of his love In sending us his Son which from above Hast left a holy Ministry to be our guide Oh keep us safe that we may never slide Into such pathes that may lead us astray But follow our shepherds in a holy way And from a peevish zeal good Lord restore us And grant us shepherds that may go before us Matthew 5.8 Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God c. GOd of his abundant love did send his Son Into the world to preach salvation Upon the mount whereon he freely taught His blessed precepts unto all that sought To him in faith and obedience to his will Minding his holy precepts to fulfil He pronounced nine blessings with their recompence If we observe them with true reverence And keep his holy Lawes not from it start Surely blessed are they are pure in heart Who would not then strive earnest to be pure See David's fervent zeal for to assure His panting soul which long'd full sore to find A place of rest for his so grieved mind To attain the which he passionately cri'd Lord from thy precepts let me never slide That he would cleanse his heart he might inherit The gifts and graces of his holy spirit Hath piety such a reward no disgrace Shall the pure in heart behold him face to face And with blest spirits ever happy raign In endless glory and true peace obtain Who will not labor to imitate the just VVho have such heavenly visions in their dust Shall the treacherous vanities we enjoy Steal off our hearts and rob us of true joy And bereave us of the glory of that light VVhich is of endless splendor power and might So strengthen me That I may rather choose The divine light and all false lights refuse A sight the which in glory doth surpass All triumphs in the world that ever was VVhat splenders are there compared to this It is an empty air Nothing less A sight which no eye ever saw but may If the worlds objects lead them not astray After the harmony of deluding Charms VVhich lulls frail flesh a sleep in natures arms The Idea of this sight cannot be drawn In lively colors least we do prophane The speculations of the brain can never Portract him truly that doth live for ever Then cease thy fancie and forbear thy art His liveless Character is in thy heart The divine Traveller though but newly there Could give no full description of that sphear Scripture Characters doth but even allude And set it forth but in similitude And shew how infinitely transcendent Is that glory which is omnipotent VVere diamonds all join'd to make one splendor They were but Attoms to the Sun not render The smallest glimps to that luminary Of life and heat the which by motions vary And feed a throng of sparkling stars that are Inlivened with his light which from a far VVe do behold each one in 's proper place How dim's it to the glory of thy face VVho then would thus so vainly sacrifies Himself to sin and so bewreave his eyes Of that blest vision and the chiefest good To gratifie his wild extravagant blood And revel in delights of sin and shame And stiffle his nobler passions and that flame Of holy zeal that should chiefly delight us To the triumphs of thy bliss Good Lord unite us He that would dwell amongst those sacred fires And holy spirits by whose true light inspires The mind with holy motions he must turn His heart unto an altar and their burn The holy sacrifice of penitence And lively faith with all due reverence And humbleness of heart which will do well For the graces of Gods spirit there do dwell The heart that mourns within us there must be The only seat of life and love to thee The graces of the spirit there must rest And be so firmly fixed in the brest Naturalists do well observe that to the heart Is first giv'n life then death it doth them part Oh Lord our hearts are frail there cannot be Strength to support unless it come from thee Give thy supporting graces we are weak Touch thou our hearts and tongues that we may speak To the glory of thy name and so dispise The vanities of the world with its disguise O raise our contemplations to thy glory Cast down our vain affections transitory That proudly do oppose it self in error Correct our thoughts oh let it be a terror Unto our hearts and make us plainly see The horror of our crimes Lord against thee Sanctifie to thy self our whole devotion That we live holy lives in godly motion Oh let our chiefest contemplations raise A holy zeal in us to give thee praise Let it be our delight to do thy will And all thy holy precepts to fulfill That when we shall lay down our lives in dust VVe may be glorified with the Just And sweetly seated in that blessed place VVhere we may all behold thee face to face Daniel 12.3 And they that be wise shall shine as the Brightness of the firmament and they that turn many to Righteousness as the Stars for ever and ever DId Michael th'archangel not stir thence But stood most valiant like a mighty prince To assist Gods people in their times of trouble And said their sufferings would be requited double If that their hearts would be to wisdom bent Should shine for ever in the firmament And such as by their pious pains do turn Others from sin so that they sigh and mourn Shall shine as starrs and be for ever blest VVith glory in everlasting rest Who then would not be studious for to gain True knowledge that he might thereby attain Such promised glory and become most pure Holy Celestial to be ever sure To shine forth as the Sun oh blessed sight In whose most glorious raies is the chief light Where man 's diviner part not only lives As living splendor it for ever gives Transcending beams of lustre which shall shine In the imperial heavens most divine And there be ever fixt and never sever But shine as stars for ever and for ever Look here ye blind admirers of Earths bubble A robe of purple or some glorious trouble A diadem of honor in this Earth Which brings forth care small comfort after death So vain is Man that fondly doth desire Such trifling honors that do soon expire Which carrieth not that light will give access And by its virtue turn to righteousness Which would make them Stars but some desire t' enjoy Their fading pleasures such a splendid toy Hear this all ye that can on shadows dote And you that can to Transitory pomp devote Your souls and care not for immortal bliss And think there is no other Heaven but this Sublunary pleasures couldst thou call down A robe of morning Stars to deck thee round Such Royal luminaries it would be But gloomy splendor a bright obscurity Compared to that lustre 'T will shine but faint Not like that glory that enwraps a Saint That
length Could we unwind time and reverse its wheel Stop the celestial posts and make them reel And set the worlds great clock far back again What shall we get by it but trouble and pain Imaginary selicities here Sliding contentments purchas'd very dear And when we 're listed in the dismal book That accursed catalogue of the damned look And ask Dives without any controul What did it profit him to lose his soul Oh Lord what is there in this world to prize And weary our selves with vain desires to raise A temporary felicity and name Which quickly vanisheth as a blast or flame 'T is hard to him that 's to thy law a stranger To apprehend the misery and danger Of covetous desires the length of time Hath made that vice a habit and incline Our natures to the breaches of thy law Oh Lord teach me with care to stand in aw Of losing thee my God my only pleasure Whom to enjoy is the divinest treasure O let the blessings thou hast freely given Quicken our duller souls with thanks to Heav'n From whom we have receiv'd the chief promotion Let it not flack but quicken our devotion And raise contemplations not vainly rude But with obedience and humble gratitude That so the vanities that are here below May be our scorn but the graces with do flow From thy abundant mercy may delight'us To the bosom of thy Church good Lord unite us And raise our spirits our vices to controul And think no profit for to lose our soul Canticles 2.1 I am the Rose of Sharon and the Lilly of the valleys 'T is Solomons song his most Seraphick strein That in high and transcendent raptures aim To express Christs love to his Church the sacred spouse Doth not his fervent divine fancy rouze These high passionate expressions divine The Rose of Sharon love better than wine Lilly of the valleys turtle undefil'd Love of delights sweeter than spices mild Spikenard and Mirrhe Saphron and Frankincense All these allusions in an amorous sence Of divine love as in a holy song VVith lofty