with as great an ease Send thee more wastfull vermin if he please Perchance 't is grounded kneded and what though Gods Curse is often temper'd with the Dough Beleeve 't the fruits of all thy toyle is mine Vntill they be enjoy'd as much as thine But now t' has fed thee Is thy soule at rest Perchance thy stomack 's dainty to digest No if heav'ns following favour doe not last From the first Furrow to the very Tast Thy labour 's lost The Bread of all thy travill Without that blessing feeds no more then Gravill Now wastfull Man thou mayst repose againe That Modell of Gods Prov'dence and thy paine That bitt of Bread And if thy Dog should fawne Vpon thy lappe let not so deare a Pawne Of greater plenty be contemn'd and lost Remember how it came and what it cost 54. On Faith and Reason TRue Faith and Reason are the Soules two Eyes Faith evermore lookes upward and discryes Objects remote but Reason can discover Things onely neere sees nothing that 's above her They are not Matches Often disagree And sometimes both are clos'd and neither see Faith viewes the Sun and Reason but the shade T'one courts the Mistresse t'other wooes the Maide That fees the Fire This only but the Flint The true-bred Christian alwayes lookes asquint 55. On Carnall Mirth VVHo seeks to quench by help of Carnal frends Those fiery Errants that the consciēce sends Redeemes his Peace but with a further spoyle Drinks in a Fever quenches Fyre with Oyle Lord if thou strike my Conscience and that Me I will expect and trust no Friend but Thee 56. On Prayer PRayre's like a Vapour fum'd from earth that flyes To th' Gates of Heav'n It never rotts i th' Skyes If Faith and it be joyn'd it will obtaine And melt into a first and later Raine If Faith forsake her and they part in sunder It falls in Thunderbolts at least in Thunder 57. On ANNA VVHat faithfull Anna by her Teares had done Deserv'd the double duty of a Son She was a double Parent pleas'd to doe A double Office bore and got him too Thus Samuel was It was lesse strange then rare Borne of her Body gotten by her Prayer 58. On a Gift NO losse to give to thee the gift is more Our owne being giv'n great God then 't was before 59. On my selfe IF Righteous Ely was not vengeance-free How shall I scape He was a Saint to me Nay Lord how would my heart comfort faile If I should weigh thy Mercies in our Scale 60. On Iustification and Sanctification LOrd thou hast promis'd in and for thy Christ To sanctifie where ere thou Iustifi'st Lord all my Evils are Iustifi'd in thee Lord let those Evils be sanctifi'd to me 61. On Mans Love WHen think we Lord on thee when we doe How feeble are our thoughts sinfull too How basely doe our crooked Soules engage Themselves to heav'n We make thy Glory Page To our Salvation Mans more servile heart Loves what he 'd have thee Lord not what thou art This is the very best of Man wherein W' are apt to think we merit more then Sin But there 's a baser Love Our chiefe respects Have meere relation to our owne Defects Like Dogs we fawne upon our Masters Lapps With dirty feet and only love for Scrapps But there 's a baser yet We love for feare Finding like Kain more then we can beare And were it not for shame our hearts would be As warme to Sathan as great God to Thee But there 's a baser yet And baser none We love thee to be lov'd of man alone We force a Zeale usurpe the name of Pure That we may sin more closely more secure We love thee onely to abuse thee just As Whores love Husbands but to cloke their lust How art thou martyr'd in our lustfull Fyres How made a Stale to catch our wilde desires Lord I will love as farre as lyes in me Thee for thy selfe and all things else in Thee 62. On filiall love and servile THey 'r not alike although alike appeare T'one feares for love The other loves for Feare 63. On Grapes IT is receiv'd That seed of Grapes being sowne Brings forth degenerate Clusters or else none But Stocks being grafted prove a fruitfull Vine Whose pleasing Berries yeeld a generous wine We are thy Vineyard Lord These Grapes of our By Nature are degenerous and sower But if thou please to graft us we shall beare Delicious fruit which being prest shall cheare The hearts of Angels and that blessed Trine Of perfect glory with their sprightly Wine 64. On Ioy and Griefe LOrd if my Griefes were not oppos'd with Ioy They would destroy And if my Mirth were not allaid with Sadnesse It would be Madnesse While this with that or that with this contends They 're both my Friends But when these happy Wars doe chance to cease I have no peace The more my earthly Passions doe contest The more my heavenly ' Affections are at rest 65. On Doves and Serpents WE must have Doves and Serpents in our heart But how they must be marshall'd there 's the Art They must agree and not be farre asunder The Dove must hold the wily Serpent under Their natures teach what places they must keepe The Dove can flye the Serpent onely creepe 66. On Christ and our selves I Wish a greater knowledge then t' attaine The knowledge of my selfe A greater Gaine Then to augment my selfe A greater Treasure Then to enjoy my selfe A greater Pleasure Then to content my selfe How slight and vaine Is all selfe-Knowledge Pleasure Treasure Gaine Vnlesse my better knowledge could retrive My Christ unlesse my better Gaine could thrive In Christ unlesse my better Wealth grow rich In Christ unlesse my better Pleasure pitch On Christ Or else my Knowledge will proclaime To my owne heart how ignorant I am Or else my Gaine so ill improv'd will shame My Trade and shew how much declin'd I am Or else my Treasure will but blurre my name With Bankrupt and divulge how poore I am Or else my Pleasures that so much inflame My thoughts will blabb how full of fores I am Lord keepe me from my selfe 'T is best for me Never to owne my selfe if not in Thee 67. On Man AT our Creation but the Word was said And we were made No sooner were but our false hearts did swell With Pride and fell How slight is Man At what an easie cost Hee 's made and lost 68. On Death WE all are going to the selfe same Place We only differ in our Way our Pase One treads the common Roade of Age Another Travels directed by the hand os's Brother Some crosse the Waves perchance the neerer way Some by the winged Shaft that flyes by Day Some ride on Feavers others beat the hoofe With horses in their hands and make a proofe Of their owne strrngth Others more fairely pase On beds of Downe some ride a speedy race On hot-mouthd Surfeits emulous for the Cup
