slight her Her drousy Conscience also now awakes Alas she startl'd much she weeps she quakes She crys out for a Christ but non's in sight And all her other Lovers fail her quite She yields she loves but with a servile heart When other Lovers slight her and depart She loves thee not Lord Christ for what thou art But what thou hast and should she spared be She 'd shew her love to Sin more than to thee No sooner the sad Soul her state laments But bowels mov'd in Jesus he relents In her afflictions he 's afflicted too And can't be long e're he 'l compassions shew He sent relief he eas'd her of her pain And rais'd her up to former health again But as 't was hinted so it came to pass The wretched Soul proves vile as ere she was Affliction will not bring to Jesus's feet Unless great Pow'r do go along with it The Soul 's like Phar'oh crys when smitten sore Then then for Christ and O'twill sin no more But when rais'd up and has sweet health restor'd It cleavs to Sin afrecsh forgets the Lord. But the affections of the Prince of Peace Abated not but rather did increase His love and patience both alike shine forth To ' stonishment of all who live on Earth And that he might obtain the Soul at last His Servants call'd and sent away in hast To recommend his love and in his stead To o'pe those precious Glories which lie hid To her and to all those who carnal be Alas they ca'nt behold they cannot see Those high perfections which in Jesus are Nor can they think his beauty is so rare Exceeding all conception all compare Dear Reader prethee mark what here insues Mind mind the Arguments this man dos use To move the Soul to tears of true contrition Fetch'd from Christ's love and from her lost condition Theologue By Jesus sent by such a Prince as he Ah! 't is a work too great too high for me What glory Lord hast thou conferr'd on those Thou do'st imploy thy secrets to disclose What! be a Spokesman for a Prince so great To represent his Love and to entreat Poor Sinners in his stead to entertain His Sacred Person Lord I 'le try again Since thou command'st me forth what may be done Thou bidst me go my duty is to run Did Abraham's Servant readily comply With his Command with great'st fidelity And shall I be unfaithful unto thee No Lord I will not do but strengthen me Prosper my way and let me have success That I with him thy Sacred Name may bless And how shall I poor nothing I rejoice To see the Soul thy Spouse thy Father's choice What next thy love 's so sweet Lord unto me Than to bring in poor Sinners unto thee CHAP. II. Shewing the evil of Sin and how compar'd HAIL precious Soul once glorious noble born But now debas'd defil'd in garments torn Nay naked quite yet mindst it not at all Thy wounds do stink and Vipers in them crawl So many sins of which thou guilty art So many Serpents cleave unto thy heart Whatâ—s Sin is 't not a frightful Cockatrice No Serpent like the Serpent called Vice And dost thou love to play with such a thing Ah fool take heed view view its poisonous sting Brute Beast by Natur 's instinct are aware Of the gilt bait and sence-beguiling snare Though it seems ne'r so sweet or ne'r so fair And art thou such a fool to hug a Snake And in thy breast such great provision make That it may harbour there both day and night Ah! Couldst thou see or hadst a little sight 'T would soon appear a very loath'd delight No evil like the evil called Sin Which thou dost love which thou tak'st pleasure in For what is Sin is 't not a deadly evil The filthy spawn and off-spring of the Devil And is thy mind on folly wholly bent What love the Devils odious excrement Shall that which is the superstuity Of naughtiness be lovely in thine Eye What dost thou value Christ and all he hath Not worth vain joys and pleasures on the Earth Has he so much esteemed thee and must Thou value him less than a cursed Lust Dost thou more good in that soul Brat espy Than is in all the glorious Trinitie That which men judge is best they strive to chuse Things of the smallest value they refuse O wretched Soul what thoughts dost thou retain Of thy dear Lord and blessed Soveraign Come view thy choice see how deprav'd thou art In judgment will affection thy whole heart Is so corrupt defiled and impure Thou canst not Christ nor Godliness indure Again what 's Sin is 't not a trait'rous Foe A Traytor unto God and Rebel too It first of all against him took up Arms And made his Angels fall by its false charms Nought is so contrary to God as that Nor more the perfect object of his hate The Devil was God's Creature good at first 'T was sin that made him hateful and accurst Sin ne'r was good its essence is impure Evil at first so now so will indure And darest thou O Soul conceal this Foe Nay hide him in thy house and also show Such deared love to him as to delight In his base company both day and night Nay sport and play and merry be with him What Gods dos hate and loath dost thou esteem Dost not O Soul deserve for this to die What greater crime what greater enmity Canst thou be guilty of or canst thou show Than thus to harbour God's most traitrous Foe The chiefest room he can always command Whilst my dear Master at thy door must stand And can't one look nor one sweet smile obtain Who is thy Saviour and thy Soveraign What 's Sin a thing that 's worser than the Devil Sin made him so sin is a thing so evil 'T is worse than Hell it dug that horrid pit 'T is sin that casts all Sinners into it No lake of Fire no Tophet had there bin For souls of Men nor Devils but through sin 'T is that which lays them there heap upon heap Sin was the cause 't was made so large and deep Sin is the fuel that augments Hell-fire Wer 't not for sin Hell-flames would soon expire And wilt thou dandle sin still on thy knee Wilt make a mock of it wilt jolly be Wilt sin and say alas I am in sport Ah! see thy folly ere thou pay'st dear for 't Is sin God's foe and is it so to thee Then part with sin break that affinitie Dissolve the knot with speed do thy endeavour Which will destroy thee otherwise for ever Nay what is Sin it is a Leprosy When Scripture so compares it may not I Call it a sickness or a loathsom sore That quite covers the Soul and spreads all o're Like to an Ulcer or infectious Biles That do corrupt that poisons and defiles The Soul afflicted and all others too That dwell with him or have with him to do Oh how
