Gods love and mans unworthiness whereunto is annexed a discourse between the soul & Satan : with several divine ejaculations / written by John Quarles.

The Minde of the Frontiſpeece. REader, obſerve, and ſee Jehovah ſtand Showring down bleſſings to the graſping hand Of new-made, naked Man, that takes delight To take the Crowns, but cares not to requite The gratious giver of ſuch gifts as thoſe, With any thing, except it be with blows; A fair reward: but ſure it much redowns To Mans diſgrace, to give God blows, for Crowns

GODS Loue MANS Vnworthineſs By Jo: Qu:

Lord what is man that thou art mindfull of him and the ſon of man that thou ſo regardest him Ps: 8. v. 4

London Printed for Jo: Stafford dwelling in St. Brides Church:yard

GODS LOVE AND Mans Vnworthineſs: Whereunto is annexed a Diſcourſe between the SOUL & SATAN.

With ſeveral Divine Ejaculations.

Written by JOHN QUARLES.

LONDON, Printed for John Stafford, and are to be ſold at his houſe in S. Brides Church yard, and by Humphrey Moſeley at the Princes Armes in St. Pauls Church yard, and John Holden at the blue Anchor in the new Exchange. 1651.

TO My much-honoured and Eſteemed Friend, Edward Benlowes, Eſq. SIR,

I Am confident you cannot have greater cauſe to wonder at my boldneſs, then I have reaſon to admire at your Learning, and Piety; for indeed the rare example of your virtues add • d much alacrity to my endeavours, which are but ſhallow if compar'd to the depth of your underſtanding. Sir, the limits of my requeſt (though they are large) extend themſelves no further then this, That You would be pleas'd to permit this my unfleg'd bird to reſt under the wings of Your protection, that I may ever be engag'd to boaſt of ſo worthy a Patron: Sir, as I know I have errors, ſo I know you have goodneſs to excuſe them, and I a heart to be thankfull, and alwayes be a faithfull honourer of Your Virtues, whileſt I am

Sir, Your Servant to Command, JOHN QUARLES.

To the Reader. Kinde Reader,

LET me lay this Injunction upon thee, before thou permittest thy eye to ſurvey this little Volume, which is. That thou wilt reſolve to pardon; I will not ſay for what, for fear thou ſhouldst be ſ • rupulous and not Read: The Subject is Divine, and I confeſs too good to be ſo badly handled; however I have done my beſt endeavour, and Alexander did no more when he conquered Kingdomes; But Reader, becauſe I will not detain thine eye too long in one place, I bid thee

Farewell.

To my Muſe. TEL me preſumptuous Muſe how dar'ſt thou treat Upon a Subject ſo ſublime, ſo great! Alas how dare thy infancy aſpire So high as Heaven, where the caeleſtial quire Of ſoul-enchanting Angels, hourely ſing, Anthems of Joy to their mellifluous King! This is a taske that invocates the beſt And loftieſt quils; Heav'ns love muſt not b'expreſt With wanton language; he that ſhall preſume To labour in this work, muſt firſt perſume His Soul with true divinity, and breathe Celeſtiall ayres, that Readers may perceive Their Author labours with a ſerious heart T' embalm his actions with divineſt art; This is a field whoſe ſpacious bounds extend Themſelves to infinite; who ſtrives to end Shall ſtill begin, and having once begun This pleaſing progreſs, muſt not ceaſe to run Untill he ſtops in Heaven, there lyes the gain, Who runs with Faith is certain to obtain. If then my Muſe, thou canſt divinely mount This Sacred Stage, thou needſt not fear t'account Thy actions proſperous, ſtrive thou to ſtand Guarded with Faith, and Heav'n will lend a hand To prop thee up, his power will infuſe Sufficient matter for an active Muſe To work upon, his wiſdome will direct Thy painfull hand, his mercies will correct Thy rambling thoughts, and teach thee to proclaim Th' unſum'd up glories of his Royall Name; Abandon earth, and bid vain thoughts adeu Thou canſt not ſerve thy God and Mammon too; Rouſe then, and let thy well-prun'd Eagles wings Mount thee aloft, let not terreſtiall things Diſturbe thy reſolutions, let them all Evade thy minde; thy thoughts muſt grow too tall For ſuch low toyes: ſtir up thy zealous fire, And what thou canſt not well expreſſe, admire.

See, heer, a Phoenix rare, raiſ'd from ye duſt of precious Parents; Fathers Effigies juſt Who for his Genius & ingenious Parts, Of Learning, Worth, & Witt, to Conquer hearts By pleaſant Poetry; Seemes to inherit (By Tranſmigration) his rare Fathers Spirit, As, old Pythag'ras held: So ſweetly, Hee Doth Patrizare, in full Ex'ſſencie

Gods Love, AND Mans Unworthineſs. GOD! how that word hath thunder-clapt my Soul Into a raviſhment; I muſt condole My forward weakneſs; Ah, where ſhall I find Sufficient Metaphors t'expreſs my mind? Thou heart-amuſing word, how haſt thou fil'd My Soul with Halelujahs, and diſtil'd Wonders into me! Oh, that I could break My heart in pieces, and divinely ſpeak My mind in Raptures, that the frantique Earth May bathe it felf in theſe ſweet ſtreams of mirth. Then rouze my Soul, and practiſe how to turn Thy wonders into language; do not burn Thy ſacred fuel in a place where none Can have the benefit but thee alone. Hoiſt up thy Sails, and let thy ſpeedy motion Hurry thee hence into the boundleſs Ocean: Obſerve thy compaſs, keep a conſtant pace, And Heav'n will ſteer thee to the Port of Grace. • is ſtrange to think, how the Almighty can (That is ſo pure) love ſuch a thing as Man, Whoſe primitive corruption makes him worſe Then nothing, whoſe Rebellion claims a curſe, More then affection: How can Heav'n endure A thing that can be nothing but impure? Man (like a word that's voyd of reaſon) ſounds In every ear, his very name expounds A miſery; at beſt, he needs muſt be But vain; And how can Heav'n love vanitie? Man (like a ſhadow) flies before the Sun Of his afflictions, and is ſtill undone By his own doing, he's his own purſuer; And how can Heav'n love ſuch a ſelf-undoer? Man (like a naked worm) is often found Digging himſelf into the loathſom ground Of ruine, he's a Traytor to his Bliſs; And how can Heav'n love ſuch a worm as this? Man (like a flaſh of lightning) courts the world With laviſh flames, and by and by is hurl'd Into that Nothing, whence at firſt it came; Then how can God love ſuch a ſhort-liv'd flame? Man (like a Reed) is evermore inclin'd To ſhake, and totter with each blaſt of wind; He's always running to the ground with ſpeed: And how can Heav'n love ſuch an earthly Reed? Man (like the duſt) is always blown, and • oſt From place to place, and flies, till it has loſt Its Center; never reſting in one place: Then how can Heav'n love that which flies in's face? Man (like a Fly) ſtill buzzes up and down From cup to cup, and ſips on, till he drown Himſelf in pleaſure; fears no ſtander by: And how can Heav'n love ſuch a drunken Fly? Man (like a Rain-bow) oftentimes appears Clothed in colours, but can claim no years, No days, nay hardly hours, but muſt decay; And how can heav'n love that which loves no ſtay? Man (like a bubble) floats upon the waves Of his deſires, whilſt every blaſt enſlaves His brittle ſubſtance, fill'd with windy troubles▪ And how can heav'n love ſuch uncōſtant bubbles? Man (like the froth) ſpew'd from the Oceans breſt, • s tyded up and down, but knows no reſt, Nor perpetuity; and can betroth It ſelf to nothing: Heav'n loves no ſuch froth. Man (like the wind) is every moment flying To every place, and hates to be complying Or reſting any where: How can it be, That Heav'n can love ſo much inconſtancie? Man (like a Swallow) loves the fragrant Spring Of Earths delights, but with a ſpreading wing Flies from the Winters more congealed breſt; And how can Heav'n love ſuch a Summer gueſt? Man (like a ſmoak) preſumptuouſly aſpires Into the air, and by and by retires Himſelf to nothing, nothing's his concluſion; And how can Heav'n love ſuch a baſe confuſion? Man (like a fire) whoſe green and ſcragged fuel Denies to burn, until it fight a duel With the in • ount • ring Bellows, which atlaſt Obtains the conqueſt, then it burns as faſt, And ſeems, as 'twere, ambitious to expire; Then how can Heav'n love ſuch a raging fire? Man (like an arrow) being once let go Out from the Archers well-commanded bow, Affronts the Clouds; at laſt, having ſpent the ſtore Of his ſmall ſtrength, fals down, and ſeems t • ador • Th'inferior Earth, which, with a welcom, hides His down▪ caſt head within her wounded ſides, Where he remains, and ſcorns to be withſtood: Man can be any thing, but what is good. And cannot Man be good? ſtrange kind of tone! What? has he wept himſelf into a ſtone, Like Niobie? no ſure; I fear his eyes Were never loaded with ſuch large ſupplies: Ah, could he weep a flood, Heav'n that prepares His ears to hear, would bottle up his tears In his remembrance; every drop ſhould ſhine Like Pearls, abſconded in a golden Myne▪ His ſins command a deluge; could his head Be turn'd into a fountain, could he ſhed An Ocean at a drop, it could not cover His ſins (which are mountanious) from the Lover Of real drops; for he would ſoon diſcry Thoſe ſand-excelling crimes, where e're they lie: Yet would his Soul ſo much compaſſionate The flowing ſorrows of his wa ••• y ſtate, That with a calming hand he would remove His rocky ſins, and hide them with his Love; He would have pity, and with ſpeed conſent T'expreſs his love, when all our tears are ſpent. Should Heav'n, who juſtly may, for every ſin Drop down a plagne, and make it live within Mans guilty Soul, the world would quickly be Transform'd, and chang'd into a leproſie. Let none diſpair, for Heav'ns known mercies can Out-infinite the greateſt ſins of man. Oh love beyond degree! Shall Heav'n indulge Himſelf to Man? and ſhall not Man divulge A gratefulneſs to him, whoſe hand prepares To wipe away his ſin-polluted cares? Ungrateful Miſcreant, how canſt thou view Thy former miſeries, and not renew Thy thanks to him, whoſe power ſet thee free, And brought thee back from thy captivity? Haſt thou abandon'd Love? Wilt thou imprint Thy Soul with baſeneſs? Ah, what obvious flint Hath turn'd Affections edg? What, art thou bent To ſhoot at him, that labours to prevent The arrows of thy ruine, which will fly Into thy breſt, except he puts them by? Haſt thou transform'd thy heart into a rock That will not move? Shall mercy call, and knock, And thou not hear? What? haſt thou arm'd thy With ſenſleſs marble, that no flaming dart Of Love can enter? Haſt thou vow'd to ſtand heart In oppoſition? Cannot Gods Command Force thee to bow? Art thou reſolv'd to ſport With thy deſtruction, and not yield the Fort? Oh yield be times; do not reſolve to be Too much a ſlave to Infidelitie: For know (frail wretch) thy ſtrēgth conſiſts in clay; When Mercy's loſt, then Judgment finds the way▪ Rally thy thoughts together, and throw down Thy brazen walls, thy yielding yields a Crown: For 'tis in vain to oppoſe an arm that can Out-graſp the meaſure of ſo ſmall a ſpan. Alas, Alas! it may be quickly ſeen What a large diſproportion is between Thy God, and thee: Conſider, he is all, And thou art nothing; what can be more ſmall? Or what more great? for he is infinite, And thou art finite; He is full of light, And thou of darkneſs; He is fill'd with Love, And thou art ſtuff'd with baſeneſs; He's a Dove, And thou a worm: Thus, thus thou mayſt diſcry His firmneſs, and thine own infirmity. Then be not obſtinate, but ſtrike the ſails Of thy deſires to him that never fails; And know, 'tis eaſie in an inch of time To take a worm ingarriſon'd with ſlime; For ſuch a thing thou art, and all thy power Muſt yield to Heav'ns aſſaults; thy April ſhowre Has no continuance: therefore do not ſtrive Againſt a God, whoſe Wiſdom can contrive What pleaſes him: Alas! thy ſtate is grounded Upon contingencies, thou art compounded Of nothing but uncertainties; thy arm Aſſumes no power, except it be to harm Thy wilful ſelf: Then why wilt thou contend With him that importunes to be thy Friend? Thy Friend, (Soul-ſaving word) what higher Bliſs Can crown a heart, then ſuch a Friend as this? Oh life of Raviſhment! how can it be A God, a worm, and yet a ſympathie? Strange condeſcention▪ was the like e're known, Or ſpoke by any mouth, except his own? His balmy breath declares, that he will ſave And ſuccor thoſe that faithfully do crave His bleſt aſſiſtance: Hark, and hear him ſay, Ye that are heavy loaded, come away, Oh come to me, I am content to bear Your burthens, and extenuate your care. What higher note of love was ever ſtrain'd To any ear? Oh how hath man obtain'd So great a friendſhip! 'Tis a happy lot, Nay, and a wonder not to be forgot. And yet it is not ſtrange, that he ſhould prove So true a Lover, that's compos'd of Love, And can do nothing elſe: If he correct, 'Tis for thy crimes; he only has th'effect Of anger: for his grieved Spirit moans To puniſh ſinners, and to hear their groans. His Soul takes no delight to cruſh to death Th'offending pris'oners of th'inferior Earth▪ He is the rich Exchequor of all good, And is by nothing (except man) withſtood. All things perform what they were made to do, But only man, that ſtrives to prove untrue To his Creator: nothing can be found Within thy breſt, but that which is unſound. How ſad it is to hear th'Almighty ſay. I've nouriſh'd children, that are gone aſtray, And ſcorn to own me! Oh rebellious duſt! That hate my paths, becauſe my ways are juſt. The Ox will know his Owner, and the Aſs His Maſters crib; but Iſrael, alas, Will not acknowledg me, but have deſtroy'd Themſelves, and made their underſtandings voyd: Has not my fury then juſt cauſe to ſwell, Becauſe they can do nothing but rebel? Nefandeous Creature, how canſt thou endure Thy wretched ſelf? Ah, why wilt thou procure Thine own deſtructions? Shall all creatures be Obedient to their owners, only thee? And wilt thou not acknowledg him that gave Large bleſſings to thee, and deſires to ſave Thy Soul from torments, if thou wouldſt incline Thy will to his, whoſe thoughts are all divine? Forget obduracy, and learn the art Of loving him, that loves an upright heart: Go ruminate upon thy baſe eſtate, And be, unto thy ſelf, compaſſionate. Yield to thy Maker with a cheerful brow; Firſt know what 'tis to love, and after, how. Love is the Laws Fulfiller; he that will Love God aright, muſt practiſe how to fill His Soul with true affection; for the ways Of Heav'n are pav'd with Love: Immortal praiſe Attend his Courts; He that forgets to love Forgets his God: They that deſire to prove Heav'ns amatorious Gueſts, muſt firſt admire How ſuch a ſpark as Man came to aſpire To ſuch a flame, and how he came to be, Not only Earths, but Heav'ns, Epitomie: Be ſerious then, and let thy thoughts reflect Upon Heav'ns goodneſs, and thy diſreſpect. God out of Nothing (except Love) compil'd This ſpacious World, as if ſome princely child Were to be born: His providential care Was (as it were) ambitious to prepare The quinteſſence of pleaſures to invite Some ſtately Gueſt to banquet with delight. Firſt he extracted from a darkſom Cell A glorious Light, whoſe beauty pleas'd him well: Then he prepar'd a Canopie, inlayd With glittring Pearl, whoſe twinkling luſter made A heav'nly ſhew; and afterwards his hand Daſht back the waters from the naked Land: Then he commanded, that the Earth, being come Out from the Oceans new delivered womb, Should be adorn'd with an imbroidered Gown▪ That ſo her new-warm'd bowels might abound With ſeveral fruits.— —Thus having playd his part Upon this Theatre, this life of art, He uſher'd in a thing, which pleas'd him beſt, (He made the Feaſt, and after made the Guest;) Call'd by the name of Man, a naked, ſmall, And duſty, ſhiftleſs Creature; this was all, And all this nothing, but a lump of death, Until inſpir'd by Heav'ns all▪ quick'ning breath. Vain, ſimple wretch; ah, how couldſt thou behave Thy ſelf before a Judg, ſo great, ſo grave? Hadſt thou but ſeen thy ſelf, thou wouldſt have Thy ſelf to death, and with a bluſh, defy'd (cry'd Thy baſe eſtate, to think that thou ſhouldſt be Natures moſt rude and baſe Anatomie. Couldſt thou expect that Heav'n would entertain A thing ſo poor? ſo weak? ſo vile? ſo vain? Which, like a ſpark blown from a new-made fire, Can only ſhew it ſelf, and then expire▪ Was it for this the All-Creator made Such large Proviſions? Was't for this he layd Such rich Foundations? Was't for this his Power Deckt this well-pleaſing odoriferous Bower? Was it for this (this little world) he form'd A world ſo great? Was it for this he warm'd The Earths chill boſom? Was't for this he ſpent His ſix days labour? Was't for this intent He made a Paradiſe? where Flora ſpread Her fragrant Off-ſpring, and made Earth a bed Of rare compounded Pleaſures, where he plac'd This new-come Gueſt, whoſe very looks diſgrac'd The face of beauty, to whoſe thriftleſs hand He gave that Government, with this Command: Of all the trees that here thou doſt behold, Thy lips being authoriz'd, thou mayſt be bold To taſte with freedom, only one, which I Conjure thee from, therefore reſtrain thine eye From luſting after it; if not, thy breath Shall glut it ſelf in everlaſting death: Forget not my Commands, but let thy breſt Be always faithful, and thou ſhalt be bleſt. Thus the Recorder having ſpoke at large This well-deliv'red (although ill-kept) Charge, He after ſaid; It is not good that Man ſhould be alone Without a help, Ile therefore make him one. Oh ſacred Prudence! Here we may diſcern A ſweet Conjunction; here our Souls may learn Wiſdom and Love, both which, if not enjoy'd, Pleaſures prove vanities, and Bleſſings voyd. Heav'n, whoſe unidle artful hand had ſet Man, as a Jewel, in his Cabinet, Thought it unfit, that thoſe delights which he Had made by his moſt powerful Love, ſhould be Monopoliz'd by one, he therefore laid Adam aſleep, and having done, he made Out of a crooked rib (ſtrange kind of art) A woman, fair, compleat, in every part; Nay, and a helper too; for in concluſion She helpt poor Adam to his own confuſion. Oh moſt deteſted deed! Unconſtant wife, To prove a Traytor to thy husbands life As ſoon as made: Fond wretch, could nothing ſuit With thy nice pallate, but forbidden fruit? Ah, could thy longing lie no longer hid? What? didſt thou long, becauſe thou wert forbid? Was there no tree that could content thine eye, But only that which was forbidden? Fie, Oh ſhame to think thou ſhouldſt ſo quickly waſte Thine hours of pleaſure for a minutes taſte: Couldſt thou not like, or fall in love with any But that? Heav'n had but one, & thou hadſt many Wherewith to pleaſe thine appetite; and yet Wouldſt thou prove ſo ambitious, as to ſit Upon the higheſt twigg? Ah, could th'advice Of Satan tempt thee to this avarice With ſo much eaſe, and make thee raſhly do So foul a deed, and tempt thy Adam too? Prepoſterous wretch, how haſt thou ſpread a cloud Over thy head? What? didſt thou think to ſhrowd Thy ſelf from vengeance? Having eat thy death. Couldſt thou expect to live? Oh no, thy breath Offended Heav'n: but ah, hadſt thou but thought (Before thy heart had entertain'd a fault So great as this) what 'twas to dye, thy mind Had made thee more abſtemious, and confin'd Thy baſe inordinate deſires; thy meat Had prov'd delightful, and thy comforts great; But now, unhappy now, thy crimes have made Thy Soul Deaths debtor, and thou art betray'd By thine own ſelf; therefore prepare to meet Thy wrathful Judg: 'tis ſaid, ſtoln goods are ſweet; But thine provd ſour▪ the fruits wch thou haſt ſtole Sugar'd thy mouth, but wormwoodiz'd thy Soul; VVhen thou hadſt eaten, Ah! why didſt thou • o • Tremble to d • ath, to think thou hadſt forgot Thy Gods Commands, & that his Judgments muſt Follow thy Soul, and blow thee into duſt? Thus • iv • ▪ thus Adam, having vilipended Their Gods Commands, their happines ſoon ended; Their joys were turn'd to mourning, & their light VVas turn'd to darkneſs, and their day to night: Both being too much conſcious, fled with ſpeed To hide themſelves from God, but not the deed. Even as ſome poor diſtreſſed wretch deſires To hide himſelf from the enraged fires Of his incenſed Foe, runs up and down To ſhun the rage of a condemning frown▪ At laſt obſerving his enquiring Foe Approach the place, lies ſtill, and dares not blow, For fear the wordleſs Eccho of his breath Should ſoon betray him to a ſudden death: Being at laſt diſcry'd, his throbbing heart Gives an Alarum to each trembling part; Fear, like an Earthquake, then begins to ſhake His loos'ned joynts, he knows not how to make A ready anſwer to his foes demands; But, as a ſad convicted man, he ſtands Subjected to his will, that can diſpence With nothing, but with death, to calm th'offence. Even ſo guilt-loaded Adam having done A deed ſo foul, prepares himſelf to run To ſome cloſe ſhelter, where he might immure His naked body, and repoſe ſecure: But ah, in vain, in vain he ſtrove to hide Himſelf from God, that need implore no guide To teach him where his ſad offender lay; He needs muſt find, when ſin hath chalk'd the way: But when Heav'ns ſhril-enquiring voyce ſurrounded The ears of Adam, Adam was confounded VVith deep diſtreſs, his heart began to call His quivering Senſes to a Funeral: Fear, like a powerful fire, began to thaw His frozen thoughts, and keep his ſoul in awe; He breath'd in a Dilemma, and could find No Sanctuary for a perjur'd mind: At laſt the language of th'eternal God Storm'd his ſin-armed ſoul, and like a Rod VVhip • him from his ſecurity; and cry'd, Adam, where art thou? Adam thus reply'd, I heard thee walking in the pleaſing ſhade Of the cool ev'ning, and I was afraid, And hid my ſelf, becauſe I muſt confeſs, I bluſht to ſee my ſhameful nakedneſs.

