them here Till he should bury'd be They oft did bleed with such great pain That he had dy'd thereby But that God would have him remain The World to edify His Body now with labour spent Made weak for JESUS'S sake And he to Contemplation bent But little food did take And thô by Sword as he desir'd He could not Martyr dy Yet greater pains as God requir'd He suff'red patiently And off'red up in flames of Love His Soul an Holocaust Which daily did ascend above To him he loved most Knowing his Death was near at hand Not able now to go That he be carry'd doth command To Portiunculo Our Lady's Church from Angels nam'd The place that he lov'd best And here to dy he ever aim'd And take his finall rest To shew his love to Poverty Mat 27. v. 35. And Christ to imitate He naked on the ground would dy So strip't him as be sate The same in his last Testament He doth his Brothers give For he by JESUS dear was sent Poor Ps 87. v. 16. like him here to live Mat. 18. v. 17. He recommends Obedience Most strict unto Christ's Church That Heresy on no pretence Among his Brothers lurch True Patiênce and Humility With other Virtues rare He leaves them as a Legacy And doth for Death prepare He gives his blessing to his Brothers To live in Love and Peace The same he recommends to others Here after his decease His soul to JESUS recommending Replenish't with great merit By hands of Angels there attending To God resigns his Spirit He being dead his sacred Flesh Wither'd before and hard Became most limber soft and fresh To youth might be compar'd Which with his Wounds like Rubies dress't Was glorious to behold Assisiûm Men would have it rest With them more priz'd than gold A stately Church they for it build And in a Vault it lay Which incorrupt and fresh doth yield Delights unto this day The World 's great wonder it remains The Wounds appear therein What favours great and immense gains Did his true Pennance win Thus did Christ's Church-Repairer dy When he had thousands gain'd From Worldly Love Flesh-liberty Which had true Faith so stain'd He in his Order lives again Which to Perfection guides And as Reveal'd shall still remain As long as World abides Great Saints this Order hath brought forth As to the World is known But what 's the number or their worth Is known to God alone The Rule doth so to Virtue bind That if Men well keep it Not one among them they shall find who 'l not in glory sit OF THE CONFRATERNITY OF THE CORD In the cords of Adam I will draw them in the Cords of Charity Ose 11. v. 4. BEsides his Holy Orders three The Pope of his accord Confirm'd a Confraternity Where Girdle is a Cord For those who cannot undergo Those strict Rules yet desire By this blest Cord men should them know Related to the Frier Saint Francis made choice of a Cord For Girdle as the best Memoriall of his dying Lord In all his sorrows dress't For if you mind it all along Throughout his Passion still They led him bound in Cords full strong Wherever was their will This Passion in men's hearts to print Was always his desire Which soften can a heart of flint And set it all on fire With love unto its Saviour dear Who for Man thus did dy And never any pains to fear His love to shew thereby Saint Dominick poor Francis lov'd And would his Rule embrace But since by him 't was not approv'd He begg'd his Cord in th' place That thô he could not of that be He would have some relation To him by this a Memory Of Christ's most bitter Passion Persons of greatest quality Which this World doth afford Have thought it a great dignity To be girt with this Cord That they might be related to This Order while they live The great Indults to gain also Which Holy Church doth give Which are as great as any be Continually confirm'd Unto this Confraternity And all therein concern'd Which hath not any obligation Men binding under Sin But minds us of Christ's bitter Passion That we may glory win Five Paters and five Ave's more You daily are to say To mind how Christ was wounded sore Upon that dolefull day In hands and feet and in his Side These five you must salute And there with confidence abide Till you obtain your suit For what can God the Father here Deny his only Son When in his sight his Wounds appear Which he hath undergon To reconcile a sinfull soul Unto his Justice great And to dispense rich Grace's dole From his great Mercy 's seat With arms spred forth the Friers say These Pray'rs and make a Cross And thus Saint Francis us'd to pray Reminding that our loss Repaired was upon the Tree When Christ ' shands feet and side Were pierc't Which wounds effectuall be When thus by faith apply'd When Amaleck the Hebrews fought Exod. 17 v. 11. Moyses his arms stretch't out And praying thus success he brought But when they fell was doubt Of Victory which did foreshow How Christ for man should dy And now he 's dead we praying so His Death do signify Upon the Cross five Virtues rare Christ practis'd to teach us Daily to beg and take like care To imitate him thus In Patience and Humility Which he doth recommend Obedience and strict Poverty With Love unto the end More pious Practices are there Belonging to the Cord Which by this Saint ordained were To bind men to their Lord In bonds of true Obedience And perfect Charity That when the Soul departeth hence It live Eternally Behold how Francis's Life was spent In Mankind's Reformation Christ's seamless Garment that was rent And much defac't in fashion That is the Church with Heresy And vicîous life distain'd He brought unto its Purity Thousands of Souls regain'd Thus Moyses-like he did bring back Pharao's the Devils Exod. 3. v. 10. Slaves Their Souls with filth of Sin made black c. 14. v. 29. He by the Red Sea saves Reminding what Christ did endure On th' Cross to free from Sin And by example leads secure Through th' Desart we are in Deut. â— v. 2. Unto the rich Land promised That 's Heav'n Iosue 3. v. 17. Exod. 3. v. 8. the place of Bliss Where with sweet Milk and Hony fed The chast and pure Soul is That is the Vision of God clear And of his full Fruition Of losing it void of all fear How happy 's this condition Dear Father pray unto thy Lord. My life while I am here With thine in all things may accord That Hell I may not fear Dear JESUS grant for Francis sake That I thee always love And my life's Pattern by his take So reign with thee above Amen THE BOOKS ADDRESS TO THE READER YOu gentle Reader who have read me ôre Grant this Request to read me yet once more If curious Fancy to the first did move Let now your Motive be Devotion 's love And that your reading may advantage bring Attend not to the Verse but to the thing The sense consider deeply in your mind Imprint the same then you will surely find A hidden Treasure which doth rarely ly Within the bosom of Dame Poetry Virtue 's discover'd Vice laid to your view That this you fly that eagerly pursue Read not as Pilat ask't What 's Verity And then went forth Io. 18. v. 38. He did not really Seek Knowledge and much less did he intend To act he would be Jews and Cesar's friend He would not know lest coÌ„scieÌ„ce should approve What Christ should say Io. 19. v. 12. he lose Cesar's love that young Man who ask't of christ to know Which way to Heav'n he might securely go When Christ bid hiÌ„ the world and Riches leave This wholsom counsell he would not receive v. 21. He would no more discourse with him v. 22. and why To th' World and Flesh he had too strong a ty Beware the like when you have read this Book Lay 't not aside no more on it to look Because it pleaseth not the Flesh and Bloud But be assur'd when its right understood It will your Soul to Virtue 's Practice win With ravishments to that and hate to Sin Remember only Beast that cud did chew Was clean esteem'd â—ev 11.3 â—eut 14.8 â—en 8 v. â— â—â—k 3. v. â— 55 and sacrific'd to shew That if by reading you 'l God 's love obtain You must reflect and in the sense remain Of what you read and thus you will reap gain Or else your reading will but prove in vain Expect no Finis to this Book FOr as Man's Life a Warfare is Iob. 7. v. 1. Gal. 5. v. 17. ' Gainst Viceâ— and Virtue undertook Is hard 〈…〉 you miss The Crown 〈◊〉 promis't only those Who do persevâ—â— to the end Mat 10. v. 22. Mat. 25. v. 13. You must be watchfull till Death close Your eyes hence you will want a friend Oft to consult as virtuous Guide This Book will prove unto you such If in its reading you 'l abide 'T will give your heart a zealous touch Then daily here take your repast And let the End begin again Thus do as long as Life doth last That you may here secure remain Amen
my Mouth O Lord a Keeper To lips a door of circumstance Before I speak Eccli 11. v. 8. that I may deeper Weigh if it doth my good advance For if by words no good accrews To you or to your neighbors soul To speak it 's better to refuse Than let your Tongue so idle roll Prov. 10. v. 19. Maâ— 12. v. 6. Eccli 20. v. 8. For since in many words there 's sin And we for words account must give From idle words your Tongue keep in So you 'l in Peace and quiet live When you would speak take care it be Still to God's honour praise and glory Your words inflame with charity Abhorr unchast detracting story Math. 5. v. 9. Employ your Tongue in making Peace Instructing others and in Pray'r Thus will the Tongue your good increase And after in your glory share Thrice happy are such Tongues as these They give life to themselves and others Who seek both God and Man to please Without offence unto their brothers Such Tongues while others are condemn'd To Fire for all Eternity Ps â—3 v. 5. In Heav'n shall praise God without end In the celestiall Hierarchy Amen Thou shalt not take God's Name in vain Exod. 20. v. 7. WHen God Man's Body made of Earth Gen 2. v. 7. He breath'd a soul into that clay And gave to him a noble birth Who was to love him and obey Gen. 1. v. 28. Whom as their Lord all Creatures here Were to obey to love and fear Gen 3. v. 3. And God descended from above In Paradise with him to walk To manifest to him his love Familiarly with him would talk His person man was to adore Respect and honour ever more But when to sin Man did