the cause is tri'd 11. My generall advice is this Remember death must seaze on all Thinke and prepare O doe not misse Thy selfe against when death doth call In expectation daily die And willing be in dust to Iye 12. In doubtfull things men use to feare On certaine things men doe resolve What doth more plaine than this appeare That death must all ere long dissolve Why should a man whose time is short Jest at mens death with sinfull sport 13. Repent of sinne the sting of death There 's no such thing as many deeme In't though that he do stop thy breath Thou maist be great in Gods esteeme Hold in with Christ then sweetly sing O cruell death where is thy sting 14. Death to the best a gaine indeed Is they doe change this place of strife Though in the grave wormes on them feed Yet they shall have eternall life They doe but mellow in the dust Till God new mould and make them just 15. Have still thy heart on heaven set And keepe Gods love fresh in thy heart Though Death doe catch thee in his net 'T will not be fired out by art Love stronger doth than death appeare Such love will free thee from deaths feare 16. Let wicked men so tremble still At thoughts of death that they may leave Their sinnes let sorrow their hearts fill Ere death doth them of life bereave That they may learne to hate their sin And may a new life once begin 17. It 's best for those that live at full To set the worst before their eyes And rouse themselves for such are dull And have regard to poore mens cries You 'd best give bread while here you dwell Lest you your water beg in hell 18. Learne to know want in midst of wealth And die to riches while you live And thinke of sicknesse in your health Doe not content to humours give Life will not be so strange to these If thou from earth dyest by degrees 19. The foolish must know though 't is bad That death will take them all away Then are not such men worse than mad That drive off all untill that day Till they doe see needs they must die And they despairing quaking lie 20. Beat downe conceit and thinke thou art A foole indeed then thou maist learne To know the turnings of thy heart And maist true wisedome then discerne That thou maist then receive at last Eternall life when this is past 21. Let tender hearted men beleeve Their grace is true though 't is not strong Let not the thoughts of death them greeve They shall be freed ere it be long Gods strength is thine which will prevaile Against all feares that thee assaile 22. Those that be strong yet be falne downe And feares of death oppresse them so That they have lost their great renowne And God himselfe seemes like a foe Strengthen your hearts and feeble hands Rescue your selves from feare and bands 23. If you be cowards you will shame The cause your selves and others will Be fearfull when they heare the name Of death such frailties shew the ill Vse well the gifts that God doth give That though death comes your joy may live 24. And ever after have a care Of falling from your stedfastnesse You need not then to feare the snare Of death but heavens happinesse Will tend on you and you shall see The glorie of eternitie 25. Those that would leave a happie seed Behinde them when death throwes his dart Must pray and labour still indeed That God with grace may fill the heart That they may live to God below When they above Gods praises shew 26. And they that long to see the peace Of Sion ere they 'd leave their life Let them not grutch their lives to cease For death will free them from all strife In heaven they at last shall see Their freedome with felicity 27. Some willing are to die when they Are vext or want their wils in things They thinke they have no score to pay Though death them endlesse torment brings They ignorant of death remaine Till second death bring such their gaine 28. Some desperate persons that doe kill Themselves they seeke for 't which they finde The curse of God their soules shall fill The effect will not please well the minde The first fruits of hell may suffice To reape the crop such fooles devise 29. Some of a better making doe Sometimes in passion wish to die Such in distresse are foolish too And fret disdaining miserie But when God chides them quickly they Were sorry that they went astray 30. Those that are Gods the truth so grace Confesse they will unto the death They willing are to give the place To tyrants and to lose their breath Before they will deny Gods name They 'l give themselves to burning flame 31. Such that have peace with God above Do draw from earth their hearts content And with their sins are out of love And to all good their hearts are bent Their blessed'st life doth then begin When death doth set them free from sinne 32. But yet if God would have them stay A while on earth they willing are To doe his will their soules each day Confirme how ere the bodie fare When the body growes towards earth The soule brings forth immortall birth 33. The wicked still are in extreames They would not die if God should call They of this world have then such dreames Of joy which they 'l not part withall They 'r so be