requite Crowne his faire soule with comforts infinite Is it not fit then we our sinnes bewaile Thinke still on Heav'n on Heav'n that ne'r did faile The penitent soule when alas distrest Naked forlorne when most of all opprest Then sends reliefe miraculous reliefes Such is the love of Heav'n Heav'n cures all griefes As for Tymes Wolfe-turn'd ill-affected great-ones Close-fisted to the poore deafe to their groanes The Villaines of this Age that make profession Of a pure life yet live by base oppression Hell shall confound their soules that Den of Horrour Circl'd with blacke affright blew-burning terrour Shall boyle their soules and bodies to th'black-sweat Of an infernall poyson and that eate Still to renue new paines plagues that excell Such are the never-dying paines of hell There painted Pride lives crown'd in flaming fire Tymes glorious strumpet whipt with burning wiere Fed is the Lust-provoking Letcher there With scorching coales such as delight to sweare Swallow the Drunkards ever scalding oyle There Vsuters in Pooles of sulphure boyle Murther Rape Incest endlesse torments feele The Rack of vengeance and the burning wheele Whirl'd round in blew flames soule-amazing feare More thignes then tongue can tell the damned beare In burning beds of steele soules blazing fry Tortur'd with torments such as never dye Cursing the Time of their abus'd Creation Parents Fate sinne and their owne damnation Better O better never to be borne Then with such Terrour-striking torments torne Which â—o 〈◊〉 weepe wormes of Earth repent Weepe weepe for sinne soule-killing sinnes prevent Seeke heav'n shun Hell fly from the worlds intice Heav'ns the reward of Vertue Hell of Vice Perfect repentance makes men bravely die That liv'd not so fly then Hell's miserie Repent or damne for sinne weepe and weepe well Soules that doe flout at teares shall fry in hell The Devill sets his baits in ev'ry Angle No Corner's free from him soules to entangle Therefore in Vertues Path strive to excell Let firme faith still repulse the Fiend of hell Divines may preach else till their heart-strings burst The height of sinne will mount live still accurst Vbi peccatum ibi Procella Mans Miserie MAns life is like a Watch whose Time if still It Minnits right distemper'd by no ill It is a rare Peece then but oft we see It runnes too fast in Action t is too free Sometimes by wilfull providence set backe Sometimes by dull neglect it goes too slacke Beates like a dying panting pulse so slow That by and by it stands and then we know T is downe some curious wheele is much amisse Or some sprynge broke whereby the whole frame is So farre pastrectifying that it can Never goe right but like disorder'd Man Mis-spending pretious time in godlesse riot Time barrs of Heav'n Angells immortall dyet Youth is a hot unbridled willfull folly Picke me out one that 's Vertuous truly holy In this abused life and you shall finde Infinite thousands of a Vicious minde Age Palsey-strucke ready for deaths darke grave Insensible of sinne it all would have That shew of profit brings though ill got gaine And threatning heaven in thunder speake refraine Bad precepts t' will not do Truth tells us still Age proves Youth's scorne through examples ill Vice leades the silver yeares to endlesse blame Vaine unstay'd youth to beggery and shame 'T is Heav'ns just punishment an ill lewd life In Young and old meets with eternall strife Thinke then on thy Creatour wretched man Remember what thou art thy life a span A weake thinne thread spun from the downy wooll Of tender children to the Aged skull From youths rich Scarlet die Beauties full force To the silver Tinsell snow of a cold Course Man is an Actor and the world the Stage Where some doe laugh some weepe some sing some rage All in their Parts during the Stene of breath Act follies scourg'd by the Tragodian death Such is the Fate of soules ensnar'd within Satans command beware the twigg of sinne Least touch will take thee Pris'ner Hellish guiles Prove like the perilous paths of Crocodiles That with a slimie Tongue lick't o're prepares To murther Mortalls such is Satans snare O why should Mortalls wish long life to live What comfort what true joy do's this life give Ther 's nothing not one thought that do's us good But it is