heav'n and never lookes abroad ' That crownes not vertue and corrects not Vice ' Blind to our service deafe unto our sighs 'A Pagan Idoll voyd of power and Piety 'A sleeping Dormouse rather a dead Deity ' For though alas sometimes I cannot shun ' But some prophane thoughts in my mind will run ' I never thinke on God but I conceive ' Whence cordiall comforts Christians soules receive ' In God Care Counsell Justice Mercy Might 'To punish wrongs and Patronize the right ' Sith Man but Image of the Almightiest ' Without these gifts is not a man but Beast ' God is not sitting like some Earthly state ' In proud Theater him to recreate ' With curious objects of his eares and eyes ' Without disposing of the Comedies ' Content t' have made by his great word to move ' So many Radiant Stars to shine above ' And on each thing with his owne hand to draw ' The sacred text of an eternall Law ' Then bosoming his hand to let them slide ' With raines at will whether that Law shall guide ' Like one that lately having forc't some lake ' Through a new Channell a new course to take ' Takes no more care thenceforth to those effects ' But lets the streame run where the ditch directs ' The Lord our God wants neither diligence ' Nor love nor Care nor power nor providence ' Hee prov'd his power by making all of nought ' His diligence by ruling All he wrought ' His care in ending it in six dayes space ' His love in building it for Adams race ' Hâ—â— providence Maugre Times wastfull rages ' Preserving it so many yeares and Ages ' For O! how often had this goodly Ball ' By his owne greatnesse caus'd his proper fall ' How often had this world deceast except ' Gods mighty Armes had it upheld and kept ' God is the Soule the life the strength and sinnew ' That quickens moves and makes this frame continue ' God 's the maine spring that maketh every way ' All the small wheeles of this great Engin play ' God 's the strong Atlas whose unshrinking shoulders ' Have beene and are heav'ns heavy Globes upholders ' God makes the fountaines run continually ' The dayes and nights succeed incessantly ' The Seasons in their season he doth bring ' Summer and Autumn Winter and the Spring ' God make's th' earth fruitfull and he makes the earth's ' Large sides not yet faint for so many births ' God makes the Sun and Stars though wondrous hot ' That yet their heat themselves inflameth not ' And that their sparkling beams prevent not so ' With woefull flames the last great day of woe ' And that as mov'd with a contrary wrest ' They turne at once both North and East and West ' Heav'ns constant course his heast doth never break ' The floting water waiteth at his beck ' Th' Aire 's at his call the fire at his command ' The earth is his and there is nothing fam'd ' In all these kingdomes but is mov'd each houre ' With secret touch of his eternall power ' God is the Judge who keepes continuall Sessions ' In every place to punish all transgressions ' Who void of Ignorance and Avarice ' Not won with bribes nor wrested with device ' Sans feare or favour hate or partiall Zeale ' Pronounceth judgements that are past appeal ' Himselfe is judge Jury and witnesse too ' Well knowing what we all think speake or doe ' He sounds the deepest of the doublest heart ' Searcheth the Reins and sifteth every part He sees all secrets and his Lynx-like eye Yer it be thought doth every thought descry His sentence giv'n doth never prove in vaine For all that heav'n earth ayre and sea containe Serve him as Sergeants and the winged Legions That soar above the bright star-spangled Regions Are ever prest his powerfull ministers And lastly for his executioners Satan assisted with th' infernall band Stands ready still to finish his command God to be briefe is a good Artizan That to his purpose aptly mannage can Good or bad tools for for just punishment He armes our sins us sinners to torment And to prevent th'ungodly's plot sometime He makes his foes will nill they fight for him Though then the Lords deep wisdome to this day Worke in the worlds uncertaine certaine sway Yet must we credit that his hand compos'd All in six dayes and that he then repos'd By his example giving us behest On the seventh day for evermore to rest For God remembred that he made not man Of stone or steel or brasse Corinthian But lodg'd our soule in a fraâ—le earthen masse Thinner than water britler than the glasse He knowes our life is by nought sooner spent Than having still our minds and bodies bent A souldier that a season still hath laine Comes with more fury to the field againe Even so this body when to gather breath One day in sev'n at rest it sojourneth It recollects his powers and with more cheer Falls the next morrow to his first career But the chiefe end this precept ayms at is To quench in us the coals of covetize That while we rest from all prophaner arts Gods Spirit may worke in our retired hearts That we down-treading earthly cogitations May mount our thoughts to heav'nly meditations Following good Archers