prepared for those which love the Lord and expect his Appearing None like his tennant keeps a house so free The Godly Man the true Christian is the happy Tennant unto the Lord of Lords His Service is the only Liberty It is a reasonable Service saith S. Paul His Tenure is in Capite He holds of the King of the Lord of Lords His Grant is in Hee Farm he depends on the King on the King of Kings His is a Perpetuity an Eternity of Blisse to Himself and his Heirs to his Body and Soul for ever He does no Homage Healtie or other Service to any other then such as is especially comprised in his Feoffment only such as is contained in his Covenant according to Sacred Scripture He is a Free-holder that he may give his Lord his Voice that he may magnifie his Maker that he may praise his Holy Name He keeps Christmas continually by his Bounty and loving Entertainment of his Neighbour and he is allow'd for 't He keeps open House alwayes by his Charity and compassionate relieving of the Needie and shall be rewarded through Christ for it At every Court yet must surrender be There must be obedience to his Commandments a ready and dayly submission to his blessed pleasure His Court is a signification of his Will and power Surrender is in manus Domini a yielding up into the Lords hands what the Tennant holdeth of him T is Curia Baronis He is Lord of the Mannor even Lord of the whole earth for he is Soveraign of all In this Court his Suitors are Free-holders Those Free-holders Judges such are the Saints who are in design joyned to the great Lord at the last grand Court the final summons the day of Judgement Their Oath is their lawful Covenant exhibited by the Priest to the Conscience and sealed with a kiss of the Book by believing stedfastly in God according to his holy word This is a Court Christian likewise wherein the great Bishop of our souls is supreme Judge and from whom there is no appeal It is Curia Requisitionum a Court of Requests too a Court of Equity a Court of Mercy instituted to the like purpose as the Chancery His Court is every day for he is the Lord for ever He then regrants The Lord is ready to be found by those that seek him Iob must surrender his children his estate his good name his friends his health his All with The Lord hath given and the Lord hath taken with a Blessed be the name of the Lord and then the Lord regrants causeth his friends to submit to him and gives him twice so much as he had before Iob 42. 10 11. Then came unto him all his Brethren and all his Sisters and all they that had been of his acquaintance before and did eat bread with him in his house and had compassion of him and comforted him for all the evil that the Lord had brought upon him and every man gave him a piece of money and every one an earing of gold This was the Lords doing and it is marvellous in our eyes None bountiful as he O wonderful Mercy and unspeakable bounty of him that is the free giver of all good gifts O Lord our God how excellent is thy Name in all the world which hast set thy glory above the Heavens Out of the mouth of Babes and Sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger When I behold the Heavens even the work of thy fingers the Moon and the Stars which thou hast ordained What is man say I that thou art mindfull of him and the son of man that thou visitest him For thou hast made him a little lower than God and crowned him with glory and worship Thou hast made him to have dominion in the works of thine hands thou hast put all things under his feet All sheep and Oxen yea and the beasts of the field the fouls of the air and the fish of the Sea and that which passeth through the paths of the Seas O Lord our Governour how excellent is thy name in all the world Ps. 8. A fence doth grow about th'encircled ground c. His Vineyard is hedged in from the injury of the beasts of the field His Providence and Protection is over all them that trust in him All things thrive that are within his enclosure He is their strength and defence he guardeth as with a shield 6. That river which in poast does go c. Here under the Allegory of a River the Rain and the Sea is described the nature and manner of a Christian Self-Resignation As the River pays its tribute unto the Ocean for what it hath received from its bounty conveyed up through the earth to the head and rising fountain of the River The Sea likewise that is in position above the earth from its immense abundance returneth a continual supply for such thankfulness duty return and resignation and as the waters send up their vapours in clouds to heaven Heaven poureth down his Blessings in showres to refresh the waters and supply the Rivers that in Love resign themselves unto the Sea again God is resembled by that bottomlesse sea that unsearchable Abysse whose inscrutable paths are past finding out The sea is a glass of the Deity in which man may by the weakness of expression to sense in a manner behold and have some conception in his mind of the otherwise incomprehensible Almighty The River is man that as it were flows from his Creation His soul as the River is the Representation of the floud of the sea is in likenesse according to the image of God his Creator from whom it hath its spirituality and immortality for the very damned shall live for ever though t is an everlasting death in such a Life by torment and the privation of such blisse as the blessed shall enjoy The Clouds denote contentedness of resignation in parting with its naturall Place the element of Waters the World The people therein are a heap of Waters that Tide it to and fro in their several generations The fury of a multitude is compared in Scriptures to the raging of waters The River and the Sea even in obedience to the sun send up their waters in vapours as his beams id a manner please to summon For which resignation are poured down again from the Firmament sweet waters like blessings in showres and rain that raise the streams of the River fattening the neighbouring grounds with the abundance of heavens bestowed bounty and as it were dancing over their before confining banks for joy in the after smiling meadows and poast it floud away unto the Sea in earnestness of desire to carry news of what it 's more than Channel could contain hath yet received and to communicate with the waves of the Sea their swelling felicity yet in the Rivers Semicircling and Meandring courses it appeareth to embrace the earth with seeming expression of Love and
as is continually shed But mine Eares do tingle to hear so many sad Relations as even since March last concerning Severall Persons of diverse Rank and Quality inhabiting within and about so Eminent a Citty as late-fam'd London that have made away and Murd'red Themselves It is a Greivous Thing to consider Especially if we have a Right Apprehension of God or a Belief that there is a Hell Hence arose The Occasion of This Poeme Wherein The Authour's Christian Compassion moved him rather for Others Good to put Pen to Paper than any Overweening Opinion of himself intimately Acquainted with his own Imperfections or any Vain Glory to seek The Presse to write Something upon so Deplorable a Subject Lest the Frequency of such Actions might in time arrogate a Kind of Legitimation by Custom or plead Authority from some latepublisht Paradoxes That Self-homicide was Lawfull It is not deni'd but that the Temptations of Satan are subtle frequent and without God's Grace almost irresistible But so Great a Sin as This From which Good Lord deliver Vs is a direct Giving Our selves over to The Divell and a Denying the Power of Godlinesse Yea a Resolution in a desperate Madnesse to throw our selves headlong into Perdition Whence These Horrid Actions more than heretofore proceed let us take a Considerate View Whether the Last Times be come upon us so long foretold that Satan is let loose Or That The Cup of Our Wickednesse is allmost brim-full Or that Our Apostasie and Our other heynous Sins as it were a Violent Multitude do rage and make an Uproare in Our Consciences Or that the Sacriledg and Blasphemy what shall I say of the Perjury of the Time shew not â—he Removall of The Candlestick and lay us not open to the Immediate wrath of The Lord I leave