Heart and Mouth may give thee praise As in thy Temple keep there residence Within my Soul and never part from thence Till I am fram'd and fitted by thy hand A Pillar in God's House above to stand ON Ascension Day ART thou ascended blessed Lord on high And do I on this earth still grovelling lye In muddy sensual fading pleasures drown'd Where pain and grief horrours and Hell are found O pity dearest Lord some pity take On a poor fainting Soul for thy names sake Help Lord Lord help to thee I lift mine Eyes Stretch forth thy helping hand and make me rise O raise my sinking Soul above the Mud And dirt of low delights which Flesh and Blood Relish and crave Let my exalted mind It's pleasures in thy Love and Service find But ne'r let that seem pleasant to my taste Which grieves thy Spirit and doth my Conscience waste Keep my Soul mindful of its heavenly birth That it may Heaven-ward tend wean'd from this Earth By all my falls upon this slippery Ground Grant that I nearer may to Heaven rebound And let all streams of comfort here below Up to the Fountain lead me whence they flow Let Faith and Love and Longings raise my Heart Up to the blissful place where Lord thou art Let my chief joy spring from this Faith and Love Till I ascend to thee and joyes above Divine Love. WHose Soul is once betroth'd can ever he From that engagement disobliged be The hearts which love unites in loyal bands Are chain'd as fast as by their tongues and hands Even thus am I in heart engag'd my mind Is firmly fixt but on no Female-kind The blessed Jesus is my Lord my Love He is my choice from him I 'll never move Away then all you objects that divert And seek to draw from my dear Lord my heart Go Riches Honours Beauty Bravery go Tempt these mean Souls who nothing better know That uncreated Beauty which hath gain'd My ravisht Heart hath all your glory stain'd His loveliness my Soul hath prepossest And left no room for any other guest Cease then with knocking 's to assault my Door Disturb not my repose attempt no more These gates which to the King of Glory be Made to fly open and to none but he For him I sigh I wishly look and long To be releas'd from this ensnaring throng Of poor bewildred Mortals from whose sight My Soul doth meditate a nobler slight Into the Regions of eternal Joy Where nothing shall her blessful peace annoy There 's her own home her Country 's there above That blessed Land of Life of Light and Love There my dear Friends fled hence with God are blest Thither are swiftly hasting all the rest There lives my Lord and there I long to live He gave these longings and himself will give Hast then pale Death accomplish my design Thou that break'st others wedlocks finish mine This naked breast strike with thy sharpest Dart The sweetest Cordial to a fainting Heart Release my pained Soul from this dull clod Of prisoning Earth and take her to her God That there she may her Nuptials solemnize Where neither Sin nor Death shall spoil her Joys Lord hear these groanings and some pity take On a poor gasping Soul which for thy sake From earthly home Freinds Joys and all would part To be with thee for ever where thou art O make me meet for this Translation and Then on this happy message death command In the mean time Lord shew thy self to me Till thou shalt please to take me up to thee So to mine Eyes thy glory still display That they may never look another way So let me taste the sweetness of thy Love That no allurements may my mind once move Quicken my longings and encrease that flame Which Heaven-wards lifts the Soul from whence it came Let flames of holy Love all others burn And opposition into fewel turn Let thy Sun-beams on a dark heart shine clear All our earth kindled fires will disappear In thee now let me find so much of Rest As may with more impatience fill my breast Till fill'd with thee the pains of love increase Till they shall in a full fruition cease So seize on me that we ne're more may part Till thou shalt take my Soul Lord keep my heart And dwell in me till I with thee shall dwell This Earth with thee is Heaven without thee Hell. ON DEATH I. TEll me some kind Spirit tell How comes death so terrible Thou who art already fled in triumph say Why the embodied Soul is so in love with Clay By what strange Magnetisms woo'd She so adheres to Flesh and Blood That fate must force her from that dull abode Or she would groveling lye Th' eternal Tenant of Mortality The wretch whom a malignant Fever fires And at each pore in liquid flame expires Cold death's refreshing hands to shun Doth to th' unkinder Doctor run For Juleps Blistrings and Phlebotomy And other medicinal Artillery The Fever 's vanquish'd and the Man is free But all this stir and torment only gains The priviledge of being rack'd again by these Or the severer pains Of sorne more merciless Disease Had not the Patient better fled to ' a Tomb Th' Asylum which distempers give but where they never come II. Old age it self