guize who shut one eye That they the better may their marke espie For by th' Almighty this great holy day Was not ordain'd to dance to maske and play To slug in sloth to lash out in delights And loose the reines to raging appetites To turne Gods feasts to filthy Lupercalls To frantike Orgies and fond Saturnalls To dâ—zle eyes with our vain-glorious splendor To serve strange gods or our ambition tender As the irreligion of loose times hath since Chang'd the prime Churches chaster innocence God would that men should in a certaine place This day assemble as before his face Tending an humble and attentive eare To learne his great names dear-dread loving-feare He would that there the faithfull Pastor should The Scriptures marrow from the bones unfold That we might touch with fingers as it were The sacred secrets that are hidden there For though the reading of those holy lines In private houses somewhat move our minds Doubtlesse the doctrine preach'd doth deeper pierce Proves more effectuall and more weight it bears He would that there in holy Psalmes we sing Shrill praise and thanks to our immortall King For all the liberall bounties he bestow'th On us and ours in soule and body both He would that there we should confesse his Christ Our only Saviour Prophet Prince and Priest Solemnizing with sober preparation His blessed seales of reconciliation And in his Name beg boldly what wee need After his will and be assur'd to speed Sith in th'exchequer of his clemency All goods of fortune foule and body ly He would this Sabbâ—th should a figure be Of the blest Sabbath of eternitie That the grand Iubile
of the Hive It 's fit he should be throwne For why should he of the sweet Honey eat That the poore Bee with labour hard did get If wee doe as wee should take such great paine To prop preserve this life that 's fraile and vaine Oh how should wee then put our selves to taske To get and gaine that life which ay will last If for our bodies health wee oft will spare Our most delicious and delightfull fare Shall wee for our Soules health grudge or repine To fast from sinne or else refuse to dine If for our profit we the paines thinke small To bend and crouch to prate to cry and call Shall we thinke much unto the Lord to pray With hearty voyce and humble mind alway If the poore Smith does thinke it no great Toyle Over the fire in smoake to burne and broyle Shall wee if when the Lord thinkes good to try Our constant faith in flames refuse to dye Oh Lord I doe confesse my feet are slow My heeles are heavy and refuse to goe Into thy holy house thy word to heare And in my body I sloths Image beare My hands are Idle and my eyes are lazie My heart is dull my lips to laud thee crazie Wherefore I pray Infuse into my minde Such heav'nly grace that I may be inclinde To labour and take care for heav'nly food More then for any fading earthly Good So when this life shall cease I may be blest And live with God in a perpetuall rest Of Eating and Drinking IF that our bodyes want due food to eat How doe we labour straight to find out meat Or if with cruell thirst we be possest Till we find drinke we cannot be at rest Oh this should teach me after Grace to long Which is the Soules Refection to prolong My spirituall life and never be at rest Till with such meat and drinke my Soul 's refresht And when I doe behold the great provision For earthly Bodies from Gods loving Mission How that all creatures for our food are slaine Oh Lord thinke I If for this life that 's vaine There 's such provision in such sundry kind For life eternall to refresh the mind There 's as great plenty and as various store Of spirituall dainties If not far much mâ—re My daily food should be Christs holy body Which by the mouth of faith I swallow wholy To strengthen and refresh my sinfull minde That I may at the last true comfort finde My drinke should be my Saviours pretious blood Which quencheth sinfull thirst doth much good For all my sins It would wash quite away Oh this should be my bread and drink all day That at the last when as the dismall night Of death shall come in heav'n I may shine bright My Salt should be the sanctifying Grace Of Gods good sp'rit which I should ever place Upon the Table of a pious hart That I there with may season every part Of all my sinfull thoughts my words and deeds And every evill lust which in mee breeds Yea this should be the ordinary food Of my poore soule for her eternall good But yet at severall times there 's sundry dishes Of Beasts of Birds of divers Herbs and fishes In prosperous state there is the loving Hinde Who having eas'd his fellowes goes behinde The charitable Storke and temp rate Swallow The loving Prawne and pearle fish they may follow In this same messe to teach men of great might Gentle sobriety to doe poore right But if Adversity become our state The first dish is a Lambe immaculate The patient Sheepe the gall-lesse harmlesse Dove In this same messe should likewise have our love Th' industrious Bee the nimble painfull Ant The