to lend it But least corrupt my mind or body grow with too much ease or wanton Idlenesse My mind I set my Makers Will to know His Wisedome Power Truth and Holinesse I often ride or walke to wearinesse The members of my body to subdue And Temper 'gainst Lust and Laciuiousnesse Thus by sweet contemplation oft I view Such high transcendent things as yet I neuer knew Thus rapt with contemplation I find That all these worlds-gay show's which men admire Are but vaine shadow's to the ioy 's of mind Of those that lead their liues in safe retire Whose onely happinesse and hearts desire Is here the talents God hath lent to spend Vnto his glory as he doth require And vsing Temperately what he doth send Thus grant that I may liue Thus grant that I may end MEDITAT IIII. of BOVNTIE NOw will I raise faire Alma's stately tower On Temperance her strong and soundest frame And goodly deck Dame Bounty's dainty bower Whereby all Princes gaine immortall fame Some call her Alma some her Bounty name The trusty Almner of Loues Royall Court Who beares the bag to giue to blind and lame And Suitors all that thither doe resort Rewards most bounteously and feeds in seemely sort For on this heau'nly Dame the eyes of all Looke vp that of her liberalitie They may receiue and shee againe le ts fall Vpon them needfull things most plenteously Her bounteous hand shee opens willingly With blessings eu'ry creature full to fill To those that Knowledge seeke abundantly Shee giueth Wisdome Vnderstanding Skill To know their Makers Bountie Maiestie and Will Most glorious Alma when as Temperance Controlls the noble Plentie of her Hall And with her Staffe keepes out Intemperance Which doth abuse her Grace and Bountie all For where most Plentie is there most doe fall By want of Temperance to Lust and Sin Till they be brought low as the Prodigall For he that will true Praise by Bountie win Must first of all at home with Temperance begin For Temperance with watchfull diligence Are like two springs which waters doe supply To open handed free Beneficence And her discernes from Prodigalitie By Diligence we get sufficiencie By Temperance what we haue gotten spare To minister to Liberalitie For these two Lady-Bounty's handmaids are And for her iust and truly store of wealth prepare But they that liue in sloth and foule excesse Though they may seeme to be most liberall Oppression and Extortion mercilesse Are Lakes from whence their Bounty 's streamed doe fall And thus they rob the poore that therewithall They may themselues rich friends and children feast Blaspheming their great Maker Lord of all And imitating basest sauage beast Which fawnes vpon the great But doth deuoure the least God of all Bountie King most Liberall Who to thy vassall Man at his Creation Didst subiect make Fish Fowle Beasts creatures all And of thine handy works gau'st domination Who by thy prouidence and ordination Him needfull things not onely dost prouide But for his health delight and contentation That he may plentie to the poore diuide My Muse to sing heart hands to practise Bountie guide Bountie Beneficence Benignitie In name though diuers one in substance be Beneuolence and Liberalitie Make actions and affections agree If as they are in God you wish to see They like his Goodnesse are vnlimitted And as his Mercy Loue and Grace are free Which on his creatures are abundant shed But by my shallow Muse their depth cannot be read They are too high to reach too deepe to sound For all the earth is filled therewithall In heau'n aboue Gods Goodnesse doth abound The Bountie of his Grace is ouer all Of all the Meditations which call My mind to holy Ioy and admiration None lets more comfort than Gods Bountie fall Both for my being and my preseruation But most in that he shed his bloud for my Saluation Here could I wish my Muse might euer dwell In viewing Gods great Goodnesse Bountie Loue Which three to th' holy Trinitie I well May here ascribe For Goodnesse first doth moue The Father to beget Eternall Loue From Loue and Goodnesse Bountie doth proceed Yet all these three as one in God doe proue In substance one although distinguished In working But this height my reach doth far exceed And therefore rauish't now with contemplation Beyond the compasse of my feeble eye My soule amaz'd falls downe to adoration Of this misterious holy Trinitie And from diuine come to benignitie And bountie which should be in men below A habit wee of liberalitie Her call and good affection we should show In thought heart word and deed to eu'ry one we know And must from goodnesse and true loue proceed The onely cause of true benignitie Wherefore except these be in vs indeed Our bounty is but prodigalitie Or some like froth of superfluitie The crums and leauings of Intemperance Which oft are dealt out with an euill eye More for vaine credit or base circumstance Then for goodwill or care Gods glory to aduance For eu'ry act hath then her true effect Which from true ground right aymeth at her end As when both loue and goodnesse doth direct What bounty truly gets aright to spend Loe thus doth heau'nly grace and Bounty send Her blessings temporall alike to all But doth for greater benefits intend To those that on Gods name aright doe call And in this heau'nly sort ought we be liberall Oh! then th' effects of bounty glorious are When Prouidence with true Frugality Doe seeke by Iustice to prouide and spare Fit sustenance for liberality Behold that heau'nly bounteous Maiesty Sends raine and fruitfull seasons whereby store Of Blessings th' earth may to his hand supply And many hidden treasures vp doth store For to exalt the rich and to refresh the pore Then humane bounty like her Makers is When as shee labours to doe good to all But most of all to bring poore soules to blisse And fill their hearts with food spirituall Oh Grace Diuine Bounty Angelicall With spirituall loaues in Wildernesse to feed Gods Saints when spirituall hunger them doth gal The ignorant which pine with inward need Diuine sweet comforts to their fainting soules to reade True Bounty 's knowne best by her company For shee in Truth and Mercy takes delight Faith Iustice Temperance Humility And is withall Loues graces richly dight Herein appeares her glorious heau'nly Sp'rite Shewing that shee of seed diuine is borne Of Loue and Goodnesse not of Vaine delight Or Fame and Praise of men when shee doth scorne To seeke feign'd bounteous shewes her goodnes to adorn For thus th' ambitious man is bountifull Thus belly-gods in plentie take delight Deceit with gifts his neighbour seekes to gull The couetous bribe large to conquer right From such false Bounty Truth is banish't quite Humility Faith Knowledge Temperance Nor any of Loues Graces in her sight May suffered be their ensignes to aduance There dwells Contention Pride Oppression Ignorance As daughters of the horse-leech still doe
