to lend it But least corrupt my mind or body grow with too much ease or wanton Idlenesse My mind I set my Makers Will to know His Wisedome Power Truth and Holinesse I often ride or walke to wearinesse The members of my body to subdue And Temper 'gainst Lust and Laciuiousnesse Thus by sweet contemplation oft I view Such high transcendent things as yet I neuer knew Thus rapt with contemplation I find That all these worlds-gay show's which men admire Are but vaine shadow's to the ioy 's of mind Of those that lead their liues in safe retire Whose onely happinesse and hearts desire Is here the talents God hath lent to spend Vnto his glory as he doth require And vsing Temperately what he doth send Thus grant that I may liue Thus grant that I may end MEDITAT IIII. of BOVNTIE NOw will I raise faire Alma's stately tower On Temperance her strong and soundest frame And goodly deck Dame Bounty's dainty bower Whereby all Princes gaine immortall fame Some call her Alma some her Bounty name The trusty Almner of Loues Royall Court Who beares the bag to giue to blind and lame And Suitors all that thither doe resort Rewards most bounteously and feeds in seemely sort For on this heau'nly Dame the eyes of all Looke vp that of her liberalitie They may receiue and shee againe le ts fall Vpon them needfull things most plenteously Her bounteous hand shee opens willingly With blessings eu'ry creature full to fill To those that Knowledge seeke abundantly Shee giueth Wisdome Vnderstanding Skill To know their Makers Bountie Maiestie and Will Most glorious Alma when as Temperance Controlls the noble Plentie of her Hall And with her Staffe keepes out Intemperance Which doth abuse her Grace and Bountie all For where most Plentie is there most doe fall By want of Temperance to Lust and Sin Till they be brought low as the Prodigall For he that will true Praise by Bountie win Must first of all at home with Temperance begin For Temperance with watchfull diligence Are like two springs which waters doe supply To open handed free Beneficence And her discernes from Prodigalitie By Diligence we get sufficiencie By Temperance what we haue gotten spare To minister to Liberalitie For these two Lady-Bounty's handmaids are And for her iust and truly store of wealth prepare But they that liue in sloth and foule excesse Though they may seeme to be most liberall Oppression and Extortion mercilesse Are Lakes from whence their Bounty 's streamed doe fall And thus they rob the poore that therewithall They may themselues rich friends and children feast Blaspheming their great Maker Lord of all And imitating basest sauage beast Which fawnes vpon the great But doth deuoure the least God of all Bountie King most Liberall Who to thy vassall Man at his Creation Didst subiect make Fish Fowle Beasts creatures all And of thine handy works gau'st domination Who by thy prouidence and ordination Him needfull things not onely dost prouide But for his health delight and contentation That he may plentie to the poore diuide My Muse to sing heart hands to practise Bountie guide Bountie Beneficence Benignitie In name though diuers one in substance be Beneuolence and Liberalitie Make actions and affections agree If as they are in God you wish to see They like his Goodnesse are vnlimitted And as his Mercy Loue and Grace are free Which on his creatures are abundant shed But by my shallow Muse their depth cannot be read They are too high to reach too deepe to sound For all the earth is filled therewithall In heau'n aboue Gods Goodnesse doth abound The Bountie of his Grace is ouer all Of all the Meditations which call My mind to holy Ioy and admiration None lets more comfort than Gods Bountie fall Both for my being and my preseruation But most in that he shed his bloud for my Saluation Here could I wish my Muse might euer dwell In viewing Gods great Goodnesse Bountie Loue Which three to th' holy Trinitie I well May here ascribe For Goodnesse first doth moue The Father to beget Eternall Loue From Loue and Goodnesse Bountie doth proceed Yet all these three as one in God doe proue In substance one although distinguished In working But this height my reach doth far exceed And therefore rauish't now with contemplation Beyond the compasse of my feeble eye My soule amaz'd falls downe to adoration Of this misterious holy Trinitie And from diuine come to benignitie And bountie which should be in men below A habit wee of liberalitie Her call and good affection we should show In thought heart word and deed to eu'ry one we know And must from goodnesse and true loue proceed The onely cause of true benignitie Wherefore except these be in vs indeed Our bounty is but prodigalitie Or some like froth of superfluitie The crums and leauings of Intemperance Which oft are dealt out with an euill eye More for vaine credit or base circumstance Then for goodwill or care Gods glory to aduance For eu'ry act hath then her true effect Which from true ground right aymeth at her end As when both loue and goodnesse doth direct What bounty truly gets aright to spend Loe thus doth heau'nly grace and Bounty send Her blessings temporall alike to all But doth for greater benefits intend To those that on Gods name aright doe call And in this heau'nly sort ought we be liberall Oh! then th' effects of bounty glorious are When Prouidence with true Frugality Doe seeke by Iustice to prouide and spare Fit sustenance for liberality Behold that heau'nly bounteous Maiesty Sends raine and fruitfull seasons whereby store Of Blessings th' earth may to his hand supply And many hidden treasures vp doth store For to exalt the rich and to refresh the pore Then humane bounty like her Makers is When as shee labours to doe good to all But most of all to bring poore soules to blisse And fill their hearts with food spirituall Oh Grace Diuine Bounty Angelicall With spirituall loaues in Wildernesse to feed Gods Saints when spirituall hunger them doth gal The ignorant which pine with inward need Diuine sweet comforts to their fainting soules to reade True Bounty 's knowne best by her company For shee in Truth and Mercy takes delight Faith Iustice Temperance Humility And is withall Loues graces richly dight Herein appeares her glorious heau'nly Sp'rite Shewing that shee of seed diuine is borne Of Loue and Goodnesse not of Vaine delight Or Fame and Praise of men when shee doth scorne To seeke feign'd bounteous shewes her goodnes to adorn For thus th' ambitious man is bountifull Thus belly-gods in plentie take delight Deceit with gifts his neighbour seekes to gull The couetous bribe large to conquer right From such false Bounty Truth is banish't quite Humility Faith Knowledge Temperance Nor any of Loues Graces in her sight May suffered be their ensignes to aduance There dwells Contention Pride Oppression Ignorance As daughters of the horse-leech still doe
And taught how to assault our enemy's They with our Sword may be discomfited And we from Hell and Bondage safe deliuered I of this Military Art doe know No Tutor like to holy supplication Prayer who vse of all our Armes doth show The Serieant Maior of our Militation Diuinest Prayer holy Meditation Whereby with God we haue sweet conference About the mysteries of Mans Saluation And call the Angells downe for our defence 'Gainst Flesh's Worlds and Deuils hostile violence Prayer who though her knees bow in the dust Yet are her vpper parts aboue the sky And doe into th' Almighty's presence thrust To craue of all we want a new supply Which like to clouds of incense vp doe flye If offered by his Sonnes sweet mediation Whose iust requests no Father can deny Oh offer mine then That this Meditation May be directed by thy Spirits illumination True Prayer is the opening the desire Ev'n of our Heart and Soule to God aright Them powring out to him that doth require We should lay open all before his sight The Sacrifice wherein he doth delight A sure defence to him that right doth pray The Scourge wherewith we Sin and Satan smite And powers all and policies gainsay Our surest Refuge in each dangerous Affray For Christian Souldier neuer kneeleth downe And lifts his heart vp towards Heav'n to pray But all his Foes spirituall him arowne Assault and labour him herein to stay Then is it time for him about to lay With his sharp Sword to put them all to flight And for to arme each part lest they him slay With Greaues Belt Brestplate Shield and Helmet bright In Faith Hope Patience Truth and Righteousnesse to fight By rules of Art I Prayer may diuide To these two Heads Thankesgiuing Inuocation The second I in three doe subdiuide Petition Intercession Deprecation First seekes Gods Glory and our owne Saluation The second doth for others make petition So Christ doth intercede by mediation By last we doe intreat for sins remission And be deliuer'd from all ill and superstition But as the Sauldier be he ne're so strong Well arm'd and skil'd in points of Schoole-defence If that his spirit faint is laid along So if we in our Armes haue confidence And not relye on Gods sole Prouidence His Spirit which helpeth our infirmities And doth instruct to pray with reuerence Sending vp heart and soule by sighs and cry's For all our Armes and strength our Foes will vs surprise For Spirit is the cause efficient Of all our prayers that to Heav'n ascend Though Faith be the Internall instrument By which we all things aske doe apprehend With Faith and Spirit Prayer Heav'n doth rend And whatsoeuer shee in Christ his name Doth aske the Father downe to vs will send This Pagans saw though otherwise to blame That Christians nothing beg but they obtaine the same All Blessings spirituall and temporall Publike and priuate for our Selues and Friends All that in this life or a better fall To vs almighty God for Prayer sends When Heau'n is shut vp that no dew descends If we forsake our sins and pray for raine The Heau'n on vs abundant showers spends Though Foes vs captiue from our City's traine Yet Prayer makes vs Free and brings vs home againe If Dearth Drowth Pestilence be in the Land Or City's be besieg'd by enemies Then if the cause thereof we vnderstand Our sins And seeke by Prayer remedy God will be mercifull accordingly Yea if a Stranger of an Heathen Nation Doe call on God by Prayer heartily And of his life doe seeke a reformation His Prayer shall be heard by Christ his mediation Thus Prayer is for all things profitable If her true obiect she doe neuer misse One God who gracious willing is and able And of our Heart the only Searcher is All things that are in Heau'n and Earth are his We must no person in the Deity Omit when as we pray to him for Blisse All workes externall in the Trinity Are one though their internall haue variety Diuinest Pater-noster whose one Word In it more heau'nly matter doth containe Than one whole hour's babbling can afford Suddaine abortiues of an idle braine With tedious turnings repetitions vaine Out tumbling all that in their stomach lies Which