more harmlesse found and milde His food was Locusts and what there doth spring With Hony that from virgine Hiâ—es distill'd Parcht Bodie hollow Eyes some vncouth thing Made him appeare long since from Earth exilde There burst he foorth All yee whose Hopes relye On GOD with mee amidst these Desarts 〈◊〉 Repent repent and from olde errours tuâ—ne Who listned to his voyce obey'd his cry Onely the Ecchoes which hee made relent Rung from their flintie Caues repent repent THese Eyes deare Lord once Brandons of Desire Fraile Scoutes betraying what they had to keepe Which their owne heart then others set on fire Their traitrous blacke before thee heere out weepe These Lockes of blushing deeds the gilt attire Waues curling wrackefull shelfes to shadow deepe Rings wedding Soules to Sinnes lethargicke sleepe To touch thy sacred Feet doe now aspire In Seas of care behold a sinking Barke By windes of sharpe Remorse vnto thee driuen O let me not expos'd be Ruines marke My faults confest LORD say they are forgiuen Thus sigh'd to TESVS the Bethanian faire His teare-wet Feet still drying with her Haire I Countries chang'd new pleasures out to finde But ah for pleasure new I sound new paine Enchanting Pleasure so did Reason blind That Fathers loue and words I scorn'd as vaine For Tables rich for bed for following traine Of carefull seruants to obserue my Minde These Heards I keepe my fellowes are assign'd Rocke is my Bed and Herbes my Life sustaine Now while I famine feele feare worser harmes Father and Lord I turne thy Loue yet great My faults will pardon pittie mine estate This where an aged Oake had spred its Armes Thought the lost Childe while as the Heardes he led Not farre off on the ackornes wilde them fed IF that the World doth in amaze remaine To heare in what a sad deploring mood The Pelican powres from her brest her Blood To bring to life her yonglings backe againe How should wee wonder of that soueraigne Good Who from that Serpents sting that had vs slaine To saue our lifes shed his Lifes purple flood And turn'd in endlesse Ioy our endlesse Paine Vngratefull Soule that charm'd with false Delight Hast long long wander'd in Sinnes flowrie Path And didst not thinke at all or thoughtst not right On this thy Pelicanes great Loue and Death Heere pause and let though Earth it scorne Heauen see Thee powre foorth teares to him powr'd Blood for thee IF vhen farre in the East yee doe behold Forth from his Christall Bed the Sunne to rise With rosie Robes and Crowne of flaming Gold If gazing on that Empresse of the Skies That takes so many formes and those faire Brands Which blaze in Heauens high Vault Nights watchfull eyes If seeing how the Seas tumultuous Bands Of bellowing Billowes haue their course confin'd How vnsustain'd the Earth still steadfast stands Poore mortall Wights yee e're found in your Minde A thought that some great King did sit aboue Who had such Lawes and Rites to them assign'd A King who fix'd the Poles made Spheares to moue All Wisedome Purenesse Excellencie Might All Goodnesse Greatnesse Iustice Beautie Loue With feare and wonder hither turne your Sight See see alas Him now not in that State Thought could fore-cast Him into Reasons light Now Eyes with teares now Hearts with griefe make great Bemoane this cruell Death and drearie case If euer Plaints iust Wâ—e could aggrauate From Sinne and Hell to saue vs humaine Race See this great King naill'd to an abiect Tree An obiect of reproach and sad disgrace O vnheard Pittie Loue in strange degree Hee his owne Life doth giue his Blood doth shed â—or Wormelings base such Worthinesse to see Poore Wights behold His Visage pale as Lead His Head bow'd to His Brest Lockes sadlie rent Like a cropt Rose that languishing doth fade Weake Nature weepe astonish'd World lament Lamâ—nt you Windes you Heauen that all containes And thou my Soule let nought thy Griefes relent Those Hands those sacred Hands which hold the râ—ines Of this great All and kept from mutuall warres The Elements beare rent for thee their Vaines Those Feete which once must trade on golden Starres For thee with Nailes would bee pierc'd through and â—orne For thee Heauens King from Heauen himselfe â—ebarres This great heart-quaking Dolour waile and mourne Yee that long since Him saw by might of Faith Yee now that are and yee yet to bee borne Not to behold his great Creators Death The Sunne from sinfull eyes hath vail'd his light And faintlieâ—journeyes vp Heaâ—ens saphyre Path And cutting from her Browes her Tresses bright The Moone doth keepe her Lords sad Obseqâ—ies Impearling with her Teares this Robe of Night All staggering and lazie lowre the Skies The Earth and elementall Stages quake The long since dead from bursted Graues arise And can things wanting sense yet sorrow take And beare a Part with him who all them wrought And Man though borne with cryes shall pittie lacke Thinke what had beene your state had hee not brought To these sharpe Pangs himselfe and priz'd so hie Your Soules that with his Life them life hee bought What woes doe you attend if still yee lye Plung'd in your wonted ordures wreâ—ched Brood Shall for your sake againe GOD euer die O leaue deluding shewes embrace true good Hee on you calles forgoe Sinnes shamefull trade With Prayers now seeke Heauen and not with Blood Let not the Lambes more from their Dames bee had Nor Alâ—â—rs blush for sinne liue euery thing That long time long'd for sacrifice is made All that is from you crau'd by this great King Is to beleeue a pure Heart Incense is What gift alas can wee him meaner bring Haste sinne-sicke Soules this season doe doe not misse Now while remorselesse Time doth grant you space And GOD invites you to your onlie Blisse Hee wâ—â— you calles will not denie you Grace But low-deepe burrie faults so yee repent His Armes loe stretched are you to embrace When Dayes are done and Lifes small sparke is spent So yee accept what freelie heere is giuen Like brood of Angels deathlesse all-content Yee shall for euer liue with him in Heauen COme forth come forth yee blest triumphing Bands Faire Citizens of that immortall Towne Come see that King which all this All commands Now ouercharg'd with Loue die for his owne Looke on those Nailes which pierce his Feete and Hands What a sharpe Diademe his Browes doth crowne Behold his pallid Face his Eyes which sowne And what a throng of Theeues him mocking stands Come forth yee empyrean Troupes come forth Preserue this sacred Blood that Earth adornes Gather those liquid Roses off his Thornes O! to bee loost they bee of too much worth For Streams 1 Iuice 2 Balm 3 they are which queÌ„ch 1 kils 2 charms 3 Of GOD 1 Death 2 Hell 3 the wrath 1 the life 2 the harmes3. SOule which to Hell wast thrall Hee Hee for thine offence Did suffer Death who could not die at all O soueraigne Excellence O
