LOe here 's the Authors Shadow passe it by These Lines his Substance will in Part descry Gaze not upon his Shade unlesse to see And learne thereby that all Men Shadowes be All flesh is Grass the best men vanity This but a shadow here before thine eye Of him whose wondrous changes clearly show That GOD not men swayes all things here below MOVNT-ORGVEIL OR DIVINE AND PROFITABLE MEDITATIONS RAISED FROM The Contemplation of these three Leaves of Natures Volume 1. ROCKES 2. SEAS 3. GARDENS digested into three distinct Poems To which is Prefixed a Poeticall Description of Mount-Orgueil Castle in the Isle of Jersy BY VVILLIAM PRYNNE Late Exile and Close Prisoner in the sayd Castle A Poem of The Soules Complaint against the Body and Comfortable Cordialls against the Discomforts of Imprisonment c. are hereto annexed Psalme 19. 14. Let the Words of my mouth and the MEDITATION of my Heart he acceptable in thy sight O Lord my Strength and my Redeemer Psalme 143. 5. I remember the dayes of Old I MEDITATE on all thy Workes I muse on the Worke of thy hands LONDON Printed by Tho. Cotes for Michael Sparke Senior and are to be sold by Peter Inch of Chester 1641. TO The Right Worshipfull his ever Honoured worthy Friend Sir PHILIP CARTERET Knight Lieutenant Governour and Bayliffe of the Isle of Jersy SIR Your great Favour and Humanity To Me whiles Exile Prisner in Jersy Wholy secluded from all Friends accesse Under the angry Frownes of their Greatnesse Who sent Me thither to deprive me quite Of worldly Comforts challenge a just Right To these rude Meditations which there grew And so in Justice are your proper Due Accept them than as a small Pledge of my Thankes unto You till Oportunity And better Dayes enable me to finde Some other meanes to pay all that 's behinde Your Eternally Obliged Friend and Servant WILLIAM PRYNNE TO THE CHRISTIAN READER SHut up Close-Prisner in Mount-Orgueil Pile A lofty Castle within Jersie Isle Remote from Friends neere three yeares space where I Had Rockes Seas Gardens dayly in mine Eye Which I oft viewed with no small delight These pleasing Objects did at last invite Me to contemplate in more solemne wise What usefull Meditations might arise From each of them my soule to warme feast cheare And unto God Christ Heaven mount more neare In which pursuite I found such inward Joyes Such Cordiall Comforts as did over-poise My heaviest Crosses Losses and supply The want of all Foes did me then deny Give me assurance of a sweete Returne Both from my Exile Prison and mine Urne Revive my cold dead Muse and it inspire Though not with brightest yet with Sacred fire Some Sparkes whereof rakt up in Ashes then I layd aside for want of Inke and Pen But now enlarged by the mighty hand Of that sweete God who both by Sea and Land In sundry Prisons Countries kept me so In health and comfort that I met with no One day of Sickenesse Sadnesse Discontent In eight yeares Troubles and Imprisonment Which I relate that all may blesse his Name For his great Mercy and expect the same Support and Presence of our God in all Those sharpe Afflictions which may them befall As I have found by sweete experiment To my surpassing Solace and Content I have blowne up these buried Sparkes a new And here present them to thy Christian view Kinde Reader to the end that thou mayst be Refresht with those Thoughts which refreshed me And Steele thy Soule with Faith Hope Confidence Against all Carnall feares and diffidence With that which made Me to expect with joy That blest Enlargement I doe now enjoy From my long Durance Censures Banishment Which God hath made a fresh sweete Monument Of his Almighty power that all thereby In all their Troubles and Adversitie May learne with Faith Hope comfort to depend On God who in due time Release will send Thy Comfort Profit is all I desire Next to Gods glory Lord let the sweete fire Of thy good Spirit by these Lines convoy Such Flames of Love zeale Comfort Grace Joy Into each Readers soule that he may see These Meditations were inspir'd by Thee If any profit fruit thou from them gaine O pray for him who ever shall remaine Thy Unfained Christian Friend WILLIAM PRYNNE A POETICALL DESCRIPtion of Mount-Orgueil Castle in the Isle of Iersy interlaced with some briefe Meditations from it's rockie steepe and lofty Situation MOunt Orgueil Castle is a lofty pile Within the Easterne parts of Jersy Isle Seated upon a Rocke full large high Close by the Sea-shore next to Normandie Neere to a Sandy Bay where boats doe ride Within a Peere safe both from Wind and Tide Three parts thereof the flowing Seas surround The fourth North-west-wards is firme rockie ground A proud High-mount it hath a Rampeir long Foure gates foure Posternes Bulworkes Sconces strong All built with Stone on which there mounted lye Fifteene cast peeces of Artillery With sundry Murdering Chambers planted so As best may fence it selfe and hurt a foe A Guard of Souldiers strong enough till warre Begins to thunder in it lodged are Who watch and ward it duly night and day For which the King allow's them Monthly pay The Governour if present here doth lye If absent his Lievetenant deputy A man of Warre the keyes doth keepe and locke The Gates each night of this high towering Rock The Castle 's ample Aire healthy and The Prospect pleasant both by Sea and Land Two boystrous foes sometimes assault with losse This Fortresse which their progresse seemes to crosse The Raging waves below which ever dash Themselves in pieces whiles with it they clash The Stormy winds above whose blasts doe breake Themselves not it for which they are too weake For why this fort is built upon a Rocke And so by Christs owne verdict free from shocke Of floods and winds which on it oft may beate Yet never shake it but themselves defeate Thus potent Tyrants whiles they strive to quash Christs feeble members oft themselves quite dash To shivers ' gainst the Rocke Christ upon whom They safely founded stand what ever come A Rocke too high for floods to reach too strong Too firme for fiercest winds to shake though long They beate upon it with a roaring sound And blustring stormes to cast it to the ground This Castles haughty name and lofty seat Enough to puffe up minds not truly great Portend at first that pride it selfe should dwell Within it or such who in pride excell Since haughty Tytles places too oft find Or Make at least a proud and haughty mind But though this vice in former times perchance Might here reside and her proud throne advance Yet now shee 's banish't hence with all her traine And long be it ere she returne againe Now nought but meeknesse and humility In mind and habit mixt with charity The truest ensignes of a noble Race And pious heart adorne
sacred word To all of all rankes can and doth afford A copious store and sweete variety Of great and pretious promises which lye Dispersed in it to refresh joy ease All sad dejected soules and them appease O with what pleasure joy and blest delight May tyred drooping soules both day and night Walke in the midst of this sweete Paradise Where all refreshing comforts grow and rise Let these be still our study night and day Which all our griefes feares sins will chase away 5. All Gardens sweet refreshment still afford To tyred bodies spirits So Gods word To weary soules opprest with sinne and spent With griefe yeelds sweete refreshment and content Here may they find blest rest repose and ease When nought else can them comfort or appease O let our soules for ever dwell and rest In its refreshing shade which makes them blest 6. Gardens inclosed are Gods word is so Within his Churches pale there must we goe To seeke and find it sith the Church doth keepe And shew the Scriptures to Christs chosen sheep But not confirme or give authority To them who doe her judge surport and try 7. Gardens are Common both to rich and poore To all of all sorts So the Scriptures doore Is shut to none but open stands to all Degrees of men to rich poore great and small Yea pooremen most part have a greater share In this rich Garden than the great'st that are 8. Gardens are fruitfull and make all things grow That men in season in them plant or sow Gods word is fertile too and makes men spring Grow thrive in grace and much fruit forth to bring 9. Gardens most sweetly picture to our eyes Minds thoughts God Christ and man in lively-wise Thus doe the Scriptures too in farre more bright And perfect colours paint them to our sight He who would these exactly know and see Must on the Scriptures alwaies looking be 10. Gardens are full of objects whence we may Sweet contemplations raise from day to day To make us better and translate our love From earth to heaven and the things above So are the Scriptures O thrice happy they Who meditate still in them night and day To mend their lives hearts soules and elevate Them from an earthly to an heavenly state All other studies matcht with these are base And leave the soule but in a damned case Onely the Scriptures make us truly blest And guide our soules unto eternall rest 11. Lord let us daily more and more discry The sacred Scriptures worth and dignity Our soules to cheare feast ravish with their love That wee our words thoughts acts may guide and move As they direct and let each Gardens sight Present them to our thoughts with sweet delight That while we view this leafe of natures booke We may more clearly into Gods booke looke The one whereof gives to the other light And both conjoyn'd will yeeld more sweet delight Meditations of the fifth Sort. AGaine in Gardens we may view and find A lively map and picture of mankind And day by day both in them read and see The story of our selves and what we bee 1. For first those seeds which we in gardens saw And bury in their wombes that they may grow And spring up thence present unto our eyes That humane seede from which we all arise And sprout at first sowne planted in the wombe And there inter'd as in a Garden tombe Till it be quickned formed and made fit To come into the World and breake from it 2. Each seed root plant we see in Gardens spring And peepe out of the earth doth sweetly bring Unto our mindes and shadowes to our eyes Mans birth into this world in lively-wise Who breakes and creepes out from his mothers wombe Like seede out of the earth that he may come Into this wretched world whose misery As soone as borne still makes him weepe and cry 3. The weake young tender blades and sprouts that grow Up first from seeds rootes plants doe lively shew Unto our eyes and thoughts mans infancie Who cannot stand or goe but crawle and lye Vpon the ground like blades grasse sprigs new thrust Out of the earth which leane lie on the dust 4. Their further growth in strength height breadth each day Mans daily growth in all these well display Untill his youth out-grows his infancie By senselesse steps and make him sprout up high 5. Their progresse till they blossome and forth bring Gay goodly lovely sweet flowers in the spring And Summer season aptly typifie Our fresh sweet flowring youth which in each eye Makes us as comely lovely fresh and gay As garden-trees flowres in the month of May Though still as fading as the tendrest flowre Oft cropt and withered in lesse than one houre 6. Their next succeeding fruits and seeds expresse Our riper yeares and age of fruitfulnesse Fit for imployment and the practicke part Of any science calling trade skill art Or publicke office in the Church or State For which our youth 's too soone our age too late 7. Their full ripe Leaves fruits seeds which bend and fall Vnto the earth at last may mind us all Of mans old age which will him bow then cast Or bring quite downe unto the dust at last From whence hee sprung and useth to decay His strength teeth senses parts which fall away As leaves seeds fruits in autumne and him make Like withered stalkes which leaves seedes fruits forsake Before his aged shriv'led Body dyes Whilst it weake bed-rid senselesse halfe-dead lyes 8. The falling of their withred stalks trunkes boughs Unto the earth at last most lively shewes That our old age it selfe will kill us all At last and make us dead to earth to fall Though neere so healthy wealthy mighty strong And that if nought else kill us living long Will doe it a disease which none can cure If others scape old men to dye are sure 9. The buring of these old stalkes leaves againe When falne downe on the earth shewes forth most plaine Before our eyes our funerals when we Quite dead and withered shall interred be And shut close prisoners in our mother earths Darke wombe from whence at first we had our births 10. Their rotting there and turning into dust Instructs us how the grave shall rot and rust Our corps and turne them into dust at last Sith God such sentence hath against them past 11. The seedes which drop into the earth and there Rot for a time but yet againe appeare And spring afresh more glorious than before And by their rising much increase their store Demonstrate to us in most pregnant wise How our dead rotten Corps againe shall rise Out of the dust and graves wherein they lye In greater vigour glory dignity Then ever they enjoy'd and gaine farre more By rising than by death
