Of endlesse Wandrings that it leads us to That sin sometimes whâ—ch we abhor to doe And otherwhile so strangely giddifies The Reason and the soules best Faculties That as I said before we doe not know What in our selves to bâ—ke or disallow Yea we such turnings and crosse wayes doe finde That ofâ— our Guides as well as we â—e blinde The Spiâ—it and the Flesh have their delight In things so diverse and so opposite And such a Law of sinne doth still abide Withâ—n our Members that we swarve aside Doe what we can and while we helpe the one To what seemes needfull th' otâ—â—â— is undone If by the Spirits motion I procâ—ed To compasse what I thinke my Soule may need My Body wants the while and I am faine To leave my course that her I may sustaine Lâ—ft my engagements or necessities Might my well meant endeavor scandalize If I but feed my Body that it may Assist my Spirit in some lawfull way It straight growes wanton If I fast it makes My spirit faint in what she undertakes And if I keepe a meane meane fruits are they And little worth which then produce I may If in a Christiâ—n love some houres I spend To be a comfort to some female friend Who needs my counfell I doe cause â—he while Another with hot jealousies to boyle Nor know I how my selfe excuse I may Vnlesse anothers weaknesse I display Which if I doe not or some lye invent They censure me unkinde or impudent I can nor doe nor speake nor thinke that thing But still some inconvenience it will â—ring Or some occasion of anevill be To me or others or to them and me And from the body of this Death by whom But by my Saviour can I freed become Oh! therefore sweet Redeemer succour lend me And from these bogs and sâ—ares of sin defend me Deare God assist in these perplexities Which from our fraile condition doe arise Sâ—t straight I pray thee Lord â—he crookednesse Oferring Nature and these faults redresse So out of frame is evâ—ry thing in me That I can hope for cure from none but thee To thee I therâ—fore kneele to thee I pray To thee my soule complaineth ev'ry day Doe thou but say Be whole or be thou cleane And I shall soone be pure and sound agen The Will thou gavâ—st me to affect thy Will Though it continue not so perfect still Aâ— when thou first bestow'dst the same accept it Ev'n such as my polluted Vessell kept it For though it wounded be through many fights Continu'd with my carnall appetites Yet iâ— my hâ—arts desire to me be knowne Thy Pleasure I preferre before minâ— owâ—e If I could chuse I would not guilâ—y be Of any â—ct diâ—plâ—asing unto thee In all my life I would not spâ—â—ke a word But thâ—t which to thy likâ—ng might accord I woulâ— not thinke a thought but wâ—at might fhow That fâ—om thy Spirit all â—y â—usings flow I would nor hate nor love nor hope nor feare But as unto thy praise it usefull were I would not have a joy within my heart Of which thou shouldâ—t not be the greater part Nor would I live or dye or happy be In life or death but Lord to honour thee Oh! let this Will which is the precious seed Of thine oâ—â—e Love be taken for the deed Assist thou mâ— against the potent evill Of my great Foes the World the Flesh the Devill Renew my fainting pow'rs my heart revive Refresh my spirits and my soule relieve Lord draw me by the cords of thy affection And I shall fall in love with thy perfection Vnloose my chaines and I shall then be free Convert me and converted I shall be Yea to my soule oh God! and to my senses Display thy beautie and thy excâ—â—lencies So plaine that I may have them still in sight And thou shalt ever be my sole delight The world though she should into pieces teare me With troubles from thy love should never scare me Nor â—ble be to tempt me from one duty To â—he with all her pleasure and her beauty Behold I came to seeke thee Lord ev'n here Where to attend thy presence most men feare Though here I saw the Pestilence withstand me I stand to know what worke thou wouldst command me From all the pleasures of the world and from Hâ—r hopes of safety I am bâ—â—her come Where thou art angry and to see thy frowne Am at thy feet with terror fallen downe Yet hence I would not flye although I might To gaine the chiefest of this worlds delight Till I perceive thou biddâ—st me goe away And then for twenty woâ—lds I would not stay I came as heartily as flâ—sh and blood Could come that hath in it so little good To doe thee service and if dye I must Loe here I am and I pronounce thee just Although thou slâ—y me yet my soule well knowes Thou lovâ—st me And I le trust in thee repose Though in my selfe I feele I am polluted I finde a better righteousnesse imputed Then I have lost Thy blessed Love doth fill me With joyes that will revâ—ve me though thou kill me My sins are great â—ut thy compassion's greater I haâ—e thy Quittance though I am thy Debtor And though my temp'rall hopes may be destroid Yet I have those that never shall be void Thus to the Lord my soule I powred out When I with dâ—ngers waâ— enclos'd about And though I was a sinner this appeased His wrath in Châ—ist aâ—d my gâ—iev'd soule was eased He graciously accepted in good part This poore oblation of an humbled heart His Mercy seâ—l'd my pardon and I shook The Pestilence which hold upon me tooke From off my shoulder without sense of harme As Paul did shake the Viper from his arme That weeke moreover God begâ—n to slack His Bow and call his bloody Angell backe VVho by degrees retyr'd as he came on For weeke by weeke untill it fâ—ll to none The number which the Pestilence did kill VVas constantly and much abated still VVhen we were fleating on that Inundation At first we sent a carnall Lamentation VVhich like the Raven â—rom Noahs Arke did flye And found nor rest nor hope of remedy Then sent we Dâ—ve-like Mournings but thâ—â—â— feet A while could with no resting places meeâ— Then forth againe we sent them out from â—ence VVing'd with moâ—e Charity and Penitence And then they brought an Olive-bâ—anch of peace VVhich made us hopefull of this Floods decrease The Lord did favour to this Kingdome daigne And brought from thrall his Iacob back againe His peoples crimes he freely did release His irâ— abated his hot rage did cease His praise had in our Land a dwelling place And Mercy there with Iustice did embrace And 't was a grace to be considered That a Disease so generally spred And so contagious in few weeks should from So many thousands to a cypher come That our infectious beds and roomes and stuffe VVhich in all likelyhood had beene enough To keepe the
lost Shall be the greater and thy wasted strength Be sick of a Consumption at the length Thy Treaties which for peace or profit be Shall neither peace nor profit bring to thee Or if thy Counsels prosper for a while God will permit it onely to beguile Thy foolishnesse and tempt thee on to run Some courses that will bring his Iudgement on Yea all thy winnings shall but fewell be To feed those follies that now spring in thee And make with vengeance those the more enrag'â— Who shall for thy correction be engag'd What ever threatned in Gods Book haâ—h bin Against a wicked people for their sin Shall come on thee His hand shall be for ill On ev'ry Mountaine and high-raised Hill Thy lofty Cedars and thy sturdy Oakeâ— Shall feele the fury of his thunder-stroakes Vpon thy Ships thy Havens and thy Ports Vpon thy Armes thy Armies and thy Forts Vpon thy pleasures and commodities Thy Crafts mechanick and thy Merchandize On all the fruits and cattell in thy fields On what the Ayre or what the Water yeelds On Prince and People on both weak and strong On Priest and Prophet on both old and yong Yea on eaâ—h person place and ev'ry thing The plague it hath deserved God shall bring What ever thou dost hope he frustrate shall And make what e're thou fearest on thee fall This pleasant soyle wherein such plenty growes And where both milke and honey overflowes Shall for thy peoples wickednesse be made A Land as barren as what never had Such plenties in it God shall drive away Thy pleasant Fowles and all those Fish that play Within thy waters and for whose great store Some other Nations would have prais'd him more Those Rivers that have made thy Vallies rich Shâ—ll be like shâ—ames of ever-buâ—ning Pitch Thy dust â—s Brâ—mstone fields as hard and dry As iâ—on is the Fiâ—mament on high â—â—ke bâ—assâ— shall yeeld thee neither raine nor dew The â—ope of wasted blessings to renew A leannâ—ssâ— shall thy fatnesse quite devoure Thy Wheat shall in the place of wholsome flowre Yeeld nought but bran In stead of grasse and corne Thou shalt in times of harvest reap the thorne The thistle and the bâ—yar Of their shadowes Thy Grâ—ves shall robbed be Thy flowry Medoweâ— Shall sterile waxe There shall be seldome seene Sheep on thy Downes or Shepherds on the greene Thy walks thy gardens and each pleasant plot Shall be as those where men inhabit not Thy Villages where goodly dwellings are Shall stand as if they unfrâ—quented were Thy Câ—ies and thy Palaces wherein Most neatnesse and magnificence hath bin Shall heaps of rubbish be and as in those Demolisht Abbies wherein Dawes and Crowes Now make their nests the bramble and the nettle Shall in their halls and parlouâ—s root and setâ—le Thy Princes houses and thy wealthy Ports Now fill'd with men of all degrees and sorts Shall no inhabitants in them retaine But some pâ—ore Fisherman or country Swaine Who of thy glories when the marks they see Shall wonder whaâ— those mighty ruines be As now they doe who old foundations find Of Townes and Cities perisht out oâ— mind The places where much people meetings had â—hall vermine holes and dens for beasts be made Or walâ—s for Sprights who from those uncouth roomâ— Shall fright the passenger which that way comes In stead of mirth and lâ—ughter lamentation Shall there abide and loathsome desolation In stead of company Where once was heard Sweet melody men shall be made afeard With hideous cries and howlings of despaire Thy very Climate and thy temp'rate ayre Shall lose their wholsomnesse for thy offences And breed hot Fevers Murraines Pestilences And all diseases They that now are trained In ease and