again 2 Sam. 14 41. Then let not the place of thy Death trouble thee for the Earth is the Lords and the fulness thereof Death lost her Sting in the Side of our Saviour The Day of Death is the Day of Jubilee and frees us from all these Evils God kisseth the Righteous in their Deaths and as it were sucks in those Souls which he breathed into them Deut. 34. 15. It is certain that the Soul so soon as it is separated from the Body is presented to God and receives an irrevocable Doom either of Woe or Weal Those that Honour me I will Honour saith the Lord 1 Sam. 2. 30. Blessed and happy is he that hath part in the first Resurrection on such the second Death hath no Power but they shall be Precious with God and Christ and shall Reign with him The Angels which kept not their first Estate he hath reserved in everlasting Chains of Darkness unto the Judgment of the great Day Iude 6. The Joy of our Heart is ceased and the Crown is fallen from our Head Lam. 5. 15 16. In the Days of his Flesh when he had offered up Prayers and Supplications with strong Crying and Tears unto him that was able to save him from Death and was heard in that he feared Heb. 5. 7. The Heavens shall be opened and those everlasting Doors shall be lift up that the King of Glory may go forth with his Angels to Judge the World and return back again with his Saints when he hath Judged it In the Day of Judgment a good Conscience will stand us in more stead than a Mint of Treasure therefore with St. Ierome let us make it our business That whether we Eat or Drink or whatsoever we do we may think we hear the last Trumpet sounding in our Ears saying Arise ye Dead and come to Judgment let us therefore appeal from the Bar of Gods Justice to the Bowels of his Mercy beseeching him in that Day to deal with the Souls of his Servants not as a severe Judge but as a Merciful Jesus Amen Prayers for the Sick. O Lord look down from Heaven behold visit and relieve this thy Servant look upon him with the Eyes of Mercy give him Comfort and sure Confidence in thee defend him from the Danger of the Enemy and keep him in perpetuaâ—â— Peace and Safety through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen HEar us Almighty and most Merciful God and Saviour extend thy accustomed Goodness tâ— this thy Servant who is grieved with Sickness Sanctifie we beseech thee this thy Fatherly Correction to him that the sense of his Weakness may adâ—â— Strength to his Faith and Seriousness to his Repentance that if it shall be thy good Pleasure to restore him to his former Health he may lead thâ— residue of his Life in thy Fear and to thy Glory or give him Grace so to take this thy Heavenly visiâ—tation that after this painful Life ended he may dwell with thee in Life everlasting through Jesuâ— Christ our Lord. Amen O Father of Mercyes and God of all Consolation lay no more upon him or her therâ— thou wilt inable him to bear with Patience Courage and Contentment either asswage his Painâ— or increase his Patience bless all those means thaâ— have been or shall be used for his recovery eitheâ— shorten his Sickness or else give him Grace anâ— Strength to bear it deliver him from the bitteâ— Pangs of Eternal Death and from the Gates of Helâ— take from him the Sting of his Consciences and thâ— extremity of Sickness Anguish or Agony that 〈◊〉 withdraw his mind from thee through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen DEliver him from all Dangers and Distress from Pain and Punishment Bodily and Ghostly and from all the Sins and Misdeeds which by the Maâ—ice of the Devil or his own Frailty he have at any time committed against thee That it may please thee not to lay to his Charge what in Concupiscence of the Eye Pride of Life Vanity or Superfluity he hath committed against thee That it may please thee not to lay to his Charge what in the Fierceness of his Wroth or in the eagerness of an Angry Spirit he hath committed against thee That it may please thee not to lay to his Charge what in Vain and Idle Words in the Looseness and Slipperiness of the Tongue he hath committed against thee That it may please thee to make him Partaker of all the Mercies and Promises in Christ Jesus That it may please the to vouchsafe his Soul the Estate of Joy Bliss and Happiness with all thy blessed Saints in thy Heavenly Kingdom That it may please thee to give him Peace and a part in the blessed Resurrection of Life and Glory we commend his Soul into thy Hands beseeching thee that it may be pretious â—n thy sight O let not the Blood of Christ that was â—shed for all Men be spilt in vain to any but let it be effectual to the Salvation of every Soul for thy own Bowels and Compassion sake Amen IN the midst of Life we are in Death Of whom then may we seek for Succor but of thee O Lord Who for our Sins are most justly displeased with us yet O Lord most Holy O God most Mighty O Holy and most Merciful Father deliver us not over to the bitter Pains of Eternal Death Thou knowest Lord the Secrets of our Hearts O shut not up against us the Ears of thy Mercy but spare us O Lord most Holy O Saviour most mighty O Immortal and mosâ— Merciful Redeemour Thou most Worthy Judge Eternal suffer us not in our last Hour for any Pains of Death to fall from thee though he hath Sinned yet he seeketh thee and thou Lord never failest them that seek thee Let not the Guiltiness of a Sinneâ— more prevail to condemn than the Gracious Goodness of a most Merciful Father to Aquit and to Pardon O let not the Unrighteousness of Man make thâ— Goodness of God of none effect O Lord no not so remember not the Unkindnesess of this thy Child so as thereby thou forgottest the Compassion and Kindness of a Father Do not so think on our Sins that thou thereby forget thine own Nature and Property which is always to have Mercy and Forgive Do not so remember our Sins that thou thereby remember not thy own Name which is Jesus a most Loving and Kind Saviour Lord is thy Life in our Life hath not sufficiently appeared yet let not thy Death lose the full Power and Effecacy thereof Suffer not O Lord in both so great a price to perish lose not that O Lord which thou hast redeemed since thou comest to redeem that which was lost that which was so dear to thee to redeem suffer not to be lost as a thing of no Value OH Most Merciful and Blessed Saviour have Mercy upon the Soul of this thy Servant remember not his Ignorance nor the Sins of his Youth but according to thy great Mercies remember him in the Mercies
There be no Ears no Eyes to hear to see The living Soul have not such rest as he Who stands upright in Courts with unshaken Mind For the Test proves him and he is found refin'd If thy superiour happen to incense His jealous wroth at thy suppos'd Offence Do thou thy part yield for yielding slacks The raging flame great transgressions makes He that shall dig a pit that shall prepare A snare shall be ensnar'd in his own snare Happy is the Just and Holy for who but he Can judge of things or what their Natures be For these are Heavens favorits sent down from thence Unfolding secret Mysteries in Heavenly Eloquence Knowing there 's a time true Justice shall preceed On every purpose upon every deed With God all future Times are present ALL Times to Heaven are now both first and last God sees things present yea future as we see them past But we transgress his Laws 't is time to part For why the Laws of Nature break the rules of Art. A smiling Conscience a contented Mind A sober Knowledge with true Wisdom joyn'd Sleep seasonable moderate and secure Actions heroick constant blameless pure A life as long as fair and when expir'd A glorious Death unfear'd as undesir'd The World is a Book writ by the eternal Art Of the great Maker Printed in Mans Heart 'T is falsely Printed tho Divinely Pen'd And all the Errata will appear at the End. Believe it Christian by how much near Thou get'st to Heaven the less will Earth appear Call home thy dearest wishes and recal Thy hopes expect the worst that can befal Grace giveth Virtue opinion not Glory For Princely favours are but transitory Humane Nature curious without corrupt within A glorious Monument of inglorious Sin Yet much our Saviour have endured yea more To make us Kings that were but Slaves before He that grieves because his grief is so small Has a true grief and the best Faith of all He vows his Faith and the sincere perfection Of undissembl'd and intire affection And such in doing well Shall seek for Heaven not find the flames of Hell. ` Oh! let the Church my Mother instruct me Give savory Meat Cloath and Conduct me Into my Fathers Arms These Hands shall never Trust to the poorness of their own endeavour Bring I a Kid but of my Mothers dressing 'T will please my Father and procure a Blessing Most Sins at least please Sense but some are Treason Not only against the Crown of Sense but reason But 't is an error as foul to call Our Sins too great for Pardon as too small The reason is easie to be riddled out One's dispair the other not doubt Lord weaken this Rebellious Flesh That 's apt to oppose Grace Oh! quicken and refresh My dull and coward Spirit that would yield And make Proud Satan Master of the Field Because 't is Grave not Bed that I am in Not a-sleep but dead in Sin. Serve God in Plenty and in Affliction trust No thanks to serve our God when he feeds us Promise is a Debt and Debt implies a Payment How can the Righteous then doubt Food and Rayment Let not my Thoughts so divided be But they mix again and fix on thee Oh! thou who didst appear in cloven Tongues oâ— Fire Direct my Thoughts and with thy self inspire That I may search the Scripture to increase In the Diviner Knowledge of thy Peace That when all things shall cease that are transitory Thy Gifts of Grace may be Crown'd with perfect Glory The Rich Mans sum of untold descended Wealth Can give his Body Plenty but no Health The Poor in pains and want possesses all The other in plenty finds no Peace at all 'T is strange and yet the cause is easily known The one 's at Gods finding the other at his own The formers filken Robes his costly Diet Can lend a little Pleasure but no Quiet The latter seldom slacks his Thirst but from the Pump And yet his Heart is blithe his Visage plump Such Truths are Subjects far more fit For Holy Admiration than for Wit. 