Rockes I then thinke presently He who a Cottage wants his Head to Hide Shall finde some Rocke or Hole where to abide In which he may sleepe freer from feares Foes And Cares than those whom Castles Guards inclose What neede we care then here for House or Home If these should faile yet Rockes will give us Roome To Lodge and hide in Here Gods dearest Saints Have liv'd and hid oft times without Complaints And beene more happie in these caved Stones Than greatest Monarchs in their royall Thrones Repine not then though Clifts of Rocks should be Thine House or Home sith there thou mayst be free Safe blessed chearefull and to God more nigh Than those who in the fairest Pallace lye 4. The precious Jewels Treasures Stones which are Lockt up and hid in coursest Rockes declare Gods dearest Saints and Jewels common Case And State on Earth who thrust out with disgrace From House and Home enforced are to flye To Caves and Rockes where they imprisned lye Whence driven out againe by bloody Foes Like Gold or Jewels out of Rockes they close And locke them up againe in Prisons Goales Or nastie Dungeons amidst filth dust Coles The common Gaskets where these Gemmes Pearles lye Vntill some Flames them into Ashes frie. Yet courage Noble Soules whiles thus you fare It 's a sure Signe you peerelesse Jewels are And Gods Choyce Treasures since you under Locke Thus lye like Gold Gems in some Casket Rocke And that you shall be surest kept of any Because kept closest and not seene of many The choycest Things Men ever closest Locke And Wolves runne loose whiles God doth fold his Flocke 5. Rockes love to shew not hide their Nakednesse Adam and Eve blusht at their Naked Dresse When they beheld it and did hide for shame Till they with Coates of Figge-leaves vail'd the same Those wanton Females then that take delight Their Naked Breasts Neckes Armes like some strange sight To shew to others without Blush or shame In spight of God Men who them taxe and blame Are rather shamelesse Rockes than Adams Race And for the most part voyd of Sence shame Grace If not of Honour and true Chastitie Sith most is common which doth open lye 6. When we behold Men with much Danger Swet Paines Trouble vilest wrack to gather get And draw from Sea-Rockes for to burne or dresse Their tilled Grounds and mend their fruitfulnesse Me thinkes it should wring Teares from us to see What Paines these take for Dung whiles they and wee Doe not take halfe the Care Paines Travell Swâ—et The richest Gems of Grace to digge fetch get From Christ our Rocke which would not onely cheare And warme our Soules and make them fruite to beare But them adorne enrich store in such wise That they all else as vile Dung would despise For shame then henceforth let us take more paine These richest Gemmes than they base wracke to gaine 7. When I a Rent or Clift in Rockes espie It mindes me of the dreadfull Majestie And mighty Power of our God which make The hardest Rockes for feare to split rent shake And duely pondred would in peeces teare Our Rockie Hearts make them quake for feare 8. When I behold Men Tempests Waves Raine Winde Beate long on Rockes and yet no entrance finde It makes me see what rockie hearts we have At which though Christ who seekes our Soules to save Doth dayly knocke by his Word Grace and Sp'rit Saints Preachers Motions and oft times them smite With sundry Judgements Tempests Seas Malles Winds To make them open yet but seldome finds Or makes an Entrance nay though many yeares He thus beates on them yet no fruite appeares O Hearts more hard than any Rocke Flint Steele Which all these strokes upon them never feele O patient Jesus who so long canst beare With such hard hearts which will not melt nor teare 9. When I behold Rockes Stones most ragged base Rude and deformed in their Native place Hew'd out from thence and polisht by Man-Kinde Turn'd into goodly Structures of each Kinde And made rich Statues Jewels Ouches Gemmes Yea set in Gold and royall Diadems I thence conclude that God with much more ease Speede Art can turne when ever he shall please The hardest vilest rockie Hearts that are Into rich Temples Jewels Gemmes most rare Yea set them in Christs very royall Crowne Like precious stones unto their great renowne As he did Paul Manasses and all those Most glorious Saints which Heav'n doth now inclose Let no man then though ne're so meane vile base Lewd sinfull once despaire of Gods free Grace Which in a moment can change and translate Him from his wretched to a glorious state 10. When as I see the waters that doe streame And gush from stony Rockes me thinkes they seeme A lively Image of those Teares that flow From Rockie Hearts when they once tender grow Through Gods sweete Grace and Spirit which can melt The hardest Hearts to Teares and them relent As He did Rockes of Old whence water gusht By streames when He them either smote or crusht Blessed Lord Jesus soften breake relent Our Hearts of Rocke and cause them to repent And send forth Streames nay Floods of Teares to wash Our sinnes away and all their force to quash 11. Eagles in lofty Rockes still breed and lye And from their Toppes their Prey farre off espie Gods chosen Saints whom Scriptures oft compare To Eagles upon Christ high mounted are The tallest Rocke on whom they build lodge stay And thence they seeke finde take their sacred prey Lord make our Soules with Eagles wings to flye To this sweete Rocke and there to live and dye 12. When I contemplate how Rockes Christall Springs Which serve to moisten soften other Things Make trees herbes grasse plants flowers spring and grow And quench the Thirst of all things here below Yet neither moysten soften fructifie The Rockes themselves still barren fruitlesse dry Me thinkes I view in them some Rockie Hearts Endew'd with rare rich profitable Parts Of Art and Nature which doe good to many Yet to their Owners good they doe not any How many Preachers others helpe to save Yet damne themselves and whiles they others gave The Food of life have starv'd themselves to death Others made Fertile themselves barren Heath How many wise to teach rule counsell all Except themselves and so through folly fall It s hardly worth the Name of Good Art Skill That betters others makes the Owners Ill. 13. When I espie Rockes trampled on by all Christs and true Christians States to minde I call Trod under feete with all contempt spite hate Throughout the world and valu'd at no rate Complaine not then of any dis-respect No greater Honour than Ill mens neglect 14. Each vaste high-towring massie Rocke we eye Presents
bound are they will in no wise Let slip but take the first good Gale which lost May quite undoe or put them to great cost Their Wisedome should instruct all those who lye On Earth below for passage to their high And Heav'nly Country never to omit One Gale of Grace which blowes well towards it But whiles Life Time and meanes of Grace endure And breath upon them to make heaven sure And post on to it with full Sayles each day For feare they lose their passage through delay One Gale of Grace or opportunity Neglected may lose us eternity Gods Spirit which blowes when and where it will Must not be slighted but observed still It will not ever waite nor strive with men And once departed returnes not agen 28. Sea waters in their Channels are but light Under them all a Childe may stand upright But taken thence they very pondrous prove A Pipe or two no Gyant can remove Whole Seas of vastest sinnes are very light On carnall Hearts who never feele their weight Whereas to humbled Soules the smallest Crimes Are heavier than the Sea ten thousand times Wherewith their Soules are burden'd and opprest More than if Mountaines lay upon their brest The reasons plaine in one sinnes in its place But out of it in Hearts renude by grace Try then thy State hereby if sinnes weigh light In thy Soules Seales thy case is ill not right 29. The Sea is full of waters which there lye Pil'd up in Heapes as in Gods Treasurie Or Common store-house who doth thence disperce Them to all Places of the Vniverse Where they are needfull Which in lively wise Paints out most sweetely to our Hearts and Eyes Those inexhaust vast boundlesse Magazines Of goodnesse grace with all those golden Mines Laid up in God and Christ who day by day With open Hands disperse and give away These precious stores to every living thing Throughout the world and to their Homes them bring How should the thought of their vast stores feast cheare Our hungry Soules and banish all their feare Sith Seas shall sooner faile of streames and dry Quite up then these stores of the Diety Faile or diminish which still open stand All needfull things to yeeld us out of hand 30. When I consider how the Seas did stand And swim at first above the highest Land Till God confin'd them within Bankes whence they If but permitted would soone scape away And in a moment drowne the world againe Me thinkes it points out to us very plaine The patience mercy and abundant grace Of our sweete God who keepes them in their place Though dayly urged by our sinnes and Crimes To let them loose to drowne us sundry times And then instructs us him not to offend Who can at will whole Seas against us send Yea troopes of Devils which would soone devoure Us if not held off by his mighty Power 31. When I in Scripture read that God did found This world on Seas and floods â—s on its ground I finde the cause of this Worlds ficklenesse And all the things that We therein possesse For how can ought be stable firme or stayd That on unstable floating Seas is layd O then make nought that this world yeelds your stay Or Treasure sith it floates and swimmes away 32. The Sea is Homogeniall and each small Drop in it hath the nature of it all In all respects and will not mixe nor close With strange or forraigne things but them oppose Which should instruct all Christians to agree Yea in Faith Word and Deede but one to be And not to hugge love like but shun all those Who in Faith Life workes doe not with them close 33. The Sea retaines in every coast and place Her Native Colours and sweete azure face A checke and shame to that phantasticke crue Which paint and chop old fashions still for new And to those changlings who to serve the time Can suite themselves to every Sect Place Clime And whiles they thus become all things to all In truth are nothing and the worst of all 34. When angry Crosse Seas meete and clash together They foame rage roare yea raise stormes in faire weather And tosse wrecke or indanger all that saile Or passe their race and over them prevaile When Potent Neighbour Princes strive war fight One with another with great force and might Nought else but bloody Battels tumults cryes Stormes perils to their Subjects still arise Which wrecke consume their Fortunes Goods Lands Lives And of all worldly blessings them deprives O Let us then be thankefull for our peace And pray that it may last and still increase 35. The Sea and Skies in colour both agree When as in most things else they different be It s then ill judging by the meere out-side Those who thus doe shall oft times erre and slide 36. All Springs and Rivers runne with chearefull speed Into the Ocean whence they first proceede And should not we with equall chearefulnesse And speed our courses to the grave addresse Since we from Dust did spring at first and shall By Gods decree to dust and ashes fall How soone he onely knowes thrice happy we If for the grave we still prepared be The onely Harbour where we rest secure From all those Tempests we did here endure 36. Nor neede we feare since we shall not remaine Still in our Graves but thence rise up againe For as the Ebbing Sea when it sinkes low And seemes quite lost and never like to flow Yet in short space returnes and springs a fresh As high as ever So our Corps and flesh Though turn'd to dust and rotted in the Grave A spring and rich returne from thence shall have With great advantage rising up againe Free from corruption sinne ach sicknesse paine And imperfection in such glorious plight That Sunne Moone Stars shall not shine halfe so bright Why should we then once dread death or the grave Or lose our Soules our Goods Lives Limbes to save Since our dead Corps lost Limbes shall rise againe In such surpassing glory and then reigne Joyn'd to our Soules and never more to dye In perfect blisse for all eternity Instruct us Lord to live to Thee by grace Whiles we here saile in this Seas dangerous race Then are we certaine when we end our dayes That thou wilt us from grave to Heaven raise Where we more Blisse and glory shall receive Than tongues can utter or our hearts conceive Lord let these Meditations of mine Heart Mine owne and others Soules to thee convert And rap them into such sweete Extasies That they nought else but Thee may Love and prise The Epilogue IF all who use crosse view the Sea would raise Such Meditations from it to the praise Of its Creator spending day by day Some vacant time and pious