with soft pleasures entertained In stead oâ— idle games and wanton dances Shall practise how to handle guns and launces And be compell'd to leave their friends embraces To end their lives in divers uncouth places Or else thy face with their owne blood defile In hope to keep themselves and thee from spoile Thy beautious Women whose great pride is more Then theirs whom Esay blamed heretofore In stead of paintings and of costly sents Of glittering gems and pretious ornaments Shall weare deformity about their faces And being rob'd of all their tempting graces Feele wants diseases and all such like things Which to a wanton Lover lothing brings Thy God shall for thy overflowing vices Scourge thee with Scorpions Serpents Cockatrices And other such whose tailes with stings are armed That neither can be plucked forth nor charmed Thou shalt not be suffiz'd when thou art fed Nor shalt thou suffer scarcity of bread And temp'rall food alone but of that meat Whereof the faithfull soule desires to eate That curse of ravenous beasts which God hath said Vpon a wicked kingdome shall be laâ—d He will inflict on thee For though there be No Tygers Lyons Wolves or Beares in thee By beastly minded men that shall be farre More câ—uell then those bloody spoilers are Thou shalt be torne For each man shall assay His fellow to devoure as lawfull prey In stead of Lyons Tyrants thou shalt breed Who nor of Conscience nor of Law take heed But on the weak mans portion lay their paw And make their Pleâ—sures to become their Law In stead of Tigers men of no compassion A furious and a wilfull generation Shall fill thy borders Theeves and outlawes vile Shall hunt the wayes and haunt the woods for spoile As Beares and Wolves A subtile cheating crew That will with tricks and cousnages pursue The simpler sort shall here encrease their breed And in their subtleties the Fox exceed That hoggish herd which alwayes rooting are Within the ground and never upward reare Their grunting snouts nor fix their eyes on heav'n To look from whence their daily food is giv'n Those filthy swinish livers who desire To feed on draffe and wallow in the mire Those who affect ranke pudles more then springs To trample and despise most precious things The holy to prophane Gods herbs of grace To nouzle up his Vineyard to deface And such like harmes to doe these spoile thy fields Marre worse then those wilde Bores the desart yeelds If thou remaine impenitent thou art Like Egypt and so stony is thy heart For wâ—ich obduratenesse those plagves will all Descend on thâ—e whâ—ch did on Egypt fall Blood Frogâ— and Lice great swarms of uncouâ—h Flies Th' infectious Mâ—rraine whereof Catâ—le dyes Boiles Scabâ— and Blâ—ine fierce Hâ—il Thunder-stormâ— The â—ocust and all fruit devouring Wormes Grosse Darknesse and the Death or those that be Thy Darlings all those Plagues shall fall on thee According as the Letter doth imply Or as in mystick sense thâ—y signifie Thy purest Rivers God shalâ—â—uâ—ne to blood With ev'ry Lake that hath beene sweâ—t and good Ev'n in thy nostrils he shall make it stinke For nothing shall thy people eate or drinke Vntill their owne or others blood it cost Or put their lives in hazard to be lost
Ev'n farre before the Courts at Westminster And if I longer these thy dealâ—ngs beare Thou here wilt use me as they use me there For latâ—ly I surveyâ—d it and saw Their Chauncery had halfe devour'd their Law Sweet Lady call to minde there is a due Pertaining equally to me and you As nothing without MERCIE should be done So IVSTICE shoulâ— not be encroaâ—ht upon I claime a Daughters part and I dâ—sire To keepe minâ— owne inhâ—ritance inâ—ire I for your sake huge Armies often save When they had else beene rotting in the grave I suffer you to wipe more sinnes away Then twice tenne thousand millions in a day There 's none whom I doe punish for his crimes Bâ—t I doescarre him first a thousand times At your entreaty when if I had pleased I might so many times his life have seized Yea I shoulâ— none have injur'd though I had Of all the World long since a Bone-fire made For what effects hath your Compassiâ—n wrought What Offringâ— to Gods Altars now are brought By my long sparing them Nay have they not Hâ—m and his awâ—ull pow'r the more forgot What did I say forgot him If they had Vs'd him and his Indulgence but so bad Thou might'st have spoken for them and I could Have left thy supplications uncontroll'd But they have aggravated their neglect With such base villanies such disrespect And such contempt of Him of Thee and Mee That if we beare it we shall scorned be They so presumptuous are that well I know Were but a petty Iustice used so He would not brooke it But so rough appeare That all the sin-professing houses neare Of Reformation would be much in doubt And feare they should not buy his Angeâ— out Though they presented him with coyne and wares And bâ—ib'd his Clarke with whom t is thought he sâ—ares I will not theâ—efore palliate their despight I will not be debarred of my right I will not make my selfe a publike scorne Nor will I longer beare what I have borne Here with as if she thought it were in vaine For Vengeance unto MERCIE to complaine She rais'd her eyes she fixed them upon The â—hrone of heav'n and Him that sate thereon Then bowed thrice and then to her complaint She â—hus proceeded likâ— an Anâ—ry Saint Great IVDGE of all the world just wise and holy Who sin abhorrest and correctest folly Who drivest all uncleannesse from thy sight And feared art ev'n of the most upright Consider well my Cause and let thou not Thy IVSTICE in thy MERCIE be forgot As well as this my sister so am I Vnited unto thee essentially Before all Time and there is cause for me To boast thy favour full as much as she For to maintaine thy Iustice and approve Thâ—t sacred never violated Love Thou bearest me great Monarkies have drunk Thy cup of wrath and into ruine sunk For their contempt of me thou hast rejected The Nation of all Nations most affected Once thou the Globe of Earth didst wholly drowne From Heav'n thou threwâ—st the sinfull Angels downâ— And which is more thy Best beloved dy'd That my displeasure might be satisfi'd But lâ—t no former favour me availe If now of Reason on my side I faile I nâ—ver did a Vengeance yet pursue Before it was requir'd by double due I never plagued any in despight Nor in the death of sinners took delight Why therefore thus is my proceeding staid And thy just wrath so suddenly alaid Hath Mercy their offences vailed so That thou beholdest not what faults thâ—y do And wilt thou still continue thy compassion To this unthankfull and forgetfull Nation What are they but a most corrupted breed A wicked a perverse ingratefull seed A peoplâ— for instruction so untoward So stubborne in their courses and so â—roward That neither tâ—reats nor plagues nor loâ—e can mend â—hem And therefore Desolation must attend them Me they have injured past all â—ompare They flout me to my face they me out dare Ev'n on my Iudgement-seâ—ts they truth deny Although they knew their hearâ—rs know they lye They use my Titles and my Offices But as a meanes to rob or to oppresse The poorer sort and he that wrong sustaines Is sure of more if he for right complaines Search thou their Streets their Markets their Courts Note where the greatest multitude resorts And if thou finde a man among them thâ—re That hath of Truth or Iudgement any care Him let thine Angell save But thou shalt see That nothing else from heele to head they be But swellings wounds and sores that they are wholly O'regrowne with leprosies of noysome folly And that among them there abideth none Whose path is right and pâ—rfect no not one Their studies are in cheâ—ting trickes and shifts Their practice is to compass bribes and gifts Their silver is but dross Their wine impure Thâ—ir finest gold will not the touch endure The poore oppresse the poore The Childe assâ—mes An Elâ—ers place The basest Groome presuâ—es Bâ—fore tâ—e Noble Womâ—n tâ—ke on them Mens habits and subjection doe contemne Men grow â—ffeminâ—te Age dotes Youth raves The begger 's proud The rich man basely craves The neighbour of his neighbour goes in danger The brother to the brother growes a stranger There is no kin but Cousnage Few professe Affection Amity or Friendlinesse But to decâ—ive If men each â—ther greet With shewes of wondrous friendship when they meet They doe but practise kinâ—ly to betray And jeere and scoffe when thâ—y depart away Thâ—y labour and they study lyâ—s to make To grow more wicked serious paines they take Wolves are as mercifull Their Dogs as holy Vertue thâ—y count a Foole Religion folly Their Lawes are but their nets and ginnâ—s to take Those whom they hate and seeke their prey to make The patronage of â—ruth noâ—e standeth for The way of Piety they doe abhor They meet uâ—seene the harmlesse to â—eceive They hâ—tch the Cocatrice They sâ—ely weave The Spiders web and when in bed they aâ—e They lye and study plâ—ts of mischiefe â—here And why thus fares it bâ—t because they see That how unjust soe're their Courses bâ— They prosper in tâ—eir wicked nesse and â—hrive Whilst thâ—y who honor thee aâ—flâ—â—ted live If any man reprove their damned way They persecute and slander him and say Come let us smite him with our tongue that he And his reproofes may unregarded be They desp'rately resolve a wicked Course And ev'ry day proceed from bad to woâ—se Themselves they sooth in evill and professe In publike manner Trades of wickednesse They impudently boast of their Transgressions And madly glory in their great Oppâ—essions Yea some so farre have â—ver-gone the Devils In shamelesnesse that they make bragge of evils Which they committed not as if thâ—y fear'd That else they had not lewd enough aâ—pâ—ar'd Whereas they from themselves would strive to flie If they could sâ—e their owne defoâ—mity For what remaineth to be termed ill Which they are guilâ—lesse of in act or will Thâ—y gall unto
