POEMS IN TWO PARTS First An Interlocutory Discourse concerning the Creation Fall and Recovery of Man Secondly A Dialogue between Faith and a Doubting Soul By SAMVEL SLATER LONDON Printed for Tho. Cockeril at the Three Legs in the Poultry 1679. TO THE READER Courteous Reader AN itch of Scribling and appearing in Print hath not seiz'd me though I must confess my self easily perswaded to draw up this following Discourse An account of my publishing the Dialogue between Faith and a doubting Soul you will find before it That being delivered to the Book-seller and by him communicated to some of my Brethren they were pleased to signifie their approbation thereof wishing withal it might be accompanied with something about the Fall of Man The motion I readily closed with and so set to work in the midst of many affairs and under a very tenacious and afflictive distemper Yet I have in short time finished it and now send it abroad Be pleased to give it a fair and friendly reception If thou dost not like some things in it no more do I yet have not leisure to mend them I was much taken with Learned Mr. Miltons Cast and Fancy in his Book viz. PARADISE LOST Him I have followed much in his method and have been otherwise beholding to how much I leave thee to judg but I have used a more plain and familiar stile because I conceive it most proper Cast a mantle of love over failings wherever thou findest them and either do better or accept this from Thy Cordial Friend SA SLATER Febr. 6. 1678 9. A DISCOURSE CONCERNING The Creation Fall and Recovery of Man Iehovah Elohim I Am that which I am this is His Name Who happy always is always the same He Essence and Existence owes to none Whom can he owe it to being God alone Himself he his own happiness doth call What can he want who in himself hath all Both life and light and love and every thing Which may delight and satisfaction bring Of company there is no want for he Hath in himself a Blessed Trinity Before the World was he was not alone He then was and is still full Three in One. And in this happy that the Trinity Doth not divide his perfect Unity For the Three Persons are one Essence still One therefore in affection one in will The Son set up from everlasting is His Father's great delight the Father his Before him always he rejoiceth he Causeth and findeth matchless joy to be The Spirit too which doth from them proceed Doth the same joy both feast upon and feed But though no want of any thing could be Consistent with his sacred Deity His Goodness did not love to stay at home Communications did it become He did no Heaven need is his own place Yet for th' eternal glory of his Grace Heaven he fram'd and Earth both by a word Of power in both he is the Soveraign Lord. Above he Angels plac'd who all once shone As Morning-Stars about that Glorious Throne On which he sits an everlasting Sun Whose influence and beams can ne're be done A Law to them he gave that Law some brake And down he kickt them to the burning Lake Where they in everlasting chains shall lie Wishing for death though they can never die Yet Heaven is not empty for although Many did fall many do stand who do Attend upon him Thousands yea and more Ten thousand times ten thousand do adore His Majesty with veiled face and sing In th' highest glory to their God and King But besides Angels he from Earth did take A despicable clod and of it make A Creature whom he nobly did endue With Will and Understanding and did shew In him his own Image than Angels less He was but little for with Holiness God did invest him and resolv'd to make Him of ne're-ending happiness partake And with his chosen Progeny to fill His stately Palace his most holy Hill So he resolv'd so did and formed man One and no more in one the World began Of dust he formed him dust of the ground Yet he with Honour him and Glory crown'd His own similitude he gave him and Sov'raign authority for to command Fishes of Sea with Fowls and Beasts of sield Who all obedience unto him must yield And having made him for his pleasure-sake He commun'd with him and thus to him spake GOD. Adam who art my Workmanship know thou Unto none shalt but thy Creator bow Others shall bow to thee thee I have given All things that are under the cope of Heaven The world is thy dominion but my love Hath for thy Court chosen this pleasant Grove Eden I call 't a Garden where thou hast Varieties to please both eye and tast One fruit alone 's with-held and therefore see Thou do not venture once to taste that Tree Which knowledg doth of Good and Evil give Forbear to taste it as thou hop'st to live I who am Truth it self and cannot lie Say In the day thou eatest thou shalt die Death 't is I threaten therefore have a care Who e're shall tempt thee to 't Adam beware All other fruits I give thee for thy meat Of them thou hast free leave freely to eat Be then content if this thou tastest sin Will draw the latch and so grim Death comes in ADAM O God my Maker I do thee adore For mine own