thoughts this way What Floods and streames of grace what tydes of Joy And sweetest Raptures able to destroy Those sinnes lusts vices which now taint defame Their very Callings and their Persons shame Would spring up in them what blest Calmes of Peace Amidst all winds and stormes what great increase Of Faith Love knowledge zeale and each sweete Grace Might thee enjoy whiles they the Ocean trace How might their Soules mount up above the skie When as their ships sinke and their bodies dye What change of Heart and Life would it effect In those who now God and their Soules neglect What holy pious Saints might Sea-Men be If they the Sea would thus divinely see O! as they love their Soules let me request Them and all others as they would be blest Hence-forth at vacant times to lay aside All sins Lusts Vices which their Soules mis-guide With wordly workes thoughts cares and then addresse Their Hearts and Mindes in Sacred earnestnesse To pious Meditations from the sight And Nature of the Sea which will delight Their drooping Hearts their wicked Lives amend And lodge their soules in Heaven ere they end If any want instructions to direct Or helpe them in this kinde let them reflect On this rude Christian-Sea-Card which may guide Them till some better Card thrust it aside By which if they their course shall henceforth steare They neede no Rockes Shelves Gulfes Stormes Wreckes to feare FINIS A CHRISTIAN PARADISE OR A Divine Posie Compiled of sundry Flowers of Meditation gathered from the Sweet and Heavenly Contemplation of the Nature Fruites and Qualities of Gardens BY WILLIAM PRYNNE late Exile and Close Prisoner in the Isle of Iersy Isaiah 61. 10. 11. I Will greatly rejoyce in the Lord my Soule shall be joyfull in my God for he hath cloathed me with the Garments of Salvation he hath covered me with the Robe of Righteousnesse as a Bridegroome decketh himselfe with Ornaments and as a Bride adorneth her selfe with her Jewels For as the Earth bringeth forth her bud as the GARDEN causeth the things that are sowne in it to spring forth so the Lord will cause Righteousnesse and praise to spring forth before all the Nations Cant. 5. 1. I am come into my GARDEN my Sister my Spouse I have gathered my Myrrhe with my Spice I have eaten my Honey-combe with my Honey I have drunke my Wine with my Milke O Friends drinke and be drunken with love O beloved Isaiah 58. 11. And the Lord shall guide thee continually and satisfie thy Soule in drought and make fat thy bones and thou shalt be like a watred GARDEN and like a Spring of Water whose waters faile not London Printed by T. Cotes for Michael Sparke dwelling at the blue Bible in Greene Arbor 1641. TO The Worshipfull his ever Honoured Kinde Friends M rs Douse and M rs Margaret Carteret Daughters to Sr Philip Carteret Knight Lieutenant Governor and Bayliffe of the Isle of Jersy SWeetenesse and Beauty two chiefe Qualities Of Gardens shine forth in such radiant wise In you sweete M rs Douse faire Margaret Prime Flowers of the House of Carteret That 't were Ingratitude nay Injury For me in silence here to passe You by And not inscribe this PARADISE to You To whom it is in all respects most Due Deigne then to owne this little Testimonie Of Thankes for all your Love and Courtesie To me an Exil'd Prisner in Jersy Who shall endeavour to be till I dye Your Devoted Friend and Servant WILLIAM PRYNNE A CHRISITAN PARADISE OR A Divine Posie Composed of sundry Flowers of Meditation gathered from the sweet and Heavenly Contemplation of the Nature Fruites and Qualities of Gardens THE PREFACE SOare up my Muse upon the Eagles Wings Above the Clouds and scrue up all thy strings Unto their Highest Straines with Angels Layes Mens Soules to ravish and their Hearts to raise From Earth to Heaven with those sweetest Notes Which Gardens tender to thy plodding thoughts A Theame of Meditation so Divine Rich pleasant usefull that no golden Mine No Hony-Combe may once with it compare Lord Feast our Soules with its Coelestiall fare Fruites pleasures in such wise that they may still Loath this worlds Cates with all things that are Ill Tasting no Pleasure but in Things above The onely Dainties which they ought to love A briefe Character of a Garden A Garden is an Earthly Paradise No mortall Creatures but Gods owne devise The first who Planted Gardens which began At the Creation God then binding Man The Lord of all his workes to this sweete Trade To Keepe and Dresse the Garden he had made This was Mans first imployment so as He In this Respect a Gardner stil'd may be The first and best of Trades which Adams tast Of the forbidden fruite hath much debast And with it Gardens too which thereby lost Much of their Pleasure to our Paine and cost Yet in this dolefull State of sinne and vice They still remaine Mans terrene Paradise Yeelding not onely Profit but delight Foode Cates Salves Phisicke Pleasures to the sight And other Senses solacing the Minde With sundry Objects which it there may finde It and the Body to refresh and cheare When as they tired vexed grieved are But this is nought to those Soule-ravishing Sweete heavenly Meditations which doe spring From Gardens able to rap and inspire The coldest Muse with a Coelestiall fire Yea melt the flintiest Heart and it advance Above the Spheares in a delightfull Trance These make an Eden of each Garden-Plot And here are fallen to my Muses Lot Meditations of the first Kinde 1. FIrst then a garden paints out to our Eyes And Hearts its prime Inventor God most wise Whose peerelesse Wisedome Art skill shine most bright In every Tree Plant Herbe Flower which our sight Beholds in Gardens whose variety In smell taste colour forme fruite quality And usefull vertues for all maladies Wounds Ulcers Aches stripes Infirmities Of Man and Beast so many that Mans Art Hath not as yet found out the thousand part From Adams fall till now at large descry Gods matchlesse Art and wisedome to each eye View we the goodly Colours Beauty Frame Embroidry carving fruites leaves rootes which shame And pose all Artists with the Joynts and sweete Proportion of those Parts which in them meete And we must needes confesse him onely wise Who these rare peeces did at first devise Without a Patterne and doth dayly raise Such worlds of goodly Fabrickes to his praise O let our Hearts words workes still celebrate His boundlesse wisedome who did these create 2. That most transcendent Beauty which we see With dayly admiration in each Tree Plant Herbe Carnation Lilly Tulip Rose With worlds of other Flowers which the Nose Affect with pleasant smels and beautifie The Earth and Gardens more than starres the skie Shining with rarest Colours of each kinde So fresh mixt sorted that they rap the Minde Into
Eyes 9. Eden a Serpent had which did betray First Eve then Adam and them cast away By his Temptations their Credulity No wonder then if we sometimes espie Not onely Weedes but Serpents Adders Snakes Toades such vermin whose meere aspect makes Most men to tremble in our Garden-plots To make us feare that Serpent which besots Betrayes and stings us still through pleasures vice As he did Adam in old Pardise O let us then in no place rest secure Sith he in Eden did Man first allure Much lesse in pleasant Gardens where he still Tempts Men and Women oft times unto ill 10. The first and Mother sinne from whence all vice Sinnes mischiefes spring was hatcht in Paradise Here Father Adam caught that breake-necke fall Which in a moment quite undid us all O let our Gardens put us still in minde Of this great sinne whose reliques we still finde Remaining in us and let every weede We see in Gardens cause us to take heede That no one sinne within us ever spring To worke our ruine or our soules to sting 11. Man had no sooner sinned but God cast Him out of Eden and then layd it waste Cursing the Earth with thornes Weeds Barrennesse For his offence which he before did blesse When then our Gardens weedie barren grow Thinke of the cause from whence these evills flow Our sinne Gods curse and when we enter in Or issue out of Gardens let that sinne Which moved God man-kind first to exclude From Edens blisse with teares be of us rude We cannot over-ponder or lament That sinne which Man out of his Eden sent And learne from hence that none gaine ought by vice Or sinne at Last but losse of Paradise 12. Man banish't Eden for his wilfull sinne Was ever after barr'd from entring in Againe by a bright sword with fiery flame Which turned every way to guard the same The hedges pales walls doores that close and fence Our gardens to keepe Men and beasts from thence Should ever mind us of this sword that vice Which thrust and kept man out of Paradise And teach us with all care paines industry To strive to enter Eden that 's on high Since we are thus excluded this below The very place whereof none this day know 13. Mans losse in Edens Garden might affright Us all and dampe the joy mirth and delight Which Gardens yeeld yea had not Christ repaird What man there lost we should have quite despaird But now take courage and no more complaine Christ in a garden hath restor'd againe What Adam therein lost that wee might all Be there repair'd where first we caught our fall Which that I may with sweeter fruit declare I 'le Christ with Adam place with place compare 1. Adam at first in Eden was betraid And trap't by those snares which the Serpent layd Christ in a Garden was betraid and snar'd By Judas and those troops which hee prepar'd 2. Adam in Eden caught that break-necke fall Which in a moment did undoe us all Christ in a Garden tooke his lowest fall Into the grave which rais'd and made us all 3. Adam there fell in state of Innocence And wreckt us all by this his prime offence Christ in a garden fell though free from fault To make us guiltlesse and our state exalt 4. Adam by sinne Christ for sinnes onely fell Hee for his owne Christ for those in us dwell 5. Adam fell flat but could not rise againe Christ fell but rose nought could him downe detaine 6. His fall himselfe with all his race downe threw Christs fall him rais'd with all his chosen crue 7. He in a Garden fell there Christ arose To save man there where hee himselfe did lose 8. Adam there falling did corruption bring Vnto himselfe and all who from him spring Christ dead and buried here did never see Corruption and all his did from it free 9. Hee fell in Eden by the tree of life Of which hee ate allured by his wife Which tree that in the midst of Eden grew Instead of giving life him and us slew Wee by our eating of this blessed tree Of life Christ Jesus are thereby made free From death and hell who planted was and lay Entomb'd amidst a garden death to slay 10. Adam was thrust from Eden to his losse Christ from a Garden lead was to his Crosse 11. He banisht Eden could returne no more Christ all his chosen thither to restore Dragg'd from a garden was brought backe againe And there entomb'd as soone as he was slaine 12. In Eden death against man first prevail'd Death in a Garden was by Christ first quail'd Here he arose againe from death and then Appear'd there first to Mary Magdalen Winning the field of Deaths Sinnes Devils Host In that same place where Adam first it lost And there triumphed over all this Sect Where they their Trophies did at first erect Needs must our Gardens then be very sweet And pleasant where these acts of Christ all meet Which rightly pondred by us in a trice Would change each Garden to a Paradise And make us see that we by Christ gaine more In Gardens now than Adam lost before Sweet Jesus when a Garden we espie Rap thou our soules into an extasie With these or such like pious Thoughts that we An Eden in each Garden-plot may see And feele a blessed Heaven still to grow Within our soules whiles we are here below Meditations of the fourth Classe AGaine mee thinks a Garden Gods blest Word Doth well resemble and therewith accord 1. For first as Gardens yeeld most fragrant smels So Gods deare Word in sweetnesse farre excels It s rich perfumes and odours still entice His Saints to love it in most ardent wise O let our houses words thoughts acts lives smell Of it's sweete odors which all else excell 2. Gardens yeeld store of pleasant fruits rootes cates Herbes sallads cordials fit for all estates To feed feast please their pallats and to cheare Their drooping hearts opprest with paine griefe feare Gods blessed word is stor'd with promises Which feed feast cheare the hearts of all degrees And are more pleasant cordiall sweete and deare To drooping soules than all this worlds best cheare O let us daily solace fat feast fill Our soules with these blest cates cheare them still 3. As Gardens so the Scriptures yeeld great store Of salves and good receits for every sore Wound sicknesse griefe which mens soules can affect No hope of health for those who them neglect O let us prise these balmes which soules can cure If they be heal'd the bodies safe and sure 4. Gardens are full of all variety Of flowers herbes fruits which delight the eye And bring most sweete refreshment and content To such as are to meditation bent Yea all of all sorts So Gods
