[Page] DIVINE POEMS: Being MEDITATIONS Upon several Sermons, preached at Eckington in the County of Darbie by Mr S. G.
And put into Vers by VVILLIAM VVOOD of Eckington, Gent.
יהוה
I.Y.
LONDON: Printed by WILL. Du-GARD for the Author. 1655.
The Prologue.
SOme trees grow green in hoary winter season,
On this account, it's much I owe to reason.
Through age (alas) I almost want my sight,
Yet mercie lend's me intellectual light;
Wherwith these following Fancies I did frame,
Onlie to gratifie my Maker's name.
Let these receive your gracious milde reflection,
Which represent's my heart's entire affection.
VV. VVOOD.
DIVINE POEMS; Conceived Upon several Sermons delivered at Eckington in the County of Darby by Mr S. G. upon these ensuing Texts of holy Scripture.
GEN. 45. 24. See that yee fall not out by the way.
AFter afflicted Joseph was enlarged,
From pit, from prison, and the stocks discharged,
By the unfolding Pharaoh's double dream,
Which to his wizards wonderful did seem.
He was advanced to a Viceroy's state,
Maugre his Mr's lewd libid'nous hate:
He sate the second, on the Regal Throne,
Prime in Commission, save the King alone:
[Page 2] And (under God) next Pharaoh, was head,
Lord Providore of Egypt store for bread.
Joseph's incensed Brethren through his Dreams,
By death Conspir'd to execute their spleens:
Reuben and Judah's pitie did restrain
Their Brethrens rage, else Joseph had been slain.
Out of that plot, which was to spill his blood,
To Jacob's seed there sprung a world of good.
Joseph by providence, was sold, and sent,
A fearful famine early to prevent.
The general dearth, was so far overspread,
That aged Israel, for his house, want's bread.
His sons to Egypt, they must post with speed,
To buy some corn for to supplie their need:
Who when they came to Joseph, soon were known:
Yet him they knew not, no nor him could own.
After som parlie had betwixt them past,
Joseph (himself) descrie's thus at the last,
Forthwith command's, all should depart the room;
Then near unto him bid's his brethren com;
Joseph I am, whom erst yee did entrap,
At which they start, as at a thunder-clap:
Their guilty Conscience, did them so convict,
They fear'd, they Judg, his Judgment would bee strict:
The storm o'repast, the sunshine doth appear,
The clouds do vanish, and the welkins clear:
Instead of vengeance, mildly hee doth melt,
Remit's, forgive's their by-past rage and guilt;
Hee drown's his passion with a show'r of tears,
Hee weeps for joy, and doth expel their fears:
When Joseph was dispatching them from thence,
With love hee charms them to avoid offence,
Wisely forewarning, thus to them doth say,
See yee agree, fall not out by the way.
Hee had great cause to know their late condition,
Their Emulation, envie, and ambition.
[Page 3] Hee knew and fear'd, that they would Emulate,
His darling brother Benjamin's estate:
In any wise (quoth hee) observe I pray,
Fall yee not out, nor brawl yee by the way:
Yee that are shepherds, peaceful by your calling,
As sheep bee harmless, let their bee no brawling:
Yee that are strangers in your enemies Land
Let them not hear you jarr, at any hand.
Yee that are Brothers, Sons to one self Father,
See that yee keep the League of love the rather.
Yee that do worship one, no other gods,
Bee all as one, see that there be no odds.
Yee Patriarchs, the hopes of numerous Nations,
The roote, and branches of blest generations,
Fall yee not out, in passing on the way
Your Citie yee shall see another day.
Yee have no Mansion here, nor certain rest,
Your City is above amongst the blest.
Joseph's sage caution which he gave his Brothers
May happly be appli'd to us and others,
The nearest, and the dearest of relations
Seldome observe religious obligations.
Wee'reover weening, wedded to our will,
Reason can have no room, but's outed still;
Wee are divided, rent, and torn asunder,
Become a by-word and Europa's wonder:
Our inbred wrangles, thwarting disposition,
Makes sober men to hold us in derision:
The Saints communion, Lord, let us enjoy,
Bung up their mouths, which Sions peace destroy.
Cant. 1. 4. Draw mee, wee will run after thee.
THe Church her Christ doth fervently petition
And promiseth concurrent expedition;
[Page 4] But being helpless, impotent, and poor
Assisting grace shee humbly doth implore:
As of our selves (shee grants) no strength wee have
To ask aright, to invocate, or crave:
Therefore (dejected) thus her Lord doth move,
Draw mee, O draw mee, with thy cords of love:
Instruct mee Lord, then shall I be instructed,
Lead, guide, and guard mee, I shall bee conducted;
Turn mee, dear Lord, then turned shall I bee,
From wicked waies, to run yet after thee:
Convert me Lord, and then converted I
Shall bee, thy mercie for to magnifie:
Constrain me with thy love, my dove, my sweet,
Shake off sins snares shackling my lingring feet;
Delay not Lord, make hast to mend my speed,
For thin's the power alone to do the deed;
In thy books volume with thy Spirit's own quill,
It's written, Lord, that I should do thy will.
