quite Shining like glorious Lamps in worlds obscurest night This inward heate this holy heau'nly fire Most what concealed vnder ashes ly's Which one till into flames they doe respire At home more easie than aborad descry's Because it selfe within best testify's In Abraham appear'd this holy flame When as he saw his Sauiour with his eyes Who of his blessed seed long after came For Abram saw Christs day and ioyed in the same Vp Miriam vp thou merily canst sing Now through the Red Sea thou art safely past Hereby our Baptisme then prefiguring That when Repentance vs with teares hath wash't With Ioy wee Egypts Bondage of should cast But neuer did more Ioyfull musicke sound Than Dauids when he of this Ioy did tast Restore mee to those wonted Ioy 's I found And euer let thy holy Spirit in me abound Oh blessed Bridegroome of the fairest Bride How often when shee seeketh thee by night Doest thou thy Ioyfull presence from her hide That wanting shee in thee may more delight How oft againe when thou do'st her inuite Rise my belou'd and ope to mee the doore Such is her nicenesse and her sluggish sprite Shee will not rise to let thee in before Thou thence art gone And then thy losse shee doth deplore These are the apples odours nuts and wine Which comfort her when shee is sicke of Loue These Christs embraces that doe her entwine The kisses which he giues his Turtle Doue Milke spice pomegranats which shee so doth loue All these are inward Ioy 's the Bride hath here Whereof she with the Bridegroomes friends doth proue And eates and drinkes with Ioy and merry cheere Yea drinkes abundantly with her beloued deare This was the Ioy that him was set before That did endure the Crosse despise the shame And Lord of all became low naked pore Enduring death vs to excuse from blame His Martyrs and Apostles in the same Suffrings and crosses him haue followed And trode the Wine-presse as their order came Where some in scorching flames more Ioy 's haue red Than wearied Limbs could find in softest downy bed This 't was the Kingly Prophet so admir'd When loathing all worlds pompe and glory vaine He this one onely thing of God desir'd For euer in his Temple to remaine To view the Beautie of that heau'nly traine This made him leaue his purple Crowne and Throne And in a linnen Ephod dance amaine For this would Constantine be rather one Of Christ his members then the Empires head alone But why seeke I for witnesses without Since 't is the Spirit within that testify's Our Soule that without wauering or doubt With Peace of Conscience Abba Father Cry's Vnto whose Soule this Spirit eke reply's Be glad and Ioyfull I am thy saluation Be not afraid-My Grace shall thee suffice To conquer Hell And to resist temptation And yeeld the soundest Ioy in greatest tribulation I will make glad thy soule delight thine heart And with a cheerefull countenance will smile For I am thine and mine againe thou art And though afflictions here thee square and file No power in Earth or Hell shall thee beguile Of those sweet Ioy 's which are for thee prepar'd Oh tarry thou my leasure but a while And thy petitions all I will regard Delight in mee I am thy hope and iust reward Oh! who can heare these Ioyous inuitations These blessed promises and yet complaine That hee 's afraid of crosse or tribulations Oh! neuer let these worldly pleasures vaine Make me so great a looser for their gaine And let me here all worldly griefes endure Lord onely free me from eternall paine This inward Ioy shall euer me assure And on thy merits I in all will rest secure Who would not rather couet there to dwell Where fulnesse is of Ioy for euermore Than in false vaine delights which leads to Hell Voluptuous Diet flatt'rings of a Whore I rather had with Dauid keepe a dore Where inward Ioy may in my soule abound Than swim in pleasures and preferments store In Princes Courts where vaine delights are found Which like faire flowers fade and quickly fal to ground But I confesse this prouerb true I find That where Gods Church is raising there to build His Chappell is the Deuill most inclin'd And where best seed is sowne in Ground well till'd He with most tares and weeds it alway's fill'd Vaine pleasures are his tares true Ioy 's our wheate Till haruest both together grow in field Then will the Lord of Haruest surely beat The cockle from pure corne at his owne board to eate Fountaine of Ioy oh set thy whole delight Into thy Lawes and