THE JOY OF TEARS.
BOth night and day my bones are pierc'd with grief,
Oh if my wounds be deep! who can them cure
No sweetnes now, no joy, peace nor relief,
Ease is away, mirth I may not endure.
My paines encrease, sins guilt doth them procure▪
Fears mee beset, belike GOD is my foe:
Faith, hope and love are hid with clouds impure,
Expect I can nothing but wrath and woe.
Entrusting much my heart I truth forgoe,
Menstrous I am, no creature more vile,
More foule, more filthie: yea though earth no moe
In it containd, yet I would all defile.
Great cause I have each moment to deplore
My want of that which should my soul decore.
Iudgements I justly merite and deserve,
Oft do I faile, oft hear I Peters cock:
From GODS commands most frequently I swerve,
I love to dwell within a rotten stock.
Trifling allurements hold mee from Christs flock,
False foolish pleasures do beguile my sight:
Lost is my strength, through bearing of sins yoke,
Hourely I erre, in taking wrong for right.
Excuse my self I will no [...] for my might,
My thoghts, my words, my wayes, my works, my pai [...] ▪
My wit, my will are great unfriends to light
I can not see what profite mee constrains.
In mee no worth which Wisdome can commend,
Good LORD I pray thee help, reform, amend.
I know thy mercies far all sins exceed,
Thrise blest are they in whom the same abide▪
Except against the holy Ghost no seed
Of sin outbreaketh which they can not hide.
To thee I cry, from whom I oft backslide,
Father, forgive my faults both great and small:
Let out thy streames, come in with thy spring-tide,
With joy of heart receave a prodigall.
Establish mee, least I again should fall:
Make sure my steps, confirme mee by thy grace:
Remove the curtains, and partition wall
Of guiltinesse, thine image which deface,
Gainst thee alone I have made great assaults:
Give place to Mercy, pardon all my faults.
CHRISTS ANSWERE.
REjoice thy self in mee, sweet Iesus saith,
Winters of mourning make much for thy good:
Early and late for thee my Spirit prayeth.
Eternall life receave through my rich blood.
When God was angrie in the gape I stood,
I suffered all his justice could require:
Enter in rest, I stopped have hels flood,
Seald is thy peace, possesse thy soules desire.
In the meane time weep, weep, and do not tire:
Th [...] seedes of te [...]r [...]s bring foorth great cropes of joy:
Thy mourning dayes wi [...] suddenly expire,
I see what way thy sobs thou dost employ,
Thy sighs, thy groanes, thy vext and troubled minde▪
For grieving mee constraine mee to bee kinde.
In heart I feel more joy than tongue can tell,
Oh if I could my Saviour magnifie!
No longer (by his grace) will I rebell,
Enlargd hee hath his bountie towards mee.
Come, come, draw neer ye Saints, come, taste and see
Flaggons of comfort, which will make you glad.
Lo, how the pledges of GODS amitie
Erect my sprit; which formerly was sad.
Earths whole delights if at my will I had,
Misprise I would, for draughts of such sweet wine:
More other things to seek is to bee mad,
In greatest straits this is the best propine.
My soul, praise thou the Lord with thy whole might
Who hath receav'd thee kindly in his sight.
I have a pleasant birth, yet I must cry
O
1 Sam. 4.2 [...].
Ichabod! O captive Ark once free!Now Philistims with peace possesse; all my
Excellencie is gone, I wish to die.
Life, pleasure, joy withdraw your selves from mee,
Fraughted I am, and overchargd with grief:
Light of mine eyes is faild, I can not see:
Elies last end, nought else can bring relief.
Entred in Bethell have men of mischief,
Making GODS lawes to bee of no respect:
Though once they seemd well setled in belief,
Yet now their craft and falshood they detect.
With filthie smoak the house, of pray'r they fill,
And there intend to change all things at will.
Ierusalem is of her freedome spoild,
Orders of mens devising there bee plac'd:
True CHRIST is bound, thief Barrabas assoild.
Esaw much praised, Iacob much disgracd.