and Wrath And euerie drowsie languor heere beneath It turning deniz'd Citizen of Skie To haue more knowledge than all Bookes containe All Pleasures euen surmounting wishing Powre The fellowship of Gods immortall Traine And these that Time nor force shall e're deuoure If this be Death what Ioy what golden care Of Life can with Deathes ouglinesse compare AMidst the azure cleare Of Iordans sacred Streames Iordan of Libanon the off-spring deare When Zephires flowres vnclose And Sunne shines with new Beames With graue and statelie grace a Nymphe arose Vpon her Head shee ware Of Amaranthes a Crowne Her left hand Palmes her right a Brandâ—n bare Vnvail'd Skinnes whitenesse lay Gold haires in Curles hang downe Eyes sparkled Ioy more bright than starre of Day The Flood a Throne her rear'd Of Waues most like that Heauen Where beaming Starres in Glorie turne ensphear'd The Aire stood calme and cleare No Sigh by Windes was giuen Birdes left to sing Heards feed her voice to heare World-wandring sorrie Wights Whom no thing can content VVithin these varying liâ—ts of Dayes nad Nights VVhose life ere knowne amisse In glittering Griefes is spent Come learne said shee what is your choisest Blisse From Toyle and pressing Cares How yee may respit finde A Sanctuarie from Soule-thralling Snares A Port to harboure sure In spight of waues and winde VVhich shall when Times Houre-glasse is runne endure Not happie is that Life Which yee as happie hold No but a Sea of feares a field of strife Charg'd on a Throne to sit With Diademes of Gold Preseru'd by Force and still obseru'd by Wit Huge Treasures to enjoy Of all her Gemmes spoyle Inde All Seres silke in Garments to imploy Deliciouslie to feed The Phoenix plumes to finde To rest vpon or decke your purple Bed Fraile Beautie to abuse And wanton Sybarites On past or present touch of sense to muse Neuer to heare of Noise But what the Eare delites Sweet Musicks charmes or charming flatterers voice Nor can it Blisse you bring Hidde Natures Depthes to know Why matter changeth whence each forme doth spring Nor that your Fame should range And after-Worlds it blow From TaÌ„naÌ„is to Nile from Nile to Gange All these haue not the Powre To free the Minde from feares Nor hiddeous horror can allay one howre When Death in steale doth glance In Sicknesse lurke or yeares And wakes the Soule from out her mortall Trance No but blest life is this With chaste and pure Desire To turne vnto the load-starre of all Blisse On GOD the Minde to rest Burnt vp with sacred Fire Possessing him to bee by him possest When to the baulmie East Sunne doth his light imparte Or when hee diueth in the lowlie West And rauisheth the Day With spotlesse Hands and Hart Him chearefullie to praise and to him pray To heed each action so As euer in his sight More fearing doing ill than passiue woe Not to seeme other thing Than what yee are aright Neuer to doe what may Repentance bring Not to bee blowne with Pride Nor mou'd at Glories breath Which Shadow-like on wings of Time doth glide So Malice to disarme And conquere hastie Wrath As to doe good to those that worke your harme To hatch no base Desires Or Gold or Land to gaine Well pleas'd with what by Vertue one acquires To haue the Wit and Will Consorting in one Straine Than what is good to haue no higher skill Neuer on Neighbours well With Cocatrices Eye To looke nor make an others Heauen your Hell Not to be Beauties Thrall All fruitlesse Loue to flie Yet louing still a Loue transcending all A Loue which while it burnes The Soule with fairest Beames In that vncreatde Sunne the Soule it turnes And makes such Beautie proue That if Sense saw her Gleames All lookers on would pine and die for loue VVho such a life doth liue Yee happie euen may call Ere ruthlesse Death a whished end him giue And after then when giuen More happie by his fall For Humanes Earth enioying Angels Heauen Swift is your mortall Race And glassie is the Field Vaste are Desires not limited by Grace Life a weake Tapper is Then while it light doth yeeld Leaue flying Ioyes embrace this lasting Blisse This when the Nymph had said Shee diu'd within the Flood VVhose Face with smyling Curles long after staid Then Sighes did Zephyres presse Birdes sang from euerie VVood And Ecchoes rang this was true Happinesse AN HYMNE OF THE FAIREST FAIRE I Feele my Bosome glow with wontlesse Fires Rais'd from the vulgar preasse my Mind aspires Wing'd with high Thoughis vnto his praise to clime From deepe Eternitie who call'd forth Time That Essence which not mou'd makes each thing moue Vncreatde Beautie all-creating Loue But by so great an obiect radiant light My Heart appall'd enfeebled restes my Sight Thicke Cloudes benighte my labouring Ingine And at my high attempts my Wits repine If thou in mee this sacred Rapture wrought My Knowledge sharpen Sarcells lend my Thought Grant mee Times Father world-containing King A Pow'r of thee in pow'rfull Layes to sing That as thy Beautie in Earth liues Heauen shines It dawning may or shadow in my Lines As farre beyond the starrie walles of Heauen As is the loftiest of the Planets seuen Sequestred from this Earth in purest light Out-shining ours as ours doth sable Night Thou all-sufficient Omnipotent Thou euer-glorious most excellent GOD various in Names in Essence one High art enstalled on a golden Throne Out-reaching Heauens wide Vastes the Bounds of nought Transcending all the Circles of our Thought With diamantine Scepter in thy Hand There thou giu'st Lawes and dost this World command This World of Concords raisde vnliklie sweet Which like a Ball lies prostrate to thy Feet If so wee may well say and what wee say Heere wrapt in flesh led by dimme Reasones ray To show by