not fear He was averted in his heart And hid himself Gen 3. v. 8. durst not appear Thus from God's presence he did part v. 19. And had this for his Penalty With brutish beasts to live and dy Man being thus estrang'd by sin From God and his blest conversation Idolatry he strait fell in To Creatures gave God's Adoration O strange Exchange The Lord of all To subject here doth prostrate fall And this because he did contemn His Makers Precept love and grace To Brutes his Lord did him condemn No more to see his blessed face And as he now convers't with Beasts Their beastly Pleasures were his Feasts Thus Man in Reason blinded lay Forgetting God and to what end He was created went astray From Natures Law till God did send Him ten Commands Exod. 20. v. 1 c. Mat. 19. v. 17. which do contain What 's needfull Heaven to regain Where first Exod. 20. v. 1.2.3 v. 7. he doth reveal again Himself one God to be ador'd Next that Man shall not take in vain The Name of him his dreadfull Lord Which he 'l have honour'd by all here As much as if he did appear And this the Israelites well knew That Holy Name they durst not speak But gave to it the honour due Burgens ad dit to Lyra on the 3 c. of Exod. Least God's Command'ment they should break None but the Priest in Church alone Might name the Tetragrammaton Which holy Name doth signify The same as God Exod. 3. v. 14. Exod. 6. v. 3. in our tongue The Essence of the Deity And only did to God belong Names of his attributes they us'd Which also must not be abus'd Much less our dear Redeemers Name JESUS which all men must adore Which signifies much like the same That Name doth which we nam'd before Phil. 2. v. 10. At JESUS Name let all knees bow In Heau'n on Earth and Hell below The very Dev'ls in Hell do tremble When Men these Names devoutly use And God their sins will not dissemble Who boldly do the same abuse Exod. 20. v. 7. Deut. 5. v. 11. Who take God's Name in vain they shall Be guilty and condemn'd withall Much more if they shall by it swear As now a days too many do Setting aside God's love and fear And headlong to the Devill go With him in fire for êre to ly Still wishing Rev. 9. v. 6. but shall never dy Of sins rash swearing is most vain It is a Sin of pure contempt It brings no pleasure or rich gain Of swearing Man had never dream't If God the same had not forbid The Vice of swearing had lay hid Hence 't is the swearing vice God hates And lays on Man this punishment Depriv'd of grace his soul creates New sins to vice beîng wholly bent This with the Wise Man we must yield Who sweareth much Eccli 23. v. 12. with Vice is fill'd The same affirms the Plagues of God And punishments v. 12. shall nêre depart The swearer's house of whose iust Rod He while on Earth shall find the smart It 's fear'd this swearing vice alone The World with Plagues hath overflown To take an Oath when Law requires Ier. 4. v. 2. Is counted a Religious act To execute what God inspires I bind my self by Vows compact Thy Law saith David Ps 118. v. 106. I did swear To keep O Lord and thee to fear When you make Oath saith Jeremy Be sure in it these three are found Judgment Justice Ier. 4. v. 2. and verity And that to swear you ' re also bound For who saith Wiseman Eccli 23. v. 14. vainly swear Not justify'd but guilty are From sin in Oath if you 'l be free Swear not at all Math. â— v. 35. I am 5. v. 12. as Christ commands Let Yea and Nay your answer be Which with the just as firmly stands Who false will prove and tell a Ly By Oath you never shall him ty Who sweareth oft is much the same No Oath his heart to Truth shall bind Who fears not to abuse God's Name To ly you will as ready find who 'l swear will ly who 'l ly will steal Who with a swearer then dares deal Besides this Vice there is another Which equally breaks this Command Blasphemous Cursing is its brother Levit. 24. v. 16. Which makes men equall guilty stand Which sin is greater I can't tell Since both condemn the soul to Hell I shall not speak of Blasphemy ' Gainst God immediatly directed But of that which seems hid to ly Little regarded till detected Your curse to Creature doth reflect On God and shows your disrespect God all things made and they were good Gen. 1. v. 31. All were created for mans use If this were rightly understood How durst Man offer this abuse To curse the Gift and Giver slight O desp'rate Rebell fill'd with spite Saint Jude relates Iud. 1. v. 9. that Michaël Contending stiffly with the Devill Durst not him curse he knew full well Blaspheming was the greatest evill Thô sin his Nature had deprav'd God's hand-work there was still engrav'd But many men if they are cross't By stick or stone by wind or beast As
Lying devill them deceive By Lyes of joys their dear souls to bereave O wicked Parents who while young neglect This dev'lish Vice in children to correct You Lyars guilty of this deadly crime Leave off Repent amend while you have time Speak what is just Eph. 4. v. 25. do not the truth deny The Lying devill and his Lyes defy Love and serve God his just Laws still attend Thus once a Lyar may make happy end THE TRUE ART OF LOVING WELL. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God Math. 22. v. 37. I Shall not here like Ovid teach The Art of brutish Carnall Love But that which did exceed his reach Practis'd by Seraphins above Which God Io. 13. v. 34. made man did teach to men To joyn them to their God agen To love those only who love you Or objects that your senses please Math 5. v. 46. What do you more then Heathens do Or brutes â—ho Belly love and ease Your God above whom you don't see I 'le teach to love and Enemy This Christ did teach v. 44. while he was here By words Luk 23. v. 34. and his most rare example The same to follow do not fear Rom. 5. v. 15. He for you grace hath purchas 't ample He hath rais'd Man unto this state He can love those Act 7. v. 60. who do him hate To do this cast your eye above Contemplate God's most lovely features Then for his sake you 'l learn to love In him all his beloved creatures And most of all Gen. 1. v. 26. his Image dear Which wrap't in flesh is placed here The Elements to Center tend As Water Earth the Air and Fire Where they do rest as in their end To hold them back doth force require The iron doth to Loadstone cleave That it may virtue thence receive Ps 72. v. 26. God Center is to soul of man Which here to Body is confin'd And without him there 's nothing can Give satisfaction to her mind He is the Loadstone where she gains Perfection and content remains For what are objects of Man's love Wealth Power Beauty Riches Glory All these are found in God above In high degree saith sacred story Wisd 1. v. 7.1 Ioh 4. v. 19. God all perfections doth contain Since he loves you love him again He loves you not for interest As if you could him profit bring But that you may with him have rest In glory of your heav'nly King Where you with Angels shall always In joy sing forth his glorious praise Love makes the consort of the Quire For all their Notes are tun'd by Love And Love is all their hearts desire Their God is Love 1. Ioh 4. v. 16. that reigns above By Love you do him perfect joyn To love him truly then incline To gain your loving heart's consent Gen. 1. v. 26. 1. Ioh 4. v. 9 Ioh 1. v. 14. Ioh. 20. v. 17. Behold what here on Earth is don All creatures made for your content Nay he has sent his only son To take your flesh and Brother be From sin and Hell to set you free All objects of true Love are here Laid open to your corp'rall view Since all that 's perfect doth appear In Christ who God and Man is true Ps 44. v. 5. He is the beauty of Mankind In Body features grace and mind He is not only amiable In body but likewise in heart His love to you was firm and stable Ioh. 13. v. 1. Till Death did soul and Body part While here on Earth for your souls sake No pains did he refuse to take He fasted pray'd he watch't he taught Cold Hunger Thirst he did endure Salvation for your soul he sought And to make future Glory sure Ro. 5. v. 8. By bitter pains he dy'd on th' tree Thus much thy JESUS loved thee Now he to heaven is ascended Io. 14. v. 2.1 Io. 2. v. 2. Rom. â— v. 34. Heb. 7. v. 25. Beholding Father face to face His Love to you is still extended He hath prepared you a place That it may be your finall home He is your Advocate become Love this your God-Man who loves you And for your sake hath done all this In all your ways prove to him true Against his Laws nêre do amiss His blessed will be sure obey Math. 19. v. 17. To Heav'n it is the only way THE SECOND PART I say to you love your Enemies Math. 5. v. 44. If you love me Ioh. 14. v. 15. saith Christ our Lord Be sure you keep this my command Ioh. 15. v. 12. Math. 22. v 39 1 Ioh. 4. v. 20. With one another still accord Your Brother love as your right hand Who doth not here his Brother love Loves not his God who is above Not only love him who loves you For blindest Heathen doth the same But love your Enemy Math. 5. v. 44. as true Tender his life his goods his fame So you who Enemies have been To me Math. 6 v. 12.14 shall love and pardon win God made man's soul his image dear To live with him eternally And thô to sin he did not fear And thus became his Enemy Revenge on him he did not take But taking flesh dy'd for his sake Here learn of God Math. 5. v. 45. your Heav'nly Father Who sinner feeds as well as just To feed your Enemy yea rather Than friend so you may humbly trust Luk. 6. v. 38. That God your soul with grace will feed Since you fed Foe in time of need You cannot love his wickedness But as God's Image you must love 1. Ioh. 4. v. 20. To 's Pattern Kindness here express If Peace you love that is above Then mercifull to you he 'l be Who for his sake lov'd Enemy The Just dost lesser stand in need Of love Rom 8. v. 2. than he who is in sin From satan's pow'r the first is freed While this 2. Timi 2. v. 26. his slavery lyes in O pray that God will set him free Then God will mercy shew to thee But if Revenge thou seek'st to take Math. 18. v. 32 33. For injury that 's gone and past Thou liable thy self dost make To guilt forgiven and at last As cruell damn'd thy soul will be Not shewing Mercy shew'd to thee With joy forgive then Man's offence Since Christ our Lord hath promis't you Mark 11. v 25 Eccli 28. v 2. Mark 4. v. 24. For sin it shall make recompense And debt remit which to it's due What measure you give to your Brother The same shall you have and no other His loss is most when he wrongs thee In body goods or reputation Without Repentance his will be The loss of God and soul's salvation Pray you the Father as the Son Forgive Luk. 23. v. 34. he knows not what h 'as don If you saw Beast in danger great You strait would run his life to save And enemy away would beat