Statutes to enquire To meditate thereon both day and night My soule than Gold doth more these Ioy 's desire Let others honour wealth and wine admire Lift Lord on me thy louing countenance Thy louing fauour shall my Soule raise higher Than Princes highest fauours can aduance To heau'nly spirituall wealth not subiect vnto chance In holy Writ I many places find From whence doe flow these Ioy 's spirituall But no where faster than within my mind Oh Lord Thou know'st not I from whence they fall God of all Peace and Ioy perpetuall Let not my Ioy A temporary proue But with her in mine heart thy Graces all Infuse Faith Mercy Patience Peace and Loue To passe by things below and seeke for things aboue Of endlesse Ioy how should I make an end My Muse is neuer weary of delight Since I this Meditation did intend I neuer scarce could sleepe by day or night So doth the pleasing matter me inuite So full of rimes and so the numbers run That I in shorter time haue finish't quite This tast of Ioy than I haue earst begun Some other Graces But my hower-glasse hath done FINIS THE BRIDES ORNAMENTS Viz. Fiue Diuine and Morall MEDITATIONS 1. Prudence 2. Obedience 3. Meekenesse 4. Gods Word 5. Prayer IOB 28. 28. The feare of the Lord is wisdome and to depart from euill is vnderstanding LONDON Printed by WILLIAM STANSBY 1625. TO MY MOST TRVE WORTHY LOVING FRIEND AND dearest Brother RICHARD CRAKANTHORPE Doctor of Diuinitie and one of his Maiesties Chaplens in Ordinarie NOt Nature Order or Affinity Can Friendships sacred knot so surely tye As choice For euer there we find the ground Of Loue and Friendship most entirely sound As their Desires are like so one there end Which is to be and haue a faithfull friend I that vnto mine owne defects am conscious Of such an honour durst not be ambitious Tell thou wert pleas'd to call mee Friend and Brother I know not that thou deign'st it any other Wherefore whil'st Time Life to my Lines shall giue Our Friendships memory in them shall liue Who of true Friendship know no other end Than here to haue and bee A faithfull Friend ROBERT AYLET THE BRIDES ORNAMENTS MEDITAT I. Of WISDOME and PRVDENCE THE first degree to Wisdome is the misse Of Folly For as Darknesse the priuation Is of Lights Being But no Being is So
to lend it But least corrupt my mind or body grow with too much ease or wanton Idlenesse My mind I set my Makers Will to know His Wisedome Power Truth and Holinesse I often ride or walke to wearinesse The members of my body to subdue And Temper 'gainst Lust and Laciuiousnesse Thus by sweet contemplation oft I view Such high transcendent things as yet I neuer knew Thus rapt with contemplation I find That all these worlds-gay show's which men admire Are but vaine shadow's to the ioy 's of mind Of those that lead their liues in safe retire Whose onely happinesse and hearts desire Is here the talents God hath lent to spend Vnto his glory as he doth require And vsing Temperately what he doth send Thus grant that I may liue Thus grant that I may end MEDITAT IIII. of BOVNTIE NOw will I raise faire Alma's stately tower On Temperance her strong and soundest frame And goodly deck Dame Bounty's dainty bower Whereby all Princes gaine immortall fame Some call her Alma some her Bounty name The trusty Almner of Loues Royall Court Who beares the bag to giue to blind and lame And Suitors all that thither doe resort Rewards most bounteously and feeds in seemely sort For on this heau'nly Dame the eyes of all Looke vp that of her liberalitie They may receiue and shee againe le ts fall Vpon them needfull things most plenteously Her bounteous hand shee opens willingly With blessings eu'ry creature full to fill To those that Knowledge seeke abundantly Shee giueth Wisdome Vnderstanding Skill To know their Makers Bountie Maiestie and Will Most glorious Alma when as Temperance Controlls the noble Plentie of her Hall And with her Staffe keepes out Intemperance Which doth abuse her Grace and Bountie all For where most Plentie is there most doe fall By want of Temperance to Lust and Sin Till they be brought low as the Prodigall For he that will true Praise by Bountie win Must first of all at home with Temperance begin For Temperance with watchfull diligence Are like two springs which waters doe supply To open handed free Beneficence And her discernes from Prodigalitie By Diligence we get sufficiencie By Temperance what we haue gotten spare To minister to