Reflection's prest But all his Actions are refin'd and good No Peace the guilty Conscience knows But secret Gripes and swelling Woes As constant Rains augment the rolling Flood What tho They talk of peaceful Days And high their vain Expectance raise And dream of happy Lives from Anguish free Mind not their haughty Looks or Lies Vengeance on all their Pride shall rise And all their Embryo Thoughts abortive be Joy in severe Affliction proves No uncouth Task to him who loves His Saviour's Cross is all his Boast and Pride While that short Praise the World bestows A thousand Griefs and Mischiefs close And humane Hearts with torturing Woes divide Sweet Innocence not vulgar Air And God and heavenly Truth prepare Treasures of lasting Joys for humble Minds Who to eternal Crowns aspires No Temporary Bliss desires Nor on this wretched Earth Contentment finds Where transient Bliss the Man deceives The Wretch a glorious Kingdom leaves And barters Orient Gems for crumbling Dust He only gains a peaceful State Who neither values Praise nor Hate But 's ever to Himself and Vertue just Praise adds no Holiness to Thee And He a spotless Saint may be Who droops beneath the Weight of sensless Lies God only knows him thro' and where The Hands are clean the Heart sincere The Man at ease the common Vogue defies He 'll ne're in Creature-Comforts rest God wholly fills his taintless Breast And to Eternity consigns his Name All sordid Passions then remove And walk with God in perfect Love And promis'd Crowns of Heavenly Glory claim VII We love him because he first loved us HAppy thrice Happy 's He Who can Himself despise And from ignobler Passions free Up to the Gust of Love Divine can rise Once was I fond of Pleasures here Toys could themselves to trifling Thoughts endear But now I 've cast 'em off my Jesus now Has my cold Heart with sacred Flames possest I to his Scepter only bow With Heavenly Raptures blest He 's mine He 's mine to him My wing'd Affections fly To me my former Comforts seem An empty Cheat a dangerous Fallacy Jesus alone my Saviour's true Daily his Aids his charming Loves renew Who e're in this declining World confides Crush'd with it in eternal Ruines lies Only my Rock my Christ abides And powerful Time defies I 'll grasp my Lord my Love And on his Breast recline Let Others Other Friendships prove My Life my Jesus shall alone be Mine Others the Soul in Dangers leave My Jesus can't my longing Hopes deceive I must from all inferiour Pleasures part Nor if I would could I the Cheats retain My Jesus ever keeps my Heart And I in Him remain Come Life come hasty Death I 'll in my Jesus trust To him I 'll gladly yield my Breath He 'll only to my Faith and Love be just He can't endure another Guest Should rival him in my divided Breast There He 'll an Arbitrary Monarch reign His Throne when freed from bold Usurpers hold And my dull Heart to entertain His glorious Image mould Jesus my Lord alone My Love with Loves requites But off those airy Hopes are blown Which transient Bliss or faithless Earth invites No more I 'll look abroad no more My Jesus is my All my boundless Store Should I e're seek my Self my Self would prove Worse than the World and worse than Hell to me While I my Jesus only love He 's my Security VIII I am my Beloved's and my Beloved is mine JEsus Dear Holy Charming Name My Joy my Love my Soul my vital Flame How am I blest when thou art here How dead when thy sweet Beams no more appear Vain is all Solace drawn from things below Only from thy dear Life Eternal Comforts flow So when with ruddy swelling Eyes Blest Mary offer'd Sorrow's Sacrifice To her dear Breathless Brother's Ghost Her broken Thoughts in strange Amusements lost Jesus the Master call'd the welcome Sound Wip'd off her flowing Tears her Eyes in Pleasure drown'd What Rocks could keep their Quarry long When call'd from thence by his harmonious Tongue How stupid would the Sinner prove Whom his All-powerful Language fail'd to move I 'm lost undone should He rejected be That Loss is greater far than that of Worlds to me Without Him what 's the flattering World But one rude Heap in wild Confusions hurl'd With Him Hell's darkest part would be A Paradise from all Temptation free Jesus alone 's an inexhausted Mine Of Consolations rich and Treasures all Divine How shall I hold thee fast my Love How with my Jesus all my Days improve O make me Humble make me Kind So I shall his unalter'd Presence find My Jesus I by Sins may turn to flight But then must friendless live in Sorrow's gloomy Night May I enjoy but thee my Dear I 'll not a thousand marshal'd Armies fear No threatning Worlds shall daunt my Soul Nor Hell's confederate Bands my Joys controul Others I 'll love for Thee but Thee alone For thy Essential Worth my Lord my Saviour own I 'll lay my pining Envy by And or'e my Passions for a Conquest try Vile in my self yet lov'd by Grace To others I 'll thy sacred Footsteps trace No wretched Inmates shall my Heart divide I 'm all I 'm only thine by all Engagements ty'd Wash me my God and make me pure My Soul from all ensnaring Arts secure O let me taste O let me see What inexhausted Sweetness flows from Thee Draw me prevent me by powerful Grace And my purg'd Soul with thy endearing Arms embrace When of thy powerful Grace depriv'd My Wealth my Hopes my Joys are all shortliv'd When that returns reviv'd again I vigorous Hopes and mighty Joys attain So Summer Winter Day succeeds to Night And to a sullen Storm a Sky serene and bright IX O that my Head were Waters IT 's easy very easy sure When Seas smile only with a gentle Gale To hold the Rudder or to furl the Sail A young a half-experienc'd Skipper may The floating Hulk from Port to Port convey From lurking Rocks and Sands secure But when an Earth-born Tempest loudly roars And foaming Billows dash the sounding Shores When Mountain-Surges bounding high With curling Heads attempt the thundring Sky Each Flurry opens Nature's silent Womb And every Break displays a gaping Tomb A skilful Pilot only then can hold The Helm with long Experience bold Hoary with Toils with great Successes crown'd And all his brawny Crew around With Stomas undaunted and in Dangers old So when unfailing Comforts flow From smiling Heaven to stay the staggering Soul And all its Joys are undisturb'd and whole A Novice Christian tho with Crosses tri'd May bear his Head above the broken Tide And an unyielding Courage show But if at once when Hell and Earth conspires To work his Ruine God himself retires If he behind a Cloud conceal His Lifeful Smiles and if a dismal Peal Of Cares and Fears wild Doubts and dark Despair And Hell 's swift Troops around the groaning Air Break
rebates Weak are thy best Designs and weaker far Than all thy humblest Apprehensions are Don't then my Son thy little Actions prize Nor let great Shows delude thy wandring Eyes Let not the World be sweet or dear to thee Nor fix thy Love beneath Eternity Be TRVTH thy Darling TRVTH thy Soul's Delight Thy Innate Vileness all thy Tears excite Thy Fears thy angry Talk thy Scorn and Hate Engag'd against thy inward sinful State Some with a careless Life but Curious Eye Would boldly thro my Mystic Secret pry Neglect their own and others Souls confound Till in a Sea of deep Temptations drown'd And for their mad Attempts and Godless Pride Down by revenging Strokes to endless Tortures slide Do Thou my Anger and my Judgments fear And don't too busy on my Works appear Thy Sins examine well thy Sins survey Thy frequent Negligence thy cold Delay Some on their Pray'r-Books or on Form and Show All their Devout deceitful Hours bestow They 'l Talk indeed but never Think of Me But those of Souls refin'd more clearly see And only pant and breath to reach Eternity Their Ears all Earthly Conversation hate Unwillingly on Nature's wants they wait They all the Smiles of flattering Worlds despise And higher still in Heavenly Vertues rise And spurn the Ball below and grasp the lofty Skies V. Love is strong at Death Believer TO Thee Eternal Father I With earnest Thanks and Praises fly Father By kind Adoption Mine My Saviour's by his Birth Divine Thro whom on wretched Me bestow'd Thy streaming Pity largely flow'd Blest ever blest be thy Great Name From whom my former Comforts came Who pitied oft unworthy Me For Mercy only lives in Thee To Thee to thy Eternal Son Thy sacred Spirit blest Three in One All humble Thanks all hearty Praise I 'll thro Immortal Ages raise O Gracious God! when once my Breast Is by thy sacred Love possest All Rapture then and Extasy My Heart and Soul shall wait on Thee O then my Hope my Harbour be When Seas of Tribulation compass me Weak are my Vertues weak my Love But O with Joys my Strength improve And with thy Heavenly Discipline Oft visit and my Soul refine My Passions my Affections guide That heal'd and throughly purifi'd My Love with brighter Flames may shine And Patience make me all and only Thine O what 's the Force of Heavenly Love How wondrous all its Motions prove It makes the Heavy Burden Light And always holds the Ballance right It can the Cross with Pleasure meet And make the Bitter truly Sweet Jesus that Name belov'd can raise The humblest Soul to grasp at Praise Make it to mighty Works incline And greater still and more design Love scorns the lower World and flies Like Flames to reach their kindred Skies Love hates Restraint and hates its Chains And always of its Clogs complains Sweet Love the roughest Souls can hold Enflames the Wise the Brave the Bold Makes Heaven the Rest of Saints above And God himself subsists in boundless Love The Lover smiles and springs and flies He 's free and every Bar defies Gives All to All yet keeps it All For he his God his own can call From whom the purest Blessings fall It 's not the Gift but Giver He Above all other Joys would see Love knows no Mean but burns and glows And ore its common Bounders flows Love never values Weight nor Pains Nor of th' Impossible complains But grasps at All and All can do If he who loves can be but active too Love watches in the Lover's Eyes And ne're fatigu'd nor fainting lies Love tho confin'd abroad can rove Unfrighted by the noisy Drove Love like a Torch or Astral Fire Will always tow'rds the Poles aspire If that bright Flame my Soul possess I soon to God shall find Access My God my Love my Life is mine And I Dear Lord am All and only Thine O then with Love enlarge my Heart To me that Heavenly Gust impart That I those happy Sweets may prove And always Live and always Love May Love possess me all and raise My Passions to a soaring Blaze Teach me to sing the Songs of Love And fly with Thee dear Lord above O fill me more and more till I A Phenix in those Flames may die More than my Self I 'll love Thee Lord If thou thy lightsome Beams afford And for thy sake I 'll all embrace Who love thy Glories and who seek thy Face Love when sincere is swift and warms With pleasant and delightful Charms It 's Brave and Patient Wise and True Long-suffering Manly ever New And never seeks it self but You. Love's Cautious Humble seeks the Right Not Soft Effeminate or Light But Sober Peaceful Firm and Chast A Guard on all our Senses plac't Love to its Guides Obedience gives And meanly of it self believes Devout to God and grateful proves And still by Hope's Prescriptions moves Yea tho its God His Smiles remove Since Clouds sometimes obscure the Skies of Love Fit Me for Suffering O my God O fit me for thy sharpest Rod For if I dare not smart for Thee No Lover's Name belongs to Me. All Hardship I for Thee can bear Thy Love can harshest things endear No Pains from Thee shall make me start While Grace unvails my Eyes and Love secures my Heart VI. Whom resist stedfast in the Faith Christ YEt still my Son thou' rt neither brave nor wise And Love's soft Name is but thy thin Disguise Bel. Why Lord Chr. Consider how thy Soul recoils Despairs of Comfort and desponds with Toils The valiant Lover like a Rock secure Can all Hell 's furious Arts unmov'd endure He loves me when he thrives and lives in Peace Nor can his Sufferings make His noble Ardours cease The Prudent Lover may the Gift admire But to the Giver most his Thoughts aspire The Worth but little to the Kindness seems The Giver He above the World esteems I not the Boon his restless Heart engage Yet Doubts don't straight a total Fall presage Love's Sweet and Good when fixt on Mine and Me Grace gave it Being and the Fruits may be The Foretaste of a Blest Eternity Grace yet may vary have its Ebbs and Flows And interrupt the careless Soul's Repose He 's Brave indeed who fights the Battel thro And Courage tho opprest with Odds can shew He breaks Hell's utmost Force and all his Loves are true Then let not fanci'd Beauties charm thy Sight Nor thy Sick Soul from righteous Ways invite Sometimes perhaps thy Joys are Raptures all And down straight to their former Weakness fall If thou to get an equal Temper strive That War may warm thy Soul thy dying Hopes revive Know then the Prince of Hell thy antient Foe Would all thy Faith and envy'd Hopes o'rethrow Thy Soul's Devotions from thy Maker turn And would against thy Saviour's Passion spurn He 'd fain divert thee from thy Sense of Sin From Vertue 's Progress and thy Guard within Fills thee with impious Thoughts