GOD. Tell me, thou trembling wretch, how doſt thou know That thou art naked? ſay, who told thee ſo? • hat? has thy lips uſurp'd the fruit which I •• njur'd thee not to touch? if ſo, reply.

Adam. The woman which thou gav'ſt me, gave to me, •• d I did eat of the forbidden tree.

GOD. Unconſtant woman! Ah, why haſt thou ru • ••• ond thy bounds? what's this that thou haſt done?

Woman. • he Serpents flowing language ſwel'd too great 〈◊〉 my low banks: he tempted, and I eat.

Gods Curſe againſt the Serpent. Becauſe thou haſt thus ſubtilly deluded 〈◊〉 luſtful woman, thou ſhalt be excluded ••• m future good; more ſhall thy curſes yield ••• n all the beaſts and cattle in the field▪ 〈◊〉 belly ſhall (becauſe thou haſt done this) ••• e to the earth a life-remaiming kiſs; ••• u ſhalt not taſte of any thing that's good, ••• t ſhall ſupply the place of wholeſom food. 〈◊〉 be thy ways, thou ſhalt no more be ſeen •• me: I will put enmity between 〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉 Thy ſeed and her • ; hereafter thou ſhalt feel A bruiſed head▪ and ſhe a bruiſed heel.

Gods Curſe againſt the woman. And as for thee, oh woman, I'le enlarge Thy grief, and thy conception; I'le diſcharge Thy joys, and load thee with a weighty grief; Thy pains in child-bed ſhall find no relief: Thou ſhalt deſire thy huſband, and his hand Shall over-rule thee with a ſtrict command.

Adams Curſe. Rebellious Adam, unto thee I'le give A life as bad as death, for thou ſhalt live To ſee thy ſorrows more and more abound, And for thy ſake I'le curſe the loathed ground; For thou haſt hark'ned to the conquering voyce Of thy frail wife, and made my fruit thy choyce, And ſepulchred my words within the grave Of thy falſe heart; be gone, thou ſelf-made ſlave: The thorny ground ſhall give a large increaſe To thy laborious hand; the name of Peace Shall prove a ſtranger to thy ears, and thou Shalt eat thy bread with a ſweat-dropping brow. I'le murther all thy joys; thy breſt ſhall burn VVith flaming care, until thy corps return Into the bowels of th'incluſive earth, From whence thou hadſt thy ſubſtance, and thy birth▪ For baſe thou art, and therefore thou ſhalt be A food for gnawing worms, and not for me: As thou art duſt, to duſt thou ſhalt • etire; Hereafter let not duſt preſume t' • spire. Strange alteration! Oh pernicious Fate! Too quickly bred in ſuch an infant▪ ſtate! He that but even now enjoy'd a life Ballanc'd with pleaſures, now is • ll'd with ſtrife▪ He, whoſe majeſtick Soul was lat • ly crown'd VVith bleſt content, is now ingulf'd, and drown'd In ſorrows Ocean; He which was before Inrich'd with happineſs, is n • w as poor As poverty can make him▪ He▪ which • ad The countenance of H • av'n to m • k • him glad, Is now eclipſt; he knows not where to run, Sin having interpos'd between the Sun And his dark Soul, the Center of whoſe reſt Is now remov'd, and he ſurvives unbleſt: He, which but even now had leave to dwell And revel in Heav'ns eye, deſires a Cell To entertain him; he, which liv'd in Peace, Is now thrown down, and forfeited his leaſe: Great was his Crime, great was his ſudden Fall, Great was his Tenement, his rent but ſmall: Poor Adam's taken by his own decoys; Sin is the Sequeſtrator of all joys. Sad Pilgrim of the world, where wilt thou find (In the unpathed earth) a place ſo kind To entertain thee? Ah, where wilt thou keep (Thus tumbled from a Precepes ſo ſteep) Thy ſad unpeopl'd randezvouz? Oh where VVilt thou procure a hand that will unſnare Th'intangled Soul? Alas, thy wearied life Hath two moſt ſad companions; firſt a Wife, Then a bad Conſcience; what two greater croſſes Can hang upon a breſt, whoſe cares, whoſe loſſes, Are grown ſo infinite, that no relief, But what diſtills from Heav'n, can eaſe their grief? Thou wert the firſt of men that entertain'd So grand a ſorrow, thou the firſt that ſtain'd So pure a colour, thou the firſt that dwelt In Edens garden, thou the firſt that felt The ſcourge of fury; hadſt not thou tranſgreſt, Vengeance had found no hand, nor grief a breſt. Ah, hadſt not thou offended, ſin had found No habitation, nor thy Soul a wound: Had not thy hand ſo wilfully unlock'd The door of Death, Deſtruction had not knock'd At thine impenitrable gates, or ventur'd T'approach ſo near, but being open'd, enter'd. Bold Cuſtomer of fate, that ſought about To come within, and turn poor Adam out; Thy ſtrength outſtrengthd his ſtrēgth, & made him weak; A veſſel crack'd, how can it chuſe but leak? Sin prov'd Deaths father, & mans heart the womb That brought it forth; this death ſhall find a tomb VVhen the Determiner of time hath hurl'd A finis to the volume of the world; Till then, man (mortaliz'd by ſin) muſt be A ſubject unto Deaths Soveraigntie. Poor man, in what a wilderneſs of ſorrow Doſt thou now ramble in▪ where wilt thou borrow A minutes reſt? On what inclining ear VVilt thou expend thy groans? what canſt thou hear But dialects of miſery to vex Thy bankrupt thoughts? The fatal diſreſpects Of Heav'n will blow and toſs thee up and down From place to place, his ſtill-renewed frown VVill follow thee; therefore provide t'endure The hot purſutes of ſuch a fierce purſuer. Canſt thou expect that this thy grand abuſe (VVhich runs beyond the limits of excuſe) Can be forgotten? Doſt thou think t'out-live Thy long-liv'd crimes, or hope for power to give Due ſatisfaction to thy God, whoſe rage Thy heart cannot endure, much leſs aſſwage? Moſt lachrymable ſtate! What canſt thou do, Oa man, that may ingratiate or renew Thy formor love? Alas, thy baſe condition M ••• s the • •• capable of a Petition: Prepare thy ſelf, ſee if thou canſt invade His Soul with pray'rs▪ ſee if thou canſt perſwade His • eart to yield unto thy ſad requeſt, And •• inth one thee with thy former reſt; D •••• ct thy Soul with groans, anatomize Thy heart with ſighs, and let thy winged cries Fly through the angles of his ſacred ear, And breed a harmony within the ſphere Of his bleſt Soul; be circumſpect, and lay The beſt foundation; hear what Heav'n will ſay.

Adams Petition to God. Incenſed Father of eternal light Permit a darkened Soul t'approach the ſight Of thine incomparable eye; unmask Thy anger▪ clouded Soul, and let me ask Forgiveneſs for thoſe loading Crimes which preſs My ſtagg • ing Soul; I know not whom t'addreſs My apoſtare ſelf unto, but only thee, Whom I offended; Pleaſe to pity me: I have no pleaſing Sacrifice t'attone Thy wrathful Brest, except a hearty groan That's quadrupl'd with grief; Oh deign to look Upon the lines of my all-blotted book: Although I'm full of moſt deteſted ſpots, Yet Lord, I know that thou canſt read my blots; Oh read them then, and let thy mercies run With thy progreſſive eye; I am undone, If not forgiven; Lord, I thee implore To ſhew ſome mercy to me, thou haſt ſtore. Diſcipher all my ſins, and let them not B • ar record in thy rouls, but reſt forgot: Revoke this act of Death, that I may ſing Th'admired mercies of ſo bleſt a King. Oh lift me up, that now am thrown below; Make not my Soul the Cuſtom-houſe of woe. Oh hear theſe bitter groans that I have ſpent, And ſend ſome comfort from thy Parliament.

Gods Reply. Thou skelleton of baſeneſs, hie thee hence, Diſturb me not; return, I ſay, from whence Thou cam'ſt at firſt; thou ſhalt as ſoon remove A mountain, as my mind: I cannot love, No nor I will not, nothing ſhall intreat My reſolutions, for my fury's great. Begone, proud Rebel, do not think thy prayers, Thy vows, thy groans, thy ſighs, thy ſobs, thy tears, Shall make my breſt their receptacle; No; How can I be a friend to ſuch a foe? Surceaſe thy importunities, let fall Thy high deſires, I will not hear thee call, Thy ſins have barr'd my ears; I'le not be won With thy baſe airy words, for thou haſt ſpun The thred of thy deſtruction, therefore wear What thou haſt labour'd for, and ſo forbear T'intrench upon my patience; 'tis in vain To ſeek for that which thou ſhalt not obtain. And is it thus, that Heav'n will not regard My cries? Ah me! and muſt my groans be heard With diſreſpect by him, whoſe tongue affords Nothing but grief, involv'd with bitter words? Alas, alas! what greater wo can crowd Into a breſt, then to be diſavow'd By Gods high Voyce, whoſe moſt enraged breath Darts forth the arrows of eternal death? What ſhall I do? Oh, whither ſhall I run To hide my ſelf, until the glorious Sun Of his affections uſher in the day Of welcom Joy? Oh, whither ſhall I ſtray? If I am ſilent, then my ſilence turns My thoughts to fire; If ſpeak, my ſpeech returns Trebbl'd with wo, into the brazen Tower Of my ſad heart, my language has no power To work upon his ears, my words Banded, and thrown againſt th'obdurate walls (like balls Unyielding breſt) bounds back again, and breaks Into my heart, and every ſorrow ſpeaks A volume at a word; yet, yet muſt I Return unheard; 'tis miſery to dye, And pain to live; thus in deſpair I draw The loathſom air: Deſtruction knows no Law. Grief rains a flood of doubt into my Soul; Ah me! I can do nothing but condole▪ I am deſpis'd; and if I bend the force Of my deſires to him, he will divorce All thoughts of pity, and with rage re-double Th'unſum'd up ſums of my infringing trouble. I ſail into the Straits, both wind and tyde Prevail againſt me, and I have no guide To pilate me unto the long'd-for Port Of pleaſing happineſs; I am a ſport To threatning Ruine, whoſe preſumptuous waves Out-dares my Soul, whilſt every blaſt enſlaves My reeling Pinnace: If I ſtrive to go Towards Scylla, Scylla will contemn my wo. Alas, in vain I can expect relief, Scylla will bark at my unbridled grief; Or if my head-long veſſel chance to hit Againſt Charybdis; I am torn and ſplit Into ten thouſand pieces: Oh hard hap! Thus am I toſſed in Deſtructions lap. Where ſhall I find a heart that will adviſe My friendleſs Soul, and audiate my cries? I will not thus deſiſt, I muſt implore, He that's loſt once, ſure can be loſt no more.

Adams Petition to God. Once more, thou Metropolitan of all The ſpacious world, I here preſume to call Upon thy mercy; Oh let me inherit The pleaſing fruits of thy re-pleaſed Spirit! I am thy fabrick, oh ſome pity take, Preſerve the building for the Builders ſake. Clothe not thy brow with frowns, but let thine eye (That reſts inſhrin'd with glorious Majeſty) Reflect upon my ſorrows; Oh incline Thy willing ears to hear this grief of mine: Oh do not ſay I ſhall as ſoon remove A mountain as thy heart, thou canſt not love; Let not ſuch harſh, imbitter'd language flow Out of a mouth ſo ſweet; I know, I know, Thou art as good as great; oh therefore bow Thy ſacred ears to hear, oh hear me now: Beſtow ſome ſcraps on me, that have deſerv'd Nothing but ſtripes; for I have fondly ſwerv'd From thy Commands, & have committed treaſon Againſt thy Majesty: Great God of Reaſon, View my in-humbled Soul, ſee how it lies Before thy ſight, a weeping Sacrifice. I know thou knowſt I am a hainous ſinner, Yet pity me, that am a young beginner In this rich art of begging: Do not ſlight My real prayers; I know thou tak'ſt delight In being merciful; oh let me not Return unanſwer'd, or my prayers forgot: Oh hear the ſorrows of my bleeding ſtate, Let my complaints make thee compaſſionate, And let the fervor of my language turn Thy thoughts to pity; quench theſe flames that burn My waſting Soul; ſpeak peace to me, that find A civil war in my uncivil mind: Oh I have taſted of thy hot diſpleaſure Too much; Ah, ſhall thy vengeance know no meaſure • Say 'tis enough; though (Lord) I muſt confeſs I have deſerved more, yet give me leſs. Thus with a melting heart I end my Suit Ah me! how bitter is forbidden fruit!

Gods Reply Thou bold fac'd Orator, how darſt thou come Before me, or be otherwiſe then dumb? Tell me, how dat'ſt thou interrupt my breſt? I hate to ſee thee, or hear thy Requeſt. Audacious wretch, what, has my Judgments made Thy heart grow peremptory? Have I layd Too ſmall a burthen on thee? If I have, I'le lay a greater, thou apoſtate ſlave: I will not note thee, nor I will not hear Thy words, which have uſurp'd my deafned ear. Love thee, for what? be't known, ſad wretch, I ſcorn To love a thing ſo baſe, ſo vile, forlorn; And if I cannot love, how can it be, That I can pity ſuch a worm as thee? I'le neither love, nor pity, for my heart Is adamantine; thou ſhalt feel the ſmart Of my diſpleaſure: Go, my Soul diſdains To look upon thee; thou art fill'd with ſtains▪ And ſmel'ſt too much of fruit to find reſpect▪ Thou art the ſubject of my great neglect: Thou art a barren ſoil, nothing will grow Upon thy heart, except the ſeeds of woe. Tell me, from what conceit doſt thou derive Thy working confidence, that thou dar'ſt drive Thy language to my ears, and be ſo bold T'approach my ſight, and wilt not be controul'd? Art thou reſolv'd to make (what doſt thou mean) My ears thy ſtage, and every word a ſcean? Sum up thy ſmall, thy weak deſerts, and ſee What large reſpects thou haſt deſerv'd from me. I plac'd thee in a garden, not to eat The •• uit forbidden, but to keep it neat! Had not the violation of my Laws Mov'd me to anger, thou hadſt had no cauſe T'ave felt the burthen of my weighty ſtroke, Or live thus much ſubjected to the yoke Of thine own ſins; moſt ſhameful is that loſs That's crown'd with negligence, & great the croſs That's made with a ſelf-hand; and they that clime Above their ſtrengths, impropriate a crime To their own Souls; Deſtruction is the end Of all Rebellion: Ruine knows no friend. Suppoſe I ſhould inveſt and entertain Your Soul with love, and call thee back again, The tree is ſtill the ſame, the fruit as ſweet, Thy appetite as great, and thou mayſt meet A Serpent too, whoſe oratorious skill May ſoon intreat thee to enact his will: He has a voyce to tempt, and thou an ear Will re-aſſume the priviledg to hear; He has a hand to give, and thou another Freely to take: thus wouldſt thou quickly ſmother Thy new delights; therefore I will not truſt A heart that can be nothing but unjuſt. Thou great Mugul of baſeneſs, ceaſe to plead, Thy tongue's a canker, and thy words are lead; Thy ſins have made thee not deſerve the air Thou entertain • ſt hadſt than implay'd thy care To ſerve me, when I lov'd thee, thou hadſt had My heart-delighting joys to make thee glad; But now expect no favour, for no art Of thine ſhall ever captivate my heart. Hie thee unto the ſhades of grief, bewail Thy ſequeſtrated happineſs, no bail Of thy procuring will I take to ſet Thy Soul at liberty; I will not let The viſion of a comfort creep within Thy rambling thoughts, thou art a ſlave to ſin: Hadſt thou but lov'd or fear'd me at the firſt, Th'adſt been as happy, as th'art now accurſt: If now thou lov'ſt me, I ſhall quickly prove It is for fear alone, and not for love▪ Thy heart is ſteel'd with wickedneſs, thy faults Are ſparks enlivened by thy flinty thoughts. Breathe out thy groans unto a ſenſleſs rock, And let thy ſighs (like hammers) beat and knock Againſt her ſcragged ſides, thou ſhalt as ſoon Have her conſent, as mine, to grant thy boon: 'Tis therefore vain to multiply thy words, For ah, my breſt, my hardned breſt, affords Thy Soul no pity; and the more thy cry Attempts my ear, the leſs I will reply. Alas! thy guilt-o're-burth'ned words renew Freſh thoughts of rage, I cannot hear thee ſue Without impatiency; for ah, the longer Thou crav'ſt, thou mak'ſt my fury grow the ſtronger. Avoid my preſence, for I will no more Give audience to thy voyce, then ceaſe t'implore.

