in to prey Vpon thy purer parts for thou must be A Temple wholly consecrate to me In holinesse Wherefore I charge you all As subiects to my Pow'r Imperiall Thou Breath of life you vnderstanding parts And thou Inuention searcher out of Arts And Memorie so aged in thy youth The Register of ancient times and truth And Iudgement thou great Vmpier of the â—est VVhich alwaies fiâ—st to censure what is best I charge you strictly all I say and will That you be cleane keepe not one thought of ill VVithin your sacred Chancels but be pure Euen as I am and hence yourselues inure To nought but holy practices that so Thy soule and sense may both together go As two made one and all to sing my praise In sweetest Concords to ensuing daies This being also done I say Come now And prosper on here will I shew thee how Thou shalt obtaine thy wished rest and flye So farre beyond thine owne abilitie As thou wilt wonder at thy selfe to see That height of happinesse thou hast in me Beyond conceite or vtterance Come then My dearest come here will I make thy Pen To speake of mysteries here I le begin To put a period to thy daies of sin Here will I wipe away thy teares and leade Thee forth with Dauid where thy soule shall tread In paths of righteousnesse till thou hast won This sweet assurance that thou art my son Here then returne returne thou thirstie soule To my pure Spring since all the rest are foule And cannot satisfie Here turne againe Where first thou didst begin vnto the maine Of my sole-sauing comforts to my Word I meane that Well indeed which doth afford True Cordials to distressed soules Come here And take thy fill thou needest not to feare Of paying ought take wine and milke and buy Without a piece my freely bounteous eie Lookes not for thy rewards or if it did Alas poore soule thou hast not ought to bid To counteruaile my Grace for sure from thee Comes nothing good but what thou hast from me Goe then I say goe hasten to that Well And Spring of life whose vertue shall expell These sad suspenses from thy heart and shall Instruct thee in the truth and tell thee all That thou so much desir'st onely indeed Thou must beleeue what e'r thy soule shall reade Within this sacred Writ for sure in this Lyes hid the treasurie of life of blisse Which onely true beleeuers find But here I know thou 'lt say Why then 't is ne'r the neere If this condition come betweene for I Am growne so dead in sinne and miserie I cannot stirre one foot to good and whence Should I beleeue so farre beyond my sense That which I cannot comprehend Aye me Faine I 'd beleeue indeed that true to be Whose truth so much concernes my good but O I see no ground alas I should doe so Here stands my miserie my flesh and blood Thinke sure that newes must needs be too-too good Ere to be true as vsuall Prouerbs say That brings me tidings of that happy day VVhich puts a period to mine ills for I Am so bedull'd with tedious miserie That now 't is growne a miracle to see Some pow'rs proue yet so kinde to comfort me Alas poore soule 't is true indeed and yet Here stay thy plaints for here thou must forget Thine owne estate these are thy miseries Indeed as of thy selfe but now thine eies Must soare beyond thy selfe where thou shalt see Thy happinesse consisting all in mee Not in thine owne abilities and this Is it while-ere I said to thee which is Indeed a mysterie that flesh and blood Cannot conceiue that must be vnderstood Onely by my reuealing Sprite And now Come on therefore I know full well that thou Canst nothing doe herein vnlesse it be As hauing thine abilities from me But know in me thou shalt doe all as I Ere-while did say Thus doe I magnifie My selfe in weakenesse thus my pow'r shall be Made knowne the more by thine infirmitie On then I say goe hasten to that Brooke Which runnes so sweetly through my sacred Booke VVhere I will surely be with thee to leade Thee on along till thou hast found that Head And Spring of life where thou wouldst be and when Thy soâ—le hath bath'd therein a while euen then I will begin to make thee see and know Thy boundlesse happinesse in me and show Thee all the treasures of my loue whereby Thou shalt perceiue th' inseparable tye Betwixt thy selfe and me Then shalt thou reade And vnderstand then come and goe with speed About my worke and prosper still and then Scorning as 't were those vanities of men VVhich earst so much ore-sway'd thee thou shalt be Possest with nothing but delight in me Then all shall be at thy content when thou Shalt onely aske and haue the heau'ns shall bow If thou but pray and I my selfe descend To answer thee as thy familiar friend Goe then I say 't is time thou wer 't well on In this thy way See how the vsh'ring Sun Inuites thy haste the Sprite sayes Come away To celebrate this high-made Marriage-day For lo the Lambe is ready come and see How much he lou'd that lost his life for thee And where thou sayst Alas thou hast not pow'r VVhence to beleeue know 't was an happie houre For thee that ere thou knew'st so much for I Ne'r vse to heale the Pharisaicall eie VVhich thinks he sees and yet is blinde but know Since I haue gi'en thee grace to stoope so low As to attribute all to me that now Thou shalt both see and eke beleeue for thou Hast put thy trust in me and since thou hast Be 't to thee as thou wilt thy worst is past And hence know thou hast ouercome in mâ— VVho am alone thy strength and still will be VVherefore I will that here thou quickly go And doe as I haue said it must be so Vse thou no more thy weake replyes for I VVill haue it so what pow'rs shall dare denie VVhere I command Goe on I say and then This being done prepare thy tongue and pen And all thou hast to sing of nought but praise To me thy God and let thy high-borne Layes Rauish thy hearers all to heau'n whiles they Attend to thee whence they may blesse the day Of these thy happie miseries and bee As ioynt-competitors of ioy with thee VVhat now remaines Behold thy long'd for day Is hard at hand I will no longer stay Thy forward thoughts Go go and take thy fill Of Sions streame let not a thought of ill Dare interrupt thy good intents but bee As happie as thy wish hence shalt thou see The mirrors of my loue and know ere long I shall expect thy Muse to change her song Thus I surcease Now let thy new-borne heart Succeed and act its last and happiest part