could wish it doubled were Wâ—â—h somâ— such observâ—tionâ— as would make Their practices the morâ— successe to tâ—ke And that their naturall meanes had hallowed bin With so much Faitâ— and penitence for sin As might havâ— brought more workes of Piety To sanâ—tifie their outward Poluy Foâ— those dull Nâ—turalists who think this Foe Doth by meere nat'â—all causes come oâ— goe Are much deceiv'd Yea in their heâ—rts they say There is no God how â—ver glâ—ze they may And as their cogitationâ— are unholy So is their seeming wisedome sottish folly They are the base Conjunctions and Aspects Of Sin that this our Climate so infects And neither Constellations nor the Weather For then we had beene poâ—s'ned all together By this Contagion and had breath'd the longer Or shorter while as nature had beene stronger Or weaker in us Nothing had beene free But birds and beasts had dy'd as well aâ— we And this Disease had seiz'd on ev'ry Creature Or more or lesse as it partakes our nature It was no nâ—ysome Ayre no â—ewre or Stinke Which brought this Death as most among us thinke For then those places where ill smells abound Had more infectious at that time beene found Then we perceive they were yea this Disease On ev'ry person delicate would seize Without exception And where Savours ill Still bide the Plague should there continue still Then if they brought the same they sure feed it And keepe it alwayes there as well as breed it Which God â—orbid and â—each us to discerne His providence and what thereby to learne Vaine thoughts have also they who credit can That this Infirmity at first began By meanes of populousnesse For were it so Some Courts and Allies many yeares agoe Had beene infected And thâ—se places where Throng'd up together greatest numbers are From Visitation had not free remained When open Streets and Borroughs have complained And let them not beleeve their fallacy Because great Cities have most frequently This fearfull Sicknesse or afflicted be When little Townes and Villages are free For as there is in great and popular places More sin and more abundance of Gods graces So it is just that thither should be sent The greater measure of his Chastisement That so their eminenâ—e might shew abroad As well the Iustice as the Love of God Whose Iudgements being laid on Townes obscure Might small respect and lesse effect procure As ignorant as these I reckon those Who this Disease infectious doe suppose To ev'ry one and them who credit not That Sicknesse by infection may be got For these opinions can have no defence Since both will false be found in common sense For if we say this Plague infects not any How commeth it we daily see so many Consum'd beneath one roofe in little space How comes it that it creeps from place to place So orderly as oftentimes we see In some close Lane oâ— Street How may it be That twenty Villages far distant from Infected Places tainted should become Within some few dayes after their arriving Who in contageous places had their living None being there before they came infected Nor any such disease neare-hand suspected How comes all this unlesse the Maladâ—e Hath in it selfe as had the Lâ—prosie A spreading Nature and envenom'd that Which of her poison can participate Beleeve it as the Violet or Rose With pure and pleasing sweetnesse where it growâ—s Perfumes the Aire and sendeth Odours out Which keepe a certaine distance there-about And more or lesse affect the Passers-by As they have more or lesse capacity In smelling them Or as the calmed aire Is either more or lesse corrupt or faire Right so this Plague ev'n naturally affects A space of Aire about it and infects At such or such a distance ev'ry one As he hath weaknesses to worke upon Unlesse that her malignitie be staid By naturall meanes or powre Divine alaid And yet a false Position make they shall Who thence infer the Plague infecteth all Who breathe her tainted Aire For how did they Escape it â—hen who long time night and day In places of infection were detain'd And in the bosome of this Pestâ—emain'd â—emain'd Ev'n wheâ—e they often had their eares and eyes Affronted by the sad aspect and cries Of Death and Dying men How scaped he That in the Church obliged was to be Among infectious people and to speake Till tired were his lungs and spirits weake Ev'n when the peoples thronging and their heat Did vapour up their breathings and their sweat For him to swallow What preserv'd the Clarkes The Sextens Searchers Keepers and those Sharks The shamelesse Bearers who were nigh become A rout too bad to picke out hangmen from How scap't the Surgeon that oft puts his head Within the steame of an Infectious bed And ev'ry day doth handle search and dresse Those Biles that over-flow with rottennesse Or which is more how scapt those Babes the Pest That were not only weake but suckt the brest Of Mothers deadly sicke when they did weare Those noisome Blaines that most infectious are This often chanceth Yea this hath beene seene When on the veâ—y brest the sore hath beene Nay I have heard by credible relation That neare to Straâ—ford-bow this Visitation A little Infant was preserv'd alive Who sucked on the dying brests of five How this may be I know not If I shall Conclude with some this Plague hath powre on alâ— Nor can I finde a reason how it stinted Or how our totall ruine was prevented For when it was at height and when appear'd Most causes that Infection should be fear'd Then no man was confined as before No Bill or Crosse was fixt on any doore We visited the Sicke we shunned neither The place nor person but met all together Yet then and let us marke it not till then This Plague her fury did abate agen And constantly abate though most refused To keepe such Orders as at first were used Which manifestâ—th well that howsoe're Malignant in it selfe the â—est appeare Gods hand restraines it many a man protecting Immediately some mediately directing To such or such a meanes of preservation That they might honour him in their salvation And as he striketh some that men might feare His Iustice So he other some doth spare That they might love his Mercies and perceive That he can at his pleasure take and leave For if God saved none some Athe'st would not Make doubt perhaps to publish that he could not And scarce one man would be so neighbourly To helpe his brother in this malady Which Charity to further and to shew How safely men their Callings may pursue In ev'ry danger we have had this yeare Of Gods great Providence faire token here For 't is observ'd that he hath few destroy'd Who were in this mortality employ'd About those Offices which have to us In common sense appear'd most dangerous Few Sextons and few Surgeons have miscari'd Who in their callings at this want have tary'd And of those Market-folks who at our
need Brought in provisions this weake place to feed I cannot heare of one who did become Infected or who brought infection home Ev'n in that Parish where I did abiâ—e And where nigh halfe a thousand weekly dy'd Not one of all that number perished That were the common Bearers of the Dead But though from midnight till the break of day They did infectious Caâ—kasses convay From sickly Dwellings to those Pits of Death Which breathed out a most contagious breath With life and health their service God rewarded Ev'n though the most of them nought else regarded But that base gaine which might their want supply Or feed them in some wicked vanity How then can we that of this favour heare From any lawfull action flye through feare Or doubt of Gods protection when we make A dangerous attempt for conscience sake And know beside that what we â—â—rive to do We are both called and oblig'd unto Moreover since the latter sort here named Are for the greater part in life defamed Such who their needfull Offices abused Such who nor outward meanes nor inward used To keep their healths but grew the bolder in The practices of ev'ry kind of sin Such whom Gods Iudgements stupified more And made far harder hearted then before Since those I say of such condition were And yet preserved in their Callings here For what good use I pray can we suppose Those men were so preserved but that those Who truly seeke Gods glory in their stay Might have the more assurance in their way And know that if to such God please to give This mortall life they shall much rather live Or else which is far better if they dye Obtaine a life with immortality Some Wiseman-woud-be now perhaps will prate That this is Claphamnisme And that the State In her good policies to stop the breach Of this gâ—eat Plague is wrong'd by what I teach But rather they injurious are to me Who so affirme and vaine their cavils be For though to shew the powre Divine the more Our Muse declares by what is gone before That Gods owne hand our Citie did preserve When we scarce Meaâ—es or Order did observe Let no man gather thence that we maintaine All Meanâ—s or Civill Orders to be vaine For of selfe-murther that man guiltie dies Who meanes of health doth wilfully despise Yea doubtlâ—sse there belongs a curse to them That orderly proceedings doe contemne And whereas we our Orders did transgresse It was necessitie not wilfulnesse That uâ—ged it because our common woe Did farâ—â— beyond the powre oâ— Oâ—dâ—r goe At rising of the â—loud we made a Bay But at the height it carri'd all away In humane Policie we sâ—w no hope But as the stones and Timbers whiâ—h doe stop A Breach at first when all is drowned o're Doe nothing else but make the waters rore So when our Sicknesse and our Poverty Had greater wants than we could well supply Strict Orders did but more enrage our griefe And hinder in accomplishing releefe Had ev'ry house beene lockt which we suppos'd To stand infected few had beene unclos'd Yea our fiâ—st Orders had we still observ'd The healthie Housholds would not halfe have serv'd To keepe the Sicke And who should then have heeded Our private cares Or got us that we needed As long as from each other we refâ—ain'd We greater sorrowes ev'ry day sustain'd Yea whilst for none but for ouâ— selves we car'd Our brethren perisht and the worse we far'd This made us from our Policies appeale And meete in Love each others wounds to heâ—le This made vs from our civill Orders flie To make more practise of our Charitie And hereunto