ANNIVERSARIES UPON H …

ANNIVERSARIES UPON HIS PANARETE; CONTINVED:

With her CONTEMPLATIONS, penned in the languishing time of her Sicknesse.

The second Yeeres ANNIVERS.

Et novus iste novo dolor astuat ortus ab anno.

LONDON, Imprinted by Felix Kyngston, and are to be sold by Robert Bostock, at the Kings head in Pauls Church­yard. 1635.

AnniversariesThe second Yeeres ANNIVERS. upon his PANARETE, continued.

LAst yeare I wrote of my deare PANARET,
To pay my dearest Deare her duest debt;
But who is Hee knew her and knoweth not
How many things I in my Threnes forgot,
Which should have been exprest? but such as wee
Who share in griefes, fall short in memorie.
This to supply with teare-distilling eye,
Still to one Taske I must my selfe apply;
For wee an Anniversall meane to reare
In honour of her vertues ev'ry yeare:
[Page] Where though our Pencyle cannot well set forth
The riches of her goodnesse and true worth,
It shall appeare wee have desire to doe it,
By th' ceremonious zeale wee beare unto it.
FIRST,
—lachry­mis (que) revi­simus um­bras.
in my weekely visit to her shrine,
I bathe those corps with teares which once were mine;
Once mine, now Earths: Nor doe I, trust me, stay
In any superstitious sort to pray
For her reposed Soule, which being at rest,
My Prayer would seeme superfluous at best:
Ye [...], I s [...]ould injure her, whose boundlesse blisse
Is such, none can be happier then shee is.
Yet give me leave to eye her scatt'red dust,
Which in the resurrection of the just
[Page] Shall bee united to her better part,
And re-united never to depart
One from another, but must joyntly share
[...]n those choise comforts which eternall are.
O Earth, Earth, Earth! O triple style of man!
Earth, for from Earth his first beginning came;
Earth by affection too, because, heav'ns know,
What we should hate, wee're most affected to;
[...]arth by his dissolution, since hee must
[...]eturne from whence he came, his mother dust.
Deare Dust! whose small [...]st atoms shall not be
train'd through the Crevet of my memorie
[...]ithout religious reverence! I will give
[...]hese pretious graines for reliques while I live
[Page] To such as honour her, whose vertuous fame
Before all Monuments, preserves her name.
In my diurnall sorrowes, I doe muse
Discoursing, as I many times doe use,
Of this unequall'd Subject,
Et lach [...]y­masse ju­vat▪—
those that heare
My Scenes of griefe, should not afford a teare
To ev'ry acc [...]nt: ev'ry trifling toy
Sprung from the ashes of consumed Troy Can force distreaming passion, though this woe,
This feined woe, were many yeares agoe:
Yet in that great destruction shew me one,
Whose losse might really exact our mone
By her exemplar vertues, as this did,
Or ever strove to have her worth more hid.
[Page] Some were held faire, but they were vicious;
Others deform'd, though they were vertuous:
Scarce one of that pure temper should we finde,
Where beauty vy'de with graces of the minde:
But Mine was faire and good, chaste, choice and free
In all, save what she had ingag'd to mee;
A sacred-secret gage, which I still keepe▪
In lieu of Her, who now is falne asleepe.
A Modell of her feature yet I have,
Et meminis­se juvat.
Which I will carry with me to my Grave▪
And this in private am I wont to eye,
And view't from top to toe, then set it by,
Then take it up againe to feed my sight,
Which cheeres, but cannot cloy mine appetite.
[Page] Sometimes opinion does delude conceite,
And makes me thinke Shee h'as dispenc'd with fate,
While sweet stolne blushes from her Cheekes appeares
Mixt with th' [...]lixer of pure Amber teares,
Which with a carefull hand I wipe the while,
And she requires me with a winning smile.
But what are these, but fancies that are bred
From the distempers of a troubled head?
Heav'ns blesse me! now, how melancholly seeme
Those shady walkes, and that Olympick Greene
Where nimble youths their exercises did,
And yeerely for her sake solemnized?
With what enwreathings would my Love and I
T' encourage young endevours there stand by,
[Page] While with a modest smile Shee'd deigne to grace
The blest Spectators of that happy place?
Blest by her presence! for I freely vow,
Nought but was gracefull what shee deign'd to doe.
Oft have I seene her from her Dayry come
Attended by her Maids, and hasting home
To entertaine some Guests of quality,
Shee would assume a State so modestly
Sance affectation, as she struck the eye▪
With admiration of the Stander by:
That Hee who saw her from the Dayry passe
☜
Would scarce beleeve her for the same Shee was.
So well Shee could upon the selfe-same day
Both Ci [...]ile Courtier and the House-wife play.
But to survey the passage of her life,
