is he gone fairest of women Where 's thy beloved turn'd aside Do not deny our company In seeking him who is our guide 2 b Those that have found Christ themselves are very free and willing to instruct those that are desirous to seek after him My dear love he is gone to see c Christ is much delighted in Christian assemblies where their persons are holy their services are sweet and spicy The gardens where he doth delight And much rejoyce i' th beds of spice And gathering the lillies white 3 d Every true Christian is resign'd and wholy given up to Christ by faith makes Christ his own with all his benefits Mine my love is and I am his What comfort from this union flows e The Lord Christ takes great pleasure in the sweet pure and lovely graces which he himself bestows upon his people He rests and feeds not among weeds But where the purest lillys grows 4 f Great is the glory riches honour of the Church of Jesus Christ Thy beaury bright is like in sight To royal Tirzah of great fame Thy comeliness is nothing lesse Then is the fair Jerusalem g The Church of Christ in right order and daily observing the same thereby is and becomes a terrour to all that hate her on every side Thou terrifi'st thine enemies And makest them full sore afraid As armed men do others when Their banners be in feild display'd 5 h Jesus Christ doth yield up himself as one captivated by and to the faith of every true believer Now turn aside my lovely bride For with thy eyes I 'm vanquisht quite And conquer'd I do wounded lye With that which is my hearts delight i See chapter 4th ver 1. Thy well-set hair that mad'st thee fair Most fitly I may it compare Unto the flocks that on the rocks And mounts of Gilead grazing are 6 k See chap. 4. ver 2. Thy teeth appear like sheep when th' are New washt and clipt and even shorn ' Mongst whom there is no barrennesse For each one of them twins have born 7 l See chap. 4. ver 3. Thy temples bright are like insight To a pomgranate cut in peices And thou dost cover them all over Within thy locks and hairy fleeces 8 The queens that be ate full sixty And fourscore Concubins in count The virgins fine that with them joyn All numbers farr they do furmount 9 m Believers though of never so many perswasions yet are all one in Christ Jesus should labour after oneness amongst themselves and preserve the unity of the spirtt in the bond of peace But my dear love and spotles dove She is but one the choyce alone Of her dear mother and there 's no other That did for her in travail groan n The spiritual glory of Christs Church bespeaks her blessedness is worthy of admiration and praise from all others When they beheld her that exceld Both daughters queens and concubines Themselves did raise to bless and praise Her that so much in glory shines 10 o The Church of Christ in all states hath a spiritual brightness sometimes more dim somtimes more clear and shines more and more unto the perfect day Oh who is shee that we do see Like to the morning looking bright Fair as the moon which light full soon Expels the darkness of the night The sun so clear doth not appear More glorious and beside what 's said p See ver 4. She terifies her enemies As armies do with flags displayd 11 q The Church of Christ is his garden in which he is conversant delighted much with the good fruit brought forth thereby hath a special eye over her looking for her fruitfulness growth and increase I went to see the fruits that be I' th vallies and the gardens too The fruitful vine to flourish fine And the pomegranates bud and blow 12 Such was my care that ere aware Like th'chariots of Aminadad My soul did drive me for to strive T' express the love I ever had 13 r The best for want of care and watchfulness may slip and fall but it is both their duty and property to return from evil when rowzed up and cal'd upon If thou hast been inclin'd to sin Return return oh Shulamite T is bad to stray worse there to stay Return we dearly thee invite s The Church of Christ and so consequently every Christian is both lovely and humble hath enemies fighting without and two contrary parties opposing each other within What would ye see in me to be Poor love debased Shulamite But companies of two armies Who with each other dayly fight CHAP. VII 1 OH princes daughter great Heir to the king of kings Thou gloriously compleat a It is no small part of a Christians glory to continue patiently in well doing and for the same bear to and undergo all things impos'd upon them Appearest in all things Thy feet are shod With Gospel peace that thou with ease Maist walk with God b The Church of Christ a spiritual body fashion'd form'd knit compacted together by the worker of all things acting in all things according to his apoyntments The joynts within thy thighs Like jewels are and chains All wrought in curious-wife By th'cunning workmans pains Each several joynt Of my body doth supply As I appoint 2 c Blessed is he that believeth and is baptized for he is washed from his sins and shall have life everlasting Thy navel firm and sound That liquor wanteth none Is like a goblet round Refreshing every one Whose hearts I raise To pass the flood that shews my blood For sins release d The ordinances of Christ in his Church do nourish refresh succour support comfort and edify the saints when spiritually carefully conscientiously they feed upon them Thy belly like to wheat With lillys white set ore Affords most precious meat In great abundant store To be kept still That all my Saints that be in wants May feed their fill 3 e See chap. the 4 and ver 5. Thy brests are like two twins Of yong and tender roes From whence because of sins Rivers of comforts flows To souls opprest For ther 's no other but thou their mother Can give them rest 4 f Those whose souls are freed from spiritual slavery and bondage by Christ Iesus become powerful and able to do or undergo whatsoever he calls them unto Thy neck that shews thy power Being freed from slavery Is like an ivory tower Rais'd up most strong and high Sins cruel bands Are like a yoke but they are broke By Gods commands g See chap. 4 and ver 1. Thy eyes that give thee light Transparent are and clear Like to the fishponds bright In Heshbon that appear Close by the gate Of Bethrabbin where men go in And out thereat h The Church of Christ is of a discerning spirit vigilant and watchful wisely foresees the evil
THE BOOK OF THE SONG OF SOLOMON IN MEETER WITH Some Brief Observations from the Text something pleasant but more profitable to the Unprejudiced Reader who loves the knowledge of God and hath his heart inflam'd with the Love of the Lord Jesus By T. S. Who loveth and could willingly serve any that Loves our Lord Jesus in Sincerity LONDON Printed for Francis Smith at the Signe of the Elephant and Castle near the Royall Exchange in Cornhill 1676. THE PREFACE To the READER Courteous Reader THis is the first time ever I came forth To publique view I now was very loath To have appear'd but being often prest By several Friends at last at their request What by these Poems was my first intention I finde by theirs doth meet with its prevention For now and then according to my leisure I thought to reade what I had writ with pleasure For to delight my self it was my end When first of all these Poems I had pen'd But further here and there now they must go For why 't is providence doth order 't so They must abroad though entertainment kinde I do not say that they shall always finde For why I know it is the common guise Of worldly wisemen others to despise That are unlearn'd although they have their learning From Christ alone whereby they have discerning 'Twixt things that differ and for all the schools Of humane learning men are still but fools Till Christ be learned nothing do they know And knowing nothing nothing can they do As they should do it answering Gods command May then the worldly wise man understand That he 's the wise man that obeys the Lord And with his laws his life doth still accord Such promis't are to know the fathers minde When worldly wisemen seek and cannot finde Yet do I not in this i' th least despise Learning it self nor yet the learned-wise I hope no wise man then will take offence For unto both I give due reverence Let none that reads these lines the same despise B'cause in high flourishes I do not rise For it 's a task a deal beyond my pains To soar aloft in such affecting strains As some that curious are would have but I Am well content much lower for to lye And sith the subject of this my discourse It is divine what can I make it worse Because I do not paint it in that dress Of Eloquence what can it be the less Sacred for that such eloquence but feedeth The outward our none such as that is needed For of it self it 's garnisht with such