Liberalitie For these two Lady-Bounty's handmaids are And for her iust and truly store of wealth prepare But they that liue in sloth and foule excesse Though they may seeme to be most liberall Oppression and Extortion mercilesse Are Lakes from whence their Bounty 's streamed doe fall And thus they rob the poore that therewithall They may themselues rich friends and children feast Blaspheming their great Maker Lord of all And imitating basest sauage beast Which fawnes vpon the great But doth deuoure the least God of all Bountie King most Liberall Who to thy vassall Man at his Creation Didst subiect make Fish Fowle Beasts creatures all And of thine handy works gau'st domination Who by thy prouidence and ordination Him needfull things not onely dost prouide But for his health delight and contentation That he may plentie to the poore diuide My Muse to sing heart hands to practise Bountie guide Bountie Beneficence Benignitie In name though diuers one in substance be Beneuolence and Liberalitie Make actions and affections agree If as they are in God you wish to see They like his Goodnesse are vnlimitted And as his Mercy Loue and Grace are free Which on his creatures are abundant shed But by my shallow Muse their depth cannot be read They are too high to reach too deepe to sound For all the earth is filled therewithall In heau'n aboue Gods Goodnesse doth abound The Bountie of his Grace is ouer all Of all the Meditations which call My mind to holy Ioy and admiration None lets more comfort than Gods Bountie fall Both for my being and my preseruation But most in that he shed his bloud for my Saluation Here could I wish my Muse might euer dwell In viewing Gods great Goodnesse Bountie Loue Which three to th' holy Trinitie I well May here ascribe For Goodnesse first doth moue The Father to beget Eternall Loue From Loue and Goodnesse Bountie doth proceed Yet all these three as one in God doe proue In substance one although distinguished In working But this height my reach doth far exceed And therefore rauish't now with contemplation Beyond the compasse of my feeble eye My soule amaz'd falls downe to adoration Of this misterious holy Trinitie And from diuine come to benignitie And bountie which should be in men below A habit wee of liberalitie Her call and good affection we should show In thought heart word and deed to eu'ry one we know And must from goodnesse and true loue proceed The onely cause of true benignitie Wherefore except these be in vs indeed Our bounty is but prodigalitie Or some like froth of superfluitie The crums and leauings of Intemperance Which oft are dealt out with an euill eye More for vaine credit or base circumstance Then for goodwill or care Gods glory to aduance For eu'ry act hath then her true effect Which from true ground right aymeth at her end As when both loue and goodnesse doth direct What bounty truly gets aright to spend Loe thus doth heau'nly grace and Bounty send Her blessings temporall alike to all But doth for greater benefits intend To those that on Gods name aright doe call And in this heau'nly sort ought we be liberall Oh! then th' effects of bounty glorious are When Prouidence with true Frugality Doe seeke by Iustice to prouide and spare Fit sustenance for liberality Behold that heau'nly bounteous Maiesty Sends raine and fruitfull seasons whereby store Of Blessings th' earth may to his hand supply And many hidden treasures vp doth store For to exalt the rich and to refresh the pore Then humane bounty like her Makers is When as shee labours to doe good to all But most of all to bring poore soules to blisse And fill their hearts with food spirituall Oh Grace Diuine Bounty Angelicall With spirituall loaues in Wildernesse to feed Gods Saints when spirituall hunger them doth gal The ignorant which pine with inward need Diuine sweet comforts to their fainting soules to reade True Bounty 's knowne best by her company For shee in Truth and Mercy takes delight Faith Iustice Temperance Humility And is withall Loues graces richly dight Herein appeares her glorious heau'nly Sp'rite Shewing that shee of seed diuine is borne Of Loue and Goodnesse not of Vaine delight Or Fame and Praise of men when shee doth scorne To seeke feign'd bounteous shewes her goodnes to adorn For thus th' ambitious man is bountifull Thus belly-gods in plentie take delight Deceit with gifts his neighbour seekes to gull The couetous bribe large to conquer right From such false Bounty Truth is banish't quite Humility Faith Knowledge Temperance Nor any of Loues Graces in her sight May suffered be their ensignes to aduance There dwells Contention Pride Oppression Ignorance As daughters of the horse-leech still doe