THE BRIDES ORNAMENTS Viz. Fiue MEDITATIONS Morall and Diuine 1. Knowledge 2. Zeale 3. Temperance 4. Bountie 5. Ioy. IOHN 17. 3. This is life eternall that they may know thee the onely true God and Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent LONDON Printed by WILLIAM STANSBY 1625. THE CONTENTS of the whole Booke The third Booke 1. Knowledge 2. Zeale 3. Temperance 4. Bountie 5. Ioy. The fourth Booke 1. Prudence 2. Obedience 3. Meeknesse 4. Gods Word 5. Prayer 1. VRania 2. The Authors vow or wish atthe Consecration of the Right Honourable the Lord Maynards Chappell 3. The Muses health to the same 4. The Conuerts Conquest TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE AND REVEREND FATHER IN GOD GEORGE LORD Bishop of London Lord high ALMENER to the Kings most Excellent MAIESTIE TO me thy Fauour to thee my Relation Doe tie mee in a double Obligation These Graces fiue to thee to dedicate Which best I think thy worth accommodate Who art the bounteous Almener of the King Of Bounty whose great wisdome did thee bring For thy large spirit and well tempred zeale His Temples broken head and sides to heale Whose loue to Knowledge Humane Diuine As in the Schooles so in the Church doth shine These outward Vertues plainly doe declare What inward Graces in thee likewise are The chiefe is spirituall Ioy which in thy Breast God make thee feele as wee doe see the rest Your Lordships bounden in all dutie and seruice ROBERT AYLETT To Reuerend Diuines MOst honor'd belou'd Enquire you why A Lawyer meddles with Diuinitie I diue no seas profound of disputation But wade in shallow Fords of meditation I write no Systema no Institution No Babels Fall nor Sions Restitution Nor whither Tithes by Law diuine are due Or doe to you by Positiue accrew These mysteries I leaue to sound Diuines That searched haue profundest Scripture-mines Seditious superstitious Nouelties I hate my mind I onely exercise In your pure easie sweet diuinest notions And them at leasure suit to my deuotions To Iohn a Nokes THou lik'st my Verses well but not to flatter Dislik'st Diuinitie should be my matter What now will Lawiers turne Diuines that 's braue No By no meanes They haue no soules to saue THE BRIDES ORNAMENTS MEDITAT I. Of Heauenly KNOWLEDGE A Daily warfare is a Christians life Where Souldiers all not onely stand in need Of Armes and Valour to maintaine the strife The cursed Serpent makes with Adams seed But of this Treasure Knowledge both to feed Their Soules with food most pure Celestiall And furnish with such Weapons as they need I therefore her Loues Treasurer doe call For we in daily want stand of her Treasure all By feigned Treasure did the Serpent traine Our two first Parents to their cursed sinne Pretending they should goodly treasure gaine And Knowledge both of good and euill win But good doth end where euill doth begin For drosse they doe exchange their purest gold The Serpent bad without themselues within They find the euill as the Serpent told But vp to Heav'n flies good which can no ill behold Thus all our Treasures lost we had before The Knowledge of Gods nature and his will And we become vnarm'd rude naked poore Of all things ignorant but doing ill Now vs our enemies may easily kill We hauing lost our weapons and our treasure Which wealth and weapons if regaine we will We must attend this heau'nly Ladys pleasure Diuine sweet Knowledge not confin'd by weight or measure Thou Word incarnate whom aright to know Is Life eternall Ioy and happy rest To mee this Ladies wondrous Beautie show And richest treasures which in golden Chest. Thou hid'st from Hell and malice of the Beast Knowledge contain'd in either Testament Wherein thy Will and Nature is exprest How we should liue and Serpents sting preuent How conquer Hell and serue thee with a true intent Some Knowledge call th'habit of demonstration Some her to know by causes doe define Some th'vnderstandings sound determination Wee her to heau'nly Doctrine here confine Which in a threefold Booke to man doth shine Of Creatures first and latter Testament The Booke of Creatures shewes Gods power diuine The Law is much in types and shadowes spent Whereof the Gospel is the full accomplishment In Booke of creatures all men may obserue Gods Wisdome Goodnesse Power and Prouidence By which he made the world and doth preserue In truest motions its circumference Sending from Heav'n raines sweetest influence Filling our hearts with Mirth and Ioyfulnesse And giuing all things Motion Being Sense This doth Gods power and God-head plaine expresse But not his Will which leads to endlesse happinesse Yet by this Booke are left without excuse Idolaters who downe to stocks doe fall Which their owne hands haue made for such abuse And leaue their Maker blessed ouer all Who as his Power and Goodnesse generall Appeares most plainly in this Worlds Creation So doth his gracious Bountie on them fall In sending food for daily sustentation And in their healths and liues continuall preseruation The next two Bookes most plainly doe disclose Gods will particular and generall Particular to Patriarchs Prophets those That till Christs time on God aright did call For this did not on all the Nations fall Gods will was then in Iury onely knowne But now the Gospel soundeth out to all The seed thereof in eu'ry Nation 's sowne Which doth reueale hid mysteries before vnknowne The first Gods power and prouidence doth shew The second types out our Regeneration The third directly leadeth vs to know All that is needfull for our owne Saluation Ev'n from Election to Glorification This Booke reueales all secret mysteries Hidden in Christ before the Worlds foundation Though worldlings this as folly doe despise Yet this true Knowledge onely happy makes and wise As some great Princes might and Maiestie Is often to the meanest stranger knowne But his most secret counsell and decree To friends and counsellours is onely showne Ev'n so the King of Kings holds not vnknowne From Heathens sight his Maiestie and might But hath disclosed onely to his owne The secret of his counsells and delight Whereby they may him worship please and serue aright This is the Knowledge which I seeke to trace This onely doth true happinesse affoord Whereof the onely cause is inward Grace And vnderstanding Gods most holy Word The helpes which humane Learning doe record Law History Arts Physicke Poetrie Are but as seruants waiting on their Lord And hand-maids to their dame Diuinitie All Knowledge without this is foolish vanitie Sweet Grace which dost true Knowledge of Gods will To Babes and sucklings oftentimes reueale When from great Clerkes of Wisdome and deepe skill Thy pleasure is this treasure to conceale Oh sacred breath which in our hearts doth steale Like sweetest Zephyrus most pleasing wind Whence no man knowes yet doth it surely seale That certaine Knowledge which I seeke to find Knowledge of God and Christ the Sauiour of mankind All Graces that doe serue Loues Royall Queene
