for thee and Fitted for such by her Creator's hand But know God never did unto thee say Rather than me thou shalt thy Wife obey He did not thee subject to her nor none Him thou should'st have obey'd yea him alone But Woman say what is 't that thou hast done EVE I was beguil'd by th' Serpent and did eat SON of GOD. Serpent 'cause thou art guilty of this cheat And this hast done there 's nothing shall thee shield From vengeance Above every beast of field Thou art accurst and above cattel all Henceforth upon thy belly thou shalt crawl Yea dust shall be thy food dust thou shalt eat All the days of thy life be that thy meat And further know between the woman and thee feel I now will put a mortal enmity Which 'twixt your seeds shall last Thou shalt it Her seed shall bruise thy head and thou his heel As for thee Woman Be it known that I Sorrows on thee will greatly multiply In thy Conception yea for this thing In sorrow thou thy Children forth shalt bring Unto thy Husband thy desire shall be Learn to submit he shall rule over thee Now last of all Adam to thee I come And so will end th' Assizes with thy Doom Which thus I do pronounce Because that thou Hast to thy Wifes voice hearkened and now Of that tree eaten hast about which I Said Thou shalt not eat of it lest thou die For thy sake cursed is the very ground Sorrows shall thence spring up and much abound Out of it thou with toil shalt fetch thy meat And that in sorrow all thy days shalt eat Till thy return unto the ground thou make For out of that at first I did thee take Know thy self Adam that thou art but dust And unto it again return thou must All this shall be accomplish'd But I do Your misery behold pity it too You both before me naked stand and bare Cover'd with shame all over now you are Exposed unto storms without a fence And to the changing-weathers violence My Bowels yearn to see your Poverty How low y' are fallen into misery Wherefore your nakedness I 'le hide with skins And with my Robe of Righteousness your sins But now out of the Garden I thee send In tilling of that Ground thy time to spend Whence thou wast taken Therefore now be gone Adam from hence away Eden alone For Innocency was A Wilderness Will serve him well enough whose holiness Is altogether lost Nor shall there be Of return hither any Hope for thee For straight upon the Gardens eastern side I will appoint some Cherubims t' abide A Flaming-Sword also which night and day Brandish'd shall be and turned every way The way unto the Tree of Life to guard That Man may never taste it afterward Unless from me For know that I 'le give leave And power to all who me by Faith receive Ev'n all that shall under my Banner fight And fighting overcome I 'le give them right Of th' Tree of Life to eat which always stood In the midst of the Paradise of God ADAM How am I fallen my tongue can't express That depth of misery which fathomless Is to my understanding I ere while Had God my Friend under whose gracious smile With joy I liv'd and gladly did embrace All opportunities to see his face But now alas from him I 'm fain to hide And his approaches can no more abide Being from Eden thrust where shall I flee To seek relief in this my misery Creatures avoid me or stand gazing on Me as a monster or man quite undone Having transgrest my great Creators Law Of me the Brutes refuse to stand in awe My former blessing is turn'd to a curse My comforts into crosses And what 's worse Both Sin and Curse I propagate to all Who shall of me descend For by my Fall My whole race ruin'd is They all will be Conceiv'd in sin born in iniquity Born unto Trouble as sparks upward fly No sooner born but they 'l begin to dye Oh that I might be childless and that God Would put a period to this earthy clod And grant that in the long'd-for silent Grave Sense of these sorrows I no more may have Yet what if Death a full end should not make But cast me down into a burning Lake Where I a drop of water shall not get My Tongue to cool in that tormenting-heat I tremble to think on 't The case stands so What thing I should desire I do not know Eve from my sight be gone make no delays Sorrow and indignation thou dost raise In me when e're I see thee get thee gone By thee by thee it is I am undone It was thy self-conceit thy wretched pride Of parts and beauty drew thee from my side A Serpent and a Devil in him were sit Companions for thee rather than to sit And talk or work with me Oh that alone I had remain'd and never woman known A Rib thou art crooked by nature sent By God for comfort but to mischief bent All the ingredients of future woe To mankinds Grand-dame doth all mankind owe. Thou Mother of all living call'd shalt be Mother
