And will not let his vnderstanding flye To see what goodly clusters there doe grow In heau'nly Canaan where Milke and Hony flow We hardly here of things below discerne And with great paines what is before vs find Ah how shall we than able be to learne Thy Wisdome which no limits haue confin'd Thy Spirit onely can into our mind These hidden mysteries in Christ reueale In which the Princes of the world were blind For from man naturall thou dost conceale This Wisdome spirituall which thou to thine do'st deale For as none know's the Spirit of a man But that same Spirit that within doth dwell So nothing apprehend this Wisdome can But that wise Spirit that all Truth doth tell Oh Sacred Spirit of Truth my heart compell This holy Sapience to entertaine Thou only giu'st to drinke of Wisdom's Well Mans wisdom's wickednesse his thoughts are vaine His knowledge is but errour and his pleasure paine Thou didst create eu'n all things by thy Word And by thy heau'nly Wisdome didst ordaine Man of thy handy workes to be the Lord That he in Truth and Equitie might raigne And with an vpright heart the right maintaine Oh therefore downe thine heau'nly wisdome send Me in all Truth and vprightnesse to traine She shall my Words and Works to thee commend And bring my small beginnings to a perfect end And here with Praise and Prayer I will end Oh who aright can know or vnderstand Except thou Wisdome from thy Throne do'st send To giue vnto him what thou dost command Then grant me Wisdome alway's to withstand Hells subtill Plots and Worlds base Blandiments Let sacred Prudence euer be at hand Still to direct my words acts and intents To yeeld Obedience to thy Commandements MEDITAT II. Of OBEDIENCE WHen first th' Almighty by his only Word Had fashion'd all within the Firmament He made Man last to be their King and Lord That he to him might be obedient But Man not with this Monarchy content Diuide his homage to omnipotence And hauing but one small Commandement Transgressed it by Disobedience The easier the Command the greater the Offence This all the Sonnes of Adam doe deriue From him and call it guilt Originall Which by th' Eternall Law did vs depriue Of all Gods Benefits and did enthrall To endlesse Bondage till Christ for this Fall The price of his most precious bloud did pay Which vs recouers from Sins actuall And by obeying Gods whole Law doth stay His wrath And merits Heau'n for all that him obay For as by first mans Disobedience On all men commeth Death and Condemnation So by the seconds true Obedience We haue eternall Life and sure Saluation Thus Disobedience by deriuation From Adam bringeth endlesse wretchednesse And true Obedience by imputation Conuay's from Christ eternall Happinesse So by the first comes sin by second Righteousnesse The glorious robe of perfect Righteousnesse Which they that are obedient onely weare To couer that foule shame and wickednesse Which Adams Disobedience layed bare Ah! let a Disobedient Sinner dare The aid of the Obedient Lamb desire My Will and Actions Tongue and Heart to square In due proportion to his heau'nly squire Whil'st I of true Obedience prayses doe enquire Deuoutest Lady Handmaid to the Queene Of heau'nly Loue And so in duty bound That shee 's alway's prest and ready seene To doe what thing soeuer she propound Her heart words will and deeds all one are found Seruing for Loue and not for Feare or Gaine No Subiect merits better to be crown'd For who can best obay he best can raigne And she is shortly sure eternall Crownes to gaine If I may square Her by the Rules of Art I her define to be our Wills subiection To Him that ought to rule both will and heart And by his will disposeth our best affection The rule of Reason may be our direction How our superiours Statutes we obay But when the Lord commands there 's no election Nor doubting what we ought to doe or say Gods will 's the rule of Right which none may disobey Here in two Branches I might her diuide Obedience first to God and secondly To our Superiours that on earth abide But all is but to one Authority For there 's no Power or precedency But that which highest Power doth ordaine Who therefore doth resist mans Soueraignty Gods ordinance resisteth and againe Who duly it obay's Gods Statutes doth maintaine Thus must our hearts eares hands be all attent His Word and Will in all things to obey Who ouer vs hath lawfull Regiment Which is one God eternall blest for ay Whose seruants all we are And therefore may Not chuse a Lord or Master whom we will Nor serue two masters least we disobay The one when we the others mind fulfill For that which pleaseth one doth crosse the others will Thus our obedience is only due To him that all did for his seruice make And 't is a firme position sound and true God only for himselfe But for his sake All that from him Authoritie doe take We truly and sincerely ought obey Or else our bounden dutie we forsake As those which doe their Princes disobey When they their lawfull Officers commands gainsay For this whole world is like a family In all things well and iustly ordered Where God hath the supreame authority And Rulers theirs from him deliuered By which they doe command as in his stead Who then to them are disobedient They may be said to disobey the Head For whil'st they rightly vse their gouernment We ought them to obey in things indifferent Indeed all ought regard the Supreme Will As first commanding cause and end of all Which all that Being haue ought to fulfill From which as all things rise so all must fall Here therefore first we into mind will call To whom that will commands vs to obay For in obeying their commands we shall Obey that Supreme Will This is the way To make Gods Will the Cause of all we doe or say To Him we must be subiect first of all To whom all Power in Heau'n and Earth is lent The Sonne of God begotten naturall Next to his Ministers which he hath sent Apostles Pastors Doctors here are meant Which by his Word doe teach their Masters Will And rule his Church by godly Gouernment And those which heare these his commands fulfill And those which them despise despise his heau'nly Will As Kings which with great Honour doe conuay Princes Ambassadours it doe intend Vnto their Lords So we our Lord obay When we obey the Legates he doth send The second Power is that which God doth lend To Kings and Princes for to delegate Iudges to punish those which doe offend And to maintaine the Life Peace and estate Of eu'ry member that maintaines the Bodies state To this all Subiects owe Obedience The third obedience is which wife doth owe Vnto her Head who due Beneuolence For Dutie ought vnto his wife to shew For as the Church so ought the Wife to know
Beasts Fish Foule to be at amity This Lady Mecknesse as a Queene did raigne And vnder Loue had all Authoritie But since the Iron Age which enmity Hath rais'd in eu'ry Riuer Towne and Field Shee hath resign'd her place of Soueraigntie To Iustice and delights now more to yeeld Than Scepters in age so turbulent to weel 'd And for she know's the noble gentle mind Most sensible of wrong and iniury And few or none can here so constant find As to dissemble foule indignity She all requests that loue her company Occasions to auoid and not inuite Which may prouoke least iarre or simulty Aed not like teachy Curres to barke and bite Or Frogs which Poets faine with Bulrushes to fight If thus they cannot as who ay can here Auoid some iniury's of them that reigne They must dissemble and with pleasing cheere What they can no wayes shift faire entertaine One ask'd how such old age he did attaine In Court reply'd by bearing Iniury's Sometimes remitting and sometimes againe For them gaue thankes thus surely he that 's wise By suffring beares and not prouokes indignities And since no earthly Power 's so great and firme But Iniury sometimes will dare to smite Let Wisdom's precepts so thee ay confirme Thou neuer swerue from rules of Reason right So arm'd the wrongs which on thine armor light Shall backe on him that sent the same rebound But whom vnarm'd she can prouoke to fight Though happily they thinke her to confound They sure are to receiue a deepe and festring wound He stands not right whom Iniury can bow Who ill beare old doe on them new inuite But he that beares the old with Patience how Shall any new be able him to smite He that is wise and valiant scornes her might And by braue bearing doth her spite confound He best o'recomes that sets by her most light Who by impatience addes is like him found That doth by rending make incurable his wound In many wrongs 't is better to be mute Than by repeating them oft very small To cause long trouble or a tedious suit Whilst all the shame doth on th'auenger fall Such better were not mentioned at all Inuoke the helpe of constant Patience Whose presence doth all Iniury's appall And with an equall mind beares all offence Or doth despise them in her guiltlesse conscience Thus many offring doe no Iniury's Because they are not so conceiv'd or taken Oh happy who all wrong can so despise With sense thereof ne're to be ouertaken Whose vnmov'd constant mind is neuer shaken So farre from muttring or least murmuring He laughs and smiles to see them so mistaken Nor 's only easie in their pardoning But passeth by them without least acknowledging He is aboue the reach of Iniuries Who can represse reuenges curst desire And to the full repay's his enemies Who thus can quench wraths hot iniurious fire Yet holy meeknesse leads vs a step higher Happy who can ascend vnto such height It is the summity which all admire Of highest vertue when we take delight All Iniury's with Benefits here to requite The jest is lost if it no laughter moue So 's Contumely if it be neglected He neuer will a valiant Souldier proue To beare hot Blow's that is with words affected He sooner is with noisome smells infected Who them with open nose doth entertaine Than he that stops it or beares some selected Preseruatiue for to defend his braine So 't is to stop or ope our eares to proud Disdaine Poets paint Scylla with a womans face But like a Dog in neather parts and taile Whom Hercules th' Idea of all Grace And Vertue did amongst the monsters quaile You giue her Life if you will heare her raile But shut her mouth with patient suffering Or stop thine eares and soone her breath will faile Here Mecknesse ends and here I cease to sing Shee doth more quiet Rest than all the Vertues bring MEDITAT IIII. GODS WORD SO mighty are the weapons manifold Wherewith our spirituall Foes doe vs assaile So many stratagems vs to infold So many terrours vaine our hearts to quaile That neither Brestplate Helmet Shield or Maile Vs helpe against their Forces can afford For if they close with vs they will preuaile Therefore we must vnsheath our keenest Sword Our weapon spirituall ev'n Gods most holy Word Which those that able are to wield aright Of farre more Force and liuely Power find Than all the weapons whereof Poets write To haue beene wondrous pow'rfull in their kind What Homer of Achilles Speare hath coyn'd I not vnfitly to this Sword apply Whose wounds to heale no Balme could be assign'd The Speare that hurt must only remedy So whom this Sword doth kill this Sword must viuifie Of wondrous weapons Heathen Poets tell Of Stygian Armour and enchanted Swords Whereby small Knights did monstrous Gyants quell Subdude and raigned ouer them as Lords Such fiction to vs good aduice affords Against these Gyants spirituall to fight Our Fleshly Lusts and for to bind in Cords Our vaine affections here that take delight In doing that is wrong and leauing that is right God of all might that hast vs giu'n this sword Not only spirituall Battailes here to fight But dost engraue in it as on record Thy Rules whereby we muster may aright The Lanthorne to our paths our feets best light Direct my Muse to sing I humbly pray Of this thy Word by holy Words insight For but by it none can aright display That Swords eternall Power which Sin and Hell dismay That Word which in Beginning by a word Of Nothing made Heau'n Earth and Creatures all And was from all Beginning God and Lord Doth not within my Muses compasse fall That Word whereof now meditate I shall Is that reuealed written veritie Which first and second Testament we call Both which were first declared mightily By wonders signes and miracles from God on high For as the Lord most mighty wonders wrought By him that publikely did first record This sacred Word And by his Hand forth brought His Sonnes from Bondage of a cruell Lord So those to whom he did this Grace afford Of publishing his later Testament Wrought mighty wonders by this mighty Word To all Beholders great astonishment Confirming thus that they from God aboue were sent From whom this Word hath all Authority For by the holy Spirits inspiration Came Law and Gospell Prophets History And all Canonicall wise ordination The sacred Light that giues illumination Vntill the Day-starre in our Hearts arise Whose heau'nly Wisdome breedeth Admiration In all their Hearts that are diuinely wise But folly seemes to such as sinne doth blind their ey 's And sure it is a mighty pow'rfull Word If that the sense thereof be right apply'd More keene than any sharpe two edged sword And eu'n the Soule and Spirit doth diuide By it are all our Hearts intents descry'd The ioynts and marrow it doth smite in sunder No Creature from her sight it selfe can hide All high exalted things it