The heritage of GOD is all defacd,
Formalities to substance are preferd:
Lawes are imposd grievous to bee embracd▪
Earths fatnesse upon Iudas is conferd.
Eye weep, heart groan, black birds my mirth have mard
Moon hath no light, the Sun his beames withdraweth:
The mouth of godly Zephanie is bard,
Because the truth in honestie hee showeth.
Fountains of life which make Gods citie glad
Are fild with earth, clear springs can not bee had.
Stalf of religion greatly doth decay,
The door of holy discipline is closd:
Romes-cocatrice the lambs of God betray,
To subtile dangers they bee much exposd.
Good p [...]ople who are zealously disposd,
The benefite of peace can not enjoy:
No persons are so mightily opposd,
As they who Babels building would destroy.
The powers of darknes their whole strength employ,
In their defence who the Popes liveray wear:
But neither night nor day cease to annoy
The sheep of Christ in whom grace doth appear.
The hopes of bragging Papists are encreast,
Now when they see Gods servants so opprest.
Edoms curs'd children wickedly insult,
Wounds of the beast again by them are cur'd:
With death and hell they craftily consult,
And make the Gospels lamp to bee obscurd.
High courts of justice are bee them procurd,
Where wickednesse is stablisht by decree:
And where heavens heirs are wrongously injurd,
And Amos words are judged heresie.
In Babylon upon the willow tree
My harp is hangd, for Sion I must weep:
Yet they in scorn require some mirth from mee,
And Hebrew songs, my sorrowes are most deep.
Let my tongue bee within my mouth ty'd fast
If I rejoice while Sions griefs be past.
Gods captive Ark I long to see restord:
Old dayes of mercy doubtlesse then would co [...]
No land like Scotland was so well decord,
Each hungrie soul did there receive a crum.
Tabrets of power now dead pypes are become,
Flammes of strange fire provoke GODS jealousie:
Locusts of hell prevaile much over some,
Edens fair orchard wants fertilitie.
Exilements, fines, confines commissions bee
Made 'gainst all these who would their hearts keepe pure▪
Time-servers get honour and dignitie,
Idolaters full libertie procure.
None of an upright judgement dar appear,
The hands are weakned which Christs image bear.
I much lament to see GODS Saints so feard,
That few, alace, sound Tenets dar professe:
I much lament, to see men who compeard
Once in defence of light, the light suppresse.
I much lament to see such sleepinesse,
When Christs best friends are thrald in burgh & town.
I much lament to see who do possesse
The chair of truth, which should hold errours down.
I much lament to see a popish crown
Upon the head of Christs once glorious bride.
I much lament to see men get renown,
Who dayly both from faith and truth do slide.
Oh if I had in secret mine alone
A cottage, where I might these ills bemone.
Ioine, joine with mee, ye Saints, in pray'rs and tears,
O Lord hear, help, consider Iosephs cace:
The splendor of Kirk beautie disappeares,
Enthrond are they who Romish rites embrace.
Through fire and water woolfs thy lambs do chase:
False brethren vexe thy flock who truth retain:
Look to thy spouse which they seek to deface,
Her cause defend, let thy foes wo sustain.
Ensnare them all who make thy sheep complain,
And fight against thine ancient liberties:
Much they conspire, much untruth they maintain,
In thy chaire they spew foorth their damned lies.
Thy veritie in corners is confind,
The wrong thou gets scarce can it be defind.
Where once thou had a throne Prince Mammon sits,
Destroying that which built was by thy Sprit:
And building that which many pregnant wits
Doth captivat, and grieve each Isralite,
Good Ieremie who was thy favourite
Perceaving how thy glory was empard,
A wildernesse he thought most requisite,
Nothing but tears and groanes he did regard,
What christian man with him can bee compard?
Heart-breaking grief like his can not bee found:
Carefull was hee to have thy house repard,
Which now, alace, is brought down to the ground.
His lamentations, zeal, and fervencie
Thou hast reserv'd to the posteritie.
And for what else but that thy children dear
May thereby learn to mourn for Sions wrack,
And to deplore the boastings which they hear
Of Bashans buls, who truth would captive take.