of love to thee and thine will die And shall by Death obtain the Victorie Nailing unto his Cross each enemie But unto man by death bring peace and rest So that whoe're believe in him are blest He judged you and he will come at last To judg the World when Judgment shall be past By him in Righteousness And then his own He will advance to his most Glorious Throne Where they shall reign in all felicity Without disturbance to eternity Mans Hymn of Praise Tune our Hearts Lord that we may speak thy praise Flat they are yet do thou them higher raise Affect us thoroughly Let us admire Thy Love and call in help from all the Quire Of Angels who with wonder have all seen How great thy goodness unto us hath been Who gav'st thy Son that he might for us die Who gav'st thy self for our Recoverie How freely did'st thou stoop when we did fall That we might Honey have thou drankest Gall. We eat the Fruit thou hung'st upon the Tree Which Life brought unto us Death unto thee Thy stripes our healing are thy thorn our flower Thy Blood our Balsom and thy Cross our Tower Thy wounds our Refuge and thy sighs our Song Of thee we 'l make our boast all the day-long Thou art the first-begotten of the Dead Thou of all earthly Princes art the Head Thou love'st us and washt us from our sins In thine own Blood making us Priests and Kings To God thy Father Therefore we will never Cease saying Glory be to thee for ever For we O Lord thy ransom'd Ones shall come Unto the Heavenly Zion as our Home With Songs caus'd by that blood which thou did'st shed And everlasting joy upon our head We shall obtain all gladness in that day When sorrow and sighing shall flee away FINIS A Dialogue BETWEEN FAITH AND A DOUBTING SOUL TO THE READER Courteous Reader ABout seventeen years ago a gracioas Woman one of that Flock which was by Divine Providence committed to my charge sorely laboured under many Doubts which created her much disquiet In her agonies she frequently repaired to me for help which according to the Grace given I did most readily afford her But by those Convulsion-sits which almost every day returned her memory was rendered so labil and unfaithful that all I said made no abiding impression Every time she came to me she brought with her the same perplexing thoughts and I had my work to do again Thereupon I resolved to draw up in Verse her Doubts and my Answers and gave them to her in writing in hope that her memory would more easily retain something which might befriend her at least that having these things by her she would make use of them as occasion required and so save both me and her self much labour Through the goodness of God my expectation was not disappointed she found much benefit as she did most freely and thankfully acknowledg and through mercy past the remainder of her days in a pleasant calm But good Soul she could not hide Gods loving kindness within her breast but communicated to others these lines which she counted a treasure several Copies were taken and disperst some sent into remote parts which found good acceptance and were not without their fruit Mine own Copy of them lay dormant long after indeed I concluded it lost until about two years since one of my Children found it among my loose Papers and with joy brought it to me Since then one borrowed it and another and more of which several took the pains to transcribe it And I have of late been so prest to make it publick that contrary to my own thoughts and resolution I have been constrained to yield unto their importunity Certain it is that Doubtings do abound in gracious Souls though wicked men enjoy a fatal peace and are not in trouble like them The Devil like a roaring Lion gapes upon and worries those that have escap'd out of his snares whilest he rocks his vassals and doth his utmost to keep them asleep in the cradle of carnal security Those that have true Faith have also many fears But those that are strangers to Faith are commonly free from them Doubts are good signs yet bad company They damp the spirit and weaken the hand and cover with a cloud that face which should shine They keep Faith from flourishing they deprive the Christian of that comfort which the breasts of Gospel-promises would yield him they rob God and Godliness of that honour which the cheerful lives of Saints would bring them and they render the converses of holy persons many times very unacceptable to their brethren though we should bear one anothers burdens and be very compassionate unto such as are deserted buffeted and disconsolate It is the unquestionable duty of Christs Ministers to be Messengers of peace as well as Sons of thunder as to startle and affright sleeping sinners so to revive drooping and sinking Saints We are to comfort the people of God by speaking to their case and to their hearts To strengthen the weak hands and confirm the