'T is said of Alexander that he complain'd And wept because there was no other Worlds to gain His griefs and thy complaints are not amiss He has grief enough that finds no World but this Our trust in God for Riches never must Exclude our Care nor Care exceed our truâ—t Thy Sacred Will be done Great God To spend or to suspend thy Rod If possible my Will 's to miss it If otherwise to stoop and Kiss it However submit we shall not be this the worse If Conscience Bless what if Shimei Curse ' Some say the Sacrament's a Supper and 't is fit 'To use the posture of a Meal to fit ' Can thy Discretion Phares or thy Zeal ' Give Carnal gestures to a Spiritual Meal 'A Heavenly Supper and a Fleshy Heart ' Thy posture has discover'd what thou art Of those Sacraments which some call Seven Five were Ordain'd by Man and Two by Heaven As saith the Eternal Word whose high Decree Admits no change and cannot frustrate be What thing is Man that Gods regard is such Or why should Heaven love wretchless Man so much His age is Sinful and his youth 's Vain His life 's a Punishment his death 's a Pain Yea Man who ought to be a Watch-light in the Temple Is as a Snuffer wants the Oyl of good Example Can he be said to fear the Lord that flys him Can Word confess him when as Deed denys him For this Men should strive to have their Hearts relent Such Hearts which never knew what Mercy meant Gods Love is boundless apt and free To turn to Man when Man returns to thee Adjourn thy Sanguine Dreams awake arise Call in thy Thoughts and let them all advise Before the Soul can a true comfort find The Body must be prostrate and the Mind Truly contrite and repentive within And loath the fawning of a bosom Sin But Lord can Man deserve or can his best Do justice equal right which he transgrest When Dust and Ashes mortally offends Can Dust and Ashes make Eternal mends â—s Heaven unjust must not the recompence Be full equivalent to the offence What mends by moral Man can then be given To the offended Majesty of Heaven O mercy mercy on thee my Soul relies â—n thee we build our Faith we bend our Eyes If thou wilt thou canst change our lot That we and ours may Live and perish not Thy Glorious Wisdom and tender Love Transcends thy sharper justice will remove ' Judge not that Field because its stubble ' Nor him that 's poor and full of trouble ' Tho the one look bare the other thin ' Judge not their Treasure is within Injur'd inocency while the Enemies Unhallow'd Tongueâ— Makes her a Glorious Martyr in their wroâ—gs The Devils believe all know they do But their belief does make them tremble too Men rail at Iudas him that did betray The Lord of Life yet doâ—t Day
thread 'twixt Death and thee ' This darksome Place thou measur'st may be thy Grave ' And sudden Death rides Proud on yonder Wave By thoughts dive down into the Abyss of Hell And there in Justice doth the Almighty dwell Death is a Calander compos'd by Fate Concerning all Men never out of date Yet chear up I have a message in store Whose Comforts much and joyful News is more We have yet a Friend Puissant and of Might Will see us take no wrong but do us right Le ts offer up Sacrifice with one accord And pay our solemn Vows unto the Lord And with penitent Hearts implore him And Day and Night pour forth our Souls before him For shall I be silent no I 'le speak Till Tongue be tired and my Lungs be weak Proclaim to us thy Mercy for we thurst for Grace For thou art free of Mercy to those that Mercy will embrace O save us harmless from our Foe-mans Jaws Who art turned Orator to plead our Cause How are thy Mercies full of Admiration How sovereign sweet's their Application How redefâ—â—ed are we with the Rust of Sin Which hath abus'd thy Stamp and eaten in But yet at length if we repent Instead of Plagues and Direful Punishments We shall find Mercy Love and Heavens Applause For the Great Almighty himself will plead our Cause Thine Eye that views the moving Spheres above Ought to give Praise to him that makes them move Here may we see how Prayer and true Repentance Do strive with God prevail and turn his Sentence From Judgment Just and Plagues Infernal To boundless Mercies and to life Eternal All o're the World how should these Mercies make a sound As Blessings fall Thansgiving must abound â—dge then did ever Record round thine Ear That God forsook the Heart that was fiueere But often have we seen that such as Plow â—â—wdness and Mischief reap the same they sow The Moral says all Wisdom that 's given â—o Hood-wink'd Mortals first proceeds from Heaven Far safer 't is of things unsure to doubt Than undertake to riddle Secrets out It was demanded once what God did do Before the World was fram'd Whereunto ' Answer was made he built a Hell for such As were too curious and would know too much at such curiosity preceds from him who can â—â—ly accuse Man to God and God to Man â—â—no Hourly sows fresh Schisms among the Saints â—ea buffets them then laughs at their Complaints O Chastity the Flower of the Soul â—ow is thy perfect fairness turn'd to foul There are thy Maiden-smiles thy blushing Cheek â—hy Lamb-like Countenance so fair so meek â—ay not other Virtues serve but must this Queen 〈◊〉 made the Subject of Unchast spleen So young is Man that broke with Care and Sorrow â—e's old enough to Day to die to morrow â—â—e gives us Passage to endure great Woes â—â—ath frees us from all Temporal Foes â—t tho secure my Soul did never slumber â—et do my Woes exceed both weight and number Both Poor and Rich are equal in the Grave â—rvants no Lords and Lords no servants have â—hat needs there light to him that 's comfortless â—r Life to such as languish in distress â—bjects of pitty are Bodies in distress â—nd worthy to injoy eternal Rest Lord make Wise thy Servant a Wise forecast Grieves for things present not for things are past Satan have Servants who can make true boast They gave away as much as thine have lost Others with Learning made to Wisely Mad Refuse such Fortunes as Croesus never had Lord make me Champion give me such belief A strong and fervent but not crafty Faith. I know a forc'd Love neeeds no such great Applause Since they Love Ill that Loves not for a Cause I bespeak leave to Answer all this before I knew They want no Grief that find such Friends as you Be not discontent no no forbear for I Hate less your Censures than your Flattery Succour I sought and begged but none was there To give the Alms of one poor trickling Tear. See how I lie devoid of Help or Friend O make me humble and mindful of my End. Lord make me Just in Image like my Divinâ— Creator Pollish and 〈◊〉 yea Refine my Nature Let me receive all as 〈◊〉 thy Hand With a thankful Heart as living in thy Land And consider the self-same Sorrow Grieves others to Day may make me groan to moâ— row Great King be my Comfort in my highest Grief I will not trust to Mans but thy relief I know Great God upon my true Repentance Thou wiâ—t determine to reverse thy Sentence Make me tho in a blind Age Wisely to see And in a seeing Age not bâ—ind to be He that would save his Life when Honour bids hiâ— die Steals but a Life and lives by Robbery Dishonours his God and that likens to the Powâ— Divine That made and placed her in her Fleshly Shrine The Wise and Good-like kind Physicians are That strive to heal us by their Care Their Physick and their Learning calmly use Although the Patient them strangely abuse For since the Sickness is they find A sad Distemper of the Mind The Wiseman in the midst of Woes May enjoy and feel a sweet repose Might pitty all the Griefs we see By compassion Anoint every Malady While our selves are calm our Art improve To rescue them and shew our Love That we with open Eyes may see The brightness of Gods Majesty And never more in Chains of Darkness lie 〈◊〉 be secure from Bondage and all Iniquity That comforts Divine may fortifie and raise the Soul To Heavenly Joys where none can controul The World 's a hurly burly and the Court All Tongues were fill'd with Wonder and Report The Watch is set pursute was made about To Guard the King and find the Traytors out To punish him according to his due That did not Peace nor Loyalty persue Had Man been Kind Loving True and always Good As formerly in the Golden Age they stood Then had we lived in all Delights and Glory full of Love Blest as the Holy Angels are above But now we suffer for evil Deeds Reaping the fruit of our ill Weeds But thou O Holy Jesus who did'st for us Die And on the Altar Bleeding for all Men lie Bearing all Torment Pain Reproach and Shame That we by Virtue of the same Tho Enemies to God might be Redeemed and set at Liberty Let us likewise favour to others show And live in Heaven on Earth below Let 's prize their Souls and let them be our gems Our valuable Temples and our Diadems Rich Spoils and Trophies our own Joys Compar'd to Souls all else are Toyes O let them be such unto us as they were to thee Valued as Vessels of Glory and Felicity What would I give that I might likewise see The Brightness and true Glory of thy Majesty The Joy and fulness of that high Delight Whose Blessedness is Glorious yea Infinite And while we feel how much our God doth