it for Second Thoughts and poizing Understandings But This sure must needs be apprehended that such Things comming to pass are A signe of threatned if not apparent Derelection and God Forsaking us when the Heavens in their Wonders and Men upon Themselves do Thus declare God's Judgments And it is to be feared that Our Hypocrisie Malice and Uncharitablenesse as to raise an Audacious Heap to Heaven Our Rebellion against God's Ordinances are none of the meanest hastners of These Thunderbolts being may I say the Whetstones of Divine Vengance It were therefore much to be desired That Every Man did lay his Hand upon his Heart examine himself diligently and make inspection and search into Every Corner of the Same to find out and remove what is Uncleane among Us. Lest if not warned by the Gentlenesse of the Lord 's preparatory Punishments we be swallow'd up in the Abysse of our Abhominations and perish utterly under the Intollerable weight of his Heavy Displeasure and Irresistible consuming Judgments The Author chose rather the Quicknesse of Verse than more prolixe Prose with God's Blessing first implored to disenchaunt the Possessed following Divinely-inspired David's Example to quiet Saul with the Melody of the Harp who was troubled with such a Spirit that left him Not untill his Armour-bearer having refused to obey his dire Commands saw Him First act His Desperate Resolve upon His Own Sword and provoked by His Example made the Like concluding Scene to the Same Tragedy Dereliction rode Before Self-Execution poasted After Saul the First Homicide we read of in Holy Writ Cain onely fear'd to dye His Armourbearer His Second And wise yea crafty Achitophel halter'd his Policy to make a Third Saul possest with a Devill in his Heart Achitophel in his Head How great a Care is to be had to prevent both To the Discontented AS in a Glasse you may behold Your Face your Figure in this Mold And though it may in Some Lines miss As like as Many'a Copie ' t is This onely Diff'rence is between The outward Draught and-This within The Painter limbs with curious Art The Face the Breast but This the Heart The horrid Fancies of the Braine The furious Bloud in every Vein Are here decipher'd by course Hand For lowest Minds to Understand Expect not therefore Lofty Verse Here Launcets prick not Launces peirce It so becomes thy Wounded Minde By what is sharp a Cure to find And yet Here is a Lenitive A Cordia'll Venome forth to drive Refuse not Then so good Advise As points from Hell to Paradise So have I seen A Lighthouse stand In sable Night with burning Hand Directing from Wracke's Shelf Rock shoar The sayling Pilot blind Before By which escaping Danger 's Tort He well arrives at Safetie's Port. So maist Thou too If Thou seek'st Grace And up to Heavenward Eye doest place T' is weak'ned Faith does make thee reel As Storme turns ore th'unballast Keele Saile gently Then unto Thy Self And think each Passion is a Shelfe And every Melancholy Fitt A Rocke's to shipwrack Soul and Witt Compare thy Self with All Beneath Thou liv'st then Others scarcely breath And cast not up thy Sums of Losse Without The Counters of The Crosse. Then What Before perplext thy Heart Will prove A Buckler not A Dart. As Not to the Desperate WHo speaks to Thee that scorn'st Thy Self and All That look'st not for a Place to stand but fall Thy rowling Eyes and gastly Face do tell Within Thee 's That which Some doubt Locall Hell Then why doest poast And ride each stage so fast To seek for that which Thou at Home there hast If Hellish Rage be better than Heaven's Blisse Take Such thy Choyce And live where Torment is Be lost Forever Who does Willful dy Sall find Erelasting Deafnesse to his Crye And does deserue it from High Justice Hand Whose Living Deafnesse would not Understand Embrace thy Horrour!-Yet as Curious looke Not on but in this Thee-concerning Book In which if by God's Grace thou chance to find The Right the Best way to reduce thy Mind Thank Heaven not Him that busi'ed thus his Brain To shew thee There lives Blisse and here dwells Pain There Horrour and Eternity shake hands Darknesse and Fire with whips obserue Commands Of Tophet's Tyrant forcing them t' obey That scorn'd and would not listen in their Day So Sin 's Rebellion's punisht and Sought Evill With Easines doth find a Meeting Devill Yet stop thy Foot!-And try but one Lord's Prayer It may blow Satan up into the Ayre And lead Us not into Temptation Say But Lord deliver Us from Evill pray And He that holdes the Kingdome pulls the Chaine Or frighted Satan boundeth up againe Where let him dwell in Stormes but not in thee Who should'st to th' Holy Ghost a Temple be O could'st thou think what Joyes thou now doest wave Thou wou'dst despise Earth's Paines Such Joyes to have THE TABLE OF THE FIRST BOOK Sect. Pag. 1. ACcost 1 2. Induction 2 3. Lovers 2 4. Great Spirits 2 5. Melancholick 3 6. Iealous 3 7. The frighted Childe 4 8. The Debaucht Prentice 4 9. The unfortunate Merchant 5 10. The bloudy Murtherer 5 11. The curious Zelot 5 12. The
her Urne 10. A burning Lamp with shining Light Whose constant Eye winks not for Day or Night I' th' Mid'st o' th' Church example is that 's ever bright 11. Then on She does conduct thy Pace Unto the Chancel of That Holy Place Grace Where Prayer with lifted Hands kneels 'fore the Throne of 12. Affections all about Her Kneel Upon The pavement that is made of Steel From which reflexed Heat on Hearts from Stoves they feel 13. I'th'Mid'st a Spire to Heaven doth strain So Wights mount Angels do descend amain Lo Here thou hast thy wish Of Prayer thou Pass dost gain PERSPECTIVE VI. 1. THe House of Prayer is the Place for Holy Worship humble Reverence and Invocation of Almighty God When the Israelites came out of Egypt it was not a House but a Tabernacle which Moses was commanded to build for the Place of such publick Adoration But in Succession of Times when they were setled in the promised Land Solomon was commanded to build a Temple And these two shadowed the Difference between the Jewes Synagogue and the Christian Church The Tabernacle was moveable and but for a Time The Temple fixed and permanent The State of the Jewes vanishing to continue in their Generations The State of the Christians durable to last unto the End of the World But more principally it shadoweth forth the State of the Church Militant here upon Earth and Triumphant in Heaven Unto both the Prophet David alludeth Lord Who shall sojourn in thy Holy Tabernacle Who shall rest in Thine Holy Mountain Psal. 15. 1. The Temple at Jerusalem was thrice built First by Solomon after a glorious manner when the Riches of the Vessels were of Gold The Second Structure was by Zorobabel But came far short of That even causing Tears from those that considered the Statelinesse of the First And very Inferiour it was to that In respect of the Building It was lower and meaner Of the Vessels Those were of Gold These of Brasse Five things were lost and wanting in The Second Temple All which were in the First 1. The Ark of God 2. Urim and Thummim God gave no Answer by These as in Former Times 3. Fire which in The Second Temple never descended from Heaven to consume their burnt Sacrifices as it did in the First 4. The Glory of God appearing between the Cherubims which they termed Schechina The Habitation or Dwelling of God 5. The Holy Ghost to inable Them for The Gift of Prophefie Henod built the Third the Last And that same was of a Statelier Kind of Building than that of Solomon And of greater Glory For Christ Preached therein Though the Jewes had many Oratories or Places for Prayer caled Proseuchae which how they differed from their Schools or Synagogues is not here materiall yet Our Blessed Saviour fixeth only on and appropriates to the Temple above any other Place the Use of Prayer So did he manifest when he threw out The Merchants and Money changers from the same with this Expression My House is called The House of Prayer But ye have made it a Den of Theeves A very Sad and uncomelie Change But though the Guide pointeth at all these before mentioned yet here he aymeth more especially at a Description of the Worship it Self the Operation and Efficacy of Prayer As a House is a place for constant