stratagems bewrayes the wiles Wherewith the Fowler silly Larks beguiles He warns of dangers needful counsel drops Forestalls surprisal hints coelestials props Both heaven and earth his lot must needs commend Who hath such a seal'd though concealed Friend Friend do not cease thy outcry to prefer Slack not thy witness from thy mount of Mirrh Although the Rock of ages thee immure Where Bread's ascertain'd and where water's sure Though out of dread and gunshot thou abide Thy Talent in a napkin do not hide From Mount-Communion Gospel-depths disclose If not in Meeter yet in Nervous Prose For If to birds incag'd thy strains be rare Theâ—'l more be priz'd by birds in th' open air Direct thy musick to the shady Wood Where for a covert and to pick their food The sometime numerous flock dispersed lie Expos'd to sinkings and design'd to die Let pitty move you yea let grace incline Your yearning Bowels by a power divine Sing heaps of Wheat Birds of the Golden-feather Will fly like clouds then flock like Doves together Ne'r fear the Vulturs that are now abroad Your Covert-work and wages are of God I le not detain you but conclude and end Your no-way tired though retired Friend A Coppy of Verses Composed and sent me from London by a Child of 12 years o Age. OH what is man that God should mindful be Of such a Brute of such a Beast as he Admire the goodness of the Lord of lords That he such mercy unto man affords Man that 's but durt or clay or some such thing Oh! then admire the goodness of our King When first the Lord created man then he Did give him grace to live eternally Then he did fill him with his holy Spirit And gave him power eternal joy to merit Thus man by his own power and strength doth stand The subtil Serpent comes with a strong hand To try mans power and to shake his faith Thus to the woman he begins and saith Come silly woman hath God said that ye Are not to eat of the forbidden Tree The woman answering to the Serpent said We are to eat of all that God hath made But from the tree that in the midst doth stand We are commanded to refrain our hand The subtil Serpent gat the day at last And made poor Eve and Adam be laid fast In mire and dirt and filth of sinful sin Which made poor Adam Gods great curse to win For when the woman saw the tree was good And that 't would make one wise also for food She takes the fruit of the forbidden tree And gave some to her husband and when he Had taken of the fruit he condescended To eat likewise so to the Serpent bended Now God perceiving man had quite lost all This great perfection had before his fall And that there was no way for him to stand He thinks how he might put an helping hand Though feeble man 's thus fallen and quite lost God calls his Son and therein spares no cost Who sure is able all their sins to bear Yea though their sins were twice as many more Come my dear Son come wilt thou undertake To bear those Sinners sins do for my sake Come my dear Son redeem lost man for me I have no way to save him but by thee If thou wilt be a surety for mankind I 'le covenant with thee dear Son and bind My self to give thee strength and glorious power For to go through the torments of that hour In which thou Justice art to Satisfie I say againe to thee I will stand by Our Lord and Saviour willing for man's sake To dye for him he did his office â—ake And so well did perform his charge that he Poor man from chaines of darkness did set free By offering up himself a Sacrifice He paid the debt that did for sin arise Go that the highest heavens doth now ascend To God the Father and from thence doth send His holy Spirit to lead in the way And guide us lest we erre and go astray Aâ—l praise be given unto the Lord of lords 〈…〉 his Grace much help to us affords And 〈◊〉 us all our dayes express the same 〈◊〉 honour of his great and glorious Name An Answer being desired This fragment being but a part of what was intended â—â—nd Friend When first I purpos'd freely to rehearse The courteous welcome of your rare ripe verse With what delight your promptness we descry With what thanks-givings we God's teachings eye How wit 's dâ—xterity ascends its place 〈◊〉 how it prostrates to enthroned grace On this design there need not be imprâ—'st Our rural requisites to do their best Our empty Genius would attempt the wing Our home-spun dialect its store would bring Wit if its wit assistance would afford And wanton mirth turn-out its frothy hoord But all their work were fitter for the plough Than wreath a Garland for your hopeful brow For look as hazy morning-mists give way When glistering Phoebus doth his beams display Or as with gentlest touch the fearful snail Contracts his cornets and slow silvering tail So slunk and shrunk for shame such vain essayes By sound rebukes from your grave gracious layes Since then no concord can be but a clash 'Twixt the best substance and this filthy trash No streams nor frames can square with the design But aid and arguments throughout divine What great necessity upon us lies For that anointing to prefer our cryes That 's promis'd and prepared to direct Through paths of Myst'ries secrets to detect Things hid from ages from the voice to hide Of fleshly glory to abase the pride While Babes and sucklings weak base empty things Into the knowledge of these depths he brings Oh then what purity should such direct As lively leadings in such paths expect What chast conceptions yea what frames refin'd Should still accommodate the waiting mind And then how thankful should they trembling stand Who need such leadings from this Holy Hand Joy watch with Jealousie most safely keeps Their feet who walk through such misterious deeps Sweet Soul for you is prayd in early dayes What Israel's singer upon high did raise Their mirth and musick who bare conquering palms Prompted to sing the Lamb's and Moses Psalms Which none but Zions Virgins can acquire Tun'd to the sacred Evangeliâ—k lyre May your dear Soul the power and vertue find Of that great Compact which your song doth mind How neer how pure the blood of sprinkling makes What glorious priviledge the Saint partakes What helps to holiness it brings to hand On what firm Basis all his comforts stand What grounds for constant triumph it affords What sweet ingagements still to be the Lords What blessed prospects through these clouds it gives To Zions joy that its redeemer lives And that he hasts to pluck from Satan's jaws And give reviving to his blessed cause A Friend his Offer towards the preserving The remembrance of that faithful servant of Christ John e Edwards junior who died in the Prison of