her Sauiours knowledge in her brest Than that shee bare him in her wombe yet tender For One all Generations call her blest By th' other one of his true members shee doth rest But though this onely necessary is And first for our saluation to be sought Wee onely at our last of it haue misse As too meane subiect for ambitious thought Thus the vnlearned rise and heav'n haue cought When greatest Clerks with Sciences profound Heartlesse and comfortlesse to Hell are brought For God doth their great wisedome oft confound Because their inward parts are not sincere and sound Alas of knowledge here we haue no care But all our youth in follies idely spend Our strength in lusts and strifes away we weare In age we worldly profit all intend Alas what gaine we by this at our end When our fraile Body doth returne to dust Our Soule to him that gaue it must ascend Whereof least iot of time account they must Which hath been spent in discord profit folly lust Oh! knew we but the vertue of this treasure Like to the Merchant wise we would sell all To buy it where we should find profit pleasure Such Ioy as neuer on our hearts did fall Oh heav'nly Comfort Ioy spirituall Delight vnspeakeable in hearts that ' grow Of those that shee is conuersant withall What Ioy can there be greater than to know Gods endlesse Loue in Christ which shee to vs doth show Sure I could wish my whole life here to spend In this diuine most holy contemplation whereof I know not how to make an end Shee yeelds such plentie of sweet meditation Most heav'nly mysteries of our Creation Wherein appeare Gods might and Maiestie But aboue all his loue in mans saluation This is that wondrous hidden mystery Into the which eu'n Angels did desire to pry But we confesse though thou dost here reueale Abundant knowledge yet we little know Wherefore 'gainst vs the Heathen may appeale Who though thou didst to them but glimpses show Of Truth and Iustice did more righteous grow Than wee that doe thy sacred Truth confesse And make of Puritie a glorious show But to adorne the Gospel we professe With workes of Charitie Ah! wee doe nothing lesse Oh it is meate and drinke we know not of To know and doe our heav'nly Fathers will Our blessed Sauiour alwayes fed thereof And hereof Saints and Angells eate their fill These are the fruitfull plants which flourish still Milke Hony liuing Water spiced Wine Which doe refresh Christs Spouse when shee is ill These richest Iewells which her make so fine Locks Ribands Roses which so gloriously do shine For this shee is the Bridegroomes darling Doue And vnto her that bare her onely deare For this the daughters when they see her loue And all the Queenes and Wiues make merry cheere This makes her looke than Sunne and Moone more cleere Her nauell belly head necke brests adorne With these shee to her husband doth appeare More beautifull than is the fairest morne Or faire like twinning Ews on Gilead washt and shorne Thou that such heav'nly Knowledge didst instill Into plaine Fishers that they could confound By argument ev'n Clerkes of greatest skill And diue into thy Mysteries profound Who by their clouen-fiery tongues forth sound The Knowledge of thy Truth to ev'ry Nation Canst make this Knowledge in mine heart abound By one sparke of diuine illumination And rauish my weake soule with heav'nly admiration And though imperfect here our Knowledge be By reason of our humane imperfection And for by Faith alone we things doe see And nothing know indeed in true perfection Yet when thy Spirit cleares our minds infection Wee shall then know ev'n as we now are knowne And things now seene by mirrour-like inspection To vs shall be most euidently showne In Knowledge we shall reape what we in Faith haue sowne What then 's imperfect shall be done away Knowledge shall perfect our felicitie Which is our free beholding God for ay In his great Goodnesse Loue and Maiestie So farre as finite may infinitie Farther to reach my Muse dares not be bold When Angels of so high sublimitie Gods Light and Maiestie cannot behold Finite with infinite can no proportion hold MEDITAT I. Of ZEALE and godly IEALOVSIE OH that some holy fire enlightening My Soule now rauish would with thoughts diuine Whilst I of Iealousie Loues daughter sing And godly Zeale which like the Sunne doth shine Alas Minerua and the Muses nine Are too weake helpes their aide here to intreate With Colefrom Altar let some Seraphine Touch my rude tongue and set my braine on heate The Glory of this Grace in loftie rhimes to sweate Fit Subiect for a sacred Poets Verse Which should it selfe in Extasie transcend Zeales sacred Praise with Knowledge to rehearse Both Method and Deuotion doe commend Who as the houshold Chaplaine doth intend To all that liue in Royall Court of Loue And Prayers for them all to heau'n doth send For without Zeale none possible can moue To high Olimpus Court the Seate of mightie Ioue For Prayers that to Heau'n seeke to ascend Without the Feruour of this sacred Zeale Fall downe like smoakie vapours that intend Into Aires middle region to steale But those that are supported by her seale Like Fumes of incense by the Lamb contend Eu'n in th' Almighties presence to reueale Our wants and craue his aid vs to defend 'Gainst worlds and Serpents poyson to our latest end Oh! thou to whom it was both drinke and meate To finish and to doe thy Fathers Will Whom Zeale of Gods owne house eu'n vp did eate And made thee on the Crosse thy bloud to spill Who whipst out Merchants that thy house did fill With doues and money theeues and merchandize Some Zea-lous iuice into my pen distill And raise my mind aboue her wonted guise That so my Muse may with her matter sympathise All other holy Graces disposition By rules of Art I formerly define But Zeale so feruent is no definition Can her containe or bound in any line Onely shee is by nature pure diuine Beloued daughter to the Queene of Loue Whose mothers Graces so in her doe shine Shee well the primate of her Court may proue And ranked be for place all other Peares aboue I here omit that Zeale which without hate Of others doth to vertuous deeds contend And vs enflames that good to emulate Which we to be in others apprehend I here that holy Iealousie commend Which onely doth from Loue diuine proceed When not for our but Gods cause we intend To loue both him and his in word and deed For this is that right Zea'le which of true Loue doth breed Truth comes by knowledge and from zeale deuotions When therefore zeale doth with true knowledge meete Shee doth inlarge our hearts with heav'nly notions Sublime transcendant admirable sweet But where this knowledge wants shee 's vndiscreet Rash violent seditious rude and blind Faults for so faire a Lady farre vnmeet You see two zeales here