Folly is of wise illumination And as in Chaos rude at first Creation There was all Darknesse by the want of Light So in all men before their renouation Are Folly's mists and errours blackest night Till there the Spirit moue which all things doth inlight The Poets which did wondrously transcend In making Mystery's by Fictions plaine All other Graces as diuine commend But Wisdome they to be a Goddesse faine Minerva who proceedeth from the braine Of Iupiter whom they the Mistris hight Of all the Graces and the Muses traine To whom shee oft descends for her delight Weary'd with toile of Gouernment and Martiall fight Thus her of Warre Peace Politie and Arts They Goddesse make as if they should her call The Wisdome God the Father thus imparts Vnto the Sonne to make rule order all With God the Father Coessentiall As all his Attributes Power Truth and Loue For on the Persons Consubstantiall No accident can fall or thence remoue This Soules faint eye conceiues of Wisdome from aboue Which is vnto my minds obscured eye As to my Body's Sunne in Firmament The farther off the easier to descry For neerenesse breedeth but astonishment Oh glorious Wisdome Sun most orient Into my soule with Folly clouded shine Some clearer beames of wisdome excellent The whil'st I sing these radiant rayes of thine Which make a mortall wight seeme gloriously diuine What and how great is wisdomes heau'nly skill No heart of man is able to conceiue Much lesse expresse by any tongue or quill For none but Wisdome wisdome can perceiue The cause vnknowne of nothing shee doth leaue A Numen of such wondrous excellence Shee doth no good but from her selfe receiue Being her owne end ayme and recompence No good in Heau'n or Earth but flow's from Sapience And therefore call'd the proper Good of Ioue Which though to Men and Angells hee dispence In wise proportion yet from him doth moue All wisdome and to him hath reference For as in Power so in Sapience He doth all other heau'nly Powers transcend For Wisdome Ground is of Omnipotence And as we Mortalls on her hests attend So neerer io diuine perfection we ascend Such is true Wisdom's glory that eu'n they Seeme much to doubt who doe her most admire Whither we properly possesse her may And by continuall industry acquire Or that the Heau'ns her secretly inspire In briefe no price or gold can her obtaine Shee seemes to be some flame of heau'nly fire In Adam breath'd before by Folly slaine Which therefore we must seeke to haue from heau'n againe Schooles her to be the knowledge doe define Of things diuine and humane which in breast Of Mortalls if it pure and liuely shine Makes him like God vnmou'd and stable rest For as no chance of Fortune can molest The Power diuine So wisemen doe enioy Within themselues by Wisdome Peace and Rest Nothing that is without can them annoy All seeming Miseries giue place to Inward Ioy. Yet falls this Wisdome short of that Diuine Which Adam did possesse before his fall And as Sun-beames through clouds so doth she shine Through our corruptions scarse discern'd at all Wee common and more exquisite her call That see things that are past and things in sight This things which in succeeding times may fall Wee her as shee guides mens affayres aright Call Prudence Wisdome as shee doth in God delight Wisdome and Prudence in an humane breast Are one same Grace though diuers by relation Wisdome referres to God Prudence doth rest Most in a wise and vpright moderation Of States and Men by Law 's administration By Wisdome here we see the life of Grace By Prudence in a ciuill conuersation Prudence amongst the heathen had a place True heau'nly wisdome only Gods elect doth grace This heau'nly wisdome whereby we conuerse With God and take delight in holy things Doth our affections all and wills peruerse Set right and neere diuine perfection brings Shee first like good Musitian tunes the strings And then sends forth a most harmonious sound First lifts our Soules to heau'n vpon her wings Next orders all by Prudence on the ground Like Leach who ere he others cure himselfe makes sound She first within in order sets the heart Next is for outward things most prouident No Grace more Good to Mortalls doth impart Nor none more euills here on earth preuent She shew's her inward Graces God hath lent By outward manners habit graue attire Few words pure hands in all such complement Such gesture publike and in her retire As all her for a heau'nly patterne doe admire But most of all a wiseman striues to tame Both in himselfe and others Sin and Lust For hee that Good from Ill discern's doth blame False varnish't show's defil'd with inward rust He Pride Pompe Boasting Scorne away doth thrust And from a pure Serenity of mind A paterne draw's of Life most quiet iust Far from opinions false and errour blind And guides at sterne as in a calme so in the wind In Warre most valiant in Iudgement iust Ill vnto Good things hurtfull turn's to sound Will 's still the same because the best no Gust Of fate oppresleth him if Wealth abound Or Pouertie he still the same is found And doth with pleasing Constancy endure All Fortunes changes which doe others wound True innocent sincere iust simple pure And as his Life his Death is ioyfull sweet secure The Poets faine that in the golden Age Graue wise experienc'd men bare all the sway And the vnexpert young not yet growne sage To learne Law 's rules first practis'd to obey For Prudence all by leuell orders ay And by a long Experience doth discerne How she prouide for future changes may By precept and example much we learne But that imprints most deepe which doth our selues concern Examples Precepts and Experience Are euer ready at a Wisemans hand To teach him Iudgement Counsell Prouidence Of which we alway's here in need doe stand By Counsell we the Grounds doe vnderstand Of things we ought to doe or leaue vndone Iudgement our Wills and Senses doth command What things we ought embrace and what to shun And Prouidence prouides for things that are to come I praise not here that cunning Politie Which maketh of anothers Folly gaine This comes of Malice Guile and Subtiltie Which generous braue Prudence doth disdaine Such alway's euill counsell entertaine The Apes of Prudence Reasons deprauation Whose minds as hands grow hard by taking paine Are by base plots and subtill magination Inured vnto others wrongs and supplantation As Quicknesse wit As Soundnesse memory Graue lookes the Face and Plainnesse speech commend So Iudgements praise is in Equalitie Without least doing wrong to Foe or Friend And as salt sauours so doth Iudgement bend Eu'n all our words thoughts workes to good or ill Without this Iudgement Prudence doth intend Nothing for shee is Mistresse of her Will Which she with all her power labours to fulfill Counsell and Iudgement are the very eyes And Lamps here to direct
And taught how to assault our enemy's They with our Sword may be discomfited And we from Hell and Bondage safe deliuered I of this Military Art doe know No Tutor like to holy supplication Prayer who vse of all our Armes doth show The Serieant Maior of our Militation Diuinest Prayer holy Meditation Whereby with God we haue sweet conference About the mysteries of Mans Saluation And call the Angells downe for our defence 'Gainst Flesh's Worlds and Deuils hostile violence Prayer who though her knees bow in the dust Yet are her vpper parts aboue the sky And doe into th' Almighty's presence thrust To craue of all we want a new supply Which like to clouds of incense vp doe flye If offered by his Sonnes sweet mediation Whose iust requests no Father can deny Oh offer mine then That this Meditation May be directed by thy Spirits illumination True Prayer is the opening the desire Ev'n of our Heart and Soule to God aright Them powring out to him that doth require We should lay open all before his sight The Sacrifice wherein he doth delight A sure defence to him that right doth pray The Scourge wherewith we Sin and Satan smite And powers all and policies gainsay Our surest Refuge in each dangerous Affray For Christian Souldier neuer kneeleth downe And lifts his heart vp towards Heav'n to pray But all his Foes spirituall him arowne Assault and labour him herein to stay Then is it time for him about to lay With his sharp Sword to put them all to flight And for to arme each part lest they him slay With Greaues Belt Brestplate Shield and Helmet bright In Faith Hope Patience Truth and Righteousnesse to fight By rules of Art I Prayer may diuide To these two Heads Thankesgiuing Inuocation The second I in three doe subdiuide Petition Intercession Deprecation First seekes Gods Glory and our owne Saluation The second doth for others make petition So Christ doth intercede by mediation By last we doe intreat for sins remission And be deliuer'd from all ill and superstition But as the Sauldier be he ne're so strong Well arm'd and skil'd in points of Schoole-defence If that his spirit faint is laid along So if we in our Armes haue confidence And not relye on Gods sole Prouidence His Spirit which helpeth our infirmities And doth instruct to pray with reuerence Sending vp heart and soule by sighs and cry's For all our Armes and strength our Foes will vs surprise For Spirit is the cause efficient Of all our prayers that to Heav'n ascend Though Faith be the Internall instrument By which we all things aske doe apprehend With Faith and Spirit Prayer Heav'n doth rend And whatsoeuer shee in Christ his name Doth aske the Father downe to vs will send This Pagans saw though otherwise to blame That Christians nothing beg but they obtaine the same All Blessings spirituall and temporall Publike and priuate for our Selues and Friends All that in this life or a better fall To vs almighty God for Prayer sends When Heau'n is shut vp that no dew descends If we forsake our sins and pray for raine The Heau'n on vs abundant showers spends Though Foes vs captiue from our City's traine Yet Prayer makes vs Free and brings vs home againe If Dearth Drowth Pestilence be in the Land Or City's be besieg'd by enemies Then if the cause thereof we vnderstand Our sins And seeke by Prayer remedy God will be mercifull accordingly Yea if a Stranger of an Heathen