Adams Lamentation. Undone, undone • what mountain now will hide My lothed body from the ſwelling tyde Of raging Vengeance? Whither ſhall I fly T'involve my Soul with true ſecurity? Stretch, ſtretch my lungs, and roar unto the deep To entertain me: Oh that I might ſleep Within her wavey bowels, till the blaſt Of Heav'ns all-ſhaking, thundring Voyce were paſt. Oh that ſome rock would hear my ſad requeſt, And give me burial in her frigid breſt! Oh that my grief-extended voyce could cleave The ſolid Earth, and make her to receive My wretched limbs! Oh that ſome ranging beaſt Would prove ſo courteous to devour, and feaſt Upon my corps! Oh that I could contrive A way to live, and yet not be alive! Ah, thus my ſorrow-ſhaken fancy flies And envies at impoſſibilities. I fain would dye, but that I have no heart To kill my ſelf, and yet I feel a ſmart Tranſcending death; I ſee I cannot ſhun The wrath of Heav'n: Ah, thus am I undone By my own doing; this it is to eat Forbidden fruit: Oh moſt pernicious meat! I was too raſh, and raſhly have I taken A deadly fall, and falling, am forſaken: I'm bruis'd to death, and yet I cannot dye; Ah, what can be ſo much unbleſt as I? I am inflamed, and I dayly drench My Soul with tears, and yet I cannot quench My raging fires; the more I ſtrive t'aſſ wage And mitigate my pains, the more they rage. What ſhall I do, or whither ſhall I go, To hide me from this Labyrinth of Wo? I am compos'd of ſorrow, and my veins, Inſtead of blood, are fill'd with griping pains. Curſt be theſe eyes of mine, which have let in The lawleſs Tyrant of imperious Sin: Curſt be theſe lips of mine, which at the ſuit Of my fond wife receiv'd forbidden fruit: Curſt be theſe ears, that entertain'd the charms Of that inchantreſs, which procur'd my harms: Curſt be theſe hands of mine, which took, and fed My greedy Soul, and ſtruck my Conſcience dead: And now my lips, my ears, my hands, my eyes, Muſt ſee, hear, taſte, and feel, my miſeries. Oh ſad condition! Since there's no relief, I muſt be ſubject to perpetual grief. Here we will leave poor Adam in the ſtate Of woe, and thus begin to ruminate. Are there not many in this tollſom age That meditate themſelves into a rage, And wonder how a Serpent could expreſs Himſelf, and reaſon with ſuch readineſs, Being by nature brute, nay and the worſt Of living creatures, that he ſhould at firſt Perſwade and conquer, and inſtruct his will, How to determine both of good and ill? It would ſeem ſtrange, if Reaſon were without Her wings, and could not fly above this doubt: We may (and yet not ſtain the truth) declare It was the work of Satan to enſnare Frail Eve; although he was not nam'd at all By Moſes in the Hiſt'ry of the Fall, It may not trouble us; for we muſt know, The bending Serpent was the Devils bow, By which he ſhot the arrows of his ſpite, Which did [Oh grief to ſpeak it,] fly too right: And he that dares ſo high a Crime to act (Though by another) needs muſt own the fact: And this our tongues may never ceaſe to tell, The Serpent was the Inſtrument of Hell, Tun'd to the Devils voyce: thus we may ſee His fraud, his malice, and his ſubtiltie. Firſt when he ſaw he could not over-turn The great Creator, he begun to burn With flames of envy, lab'ring to invade, And ſo diſturb that order God had made In the Creation, and to change the features Of his own Image in the beſt of Creatures, That ſo he may by his too-ſooth deluſion Make man run headlong to his own confuſion: Thus having laid the platform of his work, He then begun to agitate, and lurk For opportunity, which was effected As ſoon, nay if not ſooner, then expected; He gave the blow, and by that blow he found The weakeſt veſſel had the weakeſt ſound; But yet it ſtrongly eccho'd to the voyce Of his deſires, and made him love his choyce. Even as ſome bold-fac'd General, that dares To ſtorm a well-man'd Town; at firſt prepares A potent Army, which he ſoon ſets down Before the Walls of the alarum'd Town; He after views the ruine-threatning-Fort, Which ſpeaks defiance, and begins to ſport Their ſeveral ſhots, and with a ſad delight Ingage each other in a bloody fight: Then if the fierce Beſiegers once perceive Themſelves out-ſtrength'd, they think it fit to leave So hot a work, and for a little ſpace Deſiſt, and fall upon a weaker place, Where finding ſmaller oppoſition, venture With greater courage, and at laſt they enter The yielding Town, and cruelly begin To take revenge of them that are within. Even ſo the grim-look'd, malice-armed Devil, The baſe-reſolved General of Evil, Perceiving that he could by no means take The ſublime Fort of Heav'n, plots how to make A freſh attempt upon a weaker part, And ſo prepares to ſtorm the flexive heart Of unreſiſting Eve, that could not grapple With ſuch a Foe, but yielded for an Apple To thoſe moſt falſe Alarums which ſurrounded Her, much obedient, and ſoon confounded Her inward parts, and gave her Soul a wound, Which cannot be by time or art made ſound, Except the grand Phyſician pleaſe to ſlake His ſwelling fury, and ſome pity take. Thus are our conquer'd parents ſadly left In a deplor'd condition, and bereft Of all their comforts; they which have enjoy'd The life of happineſs, are now deſtroy'd; And man (his wretched off-ſpring) muſt be made Sorrows ſad heir, and Peace muſt not be ſaid T'inhabit in him: Adams actual ſin Made ours original; for we begin, As ſoon as made, to entertain the gueſts Of Sin, and lodg them in our infant-breſts. Now may our weak and deſpicable eyes Behold in them our ample miſeries▪ Now we may glut the Air with this ſad cry, The root being dead, the branches needs muſt dye; For Adam's gone beyond all humane call: Rebellion never ends without a Fall. But ſtay my Muſe, here let us reſt a while; Our Journey's long, and 'tis not good to toil Too much at firſt; for Reaſon ſays 'tis beſt To pauſe a time, and take a little reſt: Know then (kind Reader) that my Muſe ſhall meet Thy ſerious eyes within another ſheet. The end of the firſt Book.

THE SECOND BOOK OF GODS LOVE, AND Mans Unworthineſs. ARe all hopes fled? and is there no relief? Muſt man ſtill wander in the ſhades of grief? Will not the eye of Heav'n be pleas'd to ſhine Upon his Soul, but leave him in the brine Of his own ſins? Is there no warbling voyce Can charm his ears, and woo him to rejoyce In being pitiful? Will nothing move The much incenſed Soul of Heav'n to love? Man [Map of Miſery] who can prevail In thy requeſts? or who cut off th'entail Of thy diſtreſs? 'Tis not a writ of Error Can ſatisfie, or guard thee from the terror Of thine own Conſcience, which will alway ſtare Upon thy face, and load thee with deſpair. 'Tis not a Habeas Corpus will remove The body of thy ſin, none can diſprove The Will of God, what he reſolves to do Muſt neither be withſtood, nor div'd into: It lies beyond thy power to perſwade Thy God to pity, whom thy ſins have made A wrathful Judg; what he intends, muſt be Derived from himſelf, and not from thee; For thou haſt nothing in thee worth the name Of good, becauſe thy glory's turn'd to ſhame: Thou art corrupt and vile in every part And who can know the evil of thy heart? Which like the Ocean, that no art nor eye Can ſearch her bottom, or her banks diſery: Therefore till heav'n ſhal pleaſe to change the ſ •• Of thy condition; Reaſon bids thee wait: For be aſſur'd, the promis'd ſeed will ſpread It ſelf abroad, and bruiſe the Serpents head. Even as the Fountain, whoſe exuberous breſt Is always fluent, and admits no reſt; But with a cheerful willingneſs ſhe ſends Her cryſtal tokens to her ſmaller friends: Even ſo our God diſtilleth from above The healing ſtreams of his refreſhing love; For ah the luſter of his Sun-bright eye Is drown'd in tears, when our ſad Souls prove dry! Oh admiration! that a God ſo juſt Should rain down floods upon a heap of duſt! Oh Mercy! that ſo much incens'd a God Should ſend forth Mercy, and keep in his Rod! His Soul is fili'd with pity, and his eyes Begin to view th'unſatiate miſeries Of Adams down-caſt off-ſpring: Though his ear Seems unto us reſolved not to hear Their bitter cries, nor note the ſad Devotions Of their contriſted hearts; yet by the Motions Of his bleſt Soul, he ſends his Son and Heir Into this wretched world, that he might bear The Croſs of our Tranſgreſſions, and expel The clouds of ſin, and conquer Death and Hell: Thus by his death we liv'd, and by his grief Our new-calm'd Souls were furniſh'd with relief▪ Oh ſudden change! That wind which did before Drive wretched man upon the threat'ning ſhore Of un • voyding ruine, fills the • ails Of his deſires with milde and proſperous gales; The Boreas of his ſin does now ſurceaſe His full mouth'd blaſts, and Z • phyr •• ſpea • s peace Unto his ſhip-wrack'd Soul, and now he rides Upon the new-tam'd backs of pleaſing Tydes. Oh that my tongue were able to rehearſe The Love of God with an Angelike Verſe, Oh that ſome heav'nly diety would fill The black-mouth'd concave of my wandring quill With pure celeſtial Ink, that I might write In heav'nly characters, and learn t'indite I ch •• ahs praiſes in a ſtile as high As my deſires, and make the lofty Sky Eccho with Hallelujahs, that the Earth May (like a Midwife) hug the joyful birth Of every word, and make each corner ring (VVith peals of Joy) the Glories of our King: Is man deliver'd from the painful womb Of his foul ſin, and raiſed from the tomb Of everlaſting death? and ſhall not we Applaud that hand which ſet ſuch pris'ners free? VVhat, ſhall we be afraid to • rack and break The chains of ſilence, and attempt to ſpeak The dialects of Angels? No; let's call Vpon his name, that rais'd us from a Fall. Let's ſtretch our lungs, & with a warbling breath Sing to the life, how we were rais'd from death: And when our tongues are wearied, let's expreſs By heav'nly ſigns our real thankfulneſs. But ſtay, where runs my quill? what, have I loſt My ſelf in raptures? or elſe am I toſt Into the air of pleaſure by the wind Of true delight? If Paſſion proves ſo kind, I am content, oh may I always reſt Adorn'd & crown'd with a Heav'n-raviſh'd breſt: O love ineffable! Muſt wretched Man, The ſpawn of baſeneſs, and the unmeaſur'd ſpan • f everlaſting infancy, be made Loves object? Muſt th' Almighty's love be ſaid To dwell in Man, whoſe tongue cannot deliver The leaſt of thanks unto ſo great a Giver? VVill the Sun-gazing Eagle, that ſoars high. Deſcend t'aſſiſt the web-infolded Fly? VVill he that • arkens with a willing ear To pleaſing muſick, turn away to hear Confounding diſcords? or will any woo A perju • 'd enemy to come and go Into his Courts? VVill any hand forbear To ſtrike at him that labours to impair His worth, and contumeliouſly upbraid His upright deeds? Will he that is betray'd Affect the Traytor, and with patience ſue For reconcilement, when as death is due? All this bleſt Heav'n will do, that he might place Vain man within the Covenant of Grace. Conſider man, how often hath this mirror Of pure affection woo'd thee from thine error? Thou unconſiderate duſt, which every wind Can puff away, how canſt thou prove unkind To ſuch a Louer, that delights to ſpin His bowels out, to nouriſh thee with in His milky boſom? Shall his bounty crave Thy baſe acceptance? Shall he be a ſlave To his own ſlaves? Ah, ſhall thy God implore, And beg of beggars to receive his ſtore? Does he, whom Heav'n & Earth cannot contain, No no • the heav'n of heav'ns, ſtoop down to gain Thy dull reſpects? And ah, wilt thou not raiſe Thy ſtupid Soul an inch to give him praiſe? Thy fervent prayers he always will admit, Then how canſt thou remember to forget A God ſo mindful? How canſt thou forbear To numerate his love without a tear? How can thine eyes (when thou obſerv'ſt the Sun) Refuſe to weep to ſee him dayly run His painful progreſs, and rejoyce to greet The Earth with luſter to direct thy feet, Thy ſinful feet, which every moment ſlide Into Rebellion, loaded with thy pride? How canſt thou chooſe, when thou behold'ſt the ground Whereon thou tread'ſt, but voluntary drown'd Thy ſelf in briny floods, to think what care Indulgent Heav'n hath taken to prepare For thee, before thou wert, and how his hand Hath for thy profit fertiliz'd the Land? How can thy rocky heart refuſe to vent A ſtream of blood, when thou behold'ſt th'extent Of the unbounded Ocean, how it hides, Within the boſom of her ſwelling Tydes, Diverſities of fiſh, which live to feed Thy gulf of gluttony at time of need? Uncloud thy thoughts (O Man) and thou ſhalt ſee He who ordained all theſe things for thee, Created thee for him, that thou mayſt give The praiſe to him, that lends thee leave to live. Be ſerious Man, conſider how thou haſt Converted all theſe bleſſings into waſte: Know that the great Edificer of things Furniſh'd thy Soul with Reaſon, gave thee wings To fly above all mortals, and hath crown'd Thy head with he • ps of honor, and hath bound Inferior creatures prentice to thy will; And this he did, becauſe thou ſhouldſt fulfil Thy Gods Commands; but thou that wert the beſt Haſt made thy ſelf more loathſom then the reſt, And by thy moſt deteſted deviation Abus'd the glory of thy free Creation: Though the Majeſtick Eagles will deſpiſe To be aſſiſtants to th▪intangled Flies; Yet Heav'n will from his lofty Throne deſeend, And with a ſpeedy cheerfulneſs defend The ſons of men, who dayly are betray'd By thoſe inſiduous ſnares which Satan lay'd T'intrap their Souls: Alas, how voyd of care Is heedleſs man! how ſubject to a ſnare! But he, whoſe more then ſuperficial love Is always active, lab'ring to improve Our hearts with thankfulneſs, denies to let Our Souls be taken in th'eternal net Of unconceived miſery, and live In laſting death, not having power to give The leaſt of drops unto our howling tongues, But uck the flames, until our ſulphurous lungs Crackle, and belch▪ forth brimſtone, till we tire Our Carbonado'd members in a fire That's inextinct; the more we ſtrive to turn Our parched Souls, ſtill more and more they burn. Revolve theſe things within thy ſerious mind; Oh Man, let Love inſtruct thee to be kind To him that's loving; do not diſreſpect A God, whoſe Soul ſo dearly can affect: Pour out thy thoughts, and practiſe to relent, And let thy thoughts induce thee to repent: Graſp opportunity, Time's always flying; God's always living, and thou always dying: Dy then; before thou dy'ſt, redeem the time, Becauſe thy days are evil; learn to clime Jacobs erected ladder; thou ſhalt ſee Th'adſt better clime a Ladder, then a Tree, As Judas did: Be wiſe, and do not fan Thy Soul with air; remember what a ſpan Thou art; remember whoſe inſpired breath Made thee a Soul; forget not whoſe ſad death Made thee alive; be mindful that thou art Th'Epitomy of Heav'n; inure thy heart To love the beſt of loves, ſo ſhall thy breſt Be fill'd with comfort, and thy Soul with reſt: Prepare and know, the very fowls delight To prune their wings before they take their flight. Although terreſtial Kings will not permit A Traytor to his Courts, no • let him ſit Before his preſence, though they will not hear A Malefactors pray'rs; yet Heav'ns bleſt ear Is always open, and his tongue invites Repentant ſinners, for his eye delights To view them in his Courts when they appear; For muddy waters may at laſt prove clear: 'Tis not unlike; ill ſcented dunghils may At laſt bear flowers; that which is foul to day, To morrow may prove fair; the thing that coſt Millions of ſilver, may as well be loſt, As things of ſmaller value; Heav'n can ſpy A mite, as well as mountains; for his eye Is lodg'd in every cranny of mans heart, And he knows all that ſearches every part. Where breathes that Mortal that can apprehend The ways and thoughts of God, who knows the end Of his beginning?—— He that can break a rocky heart in twain, And re-unite it (if he pleaſe) again; He that can part the boiling waves, and ſtand Upon the Seas, as on the dryeſt Land; He whoſe celeſtial power can make the graves To open, and command their ſlumb • ring ſlaves To riſe; nay more, to ſtand; nay more, to walk; Nay more (if more then this may be) to talk: He that can make a Whale to entertain A Jonah, and to ſp • e him out again; He whoſe Almighty Power can unlock The flinty bowels of a ſer • gged Rock, And make her headlong-guſhing ſtreams abound To waſh the boſom of the thirſty ground; He that can tranſmutate by power divine The pooreſt water into richeſt wine; He that can curb rude Boreas, and aſſwage The lawleſs paſſion of the Oceans rage; He that can rain down Manna to ſupply The craving ſtomacks of mortality; He that can, like an all-commanding God, Make Almonds flouriſh from a ſapleſs rod; He that can make the Sun and Moon ſtand ſtill, Or run according to his ſacred Will; He that ſav'd a Daniel from the paws Of Lyons, and can muzzle up their jaws; He that can make the greedy Ravens carry Food to his Servants like a Commiſſary; He that can, with an unreſiſted hand, Daſh fire into Ice, and counter-mand The wanton flames, and charm them, that they dare But burn his ſervants cords, and not their hair; He that can cauſe ten thouſand to be fed With two ſmall fiſhes, and five loaves of bread; He that can clothe himſelf with fire, and name Himſelf, I AM, and make a buſh to flame Without conſuming; He that can convert A Rod into a Serpent, and not hurt; He that can make his viſage ſhine ſo bright, That not a Moſes can behold the light; He that can ſtrike a hand with leproſie, And cure it in the twinkling of an eye; He that can in a moment cut and break Tongue tying cords, and make the dumb to ſpeak▪ He that can out of unregarded ſtones Raiſe unto Abraham many little ones; He that can heal the Cripple with a touch, And free him from the thraldom of his Crouch; He that can cure the deaf, and can expel A thouſand Devils in deſpite of Hell; He that can perfect what he firſt begun, Expects that man ſhould ſay▪ Thy will be done. Conſider Man and thou ſhalt find it true▪ 〈…〉 can do all, but what he will not do: Think not, becauſe thou art of low eſtate, That he will ſcorn to love, and love to hate: Remember Dives, whoſe unſum'd up ſtore Improv'd ſo much, until he prov'd as poor As ever Iob was: Iob! unhappy I To ſpeak it, he was rich in poverty; Hea • 'n made poor Iob ſo rich, that Satans wealth •• uld purcha •• nothing from him, but his health, And that corporeal too; he could not boaſt His bargain, for 'twas Iob that purchas'd moſt. "Happy is he that can at laſt inherit "Riches obtain'd by an impov'riſh'd ſpirit: "We'd better lick with Lazarus the crumbs, "Then gripe with Dives for Soul-damning ſums. Welth cānot bride the flames, yet ſcraps may feed The hungry wretch; he that has wealth, may need The crumbs of comfort: David did condole Th'abundant famine of his hungry Soul: Gods Love's not mercenary, to be ſold For brain-diſtracting, heart-confounding gold. Haſt thou not heard (O Man) the heav'nly cry Of him that ſays, Ye that are poor, come buy, Come