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
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
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
THE BRIDES ORNAMENTS Viz. Fiue MEDITATIONS Morall and Diuine 1. Knowledge 2. Zeale 3. Temperance 4. Bountie 5. Ioy. IOHN 17. 3. This is life eternall that they may know thee the onely true God and Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent LONDON Printed by WILLIAM STANSBY 1625. THE CONTENTS of the whole Booke The third Booke 1. Knowledge 2. Zeale 3. Temperance 4. Bountie 5. Ioy. The fourth Booke 1. Prudence 2. Obedience 3. Meeknesse 4. Gods Word 5. Prayer 1. VRania 2. The Authors vow or wish atthe Consecration of the Right Honourable the Lord Maynards Chappell 3. The Muses health to the same 4. The Conuerts Conquest TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE AND REVEREND FATHER IN GOD GEORGE LORD Bishop of London Lord high ALMENER to the Kings most Excellent MAIESTIE TO me thy Fauour to thee my Relation Doe tie mee in a double Obligation These Graces fiue to thee to dedicate Which best I think thy worth accommodate Who art the bounteous Almener of the King Of Bounty whose great wisdome did thee bring For thy large spirit and well tempred zeale His Temples broken head and sides to heale Whose loue to Knowledge Humane Diuine As in the Schooles so in the Church doth shine These outward Vertues plainly doe declare What inward Graces in thee likewise are The chiefe is spirituall Ioy which in thy Breast God make thee feele as wee doe see the rest Your Lordships bounden in all dutie and seruice ROBERT AYLETT To Reuerend Diuines MOst honor'd belou'd Enquire you why A Lawyer meddles with Diuinitie I diue no seas profound of disputation But wade in shallow Fords of meditation I write no Systema no Institution No Babels Fall nor Sions Restitution Nor whither Tithes by Law diuine are due Or doe to you by Positiue accrew These mysteries I leaue to sound Diuines That searched haue profundest Scripture-mines Seditious superstitious Nouelties I hate my mind I onely exercise In your pure easie sweet diuinest notions And them at leasure suit to my deuotions To Iohn a Nokes THou lik'st my Verses well but not to flatter Dislik'st Diuinitie should be my matter What now will Lawiers turne Diuines that 's braue No By no meanes They haue no soules to saue THE BRIDES ORNAMENTS MEDITAT I. Of Heauenly KNOWLEDGE A Daily warfare is a Christians life Where Souldiers all not onely stand in need Of Armes and Valour to maintaine the strife The cursed Serpent makes with Adams seed But of this Treasure Knowledge both to feed Their Soules with food most pure Celestiall And furnish with such Weapons as they need I therefore her Loues Treasurer doe call For we in daily want stand of her Treasure all By feigned Treasure did the Serpent traine Our two first Parents to their cursed sinne Pretending they should goodly treasure gaine And Knowledge both of good and euill win But good doth end where euill doth begin For drosse they doe exchange their purest gold The Serpent bad without themselues within They find the euill as the Serpent told But vp to Heav'n flies good which can no ill behold Thus all our Treasures lost we had before The Knowledge of Gods nature and his will And we become vnarm'd rude naked poore Of all things ignorant but doing ill Now vs our enemies may easily kill We hauing lost our weapons and our treasure Which wealth and weapons if regaine we will We must attend this heau'nly Ladys pleasure Diuine sweet Knowledge not confin'd by weight or measure Thou Word incarnate whom aright to know Is Life eternall Ioy and happy rest To mee this Ladies wondrous Beautie show And richest treasures which in golden Chest. Thou hid'st from Hell and malice of the Beast Knowledge contain'd in either Testament Wherein thy Will and Nature is exprest How we should liue and Serpents sting preuent How conquer Hell and serue thee with a true intent Some Knowledge call th'habit of demonstration Some her to know by causes doe define Some th'vnderstandings sound determination Wee her to heau'nly Doctrine here confine Which in a threefold Booke to man doth shine Of Creatures first and latter Testament The Booke of Creatures shewes Gods power diuine