peâ—haps compell'd were we By meere necessitie to lâ—t us see Experiments of that unmatched good Which floweâ—h from a Christian Neighbourhâ—od And learne what publike and what prâ—vate case It bringeth in a gâ—nerall Diseâ—se And how it may a Common-wealth sustaine When carnall Wisdome and Selfe-love are vaine Oâ— we perchance from vulgar helpes were driven Lest Overmuch assurance might be given To outward meanes Or lest we us'd them so As if Gods powre were chained thereunto Oâ— else it was permitted to dâ—clare That fruitlesse all our best endevours are Without his blessing That no creatures have A Vertue to preserve till he will save That his immediate powre must countermand When any Plague hath got an upper hand And that such Mercy showne in sâ—ch distresse Might binde us to the greater thankfulnesse But lest what here precedeth hath not showne My purpose fully be it also knowne That to restraine or spurre the PESTILENCE There is both supernat'rall Providence And Causes naturall The first of these Can worke without the later if it please The later cannot any thing effect But as the former shall the same direct And though in ev'ry sicknesse thus it is Yet such hid properties are found in this Such oppositions in the Naturall Causes Such knots and riddles that it much amazes The naturall man because he seldome findes As he perceives in griefes of other kindes The Causes and Effects agree together For there is much uncertainty in either On some this Plague doth steale insensibâ—y Their muddy nature stirring secretly To their destruction Some it striketh so As if a mortall hand had with a blow Arrested them and on their flesh hath seene A palmes impression to appearance beene One mâ—n is faint weake sickly full of feare And drawes his breath where stâ—ongst infections are Yet scapes with life Another man is young Light-hearted healthy stout well-temper'd strong And lives in wholesome ayre yet gets a fit Of this Land Caleâ—ture and dies of it Some are tormented by it till we sâ—e Their veines and sinewes almost broken be The very soule distracted sense bereft And scarce the smallest hope of scaping leâ—t Yet soone recover Othersome againe Fall suddenly or feele so little paine When they are seized that they breathlesse lye E're any dying Symptomes we â—spy On some an endlesse drowsinesse doth creepâ— Some others cannot get one winke of sleepe This useth ev'ry day preservatives Yet dies another taketh none yet lives Ev'n thus vncertainly this Sicknesse playes Spares wounds and killeth many sev'rall wayes From this experience let us not conclude As many doe among the multitude Who misconceiving to no small offence The doctrine of Eternall Providence Who from the truth of sober knowledge wandring And Gods Decrees and Iustice also slandring Doe so necessitate the Fate of man That whatsoever he endevour can His paines is lost and that foredoom'd he must At this or that set moment turne to dust And that no industry no innocence No wilfull carelesnesse or foule offence Nâ—r any humane actions helpfull be To life or death but meerly Gods Deâ—ree Ev'n such there be And howsoever they Preach Faith or Workes in show yet thâ—y denay The pow'r of both and secretly maintaine By consequence at least that meanes are vaine For they affirme that ev'ry thing men doe They are by God predestinated
and understood Gods iustice and his mercy it unites Whom mens blind Cavills haue made opposites God knew the doome and date of Adams crime Yet he did fore-expresse no certaine time But speaking of it spake indefinitely And said That dâ—y thou sinnest thou shalt dye And sure of all mens deaths who e're gaine saies It is their sinne that setteth downe the daies For till transgression forfeited our breath There was no peremptory day of death And in affirming where Gods Word is mute It is presumption to be absolute Doe this saith God and liue Doe that and perish Yet some whose overfights too many cherish Dare contradict it and affirme that wee Good bad dead liuing damned saued be Eu'n from eternity without respects To any causes or to their effects And these imply that whatsoe're we doe Or leaue vndone God fore-appoints us to A certaine doome which we shall striue in vaine With all our strength to shunne or to obtaine And wherefore then did God his Gospell send Why doth his Word exhort vs to amend Why doth he â—id vs this or that to shunne Why hath he charged some things to be done If he no power hath giuen or else by fate Disableth all men to cooperate And leaues them neither good nor ill to doe But what he fore-decreed long agoe Why threats he stripes why promiseth reward If there be no compassion no regard Nor meed for what is done And what I pray Is all Religion if these truth doe say I know God reprobates and doth foresee Before all worlds who reprobates will be But none he forceth to be so accurst Saue those who haue his Grace rejected first And vnto those indeed he powre denies To worke his will because they did despise His profered Love And just it is in him To make them blinde who did the light contemne He doth eternally abhorre the crime But he the persons reprobates in time And None doth chuse or personally reject What ever some conceive but with respect Vnto his Covenant which hath implide Something to be perform'd on either side For were it so that God hath fore-decreed What should befall unto us without heed To any Covenant and bar'd Salvation By an eternall doome of Râ—probation In such like manner as the fantasies Of some not well advisedly devise What compasse we by striving therewithall Why spend we time in rising up to fall Why linger we to act so many crimes To suffer over griefe so many times And live so many sev'rall deaths to taste To be nor worse nor better at the last Or wherefore have we prayed since we know What must be must be though we pray not so I might be thought o're bitter if as they I should interrogate who sharply say Why doe not these who this opinion hold Goe hang themselves before that they are old Or in their Gardens TIMON like erect Faire Gibbets for the Schollers of their Sect What tends their life unto why should not they Refuse to eate and drinke and wisely say God for our end a certaine day hath set Which we shall reach although we taste no meat Why doe they shun a danger in the street Since they shall live their time what e're they meet If they to any place desire to goe Why trouble they their feet to helpe thereto Since they are sure that if decreed it were They should come thither they their paines may spare If thus I should have said some men would deeme me To be more bitter then did well beseeme me For I confesse that on the quick they grated Who in this manner have expostulated And I forbeare it Yet this generation Hath some who need this tart expostulation With whom loud noises more prevaile by far Then doe those proofes that Faiths and Reasons are I know to these Objections most replies I know their strength and where their weaknesse lies I know what holy Scriptures men mistake Which proofes of their assertions seeme to make I know how they their Arguments mis-lay From that of Esau and the Potters clay I know what Times and Termes they misconceive And wherewithall themselves they doe deceive I know with what nick-names of heresie Some Readers will for this my Muse belye And that nor they who call'd Arminiâ—ns be Nor they who reprehend them will with me Be friends for this for neither those nor these Am I desirous to offend or please But to uphold the Truth which is bely'd Injuriously by most of either side I know their spight their vineger their gall I know what spirit most are led withall Who spread the Doctrines which I have reproved And know such Reason nevâ—r to be moved With favour to them that I dare to say It is the nearest and the straightest way To all prophanenesse It the bâ—idle gives To â—arnall liberties and makes the lives And hearts of many men so voyd of care From hence distractions hence despairings are Hence mischiefes hence selfe murthers doe arise Hence is it that such multitudes despise Good discipline yea this contemned makes The life of Faiâ—h if once it rooting takes Disableth pious practices outright And where it roots destroyes Religion quite Let no man then admit into his thought That God Almighty hath decreed ought Which on his Iustice may infringement bring Or on his Mercy in the smallest thing Or that his Wisedome any thing ordaines Without the meanes which thereunto pertaines Or thinke because our sinne he doth permit That therefore he necessitateth it Or that he wills those errours he foresees As he the workes of righteousnesse decrees Or that our humane actions cypheâ—s are Or that within this world there ever were Or shall those persons be whom God will call Vnto account untill he giue them shall At least one Talent which may serue vnto The working of that worke he bids them doe Let no man dreame these dreames nor censure this Till he hath well consider'd what that is Which I deliuer For in this darke way Our learnedst Clerkes doe sometimes runne astray Nor let them thinke that I concurre with all Who in appearance hold this Tenet shall Or that I differ from all men that may In termes dissent from what I seeme to say For they that in expression disagree In one well-meaning oft united be And either if that they in loue contend Shall then at length obtaine their wished end Oh! labour this all you that would be thought GODS gloâ—y in your studies to haue sought That though offences come they may not moue Disunion but Gods worthy ones approve And let us with a true sobriety So heed his Actions of eternitie That we may see in them a boundlesnesse Beyond our humane wisdome to expresse Leave quarrelling about his waies unknowne And take more heed here after to our owne For though God pleaseth other while to use Our vulgar Termes some notions to infuse Of his eternall workings and apply His deeds that way to our capacity Disclosing them unto us one by one