Nation Doe call on God by Prayer heartily And of his life doe seeke a reformation His Prayer shall be heard by Christ his mediation Thus Prayer is for all things profitable If her true obiect she doe neuer misse One God who gracious willing is and able And of our Heart the only Searcher is All things that are in Heau'n and Earth are his We must no person in the Deity Omit when as we pray to him for Blisse All workes externall in the Trinity Are one though their internall haue variety Diuinest Pater-noster whose one Word In it more heau'nly matter doth containe Than one whole hour's babbling can afford Suddaine abortiues of an idle braine With tedious turnings repetitions vaine Out tumbling all that in their stomach lies Which often goe beyond this Prayers straine As if they were more feruent or more wise Than he that for our patterne did it first deuise Pure Prayer made by serious meditation Or by this holy patterne rightly pend Briefe spirituall sublime ejaculation With feruent Fury doth to Heau'n ascend And to the marke like swiftest arrow tend God is in Heau'n thou kneelest on the ground To him therefore no rash petitions send Therein let matter more than words abound And inward sighs and groanes than outward plaints and sound But Prayer though by thy two mighty wings Of Loue and Meeknesse thou to Heau'n canst sore And come in presence of the King of Kings By pard'ning wrongs and giuing to the poore Presume not on thy merits ere the more That Brightnesse who doth sit vpon the Throne Angells not able are to stand before Alas how dar'st thou then there stand alone Without the mediation of the Holy One. Like birdlime merits so thy wings besmeare That thou not able art to take thy slight Aboue the Firmament or to come neere That euershining Lamp of Heau'nly Light Which ought thy Prayers to direct aright In Knowledge Meeknesse and Humility By which we feele and haue and inward sight Of our vnworthinesse and misery And seeke else where for worth and true felicity Eu'n to that liuely Fountaine of the Lamb Which is a deepe well wondrously profound From which by Prayer breaking vp the dam We draw vp waters which doe there abound The depth of this rich Well no Grace can sound But feruent Prayer when as Shee doth desire To coole her thirst with waters therein found wherewith if once we coole our thirst like Fire The more we drinke thereof the hotter's our desire An Oxes lowing barking of a Dog Grunting of Swine doth more the Lord delight Than Prayers which the World and Flesh so clog They come not from vs with a Heart and Sprite And as no salue or medicine hath might To heale the wound which Iron doth containe So Prayer neuer profiteth that wight In whom Hypocrisie or guile remaine For these still fester deeper to the Patients paine God is our Soules Physitian and know's best What for her sicknesse is best remedy And therfore when we needfull things request Of him for this our lifes necessitie He better then his Patient can descry What is most fit to keepe him from the graue And cure him of his spirituall malady Wherefore when we receiue not what we craue We know Christ better know's than we what need we haue Gods Word 's the Sword whereby our Lord doth sway And rules his Church here as he is a King As Priest he offers praises and doth pray As Prophet he glad tidings vs doth bring Most wisely
of a differing kind I leaue the worst and seeke the fairest out to find Sweet Lady daughter to the Queene of Loue Which is the cause of Zeale and Iealousie If you will aske mee what this Queene doth moue To loue vs wretches that in sin doe lye I answere Goodnesse of her Maiestie Most excellent is then this holy fire Of zeale proceeding from such ancestry Goodnesse and Loue which therefore wee require To true effects of Loue and Goodnesse to aspire Sweet zeale How fairely dost thou beautifie Th' affection where thou mak'st thy habitation Like Temple which thy Lord did purifie When as his Soule with zeale and indignation Was mou'd to see Gods Temples prophanation Not suffering thy house of endlesse rest To be abus'd by Pride or lustfull passion Th' affection which doth lodge within my brest The Temple where Christ and the Holy Ghost should rest Companions of Zeale are Pietie Faith Knowledge Patience Fortitude and Right In workes of Mercy Peace and Charitie And sweet Humilitie is her delight With all her Power shee is opposite Against all that Gods glory may oppose Shee spends in feruent Prayers day and night And those by Knowledge doth so well compose They bring Gods blessings down and vp his Iudgements close Oh Zeale with Knowledge Faith and Charitie Who able is thy vertue to commend Which doth the Church into one Body tye And for Gods glory onely dost contend For publike good and not for priuate end Lo th' Angells-Being doth in zeale consist Whose sacred ardour doth all flames transcend Wherewith they oft enlight our minds darke mist When flames of hottest zeale they to our soule suggest Oh! Loue as strong as Death and Iealousie Cruell as graue Thy flames like coales of fire Consume and burne vp all most violently No Streames or Flouds can quench her sacred ire Should we sell all we haue we could not buy her The Daughter zeale is like the Mother free Them both from Heau'n th' Almightie doth inspire And therefore neither will affronted bee With Riualls Heathen Gods most base Idolatree Fond Zeale that 's fitly called which doth want Faith Knowledge Loue diuine and Graces all It still doth most vaine superstitions haunt And to most base Idolatry doth fall Vnhumane Fury Madnesse tragicall Of men whom thus blind zeale and strange desire Transports beyond rage diabolicall To offer vp their children in the fire Of some offended deuill to appease the ire Strange is this zealous fury of the rude When Ignorance doth guide their blind deuotion The gathering of the froward multitude When they be stirred with some feruent motion All following some braine-sicke idle notion With discontent against authoritie Raise Schismes in Church in Common-wealth Commotion Pretending all their Conscience-liberty Alas these be no fruits of holy Iealousie God often by an Anthropopathy By which his nature best wee vnderstand Ascribes vnto himselfe this Iealousie As being link'd in Hymens holy band Vnto his Church his vndefiled And His Church againe to shew her feruent Loue And Ioy shee takes in her new ioyned hand Like Loue-sicke Bride the Bridegroome oft doth proue And him with zeale inuites her to imbrace and Loue. Neuer new wedded Bridegroome was more faine Of his new-Bride than Christ is of his Doue Neuer did truest Turtle more complaine For losse of Mate than this Spouse of her Loue It would a stony heart to fountaines moue Of teares to heare the Churches piteous mone When shee doth misse him whom her Soule doth loue Where 's my belou'd Ah whither is shee gone And left his saddest Deare to sigh and sit alone And therefore as a Signet on his heart And as the Seale that is on his right hand Shee would be ioyn'd that shee might neuer part But alwayes in his Grace and presence stand No Keeper in Christs Vineyard must command Hee will his Vineyard prune and dresse alone Whereby his Iealousie wee vnderstand His Vine the Bridegroome will haue drest of none The Bride out of his presence neuer will be gone Doth mine inuention faile that wont to flow In Similes that make hard things seeme plaine Or doth the whole Creation here below Nothing affoord zeales nature to explaine Alas all earthly Similes are vaine T' expresse the nature of this Heau'nly fire Which in the glorious Angells doth remaine And in the Spirits of that blessed Quire Which here with Hymnes and Praises doe Gods loue admire Shall dust and ashes dare yet be so bold Her to the holy fire to compare Which in the Bush thy seruant did behold Flaming but did the Bush not singe or seare Such flames of zeale oft in our hearts there are Which doe enlighten them but not consume These flames our Prayers to Iehoua beare By these our Praises spiritually vp fume And in Gods nostrils are like incense and perfume Or shall I like her to some Lionesse Rob'd of her whelps by some aduenturous hand Who in her wondrous woe and furiousnesse Deuour's and slayes all in her way that stand Who can the force of Iealousie withstand Being of so great strength and wondrous might God grant our zeale the Truth may vnderstand And that true Knowledge may your minds inlight To make vs zealous for Gods glory and the right May I not like her to strong churlish wine Which doth confound the braine inflame the blood But cool'd with water pure and sugar fine For both of them is soueraigne and good Eu'n so doth Iealousies most feruent mood Allaid with sugar of sweet Charitie And coold with sweetest Christalline pure floud The silent streames of soft Humilitie Transcend in all good workes of Loue and Pietic This is the zeale and sacred emulation Which the Originall doth signifie Which hath with Loue in Heau'n her habitation And all our actions here doth sanctifie And when our Maker vs shall glorifie Behold our zeale shall in perfection shine Begun on earth in true sinceritie And as our Fleshly courage doth decline Our zeale will grow more hot and neerest to diuine Zeale made old Abram Hagars sonne reiect For scoffing at his holy promisd seed And Moses Pharaohs Court and grace neglect When hee th' Egyptians Destiny did reed That smote a brother of the holy breed This zeale made noble Phineas with his speare Slay Zimry and Cosbi in their damned deed Though Saul the fat of Amalec would spare Yet Samuels zeale doth Agags flesh in pieces teare Oh had his Master Eli's burnt so hot Against his sonnes when they by violence The fattest of Gods offrings from him got And with foule Lust defil'd the sacred Tents Had he like Phineas punish't this offence Our eares then should not haue so tingeled To heare of Gods great wrath and sore offence He and his sonnes in one day slaughtered And all his race from th' Arke for euer banished Zeale made the warlike Dauid to aspire To build an house for Gods owne habitation And though warres crost his zeale and good desire Yet made he for it royall preparation And
