chance He call'd her his Sweet Sister Temperance When at her Table she sate down to eat She seldom us'd more than one sort of meat And did in Temperance so much delight She ever rose up with an appetite Nature is with a little satisfi'd Ebriety and Gluttony have tri'd And conquer'd many who to Death did dance One of the spirits fruits is Temperance ¶ On Persecution AS the poor Sheep is to the slaughter led In all humility and free from dread So all God's people may be said to be As Sheep the Emblems of Humility They harmless are and profitable too Obedient to their Shepherd in a crew Led into Folds and Pastures where as strangers They are obnoxious to many dangers Wolves Bryars Thieves Dogs Plagues both great and small But God their Shepherd rids them out of all Many desire the number may increase Of God's good Sheep but 't is a golden Fleece Which they desire to wear However they Most happy are that follow him their way Excellent things the Church of God hath won She 's like a woman cloathed with the Sun Crowned with Stars treading upon the Moon Yet travelling in Birth at night and noon The Dragon in pursuit of her and hers But under God they still ride Conquerers He that would be an Israelite indeed Must arm himself compleatly taking heed Of all assaults all persons places times Guard his own vertue resist others crimes Elias spoke against the craft of sin Then Ahab's hate against him did begin Isaiah as we read was sawn in two It was Manasses pleasure so to do And Jeremiah he was ston'd to please The cruel humour of Tahaphanes Stephen was stoned of the Jews and John Beheaded was Herod would have him gone Ignatius to the Lions had his doom The Clergy likewise hated Chrysostom But Justin Martyr slights these things as dirt Sayâ—… Persecutors kill but cannot hurt Tertullian well observ'd the more they mow The Christians down they much the faster grow Large Volumes might be fill'd with the bright names Of sufferers by swords by stones and flames True saith St. Paul all that will shun the grave Of hellish fin shall persecution have Well may the Christian with his God comply In persecution Christ himself could die ¶ On Sleep DEath in the Scripture is compar'd to Sleep When Death approacher then with care we keep A schedule of our wealth so to dispose Of those Estates we then are forc'd to lose So when Sleep comes methinks my Ev'ning-prayer Is like the making of my Will my care Ought therefore to provide betimes for why There 's danger in a drowsie Lethargy In perfect memory and when awake I 'll leave my Soul to God for if he take Not charge of me and me in safety keep The Devil will attempt me in my sleep Though day and night he seeketh to devour He keeps his markets in the darkned hour I on my pillow do my sleep confirm Thus mans Vacation is the Devil 's Term. ¶ Blessings of the Righteous as they are recorded in Holy Writ HEarken unto the Lord thy God His Covenants observe So will he kindly spare his Rod And not afflict a Nerve Bless'd shalt thou in the City be Thy God will Blessings yield At home abroad at bed at board And likewise in the field Blessed shall be thy bodies fruit and that upon the ground The wicked be they loud or mute Shall neither of them wound Thy Cattel shall inrich thy store With increase of their Kine Thy Sheep shall still wax more and more Thy Grapes shall yield thee Wine Bless'd shall thy Store and Basket be Blessings shall thence accrew Comings and Goings shall agree To make thee blessed too The Lord shall smite thine Enemies And put them to disgrace The chiefest he will make to flie And that before thy face Thy foes one way shall thee attempt But flie before thee seven From Judgement none shall be exempt But as the Chaff be driven Thy Store-houses the Lord will bless And all thou tak'st in hand And give to thee a large increase Of plenty in the land The Lord as he himself hath sworn He will establish thee And farther to exalt thy horn His people ye shall be Keep thou the Lord's Commandements And all the Earth shall see That thou art great in innocence And stand in fear of thee The Lord he shall his treasures ope The Heav'ns shall give thee rain If head or hand with business cope It shall be for thy gain No discontent shall thee attend As free from grief or sorrow To many Nations thou shalt lend But have no need to borrow Blessed are they that in him trust He will them bless with speed For do they hunger do they thirst He is their help at need Blessed is he whose sin is hid He may with gladness smile Whose errours all are covered Whose Spirit hath no guile Blessed are they that now lament As being poor in Spirit For they are promis'd by the Lord His Kingdom to inherit Blessed are they that now do mourn Thinking their joys are fled For though as yet they seem forlorn They shall be comforted The meek are blessed too for they That love not strifes increase Shall on the Earth bear happy sway Delighting much in Peace The hungry too and they that thirst For Righteousness as meat They shall be fill'd when those accurst Shall nothing have to eat Bless'd be the merciful to those Whom they observe in pain For he that mercily bestows Shall mercy reap again Thrice blessed are the pure in heart Whose Souls and hands are free From vanity and wicked oaths For they their God shall see Bless'd the peace-makers are for they His children shall be call'd And he that loves and doth obey Shall never be enthrall'd Blessed are they for Righteousness Do persecution bear Their great reward none can express But Heav'n it lieth there Blessed are they that are revil'd Because they seek the Lord Be they at home or if exil'd His grace will strength afford Rejoyce and be exceeding glad For great is your reward The Prophets by such usage bad Did get into regard ¶ Curses of the Wicked HE that doth hear the poor mans cry Shall never fare the worse But whoso turneth back his eye Shall never want a curse He that himself hath others curst His servant curseth him The blessings of his flowing Purse Shall him to ruine swim He that bla phemeth God his Lord Ought to be ston'd to death And cursed be that man abhorr'd Serves other God beneath Cursed be he that setteth light By Father or by Mother The people shall him dayly slight And none his Curses smother Cursed be he that doth remove His Neighbours Land-mark then The people shall him curse none love But each one cry Amen Cursed be he that leads the blinde In an erroneous way The Lord for him will torments finde And be the blinde man's stay Cursed be he that doth pervert The window fatherless Or stranger from an
of Beasts of Springs and Flowers How to use thy noble Powers Call whole Nature to thy aid Since 't was he whole Nature made Joyn in one eternal Song Who to one God all belong Live for ever glorious Lord Live by all thy works ador'd One in Three and Three in One Thrice we bow to thee alone ¶ Of Flesh. ALI Flesh is Grass doth therefore rot For why Can man be born to live and not to die 'T is happiness to leave this life and world And have our names where joys are rife enroll'd The dead ne're fear what Death can do his blast Will come no more for why that wo is past Then to the Soul appeareth Love and Joy For God will not his Turtle-Dove destroy Then though a Torch-light here 't is better far To be put out and after rise a Star ¶ The Grave THough Clay my Cottage is secure Princes do dwell with me And my foundations do endure for aye Death waits on me and with his dart Sends me the stoutest he And Champion-like commands the heart to stay Then be he Rich or be he Poor A Spark or else a Clown They lie together on the floor and so They sleep as if they lay upon The softest Bed of Down Troubles are fled and Griefs are gone for though The Body naked in the cold Earth lies The Soul sings Hallelujahs 'bove the Skies ¶ An Infant EArths little Morsel Man's small Letter And Adam's Copy no one better Before he tasted Eve Nature's fresh Picture drawn in oyl Which time and handling oft doth spoil His Soul appears like Paper white That yet had scarce bore word aright Neither knew how to grieve But purest colours without pains Are subject most to spots and stains He is above the tempts of Devil Since he can't understand an evil His days are raw and dull Nor hath he yet agreed with sin To banish joys let sorrows in He cannot yet be counted wise And being dumb he with his eyes Sings silent tunes of Lull He kisses all doth them approve His Innocency is his Love Nature and Parents much alike Do sometimes dandle sometimes strike With hidden sugred bait They him intice and he doth sup Whate're he finds within the Cup. Could his weak body finde the way To Bliss and here no longer stay He 'd have a happy fate Not knowing sin or mortal crime He 'd reach Eternity betime ¶ The Candle LIke as vain man I downward grow My life is ever wasting I fall by fire still waxing low As man did fall by tasting My house of Tallow doth decrease And I that am but Cotten Within one hour live and decease Am in the next forgotten O Lord pour Oyl into my Lamp To light me to thy home That when it shall extinguish't be I may a Star become ¶ The Ant. ALthough a creature small yet all My labour pains and care 't is rare Is in the Summer to provide Against the Cold and Winter-tide And though so small yet I an eye Can have to things for when weak men Waste time in Feasts and Riot I study for my Diet. Idleness breeds Distempers Povertie Gives room for Sin ye Sluggards learn of me ¶ The Thanksgiving COme let 's adore the gracious hand That brought us to this light That gave his Angels strict command To be our Guard this night When we laid down our weary heads And sleep seal'd up our eye They stood and watch'd about our beds To let no harm come nigh Now we are up they still go on And guide us through the day They never leave their charge alone Whate're besets our way And oh my Soul how many snares 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 before our feet In all our hopes in all our cares Some dangers still we meet Sometimes the sin does us o'retake And on our weakness win Sometimes our selves our ruine make And we o'retake the sin O save us Lord from all those darts That seek our Souls to slay Save us from us and our filse hearts Lest we our selves betray Save us O Lord to thee we cry From whom all Blessings spring We on thy Grace alone rely Alone thy glory sing Glory to thee eternal Lord Thrice blessed Three in One Thy Name at all times be ador'd Till time it self be done ¶ Antiphon A Dialogue in three parts Chor. THanks be to the Lord on high Angels That gave his Son Men. For us to die Chor. He that is the holy One Ang. Lov'd us of old Men. For us was sold. Chor. He that is the God of might Men. Made us of Dust Ang. For us did fight Chor. He that is the God most just Ang. Set us aright Men. To us gave light Chor. He that made the Heavens Earth Men. And all therein Ang. He is more worth Chor. He it is that knew no sin Ang. Yet suffered death Men. To give us breath Chor. Blessed he hung on the Cross Men. For our great gain Ang. But his own loss Chor. He that heal'd the Blinde and Lame Ang. Yet sought as thief Men. For our relief Chor. He that died with a kiss Men. From wretched man Ang. Is now in Bliss Chor. He that can the Heavens span Men. And do much more Ang. Him we adore Chor. He that was bound to Herod sent Men. And spit upon Ang. He is our Tent. Chor. He that melteth hearts of stone Ang. With us doth stand Men. Doth us command Chor. He that pardon can our sin Ang. Hath broke our snare Men. But we fall in Chor. He with whom none can compare Men. He gave us eyes Ang. He made us rise Chor. He was scourg'd with heavy lash Men. For us lost blood Ang. And us did wash Chor. He it is that is the good Men. Great God alone Ang. Heaven 's his Throne Chor. He that wore a Crown of Thorns Men. That doth us keep Ang. And us adorns Chor. He the Shepherd of the Sheep Ang. Our choicest stock Men. Our only rock Chor. Praise him then that did us make Men. Doth us defend Ang. And us did take Chor. Bless his Name World without end Men. For his great love Ang. To us above Angels and Men praise ye the Lord for aye Oh all ye Nations praise the Lord and say Amen ¶ The Bible The Book of Books The only good To him that looks For heav'nly food A Holy Light In darkest night The blessed Word Of God the Lord. Divinitie In it doth lie Indeed it is The Gate of Bliss ¶ The Dream I Dreamt my Death was but a sleep My Grave and Bed both one And when the morning forth did peep Life came and Death was gone Since so it is that none can be Asleep but such as die O Lord I 'll sleep to all but thee And make my bed on high ¶ The Beatitudes BLess'd are the poor that is the meek in spirit For they the Heav'n God's Kingdom shall inherit Blessed are they that mourn away their years God hears their sighs hath bottles for their tears Blessed