which one would guess Should with a kind of lust Lye down and sleep in Dust Does yet the grand fatigue of life caress And gapes for its last dregs with unextinguishable Thirst When the dull eyes spirituous fire is lost Like cooling Metals fixt by Winters Frost When the bald Head depopulate and bare Looks white like some smooth Globe of Ice And of its once fair flourishing spring the Hair All that remains will not suffice The mighty summ to count To which the numerous Years that have gone or 't amount Yet even this feeble piece of Hums and Ha's That 's but the Monument of what he was Doth with his Cordials and Elixirs treat To make his wearied Pulses beat With momentary heat Still he abhors the dismal thoughts of Death Still on his guard he stands And fain he would defend his breath 'Gainst the great Conquerour's stroke though but with Crutches in his hands III. Strange Riddle of mysterious desire That Man should hope his vital fire Should Vestal prove and ne're expire That he should wish th' Eclipsed beams Like Arethusa under ground might stray In a decrepit Body's dark inglorious way And never disembogue their shining streams Into the glorious Ocean of inexhausted day Is this the Reason which we so much boast That sure unerring Guide No less our safety than our pride And would this have us in a tempest ride And endlesly be tost When one kind Shipwrack would convey us to our native Coast A coast where we might pleasure taste High with the gust of all peril past Where a perpetual spring of bliss Blooming in all the rich Luxuriancies Of never withering Ecstasis Satiates but does not cloy The ravish'd
to make Their beams set in array adorn the Skie As if they did Nights black approach defie This cold which freezeth us it does but clear The Air and make their brightness more appear Let these fair Stars be patterns unto thee And teachers too shewing what thou should'st be When sacred Providence the Heavenly Law Made up of Love and Wisdom shall withdraw That pleasing Sun-shine of prosperity Which from thy Cradle hath attended thee And by its Revolutions shall this state Into afflictions dark cold night translate Or if thy body sickness should confine To a dark room to languish there and pine In pain or malice should attempt thy fame And with black Slanders strive to cloud thy name Or what 's thought worse than either should thou be Stark naked stript and pincht by Poverty Or shouldst thou be for some great merit sent To a dark Prison or a Banishment Then muster all thy powers up O my Soul Whose shining may these Clouds of Night controul Let all these oppositions serve to raise But greater Trophies to thy virtue's Praise Virtue like valour is a thing ne're known If in encountring dangers never shown Now let a bright unspotted innocence In sweet Contentment Courage Patience Shed its mild beams let Hope and Joy display Lustres which turn night into lightsome day So shall the Darkness as a foil be friend Thy Beauty and a greator glory lend So thy Eclipse shall but attract more Eyes So from oppression thou shalt greater rise So by our treading thrives the Chamomil As if our feet did but manure the Soil Nor is affliction 's night the only case Wherein thy brightness should the dark shades chase But when my Soul temptations unto Sin Like foggy darkning mists shall from within Or from without arise striving to stain And fully thee with guilt then ler disdain Break forth in virtuous Sparklings and dispel Those noysome Vapours which arise from Hell Yea when at last that King of terrors Death Shall summon thee to yield thy utmost Breath And with its dismal shape strive to affright Thee with the horror of eternal night With an undaunted mind his Message hear With chearful smiling looks his presence hear Dread not his aspect turn not from his Dart But with resolvedness present thy Heart Thy Heart now burning most with Heavenly fire Which Heavenwards wafts thee there thou shalt expire True Phoenix in the flames of Love and Joy Death shall not hurt thee thou shalt it destroy And though to Mortal Eyes thou disappear Thou shalt shine brighter in an higher Sphear Even like these Stars thou n'ere shalt find a Night But shalt be swallowed up in greater Light. A Description of True Prayer whether with a Form or without GOD is a Spirit and in Spirit will By us be Worshipp'd But this Holy skill Of Worshipping aright is not an Art Of Words from Brain or Book but in the Heart 'T is plac'd An Heart that with the Lips doth move Venting the breathings of its inward Love. An Heart that 's awed with greatest Reverence Which may consist with filial Confidence An Heart whose ardent longings do aspire After those Blessings which our Tongues desire And puts upon endeavours to attain The grace we crave which else we crave in vain This Heart prays right such Cordial Prayers as these Profit our selves and do our Maker please Thus let us pray and when we end our days Prayer shall be chang'd