hear and see and bear a part In heav's heart-charming musick sacred art In that rare comfort of Mel-Melody At Christs rare Nuptials blest solemnity Come then Lord Jesus oh I cannot cease To wish my soul in thine eternal peace Give me O Lord good Stephens Eagles-eye Through thickest clouds heav'ns glory to espye Give me O Lord a voice angelicall With Heart unfeigned on thee thus to call How long O Lord how long wilt thou delay Lord Jesus come come quickly do not stay Make hast and tarry not I thee intreat And draw my soul from earth to heavenly seat For why I feaâ— Lord falsifie my fear That Satan wil 'gainst me such malice bear To cause my refractory flesh to stur My soul unto Rebellion so t' incur Thy wrath and indignation for the fame My stubborn flesh therefore Lord curb and tame O free me from this Fleshly Prison strong Wherein my soul hath fettered lyen too long Fett'red I say yea fest'red more 's my shame More art thou flâ—sh and much more I too blame Who oft with Adam fondly have aspired And with vain-glory led have oft desired The fruit o' th' Tree of Knowledge for to eat Not of the Tree of Life more soveraign meat And to be red in any other Book Much pride and pleasure I have often took Than in my Book of conscience to behold The wo whereinto sin doth me infold With wontons I oft view'd Prides Looking-Glass But not times Dyall how my dayes did pass Yea on earths follies I have fixt mine eyes Gazing on blaztng worldly vanities Yet Lord I know that as thou hast a book wherein my faults are writ on them to look So thou a Bottle hast wherein to keep My contrite tears when I for Sin do weep And though my self unworthy I agnize Unto thy throne to lift my finful eyes Yet I my self unworthy do not find To weepe before thee til mine eyes be blind Lord then vouchsafe vouchsafe I thee beseech An ear an answer to my souls sad speech O come Lord Iesus come I humbly pray Speake peace unto my soul O do not stay Bind up my wounds make whole my malady VVith the Samaratans sweet charity Into my sore powre thou the Oyle of gladness Revive my soul from sin constrained sadness O bring my soul out of this mire and mnd This sinck of sin where I too long have stood Smite off my Fetters of iniquity As thou didst Peters in captivity Stop in me all the conduits of transgression Break Satans weapons of my son's oppression Yea let my eyes be as continual Lavers To wash and clense sins ulcers stinking savours For a clean Lord I know takes delectation To have a clean heart for his habitation Give therefore grace O Lord whiles here I live That I a bil of due divorce may give Unto that harloâ— sin which too-too-long Hath by false Flattery done my soul much wrong O double treble happy were I sure If once I might put off sins rags impare Tâ—ose Menstruous cloathes wherewith I am disguised VVhereby thine Image in mee 's not agnized VVhereby in thy pure sight I am but loathed O therefore that my soul might once be cloathed VVith thy most Royal Robes of righteousness Thy seamelâ—ss spotless Coat of Holyness And therein be presented to the Sight Of my great Lord the Father of all Light And be ingrafted and incorporate Into this New-Ierusalems blest state Ino this Kingdome evermore existing Into this Kingdome all of joy consisting Where all thy Saints and Sacred Angels reign By thee their mighty Lord and soveraign Cloathed in vestures of the purest white Stil in the presence of thy sacred sight Their heads adorn'd with Crowns of purest Gold Of preecious stones rich Pearls rare to behold Thou Lord alone being the Diadem Of these thy Saints in this Ierusalem Whose only sight is their beatitude Which duresfor aye without vicissitude But Lord it may be thou maist say to me Alas poor soul wouldst thou my beauty see None ere could see the glory of my face And lives on earth such is mans mortal case Lord thus I answer and I this confess That thy coelestial glorious holiness Is so immense so infinite so rare So great so glorious gracious specious fair That no flesh living can it see and live Yet to my soul O Lord this mercy give That so it may behold thy sacred sight Let death with thousand deaths my body smite So my poore Soul may see thy Majesty Let death my breath and Life end speedily Oh then I say and ne're shal cease to say O three-sold four-sold happy sure as they Who by a pious life and blessed end By Christ heav'ns Ladder to heav'ns joyes ascend Who for the minutes of Earths Lamentation Enjoy heav'ns endless years of consolation Who from this earthly prison are set free And in heav'ns Palace live O Christ with thee Yea who being dead to sin and Earthly toyes Are there in plenitude of perfect joyes But oh most wretched miserable I Who in the Flouds of worlds mortality By huge heav'n-mounting hel descending waves By Rocks Syrths whirlpoles al which seem my graves Am stil constrain'd to sail through dangers great Which waters winds weather together threat And which is more I mosterroniously Through ignorance oft wander clean away I lose my way and then am danger'd most Not â—nowing whither my poor ship doth coast Being thus expos'd to seas all jeopardies Like Ionah when from Ninive he flies Tost to and fro even into the Maw of hel By furious hound which 'gainst me rage and swel So that my way to th' Harbour of my rest Thus being lost my soul is fore opprest But which is worst whiles thus to thee I sail I meet Sea-Monsters which do me assail Resistful Remoraes do strive to stay me And huge Leviathan gapes wide to slay me Lifes toyes and troubles Satans craft and power Nould stay my voyage and would me devour Restless redresse is thus I store about Hnd for thy heavenly my soul cryes out Wherefore Sea-calming wind controlly Lord To my perplexed soul thine aid afford For if thou wilt O Lord thou canst me cherish O therefore help or else my soul wil perish One Depth O Lord another in doth call As waves break out and on each other fall The depth of my calamity profound Doth invocate thy Mercies which abound I call and cry from many waters deep My soul from sinking Lord preserve and keep O keep me from these dangers imminent Which have my silly soul on all sides pent Let thine oustretched arm upholding grace Once bring my soul unto her resting place From floods or worldly infelicity Into the â—ven of eternity How long O Lord how long wilt thou prolong Thy wrathâ— appeale and ease me from among These dâ—death-threatning dangers O direct My way to thee my 〈◊〉 to thee erect My â—fidence re-plan in thee I pray That â—o these tempâ—sts may me not dismay That so these floods though flow may
least I may Like to an infant learn to creep the way And grow from strength to strength from grace to grace Until I come in presence of thy face For I am weary of this pilgrimage And long for thee my heav'nly heritage How oft have I thee view'd with admiration How oft hast thou been my souls meditation How oft have I been ravisht with desire That unto thee my soul might once aspire How oft have I been scorn'd and vili-pended Earths most unpleasant pleasures quickly ended Being compared to those joyes above Which from my heart my soul doth dearly love My heart my life my bliss my joy my gem My soules dear soul is New-Ierusalem And now I come my joyes I come to you For whom I did so often seek and sue I pain and death do heartily imbrace So that my soul amongst you may take place Yea though ev'n hel it self were in my way And would my journey stop disturb or stay I would it pass and hazard hells annoy To live with Christ in his caelestial joy And surely since heath'nish Cleoâ— brotus Did seem but desp'rately so valorous Hearing his Master Plato once discourse Of immortalitie with furious force From an high Rock himself did head-long throw In hope to be immortalized so O how much rather then I pray ought I Dying it'h Lord a thousand death to die To be inveâ—ted in that perfect glory Shown an affur'd in truths most faithful Story He di'd in bare opinion Souls blind-love I die in saith and knowledg from above He onely hopâ— to have immortal Life I for immortal rest and glory rife He went unsent-for I am oft invited Even Christ himself my soul hath oft incited Incited oft I say with resolution And Pauls firm faith to wish for Dissolution Shal then his Pagan-courage mine excel Shal fear of death my Christian-courage quell Since my sure ground than his is much more firm And death to me is but my sorrows term And that my soul i' th end shall sure exult Although the way seem somewhat difficult O no my soul be valorous and stout With constant courage persevere hold out None fight but with a hope of victory Thy fight wel finisht brings eternitie If one shoul say unto a Captain stout Go forward with bold courage fight it out Do but thy utmost fight and give not over For thou in th end the conquest shalt recover Would any David his Goliah flie From whom he 's sure to win the victorie Would any Gideon such a fight refuse Could any valiant Ioshua think you chuse But enter combat with the proudest Foe Whom he with triumph surely shal orethrow My Saviour sweet even thus to me hath said Take courage Christian Souldier ben't afraid Do thou thy utmost Satan to with-stand For I will be propitious at thy hand Fight valiently and though thy Foes fierce might May hap to bring thee on thy knees i' th fight May often foil thee by his crafty snare Yea though his claws were ready thee to tare Yet I wil raise thee up I le thee defend And thou shalt sure be victor in the end Who then I say what 's he would be so base As not this proffer gladlie to imbrace Who could with vile pusillanimity So free a Conquest coward like deny Shal doâ—ing Lovers for their Ladies fight And for their sakes account all danger slight Shall Merchants venture both lives and goods For wealth pelf through th' Oceans dangrous floods Yea shal the ship boy gladly undergo All hazards which or Sea or shore can show Onely in hope to gain a Masters place And to obtain a cunning Pilots grace And shal my Soul turn coward â—ear and flie Shal not my soul controle that enemy Whom Christ my General first overthrew And thereby all his subtilties wel knew And knowing them hath taught me how to fight Me to defend him offend put to flight Yea and hath promis'd heel assistant bee And in my weakness cause my foe to flee And underneath my feet pull Satan down And me as victor graciously wil crown O then my soul stand stourly to 't and fear not Christs sacred arms in vain about thee bear not Fight this good fight and let proud Satan know Christ being Captain thou'lt him overthrow For if Heav'ns King by grace be on thy side Thou needst not fear what ere do thee betide No danger sure can in that Battel bee Where thou for Christ and Christ doth fight for thee And here 's my comfort this