Residence and usuall Habitation Prayer likewise is the Christians Best Receptacle In which he may converse with God continually Not that he should do nothing else But that he should do nothing of moment without it Not that much babling is of account with the Wisdom of God but that we should often renew our Selves by frequent Seeking His Favour in such Manner Form and Language as He hath directed and in such Brevity as is Suitable to the Weakenesse of Our frail Natures Non quam multum Sed quam bene It is not the How Much but the How Well that is pleasing unto Him Firme Resolution's Camp to gain c. If we think to obtain a Christian Resolution we must put away Hypocrisie out of our Hearts and Falshood out of our Understandings We must entertain Truth and keep Close to Devotion And then the Lord graciously will be pleased both to inable us with A will to resolve and with a Power to do Prayers blest Chappel visit Accustom thy self to thy hours of Devotion as well as be mindeful to pray at all Times convenient Pray in Season and out of Season Deus in adjutorium meum intende Domine ad adjuvandum c. as it is Psal. 70. O God haste Thee to deliver me Make haste to Help me O Lord Whereupon Cassiodore expoundeth the usefull and very comfortable meaning Hujus versiculi oratio in adversis ut eruamur in prosperis ut servemur ne extollamur incessabili iugitate fundenda est The Prayer that is narrowly contained in this short Verse is continually to be powred forth without ceasing or wearinesse as well in adversity least we be Swallowed up with Sorrowes or overthrown with difficulty as in prosperity that we may be preserved from being puffed up therewith and too much exalted Huius ergo versiculi meditatio in tuo pectore indirupta volvatur Hunc in opere quolibet ministerio sive in intinere constitutus decantare non desinas Hunc et dormiens et reficiens et in ultimis naturae necessitatibus meditare Let therefore the meditation of this Versicle lay undisturbed in thy Brest and be ready at every Call of thy Heart Cease not the cheerfull Musick hereof in thy Lips when thou goest about any businesse undertakest any thing Use it to refresh thee when thou doest travell or takest a Journey Even when thou Sleepest when thou eatest at bed at board wheresoever thou art whatsoever thou doest in the lowest necessity of nature in the greatest extremities and difficulties of this Life meditate Hereon continually So Thy Passe obtain Is our proceeding in holy exercises by Gods Grace and Assistance without which we have no strength to resolve any thing that is good 2. But at Faiths Mount it must be sign'd Gods Grace worketh effectually in us when by Faith in Christ we are sealed to the Day of Redemption It is called Faiths Mount Because it is placed on High upon the Rock Christ who is the sure and blessed Foundation of our Salvation Fides Electorum aut nunquam deficit aut statim reparatur The Passe to Resolution for Performance of Christian Duties is ascertain'd to Gods Children by Faith in Christ For that Faith it self either never fails them or is ever repaired in them What Beauty what Vertue does not alwayes appear in the Blossom of the Tree doth lye hidden in the Root Quid est Fides nisi credere quod non vides What is Faith but the Belief of that which thou doest not see Where Hope where Charity c. These do alwayes accompany a true and sincere Faith There can be no steadinesse of Faith without an
Therefore pray alwaies with all manner of Prayer Supplication in the Spirit and watch thereunto with all perseverance and Supplication for all Saints Ephes. 6. 18. Continue in Prayer and watch in the same with thanksgiving Collos 4. 2. Pray continually 1 Thessal 5. 17. And then in respect of our prayers there is a progression that God would make us holy more and more until the comming of Christ at which time and not before we shall be perfectly holy As S. Paul desireth 1 Thessal 5. 23. I pray God that your whole spirit and Soul and Body may be kept blamelesss unto the comming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Devotion is said to conduct thy pace because prayer must be considered and not hasty 11. Unto the Chancel of that holy place Still the Ascent of our prayer is resembled as the going up from the Body of the Church to a Chancel or as in Cathedral Churches from the Nave to the Quire Pious Christians by direction of the Apostolical power The Bishops and Pastors in the Church after the Gospel had in the Primitive times passed through the storms of persecutions and begun to shine forth in more peaceable Ages did build Churches which they Dedicated to God as most fit places for publick Worship which in memory of their former troubles and their great and wonderful Deliverances out of them they fashioned in the form of a Ship which is subject to be tossed to and fro with impetuous Waves and uncertainly forced up and down in the Sea of this World by the Tempestuous Windes of Persecution Being very well acquainted with that Text in Saint Luke speaking of Christ standing by the Lake of Gennesaret Chap. 5. v. 2. He saw two ships stand by the Lakes side and the Fishermen were gone out of them and were washing their Nets And he entred into one of the ships which was Simons and required him that he would thrust off a little from the Land And He sate down and taught the People out of the Ship The Ship is the Church Christ the Priest and Bishop of our Souls the Prease of people upon the shore are Christians the Followers of his Doctrine Nor were such Churches unlike a Ship in many kinds if supposed to be transverst or turn'd with the Bottome or Foundation upward The Roofe is the keele the Walls the sides the Foundation the upper Deck or Shroud the East End the Prow or Forcastle The Pinacle in the midst the Mast and the West End the Poop or Steerage These Churches in their scituation stand transposed to the Temple of the Jews at Jerusalem These face the East as That the West The Christians worship toward the rising of the Sun so acknowledging the Resurrection of that Messias who is come and ascended to the Father The Jew looked Westward and in the shadow worshipped him that was to come But here the Guides aime is by a Reflection upon both and by the Comparison of each with other to make a Discovery of the way gradation and operation of Prayer In the outward part of the Temple of the Jews were the Atria divided by a low Wall of three Cubits high which surrounded the Temple The one was Atrium Populi The other Atrium Sacerdotis Such places are those Churchyards and Common places heretofore dedicated to holy Use and consecrated for publike praise prayer and Preaching about Christian Cathedrals The people belonging to Prayer are Christian circumcised Hearts which have communion in Atrio Populi in the Congregation of the Saints Devotion is the Levite which prepareth the Sacrifice the Priest is the Minister of the Ordinances be it prayer for the People or Preaching of the Sacred Word who joyning with them in Thanksgiving sacrificeth the Calves of their Lips with a Quid retribuam Domine Thus is obedience the best oblation in Atrio Sacerdotis the places of the Ordinances The Sanctum the Sanctuary as the Body or Nave of the Cathedrals is a Holy Life and Conversation thus the Soul becomes A Temple of the Holy Ghost This as the Cathedral hath two Isles or Alae wings to the Body in position North and South As they belong to Prayer Saint Augustine describes them Hae sunt duae alae Orationis quibus volatur ad Deum Si ignoscis delinquenti that 's the North Isle or left Wing Coldness to Wrath that is to pardon and forgive our offending brother Et donas egenti that 's the South Isle or Right wing to sustain the Needy to give to the Poor who are Members of our Elder Brother Christ. Through this Sanctuary of a Holy Life prayer is carried by Ejaculation of the Spirit into that Quire of the Church the Holy of Holies into Heaven where Jesus the ever-blessed High Priest our Mediator and Intercessor is sitteth at the right Hand of the Father and receiveth and delivereth our Petitions before the Mercy Seat the Throne of God This resemblance looketh up to that of Exhortation of Saint Paul 1 Tim. 2. 