And let us not be lost though we have straid Vouchsafe that ev'ry one in his degree The secret errors of his life may see And in his lâ—wfull calling all his dayes Peâ—forme his Christian duty to thy praise Give peace this troublous age for perilous The times are growne and no man fights for us But thou oh God! nor do we seek or crave That any other Champion we may have Nay give us troubles if thy will be â—o That we may have thy strength to beare them too And in affliction thee more glorifie Then heretofore in our prosperity For when thy countenance on us did shine Those Lands thâ—t boasted of their corne and wìne Had not that joy which thou diâ—st then inspire When we were boyld and fryde in blood and fire Oh! give againe that joy although it cost us Our lives Restore thou what our sin hath lost us Thy Church in these Dominions Lord preserve In purity and teach us thee to serve â—n holinesse and righteousnesse untill We shall the number of our dayes fulfill Defend these Kingdomes from all overthrowes â—y forraine enemies or home-bred foes Our King with ev'â—y grace and vertue blesse Which may thine honour and his owne encrease Inflame our Noblâ—s with moâ—e love and zeale To thy true Spouse and to this Common wâ—ale Inspire our â—lergie in their severall places With knowledge and all sanctâ—â—ying gâ—aces That by their livâ—s and doctâ—ines they may reare Thâ—se partâ— of Syon which decayed are Awake â—his Peoâ—le give them soules that may Beleeve thy word and thy commands obey The Plagues deserv'd already save them from More waâ—châ—ull make them in all times to come For blessings past let hearty thanks be given For present ones let sacrifice to heav'n Be daily offred up For what is needing Or may be usefull in the time succeeding Let faithfull prayers to thy throne be sent With hearts and â—ands upright and innocent And let all this the better fuâ—thred be Through these Remâ—mbrances now bâ—oughâ— by me For which high favour and emboldning thus My spirit in a time so dangerous For chusing me that am so despiâ—able To be employed in this honorable And great employment which I more â—steeme Then to be crowned with a Diadem For thy enabling me in this Embassage For bringing to conclusion this my Message For sparing of my lâ—fe when thousands dy'd Before behind me and on ev'ry side For saving of me mâ—ny a time since then When I had foâ—feited my soule agen For all those griefes and poverties by which I am in better things made great and rich Then all that wealth and honor brings man to Wherewith the woâ—ld doth keepe so much adoe For all which thou to me on earth hast given For all wâ—iâ—h doth concerne my hopes of heaven For these and those innumerable graces Vouchsafed me at sundry times and places Vnâ—hought upon unsained praise I render And for a living sâ—crifice I tender To thee oh God my body soule and all Which mine I may by thy donation call Accept it blessed Maker for his sake Who did â—his offring acceptable mâ—ke By giving up himselfe Oh! looke thou noâ— Vpon those blemâ—shes which I have got By naturall corruption or by those Polluted acts which fâ—om that ulcer flowes According to my â—kill I have enroll'd Thy Merciâ—s and thy Iustice I have told I have not hâ—d thy workings in my brest But aâ— I could their pow'r I have exprest Among our great assemblies to declare Thy will and pleasure loe I doe not fâ—aâ—e And thâ—ugh by Princes I am checkt and blamed To spâ—ake â—he truth I am no whit ashamed Oh! â—hew thou Lord thy mercy so to me And lâ—t thy â—ove and Truth my guardians be Forgive me all the follâ—es of my youth My fâ—ulâ—y deeds the errors of my moâ—th The wandrings oâ— my heaâ—t and ev'ry one Of those good workes that I have lest undone Forgive me all wherein I did amisse Since thou â—mployd'st me in performing this My dâ—ublings of thy calling â—e unto it My fâ—areâ— which oft diâ—heartned me to doe it My sloth my negligences my evasions And my defeâ—ring it on vaine occasions When I had vowed that no woâ—ke of mine Should take me up till I had finisht thine Lord pardon this and let no future sin Nor what already hath committed bin Prophane this Wâ—rke or cause the same to be The lesse effectuall to this land or me But to my selfe oh Lord and others let it So moving be that we may ne're foâ—get it Let nor the evill nor the good effect It takes or puffe me up or me deject Or make me thinke that I the better am Because I tell how others aâ—e to blâ—ame But let it keep me in a Christian feare Still humbly heedfull what my actions are Let all those observations I have had Of others erâ—orâ— be occasions made To minâ— me of mine owne And lest I erre Let ev'ry man be my Remembrancer With so much charity as I have sought To bâ—ing their duties more into their thought And iâ— in any sin I linger long Without repentance Lord let ev'ry tongue That nâ—mâ—s me check me for it and to me Bâ—come what I to â—thers faine would be Oh! let me not be like those busie broomes Which having clensed many nasty roomes Doe make themselves the fouller but sweet Father Let