his soule had found the sweet fruition Of his owne choyce desires without Petition But he must Sell and Follow or else not Obtaine his heav'n O now his heav'ns too hot He cannot stay he has no businesse there Hee 'l rather misse then buy his heav'n too deare When Broth 's too hot for hasty hounds how they Will licke their scalded lips and sneake away 44. On Mans goodnesse and Gods love GOd loves not Man because that Man is good For Man is sinfull because Flesh and Blood We argue false It rather may behove us To thinke us good 'cause God thinks good to love us Hee that shall argue up from Man to God Takes but the paines to gather his owne Rod Who from such Premisâ—es shall drawe's Conclusion Makes but a Syllogisme of his owne confusion 45. On Mans Plea MAns Plea to Man is That he never more Will begge and that he never begg'd before Mans Plea to God is That he did obtaine A former Suit and therefore sues againe How good a God we serve that when we sue Makes his old gifts th'examples of his new 46. On Furio. FVrio will not forgiue Furio beware Furio will curse himselfe in the Lords Prayer 47. On Martha and Mary MArtha with joy receiv'd her blessed Lord Her Lord she welcoms feasts and entertains Mary saâ—e silent heares but speakes no word Martha takes all and Mary takes no paines Mary's to heare to feast him Martha's care is Now which is greater Martha's love or Mary's Martha is full of trouble to prepare Martha respects his good beyond her owne Mary sits still at ease and takes no care Mary desires to please her selfe alone The pleasure's Maryes Martha's all the care is Now which is greater Martha's love or Maryes T is true Our blessed Lord was Martha's Guest Mary was his and in his feast delighted Now which hath greater reason to love best The bountifull Invitor or th'invited Sure both lov'd well But Mary was the detter And therefore should in reason love the better Marye's was spirituall Martha's love was carnall T'one kist his hand The other but the Glove As far as mortall is beneath eternall So far is Martha's lesse then Marye's love How blest is he Great God whose heart remembers Marye's to Thee and Martha's to thy Members 48. On our Blessed Saviour WE often read our blessed Saviour wept But never laught and seldome that he slept Ah sure his heavy eyes did wake â—â—d weepe For us that sin so oft in Mirth and Sleepe 49. On Sinnes SIâ—â—es in respect of Man all mortall be All veniall Iesu in respect of Thee 50. On Mans behaviour to God VVE use our God as Vs'rers doe their bands We often beare him in our hearts our hands His Paths are beaten and his Wayes are trod So long as hee 's a profitable God But when the Money 's paid the Profit 's taken Our Bands are cancel'd and our God 's forsaken 51. On Mans Cruelty ANd daâ—'st thou venture still to live in Sin And crucifie thy dying Lord agin Were not his Pangs sufficient must he bleed Yet more O must our sinfull pleasures feed Vpon his Torments and augment the Story Of the sad passion of the Lord of Glory Is there no pitty Is there no remorse In humane brests Is there a firme diâ—orsâ— Betwixt all mercy and the hearts of Men Parted for ever ne'r to meet agen No mercy bides with us ' â—is thou alone Hast it sweet Jesu for us that have none For Thee Thou hast â—ore-stal'd our Markets so That all 's Above and we have none Below Nay blessed Lord we have not wherewithall To serve our shiftlesse selves unlesse we call To thee that art our Saviour and hast power To give and whom we Crucifye each hower W' are cruell Lord to thee and our selves too IESV forgive's we know not what we doe 52. Mans Progresse THe Earth is that forbiden Tree that growes i th' midst of Paradise Her Fruit that showes So sweet so faire so pleasing to the eyes Is worldly pleasure in a faire disguize The Flesh suggests The fruit is â—aire and good Apt to make wise and a delicious Food It hath a secret vertue wherewithall To make you Gods and not to dye at all Man â—asts and â—empts the frailty of his Brother His Brother eats One bits calls on another His guilty Conscience opes his eyes He sees He sees his â—mpty nakednesse and flees He stiâ—ches slender Fig-leaves and does frame Poore Arguments t'â—xcuse his Sin his Shame But in the cooler evening of his Dayes The voyce calls Adam Adam's in a Maze His Consciâ—nce bids him run The voyce pursues Poore Adâ—m trembles ere he knowes the newes Adam must quit the Garden lest he strive To tast the saving Tree of life and live Poore Man must goe But whether is he bound Ev'n to the place from whence he came the â—round 53. On the two great Flouds TWo Flouds I read of Water and of Wine The first was Noahs Lot the last was thine The first was the Effect The last the Cause Of that foule Sin against the sacred Lawes Of God and Nature Incest Noah found An Arke to save him but poore Lot was drownd Good Nâ—ah found an Arke but Lâ—t found none W' are safer in Gods hands then in our owne The