that be 'Twixt God and you 'twixt heau'ns eternitie In blissefulnesse and your deare soules that hence You aide me on with your high eloquence And heau'n-commanding tenors to reuerse If our Diuinitie can ought in Verse Those strong opposing humours of this age This wayward madnesse this prepostrous rage Of humane hearts which gape so greedily To swallow sinne and drinke iniquitie Like water as the Scripture speakes but good They will not taste so much lest their ill blood Should be infected by 't and so perchance They might be drawne from hellish ignorance Into the glorious light of Grace whereby They might be brought to heauens felicity Before they were aware of 't O my soule What fury 's this How should we not controle Such stupid waywardnesse when now aday Men labour more it seemes to finde the way That leades to hell then euer heretofore The Saints for heauen O how should I deplore This wretched hum'rousnesse How should I chide My Countrimen for this that they 'le abide This cursed Achan to remaine so long Within their tents which hath done all the wrong Our Countrey hath of late endur'd how-ere Some ignorant braines thinke otherwise But here O that I might obtaine but this of them Which is that these my deare-wise-Countrimen Would onely duly thinke vpon and wey The way wherein they goe knowing when they Haue had their filles of vanitie at last They must expect a change that fearefull blast Of the last Trumpe will one day sound and then That dreary doome also will fall on them Depart from me yee curst and they must goe Into those prisons of eternall woe The deepes of euerlasting hell where they Shall be in paine beyond conceite no day Or instant shall giue ease to them but still They shall drinke vp those poys'nous drugs of ill Hells most reuengefull torturings if they Doe not repent themselues while 't is to day I meane ere deaths blacke night approach O then Thinke you on this my dearest Countrimen And thou deare Drayton let thy aged Muse Turne now diuine let her forget the vse Of thy earst pleasing tunes of loue which were But fruits of witty youth let her forbeare These toyes I say and let her now breake forth Thy latest gaspe in heau'nly sighes more worth Then is a world of all the rest for this Will vsher thee to heau'ns eternall blisse And let thy strong-perswasiue straines enforce These times into a penitent remorce For this their sinfull frowardnesse and then Heau'n shall reward thee neuer care for men And honour'd Willy thou whose maiden straines Haue sung so sweetly of the Vales and Plaines Of this our Ile that all the men that be Thy hearers are enforc'd to honour thee Yea and to fall in loue with thee I say Let me intreate thee to transport thy Lay From earth to heau'n for sure thy Muses bee So good the Gods will fall in loue with thee As well as men besides 't is fit thy Layes Should scorne all Crowns saue heau'ns eternal Bayes Then bid the world farewell with Sydney he That was the Prince of English Poesie And ioyne with me the worst of all thy traine To bring these times into a better straine And dearest Pol'sfen last of all the three Which should be first by that affinitie And int'rest that thou hast in me I here Intreate thy helpe amongst the rest whose deare And precious apprehensions reach so high As nought but heau'n or pure Diuinitie Should be the subiect of thy straines for they Are farre too good e're to be cast away On earth's base worthlesse vanities which be At best but emblems of mortalitie So soone they die and quaile away but thine Thy wits I meane are heau'nly and diuine Emblems of Euerlastingnesse and can Create conceits were neuer form'd by man No nor so much as thought vpon ere thou Thy selfe gan'st being vnto them but now Since things are thus proportion'd out I pray Come aide me with that heau'n-commanding sway Of thy high Verse which rather will compell Men to be mad then let them goe to hell In such a childish hum'rousnesse nay will Enforce them to be good against their will If they can be so dull or voide of sense As not loue goodnesse for selfe-excellence Whose sweet and louely fairenesse at first sight Without gaine-say obtaines a soueraigne right Ore all ingenious hearts at least if Grace Reside in them then nothing else takes place Come then I say deare Drayton Browne and thou And all the rest that euer made a Vow To keepe the Muses sacred Lawes come here And ioyne with me let neither loue nor feare Make you proue partiall till this hum'rous rage Be banisht quite from off our Englands Stage What shall I vrge you more or why intreate Your Wisdomes see the cause is wondrous great That craues your helpe nay more it craues the Pen And tongue of our best Angels too for men Must not be humour'd thus in ill or if It should be so sure goodnesse then for griefe Would run away or hide her selfe when she Should be discourag'd thus alas and we That honour her should not once dare to speake O 't were enough to make our hearts to breake Be valiant then my friends and let all those That wish our England well and hate her foes Be of like minde with vs yea those that bee The Princes of our Ile so shall we see Our England flourish spight of Pope and all That thirst with bloody hearts to see her fall So Goodnesse shall proue Conquerour but ill Shall not dare shew it selfe within this Hill And holy Mountaine of our God which he Preserues by speciall prouidence and we To see it thus with gladsome hearts shall sing Our thanks to God who rays'd so good a King To sit on our late Dauids Throne and may He grow as great as good still let vs pray Yea Peeres and all ioyne with my humble Pen And so let all the people say Amen The true well-willer and seruant of you all in the Lord Iesus S. A. Errata Page 4. verse 27. for rhus reade thus v. 36. for intrust r. instruct p. 7. v. 9. for I'm r. ioyne p. 8. v. 31. to say in the beginning to be left out and in the end for hapy r. haply p. 10. v. 39. for an Ambassage r. in ambassage p. 24. v. 24. for the r. thy p. 25. vers 6. for Sonne r. Sunne p. 28. v. 18. for there r. here p. 32. vers 30. for Sonne r. Sunne p. 34. v 39. for gifts r. griefes p. 39. v. 27. for tremble r. doe tremble p. 41. in the Margine for Exod. 16. r. 19. p. 42. v. 21. for hight r. light p. 52. v. 33. for hell r. ill p. 53. v. 39. for enow r. enough AVSTIN'S VRANIA OR THE HEAVENLY MVSE THE CONTENTS FIrst my VRANIA from the Spring Doth take occasion here to sing Our Sauiours Passion but her rime Leaues