is my souls stay That whether Satan wound or do me stay Dye fleshly body so my soul may live Christ to my soul the Palm of grace wil give But as a mighty Emp'rour which proclaims At some great Feast Olympick warlike Games Wherein to him which proves the Conqueror And doth the best exploits this Emperor Wil give a crown his valor to reward And him with Kingly favour wil regard But not the Emp'rour unto him descends But lie to th' Emp'rors Gallery ascends There from his Princely hand to take the Crown The triumph trophy of his high renown Even so the Christian Souldier having gained The victory for which he long had strained With all his power spiritual to quel The rage of rayâ—nous sin and Satan fel Musts from the worlds Lists in a blessed end By death Heav'ns glorious Gallery ascend There from the hands of Jesus Christ himself To take a Crown far passing worldly pelf A Crown of joy even glories plenitude A Crown of bliss even heav'ns beatitude Not as the Meede of his deserving merit But as the free gift of Gods sacred Spirit For having done what ever I am able Yet my best service is unprofitable Only in mercy he is pleas'd to Crown His own good gifts in me to my renown O! therefore death shal be my welcome guest Death which translates from la Sour unto rest From worldly sorrow to heav'ns joyes encrease From wo to weale from trouble to sweet peace From earth the stage of instability To heav'n the fortress of true constancie Go then you godless Heliogabolites You drunken Vicars proud cosmopolites Go please your selves in swearing feasting fighting And not what 's just but what 's your lusts delight in Go please your selves with rich and large extents Of wealthy Mannors stately tenements Grow proud to see your underlings beslaved And by your greatness wrongfully outbraved To see your ward-roabs stuft with proud apparel Your mouths with oathes your thoughts with strife quarrel To have variety of worldly pleasure Delicate Gardens Coffers ful of treasure Treasure saâ—d I nay white and yellow clay Bewitching Mammon Sin-bane souls decay Or if there 's ought that doth you more allure Or which you would with more content procure Use it possess it yet for all this know You shall it all with shame and smart for go Yea God wil take at deaths disastrous day Your Lands your life your goods your Gods away This this alas did cause the Prophets cry
This mov'd S. Paul with zealous ardâ—ncy 'gainst worldlings to cry out and them accuse That they themselves their souls would so abuse Such lying vanities so to respect So sottishly their Souls health to reject In Aegypt straw and stubble for to buy Yea Straw I say and chaffe which finally Would their own house burn down and ruinate And head-long them to hel precipitate Whereas their saviour at a cheaper price Would sel them gold pure gold rare Merchandise Even all the Golden joyes and sweet delight Of Paradise coelestial sacred sight That Pearl of blest salvation which to buy The wisest Merchant would most joyfully Sel all his worldly treasure earthly pelfe With this rare jewel to enrich himself And what 's his price O cheap and nought else sure But what thou maist thy self with ease procure Only thy heart t is only this he craves This given to God both soul and body saves Not that thy God is better by the same But thou made blest to magnifie his Name 'T is onely thine not his good he desires And for this good he only thanks requires Oh therefore silly simple sinful man What greater madness tel me if thou can Than such a proffer fondly to refuse Than death for life for treasure Straw to choose For precious liquor Fountain water good To choose foul puddles stinking ful of mud Oh more then mad men thus to take more pain Head-long to run to hel with might and main Then even the holiest Sain is to go to heaven Who oft with treats and threats are thereto driven But 〈◊〉 my soul thy Saviours Counsel take O do not thou his bounty so forsake Go buy of him give body heart and all To purchase this rare Gem angelicall And with that royal Shepheard David say O thou my soul trust in the Lord alway Yea in his awe and Law take thou delight O like love love look on this both day and night Let it be thy arithmetick alwayes To take account and number out thy dayes A Deaths-head let thy chiefe companion be An hour glass remembrancer to thee Let thy chiefe study be continually How to live wel and blessedly to dye So shalt thou O my soul most happy be When thou of that blest Citie art made free When thou amongst that sacred hierarchie Shal sing sweet tones and tunes melodiously With heavâ—ns Psalmodical harmonious quire Of Saints and Angels zealous hot as fire The Diapason of whose heav'nly Layes Doth warble forth heav'ns due deserved praise Where thou being grac't and plac't in heav'nly state In precious pleasure ne're to â—erminate Being sweetly rap't in heav'nly extasie Christ and his Churches Epithalamy My sainted foul with surged voice shal sing To God in Christ my three-one heav'nly King O happy Citizens enfranchis'd there O joyful quiristers singing so cleare Victorious souldiers thus to be trans-planted Where peace for war where life for death is granted Happy wert thou my soul most truly blessed If thou wert once of this rare joy possessed That then I might be fill'd and never fated With that rare sight which once initiated Shal last for aye without times dissolution Shal be most specious without all pollution Therefore my heart as hart being chaft and chased By furious hounds most nimbly tract and traced Desires the water-brook his heat t' allay That so refresht he thence may scud away Even so my heart O Lord desires to see Those Crystal streams of Life which slow from thee Sighes sues pursues her Countrey to recover Here abject subject too too triumpht over By my three fierce and furious enemyes Who seek my soul t' insnare and sin-surprize Even Satan that old hunter and his hounds The quakers Hectors which give my soul deep wounds Who more like ravening wolves would fain devour And captivate my soul in hellish power But thy preventing grace O spring of Grace Preserves my soul dis-nerves their horrid chace And as a Bird out of the Fowlers Grin And as Noes Dove looking to be let in Into the Ark of thine eternal rest My cyred soul is unto the addrest My soul with worlds encumbrances oppressed Desires O Lord to be by thee refreshed My soul doth thirst and hasteth to draw near And longs before thy presence to appear O tree of Life O ever-living spring Whose laud and praise the heav'nly hoast do sing O when shal I come and appear in sight Of thee the Sâ—n of righteousness most bright When shal my soul by thine all-saving hand Be led with joy from forth this Desâ—rt Land When shal I leave this Wilderness of wo Wherein my soul is tossed to and fro I sit alone as one a house the sparrow i th' Vale and Dale of tears fears sighes and sorrow O lead dear Christ my love-sick soul by th' hand From this vast wilderness drie thirsty Land To thy wine-Cellers that I there may tast Of thy wine-flagons thou prepared hast Comfort me with the apples of thy grace With thy Hid-Manna strengthen my weak case With heav'nly Milk and Honny Lord make glad My heart which worlds afflictions hath made sad O Let me once from wisedomes sacred Lip Coelestial Nard and Rosean Liquor sip Yea let me fatiare mine insariate thirst With that sweet Milk wherewith thy Saints are noure't I thirst O Lord I thirst thou art the wel O quench my thirst and let me with thee dwel I hunger Lord I hunger thou are bread Even bread of Life O let my soul be fed I seek thee Lord yet stil I go astray Through high-waies by-wayes yet I miss the way Thou art O Lord the perfect way and dore My soul wil follow if thou go before Direct my feet to leave the paths of sin Ope glories gate and let my soul go in Let it be riches to me to possess thee Let it be gloy to me to confess thee Let it be clothes Christ Jesus to put on Let it be food his word to feed upon Yea let it be my life to live and dye For Christ my King and for his verity So shal my riches be to me eternall So shal my glory be with Christ supernal So shal my clothing fril be fair and new So shal my food be Manna heav'nly dew So shal my life nere fade but ever spring Being stil preserv'd by Christ my Lord and King But oh alas when shal I see that day That day of gladness never to decay That day of Jubile when all are glad That day when all rejoyce none can be sad Whose endless time and never fixed date Eternity shal never exterminate That Saints blest birth-day which shal nere have evening That lasting day to which no night gives ending That rare Grand-Iubile that Feasts of feasts Sabbaths of sabbaths endless rests of rests To which least care shal never dare come neare Wherein the Saints shal shake ofâ— palid fear O pure O pleasant most desired day Of that eternal springing month of May In which my soul shal evermore rejoyce In which
volumes For dispersed are Ev'n quite throughout this Land every year Ev'n many thousand Reames of scurrill toyes Songs Rimes and Ballads whose vain use destroyes Or hinders Vertuous knowledge and Devotion And thus they do to further the promotion Of our Diana Yet Behold if we To publish some few sheets required be Con aiâ—ing pious Hyâ—ns or christian Songs Or ought which to the praise of God belongs We do so fear the hindrance of our gain That like the Ephesian Silver-smith faine A great complaint as to have enlarged A little Book had grievously o'recharged The Common-wealth Whereas if it were weigh'd How much of late this Land is overlaid With triviall volumes or how much they do Corrupt our Manners and Religion too By that abusive matter they contain I should not seem unjustly to complain These times do swarm with Pamphlets which be far More dangerous than mortall poysons are Ev'n in those books whereby the simple thought To finde true knowledge they their bane have caught For thence strong heresies there being hid Amid some doubtles truths a while unspi'd Steale out among the people by degrees More mischief working than each Reader sees And so to ruine knowledge that is made A instrument whereby it rising had For by their lucre who the Churches peace Disturb their private profit to increase Those Doctrines which are un-authorised Are so promiscuously divulg'd and spread Among approved Verities that fome Are in those Labyrinths amaz'd become And such a contradiction is in that VVhich their confused Pamphlets do relate That common Readers know not which to leave Nor which the Church of Egland doth receive And from this mischiefe many others flow VVhich will in future times more harmfull grow This spins vain controversies to their length By this most heresies receive their strength And what distraction