glory To parallel the same there wants a story The highest strains the most sublimest wit Must lowr their topsayl and bow down to it The stile the matter method and the words Are high and acurate the world affords No Volumes that with it may once compare It is more excellent then all they are Here maist thou see that great transcendant love Christ bears his Church which doth surmount above All other carnal earthly love as far As th' sun ascends above the lowest Star The great delight and pleasure he takes in The souls that are purg'd throughly from their sin Here maiest thou see also the special care He takes of them each good thing to prepare To fill their hearts with comforts and with joy And bear them up in depths of misery And when th 'ave done what they have here to do He will bestow upon them heaven too Here maist thou see also how ready still Each gracious soul is dayly to fulfil What Christ commands for love doth them constrain He loves them first they love him back again They love him so they 'l both suffer and do Whatever thing he 's pleas'd to call them to Here maist thou see the presence of their Lord The greatest comforts to their souls afford But if at any time away he 's gone The soul that wants him then doth sigh and groan And seeks and sues and never is at rest Till with his presence he again is blest Here maist thou see how that Christs lovely spouse Doth sleep and slug sometimes till be do rouze And raise her up she doth a slumber catch But rais'd by Christ she stands upon her watch Here see also the love that truly tyes A soul to Christ it lives and never dyes And how with earnestnesse such pray to be With Jesus Christ in full felicity Reade soberly and ponder what thou read'st Digest it well and then thou 'lt finde it feeds Thy inner man but if thou foolishly Look on these Poems with a wanton eye To please and satisfy a carnal minde No good unto thy soul then thou shalt finde Take heed and prove neither profane nor loose Bringing these Poems into great abuse Of wanton love they treat not in the least But of that love divine which Christ is pleas'd In signes in tipes and figures to make known Then reade full soberly or else reade none Well I have done I am expos'd unto The censures of them all these papers view If I have err'd in any thing then know That every son of Adam may do so Since Adam fell infallibilitie Is found in none much less not found in me If any one that reades some profit gains Then am I well rewarded for my pains If any scoff or jeer go on and spare not For some mens scoffs and jeers know that I care not I am not rais'd by any flatteries Nor yet cast down because some do not prize What I have writ no there is nothing less Shall trouble me for still I am T S. The Reader is Desired to Correct these severall Escapes in Printing this Book IN the Preface p. 2. l. 20. for is needed r. it needeth In the Book p. 1. l. 3. after Gods put in good p. 6. l. 15. for are r. me p. 7. l. 1. for the r. though ib. l. 19. for the r. thy p. 10. l. 29. in marg for comes r. comers p. 19. l. 1. for fairest r. fair'st l. 12. for beaury r. beauty l. 25. for madst r. made p. 21. l. 2. for love r. low l. 17. r. it p. 13. in the marg l. 19. for his r. her p. 15. l. 5. in the marg for refrain r. restrain p. 25. l. 39. for treasure r. treasury p. 28. l. 16. put in this heats p. 31 l. 17. put in it p. 32. l. 2. for maist r. must p. 36. l. 16. for whether r. whither l. 34. after purposes r. of ours p. 38. l. 18. for single r. sinful p. 39. l. 18. for ere r. art p. 40. l. 20. for account r accounts p. 43. l. 31. for satisfy r. testifie p. 46. l. 5. for clearest r. clearer p. 47. l. 29. for thee r. unto thee l. 30. for from thee r. fro thee p. 49. l. 2. for so r. to l. 22. for stops r. stoops p. 50. l. 21. for God r. Gods p. 52. l. 1. for divers r. drivers l. 35. for bear r. bare l. 39. for not r.
nor presecution should keep from Christ for they are but for a moment of no continuance The winters blast is gone and past Tempestuous storms no more arise Gods wrathful shours no more he pours On freinds but on his enemies 12 g The hearts of men are like barren earth till planted by the spirit and sown with grace then they are fruitful the flowrs appear shew summer's near h There is a time to mourn a time to rejoyce Saints know it and in due season warble forth Gods praises Each chirping bird doth fit and sing The turtles voice doth make a noise All which bespeak a glorious spring 13 The figtree puts forth her green shoots Her unripe figs are sweetned well The vines also do dangling grow With graps that give forth a good smell Each token says that summer days Are hasting on without delay i though men be unwilling to come yet Christ is not weary to call to them over and over by many moving arguments to come to him Wherefore arise from worldly toys My love my fair one come away 14 k Christs spouse is both harmless and pure neither without presecution nor then without a hiding place in God Now oh my dove what can thee move Sith thou art in the secret stairs And rocky clifts free from the drifts And storms of foes and other fears The barb'rous foes do thee inclose And thou lyest hid in secret place l Faith prayer the best practise very requisite in time of affliction Yet let me hear thy voyce in prayer m Good works joyned with prayer and a conversation becoming the Gospel is acceptable to and lovely in the eye of the Lord Jesus And see the beauty of thy face For there 's no creature hath a feature Like thine so comely to behold Thy praying voice it hath a noise More sweet then by words can be told 15 n Those that hurt the Church by fraud or force doctrine or manners ought to be reproved punished The foxes take that spoyl do make Upon our vines for every tree o The weak and infirm in Christs Church must be cared for for they are equal with others in his love and Favour Young grapes do bear and with great care Such tender plants preserv'd must be 16 p Every true Christian is given up wholy to Christ and by faith makes Christ his own Mine my love is and I am his My all on him I will bestow q Christ is much delighted with the sweet and beautifying graces of his people He rests and feeds not among weeds But where the purest lillys grow 17 r Till Christ the sun of glory break in upon a soul it sits in darkness and shadows of death Whilst it is night and till the light Of day do break it grow clear Whilst shady clowds the brightness shrouds Till they disperse and thou appear s The true Church begs Christs speedy and special presence to support her under all her pressures and to put an end to all differences Be like a roe young hart or doe On mountains where divisions are Turn dearest one and be thou known Of me to take a special care CHAP. III. 1 t Carnal security will give Christ cause to withdraw and hide himself WHen I had lost the present sight u True love is always working and puts thee upon to seek for Christ when withdrawn Of him whom my soul loveth best I sought him in the darksom night His absence gave me such unrest I sought him and must seek him still be found at first he seldome will 2 x That soul that makes Christ her beloved will rise and rouze up to seek him without delay I will arise up from my ease And seek my love in every street w Falne Christians are not easily restor'd and those that do desert Christ do not quickly see the light of his countenance shining upon them y Christ is not always found in those places that men seek him in yet must we not leave to seek him in any of his appointments From thence I 'le pass to the broadways To seek him where the assemblies meet I sought him there to please my mind But seeking there him could not finde 3 Thus restless I still wandring was z Sometimes gratious souls wanting Christ do enquire for him of those that know not how to direct to him Till by the watchmen I was found As they along the City pass Tending their watch walking the round To whom I said for grace did move Saw ye him whom my soul doth love 4 a We must leave men and their devices and wayt upon the Lord in his own ways and he will soon discover manifest himself gratious to us No answer good they gave to me Direction from them I had none How my soul satisfi'd should be But when I left them and was gone Away from them a little time I found him that was wholly mine b We must hold what we have of Christ stand fast in that liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free When I of him fast hold had caught Again I would not let him go c A Christian desires to enjoy Christ in the inner man mostly and to see his goings in his sanctuary also Till my late-found dear love was brought My mothers dwelling house into And till my souls most secret place Were lodging chambers for his grace 5 * Every true Christian hath a care lest he should offend Christ and will use his best endeavour that others also do neither provoke nor displease him Ye daughters of Jerusalem I charge you have a special care By roes and hindes and each of them Or other things that lovely are That ye wake not by wicked ways Nor stir my love untill he please 6 d Those souls delivered from a lost and bewilder'd estate by Christ their redeemer must needs rise up heaven-ward in fervency of spirit and dear affection What glorious one oh who is this Like smoaky pillars doth ascend Out of the desart wilderness Sure 't is my love my dove my freind e The prayers praises and all the spiritual sacrifices of Saints are exceeding sweet when perfumed by the intercession of Christ the mediator Who 's all persumd as it is meet With mirrh and frankincense so sweet 7 f Each true believer beds his beloved in his bosome which is Christ Jesus Behold the bed that bed of his The great and mighty Solomon Each gratious heart a lodging is For him to take his rest upon g A Christians priviledge is to be kept by Christ and he as a good souldier doth resist the adversary There valiant Israelites and stout Compass this princely bed about 8 h Gods people have many enemies to withstand are always in danger to be surpriz'd and therefore have need of skilfulness and courage As valiant so they many are They
out p. 54. l. 13. for heavy r. hairy l. 29. for do r. to p. 57. l. 18. for from r. fro p. 58. l. 4. for excell r. exceeds p. 61. l. 4. for best r. brest l. 19. for would r. could l. 31. for of falshood r. or falshood Also take notice That whereas in many places on Jona there is no distinction between that part of the history and what is observed from it therefore to avoid confusion know that where you finde it thus marked l there the Observation begins and where it is again thus marked l there it ends CHAPTER I. 1 THe Song of Songs most excellent Of Solomon who by the guide Of Gods spirit doth represent Christ and his Church the lovely bride 2 a Saints do desire to enjoy more simptomes seals and assurances of the love of Iesus Christ Oh let him come and me embrace And with his mouth let him me kiss For my soul's longing for the grace That flows from that sweet spirit of his b In adversity and prosperity the fruition of Christ is better then the choicest chiefest of all things beside For why thy loves are better far And night and day make me more glad Then all the choicest wines that are Or were or ever shall be had 3 c The graces of Christ and the anoyntings of his holy spirit are sweet precious pure and powerful in working Thine oyntments Lord all of the best Are sweeter then the choyce perfume Their vertue heals the soul opprest That sin Satan would consume d His blood powred out and life spilt upon the cross Thou wast pour'd out like ointment pure Thou emptied wast me for to fill e A fountain set open for sin and uncleanness Zach. 13.1 a well of water springing up to life everlasting Yet thou art full and shalt endure An overflowing fountain still f The love of Christ constrains souls to be obedient Thy grace diffus'd the virgins move Thy love shed forth 's the only cause The pure in heart and life thee love g True love is made manifest in keeping Christs precepts And loving thee they keep thy laws 4 h The Church of Christ sensible of her own and members nothingness weakness backwardness and remisness prays for assistance and promises a good improvement Draw me and mine to goodness slack Perswad 's to come to thee in hast Put forth thy power when we draw back We 'l run and follow thee full fast i There is a special intimacy between Christ and saints he will shew them his secret which angels desire to peep into Psal 25.14 The Royall king just strong and wise Not only outward kindness shews But all his chamber secresies To them that fear him he 'l disclose k Christ is the object of a Christians joy a divine contemplation of Christ begets divine affection unto Christ Much more then wine thy love we mind With joy most pure it glads our heart More we think on thee more we finde Thou by the upright loved art 5 l A sensibleness of deformity works deep humility ingenious confession I now deformed am and black As black as kedars tents by name Afflictions great and sin alack Hath brought me to confess the same m The saints are beautiful through grace without spot through Christ yet their glory is within Yet daughters of Jerusalem Like to the curtains bright and fair Which once surrounded Solomon I comely am through Christ as they 're 6 n The Churches discoulorings last not always 't is but for a moment in wrath the Lord hides his face therefore divide not despise not enemies dispare not friends With evil eye behold me not Though beauty mine be turn'd to stain The suns hot beams hath caus'd this spot And time will wipe it off again o Friends degenerate do often if not always turn the most implacable enemies My mothers children angry were To keep the vinyards when they stept Aside they made me oh severe p The Churches devastation gives cause of sad complaint Therefore my vineyard is not kept 7 q A fense of ignorance and weakness drives to Christ for strength and direction Oh tell me where thy flock doth feed Thou whom my soul doth dearly love r Christ is a Christians sweetest shade in the hottest persecution Where they lie down i' th days of dread When scorching heat their faith doth prove s Christs sheep are careful to follow him John 10. and fearful of false teachers and corrupt and false assemblies For fear lest I should go astray After the flocks to turn aside Of thy companions in the way Thy faithful followers never try'd 8 t They that abase themselves shall be exalted and they that ask shall receive directions Mat. 7.7 If thou know not that art so fair My word and spirit shall thee guide u New converts are as meek lambs Joh. 10. gathered into flocks must keep from those folds Christ hath not appointed Thy tender kids them take with care And feed the shepherds tents beside w We must follow the faith and good works of those before us and make their pattern our example Go thy way forth get out with speed From all false ways and worships go To th' footsteps of the flock take heed Conform thy ways their ways unto 9 x The Church of Christ is orderly powerful and speedy in executing the good pleasure of Christ her head Much like to Pharaohs chariot horses My love my dear I thee compare Who goodly are and keep their courses Through me thou' rt as choice as they are 10 y A conversation becoming the Gospel is the Churches duty and outward beauty Phi. 1.19 1 Pet. 3.3 4. Thy cheeks with jewels thou dost deck A sight most comely to behold z The Church observing Christs appointments is not enthrald thereby but in glorious freedome And thou hast round about thy neck Chains that are wrought of purest gold 11 a The three and yet but one are ingag'd by promise to make the Church very glorious through divers precious spiritual Gospel endowments Both father son and holy Ghost Will make for thee borders of gold With studs of silver things that most Will make thee glorious to behold 12 b True grace is not idle cannot be hid but is powr'd out like the sweetest perfume or most pretious oyntment in our solemn approaches to God to the pleasing of him greatly and the good and benefit of our brethren That I may please the King full well When at his table he sits there My spiknard shall send sorth its smell In love in mercy praise and prayer 13 My welbeloved is to me For mine he is and one we are c Nothing can be more sweet then Christ to that soul that once tasted how gracious the Lord is More sweet then bags of mirrh can be Or precious gums or things most rare
