his affection His life throughout did testifie the same His neck he bowed under all subjection Nay he so much did do I can't it name And may such real love be disrespected While lighter's prised shall this be rejected 15. If your hot blood may move your minds t' aspire To high preferment by some noble match If honor riches pleasure you desire His love embrace and his kind proffers catch For why all these you meet withal in him Yea and much more whereto all these are dim 16. He is a King and therefore can advance ye A King that tules and reignes for evermore A price upon his love therefore inhaunce ye He 's full professor of enduring store If therefore you would unto honor rise And happy be accept his love be wise 17. The best of mortals can't advance ye so The greatest Monarch can't that honor give The mightiest Potentate cannot bestow That wealth and pleasure that in him ye have Those full contentments those delightful pleasures Enduring ever with all peaceful treasures 18. Comprize the whole together and 't is this The God of Glory heir of Earth and Heaven In whom all honor pleasure wealth and blsis Doth bide and dwell whose pretious blood was given For mans Redemption to the soul of man Becomes a suiter tries all waies he can 19. To gain that love he over dearly bought To win that heart for which he gave his life It to enjoy that being lost he sought Eternally to make his glorious Wife His Grace doth sue Oh can our hearts deny Hold off and so abase such Majesty 20. Shall he to whom the glorious Queen of Heaven E'r sues for favour suit our worthless Love That are of whatsoever's good bereaven Shall he suit us and we to him not move When he presents himself can we be shie Ah shall he woo and we his suit deny 21. Maidens are wont much to regard their beauty They mayn't admit a blemish in the face Adorn themselves in carriages are haughty Are circumspect lest they incur disgrace They heed to shape each action work and carriage So as they mayn't prevent 'em in their marriage 22. Oh Virgins this Christ Jesus looks upon A comely face with answerable attire Whose heart doth monut in contemplation Wh'are cautious what they will what they desire Whose spirits are sublime and scorn the earth And mount a lost according to their birth 23. May I explain my self in this expression By a comely face a sincere heart is meant Pure and humble â—ear with this digression Not a bare say so and a complement A gracious conversation is th' attire Answering thereto the which he doth desire 24. Our employment he 'd have noble and our thought Raised above these low inferior things Our Virgin spirit he would not have fraught With other matter than what glory brings What would us suit we may with scorn deny Or our hearts court unto we may be shie 25. A Virgin stands upon her reputation A haughty scorn oft times doth fill her breast Remember this in Christian conversation She won't be in a sluttish habit drest She blushes much at every misbehaviour And onely things commendable will savour 26. Then Damsel hear make conscience of sin Your reputation that doth fouly blemish Reject and scorn its paths to trample in Look e'r upon it with a look most squemish Abhor each though of sin it doth defile you Blemish your honor doth of your glory spoyl you 27. It marrs your beauty and your comely looks It disproportionates you throughout It makes you loathsome for Christ Jesus brooks No sin delighting soul that thereabout Doth spend its precious time and trade in folly No he delights and is a person holy 28. Oh Virgins shame to prostitute your selves And give the strenth of your young tender years Unto the service of those hellish Elves That soâ—â— delight unto your nature bears Remember that this Virgin-Prince looks on Sees e'ry act though nere so secret done 29. Oh! how you blush when young men do discry you 'Bout some uncivil some immodest act You hang your heads and from their sight soon hie you Asham'd you should be seen in such a fact You will not dare then once to show your face So long as they continue in that place 30. This Heaven-born heir this Prince of great discent That seeks your love that tenders you affection Veiws your immodest looks your hearts intent Beholds full well to what you give subjection Blush you may at this but ye cannot flee him He sees you well although you do not see him 31 Consider Maidens should a worthy Suitor A well bred man a man of noble birth Learned by vertue having it his Tutor A comely person owner of much wealth Should such a one unto you make a proffer Of love and would you then contemne his offer 32 Would you before him your selves mis-behave No for your reputations you would not Although he did not from you favour crave Nor tender your affection one jot For fear that iâ— should be by him reported You were ill bred to vanities besotted 33 Think this in all the actions of your life For sure Jehovah evermore doth eye ye He sees what ills are in your natures â—ife In closest misdemeanors he will spy ye Tremble hereat for he will blaze the same More openly then by the trumpe of Fame 34 But further Virgins note your own behaviours Before and to the person that doth tender You hearty love and daigns you many favours Consider well I say how you do render Your selves unto him also how before him You do behave ye though you don 't adore him 35 Your looks are sober carriages severe Modest your countenance most chast your eye You heed your gestures all I mayn't say fear Lest any absurd carriage he should spy You watch your words strictly gaurd your tongue And heed that wisdom be your words among 36 All this you do nor can ye do