corrupt Affection's Reply One word I 'le briefly drop and speak no more Thou 'st put thy case to Conscience heresofore And what redress pray had you what didst gain Did he not gripe thee sorely for thy pain Wilt thou neglect so sweet advice as this Judgment and Conscience both may judg amiss But if thou lik'st it and canst be contented By knawing Conscience still to be tormented Then I 'le be silent and improve thy skill Yet will I love and like where I did still â—adst thou been counsel'd to forsake the Lord Would I do'st think have spoken the least word Once to dissuade thee from so just a thing Nay Soul thou oughtst nay must respect this King But whilst he 's absent whilst he dwells on high Thou hast no other Object for thine Eye Then these Consult with Conscience now do what you please But as for me I am for present case CHAP. VI. Shewing the policy of Satan in keeping the Soul from a full closing with Christ Also the nature of a bosom sin NO sooner was this sharp Encounter over But in a little time you might discover The Soul half vanquish'd by her weak opposing Sometimes resisting and then faintly closing Sometimes you 'l see her just as 't were consenting And presently you 'l find her much lamenting Beset on every side with troops of fears Which makes her to bedew her cheeks with tears Complains to Conscience hoping for relief Till Conscience cheeks her and renews her grief Sometimes she 's drawn to fix her tender Eye Upon the Gospel's pure Simplicitie Her love-sick thoughts at â—its seem to aspire As if she could pass through hot flames of â—ire And say with Peter Though all should deny Thee my blest Lord yet so will never I. But when the Soul once comes to see the Cross Its courage fails O! 't is at a great loss When she perceives she and her lusts must part O that sticks close go's to the very heart The thoughts of that is hard 't is Self-denial That puts the Soul upon the deepest tryal Some ready are to make a large profession In hopes of somewhat perhaps the possession Of Heav'n at last but straight sounds in their Ear Deny thy self come part with all that 's dear For Jesus sake Ah! this they cannot bear The Young-man ran he seem'd to be in haste But news of this did all his courage blast The gate is strait O! 't is no easie thing To for-go all in love to this blest King The way is narrow which leads unto life 'T is Self-denial that begets the strife 'Twixt Flesh and Spirit there 's a constant War They opposite and quite contraries are As Fire and Water Light and Darkness be Such diffâ—ring Natures never can agree So between these is like antipathie The flesh is like the Young-man give 's attention To what the Preacher says until he mention His bosom-sin the Lust he so much loves This makes him face about and back removes He goes away yet lov'd to hear Christ preach Up Legal works but when he came to reach His Dalilah that blow so griev'd his heart That Christ and he immediately must part His great possessions could not give to th' poor Though he had th' promise of abundance more Treasures above but being not content To pay that price for Heaven away he went How loth's the Flesh to yield that Grace may win The happy Conquest of a Bosom-sin How will it plead how wittily debate Excuse or argue to extenuate The Crime at length it yields forc'd to give way But first cry's out O give me leave to stay A year a month a week at least one day Put when it sees it cannot that obtain The loser looks and pleads yet once again Ah! let my fond my fainting breaking heart Hug it the other time before we part Much like Rebeckah's Friends the flesh appears It parts with sin but 't is with floods of tears Each has his Darling his beloved sin Whilst unconverted much delighted in Give me say some but leave to heap up Treasure And I 'le abandon all forbidden pleasure Others again there be that only prize The popular applause of being wise A name of being learn'd judicious grave Able Divines 't is this too many crave Some boast their natural and acquired parts Which take the ears of some seduce the hearts Of many simple Souls who go astray While others are for feasting day by day There 's some delight in drinking choice of Wine Whilst others are to Gaming more inclin'd That sin that finds more favour than the rest That is thy darling sin thou knowst it best O search thy bosom well pry pry within Till thou findst out thy own beloved sin That gives thee kisses that 's the lust that slays thee O that 's the cursed Judas which betrays thee Ah! see how blind how foolish Sinners are Like to rebellious Saul theyâ—l Agâ—g spare They entertain this Lust close in their heart And are indeed as loth with it to part As with a Hand or Eye and therefore she Crys out with Sampson O this pleases me Ah! I will freely part with all the rest Might I but hug this Darling in my breasâ— Souls once convicted quickly do begin To hate detest and leave all grosser sin Sins visible unto the natural Eye Such which are of the black and deepest die They