being and this bounteous store Which thou providest hast O let my love Always flame high to thee my God above Yet grant me leave to speak and make my moan Unto thy gracious ear I am alone In midst of comforts comfortless since I My days do pass without society Whatever creatures in the world there are Of each sort of them I do find a pair Which I together see associate And sweetly please themselves each in his Mate But betwixt me and them 's disparitie No pleasure therefore 'cause no harmonie Man should not turn a bruit and no bruit can Be a companion suitable to man GOD. Canst not thou find pleasure enough alone What Prince would have another in his Throne Look round about thee see how I have made Others to serve and thee to be obey'd On thee shall all attend from thee take Law And of thee every one shall stand in awe Before thee they shall come to sport and play And various delights yield every day Names thou hast given them and so dost know Their nature and their duty they know too Be satisfied then and mind my charge Great are thy comforts thy dominion large Besides look up to me I am alone From everlasting beside me is none Heaven view Skie with Sea Earth and Air And who is there that can with me compare All Creatures I have made and all to me Be more inferior than they are to thee Yet be assured that I do possess In mine own self most perfect happiness ADAM Lord pardon me thy dust if I reply And once more speak unto thy Majesty I cannot
labours thou at last shall see Such fruit as will most fully satisfie Heaven and Earth shall be fill'd with thy Fame A Name I 'le give thee above every name Wonderful Counsellor thou call'd shalt be A mighty God that is equal with me And what thine honour greatly will increase The everlasting Father Prince of Peace Yea more that Manhood which thou shalt assume Shall be exalted and with thee have room Upon that lofty Throne where I do sit For after such abasement it is fit Thou shouldest be exalted as a Prince As well as Saviour I 'le never mince Nor clip thy dues but all the world shall know Thee their supreme and every knee shall bow To thy Authority When thou shalt rise Out of the grave thou chusest I in no wise Will be unmindful of thy love to men Nor thine obedience unto me but then I thee in Heaven will with power clothe And in Earth too so that thou shalt in both Do what thou wilt for thou wilt always be Like to thy self and faithful unto me Above thy fellows I do thee anoint With oil of gladness and do thee appoint Lord over Men and Angels 't is my will Ev'n as my self they do thee honour still Unto thine en'mies thou shalt give thee soil And with the mighty shalt divide the spoil Supply thou shalt poor mans necessity And proclaim to the captives liberty Opening of prison-doors unto the bound With perfect healing to the deepest wound Souls weary and opprest under thy wing Shall comfort find and finding bless their King All that accept thee I with pleased face Will look upon and cheerfully embrace In arms of love though they be ne'r so poor Yea though they were grand enemies before My Glory thou design'st and if for me All this thou 't do what w'ont I do for thee Not stick at pardons sure I have them ready For all those lost ones which are poor and needy In their own eyes and will repair to thee All those shall find they welcome are to me And when those many shall be call'd that now I give unto thee when they 're brought to bow Unto thy ruling Scepter when once they Who called are shall all the call obey And follow thee where-ever thou dost go In paths of Holiness when they shall grow Into a meetness for their purchas'd right The sweet Inheritance of Saints in light All then shall plainly see what love I bear Both unto thee and thine Thou shalt appear A Judg on the Tribunal quick and dead Shall come before thee Some shall hang the head For fear and shame But all thine at that day Shall lift up theirs with boldness knowing they Shall then receive full absolution With their long longed for Redemption From sin and sorrow Then the world shall burn And by that burning into ashes turn Losing thereby its filth yet in no wise Will I it quite consume for there shall rise Out of its ashes a new Heaven and A new Earth also Both at my command Shall spring and both the present shall excel For in them righteousness alone shall dwell No wicked men shall there lift up the horn No vexing brier there no pricking thorn Nothing nothing at all that may offend Or thee or me or thine Nothing to mend No wants to be suppli'd sorrows away Shall vanish quite and nothing shall allay The sweetness of their pleasures I will be Their portion and their full felicity For thy sake this is done the new Creation Shall ascribe all unto thy mediation Ye Angels worship this my Son and raise Your joyful acclamations to his praise ANGELS Ever be thou admir'd O God above Ever admired this thy wondrous love Thou art Eternal Infinite thy treasures Like to thy Self thy Grace beyond