ought less Whether ye respect the person ye or no Because your worth lies in your carriages For credit and much praise ye do gain so To e'ry person ye must give respect Shew carriage good though him ye do reject 37 But how much more yea with what aggravations Of all this do ye with much care demean Your selves to him and to all his relations Whom of your best respects you worthy deem Yea heed with patience and much humbleness Yet very gladly what he doth express 38 You suit your selves with him prizing his love The temper of his Spirit you delight in Your will doth close with his and you approve What e'r he doth and love what he hath right in An Oneness so is made up in your Spirits Nought you can do but you think he it merits 39 Behold the worthiest Suitor that did ever Make suit to Creature Gods sole eldest Son Doth to you Virgins his hearts love deliver Expresly penned in what he hath done Had not he lov'd us sure he 'd not
DIVINE BLOSSOMES A PROSPECT or LOOKING-GLASS For YOUTH Wherein and whereby he may plainly behold and see a Supereminency and Superexcellency of Grace and Religion beyond the Worlds Honor Glory Fame Repute Pleasure Joy Delight Love And all other lower Accommodations whatsoever Laid down to Youth by Exciting Parallel Between Earths Honor and Heavens Glory Between Carnal Pleasure and Spiritual Pleasure Between Inordinate Love and Divine Love Under every of which particulars the Author Exemplarily expesseth himself in a varied verse Composed by a hearty Wel-wisher to the Youthful Generation FRANCIS COCKIN alià s COKAYNE Remember thy Creator in the dayes of thy Youth Eccl. 12. Delight thy self in the Lord and he shall give thee thy Hearts desire Psal 35. 4. I love them that love me and they that seek me early shall find me Prov. 8. London Printed by W. G. for E. Farnham at the entrance into Popeshead-alley out of Cornhill 1657. To the Generation of Youth TEnder Reader knowing how much youthfull yearts delight in eating early fruit though green and so unwholsome I therefore here present thee with a dish of early fruit yet mature and ripe and therefore no whit dangerous to thy greedy stomack therefore accept it willingly and with safety fall to with courage And much good may it do thee Onely let me request thee to use civill behaviour in thy so doing be sober be serious read understandingly apply diligently and practise conscionably the precepts here given thee For thy good profit and incouragement I have vouchsafed to expresse my self unto thee what thou hast heard of me by me in me and from me do therefore and take all in Love from him that seeks most heartily and with the strength of his Soul thy eternal wellfare and Gods glory in thee Ely July 1656. F. C. To the most famous renowned Mr. George Wither Worthy Sir ALL happiness and peace I wish you And having been very desirous since the first time I ever met with ought of yours to gratifie you according to your worth and desert and finding no means and wayes thereunto I have deigned to present these few Pages unto you thereby to testifie in part the high esteem and honorable respect that I adjudge you worthy of Sir accept of this in love pass your candid censure of it and though the Phrases and Style be mean let the Matter and Drift excuse it Again considering by me 't was penn'd in a few dayes with much haste and past from me immediately no person fitter then your self to patronize these Artless Lines could I find because your Youthful years were in the same manner spent Sir I am Yours most ready to serve you in ought FRANCIS COKAINE Courteous Reader LEt me request thee when ever thou findest any fault in the sense or Verse to mend it as is hereunder specified the Authors absence having occasioned several mistakes PAg. 1. Staff 4. l. 4. strange r. strong st 5. l. 2. in slavish r. give slavish p. 12. st 3. l. 3. r. scatter'd strength p. 19. st 30. l 2. r. with those p. 20. st 34. l. 5. Joy r. Toy p. 25. st 54. 4. redeem r. esteem p. 29. st 70. Heads r. Hestos p. 31. st 79. l. 3. use r. case p. 32. st 82. l. 1. besides r. repel or resist p. 33. st 87. l. 6. months r. moments p. 34. st 90. l. 5. r. lavish cups p. 42. st 98. l. 6. never r. ever p. 45. st 110. l. 6. beâ—ded bow r. bend and bow p. 66. st 24. l. 6. r. but dim p. 69. st 34. l 3. was pric'd p. 92. st 13. 3. r. sure small dispute p. 93. st 16. l 4. ful possessor p. 94. st 20. l. 1. r. Queer of Heaven p. 117. st 30. l 7. r. motions The Contents of the Book FIrst the invocation presents it self wherein the Authour craves Gods divine assistance and gracious acceptance in and of the intended work Then by way of Introduction proves his own fiâ—nesse to the worke Gives a word or two to Parents about the educating their children and declares the manner of their greeting them in Hell hintes some matters to Superiors and so procceds to the work it self Wherein the Authour First begins to excite youth to seek after God and glory from the heat of his Spirit aspiring to honour declares the high worth of the engagement And forasmuch as the heart of youth is ambitious of fame glory and renown gotten and won by valiancy in desperate and dangerous attempts therefore the Author describes the might strength and power of that grand Christian enemy And stirs up the courage of youth to engage in the quarrel against him by several encouraging motives Declares the worth of that that lies at stake and must else be lost and then the worthy renown and glory that may be obtain'd by a couragious encounter against fleshly lusts As also relates an Onenesse that is between Christs Spirit and the Spirit of him that opposes