The Law is much in types and shadowes spent Whereof the Gospel is the full accomplishment In Booke of creatures all men may obserue Gods Wisdome Goodnesse Power and Prouidence By which he made the world and doth preserue In truest motions its circumference Sending from Heav'n raines sweetest influence Filling our hearts with Mirth and Ioyfulnesse And giuing all things Motion Being Sense This doth Gods power and God-head plaine expresse But not his Will which leads to endlesse happinesse Yet by this Booke are left without excuse Idolaters who downe to stocks doe fall Which their owne hands haue made for such abuse And leaue their Maker blessed ouer all Who as his Power and Goodnesse generall Appeares most plainly in this Worlds Creation So doth his gracious Bountie on them fall In sending food for daily sustentation And in their healths and liues continuall preseruation The next two Bookes most plainly doe disclose Gods will particular and generall Particular to Patriarchs Prophets those That till Christs time on God aright did call For this did not on all the Nations fall Gods will was then in Iury onely knowne But now the Gospel soundeth out to all The seed thereof in eu'ry Nation 's sowne Which doth reueale hid mysteries before vnknowne The first Gods power and prouidence doth shew The second types out our Regeneration The third directly leadeth vs to know All that is needfull for our owne Saluation Ev'n from Election to Glorification This Booke reueales all secret mysteries Hidden in Christ before the Worlds foundation Though worldlings this as folly doe despise Yet this true Knowledge onely happy makes and wise As some great Princes might and Maiestie Is often to the meanest stranger knowne But his most secret counsell and decree To friends and counsellours is onely showne Ev'n so the King of Kings holds not vnknowne From Heathens sight his Maiestie and might But hath disclosed onely to his owne The secret of his counsells and delight Whereby they may him worship please and serue aright This is the Knowledge which I seeke to trace This onely doth true happinesse affoord Whereof the onely cause is inward Grace And vnderstanding Gods most holy Word The helpes which humane Learning doe record Law History Arts Physicke Poetrie Are but as seruants waiting on their Lord And hand-maids to their dame Diuinitie All Knowledge without this is foolish vanitie Sweet Grace which dost true Knowledge of Gods will To Babes and sucklings oftentimes reueale When from great Clerkes of Wisdome and deepe skill Thy pleasure is this treasure to conceale Oh sacred breath which in our hearts doth steale Like sweetest Zephyrus most pleasing wind Whence no man knowes yet doth it surely seale That certaine Knowledge which I seeke to find Knowledge of God and Christ the Sauiour of mankind All Graces that doe serue Loues Royall Queene
quite Shining like glorious Lamps in worlds obscurest night This inward heate this holy heau'nly fire Most what concealed vnder ashes ly's Which one till into flames they doe respire At home more easie than aborad descry's Because it selfe within best testify's In Abraham appear'd this holy flame When as he saw his Sauiour with his eyes Who of his blessed seed long after came For Abram saw Christs day and ioyed in the same Vp Miriam vp thou merily canst sing Now through the Red Sea thou art safely past Hereby our Baptisme then prefiguring That when Repentance vs with teares hath wash't With Ioy wee Egypts Bondage of should cast But neuer did more Ioyfull musicke sound Than Dauids when he of this Ioy did tast Restore mee to those wonted Ioy 's I found And euer let thy holy Spirit in me abound Oh blessed Bridegroome of the fairest Bride How often when shee seeketh thee by night Doest thou thy Ioyfull presence from her hide That wanting shee in thee may more delight How oft againe when thou do'st her inuite Rise my belou'd and ope to mee the doore Such is her nicenesse and her sluggish sprite Shee will not rise to let thee in before Thou thence art gone And then thy losse shee doth deplore These are the apples odours nuts and wine Which comfort her when shee is sicke of Loue These Christs embraces that doe her entwine The kisses which he giues his Turtle Doue Milke spice pomegranats