hand Much lesse my head with Lawrell Bough adorne May I yet mine owne Passions thus command My Cost and Tilt's short of my Crop of Corne. FINIS The Authors Vow or wish at the Consecration of a Chappell newly founded by the Right Honorable WILLIAM Lord Maynard at his House in Eston in Essex LEt others heape vp Titles Lands and store Their names on earth for euer to maintaine Thou to thy house dost surer honour gaine By adding of this Consecrated Floore Where Thou and Thine may euer him adore That Proud throw's downe and Humble men doth raise Thy Father built the Palace in his day's But leaues Gods house vnto his prudent Sonne Who Numa-like now plants Religion Where Romulus the first Foundation lay's This Leauen makes the whole Lump to endure Shis Salt to Thee and Thine shall season all And gainst thy Foes shall be a Brasen Wall This shall Thee waking keepe most safe and sure And nigh this Altar thou shalt sleepe secure By this Thy Honour ay continue shall And Blessed make Thy Names memoriall Alas this worlds vaine seeming glittring Glory Is lubrike full of hazard transitory What 's built on this Foundation cannot fall So long as Sions Temple's vndefil'd The line of Dauid doth the Scepter sway But suddenly are captiue led away When Altars they with Idols had defil'd Wherefore they wise did Gods house rebuild When out of Babylon they were translated Then since Thou wisely has determinated Thine House and Honour by Gods Church to raise Hee Blissings send so long as You him praise So may both stand for ay vnruinated Be it like Sions Mount inaugurated Which is by Sions MOVNTAIGNE Consecrated The Muses Health To the Right Honourable WLLIAM Lord Maynard at the Consecration of his Chappell at Eston Lodge in Essex THis building thus adorn'd and rais'd in state Shall now be made a Chappell consecrate Embleme of Adam whom as God did rowle First vp in clay next breath'd a liuing soule So to these faire materialls preparation A Spirit shall be giuen by Consecration Not stol'n from Iupiter as ports tell Prometheus did for which he hangs in Hell Nor yet a sparke of strange or common fire Which brought on Aarons sonnes consuming ire But coales on Gods owne Altar kindled By right succession to vs fostered The sum is that the Bishop doth inspire Into this Edifice an holy fire A liuing flame which neuer shall goe out So long as they which tend it are deuout But aye thereby shall safe and quiet rest As swallowes which besides is build their nest Oh may this fire within these walls indure So long as Neptunes waues this I le immure And as from Mountaines comes that wholesome breath Which healthfull makes the Valleys all beneath So from this MONTAIGNE health come and saluation Vnto the Founder and his generation Let Prophets Priests in Prayers all combine To make this House a Blisse to Thee and Thine And when by their deuotions ioy'nd this flame Is kindled let thy Priests maintaine the same And offer vp thy prayers day and night Like fumes of Incense in th' Almighties sight Oh force vnited of a Congregation That ioyne in prayer at a Consecration With these my Muse now thine shall beare a part And whilst they pray by booke shee 'le pray by hart FINIS THE CONVERTS CONQVEST PSAL. 119. V. Ultimo I haue gone astray like a sheepe that is lost oh seeke thy seruant for I doe not forget thy Commandements LONDON Printed by WILLIAM STANSBY 1625. TO THE MOST SINCERELY RELIGIOVS AND TRVLY Vertuous Mistresse SARAH ARGAL Wife to IOHN ARGAL of Badew Esquire LEast I be deem'd a thiefe I will disclose I turn'd to Verse what you gaue me in Prose In so few lines I neuer yet did find More heav'nly Comforts to a grieued mind Mans sinfull Heart Hells Malice Grace diuine Is intermixed so in ev'ry Line I praise God I this speake with feeling Sense God grant the Reader like experience Good publish't doth more good by being knowne Wherein I seeke Gods glory not mine owne Of Reading and of Writing's but one end Repent beleeue for sake Sinne and amend Your true vnfeigned Friend R. A. THE CONVERTS CONQVEST ACertaine Christian which had often bin Tempted and by his weaknesse ouertaken To his great sorrow with one selfe same sin At last sate