it already makes Our grieved Mother wofull notice takes Instead of active knowledge and her fruit This silleth men with itching oâ— dispute And empty words whereby are set abroach A thousand quarrells to the truths raproach The sectaries the munkeys and the apes The Cubs and Foxes which do maâ— our Grapes The VVolves in Sheep-skins and our frantick rable Of VVorship-mongers are innumerable And as the Churches quiet they molest So they each other spightfully infest VVe have some quakers some that halfe way go Some Semi-quezills some wholly so Some Anabaptists some who do refuse Black-puddings and good pork like arrant Jews Some also term'd Arminians are among Our Priests and people very lately sprung VVhat most so callâ—d profess I stand not for And what some say they teach I do abhor But what some other so misnam'd believe Is that whereâ—o best Christians credit give For as we see the most reformed man By Libertines is term'd a Protestan So by our purblinde Formalist all those VVho new fantastick crotchets do oppose Begin to be misterm'd Coxils now And hence e'relong will greater mischiefs grow Then most imagine For the foolish fear Lest they to be Dattrells may appear Or else be term'd quakers will make Great multitudes Religion quite forsake And I am halfe perswaded this will one Of those great Schismes or earthquakes cause which Iohn Foretold in his Apocalyps and they Are blest who shall not thereby fall away Some Hocasses and some Famalists have we And some that no man can tel what they be Nor they themselves Some seem so wondrous pure They no mans conversations can endure Unless they use their pleaistrings and appear In ev'ry formall garb which they shall weare There be of those who in their words deny And hate the practise of Idolatry Yet make an idol of their formall zeale And underneath strickt holiness conceale A mystery of evil which deceives them And when they think all safe in danger leaves them Their whole Religion some do place in hearing Some in the outward action of forbearing Ill deeds or in wel doing though the heart In that performance bear no reall part Some others of their morrall actions make Small conscience and affirm that God doth take No notice how â—n body they transgress If him in their â—nward man confess As if a soul beloved could reside Within a body quite unâ—anâ—fide Some not contented in the act of sin Are grown so impudent that they begin To justifie themselves in wickedness Or by quait arguments to make it less And by such Monsters to such ends as this The Christian liberty defamed is Mewfangledness Religion hath o'rethrown And many as fantasticall are grown In that as in apparell Some delight In nothing more than to be opposite To other men Their zeale they wholly spend The present government to reprehend The Churches discipline to vâ—ll fie And raile at all which pleads antiquity They love not peace and therefore have suspition Of Truth it self if out of persecution And are so thankless or so heedless be Of Gods great love in giving such a free And plentious means of publishing his word That what his Prophets of the Jews record Some verifie in us Much pralse is given To that blinde age wherein the Queen of Heaven Was worshipt here And alsly we extoll Those dayes as being much more plentifull Some at the frequency of Preaching gâ—utch And tyred with it think we have too much Nay impudently practise to suppress That Exercise and make our plenty less And that their doing may not want some faire Or goodly coulor they do call for Pray'r Instead thereof as if we could not pray Until our preaching we had sent away As these are foolishly or lewdly wise We have some others want only precise So waywardly dispised amidst our plenty And through their curiosity so dainty That very many cannot well digest The bread of life but in their manner drest Nor will Gods Manna or that measure serve Which he provides but they cry out they starve Unless they feed upon their own opinions Which are like Egypt Garlike and her Onionâ— Some like not Prayer that 's extempory Some notany that set form doth carry Some think there 's no devotion but in those That howle or whine or snufle in the nose As if that God vouchsafed all his Graces For feigned gestures or for sowre faces Some think not that the man who gravely teacheth Or hath a sober gesture when he preacheth Of gentle voyce hath any zeal in him And therefore such like Preachers they contemn Yea they suppose that no mans doctrine laveâ— The Soul of any one unless he raves And roares aloud and slings and hurleth so As if his arms he quite away would throw Or over-leap the Pulpet or else break it And this if their opinion true may make it Is to advance their voyces trumpet-like As God commands yea this they say doth strike Sin dead Whereas indeed God seldome goes In whirlwinds but is in the voice of those Who speak in meekness And it is not in The pow'r of noyse to shake the walls of sin For clamors antique actions writhed
windings they do see And where no certainty they can behold Yet on their leaders knowledg they are bold Or on their multitude yea though they know And see them erre and turn and stagger so In darksome paths that well suppose they may They rove and wander in an uncouth way Yet stil they are unwilling to suspect The wisdome of the Fathers of their Sect. Yea though no satisfaction they can find Though fears and doubtings do afflict their mind They still impute it rather to their own Infirmities or to the depths unknown Of those mysterious points to mention brought But never call in question what is taught Lest being by those Teachers terrifide They might forsaken in despaire abide Their Doctors also failing to devise Strong arguments their hearers to suffice This course to save their credits late have got They say forsooth Faiths doctrine settles not With naturall capacities and that The Spirit must those men illuminate VVho shall receive them And indeed in this They do both say the truth and say amiss This is a Jesuitish juggling trick And if allow'd it be each lunatick And every brain-sick Dreamer by that way May foist upon us all that he can say For though Gods holy Spirit must create New hearts within us and regenerate Depraved nature e're it can be able To make our outward hearings profitable VVe must not think that all which fancy faith In terms obscure are mysteries of faith Nor make the hearers want of power to teach Their meanings to be proofes of what they teach There is twixt men and that which they are taught Some naturall proportion or t is naught The deepest mystery of our profession Is capable of literall expression As wel to reprobates as men elected Or else it may of error be suspected Yea wicked men a power granted have To understand although they misconceive And can of darkest pointsmake plain relations Though to themselves they faile in applications God never yet did bid us take in hand To publish that which none can understand Much less affecteth he a man should mutter Rude sounds of that whose depth he cannot utter Or in uncertain terms as many do Who Preach non-sense and oft non entia too For those which man to man is bound to show Are such plain Truths as we by word may know Which when the hearer can express again The fruit hath equalled the Teachers pain Then though the soul doth many times conceive By faith and by that Word which we receive Deep mysteries and that which far transcends A carnall knowledge though she apprehends Some glimmerings of those Objects that are higher Then humane Reason ever shall aspire Though she hath tastings of that blessedness Which mortall tongue could never yet express And though the soul may have some earnest given On earth of what it shall enjoy in heaven Though God may when he list and now and then For cause not ordinary to some men Vouchsafeth for their secret satisfactions A few reflections from eternall actions Though this be so let no man arrogate That he such secrets can by word relate For they are things of which no voice can preach High flights to which no mortall man can reach T is Gods own work such raptures to convey To compass them there is no other way But by his blessed Spirit and of those Most can we not some must we not disclose For if they only touch our private state They were not sent that we should them relate But deigned that the soul they strengthen might Amid the perils of some secret sight VVhen men to honour God or for their sin The terrours of this life are plunged in And as it is reputed of those things VVhich foolish people think some Fairy brings So of Euthusiamses speak I may Discover them and straight they fly away For thus they fare who boast of Revelations Or of the certainty of their Salvations Or any Ghostly gift at times or places Which warrant not the mention of such graces Yea by revealing things which they should hide They entrance make for over weening pride And that quite mâ—rres the blessing they possest Or for a while obscureth it at best And yet if any man shall climb so high That they attain unto a Mystery Conceiv'd by few they may if they be able Disclose it where it may be profitable But they must know that if it be indeed Of such transcendency as doth exceed Meere naturall reaches it should be declar'd To none save unto those who are prepar'd For such conceptions and more apt to know them By their own thoughts then are out words to show them Else all they utter will in Clouds appear And errors men for truths away wil bear Would this had been observed a little more By some who in our Congregations roare Of Gods unknown Decrees Eternall Callings Of Perseverance and of Finall Fallings And such like Mysteries Or else I would That they their meanings better utter could If wel they meant For though those points afford Much comfomrt and instruction as Gods word Hath mentioned them and may applyed be And opened when we just occasion see Yet as most handle them who now adayes Do pass for Preachers with a vulger praise They profit not for this ripe age hath young And forward wits who by their fluent tongue And able memories a way have found To build a house e're they have laid the ground With common places and with notes purloin'd Not wel applyed and as ill conjoyn'd A garb of preaching these have soon attained VVhich hath with many approbation gained Beyond their merit For they take in hand Those mysteries they neither understand Nor studied on And they have much distracted Some hearers by their Doctrines ill compacted Yea by enquiring out what God fore-sees And medling much with his unknown Decrees The Churches peace so much disturb'd have they So foul and crooked made Faiths plainest way Such scandalls rais'd and interrupted so By doubts impertinent what men should do And their endeavours nullified so far That many of them at a nonplus are Heydons not of their minds who take from this And other things that are perform'd amiss Occasion to disparage frequent preaching Or to abate our plentiousness of teaching For of our Harvest Lord I humbly pray The store of Labourers continue may And I could also wish that none were chose To be a seed-man till he truly knows The wheat from tares and is indu'd with reason And grace to sow in order and in season And that those art-less workmen may be staid VVho build before foundations they have laid Lest when our Church wel built suppose we shall It sink and overwhelm us in the Fall It pities me to mark what rents appear Within our Sion and what daubings are To hide the ruines and I fear the frame VVil totter if we long neglect the same Our watchmen for the greater part are grown Less mindful of Gods honor than their own For either
