them here Till he should bury'd be They oft did bleed with such great pain That he had dy'd thereby But that God would have him remain The World to edify His Body now with labour spent Made weak for JESUS'S sake And he to Contemplation bent But little food did take And thô by Sword as he desir'd He could not Martyr dy Yet greater pains as God requir'd He suff'red patiently And off'red up in flames of Love His Soul an Holocaust Which daily did ascend above To him he loved most Knowing his Death was near at hand Not able now to go That he be carry'd doth command To Portiunculo Our Lady's Church from Angels nam'd The place that he lov'd best And here to dy he ever aim'd And take his finall rest To shew his love to Poverty Mat 27. v. 35. And Christ to imitate He naked on the ground would dy So strip't him as be sate The same in his last Testament He doth his Brothers give For he by JESUS dear was sent Poor Ps 87. v. 16. like him here to live Mat. 18. v. 17. He recommends Obedience Most strict unto Christ's Church That Heresy on no pretence Among his Brothers lurch True Patiênce and Humility With other Virtues rare He leaves them as a Legacy And doth for Death prepare He gives his blessing to his Brothers To live in Love and Peace The same he recommends to others Here after his decease His soul to JESUS recommending Replenish't with great merit By hands of Angels there attending To God resigns his Spirit He being dead his sacred Flesh Wither'd before and hard Became most limber soft and fresh To youth might be compar'd Which with his Wounds like Rubies dress't Was glorious to behold Assisiûm Men would have it rest With them more priz'd than gold A stately Church they for it build And in a Vault it lay Which incorrupt and fresh doth yield Delights unto this day The World 's great wonder it remains The Wounds appear therein What favours great and immense gains Did his true Pennance win Thus did Christ's Church-Repairer dy When he had thousands gain'd From Worldly Love Flesh-liberty Which had true Faith so stain'd He in his Order lives again Which to Perfection guides And as Reveal'd shall still remain As long as World abides Great Saints this Order hath brought forth As to the World is known But what 's the number or their worth Is known to God alone The Rule doth so to Virtue bind That if Men well keep it Not one among them they shall find who 'l not in glory sit OF THE CONFRATERNITY OF THE CORD In the cords of Adam I will draw them in the Cords of Charity Ose 11. v. 4. BEsides his Holy Orders three The Pope of his accord Confirm'd a Confraternity Where Girdle is a Cord For those who cannot undergo Those strict Rules yet desire By this blest Cord men should them know Related to the Frier Saint Francis made choice of a Cord For Girdle as the best Memoriall of his dying Lord In all his sorrows dress't For if you mind it all along Throughout his Passion still They led him bound in Cords full strong Wherever was their will This Passion in men's hearts to print Was always his desire Which soften can a heart of flint And set it all on fire With love unto its Saviour dear Who for Man thus did dy And never any pains to fear His love to shew thereby Saint Dominick poor Francis lov'd And would his Rule embrace But since by him 't was not approv'd He begg'd his Cord in th' place That thô he could not of that be He would have some relation To him by this a Memory Of Christ's most bitter Passion Persons of greatest quality Which this World doth afford Have thought it a great dignity To be girt with this Cord That they might be related to This Order while they live The great Indults to gain also Which Holy Church doth give Which are as great as any be Continually confirm'd Unto this Confraternity And all therein concern'd Which hath not any obligation Men binding under Sin But minds us of Christ's bitter Passion That we may glory win Five Paters and five Ave's more You daily are to say To mind how Christ was wounded sore Upon that dolefull day In hands and feet and in his Side These five you must salute And there with confidence abide Till you obtain your suit For what can God the Father here Deny his only Son When in his sight his Wounds appear Which he hath undergon To reconcile a sinfull soul Unto his Justice great And to dispense rich Grace's dole From his great Mercy 's seat With arms spred forth the Friers say These Pray'rs and make a Cross And thus Saint Francis us'd to pray Reminding that our loss Repaired was upon the Tree When Christ ' shands feet and side Were pierc't Which wounds effectuall be When thus by faith apply'd When Amaleck the Hebrews fought Exod. 17 v. 11. Moyses his arms stretch't out And praying thus success he brought But when they fell was doubt Of Victory which did foreshow How Christ for man should dy And now he 's dead we praying so His Death do signify Upon the Cross five Virtues rare Christ practis'd to teach us Daily to beg and take like care To imitate him thus In Patience and Humility Which he doth recommend Obedience and strict Poverty With Love unto the end More pious Practices are there Belonging to the Cord Which by this Saint ordained were To bind men to their Lord In bonds of true Obedience And perfect Charity That when the Soul departeth hence It live Eternally Behold how Francis's Life was spent In Mankind's Reformation Christ's seamless Garment that was rent And much defac't in fashion That is the Church with Heresy And vicîous life distain'd He brought unto its Purity Thousands of Souls regain'd Thus Moyses-like he did bring back Pharao's the Devils Exod. 3. v. 10. Slaves Their Souls with filth of Sin made black c. 14. v. 29. He by the Red Sea saves Reminding what Christ did endure On th' Cross to free from Sin And by example leads secure Through th' Desart we are in Deut. â— v. 2. Unto the rich Land promised That 's Heav'n Iosue 3. v. 17. Exod. 3. v. 8. the place of Bliss Where with sweet Milk and Hony fed The chast and pure Soul is That is the Vision of God clear And of his full Fruition Of losing it void of all fear How happy 's this condition Dear Father pray unto thy Lord. My life while I am here With thine in all things may accord That Hell I may not fear Dear JESUS grant for Francis sake That I thee always love And my life's Pattern by his take So reign with thee above Amen THE BOOKS ADDRESS TO THE READER YOu gentle Reader who have read me ôre Grant this Request to read me yet once more If curious Fancy to the first did move Let now your Motive be Devotion 's love And that your reading may advantage bring Attend not to the Verse but to the thing The sense consider deeply in your mind Imprint the same then you will surely find A hidden Treasure which doth rarely ly Within the bosom of Dame Poetry Virtue 's discover'd Vice laid to your view That this you fly that eagerly pursue Read not as Pilat ask't What 's Verity And then went forth Io. 18. v. 38. He did not really Seek Knowledge and much less did he intend To act he would be Jews and Cesar's friend He would not know lest coÌ„scieÌ„ce should approve What Christ should say Io. 19. v. 12. he lose Cesar's love that young Man who ask't of christ to know Which way to Heav'n he might securely go When Christ bid hiÌ„ the world and Riches leave This wholsom counsell he would not receive v. 21. He would no