too enjoyes her fill Of thee and dwels in heaven still Wishing that that black storme were past OF THE LIFE OF GLORIE 81. At last the bodie thou wilt meet With triumph and with joy so sweet To welcome home thy ancient friend The bodie and the soule rejoyce That ever they made thee their choyce This joy shall never have an end 82 Now thou in heaven dost excell Thy glory there I cannot tell How to expresse the least degree The Saints above that weare thy crowne Can truly blaze thy rich renowne I wish that I were there to see 83. No death nor sorrow there doth waite There is no sin to lay a baite Nor yet the shadow of distresse There is no cause of feare for ever The Divell durst nere to indeavour For to attempt thee more or lesse 84. Thou art so full of beautie then Thou shin'st so in the soules of men Their bodies doe enjoy the same Their soules and bodies are more bright Than starres are in the clearest night All life to this doth seeme but lame 85. That 's nothing else but light divine Thou in the meanest Saint dost shine Transparently and sweetly still All Saints and Angels doe accord With thee to praise the living Lord And all of them there have their fill 86. Thou art so active too that now All things are pleasure to thee thou No stop at all haste in thy wayes Thy vigor's quicke and nimble too The worke that thou hast there to doe The living God 't is still to praise 87. Thy glory is exceeding great Otree of life who of thee eate Are no way subject to decay And all that doe enjoy thee there Their glory doth in thee appeare Most blessed evermore are they 88. The God of life doth honour give To thee himselfe doth with thee live Thy worth is farre above the skie He rules by thee and in his Love Thou shalt be blest with him above Past time to all eternitie FINIS POEMS Pleasant and Profitable THE ARRAIGNMENT Together with the condemnation of Sinne and Death OR A Discovery of the alluring sleights of Sinne. And then Tormenting For which he is accused and legally condemned So likewise Death being unsatiable he 's accus'd and condemned A Repreive beg'd by Sathan for them granted by the Lord upon condition Whereunto are added sundry Directions and Instructions for our conversations touching Sinne and Death BY H. M. London Printed by John Dawson 1639. THE ALLVRING SLEIGHTS OF SIN AND PROMISES First for the Thoughts The Argument with charge to the Muse. MUse raise thy voice arm'd with revenge to sin Disclose his plots and evidence give in Against him though he his defence do make Dasht with reply for the poore sinners sake Bring verdict in then sentenc't let him be To hell his pleaders judge to miserie The alluring nature of sinne When sinne with heavens Angels found successe And since that time on earth hath found no lesse It goes on still to bring men downe to hell Where Sathan is which once above did dwell Yet for reward doth promise much content So serpent like it doth men circumvent Sinne first begins much like a rubbing sore A little give that little cals for more Thus many littles doe rise to a summe And so insnar'd from sin then few do come Man loves his sin but sin returnes him hate Man bids a price but sin holds up its rate Man gives his hand his eye or any part All will not serve till sin hath got the heart What think'st thou me saith sin to be so base That give delight to any of that race That doth me love and tread my pleasant wayes I le give thee mirth come now fulfill my joyes If rich thou wilt then rich thou sure shalt be Or to be great I le greatnesse promise thee If to be wise thou set thy hearts desire Come follow me and men shall thee admire Name what thou wilt and thou shalt have thy minde Unto me onely loving be and kinde I le change my selfe to Angell shape to please Thy humours fond and so I will thee ease If merry thou then merry will I be If sad thou art I le seeme to greeve for thee If play thou wilt then will I make thee sport And shew my face when thou art all amort Come please thy thoughts thy thoughts are now as mine Thy thoughts are free to sin thy thoughts incline Sometimes to pride sometimes to lust and rage Sometime to scorne the best men of the age Sometime sin past let on thy thoughts long stay Sometime let present sin drive that away Sometime thy thoughts for sin to come be prest Till it come forth let thy thoughts never rest The desperate temptation of sinne to vile words And let thy words be lying proud and stout Still make thy selfe the best of all the rout Great words of slanders malice strife wrong Why art thou made but thus to use thy tongue Say what thou wilt to any never care Speake loftily to fooles they 'l thinke thee rare Draw men with words to me I le thee reward When they by meanes of thee doe me regard Plead thou for sinne but for the adverse part Sweare curse them down vex them to the hart The cursed temptation of sin to hellish practises So let thy practise answerable be To thoughts and words as thou hast learn'd of me Deny no sin no pride or want on lust Grow rich by fraud see on the world thou trust What needst thou care for rich when thou art fed Both full and fat with the deceitfull bread And for the poore what are the poore to thee Care for thy selfe poore thou in time maist be Get what thou canst returne it not againe And seeke thy ease though others are in paine And if on any goods or money spend Let be on such as such like things intend Resort to such as goe in the same way Which Sathans guard attend on every day Care not to pray good books read not nor heare Love pleasant things for back and belly cheare Detract from good men see thou honour give To those that serve me and most rudely live Shame truth in practise out of favour strike it Be still perverse and I shall ever like it And to observe these things be thou addrest What 's wanting now ere long shall be exprest The blasphemous consent of the sinner to the temptations of sinne If this be true that sinne doth promise me I le follow it and so we shall agree To please my selfe shall be my chiefest care Oppose me not I thinke no man doth dare Why should I not in sinfull thoughts delight Why should I not speake proudly in despight I le be perverse in practise say who will Turne backe thy heart in sinne take not thy fill What can I wish but pleasure and content This I shall have I need not to repent I shall be rich and great I like it well And counted wise with them 'mongst whom I