cleave pierce cut lance much misuse So Christ our Rocke endured patiently His Crosse wrongs suffrings Death without all cry Complainte resistance like a Sheepe before Her shearer which doth never bleate stir roare O let all Christians now at last from hence Learne to beare crosses with like Patience 31. The Floods windes stormes against the Rockes oft beate They still exposed are to Cold or Heate Sometimes the Seas surround drown them quite And oft the yce and snow them hide from sight So Christ on earth assaulted was with windes Floodes Tempests Heate Cold Crosses of all Kindes Which for a time did hide immerge at last Quite over-whelme Him till the Storme was past What Christian then can thinke himselfe secure From Stormes Winds Floods sith Christ did them endure 32. When Christ gave up the Ghost the Rockes did rent The Death of this cheefe Rocke for to lament Yea to beare witnesse of his Deity Who though he dy'd made Rockes in pieces flye That Heart is harder worse than Rock or Stone Which Christs Death cannot rent nor cause to moane Yea every Rockie Heart must melt rent fall In pieces when Christ shall it shake smite call By his Almighty Hand or voyce which make The hardest Rockes and Hearts to melt split shake Lord let the Thoughts of thy Death quite relent Our Rockie Hearts and move them to repent 33. Rockes seldome rot corrupt or putrifie Christ rotted not whilst he in Grave did lye That so he might our rotten Corps thence raise Free from corruption Him for aye to prayse O feare not then though we returne to dust Christ at the last will scoure off all our Rust Drosse and Corruption and our Corps restore To such a State that it shall dye no more But live in endlesse Glory and excell The shining Rayes which in Starres Moone Sunne dwell 34. Rockes though they drowned be appeare againe And fixed in their Places still remaine So Christ though Dead and layd in Grave arose Againe the third day yea to Heav'n up goes Above the reach of Floodes where he on high Hath fixt his Throne for all Eternity Here shall this ever-living raised Rocke For ever reigne amidst his chosen Flocke 35. Our Rocke Christ being dead entombed lay Within a Rocke where He grim death did slay We Dust and Earth when dead to them returne But our dead Rocke a Rocke had for his Vrne Which Him receiv'd and habor'd even when He Slaine and quite rejected was by Men. O Rockes of Flesh and Bowels which first rent Themselves His bloody Passion to Lament And then Him in their Bosomes lodge and plac'd When men Him slew forsook and most disgrac'd O men more hard than any Rocke Flint Stone Who never pitty feele regard bemoane Christs cruell Death and Passion nor receive Him when the Rocks rent and Him House-roome give O let us learne from hence how hard unkinde Ingrate we are to Him who still shall finde More pitty harbor love from Rockes than we Vntill our Hearts by Grace relented be And let this Thought our Hearts of Rocke now thaw And Floods of bitter Teares out from them draw 36. In fine when we consider that Christ lay Intombed in a Rocke yet the third day Rose up from thence it makes each Hole and Cave We see in Rockes no other but a Grave And points us out the Place where we must lye Inter'd ere long and fits us still to dye Which done it then revives our soules againe With this sweet Thought that we shal not remaine In Grave for ever since our Saviour rose From thence againe to rayse us and all those Who are his Members from the Dust to raigne In endlesse Blisse where he doth now remaine Let these sweete Speculations ever cheare Our drooping Soules and banish all their Feare Thus Barren Rockes unto a pious Minde May fruitfull prove if it Christ in them finde When they in Name and Nature thus expresse Unto the life with Fruite and Pleasantnesse Farre better than all Pictures which the Blinde Dull Papists make to bring them to their Minde As if His Word Workes Sacraments yea Man The truest best Idaea that we can Have of Him with each Rocke Stone they espie Were not enough to shew him to their eye Without those Idols which have thrust aside These better Pictures and Christ from them hide 38. Blessed Lord Jesus who the only Rocke And Refuge art of thine Elected Flocke Teach us thus sweetely to behold and view Thee in each Rocke we see for to renue Melt change delight rejoyce our Hearts make Them out of love to Thee all else forsake Still living cleaving dying unto Thee The onely Rocke where they full safe shall be Meditations of the second Kinde comparing Rockes and Sinnes together AGaine Me thinkes the Rockes doe typifie the nature of those Sinnes which in us lye 1. For first all Rockes exceeding Heavie are To those who them upon their shoulders beare Yet Light not pondrous to their proper place So to all Hearts renu'd with saving Grace All sinnes more heavie than Rockes are and seeme Though stony hearts them light and easie deeme 2. Rockes presse and bruise Them sore on whom they lye And for meere anguish make them Roare and Cry Sinnes doe so too when God doth once awake Mens soules their Pressure makes them roare and quake O then beware of Sinnes which bruise oppresse Our soules and worke nought else but their distresse Rockes sinke and bend still downe wards Sins doe so Tending to Hell the Place to which they goe Each day they sinke men lower than they were Till by degrees they them to Hell downe-beare Oh then betimes shake off these weights which presse And sinke our Soules to Hell without redresse 4. Rocks cold hard dead and senselesse are Sins make All such within whose Hearts they Lodgings take Beware then how such Guests we entertaine By which our Soules are deaded hurt and Slaine 5. Rockes make men oft to stumble slip and fall And break their Bones Limbs Neckes oft times withall Sinnes doe the like If then we would be free From Slips and Break-neck-falls we must them flee 6. Rockes are deformed horrid barren vile And so are sinnes with all whom they defile These make Men ugly filthy Steril base And all their Glory Beauty quite deface Yea change them into Monsters wolves dogs swine Nay Fiends incarnate O then Sinnes decline 7. Where Rockes once fixe their Stations they remaine And none but God can move them thence againe So Sins once setled in Mens Hearts there stand Fast centred till Gods owne Almighty hand Expell them thence O then let no Sinnes lye Upon our Soules but out them presently Lest they should settle for if once they rest
Within them they are hardly dispossest 8. Rockes are exceeding hard to batter breake Mine pierce demolish So let all Men speake And they must say that all Sinnes are so too We ruine breake them still with much adoe He who doth thinke his Sinnes with ease to quell Shall never tame nor from him them expell 9. Rockes make their Dwellers fearelesse and secure Of Foes or Perils and to thinke all sure Sinnes doe the like to those that in them dwell Who feare no dangers till they sinke to hell O then beware lest Sinnes make us secure No State 's so ill as that which seemes most sure 10. All Rockes are blushlesse shamelesse impudent Sinnes are so too nought can then daunt relent And by degrees Mens Hearts Browes they so steele That they no Sinne Blush shame disgrace can feele Take heede then lest Sinne first us shamelesse make Then Senselesse Gracelesse fit for Hells dread Lake 11. Rocks stones good grounds oft spoyle and quite deface So sinnes good men deprave marre shame disgrace 12. Rockes Stones in fertile Soiles them barren make And nought will spring or grow there till men take Them thence So Rockes and Stones of Sinne decay And make Men fruitlesse till remov'd away No fruites of Grace will ever grow or sprout Up in them till these Stones be digged out 13. Great Rockes apparent are to each Mans eye And all both farre and neare may them espie Great Sinnes in all in Great men specially Themselves to all both farre and neare descry Whence Scripture saith they are on Rockes Tops set And doe in others worlds of Sinnes beget Let all but Great ones chiefely all Sinnes flye Which though kept close will yet themselves descry 14. Wilde Goates in Rockes seede live and much delight So wicked Men stil'd Goates both day and night In sinnes and lusts doe wallow live and joy Though they their soules at last will quite destroy O Madnesse thus in Sinnes to take delight Which against God Soule Body alwayes fight 15. The Steepe high Rockes and Forts which on them stand Are never scal'd or won but by strong hand Much Paines Long Seige or Famine which doe pine Or starve their Men and cause them to resigne The steepe high craggie Rockes and Forts of sin Within us none can ever Scale force win But by strong hand much cost paines sweate strife care Long Seige and Easts by which they starved are And forc'd at last for very want to yeeld Where else they would have made us leave the field It s then no easie thing to conquer Sinne They must bestir them who its Forts would winne 16. Rockes wrecke sinke breake Ships Boates So Sins oft split And drowne those Soules which on them dash or hit Not in Sea-waters but in Lakes of fire Where they shall ever feele Gods scorching Ile 17. Instruct us then O Christ our Rocke to shun All Sinnes as Rockes and not on them to run For feare of ruine and still give us Grace To flye these Rockes of Sinne in every place With greater care than Sea-men doe avoyde Those noted Rockes which thousands have destroyd Not once presuming to approach or hit Against such Rockes as others Soules have split And since sunke Rockes of secret Sinnes that lye Hid in our Hearts and worldly jollity Mirth Pastimes Pleasures where we least suspect Or feare a danger most soules still have wreckt Teach us these Rocks to see and then to flye With chiefest care and them not to come nigh Yea sith no Sea so fraught with Rockes can be As this whereon our Soules sayle towards Thee O Shield us from these Rocks by thy great Power Which else will Split and Sinke us every houre That so we may at last arive secure In Heaven's blest Port where Joyes for aye endure Meditations of the third Sort suiting Rockes and Gods Elect together BEsides these Rockes present before our Eyes The State of Gods Elect in lively wise 1. Rockes fixed are not tossed to and fro With every Winde Storme Tempest Even so Gods Chosen Sheepe with firme and stable Hearts Adhere to Him in all their Troubles Smarts No Stormes Windes Crosses Changes can remove Them from his Word Sonne Spirit Truth or Love When Troopes of others shrinke and fall away They cleave to him as to their onely Stay 2. Rockes many Winds Stormes Tempests undergoe And doe not all the Saints whiles here doe so 3. Rockes meekely beare and suffer Stormes that fall And never fret rage or repine at all Gods Saints without all murmur fret or cry Their Crosses Losses beare most quietly Submitting unto God whose Providence All bitter Potions doth to them dispense 4. All men on Rockes may safely build and rest And of all trusty friends the Saints are best On whom we may all times with trust relye And to them in all Dangers safely flye 5. Rockes bare and ragged are The Saints oft Poore In outward State but seldome begge at doore 6. Yet though Rockes Outsides be but base and rude They richest Mines within their wombes include So though Saints Outsides be but ragged base Within them hidden lye gold-Mines of Grace 7. Stones digged out of Rockes and hewed square The fairest Temples Buildings make that are So Gods Elect though vile whiles that they lye In Natures Quarries in deformitie Yet hew'de out thence squar'd polisht by Gods Grace And layd in order in their proper Place Become rich Temples wherein God doth dwell And doe all other structures farre excell In worth and glory Lord thus square and lay Us in these Sacred walls which last for aye 8. Rockes for the most part lowly are and meeke The Saints are so and no high places seeke In this vaine world where they dejected lye Till God advance them to the Starrie skie 9. Rockes Kingdomes Islands guard and fortifie Gainst raging Seas Floods Stormes and Enemie Saints holy Lives and frequent Prayers ar States surest Guards Forts both in Peace and war These Shield-off Judgements Foes Plagues yea Gods Ire Which else would wast and scorch them worse than Fire 10. Rockes from their Sides send forth Springs sweete and pure Mens Thirst to quench their wounds and sores to cure And who but Christ and Saints can Comfort bring To Sinne-sicke Soules and those who feele the Sting Gripes Torments Flames of Hell and Conscience Or binde up broken hearts and chase from thence All feares and horrid Terrors Which an Hell On Earth oft make in those wherein they dwell Hence all such wounded Soules doe ever fly To these for Comfort in extremity Since no ungodly wretch can cheare or ease A Sinne-sicke Soule nor aking Heart appease 11. Rockes most despised and neglected are As worthlesse Creatures Thus Gods Saints oft fare Contem'd abhor'd of Most as vile and base Though