more discourse with him v. 22. and why To th' World and Flesh he had too strong a ty Beware the like when you have read this Book Lay 't not aside no more on it to look Because it pleaseth not the Flesh and Bloud But be assur'd when its right understood It will your Soul to Virtue 's Practice win With ravishments to that and hate to Sin Remember only Beast that cud did chew Was clean esteem'd â—ev 11.3 â—eut 14.8 â—en 8 v. â— â—â—k 3. v. â— 55 and sacrific'd to shew That if by reading you 'l God 's love obtain You must reflect and in the sense remain Of what you read and thus you will reap gain Or else your reading will but prove in vain Expect no Finis to this Book FOr as Man's Life a Warfare is Iob. 7. v. 1. Gal. 5. v. 17. ' Gainst Viceâ— and Virtue undertook Is hard 〈…〉 you miss The Crown 〈◊〉 promis't only those Who do persevâ—â— to the end Mat 10. v. 22. Mat. 25. v. 13. You must be watchfull till Death close Your eyes hence you will want a friend Oft to consult as virtuous Guide This Book will prove unto you such If in its reading you 'l abide 'T will give your heart a zealous touch Then daily here take your repast And let the End begin again Thus do as long as Life doth last That you may here secure remain Amen
Sara to expell Pray'r's good v. 8. said Raph'ël When 't conjoyns Fasting and Alms it Mercy finds Elias pray'd it might not rain 3. king 17. v. 1. c. 18. v. 45. And no rain did for three years fall He pray'd that it might rain again Sweet showr's fell down reviving all By Pray'r the Heav'ns did ope and shut As thô all pow'r in Pray'r were put Stout Josue's victorious hand Fighting he fear'd th' approaching night Iosue 10. v. 12.13 By Pray'r commands the Sun to stand It stood and gave him more day-light No wonder Creatures Pray'r obey Since the Creatour it did sway The Jews in Desart of 't rebell'd And God to Anger did provoke But Moyse's Pray'r his hands fast held From giving the Revenging stroke Permit my Anger God did say Exod. 32. v. 10.11 Which is restrain'd while thou dost pray Behold the force of fervent Prayer Attended with due circumstance All losses past it doth repair The Soul in grace it doth advance Untill by Love she doth God joyn 1. Io. 4. v. 16. And thus in him become divine In all temptations still be sure To use this Buckler of Defence As Bull-work this will you secure From Dev'ls and your great God's offence Lest in temptation you should fall Mat. 26. v. 41. By Pray'r upon your Father call And as the Dev'l doth go about Still watching whom he may devour 1. Pet. 5. v. 8. So saith S. Paul still pray devout That God will free you from his power 1. Tessal 5. v. 17. He doth not mean that you shall be Always in Pray'r upon your knee All men may follow their Vocation As he declares 1. Cor. 7. v. 20. but then be sure You have in it communication With God by word and thought most pure Colos 3. v. 17. Do what you do in the Lords Name Then this with Pray'r will be the same Thus who 's at work or in the Quire Will still be praying in effect Off'ring their hearts with pure desire To God that he may them protect Thus they 'l remain without all fear Of Satans snares while they live here And at their Deaths they 'l surely find God present helping in that hour If they by Pray'r will him remind He will protect them by his power And take their Soul still to remain In joys By Pray'r this you obtain Amen OUR FATHER When you pray pray thus Our Father Math. 6. v. 10. WHen God came down our Flesh to take Io. 3. v. 17. Mat. 11. v. 29. Two reasons mov'd him thereunto That he might dy for poor Man's sake And also teach him what to do For Men by Sin were grown so blind That Virtues path they could not find Christ did not then as formerly Command men this and that to do Threatning if not Exod. 21 v. 12.16.17 Act. 1. v. 1. they sure should dy In Virtues path he first did go Christ by Example first did teach And then he did begin to preach This is the best of ways in teaching When deeds the words associate It far excells all other preaching And brings a man to imitate Luk 6. v. 12. Christ day and night did often pray And afterwards taught us the way Son Eccli 18. v. 23. saith the Wise before you pray Prepare your heart tempt not the Lord All worldly cares cast clear away Let tongue and mind in Pray'r accord With revêrence still your Pray'r begin v. 23. Lest that it should be turn'd to sin The like Christ teacheth in this Pray'r By Preface which doth us remind Our thoughts to Heaven must repair If any favour we will find These words do also chear the heart Our Father which in Heaven art Christ doth call God our Father here For he to us a Being gave And names himself our Brother dear Who took our Flesh our Souls to save Tell my dear Brothers Io. 20. v. 17. I intend To God our Father to ascend What can give greater confidence That we shall gain our just desire Thô't were release of great offence Since we of Father it require Luk. 15. v. 20. The Father spend-thrift did receive The like he 'l do when Sin we leave This also doth our Hope increase That Christ God's Son our Brother is Who thô in Heav'n Rom. 3. v. 34. doth never cease To mediate for what 's amiss O Father life for all I gave Those who return receive and save Thus b'ing incourag'd humbly kneel Before your God prepar'd in heart And whensoever you do feel That he good motions doth impart Be sure you do them prosecute That they in time may bring forth fruit Then Cross your self say In the Name Of Father Son and Holy Ghost The Devils tremble at the same It guards you from that Hellish Host It shews one God and Persons three That God made Man dy'd on the Tree Thus arm'd with faith devoutly say Our Father which in Heaven art And also with Devotion pray Iam. 1. v. 5. That he will grace to you impart Then make this sevênfold great request Which of all Prayers is the best Hallowed be thy Name alway Of all Requests first let this be That all may honour and obey God their Creatour one and three Exod 33. v. 20. But since none can see him and live To his blest Name this honour give Thy Kingdom come God's pleas'd to say Revel 21. v. 3. Prov. 8 v. 31. With Men my Tabernacle is I take delight with them to stay And guide them to Eternall bliss For their sakes I took flesh and dy'd Mat. 28. v. 20. And still on Earth with them abide O let him reign in you by love Let his Loves Scepter in you sway By sinfull Act him nêre remove Isai 59. v. 2. Wisd 1 v. 3.4 Like Subject true his Word obey Thy Kingdom come Lord govern here My Heart keep in thy love and fear Thy Kingdom come Lord grant to me That while I live I do thy Will That I may thy Disciple be Mat. 25. v 41. v. 34. And pleasure in all things fulfill That I may scape thy dreadfull frown And hear come blest receive a Crown Thy Will be done for that is best In Earth as 't is in Heaven still What êre befalls still quiet rest Iob. 1.21 1 King 3. v. 18. Conforming to his pleasing Will. What you command O God or send Let me subscribe to to the end Gen. 4. v 7. Mat 23. v. 37. God given hath Free-will to man Which Lady-like doth domineer Reject accept at list she can She governs Flesh while she is here Water's before thee set Eccli 5. v. 17. and Fire To choose what 's best be sure aspire But since our Reason is so blind That oft it knows not what is best And will to Flesh is so inclin'd It yields to Flesh and Bloud 's Request Beg God to work in you his will That like the Saints you do it