often goe beyond this Prayers straine As if they were more feruent or more wise Than he that for our patterne did it first deuise Pure Prayer made by serious meditation Or by this holy patterne rightly pend Briefe spirituall sublime ejaculation With feruent Fury doth to Heau'n ascend And to the marke like swiftest arrow tend God is in Heau'n thou kneelest on the ground To him therefore no rash petitions send Therein let matter more than words abound And inward sighs and groanes than outward plaints and sound But Prayer though by thy two mighty wings Of Loue and Meeknesse thou to Heau'n canst sore And come in presence of the King of Kings By pard'ning wrongs and giuing to the poore Presume not on thy merits ere the more That Brightnesse who doth sit vpon the Throne Angells not able are to stand before Alas how dar'st thou then there stand alone Without the mediation of the Holy One. Like birdlime merits so thy wings besmeare That thou not able art to take thy slight Aboue the Firmament or to come neere That euershining Lamp of Heau'nly Light Which ought thy Prayers to direct aright In Knowledge Meeknesse and Humility By which we feele and haue and inward sight Of our vnworthinesse and misery And seeke else where for worth and true felicity Eu'n to that liuely Fountaine of the Lamb Which is a deepe well wondrously profound From which by Prayer breaking vp the dam We draw vp waters which doe there abound The depth of this rich Well no Grace can sound But feruent Prayer when as Shee doth desire To coole her thirst with waters therein found wherewith if once we coole our thirst like Fire The more we drinke thereof the hotter's our desire An Oxes lowing barking of a Dog Grunting of Swine doth more the Lord delight Than Prayers which the World and Flesh so clog They come not from vs with a Heart and Sprite And as no salue or medicine hath might To heale the wound which Iron doth containe So Prayer neuer profiteth that wight In whom Hypocrisie or guile remaine For these still fester deeper to the Patients paine God is our Soules Physitian and know's best What for her sicknesse is best remedy And therfore when we needfull things request Of him for this our lifes necessitie He better then his Patient can descry What is most fit to keepe him from the graue And cure him of his spirituall malady Wherefore when we receiue not what we craue We know Christ better know's than we what need we haue Gods Word 's the Sword whereby our Lord doth sway And rules his Church here as he is a King As Priest he offers praises and doth pray As Prophet he glad tidings vs doth bring Most wisely
teaching and admonishing Thus Aaron-like to God he doth present Our prayers praises tythes and offering For Aarons Office Christs did represent And makes them giue to God an acceptable sent Prayer is mans best fence the Angells ioy The Deuills torture Gods sweet sacrifice We by her meanes all blessings here enioy By prayer we obtaine here to be wise By prayer with th' Almighty we aduise By reading he doth answere vs againe But our Lip-labour he doth all despise Ah what doe then those simple people gaine Which in a tongue vnknowne doe mutter praiers vaine Oh! when the Spirit with vnderstanding pray's And ev'n the Heart with sighs and groanes vp sends To him that willing able is alway's Vs from Hell Death and danger to defend Then as a Bullet doth the welkin rend Blowne with the force of Powder and of Fire So doe our Prayers vp to Heau'n ascend By Zeale and Force of spirituall desire Where they of God obtaine all things they can require Moses gain'st Amalec doth more preuaile By Prayer and by holding vp his hands Then mighty Iosuah though he doth assaile Them with his strong and most selected bands At Iosuahs short sweet Prayer the Sun still stands Till hee 's auenged of his enemy's Elisha all the Host of God commands Him to relieue in his necessity's Ev'n Fiery Horse and Charrets keep him where he lies Prayer is able by plaine strength to wring From hand-breadth Cloud an Ocean of Raine And Captiues out of Babylon to bring To worship in Hierusalem againe The Angell striv'd with Iacob but in vaine Without a Blessing he will not vnloose Zenacharibs whole Host was spoyl'd and slaine By Hezekias Prayer when we close With God by Prayer we our holds must neuer loose The Rains-horns Trumpets which seav'n Priests did blow Most liuely doe strong Prayer represent Which with the peoples shout did ouerthrow Proud walls of Iericho to astonishment Of all the wicked that therein are pent This was the musick Aarons sonnes did sound With Trumpets when to warre the people went When Daniel in Lyons Den was found True Prayer from their jawes him kept both safe and sound T is not our words God lookes on but the mind Not to the place but to the true intent In dungeon Ieremy did comfort find And Iob vpon the dunghill takes content Three Children in the fiery Fornace pent Are heard when Praises they to God doe sing The Thiefe from Crosse as gratefull Prayers sent As from his Temple Solomon the King The Hermits Cell may oft as loud as Steeple ring Not that from publike Prayer I purloine Of which Gods house hath her denomination Where Priests and peoples hearts and voices ioyn To teare the skies with cryes and supplication Oh Force vnited of a Congregation In Gods owne house of Prayer gathered For Praise Petition or for Deprecation God nought denyeth so petitioned And wee thus from all euill are deliuered When Peter slept with chaines in prison bound On each side Souldiers Keepers at the doore The Church doth pray though hee sleepe fast and sound And God him loosed from his chaines therefore And when the Angell lighteth him before The Iron Gate opes of his owne accord Pauls Dauids Samuells a thousand more Of Prayers you may find vpon record All which may seem to bind toth ' Peace our angry Lord. I all conclude with his most heav'nly one Who did in day's of his Humility With loudest cry's in Spirit sigh and groane For Freedome of that dire calamity Which came on him for our Iniquitie And though he Legions could of Angells call To saue him from inhumane cruelty Yet Lamb-like did before his Shearer fall Submitting to his Fathers will and pleasure all Without vs God will nothing for vs doe We therefore must prepare to fight alway And without God we can nor stand nor goe And therefore must be alwayes swift to pray If these so pray'd when Foes did them assay When Flesh and Bloud with Flesh and Bloud did fight What shall we in this dangerous great affray When we encounter with spirituall might Which in his Agony did Christ our Head affright But ah we at our first conuersion pray Most feruently oft for the nouelty But after negligent cold sleeping say Our Pater-noster in security Thou sleep'st secure but ah thine Enemy Doth watch thee thyn ev'n napping to surprise We then to God withall our hearts doe cry When as no thoughts withdraw vs otherwise Alas but few or none pray often in this wise Oh! that a man of base and filthy mould Should dare fall downe before Gods glorious Throne His wants and imperfections to vnfold And haue his heart like Nabals dead as stone When Angells that come neere that holy One Are faine their face to couer with their wings So bright his Glorious Maiesty hath showne Who is the Lord of Lords and King of Kings The searcher of our reines and tryer of all things When I no longer able am to fight Like Moses let me lift vp hands and pray Against the inuisible Amalekite That spiritually doth seeke my soule to slay When I with Faith two words Our Father say I pardon beg for Sin Freedome from paine Gods Heyre and Sonne Christs Brother I that day Am made and gifts of Holy Ghost doe gaine Then let me neuer mumble ouer words in vaine But I confesse though I doe often proue There is no comfort like this one to pray That is bestow'd on man from Heav'n aboue Yet find I Satan prest and busie ay Mee in this holy duty to assay By wandring Thoughts and vaine imaginations Which oft'doe lead my Mind so far astray I am bereau'd of Heav'nly cogitations And change for idle fancy 's holy meditations But Prayer doth so please my Muses straine That I omitted haue of Praise to sing The Sacrifice we offer here againe For all the Bounty of our heav'nly King I liken her to Prayers either wing Forgiuing wrongs and Almes vnto the poore Our holy liuely spirituall Offering Of Body Soule Heart Tongue and all our store With true Obedience to God for euermore Whilst here of Benefits no end we find How should we euer make an end of praise Oh happy Bands that vs for euer bind Ev'n when our Soules and Body's Chrisi shall raise Our praise shall be eternall like our day's He that his time in praise and hymnes would spend I him referre to Dauids heav'nly Layes Diuinely by the holy Spirit pend My Muse now out of Breath cannot this Mount ascend Oh let my voyce and heart together ioyne God of the lips accepts not but the heart Grant that my life in Holinesse may shine That Conscience may euer beare apart Presumptuous man that darst thy Maker thwart To poure out fond petitions base and vaine When thou consid'rest before whom thou art Him that doth all leud lying lips disdaine And Hypocrites rewardeth with infernall paine If prayer be right pure sincere and meeke It neuer empty shall returne againe For God will
either grant vs what we seeke Or giue vs that shall be our greater gaine Mine Heart mine heart Lord doth reioyce amaine Ay in thine House of Prayer to abide Where Swallow's build and Sparrow's are full faine To lay their young ones by thine Altars side Mee neuer let the Spirit of Prayer be deny'd But since I ought to pray continually How should my Pen of Prayer make an end My Sauiour praying on the Crosse did dye With Prayer Steuen his Soule to Heav'n did send But I began with Prayer let mee end With Praises to the Horne of my Saluation Who sure I hope his blessed Spirit did send To guide mee in this holy Meditation Which fills my Tongue with Praise Heart with Admiration FINIS VRANIA OR THE HEAVENLY MUSE LONDON Printed by WILLIAM STANSBY 1625. TO MY EVER HONORED FRIEND M. IOHN MAYNARD one of the Gentlemen of his Maiesties Priuie Chamber in Ordinarie MY deare Vrania wilt thou now forsake My Cottage and to Court thy selfe betake Dost hope thou there as here shalt find retire I cannot but thy simplenesse admire But since thou needs wilt goe I 'le thee commend vnto the Muses most familiar Friend Who had not his great Princes Loue and Grace Him brought from Muses Groues to 's Royall place Might on his Front haue worne thy Crowne of Bays And beene the Prince of Poets in his dayes Hee 'le leaue all profit pleasure honour gaine The heav'nly Muse alone to entertaine Oh happy Court most blessed Courtiers yee That from the Muses Springs transplanted bee This 't is makes Arts and Learning so increase Hence followeth all our happinesse and Peace The Muses needs must dance when Courtiers sing All follow the example of the King Yours truly