ejaculations all along In a devout harmony doth allude In allegory and similitude The Rose is natures perfume it displays Its treasures through the air unto its praise It delighteth sence both in color and smell Whose odoriferous beauty none can paralel Other flowers like Hypocrites are fair of color And in a painted shew they do seem fuller Of various shapes but they have not the scent Of that sweet Rose that still is fragrant And retains its sweetness ev'n in withered dust When other flowers of Color pine and burst Into a nasty shape of the Rose is made A cordial so that it doth never fade It 's virtues are still useful of great price Of vegetables natures paradise In this wonder of flowers we may espy Not only Physick but Divinity It wears Heaven's livery in its beauteous color Natures master piece nothing is fuller Than the sweet lovely blushes of the Rose That Rose of Sharon which all wisedom knows With many prickles was his head surrounded VVith tanting scoffs was his pure soul confoundad The perfumes of his prayers rais'd a richer smell Than all Arabia's spices can paralel His divine miracles were higher scented Than all odoriferous gums if sublimated Into one perfume it s a rifle to that sweet That cordial posie where the God-head meet As join'd in one and sent such perfume thence VVhich should enamor our hearts with reverence To adore that Rose of Sharon which will never Lose its perfume but will smell sweet for ever Oh let us run with meekness not presume After the odors of thy sweet perfume And have fervent desires for thee alone And for the streams that do flow from thy Throne Imprint in me such rays of divine grace A purity capable to see thy face The greatest perfections in creatures lie But a drop of transcendent excellency That is in thee let me have a longing strife To imitate the purity of thy life And in an humble meekness to submit To such indignities as thou think'st fit And when I shall lay down this earthy feature I may be raised a renewed creature And be comforted with perfumes of thy love VVhich are prepared with the Saints above In the eternal paradise of rest VVith the true Rose of Sharon ever blest Psalm 119.92 If my delight had not been in thy Law I should have perished in my trouble FINIS To the Honorable the Lord Chief justice Raynsford upon his adding St. George's Church to the rules of the Kings Bench. THanks noble Raynsford for this bounteous favor To prisoners restrained it doth sweetly savor Of a pious clemency thus to enlarge The footsteps of those Men under thy charge You 've outdone loyal Keeling that act we 'le sound He'n larg'd the rules thou givest us holy ground St. George's Church Englands Titular Saint VVhere we may freely go and make complaint Of our hard ereditors and devoutly pray That he 'l enlarge his mercies in the day Of your account we 'l study to express All ways of gratitude for this happiness With thanks unto our Marshal for his love VVhich doth oblige us faster far above All other obligations we 'l express All cordial love with humble thankfulness Pardon Dear Sir that I this silence break That am the meanest how could others speak An Elogie on the death of Edmund Lenthal Esq late Marshal of the Kings Bench. ARe prisons sad is' t not a place of grief To be restrain'd from liberty the chief Desire of Man but here a comforts given VVhen a mild keeper is decreed from Heaven Such one we had but suddenly snatcht hence By the impartial hand of providence Death with his pale fac'd Envy hath bereav'd Of comfort in which we were not deceiv'd His carriage was obliging sweet and kind Expressing still a bounteous noble mind And generous Courtesy yet his care was just Preserving them that did oblige his trust In such an harmony his acts did meet Mixt mercy with justice in consort sweet My meditations of Joy and gladness Are turn'd to Elogies and songs of sadness He 's taken hence which my sad soul did chear I cease to write surpriz'd with mournful tear THE TABLE Of the FIRST PART Philippians Chap. 4. v. 12. 1. I Know how to abound and how to suffer need c. Job 2.10 2. In all this did not Job sin with his Lips Romans 6.12 and part of 21. 3. Let not sin theresore raign in your mortal bodies that you should obey it in the Lusts thereof For the end of these things are death 7 Matthew 15.28 4. And he said unto her O Woman great is thy Faith 11 John 12.2 5. But Lazarus was one of those that sat at the Table with him 14 Genesis 2.8 6. And the Lord God planted a Garden East-ward in Eden 17 Luke 10.25 7. And behold a certain Lawyer flood up and tempted him Master what shall I do to inherit Eternal Life 20 John 11.36 8. Jesus Wept 23 Matthew 6.33 9. But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you c. 25 John 13.23 10. And there was leaning on Jesus bosom one of his Disciples whom he loved c. 29 Luke 19.9 11. This day is Salvation come to thy House 32 Luke 9.57 12. Lord I will follow thee wheresoever thou goest 36  A Copy of Verse to Sir Anthony Bateman on the Death of his Daughter 40  An Elogy on the Name and Death of the Virtuous Lady Martha Bateman who departed this Life the Tenth of December 1674. 41 THE TABLE Of the SECOND PART Numbers 27.16 17. 1. Let the Lord the God of the Spirits of all flesh set a man over the Congregation Which may go out before them and which may go in before them and which may lead them out and which may bring them in that the Congregation of the Lord be not as Sheep which have no Shepherd p. 1. Matthew 5.8 2. Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God c. 6 Daniel 12.3 3. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the Firmament and they that turn many to righteousness as the Stars for ever and ever 9 Matthew 2.18 4. And when they saw the Star they rejoyced with exceeding great Joy 12 Ecclesiastes 12.13 5. Fear God and keep his Commandments for this is the whole duty of Man 16 Matthew 8.2 6. And behold there came a Leaper and worshipped him saying Lord if thou wilt thou canst make me clean 20 1 Kings 19.9 7. And he came unto a Cave and lodged there 23 Genesis 28.12 8. And he dreamed a Dream and behold a Ladder set upon the Earth and the top of it reached unto Heaven and behold the Angels descending and ascending on it 27 Proverbs 18.14 9. But a wounded Spirit who can bear 33 Matthew 24.38 10. And knew not until the Flood came and took them all away 37 Luke 7.5 11. For he loved our Nation and hath built us a Synagogue 40 John 20.11 12. But Mary stood without at the Sepulchre weeping and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the Sepulchre 44 Ecclesiastes 12.1 13. Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth 47 Luke 18.11 14. The Pharisee stood up and pray'd God I thank thee I am not as other men are 50 Matthew 16.26 15. For what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul 53 Canticles 2.1 16. I am the Rose of Sharon and the Lilly of the Vallies 57  A Copy of Verses to the Right Honorable the Lord Chief Justice Raynsford  An Elogy on the Death of Edmund Lenthal Esq FINIS
the Matter indifference is like to have a better composure and my Adversary is become my friend When I returned to the Kings-Bench I took it to be my duty to return thanks and praises to God for his so great a mercy never to be forgotten The which I did in the manner as is hereunto annexed which I hope God hath accepted of For since which time I began to write these following meditations which never before did dare to adventure on such subjects But since I am never well nor at quiet with my soul but when I am about such exercises and I was so far from helps as it is well known that I had to many hindrances I will not say to you that I present you with the fruits of idle hours but of the best hours that ever I spent For it hath set more gladness in my heart than when the Corn and wine and oyl encreased It may be that the reverend Clergy will be offended with me for presuming to take upon me to descant on Scriptures I humbly beg their pardons Yet I hope I have not abused any text that I have insisted on But kept close to the matter of it without making any vain fictions and truly I had scarce any book but the bible And I was without that too until I complained of it as one of my greatest wants for my spiritual refreshment to a very good Lady Madam Scawen who presently sent me a very good Bible And I was beholding to Mr Stretch the Minister of the Kings Bench which really is a very civil person to prisoners doing them any good offices that lies in his power