strangl'd straight by flesh and blood The longer life the more we sinne and fall From bad to worse from worse to worst of all Life loving fortunes how ye puffe men up To hugg their follie drinke damnations Cup O that men were farre wiser would but thinke How swell'd with pride they desperately wincke At their owne venom Vices and yet storme At others faults good heav'n this sinnereturne Or we shall perish praying for our foes Is of small use this causes all our woes Rejoyce at no mans fall with foule aspersion Although thy foe but pray for his conversion So piety wills still imitate the best Not worst of men he that lives well dies blest Observe what Holy Rritprompts thee to act Pray for thy foes 't is a most pious fact If then thine enemie persist in ire Heav'n on his head in flames heapes coales of fire The cause that on our heads just vengance drawes Springs from our selves we breake Gods sacred Lawes Yet never minde it complaints and daily cryes Are much among us still but no weteyes For crying sinnes daggers of discontent Stab home where carelesse people ne'r repent Nothing more dang'rous nor hath ever been Then to live still i' th' Lethargie of sinne The clouded fight permits us not to Eie Our owne foule faults nor the Flint heart to spie It 's rockie substance many have no sense No feeling of their sinnes large conscience Remove the cause betimes let thou and I Ev'ry one strive offend not with thine eye Fly from the tongues abuse thy hard hearts terrour Or live sinnes Slave lost in a mist of errour Sinnes Jnfirmitie THe Sinne of Mans infirmitie is knowne Best by the consequence sad sorrowes groane It leaves behind it such a sting within The Soule that miserable Man for sinne Snar'd with temptations in this worlds wide Hall Can never be at rest but grieve and fall Out to the Death with his abhord condition The guilt of Conscience and the base fruition Of his besotted sence he takes no pleasure In the worlds wealth weighing Gods deepe displeasure Still against sinne he never is at quiet At Home abroad in bed or at his diet There is no health in 's flesh no rest in 's bones Sinne stifles sence all mirth converts to moanes Each comfort proves disconsolate within That soule which really is griev'd for sinne Deepe swelling sighes like breaking Seas discover Heart breaking groanes one griefe upon another Sinne like incessant stormes beats on the breast Of Mans afflicted soule never at rest 'Till he has made his peace with Heav'n by so und And serious humble reconcilement drownd In streaming teares such teares as best expresse For
Consolation The Christian Souldier the Devil Resisted the Flesh mortified yâ— World Crucified O Crocodilian World whose Shining gloss Is guilded Emptyness and painted dross Thy Fawns or frowns I matter not not I Crucifie th' I must Thy Sister Flesh must die And Soul destroying Devil whose malice t is T' accuse th' Brethren that seek to bliss Thy Roaring rage is nought Stand off or I Will make thee th' Worlds Captain captively POEMS SACRED AND SATYRICALL viz. Prayers Paradice The World The Flesh The Iesuite The Devill Mans Misery Sinnes Infirmity Sinnes Impudence The Penitent Sinner The Soules-sea-fight The single Married-life Teares Tryumph Mercies Miracle Faith Hope Charity Midnights Meditation Virtues Pyramid Chastity and Lust The Divine Dreame The Divine Eccho Deaths Masqueing-Night By NATHANAEL RICHARDS Printed at London by T. Paine for H. Blunden at the Castle in Cornehill 1641. THE AVTHOR N o man so high but er'e he die may fall All Flesh is fraile all subject unto thrall T her's no content on Earth none certaine bred Healthfull to day we live to morow dead Art nor Promotion meuds not each Man's state Nor are the Greatest truly fortunate Advanc'ments but a Breath delight a Toy Each glitt'ring Pompe each soule-seducing joy Like Hell-bred poyson workes the soules annoy Reject all lewd all vaine affecting pleasure Jntend thy future good Celestiall treasure Contest with sinne still strive the conquest weare He that will conquer patiently must beare At such rare Combats aide from Heav'n is sent Respecting Man sinnes danger to prevent Deare is the Love of God in him delight Seeke Heavenly joyes those comforts infinite TO THE RIGHT VVORTHY AND NOBLY DISPOSED