but at length relieve me And with thy gentle wings but stroke my smart Dear heart said he I struck thee for to stroke thee Put thee in bonds to set thee free That I might better heal I broke thee I 'm sent to comfort by convincing thee Though I 'm all light and peace yet I did send thee To a dark prison holding over My black rod but it was to mend thee For friends do Fools and Phranticks thus recover Remember man thy wild and Bethlem tricks How oft I strove with the in vain Thine heel could kick against my pricks Sure 't was high time to get thee in a chain Thou and Manasseh stood in much more need Of iron chaiâ—s then chains of Gold Distracted folk must purge and bleed And in their moneths be caught and kept in hold O blessed bonds said I O happy trouble O bitter-sweet sweet-bitter smart My pain was great my profit double Whilst thus thou undertak'st to tame mine heart Void Chymicks spill your Spirits quit your art Cease from your oft sought unfound stone There 's but one Spirit can convert An iron chain into a golden one Dear Dove thy pris'ner may I ever bee Bondage is like to be my state If to my self thou leave me free He 's only free whom thou dost captivate Where the Lords Spirit is there 's liberty No man can say Jesus is Lord But by the Holy Ghost or cry Abba till that sweet Spirit teach that word I was a lisper and a stamerer And could not skill o th' Shibboleth That might my pray'r to God indear Till this free Spirit gave new speech and breath I was a beggar so extreamly poor I skill'd not how to make my moanes But this Dove met me at Gods door Supply'ng my want of words with store of groanes I was in suit and could not well make good My Title But said this free Spirit Soul take this seal the seal of blood I am thy witness and thou shalt inherit I found a riddle whilst I sought a Text But this free Spirit loos'd the knot Which when I h'd read yet what was next Had not this Spirit prompted I 'd forgot My barren grounds were chapt for want of rain Gasping tow'rds Heaven for a flood This Spirit flowing in a main Told me that he had brought me that 's as good I sea the mine heart found so much dross and tin So â—itâ—â—â— else I self a mourning Both for my gross and splendid sin Then he to me the spirit was of burning I fell a burning when my God did chide me Water said I or I 'm undone This streaming Spirit streight suppli'd me Till all those scorching flames were quencht and gone I fell a chilling till my heart grew stone Scarse had I left one warm desire My frozen heart was next to none Then said this holy Spirit I am fire I fell a melting when I felt his heat My soul was broached at mine eyes The ice was thawn to tears and swear Which with fresh gales this Spirit gently dries These fontinells thus dri'd pride rais'd a tumour And then the Spirit 's fain to take His Lancet and let out the humour But oh mine heart how did it burn and ake Which this dear Dove perceiving straight way goes T' a precious box and thence applies An ointment made of Sharons Rose Which both the swelling cools and mollifies When I was none this Spirit made me be And live and breath when I was worse For worse then nothing sin made me For my rebuilding freely did imburse My stony heart this spirit harcht to flesh My fleshly heart did circumcise My bleeding heart with balme refresh Those tears that fell from bleeding Saviours eyes In native gore when I polluted lay Hav'ng none to wash to salt to swath me His counsells were my salt that day His lawes my swadling bands his grace did bathe me With milk for Babes this comforter did fill Both Testaments the old and new But how to come by'â— I 'd no skill Till he those breasts of consolation drew He took me by the hand and taught me go For I went all by forms before Till's holy unction made me know A new and living way to Fathers door I got upon an hill would fain descry Heav'ns Canaan from earths wilderness But being there could nothing spy Till with his eye salve he mine eyes did dress Over against Heav'ns haven on the shore I stood and waited for a wind Then did this Spirit waft me ore In heart in hope in faith in joy of mind Arithmetick and th' art of measuring I h'd studied but bungled still The measure of a span to bring Oâ— number of my daies I could not skill Then this free Spirit gave a watch to me Which ev'ryday wind up I must To tell me how my time did flee But I forgot and let is stand and rust Then being griev'd that I 'd so direspected Both guift and giver did indeavour To wind it up but t' had collected Such soil as from the wheels I could not sever Then did I moutning to the donour go Confess'd my fault shew'd him the soile It gather'd whilst neglected so Do not despaire said he for I am oyle This is the Spirit of all life and bliss Yet when I felt him first I died The fountain of my life he is Yet