alwayes lurke Vnder the veyles of world and flesh to worke Mans finall ouerthrow VVeâ—t not for thee I had long since alas consumed bee To my first nothing or not halfe so well Been prison'd in the lawes of burning Hell Ne'r to come thence againe But it is thou That didst preserue me and this very now I should fall downe to that despairing Lake Didst thou not raise me vp and alwayes take Especiall care of me Then let it please Thy gracious eye of pity now to ease My gasping soule thinke on the case wherein It lyes thus bodyed as it were with sin Prest with the weight to Hell and cannot flye By reason of its leprous clog so hie As soules vnbodyed may to talke with thee In those pure places where the blessed bee In thine owne sweeter language where is heard Nought but the voyce of ioy but I am bâ—rd So low by sinne that from the dismall deepe Of these my griefes I am enforc'd to weepe This is my natiue language which I haue Within this soile of woe and loathsome caue Wheâ—in I liue and while this soule of mine Lyes pris'ner in this sad vnwholsome Clime Of corruptible flesh and haplesse I Goe soiourne on these vales of vanitie I cannot change my mourning tone vntill Thy mercies put a period to mine ill Come quickly then O Lord come and apply Thy sauing salues vnto my malady Come quickly lest my spirit faile and then I fall into the pit from whence agen Alas there 's no returne and who is it Shall tell thy prayses in th' infernall pit VVhere 's nothing else but horrors howles and cryes Teeths gnashing and the worme that neuer dyes But whither doe I roaue where am I led In passion thus to company the dead By these my fearefull doubtings Can it be That he who hath his sole depends on thee Should perish thus Oh no he builds too hie That builds on thee T is my infirmitie And more alas thou know'st I had not seene Those miserable deepes of griefe wherein I now lie plung'd had it not pleas'd thee wake My deadned sleepy soule and made it ake As now it doth And then how can it stand With iustice that thy pitying mercies hand Should giue a wound or make a soule to smart And then in cruelty againe depart Without applying any thing to ease The tortur'd patient of his new disease But there to leaue him sighing to the aire And bleed afresh with teares vnto despaire Oh no I know thy dealings are not such T is sweet to smart when mercy giues the touch This haue I prou'd already in extremes When outward passions or more inward threanes Did touch mee to the quick for neuer yet I swam in teares vnto thy Mercy-seat But I haue turned back so fully freight With inward solace stead of sorrowes plight That all my griefes were drowned quite and I Haue gladded thus to bee in misery If otherwise alas it then had bin Far better neuer to haue left my sin Or knowne my miseries if when I knew I so were left desparingly to rue This my vnhappy knowledge but from hence I learne to iudge of pleasure by the sense Of paine and so I better know to prize Thy greater mercies by my miseries As sickly patients by their greater griefes Do better learne to prize of their reliefes Or else if thou hadst heald mee presently And I ne'r felt the pangs of misery My soule was in perchance I would not stick To say thou heald'st mee ere that I was sick As thankelesse patients mostly say to these That heale their greatest griefes with greatest ease Thou therefore Lord whose Wisdome all-Diuine Hath order'd all things in so sweet a line Of neuer-iarring harmony that they At euery becke are ready to obey Thy high behests didst wisely preordaine That man should haue a feeling of the paine Himselfe was in by nature ere that hee Should haue that happinesse to come to thee For euer-healing Grace and reason good For if that man had neuer vnderstood That hee was sicke or if hee had not seene Those deepes of misery that hee was in As of himselfe how could hee humbly come With teares of penitence before thy Throne Of euerlasting Grace when senselesse he Ne'r knew so much that hee had need of thee But dreames that all is well with him and why Alas hee thinks there is no Deitie Besides himselfe And then how can hee see So much as a beholdingnesse to thee For any good Where 's true humilitie When Humanes thinke they haue abilitie Themselues to get a perfect happinesse As Heathens did And Papists do no lesse And lo how all was then o'rewhelm'd with night When thou awhile didst but conceale thy Light From Ethnick eyes Where was creation then Alas this was a Paradox to them Where t was imposible that ought could bee Made out of nought and worlds eternitie Which then was held could tell they did not know How e'r 't was possible that they should owe So much to thee that didst create them all To shew thy glory forth And Adams fall Was neuer heard of whence they could not see That wofull night that Hell of miserie Which they were in and so in humblenesse When they had seene the deeps of their distresse As earst Manasses get themselues to thee For mercy But behold this might not bee Thou didst derermine otherwise to show That Light to vs which they did neuer know To wit the wondrous things which thou hast done For vs to whom thou giuest grace to come To thee for grace Lord adde this one increase To these thy fauours that wee neuer cease To sing on earth the mirrors of thy praise Till Heau'ns at last eternalize our Layes And now since thou hast dain'd amongst the rest T'ensure mee thus of that great Interest I haue in thee my God and made mee see My many wants whereby I come to thee VVith thirsty soule as Dauids wearied heart Did to the water-brooks for lo my smart Enforces mee cry out to thee for ease In griefes extremitie and till it please Thy mercy send thy all Redeeming grace To free mee 〈◊〉 this sad-vnhappy case VVherein I aâ—â—nd take away from mee This heauy burden of my miserie The sin that presseth downe the loathsome weight That kills my soule that clouds mee from the light Of thy all-ioying eyes Alas I see There 's nothing here that 's able comfort mee My soule goes mourning all the day as one Impris'ned far from his desired home VVhere 's nought can truly comfort him till hee Hath won the Hauen where hee longs to bee Or rather as that needy Prodigall VVho when hee 'd had his will and lauisht all His portion quite away and pouerty Had pincht him so he was enforst to cry For helpe in his exteremes but there was none That once would giue attendance to his mone Of all his feigned friends although
faithfull seruant to be commanded in the Lord Iesus Samuel Austin From my Study in Exetâ—r Colledge in Oxford this 11. of Aprill being the day of our Sauiours Passion 1628. TO THE CHRISTIAN READERS Good Readers FOr I write onely to you that haue or at least desire earnestly to haue a part in that glory which is already in part and shall shortly be fully reuealed I haue here presented you with a birth as farre I suppose beyond your expectations as it seemes beyond the abilities of my younger yeeres but howsoeuer I shall intreate your kind acceptance of it and craue you all to foster it vp in your owne bosomes for I dare warrant you in the Lord that if you but saue it from death by your fauourable warmings it shall liue to giue you all wished thankefulnesse If I should but tell you of those fearefull conflicts I had in my trauell of it and my many grieuous cares in nursing it hitherto you would surely say it were an inhumane impiety presently to stifle it Pray peruse it well and I hope I shall not need much to speake for it it hath teares enough of it selfe to enforce your pity and is of so good a nature you cannot well chuse but foster it If you imagine it is too faire to bee mine I shall not be so presumingly proud on selfe-abilitie as quite to denie you for I must confesse indeed I haue had such large experience of mine owne infirmities in the trauell hereof that I can attribute nothing vnto my selfe but the imperfections herein and the glory of an instrument onely in producing its better parts I haue been indeed as a common