Ecce gui tollit peccata Mundi PIOUS INSTRUCTIONS IN MEETER FITTED TO THE WEAKER CAPACITIES Thy Iustifications were sung by me in the place of my Peregrination Ps 118. v. 54. PRINTED in the year 1693. With licence of Superiours ADVERTISEMENTS 1. COnsidering that those for whom I chiefly made these Verses are not skilled in the reading of Abbreviations which sometimes are pronounced otherwise than they are written to avoid the confusion that might follow if I should write them as usually words which are abbreviated ending in D. and are pronounced with a T. I have written them with T. as pronounced 2. Complying with the desires of some friends I have noted in the Margent severall Texts which are related unto in this book and commonly but one in a place althô there be many more relating to the same subject the Margent not being capable to contain all 3. And note that in the Verses are not always the very same words of the Text but sometimes only the substance or allusions to the Text. 4. Again observe that the Catholick Bible names four Books of Kings whereas the Protestants call the two first the Books of Samuel And whereas the Protestants divide the 9th Psalm and joyn the 146. and 147. Psalms in one which the Catholick Bible upon better Authority doth not in all my Citations I follow the Catholick Bible and therfore the Psalms which I cite between the 9th Psalm and the 147. are always the Psalms following in the Protestant Bible As for example when I cite the 136. Psalm Vpon the rivers of Babylon it is the 137. in the Protestant Bible and so of the rest THE PREFACE HAving been conversant above three and thirty years with the poor whom to assist has been my employ I find a docile spirit amongst them and that many of them are hungry as I may term it and eager after Instructions not so much in curiosity as to be informed of their duty But I fear this of holy Jeremy is too much verified in these days The little ones have asked bread and there was none that brake it to them Lament c. 4. v. 4. Not but that there are many excellent Sermons made many pious and learned Books writ but that men of this age being grown so curious and of itching ears after eloquence of speech quaint and refined language in Prose Poëticall fancies and conceits in Verse that where these are not found the Sermon or Book takes not let the subject be never so pious which makes most Preachers and Writers incline to dress up what they render in such sort that it may be gratefull to those who esteem themselves the Wits of the Age. And perhaps all the profit they reap from them is this Elogium The man spoke well he has writ good language and is full of witty conceits and in the mean time those who seek more after the virtue than the curiosity of the word are deprived of their desires the language or conceits so exceeding their capacities that they cannot attain unto the sense and so make little or no advantage I speak not this as condemning such Preachers or writers for certainly when Piety Learning Wit and Eloquence are joyned together that is the most compleat Work But I rather make an Apology for these plain Verses which I dedicate unto the Poor who indeed stand most in need of Instructions which must be given to them in an humble and low stile befitting their capacities Wherefore I hope no pious person will carp at them which are beneath a Poets censure since I pretend not to Poetry in them but only have put such Instructions as I think needful to the Poor People in Meeter fitted for tunes such manner of reading being most delightfull to young People sooner learn't and better retained which they may learn to sing and so prevent the great abuse that is now a days among many in singing profane and lascivious songs And I doubt not but some will say that these exceed the length of songs I grant it but since I make them for Instructions commonly the subject I treat of considering the capacities they are fitted to cannot be fully explicated in shorter to their advantage And they may serve the good man to sing working at his trade thereby to edify his family Receive then you little ones of Christ's flock and my dearly beloved these my small endeavours for you and make that use of them which I hoped for when I made them that knowing what is evill you may avoid it and what is good you may embrace and put it into practice that so Christ's coming may not be in vain to you who came not only to redeem you from sin but also to teach you Virtue And if this Book may happily advantage you in this as I hope it will I have what I aimed at and as I ever had a love for and desire to serve you so I hope you will be mindfull in your prayers of Your true friend in Christ B. Leo of S. Mary Magdalen THE TABLE OF THE CONTENTS A Devout Prayer p. 1 Christ's Thirst of mans salvation p. 5 The Seaven Sacraments p. 14 Baptism and Pennance p. 21 The Sacrament of love p. 34 The Sacrifice of the Mass p. 45 The Israelits Lamentation p. 52 The 2. part A sinners Lamentation p. 61 The World's glory is Vanity p. 63 The 2. part True joy in Virtue p. 71 The fruits of Drunkenness p. 76 Death and Life in the Tongue p. 82 Take not God's name in vain p. 89 A Lyar to be excluded human society p. 97 The true Art of loving well p. 102 Of Pride p. 111 2. Part. Of Humility p. 115 Of Patience and the contrary p. 120 Of Obedience and the contrary p. 127 Of Poverty and the contrary p. 138 Of Chastity and the contrary p. 146 Do Pennance p. 153 Of Prayer p. 162 Our Father p. 171 Hail Mary p. 178 Of Fasting and the contrary p. 185 Of Alms-deeds and the contrary p. 193 The Angel Guardians advice p. 200 Liberty and Mortification p. 209 Hope and Despair p. 213 Of Death p. 222 Of Judgment p. 229 Of Hell p. 238 Of Purgatory p. 244 Of Heaven p. 252 S. Mary Magdalens Life p. 261 S. Francis his Life p. 278 The Books Address to the Reader p. 315 A PIOUS HYMN OR PRAYER IN HONOUR OF CHRIST AND HIS B. MOTHER HAil MARY hope of all mankind Hail pious pure and meek of mind Hail full of grace Luk 1. v. 28. God's holy spouse Of all that 's good the Treasure house Hail Virgin chast Luk. 2. v 7. Christ's Parent dear Thou who alone didst merit here Luk. 1◠v 35◠Isai 7. v. 14. Without a father to have child To be a Mother undefil'd Empress of Angels queen above Poor sinners comfort for Christ's love Pitty my tears let joy begin In my poor heart defil'd with sin Comfort a Sinner in distress And give not to the merciless The honour which