As if at severall times they had beene done Beâ—ause our shallownesse no meanes can find To entertaine them in their proper kinde And though respecting us who temp'ral be Wee say that God Almighty doth foresâ—e Foreknow us and prâ—destinate yet sure His Essence no such termes can well endure In proper sense Because with him no doome Word Thought or Act is passed or to come But all things present Yea all Times and all Those things which wee by severall names doe call Our Birthâ— our Lives our Deaths and our Saluations Our free-elâ—ctions and prâ—dâ—stinations Are all at once with God without foreseeing Eu'n all in one-eternall-present-being Which few observing many men have thought That Gods etâ—rnall actions should be wrought Like ours in Time which is as if they should Endeavour how the world they might enfold Within a Nut-shell And while thus men strive According to their fancies to contrive An order in Gods Workings they mistake them Blasphemously and orderlesse doe make them Yea to define his actions they neglect That part which is their duty to effect Themselves and others losing in a path Which neither profit end nor safety hath And by disputing what from us is hidden Disturb the doing that which God hath bidden I have digrest enough and some there are Who think perhaps that I have gone too farre Yet let it not be judg'd impertinent That I have so pursu'd this Argument For want of minding what is here rehearsed Hath often times the Pestilence dispersed Yea some who fondly said that ev'ry man Shall live his time decreed do what he can And that each one at his fixt houre shall dye 'Gainst which he seeks in vaine a remedy Ev'n these made much good means of health neglected Much wise and wholsome counsell be rejected And caused oft in this our common wo That Death was brought and caried to and fro But lest in chasing them I run astray I le prosecute againe my purpos'd way The Pestilence doth show her selfe inclin'd So variously she cannot be defin'd She neither certaine forme nor habit wears But partly metaphysicall appears And partly naturall She oft may cary Her Progresse on by meanes that 's ordinary But rarely doth begin or end her Arrant Save by an extraordinary Warrant It doth infect and it infecteth not It is an arrow which is often shot By Gods owne hand from his far-striking bow Without the help of any meanes below It is Gods Angel which to death can smite Miraculously an army in a night It is a rationall Disease which can Pick with discretion here and there a man And passe o're those who either marked are For Mercy or a greater Plague to beare We see it suting hath to Natures lawes A nat'rall motion and a nat'rall cause For as a Fire among great Buildings throwne Burnes â—imber melteth Metall cracketh Stone Defaceth Statues makes moist places dry The Vaults below to sweat the tyles to flye And manifests his force in sev'rall kindes According to the objects which he findes So hath the Pestilence a nat'rall pow'r To haâ—den fright endâ—nger or devouâ—e And divers other changes to procuâ—e As she doth find a sev'rall temp'rature In mind or body fitting the rejection Or for the entertainment of Infection These things consider'd They who shall desire To scape from this Contagion must acquire A double Ward For doubtlesse there is none That can resist it with one guard alone In times of Danger vainly we presume Vpon our Iv'â—y boxes of Perfume To little purpose we defend our noses With Wormwood Rue or with our Radeliffe Posies Of tarred Ropes Small warrant for our lives Are all such bodily Preservatives As Cordiall waters Gums Herbes Plants and Rootes Our simple or compounded Antidotes Our Boezar-stone our med'cines Chymicall Or that high-pâ—ized Iewell wherewithall For horne of Vâ—icorne men cheated are Or those unhallowed Charmes which many weare For these are far unable to withstand The vigour of his incorporeall hand Who strikes for sinne unlesse to these wee adde A Plaister which of better things is made Yea Nature failes unlesse adjoyne wee doe A med'cine metaphisicall thereto Moreover fruitlesly devout are they And that they seeke to God they falsely say Who wilfully neglect or else contemne That outward meanes which Nature offers them And God provides to cure or to prevent The mischiefe of Diseases pestilent For since wee fram'd of soules and bodies are God pleased is that wee should have a care To both of them and labour how to finde What appertaines to either in his kinde He therefore who desireth a defence Against this Arrow of the Pestilence A compleat Armour must from God procure And still be arm'd his person to secure He must put on the Helmet of Salvation And shoe his feet with holy Preparation A Belâ— of Truth must for his loines be sought His Brest-plate must of Righteousnesse be wrought The Shield of Faith his Target must become The darts of Sathan to secure him from Gods Word must be the Sword upon his thigh His Praiers like continuall shot must flie And he should keepe for ever his abode Within the shadow of Almighty God Or else the Workeman looseth all his paine And he that watcheth wakeâ—h but in vaine He also must expell out of the soule That filthinesse of sinne which makes it foule He must avoid the crimes he lived in His Physiâ—ke must be Rue ev'n Rue for sinne Of Herb of Grace a Cordiall he must make The bitter Cup of true Repentance take The Diet of Sobriety assume His House with workes of Charitie perfume And watch that from his heart in secrecie Arise no savours of Hypocrisie He must beleeve God so doth love him that His everlasting good is aimed at In all he suffers and that God doth know And marke his nature and his temper so As that he will impose nor more nor lesse Than shall be needfull for his happinesse For such a Faith will keepe hâ—m still content Still lowly under ev'ry chaâ—tisement Still thankfull whatsoever doth befall And Blessings make of what we Plagues doe call He must moreover with a holy Feare In all his Christian duties peâ—severe Still watchfull and at no time daring ought Which may from God divert him in a thought So neere as possibly the powre of man So great a diligence endeavour can For round about him are a thousand Feares A thousand Dangers and ten thousand Snares And as a Traveller who for his Bridges To passe deepe waters having nought but ridges Of narrow Timbers dares not cast his eye From off the Plancke nor set his foot a wrie â—ecause beneath him he beholds a Streame That runnes and roares and gapes to swallow him So he that must an hourely passage make Through such like Plagues as this whereof I speake And many dangers waiting on him hath To catch him if he slip his narrow Path Had need be carefull that he never stray Nor swarve in any thing beside the way Let therefore ev'ry
fled What in their need should them have comforted If Death be dreadfull stay and learne to die For Death affects to follow those that flie Had you not â—one you might for ever after Have said That Sorrow profits more then Laughâ—er You should have known that Death hath limits here And loosed was where he did bound appeare That many were preseâ—ved in thâ— flame And many burnt that came not nigh the same Yea some of you beâ—ore from hence you went Had of these Truths got some experiment What â—olly then or Frenzy you bewitches To leave your houses and goe dye in ditches Forgoe the Comfort which your Ciâ—ie yeelds To venture for a lodging in the fields Or which is worse to trà vell farre and finde Those prove ungentle whom you hoped kinde A Plague so bitter That might Plagues be chuseâ— I would be Plague-sicke rather then so used Did you suppose the Pestilence would spare None here nor come to seaze on any there All perish'd not that did behinde you stay Nor did you all escape who fled away For God your passages had so beset That Hee with many thousands of you meâ— In Kent and all along on Essex side A Troupe of câ—uell Fevers did reside And roâ—nd about on ev'ry other Coast Of severall Country Agues lay an hoaâ—t And most of them who had this place forsooke Were eyther slaine by them or Pris'ners tooke Sometime the Pestilence her selfe â—ad bin Before them in their Lodging at their Inne And hath arrested them upon the Bed Brought many sicke away and meny dead Sometime againe she after them hath gone And when perchance she was not thought upoâ— Among their friends and in their merriment Hath seiz'd them to their greater discontent She divers apprehended on the way Who to so many mischiefes were a prey That poorest beggers found more pitty here And lesser griefe then richer men had there I doe not meane concerning that neglect That barbarous unmanly disrespect Their bodies had among the clownish crew When from the tainted flesh the spirits flew For if their carcasses they did contemne What harme or what disease was that to them What paine or torment was it if that they Like carrion in the fields unburied lay What felt they being â—ragged like a Log Or hurl'd into a Saw-pit like a Dog What disadvantage could that Doctor have Who learnedly was drawne into his grave By naâ—ed men since those things doe disgrace The living rather and doe wrong the place Thâ—t suffers or allowes that barb'rousnesse To shame the Christian Faith which they professe Alas my heart as little can bemone A mangled carcasse as a broken stone It is a living body and the paines Which I conceive a broken heart sustaines That moveth me their griefe in life-time was And whilst they liv'd their sorrowes did surpasse These fained ones as Death and loathed Care By Life and true Content excelled are Some who forsooke faire houses large and high Could scarcely get a Shed to keepe them dry And such who many bedâ— and lodgings had To lye on straw without the doores were glad Some over-tyr'd with weaâ—inesse and heâ—t Could not for money purchase drink or meat But cruelly of succour were deny'd Till through their faintnesse they grew sick dy'd Some who in London had beene waited on With many servants weâ—e enclos'd alone In solitary places where they mâ—ght Find leasure to repent them of their flight And when they had supplyes at any need The bringers did like those that Lyons feed Ev'n throw it at them or else some where set it Where after their