all measures Father thou art Father of Mercies too All things thou mad'st and dost all things out-do In goodness Thou art all invisible Dwelling in light that 's inaccessible Thy Greatness Glory Goodness we adore And bless thy name that we may stand before Thy Throne for 't is our happiness to be Always in presence of thy Majesty And thee we bless thy Father 's only one His great delight his most beloved Son In whose most gracious countenance doth shine Beauties perfection Glory divine By thee all things created were by thee We placed were in this felicity By thee Rebellious spirits were cast down Thine was the Victory thine be the Crown Heavens peace thou didst restore by thy might Those en'mies were o'recome and put to flight 'Fore thee they could not stand no down they fell And falling down they stopt not until Hell Gaping had them receiv'd where they shall be In flames tormented to eternitie For that thy mighty conquest we do sing Praise unto thee to thee victorious King We do admire that noble Act but more Thy glorious grace whereby thou hast a dore Of hope open'd to man Thy Grace exprest On undone Adam now less than the least Of mercies through his sin That thou dost lay His ruin to thy heart Offer to pay His debt his burden bear his sin take up And for his sake drink off a wrathful cup. That thou should'st leave the Heaven thou dost possess And carry sins into a wilderness We never could have thought of this and we Admire it now it is resolv'd by thee Such love eternal obligation lays On man Such love transcends Angelick praise But what exceeds our praises that will we Admire thee for Lord to eternitie GOD. Know in their order all things shall proceed And since that foolish man hath done this deed Since Adam made by me upright hath sought Many inventions out he must be taught By sad experience what it is to sell All Paradise for one tree what to rebell Against the God that made him Justice now Requires that sentence pass and who but thou My Son should pass it I my self judg none All judgment I commit to thee my Son By doing which it shall appear to all That to man ruined by his own fall Healing and faving-mercy I intend Not utter misery because I send His Friend to be his Judg and have no other Sentence to pass but Him who shall his Brother Be one day and Redeemer who his blood Will shed most willingly to do him good SON of GOD. Father thy will reveal'd is shall be done With cheerful readiness by me thy Son That so thou mai'st for ever pleased be With me as I am ever pleas'd with thee I therefore go according to thy will These Criminals to judg but I know still As I to judg go now so that one day I must to suffer go for thou wilt lay On me all their offences Of that cup Which they but taste I must the dregs drink up Yet though the worst of all on me must light I will as Judg of all the earth do right Justice and Mercy shall together meet And being satisfi'd each other greet With speed all shall be done away
and defie all fear Shake off these causeless dumps arise and shine The victory is Christs th' advantage thine SOVL. What mine canst prove it thou tak'st all on trust And so maist be deceived try I must And look and search examine and enquire Ask question after question Yet no higher Can I attain than to faint hopes which cost A thousand thousand labours but are lost In twinkling of an eye I cannot rest Nor lasting peace enjoy When things are best I am disturb'd my sleep scarce lasts an hour And when I ' wake again Lord what a pow'r Of sad perplexing thoughts assault my mind That I conclude both Heav'n and Earth combin'd To make me miserable Faith speak out Hast thou more cause of joy or I of doubt FAITH Thou bid'st me speak and yet deny'st to hear When I unlock my lips thou bolts thine ear There are such sobs and sighs bitter bewailings Such weeping wringing hands such loud complainings That all my labour 's lost Alas my skill In vain is tri'd for out of meer self-will Thou spillest all my Cordials and wilt none Of my choice Heaven-born comforts no not one Yet since I know thy sickness know I do Both pity it and long to cure it too We 'l argue things once more for I don't dread Thy reas'nings nor the crafty Serpents head My cause is good my blessed Seconds are Though thou think'st otherwise without compare Enter the lists then yet the Judg shall be Not sense nor carnal reason much less he That 's stil'd God of this world these neither can Nor will speak comfort to poor humbled man The Scripture I make choice of for it is Divine impartial cannot judg amiss Thou canst not quarrel it and therefore say Say on dejected Soul I 'le yield the day To Fears if Scriptures do Objections raise Thou shalt have answer and thy God the praise Doubt 1. From the apprehension of Gods Holiness SOVL. Trembling takes hold upon me when I see A God above of spotless puritie The Seraphims his glory do proclaim And it admire most holy is his name The garnisht Heavens are unclean in 's sight The noon-day