Pray'rs neglect Ps 15. v. 9. Bêing confident he 'l hear my cry And mercy shew before I dy Amen THE WORLD'S GLORY IS VANITY TRUE JOY IN VIRTUE All things that are done under the sun are vanity and affliction of spirit Ecclesiastes 1. v. 14. WHat is this World and all therein But Vanity producing sin Except the soul withdraw her love And Eagle-like take flight above And there in contemplation high On God doth fix her piercing eye Where she in God will clear behold Her self her worth and doth unfold The fallacies the World doth use To win mens love and them abuse By representing that for good Which proves disguis'd when understood She takes the Titles that declare God's attributes and Symbols are Of Heav'nly Bliss to name her toys That they may seem to us true joys But when you once do them detect As vain you slight contemn neglect By honour power and Majesty She raiseth some to that degree As Gods on Earth Dan. 3. v. 5. they will be treated As thô their Thrones with God's were seated Riches and Pleasures have some blinded That other Heav'n they never minded Some did in Beauty so excell Like Goddesses on Earth did dwell Puff't up with Pride ador'd by Men And Deify'd by Poets pen This glory now in dust doth ly All 's vanisht in the twinkl'of eye And if ought here of them remains It is their soul 's most sinfull stains Which in God's Justice may require The flame of Hell's Eternall fire Of Worldly Joy this is the end To which she brings her dearest friend Are here her joys from sorrows free No they are mixt with misery Honour doth meet with emulation Hest 7. v. 10. Which often causeth great vexation And when it seems past Fortunes frown Proud Aman-like it is cast down With labours great men riches gain What frights and fears do they sustain Lest they should lose their Idoll Wealth They often hazard life and Health And when death comes they no more have Than a poor Coffin Shroud and Grave Great Alexander in his Throne Was not content thô he alone The world possest he oft did weep His soul found want disturbing sleep Nothing the soul can satisfy That is beneath a Deity The Epicure and Sodomit Whom name of Beast doth most befit Eph. 4. v. 18 19. Like swine in carnall puddle ly By this obscuring Reason's Eye They shame's disease and sicknes find With lost repute true grief of mind Behold a drunkard in his cups What comes to hand clear off he sups With hellish smoke he fumes his brains Till void of reason he remains He curses swears he damn's his soul He spews like swine in it doth roll Wisd 2. v. 6. c. These are the joys and glory great With which the world her friends doth treat This course of life consider'd well To men of sense seems but a Hell Rom. 6. v. 21.23 Leading poor Souls to that infernall Where devills are and flames Eternall Base world who here false joys for true Dost give thy Lovers now Adieu No longer shalt thou Tyrannize On sense and soul to make thy prize No longer joy I 'le seek in thee Hence shall my joy in Virtue be THE SECOND PART HEAVEN UPON EARTH OR TRUE JOY IN VIRTUE A secure mind is as it were a continuall Feast Prov. 15. v. 15. TO stop a floud doth pains require Small hopes with oyl to quench a fire So floud of Vice 't is hard to turn Where Carnall love the Heart doth burn Yet burns asswage by greater heat So Virtues love makes that retreat To win Man's Heart to Virtues love Is properly God's work above Especially where sin is plac't And sense Man's Reason hath defac't Yet Virtue known is of that force It gains the Heart and changeth course The cause is known by its effect So I will Virtue here detect Not by defining as the use But by the fruits it doth produce The which Mans Reason will so please They 'l steal his Heart and love with ease Health Honour Riches to possess May termed be World's happiness But since in Heart Fear doth remain That what it gives ' twill take again They can't be deem'd felicity Where Fear 's 1. Ioh. 4. v. 18. true Joy can never be A Man that is in Conscience clear Is void of sorrow fright and fear He feareth nought the World can take It 's Joy to him Rom 5. v. 3. if for God's sake He loseth all and pains endure Rewards above he knows are sure Math. 9. v. 29. Christ's promise of an hundred fold For what is lost makes him so bold That Persecution he don't fly But runs into 't couragiously If he 's possest with any fear It 's lest he may not suffer here The greatest honours here on Earth Bestow'd by Man or due by Birth He slights as mean and Vanity When he above doth cast his eye To be God's son his Spouse Io. 1. v. 12. 1. Io. 3. v. 1. his friend Are honours which do those transcend On Earth was Alexander great Who sate in hâ—â— Imperiall seat To judge the World seems glory high Math. 19. v 28. 1. Cor. 6. v. 3. Compar'd to his he doth deny Since by Christ's promise judge he shall The Angles and the World with all Croesus with riches did abound Which do command on Earth what 's found These he contemns Math. 19. v 24. Mat. 5 v. 3. Iam. 2. v. 5. since t is a venture If ever they shall Heaven enter He blessed calls his Poverty which from that doubt doth set him free King Salomon Eccli 2. v. 10. who did possess All what was pleasant did confess T was Vanity v. 11. and grief of mind True ioy therein he could not find But Man from these withdrawing love Doth tast the lasting joys above Hence t is no worldly Crosses can Disturb the soul of Virtuous Man Since he all here as vain doth flight And suff'rings are his great delight For if with Christ 2. Cor. 1. v. 7. saith Sacred story He shares in pain he shall in glory Gal. 6. v. 14. This makes him pains and Crosses thirst Th'unsuffring state he deems the worst If others do'nt him mortify He makes himself his enemy With hunger cold and labours great And Discipline Gal. 5. v. 2. his Flesh doth treat To all affronts he 'l open ly What 's Will requires he will deny Still saying Luk 22. v. 42. Father with God's son Not mine but thy bles't will be don 2. Tim. 2. v. 4. Who as he came all men to save So he them glorify'd would have All Virtues are his great delight To practise them both day and night For they to soul do glory bring And wed her to the heau'nly King Where she in ioy shall still remain What price too great for so great gain Here you the reason clearly see Why virtuous Man from grief is free For ought on Earth he hath
Lying devill them deceive By Lyes of joys their dear souls to bereave O wicked Parents who while young neglect This dev'lish Vice in children to correct You Lyars guilty of this deadly crime Leave off Repent amend while you have time Speak what is just Eph. 4. v. 25. do not the truth deny The Lying devill and his Lyes defy Love and serve God his just Laws still attend Thus once a Lyar may make happy end THE TRUE ART OF LOVING WELL. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God Math. 22. v. 37. I Shall not here like Ovid teach The Art of brutish Carnall Love But that which did exceed his reach Practis'd by Seraphins above Which God Io. 13. v. 34. made man did teach to men To joyn them to their God agen To love those only who love you Or objects that your senses please Math 5. v. 46. What do you more then Heathens do Or brutes â—ho Belly love and ease Your God above whom you don't see I 'le teach to love and Enemy This Christ did teach v. 44. while he was here By words Luk 23. v. 34. and his most rare example The same to follow do not fear Rom. 5. v. 15. He for you grace hath purchas 't ample He hath rais'd Man unto this state He can love those Act 7. v. 60. who do him hate To do this cast your eye above Contemplate God's most lovely features Then for his sake you 'l learn to love In him all his beloved creatures And most of all Gen. 1. v. 26. his Image dear Which wrap't in flesh is placed here The Elements to Center tend As Water Earth the Air and Fire Where they do rest as in their end To hold them back doth force require The iron doth to Loadstone cleave That it may virtue thence receive Ps 72. v. 26. God Center is to soul of man Which here to Body is confin'd And without him there 's nothing can Give satisfaction to her mind He is the Loadstone where she gains Perfection and content remains For what are objects of Man's love Wealth Power Beauty Riches Glory All these are found in God above In high degree saith sacred story Wisd 1. v. 7.1 Ioh 4. v. 19. God all perfections doth contain Since he loves you love him again He loves you not for interest As if you could him profit bring But that you may with him have rest In glory of your heav'nly King Where you with Angels shall always In joy sing forth his glorious praise Love makes the consort of the Quire For all their Notes are tun'd by Love And Love is all their hearts desire Their God is Love 1. Ioh 4. v. 16. that reigns above By Love you do him perfect joyn To love him truly then incline To gain your loving heart's consent Gen. 1. v. 26. 