eternally accurst Let 's Grace and Virtue thirst untill we dy That we may quench it in God's deity Amen THE SEAVEN SACRAMENTS I saw seaven golden Candlesticks and in the midst of them one like the son of Man Apoc. c. 1. v. 12. and 13. The sun gives light unto the eye Io. 1. v. 9. So doth God's grace unto the soul That man may walk secure therby And from sin's wound preserve it whole But if this light should be put out The soul would perish without doubt For nature is so weak and frail And flesh and blood to sin so prone The enemy would soon prevail Io. 15. v. 5. If God should leave poor man alone Grace is the soul's security Against her mortall enemy This grace Christ purchast on the Tree And that it might with us remain The Sacraments ordained be Which also do lost grace regain These are the conduits which conveigh Gods grace to souls which him obey These from the side of Christ did flow These with his bloud death were bought By their right use God doth bestow His gracious gifts as we are taught These signs Christ in his Church did place Still in themselves conferring grace Rev. 1. v. 13. S. John the shape of one did see Midst seaven candlesticks of gold Who seem'd the son of man to be And seaven starrs in 's hand did hold v. 16. Which shews the Sacraments receive From Christ the grace they in us leave In Exodus w' are also told Moyses commanded was to frame Exod. 25. v. 31.37 A Candlestick of purest gold And place seav'n Lamps upon the same Which were to burn and to give light In th' Tabernacle day and night This Candlestick did signify Christ's Church The seaven lamps declare The Sacraments wherein doth ly Prov. 8. v. 31. The oyl of Grace and true lights are Illuminating with God's grace The soul of man his resting place Seav'n things our bodies do require To their beginning and support When they are born they food desire But yet not of the strongest sort Breast-milk feeds them while they are yong And grosser meat when they are strong Physick's requir'd when Health doth fail Salves are apply'd to wounded parts When Physick seem's nought to prevail Rich Cordialls must revive their hearts Superiours they are govern'd by By Marriage they do multiply These seaven things most needfull are To give us life and it maintain Seav'n Sacraments Christ did prepare For souls whilst here they do remain Baptism the first Tit. 3. v. 5. Io 3. v. 5. regenerates By water souls which God creates For thô the soul is innocent Yet when it 's in the Body plac't United Ps 50. v. 7. t is incontinent Guilty and in it's self defac't Rom. 5. v 12 Tit. 3. By Adam's sin it dead remains Baptismall grace it's life regains By Confirmation it is fed With milky grace till it be strong It must not tast that living Bread To the adult this doth belong Act ◠v. 17. This gives to it the Holy Ghost To strengthen it against Hell's Host Who seek the soul's first fruit to gain When use of reason doth appear By Confirmation do remain In us God's Spirit Love and Fear It doth enable us to fight That we may put the dev'l to flight Let no one then this Sacrament Neglect You Parents still take care That you to Bishop do present Your children but first them prepare To this great gift of Confirmation That it may prove to their Salvation When reason's ripe a stronger food Christ in his love did here ordain His pretious Body MarK 14. v. 22.23 Io. 6 V. 56. and his Bloud That he with us might still remain And we not fear the greatest evill Being dreadfull made unto the devill Of this transcendent act of love I shall not now pretend to treat Nor how much it doth us behove Oft to receive this Heau'nly Meat There and the rest I do reserve To treat alone as they deserve Iob. 7. v. ◠Mans life on Earth a Warfare is ' Gainst devil World and Flesh he fights Iames. 3. v. 2. He often erres and doth amiss And wounded is by satans sleights A sovêrain Salve Christ did prepare To heal and keep him from despair This Sacramentall Pennance is Which Io. 20. v. 23. right apply'd doth heal the soul Where God gives to it Peace's Kiss And grace all passions to controul To root out all inord'nate Love And six it's joys on God above What requisites most needfull are That Pennance may work these effects J shall hereafter full declare And also what are the defects Which hinder Sacramentall grace And hatefull sin set in its place When sickness doth so much prevail That you expect your Friend to dy And usûall Physick seems to fail Rich Cordialls then you must apply Life to preserve till Nature 's spent Which also death somtimes prevent Thus Extream Unction doth apply The Churches Pray'r Iam. 5. v. 14. if death appear To those who agonizing ly Which God is often pleasd to hear And longer life grant V. 15. to this end That they their former may amend Or else it doth prepare to death V. 15. By full remission of their sin That when they yield their vitall breath Life everlasting may begin O! always beg you ne're may dy Without this sacred remedy Judges and Magistrates we need The Body Politick to guide So Priests and Prelates Act. 20. v. 28. rule and feed All such as in the Church abide Luc. 22. v. 19. Hence t is that such might still remain Christ Holy Order did ordain Io. 20. v. 22. Act. 13. v. 3 c. 6. v. 6. 1. Tim. 4. v. 14. 2. Tim 1. v. 6. These have their power from above The Holy Ghost Christ to them gave Those they ordain Christ doth approve And they the self same power have They are the Guides unto our soul Good to promote and Vice controul Priests consecrate the Sacrament Of the most Holy Eucharist They do absolve the Penitent As being authoriz'd by Christ Io. 20. v. 23. Whose sins you quit the same do I And whose you bind the same I ty By Wedlock Bodies multiply And souls which God in them creates The Sacrament doth grace apply Mat 19. v 6. And God this Contract consecrates Who grace to Man and Wife doth give Eph 5. v. 33. That they in mutûall love may live That they their duty may fulfill Breeding their Children in God's fear To love him and fulfill his will That when at Judgment they appear They may not bear their Children's blame As being Authors of the same Here you compendiously do see The virtue of the Sacraments As also why they seaven be Which sacred number represents The seav'nfold grace of God's bles't Spirit Which we by Sacraments do merit These seaven stars are our true Guide That we may shun the Gulf of sin By these we in God's
Pray'rs neglect Ps 15. v. 9. Bêing confident he 'l hear my cry And mercy shew before I dy Amen THE WORLD'S GLORY IS VANITY TRUE JOY IN VIRTUE All things that are done under the sun are vanity and affliction of spirit Ecclesiastes 1. v. 14. WHat is this World and all therein But Vanity producing sin Except the soul withdraw her love And Eagle-like take flight above And there in contemplation high On God doth fix her piercing eye Where she in God will clear behold Her self her worth and doth unfold The fallacies the World doth use To win mens love and them abuse By representing that for good Which proves disguis'd when understood She takes the Titles that declare God's attributes and Symbols are Of Heav'nly Bliss to name her toys That they may seem to us true joys But when you once do them detect As vain you slight contemn neglect By honour power and Majesty She raiseth some to that degree As Gods on Earth Dan. 3. v. 5. they will be treated As thô their Thrones with God's were seated Riches and Pleasures have some blinded That other Heav'n they never minded Some did in Beauty so excell Like Goddesses on Earth did dwell Puff't up with Pride ador'd by Men And Deify'd by Poets pen This glory now in dust doth ly All 's vanisht in the twinkl'of eye And if ought here of them remains It is their soul 's most sinfull stains Which in God's Justice may require The flame of Hell's Eternall fire Of Worldly Joy this is the end To which she brings her dearest friend Are here her joys from sorrows free No they are mixt with misery Honour doth meet with emulation Hest 7. v. 10. Which often causeth great vexation And when it seems past Fortunes frown Proud Aman-like it is cast down With labours great men riches gain What frights and fears do they sustain Lest they should lose their Idoll Wealth They often hazard life and Health And when death comes they no more have Than a poor Coffin Shroud and Grave Great Alexander in his Throne Was not content thô he alone The world possest he oft did weep His soul found want disturbing sleep Nothing the soul can satisfy That is beneath a Deity The Epicure and Sodomit Whom name of Beast doth most befit Eph. 4. v. 18 19. Like swine in carnall puddle ly By this obscuring Reason's Eye They shame's disease and sicknes find With lost repute true grief of mind Behold a drunkard in his cups What comes to hand clear off he sups With hellish smoke he fumes his brains Till void of reason he remains He curses swears he damn's his soul He spews like swine in it doth roll Wisd 2. v. 6. c. These are the joys and glory great With which the world her friends doth treat This course of life consider'd well To men of sense seems but a Hell Rom. 6. v. 21.23 Leading poor Souls to that infernall Where devills are and flames Eternall Base world who here false joys for true Dost give thy Lovers now Adieu No longer shalt thou Tyrannize On sense and soul to make thy prize No longer joy I 'le seek in thee Hence shall my joy in Virtue be THE SECOND PART HEAVEN UPON EARTH OR TRUE JOY IN VIRTUE A secure mind is as it were a continuall Feast Prov. 15. v. 15. TO stop a floud doth pains require Small hopes with oyl to quench a fire So floud of Vice 't is hard to turn Where Carnall love the Heart doth burn Yet burns asswage by greater heat So Virtues love makes that retreat To win Man's Heart to Virtues love Is properly God's work above Especially where sin is plac't And sense Man's Reason hath defac't Yet Virtue known is of that force It gains the Heart and changeth course The cause is known by its effect So I will Virtue here detect Not by defining as the use But by the fruits it doth produce The which Mans Reason will so please They 'l steal his Heart and love with ease Health Honour Riches to possess May termed be World's happiness But since in Heart Fear doth remain That what it gives ' twill take again They can't be deem'd felicity Where Fear 's 1. Ioh. 4. v. 18. true Joy can never be A Man that is in Conscience clear Is void of sorrow fright and fear He feareth nought the World can take It 's Joy to him Rom 5. v. 3. if for God's sake He loseth all and pains endure Rewards above he knows are sure Math. 9. v. 29. Christ's promise of an hundred fold For what is lost makes him so bold That Persecution he don't fly But runs into 't couragiously If he 's possest with any fear It 's lest he may not suffer here The greatest honours here on Earth Bestow'd by Man or due by Birth He slights as mean and Vanity When he above doth cast his eye To be God's son his Spouse Io. 1. v. 12. 1. Io. 3. v. 1. his friend Are honours which do those transcend On Earth was Alexander great Who sate in hâ—â— Imperiall seat To judge the World seems glory high Math. 19. v 28. 1. Cor. 6. v. 3. Compar'd to his he doth deny Since by Christ's promise judge he shall The Angles and the World with all Croesus with riches did abound Which do command on Earth what 's found These he contemns Math. 19. v 24. Mat. 5 v. 3. Iam. 2. v. 5. since t is a venture If ever they shall Heaven enter He blessed calls his Poverty which from that doubt doth set him free King Salomon Eccli 2. v. 10. who did possess All what was pleasant did confess T was Vanity v. 11. and grief of mind True ioy therein he could not find But Man from these withdrawing love Doth tast the lasting joys above Hence t is no worldly Crosses can Disturb the soul of Virtuous Man Since he all here as vain doth flight And suff'rings are his great delight For if with Christ 2. Cor. 1. v. 7. saith Sacred story He shares in pain he shall in glory Gal. 6. v. 14. This makes him pains and Crosses thirst Th'unsuffring state he deems the worst If others do'nt him mortify He makes himself his enemy With hunger cold and labours great And Discipline Gal. 5. v. 2. his Flesh doth treat To all affronts he 'l open ly What 's Will requires he will deny Still saying Luk 22. v. 42. Father with God's son Not mine but thy bles't will be don 2. Tim. 2. v. 4. Who as he came all men to save So he them glorify'd would have All Virtues are his great delight To practise them both day and night For they to soul do glory bring And wed her to the heau'nly King Where she in ioy shall still remain What price too great for so great gain Here you the reason clearly see Why virtuous Man from grief is free For ought on Earth he hath