he lent me also Doctor Featleys Sermons And from thence as in my dayly practice and observations as my fancy led me I took some things to meditate on for my divertisement The which I hope they will charitably censure these weak exercises and accept them not as coming from a colledg but a Prison I have much hopes of their favors for I have communicated some of these to several good Divines from whom I have had good encouragement which I shall ever most thankfully acknowledge I believe that there be some that will taxe me for too much boldness for coming forth in print And condemn these as weak and indigested I am sensible enough of the weakness of them and therefore they may save that Labor But should I be without reproof I should fare much better than many far my betters who cannot escape the tongues of such carping Zoilus's who have only wit to censure and not to amend and think nothing well done because they do it not yet will quarrel at the private divertisements of a poor Prisoner Should I to add to the heat of their fiery tongues burn these papers or let them rot by me I am sure it would do less good than they will do now For though they want the rethorical streins of great learning yet they are the plain and harmless exercises of an old man a Prisoner that may have the good hap to meet with more charitable and courteous persons that will friendly accept them from a Prisoner under so long and severe a Calamity These Boanerges or Sons of Thunder I shall not Court but leave them to their carping dispositions But you whose pious Charity will be pleased to take this little Babe into your hands and dispise it not though born in a Prison It speaks the language of the Scriptures I have some eminent predecessors and presidents even from Prisons and I hope I do shew the duty and honor I have ever born to the doctrin and discipline of the Church of England In which I was born and bread And I have ever taken it to be my duty to defend it even in the worst of times to my irreparable ruin as is too visible Therefore I hope it will meet with more charitable humble and good dispositions that will friendly accept of and charitably pass by a Prisoners failings And if they may have the good fortune to find acceptance It will give much satisfaction for the pains taken by Your hearty well wishing friend William Williams Psalm 32.11 Whoso putteth his trust in the Lord mercy embraceth him on every side INTRODUCTION A Prisoners thanksgiving that was by Habeas Corpus brought to the Chancery Bar by one that he had trusted with his Estate the first day of Trinity term where having exprest himself it moved so much pitty that it pleased God to raise to his assistance Sir Francis Winnington and Sir John King most effectually to plead his cause without ever being spoke to or retained meerly out of principles of pitty and charity for which the Prisoner at his return to the Kings-Bench wrote as followeth CAn I forget thy mercies Lord this day So freely shew'd me can I make delay To give thee praise oh Lord 't was by thy power I spake so feelingly that happy hour Wherein thou shewd'st thy goodness Lord 't was thine All powerful providence not art of mine Thou didst direct great councel to assist A prisoner poor encountred in the list With other councel whose design yet mist me Lord thou didst ' ope their mouths for to assist me For which I shall for ever praise thy name Too weak's my pen for to express the same Accept dear Lord my thankful hearts expression That 's fill'd with praises let not the Transgression Of my frail heart be hindrance to declare Thy prasses in a work so plous rare That Lawyers which are men design'd for hire Should freely speak 't was cause thou didst inspire Their hearts and made them unto pitty bent To plead the cause of the poor innocent That was by wiles and promises seduc'd Being assured much good should be infus'd To me and mine But Lord thou truly art The God of truth and searcher of the heart Thou know'st what cruel threats I have endur'd That did expect relief and be assur'd Of some kind usage but that I must see My whole dependance is alone on thee Thou hast still by thy own Almighty power Preserv'd me to this very day and hour Dear Lord 't was thou that dost provide for me Means of support when prest with misery Continue still thy all preserving power Leave me not helpless in my latest hour A waken still in me a thankful heart That from depending on thee may not part But let my hope be cast on thee that can Preserve me from the cruel rage of Man VVhose projects are to starve this body frail Oh keep me Lord that they may not prevail Thou that canst bless the little stock of meal And by thy power art able to reveal VVonderful providences to preserve The weakest mortals who in faith thee serve Give me content oh let me not repine At thy just dealings for those sins of mine Pardon my youthful wandrings aged faults My many weaknesses and numerous halts My crooked walks oh let my sad condition Excite a pious grief for my
wandring sinners at what time You shall repent indeed and humbly mourn I 'le meet you if with faith you do return And he whose piety hath any taste Of heavenly Joyes will never vainly waste His precious time nor no more fondly range But long and be ambitious of his change Lord it was thy Almighty power did save Good Lazarm being carried to his grave Return'd him Living 'T was thy love divine That made thy Almightiness so far to shine And made thee to discover that great power Which can raise mortals every day and hour Oh let thy grace concur in me to raise And to reform my soul that all my days I may improve endeavors to fulfill Thy pious precepts and perform thy will Which bind my conscience dear Christ do this rather By that dear love which drew thee from thy father To save lost Man let th'Scepter of thy word Have influence on me that may afford All spiritual comfort which may ne're depart From me but live for ever in my heart That I may live a Life of Joy and bliss ' Mongst the blest Saints in perfect happiness Where nothing else but Sin can shut me out Lord grant thy mercy then I shall not doubt Genesis 2.8 And the Lord God Planted a Garden Eastward in Eden WAS God a Planter Did he thus take pain So early for us with some hopes to gain Our Souls Immortal how hath poor vain Man Fancy'd some other place tell me who can Where was the Garden plac'd Leave thy vain quest It was in Eden Eastward be at rest See how ambitious Mortals here are tost With nice enquiries since Old Adam lost That there was such a place we need not doubt it Our Parents sin'd and therefore went without it So quickly doth our sin blast our enjoyment Man walk'd and view'd and lost it in a moment Was suddenly expell'd the rising Sun But newly warm'd the Earth Mans Joyes were done This Ball was withered into a dry complection And Man deprest to servile base subjection The Heavens scarce seated well in their right Orb By Pride the Angels fell that did disturb The frame Divine and the base Serpents breath Cast out contagion over all the Earth In that sweet Paradise epitomiz'd For its rare fragrancy was Man surpriz'd Shut out excluded from those purer smells Of new created flowers took his farewells Thus man being stript of his most glorious prize By that foul friend the father of all lies He takes the fig-tree for his last retreat His leaves for cloathing and his fruit for meat How perfectly hath Adams issue spent Their vain desires and their affections bent On fond felicities and gainless Toyes Selling Heavens Paradise and all its Joys Covetous man doats on his god of gold As though there were no other to behold Counts his chief happiness is only there Though stampt in hell it self and if it were The Image of the beast it will not deter Man from it But he 'l be competitor With Prince of darkness for some glorious Toy Of Terrene pomp slighting his chiefest Joy Makes wantonness his heaven and carnal pleasures His chief divinity wanting right measures In this his choice But he will quickly find These upstart lights but darkness to his mind Sent by the King of darkness in derision To cast affronts and puzzle our religion Ecclipse the Gospel by their vain pretences To bleer our eyes and to benight our sences When they pretend to cloath us with more skill They strip us of our cloathing at their will They'd shut us out of heaven I 'd rather bee For ever blind than by their balme to see Of Satans making nor yet be partaker Of such a lesson to distrust my Maker So miserably