1. Ioh 4. v. 9 Ioh 1. v. 14. Ioh. 20. v. 17. Behold what here on Earth is don All creatures made for your content Nay he has sent his only son To take your flesh and Brother be From sin and Hell to set you free All objects of true Love are here Laid open to your corp'rall view Since all that 's perfect doth appear In Christ who God and Man is true Ps 44. v. 5. He is the beauty of Mankind In Body features grace and mind He is not only amiable In body but likewise in heart His love to you was firm and stable Ioh. 13. v. 1. Till Death did soul and Body part While here on Earth for your souls sake No pains did he refuse to take He fasted pray'd he watch't he taught Cold Hunger Thirst he did endure Salvation for your soul he sought And to make future Glory sure Ro. 5. v. 8. By bitter pains he dy'd on th' tree Thus much thy JESUS loved thee Now he to heaven is ascended Io. 14. v. 2.1 Io. 2. v. 2. Rom. â— v. 34. Heb. 7. v. 25. Beholding Father face to face His Love to you is still extended He hath prepared you a place That it may be your finall home He is your Advocate become Love this your God-Man who loves you And for your sake hath done all this In all your ways prove to him true Against his Laws nêre do amiss His blessed will be sure obey Math. 19. v. 17. To Heav'n it is the only way THE SECOND PART I say to you love your Enemies Math. 5. v. 44. If you love me Ioh. 14. v. 15. saith Christ our Lord Be sure you keep this my command Ioh. 15. v. 12. Math. 22. v 39 1 Ioh. 4. v. 20. With one another still accord Your Brother love as your right hand Who doth not here his Brother love Loves not his God who is above Not only love him who loves you For blindest Heathen doth the same But love your Enemy Math. 5. v. 44. as true Tender his life his goods his fame So you who Enemies have been To me Math. 6 v. 12.14 shall love and pardon win God made man's soul his image dear To live with him eternally And thô to sin he did not fear And thus became his Enemy Revenge on him he did not take But taking flesh dy'd for his sake Here learn of God Math. 5. v. 45. your Heav'nly Father Who sinner feeds as well as just To feed your Enemy yea rather Than friend so you may humbly trust Luk. 6. v. 38. That God your soul with grace will feed Since you fed Foe in time of need You cannot love his wickedness But as God's Image you must love 1. Ioh. 4. v. 20. To 's Pattern Kindness here express If Peace you love that is above Then mercifull to you he 'l be Who for his sake lov'd Enemy The Just dost lesser stand in need Of love Rom 8. v. 2. than he who is in sin From satan's pow'r the first is freed While this 2. Timi 2. v. 26. his slavery lyes in O pray that God will set him free Then God will mercy shew to thee But if Revenge thou seek'st to take Math. 18. v. 32 33. For injury that 's gone and past Thou liable thy self dost make To guilt forgiven and at last As cruell damn'd thy soul will be Not shewing Mercy shew'd to thee With joy forgive then Man's offence Since Christ our Lord hath promis't you Mark 11. v 25 Eccli 28. v 2. Mark 4. v. 24. For sin it shall make recompense And debt remit which to it's due What measure you give to your Brother The same shall you have and no other His loss is most when he wrongs thee In body goods or reputation Without Repentance his will be The loss of God and soul's salvation Pray you the Father as the Son Forgive Luk. 23. v. 34. he knows not what h 'as don If you saw Beast in danger great You strait would run his life to save And enemy away would beat
proper Judgment and self-will ' Gainst God do oft rebell And are the Authors of all ill And plunge the Soul in Hell Saint Austin saith that nothing burns In Hell but Man's self-will Who this denies and humbly learns His Master 's to fullfill By his Obedience is secure Where no Sin is intended Colos 3. v. 24. And of Rewards from God is sure When this short life is ended But who Superiours disobey And slight their just desires Will be condemn'd Colos 3. v. 25. in th'latter day Unto Eternall fires Rom. 13. v. 1. For as all Power is from God So those who it resist v. 2. Shall surely feel his scourging Rod If they in it persist The World would in confusion be Without state-government The like in Church you soon would see If Laws did not prevent Except on Earth men had a Law To govern them thereby Of no one they would stand in aâ—â— But set up Anarchy What is the cause of Heresy Eccli 10. v. 14. But disobedient Pride Men will not on the Church rely Iud. 1. v. 18. But take themselves for Guide And thus they into errours run And stubbornly defend The Heresy they have begun Mat. 1â— v. 17. Untill they are condemn'd Rebellion also is a Child Of disobedient Heart Those men who are with this defil'd From God's just Law depart ' Gainst God and Man they do rebell Whom God doth reprobate Thus headlong they run on to Hell Repenting when too late Hence Murders Rapes hence Fire and sword This lays all desolate This brings to slight God and his Word New Doctrins to create Rev. 12. v. 7. v. 9. As Lucifer rebelling fought And into Hell was cast So those who have Rebellion taught Will perish at the last Exod. 20. v. 12. Long life is promis't unto those Who Parents do obey But death their eyes shall sooner close Who do not duty pay Where Father blesseth Eccli 13. v. 11. without doubt God blessing doth bestow v. 11. When Mothers Curses do root out Whole Families we know Here we do see the sad effects Of this unnat'rall Vice The stubborn Heart God nêre directs Take then Saint Paul's advice Rom. 13. v. 5. To higher Powers subject be And this for Conscience sake Thus from God's Curse you will be free And happy end will make For since all sinfull acts proceed From disobedient will Deny your will and you 'l be freed From Sin and God's fullfill Hence that our own wills we submit The Scriptures do advise 1. King 15. v. 22. Affirming that the same to quit Excells our Sacrifice By word and deed Luk. 2. v. 51. Christ taught the same His Mother still obeying And to Saint Joseph bearing name Of Father duty paying I came not here Iob. 6. v. 38. by Father sent To seek and do my will But mine while here is always bent His pleasure to fullfill Christ full of grief in bloudy sweat Math. 26. v. 44. Desirous to be quit Three times his Prayer did repeat Yet always did submit Father not mine Luk. 22. v. 42. but thy blest will Be now and ever don To imitate be ready still This most obedient son Since Christ as Man would subject be And his own will deny Thô it were good much less ought we On self-will to rely Gen. â— v. 21. For