she went To keep the Sabbath-day But little rest sad Mary found Reflecting on her Lord. No meat no drink or sleep I judge She did her self afford Early next morn Mark 16. v. 1. with Marys two She took her ointments dear To give her Lord the last farewell The Guards she did not fear Nor who should roll away the stone v. 4. Which passed much their strength Love gave her wings Love gave her will Love brought her joy at length But lo Mary a second grief Lik 24. v. 3. The Body is not here The Tomb is open some have stol'n Away my Lord I fear Chear up Mary An Angel asks Woman Io. 20. v. 13. why dost thou weep I know not where they 've laid my Lord Which wounds my heart full deep v. 2. She runs and tells his Brethren this Peter and John ran fast And found what she had said was true And back again they past But Mary still stood weeping at The Tomb v. 11. would not depart Where her Lord's Body last was lay'd She had intomb'd her heart No longer could Christ's clemency Forbear but did appear v. 15. Say'ng Woman why do you thus weep And whom do you seek here She took him for a Gard'ner by His habit v. 15. and replies If thou him took'st I 'le fetch him back Tell me but where he lies Christ seeing Mary's loving tears No longer could conceal Himself but open'd Mary's eyes And did himself reveal MARY v. 16. says Christ She knew him then And Rabby she reply'd She saw he was no Gard'ner but Her Lord who for her dy'd And fell down at her usual place His Feet to kiss but see New grief Her Lord denies her this Say'ng v. 17. Woman touch not me v. 17. But go and tell my Brothers dear That I again do live Mat. 28. v. 7.10 In Galily they shall me see Where I will blessing give Mary obeys and in the way v. 9. Christ lets her kiss his feet Love made him first appear to her Her Love with Love did meet How oft to her Christ did appear The Scripture doth not tell 10. 11. v. 5. But we may judge it often was For he lov'd Mary well And when to Heav'n he did ascend Act. 1. v. 14. Mary was with the rest When Holy Ghost he promis't them And his Beloved Bless't Behold how Mary serv'd her Lord And never did depart From him in Joy or Misery So constant was her Heart Grant JESUS dear for Magd'len's sake That I adhere to Thee In Life and Death and that her Prayr's True Joy may bring to me Dear Mother Look in the old Hymn at Lauds beg this of your Lord As you did for your Brother That in this Life he 'l give me grace And glory in the other THE THIRD PART Containing the rest of her life after Christ's Ascension to her death YOu 'l say While Christ was here on Earth Mary was led in hand Now he is gone and out of sight Let 's see how she doth stand Io. 11. v. 44. Christ raising Laz'rus up from Death Confirm'd his doctrin so How to defame and blast the same The Jews no longer know Io. 12. v. 10. To kill him therfore they resolve But God permitting not How to destroy the family They next contrive and plot The brother sisters and some more They put into a boat Without Sails Oars or any guide Upon the Sea to float Intending to destroy them thus of humane help depriv'd But by God's Providence they all Safe at Marselles arriv'd Where Magdalen began to preach One God and Saviour dear Such Doctrine these poor Heathens blind Before did never hear From Idols many turned were By word and works she wrought Till at the last they would adore Her for the God she taught Which made her beg of God to take Her from the praise of men Convey'd she was by Angels hands Into a lonely Den. Where never Man or Woman she Beheld for thirty years Her meat was what the Mount did yield Her drink was wrought by tears For shedding tears for her past sins And Death of Master here Immediatly at her request Sprung up a Fountain clear To keep fresh in her memory Her dear Lord's death and loss She begs some Instrument of God An Angell brings a Cross She spent her life in tears of love And heav'nly Contemplation Her Heart curs't Satan nêre could move With any vain Temptation Christ her dear Lord could nêre forget This his dear Penitent But to her seaven times a day His gloriôus Angels sent Who by their virtue rais'd her up Into the air so high That with a ravish't Soul she heard The Heav'nly Harmony And in that space of thirty years As Mary lived there Her Lord an hundred and ten times Did gloriously appear What ravishments he gave her then Of Joy and what excess Excells Man's fancy to conceive Or Tongue well to express God willing now that Magdalen In soul this World should leave Reveal'd her who from Maximin Christ's Body did receive And being thus prepar'd for Death Her Soul left presently Her Mortall Body and with wings Of Love to God did fly Where now with him she doth remain In joy of Heav'nly Bliss Become a Patroness for those Who here have done amiss Behold the Soul of Magdalen At first defil'd with sin Refin'd by Love and purg'd by tears At last did Heaven win Let no poor Sinner then despair Of Mercy here and Grace If Mary's Life he 'l imitate And her rare Virtues trace This let him beg of God in faith Of JESUS Passion dear And merits of this glorious Saint Whose Pray'rs he 'l ever hear Blest Mary my poor love accept And be to me a Mother Pray in this Life God's Grace I have And Glory in the other Amen THE LIFE OF THE SERAPHICALL FATHER S. FRANCIS IN VERSE DIVIDED INTO THREE PARTS The First Part to the making of his Rule GOd made Man's nature innocent Adorned with Free-will Gen 4. v. 7. Eccli 15. v. 17. Gen. 2. v. 17. And gave him one Commandement His pleasure to fulfill To break it Death to keep it Life Was for Eternity And while on Earth void of all strife And human misery Luk. 10. v. 18. Rev. 12. v. 9.12 Curs't Satan who from glory fell Did hate Man's happy state Made for his place in joy to dwell Where once this proud Fiend sate Wisd 2. v. 24. Gen. 3. v. 4. And to deprive him of his Bliss He tempts the fruit to take Thou shalt not dy 't is not amiss Do but experience make Man yielding to his Wife's desire v. 6. Rom. 5. v. 12. Made that unhappy tast Incurr'd for him and his Hell-Fire Who here on Earth were plac't Environed with misery In Reason blinded so They fell into Idolatry Their God they did not know For this and many other sins Gen 6. v. 7. v. 8. God thought all
burn Which made him thus unkind While he in Vice his mony spent His Father minded not But now to Virtue he is bent He deems him but a Sot To th' Bishop he must with him go His Birth-right to resign Tim. â— v. 9. Francis deem'd Riches now a Foe And therfore don't repine But strips off all his cloaths withall And gives them altogether And says I now may truly call Not you but God my Father At this the Bishop wept with heart Embrac't him in his arms And cloath'd him who in joy did part Reviv'd with heav'nly charms He goes poor Lepers now to tend He wipes their sores with kiss What did him highly first offend He now esteems a bliss But all this while did Francis see Himself at loss which way The Church-repairer he might be And Christ thus to obey He could not tell or yet did know What Rule he should walk by Which did perplex and grieve him so That he wept bitterly Fearing that for his past sins still God was with him offended And would not plain declare his will Till something were amended He therfore wept fasted and pray'd Wither other acts austere Off'ring Christ's merits which once pay'd A Price for Sin most dear All this doth teach how hard a thing 'T is Justice to appease God's Mercy to our Souls to bring Ezech 33. v. 11.12 Ps 90. v. 15. Sin 's burthen here to ease Yet if with Francis we persever In Love in tears in grief With Francis we shall find God ever At hand to our relief SAINT FRANCIS THE SECOND PART OF HIS LIFE From the making of his Rule unto the receiving of the Stygmes a little before his Death TO God Man's duty twofold is As David doth record Ps 36. v. 27. 1. Pet. 3. v. 11. Do good decline from what 's amiss So thou shalt please thy Lord. The latter Francis had fulfill'd To good he was inspir'd The way he knew not thô he will'd To do what was requir'd But entring in the Church one day He heard that Gospel preaching Which doth relate what Christ did say When he sent his to teaching Take neither mony Mark 6. v. â— 8 Luk 10. v. 7. 