former flood of waters did extend But some few dayes this latter ha's no end They both destroy'd I know not which the worst The last is ev'n as Gen'rall as the first The first being ceas'd the world began to fill The last depopulates and wasts it still Both Flouds ore welm'd both Man and beast together The last is worst if there be best of either The first are ceas'd Heav'n vow'd it by a Signe When shall we seâ— a Rainebow after Wine 54. On Fuca. FVca thou quoâ—'â—t the Scriptures on thy side And maksâ— Rebecâ—a patronize â—hy pride Thou say'st that she wore Ear-rings Did she so Know this withall She bore the Pitcher too Thou may'st like hâ—r weâ—re Ear-rings if thy pride Can stoope to what Rebecca did beside 55. On Abrahams servant THis faithfull Servant will not feed uâ—till He doe his trust-reposing Masters will There 's many now that will not eat before They speed their Masters work They 'l drink the more 56. On Alexander NO marvell thou great Monarch did'st complaine And weep there were no other worlds to gaine Thy griefes and thy complaints were not amisse H 'as Griefe enough that findes no world but this 57. On rash Iudgement IVdge not too fast This Tree that does appeare So barren may be fruitfull the next yeare Hast thou not patience to expect the hower I feare thy owne are Crabs they be so â—ower Thy Judgement oft may tread beside the Text A Saul to day may prove a Paul the next 58. On Iacobs purchase HOw poore was Iacobs motion and how strangâ— His offer How unequall was th' exchange A messe of Porrage for Inheritance Why could not hungry Eâ—au strive
last If thou wilt give me Davids heart I le voyce Great God with David and make Davids choyce But stay deare Lord my tongue 's too bold too free To speake of choyce that merits all the Three 28. On Mans unequall division LOrd 't is a common course w' are apt and free To take the Best and share the worst to Thee We Fleet the Mornings for our owne Designe Perchance the Flotten Afternoones are thine Thou giv'st us Silke we offer Cammills hayre Thy Blessings march i th' Front our thanks i th' Reare 29. On Beggers NO wonder that such swarmes of Beggers lurke In every street 'T is a worse trade to worke Then begge Yet some if they can make but shift To live will thinke it scorne to thrive by gift 'T is a brave mind but yet no wise foreâ—cast It is but Pride and Pride will stoope at last We all are Beggers should be so at least Alas we cannot worke The very best Our hands can doe will not maintaine to live VVe can but hold them up whilst others give No shame for helples Man to pray in aid Great Sol'mon scornd not to be free o' th' Trade He begg'd an Almes and blusht not For the Boone He got was trâ—ble fairer then his Crowne No wonder that he thriv'd by begging so He was both Begger and a Chuser too O who would trust to Worke that may obtaine The Suit he beggs without or sweat or paine O what a priviledge Great God have we That have the Honour but to begge on thee Thou dost not â—right us with the tort'ring Whips Of Bedels nor dost answere our faint lips With churlish language Lord thou dost not praise The stricter Statute of last Henries dayes Thou dost not dampe us with the empty voyce Of Nothing for yee If our clam'rous noyse Should chance t' importune turn'st thy gracious eye Vpon our wants and mak'st a quick supply Thou dost not brand us with th'opprobrious name Of idle vagabonds Thou know'st w' are lame And canâ—ot worke Thou dost not Pharo-like Deny us Straw and yet requier Brick Thou canst not heare us grone beneath our Taske But freely giv'st what we have Faith to aske The most for which my large desire shall plead To serve the present's but a Loafe of Bread Or but a Token ev'n as Beggers use That of thy love will fill my slender Cruse Lord during life I le begge no greater Boone If at my Death thou 'lt give me but a Crowne 30. On the two Children MY Flesh and Spirit Lord are like those payre Of Infants whose sad Mothers did repayre To Iustice T'one is quick the other dead The two promiscuous Parents that doe plead For the live Childe is Thee and Sathan Lord Both claime alike Iustice cals forth the Sword And seeing both with equall teares complaine Proffers to cleave the Children both in twaine And make them equall sharers in the same That both doe challenge and what both disclaime Sathan applaudes tho motion and replyde Nor thine nor mine but let them both divide And give alike to both But thou deare Lord Dislik'st the Iustice of th'unequall Sword Rather then share it dead thou leav'st to strive And wilt not own't at all if not alive The Sword 's put up straight condemnes the other To be the false calls Thee the nat'rall Mother Lord of my Soule It is but Sathans wilde To cheate thy bosome of thy living Childe Hee 'd have the Question by the Sword decided Knowing the Soule 's but dead if once divided My better part is thine and thine alone Take thou the Flesh and let him gnaw the Bone 31. On two Mysteries A Perfect Virgin to bring forth a Son One three entyre and Three entirely One Wonder of Wonders How might all this come We must be deafe when th' holy Spirit 's dumb Spare to enquire it Thou shalt never know Till Heav'n dissolve and the last Trump shall blow 32. A forme of Prayer IF thou wouldst learne not knowing how to pray Adde but a Faith and say as Beggers say Master I 'm poore and blinde in great distresse Hungry and â—ame and cold and comfortlesse O succour him that 's graveld on the Shelf Of payne and want and cannot help himself Cast downe thine eye upon a wretch and take Some pitty on me for sweet Iesus sake But hold Take heed this Clause be not put in I never begg'd before nor will agin Note this withall That Beggers move their