am dead in grief Or what is worse in sin I call on Jesus and he hears And I to live begin Wherefore to thee bright Name Behold thus low I bow And thus again yet is all this Nothing to what I owe. Down then down bow my knees Still lower to the ground While with mine eyes and voice lift up Aloud these Lines I sound Live Heaven's glorious King By Angels bright ador'd Live gracious Saviour of the World Our chief and only Lord Live and for ever may Thy Throne establish'd be For ever may all hearts and tongues Sing Praises unto thee ¶ To God the Holy Ghost COme into us Holy Ghost From thy bright Coelestial coast Send us a resplendant Beam Come thou Father of the Poor Come thou willing Gift-bestow'r Come thou heart-reviving Gleam Thou of Comforters the best Thou the Souls delightful Guest A refreshing sweet relief Thou in toyl a resting seat Temper in excessive heat Solace to a Soul in grief O thou blessedest of Lights Those that love t' observe thy Rites With thy self their bosoms fill While thou' rt absent nothing can Be regardable in man Nothing can he act but ill What is for did mundifie Water what is over-dry What is wounded render sound Pliant make what 's hard to yield Cherish what with Cold is chil'd Govern what is vagabond In the faithful that confide In thy mercies cause reside All the train of Sev'n-fold Grace Give what Vertue 's merit is Give th' accomplishment of Bliss Joys of an eternal Race Amen ¶ On the Holy Trinity IN Sacred sheets of either Testament 'T is hard to finde an higher Argument More deep to sound more busie to sâ—…uss More useful known unknown more dangerous ¶ On Christ's Nativity MYsterious Miracle the same should be A Lamb a Shepherd and a Lion too Yet so was he Whom first the Shepherds knew And readily became Sheep to their Shepherd-Lamb Shepherd of Angels Men and Lamb of God Lion of Judah by these Titles keep The Wolf from all thy harmless Sheep Let the whole World flock to thy Fold Jews and Gentiles may they all come In multitudes not to be told Thy Lambs that wander bring them home Glory be to God on high Glory to the Deity ¶ On Christ's Triumph to Jerusalem BEhold we stay Lord come away Thy Road is ready and thy Paths made strait With languishing expect and wait The Consecration of thy beauteous seet Ride on triumphantly see Lord we lay Our carnal lusts and wills all in thy way Hosanna welcome to our hearts Lo here Thou hast a Temple too and full as dear As that of Sion but more full of sin Nothing but Thieves and Robbers dwell therein Then enter Lord chase them and cleanse the floore Crucifie all that they may never more Profane that holy place Where thou hast chose to set thy face And if our stubborn tongues shall be Mute in the praises of thy Deitie The stones from out the Temple-wall Shall cry aloud and call Hosanna And thy glorious foot-steps greet ¶ The Shepherds Dialogue In three parts 1. COme let us finde the Babe That hath made This our World so full of joy And expectation That glorious blessed boy That crowns each Nation With his triumphant Wreaths of blessedness 2. Doubtless he is within the throng Just among His Angels that divinely sing Taking wing So as to eccho to his voice They rejoyce With Wing with Tongue and Heart That so they do perceive their happiness 3. But attended is as now With a Cow The Ox and Mule do all behold With wonder An homely Stable should unfold The Thunder Chor. What an Almighty God have we Great great as is our Miserie ¶ On Christ's Birth in an Inne BLess'd be that Virgin travel'd without pain And lodg'd within an Inne A splendid Star the signe No greater guest did ever come that way For therein lay The glorious Lord of Night and Day Who doth o're Heav'n and over Angels reign He came i' th' time of great Augustus tax All cry'd He comes To pay the sums Or ransom of our lost Humanitie To set us free From an Impious Emperie Of Satan Sin that then bore sway Inspire our Hearts to be thy lodging place In each ones brest Take up thy rest Temples are fitter for thee than an Inne And let not sin Profane the Sacred Deity within So to defile the Ornaments of Grace ¶ Of Thoughts To think upon the Pow'r of God doth awe me To think upon Gods Justice doth affright me To think upon the Love of God doth draw me To think upon God's Mercy doth delight me To think upon God's Bounty that doth please me To think upon God's Favour doth endear me To think upon God's Goodness much doth ease me To think upon God's Promises doth chear me Thus thinking what I think doth make me say The more I think the more methinks I may Lord let my thoughts so firmly fixed be That I may think on nothing more than thee ¶ To the Creator DIvine Creator bear in minde That thou of our Corporeal kinde The form didst take when heretofore 'T was thee a Sacred Virgin bore Bless'd Mary pre-ordain'd to be Mother of Grace and Clemencie Defend us from our mortal foe Receive us when from hence we go Jesus all glory to thy Name Born of a Virgin and the same To th' Holy Ghost and Father be Through Ages to Eternitie ¶ The Godly Garden A Godly heart 's a Garden full of Flowers Well kept and trim'd where Herbs of Grace do flourish Tears of unfeign'd Repentance are the showers That kindly do those Herbs refresh and nourish Faith is the Prime-rose that doth first appear Which being rooted well stands firm and fast Then grows for ev'ry Season of the year The choicest Flowers for odour or for tast If Weeds amongst them spring to give offence The Gard'ner plucks them up and casts them thence Lord give me Grace to keep my Garden so That nothing there but Herbs of Grace may grow ¶ The Soul's Alarm A Wake my Soul chase from thine eyes This drowsie sloath and quickly rise Up and to work apace No less than Kingdoms are prepar'd And endless Bliss for their reward Who finish well their race 'T is not so poor a thing to be Servants to Heav'n dear Lord and thee As this fond world believes Not even here where oft the wise Are most expos'd to injuries And friendless vertue grieves Sometimes thy hand lets gently fall A little drop that sweetens all The bitter of our Cup O what hereafter shall we be When we shall have whole draughts of thee Brim-full and drink them up Say happy Souls whose thirst now meets The fresh and living stream of sweets Which spring from that bless'd Throne Did you not finde this true even here Do you not finde it truer there Now Heaven is all your own O yes the sweets we taste exceed All we can say or you can read They fill and never cloy On Earth
Wine enough when this is gone we 'll then Revive the Banquet with the blood of men Jud. My Lord now will I drink because my state Is more by much exalted now of late Then e're it was since Nature did display Over mine eyes the banner of the day Hol. This Wine benums my joynts my limbs do feel As if each one would with the other reel Since so it is I 'll stretch me on my bed Jud. Do so my Lord And I 'll secure thy head Thou need'st not fear those at Jerusalem They shall not come to thee thou go'st to them ¶ Judeth's Song of Thanksgiving WIth Timbrels and with Cymbals raise A tune wherewith our God to praise Divinity afford me Balm For sins and skill to sing a Psalm Of praise to God did Heaven frame Exalt him call upon his Name He breaks the Battels of the strong And I that was the Camps among Of proud King Assur even then When Israel seem'd a Prey to men Then did the Lord direct my ways I came from thence to sing his praise Out of the Mountains from the North The Enemy came thundring forth Their strength did threaten dismal ills Their numbers covered the hills He brag'd he would my Borders burn And make Jerusalem an Urn And kill my young men with the Sword Dash Infants brains against the board And make my Virgins prove their spoil But God prevented hath their toyl A Female hand By his command Hath conquer'd the Assyrian Land Our mighty foe he did not fight Nor did the Sons of Titans smite Neither did Giants force his care But Beauty was his only snare The daughter of Merari went With resolution to the tent Of Holofernes drank him dead And safely brought away his head Thus Lord I ventur'd to commit Two sins and sacrifice my Wit But with a chast and holy eye I shun'd ways of Carnality My people Lord I knew should live And thou art ready to forgive I boldiy went was not afraid Because assured of thine aid And to allure I thought it good The Garments of my Widowhood To lay aside and did attire My head to raise my beauty higher My Sandals ravished his eyes And he became my beauties prize For then to give his pride a check I strook his Faulchin through his neck Which act did make The Persians quake The Medes stout hearts did likewise ake Thus my exterminating arm By inspiration did alarm A mighey Host and did destroy Their chief Commander once their Joy A new Song to the Lord I 'll sing Thou art a great and glorious King Wonderful in strength and might Invincible the God of Fight To praise thy Name all things accord For thou mad'st all things with a word In thee all Creatures shall rejoyce Not any can resist thy voice Mountains and Waters shall remove Rocks melt as wax if they not love Shall man be subject to obey And his Inseriours go astray Do we not see year after year God's merciful to them that sear All Sacrifice too little is For him that is the God of Bliss The savour of the heart is sweet And he that sears the Lord is great Wo to those Nations that arise Against my Kindred they a prize Shall be to Worms their flesh as meat The Ravens of the field shall eat Whilst in Bethulia all my days I 'll spend to celebrate his praise ¶ On Man's Greation WE were created with a Word a Breath Redeemed with no less than Blood and Death How much a greater labour is it then Sinners to cleanse or breathe Souls into men ¶ The Mornings Ejaculation NOw that the Day-star doth arise Beg we of God with humble cries All hurtful things to keep away Whilst we in duty spend the day Out tongues to guide so that no strife May breed disquiet in our life To shut the casement of our eye Lest it admit of vanity Preserve the heart both pure and free From vain and troubled phantasie To tame proud flesh while we deny it A full cup and a wanton diet That when the day-light shall go out Time bringing on the night about We by leaving worldly ways May in silence sing God's praise ¶ The Evenings Ejaculation O Lord now night 's return'd again Our Bodies and our Souls refrain From being soil'd with filthy stain Let not dull sleep oppress our eyes Nor us the enemy surprize Nor fearful dreams our minde affright While the blackness of the night Holds from us the cheerful light To thee who dost by rest renew Our wasted strength we humbly sue That when we shall enclose our eyes Pure and chast we may arise Making Morning-Sacrifice All honour Lord to thee be done Thou ever-blessed Virgins Son With the Father and the Spirit As is thine eternal merit E're and ever to inherit ¶ On Tears TEars the sweet Musick of harmonious Souls Angels rejoyce and ready are in shouls To dance thereto it is their heav'nly skill Their Master's bottle with such pearls to fill And when the Soul in Sin 's consumption lies No Balsam's better than the briny eyes God loves not waters of a common ford All Rivers are not pleasing to the Lord. When Esau wept it was to think upon His Brothers fraud with indignation His Tears were mix'd his whispring thoughts within Cry'd 'T is my loss I prize beyond my sin Tears of Dissimulation too invite Men to believe God knows the Hypocrite When in devotion we our Case impart We should remember God requires the heart Tears of Contrition give the piercing voice At which both God and Angels do rejoyce Such as were Mary Magdalens who spent Full thirty years in weeping to repent St. Peter likewise waking look'd as sleeping His face b'ing surrow'd with continual weeping The Spouse of whom in 〈◊〉 her fears Like pools of Heshbon glaz'd her eyes with Tears As Musick on the water sounds more sweet Than on the land so Pray'rs with Tears they greet Almighty God with prevalence all hours God listens to effectual Oratours Then let our Tears into a deluge flow To drown our sins and wash away our woe May they shoot forth like showers in the Spring To bathe our Souls in 't is an Offering Well pleasing to the Lord. When Peter wept He look'd more lovely than as when he slept David pathetically ever sung When Heart and Harp with Penitence was strung When to repose he laid his weari'd head Not Diamonds but Tears adorn'd his bed And in the sacred Quire there 's much more mirth For one repentant sinner so by birth Than persons just Repentance needing none Though of an hundred there should want but one To Heav'n comes none but what are pure and cleer Heaven would not be Heav'n if Sin were there ¶ On Humane Frailty THe World 's a Monster And a humane life So full of strife That a dry morsel better may suffice With quiet than contentions sacrifice Man is conceiv'd In sin when born Become a scorn Addicts himself to vanities and lyes Poysons himself