me be like the preciâ—us Diamond rather Which doth by polishing another stone The better shape and lustre set upon Hâ—s owne rouâ—h body Let my life be such As that mans ought to be who knoweth much Of thy good pleasure And most awfull God Let none of thoâ—e who spâ—ead of me abroad Vnjust reports the Devâ—lls puâ—pose gaine By making these my warningâ— prove in vaine To those that heare them but let such disgraces Reflect with shame upon their Authors facâ—s Till they repeâ—t And let their scandall seâ—ve Within my heaâ—t true meâ—kâ—â—sse to preserve And that humiliâ—y which else perchance Vaine glory ot some naturall arrogance Might oveâ—throw if I should think upon With carnal thoghts some good my lines have done Restraiâ—e moreover them who out of pride Or ignoâ—ance this Labour shall deride Make them perceive who shall prefer a story Composed â—or some temporall friends glory Before those Poems which thy works declare That vaine and witlesse their opinions aâ—e And if by thee I was appointed Lord Thy Iudgements and thy Mercies to record As here I do set thou thy mark on those Who shall despightfully the same oppose And let it pâ—â—likely be seene of all Till of their malice they repent them shall As I my conscience have dischâ—rged here Without concealing ought for love or feare From furious men let me preserved be And from the scorne of â—ooles deliver me Vouchsafe at length some comâ—orting refection According to the yeares of my affliction On me for good some toâ—en please to show That they who see it may thy bounty know Rejoyce with fellow-feâ—ling of the sâ—me And joyne
which with most ease I shall produce May have for ought I know the longest use Let no man thinke I 'le racke my memory For pen and-inkehorne-termes to finifie My blunt invention trimming it as they Who make rich clothes but for Saint George his day When they may beâ—ter â—heape a suite provide To fit that feast and many dayes beside Nor lâ—t unlearned Censurers suppose Our Muse a course unwarrantable â—oes In framing Objects representative Which may imprint or in the soule revive True feelings of that wrath or love which we In God almighty by Faiths eyes doe see For though his holy Spirit when he will Can easily the souleâ— of mortals fill With heav'nly knowledges by wayes unseene Yet he himselfe hath sometime pleased beene By ouâ—ward objectâ— to employ the senses In reaching to the soule some excellencies Conceal'd before Yea many times he suites His Deity in our poore attributes And that our weaknesse he may work upon Our usuall speech and passions he puts on If so then we that have no other way Our hidden apprehensions to conuey From Man to Man but by the quâ—int creation Of some Ideaes in our contemplation That so the senses may become inclin'd To give some information to the mind Then we I say whose fluid memories Would else let goe our ayrie fantasies May such a libeâ—â—y with warrant use And I no doubt my selfe may well excuse If other while things bodilesse I cloath With mortall bodies and doe give them both Our speeches and our gestures Foâ— by this A dull affection often quickned is Nor thus to doe are Poets onely moved But these are straines Proâ—heticall approved To say that God is angry or that he Will of our wickednesse avenged be Moves little but to paint his fury so That Men the dreadfulnesse thereof may know As if they sâ—w it or his love to make So pleading of our cause as if it spake Within our hearing with such earnestnesse As friends would plead for friends in their distressâ— Doth much incite the Reader to attention And rouseth up the dullest apprehension Me thinks I doe as with mine eye behold The reall sight of all that I have told Yea that which I my selfe described here Doth touch mine heart with reâ—ereâ—ce and feaâ—e I have perpetuall Visions of that rout Of Plagues and Iudâ—emenâ—s which doe rove about To punish us And from that dreadfull hoast I see me thinkes how to invade our Coast The Plague march'd hither like a Regiment That is for services of moment sent From some great Armie And when I can bend My troubled spirits truly to attend Gods Iudgements and his Mercies as they goe Their daily progresse I can reach unto Much pleasing thoughts and oftentimes foresee What his intents and their evenâ—â— will be For when Mans heart is filled with his Feare The secrets of the Lord to him appeare Oh! what rich treasures doth my soule possesse When I doe contemplate the blessednesse The Wisedome and the Way of God most high How farre above my selfe rais'd up am I How little want I â—haâ— the world can give What heights ascend I what huge depths I dive How much contemne I dangers here below How câ—rtaine of Gods favours can I grow And wiâ—h what sweetnâ—sse is my brest inspired When by the heat of Contemplation fired I sit lock'd up within a lonely roome Wheâ—e nothing to disturbe my thoughts may come And where may enter neither sight nor Notion Of any thing but what may â—â—irre Devotion Sure were it not that I am cloth'd about With flesh that doth compell me to come out