Milk which when she had it she said I cannot relish any thing But said she I will wait upon the Lord to see what he will provide for me Then her Sister standing by she said Sister Betty and Sister Ann be sure your first Work be in the morning to seek the Lord by Prayer and likewise in the evening and give thanks for your Food for you cannot pray too often to the Lord and though you cannot speak such words as others have yet the Lord will accept â—f the heart for you do not know how soon your speech may be taken away as mine was She desired her Mother thus Do not let 〈◊〉 much company be here late at night lest it â—hould hinder them from seeking the Lord in duty 〈…〉 She said further When I was first ill and went about the House I was not under trouble for my sins at all neither am I now troubled with satans temptations for the Lord hath trampled him under his feet She said also When I can hear or understand I will tell some body that they may come and read by me for I love to hear the Word of God read to me for then she could not hear Another time She spake to the maid to call her Mother saying I have something to say to her and when her Mother came she said If my speech be taken away and should be a great while so that then I may have no Doctor Apothecary or Chirurgion come at me and that I may not have any more Physick given to me and be sure to take notice of my words for they look more at the Physick than at the Power of God and if you suffer them to give me any more things the Lord will be angry with you and will bring a greater affliction upon you in some of my other Sisters I know the Lord can open the passage of my Throat in a moment and cause me to take food or he may let me lie a great while in this condition As for washing my mouth with water I find no more but only to wash the phlegm But I am fâ—d with the bread of Life that I shall never hunger and do drink of the water of Life that I shall never thirst more I know not whether I shall live or die but if I die and if you will have a Sermon I desire this may be the Text the place I do not know but the words may be comfortable to you That David when his Child was sick he cloathed himself in Sackcloth and wept but when his Child was dead he washed and ate Bread For you have wept much while I have been sick and if I die you have cause to rejoyce She said My soul also was so full of comfort that I would have spoken much more But her speech being almost gone she said If it please the Lord that I might have my hearing and my speech which would be a great miracle I should speak much more Novemb. 10. On the Lords day she said as follows When her Mother had syring'd several things into her mouth as first water which she not relishing then water and vinegar then vinegar and Sugar then milk and none did relish with her she said Here is but little comfort in these my comfort is in the Lord There is comfort indeed Though we may seek comfort here and the glory of this World yet what is all that all will be nothing when we come to lie upon a Death â—ed then we would fain have the love of God and cannot get it I am full of comfort and joy Though the Lord is pleased to let me lie under many pains yet he knoweth what is best for his Children he hath enabled me and will enable me to bear them and though he should lay a hundred times more upon me yet will I wait upon him for he is my stay and the hope of my Salvation My pains are nothing to the pains of Hell where they will never be at an end And Christ he suffered a great deal more for me then all this is he was bruised buffeted and spit upon and they platted a Crown of Thorns and put upon his Head and gave him Vinegar to drink But I have several things to take though I cannot relish them And they came out against Christ with Swords and Staves and Christ did not open his mouth against them but rebukes Peter for cutting the High Priests Servants ear and bid him put up his Sword into the Scabbard and said Shall not I drink of the Cup that my Father hath prepared for me though my pains are very great yet I am so full of joy and comfort I was very full of comfort before but I am fuller of joy this hour than I have been yet It is better to live Lazarus's life and to die Lazarus's death than to live Dives his life he had his delicates and afterwards would have been glad to have had Lazarus dip his finger in water and cool his tongue Though the Lord give Satan power over my Body yet he hath promised he shall not hurt my Soul The Devil could not go into the herd of Swine till Christ had given him leave And though he stood at my left hand and said I am in filthy rags yet the Lord stands at my right hand and saith I am but a fire-brand newly plucked out of the fire and he will put on me his Robes of Righteousness The last night I could not stir my Head Hand nor Foot but by and by the Lord did help me to move my Head a