are possest with such a dread and fear They 'l not touch them nor venture to come near These foul defilements nay such spots disdainf Then presently conclude they 'r born again And shall be sav'd though bosom lusts remain And if at any time some beams of light Discover secret Sin or Conscience sâ—ite Or touch the Dalilah they then begin To think of making covers for such sin Which in the secret of the bosom lies With the fair Mantle of Infirmities But if at any time the searching Word Which cuts and trys like a two-edged Sword Pierces the heart and will divide asunder The soul and spirit and e're long bring under These Soul-deluding Covers and espies Those secret Lusts which in each corner lies And doth unmask those evils and disclose The Soul's hypocrisie yea and expose It's nakedness to view unto its shame Now now the Flesh begins to change the name Of every Lust that lies so closely hidden Soul touch not saith the Lord 't is Fruit forbidden O! saith the Flesh 't is pleasant in mine eyes Yea says the Tempter Soul 't will make thee wise Taste it is sweet the liberty is thine And Wisdom is a Vertue most divine And Vertue saith the flesh will make thee shine Christ he prohibits Souls from taking pleasure In laying up their bags of Earthly Treasure For these things have in them a secret Art To steal away th' affections of the Heart Christ tells the Soul Our Hevenly Father knows What 't is we want and so much he allows Which he sees best which we contentedly Should take from him who will our wants supply
when he heard what had that wretch befel He hastned back to 'th Land of Israel But news being brought of Archilaus's Raign Soon found it needful to remove again So being warn'd of God to Galilee He turn'd aside and there at present we Shall leave him whilst we may more fully hear The great design of this his coming there Some possibly may say was 't not to take Unto himself a Kingdom and so make Himself Renowned Great and very High Above each Prince and Earthly Monarchy 〈…〉 Was 't not to take the Crowns of every King And all their Glory to the Dust to bring To set their Diadems on his own head That so the Nations might be better led Was 't not to take Revenge upon his Foes And grind to Powder all that him oppose Was it not to commence his glorious Raign That so he might the pride of Nations stain Herod t is like as you before did hear Such things might dream and it might vainly fear But wholly groundless for alas he came Not as a King to punish but a Lamb To offer up in sacrifice his Life To put an end to all tormenting strife And only gain a poor but long'd-for Wife His sole design I told you it was Love 'T was that alone which brought him from above These hardships and these pains to undergo And many more which yet we have to show For these are nothing in comparison Of those which must be told eâ—re we have done He in those parts had been but thirty year And little had he don that we can heâ—r About obtaining of the Creatures love But gloriously did then the matter move Unto the Soul who little did it mind For she alas was otherwise inclinâ—d For the Black King that had usurp'd that Land An Ill shapt Bastard had of proud command Whom having drest up in a much Gallantry He did appear so pleasant in her Eye That he before had her affections won And in her heart established his Throne Though he design'd no less than to betray And murder her in an infidious way Of which the silly Soul was not aware But fondly blind could not discern the snare Too like alas to many now a dayes Whom fawning words and flattery betrays This Imp of Darkness and first-born of Hell Transform'd by Witchcraâ—â— and a cursed Spell Like a brisk gawdy Gallant now appears And still false locks and borrowed Garments wears Then boldly sets upon her and with strong And sweet lip'd Rhetorick of a Courtly tongue Salutes her Ears and doth each way discover The Amorous Language of a wanton Lover He smiles he toyes and now and then le ts fly Imperious glances from his lustful Eye Adorns her Orient Neck with Penly charms And with rich Bracelets decks her Ivory Arms Boasts the extent of his Imperial Power And offers Wealth and worldly pleasure to her Jocund he seem'd and full of sprightly Mirth And the poor Soul never inquir'd his Birth She lik'd his Face but dream't not of the Dart Wherewith he waited to transfix her Heart There is no foe to such a Dalilaw As pretends love yet ready is to draw The Poysonous Spear and with a treacherous kiss Bereaves the Soul of everlasting Bliss If you would know this treacherous Monster 's name As you before have heard from whence he came 'T is he by whom thousands deceiv'd have bin Heav'ns foe and Satan's cursed Off-spring SIN A violater of all Righteous Laws And one that still to all Uncleaness draws Author of Whored omes Perjuries Disorders Thefts Rapines Blood Idolatries and Murders From whom all Plagues and all Diseases flow And Death it self to him his be'ng doth ow. This Monster of Pollution the undone Poor Soul too long had been enamour'd on And by the Craft his Sire Apollyon lent Doubted not to obtain her full Consent But when Apollyon saw this Prince of Peace His wrathfull spight against him did encrease So brave a Rival he could not endure But sought all means his Ruine to procure Shall I saith he thus lose my hop'd-for prey See my Designs all blasted in one day Which I have carried on from Age to Age With deepest Policy and fiercest Rage My utmost Stratagems I first will try And rather on the very Spot I le dye Thus Hellishly resolv'd he does prepare Straight to commence the bold and Impious War And now the sharp Encounter does begin A Fight so fierce no eye had ever