and devour The seeds of grace as soon as they do sprout And is too strong for us to keep him out Oh! let not him prevail such harm to do us As he desires but Lord return unto us Return in mercy though thou find us slack To come our selves fetch draw and pul us back From our own courses by thy grace divine And set and keep us in each way of thine Vouchsafe that every one in his degree The secret error of his life may see And in his lawful calling all his dayes Perform his Christian duty to thy praise Give peace this troublous age for perillous The times are grown and no man fights for us But thou oh God! nor do we seek or crave That any other Champion we may have Nay give us troubles if thy wil be so That we may have thy strength to bear them too And in affliction thee more glorifie Then here heretofore in our prosperity For when thy countenance on us did shine Those Lands that boasted of their corn and wine Had not that joy which thou didst then inspire VVhen we were boyld and fryde in blood and fire Oh! give us again that joy although it cost us Our lives Restore thou what our sin hath lost us Thy Church in these Dominions Lord preserve In purity and teach us thee to serve In holiness and righteousness until VVe shal the number of our dayes fulfil Defend these Nations from all overthrows By forraign enemies or home-bred foes Our State with ev'ry grace and vertue bless VVhich may thine honor and its own increase Inflame our Nobles with more love and zeal To thy true Spouse and to his Commonweale Inspire our Clergy in their several places VVith knowledge and all sanctifying graces That by their lives and Doctrines they may rear Those parts of Sion which decayed are Awake this People give them souls that may Believe thy VVord and thy commands obey The plagues deserv'd already save them from More watchful make them in all times to come For blessings past let hearty thanks be given For present ones let sacrifice to heav'n Be daily offered up For what is needing Or may be useful in the time succeding Let faithful Prayers to thy throne be sent With heart and hands upright and innocent And let all this the better furthered be Through these Remembrances now brought by me For which high favour and imboldning thus My spirit in a time so dangerous For chusing me that am so despicable To be imployed in this honorable And great imployment which I more esteem Than to be crowned with a Diadem For thy enabling me in this Embassage For bringing to conclusion this my Message For sparing of my life when thousands dy'd Before behind me and on ev'ry side For saving of me many a time since then VVhen I had forfeited my soul agen For all those griefs and poverties by which I am in better things made great and rich Then all that wealth and honor brings man to Wherewith the world doth keep so much ado For all which thou to me on earth hast given For all which doth concern my hopes of heaven For these and those innumerable graces Vouchsafed me at at sundry times and places Unthought upon unfeigned praise I render Lnd for a living sacrifice I tender To thee oh God my body soul and all Which mine I may by thy donation call Accept it blessed Maker for his sake Who did this offring acceptable make By giving up himself Oh! look thou not Upon those blemishes which I have got By naturall corruption or by those Polluted acts which from that ulcer flows According to my skill I have enroll'd Thy Mercies and thy Justice I have told I have not hid thy workings in my brest But as I could their pow'r I have exprest Among our great assemblies to declare Thy wil and pleasure lo I do not fear And though by Princes I am checkt and blamed To speak the truth I am no whit ashamed Oh! shew thou Lord thy mercy so to me And let thy love and truth my guardians be Forgive me all the follies of my youth My faulty deeds the errors of my mouth The wandrings of my heart and ev'ry one Of those good works that I have left undone Forgive me all wherein I did amiss Since thou employd'st me in performing this My doubting of thy calling me unto it My fears which oft disheartned me to do it My sloth my negligences my evasions And my deferring it on vain occasions VVhen I had vowed that no work of mine Should take me up til I had finisht thine Lord pardone this and let no future sin Nor what already hath committed bin Prophane this Work or cause the same to be The lesse effectual to this Land or me But to my self Oh Lord and others let it So moving be that we may ne're forget it Let not the evil nor the good effect It takes or puff me up or me deject Or make me think that I the better am Because I tel how others are to blame But let it keep me in a Christian fear Stil humbly heedful what my actions are Let all those observations I have had Of others errors be occasion made To minde me of mine own And lest I erre Let ev'ry man be my Remembrancer With so much charity as I have sought To bring their duties more into our thought And if in any sin I linger long Without repentance Lord let ev'ry tongue That names me check me for it and to me Become what I to others fain would be Oh! Let me not be like those busie brooms Which having cleansed many nasty rooms Do make themselves the fouler but sweet Father Let me be like the precious Diamond rather Which doth by polishing another stone The better shape and lustre set upon His own rough body Let my life be such As that mans ought to be who knoweth much Of thy good pleasure And most awful God Let none of those who spread of me abroad Unjust reports the Devils purpose gain By making these my warnings prove in vain To those that heare them but let such disgaces Reflect with shame upon their authors faces Til they repent And let their scandall serve Within my heart true meekness to preserve And that humility which else perchance Vain-glory or some naturall arrogance Might overthrow if I should think upon With carnal thoughts some good my lines have done Restrain moreover them who out of pride Or ignorance this Labour shal deride Make them perceive who shal prefer a story Composed for some temporall friends glory Before those Poems which thy works declare That vain and witless their opinions are And if by thee I was appointed Lord Thy judgements and thy mercâ—es to record As here I do set thou thy mark on those Who shal despitefully the same oppose And let it pulikely be seen of all Til of their malice they repent them shall As I my conscience have discharged here Without
God the Father and the Lamb Christ Jesus Shal of such heavy yokes then clearly ease us And be a Temple unto his most faire To whose blest Saints with delight repaire His worship then shal be most plain and pure And shal for ever constantly endure Without all legal Rites or Ceremonie Adoring God in Christ in sanctimony Whose looks to them as Lessons shall appear His holy name be'ng Musick in their ear And such indeed is this great Cities state So admirable so inexplicate That Gold and precious stones being too too base T' express the glory of that glorious place If nature did more precious things bring forth More amply to describe this Cities worth I therefore know not what terrestrial thing We may with due proportion hereto bring To have a fit and true analogy Unto this temple of eternitie But God himself and Jesus Christ alone In whom it may most properly be shown Again this Citie hath no need of Light Neither of Sun or Moone or Stars most bright For as the Prophet saith when God again Shall his dear Church restore and o're it reign The glorious Light thereof so clear shall shine By the blest presence of the Unite-trine That even the Sun and Moon shall seem most dark And in comparison but like a spark To that ineffable refulgent light Of Gods blest countenance and sacred sight Whereby alone the Saints shall all possess Such perfect joy and hearty cheerfulness As that all earthly comfort though it seem'd And were as bright as Sun and Moon esteem'd Shall be superfluous needless most neglected And unto this compar'd not least respected Also the Heirs and Sons of this Salvation Even all th' Elected people of each Nation Kings of the Earth whom Euphrates did bar And once sequester from Christs Kingdome far So many as are saved as many shall Shall in Jerusalem coelestiall With perfect joy enjoy the full fruition Of this most infinite and heav'nly vision And thither shal their pomp and honour bring Even unto God and Christ their heav'nly King But here 's not meant their worldly wealth and state Their Gems and Jewels Gold or Silver plate For since this sacred Citie needs no light Of Sun or Moon which shine on Earth so bright Much less shal there be need of worldly pelfe In this most sacred sumptuous Commwealth But this is hereby understood and meant That those good Princes which were eminent For vertuous gifts of grace and piety Shall lift up all their whole felicity Their glory and their princely estimation From earthly unto heav'nly contemplation And only fix their joy upon the same And glory thus to glorifie Gods name The gates moreover of this City shall Be never shut but stand widrope to all None shall from this felicity be staid Nor be shut up as frighted or afraid For there shall be no Enemy to fear them No doubt of danger then shall once come near them All spight of former adversaries cease For there shall be perpetuall rest and peace And which is more there shal be here no Night For why an everlasting splendour bright From Gods all-glorious presence shall proceed A Lightmore pure then light it self indeed Shal so incessantly shine forth alway Making an endless everlasting day But here this night may further intimate A two-fold meaning Lit'ral Figurate The Literal sense that there no night shal be Is that indeed the Saints no Night shal see For why as hath been said all times distinctions Of day and Night summer