feeble knees is a part yea a very sweet part of our work We have no dominion over their faith no none at all but should be helpers of their joy and rejoice to be so Vpon this Errand and Design is this little piece sent abroad into the world without question many will find themselves concerned in the things contained in it and I hope some will find advantage The answer to these Doubts are fetcht from the Word of God and grounded upon it and such are most cordial Nay none but such will bring healing to a wounded and settlement to a tumultuating spirit Let none be offended at the manner of composure but remember the reason before given and call to mind Davids Psalms together with the Apostles Exhortation To admonish one another in Psalms and Hymns and spiritual Songs A blessing from heaven go along with this little work and if thou receivest any spiritual benefit by it he hath his end who is A Friend and Servant to the Houshold of Faith SAMVEL SLATER A Dialogue between Faith and a Doubting Soul FAITH WHat joys like those which from above descend They know no bounds are strangers to an end My comforts overflow I sit and sing The night is day to me and Winter Spring While others think I want I enough have My heritage is good I nothing crave Come Soul put on a smile chase sorrow hence Whence flow these tears why is this great expence Of deep fetcht sighs groans thy Saviours voice Should clear thy brow make thy heart rejoice Husht dost not hear 't Salvations Captain comes With sound of Trumpets with beat of Drums 'T is not th' alarm of War he takes thy part His actions all along have spoke his heart For thee he did engage he fought and di'd And now triumphs All all makes on thy side Himself did tell me so be of good chear Away with doubtings
and defie all fear Shake off these causeless dumps arise and shine The victory is Christs th' advantage thine SOVL. What mine canst prove it thou tak'st all on trust And so maist be deceived try I must And look and search examine and enquire Ask question after question Yet no higher Can I attain than to faint hopes which cost A thousand thousand labours but are lost In twinkling of an eye I cannot rest Nor lasting peace enjoy When things are best I am disturb'd my sleep scarce lasts an hour And when I ' wake again Lord what a pow'r Of sad perplexing thoughts assault my mind That I conclude both Heav'n and Earth combin'd To make me miserable Faith speak out Hast thou more cause of joy or I of doubt FAITH Thou bid'st me speak and yet deny'st to hear When I unlock my lips thou bolts thine ear There are such sobs and sighs bitter bewailings Such weeping wringing hands such loud complainings That all my labour 's lost Alas my skill In vain is tri'd for out of meer self-will Thou spillest all my Cordials and wilt none Of my choice Heaven-born comforts no not one Yet since I know thy sickness know I do Both pity it and long to cure it too We 'l argue things once more for I don't dread Thy reas'nings nor the crafty Serpents head My cause is good my blessed Seconds are Though thou think'st otherwise without compare Enter the lists then yet the Judg shall be Not sense nor carnal reason much less he That 's stil'd God of this world these neither can Nor will speak comfort to poor humbled man The Scripture I make choice of for it is Divine impartial cannot judg amiss Thou canst not quarrel it and therefore say Say on dejected Soul I 'le yield the day To Fears if Scriptures do Objections raise Thou shalt have answer and thy God the praise Doubt 1. From the apprehension of Gods Holiness SOVL. Trembling takes hold upon me when I see A God above of spotless puritie The Seraphims his glory do proclaim And it admire most holy is his name The garnisht Heavens are unclean in 's sight The noon-day Sun is darkned by his light His eyes are flames of fire piercing and pure Which can't the least iniquity endure But I am full of sin all over stains From top to toe is nought but boils and blains My head heart life with sin are over run Sin I did chuse by sin I am undone FAITH Yet there is hope a ruin'd Bankrupt may Set up again the night gives place to day Adam his beauty lost and by one sin Defac'd the image God had made him in The Nazarite became an Ethiope And in himself had neither help nor hope Yet found both in another God prepar'd More lasting beauty for him and repair'd His Image on him and the sinner then Washt from his filth waxt fresh and fair agen This may be done for thee the fountain still Stands open for all comers whoso will May go and bathe his sooty soul and so Come sorth a Creature new and white as snow Thy God is holy so is Christ and he Hath Grace sufficient for himself and thee Thy wound is not incurable thy sore He can so heal that it shall run