bleeding Lord And thou my Soul with grateful Praise Thy Dear Redeemer's wondrous Bounty blaze Who in a Vale of Tears a Wild of Woes Would such vast Springs of holy Joys disclose As oft as there My Thoughts appear So oft I read my own Redemption o're So oft partake my Saviour's Merits boundless Store His treasur'd Mercies inexhausted prove And inexhaustible his Love O then renew thy Watch thy Thoughts compose With this great Feast thy holy Tremblings close So something new and kind and sweet Thou 'lt always in that sacred Duty meet Thy Lord will to thy Heart as lively come As if just born from Mary's Virgin-Womb As if the Tree Of Infamy Just now our sacrific'd Atonement bore And all the Soil around blush'd with his purple Gore III. Shew forth the Lord's Death often till his coming Believer Lo Here I come Dear Lord to Thee That I partaker of thy Gifts may be That I with swelling Joys may taste That Holy Feast that Sweet Repast By Thee for humble Souls prepar'd In Thee Dear Lord I all my Longings see My Health Redemption Strength Hope 's in thee My Crown my great Reward Jesus I lift my Soul to Thee O let thy flowing Joys descend on Me I would with good Zaccheus fain My Gracious Master entertain With Reverence and humblest Vows I 'd fain the Son of Faithful Abraham be My Soul would fain unite it self to Thee And Thee its Lord espouse I 'm satisfi'd if Thou be Mine No Comforts Lord are valu'd here but Thine Without Thee Life no Joys can give Nor can my Soul without Thee live I 'll oft to wait on Thee prevail Lest while unfed by Thee I upward move And mighty Foes and mighty Dangers prove My wretched Heart should fail When Mercy Lord thy Tongue employ'd And sickly Worlds thy healing Balms enjoy'd thou 'dst never send 'um fasting Home Lest Fasting should to Fainting come Dear Jesus be as kind to Me Thy Flesh thy Blood refresh the fainting Soul And who prepar'd receives the wholesome Dole Life's glorious Heir shall be I feel Dear Lord I feel how Sin How Sloth how want of Zeal prevail within O could I oft with Fervour pray O could I oft my Life survey I 'd to thy Holy Table fly Then I 'd be throughly purg'd enflam'd renew'd My holy Vows should be with Joy pursu'd Which else would faint and die I Lord with deep Confusion own To Sin my very Infant-Nature's prone But when I here my Vows renew I 'd Sin detest and Good pursue Dear God that Physick grateful make Tho I receive I 'm slothful oft and cold But should for holy Works be quite unsould Should I that Feast forsake How oft I 'm indispos'd to be My God a fit Communicant for Thee But still at proper Times I 'll strive To keep my holy Flames alive And share thy gracious Mysteries This Lord supports the Faithful Soul that He To Earth confin'd may still remember Thee Thy Loves devoutly prize Wonders of Condescending Love That Thou great God of Spirits shouldst from above To those in Spirit poor dispense Thy universal Influence And all their hungry Gripes relieve Happy thrice happy Souls who swell'd with Joy All their Devotions all their Flames employ When they their Lord receive How great 's the Lord how dear the Guests How true the Friend who then invades their Breasts The Mate how sweet the Spouse how fair Lovely as fancy'd Angels are Be silent Earth be silent Skies Their Grace their Beauties all descend from Thee Yet can 't their Beauties to the least degree Of thy Illustrious Name thy wondrous Glories rise IV. They shall be fill'd with the Fatness of thy House LORD I Apply My Heart to Thee O quicken Me And let thy Grace In Me take place Till with an humble Heart Before thy Altars I Appear and take a Part In Love's great Mystery Rouze Me Lord O rouze my Soul Off its lazy Temper roll Visit Me with thy Salvation Glut my eager Expectation With all those Heavenly Sweets which rise From that prodigious Sacrifice Clear Lord my Eyes that I may thro The Bread and Wine my Saviour view May I my Saviour's powerful Words believe And Grace from thence and heavenly Strength receive Wise Angels scarce those wondrous Depths can find The Condescensions of a boundless Mind And what can Sinners do to wretched Earth confin'd To be With Thee On Wings of Love I swiftly move With Heart sincere And awful Fear And with a Faith secure Thy just Commands obey Of my Redeemer sure In his appointed way O may I but meet Thee there And as One with Thee appear Mercy Dearest Saviour send Me And let powerful Grace attend Me Till I melt down with sacred Love And ne'r for other Comforts move This is the Christian 's noblest Flight His Body's Health his Soul's Delight The heavenly Physick for despondent Souls Which kills my Follies and my Lusts controuls Abates Temptations greater Grace bestows Here Courage bolder Hope securer grows Faith greater Strength and Loves a brighter Flame disclose How free From Thee Dear Lord to those Thy Goodness flows Whose Love and Fear Attend Thee there Thence mighty Comforts flow To lay their various Woes And when they sink below On Thee their Hopes repose Grace and Safety strong and new Here their growing Hopes pursue Wishes faint and cold Affections Mighty Doubts and weak Reflections Refresh'd with this Celestial Food Are chang'd and ever chang'd for good Here Thine thy faithful Love survey And with thy Strength their Weakness weigh Cold undevout and in themselves obdur'd Till Life Devotion Heat are here procur'd Streams will be sweet where sweet the Fountains rise A constant Heat from constant Burning flies This Fire more lively Flames this Spring more Sweets supplies What tho I know My boldest Strain Can ne'r contain That endless Love Which shines above Tho no Seraphick Flame My narrow Soul inspire Yet I 'll submisly claim One Spark of Heavenly Fire I 'll my longing Heart prepare Free from Pride and free from Care And devoutly there attending Watch the sacred Gleams descending What tho I can't approach the Spring Nor Vessels to receive it bring I 'll to the Rills my Lips apply And catch some Drops as sliding by Some sliding Drops to cool my thirsty Soul Dear Jesus Holy Saviour O controul My Wants Here poor and hungry Lord I lie Yet it 's thy Word Come weary Souls and I Will all your fainting Souls with needful Rest supply I moil And toil Opprest with Sin And Pains within By Woes o're-born And rack'd and torn Beneath that dreadful weight I murmur Lord and groan And from this mournful State Of Life would fain be gone Oft Temptations break my Rest Sorrows oft distract my Breast Hell's uneasy Weights oppress Me Griefs unweildy Chains possess Me. Whence then should my Assistance rise To Thee Dear Lord I lift my Eyes O keep Me safe O guide me right From hence to reach Eternal Light Thou
would the Publick Good maintain Nature seeks Honour with exalted Eyes While Grace its Honours due to God alone applies Nature Confusion and Reproaches fears Grace Shame with Pleasure for its Saviour bears Nature loves Slothfulness and lazy Rest Grace thinks it self in constant Labours blest Nature must have the Gay the Brisk the Fair And will against the Poor the Mean declare But Grace in honest humble Things delights And neither old nor homely Garments slights Nature loves present Things and lawless Gains And of the smallest Loss or Wrong complains Grace loves eternal things a Loss can bear And for a Scandal scorns to spend a Tear Has fix'd its Treasures high above the Skies And thither nobly rais'd with eager swiftness flies Sharp Nature grasps at All ne'r gives but takes And Private Interest its Idol makes Grace kind and free no private Interest makes And pleas'd with little rather gives than takes Nature at little Creature-Comfort flies Loves Wandrings inborn Lusts and Vanities Grace draws to God and Good the World abjures The Blush for roving innate Lusts endures Nature for outward sensual Joys enquires Grace Comfort only from its Lord desires And tow'rds a God unseen unseen Delights aspires Nature walks all in profitable ways Gives as it Fancies either Votes or Praise But all its Merits with exactness weighs Grace at its God its sole Rewarder aims Nor more of temporary Pleasure claims Than what may serve to feed pure Loves eternal Flames Nature of Friends and great Relations proud Proclaims its Honours and its Birth aloud And fawns on Greatness when with Wealth endow'd Grace seeks no worldly Friends but loves its Foes No worth in Place or Birth but Verue knows And with poor faithful Innocence will close The Rich the Mighty the Deceitful Slights The Good to Godlike Excellence excites Nature with Want sinks down no Want pure Grace afrights Nature it self regards it self defends Grace by good ways to God its Source ascends Proudly on no inherent Good presumes Nor high above the wiser World assumes But all its vigorous apprehensive Wit Will to its God and Wisdom's Test submit Nature would Secrets know and News would hear And much in-strange Experiments appear Loves Admiration much and gapes for Praise Grace seeks Novelties nor curious Ways Grace knows the World corrupt poor remains No new no real lasting Good contains Grace shows us how we may our Lusts restrain Vain Compliments and pompous Words disdain True inward Worth conceals with humble Eyes And to God's Honour all its Means applies Would have that God and not it self be prais'd Whose Goodness all its Force from less than nothing rais'd Grace is a Beam of God's superiour Light Bright Emanation from a Fountain bright Election's Seal Pledg of Eternal Rest Parent of heavenly Loves which warm the Breast And when it Rebel-Nature's Force subdues God yet will more and greater Grace infuse Till in the Man within his sacred Form renews LV. Ye were by Nature the Children of Wrath But by Grace ye are saved Bel. THOU hast Dear God created Me Thy Image and thy Son to be Send Me O send Me needful Grace And I 'll thy saving Health embrace Then I 'll Nature's Force subdue Which would Sin and Death pursue I find a carnal Law within Which leads my Captive Soul to Sin Against my better Thoughts rebels Till Grace the struggling Fury quells And the bright spreading Flame my inward Gloom dispels I want thy Grace thy wondrous Grace To check malignant Nature's Race Nature in Adam fail'd of old From thence the dire Infection roll'd And what was Perfect once and Pure Must now Corruption's Chains endure Nature to its self resign'd Is to all that 's ill inclin'd And with noblest Qualities Like a Spark in Ashes lies This is our boasted Sense around Envelop'd with a Gloom profound Knows Good and Ill and False and True But can't its wiser Thoughts pursue Since of Light from Faith deriv'd And of soundest Loves depriv'd Hence Lord thy Laws my Soul delight Thy Precepts Holy Just and Right Teach Me from every Sin to fly But ah my Body slavishly To Sin 's not Reason's Rules submits And when e're in wiser Fits I some nobler End propose Wayward Nature backward goes All my Thoughts abortive prove And I lose my Heart and Love Hence I Perfection's Way can see And what my Works and End should be But by Corruption's weight opprest Still in common Weakness rest To Good inclin'd for Grace I call To Try to Hold to Finish All. I All when that assists can do Without it nothing Good pursue Dear heavenly Gift God's welcome Smile Without which Nature's Gifts are vile Art Wealth Strength Beauty Language Sense From Grace alone their Worth commence Good and Bad partake of those Love from Grace abundant flows Both the Saint's bright Crown compose Both the Paths of Life disclose Love the greatest Grace excels Prophecies and Miracles Knowledg Faith and Hope may fail But holy Love will in a future World prevail Blest Heavenly Grace which canst the Poor In Mind with Godlike Vertues store Canst humble both the Rich and Great O come in Me O take thy Seat My Breast with Heavenly Comforts fill And in thy Soul thy Sweets distil O grant me Favour Lord with Thee Should Nature's Gifts defective be Thy Grace would prove enough for Me. Possest by Grace I scorn to fear The Tempter's Arts or Sufferings here In Grace my Courage Lord is laid That gives Me Comfort sends Me Aid Quells ray trembling Enemies And out-wits the worldly Wise Truth 's Mistress Queen of Discipline Solace of Mourners Beam Divine Bold Conqueror of Doubts and Fears Devotion 's Nurse Parent of Tears Meer rotten Wood or Stubble I Without it worthless useless lie Lord by thy preventing Grace Guide my Sublunary Race For Jesus sake my Soul embrace Till I in holy Works my whole Enjoyment place LVI This is the Way walk in it Christ SO far my Son as Thou thy self canst leave So far may I thy pious Vows receive Leave all without and inward Peace secure Leave Self within and of thy God be sure With perfect Self-denial yield to Me From base Reluctance and from Murmurs free Lo I the Life the Truth the certain Way Come follow Me and my Commands obey Without the Way thou canst not go Without the Truth canst nothing know Nor live without the Life below I am that Way which thou shouldst still pursue I am that Truth to which Submission's due I am that Life which must thy Life renew I am that safest Way which leads thee right Truth undeceiving Truth supreamly bright Pure blest unmade Eternal Life and Light Walk but in Me and thou the Truth shalt know And from Encumbrance free to Life immortal go Keep my Commands if thou wouldst Life obtain Believe Me if thou real Truth wouldst gain Put All things off if Thou wouldst perfect be Deny thy Self if thou wouldst follow Me For endless Bliss thy present Life despise Be lowly
Divine What Flames should then enlarge my Heart When in my Saviour I expect a Part How should I dress to meet my bleeding Lord While every Type great Kings and Saints of old ador'd David before that precious Ark of old Could not his warm Affections hold But danc'd with all his Might and loudly play'd His tuneful Harp he strung And to his Harp he sung When that thro' Sion's Gates its Entrance made Sweet were his Airs and soft his Stroke When he 'd His Jews to holy Joys provoke God's Spirit on his Heart abode And Prayers and Blessings with his Musick flow'd Such Zeal that Antient Type pursu'd And shan't my Heart with nobler Heat indu'd Shan't it with greater Spirit embrace The Substance than the Shade of future Grace Shan't I with springy Joys my Saviour meet And at his Altars bow and kiss his sacred Feet Fools oft to see pretended Reliques fly And cast a curious wondring Eye On Fanes to Saints Imaginary rais'd Where richest Silks and Gold The dowdy Corps enfold And Thieves and Rebels are for Martyrs prais'd A thousand Pilgrimages past They prove but Hell's obdurate Slaves at last O could they rest a while at home And not to follow sensless Fancies rome Wonders on Wonders here they 'd view Far more than e're Loretto's Shrine could shew Jesus with Love and Mercies crown'd Would shed his sacred Influences round And to the Loving Hoping Faithful Heart Would all his glorious Self his heavenly Joys impart O Thou great Architect of Earth and Skies Invisible to mortal Eyes To us how wondrous all thy Actions prove And here how sweet how kind Thy Favourites may find Th' immense Expressions of Prodigious Love Unfathomable Deeps how far Too short our wretched Intellectuals are When we would sound the vast Abyss Of unintelligible Mysteries What Art that Mirroir could compose By which the Souls of faithful Saints disclose Their Saviour in a Sacrament And on his bleeding gaping Wounds intent Eat his dear Flesh and drink his sacred Blood That Bread of Life and this immortalizing Flood Who can those Capillary Rills descry By which unbodied Graces fly Thro' bodied Symbols to the faithful Mind How pure Devotion 's Fires How Vertue 's warm Desires Room in the Sinner with Repentance find What hidden Sweets can Faith descry How sharp how piercing is the faithful Eye He meets a thousand Graces here Lost Vertues in his Soul reviv'd appear And tho deform'd by Sins before This can its Beauties and its Charms restore Nay the best balmy Symbols may New Life and Health to fainting Saints convey While Faithless Souls meer Bread and Wine partake And but a damning Feast of empty Symbols make But ah how cold how deadly cold we prove To meet our dear Redeemer's Love How we refuse his kind extended Arms Arms which alone can be Our Souls