Lying devill them deceive By Lyes of joys their dear souls to bereave O wicked Parents who while young neglect This dev'lish Vice in children to correct You Lyars guilty of this deadly crime Leave off Repent amend while you have time Speak what is just Eph. 4. v. 25. do not the truth deny The Lying devill and his Lyes defy Love and serve God his just Laws still attend Thus once a Lyar may make happy end THE TRUE ART OF LOVING WELL. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God Math. 22. v. 37. I Shall not here like Ovid teach The Art of brutish Carnall Love But that which did exceed his reach Practis'd by Seraphins above Which God Io. 13. v. 34. made man did teach to men To joyn them to their God agen To love those only who love you Or objects that your senses please Math 5. v. 46. What do you more then Heathens do Or brutes â—ho Belly love and ease Your God above whom you don't see I 'le teach to love and Enemy This Christ did teach v. 44. while he was here By words Luk 23. v. 34. and his most rare example The same to follow do not fear Rom. 5. v. 15. He for you grace hath purchas 't ample He hath rais'd Man unto this state He can love those Act 7. v. 60. who do him hate To do this cast your eye above Contemplate God's most lovely features Then for his sake you 'l learn to love In him all his beloved creatures And most of all Gen. 1. v. 26. his Image dear Which wrap't in flesh is placed here The Elements to Center tend As Water Earth the Air and Fire Where they do rest as in their end To hold them back doth force require The iron doth to Loadstone cleave That it may virtue thence receive Ps 72. v. 26. God Center is to soul of man Which here to Body is confin'd And without him there 's nothing can Give satisfaction to her mind He is the Loadstone where she gains Perfection and content remains For what are objects of Man's love Wealth Power Beauty Riches Glory All these are found in God above In high degree saith sacred story Wisd 1. v. 7.1 Ioh 4. v. 19. God all perfections doth contain Since he loves you love him again He loves you not for interest As if you could him profit bring But that you may with him have rest In glory of your heav'nly King Where you with Angels shall always In joy sing forth his glorious praise Love makes the consort of the Quire For all their Notes are tun'd by Love And Love is all their hearts desire Their God is Love 1. Ioh 4. v. 16. that reigns above By Love you do him perfect joyn To love him truly then incline To gain your loving heart's consent Gen. 1. v. 26. 1. Ioh 4. v. 9 Ioh 1. v. 14. Ioh. 20. v. 17. Behold what here on Earth is don All creatures made for your content Nay he has sent his only son To take your flesh and Brother be From sin and Hell to set you free All objects of true Love are here Laid open to your corp'rall view Since all that 's perfect doth appear In Christ who God and Man is true Ps 44. v. 5. He is the beauty of Mankind In Body features grace and mind He is not only amiable In body but likewise in heart His love to you was firm and stable Ioh. 13. v. 1. Till Death did soul and Body part While here on Earth for your souls sake No pains did he refuse to take He fasted pray'd he watch't he taught Cold Hunger Thirst he did endure Salvation for your soul he sought And to make future Glory sure Ro. 5. v. 8. By bitter pains he dy'd on th' tree Thus much thy JESUS loved thee Now he to heaven is ascended Io. 14. v. 2.1 Io. 2. v. 2. Rom. â— v. 34. Heb. 7. v. 25. Beholding Father face to face His Love to you is still extended He hath prepared you a place That it may be your finall home He is your Advocate become Love this your God-Man who loves you And for your sake hath done all this In all your ways prove to him true Against his Laws nêre do amiss His blessed will be sure obey Math. 19. v. 17. To Heav'n it is the only way THE SECOND PART I say to you love your Enemies Math. 5. v. 44. If you love me Ioh. 14. v. 15. saith Christ our Lord Be sure you keep this my command Ioh. 15. v. 12. Math. 22. v 39 1 Ioh. 4. v. 20. With one another still accord Your Brother love as your right hand Who doth not here his Brother love Loves not his God who is above Not only love him who loves you For blindest Heathen doth the same But love your Enemy Math. 5. v. 44. as true Tender his life his goods his fame So you who Enemies have been To me Math. 6 v. 12.14 shall love and pardon win God made man's soul his image dear To live with him eternally And thô to sin he did not fear And thus became his Enemy Revenge on him he did not take But taking flesh dy'd for his sake Here learn of God Math. 5. v. 45. your Heav'nly Father Who sinner feeds as well as just To feed your Enemy yea rather Than friend so you may humbly trust Luk. 6. v. 38. That God your soul with grace will feed Since you fed Foe in time of need You cannot love his wickedness But as God's Image you must love 1. Ioh. 4. v. 20. To 's Pattern Kindness here express If Peace you love that is above Then mercifull to you he 'l be Who for his sake lov'd Enemy The Just dost lesser stand in need Of love Rom 8. v. 2. than he who is in sin From satan's pow'r the first is freed While this 2. Timi 2. v. 26. his slavery lyes in O pray that God will set him free Then God will mercy shew to thee But if Revenge thou seek'st to take Math. 18. v. 32 33. For injury that 's gone and past Thou liable thy self dost make To guilt forgiven and at last As cruell damn'd thy soul will be Not shewing Mercy shew'd to thee With joy forgive then Man's offence Since Christ our Lord hath promis't you Mark 11. v 25 Eccli 28. v 2. Mark 4. v. 24. For sin it shall make recompense And debt remit which to it's due What measure you give to your Brother The same shall you have and no other His loss is most when he wrongs thee In body goods or reputation Without Repentance his will be The loss of God and soul's salvation Pray you the Father as the Son Forgive Luk. 23. v. 34. he knows not what h 'as don If you saw Beast in danger great You strait would run his life to save And enemy away would beat
Ecce gui tollit peccata Mundi PIOUS INSTRUCTIONS IN MEETER FITTED TO THE WEAKER CAPACITIES Thy Iustifications were sung by me in the place of my Peregrination Ps 118. v. 54. PRINTED in the year 1693. With licence of Superiours ADVERTISEMENTS 1. COnsidering that those for whom I chiefly made these Verses are not skilled in the reading of Abbreviations which sometimes are pronounced otherwise than they are written to avoid the confusion that might follow if I should write them as usually words which are abbreviated ending in D. and are pronounced with a T. I have written them with T. as pronounced 2. Complying with the desires of some friends I have noted in the Margent severall Texts which are related unto in this book and commonly but one in a place althô there be many more relating to the same subject the Margent not being capable to contain all 3. And note that in the Verses are not always the very same words of the Text but sometimes only the substance or allusions to the Text. 4. Again observe that the Catholick Bible names four Books of Kings whereas the Protestants call the two first the Books of Samuel And whereas the Protestants divide the 9th Psalm and joyn the 146. and 147. Psalms in one which the Catholick Bible upon better Authority doth not in all my Citations I follow the Catholick Bible and therfore the Psalms which I cite between the 9th Psalm and the 147. are always the Psalms following in the Protestant Bible As for example when I cite the 136. Psalm Vpon the rivers of Babylon it is the 137. in the Protestant Bible and so of the rest THE PREFACE HAving been conversant above three and thirty years with the poor whom to assist has been my employ I find a docile spirit amongst them and that many of them are hungry as I may term it and eager after Instructions not so much in curiosity as to be informed of their duty But I fear this of holy Jeremy is too much verified in these days The little ones have asked bread and there was none that brake it to them Lament c. 4. v. 4. Not but that there are many excellent Sermons made many pious and learned Books writ but that men of this age being grown so curious and of itching ears after eloquence of speech quaint and refined language in Prose Poëticall fancies and conceits in Verse that where these are not found the Sermon or Book takes not let the subject be never so pious which makes most Preachers and Writers incline to dress up what they render in such sort that it may be gratefull to those who esteem themselves the Wits of the Age. And perhaps all the profit they reap from them is this Elogium The man spoke well he has writ good language and is full of witty conceits and in the mean time those who seek more after the virtue than the curiosity of the word are deprived of their desires the language or conceits so exceeding their capacities that they cannot attain unto the sense and so make little or no advantage I speak not this as condemning such Preachers or writers for certainly when Piety Learning Wit and Eloquence are joyned together that is the most compleat Work But I rather make an Apology for these plain Verses which I dedicate unto the Poor who indeed stand most in need of Instructions which must be given to them in an humble and low stile befitting their capacities Wherefore I hope no pious person will carp at them which are beneath a Poets censure since I pretend not to Poetry in them but only have put such Instructions as I think needful to the Poor People in Meeter fitted for tunes such manner of reading being most delightfull to young People sooner learn't and better retained which they may learn to sing and so prevent the great abuse that is now a days among many in singing profane and lascivious songs And I doubt not but some will say that these exceed the length of songs I grant it but since I make them for Instructions commonly the subject I treat of considering the capacities they are fitted to cannot be fully explicated in shorter to their advantage And they may serve the good man to sing working at his trade thereby to edify his family Receive then you little ones of Christ's flock and my dearly beloved these my small endeavours for you and make that use of them which I hoped for when I made them that knowing what is evill you may avoid it and what is good you may embrace and put it into practice that so Christ's coming may not be in vain to you who came not only to redeem you from sin but also to teach you Virtue And if this Book may happily advantage you in this as I hope it will I have what I aimed at and as I ever had a love for and desire to serve you so I hope you will be mindfull in your prayers of Your true friend in Christ B. Leo of S. Mary Magdalen THE TABLE OF THE CONTENTS A Devout Prayer p. 1 Christ's Thirst of mans salvation p. 5 The Seaven Sacraments p. 14 Baptism and Pennance p. 21 The Sacrament of love p. 34 The Sacrifice of the Mass p. 45 The Israelits Lamentation p. 52 The 2. part A sinners Lamentation p. 61 The World's glory is Vanity p. 63 The 2. part True joy in Virtue p. 71 The fruits of Drunkenness p. 76 Death and Life in the Tongue p. 82 Take not God's name in vain p. 89 A Lyar to be excluded human society p. 97 The true Art of loving well p. 102 Of Pride p. 111 2. Part. Of Humility p. 115 Of Patience and the contrary p. 120 Of Obedience and the contrary p. 127 Of Poverty and the contrary p. 138 Of Chastity and the contrary p. 146 Do Pennance p. 153 Of Prayer p. 162 Our Father p. 171 Hail Mary p. 178 Of Fasting and the contrary p. 185 Of Alms-deeds and the contrary p. 193 The Angel Guardians advice p. 200 Liberty and Mortification p. 209 Hope and Despair p. 213 Of Death p. 222 Of Judgment p. 229 Of Hell p. 238 Of Purgatory p. 244 Of Heaven p. 252 S. Mary Magdalens Life p. 261 S. Francis his Life p. 278 The Books Address to the Reader p. 315 A PIOUS HYMN OR PRAYER IN HONOUR OF CHRIST AND HIS B. MOTHER HAil MARY hope of all mankind Hail pious pure and meek of mind Hail full of grace Luk 1. v. 28. God's holy spouse Of all that 's good the Treasure house Hail Virgin chast Luk. 2. v 7. Christ's Parent dear Thou who alone didst merit here Luk. 1◠v 35◠Isai 7. v. 14. Without a father to have child To be a Mother undefil'd Empress of Angels queen above Poor sinners comfort for Christ's love Pitty my tears let joy begin In my poor heart defil'd with sin Comfort a Sinner in distress And give not to the merciless The honour which