no more Thy Maker can O soul form thee anew Thy holy God can make thee holy too Nay more by Covenant he 's bound t' impart To his a spirit right and a new heart Go to him then his faithful promise plead And so he will richly supply thy need Doubt 2. From Gods Iustice. SOVL. But God is just and will not see his Law Broken without revenge I stand in awe And dread his iron-rod Doth he not say The soul that sins shall die ah who then may Once hope for life since we are sinners all And lost our righteousness in Adam's fall Behold me cloth'd with rags once but one story Lower than Angels who are cloth'd with glory These rags are filthy too and so the shame Which they should cover they to all proclaim I do condemn my self though self I love What favour then can I expect above The Law hath past its sentence it doth crie All men are sinners and as such shall die My guilt is great my God is just who can Satisfie justice and clear guilty man FAITH I have a Friend will do 't Did I say will Pardon dear Jesus Oh how I do fill With joy since I can say he hath it done And God is pleas'd with thee in Christ his Son Thy debt was great empty thy purse that friend Became thy surety and did put an end To the Law-suit by saying he would pay What thou wast charged with upon the day Justice should set and when that day came he Paid to a farthing and discharged thee The sum was great but his far greater love Bogled not at it nor did he once remove From his resolved kindness but hath given What did redeem lost earth purchase Heaven He laid his life down his heart-blood he gave That sparing thy blood he thy life might save What more can Justice ask surely if I Be once arrested I 'le plead Christ did die If God be not appeas'd with death of God I will for ever bear his flaming rod. Besides I spi'd white linnen in his grave And soon concluded that I this must have Christ saw me naked and then did provide A perfect Robe my nakedness to hide What more is lacking let strict Justice see My Saviour saith there is no spot in me Doubt 3. From the comparatively small number of Redeemed Ones SOVL. I grant there is in Christ sufficient merit To purchase Heaven and make his inherit Those peaceful blissful mansions where he Crowns all their hopes with full felicity His blood can make the blackest Blackmoor white And loathsome sinners lovely in Gods sight Of his Almighty power doubt who can I do believe him God as well as man But what of that I hear the number 's small For which he died Had he dy'd for all I might have fill'd with comfort But alas A little part of this corrupted mass Was chosen out for honourable use Vessels of glory whom the Lord did chuse For his Coelestial Temple the rest will As worthless silver be rejected still My reason tells me if he would not crie And pray for all for all he would not die I fear of his dear little Flock I 'm none Others may saved be and I undone FAITH Be it acknowledged that few there are Whom Christ redeem'd shall in his merits share He saves not all the world dy'd not for all Did not alike affect Iudas and Paul Grant that yet do not sink the door is ope To all that will come 't is a door of hope Christ dy'd for sinners why then not for thee Either give reason or believe with me Gods Decrees secret are and who can read His everlasting purpose Nay what need Of climbing Heaven curiously to look Whether thy name be
written in his Book That is a vain attempt that course once take Thy soul thou'lt wound work for sorrow make There is enough in Christ and none shall die But such as do not to that refuge flie In him are safely Arkt persons unclean Who grievous sinners like to thee have been Haste thou for shelter too Why this delay O soul it must be done Do it to day Wouldst thou destroy thy self shall black despair O'rewhelm and drown thee now there 's such a fair And ready passage leading to the Ark In which thousands of thousands do imbark And are conveyed to a land of rest Where neither sin nor sorrow can molest Up up for shame away to him with speed Who 's call'd a Saviour and is one indeed Do but go to him yea go at a venture Into his gracious presence all may enter He never said to any seek in vain All humble seekers shall his favour gain His promise is if any one will rise And make address to him he in no wise Will cast him off Flee thou unto his grace So he in arms of love shall thee imbrace None e're departed empty from him He Is infinitely full full out as free Haste to him therefore haste thy days do spend End thou thy danger e're thy days do end Put in thy sickle reap what he hath sown He 's not thy foe if thou be not thine own The invitation is Whoever will Let him come hither and here take his fill If thou wilt take then Christ will give believe Stretch out thy