1. Cor. 9 v. 13.14 purse or meat Shoo 's Staff two coats with you What 's set before you freely eat It is the Preachers due These words as from Christ to him said He takes and goes away Says Here my Rule 's before me laid And I will it obey The Life of Christ to imitate Must I and mine begin Which surely is the perfect state Mark 10. v. 21. For Mortals to live in Christ came Io. 8. v. 12. and taught all men the way Which leads unto Salvation Soon after men did from it stray I 'm sent for Reformation Not only my own soul to feed With heav'nly Contemplation But also to instruct where need And preach to ev'ry Nation His secûlar garments lay'd aside Heb. 4. v. 12. He cloath'd himself in grey Course cloth his nakedness to hide His shoo 's he cast away He made a Girdle of a Cord His Habit like a Cross To mind the Passion of his Lord Who had redeem'd Man's loss He presently began to preach With words that pierc't full deep And all poor Sinners he did teach To sorrow sigh and weep With confidence in God's great love If they 'l new Life begin And crave his Mercy Ionas 3. v. 10. that 's above The malice of Man's Sin His words were simple plain inflam'd With fervour of the spirit The Converts number can't be nam'd To gain which he did merit Many did Pennance for their ill Forsook the World would have Him teach them how to do God's will To whom a Rule he gave Not made by him but from above Reveal'd as he declares Teaching to hate what Flesh doth love Freeing from Worldly cares Obedienee true pure Chastity He vows to keep always And also such strict Poverty Not used in those days His Lents were many lodging hard No linnen he did wear No shoo 's his feet from thorns to guard Which oft his Felsh did tear With discipline he did chastise 1. Cor. 9. v. 27. His Body that the Spirit Might rule and still he did devise How to increase his merit Th' Apostles Life he thus trac't out Who twelve were sent to teach Luk 9. v. â— 2 Perfection and the World about The Faith of Christ to preach So he when twelve divided his And sent them to this end To preach the Faith and what amiss In manners to amend And after when they met again He found that many were Converted and that not in vain They preach't God's love and fear Their fervent words their humble looks With faces pale and thin Their Habit poor were Christian books To read perfection in Now that his Rule more force might have With it to Rome he went To be confirm'd and there he gave It to Pope Innocent Who thought it hard and did deny The same Rule to approve There were Rules many to walk by Made to increase God's love But lo To rest when sleep did call This Vision he did see The Lat'ran Church began to fall And to supported be By one poor man and he did know That Francis was the same He then approv'd it bid him go And teach it in God's Name And said to those who by him stood That Francis would repair God's Church decay'd by doctrine good And his example rare Poor Francis strait made his Profession There in Christ's Vicar's hand To keep the Rule without transgression And what it did command And after the Pope's blessing had He humbly went away Prais'd God and in his heart full glad For his success that day And so return'd unto Assise Where Monks did to him give A Church which he did highly prize And there resolv'd to live He lov'd this Church because 't was small The sitter for Poor Friers Lady of Angels they it call Because Angelick Quires Were here oft heard and he therfore Commands when he is dead This Church be counted evermore Of all his Orderâ—s head Moreover his desire was much This place should honour have Of all Christ did appear and such A boon unto him gave That whosoever enters in And right confessed be Shall Pardon have and also win Indulgence Plenary Was Francis's Love with this content Who Rule had made for Men No no. He knew that he was sent Each sex to bring agen From way of Vice to Virtue 's path And therfore made another For Women which same strictness hath And made Saint Clare their Mother And as he knew that all were not Of like ability And Wedlock was some others lot Which makes a worldly ty He made a third Rule for all kinds Rich Poor Wedded and free Leading to Virtue yet not binds Under sin's Penalty As our Redeemer when he came Did teach by word and deed So did Saint Francis do the same And sow'd Example's seed Not only by
his words but deeds He mov'd to Imitation Which are indeed the best of seeds To spring up Reformation Transcending was his Poverty Which quits of worldly cares Admitting of no Property And this the Heart prepares To fix it self on Heav'nly gain All Earthly to despise Which at the last doth prove but vain Dress't up in false disguise He so much lov'd pure Chastity Of Body and of Mind That if he felt the contrary Allays he strait did find He disciplin'd his Flesh full sore In thorns he tumbled so Untill his very flesh they tore Or rolled in the snow Francis the Humble Men him call He did excell in this The place whence Lucifer did fall Is thought now to be his This Virtue he did recommend To his and 't was his pleasure To name them Minors to this end That they might seek this Treasure 1. King 15. v. 22. Obedience he well knew to be Better than Sacrifice Thô Father of them all was he Yet still he did devise Subject to be unto another And therfore on the way Obedience strict unto his brother He promis't and did pay And as he the Creatour still Humbly obey'd in all So did dumb Creatures do his will Still ready at his call Brothers and Sisters he them nam'd To all he was so sweet That Fish the Fire and Beast he tam'd Who did him kindly greet Our Works are crown'd with Patience Iam. 1. v. 4 Mat. 10. v. 22. That our reward doth merit For all the Pains we feel in sense Or anguish of the Spirit With Christ to suffer he desir'd In Pain Mat. 16. v. â—4 Mark 8. v. 34. or any loss To imitate what he requir'd In bearing of the Cross The Queen of Virtues 1. Co. 13. v. 13. Charity His heart had so inflam'd That it would almost melted be When God's Love was but nam'd Mat. 22. v. 39. His Neighbour's Love possest him so That for his dear Soul 's good The hardest things he 'ld undergo To ' th shedding of his bloud This caus'd him journy to begin To Egypt's King that he Might to Christ's Church those faithless win Or else a Martyr be In sweetness he did so excell The Sultan freely gave Him leave to preach where he thought well And no disturbance have Missing his aim which was to dy For th' Faith of JESUS dear And finding no great profit by His Preaching Christ's Faith here He doth return with weeping eyes Bewailing his great loss Resolves his Love to Sacrifice To Christ upon the Cross Devotîon great he had to all God's Saints in chief his Mother Whom he did his dear Lady call But yet above all other He priz'd the Passion of his Lord As Treasure house of Grace Which doth to souls good thoughts afford And ill away doth chase Io. 3. v. 16. Eph. 6. v. 2. This is a Glass wherein we see Our God's great Love to us Who rather than we damn'd should be Chose to be treated thus And also how he Sin did hate That he would rather dy Than see men live in sinfull state Void of Felicity This teacheth us to love God here As also to hate Sin And as we love him still to fear Lest we should fall therein And if by Sin we 've lost God's Love Here 't is restor'd again Rom. 5. v. 9.10.11 Off'ring our tears to him above Joyn'd with Christ's bitter pain This Passion Francis preach't to all And thus their Ezech. â—â— v. 4. Rev. 7. v. 3. Foreheads cross't Imprinting how for Adam's fall Our Saviour's Life was lost That they to him be gratefull still Prov. 23.26 And to him give their heart Abhorring Sin to do his will And never from him part All Virtues that Christ taught Mankind Appear'd in Francis clear To print them deep in others mind His labour was while here But now grown weak that Death draws nigh He knows by Revelation And does employ his thoughts solely In Heav'nly Contemplation Let all learn here how to prepare For Death while they do live To love God still Deut. 6 v. 5. Rev. 14 v. 7. and sin beware And thus due honour give To teach us this Christ gave example Which he doth now renew In Francis who in manner ample Hath laid it to our view THE THIRD PART Containing the remainder of his life from the receiving of the holy Stygmes to his Death PRetend I shall not to recount The Miracles he wrought Which were so many they surmount In number frail man's thought The actions of his whole life were But one continu'd wonder To whom all things while be was here Obedience prompt did render Before his Death I 'l only tell How JESUS did him grace With Priviledge that did excell And worthily takes place Of all yet given unto any Which clearly doth declare His merits were both great and many Which thus rewarded were He being on the Mount Alvern In contemplation high Of JESUS'S Passion did so burn In Love that he must dy For his dear Lord or undergo Like pain our sins him gave Christ heard his Pray'r and yielded so His Wounds that he should have Behold a glorîous Seraphin Descending from above As thô he crucify'd had been Which did inflame his love Isai 6. v. 2. Six-wing'd he was two vail'd his head His feet two two did fly And while Saint Francis marveled The Seraphin draws nigh And on the Cross there did appear His dear Lord Crucify'd Fast nail'd upon 't as once when here He for all Mankind dyâ—d This griev'd him and did so inflame His heart with Love's great fire That to be nail'd unto the same Was now his whole desire Lo from hands feet and side did stream Five clear but bloudy rays Which pierc't like places as they came Where marks remain'd always In hands and feet like Nails were plain In 's Side the Wound of Spear Which bled and put him to such pain As thô he should dy here Having receiv'd these stygmes there He now might truly say Let no one molestation bear Gal. 6 v. 17. But readily obey Since thus with Wounds my Body 's sign'd Of my Redeemer dear Th' example which in me you find To follow do not fear To him this may be well apply'd I live Gal. 2. v. 20. thô now not I But JESUS Christ my Crucify'd Doth live and in me ly O marv'lous Man true friend of God Phil. 3. v. â— Gen. 28.12 Than Man an Angel rather Who under foot the World hast trod And mounted Jacob's ladder By Vice's hate and Virtue 's love Thou walkedst without blame And thus Poor Sinners thou didst move While here to do the same Obtain that we may imitate Thy footsteps in true Love That we may Sin as truly hate And live with thee above Those sacred Wounds he did receive Two years or thereabout Before this frail Life he did leave Which clear'd Men of all doubt For they did oftentimes appear Thô his humility Indeavour'd to conceal