witcht to pleasure here There 's nothing else but death they feare 34. And others that God bids to save The lives of others and their owne They 'r brought untimely to their grave And by themselves are overthrowne Such feare not death but downe to hell They headlong rush and there doe dwell 35. I cannot chuse but I must chide Those that in sullen fits would die The worlds disgrace cannot abide For trouble that upon them lie They must of this with teares repent Or else of God they shall be shent 36. Can any suffering be too much For God his cause or glory when They shall have a reward with such In heaven these are blessed men That never share in troubles more They now rejoyce though sad before 37. Such as are willing for to yeeld Their lives to death for Christ his sake By Death they conquer in the field In losing life a better take They leave a dread upon all those That unto God and them are foes 38. Who would not willing be to part With earth for heaven when they have Got peace with God by gratious art And knowing God their soules will save For heaven let all those be prest That fitted are thus for their rest 39. Yet let not any grudge to stay Till they have done the worke that he Hath set them to spending their day In good while they here present be Returning still their pay therefore Worke now then thou need'st work no more 40. The more men do or suffer
my courage much advance 'Gainst darknesse yet the combate was so sore That I grew sadder than I was before But yet thinke I I le in defiance stand For I will never be at his command Like one destract I was o'rewhelm'd a while With griefe and care lest I should lose the day Then in comes Light and with a cheerfull smile Revives my spirits Darknesse slinkes away So on the sudden ended was the fray Light shin'd a while but what will 〈…〉 ever What 's made for time a little time 〈…〉 Then light began much like a pleasant spring My heart grew warme I had the sense of it The winters past thought I now birds dosing Why should I thus now melancholly sit Come come rejoyce I hold it very fit I was on suddain ravisht in my soule But that which follow'd did my joyes controule For life brought Care she lookt on me so strange Best things below doe prove but pleasing toyes I found his friendship subject still to change Worm-eaten pleasures breeds uncertain joyes And are like Rattles onely fit for boyes Alas said I how am I thus deceiv'd I catch at comfort and am still bereav'd Then Sin he promis'd full content to me But on such tearmes I should take his direction Feare not said he for we shall well agree But then thought I t wil breed a worse infectiō To staine my soule with horrour and dejection I gave deniall to his cursed sute And did resolve his vilenesse to confute I turn'd about and law sin was in hold Nay now thought I I le have of sin my will Seeing that he was so impudent and bold To tempt me by his promises to ill The soules of many he doth daily spill I gave my voyce against him by and by I turn'd my face and saw him sentenc'd lyc Well now thought I I hope the worst is past I will rejoyce and while my Muse doth sing I le over-looke my sorrow and fore-cast To tune my soule and strike the pleasant string But Death peept in which more ill newes did bring What must I die is all my labour lost Sin set him on seeing he by me was crost But yet resolving while I had my life To try an action so my cause was tried And Death was cast which ended all my strife But then the Divell he could not abide That sin and death should die for then his pride Would be abated so he got them quit Now farewell world I must into the pie But then at last I found another shift I slighted death and thought on heaven above I thought it best to make it still my drift To get the sense of Gods eternall love Me thought'twas brought me by the heav'nly Dove And musing of him when he was ascended And what he brought so was my Vision ended 1 COR. 7. 29. This I say Brethren the Time is short ECCLES 3. 2. There is a Time to be borne and a Time to die ECCLES 9 10. Neither doth man know his Time but as the Fishes that are taken in a not and the snare so are the Children of men snared in an evill Time when it falleth upon them suddainly EPHES. 5. 16. Redeeme the Time because the dayes are evill A DESCRIPTION OF THE NATVRE AND QUALITIE of TIME As also the abuse of it with the good use of TIME POEMS Time thou art that precious part that God doth give to man That living here may in Gods feare proceed the best he can Time's more of worth when 't is set forth in Nature sweet and kinde Than Gold being lost the man is crost that seekes to gaine or finde Time being gone sure there is none can call it backe againe It s in God hand Time cannot stand the Lord of times doth raigne When Time is past though thou make haste to o're-take it s seldome seene But if thou creepe time doth not sleepe but swift hath ever beene If thou but goe time doth not so it runnes thou runn'st 't will flye Get time before and keepe in store lest God thee time deny Thy great estate time will but hate to stay for thee