milke-white Lilly this messe should not want And many other things of precious kinde Which I can hardly bring into my minde And all to teach that in a cause that 's good It is a glorious thing to spend our blood And to beare patiently Gods chastising hand Like Iob at last more strenuously to stand At all times else there is much spirituall meate For our poore soules But I cannot repeate One halfe or quarter of this great variety It is enough if I can finde saciety In the least crum of any heavenly Grace That after I have finisht this lifes race I may in heaven keepe a continuall feast With Christ my Saviour in eternall rest Of the Night HOw soone doth darksome night succeed light day By this I know I have not long to stay In this fraile life which doth so quickly hast That as a day it selfe doth spend and wast But what need I to feare deaths gastly face For I am young and in a healthfull case I have not yet arrived to high noone For I in yeeres am scarsly thirty one Yet what of that for this same very night God may bereave mee of to morrowes light For cruell death with his impartiall knife Doth cut the thread of mans most wretched life Before that ten or twenty yeere's expir'd In this fraile life whereby I am requir'd To take due notice that ere long may be Deaths dart may make as quick dispatch of me And now because I undertake to write Of the similitude of darksome night I doe desire of God that I could tell Blinde errors paths and the dread paines of hell My selfe thereby to warne to take great heed That in blind errors wayes I may not tread For they will lead me to the darke Abysse Of dolefull horror where no comfort is And error in its selfe 's so smooth a way That the best falleth in it every day It is a maze which if we once get in Out of the same it 's hard to get agin And he that in it very often wanders Shall finde a troope of crooked sly Meanders But I will bring them into these two kindes Errors in life ignorance of mens mindes And here at first my senses are at strife For who can tell the errors of this life To such a countlesse number they doe grow That my Arithmeticke them cannot show The errors that in my poore soule are bred Doe farre exceed the haires upon my head If my sins rise to such a summe alone Who can the totall of all sins make knowne Under sev'n Captaines they doe march in fight Pride lechery and envious hatefull spite Cruell man-killing wrath beastly excesse In meat and drinke sloth greedy cov'tousnesse These are the chiefe wayes but there 's many more Crooked by-paths that leade men to the dore Of utter darkenesse for they doe delight To act their deeds i' th darke and out of sight So Hazael when he was left alone Kild Benhadad that it might not be knowne Achan did also hide his thievish pelfe Because that none should know it but himselfe Th' Adulterer waites also for twilight That he may act his sinne out of mens sight And the deceiver in his darke shop vents His broken wares that none knowes his intents And ev'ry sinner doth ev'n hate the
fur nay they 're not loath To take the Excrements of the poore worme Which they into brave Silke and Sattin turne Then doe they begge of fish Pearle for the Neck And find in Sea-sands pretious stones to deck Their sinfull bodies then they take great paines To Digg and delve in Earth for Golden gaines And when they have this borrowed Treasure got About the streets they jet and frisk and trot Provoking others thus to looke on them Deeming themselves better than other men But greater folly than this is not knowne For one to boast of that is not his owne Yet thus have I too oft done and was glad When I brave Cloths upon my body had Therefore I 'll now put off this Pedlers pack Which all this day hath burden'd thus my back Could I as quickly put off my foule sin And in new Robes of Grace my Soule put in As I can cast these filthy Rags aside That from mens eyes my sinfull shame doth hide Then should I be receiv'd a welcome Ghest Of Christ my Saviour to his glorious feast Where Angells Patriarkes and Prophets old Apostles Martyrs and the Saints doe hold A feast of Joy thus should I then be blest In Robes of Glory in eternall Rest Of Sleepe SLeepe is the Image and Picture of Death In which wee seeme sencelesse and voyd of breath The Bed seemes as the Grave in which we lay Our bodyes mould which turnes to dust and Clay And to the Saints death 's truly but a sleepe That doth refresh their minds and safely keepe Their wearyed Soules which when they were awake I meane alive very great paines did take To serve the Lord for which they hated were By wicked men who bended all their care To persecute oppresse and doe them wrong Therefore they doe greatly desire and long To be dissolved and to be with Christ In whom their joy and quiet doth consist Besides Christ warmed hath the earths cold bed For his beloved when he laid his head To rest three dayes therein and hath oft cald Death but a sleepe once to a Jew enthrall'd Foure dayes in grave then did he groan and