of a differing kind I leaue the worst and seeke the fairest out to find Sweet Lady daughter to the Queene of Loue Which is the cause of Zeale and Iealousie If you will aske mee what this Queene doth moue To loue vs wretches that in sin doe lye I answere Goodnesse of her Maiestie Most excellent is then this holy fire Of zeale proceeding from such ancestry Goodnesse and Loue which therefore wee require To true effects of Loue and Goodnesse to aspire Sweet zeale How fairely dost thou beautifie Th' affection where thou mak'st thy habitation Like Temple which thy Lord did purifie When as his Soule with zeale and indignation Was mou'd to see Gods Temples prophanation Not suffering thy house of endlesse rest To be abus'd by Pride or lustfull passion Th' affection which doth lodge within my brest The Temple where Christ and the Holy Ghost should rest Companions of Zeale are Pietie Faith Knowledge Patience Fortitude and Right In workes of Mercy Peace and Charitie And sweet Humilitie is her delight With all her Power shee is opposite Against all that Gods glory may oppose Shee spends in feruent Prayers day and night And those by Knowledge doth so well compose They bring Gods blessings down and vp his Iudgements close Oh Zeale with Knowledge Faith and Charitie Who able is thy vertue to commend Which doth the Church into one Body tye And for Gods glory onely dost contend For publike good and not for priuate end Lo th' Angells-Being doth in zeale consist Whose sacred ardour doth all flames transcend Wherewith they oft enlight our minds darke mist When flames of hottest zeale they to our soule suggest Oh! Loue as strong as Death and Iealousie Cruell as graue Thy flames like coales of fire Consume and burne vp all most violently No Streames or Flouds can quench her sacred ire Should we sell all we haue we could not buy her The Daughter zeale is like the Mother free Them both from Heau'n th' Almightie doth inspire And therefore neither will affronted bee With Riualls Heathen Gods most base Idolatree Fond Zeale that 's fitly called which doth want Faith Knowledge Loue diuine and Graces all It still doth most vaine superstitions haunt And to most base Idolatry doth fall Vnhumane Fury Madnesse tragicall Of men whom thus blind zeale and strange desire Transports beyond rage diabolicall To offer vp their children in the fire Of some offended deuill to appease the ire Strange is this zealous fury of the rude When Ignorance doth guide their blind deuotion The gathering of the froward multitude When they be stirred with some feruent motion All following some braine-sicke idle notion With discontent against authoritie Raise Schismes in Church in Common-wealth Commotion Pretending all their Conscience-liberty Alas these be no fruits of holy Iealousie God often by an Anthropopathy By which his nature best wee vnderstand Ascribes vnto himselfe this Iealousie As being link'd in Hymens holy band Vnto his Church his vndefiled And His Church againe to shew her feruent Loue And Ioy shee takes in her new ioyned hand Like Loue-sicke Bride the Bridegroome oft doth proue And him with zeale inuites her to imbrace and Loue. Neuer new wedded Bridegroome was more faine Of his new-Bride than Christ is of his Doue Neuer did truest Turtle more complaine For losse of Mate than this Spouse of her Loue It would a stony heart to fountaines moue Of teares to heare the Churches piteous mone When shee doth misse him whom her Soule doth loue Where 's my belou'd Ah whither is shee gone And left his saddest Deare to sigh and sit alone And therefore as a Signet on his heart And as the Seale that is on his right hand Shee would be ioyn'd that shee might neuer part But alwayes in his Grace and presence stand No Keeper in Christs Vineyard must command Hee will his Vineyard prune and dresse alone Whereby his Iealousie wee vnderstand His Vine the Bridegroome will haue drest of none The Bride out of his presence neuer will be gone Doth mine inuention faile that wont to flow In Similes that make hard things seeme plaine Or doth the whole Creation here below Nothing affoord zeales nature to explaine Alas all earthly Similes are vaine T' expresse the nature of this Heau'nly fire Which in the glorious Angells doth remaine And in the Spirits of that blessed Quire Which here with Hymnes and Praises doe Gods loue admire Shall dust and ashes dare yet be so bold Her to the holy fire to compare Which in the Bush thy seruant did behold Flaming but did the Bush not singe or seare Such flames of zeale oft in our hearts there are Which doe enlighten them but not consume These flames our Prayers to Iehoua beare By these our Praises spiritually vp fume And in Gods nostrils are like incense and perfume Or shall I like her to some Lionesse Rob'd of her whelps by some aduenturous hand Who in her wondrous woe and furiousnesse Deuour's and slayes all in her way that stand Who can the force of Iealousie withstand Being of so great strength and wondrous might God grant our zeale the Truth may vnderstand And that true Knowledge may your minds inlight To make vs zealous for Gods glory and the right May I not like her to strong churlish wine Which doth confound the braine inflame the blood But cool'd with water pure and sugar fine For both of them is soueraigne and good Eu'n so doth Iealousies most feruent mood Allaid with sugar of sweet Charitie And coold with sweetest Christalline pure floud The silent streames of soft Humilitie Transcend in all good workes of Loue and Pietic This is the zeale and sacred emulation Which the Originall doth signifie Which hath with Loue in Heau'n her habitation And all our actions here doth sanctifie And when our Maker vs shall glorifie Behold our zeale shall in perfection shine Begun on earth in true sinceritie And as our Fleshly courage doth decline Our zeale will grow more hot and neerest to diuine Zeale made old Abram Hagars sonne reiect For scoffing at his holy promisd seed And Moses Pharaohs Court and grace neglect When hee th' Egyptians Destiny did reed That smote a brother of the holy breed This zeale made noble Phineas with his speare Slay Zimry and Cosbi in their damned deed Though Saul the fat of Amalec would spare Yet Samuels zeale doth Agags flesh in pieces teare Oh had his Master Eli's burnt so hot Against his sonnes when they by violence The fattest of Gods offrings from him got And with foule Lust defil'd the sacred Tents Had he like Phineas punish't this offence Our eares then should not haue so tingeled To heare of Gods great wrath and sore offence He and his sonnes in one day slaughtered And all his race from th' Arke for euer banished Zeale made the warlike Dauid to aspire To build an house for Gods owne habitation And though warres crost his zeale and good desire Yet made he for it royall preparation And