plaints At all times Ore tenus not by Saints 33. On Solomon and the Queene of Sheba IT spreds The sweet perfume of Salomons Fame Affects the Coasts And his illustrious name Cannot be hid The unbeliev'd report Must flye with Eagles wings to th'honourd Court Of princely Sheba Sheba must not rest Vntill her eye become th'invited Guest Of Fames loud Trumpet her impatience strives With light-foot Time while her Ambition drives Her Chariot wheeles and gives an ayry passage To'th'quick deliv'ry of her hearts Embassage True wisdome planted in the hearts of Kings Needs no more glory then the glory'it brings And like the Sun is viewd by her owne light B'ing by her owne reflection made more bright The emulous Queen 's arriv'd Shee 's gon toth ' Court No eye-delighting Masque no Princely Sport To entertaine her No her â—ye her eare Is taken up and scornes to see to heare Inferiour things Sh'allowes her eare her eye No lesse then Oracles and Maiestie How empty pastimes doe resolve and flye To their true nothing when true wisdome's by Th'arrived Queene has Audience moves disputes Wise Solomon attends replyes confutes Sh' objects he answers She afresh propounds She proves maintaines it he decides confounds She smiles she wonders being overdaz'd With his bright beams stands silent stands amaz'd How Scripture-like Apoâ—rypha's appeare To common Bookes how poore when Scripture's neare The Queene is pleas'd who never yet did know The blast of Fame lesse prodigall then now For now the greatest part of what she knew By Fame is found the least of what is true We often finde that Fame in prime of youth Does adde to Falshood and subtract from Truth The thankfull Queene do's with a lib'rall hand Present him with the Riches of her Land Where Wisdome goes before we often finde That temp'rall Blessings seldome stay behinde Lord grant me wisdome and I shall possesse Enough have more or have content with lesse 33. On REHOBOAM COuld dying Parents at their peacefull death Make but a firme Assurance or bequeath Their living Vertues Could they recommend Their wisdome to their heyrs Could hearts descend Vpon the bosome of succeeding Sons As well as Scepters doe as well as Thâ—â—nes Sure Rehobeams Reigne had found increase Of Love and Honour and had dyed in peace Kingdomes are transitory Scepters goe FroÌ„ hand to hand and Crownes from brow to brow But Wisâ—dome marches on another guize Theyâ—â— two things to be Worldly great and wise It was the selfe same Scepter that came downe From Solomon
by help of Nature to acquire At least to counterfeit the Sacred Fire Of saving Grace to purge and to refresh His base desires and change his stone to flesh He spurnes at Counsell He derides and jerks Those whining Spirits that renounce their works Till too much trusting to their doing well In seeking Heav'n they find the flames of hell 24. On the ten Lepers TEn Lepers clensed And but one of ten Returne the Clenser thanks Vngratefull Men But Ten i' th' Hundred ' That 's a Gaine that we Receive or Sue yet oft deny it Thee 25. On the last Epigram HOw how am I deceiv'd that speake to thee Of Interest when the purchase was in Fee Thou mad'st a cleane Conveyance to the Ten And ne'r expectd'st the Principall agen Lord we must reckon by another Rate They gave not one yeares Purchase for th' Estate Lord how we palter with thee We pretend A present Payment till w'obtaine our End And then we crave and crave a longer Day Then pay in Driblets or else never pay 26. On the Boxe of Oyntment IT is no wonder he above the rest Whom thirty pieces tempted to betray The Lord of Glory to his death profest The Boxe of Oyntment was but cast away He that dare murther at so small a cost May eas'ly thinke the charge in Buriall lost 27. On MARY and JVDAS MAry did kisse him Iudas kist him too But both their aymes were coverd in a mist Both kisse our Saviour but their kisses doe Differ as farre as did the Parts they kist There 's danger still where double hearts doe steale The forme of Love or weare the cloake of Zeale 28. On our Saviour and his Vicar ME thinks thy Vicar Gen'rall beares the Keyes And executes thy Place with greater case And in one Iubile enjoyes more mirth Then thou my dying Lord didst from thy Birth Alas Thou hadst not wherewithall to fill Thy craving stomack He has Cates at will Thy empty Costers had not to defray Thy Tribute charge To him Kings Tribute pay Foxes haue holes Thou hadst not whereupon To rest thy wakefull head He snorts in Downe In short Thy life was nothing but the Story Of Poverty and his of Princely Glory When tempting Sathan would have giv'n thee all The wealth and glory of the World to fall And worship him at thy refusall Lord Thy Vicar tooke the Tempter at his word So came thy wants so great so great his store The Vicar so-so rich the Lord so poore 29. On the great Prelate OVr Saviours Feet were kist The people doe The very same to thee great Prelate too O who will seale but such another Kisse Vpon thy Lips our Saviour had on his 30. On Idolatry CAn common madnes find a thing that 's more Repugnant to the very Lawes of Nature That the Creators Image should adore The senslesse Image of a sensuall creature If such be Gods if such our helpers be O what are Men How more then Beasts are we 31. On the Tables of Stone THat stony Table could receive the print Of thy just Lawes Thy Lawes were written in 't It could be hew'd and letters grav'n thereon Sure Lord my Heart is harder then that Stone 32. On Mans three Enemies THere 's three that with their fiery Darts do level Against my Soul the World the Flesh the Devil Lord give me patience if not strength For there Are Three t' afflict me I 'm but One to beare 33. ☞ On DINAH ☜ WHen Dinahs careles Eye