are we by frailties tost Not only Paradise but Heaven is lost We loofe not only pleasures here below But joys divine which thou wilt sure bestow On us poor Mortals he that then was chief Monarch of the whole world doth now with grief Groan under his great burden and doth flie Amongst the shades in sad obscurity We might ev'n all have bin for ever cast Out of Gods sight but he that 's first and last Breathed a new life into our ' clipsed state By his prevailing merits and he sate A mediator for our bould transgression Lord grant in mercy wee may have possession Of Heaven and heavenly Joys disdain the Dross Of pleasures and indeed may fear the loss Of our poor souls that when we do expire We may be carried to the heav'nly Quire Into that paradise that never fades To sit for ever in celestial shades Luke 10.25 And behold a certain Lawyer stood up and tempted him saying Master what shall I do to Inherit Eternal Life BEhold Christ's mission he doth freely send His chosen seventy for this blessed end To preach the Gospel and he doth admonish Them to have humble hearts and not astonish His zealous ones that do desire to learn The mysteries of faith and would discern The way unto salvation by such guide Not following the over active pride Of fond Enthusiasts and their bold intent That skip so fast and run before they 'r sent No God 's the God of order law and right As the lawyer here observes at the first sight His faith was quick ingenious bold and rife VVhat shall I do to attain eternal life T' was the best query that ever he made It gain'd him more than all his pleading trade Could ever get him he was bid to look Into the law for fear that he mistook T' was no disgrace to follow such a suit As did concern his soul had he bin mute Then he had mist the time for to enquire The way to bliss which was his chief desire This was the highest cause he'ere could plead T' was for him self Gods spirit did him lead To make that happy question in such sort For he had never read of a report Given in this case no not in all his reading Of judged cases 't was not his learned breeding Philosophy indeed doth reach no higher Than moral virtue it doth not inspire The spirit of grace 't is that which works by love That doth acquaint us with the joyes above T' was this inspir'd our Lawyer to this task To run to Christ and him so boldly ask 'T was now high time indeed for him to run To move this question or hee 'd been undone For he had bin retain'd too long to plead In others causes leaving his own in dread He almost had forgot his better part I mean his soul which prickt him to the heart And it did all his vital senses seize Which made him strongly plead for writ of ease How natural are enquiries after bliss Even pagans study it darkly and amiss The joyes they fancy Paradise will yield Are meer Chimera's their Elysian field Of carnal pleasures fill'd are thought to be Which they affect as their felicity But it s the genuin sense of a good mind Full fraught with virtue carefully
is a step if by it we climb That ladder will advance us to see him If we tread our vices under and by it show They 'r fixt unto the Earth that is below Where the foot doth rest but we must leave behind Our vain delights the frailties of Mankind And studiously be industrious for such gain As will requite the trouble and the pain Our progress must be constant and not slack A holy pace if that we once look back Into the plain the world will steal our sence From climbing with a religious reverence O Lord how doth this subject meet my case That am cast down into a stony place I mean a place unpleasant ' cause not free But it haâ—h mounted me to come to thee Thou hast shew'd to me a ladder thy blest ways Enliven me O Lord to give thee praise Had I bin rich and had of plenty store I should have scorn'd this ladder as heretofore I thought on pleasures and the worlds vain guise Did too too much affect and bleere these eyes That now look up to thee O let my sight Be clear to see the blest eternal light Thy abundant graces oh thou which truly art The great Physitian which can cure my heart Give me a holy longing and inflame In me a servent zeal to praise thy name If bitter potions be for my souls health Apply them Lord although it purge my wealth There is more true riches in thy love in store Than ever I could lose all times before Thou hast given thou hast taken thy blessed will be done Give me thy mercies in thy only Son To be my ransom I shall be richer then Then e're I was amongst the sons of Men. This casting down will raise me to that Throne Of mercy in whom is my faith alone And I therein rejoyce though thus cast down That thou look'st not on me with angry frown But hast often sent thine Angels to support My feeble state when they to me resort And cherish this frail body 'T is from thee That so much love and bounty comforts me Give me thy grace so far to use thy love With temperate meekness and from me remove All carnal confidence and humbly bend My studies to please him that me defend Thy promises O Lord do never fail And yet how careless are we that are frail Thou shewest us the living way unto thy self Yet we are blinded with the love of pelf Of this deluding world we 're loth to walk Thy pathes yet proudly do we brag and talk Of coming to thee but we are loth to climb That ladder that will mount us to see him That sits upon the Throne O how weak and lame Are our devotions 't is our greater shame To see how nimbly we do thus pursue The perishing delights within our view But make so little progress in that race That thou hast set all ways before our face Oh quicken and make us earnest with holy love To invocate our Christ that sits above To give us of thy spirit that we may move With holy zeal to the Altar of thy love Where the blest Angels do ever attend As ministring spirits that ascend and descend Proverbs 18.14 But a wounded spirit who can bear HEark O my soul consider this wise prince Mark well his Councel and not stir from thence Incline thine ear to wisedom don't delay To mind his pious precepts let it sway VVithin thy heart O let instruction learn Thee to delight and study to discern These many moral virtues which are taught And may by grace be obtain'd if they be sought VVith a holy zeal O let true virtue be Thy chief desire then oyntment it will be Unto thy neck as Bracelets to thine arm If thou these precepts keep 't will keep from harm Therefore so value them as a rich price And observe how fully it correcteth vice And helpeth much mans spirits to chear But alas a wounded spirit who can bear VVhere shall I find a temper can endure Such stings of conscience of the sad pressure Beyond belief which rageth and is mad At every gripe and pain the soul is sad The very Earth trembles and can't sustain It self it groans and travels with its pain To be delivered the Ambitious Angels fell And through their foul despair do roar in hell How dolorous is despair that wound is deep VVhere mercy is shut out and Devils do keep The festerd wound a bleeding without sence Oh the Horror of a wounded conscience It so afflicts and startles all the parts VVith the terrors of the pains rais'd by such arts Yea all the tortures which the Martyrs felt VVere flea-bites to those pains raised by this guilt Tortures of cruelst shape would well become Be easy sufferings a pleasing Martyrdom Compared unto those never dying pains Those living deaths those tortures and those Chains That so strongly hold the sences Captive in Satans foul bands the reward of their sin VVhat can there be compar'd not all our sence Can paralel a wounded conscience The shreiks of oyls which add blackness to the night Offends the ears yea dying groans that fright And fill our souls with sadness at such cries As conscience makes it even rends the skies With the screetches of those pains their conscience utter It beats within and horrid pains they suffer Despair so rageth with a furious voice That it distempers all with its hideous noise It descants it writes Satyrs against it self Sad dying elogies alas poor Elfe VVhat fatal Ideas dost thou thus shape VVithin thy fancy what a tone dost make Surrounded with all the tortures black grief Can add oh 't is so far beyond belief To express that suffering in a perfect sence Oh the terrors of a wounded conscience Did David walk on mourning all the day And night his prickt conscience to allay Did not his eyes run over with his tears These weeping springs rais'd by his many fears He breaths nought but such sad trembling accents As ariseth from his souls sad discontents Despairing Ecchoes thinking it too late He sighes he moans and thus he expostulates Dear God is thy Mercy shut up for ever Shall my poor soul enjoy it never That attribute of thy Mercy and thy love VVhich thou hast treasur'd in the Heavens above Oh shut not up from me that humbly crave But grant thy pardoning mercy Lord to save My afflicted soul I hope thou wilt not be A God of love to all and none to me Let any other torment fright me hence Than the terrors of a guilty conscience Let me for ever dwell in dungeons deep Or such a cell as light durst not to peep In some forsaken vault or dismal place So as I may enjoy thy glorious face Let all the poverty that can attend A wretched man yet if thy Love thou send And cover my naked soul that is thus storm'd All Leprous with sin and much deform'd VVith the terrors of thy Judgments which may take Vengeance on me if thou dost once forsake My spotred
