sight To see our selves and to discerne The good from bad and makes us learne 97. The Light of comfort in distresse Comes still from him he doth expresse The Light of Glory to the soule Where he doth rule without controule 98. In heaven God himselfe 's the Light Christ ruling with his princely might The spirit shines eternally They all agree in unitie 99. God makes thee as an instrument To bring about his blest intent To spread thy beames ore all for use That they might be without excuse 100. God gives thee as a gift to those For helpe that are thy cursed foes To shew his bountie and his love But have no part in thee above 101. Nor that that 's graven in the minde For that alone his friends doe finde As types of heaven thou art here To them till they doe see thee there 102. Who would not love thee while they may Enjoy thee walking for thy way Is pleasure and delight let such I hat see thee chuse thee prize thee much 103. The Light of grace that 's in the heart Let 's still esteeme it as a part Of heaven and long for the rest The light of Glory with the blest 104. Lord raise our hearts with true desire To thee and let our soules aspire With joy the best part of our glory Thou art with thee I le end my story GEN. 1. 25. And God said Let the earth bring forth the living thing according to his kinde and the Cattell according to his kinde and every creeping thing of the earth according to his kinde and God saw that it was good GEN. 2. 7. The Lord God also made man of the dust of the ground and breathed in his face the breath of Life c. GAL. 2. 20. Neverthelesse I live yet not I now but Christ liveth in me and the life that I live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Sonne of God who hath loved me and gave himselfe for me ROM 6. 23. The gift of God is eternall life through Jesus Christ our Lord. POEMS OF LIFE The Charge and the Argument Of Life in Generall 1. MUse raise thy tune with lively voice Thy Theame is Life now forthy choice Thou hast varieties to sing The Plants the Beasts doe yeeld thee store Mans life by nature gives thee more Both sweet and sowre yet but one thing 2. The life of grace may call thee debter If that thou dost not sing the better His worth his beauty and his praise The Life of glory doth excell But that thou canst not sing so well Except thou wert with him alwayes Of Life in Generall and of the Vegetative Life of Plants 3. Life thou wast breath'd from God above And art a token of his Love To all his creatures thou wast best Himselfe in thee he did set forth The living God of glorious worth Shewes how in thee his workes are blest 4. Thou giv'st a Luster to the earth All beauty joy and pleasant mirth Attend thy presence with good will Thou art the forme of orders frame And thou art blessed in thy name And all the world doe praise thee still 5. The plants that live a senselesse life To shew thy vertue are at strife For to exceed in growth each other They gratifie thy kindnesse when They bring forth fruit to pleasure men Thy fruitfulnesse they doe not smother 6. Some for the taste so pleasant are Some physicall are found so rare As some are pleasant to the eye Thou in them all hadst first a being In feeding clothing and in seeing And shew'st a lively majesty 7. A little seed thou mak'st to be A comely sweet and fruitfull tree And colours shine so in a flower That all may say thou art a guest To be esteem'd above the rest For all increase is by thy power 8. And when they are besieg'd with cold Which threatens death yet thou art bold To keepe possession under ground Fast in the roots there thou dost dwell So close that none can thee expell Thy private holes cannot be found 9. When thou with patience and with strength Hast overcome thy foes at length Then thou in triumph dost display Thy lively colours every where And thou dost smile with pleasing cheere Then all our sorrow turnes to joy 10. Then sweet and mildely thou dost raigne Not tyrant-like by force to gaine A kingdome for it is thy due Thou dost advance the feeble plants That hangs the head and succour wants That gav st them garments fresh and new 11. But if they doe receive a wound Then thou dost languish in a sound With griefe till thou art forc't to part But if he leave a stocke behinde Then for his sake thou art so kinde That thou dost cherish up his heart 12. But if that we desire to use The plants thou wilt not us refuse But of them freely we may take A better life for to preserve So every meanes thou dost observe Deni'st thy selfe there for mans sake 13. They put their mouthes and suck reliefe From earth their mother being chiefe For native soile to feed them still She never yet was knowne to grutch Though they did draw never so much From her but each one had his fill 14. Unlesse they were from place to place Remov'd as strangers in that case So strange might be their welcome cheare But when acquaintance grew they found Such food that profit to the ground They brought and blessings left they there 15. They cannot walke but being fixt Their profit is with pleasure mixt Thou dost not vagrants of them make But where we leave them there they stay And thou dost watch them that we may Still of their fruits in plentie take 16. Thou art in fruit when it is drie Being scortcht or drown'd still thou dost lye In it the quintessenee to prove Or else our meate and drinke would be But dead steps to our miserie In this we finde thy constant love OF THE SENSItive Life of Beasts 17. The beasts that live of reason voide Thou art by sense of them enjoy'd They love thy presence and they shew That they beholding to thee are They to preserve thee have a care As though they did thy goodnesse know 18. They know the meanes and doe desire Their food as wages for their hire To maintaine life the ground of all The worke or service that they doe Thy principles doe manage too If thou dost leave them downe they fall 19. They seeke to finde a place of ease And as a friend they would thee please To shew that they doe thee regard And if they finde it then they take Delight it 's all still for thy sake But thou dost them for this reward 20. They shun the meanes that would destroy Thee they resist or run away When feare of losing thee they doubt They use thy power claime a right In thee as Beasts they doe delight Yet cannot rightly set thee out 21. They live in pastures pleasantly And never thinke of dangers nigh Thou
