sor things lawful don't that bound exceed For God before ye ask knows what ye need But silence in the Soul he doth abhor Mercies are small if not worth asking for Pray not for Mercies as thy fancy drives As little Children do for Toys and Knives Who when they have them know not how they 're us'd Mercies are better wanted than abus'd Make Supplications in the Name of Christ Thou mayst be good yet shew not merits list Examine well thine heart keep Faith therein For whatsoever's not of faith is sin Be constant that thou mayst abide the touch For servent righteous prayer availeth much Birds without motion cannot fly i' th' Air Nor without work can we persist in Prayer Pray in Humility and nothing fear The poor man cryed and the Lord did hear In Supplications be importunate Pray perseveringly and in that state So guide thy thoughts and so thy heart prepare As if thy life were one continual Prayer All our Iniquities we must forbear In vain we pray when God shall stop his ear ¶ On Luxury SEneca speaks of some of tender years Suppos'd that hang'd their Lordships at their ears And in our time Gallants to their disgrace Convert their Lands to Feathers and to Lace Wasting their Rents to purchase Silks and Stuffs Mortgaging Mannours to procure them Muffs This they have left when all things else are gone Air for their breath and Earth to tread upon Apicius in his Kitchin did expend Two millions of Gold and in the end Having devour'd so much begins to think What might remain of his huge mass of Chink Finding Two hundred thousand crowns no more He then concluded he was waxing poor Too little 't was his humour to suffice Wherefore he poyson drinks and so he dies Thus our Estates though large in vain are spent When the main thing is wanting that 's Content The Glutton Philoxenus did â—…inveigh Against Dame Nature and for what I pray It was because his neck was made so short His eating was no recreating sport But wisht his neck were like a Cranes for length Better to relish his sweet morsels strength To the Insatiate Water Land nor Air Sufficient is to keep him from despair How many golden Mines at stake must lie To bear the charge of Prodigality Of Henry Duke of Guise it hath been said Usury was his pleasure and his trade For when his large Estate to ashes burn'd At last it all to Obligations turn'd But he that spendeth all to please his friend Perhaps may visit him but want i'th'end But the three B's Back Belly Building have To fair Estates each one become a Grave Luxurious men this for themselves may say Their hands are their Executors and they Before old age approach to make their years Many their eyes are their own Overseers Much of their Patrimonies they expend Upon their Guts the rest to Harlots lend Who usually do leave him full as bare As Crows do leave a Carcass and 't is rare When Riot doth into man's Senses steal But certain Ruine follows at the heel Beggery doth on Luxury attend When the poor Spendthrift hath no other friend And doth at last so despicable grow He is beneath the thought of Friend or Foe The Drunkard and the Glutton e're he die Shall know the want of Superfluitie ¶ On Enmity PLiny affirmeth that the Serpents Brood Cannot be reconcil'd to man nor wou'd The learn'd Bodinus this Relation tell Did not his own experience know it well A capital Antipathy is spread Between the Woman and the Serpent's head So that within a multitude of men If but one woman croud i' th' middle then The Serpent doth his Enmity reveal By finding her and stings her in the heel Well verifying what their Maker sed Th'Serpent should bruise her heel her seed his head Perswasions may o' come an Enemy Irreconcilable is Enmity It is a mutual Malevo'ence ' That between parties studies for offence A dire antipathy that doth create The killing Canker of a mortal hate Magirus saith Nature makes it appear In divers Creatures namely Horse and Bear The Eagle and the Swan among all Fowl The lesser sort of Birds oppose the Owl The Toad and Spider likewise do agree Each one to poyson by antipathy The stately Lion of couragious stock Though bold and fierce is fearful of a Cock But the most sharp hostility indeed Is between Satan and the Womans seed ¶ The Dream MEthinks I hear Six voices cry aloud The first of Dying man's by sickness bow'd That of the Damned is the second voice Thirdly my Soul with an affrighted noise The sourth is Christ's with sweet inviting chimes The fifth's the charming voice of Evil times The sixth a voice that doth the Sense allay A dreadful Sommons to the Judgment-day The Dying man methinks doth make his moan Breathing out sighs and with each sigh a groan Oh loose no time call every minute o're A minute's pretious man's whole life 's no more Oh that I could make sure of Heaven for now My days on Earth unto a period grow The Damned cry and roar O see the end And sad effects of sin sorrows attend The wicked man I now discern my Crime And seel the punishment of loss of time And then I hear my Soul expostulate Oh thou my body frail of wretched state Why should I play the fool to please thy Lust When all my Kindnesses are writ in dust Nay in ungrateful dust that doth repay A Pearl only besmearing it with clay Thou but a moment art of time but I Must last for ever to Eternity When thou with Rottenness art whelm'd about Where shall I be 'T is fit I should get out Betimes from such an Earthy house as thine And as a Star in Heaven's mansion shine Angels are my Companions there dost think To pleasure thee I 'll to Perdition sink Is it not better prethee Mortal tell To Heaven we go than thou bear me to Hell And then methinks sweet Jesus is at hand With invitations thus Behold I stand Here at the door and knock I weep I sue Until my head is covered o're with dew I wait and beg to lead thee to Delight My locks being filled with the dew of night My tears my groans my crying blood doth knock Open to me thou heart if not a Rock With patience I beseech let sin no more A lodging have and Christ wait at the door Let not Damnation gull thee with deceit Whilst thy Salvation doth intreat and wait Then evil times methinks do thus invite Oh now consider walk as in the light Let all your Vertues be adorn'd with Rays Be living Christians these are dying days Be growing Christians lay aside vain Crimes Walk stedfastly in these back-sliding times Oh now or else thou art for ever gone Leave Devil World and Flesh make Christ thine own Then the Archangels voice at last I hear Summoning all the Dead forthwith appear Before the Judgment-seat crying Arise Come forth ye blessed Saints open your
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