earthlie Beauties which wee see That spirituall Excellence that shines in thee Good Lord forgiue not farre from thy right Side With curled Lockes Youth euer doth abide Rose-checked Youth who garlanded with Flowres Still blooming ceasleslie vnto thee powres Immortall Nectar in a cuppe of Gold That by no darts of Ages thou grow old And as ends and beginnings thee not clame Successionlesse that thou be still the same Neare to thy other side resistlesse Might From Head to Foot in burnisht Armour dight That ringes about him with a waâ—ing Brand And watchfull Eye great Sentinell doth stand That neither Time nor force in ought impaire Thy Workmanshippe nor harme thine Empire faire Soone to giue Death to all againe that would Sterne Discord raise which thou destroide of old Discord that foe to order Nurse of Warre By which the noblest things dimolisht are But catife shee no Treason doth deuise When Might to nought doth bring her enterprise Thy all-vpholding Might her Malice raines And her in Hell throwes bound in iron Chaines With Lockes in waues of Gold that ebbe and flow On yâ—orie necke in Robes more white than Snow Truth
life of all that liues Eternall Bountie which each good thing giues How could Death mounte so hie No wit this Point can reach Faith onely doth vs teach For vs Hee dyed at all who could not dye LIfe to giue life depriued is of Life And Death display'd hath Ensigne against Death So violent the Rigour was of Death That nought could daunte it but the Life of Life No Power had Pow'r to thrall Lifes Pow'rs to Death But willinglie Life downe hath layed Life Loue gaue the wound which wrought this worke of Death His Bow and Shafts were of the Tree of Life Now quakes the Author of eternall Death To finde that they whom earst he reâ—t of Life Shall fill his Roome aboue the listes of Death Now all rejoyce in Death who hope for Life Dead IESVS lyes who Death hath kill'd by Death No Tombe his Tombe is but new Source of Life RIse from those fragrant Climes thee now embrace Vnto this World of ours O haste thy Race Faire Sunne and though contrarie wayes all yeare Thou hold thy course now with the highest Spheare Ioyne thy blew Wheeles to hasten Time that lowres And lazie Minutes turne in perfect Houres The Night and Death too long a league haue made To stow the World in Horrors vglie shade Shake from thy Lockes a Day with saffron rayes So faire that it out-shine all other dayes And yet doe not presume great Eye of light To be that which this Day must make so bright See an eternall Sunne hastes to arise Not from the Easterne blushing Seas or Skies Or any stranger Worlds Heauens Concaues haue But from the Darknes of an hollow Graue And this is that all-powerfull Sunne aboue That crown'd thy Browes with Rayes first made thee moue Lights Trumpetters yee need not from your Bowres Proclaime this Day this the angelicke Powres Haue done for you But now an opall hew Bepaintes Heauens Christall to the longing view Earths late hid Colours glance Light doth adorne The World and weeping Ioy forth comes the Morne And with her as from a Lethargicke Transe Breath com'd againe that Bodie doth aduance Which two sad Nights in rocke lay coffin'd dead And with au iron Guard invironed Life out of Death Light out of Darknessâ— springs From a base Iaile forth comes the King of kings What late was mortall thrall'd to euerie woe That lackeyes life or vpon sense doth grow Immortall is of an eternall Stampe Farre brighter beaming than the morning Lampe So from a blacke Ecclipse outâ—peares the Sunne Such when a huge of Dayes haue on her runne In a farre Forest in the pearlie East And shee her selfe hath burnt and spicie Nest The lonlie Bird with youthfull Pennes and Combe Doth soare from out her Cradle and her Tombe So a small seed that in the Earth lies hidde And dies reviâ—ing burstes her cloddie Side Adorn'd with yellow Lockes of new is borne And doth become a Mother great with Corne Of Graines brings hundreths with it which when old Enrich the Furrowes with a Sea of Gold Haile holie Victor greatest Victor haile That Hell dost raâ—sacke against Death preuaile O how thou long'd for comes with Iubeling cries The all-triumphing Palladines of Skies Salute thy rising Earth would Ioyes no more Beare if thou rising didst them not restore A sillie Tombe should not his Flesh enclose Who did Heauens trembling Tarasses dispose No Monument should such a Iewell hold No Rocke though Rubye Diamond and Gold Thou onelie pittie didst vs humane Race Bestowing on vs of thy freeâ—giuen Grace More than wee forfaited and loosed first In Edens Rebell when wee were accurst Then Earth our portion was Earths Ioyes but giuen Earth and Earths Blisse thou hast exchang'd with Heauen O what a hight of good vpon vs streames From the great splendor of thy Bounties Beames When we deseru'd shame horrour flames of wrath Thou bled our wounds and suffer didst our Death But Fathers Iustice pleas'd Hell Death o'rcome In triumph now thou risest from thy Tombe With Glories which past Sorrowes contervaile Haile holy Victor greatest Victor haile Hence humble sense and hence yee Guides of sense Wee now reach Heauen your weake intelligence And searching Pow'rs were in a flash made dim To learne from all eternitie that him The Father bred then that hee heere did come His Bearers Parent in a Virgins Wombe But then when sold betray'd crown'd scourg'd with Thorne Naill'd to a Tree all breathlcsse bloodlesse torne Entomb'd him risen from a Graue to finde Confounds your Cunning turnes like Moles you blinde Death theu that heeretofore still barren wast Nay didst each other Birth eate vp and waste Imperious hatefull pittilesse vniust Vnpartiall equaller of all with dust Sterne Executioner of heauâ—nlie doome Made fruitfull now Lifes Mother art become A sweete reliefe of Cares the Soule molest An Harbenger to Glorie Peace and Rest Put off thy mourning Weedes yeeld all thy Gall To daylie sinning Life proud of thy fall Assemble thy Captiues bide all haste to rise And euerie Corse in earth-quakes where it lies Sound from each flowrie Graue and rockie Iaile Haile holy Victor greatest Victor haile The World that waâ—ning late and faint did lie Applauding to our Ioyes thy Victorie To a yong Prime essayes to turne againe And as ere