With Offices belonging to a wife,
[Page] A modest Ma [...]ron, and a Courtly Bride,
Dispencer of a Family beside,
Heare but a little wha [...] I shall relate;
And you may finde one fit to imitate
In th'posture of all goodnesse! which may give
Example unto others how to live.
Draw hither then, ye Formalists of th'age,
Who make your life a Progresse to a Stage,
Your Chambers Tyring-houses, where to pray
Were such a tedious taske, as you delay
To take acquaintance of it; or decline
Your thoughts from heav'n, because you have no time
For such reserved vowes: no more you have,
Nor can you dainty-Ducks a moment saye.
[Page] For all your pretious Morning-houres are given
For you to paint and decke you till eleven;
And then an houre or two must be the least
To jeere your foolish Lover, or to feast,
Or court your amorous [...]inging Favorite
With a bare-bathed breast to feed delight,
And purchase more Spectators:—but time's lost
Till a Play-bill be sever'd from the Post
T'informe you what's to play; then comes your Coach,
Where numerous light-ones, like your selfe approach.
But where's Devotion all this while? asleepe,
And for her selfe sole-Centinall may keepe.
But now you'r seated, and the Musick sound
For th' Actors entry; pleasures doe abound
[Page] In ev'ry Boxe; sometimes your eye's on th' Stage,
Streight on a lighter Object, your loose Page,
Or some phantastike Gallant, or your Groome,
But when this Embleme of your life is done,
This piece of witty art, what doe you then?
To your sinne-shrouding Coaches streight againe
You make repaire, where you relate [...] bee
Of what your Eare did heare, or Eye could see▪
Then to a luscious Supper, after this
To a reere banket, or to some quaint dish
To move a sensuall slumber, and delight
But never sate your boundlesse appetite.
Thus you in painted joyes mis-spend your dayes
More to your Suiters than your Makers praise.
[Page]But thinke not, Faire Ones, that I am too bitter,
For I doe hold no Recreation fitter
Than Morall Enterludes; but have a care
You doe not make them too familiar;
For that were to invert a Recreation,
And by day-practice make it a Vocation:
Though Some have writ that I doe hate a Scene,
Their judgements erre, nor know they what I meane;
I'm no Stage-Stinger, nor will ever be,
But doe preferre a pleasant Comedie
Before a Taverne, where so many sit
To drench downe care without a drop of wit.
But see th' effect of griefe! how glad would I
To any forc'd Digression rather fly
[Page]Than to our teare-swolne Subject, where reliefe
Hath made it selfe a Stranger to our griefe?
But now I haste to thee, my Dearest Deare,
To shew what precious treasures stored were
In thy religious bosome: nor shall love
Cause me speake more than I can duely prove.
FIRST,
Education of her Chil­dren.
for her nursing care; Shee held no stat [...]
Fitter for Mothers than to educate
Those they brought forth, and make their life a line
To teach their children how to spend their time▪
And this shee did; for ev'n her Nurserie
Appear'd a private Schoole of industrie,
Where th' Elder taught and taskt the younger sort,
As th'Mother taught the Elder; none fell short
[Page] In their Endevours: but if so they did,
They were by Her so sweetly chastized,
(And rare is such discretion to be knowne)
Both Love and awe were foulded in her frowne,
Yea, such a lovely reverence did attend her,
They'd rather be corrected than offend her.
But no delitious fare could she endure
Her Children to be us'd to, but inure
Their youth to timely Moderation now
T' enable them when they should riper grow.
For she was wont to say, "When God shall call
"On us, Heav'n knows in whose hands they may fall▪
"Let's then so breed them as may best become them,
"And to endure whats'ere may fall upon them.
[Page]With wholesome temperate dyet shee'd supply
The luscious fruits of Mothers vanity.
Observe this, Mothers, for'tis unto you
I speake, who so much delicacy shew
To your too tender off-spring, and like th' Ape,
Annoy them most of whom you most doe make.
Where be these native Arguments of love
Which you expresse? Or, wherein doe you prove
Your selves true Mothers? none can gather this
From pleasing of your Younglings with a kisse,
Or indiscreetest dandling on your knee,
Or cockring them with your indulgencie,
That you are naturall Mothers, unlesse wee
By naturall meane foolish; so't may bee
[Page] You may be tender Ones, I'l not deny,
Who, when they put their finger in the eye
For such a forraine Fashion, or a Feather,
Rather than grieve them you'l deny them neithe [...],
But cloath them in their folly: but are these
Expressions of Parentall Offices?
Oh no; while you are thus indulgent to them,