¶ The Soul's Soliloquy COme Holy Ghost our Souls inherit With Beams of thy Coelestial Spirit Inflame our Hearts we thee desire With Sparks from thy Coelestial Fire Thou the anoynting Spirit art Who dost thy Seven-fold gifts impart Thy holy Unction from above Is Comfort Life and Fire of Love Enable with perpetual Light The dulness of our blinded Sight Cherish and cleer our soiled face With the abundance of thy Grace Keep far our Foes give Peace at home Where thou art Guard no ill can come Teach us to know the Father Son And thee of both to be but one That through the Ages all-along This may be our endless Song Praise to the Almighty merit Father Son and Holy Spirit ¶ The Enquiry TEll me my Soul where doth thy passion bend Doth it on Heaven or things on earth attend If worldly Objects do thy Reason guide Thou mayst desire but not be satisfi'd If thou dost Beauty love it is a shade But Righteousness doth shine and never fade If worldly Wisdom 't is but as a blast But heav'nly Wisdom doth the World outlast If earthly Riches they have wings and fly But heav'nly Gems do last eternally Estates on earth do as in shipwracks reel In Heaven's harbour are no thieves to steal All thou canst compass here is trifling store In Heav'n are Crowns laid up for evermore Would'st thou have Honour which the World depaints What Honour can be greater than the Saints Or is it Pleasure 't will thy Soul destroy The Just shall enter in their Masters joy But tell me farther what is 't thou wouldst have Both Heav'n and earth on this side of thy Grave Away vain fancies ye are Vertues moth Pitty 〈◊〉 the promise of them both These lustful thoughts lead thee to splendid folly But if thou wouldst be happy then be holy ¶ On Dives SEe with what splendor Dives sits at meat With choice of Dainties courting him to eat His Habit Purple and his Lâ—…nnen fine As if drest up on purpose here to dine How the Spectators look and seem to say There 's too much store provided for one day How many wretched Souls do beg for Bread Whilst this same Glutton hath his Table spread With all varieties And thus they show Their envy But alas did they but know And well consider what his wants are then They'd pity him as if the worst of men His Talent's rich on earth there 's none above it But he wants Grace and Wisdom to improve it All his Estate is but a mighty spoil He hath a Lamp but that Lamp hath no Oyl He hath a Soul but what doth that embrace Vain worldly Lusts the opposites to Grace His House shines gloriously but when all 's done He hath the Star-light but he wants the Sun A Friend to Vice and Vertue 's mortal hater Having the Creature but not the Creator This world 's a Torrent of false Joys the boat Is his vain life doth on it dayly float His Silver Anchor is as weak as Sand Nor can his Gold conduct him safe to Land But rather sink him to the Misers Cell There to inhabit where damn'd Spirits dwell Can he be worth your envy then forbear Rather in pity shed a Christian tear If he be happy May it be thy will O Lord that I be miserable still Give me thy Grace although I 'm clad in Rags Let Vice attend the Miser and his Bags ¶ On Lazarus THe wicked Worldling spends his time in laughter Having his Heaven here his Hell hereafter Contrarywise the good man whilst he 's here Lives as in Hell to sigh and shed his tear But when to Heaven he hereafter flies God wipes away all tears from off his eyes Though here he suffer scorn the worlds annoy Yet He that sows in tears shall reap in joy The Rich man hath his good things in this life Lazarus evil things slights scorn and strife But meets at last with what he here doth miss Eternal joy it is the poor mans bliss Whilst Dives lies as if with Scorpions stung Wishing for Lazarus to cool his tongue That Lazarus who whilome lay before The gilded Postern of the rich mans door Begging some mean remainings of his table Dives rapt up in Silks and costly Sable Glutted with sumptuous food and choice of wine Hath neither time nor ear for them that pine The very kinder Dogs in pity then Licked his Sores thereby instructing men To Love and Charity Observe the end Angels upon the Begger did attend He dies and they to Abraham's bosom fly Leaving him there to all Eternity Whilst Dives striving others to excell When here tormented is in flames of Hell Thus Worldlings ride in pomp to Hell's hot Nest And Penitents in Tears swim to their Rest. The Penitents Praise LOrd now the time returns For weary men to rest And lay aside those pains and cares Wherewith we are opprest Or rather change our thoughts To more concerning cares How to redeem our mis-spent time With Sighs and Tears and Prayers How to provide for Heav'n That place of Rest and Peace Where our full Joys shall never wain Our Pleasures never cease Blest be thy love dear Lord That taught us this sweet way Only to love thee for thy self And for that love obey O thou our Souls chief hope We to thy mercy fly Wheree're we are thou canst protect Whate're we need supply Whether we wake or sleep Either to thee is done By night we through our eye-lids peep As if the night were gone Whether we live or die Both we submit to thee In death we live as well as life If thine in death we be Glory to thee great God One Co-eternal three To Father Son and Holy Ghost Eternal Glory be ¶ Angel and Man A Dialogue Ang. LIsten Oh Sinner I shall make it plain Mankind is wicked altogether vain Nature instructs the bruâ—…ts to bear in mind A friendly consort to each others kind But Man more monstrous than of bruitish hue First preys on them then doth himself undo Devouring Widows houses in his way Pretending Piety seems oft to pray Will with himself and sins oft-times be vext When as his zeal is only a pretext Their very Prayers do themselves condemn As Citizens o' th' new Jerusalem They would appear whenas their chiefest care Should be to crave a Pardon for their Prayer Man What glorious Creature can a tongue rehearse May be compar'd to Man the Universe Is subject to him all things with applause Pay Homage to him and obey his laws God did not from the Angels nature frame His own he took the seed of Abraham Man hath his saults which causeth melancholy Even ye Angels God doth charge with folly Ang. Well have ye said therein we do agree For we are charg'd with such vain things as ye We are your Guardians so to direct Ye safely sleep we Watchmen do protect So great a truth it is no more but thus They are well kept that are secur'd by us And from the
their shame They have a specious Cloak for each offence And study how to palliate their Vice The Covetous hath Husbandry's pretence The Prodigal is free perhaps at Dice The Lecher shrouds his sin i' th' mask of Love The Drunkard to good fellowship pretends The Cheat doth for his Family improve Ill-gotten goods each have their private ends They blush not at the fact yet will not own The Title by the which we may conclude The sense of shame when to perfection grown Restrains from sins can hide a multitude But he that is this apprehension past Le ts loose the Reins of his suborned will Goes hand in hand with Satan till at last Madness and Mischief are his joy and skill The World says to him Take thy pleasure swim In Lust and Liquor Heart the Minde and Eye Are lively merry careless and so trim He doth not care though God's his enemie Fools shew their folly as it sutes their name But prudent men will be asham'd of Shame ¶ On the Wilful Impenitent TEll me fond Worldling why dost thou deride A godly Christian Is 't thy natures pride Dost thou not dayly see his weeping eye Shed Tears to wake thy sleeping Lethargie See how he trembles at the sight of sin Whilst thou lewd actor longest to begin And look'st on him as pusillanimous A Coward or a Drone I tell thee thus Thou' rt rashly valiant and dost spend thy breath On Toys whilst he dare boldly look on Death He 's truly noble and when he appears Is not appall'd before the King of Fears Heav'n is his harbour Grace doth most delight him Hell's horrours may appear but not affright him But as a Conqueror over Death and