seen Nor shall hereafter ere behold agen But first be pleas'd to take a prospect here Of the two Combatants as they appear The first a Person of Celestial Race Lovely his shape ineffable his Face The frown with which he struck the trembling Fiend All smiles of humane Beauty did transcend His head 's with Glory arm'd and his strong hand No power of Earth or Hell can long withstand He heads the mighty Hosts in Heav'n above And all on Earth who do Jehovah love His Camp 's so great they many millions are With whom no one for Courage may compare They are all chosen men and cloath'd in white Ah! to behold them what a lovely sight Is it And yet more grave and lovely far To joyn and make one in this Holy War The other was a King of Courage bold But very grim and ghastly to behold Great was his power yet his garb did show Sad Symptoms of a former overthrow But now recruited with a numerous Train Arm'd with dispair he tempts his fate again Under his Banner the black Regiments fight And all the Wicked Troops which hate the light His Voluntiers are spread from North to South And flaming Sulphur belches from his Mouth Such was the grand Importance of their sight It did all eyes on Earth and Heaven invite To be spectators and attention lend So much did ne're on any Field depend No not Pharsalia's Plains where Caesar fought And the Worlds Empire at one conquest caught Alas the Issue of that famous Fray May not compare with this more fatal Day Should the Black monstrous Tyrant Prince prevail The Hearts and hopes of all man-kind must fail But above all she who caus'd their contest Would be more miserable than all the rest Shee she poor soul for ever were undone And never would have help from any one T was for Her sake alone the War begun Some fabulous Writers tell a wonderous story And give I know not what St. George the Glory Of rescuing bravely a distressed Maid From a strange Dragon by his Generous aid This I am sure our blessed Captain fought With a fierce Dragon and Salvation wrought For her who else had been devoured quite By that Old Serpents subtility and spight But now t is time their Combate to display Behold the Warriers ready in Array Apollyon well stor'd with crafty wit Long time had waited for a season fit That so he might some great advantage get And knowing well the Prince of Light had fasted Ful forty days then presently he hasted To give him
broke which doth all Lust forbid My Sin I know from thee cannot be hid Although methinks Justice seems too severe For the whole Charge hee 'l scarcely make appear Jehovah Art guilty of that first and hainous Crime Which was committed Soul in Ancient time By him who was thy Representative From whom thy evil Nature didst derive If guilty of that one horrid Offence 'T is easie for thee to perceive from thence Thou art under my Just and fearful Curse Condemned by thy God what can be worse Soul To Adam's Sin Lord I must guilty plead Nay and to many an actual Evil Deed. Divine Justice The Prisoner does confess her vile offence And now there needs no further Evidence Shall Execution Lord on her be done How canst thou bear such a Rebellious one Lord let me straightway strike the fatal blow Let her with vengeance to Hell-torments go She 's guilty even by her own Confession Of heaping up Transgression on Transgression She 's in my Debt she cannot it disown And I demand my Right Come pay it down Ten thousand Talents Soul thou owest me Which must be paid and that full speedily Soul That I am in thy Debt I don't gainsay But I have not one farthing now to pay Some pity show I for forbearance cry Since thy Demands I cannot satisfy Justice Full satisfaction 't is that I must have In vain from me you compositions crave My Name is Justice and my Nature so I never did nor can I mercy show Soul If there 's no mercy then my state is sad And never was there any News so bad For Adam's seed who under Sin do lie All then must perish to Eternity Theologue That God is gracious Soul is not deny'd Yet Justice will also be satisfy'd Consider if thou canst the matter reach One Attribute God never will impeach To magnify another He 's so Just As to take vengeance on each Sin and Lust Each Attribute know thou assuredly Must meet together in sweet Harmony Soul What will thy Wrath O Justice then appease Upon what terms wilt thou afford some ease To me after this terrifying News Vouchsafe to tell the means that I must use To satisfie a Judge that 's so severe And will not of sweet Acts of pardon hear Justice There 's nothing can appease me that is less Than a compleat and perfect Righteousness Like that thou hadst whilst thou in Eden stood Nothing save this will do thee any good What e're is due to me of the old score Must be paid down or never any more Will the great God with thee concerned be On gracious terms of Peace and Amitie A Sacrifice can only make thy peace That that alone will cause my wrath to cease Soul If that be all I 'le get a Sacrifice Let me consider what shall I devise A thousand Rams and Rivers of sweet Oil I 'le offer up but for one gracious Smile With fat of firstling Lambs I 'le Heaven invoke And purest Incense up like Clouds shall smoke Each Morn Iâ—le sacrifice whole Hecatombs With Frankincense and sweet Arabian Gums I these O Lord I offer up to thee Mâ—â— they atone for mine Iniquity Justice Oh no! give o're those trifling low designs The Eastern Spices and the Western mines United are too mean an Offering To satisfy this great incensed King In such poor offerings God does take no pleasure Couldst Thou therefore procure all Europes Treasure Nay all the Wealth that in the World has bin ' Tould not his wrath appease for one small sin Shouldst