's Sonne it finisht on his laid foundation Who gold and siluer vessels in did bring It making Iudahs Ioy the admiration Of all the World the Seat of the great King Whither the Tribes goe vp for his true worshipping I may with this example dignifie The noble zeale of our late famous Queene Who much desired to reedifie Paules Temples ruines which so fearefull seeme And make her faire as euer shee was seene But warres abroad and broiles within her Land Most fatall to this pious worke haue beene So as it still most ruinous doth stand Expecting helpe from Solomons pacificke hand Zeale like a Torch it owne selfe doth consume whil'st burning it to others giueth light And like to sweetest incense and perfume For others Good spends all her force and might Oh blessed fire if kindled aright It burne with Loue of Heauen and holy things Retaining in our hearts both day and night His sweet imbraces who is King of Kings Loathing the worlds vaine wanton wicked dallyings This Cupid be thy soules and hearts delight Whose Bow and golden shafts of Zeale and Loue Doe conquer Fury's Fates and worlds despight And stay the thunderbolts of angry Ioue Oh see the force of Loue and Zeale doth moue All powers that in Heau'n Earth Hell transcend Grant thee alone I zealously may Loue And let thy Iealousie me safe defend That neuer to strange Gods I my affection bend Let vs learne zeale of him that in the day's Of 's slesh did offer Prayers supplication With strongest cry's and teares to God alwayes That able was to saue him from his Passion And learne of him true holy indignation To be ev'n eaten vp with feruent zeale To see theeues den in Gods owne habitation But first let Knowledge our Commission seale That where this Feruour wounds our Charitie may heale But ah our zeale of Prayer now growes cold Zeale of Gods glory like our Charitie And as the world declines now waxing old Ev'n so doth all our zeale and pietie We raise our houses ev'n to dare the skie But raze Gods Temples equall with the ground Our Fathers built them for posteritie And left with Ornaments adorned round But we them with their Ornaments seeke to confound As for the Temples of the Holy Ghost I meane our hearts the Bridegroomes habitation We will bestow on them no spirituall cost But leaue them foil'd with vilest prophanation Pride Lust Vaine-glory all abomination T is time to wish this holy Bishops zeale Would make of them to God new consecration And that the Holy Ghost their doores would seale Against all spirituall theeues that holy goods would steale Oh that some holy fit of Heau'nly fire Raising my Muse to zealous contemplation Would in mine heart that feruent flame inspire And zealous Loue Saint Paul bare to his nation When as hee could haue wish't eu'n reprobation For their sakes from whose flesh Christ did descend Or of the Prophet by predestination Most sure his name in Booke of Life was pen'd Yet wisht it wiped out Gods glory to defend But I confesse we rather doe enuy Gods gifts and graces in our Bretheren And Iosuah-like forbid them prophesie Shewing more zeale to honour Greatnesse then To Glorifie the King of Heau'n yea when We in our hearts find any emulation 'T is for vaine-glory and the praise of men To build our houses not Gods habitation And leaue faire large possessions to our generation Let vs with Dauid make a sacred vow And to th' Almightie God of Iacob sweare Neuer to come within our house nor bow Our Limbs vpon our Beds till we prepare A place Gods spirituall Temple vp to reare Nor euer suffer sleepe within our eyes Or slumber in our eye-lids to appeare Till we an habitation doe deuise Where we may to th' Almightie offer sacrifice My mind inflame Lord with that hot desire And zeale to glorifie thy holy name That like thy Martyrs I may dread no fire Because I feele within a hotter flame Hot Coles therefore shall be to mee the same As to the Martyr was the Boiling Oyle Which did more coole indeed than him inflame Because his zeale within did hotter boile Sweet heau'nly dewes doe most inrich the hottest soile Oh were mine head a conduit full of teares Mine eyes two rocks continually to run As well to cleanse foule Lusts of youthfull yeeres As coole the zealous slames in me begun Had I thus once my Bridegroomes presence won I neuer would let goe my well-laid hold Till hee into my Mothers chamber come With sweet embraces ay mee to infold His ardent Loue would neuer let my zeale grow cold MEDITAT III. Of TEMPERANCE MY Muse now fares like to some Pilot wise Who hauing some dread stormes of danger past That tost his vessell oft vp to the skies Now sailing in the calme with temperate blast Goes gently on lest too much dangerous hast His ship vnwares on hidden rocke impight And him and all his hopes away should cast For thus it oft befalls some carelesse wight To wreck in fairest calme when they the storme haue quight I late was tost in rough and boisterous Sea Of Zeale and Iealousie which hauing past I am to saile in calme and fairest Lea Of Temperance most abstinent and chast Therefore my Muse goes on with sober hast Knowing against her many dangers lie Which by the touch tongue smell eye eare or taste Would her entrap and bring in ieopardy Which Poets by the Syr'ts and Syrens doe imply And therefore did the famous blind Bards quill Preferre Vlysses in his Court of Fame Who of this Temperance had got the skill Fore Aiax Hector or Achilles name His Odysses may testifie the same Which were compos'd his Temperance to commend By which he men and monsters ouercame And did life honour chastitie defend 'Gainst Syrens and Enchantments to his latest end And sure the Heathen to all Christians shame Seem'd wondrously vs herein to transcend But that they wanted that most holy flame Of zeale which I so lately did commend And knowledge which should guide them to their end All that they had by natures light was showne But God his holy Word to vs doth send Whereby his Will and Counsell is made knowne What fruit then ought we beare where so good seed is sowne Eue was the first Author of Intemperance Led by her eye nice tast and fond desire Of Knowledge with proud wicked Ignorance And chang'd Gods Loue to euerlasting ire The Garden loosing for eternall fire But what shee lost his Temperance doth gaine Whose aid now in mine entrance I desire Who from all food did fortie dayes abstaine And all 's Life from intemperate thought word deed refraine This Vertue some doe make so Cardinall That all the rest in her they would imply As Loue Peace Concord Pudour Virginall Gentlenesse Meekenesse Liberalitie Thrift Silence Friendship Goodnesse Grauitie Honesty Purenesse all true moderation Which doth withhold from Sin and Vanitie And bringeth vnto true humiliation Most happy Mother of so