deuoted R. A. VRANIA ABout the Season Lawyers tongues doe rest And make for Ceres honour long vacation I freed from tumults which me erst opprest Dispose my mind to holy Meditation And thinking how I might a subiect find Delightfull pleasing sweet and profitable My heart to better and inrich my mind And tongue acquaint with Phrases delectable As Traueller that meets with diuers wayes I long deliberate to chuse the best And fairest Path to Mount where Lawrell Bayes The Numbers crowne that are diuinely drest One while I sought in measures Comicall To maske the Graces all vpon the Stage Or in a Tragique Scene vp Ghosts to call Of Worthys slaine by cruell Tyrants rage Anon I would the Vnion celebrate Which made a Damaske Rose of Red and White The fairest Flower of Brittons happy State Which Roses then now Kingdomes doth vnite I thought likewise to sing that happy Peace Our Iland-world enioyeth by this Vnion Which makes our honour riches strength increase And haue with Heav'nly Arts such free communion Then I th' admired Prudence would rehearse Of Brittons Scepter-swaying Solomon Matter which would immortalize a Verse And saue such Splendour from obliuion Prone was my flesh the winged wag to sing Of wanton Venus and her Bitter-sweet That glads the Tast but doth the Bowells wring For chaster eares a Subiect far vnmeet Whilst wauering thus in fruitlesse inquisition Yet vnresolv'd of any course I roue Behold I see an heav'nly Apparition Some Herauld doubtlesse from the Queene of Loue Her gesture and her grace Angelicall With wings whereby her selfe to heav'n shee reares Her countenance faire sweet celestiall Her voyce like Musicke of the heav'nly Spheares A glorious Garland crown'd her golden head Bedeck'd with all the Flowers sweet and gay That could on Tempes Plaines be gathered By learned Sisters in their fairest May. Immortall Flowers which spring and flourish ay And ay their verdure and sweet sent retaine Like heav'nly Arts which neuer doe decay But by their vsing greater glory gaine On shoulders hangs her azure mantle light With siluer spangles all adorned faire Twinkling like brightest Starres in frosty night As they are moued by the gentle aire Her nether parts to hide from vulgar eye A Kirtle like Heav'n Conopy did couer Where all the Signes of Heav'n embroidred fly And all the Graces seeme about to houer I saith shee am Vrania to thee sent From thine adored Mistresse Queene of Loue I rauish Soules aboue the Firmament That they in Numbers like the Spheres may moue With Siluer Key I doe vnlocke the mind Of Mortalls sealed vp in Ignorance That oft their Soules aboue the Stars they find When Bodyes lye on ground as in atrance For I the Spirit am of Contemplation Th' Ehxir of Ambrosia diuine Pure Angells food Soules sweetest delectation The Helicon where both the Sisters nine Art teacheth Art Experience Policy And Practice guild's the tongue with Eloquence But none reach lofty straines of Poesie That haue them not by heav'nly insluence Hence 't is that Clerks which gaine immortall praise By their deepe learned Eloquence in Prose Their numbers cannot to such honour raise As one that scarce the Rules of Grammer knows It is beyond the reach of will or wit A holy Flame of heav'nly Loues pure fire A soaring high transcendent furious fit Whose Life light heate and strength loue doth inspire Loue 's her Beginning and her End is Loue Loue is the Soule and Life of Poesie No Poeme without Loue did euer proue No more then Musicke without Harmony The Loue of Honour and of Cheualry So rais'd the old blind Greeks Heroique quill Hee lifts Achilles valiant acts more high Than his that conquer'd all the world at will The loue of Ciuill and Self-gouernment Him taught to frame such an exact Ulisses That hee who by this Patterne did inuent Roomes glorious author such perfection misses Eglogues of Loue are Muses first delights Till thorough country pleasures shee doth come To sing in state of Honour Armes and Knights And out of old Troys ashes raise vp Rome The wanton all whose speeches were in Verse Who sings in Fictions all Dame natures story In ev'ry sentence doth his Loue rehearse But ah base Lust obscureth all his glory So Loues old rigid Cato vertues lore He makes them dance the measures cunningly To loues Lucretius Dame natures store Hee turnes all Pliny into Poetry And as the obiect of our Loue exceeds So strikes the Muse on high or lower strings Who lowly late did maske in Shepheards weeds In high Heroiques of Armes and Honour sings My Darling Bartas who on Angells wings Beholds the Six Day 's of the Worlds Creation Was so in loue with Heav'n and heauenly things Hee wholly on them fixt his Contemplation And wen he on the Seuenth Day comes to rest He them all orders to his Makers Glory Doubtlesse he fram'd a new world in his brest Whereof he so Diuinely sings the story It was this heav'nly Loue that did incite The warlike Shepheard such sweet notes to sing His loue vnto Gods Statutes day and night Doe strike so loud his Harpe and Violls string And as Wind-Instrument to him repay's That sounds it sweetest musicke for his breath So
her Sauiours knowledge in her brest Than that shee bare him in her wombe yet tender For One all Generations call her blest By th' other one of his true members shee doth rest But though this onely necessary is And first for our saluation to be sought Wee onely at our last of it haue misse As too meane subiect for ambitious thought Thus the vnlearned rise and heav'n haue cought When greatest Clerks with Sciences profound Heartlesse and comfortlesse to Hell are brought For God doth their great wisedome oft confound Because their inward parts are not sincere and sound Alas of knowledge here we haue no care But all our youth in follies idely spend Our strength in lusts and strifes away we weare In age we worldly profit all intend Alas what gaine we by this at our end When our fraile Body doth returne to dust Our Soule to him that gaue it must ascend Whereof least iot of time account they must Which hath been spent in discord profit folly lust Oh! knew we but the vertue of this treasure Like to the Merchant wise we would sell all To buy it where we should find profit pleasure Such Ioy as neuer on our hearts did fall Oh heav'nly Comfort Ioy spirituall Delight vnspeakeable in hearts that ' grow Of those that shee is conuersant withall What Ioy can there be greater than to know Gods endlesse Loue in Christ which shee to vs doth show Sure I could wish my whole life here to spend In this diuine most holy contemplation whereof I know not how to make an end Shee yeelds such plentie of sweet meditation Most heav'nly mysteries of our Creation Wherein appeare Gods might and Maiestie But aboue all his loue in mans saluation This is that wondrous hidden mystery Into the which eu'n Angels did desire to pry But we confesse though thou dost here reueale Abundant knowledge yet we little know Wherefore 'gainst vs the Heathen may appeale Who though thou didst to them but glimpses show Of Truth and Iustice did more righteous grow Than wee that doe thy sacred Truth confesse And make of Puritie a glorious show But to adorne the Gospel we professe With workes of Charitie Ah! wee doe nothing lesse Oh it is meate and drinke we know not of To know and doe our heav'nly Fathers will Our blessed Sauiour alwayes fed thereof And hereof Saints and Angells eate their fill These are the fruitfull plants which flourish still Milke Hony liuing Water spiced Wine Which doe refresh Christs Spouse when shee is ill These richest Iewells which her make so fine Locks Ribands Roses which so gloriously do shine For this shee is the Bridegroomes darling Doue And vnto her that bare her onely deare For this the daughters when they see her loue And all the Queenes and Wiues make merry cheere This makes her looke than Sunne and Moone more cleere Her nauell belly head necke brests adorne With these shee to her husband doth appeare More beautifull than is the fairest morne Or faire like twinning Ews on Gilead washt and shorne Thou that such heav'nly Knowledge didst instill Into plaine Fishers that they could confound By argument ev'n Clerkes of greatest skill And diue into thy Mysteries profound Who by their clouen-fiery tongues forth sound The Knowledge of thy Truth to ev'ry Nation Canst make this Knowledge in mine heart abound By one sparke of diuine illumination And rauish my weake soule with heav'nly admiration And though imperfect here our Knowledge be By reason of our humane imperfection And for by Faith alone we things doe see And nothing know indeed in true perfection Yet when thy Spirit cleares our minds infection Wee shall then know ev'n as we now are knowne And things now seene by mirrour-like inspection To vs shall be most euidently showne In Knowledge we shall reape what we in Faith haue sowne What then 's imperfect shall be done away Knowledge shall perfect our felicitie Which is our free beholding God for ay In his great Goodnesse Loue and Maiestie So farre as finite may infinitie Farther to reach my Muse dares not be bold When Angels of so high sublimitie Gods Light and Maiestie cannot behold Finite with infinite can no proportion hold MEDITAT I. Of ZEALE and godly IEALOVSIE OH that some holy fire enlightening My Soule now rauish would with thoughts diuine Whilst I of Iealousie Loues daughter sing And godly Zeale which like the Sunne doth shine Alas Minerua and the Muses nine Are too weake helpes their aide here to intreate With Colefrom Altar let some Seraphine Touch my rude tongue and set my braine on heate The Glory of this Grace in loftie rhimes to sweate Fit Subiect for a sacred Poets Verse Which should it selfe in Extasie transcend Zeales sacred Praise with Knowledge to rehearse Both Method and Deuotion doe commend Who as the houshold Chaplaine doth intend To all that liue in Royall Court of Loue And Prayers for them all to heau'n doth send For without Zeale none possible can moue To high Olimpus Court the Seate of mightie Ioue For Prayers that to Heau'n seeke to ascend Without the Feruour of this sacred Zeale Fall downe like smoakie vapours that intend Into Aires middle region to steale But those that are supported by her seale Like Fumes of incense by the Lamb contend Eu'n in th' Almighties presence to reueale Our wants and craue his aid vs to defend 'Gainst worlds and Serpents poyson to our latest end Oh! thou to whom it was both drinke and meate To finish and to doe thy Fathers Will Whom Zeale of Gods owne house eu'n vp did eate And made thee on the Crosse thy bloud to spill Who whipst out Merchants that thy house did fill With doues and money theeues and merchandize Some Zea-lous iuice into my pen distill And raise my mind aboue her wonted guise That so my Muse may with her matter sympathise All other holy Graces disposition By rules of Art I formerly define But Zeale so feruent is no definition Can her containe or bound in any line Onely shee is by nature pure diuine Beloued daughter to the Queene of Loue Whose mothers Graces so in her doe shine Shee well the primate of her Court may proue And ranked be for place all other Peares aboue I here omit that Zeale which without hate Of others doth to vertuous deeds contend And vs enflames that good to emulate Which we to be in others apprehend I here that holy Iealousie commend Which onely doth from Loue diuine proceed When not for our but Gods cause we intend To loue both him and his in word and deed For this is that right Zea'le which of true Loue doth breed Truth comes by knowledge and from zeale deuotions When therefore zeale doth with true knowledge meete Shee doth inlarge our hearts with heav'nly notions Sublime transcendant admirable sweet But where this knowledge wants shee 's vndiscreet Rash violent seditious rude and blind Faults for so faire a Lady farre vnmeet You see two zeales here