and Glories of thy Kingdom Thou O Lord hast opened the Kingdom of Heaven to all Believers let the Everlasting Gates be opened and receive his Soul let the Angels who Rejoyce at the Conversion of a Sinner Triumph â—nd be Exalted in his Deliverance and Salvation make him partaker of the Benefits of thy Holy Incarnation Life and Sanctity Passion and Death Resurrection and Assension and of all the Prayers of the Church of the Joy of the Elect and all the Fruits of the Blessed Communion of Saints and daily add to the number of thy beatified Servants such as shall be saved that thy coming may be hastned and the expectation of the Saints may be fulfiled and the Glory of thee our Lord Jesus be advanced all the whole Church Singing Praises to the Honour of thy Holy Name who Livest and Reignest ever one God World without end Amen OH Most Merciful Jesu who didst die to redeem us from Death and Damnation have Mercy upon this thy Servant whom thy Hand has visited with Sickness of thy Goodness be pleased to forgive him all his Sins and Seal his hopes of Glory with the refreshments of thy Holy Spirit Lord give him Strength and Confidence in thee asswage his Pain repel the assaults of his Gostly Enemies by thy Mercies and a Guard of Holy Angels preserve him in the Unity of the Church keep his Senses intire his Understanding right give him a great measure of Contrition true Faith a well grounded Hope and abundance of Charity give him a quiet and a joyful departure let thy Ministring Spirits conveigh his Soul to the Mansions of Peace and Rest there with certainty to expect a joyful Resurrection to the fulness of Joy at thy right Hand where there is pleasure for evermore Amen A Prayer for a Penitent O Thou who still remainest the same Richfulness in thy self and the same bright Glory to all the Blessed have Mercy upon me and all Mankind in the 〈◊〉 and full Pardon and forgiveness of all our Sins that ever we have committed from our Infancy to this present Moment and indue us with thy preventing and assisting Grace that we never fall into those Sins of the which we have Repented but fill us with thy Holy Spirit that we may increase in all Goodness in the Spirit of Might of Wisdom and Counsel Knowledge Piety and thy Holy Fear that we may do all such good Works as thou hast prepared for us to walk in by the assisting Power and Might of thy Holy Strength which we beseech thee constantly to afford us to our last Breath that when we shall breathe out our Souls they may be received instantly to Glory And this we begg for thy sake who didst begin to Bleed and Suffer for our Sin even thee O Blessed Jesus who tookest that Heavenly Name thy Blessed purpose to Proclaim Oh! may we bow our Heartâ— and Knee bright King of Names to Glorious thee who thus beginest our Bliss thus carriedest on our Happiness to thee all Praise be paid O Great Misterious Three for ever Live and ever be Obeyed Beloved Adored by Men and Angels all abroad Hallelujah O Lord make us eminent Examples of Perfect Christianity and kindle in our Hearts Zealous Emulations of thy Grace that here immitating thy Life O Christ we may be constant in the Truth to our last Breath that in our Mouths there may not at any time be found a lie that we may be worthy to be presented without spot before thy Throne O God and thou maiest exalt us to thy Kingdom and there admit us to tast of thosâ— Glorious Joys which incurcel thy Blessed Thronâ— above to which we are Intituled by the Suffering oâ— Christ our Lord. Oh give us true Repentance that wâ— may not fail of attaining of them though I have noâ— been strong enough to be perfectly Innocent Yet makâ— me Humble enough to be truly Penitent make mâ— Heartily sorry that ever I have done amiss and never again dare to do that for which I am sorry but perpetually Watch and Change my Thoughts to more diligent and concerning Cares how to redeem my mispent Time with Sighs and Tears and Prayers and prepare our Understanding to assent to thy Truths and our Wills to follow thy Divine Inspirations that thou O God maiest fill our Memories with innumerable Mercies and our whole Souls with the Glory of his adorable Atributes that thy Blessed Spirit may come and breathe thy spacious Odor into our Hearts in these dull Regions here beneath to fill our Souls with thy sweet Grace and Inspire us to give all possible Glory to that secret Three One ever Living Sovereign Lord as at the first still may be Beloved Praised Feared and Adored Hallelujah O Lord open the Eyes of our Understanding and shew us thy clear and supernatural Light even 〈◊〉 thou didst to the Apostles together with the whole Army of Martyrs that we may confidently â—ffirm to others what we know so Infallibily cerâ—ain our selves And be pleased to infuse into all â—â—ens Hearts the fulness of thine own Divine Charity that every one may instruct his Family and with Courage and Patience overcome their Oppressors that being thus Illuminated with a pure and clear â—â—ight and inflamed with the ferver of Grace â—hey may mightily shew forth thy Glory and Conâ—ert many Souls to thee that thy Grace may run â—nd be Glorious over all the World and thy Holy â—pirit be aimable in the Hearts of every Creature â—hat all dulness may be removed from them and they â—nay with swift Glances understand the sweet Will 〈◊〉 their Divine Master that they may Daily more and â—ore increase in Virtue and be inebriated with thy â—eavenly Wine and filled with an Heroick Spirit â—â—at may keep alive in their Hearts the Primitive Grace Grant this O God who art still the same and with an equal Spirit Governs the World replenish us all we beseech thee with the Holy Ghost which warms without scorching and shines without dimâ—ess and inlightens without consuming Kindle in every one of our Hearts this Holy Spirit of Meekness Peace and Unity that all the World may know that we belong to thee That exercising those Virtues of Meekness Long Suffering Patience Contentedness and Charity thou maiest difuse thy Holy Joy into our Breast that may fill our Hearts with Strength and undaunted Courage that may duly qualify us to ascend to those satisfing Joys above where all our Faculties shall be exercised in Adoring and Worshiping thee O Lord our God who wilt fill our Souls full of Joy and Ravish our Hearts with overflowing Pleasures and make us ever give Glory to Father Son and Holy Ghost the undivided Three One equal Glory one same Praise from henceforth and for ever be Hallelujah A Prayer for the Rich and Noble O Lord I beseech thee make the Great and Honourable become Good and Just O suffer them never to consent nor combine with the Counsel of the Wicked but teach the Rich and
King Solomon's RECANTATIONS BEING AN EXTRACT Out of the Famous WORKS Of the Learned FRANCIS QVARLES Cup-bearer to the Queen of Bohemia Sister to the blessed Martyr King Charles the I. of venerable Memory With an Essay to prove the Immortality of the Soul by way of Symetry or Connexion Licensed July 21. 1688. Rob. Midgley LONDON Printed by I. R. and are to be sold by Randal Taylor near Stationers-Hall 1688. Advertisements T'Here is lately Printed a Book Intitule The way of Life is Pleasant Or tâ—â— Church of England is the Best Guide Coâ—â—taining several useful Discourses for every Christian to Read and Practise for the support of their Spirits and comfort of the Minds With some Evangelical Reflection upon the Apostolical Observation of thâ— Lent-Fast With short and useful Prayer upon the Church-Festivals and most other Emergent Occasions With several prepaâ—ratory Prayers for the Holy Sacrament anâ— Thanksgiving after Receiving Licensed Iun 〈◊〉 the 4th 1686. and Sold by Randal Tayloâ— near Stationers Hall I. Harding at the Biâ—â— and Anchor in Newport-street Rich. Sare a Grays-Inn Gate in Holbourn and by most Book sellers in London and Westminster 1686. KIng Solomons Experimental Observations of Himself Time and Things deducted from his Recantations by Way of Soliloquie in a well digested Method Sold by Randal Taylor near Stationers-Hall 168â— King Solomon's RECANTATIONS c. OH 't is much better not to Thirst at all Than Thirst in vain or quench thy Thirâ—t with Gall. â—hose profit can accrue to Man what gains â—an Crown his Actions or reward his Pains â—â—nless he trample on the Asp and tread 〈◊〉 the young Lyon and the old Dragon's head Or else the Clouds of Sorrow may multiply â—â—d hide from thee the Crystal of the gloomy Sky â—â—oad not thy Shoulders by the Sin of unwise desire â—hat all thy bedrid Passions may quite expire â—â—earch for and find such Words which have the might 〈◊〉 intermingle profit with sweet delight Than shalt thou have hopeful worth to Crown thy last â—ith Peace and Honor yea such rare Sons thou hast â—â—nce Frolick Midnight Madness is quite expir'd and thou requite Thy wild attention with Heavenly