's Sonne it finisht on his laid foundation Who gold and siluer vessels in did bring It making Iudahs Ioy the admiration Of all the World the Seat of the great King Whither the Tribes goe vp for his true worshipping I may with this example dignifie The noble zeale of our late famous Queene Who much desired to reedifie Paules Temples ruines which so fearefull seeme And make her faire as euer shee was seene But warres abroad and broiles within her Land Most fatall to this pious worke haue beene So as it still most ruinous doth stand Expecting helpe from Solomons pacificke hand Zeale like a Torch it owne selfe doth consume whil'st burning it to others giueth light And like to sweetest incense and perfume For others Good spends all her force and might Oh blessed fire if kindled aright It burne with Loue of Heauen and holy things Retaining in our hearts both day and night His sweet imbraces who is King of Kings Loathing the worlds vaine wanton wicked dallyings This Cupid be thy soules and hearts delight Whose Bow and golden shafts of Zeale and Loue Doe conquer Fury's Fates and worlds despight And stay the thunderbolts of angry Ioue Oh see the force of Loue and Zeale doth moue All powers that in Heau'n Earth Hell transcend Grant thee alone I zealously may Loue And let thy Iealousie me safe defend That neuer to strange Gods I my affection bend Let vs learne zeale of him that in the day's Of 's slesh did offer Prayers supplication With strongest cry's and teares to God alwayes That able was to saue him from his Passion And learne of him true holy indignation To be ev'n eaten vp with feruent zeale To see theeues den in Gods owne habitation But first let Knowledge our Commission seale That where this Feruour wounds our Charitie may heale But ah our zeale of Prayer now growes cold Zeale of Gods glory like our Charitie And as the world declines now waxing old Ev'n so doth all our zeale and pietie We raise our houses ev'n to dare the skie But raze Gods Temples equall with the ground Our Fathers built them for posteritie And left with Ornaments adorned round But we them with their Ornaments seeke to confound As for the Temples of the Holy Ghost I meane our hearts the Bridegroomes habitation We will bestow on them no spirituall cost But leaue them foil'd with vilest prophanation Pride Lust Vaine-glory all abomination T is time to wish this holy Bishops zeale Would make of them to God new consecration And that the Holy Ghost their doores would seale Against all spirituall theeues that holy goods would steale Oh that some holy fit of Heau'nly fire Raising my Muse to zealous contemplation Would in mine heart that feruent flame inspire And zealous Loue Saint Paul bare to his nation When as hee could haue wish't eu'n reprobation For their sakes from whose flesh Christ did descend Or of the Prophet by predestination Most sure his name in Booke of Life was pen'd Yet wisht it wiped out Gods glory to defend But I confesse we rather doe enuy Gods gifts and graces in our Bretheren And Iosuah-like forbid them prophesie Shewing more zeale to honour Greatnesse then To Glorifie the King of Heau'n yea when We in our hearts find any emulation 'T is for vaine-glory and the praise of men To build our houses not Gods habitation And leaue faire large possessions to our generation Let vs with Dauid make a sacred vow And to th' Almightie God of Iacob sweare Neuer to come within our house nor bow Our Limbs vpon our Beds till we prepare A place Gods spirituall Temple vp to reare Nor euer suffer sleepe within our eyes Or slumber in our eye-lids to appeare Till we an habitation doe deuise Where we may to th' Almightie offer sacrifice My mind inflame Lord with that hot desire And zeale to glorifie thy holy name That like thy Martyrs I may dread no fire Because I feele within a hotter flame Hot Coles therefore shall be to mee the same As to the Martyr was the Boiling Oyle Which did more coole indeed than him inflame Because his zeale within did hotter boile Sweet heau'nly dewes doe most inrich the hottest soile Oh were mine head a conduit full of teares Mine eyes two rocks continually to run As well to cleanse foule Lusts of youthfull yeeres As coole the zealous slames in me begun Had I thus once my Bridegroomes presence won I neuer would let goe my well-laid hold Till hee into my Mothers chamber come With sweet embraces ay mee to infold His ardent Loue would neuer let my zeale grow cold MEDITAT III. Of TEMPERANCE MY Muse now fares like to some Pilot wise Who hauing some dread stormes of danger past That tost his vessell oft vp to the skies Now sailing in the calme with temperate blast Goes gently on lest too much dangerous hast His ship vnwares on hidden rocke impight And him and all his hopes away should cast For thus it oft befalls some carelesse wight To wreck in fairest calme when they the storme haue quight I late was tost in rough and boisterous Sea Of Zeale and Iealousie which hauing past I am to saile in calme and fairest Lea Of Temperance most abstinent and chast Therefore my Muse goes on with sober hast Knowing against her many dangers lie Which by the touch tongue smell eye eare or taste Would her entrap and bring in ieopardy Which Poets by the Syr'ts and Syrens doe imply And therefore did the famous blind Bards quill Preferre Vlysses in his Court of Fame Who of this Temperance had got the skill Fore Aiax Hector or Achilles name His Odysses may testifie the same Which were compos'd his Temperance to commend By which he men and monsters ouercame And did life honour chastitie defend 'Gainst Syrens and Enchantments to his latest end And sure the Heathen to all Christians shame Seem'd wondrously vs herein to transcend But that they wanted that most holy flame Of zeale which I so lately did commend And knowledge which should guide them to their end All that they had by natures light was showne But God his holy Word to vs doth send Whereby his Will and Counsell is made knowne What fruit then ought we beare where so good seed is sowne Eue was the first Author of Intemperance Led by her eye nice tast and fond desire Of Knowledge with proud wicked Ignorance And chang'd Gods Loue to euerlasting ire The Garden loosing for eternall fire But what shee lost his Temperance doth gaine Whose aid now in mine entrance I desire Who from all food did fortie dayes abstaine And all 's Life from intemperate thought word deed refraine This Vertue some doe make so Cardinall That all the rest in her they would imply As Loue Peace Concord Pudour Virginall Gentlenesse Meekenesse Liberalitie Thrift Silence Friendship Goodnesse Grauitie Honesty Purenesse all true moderation Which doth withhold from Sin and Vanitie And bringeth vnto true humiliation Most happy Mother of so
faire a Generation But in some limits that I may her bound I her define to be a moderation Of such desires as are within vs found In Diet Actions Words and Affectation For with these fow'r I bound my Meditation In Diet shee requires Sobrietie In Actions true vnfain'd humiliation Her Words she graceth aye with Modesty And her affections charmes with Meeknesse Chastity See in her Diet first Sobrietie In words and actions true humiliation Accompany'd with precious Modesty Last Continence from Lust and angry Passion The cause of all is prudent Moderation The aged Palmer Spencer Guyons trustie guide That stands against all stubborne perturbation By whose sage helpe secure and safe we slide By whirle-pooles and deepe gulfes which gape for vs so wide For all through this worlds boistrous Sea must passe Before we at our quiet Hav'n arriue The Boate our Body is as brittle glasse Our Steeres-man Temperance it right doth driue Besides the Rocks that threat this Boat to riue Are many Gulphes and Whirle-pooles of decay Which wait th' Affections and the Senses fiue By force and sweet Allurements to assay Some fall by rage and diet some by lustfull play But in that Body where doth reason sway And Sense and Passion be obedient There the affections all behold you may In happy peace and goodly gouernment There Temperance adornes her glorious Tent With vertues all to make it shine most bright The mirrour of Gods workes most excellent And to them all such bounteous banquets dight As may be best for Health Praise Profit and Delight Most glorious frame of nature which shee built The whole world in one point t'epitomize Iust pure and perfect till intemprate guilt Her Makers Hests by Pride did foule misprise Since that shee learned to belowly wise And not obey intemperate desire Thus shee her glorious house reedifies And most of all doth lowly Cells admire The loftiest is no place for temperate retire Shee therefore neuer comes in company Of such as swim in pride and bathe in blisse Wasting their dayes in ease and luxury For in such ease men easily doe amisse But hee whose mind in studie watchfull is Whose limbs are toyl'd with labour mind with paine Shee these as her sweet darlings deare doth kisse The idle life cannot to her attaine Before her Gate high God employment did ordaine Excesse doth make the minde of beastly man Forget his first created excellence That pure estate in which his Life began And as a Beast that wants intelligence 'Twixt sense and reason put no difference But like a Brute of base and swinish kind Delights in filth and foule incontinence For Lust and Wine so far transforme the minde Affections beare the sway and royall reason binde Thus Bacchus Fountain's turn'd to puddle lake Wherein like filthy beasts base men lie drown'd And Swines of Gods faire Images doe make This vice hath now with vs such footing found As Drunkennesse with glory doth abound Pure Liber wont to be the Muses friend All musing Wit and Learning doth confound The Flemings this did first to vs commend But herein we them and all Nations now transcend No better stratageme doth Satan know I alwayes must except base drunkennesse Then gaming all our youth to ouerthrow The fruict Intemperate of Idlenesse Oh horrible infernall wickednesse To heare a wretch his Makers name blaspheme When Dice or Carding crosse his good successe And eu'n his Soule which Christ's bloud did redeeme With his estate to hazard to a dyes esteeme Intemprate drinking Play smoake in excesse Is now our gallants onely occupation The poisoning fruits of their loose Idlenesse Base Gourmandizing filthy Fornication Is turn'd from foule reproach to commendation Now vse of Armes and manly exercise Are held a toile and not a recreation Who so is moderate chast valiant wise Him as precise and cynicall they doe despise Oh foolish Man learne Temperance of thy Dog Thine Horse and Hawke wherein thou tak'st delight Which when they should shew sport thou dost not clog And fill with food their greedie appetite Thou them dost diet that they may be light And keepst from Lust their courage to prolong One dulls the Body th' other kills the Sprite But Abstinence doth make both swift and strong The temperate mans dayes are happy healthfull long And may vnto Pauls Pilote be compar'd Whose vessell with exceeding tempest tost Vnlades and lightens hauing most regard To saue his Life though all his goods be lost Eu'n so the temperate man in this world crost With baits of appetite lust anger pride Makes vse of those that for his vse are most But needlesse things wherewith his vessels cloid With his owne hands doth to the hungry fish diuide When I behold the stately Firmament Adorn'd with glorious Lamps of heau'nly fire The Stars with their appointed roomes content And neither other to supplant desire Their Temperance in Heau'n I doe admire But then I view the anbitious sparkes below Who to possesse the whole Earth doe aspire And all poore Cottages to ouerthrow That stopt their prospect great alone on earth to grow Nature with small no plentie Lust can bound Vnlimited desires here satisfie No Gold nor Siluer can though they abound Like stones amongst the wise Kings vanitie Though Iesses Sonne haue such varietie Of Wiues and Maids yet comes the stranger Lust Vrias onely Lamb for him must dye No home-bred fare can satisfie base dust But strange rare cates from forraine nations haue we must The temprate man I to a Brooke compare Contented with sweet Fountaines of her owne Which runs most pleasant pure delightfull cleere But if with flouds her channels once be flowne Then streight her troubled waters foule are growne So whil'st we Temperance with vs retaine And no excesse of Diet 's in vs knowne Our heart from ire our bed is free from staine But cease from Temperance and all is foule againe And as pure Streames continue sweet and cleere Whil'st they within their Channells swiftly flow Refreshing all the plants and flowers neere But if they idlely stand or run but slow Then thicke and foule like idle lake they grow Ev'n so the man that doth his minde aduance His Makers heau'nly will to doe and know To honour shall be rais'd aboue all chance But he that idle grow's falls to Intemperance Shee is a short but a most pleasant way Wherein small labour is but much delight The Empresse that doth our affections sway The Genus of all other vertues hight Piller of Fortitude The Helmet bright Against Lasciuiousnesse The eyes best guide Bond of goodwill of cogitations light Restraint The Enemy of Lust and Pride The Soules chast counsellour her vow ' and prayers to guide Of Prudence and true Wisdome the foundation To him that hath her can no ill befall No greater wealth can be then Contentation Who hath her hath that who lacks that wants all Who nothing need eu'n Gods the Heathen call Fortune may bring vs wealth and royall fare But Temperance must