all hold swords within their hand Skilful likewise expect in warr Their enemies for to withstand Each hath his sword on 's thigh out-right Because of terrors in the night 9 The Chariot which king Solomon Did make was glorious to behold 10 i The Church of Christ excels in glory at the present through Christs righteousness and a life without rebuke and blame in the world they have a right to all now for all is theirs and shall be set in full and actuall possession hereafter of all those good things which God hath layd up in store for them that love him The wood the choice in Lebanon Silver were pillars and pure Gold Did bottom it things of great worth The Churches glory to let sorth A purple veil of crimson red Such bloody veils do hide our sin Was for a covering o're it spread And flames of love pave it within This is ordain'd only for them The daughters of Jerusalem 11 k The faithful are cal'd out of sin self and world that so they may have the full enjoyment of Jesus Christ O Sions daughters go ye forth Leave sin and carnal vanities And see the king of precious worth Whose sight will fill and glad your eyes l Every gracious soul will put the crown upon the head of Christ by a willing subjection unto him suffering him to reign and rule over him subduing his lusts and overthrowing all that is at enmity against Christ within him Behold the king of great renown Hath on his head his glorious crown m True believers are Christs mother and dear relations their holy walking as it is their glory and an honour to the Gospel so it is as a crown put upon the head of Christ Who by his mother crowned was n When souls are spiritually conjoynd to Christ and espous'd by faith and obedience great are heavenly joys at that espousal On his heart-gladding marriage day Now all his foes cry out alas But sing ye friends that him obey For with the scepter of his power His and your foes he will devour CHAP. IV. 1 BEhold th' art fair my love behold th' art fair a The Church of Christ is knowing chast comely and pure and so keeps her self that he may delight and take pleasure in her Doves eyes thou hast lye veil'd within thy locks b Saints graces within where lyes most of their strength and a holy well order'd comely conversation without makes them shine in the eyes of all beholders And to compleat thy beauty thou hast hair Resembles well the smooth and glistring flocks Of goats that from mount-gilead do appear And grazing in due order are found there 2 Thy teeth the instruments which food prepare Are like a flock of sheep new clipt and shorn c Christs flocks or followers are fruitful his branches bearing sterrility and barrenness inconsistent with that spirit that makes them grow and increase in all the increasings of God As they from washing come white clean they are And purg'd from filthiness thee to adorn With glorious beauty and amongst them there None barren is but each one twins doth bear 3 d Our services done to God are all acceptable perfect and compleat through the blood of Christ Like to twisted threed of Scarlet red Such are thy lips the portalls of thy prayers e Gracious speeches and words is comely for Christians a holy language is their ornament and others edification And praises too thy speech is garnished With grace and sweetness fitting gracious ears f It is required of Christians and it is the property of all truly such to be humble chaste and modest Thy blushing temples hid with hairy fleeces Like a pomegranate are when cut in pieces 4 g That Christian that draws life from Christ by faith stands stifly against all opposition conquers all comes latches every fiery dart of the devil submits to Christs will and perseveres in his ways Thy neck the glorious embleme of thy power Is stretched out to each beholders eye Resembling well the high and lofty tower Of David builded for an armoury Whereon a thousand bucklers fixed are All shields of mighty men prepard for war 5 h The Church of Christ hath within her self like a tender mother both feeders and feeding both pure and wholsome to nourish and strengthen all that are born in her Like to the twins of young and tender roes Which among lillies feed take repast Not among filthy weeds sure like to those Are thy two holy breasts wherewith thou hast Nourisht thy children like a tender mother That they in strength of grace excell all other 6 i Christians till the everlasting day swalow up their darkness must expect bitter as well as sweet through many tribulations they must enter in the kingdom of God Now will I get me to the mountain high Of bitter mirrh and hills of frankincense Till break of day and till the morning sky Expell the dark and shady clouds from thence k Christ will never leave nor forsake his in their forlorne state but will protect them preserve them provide for them untill he bring them to glory There shall my gracious presence thee attend Until thy sorrows in sweet joy shall end 7 l Justification by faith hides all sin we are beautiful in him who is perfect beauty holy beloved and accepted and through him who is holynesse love and accepted of the father Nothing offensive no imperfect stain My eye sees on thee though some haply are My righteous covering always stands between Thy worst and me therefore I do declare Thou art all fair my love and there is not A blemish found on thee nor any spot 8 m Christians when cal'd to have communion with Christ willingly leave their greatest goodliest highest honours profits pleasures for Christ and in loosing all with and for him do gain much Now come with me from Lebanon my spouse Amana Hermon Shenirs hils refrain For they that follow me can never loose But in their losses wil be found their gain n He that walks with Christ hath his filthiness clensed his Lyon-like cruel nature changed neither will he have any more fellowship with the workers in or works of darknesse From th' Lyons dens and Leopards mountains flee With sin and sinful bruits canst thou agree 9 o The grace of the holy spirit working powerfully in and upon the hearts of Gods people carrying them out to a holy submission to Christs will and obedience to his commands doth beget in Christ unspeakable unparaled affection My sister spouse oh what great influence Hath thy eye on me like a piercing dart Thy faith or love or both hath taken hence From me to thee my ravisht vanquisht heart Besides the chaines that have thy neck surrounded Makes me complain my heart with love is wounded 10 p Christ doth extoll and magnify the spirituall beauty of his Church and her love to him is
more acceptable then the choicest of things My sister spouse thy love is wondrous fair And in my eye beyond all imitation The choicest wines that ever were or are Like thy love are not in my estimation q Saints have received of the anoynting from the father who by diffusion into all actions spiritual civil makes them have a fragrant and sweet savour every where Thy oyntments smells so odoriferous The sweetest spice is not so sweet as those 11 r The words of the Lord in the mouths of his servants are not only pure precious and sweet in themselves but also pleasing to God and profitable to them that receive them Thy lips drop like an honey combe my spouse Each open eare thy gracious words are filling Beneath thy tongue honey and milke it flows Much like a fountain pleasantly distiling s Christs righteousness is the saints rayment and spiritual clothing who by faith puts it on is of incomparable redolency admirable sweetness The garments pure that I have put thee on Smels sweeter then the scent of Labanon 12 t The Church of Christ is as a garden fruitfull and delectable beset with enemies on each side yet encompast with the power and presence of Christ so that they cannot waste nor spoyle it Thou art a garden both for fruit and flower My sister spouse a garden well inclos'd And fenc'd with walls of my almighty power T'keep thee from foes to which thou art expos'd u In the Church of Christ there doth always rise up a fresh-spring of spiritual life and grace from Christ the head to water and refresh it A spring shut up a fountain sealed casting Up waters in thee to life everlasting 13 w Those plants set by Christ fenc'd by his power and watered by his grace cannot be barren but bring forth much fruit by which the father is glorifyed here and they with the father and son glorifyed hereafter Thy plants an orchard of pomegranats are Thy branches are a paradice of pleasure All sorts of fruits most excellent and rare Are found in thee without compare and measure Camphire with spiknard oh what fruits are growing There where my grace is always overflowing 14 x Christ out of his fulness doth communicate freely abundantly and in divers kinds his graces to his Church so that nothing can be wanting for his edification and comfort There 's spikenard sweet and cordiall saffron too Mirh aloes calamus and cinamon All trees of frankincense in it do grow Each thing it hath a precious operation Her spices choice for vertue for worth Nor man nor angels tongue can set them forth 15 A garden full of fountains precious pure y Christ the living fountain set open for sin and uncleanness is to be found in his Church with grace in abundance ready and willing to supply succour support and comfort every soul that waits for him A well of living waters springing still Each sinful sickly silthy soul to cure And all are cal'd to wash and drink that will And as the streams do flow from Lebanon So flows all streams of grace from Christ alone 16 z A gracious soul doth earnestly desire and much long after the powerful workings of the spirit of Christ producing its divers yet all glorious effects in the soul Breath holy spirit on my garden now That every spicy flower may bloome and spread a Nor will expect solid sound comfort