if their reason they had lost They will not suffer in the least They curse blaspheme not fearing God Nor his severe chastizing rod. Nay Man God's Image they fear not To curse blaspheme and wish all evill As thô their God they had forgot They sacrifice Man to the Devill Wishing the Devill him to take Thô God made Man dy'd for his sake Gen. 4. v. 3.4 To own God Man did Sacrifice And give to him still of the best By cursing Man his God defies Gives man to th' Devill with the rest Who oft upon the Devill calls To him by cursing prostrate falls O bold affront O dread contempt Of our great God and King of Kings Vile rebell Man who dares thus tempt The Lord and Maker of all things When thou call'st on the Devill fear He may thee strait in pieces tear Thô God doth the Blasphemer spare Permitting him still here to live Yet he and his the worse do fare For wicked curses he doth give Wisd 1 v. 6. No wonder since he oft doth call For Pox and Plague they should befall And if this Vice he will not mend But in the same perversly dy Hell-Fire most sure will be his end There with his Devill-God to ly In fiery bed and ever shall With curses on the Devill call Let all men then in time beware And this good scripture-counsell take Not once to curse or vainly swear Which enemies to God them make Who such doth leave and when he parts The Dev'd doth soon possess their hearts Hear then the Wiseman Eccli 23. v. 10. seldom name God or his Saints in conversation And when you do pronounce the same Show great respect and veneration Thus you this Precept will not break Thô you their Names should often speak Still Honour Praise Ps 95. v. 8. and Glory give To God's blest Name while you are here Love fear and serve him while you live And then to dy you will not fear With the Profane you will not ly But praise God's Name Eternally Amen A LYAR TO BE EXCLUDED Lying Lips are abomination to our Lord. Prov. 12. v. 22. IF Man did think on his once happy state A Ly of all things in the World he 'ld hate Since by a Ly the Devill did deceive Gen. 3. v. 4. His Father Adam and his Mother Eve And by it brought them into God's displeasure With justice loss of all the greatest treasure v. 7. Besides they were cast out of Paradise To toil for Bread v. 23. this was sins dâ—adly price With blinded reason and depraved will Heavn's loss Hells gains who caÌ„ coÌ„ceive the ill And shall a Lyar heav'nly joys regain No He in Hell for ever must remain Heav'ns King is Truth there nought but Truth shall enter Lyars desceÌ„d into the lowest Center Io. 14. v. 6. Io. 8. v. 44. To Lying Devill Father of all Lyes Brought forth by envy wch the Truth defyes These are the Parents of a Lying Man A baser off-spring bring me if you can A Lyar of all creatures is the worst By God and Man deservedly accurst Prov. 6. v. 17. Ibid. 12. v. 22. Since Angel-like by thought men can't declare Their minds by Tongue as instrumeÌ„t they are To tell their thoughts that meÌ„ might know their mind And freely deal with them in ev'ry kind This ordinance of God is by a Ly Orêthrown and all human society Destroy'd for since a Lyar no one can Believe who dares converse with such a Man All Trade is stop't discourse MaÌ„'s great delight Is silenced by this accursed wight Who name of Man doth not deserve but rather Of Devill in man's shape for he 's his Father Io. 8. v. 44. Dumb Beasts will not allow his company They make true signs his ToÌ„gue does aways ly Where shall we then find place for him I 'le tell In lonely Desart till he goes to Hell Or that he may repent and poor soul save Cut out his Tongue let him go to his grave Speechless since of it he made such bad use That Hell is due to him for the abuse Without eye hand or tongue Math 2â— v. 8.5 it 's better go To God than with them to our mortall foe It is no wonder that God hates a Ly Since that it strikes at his blest Deity Truth is God's Essence this a Ly denies All Verity and God it still defies Beware for Ananias and his wife For telling Ly were both depriv'd of life Act. 5. v. 5.10 For laÌ„d they sold they brought short of the price And gave Saint Peter this was Hell's advice He askt They boldly told him this is all At his rebuke for lies they dead did fall Who taught you to the holy Ghost to ly v. 3. To God and man you do the truth deny Great reason also Men have to despise A lyar Prov. 24. v. 9. who by his detracting Lyes Defames their Credit and doth cause such strife That Love destroys and many times Man's life By quarrels he doth raise Yea Lyes alone Kingdoms and Families have overthrown Who is there living that hath yet forgot The horrid Oatish Presbyterian plot Where Oates and Bedloe with hell's cursed crew Vented their Lyes and still invented new How many men did they send to the grave When Royall family 't was hard to save Then Lying devills did break Pale of Hell And ever since with men on Earth do dwell Who seem to have possest the greatest part Of this poor Nation lodging in man's heart To dispossess them and to Hell confine By loving Truth let ev'ry true Heart joyn Zach 8. v. 16. A Lyar then Eccli 28. v. 15. is enemy accurst To God and Man and to himself the worst For Lying mouth Wisd 1. v. 11. saith Salomon doth kill The souls of them who bear this wicked will O monstrous Man Io. 8. v. 44. that is for nothing good Not Man but devil if right understood That hissing serpent which Man first deceiv'd Teacheth to whisper words of Truth bereav'd Eccls 10. v 11. Rom. 1. v 30. Prov. 5. v. 13. Iam. 3. v. 6. I 'le tell you this but look you do not tell The Man concern'd O curst Firebrand of Hell Who with thy toÌ„gue dost put the world in flaÌ„es Curst serpent devil fits thee of all Names Besides detraction Lying doth produce Many more sins This Proverb is in use Give me a Lyar I 'le give thee a Thief By Lying he doth think to gain belief Theft to conceal but if he 'l not amend Hell by the Gallows soon will be his end A man that is to cursed Lying bent While here in part receives his punishment This is his Plague when he speaks Truth as just No one believes him or his word will trust See here how useless Lyar is on Earth He had been happy stifled in birth You Parents to whom God doth children give Teach them by Truth in love of God to live Let not the
Yet you here no compassion have â—â— Pet. 5. â— 8 Where Dev'l hath got man in his pow'r And soul is ready to devour Again if JESUS thou dost love Reflect for sinners he did dy And see thou his Disciple prove Who prayed for his Enemy If thou dost hate the tempting Dâ—vill 2. Tim. 2. v. 25.26 Pray for thy Brother drawn to evill Lest God should for thy cruelty Let thee fall into sinfull state And in thy wickedness to dy And then Repent but when too late O that I had my Brother lov'd Then God had not his Grace remov'd Besides remember that thy Foe Isay 38. v. 7. Is also thy own flesh and bloud If he chance evill way to go Indeavour thou to make him good Let 's all in love united be Against our common Enemy Thus for God's love and JESUS sake As also bound by Nature's Law Compassion on thy Brother take All rancour from thy heart withdraw Exod. 32. v 32. Rom. 9. v. â— God's Image love bewail his loss Since Christ redeem'd him by the Cross Revenge and Envy came from Devill Who envy'd God and our blest state Beware this Coloss 3. v. 8. Eccl. 28. v 1 as the greatest evill Which ' gainst Man shutteth Heav'ns gate There all do burn like Seraphin No Envy-fire can enter in God came from Heaven Luk 12. v. 49. to cast fire Upon the Earth that is Man's Heart And that it burn is his desire That he may never from him part Deut. 4 v. 24. Heb 12. v. 29. God is this fire of Charity By love Man joyns him perfectly Love then your God who did you make That you may live Eternally And love your Brother for his sake Not only Friend Math. 5. v. 44. but Enemy So you 'l do that for which he came Joyn Heav'n and Earth in love's great flame OF PRIDE God resists the proud to the humble he gives grace 1. Petr. 5. v. 5. PRoud Lucifer like Morning star All other Angels did excell Till he by Pride with God made war Luk 10. v. 18. Isai 14. v. 14. And thus from Heav'nly Glory fell Within the Sun I 'le place my seat As God himself I will be great He look't on his capacity Which by Creation he receiv'd And this forgetting would not be To God beholding but deceiv'd By Pride Isai 14. v. 13. to Glory did intend By his own power to ascend He others tempts with this proud thought Rveal 12. v. 7. But Michaël did him resist At last to his consent he brought One whole third part which glory mis't The third part of the stars I saw v. 4. The Dragon down with 's Tayl to draw When this Temptation once had past And try'd the nine Angelick Quires God did confirm the good but cast v. 9. The proud into Eternal fires Who 's like to God says Michaël Proud Lucifer be gone to Hell He after finds in Paradise Poor Man created for his place And gives to him the same advice God's Image in him to deface Eat but the fruit of this fair Tree Gen. 3. v. 5. And like to God thou strait shalt be Proud Eve desirous to be great The fruit Gen. 3. v. 6. bêing pleasant to the eye Took and persuades Adam to eat And both lost Paradise therby As dust thou art v. 19. to dust return And in Hell fire hereafter burn Behold here our first Parents fall And had not God made Man once dy'd Rom. 5. v. 12.18 The Devi'l by this had gain'd us all The curst effect of hatefull Pride And thô we are redeem'd in part Still of that sin we find the smart For we are still to Pride so prone That our best actions scarce are free So had we that to tempt alone In danger great our souls would be Eccli 10. v. 14. Dan. 3. v. 5. How many have rebell'd by Pride And would on Earth be deify'd Nabuchodonosor we read On Earth as God would be ador'd His lot was fire who êre did dread The true God v. 6. and this act abhorr'd God for his Pride made him a Beast Dan 4. v. 30. With brutes to live and make his feast And what are all the proud of heart But senseless Brutes and void of reason To arrogate what is God's part Unto themselves which is high Treason 1. Cor. 4. v. 7. What hath Man but what God did give Humble and gratefull let him live For when he once doth glory in What he receiv'd as thô his own It is a sacrilegious sin Which seeks the Giver to dethrone He would have men adore him here For his great parts which do appear And if his will they 'l not obey His Heart with fiery Fury burns He seeks their life to take away Or prejudice in life-concerns O child of Lucifer beware This Pride in thee God will not spare God doth resist 1. Pet. 5. v. 5 c. and hate the Proud And doth withdraw his helping grace Without which 't is by all allow'd No one shall see his blessed face Without Grace no one can do good Ioh. 15. v. 5. Which was the purchase of Christ's bloud Pride Eccl. 10. v. â— v. 15. which both God and Man do hate Is root of sin and all that 's evill v. 14. v. Iob 41. v. 25. Eccli 10. v. 15. Ibid. It makes Man to Apostatate Withdraws his Heart to joyn the devill From curses he shall nêre be free And in the end subverted be All virtues Pride doth overthrow Gen. 3. v 5 6 All vice came from this Cursed Tree It seeks its Glory here below With Lucifer its place shall be Who doth himself on Earth exalt Shalâ— humbled be for this default Isay 2. v. 12. Math. 23. v. 12 Math. 5. v. 3. And who is Humble in this life With humble Christ shall reign above While here he lives is void of strife And gains of ev'ry Man true love Blest Virtue of Humility Which doth from Hell and Devill free THE SECOND PART God gives grace to the Humble PRoud Lucifer had gain'd such footing In soul of Man by Adam's Sin Gen. 3. v. 7. And Pride in Nature had such rooting Whose Slave poor Man long time had been Humility without God's grace Had never more regained place And no small grace was here requir'd Man's Nature now to innovate Since to be great most men desir'd And did abhorr the humble state Example no less than divine Could make Men to the same incline God therfore who did reign above In power and great Majesty Would Man become for poor Man's love And teach him true Humility Luk. 2. v. 7. Humility made him poor born The same his Life did here adorn Scorn and Contempt he still endur'd With humble death Phil. 2. v. 8. upon the Cross That we might all be well assur'd This way we must redeem our loss I gave example Math 11. v.