late Make use of time now in thy prime lay hold on saving grace Lest at the last God doe thee cast from heaven his dwelling place Into that Lake where lives the snake with hell-hounds yelling fast Where thou shalt crie and burning lye thy dolour still shall last GOOD VSE OF TIME With meanes to bee used to make advantage of it VVEll now I see what miserie that time ill spent doth bring Hearing these words they cut like swords teares from my eyes they wring Time be my friend I le make an end and leave my vaine delights I will thee use and not abuse and give to thee thy rights Thou art of price I will be wise to make of thee such gaine As through Gods grace I le thrive apace Gods love shall me constraine Though short time is I will not misse in time to serve the Lord And then will he still present be and comfort me afford Then time make haste and run as fast or having wings thou flye Then to my fort I will resort under Gods wings I le lye Though suddenly thou com'st to trie how ready I shall be Then thus I say I le watch and pray from feare I shall be free Against that houre Lord by thy power of comforts give mestore Live thou my soule free from controule when time shall be no more Now thou my friend that good intend use well the time while here Thou stay then sure thou shalt endure fresh comforts shall appeare Alas how may I thou wilt say make use of times sad story I may at last when time is past by grace attaine to glory Serve God while young when thou art strong to overcome thy Lust Make haste also and with time goe or be behinde thou must Deny thy strength and now at length make God thy chiefest guide Let in thy brest sin never rest but chiefly downe with pride Beleeve thou art freed from the smart of sin of death and hell By him that came from heavens frame sometime on earth to dwell Be good and kinde to all that minde the God of time to serve Serve all in love from God above let thy heart never swarve Unloose thy joyes from earthly toyes and willing be to part For worldly things no comfort brings let heaven have thy heart So now we see how we may be of time good stewards then Let us be blest Lord to thy rest and enter may Amen FINIS 1 JOHN 2. 17. The World passeth away and the Lust thereof 1 COR. 7. 31. The fashion of this World passeth away THE FADING CONDITION OF EARTHLY THINGS With the Application of it THe Vanity of earthly things appeareth on this wise False joy true discontent it brings who could them not despise What are the Nobles of the earth but honoured clodds of clay Though they are made so great by birth such time consumes away What are the learned'st here below but reverend heapes of dust Also the wisest that I know dissolved be they must What are the richest of the time ere growne they fade away So doe the greatest in their prime euen fade till quite decay What are the fairest of this age but skin thicke beauties found Must not the stoutest though they rage lye even with the ground And must not poore and lowly too at last be lower brought All of all sorts though much adoe ere long must turne to naught If Nobles be though honoured so mortall in their kinde I le be content though meaner bred and comming thus behinde Shall finde as much respect with death the wormes and eke the grave As truly honoured Nobles sith they there no Lordships have If learning will not much availe when time begins to close Though they are like when they prevaile the Lilly and the Rose The learning of the truth shall be the thing I most intend When all things changed thus shall be my comfort shall not end If worldly wisedome doth no good to helpe in time of need I le not adore the serpents brood nor run with them to speed My wisedome for to know my God his Christ through his good grace My selfe my sins and eke Gods rod 't will make me mend apace If rich men and their riches are thus subject all to fade O pitty them that with much care their gods of them hath made My care shall be to be as rich in God I may or can To bring my selfe up to the pitch to feare nor flatter man What cannot greatnesse death withstand nor shun his mortall dart Let no man thinke to take in hand to free him from that smart My care shall be to frame my life and daily die to sinne And living may thus free from strife a heavenly life begin Nor cannot beauty with her smiles once charme deaths frowning face Who then so hard y thinkes his wiles can turne his common trace I love the beautie that 's within and in the heart doth lye It 's fresh in heaven being freed from sin when death it selfe shall die Cannot the man that is so stout himselfe free from the dread What is the man that goes about redemption from the dead I desire to take away the sting from death and him disarme Being done by faith to God I le sing his praise thus fre'd from harme And why must poore and lowly men lye lower in the dust It 's so decreed I say agen that all men living must Poore be content for you shall see the rich for all their store As low interr'd in earth shall be though men doe them adore Let low in heart rejoyce that have a Kingdome for their owne The King of Kings will all them save when proud are overthrowne Let 's all prepare our selves for change We must not long stay here That God to us may not be strange then come thou King of feare Not noble birth nor learning high nor wise nor rich nor great Nor faire nor stout poore nor lowly 〈…〉 must be wormes meat Come downe proud hearts for thus I say that death hath no remorse Obend to God and to him pray lest thou be broke by force Then farewell all contents below all must to judgement come How they have liv'd so shall they know for to receive their doome FINIS GEN. 1. 2 The Earth was without forme and Darknesse was upon the Deepe ROM 13. 12. Cast away the workes of Darknesse EPHES. 5. 11. Have no fellowship with the unfruitfull workes of Darknesse but reprove them rather POEMS DARKNESSE DISCOVERED With the dreadfull effects thereof The Argument in Charge 1. COme come my Muse put on thy sad aray Black darknesse scorning in a hatefull tone And if thou canst him banish quite away Thou shalt have praise almost of every one Be bold and by him be not thou out-fac'd If he 'll not part let him remaine disgrac'd 2. Thou black and hideous monster on the earth Darknesse I meane I never yet could finde That he which made the world brought thee to birth Thou art
Thy friendship turnes unto disease 51. A stab disease or gust of winde Will turne thee out thou art inclin'd For small occasions to distafte Thou leav'st us still to pay the rent We for thy sake are often shent Thou leav'st the house ruin'd and wastes 52. When thou art parting then the eye Growes dimme the visage presently Doth looke so dreadfull and so pale The feet and hands doe grow so cold The bodie fashions to the moulde The tongue that faltets in the tale 53. If we could see thee there we 'd stay But thou dost slily glide away And leave the creature deafe and dumbe Me thinkes thou shouldst thy house repaire And make it wholsome sweet and faire What wilt thou to it no more come 54. But when thou art thus forc't to part And tak'st thy vale of the heart Then sad and dismall is thy voice That heavie parting wrings out teares With greese and anguish mixt with feares Our friends will grieve our foes re joyce 55. What horrour doe poore men conceive When thou dost take thy solemne leave Which leaves no hope to meet againe The shadow then of death in deed Makes way for hell he sowes such seed The fruit of which is endlesse paine 56. VVe are arrested for thy debt And in a prison we are set A yard at least within the ground Aud thou the principall art gone And we must beare the brunt