which shee so doth loue All these are inward Ioy 's the Bride hath here Whereof she with the Bridegroomes friends doth proue And eates and drinkes with Ioy and merry cheere Yea drinkes abundantly with her beloued deare This was the Ioy that him was set before That did endure the Crosse despise the shame And Lord of all became low naked pore Enduring death vs to excuse from blame His Martyrs and Apostles in the same Suffrings and crosses him haue followed And trode the Wine-presse as their order came Where some in scorching flames more Ioy 's haue red Than wearied Limbs could find in softest downy bed This 't was the Kingly Prophet so admir'd When loathing all worlds pompe and glory vaine He this one onely thing of God desir'd For euer in his Temple to remaine To view the Beautie of that heau'nly traine This made him leaue his purple Crowne and Throne And in a linnen Ephod dance amaine For this would Constantine be rather one Of Christ his members then the Empires head alone But why seeke I for witnesses without Since 't is the Spirit within that testify's Our Soule that without wauering or doubt With Peace of Conscience Abba Father Cry's Vnto whose Soule this Spirit eke reply's Be glad and Ioyfull I am thy saluation Be not afraid-My Grace shall thee suffice To conquer Hell And to resist temptation And yeeld the soundest Ioy in greatest tribulation I will make glad thy soule delight thine heart And with a cheerefull countenance will smile For I am thine and mine againe thou art And though afflictions here thee square and file No power in Earth or Hell shall thee beguile Of those sweet Ioy 's which are for thee prepar'd Oh tarry thou my leasure but a while And thy petitions all I will regard Delight in mee I am thy hope and iust reward Oh! who can heare these Ioyous inuitations These blessed promises and yet complaine That hee 's afraid of crosse or tribulations Oh! neuer let these worldly pleasures vaine Make me so great a looser for their gaine And let me here all worldly griefes endure Lord onely free me from eternall paine This inward Ioy shall euer me assure And on thy merits I in all will rest secure Who would not rather couet there to dwell Where fulnesse is of Ioy for euermore Than in false vaine delights which leads to Hell Voluptuous Diet flatt'rings of a Whore I rather had with Dauid keepe a dore Where inward Ioy may in my soule abound Than swim in pleasures and preferments store In Princes Courts where vaine delights are found Which like faire flowers fade and quickly fal to ground But I confesse this prouerb true I find That where Gods Church is raising there to build His Chappell is the Deuill most inclin'd And where best seed is sowne in Ground well till'd He with most tares and weeds it alway's fill'd Vaine pleasures are his tares true Ioy 's our wheate Till haruest both together grow in field Then will the Lord of Haruest surely beat The cockle from pure corne at his owne board to eate Fountaine of Ioy oh set thy whole delight Into thy Lawes and Statutes to enquire To meditate thereon both day and night My soule than Gold doth more these Ioy 's desire Let others honour wealth and wine admire Lift Lord on me thy louing countenance Thy louing fauour shall my Soule raise higher Than Princes highest fauours can aduance To heau'nly spirituall wealth not subiect vnto chance In holy Writ I many places find From whence doe flow these Ioy 's spirituall But no where faster than within my mind Oh Lord Thou know'st not I from whence they fall God of all Peace and Ioy perpetuall Let not my Ioy A temporary proue But with her in mine heart thy Graces all Infuse Faith Mercy Patience Peace and Loue To passe by things below and seeke for things aboue Of endlesse Ioy how should I make an end My Muse is neuer weary of delight Since I this Meditation did intend I neuer scarce could sleepe by day or night So doth the pleasing matter me inuite So full of rimes and so the numbers run That I in shorter time haue finish't quite This tast of Ioy than I haue earst begun Some other Graces But my hower-glasse hath done FINIS THE BRIDES ORNAMENTS Viz. Fiue Diuine and Morall MEDITATIONS 1. Prudence 2. Obedience 3. Meekenesse 4. Gods Word 5. Prayer IOB 28. 