cry Giue giue as Graue and Hell be neuer full So nought the couetous eye can satisfie But he that 's liberall and bountifull Is like full clouds which doe most plentifull Water the earth and poure downe store of raine Yet are not emptie for the mercifull And liberall shall greater plentie gaine And he that scattereth shall find increase againe That hand is neuer emptie of reward Where as goodwill the hearts chest filleth full And bountie neuer is so much afear'd Causlesse to giue As not be bountifull Where need requires His face is beautifull Where sweet Goodwill both heart and lookes haue Ioyn'd But th' enuious and malitious doe pull On wrinkles And a man shall euer find The beautie of the face to alter with the mind Bountie is like vnto the glorious Sun Which as a Bridegroome doth from chamber glide And as a Gyant ioy 's his course to run From East to West most swiftly he doth ride Nothing from 's fertile heat it selfe can hide He doth not looke that one him vp should call So bountie deales her Graces far and wide And Blessings without asking sends to all Expecting not vaine praise where shee lets graces fall As some faire glorious garment which we weare Vpon our shoulders reaching to the ground Couers all spots and Naeues that on vs are So where this noble bounty doth abound It couereth all faults that can be found For as Loue couers so doth Bounty hide A multitude of sins and doth confound By her bright Beames Detraction Enuy Pride Alas these are to weake where Bounty 's on our side Shee 's like vnto the Lamp of glorious day Which doth diuide the darknesse from the light For whereas Bountie doth her beames display Behold bright day without them there is night The King that by his bountie doth inuite His subiects hearts to Loue and Honour due Sleepes more secure than he that doth by might And feare strong forts and walled townes subdue And for his guard 's encompassed with armed crue Bountie and Benefits are eu'n the Bands Of Concord and as fire doth quickly dye That is not fostered with coles or brands So dies true Loue with men Except supply Be made by gifts and liberalitie Who doth the wandring soule direct aright Though with him he doth deale most bounteously Yet doth he but his fellowes candle light And to another giues yet loseth selfe no light True bounty seekes high God to imitate Who to the most vnthankfull is most free Sol doth his light to Theeues participate And without tempests Pirates saile on Sea The Heau'ns of all good things the Authors bee Faire fortunes to vngratefull fooles doe send As onely seeking to doe good so we Though oft in vaine our bountie we doe spend To the vnthankfull must as to the thankfull lend Gods bounty 's like to incense and perfume Cast on an heart inflam'd with holy zeale Which praises vp like cloudes of smoake doth sume And sweetest odours round about doth deale Man's Bounty is like widowes cruse or meale Which spent vpon the Prophet growes to more Like Surgeons skill which as he more doth heale Doth grow more cunning than he was before The diligent and bounteous hand want neuer store As many fruits doe faire encrease and grow Not so much by the nature of the ground As by the bounty which from Heau'n doth flow And temperate aire that is about them found So all good Arts in noblest wits abound More by some Princes liberalitie And high regard they haue of Muses sound Than their owne nature strength and industry Best friends to Arts are Bounty and Humanity Should I but here recount the names of all Whom bountifull in holy Writ I find I of your patience should be prodigall And my short time for this discourse assign'd Let me their names vp in a bundle bind Which if you please to ope as sweetly smell As Camphires bush my Muse is now inclin'd Of some prophane examples here to tell Which seeme in noble Bounty others to excell Than treasure Cyrus more his friends esteem'd Whereof he multitudes by bounty won And Alexander greatest glory deem'd By bounty neuer to be ouercome A King of Egypt thought it better done His subiects coffers than his owne to fill When as Alphonsus heard Titus Vespasians sonne Accounted that day lost when for goodwill He had giu'n nought said I ne're spent a day so ill Behold these fiue examples liue in one The bounteous Monarch that our Scepter sways Esteemes his friends ' boue gold or precious stone And ouercomes eu'n all that him obay's By soueraigne Bounty to 's immortall praise No King so fills his subiects chests with gold His bounteous deeds in number passe his day's Ah! how then dare my niggard rimes be bold The sacred bounty of my Soueraigne to vnfold Who hoards not vp his wealth in Caue or Tower Nor into prisons darke condemnes his gold But as on him from heau'n all Blessings shower So are his to vs Subiects manifold As from thicke clouds we numberlesse behold Large streames of fruitfull raine on earth to fall So is his largesse to his seruants told Who entring poore returne rich from his hall Like Tagus golden sands his hands are liberall Vouchsafe oh bounteous Soueraigne heare thy thrall After thy cloud a subiects drop'd to sing Whom thou didst to deserued honour call And was in name and bountie as a King Who in thy bounteous steps thee following Did from obscurity my Fortunes raise Without desert or my least offering He now in Heau'n his bounteous King doth praise As he with bounty honour'd him here all his day's And let vs all his bounteous praises sing Whose bounty vs from Hell and Death doth raise Our blessed Sauiour Prophet Priest and King Who here in bounteous deeds spent all his day 's Casting out Deuills sauing soules alway's Healing the sicke giuing the blind their sight Mournes for our sins for enemies he pray's Comforts the rich and feeds the hungry wight And still in doing good doth set his whole delight How could malicious heart of enuious man Consent to murther such a bounteous King Scourge scorne deride despight him what they can Still in his bounteous deeds perseuering Yea when vnto the Crosse they him doe bring Father they know not what they doe he cry's And when his body hangs their torturing He to the Thiefe not Paradise denyes Thus doing good he liues Thus doing good he dyes What doth the Lord of Life eternall dye Which vnto vs eternall life doth giue See his large bounty and benignity Hee gaue his life for vs that we might liue What heart of stone doth not here melt or riue But with his Life his Bounty doth not end He by his Will and Testament doth giue Vs Heau'n yea more the Comforter doth send With millions of Angells on vs to attend Who can of this his Sauiours Bountie tast And to his members not be bountifull If thou want wealth and coine giue what thou hast And