little and at length my Body O what a good God have I that can cast down and raise up in a moment but here is only looking at the Physician as many when they have been sick and well again they say Such a Physician and such a Physician hath cured them they neglect looking up to the Lord. It is true the Lord doth appoint the means to make use of but nothing will do us good except he give a blessing to it O that we had Faith as that Woman had that had spent all upon Physicians and did her no good then came and touched the Hem of Christs Garment and when Christ felt vertue go out of him he asked his Disciples Who touched him then she trembled but Christ said Rise up Daughter thy Faith hath made thee whole Of the Expressions of an hopeful Child the daughter of Mr. Edward Scarfield that was but eleven years of Age in March 1661. Gathered from a Letter written by one fearing God that lived in the house with the Child IN August last this Child was sick of a Feaver in which time she said to her Father who is a holy humble precious man I am afraid I am not prepared to die and fell under much trouble of Spirit being sensible not only of actual sins but of her lost estate without Christ in unbelief as Ephes 2. 12. John 16. 8 9. and she wept
Comeliness I want Thy Beauty may I have I shall be fair beyond compare Though cripled to my Grave And if above it all To Christ I married be My living Springs Oh king of Kings Will still run fresh in thee Vpon a Bible sent as a Token to a young Virgin wherein the worth of the holy Scripture is minded WHile I was musing what was 〈◊〉 unto your hands to send That of your Souls eternal rest my care I might commend The Holy Scriptures I bethought oft tendring to your heart That your affections might be brought to choose the better part There you may read what guilt of sin into the World you brought And since what filthiness hath bin in Word in Deed in Thought How God's long-suffering sins have prest as sheaves do press a Cart And nothing else can make you blest but Mary's better part That God hath holy jealous eyes the Scriptures do unfold By which heart-secrets he espies yet cannot sin behold Through shades of Death and darkest night these piercing Beams do dart He looks on nothing with delight but on that better part With flaming fire you also read a Judgment day design'd Where every idle Thought and Deed Must righteous Sentence find There Kings stand naked Death hath harl'd their Robes and Crowns apart Then but too late they 'l give the World for Mary's better part Then to have Jesus Christ ones own will be admired Grace To stand with boldness at the Throne and see the Father's Face To sit on Thrones when Christ shall say Ye wicked ones depart But come ye blessed in my day ye chose the better Part. The tenders of his Grace so rich here Jesus doth display He scarlet-sinners doth beseech his Gospel to obey To let sins settered Captives free and heal the broken heart He begs them on his bended knee to chuse the better part Deep Myst'ries of eternal Love hid from the Saints of old To Babes and Sucklings from above these Scriptures do unfold Not in the words of frothy Wits or humane terms of art But such simplicity as fits the Spirit 's better part The glory of the Father's Face the burning Law declares The beauty of Christ's precious Grace the Gospel here prepares Both Grace and Glory here unite to heal sins deadly smart The spirit and the Bride invite to chuse this better part The blessed truths display'd herein all your dear pleasures make It s sharp rebukes of every sin as healing Balsom take For though convictions to the flesh so bitter seem and tart Yet is their issue to refresh and heal the better part Oh! then upon this Word of Truth place high and great esteem This point of Wisdom learn in youth your precious time redeem To know Christ's from a strangers Voice account the highest Art Your richest treasure is your choâ—ce of Mary's better part A Poetical Meditation wherein the Vsefulness Excellency and several perfections of the holy Scriptures are briefly hinted perform'd by J. C. but turn'd into more familiar verse for the use of Children by Abr. Chear AMong thy glorious gifts Lord thou thy Word hast given Precious and pure sweet holy sure To guide me hence to heaven Here I abound with straits Wants and necessities There I have store heapt running o're With plenteous rich supplies Temptations here abound With terrors dangers fears These petty Hels thy Word expels And all my passage clears When Satan fiercely shoots His fiery darts at me Then Lord they Word is shield and Sword Me saves and makes them flee The present world commends Its Objects fresh and fair But yet thy Word doth that afford Which proves more precious Ware When fleshly lusts intice To their alluring pleasure To rare delights thy Word invites More choice in weight and measure The Errors of the Times Their cheating Wares display But Scripture sayes shun Errors wayes My Rule shall guide your way When by the Tempter's Wiles I tempted am to sin By thy Words Art hid in my heart Both field and Prize I win Nay though I foiled be And sin defile my Soul Thy Word can cleanse these noisome Dens And sins best strength controul An unbelieving heart Do I till now inherit Lord thy Word hath Pow'r to work Faith By thy most Holy Spirit If this be my Disease An hard and stony heart Thy Word thus deals first kills then heals And cures me by this smart Will not my frozen heart With Gospel Grace comply Thy Royal Law this heart can thaw And cause a weeping eye Doth lofty towring thoughts Puff up my tempted Breast Thy word brings low the proudest Foe Less makes me than the least Do muttering thoughts arise Grudge murmur or repine Thy Rod and Word teach patience