Sun is darkned by his light His eyes are flames of fire piercing and pure Which can't the least iniquity endure But I am full of sin all over stains From top to toe is nought but boils and blains My head heart life with sin are over run Sin I did chuse by sin I am undone FAITH Yet there is hope a ruin'd Bankrupt may Set up again the night gives place to day Adam his beauty lost and by one sin Defac'd the image God had made him in The Nazarite became an Ethiope And in himself had neither help nor hope Yet found both in another God prepar'd More lasting beauty for him and repair'd His Image on him and the sinner then Washt from his filth waxt fresh and fair agen This may be done for thee the fountain still Stands open for all comers whoso will May go and bathe his sooty soul and so Come sorth a Creature new and white as snow Thy God is holy so is Christ and he Hath Grace sufficient for himself and thee Thy wound is not incurable thy sore He can so heal that it shall run no more Thy Maker can O soul form thee anew Thy holy God can make thee holy too Nay more by Covenant he 's bound t' impart To his a spirit right and a new heart Go to him then his faithful promise plead And so he will richly supply thy need Doubt 2. From Gods Iustice. SOVL. But God is just and will not see his Law Broken without revenge I stand in awe And dread his iron-rod Doth he not say The soul that sins shall die ah who then may Once hope for life since we are sinners all And lost our righteousness in Adam's fall Behold me cloth'd with rags once but one story Lower than Angels who are cloth'd with glory These rags are filthy too and so the shame Which they should cover they to all proclaim I do condemn my self though self I love What favour then can I expect above The Law hath past its sentence it doth crie All men are sinners and as such shall die My guilt is great my God is just who can Satisfie justice and clear guilty man FAITH I have a Friend will do 't Did I say will Pardon dear Jesus Oh how I do fill With joy since I can say he hath it done And God is pleas'd with thee in Christ his Son Thy debt was great empty thy purse that friend Became thy surety and did put an end To the Law-suit by saying he would pay What thou wast charged with upon the day Justice should set and when that day came he Paid to a farthing and discharged thee The sum was great but his far greater love Bogled not at it nor did he once remove From his resolved kindness but hath given What did redeem lost earth purchase Heaven He laid his life down his heart-blood he gave That sparing thy blood he thy life might save What more can Justice ask surely if I Be once arrested I 'le plead Christ did die If God be not appeas'd with death of God I will for ever bear his flaming rod. Besides I spi'd white linnen in his grave And soon concluded that I this must have Christ saw me naked and then did provide A perfect Robe my nakedness to hide What more is lacking let strict Justice see My Saviour saith there is no spot in me Doubt 3. From the comparatively small number of Redeemed Ones SOVL. I grant there is in Christ sufficient merit To purchase Heaven and make his inherit Those peaceful blissful mansions where he Crowns all their hopes with full felicity His blood can make the blackest Blackmoor white And loathsome sinners lovely in Gods sight Of his Almighty power doubt who can I do believe him God as well as man But what of that I hear the number 's small For which he died Had he dy'd for all I might have fill'd with comfort But alas A little part of this corrupted mass Was chosen out for honourable use Vessels of glory whom the Lord did chuse For his Coelestial Temple the rest will As worthless silver be rejected still My reason tells me if he would not crie And pray for all for all he would not die I fear of his dear little Flock I 'm none Others may saved be and I undone FAITH Be it acknowledged that few there are Whom Christ redeem'd shall in his merits share He saves not all the world dy'd not for all Did not alike affect Iudas and Paul Grant that yet do not sink the door is ope To all that will come 't is a door of hope Christ dy'd for sinners why then not for thee Either give reason or believe with me Gods Decrees secret are and who can read His everlasting purpose Nay what need Of climbing Heaven curiously to look Whether thy name be