alone Non est inventus gives a sound 57. Now life doe thou my counsell take 'Gainst sin and death a partie make And in defiance ever stand Take courage to thee shew thy power And let them not the world devoure Then live thou blessed in the land OF THE NEW LIFE OR THE LIFE OF Grace in the Soule 58. New Life and true when thou art made Within the soule thou dost not fade But dost thy freshnesse still retaine Thou art not subject then to die Above all ill thou dost espie Such things as brings in perfect gaine 59. Thou li'st so close unto the soule There is no power can controule Thy blessed state or yet remove Thy siege for thou hast made it strong And thou hast patience us among There thou art constant in thy love 60. Confusion deadnesse did beset Our hearts till vict'ry thou did'st get Ore us and brought us into frame And thou at all times dost thy best To settle living peace and rest Ore us to bring a blessed name 61. We cannot see nor apprehend Thee but thou dost thy power bend Which doth thy presence then discover That men unskild in art may read Thy booke of life being open spread Thou art an upright constant lover 62. Though thou art weakned there sometimes By treachery and hainous crimes That men doe thinke thy force is rais'd Yet cause thou canst with fresh supply Of new fetcht power from on high Quicken repentant soules thou' rt prais'd 63. And if thou dost receive a wound Or else through faintnesse in a swound Fall then thou hast a present cure The bloud of him that once was slaine By death he did thy freedome gaine This thou apply'st and dost endure 64. Thou art a shelter to all those To whom thou dost thy selfe disclose A faithfull friend thou art indeed What they doe lend thee thou dost pay And with increase much every day Thou dost returne their fruitfull seed 65. In troubles thou dost us defend If thou canst not our sorrowes end Thou dost support us in the same Thou dost our parts then ever take We are belov'd 't is for thy sake Who would not joy to heare thy name 66. Thou little wast at first bur thou Dost much increase we know not how Thou dost not alwayes grow by sence But afterwards we may perceive That thou dost with us vigor leave So fruitfull is thy recompence 67. Comely and sweet needs thou must be Thou cam'st from heaven so that we Doe entertaine the heavens guest And this is all thy drist I know For to instruct us here below And then to lead us to our rest 68. In heaven still remaines thy spring While we on earth thy praises sing So we can never draw thee dry The more we have the more we may Draw from thy fulnesse more I say We have it free we need not buy 69. Thy root 's above yet thou art here I nere knew any graffe to beare So distant as you seeme to be But when I finde thy root doe grow By faith in men as thou dost now My differing thoughts doe then agree 70. Thou art so comely to behold If I had art thee to unfold I 'd shew the beautie of thy face That men should thee so much admire And love should kindle such desire As for thy love to sue apace 71. But thou art shadow'd so with sin Men cannot know thee so within As otherwise thou would'st appeare And misconceits doe vale thee too We cannot finde with much adoe Thy glory out though ne're so cleare 72. And men that are but poore and base In outward things yet in this case Excell they seeme thy face to hide The world thinkes not that poorearay Can harbour thee that art so gay The truth of this is dayly tri'd 73. Men thinke there is no difference 'Twixt thee and thy sweet influence And naturall life that is so poore They prize that more for that they know Which lives by sense like beasts below Till they have spent their fading store 74. Thou dost preserve the chiefest part The soule and guardest so the heart And living comforts dost bring in All other sweetnesse dies apace And leaves their masters in disgrace They are like blanks which nothing winne 75. Men cannot have of thee too much Nor yet dost thou to any grutch Thy strength at need if they thee chuse And thou dost use thy mighty power Against all those that would devoure Them or their life seeke to abuse 76. All things that furthers thy increase The fruit of joy the word of peace Thou dost them use as excellent With all good meanes thou dost agree To helpe our growth's as we may see To make us lively is thy bent 77. Thy fruit is pleasant for to taste And faire plentifull and vaste They onely know it that doe finde Thee in their soules and they can tell How thou in goodnesse dost excell Thy praises please well such a minde 78. But they that to this life are strange And never know what 't is to change They see no favour in thy face Nay some will ever be at strife For such as stand for thee their life And would thy Image quite deface 79. Thou art not stain'd with hatesull pride Nor any other sin beside Thou keep'st thy selfe still free from all Though we sin here 't is so we must Till we are levell with the dust But thou dost bring our soules from thrall 80. Thou art so like a Turtle true When death doth claime us for his due Thou would'st not leave us till the last The soule then
my selfe if they zo wise do prove To vollow zuch they zoone shood lees my love Pray let him goe agen withuz to dwell C ham zure ould vokes woll leek it vary well Come hold thy tongu thy vilenesmaks me grutch Another speak for thou hast spoke too much Covetousnesse the second Sin liv'd with me as I may say while now He made me rich I le not relate it how I car'd it faire none could in me espie A noted fault to say black is thy eye My Gold I got by sinne doth my heart cherish And helpes at need when other helps do perish I ne'r knew griefe that sin upon me brought Letthem have grief for me that for grief sought I gaine by sin give loosers leave to prate Wer 't not for sin I 'had nere got this estate If sin do good why should he suffer bad Let sin have that as formerly he had To stand for sin I hold it my best part If sin goe downe alas 't will kill my heart What he did promise me he also paid And what is false his enemie hath said Pray free him now or else I must restore My goods ill got I have done I l'e say no more Wanton Lust the Third I am sorry now to see sin at the barr What is the cause this man proceeds so farre Sin ever did with pleasure much delight me When all things else did seeke still to affright me Sin was to me still full of pleasing straines In my esteeme my pleasure is my gaines Say what you will these tricks of youth all must Agree to me and will fulfill their lust Man is not made of all to take direction Nor like a stock to be without affection Sin shewes me beautie kindles my desire And then those sparkes come to a flaming fire When many cares and feares upon me stay Sins pleasant objects drive them all away Sin 's such a thing as brings to no man strife Sin is so sweet I love it as my life Let sin be quit for he is good and kind Speake brother Pride for I have spoke my mind Pride the fourth I never knew but Sinne went bravely drest And ever did accompany the best He