Hell Can with his Smiles all their Bravadoes quell And with a chearful heart this Ditty sing As if in scorn O Death where is thy sting Or like a Cherubim that flies on high Can say O Hell where is thy victory This is the Valediction of a Saint Whilst Sinners toyl and in their labours faint Where is the Worldling's glory He can sin Can vitious be and he can boast therein Can silence Conscience and outface a Crime And shun a blush to damn his Soul betime That man a Coward is and fights by stealth For if a sickness doth impair his health He then believes Death doth a summons beat And his large Spirit sneaks to a retreat Doth he not tremble when he once hath got A shaking Ague or a Feaver hot And when he feels the heavy hand of Fate He begs for quarter though it be too late What heaviness then fits upon his look Terrour appears Conscience unfolds its book Charges him to consider well and read And just as he begins Death strikes him dead A true Repentance cannot be too late Early Repentance is a blessed state Thus doth a sinner to Perdition fall And that which was his Throne becomes his Thrall ¶ On a Glorious Soul WHenas the Moon her constant course hath run And draws to a Conjunction with the Sun It to the Heavens shines more bright and pure And towards Earth seemeth the more obscure So as the Soul draws neer as like a Spouse Shines fair to Christ is to the World a Blouse He that is pretious unto God that man Is by the World esteem'd a Puritan And he whose Soul in Glory doth inherit Appears but odious to an earthly Spirit For he that looks with a Terrestrial sight Is Lustre-dazled with Coelestial light Shine fair to God if thou'lt to Heaven go Beauty on earth is a beclouded show ¶ On Contentation CYae as asking Pyrrhus his intent What he would do after his hazard spent In many Victories Pyrrhus did reply He 'd take his ease and then live merrily To whom Cyneas That you might have done Before were you contented with your own 'T is not the largeness of the Cage doth bring Notes to the Bird instructing him to sing Moreover though a Bird hath little eye Yet he hath wings by which he soars on high Can see far wider and abundance better Than may an Ox although his eye be greater 'T is not the great Estate that brings Content But Piety the Christian's Ornament The Righteous having little no promotion Yet what he hath when joyned with Devotion May seel more comfort more enjoy God's bounty Than he whose Incomes may command a County But few can be content with what they have He that hath hundreds still for more doth crave If his Possessions be in Houses Land He grasps at more and with a ready hand Omits no mischief that his Craft can nurse To fill his Coffer or enlarge his Purse The greatest thing in little compass can Be comprehended is Content in man And this great Vertue hath its safe abode Only in him that is a Childe of God Who sees and to his brethren cries Content ye Enough 's a feast and Piety hath plentie As when a Traveller comes to his Inn He for a Lodging-room does first begin T' enquire but if he cannot please his minde He is content with such as he shall finde Although perhaps his Room may not delight Well knowing that it is but for a night So is it with the Christian Pilgrim he Can use a large Estate if it should be God's will to bless him with it yet his mind To Heaven's pleasure alway is confin'd A little of the Creatures will asswage Hunger and Thirst in Christian Pilgrimage For let his Journeying be sweet or rough He knows his Father's house hath bread enough Therefore as sweetly feeds in going home As Sampson did upon his Honey-comb Let no man's mind on Earthly things be bent But Having food and rayment be content ¶ On the Hypocrite THe Hypocrite of Actors is the worst His own pretences making him accurst By so much as he acts the better part And Janus-like with double face and heart He can compose his forehead to be grave Although his heart be then his humours slave His modest face doth shew the Characters Of Justice and Religion nor forbears His tongue and gestures so much to proclaim But heart and hands they do recant the same When to the Church he comes he there salutes One of the Pillars and on knee confutes The Atheist worshiping that God in part Whose Precepts never could affect his heart He rises looks about and takes his seat Complains that Charity is not so great As he could wish or heretofore hath been Perhaps bestows an Alms but to be seen Always sits where he may embrace the look Of all Spectators And his Table-book In Sermon-time comes from beneath his coat As seeming fearful he should loose that Note Then takes his Bible hums to rear his voice And turns to some Quotation with a noise Then doubles down the leaf as if the same Were found and loudly asks the Preacher's name And that his Zeal may fervently appear Repeats it that the standers by may hear He can command his Tears reckon up sins With detestation but when he
magnifies Thus he imparts His generosity to famous use Whilst others do repay him with abuse From pride and malice none is more exempt Asham'd of honour values no contempt Violet-like he grows low to the ground That hides its head with leaves and he is found Like that with fragrant smells which so bewray That his own Vertues do his Worth betray In his Discourse he never flies aloft His words are few and those few words are soft Modestly speaking not self-glorious Nor peremptory nor censorious Because he thinks all other men more wise Corrects himself by his own modest eyes When his Devotions do the time beguile He makes himself a nothing wretched vile Doth no man emulate if understood He hates none but himself because not good A mite of Comfort doth his wants supply And none more patient when in misery Because he knows that his deserts are such That having sin'd cannot be plagu'd too much He a low Valley is and planted sweet Where fresh and fragrant Odours often meet And like the proud mans earth is trampled on Though full of wealthy Mines a pretious stone Fit for foundation-work not plac'd aloof God's holy Temple built with lowly roof Camomile-like and Palm-tree when deprest Doth higher rise wearied to take his rest Zacheus from the Sycamore came down And that descension made the Lord his own 'T is not the Proud that do in Christ believe Not Lofty but the Humble him receive Fruitfullest Trees do in the Valleys grow And thrive the better for their being low When taller Trees an interruption finde By the strong blast of a contagious winde Yet the tall Tree hangs down its head to say For this God made me and I do obey The humble man considers Earth's his Womb And then remembers Earth must be his Tomb. Unto Humility God's Grace is given Who with that Grace a Ladder makes to Heaven ¶ On Vice WHen on a Journey and am weary grown I finde an Inne within some Countty-town And have observ'd numbers of Guests do come First to the Chamberlain to shew a Room Perhaps one Chamber doth contain them all Yet on the Chamberlain doth each man call One to the Table bids him straight attend Another doth him to the Window send A third unto the Chimney must be led A fourth would be conducted to his bed A fifth man sends him down for Glass or Cup And e're he 's down another calls him up Thus he 's distracted with a sudden moyl Scarce can please all though tired with his toyl Such is the