THOMAS SOAME Esquire Alderman and one of the Burgesses of Parliament for the Honorable City of LONDON Sir THough a Sranger to your Person I am no Stranger in my thankefull Heart to the All-glorious Majesty of Heaven for such as you You whos 's knowne worth inward Candor nor frownes nor Flatterie could ever force from its true Goodnesse for the generall good Monster Ingratitude cannot say I flatter Witnesse this Cities approbation unanimous consent free choice of you that are the All-guiding hand of Heaven be praised free from the aspersion Spots and staines of this Worlds Vicious and Ambitious Greatnesse Let it not then seeme strange that I incouraged by your Noble Vertues have here made bold out of an honest heart Right worthy Sir unto your selfe to Dedicate this Booke It is a knowne Maxime to approved Iudgements that Illicita non prohibere consensus erroris est which being the full scope of this my endeavour intended only for the exaltation of Vertue detestation of Vice and like the Sea-mans Compasse to direct soules from the dangerous Passage indirect The Scylla and Charybdes Shelfes and Rocks of this uncleane and most uncertaine Ocean of the World This being my intent as caveats against sinne not to be cavilled against but by guilty Persons Accept then vertuous Sir this my good will take it from him who leaving you and yours all your faire Actions and occasions present to the All-pure God which never leaves his remaines Ever devoted to your Worthy Virtues NATHANAEL RICHARDS POEMS SACRED AND SATYRICALL Prayers Paradise ALL-Potent Scatt'rer of Man 's o'r rancke state Thou that dost raise the humble the proud hate Soule-saving God joy to the best of men Great terrour to the damned guide my Pen Head hand heart all apply my soule to win Soules to thy glory let the sence of sin Companion still to misery affright Times scoffing Idiots from the lewd delight Of soule confounding sinne make us to pray With ardency of soule great God of day Fashion our wills to thine let each proud eye Humbled with teares admire thy Majestie The spirit of Prayer must amend us all So writes the Churches Atlas holy Paul We shipwrack else soules that will Heav'n inherit Must pray and pray with confidence of Spirit Pray for our King pray for the blest event Of this our Englands present Parliament Have we not cause do's not this Nation know Warre and the Plague so threats our overthrow We soone were lost did not sweet mercy yet Protect our Peace let us not then forget To fast and pray Lord make us all inclin'd To praise thy Name Eternally to mind Thy mighty favours unto this Realme more Then all the World for Peace and plenties store While neighbouring Nations perish by the sword Fierce Fire and Famine wanting the sacred word To solace soules this Nation lives at peace And might continue did our murmuring cease We heare the word preach't have our recreations Walking abroad our peacefull preservations Our streets have seene no Rider and his horse O're whelm'd in bloud nor have we seene what 's worse Big-belli'd women ript the insants braines Dasht in their Fathers faces nor whole lanes Of Armies in the field wheltering in bloud Nor thousands famish't in our streets forfood Our blessed time of Peace did never spie Cities a fire poore people's dismall crie Age torne by th' haire o'th'head Virgins defil'd Dainty Dames ravish't and the tender child Stab'd in the Mothers Armes God grant such sights May never fill our Land with like affrights Importune Heav'n on God alone rely True prayer to God is what Nuncius Coeli Mercies sweet messenger that sweetly beares To Heav'ns bright Majesty mans trickling teares Wrapt up in sighes hearts-griefe sorrowes sad face Wrinkled with cares for sinne which conquers grace What humble soule mounts heav'ns celestiall Ayre In up-flying fervent purity of Prayer But God sends downe a pardon Age and Youth Through ardent prayer prove the sons of truth Fear'st thou stearne War Fire Sword Times deare yeares dearth Pray fervently cease not till Heav'n and Earth Eccho the Spirit of thy Supplications Teares of contrition holy meditations So shall no Devills ruling in the Ayre Nor difficult passage stop zealous Prayer The want of prayer proves the soules decay Men cease to prosper when they cease