cry Giue giue as Graue and Hell be neuer full So nought the couetous eye can satisfie But he that 's liberall and bountifull Is like full clouds which doe most plentifull Water the earth and poure downe store of raine Yet are not emptie for the mercifull And liberall shall greater plentie gaine And he that scattereth shall find increase againe That hand is neuer emptie of reward Where as goodwill the hearts chest filleth full And bountie neuer is so much afear'd Causlesse to giue As not be bountifull Where need requires His face is beautifull Where sweet Goodwill both heart and lookes haue Ioyn'd But th' enuious and malitious doe pull On wrinkles And a man shall euer find The beautie of the face to alter with the mind Bountie is like vnto the glorious Sun Which as a Bridegroome doth from chamber glide And as a Gyant ioy 's his course to run From East to West most swiftly he doth ride Nothing from 's fertile heat it selfe can hide He doth not looke that one him vp should call So bountie deales her Graces far and wide And Blessings without asking sends to all Expecting not vaine praise where shee lets graces fall As some faire glorious garment which we weare Vpon our shoulders reaching to the ground Couers all spots and Naeues that on vs are So where this noble bounty doth abound It couereth all faults that can be found For as Loue couers so doth Bounty hide A multitude of sins and doth confound By her bright Beames Detraction Enuy Pride Alas these are to weake where Bounty 's on our side Shee 's like vnto the Lamp of glorious day Which doth diuide the darknesse from the light For whereas Bountie doth her beames display Behold bright day without them there is night The King that by his bountie doth inuite His subiects hearts to Loue and Honour due Sleepes more secure than he that doth by might And feare strong forts and walled townes subdue And for his guard 's encompassed with armed crue Bountie and Benefits are eu'n the Bands Of Concord and as fire doth quickly dye That is not fostered with coles or brands So dies true Loue with men Except supply Be made by gifts and liberalitie Who doth the wandring soule direct aright Though with him he doth deale most bounteously Yet doth he but his fellowes candle light And to another giues yet loseth selfe no light True bounty seekes high God to imitate Who to the most vnthankfull is most free Sol doth his light to Theeues participate And without tempests Pirates saile on Sea The Heau'ns of all good things the Authors bee Faire fortunes to vngratefull fooles doe send As onely seeking to doe good so we Though oft in vaine our bountie we doe spend To the vnthankfull must as to the thankfull lend Gods bounty 's like to incense and perfume Cast on an heart inflam'd with holy zeale Which praises vp like cloudes of smoake doth sume And sweetest odours round about doth deale Man's Bounty is like widowes cruse or meale Which spent vpon the Prophet growes to more Like Surgeons skill which as he more doth heale Doth grow more cunning than he was before The diligent and bounteous hand want neuer store As many fruits doe faire encrease and grow Not so much by the nature of the ground As by the bounty which from Heau'n doth flow And temperate aire that is about them found So all good Arts in noblest wits abound More by some Princes liberalitie And high regard they haue of Muses sound Than their owne nature strength and industry Best friends to Arts are Bounty and Humanity Should I but here recount the names of all Whom bountifull in holy Writ I find I of your patience should be prodigall And my short time for this discourse assign'd Let me their names vp in a bundle bind Which if you please to ope as sweetly smell As Camphires bush my Muse is now inclin'd Of some prophane examples here to tell Which seeme in noble Bounty others to excell Than treasure Cyrus more his friends esteem'd Whereof he multitudes by bounty won And Alexander greatest glory deem'd By bounty neuer to be ouercome A King of Egypt thought it better done His subiects coffers than his owne to fill When as Alphonsus heard Titus Vespasians sonne Accounted that day lost when for goodwill He had giu'n nought said I ne're spent a day so ill Behold these fiue examples liue in one The bounteous Monarch that our Scepter sways Esteemes his friends ' boue gold or precious stone And ouercomes eu'n all that him obay's By soueraigne Bounty to 's immortall praise No King so fills his subiects chests with gold His bounteous deeds in number passe his day's Ah! how then dare my niggard rimes be bold The sacred bounty of my Soueraigne to vnfold Who hoards not vp his wealth in Caue or Tower Nor into prisons darke condemnes his gold But as on him from heau'n all Blessings shower So are his to vs Subiects manifold As from thicke clouds we numberlesse behold Large streames of fruitfull raine on earth to fall So is his largesse to his seruants told Who entring poore returne rich from his hall Like Tagus golden sands his hands are liberall Vouchsafe oh bounteous Soueraigne heare thy thrall After thy cloud a subiects drop'd to sing Whom thou didst to deserued honour call And was in name and bountie as a King Who in thy bounteous steps thee following Did from obscurity my Fortunes raise Without desert or my least offering He now in Heau'n his bounteous King doth praise As he with bounty honour'd him here all his day's And let vs all his bounteous praises sing Whose bounty vs from Hell and Death doth raise Our blessed Sauiour Prophet Priest and King Who here in bounteous deeds spent all his day 's Casting out Deuills sauing soules alway's Healing the sicke giuing the blind their sight Mournes for our sins for enemies he pray's Comforts the rich and feeds the hungry wight And still in doing good doth set his whole delight How could malicious heart of enuious man Consent to murther such a bounteous King Scourge scorne deride despight him what they can Still in his bounteous deeds perseuering Yea when vnto the Crosse they him doe bring Father they know not what they doe he cry's And when his body hangs their torturing He to the Thiefe not Paradise denyes Thus doing good he liues Thus doing good he dyes What doth the Lord of Life eternall dye Which vnto vs eternall life doth giue See his large bounty and benignity Hee gaue his life for vs that we might liue What heart of stone doth not here melt or riue But with his Life his Bounty doth not end He by his Will and Testament doth giue Vs Heau'n yea more the Comforter doth send With millions of Angells on vs to attend Who can of this his Sauiours Bountie tast And to his members not be bountifull If thou want wealth and coine giue what thou hast And
Ioy vs gaue And eke the Ioy of our Sanctification Whereby eu'n heauens inheritance we craue And certainly expect glorification And are inuited guests to heau'ns participation As are Gods gifts and graces infinite So causes are of Ioy spirituall It fills my soule with infinite delight When all his benefits to mind I call But none like this that 's Sonne should saue vs all By that great secret of his Incarnation Which made the Babe into Ioy 's passion fall At blessed Mothers heau'nly Salutation And made blind Simeons soule reioyce in his Saluation This made the Mother of the Babe to sing And her sweet little Lord to magnifie Her Sauiour which shee in her armes did bring This made in heau'nly Host such melody When newes was brought of his Natiuity Oh Ioy of Ioy 's to you is borne this day A Sauiour God from all eternitie This made the Wise-men from the East to stray And offer to him gifts that in a cradle lay This made the holy King propheticall Though many pleasant Lay's to Harpe hee sing Straine none so high and so patheticall As those of his Sonne Sauiour Lord and King Oh then each stroake hee strikes to heau'n doth ring His heart reioyceth and his tongue is glad Such Ioy doth hope of resurrection bring That though his flesh be with corruption clad His heart shall neuer faint nor soule be euer sad We for this hope it count exceeding Ioy When we doe fall on many sore temptations And when afflictions most abound we Ioy In Trialls Sufferings and Tribulations The Angells in their holy habitations At our conuersions wondrous Ioy receiue What passing Ioy will be and delectations When all the members to their head shall cleaue And for short Sorrowes endlesse recompence receiue My Muse her selfe eu'n out of breath now fly's Rais'd vp so high by Ioy Spirituall Yet by Ioy 's obiects she must higher rise To Father Sonne the Holy Ghost and all What greater Ioy than on the Father call And how did Abraham reioyce to see The day of his Redeemers nuptiall Ah what more Ioy vnspeakeable can bee Than feele the holy Spirit of Grace to dwell in thee Oh happy Host such guests to entertaine With peace of conscience their continuall feast Open you euerlasting doores againe Open The King stands knocking ready prest The King of Glory to come in and rest Downe from the fig-tree speedily then come And entertaine thy Sauiour in thy brest To day Saluation is to thee come home With Faith Hope Loue and Truth perfume thou eu'ry rom For without these true Ioy will neuer stay With her must all the heau'nly Graces bide Long-suffering Mercy Peace desire to Pray God these hath ioyn'd no man may them diuide False Ioy 's without these into vs may slide As stony ground which did receiue the seed Did flourish faire and Branch on eu'ry side But this did Faith but temporary breed And we this but a momentany Ioy areed There are besides this friendly seeming Ioy Other that are professed enemy's As those which worldly happinesse enioy And liue in pleasures ease and jollity's Against these th' author of true ioy reply's Woe vnto you that laugh for you shall waile Lament and howle for your iniquity's When Iudgement comes and all mens hearts shal faile What then shall all your worldly pleasures you auaile Another Ioy against true Ioy I find When in true cause of Ioy we so delight That we omit from Lusts to clense our mind And valiantly 'gainst base affections fight Ah! how can heau'nly true Ioy take delight Amongst our grosse corruptions here to dwell Sure this Reioycing is not good and right A little Leuen makes the whole lump smell Our boastings vaine This water 's not from liuing well There is a counterfett and feign'd delight Shew'd in the face but comes not from the heart Whom I may call A merry Hypocrite Others reioyce so in their owne desert In their redemption they will beare a part These are the men whom workes must iustifie Alas poore wretch remember what thou art And whence thou hast receiued thy supply And thou shalt soone from this thy proud reioycing slye Proud slesh and bloud that dares of merits boast When in thy Makers presence thou do'st stand And hopest to regaine what Adam lost By thine inherent Iustice thou do'st band Directly 'gainst thy Makers glory and Seek'st to reioyce in Iustice of thine owne Presume not ' boue thy strength to vnderstand But merry be and glad in God alone Who is all Worthinesse but in thy selfe is none As those which vaine applause of men regard And at their doing almes a trumpet blow Gaine onely praise of men for their reward But God no such good-workes will euer know So those in whom these boasting merits flow And in their meritorious workes delight God neuer them doth this sound comfort show They may awhile seeme goodly in mans sight But neuer feele true inward Ioy and sound delight As those which onely see the Stars and Moone But neuer saw faire Phaebus glorious light Beleeue no cleerer lights haue euer shone Than those faire Lamps which doe adorne the night So those that neuer knew this true delight Those heau'nly Ioy 's to holy Saints confin'd Thinke there most Ioy where flesh doth most delight But tast they once sweet inward Ioy of mind In all these worldly Ioy 's they no content can find This heau'nly Ioy by no similitude In Heau'n or Earth can truly be exprest Yet is shee felt as oft in simple rude As in the most profound deepe learned breast None know her till they be of her possest For as we feele the winde when it doth blow But whence it comes or where it meanes to rest No wit of man ere able was to show So many feele these Ioy 's but know not whence they flow As in the Incarnations mysteries The blessed Virgin ouer-shadowed By th' Holy Ghost and power of the most High Perceiu'd her fruitfull womb replenished But knew not whence till th' Angell it aread So wee this Babe of Ioy spirituall Oft feele in vs most liuely quickened But know not how nor whence the same doth fall Till that same Spirit of Truth to vs reuealeth all And as no creature able is of man The Spirit to discerne but man alone So of this Spirituall Ioy no spirit can Conclude but this sweet spirituall holy One Some would it liken to the glorious Sunne Which by his liuely beames doth Life inspire Where they an obiect fit to light vpon But I forbeare too nicely to inquire And rather in mine heart to feele her beames desire Oh Sunne of Light Bright Glory of thy Sire Who when thou left'st the earth thy Spirit didst send Into our hearts sweet comforts to inspire And with vs to abide till world's last end Some good examples to my Muse commend Of holy men which tooke so much delight In heau'nly Ioy 's they holy them intend And banish all vaine worldly pleasures
