teaching and admonishing Thus Aaron-like to God he doth present Our prayers praises tythes and offering For Aarons Office Christs did represent And makes them giue to God an acceptable sent Prayer is mans best fence the Angells ioy The Deuills torture Gods sweet sacrifice We by her meanes all blessings here enioy By prayer we obtaine here to be wise By prayer with th' Almighty we aduise By reading he doth answere vs againe But our Lip-labour he doth all despise Ah what doe then those simple people gaine Which in a tongue vnknowne doe mutter praiers vaine Oh! when the Spirit with vnderstanding pray's And ev'n the Heart with sighs and groanes vp sends To him that willing able is alway's Vs from Hell Death and danger to defend Then as a Bullet doth the welkin rend Blowne with the force of Powder and of Fire So doe our Prayers vp to Heau'n ascend By Zeale and Force of spirituall desire Where they of God obtaine all things they can require Moses gain'st Amalec doth more preuaile By Prayer and by holding vp his hands Then mighty Iosuah though he doth assaile Them with his strong and most selected bands At Iosuahs short sweet Prayer the Sun still stands Till hee 's auenged of his enemy's Elisha all the Host of God commands Him to relieue in his necessity's Ev'n Fiery Horse and Charrets keep him where he lies Prayer is able by plaine strength to wring From hand-breadth Cloud an Ocean of Raine And Captiues out of Babylon to bring To worship in Hierusalem againe The Angell striv'd with Iacob but in vaine Without a Blessing he will not vnloose Zenacharibs whole Host was spoyl'd and slaine By Hezekias Prayer when we close With God by Prayer we our holds must neuer loose The Rains-horns Trumpets which seav'n Priests did blow Most liuely doe strong Prayer represent Which with the peoples shout did ouerthrow Proud walls of Iericho to astonishment Of all the wicked that therein are pent This was the musick Aarons sonnes did sound With Trumpets when to warre the people went When Daniel in Lyons Den was found True Prayer from their jawes him kept both safe and sound T is not our words God lookes on but the mind Not to the place but to the true intent In dungeon Ieremy did comfort find And Iob vpon the dunghill takes content Three Children in the fiery Fornace pent Are heard when Praises they to God doe sing The Thiefe from Crosse as gratefull Prayers sent As from his Temple Solomon the King The Hermits Cell may oft as loud as Steeple ring Not that from publike Prayer I purloine Of which Gods house hath her denomination Where Priests and peoples hearts and voices ioyn To teare the skies with cryes and supplication Oh Force vnited of a Congregation In Gods owne house of Prayer gathered For Praise Petition or for Deprecation God nought denyeth so petitioned And wee thus from all euill are deliuered When Peter slept with chaines in prison bound On each side Souldiers Keepers at the doore The Church doth pray though hee sleepe fast and sound And God him loosed from his chaines therefore And when the Angell lighteth him before The Iron Gate opes of his owne accord Pauls Dauids Samuells a thousand more Of Prayers you may find vpon record All which may seem to bind toth ' Peace our angry Lord. I all conclude with his most heav'nly one Who did in day's of his Humility With loudest cry's in Spirit sigh and groane For Freedome of that dire calamity Which came on him for our Iniquitie And though he Legions could of Angells call To saue him from inhumane cruelty Yet Lamb-like did before his Shearer fall Submitting to his Fathers will and pleasure all Without vs God will nothing for vs doe We therefore must prepare to fight alway And without God we can nor stand nor goe And therefore must be alwayes swift to pray If these so pray'd when Foes did them assay When Flesh and Bloud with Flesh and Bloud did fight What shall we in this dangerous great affray When we encounter with spirituall might Which in his Agony did Christ our Head affright But ah we at our first conuersion pray Most feruently oft for the nouelty But after negligent cold sleeping say Our Pater-noster in security Thou sleep'st secure but ah thine Enemy Doth watch thee thyn ev'n napping to surprise We then to God withall our hearts doe cry When as no thoughts withdraw vs otherwise Alas but few or none pray often in this wise Oh! that a man of base and filthy mould Should dare fall downe before Gods glorious Throne His wants and imperfections to vnfold And haue his heart like Nabals dead as stone When Angells that come neere that holy One Are faine their face to couer with their wings So bright his Glorious Maiesty hath showne Who is the Lord of Lords and King of Kings The searcher of our reines and tryer of all things When I no longer able am to fight Like Moses let me lift vp hands and pray Against the inuisible Amalekite That spiritually doth seeke my soule to slay When I with Faith two words Our Father say I pardon beg for Sin Freedome from paine Gods Heyre and Sonne Christs Brother I that day Am made and gifts of Holy Ghost doe gaine Then let me neuer mumble ouer words in vaine But I confesse though I doe often proue There is no comfort like this one to pray That is bestow'd on man from Heav'n aboue Yet find I Satan prest and busie ay Mee in this holy duty to assay By wandring Thoughts and vaine imaginations Which oft'doe lead my Mind so far astray I am bereau'd of Heav'nly cogitations And change for idle fancy 's holy meditations But Prayer doth so please my Muses straine That I omitted haue of Praise to sing The Sacrifice we offer here againe For all the Bounty of our heav'nly King I liken her to Prayers either wing Forgiuing wrongs and Almes vnto the poore Our holy liuely spirituall Offering Of Body Soule Heart Tongue and all our store With true Obedience to God for euermore Whilst here of Benefits no end we find How should we euer make an end of praise Oh happy Bands that vs for euer bind Ev'n when our Soules and Body's Chrisi shall raise Our praise shall be eternall like our day's He that his time in praise and hymnes would spend I him referre to Dauids heav'nly Layes Diuinely by the holy Spirit pend My Muse now out of Breath cannot this Mount ascend Oh let my voyce and heart together ioyne God of the lips accepts not but the heart Grant that my life in Holinesse may shine That Conscience may euer beare apart Presumptuous man that darst thy Maker thwart To poure out fond petitions base and vaine When thou consid'rest before whom thou art Him that doth all leud lying lips disdaine And Hypocrites rewardeth with infernall paine If prayer be right pure sincere and meeke It neuer empty shall returne againe For God will
her Sauiours knowledge in her brest Than that shee bare him in her wombe yet tender For One all Generations call her blest By th' other one of his true members shee doth rest But though this onely necessary is And first for our saluation to be sought Wee onely at our last of it haue misse As too meane subiect for ambitious thought Thus the vnlearned rise and heav'n haue cought When greatest Clerks with Sciences profound Heartlesse and comfortlesse to Hell are brought For God doth their great wisedome oft confound Because their inward parts are not sincere and sound Alas of knowledge here we haue no care But all our youth in follies idely spend Our strength in lusts and strifes away we weare In age we worldly profit all intend Alas what gaine we by this at our end When our fraile Body doth returne to dust Our Soule to him that gaue it must ascend Whereof least iot of time account they must Which hath been spent in discord profit folly lust Oh! knew we but the vertue of this treasure Like to the Merchant wise we would sell all To buy it where we should find profit pleasure Such Ioy as neuer on our hearts did fall Oh heav'nly Comfort Ioy spirituall Delight vnspeakeable in hearts that ' grow Of those that shee is conuersant withall What Ioy can there be greater than to know Gods endlesse Loue in Christ which shee to vs doth show Sure I could wish my whole life here to spend In this diuine most holy contemplation whereof I know not how to make an end Shee yeelds such plentie of sweet meditation Most heav'nly mysteries of our Creation Wherein appeare Gods might and Maiestie But aboue all his loue in mans saluation This is that wondrous hidden mystery Into the which eu'n Angels did desire to pry But we confesse though thou dost here reueale Abundant knowledge yet we little know Wherefore 'gainst vs the Heathen may appeale Who though thou didst to them but glimpses show Of Truth and Iustice did more righteous grow Than wee that doe thy sacred Truth confesse And make of Puritie a glorious show But to adorne the Gospel we professe With workes of Charitie Ah! wee doe nothing lesse Oh it is meate and drinke we know not of To know and doe our heav'nly Fathers will Our blessed Sauiour alwayes fed thereof And hereof Saints and Angells eate their fill These are the fruitfull plants which flourish still Milke Hony liuing Water spiced Wine Which doe refresh Christs Spouse when shee is ill These richest Iewells which her make so fine Locks Ribands Roses which so gloriously do shine For this shee is the Bridegroomes darling Doue And vnto her that bare her onely deare For this the daughters when they see her loue And all the Queenes and Wiues make merry cheere This makes her looke than Sunne and Moone more cleere Her nauell belly head necke brests adorne With these shee to her husband doth appeare More beautifull than is the fairest morne Or faire like twinning Ews on Gilead washt and shorne Thou that such heav'nly Knowledge didst instill Into plaine Fishers that they could confound By argument ev'n Clerkes of greatest skill And diue into thy Mysteries profound Who by their clouen-fiery tongues forth sound The Knowledge of thy Truth to ev'ry Nation Canst make this Knowledge in mine heart abound By one sparke of diuine illumination And rauish my weake soule with heav'nly admiration And though imperfect here our Knowledge be By reason of our humane imperfection And for by Faith alone we things doe see And nothing know indeed in true perfection Yet when thy Spirit cleares our minds infection Wee shall then know ev'n as we now are knowne And things now seene by mirrour-like inspection To vs shall be most euidently showne In Knowledge we shall reape what we in Faith haue sowne What then 's imperfect shall be done away Knowledge shall perfect our felicitie Which is our free beholding God for ay In his great Goodnesse Loue and Maiestie So farre as finite may infinitie Farther to reach my Muse dares not be bold When Angels of so high sublimitie Gods Light and Maiestie cannot behold Finite with infinite can no proportion hold MEDITAT I. Of ZEALE and godly IEALOVSIE OH that some holy fire enlightening My Soule now rauish would with thoughts diuine Whilst I of Iealousie Loues daughter sing And godly Zeale which like the Sunne doth shine Alas Minerua and the Muses nine Are too weake helpes their aide here to intreate With Colefrom Altar let some Seraphine Touch my rude tongue and set my braine on heate The Glory of this Grace in loftie rhimes to sweate Fit Subiect for a sacred Poets Verse Which should it selfe in Extasie transcend Zeales sacred Praise with Knowledge to rehearse Both Method and Deuotion doe commend Who as the houshold Chaplaine doth intend To all that liue in Royall Court of Loue And Prayers for them all to heau'n doth send For without Zeale none possible can moue To high Olimpus Court the Seate of mightie Ioue For Prayers that to Heau'n seeke to ascend Without the Feruour of this sacred Zeale Fall downe like smoakie vapours that intend Into Aires middle region to steale But those that are supported by her seale Like Fumes of incense by the Lamb contend Eu'n in th' Almighties presence to reueale Our wants and craue his aid vs to defend 'Gainst worlds and Serpents poyson to our latest end Oh! thou to whom it was both drinke and meate To finish and to doe thy Fathers Will Whom Zeale of Gods owne house eu'n vp did eate And made thee on the Crosse thy bloud to spill Who whipst out Merchants that thy house did fill With doues and money theeues and merchandize Some Zea-lous iuice into my pen distill And raise my mind aboue her wonted guise That so my Muse may with her matter sympathise All other holy Graces disposition By rules of Art I formerly define But Zeale so feruent is no definition Can her containe or bound in any line Onely shee is by nature pure diuine Beloued daughter to the Queene of Loue Whose mothers Graces so in her doe shine Shee well the primate of her Court may proue And ranked be for place all other Peares aboue I here omit that Zeale which without hate Of others doth to vertuous deeds contend And vs enflames that good to emulate Which we to be in others apprehend I here that holy Iealousie commend Which onely doth from Loue diuine proceed When not for our but Gods cause we intend To loue both him and his in word and deed For this is that right Zea'le which of true Loue doth breed Truth comes by knowledge and from zeale deuotions When therefore zeale doth with true knowledge meete Shee doth inlarge our hearts with heav'nly notions Sublime transcendant admirable sweet But where this knowledge wants shee 's vndiscreet Rash violent seditious rude and blind Faults for so faire a Lady farre vnmeet You see two zeales here