28. The feare of the Lord is wisdome and to depart from euill is vnderstanding LONDON Printed by WILLIAM STANSBY 1625. TO MY MOST TRVE WORTHY LOVING FRIEND AND dearest Brother RICHARD CRAKANTHORPE Doctor of Diuinitie and one of his Maiesties Chaplens in Ordinarie NOt Nature Order or Affinity Can Friendships sacred knot so surely tye As choice For euer there we find the ground Of Loue and Friendship most entirely sound As their Desires are like so one there end Which is to be and haue a faithfull friend I that vnto mine owne defects am conscious Of such an honour durst not be ambitious Tell thou wert pleas'd to call mee Friend and Brother I know not that thou deign'st it any other Wherefore whil'st Time Life to my Lines shall giue Our Friendships memory in them shall liue Who of true Friendship know no other end Than here to haue and bee A faithfull Friend ROBERT AYLET THE BRIDES ORNAMENTS MEDITAT I. Of WISDOME and PRVDENCE THE first degree to Wisdome is the misse Of Folly For as Darknesse the priuation Is of Lights Being But no Being is So
And will not let his vnderstanding flye To see what goodly clusters there doe grow In heau'nly Canaan where Milke and Hony flow We hardly here of things below discerne And with great paines what is before vs find Ah how shall we than able be to learne Thy Wisdome which no limits haue confin'd Thy Spirit onely can into our mind These hidden mysteries in Christ reueale In which the Princes of the world were blind For from man naturall thou dost conceale This Wisdome spirituall which thou to thine do'st deale For as none know's the Spirit of a man But that same Spirit that within doth dwell So nothing apprehend this Wisdome can But that wise Spirit that all Truth doth tell Oh Sacred Spirit of Truth my heart compell This holy Sapience to entertaine Thou only giu'st to drinke of Wisdom's Well Mans wisdom's wickednesse his thoughts are vaine His knowledge is but errour and his pleasure paine Thou didst create eu'n all things by thy Word And by thy heau'nly Wisdome didst ordaine Man of thy handy workes to be the Lord That he in Truth and Equitie might raigne And with an vpright heart the right maintaine Oh therefore downe thine heau'nly wisdome send Me in all Truth and vprightnesse to traine She shall my Words and Works to thee commend And bring my small beginnings to a perfect end And here with Praise and Prayer I will end Oh who aright can know or vnderstand Except thou Wisdome from thy Throne do'st send To giue vnto him what thou dost command Then grant me Wisdome alway's to withstand Hells subtill Plots and Worlds base Blandiments Let sacred Prudence euer be at hand Still to direct my words acts and intents To yeeld Obedience to thy Commandements MEDITAT II. Of OBEDIENCE WHen first th' Almighty by his only Word Had fashion'd all within the Firmament He made Man last to be their King and Lord That he to him might be obedient But Man not with this Monarchy content Diuide his homage to omnipotence And hauing but one small Commandement Transgressed it by Disobedience The easier the Command the greater the Offence This all the Sonnes of Adam doe deriue From him and call it guilt Originall Which by th' Eternall Law did vs depriue Of all Gods Benefits and did enthrall To endlesse Bondage till Christ for this Fall The price of his most precious bloud did pay Which vs recouers from Sins actuall And by obeying Gods whole Law doth stay His wrath And merits Heau'n for all that him obay For as by first mans Disobedience On all men commeth Death and Condemnation So by the seconds true Obedience We haue eternall Life and sure Saluation Thus Disobedience by deriuation From Adam bringeth endlesse wretchednesse And true Obedience by imputation Conuay's from Christ eternall Happinesse So by the first comes sin by second Righteousnesse The glorious robe of perfect Righteousnesse Which they that are obedient onely weare To couer that foule shame and wickednesse Which Adams Disobedience layed bare Ah! let a Disobedient Sinner dare The aid of the Obedient Lamb desire My Will and Actions Tongue and Heart to square In due proportion to his heau'nly squire Whil'st I of true Obedience prayses doe enquire Deuoutest Lady Handmaid to the Queene Of heau'nly Loue And so in duty bound That shee 's alway's prest and ready seene