take that course But since no want of Men we have Our great God when he Man became Of single Life example gave Mat. 19. v. 12. Exhorting us unto the same Yet since a single Life to live Is hard 1. Cor. 7. v. 25. now Nature's prone to ill Command of this he would not give But left all men to their free will He did commend those who for Heaven Mat. 19. v. 12. Themselves on Earth did Eunuchs make To whom a speciall glory 's given He that can take it let him take Saint Paul saith of Virginity I have no Precept yet do give This counsell If you will be free From many cares chast like me 1. Cor. 7. v 32. live Wedlock is good but Single Life Is better v. 38. Wedlock trouble brings v. 34. The Virgin 's void of Worldly strife Wedded unto the King of Kings This Virtue is Angelicall The Angels live in purity But Men Since their First Parents Fall Gen. 6.2 v. 12. Inclined are to Luxury Virginity like God doth make Who all impurity doth Fly By Luxury men do partake With Brutes in Bestiality This Virtue is to Flesh and bloud So hard that till the Law of grace It was by few right understood Virginity few did embrace Yet Some there were the Same approv'd Elias single Life embrac't For which he was by God remov'd From Men in fiery Chariot plac't Among the Gentils 't is recorded The Sibyls Kept Virginity 4. King 2. v. 11. For which they were by God rewarded With the rare Gift of Prophesy Foretelling Christ's Nativity Who was all Mankind to redeem Since God rewards Virginity What Man will not the same esteem When God descended from above Took Flesh and so became our Brother To shew how much he this did love Luk. 2◠v. 27. Io. 19. v. 27. He chose a Virgin for his Mother And when upon the Cross he dy'd His Mother to a Virgin gave Saint John who while she did abide Took care of her unto the grave And now to Heav'n he is ascended This his beloved Virgin says Revel 14. v. 4. By Troops of Virgins he 's attended Who follow him the Lamb always By all this you may plainly see That those who pure and chast live here Above the rest beloved be And with him always do appear If you hereafter would be great While here on Earth a Virgin live That you with Virgins may have seat To Whom Christ doth a Garland give But if it chance you wedded be Gen. 6. v. 3. Abstain from all unlawfull Lust For lustfull Men shall never see The Face of God as 't is but just For he doth Heav'n and God contemn For Flesh-delights and Carnall Love And God to Hell will him condemn Gal. 5. v. 19.21 Nêre to possess true joys above As he lov'd Flesh-Concupiscence In fire of Lust took his delight In fire he shall make recompence With Dev'ls condemn'd which is his right This Vice of Lust doth so deface The soul consenting to the same That it falls wholly in disgrace With God who for it Man became My Spir't Gen. 6. v. 3. said God shall not abide In Man because he 's Flesh that is The Flesh his soul doth wholly guide Still leading it to what 's amiss Young Men and all who single are And you who are in wedded state Rom. 13. v. 13. The Vice of Luxury beware This sin of all sins truly hate Eph 4. v. 18. For this doth so much Reason blind The sense doth seem to govern all That by their lives v. 19. if you 'l but mind Not Men but Beasts you may them call Men who are in just Wedlock ty'd 1. Thess 4. v. 5. May not enjoy all sort of pleasure They always carefull must abide Lest they lose grace the soul's great Treasure They are not to all actions free Nor to all words or lustfull thought Many of these may sinfull be As by our Reason we are taught To keep true Purity of mind Men still must be upon their guard Rebellious motions when they find They must suppress thô it he hard The best way is th' occasion fly Eccli 5. v. 27. Avoid the Obiects which do move The Touch the Tongue the Ear the Eye And what the sense is prone to love The Eye 's the casement of the soul The Ear 's the door that lets all in The Touch with Lust inflames the whole The Tongue doth strongly tempt to sin If sense and Member you 'l not check But yield to their unjust desire The Devill hath you at his beck With Lust to set your Heart on fire David we read did Sin contract By cast of eye on Bersabee 2. King 11. v. 2.4 This to prevent Job made compact With 's eyes Iob. 31. v. 1. Eccli 13. v. 1. lest they should Virgin see If you touch pitch it will defile So when you touch a femall kind Sense doth the Soul of grace beguile Corrupting thus the chastest mind Words have great force and tempting are Since they the state of mind express Mat. 12. v 34. Of Toungue in all your ways take care Lest it plunge Soul in wickedness And Since by Ear the word doth move The Heart and taketh lodging there Which blows the Fire of Carnall Love ' Gainst words unchast still stop your Ear. Eccli 28. v. 28. These counsells take and always pray To God for Purity of mind Wisd 8. v. 21. That Flesh the Spirit may obey That he may lodging in you find Who doth delight in the chast Soul His Spirit there doth take its rest 1 Cor. 6. v. 19. From sinfull wounds to keep it whole How much is chast and clean Heart blest Dear Authour of all Purity Sweet JESUS born of Mother-maid Grant that with all sincerity I may acknowledge what is said And also use my best endeavour To keep my Soul and Body pure That I may live with thee for ever Mat. 5 v. 8 Reu. 14 v. 4. In joys which always shall endure Amen DO PENNANCE Or you shall all perish Luc 13. v. 5. THrice happy state that Man was in Before he had committed Sin Lord-like on Earth he did all sway Gen. 1. v. 28. All Creatures were him to obey Delightfull fruits the Earth did yield v. 11. With pleasant Flow'rs in ev'ry field There was no need of spade or plow No labour care or sweat of brow The Air was always temperate No piercing cold or parching heat No change of weather Man did fear 'T was pleasant Spring-time all the year Gen. 2. v. 8. There was no Sickness or Disease Nothing could hurt but all did please If strength decay'd or youth did fade By th' Tree of Life all new was made v. 9. So Man Wisd 2. v. 23. thô Mortall nere had dy'd But here in pleasure was t' abide Till God to joys had him translated In Heav'n for which he was
secure Except they Pennance did endure Believe our Saviour's words are true Do Pennance or else Death 's your due Let every Man then be content To live and dy a Penitent To grieve the loss by Adam's Sin To grieve his own thus Heaven win Theophy lact It s said that after Adam's fall That he with grief to mind might call In Paradise his happy state God plac't him just before the Gate That so he might his fault repent And never more to Sin consent Like reason have the Just while here To grieve lament and Sin to fear How needfull Pennance is you see To evêry man in his degree It satisfies for Sinners Sin If Just it doth preserve therein Let no one then true Pennance fly But in it live and in it dy That suff'ring with Christ crucify'd 2. Cor. 1. v. 7. With him he may be glorify'd Amen OF PRAYER Prayer is good with Fasting and Alms deeds Tob. 12.8 GOd made Man's Soul in some degree An Image of his glorious feature Gen. 1. v. 26. Wisd 2. v. 23. As he 's a Spirit one and three So did he make this noble creature One Spirit which hath Will commanding With Memory and Understanding This Image is to imitate Its Maker and thus perfect be Thus glory to participate When from the Body it is free As God my Father's perfect Mat. 5. v. 48. see You perfect be and follow me The soul is plac't in Body here To govern it by Reasons light To live in God's true Love and Fear To keep his Laws and live upright If you will live Eternally Mat. 19. v. 17. Keep my commands and evill fly I 'l be your God and you shall be My People and my servants true T' obey to love and worship Me In all subjection as is due But mark the fatal consequence Of Adam's disobedience Before Man did God's law transgress The Flesh was subject to the spirit But after sin it was no less Gal. 5. v. 17. Rom. 7. v. 23. Rebellious as the soul did merit The soul that would be like to God By vile Flesh under foot was trod Which did so rule and domineer That sense had Reason wholly blinded Thus soul had cast away God's Fear Rom. 8. v 7.8 And Flesh to please was wholly minded Rom. 6. v. 6. Till our Redeemer purchas 't Grace Which soul reseated in her place And gave her power to controul Her nature's Passions prone to evill From wound of Sin to keep it whole To love her God and hate the devill But yet this labour did require Gal. 5. v. 17. Her Flesh still thwarting her desire Eph. 2. v. 23. Eph. 6. v. 12. ' Gainst her likewise the World and Devill Both with the Flesh confederated To plunge her in all sort of evill And joys for which she was created To make her forfeit and to ly In fire with Dev'ls Eternally These three are cause of all offence 1. Io. 2. v. 16. And bring unto the soul all strife The Flesh and Eyes-Concupiscence Conjoyned with the Pride of Life ' Gainst these the soul three Weapons hath Fasting Almsdeeds and Pray'r in faith By Fasting we the Flesh subdue Luk. 11. v. 4. By Alms we lessen Worldly love By Pray'r for Pardon we do sue To our good God who reigns above Pray'r Luk. 22. v. 46. buckler-like the soul defends From fiery darts the Devill sends The Dev'l who is a spirit'all foe And our first Parents did deceive How to resist Man would not know Io. 15. v. 5. If with his Grace God should him leave Obscuring Reason he doth fight We him discovêr by grace's light Grace is God's gift unto the soul Eph. 3. v. 7. You 're prone to Virtue while in grace It helps you Passions to controul Preserves from sin makes Dev'l give place Rom. 6. v. 23. Mark 11. v. 24. By Grace God's friend you do remain By Pray'r devout this Grace you gain Luk. 11. v. 13. True Pray'r to God is thus defin'd Not only a set form of Words But Elevation of the mind Where with the Word the Thought accords Mat. 6. v. â— By Pray'r the soul with God doth treat Addressing to his Mercies seat Prayer devout's a Work divine Teaching the Soul thô it 's plac't here Mat. 7. v. 11. How she may her Creatour joyn In whom she lives secure from Pear As Child in want to Mother cries So Soul to her dear Father flies Two sorts of Pray'r to God we use The one with mouth th' other in mind The Orall you do much abuse When other thoughts in heart you find Let Tongue and Heart in Pray'r agree That your Request may granted be Besides to gain your Pray'rs Request Be sure it