weepe And said friend Lazarus doth sweetly sleepe And of the Ruler Iayrus his dead daughter He said shee slept which moved some to laughter And holy Martyres went as cheerefully To take their death as in Rose beds to ly Because they knew death to be but a sleepe Which doth refresh their Soules and bodies keepe Safe and unhurt unto that glorious day When they shall rise to live with Christ foray But unto wicked men death is a Terrour Which to remember fills their Soules with horrour If then the thought of death their minds affright How will they be amaz'd to feele his might When he doth strike them with his deadly Dart How loth will then the Soule from body part Because like friends they liv'd on Earth in Joy Well clad well fed and felt not much annoy Now if a man to mortifie one part Of his weake body In such deadly smart Is put unto that makes him groane and cry Oh then what will be the great misery For him to suffer when through every limb He feeles deaths pangs fiercely assayling him First from extreame parts Fingers Feet and Toes Then Leggs and Armes and so in order goes Through every Joynt Veine Muscle Sinew Bone Till at the heart it rests and there alone Like a besiedged Prince his Soule lookes out For helpe of friends whom shee did little doubt Would so forsake her in her extreame need To wit Youth Physick helplesse friends indeed Then doth she greatly feare tremble and quake Expecting hourely when the fiend will take Her wretched selfe And then when shee doth see The flattring Doctor parted with his fee The weeping of his wife the losse of all Jewells and brave apparell that 's not small Griefe and vexation to his wretched mind That all his wealth he so must leave behind Which hee did gather with such griefe and caâ—e To serve the Lord he had no time to spare And lastly now to thinke what will become Of Soule and body how the noysome worme Serpents and Vermin shall take for their food That dainty body which he thought too good To tread on earth or to come in the aire This will almost drive him into despaire But when he thinks his Soule must come before Hearts searching Judge and when he sees the score Of his great sins which his own conscience showes And hath not where to pay for well hee knowes He did not show his faith by living well And therefore doth deserve nothing but hell Which when the Soule doth thinke on slavish feare In wicked men doe bring them to despaire Which causeth them to fret to howle and cry To thinke how blisse they lost in hell they 'll lye For evermore in torments past expression But all this while I have made a digression From what I did intend at first to write It seemes I am misled by darksome night Of bad mens deaths in which they cannot sleepe For hellish fiends their Soules awake doe keepe Therefore I 'll pray to God that he may keepe My Soule and body so that I may sleepe In rest and peace in bed as in my grave And that in Mercy hee would freely save Both Soule and body to that blessed day Of resurrection that in heav'n alway I may with Saints and Angells shine as bright As doth the Sun and praise God day and night Of the weeke THe wisedome of the Lord did first compose The week into seav'n dayes as Moses showes Thereby to teach us how to spend our time In Meditation of his workes divine And in three weekes God hath his great workes showne The first is of the worlds creation In which the power and might of God appeares The next is preservation in the yeares And ages since till this same very houre And the third weeke doth show his love and power In the Redemption of all-fallen mankind But I am weake in body dull in minde So that not one of these I can declare As is befitting for the best that are May come farre short in such a sacred theame Therefore I onely doe intend and meane To shew each sev'rall dayes denomination And therein touch the workes of Gods creation And in this place I now will briefely speake Of mans fraile life in Davids generall weeke For he divides the life of Mortall men Into sev'n parts till threescore yeares and ten And therein I will show how pretious time Is vainely spent each age in one short Rime The first tenne yeares man is a harmelesse child And as a Lamb his life is meeke and milde But after that Goat-like he skips and Joyes In foolish vanities and Idle toyes And so till thirty man 's an untam'd Colt Heady and from all goodnes doth revolt And untill forty hee 's a sturdy Bull His limbes are strong with blood his veines are full But after that his courage