and winter seasons Shal then quite cease and be superfluous The figurative sence and meaning thus May be explain'd that no obscurity Of error of slye hypocrisie No unclean thing foul or abominable No filthy creature Lyer detestable No Murthering Cains no Iudas implous No Cham's nor Achams sacrilegious No cruel faithless friendless envious else That hurts his Neighbour but much more himself No Avaricious arm'd in hooking tenters And clad in Bird-lime catching all adventures Nor ought that may contagiously infect Or once eclipse the joy of Christs Elect Or violate the glorious state and bliss Which Christ the Lamb hath purchased for his Nor in the least degree shall hurt or wrong The flourishing estate which doth belong To th' Saints rare dignity and perfect Light Of sincere worship of the Lord of Might Which is his angels glory and chiefe grace And shall for ever in them keep firm place But those shall hither come with joyes most rise Whose names are registred i th' Book of Life For whom the Lamb Christ Jesus did ordain This glorious Kingdome with him thus to reign Who were predestinate to this salvation Before the worlds originall foundation To these alone the Gates stand open wide These shal for ever with the Lamb abide Lastly to make this citie most compleat In every part to be as good as great The Holy Ghost having at large declared The churches glorie being thus compared Unto a sumptuous citie ful of State Now finally proceedeth to relate That both this City and its Citizens Are furnisht and replenisht with al all means For conservation of their endless joy Sufficient to protect them from annoy They have I say spirituall lively meat Divine angelike Mann ' to drink to eat The soveraign Balsum to conserve alway Their health in health from fall or least decay The holy spirit as erst here using stil These earthly terms t' express heav'nâ— sacred wil And all to shew heav'ns great benignity Descending thus to our capacity This honour'd City hath in it also A sacred River which doth over-flow With pure and precious water of blest life Whose stream do issue from its fount most rife A current River not a pool with soil Nor foul or troubled Aegyptian Nile Or billowing Euphrates But sweet and fair With dectable streams smooth clear and rare A River for its great aboundancie Pure in respect of its sweet sanctity Of water of Gods Sp'rits rare gifts of Grace Of life whose tasters live an endless space And clear as Crystall from all spissitude From all unclean corrupt amaritude This River shall from Gods great throne proceed And from the Lambs gliding with pleasant speed And thus the River here may signifie The Holy Ghosts gifts third in a trinity Which is not sleightly ratifi'd indeed In that t is said here that it shal proceed From Gods and from the Lambs most sacred throne Which Iohns shewn Prophesie hath clearly shown Yea and i th' midst of this great Cities street Pav'd all with gold as mould under their feet Through all the pleasant passages most fair Where to and fro the Sainted souls repair On either side this River rare to see Doth flourish fairely a Life-giving tree Which tree of Life doth thus much to us show That to those gracious Waters which do flow To all the graceâ—s of Gods sacred Spirit Christ Jesus is conjoynd by whose just merit His Church hath life true peace and sure salvation Thus having with the Spâ—rite co-operation And
stil residing with his Saints Elect Continually doth guide and them direct Exhibiting to all by his tuition Easie partaking and a ful fruition Of all the Benefits and heav'nly Graces Which in and 'bout this River he thus places Whereon they all shall spiritually feed Alwaies desiring yet ne'ere stand in need Which Tree of Life twelve sorts of fruite doth beare Whereby the Holy Spirit doth declare First that the Lord who is the God of Order Doth much detest confusion or disorder In stil retaining as he first begun The number twelve which hitherto is done And also to express that there shal be In number and measure full sufficiencie To saturate the longing appecites Of all the twelve spirituall Israelites Even of all those that so have run their race The twelve apostles doctrine to imbrace T' observe and keep Maugre the rage and spight Of pope and pagan foes to Truths pure light Thus then we see the angell here observing An exquisite decorum thence not swerving Who since the City Entries Romes Foundations And Symmetry of these blest habitations To th' number twelve have been accommodated And orderly thus stil continuated Therefore with decent correspondencie The angel to this number doth apply The spiritual food and furniture most meet Making a consort most harmonious sweet Conformably agreeing thus in one With those whence they had their comparison Now as twelve sorts of fruit grow on this tree The Saints to satisfie so shall they be For delicacie sweet content and pleasure As every Saint shall have aboundant measure So shall this pleasant Plenitude of grace No Nauseous Surset cause in any case For as Christ Jesus is that drink and meat Whereof each Sainted soul shal tast and eat So is he sweet pleasant and delicate Whereon they feed their fil yet moderate Taking sufficient for their contentation And their beatitudes firm conservation Which truth is farther illustrated here In that t is said this tree of life doth bear Doth every month bear fruit green ripe and fair Which with delights their apperites repair Not that the times shall then alternate be By years months dayes as now-a-dayes we see For then the seasons cease time 's termined Sun Moon and Stars are then quite vanished As formerly was toucht but here is meant That all things then shal give such rare content Shal be so ful of rich variety Shall yeild such cordial sweet society And with such fulness all the Saints shall feed As that to store and hoord up shall not need In that the harvest there shall ever last Their pleasant spring-time then shall nere be past Also the Leaves of this most blessed tree Shal Salutiferous and most Soveraign be To help to heal to cure all Maladies Which 'mongst the Gentile Nations do arise So that this tree not only makes them live But to the Elect a healthful life doth give Yet here 's not meant the Churches final state But that when antichrist is ruinate When God shal th' unbelieving Nations call And faithless Jews who once from Grace did fall But by these leaves is chiefly intimated That all the smallest gifts accommodated By th Lamb Christ Jesus to the Saints elect Shal serve some way their Souls with joy t' affect T' exhilerate and cheer their sacred mind In 's meanest blessings they shall comfort find But now behold now follow him indeeed That which doth all the former joyes exceed The absolute accomplishment of all The accessary blessings which befall The Citizens of this rare Domicil Th' inhabitants of Gods great Sion-hill Namely that in it there no curse shall be It shal be from destruction firmly free It shall be subject to no execration But strongly stand fearless of alteration Which is a symbole and a certainty Of this blest Cities perpetuity A most infallible strong argument That t is eternall and most permanent A three-fold reason hereof may be given First that as is foresaid this seat of heaven This holy habitacle shal contain No unclean thing which may its beauty stain Again the glorious throne and sacred seat Whereon omnipotent Jehovah great Whereon the blessed trinity wil raign Shall here abide and evermore remain Lastly in that all these his servants shall With sincere Love and Zeal angelicall For ever invocate his sacred name And his due praises constantly proclaim Serving the Lord in singleness of heart Not once to wil from 's worship to depart But Curses are we know for gross transgressors For disobedient stubborn Male-factors Not for th' obedient faithful and sincere Thus then is their perennity most clear Moreover all the Saints of this blest race Shal see th' all-beautious light-bright shining face Of that arch essence of eternity To walk and talk with him familiarly And with inexplicable sweet delight Have ful fruition of this sacred sight Not as he is immense and infinite For so even angels see not his bright light Who are described covering their face With their angelike wings in any case Not able to behold his glorious sight He infinite they being definite Yet that we shall have his ful contemplation Is certain but with this just limitation First in respect of us we shal possess A perfect sight of Gods great holiness The Lord in us and we in him shal dwel In such ful measure as no tongue can tel He wil replenish every faculty Of soul and body most aboundantly With his most precious presence by his sight He 'le fil our Mines from darkness freed quite Our hearts he 'le quicken there shal be no deadness Our whole affections freed from gloomie sadness What man is capable to comprehend Even so great glory God wil then extend Again of that blest sight which we shall have No inter-mediums shal our sight deprave Here we as in a vision do him see By mediate Revelation then shall we Of him immediate perfect sight possess Which none but those that have it can express A measure running over heapt and pâ—est Wll Christ bestow upon his Saints most blest His name shal also in their fore-heads be That is they shal with such bold constancie And un-revolting zeal profess his name That nothing shal obliterate the same Or cause them once neglect their pure profession By least relapse or undiscreet transgression They shal be so conform'd confirm'd therein To persevere as they did first begin Constant couragious evermore the same Professing stil Jehovahs glorious name Again his name is said as here we see Upon their Fore-heads charactred to be Because the Lord wil publikely agnize Them by this cognizance and Patronize By his all-seeing and all-soveraign power Them and their states as in a fenced tower And in this City there shal be no night No need of candle Sun or Stars most bright That is there shal be no obscurity Or darkness of adverse calamity No night of obumbratick cloudy Error No frighting Fear nor no heart daunting terror No sly bie-fronted close hypocrisie Shall viriate their intact integrity No need