face The Rockes shall then melt fall quake change their place And all the Stout proud Rockie Hearts of those Who did Himselfe Word Grace Saints here oppose Shall be so daunted stonisht strucke with feare And Horrour that they dare not once appeare Till drag'd perforce before Christs Barre and Face Where try'd convict condemn'd with all disgrace They shall be cast for all Eternity Into Hels fiery Flames there still to fry O let the Terrour of this dismall Day Which now drawes neere and we should mind alway For ever scare us from all Sinne and make Our Stony Hearts to melt bleed sigh breake ake And cause us now with speed to flye and hide Our selves within the Holes of Christs pierc'd side Who shall us judge and then we boldly may Lift up our Heads and Hearts in that great Day With joyfull cheare when others hang them downe And eke receive a Rich Large Massie Crowne Of endlesse Glory in the Heavens high Where we shall reigne for all Eternity O Christ our onely Rocke of thy free Grace Advance and bring us to this blisfull Place And let each Rocke Clift Stone we henceforth see Instruct us thus and bring us home to Thee The Conclusion VVIth these sweete usefull Thoughts and thousands more The Barren Rockes our Hearts and Minds may store When we behold them and if Natures Booke And Rockes whiles we upon them dayly looke Can teach us Nothing which our Lives may mend Or cause our Hearts Minds Thoughts up to ascend To Christ their Rock God and the Things above Them to contemplate with the greatest Love Our Hearts are Rockie We quite voyd of Grace And Rockes than we are yet in better Case FINIS A CHRISTIAN SEA-CARD Consisting of sundry Poeticall Meditations raised from the Contemplation of the Nature and Qualities of the Sea BY WILLIAM PRYNNE Late Exile and Close Prisoner in Mount-Orgueil Castle in the Isle of Iersy Psalme 104. 24. 25. 26. O Lord how manifold are thy Workes in Wisedome hast thou made them all the Earth is full of thy Riches So is this great and wide SEA wherein are things creeping innumerable both small great beasts There goe the Shippes there is that Leviathan thou hast made to play therein Psal 77. 19. Thy way is in the SEA and thy path in the GREAT WATERS and thy footesteps are not knowne Isaiah 43. 1. 2. 3. 5. 6. But now thus saith the Lord that created thee O Jacob and he that formed thee O Israel Feare not for I have redeemed thee I have called thee by thy Name thou art mine When thou passest through the WATERS I will be with thee and through the RIVERS they shall not overflow thee when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burnt neither shall the flame kindle upon thee For I am the Lord thy God the Holy One of Israel thy Saviour c. Psalme 66. 12. Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads we went through FIRE and through WATER but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place London Printed by T. Cotes for Michael Sparke dwelling at the blue Bible in Greene Arbor 1641. TO The Worshipfull his highly Honoured Friend M rs Elizabeth Carteret Daughter to Sir Philip Carteret Knight Lievtenant Governour and Bayliffe of the Isle of Jersy THat neare relation wherein now you stand By Habitation and a Nuptiall Band To Seas and Sea-men did at first induce Me to digest this SEA-CARD for your Use And his you most esteeme which in some sort May helpe conduct you unto Heav'ns blest Port The onely Haven which you now most Eye And strive for to arrive in when you dye Accept it therefore though scarce worthy view As a small pledge of his Respects to you Who much adores your Vertues and must deeme His Muse too meane to adde to your esteeme Your Engaged Friend and Servant WILLIAM PRYNNE SIth God Seas Rockes in Place hath joyn'd together It were unkindnesse them in Verse to sever And hence my Muse which bates to be unkinde Hath them in these two Poems here combinde A CHRISTIAN SEA-CARD Consisting of sundry Poeticall Meditations raised from the Contemplation of the Nature and Qualities of the Sea THE PROLOGUE THis World 's an ample Volume where we may Not onely Read but See God Day by Day And every Creature which it doth comprize A Text to preach him to our Hearts and Eyes No Plant Herbe Grasse so small so vile but can Teach and demonstrate God himselfe to Man With his eternall Wisedome Goodnesse Power Which he is blind who seeth not in each Flower Looke we above beneath or round about All that we see doth point nay paint God out Amongst the world of Creatures which present God to our Thoughts and Eyes with sweete content Me thinkes the Sea oft viewed with delight Shewes him most cleerely to our Minds and sight From whence a pious Heart may raise such store Of godly Thoughts that plenty makes it poore Meditations of the first Kinde 1. ANd first the vaste Sea which with speede can drowne The greatest Island Mountaine Ship or Towne As easie as the smallest Mole-hill Boate Or cottage in its all-devouring throate Most sweetely represents to sinnefull Man The vaste immense and boundlesse Ocean Of Gods free Grace and Mercy so profound That worlds of greatest sinnes in it are drown'd No crimes so hainous great or numberlesse But if with bleeding soules we them confesse And quite abandon this large sea of Grace Shall over-whelme wash out and cleane deface O sweetest solace to a broken Heart And sinne-sicke soule desirous to convert What though thy horrid sins and hainous crimes Be greater than the world ten thousand times Loe her 's a Sea more vast shall drowne them all Without exception great as deepe as small O then despaire not but behold with joy This Ocean which shall all thy sinnes destroy Lord let us ever Saile in this sweete Sea Where Soules are sav'd Sinnes onely Shipwrackt be 2. Againe this great Sea's huge immensity Length Breadth Depth Bulke a vaster Deity And greater God who made it clearely prove Then feare yea fly his wrath embrace his love Before all earthly Monarches since they be Not by ten thousand parts so great as He Or as the Sea that shadowes to our eyes His greatnesse which our thoughts cannot comprise What Creature danger then shall once dismay Those who this Great God make their onely stay 3. The Sea points forth unto us every houre Gods infinite Almighty Soveraigne power Who did Create it with a Word and still Controules rules calmes its raging waves at will When they with boisterous Tempest roare and swell As high as Heav'n sinke downe as low as Hell Bounding its proudest flouds with smallest Sand To shew how great a force weake things withstand When backt by God sith petty Sands can stay The raging Seas fierce March and blocke its way Who but
a God of might can tame and charme Such foaming bedlam Seas and them dis-arme Of all their fury strength and them divide Yea dry at pleasure to abate their pride And cannot he who bounds rules calmes and quels The boist'rous Ocean when it roares and swels With greatest force and furie bridle swage Both men and Devills when they storme and rage Yea dash them into shivers with more ease And speed than Seas a potsheard if He please Why should wee then once dread their threats or frownes Their might or fury which our God still bounds They cannot touch one haire if he say nay Much lesse our Soules harme or our bodies slay Whilest we with upright hearts for his cause stand O sweete sweete comfort to Gods chosen Band Thinke well of this and then we shall defie All Tyrants rage and neare once feare nor flye What ever comes when God shall call us out To fight for him and shew our selves most stout 4. Besides the Flux and Reflux of Seas Tyde At certaine constant houres without a guide It s wise disposall to each shore Port Creeke Throughout the world where men for traffique seeke It s close conveyance to all Fountaines Springs The Earth to water and all living things The great and wondrous strange variety Of Fish and Creatures which doe live breede lye Within its wombe Men to delight and feede As well in times of plenty as of neede What doe they all demonstrate to our eyes And Mindes but that God is most skilfull wise In these his wondrous workes exceeding all Mens Art farre more than Earth a Tennis-Ball O let us then in all we enterprize Submit our wits to him who is so wise Craving his ayde and giving him the praise Of his great wisedome which must guide our wayes 5. Yea these shew forth to Men Gods Providence Which doth the Sea thus order guide dispence In wondrous manner and feede rule sustaine All Fishes creatures which it doth containe And is as watchfull restlesse night and day As Seas which ever move but never stay Thrice happie they who firmely can relie Upon Gods care in all extremity He who each wave doth rule and each fish feede Will in due season send them all they neede 6. The Seas great depth which few or none can sound Points out Gods secret Judgements more profound Yea Ships Barkes Boates which plough the Seas bright face Yet leave no footsteps by which them to trace Gods hidden Counsells wayes and deepe decrees Past finding out present to all degrees Hence God is sayd in Sea to have his way His pathes in waters deepe past mans display O then adore his Judgements Counsells deepe And not presume into them once to peepe With prying eyes beyond those bounds which He In sacred writ hath fixed unto thee 7. The Length and widenesse of the Sea which spreads It selfe both farre and neere to pious Heads And Hearts shewes forth the vaste immensity And Omni-presence of the Deity Which fills both Earth and Heaven Sea world Hell Yea every part of each O strange to tell Oh horrid Meditation to the Rout Of gracelesse sinners when they goe about To hide or flye from God who doth fore-stall Nay fill all corners into which they crall How can they then escape his venging hand Which is so neare them both by Sea and Land Yet matchlesse solace to Gods chosen sheepe That his sweete presence shall them cheare fence keepe By Sea and Land where ere they live or goe This makes them happie in a world of woe What neede we then to feare a banishment From Friends or home or close Imprisonment In any hole or dungeon since no place Can barre from us Gods presence or his Grace Which ever make an Heaven where they dwell A royall Pallace of the darkest Cell 8. The raging Seas fierce waves and roaring Cry Which daunt all Hearts spare neither Low nor High Bearing downe all before them who withstand Their furious progresse with a potent hand Describe Gods dreadfull wrath and dismall Ire Against obdurate sinners who conspire To breake his Lawes oppose his Christ despite And grieve his Spirit sinning with delight Without remorse or checke till they provoke Him to consume them with a fatall stroke O let us oft consider still feare shunne His dreadfull wrath from which we cannot runne Much lesse resist it praying Christ to swage And quench it least we perish in Gods rage The angry Floods can onely drowne or fright Us for a moment but if Gods wrath light Upon us Soule and Body both shall be Vnder its Tortures for Eternitie 9. The Sea so usefull good and meete for Fish And foule of all sorts that mans heart can wish For Salt Clounds raine springs rivers which proceede From it and traffique for all things we neede Proclaimes to all Gods goodnesse bounty grace Who all this goodnesse in the Sea did place To make Men happie Let this goodnesse raise Our hearts to Love and give him all due praise 10. Once more the Springs and Rivers which ascend Out of the Sea at first and in it end Instruct us sweetely how that every thing From God the Sea of being first did spring And therefore should by way of thankefulnesse Their course Aymes Ends to him alone addresse But chiefely Man first made and since that bought To serve God onely in deed word and thought Should all returne to him from whom it flowes Since all is his that on us springs or growes O let us study from our Hearts to give All unto him in whom we are move live It is his due our duty all we have To render to him who our soules must save Most blessed God let us thus oft behold Thee in this Christall glasse the Sea our cold And frozen Hearts to warme with these sweete Rayes Which it reflects to thine eternall praise Meditations of the second Sort. AGaine the Sea 's of Christ a lively Type And his deare blood which doth our sinnes out-wipe 1. For as the Sea all filth doth clense away From Bodies Vessells Meates Hearbes Fruites Aray That in it washed are So Christs sweete Blood More clensing than the purest spring or Flood All filth and spots of sinne which Soules defile And in Gods eyes present them foule and vile Doth quite abolish and so purge away From all such soules as on him fast hold lay By faith unfained that no filth nor staine Of any sinne upon them shall remaine To make them loathsome in his Fathers sight In which they shine as starres most cleare and bright O let us prize this Blood beyond compare By which our Soules from sinne thus clensed are 2. The Sea which did the wicked world destroy By Gods command yet saved upright Noy With that red Sea which the Aegyptians drown'd When