security From Death's Tyrannic Force and Hell's Alarms He purifies our Natures He From endless Torments dearly sets us free Beneath his Shade we safely move And feel the Beams shot from his Orb of Love Why should we then so cold appear To all his Loves Mysterious Tendries here Ah Blind ah Rocky-hearted Crew Who can so slow such wondrous Grace pursue More careless as their Master kinder grows And can with stubborn Hearts his offer'd Loves oppose Were but one single Sacrament design'd The World to one sole Priest confin'd What Sholes would to the distant Temple flow How would they stretch their Eyes To see these Mysteries How eager for that Heavenly Banquet grow But when a thousand Pastors wait And all may with their Lord participate When so immense his Loves appear Alas we nauseate the Celestial Chear Yet Jesus Holy Shepherd we Poor Exiles now present our Thanks to Thee Thy Flesh thy Blood our Souls relieves Thy tender Call our dying Faith retrieves Come all to Me with Sins vast Weights opprest I 'll give you sudden Ease I 'll give you certain Rest II. Behold how he loved Vs Believer MOV'D by thy Goodness and thy Mercies I Dear Lord to thy Assistance fly Touch'd with a thousand Plagues I come to Thee O be the great Physician Lord to Me Hungry and Thirsty Lord I bring A fainting Soul to Life's Immortal Spring A Beggar I Heaven's gracious King adore A Servant I my Master's Smiles implore Form'd by thy Hand Lord here I stand And for my great Creator's Bounties wait And for his Comforts in a ruin'd helpless State Whence is it that my God should come to Me O what am I thus grac'd by Thee How can a guilty Soul endure thy Sight How in a Miscreant can my God delight Thou know'st no Good resides in Me And I my own my inward Vileness see Thy Grace thy Goodness and thy boundless Love I own I honour and with Thanks improve And for thy sake I 'd here partake That I my tender smiling God might know O mayn't my horrid Crimes obstruct the wondrous Flow Sweet gracious God! with what respectful Praise Should I thy spreading Glories blaze Who for our sakes a mortal Nature took But who can thro' the Mystick Bounty look What can I think when worthless I May hold Communion with the Deity What can I do but with a prideless Mind Some Means t' extol thy boundless Goodness find Thy endless Praise My God I 'll raise But ever ever Lord my Self despise And from the lowliest State to heavenly Favours rise Lo Thou' rt incomprensible Sanctity A filthy loathsom Sinner I Unfit to raise my sinful Eyes to Thee But Thou Great God couldst condescend to Me. Lo Thou canst in a Wretch delight A Beggar to a plenteous Feast invite thou 'dst have me banquet on Celestial Food On Bread of Angels and Divinely Good Thou Lord wouldst be That Bread to Me That Bread of Life which from above descends And Life and Vigour thro a fainting World extends See! see my Soul whence such bright Loves can shine And Condescensions all divine What Thanks what Praise are to thy Saviour due How should thy Service as his Name be true How salutary Lord how kind In this we all thy mighty Counsels find The Food all costly and the Banquet sweet Where we by Faith our great Redeemer meet Thy powerful Cares Thy Truth declares Thy Words from Nothing sprung the World of old In less than Nothing now eternal Truths unfold My Lord my God Great God and Man that Thou Shouldst tow'rd a wretched Creature bow That thou thy self in Bread and Wine shouldst give In true Believers humble Hearts to live What Sense such Wonders can pursue So True so Strange yet not so Strange as True Thou Lord of All who hadst no need of Me Yet by a Sacrament my Guest wouldst be Lord keep my Heart O ne'r depart Till I by thy effectual Influence find A Body spotless pure to lodg a peaceful Mind It 's thy Appointment Lord design'd by Thee To celebrate thy Memory O may I oft thy Merits here record O may I oft here meet my
Thy Longings nothing could on Earth suffice Should'st thou but miss thy Maker there Thro Me alone in Price thy Blessings rise I all the noblest Gifts endear And canst thou dream large Hecatombs Should satisfy what God requires Think'st Thou I feed on what consumes With noisom Stench and in material Fires No I thy Self Dear Soul thy All command Give then O give thy Self to Me I leave my Body in thy faithful Hand I offer'd all my Self for Thee Dearly I 'm sure I purchas'd Thee Give then O give thy Self to Me But give it freely or the Gift will be A poor unworthy Sacrifice If I must only have a Part in Thee No happy Union thence can rise A Free-Will-Offering finds a place With God and to thy Self assures Vast Liberty and wondrous Grace Which none while of himself too fond procures I 've said Vnless a Man his All forsake He 's no Disciple fit for Me And wouldst thou one of my Attendants make From all inferiour Service free Wouldst Thou my blest Disciple be Give then O give thy Self to Me IX Offer unto God Thanksgiving and pay thy Vows unto the Most High Believer WHAT e're this Lower World contains Dear Lord is Thine And since a Free-Will-Offering Favour gains I here to Thee my Self resign Lord with a Heart sincere I freely offer up my Self to Thee My faithful Service and obsequious Fear A Sacrifice of Praise to be When I thy Self Dear Lord receive And round thy Table smiling Angels wait O don't my glorious Hopes deceive But let it be New Life to Me Let Me thy heavenly Grace thy Loves participate My Sins Dear Lord for Love of Thee I sacrifice Those Sins with which from early Infancy I durst offend thy sacred Eyes Lo at thy Altars here I cast them all O let thy burning Love Consume them Lord my sinful Conscience clear And all the Stains of Sin remove That Grace which Sin had lost before That Grace of which my Self my Self bereav'd O to my Soul Dear God restore Smile Lord on Me And let Me be To thy immortal Kiss thy boundless Peace receiv'd I 've sinn'd I 'm lost Lord what shall I For Pardon do I 'll at thy Feet with deep Confession lie And all my Tears for Guilt renew Atone my God for Me To Thee I 'll offer up unceasing Cries I 'll offer up unceasing Prayers to Thee Look down O look with gracious Eyes I hate my Sins I hate them All Lord I repent indeed I mourn and grieve O save Me from a future Fall My Sins pass o're Wash out my Score My Soul with Blood redeem'd with precious Blood relieve I here for Mercy Lord resign My Self to Thee O don't repay those black Deserts of Mine But in thy Goodness deal with Me My fairest Actions here Poor weak alas I offer up to Thee O let 'um grateful in thy Sight appear Adorn'd with Life and Sanctity My Soul for nobler Actions wing And Me a senseless Brute a worthless Slave By thy all-prudent Conduct bring To that blest Place Where well-us'd Grace Shall all the bright Rewards of full Perfection have Lord at thy Feet I humbly lay My just Desire For Friends Relations Benefactors pray And all who my Relief require For them thy Aids dispose From Pains from Dangers from Afflictions free Let them thy dear reviving Smiles disclose And sing their grateful Hymns to Thee Where others Lord have injur'd Me Where I have injur'd others O forgive O let our numerous Failures be All gently past And we at last In mutual Charity and God's Embraces live Lord let our doubtful Hearts be free From Jealousy From Wrath from Malice all those Crimes which we Oft in each others Tempers see And let thy Grace remove What e're Distrust in Christian Souls can raise Or Charity confound or murder Love Or Nature's crasy State betrays Mercy we Mercy Lord implore On needy Souls thy Mercy Lord bestow And Grace from thy unbounded Store Till happy we May live with Thee Where endless Mercy reigns and boundless Pleasures flow X. Not forsaking the Assembling of your selves together as the Manner of some is Christ WOuldst Thou thy Passions utmost Rage command Wouldst Thou against infernal Malice stand More watchful yet and stronger grow Here the Springs of Mercy flow Here I every Grace bestow Here my Servants kindly know Oft at my Altars oft prepar'd appear And oft thou 'lt meet thy mighty Saviour there Hell knows what Strength my Flesh and Blood can give And tries a thousand Means and Ways And all his subtle Art displays To make the doubtful Soul in pinching Hunger live When for my Supper pious Souls are drest They 'r oft by Hell's delusive Wiles distrest He 'll still among my Sons appear Scatter Care and sensless Fear And tho I my self am near Try to make Disturbance there Scorn then his Terrors tho deform'd and foul And let Himself beneath the Burden howl Let neither Sloth nor Coldness ravish Thee Hell's Malice nor imposing Art Enslave or turn thy yielding Heart When it on joyful Wings should fly to feast with Me. He 'll tell Thee Holy Cheat He 'll tell Thee there Thy Preparations should be more severe But Thou hast ne'r confest thy Sin Never let Repentance in Never cleans'd thy self within And wouldst now in vain begin If this be true fly dearest Soul O fly And at my Feet with deep Contrition lie Before my Priest thy Follies humbly lay He bears my sacred Character And his absolving Hands confer True Life on contrite Souls and Comforts cloudless Day Throw off Hell's Poison from thy fainting Soul Sins Burden from thy drooping Conscience roll Fly then dear Soul O fly to Me I 'll thy happy Shelter be Set Thee soon from Bondage free Fly dear Soul O fly to Me Name not to Morrow that 's a tedious Day Now now thy own Internal State survey Don't with some stupid Brutes my Feast forbear Lest They more firmly ty'd should be To save themselves and honour Me But let those Vows renew'd my sacred Feast endear How low's their Love's and their Devotion 's Tide Who can so soon from their Engagements slide How dear how truly welcom 's He Who preserves his Conscience free Lives in Faith and Purity And is always fit for Me Sometimes thy Soul 's touch'd with an awful Fear Or may for some important Cause forbear But if encroaching Sloth thy Heart detain O shake it quickly off and I Will to thy fervent Bosom fly And thou shalt Loves renew'd and glowing Fervours gain If justly absent let thy chearful Will Thy eager Thoughts approach my Altars still Live so adorn'd with Innocence Lively Faith and heavenly Sense As may leave Thee no pretence With Attendance to dispense But when the Son of God assum'd the Man When his dear bloody Death thy Life began When He shook off Death's Chains and climb'd the Skies When He the glorious Spirit sent New Loves for Loves renew'd present And let Devotion 's Flames with
greater Brightness rise But He who waits for none but Festivals Between them oft to Sin remisly falls Then happy 's He and truly wise Who by constant Exercise Can to such a temper rise Duty can't his Heart surprize Come then but Antient Prudent Rules obey Abhor the busy Fools fantastick Way Break not the Churches Peace but wisely wave Thy whymsied Schemes for Publick Good Who cuts the Banks le ts in a boundless Flood Nor can the frighted Boor his drowning Pastures save XI Search the Scriptures Lord evermore give us this Bread Believer DEarest Jesus kindest Lord What Sweets that happy Soul may taste Who feeds with Thee at thy immortal Board That Board where Sinners only fast Where Thou thy Self art All Meat Drink Inviter Waiter Principal More lov'd by faithful Souls and more desir'd Than all those glittering Toys by carnal Fools admir'd Ah! how pleasant Lord and sweet Should Tears of Holy Sorrow be How should I love to wash thy sacred Feet And prove a Magdalen to Thee But where 's that flagrant Mind Where can I Sorrow's Holy Fountains find My Heart should fall in Tears in Flames should rise Since Thou art here indeed and seen by faithful Eyes Lord my sinful dazling Sight Can't thy full Beams of Glory bear Nor could the World subsist should all the Light Of thy Majestic Brows appear It 's wondrous Goodness all That God beneath my Cognizance should fall That I should him in holy Signs adore Before whose Servile Form bright Angels bow'd before O may I contented prove To live and walk in Faith's pure Light Till that Eternal Day shall dawn above And Shades and Figures take their flight When that great Day mail shine Then glorious Saints shall bask in Beams Divine View all the Godhead's dark Abyss and see That Word made Flesh of old engulph Eternity When I read those Wonders o're Scarce inward Joys can please my Mind I scorn what e're I saw or heard before Till I thy glorious Face can find O witness Lord for Me No Comfort I no Rest can find but Thee And since thy Face no Mortal Eyes can view Let me that future Bliss with Patient Love pursue Thus the Saints enthron'd with Thee Th' Effects of Faith and Patience found My Faith My Hope 's the same O may I be By Faith with equal Glories crown'd By their Examples I Soar with an active Faith to reach the Sky My Rules my Comforts Lord thy Scriptures are And my declining Hopes thy Flesh and Blood repair Life a wretched Load would be If we no Light no Food could meet But Lord thou mak'st thy Flesh a Feast for me Thy Word a Lamp to guide my feet Oh these I sweetly live Light to my Soul thy sacred Writings give And When I at thy Altars Lord appear I find the Bread of Life the great Elixir there These th' Exchequer-Tables are Where all the Churches Treasure lies To This pure Souls for Holy Food repair To That to clear their Cloudy Eyes That thro Faith's perfect Ways And thro the Vail to th' holiest Place conveys Blest be my Jesus Light of endless Light Whole Servants wandring Souls to Wisdom's Springs invite Blest O blest be thy great Name Dear Maker dear Redeemer who Couldst Love immense to sinking Worlds proclaim Yet not a Paschal Figure show But wouldst thy Self appear Expose thy Flesh the faithful Heart to chear Pour Healthful Sweets into the saving Bowl While joyful Angels wait around the thirsty Soul O how glorious is the Seat By Thee to happy Priests assign'd Who still when they thy awful Words repeat Thy Efficacious Presence find And daily feast on Thee How clean their Hands how pure their Hearts should be Good Works should their untainted Hands employ Their Lips be Love's sweet Springs their Hearts the Thrones of Joy Thus to Priests their Lord declares I 'm all Essential Holiness O Ye who wait on my Divine Affairs The same accepted Grace express O with a single Eye With Modest Looks approach the Mystery Your Hands unspotted to those Altars raise Where God at Your Request his wondrous Love displays O may We to Priesthood rais'd Thy Gracious Influences find For Holy Lives and pure Devotions prais'd And to internal Peace refin'd And tho our Lives may fail O let our Tears above our Crimes prevail While We with humbler Souls and warmer Love In all thy sacred Ways with swift Obedience move XII He who Eats and Drinks unworthily