but for him I h'd neer been mortified This Spirit in mine heart doth shee l abroad Gods dear and never dying love Yet not a day but his sharp rod Doth me severely chastise and reprove This Spiritrais'd my Christ yet casts me down Doth cast me down and yet uphold Mine humblings are my joy my Crown My fear doth make my faith more firm and bold Calms are not alwayes proffitable for me Therefore the winds are sometimes high This Spirit blusters and is stormy That I might groundfast in humility This Spirit is my good and only guide Yet walk i th' Spirit Scriptures say My conduct and my path beside This Spirit is my Captain and my way Man walk according to thy native light Say some and thou shalt perfect bee Perfect indeed as noon's at night Lord in thy Spirits light light let me see A spirit there 's in man but th' inspiration Of the Almighty only can By no less than a new Creation Enlighten't such a dungeon sin made man Mans spirit is the Candle of the Lord Which who would see by first should light At Gods own fire ev'n Gods own word Gods word 's his mind seat us in black and white For since th' incarnate word his tender love In blood to write us condescends What wonder that his own dear Dove In inke and paper praies us to be friends Nor Son nor Spirit had I understood Bee'ng sunk so deep in sins dark grot Had not the Son took bone and blood Had not the Spirit pen and paper got The Son in humane nature clad doth raise My conscience out of guilts dark grave The Spirit cloath'd in humane
phrase My mind out of blind ignorances cave The Son in servile form came down among 's Serving to purchase us command The Spirit fell in cloven tongues As who would lisp that we might understand Surely this Spirit of all Spirits fram'd That Book of Books my Bible dear A thing that 's all things can be nam'd Food physick treasures pleasures all are here A glass that shewes to ev'ry man his face A staff that helps the lame to walk A spur that makes him mend his pace A light that shews what and what not to balk A Book that makes the simple truly wise A Book that proves the wisest fools A Book that helps the Readers eyes A Book that baffles and befools the schools A Book whose ev'ry leafe whose ev'ry line Out shines the milky way as far As if Heav'ns light should all combine To darken and obscure one painted star A Book that told my story ere I was A Book that tels me what shall be When I 'm no more what doom shall pass On States on Churches Persons and on me This Book 's truths standard nay 't is truth it self So well's the Spirit here pourtrai'd This Book doth sanctifie the shelf The heart I mean where it 's sincerely laid Yet some by reason some by new found light Not only leave to question take But mend this Book and set it right By Tables of Errata's they would make So much is good and 't is Canonicall As to mans reason is commensur'd Gods light by mans must stand or fall And so the Sun by th' Sextons Clock is censur'd Methinks I love the Author for the Book The Book for th' Author much more love When op'ning into it I look My God I can't forget thy sweet spread-Dove The gentle wings I feel and hear the mourning Of that dear Turtle waiting still Upon my grieving and returning To bring an Olive-branch of peace i th' bill The lines I grant are not all of one colour Yet all make up mans doom and duty Some promise joy some threaten dolour Variety makes up the Turtleâ— beauty This Dove Bezaleel and Aholiab taught All curious works for th' Sanctuary But Scriptures are more finely wrought Shewing most art where they seem most to vary As when this one sweet Spirit is call'd seaven Perfection's meant in unity A Spirit filling Earth and Heaven That operates in all but diversly Some reckon seaven Suns to ev'ry week So many Moons to ev'ry year As shee turns th' whole face or half cheek And doth by turns first sit and then appear This Spirit makes in Sampson strength excell And in a Moses government And wisdom in a Daniel And all much more in Christ where 't dwelt unpent This Spirit doth transcribe the Gospell-story On th' fleshly tables of mine heart Christ's Cradle Cross his Grave his Glory All 's acted on that stage by th' Spirits art To his Birth answers my Regeneration Heart-Circumcision suits to his To 's Cross and Grave mortification And Grace and Hope to 's Rising and his Bliss And then as Christ makes intercession for us The Spirit in us intercedes With crying blood out Christ doth store us With sighes and groanes the Spirit in us pleads This Spirit is unbounded yet believers In earthen vessels this rich treasure Only receive as he delivers And he dispenseth each one but a measure This Spirit is eternalll never dies An unextinguishable fire Yet in mens hearts oft gasping cries Oh! if you quench me thus I shall expire This Spirit is a Dove yet to contest With Crowes