let our hearts be alwaies mercifull And like the fertile ground yeeld plentifull Encrease of all the seeds which thereon grow 'T is Bountie that doth fill our garner's full He sparing reapes that sparingly doth sowe True Bounty 's noble hand no want did euer know But ah too many couetous of Praise And Glory doe by fraud and rapine spoile Other 's that they thereby there names may raise And some goods gotten by much care and toile Spend on their pleasures and thereby beguile Their poore and needy neighbour of his right Drinking and surfetting in ease the while And spending frankly on some base delight Like Brutes are bountifull to their owne appetite Some onely by their Bountie seeke for fame And these are onely to Ambition free Some Patrons now aday's such Shepheards name To feed the Flocke as loose and Idle Bee Wealth vnto wealth to adde they all agree Mo man respects the needy and the poore The emptie vessels emptie still we see They that are full to them is added more Dry hills want water when the valley's swim with store As Knights which of the noble Order are Of Garter that they better may be knowne A golden George about their necke they weare Nor doe the same at any time lay downe Whereby their noblenesse should be vnknowne So Nobles alwaies weare Benignitie Whereby whose Sonnes you are yee may be showne For nothing proues you Sonnes of the most High More than your Bountie and true Liberalitie But of salse bountie you doe vainely boast Delighting in vaine pastime oyle and Wine And gluttons feed for glory to your cost Whil'st at your doores the poore may sterue and pine You welcome such as you inuite to dine But scarce afford the poore scraps at your gate Which shew that all your bountie is to Ioyne Credit and Glory to your great estate And but for Crowes and Kites or Daw's do lay a Baite You for a million at a cast will play And hazard all your fortunes at a game And grudge not for one daintie bit to pay A thousand and then glory in the same With gold you tricke and trim vp some loose Dame The sinke that sucks vp all your Liberalitie Thus lauish you to your eternall shame All that your Fathers got by their Frugalitie And left to you to spend in bounteous hospitalitie Braue Alexanders deeds for ay commends His wondrous confidence and bountie rare Who dealing out amongst his faithfull friends Lands houses townes he gold and all did share When one besought him wisely to forbeare For what said he alas is left the King New hopes of gaming more said he there are Thus on his fate and fortunes venturing The Heau'ns propitious seem'd to him in eu'ry thing But ah poore Prince thy hopes are all but vaine As were the Benefits thou didst expose But we are certaine of eternall gaine If bounteously Gods blessings we dispose Ah! what is it if worldly things we loose And thereby gaine vs an Eternall Crowne Which heau'nly Bountie layeth vp for those That their owne glory willingly lay downe And what they reape by Bountie bounteously haue sowne Such all within most gloriously shall shine Their vestiments shall be of twined Gold They shall of Hony tast and spiced Wine And all the Bridegroomes fruits both new and old He gently will such in his armes infold And satisfie their sense with pleasing smell No eare hath heard no tongue hath euer told The Ioy and Bounty that with him doe dwell But more of these where next of heau'nly Ioy I tell MEDITAT V. Of Spirituall and Heau'nly IOY HOw should a heart opprest with worldly cares Of Spirituall inward Ioy now rightly sing Since none her knowes but who her image beares And feeles the Spirits inward witnessing All sacred stuffe I to this building bring No helpe but he that Abba Father cry's Can teach my Muse to touch this golden string I therefore here forbeare prophane supply's My Spirit wholly on the holy Spirit rely's Well said the King All worldly things are vaine And trauell which beneath the Sun he found Compared to left drop or minutes gaine Which Spirituall Ioy did to his heart propound No reach of Wisards skill no wit profound Is able this true Ioy to comprehend This Musicke wholly to the Saints doth sound The inward man can onely apprehend Sweet liuely Spirituall Ioy which neuer shall haue end No Muses darling euer yet did dreame Of this sweet wind which where it lists doth blow This onely is sweet Israels Singers theame Which he by heau'nly influence did show And then most when the outward man brought low By paine of body or by griefe of mind Did from his pen diuinest comforts flow Most heau'nly Ioy 's which he was wont to find To grow more strong within as he without declind Oh Ioy of ioy 's vnspeakeable delight Eu'n when our soules the powers of hell doe shake And vs with Iustice and due vengeance fright When as our guilty conscience is awake That all with terrour tremble horrour quake That then our gentle beame of heau'nly Grace Not onely shall from vs this horrour take But in Loues armes vs in an instant place They onely know this Ioy that haue beene in this case If euer I receiued strength and skill From Heau'n to scale the hill of contemplation I now doe hope Gods gracious Spirit will Me fill with Ioy for his sweet meditation Oh blessed Spirit who by sweet inspiration Directest eu'ry holy Prophets quill Enlighten mine by heau'ns illumination That most diuine sweet Ioy 's it may distill Into the Readers heart and Mine with comfort fill No tongue could euer tell no heart conceiue Therefore no Art is able to define What is the inward Ioy which we receiue By peace of conscience and Grace diuine But sure it is that speciall marke or signe Which on our soules the holy Spirit of Grace Most gently doth imprint and liuely line Whereby we doe behold Gods cheerefull face And spiritually feele our Bridegroomes sweet embrace There is a naturall and carnall Ioy Besides this inward Ioy spirituall By one we common blessings here enioy By th' other we in Sin and errour fall Those be partakers of Ioy naturall That health of body haue and worldly store The carnall Ioy we sinfull pleasures call Excesse of meate and wine Lips of a whore And all mans vaine delights 'gainst rule of heau'n lore These Ioy 's which with false pleasures vs deceiue Are not of kin to Ioy spirituall For that they alway's doe our hearts bereaue Of inward Ioyes pure food Angelicall Gods goodnesse is th' efficient cause of all And though each person in the Trinitie May seeme to haue a working seuerall Yet all in one and one in all agree With Ioy here to begin mans true felicitee There many causes are materiall Why we this inward Ioy in vs should haue Gods freest grace which doth most surely call All those that he elected hath to saue The Peace of conscience which
bringeth vnder And 'gainst all disobedience soundeth out like thunder This was the Sword wherewith our valiant Head When he was tempted in the Wildernesse And with a six-weekes-fast sore weakened Did free himselfe from Hells malitiousnesse When first on him his Enemy did presse He vs'd the hilts himselfe for to defend But when he could not thus his Foe represse Loe he the point against his Breast doth bend Behind me Satan All Gods worship must attend Those that will vse aright this holy Word Must not the letter but the sense apply Or else they vse the Scabbard for the Sword Wherewith none euer wun the Victory It is the Mystery of Iniquitie To take the letter and to leaue the sense To forge of Antichrists Idolatry The feigned Rocke the Key 's of Heau'n from whence He claimes to vniuersall Power Obedience A multitude of words but all one sense And tending all to that grand mystery To which all mysteries haue reference Mans personall vnion with the Deity The which to God was knowne infallibly In his election ere the worlds Foundation And all the Bookes it seemes to typifie From Genesis vnto the Reuelation Sublime transcendent mystery's of mans Saluation How should my Muse these hope to comprehend In this short fainting breath of meditation Which doth all humane wit and skill transcend Whos 's each word hath an hid signification Each letter pricke and point an obseruation All fauouring of Wisdome true diuine And far beyond mans weake inuestigation In it such rare profound deepe Learning shine A Volume is not able to expound a Line Fie then on those that swolne with vaine ambition To sway all Kingdomes with materiall sword Preferre before this Word their vaine tradition Which nought but vainnesse like themselues afford Their names be wiped out of the Record And Booke which all thy Saints names doth containe That thus doe seeke to vilifie this Word Which to accomplish Gods owne Sonne was slaine And thousand Martyrs spent their bloud it to maintain So deale with Prophets that to hide conspire From simple people Food spirituall Which they as new borne Babes do milke desire That they may grow vp to be strong and tall I grant as Mothers breasts doe best of all Nourish the Child so doth Gods holy Word Which from our Mother-Churches breasts doth fall Best nourishment vnto her Babes afford So as it be sincere Else be it all abhor'd True Angells Food sweet Manna pure diuine My Spirits dayly bread and nourishment Which wanting shee doth hunger statue and pine And yeeld to Body's sleshly Regiment My Soule with fat and marrow is content When I with ioyfull lips thy praises sing And feed upon thy Lawes great wonderment Which to subiection doth my Body bring And makes the Spirit rule and order like a King The Spirit it compares to Looking Glasse Where we our Faces Spots may all behold But soone out of our memory they passe Like to a Dreame or Tale that 's idlely told But who his mind thereon doth daily hold Doth walke in perfect Law of Liberty Which to him doth apparantly vnfold His Soule and Fleshes least deformity And sheweth him the meanes the same to rectifie Eu'n as the Raine indiffereutly doth fall Vpon the fruitfull and the barren ground So preached is this Heau'nly Word to all Though to the faithlesse it be fruitlesse found Oh! where this Word doth powerfully sound The strongest holds of sin it shatters downe And things most high exalted doth confound It 's smallest-Seed in lowly Valley sowne Est suddenly is to a mighty Cedar growne It is reported of the siluer Doue She neere the purest Streames doth most delight In which Shee may espy the shadow moue Of towring Faulcon or the rauenning Kite Whereby she is forewarn'd to scape by flight From cruell Hawkes that seeke her for a pray So if in spirituall streames we take delight Our spirituall Foes we there discouer may That so our Soules forewarn'd like Doues might flye away Most glorious Sun-shine where it doth enlight More comfortable Light hath showne But when Shee doth withdraw her Beames is night And darknesse spirituall far grosser growne Than that which three day 's was to Pharaoh knowne Hard-hearted Pharaoh thou that didst despise This Word and all the wonders by it showne Eu'n all thy plagues light on them that deuise To hide this heau'nly Light from simple peoples ey 's It is the doore whereby the pastours may Spiritually ascend into their Fold Those that doe enter in another way We doe as rauenning wolues and robbers hold This Word 's a touchstone which doth try from Gold All mettalls base Inuentions of mans braine Of which such store at Latium now are sold Not for the Flocks but for the Shepheards gaine Masse Dirges Pardons Trentalls and Traditions vaine Nothing describe her nature better will Than Touchstone th' vse of which simplest may learne But one had need of cunning Gold-smiths skill True Touchstone from a false one to discerne Oh how did those noble Berreans earne To try those things that Paul deliuered The things which our Saluation did concerne By that which in the Scriptures they had read The Scriptures that the Spirit had canonized Who from the simple people these doe hide Deale as with Israel did the Cananite Who no Smith suffer'd in their Coasts t' abide To make a weapon for an Israelite Therfore no speare nor sword when they should fight But in Sauls hands and Ionathans were found Chams hellish pollicy most deu'lish sleight To hold in Ignorance and Bondage bold By taking way such helpes as Liberty propound As first God by his Word and Spirit wrought And fashion'd all things in this worlds Creation So by this Word and Spirit he hath brought All things to passe in this our renouation And as he for our Bodyes preseruation Hath here materiall Bread and Wine prepar'd So 's Word and Spirit is for sustentation Of all our Soules that rightly it regard Such neuer need of thirst and hunger be afeard As Appetite 's a Signe of Body's Health So of the Soules is hunger of his Word And as to him that seeketh store of wealth A Myne can best what he desires afford So he that spirituall treasures vp would hoard Come to this sacred Word where he shall find It doth a world of mystery's record The richest jewells to adorne the mind True treasure's no where else reuealed to mankind For it 's the Megazine where pastours haue All gems and treasures to enrich their fold The store-house whence they all abundance craue Of liuing food their Lambs in plight to hold The armory from whence they may he bold To fetch all armes and weapons to withstand The wolues which them infest and to vphold Truth and the right against all Satans Band Falfe Heretickes base Lusts and worlds encroaching hand But as the Manna that from Heau'n was sent Bred Wormes if wrong but Food if rightly vsed So breeds this Word our Soules due nourishment But neuer-dying