written in his Book That is a vain attempt that course once take Thy soul thou'lt wound work for sorrow make There is enough in Christ and none shall die But such as do not to that refuge flie In him are safely Arkt persons unclean Who grievous sinners like to thee have been Haste thou for shelter too Why this delay O soul it must be done Do it to day Wouldst thou destroy thy self shall black despair O'rewhelm and drown thee now there 's such a fair And ready passage leading to the Ark In which thousands of thousands do imbark And are conveyed to a land of rest Where neither sin nor sorrow can molest Up up for shame away to him with speed Who 's call'd a Saviour and is one indeed Do but go to him yea go at a venture Into his gracious presence all may enter He never said to any seek in vain All humble seekers shall his favour gain His promise is if any one will rise And make address to him he in no wise Will cast him off Flee thou unto his grace So he in arms of love shall thee imbrace None e're departed empty from him He Is infinitely full full out as free Haste to him therefore haste thy days do spend End thou thy danger e're thy days do end Put in thy sickle reap what he hath sown He 's not thy foe if thou be not thine own The invitation is Whoever will Let him come hither and here take his fill If thou wilt take then Christ will give believe Stretch out thy hand he will thy wants relieve He is the God of Love then to him go Thou canst not ask the thing he will not do Others have sought and found asked and had Who sinners were like thee as old as bad Their good success should ease and chear thy heart Christ will do his if thou wilt do thy part Doubt 4. From uncertainty of interest SOVL. I question still mine interest in God And cannot call him Father Mine abode Is yet in darkness I want light to read Mine Evidences by Oh! could I feed My joys with full assurance did I know That God is reconciled Christ did do And suffer all for me I soon would chase All sorrow hence and with a smiling face Look on my dearest Lord nothing should hinder His love should be the spark my heart like tinder Should quickly kindle and be all in slame With love and praises to his holy name Thrice happy Paul could say Christ dy'd for him Which fill'd his soul with joy up to the brim Did I know that my comforts would run o're I 'd sit and sing but sigh and sob no more FAITH Dost thou desire to know it Look within Is no discov'ry made then look agen Beg light from Heaven when 't is dark below Thou shalt know if thou follow on to know Christ dy'd for all in whom he lives make out His living in thee and thou needst not doubt If thou canst say O Lord my heart is thine Thou well maist say O Lord thy death is mine He enters no House but he sprinkles first The Door-posts of it with that blood which burst Out of his precious side That sincere love Which glows within thy breast came from above And is a sweet reflection of that fire And purer flame in him and doth aspire To its own Element 't will carry thee To that blest place where is no room for me Cease groundless fears God will not him deny That saith Lord give me Christ or else I dye Deal faithfully in thine own case and own With thankfulness what God for thee hath done Thou canst not choose but say many a time Christ hath himself shewn willing to be thine Thou dost accept him dost not Then all 's done The match is made and Jesus is thine own God saith wilt have my Son thou say'st yea Lord Be it to me according to thy word His Love and Law also both I would have His Peace without his Grace I do not crave I am as willing he in me should reign As that by him I happiness may gain Let this be thy return for so shall he Fill thee with grace and Heaven with such as thee Doubt 5. From inward Corruptions SOVL. With such as me believ 't who will I can't Whoever enters Heaven sure I shan't Nought that defiles shall thither come that place Is fill'd with Glory for Souls fill'd with Grace But mine is stuff'd with sin numberless evils Ill thoughts affections Legions of Devils Haunt and inhabit here Lord what a pow'r Of lusts are crawling in it every hour I never set my self to look within But I discover filthy heaps of sin Did others see what I do they with shame And scorn would shun me I disgrace that name Which graceth me Christ's holy name I bear Him I profess his Livery I wear With him I live his word I hear yet feel No yielding to him in this heart of Steel Filthy I was and so am still How can An holy Christ dwell in so soul a man Sure he his habitation sweepeth clean There are not in his Temple heaps of sin Sin dies in him that liveth therefore I Have no true life not finding sin to dye FAITH Sin is in thee But is there nothing more There may be Grace though of corruption store In midst of enemies thy Saviour reigns And of those enemies still ground he gains That mighty one hath girt his Sword to 's side And conquering to conquer he doth ride Thou feelest thy corruptions are rife Such feeling is a mercy sign of life Dead men feel nothing load them load again They do not groan they do not once complain It 's well when sin doth trouble and molest Which did thee please for Christ hath promis'd rest To heavy laden souls nor is he slack To take that burden off which galls thy back He will not pass thee by because so ill Thou art the fitter for his Sov'reign skill A good Phisician overlooks the sound And goes where sicknesses do most abound Hate and abhor thy sins thy self bemoan If sin lose love it cannot keep the throne Where 't is endear'd it lives loathed it dies Christ at one time humbles and sanctifies As for the stirrings of thy lust at most They 'r but death-pangs it shall give up the Ghost Sampson did at his death make greatest sport The Devils rage grows high when 's time is short Be thou so wise in th' case which thou art in As to discern 'twixt reign and rage of sin What speak thy bleeding heart weeping eyes Sure this that sin don't reign but tyrannize Danger of death is past because I see By these complainings sin doth die in thee Doubt 6. From want of Godly sorrow SOVL. Could I indeed mourn kindly then at last I 'd think the bitterness of death were past Could I with weeping mingle all my drink Or make my bed to swim could I so think On my corruptions as to