1. Concerning Prayer in general I exhort therefore that first of all Supplications prayers intercessions and giving of thanks be made for All men That is the Atrium Populi For Kings and all that are in authority that we may lead a quiet and a peaceable life in all Godliness and Honesty That is the Sanctum the Sanctuary For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God Our Saviour That is Sanctum Sanctorum the Holy of Holies From which place of Bliss comes the Bounty of Blessedness 12. Affections all about her kneel Denoting that Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God with all thy strength with all thy heart with all thy mind with all thy Soul c. The whole man must endeavour the utmost at so great a work at the performance of so pious a Duty Kneel Intimateth Reverence Upon the pavement Humility Made of Steel Of a steedy and firme Faith Reflected Heat Zeal On hearts Our Consciences From stones they feel From refreshing of the Holy Spirit breathing joy and Comfort into us after an unperceiveable manner Or may well be taken for our Charity to others which reflecteth a Heat upon our prayers The sum of this Stanza pointeth at Saint Pauls Direction to Timothy 1 Tim. 2. 8. I will therefore that men pray lifting up pure hands that is humble without wrath that is charitable or not doubting that is faithfully 13. I' th' midst a spire to Heaven doth straine Doth reach As in the midd'st of a Church the Steeple or spire is placed so the Ejaculations and groanings of Spirit rise as out of the midst of our souls where by our Prayers mount up to God and his Mercies like the Angels upon Iacobs Ladder descend down to us Wights Prayers Angels Mercies Hast thy wish obtainest thy desire and hast the Effect of thy prayer Pass doest gaine Hast obtained Assisting Grace to further thee to a Holy Resolution We must pray to be enabled to resolve as well as to do Refresh thou here
nourishment prove thy greater destruction Desir'st to have the Father to hear thee to accept thee Say the Prayer that his Son taught thee Say it intentively zealously heartily understandingly and 't is enough The Son directs thee to the Father and puts words into thy mouth to that purpose If thou wilt be reckoned amongst the wise neglect them not If thou wilt not be numbred amongst the Froward and the Despisers refuse them not Seem not wiser then Wisdom it self lest the Wisdom that thou admirest so much in thine own eyes prove altogether foolishness A short prayer is too long for a wandring mind a short prayer is best for a weak Devotion Thy Devotion at the best is apt to tyre for a little way The Publicans Lord have mercy upon me A sinner may save thee sooner then a long Tautologie of Words then many a Lord Lord made use on to fill up disorderly vacuities immethodical matter and non-sence haesitations If thou wouldst have Prayers for thy particular wants for several occasions Go to holy David's box of precious Balsam Use this or the like Turn thee unto me and have mercy upon me for I am desolate and afflicted The troubles of my heart are enlarged O bring me out of my distresses Look upon mine afflictions and my pain and forgive all my sins Consider mine enemies for they are many and they hate me with cruel hatred O keep my soul and deliver me Let me not be ashamed For I put my trust in thee Then let thy mouth sing forth his praise and God even thy God shal give thee his blessing Rejoyce in his holy Name Yea let them that seek the the Lord rejoyce Psal. 105. 3. Desinat apte Liber non Laus pietate Secundus Wise Traveller through Wildernesse does lead The Christian Pilgrim teaching where to tread From Feind in Worlds Way Foes he warnes his Freind Through Deepe vp Steepe shewes Heavn's his Iourneys end F. Barlow fecit The Third Book THE Pilgrim's Passe TO THE LAND OF THE LIVING Sil. Ital. Explorant adversa viros perque aspera duro Nititur adlaudem Virtus interrita clivo Crosses the boldest Courages assail Let what can come stout Virtue must prevail OR Affliction tries the Man But 's Vertue strains Through all Opposals till the Top he gains The Encouragement NAture is so apt to tire especially in so great a journey as it was but reason to give her some repose And there could not be a fitter place wherein to rest her afflicted Head and wearied Feet then in the House of Prayer A place of no less safety then Refreshment where there are Viands of all sorts as well to entertain the strongest Appetites as to settle please and nourish the more crasie stomacks Through a Wilderness is an uncomfortable Passage no better is this World stuff't with Thorns and Bryars stor'd with Thicks and Woods fill'd with Rocks and stones inhabited by wilde Beasts and savage Creatures replenished with dangers and difficulties of all sorts But chear up The worst is behinde the and having so well Refreshed thou canst not faint Thou art a Pilgrim and art used to Travel Thou canst not now but with delight move on Get but up upon Faiths Mount and thou shalt discover the holy Land Such a sight will ravish thee such a Hope will sharpen thy Desires and keep thee from ever growing weary Thou wilt then on lively and rejoyce that thou art in the way to so excellent a Countrey that thou art so near thy journeys end A better End then thou couldest expect or hope for To this end mayst thou safely hasten It is thy happiness Thus mayst thou with a holy kind of Impatience long to be loosed but it must be that thou mayst be with Christ. I need not call away I find thee me thinks so reudy to go Then on in Gods name BOOK III. CANTO VII The Mount of Faith 1. THou canst not stay 'T is High 't is Craggie way That to the Mount of Faith does lead Hear'st not one call as if he preach't to Day Be wary of thy steps As he does call so tread 2. Now look about Th' ast past ore stumbling doubt See some asleep upon that side That blinde Guides cast the further way about With Images inarm'd in Dreams lay round about their Guid. 3. On th' other Hand A Rout there there a Band Imaginations way advance Each Zeal makes Noise as at it does understand Each does 'gainst t'other cry so to Pantheon dance 4. The Praeco calls Still still beware of Falls For now your way grows sharp and steep You must climb over rugged stones like Walls Set footing wisely Hold by hands And sometimes creep 5. That way deceives And them of wit bereaves For thinking still they upward go Hypocrisie them draws and never leaves Till she doth cast them down to Pride that 's fall'n Below 6. The Top appears The blew Skyes brightness clears Even into holy Heaven you see The fresh green grass is gemm'd with pearly Tears And Faith's Pavillion stands near Figs fruit bearing Tree 7. The Tents wide Door A Dam'sel sits before Within A Chair made like a Heart Her eyes to Heaven do plead for Mercies store Her Lefts erect Right hand on breast is plac't athwart 8. So Faith dispos'd Her Shield is there disclos'd Salvations Helmet also Shows Truth 's Girdle wrought all Lilli'd ore and Ros'd Th ' Righteous Brest-Plate Words Sword Gospel-Shooe deck Rows 9. Upon her Shield Of Gules the bloody Field To make her Foes amaz'd in Fight Resplendently a Cross of Or doth guild With which fierce World false Flesh Hels Craft she puts to flight 10. Nor far from hence On place of Eminence Atenariff that 's mounted high A Lady deck't with Beauties Excellence Stands firm by Cable holding Anchor'd in the skye 11. A Fount near these In dimpled Vale doth please A flying Statue bears Loves Name Whose Breasts run Cream into Pacifick Seas By Cestern fil'd from Milkie way in th' heavenly Frame 12. Where th'Hungry feed The Sick that Cordials need Cure from blest Hand of Charis finde Who still delights to do a Pious Deed And th'helpless helps the Naked clothes and leads the Blind PERSPECTIVE VII 1. THe Mount of Faith It is so called for the Loftinesse of the Position of the Place above the neighb'ring inferiour Earth To go to the Etymologie of the word A Mount which is the diminutive expression of a Mountain is derived a Monte which is the Latine word for it Whence it doth come there is no little Contest among the Grammarians Quidam a movendo per antiphrasin Some would have it as from Not moving because Mountains are steady in their places Such Vast Bodies stand fixed as irremoveable by Art as they are by Nature A little nearer the matter though much differing from the Sound of the word is their opinion for Moâ—s ab â—minendo quasi eminens as hath been first mentioned Scaliger backs the Sence of a non movendo but