was grown too lavish To entertaine Sechem found time to ravish It is no lesse then silent invitation Although we scorne the Sin to give th' occasion Sure Dinahs Resolution was too strong Or to admit or not resist a Wrong And scornes to stoope to the Adult'rers armes We often burne intending but to warme's She went but out to see Perchance to heare What Lust could say What harme to lend an eare Anothers Sin sometimes procures our shames It staines our Bodies or at least our Names 34. On FIDO MArk when the good man prospers with his Plot Hee 's still envy'd despis'd if prosper not The Wicked have no peace with God And then How canst thou Fido look t' have peace with men 35. On JACOB HOw Iacob's troop'd Laban pursues with one Great Troope and Esau meets him with another Laban resolves to apprehend his Son Esau to be reveng'd upon his Brother Me thinks I see how Jacob stands supplide Like Vertue with a Vice on either side Laban pursues him to regaine his Gods Esau t' avenge his Birth-right and his Blessing What hope has Iacob now 'Twixt both 't is ods There will be either Death or Dispossessing God takes delight to turne our helper then When all our helps and hopes are past with men Laban encounters Iacob He requires His Gods And Esau's neare at hand by this Laban's appeas'd and quencht are Esaus Fyres T'one leaves him T'other meets him with a Kisse Iacob's in league with both The Soule that shall Have peace with God has League and peace with all 36. On Drunkennesse IT is a Thiefe that oft before his face Steales Man away and layes a Beast in 's place 37. On a Tenis-Court MAn is a Tenis-Court His Flesh the Wall The Gamesters God Sathan Th'heart's the Ball The higher and the lower Hazzards are Too bold Presumption and too base Despaire The Rackets which our restlesse Balls make flye Adversity and sweet Prosperity The Angels keepe the Court and marke the place Where the Ball fals and chaulk out ev'ry Chace The Line 's a Civill life we often crosse Ore which the Ball not flying makes a Losse Detractors are like Standers-by that bett With Charitable men Our Life 's the Sett Lord In this Conflict in these fierce Assaults Laborious Sathan makes a world of Faults Forgive them Lord although he ne'r implore For favour They 'l be set upon our score O take the Ball before it come toth'ground For this base Court has many a false Rebound Strike and strike hard but strike above the Line Strike where thou please so as the Sett be thine 38. On Abels Blood ABel was silent but his Blood was strong Each drop of guiltles blood commands a tongue A tongue that cryes 'T is not a tongue implores For gentle Audience 'T is a tongue that rores For hideous Vengeance 'T is a tongue that 's bold And full of Courage and that cannot hold O what a noyse my Blessed Saviours Blood Makes now in heav'n how strong it cries how loud But not for Vengeance From his side has sprung A world of drops From ev'ry drop a Tongue 39 On the Memory DOes thy corrected Frailty still complaine Of thy disloyall Mem'ry do'st retaine Nothing that 's Good And is the better part Of what thou hear'◠before it warme thy heart Snatcht from thy false Remembrance Is the most Of what th' inspired Prophets tell thee lost In thy unhospitable eares And not To be recall'd Quite buried Quite forgot Feare
not Thou hast a Chanc'lour in thy Brest That keeps th' Exchequer and hoards up the least The poorest Summe No no thou needst not feare There 's nothing will be lost that 's taken there Thinkst thou that thou hast lost that piece of Gold That 's dropt into a fairer Heape untold Or canst thou judge that Fier clos'd about With rak'd up Embers 'cause not scene is out Gold lost in greater summes is still thine owne And rak'd up Embers will in time be blowne To Flames Beleeve 't the Words thine eares have lost Thy heart wil find when thou shalt need them most 40. On the Babel-Builders SVre if those Babel-Builders had thought good To raise their heav'n-high Tower before the flood The wiser sort of people might deride Their Folly and that Folly had salv'd their Pride Or had their Faiths but enterpriz'd that Plot Their hearts had finisht what their hands could not 'T was not for love of Heav'n nor did they ayme So much to rayse a Building as a Name They that by Works shall seeke to make intrusion To Heav'n find nothing but their owne Confusion 41. On ESAV and JACOB ESau goes forth strives with his owne disquiet To purchase Ven'son for his fathers Diet Iacob abides at home and by his Mother Is taught the way how to supplant his brother There 's some that hunt like Esau sweat and toyle And seeke their Blessing by their owne Turmoyle Whilst others crave assistance and bewray Their wiser weakenes in a safer Way O if the Church my Mother will instruct me Make savory Meate and cloath me and conduct me Into my Fathers Armes these hands shall never Trust to the poorenesse of their owne Endevor Bring I a Kid but of my Mothers dressing 'T will please my Father and procure my Blessing 42. On severall Sinnes Grosse Sinne. IS like a Show'r which ere we can get in Into our Conscience wets us to the skin Sin of Infirmity IS like the falling of an April Shower 'T is often Raine and Sun-shine in an hower Sin of Custome IS a long Showre beginning with the Light Oft-times continuing till the Dead of Night Sin of Ignorance IT is a hideous Mist that wetts amaine Though it appeare not in the forme of Raine Crying Sin IT is a sudden Showre that teares in sunder The Cope of Heav'n alway comes with Thunder Sin of Delight IS like a fethered showre of Snow not felt But soakes to th' very skin when ere it melt Sin of Presumption DOes like a Showre of Hayle both wet and wound With sudden Death or strikes us to