Father as they say in bringing forth the matter but the forme life and soule of it was from God alone the Father of life to whose sole guiding and blessed aydance I must alwaies thankfully ascribe these my better performances When I began this worke I intended onely to treate of our Sauiours Passion but I was so led away by that all-ruling Spirit of my God that I ceased quickly from being mine owne man in it and brought this to passe which now you see according to the good hand of my God vpon me both beyond mine owne aimes and naturall abilities And now deare Christian friends I humbly beseech you in the Lord for your faithfull perusall of it and may the God of our Lord Iesus Christ the Father of glory giue vnto you the Spirit of wisedome and reuelation in the knowledge of him that the eyes of your vnderstandings being enlightened ye may know what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of his inheritance in the Saints Yours euer in the Lord Iesus S. A. From my Study the 11. of Aprill 1628. My Muse to my Censurers YOu that are troubled with the Dog-disease Pray reade me o're then censure what you please Vrania To that famous Nursery of Learning and Religion my Mother Exeter Colledge in Oxford all happinesse GReat Mother of the Muses thou whose fame Hath long time been more glorious by the Name Of thy Learn'd Rector let I humbly pray A worthlesse sonne of thine haue leaue to stray Abroad with his poore Muse a while to sing A timely welcome to the weeping Spring Let other Muses that deriue their birth From forraine Springs or from some baser earth Enslaue their wits to toyes of Loue but wee Must be Diuine that take our births from thee My Muse shall sing of Heau'n and in thy prayse Great 〈◊〉 shall scorne the momentarie bayes Of perishing mans applause which dies away Wâ—â—h those that giue 't but she shall sing a Lay Whâ—â—e Heau'n-borne wings shall raise thy Name so hie 〈…〉 it liue euen through eternitie The vnworthiest of thy sonnes S. A. TO MY EVER HONOVRED FRIENDS THOSE MOST REFINED Wits and fauorers of most exquisite learning Mr. M. Drayton Mr. Will. Browne and my ingenious Kinsman Mr. Andrew Pollexsen all knowne vnto me and to the rest vnknowne the Poets of these times S. A. wisheth the accomplishment of all true happinesse Austins aduertisement MY Noblest Friends you that deriue your birth From some thing that 's more excellent then earth From some sweet influence or some Deitie That liues aboue the base capacitie Of ignorant Spheares those rude vntutor'd braines That neuer trauell'd farther then their Plaines To learne of ought but Heards and Flocks or how They might dispose a Cart or guide a Plow To you alone I write what I of late Haue scene and heard the lamentable state Of these our latter iron times and hence It is I speake from sad experience The matter 's this Occasion did inuite Me hence of late to take a Summers-sight Of our farre-famouz'd London where when I Was come I tooke an opportunitie For venting of these plaints of mine which here My Vran ' hath brought forth with many a teare And speakelesse pang of griefe with losse of time Most precious to my soule O that a rime So poore as this should cost so deare but lo When I would faine haue let these waters flow Abroad vnto my Countrimen I went To see how well our Stationers were bent To further me herein but they reply Sure 't will not take for 't is Diuinitie Poems diuine are nothing worth but if I had portray'd a pretty Sea of griefe For some lost Mistresse or compos ' a toy Of loue in verse this would haue been a Boy Worth the conception each would take it vp And play with it or had I but a cup Of strong-breath'd Satyres mixt with spleene gall And could but powre it handsomely to fall Vpon some high-mans head Oh this would take Eu'n like Tobacco each Barbours shop would make A sale of it or had I but the time Neately to weaue some loose-lasciuious rime Stuft with conceits of wantonnesse Oh then I had been call'd one of the Wits for men Must haue their humours now they say but this Is quite against them euery one will hisse It off the Stage And is it so thought I Why then 't is time for our Diuinitie To stirre her selfe and speake in Verse if she Can ought perswade O what a miserie Is like to fall vpon this age when men Shall so forget themselues as turne agen To their first veines of childishnesse and will Giue any price to buy each toy of ill But will not giue a straw for good altho It be to saue their very soules What wo And horror 's this when men grow desperate To buy damnation at so deare a rate To pay a price for hell but will not giue A pin for heau'n O that my soule should liue To see such drearie dayes as these But now Since things are so what shall I say or vow Or doe to make them otherwise Why sure Great friends my present suit 's to you whose pure And heau'nly essences doe plainely say You are Diuine let me presume to pray And challenge you on all those bonds
that be 'Twixt God and you 'twixt heau'ns eternitie In blissefulnesse and your deare soules that hence You aide me on with your high eloquence And heau'n-commanding tenors to reuerse If our Diuinitie can ought in Verse Those strong opposing humours of this age This wayward madnesse this prepostrous rage Of humane hearts which gape so greedily To swallow sinne and drinke iniquitie Like water as the Scripture speakes but good They will not taste so much lest their ill blood Should be infected by 't and so perchance They might be drawne from hellish ignorance Into the glorious light of Grace whereby They might be brought to heauens felicity Before they were aware of 't O my soule What fury 's this How should we not controle Such stupid waywardnesse when now aday Men labour more it seemes to finde the way That leades to hell then euer heretofore The Saints for heauen O how should I deplore This wretched hum'rousnesse How should I chide My Countrimen for this that they 'le abide This cursed Achan to remaine so long Within their tents which hath done all the wrong Our Countrey hath of late endur'd how-ere Some ignorant braines thinke otherwise But here O that I might obtaine but this of them Which is that these my deare-wise-Countrimen Would onely duly thinke vpon and wey The way wherein they goe knowing when they Haue had their filles of vanitie at last They must expect a change that fearefull blast Of the last Trumpe will one day sound and then That dreary doome also will fall on them Depart from me yee curst and they must goe Into those prisons of eternall woe The deepes of euerlasting hell where they Shall be in paine beyond conceite no day Or instant shall giue ease to them but still They shall drinke vp those poys'nous drugs of ill Hells most reuengefull torturings if they Doe not repent themselues while 't is to day I meane ere deaths blacke night approach O then Thinke you on this my dearest Countrimen And thou deare Drayton let thy aged Muse Turne now diuine let her forget the vse Of thy earst pleasing tunes of loue which were But fruits of witty youth let her forbeare These toyes I say and let her now breake forth Thy latest gaspe in heau'nly sighes more worth Then is a world of all the rest for this Will vsher thee to heau'ns eternall blisse And let thy strong-perswasiue straines enforce These times into a penitent remorce For this their sinfull frowardnesse and then Heau'n shall reward thee neuer care for men And honour'd Willy thou whose maiden straines Haue sung so sweetly of the Vales and Plaines Of this our Ile that all the men that be Thy hearers are enforc'd to honour thee Yea and to fall in loue with thee I say Let me intreate thee to transport thy Lay From earth to heau'n for sure thy Muses bee So good the Gods will fall in loue with thee As well as men besides 't is fit thy Layes Should scorne all Crowns saue heau'ns eternal Bayes Then bid the world farewell with Sydney he That was the Prince of English Poesie And ioyne with me the worst of all thy traine To bring these times into a better