and Vultures is he fain Whilst in his room mans wretched breast Doth lusts unclean wraths rapines entertain This Spirit is a Dove yet 's vexed often By foolish man that peevish wasp Whose heart nor Sun nor show'r can soften Man grieves him without whom he could not gasp This tender Spirit who but man would grieve If I my Comforter make sad Who only can sad hearts relieve Alas my God who then shall make me glad Grieve foolish heart be 't to thine own perplexing Be thou as melted wax in me That thou shouldst set this Dove avexing That sweetly seales redemption unto thee Give stubborn heart relent since for thy sake The Lamb of God not only blood But ev'n Gods turtle tears doth take Let thy repentance still help on the flood Melt stony heart till all becomes one river Dove do delight near ponds to dwell Groans are best musick to a griever Such is Gods Dove whose groanes thy duty tell Shew not thy self vexatious to a Dove That cannot grieve thee without grieving Ev'n Publicans yield love for love Quench not truths Spirit by thy unbelieving Afflict not this dear guide go not astray Nor look back from an holy life While th' Spirit saies this is the way Have salt in thee remember man Lots wife Check not this Spirits checks but let them bee Taken for kindness as they are His smitings reckon oyl to thee Say smits my rock my God and do not spare Grieve not this Holy Ghost by entertaining Such inmates as he cannot bear If bands of lusts thine heart be training What room for this sweet Spirit can be there Seek holyness seek peace make after Union Let Medication stir this fire Pray'r blow it up let sweet Communion Maintain it burning still and raise it higher Quench not the smallest spark in thy weak brother What flames are on that hearth of thine Boast not nor yet deny or smother Rather desire thou for to burn then shine Some care not for this Dove had they his feather A sorry bargin such would make Over a while such shall have neither Seek thou the Spirits gifts for graces sake Ware sinning against light and grace and love Know ev'ry of those sins that are done Directly against this dear Dove Comes near to that that never shall have pardon If we live in the SPIRIT Let us walk in the SPIRIT Gal. 5.25 FAITH FRom thee dear Dove Yet still in thine embraces To Faith Hope Love That Trinity of graces Now let me pass and succour so my Verses That I may express what my muse rehearses Faith I 'll begin With thee for thou wast th' first When bloody sin Had made me all accurst That shew'd th' avenger posting after me And bad me to some refuge-City flee Some men would make Faith and Repentance strive Who should place take But surely Faith 's the hive In which that busie Bee repentance makes Tears drop like honey from mans heart like wax For who can grieve For that which they believe not Who can believe Mans sinfull state and grieve not I did believe the law and so relented I did believe the Gospell and repented I did believe That God made all things good And then did grieve That I had brought a flood A flood of sins and so of miseries On all this brought a deluge on mine eyes I did believe That God took flesh lost blood So to relieve Me and to drown sins flood
Stop or pursue So short Report Want so much giue See how the last words have the first forgot But oh fond Priests and Elders whence is it That you can stroak These souldiers pates Sure such neglect would you provoke Of all Yet you 're their advocates Alas how fury doth befoole their wits Mean while Disciples were so far from thieving That when this newes They btought That saw 't Yet they refuse To take 't for truth being so far from believing As two of them were to Emaus going Their busie tongue Bee'ng well imploy'd My dearest Lord stands them among No sooner talk't of then enjoy'd Happy the Servants whom he finds so doing What is your talk that makes your walk so sad Saith Cleopas Dost thou Not know These things Alas A mighty Man and Prophet we have had Mighty in word and deed with God and Men Jesus was he Of Nazareth We'd hop'd might our Redeemer be But him our Rulers put to death This bee'ng the third day since And yet agen We know not what to think on 't hurried 'Twixt hope and fear For some That come From th' Sepulcher Assure us that he 's risen from the Dead But oh this evill heart of unbelief This want of faith That can provoke The gentle Lamb of God to wrath Setting in ev'ry wheel a spoke Clouding the rising Sun with gloomy grief O fooles and slow of heart replies my Lord Slow to believe me But oh Not so Not slow to grieve me Ought not your Christ fulfill the written word But Christ can't alwaies hold his chiding story Sugars his checks With sweet instructions Moses his vaile in pieces breaks Proves by prophetick fair deductions Through Seas of sufferings Christ must land in Glory My Lord then