since our will to Sin is prone And from the Truth to slide It 's dangerous to act alone Much safer with a Guide We read that Abrâm to fullfill God's pleasure and command Gen. 22. v. 10. Was ready on the Mount to kill His son with his own hand This so pleas'd God above the rest He promis'd v. 18. in his seed All Generations should be blest By Christ from Devill freed God doth esteem Free-wills submission Above all Sacrifice Conjoyned with the Hearts Contrition For from the Heart arise All human actions then give this And you give all you have And you can never do amiss But Soul at Death will save Except to God you give your Will No Sacrifice is gratefull Thô you should fast and pray yet still Your Works are to him hatefull The People pleaded they had fasted Esai 58. v. 3. The Prophet answer'd well Your self-Will with your Fast still lasted Which brings the Soul to Hell Let all men be while here they live Obedient to Superious And also never let them give Rom. 12. v. 10. Affront to their Inferiours Thus Pride of Heart will be subdu'd And self-Will overthrown The Soul with grace will be indu'd And made with God all one Dear JESUS Phil. 2. v. 8. since Obedience laid Thee dead upon the Tree And thus for Disobedience paid We humbly beg of Thee Math. 16. v. 24. Luk 9. v. v. 23. That we may be obedient still And our own will deny Conforming to thy blessed will That we may never dy Amen OF POVERTY AND THE CONTRARY Blessed are you poor for yours is the Kingdom of God Luke 6. v. 20. IF Cicero the Eloquent Or Aristotle that great Wit Had taught or Angel hither sent In golden letters had this writ The Poor are blest they 'd not have gain'd Disciples but alone remain'd For since Dame Nature this doth teach To lay up for a Winters day It had been vain for them to preach The contrary or to gainsay The Emmets Prov. 6. v. 6.8 who in summer hide Corn and for Winter do provide And since God's greatest friends on Earth With riches were by him rewarded This Doctrine had dy'd in its birth And never would have been recorded Than Rich the Poor more happy are Such new Divines men would beware Iob. 1. v. 3. Gen 12. v. 7. c. 22. v. 17. Was not just Job with riches fraught And Abrâm promis't Chanaan's Land The Israëlites from want were brought Through Desart by God's mighty hand And to a rich Land Iosue 3. v. 17. which did flow With Milk and Honey they did go While Adam's Sin had men enslav'd And light of Reason had so blinded Eph. 4 v. 18.19 That they like Beasts themselves behav'd And future joys but little minded They follow'd what did please the sense And little thought of going hence Or that they had à Soul to save Denying th'Immortality Thereof but when Flesh to the Grave Did go the Soul did also dy This made them seek their Heaven here And nothing more than Want to fear And our good God did so comply With human frailty Man lay in That he did not immediatly Command Perfection but from Sin To keep Levit. 20. v. 22.24 and in his fear to live And he would temp'rall Blessings give Io. 1. v. 14. But when the Plenitude of Grace God's Son from Heaven did descend What did before seem vile and base He took upon him to this end That we might still convinced be What World esteems is Vanity He Flesh would take of poorest Mother In
Iejunio In keeps the soul to Virtue bent It doth preserve Grace and to other Rare Virtues makes her full intent The fruits of Feasting are Hell's gain By Fasting Man doth just remain This made the Saints so much esteem The Virtue of true Abstinence Themselves secure they did not deem Without this Buckler of defence It shields from Fiesh and Devil's dart That it shall never wound the heart Saint John Christ's great Fore-runner fasted Luk. 1. v. 15. Mark 1. v. 6. He no delicious meat would eat What Desart yields he only tasted With Pennance strict he Flesh did treat Thus kept the Grace he was born in And never did consent to Sin Saint Paul thô by God's choice elected While here did seem his Flesh to hate By Pennance strict he it corrected 1 Cor 9 v. 27. Lest that he might prove Reprobate If you examine you will find The Saints were all of this Saint's mind If therfore you will be secure From tempting Flesh and Devill fell By Fast God's grace you must procure To guard you while on Earty you dwell Fasting preserves from new offence Ioël 2. v. 12. And for past Sins makes recompence Hence 't is the Church commands to Fast Yet this is to be understood As long as health and strength doth last She seeks hereby her Childrens good Three sorts of Fasts in Church there are Which I will briefly here declare The first is called naturall And broke by crum or drop we take The next Ecclesiasticall One meal a day in this we make The third is abstinence when we Excepting flesh to eat are free Unto the first the Church doth bind When We receive the Sacrament Lent Fridays Eves where Fast we find We must with one meal be content On Saturdays we do abstain When only Flesh we do refrain Behold what profit doth accrew To us by Fasting then besure To give Obedience what is due To Holy Church while you endure Who hears the Church Luk. 10. v. 16. the same hears me who 'l not as Heathen let him be The meat hurts not which enters in When it is took with moderation Your Disobedience is the Sin Which makes you guilty of Damnation Gen. 1. v. 31. Gen. 3. v. 11. Good was the Apple Adam eat Yet eating his offence was great As Satan tempted him so here He tempts to Disobedience The Flesh bids eat and never fear The Soul yields to Concupiscence Thus not regarding Church command Man boldly eats what comes to hand But let us still obedient be To holy Church Mat. 18. v. 17. in all our ways That from Christ's curse we may be free Remembring what Saint Austin says who 'l not the Church his Mother call Have God for Father never shall Let no Flesh-Devill then prevail Phil. 3. v. 19. To make you Belly-God adore To feast now what will it avail Luk. 16. v. 24. When you must hunger evermore From Sin preserve your Soul by Fast Rev. 19. v. 9. That you may Feast with God at last Amen OF ALMSDEEDS Make to your selves friends of the Mammon of iniquity Luk. 16. v. 9. IN the beginning God did give All things in common here below That men might still united live No one his Portion then did know God did not parts to men assign 29. No one could say this Land is mine When Men on Earth did multiply Gen. 13. v. 9. The Earth in parts they did divide Who had most pow'r gain'd most thereby The weakest poorest did abide Thus Avarice did first begin 1. Tim. 6. v. 10. Which Scripture calls the Root of Sin By Property their hearts were set On greedy gain and Worldly Love Their aim was worldly Wealth to get They little minded joys above They were to Flesh and Bloud so bent Iam. 5. v. 5. Their Heaven was this World's content Ps 16. v. 15. The Soul's desire 's nêre satisfy'd Till she joyns God her finall End She having with the Flesh comply'd To her desires doth wholly bend So men their Heav'n seek in this life Which is the cause of Worldly strife For they to greatness do aspire And Wealth 's increase Prov. 28. 