of a differing kind I leaue the worst and seeke the fairest out to find Sweet Lady daughter to the Queene of Loue Which is the cause of Zeale and Iealousie If you will aske mee what this Queene doth moue To loue vs wretches that in sin doe lye I answere Goodnesse of her Maiestie Most excellent is then this holy fire Of zeale proceeding from such ancestry Goodnesse and Loue which therefore wee require To true effects of Loue and Goodnesse to aspire Sweet zeale How fairely dost thou beautifie Th' affection where thou mak'st thy habitation Like Temple which thy Lord did purifie When as his Soule with zeale and indignation Was mou'd to see Gods Temples prophanation Not suffering thy house of endlesse rest To be abus'd by Pride or lustfull passion Th' affection which doth lodge within my brest The Temple where Christ and the Holy Ghost should rest Companions of Zeale are Pietie Faith Knowledge Patience Fortitude and Right In workes of Mercy Peace and Charitie And sweet Humilitie is her delight With all her Power shee is opposite Against all that Gods glory may oppose Shee spends in feruent Prayers day and night And those by Knowledge doth so well compose They bring Gods blessings down and vp his Iudgements close Oh Zeale with Knowledge Faith and Charitie Who able is thy vertue to commend Which doth the Church into one Body tye And for Gods glory onely dost contend For publike good and not for priuate end Lo th' Angells-Being doth in zeale consist Whose sacred ardour doth all flames transcend Wherewith they oft enlight our minds darke mist When flames of hottest zeale they to our soule suggest Oh! Loue as strong as Death and Iealousie Cruell as graue Thy flames like coales of fire Consume and burne vp all most violently No Streames or Flouds can quench her sacred ire Should we sell all we haue we could not buy her The Daughter zeale is like the Mother free Them both from Heau'n th' Almightie doth inspire And therefore neither will affronted bee With Riualls Heathen Gods most base Idolatree Fond Zeale that 's fitly called which doth want Faith Knowledge Loue diuine and Graces all It still doth most vaine superstitions haunt And to most base Idolatry doth fall Vnhumane Fury Madnesse tragicall Of men whom thus blind zeale and strange desire Transports beyond rage diabolicall To offer vp their children in the fire Of some offended deuill to appease the ire Strange is this zealous fury of the rude When Ignorance doth guide their blind deuotion The gathering of the froward multitude When they be stirred with some feruent motion All following some braine-sicke idle notion With discontent against authoritie Raise Schismes in Church in Common-wealth Commotion Pretending all their Conscience-liberty Alas these be no fruits of holy Iealousie God often by an Anthropopathy By which his nature best wee vnderstand Ascribes vnto himselfe this Iealousie As being link'd in Hymens holy band Vnto his Church his vndefiled And His Church againe to shew her feruent Loue And Ioy shee takes in her new ioyned hand Like Loue-sicke Bride the Bridegroome oft doth proue And him with zeale inuites her to imbrace and Loue. Neuer new wedded Bridegroome was more faine Of his new-Bride than Christ is of his Doue Neuer did truest Turtle more complaine For losse of Mate than this Spouse of her Loue It would a stony heart to fountaines moue Of teares to heare the Churches piteous mone When shee doth misse him whom her Soule doth loue Where 's my belou'd Ah whither is shee gone And left his saddest Deare to sigh and sit alone And therefore as a Signet on his heart And as the Seale that is on his right hand Shee would be ioyn'd that shee might neuer part But alwayes in his Grace and presence stand No Keeper in Christs Vineyard must command Hee will his Vineyard prune and dresse alone Whereby his Iealousie wee vnderstand His Vine the Bridegroome will haue drest of none The Bride out of his presence neuer will be gone Doth mine inuention faile that wont to flow In Similes that make hard things seeme plaine Or doth the whole Creation here below Nothing affoord zeales nature to explaine Alas all earthly Similes are vaine T' expresse the nature of this Heau'nly fire Which in the glorious Angells doth remaine And in the Spirits of that blessed Quire Which here with Hymnes and Praises doe Gods loue admire Shall dust and ashes dare yet be so bold Her to the holy fire to compare Which in the Bush thy seruant did behold Flaming but did the Bush not singe or seare Such flames of zeale oft in our hearts there are Which doe enlighten them but not consume These flames our Prayers to Iehoua beare By these our Praises spiritually vp fume And in Gods nostrils are like incense and perfume Or shall I like her to some Lionesse Rob'd of her whelps by some aduenturous hand Who in her wondrous woe and furiousnesse Deuour's and slayes all in her way that stand Who can the force of Iealousie withstand Being of so great strength and wondrous might God grant our zeale the Truth may vnderstand And that true Knowledge may your minds inlight To make vs zealous for Gods glory and the right May I not like her to strong churlish wine Which doth confound the braine inflame the blood But cool'd with water pure and sugar fine For both of them is soueraigne and good Eu'n so doth Iealousies most feruent mood Allaid with sugar of sweet Charitie And coold with sweetest Christalline pure floud The silent streames of soft Humilitie Transcend in all good workes of Loue and Pietic This is the zeale and sacred emulation Which the Originall doth signifie Which hath with Loue in Heau'n her habitation And all our actions here doth sanctifie And when our Maker vs shall glorifie Behold our zeale shall in perfection shine Begun on earth in true sinceritie And as our Fleshly courage doth decline Our zeale will grow more hot and neerest to diuine Zeale made old Abram Hagars sonne reiect For scoffing at his holy promisd seed And Moses Pharaohs Court and grace neglect When hee th' Egyptians Destiny did reed That smote a brother of the holy breed This zeale made noble Phineas with his speare Slay Zimry and Cosbi in their damned deed Though Saul the fat of Amalec would spare Yet Samuels zeale doth Agags flesh in pieces teare Oh had his Master Eli's burnt so hot Against his sonnes when they by violence The fattest of Gods offrings from him got And with foule Lust defil'd the sacred Tents Had he like Phineas punish't this offence Our eares then should not haue so tingeled To heare of Gods great wrath and sore offence He and his sonnes in one day slaughtered And all his race from th' Arke for euer banished Zeale made the warlike Dauid to aspire To build an house for Gods owne habitation And though warres crost his zeale and good desire Yet made he for it royall preparation And
's Sonne it finisht on his laid foundation Who gold and siluer vessels in did bring It making Iudahs Ioy the admiration Of all the World the Seat of the great King Whither the Tribes goe vp for his true worshipping I may with this example dignifie The noble zeale of our late famous Queene Who much desired to reedifie Paules Temples ruines which so fearefull seeme And make her faire as euer shee was seene But warres abroad and broiles within her Land Most fatall to this pious worke haue beene So as it still most ruinous doth stand Expecting helpe from Solomons pacificke hand Zeale like a Torch it owne selfe doth consume whil'st burning it to others giueth light And like to sweetest incense and perfume For others Good spends all her force and might Oh blessed fire if kindled aright It burne with Loue of Heauen and holy things Retaining in our hearts both day and night His sweet imbraces who is King of Kings Loathing the worlds vaine wanton wicked dallyings This Cupid be thy soules and hearts delight Whose Bow and golden shafts of Zeale and Loue Doe conquer Fury's Fates and worlds despight And stay the thunderbolts of angry Ioue Oh see the force of Loue and Zeale doth moue All powers that in Heau'n Earth Hell transcend Grant thee alone I zealously may Loue And let thy Iealousie me safe defend That neuer to strange Gods I my affection bend Let vs learne zeale of him that in the day's Of 's slesh did offer Prayers supplication With strongest cry's and teares to God alwayes That able was to saue him from his Passion And learne of him true holy indignation To be ev'n eaten vp with feruent zeale To see theeues den in Gods owne habitation But first let Knowledge our Commission seale That where this Feruour wounds our Charitie may heale But ah our zeale of Prayer now growes cold Zeale of Gods glory like our Charitie And as the world declines now waxing old Ev'n so doth all our zeale and pietie We raise our houses ev'n to dare the skie But raze Gods Temples equall with the ground Our Fathers built them for posteritie And left with Ornaments adorned round But we them with their Ornaments seeke to confound As for the Temples of the Holy Ghost I meane our hearts the Bridegroomes habitation We will bestow on them no spirituall cost But leaue them foil'd with vilest prophanation Pride Lust Vaine-glory all abomination T is time to wish this holy Bishops zeale Would make of them to God new consecration And that the Holy Ghost their doores would seale Against all spirituall theeues that holy goods would steale Oh that some holy fit of Heau'nly fire Raising my Muse to zealous contemplation Would in mine heart that feruent flame inspire And zealous Loue Saint Paul bare to his nation When as hee could haue wish't eu'n reprobation For their sakes from whose flesh Christ did descend Or of the Prophet by predestination Most sure his name in Booke of Life was pen'd Yet wisht it wiped out Gods glory to defend But I confesse we rather doe enuy Gods gifts and graces in our Bretheren And Iosuah-like forbid them prophesie Shewing more zeale to honour Greatnesse then To Glorifie the King of Heau'n yea when We in our hearts find any emulation 'T is for vaine-glory and the praise of men To build our houses not