transgression Against thy sacred name let me implore Thy heavenly grace to help me oh restore To me an humble heart that may submit To what thy knowing wisedom shall think fit For me poor mortal who am weak and frail VVhose only hopes in Christ is to prevail Lord wash me in his blood then shall I be Though black by nature yet made white by thee And though I am in Prison cast full low Raise me again good God and now bestow Thy abundant graces let thy will be done I am resolv'd thy will to wait upon Until my change shall come do not delay That happy hour that I may see the day VVhen thou by death wi lt perfectly restore me Lord let a prisoners sighes now come before thee Psalm 86.17 Shew some good token upon me for good that they which hate me may see it and be ashamed because thou Lord hast holpen me and comforted me Phillippians Chap. 4. v. 12. I know how to abound and how to suffer need c. DIvinest Saint there 's few on Earth but thee Have learnt contentment a felicity Beyond all Arts th'Apostle only can Approve himself the best contented Man A Lesson which the World hath long forgot To set in practice Men affect it not This is a thing unpleasing to their tast Therefore in sad repining time they wast Were Heavens delightful Paths beset with pleasures For Sence to revel in our chiefest Treasures Would there be plac'd our sensual hearts would be Too full of Joy in Earths felicity Were there no rubs nor stops to make us faint Who would not be a Convert and a Saint The Crown of Glory it would truly be As the sweet Garlands of Eternity But he that enters Heavenly bliss must wear A Crown of Thornes e're he attain that Sphear Fond Worldlings are so vainly stufft with Pride That a Holy meekness can not abide Unless it carry pleasing Pomp aloft Religious Meekness it is seldom lâ—â—â— Preaching of Patience it doth Clearly Show There are sublime enjoyments which we owe Due reverence to and yet we will not learn This holy Lesson fully to discern Our vain repinings at the Almighties ways Who can cast down and in a moment raise Our better fortunes But th'Apostle here Hath nobly learnt for to Sustain and bear His pinching wants sans Murmurings or grudge At his Corrections that 's a righteous Judge He that hath bid us seek the heavenly glory Tells us that earthly things are transitory And after this vain Heathens they do walk And shall we Christians like the Heathens talk And have no higher prospect than this world For which the Angels from the heavens were hurl'd Shall we lye groveling in this lower Sphear Rowling our selves in Carnal pleasures here Making morality our only bliss And have no other thoughts of Heaven than this Was it for this that the Eternal Lord Bow'd the high Heavens and came with free accord Leaving his Throne to bring us unto glory Then let us cease from things so Transitory And raise our souls unto sublimer Joys For terrene pleasures are but foolish Toys Vain is that Man which foolishly doth wrap His chief felicity in natures Lap And all the dull enjoyments of his Sence With care and vehement Toyle to fetch it thence Tell me then man That doest in pleasures swim And hast the Cup with joy fil'd to the brim Hast thou forgot thy God thy Guide thy Maker Be not so stupid least thou be partaker Of endless Torments should the Luminaries Loose their bright Lusters that but seldom varies And put on purple Robes that Direful sight Of bleeding planets would thy soul affright Or if the air were turn'd into a stream Of blood by that most powerful hand Supream Or could thy deafned ear but hear the blast Of the last direful Trump what speedy hast wouldst thou then make be most fully bent To check thy Fancy posting to repent Such things prodigious greatly would affright The Bold'st prophaner that took delight In actions Sacrilegeous wicked ways The memorie then of former sinful days Will fill the inner man with dismal fright And make the Sinner restless day and night Oh man remember this 'T is truth alass The enjoyments of the world are poor and pass Away like empty aire there 's no fruition But Dives like we make a sad petition So doth the vain voluptuous worldling laugh At pure religion and do vainly quaff Scorning the poor oppressed Suffering Man And shew him all the envious spight they can As though a pious life could not enjoy Some tides of pleasure but have still annoy His sight 's bemisted he can't yet descry The expected hopes of blest eternity He thinks himself Secure and free from strife And knowes no Joyes but in this present life Did we but know these rich rewards will fall On the religious poor to crown them all What happiness attendeth on the Motion Of suffering Saints in their most pure devotion 'T would make us triumph in our low estate And be in love with hardship at this rate Imbracing poverty with a holy zeal To enjoy that bliss which we cannot reveal 'T would comfort in our very low estate When suffering by the cruel hand of fate From Men enrag'd but we are still to learn The Apostles rule to wait till the return Which crowns with bliss the patient waiting Soul That still expects in faith without controul And yet how hardly do we grief endure When smallest troubles do our souls inure With so much passion that we hardly can Bear the least brunt of Scorne so vain is man So sensless are we of Gods greatest power Forgetful wretches that even every hour We censure and accuse thy providence Like faithless persons scarce enricht with sence Lord ope our eyes and make us plainly See The worlds vain shews Mans insufficiency That empty air the pleasures here below Grant these Joyes that from thy presence flow To these good Lord let our hearts still stand bent So shall we evermore have full content Job 2.10 In all this did not Job Sin with his Lips WAs Job a statue was his noble heart Impenetrable could not Sorrows Smart Move his so fixed Soul nor yet Hells hate His so Strong bulwark conscience penetrate Behold him then mirror of patience Whom all the Legions could not fright him thence Nay he could breath divinity in groans Make sighs his Musick and in sacred tones Turn sorrows into Sermons and his pains To pious Lectures improving for gains Even saddest sufferings and did never vent The least invective from foul discontent How wondrous is that soul that is so fixt Valiant in conflict and indeed not mixt With base repinings but can bear his Cross And triumph in it without sence of loss By suffering much humility hath taught Job patience which with greatest care he sought So nobly that it doth adorn his parts And makes them lovely ev'n beyond all arts Like the Philosophers stone that with each touch Turns all to gold and