Through too much love you utterly undoe them.
For when they are attyred gorgeously,
Their formall habits crave more liberty;
Their eyes must have new Objects, which impart
Secrets of love unto a wanton heart.
Dinah must roame abroad, but ten to one
She looseth honour ere she visit home.
[Page] Prevent this, modest Matrons, let no staine
Impeach their youth; vessels, you know, retaine
A taste of their first liquor; season them
With that at first which may accomplish them.
All this my Deare One did, and so must yee
That hope to live in your posteritie.
NEXT,
Governe­ment of her Family.
Fame reares to her Name a monument
For house-affaires and private Government,
While her well-guided Family might seeme
A Patterne unto others to demeane
Their actions by; since all desires were bent
To close in one harmonious consent.
No spleenefull Waspe might lodge within her roofe,
All discontented Spirits stood aloofe.
[Page] With willing care her pleasure all attend,
Fearing n [...]ught more than that they should offend▪
For she with mildnesse did her Servants win▪
[...] to her
Sweetning th' endevours they were busied in▪
Yea, so much had her candid nature wonne,
They Ev'ning joy'd ith'Day-works they had done.▪
How far swerve ye from th' Patterne instanc'd here,
Who o're your Servants use to domineere,
As if they were your Slaves? which is no way
To make your people cheerefully obey.
[...]his but begets Eye-service at the best,
[...]nd makes an Holy-Day when you'r at rest.
Others there be, who have occasion [...]ought
[...]o beate their Servants, though it were for nought,
[Page] Like Vedio, who for breaking of a glasse
Would drowne his Page: let such Examples passe
Unworthy your Observance: better farre,
And to discretion farre more regular,
To imitate Architas, who in's field
Finding his Servant loyt'ring, would not yeeld
Forthwith to Passion, but intreats him thus,
Which may be presidentall unto us:
"Sure I would beat thee, were I not in anger,
"But that secures thee for this time from danger.
But other vertues now I hasten to,
Which did my late endeared Spouse endow.
NEXT, to the Love she to her Neighbours
Love to her Neighbors.
bar [...]
Than which no Creature ever had more share;
[Page]Were they infirme, she would not nicely stand,
But to their griefes apply her helping hand,
And dresse their wounds her selfe, for she was rare
Both for her happy cure and holy care.
Herbals Shee'd read, but timorous to erre,
With men of choice Experience Shee'd conferre,
Which so enabled her, as she was still
By doing good, improving of her skill.
Not like blind Herbists, whereof there be store,
Who have but one bare cure for every sore:
These, if they kill, they kill, and if they cure,
Th' effect is farre above their reason sure▪
Now, to the last not least, for it is this
Which gives us speedy Convoy unto blisse;
[Page] And that was,
Hospitality to Stran­gers.
Strangers Hospitality:
Where her Provision ever would supply
Their necessary wants; nor all her tim [...]
(Wherein her thoughts did ever close with mine)
Would she avert her eare from any one
Who sor [...]eliefe did to her Portell come.
Her Cruse was ever open to the poore,
Calling them Schollers of our Saviour:
If they were old, or feebly impotent,
An Almes with more bounty might be sent.
No Stranger ere did to her gate repaire
Confin'd to anguish, or surpriz'd with care,
Shee would not comfort, and with dropping eye
Afford compassion to their miserie.
[Page] None hungry but Shee'd feed; no thirsty wretch
But Shee'd refresh; Nor naked but shee'd fetch
Garments to cover them. How farre be yee
From these expressive Acts of Charitie,
Who fed with Amber broaths, delitious fare,
Have of your starved Sisters little care?
Their rags are your contempt; their shre [...]kes & crye [...]
Are boulted from your Eares, fann'd from your eyes.
But how should you take pitty of these Elves,
Who have no greater pitty on your selves?
How should you couer them whom Colds molest,
Who will not cover your loose-bared Brest
In sharpest ayres, but rather starve your skin,
Than shroud th' coccasion of alluring sin?
[Page] O doe not so; let gracious thoughts appeare
To mould you to that Patterne you have heere.
But I must leave;
He clozeth this second Anniversa­ry, as a vo­tive Sacri­fice to her memory.
but never leave to love
My glorious Saint, which now is sphear'd above;
Who, if shee daigne t' accept this Sacrifice
Dipt in a throbbing heart, and streaming eyes,
I've got my Gole, and shee a treble rest,
In Heav'n, in Earth, and in my naked brest.
When Just ones die, then they to live begin,
"They live to Si [...]n, when they die to Sin.
FINIS.
THE DISTINT TITLES O …

THE DISTINT TITLES OF THESE CONTEMPLATIONS.

  • 1. The Soules Sole-Love.
  • 2. The Wounded Heart.
  • 3. The New Dresse.

WITH LOVES LEGACIE, OR, PANARETES Blessing to her Children.

Contemplations of PANARETE, penned in the languishing time of her Sicknesse.

The Soules Sole-Love.
CONTEMPLATION I.

THou hast, my deare Soule, engaged thy faith: Thou hast betaken thy selfe to thine heavenly Spouse. A devided Heart cannot live; how shouldst thou live without thy Sole-love? Adulterine Colours cannot hold; nor adulterate affections reteine their colour. [...]ezabels feature was more beholden to Art than Nature. Such is the complexion of that love, which makes lust her lure: vaine is such a tincture, that makes a servi [...]e de­sire her applyer. Maiden honour con­sists not in formality: There is ever [Page] something more reall in it. Flourishes are but printed blossomes: they may worke upon the outward sense, they cannot captivate the Reason. The in­ward beauty is of more extent than any outward varnish. Thou hast reason, O my Soule, to preserve that, which solely makes thee gracefull to thy Spouse. Conceipt nothing seemely, but what may beseeme him that made thee. Thou art not made for a slavish fancy; thou hast one sole-love, to cleave to another, were a frency. Affection is no Tennis-Ball, for strucke into anothers hazard, it is lost. One Sunne cannot shine in two spheares; nor one spheare conteine two Sunnes. The Sunne of Righteousnesse is the Spheare of my Soule: she is a Planet, when shee shines elsewhere. Graces are divine beame­lins, the inward house is darke without them: and these shine most, when least interposed with any earthly clouds. What is it (O my Soule) to sparkle [Page] like a Glo-worme by night, or like rotten wood to send forth a deceiving splen­dor? What is it, with a glosse of dis­sembled purity to take the eies or eares of erring judgements? Thou hast with­in thee to witnesse for thee, or con­demne thee. Then, even then, my soule, when the great Booke shal be opened, the secret Cabbinet of thy retiredst thoughts unlocked, and no subterfuge for guilt admitted: thou shalt finde, that good workes must passe for ill, being not done well. The intention then must crowne the action. Almes with a trum­pet, Fasting with a dejected counte­nance, Praying and Tithing with a Pharisaicall affiance, must have no ac­ceptance. Bee thy discipline never so severe, if it be not sincere, it receives no reward. Honour must not be thine har­bour, if devout intentions Crowne not thy labor. Reflect on thy sweet Spouse, and meditate of his Pilgrimage on earth. Hee offered his childhood to a [Page] Cratch, his youth to Care, his Man­hood to the Crosse. Hee entred the world naked, He lived in it despised, & went from it with sorrowes burdned. There was nothing so grievous which was not with patience suffred by him, to make thee gracious in His sight who sent him. Shall a little Cloud then change thy count'nance? Shall a mi­nutes distaste amate thee, or make t [...]ee forgetfull of his sufferings, who subje­cted himselfe to death for thee? Who ever enjoyed a sweeter Spouse? Hee confirm'd his love with the losse of his life: and shall every small crosse in this life devide thee from his love? Behold and see (saith thy dis-passionate Spouse) if there were ever Sorrow like to my Sorrow! No, my Sole-Love, needs must thy Sor­row be great, when with the offering up of thine owne precious life, thou could'st hardly gaine any love. The Rocks were dissolved, the Temple divi­ded, the Graves opened, the Heavens [Page] darkned, all the Elements suffered, yet Man, for whom thou became Man, and dyed, became most hardned. Lost wert thou, O my Soule, and eternally lost; and to re-gaine thee, He lost his owne life: Such were those Adaman­tine tyes of his immutable love. Many sheepe he had, and those he left, to seek thee lost: so plenteously did those ro­seat Torrents of his sacred compassion flow, to wash away those crimson-dy­ed sinnes, which had left that dying tincture in thy wounded Soule. How often hath he sought to gather thee, and thou wouldst not? to espouse thee to himselfe, and thou assented not? to bring thee to his Marriage-feast, & thou attended not? Meane time, when thou sawest a Thiefe, thou runne with him, and with the Inordinate devided thy portion; both which with the cords of iniquity drew thee headlong to perdi­tion. Conceivest thou yet no compas­sion of thine unhappy condition? shall [Page] not one poore teare witnesse thy con­trition? Wilt thou become of thy wounds so altogether unsensible, as by thy want of sense to make them uncu­rable? Runne to the Rocke, and quenc [...] thy thirst with those living streame [...] which flow from it. Apply thy mout [...] to the hole of the pipe, that thou mais [...] be refreshed. Begge of Him water, who shed for thee water and bloud. Dry eyes will not bring thee to heaven Sinne is of such a deepe staine, as true penitentiall teares are of onely forc [...] to take away that dye. Thou seest th [...] Turtle how she mourneth for the loss [...] of her Mate. The desert becomes he [...] Recluse, consorrshe will not with any fearing to forget the occasion of he [...] misery. Brouze she will not, nor res [...] nor roust on any greene Branch Grieves are her inseparable Compa­nions; other Consorts she admits not because they suite not with her condi­tion. Contemplate these, O my soule▪ [Page] and reflect upon thy selfe. Let thine eies be estrang'd from sleepe. Let sighs and groanes be thy food. Water thy Couch with incessant rivers of teares. Great sinnes require great sighs; pe­rillous soares precious salves. Consider poore Soule, where thou art placed; with what innumerable dangers in­closed; againe, how those which were given thee for defence, are most ready to betray thee to thine enemy. Againe, reflect upon the benignity of thy good God; who, if he had beene as ready to punish thee for thy [...]inne, as thou hast been to commit sinne, had long since drenched thee downe into that bot­tomlesse pit of eternall bitternesse. Death had beene thy due; and Hell thy Portion. And canst thou now look upon thy selfe without loathing; or consider thy wofull estate without trembling? Was ever any one more bound to his Maker; and lesse thank­full? More watered with the sweet in­fluence [Page] of his grace; and lesse fruitfull? In no place couldst thou promise to thy selfe p [...]ace; within feares, without fights. Yet have the wings of the Al­mighty been so graciously spred over thee; as neither feare could oppresse thee at home, nor fury surprize thee abroad. And this was His worke, who hath so constantly lov'd thee, as Hee would never leave thee. For whenso­ever thou wandred, he recalled thee: when ignorant, he taught thee: when thougsinned, hee