either grant vs what we seeke Or giue vs that shall be our greater gaine Mine Heart mine heart Lord doth reioyce amaine Ay in thine House of Prayer to abide Where Swallow's build and Sparrow's are full faine To lay their young ones by thine Altars side Mee neuer let the Spirit of Prayer be deny'd But since I ought to pray continually How should my Pen of Prayer make an end My Sauiour praying on the Crosse did dye With Prayer Steuen his Soule to Heav'n did send But I began with Prayer let mee end With Praises to the Horne of my Saluation Who sure I hope his blessed Spirit did send To guide mee in this holy Meditation Which fills my Tongue with Praise Heart with Admiration FINIS VRANIA OR THE HEAVENLY MUSE LONDON Printed by WILLIAM STANSBY 1625. TO MY EVER HONORED FRIEND M. IOHN MAYNARD one of the Gentlemen of his Maiesties Priuie Chamber in Ordinarie MY deare Vrania wilt thou now forsake My Cottage and to Court thy selfe betake Dost hope thou there as here shalt find retire I cannot but thy simplenesse admire But since thou needs wilt goe I 'le thee commend vnto the Muses most familiar Friend Who had not his great Princes Loue and Grace Him brought from Muses Groues to 's Royall place Might on his Front haue worne thy Crowne of Bays And beene the Prince of Poets in his dayes Hee 'le leaue all profit pleasure honour gaine The heav'nly Muse alone to entertaine Oh happy Court most blessed Courtiers yee That from the Muses Springs transplanted bee This 't is makes Arts and Learning so increase Hence followeth all our happinesse and Peace The Muses needs must dance when Courtiers sing All follow the example of the King Yours truly deuoted R. A. VRANIA ABout the Season Lawyers tongues doe rest And make for Ceres honour long vacation I freed from tumults which me erst opprest Dispose my mind to holy Meditation And thinking how I might a subiect find Delightfull pleasing sweet and profitable My heart to better and inrich my mind And tongue acquaint with Phrases delectable As Traueller that meets with diuers wayes I long deliberate to chuse the best And fairest Path to Mount where Lawrell Bayes The Numbers crowne that are diuinely drest One while I sought in measures Comicall To maske the Graces all vpon the Stage Or in a Tragique Scene vp Ghosts to call Of Worthys slaine by cruell Tyrants rage Anon I would the Vnion celebrate Which made a Damaske Rose of Red and White The fairest Flower of Brittons happy State Which Roses then now Kingdomes doth vnite I thought likewise to sing that happy Peace Our Iland-world enioyeth by this Vnion Which makes our honour riches strength increase And haue with Heav'nly Arts such free communion Then I th' admired Prudence would rehearse Of Brittons Scepter-swaying Solomon Matter which would immortalize a Verse And saue such Splendour from obliuion Prone was my flesh the winged wag to sing Of wanton Venus and her Bitter-sweet That glads the Tast but doth the Bowells wring For chaster eares a Subiect far vnmeet Whilst wauering thus in fruitlesse inquisition Yet vnresolv'd of any course I roue Behold I see an heav'nly Apparition Some Herauld doubtlesse from the Queene of Loue Her gesture and her grace Angelicall With wings whereby her selfe to heav'n shee reares Her countenance faire sweet celestiall Her voyce like Musicke of the heav'nly Spheares A glorious Garland crown'd her golden head Bedeck'd with all the Flowers sweet and gay That could on Tempes Plaines be gathered By learned Sisters in their fairest May. Immortall Flowers which spring and flourish ay And ay their verdure and sweet sent retaine Like heav'nly Arts which neuer doe decay But by their vsing greater glory gaine On shoulders hangs her azure mantle light With siluer spangles all adorned faire Twinkling like brightest Starres in frosty night As they are moued by the gentle aire Her nether parts to hide from vulgar eye A Kirtle like Heav'n Conopy did couer Where all the Signes of Heav'n embroidred fly And all the Graces seeme about to houer I saith shee am Vrania to thee sent From thine adored Mistresse Queene of Loue I rauish Soules aboue the Firmament That they in Numbers like the Spheres may moue With Siluer Key I doe vnlocke the mind Of Mortalls sealed vp in Ignorance That oft their Soules aboue the Stars they find When Bodyes lye on ground as in atrance For I the Spirit am of Contemplation Th' Ehxir of Ambrosia diuine Pure Angells food Soules sweetest delectation The Helicon where both the Sisters nine Art teacheth Art Experience Policy And Practice guild's the tongue with Eloquence But none reach lofty straines of Poesie That haue them not by heav'nly insluence Hence 't is that Clerks which gaine immortall praise By their deepe learned Eloquence in Prose Their numbers cannot to such honour raise As one that scarce the Rules of Grammer knows It is beyond the reach of will or wit A holy Flame of heav'nly Loues pure fire A soaring high transcendent furious fit Whose Life light heate and strength loue doth inspire Loue 's her Beginning and her End is Loue Loue is the Soule and Life of Poesie No Poeme without Loue did euer proue No more then Musicke without Harmony The Loue of Honour and of Cheualry So rais'd the old blind Greeks Heroique quill Hee lifts Achilles valiant acts more high Than his that conquer'd all the world at will The loue of Ciuill and Self-gouernment Him taught to frame such an exact Ulisses That hee who by this Patterne did inuent Roomes glorious author such perfection misses Eglogues of Loue are Muses first delights Till thorough country pleasures shee doth come To sing in state of Honour Armes and Knights And out of old Troys ashes raise vp Rome The wanton all whose speeches were in Verse Who sings in Fictions all Dame natures story In ev'ry sentence doth his Loue rehearse But ah base Lust obscureth all his glory So Loues old rigid Cato vertues lore He makes them dance the measures cunningly To loues Lucretius Dame natures store Hee turnes all Pliny into Poetry And as the obiect of our Loue exceeds So strikes the Muse on high or lower strings Who lowly late did maske in Shepheards weeds In high Heroiques of Armes and Honour sings My Darling Bartas who on Angells wings Beholds the Six Day 's of the Worlds Creation Was so in loue with Heav'n and heauenly things Hee wholly on them fixt his Contemplation And wen he on the Seuenth Day comes to rest He them all orders to his Makers Glory Doubtlesse he fram'd a new world in his brest Whereof he so Diuinely sings the story It was this heav'nly Loue that did incite The warlike Shepheard such sweet notes to sing His loue vnto Gods Statutes day and night Doe strike so loud his Harpe and Violls string And as Wind-Instrument to him repay's That sounds it sweetest musicke for his breath So
of a differing kind I leaue the worst and seeke the fairest out to find Sweet Lady daughter to the Queene of Loue Which is the cause of Zeale and Iealousie If you will aske mee what this Queene doth moue To loue vs wretches that in sin doe lye I answere Goodnesse of her Maiestie Most excellent is then this holy fire Of zeale proceeding from such ancestry Goodnesse and Loue which therefore wee require To true effects of Loue and Goodnesse to aspire Sweet zeale How fairely dost thou beautifie Th' affection where thou mak'st thy habitation Like Temple which thy Lord did purifie When as his Soule with zeale and indignation Was mou'd to see Gods Temples prophanation Not suffering thy house of endlesse rest To be abus'd by Pride or lustfull passion Th' affection which doth lodge within my brest The Temple where Christ and the Holy Ghost should rest Companions of Zeale are Pietie Faith Knowledge Patience Fortitude and Right In workes of Mercy Peace and Charitie And sweet Humilitie is her delight With all her Power shee is opposite Against all that Gods glory may oppose Shee spends in feruent Prayers day and night And those by Knowledge doth so well compose They bring Gods blessings down and vp his Iudgements close Oh Zeale with Knowledge Faith and Charitie Who able is thy vertue to commend Which doth the Church into one Body tye And for Gods glory onely dost contend For publike good and not for priuate end Lo th' Angells-Being doth in zeale consist Whose sacred ardour doth all flames transcend Wherewith they oft enlight our minds darke mist When flames of hottest zeale they to our soule suggest Oh! Loue as strong as Death and Iealousie Cruell as graue Thy flames like coales of fire Consume and burne vp all most violently No Streames or Flouds can quench her sacred ire Should we sell all we haue we could not buy her The Daughter zeale is like the Mother free Them both from Heau'n th' Almightie doth inspire And therefore neither will affronted bee With Riualls Heathen Gods most base Idolatree Fond Zeale that 's fitly called which doth want Faith Knowledge Loue diuine and Graces all It still doth most vaine superstitions haunt And to most base Idolatry doth fall Vnhumane Fury Madnesse tragicall Of men whom thus blind zeale and strange desire Transports beyond rage diabolicall To offer vp their children in the fire Of some offended deuill to appease the ire Strange is this zealous fury of the rude When Ignorance doth guide their blind deuotion The gathering of the froward multitude When they be stirred with some feruent motion All following some braine-sicke idle notion With discontent against authoritie Raise Schismes in Church in Common-wealth Commotion Pretending all their Conscience-liberty Alas these be no fruits of holy Iealousie God often by an Anthropopathy By which his nature best wee vnderstand Ascribes vnto himselfe this Iealousie As being link'd in Hymens holy band Vnto his Church his vndefiled And His Church againe to shew her feruent Loue And Ioy shee takes in her new ioyned hand Like Loue-sicke Bride the Bridegroome oft doth proue And him with zeale inuites her to imbrace and Loue. Neuer new wedded Bridegroome was more faine Of his new-Bride than Christ is of his Doue Neuer did truest Turtle more complaine For losse of Mate than this Spouse of her Loue It would a stony heart to fountaines moue Of teares to heare the Churches piteous mone When shee doth misse him whom her Soule doth loue Where 's my belou'd Ah whither is shee gone And left his saddest Deare to sigh and sit alone And therefore as a Signet on his heart And as the Seale that is on his right hand Shee would be ioyn'd that shee might neuer part But alwayes in his Grace and presence stand No Keeper in Christs Vineyard must command Hee will his Vineyard prune and dresse alone Whereby his Iealousie wee vnderstand His Vine the Bridegroome will haue drest of none The Bride out of his presence neuer will be gone Doth mine inuention faile that wont to flow In Similes that make hard things seeme plaine Or doth the whole Creation here below Nothing affoord zeales nature to explaine Alas all earthly Similes are vaine T' expresse the nature of this Heau'nly fire Which in the glorious Angells doth remaine And in the Spirits of that blessed Quire Which here with Hymnes and Praises doe Gods loue admire Shall dust and ashes dare yet be so bold Her to the holy fire to compare Which in the Bush thy seruant did behold Flaming but did the Bush not singe or seare Such flames of zeale oft in our hearts there are Which doe enlighten them but not consume These flames our Prayers to Iehoua beare By these our Praises spiritually vp fume And in Gods nostrils are like incense and perfume Or shall I like her to some Lionesse Rob'd of her whelps by some aduenturous hand Who in her wondrous woe and furiousnesse Deuour's and slayes all in her way that stand Who can the force of Iealousie withstand Being of so great strength and wondrous might God grant our zeale the Truth may vnderstand And that true Knowledge may your minds inlight To make vs zealous for Gods glory and the right May I not like her to strong churlish wine Which doth confound the braine inflame the blood But cool'd with water pure and sugar fine For both of them is soueraigne and good Eu'n so doth Iealousies most feruent mood Allaid with sugar of sweet Charitie And coold with sweetest Christalline pure floud The silent streames of soft Humilitie Transcend in all good workes of Loue and Pietic This is the zeale and sacred emulation Which the Originall doth signifie Which hath with Loue in Heau'n her habitation And all our actions here doth sanctifie And when our Maker vs shall glorifie Behold our zeale shall in perfection shine Begun on earth in true sinceritie And as our Fleshly courage doth decline Our zeale will grow more hot and neerest to diuine Zeale made old Abram Hagars sonne reiect For scoffing at his holy promisd seed And Moses Pharaohs Court and grace neglect When hee th' Egyptians Destiny did reed That smote a brother of the holy breed This zeale made noble Phineas with his speare Slay Zimry and Cosbi in their damned deed Though Saul the fat of Amalec would spare Yet Samuels zeale doth Agags flesh in pieces teare Oh had his Master Eli's burnt so hot Against his sonnes when they by violence The fattest of Gods offrings from him got And with foule Lust defil'd the sacred Tents Had he like Phineas punish't this offence Our eares then should not haue so tingeled To heare of Gods great wrath and sore offence He and his sonnes in one day slaughtered And all his race from th' Arke for euer banished Zeale made the warlike Dauid to aspire To build an house for Gods owne habitation And though warres crost his zeale and good desire Yet made he for it royall preparation And