departures they might fet it And many a one no helper to attend him Was left to live or dye as God should friend him Some who unwisely did their homes forsake That triall of the Country they might make Have brought their lives to miserable ends Before they could arive among their friends Some having reach'd the places they desir'd With no meane difficulty weake and tyr'd Have missed welcome where they sought reliefe And strucken by unkindnesse dy'd with Griefe The sickly Wife could no â—ssistance have To bring her Husbands body to the grave But was compelled with a grieved heart To act the Parsons and the Sextons part And he that wanted strength â—o beare away His mate who dead within his presence lay VVas faine to let the stinking body lye Till he in death should beare him company Ah me what tongue can tell thâ— many woes The passions and the many griefes of those What mâ—rtall pen is able to expresse Thâ—ir great temptations in that lonelinesse What heart can thinke how many a grieuous feare To those distressed people may appeare Who are with such afflictions over-takâ—n Of ev'ry Crâ—ature in the world forsaken Without a Comforter left all alone Where to themselves they must themselves bemone Without a remedy And where none may Or know or pitty what they â—eele or say Me thinkes to muse on those who suffer'd thus Should bring to minde the mercy shewed us And make our pennes and voyces to expresse The love of God with hearty Thankfulnesse For when no sorâ—owes of mine owne I had The very thought of those hath made me sad And were it not that God hath given me Some tryaâ—ls of those Comâ—ortingâ— which Hee For men in their extremities provides And from the knowledges of others hides Or felt I not how prevalent Gods pow'r Appeares in us when there is none of our What liberty hee giue 's when wee doe fall Within the compasse of an outward thrall And what contentments He bestowes on them Whom others doe neglect or else contemne Yea had I not beleeued him who sayes That God doth knowledge take of all our wayes That He observes each rubb within our path With ev'ry secret sorrow which it hath That he is nearesâ— then when we bemone His absence anâ— suppose him furthest gone And often in us dwels when Those abroad With most insâ—lting say Where is their God Had this beene hidden from me I had here For ev'ry line I writ dropt downe a teare And in a floud of sorrowes drench'd mine eyes When first I mused on these miseries But I have knowne them to my great content And felt so oft wâ—at comforts God hath lent When of all outward helpes we are depâ—ived That could the same of all men be beleeved It would be thought true Pleasures wâ—re possessed Of none but men forsaken and distressed How ever though such mercy God bestowes And brings men comfort in their greatest woes Let none of us presume as some have done Without our Circle foolishly to runne Nor leave our proper station that we may Goe seeke our fortunes in an uncouth way Conceive me right I doe not here deny Or call in doubt the lawfulnâ—sse to flye Nor am I of their counsell who despise All such as fled nor judge I too precise Those wâ—o the Person or the Place avoid Which is with any noysomnesse annoy'd For when the causes
her feares enclosed thee Nay if such common terrors thee amaze How wouldst thou quake if in a generall blaze The world should flame about thee as it may Perhaps before thou see another day Sure if these Scar-crowes do detâ—rre thee so Thou scarce wilt welcome as thou oughtst to do That Moment when it comes nor so rejoyce As they who long to heare the Bridegroomes voice Here therefore stay and practise to inure Thy soule to tryalls that thou maist endure All changâ—s which in after times may come And wait with gladnesse for the Day of Doome Seeke here by holy dread to purge away Those Crimes which heape up terrors for that day Endure the scorching of this gentle fire To purifie thy heart from vaine desire Learne here the death of righteous men to dye That thou maist live with such eternally Hâ—re exercise thy Faith and watch and pray That when thy body shall be mixt with clay The frighâ—full Trumpet whose amazing sound Shall startle Hâ—ll and shake earths massie Round May make thee leape with gladnesse from thy grave And no sad horrors in thy Conscience have What canst thou hope to purchase here below That thou shouldst life unwillingly for goe Since there is nothing which thou canst possesse Whose sweetnesse is not marr'd with bitternesse Nor any thing so safe but that it may To thâ—e become a mischiefe many a way If honourable thou mightst live to grow That honor may effect thy overthrow And as it makes of others make of thee A thing as blockish as bruit creatures be If Rich those Riches may thy life betray Choake up thy vertues and then flye awâ—y If Pleasure follow thee that pleasing vaine May bring thy soule to everlasting paine Yea that which most thou longest to eâ—joy May all the pleasures of thy life destroy Seeke therefore true coâ—tâ—nâ—ment where it lies And feare not ev'ry Bâ—bies fantasies If Life thou love Death is that entring in Where life which is eternall doth begin There what thou most desirest is enjoy'd And Death it selfe by dying is destroy'd Though length of life a blessing be confest Yet length of dayes in sorrow is not best Although the Saylor sea-roome doth require To reach the harbour is his chiefe desire And though 't is well our debts may be delay'd Yet we are best at ease when they are paid If â—itleâ— thou aspire unto Death brings The Faithfull to become immortall Kings Whose glorie passeth earthâ—y pomp as far As Phoebus doth outshine the Morning-star Desirest thou a pleasant healthfull dwelling By Death thou gain'st a Country so excelling That plenty of all usâ—full things is there And all â—hose objects that delightfull are A golden pavement thou shâ—lt walke upon And lodge in Buildings wall'd with precious stone If in rich Garmenâ—s to be cloath'd thou seeke The Persian Monâ—rks never had the like For Puritie it selfe thy Robe shall be And like the Stars thy Crowne shall sâ—ine on thee Hast thou enjoyed those companions here VVhose love and fellowship delightfull are Thou shalt when thou from sight of those art gone Of that high Order be installed one VVhich never did false Brother entertaine VVhereof ev'n God himselfe is Soveraigne And in whose company thou shalt possesse All perfect deare and lasting friendlinesse Yea there ev'n those whom thou on earth hast loâ—ed â—nâ—â—se time with such love as is approved Thou shalt enjoy againe and not alonâ— Their friendship but the love of ev'ry one Of those blest men and women who both were And are and shall be till our Iudge appeare Hath any mortall beauty pleas'd thee so That from her presence thou â—rt loath to goe Thou shalt in stead of those poore imperfections VVhâ—râ—on thou setlest here unsure affections The Fountaine of all Beauties come to see Wiâ—hin his lovely bosome lodged be And know when thou on him hast fixt thine eyeâ— That all earths Beauties are deformities To these and happinesses greater far Then by the heart of man conceived are Death maketh passage And how grim soe're He may to those that stand alooâ—â— appeare Yet if thou bide unmoved in thy place Till he within his armes doe thee embrace Thou shâ—lt perceive that who so timely dieth Enjoyes contentments which this life denyeth Thy feare of painfulnesse in death is vainâ— In Death is easâ— in Life alone is paine Man makes it â—readfull by his owne inventions By causelesse doubts and groundlesse apprehensions But when it comes it brings of paine no more Then Sleepe to him that restlesse was before Thy Soules departurâ— from the Flesh doth maze And thee afflicteth more then there is cause For of his sting thy Saviouâ— Death despoiled And feares and dangers from the Grave exiled Thou losest not try Body when it dyes Nor doth it perish though it putrifies For when the time appointed it hath laine It shall be raised from the dust againe And in the sâ—ead of this corrupted one Thy Soule a glorious Body shall put on But hadst thou not a Faith which might procure theâ— Such comforts and such life in death assure thee Or though thou shouldst by dying be possest Of nothing else but of a senselesse rest Me thinkes thy â—arnall Reason should for that Perswade thee rather to be desperate And stay and seeke for Death e'â—e languish in Perpetuall sorrowes such as thine have biâ— For if to God-ward â—oy thou foelest not What comfort to the world-ward â—ast thou got Which may desirous make thee to delay Or linger out thy life another day 'T is true that God hath given thee a share Iâ— all thosâ— Pleasures that good pleasures are And to the Giverâ— glory be iâ— spoken Hâ—e hath bestow'd on thee as many a â—okâ—n Of his abundant love as he bestowes On any with so sew external shâ—wes For ev'n of outward things he doth impart As much as fits the place in which thou art With full as many pleasures as may serve Thy Patience in thy suffâ—ings to preserve And when for Rest and Plenties thou art fitter I know he will not make thy cup so bittâ—r But if thou live for outwar'd pleasures meerly By living thou dost buy them over dearly For if thy peace in God were sâ—t aside So many wayes thou hast beene crucifi'd That some would think thy Fortune if they had it Most bitter though most sweet thy hopes have made it Hâ—re but a Pilgrimage thou dost possesse Iâ— wandring and perpetuall restlesnesse Like Travellers in sunshine and in raine Both dâ—y and wet and dry and wet againe With rest each Morning well refreshâ— and merry Aâ—d ev'ry Ev'ning full of griefe and weary To Vanity in bondage thou dost lie Still beaten with new stormes of Misery And in a path to which thou art a stranger Assaulted with variety of Danger His Face sometime is hid whence comforts flow And men and devills seek thy overthrow Sin multiplies upon thee ev'ry day Thy vitall pow'rs will more and more decay Wealth honor friends and what thou best