to pray We all are sinners sinne raises such a storme In our base blood reason can ne're reforme Vrge reason to us it will doe no good Fervent Prayer onely masters flesh and blood T is Clavis coeli which unlockes Gods treasure Fervent prayer opens and shuts Heav'n at pleasure The Elements Fire Water Earth and Ayre Are all at the command of fervent Prayer Elijah prayed that sier might descend From Heaven and heav'n alone did him befriend Elijah pray'd it rain'd not for the space Of three yeares and sixe moneths on the earths face Fervent prayer never did true solace lacke Moses he prayed and the Red-sea fled backe The prayers of the faithfull never fail'd Moses and Aarons fervent prayers prevail'd Gainst Korah Dathan and Abirams sinne Earth open'd swallow'd them with all their kinne Earnest prayer truely is Heav'ns truth to say From man to God from God to man the way Prayer maugre all Earths Villanous entices Makes man at peace with God at war with vices O
Text of Truth never to be denide Celestiall prayer quells Luciferiall Pride Cooles raging lust tames the Malicious Envie Wrath Gluttony cures the Covetous Heav'ns in that prayer when circl'd round with vice Man conquers sinne that 's Prayers paradice Firme Prayer steeres soules to each soule-saving motion Sighes Teares repentance and to all devotion As the true skill of a Pilote is unknowne But in a Tempest or a Captaine prone To noble deeds his valour is unseene But in a battell where the field hath beene His mount of Honour so the rare worth Of a true Christian can be ne'r set forth Nor ever of th'All-viewing eye discern'd Till like the Hebrewes Gen'rall he has learn'd Heav'ns pleasing science the Celestiall Art Of fervent Prayer that 's the true Christians pare When the Hearts tooke with a delight to pray Soules clearely see sinde a compendious way To know Heav'n savingly to curbe offence And burne in ravishing joy truth's Excellence Such sweet content all mortalls Mundane wit Humane delights can never equall iâ— The fixing of our hearts on heav'n by prayer Heales sinnes deepe festering wounds kills killing care Cures the distracted minde proves soules defence Mercies subduer sacred conference O thou Ens Enrium sempeternall light Give me the spirit to pray to pray aright Lest Tempest-tost with cares thinking to shunne Sinnes guife on ruints Rocke my soule 's undone Pray then O pray he that prayes willingly Be rich or poore can ne'r live wickedly Prayer is the wing by which the soule do's flie To Heav'n and meditation is the eye Wherewith we see God by prayer we talke And by our Charity with God we walke Soules that will mount gaine a Celistiall Crowne Must pray with ardency looke up not downe Like times too many mumblers that doe fall To pray on the halfe knee or none at all Nor desperately like such as thinke no sinne To come to Church till Sermon time beginne Entring O most abhorr'd so sneakingly So rude in rev'rence pray so peakingly As doth amaze religious fortitude To see lewd Mortalls base ingratitude To their Redeemer he that dreads heav'ns Rod Prayes ardently t' appease the wrath of God Else like the sickles edge or Razor keene Heav'ns wrath works worldlings quick dispatch unseene Sharpe Vengeance undiscernd full swift do's fall Leaves not a life uncut but mowes downe all All grumbling Nations for their sinnes excesse Pride to the poore and rude unthankfulnesse All Sects all Schismes that dare by booke maintaine And for their owne base ends their godlesse gaine Make Scripture fight with Scripture fatall ill Sanctity save Kingdomes from such cursed skill O the deepe folly that on man attends Our flesh and bloud are to our selves salfe friends We aske and pray but both amisse and why We neither aske nor pray with fervency Our mindes at randome runne this way and that Vpon a world of vanities Idle chat Fashions and fooleries heav'n pardon sinne We oft are out in Prayer seldome in Sinne like a whirlewind circles feeble prayer Snatches it up then whirles it into ayre Infections ayre whose fatall poyson spreads Powers downe hot vengance misery on our heads Crosses continuall cares perpetuall paine Weake Prayer makes bitter still the fruit of gaine Converts the key of kindnes into lust Carelesse prayer makes the life of love unjust