' But as the sweet baite of abundant riches ' Bodyes and Soules of greedy men bewitches ' Gold gilds the vertuous and it lends them wings 'To raise their thoughts unto the raiest things ' The wise not onely Iron well apply ' For houshold turnes and tools of husbandry ' But to defend their Country when it calls ' From forraigne dangers and intestine bralls ' Brave-minded Mars yet master of misorder ' Delighting nought but Battells blood and murder ' His furious coursers lasheth night and day ' That he may swiftly passe his course away ' But in the road of his eternall race ' So many rubs hinder his hasty pace ' That thrice the while the lively Lyquor-God ' With dabling heeles hath swelling clusters trod ' And thrice hath Ceres shav'n heâ— amber Treffe ' Ere his steele wheeles have done their businesse Oh Lord I pray grant I may make such use Of all thy creatures without base abuse That I with temperance may take and eat Wheat hearbs and fruit which are delicious meat And that the love of wine may neere intox My head and minde to make mee catch the Fox And though like Mars many doe me oppose For men and devills may become my foes Grant me such courage I may never feare Any but thee and still move in thy Spheare That having liv'd on earth Godly and well I may with thee in heaven for ever dwell Wednesday or Dies Mercurii GOd having now the Worlds wide curtaine spread About the Circuit of the fruitfull Bed ' Where to fill all with her unnumbred kin ' Kind natures selfe each Moment lyeth in 'To make the same for ever admirable ' More stately-pleasant and more profitable ' He th' Azure Tester trimm'd with Golden workes ' And richly spangled with bright glistring Sparks ' He that to number all the Stars would seek ' Had need invent some new Arithmetique ' And who to cast that reck'ning takes in hand ' Had need for counters take the Oceans sand ' Yet have our wise and learned Elders found ' Foure-dozen Figures in the heau'nly Round ' For aid of memory and to our eyes ' In certaine Houses to divide the skies ' Of those are twelve in that rich Girdle grift ' Which God gave Nature for her New-yeares-Gift ' When making all his voyce Almighty most ' Gave so faire Lawes unto heav'ns shining hoast 'To weare it biar buckled over-thwart her ' Not round about her swelling waste to girt her ' This glorious Baldrick of a Golden tindge ' Imbost with Rubyes edged with Silver frindge ' Buckled with Gold with a Bond glistring bright ' Heav'ns biaz-wife environs day and night ' For from the period Where the Ram doth bring ' The day and night to equall ballancing ' Ninety degrees towards the North it wends ' Thence just as much toward Mid-heav'n it bonds ' As many thence toward the South and thence ' Toward th'yeares Portall the like difference ' Nephelian Crook horne with brasse Cornets crown'd ' Thou buttest bravely ' gainst the Newyears bound ' And richly clad in thy faâ—re Golden fleece ' Do'st hold the first house of heavens spacious Meese ' Thou spy'st anon the Bill behinde thy back ' Who least that fodder by the way he lack ' Seeing the world so naked to renew't ' Coats th'infant earth in a greene gallant sute ' And without Plough or Yoak doth freely fling ' Through fragrant pastures of the flowry spring ' The Twins whose heads Armes shoulders knees and feet ' God fill'd with Starres to shine in season sweet ' Contend in course who first the Bull should catch ' That neither will nor may attend their match ' Then Summers guide the Crab comes rowing soft ' With his eight Oares through the heav'ns azure loft 'To bring us yearely in his starry shell ' Many long dayes the shaggy earth to swell Almost with like pace leaps the Lyon out All clad with flames bristled with beames about Who with contagion of his burning breath Both Grasse and grain to cinders withereth The Virgin next sweeping heav'ns ature Globe With stately traine of her bright Golden robe Mild-proudly marching in her left hand brings A sheafe of Corne and in her right hand wings After the Maiden shines the Ballance bright Equall divider of the day and night In whose gold beam with three Gold rings there fastens With six Gold strings a paire of Golden basens The spitefull Scorpion next the Shale addrest With two bright Lamps covers his loathsome breast And fain from both ends with his double sting Would spet his venome over every thing But that the brave Halfe-horse Phylirean scout Galloping swift the heav'nly Belt about Ay fiercely threats with his flame-fethered arrow To shoot the sparkling starry viper thorough And th' hoary Centaure during all his race Is so attentive to this onely chase That dreadlesse of his dart heav'ns shining Kid Comes jumping light just at his heels unspid Mean while the Skinker from his starry spout After the Goate a silver streame pours-out Distilling still out of his radiant fire Rivers of water who but will admire In whose cleere channell mought at pleasure swim Those two bright Fishes that doe follow him But that the Torrent slides so swift away That it out-runs them ever even as they Out-run the Ram who ever them pursues And by returning yearely all renewes Besides these twelve towards the Artick side A flaming Dragon doth two-Beares divide After the Wainman comes the Crowne the Speare The kneeling Youth the Harpe the Hamperer Of th' hatefull Snake whether we call the same By Esculapius or Alcides name Swift Pegasus the Dolphin loving man Ioves stately Eagle and the silver Swan Andromeda with Cassiopea neere-her Her Father