art Thou at the spring of comforts dost not lie Yet now thou canst for Christ thy self deny Once thy affections were fonder far But at this day they more judicious are For sin thou weep'st not as thou could'st before But now thou seest it worse and hat'st it more Thou to more spiritual knowledg hast attain'd Much in experiences thou hast gain'd Art lower now than e're in thine own eyes Canst worldly Vanities much more despise Than in thy younger time Bless God for this He that grows thus shall never do amiss Doubt 9. From wandring Thoughts SOVL. Another vexing thorn and pricking briar Is that my fluttering mind can mount no higher In holy duties When I up would flie Upon the earth my heart doth groveling lie Or if sometimes it be upon the wing It doth not stay above but every thing Allures it down again Trifles divert This foolish worldly and unstable heart And draw it from Gods service when I 'd fain Keep close to him There is cause to complain Evil is present with me when I wou'd Walk with my Father and do what is good My reason tells me One present with God Seeing his Scepter and his Iron-rod One that such mercies hath humbly to crave As that God pardon would accept and save One that ' doth see the sinfulness of sin And doth desire to conquer all within One that doth know the plague of his own heart And hath been made to feel its dreadful smart One that hath looked down into the deep And fears his own damnation doth not sleep One that for life prays and coelestial pleasure With endless glory should not be at leisure Any divertisements that time to own He from such weighty work should not come down But my inconstant spirit 's drawn aside By every fawning trifle can't abide To stick to serious work or dwell upon Its own concerns by meditation Though to a boiling heat my heart be wrought Yet even then many an idle thought Will bubble up In midst of fervent cries A filthy and most lothsome scum doth rise Methinks when I most gladly do repair To hear Gods Word 't is pleasant to be there That duty 's my delight fain would I sit A daily Learner at my Saviour's feet All earthly business I lay by and go Where I may know him whom 't is life to know But while my greedy ear to him I bow My heart is stoln away I know not how Carri'd I know not where but moan my cross In fullest chase to find my self at loss So when in sense of sin or want I pray And put up my petitions I lay Strict charge upon my soul to go along And with affections to back my tongue But a temptation comes and knocks at dore And then my fickle heart will pray no more Up then it gets and strait away doth run Its heat is spent before my suit is done What ground is there for hope I prosper may When frequently in prayer I don't pray I greatly fear my heart from wickedness Is not yet washt since vanities do press Continually into 't and quickly find Most ready welcome with my vainer mind FAITH Christian this ev'n thy soul-distempers speaks 'T is sure thy heart hath too too many leaks Which sacred things let out and then let in Satans suggestions the world and sin All is not as it should be in this life Grace will imperfect be corruptions rise Mourn therefore that this Cabinet of thine Framed by Gods own hand for things divine And to be fill'd with Christ and Grace should be Thus stufft with dross and dung and vanitie Our souls our glory are on purpose made To carry on a never ceasing trade With Heaven and upon their God attend Like Angels in his presence without end Grieve then that thine thus should the Lacquey play On every toy that summons it away Let mourning upon wanderings attend Sadly bewail what yet thou canst not mend But be not out of heart these spots are seen On Gods own children that have washed been In Christs most precious blood All of them do Hate wandring thoughts and yet they have them too That soul which upon Christ is fixt in love May in its duties often fluttering prove Wandrings either from carelesness procede Or unto them meer weakness doth thee lead If carelesness be cause of them thy God Will visit for them with a smarting rod. If they arise only from weakness he Will never charge those failings upon thee He is a Father with loves mantle can Hide multitudes of such in humbled man The child is troubled with a Palsie and