a prudent mind Which they who want or foolishly misprise Walke on in Folly and in Errour blind We many ignorant vaine Fooles doe find So wise in their conceit and estimation They thinke all wisdome in their breasts confin'd These being bound by double obligation To Folly there 's no hope of any reformation Prudence and Folly in the Soule of man Like Health and Sicknesse in his Body are As Health the Body keepes so Prudence can The Soule deliuer from the Deuills snare And as Diseases here the thread doth share Of Body's Life So Folly soone doth rend The Soule with pleasures vaine and worldly care For as strong men within a Fort defend So Prudent Thoughts our soules from Satans fury shend And as among the noble senses fiue The Sight doth all the rest in worth excell Because all doe their Light from her deriue And shee all that offends them doth repell So Prudence all the vertues doth precell Because by Light God sends her from aboue Shee counsells all the Graces to do well For without her no Grace aright can moue Prudence of all the rest the Gouernour doth proue Vlisses Prudence Aiax Fortitude Whil'st they each other doe accompany Win City's conquer men and monsters rude But if they square for Gaine or Dignity And Aiax leaues Vlisses company His valour turnes to Folly or to rage So men of greatest magnanimity When they the Guidance leaue of Prudence sage Grow beastly mad or foolish in their later age I may her liken to the Prince of Day From whom all lesser Lamps doe borrow Light Who when he doth his glorious Beames display The rest all seeme to be extinguish't quite So when as heau'nly Wisdome wondrous bright Her selfe amongst the Graces doth disclose They all doe seeme to vanish in her sight As all the Glory that they haue arose dispose From those bright Beames which wisdome doth on them As God the world The Emperour his host The Gouernour his Ship the Sunne the day And as the Body 's ruled by the Ghost So doth faire Prudence all the vertues sway And as these like good Guides direct the way Vnto their charge to reach their proper end So doth true wisdome all that her obey To endlesse happinesse and pleasure send Most happy man who doth her holy hests attend May his heart die like Nabals churle and foole Or like Achitophel end with a string Laugh in the stocks cleaue to the scorners stoole That listens not to heau'nly counselling Of Wisdome and her sweet admonishing Shee hath prouided victualls powr'd out wine Sent out her Maids vs to the feast to bring To bid those that seeke Knowledge come and dine And those that Prudence want to tast her grapes diuine For shee 's the Vine whose grapes yeeld pleasing smell Whose Fruit and Flowers Wealth Life Honour are The Garden where Christ dearest Spouse doth dwell Planted with all the Herbs and Spices rare Which to adorne his Church he doth prepare Would thou one word which should her worth containe He hath true Wisdome who the Lord doth feare And who know's holy things doth entertaine Right vnderstanding without this the rest are vaine She as the Prince or Generall doth guide All other Graces in Loues sacred band Doth order marshall and for them prouide As th' Eye which all the members doth command The Gouernours of Men of Cities and Of Families and each mans priuate state She orders wisely by her prudent hand And they that duely on Discretion waite Command the Stars and rule eu'n ouer Time and Fate As shadow's more directly opposite To Sunnes bright Rayes seeme short by being neere When those which are much farther from the light More goodly faire and long by farre appeare So who small Knowledge haue attained here Thereof doe alway's make a greater show Than those whose vnderstanding shining cleare Doe all the Paths of heau'nly wisdome know For with true Wisdome alway's Humblenesse doth grow And as Gods Wisdome doth no lesser seeme In smallest creatures as a Gnat or Fly Than Greater so we ought no lesse esteeme Wisemen in low degree then Dignitie The Snaile a mirrour is of Politie Who with her hornes keepes alway's sentinell And neuer commeth out before shee try If things without be all in Peace and well Else she retyring home liues quiet in her shell Oh sonnes of men that you could but behold The wondrous Beauty of this heau'nly Peare But nought on earth her Beauty can vnfold Her Glory in the Heau'ns doth shine most cleare In all Gods workes her splendour doth appeare She first from Heau'n vouchsafed to descend To liue in Iudah with her chosen deare But now her Beames more ample doe extend To all the Nations of the earth she light doth lend She taught our Father that was made alone To raise himselfe to Glory from his fall But Enuy turn'd from her his foolish sonne And made by Fratricide and Fury fall Loe when the Floud the world destroyed all She it preserues by one wise worke of Wood The dead Sea yet is the memoriall Of foolish City's fiue which there erst stood Where she sau'd Lot from fire as Noah from the sloud To tell what wonders haue beene by her wrought Were too to long for this short meditation They in Gods Booke are easily found if sought For there indeed is Wisdom's commendation Where she vs doth with wary obseruation Vnto the Cony and the Pismire send To learne to get our food and habitation Whose meaner Wisdome if we must attend Much more wise Heathens sayings most diuinely pend One being asked who was most wise reply'd He that sinn'd least when one of them desir'd To learne who was for youth the trustiest Guid He answer'd Prudence And in 's sonne requir'd Only three things which he in youth admir'd In his tongue silence Prudence in his mind Shamefastnesse in his Face when one requir'd How he the greatest in the least might find He answer'd prudent thoughts in humane breast confin'd This was an Ethnick But how doth she shine When she is ioyn'd with pure simplicitie When as that holy wisdome serpentine Combines with doue-like true sincerity Oh thus the Saints by holy subtilty Walke safe amongst worlds crooked generation Thus walk'd our Sauiour in Humilitie And though the wicked plot his condemnation Yet neuer could they touch him but by subornation Oh how should we that haue this mirrour bright This Sun of Wisdome labour here to shine Like Stars which from the Sun receiue their light And to sincerity true columbine Ioyne this wise holy Prudence serpentine Vs to conduct through this worlds wildernesse And a most safe and perfect way out line Through Iordans waues to Land of Happinesse Where Mansions ready built we shall for ay possesse And Vineyards planted whence the Cananite For wicked Treason 'gainst his Maiesty God hath expell'd to Hell and darkest night Proud Lucifer and all his company Oh why should'st thou aduance base dust so high Whose earthly Mansion keepes his Spirit low
Her due Subiection vnto her Head And as our Christ directs his Church below So wiues must be by husbands ordered But this of wiues is better knowne then practised So is th' obedience which Children owe Vnto their Parents by Commandement And promise they shall long and good day's know If they to them will be obedient The fift and last is Masters Gouernment And Seruants Duty which they should them beare Which ought to be with single true intent Not for eye-seruice wages or for feare But as they would obey eu'n Christ their Master deare Thus ought we to obey these fiue degrees Set ouer vs Because we so obay The highest Power And if their iust decrees We sleight that highest Power we disobay Far wide then disobedient spirits stray Which by Religion would all reuerence Exclude due vnto Magistrates and say They vnto no man owe obedience A false excuse of Schisme and all vnreuerence Obedience preserueth Vnity And helpeth to this great worlds conseruation As Heau'ns and Earth doe by due Obsequy Obey their glorious Makers Ordination Behold how all things in this worlds Creation Doe by their Makers order stand or moue Earth keepes her Center for mans preseruation The Heau'ns turne all in motion round aboue Without Obedience one would out another shoue And thus we may Obedience obserue To hold our members in due motion ay Whil'st one doth to another member serue And all vnto the Spirit doe obay The Soule of man which doth by reason sway Eu'n all the members to their preseruation And if the least of them doe disobay Shee either seekes their better reformation Or one endangers all to endlesse condemnation For whilst man here doth on the earth remaine Sin and corruption in his Body dwell Seeking therein as Lord and King to raigne But Grace doth striue by force them to expell If bondslaues we our selues to Sin doe sell And giue our members here Lusts to obay We yeeld vnto such Lusts as lead to Hell But if that Grace our Soule aright doth sway Then all the members follow Her the narrow way Remoue this Vertue of Obedience From Soule or Body Subiect City Towne Or from the Creatures wanting life and sense And all vnto Confusion tumble downe The Tower of Babel might to Heau'n haue growne Had all obay'd with mutuall diligence But suddainly we see it ouerthrowne When to obay they want intelligence For without vnderstanding no Obedience As to maintaine Heau'ns perfect vnitie All to one surpeame Trinity obay So all that haue with it Affinitie Subiect themselues to that one God for ay No wonder if those that him disobay To many Errours Schismes and Sects doe fall For one true Vnity they doe gainsay When they resist his Ordinances shall And disobey Gods Word that here directeth all Mee thinkes my Muse could here her selfe transcend By musing of th' obedience aboue Which from the Sonne to Father doth ascend And Angells who obeying Feare and Loue Alas what can th' eternall Power moue Obedience of poore wretches to require But vs to ioyne to Christ our Head in Loue As he is ioy'nd to God in due desire Vnto no other end Obedience doth aspire For as when in a wild and fruitlesse stocke We doe some noble impe inoculate The fruit erst base and wild like to the Blocke Is made as goodly faire and delicate As Tree which first this imp did generate So the least imp of Christs Obedience In vs ingraft doth