Eats and Drinks his own Damnation Christ I Love the Pure and Holiness bestow I love within a well-purg'd Heart to rest Up then my kind Approaches know Know who designs to be thy glorious Guest A rise thy noblest Room prepare Let it be furnish'd well and large and fair I with a glorious Train design To eat the Paschal Lamb with Thee And can thy Heart embrace a Guest Divine Who would a constant Inmate be Purge then that Old fermenting Poison well And let no Darling Sin within thy Bosom dwell Cast off the Follies of a sinful Age And all the vicious modish Rout exclude Thy Sins with bitter Tears engage And fly O fly the Godless Multitude The Lover when his Mistress come With costly Arras hangs his fairest Rooms And hopes his nice expensive Care May to her Eyes his Flames declare But know shouldst thou a thousand Years enjoy And all thy busy Thoughts employ The Preparation of a thousand Years To what my Justice claims a small Proportion bears Thou 'lt feed before Me but the Privilege Not thy Deserts but Grace and Mercy gave Nor would a starving Slave alledg Desert should He a rich Man's Bounty crave And at his Table feasted He Could but submissive there and thankful be Come then Dear Soul but not of Course Approach but not compelled by Force O come with holy Love and awful Fear And at my Marriage-Feast appear I call Thee I invite Thee freely I At thy submiss approach will all thy Wants supply Praise God when I Devotion 's Grace bestow Praise not thy Merits but my Mercy praise If thy Devotions colder grow Thy Prayers thy Sighs importunately raise Cease not thy Prayers and Tears till I With rilling Grace thy thirsty Soul supply Thou need'st Me I 've no want of Thee Nor can thy Knees advantage Me I come to better thy Defective Mind Thou com'st a Smiling God to find thou 'dst fain be One with Me thy Grace renew And with reviving Flames a hoiler Life pursue Don't then my offer'd Grace my Favours slight But thy poor Heart with utmost Pains prepare Him whom thy Soul adores invite And grasp and hold Him with a faithful Care But ne're in Preparations rest Nor when the Feast is past unguard thy Breast Be careful when the Banquet 's o're As when a Guest design'd before He toils as much who would his Post maintain As He who Wealth at first would gain The Heart still kept will but prepare it more And add new Floods of Grace to those imbib'd before What can
unfit Thee more to feast with Me Than to be far in Worldly Fancies lost What can a greater mischief be Than a Vain Heart by carnal Joys engross'd O fly the World's alluring Cheat And to enjoy thy God from Crowds retreat Of Me thy dearest Lord possest No crafty Thief can rob thy Breast Lo I am He who all thy Bosom claim I can't endure a Rival's Name Put off thy self then hide thy Life in me And live from every Care and every Torment free XIII With my Whole Heart have I sought Thee O let Me not wander Believer WHO Lord will give that Grace to Me That I may close with None but Thee And to enjoy my Soul 's Dear Object may My Bosom and my faithful Arms display Then shall I all inferiour Things despise No Creature shall distract my Eyes My Words with Thee my Life and Thine with Me Shall soft as whispering Lovers be Or Friends when they with Friends agree This Lord my utmost Wish shall be To live and to be One with Thee That I withdrawn from all the World below May fonder of Eternal Glories grow Swiftly to thy ador'd Communion fly And oft to Thee my Heart apply Ah when shall I Dear God! engulph'd in Thee Forget my self and only be Ever in Thee and Thou in Me Thou art my best Belov'd my Dear In whom my Soul's Delights appear Search thro the World view all the Wise the Fair None None can with my God my Life compare Thou lay'st those rugged Storms which rend my Heart Thy Smiles unfading Peace impart Thy Counsels Dearest Lord are dark but wise Thy Way obscur'd to Impious Eyes Yet plain to th' Meek and Humble lies Lord how thy Spirit gently blows How sweet thy charming Kindness flows That to thy Own thou mightst thy Love declare thou 'dst with Celestial Food their Strength repair None Lord like Vs can boast of God so near None to their Maker seem so Dear To make our Souls on Wings of Comfort rise Thy Flesh thy Blood our Want supplies And lifts us high above the Skies No Tribes e're gain'd so bright a Fame As those who bear their Saviour's Name What Creature e're was to his Lord so near As He whom pure Devotion 's Flames endear Man whom his Maker enters whom He feeds Whose Life from Mystic Flesh proceeds O condescending Grace O Love Immense Beyond our Words beyond our Sense Beyond all Dreams of Recompence What shall I render Lord to Thee For all thy wondrous Loves to Me A Heart a humble Heart is all my Store I 'll give Thee That nor can I give Thee more Vnite my Heart with Thee and all within Shall Hymns of Holy Praise begin Call then My Heart shall Eccho Lord to Thee I 'm Thine O live My God in Me That Prayer of all my Hopes the Central Point shall be XIV Whose Faith follow considering the End of their Conversation Believer O How deep the Treasures are Dear Lord of thy Immortal Sweets How inexhaustible the Share Which There thy happy Servant meets When I on that Prodigious Flame reflect Which fill'd thy happy Saints of old When I their Grace their Love their Zeal respect Their Acts in Starry Books enroll'd I die with One Eternal Blush confus'd By my Own luke-warm Heart accus'd Which had thy Loves so oft thy sacred Feasts abus'd Lord I blush to think how dry How unaffected there I came My Soul untouch'd by Sympathy Unmov'd by any purer Flame Others by vast Desires and Loves possest To Tears unsluc'd their Joyful Eyes The Floods the Flames with equal violence prest Would both with equal Fulness rise They 'd pant for Drops from Life's pure Springs distill'd Nor would their sacred Longings yield Till with Immortal Food and endless Pleasures fill'd O how soon their Faith could pierce The Shell of that Mysterious Feast How broken Bread to Longings fierce Their wounded dying Lord exprest But Lord how oft my cold Affections fail What Damps my Infant-Heats o'reflow Jesus for Pity let my Sighs prevail Some Cordial on a Wretch bestow O let my Faith my Hope my Love renew'd With more extensive Strength endu'd Only for Manna long and loath inferiour Food But thy Mercies Lord are great And can the Graces beg'd bestow And fill me with Superiour Heat And make my Passions fiercely glow Tho short of Heroes yet thy Grace may find Some Seeds in my unmanag'd Heart Tho short of Heroes my aspiring Mind Grasps at the better nobler Part. O let my Failures be by Mercy past Till with thy happy Heirs at last I may Eternal Sweets Eternal Glories taste XV. I dwell also with Him who is of a Contrite and Humble Spirit Christ WOuldst Thou Devotion 's Grace obtain Or inward holy Ardour gain O seek it Early seek it Late Let thy Petitions prove Importunate With Patience and with Faith expect the Dole Embrace it closely in a lowly Soul Improve it when it 's gain'd but leave God to appoint the Time when thou shalt Grace receive If Thou no Heat within canst find No lively Flames enlarge thy Mind O let that Thought abate thy Pride Yet not between thy Soul and Hopes divide One happy Moment oft that Gift bestows Which many tedious Years could ne're disclose God answers oft the Prayer at last Which seem'd refus'd before ere half the Suit was past Should Flames rush in at once the Soul Could ne're their rapid Force controul O then with Hopeful Patience wait If Sins obstruct or Sins thy Zeal rebate Small Sins may oft obscure or hinder Grace If those be small which mighty Gifts deface But Small or Great when once subdu'd Grace may be new infus'd or Grace decay'd renew'd To God submit thy Self thy All And ne're thy lingring Lusts recal Then Calms will soon o'respread thy Mind In Vnion with thy mighty Lord combin'd God's Will shall then thy utmost Longings move 'T will Sapid all and all Delightful prove He 's only fit for Heavenly Fires Who to his God resign'd subdues his Vain Desires A Heart from Earthly Passions free Empty of Creature-Vanity A Heart all Clean a Soul all Bright Will all the Blessings of its Lord invite The Man who these inferiour Things defies The more He to Himself corrupted dies Grace Fuller Swifter Stronger gains And his unfetter'd Soul to endless Glory strains He 'll see and Heaven's vast Stores admire And glowing with Etherial Fire He 'll to his Father's Hand resign And His to God's Eternal Will confine That happy Man who with a single Heart Seeks God and won't from Heavenly Reason start That Happy Man must sure be blest Of God so warmly sought and Godlike Grace possest When He before my Table kneels He Extasy and Rapture feels And from above swift Flames Divine With his bright Soul 's internal Glories twine And since his Master's Praise He values more Than his own Comforts or his private Store To be for ever One with Me Of His Self-Conquests all the great Reward shall be XVI He
a wondrous Reach or Sense profound But active Faith with Holy Practice crown'd And can that Ideot understand The Mystick Movements of Vnbounded Will Who in a paltry Fly confounds his utmost Skill To me dear Soul thy Sense submit To mighty Faith let shatter'd Reason yield Not like a Rebel proudly keep the Field I 'll give Thee apprehensive Wit Lead Thee with heavenly Wisdom's constant Light Thro all the dangerous Gloom of Intellectual Night Their Faith my Presence some dispute In Bread and Wine with Vapours both amus'd By Hell's black King in Reason's Garb diffus'd Be thou to all his Questions mute Thy Faith to my unfailing Word resign Hell's King will quickly fly before the Sword Divine Yet when the Devil baits Thee so It proves Thee not by Heaven deserted quite Hell scorns against his certain Slaves to fight But where the Plants of Vertue grow He 'll try a thousand Arts the Roots to kill And on the blooming Hopes his blasting Dews distil O to my Altars then prefer A Faith unmov'd and suppliant Reverence And tho thou feel'st thy own imperfect Sense To me the mystick Part refer Who in Himself confides Himself deceives But God the faithful Soul in no Amusement leaves My Walk with honest Hearts is free My Counsels I to humble Souls reveal And needful Truths to prideless Babes unseal Large Minds are more enlarg'd by Me But justly I refuse my slighted Grace To proud assuming Fools who curious Dreams embrace When first in Man I fixt a Light A Spotless Sun his little World survey'd By no distemper'd Organs Fumes decay'd But Sin induc'd the gloomy Night Now Reason oft an erring Guide appears While o're Life's stormy Seas Faith only safely steers Let Reason then presume no more To fix Faith's Rule or guide the wandring Mind My Word I for that constant Rule design'd But Faith's conducting Hand implore Where that thro Hell's dark Ambuscadoes leads Safe in his Master's steps the cautious Servant treads Here in the Sacramental Feast Faith walks attended by her darling Love Both here in Beauty and in Strength improve By Mystick Ways and Means encreas'd God great immense can mighty Wonders do Nor can the sharpest Eyes his cloudy Flights pursue Had Man by Wit anatomiz'd My Actions or without a Veil had shown The dreadful Honours of my Glorious Throne H 'had soon my Glorious Throne despis'd He 's not unutterably Great nor Wise Whose Strength and Wisdom plain and naked lies To shallow wordy Tongues and unbelieving Eyes FINIS The Churches Hymn after the Eucharist GLory be to God on high God who reigns above the Sky Great Mysterious Majesty May that Eternal Peace which shone With radiant Beams about thy awful Throne May she on Golden Wings descend And Her blest Influence extend Thro the rough Corners of the noisy World Late into impious Jars and dark Confusions hurl'd Welcome welcome sacred Love Welcome from those Realms above Goodness Kindness Mercy Light O dispel our gloomy Night Till inclin'd to Vertue we Only Love and Live to Thee We Bless Thee We Praise Thee In Anthems we raise Thee In our daily Devotions And kneeling before Thee We humbly adore thee And with Heavenly Motions Thy Glories we view And thy Service pursue Till on Extasy's Wings We advance from the Springs Till we flutter and dip on the fathomless Oceans Glorious God Celestial King To Thee O our Father Almighty we sing Jesus Lord Eternal Son Begot before the Birth of Time God above the Gods sublime With thy Glorious Father One Jesus Saviour condescending For a sinful World below Spotless Lamb thy Blood expending To subdue our deadly Foe Precious Sacrifice appointed Heavenly Anger to allay Prophet King and Priest anointed Thou who tak'st our Sins away O the Ways of Truth display Lord and with a gentle Sway Make our willing Hearts obey Mercy Lord we Mercy crave O our Souls in Mercy save Thou who tak'st our Sins away Bow and hear thy Servants pray Mercy Lord c. Thou who tak'st our Sins away Lord thy gracious Arms display Hear O hear thy Servants pray O Thou who sitt'st above the Sky On God's right Hand exalted high Cloth'd with glorious Majesty Mercy Lord c. Holiness belongs to Thee Holy Holy Holy We O Eternal Trinity Sing out with Angel Quires and ever sing to Thee Thou Holy Jesus art our Lord alone And with the Spirit and with the Father One Of One Immortal Throne possest And with united Praise united Glories blest Amen Haec cecini Interpres Christo Duce Auspice Christo Saucius ah Domini Pectus amore mei Vt Laudes Pater ore tuas graviore canamus In resides Animos Spiritus Alme veni Amen FINIS