soyl'd with Sinne yet to remaine Her chilling Agâ—es shee beginnes to misse All Blisse returning with the LORD of Blisse With greater light Heauens Temples opened shine Mornes smiling rise Euens blushing doe decline Cloudes dappled glister boistrous Windes are calme Soft Zephyres doe the Fields with sighes embalme In ammell blew the Sea hath â—usht his Râ—ares And with enamour'd Curles doth kisse the Shoares All-bearing Earth like a new-married Queene Her Beauties hightenes in a Gowne of Greene Perfumes the Aire her Meades are wrought with Flowres In colours various figures smelling powres Trees wantone in the Groues with leauie Lockes Her Hilles empampred stand The Vales the Rockes Ring peales of Ioy her Floods and pratling Brookes Starres liquid Mirrors with serpinting Crookes And whispering murmures sound vnto the Maine That Worlds pure Age returned is againe The honnye People leaue their golden Bâ—wres And innocentlie pray on budding Flowres In gloomie Shades pearcht on the tender Sprayes The painted Singers fill the Aire with Layes Seas Floods Earth Aire all diuerslie doe sound Yet all their diuerse Notes hath but one ground Re-echoed heeredowne from Heauens azure Vaile Haile holy Victor greatest Victor haile O Day on which Deathes Adamantine Chaine The LORD did breake ransacking Satans Raigne And in triumphing Pompe his Trophees rear'd Be thou blest euer henceforth still endear'd With Name of his owne Day the Law to Grace Types to their substance yeeld to thee giue place The old New-Moones with all festiuall Dayes And what aboue the rest deserueth praise The reuerend Saboath what could else they bee Than golden Heraulds telling what by thee Wee should enjoy shades past now shine thou cleare And henceforth be thou Empresse of the yeare This
way That various in vertue changing light With his small flame impearles the vaile of Night Prince of this Court the Sunne in triumph rides With the Yeare Snake-like in her selfe that glides Times Dispensator faire life-giuing Source Through Skies twelue Postes as he doth runne his course Heart of this All of what is knowne to sence The likest to his Makers excellence In whose diurnall motion doth appeare A Shadow no true pourtrait of the Yeare The Moone moues lowest siluer Sunne of Night Dispersing through the World her borrow'd light Who in three formes her head abroad doth range And onlie constant is in constant Change Sad Queene of Silence I neere see thy Face To waxe or waine or shine with a full grace But straighi amaz'd on Man I thinke each Day His state who changeth or if hee find Stay It is in drearie anguish cares and paines And of his Labours Death is all the Gaines Immortall Monarch can so fond a Thought Lodge in my Brest as to trust thou first brought Heere in Earths shadie Cloister wretched Man To sucke the Aire of Woe to spend Lifes span Midst Sighes and Plaints a Stranger vnto Mirth To giue himselfe his Death rebucking Birth By sense and wit of Creatures made King By sense and wit to liue their Vnderling And what is worst haue Eaglets eyes to see His owne disgrace and know an high degree Of Blisse the Place if hee might thereto clime Aud not liue thralled to imperious Time Or dotard shall I so from Reason swerue To deeme those Lights which to our vse doe serue For thou dost not them need more noblie fram'd Than vs that know their course and haue them nam'd No I nee're thinke but wee did them surpasse As farre as they doe Asterismes of Glasse When thou vs made by Treason high defil'd Thrust from our first estate we liue exâ—â—d Wandring this Earth which is of Death the Lot Where he doth vse the Pow'r which he hath got Indifferent Vmpire vnto Clownes and Kings The supreame Monarch of all mortall things When first this flowrie Orbe was to vs giuen It but in place disvalu'd was to Heauen These Creatures which now our Soueraignes are And as to Rebelles doe denounce vs warre Then were our Vasselles no tumultuous Storme No Thunders Quakings did her Forme deforme The Seas in tumbling Mountaines did not roare But like moist Christall whispered on the Shoare No Snake did met her Meads nor ambusht lowre In azure Curles beneath the sweet-Spring Flowre The Night-shade Henbane Napell Aconite Her Bowelles then not bare with Death to smite Her guiltlesse Brood thy Messengers of Grace As their high Rounds did haunte this lower Place O Ioy of Ioyes with our first Parents Thou To commune then didst daigne as Friends doe now Against thee wee rebell'd and justlie thus Each Creature rebelled against vs Earth reft of what did chiefe in her excell To all became a Iaile to most a Hell In Times full Terme vntill thy Sonne was giuen Who Man with Thee Earth reconcil'd with Heauen Whole and entiere all in thy Selfe thou art All-where diffusd yet of this All no part For infinite in making this faire Frame Great without quantitie in all thou came And filling all how can thy State admit Or Place or Substance to be voide of it Were Worlds as many as the Rayes which streame From Dayes bright lamp or madding Wits do dreame They would not reele in nought nor wandring stray But draw to Thee who could their Centers stay Were but one houre this World disioyn'd from thee It in one houre to nought reduc'd should bee For it thy Shadow is and can they last If seuer'd from the Substances them cast O onlie blest and Author of all Blisse No Blisse it selfe that all-where wished is Efficient exemplarie finall Good Of thine owne Selfe but onlie vnderstood Light is thy Curtaine thou art Light of Light An euer-waking Eye still shining bright In-looking all exempt of passiue Powre And change in change since Deaths pale shade doth lowre All Times to thee are one that which hath runne And that which is not brought yet by the Sunne To thee are present who dost alwayss see In present act what past is or to bee Day-liâ—ers wee rememberance doe losse Of Ages worne so Miseries vs tosse Blinde and lethargicke of thy heauenlie Grace Which Sinne in our first Parents did deface And euen while Embryones curst by justest doome That wee neglect what gone is or to come But thou in thy great Archiues scrolled hast In partes and whole what euer yet hath past Since first the marble Wheeles of Time were roll'd As euer liuing neuer waxing old Still