makes as he would further go But they begin so pray Him stay And he turns in Happy who love their close reprovers so This bread of life thus broken when he had He breaks more bread And makes them eat Their Lord 's their Sheepheard they 're well fed Body and Soul with blessed meat My soul seek Christ first and those things he 'll add Just now my Lord makes them see who he is Then slips away And oh 'T was so With me last day One moment op'ned and seal'd up like bliss When Christ was gone say they we might have guest What light 't was brought So bright a day To darkest Scriptures might have thought The risen Sun was in our way Finding our hearts so burn within our breast Then they return back to Ierusalem Brimfull of joy To feast The rest But they are coy Till Christ Himself stands in the midst of them And 't is so still Whoever's sent about To tell thy story Hardness of hearts And unbelief blinds all thy glory Lord who believes Lord who converts Till thy deare presence puts all out of doubt Their doores bee'ng shut and hearts much more that even My Lord to put All out Of doubt None else can do 't This newes imparts in person to th' eleven Yet oh how hard a thing is this believing A sprite appears As they suppose The same that in their storms of fears Walk't on the Seas when winds arose Phant'sies fooles-bolt how 't hinders truths receiving Jesus salutes them with a peace be to you Once and agen 'T is I Sirs why Distrust you then Why do you let such thoughts arise why do you Down doubtings I 'm got up And ready have Sirs come and see And feel I pray A Tombe dead unbelief for thee Dig'd in my side but t'other day And for your doubtings in each hand a grave If these suffice not handle feel my feet There are two more Doubt not I 've got All as before Rather then miss their faith their sense he 'll meet Then for the further feeding of their faith He calls for food They give him fish And Honey-Combe but oh his blood And body is a sweeter dish Then breathing take the Holy Ghost he saith Now doth the frost-nipt Tree of life recover Puts forth again New springs And brings Fruits that remain Spirit and Life so prove's Deaths Winter 's over Thomas mean while bee'ng absent from the rest Freezing from th' fire Like them that miss Th' assemblies Christ is wont t' inspire With sweet assurance joy and bliss Can't feed his faith with hear-say of a feast He must first hold a Coroners inquest Must see Christs ayles And must First thrust i th' print of o th' nailes His fingers e're this faith enter his breast His faith must go on stilts or not at all See with the eye Feel with the hand His faith must in his fingers lye His faith must in his feeling stand At th' bound from sorry sense he 'll catch the ball Th' week after he and they be'ng all together With blessed greeting Increase Of peace Christ Crowns their meeting Thomas saith he come reach thy finger hither As men are wont who 've Children to be taught My Lord was fain Though ev'ry letter In 's hands and feet were printed plain With 's finger teach him spell the better The Child to faith by fealing must be brought My Lord and my God! how this sight relieves me Poor Thomas cries Christ saith Thy faith May thank thine eyes Blessed is he who sees not yet believes me Disciples after this a fishing go But nothing's caught Throughout the night Till Jesus comes and brings a draught Lord shew me so which side 's the right When to catch souls thy Gospell net I throw Christ look't into their cup-board just before Children have ye Got meate To eate Else come to me I 've food and firing for you on the shore Hence sinfull cares infest my soul no longer Base diffidence Doubtings retreat Soul mind thy Saviours providence Do thine own work and he 'll find meat Or give thee somethings better if thou hunger Dinner bee'ng done Christ speaks of working then And so should we Our whet Not let Our food should be Shepheards Christ feeds to feed his sheep agen Shepheards who love to eat but not to feed Are what they 're not Not what they are A Paradox and Gordian knot Which Christ will cut and will not spare Shepheards in name but rav'ning wolves indeed Peter dost love me more then these I 'll prove thee Then feed and keep My flock My stâ—ck Of Lambs and Sheep All knowing Lord saith he thou know'st I love thee Peter when thou wast young then thou wast free To come and go As thou'dst a mind Girding thy self 't shall not be so When thou art old others shall bind And gird and carry thee Man follow mee Peter replies and what must this man do What 's that to thee Follow Me thou How busie wee Are to mind others works our own not so In an appointed mount in Galilee Christ meets th' eleven Chargeth them there By all his pow'r in Earth and Heav'n To Preach the Gospell ev'ry where Baptizing in the name of One and Three And in so doing