thou thy dearest Son or Daughter take For Sacrifice 't would no Atonement make The fruit of thine own Body were in vain For thy Soul's sin a pardon to obtain No Friend or Brother can'st thou now find out To pay thy Ransom or release thee out Their Riches never can be help for thee Nor once redeem thy Soul from misery Nay couldst thou yet ascend to Heaven above And holy Angels with compassion move For to engage for thee and signify That in thy stead and for thy sake they 'd die It would not do for in them 's no such worth As to remove thy guilt appease God's wrath Their Glory 's great as holy Scriptures show Yet all they have and are to God they owe. They cannot help thee in thy great distress Nor satisfy the Law thou dost transgress In brief look where thou wilt no Balsam's fouâ— In any Creature for to cure thy wound No Surety can'st thou get then come away Eternal Torments must thy Reckoning pay Soul Hold hold thou art too hasty and severe To one word more I pray thee lend an Ear. I will amend my life if this be so The Promise runs to such as truly do Their Evil courses leave I hope hereby Thou wilt some pity show not let me die Divine Justice â—ond Soul though such thy promises indeed So often broke deserve but little heed Yet grant thou shouldst henceforth with strictest care Endeavour thine offences to repair Couldst thou so live as never to sin more Will this dost think pay off thy former score Can thine imperfect Righteousness to come Discharge of by-past ills so vast a sum When even that which thou callst Righteousness It self wants pardon and must Guilt confess When thy Bond 's su'd thou dost thy self forget To offer menstruous Rags to pay thy Debt For what is past not future I demand And thou shalt feel the rigors of my hand Soul Lord then I 'm drown'd in an Abyss of seats If hearty Sighs nor penitential Tears Can wash me clean nor yet relieve my wo My case is desp'rate what shall Mortals do Divine Justice If thou with Tears couldst the vast Ocean fill Or grieve till thou thy self with sorrows kill And make ten thousand Rivers with thy blood 'T would not contribute the least dram of Good Nay couldst thou live and never more offend Yet for old sins to Hell I must thee send To th' place of Execution thou must go Lord shall I strike O shall I strike the blow Lo here the Soul condemned wretch doth stand My Ax is up if thou but giv'st command I presently will cut her down with Ire Fit fewel for an Everlasting fire Divine Mercy Stay Justice hold forbear to strike shall I My Glory lose to all Eternity Though thou art just as just as God can be Yet something Mortals still expect from me 'T is gracious Love and pity I afford In me shines forth the Glory of the Lord In me God doth O Justice take delight Though thou art pleasant also in his sight How shall we both then meet in Harmony And shine in spendor to Eternity Divine Wisdom I have found out the way which will you both With equal Majesty and Glory cloath God is as just as Justice doth require And yet as kind as Mercy can desire Here is a glorious Prince come from above Who all obstructions quickly will remove Which in the way of the poor Soul doth lie And you appease
do men fly from the Pestilence And wilt not thou learn wisdom Soul from thence Sin is a plague that kills eternally All souls of men unless they swiftly fly To Jesus Christ no Med'cine will do good Nor heal this plague but this Physicians Blood What blindness is there then in thy base heart 'T is not the plague th' Physician must depart Thou shutst the door wilt not let him come in Whose purpose is to heal the plague of sin Nay what is sin 't is poison in a Cup That 's gilt without and men do drink it up Most earnestly with joy and much delight Being pleasant to the carnal appetite Sin 's sâ—cet to him whose soul is out of taste But long alas its sweetness will not last Sin 's sweet to th' flesh that dos it dearly love But to the Spirit it dos poison prove Hast hast thou suck'd this deadly poison in And dost not see thy vital parts begin To swell art poison'd Soul look look about To get an Antidote to work it out Before it is too late The poison 's strong Don't stay a day twelve hours is too long One dram of Grace mixt with repenting tears The grace of perfect love that casts out fears Mixt with that Faith which kills all unbelief Took down with speed will ease thee of thy grief Will purge thy soul and work by vomit well And all vile dregs of venom 't wil expel Unless thou vomit up each dreg be sure No hope of life one sin will Death procure Unto thy soul Repentance is not right Till sin nay every sin 's forsaken quite Not only left but as a poisonous Cup They greatly loath what e're they vomit up No evil like the evil called Sin Which thou dost love which thou tak'st pleasure in Again what 's sin it is an horrid Thief Or a Deceiver nay it is the chief Or grandest Cheater too that e're was known He has rob'd thousands nay there is but one That lives or e're has liv'd but rob'd have bin By this great Thief by this Deceiver SIN No petty Padder his ambitious Eye Doth search about he subtilly does spy Into the place where all the Jewels lie The first he seizes is the Jewel Time He 〈◊〉 robs each Soul of all their prime And chiefest days which mercy doth afford Which should be dedicated to the Lord. And more then this not one good thing they have But them of it does this curst Thief deceive Sweet Gospel Grace nay and the Gospel too And all that glory which they also do Confer on us Souls are deceiv'd hereby And yet they know it not they don't espy The way it works it 's done so secretly Sin robs the soul of its sweet Jewel Peace And in its room do's grief and anguish place Who ever doth this grievous loss sustain Can't have it made up unto him again By Treasures of all Kingdoms here on Earth No valuing it no knowing of its worth Another thing this Thief has in his Eye And lays his Fingers on then by and by Doth bear away it is the Jewel Soul A loss which mortals ever shall condole For had a man ten thousand worlds to lose The loss of them far better had he chose Than lose his soul why would you think it strange What shall a man for 's soul give in exchange There 's one rich Jewel more and 't is the chief That is aim'd at by Satan and this Thief Ah! 