before some Gospel breakings and spiritual castings down For as the north-wind thou mak'st me to bow And with thy southern gales lifts up my head b From Christ we have all of his fulness we receive we must therefore return him his own for it is not ours or that from as but his own and that which proceeds from himself that is acceptable to him Come my beloved I have thee invited And eat the fruit in which thou art delighted CHAP. V. 1 a The prayers of saints are very prevailing Christ is prone and ready to hear no sooner can we call but we have our answer NOw I am come my spouse Into my garden gay Thy call it did me rouse I hear when thou dost pray It doth suffice b Christ doth inable and impower his people to labour and bring forth pious pure precious fruits of faith love holynesse self-denyal and suffering for his sake all very pleasant unto him I gather'd have that which I gave my mirrh with spice c No comb of wantingness weaknes imperfection in grace or dutys can harm the saints while there is the honey of sweet sincerity and truth of grace to be found Oh with what great delight My honey comb I eat And feed my appetite With sucking honey sweet And though the best May fail or fall yet sincere all Of them are blest d As wine and milk are to us so the pure holy sincere services of saints are unto Christ My wine and milk together Being my delightful fare I took and drunk for neither Of them that I can spare e Christ prepares his table sets on his spiritual daintys invites his friends and feasts their souls with his fat things in great abundance Sure 't none offends That ye eat such with me drink much That are my freinds 2 f A gracious soul is ever sensible of its security and will ingenuously confess it I sleep and slug which makes Me sorely to complain g Findes an opposition between flesh spirit the part regenerate and wakefull heart is always working upward towards Christ though lust and the part unregenerate would refrain But yet my heart it wakes Though lust would it restrayn h Christs sheep both know and hear the voice of Christ which doth powerfully awaken and rouze up the sloathful sleepy soul His voyce doth move Who knocks and says clear thou my ways My spotlesse dove i When Christ begs and sues for admission he gives power to open it is then the wisdom and duty of every Christian to let him in Oh let me enter in And lodge within thy breast Ingratitude 's thy sin Receive me as thy guest k The more and greater things Christ hath suffred for us the greater obligation lyes upon us to love and serve him and the greater is the sin to refuse and neglect him For my head 's fill'd With dews of wet and vapours great Cold night doth yeild 3 l Man is apt to frame vain excuses and cast in small obstructions to prevent the kindly entertainment of Christ though the chiefest of ten thousand and none so worthy to be received I am disrobed quite And may not take the cold My feet are washen white If I rise they 'le be foulld I 'le take my ease Sad are the shifts when fleshly drifts Are flesh to please 4 m When Christ puts forth his spiritual power he breaks in sunder the strongest bars sets wide open the closest heart and makes way
and in a prudent way delivers her self from it Thy nose is like the tower Of Lebanon so high From whence the foes great power From Siria men did spy Thou cry'st arm arm Lest enemies when they do rise Should do thee harm 5 i Christ is the head of his Church he both rules and governs her is also her defence and glory Thy head that ruleth well The rest of thy body Is like unto Carmel In glorious dignity Thy hair also Upon thy head like purple red Doth neatly grow k The spiritual glory which Christ hath put upon his Church is a thing that holds him in continual delight and greatest pleasure The beauty which thou hast It doth me captivate That I am held full fast In a delightful state Of sweetest pleasure Each sight of thee affecteth me Above all measure 6 l Christ still affected with the Churches beauty continues or rather renews his praises of her How fair art thou my dear For pleasure of each kinde Such beauty any where I yet could never finde I must admire Thy comelines which I profess My heart doth fire 7 m The Church of Christ holds fast what she has received will grow in grace and spiritually flourish though adversarys rise up against her to depresse keep down or root her up Thy stature's like the tree Whereon the palms do grow That flourishing will be Though men will keep it low Like grapes well fild Thy brests are such and comfort much To souls they yeild 8 n Christ being ascended on high will have a special eye to his Church preserve her from evil comfort in and under her trouble and make her abundantly fruitful in good To th' palm-tree I will go For it is my decree To comfort mine and to Protect and oversee Each bough so green I 'le take and dress that fruitfulnesse May there be seen o Those cannot be barren but abandant in all good fruit over whom Christ hath a spiritual eye with whom he is in sweet Communion Like clusters of the vine Now shall thy brests be such There is not one of mine But fruit is yeelding much They do abound In heavenly grace that have my face And favour found p Those that are faithful labourers in the Lords work shall not be without honour here and a great reward hereafter Thy nose like apples sweet Doth send it's smell abroad Great fame is for them meet That watch the flock of God Their memory It shall be blest when they in rest And silence lye 9 q Saints of all sorts have learn'd the language of Canaan their mouths fild with words full of goodnesse speeches gracious tending to edify all that hear them The pallate of thy mouth Is like the purest wine Thy words are for thy growth And edifying mine It glads their heart And doth enlive like wine revive Them in each part r The word of the Lord is quick and powerful of a piercing dividing discerning nature so known to those that feel the vertue thereof How efficacious then Are words thou givest forth They please me and all men That tast their precious worth Their power is much If men digest what 's soundly prest Their souls to touch s Those that have tasted of the good word of the Lord and felt the working power thereof will not cannot be be silent but declare to others what God hath done for their souls For it the sleep doth break Of those that sleepy are Causing their lips to speak In praises and in prayer They 'l publish soon And tell abroad the things that God For them hath done 10 t When souls partake of the sweetness of Christs love they are then caryed forth to give up themselves to him becoming wholy his Now my assurance is From it I 'le not be mov'd That I am wholy his That is my best belov'd And yet more see His whole desire which I admire Is toward me 11 u Christ is a Christians best companion whose presence they beg and â—â—ize above all things else Now come with me my dear Let 's go into the field w Gospel fruit is most pleasing to and acceptable to Christ Jesus The fruit that 's gathe'rd there Doth great contentment yeild x The poor low and humble in spirit and places mean and poor are fit receptacles for Jesus Christ Let 's lodge and rest In places poor for they full sure By thee are blest 12 y Those souls that have miscarryed and are once humbled for it will be diligent for time to come Oh let us rise betime And to the vinyards go Much sleeping was the crime That made my heart full wo Let 's up and see Though some repines whether the vines Flourishing be z The stronger the Christians are and most indued with grace the greater care will they have of those that are weak and tender in the growth of Christianity Whether the grape so young And tender be in growth And pomgranate among The other fruits bud forth a All that the saints have or can do is too little for Christ hence it is they resigne all they have unto him who is worthy of more then they have or can give There I am free For to resigne all that is mine My loves to thee 13 b The saints are always ready and prepared with oyl in their lamps furnisht with all things excellent to meet and entertain Christ Jesus The mandraks sweetly smell And at our gates be there Such things as most execl And for thee ready are Fruits of all kinde That can be told both new and old Thou maist there finde c Saints do all they do for and unto Christ have received of his fullnesse and return to him and lay up for him as it is their duty obedience thankfulnesse and love Which I lay up and save As in a treasure The choycest that I have Is not too good for thee None can me move But had I more I would it store For my dear love CHAP. VIII 1 a The Church of Christ is ever desirous Communion with him do readily embrace him cheerfully obey him not mattering the worlds reproaches OH that thou werst even as my brother dear That suckt the brests of her that did me bear Where I should find thee there I would thee kiss And should not be despis'd a jot for this 2 b Christians having found and layd hold on Christ hold him fast will not let him go still desirous of his presence I would thee lead and bring thee to no other But to the mansions of my own sweet mother Thither full readily I will conduct thee c The truths of Christ for instruction correction and comfort are And there full readily she will instruct me d Kept and to be found in his Church every true Christian hath the pure juyces of faith obedience and love to please and delight Christ There of pure