it seemes it could not be That God from this Disease would shelter thee Reported also that of Grace forsaken And by the sin of Drunkennesse o'retaken Thou brokâ—st thy neck It may be those men thought That when the Plagueâ—hy â—hy life to end bad brought They shâ—uld have added somâ—what to have slaine The life of good Report which might remaine Nor was that ayme quite void For though of all Grosse sins the staine of tâ—at least bâ—ur thee shall Some straight beleev'd what malice did surmise Condemn'd thy Vertues for Hypocrisies Made guilty all thy Lines of evill ends Vs'd thee as Iob was used by his friends Did on thy Life unâ—hristian Censures passe Affirm'd thy Death had showed what it was And many a one that heard it shall not know Vntill his dying day it was not so But then they shall perceive that most of that Is false which men of others use to prate But wonder it is none that thou among Some Strangers in thy Fame hast suffred wrong For â—o thy Neighbours though they privy be To no such act as may difparage thee But unto many rather which in show Appeared from a Christian minde to flow Ev'n they in private whisp'rings many times Have taxed thee as guilty of those crimes Thou never perpetratedst but dost more Abhor them then do Mizers to be poore And from thâ—se blots the more thy life is free The more is theirs defilde by slaundring thâ—e In wicked Places where yet nâ—ver came Thy fooâ— some acâ—ed follies in thy name That others present knowing not thy face Might spread abroad of thee to thy disgrace VVhat others did And such a mischiefe none But perfect Malice could have thought upon Thy very Prayers and thy Charities Have â—â—cked beene and judg'd hypocrisies When thou wert beâ—â— employed thou wert sâ—re The bâ—sest imputations to endure When thy intentions haâ—e beene most sincere Mens misconstructions alwayes haâ—shest were And when thy piouâ—â— action thou hadst wrought Then they the greatest mischiefe on thee brought The best and most approved of those Laies By thee composed for thy Makers praise Have lately greatly multipli'd thy Fâ—es And not procur'd alone the spight of those Whom brutish Ignorance besâ—ts among The misconceiving and illâ—terate throng But they who on the seats of Iudgement sate Thee and those Labours have inveighed at The Learned who should wiser men have beene Did censure that which they had never seene Ev'n they wâ—o make faire shewes of sanctiâ—y God grant it be not with hypocrisiâ— With spightfulnesse that scarce can matched be Have shamefully trâ—duced that and thee Nay of the Clergy some and of the chiefe Have with unseemly fâ—ry post beleefe So undervalu'd and so vilifi'd Those Labors which the tryall will abide When their proud spleene is wasted that unlesse God had in mercy curb'd their furiousnesse And by his might abated in some measure That pow'r of acting their impeâ—ious pleasure Their place and that opinion they had gained Of knowledge and sincerity unfained Had long ere this no doubt made so contemn'd Those Lines and thee that thou hadst beene condemn'd VVithout a triall And so true a feeling Hadst gain'd ere now of base and partiall dealing That Discontenâ—â—ight then have urg'd thy stay In hope this Plague would thâ—t have tooke away But thou by others hast receiv'd the â—â—ings Of Malice otherwayes in other things Those men whose over-grosse and open crimeâ— Are justly taxed in thiâ—â—â—onest â—imes Have by the generall notice of thy name Sought how to bring thee to a generall shame By raising causelesse rumors to be blowne Through ev'ry quarter where thy lines are knowne For there 's no place without an enuious â—are And slanâ—rous tongues be ready ev'ry where To cast with willingnesse disgrace on those Of whom some good report beforehand goes And since thou canst not answer ev'ry man As he that 's knowne in some few Townships can The falsest Rumors Men divulge of thee Doe soone become a common Fame to be Moreover that lesse cause there may appeare Why thou shouldst life desire or dying feare The most affected thing this world containes Hath torâ—ur'd thee with most heart-breaking paines For they whom thou hast loved they to whom Thou didst obliged many wayes become Yea â—hey who knew thy faithfulnesse ev'n they Have made their outward kindnesses the way To make thee most ingratefull seeme to be Yea they have heaped more disgrace on thee More griefes and disadvantages then all Thy Foes together bring upon thee shall And long pursued have to thy vexation Their courses with harsh trickes of agâ—ravation Yet still pretending Love which makes the curse Of this Affliction twenty times the worse I will â—ot say that thou afflâ—cted art In this by them without thy owne desert For who perceives in all how he offends Or thinks that God correction causelesse sends Nor will I say this injury proceeds Fromany Malice For perhaps it breeds From their distemper'd love And God to show Some needfullsecret which thou best maist know By this experiment a while doth please To make thy late Contentments thy Disease Thy first Acquaintanâ—e who did many a yeare Enjoy thy fellowship and glad appeare To seeme thy friends have wearied out their love By length of time and strangers now doe prove Thou also seest thy new acquaintance be Worne out as fast as gotten For to thee Most come for nothing but to satisfie Their idle fruitlesse curiositie And having seene and found thee but a man Their friendship ended just as it began Nay they who all thy course of life have seene And in appearancâ— have perswaded beene So well of thy uprightnesse as if noâ—ght Could move in them of thee one â—vill thought These by a little absence or the sound Of some untrue Relation wanting ground Doe all their good opinion someâ—ime change Suspect thy mannâ—rs and themselves â—strange So unexpecteâ—ly and without cause That what to judge of them it makes thee pause For they that vertuous are but in the show Doe soone suspect that all men else are so Thâ—se things are very bitter unto such Whose hearts are sensible to ev'ry touch Of kindnesse and unkindnesse and they make Life tedious where they deepe imprâ—ssion take But many other griefes thy Soule doe grinde And thou by them art pained in a kinde So diffâ—ring from the common sense of others Although thy patience much distemper smothers That Reason might me thinkes contented be Thou shouldst pursue thy Death to set thee free I speâ—ke not this as if thou didst repinâ— At these or any other lots of thine Nor to discourage thee beâ—ause the World So little of her Grace on thee hath hurl'd For I would have thee scorne her love and know That wheâ—her shâ— will favour thâ—e or no I wilâ— in thy due season make thee rise To honor by that way which meâ— despise Ev'n to those honors which are greater then The greatest that conferred are by men And this I mention in
Reason and forgoe the Field Moe Arguments I could as yet expresse To prove thy staying hath much usefulnesse As that it were unkindnesse to forsake Those persons here who comfort in thee take For some professe already that thâ—y bide By thy example greatly fortifi'd In their compelled stay by seeing thee So willingly theâ—r griefes companion be Yâ—a many a one observing thee to stay Confesseth he doth shame to flye away Thereby those Resolutions they have got Which very lately they embraced not And might perhaps if now thou shouldst deparâ— Become afraid because thou fearfull art Me thinks it is unmanlinesse to flie From those in woe whom in prosperity Thou lovedst yea t is basenesse not to share In â—v'ry sorrow which thy fâ—iends dâ—e beare As well as in their pleasures if they be Such friends as some of thine doe seeme to thee Here thou hast long continu'd On the bread Of Dainties in this City thou hast fed Here thou hast laught and sung and here thou hast Thy youthfull yeares in many fâ—llies past Abus'd thy Christian-liberty and trod That Maze which brings forgetfulnesse of God Here thy example some corrupted hath Here thou hast moved thy Creators wrath Here thou hast sinned and thy sinnes they were Which holpe to bring this Plague now raging here Here therefore doe thou fast here doe thou mourne And into sighes and teares thy laughter turne Hâ—re yeeld â—hy selfe to prison till thou see At this Assize how God will deale by thee Ev'n here the time redeeme thou here restore Bâ— good examples thâ—se whom heretofore Thou hast offended here tâ—y selfe apply Gods just incensed wrath to pacifie Here joyne in true Repenâ—ance to remove â—hat Storme which now descendeth from above And theâ— or live or dye this Place to thee A place of Refuge and of â—oy shall be Nor Sin nor Death nor Hâ—ll noâ— any thing Shâ—ll dâ—scontentment feaâ—e or perill bring Which to thy Soule or Body shall become A disadvantage but helpe save thee from Destruction Ioyes as yet unfelt procure In all temptation makâ— thy minde secure Discover plainly how thy Reason failed And make thee blesse the time thy Faith prevailed But thou dost wâ—nt a Calling REASON cries Thy staying in this place to warrantize And that untill thereof thoâ— dost obtaine The full assurance all my speech is vaine Indeed the glorioust worke we can begin Vnlesse God call us to it is a sin And therâ—fore ev'ry man should seeke to kâ—ow What God and what vaine â—ancy cals him to For Pride and over-weening Arrogance The Devill or a zealous Ignorance Suggests false warrants and allureth men To dangerous adventures now and then Yea maketh some from Godâ— commands to fall And take employments at the Devils call To judge thy Calling then learne this of me That some Vocations ordinarâ— be Some extraordinary If thou take An ordinary Calling thou must make The common entrance which that pow'r doth give Within whose Iurisdiction thou dost lâ—ve Else whatsoever Cause thou dost pretend It is Intrusion and thou shalt offend If thou conceivest thou some Calling hast In Extraordinary see it past By Gods allowance from Gods holy Writ Before such time as thou accept of it And then beware that nothing force thee back Or make thee in thine Office to be slacke In briefe a Calling extraordinary To justifie it selfe these Markes must carie And if it faile of â—hem but in the least Thy Conscience is deluded in the râ—st Gods