the motions of sin they both joyn to do the same work c. Shews that according to the employment so should the reward be Then for the further encouragement and stronger excitement of youth to seek God and Glory the Author expresses himself and declares at what a rate he sets the service of God the contempt that he hath of the world and all things in the world in respect of that honourable service By a brief survey of all that the world affordeth he proves and declares all therein to be non-satisfactory and insufficient to the desire of the Soul of man Then insisting upon the second point viz. pleasure First he shews the congruity that is between it and the nature of youth declares the effects of pleasures and to what they tend by instance And gives sound counsell therefrom to youth in respect of Soul-demeanment Then the Author layes down the rist of pleasure declaring what it is that makes pleasure And shews by similitude the woful and dangerous estate of a vain luxurious Spirit Declares in a word or two the unmatchlesse worth of the Soul and reasons somwhat from that thence its freedome In sadnesse of heart declaring the abasement of the Soul by sin hints at the reward of sin by way of arguing Proves the soul Christs purchase and discourseâ— somewhat therefrom Then layes down some Solid instructions to youth how and whereby he should get free from sinnes slavery and get the conquest of every hellish enormity Describes the bliss that thereby his soul shall procure to it self viz. the presence of Christ and sanctification by his Spirit acceptance of God through him and adornment with his graces lays down the paralell of the present estate with the estate past and describes some excellent peculiar Christian privileges Then describes pleasure to be a painted strumpet propounds 4 Questions to youth from whence he gives him to understand how dear bought all the pleasures of sin are Describes the miserable slavery and servitude of sin And
Earth the Captain is The cause is good 't is for eternal bliss 5. O put on courage Let that boyling blood That heats your veins turn into holy rage Bid Sin avaunt let Sathan be withstood And in that holy War your selves engage Redeem your time your freedomes and your selves For all are Captives unto hellish Elves 6. Your enemy is strong a potent foe He 's full of might of policy and skill The World the Flesh do joyn their strength unâ—â— Most earthly Powers do obey his will Things that do look with seeming glorious faces Principalities and Foes in heavenly places 7. You have to fight against Engines of War Your Foe-man hath sleights stratagems and wildes Whereby he often conquers from afar And often many Creatures he beguiles We are his Slaves and in fell bondage all Stand at his beck and run when he doth call Encouragements 8. and Exhortations Oh let us rouze us quitting sinful floth And put on courage and go forth with might For to engage in fight let 's not be loth Because we lose our Souls else and their right What though our Foe be strong our Captain 's stronger What though his arm be long our Captain 's longer 9. The Body 's broke Up up and take the spoyl The Body of our foes puissant strength Our noble Captain ' th given Death the foyl And we shall be victorious to him at length Fall on Fall on our foes are in a Rout The Victory is ours out of doubt 10. Right noble Spirits true heroick Minds Delight t' engage where Courage may appear I have oft heard how glad He is that finds A desperate attempt that may him dare And this they do that the shrill Trump of Fame Unto the Age may blazon forth their Name 11. Argument 1. But young Men Heark ye If that airy honour May move hot Spirits to adventure far Then what may this under Jehovah's Banner For your owne Interests t' attempt a War Y' are Slaves to Sin and to each Humour then Arise arise and quit your selves like Men. 12. The Spoyl is good the Triumph and the Joy Is great and glorious Ever doth endure Time sha'nt wear out Oblivion sha'nt destroy Your Trophees of Renown you shall be sure Ever to have and therewithall a Crown Of lasting Glory when this life 's laid down 13. Each valiant Act and each Heroick Deed You do or ever shall attempt to do With real Heart taking respective heed Shall much the glory of your Crown ad to For every Lust you conquer and subdue Joy Peace and Comfort will to you ensue 14. Argument 2. Nay 'T is high Honour for you then to joyn With Gods own Son the Heir of Earth and Heaven Your spirits then with his Spirit combine For to destroy all Sin his Life was given He came to overthrow the works of th' Devil The same do you when you oppose an Evil. 15. Youth would'st have Honour Prethee tell me then What is' t to be Favourite to a King The King of Kings that rules and reigneth when The world shall cease and every earthly thing This thou shalt be if thou dost to him live A Crown and Kingdome likewise he 'l thee give 16. Tell me then Can thy strength be laid out better Can thy hot vigorous Youth it self imploy For more advantage then to make him Debter Unto thee that doth Heaven and Earth enjoy His Love thou gain'st by living in his will Shalt Him and his possesse on Zions Hill 12. Oh lay not out the strength of youthful years To feed foul humours and a fond desire Vain pleasures will procure eternal tears And make thee lodge in everlasting fire Resist oppose thy youthful inclination That leads thee captive to each sordid passion 13. Wilt serve him whom thou art asham'd to own As Master of the work that thou dost do Be not deceiv'd but look what thou hast sown Thou canst not but expect to reap also Bur-seed doth Burs Dill-seed