of earthly comfort more or less No seeking suing there wrongs to redress By temp'rall laws or ecclesiasticall For there the trinity is all in all And is this glorious Cities great Lord-Keeper Most vigilant and watchful he 's no sleeper And which as was promis'd is the perfection And consummating of this benediction This glorious Kingdome where Gods Saints shal reign Shal doubtless sempiternally remain Like glorified Kings most gloriously Their bliss shal last past all eternity Now as bounteous hearted King doth use When he a Fau'riâ—e unto him doth chose On whom he meaneth largely to bestow His golden gifts like Rivers to ore-flow What he doth promise or by words proclaime By 's Letters-patents ratifies the same Thus O even thus our bounteous hearted Lord The heart of bounty Loves ore-flowing word Having his Church his favorite elected And promis'd she shal be by him erected Richly endow'd gorgeously beautified Rarely be royalliz'd and sanctified Her head adorned with a Crown of Gold A fragrant Garland which shal nere wax old Triumphantly in endless joy shal reign And see her subject abject foes in pain The Lord I say this promise having given That all these joyes they shal possess in heaven To verifie his promise and confirm What he hath said beyond times endless term Hath given his Letters Patents his broad Seal i th' sacred Scriptures which he'ele nere repeal Seal'd by an angels testimony pure And as his act and deed given and made sure To blessed Iohn in the behalf and right And to the use of all the Saints of Light Which being done makes thereof Proclamation VVith most emphaticall asseveration That he the Lord of Lords and King of Kings Hath power to do and wil perform these things And surely heaven and earth shal pass away Yea all things shal prepostrously decay Ere his pure word in one least jot or tittle Shall fade or fail or alter nere so little VVhich though some wretches athiesticall Some Nauseous Neuter Satans tennis-ball Some execrable Saduces I say VVhich do the resurrection denay Though some vile quakers Pythagoricall Or Anabaptists most Diabolicall VVhich have suppos'd the spirits trans-migration From one t' another in life consummation VVhich do with devillish dotage them perswade That there 's no God which ere the world hath mad Nor that the would ere had a prime beginning And think and hold that it shal nere have ending Although such Hectors past all grace May entertain a thought with brazen face And heart of flinty infidelity To think or say that the rare symmetry Of this Jerusalem coelestial Seems as thing meer hyperbolicall Incredible to their besotted sense And past the reach of their intelligence Yet let the rabble of such miscreants know That ther 's 'gainst them pronounc't a fearful wo There no-belief or wavering un-belief Shal fil their souls with never ending grief And what they erst would not conceive in mind Their heart with smart shal then both feel and find Nor shal they have least part or portion here Of this great Cities pleasure joy and cheer But from Gods presence shal be seperated Which is the second death nere terminated As for good Abrahams faithful Generation Who waver not in tottering haesitation Who have a hearty thirst and thirsting heart Of these rare pleasures once to have their part Whose hope past hope doth cause their souls aspire By faith in Christ this Kingdome to acquire Wherewith i th' warfare of this life they fight Fenc't with the bulwark of a zeal upright Arm'd at all points with Christs blest furniture Wherewith they may most constantly endure The fight spiritual their Loins to tye With the strong gâ—rdle of Christs Verity Having the brest-plate on of righteousness To quench the Darts of hels ourtagiousness And on their head the helmet of salvation True peril proofe 'gainst he is most hot temptation The sword o' th' Spirit brandisht in their hand Wherewith they may couragiously withstand That brood of quakers Anabaptists and the flesh VVhich evermore assault the soul afresh VVith hot encounters hellish stratagems To keep them from the new Jerusalems Eternal bliss In which most faithfull fight If they magnanimously stand upright Assisted by that all-proofe fervent prayer The godlies guard supporter and chiefe stayer If thus they get as thus being arm'd they shall The conquest ore those foes fierce Capitall Even from the proud Pope their old enemy VVhen he shall challenge them this fight to try As oft he wil they nere by fraud or force By terrours or by torments leave their course Of constant perseverance to the end But his hopes frustrate and their souls defend Then shall they like brave victors have the crown Of immortality of blest renown Triumphantly to reign with Christ their King And all their vertues as rich trophies bring And lay before him for which he wil give A crown a Kingdome wherein they shal live The Lord in them and they in him shal dwel As Christs co-heirs whom he loves passing wel And shal sit down with him as children dear To Sup at 's table with coelestial cheere And then their thirst of this accomplishment Shal satisfyed be with ful content Then shall the holy happy faithful see The structure of this sacred frame to be Far more illustrious admirable rare Than earthly things could possibly declare And that those Stones and gold were too too base To serve t' illustrate heav'ns coelestial place Whose boundless beauty all discourse transcendeth Whose infinite felicity nere endeth Yea that t is such as that no mortal eye Could but as through a glass the same descry Such as no ear hath heard no tongue ere told The Majesty which there they shal behold Yea such I say as never humane heart Could ere conceive th' incogitable part O then my soul thou having contemplated This City all with glory decorated Thou having viewd with heart exulting pleasure The Majesty unparralleld the matchless treasure The most magnificent majestick state Where into Christ wil his incorporate What wilt thou thereof with thy self conclude What wilt thou say of this beatitude Oh this even this with Peter and with Iohn At Christs admir'd tranfiguration T is good to make thy seat and mansion there Oh there t is best to dwel and dwel for ere Never did noble Greece so much affect Their Poetiz'd Elysean fields aspect Never so much did wandring wise Vlysses Desire his chast Penelopes kind kisses Or rather more divinely for to raise My thoughts unto a more religious phrase Never did Noah more desire to see Ararats Hills where he of 's ark was free Nor Sheba's queen to see wise Solomon Nor at Christs birth more glad was Simeon Then doth my soul desire these heav'nly fields Which perfect pleasure joy and comfort yeilds To see my Saviour sweet on Sion hil My sences with his sacred sight to fil To ske him in his glorified state Therein to be with him associate Even in these Mansions of Eternity To live in
sure in pure felicity Which happiness though yet I may not have Until my soul receive my corps from Grave Until I mortal be immortalized And with the sacred angels angelized Unttlith ' clouds my Saviour come again To re-collect th' Elect with him to reign O yet my soul thy selfe delight and solace To ruminate the joyes of that sweet Palace To recapitulate the sacred pleasure The Saints shal then possess in plenteous measure Even in the eternal palace Crystaline The sacred seat of the United trine The glorious Court and heav'nly presence Chamber Of heav'ns great Emp'rour wonderful Commander That alpha and omega first and last Who was is shal be when all times are past That mighty powerful One sole God most high Th' eternal King nay self-eternity Infinite all in all yet out of all Of ends the end of firsts Originall The Life of Lives Bounties ore-flowing flood Cause of all Causes Ocean of all Good Un-Seen all-Seer Stars-Guide Sight of Seeing That One-None which to Nothing gave a Beeing There also shal my soul behold and see The most ineffable deep Mystery Of that incomprehensible trine-one Sitting in glory in his glistring throne With blessed Saints and angels comitated With all the heavenly hoast of soul-beated Prophets Apostles Patriarchs of old The noble band of Martyrs stout and bold Our Parents Wives our Children Kindred Friends Yea all to whom Christs saving health extends All of them clad in bliss coelestial All shining bright in joy angelicall Wherein the presence of their heavenly King They Hallelujah Hallelujah sing To him that sitteth on the throne most high Making a most harmonious Melody With sacred sugred Notes and heav'nly Songs Singing the praise which to the Lamb belongs This being their especial exercise Their pleasant practise customary guise Stil to behold the Lords most beautious face Burning with love of his most lovely grace Their mouthes stil fill'd with praises of his name In magnifying his immortall fame Without all tediousness or intermission Protected alwaies by his blest tuition O there is infinite un-uttered joy Mirth without mourning bliss without annoy Health without sickness or pernicious humors Perfection without all sonitainting humors Peace without war and light without darkness Love without hate beauty without paleness Sweetness without all fulsome surfeiting Life without death life ere continuing There are no sighs no sobs no penury No hunger thirst but with saturity No chilling killing frosts or least extremes No parching Sun-shine with her piercing beams No wil to sin no power to offend No enemie least mischief to intend Good Paul hath there no need to watch and pray To labour in the world both night and day And good old Ierome then may cease t' afflict Himself so often by a life most strict To conquer his spirituall enemy To overthtow the Serpents subtilty For there 's all peace security and rest That peace which can by no means be exprest There 's all perfection sacred Light excelling All sorrow care darkness and dread expelling O life eternall holy habitacle Heav'nly Jerusalem Saints receptacle O amiable City of the Lord How should my soul thy prayses due record What excellent rare thing are said of thee What things are writ are hop't are found to be In thee thou hast the seat of glory sure That good-best good-God joy and solace pure Which far exceeds the science and deep sense Of humane reason and intelligence Por which even Legions of Professors good And godly Martyrs have not spar'd their blood But with undaunted valiant courage have Made Lyons Tygres Fire and sword their grave That after death they might enjoy that Crown Those Palms of peace of honour and renown Wherewith thy Saints O blest Jerusalem Are happifi'd in happiness supreme VValking as Kings in those most gorgeous streets VVhere each one nought but perfect pleasure meets In streets I say more precious than pure gold Glistring with glory wondrous to behold The Gates of which most holy habitation Are pearls of pearless price and valuation VVhose wall is all of precious stones most pure Incomparably rich and strong t' endure There is that glorious Paradice coelestiall Surpassing Adams Paradice terrestriall VVherein are fluent Oyly Rivers Currents Fair brooks of butter and sweet Honney torrents Replenished with Garden-walks and Bowers VVith beds all wrought and frought with fragrant flowers VVhose odoriferous rare variety Afford