to steal my Love from thee I cannot Love the giver for his gift Alas my God that 's a poor shift Why shall I court the Bearer that doth bring Forgetting him that sends the ring All Creature-good in this world or the next Be'ng but a comment on Loves Text This whole Creation be'ng but one round drop Hanging down from loves fingers top If all the world were Pearl yet why should I Desire to wear it in mine eye So that for this worlds Love I should not see My dearest Lord how to Love thee Can I so Love the world And can't I yet Love God that made both me and it Lord I must cry Here 's Witchery If the world be th' inchantress Lord I pray Hasten the Gen'rall Judgement day For sure my Love when 't sees the witch a burning To its right wits will be returning But rather I suspect 't is Hells black-art That from my God thus charms my heart Remembring 't was the wilie Serpents plot That first brake the True-Lovers-Knot When Baalams Divinations could not move From Gods dear Israel Gods dear Love But God that lov'd them once would love them still Though Balaam went from mount to hill He next instructs the Moabites to lay Adult'rous Loves in Isr'els way To quench their Love to God through wanton fire And thereby to incense Gods ire And if this world play the Moabitess 'T is Satans project Lord I guess Who see'ng he can't divert thy Love from mee Would thus divide my Love from thee And is mine heart divided ah my God Whose cloâ—en foot thereon hath trod The print discovers What though Balaam's dead Thou God of peace bruise Satans head But I am most affraid the worst's within The witch-craft of my native sin Sin winds and circles Lord so many wayes Till sin ofttimes the Devill raise Lord thou art fire Give sin her hire Burn up this witch her crafts and Philtre-pots Sins books of curious arts charms knots By thy refining Spirit that I may Get warmth of Love to thee that way Who hath bewitch'd me that I am so coy When thou wouldst fain my Love enjoy Thou blessed Three stand'st suing for mine heart Who only canst fill every part Dear God! who hath bewitched me that I cant Deny the courting world a graunt That never yet could fill my heart unless It were with griping emptiness The garment of thy goodness is entire Can keep me warm without a fire To which this whole creation's but a shred Each Creature 's but one single thred To give these things their due they 're good for use And lovely too unless their juice By Love inordinate be dryed up Leaving behind an empty cup. And is gold rich and can the mine be poor Theirs at the best is borrow'd store Nay so long borrow'd that it now grows old O that my Love could wax as cold As cold to earth as earth is in decay But more intense to God each day who 'll soon serve earth for all its glitt'ring grace As we do serve old Silver-lace Lord fire this pile Of man mean while I h've heard good husbands say that they that borrow Their stock to day may break to morrow Sure the worlds credit cannot long hold good 'T is much the world thus long hath stood Consid'ring when the world 's in fullest trade How poor and sorry payment 's made Him that owes all and must his right recover Sure th' world must then all trade give over Shall I not therefore deal i th' interim Less with the world but more with him With him whose Love 's an unexhausted spring Of ev'ry good and perfect thing Methinks mens trading with the world might stop At thought of this who keeps her shop Alas my God the world is Devill ridden The thing is known and can't be hidden Hell hath deflour'd the earth and now I see 'T would put its leavings off to me Dawbing false paint on th' face o th' wrinkled Creature Hav'ng worn and spoil'd its native feature The earth 's all Egypt now And Egypts curse Is over all the world or worse For Beelzebub with his swarming train Hath all things flie-blown To be plain There is no flesh that 's sweet but Saviours now Which Satan tri'd but knew not how To taint All 's dogs-meat else Lord teach me chuse And I shall all the rest refuse And only wish For that one dish A dish that 's wholesome and 't is healing too Ah my dear God! what shall I do To Love thy flesh enough that tasted once For ever heals my broken bones Set thine apart all other flesh is grass And is my soul an oxe or ass That it should Love no higher then my beast Or can my soul such fare digest Come Trencher Criticks you that eat by book And in your food for physick look Your Cook must be some small Apothecarie Will you allow a Verser varie From your received rules and be content To try a new experiment Flesh in a feaver's good Divinity Which who most eats scapes best say I. Provided that the flesh be sound and good For I would be right understood As never did nor could corruption see Ah my dear Saviour I mean thee Alas how low in an high burning Feaver Of Gods displeasure