Father Mother to beguile With just or rather to be drunk a while He thinking Drunkenness the least of these Chose that thereby God's Justice to appease Then drunk he gets making no more to do And when got drunk acted the other two The juicy Vine doth to us ev'ry year Three forts of Grapes at once most duly bear The first for Pleasure Drunkenness the next The third for Misery When man 's perplext With too much drink he is as one deceast A shape of man more properly a beast If all our Trees were Pens and Seas were Ink They could not write the mischiefs done by Drink Awake ye Drunkards weep and howl Poyson encompasseth your Bowl ¶ On Blasphemy IT sets in mouth against each holy place And shoots out words like darts against the face Of God despising his great Majesty Imposing things upon the Deity Thus written 't is by the Historian Speaking of the Apostate Julian When he engag'd against the Parthian Bands And then receiv'd a wound with outstretch'd hands He took his blood to shew he did persist And in derifion threw it toward Christ Thus saying to augment his siâ—…ful sum O Galilean thou hast 〈◊〉 So by an outward gesture we may finde The secret indignation of the minde And he that doth blaspheme his God doth broach Designes to cast upon him all reproach His little Wit or Folly can invent Vainly to shew the reach of his intent But Julian being wounded with a Dart Unknown from whence that reach'd his wretched heart In scorn to Christ he Galilean 〈◊〉 Perish'd in fin so this Blasphemer di'd Caius Caligula with judgment dim His Statue fix'd that men might worship him The holy Temple with profane abuse He dedicated to his proper use Making himself a God but it appear'd At length that Vengeance this Blasphemes heard It is a sin that studies how to fight Against the dictates of Dame Nature's light Which Princess oft have punished with death The very Turks will not endure that breath That wounds the Ears of Heaven but punish those That to blaspheming Christ their lips dispose If Turks to this great fin give a restraint How piercing must it be unto a Saint ¶ The Sick man's Ease THe Sick man is a Prisoner to his bed When healthy men have room their wings to spread Wealth without Health a gilded torment is Croesus vast Riches lead not unto Bliss Nor can the Wealth of all the Indian shore Assure the sick from Agues to restore Health is a Jewel of such high degree Not to be priz'd until it wanted be The sick can nothing do he 's indispos'd He cannot pray his eyes are almost clos'd He restless turns then on his back doth lie Whilst pain deprives him of his Piety But when a good man sickens God hath sed He in his sickness will make All his Bed His Pillow Bolster Sides the Feet and Head God taketh thorough care for his Elect In All his Bed he will be circumspect And sure that God that suffers a Disease To reign is best Physician giving ease Herein his Art is excellently spread Not fitting Bed but Person to the Bed His Potion Patience is and that works so What God inflicts the Just doth undergo But how shall God make my bed I have none Saith the poor man and saith it with a groan To him God answers Son be thou content For that 's a bed adorn'd with Ornament Jacob slept on the ground who would not deem Himself most happy having Jacob's dream Fox in his book of Martyrs speaks of one A woman poor in Jersey yet though grown Mean to the World when Mary Englands Queen Drew on our English Stage a bloody Scene God made her bed in that same fiery flake And when she came as Martyr to the stake A Childe came from her to her hearts desire So God brought her to bed by flames of fire He likewise threatned Jezabel that she Should have a bed of fire His Justice he Therein displays May not his Mercy then Turn flames of fire to beds for righteous men Nothing 's impossible if God accord Fire shall prove Beds of Ease say he the Word ¶ On Singing of Psalms BIrds sweetly chirp and sing but Nature gave Me a harsh voice more fit than sing to rave Should I use Art for a melodious strain 'T would be to spend my pretious time in vain When I sing Psalms and Hymns to God on high With devout praises to the Deity How can I think my voice shall please his ear When to my self it meanly doth appear Yet though I cannot chaunt a warbling tale With the sweet musick of the Nightingale Or with the Blackbird chirp I Swallow-like Will chatter or will with the Raven strike Or croak my measures better so to do Than to be silent for there may accrew A Blessing by my will If I want Art God thus commands My son give me thy heart Had God bestow'd on me a better voice With better musick I would then rejoyce But since 't is so the Spirits influence Shall salve my want of skill with store of sence To that end blessed Lord in me create A heart unfeigned new and in that state With heart and understanding I 'll rejoyce And rest contented with my present voice Yet one thing more of God I do desire Make me a Quirester in Heaven's Quire ¶ On little Sins SIn at the first seems small when I begin I thus conclude 'T is but a little sin I may wade through it dry shod So on tilt I run as if secur'd from sin by guilt But when into my sin I slily creep It suddenly appears so soul so deep So dangerous a gulph doth widely gape That without drowning I can hardly scape Thus in extremities I always bleed My sins are small they no repentance need Or else so great and heynous is my stain That I despair I can't a pardon gain A Reed out of thy Sanctuary Lord Would truly measure every deed and word But O if thou my misery reveal Do not thy mercy from my Soul conceal Lest if I apprehend my wounds gape wide My desperate Soul run out and thereby glide Into a world of to ments if my grief Seem to be greater than is thy relief If sin seems greater by one breadth of hair Than mercie doth it makes way for despair No sins are little 't is the Devil's cheat So to surmise for ev'ry sin is great ¶ On Temperance THis guides the Reason gives the Minde delight In moderating Lust and Appetite The Jews in this great Vertue are expert Shunning excess as men of great desert Perhaps because it should be understood They drank full draughts up of our Saviour's blood And being sensible they did digress May think it time t'abominate excess Our English Chronicles do much commend Their Queen Elizabeth who did transcend The Nobles of her age and England's King Edward the Sixth did in her praise thus sing When to discourse on her it was his
Manners but the ruine both of Precepts of Principles for vain Songs are Songs sung to the World lascivious Ballads are Songs sung to the Flesh and Satyrical Libels are Songs sung to the Devil onely Psalms Hymns and spiritual Songs making melody in the heart are Songs sung to the Lord. Spiritual Silence is a sweeter note than a loud especially if lewd Sonnet and the advice of St. James is both divine and wholsome Is any among you afflicted let him pray Is any merry let him sing Psalms I know it is a general humour in this Age to think no Verse good but what is scurrilous and profane nor do I promise Elegancy in my stile that being more proper for dramatick than divine Poesie Nay such is the looseness of this Age that many are of opinion that Divinity in verse is unpleasant to the ear and to the heart let such be convinced by the Psalms of David or the Song of his son Solomon Divine Verse hath these two operations it is pleasant and makes an impression in the memory of the Reader so true is that of the excellent Mr. Geo. Herbert Vniversity-Oratour of Cambridge A Verse may take him who a Sermon flies And turn delight into a Sacrifice As Affliction admits of Contemplation so Prosperity swells the Heart this Agur knew well and therefore prayed for a Mediocrity Some are of opinion that Solomon's wealth did him much more hurt than his wisdom did him good David's first ways were his best ways neither was he ever so good and tender as when he was hunted like a Partridge on the Mountains Indeed of Vespatian it is storied that he was made the better man by being made Emperour but he was too rare a bird to have his fellow Such is the incertainty of humane Affairs that a full Estate discovers a man as well as doth a low and empty one To know how to abound is as high a part of Grace as to know how to want God tries in a right-hand-way as well as in a left-hand-way Poverty endangers Grace much but Riches more To be great in the World is a great temptation it is a hard thing to carry a full Cup with an even hand Many when they grow rich in Temporals wax poor in Spirituals As their outward man increaseth so their inward man decayeth and as the flesh flourishes the spirit withers yet prosperous wickedness is accounted Vertue Dionysius after the spoil of an Idol-temple finding the winds favourable in his Navigation Lo said he how the Gods approve of Sacriledge So divers because they are prosperous are apt to believe themselves pious and that God must needs love them because the World doth but a painted face is no signe of a good Complexion And Seneca hath this saying The greatest unhappiness is to prosper in Impieties Adversity teacheth Humility and how to pray Prosperity leads to Pride Folly Vain-glory and all manner of Evils David in persecution and wars was a chast man when he came to take his ease he was caught in the snare of Adultery Who ever swam in such a Sea of Honour and Riches as Solomon and who sank so egregiously as he Such as stand upon slippery places slide ere they be aware and the higher the Pinacle is from whence they do descend the greater must be their precipitation But Godliness with contentment is great gain To conclude I end with that of St. Paul 1 Cor. 14. 15. I will with heart and understanding sing Praise to the Name of the eternal King From my Chamber in Ludgate S. S. THE PRAYER OF St. Thomas Aquinas WHICH He used to say before he went to study OUnspeakable Creator who from the treasure of thy Wisdom hast appointed three Hierarchies of Angels and placed them by a wonderful Order above the Heaven and hast most admirably distributed the parts of the World Thou which art called the true Fountain of Light of Wisdom and the Highest Being vouchsafe to pour down upon the darkness of my Understanding in the which I was born the double Beam of thy Brightness removing from me Darkness or the clouds of Sin and Ignorance Thou which makest eloquent the Tongues of men and givest the benefit of Utterance instruct my Tongue and pour into my Lips the grace of thy Blessing Give me quickness of Understanding capacity of Retaining judgment in Interpreting facility of Learning and copious Grace of Speaking Guide my going in direct my going forward and accomplish my going forth Teach me to instruct others in thy fear that they and I may sing Praises to thee and to the Lamb for evermore Amen A BRIEF Exhortation to Prayer Written by St. Chrysostome IT is very meet and profitable that we employ the time of our life in Prayer that thereby our hearts may continually receive the sweet dew of God's Grace of which all persons have no less need than Trees and Herbs have of refreshing waters for they cannot bring forth fruit except the roots be comforted with moisture and in like manner it is impossible for us to be replenished with beautiful fruits of Piety if our hearts be not refreshed by Prayer for which cause we ought to forsake our beds and prevent the Sun-rising in God's service The like we ought to do when we go to meat and at night when we take our rest yea it behoveth us at all times to offer some Ejaculation to God to the end we may continually retain him and his mercies in our mindes Tell me O my Soul how canst thou behold the Sun if thou dost not honour him that made thine eyes to behold that most beautiful Light How canst thou go to the Table to eat if thou dost not first honour him who giveth and furnisheth thee dayly with such great benefits How canst thou trust thy self in a dark and dismal night when discontents dreadful dreams and many dangers might assault thee if thou dost not defend thy self by Prayer and holy Meditations which are the watchful guards that allay and destroy the stratagems of wicked spirits that continually endeavour to surprize and to devour but if they see thee furnish'd with Prayer or divine Cogitations they presently retire even as wicked theeves when they see the Sword towards them Wherefore put you on the Armour of God that you may withstand the assaults of the Devil Dr. Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury HIS Prayer for Wisdome Let my Prayer be set forth before thee as Incense and the lifting up of my hands as the Evening sacrifice O God of my fathers and Lord of mercies thou that hast made all things with thy Word and didst ordain man through thy Wisdom that he should have dominion over thy Creatures which thou hast made and that he should order the World according to Holiness and Righteousness and execute Judgment with an upright heart give me Wisdom which is ever about thy Seat and put me not out from among thy Children For I thy servant and son of thy
