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
are this do Piece duty unto duty mend all too Since all thy lambs are blemisht without fail Of all thy flock offer to God the male And since thy thoughts wiil from thee often part Be sure in all thy work there be thy heart And know this weakness shall be cur'd God will Give thee of fellowship with him thy fill When once thou com'st to Heaven thou shalt be Fixed upon him to eternitie He that is thy desire and thy delight Shall minded be and serv'd with all thy might Thy thoughts and thy affections shall come And dwell on him their everlasting home Thine enemies shall all away be flown Temptation there sha'nt be corruption none Thine heart shall then be rais'd and no more fall To earth or sin God shall be all in all Grieve not too much though here thou wander still Thou shalt not wander when up Zion-hill Doubt 10. From fear of Apostacy SOVL. I know if I were there I soon should be Eas'd of these loads and from corruption free No Devil 's there to tempt sin to perplex No clog to hinder Canaanite to vex All is serene and pleasant all delight Withdrawings there are none no clouds no night There sights of God are clear communion sure Uninterrupted always to endure But I uncertain am and sadly fear I shall my labour lose and not come there Heaven I mind for Gods sake 't is the scope Of all mine actions yet I dare not hope At last to reach it no I may fall short And be the Angels scorn and Devils sport Experience tells me if at any time I plead a title and call glory mine Strait I receive a check because it is So difficult to get easie to miss I have indeed been walking in the way That thither leads some steps I take each day I for salvation pray and wrestling groan Resolved not to let my God alone Until he bless me Prayer is the thing That to me doth my sweetest comforts bring Unto the Church I go the Word I hear As 't is Gods Word with reverence and fear I daily stand upon my guard and do Watch against sin as my most mortal foe I put on all my armour and maintain A constant war with all thereby to gain The victory at length over each one And sit triumphant on my Saviour's throne I labour with my might if so I may Commended be by God another day I make what haste I can that so I might Reach safely to my Father's house by night By this means I have got near Heaven and From Pisgah can look to the holy land But what of this many an one hath lost All his profession his pains and cost Not only buds are nipt which tender are But lovely blossoms which did promise fair Are blasted with the cold and winds Nay more Oft have I seen the earth thick sown with store Of fruit near ripe which in a Summers morn A furious tempest hath blown down with scorn Many a stately Ship the owners pride Backt at its setting forth with wind and tide Hath swiftly plow'd the Main and safely past Trading from Port to Port until at last It doth return rich fraught and every one Sweetly discourseth of his long'd for home And Wife and Children with his Friends that do Long every whit as much to see him too The Mariners conclude their danger o're The Merchants smile dread their loss no more Yet near the Haven it is cast away And by the mighty waters made a prey When all thought with success their labour own'd The Ship is sunk goods lost and Seamen drown'd With many in Religion thus it is Who aim at Heaven but of Heaven miss Their lives are blameless their hopes are high Yet when their days are done their hopes do die To day they think all well but on the morrow Death summons them down they lie in sorrow Thus did the foolish Virgins at last get Unto the Bridegrooms chamber-door and yet No entrance could obtain This was their doom I know you not depart here is no room For such as you Pack pack out of my sight Your vessels want their oil your lamps their light The young man went a great way and got near To Heaven but fell short and ne're came there Admir'd the progress terrible the falls Have been of some professed Saints which calls Loudly on all to fear lest in the close Of all their labours they their labour lose Of such why may not I poor I be one Who after all their doings are undone Such are the workings of mine heart I do Watch daily ply mine oar and tremble too I have made fair beginnings but do fear Unto the end I shall not persevere Some weight may press me down some sin beset And with ease master my affections get A conquest over me clap on its chain From which I never may get loose again As yet I do proceed as I began But may be driven back by fear of man My zeal now seemeth hot but cool it may Upon the sight of Lions in the way And how shall I appear or with what face Can I look upon God if in this race I tire or turn my back since it is sure Apostate Christians he cannot endure Better it had been never to have known Pure ways of righteousness than to disown And leave them afterward none sink in Hell Deeper than those fall from a Pinacle Many from thence have tumbled why not I Whose head is weak whose standing slipperie Who every foot am ready to turn o're Religion to throw up and do no more The footmen weary me what shall I do When I am call'd to run with horsemen too If in a land of peace I fainted have How shall I live on Jordans swelling wave FAITH Apostacy indeed 's a dreadful evil Transforming man into an ugly Devil Blind Turks and Heathens jewels are if we Compare them with those that Apostates be Hells first-born these are Satans eldest sons And shall receive their double portions Of plagues and miseries God will repay In punishment their falshood at that day Which he appointed hath when for what 's done By men he men will judg by Christ his Son Oft these are found within the Churches line Oft seeming sheep have proved sordid swine Some that were thought furnisht with oil enough To feed their lamps have ended in a snuff Some that seem'd orient stars of light do fail And down are drag'd by th' fiery Dragons tail Demas forsook that Paul he followed Shewing thereby he only borrowed The Christian name himself a while to grace Which done he did the flattering world embrace But know the fruit which falls though 't was before Lovely in skin was rotten at the core Members that seem'd alive and now are dead Never united were to Christ the head Hangby's they were and base pretenders who Mystical union unto Christ ne'r knew False grace is always failing grace the sound Instead of sailing shall still more