most various sweet amenity VVhose curious colours and whose lovely greene Are alwaies fresh are alwaies springing seen There Hearts-ease Saffron Lillies and the Rose Do savour sent spring spire with sweet repose There all the Spices aromaticall T' afford delight and cheer the heart withall There is that soveraign Balsum med'cinable For sent and Salve most precious amiable All these in thee flourish without defect VVith these the Garlands of the Saints are dect VVithout corruption they continue stil And sprout and spring about this Sion hil In thee 's that peace of God which doth exceed Mans understanding and faith wavering Creed There is that glory which doth all advance Obnoxious never unto change or chance There 's that eternal light as sure as pure That Sun of righteousness for ere t' endure That white and bright blest Lamb of God most high VVho shews and shines most clear incessantly VVhich no time ever shal once terminate Nor no disastrous chance extenuate There 's day which never darkness doth admit There in their bowers of pleasure Saints do sit There also is certain security There shalt thou find secure eternity There all rare comforts from heav'ns glorious King Successively successfully do spring What ere the soul can wish request desire Is there at hand without the least enquire What ere thou lovest there is to be found Only what 's il comes not in this blest ground Oh then my soul what pleasure infinite Oh what an Ocean of most sweet delight Yea what a most profound and pure abyss Thus to behold the Lord of Lords is this Thus to behold with ravisht admiration The Lords bright face with sacred contemplation Yea with thine eyes to see what faiths dim eye On earth was never able to espie Even that eternal trinity most blest Which can by man no sooner be exprest Than Austines seeming Lad could powre or lade The mighty Ocean into th' Shel he made Without a bottome that his Shel to fil No sooner can I say mans stupid wil Til his corruptiod in-corruption be This holy Mystery clearly know and see But when thou mortal dost imortallize When Christ my King thy soul once happifies Then shalt thou tast that God is good and gracious Then shalt thou Live in this his house most spacious Then shalt thou tast the spring of life most sweet Then in the heav'ns thou shalt Christ Jesus meet Then shal thy water of terrestrial griefe Be turn'd into the wine of sweet reliefe Then shall thy Sobs be turned into Songs Then shalt thou triumph for thy worldly wrongs O then in that most sacred glorious
sight Is to be found the fulness of delight Of wisdome beautie riches knowledge pure Of happiness for ever to endure Of goodness joy and true Nobilitie Of treasure pleasure and felicitie Of all that merits love or admiration Or worketh comfort or sure contentation Yea all the powers and powerful faculties Of soul and bodie shal partake likewise Shal be sufficed with the ful fruition Of heav'ns eternal ternal glorious vision God unto all his sacred Saints shal be Their universal sweet felicitie Containing each particular delight Which may affect th' aspect of their blest sight Infinite both for number and for measure And without end shal be their endless pleasure To th' eyes he shal be a Mirror cleer Melodious Musick to delight the ear To th' Palate he shal be Mellifluous Mell Sweet spiring Balm for to refresh the Smel Unto the understanding he shal bee A Light most bright and pure it'h high'st degree To th' VVill he shal be perfect contentation To th' Memory erelasting continuation In him we also shal injoy possess What ever various time could here express Yea all the beauties of his rarest creatures VVhich may our love allure by their sweet features All joy and pleasure to content the minde Such at it'h creatures selves we nere could find This sight I say is th' angels chiefest treasure The Saint repast repose and princely pleasure This is their everlasting life their crown Their Meed their Majestie their high renown This their rich rest their spacious specious palace Their outward inward joy and soveraign solace Their Paradise divine their Diadem Their ample bliss their blest Jerusalem Their peace of God past all imagination Their ful beatitude and sweet salvation To see him who them made re-made made Saints Him seeing to possess without restraints Possessing him to love him as their King And loving him to praise him as the Spring And Fountain of this all felicity And praising ever this blest â—nitie O then my soul cease not to like to love These admirable lovely joyes above And though thy corrupt flesh is th' obstacle And stays delayes from this blest habitacle Although thy flesh like churlish Nabal frown Refuse the pains to seek this sacred crown Yet let thy Spirit like good Abigal Go forth to find this place angelical Let Hagar never get her Mistris place Nor Ismael good Isaac so disgrace But strive most strenuously fight that good fight Subdue thy flesh withstand proud Satans might And with the eye of faith believe desire To live with Christ pray seek sue and inquire Pray earnestly to Christ thy King above In burning zeal firm faith and burning love For what â—s this world nought but a flouâ—ing fanciesie A theatre or vainness pleasant phrenâ— A sinc of sin a shop of all deceit Iniquities chief center and sure seat A Map a mirror of all miserie A Dunge on of most dire calamitie Lovely to look on like the Scarlet VVhore But dangerous to deal with evermore A mazie Labyrinth of impious errors A camp of Cruelty of tears and terrors Constant in nought but in inconstancy And most unconstant in that constancie In nought the same save not to be the same And of being but a very name Still floting fleeting never at a stay Hates on the morrow whom it loves to day Yea t is a Ioab ful of craft and guile Kills his Embracers with a traiterous smile A Wrastler 't is and trippeth up the heels Of many a man ere he its grasping â—eels Solomon wise strong Sampson so renownd It made their lengths to measure on the ground Therefore to love the world is nought els sure Then to her Lime-twigs thy poor soul t' allure Which so the feathers of thy faith will marre Thy soul if 't may be from heav'ns joyes to barre Why then my soul shouldst thou to the earth be thral Which hast a heav'nly blest Original Why shouldst thou pin thy thoughts on mortal things Who art immortal from the King of Kings And why shouldst thou a sp'rit invisible Be pleas'd with things both gross and visible Striving to pamper thy corrupted bodie Whose definition is indeed that both-die Both Soul and Body when the Flesh gives way To Sin and Satan in their dire decay And hence it is that Latinists likewise Thus Corpus fitly crimologize Cor which was once the heart of pure perfection Is thus made Pus all filth and foul infection Why then shouldst thou then thy self so low depress Who art of high caelestial Nobleness One of thy Fathers first-born children deer Whose name in Heav'ns blest Records may appear Why should the worlds falle promises delude thee Since heav'n with grace goodness hath induâ—d thee Wilt thou a Princes Son a heavenly Prince Let Satans gilded apples thee convince Wilt thou the Son of heav'ns all-sacred King Offend thy father for so vile a thing Wilt thou thy birth-right Esau-like forge For one dire mess of broth bewitching wo Oh. no! deceitful Dalilah a-dieu Thy Syrens Songs my soul doth most eschew Thy Crocadile-like tears which would betray me By heav'ns preventing-grace shal never slay me For all thy bitter-sweets false protestations My soul esteemeth but hellish incantations Wherefore as Aâ—mon being once defiled With his own Sister whom he had beguiled After the fact did hate her ten times more Then ever he had loved her before So I whom thy false friendship once defiled VVhom thy deceitful ambush once beguiled I hate abominate thy mischief more Then ere I lov'd or liked thee before As sea-men Rocks as Children Scorpâ—ons flie So Oh my souâ— hate worldly vanity And oh what 's he that would not leave most glad Worlds vanities so finite base and bad For pleasures infinite VVhat 's he would take Fraudulent joyes and permanent forsake None doubtless none but Dastards void of grace None but faint-hearted fearful cowards base The resolute couragious Christian bold Dares deaths grim face confront see and behold Dares death defie and his approach desire Because by death he knows he shal acquire The end of all his hope for deaths the Key Which opes the door to true felicitie Yea 't is no pain but of all pains the end The gate of heav'n and ladder to ascend And death 's the death of all his storms and strife And sweet beginning of immortal Life Therefore with smiling count'nance merrily To heav'n his place of rest he casts his eye And in his heart these thoughts are oft revolved Unfeignedly I wish to be dissolved To be with thee O Christ my Saviour sweet Thee my deer eldest brother for to meet I see thee Christ I see thee heav'nly home I gladly would and quickly to thee come I see thee O thou Saints caelestial place I much desire I once had run my race But though I cannot with Elias run i th' strength o' th spirit in this race begun Unto the heav'nly Canaan yet give Grace Though I with Iacob halt to halt apace And if not so yet that at