To doe what thing soeuer she propound Her heart words will and deeds all one are found Seruing for Loue and not for Feare or Gaine No Subiect merits better to be crown'd For who can best obay he best can raigne And she is shortly sure eternall Crownes to gaine If I may square Her by the Rules of Art I her define to be our Wills subiection To Him that ought to rule both will and heart And by his will disposeth our best affection The rule of Reason may be our direction How our superiours Statutes we obay But when the Lord commands there 's no election Nor doubting what we ought to doe or say Gods will 's the rule of Right which none may disobey Here in two Branches I might her diuide Obedience first to God and secondly To our Superiours that on earth abide But all is but to one Authority For there 's no Power or precedency But that which highest Power doth ordaine Who therefore doth resist mans Soueraignty Gods ordinance resisteth and againe Who duly it obay's Gods Statutes doth maintaine Thus must our hearts eares hands be all attent His Word and Will in all things to obey Who ouer vs hath lawfull Regiment Which is one God eternall blest for ay Whose seruants all we are And therefore may Not chuse a Lord or Master whom we will Nor serue two masters least we disobay The one when we the others mind fulfill For that which pleaseth one doth crosse the others will Thus our obedience is only due To him that all did for his seruice make And 't is a firme position sound and true God only for himselfe But for his sake All that from him Authoritie doe take We truly and sincerely ought obey Or else our bounden dutie we forsake As those which doe their Princes disobey When they their lawfull Officers commands gainsay For this whole world is like a family In all things well and iustly ordered Where God hath the supreame authority And Rulers theirs from him deliuered By which they doe command as in his stead Who then to them are disobedient They may be said to disobey the Head For whil'st they rightly vse their gouernment We ought them to obey in things indifferent Indeed all ought regard the Supreme Will As first commanding cause and end of all Which all that Being haue ought to fulfill From which as all things rise so all must fall Here therefore first we into mind will call To whom that will commands vs to obay For in obeying their commands we shall Obey that Supreme Will This is the way To make Gods Will the Cause of all we doe or say To Him we must be subiect first of all To whom all Power in Heau'n and Earth is lent The Sonne of God begotten naturall Next to his Ministers which he hath sent Apostles Pastors Doctors here are meant Which by his Word doe teach their Masters Will And rule his Church by godly Gouernment And those which heare these his commands fulfill And those which them despise despise his heau'nly Will As Kings which with great Honour doe conuay Princes Ambassadours it doe intend Vnto their Lords So we our Lord obay When we obey the Legates he doth send The second Power is that which God doth lend To Kings and Princes for to delegate Iudges to punish those which doe offend And to maintaine the Life Peace and estate Of eu'ry member that maintaines the Bodies state To this all Subiects owe Obedience The third obedience is which wife doth owe Vnto her Head who due Beneuolence For Dutie ought vnto his wife to shew For as the Church so ought the Wife to know
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
wormes if once abused He that for Egypts Flesh-pots hath refused This Heau'nly Food And mans tradition vaine His base false lying Legends rather chused Shall whilst this Flesh betweene his jawes remaine Be with his great and wealthiest chosen shauelings slain Fountaine of liuing water which doth more And faster spring as it is emptied Most fruitfull Vine which bringeth still more store Of heau'nly grapes as they are gathered Th' epistle of Heau'ns King which rightly read Brings vs the gladsome tidings of Saluation Whose harder sense strong men may chuse as bread The plainer babes may suck for sustentation We both aright concort by heau'nly meditation The Sword that doth spiritually diuide From vs all manner of concupiscence Our youths reformer and our ages guide Transcending