Gods owne people past it on dry ground In safety shadow that red Sea of Blood Which Christ upon the Crosse shed for our good Wherein the sinnes of all his chosen sheepe With Hellish Pharaoh and his Hoast so deepe Are sunke and drowned that they never shall Appeare againe their Soules once to inthrall O let our Sinnes in this red Sea be dround Then are we certaine nought shall us confound 3. The Sea 's the way meanes passe to to transport Men to those Ports to which they would resort Christs blood 's the sea way ship which men convoyes From Earth to Heaven and eternall Joyes Sweete Jesus let the Sea of thy blest Blood Conduct and leade us safely through the Flood And Rockes of this worlds Sea to Heavens Port To which thy chosen Flocke with hast resort 4. The Seas faire lovely shining azure Face It 's pleasant Calmes in Halcion-daies Gods Grace And sweete appeased Loving Countenance To us in Christ which raps into a trance The saddest Hearts and fils them with content And matchlesse joyes most lively represent O then in all our griefe and misery On Gods sweete smiling Face still fixe an Eye Which will support our soules in all distresse And cheare them so that nought shall us oppresse Sweete Jesus when the Sea we view or passe Present thy selfe thus to us in its glasse Then if it wrecke or drowne us yet shall we Through thy Bloods Sea escape and saved be Meditations of the third Ranke BEsides the Sea exhibits to our sight A lively Emblem of the State and plight Of Gods Elect with all those sore and great Stormes of Afflictions which doe dayly beate Upon them whiles they passe this Sea below Where World Flesh Devill seeke to overthrow 1. For first the Sea is restlesse night and Day Its flux and constant progresse none can stay Just so are Gods elect who alwayes move Tending to Heaven and the things above No Bankes Winde Stormes threats death their course can cease Till they arive at Heavens Port in Peace 2. The Sea is ever tost from place to place With Winds stormes Tides And is not this the Case Of Gods deare Saints still handed too and fro By sundry Tempests which they undergoe From Coast to Coast from Goale to Goale to shew They Pilgrims are and Strangers here below Fixt to no Certaine Clime and that their home And resting place is in the world to come 3. The Sea is ever working purging forth And casting out filth weedes trash of no worth Which falls into it and corrupt defile Its Christall streames making them foule and vile Thus Gods Elect still purge out and eject Those Lusts sinnes vices which their Soules infect With such suggestions as foule Devills cast Into their Hearts them to pollute and Waste 4. The Sea 's exposed to all stormes and Winds So Saints to Troubles Crosses of all kindes To make them humble and translate their love From things on Earth unto the things above 5. None dare to crosse the Sea without a Card Or Compasse which they still with care regard Stearing their course thereby for feare they stray Or misse their Port and so be cast away Thus Gods Elect whilst they doe saile and rove In this worlds Sea by Compasse ever move Stearing their Rudder by Gods Sacred Writ For feare they misse their Harbor or else hit Their Soules against those Rockes Shelves Sands which lye To Crosse their voyage to Eternity 6. The Ebbing Sea discovers to the eye Those dangrous Rockes Shelves Sands that hidden lye At full Sea Tides which then oft drowne and sinke Those who approach them when they least feare thinke Of any danger So the Ebbing State The Crosses of Gods Chosen Demonstrate And point out to them many Rockes Shelves Sands To shipwracke Soules betray them to the hands Of Hellish Pyrats which still hidden lye And undiscerned in prosperity By which they shun their danger and commend These Ebbes which from such perills them defend Before those Full-Sea-Tides of wealth and joy Which Shipwrecke thousands and their Soules destroy 7. The lowest Ebbe hath still the highest Flood Saints deepest sorrowes end in greatest good Their Floods of joy transcend their Ebbes of woe Beyond compare and all their griefes out-goe 8. When Seas are at their lowest Ebbe they then Forth-with begin to spring and flow So men Belov'd of God when as they seeme to lye At lowest Ebbe in deepest misery Past helpe past hope in Carnall mens account Beyond all expectation spring and mount Above their Crosses and enjoy a Flood Of Peace wealth honour and the greast good If old examples faile you may now view The truth hereof in some yet fresh and new 9. Gods Will and pleasure onely is the Cause Why Seas doe Ebbe and flow not any Lawes Of Nature Moone or Planets So the will And blessed pleasure of our God is still The first chiefe cause of all the Ebbes and Tides Which here befall his Saints nought else besides Yea as Sea Stormes proceede from God and tosse Men up towards Heaven So each storme and crosse Which lite on Gods Elect from him first springs And nearer Heaven them lifts up and brings 10. The Sea is Salt and brackish Crosses are The like at first to Saints who doe them beare 11. The Saltest Seas the sweetest Fishes breed Saints sweetest comforts from the Crosse proceede Yea as the best and largest Fish are found In Saltest waters So the best most sound Large strongest Christians which wee finde or know In harshest Floods of Sorrowes alwayes grow 12. The Seas salt waters clense and purifie Things that are filthy Thus adversitie Doth purge and wash away from Gods Elect Those Spots sinnes vices which their Soules infect 13. Seas brinish waters pickle and preserve Things from corruption So Afflictions serve To season Saints who else would putrifie And rot in those foule sinnes which now they flye 14. Sea stormes drive Men to prayers cryes and teares Augmented and intended by their Feares Yea make them post to Harbours for releefe And bid the Sea adieu with Joy not greefe Thus troubles cause the Saints to pray and cry To God for helpe with greater fervencie Intend increase their prayers make them flye To God their Harbour for security Cause them to loath and leave this world with joy Whose waves and Tempests them still sore annoy 15. And as great blustring stormes doe sooner drive Ships to the Harbours where they would arive Then Calmes and mildest Gales So Crosses mend Gods darlings speed and oft times sooner send Them unto Heaven then prosperity Which calmes their Sailes and makes them still to lye 16. The Tempest that befell the Ship wherein The Prophet Jonah fled and slept in sinne Did never slacke nor cease till he was cast Into the Sea which done
our Rocke Christ or his Heritage Themselves not him nor them to powder grinde And in the close nought but confusion finde O dash not then against these Rockes which shall Stand firme amidst all stormes that on them fall Lord let us never be of this lewd crue But with thy grace our Hearts and Lives renue That so we may escape that Lake of fire Where they shall ever feele thy scalding Ire Meditations of the fifth Sort. ONce more me thinkes the Sea which ever floates But never rests presents unto my thoughts A lively Mappe of this vaine World which it In some respects resembles very fit Yeelding them ample Sea-roome for to hale And chase this Theame with a delightfull Gale Untill my roving Muse quite tyred shall Take in her Sailes and let her Anchor fall 1. Now to begin this pleasing chase the Seas Are salt harsh brackish and no Pallats please This world is bitter tart and salt to all Through sickenesse sorrowes crosses which befall Them in some kinde or other for to make Their Hearts more willing its love to forsake But most unpleasant is it to Gods Saints Of any others whose most sad Complaints Of its sharpe Brine would peirce a heart of steele And make all salt we in it taste or feele How can we then this brinish world once love Or be unwilling from it to remove Unto that other fraught with all delights All sweetest Joyes and Soule-refreshing sights 2. Sea waters drunke downe hurt gnaw fret decay The Entralls and oft times take life away This brackish world quaft down the soule annoyes Corrodes consumes and at the last destroyes Those who sippe of it sickely grow but such Are past all cure who swallow over-much O let us never bibbe carouse or love Her poysnous cups which doe so deadly prove 3. Salt waters still increase not quench mens thirst He that drinkes these is dryer than at first This worlds salt streames mens drought can never swage The more they drinke the more their thirst doth rage A cup or two still makes them long for more And none so dry as those who have most store Of this worlds waters which doe onely feede Not quench the dropsie cause not helpe their neede O taste not then her streames but them defie Which swage no thirst but make men still more drie 4. The Sea is ever floating changing place State and condition never in one Case Sometimes it flowes a space then ebbes againe Forth-with and Stormes its Calmes still entertaine If now it smiles anon it frownes foames swels Ringing the changes more than any Bells This world is flitting fickle mutable We all like strangers pilgrimes in it dwell Roving from place to place till death arrest Our wandring Corps and lose us in Earthes brest Sometimes the flowing Tydes of happinesse Mount us aloft anon some Ebbes depresse And cast us downe farre lower than before As happy made to be more vile and poore One space a Calme or pleasant Gale doth smile And breath upon us but within a while Tempestuous stormes and whirle-winds over-take Tosse teare split sinke us and we shipwracke make To day we rich are ere to morrow poore Well in the morning dead or at deaths doore Ere night in Honour and esteeme this houre The next cast downe base withered like a flower How many sayling in full streames of wealth Pomp Honour Pleasure Favour Greatnesse Health And all contentments which the world can give Unto her darlings whilst they therein live Have in one houres space beene stript of all And dasht in peeces with a suddaine fall How many mighty Kings States Monarchies Have in a moment felt such miseries Such fatall changes in their worldly State As no Heart could conceive no tongue relate Unconstant world more full of changes then The Sea or Moone how can the sonnes of men Once love or trust thee Goe cheate Thy sickely friendship ever will defie 5. The Sea is full of Rockes which sinke and quash Those Ships Barkes Boates that doe against them dash This world hath farre more Rockes to wracke and Split The Soules of such as doe against them hit Wealth honours lusts pompes pleasures pride of Life With sundry other Rockes are here at strife Which shall most soules destroy and sinke to Hell In Seas and Lakes of brimstone still to dwell How dare we then approach these Rockes or run Upon them which whole Millions have undone Or take delight this worlds ill Seas to crosse Where most are Wreckt none scape without some losse 6. The Sea a smiling shining azure face And lovely out-side hath her selfe to grace Wherewith she hides her savage cruelty Rockes Shelves Gulfes and those Monsters that doe lye Close couch'd in her to wrecke and to devoure All those her beauty drawes within their power This cheating flatring world mens soules to traine Into her deadly Snares where they remaine Fast hampred till they perish still presents Her selfe to them deckt with such Ornaments Such out-side beauty pompe State gaudinesse And seeming shewes of present happinesse As ravish most mens Eyes and Hearts with Love Of her and turne them from the things above Whereas if they once saw or could discry Those horrid Monsters Rockes gulfes snares that lye Hid under her faire surface they would shun Her Love and faster from than to her run O let us view her intrals not her skin She 's Gold without but Poyson Drosse within 7. The Sealyes open to all stormes and winds This world exposed is unto all kinds Of Tempests Crosses Losses Gustes and Harmes How can we then lye sleeping in her Armes Or hope to finde peace rest content or blisse In her where we are certaine all to misse 8. The Clouds above much darken and obscure The Seas bright shining face whiles they indure So clouds of crosses sent from God deface This worlds bright Luster much eclipse her grace Making her loathsome in these very Eyes Which in her Sun-shine did her over prise 9. Those Fogges Cloudes Stormes which darke the light-some skies Ecclipse the Sun-shine worke much harme arise Out of the Sea at first Most cloudes of woes Mists fogges of sorrowes which doe interpose Twixt Men and Heaven hiding Gods sweete Face And presence from them with his Rayes of grace Vexing their Hearts Mindes Soules doe ever spring From this worlds Seas which nought but mischiefe bring O let us never fixe our mindes or Hearts On her that is the cause of all our smarts 10. The lowest Ebbes Seas highest Tydes succeede Mens greatest falls from this worlds heights proceede Expect then when her Tydes doe highest flow Some great approaching Ebbe to bring thee low Let not then her spring Tides of happinesse Make men secure proud haughty or to blesse Themselves without good cause since none so nigh Are to a fall as those she mounts most high 11. The