the Ground The Sin of Sinnes IT is a sulph'rous Shower such as fell On Sodom strikes and strikes to th' Pit of Hell 43. On these Showers GOod God! what Weather 's here These soules of our Have still the luck to travell in a Shower Lord we are cold and pitifully drencht Not a dry thrid And all our Fyer's quencht Our very Blood is cold Our trembling knees Are mutuall Andvils Lord we stand and freeze Alas we find small comfort from the Eye Of Heav'n These showring clouds our sins doe flye Betwixt the Sun and us Wee dry no more Then if the Sun had giv'n his office o'r Nay Lord if now and then those Beames do chance To breake upon 's and lend a feeble glaunce Vpon our reeking soules ere we begin To feele the warmth w' are dous'd and drencht agin In what a case are we Our nightly damps And daily storms have fild our Soules with Cramps With wav'ring Palseyes and our hoarser tongues Can doe thee service nor in Prayers nor Songs Our Zeales are Aguish hot and cold They be Extreamely hot toth ' World as cold to Thee Our Blood has got a Fever Lord it must Be set on fire with every wanton Lust What worlds of mischiefes are there that prevaile not Vpon our fainting Soules What is 't we ayle not That Wet and Cold can bring Yet have no power To keepe us in but dable in the Shower Shine forth bright Sun of glory Be as feirce As these eclipsing Clouds are blacke Disperse And cleare them with thy stronger beams that thus Dare interpose betwixt thy Glory ' and us Reflect on my distempered Soule Refine This vap'rous Earth this sinfull Flesh of mine That tho some Drops mâ—â—â— fall I may have power Shelter'd by thee t' avoyd the down right Shower O let my dabled Spirit still retyre To thee and warme her by thy Sacred Fyre That having ravill'd out some weary howers She may arrive where 's neither Clouds nor Showers 44. On DIVES and LAZARVS DId ever Iudge more equally proceed To punish Sin so right in kind and nature Poore Laz'rus was refus'd a Crum of Bread And Dives was deny'd a Drop of Water Children are oftentimes so like the Mother That men may eas'ly know the one by th' other 45. On two Suitors THe Soule is like a Virgin for whose love Two jealous Suitors strive Both daily move For Nuptiall favour Both with Lovers Art Plead for the Conquest of the Virgins heart The first approaching knockt and knockt agin The Doore being op'ned at his entring in He blushd and as young bashfull Lovers use Is more then halfe discouraged ere he sues At length that love that taught him what to feare Gave resolution to present her eare With what he hop'd and in a lovers fashion He oft repeates the Story of his Passion He vowes his Faith and the sincere perfection Of undissembled and entyre Affection He sues for equall mercy from her Eye And must have love or else for love must dye His present meanes were short He made profession Of a faire Ioynture though but small possession And in word to make his passion good He offers to deserve her with his Blood The other boldly enters with the strong And sweet-lip'd Reth'ricke of a Courtly tongue Salutes her gentle eares His lips discover The amorous language of a wanton Lover He smiles and faunes and now and then le ts flye Imperious glaunces from his sparkling Eye Bribes her more orient neck with pearl with charms Enclosing Bracelets decks her yvory Armes He boasts th' extent of his Imperiall Power And offers Wealth and Glory for a Dower Betwixt them both the Virgin stands perplext The first Tale pleas'd her well untill the next Was told She lik'd the one the other Loth To make a choyce She could affect them Both The one was Iocund full of sprightly mirth The other better borne of nobler birth The second su'de in a compleater fashion I but the first show'd deeper wounds of Passion The first was sadly modest And the last More rudely pleasant His faire lookes did cast More am'rous flames But yet the tothers eye Did promise greater Nuptiall Loyalty The last's more rich yet Riches but for life Make a poore Widow of a happy Wife The first 's Estate 's but small if not made good By Death Faire Ioyntures comfort Widow hood WhoÌ„ shal this Virgin 〈◊〉
Her thoughts approve The last for present wealth the first for love Both may not be enjoy'd Her heart must smother Her love to one if she affect the other Ah silly Virgin Is the choyce so hard In two extreames Can thy weake thoughts reward Two so unequall with a like Respect Knowst thou not which to slight which t' affect Submit to better judgement and advise With thy best Friend O trust not thine owne eyes This last that seemes so pleasant so acute Is but a Slave drest in his Lords old Suite He brags of Glory and of Princely Power When he is kickt and baffled every hower The Treasure that he boasts is not his owne He basely stole it and the Theft is knowne For which he is arraign'd condemn'd to th'paines Of death His sentence is to hang in Chaines His plott's to bring thee in as deepe as He Beleeve 't It is thy Blood he seekes not Thee The Bribes he gave thee are but stolne Fond Girle Discard those Bracelets and disclaime that Pearle The first whose oft repeated knocks did crave Admittance was the Lord to that base slave His Faith is loyall and as firme his Vow To him his life 's not halfe so deare as thou That wealth that honour that dissembled power That pleasant Pesant offer'd as a Dower Is that faire Lords Nor peace nor pow'râ—or â—or wealth Can any challenge from him but by stealth Match there my Soule and let thy sacred Vowes Plight holy Contracts with so sweet a Spouse His left hand 's full of treasure And his right Of peace and honour and unknowne delight Hee 'l give thee wealth and in that wealth content For present meanes And when thy Glasse has