gives a nearer Terme and Speaks it a manendo from tarrying and not moving from it's place Another inclines to Mons a moveo quod a terra in altum moveatur because it is cast up high overtopping the rest Some other a minis as if it's height did threaten the Skye But as every mans Fancy works more especially in Criticisme under favour it may be conceived Mons quasi monens a Mountain a Mark an Advertisement and it carries a plausible construction with it to advertise us of the Greatnesse of the Creator in the narrower object more suitable to the Eye which cannot receive at once the vastnesse of the whole Earth only thus it is represented in Abstract as a Map of the whole Fabrick Every Creature having an Impresse of the Excellence of the Most Mighty and Most Wise Maker thereof this hath it's place and order by his Dispose in an extraordinary manner as intimating the vastnesse immovablenesse immutability and eminency of the Creator above the perception of the inferiour Creatures of the Vallies So Hills and Mountains seem the stairs to Heaven If we did conceive that the Heathen had not altogether lost the memory of Noah's Floud but preserved it by the Continuance of Tradition and Antiquity of History as Ovid a Roman to whom the Latine Tongue was genuine mentioneth in that of Deucalion it is not likely to prove a mistake that Mons should be derived from manens because the Ark rested upon Mount Ararat a Mountain in Armenia yet the former Contract of Monens hath solid reason to underprop it if we look either into Holy writ or cast an eye upon the Superstition of the Heathen Most of all the Great works that it pleased God to manifest unto men were upon the Turrets of the Earth That great Triall of Abraham's Faith in offering up of Isaac who was a Figure of Christ was by especiall command to be done upon a mountaine As it is in the 22. of Genesis And He said Take now thine only Son Isaac whom thou lovest and get thee into the Land of Moria and offer Him there for A burnt Offering upon one of the mountaines which I will shew thee Canaan that Land of Promise was a high Countrey For Jacob sent his Sons down into Egypt for Corn And concerning their return it is Said Gen 45. 25. Then they went up from Egypt and came into the Land of Canaan When the Israelites murmured in Rephidim for water Gods answer to Moses was Exod. 17 5. 6. Go before the People and take with thee of the Elders of Israel and thy Rod wherewith thou Smotest the River take in thine hand and go Behold I will stand there before thee upon the Rock in Horeb and thou shalt smite on the Rock and water shall come out of it that the people may drink And when Amaleck fought with Israel in Rephidim Moses said to Iosua Chuse us out Men and go fight with Amaleck To morrow I will stand on the Top of the Hill with the Rod of God in mine hand When Moses held up his Hand Israel prevailed But when he let his Hand down Amaleck prevailed They propped up his Hands and Iosua discomfitted Amalek From Mount Sinai the Lord declared Israel to be his peculiar People Moses went up unto God for the Lord had called him out of the Mount unto Him Saying Thus shalt thou say unto the House of Iacob and tell the Children of Israel c. If you will heare my Voice indeed and Keepe my Covenant then ye shall be my chiefe treasure above All people though All the Earth be mine Ye shall be also A Kingdome of Priests and an Holy Nation When Moses brought the People out of the Tents to meet with God and they stood in the nether part of the Mount Mount Sinai was all on Smoak because the Lord came down upon it in fire and the Smoak thereof ascended as the Smoak of a Furnace and all the Mount trembled exceedingly And when the Sound of the Trumpet blew long and waxed louder and louder Moses spake and God answered him by Voice For the Lord came downe upon Mount Sinai on the Top of the Mount and when The Lord called Moses up into the Top of the Mount Moses went up c. Exod. 19. And in the 20. chapt God spake all these words c. Viz. the Ten Commandements After the delivery whereof All the People saw the Thunder and Lightnings and the sound of the Trumpet and the Mountain Smoaking and when the People saw it they fled and stood afar off There were Temporall and Civill Ordinances and the making of the Tabernacle appointed by God There the Lord said unto Moses Thus shalt thou say unto the Children of Israel Ye have seene that I have talked with you from Heaven And Moses by command went afterwards up with Aaron Nadab and Abâ—â—u and Seventy of the Elders of Israel And they saw the God of Israel And under His Feet was as it were a worke of a Saphire stone and as the very Heaven when it is Cleare And upon the Nobles of Israel He laid not his Hand Also they saw God and did eat and drink c. And the Glory of the Lord abode upon Mount Sinai and the Cloud covered it Six dayes And the Seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the Cloud And the Sight of the Glory of the Lord was like consuming Fire on the Top of the Mountain to the Eyes of the Children of Israel And Moses entred into the Middes of the Cloud and went up to the Mountain And Moses was in the Mount Fourty dayes and Fourty nights Moses also came down from God in Mount Horeb. With the Second Tables went Moses up to God in Mount Sinai and the Lord descended in a Cloud and stood with him there and proclaimed the Name of the Lord. So the Lord passed before his face and cried The Lord The Lord Strong Mercifull and Gracious Slow to Anger and Abundant in Goodnesse and Truth Reserving Mercy for thousands Forgiving Iniquity and Transgression and Sin and not making the wicked inocent visiting the iniquity of the Fathers upon the Children and upon Childrens Children unto the third and fourth generation And when the Children of Israel with all the Congregation departed from Kadesh they came unto the Mount Hor And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in the Mount Hor neere the coast of the Children of Edom. Numb 20. when Balack the King of the Moabites had sent for Balaam to curse the Children of Israel who were advanced to the Plain of Moab he carries him first up into the High Places of Baal that thence he might see the utmost part of the People and God met Balaam there as Numb 23. But blessed Israel as the Lord had spoken Then Balak brought him inro Sadesophim the field of the Spies or of those that watched for them the motion of Israel to the Top of Pisgah And the Lord
met Balaam there and putt an answer in his Mouth There did he blesse them also Then Balak removes him to the Top of Peor where the Spirit of the Lord Came upon him But there he blessed them also The Lord commands Moses to goe up into the Mount Abarim that thence he might behold the Land before his death which he had given unto the Children of Israel as it is in the 27. of Numbers And in the 34. of Deuteronomie Moses went from the Plain of Moab up into Mount Nebo unto the Top of Pisgah that is over against Jericho and the Lord shewed him all the Land of Gilead unto Dan. c. Hieru alem was placed upon the Hills too When they went to keep their Feasts there It is said that they went up to Hierusalem to worship where was Mount Sion Many other Examples might be shewed out of the Holy writ to demonstrate Gods appearance upon the Mountains In Holy Gospell there is frequent mention of the Selection of Mountains for Prayer and Preaching by our Blessed Saviour who likewise Suffered death upon Mount Calvarie The Heathen thought to find their false Gods in Groves on High Places as Moloch Adram-melech Baal c. These Idols had distinctive names from the Mountains where in they were worshiped as Baul-Peor Baal-Zebub Baal-Thephon Baal-Berith c. So was Iupiter call'd Olympius Capitolinus c. But all this discourse does aim at the setting forth of the fittnesse of the Terme of Mount for the place of Residence for Faith Since it is not onely the Representation of Heaven where