hate all ill We may in light rejoyce our fill OF HEAVENLY LIGHT 53. But as thou art in heaven now To ser thee forth I know not how My praise would but thy worth disgrace And cloud the beauty of thy face 54. I never saw nor yet did heare How famous in thy glorie there Thou art the least part of thy worth The learned'st cannot set it forth 55. The Angels which above doe dwell They are most fit thy praise to tell Thou art transcendent so above That God with thee is much in love 56. In thee he doth set up his throne And thou art so preferr'd that none That mortall are can ere attaine To see thee with thy glorious traine 57. Thou there immortally dost shine Thy splendor never doth decline True light indeed thou dost appeare I shall not see thee shine so heere 58. The Angels do in thee delight The Saints doe claime thee as their right And Saints and Angels doe rejoyce In thee so ' le I make thee my choise 59. So soone as ere thou hadst thy birth Thou wast in Heaven light on earth Is but a shade as there thou art The least that can be call'd a part 60. There is no night to follow thee Nor yet eclipse or shade to be Nor spot nor let in all thy course All these are here with more and worse 61. Thou large and boundlesse art above As heaven is thou dost not move From place to place as here 'mongst men Thou go'st and com'st and go'st agen 62. When thou art here then others stay And waite thy ley sure and long way Oft times before thou dost repaire To them they die in darke despaire 63. Mistake me not I doe not chide For long thou dost with us abide How can I doe now lesse than deeme But that thou dost us more esteeme OF LIGHT IN the soule 64. Thou think'st it not enough to light Our bodies but thy splendor bright Doth pierce our spirits and we finde Thou art of heavens blessed kinde 65. Men see and feele yet cannot well Expresse thy might till thou dost dwell A while in them but then they say Light blest art thou still with us stay 66. When thou with power to the soule Break'st in though darknesse thee controule 'T is but in vaine for to withstand Thy presence hath a great command 67. Yet darknesse will not cleane goe out But lurke in corners like a scout Yet thou dost him in corners spie And dost his darknesse then deserie 68. 'T is by degrees that thou com'st in Not all by force thou striv'st to win The sonle to love thee and to bend It 's power to a blessed end 69. Though course thy entertainment be Thou art not pettish for to flee From them though they so foolish are As not to welcome thee with care 70. Thou wilt not grudge nor yet disdaine The poorest soule to entertaine Thou wilt as soone to such resort As those that tend the Princely Court 71. Thou art a wonder here below In the blest soule for to bestow Thy light and others that are by See nothing but in darknesse lye 72. Thou art so excellent by kinde When thou dost once possesse the minde Thou mak'st a little world of glory When men relate thy blessed story 73. Thou art so bountifull and free Though men are blinde and long to see But cannot yet thou by thy might Bring'st them unask't a better light 74. Though light be small and clowded when He first doth enter into men Ere long he 'l drive all mists away And shine in them as perfect day 75. Thou mak'st the difference to appeare When thou dost shine so bright and cleare We may perceive who stands for thee And who for darknesse curst they bee 76. VVhen thou in man set'st up thy throne And with thy seepter sway'st alone Thou like a conquerour dost suppresse The brood of darknesse more or lesse 77. Thy government is sweet yet strong 'T is mixt with mildnesse and among Thou usest motives to asswage Revenge curst pride and lustfull rage 78. Thou labour'st man for to exalt And dost but he is in the fault To slight thee so and to abuse Thy light or else it little use 79. Thou should'st command the heart and all That is in man for 't was in thrall Before thou cam'st then thou by force Redeem'st us else we had grew worse 80. Thou mak'st us men we were but bruits The workes of darknesse were our fruits We were but fooles and did despise The truth till thou mad'st us more wise 81. We were till thou didst us repaire But flesh and bones and emptie ayre Like Idols eyes that cannot see Or darksome Cels just so were we 82. When we went singing on tow'rd hell With Omnia bene all is well When we to thee had no desire But lov'd darke sinfull fruitlesse hire 83. Thou cam'st with power from above To bring us tydings of Gods love Thou promis't us to meet us there Thou usest meanes our hearts to cheere 84. Thou guard'st us so that we may spie An evill when it comes us nigh And shewest us meanes for to escape Though sin and Sathan on us gape 85. And light'st us secretly we may Unseene of such that would betray Thee passe securely by all them Guid'st us to new Jerusalem 86. And then thou never leav'st us more But with thy orient splend or store Dost fill our eyes our soules we shall Be blest with Saints and Angels all 87. But lest my muse so wanton prove And with thee fall too much in love I le turne the straine lest shee and I Act with thee sweet Idolatry 88. Art thou a creature and so bright What then is he that gave thee light The mighty God that breath'd thee forth Must needs be of more wondrous worth 89. His eyes are clearer than the day The Sunne 's but darke to him I le say If he with-hold his beames from thee What mayst thon then but darknesse be 90. He findes that out which thou canst not And from his light cannot a jot Be hid what ere he brings to thee All first by him discerned be 91. The smallest things both good and bad God sees them all and ever had A just accompt he alwayes takes View of what man no reck'ning makes 92. At all times he doth us descrie And finde our turnings presently There is no darknesse with him mixt He 's here and there yet ever fixt 93. At all times in all places too He is though we with much adoe Cannot be brought to understand Or thinke he 's still so neare at hand 94. Christ was that Light that did excell Though he did in a stable dwell A while yet then so perfect cleero Our blessed day-starre did appeare 95. And Light from heaven downe he brought Of some desir'd Of some unsought For men did rather darknesse love Then Light that came from God above 96. The blessed Spirit is that Light That dwels within and gives us