't is a thing more worth than all the rest How how can then the value be exprest It is a precious Stone that shines so bright It doth the heart of the great God delight He loves it dear 't is that his eye 's upon And nought he prizes like this precious Stone This Stone poor Soul he offers unto thee What sayst thou to 't canst thou no beauty see No worth in that which God accounts so rare Strange ' t is shall I the cause of it declare Sin blinds thine eyes and dos beguile thee so Thou for a Pepple lets this Jewel go This stone know thou is the Pearl of great price Let not this base Deceiver thee entice To slight dear JESVS wilt be such a fool To lose thy time thy Christ peace and thy soul Be thou more wise and more considerate Thou dost alas thy pleasures over-rate Let 's go to th' ballance prethee Soul let 's weigh The Pearl of price make hast and quickly lay Into the scales the flesh and loads of pleasure For honour all the acts of mighty Cesar And cast whole mines in too whole mines of treasure Add world to world then heap a thousand more And throw them in if thou canst find such store And see which ballance of them is too light Lo it is done and thine 's such under-weight It seems as if thy scale was empty quite Let 's take the Pearl out and then le ts put in An airy bubble now let 's weigh agin See see fond Soul thy scale aloft dos fly There 's nothing in 't 't is less than vanity What folly was 't to make the first compare What weigh the world with Christ no need is there To run that parallel thou now mayst find Thy self deceiv'd thou labour'st for the wind For sin 's compos'd of nought save subtil wiles It fawn's and flatters and betrays by smiles It 's like a Panther or a Crocodil It seems to love and promises no ill It hides its sting seems harmless as the Dove It hugs the Soul it hates when vow 's tru'st love It plays the Tyrant most by gilded pills It secretly insnares the Soul it kills Sin 's promises they all deceitful be Does promise wealth but pay us poverty Does promise honour but dos pay us shame And quite bereaves a man of his good name Does promise pleasure but does pay us sorrow Does promise Life to day pays Death to morrow No evil like to th' evil called Sin Which thou dost love which thou tak'st pleasure in Again what 's Sin a second Dalilah Which in the bosom lies does tempt and draw The Soul to yield unto its cursed ways And resteth not until it quite betrays It's Life into the proud Philistines hands Who take and bind it with base churlish bands Nay and most cruelly puts out its eyes Makes it grind in their Mill. Devils devise All this and more then this when they do get The poor deluded Soul into their net Lastly what 's Sin read thou the former Part Of this small Book O view the bitter smart Thy Saviour bore it pierc'd his very heart Think thou upon his bloudy Agony 'T is that opes best its hellish mysterie And shews the venom which in it dos lie No evil like the evil called Sin Which thou dost love and tak'st such pleasure in Had evil man's fool-hardiness extended No further than himself and there had ended 'T were not so much but O! I do espy Another is much injured thereby Ten thousand times more excellent in worth
Eternal I Give forth the Sentence Thou shalt surely die 'T was I that curs'd the Serpent who remains Unto this day and shall in lasting Chains When Cain did shed his righteous Brother's bloud I sentenc'd Cain 't was I that brought the â—lood Upon the Earth By me the World was drowned Proud Babels Language was by me confounded I am Jehovah's everlasting Word Who in my hand do bear th' two-edg'd Sword 'T was I and only I that did Command The dismal darkness in the Egyptians Land 'T was at my Word the Seas divide in twain And made an even passage through the Main At my Command Pharaoh and all his Host Were utterly within the Red-Sea lost 'T was I that made Belshazzâ—rs joints to quake And all his Nobles tremble when I spake 'T was I that made the Persian Monarchs great And threw them with the Grecians from their Seat I say the Word and Nations are distress'd I spake again and the whole World 's at rest Let all Men stand in fear and dread of me I was the first and I the last will be All knees shall bow to me when I reprove And at my Voice the Mountains shall remove The Earth shall be dissolved at my Threat And Elements shall melt with fervent heat My Word confines the Earth the Seas the Wind I am the great Jehovah unconfin'd 'T is I divide between the joints and Marrow No place so close no cranny is so narrow But like the Sun 's bright beams I enter in Discovering to each heâ—rt the darling Sin That lodges in the Soul 'T is I alone Who by my piercings make them sigh and groâ—n If from true sense and sorrow they complain I graciously bind up those wounds again 'T is I that save the humble and contrite And do condemn the formal Hypocrite My circuit's large I coast the World about No place nor secret but I find it out All Nations of the World I rule at pleasure To my Dominion's neither bound nor measure Therefore dear Soul chear up and do not fear