sad condition of my Soul In what a cloud of crosses it doth rowl By Nature I am born a wretched twin To sorrow servant and a slave to fin Unto the Window I am call'd by Pride Gluttony next pretends to be my Guide By Laziness I 'm to the Chimney led By Wantonness I 'm finely brought to bed Ambition calls me up but I am grown So coverous more profit calls me down Vices I see themselves do contradict 'T is only Vertue that doth Vice convict Free me O Lord from this distracted case Vertue it self is Vice unless thou place It in a centre like it self to shine A servant unto sin cannot be thine For In thy service perfect freedom is Sin is a slavery a dark abyss Satan deludes the Soul to acts obscure But The commandments of the Lord are pure Vice is at best but a diseased Whore Splendidly painted making fools adore ¶ On God's presence HEaven it is ever to be with God Without him is in Hell to take abode You that in Christ no beauty can behold Nor Heavens glory dare you be so bold As not to think they all things do excel Or can you not behold the flames of Hell If in God's presence you do not delight Oh tremble at his absence If your flight Be at a distance as if you did doubt him Consider well and fear to be without him Lord thou my Heaven art my God my Guide My wedded Husband and my Soul 's thy Bride ¶ On Hypocrisie THe Hypocrite with his deceitful eye Doth serve the Devil in God's Livery And therefore to the Lord so well is known Both Earth and Heaven doth his craft disown Man sees his Livery and cunning Art And hateth him but God doth view his heart And hates him too Mensee his outward Zeal For which they do deride him He like steel Grows strong and siubborn pleas'd with his own case Though God and Man do both abhor his face So that he in a Wilderness doth rove And never doth become a Canaan's Dove The sum of all his labours doth at last Consume with the Almighty's dreadful blast And a dire doom when he at Judgment stands Who hath required these things at your hands He that so cunningly did others cheat Took greatest pains his own Soul to defeat He steals his own Damnation and can tell For he with sweat hath found the way to Hell So that the Sinner openly prophane And Hypocrite as they together reign On Earth although in different degrees They both at last Jament their little ease Only two ways they finde unto their fate One steals to Hell thorow the Postern-gate The other keeps the open beaten Road But both at last in Tophet make abode Hypocrites habit is Formality But Lord cloath me with thy Sincerity Perhaps men may not of my state approve It matters not so I obtain thy love Saints here but labour to peruse their story When they arrive to their eternal Glory ¶ On Pleasures IN all things an immoderated use Breeds a distate and man when grown prosuse Doth glut himself with Pleasure He that 's wise Esteems them chiefly for their novelties The pleasure of the body gives relief No otherwise than adding grief to grief When Jupiter as ancient Poets fain With all his might and art could not attain Two great Antagonists to reconcile Pleasure and Sorrow having paus'd a while He took an Adamantine Chain with that Bound them together so that then they sat As fixt Companions They that were unstable But just before were made inseparable Affection propagates our Pleasures growth Vertue 's an Antidote against them both Pleasure is the Adulterate brat of Sense So very fading she cannot dispence To last while Artists shall her Picture frame And therefore Memory preserves her name All those delights that do the Senses please Are one days age an Ephemerides What excellence may that be said to be Which the most excellent as dangers slee Time with the Pleasures of this World is spilt Full of the stain of fin and sting of guilt Hannibal his honour lost and duty Being entangled with a womans beauty Antonius his Cleapatra had Both were most valiant Captains but the sad Effects of Lust did like a Cloud o'recast All their Archievements and their labours blast Lust is the bane of Kingdoms done alone It would more common be than any one Of all those Vices that corrupt the eye Heathens the first place give to
Handmaid am but of a short time and too weak for the understanding of thy Judgments and Laws Although a man be never so perfect among the children of men yet if thy Wisdom be not with him he shall be of no value O send her out therefore from thy Holy Heavens and from the Throne of thy Majesty that she may be with me and labour with me that I may know what is acceptable in thy sight for she knoweth and understandeth all things and she shall lead me soberly in my works and preserve me in her power So shall my works be acceptable by Christ our Lord to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be all Honour and Glory World without end Amen The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom and the price of Wisdom is above Rubies HOLY RULES FOR The Devout Christian. IF thou art learned be also pious for Learning sanctified is an Ornament to Grace but Learning corrupted is an Advocate for the Devil Call to minde and oftentimes examine thy self accounting thy thoughts thy words and deeds especially after much business discourses pastime c. Silence is commendable in things that appertain not to thee to the end thou mayest the better call to minde the sufferings of a crucified Saviour If God hath blessed thee with an Estate relieve thy Brother and so live as having little yet possessing all things For remember that Meat Drink and Cloath are the Riches of a Christian and since Christ gave himself for thee well may'st thou give some Fruits of thy labour unto his Let Death be oftentimes the subject of thy Meditations yield thy self wholly to God If thou art poor and hast nothing to requite him with but thy prayers and thy self yet if thou givest thy self to his disposal thou then givest all thou hast The Apostles left their Ships and their Nets The poor Widow gave only her two Mites to the poor mans box and she was preferred before a wealthy Croesus He easily despiseth all things of this world that doth but remember he must die In open Assemblies use not ordinarily all spiritual things lest thou shalt be thought to be singular except thou may'st edisie others and by thy example stir them up to the like On all occasions prefer the glory of God and his service above all things Be a comfort to the Afflicted reconcile Dissentions visit the Sick and the Imprisoned and forget not to relieve the Poor and needy Above all things have servent love for love shall cover a multitude of sins Fast one day in each month or oftner if the strength of thy body will bear it and remember to distribute thy Alms for Fasting and Alms are the wings of Prayer If perturbation or discontents arise in thy minde apply thy self to Prayer Go not to thy rest in wrath lest thou givest the common enemy to mankinde an opportunity to surprize thee Beware of immoderate Cares lest you dishonour or deny God for such cares are 1. Needless 2. Bruitish 3. Bootless 4. Heathenish 1. Needless What need we care when Our heavenly Father knoweth we have need of these things And saith Be careful for nothing but let us cast our cares on him for he careth for us 2. Bruitish Consider the fowls of the air and ravens that he feeds they toyl not 3. Bootless and in vain