straine And dearest Pol'sfen last of all the three Which should be first by that affinitie And int'rest that thou hast in me I here Intreate thy helpe amongst the rest whose deare And precious apprehensions reach so high As nought but heau'n or pure Diuinitie Should be the subiect of thy straines for they Are farre too good e're to be cast away On earth's base worthlesse vanities which be At best but emblems of mortalitie So soone they die and quaile away but thine Thy wits I meane are heau'nly and diuine Emblems of Euerlastingnesse and can Create conceits were neuer form'd by man No nor so much as thought vpon ere thou Thy selfe gan'st being vnto them but now Since things are thus proportion'd out I pray Come aide me with that heau'n-commanding sway Of thy high Verse which rather will compell Men to be mad then let them goe to hell In such a childish hum'rousnesse nay will Enforce them to be good against their will If they can be so dull or voide of sense As not loue goodnesse for selfe-excellence Whose sweet and louely fairenesse at first sight Without gaine-say obtaines a soueraigne right Ore all ingenious hearts at least if Grace Reside in them then nothing else takes place Come then I say deare Drayton Browne and thou And all the rest that euer made a Vow To keepe the Muses sacred Lawes come here And ioyne with me let neither loue nor feare Make you proue partiall till this hum'rous rage Be banisht quite from off our Englands Stage What shall I vrge you more or why intreate Your Wisdomes see the cause is wondrous great That craues your helpe nay more it craues the Pen And tongue of our best Angels too for men Must not be humour'd thus in ill or if It should be so sure goodnesse then for griefe Would run away or hide her selfe when she Should be discourag'd thus alas and we That honour her should not once dare to speake O 't were enough to make our hearts to breake Be valiant then my friends and let all those That wish our England well and hate her foes Be of like minde with vs yea those that bee The Princes of our Ile so shall we see Our England flourish spight of Pope and all That thirst with bloody hearts to see her fall So Goodnesse shall proue Conquerour but ill Shall not dare shew it selfe within this Hill And holy Mountaine of our God which he Preserues by speciall prouidence and we To see it thus with gladsome hearts shall sing Our thanks to God who rays'd so good a King To sit on our late Dauids Throne and may He grow as great as good still let vs pray Yea Peeres and all ioyne with my humble Pen And so let all the people say Amen The true well-willer and seruant of you all in the Lord Iesus S. A. Errata Page 4. verse 27. for rhus reade thus v. 36. for intrust r. instruct p. 7. v. 9. for I'm r. ioyne p. 8. v. 31. to say in the beginning to be left out and in the end for hapy r. haply p. 10. v. 39. for an Ambassage r. in ambassage p. 24. v. 24. for the r. thy p. 25. vers 6. for Sonne r. Sunne p. 28. v. 18. for there r. here p. 32. vers 30. for Sonne r. Sunne p. 34. v 39. for gifts r. griefes p. 39. v. 27. for tremble r. doe tremble p. 41. in the Margine for Exod. 16. r. 19. p. 42. v. 21. for hight r. light p. 52. v. 33. for hell r. ill p. 53. v. 39. for enow r. enough AVSTIN'S VRANIA OR THE HEAVENLY MVSE THE CONTENTS FIrst my VRANIA from the Spring Doth take occasion here to sing Our Sauiours Passion but her rime Leaues
mine Eye yet sure my mazed wit Could neuer frame an Epitaph to fit That sacred Monument for if that I Should write as vsuall Here He lyes I ly For Hee is Risen and I 'm sure is gone To sit vpon his euerlasting Throne In highest Heauens where Saints and Angels sing All Glory Honour Power to Him as King And surely Hee is worthy But mine Eye Presumes too farre in soaring vp so high As pry into the Heau'ns and there to looke On him that opens that seu'n-sealed booke I am not Iohn nor haue I Moses face Thus to presume ascend that holy place To gaze on God Alas I 'm quite awry To seeke his Tombe or write his Elegie Ne'r Poet yet presum'd to cast a verse Vpon his graue and shall I bee peruerse Did they refraine for feare they should bespot His vndefilednesse with Inky blot Of natures braine which cannot reach so hie As feigne a Graue aboue Heau'ns Canopie Where nothing is corrupt And shall my braine Presume to feigne Him backe on Earth againe To bury Him with Man as though that Hee Might see corruption as wee sinners see Oh no I may not Art and natures Eye Stand quite amaz'd at this great Mysterie Which faith alone conceaues my feebled sense Doth want alas the high intelligence Of Heau'ns pure Substances which might endite A higher straine by far then Humans write And here I want an Angels hallowed quill To bee my Pen and then I want to fill That sacred Pen in stead of stayny Inke Those Christall Nectars which the Blessed drinke The purest drops of that e're-liuing Fount Which issues from the Holy Holy Mount Of God and of the Lambe that so my Pen Soaring aloft aboue the eyes of Men Might Touch his Tombe and write an Elegie Beyond the limits of Mortalitie All these I want and here I fayle in all Foole that I was to name his Funerall But pardon Sauiour pardon here I craue That thus I err'd in seeking out thy graue I did it not to erre but t was to show My loue vnfain'd to Thee to whom I owe My selfe and all I haue and sure mine eine Had they but seen that sacred Tombe of thine Would thought them blest to weepe ere they we 're dry Thereon to write with teares thine Elegie Might these my teares as Maries shew to Thee I lou'd thee much that didst so much for mee Somewhat I faine would do thee e're I dye That I might part with thee in misery Who partst with mee in blisses but t is vaine I must receiue yet cannot pay againe Without thy help and then my pay shall bee None other but the same I had of Thee And thus thy fauours haue o'recome mee quite I know not what to say or what to write Thy graue I may not seeke or fly so hie To blot thy purenesse with my Poesie The Heau'ns thy Monument the blessed Traines Of Saints and Angels stead of mourning straines Proclaime thy triumphs in their sacred layes Where euery pious period Ecchoes prayse Which sweetly seemes to lull Heau'ns soules asleepe And steales away their teares they cannot weepe A fit Consort so high an Harmonie Or none should dare proclaime thy victory And Blessed Iesus let this soule of mine Though now in flesh imprison'd yet in fine 〈◊〉 with these blessed Quiristers and sing All honour glory to my God and King Meane while I craue although my feeble Eie May not stand gazing at thy Deitie Yet teach it see thy passions teach it see The wondrous things which thou hast done for me Say but the word and this my worthlesse pen Shall tell such wonders to the eares of men When it reports thy fauours that thy Glory Shall bee far greatned by my Infant Story For who am I alas my childish braine Hath nothing in it selfe but what is vaine How dare I speake or write my mouth and quill Are both alike bee inked ore with ill My very thoughts are euill all my man Corrupted is I neither will nor can The thing that 's good and yet by Thee I will This very good I doe and cannot ill Here show thy power lest now I haue begun I faile before the halfe my worke bee don Call me as earst thy Samuel from his sleepe And as thy Dauid from his flocke of sheepe To sing thy prayses Let my Poesy Be as the words of weeping Jeremy To pierce the stoniest heart and to inuite The dullest Eares attention when I write Thy Spirit bee my Vrania to distill Such sacred Measures into this my quill That euery line it writes may reach a straine Beyond the high conceits of Natures braine To shew from whence it came and then my Layes Shall still bee Ecchoes of my Makers Praise And when our brauest Poets chance to see The vertue of Diuiner Poesie They 'le change their Tenors all and glory most To bee the Pen-man of the Holy Ghost And now in briefe I le shew if ought I can The many fauours thou hast done for Man But chiefly those thy