therefore Time knowes not how nor God allow to differ rich from poore Time 's like wise short though fooles in 〈…〉 to make it shorter strive Poore fooles indeed that whipps with 〈…〉 time gone yet thinkes to thrive Alas aday I who is 't that may more then his day stay here What mortall can exceed his span though living now in cheere Death hath time prest that all the rest that on the earth abide Ere it belong though nere so strong the dust may under hide Uncertaine too not much adoe can make us know our time Our suddaine change should not be strange though it come in our prime When men minde not then 't is their lot to die they naught desire it Time will away it must not stay though all the world would hire it Though men do deeme and some esteeme time long yet short's the flower When men are strong it lasts not long times cream's but like an houre Long doe we grow ere we know how to use our time and then We eate and drinke and little thinke to die like other man Much time we sleepe some time we weepe some time we sport and play Some time we win most time we sin thus spend we many a day Some time we joy and vainely toy saying come lets merry be For when death comes we in our tombes this mirth shall never see Some time we dresse we take no lesse time to put off againe Sometime we walke sometime we talke these things who can refraine When strength doth faile old age is fraile and natures ruines are Though old men be we seldome see them for their soules prepare Unlesse before they had in store a stock of comfort got They cannot pray not truely say O Lord thou art my lot Not first nor last of time that 's past our time we vainely spend The creame and flower us'd by Gods power brings comfort at the end This being true I heard one rue how vile a beast am I Lost time I have what may I crave but like a beast to die O time thy price if good advice had wrought upon me then I had thee bought and for thee sought wil 't never come agen Thy front was faire adorn'd with haire but balde behinde thou art To follow thee boots not for me for griefe hath kild my heart Thou art too swift for me unthrift whether I doe goe or runne My friend also is turn'd my foe alas my thread is spunne Short is the pleasure of sinfull leasure but still the sting remaines Long lives the smart which kils my heart with never dying paines I did beleeve that on my sleeve time and Repentance fast Was pin'd and when I car'd not then they both were quickly past Then thou my friend that seest my end take heed at any rate For now in hell I goe to dwell all comforts come too
late Make use of time now in thy prime lay hold on saving grace Lest at the last God doe thee cast from heaven his dwelling place Into that Lake where lives the snake with hell-hounds yelling fast Where thou shalt crie and burning lye thy dolour still shall last GOOD VSE OF TIME With meanes to bee used to make advantage of it VVEll now I see what miserie that time ill spent doth bring Hearing these words they cut like swords teares from my eyes they wring Time be my friend I le make an end and leave my vaine delights I will thee use and not abuse and give to thee thy rights Thou art of price I will be wise to make of thee such gaine As through Gods grace I le thrive apace Gods love shall me constraine Though short time is I will not misse in time to serve the Lord And then will he still present be and comfort me afford Then time make haste and run as fast or having wings thou flye Then to my fort I will resort under Gods wings I le lye Though suddenly thou com'st to trie how ready I shall be Then thus I say I le watch and pray from feare I shall be free Against that houre Lord by thy power of comforts give mestore Live thou my soule free from controule when time shall be no more Now thou my friend that good intend use well the time while here Thou stay then sure thou shalt endure fresh comforts shall appeare Alas how may I thou wilt say make use of times sad story I may at last when time is past by grace attaine to glory Serve God while young when thou art strong to overcome thy Lust Make haste also and with time goe or be behinde thou must Deny thy strength and now at length make God thy chiefest guide Let in thy brest sin never rest but chiefly downe with pride Beleeve thou art freed from the smart of sin of death and hell By him that came from heavens frame sometime on earth to dwell Be good and kinde to all that minde the God of time to serve Serve all in love from God above let thy heart never swarve Unloose thy joyes from earthly toyes and willing be to part For worldly things no comfort brings let heaven have thy heart So now we see how we may be of time good stewards then Let us be blest Lord to thy rest and enter may Amen FINIS 1 JOHN 2. 17. The World passeth away and the Lust thereof 1 COR. 7. 