buy of me; your pen'worth ſhall be ſuch, That for a little you ſhall purchaſe much. Here's Love that's ſpun unto the ſmalleſt thred. Tho thou want'ſt mony, yet thou ma •• have bred▪ Do thou but ask, thou ſhalt not fail to have; For God's more free to give, then thou to crave: Fear not to ask of him, whoſe ready ear, Before thy tongue can ask, is apt to hear. Heav'n loves the language of a broken heart, And he will harken, and with joy impart His love unto thee, and his milk and wine, Without the price of mony, ſhall be thine. Th'ingrated pris'ner, whoſe dull tongue is whet With ſharp'ned hunger, will not fear to let His language fly to every ear that comes Within his audience; and he always ſums The totals of his grief in hungry words, Whilſt thouſands paſs along, but few affords The bleſſing of an Alms; perhaps they'l grieve, And ſeem to pity, but will not relieve: Yet will he not deſiſt, but hourly cry, Bread, bread, for Heav'ns ſake bread, or elſe I dye. Hard hearred Man, why wilt thou not relent To hear thy brother, almoſt hunger ſpent, Craving thy ſuccour? Where's thy love become? Becauſe th'art deaf▪ ah! woldſt thou have him dūb? Or doſt thou think, becauſe thy panch is fill'd, He cannot hunger? He that firſt diſtill'd Thoſe mercies on thy head, expects that thou Shouldſt feed thy brother with a cheerful brow; Say not thou canſt not give, thy treaſure's light; But let thy heart record the widows mite, So H • a • 'n will fill thy Ciſterns to the brim, And feed thy Soul, becauſe thou haſt fed him. Should the Grandfather of true Charity Paſs by thy gates, and here thee beg and cry, And not relieve thee; ſhould he ſlight thy prayrs, And ſcorn to take a ſurvey of thy tears; Wouldſt thou not grieve, and pine thy ſelf to duſt, And almoſt ſay thy God was much unjuſt To turn away his ears from thy complaint, And diſreſpect thy pray'rs▪ and let thee • aint For want of • o • d? Ah▪ whither wouldſt thou • ly To feed thy famiſh'd Soul, ſhould Heav'n deny? But ah he cannot, for his melting Soul Is always free, and willing to condole The ſad conditions of diſtreſſed Man, Who only ſtrives to do, but what he can To contradict him▪ yet he'l hear our grief: In multitudes of mercy lies relief. When our impris'ned Souls peep through the Of this corrupting Earth, our God delates Himſelf unto us, and he ſends us meat From the rich ſtore-houſe of his lofty Seat; He hears; and hearing, pities; pitying, ſends; And ſending, bleſſes, and with bleſſing ends. Even as the Sun, which every day ſurrounds The ſublime Globe, and pries into the bounds Of this darke Center; lets his Beams reflect Upon a molehill with as much reſpect As on a Mountain; for his glorious Beams Shine always with equivolent extreams. Even ſo the great and powerful three in one, That ſits upon his all-inlight'ning Throne, Does not deny to let his mercies crown The pooreſt Peaſant with as much renown As the moſt ſtatelieſt Emperor; though he Inveſts his body with more dignitie, Yet he's but earth, and muſt at laſt decay, For Prince and Peaſant go the ſelf-ſame way; Their earth muſt turn to earth, their Souls return To him that gave them, or for ever burn; There's no diſtinction, one infuſed breath Made them alike, and both muſt live in death, Or everlaſting life; both muſt commence Divines in Heav'n; there's no preheminence, But all equality, all muſt expreſs, With equal Joy, their equal Happineſs. Rouze up dull Man, and let thy wak'ned Soul Be vigilant; oh let thy thoughts enroul The Love of God, engrave it in thy breſt, That his reſounding tongue may read thee bleſt. O let thy ſighs, like Pens, and let thy tears, Like Ink, tranſcribe the Love, th'indulgent cares Of thy Creator, that himſelf may find (Within the unblotted volume of thy mind) Himſelf recorded, ſo will he imbrace Thy ſpotleſs Soul, and fill thee with his grace. Incl ••• thine cars, and let thy heart rejoyce To • ear the ſtrains of his harmonious voyce; Harken, and thou ſhalt hear his Prophets ſing Th'admired Mercies of thy glorious King. Thus ſaith the great, and ever-living One, Iſa. That rules the Heav'ns, and governs Earth alone;43. Thus ſaith the Lord, that takes delight to dwell1. Amongſt his Saints, that formed Iſrael, Created Iacob, Let thy ſorrows ſlee Out of thy breſt, I have redeemed thee: 'Twas I that made thy clouded viſage ſhine▪ And call'd thee by my Name, for thou are mine. I will be with thee, when thy feet ſhall wade2 Thorow the waters; I will be thy aid: I'le make thee walk thorow rivers, and the waves Shall prove ambitious to become thy ſlaves: And when thou walkeſt thorow the raging fire, Th'unruly flames ſhall not preſume to aſpire, Or kindle on thy garments. I alone3 The Lord thy God, and Iſraels holy one, And thy dear Saviour, that was always true, Gave Egypt, Seba, and Ethiopia too, To ranſom thee; for thou wert my delight,4 And always precious in my gracious ſight: Honors were heap'd upon thee, and thou wert The tender love of my affecting heart; Therefore even I, that am well pleas'd, will give People for thy dear ſake, that thou mayſt live. Fear not, for I am with thee, and I'le ſtand5 In thy defence, and my all-graſping hand Shall bring thy ſeed from the remoteſt places, And fill thee with my ſatisfying graces. My tongue ſhall call unto the North, and ſay6 Unto the South, Give, and they ſhall obey; Bring from a far my ſons and daughters all, Hear my loud voyce, be active when I call. I have created them, and I proclaim7 They ſhall be call'd and honor'd by my Name. I'le uſher forth the bl •• d, and make them ſee The ſplendent Glories of my Majeſtic: I'l • cu •• th • deaf, and make their hearts rejoyce To •• a • the 〈…〉 of my warbling voyce. Thus hath our God unty'd the tongues, and broke His Prophets lips; thus have his Prophets ſpoke: And wilt thou be (O Man) ſo much obdure, A • not to credit him that will aſſure Perpe •• al happineſs? • h • u canſt not ask That which he cannot give; do but unmask Thy ſham •• ae▪d Soul, that ſo thou mayſt diſcry 〈…〉 mercies with a faithful eye▪ •••• aut upon his p • omi • es, adviſe With chine own thoughts, let Reaſon make thee wiſe •• ſp • ct thy ſelf, weigh well t • ine own condition. And thou ſhalt find thou wa • t'ſt a good Phyſician • o cure thy •• aculat • d Soul Alas! Thou a •• like water ſtop'd up in a glaſs, So weakly fortily'd, and fene'd about, That one weak knock ſoon le •• the pris • ner out. Vain lump of vanity, what can this • irth Afford thy thoughts more then a ſhort • liv'd mirth? A mirth that fills thee with deluding toys, And like a Tyrant afterwards deſtroys. Dot'ſt thou on Earth? for what? becauſe her pleaſure Can guild thy wanton eye? Becauſe her treaſure Can cram thy bags? Becauſe her Sirens ſong Can raviſh thee? Becauſe her power can throng Thy Soul with luxury? Becauſe her charms Can court thee with delight? Becauſe her arms can pleaſingly imbrace thee, and imboſt Thy heart with gold, and lull thee, when th'aſt loſt Thy ſelf in ſleep? Is this the little All That this great world can boaſt of? Muſt we call Theſe things our pleaſures? No, they'l prove our cares, Our golden fetters, and our ſilken ſna • es: Theſe are the Ioys we love, theſe are the things That makes us fly with our Icaria • wings Up to Ambitions Court, and there preſume To gaze ſo long, until our wa • en plume Diſſolve with heat, and like preſumptuous ſlaves Tumble our ſelves into the raging waves Of ſpeedy Ruine; Ruine's all that we Muſt hope to obtain from Earths baſe trea • ur •• . Lets ſcorn her wealth, and ſay, O Earth, thou art A painted Miſtriſs with a rotten heart: Let's hate to love, that we may love to hate Th'unconſtant glory of her ſickle State. Even as the ſubtle Crocodile prepares Her ſlatt'ring heart, and eye-commanding tears, To woo her prey to come within the power Of her command▪ that ſo ſhe may devour With more facility, and make her Jaws To execute by her tyrannike Laws. Even ſo this World, whoſe Crocodile▪ like eyes Are always ſlowing, wanting no ſupplies Of gliding tears to waſh the rugged faces Of her deſigns with falſifying graces, That ſo ſhe may by her too ſmooth deluſion Make man the Author of his own confuſion. Frail ſleſh and blood, how canſt thou take delight To love this world, that cannot give a mite Of comfort to thee, but will ſtill intrap, And dayly lull thee in her luſtful lap: She'l rock thy Soul to ruine, and ſhe'l ſpawn Baſeneſs into thee; ſhe'l deceive, and fawn Upon thy heart, and with her guilded baits She'l hook thy Soul unto the worſt of Fates: There's nothing in her that deſerves the name Of conſtancy; her glory is her ſhame: Smile at her tears, for every drop ſhe vents Harbors ten thouſand thouſand diſcontents: Believe her not; but when ſhe ſpeaks the beſt, Believe the worſt; and if ſhe promiſe reſt, Aſſure thy ſelf of trouble; if ſhe chance To promiſe treaſure, let thy thoughts advance Above her promiſes, contemn her droſs, For what thou gain'ſt from her will be thy loſ • ! Let not her wealthy Donatives perſwade Thy heart t'accept; when once thou art betray'd There's no reſiſtance: They that well adviſe Before they act, deſerve the name of wiſe: But they that ſtudy in her frantick Schools May prove her wiſe men; but Heav'ns out-caſt fools Ask her the way to Bliſs: Try if her skill Can give directions, ask her if ſhe will Fill thee with bleſt Eternity, conjure Her helpleſs aid, ſee if ſhe can aſſure A ſafety to thee, ask her if ſhe can Preſcribe a cure for a deſpairing Man; Tell her thy Soul is ſick, thou canſt not live A minute longer; ſee if ſhe can give A Cordial to thee, ſee if ſhe can heal A broken heart; ſee if ſhe can reveal Celeſtial Joys unto thee, and impart A heav'nly comfort to thy grieved heart: If ſo, cheer up, and proſecute thy mirth, And ſay there is no other Heaven but Earth. Do thus (ſond Man; and thou ſ • ale quickly ſee A baſſl'd World, that cannot anſwer thee, B • t muſt be ſilent, for ſhe cannot plea • For her own ſelf; ſhe knows ſhe cannot lead The way to Heav'n, ſhe's but a bad Director, A baſe Reliever, and a worſe Protector. Thus ſhalt thou make her envy ſwell and burſt, And, like the Baſilisk, diſcover'd firſt, She needs muſt dye; but if ſhe ſhould diſcover Thee firſt, farewell, th'art murthet'd by thy lover: Then ſhalt thou heat the Soul▪ amazing tone Of him that ſie • on his immortal Throne, Pronounce againſt thee at the dreadful day Of thy accounts; thus ſhalt thou hear him ſay: Depart, ye curſed off-ſprings of a father As curſt as you, avoyd my ſight, go gather The fruits of your deſerts; you have forgot The God that made you, and I know ye not: See if the world, within whoſe folding arms You always ſlept, can quit thee from the harms That muſt enſue; ſee if her ſlatt'ring power Can ſhelter thee from the o' •• ▪ flowing ſhowre Of my faſt▪ dropping rage; ſee if her breſt Can entertain thee with eternal reſt: Begone, begone, my fury hates to ſee Such Miſcreants; had you remember'd me, I now had known you; had you made me eat When I was forc'd to importune for meat, I now would bleſt you with celeſtial dyet, And crown your Souls with everlaſting quiet, Had you but quench'd my raging th •• ſt, or gave A ſingle drop, that very drop ſhould ſave Your death-adjudged Souls, and you ſhould • up Abundant comforts from my ſtreaming cup: Had you (ſad ſons of vengeance) but ſupply'd My nakedneſs with garments, when I cry'd And call'd upon your charity to ſend Relieve unto me, I had been your friend! Or had your (more then marble) hearts reliev'd M'impris'ned body, now ye had not griev'd: Had you, you world▪ affined Souls, addreſt Your ſelves unto me when I was oppreſt With ling'ring ſickneſs, then I would have fed Your Souls (which now are ſtarv'd) with heav'nly bread. But ſince you have not done it unto thoſe Which I eſteem'd, ye'ave prov'd your ſelves my foes: Therefore begone, let darkneſs be your lot, Learn to remember that ye have forgot My Mercies; go, and let my Judgments dwell Within your guilty hearts; let black▪ mouth'd Hell Plague you with torments, let him always laſh Your hearts with flames, until ye howl, and gnaſh Your teeth together; go, depart my ſight, And taſte the fruits of everlaſting night. But as for you whoſe better deeds have found Acceptance in my heart, ye ſhall be crown'd With unremoved happineſs, becauſe Ye have obſequiouſly perform'd my Laws; You fed my craving ſtomack, and you cloath'd My naked body, and you have not loath'd To viſit me; and when I was a ſtranger, Ye took me in, and guarded me from danger; Go then my Lambs, and let your Oratory Proclaim the greatneſs of your Fathers glory: Go revel in my Courts; no diſcontent Shall breed a faction in my Parliament; I'le paſs an Act of Peace, and it ſhall be Sign'd by the hand of my Eternitie. My tongue ſhall ſtile you bleſſed, and my voyce Shall raiſe your Souls, and teach you to • ejoyce▪ Your unexciſed pleaſures ſhall abound To infinite, your raviſh'd hearts ſhall ſound The depth of my delights; all things ſhall move Within the ſphere of uncontrouled Love: Be well aſſur'd, your pleaſures ſhall be great; Then fly from Judgment to my Mercies Seat, And there rejoyce with a triumphant mirth; My Love ſhall live with them that hated Earth. Obdurate Man, here, here thou mayſt diſcry Judgment and Mercy, one to terrifie, The other to perſwade; and yet wilt thou Prove adamantine, and refuſe to bow To thy Redeemer? Canſt thou ruminate Upon his Love, and yet wilt not delate Thy Soul unto him? Is thy brazen heart Impenitrable? Will no flaming dart Of true affection enter? Haſt thou vow'd To ſtop thy • ars; Shall Mercy call aloud, And thou not hear? Shall thund'ring Judgments rattle About thy ears, and yet wilt thou imbattle Againſt the Lord of Hoſts? Wilt thou invoke Perpetual Vengeance to intail a ſtroke Upon thy ſtubborn heart? What, doſt thou think Hell's voyd of flames, or that thy God will wink At thine enormities? Go, rally all Thy thoughts together, and diſcreetly fall Into a ſerious ſtudy.—— ———Let thy mind Be abſolute, and really inclin'd To meditation; contradict the rage Of thine own paſſion: labour to. aſſwage The fire of luſt, that ſo thou mayſt behold, With more ſerenety, how manifold His mercies are, that every day prevents The ſad incurſions of deprav'd events. Think but in what a moſt defam'd condition Thy Soul was in, before the grand Phyſician Of Heav'n and Earth ſpontaniouſly ſent down A balm from his own Gilliard to crown The ſons of grief: Think what he did endure, Before his wounds had perfected thy cure. Remember how undauntedly he ſtood, And ſweat himſelf into a Crimſon flood To ranſom thee; remember how his woes Were aſperated by his raging foes; Remember how his ſacred temples wore A ſpiny Crown; remember how it tore His ſublime Front; remember how they broach'd His breſt with Spears, and ſhamefully reproach'd His ſpotleſs fame; remember how they nail'd His ſpreading hands, remember how they ſeal'd His Ivory w • lls, remember how they ſpawl'd Upon his face, remember how they baw'ld And banded at his Agony, whilſt he Prov'd patient Martyr to their tyrannie; Remember when he came unto the brink O • death, they gave him vinegar to drink▪ Nay more (becauſe they vow'd to empty all Their poys'ned malice out) they gave him Gall. Oh bitter deed! oh moſt abhorred Crimes! (Too nearly paralleld in theſe our times.) Thus having put a period to their plots, They thought it good to caſt their helliſh lots For his (I dare not ſay mean) clothes; I know They were our Saviours, to whoſe worth we ow Perpetual thanks; 'twas his well finiſhed breath Redeem'd our Souls from everlaſting death. Here's Love (O Man) that does as far tranſcend Thy thoughts as thy deſerts, that Heav'n ſhould ſend His Son and Heir to be incarnated▪ And ſuffer death for thee, that wert as dead As ſin could make thee; 'twas for thy offence He dy'd: Ah, how, how canſt thou recompence Such high br • d Favors! Favors unexpected Deſerve to be imbrac'd, and not neglected. Do not (raſh Soul) like Cleopatria, nurſe Imboſom'd vipers; bleſſings prove a curſe, If once abus'd; Ingratitude cuts off Th'intail of Love; it is a ſhame to ſcoff At Benefactors; after thou art fed, Wilt thou contemn the hand that gave thee bread? Wouldſt thou not love that friend that ſhould beſtow A ſuper • nuated cruſt, and ſhew Reſpect unto thee, when the ebbing Tyde Of Fortune runs ſo low, that thou mayſt ride Upon the ſands of Poverty? Fond Man, Strive to be grateful, ſtudy how to ſcan The mercies of thy God; remember how He feeds thy Soul with Manna; learn to bow Th'unruly thoughts; (with admiration) think How often, and how much imbitter'd drink Thy Saviour drank; with what a doleful cry He beg'd of God to let that cup paſs by; But knowing that his pleaſure muſt be done, He proy'd himſelf his moſt obedient Son. And wilt thou not ( •• y wretch) drink one poor ſup Of bitter drink for him, that drank a cup To ſweeten thine; thou need'ſt not fear, or ſcorn To taſte, becauſe Heav'ns ſacred Unicorn Hath purg'd the waters, and they muſt be ſweet, Except they're reimpoys'ned by thy feet: If ſo, what wilt thou do? where wilt thou find An Antidote for an invenom'd mind? It is reported, if the Spider chance To meet the obvious Toad, they'l both advance Then inward force, and mutually proclaim An open War; brave combita •• s of Fame! And having 〈◊〉 their imbowel'd might, Ma • ch boldly on, and both incens'd, thy fight▪ The Toad being heavy loaded, cannot go, Or wheel about, like his encountring foe, But keeps his ground, and makes a ſmall reſiſtance: The Spider ſcorning to be kept at diſtance, Falls in upon him, and with nimble rage Aſſaults his foe, who now begins •• aſſwage His former fury, and would fain retreat From his ſmall foe, whoſe ſtrength is grown too great For oppoſition; being thus diſtreſs'd He crawls away, and with a crope-ſick breſt Seeks for relief, and by and by diſcrys A Planton leaf, within whoſe veins there lies A ſecret Antidote, which did at length Expel his poyſon and renew his ſtrength: Having diſgorg'd himſelf, he ſoon returns Into the camp, where for a time he burns To be in action, and at laſt he ſees The crafty Spider creeping by degrees To ſeize upon him, then his courage fails, He knows not what to do, his foe aſſails With all his might, conſtraining him to yield The conqueſt, and with ſhame to quit the field: Then he begins to ſeek, and hunt about, To find the ſoveraign healing Planton out, Which had before reliev'd him, and ſupply'd His wants; but that being gone, he burſt, and dy'd Even ſo, if Hells black Spider chance to crawl From his infernal Web into the Hall Of this all-duſty World, he ſoon prepares Himſelf to fight, and ſuddenly declares, That he, the grim-look'd General of Hell, Dares to encounter any Souls that dwell Within the limits of the ſpacious Earth, And in a moment qualifie their mirth: Thus Satan boaſts, and if he chance to meet A ſingle Soul, he'l thus begin to greet.