went along so gracefull in the street He joy'd my heart when once I did sinne meet To all his friends observing time and place He 'd be most free or else he held it base At any feast or any meeting then He tooke his place above all other men He spake so much and in such lofty straines That all might see he had not shallow braines Himselfe behav'd with such great Majesty That each man did upon him cast his eye And by his lookes he seem'd both grave and wise Poore silly men alwayes he did despise He scorn'd to be a servant unto any But like a Lord he sought to rule ore many He slights advice his owne wayes like him best Once crosse his will he cannot take his rest He ore his equals us'd to domineere And his inferiours alwayes kept in feare He hated all that would not to him bend And turnes his foe though first a seeming friend If he be once in place of Justice set He 'd tyrannize or otherwise would fret In lower place if that he chanc't to be He would contemne and curse his misetie And if that men would not his counsell take Hee 'd cast them off and varlets of them make If one in parts did but before him goe Then most of all hee proved his deadly foe And all of whom he gets the upper hand He keeps them down and binds them in his band All this and more like things do call sin Father Sin is in hold that hee were free I d'e rather Hee s now by one that lou'd him once betraid Hee 's now in feare of him he made afraid He hath been bold but now he seemes to quake I hope thou wilt some pity on him take Shall hee prevaile ore sin when sin is stronger For he hates sin when he can sin no longer A generall speech rejecting sinnes witnesses with a command for a reply Now sinne hath spoke and all that for him stand This will not doe to free him from my hand His witnesses sinne have discovered cleare Though bad before now worse it doth appeare And they themselves for standing on his side Will vile appeare for they shall now be tride Speake man thy mind in making thy reply Lay home the truth that no man can deny A Reply against sins defence particularly What is thy age or what doth it availe I'ts nothing worth when goodnes doth men fail It doth increase and bring Gods wrath apace And for thy age makes thee in worser case T wa's notthy mind that god should have the praise Pretending right thou intend'st wicked waies God needs not sinne for to set forth his glory Nor any thing of all thy sinfull story This wicked way that thou proceedest in Thou makest God the author of thy sin God ne're approves thee nor thy sinfull acts He made his lawe to damne thy cursed facts Thou dost oppose Gods will with all thy might To yeeld to his law is against thee quite T is not to trie thou meanst but to destroy All living men thou seek'st still to annoy Good men thou dost so hamper with thy snares And thou the bad bring'st to eternall cares Thou lying wretch doth God cōmand thee evil Then damn thee for 't thou hast it from the devill Thou art a King if so I may beleeve thee And shame with men it seemes doth now much greeve thee No shame before thou other bring'st to shame Why should'st thou not beare now the greatest blame Mē do thee love their love wil turn to hate Thy friendship doth make way still for debate The poore and weake that do oppose thy way Will be too strong for thee as thou shalt say Thy labours which were alwaies freely bent Were better spar'd then they should 〈…〉 be spent What is thy stock but cursed porsonous store Still as thou spendst increasing more and more Thou dost none force but with thy subtil gins Thou hid'st the soure shew'st the sweet ossins But if he will not yeeld unto thy will Thou tri'est thy power his soul with wrath to fil For those that in their weaknes made their boast T was when that sin was by Gods power crost Which did through weaknes overcome thy strength And over sathā did triumph at lēgth What good doth come by sin sin nought intends 'T is Gods event sin seekes for cursed ends One trouble still thou bring'st upon an other If one be gone thou bring'st in many other If any rest comes from Gods blessed hand Then thou in malice dost against it stand Whē God in mercy doth forgive mās sin With doubts cares feares thou fill'st his heart within Although Gods grace be thus exalted high To save poore soules that under sin did lye This and all good is farre from thy intent Gods goodnesse that brings
forth such event His owne experience agravates Sinne His witnesses make the case worse By proofe of all the Saints that live on earth VVho knowes thy fruits the'ir al untimely birth And I my selfe by thee was led away Me toundoe thou sought thus every way I did blaspheme when thon did'st promise gaines Then thou did'st bring despaire for my paines Thou hast confest before the Iudge below Thy wickednesse as doth the Lord well know Thou didst despise me with a shamelesse face And us'd all meanes to bring me to disgrace I did my suit remove from common Law Where thou didst think to keep me still in awe In equitie here I shall finde releefe And ease my mind aud quite expell my greefe And for thy cause most vile it doth appeare To all that heare or see t is very cleare And those that stand as witnesses for thee Now they themselves as bad appeare to be They did intend to adorne thy ugly stature But have thee bad made of a viler nature He refuseth to answer their bsurditics but threatens Ignorance To answer them it is not worth the while Alas poore fooles sinne doth them all beguile Old ignorance with his corrupted sence Though old he be he 'l finde sins recompence Though twice aslong he live yet curses store For him and such do still waite at the dore He threatens Covetousnesse And he that covets wealth and layes up gold Through sin will finde at last himselfe he sold His golden Gods cannot him save from danger Nor comfort him God is to him a stranger His sinfull gaines will prove to him but losses And trouble when sin brings a thousand crosses Hee curseth Last and shewes ruine And he that is addicted so to lust O cursed wretch he thinkes it all but just He 'l finde ere long his bodily estate His soule undone he I then repent too late When he shall in that burning bed be cast The sweet of sinne turnes sower at the last He damneth Pride to Hell So Pride that goes about to set Sinne free Himselfe he brings in the like miserie He must be stript and naked shall appeare Before the Judge that all may see and feare Though set on high yet he below must dwell And so with Sinne possession take of hell He craves leave for his witnesses to speake So I have done but foure I have brought Those ever still t' whom sinne has ruine sought So that the blessed and the damned crue Speake to sins face and say this is all true Let not sinne say 't was I that did undoe him And make men think but one the rest stuck to him Lave is granted Speake all they shall and knowledge shall begin He 'l kill his heart then bounty shall step in Then Chastitie Humilitie behinde When they have spoke they straight shall comfort finde My Saints and