to be thy Match or Mate then consult thy Honour if thou lovest the World and embracest the Earth canst thou hate Adultery with man and be an Adultress to God Let not a Strumpet stand in thy sight but especially suffer not thy heart to whore after Vanity If thou fallest into ill Company that shall court thee let not the Devil wooâ—… thee O my Soul thou most beloved above all Creatures that hast God for thy Huâ—…band Heaven for thy Dower and Eartâ—… for thy Service suffer not Hell to 〈◊〉 thy Pander to dote upon the World let thy Heart be an Habitation for Goâ—… and Heaven Thy Soul is the Lord of thy Body take then thy bodies homage not thine own ruine let thy Soul act the will of God and command the body to execute thine Let not thy body be thy God lest thou becomest a Devil to thy self Thy Soul is an Angels peer let it not then be a companion for Satan Let not thy Lordship be sold for slavery and misery for if thou maintainest not thy right Hell must be thy harbour Torments thy terrour and wicked Spirits thy company Thy Soul under God is the supream Soveraign of thy body be not then a subject to thy subject let not the law of the Members be the law of the Minde for the Senses are Handmaids to the Soul and she is the Princess of Heaven Thy Soul is a free-born-childe of Eternity Heir of Immensity the Daughter of Almighty God who is beyond all bounds of Time and Being to whom then oughtest thou to pay thy duty but to him alone Thy Body is but a prison to thy Soul thou art inclosed in the walls of Mud and gates of Sense Can there then be more pleasure in a Prison than a Palace Shall a Bodily Restraint be preferred before a Spirits Liberty Canst thou count thy Bondage to be thy Bliss Are Chains of Iron to be esteemed above the Treasures of Gold Are Fetters better than Freedom Earth is but a Goal to Heaven then be not so rash as to prize thy Goal before thy Delivery lest thou art cast into that Goal from whence there is no redemption It is most just that the Soul that prizeth the Devil's Chain before God's Liberty should have the Devil's Prison instead of God's Palace and befor ever his slave in Hell that would not be God's servant for a time on Earth O thou beloved Dove of God fly to thy Coelestial home belime not thy spiritual wings in slime and mud in Heaven is thy Treasure and where canst thou finde more Riches to invite thee Be not like the Crow to feed upon Carrion or like the blinde Beetle to place thy blessedness in Boggs Make not sale of thy self to buy a Goal when thou partest with a Palace for the purchase and becomest a Familiar to Bolts and Shackles Thy Soul is God's Jewel and thy Body is the Casket then keep thy Body clean that thy Soul may the better be preserved It is a bright Diamond of Heaven a Spark of the Divinity a Ray of Divine Glory set for a time in the Foil of Flesh till it pleaseth God to take it to himself and keep it for ever in his Cabinet Let not then thy Soul that transparent Diamond be an ornament to the Devil's finger when it may sit at the right hand of God where there are Pleasures for evermore Thy Soul is the Purchase of Christ bought with no less than the blood of the Son of God then sell not that for a Trifle which cost thy Saviour so great a price it is better to enjoy the Riches of Eternity than to purchase Vanity for a Moment Is thy body distemper'd then thou requirest Physick if wounded thou sendest for a Chirurgeon if naked it must have Cloaths and if hungry it must have Food For these thou shouldest depend upon God for he knoweth all these things are necessary But when thy precious Soul lies sick of sin hath wounds of the spirit stript of its innocence and starv'd for grace no regard is given thereunto not considering though thou usest humane helps it is God that gives the Blessing and is the Physitian both of Soul and Body That Soul that acts the part of a faithful servant to the Lord shall have a double reward The Crown of a Saint and of a Sufferer Certain Considerations worthy the Devout Souls Meditation THe Soul is Spiritual sin makes it Carnal The Soul is Immortal sin is the death of the Soul it makes it die to Grace and live in Grief The Soul is Noble sin makes it Ignominious The Soul is Lord sin enslaves it The Soul is Soveraign sin brings it in subjection The Soul is God-like sin makes it beastial The Soul is the Spouse of God sin makes it the Strumpet of the Devil The Soul is the Jewel of God sins casts it in the Devil's fire The Soul is a free-born Citizen of Heaven sin keeps it in perpetual imprisonment The Soul is God's Purchase sin cheats God of his due and the Soul of eternal Bliss A MISCELANY OF Divine Maximes OR Words fitly spoken Like Apples of Gold in Pictures of Silver 1. WOuldst thou be truly perfect love God with all thy heart and thy Neighbour as thy self 2. Let thy eye be always upon God and thy self and thou shalt never see him without goodness nor thy self without misery 3. None shall see God so much as he is visible and none shall ever love God so much as he is amiable 4. He that doth not covet to love God more and more can never love him enough 5. To whom God is all the World ought to be nothing at all 6. Let us be what God will so we be but his and let us not be what we will our selves against the will of God 7. In the service of God there is nothing little enough to be rejected 8. To meditate much upon God is good but the Souls greater advancement in Vertue consists in much loving him 9. He to whom God alone is pleasing is displeased with nothing but that which displeaseth God 10. In Divine matters a generous Soul finds greatest contentment in believing things most difficult 11. All our actions take their value from their conformity to the Will of God 12. Love and Suffering are the greatest duties we owe to God they being the two causes for which he died for us 13. He that neglects his own will complies best with God's 14. So love thy Neighbour upon Earth as that thou mayst enjoy his love in Heaven 15. Thou canst not love thy Neighbour too much but thou mayst too much shew thy love 16. One great argument of our love to our Neighbour is to bear with his imperfections 17. We should never endure to hear evil spoken of any but our selves 18. We should never under value any person the workman loves not that his work should be despised in his presence wherefore beware for God is present every where and and
Sacred Writ we cleerly know That ev'ry man makes Vanity his show Preferment Pleasure Profit are the three That do compleat the Worldlings Trinity He dies a sinner as when he began At first to live So vain a thing is man Man Well may the Angels feet ne'r step aside When ye have God to be your glorious Guide How can ye wander or how can ye stray When ye are always in and with your way Your Conversations must be void of Strife When ye have God your Way your Truth Life Ang. Man was created in no less degree Than the bright Image of the Deity He above other Creatures well may boast As he 's the Temple of the Holy Ghost But how hath he that glorious form defac'd Defi'd his Maker and himself disgrac'd Retaining principles his Soul bereaves Making God's Temple seem a Den of Thieves How can Ingratitude sound louder than Yours to your God So vain a thing is man Man But if we do repent and pardon crave As God can smite so the same God can save Then bring us Hallelujahs from your Quier We 'll vie whose notes shall sweetest be and higher Both All Glory be to God on High And to the Holy Trinity As first it was is now and may When fading time shall want a day ¶ Of Mirth and Mourning IN midst of Mirth there sadness is And so in Grief there 's joy Whilst wealthy sinners faces smile Their hearts do feel annoy Carnal delights they are but vam And bring vexations too They sound like musick in a strain Whose discord ends in rue Thus to the Sensualist they play Left he prove dull and sad But when the Reckoning comes to pay It makes him downright mad So true is that of Solomon In laughter there is grief The end of mirth is heaviness And Hell the salse relief But he that 's truly penitent And doth his Tears impart They are to Angels straightway sent Rejoycing his own heart They are the solace of his Soul If bitter they appear His comforts then the sweeter are The sinner's Pearl's a Tear His Sighs and Groans if they are deep And threaten to destroy In peace he may lie down and sleep The fuller is his joy The beams of Consolation shine Into this house of grief His Soul in travel is at last Sweet Peace is his relief So that I truly may conclude He that doth mourn for Sin Doth weep for Joy a multitude Of Pleasure lies therein Those Christal Rivers that do flow So nâ—…er the Heav'nly King They their original do owe Unto a Weeping-spring One rich drop from a solid sigh Pure in a Christal-birth Is to be priz'd by far above Oceans of carnal Mirth ¶ On Ambition HOnour 's insatiate never satisfi'd Nor is the Beggar innocent from Pride The Labourer a Yeoman fain would be The Yeoman would a Gentleman's degree The Gentleman must worship'd be at Feast And to that end must be a Squire at least The swaggering Squire must needs be dub'd a Knight Then aims at Baron as his Title-right The Baron must be Lord to please his Girl If that won't do he must be made an Earl That done Ambition bids him still aspier Marquess in Heraldry is one step higher The Marquess then casts out his golden Hook With Cash and Crast till he becomes a Duke The Duke no arguments can him convince But that by merit he should be a Prince When Prince he elevates his foaring wing Flies to the Throne of a terrestrial King Yet there 's no rest so doth Ambition gull us He must be Caesar or he will be Nullus Caesar won't make him yet the World's Commander Wherefore he must be styl'd an Alexander And Alexander though the whole World's Rod Must be ador'd and worshipt as a God After his many wonders even then He sound himself to be as other men Base Pride eclipses those of high degree But before Honour is Humility Honour that Furnace which doth heat the blood Making men act things but profusely good Swelling Ambition makes a man its slave Till Death's sharp Dart doth post him to his grave But how in play first came this cheating Sin Adam would be a God so it came in Other sins fly from God and shun the chace This boldly flies in the Almighty's face All that the erring Children have to say Is this It was our Father led the way ¶ Spiritus Sanctus COme holy Spirit come and breathe Thy spicy Odours on the face Of our dull Region here beneathe And fill our Souls with thy sweet Grace Come and root out the poysonous Weeds That over-run and choak our lives And in our hearts plant thine own Seeds Whose quickning power our Spirit revives First plaâ—… the humble Violet there That dwells secure by being low Then let the Lily next appear And make us chast yet fruitful too But oh plant all the Vertues Lord And let the Metaphors alone Repeat once more that mighty Word Thou needst but say Let it be done We can alas nor be nor grow Unless thy powerful mercy please Thy hand must plant and water too Thy hand alone must give encrease Do then what thou alone canst do Do what to thee so easie is Conduct us through this World of woe And place us safe in thine own Bliss All Glory to the Sacred Three One Ever living Soveraign Lord As at the first still may he be Belov'd and prais'd fear'd and ador'd ¶ The Christian and a Worldling A Dialogue Wor. IS it not pleasant Christian to be great Chr. 'T is but a moral cheat Wor. Where lies the cheat when I receive the gold Chr. In crying sins untold Wor. Must I be wretched 'cause I'm growing rich Chr. Wealth is oft-times a Witch Wor. Amity with the World I never mist. Chr. That 's enmity with Christ. Wor. I cloath the naked I the hungry seed Chr. Those are good acts indeed Wor. My Purse for Alms flows like a Conduit pâ—…pe Chr. 'Cause ye the Widows gripe Wor. I fear my God and do my Neighbours love Chr. That men may well approve Wor. I relieve those that have in Perils been Chr. But only to be seen Wor. This do I do what is 't I should do more Chr. Give all unto the Poor Then may thy name be in the Christian-list And when thou' rt poor thy treasure is in Christ. ¶ On the Tree of Knowledge IN Paradise it was this Tree did grow Plac'd in the midst that man might thereby know It was the choicest Plant but Satan came And with his wiles beguiled Adam's Dame Taste Woman eat quoth he it doth descry Both Good and Evil eat and never die Forbear and perish herein lies the odds They that shall eat hereof shall be as Gods Is it not pleasant were it understood You 'd eat and say it is no common Food It is an Oyntment for your blinded eyes First taste then eat this Fruit will make you wise Eve like a silly woman then began To bite that Bait