nation it is of the Jews Distinct from others by the name Hebrews I am an hebrew from the loyns descended Of him that was of God so much befreinded As for Religion I do fear the Lord And worship him who by his powerful word Did frame and fash'on both sea and dry land That governs all things at his own command To God alone and t'none else am I bound Yet at this time in base rebellion found When men are brought into some great distress Though not before yet then they will confess Their evil deeds Observ from Jonah's confession and acknowledgment of God and his rebellion the hearts that stubborn were Are bruis'd and broken in a time of fear God in his wisdome often thinks it fit To whip a frantick person into 's wit And sure at such a time â—ells his best To use and to improve what interest He hath in God if any such thing be And to his uprightness for comfort flee Then were the men afraid with greater fear When so much of the true God they do hear And see for sin he doth due vengeance take And will not spare it for a prophets sake Then did they say why hast thou done this thing How dar'st thou disobey thy Lord and King What couldst thou turn away when he says go Dare you professing Hebrews once do so What fond conceit possest thee didst thou think That for so great a fault thy God would wink For he had told them and thereby they knew That from the presence of the Lord he flew Thus he that disobeyed Gods command Doth now convict condemn'd Observ from the heathens reprehending Jonah and censur'd stand Among and by the barb'rous heathen crue In silent wise account it all his due So every one that feareth not Gods name One time or other he will clothe with shame And make them stand as men all in a maze Dumb like a stock on which others do gaze And by the words of others are reproved Cause by the words of God they were not moved The Seamen say Jona thou hast undone us The seas still rage and tempest lyes upon us Our souls are fill'd with dreadful fears and care And still encreasing as the tempests are The lot's faln on thee conscience tells thee too Thou art the man that doth us quite undo By which two things thou plainly art detected To be the cause yet let us be directed What we shall do unto thee that the seas May rage and foam no more and winds may cease Then Iona answered 't is not you but I That have provoked God so mightily 'T is for my sake not yours the seas are raging And tempest still is on you not asswaging Now take me up and cast me overboard For that 's appoynted for me of the Lord That is the sentence I must undergo it And silently submit my self unto it Then shall there be a calme upon the main And boystrous waves shall smoothly glide again Though God in justice seem to be severe And strict in punishing for sin Observ from Jonah's so patiently submitting to Gods will accepting the punishment of his iniquity yet here A gratious soul submits in any wise And suffers not one grudging thought to rise Against Gods dealing so but will submit Knowing his sin is the just cause of it For to excuse himself he will not do But say 't is righteous Lord that thou dost so Hee 'l take unto himself deserved shame Thereby to honour Gods most glorious name Come take a view how these rude heathen men Behav'd themselves in love to Jonah when They saw his patience and did hear his word And knew he was a prophet of the Lord Sure greater love then theirs could not be shown They seek to save his life dang'ring their own They fain would save him and therefore they try The best of means and skill before he dye They row full hard now each man lays his hand To work thinking to bring the ship to land They toyl they sweat they labour in great pain And when th 'ave done their labor 's all in vain For now as though the elements conspire To vex them still the waves they mount up higher The sea still works the windy tempests roar The sea-men cease there rowing and give ore From hence we see that a meer humane soul Hath so much pitty others to condole That God of nature Observ from the heathen mens endeavour to have sav'd Jonah so much reason gave To teach one man anothers life to save More when a beam divine hath influence On them they give the greater reverence These men that worshipt idol gods before Have quickly learn'd the true God to adore And now like unto new converted Saints They go to God alone with prayer and plants And lest the guilt of blood should on them ly They make to heaven and list up their cry We do beseech thee Lord destroy us not For this mans sake but leave us without spot We do beseech thee Lord and humbly pray Blood innocent on us thou wilt not lay For we perceive Lord that it is thy will And we as executioners do fulfill Even as thy blessed pleasure hath design'd For all is done according to thy mind Men in affliction earnestly will cry Observ from the heathen mens addressing themselves to God in this strait The worst of men then unto God will fly Self guides the stern ofttimes and beareth sway For love to self and not to God they 'le pray But every one that is a convert true In every season yeildeth God his due Unto his God he prays to him he 'l cry Not only when afflictions on him lye And when some difficultys stand before But when all such with ease he can get ore If this or that befall he 's mov'd by neither Hee 'l pray as well in fair as fouler weather So they took Jonah as it pleas'd the Lord Into the sea they cast him overboard Whereat the sea it seem'd well satisfy'd The stormy tempest now is layd aside No token of displeasure now appears Nor nothing seen to usher future fears Now all is done even as the Lord did please His anger now is calme so are the seas If judgment at Gods house do first begin Observ from Gods not sparing his own servant And God not wink though at a prophets sin If God his dearest ones he will not spare But they of this and t'other stripe must share As God in justice pleaseth to pass sentence Then those ungodly ones without repentance Those fearless graceless wicked wretches who From one rebellion to another go The devils drudges driving on sins trade Must pay full dear for it when th'reckoning's made The seamen seeing all things that had past They cannot chuse but stand like men agast They cast off idols greatly fear the Lord And offer sacrifice while yet aboard And lest these wonders should slip out of mind Themselves by vows and oaths full
fast they bind To praise the Lord that sav'd them from the deep And all their day's this vow they mean to keep When God in wond'rous manner doth appear And to mens souls in mercy doth draw near Observ from the sea-mens devoting themselves to God When he puts forth his power to touch the heart Men are made willing from their sins to part Till by the fear of God their souls are mov'd They will not leave what they so long have lov'd But when Gods power doth form a creature new The divel world and flesh they bid adieu They break their bonds with them that tied them fast And cleave to God with purposes to last Come view the care and providence of God Who though he did chastice with 's angry rod Yet mercy shews when justice might take place And after frowns shews forth a pleasant face And now to satisfy his love and care A mighty whale before hand did prepare For to devour and in devouring save His belly now it must be Jonah's grave In which dark vault the Lord did him imbarque Three days and nights as safe as in an arke Where deaths black terrors do surround his soul His passing bell in 's eare doth always toul Where now we leave him thus begirt with fear Till in another wonder God appear CHAP. II. The Argument How Jonah unto God did pray Now he is in his grave God heard and in a wondrous way How he did Jonah save NOw see how good afflictions often prove They are not only tokens of Gods love Observa from Jonah's reducement by his affliction Sins past correct and future sins prevent But for some other causes they are sent The wandring roving steps for to bring back And quicken souls to dutyes that are slack Then Jona in the depth of misery Who