delight Thy courage indeavouring to deserve the name Of heroick Martyr by giving thy Body to the Flame This will give true Life so sweet to every one That takes pleasure in the Worlds redeeming Son From Earths pleasures by striving to refrain Knowing those short-liv'd flattering pleasures vain Therefore rejoycing greatly in true Spiritual ways By Heavenly contentment chearing youthful Days Banishing false-eyed Mirth let it be truly disposest Of those lewd Firs that are apt to inflame thy Breaâ—â— For Earths best injoyments are short and vain But for a season rejoycing but cannot remain For feeble Strength her ruins smite thee And grinds thy clod to dust tho not afrights thee One Generation gives another way But Earth abides in one perpetual stay The Prince of Light put on his Morning Crown But in the Evening lays his Glory down Where leaving Earth to take a short repose He soon returns and rises where he rose His Wisdoms choice affections own His Churches good much dearer then his Throne For us subduing beneath the spangled Sky What ever might hurt us That in Wisdom we may decry All Evils and seek all Hevenly sweet felicity Yet injoying such pleasures that Earth could lenâ— that I Might find Earths Mirth and Beauty but vanity My thoughts yet pondering all that hath been done Betwixt the solid Center and the glorious Son And yet no knowledge can reduce the state Of crooked Nature to a perfect straight For some Mens Ignorance which surmounts The learned Language of Arithmeticks accounts Oh! then thought I how are the vain desires Flesh and Blood Baffled in their mistaken things called good Yet travel seeks them yea unwearied Hearts Makes them the objects both of Arms and Arts Yet many certan obvious Evils attend Our Ways to our uncertain Journies end We tire the Night in thought the Day in toil Sparing neither sweet nor lucubrated Oyl â—o seek the things we cannot find or found â—e cannot hold or held we cannot ground â—o firm as to resist the various swings â—f fickle Fortune or the frowns of Kings That if his Royal Power please to commit â—â—is Pastorial Staff to such as are more fit â—o Eat and Drink Kill or recommend his Flocks â—o such dumb Dogs of whom ne'r Wof nor Fox â—â—ill stand in awe or shew their fears by flight Not having Tongues to bark nor Teeth to bite Yet by the way advise Obedience then Always he sure to please rather God than Men. â—f the Embers of his rage should chance to lye Rak'd up or furnace from his angry Eye Quit not thy Duty 't is thy part to asswage â—y due Obedience the jealous flames of consuming rage Curse not the King nor them that bears the Sword No not in Thought tho Thought express no Word â—or secret report shall vent such hidious things To punish those who oppose the legal Authority of Kings For all that attempt thus to act casts a shame Upon the beauty of an honor'd Name Ah then my Soul take heed to keep thy Heart At thy right Hand where there she will impart Continual secrets and direct thy ways â—n secret Ethicks sweetning out thy Days With season'd Knowledge Wisdom past the reach Of dangerous error and instruct and teach Thy Heart-wise silence Wisdom when to beak Thy clos'd Lips and judgement how to speak â—uch wise Mens Words are gracious where they go But foolish Language doth themselves o're-throw Folly brings in the Prologue with his Song Whose Epilogue is rage and open wrong Yea the tedious actions of every Fool doth try The solid patience of the weary standers by Because their weakness knows not how to lay Their actions posture in a civil way Yea such rude folly stains their Fame But fair repute for Wisdom lends a name Therefore our steps will measure out the way Our Garb our Looks our Language doth betray Our Wisdom or Follies read by all we meet Our selves proclaiming our Follies in every Street But 't is a grief that grates beneath the Sun That like events betides to every one A like be false to Good and Bad Wise and Fooâ— Yea both To him that Swears and him that fears an Oath Better to be a living Creatures tho vild they plead Then to be known a wealthy Wiseman that is dead For they that live well know that they shall die Therefore take time but theâ— that lie Rak'd up in deaths cold Emâ—rs they know not Or Good or Ill their names are quite forgot No Friends they have to Love nor Foes to Hate They know no Virtue to spit Venom at They sell no sweet for gains nor do they buy Pleasures with pains or tread beneath the Sky But yet go thou rejoyce and Eat let a full Bowl Cashire thy Cares and chear thy frolick Soul What Heaven hath lent thee with a liberal
by Day They Curse that Traytor Life and Limb Tho Curse themselves in Curfing him The Thief and Slanderer are almost the same The one steals my Goods the other my good Name The one lives in Scorn the other dies in Shame But from these dark som Clouds Good Lord deliver us Let them not interpose betwixt thy Glory and us For thou alone art our Creator in whom we trust Some trust too much in their doing well In seeking Heaven they find the flames of Hell But the pure of Heart have Power to refuse Being endow'd with Wisdom the Evil and Good to chuse He that gives Wisdom to refuse Inspires the Art which to chuse ' In thee O King my pensive Soul respires ' Thou art the fulness of my choice desires ' Thou art that Sacred Spring whose Waters burst ' In streams to him that seeks with Holy Thirst ' Thrice happy Man Thrice happy Thirst to bring The fainting Soul to so sweet a Spring God is just what his deep Counsel wild His Prophets told and justice hath fulfill'd But Man the Child of ruin to avoid Less dangers by a greater is destroy'd Whose Spring is like a Flower for a Days delight At Noon we flourish and we fade at Night If Plants be cropt because their Fruits are small Think you to Thrive that bears no Fruit all But who so Fruitful is and worthy to Drink this Shall be receiv'd unto Eternal Bliss Such cannot Dye the Sacred Nine deny All Souls that merits Fame shall ever Dye For these must survive for their self clos'd Eyes That now lie slumbering in the dust shall rise The highest Heavens have Decreed to Bless The Fruitful Souls and with a fair success For that they built their Bliss not on the blaze of Glory Nor seated their Happiness in things transitory O Lord how great is the Power of thy Hand Glorious is thy Name in every Land Great God Unlimited are thy Confines And assistest Man in his good Designs Thy Mercies like the dew of Hermon Hill Or like the Oyntment dropping downward still Thy Love is boundless thou art apt and free To turn to Man when Man returns to thee â— Sacred Subject of a Meditation Thy Works are full of Admiration Thy Judgments all are just severe and sure They quite cut off or else by lancing Cure. ' My Faith not Merits hath assur'd thee mine Thy Love not my Desert hath made me thine Unworthy I whose drousie Soul rejected Thy precious Favours and secure neglected Thy glorious Presence how am I become A Bride befitting so Divine a Groom ' It is no Merit no Desert of mine Thy Love thy Love alone hath made me thine Since then the bounty of thy dear Election Have styl'd me thine Oh let the sweet reflection ' Of thy Illustrious Beams my Soul inspire ' And with thy Spirit inflame my hot Desire ' Unite our Souls oh let thy secret rest ' Make a perpetual home within my Breast ' Instruct me so that I may gain the skill 'To suit my Service to thy secret Will. Then shall my Soul that suffers through dispite Of Error and rude Ignorance have right Then shall my Soul injoy within this Breast A Holy Sabboth of Eternal rest And my dearest Spouse shall Seal me on his Heart So sure that envious Earth may never part Our joyn'd Souls let not the World remove My chast Desires from so chast a Love. ' All you that wish the bountiful encrease ' Of dearest Pleasures and Divinest Peace ' I charge you all if ought my charge may move ' Your tender Hearts not to disturb my Love ' Vex not his gentle Spirit nor bereave ' Him of his Joys that is so apt to grieve That he may teach his living Plants to thrive And such as are a dying to revive He walks about such tender Plants To smell their Odours and supply their wants That he may leave his secret Spirit in their Breast As Earnest of an Everlasting rest To thy Creatour hast my Soul and let thy Sacreâ— Vows Plight Holy Contracts with so sweet a Spouse His Left Hand 's full of Treasure and his Right Of Peace and Honor and unknown Delight Then shall it please our gracious Lord To Crown with Audience his suppliants Word O Glory chace Disloyal Thoughts let not thiâ— World allure My chast Desires from a Spouse so pure He 'l endow my ardent Soul with sweetness and inspire With Heavenly ravishment my rapt Desires O let all times be prosperous and all places Be Witness to our undefil'd imbraces Sure is the Knot that true Religion ties And Love that 's rightly grounded never dies ' If Error lead not my dull Thoughts amiss ' My genius tells me where my true Love is ' He 's busie labouring in the flowry Banks ' Inspiring Sweetness and receiving Thanks ' Watering those Plants whose tender Root are dry ' And Pruning such whose Crests aspire too high ' Transplanting Grafting Reaping from some ' And covering others that are newly come Then take from each to make one perfect Grace Yet would my Love out-shine that borrow'd Face So perfect are his Graces so Divine So full of Heaven are those fair looks of thine O Sacred Symetry