Or knew I not the Christian Mans estate Extendâ—d â—urther tâ—en to contemplate Or saw not them unthankfully precise Who Gods externall blessings quite despise Or fear'd I not I never should have union With God unlesse I were in some communion Of Saints on earth whom I might sharers make Of those sweet thoughts of him which I paâ—take Or if I doubted not I might with Lot Vpon the daughters of my bâ—aine begot Commit some spirituall incest had I none To spend the seed of my full Soule upon Or if I found it not unnaturall To leape out of the world till God did call And that fantastique wayes of selfe-contenting Are but the certaine paths to selfe-tormenting If all these things I knew not I could bide Shut up untill my flesh weâ—e Mummy-si'd And though the world should woo me would disdâ—in For ever to unclose my doore againe For though when I come sorth I lose agen My â—aptures and have thoughts like other men Because my nat'rall fâ—ailties and the fog Of earthly Vanities my soule doth clog Yea though I can as hardly keepe those firings Vnquench'd abroad which are in my retirings Inflamed in me as a naked Man Retaine that heat upon a â—ountaine can Which in a close warme chamber he retaineth Yeâ— for my comfort somewhat still remaineth And in my recollections I possesse More happinesse then I can well expresse I view contentments which I cannot measure I have some tastings of immortall pleasure I gâ—immerings have of hidâ—en mysteries My â—ouâ—e on glorious things doth fix her eyes And though some whited walls who did attempt To bring my Muse and Me unto contempt Endevour still with shewes of Pietie My best-approved paines to vâ—lâ—fie I can with scorne of their base envy raise My thoughts above their ignorant dispraise And pitty their dull sottishnesse who prize Their shadowes better then realâ—ties For I have search'd their folly and espy'd That they have drown'd their wisdome in their pridâ— Yea by their partiall dealings I now see They judge mens merits as their titles be And I have gotten those brave things in chase That shall advantage me by my disgrace When therefore by my selfe I am enclosed And for an heavn'ly rapture well disposed I doe not grudge mine enemies to spue Their flanders on my name or to pursue My labours with reproach nor prey to make On all my fortunes But all well can take I doe not then repine although I see That Fooles ennobled Knaves enriched be And honest men unheeded but I bide As pleased as I am at Whitsontide To see faire Nymphs in Country Townes rejected And sluttish Milkmaids by the Clownes elected For Ladies of the May. And if I chance Where any of those Hobby horses prance I can in sport or courtesie bestow Those termes upon them which I doe not owe. For when on Contemplations wings I flye I then o're-looke the highest Vanity I see how base those fooleries doâ— show Which are aâ—mired while I creepe below And by the brightnesse of a two-fold light Reâ—â—ecting from Gods word to cleare my sight Faiths objects to her eyes much plainer are Then those which to my outward â—â—ght appeare My towring Soule is winged up as if She over-flew the top of Tenariffe Or some far higher Mountaine where we may All actions of this lower World survey I am above the touch of malice borne I
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
Enginâ—ere Or what soe're they list and having bought Of some poore Artists or some worse way wrought Their project from them that they may be showne As if the quaint invention were their owne And having gotten also termes of Art To help them in the acting of their part To such opinion of themselves they rise That men of soundest knowledge they despise Deride experience and ev'n to their face The skill of most approved men disgrace Mâ—ke these men Counsellors and though till then They knew not halfe so much as common men Nor had the meanes of knowing any thing But how to ride a horse or take the Ring Or hunt or hawk or caper yet behold A wonder in a moment they grow old In State affaires and nothing doth concerne Or peace oâ— war which they have need to learne If any question be before these made Of Merchandise the skilfull'st in the trade Are fooles to them and t is an arrogance To offer to instruct their ignorance If armes be treated of there 's no man knowes By practice that which thâ—se men can disclose By contemplation And though they have seene No other warres but those at Mile end greene Or Tutle-fields great Mars himselfe of these May learne to be a Souldier if he please If any thing concerning Navigation Be tendred to a grave consideration These either dare affirme or to deny What all the Masters of the Trinity Opposâ— them in and Novâ—ces would make Of Hâ—wkings Frobâ—shâ—r and fâ—mous Drâ—ke Were they now living And yâ—t such aâ— they The wreathes of Honor soonest beare away With empty Names and Titles bâ—ing â—lowne Above themselves they are unweildy growne Anâ— gâ—â—ater in their pride and in their traine Then their consumeâ— fortunes will maintaine Which doth compell them by unworthy wayes To seeke the