doth the same enrich His very grave becomes a cabinet Of precious dust the which is all beset With Saphires like a Rock that stoutly braves The raging Sea and its tempestuous Waves Or like the morning Sun that shines most bright After 't hath long bin clouded from our sight And more transparent shines to the eye of sence Attracting many muddy vapors hence For like the conquering palm that still doth flourish Under its pressures which doe never nourish His spreading limbs into a full extent Maugre the cloggs and weights of punishment Job these are but poor emblems of thy glory Like as the Lower Sphears are transitory Hurri'd with storms but still thy high-born soul Like the true loadstone points the heavenly pole And turns no other way although surrounded With griefs abounding thou art not confounded Tell me of stones whose power can expell Or herbs whose virtue can indeed repell The dangerous Thunder these are of small power Compar'd with that most glorious sparkling Tower His soul that these flames only purifie And brighter made so that we may descry Our conquering glory o're the worlds great same In which he is a Mirror still the same And shall our light afflictions temporary Discourage us from climing to thy glory And drive us from thy service by such Toyes As Satan casts to hinder purer Joyes No thou dost skreen thy love in discontent And shewest thy goodness in our punishment And whilst we do most foolishly repine And grumble at this providence of thine Being two much troubled at the smallest cross Of wealth and Honor which doe us so toss With vain affections shews we cannot take Danger of sufferings for thy blessed sake But are without true sence of thy dear Love And the Celestial Glory that 's above Treasur'd for us our duty 's to submit To thy blest will and all thou thinkest fit Triumphing in our sufferings not repine Lord bow our wills unto that will of thine Eternal wisdom Let it now be done To thine own Glory and thine only Son Romans 6.12 and part of 21. Let not Sin therefore raign in you mortal bodies that you should obey in the Lusts thereof For the end of these things are Death THe Blest and Learn'd Apostle here doth Preach Attonement made by Christ doth likewise teach Th' effects and power of Baptism here on earth Saying we'er all Baptiz'd into his Death And shall be surely raised from the Grave By th' only power of him that did us save From Death Eternal and may freely walk In a renewed Life and thereof talk To th' comfort of our Souls and Crucifie Our foul affections wherein we descry Sins large dominion in us it 's recoyl'd Which only Christ in Love did reconcile Made us alive to God by 's intercession Therefore let sin not raign to the transgression Of Gods most Holy will nor yet obey The raging Lusts thereof which do bear sway Within our mortal bodies while w'have breath Remembring that the end thereof is Death who 'l fancy such felicity on earth Which quite expireth with this present breath And the reward of Lusts will surely be Filled with horror and calamity Had we no hopes and were our sences gone Had we no thoughts of a Resurrection To raise again decayed natures frame To a more noble shape than is the same Then might we well thus drown our selves in pleasure And think on Heaven at our remotest leasure Like Epicures Study and still invent New fashioned Luxury with an intent For to be thought ingenious Rich in Wit And take felicity to revel in it Thinking that all confusion would do well And make no reckning either of Heaven or Hell But mingle all into a wild confusion By making such Athistical conclusion Yea deem 't no scandal for to be thus hurld To Blasphemy as for to think the world Is without God no stop thy prophane breath Sins certain wages is eternal death 'T is not the fear of death that takes thee hence But the horror of a guilty conscience That doth affright thee when the sting of death Seizeth our vital parts and stops our breath The memory of our sins doth smartly sting Awakened conscience when we'er hovering Over our Graves where we must soon be laid Then Hell and Judgment make us most afraid Who suffred sin to vaunt thus in our blood Following our Lusts and shunning what is good Tell me O thou who makest Earth thy Treasure And wrapst thy self up in the softest pleasure 'T is but a little Span before thine eyes With age grown weak and weary yea despise Such objects when each tired limb doth crack With anguish of those pains thy crimes did make Which were th'officious instruments to act Sins fatal Scene and following the tract Of Lusts and Luxury rev'ling with heat That sets thy darling body in a sweat Afflicts thee with the terrors of these fires Which thou hast kindled with thy foul desires Strictly examine now thy self vain man Whether these flattering false enjoyments can Restore thy soul which they have stoln from Heaven Recover it again and so make even That long and vast accompt which heretofore Thou hast laid by and set it on the score Of thy blest Saviour stop I say bewail The memory of thy crimes and so prevail To get that pardoning mercy that doth heal All broken hearts that unto Christ appeal Breathing such aires whose Musick soon would charm Like Davids Harp 't will drive away all harm Still conscience cries make Musick to delight Th' Almighties ears and bring thee to his sight Where are those fond diversions that did take Up thy vain thoughts and did as shadows make A transcient splendor which prov'd little gain It could not bribe thy pardon nor obtain The least reprieve to keep thee from the Grave Or be a means at all thy soul to save See ye blind Lovers of this Mass of Clay How quickly your enjoymonts fade away Being built on such Foundations which do slide And turn to Rubbish it will not abide Your vain felicities they have no power For to secure you in the latest hour Yea that impartial Conqueror pale Death Will seize your Vitals and stop your Breath Such as delight in pleasures live in flame And Death will bring them Torments Hell and Shame All that now spurn at Virtue and it Scoff Following vain pleasures and the Lusts thereof Bewitching World thou thou betray'st our sence And smoothly wheels us to impenitence Making transitory pleasures our delight And through dark mists leads to Eternal night Yet we imbrace and hug the waies of Sin And with a pleasing madness live therein Stopping our ears to the profers of thy Love The which would raise us to the joyes above Wildly we follow the dictates of sence And all those vile affections flowing thence Pitty O Lord our Captiv'd natures frail And give us such desires as may prevail Over our Lusts that our whole Souls may be Breathings in perfect longings after thee With holy servency whilst
we have breath Knowing that sins reward is certain Death Matthew 15.28 And he said unto her O Woman great is thy Faith BLest importunity that did procure An answer so Divine that did assure The poor impatient woman in distress Of'r Daughters cure to ease her heaviness Her answers were so pious they did tell That in her breast did all the graces dwell And richer Mines of Treasure there were hid Then Princes Crowns though highly valued All Palestine and the rich Spices there Could not procure a Cordial to compare With her strong Faith which could have no denial But cur'd two Souls sans any further trial Save only this the great Physitian saith Unto this suppliant Great is thy Faith Faith is a grace prevails with God above To work great wonders Mountains to remove To smooth the rugged Ocean for a walk For Peters feet to hear his Saviour talk It stops the Mouths of Lyons quenches fire 'T was the Centurians Faith got his desire It cures the blind in Scripture we may see Our Saviour saith Thy Faith hath saved thee And yet the Faith that hath such wonders wrought Is quite neglected and not duly sought Some place the greatness of their Faith in merit And think thereby Salvation to in herit In many such a fancy there doth dwell They think it Faith enough for to do well But naked speculations will not get The heavenly prize 't is vanity to set Our faith in our abilities parts This is a doctrine which exceeds all arts Faith 's rooted in the soul most firm and stable By which the Blessed Abraham was able For to believe Gods promise true to bless His seed which God did count his righteousness 'T is not profession only that makes noise But wee must practice to obtain true Joyes Yet mourning souls when they do sigh and groan Are in the road unto the heavenly Throne They 'l find acceptance pardon for defects Which doth our souls and bodies thus perplex Let no one think he can take to much pain To be assur'd that Heaven he shall attain Thus was the Womans faith so firmly fixt That it no shew of doubting with it mixt The eccho of the voice did straight affright Foul Sathan from his hold not all his might Could keep possession when our Saviour Spake He quickly vanisht and did her for sake Thus doth our faiths divine all powerful Charmes Drive Satan to his Chain and free all harmes Raiseth immortal statues to the Just And makes their names venerable in dust Yea seals their happiness for ever sure With Christ in glory ever to endure Thou sent'st thy Son O Lord for us to Die That we through him might gain eternity Him whom thou hast advanc'd above all things Is pleas'd to take us under his blest wings That we may have the triumphs of his Cross And afterward