corrected thee: when sad, hee comforted thee: when despe­rate, he supported thee: when falne, he raised thee: when standing, hee held thee: when walking, he guided thee: when returning, hee received thee: when sleeping, hee kept thee: when crying, hee heard thee. What wilt thou render then, O my Soule, to Him, who hath done such wonderfull things for thee? Wilt thou stay in the Mar­ket-place idling? Wilt thou addresse [Page] thy selfe to no employment in thy cal­ling? Is it enough for thee to reteine the style of a Christian, & presuming upon that style, to corrupt the state of a Christian? Wilt thou make thy whole life an Holy-day; and by thy prophane conversation cloze it up with a fearefull day? Wilt thou not yet after so many sweet invitations, to al­lure thee? So many sharpe commina­tions, to deterre thee? Such gentle touches on thy right hand and on thy left, breake these bonds of thy Trans­gressions, and returne to that overflow­ing fountaine of divine compassions? It is fearefull, thou knowst, to fall into the hands of the Lord. For who is hee in all the world, so just, that hee may with confidence presume to be saved, if Gods mercy (the sole Salve of hu­mane misery) be from him removed? Yea, know, O my Soule, that thy justice consists in Gods indulgence, who hath an Eare open for thee, if thou cry unto [Page] him; an arme to embrace thee, if thou fly unto him; an heart to receive thee, if thou returne unto him; an hand to succour thee, if thou come to him; a wing to cover thee, if thou cleave to him. And wilt thou still feed on the husks of vanity, and despise those deli­cious cates of eternity? Shall one poore moment of vading pleasure deprive thee of those joyes which last for ever? By enjoying thy Spouse, thou enjoyest all things: his presence will be meat to thee hungring; drinke to thee thirsting; health to thee languishing; way to thee wandring; light to thee erring; life to thee dying. Bee hee then to thee all things, seeing without him all things are nothing. All things are vanity, save onely to please God and serve him: And s [...]ch a Service is a Christian So­lace; without which, as all things are vanity, so man of all others, the lightest vanity: How canst thou then bee at peace without him, since hee onely in [Page] the bond of peace unites all that are espous'd unto him? If man love man with such affection, as the one scarce suffers the other to bee absent: if a Spouse to her Spouse be joyned with such ardour of minde, as through the excesse of her love she can take no rest, brooking the absence of her beloved not without great sorrow: then with what af [...]ection, with what desire, with what fervorous devotion oughtst thou, O my Soule, whom thy best Spouse hath espoused to himselfe in faith and mercy, to love Him thy true God, and most beautifull Spouse, who hath so loved and saved thee; who hath done so many, so great & exceeding things for thee? Why stayest thou (O my Soule?) findest thou ought here wor­thy of thy Love? Wilt thou ever to thy baine, bee [...]ibbling at the baite of vanity? Hast thou not found much bitternesse in these deceiving shad­dowes of humane happinesse? Have [Page] not thy delights beene most crossed, wherin they lookt to be most cheered? Yea, when thou enjoyed thy delights to the full, had they not ever bitternesse in their farewell. Take a short Survey of the d [...]ies of thy vanity, and see what day in all thy Pilgrimage hath beene so propitious, as it was not encounter'd with some discontents! Hath not a merry Evening made an heavy Mor­ning? Nor a glad going out, a sad re­turning? Didst heare no report of a private foe; nor no death of a constant friend? Were thy affaires so well car­ried, as nothing miscarried? And admit all this; how long did this Calme con­tinue? Had this forward Spring no nip? If not, then so much more unhap­py, in being ever so seeming happy. The Saints and Servants of God doe in this world more feare prosperity than adversity: for that, the height of prosperity is in danger more to presse them, than the weight of adversity to [Page] depresse them. These through many tribulations passed; and passing profi­ted; and profiting prevailed; and pre­vailing were victoriously crowned. If the Divell be dead, then are persecuti­ons dead: but so long as our Adversary lives, canst thou thinke that he will not suggest to thee tentations? The enemy ceaseth not, dyeth not, but in the Re­surrection of the dead. Short is the fight, but great is the victory. Learne then from that vessell of Election, to re­joyce in hope of the glory of God. Rom. 5. And not onely so, but to glory in tribulations also, knowing that tribulation worketh patience: and Patience experience: and experience hope: and hope maketh not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts, by the holy Ghost, which is given unto us. O divine gradation! O gracious conso­lation! If thine heart then be right, O my Soule, whatsoever shall befall thee, thou wilt rejoyce in it for his sake who sent it thee; and conclude with that [Page] Patterne of Patience:Job 1. The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, blessed bee the Name of the Lord. Pitch upon this re­solve, O my Soule, and thy sweet Spouse will stay thee with flagons, Cant. 2. comfort thee with apples. Nothing shall separate thee from the love of Christ. Neither tribula­tion, Rom. 8. nor distresse, nor persecution, nor fa­mine, nor nakednesse, nor perill, nor sword. For,1 Pet. 3. who is he that will harme thee, if thou be follower of that which is good? Betake thy selfe then to thy Bel [...]ved Spouse, and he will give thee thine hearts desire. None can take thee forth of his hand, nor devide thee from his heart. The delights and riches of an heaven-ra­vish'd Spirit, are divine Songs, where teares are not without joy, nor sighs without comfort. Now, my good Iesu, if it be so sweet to weepe for thee, how sweet will it bee to rejoyce with thee? Whatsoever then I shall feele, by the presence & assistance of thy grace, I will not faile to give thee thankes in [Page] my suffering, equally as in my rejoy­cing: For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time, Rom. 8. are not worthy to [...]e com­pared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. To confirme this resolve, and in­flame thy desires, reteine the memory of his presence ever with thee, who gave himselfe for thee. Let thy Conver­sation bee in heaven, during this thy Pilgrim-reside on Earth. So delight thee in him, as no delight may take thee from him. Then maist thou free­ly say,Cant. 2. My beloved is mine, and I am his: He feedeth among the Lillies: among the Lillies of Chastity, borders of Sanct [...]ty: Follow thy Love with chaste thoughts, and thou shalt live with him in glory.