my soul shal hear that happy voice Enter blest soul into thy Masters joy Enter into sweet rest without annoy Enter into the House of Christ thy King Where peace and plenty mirth and joy do spring Where thou shalt find things most to be admired Where thou shalt have what most thy soul desired Joyes infinitely numberless I say And various pleasures infinitely gay Unspy able unspeakable by man Immutable inscrutable to scan Where I thy soul wil feed wil feast wil fil Feed with spiritual food of my blest wil Feast with the dainties of delight most pure And fil with glory which shal e're endure Enter I say and hear that melody Which comprehends dateless festivity Where is all good no evil to abuse Where 's all thou wishest nought thou wouldst refuse Where 's life e're-living sweet and amiable Where is true fame and glory memorable VVhere is I say certain security Securest peace and peaceful pleasancie Most pleasant joy and joyful happiness Happy eternity eternal Blessedness The blessed trinity in Unity The Unities trine-one rare deity The Deities three-one's most blessed Vision Which is our Masters joy in fulâ— fruition O joy of joyes O joy beyond all pleasure Far passing far transcending terrene treasure O joy without annoy O true contenâ— O soveraign bliss and souls sweet ravishment O everlasting Kingdome supreme peace Where all the Saints enjoy such joyes encrease Where all the Saints are clothed with pure Light As with a Garment shining glorious bright Their heads adorn'd with crowns of purest Gold And precious stones most glorious to behold Whose only exercise is to rejoyce To triumph and to sing with sacred voyce Sweet hallelujah to their soveraign King Which them to this felicity did bring Oh when shall my poore soul be made partaker Of this great joy O thou my Lord and maker VVhen shall see thee in it it in theee And therein dwel I in thee thou in me Surely O Lord I wil make hast and fly I le make no stay but post most speedily I le never cease to seek til I have found I le not leave knocking til my soul be crown'd I le ne're leave asking til thou hast me given My boon thy bounty even those ioyes of heaven Since then I say such is heavens majesty And since this world is but meere misery VVhat is 't can hinder this my speedy pace VVhich I must run til I have run my race Can worldly power or principality Can kingly favours wealth or dignity Can worldly pleasures pleasant unto some Can height or depth things present things to come Oh no with Paul I le all abominate E're they shal me from Christs love seperate I le cry avaunt you soul betraying joyes Which Bee-like bring the sting of â—re annoyes Avaunt I say worlds momentary pleasure Worlds transitory toyes Earths trashie treasure The love of Christ hath so inflamâ—d my heart That as I trust it nere shal thence depart And Lord confirm strengthen this Faith of mine O let it never faint fail or decline But wo to me poor wretch who still am fain Amongst the tents of Meshech to remain To have my habitation mongst the rout Of Quakers most ungodly stubborn stout The time me thinks is much procrastinated O that the date thereof were terminated Ah me how long shall it be said to me Wait wait expect and thou the time shalt see And shalt thou see my soul thou art too blame I must accuse thee O my soul for shame Think not the time too long count it not much That with these tryals God thy faith should touch For as a Goldsmith waits most carefully Upon his gold which he i' th fire wiltry That when t is burnd enough and purifide It may not in the fire to wast abide So God his children dear attends upon When in the fire of dire affliction He purposeth to purifie and try them When thus enough refined he doth spie them By no means will he suffer them to wast But for their comfort to them soon wil hast As that most rare pair-Royal wel did know Good Shedrach Meshach and Abednego Whom he i' th Babylonian fire did prove Yet so respected in his sacred love That not so much as one hair of their head Was burnt or sindg'd or once diminished O then my soul if God have such a care As from thy head not one small simple hair Can fall to th' ground without his providence O then have thou assured confidence That he thy soul wil nere permit to perish But in due time wil thee refresh and cherish And say with Iob That than of God most just Lord though thou kil me I wil in thee trust Yea then confess as t is that all the wo Which in this life for Christ thou undergo That all earths torments or afflicting toyes Are most unworthy heav'ns most blissful joyes Heav'ns joyes for weight and measure infinite Earths pains to death but slender small and slight Heav'ns joyes most perfect absolutely pure Earths choicest pleasures pain and grief procure Heav'ns joyes are sempiternal everlasting Earths joyes meere toyes stil fleeting ever wasting O then my soul have patience do not grudge Lest so thou make thy Christ thine angry Judge Give patience Lord thy sacred wil to bear And then receive my soul how when or where For as no gold nor silver can be pure Until the fires burning it endure Nor Stones for Palace work can wel be fit Til they with hammers oft be cut and smit No more I say is'â— possible that we Vessels of honour in Gods house can be Til we be fin'd and melted in the fire Of worldly crosses and afflictions dire Neither can we as living stones have place Jerusalems coelestial walls to grace Unless the hammers of Earths tribulation Oft bruise the flesh to work the souls salvation But though thy servants Lord may oft be tempted Yet can they never finally be tainted They ne're can be surpris'd though oft assailed For why heav'ns safeguard hath them never failed Christians and persecutions joyne together Like Christ and 's cross few calms much stormy weather Ere th' Israelites to th' Land of Promise came Their temp'ral Canaan Canaan of such fame Th' endur'd much danger many miseries And shal not I most patiently likewise Endure all dangers all anxiety Shal I not undergo all misery In this my journey to heav'ns holy Land O yes with constant courage to it stand For why I 'm sure the more I here endure My joyes in heav'n shal be more pure And who would not to heav'n go joyfully Though with Elias he in whirl-winds flye Grant therefore Lord I take earths Nocuments As precious balm as my souls Documents Confirm my faith with constant resolution To wait and fit me for my dissolution To wait for thee my Saviour staff and stay Til thou shalt change my bodies house of clay That like thy glorious Body it may be That so thy power and glory I may see That I may
not com neer me That so these blasts though blow may not so feâ—r me Thou being my un-rocking rock my shield My fortress strong which to no force can yeild Most skilful Pilot so my stern direct My weather beaten boat so safe protect That it these dangers infinite may shâ—n And to my harbour may the right way run Commiserate compassionate my case And in thine arms O Christ my soul embrace Though I with Ionas seamen lose my wares My goods my life worlds pleasures best affairs Though persecution Rocks my Bark may batter My danger driven boat may split may shatter Yet grant O Lord I may not shipwrack make Of my sure faith in thee but as the Snake Is said t' expose his body to the blow Of him that smites to save his head Even so I willingly may undergo all crosses And with content may bear the greatest losses That I may hold fast faith in Christ my head So I may live by faith to sin be dead With this conclusion should my soul be cherisht I had been undone had I thus not perisht Yea with those Argo-Nautae willingly My ship through straightest passages shal flye So that in th' end I may with joy possess The Golden fleece of endless happiness Lord though the puddle of impurity Hath my poor soul polluted loathsomely The Ocean of iniquities foul flood Hath me beimeard in stinking mire and mud O yet sweet Christ with Hylap of thy merit Clense and make clean my sin-polluted spirit Wash me o Christ with thy most precious blood None nought but thou can do my soul this good My wel-nigh-shipwrackt soul O Lord assist VVhich too too-long the way to thee hath mist Contemn me not condemn me not for sin But let my Soul to thy sweet rest go in Remit O Lord what I have il-omitted Remove O Lord what I have mis-committeed And though I be to pass by th' Gates of hel Grant power to pass them and with thee to dwel To dwel I say with thee i th' Land of Living Where to thy saints thy joyes thou stil art giving O thou my souls sweet soul my Harts dear Hart In this distress do not from me depart Be to my soul as a bright-morning-star Which I may clearly see though somwhat far And be as th' art indeed the sun most bright Of righteousness that my flesh-dimmed sight Being with Faiths Collyrium made more cleer I speedily may see the way appear To my heart-chearing long desired port Whereto my soul hath longed to resort I may in time see and fore-see sins charms And so prevent th' event of Sins great harms That on the shore I may perceive thee stand Giving me aym with thy most sacred hand To keep the right way to thine habitation The heaven of happiness and sure salvation That passing thus this Danger-obvious Ocean By thee the strong Arch-mover of each motion I may go forward with such circumspection And be so guided by thy good direction And with thy grace be so corroborated And with Rock-founded faith so animated That as 'twixt Scylla's and Charibâ—is fear My Bark in passage doth a ful sail bear I mean proud Pharisaical Self-station And graceless Diffident Cains desperation By th' justified Publicans example I may the right regenerate paths trample Of that true penitent good Prodical To thee O Lord for mercy cry and call That by thy gracious guide and safe tuition I may escape despairs and prides perdition And so with joy with joy unutâ—erable Approaching to the shore most amiable Casting the anchor of a constant hope On Christ my Saviour fastned with faiths rope I may my Merchandizes bring a-Land And put them into my sweet Saviours hand Even all the gains which I poor soul had made Of this good Talent lent to me to trade To whom although I bring but one for five Yet will he not my soul of heaven deprive And though that one through mine infirmitie Hath been much blemish't with impurity Hath been disgrac't defac't and much abused Yet by my Christ it wil not be refused But graciously hee 'l take my wil for deed Wil hold me by the hand and thus proceed VVell done good Servant worthy of my trust Wel done I say thy service hath been just Since thou in little matters hast done well Thou shalt be Lord of things which far excel Since thou to do my Will hast done thy best Come come with me into thy masters rest Even so Lord Iesus come I humbly pray For thine Elects sake hast that happy day I look I long that I might once deserie That happy Day my soul to happyfie That I with thee my Saviour may rejoyce That with heart-cheering musick and sweet voice In that blest Chorus sweet Angelical Society of Saints celestial I Halleluiah Halleluiah may Sing cheerfully to God the Lord alway To God the Father Son and Holy Ghost Unto the Trine-One Lord of Host To this great God be given all thanks and praise For his sweet succour in these sacred Layes Amen FINIS Omnis Gloria solus est Domini Thrice happy Vision more thrice happy zeal Thus flames us with God Saints Heav'ns Commonweal To the good godly and ingenuous Reader GEntlemen This Book was written for you for none â—ut you any that are malicious wicked and corrupted with any deadly sin in no wise let him presume with Uzza to touch the Ark lest he die It is inchanted with white Magick the Angel of righteousness doth and wil protect it the spirit of the air his seal plannet Sachiel his sâ—irit and Zebul his Region the Mild south Winde bloweth peace and concord to those I mean such as it is dedicated to and none but honest good moral discreet men may read it whose lives are devoted to the service of God and in whose hearts there is no guile to such this book is given Excuse my absence from the Press Which causeth me thus to express Reader If you with any errors meet In this or that or the other sheet You must therefore the Printer blame For he did all these errors frame