Dulls noble wisedome over-rules all reason To the forgetfull soules Eternall Treason We pray to heav'n yet mind not heav'nly things O foule ingratitude to the King of Kings Mans mingling prayer with Earths cold cogitation Merits swift vengeance cloath'd in blacke damnation Think on thy God then in thy dayes of youth Search in the Morning of thy yeares for truth Early betimes before the evill day Of sinne and Satan that does ev'ry way Stops mans Colestiall journey scatters snares In every place we are not safe at Prayers No sooner man to heaven divine thoughts rease But straight the Devill whispers in his eare Thinke on the world thy wealth thy poore estate Meanes must be had thinke on thy neighbours hate Thinke on revenge thinke on thy change thy crosses Thy law-suites ships at sea thy land thy losses Away with Prayerâ— puzzell not thy braine Mind thou what 's present what 's to come resraine Thus speakes the subtile Fiend of purpose bent To put us out of practise to repent Like a false Sexton he sets backe the Clocke To delay time makes that our stumbling blocke Makes Time our Bawd with flat'rie to betray And put us quite out of the mind to pray With glorious outside and deceitfull riches Satan fooles mortalls wisest men bewitches Note but the whore-like minde of mans condition So generally in all when they petition Their earthly King Lord what a stirre we keepe The busie braine 's in labour cannot sleepe Nor take it's naturall rest the carefull minde Is totally tooke up wholly inclin'd To give each word his weight for to relieve Our wants to sue for pardon or repreive Profit or gaine then head hand heart and all Knees that ne'r bend at Hean's high will can fall Prostrate in all obsequiousnes for place Lofty preferment and a Princes Grace Then tongue and heart both jumpe in one agree Minde nothing but his Earthly Majestie Beg kneele implore we fervently importune Pardon for some foule fact some brittle fortune This we can doe we can with hot pursuite To compasse our vaine ends ne'r cease sinnes suite The trot the amble and the full cariere No speede is wanting nor no paines too deare To purchase sinnes Exchequer riches store Ambitious aymes Times glory Beauties whore This too too many can and in that way Eager like hungry hounds soone sent sinnes prey But to the King of those Eternall sires That spangle Heav'n lukewarme in their desires Impudent in all Vice in basenesse bold Christians halfe coddl'd neither hot nor cold O Hell of hells Man to 'th Celestiall Race Do's seldome runne but with a Iade-like pace Never considering how the mind that 's wrapt In wilfull wickednesse is ever apt To pine at Princes snarle at pious lawes Scold people on to fight Religions cause When truth and all true Christians know Religion Consists in true obedience not Rebellion Men that give way to ill t' increase their good Bring famine on a land fierce fire and blood All villages in a Kingdome Sinne do's delude Leaves it a prey to 'th law-lesse Multitude In true obedience then with humble knee Eye head hand heart pray to Eternity Throw from thy minde all worldly cares temptations All wandring idle vaine imaginations Abandon flaring pride close fisted bribes And like the Father of twelve potent Tribes Tugge with Aimighty God still strive to winne Pardon for each foule fact times uggly sinne Like Arts rare engin 's Excellent 's defence Gainst fires in Cities which to cleare offence Raises from Earth so sweet a watery showre As slacks the furious flame extincts her powre So let the Art of fervent prayer raise Our watery teares to Heav'n to
wee Never like straying sheepe stray Lord from thee Heare me Miraculous Majestie and give A period to my cares let me not live Frustrate of Honest meanes O send redresse Imploy my Pen keepe me from Idlenesse From all ill Company all waies unjust Sinne Satan and the Labyrinth of lust Like Ioseph Mighty Maker make me fly The tempting Bates of Beauties bravery Suffer me Worme unworthy not in vaine To call on thee let me some solace gaine Or kneele for ever happie man were I To kneele and pray and at my Prayers die To live for ever ever more to sing Glory to thee O God Heavens glorious King O you that stand on Pinacles of state Let not the World deceive you lest too late From