dwell Why should I live a melancholy life And lose the sweet of sinne to purchase strife I am not bound to any rich or poore Get what I can I le part with nere the more Unlesse it be to such as love sins hire Feare not the fable of eternall fire Good men and goodnesse I will still disgrace Ere I have done truth shall not shew her face I le be a refuge to the viler sort To jeere Religion shall be still my sport So I le goe on in sin without controule What dost thou mean speak thou immortal soul. A divine speech of the Soule to the bodie Why dost thou thus adde daily sinne to sinne Why dost thou gender horror thus within Why dost thou sell thy self wch once was bought With Christ his bloud for sin which brings thee nought Shame and confusion follow thee in hast All thy delights then quickly will be past Why wast thou made that thou dost thy indeavor Going about to purchase hell for ever Or what have I done that thou sell'st me quite For aye to dwell with everlasting night Wast thou not made to helpe and succour me Was I not made to teach and comfort thee Was not Gods Image stampt upon me when He breath'd me life as he did other men Why labor'st thou to make me like the devill Who can be lesse when he hath done so evill Thou art become a prison to me now And to be freed alas I know not how Open this prison that I must not doe By violence for that is sinfull too O that I had but freedome for to flie From this dunghill that doth upon me lie Then to the mountaine of eternall rest There would I live and dwell among the blest The speech of the Soule workes effectually bringing the Sinner to the brinke of despaire Alas poore soule thy lamentation greeves me Nothing I have of what sinne saith he gives me But horrid conscience with his dreadfull store Brings evils on me and these call for more Sin promis'd sweet the sowre comes in place And credit too and for it comes disgrace And to be rich but who so poore as I My wisedome is true folly I descrie Nothing of truth doth once from sin proceed Sin is untruth in thought in word and deed Thy painted face I doe defie and scorne Woe worth the timethat ever I was borne To make a league with thee the mouth of hell Where I ere long I feare must goe to dwell Every Creature brings report of vengeance When to the heavens I doe lift mine eye They all at once my sins so great defie And doe disdaine to smile upon me so I apprehend each one is turn'd my foe When I astorme or tempest see appeare My thoughts are troubled with perplexed feare The fiery storme that never will blow ore I thinke comes toward for me laid up in store I being foule or if the weather faire It shames me quite and fils me with despaire And if a Christian meet me I thinke then I shame the company of all such men If one as vile I note as I have beene He brings fresh torment such is seldome seene When in the streets I goe I feare some tile Will vengeance take on me that am so vile A beast I see at slaughter then I sorrow 'T is thine to day thinke I it 's mine tomorrow And when I eate or drinke I feare Gods hand With meate in mouth will cut me from the land The little Birds that lift their notes on high With pleasant tunes my foulnesse doe defie They free from care ten thousand on me waite They flye from snares sin takes me with its bait The earth I tread on murmures for to beare me All things upon 't with one consent do feare me And when it 's chopt me thinks it threats to swallow Me quicke for I still in my sin do wallow Of raine that falls to cause a pleasant crop I feare ere long to be deni'd one drop VVhen heapes of dust in pit's cast I think still All such as I th' infernall pit must fill VVhen I see men cut downe the tender grasse Then fearful thoughts within my breast do passe Thinking I see Times sithe that is sins hire To make me fewell for devouring fire When night draws on the day then draws away It 's like that night that never will decay That utter darknesse which in hell will be The thoughts of which adde to my miserie VVhen I put off my rayment then thinke I The wormes will come to supper by and by VVhen I lye downe in bed desiring sleepe My body hath no rest my soule doth weepe If slumber doth but once possesse mine eyes My cōscience calls for wrath for vengeance cries The starres that twinckle when I chance to see They seem to blush at my deformitie VVhen morning light appeareth to my sight I wish for wings to fit me for a flight Lest that should bring me naked on the stages And make me odions to all after ages Thus am I still afraid oftime and place And every thing my ruine brings a pace Help I have none the Lord he will not heare me For when I pray his angry lookes doe feare me Sathan stands by and claimes me for his owne Sin helpes me not by sin I 'm overthrowne Sinne failes of his promises and doomes the Sinner to miserie Now sin speaks truth that seldome truth doth tel I will thee helpe but 't shall be into hell What thou hast done I pray thee blame not me For what I ' ue done my office sets me free I am enabled by the devils power For to enlarge his kingdome every houre VVhy should not I thus promise much content Although the truth be far frō such event How would such fooles brought be to lust and pride Were not il things as good things beautified Thou car'dst for none who now doth care for thee Away be gone into thy miserie By Faith and Prayer hee claimes an interest in Gods mercie O Lord this horror justly falles upon me The rage of sinne and Sathan lies upon me And now I sincke for ever to the darke Eternall pit where hellish curres doe barke All comforts faile Lord if thou faile me too I am undone to make no more adoe Was never none restor'd that was so bad Was never none brought backe and mercy had Thy hand was up and yet thou did'st not strike Save me for I my former wayes dislike My sins are great greater thy mercies are My sins are many more thy mercies farre What though my sins exceed in weight measure Thou with a word canst ease me at thy pleasure My sinnes doe but as creatures sins appeare But mercie from a God frees men from feare VVhy did'st thou send thy son frō heaven to die But them to save that under wrath did lye And so to free from under Sathans band And to redeeme poore captives by his hand And I am one that in my sight am lost Seeke me