Lord And still these thoughts of mine Am I tongue-ty'd in Prayer And know not what to say Thy Word inspires praying desires Tell 's how and what to Pray When like a lost sheep I In darkness err and stray Thy word 's a Light most clear and bright And guides me in my way A simple fool I be And destitute of eyes Thy word 's a Rule Master and School To make its Schollars wise I see my self undone Distressed naked poor Thy Words infold a Mine of Gold Rich pearls and precious store By sinful nature I And God are still at odds Thy Word my Soul converteth whole From Satan's Will to Gods Do troubles from without And floods of inward grief My Soul torment thy Word is lent With Joy and Soul relief Or is my Soul perplext With reasonings doubts and fears Thy Word of Grace resolves the case My cloudy Judgment clears Or do despairing thoughts My tempted Soul o'rtake Thy word doth give me hopes to live For Christ my Saviour's sake When floods and multitudes Of troubled thoughts me press I call to mind thy word and find Its joyes my Soul refresh Though in this vale of tears I thirst faint hunger Pine Thy word me feeds in these my ne Its Bread and Milk and Wine Or am I weakned out And cannot walk alone Thy word then is strength to my knees And staff to lean upon And though in scorn and pain Forsook and poor I be Thy word alone hath all in one Health Wealth Friends all to me Thus though my pained Soul Be sick and wounded sore With grievous sin which doth begin To fester more and more Thy word directs me where My healing may be had And doth me guide to Christ's pierc'd side For Balme of Gilead Nay though no life at all Nor quickning there remain Thy word is good and liveing Food Which fetcheth life again And if I would desire A Life that lasts for ever The Scripture shows whence water flows To drink and perish never Blest be the Lord my God Who evermore provides And filleth full my empty Soul With Food that still abides My Soul O bless the Lord Who bounteously hath given Strength light guide way lest thou shouldst stray In this thy way to Heaven This Holy Book of God
These Sentences these Lines Each Word and Letter to me are better Than Pearls and Golden Mines 'T is Heaven it self transcrib'd And Glory lively pen'd God's truth no doubt was copied out When he this Gift did send It 's Truth brought forth to light God did hereby intend Man's word should fall Heaven Earth and all But this should never end Dear Soul admiring stand At that blest hand and Quill That did produce for sinners use Th' eternal Sovereign Will Astonished admire The Author too and when Thou canst not raise sufficient praise With wondring say Amen To my Cousin John H. SWeet John I send you here A Song by heart to learn Not it to say as Parrots may But wisely to discern Oh! lay it deep to heart And mind it well I pray God grant you Grace to grow apace In virtue day by day As yet a Child you be And childish Toyes do please you But you 'l complain they all are vain When ever Grace shall seize you Nay When Convictions come In Gospel-Power and Truth You 'l surely cry Ah wretch am I Thus to have spent my youth Childhood and Youth were spent In things not to be nam'd Alas whaâ— praise was in those dayes Whereof I 'm now asham'd Dear John then lay to heart This needful timely hint Before the day of which you 'l say What pleasure have I in 't Begin to mind the Lord Who form'd you out of dust And did you raise to shew his praise Him love and fear you must In things that are of earth Spend not your youthful strength Its joyes and cares are all but snares To mischief you at length Where Christ in glory sits Place there your prime delight Let things above have all your love Your time care mind and might John Christ's fore-runner mind From whom you have your name Though from his birth liv'd mean on earth A shining Light became He chose a Desart life Fed hard was coorse attir'd He left the sport of Herod's Court Though he was there admir'd Sin he reprov'd in all And kept true witness clear He never sought himself in ought That Christ might more appear Another John you find The lov'd Disciple nam'd Who lean'd for rest on Jesus Breast With Gospel-love inflam'd To every Truth of Christ A witness bold he bear Though an Exile in Patmos-Isle Choice Visions he had there A Pattern if they be To you in word and deed Jehovah's eye will make supply To whatsoe're you need To my Cousin Sam. B. DEar Cousin Sam my pretty Lam this Song to you I send Whatever play aside you lay learn this from end to end With God begin take heed of sin know Jesus out of hand Betimes you must flee youthful lust Its first assaults withstand Spend not your dayes in wanton playes Though naughty boyes intice They first begin with little sin but end in deadly vice If naughty Boyes allure with Toyes to sin or lies to tell Then tell them plain you tempt in vain such wayes go down to Hell God's holy Eye our faults do spy and will to Judgment call us We must fear God more than the Rod or ought that can befall us How oft have I been like to die yea Death is alwayes near Chuse whom you will to follow still I Christ must love and fear Fathers best Boy and Mothers joy I then shall surely be And that that 's best of all the rest God will provide for me To my Cousin W. L. DEar Child although my Father's Will in Prison me hath bound Through uprightness and patience still my comforts here are found The presence of a gracious God doth this a Pallace make It makes the bitter of the Rod be sweet for Jesus sake But Oh! when guilt brings any here in Fetters to be bound Because of God they had no fear but were in evil found To such it is a dreadful place here guilt to judgment binds them Where if they don't repent apace Death Wrath and Vengeance finds