vs regenerate And makes vs beare fruit of like excellence As liuely tree from which it first had influence For all that from stocke of first Adam come Beare those sowre fruits of Disobedience But all that doe ingraft againe become In second Adams true Obedience Bring forth sweet fruits like liuely tree from whence They haue receiued first their sap to spring Swee liuing Vine whose sacred influence Vs makes obedient to our Lord and King Ah! who the praises of thy noble fruit can sing It did aduance that holy Prophets quill When He in volume of the booke did find Written that thou shouldst Gods whole Law fulfill Whereto thou wert withall thine heart inclin'd And when the time was come thereto assign'd Thou wert obedient to all Gods will Performing it with all thine heart and mind Ev'n till the Iewes thee on the Crosse did kill When thou resisted'st not though they thy bloud did spill Obedient Lamb this was the sacrifice The offering God did for sin require Thus We must offer vp to God likewise Our Soules and Body's with like zealous fire To dye if not indeed yet in desire Quick holy acceptable Offering To pacifie Gods Iustice and his Ire Is when to him obedient hearts we bring And crucifie those Lusts which from our Flesh doe spring As from the boundlesse Ocean doe run All streames which doe returne into the Maine So from one paterne of Obedience come All ours and thither doth returne againe The Lamb that was from worlds beginning slaine Gaue the first blow to Disobedience Which Isaack imitates when he is laine On Altar to be sacrificed thence Whom truly Abram offer'd by Obedience This was that quiet sauour God did smell When offring one of each cleane bird and beast The good old Noah pleas'd the Lord so well Obedience was the Seasoning to the feast What made the Lord Sauls sacrifice detest But that he did his Word then disobey When he did spare of Amalec the best To offer vp But therein did obay His own corrupt inuentions not what God did say Better then Sacrifice is to obay And then the fat of Rams to giue good eare Happy though we doe all the world gaine say If we obay our Lord and Master deare But ah whil'st we remaine as Pilgrims here Flesh World and Deuill daily vs perswade To follow Pleasures vaine and to forbeare Obedience to the Lord which vs hath made Whose Statutes to obey should be our onely trade Oh Sacrifice of Fooles with tongue to pray But harbour no obedience in thine heart Who dost in word professe God to obay But by thy workes dost all his Law 's peruert Behold it is not without iust desert That Beasts to thee are disobedient When thou to God a faithlesse rebell art To whom obey Sun Moone Stars Firmament Nor Sea against his will inuades the Continent Whil'st I about this sinfull Body beare Lusts and corruptions will therein remaine Yet neuer let them so much domineere As here of Grace the mastery to gaine For if I suffer Sinne in me to raigne That all my members will to sinne obay That sin whereof Saint Paul doth so complaine Oh! who me from the same deliuer may It is not I but sin that Christ doth disobay If that the Iudge by his Authoritie Inioyne me to performe or speake a thing Against the will of Soueraigne Maiestie Here my Deniall no Offence doth bring And if I be commanded by the King To doe against his will that is aboue I here no Rebell am though suffering For
I were better Crosse and Prison proue Than in Gehenna fry from whence is no remoue And as in all humane societies The meaner Power the greater doth obay Till to the Peramount it doth arise Which Power all inferiour powers sway So in this Power Spirituall we may Behold like order for Obedience The Peramount is Gods high Power ay For though we doe all Powers reuerence Yet to the highest we haue alway's reference What more vniust than looke to be obay'd By our inferiours and to disobay Those God hath plac'd aboue vs for our aid Ah how Thy will be done may we here pray As Angells doe the same in Heau'n for ay Which we so often crosse by doing ill More often then are minutes in a day Oh let my Heart be ready to fulfill Mine Heart be ready Lord to learne and doe thy will Ready in all things lawfull to obay Superiours all to doe things iust and right To Loue my Neighbour for mine enemy's pray Grace to embrace and with Corruptions fight To cast off earthly things and to delight Wholly in God and heau'nly contemplation To worke by day to watch and pray by night To learne of Christ Meeknesse Humiliation With trembling and with Feare to worke out my Saluation Since I must be obedient to the end How should I end to beg Obedience Obedience which to Liberty doth tend And vs restores vnto that excellence Which Adam lost by Disobedience Let others glory in their mightie traine And large command of many Continents By Meeknesse and Obedience I shall gaine With Meeke obedient Lamb in Heau'n for ay to raigne MEDITAT III. Of MEEKNESSE AS in faire Garden where variety Of choisest Flowers the senses to delight Are plac't by cunning hand most curiously Their diuers colours most effect the sight That broad and fairest shew and stand vpright But oft we find low creeping on the ground An hearb whose odour sweet doth more inuite Our smells than all the Tuslips there are found So is it with this Grace which I doe next propound For though the goodliest Garden of the Bride Like Eden is so faire embelished With richest Fruits and Flowers from side to side Their names and hues cannot be numbered Much lesse their Force and Natures be aread And though all are more glorious to be seene Than Meeknesse which is next disciphered Yet none more pleasing to our smell I weene Nor more than her respected of Loues royall Queene Obedience Meeknesse and Humility Are Flowers more for profit than for show Pleasing the smell and taste more than the eye And lowly like sweet Thyme and Hysope grow These by the outward face we must not know Their inward vertue 't is that we esteeme Their Force is heau'nly though their dwellings low And may the greatest Monarch here be-seeme For sure the King of Kings like these himselfe did deeme And vs commandeth all of him to learne Meeknesse and lowlinesse which rest doth bring Eternall Rest which doth our Soules concerne Here more than any vaine and worldly thing Most mighty God and yet the meekest King Fit thou my Soule for this sweet Meditation And teach me meeknesse whil'st I meeknesse sing Which base and meane in mans vaine estimation Is with the Lord of Lords of highest valuation Some her define to be a Moderation Of Anger And would haue her to abstaine From all reuengefull furious enuious passion Thereby possession of her soule to gaine For who doth gentle meeknesse entertaine With her finds happy Peace and quiet Rest And who from furious rage will not refraine But harbours wrath and malice in his Brest Possesseth not himselfe but is by them possest Meeke gentle milde soft affable and kind In words though diuers are in sense the same And come from gentle habit of the mind Which like it selfe our words and acts doth frame Making wild sauage furious creatures tame For all are mad and wild since Adams fall And burne in furious and reuengfull flame But meeknesse mitigates appeasing all And blessed here in peace the earth inherit shall Meeknesse which pleaseth God and profits man For God the meeke exalteth to Saluation And those which here abstaine from Anger can In multitude of Peace haue delectation With meeke far better is humiliation Than greatest spoiles with proud ones to diuide Heau'nly Hierusalem's no habitation For those which Right by Duells doe decide But those which can with meeknesse iniury's abide She ire and rancour in her heart can brooke But doth all with an equall mind sustaine Prouok'd by none nor doth she one prouoke Though oft offended hurteth none againe She doth from all improbity abstaine Resists not euill but the same with good Still ouercomes And doth more glory gaine By gentle yeelding than if she withstood The wicked in his raging furious angry mood Oh Grace most glorious when God Her sends To dwell in breast of some great Potentate His Heart She from all Crueltie defends And though he be a Lord of Life and Fate His hands with bloud doth not contaminate She such a Prince to Heau'n at length will bring Too soone for vs though he may thinke it late Let Homer fierce Achilles praises sing Giue me a mercifull meeke mild and gentle King For Meeknesse brings more honour to a King Than Purple Scepter Diademe or Crowne And richer triumphs doth to Emperours bring Than winning any Castle Fort or Towne He gets eternall Glory and renowne Who can by meeknesse bridle passions right Let Tyrants rage and let the Fury's frowne They can no more a good meeke man affright Than Arrow 's hurt the water that thereon doe light Inhumane cruelty's taught in the schoole Of Satan who would like himselfe haue all But he whose seats in Heau'n and his footstoole Vpon the earth Before whose presence fall Downe all the Angells and him Maker call Bids vs like to himselfe be meeke and low For he that turn'd to sweet that cup of gall Can make the meeke and lowly highest grow And with one blast the proud and cruell ouerthrow I labour not to keepe downe or depresse That humane natures high sublimitie Without which creatures beare no awfulnesse Nor due respect vnto the Maiesty God hath annexed to mans Soueraignty I seeke to suit his mind and conscience Vnto his outward Grace and Dignity And raise him by an inward confidence Of wel-knowne worth to an angelike excellence Yet not by this sublimity to swell Beyond the bounds of Mortalls He that 's wise Will as his worth and due deserts excell Be still more low and humble in 's owne eyes And as his State and Honour here doe rise Hee is more modest gentle meeke and kind Preferring not himselfe in any wise Before his equalls thus he grace doth find By gentle manswetude with God and all mankind For whilst by an obsequious conuersation And by ingenuous manners pleasing sweet Far from base flattery as vaine ostentation Hee doth inferiours equalls betters greet By loosing of his owne Lo he doth get