grace abide And glory at our death do win Let 's all praise Christ by joynt consents Who purchast us these Sacraments Amen THE TWO TABLES AFTER SHIPWRACK BAPTISM AND PENNANCE Baptize in the Name of the Father Math. 28. v. 19. Great ships which seem to dare the seas Are oft stav'd on a Rock Which carefull Pilot might with ease Have sav'd from fatal knock If he Land mark or Beacon had With care kept in his eye In storms and tempests ere so bad He might have steered by But now alas it is too late The Ship is broke and all The goods are lost O dolefull fate That often doth befall The Negligent Now all his care Must be his life to save Since Ship is lost and all its ware Lest Sea should prove his grave And to do this he finds small hope No other ship is nigh To lend him boat or cast him rope To save his life therby Till laying hold of plank or table He passes through the waves At length finds footing firm and stable Whereby his life he saves A stately ship God once did place On this World 's dangerous waves This fraighted was with holy grace Which here from shipwack saves This ship was Man the Pilot soul â—en 4 v. 〈◊〉 Eccli 5. v. 17. His Guide was reason's light His will had power to controul And make him steer aright The crafty Pirat who did see That Man would sail secure Untill this Light extinguih't be The same did strait procure Gen. 3. v. 4. With lies he tempts and doth prevail The right way not to steer Poor man believes secure doth sail The Rock he doth not fear Gen. 2. v. 17. This Rock was the forbidden Tree Which he was not to touch If so death's prize he was to be God's Pact with him was such Gen. 3. v. 6. The devill tempts with Eve his wife He eats and fears no blame Thus sense depriv'd his soul of life And we partake the same Gen. 3. v. 15. c. 22. v. 18. Ps 131. v. 11. Math 27. v. 26. For all were lost and still had been Had not God in his love Promis'd Redemption from this sin And all guilt to remove Christ by his death did this fulfill And Sacraments ordain As helps for us to do his will And favours here obtain Of these Baptism and Pennance are Those which we Tables call Ordain'd our losses to repair And save us after fall Rom. 5. v. 12. Gen. 3. v. 19. The first shipwrack that Men sustain'd Was by Origînall Sin From this by death Christ them regain'd Or else all damn'd had been Thô Christ from pains of Hell did save Rom. 5. v. 8 9.10 Io 3. v. 5. By shedding of his Bloud Yet joys of Heav'n no one shall have But by Baptismall floud This Christ ordain'd that so his merit Math. 8. v. 19. Might be to Man apply'd And that he now new born in spirit Might in his grace abide Hence t is that Children christ'ned be Christ dy'd for all 2. Cor. 5. v. 16. Marc. 10. v. 14. who saith The little ones let come to me Althô they have not faith The Parents faith may here suffice As well as Parents fall Did cast them out of Paradise And purchast Hell withall When Christ'ning Font cannot be had Desire and Love supply Or else some Saints case had been bad Who did without it dy Of Baptism sev'rall sorts there be Water Love's Fire and Blood If th' first to have man is not free The other are as good The fruits of this great Sacrament Tit. 3. v. 3. Are Justifying grace The sin which we have by descent That doth our soul deface And actûall are remitted but Act. 2. v. 38. Io. 3. v. 5 Marc. 16. v. 16. Here grief is still requir'd Heav'n gates are op'ned which were shut Where 's all can be desir'd After this Sacrament receav'd Esay 59. v. 2. Who in great sin doth fall His soul of this grace hath bereav'd Rom. 6. v. 25. And purchast Hell withall This second shipwrack we do name From which the soul to save Hebr. 6. v. 4.5.6 No one can twice baptize the same What help then can he have Our mercifull Redeemer hath Left us a second Table Which joyned with a perfect Faith Grace to restore is able This Sacrament of Pennance is The soul's security Which if the soul doth willing miss It 's lost eternally THE SECOND PART OF PENNANCE Whose sins you remit they are remitted Jo. 2â— v. 23. CHrist Math. 9. v. 13. who came sinners frail to save As we read in Saint John Io. 20. v. 23. Absolving Pow'r in his Church gave And this to Priest alone Ibid. Whose sins on Earth you do remit And whose you do retain The first in Heav'n I also quit The other shall remain We sin in thought in word or deed All sin comes from these three Three ways to satisfy there 's need That sin remitted be So Pennance that 's the Sacrament Contains a triple part Confess the fault I am 5. v. 16. Math. 5. v. 25. the wrong'd content With sorrow from the heart 2. Cor. v. 10. These three when as they perfect be And joyn'd with Absolution As Sacrament impart to thee Of grace a distribution Where God is reconcil'd again To thee in perfect love From Hell thou' rt freed and dost remain God's Heir to Heav'n above Let no one here this doubt admit Suggested by his foe How can this Pennance small acquit Of sin when all men Know Sin doth deserve Eternall pains And what proportion's this Pennance is but while life remains And that for ever is It 's true Math. 5. v. 27. God's Justice seeks severe Proportion to the debt And these two equall ballanc't were Ps 84. v. 11. When Mercy Justice met That was when Christ Man to regain Upon the Cross did dy This Sacrament he did ordain His merits to apply To sinfull soul that 's gone astray And Baptism doth the same Let none deny then but man may Remit sin in Christ's name Iohn 20. v. 23. If you believe Christ's God and Man Believe he cannot ly And by this Sacrament he can His Justice satisfy And thô Christ's merits did supply Our inability Think not because he once did dy You are so quit and free Luk. 13. v. 3. Rom. 2. v. 6. That you may Pennance now neglect And good works set apart As thô our saviour would protect A wicked sinfull heart No Christ will not encourage Sin Ps 44. v. 8. Heb. 1. v. 9. Which odious is to God Be sure if you do fall therein You 'l feel his scourging rod. Luk. 13. v. 3. Except in heart you do repent And as Christ hath ordain'd Make use of Pennance Sacrament Where pardon is obtain'd First see that you true sorrow have For sins you have committed Your soul you can't without this save Nor of sin be acquitted To have this
take that course But since no want of Men we have Our great God when he Man became Of single Life example gave Mat. 19. v. 12. Exhorting us unto the same Yet since a single Life to live Is hard 1. Cor. 7. v. 25. now Nature's prone to ill Command of this he would not give But left all men to their free will He did commend those who for Heaven Mat. 19. v. 12. Themselves on Earth did Eunuchs make To whom a speciall glory 's given He that can take it let him take Saint Paul saith of Virginity I have no Precept yet do give This counsell If you will be free From many cares chast like me 1. Cor. 7. v 32. live Wedlock is good but Single Life Is better v. 38. Wedlock trouble brings v. 34. The Virgin 's void of Worldly strife Wedded unto the King of Kings This Virtue is Angelicall The Angels live in purity But Men Since their First Parents Fall Gen. 6.2 v. 12. Inclined are to Luxury Virginity like God doth make Who all impurity doth Fly By Luxury men do partake With Brutes in Bestiality This Virtue is to Flesh and bloud So hard that till the Law of grace It was by few right understood Virginity few did embrace Yet Some there were the Same approv'd Elias single Life embrac't For which he was by God remov'd From Men in fiery Chariot plac't Among the Gentils 't is recorded The Sibyls Kept Virginity 4. King 2. v. 11. For which they were by God rewarded With the rare Gift of Prophesy Foretelling Christ's Nativity Who was all Mankind to redeem Since God rewards Virginity What Man will not the same esteem When God descended from above Took Flesh and so became our Brother To shew how much he this did love Luk. 2◠v. 27. Io. 19. v. 27. He chose a Virgin for his Mother And when upon the Cross he dy'd His Mother to a Virgin gave Saint John who while she did abide Took care of her unto the grave And now to Heav'n he is ascended This his beloved Virgin says Revel 14. v. 4. By Troops of Virgins he 's attended Who follow him the Lamb always By all this you may plainly see That those who pure and chast live here Above the rest beloved be And with him always do appear If you hereafter would be great While here on Earth a Virgin live That you with Virgins may have seat To Whom Christ doth a Garland give But if it chance you wedded be Gen. 6. v. 3. Abstain from all unlawfull Lust For lustfull Men shall never see The Face of God as 't is but just For he doth Heav'n and God contemn For Flesh-delights and Carnall Love And God to Hell will him condemn Gal. 5. v. 19.21 Nêre to possess true joys above As he lov'd Flesh-Concupiscence In fire of Lust took his delight In fire he shall make recompence With Dev'ls condemn'd which is his right This Vice of Lust doth so deface The soul consenting to the same That it falls wholly in disgrace With God who for it Man became My Spir't Gen. 6. v. 3. said God shall not abide In Man because he 's Flesh that is The Flesh his soul doth wholly guide Still leading it to what 's amiss Young Men and all who single are And you who are in wedded state Rom. 13. v. 13. The Vice of Luxury beware This sin of all sins truly hate Eph 4. v. 18. For this doth so much Reason blind The sense doth seem to govern all That by their lives v. 19. if you 'l but mind Not Men but Beasts you may them call Men who are in just Wedlock ty'd 1. Thess 4. v. 5. May not enjoy all sort of pleasure They always carefull must abide Lest they lose grace the soul's great Treasure They are not to all actions free Nor to all words or lustfull thought Many of these may sinfull be As by our Reason we are taught To keep true Purity of mind Men still must be upon their guard Rebellious motions when they find They must suppress thô it he hard The best way is th' occasion fly Eccli 5. v. 27. Avoid the Obiects which do move The Touch the Tongue the Ear the Eye And what the sense is prone to love The Eye 's the casement of the soul The Ear 's the door that lets all in The Touch with Lust inflames the whole The Tongue doth strongly tempt to sin If sense and Member you 'l not check But yield to their unjust desire The Devill hath you at his beck With Lust to set your Heart on fire David we read did Sin contract By cast of eye on Bersabee 2. King 11. v. 2.4 This to prevent Job made compact With 's eyes Iob. 31. v. 1. Eccli 13. v. 1. lest they should Virgin see If you touch pitch it will defile So when you touch a femall kind Sense doth the Soul of grace beguile Corrupting thus the chastest mind Words have great force and tempting are Since they the state of mind express Mat. 12. v 34. Of Toungue in all