long'd-for Bliss which never never dies Think then on what the wisest Man reply'd The Eyes and Ears are never satisfi'd What er'e the longing Appetite receives Only a sickly Wish and tedious Longings leaves Turn then thy Soul from wretched Earth below And all thy Thoughts on heavenly Joys bestow So shall a spotless Conscience warm thy Breast And thou securely on thy Saviour's Bosom rest II. Know thy Self WOuldst thou know much my Soul and wouldst thou be From thy great Master's Service free Wouldst thou by curious Rules of Art descry The various Motions of the Sky Fond Wretch the Clown who but himself can read By that short Lesson will thy soaring Art exceed Know but thy Self thy Self thou'lt soon despise Nor to the World's Applauses rise Thy Works not Arts shall be severely scann'd When all the World in Judgment stand Cease then thy Pains and never court thy Woes Deceit and Madness still with mighty Learning goes Men pufft with Learning love the pointing Hand And much on swelling Titles stand And spend their careless Hours in empty Toys Which ne're advance their sober Joys But sure He 's mad who wondrous Knowledg gains Yet never knows the means to scape infernal Pains Great Words can never fill thy Appetite Great Actions only bring Delight Purge but thy self then boldly lift thy Face To the bright Throne of heavenly Grace Great Sense and Knowledg where the Practice fails Only the heavier Woes on wretched Souls entails Fear then thy flowing Parts thy matchless Sense And all thy vast Intelligence Know what thou wilt thou'lt but the sooner find A thousand things have slipt thy Mind A thousand Men whose Names are scarcely known Beyond thy Learning far and utmost Reach have gone Study thy Self with all exactness know How all Affairs within thee go Examin all thy Ways and soon to thee Thy Self the noblest Theme shall be If others thou before thy self prefer Such humble Thoughts express true Wisdom's Character Thou mayst perhaps another's Failures see His Crimes may lie expos'd to thee Yet scorn him not nor think thy self secure Our Steps on Earth are rarely sure Thou standst consider lest thy self should fall All Men are frail indeed but thou more frail than all III. TRVTH HAppy the Man whom Truth securely guides By secret Ways and powerful Influence Happy the Man in whose weak Head resides No false Opinion from deceitful Sense But Ignorance would rather chuse Than Time in vain Designs abuse We 're mad in Arts obscure to spend our Days To shun the Light and Intricacies chase Where God's Eternal Word the Truth displays We all at once may know and all embrace Where that once speaks we safely rest With Peace and Faith unfading blest O thou essential Truth my Soul unite To thee by all the Bonds of sacred Love O thou my Saviour O my Soul's Delight To whom alone my Passions fiercely move Let Earthly Teachers silent be But speak O speak dear Lord to me The more within our selves our Thoughts descend The more we see by God's superiour Light Pure Souls to Holy Works more strongly bend To raise God's Honour and his Acts recite Only our Lusts unconquer'd curb Our Motions and our Thoughts disturb The pious Soul those inward Lusts restrains Nor bows to them but them to Reason bows The brightest Crown the great Self-conqueror gains And by his Conquest daily stronger grows All other Skill's an empty Show And all 's imperfect here below Wouldst thou then go to God not glaring Parts But humble Thoughts can reach his glorious Seat Arts made by God are good but vertuous Hearts Pure Lives and lowly Thoughts more truly great And all in fruitless Error die Who more to know than practise try O would a foolish World at last improve As much in Goodness as in vain Disputes But thro what Gloom that subtle Head must move Whose Practice all his godly Talk refutes Who falls and leaves no Name behind Put out of Sight is out of Mind He 's truly great who 's great in Charity He 's great who 's humble and can Greatness scorn He 's wise who Worth in none but Christ can see He 's learn'd who 's to Divine Obedience born Tho all inferior Glories fly His balmy Name shall never die IV. PRVDENCE WHAT e're we read what e're we hear Let Holy Care with Patience weigh for Truth alas we weakly bear But Falshood gains a mighty Sway. The Wise Man knows our faulty State To loose Discourse and Guilt inclin'd And always measures things by Weight To no uncertain Tales resign'd He 'll ne're run headlong on nor will he be Stiff in his own Conceit and sensless Bigotry Receive not then each idle Tale Nor all thou hear'st to all relate But let a wise Man's Words prevail Above thy own his Counsels rate A Holy Life a Life refin'd Owners Godlike Wisdom proves And with Experience fills the Mind And with Divine Contentment moves Where God a lowly Heart a Subject gains There only Prudence thrives and inward Calmness reigns V. Search the Scriptures SEE Read these Sacred Volumes o're This wondrous Book survey Truth in its antient Springs explore Thy Studies on the mighty Subject stay Perhaps no modish Stuff no milky Phrase Thy sickly Sense may gratify Yet there blest Truth her Beams displays And all her Treasures lie See read again to clear thy Mind The Spirit 's Help implore That God's who first the Book design'd Whose Badg the well instructed Penmen wore Instructive Truth in common Language lies In plain and easy Words exprest But Falshood off like Vapour flies Tho ne're so gayly drest Shouldst thou mysterious Language love Or lofty Flights admire Thou 'lt meet with Raptures here above What e're thy own presuming Thoughts inspire Don't yet Devotions humble Stile despise But read with calm Attention there Brook the thirsty Lamb supplies Whose Streams are soft and clear Perhaps thou'lt find a Shepherd write A Herdsman prophesy But if the Spirit all indite Where can the Prejudice against them lie Authority and Learning only He On all that Holy Tribe bestows And all thy Studies there should be Where Truth sincerely flows If Truth in every Sentence shine And give thee certain Light Thou know'st Truth 's Words are all Divine Tho meanest Men her sacred Dictates write The mortal Penmen soon are past and gone To Dust from whence at first they came Truth claims Eternity alone And still remains the same Thy Wit thy Learning and thy Parts Perhaps are more than mine But God who reads our inmost Hearts May on my Soul with greater Favours shine Be thou impartial too with careful Eyes Examine all the Sacred Roll Th' inestimableTreasure prize As thy immortal Soul Wouldst thou in Holy Sense improve Then lay thy self aside All vain and curious Thoughts remove And Self-Conceit and unbelieving Pride Ask oft and with submissive Silence weigh What Holy Men declar'd of old Thy Judgments on their Dictates stay And their Directions hold VI. There is
perverts thy Mind When most to Prayers and most to Heaven enclin'd He hates Confessions and to find Thee there Where Sacred Flesh and Blood to Faithful Souls appear Trust not believe Him not his Hellish Snares Are strongest then when He for Peace declares Say to Him Hence be gone false Fiend for shame No more thy Lies in pious Ears proclaim Hence vile Seducer ne're expect a Part In Me My Jesus now defends my Heart Too strong for Hellish Arms nay Death would be More welcome far than vile Consent to Thee Hold thy deluding Tongue I 'll hear no more Should'st Thou a thousand wheedling Arts explore The Lord 's my Light my Health I scorn to fear Tho round my Soul Infernal Bands appear My God 's my ready Help my Kind Redeemer near Now like a valiant Souldier keep the Field And tho sometimes thy native Frailties yield Resume thy Courage and resist thy Foe My Grace shall freely to assist Thee flow But when the Fiend shall from thy Sword retreat Beware of flattering Words or vain Conceit By these surpris'd the gallant Hero fails And easeless Blindness o're the World prevails O ne'r since warn'd approach that rocky Shore Made rich with scatter'd Wrecks of thousands lost before VII He giveth more Grace unto the Humble Christ MY Son has bright Devotion 's Flame possest With inward Sacred Heat thy Zealous Breast Then boast not of it nor too loud proclaim The wondrous Force of that Celestial Flame Fill not the Temple with an empty Noise Nor to amuse the Croud exalt thy Voice Think 't was a Grace on thy dull Soul bestow'd To make thee groan beneath thy sinful Load Think how the Prince of Hell may cheat Thee How Thy Breast may with a false Devotion glow A Lip and Tongue-Devotion where the Heart In all the Business never bears a Part. Think how a little time may quench the Fire The glaring Torch in nauseous Fumes expire Or if it were a Heavenly Gift indeed Think of thy Beggar'd State thy pinching Need Till lowly Thoughts those Heavenly Flames succeed Thou begg'st for Comforts but mayst rise as High When Comforts at a greater Distance lie If with a lowly Heart an easy Mind With Self-denial and with Thoughts resign'd Thou bear thy Wounds if still with ardent Vows With Prayers on God thy pondrous Cares repose If still thy Heart to pious Works enclines With bold Endeavours and with Wise Designs Thy struggling Arms above the Waters are Not yet by Woes opprest nor sunk by black Despair Some when they miss Success impatient prove Man can't Himself nor where He pleases move Man acts on God the whole Success depends Who where he will his blest Assistance sends Some with imagin'd Heats themselves destroy Nor can Themselves in modest Bounds enjoy But swelling with Enthusiastic Rage Beyond the Bars of sober Sense engage And while they dream above the World they fly The flashy Meteors quickly faint and die So low they fall who would so wildly soar And don't the Refuge of my Wings implore So Men unskill'd in Ways of Vertue fail Unless to guide their Feet some Wiser Heads prevail If Man who fondly in Himself confides From all the Paths of sober Goodness slides It can't be strange if Madmen scorn the Rein And hate the Doctors who their Heats restrain Mean Sense with lowly Thoughts securer far Than mighty Parts with Pride exalted are It 's more unhappy to be Proud than Poor That Man 's unwise who in his Mirth secure Forgets past Poverty and never dreams How soon a Cloud may vail Heavens kindest Beams And He 's imprudent who when prest with Woes Off all his Hopes of Peace and Favour throws And on my Mercy can't with steady Faith repose Where haughty Pride in peaceful Times prevails In Wars too oft the bloaty Courage fails Couldst Thou thy modest Thoughts with Temper guide Between th' Extremes of Baseness and of Pride thou 'dst both in Straits and Storms securely ride Be sure when warm'd within with Heavenly Light To meditate on long succeeding Night When That comes on conclude again the Day May quickly dawn and make a longer stay That for my Glory and thy Good before I brought the Night so soon and can the Day restore A Peace unshock'd has greater Dangers far Than all the Bickerings of a Ghostly War The Soul where Charity and Meekness reigns A nobler Character of Glory gains Than Those who boast of Visions and of Light And all their Cant in Scripture-Phrase indite Or on Preferment 's Pinacle can light Who seeks God's Honour best secures his Own And He who meanest in Himself is grown Who shoots bright Honour from his vigorous Eyes When scornful Worlds his humble Fates despise Must to the noblest Heights in Heavenly Favour rise VIII I abhor my self in Dust and Ashes Believer DUST and Ashes tho I be Let me speak dear Lord to Thee Should I Lord to Merit fly On my own vain Works rely Thou becom'st my Enemy All my Sins against me rise All my Sins my Heart surprize But if with a lowly Heart I from wretched Self can part If contemn'd dejected I In the Dust before Thee lie Then again thy Light thy Grace Shall my sinking Soul embrace All my Vanity and Pride That submissive Veil shall hide Lord to Me my Self display What I was and am to Day Whence I come and where I go For alas I nothing know If I Lord am left to Me All I am's Infirmity But if Thou thy Favour show O how strong my Graces grow How my bubbling Joys o'reflow Strange my God! how wondrous strange Is the sudden blissful Change When my Soul with Guilt opprest Is by thy Embraces blest From thy Springs of boundless Love My preventing Guardians move All my Wants to Thee are known Off those mighty Dangers thrown Numberless and Nameless grown In what horrid Snares I fell While I lov'd my Self too well When I lov'd and long'd for Thee I retriev'd my God and Me. How Love 's sacred Sparks enflam'd me How my own Reflections sham'd me When in Love's bright Mirror I Saw my own Deformity Found sweet Jesus found how free All thy Favours were to me When desertless hopeless grown Bright on Me thy Favours shone Sing my Soul O sing his Praise Hymns to our Redeemer raise Whose All-searching Eyelids found me Whose All-pitying Loves unbound me All my Sins and Follies past And with tendrest Arms embrac't Turn O turn us Lord to Thee That submiss and grateful we May in pleasing Sacrifice Make our Songs as Incense rise And possest with Heavenly Flame Thee our Health and Strength proclaim IX And your Life is hid with Christ in God Christ IF thou my Son wouldst be with Glories blest Make Me thy chiefest Good thy final Rest So thou too much to meaner Joys inclin'd Shalt be from those inferiour Loves refin'd It 's vain to fix thy Heart on things below Which only inward Heat and Thirst bestow Turn then to Me for I
Thy Grace within my Heart to live That it may all my Fears survive Lord guide my Wishes guide my Will O make them seek thy pleasure still And gladly thy Commands fulfil O let my Pleasure Lord be thine To follow Thee my Thoughts incline And to thy sacred Laws confine What e're I wish what e're refuse Let Me thy sacred Book peruse And all by thy Directions chuse Lord make Me die to things below And thro' Neglect and Scorns to go For what thy wondrous Loves bestow In Thee let all my Wishes rest Let happy peace possess my Breast With thy supporting Favours blest On Thee my Dovelike Soul relies But when it out at random flies It only Floods and Storms descries In Thee O only Good in Thee My easy fearless Thoughts shall be Blest with immense Security XVI He alone comforts Vs in all our Tribulations Believer LORD while Here my Expectations Ne're pretend to Consolations Endless Comforts endless Blisses Oft engage my purer Wishes But on Earth I ne're shall find them But on Earth I ne're design'd them All the Joys of Earth possessing I should quickly lose the Blessing Look my Soul then look above Thee Let no common Pleasures move Thee God alone has Consolation He 's the Poors and thy Salvation Wait my Soul a while expect it He who promis'd won't neglect it But abundant Blessings send Thee And With flowing Sweets attend Thee If thy sickly craving Fancy Would to Earthly Joys advance Thee They 'l at last alas deceive Thee And Diviner Favours leave Thee Use the World but use 't in measure Grasping still at endless Treasure Slight the fawning Fairs Caresses Since ordain'd for greater Blisses All created Pleasures flowing And their softest Charms bestowing On Thee ne're could satisfy Thee But superiour Joys would fly Thee God alone who made can bless Thee And with true Delights possess Thee Not with those the World admires Nor what Folly mov'd desires But what faithful Souls delight in Pleasures pure and Sweets inviting Joys the cleanest Hearts attending While in Heavenly Flights ascending Short and vain are worldly Pleasures Fixt and sure Celestial Treasures Jesus too attends the Motions Of the pious Soul's Devotions And with Comforts round secures Him And of endless Life assures Him Jesus Dearest Lord defend Me And with guarding Flames attend Me And when Humane Comforts fail Me Let no dark Despair assail Me But thy boundless Goodness guide Me And reward Me when t' has try'd Me For thy Mercy fails us never And thy Anger burns not ever XVII Casting all your Care upon Him for he careth for You. Christ MY Son complain not murmur not if I With Thee the Methods of my Wisdom try I who alone thy utmost Wants descry Thou think'st as Men would think as sensless Fools Brought up in Reason's long Corrupted Schools Strangers to Faith and Hell 's uneasy Tools Believer Truth Lord thy Cares are more for Me Than Mine tho for my Self could be And He must stand but weakly sure Whose Faith can't rest in Thee secure Lord make my Will subscribe to Thee And act thy Pleasure then with Me For all thy Management will prove Th' Effect of Goodness and of Love If thou in Darkness chain me Lord Thy Goodness I 'll with Praise record If Thou with Light my Soul enflame I 'll sing to thy Illustrious Name If Thou my Heart with Comforts fill I 'll still adore and praise Thee still If laid in gloomy Dungeons low My Lips shall still with thy Immortal Praises flow Christ It 's all thy Duty Son The pious Mind Must always be to Providence resign'd And Sufferings welcome there as Joys must be And Wealth no more admir'd than slighted Poverty Believ For Thee Dear Lord I 'll gladly bear What e're thy Dispensations are Let Good or Bad let Sharp or Sweet Let Joys or Griefs around Me meet The Dole thy Gracious Hand shall leave For Me I 'll still with Thanks receive From Sins Dear Saviour keep Me clear And I nor Death nor Hell can fear O don't for ever Me disclaim Nor from thy Book deface my Name Then let a thousand Sorrows fall On Me with Patience I 'll support them all XVIII Thro' many Tribulations ye must enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Christ MY Son to save Thee when I left the Skies I could a mighty Mass of Woes despise Freely I came from those blest Seats above Unforc'd by Power tho constrain'd by Love That Thou might'st with submissive Patience go Thro' all the Miseries of Life below From my first Birth till on the Cross I dy'd I still continued on the suffering side Great Wants and Curses loud and great I bore The Sinner's Follies and the Scorner's Store With base Ingratitude for Kindness I Was paid for Miracles with Blasphemy I preach'd the Truth but Ah too rarely mov'd The sinful Soul but was for sacred Truth reprov'd Believ Since Patience Lord thy Practice sway'd And all thy Father's Rules obey'd How humbly Lord should I fulfil A sinful Wretch thy gracious Will With what Submissions undergo The Pains of easeless Life below Tho Life's unwieldy Load oppress Thy Grace Lord makes the Burden less And He who can thy Footsteps trace May with thy Saints obtain the Race What strange Obscurities of Old Did thy peculiar Flock enfold When Jewish Bounds thy Church confin'd And few to Heavenly Joys enclin'd Yet then thy Blood their Bliss procur'd Thy saving Death their Lives ensur'd Else on the Gloom of Sufferings tost They 'd been in Woes Eternal Mazes lost To Thee what Praise then should We pay Who show'st the Good the Perfect Way Whence I and all thy faithful Seed May to Eternal Joys proceed Thy blest Example shows the Way And He who follows Patience may With Thee our Lord our Head appear And Crowns of endless Glories wear Thy teaching thy preceding Light Alone could backward Souls excite Who else a fatal Course had run By their own wandring Thoughts undone Thy Miracles thy Words Divine Could scarce our lazy Hearts incline But whither whither had we gone Had not thy saving Beams before our Footsteps shone XIX He endur'd the Cross despising the Shame Christ GIVE o're Complaints my Son give o're Those deep-drawn Sighs those flowing Tears Think what for Thee thy dear Redeemer bore Think what the dying Martyr bears Think what a Flood Of sacred Blood Think what a Sea of Crimson Gore From Me from all my dying Servants flow'd Yet Thine still safely fills thy Purple Veins While We endur'd a thousand Pains Strongly tempted deeply wounded And with Heaps of Woes surrounded Weigh well these mighty Sufferings then compare Thy own with their prodigious Share Blush if Impatience swell thy thoughtful Breast When with so small a Burden prest Nay look for more that if a Storm should rise No stubborn Murmurs may thy Heart surprize The more thy Soul to Heav'n resigns The more thy sacred Wisdom shines By Use the Burden lighter proves Say not Had nobler Hands the
Wounds bestow'd No mean disgrace from nobler Hands had flow'd But all my Spleen and Anger moves To see a base ungrateful Slave His Benefactor 's Passions brave An unoblig'd a great Man's Scorn I had without Reluctance born But here I Pardon crave Fond sensless Thoughts Where heavenly Patience grows It no such nice Distinction knows Ne're values Men nor Injuries But lifts its humble Eyes To Him whose glorious Hand bestows the Victor's Prize Talk not of Patience if thy Hand must choose Thy Burden or the Weight refuse Patience regards not What nor Who An Injury may do But to the sacred Exercise submits And easy under every Trial sits It the Creator not the Creature views And with submissive Eyes pursues Its Maker's Hand and can repose On what its Maker's Hand bestows He knows small Sufferings for his Master's Name A vast Reward may claim Not to Deserts by Justice paid But by free Goodness down to humble Hearts convey'd Up then for Wars prepare If Thou the Crown wouldst wear Patience if unfading found Patience may at last be crown'd If thou manly Deeds pursue The Promise is to Sufferers due Rest by Labour is obtain'd And Victory by Fighting gain'd Believer Help then O help Me Lord by powerful Grace Impossibilities deface Impossibility's no more When Grace has fill'd the Heart before Thou know'st my Weakness Lord how soon My Hope my Strength my Vigor's done Little I little can perform To stem the Tide or face the Storm O touch my Soul with Heavenly Love Till soaring tow'rd those Joys above Afflictions I with Scorn may view And still a steady Course pursue To suffer Lord a while for Thee Must bring Salvation sure and Happiness to me XX. Miserable and Poor and Blind and Naked Believ LOrd to Thee I 'll now confess All my own Unrighteousness All my own Infirmity I 'll acknowledg Lord to Thee Oft I 'm griev'd and oft dejected When with smallest Pains affected Oft a brave Resolve I take But the least Temptations shake All my Courage and confound Me When those Common Straits surround Me. Sometimes from the meanest Cause Hell a strong Temptation draws When a sudden Blast o'rethrows Me And from all Assurance blows Me. See my Wretchedness and see Lord what Weakness reigns in Me Save Me snatch Me from the Deep Lest I there for ever sleep Most this grieves Me most it wounds Me That my Lust so soon confounds Me Tho my Soul be ne're consenting Yet the Labours of preventing Too uneasy make my Life Wearied with the constant Strife Plainer still my Frailties show While corrupted Notions flow Fast upon my Mind but prove Tedious grievous to remove Dearest Lover Lord of Souls Whose Almighty Power controuls All above and all below Pity on thy Slave bestow All my Toils and Labours view And with aiding Grace pursue Fill Me with Celestial Strength Lest rebellious Flesh at length O're my fainting Mind prevail And my inward Wisdom fail Tedious Wars may fatal be And betray my self to Me. What a wretched Life is This Where we ne're can Sorrows miss Where Perplexities and Woes Crafty Friends and mighty Foes All my Steps around enclose Some departing more approaching And the Tempter more encroaching Sorrows still on Sorrows ride With a dismal pompous Pride Like the Higre on the Tide O who can love a Life distracted so All whose Streams with Wormwood flow Fill'd with Trouble bankt with Woe How 's that true Life which Death and Plagues creates Yet how great a Number rates All those Cares as Delicates They 'l cry The World is false the World is vain And yet from it can't refrain Lust will still the Field maintain The World to Us our fleshly Lust commends That our Pride of Life pretends That our greedy Eye defends But when we think of Griefs and think of Pains Griping Mischiefs weighty Chains Hatred then triumphant reigns A vitiated Tast the Mind deceives And so false a Gusto leaves As for Honey Gall receives God then the Mind can neither taste nor see Nor how Sweet or Gracious He Nor how pleasant Truth may be But those who throughly can the World despise To their Maker only Wise Love their Heavenly Exercise They know those Sweets to well-purg'd Minds ensur'd And of Inferiour Longings cur'd Live from the World 's false Snares and wheedling Arts secur'd XXI And now Lord what is my Hope truly my Hope is even in Thee Believ LIfe my Soul of Peace possest On thy Dear Redeemer's Breast He 's the Saints Eternal Rest Dearest Sweetest Jesus store Me with Love to love thee more Than I could the World before Make Me love Thee more than Feature More than all the Pride of Nature In the fairest softest Creature More than Honour more than Glory More than boundless Territory Or a Mighty Name in Story More than Subtilty or Parts More than Riches or than Arts Or the Joys a World imparts Make Me love Thee more than Fame Or the loudest sounding Name Or than Comforts Heavenly Flame More than all those treasur'd Sweets Hope in every Promise meets When it dawning Glory greets More than Merits or Desire Or than thy Superiour Fire Can with all its Beams inspire More than Pleasure more than Gladness Or a Mind when purg'd from Sadness Extasy'd to Holy Madness More than Captain Angels more Than those Spirits which before Thy All-glorious Throne adore More than I believe or see More than all on Earth can be Which my God which is not Thee Thou my Lord my God art blest Goodness centers in thy Breast God most High and most Puissant God most full and Allsufficient Sweetest Kindest Fairest Loving And thy Kindness still improving All that 's Good and Perfect we Can at once discern in Thee All thy noblest Gifts and Light Move me not nor e're excite My faint Wishes only Thee Lord I pant and long to see O my Heart can never rest Satisfy'd within my Breast Till my Thoughts above can rise All created Joys despise Far above all Blessings soar And with Thee thy Self adore Jesus O my Love my Spouse Lord of purest chastest Vows To Whom humble Nature bows O who 'l give swift Wings to Me That I might from Fetters free Fly to Heaven and rest with Thee When O when Lord shall my Heart Gain in Thee my Love a Part And discern how sweet thou art When shall I from Sins at leisure And possest with sacred Pleasure Long and Love beyond all Measure Oft I sigh and oft I groan Much my Suffering loud my Moan In this Vale of Tears alone Oft disturb'd distracted I Hindred clouded fetter'd ly And can't to thy Embraces fly Let my Sighs my Groanings move Thee Tho distrest on Earth I love Thee Let my Sighs and Groanings move Thee Jesus O Eternal Light With Immortal Glories bright Comfort of the wandring Soul Tho my Language Silence be Silence can be heard by Thee While I thus my self condole O how long how long Dear Lord When wilt thou one Smile
which fly In my crazy Brain defy Save Me O endless Truth from Vanity O come sweet Jesus come to Me All my Lusts will fly from Thee Pardon O pardon Lord my wandring Mind Which when for earnest Prayers design'd Can such foolish Objects find I love the World too well and Thoughts will fly Where e're the vain Affections lie And the Tempter's always nigh Oft with my Lips I pray when Lord my Heart Will from that holy Duty start And from Thee my God depart Truth spoke the Word The Treasure holds the Mind The Good are all to Heaven inclin'd But I with worldly Glory blind I love the Flesh and fleshly Things pursue But could the Spirit the Flesh subdue To my God I should be true Of what I love I love to talk and hear And home the fair Ideas bear And esteem them always dear Blest Lord is He who leaves the World for Thee And by a perfect Victory Lives from Nature's Furies free Calm is his Conscience and his Prayers are pure And He 's of Angels Bliss secure Nor can the Thoughts again of worthless Earth endure XLIX I have fought a good Fight henceforth there remains for me a Crown of Righteousness Christ MY Son Since from above thou feel'st a sacred Flame For from above those holy Ardours came Long'st to be gone and with a cloudless Eye To see my Face and grasp Eternity Enlarge thy Heart and with a vast Desire Blow up thy Wishes and advance thy Fire Thank thank thy God whose kind indulgent Love To visit Thee stoops from those Realms above Enflames thy Soul and with a powerful Hand Supports thy Heart and makes thee firmly stand This neither from thy Thought nor Labour flows But wondrous Grace the wondrous Boon bestows To make thy Valour shine more dreadful bright To humble Thee before the Ghostly Fight And Thee to Godlike Loves and holy Works excite The Fire may burn but Smoke attends the Flame And holy Souls whose inward Fervours aim At heavenly Bliss yet never hope to be From fleshly Lusts or dark Temptations free They love their God but with severe Allays Nor can thy Fire without incumbrance blaze Flesh has its own Convenience first in view And can't with perfect Love Eternal Joys pursue Ask not abundance nor Delights for Thee But what accepted with thy God may be Think well Thou 'lt find my Orders wiser far Than all thy Wishes or Attainments are I know thy Wishes and have heard thy Groans Thou long'st for Palaces and glittering Thrones Shining with endless Joys and fix'd on high Where God's blest Sons enjoy their Liberty But stay a while To Day 's a time for Fight For Pains and Trials thou wouldst glut thy sight With boundless Good but must thy Heats rebate I only AM for ray approaching Kingdom wait Thou must be longer exercis'd and tri'd Have Comforts here but not be satisfi'd Take Courage then be strong to do to bear A Man quite new a Man quite chang'd appear Renounce thy Will and oft against it move Not Thine but other Mens Designs improve They shall be heard when all thy Prayers are lost They shall but ask and have thy Words and Hopes be croft They shall be talk'd of Thou in Silence die They trusted useless Thou and slighted lie Nature will flinch at this but bravely born Victorious Silence will thy Life adorn God's Servant Thus Thus must his Son be taught Thus to deny and rule Himself be brought It 's to be mortifi'd indeed to see And suffer what 's so hard my Son to Thee And tho subjected to a Power Divine It 's hard rebellious Nature to confine And the resisting Will to God's Commands resign Weigh then my Son the Fruits of all thy Pains Their swift Conclusion and their mighty Gains Such Meditations will no Wounds procure But raise thy Courage and thy Heart obdure Thy Will here quitted shall be gain'd above There thou 'lt obtain thy Wishes and thy Love Good thou shalt have and never fear to lose Thy Will as Mine no private Interest chuse None shall resist Thee there nor