them Of you dear Child with carefulness my heart hath many a thought Least you through youthful wantonness to greater sins be brought And so by adding sin to sin you wast your time and strength And when your judgment doth begin in vain you mourn at length I charge you then in any sort your great Creator mind Spend not your youthful dayes in sport that cannot be regain'd Avoid those rude and wicked Boyes that make a mock of sin Love not their playes and sinful Toyes to fear the Lord begin Keep close to School read Scriptures oft in private learn to pray Your Gospel-grounds keep still in thought Your Parents both obey Your Brethren love and teach them good a Christian learn to be Then God will give you clothes and food and you 'l be dear to me To my Kinsman A. L. MY pretty Child remember well you must your wayes amend For wicked Children go to Hell that way their courses tend But heark to me if you to be the Child of God desire The broad and open road must flee which multitudes admire Sâ—rive every day to mend you way learn Christ while you are young Take constant heed to every deed heart feet hands and tongue You may be quickly sick and die and put into the Grave From whence to judgment you must fly and righteous Sentence have Learn then to fear while you live here with Christ your time imploy Labour to live and die as one that leaves the World with joy My strength in cries I shall imploy that God will bless your youth I can have nothing like this joy My Children walk in truth To my youngest Kinsman R. L. MY little Cousin if you 'l be your Uncles dearest Boy You must take heed of every deed that would your Soul destroy You must not curse nor fight nor steal nor spend your time in games Nor make a lie what e're you aile nor call ungodly names With wicked Children do not play for such to Hell will go The Devils Children sin all day but you must not do so Begin I pray to learn that way that doth to Heaven tend O learn a little day by day which leadeth to that end For God and good men love such Boyes and will them good things give Father and Mother will rejoyce and I in comfort live Another to a Child insisting on Psal 119. 9. SInce I am naturally bent to take delight in Songs A Friend from Prison one hath sent that to my Soul belongs Which when I sing he doth intreat I would not mind my play But frequently with weight repeat How may I cleanse my way It is the use of such as I to Dance and Play and sing Or else to lie and rail and cry for will in every thing Why should our wantonness be crost or pleasures night and day We fear no danger to be loft what need we cleanse our way Should we our jovial play-mates shun when we return from Schools Should we not fight and
from his great desire you be blest And in your choice reach everlasting rest He offers dear-bought light to guide your mind That to the better part it be inclin'd He shews a little in a homespun stile The one's simplicity the other's Guile What stocks they come of and their old descents Their various treasures and their plain intents What are their qualities their differing ends To what plain issue each proposal tends Their sundry overtures your love to gain In way of Dialogue betwixt them twain The love of Christ SWeet Virgin stop let Wisdom drop a word becoming Kings Pray be inclin'd to bend your mind unto coelestial things I beg your love for things Above nay all your Powers I claime I would adorn your youthful morn and crown your early aime The lust of the flesh Should any thought to mind be brought that interrupts your quiet Shall Virgins weep disturb their sleep desert their needful diet Tush drink in Plate and recreate your lively youthful Spirit Seek Courtly things delight in Kings which may proclaim your merit The love of Christ While Flesh pretends these pleasing ends its dire intents it hides But pray awake for Jesus sake while day of Grace abides Flesh lusts its Guests between its Breasts convictions to expel But deadly Charms are in its armes its Guests are lodg'd in Hell The Lusts of the flesh What strange conceits what silly cheats would drive thy joys away These Preachers tell but dreams of Hell and of the Judgment day 'T wil ne'r do well till mirth expel such sullen dumps as these The Timbrel bring come dance and sing eat drink and take thine ease The Love of Christ These Childish Toys may make a noise to please the carnal heart But all the while they but beguile nay wound the better part One glimps of love seal'd from above these highest joyes transcends From deeps 't will raise to heights of praise when that in torment ends The Lust of the flesh Shall wordy winds on gallant minds such deep impressions make That for a â—ound of things unfound they joys in Hand forsake This day invites to rare delights all Ladies who design T o've fortunes rais'd and beauties prais'd embrace thess paths of mine The Love of Christ Alas at length you 'l lose your strength mirth beauty sport and pleasure And when too late lament your state your mispent time and treasure They 'l take them wings and leave you stings with venom guilt and smart Then while 't is day I humbly pray chuse Mary's better part The Lust of the flesh Are such things fit that clogs your wit which now to heights aspires Such doatings leave till age bereave of moisture warm desires Your budding Spring prompts you to sing your warbling Princely straine In Courtly Modes with amourous odes your Gallants entertain The Love of Christ Such frothy freaks aloud bespeaks how slightly youths esteem Their nobler parts their precious hearts which Earth cannot redeem How hardly brought to turn a thought from Objects thus deprav'd Though Jesus cries Oh! fix your eyes on me and be ye sav'd The Lust of the flesh Such looks may