goes not well With me I 'm sure and how-soe'r if I May speake the truth for sure I dare not lye Before my God to them thinke what they will That all is well when nothing is not ill Because they haue a faire flesh-pleasing calme Whiles thus they run to vanitie for Balme To cure their wounds yet let them know how e'r They dreame themselues the farthest off from feare Because they doe not feele the same that they Are in the gall of woe and though they may Seeme senslesse for a while yet lo the day That dolefull day will come when they shall say We haue no pleasure in 't when they that keepe The house shall tremble when the strong men creepe And bow themselues the grinders cease and when Those Seers of the vanities of men That looke out at the windowes lose their light And when the doores are shut because 't is night And when the grinding-sound is low and all The Maides of musicke take their lowest fall And when there 's nothing left but trembling feares And all desire shall faile and when the teares Of mourners flow about the streets ' cause they Are going then to their long home the way Of all mankind for that eternall One Shall bring each worke before his Iudgement Throne Bee 't good or bad and there will doome the ill Downe to the vales of lasting death but will Receiue the good into his holy place Where they shall alwaies see him face to face And when as earst I said these dayes of woe Are come Oh then they will begin to know All 's not so well as thought with them altho The flesh did slyly seeme perswade them so I meane when drearie daies of sicknesse come Or death to call them to their latest home For these will come O then they will begin To feele so many armies hid within Of fearefull sinnes beset their sleepie soules So suddenly that they 'le haue nought but howles And sad despairing cries to be their fence ' Gainst these resistlesse enemies and sense Will then be quicke to feele but all too late What earst alas they did not feele to hate Their cursed peace with flesh and vanitie Which is indeed a mortall enmitie With God himselfe for sure the flesh and he Are enemies and they can ne'r agree So then to be at peace with flesh is this To be a meerely wicked one which is Not to haue peace at all for such haue none There is no peace vnto the wicked one So saies my God Thus may they learne and see What t is to bee at peace if not with thee Alas 't is death But to returne againe From whence I straid Since all these helpes are vaine For I am troubled still so sore that I Can haue no rest while clouded from thine eie Good God what shall I doe where shall I goe To be deliuer'd of this child of woe This heauy burden of my sin whereby My soule is prest so low shee cannot flye To thee her God there to behold and see Those wondrous things which thou hast done for mee Alas why dost thou leaue mee then and why Dost thou so long in anger hide thine Eye Thus to prorogue my griefes Shall humane sense Dare striue it out with thy Omnipotence On selfe presumes as though it could withstand Thy mightinesse or wrest from out thy hand Thy mercies by constraint when with one breath Thou canst consume vs euery one to death Oh no my God such lawlesse thoughts as these May not come neere my heart then would it please Thy goodnesse pitty mee at length for why Thou know'st full well I cannot choose but die Vnlesse thou come and pitty mee Oh then Delay mee not my God but come agen O quickly come reuiue mee with thy Grace And with those beames those issues of thy face The ioy of thy sweet countenance which when My soule is fully blest withall Oh then I le craue no more saue only this thereby Still to enioy that blessed Theorie Of thine eternall loue to mee in him Whom earst thou didst reueale that so my sin Might bee abolisht quite and I may bee Knit in inseparable Tyes to thee O meet me here my God this is the place The time the opportunitie for Grace Fitter thou canst not haue then this for lo I 'm wearied out and can no further go For want of Grace My soule is quiâ—â— bereft Of all her strength and here alas I 'm left As one for-lorne that neither can relieue Himselfe nor call to any else to giue Him some Reliefe for sure I 'm growne so cold And senslesse of my griefes that now behold I cannot draw one teare from out my head To plaine my selfe alas I am so dead So dead in sin I meane for want of Grace To quicken mee that so mine eies and face Might flow with teares springing from liuely sense Of what I am true teares of penitence And euery word I speake might tell my woes By weeping all along the way it goes O this were well were it so well with mee That I could bee so good as I would bee Thus penitent I meane vntill mine eies Had throughly wept away my miseries And sins at once and there were none behind As enuious clouds to interrupt and blind My heau'n-bâ—â—t soule when faine shee 'd vp and see Those wondrous things which thou hast done for mee Alas but 't is not so my God there lyes That massie lumpe of my infirmities Betwixt my soule and thee which alwaies presse Mee downe so low that I must needs confesse Mine owne vnhappy wants whose bleared eie Can neuer reach this sacred Mysterie Of thine eternall loue although it bee No lesse then lifes eternall losse to mee In that I cannot reach the same and Blisse Againe as endlesse if I could doe this Yet all is one my poore humanitie Alas is too too weake and cannot fly It selfe to thee to apprehend that Light For man could neuer saue himselfe by sight Without thy Grace which only purifies And takes ' way those ill humours from our eyes That hinder blessed sights and in their steed Inspires vs with those that are eyes indeed Those eyes of faith I meane which only may Approach that treasure of eternall day Thy holy hill there to behold and see The Riches of that Glory hid with thee From all eternity the depth the hight Which none can comprehend without the light Of thy all-seeing Sprite that mystery Of euerlasting loue which now mine eie Doth long so much to see and till I see Alas there 's nothing that can comfort mee Oh then my God here let thy Grace descend Here let it come and put a happy end To this my tedious night of griefe and here Let that sweet Sunne of Righteousnesse appeare Which earst gan shine in such maiestick hue That all these gloomy