stop thy Way But to thy utmost Hopes thy Soul convey I 'll give thee Honours for Disgraces past For Sorrows Praises and a Throne to last Tho when on Earth beneath the meanest cast Thus shall the Fruits of just Obedience shine And humblest Penitents obtain Rewards Divine O then to human just Commands submit Beneath their Laws with humble Patience sit Thy King 's thy Friends thy Parents Pastor's Will Take well and with sincere Address fulfil Let Brutes in various ways their Thoughts engage Enjoy the Praises of a flattering Age Brag of a thousand Honours spread their Fames And to the Stars exalt their lofty Names Boast not of such Atchievements but when Grace Makes Self to God resign its darling place Come Life come Death let Love thy Heart enflame And in new Hymns of Praise thy gracious Lord proclaim L. Turn Thee unto Me and have Mercy on Me for I am desolate and afflicted Bel. MY God dear holy Father may My Soul Eternal Blessings pay To Thee whose just Resolves have stood Whose Deeds are always kind and good Let Me blest Lord rejoice in Thee But not in other Men nor Me. Thou Lord canst all my Hopes employ My Crown my Glory and my Joy Ah to what can I pretend But what God himself must send All is thine from thee it flow'd But my Age is Lord bestow'd All in Sorrows all in Tears All in tedious Doubts and Fears While the Tyrant Lust appears Lord give thy Childrens Peace to Me Who feed in Comforts light with Thee Thy Peace thy heavenly Gifts infuse And I 'll thy Holy Gifts produce And all to sing thy Praises use But shouldst Thou dear Lord withdraw I should soon forget thy Law Such a Change would make me droop Make me tremble make me stoop Not as when I felt the Streams Of thy Mercies lively Beams And beneath thy Wings could be From design'd Temptations free The Time O righteous Father's now Which must thy faithful Servant prove This happy Moment Lord will show My suffering patient lasting Love That Time Dear Father known of old To Thee has laid its hands on Me When outward Woes my Life should hold But still my Heart should live to Thee I tho grosly slighted here I the weight of Passions bear Yet from thence should quickly rise And above the lofty Skies Bask in thy refulgent Eyes Thus thy Word of old ordains it Thus my present State explains it Lord it 's a Friendly Test of Love When I repeated Sorrows prove From thy All-guiding Providence The great Events on Earth commence I for my Good thy Scourge have known Now better wiser humbler grown Tho Confusion hides my Face I implore thy saving Grace And thy Judgments deeps admire While the Good and Bad expire Since thy prudent Orders shew Equity and Mercy too I Lord thy glorious Name adore Tho compass'd round with mighty Foes Since I
thy heavy Lashes bore And inward Pangs and outward Woes Great Physician Lord of Souls Thou whose Hand our Hearts controuls None above and none below Can such Wounds and Balms bestow Thou to Hell canst cast me down Thou my Life with Health canst crown All the Sufferings laid on Me All my Comforts flow from Thee In thy blest Hands Dear Father I Beneath thy Rod's Correction lie Lash cut me deep that I may be In all submissive Lord to Thee Make me Obedient Humble Meek That I thy Will alone may seek My Self I yield my All to Thee Here not hereafter punish Me Thou knowst my Conscience throughly Lord Each brooding Thought each winged Word Past Present Future Matters lie At once before thy piercing Eye Thou my Interest only knowst What to purge my Rust it cost Let me Lord thy Subject be Work thy Pleasure Lord on Me Ne'r despise Me ne'r neglect Me Nor for Nature's Taint reject me I thy Jurisdiction own I to Thee am throughly known Lord teach Me what I ought to know And Love to lovely things to show To praise what only pleases Thee True Worth in what thou lovest to see While what Thou hat'st grows vile to Me. Let me never judg by sight Nor in empty Tales delight Wisdom's Methods let me learn And superiour Things discern From those little Toys below And thy Laws exactly know Mens Senses oft in Judgment fail And Toys on Earthy Minds prevail Who only grasp at what they see And scorn Invisibility Who tho the Rabble lift them high May still in common Ordure lie For when Cheats the Cheaters praise When the Vain their Fellows raise When the Blind conducts the Blind When the Weak's a Guide design'd All 's Deceit from first to last All their Praise an empty Blast For a Man's repute should be Only as He 's priz'd by Thee LI. Who hath despis'd the Day of small things Christ MY Son Tho now thy inward Flames supreamly shine Thy Prayers are Raptures and thy Flights Divine Yet Nature's Weakness oft will Lure thee down And Life's rough Cares thy soaring Fancies drown The Heart still of its mortal Load complains And needs must groan beneath its slavish Chains Since cramp'd so oft when it attempts the Skies And would to heavenly things and lofty Subjects rife With humble Thoughts then Holy Works pursue Till coming I thy smother'd Flames renew With heavenly Dews refresh the drowthy Plains Bless thee with Peace break thy weighty Chains Thy Heart enlarg'd thro Scripture-Vails shall rove And Thou to run my holy Ways shall love Till sure what e're thy present Sufferings are They can't with heavenly Bliss and future Crowns compare LII I have born Chastisement I will not offend any more Believer LORD I 'm unworthy of thy Comforts thy Love And thou mayst justly from my wreched Heart remove Vast Seas of flowing Tears could never make me pure My great my crying Sins might all thy Plagues endure But boundless Goodness Lord and Mercy lives with Thee And thy supporting Hand thy fading Creatures see Thou mak'st my drooping Soul thy wondrous Comforts know And find how far they pass our weak Attempts below What can I do my God to gain thy heavenly Grace So slow to Penitence so swift in Satan's Race I nothing Lord can plead if thou my Crimes survey But Hell and hellish Flames must all my Guilt repay I know I merit Lord thy utmost Hate Scorn Nor can my Name among thy Holy Saints be born Harsh tho the Reckoning prove I must the Test endure If I 'd thy Mercies Springs thy Comforts Streams procure What shall I say when at thy dreadful Bar accus'd What can a Sinner plead with inward Guilt confus'd I 've sinn'd great God I 've sinn'd O Mercy Mercy show O let my Eyes a while with unfeign'd Waters flow E're I to Death's black Shades the Lands of Darkness go A contrite humble Heart thy Bar for Sin demands In true Repentance all our hope of Pardon stands That stills those rugged Storms which o're the Conscience roll Our dying Gifts repairs shields the trembling Soul From Judgment 's dreadful Flames till delug'd round with Sweets The Soul its smiling God in Love's Embraces meets A contrite Heart to Thee 's a nobler Sacrifice Than all those Odours which from fuming Incense rise Sweet as those fragrant Oils which wash'd thy sacred Feet And as it 's humble must thy constant Favours meet Thy Arms a Refuge sure from Hellish Rage appear And our Pollutions all thy flowing Mercies clear LIII Love not the World neither the Things of the World Christ MY Smiles are pure my Son unmix'd with those Poor Comforts which inferiour Things disclose Wouldst thou obtain them Cast thy Clogs aside Thy Self within thy private Chambers hid There with thy God not Men Discourses nod Thy Mind and Conscience there with Sighs unfold Laugh at the World that sweet Recess prefer Before a King 's invidious Character For Mine and worldly Loves thou ne'r canst find A Time of leisure or an easy Mind From fondest Friends and Earth's Incumbrance free There thou mayst dedicate thy self to Me And like a Stranger and a Pilgrim move Thro' wastful Desarts here to Canaan's Rest above With what strange Joys that happy Man may die Whose Thoughts discharg'd from Earth's Engagements lie Words can't express nor curious Arts descry The real Saint the World's Concerns will leave And chiefly fears Self should Himself deceive Subdue thy Self thou'lt soon the World subdue That Conquest only is a Conquest true He who his sensual part by Reason guides Then with his Reason to his Lord subsides O're Earth o're himself a King triumphant rides Wouldst thou reach this Then like a Man begin And lay the Ax close to the Roots of Sin Heâ— down Self-love and every Thought inclin'd â—o vulgar Blisses or the Creature-kind Self-love alone the Little World confounds That master'd Peace the quiet Heart surrounds How few compleatly to themselves can die Their Bird-lim'd Wings no gallant Heights can fly But here in common Cares entangled lie But those who would at large converse with Me Must from deprav'd unruly Passions be And from their darling selves and Creature-Comforts free LIV. The natural Man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God Christ MY Son Nature and Grace in all their Steps attend Soft is their Motion and oppos'd their End Only by men of inward Light perceiv'd Most aim at Good but are alas deceiv'd Sly Nature has a thousand Arts and Snares And only for its own Delights prepares Grace is sincere and all that 's ill declines Cheats none but all for God and Godlike Works designs Death Sufferings and Subjection Nature hates Grace struggling Lust with holy Art rebates Fain would be humble and would fain obey And not at large in fleshly Desarts stray Love's Discipline and on its Good would rest And for his sake it self of Self divest Nature for Pleasure seeks and seeks for Gain Grace only
here if thou 'dst to Glory rise Take up the Cross if Thou with Me wouldst reign Those who embrace the Cross shall Life's pure Light obtain Believer Dear Jesus since to walk with Thee I by the World despis'd and crush'd must be Teach Me to scorn the World teach Me to cleave to Thee Servants beneath their Masters are And must to suffer with their Lords prepare Life from thy precious Life O let thy Servant share What e're abroad I read or hear Refreshments all in that and noblest Joys appear Christ My Son since Thou so much hast heard and known That Knowledg O with holy Practice crown He loves Me best who knows and keeps my Will His Soul I 'll with endearing Glories fill And He shall reign with Me on Sion's sacred Hill Believ Holy Jesus Dearest Lord O perform thy sacred Word See! The Cross I gladly bear Since thy Hand has laid it here Thence my better Life shall rise It 's my Guide to Paradise Lord I 'll bear it I 'll endure it Never never Lord abjure it Believ Forward Brethren let us move Jesus now our Guide will prove For his sake the Cross we bear For his sake we 'll persevere He 's our Captain he will aid us And thro' greatest Dangers lead us Come let 's boldly march behind him We in greatest Straits shall find him While our Duties we deny not While from Wars with Hell we fly not LVII Count it all Joy when Ye fall into divers Temptations Christ I Son in humble Patience more delight Those Vertues which a World of Woes excite Than all that brisk Devotion which appears In warm Professors in their calmer Years Thy Soul why should a petty Scandal tear Which should unmov'd the greatest Scandal bear Fie let it pass It 's not the first or last Life must a thousand sharper Potions taste Thou' rt brave and canst couragious Thoughts diffuse While like a Hand the distant Danger shews But when a sudden Storm o're-spreads the Skies Thy Wit and Courage sinks and faints and dies Think then how frail thou art how soon subdu'd To make thee wiser yet such Tests are oft renew'd Thou know'st the Truth then wretched Fears disdain And uninvolv'd thou may'st thy Lot sustain The Test with Joy at least with Patience bear Repress thy Passions let not others hear One Word unfitting from thy Lips proceed Lest such in weaker Souls should scandal breed Grace will both Woes and inward Lust resist And as I live I 'll soon thy Soul assist With new and greater Comforts visit Thee If Thou with faithful Prayers devoutly call on Me. Gird Thee to Sufferings with an easy Mind Temptations oft in their Effects are kind No God no Angel Thou but Flesh and Blood And since nor Man nor purer Angels stood Not these in Heaven nor those in Paradise Some crafty Sin thy Vertues may surprize But I the Mourning Soul can raise and those Who their own Frailties know with Godlike Joys compose Bel. Thy Words are sweeter Lord to Me Than dropping Hony-combs can be What should I do in Straits and Woes Did not thy Word thy Thoughts compose O may I suffer all things here May I a thousand Tempests bear If I at last my Port may gain If I may endless Life obtain O let Me in thy Favours die Let Me to Abraham's Bosom fly Thy Servant Dearest God respect And to thy Kingdom 's Joys thro' peaceful Ways direct LVIII How unsearchable are his Judgments and his Ways past finding out Christ MY Son dispute not of that Gloom profound Those Deeps which my obscurer Ways surround Ask not why God that Man to Glory chose Why This to Hell's dark Flames rejected goes Why That should under long Afflictions groan And This exalted mount the sacred Throne These things all humane Sense surpass nor can Man's short-lin'd Sense unfathomable Judgments span If Hell then or if impious Men disclose A curious Humour thus their Dreams oppose God must be just and all his Judgments right Clear are his Judgments and his Justice bright My Ways are to be fear'd not vainly scann'd Nor can created Sense beneath the dreadful Burden stand Ask not what Grace was on the Saints bestow'd Who reigns the Greatest near their smiling God Dispute not what their Interests are above Nor seek by them to gain their Maker's Love Some fondly dote on those extinguish'd Lights Such Love not Heaven but Hellish Art excites Turn all thy Thoughts thy zealous Loves on Me I rais'd the Saints to their supream degree To them my strong effectual Grace was free I not Desert their Heads with Honours crown'd Their Weakness my preventing Graces found I knew them e're this World from nothing rose And them before its first Foundations chose They chose not Me but I by pity mov'd Them thro' corrupted Nature's horrors lov'd And by Afflictions surest Test improv'd With Comforts blest and Perseverance too And crown'd their Faith at last with promis'd Glories due The First the Last alike I kindly know And Love alike on all their Souls bestow I only in my Saints am justly prais'd In Them my Name above the Stars is rais'd While Poor Unactive Undeserving They Meer Objects of unbounded Mercy lay Love made 'um ONE made 'um Lights to Thee And to be follow'd where they closely follow'd Me. Saints but instruct Thee in thy Duty still I not themselves their vast Affections fill Rapt high above themselves they ever prove Unbounded Blisses and unbounded Love They live unchang'd while Truth their Souls invests And holy Flames enlarge their heavenly Breasts They serve Me only and in that should be Loves and Devotions Patterns to the World Thee It 's not thy Work with curious Art to pry Into the Mystick Secrets of the Sky What Saints departed do concerns not Thee Thy Vows thy Honours all belong to Me. Think how thy Sins in Bulk and Number rise How little Goodness in thy Bosom lies How far Thou mayst of their Attainments fail Who now on Joy's unstormy Ocean sail But don 't to them for Grace or Aids repair I only aid the Poor I only answer Prayer Could They alas thy vain Devotions hear They'd ne'r those misappli'd Devotions bear They know they merit nothing nor can do What foolish Men with foolish Vows pursue They love their God their Joys unbounded flow Nor happier by misguided Worship grow Before my Feet their starry Crowns they lay To him who ever lives submisly pray And to the spotless Lamb their Adorations pay Don't in those lightsom Realms at Greatness aim Thy Merits can't the smallest Favours claim Thy Sins thy weighty Sins would sink thee down And wouldst thou thoughtless Wretch deserve a Crown First be a Child in harmless Innocence From that low State thy happy Days commence Be humble first and leave the rest to Me Vast as thy largest Hopes thy vast Reward shall be Wo to those haughty Souls who scorn to be Harmless as Babes and yet pretend to Me Heaven's Gates