to lend it But least corrupt my mind or body grow with too much ease or wanton Idlenesse My mind I set my Makers Will to know His Wisedome Power Truth and Holinesse I often ride or walke to wearinesse The members of my body to subdue And Temper 'gainst Lust and Laciuiousnesse Thus by sweet contemplation oft I view Such high transcendent things as yet I neuer knew Thus rapt with contemplation I find That all these worlds-gay show's which men admire Are but vaine shadow's to the ioy 's of mind Of those that lead their liues in safe retire Whose onely happinesse and hearts desire Is here the talents God hath lent to spend Vnto his glory as he doth require And vsing Temperately what he doth send Thus grant that I may liue Thus grant that I may end MEDITAT IIII. of BOVNTIE NOw will I raise faire Alma's stately tower On Temperance her strong and soundest frame And goodly deck Dame Bounty's dainty bower Whereby all Princes gaine immortall fame Some call her Alma some her Bounty name The trusty Almner of Loues Royall Court Who beares the bag to giue to blind and lame And Suitors all that thither doe resort Rewards most bounteously and feeds in seemely sort For on this heau'nly Dame the eyes of all Looke vp that of her liberalitie They may receiue and shee againe le ts fall Vpon them needfull things most plenteously Her bounteous hand shee opens willingly With blessings eu'ry creature full to fill To those that Knowledge seeke abundantly Shee giueth Wisdome Vnderstanding Skill To know their Makers Bountie Maiestie and Will Most glorious Alma when as Temperance Controlls the noble Plentie of her Hall And with her Staffe keepes out Intemperance Which doth abuse her Grace and Bountie all For where most Plentie is there most doe fall By want of Temperance to Lust and Sin Till they be brought low as the Prodigall For he that will true Praise by Bountie win Must first of all at home with Temperance begin For Temperance with watchfull diligence Are like two springs which waters doe supply To open handed free Beneficence And her discernes from Prodigalitie By Diligence we get sufficiencie By Temperance what we haue gotten spare To minister to Liberalitie For these two Lady-Bounty's handmaids are And for her iust and truly store of wealth prepare But they that liue in sloth and foule excesse Though they may seeme to be most liberall Oppression and Extortion mercilesse Are Lakes from whence their Bounty 's streamed doe fall And thus they rob the poore that therewithall They may themselues rich friends and children feast Blaspheming their great Maker Lord of all And imitating basest sauage beast Which fawnes vpon the great But doth deuoure the least God of all Bountie King most Liberall Who to thy vassall Man at his Creation Didst subiect make Fish Fowle Beasts creatures all And of thine handy works gau'st domination Who by thy prouidence and ordination Him needfull things not onely dost prouide But for his health delight and contentation That he may plentie to the poore diuide My Muse to sing heart hands to practise Bountie guide Bountie Beneficence Benignitie In name though diuers one in substance be Beneuolence and Liberalitie Make actions and affections agree If as they are in God you wish to see They like his Goodnesse are vnlimitted And as his Mercy Loue and Grace are free Which on his creatures are abundant shed But by my shallow Muse their depth cannot be read They are too high to reach too deepe to sound For all the earth is filled therewithall In heau'n aboue Gods Goodnesse doth abound The Bountie of his Grace is ouer all Of all the Meditations which call My mind to holy Ioy and admiration None lets more comfort than Gods Bountie fall Both for my being and my preseruation But most in that he shed his bloud for my Saluation Here could I wish my Muse might euer dwell In viewing Gods great Goodnesse Bountie Loue Which three to th' holy Trinitie I well May here ascribe For Goodnesse first doth moue The Father to beget Eternall Loue From Loue and Goodnesse Bountie doth proceed Yet all these three as one in God doe proue In substance one although distinguished In working But this height my reach doth far exceed And therefore rauish't now with contemplation Beyond the compasse of my feeble eye My soule amaz'd falls downe to adoration Of this misterious holy Trinitie And from diuine come to benignitie And bountie which should be in men below A habit wee of liberalitie Her call and good affection we should show In thought heart word and deed to eu'ry one we know And must from goodnesse and true loue proceed The onely cause of true benignitie Wherefore except these be in vs indeed Our bounty is but prodigalitie Or some like froth of superfluitie The crums and leauings of Intemperance Which oft are dealt out with an euill eye More for vaine credit or base circumstance Then for goodwill or care Gods glory to aduance For eu'ry act hath then her true effect Which from true ground right aymeth at her end As when both loue and goodnesse doth direct What bounty truly gets aright to spend Loe thus doth heau'nly grace and Bounty send Her blessings temporall alike to all But doth for greater benefits intend To those that on Gods name aright doe call And in this heau'nly sort ought we be liberall Oh! then th' effects of bounty glorious are When Prouidence with true Frugality Doe seeke by Iustice to prouide and spare Fit sustenance for liberality Behold that heau'nly bounteous Maiesty Sends raine and fruitfull seasons whereby store Of Blessings th' earth may to his hand supply And many hidden treasures vp doth store For to exalt the rich and to refresh the pore Then humane bounty like her Makers is When as shee labours to doe good to all But most of all to bring poore soules to blisse And fill their hearts with food spirituall Oh Grace Diuine Bounty Angelicall With spirituall loaues in Wildernesse to feed Gods Saints when spirituall hunger them doth gal The ignorant which pine with inward need Diuine sweet comforts to their fainting soules to reade True Bounty 's knowne best by her company For shee in Truth and Mercy takes delight Faith Iustice Temperance Humility And is withall Loues graces richly dight Herein appeares her glorious heau'nly Sp'rite Shewing that shee of seed diuine is borne Of Loue and Goodnesse not of Vaine delight Or Fame and Praise of men when shee doth scorne To seeke feign'd bounteous shewes her goodnes to adorn For thus th' ambitious man is bountifull Thus belly-gods in plentie take delight Deceit with gifts his neighbour seekes to gull The couetous bribe large to conquer right From such false Bounty Truth is banish't quite Humility Faith Knowledge Temperance Nor any of Loues Graces in her sight May suffered be their ensignes to aduance There dwells Contention Pride Oppression Ignorance As daughters of the horse-leech still doe
quite Shining like glorious Lamps in worlds obscurest night This inward heate this holy heau'nly fire Most what concealed vnder ashes ly's Which one till into flames they doe respire At home more easie than aborad descry's Because it selfe within best testify's In Abraham appear'd this holy flame When as he saw his Sauiour with his eyes Who of his blessed seed long after came For Abram saw Christs day and ioyed in the same Vp Miriam vp thou merily canst sing Now through the Red Sea thou art safely past Hereby our Baptisme then prefiguring That when Repentance vs with teares hath wash't With Ioy wee Egypts Bondage of should cast But neuer did more Ioyfull musicke sound Than Dauids when he of this Ioy did tast Restore mee to those wonted Ioy 's I found And euer let thy holy Spirit in me abound Oh blessed Bridegroome of the fairest Bride How often when shee seeketh thee by night Doest thou thy Ioyfull presence from her hide That wanting shee in thee may more delight How oft againe when thou do'st her inuite Rise my belou'd and ope to mee the doore Such is her nicenesse and her sluggish sprite Shee will not rise to let thee in before Thou thence art gone And then thy losse shee doth deplore These are the apples odours nuts and wine Which comfort her when shee is sicke of Loue These Christs embraces that doe her entwine The kisses which he giues his Turtle Doue Milke spice pomegranats which shee so doth loue All these are inward Ioy 's the Bride hath here Whereof she with the Bridegroomes friends doth proue And eates and drinkes with Ioy and merry cheere Yea drinkes abundantly with her beloued deare This was the Ioy that him was set before That did endure the Crosse despise the shame And Lord of all became low naked pore Enduring death vs to excuse from blame His Martyrs and Apostles in the same Suffrings and crosses him haue followed And trode the Wine-presse as their order came Where some in scorching flames more Ioy 's haue red Than wearied Limbs could find in softest downy bed This 't was the Kingly Prophet so admir'd When loathing all worlds pompe and glory vaine He this one onely thing of God desir'd For euer in his Temple to remaine To view the Beautie of that heau'nly traine This made him leaue his purple Crowne and Throne And in a linnen Ephod dance amaine For this would Constantine be rather one Of Christ his members then the Empires head alone But why seeke I for witnesses without Since 't is the Spirit within that testify's Our Soule that without wauering or doubt With Peace of Conscience Abba Father Cry's Vnto whose Soule this Spirit eke reply's Be glad and Ioyfull I am thy saluation Be not afraid-My Grace shall thee suffice To conquer Hell And to resist temptation And yeeld the soundest Ioy in greatest tribulation I will make glad thy soule delight thine heart And with a cheerefull countenance will smile For I am thine and mine againe thou art And though afflictions here thee square and file No power in Earth or Hell shall thee beguile Of those sweet Ioy 's which are for thee prepar'd Oh tarry thou my leasure but a while And thy petitions all I will regard Delight in mee I am thy hope and iust reward Oh! who can heare these Ioyous inuitations These blessed promises and yet complaine That hee 's afraid of crosse or tribulations Oh! neuer let these worldly pleasures vaine Make me so great a looser for their gaine And let me here all worldly griefes endure Lord onely free me from eternall paine This inward Ioy shall euer me assure And on thy merits I in all will rest secure Who would not rather couet there to dwell Where fulnesse is of Ioy for euermore Than in false vaine delights which leads to Hell Voluptuous Diet flatt'rings of a Whore I rather had with Dauid keepe a dore Where inward Ioy may in my soule abound Than swim in pleasures and preferments store In Princes Courts where vaine delights are found Which like faire flowers fade and quickly fal to ground But I confesse this prouerb true I find That where Gods Church is raising there to build His Chappell is the Deuill most inclin'd And where best seed is sowne in Ground well till'd He with most tares and weeds it alway's fill'd Vaine pleasures are his tares true Ioy 's our wheate Till haruest both together grow in field Then will the Lord of Haruest surely beat The cockle from pure corne at his owne board to eate Fountaine of Ioy oh set thy whole delight Into thy Lawes and Statutes to enquire To meditate thereon both day and night My soule than Gold doth more these Ioy 's desire Let others honour wealth and wine admire Lift Lord on me thy louing countenance Thy louing fauour shall my Soule raise higher Than Princes highest fauours can aduance To heau'nly spirituall wealth not subiect vnto chance In holy Writ I many places find From whence doe flow these Ioy 's spirituall But no where faster than within my mind Oh Lord Thou know'st not I from whence they fall God of all Peace and Ioy perpetuall Let not my Ioy A temporary proue But with her in mine heart thy Graces all Infuse Faith Mercy Patience Peace and Loue To passe by things below and seeke for things aboue Of endlesse Ioy how should I make an end My Muse is neuer weary of delight Since I this Meditation did intend I neuer scarce could sleepe by day or night So doth the pleasing matter me inuite So full of rimes and so the numbers run That I in shorter time haue finish't quite This tast of Ioy than I haue earst begun Some other Graces But my hower-glasse hath done FINIS THE BRIDES ORNAMENTS Viz. Fiue Diuine and Morall MEDITATIONS 1. Prudence 2. Obedience 3. Meekenesse 4. Gods Word 5. Prayer IOB 28. 28. The feare of the Lord is wisdome and to depart from euill is vnderstanding LONDON Printed by WILLIAM STANSBY 1625. TO MY MOST TRVE WORTHY LOVING FRIEND AND dearest Brother RICHARD CRAKANTHORPE Doctor of Diuinitie and one of his Maiesties Chaplens in Ordinarie NOt Nature Order or Affinity Can Friendships sacred knot so surely tye As choice For euer there we find the ground Of Loue and Friendship most entirely sound As their Desires are like so one there end Which is to be and haue a faithfull friend I that vnto mine owne defects am conscious Of such an honour durst not be ambitious Tell thou wert pleas'd to call mee Friend and Brother I know not that thou deign'st it any other Wherefore whil'st Time Life to my Lines shall giue Our Friendships memory in them shall liue Who of true Friendship know no other end Than here to haue and bee A faithfull Friend ROBERT AYLET THE BRIDES ORNAMENTS MEDITAT I. Of WISDOME and PRVDENCE THE first degree to Wisdome is the misse Of Folly For as Darknesse the priuation Is of Lights Being But no Being is So