The Wounded Heart.
CONTEMPLATION II.

SHall the Har [...] long after the water brookes, when hee is with thirst ann [...]yed? or fly to the Herbe to cure him, when hee is wounded? And shall my thirsty Heart (the princely sea [...] of my minde) never fly to those living streames of ever-flowing waters? Sick shee is, and heart-sicke, and will shee never repaire to her best Physician: in whose heart is a fatherly care, and in whose hand a speedy cure? Will shee never taste of that Herbe of grace, to eas [...] her griefes, cure her wounds, and re­store her decayed Spirits? Whence is it, O my benummed heart, that thou are become so insensible of thine owne misery, as thus to make thy wounds in­curable [Page] through thy security? Why doest thou not cry out in the bitter­nesse of thy Soule, with that afflicted Patient, and m [...]morable Mirror of pa­tience: Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, Job 3. and life to the bitter in Soule? For thus by meditating of thy gri [...]fes, thou wouldst sooner labour for reliefe, and seasonably partake of comfort after thy long affliction: For who can search into the Source of thy Sorrowes, or know the depth of thy griefes or joyes, unlesse thy self [...] disco­ver them? The Heart knoweth his owne bit­ternesse: Prov. 14. and a Strang [...]r doth not inter­meddle with his joy. The way to cure thy wounds, is to open them; The way to ease thy Heart, is to discover the sor­rowes of it. Shouldst thou with that Sacred and Elect vess [...]ll, be pressed (and happy thou if so afflicted) out of mea­sure, [...] Co [...]. [...]. above strength, insomuch as thou shouldst despaire of life, call but upon the Lord, and hee will deliver thee. [Page] For hee, and onely hee, can heale the broken spirit; comfort the contrite Soule, and make the bones which hee hath broken to rejoyce. For hee it is, who is the hope of the desperate, the comfort of the desolate. Weepe he cannot, who is so solaced; faile hee shall not, who is so succoured. Apply thy selfe then to him (O my wounded heart) and repose thee in his wounds, for they are full of compassion; rely on his promises, for they sound nothing but consolation. Shouldst thou (ô my languishing heart) be driven to that extremity, as thou couldst finde no comfort within thee; no hope of reliefe without thee; no­thing but clouds of heavinesse to en­compasse thee; none but Iobs Messen­gers to encounter thee: shouldst thou rore forth in the bitternesse of thy soule: How long wilt thou not depart from me? (how long wilt thou thus afflict me? nor let me alone till I swallow downe my spittle? Yea,Jo [...] 7. should thy belly tremble: [Page] thy lips quiver at his voice: should rot­tennesse enter into thy bones, Habac. 3. and thy strength faile: yet would the hand of the Almighty, by disclaiming thine owne power, and flying to his mercy, so support thee as thou shouldst not fall. But thou art wounded, ô mine heart, and ô I wish that thou wert sensibly wounded! Meane time, let the desires of thy roring intrals beate at the gate of his Compassions. Let the cryes of the teares of thine eyes, poured forth with fervour of affection, pierce the clouds, and seale to thy numerous sinnes a gra­cious remission. O that thou wert so pure, that thy deare and loving Spouse would say unto thee: Thou hast ravished my heart, Cant. 4. my Sister, my Spouse: Thou hast ravished my heart, with one of thine eyes, with one chaine of thy necke. O fly unto him, and thou shalt finde this Love in him! Let the world have no part nor portion in thee. Hee is jealous of thy love; thou must love him onely, if thou [Page] love him truly. A devided Love, be­cause distracted in her Object, cannot live. Fixt must thy resolves bee, and those for eternity, if thou meane ever to raigne with him in glory. Shee de­serves not a loving Spouse, that is not faithfull in her love to her Spouse. To keepe thy Nuptiall bed undefiled, is an honour; to violate that Faith thou hast plighted, were piacular. Two hearts cannot rest in one brest, but two Soules may repose in one heart. Thou hast of­ten vowed to keepe thy selfe to one, and He thine only one: and how soone were those sweet vowes made bitter, when thine eyes, taken with outward Objects, begunne to wander? Tell me (my wounded heart) who was ever sicke, and knew himselfe so, and desir'd not health? who ever wounded, and sought not for a cure? Now, if outward dis­contents occasion such Care, what should our inward griefes doe, which minister hourely occasions of greater [Page] feare? Thou hast long suffered, and desir'd to be solaced; but thou sought not where Comfort was to be found: and therefore thou found not that which thou sought. The place or re­pose of an humane or naturall heart consists in the delight of this present [...]ife. But no sooner is thy heart touch­ [...]d with divine aspiration, than the seat of our heart becomes the love of eter­ [...]ity, and receipt of heavenly consola­ [...]ion. That heart is truly styled the friend of truth, which is a lover and approver of every right action; and makes Hea­ven the sole object of her contempla­ [...]ion. The truest proofe of love is the fruit of a good life. Divine love consists not [...]n voyce and ayre. Should thy voyce [...]ound like a Trumpet, and thy life si­ [...]ent: all this airy Musicke would give [...]ut a dead accent. Thy tongue praiseth [...]or an houre, let thy life praise for ever. For as Divine praise in the mouth of a [...]rophane sinner, can send forth no [Page] sweet-smelling savour: and Prayer▪ the onely pretious pearle of a pure soule, returnes without fruit, when hy­pocri [...]ie seazeth on the heart: and al [...] humane wisedome becomes folly, be­ing not directed to Gods Glory: so unlesse thou (O my Wounded Heart) on­ly love God for himselfe, thy mixt an [...] devided love can returne no comfor [...] nor profit to thy selfe. It is this divin [...] and purely-refined love which onel [...] maketh a rich and wise Soule. For, with­out this, what hath the wise more than th [...] fool? Eccles. 6. what hath the poore, that knoweth [...] walke before the living? Whatsoever [...] by thee (O my languishing heart) abov [...] all others affected, is by thee adored Preferre nothing, in the true value o [...] love, before Him that made thee; le [...] thou make an Idoll of the Creature, an [...] so dishonour Him, who made all inf [...] ­riour things to serve thee. Doe tho [...] his will by serving Him, and all hi [...] Creatures will serve thee accordin [...] [Page] to his will. Yea, even Hee, who hath commanded the Morning: Job 38. and caused the day-spring to know his place; shall shew the light of his Countenance upon thee: and thy longing E [...]res shall heare that voyce of comfort uttered by thine heavenly Spouse, the fountaine of all comfort:Cant. 4. Thou art all faire, my Love, there is no spot in thee. And in the affiance of his love to whom thou art espoused, shall thy wounded Heart, then cured, re­turne turne this answer to thy Beloved;Cant. 2▪ My beloved is mine, and I am his. Cant. [...]. His left hand shall be under my head▪ and his right hand shall embrace me.

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The New Dresse: OR, Motives to a New life.
CONTEMPLATION. III.