spent Her latest Sand that Time untransitory Thy dayes a Joynture of Eternall Glory 46. On the old and new Garment NEw Garments being brought who is 't that would Not scorne to live a Pris'ner to the Old Yet though our boâ—nteous Saviour at his cost Presents us new we love the old ones most Alas they pinch us O they sit too strait They are too combersome too great a waight No no the old were too too light too great So we have ease we care not to be neat Like tyred Jades our better wils repayre To a foule Stable then t' a Rodâ— that 's faire 47. On Mans co-operation WE are not Blocks We must expect the Call And being cal'd must move and rise withall The Voyce were needlesse and as good be dumb As with the Call not give the pow'r to come Deserves hee food that thinkes it vaine to gape Christ takes his Spouse by Contract not by Rape 48. On the old and new Tables THe former Tables of the Law were broken And left no Monuments of themselves no token No Signe that ever such things were But marke The later were kept holy in the Arke Those Tables are our Hearts Can we be bold To looke for new and yet not breake the old Or can the ruines of the old find place In th' Arke of Glory not repayr'd by Grace Dismount O blessed Moses and renew Those Tables thou hast broken or make new 49. On a Crucifixe WHy not the Picture of our dying Lord As of a Friend Nor this nor that 's ador'd Does not th' eternall Law command that thou Shalt ev'n as well forbeare to make as bow Not to so good an end T' advance his passion The Gold being pure what matter for the Fashion Take heed The purest gold does often take Some losse some prejudice for the fashions sake Not to a Civill end To garnish Halls To deck our windowes To adorne our Walls Shew-bread must not be common And the Cruse Of holy Oyle admits no Civill use No no the beauty of his Picture lies Within T is th' object of our Faith not Eyes 50. On praying to Saints NOt pray to Saints Is not the Warrant ample If back't with Scripture strengthen'd with example Did not that sweltring Dives make complaint For water was not Abraham a Saint Why should reformed Churches then forbid it 'T is true But tell me what was He that did it 51. On Confession EXperience tels That Agues are about To weare away when as our Lips breake out In Spirituall Fevers there 's the same expression Of Health when lips breake forth into Confession But mark These hopefull Symptomes never doe Confirme the Ague gone but faire to goe They doe not alwayes worke what they portend Confession profits not unlesse we mend 52. On SOLOMONS Rejoyce YOung man Rejoyce What jolly mirth is here Let thy heart cheare thee What delicious Cheare In thy young dayes Thy Cates will relish sweeter Walk thy owne wayes Thy Cares will passe the fleeter Please thine own heart Carve where it likes thee best Delight thine eyes And be a Joyfull Guest But know withall The Day will come whereon Thy Iudge will doome thee for the deeds th' ast done O what a Feast O what a Reckning's here The Cates are sweet The Shot 's extreamely deare Lord I have been and am a dayly Guest Too oft invited at the Young mans Feast The Reckning's great Although I cannot pay I can confesse Great God before this Day I had been dragd to the redeemlesse Iayle Hadst thou not pleas'd t' accept my Saviours Baile Lord he must bear 't I doubt For I can get Nor Coyne to pay nor labour out the Debt I cannot digge my Ioynts are starke and lame But I can begge although I beg with shame I have no Grace in begging can receive The first repulse I have no Faith to crave If th'entertainments of the Feast be these Lord give me Famine take the Feast that please 53 On Bread TAke up that bit of Bread And understand VVhat 't is thou holdest in thy carelesse hand Observe it with thy thoughts and it will reade thee An usefull Lecture ev'n as well as feed thee VVe stirre our Lands or give directions how But God must send a season for the Plough VVe sow our Seede But sowe our seed in vaine If Heav'n deny the first the later Raine Small proofe in Showrs if heau'ns pleas'd hand shall cease To blesse those showrs nor crowne theÌ„ with encrease The tender Blades appeare before thine eye But uarefresht by heav'n as soone they die The infant Eares shoot forth and now begin To corne But God must hold his Mildewes in The Harvest 's come But Clouds conspire together Hands cannot work til heav'n shall clear the weather At length 't is reap'd Between the Barne and Furrow How many Offices poore Man runs thorow Now God has done his part The rest we share To Man His providence takes now the care No yet it is not ours The use alone Not bare possession makes the thing our owne Thy swelling Barnes have crownd thy full desire But heav'n when Mows should sweat can make them I but the Sheaves are thrasht the heap lies In thy full Garnier He that sent the Flyes fire To Pharees Court can