your ways take care Lest it plunge Soul in wickedness And Since by Ear the word doth move The Heart and taketh lodging there Which blows the Fire of Carnall Love ' Gainst words unchast still stop your Ear. Eccli 28. v. 28. These counsells take and always pray To God for Purity of mind Wisd 8. v. 21. That Flesh the Spirit may obey That he may lodging in you find Who doth delight in the chast Soul His Spirit there doth take its rest 1 Cor. 6. v. 19. From sinfull wounds to keep it whole How much is chast and clean Heart blest Dear Authour of all Purity Sweet JESUS born of Mother-maid Grant that with all sincerity I may acknowledge what is said And also use my best endeavour To keep my Soul and Body pure That I may live with thee for ever Mat. 5 v. 8 Reu. 14 v. 4. In joys which always shall endure Amen DO PENNANCE Or you shall all perish Luc 13. v. 5. THrice happy state that Man was in Before he had committed Sin Lord-like on Earth he did all sway Gen. 1. v. 28. All Creatures were him to obey Delightfull fruits the Earth did yield v. 11. With pleasant Flow'rs in ev'ry field There was no need of spade or plow No labour care or sweat of brow The Air was always temperate No piercing cold or parching heat No change of weather Man did fear 'T was pleasant Spring-time all the year Gen. 2. v. 8. There was no Sickness or Disease Nothing could hurt but all did please If strength decay'd or youth did fade By th' Tree of Life all new was made v. 9. So Man Wisd 2. v. 23. thô Mortall nere had dy'd But here in pleasure was t' abide Till God to joys had him translated In Heav'n for which he was
Sara to expell Pray'r's good v. 8. said Raph'ël When 't conjoyns Fasting and Alms it Mercy finds Elias pray'd it might not rain 3. king 17. v. 1. c. 18. v. 45. And no rain did for three years fall He pray'd that it might rain again Sweet showr's fell down reviving all By Pray'r the Heav'ns did ope and shut As thô all pow'r in Pray'r were put Stout Josue's victorious hand Fighting he fear'd th' approaching night Iosue 10. v. 12.13 By Pray'r commands the Sun to stand It stood and gave him more day-light No wonder Creatures Pray'r obey Since the Creatour it did sway The Jews in Desart of 't rebell'd And God to Anger did provoke But Moyse's Pray'r his hands fast held From giving the Revenging stroke Permit my Anger God did say Exod. 32. v. 10.11 Which is restrain'd while thou dost pray Behold the force of fervent Prayer Attended with due circumstance All losses past it doth repair The Soul in grace it doth advance Untill by Love she doth God joyn 1. Io. 4. v. 16. And thus in him become divine In all temptations still be sure To use this Buckler of Defence As Bull-work this will you secure From Dev'ls and your great God's offence Lest in temptation you should fall Mat. 26. v. 41. By Pray'r upon your Father call And as the Dev'l doth go about Still watching whom he may devour 1. Pet. 5. v. 8. So saith S. Paul still pray devout That God will free you from his power 1. Tessal 5. v. 17. He doth not mean that you shall be Always in Pray'r upon your knee All men may follow their Vocation As he declares 1. Cor. 7. v. 20. but then be sure You have in it communication With God by word and thought most pure Colos 3. v. 17. Do what you do in the Lords Name Then this with Pray'r will be the same Thus who 's at work or in the Quire Will still be praying in effect Off'ring their hearts with pure desire To God that he may them protect Thus they 'l remain without all fear Of Satans snares while they live here And at their Deaths they 'l surely find God present helping in that hour If they by Pray'r will him remind He will protect them by his power And take their Soul still to remain In joys By Pray'r this you obtain Amen OUR FATHER When you pray pray thus Our Father Math. 6. v. 10. WHen God came down our Flesh to take Io. 3. v. 17. Mat. 11. v. 29. Two reasons mov'd him thereunto That he might dy for poor Man's sake And also teach him what to do For Men by Sin were grown so blind That Virtues path they could not find Christ did not then as formerly Command men this and that to do Threatning if not Exod. 21 v. 12.16.17 Act. 1. v. 1. they sure should dy In Virtues path he first did go Christ by Example first did teach And then he did begin to preach This is the best of ways in teaching When deeds the words associate It far excells all other preaching And brings a man to imitate Luk 6. v. 12. Christ day and night did often pray And afterwards taught us the way Son Eccli 18. v. 23. saith the Wise before you pray Prepare your heart tempt not the Lord All worldly cares cast clear away Let tongue and mind in Pray'r accord With revêrence still your Pray'r begin v. 23. Lest that it should be turn'd to sin The like Christ teacheth in this Pray'r By Preface which doth us remind Our thoughts to Heaven must repair If any favour we will find These words do also chear the heart Our Father which in Heaven art Christ doth call God our Father here For he to us a Being gave And names himself our Brother dear Who took our Flesh our Souls to save Tell my dear Brothers Io. 20. v. 17. I intend To God our Father to ascend What can give greater confidence That we shall gain our just desire Thô't were release of great offence Since we of Father it require Luk. 15. v. 20. The Father spend-thrift did receive The like he 'l do when Sin we leave This also doth our Hope increase That Christ God's Son our Brother is Who thô in Heav'n Rom. 3. v. 34. doth never cease To mediate for what 's amiss O Father life for all I gave Those who return receive and save Thus b'ing incourag'd humbly kneel Before your God prepar'd in heart And whensoever you do feel That he good motions doth impart Be sure you do them prosecute That they in time may bring forth fruit Then Cross your self say In the Name Of Father Son and Holy Ghost The Devils tremble at the same It guards you from that Hellish Host It shews one God and Persons three That God made Man dy'd on the Tree Thus arm'd with faith devoutly say Our Father which in Heaven art And also with Devotion pray Iam. 1. v. 5. That he will grace to you impart Then make this sevênfold great request Which of all Prayers is the best Hallowed be thy Name alway Of all Requests first let this be That all may honour and obey God their Creatour one and three Exod 33. v. 20. But since none can see him and live To his blest Name this honour give Thy Kingdom come God's pleas'd to say Revel 21. v. 3. Prov. 8 v. 31. With Men my Tabernacle is I take delight with them to stay And guide them to Eternall bliss For their sakes I took flesh and dy'd Mat. 28. v. 20. And still on Earth with them abide O let him reign in you by love Let his Loves Scepter in you sway By sinfull Act him nêre remove Isai 59. v. 2. Wisd 1 v. 3.4 Like Subject true his Word obey Thy Kingdom come Lord govern here My Heart keep in thy love and fear Thy Kingdom come Lord grant to me That while I live I do thy Will That I may thy Disciple be Mat. 25. v 41. v. 34. And pleasure in all things fulfill That I may scape thy dreadfull frown And hear come blest receive a Crown Thy Will be done for that is best In Earth as 't is in Heaven still What êre befalls still quiet rest Iob. 1.21 1 King 3. v. 18. Conforming to his pleasing Will. What you command O God or send Let me subscribe to to the end Gen. 4. v 7. Mat 23. v. 37. God given hath Free-will to man Which Lady-like doth domineer Reject accept at list she can She governs Flesh while she is here Water's before thee set Eccli 5. v. 17. and Fire To choose what 's best be sure aspire But since our Reason is so blind That oft it knows not what is best And will to Flesh is so inclin'd It yields to Flesh and Bloud 's Request Beg God to work in you his will That like the Saints you do it
side Yet all these pardon'd were What greater sins can you conceive Or more ungrate full Men Yet those when they did evill leave And did return agen With tears of Eyes Ioel. 2. v. 12. and grief of heart With hope and Faith conjoyn'd By fervent Pray'r and Pennance smart v. 13. To Mercy God inclin'd Who did receive them in his love And grace on them bestow Ezech. 18 v. 22. Rom. 5. v. 20. The guilt of sin he did remove Where Vice now Virtues grow Thus they with many more became Great Saints and reign above Remitted sins Luk 7. v. 47. increase the flame Of Gratitude and Love If any sin he 'l not forgive It 's that which you are in Despairing Mercy 1. Io. 5. v. 16. Ier. 18. v. 12.13 while you live The greatest of all sin By this you do deny in him Ps 144. v. 9. Eph. 4. v. 19. His greatest Attribute Which leads the soul unto Hell's brim Despair's accursed fruit God's Mercy 's greater than Man's Sin So is the Price Christ gave Upon the Cross his Soul to win And from Damnation save Put trust in God Ps 90. v. 14.15 and in the merit Of Christ thy Saviour dear Leave Sin Ezech. 