unshapen birth Thou scum of vermin thou art worst of any And if there were ten thousand times as many The Plagues of Egypt cannot equall thee Nor all that have been are or ere shall be The Serpent hath his place where he abides The lesser vermine on the earth so glides They seek not me they sting but once for all The body not the soule they cause to fall Thou in all places hast thy subtill snares To bring all men to everlasting cares The more thou sting'st the more thou dost delight Both soule and body thou seek'st to stroy quite Sinne didst not thou like fooles lull us asleep And darkensse bring when light did once but peepe All seedes of evill in us thou didst sowe All seeds of good thou still did'st overthrowe Our thoughts of God our souls our death our change Our sins heaven hell all these were very strange We had our fills of sin we made our boast And they that in their sins exceeded most Were most belov'd with us of all the rest The worst of men wee counted still the best Though knowledge we did want to purchase fame Wee 'd sweare and lie and thereby raise a name If good we knew we never did intend To do that good or if bad strive to mend Sinne promi'sst us to free us still from strife And give us good the daies of all our life And at the end we need not feare but we Should dwell in heaven to all eternitie Some n'ere were raised from the sleepe of sinne Till they in hell close prisoners were within But some on earth began their hell before The first of that of which they now have more This we can say and more if need require Now one alone relate sins fearfull hire And how we are and in what wofull place Our company and endlesse easelesse case Some of them in a dreadfull manner relate the torments of hell and cries out for vengeance upon sinne and departed O heavens heare and earth what sin hath brought Upon all us that sold our selves for nought We are through sin accursed from the Lord Of men and Angels we are all abhorr'd I want a tongue to shew this wrathfull rage And fury to remaine times after age The blacknesse and the darknesse is so great Light there is none but still abides the heate Of fire and brimstone burning in the flame The dregs of sinne is mingled with the fame We live yet die and dying still remaine Our soules with horrour bodies fill'd with paine How dreadfull 't is and in what grievous sort Laid on all parts and persons I le report We drinke our teares and sorrow is our food Curses our portions we see nor heare of good The fearfull cries and howlings that below We heard these all the damned soules do know The ghastly lookes and lamentable grones The great complaints with heavie griefe mones Sin there attends and acteth still his part Blows up the fire there worms still gnaw the heart The dungeon is exceeding large and deepe Where ugly vermine evermore doe creepe The devils doe attend us every houre And bring fresh torment by their cursed power No dram of comfort ever doth come neare it This heavie doome we hellish Imps must beare it We have no friendship none to shew us favour And all are fierce and of a rude behaviour No ease at all at any time we finde Our bodies burne and anguish burnes the minde Diseases all strangullion stone or gout The least part of our torment set not out But one thing more and that is worst of all Our paines to all Eternity stay shall When dayes and yeares and ages are all past Our plagues remaine our torments still do last No comfort friends no ease nor end will be Found now I sinke under my miserie Thou curse of curses thou the cause of it That I and all that in the infernall pit Must stay yet thou art never a whit asham'd Of all thy vilenesse that hath now been nam'd Let all that live for ever still disdaine Thy name and cursed let it so remaine O Damne him damne him to a horrid cell Not here with us but in another hell For if with us our sinnings wil not cease And him to see our torments will increase Ah worse yet is the friend if worse may be I must away the Divells come for mee The Charge to the Iury. The case is cleare ther 's none that can deny it That sins the canse of all our great disquiet The heavenly host with men on earth concluded The damned too all were by sinne deluded These things and more I do aberre be true And so the case doth now appeare to you Now as you finde so give your verdict in Accordingly I l'e sentence give on sin The Introduction to the verdict Against thy person sin was ever bent And all thy workes to spoyle was his intent Thy sonne from heaven downe to earth did goe But sinne to him did prove a deadly foe And did oppose the worke of his redemption Which sinfull men should give from sins exemptiō But when in this he could not have his will His bloud he shed the worth remaineth still He watcht with death to keepe him in the grave Of what was done men might not comfort have But all in vaine 't was sinfull labour lost Man was redeem'd and comfort had sinne crost Against the Spirits blessed worke in hand He sets himselfe and goodnesse doth withstand And from all men all comfort he would take And in mans heart an I doll God he 'd make 'T is time t is time to take with sinne a course With men 't is ill in time it would be worse The verdict of the Jurie against Sinne and his witnesses We have concluded in our consultation And finde sinne guilty by the information For his defence to be most rude and vaine His witnesses as bad appeareth plaine They guilty are as parties in the cause They broken have nay they condemne thy lawes The reply proves and their examination We finde them worthy of a deepe damnation The Preface to the sentence Now sinne thou art convicted all may see The Jury to thy judgement doth agree Thy wickednesse is open laid to view To all the world which say that hell 's thy due And those foure men which for thy cause did stand The cursed'st worke that ere they tooke in hand For love of thee themselves have now undone They plaid for sweet they have the sower wonne The Sentence against Sinne. I sentence Sinne for ever to be cast In lowest hell where furious flames doe last In dungeon darke where fire is divided The light from heate there thon shalt be derided All torment that the devils can invent With all their store of curses shall be spent On thee from thence thou never shalt returne In flaming wrath thou evermore shalt burne To all delights now thou shalt bid farewell Away begon into the pit of hell The sentence against Sinnes