I 'le confound all thy Foes both far and near And now I do command to bring to th' Bar That inward Foe Old-man I wo'nt defer His Tryal lâ—nger his Indictments read And he had leave and liberty to plead And on his Trial he deny'd the Fact But Conscience swears she took him in the act And other witness too but to be brief All prove him the Soul's Foe nay and the chief And only cause of all the horrid Treason Acted against the Lord unto this season He was deny'd to speak the Proofs being clear You shall therefore his fatal Sentence hear Come thou base Traytor impure Mass of Sin That Villain-like dost seek revenge agin Upon the Soul and striv'st to raise up strife Nay thirsts again to take away her life Hear hear thy Sentence Old-man thou must die I can no pity shew nor mind thy cry Thy Age away 't is pity thou hast bin Spared so long when guilty of such Sin Soul thou must see to bring him in subjection With every evil lust and vile affection This heap of Sin thou must strive to destroy That so thou maist all perfect peace enjoy Under the strictest bonds let him abide Till he is slain or throughly crucify'd The Old-man being sentenc'd and confin'd The Soul is consolated in her mind Affection Judgment Will do all rejoyce And are united now O happy choice Ah! she admires the excellence and worth Of her Beloved that she sets him forth As one that 's ravish'd in the contemplation Of his great Glory and her exaltation In this her sacred choice and this so raises Her ravish'd senses that Angelick praises She thinks too low O now she doth discover And not till now th' affections of a Lover There 's nothing now so tedious as delay Betwixt the ' spousal and the Marriage-day Her former joys in which she much delighted She treads them under-foot they are quite slighted Nay altogether loathsom in her Eye Compared with his sacred Company Unto the place where he appoints to meet her Thither she runs with speed there 's nothing sweeter Nay there is nothing sweet nothing is dear Or pleasant to her if he be not there O! saith the Love-sick Soul in such a case May I but have one kiss one sweet Imbrace O how would it rejoyce this heart of mine His Love is better than the choisest Wine His Name is like an Ointment poured forth And no such Odour e're enrich'd the Earth The Eastern Gums Arabian Spices rare Do not perfume noâ— so enrich the Air As the Eternal 〈◊〉 renowned Fame Of his most preciâ—â—s and most glorious Name Perfumes my Soul 〈◊〉 elevates my voice Whilst gladness fills my heart O happy choice My sacred Friend my Life my Lord and King Doth me into his secret Chambers bring Although ten thousand fall on either hand My Soul in saâ—ety evermore shall stand Tell me my Lord tell me my dearest Love Where thou dost feed whither the Flocks remove And where they rest an Noon in soultry gleams Bring me into those Shades where silver streams Of living Waters flow most calm and still There there I 'le shelter there I 'le drink my fill The Fountains ope O see it runs most clear Green Pastures by a â—â—odg is also near To hide in â—afety and to saâ—e from fear Of scotching heat â—â—der this shade I 'le rest My Love shall be inclosed in my breast My heart shaâ—l be 〈◊〉 lodging-place for ever Nothing shal me from my Beloved â—ever The terrors of the Night shall never harm me He saves from heat in â—rosts his love doth warm me You Virgins who yet never felt the smart Of Love's soul-piercing and heart-wounding Daâ—t If all these sacred Raptures you admire Know Virgins know that this Celestial 〈◊〉 That 's kindlâ—d in my breast comes from 〈◊〉 And sets my Soul into this frame of Love O he that has endured so much pain To gain my Love is worthy to obtain Ten thousand times more love than his poor Spouse Is able to bestow yet shall my Vows Be daily paid to him in whose sweet breast My love-sick Soul shall find eternal rest Know know I ne'r obtain'd true peace beforâ— My soul cast 〈◊〉 on this sacred shore All earthâ—y pleasures are but seeming miâ—th His presence is a Heaven upon Earth How heavy O how bitter was the Cross Once unto me to think upon the loss Or temporal comfâ—rts made me to complain But noâ— I 〈…〉 my gain Terrestrial joys as dross to me appear My joy 's in Heaven O my treasure 's there Had I all Riches of both th' India's shore At my command ten thousand times told o're My soul would loath them they should be abhor'd Being worse than dung compared to my Lord. O may these Sun-beams never cease to shine By which I see that my Beloved's mine He is my flesh and bone therefore will I Rejoyce the more in this Affinity He is my
All my soul 's to him united As Jonathaen's to David who delighted So much in him that in his greatest trouble Dear Jonathan did his affections double When David was in great distress and fear Then did his love and loyalty appear So when my dear Beloved is distrest My love to him shall chiefly be exprest But why said I distrest What can my Lord Who hath consuming power in his Word Be touch'd by Mortals what can he be harm'd Who with all strength of Heaven and Earth is arm'd No no I must recall that lavish strain No hand can touch him he cannot sustain The smallest injury from th' greatest Pow'r For in a breath he can his Foes devour But now methinks I presently espy Upon the Earth the Apple of his Eye Which are his servants nay his members dear Which wicked men do oft oppress O there My Lord 's distrest for if his Children smart O that doth pierce and wound his tender heart If cold or nakedness afflicts their souls He sympathizes and their state condoles It sick they be or if by cruel hands They are in Prison cast and under bands And there with hunger and with thirst opprest