31. The fashion of this World passeth away THE FADING CONDITION OF EARTHLY THINGS With the Application of it THe Vanity of earthly things appeareth on this wise False joy true discontent it brings who could them not despise What are the Nobles of the earth but honoured clodds of clay Though they are made so great by birth such time consumes away What are the learned'st here below but reverend heapes of dust Also the wisest that I know dissolved be they must What are the richest of the time ere growne they fade away So doe the greatest in their prime euen fade till quite decay What are the fairest of this age but skin thicke beauties found Must not the stoutest though they rage lye even with the ground And must not poore and lowly too at last be lower brought All of all sorts though much adoe ere long must turne to naught If Nobles be though honoured so mortall in their kinde I le be content though meaner bred and comming thus behinde Shall finde as much respect with death the wormes and eke the grave As truly honoured Nobles sith they there no Lordships have If learning will not much availe when time begins to close Though they are like when they prevaile the Lilly and the Rose The learning of the truth shall be the thing I most intend When all things changed thus shall be my comfort shall not end If worldly wisedome doth no good to helpe in time of need I le not adore the serpents brood nor run with them to speed My wisedome for to know my God his Christ through his good grace My selfe my sins and eke Gods rod 't will make me mend apace If rich men and their riches are thus subject all to fade O pitty them that with much care their gods of them hath made My care shall be to be as rich in God I may or can To bring my selfe up to the pitch to feare nor flatter man What cannot greatnesse death withstand nor shun his mortall dart Let no man thinke to take in hand to free him from that smart My care shall be to frame my life and daily die to sinne And living may thus free from strife a heavenly life begin Nor cannot beauty with her smiles once charme deaths frowning face Who then so hard y thinkes his wiles can turne his common trace I love the beautie that 's within and in the heart doth lye It 's fresh in heaven being freed from sin when death it selfe shall die Cannot the man that is so stout himselfe free from the dread What is the man that goes about redemption from the dead I desire to take away the sting from death and him disarme Being done by faith to God I le sing his praise thus fre'd from harme And why must poore and lowly men lye lower in the dust It 's so decreed I say agen that all men living must Poore be content for you shall see the rich for all their store As low interr'd in earth shall be though men doe them adore Let low in heart rejoyce that have a Kingdome for their owne The King of Kings will all them save when proud are overthrowne Let 's all prepare our selves for change We must not long stay here That God to us may not be strange then come thou King of feare Not noble birth nor learning high nor wise nor rich nor great Nor faire nor stout poore nor lowly 〈…〉 must be wormes meat Come downe proud hearts for thus I say that death hath no remorse Obend to God and to him pray lest thou be broke by force Then farewell all contents below all must to judgement come How they have liv'd so shall they know for to receive their doome FINIS GEN. 1. 2 The Earth was without forme and Darknesse was upon the Deepe ROM 13. 12. Cast away the workes of Darknesse EPHES. 5. 11. Have no fellowship with the unfruitfull workes of Darknesse but reprove them rather POEMS DARKNESSE DISCOVERED With the dreadfull effects thereof The Argument in Charge 1. COme come my Muse put on thy sad aray Black darknesse scorning in a hatefull tone And if thou canst him banish quite away Thou shalt have praise almost of every one Be bold and by him be not thou out-fac'd If he 'll not part let him remaine disgrac'd 2. Thou black and hideous monster on the earth Darknesse I meane I never yet could finde That he which made the world brought thee to birth Thou art
of hellifh nature kin by kind To that curst fiend that rules in thee by might Thou must give place he claims thee for his right 3. If hell had been before there was a Divell I should have judg'd that thou hadst bin the same As first so worse than any other evill Thou art till now I never knew thy name A dreadfull night-hag blacknesse type of death Thou hinder'st light thy vapors poyson breath 4. An evill spirit thou art there is no doubt Thou do'st so haunt me where so ere I goe Though I remote be thou do'st finde me out And lookst so ghastly like a deadly foe If I haste home yet thou art there before Waiting my comming for to vexe me more 5. Thou art so bold no company or place Can shake thee off thou most unwelcome guest The comeliest creature thou do'st still disgrace Onely with blinde men thou art in request Or hatefull creatures that doe shun the light Doe follow thee and so play least in sight 6. Had not the glorious light appear'd still thou Hadst kept possession of the world and then None ever could at any time tell how To differ beasts though wilde from sons of men Gods praise of all his works had quite bin lost Had he not brought in light and darknes crost 7. But still thou shar'st with light of