Cannot hold fast what he hath in his hand His Father is not angry with him sure But first him pities then looks out for cure God is a Father too none such and so Accepteth what thou dost with weakness do Know further this is not thy case alone On this side Heaven of all the Saints there 's none But will with sadness say Just so am I This is the burden under which I lie When they mount upward unto God they feel Their weaker minds all on a sudden wheel And downward rowl again Though Heaven be Their Element place of felicitie Yet like to fishes in the water they E're and anon frisk out in wanton play Then do not with despair thy self bemoan Thy case is sad but not thy case alone Let that be thy support in misery It is some comfort to have company Further I know as vanity doth mix With thy best duties when thou wouldest six Only on God and bid'st all things be gone That thou mai'st please thy self with him alone So as these cheating vanities do steal Some of thy precious time thy soul doth feel In midst of this incroaching worlds affairs Which fills thy mind with many thoughts and cares Secret withdrawings of thine heart from all Holy ascendings at thy Father's call As there are heavy weights that do depress And bear thee down in solemn services So there 's a mighty principle of love Which sweetly carrieth thy soul above When other things needs would it here detain Upon that mighty wing it flies amain And when 't is fetter'd with the world what smart Dost feel until those fetters broke thou art Again restor'd to spiritual libertie And made for holy meditation free If Satan and the world have crouded in To Church and Closet cheer up God hath been With thee in house and street This wandring heart Out of its six days hath carv'd God apart As in thy purest manchet there is leaven So in thy daily bread there 's some of Heaven But since O Soul thy stay with God is short See that to him thou frequently resort Do not thy thoughts with him abide be sure Long absence from him thou do not endure Thy head indeed is weak thy grace not strong Pray therefore oft because thou canst not long While others visit once do thou go twice Thy falls are frequent frequent be thy rise Thy duties interrupted
went through shame to glory And 't is not easie for us to deny Our life our peace or our prosperity The young man at this stumbling-block did fall He 'd rather part with Christ than part with all And many have at first fairly set out Who when the storm waxt great have tackt about Christ they esteâ—m'd far less than an Estate And would not have him at too dear a rate Christ and pleasures are good Christ earth too But they thought Christ alone would never do Now who can tell what we may meet before Our journey ended is and time no more Though now we fallow lie yet plowers may Make long their surrows on our back one day And in those surrows may my little store Of seeming-grace be buried rise no more If God should leave me ah how soon should I Desert his cause and from my colours slie In Sun-shine-days 't is nothing not to fear And challenge enemies when none appear It 's nothing to be good when seeming so Brings credit with it and preferment too Who would not hug a Christ when hugging him We may in Pleasures river daily swim But it is difficult for one to crie Hosanna when Rulers say Crucifie To bear a Cross for Christ and all forego Rather than shipwrack Faith and Conscience too To be disgrac'd a beggar nay to die Of deaths the worst rather than him denie This this is hard and calls for greater store Of Grace than I have though I had much more Than yet I have The very thought doth pinch Sure when I come in traces I shall slinch And break the yoke and he that doth not bear Christs heavy Cross his Crown shall never wear FAITH Why troublest thou thy self about the morrow The present day is big enough with sorrow Dangers at distance are the worst by far They lose their terrours as they nearer are A Lion's not so fierce as he is painted We sufferings may like when once acquainted Such as in corner sit by sire-side Say weather 's cold and who can it abide But when they once are up and out they find The day befriends them more than did their mind Such is the present case persons at ease Count flea-bites symptoms of some sad disease Nothing more certain is than thou shouldst be Ready to part with all for God when he Calls thee unto it no enjoyment shou'd Sever thee from his love no not thy blood But possibly thou shalt not thus be tri'd God in the hollow of his hand may hide Both thee and thy concernments thou mai'st have A sweet and easie passage to thy grave He in his Chambers may thee hide and then Safe thou shalt be from all the rage of men When storms abroad thy Halcyon-days shall last Until the Indignation's overpast Yet grant that he in wisdom number out Afflictions to thee compass thee about With gall and travel know that he can roul In sugar bitter pills lay in thy soul With such surpassing joys as thou shalt be