patching up of their decayes And still in their pâ—ofusenesse they proceed As if theiâ— proâ—â—gality should breed New fortunes and were like those wells that fill And grow the purer by exhausting still In feasts apparell furniture and things Of such like nature mâ—ny Christian Kings To equall them shall finde it much to doe But them they cannot very far outgoe Vnlesse they meane to draine their fountaines dry With Fooles in prodigality to vye Hence comes it that the Rents and Royalties Of Kings and Princes which did well suffice In former times to keep in comely port An honour'd and an hospitable Couâ—t Yea and an Army if occasion were Can hardly now the charge of houshold beare For they must either in their large expeâ—ce Come short of that pâ—ofuse magnificence Among theiâ— Vassals oâ— else waste away The price of many Lordshâ—ps to defray The cost of one vaine supper and from this With other such like things growes all amâ—sse For one excâ—sse another still produces One Foole out-vies his fellow Fooles abuses Vntâ—ll their wealth and hopâ—s and reputation Be wasted in a witnâ—sse emulation Not heeding what is taught them in the Fable That when a Toad hath sweld while he iâ—â—ble An Oxe is bigger and with ease can smite His pride to nothing when it is at heigâ—t This over laâ—ge profusenesse they are faine By many evill couâ—ses to maintaine By bribery by gâ—iping by the sale Of Iustice yea of Consciâ—nce and of all That may be sold for mony From hence springs Deceiving and mis-leading of good Kings This makes their Treasuries to ebbe so low This makes their Subjects discontented grow This makes the Meâ—chant and the Tradesman break This makes the arme of Iustice grow so weake By this are States unjointed by degrees By this their honour and their love they leese And that confusion in upon them steales Which ruines Nations Kings and Commonweales From hence are all those rascall Suits derived By which the common dammage is contrived Hence they who by the publike desolation Would raise themselves pretend theâ—reformation They purpose not and by their faire prâ—tences To â—ure old grievâ—nâ—es breed new offâ—nces Hence comes it that to keep â—hemselves on hie They sell their country and pâ—sterity To slaveâ—y and bondage caâ—ing nought So they have rest how dearly it be bought This makes the Grâ—nts of Kings â—ecome so tickle Anâ— Oâ—ders and Deâ—rees of State sâ— siâ—kle Tâ—at no man knowes when he hath ought procured How he of wâ—at he hath may be assuâ—ed For in a righteous cause though be proceed Aâ—d havâ— it â—atified and decreed By all Authority that may be gained A sleight suggestiâ—n without reason fâ—ined May â—â—uâ—trâ—tâ— make the Royall-confirmation Oâ— kâ—â—p him in an endlâ—sse expâ—ctation Till he be quite undone And if his foes Have wealâ—h though no good reasons to oppose His rigâ—tfull cause he may be wheâ—l'd â—bout With Oâ—ders thaâ— will â—â—tch him in and out Till he be tyr'd and neithâ—r side is sure Oâ— conqâ—est till the other can pâ—ocure No bribâ— to give VVhich is mâ—re wicked far Then thosâ— injustices which practis'd are In heathen Kingdomes since when any tâ—ere For Iustice or Injustiâ—e bâ—ibed are A man â—hâ—ll havâ— his bargaine And in this More just they be then many a Christian is For when some here aâ—e forced for their owne To give great fines they afterward aâ—e throwne From their possessions if another come To buy Injustice with a larger sum Oâ— what a madnesse is it for one day On earth to foole Eternity away To sell both soule and body for meere toyes And râ—all comfortâ— for deceiving joyes To build theâ—r house with morter which will buâ—ne The timber and the structure overturne Perchance before the finishing be done But doubtlesse e're the third descent be gone What folly is it for a man to waste At one vaine triumph which an houre doth last Moâ—e then the portion ten and ten times told Which all his predecessors leave him could That to his prejudice it may be knowne How hastily a riâ—h man he is growne What meaneth he who doth consume upon One banquet whâ—t a towne of Garison Might live a yeare withall to heare it spoken That so much cost was but a certaine token Of his corruption And that all the store He wasts was got by making otâ—ers poore Or that tâ—e greatnesse of his new gain'd glory Is of the common wrongâ— a reall story Who praiâ—eth him for this or who doth call Him honorable wise oâ— lâ—berall For those expences but â—he rascall rable Of Coxcombs and of Gâ—lls that haunt his table What honour is it or what can it please To be the Lord of many Palaces To have their Cambers and their Galleries Adorned with most precious â—arities To feed and cloath and patronize a number Of Parasites and of Buffoones to cumâ—er Their wâ—lks and lodgings To have ev'ry day Thâ—ir servants following them in rich aray Rich stuffes with rich embroyderies to bury To ride on princely charets or to hurry In gilt Caroches or oâ— pampered Steeds From Turky fetcht or from the Barbary breeds To pâ—aance about the streets to show their pride Or with