the Throne of God is mentioned to be but the certainty of finding him by Faith that appeared frequently upon the Mountains and Suffered upon a Mount It may therefore be called the Mount of Faith in regard of it's Elevation above the things of this World and in respect of the Eminency of the Obiect of our Faith Thou can'st not stay shewes the Constancie of a Christian Pilgrim's Course He must on Non progredi est regredi If He standes still though but a little he loseth much ground Without Perseverance neither he that fights shall gain the victory nor he that conquereth shall wear the Palm or have the Triumph T is continuall Endevour and the Vigour of a dayly additional Force that gains the Goal of what we aim at No Merit can be fostered without it No Reward can be obtained but by it Patience bids Farewell if not with it Constancie has her life in it Peace is gained through it All bonds and tyes are knit for it The golden Chain of Unanimity is made of it It is not he that begins a good work but he that continueth to the End with so doing that shall be Saved Perseverandum est assiduo studio robur addendum donec bona mens sit et bona voluntas est can Seneca say We must persevere and ever send in supply with diligence wherewith still to reinforce while the mind is well sett and the will is rightly bent But he speaks higher something above a Philosopher as we may take his Sence In excelso est beata vita sed perseverantia penetrabilis Let Happinesse be immur'd in Heaven Perseverance will scale it 'T is high The way to Faith is out of Sight to Reason Credimus quod non videmus Faith is of Things not seene And it is high because it is conversant onely with Heavenly Things T is high because the Object of our Faith that was exalted Super crucem exaltatus that was exalted upon the Crosse is ascended to the right hand of His Father Fides aliquando recipit quod Ratio non praesumit Such Gifts are by Divine Grace bestow'd on Faith as Reason cannot hope for Ti 's craggie way It is very difficult to Flesh and Bloud a hard matter for Sense or Reason to believe Natures Feet are very tender and cannot endure rugged stones of Affliction and Tryal that lay in the Narrow way of Faith Lapis quidem durus est Sed cùm factum fuerit de eo opus desistere nescit This kind of stone is very hard it will last the better when it is well laid in a building The Divel puts a thousand Questions to a Novice in the School of Faith Questions are one sort of those stones Hear'st not one call as if he Preach't to day This points at the saying of the Prophet David in his Invitatory Psalm to the Worship and praise of the Lord and Exhorting to repentance with a lowd call To day if you will hear his voice harden not your hearts as in the provocation and as in the day of temptation in the Wilderness When your Fathers tempted me proved me and saw my works This also hath reference to that of Saint Iohn the Baptist Now also is the Ax laid to the Root of the Trees therefore every Tree which beareth not good fruit is hewen down and cast into the Fire c. This alludeth likewise to that of the Prophet Ionas as shewing that there must be a continual renewing of Repentance for the obtaining of a firm Faith Yet forty dayes and Niniveh shall be overthrown So the people of Niniveh believed God c. Ionah 3. 4 5. This mindeth that of Saint Paul to the Hebrews 12. Wherefore let us also seeing we are compassed with so great a cloud of Witnesses cast away every thing that presseth down and the sin that hangeth so fast on Let us run with patience the race that is set before us looking unto Iesus the Author and finisher of our Faith Who for the joy that was set before him endured the Cross and despised the shame and is set at the right hand of the Throne of God Faith comes by Hearing Hearing by the Preaching of the Word If therefore none can hear without a Preacher How can any believe without Hearing and how can he understand without Faith Or how can he do any thing that is good without Understanding The word of God must be preached that the hearer may believe the believer may understand and who so understands may persevere in the exercise of welldoing For neither works without Faith nor Faith without Woeks justifie those that have a kind of ability given them to use the freedom of their Will The holy Spirit comes to the Door and knocketh It is not broken ope it is a fair Render of Possession not a Burglary Be wary of thy steps Consider before thou dost any thing For Actions leave their prints behind them Go not every way that Temptation inviteth the Not be carryed away with every Wind of Doctrine according to that carefull direction of Saint Paul 2 Tim. 3. This know also that in the last daies shall come perillous Times For men shall be Lovers of their own selves Covetous Boasters Proud Cursed speakers Disobedient to Parents Unthankful Unholy without natural affection truce-breakers false accuses intemperate fierce despisers of them which are good Traytors heady high-minded lovers of pleasures
Sacrifice of thy Soul And that thou then discoursest with the Deitie Think of thy Saviour more than thy Sin Doest see Another Law in thy members warring against the Law of thy mind and bringing thee into Captivity to the Law of Sin which is in thy Members And thereupon groanest out Saint Paul's words O wretched Man that I am Who shall deliver me from the body of this Death Seek to make his Application I thank God through Jesus Christ Our Lord by whom we have now received the Atonement Resolve One good Deed of Charitie That will warme thy Heart That may kindle a holy flame in thy Soul Resolve to pray as soon as thou awakest So thou prevent'st Sin from taking Possession With the Psalmist seek him early in the morning Run to thy knees at Noon Day Or when any Temptation assaulteth thee Resolve not to couch thy Head on thy Pillow before thy Peace-Offering And that thou beest to God and Man reconciled Thy Bed may prove thy Grave And there is a Resurrection Resolve against any Notorious Sin whereof thine Own Conscience shall arraign thee Guilty Make A Covenant with thine Eyes thine Eares thy Lips thy Hands thy Feet and thy Thoughts too For these are the Tinder of Iniquity Leave not God till thou hast obtained A Blessing Wrastle for it as Iacob He loves to be sought He delighteth to hear thee call upon Him And is pleased to see a stout Champion what thou see'kst is not worth his Giving if not worth Thy Contending for Strike thy Breast That thy rockie Heart may be mollified That it may have the comfortable Metamorphosis from Stone to Flesh So shalt thou be reconciled to thy displeased Father So Christ will own thee will send the Comforter unto thee And thy Body shall become the Temple of the Holy Ghost Thou shalt grow from grace to grace even to Eternall Glorie Take up thine Arms then With Them the Ingemination that the Lord deliver'd to Ioshua Be strong and of a good courage c. Be strong and very courageous that thou maist obserue to doe according to All the Law c. Turn not from it to the Right hand or to the Left that thou maist prosper whither soever thou goest CANTO IX The Lodge of Patience 1. PAce softly on The Way is deep 'T is foul with Showers The Clouds did weep Wade through that Slough This thawed Clay That mires This tires Best pick thy way Ore some deep Ditches thou must leap On bare foot passe sharp Stones on heap Through furzie Queaches thou must goe That prick and wound from Head to Toe Mark Sun and Thou thy Way shalt know Then com'st thou breathlesse unto Sand An open Countrey and a barren Land 'T is there The Lodge of Patience does on Crutches stand 2. It stands upon a Hillie Plain Where Camels Food with Labour gain On bitter Broom on Wormwood Gall On some sowre Hearbs they diet All Both They and Patience whom you see Beside her Lodge beneath a Tree That Palm with Shade to Her is Kinde She Smiles at Rufflings of the Winde On Stone she sits her Head does binde An Eagle sometimes does descend And layes a panting Dove down by his Friend With such his Labour oft her Commons he does mend 3. Beneath that Place there runs a Spring Whose Waters Sent from Brimstone bring Yet is there wholsome Taste most Sweet Her Wine it is and Bath for