time and place And shew'st thy swarthie visage every where I de make thee creepe in holes not snew thy face No more thou shouldst if I could powerst care Th' obscurest den should ever be thy tombe Till hell did take thee at the day of doome 8. Men were not made with eyes and not to see Such pleasant colours made were for delight What use of these when men in darknesse be What dost thou then but rob us of our right Dost peepe in now be gone or else I le fire Thy horrid shape let cursed be thy hire 9. Thou envious viper why so long dost keepe Possession of some countries ere thou part Wouldst have a creature halfe a yeare to sleepe No fruit thou hast poore beasts do feele the smart Thou keepst frō others mē must wait thy leisure Ther 's no excuse nor reason 't is thy pleasure 10. A man that travels on his way he thinkes No harme is neare him but thou hid'st the way Then suddainly into a pit he sinkes So by thy meanes that doth his life destroy Thou dost not care thou wouldst not blush awhit If all that lives should fall into a pit 11. Contrarily when men in Darknesse goe They see a bush but take it for a Theefe And so a friend is taken for a foe Of all mistakes in mischiefe thou art chiefe I never knew thee to repent of any Of all such wrongs though they were nere so many 12. Thou hant'st the day that it can never rest Thy fury shewes the curstnesse of thy spirit And when the chāpion hides him in the west Thou tak'st his place there thou wouldst stil inherit But light doth conquer and breaks up thy fort Monrun from thee to light they doe resort 13. What use of thee can any creature make For any good what profit dost thou bring Or what delight can any creature take In thee thou envi'st every living thing But Batts and Owles are companie for thee And graves remote how noysome ere they be 14. Nay worse thā al that I before have told Thou' rt good for nothing but with sleeping dreams Thou cheatest men the blindest are most bold And whē they wake their wants are in extreams Thou fright'st men too mak'st some fools sōe mad All this is true o this is worse than bad 15. Yet worse I le say that no man can deny it Thou coverest sin and dost still take his part Thou art reserv'd and close I doe defie it Thou hid'st sins vermin that should feel the smart And good that should lye open to the world Thou hid'st it so that in a grave 't is hurl'd 16. A traytor thou art guilty of the treason That traytors act in vaults and hideous Cels Thou keep'st their counsels is there any reason But thou should'st share with thē in deadly spels Nay thou are first in all things that are ill Thy partners die but thou remainest still 17. By thy assistance theeves doe seeke their prey They rob and steale thou dost their counsell keep When they breake houses 't is not in the day 'T is in thy presence when men are asleepe Thou cozening varlet dost not thou partake With all such villaines thou dost share a stake 18. Mē spend whole nights in play their means al Thou dost them shelter with a sable hue They 'l turne thee into day but they inthrall Themselves day is their night shame their due For when light peeps on them they slink away Thou mak'st them bold but light doth them bewray 19. What art thou but a Pandar to the whore To countenance such basenesse that they doe When thou hast curtain'd light and not before They serve their lusts art thou not guiltie too Such things are cover'd yea maintain'd by thee As clownes blush at and mad men hate to see 20. Thou go'st with death you both agree together If one goe first the other followes fast Who is the master 't is no matter whether How can you ' gree too slow thou he too fast Runs death in darknes throws his dart so right You both conspire against the blessed light 21. Darknes thou tak'st on thee such dreadfull state That sin and death doth still upon thee waite Having their love thou dost procure thee hate Of all that know thy trickes and finde thy baite Thou art accurst of all that see thy shape 'T is more ugly than any Beare or Ape 22. Thou chargest men with candle torch and tapers Those that doe purchase any time of thee When thou dost come and bring thy hatefull vapors Shall buy it deare if they would constant be Thou ever still dost seeke for to undoe us And enviest much when any light comes to us 23. Though I chide thee yet stil thou star'st upon me And dost not shrinke a whit thou mak'st me fret Thou dost out-face me pressing more upon me With thy blacke guard thou dost upon me set I call for light but thou dost wait till when My candle 's out and then thou com'st agen 24. Mans time is short yet thou tak'st halfe his life He answer must for that blacke time that thou Dost bring on him 't is that that breeds us strife To be redeem'd from thee we know not how The willinger to part from earth I le bee Freed from thy shade I perfect light shall see 25. Unlike to God thou art no darknesse dwell With him may thou hast nothing else thy name Is darknesse thou wilt soone all light expell If thou hadst might for free thou art from shame Thou dar'st not looke in heaven this I know God lets thee stay for punishment below 26. Most fitly unto