hand he will thy wants relieve He is the God of Love then to him go Thou canst not ask the thing he will not do Others have sought and found asked and had Who sinners were like thee as old as bad Their good success should ease and chear thy heart Christ will do his if thou wilt do thy part Doubt 4. From uncertainty of interest SOVL. I question still mine interest in God And cannot call him Father Mine abode Is yet in darkness I want light to read Mine Evidences by Oh! could I feed My joys with full assurance did I know That God is reconciled Christ did do And suffer all for me I soon would chase All sorrow hence and with a smiling face Look on my dearest Lord nothing should hinder His love should be the spark my heart like tinder Should quickly kindle and be all in slame With love and praises to his holy name Thrice happy Paul could say Christ dy'd for him Which fill'd his soul with joy up to the brim Did I know that my comforts would run o're I 'd sit and sing but sigh and sob no more FAITH Dost thou desire to know it Look within Is no discov'ry made then look agen Beg light from Heaven when 't is dark below Thou shalt know if thou follow on to know Christ dy'd for all in whom he lives make out His living in thee and thou needst not doubt If thou canst say O Lord my heart is thine Thou well maist say O Lord thy death is mine He enters no House but he sprinkles first The Door-posts of it with that blood which burst Out of his precious side That sincere love Which glows within thy breast came from above And is a sweet reflection of that fire And purer flame in him and doth aspire To its own Element 't will carry thee To that blest place where is no room for me Cease groundless fears God will not him deny That saith Lord give me Christ or else I dye Deal faithfully in thine own case and own With thankfulness what God for thee hath done Thou canst not choose but say many a time Christ hath himself shewn willing to be thine Thou dost accept him dost not Then all 's done The match is made and Jesus is thine own God saith wilt have my Son thou say'st yea Lord Be it to me according to thy word His Love and Law also both I would have His Peace without his Grace I do not crave I am as willing he in me should reign As that by him I happiness may gain Let this be thy return for so shall he Fill thee with grace and Heaven with such as thee Doubt 5. From inward Corruptions SOVL. With such as me believ 't who will I can't Whoever enters Heaven sure I shan't Nought that defiles shall thither come that place Is fill'd with Glory for Souls fill'd with Grace But mine is stuff'd with sin numberless evils Ill thoughts affections Legions of Devils Haunt and inhabit here Lord what a pow'r Of lusts are crawling in it every hour I never set my self to look within But I discover filthy heaps of sin Did others see what I do they with shame And scorn would shun me I disgrace that name Which graceth me Christ's holy name I bear Him I profess his Livery I wear With him I live his word I hear yet feel No yielding to him in this heart of Steel Filthy I was and so am still How can An holy Christ dwell in so soul a man Sure he his habitation sweepeth clean There are not in his Temple heaps of sin Sin dies in him that liveth therefore I Have no true life not finding sin to dye FAITH Sin is in thee But is there nothing more There may be Grace though of corruption store In midst of enemies thy Saviour reigns And of those enemies still ground he gains That mighty one hath girt his Sword to 's side And conquering to conquer he doth ride Thou feelest thy corruptions are rife Such feeling is a mercy sign of life Dead men feel nothing load them load again They do not groan they do not once complain It 's well when sin doth trouble and molest Which did thee please for Christ hath promis'd rest To heavy laden souls nor is he slack To take that burden off which galls thy back He will not pass thee by because so ill Thou art the fitter for his Sov'reign skill A good Phisician overlooks the sound And goes where sicknesses do most abound Hate and abhor thy sins thy self bemoan If sin lose love it cannot keep the throne Where 't is endear'd it lives loathed it dies Christ at one time humbles and sanctifies As for the stirrings of thy lust at most They 'r but death-pangs it shall give up the Ghost Sampson did at his death make greatest sport The Devils rage grows high when 's time is short Be thou so wise in th' case which thou art in As to discern 'twixt reign and rage of sin What speak thy bleeding heart weeping eyes Sure this that sin don't reign but tyrannize Danger of death is past because I see By these complainings sin doth die in thee Doubt 6. From want of Godly sorrow SOVL. Could I indeed mourn kindly then at last I 'd think the bitterness of death were past Could I with weeping mingle all my drink Or make my bed to swim could I so think On my corruptions as to