tends to your Souls good With sorrow faith and Virtues drest Conjoyn'd with th'merits of Christ's Bloud Io. 16.13 Such Pray'r as this God nêre denies It 's still a gratefull Sacrifice First you must Sin detest and grieve In heart resolving to amend The Penitent he doth relieve When to reform he doth intend Prov. 28. v. 9. Ps 108. v. 7. But who 'l abide in sinfull state His Pray'r saith Wiseman God doth hate But virtuous soul nothing requires That 's to God's honour and her good Mat. 21. v. 22. But God â—ill grants what she desires Yet this is to be understood Luk. 11. v. 8.9 10 If she in faith to God doth bend With true Persev'rance to the end When you make Pray'r for tempôrall things Mark 10. v. 38. Not knowing what is for you best Resign your self to th' King of Kings Who will if good grant your Request Thus still conclude O Father dear Mat. 6. v. 10. Thy Will be done while we are here The humble Pray'r with confidence In God who ready is to give Doth gain release of sins offence And Grace for soul Eccli 35. v 19 1. Pet. 5. v. 5. while here you live Such pray'rs the Heav'ns do penetrate The Proud Man's prayer God still doth hate Prov 28. v. 9. Luk. 11. v. 8.9 Again let Pray'r persev'rant be God often doth your Patience try Not granting strait that he may see If you with Hope on him rely Math. 10. v. 22. Who doth persever to the end To hear and save him I intend Let Pray'r devout and fervent be From heart inflam'd with God's true Love Mat. 5. v. 25. And reconcil'd to Enemy Such Pray'r God always doth approve My Meditation set on fire My heart saith David Ps 38. v. 4. with desire Such Pray'r doth always Grace obtain Preserving likewise from all evill By this victorious you remain Against your Enemy the Devill Io. 14. v. 13. What êre you ask God in my Name Be sure saith Christ I 'l do the same Tob. 12. v. 12.14 Old Tobies Pray'r did mercy find God sent the Angell Raphaël To heal him who before was blind And Dev'l from
thô God's dear Son Luk. 24. v. 26. Could not in glory be But by pains undergon And dying on the Tree His Saints sought their Salvation The self-same way Ps 33. v. 20. as best And by much Tribulation They ent'red into rest And he who 'l glorious be Rom. 8. v. 17. With Christ must suffer here From Hell pains if be free He must not Pennance fear Math. 7. v. 13.14 Narrow is Heav'ns way Broad is the way to Hell Few love in that to stay In this do many dwell Lib. Since all you say is true As Scriptures testify 1. Pet. 2. v. 11. Pleasures I bid Adieu In Pennance I will dy Rom 8. v. 13. Ps 118. v. 59 Rom. 8. v. 13. No longer Liberty Let that curst name be gone I will your Convert be Blest Mortification A DIALOGUE BETWIXT HOPE AND DESPAIR OR HOPE CONVERTING A DESPAIRING MAN Althô he should kill me I will trust in him Job 13. v. 13. Hope WHat fruitless sighs and sobs are these Which Eccho in my ear Distrustfull thoughts do never please Hope must be joyn'd with Fear That tears to Soul may fruitfull be And sorrow comfort bring These joyn'd with love of God do free The Conscience of guilt's sting Desp 'T is I poor Soul who sigh weep To think what joys are past Wisd 17. v. 10. What frights do now possess my sleep In Hell strait to be cast The good I 've lost the ill I 've gaind Do sore perplex my mind How I my Soul with Sin have stain'd That I no joy can find When once I liv'd in Conscience clear And service of my God 1. Io. 4. v. 18. Love had secur'd my heart from fear Of his chastizing Rod. All creatures me afforded joy God's praises I did sing My Flesh my Spirit did obey My Soul my heavenly King Curst Satan 1. Pet. 5. v. 8. envy'ng my good hap With his sought my downfall My careless Soul he did intrap And brought it in Sin 's thrall Now all things that I see Wisd 17. v 9. or hear Add sorrow to my grief My Sins in Conscience still appear And I despair relief Rom. 7. v. 23. Gal. 5. v. 17. For now my senses all rebell And war against my Soul God's grace my help I base did sell For Sin How to controul Or them restrain I do not know They Reason do so blind They't pleasure bring her to their bow And thus corrupt the mind Hope Poor Soul consid'ring your sad state Ps 41. v. 4. You reason have to weep To sigh and to lament your fate With grief of heart most deep For on the Earth no state 's so bad Ps 5. v. 7. Ps 10. v. 7. As that of sinfull heart Which once God's grace and favour had And from it did depart Ps 44. v. 3. Eccl. 12. v. 7. Eph. 2. v. 8. Tit. 3. v 7. Rom 6. v. 23. Ps 93. v. 19. Mat. 8. v. 12. Eccli 39. v 35.36 Grace keeps Man's Soul in God's true Love By Sin God him doth hate By Grace he 's heir to joys above By Sin in damned state While he 's in grace God doth him greet With heav'nly consolation In Sin with Hell's food he doth meet Sad grief and desolation What grief hath Father child to leave Who loves him tenderly Who can the Mother's grief conceive Who sees her children dy For loving friends to part for ever Is grief beyond expression Exil'd from all to come back never How sad in this condition For loving Man and Wife to part Is little less than Death Of all griefs Eccli 41. v. 1. this destroys the heart Our life's expiring breath All these are griefs in high degree Yet joyn them all in one Equall they can't the misery That 's found in sin alone For God who bears all Titles dear Of pleasure and of Love From soul is separated here By sin Isai 59. v. 2. Mat. 25. v. 29. Ezech. 16. v. 27. Mat. 12. v. 45. and doth remove All 's Blessings from her and doth give Possession to the Devill Where Tyrannizing he doth live Enslaving her in evill The forenam'd sorrows have release By time and do expire Wisd 17. v. 10. The Conscience-grief doth still increase Till it brings to Hell-fire Where it's nêre dying worm doth feed On th' soul Isai 66. v. 24. Wisd 5. v. 3. to think what 's lost Which vain remorse doth in it breed To think how dear sin cost Desp What you have said I own for Truth Bêing sensible in soul Of much Had I took care in youth I had preserv'd it whole Man's frailty once I would not own But scorn'd those were in sin And thus by Pride Ps 1â—7 v. 67. was overthrown Same state I now live in Hop Thô God in you hath punish't Pride Ps 118. v. 71. And left you without grace That falling humble you abide With shame 's blush in your face Ps 31. v. 10. Yet by no means you must despair But on his Mercies call Which in your God transcending are Man's Refuge after fall How many sinners found relief In Heaven now are Saints When they for sin mixt tears with grief God heard their dolefull plaints And he hath promis't Isai 1. v. 8. Ezech. 33. v. 14 16. he 'l receive Sinners at their return If they their sinfull course will leave In Hell they shall not burn Des Cain he was sorry yet was curst Gen. 4. v. 1â— Mat. 27. v. 5. And Judas hang'd himself Of greatest sinners I 'm the worst Poor weak a graceless Elf Mine's greater then the sin of Cain Christ had not shed his bloud Wisd 16. v. 29. I more ungratefull here remain Than Cain pay'ng ill for good I Mat. 26. v. 15. Judas-like who 's Lord did sell And still his grace abus'd When Christ by grace in me would dwell I basely him refus'd Io. 8. v. 44. Adjoyn'd his Enemy in fight ' Gainst him and thus ungratefull His pretious Blood and death did slight A sin of all most hatefull Hop Enough Despair no more of this Men plung'd as deep in sin And as ungratefull did not miss But oft have pardon'd been If Cain and Judas did lament And yet grace did not find They did not truly sin repent And were not right in mind Cain seemed sad yet we do'nt read Because he had don ill Or did repent that wicked deed Gen. 4. v. 14. But fear'd men would him kill Judas repented what was don Yet wanted Mercy 's hope And Faith in Christ Mat. 27. v. 3. God's only son So hanged in a rope 2. King 11. v. 4. v. 15.24 1. King 16. v. 1.12 Io 21. v. 17. Mat. 26. v. 74. Io. 19. v. 34. David Adult'ry did commit And murder after he Was chose by God in Throne to sit Prophet and King to be Peter of all made chief when try'd His Master did forswear With spear Longinus pierc't Christ's
Idols is their grief Which now can yield them no relief These thoughts will draw your love frō wealth From carnall pleasures still refrain If you will keep your Soul in health Think what at Death by them you 'l gain Rev. 18. v. 7. How much you liv'd in pleasures here So much of torments you may fear Since then the pleasures of the Flesh Wealth Honour Glory are but vain Phil. 3. v. 8. Eccli 2. v. 10.11 Isai 40. v. 6. And at Death can't Your soul refresh As base and vile do you disdain Esteem them all mere Vanity Which pass away immediatly Iames. 1. v. 10. Coloss 3. v. 1.2 And fix your love upon those pleasures Which are prepar'd for you above Those Honours Glory Joys and Treasures Which will both true and lasting prove Love nothing but in God Ps 41. v. 3. Luk. 2. v. 29. and he From fear of Death will set you free While you live here be enemy To Flesh and Bloud Gal. 5. v. 24. Fast Watch and Pray Relieve the Poor in Charity Be Humble Patient and Obey Still Virtue practise and Sin fly Thus you will stand prepar'd to dy Besides that Death doth put an end To all those Worldly Vanities It doth the soul from Body send To lasting Joys Mat. 25. v. 13. or Miseries And there 's not any certainty When this great Day or Hour shall be God doth the Hour of Death conceal That we may always ready stand 1. Thess 5. v. 2. Mat. 24. v. 44. Thief-like it doth upon us steal Believe it then to be at hand In Conscience clear with Virtues drest That when you dy your Soul may rest What Madness t is but for an Hour To ly in sin and hazard all 1. Io. 3. v. 8. To keep within the Devil's power And not to God for Mercy call If in that Hour you chance to dy Your soul is damn'd Eternally Fear Death before it comes and be Mat. 24. v. 44. Upon your guard against that Hour Love God and be assured he Will you defend from Satans power Eccl. 8. v. 12. c. 12. v. 24. Prov. 28. v. 14. Thrice happy man that liveth here Replenish't with God's Love and Fear Then come Death early come it late Foreseen or sudden when you dy Prov. 14. v. 26. Eccli 33. v. 26. 