here For truth their crown they doe augment Their glory shall the more appeare Though death do close them in his tent God shewes his face here most to such That liv'd long wrought and did not grudge 41. It 's best for bad to die betime For living long their sins increase And sinfull acts grow to their prime Their sinnes live still though life do cease Though they are rotten in the dust Their sins are fresh they meet them must 42. They 'd best to tremble in such sort At thoughts of death that they may know And heare the dreadfull ill report Of sinne while here they live below Death puts an end to vaine delights Then doth begin hell horror frights 43. But to the just their sorrow ends They joy though 't was begun before With full increase which makes amends For trouble much their joyes are more Of this the blessed Saints can tell As damned can relate of hell 44. What though the soule and body parts Which loving friends have been so long The thoughts of this may glad their hearts That they shall meet both sweet and strong Refin'd and with each other joy In heaven still without annoy 45. Death is no death it doth but ope A doore the soule away may flie And so possesse that blessed hope It hath of true felicitie To leave fraile life who 'd thinke it strange To have eternall in exchange 46. Death 's but a blast that soone blowes ore And never more shall looke on thee The hurt is nothing feare is more Though dreadfull it do seeme to be God will it sweeten from above And thou shalt finde his constant love 47. I le feare it not for why should I For life and death together goes By every crosse I le learne to die They 'r both my friends but they are foes Life doth consent with Death each day To take part of my life away 48. Lord I will serve thee while I here Remaine what need I much to care For death when thou freest me from feare I will thy goodnesse still declare My life shall ever speake thy praise When death comes I shall live alwayes FINIS The Resolutions of the Muse in her Pilgrimage NOw I of Time and Vanity have sung Of Darknesse Light and Life sad sweet strong Of Sin of Death Instructions too among I le seeke my fortune now and goe about I shall be entertain'd I make no doubt Though I am naked love will finde me out I shall be cloth'd then in a sute of Leather And love and I both still shall dwell together And she 'l be glad that ever I came hither And if a Noble person do me grace To take me in in this distressed case I le do my service faithfull in my place If one that 's learned take me home to dwell I le pray him then that he will use me well Or to a better I my selfe will sell. If I should dwell with him that 's truly wise He 'l hide my faults what 's of worth he 'l prize And then my song to praise him shal devise If he that 's honest bids me welcome in I le doe my best to helpe to kill his sin I shall not lose yet he by me shall win If noble learned wise and honest too Doe shew respect to me who then durst doe Me wrong they cannot 't is no matter who If one ignoble seeing me doe grutch To shew me favour thinke it 's all too much That I receive I looke for none of such If one unskill'd in any learned art Against me proudly act a Tyrants part He 'l vexe in vaine he shall not greeve my heart For want of wit if any doe me blame Let them as fools keep in their spight with shame My song's the same and so are they by name If one that 's vile looke with disdainfull eye On me because I doe his faults espie I le leave him gall'd when I from him doe flie If any Senior looking big and grave Conceits he knowes yet he no knowledge have If me he slight I will his absence crave Or if I finde one with an emptie pate That nothing speakes though he doe ever prate I le shew his shame but not his person hate If one I finde that hath a barren soule And will not see 't yet doe my words controule Let him be put with stultus in his rowle If one that 's simple doe desire me To gaine experience constant I will be To doe my best to him that all shall see If any censure me is this the cause Their parboyl'd spirits cannot gaine applause They break both Gods Natures humane laws If one detract from good or turne to ill My honest meaning this may follow still That such like things his measure here may fill Such Imps to plead for sinne were very fit But seldome they have so much art or wit As pride or lust have for to manage it If one that reades and rudely breakes my feet Or spoyles my joynts my musicke is not sweet To him the Horne-book is for him most meet If one through envie proudly do disdaine To grant me favour others will obtaine The fruit but he hath labour for his paine If any mend my faults I will him praise And with my voice his honour I will raise His name in me preserv'd shall be alwsyes All that I crave is but a spotlesse name And not to mount upon the wings of fame Plain welcome likes me quit me all from blame You know my minde for what I speake is true Being modest I will not for favour sue Receive me else I le bid you now adieu FINIS