grace some wither'd face or some grave Cloystered Nun Are counted blots not beauty-spots where Fame 's but now begun Tush rather prize those Comedies and rare Romances use Attend resorts to Princely sports and shades for interviews The Love of Christ What pitty 't is such trash as this with heaven-born Souls should take While Jesus stands with stretch'd out hands rich overtures to make Gold try'd in Fire and rich attire do your acceptance crave A crown of Bliss prepared is when each an end shall have The treaty stops but here you have a tast your friend hath longings that you may be Chast Preserv'd a Virgin and brought such to Christ By love constrained not by lust intic't A Description of an Elect Person in his threefold state by Nature Grace and Glory Collected by Va. Powel in the close of his Catechism translated into familiar Verse for Childrens better remembrance by A. Chear Ejaculation My blessed Father when my heart enclines To sing this Song or but to read these lines Let me thy Spirits Power or leadings find To form their lively likeness on my mind Work deep convictions and an holy fear To think what am I or what once I were And into fellowship Lord let it guide me With all this Grace the Gospel doth provide me That I may claim what this thy record saith By sound experience and unfeigned Faith And let the hope of yonder Glory raise My Soul to close with those reflects of praise 1. Nature BY Nature and as out of Christ born of the flesh was I Grace By Grace and as I stand in Christ I 'm new born spiritually Glory In Glory I with Christ shall reign and heavenly freedom have Refl Lord what is man that thou shouldst daign so vile a Wretch to save 2. Nature Flesh did my Members and my mind with quietness inherit Grace But now a Warfare I do find betwixt my flesh and spirit Glory The spirit promised at length all glorious will make me Refl For that his War 's above my strength let not my Christ forsake me 3 Nature My sensual lusts to satisfie a fleshly War I waged Grace But now for walking spiritually my spirit stands ingaged Glory Nay by Christ's quickning power at last transform'd I wait to be Refl Lord what am I that thou should'st cast a look of love on me 4 Nature To that which fleshly pleasure brings I wholly bent my mind But now unto the Spirit 's things Grace I chiefly stand inclin'd Glory At length my glorified eyes such sights alone shall see Refl Lord what am I that thou should'st prize so poor a Worm as me 5 Nature By sinful nature I was dead in trespasses and sins Grace By Gospel-Grace now quickened my Soul to live begins Glory The day approacheth when from sin I shall be wholly free Refl Lord what am I that thou hast been at so great cost on me 6. Nature In sin as in my Proper place I was well pleas'd to lie Grace But now I strive to walk by Grace in all simplicity Glory I shall presented be at last as my dear Christ is pure Refl What love is this that Christ so chast should such a Wretch indure 7. Subjected to the Law of sin Nature and death I once did stand Grace Made free I to obey begin the Spirit of Life's command Glory A glorious triumph 's yet in store o're sin and death for me Refl How should I Majesty adore that I thus sav'd should be 8. Nature Once Gods pure Nature Word and Law I hated as my foes Grace Now with them I in holy awe and dear affections close Glory Desires shall into full delight at length resolved be Refl Lord what am I that er'e my sight should such blest objects see 9 Nature Born ignorant of Heavenly things I teachings did despise Grace
Me God hath from great plagues at hand In greater Mercy taken Friends do not grieve then that by me this wretched worlds forsaken Here to be left might mercie be But greater Mercy taken In dust I sleep now freed from tears But shortly shall awaken And shall be when my Christ appears In greater Mercy taken Ye might have one day wept to see Me sigh as one forsaken But now Triumph that Christ hath me To Greater Mercy taken Margaret Trenick Anagram Mark retreating The blessed subject of this mournful verse Transcends my skill her praises to reherse The lively grace which in her youth did shine Reflects convictions on this Soul of mine How short of her I am in patient waiting And how unskil'd aright to make retreating This age of deep revolt from truths profest Made sad impressions on her heaven-born brest Such as bespoke her griev'd in heart to see Gods name blasphem'd by seeming Saints to be This broke her sleep and mixt with tears her eating To mark the madness of this times retreating It s true she talkt not much made little noise Her closet-Friend she chose should hear her voice But her whole walk with God and man bewray'd Heart full to matter Though not much she said For hers and others Souls her heart was beating To mark the steps and issues of retreating She chose to walk a mournful softly pace Weeping while waiting for her Father's face Sharp sickness seal'd home love but seaz'd her life Once a choice Virgin Then a faithful Wife Both life and death this Anagram repeating Behold the uprights end but mark retreating Margaret Trenick Anagram King rare matter A Dialogue betwixt a Querist and her Answer Querist Dear heart while living Grace did much appear In thy slow speaking who wert quick to hear But more when death did thy crackt piâ—cher break Thy lamp shines brightest thou dead dost speak In this I acquiesce yet fain would know Why wert so mute why too good speech so slow Answer The Tempter on my Temper might prevail Some needful teaching sometimes to conceal Pretending ease yet brought no solid rest The fire increasing in my panting brest Which rais'd rebukes convictions griefs so high As found no vent but through a weeping eye Quest Was 't all and only