Folly is of wise illumination And as in Chaos rude at first Creation There was all Darknesse by the want of Light So in all men before their renouation Are Folly's mists and errours blackest night Till there the Spirit moue which all things doth inlight The Poets which did wondrously transcend In making Mystery's by Fictions plaine All other Graces as diuine commend But Wisdome they to be a Goddesse faine Minerva who proceedeth from the braine Of Iupiter whom they the Mistris hight Of all the Graces and the Muses traine To whom shee oft descends for her delight Weary'd with toile of Gouernment and Martiall fight Thus her of Warre Peace Politie and Arts They Goddesse make as if they should her call The Wisdome God the Father thus imparts Vnto the Sonne to make rule order all With God the Father Coessentiall As all his Attributes Power Truth and Loue For on the Persons Consubstantiall No accident can fall or thence remoue This Soules faint eye conceiues of Wisdome from aboue Which is vnto my minds obscured eye As to my Body's Sunne in Firmament The farther off the easier to descry For neerenesse breedeth but astonishment Oh glorious Wisdome Sun most orient Into my soule with Folly clouded shine Some clearer beames of wisdome excellent The whil'st I sing these radiant rayes of thine Which make a mortall wight seeme gloriously diuine What and how great is wisdomes heau'nly skill No heart of man is able to conceiue Much lesse expresse by any tongue or quill For none but Wisdome wisdome can perceiue The cause vnknowne of nothing shee doth leaue A Numen of such wondrous excellence Shee doth no good but from her selfe receiue Being her owne end ayme and recompence No good in Heau'n or Earth but flow's from Sapience And therefore call'd the proper Good of Ioue Which though to Men and Angells hee dispence In wise proportion yet from him doth moue All wisdome and to him hath reference For as in Power so in Sapience He doth all other heau'nly Powers transcend For Wisdome Ground is of Omnipotence And as we Mortalls on her hests attend So neerer io diuine perfection we ascend Such is true Wisdom's glory that eu'n they Seeme much to doubt who doe her most admire Whither we properly possesse her may And by continuall industry acquire Or that the Heau'ns her secretly inspire In briefe no price or gold can her obtaine Shee seemes to be some flame of heau'nly fire In Adam breath'd before by Folly slaine Which therefore we must seeke to haue from heau'n againe Schooles her to be the knowledge doe define Of things diuine and humane which in breast Of Mortalls if it pure and liuely shine Makes him like God vnmou'd and stable rest For as no chance of Fortune can molest The Power diuine So wisemen doe enioy Within themselues by Wisdome Peace and Rest Nothing that is without can them annoy All seeming Miseries giue place to Inward Ioy. Yet falls this Wisdome short of that Diuine Which Adam did possesse before his fall And as Sun-beames through clouds so doth she shine Through our corruptions scarse discern'd at all Wee common and more exquisite her call That see things that are past and things in sight This things which in succeeding times may fall Wee her as shee guides mens affayres aright Call Prudence Wisdome as shee doth in God delight Wisdome and Prudence in an humane breast Are one same Grace though diuers by relation Wisdome referres to God Prudence doth rest Most in a wise and vpright moderation Of States and Men by Law 's administration By Wisdome here we see the life of Grace By Prudence in a ciuill conuersation Prudence amongst the heathen had a place True heau'nly wisdome only Gods elect doth grace This heau'nly wisdome whereby we conuerse With God and take delight in holy things Doth our affections all and wills peruerse Set right and neere diuine perfection brings Shee first like good Musitian tunes the strings And then sends forth a most harmonious sound First lifts our Soules to heau'n vpon her wings Next orders all by Prudence on the ground Like Leach who ere he others cure himselfe makes sound She first within in order sets the heart Next is for outward things most prouident No Grace more Good to Mortalls doth impart Nor none more euills here on earth preuent She shew's her inward Graces God hath lent By outward manners habit graue attire Few words pure hands in all such complement Such gesture publike and in her retire As all her for a heau'nly patterne doe admire But most of all a wiseman striues to tame Both in himselfe and others Sin and Lust For hee that Good from Ill discern's doth blame False varnish't show's defil'd with inward rust He Pride Pompe Boasting Scorne away doth thrust And from a pure Serenity of mind A paterne draw's of Life most quiet iust Far from opinions false and errour blind And guides at sterne as in a calme so in the wind In Warre most valiant in Iudgement iust Ill vnto Good things hurtfull turn's to sound Will 's still the same because the best no Gust Of fate oppresleth him if Wealth abound Or Pouertie he still the same is found And doth with pleasing Constancy endure All Fortunes changes which doe others wound True innocent sincere iust simple pure And as his Life his Death is ioyfull sweet secure The Poets faine that in the golden Age Graue wise experienc'd men bare all the sway And the vnexpert young not yet growne sage To learne Law 's rules first practis'd to obey For Prudence all by leuell orders ay And by a long Experience doth discerne How she prouide for future changes may By precept and example much we learne But that imprints most deepe which doth our selues concern Examples Precepts and Experience Are euer ready at a Wisemans hand To teach him Iudgement Counsell Prouidence Of which we alway's here in need doe stand By Counsell we the Grounds doe vnderstand Of things we ought to doe or leaue vndone Iudgement our Wills and Senses doth command What things we ought embrace and what to shun And Prouidence prouides for things that are to come I praise not here that cunning Politie Which maketh of anothers Folly gaine This comes of Malice Guile and Subtiltie Which generous braue Prudence doth disdaine Such alway's euill counsell entertaine The Apes of Prudence Reasons deprauation Whose minds as hands grow hard by taking paine Are by base plots and subtill magination Inured vnto others wrongs and supplantation As Quicknesse wit As Soundnesse memory Graue lookes the Face and Plainnesse speech commend So Iudgements praise is in Equalitie Without least doing wrong to Foe or Friend And as salt sauours so doth Iudgement bend Eu'n all our words thoughts workes to good or ill Without this Iudgement Prudence doth intend Nothing for shee is Mistresse of her Will Which she with all her power labours to fulfill Counsell and Iudgement are the very eyes And Lamps here to direct
a prudent mind Which they who want or foolishly misprise Walke on in Folly and in Errour blind We many ignorant vaine Fooles doe find So wise in their conceit and estimation They thinke all wisdome in their breasts confin'd These being bound by double obligation To Folly there 's no hope of any reformation Prudence and Folly in the Soule of man Like Health and Sicknesse in his Body are As Health the Body keepes so Prudence can The Soule deliuer from the Deuills snare And as Diseases here the thread doth share Of Body's Life So Folly soone doth rend The Soule with pleasures vaine and worldly care For as strong men within a Fort defend So Prudent Thoughts our soules from Satans fury shend And as among the noble senses fiue The Sight doth all the rest in worth excell Because all doe their Light from her deriue And shee all that offends them doth repell So Prudence all the vertues doth precell Because by Light God sends her from aboue Shee counsells all the Graces to do well For without her no Grace aright can moue Prudence of all the rest the Gouernour doth proue Vlisses Prudence Aiax Fortitude Whil'st they each other doe accompany Win City's conquer men and monsters rude But if they square for Gaine or Dignity And Aiax leaues Vlisses company His valour turnes to Folly or to rage So men of greatest magnanimity When they the Guidance leaue of Prudence sage Grow beastly mad or foolish in their later age I may her liken to the Prince of Day From whom all lesser Lamps doe borrow Light Who when he doth his glorious Beames display The rest all seeme to be extinguish't quite So when as heau'nly Wisdome wondrous bright Her selfe amongst the Graces doth disclose They all doe seeme to vanish in her sight As all the Glory that they haue arose dispose From those bright Beames which wisdome doth on them As God the world The Emperour his host The Gouernour his Ship the Sunne the day And as the Body 's ruled by the Ghost So doth faire Prudence all the vertues sway And as these like good Guides direct the way Vnto their charge to reach their proper end So doth true wisdome all that her obey To endlesse happinesse and pleasure send Most happy man who doth her holy hests attend May his heart die like Nabals churle and foole Or like Achitophel end with a string Laugh in the stocks cleaue to the scorners stoole That listens not to heau'nly counselling Of Wisdome and her sweet admonishing Shee hath prouided victualls powr'd out wine Sent out her Maids vs to the feast to bring To bid those that seeke Knowledge come and dine And those that Prudence want to tast her grapes diuine For shee 's the Vine whose grapes yeeld pleasing smell Whose Fruit and Flowers Wealth Life Honour are The Garden where Christ dearest Spouse doth dwell Planted with all the Herbs and Spices rare Which to adorne his Church he doth prepare Would thou one word which should her worth containe He hath true Wisdome who the Lord doth feare And who know's holy things doth entertaine Right vnderstanding without this the rest are vaine She as the Prince or Generall doth guide All other Graces in Loues sacred band Doth order marshall and for them prouide As th' Eye which all the members doth command The Gouernours of Men of Cities and Of Families and each mans priuate state She orders wisely by her prudent hand And they that duely on Discretion waite Command the Stars and rule eu'n ouer Time and Fate As shadow's more directly opposite To Sunnes bright Rayes seeme short by being neere When those which are much farther from the light More goodly faire and long by farre appeare So who small Knowledge haue attained here Thereof doe alway's make a greater show Than those whose vnderstanding shining cleare Doe all the Paths of heau'nly wisdome know For with true Wisdome alway's Humblenesse doth grow And as Gods Wisdome doth no lesser seeme In smallest creatures as a Gnat or Fly Than Greater so we ought no lesse esteeme Wisemen in low degree then Dignitie The Snaile a mirrour is of Politie Who with her hornes keepes alway's sentinell And neuer commeth out before shee try If things without be all in Peace and well Else she retyring home liues quiet in her shell Oh sonnes of men that you could but behold The wondrous Beauty of this heau'nly Peare But nought on earth her Beauty can vnfold Her Glory in the Heau'ns doth shine most cleare In all Gods workes her splendour doth appeare She first from Heau'n vouchsafed to descend To liue in Iudah with her chosen deare But now her Beames more ample doe extend To all the Nations of the earth she light doth lend She taught our Father that was made alone To raise himselfe to Glory from his fall But Enuy turn'd from her his foolish sonne And made by Fratricide and Fury fall Loe when the Floud the world destroyed all She it preserues by one wise worke of Wood The dead Sea yet is the memoriall Of foolish City's fiue which there erst stood Where she sau'd Lot from fire as Noah from the sloud To tell what wonders haue beene by her wrought Were too to long for this short meditation They in Gods Booke are easily found if sought For there indeed is Wisdom's commendation Where she vs doth with wary obseruation Vnto the Cony and the Pismire send To learne to get our food and habitation Whose meaner Wisdome if we must attend Much more wise Heathens sayings most diuinely pend One being asked who was most wise reply'd He that sinn'd least when one of them desir'd To learne who was for youth the trustiest Guid He answer'd Prudence And in 's sonne requir'd Only three things which he in youth admir'd In his tongue silence Prudence in his mind Shamefastnesse in his Face when one requir'd How he the greatest in the least might find He answer'd prudent thoughts in humane breast confin'd This was an Ethnick But how doth she shine When she is ioyn'd with pure simplicitie When as that holy wisdome serpentine Combines with doue-like true sincerity Oh thus the Saints by holy subtilty Walke safe amongst worlds crooked generation Thus walk'd our Sauiour in Humilitie And though the wicked plot his condemnation Yet neuer could they touch him but by subornation Oh how should we that haue this mirrour bright This Sun of Wisdome labour here to shine Like Stars which from the Sun receiue their light And to sincerity true columbine Ioyne this wise holy Prudence serpentine Vs to conduct through this worlds wildernesse And a most safe and perfect way out line Through Iordans waues to Land of Happinesse Where Mansions ready built we shall for ay possesse And Vineyards planted whence the Cananite For wicked Treason 'gainst his Maiesty God hath expell'd to Hell and darkest night Proud Lucifer and all his company Oh why should'st thou aduance base dust so high Whose earthly Mansion keepes his Spirit low