the cause is tri'd 11. My generall advice is this Remember death must seaze on all Thinke and prepare O doe not misse Thy selfe against when death doth call In expectation daily die And willing be in dust to Iye 12. In doubtfull things men use to feare On certaine things men doe resolve What doth more plaine than this appeare That death must all ere long dissolve Why should a man whose time is short Jest at mens death with sinfull sport 13. Repent of sinne the sting of death There 's no such thing as many deeme In't though that he do stop thy breath Thou maist be great in Gods esteeme Hold in with Christ then sweetly sing O cruell death where is thy sting 14. Death to the best a gaine indeed Is they doe change this place of strife Though in the grave wormes on them feed Yet they shall have eternall life They doe but mellow in the dust Till God new mould and make them just 15. Have still thy heart on heaven set And keepe Gods love fresh in thy heart Though Death doe catch thee in his net 'T will not be fired out by art Love stronger doth than death appeare Such love will free thee from deaths feare 16. Let wicked men so tremble still At thoughts of death that they may leave Their sinnes let sorrow their hearts fill Ere death doth them of life bereave That they may learne to hate their sin And may a new life once begin 17. It 's best for those that live at full To set the worst before their eyes And rouse themselves for such are dull And have regard to poore mens cries You 'd best give bread while here you dwell Lest you your water beg in hell 18. Learne to know want in midst of wealth And die to riches while you live And thinke of sicknesse in your health Doe not content to humours give Life will not be so strange to these If thou from earth dyest by degrees 19. The foolish must know though 't is bad That death will take them all away Then are not such men worse than mad That drive off all untill that day Till they doe see needs they must die And they despairing quaking lie 20. Beat downe conceit and thinke thou art A foole indeed then thou maist learne To know the turnings of thy heart And maist true wisedome then discerne That thou maist then receive at last Eternall life when this is past 21. Let tender hearted men beleeve Their grace is true though 't is not strong Let not the thoughts of death them greeve They shall be freed ere it be long Gods strength is thine which will prevaile Against all feares that thee assaile 22. Those that be strong yet be falne downe And feares of death oppresse them so That they have lost their great renowne And God himselfe seemes like a foe Strengthen your hearts and feeble hands Rescue your selves from feare and bands 23. If you be cowards you will shame The cause your selves and others will Be fearfull when they heare the name Of death such frailties shew the ill Vse well the gifts that God doth give That though death comes your joy may live 24. And ever after have a care Of falling from your stedfastnesse You need not then to feare the snare Of death but heavens happinesse Will tend on you and you shall see The glorie of eternitie 25. Those that would leave a happie seed Behinde them when death throwes his dart Must pray and labour still indeed That God with grace may fill the heart That they may live to God below When they above Gods praises shew 26. And they that long to see the peace Of Sion ere they 'd leave their life Let them not grutch their lives to cease For death will free them from all strife In heaven they at last shall see Their freedome with felicity 27. Some willing are to die when they Are vext or want their wils in things They thinke they have no score to pay Though death them endlesse torment brings They ignorant of death remaine Till second death bring such their gaine 28. Some desperate persons that doe kill Themselves they seeke for 't which they finde The curse of God their soules shall fill The effect will not please well the minde The first fruits of hell may suffice To reape the crop such fooles devise 29. Some of a better making doe Sometimes in passion wish to die Such in distresse are foolish too And fret disdaining miserie But when God chides them quickly they Were sorry that they went astray 30. Those that are Gods the truth so grace Confesse they will unto the death They willing are to give the place To tyrants and to lose their breath Before they will deny Gods name They 'l give themselves to burning flame 31. Such that have peace with God above Do draw from earth their hearts content And with their sins are out of love And to all good their hearts are bent Their blessed'st life doth then begin When death doth set them free from sinne 32. But yet if God would have them stay A while on earth they willing are To doe his will their soules each day Confirme how ere the bodie fare When the body growes towards earth The soule brings forth immortall birth 33. The wicked still are in extreames They would not die if God should call They of this world have then such dreames Of joy which they 'l not part withall They 'r so be witcht to pleasure here There 's nothing else but death they feare 34. And others that God bids to save The lives of others and their owne They 'r brought untimely to their grave And by themselves are overthrowne Such feare not death but downe to hell They headlong rush and there doe dwell 35. I cannot chuse but I must chide Those that in sullen fits would die The worlds disgrace cannot abide For trouble that upon them lie They must of this with teares repent Or else of God they shall be shent 36. Can any suffering be too much For God his cause or glory when They shall have a reward with such In heaven these are blessed men That never share in troubles more They now rejoyce though sad before 37. Such as are willing for to yeeld Their lives to death for Christ his sake By Death they conquer in the field In losing life a better take They leave a dread upon all those That unto God and them are foes 38. Who would not willing be to part With earth for heaven when they have Got peace with God by gratious art And knowing God their soules will save For heaven let all those be prest That fitted are thus for their rest 39. Yet let not any grudge to stay Till they have done the worke that he Hath set them to spending their day In good while they here present be Returning still their pay therefore Worke now then thou need'st work no more 40. The more men do or suffer