thy temptations then Thou wert so mute among the Sons of men So scarcely sociable so retir'd As made converse with thee not much desir'd Thy lips allow'd thy heart so little vent That few could fathom what thy musing meant Ans Nay sometimes reasoning of a higher kind Did that way Byass my poor pausing mind I view'd and wept on a 〈◊〉 age That talkt 〈…〉 a staâ—ely stage But so reproacht it by unworthy walking As made me dread their fellowship in talking Quest But why among the Sâ—â—nts thy dear delight Wert so reserved if not silent quite Their gracioâ—â— speeches drop as generous wine yet might have been more spic'd warm'd by thine 'T is wisdoms way these waters deep to draw By frequent speakings yet with holy awe Ans Besides the Tâ—mpter's wiles I oft bethought How â—gnorant I was what need be taught How â—ittle I could speak to others gain How I had spoke already much in vain Then begg'd a bridle on my lips might be Lest I should speak what was not wrought in me Querist It 's true their talk involves both guilt and dangers Who boast of grace whereto they are but strangers But all who rightly knew thy Soul could say Ther 's precious treasure though a straightned way Nay when death seiz'd thee and thy strength was spent What glorious matter prest to have a vent Ans I must confess though forth I could not bring My heart conceiv'd rare matter for the King But my conceits were shatter'd short and bare Of such high matter heavenly-Royal rare I could not speak what I was apprehending Until my clouds my streights sighs were ending Margaret Trenick Anagram Make not Grace retire IF this Saint's name inverted thus affords Such choice variety of teaching words What would her nature her new nature yield Had we traversed that sweet-smelling field But since with gravity it was inclos'd Not seeking entrance most its profit los'd Such bosome friends as did that key acquire Found deeply graven Make not grace retire Above the rest her yoak-fellow is left To wail with bitterness as one bereft Of a choice Jewel whose rare vertues lay In Bosome-strengthnings through Christs hated-way Her heavenly arguments in secret dropt His fainting soul hath oft with Courage propt When he ran hazards still did her desire Keep conscience tender Make not grace retire Consult not wife and children would she say Though we beg with you in the Kings-high-way Beâ—ray not any truth what'ere 't would get you Desert no station where the Lord hath set you Great sufferings rather choose then little on A little spark may dreadful flames begin Set soveraign pleasure in dominion higher Though nature startle Make not grace retire Such words of wisdom dropt in gracious cools Speak louder than the cry that reigns with fools When husband slept the pantings of her breast In frequent travail held her eyes from rest For clearer sealings of her father's love For Sion's showrs and shinings from above She durst not grieve the spirit quench his fire Not make the least true grace of his retire At last she best appear'd on fiery tests When bonds her Husband Death her self arrests When stript of strength being forc't her husband left her Of all three sons her father had bereft her When friends stood trembling grace such beams did dart As rais'd with triumph fil'd with joy her heart These first fruits of the Kingdom set her higher Than that the tempter should make grace retire Sweet Soul She now a glorious rest obtains From all her outward pangs her inward paines Relation dues she long'd so to perform As griev'd to leave him in this dismal storm They cease to bind her These cares ended are To be with Jesus she finds better fare To such rare patterns might my soul aspire Not grieving Christ Not making grace retire An Epitaph GIve heed Spectators In this grave 's invol'd A costly Cabinet to be dissolv'd With wondrous wisdom richly rarely wrought And by great exercises aptly brought To lodge subserve and openly to tender An heavenly Jewel this age rich to render But it s new workmanship in worth did rise it To such vast value this world could not prize it They'd foils indeed to shade it wisely set And on its outside some distempers met On which the world did with contempt insist Till their enriching maket-time they mist So little knows this crooked generation Their things for Peace or dayes of Visitation Like them of old cry Barrabas set free Dispatch the Heir the vineyard ours shall be But the great owner marks not jealous eyes This age's aptitude to slight despise And scorn his renders of the richest gem Crown-Jewels nay the royal diadem And vext
work was done Had we an Hiram skil'd to work in brass Jacin and â—oaz might be rear'd for Glass Faith True he was sick and sleeps whom Jesus lov'd But they who sleep so shall do well at length They rest from labours are from sin remov'd Weep not he 's gone but to renew his strength We face to face shall see him for alas We saw but darkly through that factur'd Glass Sense Must I be stript then of my choice attire To offer Isaac is an heavy tryal Must I be season'd thus with salt and fire How hard a lesson is this self-denial My nailes remov'd its weight is fail'n alas Cups flaggons great and small all break as Glass Faith Take heed of murmuring when God comes down To bind up Jewels that on earth he finds To raise and six them in a glorious Crown He calls for chearful gifts from willing-minds When he would have a laver made of brass Mark how each daughter offer'd up her glass Sense These are hard saying deep to deep doth call My flesh begins to fail my heart to sink T is hard to feed on vinegar and gall To eat of ashes and with tears to drink From me if it were possible let pass Such deadly draughts mixt in a breaking Glass Faith Cease Rachel's weeping