But above all prepare thy heart Whilst now 't is called day In humble duty bear thy part To sing to love and pray Glory to thee Eternal Lord Thrice blessed three in one Thy Name at all times be ador'd Till time it self be done ¶ Of God HE is the Author of the Worlds Creation Foundation The great and mighty Judge of mans Salvation Damnation The glorious Lord and only God Above Of Love That both to men and Angels is A God A Rod. He did the World create and by his hand Or word Foundations laid of Sea and Land Can save or damn as he doth best approve Will be our God or Rod as we shall love Thou that canst hold the Winds within thy fist Have mercy on us oh thou God in Christ. ¶ Of Christ. HE it is that gives us Peace Increase He to poor Souls cries I 'm your Jesu IESU He it is that is our Good Food The Saints with him do trust their Treasure Pleasure He it is can end our Life Strife He it is that gives us Breath Death He is to us a Judge and King Sting He is our Peace Increase our Jâ—…u and An Ease to those that wait on his Command Our Good our Food our Treasure and our Joy Our Life to see no Strife shall us annoy He gives us Breath can give us Death as King And unâ—…o death he is become a Sting He punish can or help us in our thrall For Christ is God's and God is all in all Wouldst farther know what God is silly Elf Go study first to be a God thy self ¶ God is Love GIve praise unto the Lord above Omit no thanks that thou canst move Dost thou not know that God is love In Word and Deed make him thy aim So shall thy Soul be free from blame Let his Commandments be in ure Obedience cannot be a clod Vs he hath spar'd and doth endure Ev'n still such is the love of God ¶ The Remembrance ANd now my Soul canst thou forget That thy whole life is one long debt Of Love to him who on the Tree Paid back the flesh he took for thee Lo how the streams of pretious blood Flow from five wounds into one flood With these he washes all thy stains And buys thy Ease with his own Pains Tall Tree of Life we clearly now That doubt of former ages know It was thy wood should make a Throne Fit for a more than Solomon Large Throne of Love royally spread With Purple of too rich a red Strange costly price thus to make good Thine own esteem with the Kings blood Hail fairest Plant of Paradise To thee our hopes lift up their eyes O may aloft thy branches shoot And fill the Nations with thy fruit O may all reap from thy increase The Just more strength the Sinner peace While our half-wither'd hearts and we Engraft our selves and grow on thee Live O for ever live and reign Bless'd Lamb whom thine own love hath slain And may thy lost Sheep live to be True lovers of thy Cross and thee ¶ Of Death 1 Cor. ch 15. v. 55 56. O Death where is thy sting The sting of death is sin O. Death forbear I yet must live Stay Death till God your Warrant give And then where you see best this heart Most willing is to seel your Dart. But Lord O let thy servants breath Preserv'd be from the sting of Death ¶ Of Grief THe tears come slowly Lord my sins remain O sting my shallow fords and make them rain Rivers of waters or if so thou please Send daring death my sorrows to decrease My grief is great 't is time to rise or fall Then cleanse me Lord from sin and ease my thrall That I may say O death where is thy sting And tell the world The sting of death is sin ¶ A Christian and Death A Dialogue Chr. COme valiant Death and welcome do thy worst Shew me the power thou claimst as being King Dea. Poor mortal know alas thou art but dust And I the Sexton that thy Knell must ring Chr. Away lean half-starv'd wretch go daunt a sool Think not to fright me with Thy glass is run Dea. Thou art my Scholar therefore come to School Delays but waste that time which might be gone Chr. Thou seemst a Student for thou lookst so poor That Famine in thy face I plainly read Dea. Come silly wretch you word it must no more See here 's thy Glass thy Doom and thou art dead Chr. Then boldly strike thou dost the body kill My Soul shall wait upon its Master's will Dea. Lie there proud dust all flesh is born to die Chr. This is the Road unto Eternitie ¶ The Altar A broken ALTAR Lord to thee I raise Made of a Heart to celebrate thy praise Thou that the onely Workman art That canst cement a broken heart For such is mine O make it thine Take out the Sin That 's hid therein Though it be Stone Make it to groan That so the same May praise thy Name Melt it O Lord I thee desire With Flames from thy Coelestial fire That it may ever speak thy Praise alone Since thou hast changed into Flesh a Stone ¶ Death Man and Grave A Dialogue Death COme down proud Lust. Man To what to Dust Grav I that you must and shall Man Thou thing of bones Grav That fetcheth groans Death From very stones and all Man From Dust I came Grav Thou must again Death Sin is thy bain and thrall Man That 's thee away Death With mortal Clay Grav Why do you stay you must Death Come leave your groans Man To go with bones Grav You must go once poor dust Death Nay do not frown Man Away rude Clown Death I 'll strike thee down proud lust Man Then I submit forbear your storms Seeing I must return a Guest To my Acquaintance old the worms Farewel fond World I 'll take my rest Grav I have a Charm will make you sleep And all you have you here may trust For Watchmen not a few I keep The harmless Worms that are so just With care they do befriend him That cometh here within this path Thus man one world of servants hath And when he on his Death-bed lies Another doth attend him ¶ Nature's Delight HArk my Soul how every thing Strives to serve our bounteous King Each a double tribute pays Sings its part and then obeys Natures chief and sweetest quire Him with chearful notes admire Chanting every day their Lauds Whilst the Grove their song applauds Though their Voices lower be Streams have too their melody Night and day they warbling run Never pause but still sing on All the flowers that gild the Spring Hither their sweet musick bring If Heaven bless them thankful they Smell more sweet and look more gay Only we can scarce afford Due thanksgivings to our Lord. We on whom his bounty flowes All things give and nothing owes Wake for shame my sluggish heart Wake and gladly sing thy part Learn
are they that thirst for Righteousness They shall be fill'd more than we can express Bless'd are the tender mercifus of minde They that in mercy give shall mercy finde Bless'd are the pure of heart their Sanctitie Shall lead them to the Holy Deitie Bless'd are peace-makers they shall make abode As Children with their Father and their God Blessed are they that suffer in a cause That 's just their suffering is their applause Blessed are they that persecuted are And when relivers do no venom spare When Disconcent sets all things out of frame Patience is Physick Prophers us'd the same Of Angels MY Soul in thy Devotions always say O God my God Lord hear me when I pray Let not or Saint or Angel though sublime Share of that honour which is due to him For if you give not God your Heart your All You Caesar rob to pay your Tythes to Paul Nor ought we to the Saints to shew neglect As if the objects of our disrespect Dives in his distress cry'd out for water To Abraham a Saint It is no matter We know what Dives was and will forbear To follow him that ran into a snare ¶ Of Christ's Passion FRom Circumcision to the hour of death Alas sad sate Christ's Passions still kept even with his breath Such was his state He first was in a Manger wrap'd In dangers nurs'd and often scap'd As he of Graces had the richest store So likewise he Of Tears of Sweat of Blood and yet much more Could not be free For Emulation then was understood As now it is 't was dangerous to be good And he that seeks for Peace 'mong men Shall finde it But the Lord knows when On St. Paul's Conversion SO shin'd that glorious Sun upon this Saint That falling down he did both fear and faint It was the Light of God that shin'd whose weight Might sorely press coming from such a height Encompass'd round so that he could not â—…lee From that same vo ce Why persecut it thou me From that same date St. Paul's Conversion came And he grew Master of a shining Fame ¶ On Christ's Praying CHrist in the Garden prays enclos'd with Trees And earnestly importunes on his knees That Cup might pass but see his Son-like skill In praying Father if it be thy will From whence I learn the duty of a Son It is to say Father thy will be done ¶ On Honour and Valour HOnour and Valour being once at strise Which should atchieve most glory in their life Honour did much went on would not give o're Valour flew boldly on and did much more The World 's uncertain Honour he was beat Yet Valour 's head must serve for Honour's seat ¶ On Tinder TO Tinder like each strike That Satan gives My Soul receives With ev'ry Match a Catch My Soul does get When he doth hit Hereafter I will flie Temptations all so shall My Voice be rightly tun'd and apt to say I 'll worship none but God and him obey ¶ The Litany O God the Father God the Son That made and did redeem each one And God the Holy Ghost look on us miserable sinners By thy most bloody sweat and Cross By thy pretious death and loss By thy ascending up from dross Good Lord deliver us In all our troubles time of wealth In time of sickness or of health In Deaths sad hour which comes by stealth Good Lord deliver us We sinners do beseech thee Lord To prosper and increase thy Word Unto thy Church good Rules afford We beseech thee to hear us good Lord. That it may please thee to endue All Ministers with knowledge true That we with profit may it shew We beseech thee c. That Grace and Wisdome may increase That Wars and Jarrings all may cease That we thy people may have peace We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to bestow On us thy servants here below Hearts that shall praise for what we owe We beseech thee c. That it may please thee be the way For their return that do each day Deceive themselves and go astray We beseech thee c. That it may please thee by thy hand To strengthen those aright do stand Others to raise by thy command We beseech thee c. That it may please thee succour those That grief and tribulation knows When persecuted by their foes We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to preserve Captives in danger like to starve And from Childe-bearers not to swerve We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to desend The Fatherless and to the end Thy blessings to the Widows send We beseech thee c. That it may please thee pity all And keep our Enemies from thrall Fetch home their hearts that from thee fall We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to defend On us the kindly fruits that grow Be God and friend unto thy foe We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to forgive Our sins that we upright may live According to thy Word and thrive We beseech thee c. O Son of God we pray thee hear O Lamb of God do not forbear To look in mercy on each Tear We beseech thee c. After our sins O do not us regard Nor after our iniquities reward Lord have mercy upon us Christ have mercy upon us Let us pray Our Father c. ¶ On St. Michael the Archangel WE praise thee Christ among the quires Of Angels who thy voice obey That art the life of Heart-desires Thy Father's Power and shining Ray. Whole myriads of heav'nly Peers Fight for thy cause in close aray But Michael who thy Standard bears The Cross of Safety does display He the pernicious Dragon threw Into the flames of Hell's Abyss The Captain with his Rebel-Crew He thundred from Coelestial Bliss Under this Prince let 's every one Against Pride's Captain combat so As that the Lamb may from his Throne Crown Glories upon us below To God the Father God the Son And to the Holy Ghost in Heaven As hitherto it hath been done Let Glory evermore be given ¶ Oppositions GOd is light and sin is dark God lives above and sin beneath God is just but sin 's a Shark God is Life and sin is Death God is Heaven sin is Hell God is fair and sin is foul God saves many that rebel Sin 's Damoation to the Soul Adam in Paradise did stand Angels in Heaven by God's command But sin doth with a gilded Dart Not only tempt but wound the heart God doth entreat the Soul by love Sin with deceit the Soul doth move Sin laid the corner-stone in Hell Sin made this World a Monster swell In all to God 't is flatly opposite It wants the good of Vertue and of Light ¶ On Thoughts STill I am thinking thoughts that are not good They are as common as my food And do increase like Beans in mud As thick as any Wood. Suppose I harbour some that do