1. Io. 4. v. 16. Iob. 14. v. 14. Fear hath secur'd you from Hell's gate Love joyn'd you to the Deity Let Death be always in your mind That you these blest effects may find Amen OF JUDGMENT After Death followeth Judgment Hebr. 9. v. 27. AS we are servants placed here Our Masters pleasure to fulfill 2. Cor. 5. v. 10. So we before him must appear To prove if we have done his Will Where ev'ry one reward shall have As here he did himself behave Death's only Messenger to cite All Souls before God's dreadfull Throne Where he will pass a Judgment right And Justice do to ev'ry one Twice God will Judge at Death the Soul When Bodies rise he 'l Judge the whole Dan. 7. v. 10. Rev. 20. v. 12. As soon as Soul from Body parts All 's op'ned to the Conscience view Who knows the secrets of Mens Hearts Will pass a Sentence just and true The Soul that moment knows its doom Go thou Accurs't or Blessed come Yet God will have one Genêrall day When soul and Body shall appear The Bodies 1. Thess 4. v 16. v. 17. which before dead lay Shall rise with horrid dread and Fear All must appear at Trumpet 's sound To that Assize all men are bound Rom 2. v. 5 6. Mat. 7. v. 15. God will have all men publick try'd Who good and bad were shall appear God's Judgments will be justify'd Thô some Men were disguised here Wolves sheep-skins then must lay aside No one Hebr. 4. v. 13. that day his fault can hide As Bodies did with souls partake And share with them in sinfull acts They also here account must make And judged be of all their facts If good with soul they 'l happy be If bad condemn'd to misery Again this Judgment-day must be That Christ who here was vilify'd Mat. 24. v. 30. May then appear in Majesty By who all Causes must be try'd 2. Tim. 4. v. 1. Hen then shall Judge the Quick and Dead Who Thief-like to the Judge was lead Before this Dreadfull day there shall Luk. 21. v. 25. Math. 24. v. 7. Strange signs in Sun and Moon be seen Great Earth-quakes also shall befall Great Wars and Tumults rise between Father and Son Brother and Brother v. 7. All Nations fighting one another Besides the Anti-Christian cheat Mat. 24. v. 24. With sword and Wonders shall compell Most Men from Christ's Faith to retreat And draw them with himself to Hell 2. Thess 2. v. 8. He shall be kill'd by JESUS Spirit And cast in fire as he shall merit Ose 3. v. 5. Isai 10. v. 21. Math. 24. v. 29. Then the hardhearted faithless Jew Shall be converted to Christ's Faith Soon after these things will ensue The Judgment-Day as Scripture Saith Before which there will yet appear More dreadfull Signs recounted here The sun shall be obscur'd v. 29. Act. 2. v. 20. Mat. 24. v 29 Luk 21. v. 26. Rev. 6. v. 14. the Moon Shall lose her light like Bloud appear As dark as Midnight shall be Noon Which shall fill Men with Dread and Fear The Stars shall fall the Heavens mov'd By Earth-quakes Mountains be remov'd From Heav'n most dreadfull fire shall fall Luk. 21. v. 25 Rev. 6. v. 16. The sea most horrid noise shall make Sinners shall on the Mountains call To hide them and with Terrour quake With Fear they 'l dry Luk 21. v. 26. and wither away How Dreadfull then will be that Day The Ensign of the Son of Man The Cross Mat. 24. v. 30. shall in the Sky appear They 'l tremble who here from it ran Who lov'd it Dan. 7. v. 9 Mat. 25. v. 31. shall with joy draw near Then shall be plac't the Judgment Seat And Christ appear in glory great Dan. 7. v. 10. v. 10. Ps 96. v. 3. Mat. 24. v. 31. Mat. 25. v. 6. Milliôns of Angels shall attend Him Fire shall run before his face He then his Angels forth will send To summon all unto that place At Midnight they 'l the Trumpet sound Which will throughout the World resound Arise you Dead 1. Thess 4. v. 16.17 come out of Grave You also who alive remain Appear that you may sentence have Of Joys or Everlasting Pain The Dead shall rise Rev. 20. v. 12. Math 24. v. 12. and all shall stand Astonish't at this great Command Souls shall their Bodies repossess 11. The Just with joy shall enter in But those who liv'd in wickedness With grief Rev. 2◠v. 13. reflecting on their sin As Bodies good or wicked are They shall
afflicteth thus Have mercy Friends pray for us You Children v. 22. who feed on our Flesh Whom we brought up by sweat of brow You Poor also our souls refresh We pitty'd you Pray for us now v. 22. Why do you persecute like God He whips you 'l not withold the Rod. Have mercy on us for God's sake Whose Friends we are thô now in pain And for your own sakes pitty take By Pray'r our freedom seek to gain And when before God we appear We 'l pray for you who help't us here Dear Friends great love you did profess As living now be to us kind And help us in our great distress Lest out of sight prove out of mind Prov. 17. v. 17. Remember that a Friend in need Doth prove himself a Friend in deed O Children dear have you forgot That you are our own Flesh and Bloud That we did still contrive and plot How to advance your Wealth and good And now when we are in distress Will you prove to us comfortless We suffer for your sakes in part That we through your excessive love Eccls 2. v 19. Too much on gain did set our heart And will you now nngratefull prove Oh help us in our suff'rings here Or else God's Judgments justly fear All you who tast our Charity And Alms receive from us or Friend In justice you obliged be To pray for us for to that end You do receive Luk 16. v. 9. and we it gave That we your helping Pray'r might have Do not as too much is the use Our alms receive and only say Lord help him This is an abuse You for us oft are bound to pray Of this God strict account will take And you must satisfaction make All faithfull Christians pitty take Upon us in our misery And for us intercession make For thus you 're bound in Charity Luk◠16. v. 9. Then when you suffer in this kind You helping friends will also find Io. 9. v. 4. We can not now our selves relieve That state with us is come and past But you may to us comfort give By Prayer Alms and holy Fast God's Justice thus you will appease And through his Mercy give us ease Kindly receive admonishment From us before it is too late Your sins on Earth truly repent Do works which open Heaven's gate Make satisfaction and nêre fear That you shall be confined here And since sin's malice is so great As contradicting God's blest will Mat. 5. v. 27. Luk. 12. v. 59. That Venîall sins God thus doth treat His pleasure in the least fulfill Slight not and say the sin 's but small What brings you here don't little call Do not as some will vainly say Would I in Purgatory were You can't conceive what we do pay For small offence in Torments here Which justly may compared be To Hell 's except Eternity If you so choice and tender are That when you chance to burn your hand You roar and after do beware The Fire by this you understand What Pain 't would be if for a day The whole in fiery furnace lay What would you give your self to free Whole Kingdoms if 't were in your power The Pains would be in that degree That thô they were but for an hour To quit your self you 'd keep a Fast In bread and water to the last Why do you then so slight set by These Torments which without compare Exceed those which none can deny And yet in time will not beware But for a little Flesh-delight Will venture this come wrong come right And rather than to undergo A little Pennance while you 're here Will be to Soul so great a Foe To cast it in those Torments there Be wise Ps 118. v. 59. take warning here repent Lest in that Fire your soul relent While you are here Fast Watch Pray Give Alms at Crosses don't repine With tears of grief wash sin away With Fire of Love your soul refine Thus you 'l to God pass through this Fire Like gold 1. Cor. 3. v. 14. and will no Purge require Amen OF HEAVEN Come ye Blessed of my Father possess a Kingdom Math. 25.34 THe final End of Man's Creation Was his Creatour God to joyn To whom in soul he hath relation Which doth his Love to him incline He 's like to him in some degree One soul in Pow'rs a Trinity Gen. 1. v. 27. This soul God doth in Body place Corrupted Nature to correct To which he gives the light of grace In way of Virtue to direct Iud. 1. v. 4. 1. Cor. 15. v. 10. Some do this grace most vainly slight Some use it for a guiding light The first for want of light do fall Into the precipice of Hell The other God at Death doth call To Heav'n with him in joys to dwell Come bless't possess a Kingdom here Repleat with joy and void of Fear How great these lasting joys will be 1. Cor. 2 v. 9. No Tongue is able to express No Ear êre heard or Eye did see The like which they do there possess No Heart of Man can full conceive The glory which the Saints receive This Kingdom in the Revelations Rev. 21 v. 18. v. 19. Is term'd a City of pure gold Where pretious Stones are twelve foundations That do a glorious Wall uphold Which Wall is made of pretious Stone Twelve Gates v. 21. a Margarite each one The streets with purest gold are pav'd Which is inlayd with pretious stone Christ in the midst c. 22. v. 1. who Mankind sav'd Doth sit upon a glorious Throne From whence doth run a River clear Which doth refresh all living here v. 2. A Tree of Life doth by it grow Which brings forth most delicious fruit c. 21. v. 27. That place doth no uncleaness know No jars or strife do with it sute All there in Peace and Love do live To th' Meek Mat. 5. v. 4. God doth this Kingdom give It 's always day Rev. 21. v. 25. c 22. v. 5. v. 23. they fear no night It 's pleasant Spring-time all the year The Holy Lamb 's their shining light Who gloriously doth there appear Althô on Earth he was obscur'd By scorn and Death which he endur'd Ev'n so his Saints who here endur'd Shame Want Disgrace and bitter Pain Are there of like Rewards assur'd As were their suffr'ings so 's their Gain Rom. 8. v. 17 As they for Christ did suffer here So they will be rewarded there Th' Apostles who in Charity Their lives in labours spent and pain To bring men from Idolatry And Souls from Satans flock did gain Mat. 13. v. 43. In Heav'n shall like the Sun appear Who were such lights to Sinners here The Martyrs here in Bloudy dy Who cover'd were with Wounds and scars Shall there appear triumphantly Like glorious Champions come from Wars Rev. 7. v. 9. ◠With Palms in hands and Laurell boughs Wreathed like Crowns upon their