and hide Through Faith that they may be no more espide If thus we thinke learne doe by what we see From day to day thrice happie shall we be 6. The springing Tide which by degrees doth flow To Full-Sea marke and then by steps falls low With ships first built then lanch'd next rigd then sent And put to Sea till they be wreckt or spent Paint out Mans birth growth age death to our sight With all those Floodes Ebbes changes that doe lite Upon him from the wombe unto his Urne Where he meere dust shall unto dust returne 7. The Arke of old which on the floods did floate And saved Noah with each Shippe and boate Which crosse the Seas and those in safty keepe That in them saile when others in the deepe Depriv'd of these are drowned sweetely shew To us Gods Churches State which here below On this worlds Sea doth safely floate and ride Though tost and torne with Tempests Windes and tide And saves all such as in her saile and stay When all without are drown'd and cast away Let this induce us in Christs Church to dwell Live dye for feare we drowne and sinke to Hell 8. The vastest Sea is bounded and obeyes The Lawes and Edicts which God on its layes As well as smallest springs or streames How then Dare greatest Monarches Princes Kings or Men Themselves deeme boundlesse lawlesse and exceede The bankes and Lawes which God to them decreed Let sencelesse Seas now teach them to containe Within due Bounds and not to over-straine 9. When Seas through winds or stormes doe overflow Or breake their bankes great mischiefes losses grow From thence to men and Beasts which then are drown'd And all such places which they doe surround When Kings or great ones out of Avarice Pride Lust Ambition or some other vice Out-swell or breake the bounds which God hath set A Flood of woes and mischiefes they beget Wherein they drowne themselves and many more And then too late their dismall Fates deplore Let Kings and Grandees then take speciall heede How they their fined Bounds breake or exceede 10. The Sea below doth ever flow Ebbe move As God himselfe doth steare it from above So men on Earth their thoughts words acts should frame And Guide as God above directs the same 11. Now waters ever stinke or putrifie Whiles they within their Channels move and lie But once remov'd out of their proper place Or let lye still they stinke and lose their grace Thus men doe seldome rot in sinnes lusts vice Whilst they their honest calling exercise And keepe within their Compasse But if they Grow idle lazie or begin to stray Out of their fixed Stations in short space They rot and stinke in Sinnes to their disgrace O then beware of sleepe and idlenesse Which rot and Slay the Soules they once possesse 12. When I perceive the Seas sweete flowing tyde Upon the drie Sands shores to creepe steale glide By senselesse steps untill it drowne them quite It represents unto my thoughts minde sight Howsinnes and vices by degrees creepe grow On men till they them drowne and overflow O then let all their first progresse withstand Else they will them soone drowne as Seas doe Land Nay worse since flowing Seas still Ebbe againe And leave the Sands dry Sinnes still flow and gaine On Men and drowne them each day more and more They know no Ebbes but flow and ne're give o're 13. The Ebbing Sea which all its filth behinde Leaves on the shore should put all men in minde How their Ebbes and afflictions should still make Them all their filth of sinne quite to forsake Which being once cast up upon the shore Must never be resumed by them more 14. When I behold Our Females wash away With water all blacke spots of Inke Soote Clay Which on their faces fall by accident I wonder much and cannot but lament To see some spot their faces studiously With Anticke Patches of a Sable dye Should God himselfe their visage thus bespot They would repute it an uncomely Blot A great dishonor and use all their skill To cure or hide such blacke spots Moles as ill How dare they then use Artificiall spots Which they if native would repute for blots And deeme a blemish to their beauty nay A sad ill Omen May I not then say These spots are not the spots of Gods Children Which make them odious to God and good Men Who love no spots since Christ his blood out-shed To clense his chosen from all Spots and dread Wash off renounce these Satan Spots least He Them Satans Spots adjudge and you to be His marked Vassals not his owne washt traine Sith such blacke spots upon your face remaine To weare white Linnen spotted is disgrace What is it then to weare a spotted Face And that in Gods owne presence Certainely It cannot but be sinne or infamie A Spotlesse Soule abhorres a spotted Face Which where all 's cleane within can have no place By Christs owne verdict so that all may feare Inward uncleannesse where such spots appeare Which spring no doubt from Pride lust wantonnesse Or following great Vaine Persons antique Dresse The Sea which hates spots shall in judgement rise Against all who with spots their Fronts disguise 15. The flowing Seas which seeme to kisse embrace The shore in lovely sort yet in short space Recoile againe and leave it naked dry And faster from than to it use to flye Paint out in lively sort before our Eyes Those hollow hearted friends unconstant guise Who in the flood of Mens prosperity Can hugge embrace protest to live and die Together with them But as soone as they Begin to Ebbe and their estates decay Forthwith retire and in post from them flye Leaving them naked in their misery This is the common friendship now adayes Wherein true Friends deserve both love Crownes praise Who still sticke closest in adversity And then draw nearest when all others flye 16. Few put to Sea or come a shore but when It flowes not Ebbes which Character that Men Delight to swim still in prosperity And flowing streames shunning adversity With Ebbes of Fortune though the Schoole of grace And vertue which in full Seas scarce finde place For as the flowing Sea still runnes amaine Towards the Earth and never turnes againe Till Ebbes recall it So prosperities Encreasing Flood mens hearts minds loves carries Still towards Earth and worldly things below Drowning all Graces vertues that should grow Within them till some crosse Ebbes which befall Them their hearts thoughts affections quite recall From Earth and worldly things to things above Turning the streame of their desires hearts love To God and grace above the Port But End To which our Thoughts Acts motions should still tend O happy Ebbes which mount our soules on high And them translate from Earth
amazement sweetly manifest In some darke measure to each pious Breast Gods most surpassing Beauty to whose Light The Noone-day Sunnes more darke than any Night Why doe we then like doting Fooles admire A comely Face necke hand bush brave Attire Or waxe proud of them as most doe since grasse Trees Lillies flow'rs In beauty farre Surpasse The fairest Kings Queen's Ladies whose hands face And rich Array compar'd to these are base O! if we dote on Beauty let the Rayes Of Gods Eternall Glory past all praise And Comprehension pierce melt rap transport Our Soules with Love scorch them in such sort That they may ever burne with its sweete flame And deeme all Beauty else not worth the Name Being imperfect fading every Houre Not halfe so lovely comely as a flower 3. Each Plant Herbe Roote Grasse Flower which doth grow In Gardens Gods Almighty power forth show Since all the Monarches Artists Men that live With all their might wit skill can never give Life to existence to the smallest flower Much lesse an Essence O what little power Is there in greatest Kings who cannot make One Grasse Herbe Plant though Nestors yeares they take To doe it O what wondrous Potency Is there in God! whose word did instantly Create all Creatures Herbes Trees Plants that grow In Gardens Orchards Woods Fields here below O let our Minds when we these Creatures see Upon his mighty Power still fixed be Which as it dayly makes the fairest Trees Plants Herbes and Flowers spring by sweete degrees Out of the vilest dust can likewise raise Us from the very grave his power to praise Be then our Cases Crosses ne're so ill Take courage God can mend them when he will And in due season make us spring againe Like withered Plants Herbes Flowers after raine 4. Gardens shew forth Gods goodnesse to mankinde Which he who seeth not in them is quite blinde For doth not that great sweete variety Of garden Plants Fruites which delight the Eye And other Senses ease helpe and redresse All paines wounds sores diseases that oppresse Both Man and Beast yeelding them Physick Food Salves Sauce Cates Cordialls Fumes Cloathes all that 's good Or usefull for them plainely manifest Gods gracious Bounty to each Man and Beast O what abundant Service thankes praise Love Are due from Man unto his God above Who hath thus stored Gardens fields each place With such great plenty of these gifts of grace O let us blush that we serve love no more God who hath blest us with this happie store And hence conclude in our Necessity That this good God will all our Wants supply He who our Gardens doth with these things store Our Bodies Soules will feed feast fill much more 5. A Garden like a Glasse Gods Providence Reflects most clearely to the dullest sense Who for Mans use and Service in each Clime Makes Trees Plants Herbes Flowres Seedes spring in due time Which are most usefull fit to ease heale feede And helpe those in the countries where they breed And placed neare him great variety Of Herbes Salves Phisicke for each Malady Both easie cheape and ready still at hand If He their vertues did but understand O what a tender Care hath God of Man Thus to provide for each disease that can Or doth befall him such cheape ready Cures O praise him for this care which still endures And sith that He our wealth doth so respect Let us take heede we never him neglect Nor yet our selves but thankefully make use Of what may to our Health or ease conduce Lord when we walke in Gardens to delight Our mindes or sences let the sweetest sight Of Thee and these thy Attributes which they Present most clearely to us day by day Rap up our Soules into such Extasies That they nought else but Thee may love or prise Meditations of the second Ranke MOreover Gardens lively represent Christ to our Eyes and Mindes with blest content 1. For first as Gardens yeeld all rarities And pleasant Objects to delight the Eyes And other Sences so all pleasant sound Soule-chearing Comforts Joyes in Christ are found Our Hearts to solace whence most sweetnesse springs When we taste nought but Gall in other things O blessed Jesus such Soule ravishing Groves streames of sweetest Cordialls from Thee spring To cheare our drooping Soules in all distresse That did they once but taste their lushiousnesse And more than Honey sweetnesse they would be Rapt and inamor'd with nought else but Thee O let me feele how good how sweete thou art Then thou alone shalt feast fill have mine Heart 2. Againe as fruitefull Gardens bring sorth store Of Herbes Receites for every Sickenesse sore Wound Vlcer Ache that hapneth to Mankinde So in our Saviour Christ our Soules may finde A Soveraigne Herbe Balme Salve for to appease Helpe heale each sore wound ulcer ach disease That doth or can them any times annoy Grieve paine perplex or threate them to destroy Are then our Soules sicke wounded like to dye With any sinne or deadly Maladie O let us then resort to Christ with speede For Herbes Salves Physicke all else that we neede Whose Blood 's a royall Balme receipt to save All Soules which from it helpe health Phisicke crave 3. Gardens still yeeld a pleasant fragrant smell And rich perfumes Christ doth them farre excell In his sweete-smelling Odors which ascend Into Gods Sacred Nostrells to amend Perfume and sweeten all those stinking sowre Vnsavory Prayers which to God we powre In Christs sweete Name whose horrid sent and stinke More Loath-some than the vilest kennell sinke Would else so much offend his Sacred Nose That he both it and his Eares too would close Against them yea detest both them and us Where now these Odors make them gracious Farre sweeter than the richest sent that can Be found out to delight the Nose of Man And as Christs fragrant perfumes farre excell The sweetest Incense in his Fathers smell So doe they likewise in the sent of those Whom he hath chosen to whose Sacred Nose The fragrant'st Odors matcht with Christs are stinke And more unsavory than the foulest sinke Sweete Jesus let thy pleasant perfumes move And ravish all our Soules with thy sweete Love 4. Gardens have pleasant Fountaines where we may Our bodies bathe and wash their filth away Yea quench our thirst our heates coole and revive Those Trees Herbes Plants that fade and make them thrive Christ hath a pleasant Fountaine Spring or Well Of sweete and living waters that excell All others springing in him where we may Bathe coole refresh our Soules and wash away The filth of all our sinnes and eke revive Our withering Graces and them cause to thrive Lord ever ba the our Soules in this blest spring Which will both Health Joy safty to them bring 5. Most Pleasant