Gods habitation And leaue faire large possessions to our generation Let vs with Dauid make a sacred vow And to th' Almightie God of Iacob sweare Neuer to come within our house nor bow Our Limbs vpon our Beds till we prepare A place Gods spirituall Temple vp to reare Nor euer suffer sleepe within our eyes Or slumber in our eye-lids to appeare Till we an habitation doe deuise Where we may to th' Almightie offer sacrifice My mind inflame Lord with that hot desire And zeale to glorifie thy holy name That like thy Martyrs I may dread no fire Because I feele within a hotter flame Hot Coles therefore shall be to mee the same As to the Martyr was the Boiling Oyle Which did more coole indeed than him inflame Because his zeale within did hotter boile Sweet heau'nly dewes doe most inrich the hottest soile Oh were mine head a conduit full of teares Mine eyes two rocks continually to run As well to cleanse foule Lusts of youthfull yeeres As coole the zealous slames in me begun Had I thus once my Bridegroomes presence won I neuer would let goe my well-laid hold Till hee into my Mothers chamber come With sweet embraces ay mee to infold His ardent Loue would neuer let my zeale grow cold MEDITAT III. Of TEMPERANCE MY Muse now fares like to some Pilot wise Who hauing some dread stormes of danger past That tost his vessell oft vp to the skies Now sailing in the calme with temperate blast Goes gently on lest too much dangerous hast His ship vnwares on hidden rocke impight And him and all his hopes away should cast For thus it oft befalls some carelesse wight To wreck in fairest calme when they the storme haue quight I late was tost in rough and boisterous Sea Of Zeale and Iealousie which hauing past I am to saile in calme and fairest Lea Of Temperance most abstinent and chast Therefore my Muse goes on with sober hast Knowing against her many dangers lie Which by the touch tongue smell eye eare or taste Would her entrap and bring in ieopardy Which Poets by the Syr'ts and Syrens doe imply And therefore did the famous blind Bards quill Preferre Vlysses in his Court of Fame Who of this Temperance had got the skill Fore Aiax Hector or Achilles name His Odysses may testifie the same Which were compos'd his Temperance to commend By which he men and monsters ouercame And did life honour chastitie defend 'Gainst Syrens and Enchantments to his latest end And sure the Heathen to all Christians shame Seem'd wondrously vs herein to transcend But that they wanted that most holy flame Of zeale which I so lately did commend And knowledge which should guide them to their end All that they had by natures light was showne But God his holy Word to vs doth send Whereby his Will and Counsell is made knowne What fruit then ought we beare where so good seed is sowne Eue was the first Author of Intemperance Led by her eye nice tast and fond desire Of Knowledge with proud wicked Ignorance And chang'd Gods Loue to euerlasting ire The Garden loosing for eternall fire But what shee lost his Temperance doth gaine Whose aid now in mine entrance I desire Who from all food did fortie dayes abstaine And all 's Life from intemperate thought word deed refraine This Vertue some doe make so Cardinall That all the rest in her they would imply As Loue Peace Concord Pudour Virginall Gentlenesse Meekenesse Liberalitie Thrift Silence Friendship Goodnesse Grauitie Honesty Purenesse all true moderation Which doth withhold from Sin and Vanitie And bringeth vnto true humiliation Most happy Mother of so
let our hearts be alwaies mercifull And like the fertile ground yeeld plentifull Encrease of all the seeds which thereon grow 'T is Bountie that doth fill our garner's full He sparing reapes that sparingly doth sowe True Bounty 's noble hand no want did euer know But ah too many couetous of Praise And Glory doe by fraud and rapine spoile Other 's that they thereby there names may raise And some goods gotten by much care and toile Spend on their pleasures and thereby beguile Their poore and needy neighbour of his right Drinking and surfetting in ease the while And spending frankly on some base delight Like Brutes are bountifull to their owne appetite Some onely by their Bountie seeke for fame And these are onely to Ambition free Some Patrons now aday's such Shepheards name To feed the Flocke as loose and Idle Bee Wealth vnto wealth to adde they all agree Mo man respects the needy and the poore The emptie vessels emptie still we see They that are full to them is added more Dry hills want water when the valley's swim with store As Knights which of the noble Order are Of Garter that they better may be knowne A golden George about their necke they weare Nor doe the same at any time lay downe Whereby their noblenesse should be vnknowne So Nobles alwaies weare Benignitie Whereby whose Sonnes you are yee may be showne For nothing proues you Sonnes of the most High More than your Bountie and true Liberalitie But of salse bountie you doe vainely boast Delighting in vaine pastime oyle and Wine And gluttons feed for glory to your cost Whil'st at your doores the poore may sterue and pine You welcome such as you inuite to dine But scarce afford the poore scraps at your gate Which shew that all your bountie is to Ioyne Credit and Glory to your great estate And but for Crowes and Kites or Daw's do lay a Baite You for a million at a cast will play And hazard all your fortunes at a game And grudge not for one daintie bit to pay A thousand and then glory in the same With gold you tricke and trim vp some loose Dame The sinke that sucks vp all your Liberalitie Thus lauish you to your eternall shame All that your Fathers got by their Frugalitie And left to you to spend in bounteous hospitalitie Braue Alexanders deeds for ay commends His wondrous confidence and bountie rare Who dealing out amongst his faithfull friends Lands houses townes he gold and all did share When one besought him wisely to forbeare For what said he alas is left the King New hopes of gaming more said he there are Thus on his fate and fortunes venturing The Heau'ns propitious seem'd to him in eu'ry thing But ah poore Prince thy hopes are all but vaine As were the Benefits thou didst expose But we are certaine of eternall gaine If bounteously Gods blessings we dispose Ah! what is it if worldly things we loose And thereby gaine vs an Eternall Crowne Which heau'nly Bountie layeth vp for those That their owne glory willingly lay downe And what they reape by Bountie bounteously haue sowne Such all within most gloriously shall shine Their vestiments shall be of twined Gold They shall of Hony tast and spiced Wine And all the Bridegroomes fruits both new and old He gently will such in his armes infold And satisfie their sense with pleasing smell No eare hath heard no tongue hath euer told The Ioy and Bounty that with him doe dwell But more of these where next of heau'nly Ioy I tell MEDITAT V. Of Spirituall and Heau'nly IOY HOw should a heart opprest with worldly cares Of Spirituall inward Ioy now rightly sing Since none her knowes but who her image beares And feeles the Spirits inward witnessing All sacred stuffe I to this building bring No helpe but he that Abba Father cry's Can teach my Muse to touch this golden string I therefore here forbeare prophane supply's My Spirit wholly on the holy Spirit rely's Well said the King All worldly things are vaine And trauell which beneath the Sun he found Compared to left drop or minutes gaine Which Spirituall Ioy did to his heart propound No reach of Wisards skill no wit profound Is able this true Ioy to comprehend This Musicke wholly to the Saints doth sound The inward man can onely apprehend Sweet liuely Spirituall Ioy which neuer shall haue end No Muses darling euer yet did dreame Of this sweet wind which where it lists doth blow This onely is sweet Israels Singers theame Which he by heau'nly influence did show And then most when the outward man brought low By paine of body or by griefe of mind Did from his pen diuinest comforts flow Most heau'nly Ioy 's which he was wont to find To grow more strong within as he without declind Oh Ioy of ioy 's vnspeakeable delight Eu'n when our soules the powers of hell doe shake And vs with Iustice and due vengeance fright When as our guilty conscience is awake That all with terrour tremble horrour quake That then our gentle beame of heau'nly Grace Not onely shall from vs this horrour take But in Loues armes vs in an instant place They onely know this Ioy that haue beene in this case If euer I receiued strength and skill From Heau'n to scale the hill of contemplation I now doe hope Gods gracious Spirit will Me fill with Ioy for his sweet meditation Oh blessed Spirit who by sweet inspiration Directest eu'ry holy Prophets quill Enlighten mine by heau'ns illumination That most diuine sweet Ioy 's it may distill Into the Readers heart and Mine with comfort fill No tongue could euer tell no heart conceiue Therefore no Art is able to define What is the inward Ioy which we receiue By peace of conscience and Grace diuine But sure it is that speciall marke or signe Which on our soules the holy Spirit of Grace Most gently doth imprint and liuely line Whereby we doe behold Gods cheerefull face And spiritually feele our Bridegroomes sweet embrace There is a naturall and carnall Ioy Besides this inward Ioy spirituall By one we common blessings here enioy By th' other we in Sin and errour fall Those be partakers of Ioy naturall That health of body haue and worldly store The carnall Ioy we sinfull pleasures call Excesse of meate and wine Lips of a whore And all mans vaine delights 'gainst rule of heau'n lore These Ioy 's which with false pleasures vs deceiue Are not of kin to Ioy spirituall For that they alway's doe our hearts bereaue Of inward Ioyes pure food Angelicall Gods goodnesse is th' efficient cause of all And though each person in the Trinitie May seeme to haue a working seuerall Yet all in one and one in all agree With Ioy here to begin mans true felicitee There many causes are materiall Why we this inward Ioy in vs should haue Gods freest grace which doth most surely call All those that he elected hath to saue The Peace of conscience which