Feet To be in Storms She much delights She 's us'd to Goblins Not to Frights Wilde Boars do sometimes passe that Way And Tygres that do seek for Prey At her they try but dare not stay She drawes a Box that 's hid by Her When opening it forth flameth dreadful Fire At which amated they forsake her Then their vain Desire 4. Her stilted crazie seeming Lodge Has here a Patch and there a Bodge Is lin'd with Adamant within To keep fierce Storms from breaking in The torne Thatch Cover o're her Head Beneath is floared all with Lead Two wide Doors are to South and North. So Heat and Cold come and passe forth Their Malice she counts little worth Her Chambers haunted are with Sprites That offer dreadful Visits Dayes and Nights She sings or sleeps secure neglecting Fancies Frights 5. When Eyes unclose sad Sights appear With threatning Dart grim Death seems near Ill Newes of all sorts buzze in Ear And say Th' are Tokens sent from Fear The Sprites do groan and make a Noise Like starving Pris'ners screaming Voice With Scourges Others smartly strike Another tears what she does like And 'gainst her every where's a Pike All these she feels and foils by stay To spite them more she fervently doth Pray They tremble Then and roar They vanish soon away 6. With sober Pace abroad she walks And with her Self and Heaven she talks From whence an Angel cometh down And shewes the Figure of a Crown A Viol gives of Cordial smell Of Essence 't is for Her not well At Sent whereof she springs with Joy Which nothing after can annoy Such Comfort Mischief can't destroy A Cot-Lamb skippeth by her Side Her Steps to harmlesse Sports become a Guide Oft Disadvantages she meets oft turns them quite aside 7. Wilde Satyrs make their lewd Assaults Their Hairinesse can't blush at Faults They mock They mow Like Dogs they bark And she is robb'd by many'a Shark But still unmov'd She mindes Above To that Place only points Her Love All other Trifles She doth scorn Her Noble Spirit 's better borne She smiles at what wu'd make forlorn At Home She takes down Fortunes Wheel Forth-drawn Disasters she doth spin and reel To Providence she gives the Web from Loom of Steel 8. Before Her Lodge a Column stands As by Semiramis'es Hands So vast so high of Marble made Nor Time nor Tempest should invade Of Constancie this bears the Name Heroick Record unto Flame On it such worthies Names She writes As David Iob whose Lives were Lights With such great Letters She endites The History of Martyrdome That so down to Posteritie 't may come And if not Shame strike Persecution dumb 9. Upon the Column's Chapter 's writ In Letters Large for Reading It. MY BODIE' 's HARD MY HEAD IS HIGH 'BOVE FINGERS REACH OR INJURIE Aloft doth stand an Amazon A Snake her Right Foot treads upon Her Left Arm 's lockt within a Shield Which bears a Crosse in Bloodie Field Her Right Hand up to Heaven is held She boldly looketh towards East And seems to slight fierce Storm or furious Beast Whens'ere this roars or that does aim to strike her Breast 10. Not far off hence there lies a Shoar Where breaking Waves aloud do roar Where Shipwrackt Marriners were cast And like the Waves they cry'd agast They wrung their Hands They tore their Hair Sav'd Life was tortur'd by Despair To th' Lodge did crawl sad Stories tell She to her Viol bade them smell Their Griefs did vanish They were well Praise then they did begin to Sing She bade them
timeri that the Lion is frighted by and stands in awe of the Cock Angui quoque Gallus terrori est The Serpent cannot endure him Basiliscus ipsum horret The Basilisk doth tremble at the sight of this Champion Hunc aiunt mirabile dictu cùm Gallum videre forte contingit animo tremere et cum cucurientem audit tanto terrore concuti ut emoriatur It is scarce to be beleeved what is said of him that when the Basilisk chanceth to see the Cock he is stricken with a strange terrour but when he hears him he is so wonderfully affrighted that he dies upon the place Quam rem non ignorantes qui per immensas Cyrenensium solitudines quae pestem illam et singulare in terris malum gignunt iter faciunt Gallum itineris comitem sibi adjungunt qui cantu suo truculentissimam illam bestiam longè abigat reporteth Aelian lib. 3. c. 31. Whereof those Travailers that passe the dangerous and vast Lybean Deserts which produce such a mischief and where onely a Creature of that pestilent nature is bred and brought forth for safety sake they make the Cock their companion in their Travell who at the Clapping of his wings and the shrillness of his crowing may drive away farr from them a Beast of that horrid countenance There is much more furniture of this sort if the roome were not so small and this place so straight Some are of Opinion that Christ is meant by the Cock in holy Scripture dormientes excitans et quasi calcaribus comminationum that I may use their words pungens stimulans Waking those that laid asleep in sin and security and as it were pricking with the spurs of his threats and striking with the sharp heel of his comminations So Vitriacus Cardinalis Venerable Bede lib. 9. Expos. Tob. c. 7. Interprets thus Gallum puto esse unumquemque Sanctorum qui in nocte tenebris hujus mundi accipiunt per fidem intelligentiam virtutis constantiam clamandi ad Deum ut aspiceret jam dies permanens et amoveantur umbrae vitae praesentis qui urgent item sequenti clamore precum suorum dicentes Emiâ—â—te Lucem tuam et veritatem tuam Quod de Prophetis intelligere possumus qui certatim annunciaverunt Diei et Solis adventum I conceive the Cock to be every one of the Saints that receive in the Night and Darknesse of this world understanding by Faith and the constancy of the virtue of crying to God that the ever living Day might behold them and that the shadowes of this present life may be removed still enforcing their continued cryes and petitions in these words Let thy light and thy trueth break forth Which we may likewise understand of the Prophets who in a manner strived to exceed one another in the annunciation of the comming of the Day and the Sun But nearer our matter is their Verdict that apply it to the Messengers of the Gospel Gallus succinctus lumbos id est praedicatores inter hujus noctis tenebras verum manè nunciantes The Cock that hath his loins girt is the Preacher of the word who declares the Truth betimes in the morning amidst the darknesse of this night Praedicator quisque plus actibus quam vocibus insonet et bene vivendo vestigia sequacibus imprimat ut potius agendo quam loquendo quo gradiatur ostendat quia et Gallus ipse cum jam edere cantus parat prius alas excutit et semetipsum feriens vigilantiorem reddit The Preacher must sound by his life as well as his doctrine and by living well Leave to his followers the footsteps of a good example that he may shew them their way whither they are to goe rather by good deeds than words by the hand and the foot rather than the Tongue Because the very Cock when he prepares himself to crow first smites his wings and striking himself makes himself the more watchful His Note is Hora est jam nos de somno surgere It is time that we should awake from sleep from sin Evigilate justi Nolite peccare Awake unto righteousnesse sin not The Cock then is the Preacher The wild Beasts are the World the Flesh and the Devill The crowing of the Cock is the Publication of the Cospel which remembred Peter when he denied his Master The frighting of those wild Beasts is the repelling and driving away Temptations But Simia odit Gallum the Ape the world doth hate despiseth his Voice and with the deaf Adder stoppeth his eares though the Charmer charmeth never so wisely Here Self by Self does Resignation dwell In the Farm in the Soul does Resignation inhabite In God's Promises in the obedience to his will and Commandements does Christianity rest self by self laying by and casting off all manner of self confidence or trust in any worldly help or strength onely submitting unto Divine Pleasure and God's Dispose Within a spatious Farm of doing well A godly Life and Conversation He payes Himself for Rent No coin needs tell Here the Will is taken for the whole Man so is the Will accepted at Gods Hands for the Deed. No Coin needs tell God delighteth in Obedience