she went To keep the Sabbath-day But little rest sad Mary found Reflecting on her Lord. No meat no drink or sleep I judge She did her self afford Early next morn Mark 16. v. 1. with Marys two She took her ointments dear To give her Lord the last farewell The Guards she did not fear Nor who should roll away the stone v. 4. Which passed much their strength Love gave her wings Love gave her will Love brought her joy at length But lo Mary a second grief Lik 24. v. 3. The Body is not here The Tomb is open some have stol'n Away my Lord I fear Chear up Mary An Angel asks Woman Io. 20. v. 13. why dost thou weep I know not where they 've laid my Lord Which wounds my heart full deep v. 2. She runs and tells his Brethren this Peter and John ran fast And found what she had said was true And back again they past But Mary still stood weeping at The Tomb v. 11. would not depart Where her Lord's Body last was lay'd She had intomb'd her heart No longer could Christ's clemency Forbear but did appear v. 15. Say'ng Woman why do you thus weep And whom do you seek here She took him for a Gard'ner by His habit v. 15. and replies If thou him took'st I 'le fetch him back Tell me but where he lies Christ seeing Mary's loving tears No longer could conceal Himself but open'd Mary's eyes And did himself reveal MARY v. 16. says Christ She knew him then And Rabby she reply'd She saw he was no Gard'ner but Her Lord who for her dy'd And fell down at her usual place His Feet to kiss but see New grief Her Lord denies her this Say'ng v. 17. Woman touch not me v. 17. But go and tell my Brothers dear That I again do live Mat. 28. v. 7.10 In Galily they shall me see Where I will blessing give Mary obeys and in the way v. 9. Christ lets her kiss his feet Love made him first appear to her Her Love with Love did meet How oft to her Christ did appear The Scripture doth not tell 10. 11. v. 5. But we may judge it often was For he lov'd Mary well And when to Heav'n he did ascend Act. 1. v. 14. Mary was with the rest When Holy Ghost he promis't them And his Beloved Bless't Behold how Mary serv'd her Lord And never did depart From him in Joy or Misery So constant was her Heart Grant JESUS dear for Magd'len's sake That I adhere to Thee In Life and Death and that her Prayr's True Joy may bring to me Dear Mother Look in the old Hymn at Lauds beg this of your Lord As you did for your Brother That in this Life he 'l give me grace And glory in the other THE THIRD PART Containing the rest of her life after Christ's Ascension to her death YOu 'l say While Christ was here on Earth Mary was led in hand Now he is gone and out of sight Let 's see how she doth stand Io. 11. v. 44. Christ raising Laz'rus up from Death Confirm'd his doctrin so How to defame and blast the same The Jews no longer know Io. 12. v. 10. To kill him therfore they resolve But God permitting not How to destroy the family They next contrive and plot The brother sisters and some more They put into a boat Without Sails Oars or any guide Upon the Sea to float Intending to destroy them thus of humane help depriv'd But by God's Providence they all Safe at Marselles arriv'd Where Magdalen began to preach One God and Saviour dear Such Doctrine these poor Heathens blind Before did never hear From Idols many turned were By word and works she wrought Till at the last they would adore Her for the God she taught Which made her beg of God to take Her from the praise of men Convey'd she was by Angels hands Into a lonely Den. Where never Man or Woman she Beheld for thirty years Her meat was what the Mount did yield Her drink was wrought by tears For shedding tears for her past sins And Death of Master here Immediatly at her request Sprung up a Fountain clear To keep fresh in her memory Her dear Lord's death and loss She begs some Instrument of God An Angell brings a Cross She spent her life in tears of love And heav'nly Contemplation Her Heart curs't Satan nêre could move With any vain Temptation Christ her dear Lord could nêre forget This his dear Penitent But to her seaven times a day His gloriôus Angels sent Who by their virtue rais'd her up Into the air so high That with a ravish't Soul she heard The Heav'nly Harmony And in that space of thirty years As Mary lived there Her Lord an hundred and ten times Did gloriously appear What ravishments he gave her then Of Joy and what excess Excells Man's fancy to conceive Or Tongue well to express God willing now that Magdalen In soul this World should leave Reveal'd her who from Maximin Christ's Body did receive And being thus prepar'd for Death Her Soul left presently Her Mortall Body and with wings Of Love to God did fly Where now with him she doth remain In joy of Heav'nly Bliss Become a Patroness for those Who here have done amiss Behold the Soul of Magdalen At first defil'd with sin Refin'd by Love and purg'd by tears At last did Heaven win Let no poor Sinner then despair Of Mercy here and Grace If Mary's Life he 'l imitate And her rare Virtues trace This let him beg of God in faith Of JESUS Passion dear And merits of this glorious Saint Whose Pray'rs he 'l ever hear Blest Mary my poor love accept And be to me a Mother Pray in this Life God's Grace I have And Glory in the other Amen THE LIFE OF THE SERAPHICALL FATHER S. FRANCIS IN VERSE DIVIDED INTO THREE PARTS The First Part to the making of his Rule GOd made Man's nature innocent Adorned with Free-will Gen 4. v. 7. Eccli 15. v. 17. Gen. 2. v. 17. And gave him one Commandement His pleasure to fulfill To break it Death to keep it Life Was for Eternity And while on Earth void of all strife And human misery Luk. 10. v. 18. Rev. 12. v. 9.12 Curs't Satan who from glory fell Did hate Man's happy state Made for his place in joy to dwell Where once this proud Fiend sate Wisd 2. v. 24. Gen. 3. v. 4. And to deprive him of his Bliss He tempts the fruit to take Thou shalt not dy 't is not amiss Do but experience make Man yielding to his Wife's desire v. 6. Rom. 5. v. 12. Made that unhappy tast Incurr'd for him and his Hell-Fire Who here on Earth were plac't Environed with misery In Reason blinded so They fell into Idolatry Their God they did not know For this and many other sins Gen 6. v. 7. v. 8. God thought all
his words but deeds He mov'd to Imitation Which are indeed the best of seeds To spring up Reformation Transcending was his Poverty Which quits of worldly cares Admitting of no Property And this the Heart prepares To fix it self on Heav'nly gain All Earthly to despise Which at the last doth prove but vain Dress't up in false disguise He so much lov'd pure Chastity Of Body and of Mind That if he felt the contrary Allays he strait did find He disciplin'd his Flesh full sore In thorns he tumbled so Untill his very flesh they tore Or rolled in the snow Francis the Humble Men him call He did excell in this The place whence Lucifer did fall Is thought now to be his This Virtue he did recommend To his and 't was his pleasure To name them Minors to this end That they might seek this Treasure 1. King 15. v. 22. Obedience he well knew to be Better than Sacrifice Thô Father of them all was he Yet still he did devise Subject to be unto another And therfore on the way Obedience strict unto his brother He promis't and did pay And as he the Creatour still Humbly obey'd in all So did dumb Creatures do his will Still ready at his call Brothers and Sisters he them nam'd To all he was so sweet That Fish the Fire and Beast he tam'd Who did him kindly greet Our Works are crown'd with Patience Iam. 1. v. 4 Mat. 10. v. 22. That our reward doth merit For all the Pains we feel in sense Or anguish of the Spirit With Christ to suffer he desir'd In Pain Mat. 16. v. â—4 Mark 8. v. 34. or any loss To imitate what he requir'd In bearing of the Cross The Queen of Virtues 1. Co. 13. v. 13. Charity His heart had so inflam'd That it would almost melted be When God's Love was but nam'd Mat. 22. v. 39. His Neighbour's Love possest him so That for his dear Soul 's good The hardest things he 'ld undergo To ' th shedding of his bloud This caus'd him journy to begin To Egypt's King that he Might to Christ's Church those faithless win Or else a Martyr be In sweetness he did so excell The Sultan freely gave Him leave to preach where he thought well And no disturbance have Missing his aim which was to dy For th' Faith of JESUS dear And finding no great profit by His Preaching Christ's Faith here He doth return with weeping eyes Bewailing his great loss Resolves his Love to Sacrifice To Christ upon the Cross Devotîon great he had to all God's Saints in chief his Mother Whom he did his dear Lady call But yet above all other He priz'd the Passion of his Lord As Treasure house of Grace Which doth to souls good thoughts afford And ill away doth chase Io. 3. v. 16. Eph. 6. v. 2. This is a Glass wherein we see Our God's great Love to us Who rather than we damn'd should be Chose to be treated thus And also how he Sin did hate That he would rather dy Than see men live in sinfull state Void of Felicity This teacheth us to love God here As also to hate Sin And as we love him still to fear Lest we should fall therein And if by Sin we 've lost God's Love Here 't is restor'd again Rom. 5. v. 9.10.11 Off'ring our tears to him above Joyn'd with Christ's bitter pain This Passion Francis preach't to all And thus their Ezech. â—â— v. 4. Rev. 7. v. 3. Foreheads cross't Imprinting how for Adam's fall Our Saviour's Life was lost That they to him be gratefull still Prov. 23.26 And to him give their heart Abhorring Sin to do his will And never from him part All Virtues that Christ taught Mankind Appear'd in Francis clear To print them deep in others mind His labour was while here But now grown weak that Death draws nigh He knows by Revelation And does employ his thoughts solely In Heav'nly Contemplation Let all learn here how to prepare For Death while they do live To love God still Deut. 6 v. 5. Rev. 14 v. 7. and sin beware And thus due honour give To teach us this Christ gave example Which he doth now renew In Francis who in manner ample Hath laid it to our view THE THIRD PART Containing the remainder of his life from the receiving of the holy Stygmes to his Death PRetend I shall not to recount The Miracles he wrought Which were so many they surmount In number frail man's thought The actions of his whole life were But one continu'd wonder To whom all things while be was here Obedience prompt did render Before his Death I 'l only tell How JESUS did him grace With Priviledge that did excell And worthily takes place Of all yet given unto any Which clearly doth declare His merits were both great and many Which thus rewarded were He being on the Mount Alvern In contemplation high Of JESUS'S Passion did so burn In Love that