Ioy vs gaue And eke the Ioy of our Sanctification Whereby eu'n heauens inheritance we craue And certainly expect glorification And are inuited guests to heau'ns participation As are Gods gifts and graces infinite So causes are of Ioy spirituall It fills my soule with infinite delight When all his benefits to mind I call But none like this that 's Sonne should saue vs all By that great secret of his Incarnation Which made the Babe into Ioy 's passion fall At blessed Mothers heau'nly Salutation And made blind Simeons soule reioyce in his Saluation This made the Mother of the Babe to sing And her sweet little Lord to magnifie Her Sauiour which shee in her armes did bring This made in heau'nly Host such melody When newes was brought of his Natiuity Oh Ioy of Ioy 's to you is borne this day A Sauiour God from all eternitie This made the Wise-men from the East to stray And offer to him gifts that in a cradle lay This made the holy King propheticall Though many pleasant Lay's to Harpe hee sing Straine none so high and so patheticall As those of his Sonne Sauiour Lord and King Oh then each stroake hee strikes to heau'n doth ring His heart reioyceth and his tongue is glad Such Ioy doth hope of resurrection bring That though his flesh be with corruption clad His heart shall neuer faint nor soule be euer sad We for this hope it count exceeding Ioy When we doe fall on many sore temptations And when afflictions most abound we Ioy In Trialls Sufferings and Tribulations The Angells in their holy habitations At our conuersions wondrous Ioy receiue What passing Ioy will be and delectations When all the members to their head shall cleaue And for short Sorrowes endlesse recompence receiue My Muse her selfe eu'n out of breath now fly's Rais'd vp so high by Ioy Spirituall Yet by Ioy 's obiects she must higher rise To Father Sonne the Holy Ghost and all What greater Ioy than on the Father call And how did Abraham reioyce to see The day of his Redeemers nuptiall Ah what more Ioy vnspeakeable can bee Than feele the holy Spirit of Grace to dwell in thee Oh happy Host such guests to entertaine With peace of conscience their continuall feast Open you euerlasting doores againe Open The King stands knocking ready prest The King of Glory to come in and rest Downe from the fig-tree speedily then come And entertaine thy Sauiour in thy brest To day Saluation is to thee come home With Faith Hope Loue and Truth perfume thou eu'ry rom For without these true Ioy will neuer stay With her must all the heau'nly Graces bide Long-suffering Mercy Peace desire to Pray God these hath ioyn'd no man may them diuide False Ioy 's without these into vs may slide As stony ground which did receiue the seed Did flourish faire and Branch on eu'ry side But this did Faith but temporary breed And we this but a momentany Ioy areed There are besides this friendly seeming Ioy Other that are professed enemy's As those which worldly happinesse enioy And liue in pleasures ease and jollity's Against these th' author of true ioy reply's Woe vnto you that laugh for you shall waile Lament and howle for your iniquity's When Iudgement comes and all mens hearts shal faile What then shall all your worldly pleasures you auaile Another Ioy against true Ioy I find When in true cause of Ioy we so delight That we omit from Lusts to clense our mind And valiantly 'gainst base affections fight Ah! how can heau'nly true Ioy take delight Amongst our grosse corruptions here to dwell Sure this Reioycing is not good and right A little Leuen makes the whole lump smell Our boastings vaine This water 's not from liuing well There is a counterfett and feign'd delight Shew'd in the face but comes not from the heart Whom I may call A merry Hypocrite Others reioyce so in their owne desert In their redemption they will beare a part These are the men whom workes must iustifie Alas poore wretch remember what thou art And whence thou hast receiued thy supply And thou shalt soone from this thy proud reioycing slye Proud slesh and bloud that dares of merits boast When in thy Makers presence thou do'st stand And hopest to regaine what Adam lost By thine inherent Iustice thou do'st band Directly 'gainst thy Makers glory and Seek'st to reioyce in Iustice of thine owne Presume not ' boue thy strength to vnderstand But merry be and glad in God alone Who is all Worthinesse but in thy selfe is none As those which vaine applause of men regard And at their doing almes a trumpet blow Gaine onely praise of men for their reward But God no such good-workes will euer know So those in whom these boasting merits flow And in their meritorious workes delight God neuer them doth this sound comfort show They may awhile seeme goodly in mans sight But neuer feele true inward Ioy and sound delight As those which onely see the Stars and Moone But neuer saw faire Phaebus glorious light Beleeue no cleerer lights haue euer shone Than those faire Lamps which doe adorne the night So those that neuer knew this true delight Those heau'nly Ioy 's to holy Saints confin'd Thinke there most Ioy where flesh doth most delight But tast they once sweet inward Ioy of mind In all these worldly Ioy 's they no content can find This heau'nly Ioy by no similitude In Heau'n or Earth can truly be exprest Yet is shee felt as oft in simple rude As in the most profound deepe learned breast None know her till they be of her possest For as we feele the winde when it doth blow But whence it comes or where it meanes to rest No wit of man ere able was to show So many feele these Ioy 's but know not whence they flow As in the Incarnations mysteries The blessed Virgin ouer-shadowed By th' Holy Ghost and power of the most High Perceiu'd her fruitfull womb replenished But knew not whence till th' Angell it aread So wee this Babe of Ioy spirituall Oft feele in vs most liuely quickened But know not how nor whence the same doth fall Till that same Spirit of Truth to vs reuealeth all And as no creature able is of man The Spirit to discerne but man alone So of this Spirituall Ioy no spirit can Conclude but this sweet spirituall holy One Some would it liken to the glorious Sunne Which by his liuely beames doth Life inspire Where they an obiect fit to light vpon But I forbeare too nicely to inquire And rather in mine heart to feele her beames desire Oh Sunne of Light Bright Glory of thy Sire Who when thou left'st the earth thy Spirit didst send Into our hearts sweet comforts to inspire And with vs to abide till world's last end Some good examples to my Muse commend Of holy men which tooke so much delight In heau'nly Ioy 's they holy them intend And banish all vaine worldly pleasures
Her due Subiection vnto her Head And as our Christ directs his Church below So wiues must be by husbands ordered But this of wiues is better knowne then practised So is th' obedience which Children owe Vnto their Parents by Commandement And promise they shall long and good day's know If they to them will be obedient The fift and last is Masters Gouernment And Seruants Duty which they should them beare Which ought to be with single true intent Not for eye-seruice wages or for feare But as they would obey eu'n Christ their Master deare Thus ought we to obey these fiue degrees Set ouer vs Because we so obay The highest Power And if their iust decrees We sleight that highest Power we disobay Far wide then disobedient spirits stray Which by Religion would all reuerence Exclude due vnto Magistrates and say They vnto no man owe obedience A false excuse of Schisme and all vnreuerence Obedience preserueth Vnity And helpeth to this great worlds conseruation As Heau'ns and Earth doe by due Obsequy Obey their glorious Makers Ordination Behold how all things in this worlds Creation Doe by their Makers order stand or moue Earth keepes her Center for mans preseruation The Heau'ns turne all in motion round aboue Without Obedience one would out another shoue And thus we may Obedience obserue To hold our members in due motion ay Whil'st one doth to another member serue And all vnto the Spirit doe obay The Soule of man which doth by reason sway Eu'n all the members to their preseruation And if the least of them doe disobay Shee either seekes their better reformation Or one endangers all to endlesse condemnation For whilst man here doth on the earth remaine Sin and corruption in his Body dwell Seeking therein as Lord and King to raigne But Grace doth striue by force them to expell If bondslaues we our selues to Sin doe sell And giue our members here Lusts to obay We yeeld vnto such Lusts as lead to Hell But if that Grace our Soule aright doth sway Then all the members follow Her the narrow way Remoue this Vertue of Obedience From Soule or Body Subiect City Towne Or from the Creatures wanting life and sense And all vnto Confusion tumble downe The Tower of Babel might to Heau'n haue growne Had all obay'd with mutuall diligence But suddainly we see it ouerthrowne When to obay they want intelligence For without vnderstanding no Obedience As to maintaine Heau'ns perfect vnitie All to one surpeame Trinity obay So all that haue with it Affinitie Subiect themselues to that one God for ay No wonder if those that him disobay To many Errours Schismes and Sects doe fall For one true Vnity they doe gainsay When they resist his Ordinances shall And disobey Gods Word that here directeth all Mee thinkes my Muse could here her selfe transcend By musing of th' obedience aboue Which from the Sonne to Father doth ascend And Angells who obeying Feare and Loue Alas what can th' eternall Power moue Obedience of poore wretches to require But vs to ioyne to Christ our Head in Loue As he is ioy'nd to God in due desire Vnto no other end Obedience doth aspire For as when in a wild and fruitlesse stocke We doe some noble impe inoculate The fruit erst base and wild like to the Blocke Is made as goodly faire and delicate As Tree which first this imp did generate So the least imp of Christs Obedience In vs ingraft doth vs regenerate And makes vs beare fruit of like excellence As liuely tree from which it first had influence For all that from stocke of first Adam come Beare those sowre fruits of Disobedience But all that doe ingraft againe become In second Adams true Obedience Bring forth sweet fruits like liuely tree from whence They haue receiued first their sap to spring Swee liuing Vine whose sacred influence Vs makes obedient to our Lord and King Ah! who the praises of thy noble fruit can sing It did aduance that holy Prophets quill When He in volume of the booke did find Written that thou shouldst Gods whole Law fulfill Whereto thou wert withall thine heart inclin'd And when the time was come thereto assign'd Thou wert obedient to all Gods will Performing it with all thine heart and mind Ev'n till the Iewes thee on the Crosse did kill When thou resisted'st not though they thy bloud did spill Obedient Lamb this was the sacrifice The offering God did for sin require Thus We must offer vp to God likewise Our Soules and Body's with like zealous fire To dye if not indeed yet in desire Quick holy acceptable Offering To pacifie Gods Iustice and his Ire Is when to him obedient hearts we bring And crucifie those Lusts which from our Flesh doe spring As from the boundlesse Ocean doe run All streames which doe returne into the Maine So from one paterne of Obedience come All ours and thither doth returne againe The Lamb that was from worlds beginning slaine Gaue the first blow to Disobedience Which Isaack imitates when he is laine On Altar to be sacrificed thence Whom truly Abram offer'd by Obedience This was that quiet sauour God did smell When offring one of each cleane bird and beast The good old Noah pleas'd the Lord so well Obedience was the Seasoning to the feast What made the Lord Sauls sacrifice detest But that he did his Word then disobey When he did spare of Amalec the best To offer vp But therein did obay His own corrupt inuentions not what God did say Better then Sacrifice is to obay And then the fat of Rams to giue good eare Happy though we doe all the world gaine say If we obay our Lord and Master deare But ah whil'st we remaine as Pilgrims here Flesh World and Deuill daily vs perswade To follow Pleasures vaine and to forbeare Obedience to the Lord which vs hath made Whose Statutes to obey should be our onely trade Oh Sacrifice of Fooles with tongue to pray But harbour no obedience in thine heart Who dost in word professe God to obay But by thy workes dost all his Law 's peruert Behold it is not without iust desert That Beasts to thee are disobedient When thou to God a faithlesse rebell art To whom obey Sun Moone Stars Firmament Nor Sea against his will inuades the Continent Whil'st I about this sinfull Body beare Lusts and corruptions will therein remaine Yet neuer let them so much domineere As here of Grace the mastery to gaine For if I suffer Sinne in me to raigne That all my members will to sinne obay That sin whereof Saint Paul doth so complaine Oh! who me from the same deliuer may It is not I but sin that Christ doth disobay If that the Iudge by his Authoritie Inioyne me to performe or speake a thing Against the will of Soueraigne Maiestie Here my Deniall no Offence doth bring And if I be commanded by the King To doe against his will that is aboue I here no Rebell am though suffering For