are this do Piece duty unto duty mend all too Since all thy lambs are blemisht without fail Of all thy flock offer to God the male And since thy thoughts wiil from thee often part Be sure in all thy work there be thy heart And know this weakness shall be cur'd God will Give thee of fellowship with him thy fill When once thou com'st to Heaven thou shalt be Fixed upon him to eternitie He that is thy desire and thy delight Shall minded be and serv'd with all thy might Thy thoughts and thy affections shall come And dwell on him their everlasting home Thine enemies shall all away be flown Temptation there sha'nt be corruption none Thine heart shall then be rais'd and no more fall To earth or sin God shall be all in all Grieve not too much though here thou wander still Thou shalt not wander when up Zion-hill Doubt 10. From fear of Apostacy SOVL. I know if I were there I soon should be Eas'd of these loads and from corruption free No Devil 's there to tempt sin to perplex No clog to hinder Canaanite to vex All is serene and pleasant all delight Withdrawings there are none no clouds no night There sights of God are clear communion sure Uninterrupted always to endure But I uncertain am and sadly fear I shall my labour lose and not come there Heaven I mind for Gods sake 't is the scope Of all mine actions yet I dare not hope At last to reach it no I may fall short And be the Angels scorn and Devils sport Experience tells me if at any time I plead a title and call glory mine Strait I receive a check because it is So difficult to get easie to miss I have indeed been walking in the way That thither leads some steps I take each day I for salvation pray and wrestling groan Resolved not to let my God alone Until he bless me Prayer is the thing That to me doth my sweetest comforts bring Unto the Church I go the Word I hear As 't is Gods Word with reverence and fear I daily stand upon my guard and do Watch against sin as my most mortal foe I put on all my armour and maintain A constant war with all thereby to gain The victory at length over each one And sit triumphant on my Saviour's throne I labour with my might if so I may Commended be by God another day I make what haste I can that so I might Reach safely to my Father's house by night By this means I have got near Heaven and From Pisgah can look to the holy land But what of this many an one hath lost All his profession his pains and cost Not only buds are nipt which tender are But lovely blossoms which did promise fair Are blasted with the cold and winds Nay more Oft have I seen the earth thick sown with store Of fruit near ripe which in a Summers morn A furious tempest hath blown down with scorn Many a stately Ship the owners pride Backt at its setting forth with wind and tide Hath swiftly plow'd the Main and safely past Trading from Port to Port until at last It doth return rich fraught and every one Sweetly discourseth of his long'd for home And Wife and Children with his Friends that do Long every whit as much to see him too The Mariners conclude their danger o're The Merchants smile dread their loss no more Yet near the Haven it is cast away And by the mighty waters made a prey When all thought with success their labour own'd The Ship is sunk goods lost and Seamen drown'd With many in Religion thus it is Who aim at Heaven but of Heaven miss Their lives are blameless their hopes are high Yet when their days are done their hopes do die To day they think all well but on the morrow Death summons them down they lie in sorrow Thus did the foolish Virgins at last get Unto the Bridegrooms chamber-door and yet No entrance could obtain This was their doom I know you not depart here is no room For such as you Pack pack out of my sight Your vessels want their oil your lamps their light The young man went a great way and got near To Heaven but fell short and ne're came there Admir'd the progress terrible the falls Have been of some professed Saints which calls Loudly on all to fear lest in the close Of all their labours they their labour lose Of such why may not I poor I be one Who after all their doings are undone Such are the workings of mine heart I do Watch daily ply mine oar and tremble too I have made fair beginnings but do fear Unto the end I shall not persevere Some weight may press me down some sin beset And with ease master my affections get A conquest over me clap on its chain From which I never may get loose again As yet I do proceed as I began But may be driven back by fear of man My zeal now seemeth hot but cool it may Upon the sight of Lions in the way And how shall I appear or