he must dy For his dear Lord or undergo Like pain our sins him gave Christ heard his Pray'r and yielded so His Wounds that he should have Behold a glorîous Seraphin Descending from above As thô he crucify'd had been Which did inflame his love Isai 6. v. 2. Six-wing'd he was two vail'd his head His feet two two did fly And while Saint Francis marveled The Seraphin draws nigh And on the Cross there did appear His dear Lord Crucify'd Fast nail'd upon 't as once when here He for all Mankind dyâ—d This griev'd him and did so inflame His heart with Love's great fire That to be nail'd unto the same Was now his whole desire Lo from hands feet and side did stream Five clear but bloudy rays Which pierc't like places as they came Where marks remain'd always In hands and feet like Nails were plain In 's Side the Wound of Spear Which bled and put him to such pain As thô he should dy here Having receiv'd these stygmes there He now might truly say Let no one molestation bear Gal. 6 v. 17. But readily obey Since thus with Wounds my Body 's sign'd Of my Redeemer dear Th' example which in me you find To follow do not fear To him this may be well apply'd I live Gal. 2. v. 20. thô now not I But JESUS Christ my Crucify'd Doth live and in me ly O marv'lous Man true friend of God Phil. 3. v. â— Gen. 28.12 Than Man an Angel rather Who under foot the World hast trod And mounted Jacob's ladder By Vice's hate and Virtue 's love Thou walkedst without blame And thus Poor Sinners thou didst move While here to do the same Obtain that we may imitate Thy footsteps in true Love That we may Sin as truly hate And live with thee above Those sacred Wounds he did receive Two years or thereabout Before this frail Life he did leave Which clear'd Men of all doubt For they did oftentimes appear Thô his humility Indeavour'd to conceal
them here Till he should bury'd be They oft did bleed with such great pain That he had dy'd thereby But that God would have him remain The World to edify His Body now with labour spent Made weak for JESUS'S sake And he to Contemplation bent But little food did take And thô by Sword as he desir'd He could not Martyr dy Yet greater pains as God requir'd He suff'red patiently And off'red up in flames of Love His Soul an Holocaust Which daily did ascend above To him he loved most Knowing his Death was near at hand Not able now to go That he be carry'd doth command To Portiunculo Our Lady's Church from Angels nam'd The place that he lov'd best And here to dy he ever aim'd And take his finall rest To shew his love to Poverty Mat 27. v. 35. And Christ to imitate He naked on the ground would dy So strip't him as be sate The same in his last Testament He doth his Brothers give For he by JESUS dear was sent Poor Ps 87. v. 16. like him here to live Mat. 18. v. 17. He recommends Obedience Most strict unto Christ's Church That Heresy on no pretence Among his Brothers lurch True Patiênce and Humility With other Virtues rare He leaves them as a Legacy And doth for Death prepare He gives his blessing to his Brothers To live in Love and Peace The same he recommends to others Here after his decease His soul to JESUS recommending Replenish't with great merit By hands of Angels there attending To God resigns his Spirit He being dead his sacred Flesh Wither'd before and hard Became most limber soft and fresh To youth might be compar'd Which with his Wounds like Rubies dress't Was glorious to behold Assisiûm Men would have it rest With them more priz'd than gold A stately Church they for it build And in a Vault it lay Which incorrupt and fresh doth yield Delights unto this day The World 's great wonder it remains The Wounds appear therein What favours great and immense gains Did his true Pennance win Thus did Christ's Church-Repairer dy When he had thousands gain'd From Worldly Love Flesh-liberty Which had true Faith so stain'd He in his Order lives again Which to Perfection guides And as Reveal'd shall still remain As long as World abides Great Saints this Order hath brought forth As to the World is known But what 's the number or their worth Is known to God alone The Rule doth so to Virtue bind That if Men well keep it Not one among them they shall find who 'l not in glory sit OF THE CONFRATERNITY OF THE CORD In the cords of Adam I will draw them in the Cords of Charity Ose 11. v. 4. BEsides his Holy Orders three The Pope of his accord Confirm'd a Confraternity Where Girdle is a Cord For those who cannot undergo Those strict Rules yet desire By this blest Cord men should them know Related to the Frier Saint Francis made choice of a Cord For Girdle as the best Memoriall of his dying Lord In all his sorrows dress't For if you mind it all along Throughout his Passion still They led him bound in Cords full strong Wherever was their will This Passion in men's hearts to print Was always his desire Which soften can a heart of flint And set it all on fire With love unto its Saviour dear Who for Man thus did dy And never any pains to fear His love to shew thereby Saint Dominick poor Francis lov'd And would his Rule embrace But since by him 't was not approv'd He begg'd his Cord in th' place That thô he could not of that be He would have some relation To him by this a Memory Of Christ's most bitter Passion Persons of greatest quality Which this World doth afford Have thought it a great dignity To be girt with this Cord That they might be related to This Order while they live The great Indults to gain also Which Holy Church doth give Which are as great as any be Continually confirm'd Unto this Confraternity And all therein concern'd Which hath not any obligation Men binding under Sin But minds us of Christ's bitter Passion That we may glory win Five Paters and five Ave's more You daily are to say To mind how Christ was wounded sore Upon that dolefull day In hands and feet and in his Side These five you must salute And there with confidence abide Till you obtain your suit For what can God the Father here Deny his only Son When in his sight his Wounds appear Which he hath undergon To reconcile a sinfull soul Unto his Justice great And to dispense rich Grace's dole From his great Mercy 's seat With arms spred forth the Friers say These Pray'rs and make a Cross And thus Saint Francis us'd to pray Reminding that our loss Repaired was upon the Tree When Christ ' shands feet and side Were pierc't Which wounds effectuall be When thus by faith apply'd When Amaleck the Hebrews fought Exod. 17 v. 11. Moyses his arms stretch't out And praying thus success he brought But when they fell was doubt Of Victory which did foreshow How Christ for man should dy And now he 's dead we praying so His Death do signify Upon the Cross five Virtues rare Christ practis'd to teach us Daily to beg and take like care To imitate him thus In Patience and Humility Which he doth recommend Obedience and strict Poverty With Love unto the end More pious Practices are there Belonging to the Cord Which by this Saint ordained were To bind men to their Lord In bonds of true Obedience And perfect Charity That when the Soul departeth hence It live Eternally Behold how Francis's Life was spent In Mankind's Reformation Christ's seamless Garment that was rent And much defac't in fashion That is the Church with Heresy And vicîous life distain'd He brought unto its Purity Thousands of Souls regain'd Thus Moyses-like he did bring back Pharao's the Devils Exod. 3. v. 10. Slaves Their Souls with filth of Sin made black c. 14. v. 29. He by the Red Sea saves Reminding what Christ did endure On th' Cross to free from Sin And by example leads secure Through th' Desart we are in Deut. â— v. 2. Unto the rich Land promised That 's Heav'n Iosue 3. v. 17. Exod. 3. v. 8. the place of Bliss Where with sweet Milk and Hony fed The chast and pure Soul is That is the Vision of God clear And of his full Fruition Of losing it void of all fear How happy 's this condition Dear Father pray unto thy Lord. My life while I am here With thine in all things may accord That Hell I may not fear Dear JESUS grant for Francis sake That I thee always love And my life's Pattern by his take So reign with thee above Amen THE BOOKS ADDRESS TO THE READER YOu gentle Reader who have read me ôre Grant this Request to read me yet once more If curious Fancy to the first did move Let now your Motive be Devotion 's love And that your reading may advantage bring Attend not to the Verse but to the thing The sense consider deeply in your mind Imprint the same then you will surely find A hidden Treasure which doth rarely ly Within the bosom of Dame Poetry Virtue 's discover'd Vice laid to your view That this you fly that eagerly pursue Read not as Pilat ask't What 's Verity And then went forth Io. 18. v. 38. He did not really Seek Knowledge and much less did he intend To act he would be Jews and Cesar's friend He would not know lest coÌ„scieÌ„ce should approve What Christ should say Io. 19. v. 12. he lose Cesar's love that young Man who ask't of christ to know Which way to Heav'n he might securely go When Christ bid hiÌ„ the world and Riches leave This wholsom counsell he would not receive v. 21. He would no more discourse with him v. 22. and why To th' World and Flesh he had too strong a ty Beware the like when you have read this Book Lay 't not aside no more on it to look Because it pleaseth not the Flesh and Bloud But be assur'd when its right understood It will your Soul to Virtue 's Practice win With ravishments to that and hate to Sin Remember only Beast that cud did chew Was clean esteem'd â—ev 11.3 â—eut 14.8 â—en 8 v. â— â—â—k 3. v. â— 55 and sacrific'd to shew That if by reading you 'l God 's love obtain You must reflect and in the sense remain Of what you read and thus you will reap gain Or else your reading will but prove in vain Expect no Finis to this Book FOr as Man's Life a Warfare is Iob. 7. v. 1. Gal. 5. v. 17. ' Gainst Viceâ— and Virtue undertook Is hard 〈…〉 you miss The Crown 〈◊〉 promis't only those Who do persevâ—â— to the end Mat 10. v. 22. Mat. 25. v. 13. You must be watchfull till Death close Your eyes hence you will want a friend Oft to consult as virtuous Guide This Book will prove unto you such If in its reading you 'l abide 'T will give your heart a zealous touch Then daily here take your repast And let the End begin again Thus do as long as Life doth last That you may here secure remain Amen