off your slipprie height you come in thrall To pash your selves in pecces past recall Sell not faire Lordships to keepe Ladiships Nor sucke damnation from a Strumpets lips Touch not those spells of Sparta let 'em rot When Vertue lives in man lust is forgot One onely Iemme that 's all the store I have Great of that little nothing which shall crave Of Heav'ns great Ens not for my selfe alone But for thee Reader thee and every one Rarenesse of rare example and withall An everlasting skie of Grace to fall Vpon our Warre on Earth desiring Heav'n For waies on Earth are crooked all unev'n O Heav'nly Father glorious Diety Pardon O Pardon my impiety I that have imperfections on my head Past Starres in number or those sands that spread The Vast Seas bottome shall not I confesse How oft ' gainst God I desp'rately transgresse Put off Repentance still from day to day Abuse his mighty Patience still delay His dread Command and like a sencelesse sot Vnmindfull of his mercies minde them not No sooner doe I finde a good thought take me But from that vertue flesh and bloud doe shake me Forgive me O forgive me thou that art Heav'ns universall searcher cure my heart At my dull follies I le no longer winke Sorrow shall be my Pen sad teares my Incke Misery my Paper whereon I 'le write The sorrowes of my soule my youthes delight My pathes of pleasure Prodigall expences My Scarlet Crimes and all my blacke offences This Booke I 'le dedicate unto my heart My heart chiefe Actor in sinnes Tragicke part My heart unprincely Revelling within My body that Banquetting house of sinne There Chain'd to ' th Magicke Musicke of free will Riots in poyson'd pleasure lewdly ill All that belongs to th'body ev'ry part My soule alone excepted serves my heart Best pleas'd and best at ease with pleasures bane Most glad to be most bad and in that vaine Traitor to Truth each limbe a Mortall foe To worke my universall overthrow O false false heart false to thy dearest freind Wound me no more for pittle make an end I pitty thy blacke life nor can forbeare For thee to shed many a bleeding teare Thou art my foe and yet to see thee feed Fat for Hells Shambles my poore soule dosbleed Bleeds inward indiscern'd of any eye Except my God and my owne misery What shall I doe faine would I shunne the sinne My frailty most delights to wander in And yet I cannot when I strive ' gainst vice To stand most firme I 'me tript up in a trice O What a mis'ry 't is to have a minde For to be truely honest well inclinde And not to be sufferd such is the state Of my sad bleeding soule unfortunate Field honour 's but a Vapour the sound brest Puts on Church-Armour Faith and sleights the rest In Love to Vertue and true godly feare Dwells Honour not in Dart Bowe Sling or Speare Not in vaine Beauty strength the pride of Wit Presuming Riches Learning Valour Credit High Birth Nobility nor gravitie Humanity nor yet Virginity But in the humblesoule whom holy storie Speaks to maintaine God and the Gospels glory The King and Kingdomes safety Churches peace The Virgins right Widdowes and fatherlesse These are the noble steps that ever waite On Vertues Court 't is the true Prop of state Save me O save me thou Eternall terrour To damned soules I doe confesse each errour The many thousand sinnes unseene unfelt Which long too long in my hard heart have dwelt To thee to thee thou everlasting being Of an Eternall Majestie all seeing With Penitent heart I come I call I cry Pittie me wretch helpe thou all viewing eye My armes are spread come sempeternall Essence Ravish my soule come blessed Penitence Give me thousand stabbs my soule has neede Of many thousand teares then let it bleede Pierce pierce my stubborne heart make that the Inne Of Grace which yet is but the house of sinne Looke downe soule saving sacred God of Truth Forgive th'infinite follies of my youth Shield me Divinity from Sathans ginnes Lord lay not to my charge my Parents sinnes Glory of goodnesse in thy mercy heare me Let hate Revenge nor Envie ne're come neare me Let neither Pride nor hope of gaine deceive me Nor pleasure nor the want of meanes bereave me Of sence lest sencelesse wholy I despaire And so become the wretched child of Care O sacred saviour give me grace to fly Delight in sinne I beg it earnestly