O rare Connexion Of many Perfects to make one Perfection O let my Lips like a perpetual Story Divulge thy Graces and declare thy Glory Hear comes a Critick close thy Page Thou art no Subject for this Age Thou hast no Guilt that does require That thou should'st lurk nor yet retire Thou hast no Lustre of thy own But what 's deriv'd from Heaven alone Fear not thy Heaven instructed Page Will either please or teach the Age For the Wise with ease shall riddle out Which is the voice of Wonder which of Doubt For God sends an Angel to protect As well from Evil as to Good direct O thou the beginning and the end before whom Things past and present and things to come Are all alike O prosper my Designs And let thy Spirit inrich my feeble Lines Rejoyce my Soul and give my Pen the Art Wisely to move and me an understanding Heart Earthly Glories are scarce worth craving to obtain They are Happinesses that must be lost again Gasp not for Honour wish no blazing Glory For these will perish in an Ages Story Nor yet for Power Power may be carv'd To Fools as well as thee that hast deserv'd Thirst not for Lands nor Mony wish for none For Wealth is neither lasting nor our own Riches are fair Inticements to deceive us They flatter while we live and dying leave us What fit of Madness makes us love them thus We leave our lives and pleasure leaveth us Pleasure is fleeting still and makes no stay It lends a smile or twain and steals away The pleasures of this World soon abate They are lively emblems of our own Estate Which like a Banquet at a Funeral show But sweeten Grief and serve to flatter Woe How slight a
but prefer the care of the Soul before all the World for it is more to be valued than Ten Thousand Worlds Wherefore take heed to your selves and be Wise in time before it is to late for though you know not what the Soul is because you see it not neither can you feel it yet it is a Particle which came from Heaven and when it goes out of the Body it goes to God to Live for ever it sleeps not neither doth it die for it is Immortal and of an Immortal Nature and so impossible to be destroy'd for we have our Saviours own Word for it when he saith Ye cannot kill the Soul St. Luke 12. 4. and when he saith My Father is the God of Abraham the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob St. Matt. 22. 32. whereby he plainly shews that the Soul which is the nobler part of Man tho it be taken from the Body is alive for saith he My Father is the God of the living and not of the dead as dead but of the living that are dead So that thâ— Souls of all departed people are alive for althougâ— their Bodies are crumbled to Dust from whence theâ— were taken their Souls are with God that gave them or in some place of Gods appointment according 〈◊〉 their lives have been Because God have prepared maâ— Mansions for us St. John 14. 2. and as we have improved our Talent so shall our Station be St. Paâ—â— also saith That one Star differeth from another Star 〈◊〉 Glory and since these things are so let us not loâ— a Minutes time but improve it to the Glory of Goâ— and our own Souls Good and begg of him to giâ—â— us a Heart inflamed with Love and winged wiâ—â— Duty that we may give up our Souls totally to hâ—â— Adorable Majesty that he may dwell in the Throâ—â— of our Souls for ever And after this Life we may 〈◊〉 admitted to the Vision of Bliss and have free Inteâ—course with all Holy Souls in those beautious Regions Fourthly 'T is evident that Spirits fill no rooâ— tho they could see all things which point is veâ—â— dubious and unsertain for that Holy Souls can behoâ—â— the visible Actions of Mortal Men to us is altogethâ—â— uncertain tho we doubt not but they do behold whaâ—soever is Acted in those Regions where they dweâ— in those Infinite Dimensions or Heavenly Habitations tho they are inriched with Liberty and made brigâ—â— by Knowledge derived from the Illustrous and Illumâ—nated Power of the Omnipotent God who is infinitâ— Communicative to be Good and to do Good to 〈◊〉 Mankind and hath made the Soul of Man on purpoâ—â— that it might see him in his Kingly Country wheâ— St. Paul saith We shall be like him for we shall 〈◊〉 him as he is not as we now behold him darkly througâ— a Vail in deep Obscurity but Face to Face in Unvaâ—â—ed Glory And if the Eye of the Body that was maâ—â— for the World being so little a Ball of Earth aâ—â— Water can take in all and see the visible World i. e. â—hat part of it on which the sight of the Eye can be â—resent much more is the Soul able to see and be preâ—ent with all that is Divine and Eternal tho the Soul 〈◊〉 unhappily divided from God is a weak and inâ—onsiderable Creature but when United to God 't is 〈◊〉 Transcendant and Celestial Thing God being its Life â—reatness and Power for as the Apostle saith he â—hat is ioyned to the Lord is one Spirit for his Omniâ—resence and Eternity fills the Soul and makes it able 〈◊〉 contain all hights and depths and all things may â—e in it as it were by Thoughts and Intellections and Magnanimous desires are the Natural result of such 〈◊〉 Magnanimous Capacity Such a Soul then in respect â—f its Capacity is an Immovable Sphere of Power and â—nowledge and by imagination is able to pass â—â—rough the Centre of the Earth and through all â—xistencies for it is most Capacious and Swift Comâ—and it then by thought to go into India and sooner â—â—en thou canst bid it it will be there not as passing â—â—om Place to Place but by Thought and Immaginaâ—on suddenly in a moment as you may send it to â—eaven by the slight of a Thought as you may at any â—â—me command it to fly tho not by the assistance of â—ings in a Bodyly manner but after the manner that â—ouls pass from Place to Place not locally but after â—e manner of Spirits For the Soul of Man is said to 〈◊〉 an Immutable Essence his Power of Reasoning is â—ive even when 't is quiet and the Body unactive â—is one and the same for Nature in all Men tho not â—r Indeuments of it self equally inclined to Great â—ransendent Things tho in most Men 't is misguided â—â—ffled and suppressed but where it has the common â—ssistances that God has prepared for it it is a Miracuâ—â—us Creature and of near alliance to the Divine Maâ—sty For a Man being Wise and Holy his Soul is 〈◊〉 it were in the Heavenly World and it 's no trivial â—â—jury can make him contend being Liberal and Magnanimous he is prone to do Heroical Things and to make himself Venerable to his very Adversary being averse to all Wroth Clamour and Anger scarcely in any thing being defective and becomes a great Man by contemning Danger having an Infinite felicity in his Dayly view and may justly strengthen himself in the hopes of Divine assistance knowing the Infinite value of his Soul and believing the Blessedness that is in reserve for it by reason of the greatness of interiour Bliss and is therefore environed with the bright Beams of his own injoyments and always beggeth of God that as Sin hath abounded so may Grace superabound that all Souls may receive the Blessed advantages of the Divine Forgiveness that all may have the Blessed Assistance of Grace to lead us into all Virtues which are themselves our Aids to bring us to Glory For these acquire good Habits and infuseâ— Grace causing us to incline to the secret Study of Felicity that we may be even now possessed with sincere and pure delights for Godliness is a kind of God-likeness a Divine Habit or Frame of Soul that may fitly be accounted the fulness of the Stature of the inward Man. For 't is an Inclination to be like God to please him and injoy him and he may be said to be God-like that is High and Serious in all his Thoughts Humble and Condescending in all his Actions full of Love and good Will to all the Creatures and bright in the Knowledge of all their Nature Covering all the Treasures of God and Breaths after the Joys of Heaven Recollecting all his broken and scattered Thoughts nothing less than the Wisdom of God will please the God-like Man for God-likeness is the comment of Amity betwixt God and Man Eternity and Immensity are the Sphere of his Activity and are often frequented and filled With his