Cepheus and her Perseus deerer The shining Triangles Medusas Tresse And the bright Coach-man of Tindarides Toward th' other Pole Orion Eridanus The Whale the whelpe and hot breath'd Sirius The Hare the Hulke the Hydra and the Boule The Centaure Woolfe the Censer and the foule The twice foule Raven the Southern Fish and Crowne Through heav'ns bright Arches brandish up and downe Thus on this day working th' eight azure tent With Artlesse Art Divinely excellent Th' Almighties fingers fixed many a million Of Golden Scutchions in that rich Pavilion But in the rest under that glorious heav'n But one a peece unto the severall sev'n Least of these lamps the number-passing number Should mortall eyes with such confusion cumber That we should never in the cleerest night Stars divers course see or discerne aright And therefore also all the fixed Tapers He made to twinkle with such trembling Capers But the seven lights that wander under them Through various passage never shake a beam Or He perhaps made them not different But th' hoast of Sparks spred in the Firmament Far from our sense through distance infinite Seemes but to twinkle to our twinkling sight Whereas the rest neerer a thousand fold To th' earth and Sea wee doe more brim behold
all ' The slimy Burgers of this earthly ball 'To th' end each creature might by consequent ' Part-sympathize with his owne element ' Therefore to forme this earthly Emperor ' He did take earth and by his sacred power ' So tempered it that of the very same ' Dead shapelesse lump did Adams body frame ' Yet not his face downe to the earth-ward bending ' Like beasts that but regard their belly ending ' For ever all but toward the azure skies ' Bright golden Lamps lifting his lovely eyes ' That through their nerves his better part might looke ' Still to that place from whence her birth shee tooke ' And this most peere-lesse learned Imager ' Life to his lovely picture to confer ' Did not extract out of the elements 'A certaine secret Chymick Quinte slence ' But breathing sent as from the lively spring ' Of his divinenâ—sse some small riverling ' It selfe dispersing into every pipe ' Of the fraile Engine of this Earthen type ' In briefe it 's but a breath Now though a breath ' Out of our stomachs concave issueth ' Yet of our substance it transporteth nought ' Onely it seemeth to be simply fraught ' And to retaine the purer qualities ' Of the inward place whence it derived is ' Inspired by that breath this breath desire ' I to describe who so doth not admire ' His spirit is spritelessâ— anâ— his sense is past ' Who hath no sense of that admired blast ' Yet wot I well that as an eye perceives ' All but it selfe even so our soule conceives ' All save her owne selfe essence but the end ' Of her owne greatnesse cannot comprehend ' Yet as a sound eye voyd of vicious matter ' Sees in a sort it selfe in glasse or water ' So in her sacred works as in a glasse 'Our soule almost may see her glorious face ' Mans compleate nature imitates the best ' And fairest workes of the Almightiest ' By rare effects beares records of its linage ' And high descent and that Gods sacred Image ' Was in mans soule ingraven when first his spirit ' The spring of life did in mans limbs inspire it ' For as Gods beauties are past all compare ' So is mans soule all beautifull and faire ' As God's immortall and is never idle ' Mas soulâ—'s immortall and can brooke no bridle ' Of Sloth to curb her busie intellect ' He Ponders all she poizeth each effect ' And mans mature and setled Sapience ' Hath some Alliance with Gods providence ' God workes by reason man his rule God's glory ' Of the heav'nly Stages man of th' earthly story ' God 's great high-Priest man his great Vicar here ' God 's Soveraigne Prince man his Viceroy deere ' O man assoone as God had framed thee ' Into thy hands he put this Monarchy ' Made all the creatures know thee for their Lord ' And come before thee of their owne accord ' And gave thee power as Master to impose ' Fit sensefull names unto the hoast that rowes ' In watery Regions and the wandring heards ' Of Forrest people and the painted Birds ' O too-too happy had that fall of thine ' Not canceld so the Character Divine ' But sith our Soules now-sin-obscured light ' Shines through the Lanthorn of our flesh so bright ' What sacred splendor will this Star send forth ' When it shall shine without this vaile of earth ' The Soule here lodg'd is like a man that dwells ' In an ill Aire annoy'd with noysome smells ' Never in health not halfe an houre together ' Or almost like a Spider who confin'd ' In her webs Center shak't with every winde ' Moves with an instant If the buzzing flye ' Stir but a string of her Lawne Canopie ' Yet without woman man 's but halfe a man ' But a wild wolfe but a Barbarian ' Brute ragefull fierce moody melancholike ' Hating the light whom nought but naught could like ' Borne solely for himselfe bereft of sence ' Of heart of Love of life of Excellence ' God therefore not to seeme lesle