In all my prayers enable me to be Blessed Lord Iesus pleasting unto thee Make me to doe thy will Lord make me grow Great in thy love thou that dost truely know Of all Earths blessings unto mortalls giv'n My sole desire on Earth is Grace from Heav'n Grace to be good grace to avoide hels ginnes And grace to grieve for nothing but my sinnes So shall thy mercy ne'r forgetfull stand While I have Tongue a Pen a head a hand The Soules Sea fight EMp'rour of Angells O thou King of Starrs Man's perfect solace ' gainst sinnes bloudy warres When I behold with contemplations Eye The silver spangles of the glorious skie Me thinks in that Blew-paper-booke of Heay a I see the waies of Mortalls all Vnev'n The wretched soule of Man in ev'ry place Lives Locally in hell Wanting thy grace Temptation on temptation past controule Alures the body to betray the soule Hells Blacke-Prince Troopes of spiries ev'ry day Invades Mans Sinne-seidg-Soule Furies display Infernall Banners while the Drum of death Beates a dead March and e're I can take breath Sounds shrill Alarums hot assaults beginne The soules fierce fight muffl'd in cloudy sinne I live beset Millions of spirits round Shoot at my soule 〈◊〉 stand on no firme ground But tread on Earth as on a Ball of ice I cannot stand nor stirre for sliprie vice My Soul 's a ship tost on the mountaine seas Of this vast world she never lives at ease Her Sailes are sighes her Anchor deepe despaire Her Compasse errour her sad Pilot care Farre off from safetyes shore floates on the waves Of fearefull billowes Soule-devouting graves Rough blustring stubborne stormes yeeld no reliefe On ev'ry shrowd each Tackling hangs a griefe Death like a darke cloud besets every place Here
his desire free But by a narrow lane where he must see That never enough to be lamented losse Christ Iesus Tenterd on the bloudy Crosse God on the Racke for our spirituall food His limbs all o're a Charactor of blood All wounded and now bleeding crying out O thou that bearst ' the Christian stampe about Thy flesh and blood behold my bloud braine Was ever griefe like mine sicke soule refraine Reade in my wounded side thy backe returne Thy sordid sinnes repulse let thy soule mourne In showers of sorrow and to hells disgrace Reade sinnes dislike in my storme beaten fate Vnbosome Vice tast from thy soule sinnes evill And with my Scriptum est silence the divell Can carelesse Christians beare the thought of this Mercies Memento in their mindes amisse No sure no hellish heart so prone to sinne But the rich thought of such rare love must winne Mans soule to God and with right admiration Fixt sirme and often on our Saviours passion Force him to hate the sinne he lik't so well And with a loathing kick send it to hell Mercie 's rememb'rance like a Curious Lute Renders most excellent Masicke heavenly fruite Points out the weary soule the way to Grace And spurs us on to the Celestiall race Invites the penitent minde o're clogg'd with care To Heavenly extasie spirituall fare Mercifull God turne thou man's vaine desire To feare and trembling let a zealous fire Flame in the soules of men let each proud eye Humbl'd with teares admire thy Majestie Backward and forward looke calling to mind Those multitudes of Mercies mortallâ— find Day Nâ—ght Tyme Tyde miraculously given By thy All-sacred hand Great God of heav'n As the young Bird then that do's never cease Op'ning the Mouth untill the Damme release And cures the want it suffers so should wee With vnlockt lipps still pray that God would free Our soules from sinne O 't is a blessed taske God ne'r leaves giving 'till we leave to aske Dei misericordia plenitudo est virtutum FAITH Nail'd to the Crosse there Christ lost soules to winne Suffer'd the world's huge pond'rous weight of sinne Insulting Foes reproach mocks scoffings scorne His sinewes to bee Rackt his Body torne A kisse betray'd him and a perjur'd lie Was the reward for all his Puritie Heav'ns wrath Hells rage on Christ all torments fell To save our Soules from those blew flames in Hell Christ's whole life was a Martyrdome Crosse Active and Passive and his deare Blouds losse The Tragick part the bloudy Sceane which none But He himselfe must Act and act alone Christ's Patience Death And Devills force did quell He