Angels too shall all declare Sins shame on earth though they in heaven are The damned shall relate a dreadfull story Speake truth of sinne and so set forth my glory Knowledge first speakes Lord sinne did strive in Ignorance to keepe Making secure in folly me to sleepe But when I once found out his hellish art I to be freed from sinne gave thee my heart I sought to know thy will and so to doe it Still thought of time when I should be put to it I did observe sinne with his cursed charmes Brought some to one and some to other harmes According as he saw mens natures bend Suting temtptations to his cursed end And as he findes his swellings to arise There he doth blow those sparkes we may surmise He 'l let men know all things but what they should All outward things which best doe fit their mould If he can call another foole or Asse He thinkes his wisedome's very well to passe If he know how to breake an idle jest Of witty fellowes he counts himselfe the best If he suppose he knoweth affaires of state He sets his knowledge at too great a rate If he have been but once in forraigne parts He will so talk as though he had all the arts Now all this while he does not once indeavour To know the Lord his wayes which are for ever Himselfe to know he doth not once desire He 's so bewitcht and setled in the mire If he intends but good and God to know Then sinne doth seeke that good to overthrow But if he cannot drive those thoughts away He puts him off still till another day From day to day but never comes that morrow At last by sinne he 's brought to endlesse sorrow If one be brought restaining outward evill He thinkes 't is well he doth detest the divell If one doth good that good then save him must Heaven he must have or else God is not just If in these things he doth himselfe deny Yet he will threaten judgement suddainly Man knowes not how to answer such objections Sin hath by-wayes and men take his directions Now Lord let him no more a being have Give saving knowledge then our soules Lord save Liberalitie the second Sinne strives to make men covetous and base Keepe what I have I should in any case Perswades me still that I my selfe may want And if I should friends would be very scant So I must not diminish of my store What though men want I did not make thē poore Sin would be master of that men call mine I should keepe up all that that 's truly thine If I doe give it must be sparingly Sinne saith 't is best to keepe it till I die But if I doe a bounteous heart expresse He 'l make me thinke I maintaine idlenesse And must repent of all the good that 's done And breake the thread so soone as it is spun Or else take warning not to give to any And slight the cries of poore though ne're so many When I deny the poore that doe complaine Then I must thinke what 's sav'd is all cleere gaine Thus labours sinne to make me like a slave And live in bondage unto what I have Chastitie the third Sinne with his trickes doth me so much allure And with his snares my hurt doth so procure With idle objects and such painted sights I feare some ill which puts my soule to frights Lest that I should be taken with those baites Which for my life are laid sinne ever waites To bring me in by this his strong temptation He might at last bring me to condemnation He hides the sting but that which seemes delight He sets it out and backes it with his might So by degrees a little makes no matter But then to more thus he doth use to flatter If this take not then raises stormes within Of lusts wild-fire distemper all through sinne He telles me those that were in Gods account Most holy men and others did surmount Yet they in this sinne lived many a yeare If well with them it went what need'st thou feare Goe take thy pleasure at worst thou maist repent Fulfill
thy lust tush thou wilt nere be shent If filthy lust take thus the guilt it brings Goes not alone but with it other things I observe those that he doth conquer when They 'r so insnar'd doe never turne agen Now save us Lord from all those cursed wayes And cut off sinne we 'll serve thee all our dayes Humilitie the fourth Sinne with his breath would puffe me up so full Of great conceits who foolish am and dull That what I doe the best I doe exceed Such thoughts in me sinne labours still to breed Of what I doe I lose the comfort still For sinne doth trie my heart with pride to fill And then I must my betters still contemne All of all sorts I proudly must condemne Though I doe ill and all men know the same I must deny 't as quit from any blame And if I am to any man a debter Tush let him waite for am not I his better Nay sinne would make me set my selfe most out When cursed pride my folly spreads about If men do not give me the cap and knee I scorne them must as enemies to me Will they not bend to such a man as I I 'de make themknow their carriage I defie If I doe good it 's seldome and not much A worthy worke sinne telles me of all such If one good thought comes in or word goes forth Sinne saith it is esteem'd of wondrous worth Of all that 's ill account God doth not take But takes all well even for my persons sake 〈…〉 trouble 's much but much I cannot speake 〈…〉 am I Lord help else my heart will breake That good I doe or have Lord 't is thine owne The ill is mine let sinne be overthrowne Then shall thy praises be exalted high By humble men that doe on thee relie The Lord commands the Saints in heaven to speake what they found of sinne Now have these mortals each one spoke his mind So let immortall spirits speake in their kinde As they have found and knowne let them bring in Their testimonie so ' I le judge of sinne And as he did my creatures still betray So from my wrath he shall receive his pay For what is done so Justice by my hand He shall receive 't will bring ioy to the land A speech of the Saints in Heaven against sinne We dwelt on earth but now in heaven are To serve the Lord it was our daily care Mongst many troubles sinne was still the cheefe And by his factors did procure our greefe Both day and night he waited still to catch To trap our soules he evermore did watch He 'd speake in men they bold would not deny it And so by sinne our lives were made unquiet And we through weaknesse many times did yeeld Then sinne did triumph when he got the field Then did he blaze our faults throughout the nation And striv'd to bring us all to desperation The strong offended th' weak made weaker were The bad grew worse and at our falls did jeere But when by thee we got our former strength Against all sinne we did resolve at length Then sinne did strive to force us to his bent Against all conscience seeming good intent Propounding law which claimes it as a due To have us yeeld to that which was untrue But when we would not gree unto their charmes We were betraid and brought to deadly harmes Some were adjudg'd in prison to be cast And were brought out and burned at the last Some of us starv'd some cut in peeces small Some rackt to death which death was worst of all So many torments ages can record That