Her due Subiection vnto her Head And as our Christ directs his Church below So wiues must be by husbands ordered But this of wiues is better knowne then practised So is th' obedience which Children owe Vnto their Parents by Commandement And promise they shall long and good day's know If they to them will be obedient The fift and last is Masters Gouernment And Seruants Duty which they should them beare Which ought to be with single true intent Not for eye-seruice wages or for feare But as they would obey eu'n Christ their Master deare Thus ought we to obey these fiue degrees Set ouer vs Because we so obay The highest Power And if their iust decrees We sleight that highest Power we disobay Far wide then disobedient spirits stray Which by Religion would all reuerence Exclude due vnto Magistrates and say They vnto no man owe obedience A false excuse of Schisme and all vnreuerence Obedience preserueth Vnity And helpeth to this great worlds conseruation As Heau'ns and Earth doe by due Obsequy Obey their glorious Makers Ordination Behold how all things in this worlds Creation Doe by their Makers order stand or moue Earth keepes her Center for mans preseruation The Heau'ns turne all in motion round aboue Without Obedience one would out another shoue And thus we may Obedience obserue To hold our members in due motion ay Whil'st one doth to another member serue And all vnto the Spirit doe obay The Soule of man which doth by reason sway Eu'n all the members to their preseruation And if the least of them doe disobay Shee either seekes their better reformation Or one endangers all to endlesse condemnation For whilst man here doth on the earth remaine Sin and corruption in his Body dwell Seeking therein as Lord and King to raigne But Grace doth striue by force them to expell If bondslaues we our selues to Sin doe sell And giue our members here Lusts to obay We yeeld vnto such Lusts as lead to Hell But if that Grace our Soule aright doth sway Then all the members follow Her the narrow way Remoue this Vertue of Obedience From Soule or Body Subiect City Towne Or from the Creatures wanting life and sense And all vnto Confusion tumble downe The Tower of Babel might to Heau'n haue growne Had all obay'd with mutuall diligence But suddainly we see it ouerthrowne When to obay they want intelligence For without vnderstanding no Obedience As to maintaine Heau'ns perfect vnitie All to one surpeame Trinity obay So all that haue with it Affinitie Subiect themselues to that one God for ay No wonder if those that him disobay To many Errours Schismes and Sects doe fall For one true Vnity they doe gainsay When they resist his Ordinances shall And disobey Gods Word that here directeth all Mee thinkes my Muse could here her selfe transcend By musing of th' obedience aboue Which from the Sonne to Father doth ascend And Angells who obeying Feare and Loue Alas what can th' eternall Power moue Obedience of poore wretches to require But vs to ioyne to Christ our Head in Loue As he is ioy'nd to God in due desire Vnto no other end Obedience doth aspire For as when in a wild and fruitlesse stocke We doe some noble impe inoculate The fruit erst base and wild like to the Blocke Is made as goodly faire and delicate As Tree which first this imp did generate So the least imp of Christs Obedience In vs ingraft doth vs regenerate And makes vs beare fruit of like excellence As liuely tree from which it first had influence For all that from stocke of first Adam come Beare those sowre fruits of Disobedience But all that doe ingraft againe become In second Adams true Obedience Bring forth sweet fruits like liuely tree from whence They haue receiued first their sap to spring Swee liuing Vine whose sacred influence Vs makes obedient to our Lord and King Ah! who the praises of thy noble fruit can sing It did aduance that holy Prophets quill When He in volume of the booke did find Written that thou shouldst Gods whole Law fulfill Whereto thou wert withall thine heart inclin'd And when the time was come thereto assign'd Thou wert obedient to all Gods will Performing it with all thine heart and mind Ev'n till the Iewes thee on the Crosse did kill When thou resisted'st not though they thy bloud did spill Obedient Lamb this was the sacrifice The offering God did for sin require Thus We must offer vp to God likewise Our Soules and Body's with like zealous fire To dye if not indeed yet in desire Quick holy acceptable Offering To pacifie Gods Iustice and his Ire Is when to him obedient hearts we bring And crucifie those Lusts which from our Flesh doe spring As from the boundlesse Ocean doe run All streames which doe returne into the Maine So from one paterne of Obedience come All ours and thither doth returne againe The Lamb that was from worlds beginning slaine Gaue the first blow to Disobedience Which Isaack imitates when he is laine On Altar to be sacrificed thence Whom truly Abram offer'd by Obedience This was that quiet sauour God did smell When offring one of each cleane bird and beast The good old Noah pleas'd the Lord so well Obedience was the Seasoning to the feast What made the Lord Sauls sacrifice detest But that he did his Word then disobey When he did spare of Amalec the best To offer vp But therein did obay His own corrupt inuentions not what God did say Better then Sacrifice is to obay And then the fat of Rams to giue good eare Happy though we doe all the world gaine say If we obay our Lord and Master deare But ah whil'st we remaine as Pilgrims here Flesh World and Deuill daily vs perswade To follow Pleasures vaine and to forbeare Obedience to the Lord which vs hath made Whose Statutes to obey should be our onely trade Oh Sacrifice of Fooles with tongue to pray But harbour no obedience in thine heart Who dost in word professe God to obay But by thy workes dost all his Law 's peruert Behold it is not without iust desert That Beasts to thee are disobedient When thou to God a faithlesse rebell art To whom obey Sun Moone Stars Firmament Nor Sea against his will inuades the Continent Whil'st I about this sinfull Body beare Lusts and corruptions will therein remaine Yet neuer let them so much domineere As here of Grace the mastery to gaine For if I suffer Sinne in me to raigne That all my members will to sinne obay That sin whereof Saint Paul doth so complaine Oh! who me from the same deliuer may It is not I but sin that Christ doth disobay If that the Iudge by his Authoritie Inioyne me to performe or speake a thing Against the will of Soueraigne Maiestie Here my Deniall no Offence doth bring And if I be commanded by the King To doe against his will that is aboue I here no Rebell am though suffering For
In others thoughts the highest estimation His Head 's in heau'n though on the earth his feet And by anothers vertues veneration He getteth of his owne all loue and admiration Oh happy man to whom heau'ns King hath sent This Grace to be the glory of the rest What can that mind molest or discontent That harbours gracious meeknesse in his brest They that can contumely faire disgest If any them deride or reprehend Streight of themselues take more seuere inquest If ought be iustly blam'd they soone amend If false it neuer them shall anger or offend Meeke gentle patient bearing right or wrong From inward free as outward perturbation Reuenge is not a thing that doth belong To her she finds far greater contentation In wrongs dissembling and their tolleration The wants which she within her selfe doth find Her more depresse by modest moderation Than all her vertues eleuate her mind As salt she sauours all the vertues in their kind This is the same or very like the Grace Which we doe call Christian Humilitie Without which other vertues haue no place All are in her as in an Vnitie She is the surest way to Dignitie The center where all vertues lines doe meet Most honour'd when she most doth vilifie Her selfe And when she stoops to wash Saints feet The highest King of Kings with kisses her doth greet Yet none of worldlings is esteem'd more vile They it account a thing too meane and base Here to discend vnto so low a stile They thinke that meeknesse valour doth disgrace But oh absurd presumptuous mortall race So high and proud in thine owne estimation What thing 's created in more wretched case Weake vaine precipite and on each occasion Ready to fall from highest hopes to desperation What is thy Body but fraile quickned clay Thy Soule 's so clouded with obscurity It is most ready prone precipite ay To fall to basenesse errour vanity Happy who sees his owne infirmity Thus By discending only we ascend Vnto the highest humane dignity First step to honour is to vilipend Our selues Let others thee and not thy selfe commend None seekes to pull his foot out of the mire Vntill he feeles and know's that it is in Nor none to wash the durt off doth desire Vntill he sees it cleaue vnto his skin So till this Grace vs shew's our selues within We neuer seeke those heau'nly remedies To purge our soules from error and foule sinne This was of all the Oracles most wise First know thy selfe that is thine owne infirmities Thus comes the purest wheat from foulest ground So it be first well till'd and harrowed And thus the ignorant grow men profound When they their folly haue discouered Of all the vertues can be reckoned The roots are bitter fruits most sweet doe proue Selfe Pride and Arrogance once settled In humane Brest most hard are to remoue This worke belongs to meeknesse humblenesse and Loue. Most pleasant fruits which from this root do spring When weeding out base pleasures false and vaine She true delight into their roomes doth bring And rich Content for euer to remaine Happy who can this Lady's fauour gaine Shee able is and ready to defend Against Soules troubles and the body's paine The meeke that patiently on God attend Are sure to haue a joyfull quiet happy end Nothing can his most noble mind appall Which is with such Tranquillity indude Crosses Afflictions may him here befall But base or abiect thoughts cannot intrude Into a mind of such an habitude Certaine his breast all vertues doth containe Who hath this gentle vertue manswetude Who wants her boasts of vertue but in vaine They are but shew's of vertue which with him remaine It is the height of folly to bewray Desire where we haue no power to offend So beat the Sea if it will not obay Or winds which crosse the way thou dost intend So whom thou canst not reach his picture rend Such wounds make arrow's when they cleane the aire Yet many thus with rage their spirits spend Were it not better farre to beare them faire But Folly cannot beare though thou in morter bray her If an Asse kicks thee must thou kicke againe Or barks a Dog wilt thou straight baule and cry Because one's foolish canst thou not refraine But needs doe that is ill for company Let fooles scorne meane Birth want deformity This if a fault not thine thy Makers is To him that 's meeke no infelicity Can fall by Fortunes bitter frownes or blisse He counts them not his owne true vertue 's only his I liken Meeknesse to that peece of wood Wherewith the Prophet did the Fountaines heale And made the bitter waters sweet and good For so doth Meeknesse with Afflictions deale She all their bitternesse with Ioy doth seale Ev'n that accursed death vpon a Tree She turneth from a Curse vnto our Weale Blest are the Meeke that for well-doing be Hang'd thereupon from thence they Paradise may see A meeke mans mind's like solitary place Where all is quiet fit for Contemplation And to behold his Makers Will and Grace Spending his time in sweetest meditation But cruell minds are full of perturbation Like to a Market or tumultuous Faire Where all is fill'd with noise and molestation Durt in the streets strong clamours in the aire Such places are vnfit for Graces sweet repaire A meeke mind 's like vnto Pernassus Hill Through whose pure aire shines Phoebus golden ray Whose siluer Channells purest Fountaine fill And all the meades bedeck with Lilly's gay The Gardens with faire Flowers adorned ay And when the Brookes doe murmur any sound With much delight sweet Zephirus doth play And all the Birds vpon the trees around Consort with Muses nine to make a Heav'nly sound But a meeke mind more pleasing is then all These Flowers Fruits or Musickes sweet delight No fit of Fury can that Heart appall For as a Dart may on the water light And hurts it not by any force or might So Force not Fury can meeke mind offend For it giues way as doth the water light Oh happy quiet mind that doth attend With meeknesse on Gods bounteous goodnesse to the end As when the glorious Sun-beames doe appeare All misty cloudinesse is turn'd to day So where this Grace the heart of men doth cheare All passions turbulent are driu'n away Then mecknesse most her Glory doth display When shee hath iustest cause to take offence No valour like this Dames behold we may Nor any like her modest Patience A meeke and lowly mind excells all ornaments As when the Lord of all to vs did come In humane flesh he peace and concord bred Twixt Men and Angells and made all become As one in peace and quiet in their head So where this meeknesse doth her Grace dispred There Nations Neighbours Kindred all we find Lately at Discord now fast fettered In Loue and Friendships Bands which firmly bind No surer band of loue than meeke and gentle mind In golden Age when as the Poets faine Men