liberall 'To man then else to every animall ' For perfect patterne of a holy Love 'To Adams halfe another halfe he gave ' Ta'en from his side to binde through every age ' With kinder Bonds the sacred Marriage ' For God empal'd our Grandsires lively looke ' Through all his Bones a deadly chilnesse strooke ' Siel'd-up his sparkling eyes with Iron bands ' Led downe his feet almost to Lethi sands ' In Briefe so numm'd his Soul's and Body's sense ' That without paine opening his side from thence ' He tooke a Rib which rarely he refin'd ' And thereof made the mother of mankinde ' Graving so lively on the living bone ' All Adams beauties that but hardly one ' Could have the lover from the love descry'd ' Or knowne the Bridegroome from his gentle Bride ' Saving that she had a more smiling Eye 'A smother Chin a Check of purer dye 'A fainter Voyce a more inticing face 'A deeper Tresse a more delighting grace ' And in her bosome more then Lily-white ' Two swelling Mounts of Ivory panting light ' Now after this ptofound and pleasing Trance ' No sooner Adams ravisht eyes gan glancâ— ' On the rare beauties of his new-com halfe ' But in his heart he gan to leap and laugh ' Kissing her kindly calling her his life ' His Love his stay his rest his weale his wife ' His other-selfe his helpe him to refresh ' Bone of his bone flesh of his very flesh ' Source of all Joyes sweet Hee-shee coupled one ' Thy sacred birth I never thinke upon ' But ravish't I admire how God did then ' Mike two of one and one of two againe ' O blessed Bond Oh happy marriage ' That dost the match twixt Christ and us presages ' O chastest friendship whose pure flames impart ' Two soules in one two hearts into one heart ' O holy knot in Eden instituted ' Not in this earth with Blood and wrongs polluted ' Profan'd with mischiefes the prescene of Hell 'To cursed creatures that against heaven rebell ' O sacred Cov'nant which the sin-lesse Sonne ' Of a pure Virgin when he first begun 'To publish proofes of his dread power Divine ' By turning water into perfect wine ' At lesser Cana in a wondrous manner ' Did with his presence sanctifie and honour ' By thy deare favour after our decease ' We leave-behind our living Images ' Change war to peace in kindred multiply ' And in our Children live eternally ' By thee we quench the wilde and wanton fires ' that in our Soule the Paphian shot inspires ' And taught by thee a love more firme and fitter ' We find the Mel more sweet the Gall lesse bitter ' Which here by turnes heape up our humane life ' Ev'n now with joyes anon with jars and strife ' This done the Lord Commands the happy paire ' With chaste embraces to replenish
the feast of feasts Sabbath of Sabbaths endlesse rest of rests He would this day our soule sequestered From busie thoughts of worldly cares should read In heav'ns bow'd arches and the elements His boundlesse bounty power and providence That every part may as a Master teach th'illiterate rules past a vulgar reach The world 's a Schole where in a generall story God alwayes reads dumb lectures of his glory The world 's a booke in Folio printed all With God's great works in Letters capitall Each creature is a page and each effect A faire character voyd of all defect Heare this dumb Doctor study in this booke Where day and night thou maist at pleasure looke And thereby learne uprightly how to live For every part doth speciall lessons give Even from the gilt studs of the firmament To the base centre of our element The reasons why the Sages on this day Doe place the Planet Saturne to beare sway Are most conspicuous hence I 'll show his birth Coelum begot him Vesta brought him forth He was produced of the earth and sky Being the foundation of the progeny Of heathen Gods as Pluto Neptune Iove And Venus her fairefelfe goddesse of Love The time he liv'd was call'd the golden age For earth brought fruit without the Plowes tillage Men peacefull were and did to rest repose But by his sonnes there much contention rose Ingenious Saturne Spouse of memory Father of th'age of gold though coldly dry Silent and sad bald hoary wrinckle faced Yet art the first amongst the Planets placed And thirty yeeres his leaden coach doth run Yer it arrive where his carere begun He governes Moores Monks and the antient Jewes Decrepid old men and all those that use To worke in Leacher earth or on a grave To show that mens desire is rest to have Therefore the use of this day shall be this To contemplate of heavens glorious blisse You heathen Poets henceforth let be dumb Your fabled praises of Elizium For the Almighty made his blissefull bowers Better far better than what 's fain'd of yours Your's but a shadow and a fabled story But this is perfect reall solid glory For never any eye nor eare nor heart Could see heare or perceive of the least part Of that great glory yet I doe admire How heathen men so highly should aspire For in their fained stories they suppose Strange blessings love on their just men bestowes Great Iove is he that rules the