here For truth their crown they doe augment Their glory shall the more appeare Though death do close them in his tent God shewes his face here most to such That liv'd long wrought and did not grudge 41. It 's best for bad to die betime For living long their sins increase And sinfull acts grow to their prime Their sinnes live still though life do cease Though they are rotten in the dust Their sins are fresh they meet them must 42. They 'd best to tremble in such sort At thoughts of death that they may know And heare the dreadfull ill report Of sinne while here they live below Death puts an end to vaine delights Then doth begin hell horror frights 43. But to the just their sorrow ends They joy though 't was begun before With full increase which makes amends For trouble much their joyes are more Of this the blessed Saints can tell As damned can relate of hell 44. What though the soule and body parts Which loving friends have been so long The thoughts of this may glad their hearts That they shall meet both sweet and strong Refin'd and with each other joy In heaven still without annoy 45. Death is no death it doth but ope A doore the soule away may flie And so possesse that blessed hope It hath of true felicitie To leave fraile life who 'd thinke it strange To have eternall in exchange 46. Death 's but a blast that soone blowes ore And never more shall looke on thee The hurt is nothing feare is more Though dreadfull it do seeme to be God will it sweeten from above And thou shalt finde his constant love 47. I le feare it not for why should I For life and death together goes By every crosse I le learne to die They 'r both my friends but they are foes Life doth consent with Death each day To take part of my life away 48. Lord I will serve thee while I here Remaine what need I much to care For death when thou freest me from feare I will thy goodnesse still declare My life shall ever speake thy praise When death comes I shall live alwayes FINIS The Resolutions of the Muse in her Pilgrimage NOw I of Time and Vanity have sung Of Darknesse Light and Life sad sweet strong Of Sin of Death Instructions too among I le seeke my fortune now and goe about I shall be entertain'd I make no doubt Though I am naked love will finde me out I shall be cloth'd then in a sute of Leather And love and I both still shall dwell together And she 'l be glad that ever I came hither And if a Noble person do me grace To take me in in this distressed case I le do my service faithfull in my place If one that 's learned take me home to dwell I le pray him then that he will use me well Or to a better I my selfe will sell. If I should dwell with him that 's truly wise He 'l hide my faults what 's of worth he 'l prize And then my song to praise him shal devise If he that 's honest bids me welcome in I le doe my best to helpe to kill his sin I shall not lose yet he by me shall win If noble learned wise and honest too Doe shew respect to me who then durst doe Me wrong they cannot 't is no matter who If one ignoble seeing me doe grutch To shew me favour thinke it 's all too much That I receive I looke for none of such If one unskill'd in any learned art Against me proudly act a Tyrants part He 'l vexe in vaine he shall not greeve my heart For want of wit if any doe me blame Let them as fools keep in their spight with shame My song's the same and so are they by name If one that 's vile looke with disdainfull eye On me because I doe his faults espie I le leave him gall'd when I from him doe flie If any Senior looking big and grave Conceits he knowes yet he no knowledge have If me he slight I will his absence crave Or if I finde one with an emptie pate That nothing speakes though he doe ever prate I le shew his shame but not his person hate If one I finde that hath a barren soule And will not see 't yet doe my words controule Let him be put with stultus in his rowle If one that 's simple doe desire me To gaine experience constant I will be To doe my best to him that all shall see If any censure me is this the cause Their parboyl'd spirits cannot gaine applause They break both Gods Natures humane laws If one detract from good or turne to ill My honest meaning this may follow still That such like things his measure here may fill Such Imps to plead for sinne were very fit But seldome they have so much art or wit As pride or lust have for to manage it If one that reades and rudely breakes my feet Or spoyles my joynts my musicke is not sweet To him the Horne-book is for him most meet If one through envie proudly do disdaine To grant me favour others will obtaine The fruit but he hath labour for his paine If any mend my faults I will him praise And with my voice his honour I will raise His name in me preserv'd shall be alwsyes All that I crave is but a spotlesse name And not to mount upon the wings of fame Plain welcome likes me quit me all from blame You know my minde for what I speake is true Being modest I will not for favour sue Receive me else I le bid you now adieu FINIS