reason more than reason sence Truths ground the Fountaine of Intelligence Loues complement the root of humblenesse Faiths hold the Rule of all Obedience Hopes anchor and the path of Rrighteousnesse The ladder which we climbe from hence to Happinesse Would you haue more it is the milke sincere Which can alone quench Hells eternall fire The only Daughter to her Mother deare The mystery which Angells doe admire The sweetest song of blessed heau'nly Quire Whose Praise eu'n all the heau'nly Powers sing Apostles Prophets Martyrs all desire With all their might to strike this lofty string Which Dauid in one Psalme a thousand times doth ring As Iacob with the Angell wrestled Nor let him goe without a blessing would So when words mysteries by vs are read We striue and struggle for the meaning should A goodly strife if we contending could Hold out till what we seeke we doe obtaine As Incense doth no pleasing smell vnfold Nor Spice till it be in a Morter braine So are words mysteries till study makes them plaine This makes the lips of Christs endeared Bride Than any Hony combe to drop more sweet And vnderneath her daintiest tongue abide Hony and Milke The Hony is most meet To heale the wounds Sin makes from head to feet The Milke for Babes Loe thus her either Brest Which like two twining Roes doe equall meet Yeeld most abundant Food if softly prest And both with Roses sweet and Lilly's faire are drest This is the Tower of Dauid which is built By th' holy Spirit of most costly stone Whereon a thousand Shields doe hang all guilt With swords and weapons for the mightiest One This is the Priuie Garden where alone The Spouse with Bridgroome doth her selfe delight Planted with Nardus Saffron Cinamon And all trees good for medicine tast or sight Through which doth flow a well of liuing waters bright Most heau'nly Paradise where tree of Life My Soule most heau'nly Fruits doth daily bring Fit for the Lamb to walke in with his wife And for the Spouse most Angell-like to sing The Soueraigne Grace and Bounty of her King Where though I often seeke to hide in vaine Mee from my Nakednesse discouering My blessed Bridegroome calleth me againe And clothes me with the Robes of Lamb most righteous slaine There Manna-like Loe eur'y Fruit doth tast Iust as we would none iustly can complaine Though his vnweeded garden lieth wast God send to good and bad alike his raine Let him where thornes and bryers doe remaine Take heed how he this heau'nly deaw accuse It is the root thy euill heart and vaine Which doth the sweetnesse of this raine abuse Which for to water weeds and nettles doth it vse How should this Word be sweet vnto the mouth Wherein is nought but Gall and Bitternesse Or how should heau'nly deaws from West or South Moisten that Heart which by maliciousnesse More hardned is than Flint in wickednesse Alas what Corne can sweetest raine forth bring In Ground that choked is with worldlinesse Where as the thornes vp with the wheat doe spring And from the root suck vp all heau'nly nourishing Ev'n as a Lamp without supply of Oyle Being daily had is soone extinguished So though we seeme to prosper here awhile In Faith and Grace all 's soone abolished Vnlesse that they be daily nourished With Hearing Reading Prayer Meditation In vaine it with our mouths is vttered Except it in our hearts makes habitation And we expresse it in our liues and conuersation Oh let this holy Words most heau'nly Fire My secret sound affections inflame And burne vp all vaine fleshly worlds desire Oh blessed Fire like that in Bush did flame But neuer did consume or burne the same The fire whereby Gold Catholike is tride And straw and ' stubbled errour brought to shame In whom this inward fire doth ay refide He well the scorching heat of outward may abide But as no fleshly ey 's can here behold The glorious Sunne but by that Suns sweet sight So no man vnderstanding may be bold To know this Word but where it doth enlight Lord in thy Light then let mee see this Light Whereby I may my sinfull life amend And in thy Statutes set my whole delight And wholly in the way 's of wisdome tend So shall my foot stand fast with ioy vnto the end For as the snow and raine from Heav'n descend But neuer thither doe returne againe Till that be done for which thou didst