quite Shining like glorious Lamps in worlds obscurest night This inward heate this holy heau'nly fire Most what concealed vnder ashes ly's Which one till into flames they doe respire At home more easie than aborad descry's Because it selfe within best testify's In Abraham appear'd this holy flame When as he saw his Sauiour with his eyes Who of his blessed seed long after came For Abram saw Christs day and ioyed in the same Vp Miriam vp thou merily canst sing Now through the Red Sea thou art safely past Hereby our Baptisme then prefiguring That when Repentance vs with teares hath wash't With Ioy wee Egypts Bondage of should cast But neuer did more Ioyfull musicke sound Than Dauids when he of this Ioy did tast Restore mee to those wonted Ioy 's I found And euer let thy holy Spirit in me abound Oh blessed Bridegroome of the fairest Bride How often when shee seeketh thee by night Doest thou thy Ioyfull presence from her hide That wanting shee in thee may more delight How oft againe when thou do'st her inuite Rise my belou'd and ope to mee the doore Such is her nicenesse and her sluggish sprite Shee will not rise to let thee in before Thou thence art gone And then thy losse shee doth deplore These are the apples odours nuts and wine Which comfort her when shee is sicke of Loue These Christs embraces that doe her entwine The kisses which he giues his Turtle Doue Milke spice pomegranats which shee so doth loue All these are inward Ioy 's the Bride hath here Whereof she with the Bridegroomes friends doth proue And eates and drinkes with Ioy and merry cheere Yea drinkes abundantly with her beloued deare This was the Ioy that him was set before That did endure the Crosse despise the shame And Lord of all became low naked pore Enduring death vs to excuse from blame His Martyrs and Apostles in the same Suffrings and crosses him haue followed And trode the Wine-presse as their order came Where some in scorching flames more Ioy 's haue red Than wearied Limbs could find in softest downy bed This 't was the Kingly Prophet so admir'd When loathing all worlds pompe and glory vaine He this one onely thing of God desir'd For euer in his Temple to remaine To view the Beautie of that heau'nly traine This made him leaue his purple Crowne and Throne And in a linnen Ephod dance amaine For this would Constantine be rather one Of Christ his members then the Empires head alone But why seeke I for witnesses without Since 't is the Spirit within that testify's Our Soule that without wauering or doubt With Peace of Conscience Abba Father Cry's Vnto whose Soule this Spirit eke reply's Be glad and Ioyfull I am thy saluation Be not afraid-My Grace shall thee suffice To conquer Hell And to resist temptation And yeeld the soundest Ioy in greatest tribulation I will make glad thy soule delight thine heart And with a cheerefull countenance will smile For I am thine and mine againe thou art And though afflictions here thee square and file No power in Earth or Hell shall thee beguile Of those sweet Ioy 's which are for thee prepar'd Oh tarry thou my leasure but a while And thy petitions all I will regard Delight in mee I am thy hope and iust reward Oh! who can heare these Ioyous inuitations These blessed promises and yet complaine That hee 's afraid of crosse or tribulations Oh! neuer let these worldly pleasures vaine Make me so great a looser for their gaine And let me here all worldly griefes endure Lord onely free me from eternall paine This inward Ioy shall euer me assure And on thy merits I in all will rest secure Who would not rather couet there to dwell Where fulnesse is of Ioy for euermore Than in false vaine delights which leads to Hell Voluptuous Diet flatt'rings of a Whore I rather had with Dauid keepe a dore Where inward Ioy may in my soule abound Than swim in pleasures and preferments store In Princes Courts where vaine delights are found Which like faire flowers fade and quickly fal to ground But I confesse this prouerb true I find That where Gods Church is raising there to build His Chappell is the Deuill most inclin'd And where best seed is sowne in Ground well till'd He with most tares and weeds it alway's fill'd Vaine pleasures are his tares true Ioy 's our wheate Till haruest both together grow in field Then will the Lord of Haruest surely beat The cockle from pure corne at his owne board to eate Fountaine of Ioy oh set thy whole delight Into thy Lawes and Statutes to enquire To meditate thereon both day and night My soule than Gold doth more these Ioy 's desire Let others honour wealth and wine admire Lift Lord on me thy louing countenance Thy louing fauour shall my Soule raise higher Than Princes highest fauours can aduance To heau'nly spirituall wealth not subiect vnto chance In holy Writ I many places find From whence doe flow these Ioy 's spirituall But no where faster than within my mind Oh Lord Thou know'st not I from whence they fall God of all Peace and Ioy perpetuall Let not my Ioy A temporary proue But with her in mine heart thy Graces all Infuse Faith Mercy Patience Peace and Loue To passe by things below and seeke for things aboue Of endlesse Ioy how should I make an end My Muse is neuer weary of delight Since I this Meditation did intend I neuer scarce could sleepe by day or night So doth the pleasing matter me inuite So full of rimes and so the numbers run That I in shorter time haue finish't quite This tast of Ioy than I haue earst begun Some other Graces But my hower-glasse hath done FINIS THE BRIDES ORNAMENTS Viz. Fiue Diuine and Morall MEDITATIONS 1. Prudence 2. Obedience 3. Meekenesse 4. Gods Word 5. Prayer IOB 28. 28. The feare of the Lord is wisdome and to depart from euill is vnderstanding LONDON Printed by WILLIAM STANSBY 1625. TO MY MOST TRVE WORTHY LOVING FRIEND AND dearest Brother RICHARD CRAKANTHORPE Doctor of Diuinitie and one of his Maiesties Chaplens in Ordinarie NOt Nature Order or Affinity Can Friendships sacred knot so surely tye As choice For euer there we find the ground Of Loue and Friendship most entirely sound As their Desires are like so one there end Which is to be and haue a faithfull friend I that vnto mine owne defects am conscious Of such an honour durst not be ambitious Tell thou wert pleas'd to call mee Friend and Brother I know not that thou deign'st it any other Wherefore whil'st Time Life to my Lines shall giue Our Friendships memory in them shall liue Who of true Friendship know no other end Than here to haue and bee A faithfull Friend ROBERT AYLET THE BRIDES ORNAMENTS MEDITAT I. Of WISDOME and PRVDENCE THE first degree to Wisdome is the misse Of Folly For as Darknesse the priuation Is of Lights Being But no Being is So