never never To have been cured otherwise did sin Once bring me till I did begin To fall aboard that sacred flesh And then How soon did I grow well agen Then wellcome gentle guest if thou hast not To prize and Love thine health forgot Come sit down here And Love this Chear Or tell me is it sweetness and delight That rather doth thy Love invite What more delicious sweeter thing can be Than that sweet blood was shed for me When I Repentance take that purging pill I take it in this Syrup still Whaâ— purgeth pains and would too much corrode â—â—t for this sweet emulgent blood You curious Palates that can't let one glass Without a strict Examen pass Come tast and tell me if this blood this wine Ben't generous and genuine The Vine is Divine nay'tis somewhat more And can the blood o th' Grape be poor 'T is this High-Country-Wine that fills my cup When at my Saviours board I sup Wine that 's as sweet as wrath of God is bitter Which who hath tasted is the fitter To rellish this rich liquor Wrath makes dry But here 's the cup of Charity This is the grace-cup Nothing 's sweet nor good Till dasht or sprinkled with this blood Men are but Swine wines are but swill before This blood man to himself restore A Wine so good fal'n Angels might not tast it Who therefore did contrive to cast it Upon the ground which when they thought to spill They broach'd for man against their will Lord who can love Thy blood enough Or do you Love for Loveliness Come hither My Lord is Lovely alltogether Alas how am'rous wits forget their duty To this supreme and perfect beauty You fond admirers of a skin-deep
ev'ry beck Shall be my Bridle curb and check The Watch thou giv'st me I le keep for thy sake And wind it up when ere I wake The Book thou gav'st me that blood-guilded Book I le ever ever in it look Till I find thee there and my self thy beauty And learn to know and do my duty Then shewing to others See the token Love I le say hath sent me from above Keeping the cleaner hands that I may not Discolour it with any spot Unless a tear Drop here or there The task thou setst me Lord I 'le nor complain Thy work shall be my wage and gain Clean as I can I le do 't if sullied then My tears shall wash it ore agen Thy strict commands and Love-lin'd yoak shall be A neck-chain of pure gold to me Thine hardest sayings when my stomacks queâ—zie Love shall digest and make them easie Thine is no Labans-service if it were Yet Love two Prentiships might bear But to be bound or held in durance by Thy Royall Law is liberty Mine heart shall be less loose and yet more large Be'ng stretcht out unto all thy charge And where my life fals short of either table Love shall fullfill for Love is able If thou wilt come and take an Inventory Of all that 's mine I le not be sorry If thou wilt search and ransack all I have I le help thee or thine help I le crave If ought I have displease or if I doubt I will for sureness throw it out If I can pleasure thee with ought that 's mine I le quit my Title Lord t is thine If mine heart fit thy walking thou shalt have it If not yet Love shall mend and pave it With such clear solid stone ev'n all within As yet can weep for ev'ry sin Washing thy feet When men don 't see 't Mine heart be'ng thus possest when strangers come I le say thou 'st taken up my room Then if thou ask whose purse or parts are these I le answer thine Lord if thou please If on mine Houre-Glass thou then lay thine hand And ask whose is this running sand I le answer Lord the little 's left is thine But what 's run out is no more mine Or if thou ask me who are those at th' door Smiling on them I le say my poor I le draw my soul out when thy Lazar knocks My Cupboard shall be th' poor mans box If others come like those poor Greeks to mee With a Sir we would Jesus see I le gladly tell them where my Lord doth Sup Do'ng all I can to help them up If others curse thee Shimes like if they Cast dust I le blow the dust away With sighs and groans if they thine honour stain I le weep and wash it clean again Or else I le chide or fight if thou shalt bid But first of all with Tâ—ai ours hid At home I 'le fear no colours whilest above Thy Banner over me is Love Who sues to be a favourite of mine I le ask him first if he be thine If not I le pray him to be reconcil'd To thee that so my Love to th' Child May aâ—l be found Thine at the bound Or when thy tender Lillie bleeds my God Torne with those cruâ—lâ— thorns abroad Or rent with Schismes at home and heart division Ile what I can play the Physician I le plead with thee with them if things grow worse I le bleed my self to turn the course When I thy Peoples Hearts divided see Surely mine Heart shall broken bee Thy Love hath lent me all the balm that 's thine Why should not then thy sores be mine My God they shall but chiefly when my Passion Or lust provokes thine