rather than Sacrifice Mans Self is the best payment to be tendred unto God being enstamped in his Creation with the Image of Himself and being as it were new minted in his Redemption But every New Year sends to 's Lord a Heart At his Regeneration and being renewed in the Spirit he presents what his Lord reserves Da mihi Cor Give me thy Heart that belongeth unto God only and is the best New Years Gift to the Master of All. A Wreath of Laurel Is Praise unto his Holy Name and everliving acknowledgement for all his Blessings especially for that of our Salvation Or a winged Dart Is Prayer that flies up to Heaven that sticketh and remaineth there which is for assisting Grace or for whatsoever the Soul standeth in need of Such is his Tenure which for all he payes in part This is the Jew and Christian commanded to do by the Commandments in the Law and by the Love that is required in the Gospel He that loveth me keepeth my Commandments saith our blessed Lord and Saviour Yet the most Righteous cannot be perfect in this World he payeth but part for all his Dutie and with an earnest Will it is accepted too through Faith in Christ. All is the Lords and he pleaseth to accept our acknowledgement He requireth only that we glorifie him for all his Benefits 5. The Lord say some and those say well All acknowledge not the Lord only his Elect know by Faith who God is and where he dwelleth Above th' Empyraean Hill aloft doth dwell Heaven is his Throne The Glory of his Seat can none that 's Mortal tell It is ineffable Neither Eye hath seen nor Ear hath heard nor can Heart conceive nor can it enter into the Thought of Man the wonderful things that are
Rest to be found upon Earth but in God Nor any Safety but under the shadow of His Wings What conceive we of His wonderful Wisdom that prefer our own imaginations before It Why raise we our Vain Desire against His most Holy Pleasure and make the Rebellion of our Hearts to be as the Sin of Witchcraft Why fondly hast we to every Bush for shelter Or think we to avoid the storme by the nimblenesse of our failing Feet Come then my sad Companion in distresse My other Self in Misery Sit thee down by me Sit thee down and rest thee Many say who will shew us any good But Lord lift up thy countenance upon us Thou hast given me more joy of Heart than they have had when their wheat and their Wine did abound I will lay me down and also sleep in peace For Thou Lord onely makest me to dwell in Safety Hath the Lord humbled thee and set thee down in the shadow Hath he besieged thee with many Troubles Hath he beset thee with a multitude of Afflictions Is there no way to escape Doe His Arrowes fly about thee O consider what thou hast deserved Remember that His Patience is wonderfull and His loving Kindnesse above measure His Corrections are gentle and His Mercies never fail those that trust in him His Straightnings are Life and His Goodnesse surpasseth understanding Why holdest out And giv'st not up the Place Resigne Hath Abraham but one Son His Joy His onely comfort And must Isaac be a Sacrifice Were there not Cattel enough among all the Herds for one Offering Nor a nearer place than a strange Countrey for an Altar Must he travaile to his Losse the Losse of his onely Son his beloved And must that come by his own hand too And was his obedience without grutching with cheerfulnesse Without question O how great was his Faith But what followed The stroak was restrained Isaac saved a Ram presented and in his stead offered Abraham proved and approved For so calls the Angel of the Lord from heaven Abraham Abraham Lay not thine hand upon the Child Neither do any thing unto him For now I know that thou fearest God Seing for My sake thou hast not spared thine onely Son O the infinite mercy of the Lord He is tender and full of compassion Is He the onely stay and Refuge Withstand him not Submit Resigne Whither is Ionas run from his Message from the Lord that sent him to Ninive Can a ship hide him Or the Sea promise him Safety He runs from a Calm to a Storm From the God of peace and power to the inconstancie of the Creature Is a Lot better than a Portion Or a Whal's Belly a more pleasing Entertainment than a City Is the Deep more comfortable than the brightnesse of the Heavens Or a dying habitation in the Living more to be esteemed than a lively Publication of God's warning to those that were otherwise appointed to dy Let every Ionas that is out of the way turn againe For the Lord is gracious and His Mercy endureth for ever Alas for thee Murmur not Keep not thy Will Let it not be thine own Resigne CANTO XII The Holy Hill of Contemplation The Downs of Cogitation 1. FRom Hill to Hill we go Now leav'st thou things below Sublimer Things to Know Here mighty Waves of terrene Seas As green as Neptune's Sight may please His rowl in Storme In Quiet these These Downs are stil'd all spred with silken Grasse Thick Short and smooth as slipp'ry Ice or Glasse A Carpet made of Plush it seems to those that Passe 2. All ore this Flowrie Place Bright Stars grow space by space And shew their Sweets and Grace Here Swallowes plumed Oares do plie With agile Pineons Swiftnesse trye Who shall dart quickest as they flie From Poast to Poast here Coursers run amain And freely of Themselves away doe straine So course fleet Thoughts upon the beating Braine 3. Out from Thelema's Cave Comes driving like a Wave In Noble Habit Brave For DIANOIA in her Looke Clasping in Hand an unbound Book And sits as if she fresh awoke Within a Wagon that doth nimblie glide Whose noiselesse Wheels do whirle on either side By Dromedaries drawn wherein Shee doth abide 4. Behinde her stands a Wight All clad in Snowie White That guides her Wagon right SANCTIFICATION some Her Name Heaven-born She is For such her Fame She shines as now from thence she came Oft Oil she pours upon the Damsels Head With Rod she Flies and Hornets striketh Dead That buz about the Ears o' th' Dame where once they bred 5. Thus ore the Downs she drives At PHRONTIS Height arrives Oft Holy Hill atchieves Where Contemplation sits so high To whom We passe on by and by Let DIANOIA go and spie There let the Dame go take a sweet Repose So modest She 's She never doffs her Clothes And none but One what 's on her Breast yet ever knowes The Promontory of Meditation 6. On Promontory there doth dwell Wise Phrontis that old Deeds does tell And Future Happinesse does spell A Holy One did build her dwelling place And did bestow upon it pious Grace As if an Hermit she there spends her dayes Except she take unseen a Journey through the Ayre ' Lights Takes a walk i' th' Portico o' th' House of Prayer And thence as oft unseen doth Home again repaire 7. From out her Studie She doth eye Both Land Sea and all doth try That 's worthy notice far or nigh She takes much pleasing pains to get by Heart The rarest Skill in Meletetick Art So findes She Puritie of Minde is part So She perceives what he must be that Meditates Devout and wisely skill'd in any case he states And with prepar'd Affections as the same relates 8. Her Object she doth keep in sight The manner of 't perpends aright Dividing draws so hits the white She has a Mint of Businesse and Lore She takes from Memorie what was before And layes it up in Recordation's Store Three friendly Helps she has whens'ever she growes weak When speechlesse Logicks Knowledge makes her speak When Deaf Attention cures Her Stupour Praying breaks 9. Her Librarie is large and fair In 3 Ranks plac't about her chair On those she reads in arbour'd air The first holds Natures Books the Creatures all The next Redemptions works that sav'd from fall Sanctification's gave a growing tall A Sedentarie Quiet She does Love and Chuse And Temperance to visit her doth often use For Solitude all Company She doth refuse 10. She 's beckned oft abroad by Love To take a Walk in shadie Grove As oft admireth Things above For Admiration gives to her a Law As doth the Load stone that doth Iron draw Her laughing ere seld any Creature saw No dwelling's here Our Souls do burn with high Desire To Contemplations holy Hill their Flames aspire Away Let 's mount O let 's not quench such kindling Fire The Holy Hill of Contemplation 11. Aloft now raise Thy Self with