seeks not God in time of liberty But runs and flees and hides him from his face Doth now cry to him in this dismal case He now is cast into deaths darksome bed It s sable curtains wrap about his head The king of terrour terrible appears And Jonah's heart doth melt away with fears Out of the fishes belly Jonah's grave Jonah had hope that God would Jonah save His faith begetteth prayer he prays in faith And to the Lord his God these words he saith When faith gets strength and hope takes ancor hold The soul that feard before doth now grow bold With great and greivous troubles being prest He knocks at heavens gates and will not rest Until his suit do finde acceptance there And gracious answer be return'd to prayer Hee 'l seek hee 'l sue hee 'l cry and not give ore Till God do open what was shut before Oh Lord my soul is brought into distress I have deserv'd it yet a great deal lesse Then what I do deserve I undergo Thou art a gracious God then mercy show 'T was my affliction great that made me cry And 't was thy mercy t' hear so speedily My earnest sute thou didst it not say nay When I out of this hellish grave did pray Thou heardest me when I thy face had sought And thou hast for me great salvation wrought No labor 's lost when we are in distresse To make to heaven by humble addresse With hearts all melting Observa from the good success Jonah had in turning cleaning to God in his affliction broken and contrite A thing in which God takes so much delight When in this frame of spirit we make sute To God alone in Christ then that will do 't When we confesse our sins with grief and shame And do reform our lives the flesh to tame Such blest endeavours never proves in vain Though God were gone it brings him back again 'T was not the seamen but it was the Lord That took me up and cast me overboard They did fulfil even as thou Lord didst please 'T was thou by them cast me into the seas Into the midst and heart of them where those Proud waters did me secretly inclose The floods the seas rais'd high with winde and tide They do encompass me on every side All thy proud billows which do mount on high At thy command yet else do smoothly lye And towring waves which I poor fool alas Thought to get ore yet now all ore me pass When gracious souls are brought under the rod That is i' th hand of a displeased God Observation from Jonah's looking at the hand of the Lord and not at the instrument be made use of Nor this nor that who is the instrument But God they eye who hath affliction sent Not like the dog that gnawing is the stone Regarding not the hand by which it s thrown And then I said for I was in great fear And lab'ring was betwixt hope and despair The darknesse having dim'd the clearest light Then said I Lord I 'm cast out of thy sight Yet notwithstanding all the grace thou hast Seemeth to me as if 't were lockt up fast And that no beam of light I can espy Yet will I look again with stedfast eye Toward thy temple and that holy place Where Lord thou promist hast to shew thy face Two contraries are in the best of men The party vanquisht Observa from the warr between the flesh and spirit in the best fain would rise again The flesh and spirit do oppose each other The elder 's loth to serve the younger brother Great contestation is twixt faith and doubt Hopeless despair strives hard true faith to rout These two opponents bicker in the feild Nor one nor other of these two will yeild Till faith puts forth at last and striketh home With blows that doubting fear do overcome A man that 's brought into a woful state Will oftentimes his misery relate And will enlarge himself to tell his grief Thinking by telling it to finde relief So Jonah does his misery repeat And says the water 's plentiful and great They did inviron me they did me wrap As swadling bands the babe in mothers lap Three days and nights they do about me roul And deaths black herse encompasses my soul The waters deep were dayly ore me spread And stinking weeds did wrap about my head Unto the bottome of the mountains steep Then I went down still fathoming the deep Sometimes I was aloft upon the main And soon plungd down into the depths again I was in prison and the earth did barr me And horrid fears do every minute scar-me For ever hopeless to set foot on shore Unlesse thou by a wonder me restore Yet thou O Lord my God was pleas'd to save And brought my life again up from the grave That cruel corrupt loathsome stinking pit Where death had almost swallow'd me in it There 's no condition that can be so sad Observa from Jonah's obtaining deliverance and his thankfulnesse for the same Nor state of man that ever was so bad There is no burden can so heavy lye Nor vexing grief nor pressing misery But
much provoks the Lord To punish man and beast not man alone But for the sins of men the creatures groane The sinless beast nor need nor can repent Yet with the sinner needs they must lament May sinful man stand then all in a maze When on the sinless creature he doth gaze Groaning with grief for the just God therein Shews how he is displeas'd with men for sin And further by the foresaid thority We do decree and to all signify That every man put off his rich aray And every beast his ornaments this day This darksome day wherein none can be glad Let man and beast in sackcloath rough be clad And while that all thus sadly mourning ly Let every one to God lift up his cry With earnest powerful prayers now make your suit For weak nor feigned prayers now will not do 't By sins we have displeased God on high And if he shew not mercy we must dy We guilty are of many great offence And most of all we have us'd violence Within this city it cleaves to our hands Let 's clense our selves from it now he commands And with our prayers tears outward mourning Let every of us from our sins be turning When thus by king and Counsel 't was decreed Signed and seal'd Observ from the kings decree for repentance and hast to the execution thereof it hasts with winged speed It flys abroad and runs through every street Each tels another of it whom they meet For why it was proclaimed in his name And heralds fit to execute the same Where true repentance gods there goes confession Repentance true nere goes without contrition Self judging too repentance doth call in Whereby t' escape Gods judgments due for sin Unfained prayer doth assistance lend And reformation life for to amend For where â—mendment joyns with hearty grief Hope may be had that it will bring relief And cary'd on with strength of resolution To spend and hast the work to execution The penitent he can no longer stay But meets an angry God half on his way When God against him comes tho's pace be flack He mends his pace and runs to turn him back But now behold what mov'd this heathen king To constitute ordain appoint this thing It was not only thoughts of present fear But God in mercy also might appear For who can tell sayth he or who doth know Whether this city he will overthrow If we persist not on but do repent May be for this end Jona he was sent Perhaps returning we shall mercy finde For I have heard to mercy hee 's inclin'd We do not know therefore let us make tryal But if we turn from sin and be found loyal But God may turn away from his feirce wrath And will repent of what the prophet hath Pronounc'd against us that we may not dy Although he says that he will us destroy Gods mercys great Observ from the Ninivâ—â—s encouragement to turn of to God because he is a mercyfull God they â—ave bâ—en eveâ— found Good ancre-hold for souls hopes surest ground Poor sinner when at loss then do make bold To graspe at mercy and there take fast-hold 〈…〉 â—oul to save from horrid desperation 〈…〉 get a blessed expectation 〈…〉 means for to escape the fire 〈…〉 â—nkindled wrath and burning ire Mercy to finde yet 't is but peradventur Thy soul had wasted all thy mercy lent-her And now it 's come to this I do not know Whether I shall finde mercy yea or no What though it be to thee a doubtful thing Thy soul into the hands of mercy fling Concerning Niniveh see how 't appears Who now sit mourning all bedew'd with tears Nor mirth nor musick heard not one is glad But every one in hairy sackcloath clad Yet this is judg'd to be the smallest part Of works that manifest a trve convert With it they turn'd from all their evil ways God saw they did it and they did him please For 't is not sorrow much nor protestation Gainst sin that pleaseth God but reformation The evils all God said he would do to them Are now remov'd and turned away from them They are suspended upon this condition That they amendment joyned with contrition For the most gratious God repents of what He said that he would do and does it not Great is the force of faith and true repentance Though judgment