Earth-Mammonists count not what shifts they make,
Providing they may come to their intent:
Sound reasoning they purposly hold back,
And in Christs mistick body make a rent.
Thou must arise, thy terrour must bee sent,
To stop the madnes of their wicked rage,
And to compell their furie to relent,
Which so bursts foorth in this malicious age.
Thy temple clenge, thine heritage reform,
Make all things to thy patern be conform.
For Sions sake I can not bee at rest,
To her relief while thou incline thine ear:
H [...]ar thou her not, now when shee is distrest,
Then close mine eyes, my life I count not dear.
Thy foes insult, O how thou dost forbear?
And suffer them on earth to bee extold?
In thy behalf no subject dar appear,
To vindicat thy truth so much controld,
Look how thy Servants names are all enrold
In registers, as men deserving shame:
Only because thy crown they do uphold,
And will not thy sworn covenant disclame.
Bee Agent for thy Spouse, supplie her wants,
And hear the groanings of thy weeping Saints▪
The Lords exhortatorie and expostulatorie reply
GRievd Saincts I much affect, saith Isra'ls GO [...]
Who sigh and sob for Sions wofull state:
I have her humbled under mans sharp rod,
That she may learn to keep my well path'd gate,
Apostasie extreamely I do bate,
Vngrately hath shee gone from her first love:
Carnall respects have caused her of late
Forsake her crown, and the Beasts mark approve.
Oh if she would from Babell yet remove.
Oh if she would turn home again to mee.
Then would I make my presence from above
Her corners all with light to beautifie.
I, as I live, delight not in her death,
I rather would she might evite my wrath.
My Covenant I charge her to renew,
Or else a cup of trembling she shall drink:
Wil-worship I command her to eshew,
At such a sin my justice can not wink.
Her whoorishnesse gives mee cause to forethink,
That ever I her wedded to my wife:
What reason hath she from my truth to shrink?
Am I not able to preserve her life?
Should fear or danger of a wodden knife
Debar her from obedience to my will?
Should she provock my clemencie to strife,
And move me with mine anger her to kill?
O how my lovelie nature she doth crosse!
I would her save, she will her own self losse.
Sauls sinfull fact who kild the Gibeonits
I wish she would remark attentively:
More easie shall it be to Gomorrhits
Then to these who their faith do falsifie.
I will not faile to punish perjurie,
In whomsoever I the same perceive:
She needs not think to plead immunitie,
Her slyding back no coverture can have.
I gave her life, I brought her from the grave,
I her enrich'd, I made her glory shine:
I ransond her when she was Satans slave,
I fild her flaggons with my choisest wine.
No fabrick had in any former age
Such heaven out pillars as mine heritage.
Her name was famous the whole earth throughout,
Her pretious stones shin'd clearer than bright gold:
My pleasure was to walk her To [...]ers about,
Her carved work was heavenly to behold.
Armies with banners terrible and bold
Amazed were, and fled before her face:
Her wals were thick, her bulwarks manifold,
Shee without stroke of s [...]ord her foes did chase.
Now dogs and swine possesse mine holy place,
Iudah doth walk contrare to my des [...]re,
No cons [...]ien [...]e makes shee errours to embrace,
Nor to prophane mine Altar with strange fire.
Land-monsters she hath chosen her to lead,
Who seek advancement above mee her head.
My stat [...]ts, orders, comely government
Shee hath rejected to her open shame:
With my prescriptions shee is not content,
Her wayes, her words, her works the same proclame.
Bethaven hath become my Bethels name,
Her filthinesse in her shirts doth appear:
Her solemn feasts and sabboths I disclame,
Her sighs, her sobs, her groanes I will not hear:
Her [...]st, her drosse pollute my fountains clear,
With might and main Romes rites shee doth defend:
How can I any longer her forbear?
My Sprite shee forceth with her to contend.
I look shee should acknowledge her offence,
[...]ut [...]o how she my love doth recompence.
Who would have thought she would have mee renounc'd,
And taken uncouth lovers by the hand?
Who would have thought her mouth would have pronounc'd
Such damned errours, as my truth gainstand?
Should shee repugne to my most just command?