A DIALOGUE between the Soul and Satan. Sat.

SOul, th'art well met.

So.

'Tis true, for I am wel.

Sat.

Say, whither art thou going?

Sou.

Not to Hell.

Sat. • iſh, talk no more of that, but tell me whither Thou go'ſt; come, prethee let's go both together. Sou. A pretty motion; when I want a guide I'le ſend for thee, till then thou art deny'd To be my Uſher. Sat. Prethee tell me why Thou art ſo obſtinate, as to deny So free a courteſie as I have ſhewn; Miſchance oft falls to them that walk alone: Be not ſo much averſe as to neglect This opportunity; I can protect Thy feet from ſliding; dangers ſtill attend Thoſe that diſpiſe the favors of a friend. Sou.

A friend! how canſt thou prove that title?

Sat. How? As thus; becauſe I'm willing to allow The beſt aſſiſtance of my ready arm To guide, nay and protect thee from all harm; Thereſore a friend. So. What you pretend to ſhew Is but external; he that can beſtow Internal friendſhip on a Soul diſtreſs'd Is a true friend; no matter for the reſt. If Heav'n will guide my Soul, I ſhall not ſtray, Or ſear the evils of a dangerous way: But as for you, I needs muſt borrow leave To ſay, your friendſhip's only to deceive; Confuſion paths your ways, and if I run By your adviſe, I needs muſt be undone. God bids me fly from ſin, if I refuſe Obedience to his Will, I ſhall abuſe His juſt Commands; then will my ſorrows cry, When Mercy ſtops Judgment begins to fly. Sat. Deſiſt (fond Soul) and labour to divorce Thy lips from this too fabulous diſcourſe; Guild not thy words with vanity, perſwade Theſe thoughts (which ate erronious) to evade Thy ſerious mind; adviſe, and thou ſhal • ſee My ways are beſt be principl'd by me 〈◊〉 Let not the ſwing of paſſion ſtrike thee down, But follow me, 'tis I muſt give a Crown To thy deſerts, 'tis I that can advance Thy down-caſt Soul above the reach of chance; 'Tis I (miſtaken Soul) 'tis I alone That muſt conduct thee to the ſublime throne Of true Salvation; 'tis my hand muſt bring Thy trembling Soul before th'all▪ judging King Of Heaven and Earth; it is my power can fill Thy heart with joy; believe me, and I will. Truſt not the babling languages of thoſe That ſeem thy friends, but are thy greateſt foes; They're great to thy deſruction, they'l connive And fawn, nay almoſt bury thee alive; They'l talk of Heav'n and Hell, they'l tell thee ſtories Of endleſs, boundleſs, unconceived glories; They'l tell thee of Eternity, and woo Thy Soul out of thy ears, if thou'lt beſtow Thy pains to hear them; they'l infuſe, and brew Their own deſigns, and tell thee all is true That they declare; they'l tell thee that they're ſent As Meſſengers from Heav'ns high Parliament. Believe me Soul, 'tis I that can diſplay The Goſpels Colours better far then they; There's nothing in that volume ſo obſtruce, But I can winde and twiſt it to my uſe; And there is nothing in this world can be Stil'd worth a work, but can be done by me: I can do all; it lies within my power To make thee poor or rich in half an hour: I can command whole Legions to attend Upon my honour: Say, what nobler friend Canſt thou imbrace; I'le be a friend to all That will give audience to my faithful call; I'le make them ſwell with riches, they ſhall have As much, nay if not more, then they can crave: Am I not rare, and rich, and high, and great, Incomprehenſible? Is not my ſeat The throne of happineſs? Yet cannot I Invite thee to my ſweet eternity? Come gentle Soul into my twining arms, I'le hug thee, I'le delight thee with my charms, I'le ſhew thee all my Joys, nothing ſhall lie Hid from the view of thy all-gazing eye; Happy, beyond expreſſion. Sou. Satan, ſtay The progreſs of thy tongue, and give me way▪ That I may vent my thoughts, for you have ſpoke At large already; and is this the ſtroke Which you intend ſhall wound me? Be aſſur'd, The blows but ſmall, and well may be endur'd. Sat. What, mov'd to paſſion! Is thy mind diſturb'd With foul miſtruſt? pray let thoſe thoughts be curbd: What, doſt thou think I am perfidious? Fie; 'Tis folly to condemn before you try. Alas, alas! what profit can accrue To me, by wronging ſuch a Soul as you? What I expreſs is only for your good, But what is more (then grave advice) withſtood? I doubt theſe weak, theſe empty thoughts preſage A tempeſt, guarded with a ſtorm of rage: Well then, ſtorm on, and when thy ſtorm is ſpent, Sit down, and meditate, and then repent. Sou. Repent, Oh happy word! although expreſt By a foul mouth; thoſe that repent are bleſt. How dares thy helliſh lips 〈◊〉 a word Fill'd with divinity, but will afford No reſt, no comfort, to thy horrid Soul? Begone, begone; and if thou canſt condole Thy ſelf, thou art (if Logick prove but true) Curſt in the Major, and the Minor too. Bleſs me, O Heav'n: What bluſt'ring ſtormy weather Drove ſuch a vile prodigious Monſter hither? Touch-ſtone of baſeneſs, doſt thou come to prove Whether I'm gold, or droſs; thou mayſt remove Thy forward hopes, becauſe I hope to be Mettal at laſt for Heav'n, and not for thee. Begone, fallacious wretch, I cannot brook Thy golden baits, I have diſcry'd thy hook▪ Father of lyes, thy policy is built Upon the ſands, and plaſter'd o're with guilt▪ Thy tongue foretels a ſtorm; if ſo, be ſure Thy ſand-built policy ſhall not endure: Flatt'ry's the life of baſeneſs, and that art Is well imprinted in thy ſubtile heart▪ Doſt thou believe that I can entertain Belief from thee? Or doſt thou think to raign Within my breſt? No▪ no▪ thy cloudy powers Are at the beſt but falſifying ſhowrs▪ Be ſatisfi'd, I cannot give the leaſt Of credit to thee, nor I dare not feaſt My thoughts with ſuch uncertainties; I know Thy dyet muſt and will corrupt to woe. Thou bidſt me not condemn before I make Some ••• al of thy truſt▪ If I ſhould •••• Such green advice, I quickly ſhould undo My wretched ſelf; and in condemning you What profit could I have? or what relief Could I expect to mitigate my grief? My accuſations would be blown as duſt Before the wind; I'le neither try, nor truſt Sat. Nor try, nor truſt? Art thou reſolv'd to croſs My real motions? Do, and ſee whoſe loſs Will prove moſt weighty; if I loſe the heat Of thy weak love, my loſs will not be great; But if I ſhould withdraw my love from thee, How▪ like a Map of well drawn miſery, Wouldſt thou appear? Be wiſe, correct thy thoghts; Neglected favors prove the greateſt faults. Take my inſtructions, for 'tis I muſt bring Content unto thee; 'tis a glorious thing To be immortal: prethee Soul decline Thy former ways; ſay, ſhall I call thee mine: M •• e, mine thou art; I'le load thee with renown; Let me but conquer, thou ſhalt wear the Crown. How pleaſing are my Joys! how full of peace Are all my ways! my glories ſtill increaſe: I'm great and good, I take delight to win Diſtreſſed Souls, and lead them from their ſin: I cannot chooſe but pity thoſe that lie Upon the beds of ſenſualli • y! My melting Soul is always free to give Comfort to them that ſtudy how to live. Alas, the care and trouble that I take • s more for their content, then my own ſake: My gates are always open, they that venture To come to me ſhall (with a welcom) enter! And when they call, and cry, I will appear My ſelf unto them, and rejoyce to hear Their ſad complaints; I will not hide my face From them that ſeek the glory of my grace: I cannot be unconstant; I muſt grieve To hear their ſorrows, and I will relieve▪ I will be pitiful to them that truſt In me alone: I cannot be unjuſt; I cannot, no I cannot; Earth ſhall move Sooner then I will falſifie my love: I am eternal; they that will endeavor To gain my love, ſhall have my heart for ever. Sou. T'is not your empty words ſhall make my breſt Stoop to the flatt'ry of thy vain requeſt; Though I have ears to hear, I have a mind That will not ſhake at the hard-breathing wind Of your diſcourſe; what you pretend for reaſon, Is nothing but the froth of private treaſon: ▪Tis not your multiloquious tongue can turn The Bi • s of my Soul, or make me ſp •• n At holy Writs; 'tis not your fond conceit Of being good, ſhall make me to retreat From Heav'ns Commands▪ 'tis not your promis d joys Can make me cheerful, or your painted toys ••• ſure me to your fiſt▪ 'tis not the dar • Of your va •• love can penitrate my heart; 'Tis not your ſeeming clemency can make My Soul to love you, for your pities ſake; 'Tis not your always-open gates that ſhall Intice my ſteps to your large Guilded Hall; 'Tis not your ſelf-appearance ſhall invite My well-compoſed thoughts to your delight; 'Tis not your greatneſs that ſhall make me yield To your deſires; Religion is my ſhield: I'le neither fear nor love your raſh evaſions, Nor give attendance to your ſmooth perſwaſions▪ 'Tis difficult to ſerve two Maſters well; Who ſtrays from Heav'n muſt needs approach to Hell. I am advis'd to ſhun the broad-path'd ways That lead to ruine; what the Scripture ſays I muſt believe; 'tis dangerous to fly Without the wings of true divinity: The Scriptures are my way, my light, my guide, And they that go without them needs muſt ſlide▪ The paths are ſtrait in which I ought to run The courſe of grace, until my days are done; And they that change a virtue for a vice, Deſerve no fruit from Heav'ns bleſt Paradiſe. Sat. Surceaſe thoſe fond conceits, thou doſt but ſpin Thine own deſtructions, and connive at ſin▪ Urge not the Scriptures, for I dare maintain My paths are beſt, and other ways are vain: Thy Scripture-conſcience will at laſt confound Th'amazed thoughts, and give thy Soul a wound That hates a cure, then ſhalt thou prove unbleſt, Whilſt others find the plaineſt road's the beſt▪ Suppoſe thou wert (I ſpeak it for thy ſake) Mov'd by occaſions, forc'd to undertake A long-way'd journey, wouldſt thou not enquire The readieſt way, but run into the mire? If thou ſhouldſt act a crime ſo fouly bad, Folly would ſtile thee fool, and Wiſdom mad. Stray not into the wilderneſs of grief, But come to me, take courage, and be brief In thy deſigns; perſwade thy ſelf, that I Am both thy light, thy way, and beſt ſupply In time of need; I am thy prop, thy ſtay; Therefore reſolve, and trifle not away Thy thriftleſs Soul, be not thy ſelf-deſtroyer; I'le be thy Love, and thou my Loves enjoyer: Know that my real breſt contrives no end, But what may merit ſo divine a friend As thine own ſelf: Folly and Wiſdom lies Before thy face; be either fool, or wiſe: Protract no time, but make a ſpeedy choyce, Thy welfare ſhall inſtruct me to rejoyce; Obſerve my actions •• •••• my 〈◊〉 , Let's know each other by exchange of hearts; I'le give thee ••• ne, and for my love reſtore Thine unto me; grant this, I'le ask no more: Be free to give, as I am free to crave; Th'adſt better live my friend, then dye my ſlave: For if thou ſhalt deny what I deſire, I'le make my bellows to advance the fire Of thy diſtreſs, and ſorrows ſhall corrode Thy ſtubborn heart, and care ſhall make abode Within thy breſt, perpetuated grief Shall find a voyce, but ramble from relief: I'le gripe thee, till I make thee underſtand The fiery language of my furious hand: Sighings, and groaning, ſobs, and tears, and cries, Shall be thy ſad Concomitants; thine eyes Shall ſtare upon (well may I call them new And horrid) lights, ſuch lights as ſhall renew Thy growing torments; every thing ſhall be Thy fellow ſlaves in ſervile miſerie: I'le yoke thee with diſtreſs, nay and I'le chain Thy ſtruggling Soul with everlaſting pain: I'le crow'd thee full of ſorrows, and I'le double Thy unconceived, uncontrouled trouble, Whilſt I, triumphing I, will ſit aloft, And be ador'd, and ſcoff to ſee thee ſ • offt: Pity ſhall be a ſtranger to my breſt; My care ſhall be to make thy Soul unbleſt▪ The tydes of woe ſhall overflow thy thoughts▪ And be equivalent unto thy faults, Be ſure, that what extremity can be Thought worth the uſing, ſhall be us'd on thee: Now I have ſpoke, if thou wilt not repent I'le ceaſe to ſpeak, and ſtudy to torment. Sou. How full of poyſon's every word that flows Out of thy mouth? what truſt can I repoſe In ſuch a flatterer▪ I dare not try, O • throw my ſelf upon thy courteſie: I know thou canſt not anſwer my requeſt; There is no truſt in a ſelf-praiſing breſt. If I ſhould dive into the deep abyſs Of thy black thoughts, what glory, or what bliſs Should I discern? Or if I ſhould deliver My heart to thee, thou'dſt diſreſpect the giver; Though at the firſt perhaps thou wouldſt expreſs A ſeeming-unbeſeeming thankfulneſs, Yet at the laſt I know thou wouldſt decline Thy promis'd ways and ſtile me to be thine. Fair words find eaſie paſſage, they proceed • ut from the tongue 〈…〉 crowns the deed, Three things denotes a friend; firſt, to conceal A ſecret ſpeech; the next is, to reveal A private good; the laſt is, to adviſe The ſafeſt way t'obtain an enterpriſe: And he that can do this, a • you pretend, Deſerves the ti • le of a real friend▪ But my Religion tutors me to ſay, (Nay and affirm,) You neither can, nor may; I'm ſure it is (if Reaſon dare prove true) One thing to ſpeak, another thing to do. Your words are airy meſſengers, which fly Into my ears, and there enroul a lye▪ Many untruths have broke the Common Goal Of thy foul mouth; thou ſayſt thou canſt prevail To make me glorious, and thou canſt encreaſe My Joys, and crown me with eternal Peace: Thou ſayſt th'art good and great, & that thy paths Lead to Salvation; thou declareſt thy Laws To be moſt juſt; If all theſe things be •• ue, I needs muſt call the Scriptures falſe, or you: Truth bids me tell thee boldly, when thou cry'ſt Th'art great, and good, and rich, and rare, thou ly'ſt: If thou art good and great, pray tell me why Thou wilt behold ſo vile a wretch as I▪ Theſe things beſpeak thee humble, unto which Thou plead'ſt not guilty; and if thou art rich, How can it be, that thou wilt condeſcend To feed my wants, that am ſo poor a friend? Strange is that charity▪ which ſeems to ſhine From ſuch a • iabolick breſt as thine. If my belief could keep an equal pace With thy ſwift tongue, how full of Faith & Grace Should I appear? Such Faith as would devaſt My wanton Soul, and make me weep as faſt. It is impoſſible to find a Sion That has no Governor, except a Lyon.

The Souls Petition to God. Oh Heav'n, I crave that thou wouldſt keep me ſtill From this moſt • ile Progenitor of Ill; Suffer him no • t'infold me in his arms, • r overcome me with his wanton charms: Oh make my heart obdure, that he may knock Upon my Soul, as on a Marble Rock; Be thou my Fort, and then I ſhall endure His furious on-ſets, and repoſe ſecure: Give me thy grace, that I may be content; Make me as ſtrong, as he is impudent. Now let the ſpring-tyde of thy fierce deſires Flow to the height, thou ſhalt not quench my •••• ! Know Satan, know, my heart reſerves no place For thy abode, I ſcorn thee to thy face: The well-dy'd colours of my Soul declares Defiance to thee, and my breſt prepares To give thee battel; ſtrike, I fear thee not; Whoſe arm'd with Faith needs fear no Canon-ſhot. What impious tongue is that which dares defie Sat. My power with ſo much boldneſs? So. Wretch, 'tis I; 'Tis I (infernal Traytor) that will ſpend My ſtrength to prove thou art a flatt'ring friend. Sat. Move me to anger, do, and thou ſhalt find A courteous friend at laſt may prove unkind: Have I not woo'd thee almoſt night and day To go to Heaven? Sou.

The quite contrary way.

Sat. Have I not labour'd like a watchful father To nouriſh thee? Sou.

Or like a Devil rather.

Sat.

Have I not always taken great delight?

S • ll.

To take away good gold, and give me light.

Sat. How much nocturnal and diurnal care Have I ſuſtain'd for thee? Sou.

True, t'inſnare.

Sat. Have I not been aſſiduous to a wait Upon thy pleaſure? Sou.

And corrupt my ſtate.

Sat. Have I not proffer'd all that can be given To a ſick Soul? Sou.

To drive my Soul from Heaven.

Sat.

Did I not promiſe to be true and juſt?

S • ll.

Did I not ſay, I'd neither try nor truſt?

Sat.

Did I not promiſe that I'd make thee wiſe?

Sou.

Did I not ſay thou wert compos'd of lyes?

Sat.

Did I not promiſe to encreaſe thy ſtore?

Sou.

Did I not ſay ſuch wealth would make me poor?

Sat.

Did I not promiſe to advance thy flame?

Sou.

Did I not ſay thy honors were thy ſhame?

Sat.

Did I not promiſe to uphold thy peace?

Sou.

Did I not ſay ſuch wars would never ceaſe?

Sat.

Did I not promiſe thee a Crown of life?

Sou.

Did I not ſay that Crown would crown my ſtrife?

Sat.

Did I not promiſe thee eternal glory?

Sou.

Did I not ſay that promiſe was a ſtory?

Sat.

Did I not promiſe I would give thee all?

Sou.

Did I not ſay ſuch promiſes were ſmall?

Sat.

Did I not tell thee I was great and good?

Sou.

Did I not anſwer 'twas in ſhedding blood?

Sat.

Did I not tell thee that my ways were beſt?

Sou.

Did I not anſwer that they were unbleſt?

Sat.

Did I not tell thee that thou ſhouldſt have joy?

Sou.

Did I not anſwer ſuch as would deſtroy?

Sat.

Did I not tell thee that I did lament?

Sou.

Did I not anſwer that I was content?

Sat.

Did I not tell thee what a friend I'd prove?

Sou.

Did I not anſwer that I could not love?

Sat.

Thus by fair terms • labour'd to obtain.

Sou.

Thus in • oul terms • told thee 'twas in vain.

Sat.

Then I begun to threaten thee with grief.

Sou.

And then I fled to Heav'n, and found relief.

Sat.

I threatened to afflict thee with large pains.

Sou.

I told thee ſuch afflictions were my gains.

Sat.

I told thee more then now I will expreſs.

Sou.

My anſwers made thee wiſh I had ſpoke leſs.