O My Soule, how long wilt thou [...]ttire thy selfe in these ragges of Sinne? how long in these [...] of Shame? when thine heavenly Bride groome comes, H [...]e will not en­dure to looke on thee; hee can by no meanes like thee, nor love thee, nor espouse himselfe unto thee, so long as these sullied garments of sinne cover thee. To a cleane Lord must bee a cleane habitation. A pure Heart must bee his Mansion; purged by Faith, adorned with good workes, inflamed with hea­venly thoughts. No Edging of vanity, no purle of vaine-glory, no tinsell-lustre [Page] of hypocrisy must set forth thy Nupti­all garment; for these would detract from thy Virgin-beauty. Those Egypti­an laces and Babylonian borders might attract a wandring eye: but purely fixt be the eyes of thy Spouse. Whatsoe­ver is without thee cannot take him: it is thine inward beauty that doth de­light him. Let thy affections then bee renewed, thy Virgin-beauty restored, thy de [...]aies repaired. Come not in his sight, till thou hast put off those ragges of sinne, and having put them off, say with the Spouse in the Canticles: I have put off my co [...]te, Cant. 5. 3. how shall I put it on? Let thy New Dresse be a New heart: so shall thy Spouse take delight in thee, with his sweete armes embrace thee, and bee enamour'd of thee, when hee lookes on thee; and in the knowledge of thy beauty say thus unto thee: Thou art all faire, Cant. 4. my love, there is no spot in the [...]. Cast thine eye all about thee, O my Soule, but let it not wander, least thou [Page] loose thine honour. Take a full view of the renuall of all Creatures; and ref [...]ect upon thy selfe, who, though Soveraig­nesse over all, becomes least renued of all. Thou seest the Heart, the Eagle, the Swallow, how hey are re [...]ed; nay, even the Snake, how by casting his Slough, hee is renued. Againe, thou observest, how yeeres, dayes, houres and minutes are renued; how the Earth it selfe is renued: Shee is with fresh flowers adorned, with a native tapistry embrodered, with a new beauty refreshed. Meane time, how art thou renued? Where be those fresh fragrant flowers of divine graces and permanent beauties, wher­with thou shouldst be adorned? Must all things change for better, and thou become ever worse in the sight of thy Maker? None more inconstant than thou in humouring the fashions of our time; none more constant than thou in reteining the fashion of sinne. What canst thou see in thee, that may please [Page] thee, or appeare pleasing to Him that made thee? Sinne is a Soile, which blemisheth the beauty of thy Soule. In this then to glory, were the highest pitch of infelicity. Thou art onely to approve that with a discreet Choice, which may make thee most amiable in the sight of thy Spouse. When thou eyest the vanity of Earth, fix the eie of thine Heart on the eternity of heaven. Mixe not thy delights in such Objects, where surfet or excesse begets a loa­thing;Luk. 21. but in those lasting pleasures, where fruition begets in thee an affe­ctionate longing. Fashion not thy selfe after this world; where there is nothing that tempts but taints. Desire rather to be numerous in houres than yeeres: so dispose of thy time, that time may bring thee to eternity. Ever consider (O my Soule) how thou art heere in a Wildernesse, and farre removed from the [...] of true happinesse. A Captives proper Melody is Lachrymae: he cannot [Page] raise his voice to any other Note, un­lesse hee madde himselfe in his mis [...]ry, and forget his owne State. Vye then in sighes with sinnes. Take compassion of thy woefull condition: Bee not com­manded by thine Handmaid. Restraine her▪ lest shee grow imperious; shew thy selfe a Mistresse▪ that shee may be­come more obsequious. Shee is wor­thy to obey, that knowes not how to command. Doe not loose thy Prero­gative; Preserve thy Style, reteine thy State, and make Her know how dange­rous it is to incurre thine hate. The more thou bringest her to contempt, the more shalt thou partake of content: Shouldst thou delicately feed her, or in her desires supply her, or loose thy reines and give liberty unto her, shee would not sticke to deprive thee of thine honour, and by thy unworthy [...]ubjection become an usurping Co [...]m­mander. To free thee from this dan­ger, let Devotion bee thy Succour, so shall the Shadow of the Almighty bee [Page] thy Shelter. Though the Servant ear­nestly desire the Shadow, Job 7. 2. and the hireling looke for the reward of his worke, or rather the end of the day, to conclude his work: tarry thou the Lords leasure; with pa­tience endure the heat of the day, the weight of thy labour. Though a Pil­grim be wearied, he must not faile nor faint, till his journey be ended: Wher­in, Hee accompts himselfe so much the happier; as hee is to his owne native Countrey neerer. If thou fit and furnish thy selfe in all points for this journey, thou shalt be joyfully received in thine arrivall to thy Countrey. Runne then to the Goale, which is set up for thee; Strive to come to the marke, which is before thee. Let no impediments fore­slow thee; no delights on E [...]rth divert thee. Seale up thine eye, if it wander; but open it, if it promise to fixe on thy Saviour. Hourely thy dissolution is ex­pected; the Marriage-feast prepared, & thou invited; Let thy garment be holi­nesse, so shall thine end bee happinesse.

LOVES LEGACIE, OR, PANARETES Blessing to her Children.

DRaw neare mee, and heare those last words which I must ever on Earth speake to you. Sure I am, that the dying words of a ten­der Mother, cannot but fasten deeper, and reteine a memory longer; than the Speech of the movingst Oratour.

Feare God above all things; it is the beginning of wisedome: and will enrich you above your Portion. You are now in your Childehood, let that season you: so shall His blessing, who hath blessed mee, crowne you.

Bee honest in your wayes; spare in your words; plenteous in good works.

Proportions God hath given you; Portions by Gods providence, I have left you; enrich these with the best [Page] portion, the ornament of vertue.

Specious Features are not to be valu­ed to the precious embellishment of vertue.

Bee what you seeme to bee; & seeme what you ought to bee: I never lov'd that Countenance, which could promise much, and performe nothing.

Ever reflect on Him that made you: and make devotion, your constant Dia­rie to conduct you.

Bee tender of those you ranke with; either to better them, or bee better'd by them.

Bee humble to all; Humility is the way to Glory: This it is will make you amia­ble to the Creature; glorious in the sight of your Creator.

Learne how to obey, that you may know better how to command.

In the consideration of humane infe­licity,☜ there is nothing becomes more in­curable, than what is habituate: when Custome of sinne takes away all sense of sinne.

[Page]In holy Places is the Devill ever busiest.