forget thy present state As scarcely thinke on 't saue it be to hate Thy selfe the more and those inferiour toyes Which stroue so much to interrupt thy ioyes That in a sacred policie thereby Thou may'st be knit in a farre neerer tye To me thy God there alwaies to possesse The highest tide of changelesse happinesse And more behold when thy Vrania's eies Shall feed awhile on those sweet Theories Of mine abundant goodnesse and shall see How all thy happinesse depends on mee She will not chuse but consecrate her Layes To sing abroad the mirrors of my prayse On my beloued then for now behold My loue is growne so great I cannot hold It longer in 't will needs breake forth and show Its sweet effects and make thy soule to know How deare that sinner is to me that will Repent himselfe and leaue his former ill Surely he shall not dye but liue for I Haue spoken it that know not how to lye T is true indeed thou saidst thy selfe hast play'd The Prodigall and now thou seek'st for aide Of me Behold it is againe as true I am thy Father longing to renew My former loue with thee Lo how I run On Mercies feet to welcome thee my son Come in distressed Come My watchfull Eie Hath seene at full thy deepes of miserie And still with care attended thee when thou Didst little thinke on 't till this very now 'T was I indeed as earst thou didst confesse That made thee see this thine vnhappinesse And as a tender Mother to her sonne That seemes in kindnesse to perswade it come And aske of her some thing it wants which she Much longs to giue So did I deale with thee By mercies often sweet inuites to moue Thee humbly come and craue what out of loue I wholy meant to giue 'T was not in vaine I made thee feele the horrors of thy paine But as a happie medium to enforce Thy deadned soule the sooner to remorce Of thine owne deeper miseries and then To seeke about for remedy but when Thy wofull soule had seene that all but I Were fled from thee in this extremitie Then did I sweetly draw thee home to see The riches of the loue I bore to thee I tooke thee vp againe and did restore Thy lifelesse soule when thou hadst quite gi'n o're And yeelded vp to Satan sinne and all That were conspiratours to make thee thrall Vnto eternall death Alas mine Eie Did set full well thy poore humanitie How weake it was to any good how prone To any thing was ill as though alone It had been wholy bent to chuse the bad But leaue the goodnesse which at first it had Yea so it was indeed and sure it stood With reason when thou left'st the chiefest Good My Selfe I meane thy God from whom alone All haue their goodnesse but without haue none To turne aside from me and fondly take Some thing for good which thou thy selfe didst make Without my helpe scorning as 't were to be Beholding for thy goodnesse all to me For lo when thou hadst turn'd away thy sight From me who was alone thy Life and Light And all the good thou hadst thy blinded eies Could not but fall on contrarieties Take darkenesse stead of light and so approue The ill for good thus thy seduced loue When led to like by thy adult'rous will Brought forth thy death the cursed childe of ill Vnhappy match of thine Yet lo from hence I gather'd good by giuing thee a sense Of thine owne wants and making thee to see How weake thou wast and how thou couldâ—st not be Without my Grace and this did make thee come In humblenesse as earst the straying Son To me alone in deepes of miserie With Father I haue sin'd where soone as I Had seene thy teares and thy humilitie Behold how glad I was to pitie thee I ran to meet as 't were and re-embrace Thy soule with armes of euerlasting Grace All this I did for thee but these are small For lo the summe and very chiefe of all Is yet behind Thus farre I 'ue onely bin All mercy winking as it were at sin But lo as I am mercifull so I Am all as iust and thou must satisfie For sinne by death for this is also true My Iustice and the Law will haue its due But here alas I see this very thought Of death doth strike thee downe againe to nought Kills thee a thousand times with griefe to see How farre impossible it is for thee To suffer that one thought whereof alone Is able breake the hardnedst heart of stone That would but thinke on it for thus to die Is to despaire of all felicitie And be in endlesse tortures such as none Can tell but those that suffer them alone Alas vnhappy wretch this is thy lot Thy iust desert the fruit which thou hast got By leauing me But here againe arise Distressed soule and wipe thy tearie eies To apprehend more sweetly from aboue The mysterie of euerlasting loue The Sunne of comfort to thy soule that will Dispell away these gloomy clouds of ill And all thy former miseries and hence Will rauish thee with more abundant sense Of thine expreslesse happinesse for by The vtmost deepe of this thy miserie Thou shalt perceiue by happie opposite Another deepe how good how infinite My mercies are that made my Iustice-eie To pitie thee because thou shouldst not die I made it satisfie it selfe come downe From my eternall Throne throw off its Crowne Of glory which it had and humbly take Thy rags on it and further for thy sake To be imprison'd in thy house of clay Vntill at length it suffred death to pay That heauy debt of thine Thus thou art free From sinne from death from hell from miserie And all thy former ills and now art made Free-man of Grace whereof thou 'st but a shade Whiles here on earth but shalt hereafter haue The very substance much as thou canst craue Or shalt know how to wish and 't will not be An age before my mercy comes to thee And takes thee hence to make thee possident Of all the happinesse which here is meant Now comfort here thy soule and come and see Those wondrous things that I haue done for thee This spoke behold my sad attentiue sp'rite Now raised vp but then with wofull sight Of my deserts e'en tumbled downe to death Yet here againe reuiu'd with sweeter breath Drawne from this sacred Oracle which I Heard warbling forth that pleasing Mysterie Of euerlasting loue it faintly gan To vrge me thus to speake which I as man Thus faintly breathed out O sacred tongue That hast awak'd me with so sweet a song Come once againe I pray thee let me heare Some more of this that tickled so mine eare With sweet celestiall rapes O how mine eie Doth long to see this happie Mysterie Explained to the full What is 't I heare I 'm freed from