doth Dill bring forth The fruit and seed are ever of like worth 14. Thou sow'st in Flesh of Flesh thou shalt reap shame But if in Spirit glory thou shalt find Permit not puny pleasure for to maim Thy Souls best strength nor to enerve thy Mind Thou canst not say but 't is an absurd evil To give the worst to God the best to th' Devil 15. Tax me not Young-man that I do enjoyn Thee to a thing impossible to do No I 'l assure thee here is not a line But 't is thy safety to comply unto 'T is not by Hear-say that the thing I tell But by Experience I know it well 〈…〉 21. My heart esteems't the noblest design That ere my youth can make adventure on Unto Jehove to make a full resign And in my Soul for to set up his Throne I would that he should reign o're me as King And every thought to his Subjection bring 22. His service I esteem at such a rate I would not leave it for to be a King An Emperour the mightyest Potentate The Earth ere bore I do esteem that thing Of far less worth in Splendor far more dim Then for to be a Servant unto him 23. I scorne a Crown an Earthly Diadem The Scepter of this universe to sway Compared with that matchlesse glorious Gem Of grace for why that Honour 's but a day But grace doth bring to glory evermore Makes a possessour of all glorious Store 24. If that a Crown was layed at my feet As sure as I do live there should it lie If with Emperial honour men should greet Me as the greatest Earthly majesty I would refuse that honour and that grace For those same troubles that attend the place 25. Much more would I contemn it if it should Be proffer'd to me if I would forsake The Service of my God or if I would My self subservient to my humours make No such petty honour I disown I eye no less then an alglorious Crown 26. An Earthly Crown 's too mean for my desire Too base an object for my heart to fix on My Spirit 's fill'd with more Heroick fire I beauty love not such a dull complexion My Noble Soul doth crave a bigger boone I must injoy that sacred Three in one 27. Your fading honour I esteem as dung Earth's weltering glory as the dirt in street I will not lodg one thought thereof among Those noble thoughts my Soul do dayly greet Base servile earth avaunt I 'l not enslave My thoughts with thee if I the world might have 28. Alas poor earth what 's all that thou canst give Or dost afford when sorrow greets the mind Wherein can an awakened conscience live What cordial in thy Store-house can it find Thou canst not give thereto one dram of peace 'T is not in thee to make distraction cease 29. Alas Alas thy glories are too mean Too mean an object for the Souls desire The Souls desire's vast and too extreme 'T is too extreme and heat with better fire Then
'T is no fit object for my view An unfit subject to pursue To gain those things I will persever That like my Soul endure for ever I dare not give thee any room Because to judgment I must come I know the Judg and thou art Foes If thee I follow him I lose Avaunt Be gone Stand off therefore Don't dare bold Sin to tempt me more My heart thy dainties doth disrellish Because deceit doth them embellish Such Evils too they tend to cherish As will make Soul and Body perish Thy pleasant Path doth lead to Hell With damned spirits for to dwell Mine eys therefore thereon sha'n't look To hear thereof mine ears sha'n't brook Unto thy Paths my feet sha'n't walk Nor of thee shall not my tongue talk All thoughts of thee O may I smother Who am the interest of another Disloyall am I him unto If I strike friendship with his Foe I dare not O I dare not I Think such a thought for he stands by He hath a Cabbin in my Breast He knows what 's not by me exprest His eye doth every secret see Kept ignorant he cannot be He 's omni-present filleth all And every place both great and small His arm is long he will me reach From East to West the same doth stretch How then dare I consent to sin Or any one thought harbour in My tender breast that may conduce His sacred Name to prejudice He 's just and jealous I don't dare Him to offend my Soul doth fear His righteous judgments and my flesh Doth tremble and can do no less His Majesty in flames of fire Cloath'd with wrath and furious ire Shall make appearance when the world By fiery flames shall be dissolv'd Shall mount upon his glorious Throne And then examine every one All acts must into judgment come And every one receive their Doom According to their several Deeds The Judg to them their Sentence reades He says to them that have done well Ye blessed of my Father dwell In his bright glories mount the Throne Prepared for ye every one Ye did your hearts for me maintain Come therefore now and with me reign Ye on the earth did to me live Now I to you a Kingdom give You hated Sin now I you own And give you an all-glorious Crown You of your ways did conscience make Your wills and lusts too for my sake Did crucifie with strength oppose All the suggestions of my foes Your strength up to me you did give Come therefore your Reward receive But as for you you hellish Elves That to your Lusts did give your selves That ever burn'd with strong desire Bred and maintain'd by wanton fire Be gone from me into those flames That burn and nought their fury tames As in your life-time you have been A neer Associate to Sin So now therewith go bide and dwell For ever in the lowest Hell In utter darkness make abode Under my flaming furious Rod There live out your eternal breath With howling cries with gnashing teeth I know right well this is Sins Doom Therefore I dare not giue it room I dare not entertain it in me For sure I am it soon will win me Its joy doth but a moment