Thoughts he must injoy God or he can enjoy nothing nor himself for nothing will satisfie him but the Glory of his great Creator the great Counsellor of Nature and the perfect Beauty of the whole Universe And to be exalted to this frame is a very sublime and glorious perfection and Blessed are all those that are thus Beautified in their Minds and are Blessed with such an Angelical Soul and are thus curiously acquainted with these things I heartily wish that all that shall happen to peruse these things may be a little higher elevated with the true inward Sense of what is here described and with the secret Perfection of the Decrees of God and the Nature of his Divine Essence that they may be worthy to partake of his sublimity and hereby aspire to dwell with him for ever and covet the Treasure of his Immensity and be able to expaciate therein by being Blessed with the Wisdom of an Angel in being as Divine and Heavenlly by being truly eminent in inward and outward Worth not being either weak or defective For Virtue is base and not Virtue while it is remiss or not carried to the highest pitch 't is possible for then it is that their Glory shall suâ—mount the rage of their Enemies and their true worth continue Immortally shining throughout all Kingdoms and Ages for ever Inheriting the benefits of their own Virtues in the Peace and Tranquility of their own happy Condition and this because they have been prepossed with true gratitude and felicity and in all their actions been Cloathed with Meekness and a condescending behaviour having been highly kind and serviceable in their Generation free from the spots and blemishes of the World having frequently arrived to an universal Applause and truly deserved to be exceedingly Honoured by all People for it 's a very hard matter to Hate a very excellent Person No Man was ever uppraided for being a Wise and Gallant Man but it often happens that for some Infirmity that a good Man have he may suffer the misfortune of being censured but meerly for being Good or Wise 't is not usual to suffer reproach contempt or slander for it would be cruel for being Wise and Good Holy and Chast Just and Liberal Honest and Merciful Meek and Couragious to be vilified Perhaps he may be censured and haâ—â— at his first setting out but when he have made a gooâ— proficiency in Goodness he will be sure to overcome the rage and malice of his Enemy because he have made himself Eminent and Conspicuous and therefore is admired by all that love Virtue because he is a Man of intire and approved Virtue well known for a Person of Honour and Worth and therefore the first envies and censures abate because he hath long exercised Virtue and Goodness with great Activity and Courage Prudence and Wisdom Thus Moses after his long Meekness and invincible Fidelity to the Jewish Nation was in the close of his Life most exceedingly Honoured by all People and injoyed a veneration of high Degree for his Glory surmounted the rage of his Enemies and he will for ever continue Immortally shining throughout all Kingdoms and Ages All good Men delight in his Eternal Praises for he is now glorified and admired for his Sanctity He therefore is a full and adequate Object of our early humble Imitation not in working Miracles but in Meekness Love and Magnanimous Actions enriched with Liberality and made bright by Knowledge guided by Wisdom to the highest end every action being mixt with Gravity and Chearfulness for in the due use of these means we may actually injoy all Blessedness and Glory Righteousâ—ness Holiness and Goodness Love and Christian Charity are the true Lineaments and Colours of suchy Menâ— Minds for these are the true Ornaments of every Blessed Soul they shine upon the Face and make him Glorious in the perfection of Beauty This Man is 〈◊〉 Humility and yet all injoyment amazed at its owâ— nothingness and vileness yet at the same time ravished with wonder at the height of his Felicity and yet this is no Paradox for the whole System of Religioâ— is Mysterious for the lower the Man is in his owâ— Eyes the more doth the goodness of God appear in â—im and the more transcendently Sweet is his Adoratiâ—â— and Satisfaction by his gratitude he Sacrifices himbâ—â— to the Deity Pride aimeth at the utmost height of Esteem and Honour and is feed by its own Beauty and Glory yet Foolishly undermineth the Person it would advance with the greatest baseness and shame imaginable it devours the Beauty which ought to feed it and destroys the Glory in which it delights The higher the greater the more perfectly Glorious and Blessed the Person is that is exalted is the baseness and ingratitude of Pride and is therefore the dregs of Impiety and forfits and renounces all delights and blackens whatsoever might appear auspicious which provokes detestation in all that delight in the Truth for this turns the brigthness of Seraphims into the abominations of Devils Fifthly Some Men imperfectly Virtuous abhor others for being more excellent than themselves at â—east for being more Honourable and more Prosperous but this proceeds from a naughty and a vitious Heart unacquainted with the Truth of Goodness and the true Aâ—mity of real Virtue For true Goodness is excellent from the quality of its Object and all that have true Goodness dwelling in them will undoubtedâ—y venerate it and all those in whom they find it for whosoever is so happy as to be truely Good will with Moses wish that all the Lords People were Prophets and that every Soul were a Fountain of Delights For it 's a Beautiful thing to be exceeding Good for there â—s an infinite and eternal force in true Goodness it â—ideth Luster and Beauty to all that are Blessed therewith for it 's Beautiful thing to be exceeding Good or every degree hereof have exceeding Sweetness in it and these are filled with hope Divine and have infinite Felicity in their Daily view they know their Duâ—y and their Master and the infinite value of their Souls and have a fore tast of interior Bliss Being acquainted with the true Habits of Divine Grace and are as it were prone to Celestial Epicurisme if may be premitted so to speak by being really engaged in the true Study of Felicity A Pious Man hath great Treasures high Honours pure Pleasures having a true tast of infinite Delights but is not ravished with Temporal Pleasures nor Treasures not melting with these nor flinching at any Temporal distresses for neither of these can move the fixed Mind of a true good Man for his Thoughts Divine are upon higher Objects for his inward Stature is miraculous and his Complexion Divine he pities poor vitious Princes that are oppressed with Heavy Crowns of Vanity whether of Gold or Emralds whose Souls ought to be endued with Generous and Noble Principles that they may be worthy the infinite perfections of the great God who
and Power when the Motion of the Blood Humours and of the Animal Spirits or of the Fibres of the Brain which is the Organ of the Internal Sense which are annexed the Species of things that is to say the Impressions which remains of the Objects are disordered and embroiled in such sort that the Natural Order and Connexion of these Species cannot be observed and kept but are confusedly and tumultuously excited and stired up by a tumultuous and irregular agitation of the Organ in which they reside from whence comes necessarily that kind of Folly which consists in a disorder and a fantastick Confusion of Thoughts without Order and Dependance or Connexion because the Fibres of those Parts of our Bodies arâ— scorched up on which the Soul usually acts and to say this may not shake a Truth so well Establisheâ—â— and Proved that it needs no further Illustration therefore let it be our Care and Study to seek thâ— Kingdom above rather than to puzle our selves in the nicities of Nature or the manner how our Soul acts in our Body for better it is that the Soul and Body be free from pollution than to understand all the knowledge our Nature is capable of being enlightned with for 't is not he that understands al Mystâ—ies or all Secrets but he that is Obedient and Dutiful to the Divine Laws that shall be filled with Joy in the Heavenly Ierusalem that Place of spotless Purity where no Impure thing can dwell Wherefore our Lord chose rather to Suffer any Indignity than that we should continue in the Guilt of Sin because any pollution unquallifies us for his Kingdom and Robs us of the Happiness of being meet to be Citizens thereof For since Fruition is the end of Knowledge it is of great moment to us so to demean our 〈◊〉 as not to be unfit for the Union of Glory and amongst other aspiring Knowledge the due Knowledge of a Mâ—â—â—s self is highly conducive to attain to this Happiness for such a Knowledge shews him the Humility of the Frame he ought to be in to qualify him to be worthy to enter into this Glorious City where every Holy Soul will be beloved of Angâ—ls and admired of Men Such qualified Persons beâ—â—g the true Friends of God seeing they have defined to Wâ—â—ship God in the inward Court of their Souls as well as in the out Court of his Sanctuary and in the admiration of him in all his Works of Wonder for there is nothing of more concern to us than to be truly sensible of his exceeding Mercy which ought to be deeply It graven in all ouâ— Minds so as to raise our Sons to a high pitch of Gratitude for all the benefits we have momently received from him the rememberance of each of which are reviving Comforts and are able to cheer the Hearts of the most dejected Penitents for the true Sense of this assures them that they shall be for ever Blessed even to such a Perfection as to be Perfect Sovereigns in his Glorious Kingdom where every one will be a Sovereign Prince being Blessed with infinite Injoyments such as the beholding the unvailed Vision of God and the sweet Society of Saints and Angels where God Essence and Works will satisfie all Holy desires all Blessed wishes and eager Thirst after Purity and every Heavenly Injoyment 5. The Will which is that Invincible and Insurmountable movement which pusheth on all knowing Natures towards God is without doubt and Operates perpetually in Just Souls and in Reprobated Souls but it is there and Operates there very diversly The Just Souls have found the good they sought they are arrived to the term they have so long persued they imbrace it they possess it they lose themselves they plunge themselves drown and ingulph themselves in it When they are arrived to the Place of their repose to the Center of their Desires to the port of their Wishes they have nothing more to follow to search after in this Fortunate State they pâ—ssess because they taste with an inexplicable