Some hotly mounted fiercely gallop up On spurgal'd Broyles whose Frantick motions send Their hasty spirits to their Iournies end Some ride upon the racking Steeds of Treasure Others false-gallop on the backs of Pleasure All journey forwards to the selfe-same Place Some the next way and some the faster pace All post an end till beaten out of Breath They all arrive at the great gates of Death Lord in this common Roade I doe not care What pase I travell so my Way be faire 69. On the life of Man OVr Life is nothing but a Winters Day Some onely breake their Fast and so away Others stay Dinner and depart full fed The deepest Age but sups and goes to bed Hee 's most in debt that lingers out the Day Who dyes betimes has lesse and lesse to pay 70. On Gods Image IT was a dainty piece In every part Drawne to the life and full of curious Art It was as like thee as a shadow could Be like a substance There was none but would Have known thee by 't There needed then no name No golden Characters that might proclaime Whose Picture t' was the Art was so divine That very Beasts did reverence as thine But now alas 't is blurr'd the best that we Or they can judge is this 't was made for thee Alas'tis faded soyl'd with hourely dust Sullyed and shadow'd with the smoke of Lust So swarthy as if that glorious face of thine Were tawnyed underneath the torrid Line How is thy Picture altred How ill us'd By our neglects How slubberd How abus'd Her Cedar Frame 's disioynted warp'd and broke Her curious Tablet's tainted with the smoke The Objects both offensive and the savor Retaining neither Beauty nor thy Favour Lord let not thy displeased eye forsake Thy handy-worke for the bad keepers sake Behold it still and what thou seest amisse Passe by Thinke what it was not what it is What though her beauty and her colours fade Remember O 't was like thee when 't was made There is a great Apelles that can lim With thy owne Pencell we have sought to Him His skilfull hand will wash off all the soyle And clense thy Picture with his sacred Oyle Hee 'l mak 't more faire then 't was at least the same Hee 'l mend the Tablet and renew the Frame Till then be pleas'd to let thy Picture be Acknowledg'd thine 'T was made for none but Thee 71. On the Penny HE that endur'd the Tyranny of Heate The Morning-sorrowes and the Midday-sweat The Evening-toyle and burthen of the Day Had but his promis'd Penny for his pay Others that loyter'd all the Morning stood i th' idle Market whose unpractis'd blood Scarse felt the warmth of labour nor could show A blush of Action had his Penny too What Wages can we merit as our owne Slaves that are bought with price can challeng none But onely Stripes alas if Servants could Doe more then bid they doe but what they should When man endeavours and where heav'n engages Himselfe by promise they are Gifts not Wages He must expect We must not looke t' obtaine Because we Run Nor doe we run in vaine Our Running showes th' effect produces none The Penny 's giv'n alike to every one That works i th' Vinâ—yard Equall price was shar'd T'unequall workes Therefore no Reward Lord set my hands a worke I will not serve For Wages lest thou give what I deserve 72. On a Christian. THe Generous Christian must as well improve i th' quality of the Serpent as the Dâ—ve He must be Innocent affraid to doe A wrong And crafty to prevent it too They must be mixt and temper'd with true love An Ounce of Serpent serves a Pound of Dove 73. On Gods bountie GOd freely gives as freely we receive It is not Doe but Ask and thou shalt have 74. On Sinnes MY Sinnes are like to Mountaines that arise Above the Clouds threat the threatning skyes Lord give me Faith and let that Faith be prov'd In leaving not a Mountaine unremoov'd 75. On the life of Man A Thousand yeares with God the Scriptures say Are reckon'd but a Day By which accompt this measur'd Life of our Exceeds not much an hower The halfe whereof Nature does claime and keepe As her owne debt for sleepe A full sixt part or what remaines we ryot In more then needfull Dyet Our Infancy our Child hood and the most Of our greene youth is lost The little that is left we thus divide One part to cloathe our Pride An other Share we lavishly deboyse To vaine or sinfull joyes If then at most the measur'd life of Man Be counted but a Span Being half'd and quarter'd and disquarter'd thus What what remaines for us Lord if the Totall of our dayes doe come To so-so poore a summe And if our shares so small so nothing be Out of that Nothing what remaines to Thee 76. On the Childrens Bread THy strengthning Graces are the Childrens Bread Which maks thy thriving Children strong able Honour and Riches are the Crummes that feed The Dâ—ggs that lurk beneath their Masters Table Lord if thy gracious pleasure will allow But Bread I 'am sure I shall have Crums enow 77. On Trust and care OVr Trust in God for Riches neither must Exclude our Care nor Care exceed our Trust. 78. On RVSCVS ILliterate Ruscus heard Pedantius preach Admir'd the Church mans learning commended Such things alone that were above his Reach But meanly slighted what he appprehended What hinders then to thinke that Ruscus hath At least the twi-light of a Bastard Faith 79. On the receiving of the Lords Supper MEn take the Sacred Seales of their Salvation As some doe Physick not for health but fashion The Day preceding and the following Day There 's none so strict none so reform'd as they They curb the fury of their wanton Ryot And call their Surfets to a stricter Dyet The Time expir'd the first Assault that haps Prevailes and strikes them to a worse Relaps Like Doggs to vomits they returne agin As though they'ad past a Patent now to sin Let such Day-Christians on the very toppe Of all their mirth remember Judas Sopp 80. On Faith TH'oft shaken Tree growes faster at the root And faith 's most firm that 's somtimes urg'd with Doubt 81. On the Story of Man THe word was spoke And what was Nothing must Be made a Chaos of confused Dust The word was spoke The Dust began to thicken To a firme Clay The Clay began to quicken The grosser substance of that Clay thought good To turne to Flesh The moyster turn'd to Blood Received Organs and those Organs Sense It was imbellisht with the Excellence Of Reason It became the Height of Nature Being stampt with th' Image of the great Creator But Lord that glorious Image is defac'd Her Beautye's blasted and her Tablet's raz'd This Height of nature has committed Treason Against it selfe Declin'd both Sense and Reason Meere Flesh and Blood containing but a Day Of painted