fauours since his Fall Nor mine nor Moses pen can vtter All When first my Speculations fled so hie With Eyes of faith to see thy Deitie My reason was o'recome and I amaz'd Was forst to seek the thing at which I gaz'd I seekt and saw 't but all I saw alas Was this there was a God but what Hee was I could not see vnlesse by Opposite And so Hee was a Beeing Infinite Because not finite for His Excellence Doth farre transcend our weake Intelligencâ— I saw well what Hee was not for I 'm sure Hee was not ought dependent or impure As wretched Humans wee Hee was not ought That felt our passions or with curious thought Was euer vext for want for all was His Who gaue to all their beeing and their blisse In briefe Hee was not any thing that can Bee properly attributed to Man Or to Inferiors which might ought imply An imperfection or dependency These Negatiues I saw but here I stay I could not see th' Affirmatiues to say To say that this or this Hee was lest hapy I Should seem to lessen much his Deitie By these â—y weake assertions But at length It pleas'd this God of 's goodnes giue mee strength To finde him out as good Hee 'l not deny To those that seeke him in sincerity Hee wills mee search the Scriptures ouerlook The secret volumes of that sacred Booke Wherein most Gracious He vouchsafes to show As much as Humans ought or need to know Concerning Him till his Eternall Grace Immortals vs to see Him face to face And thither then I went where soon as I Had entred in and with a mazed Ey Had lookt on Moses writ my feeble sense Was quite o'recome at his Omnipotence For there I saw how first Hee did begin To make the spacious Heauens and earth wherein Hee placed Man as
Lord to rule and sway O're all the rest vntill hee fell away By faithlesse disobedience to his Prince From whome hee had his right and euer since Hee prou'd disloyall to the Deitie Hee hath beene heire of nought but miserie But when I had reuiewd this goodly Ball Of Earth and Heau'n with furniture and all Pertaining to 't as my vnhappy Sire Sometimes in Paradise I had desire To know beyond my reach the matter whence This all was made of but my forward sense Was quickly ouertopt for there mine Eye Began at first to see my misery Within these sacred Axioms there I saw A new-found Generation Natures law Earst feign'd was quite abolisht all this frame Was made of nought but nothing for that Name Of God was all in all till Gracious Hee Willing the Creature should a partner bee In his exceeding goodnesse spake the word The earth and Heau'ns were made and all accord To do his will who wills what ere hee lists And when Hee wills ther 's nothing that resists For Hee is Lord of all and all within This Vniuerse hath nothing but from Him For all was nothing till it pleasd him say Let it be so and should Hee take away His face a while behold this goodly frame Would turne into that nothing whence it came And silly wretch There began to view My Nakednesse which made me sad to rue My poore estate that durst not write one Line To tell the world that this or this was mine For I was not mine owne but at his will Who gaue mee all I had besides mine ill And this my Parents gaue when earst their eyes Were op't as mine to see their miseries A cursed gift alas but yet t was all Poore Soules they had after their haplesse fall For soone as they had trespast on that Tree Which God forbad them touch their simple fee In Paradise was lost their former state Was voyded quite both Adam and his Mate Were tumbled out at dores and all they had Was ta'ne away onely they kept the bad And thi 's that cursed portion which they left Vnto their Issues who no sooner reft Of what their Parents had but as in spight They'd vowd to warre against the Lord of might From whom they had their being all in rage They 'gan at once to rush vpon the Stage Tooke vp their Fathers Action laid a plot To make compleat what Adam acted not Successiuely they come each enters in Bedight with various Robes of Scarlet Sin To act their seuerall ills each takes his place The greatest hee that is the least by Grace Here comes a Tyrannizing King and there A flattring Courtier lulls him in the eare Your Maiestie is wise to lop away Such pearching Twigs as these that durst gainesay Your high decrees for bee they good or ill It is enough for Kings to say We will Next enter in the Nobles Dukes and Earles Vicounts and Lords bedeckt with gold and pearles All draw their swords in fury and combine To fight against that One-Eternall-Trine This vomits out such horrid oathes and words As pierce far deeper then a thousand swords That sends an Ambassage an angry frowne To tell the weaker they must needs go downe ' Cause he is rising higher and t were best They murmur not if that they meane to rest Some others that haue got a Treasury By lawlesse meanes Extortion Vsury By bribry or the like and with the same Haue bought themselues an honourable Name Looke vp aloft and scorne to stoop so low As looke on them whom they were wont to know T is high disgrace they thinke to cast an eye Away on such as are in misery And if poore soules for griefe of heart they say The Men are proud t were good they run away For they will haue their tongues that dare to prate So lauishly on Men of their Estate They 'l force them eat their words and what they see They must not say t is ill although it bee If touching them but t is a Mystery Or some high point of their Nobility Thus pride the hatefulst of the rest is fled So high that it begins to take a head Aboue our reach and proudly seemes to call Some heauy Iudgement on this wicked all Scarce these were silent but there came in haste Three roaring Knights Each bragging of the waste That hee had made this tells how hee had spent Some three or foure hundred pounds of rent Per Annum on his whores his hawkes his hounds And thus proclaimes how hee bad sold his grounds The Right his Father left him all to buy A thousand trickes to nourish luxury Another boasts that he had throwne away So much vpon the cardes and diceing play As ere he knew Godliest of them all Bestow in building vp an Hospitall T was I said one did best another I The last would needs bee first in villanie Thus all would haue the Mastery and say T was I that wan the glory of the day Next follow in the Gentry all bedight With armour of vnrighteousnesse to fight Against their Lord and Maker euery Lim Had vow'd it selfe a seruant vnto Sin Then come the vulgar and the rusticke crue With Bills and Staues and Malberts to pursue As earst the wicked Iewes and still they add Some ten times worse vnto the former bad Thus Kings and Nobles all the hatefull traine Meet here at once and take their oaths againe To actuate at full ere they had don Th' vnhappy Scene that Adam had begun Here might you see if that a humane Eye Could tearelesse gaze vpon a Tragedy Fild with such horrid Actions euery part Set forth with new-found euils Satans Art Was eminent in all they plaid so well That euery one could act himselfe to Hell Adam was nothing had he beene but here Amongst this rout it scarsly would appeare That ere he did a fault his lowly lapse Would ne'r beene heard amongst these thunder-claps And should I speake sure t were not much amisse His ill was good in reference to this For he at first it seemes had but a will To know the diffrence twixt the good and ill And sure his aimes in this were good to stray If that he had not sin'd to disobey But when he 'd erred thus his opened eye No sooner saw then saw his misery This was his recompence his knowledge taught Himselfe to know that he was worse then naught But when hee 'd seen his fault I do not doubt His eye againe wept teares to wash it out But these had other aimes their imbred spight Was onely darted ' gainst the Lord of might To pull him downe from Heau'n as if that they Could authorize what e'r they did or say With Who shall vs controll Their wicked will Did aime at nothing else but what was ill Good was a Paradox as strange to them As sin at first to Adam was for when