Heavens glory without loss Let not the miseries of our patures frail Which first did with thy mercies rich prevail Oh let not these which only know thy power More zealously acknowledge thee each hour Than we to whom thou manifests thy love And claim an interest in thy Christ above Let us be ever thankful for his merit By whose rich bounty we shall sure inherit The heavenly mansions and shall ever be Above faith there to wait all times on thee That faith with which thou givest every grace And without which we nere shall see thy face Teach us thy mercies so far to apply That we neglect not means and so relie On faith that 's dead or on a vaine dissembling Salvation's had by faith faith 's Join'd with trembling John 12.2 But Lazarus was one of those that sat at the Table with him DId Jews take Councel for to put to Death The blessed Lord of Life which gave them breath Was he aware of their most barbarous talk That openly with them he would not walk But came to Bethani where Lazarus lay And there he freely Supt and made some stay Where Martha ferv'd as well as she was able And Lazarus one of them that sate at Table Could Lazarus eat and did his stomack crave That was so lately risen from the Grave Is his late Tomb a Table now his dress That bound his head his Napkin at that Mess He that but now feasted the worms for meat Doth feast himself and with the Living eat The Mercies of our God's above all things He sets at Table with the King of Kings There hath been some all liveless pall stretcht out For Coffin until others went about To tin that spark of life that close lay hid As glimering in the heart not wholly dead And by endeavors have call'd back that heat Which hath enabled them again to eat But here 't was otherwise with Lazarus As Holy Writings testifie to us He 's rais'd from real death yet Martha cry'd Lord if thou hadst been here he had not dy'd Behold him now as risen from his bed All flesh and life no whit disfigured Perfect and whole really rendred able To feast himself with joy at the same table Where his redeemer supt a blessed feast Where Lazarus is admitted to be Guest He 's throng'd with multitudes aged and younger Which came to be spectators of the wonder Yet would not believe the power that wrought it But wickedly oppos'd and never sought it Thy thought of beaven on earth inricht with treasures Elysian fields or such like feigned pleasures Restored Lazarus though thou hast new breath There is a time will bring a second death Yet thou art happy in the sacred story Inricht with that entitles thee to glory A happiness indeed beyond expression Death will thee bring unto the full possession Of the blest Mansions with the Saints in bliss Where Angels Sing and every Comfort is Come tell me Lazarus didst thou e're believe T' enjoy the world again and to receive Thy rise from grave before the general day And grand assize which we must obey Thy sisters doubted it but yet did see This miracle of mercy shewed to thee Who wilt so walk and be a great adorer Of breath divine That was thy great restorer What numbers of expiring souls are frighted At the horror of those crimes that once delighted Their sensual appetites The dying man Scar'd with his pains would leng then out his Span And gladly turn their late profaner ayres To penetential sighs and earnest prayers New tune their lives into most pious strains And be sufficient gainers for their pains He that defers it to the latest hour Shall find his weakness will not have the power And vigor of that zeal that should invoke Mercy divine for to remove the Yoke Of sin that doth so heavy on us lie And so benumbs us that we can't descry Our sins aright the which we must confess With truth of heart and humble holiness Therefore we should make use of strength and parts To invocate that God which searches hearts And though his Judgments high are and sublime He saith to
place their trophies in their amorous walks Where there ghosts revels and their fancie talks Of pleasures but can we O Lord forget Thy Kingdom and not once look after it He that prophanely wanders is a stranger To heavenly Joyes and sure is still in danger To loose that would enrich him beyond measure With splendid glories and with heavenly treasure How wretched then are they that so mistake And for themselves no allegation make But thrive in sin and still the world do court And with its fading glories make a sport Exchanging a rich diadem of bliss For feigned pleasures that are sure amiss Were the whole world a scene of choicest pleasures Zeraglio of delights were all the treasures Of the Arabian region made a field For man to revel in these joyes would yield But low fruitions truly without thee Our God which only makes frail Man to see How he is kept in pleasures temporary From an eternal weight of heavenly glory And yet how many are there which would pawn Their consciences and eagerly do fawn Upon these vain allurements here below Slighting heavens mercies whilst they do bestow Their time in some vain study to invent New modes of wickedness and with intent T' increase their credit in the world's account And do not care how far they swell and mount Their store in sin for their content to bee Laborious in a sweet impiety Are there no nobler ways to eternize Our memories than thus to loose the prize I mean of souls it's savage cruelty Them to destroy to all eternity For to espouse our names to fowlest shame And ever vainly glory in the same Making a mock of sin and loose all sence Of loosing our religions reverence Unto our Maker which makes no Man worse By serving him aright with true remorse But makes Men sweeter in a heavenly frame Of rich contentment and doth breed no shame But gain enlargement of his bounteous love For which we owe our praise to God above That is the only giver of our bliss And ought to have our humblest thankfulness Lord raise in us those aims that truly tend To heavenly joyes and let our cares most bend Our thoughts that way then we need not to fear Misfortunes cross nor harms ev'n when they 'r neer This is a policy that will non plus The poring worldling hel'd be baffled thus And after generations they must yield That pious policy shall win the field How senceless of our chiefest good are we That doe prefer the world's felicity Before thy glory and can spend in sin Our precious hours which should indeed have bin Devoted in sincere returns to thee Behold in mercy Lord how frail we be That we account a little moment spent In serving thee a tiresome punishment So sottish are we in the ways of pleasure That for to do thy will we find no leisure We morgage our dear souls for vainest toyes And fondly undervalue richest joys Fading contentments which we fancy here We purchase at a rate extreamly dear Lord raise our Heaven born souls that we may see Our vain delights in sin and turn to thee By true repentance give us grace to leave These low enjoyments that in truth bereave Us of our purer Joyes O give content In stooping to thy holy regiment Let our dear souls for ever more despise The flatteries of the world with its disguise And as our souls are made by and for thee So keep them Lord to all eternity Enable us to breath forth thy high praise And give us of thy blessing all our days What ever we do receive it is from thee The fountain of all true felicity Who only canst our pretious souls advance To heavenly dwellings Saints inheritance To which we seek a promised access Lord grant thy Kingdom and thy righteousness John 13.23 And there was Leaning on Jesus bosom one of his Disciples whom he loved c. HEre Christs transcendent love to John is seen Being admitted on his breast to lean And as a bosome friend whom Jesus lov'd He took the boldness and was not reprov'd How freely did he make his Saviours breast His pillow and the place of sweetest rest Oh blessed Kindness would not Monarchs great Ambitious be of this and leave their seat And royal Canopies for to repose In such a bosom as all wisdom knows The most ambitious souls can climb no higher To better rest poor mortals can't aspire Then in that bosom Saints Securest nest VVhich is the eternal mansions of the blest What carping worldling can find out a treasure To satiate himself with fuller pleasure The amorous wanton would with speed forsake Admired beauty if he might partake Of such a bed of spices heed insist On Courtship to so fair an Amorist Was not this happiness above the rest To have procedency in Jesus brest A dignity might give him much delight To be accounted