last But ah its pain is never past Eternity my Soul doth eye Vain Pleasure therefore dare not I Once look upon nor will I greet It wheresoever I it meet I know it is an hellish Fiâ—nd And all its courses thither tend Be gone be gone thou dost beguile me And of most pleasant sweets dost spoil me Thou giv'st me Peebles for my Treasures Sharp sorrows for delightfull Pleasures Mine own I am not but am bought At a dear rate and therefore ought To give both Soul and Body too Unto his blessed service who Did me redeem from bondage fell Reprieve my Soul from Death and Hell He gave his Life his Love was such To men and shall I then think much To answer love with love entire And for his sake to quench the fire Of lower loves and with affection Most pure and true yeeld him subjection Long may I to him loyal prove Strong may I with him be in love The pleasures of religion I Do finde more sweet and do espye More beauty in than want on pleasure Can give to them that have most leisure To wait thereon in it I finde That sweet repose unto my minde That peace that sweet delight that joy That worldly powers cann't destroy Faith feeds me with the Bread of Heaven Thereby to me its joys are given In such a measure that oft I Being overcharg'd with joy do cry As of my senses quite bereaven Whether am I now in Earth or Heaven What 's this I both feel taste and see Sure I am in Heaven or Heaven 's in me Time slackes his course his glass do'n't run Or is eternity begun Both weeks and months their motions stay They are to me as one short day But they that would of Soul delight Then this have a more fuller sight From me then let them please to look Upon another former book I penn'd in part long since and there Expressions make 't at large appeare 97. But still for to pursue my present task As youthfull blood doth make the wind aspire To fading honour after pleasure ask Setting the Senses thereon all on fire So too that heated blood the Soul doth move To be a thralled Captive unto Love 98. Youth 's swelling veines made hot with blood and Spirits Doth like to fire never cease to stur Will be in motion though thereby 't inherits Shame for the same a constant blur The Soul of man is made of living fire That never moves yet motion don't expire 99. The Devill therefore tends with diligence To give it matter whereupon to act Presents an object to the greedy Sense The which from thence the Soul doth soon infect Unto the Eye of youth he proffers beauty And streight fond youth presents it shrine with duty 100. Beauty to youth is as the oyle 't a fire And as dry fewel unto raging flames It doth convert him all into desire And what is 't then that furious passion tames Th' eye to the heart presents this foul infection Poysons the Soul thoroughout by the affection 101. Youth now doth love and must possesse in love What he desires on whom his heart is fixt All arguments are far too weak to move There is no incongruity betwixt Her whom he loves and him no he can tell She suits his disposition very well 102. What will he stick to venture for her sake Whom he so fondly loves as that his life I' n't deare unto him so he may partake Her fellowship and she be made his wife Heaven and earth and God and life and blisse Compar'd with her unto him norhing is Youths antick tricks herein I sha'n't discover I do'n't intend to toile my muse so much Again my Soul thereof was ne'r a lover And therefore once to speak of them I grutch My Soul takes no delight such things to
be as vantage given 154. I 'd have youth give the prime of their affection As their first fruit unto Jehovah due Their will and their desire too in subjection And after him with their whole strength pursue For to his beauty all things else are dim He is our Lord and we must worship him 155. For feare I say if any misconstruction I 'l here turn off and in few words expresse My selfe herein and so will by deduction Declare how short all creature-comfort is Touching upon in a compendious story My Love 's bright beauty excellence and glory 1. My tender youth hath found An object for its Love Whereat I do not stound But all my powers move It for to gain Though with much pain And for to make it sure I will not spare Nor do I care What ere I do endure 2. It is no lower wight That I do pitch upon My subject of delight Is great Jehovah's Son In him my minde That sweet doth finde That none with may compare By him I have What ere I crave Though ne'r so good and rare 3. My youth hath made a choice That I will not forgo Wherein I much rejoyce And am affianc'd to Whom my desire Is set on fire With ever to behold And whom I love All things above Therefore in suit am bold 4. Between my love and I Is such congruity That nought unto mine eye Of like respect can be I do not prize Nor hands nor eys Nor ought else whatsoere My very life Is but a strife Not lov'd in his compare 5. Ah could my tongue but tell The beauty of my love Wherein he doth excell Whate're doth breath or move There 's none I 'm sure That could endure Him for to rest short of They would him love All things above Though now they at him scoffe 6. Could I but pensil out That bright perfection rare That spreads it self about His limbs and face so fair Each Readers heart With Loves strong dart Would suffer such a wound So as that then With lock and key Were closely Prisoners bound 7. My Love 's so fair so clear That neither Moon nor Sun Do light or bright appear In the Meridian No they are dim Compar'd with him Their beauty's ' clipsed quite They hide their face As in disgrace To such a glorious light 8. With glory he 's array'd As with a garment gay His beauty may