indignation I le bereveng'd on one my self I mean And grieve till thou art pleas'd agen Passions shall live like Gibeonites their Law To hew thy wood and water draw So all I have shall serve thee till I know My Love hath life and find it grow Lord I le account of all as it conduces To help Loves growth and serve its uses If in the Sunshine of a prosp'rous state My fire can't burn so clear for that I le rather choose some curteous clouds return Then see Loves holy fire not burn Or if I fail of ought I here profess And thy rod can't my fault redress Rather then live thy grief I le yield to dye So Love inflict the penalty That paid my score By death before If Love yet let me live a growing debtor I le study hard but I le live better Live I mean Love that 's the Commandments enâ— And that 's the life that I intend Though Love wax cold abroad and sin abound Hard Frost ore spreading all the ground Shall th' heat of Kitchin fire be more increast And not thy flames within my breast Lord whatâ— a Silver Tongue if 't cannot talk A Golden Leg if 't cannot walk Faith that can Mountains move when 't is desired Or Martyrdome if Love be n't fired What if I give my goods and all my store But not in Love to feed thy poore But if in Love a cup of water cold Though the drink 's mean the cup is Gold Love tunes my Pray'rs makes Praises Musicall Which else at best but howl or ball Love makes two Mites to God as acceptable As if to bring two worlds 't were able True Love's true beauty beauties else but paint No more am I if Love I want Lord help me put on Love to keep me warm To dwell in Love secure from harm To walk in Love till Love i th' stream do lead To Love that is the Fountain head Or th' Ocean which if I cant comprehend I 'll plung into that in the end Lost I may bee If lost in thee Yet when I think what pent and narrow room i th' Virgins Womb The God of Love lodg'd in methinks mine heart May hold its part Into mine heart O shed thy Love abroad My God! my God Both be'ng Spirit what can better suit Then th' Spirits fruit Drink thirsty vessell till thou fill or break But never leak The broken Heart and truly contrite Breast Holds Love the best And the best Love a Love more worth then wine Lord I mean thine Then as the purpose of thy Gâ—ace and Love None can remove Let me So Love thee as to part and lever Lord n ver never Ungirt Unblest we say my God Love is The bond of Bâ—iss And perfectness A Grace whose Bondmen be The only free Works without Faith can never Lord please thee Nor pâ—â—fi mee Faith without Love can't operate oâ— move But works by Love Love is a Grace that stands her ground in Glory That upper story Love when Tongues prophecies and knowâ—edg fail Ent'ring the Vaile Possesseth as Supreme and highest Grace The Holiest place When Faith and Hope do thither wait upon her As Maids oâ— Honour Sole Love is left as Queen of all the Graces In Gods Embraces Mean while Lord to be sick of Love to
thee Is health to mee They that have not this sickness hâ—ve a worse â—hy plague and curse If any man LOVE not the Lord Jesus Christ let him be Anathema Maran-atha 1 Cor. 16.22 PRAYER NExt th' Trinity of Persons and of Graces Mans three main Duties Muse and Method Who views my God and Grace in all their Beauty places Can 't I should think but take delight in Duty But who believs Hopes Loves I 'm sure of that Will Love to Pray to Hear to Meditate Pray'r's the first breath put forth in crying then When through sad pangs poor souls are born agen Heav'n well commends Faiths midwifery and sayes The Child 's no still born for behold he prayes Pray'r is the rapper at Heav'ns door Faith knocks Who 's there saith Love within doors and unlocks Pray'r is the key what e're i th' lock retards Pray'r â—yld with mourning gently slips the wards And moves the Spring Gods heart Doth Ephraim mourn The bolt gives back Jehovah's bowels turn Pray'r is an Arrow from a well-bent heart Watch the Returns and see what 't will impart Of Heav'ns Intelligence i' th' flouds decrease This mournfull Dove brings th' Olive branch of peace Pray'r is the saced Bellows when these blow How musically doth faiths Organ goe Thus Pray'r proves Faith an Instaument and Love Answers to this wind-musick from Above In sweet consort with ravishing consent Upon that Lute that dear string'd Instrument Whose strings are Bowels of that Lamb once slain Who makes the Musick bee'ng Alive again Pray'r is the sacred Bellws when these blow How doth that Live-cole from Gods Altar glow By Prayer Love burns to zeal and hot desire Baptizeth the souls fewell all with fire Pray'r breath 's the gale whilest Faith doth navigate i th' brittle bark of Mans frail mortall state Good Hope 's the Cape fair Heaven and fair wind Whilest Faith in pray'r steers the low ballast mind Pray'r is Faiths Limbeck there the Promise lies And thence