Sat. But now I ſee my real words can find No reſt within the center of thy mind; For 'tis in vain to ſow the ſeeds of life In a dead heart that is manur'd with ſtrife: I'le therefore ceaſe my importuning love, I'le ſhew my Serpent, and keep cloſe my Dove. Do, do thy worſt, vile wretch, I'le make thee know Griefs abſtract, and the quinteſſence of woe; I'le load thee with extremities, thy breſt Shall always crave, but find no place of reſt: Had but my grave advice receiv'd a place Within thy heart, thou hadſt been fil'd with grace, But now the inundations of thy trouble Shall overflow thee, and I will redouble My new-contrived plagues; I'le make thee feel My melting heart is now transform'd to ſteel: Thy tongue ſhall (like a bolt of thunder) roul And roar within thy mouth; thy ſulphurous Soul Shall flaſh forth lightening, and thy blood-red eyes Shall blaze like Comets in the troubled Skies; Thy teeth ſhall gnaſh, as if they ſcorn'd to be Concomitants in ſo much miſerie: Oh how I'le carbonado every part, And ſill thy body with increaſing ſmart; Thy Soul ſhall lure for death, but that ſhall hate To pierce upon thee, and contemn thy ſtate: Life ſhall be ſtill incroaching, but thy breath Shall ſcorn that life, and hate it unto death; Thy fleſh ſhall drop forth brimſtone, and thy bones Shall court each other in their crackling tones; Horror ſhall be thy watchman, curſes ſhall Poſſeſs thy tongue, one torment ſtill ſhall call Upon another; when thy voyce ſhall cry But for a drop, Confuſion ſhall reply, No, no, thou ſhalt not; if a golden Myne • ould buy a drop, that drop ſhould not be thine; Then ſhalt thou ſay, if thou hadſt been at firſt Advis'd by me, thou hadſt not been accurſt: Thus in this ſad Dilemma ſhalt thou roar, And crave my ſuccour, but I'le not deplore Thy woful ſtate, becauſe thou wert averſe To goodneſs; after folly comes a curſe: Then ſhalt thou know and find I will exile All thoughts of pity, and I'le rather ſmile Then grieve at thy diſtreſs; ah know, 'tis hard To force an entrance where the gates are bar'd: Fond Soul, be ſerious, let thy thought reflect On my indulgency, and give reſpect Unto my el • mency; believe, I will • e good to thee, do but forſake thy Ill; Forſake, forſake that evil which will tur • To thy deſtruction; do not, do not burn The precious fuel of thy chaſte deſires In idle, wanton, all conſuming fires: The Poſt of Time is ſwift, and knows no ſtay; 'Tis time to go when Reaſon calls away: Protraction's dangerous; it is not good To ſtrive with that which ſcorns to be withſtood: Then do not thou procraſtinate, but take This opportunity; do but forſake Thy former ways, and readily incline Thy ſelf to me, and I will make thee ſhine With ſo much luſtre, that all eyes ſhall gaze Upon thy brightneſs, and admire with praiſe: Oh may my language teach thee to believe, That ſo my torments may not make thee grieve In utter darkneſs, that thou mayſt imbrace Thoſe glories which adorn my peaceful place: Repent, (dear Soul) repent what thou haſt done, Then call me father, and I'le love my ſon: Thus having told thee all, I'le here deſiſt; Be thou more apt to yield then to reſiſt. Sou I find, I find, you firſt inflict a wound, And then with balſom ſtrive to make it ſound: You'l make me ſmile at firſt, but after groan; One hand incloſes bread, the other ſtone; I fain would take the bread, but that I ſtand In fear and danger of the ſtony hand▪ Therefore, to ſhun all danger, I'le deſpiſe Your fond advice, and practiſe to be wiſe: If all ſhould prove, that you have told me, true, I know the beſt and worſt that thou canſt do; As for your threatnings, they ſhall not diſturb My peaceful thoughts, my faith ſhall be their curb▪ Urge me no more, but let me reſt in quiet, Strong is that ſtomack can diſgeſt thy diet. Sat. And is it ſo? will no perſwaſions work Upon thy thoughts? Thoſe pregnant crimes that lurk Within thy breſt, will, like to Scorpions, gnaw Thy groaning heart; ſuch ſorrow knows no Law: But ſince thou wilt not be advis'd, expect To find reward, as I have found neglect. Ah, why fond wretch, why doſt thou thus provide Thy feeble ſelf to ſtrive againſt the tyde? Alas, alas! why art thou lull'd aſleep In follies lap? Rouze up for ſhame, and weep For thine infirmities; be not thus croſs To him that would preſerve thee from a loſs: 'Tis time to caſt away the works of night, And cloath thee with the ſhining robes of light. Sou. If your ſtrong Oratory had the skill To make me yield to your unſatiate will, It were enough; what more could you deſire, Then a bad period to your bad deſire? But ſtay (bold friend) I'le meditate, and ſee What fruit will ſpring from thine infernal tree. Sat. What, muſt I ſtay (vile wretch) till you diſpute, And prove the goodneſs of my pleaſing fruit? Muſt I be always waiting on the train Of your deſires, and ſpend my time in vain? No, no, I will not; for it is unfit I ſhould attend, if you will not ſubmit: Th'incenſed fury of my ſpirits burn To be in action, I will not adjourn A minute longer; go, and hug thy vice, Thou lov'ſt the bargain, but abhor'ſt the price: Urge me no more, away, I have forgot All thoughts of friendſhip, and I know thee not: And here I leave thee to the lawleſs power Of thine own paſſion; curſed be that hour that brought thee forth; if all this will not do, May all men curſe thee, and I'le curſe thee too. Sou. And can the ſpring of thy affections find So ſoon an Autumn? Canſt thou be unkind With ſo much eaſe? And can your real breſt (As you ſo call't) be ſo ſoon diſpoſſeſt Of love and patience? Oh how bad and ſtrange Is the effect of ſuch a ſudden change! 'Tis diſputable, for I know not whether Anger, or policy, or both together, Whar • t thee to theſe extreams: Well then, purſue Thine own de • i •• s, and I will bid ad • e To all thy follies; yet my heart begun T'expand it ſelf before the gl •• 'ring Sun O • • hy perſwaſions; if thy ſharp'ned rage I •• d • ot ſo ſoon exploded me the ſtage, I 〈…〉 , I fear, I had before this hour B •• n proſtituted to thy tameleſs power: B •• gone, begone; but ſtay, hark • atan, hark, Go b •• ſt you ſhot, but fairly miſs'd the mark. 〈◊〉 Why doſt thou bid me go? I'm ſure you ſpeak 〈…〉 , in •• ſt, thou W • l • not break 〈…〉 of 〈…〉 ; though thou haſt expreſt Thy 〈…〉 the • ••• •• j • ſt: 〈…〉 go • d 〈…〉 which l • ve in th • inner places 〈…〉 with graces: 〈…〉 and c • y 〈…〉 ▪ 〈…〉〈…〉 'd 〈…〉〈…〉 fire▪ 〈…〉〈…〉 • ain: 〈…〉〈…〉 ``Above all ſenſe: when Reaſon finds divorce, ``The tongue proves ſubject to a headlong courſe. What I have ſpoke obſerve, and thou ſhalt find Proceeded from my paſſion, not my mind: The miſconſtruction of a word may make The deareſt friends • o vary, and forſake The plains of friendſhip, though their hearts are • r •• From the curſt evils of Inconſtancy: Therefore miſtake me not, nor do not thou Conſtrue my words with an incenſed brow: Smile on me then, and cheerfully impart The loving chidings of a friendly heart; Then ſhalt thou ſee with what a willing arm I will conduct and guide thee from all harm: Believe me Soul. I am not come to ſcatter Uncertain ſtories, but a real matter; What I hold forth unto thee, is the ſtem Of a pure heart, thou art the only •• m Shall grow upon it, come, and let's combine, I ſhall rejoyce to ſee thee prove divine. Sou. The Bias of thy Love runs now ſo ſtrong, That I much fear 'twill not continue long; I find, I find thou haſt the art to ſail With any wind; thou labour'ſt to prevail, But tis in vain, for know, I'le •• uſt thee not, My zealous heart is • ea •• ul of a plot▪ I cannot be ſo fooliſh as to truſt Without aſſurance that thou wilt be juſt▪ Wilt thou be true? ſpeak with a real breath. Sat. I will be juſt (beleeve me) unto death; I will, I will; oh may I never be True to my ſelf, if I am falſe to thee. Sou. If thou art juſt and conſtant, tell me where Thy ſeat is plac'd, and who is Prince of th' • ir▪ Be true in this, and thou ſhalt find that I, According to thy anſwer, will reply. Sat. I'le tell thee then (becauſe I'le now fulfill The vaſt deſires of thy enquiring will) Where my refulgent Seat is plac't; prepare Thy ears to hear, I'le ſpeedily declare. The large extent of my unbounded grace Cannot be comprehended in one place, Becauſe I am immortal, unconfin'd To time or place; I live in every mind That's truly real, and not diſagreeing To my known Laws; I have no local Being: The World's a ſpacious Body, I the Soul Which lives in every part compleat and whole: Thus this diſpute is eaſily decided▪ For what's immortal cannot be divided. Nay more, becauſe I'le fill thee with content, I ſay I'm Prince of every Element, Therefore of Air; Now if thou canſt enquire Any thing mo • e, I'le anſwer thy deſire. Sou. Before I ſuffer my ſwift thoughts to ſlide Into more queſtions, I'le be ſatisfy'd In what is paſt: If ſo it be, you have No local Being, how then will you ſave Thoſe Hoſts of Souls which you intend ſhall be Seal'd with the Signet of Eternitie? Did you not tell me, that your peaceful Seat Was rich, ſublime, (and without meaſure) great? If thus it be, as 'tis expreſt by you, 'Tis more then ſtrange that 'tis not local too: Clear but this doubt, and thou ſhalt quickly find Thoſe duties that attend an honeſt mind Flow from my br • ſt, till th •• I'le •• ſt in 〈◊〉 , As you perform, ſo ſhall my love encreaſe. Sat. Ambiguous Soul, why doſt thou thus connive At thine own follies? Why doſt thou deprive Thy ſelf of comfort, comforts that will heal Th'exulcerous ſores of thy diſtemper'd weal? Why art thou thus inquiſitive? the thing That thou deſir'ſt • o know (if known) will bring Small ſatisfaction to thy dubiours breſt; He's wiſe enough that knows he ſhall be bleſt▪ If you enquire in ſuch a doubtful caſe, You'l loſe your reſt in ſeeking out the place. Surceaſe thy thoughts, and do not proudly knock Thy ſelf in pieces, now thou knowſt the rock: Pry not too far, let ſecret things alone, My Zodiack has more ſigns then muſt be known: 'Tis not the Heav'n of Heav'ns that can contain Me, the Creator, and my glorious train: I am even what I pleaſe, and I will be Even where I wil. So. Wher's that? Sa. What's that to thee? The knowledg of my Seat does no way tend To thy Salvation, therefore ceaſe to ſpend Such truitleſs thoughts, caſt by this needleſs care, Learn to know what I am, no matter where. Sou I muſt confeſs, it is not good to pry In things that ſuit not the capacity; But ſeeing 'twas your pleaſure to expreſs So much of friendſhip, I made bold t'addreſs My ſelf unto you, pardon then my crimes, You know that wiſeſt men may doubt ſometimes: Your weights are light, or elſe your courage fails, You have not ſtrength enough to turn the ſcales Of my affections, yet you had almoſt Droven my ill-man'd ſhip upon your Coaſt; The winds of your perſwaſions rage and roar Within my breſt▪ I cannot find a ſhoar For my deſires; I'm toſt from wave to wave, And am become a moſt diſtracted ſlave: Thoſe heav'nly thoughts which formerly frequented The cloſet of my breſt, are now prevented By baſe-bred fancies, fancies that ariſe From a foul brain, and makes me to diſpiſe Almoſt my ſelf; I know not what to do, I dare not, oh I dare not yield to you; And yet I hardly can believe thou wilt Burthen thy conſcience with ſo foul a guilt As to betray me, ſure thou art more kind Then to abuſe a well-affected mind▪ But yet I dare not truſt a Soul-purſuer, Becauſe thou kill'ſt when thou pretend'ſt to cure. I reel, I reel, (if not ſuſtain'd) I ſhall Receive a ſudden and a deadly fall; What ſhall I do in this deplot'd condition? I fear, I fear I've loſt my beſt Phyſician: Try Satan, try, and ſee what may be done For a ſick Soul, that fooliſhly has run Beyond it ſelf; oh ſee what thou canſt do To give me eaſe, and then I'le call thee true. Sat. Now Soul I love thee; rouze, bid grief depart, Thou haſt the ſymptomes of an honeſt heart: Methinks I could, with much content, afford To ſay thou ſpeak'ſt a Chriſtian at a word; Cheer up, and know that many troubles wait Upon the changes of an ancient State: The work of Reformation alway brings Trouble at firſt, but afterwards it ſings Anthems of Peace, whoſe fortunate event Will more then countervail thy diſcontent. He that has ſpent the treaſure of his days Under one roof, has reaſon to diſpraiſe The troubles of removing; yet at laſt (When his defatigating cares are paſt) He may declare himſelf to be a debter To fortune, and confeſs that life the better. Even ſo mayſt thou (dear Soul) hereafter ſay, Bleſt be that hand which led thee from the way And paths of Ignorance, although at firſt • 'Tis often known, beginnings are the worſt Thou feel'ſt a private nakedneſs within, Becauſe thou haſt uncloth'd thy ſelf of ſin: Although, I muſt confeſs, there cannot be A 〈…〉 in nature, yet in thee There is an 〈…〉 , and moſt be ſtill, For what is empty craves a time to till. If he whole ſtomack hath ſuſtain'd the rage Of ſharp'ning hunger. ſhould at firſt aſſwage His appe •• ce with ſulneſs, would it not Produce a • u • ſere, and impoſe a blo • Upon his wiſdom, ra •• ing ſuch a ſt •• fe Within his 〈…〉 , that his ••• e Would be endanger'd? Therefore learn by rote, That moderation is the chiefeſt note: In all my Gammut, none can ſing ſo high A note as moderation, only I. If I ſhould let thee make too large a meal Of my rich Joys at firſt, I ſhould reveal Too much of folly; for if thou ſhouldſt take A ſurfeit at the firſt, It needs muſt make Thee fear, nay hate, to entertain my diet; 'Tis better far to ſpare at firſt then riot: Moreover, ſhould I let thee taſte thy fill At firſt, I know the reins of thy fierce will Would ſcorn a hand, 'tis dangerous to truſt; Preſumptions ſpur can never want for ruſt: Come Soul, let Reaſon rule thee, do not ſtain Thy well-dy'd judgment, 'tis a greater pain To fear, then ſuffer; come, I long to ſee Thee wanton with me in Eternitie; Then doubt no more, reſolve, and let's away, There is no greater grief then to delay A happineſs; be well inform'd of this, Procraſtination is a foe to Bliſs. Sou. Thy words impoſthumate my heart, I feel A greater pain then ever Ixions wheel Knew how to inflict, extremities ſtill crowd Into my thoughts; my ſorrows call aloud, And none will hear; what ſhall I do? for I Unworthy am to live, unfit to dye; Except th • all▪ ruling power above will pleaſe T'inſpect my Soul, and furniſh me with eaſe, To whoſe bleſt ears I'le recommend my ſuit, My ſorrows will not let my tongue be mute. Great Auditor of groans, oh let my cries, My ſighs, my tears, invite thine ears, thine eyes To bear, and view me, for I muſt confeſs, My crimes are great, and I am nothing leſs Then what is leaſt; alas! and nothing better Then what is worſt, oh pardon me thy debter! I'm toſt with grief, and know not where to ſteer My ſhipwrack'd ſelf, but ſtill my ſins appear Before my face, whoſe looks almo • t affright, And make me ſtart into eternal night: What ſhall I do? or whither ſhall I dee. That am an allen (Lord) except to thee▪ From thee leann •• , and I am •• o vile To come unto thee, having made • • po • l Or thoſe moſt ſacred mercies which thy hand 〈◊〉 upon me, there is no Command But I have broke; vec, gracious Lord, I know That thy abounding mercies 〈…〉〈…〉 excelling 〈◊〉 , which cannot lie 〈…〉 • urveying eye. With ſhame I muſt confeſs the ſubtile art Of Satan hath impoyſoned my heart; Oh I am ſick to death, I ſwell, I burſt Never was any ſoul ſo much accurſt: There's none but thee, thou ſacred antidote Can cure my grief, be therefore pleas'd to note My ſad condition, let my ſorrows lye Before thy face, oh hear me when I cry; Grant me the ſhield of faith, that I may ſtand In oppoſition to the powerfull hand O • active Satan, weaken (Lord) his powre And add unto my ſtrength; Let every hour Afford new mercies, mercies that may ſail Into my breaſt, ah ſhould my Foc prevail Oh then I periſh, ſhorten (Lord) his chain And lengthen out my patience, oh make vaine His fierce attempts, that he may feel, and ſee When he is ſtrongeſt, I'm as ſtrong as he, Then ſhall my lipps extoll thee, and proclame The greatneſs of thy glory▪ and his ſhame Give but thy grace unto me (Lord) and then Say what thou wilt, my tongue ſhall ſay dmen. Sat. Let everlaſting plagues and horror dwell Within ſo fit a ſoul, let black-mouth'd Hell Remove his ſcituation, and take An everlaſting Leaſe, oh let him make A Tenement of thee; doſt thou think that I Will here thy prayers, oh no, I ſcorn thee, fiye Away, begon— Sou What voyce is this that makes this bold intruſion Into my eares, and grumbles out confuſion, Me thinks I ſee a ſtorme-portending cloud, Bowel'd with thunder, and I hear a loud And horrid noiſe, a noyſe that would confound A wel-prepared eare to here the ſound; Who would not quake at ſuch a voyce as this That roares forth Malice with an Emphaſis? My thoughts are interrupted, and amaſement, Flaſhes like Lightning through the brittle caſement Of my ill-gla • ed breſt; It cannot be The voyce of Heav'n, a God ſo pure as he Hates to be envious, malice cannot ſpring From ſuch a good (and love-compoſed) King; Although his voyce (made terrible) oft-times By the addition of mans dayly crimes Thunders againſt a ſinner, yet his breath Can take no pleaſure in a ſinners death. Hereafter (Lord) when malice findes a voyce To ſpeak, my underſtanding ſhall rejoyce, In knowing who it is; this heart of mine Shall never quake at any voyce but thine; Then let hels deep-mouth'd blood-hound, roar & thunder Ile neither fear, nor love, nor quake, nor wonder, For 'tis not ſtrange to here a Lyon roare That wants his prey, the more he has, the more He ſeeks for more, imploying ſtill his power In ſeeking how, and whom he may devour; Know therefore Sathan, that I am prepar'd To meet thee, and I will not be out dar'd; Tis not thy falſe malisluous tongue ſhall tempt My heart to love, no, nor thy rage exempt My thoghts from heav'n, although thy craft ſtil lurks For opertunity to ſtop good works; When I compoſe my ſelf, and ſtrive • o pray, Thou ſeek'ſt to t • r • my thoughts another way: Thou great corrupter of Diviner parts, Thou watchfull theif that ſteal'ſt into the hearts Of ſilly mo • t • ds, think not to devour My armed heart with thy perſuing power. Will nothing move thee, wilt thou ſtill miſtruſt, Sat. If fare means will not move thee, foul means muſt What doſt thou think my arm is grown ſo ſhort It cannot reach thee, doſt thou think to ſport with my commands; ſay, thou imperious mite Who gave thee beeing, who created light, Who made the Heav'ns, the earth, the ſea, reply Audacious wretch, ſpeak, was it thee, or I, Thou vain contender, doſt thou think to gain By ſtriving with me, any thing but pain, Oh no, thou ſhalt not, for Ile ſtill renue Thy pinching ſorrows, therefore bid adue To all thy comforts, for thou ſhalt no more Injoy thoſe bleſſings thou injoyd'ſt before, Oh how thy horrid tongue ſhall roar and cry With Dives for a drop, but no ſupply Shall dare t'appear; the more thou crav'ſt, the leſs Thou ſhalt be heard, for nothing ſhall expreſſe The leaſt of pleaſure to thy per boyl'd heart, Thy chiefeſt food ſhall be perpetuall ſmart, Be well aſſured that thy eares thy eyes Shall hear, nor ſee, nought but extremities, Begon, begon, my ſury hates delay; Hell, and damnation be thy lot, away. Sou. Experience makes me underſtand thou art A lively actor, of a deadly part, I finde the greatneſſe of your ſwelling rage; Your Prologue ſpeaks 'twould be a bloudy ſtage If you might act as King, but Heav'n prevent The curſed plots of your accurſt intent; I fear thee not, becauſe I know thy powre Is limitted, and thou canſt not devoure Without commiſſion, therefore do thy worſt, And let thy envie ſwell untill it burſt And ſall to nothing, my Creator gives Me faith to ſay that my Redeemer lives, And wil protect me from the rage of thoſe That are my known and ſecret deadly Foes. Thy thundring words ſhal not make me complying For he's unwiſe that dyes for fear of dying; Thus being guarded with the ſhield of grace Ile ſpite deffiance in thine impious face. Thou art a Lyou, and thou ſeek'ſt for blood How bad's that ſoul that dares to think thee good; Urge me no more caſhiere thy fruitleſſe trouble, The more thou ſtriv'ſt, the more Ile ſtrive to double My reſolutions, for I dare not venture To reſt my heart on ſuch a bloody center, Oh no I dare not; he that ſhal let goe A certain friend for a moſt certain foe Juſtly deſerves to have no other fame, But what reproach can build upon his name; Should I permit my rambling thoughts to glance Upon thy love, the Plea of Ignorance Could not be prevalent, becauſe 'tis known Unto the bleſt-united three in one That I (by his aſſiſtance) have diſcry'd Thy reall ſlat'ry, and thy humble pride; I dare affirm no greater pride can be Then that that's acted with humility, But here I'le ſtop and leave thee to inherit Th' effects of a diabolique ſpirit. Sat. Accurſed chat • ffe, doſt thou think to ſcape The fury of my hand, or make a rape Upon my goodneſs, no, the Sun and Moon Shall ſtop their uſuall progreſſes as ſoon As I will change my minde, vengeance is mine And Ile repay it on that Soul of thine. Begon, begon, expect thy ſudden doom, It is thy ſins give puniſhment a room: Let everlaſting Plagues, and horror dwell Within ſo • it a Soul, let black-mouth'd Hell Remove his ſcituation, and ſo take A ſtill continuing Leaſe, oh let him make A ten'ment of thee, doſt thou think that I YYill hear thy Prayers, oh no I ſcorn thee, ſye Away, begon Sou If words could kill, I had been ere this time Worded to death, but now I hope to clime Above the reach of words in thy deſpight, Where thou may'ſt grumble at me, but not bite Even as the ſurly blood-deſiring dog Ty'd with a chain, or loaded with a elog Grows ſi • r •• r with reſtraint, and ſtands in awe Of nothing but his maſter, to whoſe law He muſt ſubmit and keep within his liſt; For fear will not permit him to reſiſt; But if ſome wandring paſſenger ſhould chance To walk along, he quickly would advance His watchfull head, and running too and fro From place to place, he tuggs but cannot go Beyond his bounds, but labours ſtill in vaine (With fruitleſſe biting of his ſenſleſs chain) To free himſelf, but when he finds his ſtrength Is not ſufficient to out-go the length Of his well-faſtned chain, he ſoon devides His ſharp-fang'd jaws, and bauls until his ſides And lungs are weary, then he runs the round Until he layes himſelf upon the ground VVhere he remaineth much diſpleas'd and vext Seeming to threaten ruin to the next: So you (hels ty • dog) if thou couldſt but ſtrain And quit thy ſelf from heaven's faſt-holding chain VVhat Soul could ſcape thy jaws, or be poſſeſt Of laſting peace, or comfortable reſt, How ſad, how miſerable had it been For patient Job, had but thy pow'r been ſeen Upon his heart; but Heaven that will controul In ſpight of malice, chain'd thee from his ſoul: Alas, alas! thy chain is not ſo long To reach a ſoul, nor is thy pow'r ſo ſtrong To break it at thy pleaſure, thou mayſt baul And bark forth envie, but not hurt at all; If thou art God [as thou pretendeſt] why, Why doſt thou ſuffer ſuch a thing as I T' expoſtulate ſo long, and doſt not ſhow Thy judgments in my ſpeedy overthrow. Sat. It is my goodneſs and not thy deſert That breeds for bearance in my tender heart, Alas, alas, what honor would acrue To me in conquering ſuch a thing as you, I could within a moments time aſſwage, (But that my clemencie out-vies my rage) Thy ſwelling fury, for I could diſcharge Vollies of wrath and eaſily inlarge Thy reſtleſs torments, I could make thee run (Like morning miſts before the riſing ſun) Out of my preſence, If I ſhould but ſay The word begon, ah laſſe thou couldſt not ſtay, But ah I cannot, for I hate to ha • me, Love guides my ſtrength, & that ſtrength guids my arm Even as the Sheepheard with be-dewed locks Watches the feeding of his harmleſs flocks For fear the bold-fac'd wolf ſhould chance to peep Into the coaſts of his beloved ſheep, And like a • awleſſe Tyrant, ſoon commence (Againſt thoſe Emblems of pure innocence) A bloody action, which would ſoon incite The Sheepheards grief, to ſee ſo ſad a ſight, So I th' eternall Sheepheard dayly watch My wel-fed Lambs for fear Hels wolf ſhould catch Or fright (not being fearfull to be bold) My gentle flocks from their delightfull fold; I am beloved, and mine own, will own My ſacred Name, my voyce is not unknown Unto my Sheep, they alwayes will be all Firmly obedient to my chearfull call, For which obedience they ſhal finde reward Nay ſuch a one, as alwayes ſhall accord To their deſires, thrice happy ſhall they be In truly calling, and in owning me To be their Sheepheard, nothing can more pleaſe M' indulgent ſoul, then ſuch dear ſlocks as theſe, I will preſerve them, and no wolt ſhal dare To ſeize upon them, or preſume to reare Their downy fleeces, nothing ſhal be nearer Unto my heart, and nothing ſhal be dearer In my affections, for I wil affect Even where, and when I finde a true reſpect. What ſtrange contuſions hath thy language bred Sou Within my ſerious thoughts, how haſt thou fed My ears with ſlatt'ries, but it is in vaine; Becauſe my heart hath vow'd not to retain Thy fain'd expreſſions, nothing ſhall remove My love from God, nor nothing make me love Thy wretched ſelf; then be content, and ceaſe To urge my mind, or interrupt my Peace. Go, do thy worſt, And when that worſt is done Sit down as wiſely as thou haſt begun: Sat. Art thou reſolv'd? VVell then, let vengance light Upon thy curſed head, begon, thou mite (Nay leſſe) of goodneſſe, go, make haſt t'inherit Thoſe plagues that waite upon ſo damn'd a ſpirit? Sou May this be cal'd a farewell, if it be, The ſelf ſame farewell muſt attend on thee; I hate, nay ſcorn to bid farewell to you, T • is charity enough to bid, 〈…〉 .