that vntill a fitter time In my next booke from thence shee hies To speake of Humane miseries By Adams fall and how the times Are now corrupted ore with crimes At length shee falls with weeping eyes To treate of mine owne miseries VVhere shee declares how first I fell Away from God and lay in Hell As Prisoner fast till his free Grace Releasd mee from this wofull Case VVherein a large dispute as t were Twixt God and mee shee doth declare My penitence and how I lye As one that hath deseru'd to dye By lawes iust doom but yet depend On His sole Grace Thus doth shee end My former booke and lets me lye To waite for mercies sweet Reply I That had sate neere famous Isis shore The space of twice twelue moones and somewhat more And there had heard those Heauenly Muses sing That vse to solace by that sacred Spring At length I gan recall my selfe and thought What shall I stand and hearken still for nought Sure no I will be doing too altho It cost me deare enough much time and wo Come then VRANIA come thou sacred Mayd And Muse of Heau'n goe onwards in the ayd Of my great God whose sole commanding spright Shall alwayes guide thee in thy wayes aright Goe on I say in his sole strength and sing This dreary Canto to the weeping Spring A Song befitting well the time I meane The Story of that lamentable Scene Which earst my Sauiour acted here whilst He Was yet on earth Come then along with me And beare a part come quickly on I say For lo my passions will no longer stay No sooner can an earthen Caesar dye But Kingdomes flow in weeping Poesy Our dayes are nighted and the heau'ns o're-hung With sable clouds as with compassion wrung Of what we feele and seeming sad to rue Our great missehaps distils a weeping dew To beare vs company while all our eyes Make silent teares to blab our miseryes And this the cause we say of dreary night Our Sunne is set and we haue lost his Light Is 't so indeed And could that King of Kings That Humane-God of whom the Angel brings Such happy Tydings and the noblest Traines Of Heau'ns Musicians warbled out their Straines To solemnize his Birth which then began To preach Saluation to that Miser Man Could He I say be crucified and die Yet Man not melt into an Elegie Obdurate Clay so sweet a Sunne to see And not dissolue but still more hardned bee Ah cursed cruell Iewes where were yoâ— Scribes They could not write What blinded â—h your bribes As were your Watch-men Did you 〈◊〉 their eies For feare they should bewray your villanies By some sad Poem writ with sable Teares Vpon his death Which when the peoples eares Had heard and how you 'd shed his guiltlesse blood They needs would wish their heads a Water-flood To wash his wounds and to bewaile his losse Whom causelesse you thus tortur'd on the Crosse But Tyrants tell how could you gaze on Him With tearelesse eies who suff'red for your sin Had you a heart and could it choose but bleed Or were you men to act so vile a deed As murther Him whose very wounds did weepe To wash those sinnes that wounded you so deepe Or when you 'd don 't I wonder faithlesse Elues With Judas straight you had not hang'd your selues To see your Tragick Action or with speed If yet you liu'd bewail'd that horrid deed In lasting Teares of penitence and all Turne sudden Mourners to his Funerall But t was not so your infidelitie Was fore-decreed from all eternitie You did this not by chance but to fulfill The sacred Scriptures and resistlesse will Of Heau'ns great Lawgiuer who gaue you eies To see and weepe at others miseries But stubborne you peruerting all to ill Did what you could to crosse the Giuers will Blinded your selues and would not see the Light Till forst you were by vnexpected Night To see by opposites As those your kinne Who ryde in Poast the thorough faires of sinne With hood-winkt eyes and dreaming all is well Ne'r thinke on Heau'n vntill they feele a Hell But then too late alas the smarting Rod Doth make them learne a Heauen and a God! Such ill Disciples you whose faithlesse hate Did play so long the wanton till too late Sad Terror taught you Lectures Heau'ns and all Did seeme to checke you this Terrestriall Ball Did quake and tremble that it should sustaine Your selues the Off-spring of that cursed Cain The Temples veyle and very Rockes were rent As toucht with Passion seeming to lament Your deeds and wanting tongue and teares to plaine They brake their stonie hearts for griefe in twaine And glorious Titan Heau'ns all-seeing Eye The sad Spectator of this Tragedy Withdrew it selfe put on its sable weeds Wherewith it doth lament such dismall deeds And all the Creature clad in mourning blacke Did sadly seeme to mutter out it's lacke Meane while a secret terrour did inuade The hearts of all and an vnwonted shade O're-vaild the Earth on suddaine all was Night And reason good the Sunne that gaue you Light You banisht from your Eyes and would not see Though wrapt alas in rags of miserie Hee came to bee your obiect but in vaine Hee had but hate and labour for his paine Iust as his followers now that shew his Light They 're ouercome with hatred and Despight Thus did you entertaine Him with the crosse Whâ— harmelesse suff'red to redeeme your losse Anâ—â—lessed Sauiour thus with pitious Cry Hee seemd to call on his Diuinitie For aydance in that Agony wherein Hee now lay gasping burned with the sin Of mee and all the world vntill at length His God-head gaue Him all sufficient strength Whereby Hee ouercame which done Hee cry'd T is finisht gaue the ghost and thus Hee dy'd Here passionary Eye that dain'st to view My weeping Meeter writ with sable Dew Come beare mee company and let thine Eie Afford me Inke to write his Elegie Come weepe by Art make euery teare a verse The saddest now that euer hung on hearse And solitary Muses bring your Traines Of skilfull'st Mourners to intrust my braines With most Patheticke tenors that my pen May Eccho sorrow through the world agen And skilfull passions come assist mee now With sorrowes sad Materials shew me how To frame a sable Monument for Him Who payd his life a ransome for my Sin Come weeping Mourners Muses Passions all Come solemnize with mee his Funerall His funerall alas where am I led To seeke the liuing thus amongst the Dead What Maries passion hath possest my braine To hurry me thus vp and downe in vaine To seeke his graue I 'm quite out of the way I haue none Angell tells mee where he lay Or if I had what Marble Monument Can reach so high as bee his Continent Or were that Virgin sepulcher wherein His Virgin body lay so free from sin Before
what I newly saw and at the sight I was so highly rauisht with delight That I could scarcely tell beleeue 't 't was so Whether my soule were in the flesh or no. And here me thought I heard the Angels say With fearefull Trumpets Rise and come away To Iudgement all and soone as e'r the sound Was gone abroad me thought this goodly Round Deliuer'd vp the Dead and euery one Were brought immediately before the Throne Of Heau'ns great Law-giuer But when mine eie Had seene alas so great a Maiestie Should be the Iudge said I I 'm quite vndone For lo mine eyes haue seene this mighty Sonne Of Holinesse and now where shall I go That am so full of wickednesse and wo And here alas amidst my hopes and feares My dazled eyes became a flood of teares To weepe at what I saw for when that I Had but a glimmering of his puritie I straight gan hate my selfe for there me thought That in my selfe my selfe was worse then nought But here behold in midst of these extremes I felt such sweet inflowings from the beames Of that e'rliuing Sunne that while mine eie Did mostly weepe at mine owne miserie It gaue me greatest happinesse for then Me thought I had beyond the state of men A new immortall being which I had From Him alone who made my soule so glad Thus while I loos'd my selfe it seem'd to me I was transfigur'd to felicitie VVhere I as Peter in amazednesse Did wish my selfe no greater happinesse Then there to build my biding place and weepe Mine eyes away in that