sinne did bring because we kept thy word So sinfull men with mischiefes set us round Till they had laid us underneath the ground But thou O Lord when ended were our dayes Brought'st us above where now we sing thy praise The man presseth God by Argument to destroy sinne And now thy Saints that live upon the earth They doe despise sinne makes it still his mirth Though they be pillars of the time and place Uphold the world still for mans living race Take them away the world would soone be fit'd Sinne with his imps against the just are hir'd Lord cut off sinne for now his cause is tri'd And free thy Saints which on the earth abide The Angels reply against sinne Although we were not made like earthly creatures But more Divine and of celestiall natures Sinne was so bold with Angels he attempted Against the Lord sinne was not there exempted Then Legions did such treason there conspire Sinne was ador'd the Angels had their hire Sinne was the cause that they were cast to hell Sinne made escape and still on earth doth dwell Why should not he which was the cause of evill Partake with wrath and torment with the devill Sinne did the Angels blessed state prevent So let him now share in the punishment Lord thou dost keepe us by thy blessed power Else we should fall by sinne within an houre We now attend and looke to thine elect We know that sinne doth daily them infect Drawing from them the comforts of thy grace So bringing them into a dreadfull case Sinne doth de face thy image in the minde An other stampe when we returne we finde So sinne doth quell the motions of thy spirit Yet by their works sinne tels them they shal merit Sin doth destroy the worke of thy creation Doe thou destroy sin for mans preservation The Damned are called to witnesse against sinne Come now yee fiends of darknesse shew and tell What yee on earth did what ye finde in hell You cursed furies and you damned spirits That wrought for sin and now you have your merits Ye horrid factors ever were for sinne Survey your gaines returne and bring it in You liv'd in sin and with sin did converse Your living death will helpe you to rehearse You were his friends doth friendship still remain If all be lost where is your sinfull gains Speake now you hell-hounds of this dreadfull story Sinne will be silent ever to my glory First how they were deceived by sinne and compares sinne to contemptible things and how he failes of his promise Sinne did bewitch us with his cursed smiles And by deceipt he trapt us with his wiles He hid the light darknesse before our eyes Was set and still the truth we did despise Like Batts and Owles that hate the lightsome day And as the theef loves darknesse for his prey Such is the sinner having cursed ends Against whoever any good intends We hated all and never had regard To man nor cause unlesse 't were for reward VVe were like bruits save onely we could talke VVe liv'd by sense and did most vilely walke Ocursed viper who can set thee out Great part of hell thou art there is no doubt Thou limbe of Sathan none can match thy evill God made thee not but thou didst make the devill Thou ugly serpent monster of the earth Thou bring'st forth daily thy
unshapen birth Thou scum of vermin thou art worst of any And if there were ten thousand times as many The Plagues of Egypt cannot equall thee Nor all that have been are or ere shall be The Serpent hath his place where he abides The lesser vermine on the earth so glides They seek not me they sting but once for all The body not the soule they cause to fall Thou in all places hast thy subtill snares To bring all men to everlasting cares The more thou sting'st the more thou dost delight Both soule and body thou seek'st to stroy quite Sinne didst not thou like fooles lull us asleep And darkensse bring when light did once but peepe All seedes of evill in us thou didst sowe All seeds of good thou still did'st overthrowe Our thoughts of God our souls our death our change Our sins heaven hell all these were very strange We had our fills of sin we made our boast And they that in their sins exceeded most Were most belov'd with us of all the rest The worst of men wee counted still the best Though knowledge we did want to purchase fame Wee 'd sweare and lie and thereby raise a name If good we knew we never did intend To do that good or if bad strive to mend Sinne promi'sst us to free us still from strife And give us good the daies of all our life And at the end we need not feare but we Should dwell in heaven to all eternitie Some n'ere were raised from the sleepe of sinne Till they in hell close prisoners were within But some on earth began their hell before The first of that of which they now have more This we can say and more if need require Now one alone relate sins fearfull hire And how we are and in what wofull place Our company and endlesse easelesse case Some of them in a dreadfull manner relate the torments of hell and cries out for vengeance upon sinne and departed O heavens heare and earth what sin hath brought Upon all us that sold our selves for nought We are through sin accursed from the Lord Of men and Angels we are all abhorr'd I want a tongue to shew this wrathfull rage And fury to remaine times after age The blacknesse and the darknesse is so great Light there is none but still abides the heate Of fire and brimstone burning in the flame The dregs of sinne is mingled with the fame We live yet die and dying still remaine Our soules with horrour bodies fill'd with paine How dreadfull 't is and in what grievous sort Laid on all parts and persons I le report We drinke our teares and sorrow is our food Curses our portions we see nor heare of good The fearfull cries and howlings that below We heard these all the damned soules do know The ghastly lookes and lamentable grones The great complaints with heavie griefe mones Sin there attends and acteth still his part Blows up the fire there worms still gnaw the heart The dungeon is exceeding large and deepe Where ugly vermine evermore doe creepe The devils doe attend us every houre And bring fresh torment by their cursed power No dram of comfort ever doth come neare it This heavie doome we hellish Imps must beare it We have no friendship none to shew us favour And all are fierce and of a rude behaviour No ease at all at any time we finde Our bodies burne and anguish burnes the minde Diseases all strangullion stone or gout The least part of our torment set not out But one thing more and that is worst of all Our paines to all Eternity stay shall When dayes and yeares and ages are all past Our plagues remaine our torments still do last No comfort friends no ease nor end will be Found now I sinke under my miserie Thou curse of curses thou the cause of it That I and all that in the infernall pit Must stay yet thou art never a whit asham'd Of all thy vilenesse that hath now been nam'd Let all that live for ever still disdaine Thy name and cursed let it so remaine O Damne him damne him to a horrid cell Not here with us but in another hell For if