is the same thy Day and Yesterday An vndiuided Now a constant Ay. O King whose Greatnesse none can comprehend Whose boundlesse Goodnesse doth to all extend Light of all Beautie Ocean without ground That standing flowest giuing dost abound Rich Pallace and Endvveller euer blest Neuer not vvorking euer yet in Rest What vvit can not conceiue words say of Thee Heere where wee as but in a Mirrour see Shadowes of shadowes Atomes of thy Might Still owlie eyed when staring on thy Light Grant that released from this earthlie Iaile And fred of Cloudes which heere our Knowledge vaile In Heauens high Temples where thy Praises ring I may in sweeter Notes heare Angelles sing GReat GOD whom wee with humbled Thoughts adore Eternall Infinite Almightie King Whose Dwellings Heauen transcend whose Throne before Archangells serue and Seraphines doe sing Of nought who wrought all that with wondring Eies Wee doe behold within this various Round Who makes the Rockes to rocke to stand the Skies At whose command Cloudes peales of Thunder sound Ah! spare vs Wormes weigh not how wee alas Euill to our selues against thy Lawes rebell Wash off those spots which still in Conscience Glasse Though wee be loath to looke wee see too well Deseru'd Reuenge of doe not doe not take If thou reuenge vvhat shall abide thy Blovv Passe shall this World this VVorld vvhich thoâ— didst make Which should not perish till thy Trumpet blovv What Soule is found vvhom Parents Crime not staines Or vvhat vvith its ovvne Sinnes defyl'd is not Though Iustice Rigor threaten ah her Raines Let Mercie guide and neuer bee forgot Lesse are our Faults farre farre than is thy Loue O vvhat can better seeme thy Grace diuine Than they that plagues deserue thy Bountiâ— proue And where thou shovvre mayst Vengeance there to shine Then looke and pittye pittying forgiue Vs guiltie Slaues or Seruants novv in thrall Slaues if alas thou looke hovv vve doe liue Or doing ill or doing nought at all Of an vngratefull Minde a foule Effect But if thy Giftes vvhich largelie heeretofore Thou hast vpon vs povvr'd thou doe respect VVee are thy Seruants nay than Serâ—ants more Thy Children yes and Children deâ—relie bought But vvhat strange Chance vs of this Lot 〈◊〉 Poâ—re vvorthles VVights hovv lovvlie are vvee brought VVhom Grace once Children made Sinne hath
that the marble colours of Obsequies Weeping and funerall Pompe which wee our selues cast ouer it did adde much more Gastlinesse vnto it than otherwayes it hath To averre which conclusion when I had gathered my wandring Thoughts I beganne thus with my Selfe If on the great Theater of this Earth amongst the numberlesse number of men To die were onely proper to thee and thine then vndoubtedlie thou hadst reason to repine at so seuere and partiall a Law But since it is a necessitie from the which neuer an Age by-paâ—â— hath beene exempted and vnto which they which bee and so many as are to come are thralled no consequent of Life being more common and familiar Why shouldst thou with vnprofitable and nought availing stubbornnesse oppose to so vneuitable and necessarie a Condition this is the high-way of Mortalitie our generall home behold what Millions haue trod it before thee what Multitudes shall after thee with them which at that same instant runne In so vniversall a calamitie if Death be one priuate Complaints cannot bee heard with so many royall Palaces it is no losse to see thy poore Caban burne Shall the Heauens stay their euer-rolling Wheeles for what is the motion of them but the motion of a swift and euer-whirling Wheele which twineth forth and againe vprolleth our life and hold still time to prolong thy miserable dayes as if the highest of their working were to doe homage vnto thee Thy death is a peece of the order of this All a part of the Life of this World for while the World is the World some Creatures must dye others take life Eternall things are raised far aboue this Spheare of Generation Corruption where the first Matter like an euer-flowing ebbing Sea with diuerse waues but the same water keepeth a restles and neuer-tyring current what is below in the vniuersalitie of the kind not in it selfe doth abide Man a long line of years hath continued This Man euerie hundreth is swept away This Globe enuironed with aire is the sole Region of Death the Graue where euerie thing that taketh Life must rotte the Stage of Fortune and Change onelie glorious in the vnconstancie and varying alterations of it which though manie seeme yet to abide one and being a certaine entire one are euer many The neuer-agreeing bodies of the elementall Brethren turne one in another the Earth changeth her countenance with the Seasons some-times looking colde and naked other times hote and flowrie Nay I cannot tell how but euen the lowest of those celestiall bodies that mother of monthes and Empresse of seas and moisture as if shee were a Mirror of our constant mutabiltie appeareth by her too great nearnesse vnto vs to participate of our changes neuer seeing vs twice with that same Face now looking blacke then pale and wanne some-times againe in the perfection and fulnesse of her beautie shining ouer vs. Death no lesse than Life doth heere act a part the taking away of what is old beeing the making a way for what is young They which fore-went vs did leaue a Roome for vs and should we grieue to doe the same to those which should come after vs who beeing suffered to see the exquisite rarities of an Antiquaries Cabinet is grieued that the curtaine bee drawne to giue place to new Pilgrimes and when the Lord of this Vniuerse hath shewed vs the amazing wonders of his various frame should wee take it to heart when hee thinketh time to dislodge This is His vnalterable and vneuitable Decree as wee had no part of our will in our entrance into this Life wee should not persume of anie in our leauing it but soberlie learne to will that which hee wills whose verie willing giueth beeing to all that it wills and reuerencing the Orderer not repine at the order and Lawes which all-where and all-wayes are so perfectlie establiâ—hed that who would essay to correct and amend any of them should either make them worse or desire thinges beyond the Leuell of Possibilitie If thou dost complaine that there shall