fall vpon the good and dispossesse Them of their rights fill all with heauinesse But to my selfe againe When carelesse I Had swallowed downe this pleasing miserie Of one vnhappy thought O how my heart VVas strucken straight with a benumming smart Prest with a heauy drowzinesse my sin Had cast such gloomy mists on all within And hereupon O that so light a toy Should seeme to ship-wrack all my former ioy And so o're-whelme my soule with feares that I Should lose my selfe so long in misery A Legion more the most vnlucky shade That euer yet did my poore soule inuade Of thoughts distracted thoughts came rushing in And faine would haue mee desp'rate on in sin Ne'r hope for Goodnesse more ne'r spend my paine For that which was so difficult to gaine Nay more alas O that my shamelesse pen Should dare to whisper out to other men Those priuate conflicts of my soule for feare I should offend the true religious eare For Christians should not once so much as name Such things as these lest some say 't is prophane They drew mee to such dangerous Rocks that I Was put to doubtings of a Deitie Whether I had a God or no that Hee Should seeme to goe so far away from mee In those my greatest deeps O how my sprite Was mazed at this vnaccustom'd fight How was I shaken How was all my man Strook downe with feare Good God! how pale and wan My outward visage was which might bewray The grieuous conflicts of mine inward fray How did I walke disconsolate as one That had no life in him or had alone His life to liue in misery wherein T were better not to bee then to haue been But here deare Christians you whose happier Eyes Are alwayes blest with feeling Theories Of Heau'ns chiefe Goodnesse you that sweetly run These happy paths ne'r clouded from the Sun Condemne mee not I pray you straight that I Beare not a part in that felicitie Which you your selues are in but rather prayse The goodnesse of that God whose Gracious Rayes Hee would in mercy make your eyes to see But in his Iustice hide them now from mee For reasons knowne best to himselfe and who Shall dare gaine-say what pleaseth him to do O bee your selues I pray which if you bee Then am I sure you 'l rather pitty mee With earnest prayers in my behalfe that I May win at length a happy victory After these dreary stormes Oh these are they I neede especially Good Reader pray To helpe mee out and know what now is mine If Iustice please to morrow may bee thine Calmes seldome hold continually and wee Though now in stormes haue yet a hope to see A fairer day Thus may the loftiest eyes Looke for a fall and I may looke to rise And I may looke Alas poore soule how faine Would'st thou bee lifting vp thine eyes againe To see that Light of happinesse that Sun Whose beames ere-while so wondrously begun To glad thy drooping sprites and to expell The dismall clouds of all thy former Hell But O vnhappy wretch how doe I see My gloomy sinnes o're-vaile and shaddow mee What gastly thoughts doe wrest away mine eyes To gad and gaze on thousand vanities And various shows of ill which giue to mee No more content then doth my misery Alas they vex mee ten times more for these Will not so much as let mee seeke for ease Which that enforceth mee to doe but still They vrge mee onwards to some other ill Which seemes as though 't would giue mee ease but when I 'ue also try'd its Remedy Oh then I grieue to see my foolishnesse that I Should bee thus flatterd on in misery For still the more I adde to ill the more I adde of poyson to my festred sore The more I adde to weigh mee downe to Hell And more of paine my conscious soule doth tell That I of force must vndergoe e're I Recouer backe my first felicity Such ease it seemes to fall tow'rds Hell but then Alas how full of teares to rise agen And thus I adde vnto my griefes altho My stupid flesh would faine perswade mee no Oh this is it that kills my soule to see I 'm sicke euen to the death yet not to bee Touch't truely with the sense of it whereby I might in haste goe seeke for remedy With some new kinde of Rhetorick with cryes And teary-words making my weeping eyes My humble intercessors and my groanes To vtter forth more lamentable Tones Then euer yet before which might enforce The Heau'ns and all vnto a new remorce And chiefly to appease the angry frowne Of my Great God whose absence throwes mee downe To all those deepes of misery that I Should so misprize that high benignitie And Riches of his loue which was to mee The very summe of true felicitie As to exchange it for a taste or twaine Of Satans sweets and so to entertaine In stead of him those guests which now possesse My soule with nought but cursed bitternesse And sad desparing-heauy thoughts and these Are all the salues that Satan hath to ease The troubled soule O what a foole was I Thus to beleeue his damned flattery Did I not know enough before how hee Beguild my Parents as hee now doth mee To eate of the forbidden fruite and said That they should bee as Gods ere hee betrayd Their soules into his cruell hands But then Hee threw them downe below the state of men And then hee triumpht in their falls as now He doth in mine But Adam where art thou Or rather where am I Why doe I runne Amongst the trees to hide mee from the Sun I le goe vnto my God againe and there Will neuer cease to call vntill hee heare From out his holy Place and thence come downe To take mee vp and till that angry frowne Bee turn'd to wonted pleasing similes and hee Shall sweetly come againe and show to mee Those endlesse Riches of his loue wich erst Hee 'gan reueale for lo I cannot rest My soule will not bee comforted till I Shall see at full that happy Mystery Of his eternall loue whereof while-ere I had a glimpse O let mee but come there To that high seate of happinesse to see The fulnesse of that true felicitie And in the mid'st of that sweet Theorie O let my body melt away and dye Or let mee dye vnto the flesh that so My soule may ne'r more taste of bodies woe But alwaies bee hereafter thron'd so hie As still enioy that happy Theorie Where is my God so long O where art thou My Light my Life my Happinesse Come now O quickly come and take mee vp for feare I fall into the gastly pit and there Bee none to helpe me vp againe O why Did'st thou in anger take away thine eye So suddenly from mee Thou knew'st full well I needs must fall downe to the pit of hell When thou didst faile to hold