He feels their grief he is in them distrest What wrong soever they on Earth receive 'T is done to him for which my soul doth grieve To see th' afflictions of his servants here This is the fruit true loyal Love does bear Her sorrows are his woes for they alone Being his members are my flesh and bone And all make but one Body he 's the Head From whence all flows 't is he alone has shed His love abroad in this my love-sick â—eart Whereby I feel when any members smart My bowels move and tender heart does bleed VVhich makes me for his sake supply their â—eed Thus for my Christ and for his Children's sake I 'le suffer any thing yea I do take My life and goods and all into my hands To be disposed of as he commands But know for certain evermore that I For aid and help on him alone rely These pleasant Fruits O these delight the King And hereby 't is that we do honour bring Unto his Name all souls of the new birth VVho are sincere this precious fruit bring â—orth â—et not these things seem strange because to few Do bear such â—ruit believe the Maxim's true That as the Sun doth by its warm reflection Upon the Earth produce a resurrection Of all those Seeds which in the Earth do 〈◊〉 Hid for a time in dark obscurity Ev'n so the Sun of Righteousness doth shine Into this cold and barren heart of mine The precious seeds that have been scattered there Take root and blossom nay their branches bear Sweet fruit being the product of those Rays VVhich that bright Sun into my soul displays 'T is precious and most lovely in his Eye Both 〈◊〉 it Beauty and Veracity You Viâ—gâ—â—â— all who are by Love invited Into his 〈◊〉 where he is delighted With all his pleasant Fruits come come and see â—ow choice fâ—ir sweet and 〈…〉 they â—e One cluster â—ere's presented to thy view That thou mayst sâ—e and then believe 't is true Theâ—e be 〈…〉 which I 〈◊〉 nâ—w 〈◊〉 â—â—ve Joy and Peace â—ong 〈◊〉 Holiness â—aith Goodness Temperaâ—â—â— aâ—d Charity â—hese are the products 〈◊〉 th' Aâ—â—inity That 's made between me and my dearest Friend Nay moâ—e than these Eternal 〈◊〉 i' th' end But iâ— through sin thou canst not cast thine Eye On these 〈◊〉 Fruits then know assuredly VVhen th' Vintage comes and thou beginst to crave For one small taste one taste thou canst not have The â—ruitful Soul it is the King will â—â—own VVith th' Diadâ—m of Glory and Renown O let theâ—e things the Soul's affections raise In grateful Songs to celebrate the Praise Of great Jehovah who is King of Kings VVhâ—se glorious Praise the heav'nly Quire sings â—hen let us sing on Earth a Song like this 〈…〉 and I am his An Hyâ—â— of Praise to the Sacred Bridegroom PRaise in the Highest Joy betide The sacred Bridegroom and his Bride Who doth in spendor shine Let Heaven above be fill'd with Songs In Earth beneath let all Mens Tongues sing forth his Praise Divine 〈◊〉 sullen Man refuse to speak 〈◊〉 Rocks and Stones their silence break for Heaven and Earth combinâ— To tie that sacred Bridal Knot O let it never be forgot the Contract is Divine You holy Seraphims above Who do admire Jesus's Love O hast away and come With Men on Earth your joys divide Earth ne'r produc'd so fair a Bride nor Heaven a Bridegroom Another 'T is not the gracious lofty strain Nor record of great Hector's glory Nor all the conquering mighty Train Whose Acts have left the World a story Nor yet great Cesar's swelling fame Who only look'd and overcame Nor one nor all those Worthy Ninâ— Nor Alexander's great Renown Whose deeds were thought almost Divine When Vic'tries did his Temples crown But 't is the Lord that Holy One Whose Praises I will sing alone My Heart and Tongue shall both rejoyce Wâ—ilâ—t Aâ—gâ—ls all in Consort sing Aloâ—d with a melodious voice The praises of sweet â—ion's King O 't is his praise that Holy One I am resolv'd to sing alone My Heart indites whilst I proclaim The Praises of the God of Wonder My lips still magnifie his Name Whose Voice is like a mighty Thunder I 'le praise his Name and him alone Who is the glorious Three in One. Whose feet are like to burning Brass Whose Eyes like to a flaming Fire Who bringeth mighty things to pass 'T is him I dread and do admire Iâ—le magnifie his Name alone Who is the glorious Three in One. My Heart and Pen shall both express The Praises of great Juda's â—ion The sweet and fragrant Flower of Jess The holy I 〈◊〉 the King of Zion To him that sitteth on the Throne Be everlasting praise alone Whose Head is whiter than the Snow That 's driven by the Eastern Wind Whose Visage like a flame doth show 〈◊〉 all yet unconfin'd For ever prais'd be Him â—â—one Who is the glorious Three in One. I 'le praise his Name who hath revealâ—d To me his everlasting Love Who with his stripes my Soul hath heal'd Whose Foot-stool's here his Throne above Let Trumps of Praise be loudly blown To magnifie his Name alone This sacred Subject of my Verse Though I poor silly Mortal should Neglect his Praises to rehearse The ragged Rocks and Mountains would Make his deserâ—ed Praises known Who is the glorious Three in One. You twinkling Stars that Day and Night Do your appointed Circuit run Sweet Cynthia in her monthly flight Also the bright and flaming Sun Throughout the Vniverse make known The Praises of the Holy One. Let every Saint on Earth rejoyce Whom Christ hath chosen let him sing Whilst I to him lift up my Voice To sound the Praises of my King For He it is and He alone Hath made me his Beloved one FINIS There will be suddenly Publish'd another Treatise of this Author's intituled Zion in Distress or The Groans of the true Protestant Church * Sat. 6. Cessant oracula Delphis †Excessere omnes Adytis Arisque relictis Dit quibus Imperium hoc steter â—t c.