be said To be the Angels day Heaven can nought Afford that 's ought If dispossest of him For 't is his light That makes it bright His presence makes it trim 9. O did you know the pow'r Of his imperial brow And what delights do towre Themselves therein and how Within your breast You could not rest Till you had seen that face Nor without doubt Could live without The presence of his grace 10. For why the Angels joy And Seraphims delight Consisteth constantly By being in his sight Their happiness Is onely this Him ever to behold Whereby desire Is set on fire And never waxes cold 11. His smiles do make an Heaven His frowns produce an Hell For where his favour 's given No tongue their bliss can tell His flaming ire Begets a fire That ever doth endure His blessed love The Soul doth move To joy and Peace most sure 12. No Angels tongue can tell Nor mortal ear ere heard Nor heart conceive or spell Those joys that are prepar'd Prepar'd for them That as a Gem Do prize the Lord of Life Whom he will grace With his blest face And marry as his Wife 13. His nature's sweet and milde Lovely and full of grace Himself he so hath stil'd And 't is read in his face His countenance Doth much advance His glories every where It is so humble That none can stumble Say no acceptance's there 14. For though he doth possess All things in Earth and Heaven Yet will he ne'rtheless His grace to such be given As do him seek With spirit meek Though ne'r so vile and poor With real heart If they do part * In will and intention With sin for evermore 15. His countenance doth carry In 't such majestick grace That where 't is Sin w'on't tarry But straight acquits the place It 's Pleasures black Their Beauty lack And melt away like Snow They shew then plain But grief and pain But misery and wo. 16. All worldly Pleasures are Compared with this delight But as a Candle 's blear Unto the Suns clear light Or Glo-worms shine In the day-time Yea and far viler too They then are sorrows And deadly horrours Loathsom the Soul unto A mass of real wo. 17. I 'll prove this straight a truth Unto your open view Come wanton lustfull youth And give me answer now Your minde aspires Being fill'd with fires And at great things doth aim But whose intent Noblest descent Of you or I can claim 18. Again in Pleasures Pool Your youth doth bathe it self But I my youth do school In shunning of that elf I deal with joys Not such vain toys A far they are below me I trade for Treasures Not carnal Pleasures The which vain youth do cow thee 19. Thou serv'st a sordid Lust But I the God of Heaven And if obey thou must But to me freedom's given My joys do lie With God on high My youths delights are there I in his Court My self disport Where ' quaintance claime I dare 20. Thou woo'st and su'st for love To some inferiour Beauty I God himself do move To him I tender duty Nor w'on't give o're My Suit before Himself I do obtain My heart in triall Cann't take deniall My Soul must with him reign 21. O tell me wanton youth What 's thy delight to mine Wilt dare to say in truth My love exceeds not thine I know th' art sham'd It should be nam'd Upon that present day You blush to see What fools you be And therefore nought can say 22. But to proceed to speak Still further in his praise Whereto my heart 's too weak My eyes to view his Rayes His beauty bright Allows no night where ever it doth shine He doth impart Unto that heart A light and life divine 23. He doth the soul revive Where ever he doth come And gives it so to live That it may keep a roome For Majesty Therein to lie And alwaies find a place He 'll there keep Court The soul disport With his most lovely face 24. He doth the soul transform Into his own likeness Doth it throughout adorn With his bright glorious grace What found in him Although but sin Shall in it too appear Transmutes changes The soul estranges From what 's to Nature deare 25. But not to soar above The reach of tender youth That slaves himself in love Whom vain fond humours sooth Whom up to lift It is my drift From off the dreggs of nature To fix on high And him to eye That is his blest Creator 26. Most glorious is my Love As you may plainly see And doth't not me
behove Loyal to him to be Yes that I will With all the skill That I can make or gain Whose work about I will lay out My self with might and main 27. Come Lovers I 'll you tell What privilege I have The which I will not sell For all Earths glory brave Although that glory Shews none can story Whereof my love possest Yet still dare I To him draw nigh In love to be refresht 28. My love he is not coy Though beautiful and fair But fills my soul with joy It glads me to appear Before his sight For why with might Afresh he doth me fill He ne'r me scorns But me adorns According to his will 29. While that low worthless beauty That thou dost so adore Presenting with such duty Gives thee no thanks therefore But makes thee serve While like to starve Regarding not thy love Whom thou draw'st nigh Oft she is shie And doth far off remove 30. With scorn she oft thee flouts The fruit of loath'd rejection Disdains with churlish pouts Thy tenders of affection Though thoudost crouch Her for to touch With lowly bended knee Yet she flies off Doth at thee scoff She will not no not she 31 O youth what pains thou tak'st Her love for to obtain Thy self most servile mak'st Yet merits but disdain But were I you I ne'r would sue For love so frivolous I would forsake No suit more make To be rejected thus 32. Unto my Love I never did Tender my hearts desire But he forth with me answered And sent me fire for fire What I him give He doth receive And so in mutual love