Tranquility and an incomprehensible Satiety the Soveâ—eign good and therefore are fully satisfied content and quiet But this Tranquility and this Satiety does â—â—t lull them to Sleep nor ever cloy them the Will â—atisfied and arrived to its term does not cease proceeding on always It Operates and Sturs up it self Eternally in a most happy repose these Holy Souls are always satisfied and always a Hungary always at quiet and always sturred up they Will and Desire always that which they have and would always have more for they are immediately United to the Sovereign good and to all his Joys and are always till vehemently desirous of being more United to â—im Thus the Will hath its Excellency and Perâ—ection in Holy Souls without any of the Imperâ—ections it is at present subject to for now it 's not â—ble to ballance it self betwixt True and False good for at present it 's sotting and wavering betwixt the False Images of good which the Immagination and the Senses presents to it in the present State and betwixt the true and solid goods which Instinct and Reason Philosophy and Religion preposses to it It is happily drawn in by the Presence and Injoyments of the Sovereign good whose Immensity draws them and carries them by force and fastens them to his Sovereign Beauty and to his Soverigâ— Delights for it 's his Wisdom in whom they see the Source of good and as it were all the true Treasure and Foundation of Life giving Excellencies and therefore cannot be turned aside by any False good but there is a vast difference betwixt these happy Souls and the Souls oâ— the Reprobate as to their final State for as to the latter of these the Fountain of good repulses them and throws them back from the Vision oâ— Glory and in the same time wounds and transperceâ— them with a Thousand deadly Darts they are Etâ—rnally thirsting after Pleasure but have Eternally nothing but Grief Pain and Dispair for their Portion So that the Will placed in them to be the beginning and seat of their happiness is found to be the Eternal principle and seat of their unhappiness and dispair for as all the agreeable Passions will be in Holy Souls so all the Afflicting ones will be in Reprobate Souls The Dispair of the Soul lies in the seeing and perceiving the Impossibilities of a voiding Evil and the not being able to attain the good she persues which must needs be a dejection and a discouragement accompanied with profound sadness because of this crue Sentiment of Privation and yet by some is called truly and properly Voluntary because the Will is thaâ— Motion by which the Soul is driven on invincibly toâ—wards God to Unite her self and to be United to him which is the Love of God in general and maâ— be called properly Voluntary for when the goâ— which is aspired after cannot be acquired Dispair bâ— consequence succeeds for the resentment of the Appetite preceeds
Garland or a Jewel to a â—agnificent Benefactor Therefore we had need to be â—ry choice in the mixture of our Flowers and cuâ—â—ous in the enammel of so rare a Present that it may â—ove to us a Royal Diadem to adorn our Souls for 〈◊〉 Therefore to let any dirt or blemish be in it â—ould be inconsistent to our Felicity Therefore â—ight and clear apprehensions Divine and Ardent â—ffections are highly necessary to this Compleatment â—eing upon the sincerity of the affections and intenons depends the Honour of the Work it concerns every one therefore to cleans his Heart from all Impurity and Insincerity that his whole Man may be an acceptable Present to God that his infinite Immensity may graciously accept him and all his Works for his Wisdom never rejected the sincere but endews them with inward and outward Ornaments such as an infinite clesiâ—e and delight in Goodness enabling them always to Love his Eternal Majesty with an infinite Love and Deiight greatly Thirsting to be fully satisfied with him and him only for the Soul is to Noble a thing to be satisfied with any thing less than his Transcendent Majesty whose Goodness extends to all even to the Unthankful But he is most the Friend of those who delight most in him for infinite Love and eternal Blessedness are near ally'd for all Delight springs from the satisfaction of violent desires for which cause when the desire is forgotten the Delights are abated The coming of a Crownâ— and the Joy of a Kingdom is far more quick and powerful in the surprize and novelty of the Glory than the length of its continuance The greateâ— part of our Eternal Happiness consist in a greatfuâ— recognition not only of our Joys to come but oâ—â— Benefits already received True contentment is thâ— full satisfaction of a knowing Mind i. e. a long habiâ— of solid Repose after much Study and serious Consiâ—â—deration or a free and easie Mind attended with Pleaâ—sure that naturally ariseth from ones present Condâ—tion yet to be content without a true Cause is tâ—â— fit down in our Imperfections and to seek all onâ— Bliss in ones self alone and as it were to scorn aâ— other Objects which is in it self a high piece of Pride that renders a Man good for nothing but makes him Arrogant and Presumptious in the midst of his Blindâ—ness whereby he leads a living Death by shuting uâ— his Soul in a Grave in that it tramples under Foâ—â— the Essence of his Soul which in Truth turns his Fâ—licity to Malevolence and Misery or in other Word Disorder and Confusion Therefore Man is an unwelcome Creature to himself till he can delight in his present Condition provided his Condition be such as is pleasing in the sight of God for this must be the Condition that can make our pleasure exquisite For otherways we shall be tormented with the contriety of our desires The happiness of a contented Spirit consists not only in the fruition of its Bliss but in the Fruits and Effects it produceth in our Lives which makes every Virtuous Man truly Great within and Glorious in his retirements Magnanimity and Content are very near aly'd they spring from the same Parents but are of several Features Fortitude and Patience are Kindred too to this incomparable Virtue for these fill a Man with true Pleasure and great Treasure which makes him Magnanimous and truly Great not in his own Thoughts but in the sight of God The Magnanimous Soul is always awake the whole Globe of Earth is but a Nut-shel in comparison of his Injoyments for God alone is his Sovereign delight and Supreame complacency So that nothing is great if compared to a Magnanimous Soul but the Sovereign Lord of all Worlds But Man divided from God is a weak and inconsiderable Creature But every Soul united to God is a Transcendent and Celestial thing for God is its Life its Greatness and its Power its Blessedness and Perfection for he that is joyned to the Lord is one Spirit 1 Cor. 6. 20. His Omnipresence and Eternity fills the Holy Soul and makes it able to contain all heights and depths and lenghts and breadths whatsoever In a Word it 's the desire of every such Soul to be filled with the fulness of God. Magnanimous desires are the Natural results of a Magnanimous Capacity the desire of being like God of knowing Good and Evil. But in a grosser sence this was the destruction of the Old World Not that it is Unlawful to desire to be like God but to aspire to the Perfection in a forbidden way by Disobedience and following our own Inventions by seeking to the Creatures in opposition to the great Creator A Magnanimous Soul if we respect its Capacity is an immovable Sphere of Power and Knowledge far greater than all Worlds by its Virtue and Power that it passeth through all things the Centre of the Earth and through all existencies and allsuch Creatures as these he counteth but Vanity and Trifles in comparison of his true Object the great Almighty whose Transcendent Goodness desendeth in full Showers upon all Men by his communitive Goodness which is freely extended to every Man. The Seven last WORDS our Saviour spoke upon the Cross I. FATHER forgive them for they know not what they do O Lord forgive me wherein I have forgot thy Presepts and done that which is Evil. To the good Thief II. This Day shalt thou be with me in Paridise O God say to my Soul in the Day when thou takest it from my Body This Day shall thou be with me in Heaven III. Woman behold thy Son. In Futurity let me behold the Vision of Bliss IV. Eli Eli lama sabachthani that is to say My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Forsake me not in my greatest Afflictions V. I thirst Grant that I may thirst for thee the Fountain of Living Waters VI. Father into thy Hands I commend my Spirit Receive my Soul when it is returning unto thee VII It is finished Finish my Course with Joy and grant O Jesus that I may be worthily qualified to receive that sweet Voice of thine Welcome to the Kingdom prepared by my Father Meditation for the Sick. THEY that Glory in their Ancestors in the Nobleness of their Birth and Blood must make their Beds in the dark and acknowledge Corruption for their Father and the Worm for their Mother and Sister they that are already Dead and crumble away to make room from us that must come after them are secluded from Men but live with Angels Dust thou art and to dust thou shalt return Gen. 3. 19. What Man is he that liveth and shall not see Death Psal 89. 48. Our Bodies shall return to the Earth from whence they were taken but our Spirit shall return to God that gave it Eccl. 12. 7. It is appointed for all Men once to die Heb. 9. 26. We must needs dye and are as Water spilt upon the Ground that cannot be gathered up