stop thine eares but rather win Thee to compassion on mee ' cause that I Am plunged in such deepes of misery By this my tyrannizing sin which striues Not only to destroy my soule but driues At theee also seeking to ouerthrow Thy worke of Grace and would not men should know The Riches of thy Goodnesse O my Lord Why i st thou stay'st so long speake but the word And all is done this shackled soule of mine In spight of all those pow'rs that do combine To force mee downe to Hell shall quickly fly Into so sweet a Heau'n of liberty In contemplation of thy Grace that hence I ne'r more shall bee brought into suspense Or doubtings of thy goodnesse but shall bee As one that hath his building sure with thee And cannot bee remou'd and then mine eye Shall haue its fill of that sweet Theorie Which earst I did so much desire whose light Will straight dispell these fearefull clouds of night Wherein my sins had veil'd mee vp and yeeld Such pleasing matter and so large a field Of praise to recreate my soule that I Shall hence bee raised vp so sweetly high As I was sadly low before and thence Shall haue so much of selfe-experience To speake of thine abundant loue that I Shall nothing else but prayse thee till I dye O then my Lord here let thy mercies come And raise mee vp lest I bee quite vndone In these so great extremities Aye mee My soule despaires to thinke where I shall bee If that thou yet deferre thy helpe for lo I 'm euery minute ready now to go Where-ere my sins and Satan dragge and they Will dragge mee sure to hell What shall I say Or doe or thinke Thou seest my miseries Farre better then my selfe and if thine eyes Can yet forbeare to pity mee Oh then Come come despaire come stifle vp my pen And let it weepe no more and cruell death Bee thou so kinde to stop my tedious breath That I may speake no more of griefe for lo I 'm wearied quite and can no further go And thus throwne downe 'twixt hope and feare I lye As one that hopes to liue hut feares to dye But here behold mid'st of this dreary storme Wherein my billowing sins and griefes had borne My soule into so many deepes that I Was on the point to sinke despaire and dye Behold I say when I had quite gi'en o're And e'en resolu'd to yeeld to Satans Lore Out of my great distractednesse wherein I oft was tempted to such deepes of sin Such foule abominable acts that I Dare not to name them to posterity For feare I should offend euen then I say When I was headlong running downe the way Tow'rds deaths accursed chambers where I 'gan To feele my selfe the miserable'st man That euer was on earth the time when I Was plunged in my great'st extremitie I 'gan to feele O what a ioy was this That long'd for Nuntius of my wonted blisse Begin to repossesse my soule and I Was raised vp againe so sweetly high As scarce I could beleeue my selfe to see Such wonders wrought so suddenly on mee And here mee thought with sweet inspired layes Hee 'gan againe my drooping soule to raise With these or such like happy notes Come come Thou sad despairing man lo I haue done With thee I see it is enough for thou Art too-too weake alas to striue and now Thou know'st thy selfe sufficiently and well Thou hast done so 't was meet that thou shouldest dwell So long on this sad Theame for mayst thou know In answer to thy quests this was to show Thy weakenesse to the full not that my selfe Was ignorant but thou vnhappy Elfe Wast hardly brought to search it out Againe To teach thee that thy lab'rings all were vaine Without my speciall helping-Grace for thou Mightst labour till thy death yet bee as now So farre to seeke as e're thou wast and hence This mayst thou learne for thy experience That Heau'n can ne'r bee won with workes altho These bee the way indeed by which yee go Thereto and these as signes of Grace do show That yee assuredly do thither go If they be good but all their good consists Alone in Grace from whence their beeing is But now poore soule that thou hast stai'd so long In these thy deepes and thence conceau'st a wrong That 's done to thee in that I should delay To grant thy sute though thou didst often pray And yearne indeed for Grace euen till thine eie And heart with teares and sighes were both worne dry And thou meane while most so opprest with sin With feares without with trembling stormes within That thou couldst neuer bee at rest nay more The tedious suffrings of thy sin-borne sore Had so bedull'd thy soule that faithlesly Thou here hadst yeelded to despaire and dy Know this I say for answer 't was my will It should bee so who gather good from ill First therefore know in all these dreary deepes Mine eye was ope on thee which neuer sleepes To keepe thee safe and my wise prouidence Ne'r suffred yet sins hainous violence To haue it's full Carreer on thee altho I suffred it indeed thus far to go To make thy very heart to bleed to see Those fearefull wounds it did inflict on thee VVhen I but left thee to thy selfe yet hence I taught thy soule this sweet experience To make thy soone appeale to me when sin Had made thee see the danger thou wast in But further yet here haply thou'lt reply Alas this answer will not satisfie Sin hath its full carreer on me for lo It drawes mee on e'en whe'r I will or no To giue consent to it euen so that I Am ready to enact what villany So ere the flesh inuites but that perchance I 'm hinderd by some outward circumstance Of feare or shame of men but woe is mee I doe not feele alas that feare of thee I would within my heart whence 't is that I Am ready here to sinke despaire and die For want of it and then how can it bee That sin can fuller yet carreer on mee Alas poore foule 't is true indeed I know Thy sins haue brought thy feeble man so low That thou art helplesse of thy selfe yea sure Vassal'd to Satan and could'st ne'r endure The least of these his heauy brunts if I Had not sustain'd thee by a sweet supply Of secret Grace but headlong wouldst haue run Downe to thine owne destruction wretched man Saue that I would not suffer thee and hence It is that thou hast had this happy sense Of these thine owne infirmities whence thou Despairing in thy selfe as t were didst vow Neuer to take thy rest till thou hadst won This sweet assurance that thou art my son O happy soule blest bee that day and houre Wherein thou chos'st so good a part to towre So high in thy desires as to depise Those gay allurements which