passe Observ from Gods forbearing to punish upon their turning to him it will reverce the sentence When sin is left that sinful souls beguiles Gods frowns are turned into pleasant smiles His threatned judgments often are suspended When as the people threatned are amended CHAP. IV. The Argument How Jonah's angry cause the word He preacht had not success As he would have God by a gourd Reproves his foolishnesse BUt now when Jona saw the strange event His sermon had it made him discontent He now is angry and doth take displeasure His anger 's great and doth excel all measure He frets he pets he peevishly fume o◠〈◊〉 bluâ— Cause God does not as he will have â—nâ— do For God repents the Sirians scapt his â—and And enemies they 'l be to Judahs land May Jonah think and so his country men Abundantly had fared better then If they had been destroy'd as was the word That Jonah preached to them from the Lord. Blinde â—eal and carnal ends do oft misguide The best of men and cause them turn aside Time after time Observ frow Jonah's bâ—ing angry at the Lords sparing Niniveh their lust they will fulfil If God his actions steare not as they will Self would be serv'd whether God will or no If God say yea self never will say so Gods will and mans each other oft opose 'T is hard for mans with Gods will for to close What this is strange a prophet be displeas'd That to'ards a people God is now apeas'd And shews them mercy whom he might destroy Turning their days of mourning into joy Can any soul but Jonas be offended Instead of judgment to see grace extended But that 's not all why Jonah he is crost His fame his name and honour now is lost To be a prophet false he is afraid Lest that among them such a thing be said And now unto the Lord he doth address Himself by prayer that signifies no less In it he doth the Lord his God accuse To be in fault when as he did refuse To hear his voice at first and did rebell Pleading as if thereby he had done well Unbridled passion is a thing that will Transport the soul of men so long Observ from Jonah's casting his rebellious fault on God thinking to clear himself untill God and themselves they totally forget And go beyond the bounds that reason set And reasonless they foolishly will reason And think 't is loyalty when 't is but treason They think and speak and act against the Lord Such fruits self-self-love and passion do afford For this he says I pray
thee Lord hear me While I expostulate the case with thee Have I not cause to be in angry mood Was any man so serv'd that ever stood His credit with thy glory to maintain If none were so then well may I complain Ere I went out of my own countrey dear This was the very thing that I did fear Not only fear it but I said it too For why I thought full well what thou wouldst do Thou would not bring to pass what I must say And preach and cry aloud at Niniveh I thought full sure that thou wouldst soon repent Yet to denounce their doom I must be sent I know O Lord what these men now do find That thou art gracious mercifull and kind Full slack thou art and slow pac'd unto wrath But winged speed always thy mercy hath And if a people truly do lament For sin and do reform thou wilt repent Consid'ring then it would not be avoided By heathen ones thy word would be derided And my ambassage too they would despise And say I thundred out a heap of lies For which so saying I must bear the blame And be cal'd prophet false to my great shame This is the reason it seems right to mee Why formerly to Tarshish I did flee And thou hast judg'd it for a heinous crime But whos 's the fault whether 't is thine or mine These things so sadly do my spirits grieve No earthly thing O Lord will me releive It is far better for me for to dye And in the dust in silent darkness lye Then longer live sith nothing but disgrace My portion is whilst I am in this place I do beseech thee let my life expire And take it from me that is my desire Thus when fond passion sways and goes uncurb'd The minds of men thereby are soon disturb'd Soon out of order gotten out of frame Observ from Jonah's pettish choosing death rather then life because God did not act according to his mind They glory in the things should be their shame The Lord in patience all this while did bear With Jonah's angry passion and did hear His words reflecting on his Majesty Yet like a loving father passes by His great offence seeing him frais and weak Did thus in gentle manner to him speak How now what Jona darst thou angry prove Dost thou not think it will my patience move How darst thou once presume to be so bold Dost think with wickedness that I will hold Or dost thou think that this is well in thee Oh wondrous strange what Jonah angry be Did not my mercy and my justice strive To kill thee els for to keep thee alive Hast thou forgot how mercy did thee save When justice would the whale should be thy grave Mercy prevaild and thou canst not deny it Then cease thine anger canst thou justify it Hast thou not learnd and been taught in the schools That anger resteth in the best of fools Thus God in goodnesse labour'd to convince The pettish prophet of his foul offence Observ from Gods patience and forbearance though provokt by Jonah Imputing all to his infirmities As parents do to children whom they prize Jonah is angry yet it did not move God to be angry cause he did him love So great is love love cannot finde its like So great is love love spares when it should strike So great is love not easy to provoke Love suffers long before it give one stroke So great is love so high and broad it grows It covers sins all multitudinous Now Jonah had a longing great desire To see th'vent when th' forty days expire For at this time he would not come to know Whether God would destroy them yea or no Perhaps for one or other end God may The execution of the judgment stay For this a maxim is receiv'd of many Forbearance never yet acquitted any Out of the city great and populous Jonah departs and now away he goes And when he came to th' east side of the town He goes not further but there sits him down He makes a booth and in it is his seat The shade thereof defends him from the heat Untill the truth of falshood shall be tride Of his late message there he doth abide But now perhaps soon after he comes thither His booth he made begins to dry and wither The Country's hot the sun with mighty heat On Jonah's head continually did beat By reason of which heat his soul is greiv'd Then God in mercy wills he be releiv'd The Lord 's a present help in time of trouble And mercy upon mercy he doth double And treble too Observ from Gods compassion providing shelter to releive Jonah always in time of need His power and pitty is put forth with speed To save and succour his distressed ones His bowels yearn to hear their sighs and groans Fear we not then in depths of misery To help us then 's his oportunity For he then brought an herb out of the earth Turns Jonah's sorrow into pleasant mirth A mighty plant he quickly made to grow With boughs and branches on it high and low That they might shade and shelter him all over And from the scorching heat be Jonah's cover Under the shadow of it he doth rest Thinking thereby that he is greatly blest Such great refreshment he hath lately found In his new house springing out of the ground He doth rejoyce he is exceeding glad So great his joy is all the grief he had Sustaind by reason of the heat before Seemeth as though he thought on it no more A suddain change begets experience sad To day he mourns that yesterday was glad His suddain joys are turn'd to suddain greif His plant it dyes that gave him such relief For now alas before he was aware In readinesse a worm God did prepare Who with his sharp teeth and his cruel jaws As bit with hunger eagerly he gnaws Who smote the gourd and now the gourd is dead And with it Jonah's joys are withered Such is the nature of all earthly things Which for a while so great contentment brings They fade they vanish perish and decay Observ from the withering of Jonah's gourd shewing the fickle state of all things With winged haste th' are gone and passe away Th' are but a puff a blast a watry bubble That soon is gone or like a fiery stubble That in a moment is consum'd and past Or like a post that on the way makes hast Or like the dusky clouds that break before The sun appears and then are seen no more Or like the flower or herb or fruit that 's sown That wither will as soon as it is mown Or like the vapours drawn into the ayr Or like the thing that 's gone when 't doth appear Such are the things in which men take such pleasure And too too much account their chiefest treasure The sweetest joys that are upon the earth Are dying still so soon as they draw breath To day they are injoy'd but