them send To make the fruitfull soile fit for the graine So neuer shall thy Word returne in vaine But sure accomplish what thou dost intend Then moisten daily with this heav'nly raine My hardned Heart that all my powers may bend To glorifie thy name who dost these showers send How should he feare to want his daily Food Who with this Word of Life is nourished Or who can thirst that drinketh of his bloud Let not this Word be vnderualued He that is with this Heau'nly Manna fed Eates of the fattest of Gods spirituall store Wherewith Christs tender Spouse is fostered Till Shee growes strong and faire to stand before Her Head And neuer thirst nor hunger any more This Words Eternall therefore hath no end I no beginning nor conclusion find I could herein my Life and Spirits spend It doth so feed my Soule and glad my mind But now my Muse to Prayer is assign'd And bow 's her knees to end her Meditation With Praise to Him who first mine Heart inclin'd To seeke this Heau'nly Food of Contemplation I hope vnto his Glory and mine owne Saluation MEDITAT V. Of PRAYER AS wise experienc'd valiant Generall When 's Souldier armed is from Foot to Head And hath at hand his Shield and Sword and all His Armour with his Belt fast buckled Yet him into the Battell will not lead Till he be taught his Sword aright to wield To take Aduantages if offered And to defend his Body with his Sheild Then him thus taught and train'd he leads into the Field So wee that in these Spirituall Battells fight Not with fraile Flesh but Principality's And powers of exceeding foce and might Besides their treason plots and policies Must first be taught in Armes to exercise That all in complete Armour ordered
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
sings this Psalmist Hymnes and Heav'nly Lay's To him that giues him Spirit till his Death Oh heav'nly Musicke which the rage could quell Of Cis his sonne possest with euill Spirit Pure Hymns from God sweet mercy to compell When foulest Sins Hell-fire doe commerit Sweet Shepheard when thou singest forth thy Flocks The Angells all admire thy heav'nly Lay's Thy musicke moues stones trees and senslesse stocks When thou diuin'st of Christs most happy day's Yet those hands that so gently touch a string Can Lyons Beares and Wolues in peeces teare And quell the proud Philistine with a sling From whom the Host of Israel runs for feare Loue at his birth him dandled in her Lap Whilst all the Graces Lullaby's doe sing Shee fed him with Ambrosia for Pap And rais'd him from a Shepheard to a King And thou my Sonne although thy Breath be faint I cannot but commend thy good desire With their diuine Essays thy Muse acquaint Which may be fewell to thy heav'nly fire Yet though thou straine Inuention Art and wits And fills thy Verses with thy wisest Says They shall not liue except some holy fits Thy Soule aboue the Heav'ns bright Tapers raise Thy Soule whose Beeing is Celestiall fire Must like the Saints be rapt vp in a trance And extased with holiest desire If thou thy Verse wouldst vp to Heav'n aduance For as none but the Spirit of a man The secrets of that Spirit can disclose So none attaine sublimest numbers can Except a holy Fury them compose And as no Actor well can play the King That is not one in his imagination So none can Vertues pure Ideas sing That suits his mind not to his meditation Poets are like to Organs sounding shrill With fingers touch so long as they be full But as on empty ones in vaine's our skill Ev'n so are Verses without Fury dull And as none on the Harpe sweet tunes can sound Till hee by Art hath set in Tune each string So none high-rapted numbers can compound Till's soule be tun'd by spheare-like rauishing Sith then to Numbers life from Heav'n is sent Oh rarest Spirits how dare you abuse Them to dishonour him who hath them lent To 's Glory and your Chast delight to vse Shall your diuinest spirits stoupe so low To make your-selues base slaues to Lust and Sin And let your pure Pyrenean Fountaines flow In stinking Channells all defil'd within Still will you fawne on Fooles and Greatnesse flatter And fill the world with wanton idle groanes Still shall your Muse like Pyes this one song chatter Of Lust which brings corruption to the bones I st not enough you burne in lustfull