ayre and sky And is adorned with great Majesty In his right hand is the Amalthean horne But in his left thunder and furie 's borne He can command all other heathen gods Rewarding Vertue Vice correct with rods With thundring stormes he makes the earth to shake And in his fury Pluto's selfe to quake But in his clemency he powreth downe Sweet Honey Nectar Vertues head to crowne His palace he doth keepe in royall sort For all the Gods attend upon his court Pallas for wisdome Venus for beauties grace Mercury there for eloquence hath place Bacchus for joy Vulcan the fiery God For zeale for love Cupid hath there abode Pan and Apollo with their musique shrill Doe all heav'ns Court with blissefull pleasure fill Thus are Pandora's or the vertuous blest And live with Iove in a perpetuall rest But whither doe I run out of my story Thus to insist on heathens fâ—ined glory O! let me now with eye of faith behold A glorious city all of beaten gold The walls of Jasper and the gates shin'd bright Being twelve in number each a Margarit The streets and lanes were paved every one With gold inlaid with pearles and pretious stone There is no need of Sun or Moone or Star For Christs bright glory passeth all these far Who sits i' th midst and shineth cleare and bright There is no darknesse nor no dismall night And from Christs throne a stream of water cleare Doth flow as Christall and there doth appeare Upon each bancke the Tree of life to grow Which beares perpetuall fruit there is no wo No griefe nor sorrow nor the dreadfull feare Of death or danger as we live in here This Citie 's breadth and length both equall are Twelve thousand furlongs each it is foure square And there the Saints keep a perpetuall feast With joy and rest that cannot be exprest Thus is this happy place describ'd by Iohn In the last Tract of his blest vision By the most glorious things that we doe know The glorious blessednesse thereof to show Now learn'd Dwines say man by his creation Hath in three places his aboad and station The first is in a narrow darksome place The second 's in this faire worlds mantled face Coelum Empyreum is the last which is In life to come place of eternall blisse Now what proportion this life doth surpasse The life we had in that most narrow place The same and much more to the Saints are giv'n In that most glorious happy place call'd heav'n For this worlds globe compared to heav'n bright Is but a point a pricke voyd of true light So I conclude as this world doth exceed My mothers wombe wherein shee did me breed For beauty pleasure joy delight and blisse So doth that palace far surmount all this And as a living man in wit and strength Beauty and learning bodies breadth and length Doth farre exceed a childe in 's mothers belly So and much more Saints in this royall City Doe far excell men on this earthly stâ—tion In beauty knowledge and in true salvation And as great horror would a Saint be in To come from heav'n to earth to live in sin As a man growne would feare to goe againe Into his mothers womb there to remaine And as the nine moneths there compar'd unto An old mans life is little even so And more Eternity doth passe all time That men here live why should I then thus rime To make conjecture what the learned are Ignorant of and I in wit am bare Therefore I 'll leave to speake of this blest place And view the jewels in this golden case First there 's the presence of the Lord of hoastâ— I meane the Father Sonne and holy Ghost The Fathers Majesty and glorious might And Christ at 's right hand deckt with wondrous light The Spirit in milk white robes of sanctity One God in three and three in unity On either side a quier of Angels sings Archangels Cherubins and Seraphins The soules of righteous men and blessed Saints Apostles Prophets Martyrs Innocents There shall appeare with crownes upon their heads For their victorious acts and worthy deeds These keepe a Sabbath in eternall iest Such glorious joy can never be exprest There 's rest no toyle there 's joy without all paine Peace without strife content that is not vaine There 's safety without feare blisse without end O! that God would my poore soule thither send For here I labour and have seldome peace Content's a rare thing vaine lasts never cease But there I should hold a perpetuall feast Sing such a sacred song as heav'n likes best Weare such a crowne as never should decay Possesse a dwelling that ne'r falls away Fully enjoy God and see his bright face Whose presence onely makes a happy place Therefore the godly say it is small paine Hell torments to endure this to obtaine Therefore I humbly pray I may so here Upon the earth live that I may appeare After my soule hath put off's mortall case Pure and unspotted in this resting place 〈◊〉 should I truly keepe a Sabbath day And in bright glory ever rest for ay 〈◊〉 with the Prophets and Apostles zealous 〈◊〉 Constant Martyrs and our Christian fellowes 〈◊〉 faithfull servants and his chosen sheepe 〈…〉 w'n I hope within short time to keepe FINIS