distils mock not Prayr's watry eyes On th' knees of Pray'r Faith brings forth Promises As Bilba sometimes bare on Rachels knees Pray'r is Faiths Bucket Pray'r doth upward move Drawing its waters from those wells above Chain'd to that Bucket of the Blessing so That that comes down as this doth upward go Pray'r is Faiths Pump where 't works till th' water come If 't come not free at first Faith puts in some Some truly penitentiall tears and then Pumping the Promise paies it self agen Pray'r is the Christians Pulse Pray'r instantly The Temper or Distemper will descry Some read some sing and some their pray'rs can say He 's an Elias that his pray'rs can pray Pray'r lifting up its holy hands can dart To Heav'n that hand-granado of the Heart Of the whole Heart which kindled with desire In fervent motion breaks sets Love on fire Compassions burnâ— Heav'n suff'ring violence Grows to surrender unto man propense Pray'r's a chief piece of Faiths Artillery Take a right ground mount Pray'r aym right let flie Doth Heav'n hold out let Heaven hear from Faith What force Pray'r home-charg'd with a Promise hath Doth Hell assault let fervour fire this Gun And the report shall make bold Legion run Pray'rs Rhetorick commands when 't begs and so Makes most victorious whom it brings most low Pray'r lifteth up the Eyes Hands Heart we see When Pray'r most humbly doth bow down the knee Pray'r makes Man Prince with God Doth Jacob kneel Saith King of Glory Rise up Israel Pray'r in the silent Hannah loudly Speakâ— Pray'r both Manasse's heart and prison breaks Elijahs Pray'r doth pierce the brassie skies And makes the Tears to stand in Heavens eyes 'T is not an armed Amalek can stand When Pray'r lifts up a Moses's naked Hand As Thunder struck Philistines once did fall Dâ—wn tumbles Rain and th' Enemy withall At th'Lightning Legions Pray'â— Oh who can war Where private Souldiers such Commanders are Pray'r bee'ng aboard the great Leviathan In whose close Cook-room Jonah's shipt poor man Makâ—s Land runs th' Hull on shore and open breaks The Pris'ners way by blowing-up the Decks Pray'r undertakes to discipline the SUN To teach that Giant Postures when to Run When to Retreat to make a Halt to stand At praying Joshua's word of Command This Rowling Eve in Heavens Brow stands still Wondering to see Faiths Pray'r thus work its will Fifteen Degrees when Hezekiah pray'd His Life and ten the Sun ran retrograde Thus Pray'r prevails in Heaven Earth and Seas Add but its conquest over Hell to these How th' Ayre of Pray'r choaks the serpentine brood Of that old crooked Dragon in the flood Sin Satans spawn and how the intestine Thorne Is by true Prayr's compunction out-worne How th' Messenger of Satan's buffeted Who came to buffet how the Serpents Head Under the knees of Pray'r is sqeez'd at last And Beel-zebub is himself out-cast By the rare force of Pray'r that grows more strong By Fasting and more fresh by watching long The summe of all is Pray'rs stupendious Art To bind Gods hands and keep in hold his Heart Pray'r importuning this Sampson hath found Himself revealing how he may be bound Ev'n God be bound who 's infinitely free Yet saith to Faith and Pray'r Command ye mee The Prayer-hearing God the Father is The Pray'r-perfuming God that Son of His With flagrant fragrant Incense of His Merit The Pray'r-inditing God is God the Spirit Pray'rs Tears are washt in Gods Blood its means Are ayr'd with Gods unutterable groans Thus Pray'r prevails with God yet Praises shall Not Pray'r but th' God of Pray'r victorious call Who 's All in All. Pray alwaies with all PRAYER and watch there vnto with all Perseverance Eph. 6.18 HEARING FRom Pray'r to Hearing I proceed For that prepares for this indeed But who from Hearing turns his ear away The Lord abominates to hear him pray Heark t is Gods voice can man forbear To hear Him speak that made the Ear Why should the Head of hearing Ears make show Since such Deaf Ears upon Mans Heart do grow Heav'n did to poor Mans misery Give ear before he gave the Cry Methinks a Saviours words should all sound loud Acuted with the Accents of his Blood What vile Dishonesty appears By Mans disgracefull loss of Ears And yâ—â— let Syrens frog and Satan knock 〈◊〉 Hear can 〈◊〉 too â—ight too soon unlock No Cords can hold or Lusts be bound Till All is over-board and drown'd When th'Serpent charms this Addâ—r hears but when Heav'n charm's more wisely th' Ears are charm'd agen Most what I see a monstrous sight Most have two Ears yet neither 's Right God gave them two yet they 'l by no means lend So much as one to such a bounteous Friend Sure such a Friend would soon repay By giving ear to what they pray God ever takes up Ears on Interest And doth his greatest Creditors pay best They teach their very Ears to pray Who listen well what God shall say Th' uncircumcis'd in Ear bid