Which of you by taking thought 〈◊〉 one cubit to his stature or peny to his estate 〈◊〉 4. Heathenish For after all these things the Gentiles seek Repent dayly let not the Devil have the Flour of thy age and God the Bran. The Spirit of Prayer is far more pretious than Treasures of Gold and Silver Despise not the Ministers of Christ for Christ is the Word and they are his Embassadors God requires we should mortisie our lusts for Prayer without that is the service of a Hypocrite Sin bringeth shame and sorrow but Piety hath the portion of everlasting joys Let us cloath our selves with Righteousness it is the safest Armour against the darts of Satan The two Roads that lead to Heaven are Innocence and Repentance Sin is the Christians greatest sore and Repentance his surest salve who then would want the rare Jewel of Repentance since If ye seek ye shall finde An Alarm to the Drowsie PErmit not sluggish sleep To close your waking eye Till you with judgement deep Your dayly actions try He that his sin as Darling keeps when he to quiet goes More desperate is than he that sleeps Amidst his mortal foes At night lie down prepar'd to have Thy sleep thy death thy bed thy grave DIVINE ADVICE TO THE Devout Soul THy Soul is spiritual and thy Body is flesh make not then flesh of thy spirit for an habitual familiarity with corrupt lusts perverts it into the basest flesh God hath made man a lovely Creature do not then make thy self a Monster He dignified thee at first to glorifie thee at last Then let not Carnality deprive thee of thy Blessings With thy sins God will not own thee then tremble to think who it is will take thee If by Lust thou hast lost the sence of Honour and Glory study to recover it by Grace Thy Soul is immortal cannot die thy Body is mortal must die Let not then thy Body be preferred above thy Soul Thy Body hath but a lease for Life then let not a Moment be preferred before Eternity Study not to satisfie thy Body and neglect the salvation of thy Soul It is madness to seek for an unreasonable welfare for the body and thereby eternally ruine both soul and body For so the immortal is made damnably mortal and dies to bliss and the mortal miserably immortal ever living to wo. Remember thy Soul is the noble part of Humane nature wherefore to set thy affections on Earth is infinitely below thee such is thy Nobility Thy Arms are the Minde and Will which were created to embrace Mercie Truth Justice Charity c. and all the Vertues of a heavenly life Thy Body is servant to thy Soul let it tread upon the Earth for that is likewise its subject Let not then the Soul which is the Soveraign of the body set its heart upon that Earth on which its subject sets his foot In thy Soul is the Image of God let it not then be stained with the similitude of beast Let Reason not Sense direct thee a Rational will not the appetite of a Bruit He that lives a negligent and careless â—…ife does what he can to outdo the Deâ—…il in his own undoing For God hath given him Reason â—…nd his depraved nature acts against 〈◊〉 If thou wouldst be in eternal bliss act like man but appear like God for Heaven hath no room for beasts If a wicked Spirit hath deformed thee let an holy one transform thee Every child of God should maintain his Father's likeness that he may enjoy his inheritance Thy Soul is the Spouse of God the great Creator is its Husband no Creature is worthy
every person is his work 19. It is a spiritual injustice to desire to know the secrets of others and to conceal our own 20. We ought not to love our Neighbour onely because he is good or because we hope he will be so but because God commands us so to do 21. In holy duties we should speak little think much but do more 22. It is a great evil not to do good 23. The just man never dies unprepared for he is well prepared for death who perseveres in Christian justice to the end 24. Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth and a foot out of joynt 25. As he that taketh away a Garment in cold weather and as Vinegar upon Nitre so is he that singeth Songs to a heavy heart 26. It is no shame to be poor Nature brought us so into the World and so we must return 27. Dost thou want things necessary grumble not perchance it was necessary thou shouldest want however seek a lawful remedy if God bless not thy endeavour do thou bless him that knoweth what is fittest for thee Thou art God's Patient prescribe not thy Physician 28. Art thou calumniated examine thy Conscience if that be spotted thou hast a just correction if not guilty thou hast a fair instruction Use both so shalt thou distil honey out of gall and make to thy self a secret friend of an open enemy 29. If thine enemy be hungry give him bread if thirsty give him drink thou thereby heapest coals of fire upon his head and a reward unto thy self 30. Charity makes God our debtor for the Poor are his receivers 31. Hast thou an Estate and wouldst increase it divide thy Riches to the Poor those Seeds that are scattered do encrease but hoarded up they die 32. Correction without instruction makes the Master a Tyrant and the Servant a novice 33. That man is a Conquerour that can subdue his own passions 34. Faithful are the wounds of a friend but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful 35. Arm thy self against a profest enemy but he that dissembleth friendship strikes beyond a caution and wounds above a cure from the one thou mayst deliver thy self but from the other Good Lord deliver thee 36. A man that flattereth his Neighbour sâ—…eadeth a Net for his feet 37. The Touch-stone trieth Gold and Gold trieth men 38. Virtue must be the guide of all Qualities otherwise the Professors are undone 39. As the servants of God are known by their two Vertues Humility and Charity so the servants of the Devil are known by their opposite Vices Pride and Cruelty 40. The best way to keep good acts in memory is to refresh them with new 41. To boast is to be vain since the greatest Conquerour if he measure his own shadow shall finde it no longer than it was before his victory 42. Believe not Soothsayers for Prophesies are never understood till they are accomplished 43. The World is a wide Prison and every day an execution-day 44. Our Stomachs are common Sepulchres for Birds Beasts and Fish they all die to feed us Lord with how many deaths are our poor lives patched up How full of death is the life of man 45. Beware of Drink where Drunkenness reigns Reason is an exile Vertue a stranger and God an enemy Blasphemy is Wit Oaths are Rhetorick and Secrets are Proclamations 46. Whosoever will arrive at a New life must pass by the death of the Old 47. He that is truly humble never thinks himself wronged 48. The good man lives contented with a moderate Estate not so much taking notice of those that have more as those that have less than our selves 49. He that most mortifies natural inclinations receives most supernatural inspirations 50. To shun the accidental troubles of this life is to meditate often upon Eternity 51. It is the great misfortune of man to desire those things which he should only use 52. To have a desire to be poor and not to receive the inconveniencies of it is too great ambition For it is to desire the honour of Poverty and the commodity of Wealth 53. There is no better way to end happily a true spiritual life than daily to begin