Even in Heaven whilest in misery Men can no further reach than th' outward part He can by speaking peace ravish thy heart Of crosses the world hath not half such store As God of comforts for he can do more To chear thee in an hour than all the rage Of enemies to trouble in an age He can with grace so fortifie thy heart So shed his love as thou shalt not depart From him nor from his ways his power can Perfect the work of grace it once began And will he stick at either surely no He 'l bare his arm and broach his comforts too If thou shouldst lose thy land silver and gold He will to thee restore an hundred-fold If for his sake thou have a thousand foes He he alone will far out-number those When all these Stars are darkned that Sun will By his resplendent beams make day-light still If thou imprison'd be he at that time Will carry thee into his house of wine And feast thee richly there so in a trice Turn thy dark dungeon into Paradise So he hath done for others who have found Sweet unseen consolations most abound When they were heavy-laden with the cross Whereby their gains did much outweigh their loss They suffer'd all with joy in prisons sung Accounting all for Christ meer dross and dung When the Apostles whipt were for Christs name Away they went rejoicing in that shame And sure that God who strengthen'd them will be Act but thy faith full out as good to thee Burdens shall be proportion'd to thy back When strength is small yet strength thou shalt not lack If that thy way at last be dirt and mire Thou shalt get thorough it and shalt not tire Weather and way fear not no fear thou neither Both strength steps thou shalt renew together In arms of love Christ will thee carry through All the sharp trials which he calls thee to Therfore though weak fear not the wickeds rod Weak ones shall be as David he as God SOVL. All will be well within a change I find Some settlement in mine once shaking mind Time was I never could hold up my head But a doubt came and struck my comforts dead Making me droop again Did I but take Hold of a promise heart and hand would shake I thought my self too bold and still did fear Such high presumption would cost me dear But now the clouds begin to scatter and Darkness doth vanish I now can see land Who farely saw nothing but swelling Seas Of deep and boundless endless miseries When I go out methinks I see above God smiling on me with his beams of love And when at home I sit there is good store Of Gospel-comforts knocking at my dore Commanding entrance which do smooth my brow And I wax cheerful though I know not how It s calm within without I see it fair Those things that threatned now dispersed are Risen the Sun is and a glorious light Comes from him chasing hence my dismal night Where fears were rank sweet consolations grow Rejoice I must whether I will or no. But how comes this about what hand hath brought Such Cordials in when of them least I thought My peace beginning hath my fears an end But how I 'd gladly know and who 's my friend Oh! it is Faith precious and high born Faith Faith's voice alone it is which to me saith Shake off thy dust fear not arise and shine Thy light is come God and his all are thine Fool that I was that so long time should be Spent in such strangeness between Faith and me That I the door should ope to every doubt And shut at the same time believing out So I will do no more Faith's my relief I will believe Lord help mine unbelief Get thee hence Satan Doubts be gone I will Relie upon my God and trust him still My sins end sorrows though they 'r manifold Shall never force me to let go my hold But I upon his grace will hang and say Mine thou hast been art now shalt be for ay He is Immutable and why should I Doubt of that love which hath Eternity Abiding frowns such love cannot abide I 'le trust him therefore though he from me hide This is my fixt resolve which is not made In mine own strength but thine Lord faith would fade And soon give way to doubts were 't not each hour Preserved by thine own Almighty pow'r And so still let it be grant thou that I May live believing and believing die Faith is my strength be thou Faith's strength till we In Heaven meet once for eternitie When of these Creature-comforts I have none Let me rejoice in thee mine only One. Whatever I do want let me all make Up in thy self Lord for dear Jesus sake Yea when thou frownest and lay'st on thy rod Let me relie upon an angry God Grant me to cast my self and each affair At all times on thy tender love and care And Father while that I by Faith adhere Unto thy boundless grace make it appear Thou hast accepted me Lord feed my sense With thine own love draw up mine evidence And seal it by thy Spirit that I may Glory in thee my God throughout the day And when I leave the world let Angels be My convoy in my passage unto thee Let Hope at last end in fruition And Faith be swallowed up of Vision Conduct me to that place where I shall sing Eternal praise to thee my God and King FINIS