with what face Can I look upon God if in this race I tire or turn my back since it is sure Apostate Christians he cannot endure Better it had been never to have known Pure ways of righteousness than to disown And leave them afterward none sink in Hell Deeper than those fall from a Pinacle Many from thence have tumbled why not I Whose head is weak whose standing slipperie Who every foot am ready to turn o're Religion to throw up and do no more The footmen weary me what shall I do When I am call'd to run with horsemen too If in a land of peace I fainted have How shall I live on Jordans swelling wave FAITH Apostacy indeed 's a dreadful evil Transforming man into an ugly Devil Blind Turks and Heathens jewels are if we Compare them with those that Apostates be Hells first-born these are Satans eldest sons And shall receive their double portions Of plagues and miseries God will repay In punishment their falshood at that day Which he appointed hath when for what 's done By men he men will judg by Christ his Son Oft these are found within the Churches line Oft seeming sheep have proved sordid swine Some that were thought furnisht with oil enough To feed their lamps have ended in a snuff Some that seem'd orient stars of light do fail And down are drag'd by th' fiery Dragons tail Demas forsook that Paul he followed Shewing thereby he only borrowed The Christian name himself a while to grace Which done he did the flattering world embrace But know the fruit which falls though 't was before Lovely in skin was rotten at the core Members that seem'd alive and now are dead Never united were to Christ the head Hangby's they were and base pretenders who Mystical union unto Christ ne'r knew False grace is always failing grace the sound Instead of sailing shall still more
went through shame to glory And 't is not easie for us to deny Our life our peace or our prosperity The young man at this stumbling-block did fall He 'd rather part with Christ than part with all And many have at first fairly set out Who when the storm waxt great have tackt about Christ they esteâ—m'd far less than an Estate And would not have him at too dear a rate Christ and pleasures are good Christ earth too But they thought Christ alone would never do Now who can tell what we may meet before Our journey ended is and time no more Though now we fallow lie yet plowers may Make long their surrows on our back one day And in those surrows may my little store Of seeming-grace be buried rise no more If God should leave me ah how soon should I Desert his cause and from my colours slie In Sun-shine-days 't is nothing not to fear And challenge enemies when none appear It 's nothing to be good when seeming so Brings credit with it and preferment too Who would not hug a Christ when hugging him We may in Pleasures river daily swim But it is difficult for one to crie Hosanna when Rulers say Crucifie To bear a Cross for Christ and all forego Rather than shipwrack Faith and Conscience too To be disgrac'd a beggar nay to die Of deaths the worst rather than him denie This this is hard and calls for greater store Of Grace than I have though I had much more Than yet I have The very thought doth pinch Sure when I come in traces I shall slinch And break the yoke and he that doth not bear Christs heavy Cross his Crown shall never wear FAITH Why troublest thou thy self about the morrow The present day is big enough with sorrow Dangers at distance are the worst by far They lose their terrours as they nearer are A Lion's not so fierce as he is painted We sufferings may like when once acquainted Such as in corner sit by sire-side Say weather 's cold and who can it abide But when they once are up and out they find The day befriends them more than did their mind Such is the present case persons at ease Count flea-bites symptoms of some sad disease Nothing more certain is than thou shouldst be Ready to part with all for God when he Calls thee unto it no enjoyment shou'd Sever thee from his love no not thy blood But possibly thou shalt not thus be tri'd God in the hollow of his hand may hide Both thee and thy concernments thou mai'st have A sweet and easie passage to thy grave He in his Chambers may thee hide and then Safe thou shalt be from all the rage of men When storms abroad thy Halcyon-days shall last Until the Indignation's overpast Yet grant that he in wisdom number out Afflictions to thee compass thee about With gall and travel know that he can roul In sugar bitter pills lay in thy soul With such surpassing joys as thou shalt be Even in Heaven whilest in misery Men can no further reach than th' outward part He can by speaking peace ravish thy heart Of crosses the world hath not half such store As God of comforts for he can do more To chear