for everlasting Praise How to get and keep a quiet Mind in all Conditions WOuldst thou enjoy an easie quiet mind Let thy own will to God's will be resign'd Follow his conduct serve him with delight With Pious awe live still as in his sight Banish fond Dreams of earthly happiness With Prudence use the Goods thou dost possess To Proud and Sickly Fancy give no place But follow Nature over-ruled by Grace Nature craves little Grace sometimes takes less Pride Avarice and Lust demand excess Examine well all earthly things and see Thy love but to their worth proportion'd be Let not excess of Joy corrupt thy mind Pleasures too luscious leave a sting behind Regarding this World as a Travellers Stage Seek the delight but of a Pilgrimage Converse with thy own mind get so much leisure As oft to entertain thy self with pleasure Whom Crouds of Men and business still employ Such not themselves nor Friends nor God enjoy In all enjoyments most God's goodness taste In all designs make him the first and last Let Joys and Pains both quicken holy Love And earnest longings after God above Never depend on things without thy power Things which chance may time quickly will devour Calmly forethink what evils may betide Not to torment thy self but to provide Courage and Comfort which attend the Wise Whilst common changes are no great surprise To rule the outward World never design This is God's work to rule thy Passions thine Doing thy part leave all to him who knows How all events most wisely to dispose All thy desires make known to God in Prayer And then alone on God cast all thy care Mind not the World's opinion much nor grow Unhappy meerly 'cause Men think thee so Their thoughts or words can leave no mark behind Thy self dost make th' impression on thy mind If thou feel real smart make it not more Anger and Grief do but increase the Sore Know that the greatest hurts are from within And misery proceeds only from Sin. Sin above all things flee and never cease Till thou with God thro' Christ hast made thy Peace And all thy Life pursue that innocence And usefulness which inward joyes dispence Grow in all Grace chiefly in Holy Love To God and Man which fits for Heaven above In hope whereof rejoyce and so partake The first-fruits of those joys which Heaven do make Yea now the Soul that with his God doth dwell By Faith and Love finds Heaven within a Cell Then wholly live on God make him thy all With Faith and Patience waiting for Death's call Thy Soul thus fixt nothing can much annoy Till God shall fix thee in eternal joy A PRESERVATIVE AGAINST Temptations to Sin. REmember when Temptations do begin Satan would have God would not have thee sin Satan and God about thee do contend Which do'st thou think thy Foe and which thy Friend Thy Flesh be sure with Satan soon will joyn Wilt thou with both against thy God combine O horrid and unheard of Treachery to close Against our dearest Friend with Mortal Foes Against our Friend who came to give us aid Lest we to those our Foes should be betray'd Shall Satan by thy help obtain the day Whil'st God as griev'd and conquer'd goes away Shall Satan be imbrac'd whilst God shall be Resisted so that he will flie from thee What shall the Spirit 's movings on our Hearts Be quencht and not the Devils fiery Darts Remember then the best and worst of sin Thy Flesh and Satan take delight therein Both thy sore Enemies But then
Heart forgive Who pure and sober are in all their ways And in God's Service vow to spend their days Art thou but such a one thou art the Guest Whom Christ bids welcome to this Heavenly Feast With Love and Joy his Death Commemorate Whilst here thou feed'st and hereby Consecrate Thy self entirely to him and he will His promises and thy desires fulfill He 'll own thee for his Servant and bestow Such Blessings as thou needest here below Ev'n here he seals to thee Pardon and Peace And all thy Graces shall receive Increase Until at length he raise thee far above To taste the fullest Fruits of his dear love Where we no more shall need our Bread and Wine Ravisht with glorious Sights and Joys Divine Wherefore who in those Heavenly Joys would share To sup with Christ on Earth let them prepare FOR EARLY RISING ON A Lords day Morning THis day our blessed Lord did early rise Let all his pious Servants do likewise His good Disciples rose before the light That his dead Body they with spices might And tears embalm then let devotion raise Us up to give our God and Saviour praise Thus let our Songs of praise shorten the night Till we shall come into that heavenly light When we shall hear no more of nights and days No more shall cease to love rejoyce and praise O blest employments these Saints truly blest Who thus emploi'd enjoy eternal rest This holy Rest let me this day begin Resting to God from business care and Sin. And let me in thy day and service find Such pleasure and such profit to my mind As may excite me all the following Week And my whole