We each enjoy Nor do we cloy Oh may I never move 33. They that do give a heart Unto the great Jehove May sure themselves that start He will not from his Love I 'm sure there 's none Can make their moane That they did to him tender Not onely part But their whole heart And he no love would render 34. Think'st thou that Jesus Christ The Heir of Earth and Heaven By whom thy soul was prick't And for't his life was given Thinks thou say I That he 'll deny Thee love when thou dost sue Ah no he won't His practice don't Confirm that thing as true 25. He 'll bind his listning ear When thou prefer'st a suit Thy voyce he soon will hear Nor will he then be mute He 'll condescend Unto that end For which thy suit was made He will delight And glad thy spright Come therefore ben't afraid 36. None ever made a proffer Of any thing to him That he refus'd their offer Or flung their scorn on them Ah no his grace Doth soon give place To entertain that love He 'll answer them With love again That truth of heart doth move 37. And youth when thou hast gain'd The person thou dost sue for Her love I mean obtain'd Which oft thy heart did rue for Thou art not sure It will endure For Lovers minds are changing For all that love Don't constant prove The mind is prone to ranging 38. But sure I am that love That God doth give to his Is constant can't remove It everlasting is The highest mountains And lowest fountains Shall all first cease to be The mighty hills The desert fields Shall move into the Sea 39 Could my tongue tell the sweets The pleasures of the mind That with my soul oft meets And I in love do find There is no ear That could them hear But would be ravish'd by 'em And then would spy The vanity In earthly things and fly ' em 40 No place can me debar The presence of my love That bideth every where On earth beneath above No company Can me deny My sweet converse with him Nor darkest night Hide from my sight His beauties clear and trim 41 This beauty can't decay Though age your lov 's defaces My joyes shall ' bide for aye In mutual loves embraces I shall enjoy Without annoy My love for evermore In that bright glory That none can story Where Seraphims him adore 42 The care that now I take Is only so to live A life that love may speak To whom my love I give I care not I Who doth defie The service of my love ' I shall be my care No cost to spare Sincere to him to prove 43 Commend or dis-commend My lov 's most strict commands It nought to me doth tend My act not therein stands I will endeavour Now and for ever His pleasure for to do With heart and might Both day and night Who ' er's averse thereto 44 I prize no love to his For what 's all else to me In him 's contain'd my bliss Nought care I else to see 'T is he alone That onely one On whom my hear doth fix Him would I serve Not from him swerve Nor other service mix 45. Oh may my heart be true My will and my desire Constantly him pursue And be to him entire Who is worthy Of more than I Am able for to give him But to his praise Even all my dayes I crave that I may live him 46. A thousand hearts had I And every heart the might The strength and valiancy Of thousands as his right Them unto him My hearts dear gem Would I present and give And think this all Yet far too small For him for to receive 47. My tender youthful years Hath long agoe forsaken Earth's fading foolish toyes Of them farewel hath taken My tender youth They may not sooth For dead is my desire Unto its joyes Such worthless toyes That do so soon expire 48. My tender years present Their youthful strength to him With whole and joint consent To whom bright Sol is dim Whom I adore For evermore As Soveraign Lord and King Whom I 'd reraise In strains of praise And of his Glories sing The Conclusion NOw young man lay to heart what I have said Note well each matter I have here down laid Here 's life and death presented fairly to thee Be well advis'd they both alike do woo thee Onely there 's this advantage courses ill do swiftest go their path is down the hill But youth thy breast is strong and youthful fire May carry thee up-hill-wayes and yet not tire Put thy strength to it do not back retire Thy lungs being good thy breath 't will not expire Though down-hill-waies are easie yet there 's danger In them it is the practice of each stranger Eas'ly to go yea t' light and lead their Horse There where the Road doth prove a down-hill course But up-hill wayes do offer means to try The Horses courage strength and valiancy The rider he delights swiftly to force A speedy passage on an up hill course So young man up-hill-waies present th' occasion To try thy youthful strength without perswasion Come put on courage put on manly might And mount this hill the which presents to sight A gallant prospect the bright Court of Heaven Where Saints and Angels all the glorious seven Do sit and chant the everlasting praise Of