so sweet a sleepe Thus passionary eie I 'ue showne to thee That happy vision which I once did see VVith euery part and circumstance vnlesse I faile in telling of that happinesse VVhich then I had and here indeed mine eie I must confesse can neuer reach so hie VVhile's in the flesh to apprehend aright Th' expreslesse pleasures of so sweet a sight 'T was but a dreame indeed yet such as I Could alwaies wish presented to the eie Of vs forgetfull humanes to awake Our drowzie soules that we might vs betake To higher Theories and when we see That miserable state wherein we bee To fix our eyes on Him whose purer light VVould so possesse vs throwly with delight That in a sacred pride wee 'd scorne to throw Away our eyes on any thing below To set our hearts thereon but highly looke On Him that keepes the euerlasting Booke Where blessed Soules are writ that ere we die We might as 't were shake off mortalitie And clothe vs with new essences and this Would be a new conueyance to our blisse To giue our soules the Heauen which we craue Whilest yet imprison'd in the bodies graue But to returne vnto my former dumpe Wherein I was when I had heard that Trumpe With thundring sound say Miser come and see How well thy humane tongue can answer mee At my demands As in my fearefull dreame Mine eyes brast forth into a weeping streame Of penitentiall teares I could not speake With ought but sighes whose vttrance seem'd to breake My very heart with horror for mine eye No sooner saw but lo my miserie Confronts me straight I saw how I had spent My Talents all away which he had lent To me in vanitie I saw alas How slow to good how forward still I was In following what was ill and here I saw How I had made digressions from his Law In euery point In briefe I saw that I Was now a sinke of all iniquitie I 'd quite forgot his fauours and was gone Away from Him that euerliuing Sun To walke in darkenesse and to goe astray Where e'r the flesh or Satan led the way For I was wholly thrall'd to them and now I 'd seene my selfe alas I knew not how To come into his presence or to speake And yet I must or else my heart will breake I needs must come alas I cannot flye Goe where I will from his all-seeing eye Or if I could yet wheresoe'r I goe There euery thing proclaimes it selfe a foe To my rebellious soule and lo within I 'm tortur'd so with horror of my sin That all the Balmes of Gilead cannot ease The fearefull gripings of my sad disease Where 's now the world Where are those triuiall toyes Call'd Wealth and Honours Or those seeming ioyes The flattring flesh pretends alas I see They all preuaile no more to comfort me Then heauy blowes to ease the aking head Or Papists Aue-Maries for the dead My gifts are natur'd otherwise and I Alas where shall I goe faine would I cry For helpe but all my strayings are in vaine The more I wrest the more I feele my paine And here should some great Mammon-Monarch come With golden Mountaines or with all the summe Of earths best seeming-happinesse whereby Worlds darlings vse to lesse their misery Or driue it quite away yet all to mee Were but as light to him that cannot see Alas what were 't vnto a man that lyes On his extremest bed with turn'd-vp eyes Looking aloofe after that liuing breath Whose sad depart is Herald of his death What were 't I say to throw whole Seas of gold Into his throat this comfort were as cold As what 's most comfortlesse Euen so I see O would men thinke on 't it goes now with mee These by-receits are but as feasting meat To him that hath no stomacke left to eat They make me loath them quite For soone as I Gan but to gaze on heau'ns great Maiesty They ' peare as drugges not worth the sight so foule As farthest off from clensing of a soule That 's so corrupt as mine And here I finde There 's nothing left to ease my grieued minde But solace from aboue the place from whence I first began to haue a quickning sense Of what I am for now I see full well The nature of my soule doth farre excell Ought here beneath and seemes to come more nigh To Heau'ns high God claiming affinitie As 't were with him from whom at first it had Its being perfect good but all its bad Was from its selfe whose first originall Had beeing from its Father Adams fall And now I thinke on 't our Philosophy Seemes here authentick by Diuinity That telles when e'r our acts and passions be There must the matter needs in both agree And where the action is with victory The agent hath the strongest faculty I 'm sure 't is true in this my purer soule I meane in substance though it be so soule By accident may not be wrought vpon By these base agents of corruption Wealth honours or the like too vile a mud To worke on humane soules to doe them good Their matter differs all in all for these Are momentary salues and can but ease A momentary griefe that 's somewhat nie To them in matter and in qualitie As passions of the flesh or discontent Arising from what we call accident The losse
shades may bid adue While his sweet rayes come vsh'ring in the day Or run as Iohn before to make the way And here great Lord come raise mee vp so high According to thy word that now mine eie May soare vp to thy Mercy-seate and there As Heau'ns pure eyes fixt in a holier Spheare Bee freed from all corruptions taint while I Go bathe my soule in that sweet Theorie Of thine eternall loue and when I see Those high prerogatiues I haue by thee How thou hast made mee free from death from sin From hell and all those miseries wherein I now lye plung'd and those whereto I tend As of my selfe and lesse thy Grace descend And quickly come and take mee vp alas I needs must fall and when it comes to passe That thy sweet Comforter shall come and tell To my sad soule againe that all is well VVith mee and when I feele thy quickning Sprite That harbenger and pledge of true delight Beare witnesse vnto mine that I am made Free man of Grace whereof I 'ue but a shade Whiles here on earth but shall hereafter haue The very substance much as I can craue Or shall know how to wish as earst to me Thou didst declare in that sweet mysterie Of thy great loue then shall my tongue and pen Be wholly votaries to thee and then My sad Vrania whose now weeping eies Are quite worne out with plainings teares and cries When she but apprehends those gladsome raies Shall metamorphose all her notes to praise And I myselfe with all I haue will be As one that 's wholly consecrate to thee Who am alone redeem'd by thee Oh then Here come my God here quickly come agen And take me vp here let me sweetly heare Those heau'nly tunes againe which did while-ere Giue such reuiuals to my soule that I Was almost past my Sea of miserie Ne'r to be plung'd in it againe if thou Hadst not so suddenly with-drawne the brow Of that sweet Sun-shine of thy Grace whereby I 'gan to see the blessed libertie Of those who are the sonnes of God But come Great Maker now and what thou hast begun In me thy creature perfit vp that so When after-ages shall both see and know How kindly thou hast dealt with me they may Appeale to thee in like extremes and pray To thee alone for helpe seeing that I Dauids poore man did humbly call and crie To thee and was deliuer'd for if he Were heard they 'le say then doubtlesse so shall we What wilt thou more This is the time and place As earst I said thou seest I want thy Grace So much poore soule as scarce I 'm able call To thee for Grace and if thou 'lt let me fall Alas I 'm ready to consent altho It be my thraldome to eternall woe Ne'r thence to be redeem'd againe nay more Alas I cannot chuse but fall so poore And weake a wretch am I that faine if I Might haue my will 〈◊〉 decreed to die I 'd seeke out opportunities wherein I would enact sâ—me higâ—â—vnhallowed sin That might exclude not quite from thee alas Such are the deeds my selfe would being to passe And none but such and then how canst thou haue A fitter opportunitie to saue Then now thou hast in me Was euer man Brought neerer yet to hell then now I am That want but one vnhappie step Oh no There 