my selfe if they zo wise do prove To vollow zuch they zoone shood lees my love Pray let him goe agen withuz to dwell C ham zure ould vokes woll leek it vary well Come hold thy tongu thy vilenesmaks me grutch Another speak for thou hast spoke too much Covetousnesse the second Sin liv'd with me as I may say while now He made me rich I le not relate it how I car'd it faire none could in me espie A noted fault to say black is thy eye My Gold I got by sinne doth my heart cherish And helpes at need when other helps do perish I ne'r knew griefe that sin upon me brought Letthem have grief for me that for grief sought I gaine by sin give loosers leave to prate Wer 't not for sin I 'had nere got this estate If sin do good why should he suffer bad Let sin have that as formerly he had To stand for sin I hold it my best part If sin goe downe alas 't will kill my heart What he did promise me he also paid And what is false his enemie hath said Pray free him now or else I must restore My goods ill got I have done I l'e say no more Wanton Lust the Third I am sorry now to see sin at the barr What is the cause this man proceeds so farre Sin ever did with pleasure much delight me When all things else did seeke still to affright me Sin was to me still full of pleasing straines In my esteeme my pleasure is my gaines Say what you will these tricks of youth all must Agree to me and will fulfill their lust Man is not made of all to take direction Nor like a stock to be without affection Sin shewes me beautie kindles my desire And then those sparkes come to a flaming fire When many cares and feares upon me stay Sins pleasant objects drive them all away Sin 's such a thing as brings to no man strife Sin is so sweet I love it as my life Let sin be quit for he is good and kind Speake brother Pride for I have spoke my mind Pride the fourth I never knew but Sinne went bravely drest And ever did accompany the best He went along so gracefull in the street He joy'd my heart when once I did sinne meet To all his friends observing time and place He 'd be most free or else he held it base At any feast or any meeting then He tooke his place above all other men He spake so much and in such lofty straines That all might see he had not shallow braines Himselfe behav'd with such great Majesty That each man did upon him cast his eye And by his lookes he seem'd both grave and wise Poore silly men alwayes he did despise He scorn'd to be a servant unto any But like a Lord he sought to rule ore many He slights advice his owne wayes like him best Once crosse his will he cannot take his rest He ore his equals us'd to domineere And his inferiours alwayes kept in feare He hated all that would not to him bend And turnes his foe though first a seeming friend If he be once in place of Justice set He 'd tyrannize or otherwise would fret In lower place if that he chanc't to be He would contemne and curse his misetie And if that men would not his counsell take Hee 'd cast them off and varlets of them make If one in parts did but before him goe Then most of all hee proved his deadly foe And all of whom he gets the upper hand He keeps them down and binds them in his band All this and more like things do call sin Father Sin is in hold that hee were free I d'e rather Hee s now by one that lou'd him once betraid Hee 's now in feare of him he made afraid He hath been bold but now he seemes to quake I hope thou wilt some pity on him take Shall hee prevaile ore sin when sin is stronger For he hates sin when he can sin no longer A generall speech rejecting sinnes witnesses with a command for a reply Now sinne hath spoke and all that for him stand This will not doe to free him from my hand His witnesses sinne have discovered cleare Though bad before now worse it doth appeare And they themselves for standing on his side Will vile appeare for they shall now be tride Speake man thy mind in making thy reply Lay home the truth that no man can deny A Reply against sins defence particularly What is thy age or what doth it availe I'ts nothing worth when goodnes doth men fail It doth increase and bring Gods wrath apace And for thy age makes thee in worser case T wa's notthy mind that god should have the praise Pretending right thou intend'st wicked waies God needs not sinne for to set forth his glory Nor any thing of all thy sinfull story This wicked way that thou proceedest in Thou makest God the author of thy sin God ne're approves thee nor thy sinfull acts He made his lawe to damne thy cursed facts Thou dost oppose Gods will with all thy might To yeeld to his law is against thee quite T is not to trie thou meanst but to destroy All living men thou seek'st still to annoy Good men thou dost so hamper with thy snares And thou the bad bring'st to eternall cares Thou lying wretch doth God cōmand thee evil Then damn thee for 't thou hast it from the devill Thou art a King if so I may beleeve thee And shame with men it seemes doth now much greeve thee No shame before thou other bring'st to shame Why should'st thou not beare now the greatest blame Mē do thee love their love wil turn to hate Thy friendship doth make way still for debate The poore and weake that do oppose thy way Will be too strong for thee as thou shalt say Thy labours which were alwaies freely bent Were better spar'd then they should 〈…〉 be spent What is thy stock but cursed porsonous store Still as thou spendst increasing more and more Thou dost none force but with thy subtil gins Thou hid'st the soure shew'st the sweet ossins But if he will not yeeld unto thy will Thou tri'est thy power his soul with wrath to fil For those that in their weaknes made their boast T was when that sin was by Gods power crost Which did through weaknes overcome thy strength And over sathā did triumph at lēgth What good doth come by sin sin nought intends 'T is Gods event sin seekes for cursed ends One trouble still thou bring'st upon an other If one be gone thou bring'st in many other If any rest comes from Gods blessed hand Then thou in malice dost against it stand Whē God in mercy doth forgive mās sin With doubts cares feares thou fill'st his heart within Although Gods grace be thus exalted high To save poore soules that under sin did lye This and all good is farre from thy intent Gods goodnesse that brings