mine eyes 'gan see Within mine owne distressed man when I Prest with the weight of mine iniquity Did earst implore my God to helpe for sure Of all the miseries I may endure There 's none that paralels with this to bee Depriuâ—d of God which to my griefe I see My many sinnes do oft â—ffect whereby I 'm driuen to such great extremity I know not what to do which makes mee craue Either his sweet returne or else my graue Rather then liue and not with him but here Alas vnhappy wretch all that I beare Is iustly for my sin but thou my Lord Didst neuer sin neither in deed nor word No nor in thought so much or were it so Yet what speake I of these my deepes of woe Which bee but flea-bites as they say if way'd With these of thine for thou alas wast laid Downe in the lowest hell of griefe to beare All paines and punishments beyond compare Which wee poore soules should else haue borne Ay mee Yet this not all those that should comfort thee In these thy great extremities yea'uen they Did sleepe it out as wee doe now a day Seeming as senslesse of thy griefes nor would Bee brought to watch and pray one houre so cold Are our affections growne tow'rds thee though thou Do burne in loue tow'rds vs. But whither now Where strayes my Muse I say Is not this all Oh no One griefe another in doth call These plunges were no sooner past but lo I see the Nuntius of another woe Judas and all his following rout for they Are hard at hand and ready to betray This guiltlesse Lambe vnto the Wolues but here T is worth the notice ere wee yet draw neere To Annas house how that our Sauiour when Knowing the hearts of these malicious men Hee boldly yet steps forth to them and said Who is 't yee seeke Which when they had betrayd By naming him hee answers I AM â—EE At which they starting back full suddenly Fell downe vnto the ground Here was a word That plainly told indeed HEE was the Lord Whom they did now resist but O my soule Couldst thou my Lord so suddenly controule Those their presumings with a word and yet How was 't thou seem'st so quickly to forget Thy selfe by suffring them alone to show Their cruelties on thee nay which was moe Thou didst restraine thy Peter too when hee Drew forth his sword and would huae rescude thee But O how doth my reason erre for here The Scriptures were to bee fulfill'd while-ere Which spake of thee whence 't was thou didst reply To Peter with vndaunted constancy The cup my Father giues shall I not drinke Oh yes I must and will or may you thinke 'T will go but bad with you for should I not Your selues must doe 't Thus as hee had forgot What hee indeeed was of himselfe hee goes Along with them euen these his cruell foes Without least show of murmuring vntill At length they had accomplish't all their ill Concerning him And first they brought him on To Annas next to his malicious son Caiphas the then High Priest where harmelesse hee Was most vniustly smitten next wee see Him led to Pilates Iudgement Hall where when They had not ought T' accuse him of yet then With most corrupted hearts they rather sought To free their Barabbas though hee had wrought Much wickednesse with them Thus did they bring Our Sauiour forth yea'uen him that was the King Of Heauen and Earth placing vpon his head A Crowne of cruell thornes thus was he led With scourgings scoffings and with all disgrace That malice could inuent on to the place Where hee was to bee crucified yet here Wondrous to speake hee did not once appeare So much as to repine but went along Much like a Lambe ne'r muttring out the wrong They did to him And thus the Scriptures ought To bee fulfill'd thus was hee to bee brought Vnto the slaughter as our Esay said Yet opening not his mouth on whom were laid The iniquities of all and thus indeed He was that true vnblemish'd Lamb wee need To bee our sacrifice for sin But here O stay my soule and though thou want a teare To weepe at this sad sight yet let it bee Thy wish to imitate what thou dost see I meane thy Sauiourâ— patient steps for lo Here 's patience fit for all the Saints to know Yea know and imitâ—â—e but I forbeare And turne vnto my Christ againe euen where I left him going on but O my heart VVhence is 't thou look'st on this most tragick part And yet not burst thy selfe to teares Alas Art thou so strained vp with walles of brasse As yet thou canst not breake what shall I say Thou want'st a teare to celebrate this day Of these thy Sauiours passâ—â—nings VVhy then Come all the griefes of miserable men And set on 〈◊〉 once yet bee thou still As hard as rock ne'r weepe at any ill If not at this ne'r weepe to see thy friends Not pity thee ne'r weepe to see their ends Ne'r weepe at any worldly crosse nay more If thou seeme senslesse of this only sore And wilt not weepe to see so sad a part Ne'r bee thou hence call'd by the name of heart But O my life VVhy dost thou ake and burne So sore within my brest VVhy dost thou mourne So oft in secret deep fetcht sighes and yet Not weepe a teare Alas canst thou forget Thy quondam vse when thou wouldst freely weepe And not bee staid O 't was a happy deepe Thou then wast in when griefe knew how to plaine It selfe in teares and so dismisse the paine But woe is mee my fainting sprite hath seene Those heauier plunges that thou now art in And knowne them too-too well Alas my heart Faine wouldst thou personate this passiue part In a more seemely weed of teares but lo Thy time 's not come when God will haue it so Then sure it shall be so meane while I pray Rest thee content and follow on thy way Thus turning to my Christ againe behold I finde him brought as Esay had foretold On to his slaughter-place where hee good man Though forst by them yet willingly began T' embrace his latest Crosse that wofull bed Whereon hee was to lay his wearied head In these his greatst extremes of death but here O cursed Iewes could not you yet forbeare To cast your scorning taunts on him Sure no The Scriptures had foretold it should bee so You would not could not choose But cruell eyes What malice could haue wisht more miseries To fall on him then now you saw that yet Your wicked braines still studied how to get Some new-inuented grieuances whereby To adde vnto his deepes of misery And persecute whom God had smit But O Why do I question more of this for lo Your browes were brasse and you were fore-decreed To bee the Actors