I were better Crosse and Prison proue Than in Gehenna fry from whence is no remoue And as in all humane societies The meaner Power the greater doth obay Till to the Peramount it doth arise Which Power all inferiour powers sway So in this Power Spirituall we may Behold like order for Obedience The Peramount is Gods high Power ay For though we doe all Powers reuerence Yet to the highest we haue alway's reference What more vniust than looke to be obay'd By our inferiours and to disobay Those God hath plac'd aboue vs for our aid Ah how Thy will be done may we here pray As Angells doe the same in Heau'n for ay Which we so often crosse by doing ill More often then are minutes in a day Oh let my Heart be ready to fulfill Mine Heart be ready Lord to learne and doe thy will Ready in all things lawfull to obay Superiours all to doe things iust and right To Loue my Neighbour for mine enemy's pray Grace to embrace and with Corruptions fight To cast off earthly things and to delight Wholly in God and heau'nly contemplation To worke by day to watch and pray by night To learne of Christ Meeknesse Humiliation With trembling and with Feare to worke out my Saluation Since I must be obedient to the end How should I end to beg Obedience Obedience which to Liberty doth tend And vs restores vnto that excellence Which Adam lost by Disobedience Let others glory in their mightie traine And large command of many Continents By Meeknesse and Obedience I shall gaine With Meeke obedient Lamb in Heau'n for ay to raigne MEDITAT III. Of MEEKNESSE AS in faire Garden where variety Of choisest Flowers the senses to delight Are plac't by cunning hand most curiously Their diuers colours most effect the sight That broad and fairest shew and stand vpright But oft we find low creeping on the ground An hearb whose odour sweet doth more inuite Our smells than all the Tuslips there are found So is it with this Grace which I doe next propound For though the goodliest Garden of the Bride Like Eden is so faire embelished With richest Fruits and Flowers from side to side Their names and hues cannot be numbered Much lesse their Force and Natures be aread And though all are more glorious to be seene Than Meeknesse which is next disciphered Yet none more pleasing to our smell I weene Nor more than her respected of Loues royall Queene Obedience Meeknesse and Humility Are Flowers more for profit than for show Pleasing the smell and taste more than the eye And lowly like sweet Thyme and Hysope grow These by the outward face we must not know Their inward vertue 't is that we esteeme Their Force is heau'nly though their dwellings low And may the greatest Monarch here be-seeme For sure the King of Kings like these himselfe did deeme And vs commandeth all of him to learne Meeknesse and lowlinesse which rest doth bring Eternall Rest which doth our Soules concerne Here more than any vaine and worldly thing Most mighty God and yet the meekest King Fit thou my Soule for this sweet Meditation And teach me meeknesse whil'st I meeknesse sing Which base and meane in mans vaine estimation Is with the Lord of Lords of highest valuation Some her define to be a Moderation Of Anger And would haue her to abstaine From all reuengefull furious enuious passion Thereby possession of her soule to gaine For who doth gentle meeknesse entertaine With her finds happy Peace and quiet Rest And who from furious rage will not refraine But harbours wrath and malice in his Brest Possesseth not himselfe but is by them possest Meeke gentle milde soft affable and kind In words though diuers are in sense the same And come from gentle habit of the mind Which like it selfe our words and acts doth frame Making wild sauage furious creatures tame For all are mad and wild since Adams fall And burne in furious and reuengfull flame But meeknesse mitigates appeasing all And blessed here in peace the earth inherit shall Meeknesse which pleaseth God and profits man For God the meeke exalteth to Saluation And those which here abstaine from Anger can In multitude of Peace haue delectation With meeke far better is humiliation Than greatest spoiles with proud ones to diuide Heau'nly Hierusalem's no habitation For those which Right by Duells doe decide But those which can with meeknesse iniury's abide She ire and rancour in her heart can brooke But doth all with an equall mind sustaine Prouok'd by none nor doth she one prouoke Though oft offended hurteth none againe She doth from all improbity abstaine Resists not euill but the same with good Still ouercomes And doth more glory gaine By gentle yeelding than if she withstood The wicked in his raging furious angry mood Oh Grace most glorious when God Her sends To dwell in breast of some great Potentate His Heart She from all Crueltie defends And though he be a Lord of Life and Fate His hands with bloud doth not contaminate She such a Prince to Heau'n at length will bring Too soone for vs though he may thinke it late Let Homer fierce Achilles praises sing Giue me a mercifull meeke mild and gentle King For Meeknesse brings more honour to a King Than Purple Scepter Diademe or Crowne And richer triumphs doth to Emperours bring Than winning any Castle Fort or Towne He gets eternall Glory and renowne Who can by meeknesse bridle passions right Let Tyrants rage and let the Fury's frowne They can no more a good meeke man affright Than Arrow 's hurt the water that thereon doe light Inhumane cruelty's taught in the schoole Of Satan who would like himselfe haue all But he whose seats in Heau'n and his footstoole Vpon the earth Before whose presence fall Downe all the Angells and him Maker call Bids vs like to himselfe be meeke and low For he that turn'd to sweet that cup of gall Can make the meeke and lowly highest grow And with one blast the proud and cruell ouerthrow I labour not to keepe downe or depresse That humane natures high sublimitie Without which creatures beare no awfulnesse Nor due respect vnto the Maiesty God hath annexed to mans Soueraignty I seeke to suit his mind and conscience Vnto his outward Grace and Dignity And raise him by an inward confidence Of wel-knowne worth to an angelike excellence Yet not by this sublimity to swell Beyond the bounds of Mortalls He that 's wise Will as his worth and due deserts excell Be still more low and humble in 's owne eyes And as his State and Honour here doe rise Hee is more modest gentle meeke and kind Preferring not himselfe in any wise Before his equalls thus he grace doth find By gentle manswetude with God and all mankind For whilst by an obsequious conuersation And by ingenuous manners pleasing sweet Far from base flattery as vaine ostentation Hee doth inferiours equalls betters greet By loosing of his owne Lo he doth get
Beasts Fish Foule to be at amity This Lady Mecknesse as a Queene did raigne And vnder Loue had all Authoritie But since the Iron Age which enmity Hath rais'd in eu'ry Riuer Towne and Field Shee hath resign'd her place of Soueraigntie To Iustice and delights now more to yeeld Than Scepters in age so turbulent to weel 'd And for she know's the noble gentle mind Most sensible of wrong and iniury And few or none can here so constant find As to dissemble foule indignity She all requests that loue her company Occasions to auoid and not inuite Which may prouoke least iarre or simulty Aed not like teachy Curres to barke and bite Or Frogs which Poets faine with Bulrushes to fight If thus they cannot as who ay can here Auoid some iniury's of them that reigne They must dissemble and with pleasing cheere What they can no wayes shift faire entertaine One ask'd how such old age he did attaine In Court reply'd by bearing Iniury's Sometimes remitting and sometimes againe For them gaue thankes thus surely he that 's wise By suffring beares and not prouokes indignities And since no earthly Power 's so great and firme But Iniury sometimes will dare to smite Let Wisdom's precepts so thee ay confirme Thou neuer swerue from rules of Reason right So arm'd the wrongs which on thine armor light Shall backe on him that sent the same rebound But whom vnarm'd she can prouoke to fight Though happily they thinke her to confound They sure are to receiue a deepe and festring wound He stands not right whom Iniury can bow Who ill beare old doe on them new inuite But he that beares the old with Patience how Shall any new be able him to smite He that is wise and valiant scornes her might And by braue bearing doth her spite confound He best o'recomes that sets by her most light Who by impatience addes is like him found That doth by rending make incurable his wound In many wrongs 't is better to be mute Than by repeating them oft very small To cause long trouble or a tedious suit Whilst all the shame doth on th'auenger fall Such better were not mentioned at all Inuoke the helpe of constant Patience Whose presence doth all Iniury's appall And with an equall mind beares all offence Or doth despise them in her guiltlesse conscience Thus many offring doe no Iniury's Because they are not so conceiv'd or taken Oh happy who all wrong can so despise With sense thereof ne're to be ouertaken Whose vnmov'd constant mind is neuer shaken So farre from muttring or least murmuring He laughs and smiles to see them so mistaken Nor 's only easie in their pardoning But passeth by them without