forth such event His owne experience agravates Sinne His witnesses make the case worse By proofe of all the Saints that live on earth VVho knowes thy fruits the'ir al untimely birth And I my selfe by thee was led away Me toundoe thou sought thus every way I did blaspheme when thon did'st promise gaines Then thou did'st bring despaire for my paines Thou hast confest before the Iudge below Thy wickednesse as doth the Lord well know Thou didst despise me with a shamelesse face And us'd all meanes to bring me to disgrace I did my suit remove from common Law Where thou didst think to keep me still in awe In equitie here I shall finde releefe And ease my mind aud quite expell my greefe And for thy cause most vile it doth appeare To all that heare or see t is very cleare And those that stand as witnesses for thee Now they themselves as bad appeare to be They did intend to adorne thy ugly stature But have thee bad made of a viler nature He refuseth to answer their bsurditics but threatens Ignorance To answer them it is not worth the while Alas poore fooles sinne doth them all beguile Old ignorance with his corrupted sence Though old he be he 'l finde sins recompence Though twice aslong he live yet curses store For him and such do still waite at the dore He threatens Covetousnesse And he that covets wealth and layes up gold Through sin will finde at last himselfe he sold His golden Gods cannot him save from danger Nor comfort him God is to him a stranger His sinfull gaines will prove to him but losses And trouble when sin brings a thousand crosses Hee curseth Last and shewes ruine And he that is addicted so to lust O cursed wretch he thinkes it all but just He 'l finde ere long his bodily estate His soule undone he I then repent too late When he shall in that burning bed be cast The sweet of sinne turnes sower at the last He damneth Pride to Hell So Pride that goes about to set Sinne free Himselfe he brings in the like miserie He must be stript and naked shall appeare Before the Judge that all may see and feare Though set on high yet he below must dwell And so with Sinne possession take of hell He craves leave for his witnesses to speake So I have done but foure I have brought Those ever still t' whom sinne has ruine sought So that the blessed and the damned crue Speake to sins face and say this is all true Let not sinne say 't was I that did undoe him And make men think but one the rest stuck to him Lave is granted Speake all they shall and knowledge shall begin He 'l kill his heart then bounty shall step in Then Chastitie Humilitie behinde When they have spoke they straight shall comfort finde My Saints and Angels too shall all declare Sins shame on earth though they in heaven are The damned shall relate a dreadfull story Speake truth of sinne and so set forth my glory Knowledge first speakes Lord sinne did strive in Ignorance to keepe Making secure in folly me to sleepe But when I once found out his hellish art I to be freed from sinne gave thee my heart I sought to know thy will and so to doe it Still thought of time when I should be put to it I did observe sinne with his cursed charmes Brought some to one and some to other harmes According as he saw mens natures bend Suting temtptations to his cursed end And as he findes his swellings to arise There he doth blow those sparkes we may surmise He 'l let men know all things but what they should All outward things which best doe fit their mould If he can call another foole or Asse He thinkes his wisedome's very well to passe If he know how to breake an idle jest Of witty fellowes he counts himselfe the best If he suppose he knoweth affaires of state He sets his knowledge at too great a rate If he have been but once in forraigne parts He will so talk as though he had all the arts Now all this while he does not once indeavour To know the Lord his wayes which are for ever Himselfe to know he doth not once desire He 's so bewitcht and setled in the mire If he intends but good and God to know Then sinne doth seeke that good to overthrow But if he cannot drive those thoughts away He puts him off still till another day From day to day but never comes that morrow At last by sinne he 's brought to endlesse sorrow If one be brought restaining outward evill He thinkes 't is well he doth detest the divell If one doth good that good then save him must Heaven he must have or else God is not just If in these things he doth himselfe deny Yet he will threaten judgement suddainly Man knowes not how to answer such objections Sin hath by-wayes and men take his directions Now Lord let him no more a being have Give saving knowledge then our soules Lord save Liberalitie the second Sinne strives to make men covetous and base Keepe what I have I should in any case Perswades me still that I my selfe may want And if I should friends would be very scant So I must not diminish of my store What though men want I did not make thē poore Sin would be master of that men call mine I should keepe up all that that 's truly thine If I doe give it must be sparingly Sinne saith 't is best to keepe it till I die But if I doe a bounteous heart expresse He 'l make me thinke I maintaine idlenesse And must repent of all the good that 's done And breake the thread so soone as it is spun Or else take warning not to give to any And slight the cries of poore though ne're so many When I deny the poore that doe complaine Then I must thinke what 's sav'd is all cleere gaine Thus labours sinne to make me like a slave And live in bondage unto what I have Chastitie the third Sinne with his trickes doth me so much allure And with his snares my hurt doth so procure With idle objects and such painted sights I feare some ill which puts my soule to frights Lest that I should be taken with those baites Which for my life are laid sinne ever waites To bring me in by this his strong temptation He might at last bring me to condemnation He hides the sting but that which seemes delight He sets it out and backes it with his might So by degrees a little makes no matter But then to more thus he doth use to flatter If this take not then raises stormes within Of lusts wild-fire distemper all through sinne He telles me those that were in Gods account Most holy men and others did surmount Yet they in this sinne lived many a yeare If well with them it went what need'st thou feare Goe take thy pleasure at worst thou maist repent Fulfill