〈◊〉 22. which all commands They grieve to see another higher In honour riches or in lands This makes them plot both day and night How they may gain by wrong or right Hence 't is they cheat they rob they kill To gain a little worldly wealth To satisfy their greedy will They often hazard life and Health The Idol-Riches they adore Give these and they will ask no more Prov. 1◠v. 20. Eccli 13. v. 24. Eccli 4. v 4.5.6 Eccli 13. v. 24. They are no friends unto the Poor Their wants they 'l not the least supply But harshly drive them from the door As their Wealth 's greatest Enemy Let them consider how unjust They are hereby unto their trust For thô God some men did permit To have more than some others have Yet his decree he doth not quit Deut. 14. v. 29. Eccli 4. v. 1.2.3.4 By which the Earth he common gave All Men are by her Fruits to live To Poor the Rich are bound to give For since they do the Land possess Which food unto the Body yields To those which only Trades profess To till and sow who have no fields Eccli 29. v. 12. In want they 're bound to give them bread Or give account when they are dead For God hath plac't the Rich man here Not only his own flesh to feed But to be his true Dispenseer Luk. 16. v. 11. Distributing where he sees need Account of this he once must give If bad 't is Death if good he 'l live Our Saviour's counsell here then take And freely give unto the Poor Luk. 16. v. 9. Thus wicked Mammon friends will make Of whose assistance you 'l be sure Your Soul when it doth Body leave The Poor shall into joys receive Isai 58. v. 7. Prov. 17. v. 5. The Prophet bids you to refresh Who hungry are and naked cloath And not despise them your own flesh Nor their infirmities to leath Tob. 4. v. 8. Do still as you would be done by To all in great necessity Christ's counsell here Command becomes Sell what you have Luk. 12. v. 33. and Alms bestow The Saints in Alms have spent great sum's Before the Poor should naked go These words of Christ made them so free What you give them Mat. 25. v. 40. you give to me Alms Eccli 29. v. 17. saith the Wiseman do defend More than the strong man's shield or spear Against assaults our foes intend The Soul thus armed doth not fear Alms reinforce her so with grace They raise the Siege and leave the place And thô you should be Sinners great True Charity hides all your Sins v. 16. Tob 4. v. 11 Luk. 6. v. 38. And pleads before God's Mercy seat And of him Pardon for you wins Who gives to
Idols is their grief Which now can yield them no relief These thoughts will draw your love frō wealth From carnall pleasures still refrain If you will keep your Soul in health Think what at Death by them you 'l gain Rev. 18. v. 7. How much you liv'd in pleasures here So much of torments you may fear Since then the pleasures of the Flesh Wealth Honour Glory are but vain Phil. 3. v. 8. Eccli 2. v. 10.11 Isai 40. v. 6. And at Death can't Your soul refresh As base and vile do you disdain Esteem them all mere Vanity Which pass away immediatly Iames. 1. v. 10. Coloss 3. v. 1.2 And fix your love upon those pleasures Which are prepar'd for you above Those Honours Glory Joys and Treasures Which will both true and lasting prove Love nothing but in God Ps 41. v. 3. Luk. 2. v. 29. and he From fear of Death will set you free While you live here be enemy To Flesh and Bloud Gal. 5. v. 24. Fast Watch and Pray Relieve the Poor in Charity Be Humble Patient and Obey Still Virtue practise and Sin fly Thus you will stand prepar'd to dy Besides that Death doth put an end To all those Worldly Vanities It doth the soul from Body send To lasting Joys Mat. 25. v. 13. or Miseries And there 's not any certainty When this great Day or Hour shall be God doth the Hour of Death conceal That we may always ready stand 1. Thess 5. v. 2. Mat. 24. v. 44. Thief-like it doth upon us steal Believe it then to be at hand In Conscience clear with Virtues drest That when you dy your Soul may rest What Madness t is but for an Hour To ly in sin and hazard all 1. Io. 3. v. 8. To keep within the Devil's power And not to God for Mercy call If in that Hour you chance to dy Your soul is damn'd Eternally Fear Death before it comes and be Mat. 24. v. 44. Upon your guard against that Hour Love God and be assured he Will you defend from Satans power Eccl. 8. v. 12. c. 12. v. 24. Prov. 28. v. 14. Thrice happy man that liveth here Replenish't with God's Love and Fear Then come Death early come it late Foreseen or sudden when you dy Prov. 14. v. 26. Eccli 33. v. 26. 1. Io. 4. v. 16. Iob. 14. v. 14. Fear hath secur'd you from Hell's gate Love joyn'd you to the Deity Let Death be always in your mind That you these blest effects may find Amen OF JUDGMENT After Death followeth Judgment Hebr. 9. v. 27. AS we are servants placed here Our Masters pleasure to fulfill 2. Cor. 5. v. 10. So we before him must appear To prove if we have done his Will Where ev'ry one reward shall have As here he did himself behave Death's only Messenger to cite All Souls before God's dreadfull Throne Where he will pass a Judgment right And Justice do to ev'ry one Twice God will Judge at Death the Soul When Bodies rise he 'l Judge the whole Dan. 7. v. 10. Rev. 20. v. 12. As soon as Soul from Body parts All 's op'ned to the Conscience view Who knows the secrets of Mens Hearts Will pass a Sentence just and true The Soul that moment knows its doom Go thou Accurs't or Blessed come Yet God will have one Genêrall day When soul and Body shall appear The Bodies 1. Thess 4. v 16. v. 17. which before dead lay Shall rise with horrid dread and Fear All must appear at Trumpet 's sound To that Assize all men are bound Rom 2. v. 5 6. Mat. 7. v. 15. God will have all men publick try'd Who good and bad were shall appear God's Judgments will be justify'd Thô some Men were disguised here Wolves sheep-skins then must lay aside No one Hebr. 4. v. 13. that day his fault can hide As Bodies did with souls partake And share with them in sinfull acts They also here account must make And judged be of all their facts If good with soul they 'l happy be If bad condemn'd to misery Again this Judgment-day must be That Christ who here was vilify'd Mat. 24. v. 30. May then appear in Majesty By who all Causes must be try'd 2. Tim. 4. v. 1. Hen then shall Judge the Quick and Dead Who Thief-like to the Judge was lead Before this Dreadfull day there shall Luk. 21. v. 25. Math. 24. v. 7. Strange signs in Sun and Moon be seen Great Earth-quakes also shall befall Great Wars and Tumults rise between Father and Son Brother and Brother v. 7. All Nations fighting one another Besides the Anti-Christian cheat Mat. 24. v. 24. With sword and Wonders shall compell Most Men from Christ's Faith to retreat And draw them with himself to Hell 2. Thess 2. v. 8. He shall be kill'd by JESUS Spirit And cast in fire as he shall merit Ose 3. v. 5. Isai 10. v. 21. Math. 24. v. 29. Then the hardhearted faithless Jew Shall be converted to Christ's Faith Soon after these things will ensue The Judgment-Day as Scripture Saith Before which there will yet appear More dreadfull Signs recounted here The sun shall be obscur'd v. 29. Act. 2. v. 20. Mat. 24. v 29 Luk 21. v. 26. Rev. 6. v. 14. the Moon Shall lose her light like Bloud appear As dark as Midnight shall be Noon Which shall fill Men with Dread and Fear The Stars shall fall the Heavens mov'd By Earth-quakes Mountains be remov'd From Heav'n most dreadfull fire shall fall Luk. 21. v. 25 Rev. 6. v. 16. The sea most horrid noise shall make Sinners shall on the Mountains call To hide them and with Terrour quake With Fear they 'l dry Luk 21. v. 26. and wither away How Dreadfull then will be that Day The Ensign of the Son of Man The Cross Mat. 24. v. 30. shall in the Sky appear They 'l tremble who here from it ran Who lov'd it Dan. 7. v. 9 Mat. 25. v. 31. shall with joy draw near Then shall be plac't the Judgment Seat And Christ appear in glory great Dan. 7. v. 10. v. 10. Ps 96. v. 3. Mat. 24. v. 31. Mat. 25. v. 6. Milliôns of Angels shall attend Him Fire shall run before his face He then his Angels forth will send To summon all unto that place At Midnight they 'l the Trumpet sound Which will throughout the World resound Arise you Dead 1. Thess 4. v. 16.17 come out of Grave You also who alive remain Appear that you may sentence have Of Joys or Everlasting Pain The Dead shall rise Rev. 20. v. 12. Math 24. v. 12. and all shall stand Astonish't at this great Command Souls shall their Bodies repossess 11. The Just with joy shall enter in But those who liv'd in wickedness With grief Rev. 2◠v. 13. reflecting on their sin As Bodies good or wicked are They shall