's none can fall to greater deepes of woe Vnlesse he fall to hell it selfe for I Am the next step so full of miserie As quite ore-come with it or one whose sense Is dull'd with its exceeding violence That so I cannot feele my selfe vnlesse It be like him that 's in a drowzinesse Or some vnhappie Lethargie whereby He dully feeles but knowes not how to crie Or plaine himselfe or call for helpe and sure This dangerous sicknesse is beyond the cure Of humans best preseruatiues which can At most but reach vnto the outward man To ease or comfort that awhile but when Those heauie pangs oppresse the soule O then All these are vaine for what were it if I Should liue in body whiles in soule I die Alas this were the life of death when that Which is my bodies life is dead But what What doe I meane Why is my troubled sprite Distracted thus Can griefe be infinite Which rises from that inward sight of sin Whereby we waile that wofull â—ase wherein We see our selues by nature and whereby We learne betimes to climbe so humbly hie As wholly to forsake our selues and cast Our hopes alone on thee who onely hast The treasures of eternall life Sure no This is that happie path by which we goe Into the way of sauing 〈◊〉 and this Is that sweet mâ—lium to our future bliâ— Through which indeed we must before we may Approach those 〈◊〉 of eternall day Here then deare God here will I humbly waite With lowly confidence in this my straite A straite more great then Dauids was when hee Did earst betake himselfe alone to thee Because thy mercies were so great and here Because thy mercies also are full neere In mid'st of humanes greatest deepes that hence We might obserue 't is thy Omnipotence And Goodnesse onely that relieues when wee Are ready to despaire because we see Nought else but death within our selues and how There 's nought beside can doe vs good that thou May'st be made all in all because I say Thou art so good here will I humbly stay Vntill thy mercies raise me vp euen here Confounded in my plaints without a teare To tell my further griefes to verifie That sorrow in extremes is alwaies drie Here will I lay me downe here will I stay Alas because I haue no more to say For lo I 'm dead in sinne and griefe Oh then Here let thy goodnesse shew it selfe my Pen And Muse can speake no more till thou descend And teach them more needs must I make an end And thus in deepes of this my silent griefe I humbly waite for answer of reliefe Here laying downe my selfe much like a man That 's carelesse growne I sleepingly began To drowzie out my dayes not caring how I plai'd the Prodigall with time for now Said I Sure I can doe no more mine eies Are wearied with my teares my sighes and cries Haue quite ore-whelm'd my feeble soule and I Am plunged in so deepe a miserie That now I know not what to doe alas For who am I My pilgrim-daies doe passe Away as shades and still the more I haue Of life the more I doe approach my graue All this I see aye me and more then this That very cloud that hinders all my blisse My sinnes doe still increase on me yâ—â— they Will haue no interruptions though my day Be clouded ere so much they will not cease To vex my soule nor let me liue in peace Alas and these distract me quite while I Haue not
This being said behold my deadned soule Began reuiue the sprite that was so foule That Messenger of hell which often brought Me downe into such desp'rate deepes me thought Did leaue me by degrees and all gaue place To entertaine a sweet succeeding Grace VVhich seiz'd vpon mine inward parts whereby I 'gan to feele a secret new supply Of an vncustom'd strength and now againe Me thought I had a pow'r whence to refraine From swallowing Satans luring baites which he Did vse erewhile thus in bewitching me And here me thought by secret sweet degrees My selfe gat ground and Satan 'gan to leese By sweet assistance from my God for he Indeed did worke these miracles in me O how I wish to thanke him for 't and I Began to feele a happie libertie From that most loathsome slauerie wherein I was enshackled earst so fast in sin My stormes blew ore and this my troubled Man Seem'd to be somewhat calm'd the clouds began To fleet away and an vnwonted light Fills vp the place of former gloomie light VVhereby mine eies began to wake and I 'Gan call vnto my drowzie memorie Those happie notes I heard of late from whence I felt these holy changings in my sense As well as in mine inward soule and here With awfull reuerence and submissiue feare In thus repeal'd vnto my God Great IOVE Thou sole Commander of the pow'rs aboue And these below who only with thy word Do'st whatsoe'r thou wilt lo here my Lord I am thy seruant son of thine hand-maide Bee 't done vnto mee all as thou hast said I humbly here submit my selfe to bee Obedient to thy will to giue to thee All glory due vnto this worke for I Desire herein no greater dignity Then to bee made thine instrument by whom Thou 'st pleas'd to show thy great saluation To mee and all the rest of thine which bee Implung'd in deepes of griefe as well as mee Here then great Lord in humble confidence Of thy sole promis'd aide as hauing sense Of these mine owne infirmities whereby My wings are clipt with Paul from soaring hie On selfe-presumptious perfectnesse lo here I doe proceed in humbled faith and feare Crying aloud to thee with teares of griefe Lord I belieue O helpe mine vnbeliefe Thus going on from Moses sacred Law Wherein ere-while with weeping heart I saw Mine owne defects and miseries and now Pearching aloft to Esay's happier bow Which sprang from out of Iesses root I 'gan To see saluation preach'd to sinfull man By God himselfe his holy Cryer calls Prepare the way the former humbled vales Shall bee exalted but the towring hill Shall bee throwne downe as low for lo hee will Reueale his glory forth all flesh shall see The wondrous light of his benignitie Himselfe hath spoken it And here mine eie 'Gan see some glimm'rings of that mystery Which I so much desir'd but going on Those pleasing high-waies of Saluation To finde more sweet assurances I past The Prophets all by whose good help at last I came vnto Mount Sion-hill where I 'Gan see my Sauiour with a clearer eie Then e'r I did before this was the place VVherein I found that couenant of Grace VVhich earst the Prophets pointed at the VVell And Spring of life where all true comforts dwell To euery sad wearied heart that lyes O're laden with his heauie sins and cryes VVith thirsty Soule for ease Here did I finde Those sweet reuiuals to my drooping minde VVhich flesh and bloud cannot conceiue I meane VVithin the Storie of that happy Scene VVhich God himselfe came downe to act when hee Out of that boundlesse loue hee bare to mee And all the rest of his tooke flesh on him To beare those punishments which wee by sin VVere subiect to but could not beare vnlesse VVith euerlasting losse of happinesse And durance of expresâ—esse paine which hee Alone of loue did vndergo that wee Might haue our freedome all in him But here Beeing much desirous yet to come more neere And pry into this sacred Fount wherein I might wash off my leprosie of sin And bee made fully whole at length I came To Matthew's holy VVrit mark't with the Name Of Iesuâ— in the Frontispice where I Did quickly finde his strange natiuitie As was foretold for this indeed was hee That should bee borne of that pure Virgin tree VVhich sprang from Iesse's holy Root yea'uen hee That was to ope the blinded eyes to free Vs that were pris'ners fast to sin to preach Good tidings to the meeke in heart to reach His comforts out to those that mourne whose Name VVas to bee called Wonderfull the same With God himselfe which was ordain'd to saue The people for their sins Thus farre I haue Gon on with him but going sweetly on As I began behold I see anon The VVise-men comming from the East and they Being guided by his starre were come to pay Their duties to this God made man to see And worship him for so it ought to be O thou my God send here thy lightning Sprite To bee