thus 'tween us and Christ for either We must love prize esteem him above all Or ' â—is in vain him our lov'd Lord to call 64 He will not save that Soul that doth not love him Marriage can't be where persons don't affect Can he unite with them thatn're did move him Nor shew unto him any love Respect Life is not dear where love hath taken place How do we prize How do we raâ—e his Grace 65 Make we no Conscience of a course of Sin Nor cool nor quench a soul or vain desire Yet do we think his favouâ— for to win And to be fill'd with that celestial fire That mutually doth joy and re-enjoy Those pleasures in him that can never cloy 66 Think we Gods Son will marry with a Whore Wiâ—l he that is the Heir of Earth and Heaven Abase himself so much as evermore To honour persons of all good bereaven No no such persons as indulge in sin He will not own if live and die therein 67 I appeal to young Men or to Virgins either Would they present her with true love that 's coÌ„mon With every man The like to Virgins Whether Could ye love him that deals with every Woman Much less may any One expect to win Christs favovr that trades with delight in sin 68 Know whatsoe'r thou art that dost commerce Continually with sin that thou shalt never See or behold much less with have converse This glorious Bridgroome that doth live fot ever No know thou that he 's full of jealousie And cannot brook filthy Adultery 69 And whensoe'r thou hold'st commerce with sin Thou play'st the whore commit'st adultery Know whenso'r vain thoughts are lodged in Thy breast thou losest thy Virginity Sin doth pollute the heart 't is filthy foul It doth corrupt it doth defile the soul 70. You know that 't is abominable in nature To have a bed defil'd it moveth rage And stirreth up that fury in a creature That scarcely death and Divorce can asswage In noble persons 't is the greater sin Noble I mean that wronged are therein 71. Now 't is a King the everlasting King That is concern'd in thee O Virgin soul 'T is he whose worth the glorious Angels sing Whose nature doth abhor a deed that 's foul 'T is he no less person that thou wrongest Thou art his interest unto him belongest 72. They that defile his bed are worthy sure Of a Divorce and of perpetual pain Yea they shall be confined to endure Such horrors as for evermore remain Sin doth the soul divorce from God for ever Brings it to torment that expireth never 73. To sum up all then take the matter thus Virgins while Virgins strickt are and severe Because their lives are then perspicuous Unto all persons great respective care They have that they miscarry not in ought 'T is good behaviour makes them after sought 74. Their reputation lies in their behaviour 'T is that gains love and meriteth respect 'T is that continueth their loveds favour That may they therefore by no means neglect O Virgin souls remember all this carriage To Jesus Christ who proffers to you marriage 75. When Wives they are and in strickt wedlock bound Such carriage must they shape as best may please Their spoused Husbands good Wives never stound To give it to them as their spousal fees If thou art spoused unto Christ O soul Remember this each surgent I 'll controule 76. But as thou stand'st in hope to be his Bride Thou stricktly art injoyn'd to live up to him To love him heartily and none beside Conforming to his will doth strongly woo him In holy life answer his gracious love And he will thine repay won't from thee move 77. O Virgin soul triumph for to present His Majesty with love and heart entire Be sure let nothing frustrate thine intent In giving to him thy hearts strongest fire Love is a most delightful bed to lie in Loves flames are very pleasant for to fry in 78. But to continue my old method still My self expressing in a varied verse For th' Readers pleasure therefore now I will Put stop and what remains therein rehearse For both to th' outward and the inward man I 'll suit my self as pleasant as I can 1 NOw my self for to express then In a varied pleasant strain And speak those sweets I taste when Sin doth not my soul distrain O may my Song And Lungs be strong To tell what joyes there do remain 2 As a Virgin sworn to him Out of depth of true affection So am I and won't forego him Nor refuse his blest subjection Long may I still Maintain my will Obedient to his direction 3 I do my high glory count it To maintain a loyal heart Unto his Grace and think amount it Doth all treasuries and art My soul doth crave Still to behave Her self so she mayn't with him part 4 He 's my choice and I do prize him Above all the world can show me My Soul 's ravish'd when she eyes him And all things are then below me She never meets With such like sweets As she conceivs when he doth know me 5 As a Virgin may I ever My self humble chastily carry That displease him I may never That abide he may and tarry With me till th' time In th' glorious clime My worthless Soul doth with him marry 6 Ah! might I ever feel the power Of his soul-melting love That all sweet and no whit sower Ah then how then should I move With quick'ned pace I 'd keep no place Till in the Courts of great Jehove 7 O the sweets the joyes the pleasures That the soul doth taste and find O the honors glories treasures That are possessed by that mind That Christ doth love All things above Shewing not it self to him unkind 8 There 's no earthly sweet can gloss it Nor shade it forth in meanest hue There 's no Artist that can dose it Or dimention give it true No reason's blind And cannot find Wherewith to set it forth to view 9 May my Virgin-soul enjoy him He shall lodge between my breasts And that nothing may annoy him I 'll keep watch while he there rests He shall to me Most welcome be So long as in my Soul he guests 10 He knows my heart I 'd not displease him Willingly to stire his ire But when I do why then I lease him Yet then his patience I admire For when that I To him draw nigh With Grace he doth me re inspire 11 He 's my joy my crown my glory Such contentment he affords As an Angel's Pen can't story Far beyond all sense of words Him for to gain I fear no pain Nor care I for the edge of Swords 12 For What 's life to the enjoyment Of his ever-blessed-love The sweets of life oft prove a cloyment Oft a loathing I 'll not move I 'll take no pain Them for to gain Because they meer deceits do prove 13 But my joyes in love last ever When both light of Moon and Sun