to thee In my behalfe What shall I say hee bore My sins and griefes as well thou know'st yea more Hee hath fulfill'd thy Law for me and thou Thy selfe wouldst haue him so yea sure and now Thou 'st also led mee by thy Sprite to him In these my deepes of misery and sin To salue and solace vp my soule and I Appeale to thee vnder no other tye Or name but his that being found alone Hauing his righteousnesse and not mine owne For I alas haue none I thus might bee Made perfect in thy sighs and so might see And know my selfe linkt in thy loue whereby I 'm bound to thee in this eternall tye Of praise and thankfulnesse Here then my Lord Come take me to thy selfe here let thy VVord Speake comfort to my soule that I may bee From hence accounted thine here take from mee All that is mine my sinnes I meane and hence Compose mee for thy seâ—e Refine my sense With all mine inward faculties that I May bee made wholy thine Let not mine eye So much as look on what I loue vnlesse It please thee sanctifie the same and blesse Its sight and vse to mee for good and let Mee here intreate thee teach mee to forget My fathers house this earth I meane that so My soule may hence with that faire daughter go Vnto the King my Christ and there may bee Presented glorious all within to thee Roab'd only with his Righteousnesse and thou May'st greatly cast thy loue on mee for now Behold I haue giu'n o're my selfe to be Thy worshipper alone who art to mee My only Lord. Here will I set my heart As Dauid earst to act its thankfull part Of prayses to the King here shall my pen Become his tongue here will I show to men The wondrous Riches of thy loue which thou Hast showne to mee Come then my friends for now I will begin Come yee that feare the Lord Come all I say attend to euery word Which I shall speake here will I show to you Such things as may deserue the choycest view What God hath done for my poore soule when I Was in distresse first please you cast an eye But back on these my many griefes which bee Set dully forth in this sad mappe by mee And you shall finde if you haue eyes to looke That can refraine from drowning my poore booke With interrupting teares whiles you peruse The heauie plunges of my sorry Muse There shall you finde I say what deeps of griefe My soule was in there shall you finde in briefe The fearefull'st plunges and extremest smart That euer did beset so weake a heart O're-whelming mee at once there is the paine My soule endur'd which stroue so long in vaine To be redeem'd from sin the heauiest loade That euer yet poore wretched man abode There may you see the feares despaires and all The sad euents that euer could befall A perfect sinfull wretch oppressing mee So sore on euery side that you may bee Made tremble but to thinke vpon 't for I VVas sure me thought past all recouerie Yea sure I was in mans conceit my soule VVas pris'ner fast to death writ in the roule Of hells accursed bookes and could not stirre One foot so much vnlesse it were to erre Into some greater deepe of sinne whereby I needs must fall to greater miserie This was my case deare friends wherein I lay Bereft of helpe full many a tedious day So that I knew not what to doe nor where I might betake my selfe all that was here Within this earth I meane did seeme to me But as some friends of mine which faine would be Accounted so but in my deepes of griefe They were so farre from sending me reliefe That at my greatest need my hopes prou'd vaine Thus did they helpe to adde vnto my paine And thus alas I still continued on From bad to worse till I was so o're-gone VVith my increasing killing sinnes that I Had lost all sense of mine owne miserie VVhich show'd indeed I was quite dead in sin Such was the fearefull case my soule was in But here behold now you haue seene a briefe Or shaddow of my former tedious griefe And wofull deepes that I was in I say Behold when all things else were fled away And would not could not comfort me euen then O here was loue surpassing that of men My God alone tooke hold on me when I VVas in my greatest deepe of miserie Enslau'd to sinne polluted in my blood A loathsome lumpe of any thing but good And there he sweetly rayâ—'d me vp and said Vnto me â—iue lo I will be thine aide For all things else are vaine e'en I alone I will redeeme thee for besides there 's none That can redeeme I will because I will Of my free Grace for thy deserts are ill As all the rest thy kinreds are which came From sinfull Adams loynes for mine owne Name And goodnesse sake I will that hence thou be A vessell wholly consecrate to me In holinesse Thus did he leade me on As I haue showne his sacred Word along Till from Mount Sinai he had brought me vp To Sions hill where he gaue me the cup Of his saluation freely and mine eie Began to see that happie Mysterie Of his abundant loue in Christ which he Did sweetly there begin lay ope to me Lay ope indeed for 't was a treasurie Of loue beyond conceit the time when I Was in my deepest plunge prest downe by sin Euen to despaire the time when I was in The very Iawes of Hell euen then I say When there was left for me none other way Then did my gracious God in kindnesse come And take me vp then did he send his Sonne His owne beloued Sonne downe from on high And rather then hee 'd suffer me to lye In those eternall bonds of death to be Still thrall'd to Hells expreslesse miserie Whereto my selfe had brought my selfe euen he His onely Sonne would needs come downe to be My Ransomer his loue was growne so great Hee 'd rather leaue his wonte glorious seat Of Maiestie then see me thus yea more Hee 'd be my suretie too for sure he bore My sinnes and griefes he vnder-went the paine Of death and hell for me nought could restraine His forward wings of speakelesse loue but he Would straight vn-God himselfe as 't were and be Made man like vs he would descend from high Where 's earst he sate in his felicitie And glorie inexpressible that he Might take on him our poore humanitie The ragges of our accursed flesh wherein He might in person answer for the sin That we had done he would become our Gage To vndergoe his fathers heauie rage And wrath so iustly due to vs that wee From out the hell of this our low degree Might bee raisd vp so high from death from sin And all those deepes of misery