Beasts Fish Foule to be at amity This Lady Mecknesse as a Queene did raigne And vnder Loue had all Authoritie But since the Iron Age which enmity Hath rais'd in eu'ry Riuer Towne and Field Shee hath resign'd her place of Soueraigntie To Iustice and delights now more to yeeld Than Scepters in age so turbulent to weel 'd And for she know's the noble gentle mind Most sensible of wrong and iniury And few or none can here so constant find As to dissemble foule indignity She all requests that loue her company Occasions to auoid and not inuite Which may prouoke least iarre or simulty Aed not like teachy Curres to barke and bite Or Frogs which Poets faine with Bulrushes to fight If thus they cannot as who ay can here Auoid some iniury's of them that reigne They must dissemble and with pleasing cheere What they can no wayes shift faire entertaine One ask'd how such old age he did attaine In Court reply'd by bearing Iniury's Sometimes remitting and sometimes againe For them gaue thankes thus surely he that 's wise By suffring beares and not prouokes indignities And since no earthly Power 's so great and firme But Iniury sometimes will dare to smite Let Wisdom's precepts so thee ay confirme Thou neuer swerue from rules of Reason right So arm'd the wrongs which on thine armor light Shall backe on him that sent the same rebound But whom vnarm'd she can prouoke to fight Though happily they thinke her to confound They sure are to receiue a deepe and festring wound He stands not right whom Iniury can bow Who ill beare old doe on them new inuite But he that beares the old with Patience how Shall any new be able him to smite He that is wise and valiant scornes her might And by braue bearing doth her spite confound He best o'recomes that sets by her most light Who by impatience addes is like him found That doth by rending make incurable his wound In many wrongs 't is better to be mute Than by repeating them oft very small To cause long trouble or a tedious suit Whilst all the shame doth on th'auenger fall Such better were not mentioned at all Inuoke the helpe of constant Patience Whose presence doth all Iniury's appall And with an equall mind beares all offence Or doth despise them in her guiltlesse conscience Thus many offring doe no Iniury's Because they are not so conceiv'd or taken Oh happy who all wrong can so despise With sense thereof ne're to be ouertaken Whose vnmov'd constant mind is neuer shaken So farre from muttring or least murmuring He laughs and smiles to see them so mistaken Nor 's only easie in their pardoning But passeth by them without least acknowledging He is aboue the reach of Iniuries Who can represse reuenges curst desire And to the full repay's his enemies Who thus can quench wraths hot iniurious fire Yet holy meeknesse leads vs a step higher Happy who can ascend vnto such height It is the summity which all admire Of highest vertue when we take delight All Iniury's with Benefits here to requite The jest is lost if it no laughter moue So 's Contumely if it be neglected He neuer will a valiant Souldier proue To beare hot Blow's that is with words affected He sooner is with noisome smells infected Who them with open nose doth entertaine Than he that stops it or beares some selected Preseruatiue for to defend his braine So 't is to stop or ope our eares to proud Disdaine Poets paint Scylla with a womans face But like a Dog in neather parts and taile Whom Hercules th' Idea of all Grace And Vertue did amongst the monsters quaile You giue her Life if you will heare her raile But shut her mouth with patient suffering Or stop thine eares and soone her breath will faile Here Mecknesse ends and here I cease to sing Shee doth more quiet Rest than all the Vertues bring MEDITAT IIII. GODS WORD SO mighty are the weapons manifold Wherewith our spirituall Foes doe vs assaile So many stratagems vs to infold So many terrours vaine our hearts to quaile That neither Brestplate Helmet Shield or Maile Vs helpe against their Forces can afford For if they close with vs they will preuaile Therefore we must vnsheath our keenest Sword Our weapon spirituall ev'n Gods most holy Word Which those that able are to wield aright Of farre more Force and liuely Power find Than all the weapons whereof Poets write To haue beene wondrous pow'rfull in their kind What Homer of Achilles Speare hath coyn'd I not vnfitly to this Sword apply Whose wounds to heale no Balme could be assign'd The Speare that hurt must only remedy So whom this Sword doth kill this Sword must viuifie Of wondrous weapons Heathen Poets tell Of Stygian Armour and enchanted Swords Whereby small Knights did monstrous Gyants quell Subdude and raigned ouer them as Lords Such fiction to vs good aduice affords Against these Gyants spirituall to fight Our Fleshly Lusts and for to bind in Cords Our vaine affections here that take delight In doing that is wrong and leauing that is right God of all might that hast vs giu'n this sword Not only spirituall Battailes here to fight But dost engraue in it as on record Thy Rules whereby we muster may aright The Lanthorne to our paths our feets best light Direct my Muse to sing I humbly pray Of this thy Word by holy Words insight For but by it none can aright display That Swords eternall Power which Sin and Hell dismay That Word which in Beginning by a word Of Nothing made Heau'n Earth and Creatures all And was from all Beginning God and Lord Doth not within my Muses compasse fall That Word whereof now meditate I shall Is that reuealed written veritie Which first and second Testament we call Both which were first declared mightily By wonders signes and miracles from God on high For as the Lord most mighty wonders wrought By him that publikely did first record This sacred Word And by his Hand forth brought His Sonnes from Bondage of a cruell Lord So those to whom he did this Grace afford Of publishing his later Testament Wrought mighty wonders by this mighty Word To all Beholders great astonishment Confirming thus that they from God aboue were sent From whom this Word hath all Authority For by the holy Spirits inspiration Came Law and Gospell Prophets History And all Canonicall wise ordination The sacred Light that giues illumination Vntill the Day-starre in our Hearts arise Whose heau'nly Wisdome breedeth Admiration In all their Hearts that are diuinely wise But folly seemes to such as sinne doth blind their ey 's And sure it is a mighty pow'rfull Word If that the sense thereof be right apply'd More keene than any sharpe two edged sword And eu'n the Soule and Spirit doth diuide By it are all our Hearts intents descry'd The ioynts and marrow it doth smite in sunder No Creature from her sight it selfe can hide All high exalted things it
And taught how to assault our enemy's They with our Sword may be discomfited And we from Hell and Bondage safe deliuered I of this Military Art doe know No Tutor like to holy supplication Prayer who vse of all our Armes doth show The Serieant Maior of our Militation Diuinest Prayer holy Meditation Whereby with God we haue sweet conference About the mysteries of Mans Saluation And call the Angells downe for our defence 'Gainst Flesh's Worlds and Deuils hostile violence Prayer who though her knees bow in the dust Yet are her vpper parts aboue the sky And doe into th' Almighty's presence thrust To craue of all we want a new supply Which like to clouds of incense vp doe flye If offered by his Sonnes sweet mediation Whose iust requests no Father can deny Oh offer mine then That this Meditation May be directed by thy Spirits illumination True Prayer is the opening the desire Ev'n of our Heart and Soule to God aright Them powring out to him that doth require We should lay open all before his sight The Sacrifice wherein he doth delight A sure defence to him that right doth pray The Scourge wherewith we Sin and Satan smite And powers all and policies gainsay Our surest Refuge in each dangerous Affray For Christian Souldier neuer kneeleth downe And lifts his heart vp towards Heav'n to pray But all his Foes spirituall him arowne Assault and labour him herein to stay Then is it time for him about to lay With his sharp Sword to put them all to flight And for to arme each part lest they him slay With Greaues Belt Brestplate Shield and Helmet bright In Faith Hope Patience Truth and Righteousnesse to fight By rules of Art I Prayer may diuide To these two Heads Thankesgiuing Inuocation The second I in three doe subdiuide Petition Intercession Deprecation First seekes Gods Glory and our owne Saluation The second doth for others make petition So Christ doth intercede by mediation By last we doe intreat for sins remission And be deliuer'd from all ill and superstition But as the Sauldier be he ne're so strong Well arm'd and skil'd in points of Schoole-defence If that his spirit faint is laid along So if we in our Armes haue confidence And not relye on Gods sole Prouidence His Spirit which helpeth our infirmities And doth instruct to pray with reuerence Sending vp heart and soule by sighs and cry's For all our Armes and strength our Foes will vs surprise For Spirit is the cause efficient Of all our prayers that to Heav'n ascend Though Faith be the Internall instrument By which we all things aske doe apprehend With Faith and Spirit Prayer Heav'n doth rend And whatsoeuer shee in Christ his name Doth aske the Father downe to vs will send This Pagans saw though otherwise to blame That Christians nothing beg but they obtaine the same All Blessings spirituall and temporall Publike and priuate for our Selues and Friends All that in this life or a better fall To vs almighty God for Prayer sends When Heau'n is shut vp that no dew descends If we forsake our sins and pray for raine The Heau'n on vs abundant showers spends Though Foes vs captiue from our City's traine Yet Prayer makes vs Free and brings vs home againe If Dearth Drowth Pestilence be in the Land Or City's be besieg'd by enemies Then if the cause thereof we vnderstand Our sins And seeke by Prayer remedy God will be mercifull accordingly Yea if a Stranger of an Heathen Nation Doe call on God by Prayer heartily And of his life doe seeke a reformation His Prayer shall be heard by Christ his mediation Thus Prayer is for all things profitable If her true obiect she doe neuer misse One God who gracious willing is and able And of our Heart the only Searcher is All things that are in Heau'n and Earth are his We must no person in the Deity Omit when as we pray to him for Blisse All workes externall in the Trinity Are one though their internall haue variety Diuinest Pater-noster whose one Word In it more heau'nly matter doth containe Than one whole hour's babbling can afford Suddaine abortiues of an idle braine With tedious turnings repetitions vaine Out tumbling all that in their stomach lies Which often goe beyond this Prayers straine As if they were more feruent or more wise Than he that for our patterne did it first deuise Pure Prayer made by serious meditation Or by this holy patterne rightly pend Briefe spirituall sublime ejaculation With feruent Fury doth to Heau'n ascend And to the marke like swiftest arrow tend God is in Heau'n thou kneelest on the ground To him therefore no rash petitions send Therein let matter more than words abound And inward sighs and groanes than outward plaints and sound But Prayer though by thy two mighty wings Of Loue and Meeknesse thou to Heau'n canst sore And come in presence of the King of Kings By pard'ning wrongs and giuing to the poore Presume not on thy merits ere the more That Brightnesse who doth sit vpon the Throne Angells not able are to stand before Alas how dar'st thou then there stand alone Without the mediation of the Holy One. Like birdlime merits so thy wings besmeare That thou not able art to take thy slight Aboue the Firmament or to come neere That euershining Lamp of Heau'nly Light Which ought thy Prayers to direct aright In Knowledge Meeknesse and Humility By which we feele and haue and inward sight Of our vnworthinesse and misery And seeke else where for worth and true felicity Eu'n to that liuely Fountaine of the Lamb Which is a deepe well wondrously profound From which by Prayer breaking vp the dam We draw vp waters which doe there abound The depth of this rich Well no Grace can sound But feruent Prayer when as Shee doth desire To coole her thirst with waters therein found wherewith if once we coole our thirst like Fire The more we drinke thereof the hotter's our desire An Oxes lowing barking of a Dog Grunting of Swine doth more the Lord delight Than Prayers which the World and Flesh so clog They come not from vs with a Heart and Sprite And as no salue or medicine hath might To heale the wound which Iron doth containe So Prayer neuer profiteth that wight In whom Hypocrisie or guile remaine For these still fester deeper to the Patients paine God is our Soules Physitian and know's best What for her sicknesse is best remedy And therfore when we needfull things request Of him for this our lifes necessitie He better then his Patient can descry What is most fit to keepe him from the graue And cure him of his spirituall malady Wherefore when we receiue not what we craue We know Christ better know's than we what need we haue Gods Word 's the Sword whereby our Lord doth sway And rules his Church here as he is a King As Priest he offers praises and doth pray As Prophet he glad tidings vs doth bring Most wisely