the chief favorit How pleasingly doth John here lay his ear So close Christ heart it did him greatly chear And raise such raptures in his longing breast As well might rock him into sweetest rest And make his dreams occasions for to raise His heart to joy and gladness thanks and praise Stop here my soul behold admire and see The emblem of most true felicity A perfect shew of meekness and of love Mercies great tipe descending from above See Christ upon his Cross his armes extended T' imbrace lost Man was his heart blood expended To wash us from Our guilt of sin and shame Lord let me ever glorifie his name Repose my self on 's breast the seat of love And thereby have true comforts from above Did Mary whose compassions quickly turn'd Into a flood of teares Her grief so mourn'd Had shee bin graced with so great a favor As to lean on the bosom of our Saviour Her eyes as living springs that sweetly meet Her haires to wipe her blessed Saviours feet Such grace and priviledge would ev'n let out Her noblest blood in passion it would spout Out into grateful streams for such a price And blest acquaintance 't would require her eyes That sent forth streames yet it would make clean Her putrid soul had she but leave to Lean 'T would transport her in raptures of true mirth For such a blessing to enjoy on earth Which John enjoyed as a favor to him given A blessed Emblem of the joyes of Heaven Did Peter give a beck and did John ask Who should commit that bold and bloody task Did Christ make answer did his God reply O blessed condescention that the high And the Almighty King should so submit To mortals as to daign with him to sit And commune with them o let mankind learn All humble meekness and in truth discern This holy love of Christ to man on earth And see how lovingly he invites new birth To be born a new by faith and repentance Such holy practice will his soul advance Into the bosom of God do not delay Thy turning from the vain and idle way Of
azure spangled Heaven which we do see Where the magazin of Stars so fixed be Which stocks the world with light it s but a vail Or curtain drawn to keep our sences frail From over prying into th' almighties Throne Where only is felicity alone Which no eye ever saw nor yet shall see The hidden glories of eternity Tombs are but wardrops or Chambers of death Hung'd with their winding sheets beneath the Earth Where we shall all after this life be laid Till to our fathers we be gathered If that same heavenly glimps which did appear Upon the mount did the disciples chear Which made them wish that they might there strait raise Three Tabernacles to eternal praise And there abide Oh if that beauty then Reveal'd from Heaven unto these blessed Men Was so Transcendent how will th' enjoyment be Oh ravish us with desires that we may see Where Christ is gone before 't was the Martyrs Joy Amid their tortures valued as a toy Though their limbs were broken and mangled Yet they were sure their hairs were numbred If Peters shadow had that healing power To cure the sick which applied to him each hour How powerful is that shining glory then Which doth such wonders for the Sons of Men. Let no one doubt nor be at any strife If once his name be in the book of life Though his earthly Tabernacle be laid down Yet he shall have an everlasting Crown Of endless glory beyond expression far And shine in Heaven like a glorious Star Who is it would not slight and disregard The vanities of this life for such reward And welcome poverty with all its chains And triumph in the assurance of such gains As that nobly divine transcendent love That is prepared in the Heavens above Where there 's assurance for to live for ever And sweetly rest in the bosom of the father Thou didst create us Lord for to serve thee But by our frailties we 'r become to be For ever lost But thou of thy great love Didst restore us to true joyes above Oh fill us with meditations of thy praise Which may elevate our spirits all our days That we may walk in some measure divine That by a holy practice we may shine As Stars in the lower orb and express that light We have by faith received by thy might And power divine Oh let our hearts be ever Filled with praises and be silent never And still express our thanks and not have done Until we shine in brightness like the Sun And from a holy walking never sever But shine as Stars for ever and for ever Matthew 2.10 And when they saw the Star they Rejoyced with exceeding great Joy I 'm still surpriz'd with wonder at the love Of our offended God that from above Should shew his Star to wise men of the Fast Which welcom'd such an object did not rest But gave it reverence with an holy fear They well knowing the motions of the sphear That blessed object that unwanted Star Which they did with much joy behold from far And there was kindled in them a desire To post unto Jerusalem to enquire Where 's he that is born King we 've seen his Star To worship him with joy are come from far Herod seem'd troubled at such sudden news And all the congregation of the Jews On went these Men the Star being still their guide It rested where the blessed Babe was laid There they rejoyce no frights did them annoy Seeing the Star they had exceeding joy Rouse then my soul in a holy contemplation Of this bright Star whose radiant beams and motion Did quickly spread it self Judea over It s powerful influence did soon discover Divine effects that it did fully tend To be a tipe of mercy to the end To save lost Man oh beauteous Star of light The effects whereof will keep us from that night Of utter darkness in which we all lay hid And by it's mercy shall be glorifi'd Had the ancients known this Star't would raise their sence And enrich their genius with due reverence This sparkling splendor did surely outshine The knowledge of that age it was divine T' was such a lustre That it did adorn The orb beyond the glory of the morn That powerful luminary that directeth time That blessed morning Star shin'd more divine And prov'd a happy guide them safe to bring With holy offerings unto Christ their King And in a joynt harmony with one voice They having seen the Star did much rejoyce See how these pagans footed it what pain They took in travel for that happy gain And blest fruition of that gâ—orious fight Though poor is full of Majesty and might They nimbly walk from the remotest parts In pure devotion and with chearful hearts When some that boldly do profess thy name Will scarce come forth their chamber O! the shame Of such besotted souls as will not rise And prostrate themselves before the eyes Of their offended God though ne're so cheap But snug and snore in sin and fondly heap Crime upon crime not from their vices part Though th' offering small an humble penitent heart But these wise Travellers did freely bring Gold Frankenscence and Myrrhe to Christ the King And made an Inn a Temple there to pay Their tribute O the miserable delay Of pure devotion 'T is their greater shame That stript him of the glory of his name It should exalt all hearts for to rejoyce With adoration and a thankful voice They 'd but one single Star to be their guide But we have many that with active pride Do darken religion and have it in derision Such quaking Comets making an apparition And fiery aspect that will fright away Rather than lead will cause us go astray Into their sottish errors to prevent Le ts keep close to the holy government Which Christ and his Apostles left behind To rectifie the errors of mankind Which if we practice and study aright We need not fear Sathan with all his might Pretended illuminations in religion Eclipseth real light with foul derision And such a nasty Mist doth often gather That in stead of clearing Eyes do blind them rather 'T was a true light by which the wisemen steer'd Which brought them in such triumph that it cheer'd Their hearts with joy that they did see the day Which some do study to forget and lay A load of obliquy on such pretence Not allowing it a day of reverence But let them wallow in their haughty pride It prov'd a blessed day and happy guide To unwearied Travellers but for such as they That sottishly and wildly run a stray And have no Star to guide them but let them wander And fall in their own pitts that thus do slander Thou that hast stockt the world with so much light And enricht it with so many Stars so bright To serve us Mortals 'T was fit thou shouldst take One to thy self thy herald for to make And cause the brightness of that Star surpass All other Stars that now