no ill Nor yet no good they hurt when fill To little purpose lying still And such a hurt may kill When I am praying to the Lord my God They often on my Prayers have trod And when I hope'd to scape the rod My sins have still abode The reason sure why I am thus possest With such a bold unwelcome guest Unto my shame be it consest It is because his Nest With my consent before was builded there Who now lies lurking like a Bear Watching my sinful Soul to tear When once got in his snare Lord be my Surgeon heal my wounded heart And give me grace that by that Art I may devise a Bolt or Dart To cause such thoughts depart For with repentant tears it is con'est Thou art a help to men opprest When we are most of all distrest Thou art our chiesest rest With fervent Zeal unto thy aid we flee Thou art our Rest Truly our hope 's in thee ¶ On Repentance REpentance is a gift which comes from high We are not with it born None of themselves repentantly can cry Or make the World his scorn They 're carnal Christians think it is enough To mingle Lord have mercy with their stuff We Jewels buy and they prove counterfeit So man himself undoes Thus in Repentance Souls themselves do cheat And their rich Jewel loose Which made one say Repentance would not lin Until it damned many more than sin If we repent for sin 't is nothing worth Unless we do refrain From it as well for if we from our birth Delighted to be vain Yet sometimes weep but still our hearts do harden God will us with a Contradiction pardon The sorrow of this World it worketh Death But godly sorrow that Repentance works and that eternal breath The Lord himself doth hate Man for his sins that numberless do flush And for those sins doth love as much the blush Repentance strips us of those Garments black That the first Adam's was It kills our sins and keep us from the wrack Though now we are but Grass It doth revive Our Tears do water so That we like Plants of Paradise do grow All above all thou art O God most just Repentance grant to me That I may cleanse my Carnal house of Dust And make it fit for thee Teach me that Lesson which doth still remain With dayly Tears to wash my dayly stain Repentance should appear before I die Nor can I know the when My dying-day shall come or when I flie From hence to thee agen Therefore gâ—…ve me Repentance ev'ry day So shall my flight be clear and thou my way No better showers extinguish can the flames Of Hell than sinners Tears Begin â—…etimes trust not to after-games Forthey bring after-fears Have little cause to say Wo's me that I Who liv'd a sinner must a sinner die We all are apt to think it is too soon Repentance to begin We put it off from morning until noon From thence do farther spin Whenas we hourly should prepare a room To entertain our God when he shall come Beda makes mention of a certain man Who lying very sick Was counsell'd by his Friends his life to scan And to repent while quick Who said His sins he would not yet shake off Lest if he should recover then a scoff To his Companions he himself should make But still he waxed worse His Friends then counsell'd him again to take Repentance not his Curse He answered them That then it was too late For he was plung'd in a condemn'd estate Better it is by far from sin to flie Than lack Repentant cure For he that hath no wounds fears not to die But liveth safe and sure 'T is good for any man more for his ease Neither to know the Cure nor the Disease ¶ On the Day of Judgment AH come it will that dreadful day Which shall the World in Ashes lay As David and the Sibyl both could say How men will tremble and grow pale When Justice comes with Sword and Scale To weigh the faults and sort the fates of all A Trumpet first shall rend the Skies And all whereever laid must rise And come unto the Bar in Pris'ners guise Nature and Death amaz'd will stand To see each one rebodied and Brought to reply himself to each demand A written Book lie open shall Containing each ones Charge and all By those grand Evidences stand or fall Then sits the Judge himself and tries No shifting from All-seeing eyes Nor scaping seen whoe're deserves it dies Oh then poor I what shall I do Which Friend or Patron take me to When Saints themselves are scarce secure from wo Dread Lord to thee thy self run I Who sav'st the sav'd without a why And so mayst me thou source of Clemencie Think who did once thy pity move And drew thee from thy Throne above Cast me not off at last thy former Love Thou tir'dst thy self in seeking me And for my sake di'dst on a Tree Let not in vain such pangs and labour be True thou hast dealt thy mercies home Yet acts of grace mayst deign to some At least before that day of Reckoning come I guilty am e're thou me try My looks and blushes me descry But Mercy Lord O Lord do not deny Thou who didst once a Magd'len spare And of a Thief condemn'd took'st care B'dst me by these examples not despair Not that my Prayers ought can claim But thou art good be still the same That wretched I burn not in endless flame When from the Goats thou shalt divide Thy Sheep let me with thee abide Plac'd in Eternal Bliss on thy right side And then those great 〈◊〉 ssizes done The Curs'd to flames tormenting thrown Say Come ye blessed meaning me for one Lord this I beg on bended knee With heart contrite as ashes be That thou take care both of my end and me ¶ On Sighs and Groans SIgh on sad Heart as hard as Diamond-stone At ev'ry breathing usher forth a groan For such although thou dost not speak Sufficient are thy minde to break Or if thy groans are smothered with grief And steal out softly as a cunning thief God hears and understands the cry Better than he that lets them fly For many sighs and groans are poured out Loaded with thoughts so that this heavy scout Hath such an Errand then to tell Where to begin he knows not well God hath a Bottle for the sinners Tear And ready is as we to speak to hear Heav'n is attentive to a sinners sute And sighs are vocal though the tongue be mute ¶ Knots WHo reads a Chapter when to bed Shall not have Aches in his head Who opes his Purse unto the Poor Shall finde it filling more and more Whose heart and tongue obey God's Word Both beats the bush and gets the bird Who keeps his thoughts from things amiss Is thinking on his way to Bliss Who keeps his Conscience pure and clear Is always feasting year by year Whose stomach doth for Dainties crave With
it was and sweetly grew ¶ Prayer for Peace BLessed Saviour God of Peace When storms arise or shall increase Say thou the word and they shall cease Allay their fury quench their rage Whose factions would disturb the Age Their fiery zeal do thou asswage Be thou a Comforter to those That never do the Truth oppose Them strengthen and convert their 〈◊〉 ¶ On Mercy MErcy is comfort to the Poor 'T is that the Rich desire Lord we thy Mercies do implore 'T is that the Saints require Mercy it was that gave us life To move to think or say Mercy is Physick for our grief And teacheth us to pray O how can we for mercy call That have so wicked been Our Parents gave us such a fall 'T is hard to rise agen Yet 't is for Mercy still we crave 'T is that which must us raise Mercy first made and now will save And teach us how to praise Our sins increase more than our days Yet Mercy lets us live 'T is God that we for all must praise That doth these mercies give And shall we still run on the score Not paying any part Of what we ought to him before He asketh but a heart My Soul pay what thou canst of all thy store He that pays nothing ever owes the more ¶ The Swine LOrd I am thine Although possest O be thou mine And give some rest To me a beast O Christ be good To sinful man And with thy blood Lord wash me clean Be thou my food My staff my stay My King my God And thee alway I will obey Command my sins into the Sea That I may praise and honour thee ¶ The Penitent LOrd I 'm a sinner and my sins increase To such an unknown sum That should my rockie heart and eyes Nay my whole Microcosm a flood become And drown it self in Tears 't would not suffice To name my score Not then to pay But Lord thy blood is my rich store Thou art the Patron of the Poor But all the Balsam of thy blood Alas I know will do no good Unless I wash my griefs with Tears before O thou whose sweet and pensive face To laughter never gave a place Instruct mine eyes Without delay To melt away And then the less of Balsam will suffice ¶ The Soul awaked LOrd we again lift up our eyes And leave our sluggish beds But why we wake or why we rise Comes seldom in our heads Is it to sweat and toyl for wealth Or sport our time away That thou preserv'st us still in health And giv'st us this new day No no unskilful Soul not so Be not deceiv'd with toys Thy Lord's Commands more wisely go And aim at higher joys They bid us wake to seek new Grace And some fresh vertue gain They call us up to mend our pace Till we the prize attain That glorious Prize for which all run Who wisely spend their breath Who when this weary life is done Are sure of Rest in Death Not such a rest as here we prove Disturb'd with Cares and Fears But endless Joy and Peace and Love The Pleasures of the Spheres Glory to thee O bounteous Lord Who giv'st to all things breath Glory to thee Eternal Word Who sav'st us by thy death Glory O blessed Spirit to thee Who fill'st our Souls with Love Glory to all the mystick Three Who reign one God above ¶ St. Paul's Petition FRom Enemies where're they be My God do thou deliver me From them that do against me rise From private Foes inventing lyes From bloody men who loving strife Endeavour to ensnare my life The Mighty are against me bent Because I sinn'd and do repent Arise and visit with thy Rod Those Enemies of thine O God Their follies shew that they may be At last true followers of thee ¶ On the Conscience COrruption now adays doth spring so fast So regarded And rewarded That if my tender Conscience would be sold Or if for it a Dispensation Could be but got I doubt it not I 'd store up wealth in this our Nation One spark of Flattery would so increase My evil goods So that my woods Would make a lasting fire when I decease The World 's fond love might easily be bought If I could tell The way to sell The little honesty that I have got Were but this World my home perhaps I might Be apt to trade But here things fade Give me the Riches wherein Saints delight Though now I live in a corrupted Cell Which doth annoy I would enjoy The peace of Conscience there where Angels dwell Love upon Earth is good 〈◊〉 that doth last But the choice love Of God above Is everlasting and doth never wast Tush wicked World Heav'n is my Merchandize If in my way My sight should stray My home shall be the curtains of mine eyes A desp'rate fate it is the Worldlings run A Pearl to sell To purchase Hell They must be great or to be just undone ¶ St. Austin's Prayer Recommended to the devout Christian by P. Vrban the 8th BEfore thy holy eyes O Lord We sinners heartily accord Humbly to own our griefs of heart Are nothing to our just desert The evils we have done exceed What we can write or may be read Our Consciences our Souls affright And say Thy Chastisements are light We feel the punishments of sin And yet we do persist therein Weak Nature faints at ev'ry scourge Yet perverse wills do dayly urge Our restless minds do still provoke Thy Justice and despise thy Yoke We sigh away our days in grief Yet sorrow gives us small relief For when our sighs do once expire We wallow in our former mire If we repent 't is at a rate That we had need repent for that If thou revenge our stubbornness Thy Justice doth our hearts depress Thy anger fills our Souls with fears We weep but soon forget our Tears If thou stretch out thy hand we then Promise to turn to Saints from men But if thy Sword suspension shows We then forget to pay our Vows If thou dost strike we pardon crave And when thou pardon letst us have We sin again and ne're give o're With provocations more and more Thus we our guilty selves accuse Thus we thy mercies do abuse Yet Mercy Mercy still we cry Or we are drench'd in misery Then Lord O let thy goodness give Those streams by which the Angels live Our Souls inspire amend our days Touch thou our tongues and we shall praise All glory be to God on high The Father of Eternity To Three in One and One in Three ¶ The Believer HAppy is he that doth The truth Believe for he it is Shall kiss The Son of Righteousness shall surely come By his believing to believers home Let thy belief be true But few There are that do make that Their State Abraham left a Pattern good behinde him But few there are that seek him less that finde him I do believe a Tree Will be Pleasantly green when I With eye