18. v. 32. by Faith raise up your spirit And pardon never fear Des I grant all 's true that you do say But yet this Mercy I Who Sinner am know not the way To gain or to apply Christ's merits to my Soul I fear Prov. 28. v. 9. While J'm in state of Sin My sighs and Pray'rs God will not hear This oft hath proved been Hope That is while Heart remains perverse Ready to sin again Eccli 34. v. 31. But when Man grieves his sinfull course And doth from sin refrain By Sacraments let him apply Christ's merit to his soul Christ promis't who can never ly Io. 20. v. 23. That he will make it whole Desp Sweet Hope Rom. 8. v. 24. which dost to Heav'n bring Your Convert I will be Dev'lish Despair away I 'le fling And hearken unto thee I 'le weep I 'le grievee I 'le leave all sin By Sacraments will I God's Mercy seek his grace to win Eccli 2. v. 11. And thus in Hope will dy Amen OF DEATH Remember thy last Ends and thou wilt not sin for ever Eccl. 7. v. 40. It is appointed for all men once to dy Hebr. 9. v. 27. THe soul of Man since Adam's fall Eph. 4. v. 18 19. Is so obscur'd by Flesh and Bloud The senses seem to govern all As if the soul nought understood Men to this life do so attend They little think upon their End The whole Earth sayeth Jeremy Ier. 12. v. 11. With desolation's desolate And he declares the reason why That we may mend before too late No one considers deep in heart That from this life he must depart Much less 2. Cor. 5. v. 10. that he account must give Of all what ever he hath done And that he must for ever live In joys or sorrow when he 's gone This want of true consideration Is chiefest cause of Man's damnation The Wiseman therfore doth advise That in your ways you mindfull are Of your last things Eccli 7. v 40. thus you 'l be wise And for a happy death prepare You 'l never sin or do amiss While this your Meditation is What is grim Death in picture made With Dead-Man's skull and standing by Hour-glass with crooked Sithe and spade Arm and Leg-bones that cross do ly Death nothing is but Life's privation The soul and Body's separation But yet how sad that hour will prove When Flesh and soul must separate Which were so firmly joyn'd in love No tongue is able to relate S. Denis Ps 54. v. 5. Among all other dreadfull things That day to Man most terrour brings That puts an end to carnall pleasures Which then to Soul cause bitter grief That separates from Worldly treasures Luk. 12. v. 20. Which then afford men no relief That parts from Children Wife and Friend To Worldly joys that puts an end That quells the spirit of the proud And stubborn disobedient heart That makes the Sinner cry aloud His guilty Soul 's loath to depart Wealth honour Pow'r will not prevail When Death arrests he takes no Bail Your Life to mend he 'l grant no space But to the Judge your Soul present Where bribes or friendship find no place To late 't will be then to repent Eccl. 11. v. 3. As at that hour you 're found to be So you 'l be for Eternity Delights and Pleasures wanton Love Which were before your heart 's content In that most dreadfull hour Wisd 5. v. 3. will prove Grief to your Soul which will lament To think how for these pleasing toys She is depriv'd of reall joys Those then will pass and leave behind A strict account for her to make Why she let them possess her mind And Pleasure with the Flesh did take Since she was made for joys above And to contemn all Carnall Love Then Glory Honour Power Wealth In which vain Men do put their trust Youth Beauty Valour Courage Health Will all be buried in the dust That Man will vile to God appear Who seem'd so great and glorious here Eccls. 1 v. 8. All these you 'l own then to be vain On which before you plac't your love Despairing then you will remain To think upon your God above How he will justly you condemn Who did for these his Laws contemn Ps 33. v. 22. O dreadfull day to wicked Soul Which here in body did neglect Her sense and passions to controul And crooked Nature to correct Still yielding with depraved will Her Flesh-desires here to fulfill Whereas in Body she was plac't Corrupted Nature to restrain And what she found in it defac't By grace and Virtue to regain But she let senses govern all By which the Dev'l procur'd her fall Mat. 25. v 7. The Prudent Virgins imitate With oyl in Lamp prepar'd remain Not with the foolish v. 8. when too late To seek v. 10. and knock but all in vain The gate is shut you are forgot The Bride-groom says v. 12. I know you not Have oyl of works in Lamps of Faith ' Gainst midnight-Death â—â—â—l 5.6 â—â—â—m 2. 〈◊〉 4.24 thus ready stand And glory not as scripture saith In Faith alone lest Spouse command You Ecâ—â—â—â—â—at 22. v. v. 12.13 not adorn'd with works to ly In fire yet dark and nêre to dy Take warning then before too late Deut. 32. v. 29. And that your life you may amend On your departure meditate That Worldly pleasures will have end That Riches you must leave behind Which will at Death perplex the mind O Death Eccli 41. v. 1. how bitter is the thought Of thee to those who do possess Peace in their Riches which have brought Their Soul to Sin and Wickedness To leave their
evill This lesser Light was Magdalen To Moon compar'd and she Was once Eclips't by Sin and thus Did not the danger see For as the Moon from Sun hath light So when the Earth's between The Moon 's obscur'd because she is By Sun no longer seen So God the Light of Mary's Soul By earthly Carnall Love Was parted from her and through Sin Did grace's light remove But when the Sun of Justice rose Malac. 4. v 1. Luk. 1. v. 78. And in this World appear'd With Mercy he did her behold And from Sin 's darkness clear'd And set her up a Light to be To all in sinfull state That they by her example might Repent before too late And never more return to Sin But perfectly Christ joyn As she did after lead on Earth A pure Life and divine No one of Pardon may despair Or to recover grace Since Magdalen a Sinner great In glory hath a place Althô their Night be perfect dark And danger great appears When this full Moon reflects her light 'T will free the heart from fears For thô the first part of her life With Sin was dark as Night The other part Moon-like doth give To Sinners guiding light Which if they follow it will bring Them out of darksom Sin To Christ the Sun of Justice bright A new life to begin Saint Luke c. 7. v. 37. who her Conversion writ Calls her the City-Sinner Who touch't with sorrow ran to Christ v. 36. Where he was sat at dinner Who Mark 16 v. 9. as Saint Mark affirms did cast Out of her seaven Devills For she had been addicted much Unto all sorts of evills Saint Gregory doth call these Devills The seaven Deadly Sins To which she long time slave had been But now her freedom wins And now Rom. 5. v. 20. where Sin did once abound Grace also doth abound She makes Vice Virtue 's Instrument She Pardon sought and found On Sin she once had plac't her love To Christ she now it gave Love was her Death Love was her Life Thus freed was Sathan's Slave Her Senses and her Members too Which she to Sin did use She now makes Instruments to grace And forth her Pardon sues Her Ears which unto lewd discourse Before were wholly bent She now lends to Christ's words most sweet Which made her heart relent Her Feet which ran before to sin She doth imploy to find Her now beloved and dear Lord That she may ease her mind And hearing where at Meat he sat Luk. 7. v. 37. She boldly did appear And feared not expell'd to be 1. Io. 4. v. 18. Love had expell'd and Fear She who did use to take first place Now humbly stands behind Her Lord and with tears in her Eyes Luk 7. v. 38. Unto his Feet inclin'd Those Eyes which with their wanton looks Lament 3. v. 51. Of Grace had robb'd her soul Shed Floud which wash't her Saviours Feet Who was to make her whole Her golden Locks which had inslav'd Poor souls in Cupid's snare Luk 7. v. 38. To wipe the Feet of her dear Lord She us'd as Towell rare Her Lips which had sin's poyson suck't And plac't it in her Heart v. 38. Continu'd kissing Christ's chast Feet And from them would not part Untill she had on them pour'd forth Her oyntments rich and sweet Which caus'd her Lord most mercifull With Mercy her to greet Woman v. 50. thy sins I do remit Go homeward now repair Because thou lovest much v. 47. thy sins Thô many pard'ned are What Joy these words did cause in her No Tongue can well express Nor Heart conceive except her own It was to that excess Learn here Poor Soul of Magdalen How to return to God To free thy self from Sin 's great load And Justice heavy Rod. First Ear give unto Gospel word Inspir'd or taught by Tongue With Mary run thy Lord to seek And Pennance not prolong Hate Sin love JESUS and declare The Sorrow that 's within By outward Tears prest from the Heart Through thy deep sense of Sin Imploy thy hair that is thy goods Christ's Feet the Poor to feed Tob. 12. v. 9. Fear not but Alms will thee relieve And help in time of need Pour forth thy oyntments that 's cast out True Virtue 's fragrant Smell Which will raise up thy Soul above In Heav'nly Joys to dwell Give Kiss of Peace to Christ that is Hate Sin commit no more And Christ will thee his Blessing give Luk. 7. v. 50. And Peace to thee restore Grant JESU that we Magdalen's Steps of Repentance trace And as we follow'd her in Sin May follow her to grace Dear Magdalen for JESU'S sake Pray unto him for me That in this life in all distress My Helper thou maist be THE SECOND PART Containing her life after her conversion unto Christ's Ascension BEhold the change of Mary's Life Which first to Sin was bent In service of her Master dear Was after wholly spent We never read she sinn'd again But follow'd her dear Lord Administring to him Mark 15. v. 41. Luk 10. v. 39. and his Attending to his word Luk. 10. v. 39. v. 40. Which sitting at his Feet to hear Her Sister did complain Of her as idle but her Lord Would have her there remain Say'ng Martha thou art busy'd much v. 41. And dost declare thy Heart Dressing my Meat but Mary here v. 42. Hath chose the better part Her brother being sick she sent Io. 11. v. 3. To let Christ know the same Say'ing whom thou lov'st is sick and he v. 7. With his Disciples came She met him and as she did use v. 32. Fell down before his Feet With Kisses from a loving Heart She did her dear Lord greet Where she renew'd her Tears again And so much did lament That Christ shed Tears with her v. 35. and thence Unto the Grave he went Say'ng Lazarus arise v 43. come forth He rose up suddenly To the great joy of sisters both And all the standers by Dear Mary shed these tears for me That I in Bliss may rest Since they prevail'd with God to weep And grant thee thy request In gratitude before Christ's Death She brought rich ointments Io. 12. v. 3. v. 5. worth Three hundred pence and as he sat On 's Head she pour'd them forth At this the Traytor Judas griev'd And said v. 4. Mark 14. v. 4. why this excess What she deem'd little he thought much Who priz'd his Master less Mat. 26. v. 15. When he sold him for thirty pence O Judas tell me why Thou didst not ask her who 'ld give more Before her Lord should dy When Christ was nail'd unto the Cross And all his friends were fled Io. 19. v. 25. Mary stood constant weeping by With sorrow almost dead When dead she help't to take him down And in the Tomb to lay Then marking well the Tomb Mark 15. v. 47.