sings this Psalmist Hymnes and Heav'nly Lay's To him that giues him Spirit till his Death Oh heav'nly Musicke which the rage could quell Of Cis his sonne possest with euill Spirit Pure Hymns from God sweet mercy to compell When foulest Sins Hell-fire doe commerit Sweet Shepheard when thou singest forth thy Flocks The Angells all admire thy heav'nly Lay's Thy musicke moues stones trees and senslesse stocks When thou diuin'st of Christs most happy day's Yet those hands that so gently touch a string Can Lyons Beares and Wolues in peeces teare And quell the proud Philistine with a sling From whom the Host of Israel runs for feare Loue at his birth him dandled in her Lap Whilst all the Graces Lullaby's doe sing Shee fed him with Ambrosia for Pap And rais'd him from a Shepheard to a King And thou my Sonne although thy Breath be faint I cannot but commend thy good desire With their diuine Essays thy Muse acquaint Which may be fewell to thy heav'nly fire Yet though thou straine Inuention Art and wits And fills thy Verses with thy wisest Says They shall not liue except some holy fits Thy Soule aboue the Heav'ns bright Tapers raise Thy Soule whose Beeing is Celestiall fire Must like the Saints be rapt vp in a trance And extased with holiest desire If thou thy Verse wouldst vp to Heav'n aduance For as none but the Spirit of a man The secrets of that Spirit can disclose So none attaine sublimest numbers can Except a holy Fury them compose And as no Actor well can play the King That is not one in his imagination So none can Vertues pure Ideas sing That suits his mind not to his meditation Poets are like to Organs sounding shrill With fingers touch so long as they be full But as on empty ones in vaine's our skill Ev'n so are Verses without Fury dull And as none on the Harpe sweet tunes can sound Till hee by Art hath set in Tune each string So none high-rapted numbers can compound Till's soule be tun'd by spheare-like rauishing Sith then to Numbers life from Heav'n is sent Oh rarest Spirits how dare you abuse Them to dishonour him who hath them lent To 's Glory and your Chast delight to vse Shall your diuinest spirits stoupe so low To make your-selues base slaues to Lust and Sin And let your pure Pyrenean Fountaines flow In stinking Channells all defil'd within Still will you fawne on Fooles and Greatnesse flatter And fill the world with wanton idle groanes Still shall your Muse like Pyes this one song chatter Of Lust which brings corruption to the bones I st not enough you burne in lustfull flame Except you eke corrupt youth prone to vice And strumpet-like hang out your signes of shame The Passengers to folly to intice For numbers notes and tunes such power haue They soonest on the noblest Spirits seaze Whereon they doe their formes and sounds engraue As Seales on wax imprinted are with ease And that 's the Reason graue and wiser Sages Haue banish't from their coasts lasciuious rymes When Poets chast and vertuous in all ages Haue beene as Priests and Prophets in their times Would you the Genius of your Fury raise And change your fleshly to spirituall Flame Such matter would immortalize your praise And leaue behind you a most honour'd name Your Verse would be admir'd you honoured As Secretarys to the King of Kings For first the Prophets words thus numbered To handle mystery's and holy things Thus Dauid all his Psalmes by measure sings Moses the freedome from Egyptian thrall And Miriam vpon a Timbrell rings Gods Praises Iudith the Assirians fall They sang for Ioy but Iob and Ieremy Sing when they with afflictions most are prest A Nunc Dimittis was the Poefie The Swan-like Simeon warbled in his brest Magnificat the blessed Virgin sings The Angells Glory sing to God on high And Martyrs bound to stakes with Iron strings Sing Praises whilst in Flames their Body's fry So burnes their zealous heate of Loues purefire They feele no outward for the inward flame So long as they haue Bowells to respire They neuer cease to praise Gods holy name But he that seemes an Angell of the light More easie children of the light ' tabuse In Verse doth also his delusions write And for his Oracles did numbers chuse And for he know's that Loues pure heav'nly fire Is that by which we Gods whole Law fulfill His Prophets all must chant of Lusts desire And make great Ioue be rul'd by Cupids will Thus bloud corrupt th'inchanter doth instill With lustfull Fire to scal'd youths hotter veines And poisons with this Copperis the quill Of Heathen Poets in their gentle straines Who to make more authenticke Ribauldry Doe faigne their Gods therein to take delight Where though they Natures secrets wittily Oft vaile yet thus to Lust they youth inuite I know in first pure streames of Poesie The Muses Bath was chast as Pheebes shrine The Virgin Graces Ioues chast progeny And Pallas chast and vertuous as diuine Venus was then with Almas title graced And lov'd her Spouse plaine Vultan Mars scarce knew Whom though shee oft in nuptiall bed imbraced T was not for wanton pleasure but for due This Poetry my Sonnes reuiv'd againe To mortalls would restore the golden times And for your Brow 's immortall Lawrells gaine And to their ancient honour raise your Rimes But Satan since another patterne set Which he would haue all his to imitate And like a Fowler draweth to his Net Poore Birds with merry notes and pleasing Bait. But thou that seek'st Gods Glory not thine owne And striv'st to quench not quicken lustfull Flame Chuse these diuine ensamples I haue showne And guild not with faire words the foulest shame When thou do'st feele Loue 's Fury in thy breast What better theame or matter canst thou take Than sing his Loue who Heav'n and Earth possest Yet here himselfe for Loue a Slaue did make The Loue betweene the Bridgroome and his Deare Were matter to immortalize a Song No Man or Angell euer yet did heare Diuiner Musicke from a mortall tongue This is a deepe broad boundlesse Ocean A high Pernassus of sweet Meditation No holy Fury diue the bottome can Nor reach the height thereofby contemplation Soule-rapting Tunes when Turtles voyce doth sound The Songs of Sion in a Holy Land Sweet accents making Hills and Mountaines bound And Cedars of the Forrest trembling stand This better will thy heart enrich thy mind Here profit thou shalt reape with sweet delight Here thou refreshing Nectar-streames shalt find To coole thy thirst and cleare thy dimmer sight For thus thou safely maist enioy delight The pleasure which shall last for euermore Vaine Worldly Pleasures leaue men ere their night But when the iudgement comes they run before These heav'nly precepts sweetned by her voyce So rauished my Soule with delectation My Muse at quiet since doth sole reioyce And take delight in heav'nly contemplation And though I neuer hope to touch with
hand Much lesse my head with Lawrell Bough adorne May I yet mine owne Passions thus command My Cost and Tilt's short of my Crop of Corne. FINIS The Authors Vow or wish at the Consecration of a Chappell newly founded by the Right Honorable WILLIAM Lord Maynard at his House in Eston in Essex LEt others heape vp Titles Lands and store Their names on earth for euer to maintaine Thou to thy house dost surer honour gaine By adding of this Consecrated Floore Where Thou and Thine may euer him adore That Proud throw's downe and Humble men doth raise Thy Father built the Palace in his day's But leaues Gods house vnto his prudent Sonne Who Numa-like now plants Religion Where Romulus the first Foundation lay's This Leauen makes the whole Lump to endure Shis Salt to Thee and Thine shall season all And gainst thy Foes shall be a Brasen Wall This shall Thee waking keepe most safe and sure And nigh this Altar thou shalt sleepe secure By this Thy Honour ay continue shall And Blessed make Thy Names memoriall Alas this worlds vaine seeming glittring Glory Is lubrike full of hazard transitory What 's built on this Foundation cannot fall So long as Sions Temple's vndefil'd The line of Dauid doth the Scepter sway But suddenly are captiue led away When Altars they with Idols had defil'd Wherefore they wise did Gods house rebuild When out of Babylon they were translated Then since Thou wisely has determinated Thine House and Honour by Gods Church to raise Hee Blissings send so long as You him praise So may both stand for ay vnruinated Be it like Sions Mount inaugurated Which is by Sions MOVNTAIGNE Consecrated The Muses Health To the Right Honourable WLLIAM Lord Maynard at the Consecration of his Chappell at Eston Lodge in Essex THis building thus adorn'd and rais'd in state Shall now be made a Chappell consecrate Embleme of Adam whom as God did rowle First vp in clay next breath'd a liuing soule So to these faire materialls preparation A Spirit shall be giuen by Consecration Not stol'n from Iupiter as ports tell Prometheus did for which he hangs in Hell Nor yet a sparke of strange or common fire Which brought on Aarons sonnes consuming ire But coales on Gods owne Altar kindled By right succession to vs fostered The sum is that the Bishop doth inspire Into this Edifice an holy fire A liuing flame which neuer shall goe out So long as they which tend it are deuout But aye thereby shall safe and quiet rest As swallowes which besides is build their nest Oh may this fire within these walls indure So long as Neptunes waues this I le immure And as from Mountaines comes that wholesome breath Which healthfull makes the Valleys all beneath So from this MONTAIGNE health come and saluation Vnto the Founder and his generation Let Prophets Priests in Prayers all combine To make this House a Blisse to Thee and Thine And when by their deuotions ioy'nd this flame Is kindled let thy Priests maintaine the same And offer vp thy prayers day and night Like fumes of Incense in th' Almighties sight Oh force vnited of a Congregation That ioyne in prayer at a Consecration With these my Muse now thine shall beare a part And whilst they pray by booke shee 'le pray by hart FINIS THE CONVERTS CONQVEST PSAL. 119. V. Ultimo I haue gone astray like a sheepe that is lost oh seeke thy seruant for I doe not forget thy Commandements LONDON Printed by WILLIAM STANSBY 1625. TO THE MOST SINCERELY RELIGIOVS AND TRVLY Vertuous Mistresse SARAH ARGAL Wife to IOHN ARGAL of Badew Esquire LEast I be deem'd a thiefe I will disclose I turn'd to Verse what you gaue me in Prose In so few lines I neuer yet did find More heav'nly Comforts to a grieued mind Mans sinfull Heart Hells Malice Grace diuine Is intermixed so in ev'ry Line I praise God I this speake with feeling Sense God grant the Reader like experience Good publish't doth more good by being knowne Wherein I seeke Gods glory not mine owne Of Reading and of Writing's but one end Repent beleeue for sake Sinne and amend Your true vnfeigned Friend R. A. THE CONVERTS CONQVEST ACertaine Christian which had often bin Tempted and by his weaknesse ouertaken To his great sorrow with one selfe same sin At last sate downe as if he were forsaken Where of sins bondage first he doth complaine And then himselfe thus comforteth againe From my all-seeing God I cannot flye Still in my loathed sins I may not lye Yet ought I not of mercy to despaire Yet dare I not for Grace to God repaire Pray would I but I cannot it intend Repent I doe but not my life amend I to beleeue desirous am yet doubt In this lewd wicked custome holding out God is by me dishonoured whilst I Professe to serue him true and faithfully Disples'd whilst I prouoke him to his face Both griev'd and quenched is his Spirit of Grace His Graces I abated withered find My sense benum'd besotted is my mind My memory dull'd more strong grows Satans dart My Soule 's aduentred hardned is my hart I grow in Sin rich poore in Goodnesse Grace My head 's vex'd Conscience is in wofull case My calling stain'd crack'd credit Time mispended My strength consum'd and my God offended As doth my sin my burthen doth increase My pain 's inlarged troubled is my peace I sigh but sorrow not aright would faine Be rid of it but soone returne againe I grieue not weepe Lord could I from it part Forsake confesse it with a broken hart How farre aduenture Lord how long shall I Dare to prouoke thy powerfull Maiesty How long shall he forbeare how often might He cut mee off Or suddenly dead smite How long shall hee chastise mee yet in vaine At length O Lord be mercifull againe Oh tarry not Lord tarry not too long But make my resolution firme and strong Oh loathsomenesse deceitfulnesse of sin Sweetnesse and bitternesse wee find therein Beginnings fawnings growing terrour smart Faiths weakenesse Satans enuy Mans false heart When shall I now these Oh that I could know Them better Lord by farre than yet I doe Yet wish though much asham'd thus to be tainted I were not as I am with them acquainted What shall I doe Goe on Nay God defend Shall I retire Stand idle Not amend Shall I despaire Why so Haue my sins quite Dride vp Gods mercies which are infinite Such thing to thinke were cursed Blasphemy Who succours all that are in misery Will not God heare what I in Faith desire Humbled with Griefe Then make I him a Lier Shall I presume yet longer Ah I haue Presum'd too much Oh let mee mercy craue By true Repentance and abundant teares What is thy heart so harden'd as it feares It neuer can be mollify'd againe Then Gods Omnipotence thou dost restraine What Hath this thing without God come to passe Hath Satan got the Victory Alas Is not th' Almightie far nore strong than hee Hath not my Lord Christ Iesus dy'd for mee Hath God ere lov'd thee Sure hee once me lov'd For then I it by good experience prov'd Then Loues he still for where he doth begin Hee loues for euer and his gifts haue bin Without Repentance hee for mee destry'd And vanquisht Death Sin Satan when he dy'd O Lord encrease my faith why should not I Beleeue in him obey him willingly How faine would I beleeue and him obay How fame would I repent amend and pray I cannot then conclude nor will nor dare That I am damn'd for these desires sure are The motions of Gods Spirit in mee indeed Who neither smoaking flax nor bruised reed Will quench or breake But all will satisfie Who thirst and hunger after equitie Blist euer be his name who hath begun To make me Conqueror through Christ his Sonne By his assistance gracious then I Vow To serue God better then I haue till now On his behests more carefully attend Thy Grace mee strengthen as a sheild defend Satan auoid thou hast in mee no part From the beginning thou a Liar art Before and after mine in Adams fall Thou to deceiue mee practisest in all But God is true iust mercifull to mee In Iesus Christ his blessed Sonne and hee For honour of his Name and Maiesty Will doe away all mine iniquitie So as the siftings here of Satan shall Not turne to my destruction But they all Gods Grace in mee shall further magnifie And bind mee to him more assuredly More hee forgiues the greater is his grace Him faster we with Loue in Christ imbrace Henceforth my soule remember well what gaine Thou reaped hast and oft maist reape againe By that whereof thou iustly art ashamed For which thy Name and Conscience now is blamed Restore me to the Ioy of thy Saluation Which better is then ioyes continuation For by the want the worth discerne we may And be stirr'd vp more earnestly to pray FINIS * Haruest Homer Alexander Aeneas Virgil. Ouid. Spencer Dauid * Bishop Montaigne