In others thoughts the highest estimation His Head 's in heau'n though on the earth his feet And by anothers vertues veneration He getteth of his owne all loue and admiration Oh happy man to whom heau'ns King hath sent This Grace to be the glory of the rest What can that mind molest or discontent That harbours gracious meeknesse in his brest They that can contumely faire disgest If any them deride or reprehend Streight of themselues take more seuere inquest If ought be iustly blam'd they soone amend If false it neuer them shall anger or offend Meeke gentle patient bearing right or wrong From inward free as outward perturbation Reuenge is not a thing that doth belong To her she finds far greater contentation In wrongs dissembling and their tolleration The wants which she within her selfe doth find Her more depresse by modest moderation Than all her vertues eleuate her mind As salt she sauours all the vertues in their kind This is the same or very like the Grace Which we doe call Christian Humilitie Without which other vertues haue no place All are in her as in an Vnitie She is the surest way to Dignitie The center where all vertues lines doe meet Most honour'd when she most doth vilifie Her selfe And when she stoops to wash Saints feet The highest King of Kings with kisses her doth greet Yet none of worldlings is esteem'd more vile They it account a thing too meane and base Here to discend vnto so low a stile They thinke that meeknesse valour doth disgrace But oh absurd presumptuous mortall race So high and proud in thine owne estimation What thing 's created in more wretched case Weake vaine precipite and on each occasion Ready to fall from highest hopes to desperation What is thy Body but fraile quickned clay Thy Soule 's so clouded with obscurity It is most ready prone precipite ay To fall to basenesse errour vanity Happy who sees his owne infirmity Thus By discending only we ascend Vnto the highest humane dignity First step to honour is to vilipend Our selues Let others thee and not thy selfe commend None seekes to pull his foot out of the mire Vntill he feeles and know's that it is in Nor none to wash the durt off doth desire Vntill he sees it cleaue vnto his skin So till this Grace vs shew's our selues within We neuer seeke those heau'nly remedies To purge our soules from error and foule sinne This was of all the Oracles most wise First know thy selfe that is thine owne infirmities Thus comes the purest wheat from foulest ground So it be first well till'd and harrowed And thus the ignorant grow men profound When they their folly haue discouered Of all the vertues can be reckoned The roots are bitter fruits most sweet doe proue Selfe Pride and Arrogance once settled In humane Brest most hard are to remoue This worke belongs to meeknesse humblenesse and Loue. Most pleasant fruits which from this root do spring When weeding out base pleasures false and vaine She true delight into their roomes doth bring And rich Content for euer to remaine Happy who can this Lady's fauour gaine Shee able is and ready to defend Against Soules troubles and the body's paine The meeke that patiently on God attend Are sure to haue a joyfull quiet happy end Nothing can his most noble mind appall Which is with such Tranquillity indude Crosses Afflictions may him here befall But base or abiect thoughts cannot intrude Into a mind of such an habitude Certaine his breast all vertues doth containe Who hath this gentle vertue manswetude Who wants her boasts of vertue but in vaine They are but shew's of vertue which with him remaine It is the height of folly to bewray Desire where we haue no power to offend So beat the Sea if it will not obay Or winds which crosse the way thou dost intend So whom thou canst not reach his picture rend Such wounds make arrow's when they cleane the aire Yet many thus with rage their spirits spend Were it not better farre to beare them faire But Folly cannot beare though thou in morter bray her If an Asse kicks thee must thou kicke againe Or barks a Dog wilt thou straight baule and cry Because one's foolish canst thou not refraine But needs doe that is ill for company Let fooles scorne meane Birth want deformity This if a fault not thine thy Makers is To him that 's meeke no infelicity Can fall by Fortunes bitter frownes or blisse He counts them not his owne true vertue 's only his I liken Meeknesse to that peece of wood Wherewith the Prophet did the Fountaines heale And made the bitter waters sweet and good For so doth Meeknesse with Afflictions deale She all their bitternesse with Ioy doth seale Ev'n that accursed death vpon a Tree She turneth from a Curse vnto our Weale Blest are the Meeke that for well-doing be Hang'd thereupon from thence they Paradise may see A meeke mans mind's like solitary place Where all is quiet fit for Contemplation And to behold his Makers Will and Grace Spending his time in sweetest meditation But cruell minds are full of perturbation Like to a Market or tumultuous Faire Where all is fill'd with noise and molestation Durt in the streets strong clamours in the aire Such places are vnfit for Graces sweet repaire A meeke mind 's like vnto Pernassus Hill Through whose pure aire shines Phoebus golden ray Whose siluer Channells purest Fountaine fill And all the meades bedeck with Lilly's gay The Gardens with faire Flowers adorned ay And when the Brookes doe murmur any sound With much delight sweet Zephirus doth play And all the Birds vpon the trees around Consort with Muses nine to make a Heav'nly sound But a meeke mind more pleasing is then all These Flowers Fruits or Musickes sweet delight No fit of Fury can that Heart appall For as a Dart may on the water light And hurts it not by any force or might So Force not Fury can meeke mind offend For it giues way as doth the water light Oh happy quiet mind that doth attend With meeknesse on Gods bounteous goodnesse to the end As when the glorious Sun-beames doe appeare All misty cloudinesse is turn'd to day So where this Grace the heart of men doth cheare All passions turbulent are driu'n away Then mecknesse most her Glory doth display When shee hath iustest cause to take offence No valour like this Dames behold we may Nor any like her modest Patience A meeke and lowly mind excells all ornaments As when the Lord of all to vs did come In humane flesh he peace and concord bred Twixt Men and Angells and made all become As one in peace and quiet in their head So where this meeknesse doth her Grace dispred There Nations Neighbours Kindred all we find Lately at Discord now fast fettered In Loue and Friendships Bands which firmly bind No surer band of loue than meeke and gentle mind In golden Age when as the Poets faine Men
sings this Psalmist Hymnes and Heav'nly Lay's To him that giues him Spirit till his Death Oh heav'nly Musicke which the rage could quell Of Cis his sonne possest with euill Spirit Pure Hymns from God sweet mercy to compell When foulest Sins Hell-fire doe commerit Sweet Shepheard when thou singest forth thy Flocks The Angells all admire thy heav'nly Lay's Thy musicke moues stones trees and senslesse stocks When thou diuin'st of Christs most happy day's Yet those hands that so gently touch a string Can Lyons Beares and Wolues in peeces teare And quell the proud Philistine with a sling From whom the Host of Israel runs for feare Loue at his birth him dandled in her Lap Whilst all the Graces Lullaby's doe sing Shee fed him with Ambrosia for Pap And rais'd him from a Shepheard to a King And thou my Sonne although thy Breath be faint I cannot but commend thy good desire With their diuine Essays thy Muse acquaint Which may be fewell to thy heav'nly fire Yet though thou straine Inuention Art and wits And fills thy Verses with thy wisest Says They shall not liue except some holy fits Thy Soule aboue the Heav'ns bright Tapers raise Thy Soule whose Beeing is Celestiall fire Must like the Saints be rapt vp in a trance And extased with holiest desire If thou thy Verse wouldst vp to Heav'n aduance For as none but the Spirit of a man The secrets of that Spirit can disclose So none attaine sublimest numbers can Except a holy Fury them compose And as no Actor well can play the King That is not one in his imagination So none can Vertues pure Ideas sing That suits his mind not to his meditation Poets are like to Organs sounding shrill With fingers touch so long as they be full But as on empty ones in vaine's our skill Ev'n so are Verses without Fury dull And as none on the Harpe sweet tunes can sound Till hee by Art hath set in Tune each string So none high-rapted numbers can compound Till's soule be tun'd by spheare-like rauishing Sith then to Numbers life from Heav'n is sent Oh rarest Spirits how dare you abuse Them to dishonour him who hath them lent To 's Glory and your Chast delight to vse Shall your diuinest spirits stoupe so low To make your-selues base slaues to Lust and Sin And let your pure Pyrenean Fountaines flow In stinking Channells all defil'd within Still will you fawne on Fooles and Greatnesse flatter And fill the world with wanton idle groanes Still shall your Muse like Pyes this one song chatter Of Lust which brings corruption to the bones I st not enough you burne in lustfull flame Except you eke corrupt youth prone to vice And strumpet-like hang out your signes of shame The Passengers to folly to intice For numbers notes and tunes such power haue They soonest on the noblest Spirits seaze Whereon they doe their formes and sounds engraue As Seales on wax imprinted are with ease And that 's the Reason graue and wiser Sages Haue banish't from their coasts lasciuious rymes When Poets chast and vertuous in all ages Haue beene as Priests and Prophets in their times Would you the Genius of your Fury raise And change your fleshly to spirituall Flame Such matter would immortalize your praise And leaue behind you a most honour'd name Your Verse would be admir'd you honoured As Secretarys to the King of Kings For first the Prophets words thus numbered To handle mystery's and holy things Thus Dauid all his Psalmes by measure sings Moses the freedome from Egyptian thrall And Miriam vpon a Timbrell rings Gods Praises Iudith the Assirians fall They sang for Ioy but Iob and Ieremy Sing when they with afflictions most are prest A Nunc Dimittis was the Poefie The Swan-like Simeon warbled in his brest Magnificat the blessed Virgin sings The Angells Glory sing to God on high And Martyrs bound to stakes with Iron strings Sing Praises whilst in Flames their Body's fry So burnes their zealous heate of Loues purefire They feele no outward for the inward flame So long as they haue Bowells to respire They neuer cease to praise Gods holy name But he that seemes an Angell of the light More easie children of the light ' tabuse In Verse doth also his delusions write And for his Oracles did numbers chuse And for he know's that Loues pure heav'nly fire Is that by which we Gods whole Law fulfill His Prophets all must chant of Lusts desire And make great Ioue be rul'd by Cupids will Thus bloud corrupt th'inchanter doth instill With lustfull Fire to scal'd youths hotter veines And poisons with this Copperis the quill Of Heathen Poets in their gentle straines Who to make more authenticke Ribauldry Doe faigne their Gods therein to take delight Where though they Natures secrets wittily Oft vaile yet thus to Lust they youth inuite I know in first pure streames of Poesie The Muses Bath was chast as Pheebes shrine The Virgin Graces Ioues chast progeny And Pallas chast and vertuous as diuine Venus was then with Almas title graced And lov'd her Spouse plaine Vultan Mars scarce knew Whom though shee oft in nuptiall bed imbraced T was not for wanton pleasure but for due This Poetry my Sonnes reuiv'd againe To mortalls would restore the golden times And for your Brow 's immortall Lawrells gaine And to their ancient honour raise your Rimes But Satan since another patterne set Which he would haue all his to imitate And like a Fowler draweth to his Net Poore Birds with merry notes and pleasing Bait. But thou that seek'st Gods Glory not thine owne And striv'st to quench not quicken lustfull Flame Chuse these diuine ensamples I haue showne And guild not with faire words the foulest shame When thou do'st feele Loue 's Fury in thy breast What better theame or matter canst thou take Than sing his Loue who Heav'n and Earth possest Yet here himselfe for Loue a Slaue did make The Loue betweene the Bridgroome and his Deare Were matter to immortalize a Song No Man or Angell euer yet did heare Diuiner Musicke from a mortall tongue This is a deepe broad boundlesse Ocean A high Pernassus of sweet Meditation No holy Fury diue the bottome can Nor reach the height thereofby contemplation Soule-rapting Tunes when Turtles voyce doth sound The Songs of Sion in a Holy Land Sweet accents making Hills and Mountaines bound And Cedars of the Forrest trembling stand This better will thy heart enrich thy mind Here profit thou shalt reape with sweet delight Here thou refreshing Nectar-streames shalt find To coole thy thirst and cleare thy dimmer sight For thus thou safely maist enioy delight The pleasure which shall last for euermore Vaine Worldly Pleasures leaue men ere their night But when the iudgement comes they run before These heav'nly precepts sweetned by her voyce So rauished my Soule with delectation My Muse at quiet since doth sole reioyce And take delight in heav'nly contemplation And though I neuer hope to touch with