Noble to learâ— to wait for thy Kingdom cause them to imâ—ploy their Wealth and Power in Piety for Religioâ— and Charity for the Poor let them not loosâ— their Courage in thee O King of Kings for any diffiâ—culties they meet with in their way but increase theiâ— Faith and support their Hope that they may go oâ— cheerfully in their Duty firmly trusting in thee withâ—out being removed from the Hope of a Blessed acceâ—â—tance and a sure Reward O make them diligent 〈◊〉 all their indeavours by removing all lets and hinderances of Piety cause them Religiously to trust in thy never failling Goodness which will rather work a Miracle which thy Power can do Then forsake or slight thy Servants which thy Goodness cannot let the firm assurance of this support them in every Centre of their Lives that they may always dedicate themselves to thy Service striving to be beneficial to the Poor that so at â—ength both Poor and Rich may meet together in the Kingdom of Glory to Praise the Eternal King for ever and ever Amen A Charitable Prayer for the Conversion of all Hereticks O Thou all-knowing Being have Mercy upon the Church of Rome bless her with the choicest and â—he richest of thy Blessings power on her a double Portion of thy Spirit illuminate her with thy Truth â—urge out of her all Errors Heresie and Superstition â—nd whatsoever is contrary to Truth make her such â—s she once was a Pure Spotless and Holy Church â—â—ee her from all those Abominations which now she 〈◊〉 involved in illuminate her once again with the â—right Beams of thy pure Truth that she may see â—er Errors and forsake them and cleave only to thee 〈◊〉 God that she may become such as thou canst not â—huse but love and be delighted with take from her â—hatsoever displeaseth thee make her Pure Spotless â—nd Innocent full of Charity and good Fruits free â—er from all those Superstitions and Corruptions she â—ave of late imbrac'd With her be merciful to all â—ther Churches which differ from the Ancient Truth â—ake us all one Sheepfold under one Shepherd Christ â—â—sus that we may all give thee Honor and Praise is most justly due compleat that Promise of giving thy Son the Heathen for his Heritage and the utmost parts of the Earth for his Possessions Bless the King 's Most Excellent Majesty JAMES by thy Grace of Great Brittain and Ireland Supream Governor bind up his Soul in the Bundle of Life give him a long and prosperous Reign with abundance of Peace and Plenty and when at length it shall please thee to gather him to his Fathers Crown him with Immortal Glory And with him bless his Queen with Queen Dowager their Royal Highnesses William and Mary the Prince and Princeses of Orange and the Princess Anne of Denmark make them Instruments of much Good to the Church of England and these Nations and give them a Crown of Immortal Glory in thy Heavenly Kingdom Bless all the Nobility the Judges and the Gentry with the whole Commonalty of these Nations give them all True Faith and Fear to thee their God Loyalty to our Gracious Sovereign and Brotherly Love and Charity one towards another and Bless with the choicest of thy Blessings the Clergy of this Nation the Most Reverend the Arch-Bishops and the Right Reverend the Bishops with all Priests and Deacons Grant we beseech thee that thy Grace may illustriously appear in them that by the Holiness of their Lives and the Soundness of their Doctrine they may bring many Souls to the Obedience of our Most Holy Faith and because no Man's Greatness or Wisdom can secure him from the Grave We beg thee bless all Schools and Nurseries of Piety and Learning especially the two Universities of our Land that from thence may proceed Men able and willing to tell Judah of her Sins and Israel of her Transgressions and be mindful oâ— those who suffer Affliction with Joseph comfort all those who in this transitory Life are in Trouble Sorrow Need Sickness or any other Calamity supporâ— them under and give them a happy Issue out of alâ— their Troubles bind up their Souls Wounds and fiâ—â— their Spirits with Joy and Gladness be with all those that are going through the Valley of the Shadow of Death let thy Holy Angels conduct them safe to thy Eternal Kingdom let the Blood of Jesus bespeak their Peace with thee appoint those blessed Spirits to bring their Souls safe into Bliss and Glory make us all we pray thee mindful of our Departure that from thenceforth we may be for ever happy Mean time make us all truly thankful to thee for all Spiritual and Temporal Mercy to us for the blessed Use of thy Word and Sacraments for Food and Nourishment and for all the Blessings we daily injoy Health Peace and Liberty for all the Conveniencies of this Life and for the Means and Hopes of a better O impress in our Minds the lovely Idea of thy Majesty that we may seek to worship and adore thee according to thy excellent Greatness who art infinitely worthy of all Praise Honour and Glory O inlarge our Souls to pay thee such Praises as may be in some degree worthy of thee or at least such as thou wilt be graciously pleased to accept These Mercies we beg of thee for Jesus Christ's sake To whom with thee O Father and the Eternal Spirit be all Honour Glory Power and Praise Might Majesty and Dominion now henceforth and for ever Hallelujah O Lord I beseech thee to magnify thy Power in my Preservation that my feeble Knees fains not preserve me from all unconstancy and deceitfulness of Heart that I may be presented to thee pure and unblamable Be not wroth with us very sore neither remember our Iniquities for ever but cause thy Face to shine upon thy Sanctuary which is in danger of being desolate Give Ease to those that are in Pain Supplies to all that are in Want. Give presumptious Sinners a deep Sense of their Sins and a true Sight of thy Mercies to all that are in despair that they may â—ot cast away their Confidence in thee nor place it any where but in thee Abhor them not nor cast them away in displeasure but wean all our hearts from the love of this World and dispose of us as thy all-wise Counsel have determined but câ—use us to set our Affections above where thou O King of Glory seteth at the Right Hand of thy Father to interceed for us that all our Weaknesses may be pitied our Sins pardoned our Graces strengthened and our Souls eternally saved In all our Pains of Body and Agonies of Spirit give us thy refreshing Comforts endew us with Patience and Courage Fortitude and a full measure of Faith to bear to undergo and to overcome Look with Compassion upon all poor Creatures that draw near the approaches of Death open the Gates of thy everlasting Mercy to them and receive them to thy Favour cause Death to be to them a Joyful Gate of Glory and an Entrance into everlasting Bliss for thine own bowels and compassion sake Amen A Prayer for a Member of the Church of England O Lord take not off thy afflicting hand till I am reformed and my Sins consumed suffer me never to receive the least check against nor disaffection to the True Religion Established in the Church of England Let me return an humble denial to all that shall propose such an unreasonable Question to me but if my denial will not suffice in this case give me courage rather to part from my Life than to forsake my Faith and if my case be so happy give me Grace with chearfulness to pray for my Persecutors though dying by their Cruelty that I may deeply impress constancy and true courage in the hearts of all my Spectators that we all may sacrifice our Wills to God before our Bodies and both whenever it shall please him to require them at our hands assist us in the doing this by the powerful Operations of thy Divine Grace which we beseech thee always plentifully to supply us with for thy Mercy sake Amen O Lord have Mercy upon our Parents let thâ— Souls be bound up in the bundle of Life grant them Grace to live a quiet and peaceable just and honest Life here that when they come tâ— die they may live with thee and thy Christ in thâ— Heavenly Kingdom Look not upon their Merit but pardon their Offences for thy Bowels anâ— Compassions sake to whom be all Honour and Glorâ— World without end Amen A Prayer at receiving the Holy Sacrament O Lord and Heavenly Father we thy humble Seâ—â—vants beseech thy Fatherly Goodness to looâ— down from Heaven thy Holy Habitation thâ— Throne of thy Glory with an Eye of Pitty and Compassion upon us thy Servants let not our Sins hindeâ— our Prayers from ascending up unto thee or prevenâ— thy Mercies coming down upon us but come we pray thee and Sanctifie these Souls and Bodies oâ— ours and make them fit Habitations for thy Holy Spirit to dwell in and come Sanctifie these thy Creatures to the end for which we receive them that the receiving the Blessed Sacrament may be unto us for the Conformation of our Faith for the Strengthning our Hope and for the Pardoning of all our Sins and for the increase of all thy Graces in us that the Palâ—ate of our Souls may be so changed thereby that we may relish nothing besides thee but Hunger and Thirst after this Bread of Life and Cup of Salvation till we change this place of Misery to enjoy thy Presence in thy Heavenly Kingdom for ever and ever Amen FINIS ERRATA PAge 1. line 6. for whose read what p. 7. l. 21. r. the Judge of p. 24. l. 2. r. nor repine p. 70. l. 29. 〈◊〉 exclude