The Souls Thankefulneſs, and Requeſt to God. MOſt gracious God, I having lately felt The ſervont of thy mercies, needs muſt melt Into a thankfulneſſe, Ah ſhould I be Ungratefull to ſo bleſt a God as thee 'Twere pitty, ah 'twere pitty, that the ayre Should give me breath, or thy fierce hand forbear To throw me headlong to the deep abiſ • Of ſpeedy ruin, where no comfort is: Oh glorious Lord be pleaſed to inflame My heart with raptures, to extoll thy name; Alas I'm weak, and if thou ſhouldſt deny Thy ayde, nothing could be more weak than I If thou wilt help me, I ſhall be ſo ſtrong, That nothing can prevail to do me wrong, Lord I am blind, oh therefore let thy light Expell thoſe clouds that thus ecclips my ſight; Be thou my guide, my ſtrength, my ſight, my way, O • elſe (being weak) I ſhall or fall, or ſtray; Oh leave me not, but as thou haſt begun To ſhew me mercy, let thy mercy run VVith my deſires, and grant that I may be A true forgetter of all things, but thee, And rather then I ſhould forget thy call, Oh let me have no memory at all? Wean me, oh wean me from this nurſing earth Make it my ſorrow, and thy Throne my mirth. Let every morning make me know, and ſay Thy Laws are Juſt, or let me know no day; Let every ev'ning make me take delight • n thy commands, or let me know no night. Inſpire my heart [O God] and make it▪ lad Always in thee, or make it alwayes ſad; If thou affict'ſt me, make me underſtand, Thou haſt a ſtorming and a calming hand; If Poverty oppreſs me, whilſt I live, Oh let thy mercy ſend me friends to give, Or if thy goodneſs pleaſe to ſend me ſtore O give me grace to think I may be poor, It matters not, O Lord, how poor I be Unto the world, if I am rich to thee; If I am hungry, • be thou my meate, If I am weary, • be thou my ſeate; Or if I feaſt, O Lord, be thou my gueſt; If I am reſtleſſe, Lord, be thou my reſt; If I am thirſty, Lord, be thou my ſpring If I am ſubject, Lord, be thou my King; If I have virtue make me dote upon her If Honorable, be thou my honor: And if I cannot know that which I would, Be pleas'd to make me know, Lord, what I ſhould; Then ſhal my ready lips expreſſe and ſhow I know no more, then thou wouldſt have me know My unty'd tongue ſhal evermore proclaim Th' attendant glories of thy ſacred Name.

The ſacrifice of y• • icked is an abomination to the Lord, ••• the 〈…〉 of the • pright is his delight. Pro: 15. 8