are strait and low and can't admit The Proud nor those who can with Scorners sit Wo to the Rich who fix their Hearts below Whose watry Eyes when all the Poor shall go To endless Joys with useless Tears shall flow Rejoice poor humble Souls my Truths embrace And God shall you at last in boundless Glories place LIX And now Lord what is my Hope Truly my Hope is even in Thee Bel. WHence my dearest Lord from whence Should I raise my Confidence Whence while here beneath the Skies Should my Hopes my Comforts rise Only Dearest Lord from Thee So immensly kind to Me. When was 't well with me without Thee When was 't ill and Thou about Me Keep me ever ever poor If I 'm so of Thee secure Heaven without Thee 's all uneasy Earth with Thee would rather please Me. Heaven would be no Seat of Blisses Hell would crown my warmest Wishes If that Hell beneath could show Thee If that Heaven could ne'r bestow Thee Thou' rt my Love my chief Desire All my Sighs and Groans aspire Only for Thee only to Thee While my liveliest Hopes pursue Thee When the greatest Wants surround Me When the greatest Fears confound Me From my God alone commence All my Hopes and Confidence Others hunt inferiour Pleasures All the sweet the charming Measures Of my Safety spring from Thee All things thence are good to Me. Oft I 'm punish'd oft I 'm tempted But by Mercy still prevented While his Rod severely proves Me Still my dearest Master loves Me Still thy Strokes are dear to Me As the softest Joys can be God ray Lord 's my Hope my Shelter When in Sorrow's Gore I welter He 's my Strength my only Stay All without him flies away Helps deceive Me Friends forsake Me Books but doubtful Answers make Me. Counsellors with Quirks confound Me Reeds alas deceitful wound Me. Thou my Help my Comfort art Thou instruct'st and keep'st my Heart All those things to Peace pretending All Felicities depending Must but vain and empty be When abstracted Lord from Thee All that 's Good and Wise and Great All to Thee their Spring retreat And thy Servants Comfort see Only when they trust in Thee Lord to Thee I lift my Eyes Whence my daily Mercies rise Kindest Father Dearest Lord Still thy Joys thy Smiles afford Bless and sanctify my Mind That Thou there a place may'st find That thy Glories there may rest In a Heart with Pureness drest Freed from Sins offensive Pest Lord as thy Goodness large appears Thy Mercies large O let thy Ears To thy poor Servant's Prayers be kind While here to Deathful Shades confin'd Protect preserve defend my Soul While Clouds and Storms about Me roll Let Grace attending thro a peaceful way My Soul to endless Life and endless Light convey Amen The Christian Pattern PARAPHRAS'D The Fourth Book Of the Eucharist The Invitation O Come ye tabouring Souls with Sins vast weight opprest O come and on your Master 's sacred Bosom rest My Flesh is Bread which I 'll on fainting Souls bestow My Blood the Source of Life to all the World below Take eat my Body here each faithful Soul shall find Eat eat it oft to keep your dying Lord in mind He whom my Flesh and Blood divinely entertains Lo I his Lord in Him and He in Me remains My Words with nobler Sense than Carnal Language shine They 'r Life and Sprit All All Mystick All Divine I. And Reverence his Sanctuary Believer THESE Words Dear Christ Eternal Truth are Thine And like thy Self they 'r all Divine At various Times in various Places us'd Each sacred Syllable Which from my Saviour fell New Life new Light quite thro my Soul diffus'd They 'r Thine as utter'd Lord by Thee But Mine as for Salvation meant to Me. I them with flowing Joys receive May they on Me a deep Impression leave They 'r holy and they 'r gracious All And like sweet Dews or Lovers Kisses fall But me my weighty Guilt affrights A wounded Soul no Visitors invites Thy dear soft Words attract my hungry Soul But Thoughts of inward Guilt my forward Haste controul Thou bidst that my Approach with Faith should be If I 'd have any Share in Thee That I 'd of that immortal Nourishment Accept an offer'd Part And with a grateful Heart My Prayers for Life's eternal Bliss present O ye Thou say'st with Sins opprest O come and on my heavenly Bosom rest Sweet Words Dear happy charming Sound About desponding Sinners ecchoing round By These poor Souls invited are In blest Communion with thy self to share But who Dear Lord or what am I Who dare approach the spotless Deity Heaven's lofty Throne 's impure compar'd with Thee And shall a sinful Soul thy glorious Palace be Who can so kind a Condescension show Whence such a tender Friendship flow Dare I before thy sacred Altars kneel Conscious of in-born Sin Who cruel Pangs within And all a wounded Soul's Convulsions feel Oft have I trespass'd in thy sight And dare I now consuming Flames invite Thy Terrors purest Saints avow To them the bright Angelick Armies bow Thou said'st O Come else Lord had we Resign'd to Fears and Incredulity Great Noah's saving Ark appears The Labour of a hundred lingring Years And can a few short Minutes fit the Soul To meet that God whose Arms the vassail'd World controul A Cedar Chest contain'd thy Laws of old Cedar o're-laid with Ophir's Gold Seven toilsom Years that King of Wisdom spent A Temple's Walls to raise To thy immortal Praise Eight Holy Pays in solemn Feastings went A thousand peaceful Offerings blaz'd A thousand Shouts that Ark of Mercy rais'd To its Majestick glorious Seat What tho I only find a Mystick Treat What tho plain Bread and Wine must be The Symbols of his Flesh and Blood to Me The Legislator's greater far Than Laws tho cut by heavenly Fingers are I 'm vile yet can't one Moment freely spend To purge my filthy Soul or lodg my gracious Friend What Art what Care the Godlike Moses tri'd That wondrous Casket to provide What Time what curious Skill what vast Expence Blest Wisdom's mighty Heir Took that He might prepare A Dome for thy Mysterious Residence But Lord what little Care can I To entertain so great a Guest apply O how my Thoughts distracted range How soon my Manly Resolutions change How fixt my wandring Thoughts should be From all inferiour Obligations free When not Angelick Bands But him who all the Angel-Host commands I to receive with humble Faith prepare And at a Feast of Love with my Redeemer share That sacred Ark thy Mercy 's wondrous Seat By thy peculiar Presence great That Ark the Symbol of the Deity In that Illustrious Dome Took up the noblest Room The Holiest Place as representing Thee Yet all the Sacrifices there Were but the Types of that revolving Year In which Incarnate God should fall The great Atonement and should perfect All. That great Atonement Bread and Wine To us exhibit in a Mode
filleth the Hungry Soul with Gladness Believer SWeetest Jesus Dearest Lord For whom my eager Passions long O now my pointed Griefs record How weak my Heart my Wants how strong How lost in Vices how immerst in Woes Tempted disturb'd opprest by angry Foes Tainted without poison'd within With the baleful Weeds of Sin Lord to Thee for Help I fly For Comfort and Support to Thee I O All-knowing God apply Who all my private thoughts canst see From Thee true Comfort true Assistance flows Thy Wisdom my defective Nature knows More indigent than all beside Till with Vertue 's Sweets supply'd Naked here and Poor I stand And pitying Grace with Tears desire O feed Me with a bounteous Hand Enflame my Heart with Love's soft Fire With thy bright Presence scale my gloomy Eyes Embitter what my Soul on Earth can prize To Patience all my Woes convert And from Creatures purge my Heart Lift my Heart above the Skies Nor let it wander here below Let me all Earthly Joys despise And Sweets which from the Creature flow Be thou my richest Bread my noblest Wine My Love Essential and my Joy Divine Ever O Dearest Jesus be All that 's sweet and good to Me Let thy Presence Lord enflame Me O warm O burn O change me quite And to thy Own blest Nature frame Me Endu'd with Vigour Beam'd with Light Let Me with Thee in Secret Vnions move And melt Me throughly with the Flames of Love Nor from thy Table let my Heart Thirsty e're or Hungry part Let thy Mercies work on Me Wondrous as in thy Saints of old O may with a Prodigy Celestial Heats my All enfold I sink but Thou the bright Eternal Fire In Me make me above the Clouds aspire My Intellectuals six above And refine my Soul with Love XVII But the Fruit of the Spirit is Love Joy c. Believer WIth true Devotions and with fervent Love And with a Heart resign'd And with an Ardent Mind Tow'rd thy Altars Lord I move Thy Holy Saints thy Servants Lord of old Were very rarely in Devotion cold But with Humility They'd bow before thy Face O may I so approach to Thee Dear Lord great Source of Heavenly Grace And with a faithful Soul thy offer'd Loves embrace I know I merit Nothing but I bring A willing Heart to Thee As if my Love could be Rais'd from some Eternal Spring Whatever Vows the purest Minds conceive I with submissive Veneration leave Before my God my King Nor would I Part detain My All I for an Offering bring Let others Sacrilege maintain I 'd with a Heart entire my Saviour entertain O Thou my Lord my God whose wondrous Art First rais'd my curious Mould And when to Follies sold Did the Kind Redeemer's part Let Me my Lord with such firm Loves embrace Such Awe such thankful Praise such humble Grace Such Faith Hope Purity As that blest Maid of old When what her Womb 's blest Fruit should be With Smiles the cheerful Angel told Lo I thy Servant Lord Thy kind Engagements hold So thy great Harbinger the Baptist too Tho in his Mother's Womb Before thee found a Room His exulting Joys to shew And when He saw thee passing humbly cry'd Lo there the Bridegroom of the Glorious Bride And I his Friend with Joy His sacred Language hear O may I so my Thoughts employ When I before thy Face appear May my exulting Heart the Robes of Gladness wear I 've heard of Holy Saints with Joys enflam'd Till the contending Soul Could not the Force controul Which their inward Joys proclaim'd I 've heard of Extasies and wondrous Lights And Glorious Visions and Mysterious Flights I 've heard the Creature loud Thy mighty Acts resound May I with inward Heat endow'd Spread thy Illustrious Glories round My Heart with boundless Joys and heavenly Raptures crown'd Accept my Vows Dear Lord accept my Praise Those holy Hymns which I Would to Infinity Vast as thy Immenseness raise Praise Lord I owe Thee and would give Thee Praise Thro' shortest Moments and thro' longest Days Nor would I Lord alone Thy Praises celebrate I 'd draw the blessed Angels down I 'd move the World's united State Till they in Deathless Songs thy Gracious Acts relate May the wide World the many-Languag'd Tribe With Fervour Lord proclaim Thy Ever-glorious Name And to thy Renown subscribe May We who here with awful Reverence feed From Faith to Faith from Love to Love proceed Till we with mutual Prayers Each others Health implore And freed from all inferiour Cares And fed from thy Immortal Store We live and ever love but jar and faint no more XVIII The secret things belong unto the Lord our God Christ SEE how the dreadful Pest o're-flows How swift the dark malignant Angel flies Enters the Heart and thence infects the Eyes See how the Fiend triumphant grows And spreads the curious fatal Temper round And makes the shallow Fool attempt the Deeps profound Poor Man abus'd by Reason's Glare Will needs into his Maker's Secrets pry And comprehend Mysterious Majesty And all his boundless Powers declare Reason a Star till Sin obscur'd the World And from its lofty Sphere the radiant Substance hurl'd It shines still but with faded Light Dim and uncertain and with Scurf o'relaid Yet now would those superiour Orbs invade It shunn'd with native Lustre bright Then Man his mighty Soveraign's Nature knew But from the dark Research with awful Wisdom flew They 'd now with false Philosophy False Reason false Discourse and false Design Beyond the harmless Protoplast refine And with a sawcy daring Eye Anatomize and quite decipher Me And like themselves would bound and mould the Delty Can't they discern how Three are One Can't they conceive how One subsists in Three Can't they my Graces smallest Movements see Thro' Holy Institutions drawn Tho Scripture both in plainest Words descry They 'l unfelt Truths abjure and give their God the Lâ—â— With rotting Limbs and tainted Souls They scorn the modest Christians humble Flight Banter's their Sense and Blasphemy their Light Yet while to Hell they sink in Sholes Men must their worldly Wisdom's Reach admire Who for a Carnal Crew a Carnal God desire Blind with the Beams of sacred Light As Batts they flutter in a Cloudless Air Nor can my Majesty's Refulgence bear But gasp and sicken at the Sight They'd my vast Sphere to their short Span confine Or like the swelling Toad with Oxlike Greatness shine For shame let Brutes at last believe God may be more than Man can Vnderstand Nor can they reach to his All-powerful Hand The humble Soul may Truth retrieve And He who bows his Head to Antient Lore May grow more wise at last tho but a Fool before Blest ever blest be sober Minds Who won't for needless Questions wildly range Nor Revelation for their Reason change What Heaps eternal Darkness finds Who with their humbler Sense dissatisfi'd Too near the scorching Sun on waxen Wings would ride I in a favour'd Saint demand Not such