tooke the great Leviathan of hell With the Hook of his Crosse made him his slave Captiv'd the DEVILL and subdu'd the Grave FAith makes unseene things seene Faiths sacred eye Vn-visore Prides painted hypocrisie A resolute Faith forc'd Abram to consent To butcher his beloved to content His Mighty Maker Faith has ever beene The perfect Evidence of things unseene Jacob by Faith obtain'd his full desire Faith stopt the Lyons Mouthes Faith quenches fire Enoch by Faith from sence of vitall breath Translated was that he should ne'r see death Faith made Eliah to call downe from heaven Consuming flames to burne accursed men Israels great Captaine by his Faith did part Egypts Red-Sea went through with joyfull heart Iosua by Faith on Gibeon did command The golden Taper of the Sunne to stand Still while he fought the Battell of the Lord Faith comes by hearing the All-mighties word Women receiv'd their dead rais'd up to life Faith conquer'd Kingomes and subdues all strife Like a safe winde which to the Sea-man sings Comfort in midst of all sad cares Faith bringt And breathes into our soules Truths gentle gaile Salvations sweet reliefe to fill the saile Of Man's storme-beaten vessell keepes it ev'n So sends it home in peace to th' land of heav'n Faith cloathes the Soule in a divine attire To passe untoucht through Famine sword and fire His body feeles no paine by fire or sword Whose Faith is in the bosome of the Lord. Faith is Saint Peeters walking on the water Hope lent him helpe and Love was his supporter Fides Signum Christianorum HOPE Hope followes Faith when Man is most opprest Ready for hell Hope to the Soule gives rest Hope in the Lord be strong the Psalmist saith Hope strengthens comforts and confirms thy faith Hope is Faiths daughter Heav'ns holy Handmaid still To over-rule unruly desp'rate will From doing damned violence which may beget the soules Eternall cast-away In midst of hellish crosses stormes strife Hope must our Pilot be to a good life Our Anchor Cable give it then free scope The sweet's of Grace are relished by hope O my dull spirit rowze thee fit not still pond'ring on thy poore Meanes though it be ill be thankfull thanke thy God and bee not hurl'd To damn'd despaire by th' malice of the world Good luck may goe away but good hope yet Will never leave us if we leave not it ARe we so blind so sotted by the Devill To receive good at Gods hands and not evill With equall thankes have we for sinne deserv'd Least good no rather worthy to be sterv'd Want threats revenge men's states must needs decline When men against the will of heav'n repine Hope cleares Night-stormes calmes the tempestuous day ' Afflicted or not afflicted let us pray Despaire not nor repine let Vertues scope In midst of sorrowes pearch thy soule on Hope Dare Man despaire to live the life of Caine And die the death of Iudas merit paine The Damned feele in hell good heav'n defend Disquietted soules from such a dreadfull end We all are sav'd by Hope if in true sence We hope for Heav'ns Eternall Excellence Hope 's like the Fisher-man's Corke despaire the lead Whose pond'rous weight no sooner being spread But it beginnes to sinke so man in sinne Did not hope lift him up still by the Chinne Yet neither Faith nor Hope can enesubfist Wanting sweete Charity she is the list That comprehends and is the life of grace Love pittles still the poore seekes the Lords Face Spes mea Christo CHARITIE Charitie and Pride both feede the poore in the Den. Charitie to praise God Pride to get praise of men True Charitie in midst of dangers winnes Safety shee covers multitudes of sins Love is the Chaine of Grace love without spot which ties all Vertues in Loves true-love knot Three thousand Soules the heav'nly weeper gain'd constant till death by Charity obtain'd Not words but good works must man's Faith approve Charitie ever is the life of love Patience House-keeper rich bountiful No Grimfac'd grumbling giver slothfull Deale liberally thine Almes chearfull Aimes-giving increase Mens states decreases no man's living TRue Love ne'r Envies this nor that Man's good The low descent nor High-borne Noble blood Ne're makes hot boast of giving never braggs Nor seeks revenge by Hell-affected Raggs Surpassing this or that proud neighbours state Causes of