with us our sinnings wil not cease And him to see our torments will increase Ah worse yet is the friend if worse may be I must away the Divells come for mee The Charge to the Iury. The case is cleare ther 's none that can deny it That sins the canse of all our great disquiet The heavenly host with men on earth concluded The damned too all were by sinne deluded These things and more I do aberre be true And so the case doth now appeare to you Now as you finde so give your verdict in Accordingly I l'e sentence give on sin The Introduction to the verdict Against thy person sin was ever bent And all thy workes to spoyle was his intent Thy sonne from heaven downe to earth did goe But sinne to him did prove a deadly foe And did oppose the worke of his redemption Which sinfull men should give from sins exemptiō But when in this he could not have his will His bloud he shed the worth remaineth still He watcht with death to keepe him in the grave Of what was done men might not comfort have But all in vaine 't was sinfull labour lost Man was redeem'd and comfort had sinne crost Against the Spirits blessed worke in hand He sets himselfe and goodnesse doth withstand And from all men all comfort he would take And in mans heart an I doll God he 'd make 'T is time t is time to take with sinne a course With men 't is ill in time it would be worse The verdict of the Jurie against Sinne and his witnesses We have concluded in our consultation And finde sinne guilty by the information For his defence to be most rude and vaine His witnesses as bad appeareth plaine They guilty are as parties in the cause They broken have nay they condemne thy lawes The reply proves and their examination We finde them worthy of a deepe damnation The Preface to the sentence Now sinne thou art convicted all may see The Jury to thy judgement doth agree Thy wickednesse is open laid to view To all the world which say that hell 's thy due And those foure men which for thy cause did stand The cursed'st worke that ere they tooke in hand For love of thee themselves have now undone They plaid for sweet they have the sower wonne The Sentence against Sinne. I sentence Sinne for ever to be cast In lowest hell where furious flames doe last In dungeon darke where fire is divided The light from heate there thon shalt be derided All torment that the devils can invent With all their store of curses shall be spent On thee from thence thou never shalt returne In flaming wrath thou evermore shalt burne To all delights now thou shalt bid farewell Away begon into the pit of hell The sentence against Sinnes
ripe I le pluck them in their prime Sinne shall not raile nor persecute the best Death shall not fright them though that he be prest Against then they shall willing be to part From worldly pompe before he kill the heart Sinne shall not set up tyrants in high places Lest they should bring their betters to disgraces Death shall not venture on such presently That wicked men judge worthy for to die Sinne shall not take all fat aud sweet away And let men beg or starve or goe astray For want of comfort casting truth behinde Nor slight the cries of them distrest in minde Death shall not shew his face to any one In the new birth untill the worke be done Sinne shall not mocke at men that serve the Lord With upright hearts this I have still abhort'd Death shall not vexe those that are griev'd for sin With purpose for a new life to begin Sinne shall not be in painted shewes set forth To hinder truth that is so great of worth Death shall not seaze for small things on the poore Or free the rich of greater for their store Sinne never more shall turne the streame away Nor with the highest er'e shal beare the sway Death shall not touch a man without my leave Or any thing else of its life bereave Let sinne and death still under sentence dwell Till they with thee together meet in hell FINIS ROM 12. 9. Abhorre that which is evill cleave to that which is good PSALM 51. 2. Wash me from mine iniquitie and cleanse me from my sinne REV. 2. 7. To him that overcommeth I will give to eate of the Tree of Life which is in the middest of the Paradice of God Serious Directions and Instructions for our practice touching Sinne. 1. SEeing Sinne hath got reprieve againe About the world he 'l use his might To flatter men their soules to staine With filthy sinne then with great spight He 'l lay upon men heavie weights And briug their mindes to dreadfull streights 2. The best advise that I can give I readie am to shew to thee How through Gods mercie thou maist live From sinnes Dominion ever free And from the guilt that followes sinne Though Sinne and Sathan bring it in 3. Over thy heart be watchfull still Subdue the rising of the minde And bring thy soule to hate all ill That now or after thou shalt finde The bent of all thy heart let bee To serve the Lord he 'l honour thee 4. The evill motions first of all Resist before thou doe it like Thou easie maist keepe out of thrall If thou defend when sinne doth strike When he doth finde that he 's descrid'd He 'l soone desist his face to hide 5. The temper of thy nature finde And chiefly there keepe strongest guard Against what sinne thou' rt most inclin'd For 't will thy labours well reward Sin will be weake grace will be strong Sin leave thee will ere it belong 6. Occasions shun which else will draw Thee unto sinne and by degrees Thou wilt neglect or hate Gods law And plunge thy selfe in miseries For if sinne get the upper hand Then tyrant-like he 'll thee command 7. Count no sin small that thou dost know The least's enough to make thee dwell To thinke thus makes sin greater grow In the eternall pit of hell There 's no sinne small in Gods account But sinne his mercies doe surmount 8. Bethinke thy selfe what good there hath At any time come in by sin And thou shalt finde nothing but wrath It brings as now so hath it been No good but bad in sinne remaines Though seeming good 't is cursed gaines 9. Consider why God doth thee feed And cloth to sinne it is not so To thee his workes he shewes indeed Thou might'st him serve not like a foe Which of Gods blessings is a grave That giveth naught yet more doth crave 10. Acquaint thy selfe more with Gods word With all things in t there thou shalt see That sinne and sinners on record Are curst to all eternitie And that the godly have reward Though them the world did not regard 11. Love truth divine and precepts still Lay up as treasure in thy heart Thy minde with comforts ever fill They 'l ease and qualifie thy smart The best parts of Philosophy Must stoope unto divinitie 12. When sinne comes thinke it's poyson sweet He brings to take away thy life He is thy foe be so discreet To keepe at distance and at strife Against him all thy power bend If to thy felse thou good intend 13. If Sinne intreat or if 't command Or suit with humours of thy minde Tempt yet be not at any hand To fancies vaine be still unkinde If sinne doe not thee first disarme Thou need'st not feare of taking harme 14. When sinne doth so deforme