thee in an hour than all the rage Of enemies to trouble in an age He can with grace so fortifie thy heart So shed his love as thou shalt not depart From him nor from his ways his power can Perfect the work of grace it once began And will he stick at either surely no He 'l bare his arm and broach his comforts too If thou shouldst lose thy land silver and gold He will to thee restore an hundred-fold If for his sake thou have a thousand foes He he alone will far out-number those When all these Stars are darkned that Sun will By his resplendent beams make day-light still If thou imprison'd be he at that time Will carry thee into his house of wine And feast thee richly there so in a trice Turn thy dark dungeon into Paradise So he hath done for others who have found Sweet unseen consolations most abound When they were heavy-laden with the cross Whereby their gains did much outweigh their loss They suffer'd all with joy in prisons sung Accounting all for Christ meer dross and dung When the Apostles whipt were for Christs name Away they went rejoicing in that shame And sure that God who strengthen'd them will be Act but thy faith full out as good to thee Burdens shall be proportion'd to thy back When strength is small yet strength thou shalt not lack If that thy way at last be dirt and mire Thou shalt get thorough it and shalt not tire Weather and way fear not no fear thou neither Both strength steps thou shalt renew together In arms of love Christ will thee carry through All the sharp trials which he calls thee to Therfore though weak fear not the wickeds rod Weak ones shall be as David he as God SOVL. All will be well within a change I find Some settlement in mine once shaking mind Time was I never could hold up my head But a doubt came and struck my comforts dead Making me droop again Did I but take Hold of a promise heart and hand would shake I thought my self too bold and still did fear Such high presumption would cost me dear But now the clouds begin to scatter and Darkness doth vanish I now can see land Who farely saw nothing but swelling Seas Of deep and boundless endless miseries When I go out methinks I see above God smiling on me with his beams of love And when at home I sit there is good store Of Gospel-comforts knocking at my dore Commanding entrance which do smooth my brow And I wax cheerful though I know not how It s calm within without I see it fair Those things that threatned now dispersed are Risen the Sun is and a glorious light Comes from him chasing hence my dismal night Where fears were rank sweet consolations grow Rejoice I must whether I will or no. But how comes this about what hand hath brought Such Cordials in when of them least I thought My peace beginning hath my fears an end But how I 'd gladly know and who 's my friend Oh! it is Faith precious and high born Faith Faith's voice alone it is which to me saith Shake off thy dust fear not arise and shine Thy light is come God and his all are thine Fool that I was that so long time should be Spent in such strangeness between Faith and me That I the door should ope to every doubt And shut at the same time believing out So I will do no more Faith's my relief I will believe Lord help mine unbelief Get thee hence Satan Doubts be gone I will Relie upon my God and trust him still My sins end sorrows though they 'r manifold Shall never force me to let go my hold But I upon his grace will hang and say Mine thou hast been art now shalt be for ay He is Immutable and why should I Doubt of that love which hath Eternity Abiding frowns such love cannot abide I 'le trust him therefore though he from me hide This is my fixt resolve which is not made In mine own strength but thine Lord faith would fade And soon give way to doubts were 't not each hour Preserved by thine own Almighty pow'r And so still let it be grant thou that I May live believing and believing die Faith is my strength be thou Faith's strength till we In Heaven meet once for eternitie When of these Creature-comforts I have none Let me rejoice in thee mine only One. Whatever I do want let me all make Up in thy self Lord for dear Jesus sake Yea when thou frownest and lay'st on thy rod Let me relie upon an angry God Grant me to cast my self and each affair At all times on thy tender love and care And Father while that I by Faith adhere Unto thy boundless grace make it appear Thou hast accepted me Lord feed my sense With thine own love draw up mine evidence And seal it by thy Spirit that I may Glory in thee my God throughout the day And when I leave the world let Angels be My convoy in my passage unto thee Let Hope at last end in fruition And Faith be swallowed up of Vision Conduct me to that place where I shall sing Eternal praise to thee my God and King FINIS