bee a time in the which thou shalt not bee why dost thou not too grieue that there was a time in the which thou wast not and so that thou are not as old as that enlifening Planet of time for not to haue beene a thousand yeares before this moment is as much to bee deplored as not to be a thousand after it the effect of them both beeing one that will bee after vs which long long ere wee were was Our childrens children haue that same reason to murmure that they were not yong men in our dayes which wee haue to complaine that wee shall not bee old in theirs The Violets haue their time though they empurple not the Winter and the Roses keepe their season though they disclose not their beautie in the Spring Empires States Kingdomes haue by the doome of the supreame prouidence their fatall Periods great Cities lie â—adlie buried in their dust Arts and Sciences haue not onelie their Eclipses but their wainings and deaths the gastlie wonders of the world raised by the ambition of ages are ouer-throwne and trampled some Lights aboue not idlie intitled Starres are loosed and neuer more seene of vs The excellent Fabrike of this Uniuerse it selfe shall one day suffer ruine or a change like a ruine and poore Earthlings thus to bee handled complaine But is this Life so great a good that the lose of it should bee so deare vnto Man if it bee the meanest Creatures of Nature thus bee happie for they liue no lesse than hee If it bee so great a felicitie how is it esteemed of Man himselfe at so small a rate that for so poore gaines nay one disgracefull word hee will not stand to loose it what excellencie is there in it for the which hee should desire it perpetuall and repine to bee at rest and returne to his old Grand-mother Dust of what moment are the labours and actions of it that the interruption and leauing off of them should bee to him so distastfull and with such grudging lamentations receiued Is not the entring into Life weaknesse the continuing sorrow in the one hee is exposed to all the injuries of the Elements and like a condemned trespasser as if it were a fault to come to the light no sooner borne than manacled and bound in the other hee is restlesly like a Ball tossed in the Tenis-court of this world when he is in the brightest Meridian of his glorie there mistereth nothing to destroy him but to let him fall his owne hight a reflex of the Sunne a blast of wind nay the glance of an eye is sufficient to vndoe him How can that bee any great matter which so small instruments and slender actions are maisters of His Bodie is but a masse of discording humors boyled together by the conspiring influences of superior Lights which though agreeing for a trace of time yet can neuer bee made vniforme and keept in a just proportion
Soule sustained by its Maker resolued and calmlie retired in it selfe doth find that Death â—ith it is in a moment of Time is but a short nay sweete sigh and is not worthie the remembrance compared with the smallest dramme of the infinite Felicitie of this Place Heere is the Palace Royall of the Almighty KING in which the vncomprehensible comprehensiblie manifesteth Himselfe in Place highest in substance not subject to any corruption or change for it is aboue all motion and solid turneth not in quantitie greatest for if one Starre one Spheare bee so vast how large how hudge in exceeding demensions must those bounds bee which doe them all containe In quantitie most pure and orient Heauen heere is all but a Sunne or the Sunne all but a Heauen If to Earthlings the Foote-stoole of GOD and that Stage which Hee raised for a small course of Time seemeth so Glorious and Magnificent What estimation would they make if they could see of His eternall Habitation and Throne and if these bee so wonderfull what is the sight of Him for whom and by whom all was created of whose Glorie to behold the thousand thousand part the most pure Intellegences are fullie satiate and with wonder and delight rest amazed for the Beautie of His light and the Light of His Beautie are vncomprehensible Heere doth that earnest appetite of the Vnderstanding content it selfe not seeking to know any more For it seeth before it in the vision of the Diuine essence a Miroiâ— in the which not Images or shadowes but the true and perfect Essence of euerie thing created is more cleare and conspicuous than in it selfe all that may bee knowne or vnderstood Heere doth the Will pause it selfe as in the center of its Eternall rest glowing with a firie affection of that infinite and all-sufficient Good which beeing fullie knowne cannnot for the infinit motiues and causes of loue which are in Him but bee fullie and perfectlie loued As Hee is onelie true and essentiall Bountie so is Hee the onelie essentiall and true Beautie deseruing alone all loue and admiration by which the Creatures are onelie in so much faire and excellent as they participate of His Beautie and excelling Excellencies Heere is a blessed Companie euerie one joying as much in anothers Felicitie as in that which is proper because each seeth another equâ—llie loued of GOD Thus their distinct joyes are no fewer than the copartners of the joye And as the Assemblie is in number answerable to the large capacitie of the Place so are the joyes answerable to the numberlesse number of the Assâ—mblie No poore and pittifull mortall confined on the Globe of Earth who hath neuer seene but sorrow or interchangeablie some painted superficiall pleasures can rightlie thinke on or bee sufficient to conceaue the tearmelesse Delightes of this Place So manie Feathers moue not on Birds so many Birds dint not the Aire so manie leaues tremble not on Trees so manie Trees grow not in the solitarie Forests so manie Waues turne not in the Ocean and so manie graines of Sand limit not those Waues As this triumphant Court hath varietie of Delights and Ioyes exempted from all comparison Happinesse at once heere is fullie knowne and fullie enjoyed and as infinit in continuance as extent Heere is flourishing and neuer-fading youth without Age Strength without Weaknesse Beautie neuer blasting Knowledge without Learning Aboundance without Lothing Peace without Disturbance Participation without Enuy Rest without Labour Light without rising or setting Sunne