or deed or childish hiss He 'l suffer nothing for past sin Nor Cross abide for Glory's gain New Sins he dayly doth run in Good counsel 's given him in vain Hate Fury then as Enemy To grace Iam 1. v. 20. and Virtue of the Soul Your Will in all things still deny All Passions thus you will controul Believe there 's nothing comes by chance Prov 46. v. 33. But God permits it for your good Thus what befalls will still advance This Virtue rightly understood When God afflicts think not he hates But Check the Passions of your Mind For suff'rings open Heaven gates Where you Rewards for them shall find Whom God doth love he doth chastise Heb. 12. v. 6. There are two reasons for the same Learn these and you 'l be truly wise Receiving all in 's holy Name First Father-like he doth correct When you in any thing offend That for your evill being checkt You after may your life amend And for your past Sins satisfy His Justice while you here remain So reconcil'd to him hereby Lost Grace and Glory you 'l regain Next thô you were no Sinner great Yet God doth oftentimes afflict And place with Job on Dung-hill Seat Iob. 2. v. 8. Obliging unto Pennance strict That he may thus your Patience try And here your Soul with Grace may fill And give you Glory when you dy For Resignation to his Will Here you the fruits of Patience see How advantagious 't is to soul From future suffrings it sets free From Sins dread wound it Keeps you whole Iam. 1. v. 4. It merits Grace while you are here And when at Judgment you shall stand The loss of Heav'n you will not fear Math. 5. v. 4. Since Meek and Mild possess the Land If therfore any Cross befall Take it as from God's holy hand And say Thy Will be done in all ' Gainst Anger always ready stand The Lord doth give Iob. 1. v. 21. the Lord doth take The Lord 's most holy Name be blest With thanks and Patience for his sake Your Cross receive then you 'l find rest Prov. 16. v. 32. Thrice happy is the Patient Man Who doth his Soul thus full possess Prov. 15. v. 8. To Anger nothing move him can Or with vain grief his Heart oppress So that on Earth he hath begun His Heav'n Ps 9. v. 19. and is assur'd of this He shall when here his glass is run With God live in Eternall bliss To JESUS dear all Honour be who patiently dy'd on the Cross Lamb-like he suffer'd Ier. 11. v. 19. us to free From Hell and Heav'ns eternall loss Dear JESUS grant for thy love's sake That while on Earth we here do live We chearfully may Crosses take That Joys Eternall thou mayst give Amen OF OBEDIENCE Obedience is better then Sacrifice Eccl. 4. v. 17. MAn's Reason dictates that t' obey Is Nature's obligation By which our duty we do pay To God for our Creation Dumb Brutes and Creatures void of sense Do teach the very same The Vice of Disobedience First from the Devill came All Creatures tend to do God's Will By nat'rall Inclination That Man might not the same fullfill The Devill by Temptation Prevail'd and thus made him abuse Gen. 4. v. 7. Eccli 15. v. 17. The Freedom of his will Which God did give him to refuse And fly from what is ill When Christ this World did leave he gave Act. 20. v. 28. Heb. 13. v. 17. Us Pastors to obey Which are his Flock to guide and save Lest they should go astray Those who hear you Luk 10. v. 16. the same hear me And those who you contemn Do me despise and Rebels be And such I shall condemn The Church to slight and not to hear Math. 18. v. 17. Is Excommunication Pronounc'd by Christ and 't is most clear Unto the souls Damnation Io. 16. v 13. To hear the Church is most secure Which God doth still direct 1. Tim. 3. v. 15. Which is of Truth a Pillar sure All Errours to detect As we are bound by our Creation God's pleasure to fullfill Eph 6. v. 1. Eccli 3. v. 8. So we are bound by Generation To do our Parents will That 's when their will doth not gainsay God our Creatour's will Whom we must honour and obey Above the Creature still But next to God Exod. 20. v. 12. Deut. 5. v. 16. Eccli 3. v 15. we them must fear Love honour respect Relieve their wants while they are here And gratefully reflect What care and pains they underwent In our past Infancy v. 14. And still endeavour their content Or else we guilty be That Men on Earth might quiet live In Peace and Unity God unto them a King did give 1. King 8. v. 22. Approving Monarchy Commanding them still to obey Him honour love and fear 1. Pet. 2. v. 17. Math. 22. v. 21. And to him their just Tribute pay As his Vice-gerent here Kings sacred are by God appointed To whom we must submit Ps 104. v. 15. Not daring to touch his Anointed Who on his Throne do sit To Rule and Govern here below The wicked to correct Rom. 13. v. 4. And on the good Rewards bestow And Father-like Protect If they should not do what is right v. 2. We may not yet rebell To seek our due by Arms and Might v. 2. Directly leads to Hell We patiently must all endure And humbly dayly pray That God from sin will us secure And guide them in the way 1. Cor. 7. v. 3. A mutuall Obedience 'Twixt Man and Wife is due There 's little danger of offence Where Faith and Love are true Eph. 5. v. 23. Let wife remember Man's her Head To honour and obey 1. Cor. 7. v. 39. Which Tye doth last till she be dead Or God takes him away When you your selves do servants make To Masters here on Earth And for your service Wages take Thô they should be by birth Inferiour Colos 3. v. 22. yet you must obey Them in their just desire And never what 's their will gainsay This Justice doth require You servants saith Saint Paul Eph. ◠v. 5. be sure You faithfully fullfill Your work while service you endure Perform your Masters will v. 6. 7. Colos 3. v. 24. Do not your service to the eye But serve as to the Lord That you God's grace may gain thereby 1. Io. 3. v. 18. Let words and deeds accord Let Masters Kings Colos 4. v. 1. and Prelates know They Master have above Who Power did on them bestow Their subjects to improve Heb. 13. v. 17. To whom account they once must render How they have govern'd here If they their subjects good did tender And taught God's Love and Fear You see that God ordain'd that all Shall in Obedience live That they may be secure from fall And him Just Tribute give For
proper Judgment and self-will ' Gainst God do oft rebell And are the Authors of all ill And plunge the Soul in Hell Saint Austin saith that nothing burns In Hell but Man's self-will Who this denies and humbly learns His Master 's to fullfill By his Obedience is secure Where no Sin is intended Colos 3. v. 24. And of Rewards from God is sure When this short life is ended But who Superiours disobey And slight their just desires Will be condemn'd Colos 3. v. 25. in th'latter day Unto Eternall fires Rom. 13. v. 1. For as all Power is from God So those who it resist v. 2. Shall surely feel his scourging Rod If they in it persist The World would in confusion be Without state-government The like in Church you soon would see If Laws did not prevent Except on Earth men had a Law To govern them thereby Of no one they would stand in aâ—â— But set up Anarchy What is the cause of Heresy Eccli 10. v. 14. But disobedient Pride Men will not on the Church rely Iud. 1. v. 18. But take themselves for Guide And thus they into errours run And stubbornly defend The Heresy they have begun Mat. 1â— v. 17. Untill they are condemn'd Rebellion also is a Child Of disobedient Heart Those men who are with this defil'd From God's just Law depart ' Gainst God and Man they do rebell Whom God doth reprobate Thus headlong they run on to Hell Repenting when too late Hence Murders Rapes hence Fire and sword This lays all desolate This brings to slight God and his Word New Doctrins to create Rev. 12. v. 7. v. 9. As Lucifer rebelling fought And into Hell was cast So those who have Rebellion taught Will perish at the last Exod. 20. v. 12. Long life is promis't unto those Who Parents do obey But death their eyes shall sooner close Who do not duty pay Where Father blesseth Eccli 13. v. 11. without doubt God blessing doth bestow v. 11. When Mothers Curses do root out Whole Families we know Here we do see the sad effects Of this unnat'rall Vice The stubborn Heart God nêre directs Take then Saint Paul's advice Rom. 13. v. 5. To higher Powers subject be And this for Conscience sake Thus from God's Curse you will be free And happy end will make For since all sinfull acts proceed From disobedient will Deny your will and you 'l be freed From Sin and God's fullfill Hence that our own wills we submit The Scriptures do advise 1. King 15. v. 22. Affirming that the same to quit Excells our Sacrifice By word and deed Luk. 2. v. 51. Christ taught the same His Mother still obeying And to Saint Joseph bearing name Of Father duty paying I came not here Iob. 6. v. 38. by Father sent To seek and do my will But mine while here is always bent His pleasure to fullfill Christ full of grief in bloudy sweat Math. 26. v. 44. Desirous to be quit Three times his Prayer did repeat Yet always did submit Father not mine Luk. 22. v. 42. but thy blest will Be now and ever don To imitate be ready still This most obedient son Since Christ as Man would subject be And his own will deny Thô it were good much less ought we On self-will to rely Gen. â— v. 21. For since our will to Sin is prone And from the Truth to slide It 's dangerous to act alone Much safer with a Guide We read that Abrâm to fullfill God's pleasure and command Gen. 22. v. 10. Was ready on the Mount to kill His son with his own hand This so pleas'd God above the rest He promis'd v. 18. in his seed All Generations should be blest By Christ from Devill freed God doth esteem Free-wills submission Above all Sacrifice Conjoyned with the Hearts Contrition For from the Heart arise All human actions then give this And you give all you have And you can never do amiss But Soul at Death will save Except to God you give your Will No Sacrifice is gratefull Thô you should fast and pray yet still Your Works are to him hatefull The People pleaded they had fasted Esai 58. v. 3. The Prophet answer'd well Your self-Will with your Fast still lasted Which brings the Soul to Hell Let all men be while here they live Obedient to Superious And also never let them give Rom. 12. v. 10. Affront to their Inferiours Thus Pride of Heart will be subdu'd And self-Will overthrown The Soul with grace will be indu'd And made with God all one Dear JESUS Phil. 2. v. 8. since Obedience laid Thee dead upon the Tree And thus for Disobedience paid We humbly beg of Thee Math. 16. v. 24. Luk 9. v. v. 23. That we may be obedient still And our own will deny Conforming to thy blessed will That we may never dy Amen OF POVERTY AND THE CONTRARY Blessed are you poor for yours is the Kingdom of God Luke 6. v. 20. IF Cicero the Eloquent Or Aristotle that great Wit Had taught or Angel hither sent In golden letters had this writ The Poor are blest they 'd not have gain'd Disciples but alone remain'd For since Dame Nature this doth teach To lay up for a Winters day It had been vain for them to preach The contrary or to gainsay The Emmets Prov. 6. v. 6.8 who in summer hide Corn and for Winter do provide And since God's greatest friends on Earth With riches were by him rewarded This Doctrine had dy'd in its birth And never would have been recorded Than Rich the Poor more happy are Such new Divines men would beware Iob. 1. v. 3. Gen 12. v. 7. c. 22. v. 17. Was not just Job with riches fraught And Abrâm promis't Chanaan's Land The Israëlites from want were brought Through Desart by God's mighty hand And to a rich Land Iosue 3. v. 17. which did flow With Milk and Honey they did go While Adam's Sin had men enslav'd And light of Reason had so blinded Eph. 4 v. 18.19 That they like Beasts themselves behav'd And future joys but little minded They follow'd what did please the sense And little thought of going hence Or that they had à Soul to save Denying th'Immortality Thereof but when Flesh to the Grave Did go the Soul did also dy This made them seek their Heaven here And nothing more than Want to fear And our good God did so comply With human frailty Man lay in That he did not immediatly Command Perfection but from Sin To keep Levit. 20. v. 22.24 and in his fear to live And he would temp'rall Blessings give Io. 1. v. 14. But when the Plenitude of Grace God's Son from Heaven did descend What did before seem vile and base He took upon him to this end That we might still convinced be What World esteems is Vanity He Flesh would take of poorest Mother In