No disease more dangerous than the Lethargy of Sinne. This Sleepe brings ever an heavy awake: for though like a tender Nurse, She sing a sweet Lullabee to her deluded Childe, it is ever in wor­ser case the more it sleepes; for it dyes in sinnes-slumber, and perisheth untimely by the inchantment of her Mother.

Consider this, my dearest ones, Resist the Devill, and bee will fly from you: Suffer not the first motions of sinne to seaze on you. Pray continually, because you have an Enemy assayling you incessantly. The Combat is short, your Crowne eternall.

In the heat of the day, thinke of the Evening: The earnest-penny will recom­pence your paines: Continue to the end, and your reward shall be endlesse.

Bee not too curious in inquiring what you are to receive after this life; but so labour, that you may receive your re­ward of glory after this life. Many by too curious an itching after wh [...]t they were to receive, have deceived themselves, by [Page] loving their reward more than God.

Let nothing on Earth take your hearts; Let the divine Love only possesse them, so shall you finde quietnesse in them.

That heart cannot want, that posses­seth God. Hee will be a Light to direct it, that it stray not: A Comfort to refresh it, that it faile not. For all earthly helpes, they must either leave us, or wee them. Wherein it falleth oft-times forth, that wee are most afflicted even in those, wherein wee expected most comfort.

It is one thing to live on Earth, ano­ther thing to love Earth. To bee in the world, and of the world, are different conditions. Tabernacles are not to be ac­compted Habitations. While wee are so­journing, wee must bee journeying to­wards Canaan: Nor may wee rest, till wee get home.

O my tender Ones (for never were Children more deare to a Mother) make every day of your life a promising pas­sage to your native Countrey.

As every day brings you nearer to [Page] your grave; may every day increase in you the riches of his grace.

Let the joyes of heaven and torments of hell be familiar with you; by medita­ting of the felicity of the one, and infeli­city of the other: these to de [...]erre, those to allure.

Bee not too much taken with Fashi­on; it is the disease of this age: Come­linesse is the most taking Dresse to a dis­creet eye; whatsoever is else, borders on sinne, and becomes reputations staine.

I am not now very old, when I leave you, yet did never that spreading vanity of the Time much surprize me.

For my part, I did ever rather affect not to be knowne at all, than to bee knowne for singular. It is a poore accomplish­ment that takes her essence from what we weare. The rinde makes not the Tree precious, but the fruit.

My desire is, that you would bee cir­cumspect in your discourse. Though no Society can subsist without Speech, yet were it very necessary to bee cautious [Page] of the Society to whom wee direct our Speech. Few or none have ever beene hurt by Silence; but many, too many, by too prodigall Speech, have engag'd their freedome to the power of their foes.

Let your whole life be a Line of dire­ction to your selves; and of instruction to others.

Bee more ready to heare than to [...]each: and above all things, let your Fame be a living Doctrine to your Family.

Bee diligent in the Vocation you are call'd unto: And bee ever doing some good worke: that the Devill may never find you unemployed: For our Security is his Opportunity; to prevent then his Sleights, give no way to Sloth.

When you come into any Holy place, call Him to minde, to whom it is dedica­ted. Hold your selves then, as retyred from the world: and lift up your hearts to Him, who is your Hope and Helpe, both heere and in a better world.

Esteeme of all men well; and of your selves the worst.

[Page]Suffer with others, when you shall heare them defam'd: and preserve their report as well as you may. For it is not sufficient to bee tender of our owne, and impeach others: but to tender others as our owne.

Stand alwayes in an humble and reli­gious feare.

Bee not ashamed to confesse, what you were not ashamed to commit.

If at any time, through frailey, you faile; with teares of unfeigned Con­trition redeeme your fall.

Walke with an undefiled Conscience, knowing that you are in his presence, whose eyes are so pure, as they cannot abide iniquity; and whose judgement so cleare, as it will search out hypocrisy.

Keepe your Bodies undefiled; Tem­ples should bee pure and unpolluted.

If your desire be to honour your Ma­ker; you must make your heart his har­bour.

Every Countrey hath one chiefe Ci­ty, and that situate in the Heart of the [Page] Land; and becomes the Kings Seat. Your Heart shall bee the City of the King of kings, so you guard the Gates of your Litle City, that no sinfull Intruder enter nor sur­prize them; no corrupt affection winne in upon them.

Now the better to secure your State; let your Eyes, your City-Centinals, be so di­rected, that they become not distracted: by wandring abroad, they beget disorder at home.

All neighbourly Offices I commend unto you; they gaine love, which is the oile of our life. But too much familiarity I doe not admit; Charity is expedient to all, Familiarity to few.

Let not the Sunne shine upon you, be­fore you have commended your selves to that Sunne of Righteousnesse, to direct you in all your wayes, and enrich you with all good workes.

To conclude, (for I feele my failing Fa­culties drawing neere their conclusion) Let your youth bee so seasoned with all goodnesse, that in your riper age, you may [Page] reteine an habite of that which your youth practised.

Well-spent Minutes are precious trea­sures; whose reviving memory will re­fresh your fainting Soules in their shar­pest gusts of misery.

To speake of Marriage to you, I will not; for your Childhood cannot yet conceive it: May your Choice be with discretion, and without Change [...] so shall succeeding comfort second your Choice.

Preferre your Fame before all Fortunes: it is that sweet odour which will perfume you living, and embalme you dying.

☞ I finde my selfe now breathing home­ward: the eye of my body is fixt on you; the eye of my Soule on heaven: Think on me as your naturall Mother; and of earth as your common Mother. Thither am I going, where you must follow. Value Earth as it is; that when you shall passe from Earth, you may enjoy what E [...]rth cannot afford you; to which happinesse your dying Mother commends you.

FINIS.

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