downe as if he were forsaken Where of sins bondage first he doth complaine And then himselfe thus comforteth againe From my all-seeing God I cannot flye Still in my loathed sins I may not lye Yet ought I not of mercy to despaire Yet dare I not for Grace to God repaire Pray would I but I cannot it intend Repent I doe but not my life amend I to beleeue desirous am yet doubt In this lewd wicked custome holding out God is by me dishonoured whilst I Professe to serue him true and faithfully Disples'd whilst I prouoke him to his face Both griev'd and quenched is his Spirit of Grace His Graces I abated withered find My sense benum'd besotted is my mind My memory dull'd more strong grows Satans dart My Soule 's aduentred hardned is my hart I grow in Sin rich poore in Goodnesse Grace My head 's vex'd Conscience is in wofull case My calling stain'd crack'd credit Time mispended My strength consum'd and my God offended As doth my sin my burthen doth increase My pain 's inlarged troubled is my peace I sigh but sorrow not aright would faine Be rid of it but soone returne againe I grieue not weepe Lord could I from it part Forsake confesse it with a broken hart How farre aduenture Lord how long shall I Dare to prouoke thy powerfull Maiesty How long shall he forbeare how often might He cut mee off Or suddenly dead smite How long shall hee chastise mee yet in vaine At length O Lord be mercifull againe Oh tarry not Lord tarry not too long But make my resolution firme and strong Oh loathsomenesse deceitfulnesse of sin Sweetnesse and bitternesse wee find therein Beginnings fawnings growing terrour smart Faiths weakenesse Satans enuy Mans false heart When shall I now these Oh that I could know Them better Lord by farre than yet I doe Yet wish though much asham'd thus to be tainted I were not as I am with them acquainted What shall I doe Goe on Nay God defend Shall I retire Stand idle Not amend Shall I despaire Why so Haue my sins quite Dride vp Gods mercies which are infinite Such thing to thinke were cursed Blasphemy Who succours all that are in misery Will not God heare what I in Faith desire Humbled with Griefe Then make I him a Lier Shall I presume yet longer Ah I haue Presum'd too much Oh let mee mercy craue By true Repentance and abundant teares What is thy heart so harden'd as it feares It neuer can be mollify'd againe Then Gods Omnipotence thou dost restraine What Hath this thing without God come to passe Hath Satan got the Victory Alas Is not th' Almightie far nore strong than hee Hath not my Lord Christ Iesus dy'd for mee Hath God ere lov'd thee Sure hee once me lov'd For then I it by good experience prov'd Then Loues he still for where he doth begin Hee loues for euer and his gifts haue bin Without Repentance hee for mee destry'd And vanquisht Death Sin Satan when he dy'd O Lord encrease my faith why should not I Beleeue in him obey him willingly How faine would I beleeue and him obay How fame would I repent amend and pray I cannot then conclude nor will nor dare That I am damn'd for these desires sure are The motions of Gods Spirit in mee indeed Who neither smoaking flax nor bruised reed Will quench or breake But all will satisfie Who thirst and hunger after equitie Blist euer be his name who hath begun To make me Conqueror through Christ his Sonne By his assistance gracious then I Vow To serue God better then I haue till now On his behests more carefully attend Thy Grace mee strengthen as a sheild defend Satan auoid thou hast in mee no part From the beginning thou a Liar art Before and after mine in Adams fall Thou to deceiue mee practisest in all But God is true iust mercifull to mee In Iesus Christ his blessed Sonne and hee For honour of his Name and Maiesty Will doe away all mine iniquitie So as the siftings here of Satan shall Not turne to my destruction But they all Gods Grace in mee shall further magnifie And bind mee to him more assuredly More hee forgiues the greater is his grace Him faster we with Loue in Christ imbrace Henceforth my soule remember well what gaine Thou reaped hast and oft maist reape againe By that whereof thou iustly art ashamed For which thy Name and Conscience now is blamed Restore me to the Ioy of thy Saluation Which better is then ioyes continuation For by the want the worth discerne we may And be stirr'd vp more earnestly to pray FINIS * Haruest Homer Alexander Aeneas Virgil. Ouid. Spencer Dauid * Bishop Montaigne