least acknowledging He is aboue the reach of Iniuries Who can represse reuenges curst desire And to the full repay's his enemies Who thus can quench wraths hot iniurious fire Yet holy meeknesse leads vs a step higher Happy who can ascend vnto such height It is the summity which all admire Of highest vertue when we take delight All Iniury's with Benefits here to requite The jest is lost if it no laughter moue So 's Contumely if it be neglected He neuer will a valiant Souldier proue To beare hot Blow's that is with words affected He sooner is with noisome smells infected Who them with open nose doth entertaine Than he that stops it or beares some selected Preseruatiue for to defend his braine So 't is to stop or ope our eares to proud Disdaine Poets paint Scylla with a womans face But like a Dog in neather parts and taile Whom Hercules th' Idea of all Grace And Vertue did amongst the monsters quaile You giue her Life if you will heare her raile But shut her mouth with patient suffering Or stop thine eares and soone her breath will faile Here Mecknesse ends and here I cease to sing Shee doth more quiet Rest than all the Vertues bring MEDITAT IIII. GODS WORD SO mighty are the weapons manifold Wherewith our spirituall Foes doe vs assaile So many stratagems vs to infold So many terrours vaine our hearts to quaile That neither Brestplate Helmet Shield or Maile Vs helpe against their Forces can afford For if they close with vs they will preuaile Therefore we must vnsheath our keenest Sword Our weapon spirituall ev'n Gods most holy Word Which those that able are to wield aright Of farre more Force and liuely Power find Than all the weapons whereof Poets write To haue beene wondrous pow'rfull in their kind What Homer of Achilles Speare hath coyn'd I not vnfitly to this Sword apply Whose wounds to heale no Balme could be assign'd The Speare that hurt must only remedy So whom this Sword doth kill this Sword must viuifie Of wondrous weapons Heathen Poets tell Of Stygian Armour and enchanted Swords Whereby small Knights did monstrous Gyants quell Subdude and raigned ouer them as Lords Such fiction to vs good aduice affords Against these Gyants spirituall to fight Our Fleshly Lusts and for to bind in Cords Our vaine affections here that take delight In doing that is wrong and leauing that is right God of all might that hast vs giu'n this sword Not only spirituall Battailes here to fight But dost engraue in it as on record Thy Rules whereby we muster may aright The Lanthorne to our paths our feets best light Direct my Muse to sing I humbly pray Of this thy Word by holy Words insight For but by it none can aright display That Swords eternall Power which Sin and Hell dismay That Word which in Beginning by a word Of Nothing made Heau'n Earth and Creatures all And was from all Beginning God and Lord Doth not within my Muses compasse fall That Word whereof now meditate I shall Is that reuealed written veritie Which first and second Testament we call Both which were first declared mightily By wonders signes and miracles from God on high For as the Lord most mighty wonders wrought By him that publikely did first record This sacred Word And by his Hand forth brought His Sonnes from Bondage of a cruell Lord So those to whom he did this Grace afford Of publishing his later Testament Wrought mighty wonders by this mighty Word To all Beholders great astonishment Confirming thus that they from God aboue were sent From whom this Word hath all Authority For by the holy Spirits inspiration Came Law and Gospell Prophets History And all Canonicall wise ordination The sacred Light that giues illumination Vntill the Day-starre in our Hearts arise Whose heau'nly Wisdome breedeth Admiration In all their Hearts that are diuinely wise But folly seemes to such as sinne doth blind their ey 's And sure it is a mighty pow'rfull Word If that the sense thereof be right apply'd More keene than any sharpe two edged sword And eu'n the Soule and Spirit doth diuide By it are all our Hearts intents descry'd The ioynts and marrow it doth smite in sunder No Creature from her sight it selfe can hide All high exalted things it
bringeth vnder And 'gainst all disobedience soundeth out like thunder This was the Sword wherewith our valiant Head When he was tempted in the Wildernesse And with a six-weekes-fast sore weakened Did free himselfe from Hells malitiousnesse When first on him his Enemy did presse He vs'd the hilts himselfe for to defend But when he could not thus his Foe represse Loe he the point against his Breast doth bend Behind me Satan All Gods worship must attend Those that will vse aright this holy Word Must not the letter but the sense apply Or else they vse the Scabbard for the Sword Wherewith none euer wun the Victory It is the Mystery of Iniquitie To take the letter and to leaue the sense To forge of Antichrists Idolatry The feigned Rocke the Key 's of Heau'n from whence He claimes to vniuersall Power Obedience A multitude of words but all one sense And tending all to that grand mystery To which all mysteries haue reference Mans personall vnion with the Deity The which to God was knowne infallibly In his election ere the worlds Foundation And all the Bookes it seemes to typifie From Genesis vnto the Reuelation Sublime transcendent mystery's of mans Saluation How should my Muse these hope to comprehend In this short fainting breath of meditation Which doth all humane wit and skill transcend Whos 's each word hath an hid signification Each letter pricke and point an obseruation All fauouring of Wisdome true diuine And far beyond mans weake inuestigation In it such rare profound deepe Learning shine A Volume is not able to expound a Line Fie then on those that swolne with vaine ambition To sway all Kingdomes with materiall sword Preferre before this Word their vaine tradition Which nought but vainnesse like themselues afford Their names be wiped out of the Record And Booke which all thy Saints names doth containe That thus doe seeke to vilifie this Word Which to accomplish Gods owne Sonne was slaine And thousand Martyrs spent their bloud it to maintain So deale with Prophets that to hide conspire From simple people Food spirituall Which they as new borne Babes do milke desire That they may grow vp to be strong and tall I grant as Mothers breasts doe best of all Nourish the Child so doth Gods holy Word Which from our Mother-Churches breasts doth fall Best nourishment vnto her Babes afford So as it be sincere Else be it all abhor'd True Angells Food sweet Manna pure diuine My Spirits dayly bread and nourishment Which wanting shee doth hunger statue and pine And yeeld to Body's sleshly Regiment My Soule with fat and marrow is content When I with ioyfull lips thy praises sing And feed upon thy Lawes great wonderment Which to subiection doth my Body bring And makes the Spirit rule and order like a King The Spirit it compares to Looking Glasse Where we our Faces Spots may all behold But soone out of our memory they passe Like to a Dreame or Tale that 's idlely told But who his mind thereon doth daily hold Doth walke in perfect Law of Liberty Which to him doth apparantly vnfold His Soule and Fleshes least deformity And sheweth him the meanes the same to rectifie Eu'n as the Raine indiffereutly doth fall Vpon the fruitfull and the barren ground So preached is this Heau'nly Word to all Though to the faithlesse it be fruitlesse found Oh! where this Word doth powerfully sound The strongest holds of sin it shatters downe And things most high exalted doth confound It 's smallest-Seed in lowly Valley sowne Est suddenly is to a mighty Cedar growne It is reported of the siluer Doue She neere the purest Streames doth most delight In which Shee may espy the shadow moue Of towring Faulcon or the rauenning Kite Whereby she is forewarn'd to scape by flight From cruell Hawkes that seeke her for a pray So if in spirituall streames we take delight Our spirituall Foes we there discouer may That so our Soules forewarn'd like Doues might flye away Most glorious Sun-shine where it doth enlight More comfortable Light hath showne But when Shee doth withdraw her Beames is night And darknesse spirituall far grosser growne Than that which three day 's was to Pharaoh knowne Hard-hearted Pharaoh thou that didst despise This Word and all the wonders by it showne Eu'n all thy plagues light on them that deuise To hide this heau'nly Light from simple peoples ey 's It is the doore whereby the pastours may Spiritually ascend into their Fold Those that doe enter in another way We doe as rauenning wolues and robbers hold This Word 's a touchstone which doth try from Gold All mettalls base Inuentions of mans braine Of which such store at Latium now are sold Not for the Flocks but for the Shepheards gaine Masse Dirges Pardons Trentalls and Traditions vaine Nothing describe her nature better will Than Touchstone th' vse of which simplest may learne But one had need of cunning Gold-smiths skill True Touchstone from a false one to discerne Oh how did those noble Berreans earne To try those things that Paul deliuered The things which our Saluation did concerne By that which in the Scriptures they had read The Scriptures that the Spirit had canonized Who from the simple people these doe hide Deale as with Israel did the Cananite Who no Smith suffer'd in their Coasts t' abide To make a weapon for an Israelite Therfore no speare nor sword when they should fight But in Sauls hands and Ionathans were found Chams hellish pollicy most deu'lish sleight To hold in Ignorance and Bondage bold By taking way such helpes as Liberty propound As first God by his Word and Spirit wrought And fashion'd all things in this worlds Creation So by this Word and Spirit he hath brought All things to passe in this our renouation And as he for our Bodyes preseruation Hath here materiall Bread and Wine prepar'd So 's Word and Spirit is for sustentation Of all our Soules that rightly it regard Such neuer need of thirst and hunger be afeard As Appetite 's a Signe of Body's Health So of the Soules is hunger of his Word And as to him that seeketh store of wealth A Myne can best what he desires afford So he that spirituall treasures vp would hoard Come to this sacred Word where he shall find It doth a world of mystery's record The richest jewells to adorne the mind True treasure's no where else reuealed to mankind For it 's the Megazine where pastours haue All gems and treasures to enrich their fold The store-house whence they all abundance craue Of liuing food their Lambs in plight to hold The armory from whence they may he bold To fetch all armes and weapons to withstand The wolues which them infest and to vphold Truth and the right against all Satans Band Falfe Heretickes base Lusts and worlds encroaching hand But as the Manna that from Heau'n was sent Bred Wormes if wrong but Food if rightly vsed So breeds this Word our Soules due nourishment But neuer-dying