Can I permit my glore to bee transferd
To other gods? Surely it can not stand
With that which my reveald will hath averr'd.
Long have I spar'd, long haue I wrath deferd,
Long have I her invited to repent:
Long hath my goodnesse on her been conferd,
Long hath she made my spirit to lament.
Lost is my labour, wasted is mine oile,
I reap no profite of my long some toile.
Where is her light? her crown? her ornaments?
Her chain of love? her peace? her puritie?
Her fruitfull gardens? her fair continents?
Her rights? her seales of Life and Libertie?
All shee hath sold unto her enemie,
Her vomite she hath licked up again:
Great is her craft, great is her treacherie,
Her purposes and projects are most vain.
In her no honest dealing doth remain,
My perfite pattern shee hath overthrown:
Doubtlesse on her my judgements I would rain▪
If secret wailers were from her withdrawn.
Lot must be brought to Zoar ere I can
Shoure down my furie upon sinfull man.
Ye Mourners therefore leave not off to weep,
Your faithfull pr [...]yers and tears my hands do bind:
For Sions sake becaus [...] your wounds are deep,
A good and gratious successe you shall fince.
Your melting hearts make my wrath flee behind,
Your peace is made, let Dragons fret and fume:
My light your joy, shall make their eyes stone-blind,
Though now they think my Cedars to consume.
To your comfort my promises resume,
In your distresse I will not you forsake:
Through my strong arme you boldly may presume,
To make the stoutest brambles all to quake.
I am your rock, gainst mee who can prevaile?
Earth shall decay, your strength shall never faile.
ALL endlesse praise be to my blessed LORD,
O Soul rejoice, thy groanes he doth approve:
From time to time his benefits record,
Extoll his Name, him praise for his free love.
Be zealous, stedfast, constant, do not move,
Faiths-fruit is worth all pains thou canst sustain:
Look to that glore hid up to their behove,
Who valiantly his born down truth maintain.
Elishaes words gainst all attempts retain,
2 King 6.16
Mo be for Christ than mortall eye can see:
In suffering for his cause none needs complain,
The crosse way leadeth to felicitie.
When dayes of Christian conflicts are expird,
More joy will come than ever heart desird.
I know my plainnesse will be much revil'd,
Obloquious raylings I must strive to bear:
None so maligned as Gods dearest child,
Edicts soul-vexing dayly he may hear.
Black to call black what Christian should forbear▪
Frettings of men like winde will passe away:
Luck warmnesse all should shun who God would fear
Esthers example Saints encourage may.
Earnest was shee to fast both night and day:
Hamans great malice deeply piercd her heart:
Most wisely shee her credite did assay:
In the kings presence shee took the Iewes part:
No contrare law could her stop, nor withhold,
From pleading stoutly with a courage bold.
This femal-pleader lets mee understand,
That GOD by weakest meanes gets greatest glore:
And when the stronger ships sink in deep sand,
The weaker vessell oft comes safe to shore.
The naked truth is ay advancd the more,
When there is least appearance of support:
Though Potentats intend to crosse her sore,
Yet shall shee flourish in a fruitfull sort.
The darts of wicked men shee can retort
Vpon themselves wherewith they think to shed
The blood of these who Christianly dehort,
From idol-feasts where with souls are misled.
Her life, her crown, her jewels none shall get,
Who for a part of earth would heaven wodset.
Let Demas and Diotrephes take heed,
Who heavenly substance for earths trash would sell▪
The Truth alone can help in time of need,
No other birthright can redeeme from hell.
The way to life all other pathes excell,
True godlinesse in it hath twofold gain,
Of grace and glore, more than mans tongue can tell▪
Hence comes that gold which ever shall remain.
Proud Ishmalites this treasure which disdain.
Shall never dwell upon Mount Sion hill:
Nor shall enjoy the comfort of that rain,
Nor of those drops which mercy doth distill.
None, none but they who love, maintain, defend
The Truth opprest shall get a blessed end.
The Authors epilogue.
I am but sinfull dust,
From God is my record,
To mee belongeth shame,
All glorie to the Lord.