In Winter judge how leaveless then it stood But I confirm it when I see the Bud. In Thomas 't was a fault To hault In waving Faith until His will Was satisfied but 't would a madness been So to continue having felt and seen Belief it may indeed Exceed The strength of Reason yet Doth let No opposition in Faith likewise will suspence 'T will get above but not against the Sense Whilst Faith assures I eat My sweet Redeemer with direct Effect Sense cannot so in ignorance allure me As that I cat not bread but will assure me Although I see not all that I believe Yet those things that I see I must believe Christians must guard their mouths and watch their actions Be pure in heart and keep their faiths from factions ¶ On Christ's Nativity expected WHen blessed Lord shall we Our safe Salvation see Dear Lord arise For our saint eyes Have long'd all night and 't was a long night too Poor man could never say He saw more than a day One day of Edeu's seven The guilty hours were blasted with the breath Of sin and death And have e're since worn a Nocturnal hue But in thy birth is hopes that we At length a splendid day shall see Wherein each poor neglected place Grac'd with the Aspect of thy face Shall glister like the porch and gate of Heav'n How long bless'd Lord how long The Nations thirst and throng All humane kinde Are now combinde Into one body wanting thee their Head Large is our multitude And almost vile and rude Headless Great God for lack of thee Unhappy for the want of thy bless'd face Then come apace And thy bright self to our dull body wed That thorough thy Almighty power Each part that hath confusion wore May order take so to appear Fresh as the dawning of the year When thou dear Lord shalt so united be ¶ The Call COme away my Lord my Life Thy presence doth preserve from strife Come away my Lord my Way Thy presence 〈◊〉 to obey Come away my Lord my Truth Thy presence turneth Age to Youth Come away my Lord my Light Thou dost both Sin and Satan fright Come away my Lord my Feast That my poor Soul may be thy Guest Come away my Lord my Strength By thee my days have health and length Come away my holy Joy Guard my Rejoycings from annoy Come away my dearest Love Lord let my Call thy presence move Come away Divinest Lamb My sins deface that seek to damn Come my Shepherd come away Thy Flock in danger are to stray Come my Safeguard and my Shield In Fights assist me lest I yield Come away Lord hear my Call Make no stay Thou All in All. ¶ The Extasie SUch a Lord and such a Life Whose presence bringe h Pleasures rise Such a way as leads to Bliss Who walks therein can't walk amiss Such a Truth whose Ray defies The Father and the Prince of Lyes Such a Light as leads us to Eternal Comforts not a few Such a Feast as doth rejoyce Compounded of the best and choice Such a Strength as doth desend Not for a day but to the end Such a Joy that giveth store Of Pleasures lasting evermore Such a Love as heard my cry Though sin made me his enemy Such a Lamb whose sweet abode Makes ev'ry Saint a Lamb of God Such a Shepherd of his Sheep There 's none can stray whom he doth keep Shuch a 〈◊〉 and such a Sun Desends 〈◊〉 shines till all is won Open my heart and such a God receive He 's All in All to them that do believe Delights of the Minde JEsus the only thought of thee Fills with delight my memorie But when thou dost thy presence show Heav'n seems into my breast to flow No Theam so sweet for voice can be Nor to the ear such harmonie No heart can thoughts for charming frame As Jesus his most pretious Name Jesus when for our sins we grieve Thy mercies all our wants relieve If good to those that seek thy Grace What art thou when they see thy face Jesus in whom we comsort finde Fountain of Life Light of the Minde Thou dost our hearts with comforts feed Our utmost wish thy gifts exceed No Eloquence of Tongue can teach Nor art of Pen this secret reach Only th'experienc'd Soul does prove What sweets they taste who Jesus love Him then I 'll seek retir'd apart Shutting the world out of my heart And midst my business him I 'll strive With fresh pursuit still to retrive Early with Magdalen I 'll come A Pilgrim to my Saviour's Tomb Weeping my sins in mournful cries I 'll seek him with my minde not eyes My Tears shall on his Grave distill And faithful Sighs the Garden fill Prostrate before him on my face His sacred feet I 'll fast embrace Jesus in thy bless'd steps I 'll tread Striving to follow where they lead Nor shall my Soul give o're to mourn Till to thy favour I return O Jesus most admired King Who didst triumph o'r deaths sharp sting Thy mystick sweetness first excites Then satisfies all appetites Thy quickning visits Life bestow Thy lights true good so cleerly show That they who once have relish'd thee Know all the World 's meer Vanitie Come then dear Lord possess our hearts Enflame our loves with thy chast darts All Clouds of errour drive away And change our N ght to thy bright day To thee our hearts and voices sing To thee our vows and pray'rs we bring That when we end this life 's short racc In Heav'n with thee we may have place ¶ On Death O Death the Serpents Son Where is thy sting once like thy Sire With Hellish torments ever burning fire But those dark days are gone Thy peevish spite buri'd thy sting In the sacred and wide Wound of a Saviour's side Now thou' rt become a tame and harmless thing A toy we scorn to fear For we hear That our triumphant God to conquer thee For the assault thou gav'st him on the Tree Hath took the keys of Hell out of thy hand And forc'd thee stand As Porter to that gate of Life O thou who art the gate be pleas'd that he When we shall die And that way flie May ope the Courts of Heav'n to us through thee ¶ On Judgment JUdge of the World we wretched sinners quake Our Consciences do ake And well they may whenas we think Of the fierce dreadful fire Of thine Ire And Phials thou fhalt make Us sinners drink For thou the Wine-press of thy wrath wilt tread With feet of lead Wretched notorious duft what uncouth place Can shelter from thy face The Earth will shrink out of thy sight The Heavens too that cannot erre Then shall fear Thee and thy Laws and from thee take their flight So burnt with glory their bright eyes shall dead Burst from their head Great God can we Thy Enemies abide to see Such a glorious Majesty We beg thy mercy Lord Thy Judgment-seat We dare not to
wretch of little worth In sin my Mothers womb alas Conceiv'd and brought me forth Lord with thy grace enrich my heart Take out the filth therein Let fools pursue their idle Art To make a mock at sin Wo unto them their sins do draw With ropes them fast to tie That bind Iniquity their Law With cords of Vanitie If sinners could but count their score They'd fear a future doom Let him that sinneth sin no more Lest worser things shall come Whoso doth his transgression love Careless or lose or win He strangely doth himself approve To be a slave to sin Lord fix my heart still towards thee Especially at Pray'r Lest my Petition on my knee Become to me a snare Surely the quintessence of sin Satan that Judas is He turns a murtherer when in Leads the poor Soul amiss And kills it with a kiss ¶ The Check PEace rebel Sin and dare not to rebel For thou art dead Without the Law and thou that cam'st from Hell Art Captive led How durst thou say to him that dwells on high The Holy One Look on the World where all my wealth doth lie 'T is all as none Or yet how durst thou say unto the Christ If there be none Like thee or if by thee men do subsist Make bread of stone I read the sting of Death is sin but yet Sin that came first Poor Infant-man no sooner on his feet But fell and burst 'T is said that sin the Child is of the Devil But sin thou art His elder and the very self-same evil Caus'd him to start Then prithee say What is thy name for Death and Devil they Right understood Are both too good ¶ To the God of Heaven BRight builder of the heav'nly Poles Eternal light of faithful Souls Jesus Redeemer of Mankinde Our humble Pray'rs vouchsafe to minde Who lest the fraud of Hell's black King Should all men to destruction bring Didst by a strong impulse of Love The fainting World's Physician prove Who from a sacred Virgins womb Didst an unspotted Victim come Unto the Cross to cleanse the sin The wretched World was plunged in The sound of whose high Pow'r and Name No sooner any voice can frame But all in Heav'n and those that be In Hell how down their trembling knee Thee Christ who at the later day Shalt be our Judge we humbly pray Such Arms of heav'nly Grace to send As from our foes may us defend Be glory giv'n and honour done To God the Father and the Son And to the Holy Ghost on high From Age to Age eternally ¶ The Flower O That I were a lovely Flower In Christ his Bower Or that I were a Weed to fade Under his shade But how can I a Weed become If I am shadow'd with the Son ¶ On Darkness HOw Sinner Darkness better far than Light To be preferr'd It is because the Night Draws a thick Curtain over your black deeds But God's All seeing eye no Curtain heeds If he should shew severity to men And you in Hell you 'd hate your Darkness then ¶ On Love and Hatred I Love too much to hate what I should love I love too much to love what I should hate My Love and Hatred in wrong Centres move Such hateful love God doth abominate I love not Goodness neither hate I Evil My Hate to Vertue 's hot to Vice is cold I love too little God too much the Devil My Love and Hate wrong Objects do behold Lord change my Love to Hate my Hate to Love That so thy Just ce may of both approve ¶ On Justice and Mercy JUstice doth call for Vengeance on my sins And threatens Death as guerdon for the same Mercy to plead for pardon then begins With saying Christ hath undergone the shame Justice shews me an angry God offended And Mercy shews a Saviour crucifi'd Justice says I that sinn'd must be condemned Mercy replies Christ for my sins hath di'd Grim Justice threats with a revengeful Rod Meek Mercy shews me an appeased God Lord though my sins make me for Justice fit Through Christ let mercy triumph over it ¶ On Food A Man with all things needful may be sed God for both Soul and Body Food hath sent That for the Body is material bread And for the Soul his Word 's the nutriment If Bread I want my Body then must perish Without the Word my Soul will fail to thrive He that sends both sends both of them to cherish To keep both Body and the Soul alive Famine of Bread is a destructive Curse But Famine of the Word is much more worse Lord to my Soul thy Heav'nly Food apply Give that a life although my body die ¶ Christ All in All. CHrist is the Rock on which my Faith must build Christ is the Staff on which I safe may lean Christ is for my defence the safest Shield Christ is the Fountain that must wash me clean Who builds not on that Rock doth build on Sand Who leans from him trusts to a broken Reed He falls that fights not under his Command His Blood alone doth make me clean indeed Christ cleanses saves supports my feet from fall He is my only Rock my All in All. Lord to my Soul such Heav'nly Grace impart Thou may'st be Lord and Tenant of my heart ¶ I would but cannot I Would be rich but Riches fly away I would be great but 't is with Envy blended I would be fair but Beauty doth decay I would be brave but 't is with Pride attended I would be worldly-wise but that is Folly I would be strong but 't is a Beast-like guise I would be thought religious that 's unholy I would be learned but it makes not wise These vain Endowments soon draw to an end To each there is a But that doth attend Thus Fate who stops the race of worldly glory Shews such Endowments are but transitory ¶ The Voyage THe World 's a spacious Sea that 's large and wide And man a little Barque that sails therein His thoughts do drive him like the Wind and Tide The shelf that threatens shipwrack is his Sin His Heart 's the Pylot that this Ship doth guide Faith is the Freight with which he freely trades His Anchor Hope Thus doth he safely ride Heav'n is the Haven where the Barque unlades Needs must the Merchant in his Voyage thrive That safely doth at such a Port arrive Lord be thou Pylot to this Ship of mine That both the Ship and Lading may be thine ¶ The Careless Christian. I Do desire my Prayers may be heard Yet I my self regard not how I pray I fear God's wrath yet have I no regard To what I do or what I think or say I know his Promises are just and true Yet do I live as I believ'd them not I hear he Judgements hath for each ones due Yet careless I not terrifi'd a jot Searching my heart to finde the cause of this I find that in my heart no grace there is Lord since thy Grace