my starre also to guide mee right That I may finde my Sauiour too and then Though not with th'offrings of those wiser men For lo I am vnwise alas and poore Yet may I truly worship him with more Then e're they did with heart with soule and all That now I haue or euer after shall Thus passing on at length my thoughts were brought To holy Luke for Mark indeed had nought Of this his birth where when I ent'red in I saw the Angell speake againe of him As earst in Matthew's sacred Writ but here I went not far before there did appeare A wondrous change this Heau'n-borne Maiestie Whom earst the Magi came to gratifie With these their best adoring gifts with Gold With Frankincense and Myrrhe which plainly told How great a King a Priest and Prince hee was Whome they ador'd I say it came to passe This Maiestie so great being now disgrac'd As 't were with Ragges of humane flesh lay plac'd In an vnseemly manger for the Inne Was haply stuft so full with guests of sin There was no roome for this great Lord but hee Must seeke a Stable for his high degree Being thought the very scorne of men but sure 'T was not without a Prophecy so pure And innocent a soule should bee thus left Both in contempt and misery bereft Of worlds best seeming-comforts But behold When earth and cruell men were growne so cold In charitie the Heau'ns themselues proclaime His wondrous worth for lo a glorious Traine Of that celestiall Quire were come to bring This happy Tidings to the world to sing His high natiuitie in their high-layes Where euery Period eccho'd nought but prayse And glory to our God on high on earth Peace and good will tow'rds men all from his birth Issuing as from one
in their ills let them â—ke vp The seeming sweets of sins impoys'ned cup Let them carouse in vanity and draw Iniquity with ropes ne'r stand in aw ' Of future iudgements Let them prosper still As they suppose by adding ill to ill Let them be carelesse of themselues and spend Their precious daies ne'r thinking on the end Let them make flesh their guide taking delight In their owne lusts still glorying in the hight Of their ambitious titles and their wealth Got by obliquitie and lawlesse stealth Let them be-pride themselues in rich attires And robes of State burning with lawlesse fires Of lusts not to be nam'd let them be fed With choycest meates and glutted vp with bread Like pampred Horses to the full I say Let them spend all their happinesse away In these and such like vanities nor thinke On death at all thou standing at the brinke Of their vncertaine graues and heau'ns high hand Of vengeance ouer them doth alwaies stand Readie to strike them downe to hell but we Will ioy alone in this sweet libertie We haue in Christ we will delight I say Our selues in him in him wee 'l vow and pay Our dues of praise vnto our God in him Wee 'll hence triumph o're all the pow'rs of Sin Of death and Hell in Him we will expresse Our vtmost thanks by liues of holinesse And walking in his waies till by the hand Of his good Sprite hee'th brought vs to the Land Of righteousnesse where we would be on Him We will build all our confidence and clim To Heau'n alone by Him vnder his wings Wee 'l alwaies shrowd our selues nor shall the Kings Of th' earth be able doe vs harme though they Rage ere so much Our foes shall melt away Like Snow against the Sun and ' cause wee 'ue made The Lord our dwelling place vnder his shade We shall be surely safe yeâ— though the earth Be mou'd with all the pow'rs thereof though death Triumph on euerie side of vs yet wee Shall surely be preseru'd and liue to see The wondrous riches of his loue wherein He hath endear'd himselfe to vs through him We shall passe all these nether-stormes and spight Of all with-stands walke onwards in the light Of his sweet countenance still singing praise Vnto his Name till he at length shall raise Our Muses to a higher pitch where we Shall sing his praises to eternitie In his ne'r-ending place of blisse euen there Where he himselfe remaines where neither feare Nor griefe shall interrupt our ioyes but we Shall haue our fills of all felicitie And glory inexpressible the hight And chiefe of which is in the blessed sight Of this our glorious God whom we shall see There face to face euen as he is yea bee Made like to him what would you haue me say Mine eyes are dazled at this glorious day And reason stands amaz'd when it would reach This wondrous hight how shall a Mortall preach Of this immortall state O had mine eye But one sweet glimpse of this how should I tye Your eares vnto my tongue when I should speake Of what I saw 't would make your hearts to breake With earnest longings after it and you Would scorne from hence so much as take a view Of these inferiour vanities which be But toyes as 't were not worth your thoughts and flee Away almost as soone as come withall Leauing behind them nought but cursed gall And bitternesse to vex and gripe and grieue Those foolish soules which did ere-while beleeue Their false pretended sweets but here alone Is fulnesse of all true delight where none Can euer be deceiu'd vnlesse it be As that wise Queene of Sheba was when she Heard of the glory of King Salâ—â—on And of his happinesse but when anon She came and saw it with her eyes she than In great amazednesse thereat began Confesse that all was true yea sure the fame Said she came farre too short If then the name Of Salomon were such behold here 's one That 's greater farre then was King Salomon What shall I say of him sure my report Will speake but truth and yet come so farre short As finite doth of infinite what then She spake of Salomon and of his men So may I speake to thee my God O how How happie are thy Saints which fall and bow Before thy Maiestie Happie I say Are those that haue the priuiledge to stay Continually with thee there to behold Thy glorious face wherein as Dauid told Are ioyes at full and sit at thy right hand VVhere pleasures liue for euermore where stand Thy blessed troopes of glorious Saints that sing Eternall Halleluia's to their King To thee their King to thee alone for thou Art onely worthy O my God And now Here doe I craue to ioyne with them euen I Though yet on earth here doe I thankefully Fall downe before thy glorious Throne and here In humbled confidence and holy feare I offer my poore mite to thee of praise And thankfulnesse in these my lowly Layes All glorie be to thee my God to Thee And to the Lambe which hath redeemed mee By his deare blood and to the sacred Sprite The Comforter and pledge of true delight Which hath been with me hitherto and brought My soule into thy peace Sure I haue nought That 's worth thy great acceptance Lord for I Am poore thou know'st and full of miserie Happie in nothing else but thee I meane By being thine and yet I 〈◊〉 vncleane Vncleane alas vncleane well may I cry Come thou and wash away my Leprosie And make me fit for being thine O then What shall I pay who am the worst of men To thee for all thy mercies Lord VVhy here I le pay thee with thine owne the case is cleare I offer vp my selfe to thee with all That here I haue hence may it please thee call And count me wholly for thine owne for now I bid farwell vnto the world and vow In thy sweet aide eternall enmitie To all my wonted sinnes to vanitie And euery luring baite of hell And here I humbly doe deuote my selfe in feare And holinesse to thee my God that I May still be praysing thee vntill I die In all my thoughts and words and acts and hence May walke along by faith and not by sense Still gladded with thy countenance till I Haue ouer-past the present miserie Of this short life and till my soule at length Being cloath'd vpon with that immortall strength Of my blest Sauiour Christ shall sweetly flee Into thine hands there to remaine with thee In thy expreslesse happinesse till thou In that last day shalt swiftly come and bow The heau'ns and raise my body vp though dead And rotned dust and ioyne it to my Head And Sauiour Christ where it againe shall bee Vnited to my soule and I shall see My