it 54. He that would have a part with Jesus glorified must first take part with Jesus crucified 55. We should live in this present World as if our Souls were in Heaven and our Bodies in the Grave 56. In the death of our Passions consists the life of our Souls 57. It is not Humility to acknowledge our selves miserable that onely is not to be a beast but it is Humility to desire that others should esteem us so 58. There is no reason to be given for the fault we commit in sin for the fault would not be sin if it were not against Reason 59. Virtues never have their full growth but when they bring forth desires of advancing which like spiritual seeds serve to produce new degrees of Vertues 60. We should never speak of God or of things which concern his service carelesly by way of discourse or entertainment but always with great respect and humble minde 61. We should sear the Judgement of God without discouragement and encourage our selves without presumption 62. The ready way for the Soul to have peace with it self is to obtain its peace with God 63. We may perform many holy actions yet not please God if we neglect to do what he requires of us no more than a Painter in representing an Eagle pleaseth him that desired a Bee 64. Let us never look on our Crosses but through the Cross of Christ thereby we shall finde them pleasant and have fresh desires to be afflicted 65. Desire to obtain the love of God makes us meditate but that love once obtained makes us contemplate THE TABLE A ANgel and Man A Dialogue Page 6 On Ambition 9 An Adieu to the World 14 Almost a Christian 21 St. Ambrose's Hymn 62 St. Augustine's Hymn ibid. The Ascension 66 An Adoration ibid. The Altar 72 The Ant 78 Antiphon 79 Of Angels 82 On Age 94 Acknowledgments 111 Advice to Prisoners 126 St. Austin's Prayer 134 On Alexander the Great 161 B On the Book misprinted the Tree of Life 21 On Beauty 41 The Bible 81 The Beatitudes 82 The Believer 136 Bad at Best 159 On Blasphemy 166 Blessings of the Righteous as they are recorded in Holy Writ 172 C The Christian and Worlding 11 On Conscience 24 On Contentation 30 The Christians Alphabet 59 On Christ's Death 60 On Christ's Cross 63 The Cross 65 On Christ 68 Christian and Death 71 The Candle 77 Of Christ's Passion 83 On Christ's Praying 84 On Christ's Nativity 102 Christ's Triumph to Jerusalem 103 Of Christ's Birth in an Inne 104 To the Creator 105 The Caution 112 On the Conscience 133 On Christ's Nativity expected 137 The Call 138 The Check 149 Christ all in all 152 The Careless Christian 154 The Colestial Painter 156 To the divine Creator 157
begins He never thinks with a true pious wrath How many darling-sins his bosom hath Nor Alms nor Prayers ne're fall unless he spy Although at distance certain witness by As if he doubted whether God would own Receiving them and is so wary grown That left the World should not discern his worth His mouth 's the Trumpet that doth sound it forth And when his Bags run o're bethinks to build An Hospital and that is straightway fill'd With persons indigent did aged grow Poor as when born for he had made them so With flesh on Frydays he will not be fed He more abhors it than his Neighbours bed Will at the Name of Jesus bow or nod At Church anon at Tavern swear by God When his Step-mother's sick and seems to creep Towards her Grave he then brings Tears to weep When he hath cause to fear she will not die He forces a rejoycing-sympathie With her best friends 'T is hard to rightly paint An Hypocrite To strangers he 's a Saint A meer pretender to the Poors relief Private Extortioner his Neighbours grief The blot of goodness scoff in good mens fight A rotten Stick to trust in dark of night A Candle temper'd ill with a large snuff The Poor man's Plague and a religious Huff The Fool 's great Idol and the Wife man's scorn A choaking Poppy in a field of Corn Abroad an Angel free from least of evil At home none more implacable a Devil And when an Angel worse a guide amiss But when a Devil shews but what he is As the Apostle's Phrase is many men Are servants of the eyes for they shall when They are beheld act Vertue with a grace And in their Zeal run with a thorow pace When they perceive Spectators all are gone They change their habits for the Play is done They curious Searchers are in others acts Careless Correctors of their own foul facts They to their Lust and Lewdness are so prone They think they 're safe because espi'd by none Thus an ill nature leadeth man to sin And corrupt custom bids him ' bide therein When carnal Constitutions get a head They like Commanders do weak mortals lead But for the Hypocrite he seems a friend Will promise much but not without an end Nothing perform but many he hath broke Receiving substance but returning smoke And he whose quality is eminent More foul's the quality of his intent Acts that dishonourable are look great In them by blood or parts have Honours seat The Publican and Sinner have more right To Heaven's Mansions than an Hypocrite I with Prolixity might spoil my Pen For he 's in verity the scum of men The worst of damned Souls their portion have With him in hot and horrid scorching Cave There leave we him and his tormented bone Measuring minutes with deep sighs and groar ¶ On Envy ALl lusts reduced are to Three-fold heads Lust of the eyes the flesh and that which leads To as much Vice and a continual Strife The haughty humour or the pride of life But Envy is the chiefest lust of eyes Seeing another good with him it vies Not to be farther good his envy grew Seeing good men belov'd and honour'd too Envy thinks all men made of equal stuff Why may not envious men be good enough It for the Innocent defends a Cause To seem a Saint and to procure applause But 't is a Plague within a man 's own brest And a Disease will not admit of Rest. If such a thing as Admiration be It 's heart doth whisper That belongs to me It is a furious wind which to rehearse Sometimes breaks forth to shake the Universe A sharp Malignity most quick of sight An Ostrich with an eager appetite Cherish a Doâ—… and you may make him tame Lions by gentleness become the same But man grown â—…vious if you speak him fair Yet keep at distance of his wiles beware For if he sees you creep then he proves worse May smile upon you when his heart doth curse 〈◊〉 the World's frowns do force you to comply He gluts himself with your adversity And Beetle-like as I have heard it sung When hungry grown doth eat its fellows dung Whilst Envy doth obliquely look upon The good of others all his own is gone Or at the least takes no delight the smart Is like a Vulture seeding on the heart The Basilisk by nature kills all Trees And Shrubs it breatheth on and when he please Doth scorch and burn all Herbs and Leaves of Grass Over the which his body chance to pass So Envy is an Aetna in a man Like the Cantharides if seeding can Encompass as its stomach doth dispose And often diets on the fairest Rose It is a Passion doth ones Health deser And proves at last a man's Self-murtherer 'T is Couzen-German to the sin of Pride And each may well be call'd a Homicide Wrath kills the foolish man when in his way The envious man the silly Soul doth slay The eye alas is the unhappy pit That first doth this destructive guest admit And when it gets a full possession once It shrinks the Nerves and rots into the