men to kill Just Noah for his God's Mercy wins Who always did his will Gen. 15. v. 13. Exod. 1. v. 14. Exod. 3. v. 10. Soon after they return'd to sin Th' Egyptians them inthrall'd God Moyses sent their hearts to win For Mercy they then call'd Exod. 14. v. 2â— Exod 20. Exod â—6 v. 4 13. By the Red sea they all were freed Commands he gave them ten Whom Moyses did in Desart feed And brought them back agen Unto the Land of Promise which Iosue 3. v. 17. With milk and honey flow'd Where they became a Nation rich In blessings there bestow'd Here they did oftentimes rebell Against their God most high Iudg 2. v. 12.17 And by the Serpents craft they fell Into Idolatry They oft for this chastized were 4. King 25. v. 11. And into Bondage led Some were corrected by dread fear Ps 77. v. 14. When others were struck dead But Vice with men did still renew Till our Redeemer came And laid it open to the view Which caus'd in men a shame And by his Virtues rare did win Them Virtue here to love Which drew their hearts from filthy Sin Now fix't on God above And when for Adam's fault he dy'd And freed from sin and Hell He form'd a Church out of his side Where Men secure might dwell Not fearing Sathan's strength 1. Tim. 3. v. 15. or sleights Again them to deceive He left therein such guiding Lights If they would to them cleave The Ark of Noah prefigur'd this Gen. 7. v. 1.23 Which sav'd all Souls within But who to enter here did miss Did perish in their sin v. 23. So those who in God's Church abide Pure in their conversation 1. Tim. 3. v. 15. And from that Faith do never slide Find therein true salvation But after Christ was gone Alas And his Apostles dead 2. Petr. 2. v. 1.2 v. 13. v. 10.18 Iud. v. 19. v. 12. He and the Truth blasphemed was Men by their senses led Forsook their Faith and doing good And running to all vice Trod under foot Christ's pretious Bloud Which was their Soul's great price At this God was offended sore Saint John reveals the same Rev. 7. v. 1. He power gave to Angels four Whom he sent in his Name To punish men by sea and Land Destroying all therein For Man's offence who now did stand Defil'd with hainous sin But God who 's still to Mercy bent Once more was pacify'd Another Moyses here was sent Among us to abide Who by his Life was to renew Christ's Passion in our mind And lay his Life unto our view That we might Virtue find Another Angel v. 2. says Saint John I saw come from the East Who cry'd unto the four hurt none Sea Earth Trees Fish or Beast Vntill in th' forehead with the Cross v. 3. I 've sign'd God's servants dear Teaching by sin what heavy loss What comfort 's in God's fear Poor Francis of Assise was he Born rich a Merchants son With other youth at first too free In pleasures he did run Yet to the Poor in charity He always did increase Which caus'd him to elected be God's Anger to appease Lo How God Sinners of all Men Chose Sinners to recall King David Peter Magdalen And Francis last of all As fittest Patterns here to win Them to Repentance by Assuring them Ezech 13. v. 15.16 if they 'l leave Sin They in his Love shall dy You may him well an Angel call For his chast Life and pure From which he never more did fall It always did endure Seraphicall for his great Love Doth Holy Church him name From Seraphins who burn above Absorp't in Love's great flame He had the Sign of God above Rev. 7. v. 2. As after did appear The Wounds that Christ had for our love He in his Flesh did bear He sign'd all men in th'forehead deep Renewing in their mind Christ's Passion and his deadly sleep He suffred for Mankind While yet a Merchants Life he led An Alms was begg'd but he Deny'd to give as busied Thô other times most free Lo he runs after speedily As pitty did him move And gave with Vow nêre to deny Ought asked for God's Love Another begs who was full bare He knew him nobly born He gave the cloaths which he did wear And put on his all torn These acts of pitty mov'd God so That Francis Mercy wins For Charity conceals 1. Petr. 4. v. 8. you know A multitude of Sins Next night in sleep Christ did appear And shew'd where Jewels were Saith These are for my souldiers here Who Holy Cross do bear He strait prepares for th' Holy Land Where Souldiers wore a Cross He did not Visions understand And thus was at a loss Till Christ reveal'd to him again He mean't not that Warfare But that to suffer and take pain With him he must prepare By his example to recall Sinners from their sad state To save them from Eternall thrall And cause them Sin to hate To teach them Virtue and true way To Heaven Gal. 5 v. 24. Phil. 3. v. 18.19 by the Cross Which glory gives in th' latter day When Sinners shall find loss With tears he prays both day and night To know God's holy will And how to do this work he might His pleasure to fulfill Christ from a Cross to Francis spake Go thou my Church repair Which falling is He care did take All things prepared are Saint Damians Church wherein he pray'd He did intend to mend Great Sums of mony that were pay'd He sav'd unto this end And gave them to the Pastor free The same work to compleat Who did refuse to take them he Did fear his Father's heat But Francis left the mony there Which when his Father knew He ready was his hair to tear So high in rage he flew And presently in hast did run Mony and Son to find To punish him who had this don He was resolv'd in mind Poor Francis but a Proselyte For fear hid in a cave Not yet arriv'd to virtue's height Resolv'd himself to save The Priest shew'd to his Father then Colos 3. v. 5. Where his God-mony lay He taking it was pleas'd agen And quiet went away But Francis seem'd to be asham'd At this his cowardise And his small Love to Christ he blam'd And begg'd of God advice Who gave him grace and courage too He strait to th' City went Resolv'd for Christ to undergo What malice could invent By Fasting pale and poorly clad He sadly walk't along The people thought he had been mad With cryes about him throng His Fathers hears goes forth to see Lays on him viôlent hands Brings home a Pris'ner close to be Lock't up and bound in bands His Mother more inclin'd to pitty Watch't opportunity When 's Father was gone out of th' City And set her dear Son free He missing him at his return Seeking at last did find With Avarice his heart did