flame Except you eke corrupt youth prone to vice And strumpet-like hang out your signes of shame The Passengers to folly to intice For numbers notes and tunes such power haue They soonest on the noblest Spirits seaze Whereon they doe their formes and sounds engraue As Seales on wax imprinted are with ease And that 's the Reason graue and wiser Sages Haue banish't from their coasts lasciuious rymes When Poets chast and vertuous in all ages Haue beene as Priests and Prophets in their times Would you the Genius of your Fury raise And change your fleshly to spirituall Flame Such matter would immortalize your praise And leaue behind you a most honour'd name Your Verse would be admir'd you honoured As Secretarys to the King of Kings For first the Prophets words thus numbered To handle mystery's and holy things Thus Dauid all his Psalmes by measure sings Moses the freedome from Egyptian thrall And Miriam vpon a Timbrell rings Gods Praises Iudith the Assirians fall They sang for Ioy but Iob and Ieremy Sing when they with afflictions most are prest A Nunc Dimittis was the Poefie The Swan-like Simeon warbled in his brest Magnificat the blessed Virgin sings The Angells Glory sing to God on high And Martyrs bound to stakes with Iron strings Sing Praises whilst in Flames their Body's fry So burnes their zealous heate of Loues purefire They feele no outward for the inward flame So long as they haue Bowells to respire They neuer cease to praise Gods holy name But he that seemes an Angell of the light More easie children of the light ' tabuse In Verse doth also his delusions write And for his Oracles did numbers chuse And for he know's that Loues pure heav'nly fire Is that by which we Gods whole Law fulfill His Prophets all must chant of Lusts desire And make great Ioue be rul'd by Cupids will Thus bloud corrupt th'inchanter doth instill With lustfull Fire to scal'd youths hotter veines And poisons with this Copperis the quill Of Heathen Poets in their gentle straines Who to make more authenticke Ribauldry Doe faigne their Gods therein to take delight Where though they Natures secrets wittily Oft vaile yet thus to Lust they youth inuite I know in first pure streames of Poesie The Muses Bath was chast as Pheebes shrine The Virgin Graces Ioues chast progeny And Pallas chast and vertuous as diuine Venus was then with Almas title graced And lov'd her Spouse plaine Vultan Mars scarce knew Whom though shee oft in nuptiall bed imbraced T was not for wanton pleasure but for due This Poetry my Sonnes reuiv'd againe To mortalls would restore the golden times And for your Brow 's immortall Lawrells gaine And to their ancient honour raise your Rimes But Satan since another patterne set Which he would haue all his to imitate And like a Fowler draweth to his Net Poore Birds with merry notes and pleasing Bait. But thou that seek'st Gods Glory not thine owne And striv'st to quench not quicken lustfull Flame Chuse these diuine ensamples I haue showne And guild not with faire words the foulest shame When thou do'st feele Loue 's Fury in thy breast What better theame or matter canst thou take Than sing his Loue who Heav'n and Earth possest Yet here himselfe for Loue a Slaue did make The Loue betweene the Bridgroome and his Deare Were matter to immortalize a Song No Man or Angell euer yet did heare Diuiner Musicke from a mortall tongue This is a deepe broad boundlesse Ocean A high Pernassus of sweet Meditation No holy Fury diue the bottome can Nor reach the height thereofby contemplation Soule-rapting Tunes when Turtles voyce doth sound The Songs of Sion in a Holy Land Sweet accents making Hills and Mountaines bound And Cedars of the Forrest trembling stand This better will thy heart enrich thy mind Here profit thou shalt reape with sweet delight Here thou refreshing Nectar-streames shalt find To coole thy thirst and cleare thy dimmer sight For thus thou safely maist enioy delight The pleasure which shall last for euermore Vaine Worldly Pleasures leaue men ere their night But when the iudgement comes they run before These heav'nly precepts sweetned by her voyce So rauished my Soule with delectation My Muse at quiet since doth sole reioyce And take delight in heav'nly contemplation And though I neuer hope to touch with