glory will be aymed at in chiefe It will be grounded on a true beleefe It doth not Gods revealed will oppose No step that erres fâ—om Charity it goes It seeketh not what cannot be enjoy'd It makes no ordinary calling void Some cause not frequent must invite thereto And to accomplish what thou hast to doe Some Gift that 's proper for it must be given And then thou hast thy Calling seal'd from hâ—aven Approve thy selfe by these and thou shalt see That God no doubâ— hath truly called thee To this adventure For thy hâ—art intends His praise in this above all other ends Thou dost beleâ—ve that whether live or dye Thy stâ—y shall somewhat adde to glorifie Thy blessed Maker and that something shall To thine and others profits here befall Thy Iudgement to thy Conscience nouâ—ht discloseth Wherein it Gods revealed Will opposeth It well agrees with Charity and tryes To compasse no impossibilities Nor binders it nor calls it thâ—e from ought Which is more necessary to be wrought A Cause not ordinary now requires Thy presence here and God himselfe inspires Thy Bâ—est with Resolutions that agree To such an aâ—tion Giâ—ts which none but he Can give he gives thee such as are by Nature Not found in any subâ—oelestiall Creature But meâ—rly of his Grace â— and such as none Can counterfeit by all that may be done And whence are all thâ—se Musiags here exprest Whâ—nce come these combatings within thy brest Twixt Mâ— and Reason who is it that makes Thy heart so fearlesse now such horror shakes The soules of others what embolden can The frightfull spirit of a naturall man In such apparant dangers to abide And yet his Reason nothing from him hide That seemeth to be dreadfull neither leave him Such Aymes or sâ—ch like Passions to deceive him As harden others Who but he that giveth Each pâ—rfit Gift these Gifts to thee deriveth And sure he nought bestowes but therewithall He sends occasions that employ is shall Few Officers shall wâ—nt a doubtfulnesse That they their places doubtfully possesse If this be doubtfull whether God or no Hath called thee to what I bid thee doe For outward Callings most men doe or may Intrude upon by some sinister way By Symony by Bribeâ—y by Spoiles By open Violence or secret Wiles And therefore though the Seâ—les of Kings they gaine To strengthen what unduly they obtaine Some doubting of their Callings may be had To God ward though such doubts be rarely made But for thy Calling thou Commission hast So firme and it so many Seales hath past That nothing should induce thee to suspect Thy Waâ—rant or distrust a good effect God from thy Cradle seemes to have ordain'd thee To such a purpose for he yearly train'd thee Through sev'rall cares and perils so inure Thy heart to what he meant thou shouldst endure Else why shouldst thou whose actions honest were To Man ward though to God ward foule they are Be more for that afflicted which doth seeme To some a worke deserving good esteeme Then are a multitude in these our times Convicted of the most notorious crimes Why at thy very birth did he infuse Thy Soule with naâ—urall helpes to forme thy Muse Which is a Faculty not lent to many Nor by meere Art attained to of any To thee why gave he Knowledge such a way As others lâ—se it by And why I pray Did he bestow upon thee so much Fame For those few childish lines that thou didst frame In thy minority Why did he then
faire then they that fam'd in Legends are Those sâ—ood unpeopled as those â—ouseâ— doe Which Sprights and Fairies doe resoâ—t unto None to their closed wickeâ—s made repaiâ—e Their empty gasemenâ—s gaped wide for ayre And where once foot clotâ—es and Caâ—oches were Attending now stood Coffiâ—s and a Biere Yea Coffins oftner past by ev'ry doore Thâ—n Coaches and Caroches heretofoâ—e To see a country Lady or a Knight Among us then had beene aâ— rare a sighâ— As was that Elephant which came from Spaine Oâ— some great Monster spewd out of the Maine If by mischance the people in the street A Courtier or a Gentleman did meet They with as much amazement him did view As if they had beheld the wandâ—ing â—ew And many seeing me to keepe this place Did looke as if they much bewaild my casâ— And hâ—lâ—e belee'vd that I was doomed hither That since close-prison halfe a yeare together Nor private wrongs nor publique dis-respect Could breake my heart nor much the same deject This Plague might kill me which is come to whip Those faults which herâ—tofore my pen did strip But here I walkt in safety to behold What changes for instructioâ— see I could And as I wandred on my eye did meet Those halfe built Pageants whiâ—h a thwaâ—t the street Did those triumphant Arches counterfeit Which heretofore in ancient Rome were fet When their victorious Generalls had thither The spoile of mighty kingdomes bâ—ought together The loyall Citizens â—lthough they lost The glory of their well-intended cost Eâ—ected those great Structures to renowne The new receiving oâ— the Sov'raigne Crowne By hopefull CHARLES whose royall exaltation Make thou oh God propitious to this Nation But when those works imperfect I beheld They diâ— new câ—uses of sad musings yeeld Portending ruine And did seeme me thought In honor of Deaths trophees to be wrougâ—t Much rather then from purposes to â—pring Which aymed at the honor of a King For their unpolisht forme did make them fit For dâ—â—efull Showes yea DEATH on them did sit His Captives passed under evâ—â—y Arch Among them as in Triumph he did march Through ev'ry Street upon mens backs were borne His Conquests His bâ—ack Liveâ—ies were woâ—ne In ev'ry House almost Hiâ— spoyles were brought To ev'ry Temple Many Vaults were frauâ—ht With his new prizes And his followers grew To such a multitude that halfe our Eugh And all our Cypresse tâ—ees could haâ—dly lend him A branch for ev'ry one who did attend him My Fancy did present to me that houre A glimpse of DEATH ev'n in his greatest power Me thought I saw him in a Charret ride With all his grim companions by his side Such as Oblivion and Corruption be Not halfe a step before him â—ode these tâ—ree On Monsters backt Paine Horror and Despaire Whose fury had not Faith and Hope and Pray'r Prevented through Gods mâ—rcy none had ever Escap'd Destruction by their best endevour For next to Death came Iudgement after whom Hell wâ—th devouâ—ing lawes did gaping come To swallow all But she at One diâ— snap Who now for many hath made way to scape Death's Carr with many chaines ropes strings And by a muâ—titude of severall thâ—ngs As Pleasures Passions Cares and such as they VVas drawne along upon a beaten way New gravell'd with old bones and Sin did seeme To be the formost Beast of all the Teeme And Sicknesse to be that whiâ—h haled next The Charret wheele for none I sâ—w betwixt Time led the way and Iustice did appeaâ—e To sit before and play the Charioteâ—r For since our Sin to pâ—ll on Death begun The whip of Iustice makes the Charret run There was of Trumpets and of Drums the sound But in loud cries and roarings it was drown'd Sad Elâ—gies and songs of Lamentation Were howled out but moved no compassion Skulls Coffiâ—s Spades and Mattocks placed were About the Charret Crawling Wormes were there And whatsoever else might signifie Deaths nature and weak mans mortalitie Before the Chaâ—ret such a multitude Of ev'â—y Nation in the world I view'd That neither could my eye so farre perceive As they were thâ—onging nor my heart conceive Their countlesse number For all those that were Since Abel dy'd he drove before him there And of those thousands dying long agoe Some here and there among them I did know Whose Vertues them in death distinguished In spight of Death from others of the dead I saw them stand me thought as you shall see High spreading Oakes which in â—el'd Copses be O're-top the shrubs and where scarce two are found Of growth within ten thousand roâ— of ground Oâ— those who dy'd within the Age before This yeare I scâ—rce distinguished a score From Beasts and Fowles Fishes For Death makes So little difference twixt the flesh he takes That into dust alike he â—urnes it all And if no vertue make distinction shâ—ll Those men who did of much in lifetime boast Shall dying in the common heap be lost But of thoâ—e Captives which my fantasie Presented to my apprehensions eye To grace this Monâ—râ—es Triumpâ— most I heeded Those tâ—oups which next before the Carr proceeded Ev'n those which in the circuit of this yeare The prey of Death within our Iland were It was an Army royall which becâ—me A King and loe King IAMES did lead the same The Duke of Richmond and his onely brother The Duke of Lenox seconded each other Next â—hem in this attendance follow'd on That noble Scoâ— the Marquis Hammilton Souâ—hampton Suâ—folke Oxford Nottingham And Holdernesse their Earledomes leaving came To wait upon this Triumph There I saw Some rev'rend Bishops and some men of Law As Winchester and Hubbard and I know not Who else for to their memories I owe not So much as here to name them nor doe I Vpon me take to mention punctually Their order of departing nor to sweare That all of these fell just within the yeare For of the time if somewhat I doe misse The matter sure not much materiall is Some Barons and some Viscounts saw I too Zouch Bacon Chichester and others moe Whose Titles I forgâ—t There folâ—ow'd then Some Officers of note some Aldermen Great store of Knights and Buâ—gesses with whom A couple marcht that had the Shcriffâ—dome Of London that sad yeare the one of which In Piety and Vertue dy'd so rich If his surviving fame may â—e beleeved That for his losse the City much hath grieved To be an honor to him here therefore I fixe the name of Crisp which name he bore And I am hopefull it shall none offend The Muses doe this right unto their friend Some others also of great state and place To me noâ— knowne by office name nor face Made up the concouâ—se But the common Rabble To number or distinguâ—sh none was able For rich and poore men women old and yong So fast and so confusedly did throng By strokes of Death so markt so gastly wounded So thrust together and so much confounded Among that glut of people which