bones Till with Consumption it doth man environ Feeding on him as Rust doth seed on Iron Envy believes its will should be its law Socrates saith 'T is to the Soul a Saw Grates without mercy when it doth behold Its dross and sees another shine in gold Like the poor Fly to put the Candle out Doth burn it self with buzzing round about Or like the Bee that with a humming flies Looses his sting and then at once he dies Or Viper-like to make a Paul expire Leaping on him is cast into the fire Envy 's a Canker in the Heart and Minde Spleen to the good Great Charity is kinde ¶ On Supplication AS in a Ship when sailing from its Port The Sails are Loised thereby to exhort Some skilful Mariner to shew his art Who presently doth to the Rudder start So every morning when we rise from rest Our hearts should study for a just Request For that 's the Rudder of our life and age To guide us through our Earthly Pilgrimage Heav'n is our home and God alone to him Through Rivers of our Tears we ought to swim For when God's wrath is kindled to a fire No other water can allay his ire Christians no better Messengers can send Than Prayers and Tears Angels on them attend Moses by Prayer that prevailing Word Harm'd Amalik much more than Israel's Sword Th' Apostle Paul this golden Rule hath laid Let supplications for all men be made In which great duty let this be observ'd First a due preparation not with carv'd Or starch'd Expressions made by Wit and Art God doth desire truth in the inward part Consider thou the Supplicant art dust A vile and sinful man a heap of Lust. The Lord to whom thou dost thy Prayers apply Is Holy Wise of Sacred Majesty Let Meditation guide thee in thy way Lest thy frail minde distracted be and ftray Pray
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
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
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
Curses of the Wicked 175 D On Dives 3 A Dialogue 6 A Dialogue 11 On Death 23 On a Death-bed-Repentance 25 The Dream 39 On Disturb'd Devotion 46 On Death 70 A Dialogue 71 Death Man and Grave 73 A Dialogue in three parts 79 The Dream 81 On the Day of Judgement 91 A Dialogue in three parts 103 The Divine Inquest 108 Delights of the minde 139 On Death 141 On Darkness 151 Degrees of Love 158 On Drunkenness 165 On Desperation 185 E On Envy 34 On Enmity 38 The Evenings Ejaculation 12â—… The Extasie 138 F Of Flesh 75 The Free Prisoner 95 Faith's Mystery 97 On Formal Duty 125 The Flower 150 On Food 152 On Fatherly Affection 180 The Free Giver 182 The Friendly Advice 183 G On a glorious Soul 29 On Gods presence 53 Of God 67 God is Love 69 Of Grief 70 The Grave 76 To God the Father 100 Son ibid. Holy Ghost 101 The Godly Garden 106 On Greatness and Goodness 107 God and Caesar 114 Gabriel and Mary 115 To the God of Heaven 150 Gabriel and Zacharias 161 On Worldly Gain 162 Gloria in Altissimis or the Angelical Anthem 180 On the Gospel 181 H On the Hypocrite 31 On Humility 50 On Hypocrisie 53 On an Hour-glass 56 An Hymn 62 On Honour and Valour 84 On the Holy Trinity 102 On Humane Frailty 124 On Heaven 142 On Hell 143 The Holy Innocents 156 I On Judas his Treason 13 On an Israelite 26 On Ingratitude 45 An Infant 76 On the Judgment 98 On St. John's day 110 Judeth's Prayer 115 Judeth and Holosernes 117 Judeth's Song of Thanksgiving 119 On Judgment 141 Jeremiah's Lamentation 145 On Justice and Mercie 151 I would but cannot 153 Jesus wept 162 K On Knowledge 42 Knots 93 L On Lazarus 4 On Luxury 37 The Litany 85 Of Life 113 On Love and Hatred 151 On Life and Death 154 On the Lord's Prayer 182 M On Meditation 1 Of Mirth and Mourning 8 Of Mortality 18 On Memory 25 On the Mariner 26 On Magnanimity 44 On Mortality 47 On St. Michael the Archangel 87 On Man and Wife 94 On Mans Creation 121 The Mornings Ejaculation ibid. On Mercy 130 Martha and Mary 162 N Natures Delight 74 The New Birth 157 O Oppositions 88 P The Penitents Praise 5 Of Poverty 17 On Patience 19 Of Presumption 22 On St. Peter's Enlargement 48 On Prosperity 49 On Pleasures 54 On Perfection 57 On St. Paul's Conversion 83 The free Prisoner 95 The Petition 97 On the Pharisee and Publican 99 The Power of Prayer 114 Advice to Prisoners 126 On Peace 129 Prayer for Peace ibid. The Penitent 131 St. Paul's Petition 133 On Pride 145 On St. Peter's Perjury 163 On Pusillanimity ibid. On Persecution 170 Praises to God 176 A Panegyrick to the Right Reverend and most nobly descended Prelate Henry by divine Providence Lord Bishop of London 186 R On a Rose Tree 59 The Resurrection 65 The Remembrance 69 On Repentance 89 S The Souls Soliloquy 2 Spiritus Sanctus 10 On Shame 27 On Supplication 35 On Sin and Sorrow 47 The Souls search 48 Salve for the Sick 56 On Sighs and Groans 93 On Sunday 96 The Shepherds Dialogue in three parts 103 The Souls Alarm 106 The Souls Yearnings 108 The Sinners Tears 110 The Swine 131 The Soul Awaked 132 The Salutation of Saints 144 On Sin 147 The Seeker 155 The Steward ibid. On the Spring 164 On Science ibid. The Sick mans Ease 167 On Singing of Psalms 168 On little Sins 169 On Sleep 172 On Sloath 184 T On the Tree of Knowledge 12 The Thanksgiving 78 On Tinder 84 On Thoughts 88 On the holy Trinity 102 Of Thoughts 105 On Tears 122 Time's Travel 160 On Temperance 170 V On a Vsurer 15 On Vice 52 On Vain-Glory 128 The Voyage 153 W The Warning 1 On a Wicked man 19 On the Wilful Impenitent 28 The Wish 112 On the Worth of Wealth 125 The Widows Mite 160 On Worldly Gain 162 ERRATA PAge 21. for the Tree of Life read On the Book of Life p. 68. for He it is that gives us Peace read He it is that gives us Peace in line 4. observe these points are omitted J. ES. u. To my MUSE FOrbear vain Muse thy subject is too high Thy Saveraign rather is the Deity The God of all the World whose dreadful Name Strikes an Amazement in whole Natures frame God! what a fright the very sound hath made My Soul into a Ravishment is laid I must repent my rashness when that 's done Let us consult how thou shalt journey on First let thy Meditations milde and meek Direct thy Heart to teach thy Tongue to speak And from those pious thoughts my Muse distil Those Fragrants may befit an Angels Quill Consider thou dost boldly dare t' aspire To do the duty of an Holy Quire Nay of a Quire of Angels blest who bring Joy to themselves and Duty to their King Then since thy Task is great thy Work sublime Invoke Apollo to assist thy Rhyme Call the nine Muses to inspire thy heart That every one with thee may bear a part So to preserve your duties from decay Striving to Love to Sing and to Obey 'T is not an easie or a common thing For Peasants to approach an Earthly King Then how much study is to be acquir'd When God the King of kings must be admir'd Yet thou presumptuous Muse although confin'd Makest attempts I hope because thy mind Tikes a delight in a Poetick Air Converting every Poem to a Prayer The Task is great too great for grave Divines Angels and Saints best sing 〈◊〉 lines First let thy Pen in Helicoâ—… be 〈◊〉 Soar not too high because thy Wings are clipt PRISON-PIETY OR DIVINE POEMS ¶ The Warning ALl idle thoughts from hence depart Let none but what are pure in heart Draw neer and those tun'd with an Air Supposing ev'ry page a Prayer ¶ On Meditation IN Meditation let Devotion be The Hand-maid to the Hearts Soliloquie The Eagle casts her eye upon the Sun So Contemplation doth her courses run Fixing the minde upon no Object less Than the bright Beams o' th' Sun of Righteousness Or else unto those Birds aspiring rare The Soul contemplative I may compare Of whom King David worthily attests That by the Holy Altar build their Nests â—…o Meditation's said in holy Story â—…o build her Nest about the Throne of Glory â—…his Bee of Paradise all days and hours â—…ucks Honey from the choicest Garden flowers By Contemplation I with God can talk In Mansions of Eternity can walk Then O my Soul what mak'st thou here below Where nought but thorns do spring and weeds do grow Where nothing thrives but loose unlawful Tares Watered with Tears and nourished with Cares Then mount my Soul from this terrestrial Bubble This heap of Sin and wilderness of Trouble Mount to the Land of Promise where thy Wings Shall Consorts finde of Angels and of Kings Though present Habitation Here is given Yet let thy Conversation Be in Heaven