Divine Ejaculations. I. GReat God whoſe Scepter Rules the earth Diſtill thy fear into my heart. That being rapt with holy mirth I may proclaim how good thou art. Open my lips that I may ſing, Full prayſes to my God, my King. Ejaculation. II. Lord make the torments we endure The Symptomes of thy Love, not wrath: Thou art our Chiron, we thy cure Our crime's our ſores, thy blood's our bath, O we are weake, be thou as ſtrong How long O Lord; O Lord, how long. Ejaculation 3. Juſt Judge of earth, in whom we truſt Make ſharp thy ſword, and bend thy bow, Conſume the wicked; Save the Juſt, For thou the Reines, and heart doſt know Then ſhal our tongues ſing forth thy praiſe, And praiſe thy juſtice al our dayes. Ejaculat. 4. Lord teachus timely how to pray, And give us patience to expect; Thou hateſt ſin; O guide our way; Judge thou our Foes: The Juſt protect: Then ſhal the wicked fall with ſhame, And we will ſing that love thy name. Ejaculat. 5. Creat Son of the eternal God To whom the world ſubjected lyes, Break not, but breed us with thy rod: O we are fooliſh, make us wiſe: And if thy wrath begin to flame, Wee'l ſeek protection in thy Name. Ejaculat. 6. Lord, if our enemies encreaſe, And we invoke, bow down thine ear; Be thou our ſhield, and make our Peace, And we will ſcorn what worldlings fear. Great God of health, great Lord of Reſt, O make us thine, and we are bleſt. Ejaculat. 7. Thou righteous Hearer of Requeſts, Make voyd the counſels of th • unjuſt▪ Send peace into our trembling breſts, And fill our hearts with fear and truſt: If thou wilt make thy face to ſhine, Let others joy in corn and wine. Ejaculat. 8. Lord, thou whoſe equal hand allays The poor mans grief, whoſe help thou art, Encline my heart to give thee praiſe, And I will praiſe thee with my heart: Forſake me not; for, Lord, I truſt, As men are cruel, thou art juſt. Ejaculat. 9. Lord, cruſh my Lyon-hearted Foes, Rout them that ſeek to ruine me; Riſe up, O God, forget not thoſe Whoſe wrongs refer their cauſe to thee: Or if the wicked muſt oppreſs, Be thou not far from my diſtreſs. Ejaculat. 10. Great God, thy Garden is defac'd, The Weeds do thrive, thy Flowers decay; O call to mind thy P • o •••• ſe paſt, Reſtore thou them, cut theſe away: Till then, let not the Weeds have power To ſtarve or tain • the pooreſt Flower. Ejaculat. 11. Lord, leave us not too long a ſpace; O view our griefs, and hear our pray'r▪ Clear thou our eyes, unv ••• thy face, Leſt Foes preſume, and we deſpair. Lord, make thy mercy our repoſe, And we will ſing amidſt thy Foes. Ejaculat. 12. Lord, teach me to renown thy N ••• , Which through the world is ſo renown'd: Let man thy glorious Works proclaim, Whoſe head with glory thou haſt crown'd. As beaſts to men ſubjected be, So Lord ſubject mans heart to thee. Ejaculat. 13. In all extreams, Lord, thou art ſtill The Mount whereto my hopes do flee; O make my Soul deteſt all ill, Becauſe ſo much abhor'd by thee. Lord, let thy gracious tryals ſhow That I am juſt, or make me ſo. Ejaculat. 14. Great God, whom Fools deny, how dare Our lips requeſt thy glorious Eyes! If thou but ſee, thou canſt not ſpare, And what thou ſeeſt thou muſt deſpiſe. Lord, make us hear thy ſaving voyce, Then mayſt thou ſee, and we rejoyce. Ejaculat. 15: Lord, cleanſe my heart, and guide my tongue, Preſerve my lips from falſe deceit; Protect my hands from doing wrong, Teach whom to love, and whom to hate: Inſtruct me how to take and give; Lord, grant me this, and I ſhall live. Ejaculat. 16. Lord, teach my Reins, that in the night My tutor'd Reins may tutor me; And keep me always in thy ſight For in thy ſight all pleaſures be: Let not my ſoul in darkneſs ſtray, O thou my life, O thou my way. Ejaculat. 17. Behold my Right, and right my wrongs, Thou Saviour of all thoſe that truſt: O I am weak, my Foes are ſtrong; Lord thou art gracious, thou art juſt. O make me rightly prize this life, And let thy glory be my ſtrife. Ejaculat. 18. Great God, my ſtrength, at whoſe command, Whil'ſt I ſerve thee, all creatures ſerve me, Protect me from my Foe-mans hand; O, as thou haſt preſerv'd, preſerve me: With peaceful conqueſt crown my days, And I will crown thy Power with praiſe. Ejaculat. 19. Great God, the work of whoſe high hands The glory of thy Name declare, How perfect ſweet are thy Commands! How purely juſt thy Precepts are! Cleanſe all my ſins, clear every ſpot, Both open, ſecret, known, forgot. Ejaculat. 20. Accept, O God, my holy fires, Lead thou our Armies, give ſucceſs, Bleſs our deſigns, grant our deſires; O hear and help in our diſtreſs: Preſerv'd by thee, we ſhall prevail. When Chariots flee, and horſes fail. Ejaculat. 21. O God, whoſe Judgments are ſevere, And M • c • s full of ſweet compaſſion, Scourge thou thy Foes, ſave thoſe that fear, Raviſh my Soul with thy Salvation; And I will ſpend my joyful days In Pſalms of thanks, and Songs of praiſe. Ejaculat. 22. My Jeſus, thou that wert no leſs Then God, and yet with men forlorn, Larths Comforter, yet comfortleſs, Heavens Glory, yet to men a ſcorn. What thanks ſhall I return to thee, That wert all this, and more for me! Ejaculat. 23. Great Shepherd of my Soul, thy hand Both gives me food, and guides my way; Subject my will to thy Command, And I ſhall never ſtarve, nor ſtray. If thou wilt keep me in thy ſight, Thy Houſe ſhall be my whole delight. Ejaculat. 24. Lord, purge my heart, and cleanſe my hand, Direct my tongue, and guide my will; For nothing that's unclean can ſtand Within thy great, thy glorious Hill. Lift up my heart, depreſt with ſin, And let the King of Glory in. Ejaculat. 25. Lord, guide my footſteps in thy Truth, And let thy grace be my repoſe; Forgive the frailties of my youth, And free me from my cauſleſs Foes: Redeem thine Iſr'el from their hand, And bring me to thy promis'd Land. Ejaculat. 26. Lord, keep me juſt, and judg my right, Prove thou my reins, and try my heart; O make thy Temple my delight, And fix my dwelling where thou art: Redeem my Soul, confirm my ways, And give me power to give thee praiſe. Ejaculat. 27. My God whoſe fear drives fear away, Shew me the beauty of thy Houſe; Preſerve me in the evil day, That I may ſing, and pay my vows. Lord, grant me fear, and grard my path; Give Patience, and with Patience, Faith. Ejaculat. 28. O God, be thou my living Rock, Whereto my r • ſtleſs Soul may fly: B •• ſt be thy Name; when I invoke, Th • u hear'ſt my ſuit, and ſend'ſt ſupply. 〈…〉 , or elſe convert▪ Or weaken, that they may not hurt. Ejaculat. 29. Shall Mountain, Deſert, Beaſt, and Tree, Yield to that heavenly Voyce of thine, And ſhall that voyce not ſtartle me? No • ſtir this ſtone, this heart of mine? No, Lord; till thou new- • o • e mine ear Thy Voyce is loſt, I cannot hear. Ejaculat. 30. Lord, let the evening of my grief Be followed with a morning joy; Hear thou my cry, and ſend relief, That tak'ſt no pleaſure to deſtroy: If thou wilt lengthen out my days, Their task ſhall be to ſing thy Praiſe▪ Ejaculat. 31. Lord, thou that hoord'ſt thy Grace for thoſe That love and fear thy ſacred Name, Redeem me from my conqu'ring Foes, And vindicate my truſt from ſhame▪ Give me fair Conqueſt at the end, Till then, true courage to attend. Ejaculat. 32. Let my confeſſion lanch my ſore, And let forgiveneſs cure my wound; Lord, teach me early • o implore, For I am loſt till tho • art found: Then ſhall my joyful Songs expreſs Thy Praiſes, and my thankfulneſs. Ejaculat. 33. Great Lord of Wonders, thou by whom My heart was fram'd and form'd alone, From whoſe high Power all powers come, That didſt but ſay, and it was done; Appoint the remnant of my days To ſee thy Power, and ſing thy praiſe. Ejaculat. 34. Lord, let the Sun-ſhine of thy face So clear mine eyes, ſo cleanſe my heart, That being ſeaſon'd with thy grace, My Soul may taſte how ſweet thou art. O let thy mercy make me juſt, And then my heart ſhall fear and truſt. Ejaculat. 35. Lord, plead my cauſe, and right my wrong, And take my Snarers in their ſnare; O be not from me, Lord, too long, Leſt they triumph, and I deſpair, Let all my Foes be cloth'd with ſhame, Whil'ſt I ſing praiſes to thy Name. Ejaculat. 36. Fountain of Light, and living Breath, Whoſe Mercies never fail nor fade, Fill me with life that hath no death, Fill me with light that hath no ſhade: Confound the proud in their pretence, And let thy wings be my defence. Ejaculat. 37. Be thou my Truſt, my God, and I, When ••• ners thrive, will not repine; Or if my wants ſhould want ſupply, I will not fret, I will not whine: What if their wealth, my wants, increaſe, They ſhall have plagues at laſt, I p • ace. Ejaculat. 38. Lord, in thy wrath correct me not, For I confeſs and hate my ſin; My fleſh conſumes, my bones do rot, • ▪ •• pains without, and pan • s within. O thou that art the God of Reſt, Releaſe my ſin, relieve my breſt. Ejaculat. 39. Lord, curb my tongue, and make we ſee How few my days, how ſhort their length: Incline my heart to truſt in thee; Remove thy ſcourge, or give me ſtrength: I am a Pilgrim, hear my cry, And ſend ſome comfort ere I dye. Ejaculat. 40. Lord, thou whoſe Mercies do exceed, O fill my language with thy praiſe, Stand thou my Helper at my need, Confound the wicked in their ways: Be thou my Comfort in my grief, And crown my Patience with • elief. Ejaculat. 41. Lord, if thy pleaſure make me poor, Thou wilt bleſs them that give me bread; If thy ſick hand hath ſcourg'd me ſore, That hand that ſtruck will make my bed. Suſtain me, Lord; be thou my Store, I ſhall be neither ſick nor poor. Ejaculat. 42. My God, full tears are all the dyet That feed my ſad, my drooping breſt! In my diſtreſs, in my diſquiet, Be thou my Stay, be thou my Reſt: Be thou my God in my relief, And I will triumph in my grief. Ejaculat. 43. Lord, right my wrongs, and plead my right Againſt all thoſe that ſeek my Ill; O let thy perfect Truth and Light Conduct me to thy holy Hill: Then ſhall thy Altar make relation Of thy due Praiſe, and my Salvation. Ejaculat. 44. Lord, our fore-fathers found redreſs In all their frights, in all their fears; Wilt thou be dumb to my diſtreſs, And not my God, as well as theirs? Redeem my Soul, whoſe loyal knee Ne're bow'd to any God, but thee. Ejaculat. 45. Great Bridegroom, fill thy deareſt Spouſe With outward glory, inward graces; May ſhe forget her fathers houſe, And only clinge to thy embraces: Affect her heart with Love and Duty, And then take pleaſure in her Beauty. Ejaculat. 46. Lord, help me when my griefs do call, In my diſtreſs O be thou near; Then if Earth change, or Mountains fall, I will not • aint▪ I will not fear. Shew me thy Wonders, and inflame My heart to magnifie thy Name. Ejaculat. 47. Lord, let thy Judgments fill all thoſe That love thy Mount with joy and •• rth; Confound and cruſh all Sions Foes, Sion the glory of the Earth: Let all that love thy Sions glory, Recount her State, repeat her Story. Ejaculat. 48. Lord, teach me wiſely to contemn All goods that tranſitory be, Let me not ſtand poſſeſt of them, If they be not poſſeſt in thee. If I be wealthy, and not wiſe. I live but like a beaſt that dyes. Ejaculat. 49. Lord God of gods, before whoſe Throne Stand fire and ſtorms, O what ſhall we Re • ues to Heav'n that is our own, When all the world belongs to thee! We have no offering to impart, But praiſes, and a wounded heart. Ejaculat. 50. Lord, if thy Mercies purge my heart, Conc ••• 'd in luſt, and born in ſin▪ Breathe truth into my inward part, Renew me a firm ſpirit within: Then let thy goodneſs not deteſt The ruines of a broken breſt. Ejaculat. 51. Let others boaſt in gold, and prize Ev'l more then good, and love deceit, Thy Mercies, Lord, are my ſupplies, And on thy Name will I await. Lord, let thy Mercies ſtill inure My breſt to love the thing that's pure. Ejaculat. 52. Lord, if thou take away thy hand, How all compos'd of fears are we! What Arm can ſave? what ſtrength can ſtand? When Man, poor man's forſook by thee? Lord, keep my Faith in thee unſhaken, For thou forſak'ſt not till forſaken. Ejaculat. 53. Lord, let thy Name ſecure and free My threat'ned Soul from all my Foes; Stand thou with them that ſtand for me, Support all theſe, ſuppreſs all thoſe: Then ſhall my Soul diviſion run Upon thy Praiſe; till Time be done▪ Ejaculat. 54. Hearer of Prayers, confound my Foes, That bruiſe my tortur'd Soul to duſt: In man, alas, there's no repoſe; Foes have no pity, Friends no truſt. My truſt is in thy Word, which ſays, They ſhall not live out half their days. Ejaculat. 55. O God, the malice of my Foes Encreaſeth dayly more and more; But, Lord, thou art my ſafe repoſe, Thou art my ſtrength, thou art my ſtore: Be thou my gracious God, and then I will not fear the pow'r of men. Ejaculat. 56. Be gracious, Lord, unto my grief, For in thy ſhadow do I truſt; O ſend me plentiful relief, For thou art merciful and juſt; Then ſhall my ſpirits utter forth Twi light Hoſanna's to thy worth. Ejaculat. 57. Lord, keep me from thoſe hearts and tongues That practiſe miſchief from the womb; Weigh right to them that weigh us wrongs, And let confuſion be their doom: But let the Juſt be fill'd with mirth, And fear that God that rules the Earth. Ejaculat. 58. Lord, ſave me from my Foes; make voyd Their Plots, and all their Counſels vain; For ever let them be deſtroy'd, For in thy hand my hopes remain: And I will always ſpend my days In Hymns of thanks, and Songs of praiſe. Ejaculat. 59. Lord, though we feel the bitter taſte O • thy diſpleaſure for a while; Yet thou art gracious, and at laſt Thy angry brow, that frown'd, will ſmile. O when that ſtorm is over-blown, Thou'lt trample thoſe that tread us down. Ejaculat. 60. Lord, hear my troubled voyce, and bring My Soul to that ſweet Rock of Reſt; Protect all thoſe that ſtrive to ſing Thy praiſes with a cheerful breſt: Let comfort with our years increaſe, That we may praiſe thy Name in peace. Ejaculat. 61. Lord God, from whom all mercy ſprings, Inſtruct my hopes to wait on thee; Teach me what vain and fruitleſs things The helps of what is earthly be. All ſtrength belongs to thee alone, 'Tis thou, my God, muſt help, or none. Ejaculat. 62. Lord, how I long to ſee thy face, That I might ſpend me in thy praiſe! Thou art my glory in diſgrace; Suſtain my ſteps, direct my ways: Thou art my Refuge; when oppreſt With grief, my Joy; with toyl, my Reſt. Ejaculat. 63. Lord, hide me from my bloody Foes, For in thy goodneſs do I truſt; Protect my ſought-for life from thoſe That ſhoot in ſecret for the juſt. So then ſhall I that fear thy Name Have cauſe of glory, they of ſhame. Ejaculat. 64. Thou gracious Hearer of Requeſts, Hide all my ſins behind thy merits; Showre down thy Spirit into our breſts, And drop thy grace into our ſpirits; That from our faith rich works may ſpring, And give us cauſe to ſhout and ſing. Ejaculat. 65. Lord, if thy flame muſt needs be felt, Let us be purged in that flame; Let our rebellious ſpirits melt Into the Praiſes of thy Name; That we being tutor'd, and kept under, May fear with love, and love with wonder. Ejaculat. 66. Lord, let thy favour ſtill inflame Our light'ned hearts to walk thy ways, That all the World may praiſe thy Name, And all the Earth may ſing thy Praiſe: So fructifie our hearts, that we May bleſs thy Name, being bleſt by thee. Ejaculat. 67. Lord, riſe in pow'r within my heart, And chaſe my ſins, thy Foes, and mine, Then ſhall I ſee thee as thou art, In Glory great, in Power divine: So I, more white then Snow, ſhall ſing Thy ways, and praiſe my God, my King. Ejaculat. 68. To that ſweet Lamb, which did ſuſtain Grief above weight, Pain above meaſure, Whoſe ſtripes, and ſcoffs, and grief, and pain, Were only purchas'd by our pleaſure, Be Honor, Glory, Praiſes, given By Souls on Earth, by Saints in Heaven. Ejaculat. 69. Let ſhame be their due recompence That ſeeke to wound my Soul with ſhame: Be thou their help, and ſtrong defence, That ſeek thee Lord, and love thy Name. Make haſte, O God, for I do waſte My Soul with grief; O God, make haſte. Ejaculat. 70. Lord, thou that underneath thy wing Didſt keep me in, and from, the womb, Aſſiſt my age, that it may ſing Thy praiſe in ages yet to come▪ Preſerve my Soul protect my name; Shame be to them that ſeek my ſhame. Ejaculat. 71. Great Prince of Peace, whoſe Kingdom brings Juſtice, Redemption, Power, and Peace, That bends the knees and hearts of Kings, And fill'ſt all Nations with encreaſe, All Praiſes, Honor, Glory, be Aſcrib'd alone, great Prince, to thee. Ejaculat. 72. O God, whoſe dreadful Voyce, like Thunder, Affrights the Earth, and ſhakes the Ayr, Whoſe Works and Ways are full of wonder, That hear'ſt my plaints, and grant'ſt my pray'r, Forſake me not, but when I ſtray, O let thy Crook reform my way. Ejaculat. 73. O thou, whoſe Mercy did begin Before all Time, unty'd to Times, As thou forgav'ſt our Fathers Sin, Be like wiſe gracious to our Crimes! Th'art now a God, as well as then, And we, as they, no more then men. Ejaculat. 74. O God, the Sion of my Soul Is wholly deſolate and waſte▪ Where thou ſhouldſt rule, my luſts controul; O Lord, relieve, O God, make haſte: Then ſhall my heart and tongue proclaim Eternal Praiſes to thy Name. Ejaculat. 75. Glorious Creator, make thy face to ſhine On this our poor diſtreſſed Land; Defend, and dreſs thy fading Vine, And bleſs the Man of thy right hand: Let thy Free▪ grace inflame our hearts. And we will ſing thy praiſe in parts. Ejaculat. 76. O God, our Song, our Strength, whoſe hand Hath broke our bonds, and ſet us free, Incline our hearts to thy Command, And we will own no God but thee: Conduct and feed us as thy Flock, And give us honey from thy Pſal▪ 81. 16 Rock. Ejaculat. 77. Direct, O God, the Judges breſt, Preſerve his hands, his eyes upright, That he may vindicate th'oppreſt, And guard him from injurious might: O let him know that he ſhall be, As Judg of others, judg'd by thee▪ Ejaculat. 78. Lord, caſt thine eyes upon thy Foes, Confound their Troops, that are combin'd Againſt thy Flock, which thou haſt choſe, Make them like chaff before the wind: Defeat their plots with ſudden ſhame, That they may ſeek Jehovah's Name. Ejaculat. 79. Lord, teach mine eyes, my will, my heart, To ſee▪ to chooſe, and to deſire Thy beautious Courts wherein thou art▪ O fill my thoughts with holy fire. Be thou my Sun, whoſe glorious Rays May light my Soul to ſing thy praiſe. Ejaculat. 80. O God, remit thy Peoples Sin, And ſhew the Sun-ſhine of thy Face, Repreſs thy fury, and begin T'inſpire us with thy ſaving grace; That Righteouſneſs and Truth may meet, And light our hearts, and lead our feet. Ejaculat.. 81. Great Spring, from whence all mercy flows To them that truſt and love thy Name, Give me thy ſtrength, and then my Foes Shall ſee thy greatneſs, and their ſhame: Be thou my Way, my Truth, my Light, So ſhall I live, and dye upright. Ejaculat. 82. Sion, the glory of the Earth, And Subject of my holy Paſſion, May all the Well-ſprings of my mirth Be • ounded upon thy Foundation▪ Of all delights I wiſh no other, Then to be Son to ſuch a Mother. Ejaculat. 83. Lord, let thy fury ceaſe to burn, Or elſe my Soul muſt ceaſe •• • e▪ Can praiſes iſſue from the Urn? What thanks can aſhes give to thee? Enough, if thou but undertake me, Let death ſurprize, let friends forſake me. Ejaculat. 84. Lord, thou whoſe Mercy fails not thoſe That build their truſt upon thy Name, Protect my Soul from all my Foes, Then ſhall my tongue thy worth proclaim: So ſhall the remnant of my days •• crown'd in Peace, and thou with Praiſe▪ Ejaculat. 85. Eternal God, before whoſe Eyes A thouſand years ſeem as a day, Direct our hearts, and make us wiſe To uſe that time we cannot ſtay: Send Joy to our ſad hearts, and bleſs Our proſp'rous actions with ſucceſs. Ejaculat. 86. Though thouſands here, ten thouſands there, Do dayly fall before m • ne eyes, I will not faint, I will not fear, Beneath the wings of the moſt High: Let me be guarded, Lord, by thee, Then I'le not fear, nor faint, nor flee. Ejaculat. 87. Lord, purge my Soul, that I may learn To read my Fortunes by thy hand; Let my inſtructed Soul diſcern, That worldly bliſs is not thy brand. Lord, in thy Mercy make me thine, I have enough, ſhowre thou, or ſhine. Ejaculat. 88. Great Monarch of the World, diſcloſe Thy Power, and make thy Glory known; Out-flood the floods of all my Foes, And in my heart fix thou thy Throne: Plant Holineſs within my breſt, O Lord, my Strength, O God, my Reſt. Ejaculat. 89. Juſt God of Vengeance, caſt an eye Upon my poor afflicted breſt; O ſend me help, O hear my cry, And let thy comforts be my reſt: Suppreſs my Foes, and ſet me free, That have no Hope, no Help, but thee. Ejaculat. 90. Great God of gods, great King of kings, From whom, by whom, we live, we be, In whom my Soul her triumph ſings, To whom alone bows every knee: Teach me thy way▪ thy will' • my Feaſt, Thy Crook my Guide, thy Fold my Reſt. Ejaculat. 91. Lord, let our Jeſus, and thy Chriſt, Be all the ſubject of our mirth; Let Satans Power be diſmiſt, And let him • ule, and judg the Earth: Then, then eternal Peace ſhall be Return'd to us, and praiſe to thee. Ejaculat. 92. Great King of Glory, who art dreſt In Clothes of Clouds, in Robes of Fire, Make evil hateful to my breſt, Then ſhall I love thee moſt intire▪ Then ſhall my boſom reap that light Which thou haſt ſown for the upright. Ejrculat. 93. Great God of Wonders, that doſt ope The Gate of Life to our glad days, And found'ſt a help beyond all thoſe, O give us mouths to give thee praiſe: So guide our ways, juſt Judg, that we May joyfully be judg'd by thee. Ejaculat. 94. Great God, whoſe Promiſe is to hear, Whoſe Practiſe is to pardon Sin, Let my Petitions find an ear, And cleanſe my lep'rous Soul within. Thou, Lord, art holy, teach my heart To ſing thy Praiſes as thou art. Ejaculat. 95. Eternal Maker, grant that we May praiſe thee with a cheerful heart; Guide thou ou • wa • s, and let us be • h • ſh •• p, where thou the Shepherd ••• : ••• , 〈◊〉 ▪ thy ••• th •• always ſ •• e, And thy great Mercy ſhall endure. Ejaculat. 96. Lord, teach my heart to walk upright In publique rev'rence, private fear; Keep thou the humble in thy ſight, And to the proud be thou ſevere: Then ſhall thy Saints in triumph ſhow Thy Mercy, and thy Juſtice too. Ejaculat. 97. O God, how poor a thing is Man! Begot in ſi • , and born in ſorrow; Our breath's a blaſt, our life a Span, But here to day, and gone to morrow. How needful, Lord is thy ſupport! Our days are bad, our time is ſhort. Ejaculat. 98. O thou, within whoſe tender breſt Full ſtreams of ſweet compaſſion flow, Whoſe Mercies cannot be expreſt By Saints above, or Men below▪ My Soul ſhall praiſe, my heart ſhall bleſs That goodneſs, 〈…〉 cannot expreſs▪ Ejaculat. 99. Lord, every creature writes a Story Of thy full Majeſty and Might, The contempl • tion of whoſe Glory Shall always be my hearts delight: Accept that praiſe my Soul can give, And it ſhall praiſe thee while I live. Ejaculat. 100. Dear God, the Pharaoh of our Souls Afflicts the Iſr'el of our hearts; Where thou ſhouldſt govern, he controuls; What thou command'ſt, his power thwarts: Confound his ſtrength, and let thy hand Conduct us to the promis'd Land. Ejaculat. 101. Lord, ſhouldſt thou puniſh every ſin, Or ſtrike as oft as we offend, How quickly would our plagues begin! How ſoon this ſinful world would end! But Lord, thy tender Mercies ſtand Within the gap, and hold thy hand. Ejaculat. 102. Lord let thy wonders, and thy wayes, Inflame my heart, my tongue my Pen, That Pen, and tongue, and heart may praiſe Thy name before the Sons of men. Look where I liſt, high, low, or under I ſee to learn, and learn to wonder. Ejaculat. 103. O Lord whoſe mercies, and whoſe pathes Tranſcend th' expreſſions of my tongue Inſtruct my heart to keep thy Laws And I will praiſe thee in my ſong, Lend me thy pow'r, or ſtrengthen mine And I will cruſh my Foes, and thine. Ejaculat. 104. O thou that ſit'ſt in Heaven, and ſeeſt My deeds without, my thoughts within; Be thou my Prince, be thou my prieſt, Command my ſoul, and cure my ſin: How bitter my afflictions be, I care not, ſo I riſe to thee. Ejaculat. 105. Lord, teach my humble eyes the art To ſee aright, and hands to do, Then will I praiſe thee with my heart In publique, and in private too: Set thou thy fear in all my ways To make me wiſe, to give thee praiſe. Ejaculat. 106. Lord, plant thy fear before mine eyes, For in thy fear my Soul is bleſt; Thy Fear's that Spring, from whence ariſe My Crown, my Treaſure, and my Reſt. What fear I, fearing thee? and what Not fearing thee, Lord, fear I not? Ejaculat. 107. Higheſt of Higheſts, that doſt raiſe The poor and needy from the dung, Advance my thoughts to give thee praiſe, And, Lord, untye my ſtam'ting tongue: So ſhall my heart and tongue proclaim Rare Halelujahs to thy Name. Ejaculat. 108. O God, the Mountains, and the Seas Confeſs thee, Lord of Sea and Land, They quake and tremble, if thou pleaſe To ſhew the Power of thy hand: So ſhall my heart, when thou think'ſt good, To turn my •• int into a flood. Ejaculat. 109. Lord, teach our loyal hearts to build Their conſtant hopes upon thy hand; Thou art our Help, thou art our Shield, Wherein our hopes of ſafety ſtand: Send down thy bleſſings, and then we Will ſend all Praiſes up to thee. Ejaculat. 110. My God, thy Mercies ſo abound, That every minut • ſpeaks their ſtory; They have no limits, have no bound; Ours are the comforts, thine▪ the glory: And what thy Mercy more diſplays, Thou are contented with our Praiſe▪ Ejaculat. 111. Surpaſſing Lord, whoſe mercies have ſurpaſt The limits of the worlds expreſſion Whoſe truth continues ••• me, and •• ſt To thy elect, and their ſucceſſion. To thee perpetuall praiſe be given By Saints on earth, and ſouls in heav'n. Ejaculat. 112. Good God! thy mercy and thy might What heart conceives? what tongue can tell? Thou filleſt my darkneſſe with thy light, And haſt redeem'd my ſoul from hell. Thou art my God, thou onely art The ſtrength, and muſick of my heart. Ejaculat. 113. O God thy Law's a field, in which The fruitfull ſeed of life is ſown; No ſeed ſo rare, no ſoil ſo rich; It renders infinite for one. O God, how fair theſe fields appear! O God, what pearls are buried here! Ejaculat. 114. Great God, whoſe ever-wakefull eye Doth never ſlumber, never cloſe, Teach all my dangers to rely Upon thy help, there ſafe repoſe: Be thou my ſhade, be thou my ſtay, I will not fear by night, by day. Ejaculat. 115. Lord let the fire of my true ze • l Unto thy houſe for ever flame Where let my thanks, and praiſe reveal The hidden honor of thy name. Let Sions glory ſtill encreaſe, And bleſſe her w • lls with plenteous peace. Ejaculat. 116. O God to whom my thoughts direct Their conſtant hopes, and hopefull cryes Let not my ſoul in vain expect For mercy, from ſuch gracious eyes: Maintain thine honor; 'Tis not me The proud con ••••• , Great God, but thee. Ejaculat. 117. Lord, give me a believing heart, Though wanting ſtrength I fear not man▪ If thou be pleas'd to ta • e my part▪ Let malice do the worſt it can. Although in ſnar'd I will not fear▪ For thou art ſtronger then a ſnare. Ejaculat. 118. Give me the heart▪ O God to truſt▪ And lead my footſteps in thy wayes▪ Quell thou the power of th' uniuſt, That righteous hearts may give thee praiſe▪ Do good to good men▪ and encreaſe Their number▪ plenty, and their peace. Ejaculat. 119. Lord we are Captives▪ and we bow To Satans burthen every hour, We ſow in teares, oh when wilt thou With Joy requite▪ the weary ſower. So bleſſe my labours that I may▪ With comfort long to ſee that day. Ejaculat. 120. What I poſſeſſe, o • what I crave Brings no content▪ g •••• God▪ to me If what I would▪ o • what I crave Be not poſſeſt, and bleſt in thee▪ What I enjoy, oh make it mine In making me, that have it, •••• e▪ Ejaculat. 121. Lord plant my fears within my breſt That I may wall • thy perfect ways Then ſhall I proſper and be bleſt In all my deeds in all my dayes▪ Then ſhall I ſee the fair encreaſe Of Syo •• glory, Iſ •••• ▪ peace▪ Ejaculat. 122. Lord ſince there muſt be alwayes Foes T' afflict the ſouls of fleſh and blood, Let mine be ſuch as do oppoſe Thy Churches peace, thy Sions good Then let 〈…〉 of thine▪ Confound, or •• re thy foes, and mine. Ejaculat. 123. Hearer of prayers, to whom ſhould I Implore, but thee, in my diſtreſſe For mercy harbors in thine eye, And thou art fil'd with righteouſneſs. To thee, O God, my hopes ſhall flee, My ſoul expects no help but thee. Ejaculat. 124. Lord if mine eyes ſhould look too high, Or ranc'rous heart begin to ſwell, Break thou the tumor, curb mine eye, Leſt one grow fier •• , the other fell. So ſhall my ſoul grow wiſe, and flee From her own ſtrength, and truſt in thee. Ejaculat. 125. Lord let mine eyes not ſleep untill I build thy Temple in my breſt, Take pleaſure then, and make it ſtill The choſen palace of thy reſt: Let all her Foes be trodden down, And let thy glory be her crown. Ejaculat. 126. Lord we are ſeveral members joyn'd To make one whole, whoſe head thou art, Let all our thoughts but make one mind, And give one body, but one heart. United ſouls of Saints appear The ſweeteſt muſicke in thine eare. Ejaculat. 127. Light thou the Lamps, great God, that they Lightn'd by thee may give us light, Let their bright luſter drive away All darkneſs from thy Courts by night, Bleſs us and them, that they, and we May bleſs thy name, firſt bleſt by thee. Ejaculat. 128. Let every wonder that I ſee In Heav'n, and earth, and in the ſ ••• , Advance ſ • me h • n •• , Lord, to thee That didſt, and canſt do, wh • t thou pleaſe, Let others worſhip wood and ſtone, My ſoul ſhall bleſſe thee, Lord, alone. Ejaculat. 129. Good God, where ere I caſt mine eye. On earth beneath, or heaven above I ſee thy goodneſs, and I ſpye Perpetuall pledges of thy love. Thy favours through the world extend And of thy mercy is no end. Ejaculat. 130. Lord if my tongue, and buſie quill Be not in Sions praiſe imploy'd Then let my hand forget henskill And •• my •• ngu • for, e • e • • y • d, Thy praiſe ſhal be my chief delight Whilſt tongue can ſpeak, or hand can write▪ Ejaculat. 131. Kindle O Lord, my love with zeal, Light my affections with thy flame Give my tongue courage to reveal The ſecret glory of th • name Be thou my God, in all diſtreſſe, And let thy hand be my •• d •• ſ • e▪ Ejaculat. 132. Lord thou that mad'ſt me, and do'ſt p • y Into the ſ • o • ors, of my heart From whoſe all preſence none can flye Nor hide them there, but where tho • •• t, Inform my ſoul, inflame my breſt And lead •• to eternall Reſt. Ejaculat. 133. Lord keep me from my ſelf that am The greateſt Foe, I need to fear O cover thou my fa •• with ſ ••••• And give my ſins no dwelling here Subdue my fleſh▪ and then my Spirit, Shall ſing the praiſes of thy merit. Ejaculat. 134. Lord when my grief ſhall finde a tongue To cry for help, finde thou an care, Whilſt others ſeek to do m • wrong, Make thou O God my con • ci • n •• ••••• In thoſe ſelf-ſnares they haue prep • r'd Let my inſnar ••• be inſnar'd. Ejaculat. 135. When winter fortunes cloud the brows Of ſummer friends▪ when eyes grow ſtrange▪ When plighted faiths forget their vows, When earth, and all things in it change, O Lord thy mercies fail me never, Where once thou lov'ſt, thou lov'ſt for ever. Ejaculat. 136. Judge not my actions by thy Laws For then my ſorrows are but juſt, But let thy mercies plead my cauſe For in thy mercy is my truſt. Thoſe that oppoſe my ſoul, oppoſe; I am thy ſervant, they thy Foes. Ejaculat. 137. What is there Lord, what is in me To hope for ſafety from thy power? What help can I expect from thee That merit vengeance every hour? How great ſo ere my ſins have bin, Thy mercy's greater then my ſin. Ejaculat. 138. Great God, whoſe kingdome hath no end, Into whoſe ſecrets none can dive, Whoſe mercy none can apprehend Whoſe juſtice none can feel, and live, What my dull heart can not aſp • re To know, Lord, teach me to admire, Ejaculat. 139. O Lord my iudgements dark, and blind, It cannot judge twi • t good, and ill, My will is captiv'd, and confin'd, It wants a freedome how to will, Great Lord o pow'r, great God of might Releaſe my bands, reſtore my ſight. Ejaculat. 140. Great God whoſe goodneſs doth repleate And fill our coaſts with full encreaſe That feed'ſt us with the fat of wheat, And glad'ſt thy Sion with thy Peace. How more then others are our days Extreamly bound to give thee praiſe. Ejaculat. 141. Shall froſt and ſnow give praiſe to thee And ſhall my ſoul not bear a part▪ Lord, froſt and ſnow appear to be Not half ſo cold as is my heart. Shine glorious ſun, thy beams but felt, My froſt will thaw, my ſnow will melt. Ejaculat. 142. Great God to whom all praiſe belongs Whom Syon ſings and Iſrael • ea • s O ſtop thoſe luſts that ſtop our tongues And fright thy glory from our eares. Do thou enlarge what fleſh reta • es, And bind thoſe Kings, our luſts in chaines. Ejaculat. 143. Lord ſeaſon my unſavory ſpi • i • , And bridle my too headſtrong will, That I may alwayes take delight In acting good, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 . O give me grace to underſtand, My life is alwayes in thy hand. Ejaculat. 144. Direct my ſteps, Lord, be my way And make thy pathe • my ſole delight, That like a traveller I may Not fail to reſt with tho • at night, O me, how happie, and how bleſt, [Lord] ſhould I be in ſuch a reſt • Ejaculat. 145. Lord let the morning of my gri • fe, Finde ont a night of laſting pleaſure▪ Thou art the God in my relie • In povertie, thou art my treaſure. I care not Lord how poor I be Unto the world, • rich to thee. Ejaculat. 146. Lord let thy ſacred f •• e thaw The Ice of my hard fro • en zeal, And let thy will be my known Law▪ So ſhall my heart, thy wor • h reveal, And with a ha ••• ujous Song My tongue ſhal praiſe thee all day long. Ejaculat. 147. Great King of Peace, be pleas'd to ſend Thy Peace to our diſte • pen'd Land, O we are bad, teach us t'amend, And let not ruin▪ be our brand, Then ſhall our laviſh lips deliver Our thanks in Peace, to our Peace-giver. Ejaculat. 148. If it be ſo that we muſt fight, Lord make our crimes to prove our Foes, For thou (our God) doſt take delight, To ſee ſuch pleaſant VVars •• thoſe. O may ſuch wa • s as theſe encreaſ • , Untill our conqueſts end in Peace. Ejaculat. 149. Lord let the praiſes of thy power, Advance the power of thy praiſe, Let every day, let every 〈◊〉 Praiſe thee till 〈◊〉 f • il, and dayes. To thee all power and praiſe be given, By Saints on Earth, by Souls in Heaven. THE END.