Life my dearest Lord to seek Not in a Garden or a Cave of Stone But in the Heavens where on his glorious Throne He doth exalted sit at God's right Hand Thousands of Angels round about him stand There free from sin and sorrow sloth and sleep There let me an eternal Sabbath keep Morning Thoughts BOth God and Satan by my Bed-side stand My Morning-thoughts are crav'd on either hand He that gets these is like to have the day What then shall God be empty sent away No Lord but let the whole made holy be By these First-fruits I offer up to thee I praise thee for this last Nights quiet rest The Peace and Safety wherewith I am blest I praise thee my good God that to my sight Once more thou hast restor'd the Morning-light My Strength and Time which thou do'st thus renew I Consecrate to thee they are thy due Be with me this whole day Save me herein From danger if thou please chiefly from sin All the day long Lord keep me in thy fear And make me ever sensible how near Thou art In private or in company Let me remember thy all-seeing Eye Upon me plac'd that I my self may frame To do thy Will to glorifie thy Name In sin with others let me not comply But speak act think as knowing thou art by Good Lord preserve me from that hainous Crime Mis-spence of short uncertain precious Time. O let me not my golden hours wast But live this day as if it were my last That I may mind the work I have to do Set Death and Judgment Heav'n and Hell in view Let me from Christ my Head fresh strength derive That I by Faith in thy dear Son may live Let me do others good my self at least Let sin this day be weakned grace increast Help me to spend it so that I at Night May looking back upon it take delight And in Eternity thy Name may praise For this and all my well-improved Days DIRECTIONS FOR THE EVENING REview at Night the Actions of the day What time was well spent what was thrown away Bless God for Mercies and confess the sin Thou know'st thou hast been guilty of therein To God through Christ for Pardon humbly pray Resolve against it for the following day Dare not to close thy eyes before thou make All Reckoning clear Perhaps thou may'st awake Before God's Judgment-Seat How dar'st thou look Him in the Face should he present a Book Of sins unpardon'd But if thou hast made Thy Peace through Christ thou need'st not be afraid Both Soul and Body are secur'd from harms Thou lodg'd in such a gracious Fathers Arms Who all his Children will in safety keep And so thou boldly may'st go die or sleep ON WHITSUNDAY ALL hail great day Day of our new Creation And of Redemption the sure confirmation Almighty Love that did us first create In holiness and bliss when from that state By our Apostasie our selves we threw Into that state doth us again renew This did the blessed Jesus undertake And by his Spirit wrought which for his sake On us was shed and which doth fully show Christ is God's Son by making Christians so He being now advanc'd on Gods right hand Doth exercise his regal Power and By all the Miracles of this great day Not only doth his present power display But also shews his future purposes And doth effect them by such signs as these A rushing Wind do his Disciples hear And cloven fiery Tongues on them appear God both in Wind and Fire and Voice is here Through all the World this wind commotion makes Which both the Heathenish State and Jewish shakes For not the Idol-temples fall alone But also that of the great Solomon This fire soon grew into a mighty flame And as if that strong wind had driven the same Through the whole World it did with brightness shine And did the World enlighten and refine Those Cloven Tongues th' Apostles mouths did fill And did convey to them such wondrous skill In all the Languages the World had known That they exactly spoke them as their own And whilst in these they do the Gospel preach Their hearers they do both surprise and teach These were to them Letters of Credence given To shew their Embassy deriv'd from Heaven What God inflicted once for punishment Now as a blessing on the World is sent Variety of Tongues that did disperse All Nations now unites the Universe The Babel-builders it did then confound But now the Christian Church even from the ground To such a vast firm structure doth it raise As may engage Spectators to his praise Whose wisdom can make all things serve his ends The same thing hurts his Foes and helps his Friends What to th' Apostles he did then direct Hath on each single Christian some effect O Sacred Spirit within my Soul repeat These blessings which once made this day so great Breath thou upon me with that heavenly Wind Which may refresh and purifie my Mind Kindle within me and preserve that fire Which may with holy love my Breast inspire And with an Active zeal my mind enflame To do thy will to glorifie thy name Furnish me richly both with gifts and Grace To fit me for the duties of my place So open thou my Lips my Heart so raise That both my