our Cup was sweet but mix'd Here all is pure refin'd and fix'd All quintessence of Joy Hear'st thou my Soul what glorious things The Church of Heav'n in triumph brings Of their bless'd life above Chear thy faint hopes and bid them live All these thy God to thee will give If thou embrace his love Great God of rich rewards who thus Hast crown'd thy Saints and wilt crown us As both to thee belong O may we both together sing Eternal praise to thee our King In one eternal Song ¶ On Greatness and Goodness GReatness is with a strong desire affected And often sought with hazard cost and pain Goodness of greater worth is less respected Priz'd as a thing both needless is and vain Greatness aspires and sets it self on high While Goodness walks below with humble pace The first is follow'd with an Eagle's eye The last is thought unworthy of the Chace But Greatness seeks that which is transitory And Goodness aims at Grace which leads to Glory Lord let thy Grace my mundane thoughts defeat That I may study to be Good not Great ¶ The Soul's Yearnings MY Soul pants towards thee My God Fountain of Light and Life Flesh strives with me Conclude the strife That so in blessed peace I may Unclay My Spirit that done swiftly take My flight to thy refreshing Spring Where for thy sake Who art my King I may wash all my griefs away That day And conquer Sin and Death Thou great Triumpher o're the Grave Whose life and breath Was spent to save A wretched World make me be stil'd Thy Child And grant that when I die And leave this World that then my Soul Above the Skie Thou wilt enroul That in thy arms for ever I Even unto Eternity May lie ¶ The Divine Inquest TEll me you bright Stars that shine Round about the Lambs high Throne How though bodies once like mine How you are thus glorious grown Heark with one voice they reply This was all our happy skill We on Jesus fix'd our eye And his em'nent followers still As we clearly saw their mind Set and rul'd we order'd ours Both this state alone design'd Up towards this strain'd all our pow'rs Taught by Temp'rance we abstain'd From all less for greater goods Slighting little drops we gain'd Full and sweet and lasting floods Arm'd with Fortitude we bare Lesser evils worse do flie Mortal Death we durst out-dare Rather than for ever die Justice we observ'd by giving Ev'ry one their utmost due That in peace and order living All might freely Heav'n pursue Prudence govern'd all the rest Prudence made us still apply What was fittest what was best To advance great Charity On those golden wheels of Grace That Love 's fiery Chariot bear We arriv'd at this bright place Follow us and never fear O sure Truth O bless'd Attesters O that all the World may prove Of both these such strong digesters That both these may feed their love Him who made us all for this Him who made himself our way Him who leads us unto Bliss May all praise and all obey ¶ The Sinners Tears SHed forth apace and make a Bath To cure my Soul of sin Haste out for God a bottle hath To keep ye in Every Tear is worth a Crown It lifts the Soul to Heav'n Supports the same from sinking down To filthy Leav'n They 're comfort to the Heart they 're case Embassadors to God To beg he may his wrath appease And spare his Rod. They 're holy Messengers of Saints Sent to him to impart They 're godly sorrows each Tear paints Their grief of heart Then flow amain and weep those fords Or little Rivers dry And when I 've vented all my hords Then I Will groan because no longer cry And die That I may live eternally ¶ On St. John's day TO day Let 's sing Joy to the friend of Heaven's King He in his bosom lay Secur'd the Keys Of his profound and hidden Mysteries Those to the World dispensed by his hand Did make it stand In admiration to behold that light Happily came From the Throne of the Lamb And to invite Our sinful eyes which nothing else could see But Fire and Sword Hunger and Miserie Anticipating by their ravish'd sight The beauty of Coelestial delight Great Lord of all O hear me when I pray That when my heap of Clay Shall fall away O let thy gracious hand support me up That on the Lambs rich Viand I may supâ—… And that in this last supper I May with thy friend in thy rich bosom lie For ever to eternitie ¶ Acknowledgements MY God had I my breath from thee This hour to speak and sing And shall my voice and shall my song Praise any but their King My God had I my Soul from thee This pow'r to judge and chuse And shall my Brain and shall my Will Their best to thee resuse Alas not this alone or that Hast thou bestow'd on me But all I have and all I hope I have and hope from thee And more I have and more I hope Than I can speak or think Thy blessings first refresh then fill Then overflow the brink Glory to thee Immortal God O great Co-equal Three As at the first beginning was May now and ever be ¶ The Wish OH that I once were in that City Where Hallelujah is the Ditty Where Contemplation is the Diet Sure that 's the place where man is quiet Oh that I once were in that Court Where all good Spirits do resort Where Love and Joy and Grace abound Sure that 's the place where man is crown'd Oh that I once could sly the wav From my unfurnish'd house of Clay For should my Landiord sue for Rent Too late it would be to repent But sighs and tears will pay my score He 's merciful and asks no more Then whilst thy Fountain hath one Tear to yield Weep oh my Soul and to th' Elizium field Swim in a River of Repentant Tears Thy Rent is paid and thou art freed from fears ¶ The Caution OPen thine eyes my Soul and see Once more the light returns to thee Look round about and chuse thy way Thou meanst to travel o're to day Think on the dangers thou mayst meet And always watch thy sliding feet Think where thou once hast fall'n before Observe the place and sin no more Think on the helps thy God bestows Contrive to steer thy life by those Think on the sweets thy Soul doth feel When thou dost well and do so still Think on those pains that shall torment Those sinners bold that neâ—…e repent Think on the joys that wait above To crown the head of holy Love Think what at last will be thy part If thou go'st on where now thou art See Life and Death set thee to chuse One thou must take and one refuse O Lord be thou my perfect Guide So shall I never step aside Still make me walk still make me tend Be thee my way to thee my end All Glory to the