Perpetuitie without moments for Time which is the measure of endurance did neuer enter in this shining Eternitie Ambition Disdaine Malice difference of Opinions can not approach this Place resembling those foggie mists which couer those Lists of sublunarie thinges All Pleasure paragon'd with what is heere is paine all Mirth mourning all Beautie deformitie Heere one dayes abyding is aboue the continuing in the most fortunate estate on the Earth manie yeeres and sufficient to conteruaile the extreamest torments of Life But although this Blisse of Soules bee great and their joyes many yet shall they admit addition and bee more full and perfect at that long wished and generall meeting with their Bodies Amongst all the wonders of the great Creator not one appeareth to bee more wonderfull replyed I than that our Bodies should arise hauing suffered so many changes and Nature denying a returne from Priuation to a Habit. Such power said hee beeing aboue all that the Vnderstanding of Man can conceaue may well worke such wonders For if Mans Vnderstanding could comprehend all the secretes and counsells of that Eternall Majestie it must of necessitie bee equall vnto it The Author of Nature is not thralled to the lawes of Nature but worketh with them or contrarie to them as it pleaseth Him What Hee hath a will to doe Hee hath a power to performe To that power which brought all this All from nought to bring againe in one instant any substance which euer was into it vnto what it was once should not be thought impossible For who can doe more can doe lesse and His power is no lesse after that which was by Him brought forth is decayed and vanished than it was before it was produced beeing neither restrained to certaine limits or instruments or to any determinate definit manner of working where the power is without restraint the workeadmitteth no other limits than the workers will This World is as a Cabinet to GOD in which the small things how euer to vs hidde and secret are nothing lesse keeped than the great For as Hee was wise and powerfull to create so doth His Knowledge comprehend His own Creation yea euery change and varietie in it of which it is the verie Source Not any Atome of the scattered Dust of mankind though daylie flowing vnder new Formes is to Him vnknowne and His Knowledge doth distinguish and discerne what once His power shall waken and raise vp Why may not the Arts-master of the World like a Molder what he hath framed in diuerse shapes confound in one masse and then seuerally fashion them out of the same Can the Spargiricke by his Arte restore for a space to the dry and withered Rose the naturall Purple and Blush And can not the Almightie raise and refine the bodie of Man after neuer so many alterations on the Earth Reason her selfe finds it more possible for infinit power to cast out from it selfe a finit world and restore any thing in it though decayed and dissolued to what it was first than for Man a finit piece of reasonable miserie to change the forme of matter made to his hand the power of GOD neuer brought forth all that It can for then were it bounded and no more infinit That Time doth approach O haste yee Times away in which the Dead shall liue and the Liuing bee changed and of all actions the Guerdon is at hand Then shall there be an end without an end Time shall finish and Place shall be altered Motion yeelding vnto rest and another World of an Age eternall and vnchangable shall arise Which when Hee had said me thought He vanished and Iâ— all astonished did awake On the Report of the Death of the Author IF that were true which whispered is by Fame That DamoÌ„s light no more on Earth doth burne His Patron Phoebus physicke would disclame And cloth'd in clowds as earst for PhaetoÌ„ mourn Yea Fame by this had got so deepe a Wound That scarce shee could haue power to tell his Death Her Wings cutt short who could her Trumpet sound Whose Blaze of late was nurc'd but by His Breath That Spirit of His which most with mine was free By mutuall trafficke enterchanging Store If chac'd from Him it would haue com'd to mee Where it so oft familiare was before Some secret Griefe distempring first my Minde Had though not knowing made mee feele this losse A Sympathie had so our Soules combind That such a parting both at once would tosse Though such Reports to others terrour giue Thy heauenlie Vertues who did neuer spie I know Thou that canst make the dead to liue Immortall art and needes not feare to die Sir WILLIAM ALEXANDER To S. W. A. THough I haue twice beene at the Doores of Death And twice found shoote those Gates which euer mourne This but a lightning is Truce tane to Breath For late-borne Sorrowes augurre fleet returne Amidst thy sacred Cares and courtlie Toyles Alexis when thou shalt heare wandring Fame Tell Death hath triumph'd o're my mortall Spoiles And that on Earth I am but a sad Name If thou e're held mee deare by all our Loue By all that Blisse those Ioyes Heauen heere vs gaue I conjuâ—e Thee and by the Maides of Ioue To graue this short Remembrance on my Graue Heere Damon lyes whose Songes did some timeâ— grace The murmuring Eske may Roses shade the place To the Memorie of the most excellent Ladie IANE Countesse of Perth THis Beautie which pale Death in Dust did turne And clos'd so soone within a Coffin sad Did passe like Lightning like to Thunder burne So little Life so much of Worth it had Heauens but to show their Might heere made it shine And when admir'd then in the Worlds Disdaine O Teares O Griefe did call it backe againe Lest Earth should vaunt Shee kept what was Diuine What can wee hope for more what more enjoy Sith fairest Things thus soonest haue their End And as on Bodies Shadowes doe attend Sith all our Blisse is follow'd with Annoy Yet She 's not dead She liues where She did loue Her Memorie on Earth Her Soule aboue