upright heart Curses shall him oppress Cursed thrice cursed shall he be Covers his Father's breast And that man curst shall be as he That lieth with a beast Curs'd let him be with Sister lies Oâ—… Mother though in Law Such fins do make those horrid cries That dreadful curses draw Cursed be he that secretly His silent Neighbour smites Murtherers too that cause to die When a reward invites The wicked shall be curs'd at home And likewise in the field His basket and his store at last Shall Blessings cease to yield Cursed be all his sinful fruit Of body and of land His Kine and Flock though they are mute And all he takes in hand Cursed be he when going out And when returning in That happy 't were for him no doubt If he had never been ¶ Praises to God Psal. 65. 1. Praise waiteth for thee O God in Zion PRaise the most high Oh clap your hands Praise him for he the world commands Praise him Mount Zion Praises sing Praise him that is your Cities King Praise him with loud and silent Air Praise ye the Lord that heareth Pray'r Praise him makes Morning hear his voice Praise him makes Evening to rejoyce Praise him that doth prepare our Corn Praise him all ye that are forlorn Praise him that duly sends us Rain Praise him for Fruits Herbs Flow'rs and Grain Praise him for his refreshing showers Praise him for recreating Bowers Praise him that doth our Pastures fill Praise and rejoyce each little Hill Praise him ye Birds and ev'ry Tree Praise him that did divide the Sea Praise him for Waters from the Fount Praise him for Grass grows on the Mount Praise him that gives and nothing ows Praise him with Sacrifice and Vows Praise him that form'd us in the Womb Praise him that guides us to our Tomb. Praise him that makes us blest in Heaven Praise him from whom all Food is given Praise him his holy Name adore Praise him O praise him more and more Praise God the Father of the just Praise him doth raise the Poor from dust Praise him that makes the barren bear Praise him with duty love and fear Praise ye the Lord for dayly Food Praise ye his Name for it is good Praise him who gives success in Wars Praise him who numbereth the Stars Praise him that builds Jerusalem Praise him whose Word is more than Jem Praise him that lifteth up the meek Praise him that doth support the Weak Praise him who doth the Ravens feed Praise him our meetly help at need Praise him doth cause his Winds to blow Praise him that makes the Waters flow Praise him in his Angelick Coasts Praise him all ye his mighty Hosts Praise ye his Name both Sun and Moon Praise him ye Lights that shine at noon Praise him ye Heavens never fade Praise him for ye by him were made Praise ye the Lord ye Dragons fell Praise him ye Deeps his wonders tell Praise him Fire Hail Vapour and Snow Praise him ye stormy Winds that blow Praise him ye Cedars Beasts o' th' field Praise him all things can Praises yield Praise him ye Kings of highest birth Praise him ye Judges of the Earth Praise him ye Rulers whom he rais'd Praise for he 's greatly to be prais'd Praise ye the Lord both great and small Praise him that did create us all Praise him within his holy Tower Praise him for his Almighty Power Praise him for what he to us gave Praise Jesus Christ that did us save Praise ye the Holy Spirit too Praise each with all Devotions due Praise all strive who shall praise the most Praise Father Son and Holy Ghost Praise each with pious Harmony Praise ye the blessed Trinity Praise ye the Lord with Trumpets sound Praise him that heal'd us with his wound Praise him with Harps loud Melody Praise him with Song and Psaltery Praise him with Timbrel let the Flute Praise him with Organ Pipe and Lute Praise him with instrumental String Praise him with Cymbals loudly sing Praise him with joy and skilful voice Praise with new Songs the chief and choice Praise him that is our Guide our Light Praise him because his Word is right Praise him whose works are done in truth Praise him that no injustice doth Praise him all people great and less Praise him that loveth Righteousness Praise him whose Goodness fills the Earth Praise him with Zeal and pious Mirth Praise him the Author is of days Praise him that gives us power to praise Praise him whose Word the Heavens made Praise him whose breath requir'd no aid Praise him that doth the Wind command Praise him that makes the Waters stand Praise him whom Sun and Moon obey Praise him doth Heaven's Scepter sway Praise him that doth the Heathen awe Praise him whose ev'ry Word 's a Law Praise him who doth from Heav'n behold Praise him ye Rich Poor Young and Old Praise him that fashions all our hearts Praise him alone doth heal our smarts Praise him that is the King of kings Praise him in grief that comfort brings Praise him that governs Sea and Coasts Praise him that is the Lord of Hosts Praise him who can the Lion tame Praise him that Mighty is by Name Praise him that guards us day and night Praise him the God of Peace and Fight Praise him that makes the stoutest yield Praise him that is our Help and Shield Praise him with both thy heart and mouth Praise him in Age in Strength and Youth Praise him who are with sorrows sad Praise that the humble may be glad Oh let the Nations all accord To praise and magnifie the Lord. Amen Amen ¶ Gloria in Altissimis Or the Angelical Anthem ANgels Saints and all men cry Glory be to God on high And that glory ne'er may cease Grant us Lord on earth thy peace When there 's good will towards men We shall praise and praise agen ¶ On Fatherly Affection AS in the street I walking cast my eye It was my chance two Children to espie Fighting together by aâ—…d by in hast The Father of the one who saw what past Stept in and suddenly without delay He parted both and took his Son away And lâ—…ke a Father careful of his Son Gave him correction for the sauâ—…t he 'd done The other Lad was left without a check Which made him strut and boast and stretch his neck Believing he had surely won the day Though both alike were equal in the fray I thought it hard that one should punish'd be And not the other he escaping free At last I guess'd 't was a Paternal care One to correct to teach him to beware For over him he a dominion had But was a stranger to the other Lad. So when the wicked sin the godly smart God in chasâ—…sing shews Paternal art He chastens whom he loves whilst wicked men Pursue their sins and act them o're agen The reason common sense cannot avo d Sinners are spar'd only to be destroy'd What need a whip for stubborn
intreat For we are all condemned there Lord then O cast a look On thy Book Of Life behold we read A Saving Jesus here And in that Name our sure Salvation see Lord make us free And cross within Our scores of sin That cancel'd all our debts are paid by thee ¶ On Heaven BRight glorious Lord uncircumscribed Treasure Of everlasting Pleasure Thy Throne is placed far Above the richest Star Where thou prepar'st a splendid place Within the glory of thy face That each Spirit May inherit Who builds his hopes 〈◊〉 thy merit And thee adores with holy charity No ravish'd heart seraphick tongue or eyes Inspir'd can once surmise Or speak or think or see So bright Eternity The glorious King 's transparent Throne Is of pretious Jasper-stone Where the eye O' th' Chrysolite With a Skie Of Di'monds Rubies Chrysoprase But above all thy brighter face Speaks an eternal Charity When thou thy Jewels bindest up that day Forget not us we pray But there where the Beryl lies Christal too above the Skies That there thou mayst afford us place Within the glories of thy face And enroul Each ones Soul In the Scroul Of Life and Blessedness that we May praise thy Name unto Eternitie ¶ On Hell DIsmal darkness sad and sore An everlasting Night Groans and Shricks when sinners roar In their abyssful plight No corner there but hath a Snake Breeding in the infernal Lake Heaps of Fire and Beds of Snow Are the chief delights below A Viper springing from the fire Is his hire That prizeth moments to Eternity O thou God of Day and Night Fountain of eternal light Allelujahs Hymns and Psalms Holy Coronets of Palms Adorn the Temple evermore Almighty God Let not thy Iron Rod Bruise our bones with an eternal pressure Let thy mercy be the only measure If thou shouldst hoard up wrath in store We shall all die Not one be left to glorifie The Lord and tell How thou preserved hast our Souls from Hell ¶ The Salutation of Saints JEsus who man's Redeemer art The solace of each godly heart The ransom'd World's great Architect Chast light of Souls which thee affect What mercy conquer'd thee my God That thou wouldst bear our sinful load And innocent wouldst death endure That us from death thou mightst secure Still let commiseration press To give our damages redress And by fruition of thy sight Inrich us with a blessed light Thou guide to Heav'n and path to Rest Be thou the scope of ev'ry brest Be thou the comfort of our tears Our sweet reward above the Spheres ¶ On Pride THe proud man looks that ev'ry one should shew A Reverence to him though none they owe. I 'll value such as we do coyn set forth Just what they go for rather than their worth Pride unto Reason seemeth ever strange Is Reason absent there 't is Pride doth range And then for Reason there is none beside That is so highly opposite to Pride For Reason maketh Art Dame Nature's ape And Pride turns Nature out of Nature's shape ¶ Jeremiah's Lamentation For Jerusalem's Desolation COnsider Lord the wretched poor and vile A glorious City no sh 'as lost that stile She and her joys are under an Exile Behold and see Thou Lord as in a Wine-press hast her trod And crush'd her Virgins with an Iron Rod Sin was the cause but Lord thou art her God May it please thee To wipe away her Tears that do pour down Cause thou that art the Comforter dost frown O let repentant Tears offences drown And send relief O all ye passing by behold her sorrow Jerusalem Jerusalem would borrow Tears of ye all but none will say Good morrow The more 's her grief Her Sucklings sigh and cry for Corn and Wine Whilst she her self for want thereof doth pine Jerusalem was ever grief like thine Behold and weep She that was call'd the Joy of all the Earth Is Desolation now and nothing worth Her sorrows to her Enemies are mirth Her Lovers sleep The apples of her eyes do finde no rest Their streams o'reflow the flood-gates she 's distrest And sorrow doth become a constant guest Doth never fail Her old and young ones both lie on the ground Her Priests and Prophets thou dost deeply wound Terrours on ev'ry side beset her round On hill and dale Wormwood besots she seems as she were drunk This angry tempest hath her treasure shrunk She that was full of people now is sunk And desolate Her Soul 's remov'd from any glimpse of Peace Prosperity is fled there doth increase But sad effects of groans which never cease Such is her fate They that on Delicates were wont to feed In Dust and Ashes now lament their need Jerusalem is bow'd and broke indeed But God is just The Enemies they did her Maidens finde And ravished her Young men forc'd to grinde Confider Lord how she with grief hath pinde Upon the dust Remember Lord her Wormwood and her Gall Oh hear her sad complaints and ease her thrall Lord hear my Pray'rs and Tears for her I call In mercy see Oh lay that darksome Cloud from off thy face One smile will say thou think'st upon her case Oh hear and help her Lord of thy good grace Thou glorious Three Judge and revenge her cause O Lord my God Behold her scorners how they mock and nod In mercy towards her withdraw thy Rod. Lord let her cry Unto thee fly And let her not Be quite forgot As if O Lord she never were That she may sing Of thee her King That unto thee none may compare ¶ On Sin SIn is such an uncouth thing I cannot well define it Death doth own it is his sting God bids me undermine it But it so cunning is that when I think to win the day It now comes over under then And blows my baits away It seiz'd my Parents and beguil'd More learned men than I And when I think it is most milde I have most cause to fly At Church when I Devotion have It hovers o're my book And bids me think upon my Grave And off the other look Invisible it is no doubt And felt before 't is seen It subtilly can wheel about And like an Angel seem Good deeds I know accepted are And will be evermore But if I do not well I sear Sin lieth at the door Sin as a Serpent cunningly Doth lurk upon the scout That if my foot but tread awry My sins they finde me out If I with Brother break my word The fact may not be great But if I sin against the Lord Who shall for me intreat Many the faults are of my Youth I have been oft misled But they are blessed faith the truth Whose sin is covered Wherefore O Lord I will confess What in those days I did O grant thy merciful redress And let my sins be hid But I with heart and knee will bow In duty to adore thee Then recollect and study how To set my sins before me Shap'd in Iniquity I was A