Use no Arts Paints to make them faire A counterfeit Complexion Bush Face Paint Doe ill become a sincere-hearted Saint Where false Dyes spots appeare upon the skin It s ten to one all 's false naught foule within Pride Lust Vaine-glory Chambring Wantonnesse Or Vanity at least such soules possesse The rootes from whence these spots prints first arise Enough to make all Christians them despise 34. The lowest deepest Gardens most abound With fruites Herbes Plants and are the richest ground The humblest Saints in fruitefulnesse excell And God in them delighteth most to dwell Lord alwayes decke me with humility Which makes men fruitefull lovely in thine Eye 35. Gardens have straite sweete pleasant walkes for men To walke in and refresh their spirits when They tyred greeved sicke perplexed are So Gods Church Saints have many pleasant rare Straite even walkes Gods sacred Lawes Word Wayes Wherein to walke runne passe on all their dayes Which their Hearts Soules refresh cheare and delight Yea all their cares griefes pressures make more light And easie if not totally expell O let us in these walkes still walke runne dwell 36. When I behold the goodliest Trees Flowers grow And spring out of vile earth or dung below Which have no beauty splendor comelinesse Within them but meere stinke and rottennesse Me thinkes I see thereby how Gods great power Makes sweete faire shining graces spring in our Vile earthly rotten stinking sinnefull hearts And Natures when he us to him converts Wherein nought but sinnes vices lusts did spring Before and no one grace nor one good thing O let none then despaire of having grace Because his nature heart are sinnefull base Corrupt and loathsome since God makes stinking Vile Earth dung sweete faire goodly flowers forth-bring If thou be one of his Elect no doubt All his sweete graces shall in thee spring out In his due time then neither feare nor faint The worst of sinners God can make a Saint And though flowers beauty and mens too which spring Out of meere dust are fading withering Yea soone decay and turne to dust againe Yet saving graces flowrish fresh remaine And last without decay because they spring Not out of dust but from Christ our head King Who doth preserve them alwayes from decay And keepe Saints that they ne're fall quite away From saving Grace Nay when as our Bodies Are turn'd to dung Christ shall cause them to rise Out of the dust like flowers in the Spring And to the state of endlesse glory bring O sweete sweete solace to each pious brest Which here may sit downe and take up its Rest Lord let each Garden which we henceforth eye Or walke in such divine Thoughts instantly Bring to our Mindes to raise our Soules to Thee And make us better by what there we see The Epilogue O That all Christians by this Posie I Have here collected would learne instantly When as they in their pleasant Gardens walke Thus with their owne Hearts God and Christ to talke By pious Meditations from what they Behold within their Gardens day by day How sweete then would their walkes and Orchards prove How would their Soules be fired with Gods Love Each Garden then would be a Paradise A second Eden to the godly-wise I st not a Sinnefull Shamefull beastly thing For Christians to toyle walk talk laugh feast sing Play sport themselves or meditate onely Of worldly things in Gardens constantly And in the meane time scarce to have one sweete Or pious thought from objects they there meete Of God Christ Heaven Mans Mortalitie Presented to them in each Herbe they Eye For shame then let us all this fault amend Hereafter and our Hearts Mindes fully bend To godly Meditations whiles we passe Our time in Gardens where each flower herbe grasse And Creature we behold will soone suggest Some vsefull Thoughts to every pious Breast It to amend and with sweete Extasies To elevate above the starry skies If any want helpe in this kind they may Till better come make use of this Essay FINIS THE SOVLES COMPLAINT against the BODIES ENCROACHMENTS ON HER And the Generall Neglect she findes with Most BY WILLIAM PRYNNE above foure yeares Prisoner in the Tower of London and since that above three yeares Close Prisoner in Carnarvan in North-Wales and in Mount-Orgueil Castle in the Isle of Iersy Matthew 16. 26. For what is a man profitted if he shall gaine the whole World and lose his owne Soule or what shall a man give in exchange for his Soule Isaiah 55. 2. 3. Wherefore doe ye spend money for that which is not Bread and your labour for that which satisfieth not Hearken diligently unto me and eate ye that which is good and let your SOVLE delight it selfe in fatnesse Encline your eare and come unto me heare and your SOVLE shall live and I will make an everlasting covenant with you even the sure Mercies of David 1 Peter 2. 11. Dearely beloved I beseech you as Pilgrims and Strangers abstaine from fleshly lusts which war against the Soule 1 Peter 3. 3. 4. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the haire and of wearing of gold or of putting on of apparell But let it be the hidden man of the Heart in that which is not corruptible even the ornament of a meeke and quiet spirit which is in the sight of God of great price London Printed by T. Cotes for Michael Sparke dwelling at the blue Bible in Greene Arbor 1641. TO The Right Worshipfull his highly Honoured good Friend the Lady ELIZABETH BALFOVRE Wife to S r William Balfoure Knight Lieutenant of the Tower of LONDON MADAM Your Noble Favours whiles that I Did in the Tower of London Prisner lye For sundry yeares may now in Justice call For some expression of my Thanks though small Having no better meanes to testifie My gratitude than this small Poesie Devoted to your Service Vse and Name I crave your Kinde Acceptance of the same And those thereto annexed fruites of my Imprisonment who shall both live and dye Your Obliged Friend and Servant WILLIAM PRYNNE THE SOVLES COMPLAINT AGAINST THE BODIES ENCROACHMENTS ON HER And the Generall Neglect She findes with most I Soule vive Image of the Trinity The Breath of God the Pearle which Christ did dye To purchase Temple of the Holy Ghost The charge of Angels and the Heavenly Host Earths Wonder Devils envie Mans Prime Part The Master-peece of God and Natures Art Worth thousand worlds whose Pearelesse Dignity No tongues of Men or Angels can descry Must here with brinish Teares and Sobs relate My Scorned Slighted and Neglected State Sith all my Vassels made Me to attend Make Me their slave inforce Me still to bend To their unjust Commands quite robbing Me Of their due Homage my Regalite Is not this Body wherein now I dwell Nought But my Vassall Casket House or shell
Compact of dust and Ashes things most base That it might not usurpe my supreame place Yet loe this Rebell Slave dethrones me quite No Part thereof but Robs me of my Right Receiving more Attendance cost paines Care From most than I doe though a Gemme most rare How many hundred Trades what Worlds I pray Of Men by Sea and Land both Night and Day Are set on worke to Cloath the Backe and feede The all-devouring Paunch with more than neede Have not the Head Hands Feete Legges Necke nay Haire Their severall Trades to decke make keepe them faire Yet I poore Soule among the Numberlesse Vocations which these Baser Parts Possesse But one Profession have in worst request Least minded least imployd of all the rest Seldome regarded till the fatall Houre Of death or Hell stand prest me to devoure Is but the Body Pained ill or sicke A Member bruised hurt with Sword Knife pricke Doe head teeth Stomacke Armes Legges Fingers Ake Forthwith some good receipt Men seeke and take To ease and cure them making no delayes And thinke no Cost Paines Care mis-spent these wayes Yet I Alas not dayes but yeares oft lye Sicke wounded pained dead nay Putrifie Through many fostred ulcers wounds cares sores Of horrid sinnes yet none my state deplores Seekes out for cures or once hasts to apply A salve to these my sores through which I die Yea all the time paines care and little cost Bestow'd on Mee by most is deem'd but lost If but a little spot dirt dust or fly Light on the face hands cloathes men presently Wash rubbe or wipe it off with much disdaine Although it put them to some toyle cost paine But I O wretch defil'd stain'd drench't throughout With filthy sinnes which Compasse mee about And make mee loathsome in the sacred Eyes Of God who filth of sinnes most loathes defies Remaine uncleans'd unwasht from day to day Till Hell surprise and sweep us cleane away My varlet flesh it 's Pallate to delight Repast must have each morning mid-day night Wherein all sorts of beasts foules fruits herbes fish Sweet meats vines waters drinkes all heart can wish Devoured are to fat that corpes which must Feed wormes at last and moulder into dust Meane while poore I for want of food divine To feed refresh Mee quite consume starve pine Or if I Word and Sacraments injoy For want of faith and grace they mee annoy Not fat and nourish as they ought whereby I famish perish die eternally The Backe it 's divers change of suties must have Of Velvits Silkes Stuffes Tissues Sattins brave And new Old Clothes Ragges Course or meane Aray It scornes and will be well clad every day But I meane time quite stript and naked am Of all the Robes of Grace to hide my shame Clad onely with the filthy weedes of Vice And Adams old Rags which lost Paradise New garments of Christs merits and true grace Which may adorne mee in so long a space Are not once thought on nor till backe and I Surpriz'd by death in hell starke naked lye What vast expences labour thoughts time care Have backe and bellie as if all things weare Created for them and man onely made To cloth and feed these which like grasse shall fade And perrish yet how little time paines cost Are spent on Mee by which all 's sav'd or lost How many Houres Dayes Nights and Yeares are spent In Eating Drinking Feasting Complement Vaine Chat Sports Visits Pleasures of each kind The flesh to pamper whereas I scarce finde Admist all these diversions one dayes space Or houre to fast pray weepe read sue for grace How many daily the whole morning passe And vainly spend betweene the Combe and Glasse In combing frizling powdring of their haire And wanton lockes to make them seeme more faire No Locke or haire must out of order stand But sit in Print and oft be view'd curl'd scand Nay which is strange more cost time now is spent Upon false Bushes of bought excrement Which some preferre before their native fleece Than upon mee mans honour Master-peece When this is done the Backe Necke Feete Hands Face And other parts must have their severall space For to adorne them so as halfe che day Is spent well nigh the body to aray And that but untill nâ—ght when all this pride Attire is quite stript off and laid aside As if it never were O fooles to waste Time in these toyes which not one daies space last Yet I neglected soule whom to adorne And daily decke with grace mankind was borne Untrimmed lie no cost time paines are spent In decking mee mans onely ornament Gods word the Glasse which daily shold descry My spots staines filth and grosse deformity Them to redresse and helpe men to aray Me with all Robes of grace which make mee gay Is most part shut close seldome look't into For these good ends and if that any doe Behold it now and then for custome sake The Rule to dresse them by they 'le not it make And though my sacred beauty robes aray Do never fade waxe old but last foc aye Yea adde more lustre to my Baser part The Flesh then either nature or mans art Are able causing it to shine with raies Of brightest glory which shall last alwaies Yet few or none spend halfe the time to dresse Adorne Mee which they wast with greedinesse Upon their bodies faces heads lockes backe Themselves and Mee without Gods grace to wracke This being now my rufull state O let Me here beseech all who have soules to set Some tine apart to Ponder my complaint Thus tendred to them vnder which I faint And that you may just Judges twixt us prove Heare but a word or two as you mee love What is the body but a loathsome Masse Of dust and ashes brittle as a glasse Soone crackt and turne to rottennesse dung clay Though fed with dainties câ—â—d with rich aray What is the Faces Beauty but a floure Which sundry chances blast within one houre And so deforme that wee abhorre the sight Of that marr'd face which was our chiefe delight At best it is a comely glasse our shade Which sicknesse Crosses Age still cause to fade What are our lockes our curled brayds of haire But excrements at best not halfe so faire As plumes of sundry birds or peacocks tailes Though frizled poudred deckt with pearles knots vailes And yet how many more proud carefull are Of these vaine bushes than their soules welfare How many purchase heads of others haire To mend Gods worke and make them seeme more faire Spending more time cost thoughts on excrement Than upon Mee mans onely ornament What is the belly but a filthy sinke Jakes which engenders nought but dung and stink So noysome that its sent offends the smell Corrupts the aire even when the body 's well What are the other members head hands