thy life for though to dye bee vsuall to dye young may appeare extraordinarie If the present fruition of these things bee vnprofitable and vaine what can a long continuance of them bee Stranger and new Halcyon why wouldst thou longer nestle amidst these vnconstant and stormie waues Hast thou not alreddy suffred enough of this World but thou must yet endure more To liue long is it not to be long troubled But number thy yeares which are now and thou shalt find that where as ten haue ouer-liued thee thousands haue not attained this age One yeare is sufficient to behold all the magnificence of Nature nay euen one day and night for more is but the same brought againe This Sunne that Moone these Starres the varying dance of the Spring Summer Antumne Winter is that verie same which the golden Age did see They which haue the longest time lent them to liue in haue almost no part of it at all measuring it either by that space of time which is past when they were not or by that which is to come Why shouldst thou then care whether thy dayes be manie or few which when prolonged to the vttermost proue paralel'd with eternitie as a Teare is to the Oeeaâ— To dye young is to doe that soone and in some fewer dayes which once thou must doe it is but the giuing ouer of a Game that after neuer so many hazardes must be lost When thou hast liued to that age thou desirest or one of Platos yeares so soone as the last of thy dayes riseth aboue thy Horizon thou wilt then as now demand longer respit and exspect more to come It is Hope of long life that maketh life seeme short Who will behold and with the eyes of aduice behold the many changes depending on humane affaires with the after-claps of Fortune shall neuer lament to dye young Who knowes what alterations and sudden disasters in outward estate or inward contentments in this wildernesse of the world might haue befallen him who dyeth young if hee had liued to be old Heauen fore-knowing imminent harmes taketh those which it loues to it selfe before they fall forth Pure and if we may so say Virgine Soules carrie their bodies with no small agonies and delight not to remaine long in the dregs of humane corruption still burning with a desire to turne backe to the place of their rest for this world is their Inne and not their Home That which may fall foorth euerie houre cannot fall out of time Life is a Iourney in a dustie way the furthest Rest is Death in this some goe more heauilie burthened than others swift and actiue Pilgrimes come to the end of it in the Morning or at Noone which Tortoyse-paced Wretches clogged with the fragmentarie rubbidge of this world scarce with great trauell crawle vnto at Midnight Dayes are not to be esteemed after the number of them but after the goodnesse more Compasse maketh not a Spheare more compleat but as round is a little as a large Ring nor is that Musician most praise worthie who hath longest played but hee in measured accents who hath made sweetest Melodie to liue long hath often beene a let to liue well Muse not how many yeares thou mightst haue enjoyed life but howe sooner thou mightst haue lossed it neither grudge so much that it is no better as comfort thy selfe that it hath beene no worse let it suffice that thou hast liued till this day and after the course of this world not for nought thou hast had some smiles of of Fortune fauours of the worthiest some friendes and thou hast neuer beene disfauoured of the Heauen Though not for Life it selfe yet that to after-worlds thou mightst leaue some monument that once thou wast happilie in the cleare light of reason it would appeare that life were earnestlie to bee desired for sith it is denyed vs to liue euer said one let vs leaue some worthie Remembrance of our once heere beeing and draw out this Spanne of life to the greatest length and so farre as is possible O poore Ambition to what I pray thee mayst thou concreded it Arches and statelie Temples which one age doth raise doth not another raze Tombes and adopted Pillars lye buried with those which were in them buried Hath not Auarice defaced what Religion did make glorious all that the hand of man can vpreare is either ouer-turned by the hand of man or at length by standing continuing consumed as if there were a secret opposition in fate the vneuitable decree of the Eternall to controule our in dustrie conter-checke all our deuices proposing Possessions are not enduring Children lose their names Families glorying like Marigolds in the Sun on the highest top of Wealth and Honour no better than they which are not yet borne leauing off to bee So doth Heauen confound what wee endeuour by labour and art to distinguish That renowne by Papers which is thought to make men immortall and which nearest doth approach the life of these eternall Bodies aboue how slender it is the verie word of Paper doth import and what is it when obtained but a multitude of words which comming Tymes may scorne How many millions neuer heare the names of the most famous Writers and amongst them to whom they are known how few turne ouer their Pages and of such as doe how many sport at their conceits taking the veritie for a fable and oft a fable for veritie or as we doe pleasants vse all for recreation Then the arising of more famous doth darken and turne ignoble the glorie of the former beeing held as Garments worne out of fashion Now when thou hast attained what praise thou couldst desire and thy fame is emblazoned in many Stories it is but an Eccho a meere Sound a Glow-worme which seene a far casteth some cold beames but approached is found nothing an imaginarie happinesse whose good depends on the oppinion of others Desert and Vertue for the most part want Monuments and Memorie seldome are recorded in the Volummes of admiration while Statues Torphees are erected to those whose names should haue beene buried in their dust and folded vp in the darkest clowds of obliuion So doe the rancke Weeds in this Garden of the World choacke and ouer-runne the swetest Flowres Applause whilst thou liuest serueth but to make thee that faire marke against which Enuie and Malice direct their Arrows at the best is like that Syracusians Sphear of Chirstall as fraile as faire and borne after thy death it may as well be ascribed to some of those were in the Trojâ—n Horse or to such as are yet to bee borne an hundreth yeares heereafter as to thee who nothing knowes and is of all vnknowne What can it auaile thee to bee talked of whilst thou art not Consider in what bounds our fame is confined how narrow the lists are of humane Glorie and the furthest she can stretch her winges This Globe of the Earth which seemeth huge to vs in