the shape Of men then looke how comely they When like an Anticke or an Ape They are nay worse than beasts of prey What 's bad in others to behold Thinke worse in thee this case unfold 15. Men would with sinne share in the best Th' account at last all would avoid The sowre must goe with the rest Such men by sinne will be annoyd For when their monsters come to birth None would them father on the earth 16. There 's none in sinne desires to die Though live in sinne they doe desire 'T is best to leave sinne willingly Else sinne at last will bring its hire What 's bad at death bad now appeare What 's good at last is good now here 17. Avoid the Company that 's ill Lest they thee poyson with their breath Resort to such as love truth still Such shew thee life the bad bring death God will preserve the godly heart When wicked men shall feele sinnes smart 18. The worst with God acquaintance claime When all their friends doe them forsake In this they shew their cursed aime Not for himselfe they would him take Though he be lovely but to free Them from sinnes wages miserie 19. When they that love sinne goe to hell They leave such witnesse them behinde A dreadfull stinking noysome smell And ill examples men doe finde Their names from honour leave they free They 'r curst to all posteritie 20. See what an honour God bestowes Vpon his servants here below They daunt the world and sinne orethrowes They doe Gods will for him they know And when that they goe to their rest They leave behinde a name that 's blest 21. Let hatred rise 'gainst sinne and why Not for the shame but for Gods cause And 't was for sinne that Christ did die And so by sinne we breake Gods lawes Because 't is cursed from the Lord Let sinne by thee be still abhorr'd 22. When sinne doth seeme so Angell like Then take good heed lest he on thee His poyson spit his sting thee strike With it no plague compar'd can be The sweet meats surfeit kils the strong With meaner diet weake live long 23. Distrust thou most what most doth please Be
here For truth their crown they doe augment Their glory shall the more appeare Though death do close them in his tent God shewes his face here most to such That liv'd long wrought and did not grudge 41. It 's best for bad to die betime For living long their sins increase And sinfull acts grow to their prime Their sinnes live still though life do cease Though they are rotten in the dust Their sins are fresh they meet them must 42. They 'd best to tremble in such sort At thoughts of death that they may know And heare the dreadfull ill report Of sinne while here they live below Death puts an end to vaine delights Then doth begin hell horror frights 43. But to the just their sorrow ends They joy though 't was begun before With full increase which makes amends For trouble much their joyes are more Of this the blessed Saints can tell As damned can relate of hell 44. What though the soule and body parts Which loving friends have been so long The thoughts of this may glad their hearts That they shall meet both sweet and strong Refin'd and with each other joy In heaven still without annoy 45. Death is no death it doth but ope A doore the soule away may flie And so possesse that blessed hope It hath of true felicitie To leave fraile life who 'd thinke it strange To have eternall in exchange 46. Death 's but a blast that soone blowes ore And never more shall looke on thee The hurt is nothing feare is more Though dreadfull it do seeme to be God will it sweeten from above And thou shalt finde his constant love 47. I le feare it not for why should I For life and death together goes By every crosse I le learne to die They 'r both my friends but they are foes Life doth consent with Death each day To take part of my life away 48. Lord I will serve thee while I here Remaine what need I much to care For death when thou freest me from feare I will thy goodnesse still declare My life shall ever speake thy praise When death comes I shall live alwayes FINIS The Resolutions of the Muse in her Pilgrimage NOw I of Time and Vanity have sung Of Darknesse Light and Life sad sweet strong Of Sin of Death Instructions too among I le seeke my fortune now and goe about I shall be entertain'd I make no doubt Though I am naked love will finde me out I shall be cloth'd then in a sute of Leather And love and I both still shall dwell together And she 'l be glad that ever I came hither And if a Noble person do me grace To take me in in this distressed case I le do my service faithfull in my place If one that 's learned take me home to dwell I le pray him then that he will use me well Or to a better I my selfe will sell. If I should dwell with him that 's truly wise He 'l hide my faults what 's of worth he 'l prize And then my song to praise him shal devise If he that 's honest bids me welcome in I le doe my best to helpe to kill his sin I shall not lose yet he by me shall win If noble learned wise and honest too Doe shew respect to me who then durst doe Me wrong they cannot 't is no matter who If one ignoble seeing me doe grutch To shew me favour thinke it 's all too much That I receive I looke for none of such If one unskill'd in any learned art Against me proudly act a Tyrants part He 'l vexe in vaine he shall not greeve my heart For want of wit if any doe me blame Let them as fools keep in their spight with shame My song's the same and so are they by name If one that 's vile looke with disdainfull eye On me because I doe his faults espie I le leave him gall'd when I from him doe flie If any Senior looking big and grave Conceits he knowes yet he no knowledge have If me he slight I will his absence crave Or if I finde one with an emptie pate That nothing speakes though he doe ever prate I le shew his shame but not his person hate If one I finde that hath a barren soule And will not see 't yet doe my words controule Let him be put with stultus in his rowle If one that 's simple doe desire me To gaine experience constant I will be To doe my best to him that all shall see If any censure me is this the cause Their parboyl'd spirits cannot gaine applause They break both Gods Natures humane laws If one detract from good or turne to ill My honest meaning this may follow still That such like things his measure here may fill Such Imps to plead for sinne were very fit But seldome they have so much art or wit As pride or lust have for to manage it If one that reades and rudely breakes my feet Or spoyles my joynts my musicke is not sweet To him the Horne-book is for him most meet If one through envie proudly do disdaine To grant me favour others will obtaine The fruit but he hath labour for his paine If any mend my faults I will him praise And with my voice his honour I will raise His name in me preserv'd shall be alwsyes All that I crave is but a spotlesse name And not to mount upon the wings of fame Plain welcome likes me quit me all from blame You know my minde for what I speake is true Being modest I will not for favour sue Receive me else I le bid you now adieu FINIS