hope is in thine end Thy Children to their border God will bring He 'l plead thy cause thy right he will defend Then Kedars-dwellers and the rocks shall sâ—ag Thy countenance that black and scorched was Shall shine in brightness like transparent Glass An Anagram and Elegy on his dear deceased friend John Vernon who having served his Generation by the will of God fell asleep the twenty ninth day of the third Month vulg called May 1667. For Christ was hunted griev'd disgrac'd With Christ is In New Honour plac'd I. COme Sions Mourners men of holy skill For lamentation in the ashes lie Come skilful mourning women weep your fill Take up a wayling help to raise the cry Till from our eyes like Rivers tears run down Though in new honour we have lost our Crown II. Iniquities do more and more abound They that were filthy will be filthy still Heaven-daring sins without controle are found With wickedness now doth the Ephah fill Saints fill your bottle with repenting tears Then in new honour quickly God appears III. A fixed series of rebukes of late Like Wave on wave discovers dirt and mire In persons Families in Church and State No stone in Sion but is tried by fire All old creation things with trembling mixt Nought stanâ—s but what is in new honour fixt IV. ' Mongst other warnings of a dreadful day Approaching on the remnant that are left The Righteous fail the best men caught away Of sense and feeling seem the rest bereft How swift the ruines of this old world haste Whilst in new honour Saints so swift are plac'd V. Amid these troops of fiery Chariots prest The Royal Off-spring home to bring with speed My heart is pain'd to undergo the test Of parting with this Israelite indeed Yet when I think how many are debasing I durst not grudge him in new honour placing VI. But who in such a stormy wind can part With such a Father such a Friend indeed And not cry out in bitterness of heart A double share I of thy Spirit need Though carnal Israel Israels-troubler calls thee Yet in new honour Israels-God install thee VII Poor England little thinks doth less bewail Its Chariots and best horsmen troop away When witnesses and loud reprovers fail Our grand tormentors are dispatch'd say they In open streets expos'd to scorn such lie Ere in new honour they be rais'd on high VIII What though dear Soul thy worth hath not appear'd But black among the pot-sherds thou hast lien Thy Visage mar'd thy beauty been besmear'd By mingling Sions dust with tears of thine That dust is wash'd those tears are wip'd away Since in new honour thou art call'd to stay IX Earth was not worthy of thee could not bear thee Profane and loose Professors far'd alike Thy words and walks did make them fret or fear thee ' Gainst those defilements thou wert bent to strike In base compliances thou dread'st to bow Wert then in shame art in new honour now X. Ah what a troop of weepers I descry Of Windows Fatherless Sick Prisoners sad Poor Exiles desolate condemn'd to die Shewing how they by thee were chear'd and clad Our loss weep they will scare repaired be Till in new honour we meet Christ with thee XI Among the Flock of Slaughter clad with dust Through simpathy in Spirit oft am I But with Job's Comforters sit mute I must Since grief amounts to such extremity His indignation having sin'd let 's bear Till in new honour he our breach repair XII A trembling remnant ' mongst the rest I spy Of mourners mark'd and seal'd in front and hands Whom Carnal Brethren casting out do cry Where 's now your God our mount unshaken stands But to their shame he will appear at last When in new honour are markt mourners plac't XIII For his blest chastned Houshold left with God The pregnant Widow and her hopeful Seed Friends Servants Sojourners that feel this Rod My flesh doth tremble and my heart doth bleed Through right to Christ yet raised from the dead Ye in new honour have a better head XIV Among these mourners should I strive to sing Like Vinegar on nitre it would seem If to their sorrows I more weight should ring A woful Comforter they'I me esteem Hast to thy mountain Soul with mourning wings Till in new honour light from darkness springs XV. But ah poor sinners When will ye be wise They 'r gone who did disturb your carnal peace But sins abiding stones shall cry and rise Rather then Gods contest with you shall cease With flames his controversie he 'l renew If in new honour ye no right pursue XVI His Prophets he no longer now imploies His slighted scorn'd Ambassadours withdraws But with heav'n-shaking earth affrighting noise As if seven thunders spake he pleads his cause Stout sinners gird your loyns decision's nigh Saints to your Fortress in new honour fly XVII Bacâ—sliding England once professing high Now turning Egipt-ward in spight of wrath Thy Oaths base crouchings deep apostacie To sins and vengeance flood-gates opened hath Turn turn at Gods reproof break off thy sin Else ne're expect nue honour stepping in XVIII Yet hope 's in Israel still though flesh hath none A shelter from the storm have Saints provided When desolate expos'd left most alone They by Gods Eye and Counsel shall be guided When desolations at their height begin Such earth-quakes usher their nue honours in XIX Then mourning trembling Sionists attend Though heart and hand grow faint lift up your head The Achâ—n-search the breach and gap defend 'Twixt porch and Altar stand 'twixt quick dead Peace may be made perhaps a pardon had And plowed Sion in new honour clad XX. Nay though this age must needs be swept away That Noah's Daniel's Job's find no regard Decrees be seal'd and men have lost their day Yet shall your faithful work have full reward Th' Assiâ—ians floods your peace shall not annoy Ye in nue Honour shall your God enjoy A. C. FINIS