And will not let his vnderstanding flye To see what goodly clusters there doe grow In heau'nly Canaan where Milke and Hony flow We hardly here of things below discerne And with great paines what is before vs find Ah how shall we than able be to learne Thy Wisdome which no limits haue confin'd Thy Spirit onely can into our mind These hidden mysteries in Christ reueale In which the Princes of the world were blind For from man naturall thou dost conceale This Wisdome spirituall which thou to thine do'st deale For as none know's the Spirit of a man But that same Spirit that within doth dwell So nothing apprehend this Wisdome can But that wise Spirit that all Truth doth tell Oh Sacred Spirit of Truth my heart compell This holy Sapience to entertaine Thou only giu'st to drinke of Wisdom's Well Mans wisdom's wickednesse his thoughts are vaine His knowledge is but errour and his pleasure paine Thou didst create eu'n all things by thy Word And by thy heau'nly Wisdome didst ordaine Man of thy handy workes to be the Lord That he in Truth and Equitie might raigne And with an vpright heart the right maintaine Oh therefore downe thine heau'nly wisdome send Me in all Truth and vprightnesse to traine She shall my Words and Works to thee commend And bring my small beginnings to a perfect end And here with Praise and Prayer I will end Oh who aright can know or vnderstand Except thou Wisdome from thy Throne do'st send To giue vnto him what thou dost command Then grant me Wisdome alway's to withstand Hells subtill Plots and Worlds base Blandiments Let sacred Prudence euer be at hand Still to direct my words acts and intents To yeeld Obedience to thy Commandements MEDITAT II. Of OBEDIENCE WHen first th' Almighty by his only Word Had fashion'd all within the Firmament He made Man last to be their King and Lord That he to him might be obedient But Man not with this Monarchy content Diuide his homage to omnipotence And hauing but one small Commandement Transgressed it by Disobedience The easier the Command the greater the Offence This all the Sonnes of Adam doe deriue From him and call it guilt Originall Which by th' Eternall Law did vs depriue Of all Gods Benefits and did enthrall To endlesse Bondage till Christ for this Fall The price of his most precious bloud did pay Which vs recouers from Sins actuall And by obeying Gods whole Law doth stay His wrath And merits Heau'n for all that him obay For as by first mans Disobedience On all men commeth Death and Condemnation So by the seconds true Obedience We haue eternall Life and sure Saluation Thus Disobedience by deriuation From Adam bringeth endlesse wretchednesse And true Obedience by imputation Conuay's from Christ eternall Happinesse So by the first comes sin by second Righteousnesse The glorious robe of perfect Righteousnesse Which they that are obedient onely weare To couer that foule shame and wickednesse Which Adams Disobedience layed bare Ah! let a Disobedient Sinner dare The aid of the Obedient Lamb desire My Will and Actions Tongue and Heart to square In due proportion to his heau'nly squire Whil'st I of true Obedience prayses doe enquire Deuoutest Lady Handmaid to the Queene Of heau'nly Loue And so in duty bound That shee 's alway's prest and ready seene To doe what thing soeuer she propound Her heart words will and deeds all one are found Seruing for Loue and not for Feare or Gaine No Subiect merits better to be crown'd For who can best obay he best can raigne And she is shortly sure eternall Crownes to gaine If I may square Her by the Rules of Art I her define to be our Wills subiection To Him that ought to rule both will and heart And by his will disposeth our best affection The rule of Reason may be our direction How our superiours Statutes we obay But when the Lord commands there 's no election Nor doubting what we ought to doe or say Gods will 's the rule of Right which none may disobey Here in two Branches I might her diuide Obedience first to God and secondly To our Superiours that on earth abide But all is but to one Authority For there 's no Power or precedency But that which highest Power doth ordaine Who therefore doth resist mans Soueraignty Gods ordinance resisteth and againe Who duly it obay's Gods Statutes doth maintaine Thus must our hearts eares hands be all attent His Word and Will in all things to obey Who ouer vs hath lawfull Regiment Which is one God eternall blest for ay Whose seruants all we are And therefore may Not chuse a Lord or Master whom we will Nor serue two masters least we disobay The one when we the others mind fulfill For that which pleaseth one doth crosse the others will Thus our obedience is only due To him that all did for his seruice make And 't is a firme position sound and true God only for himselfe But for his sake All that from him Authoritie doe take We truly and sincerely ought obey Or else our bounden dutie we forsake As those which doe their Princes disobey When they their lawfull Officers commands gainsay For this whole world is like a family In all things well and iustly ordered Where God hath the supreame authority And Rulers theirs from him deliuered By which they doe command as in his stead Who then to them are disobedient They may be said to disobey the Head For whil'st they rightly vse their gouernment We ought them to obey in things indifferent Indeed all ought regard the Supreme Will As first commanding cause and end of all Which all that Being haue ought to fulfill From which as all things rise so all must fall Here therefore first we into mind will call To whom that will commands vs to obay For in obeying their commands we shall Obey that Supreme Will This is the way To make Gods Will the Cause of all we doe or say To Him we must be subiect first of all To whom all Power in Heau'n and Earth is lent The Sonne of God begotten naturall Next to his Ministers which he hath sent Apostles Pastors Doctors here are meant Which by his Word doe teach their Masters Will And rule his Church by godly Gouernment And those which heare these his commands fulfill And those which them despise despise his heau'nly Will As Kings which with great Honour doe conuay Princes Ambassadours it doe intend Vnto their Lords So we our Lord obay When we obey the Legates he doth send The second Power is that which God doth lend To Kings and Princes for to delegate Iudges to punish those which doe offend And to maintaine the Life Peace and estate Of eu'ry member that maintaines the Bodies state To this all Subiects owe Obedience The third obedience is which wife doth owe Vnto her Head who due Beneuolence For Dutie ought vnto his wife to shew For as the Church so ought the Wife to know