This task, though hard to frailtie, I would do,
If thou my will make willing thereunto;
Bend and incline my heart, my feet and hands,
To will, work, run, and do as thou command's,
And what thy will commands, whilst life lend's breath
Mine must obey it, on the pain of death.
O that thy Scepter, in my soul might sway,
Then would my will wait on thee in thy way.
If thou my Lord, my Loadstone, and my love,
Daign thus to draw mee, others I will move,
And wee will run most chearfullie thy race,
No stop nor stay shall impedite our pace.
Not as Competitors of like degree,
But humble handmaids meeklie after thee:
My fellow virgins (with mee) I will draw,
To run the lists that's boundred by the law:
And least through negligence wee should offend,
With burning lamps the Bridegroom wee'l attend;
[Page 5] And wee will emulate, with holie strife,
Who shall run foremost in a virtuous life.
Let thy precedence be our imitation,
Our rule for life and holie conversation.
The race here run is not corporeal
But heart's devotion, which is spiritual:
From Earth to heav'n besides thee wee have none
Can be our Convoy saving thee alone:
No slavish, servile servant, but the free,
And filial can fitlie follow thee;
No sprightless drone that's dull in his desires
Can pass heav'ns narrow way through thorns and briers.
Ther's no respect of persons, Lord, with thee,
But hearts obeying best run after thee;
Not after vain delights and worldly lust,
But after thee which art our stay and trust;
Not after blasted honors, flitting wealth,
But after thee which art our saving health:
Not after terrene trash, that's transitorie;
But after thee, the Prize, a Crown of glorie.
Psalm. 4. 4. Stand in aw, and sin not; Commune with your own heart; and in your Chamber, and be still.
These ensuing Poëms were conceived by the Authour without the help of a Sermon.
STand, in this place, serve's aptlie to this end
For to affright us, least wee God offend:
Stand here impli'es a general Command;
A mandate, signed by some Supreme hand:
A warning-piece, whose thunder-like report
The sons of men from sinning doth dehort.
Dreading through sin to violate God's Law:
If fiend, and flesh, the world would all withdraw thee,
Yet let these Cautions alwaies over-awe thee.
If any by these caveats, grace shall gain,
Let And be linked to this virtuous chain:
Sin not, least that, thou Crucifie again
The Lord of life, which for thy sins was slain:
Sin not, but back with speed in time retire,
Else death's thy wage, thy guerdon, and thy hire.
Commune, Confer, keep constant Consultation
With thine own heart, which knowe's thy conversation.
Let an Enquiry be by Inquisition
Betwixt our hearts and us, of our condition.
Endeavor this with all thy Industrie,
With mindful heart perform it heartilie:
And with thy heart keep reckoning daie by daie,
And so thy debt more easie is to paie.
We have this adage at our finger's ends,
That oft accountants long continue friends.
On other's faults, forbear, surcease to treat,
Thy heart at home can work thee till thou sweat:
Admit no Inmates in thy heart to dwel,
As vain desires and lusts, which aye rebel.
Both grace and vertue freely entertain,
For by such guests thou shalt be sure to gain:
Stand not on Stages for to bee admired,
Such ostenation is not here required:
Thy Chamber sighs sent from an honest heart
God will accept, and take them in good part:
Our Closet thoughts conceiv'd in Secrecie
Omniscient God reward's them openlie.
In loud high thunder, such distracting noise
God did not come, but in the low still voice;
When Solomon God's sacred house did rear
Then all was still, no hammering in the ear.
[Page 7] Be Still, these words may plainly bear the sence,
Of Peace, Rest, Quiet, suffering Patience,
Pursuing good, eschewing that is ill,
In every vertue to be frequent still.
If this discourse fitts not for explication
To fast from sin (Stil) hitts th'interpretation.
Upon a Sermon deliverd a: Darby, before the Judges of Assize; March the 8th. 1652. upon the ensuing Text.
PSALM. 77. 20. Thou leddest thy people like a flock, by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
PROLOGUE.
The Judge that judgeth all terrene estates,
Send's an Ambassage to his Delegates:
And by his Nuntio, here doth represent
A limb of Israels antique government:
Alluding to the flocks will not bee led,
Nor by their Pastors in fresh pastures fed.
DAvid dejected, tempted to despair,
Rouzeth his faith, looke's back on God's great care;
Recovering Comfort, in this place, recite's
Gods dealings with his dearest Israelites:
How that hee led them by the faithful hand
Of special Trustees; through their enemies land:
In leading them thou didst not dog nor drive;
By furious force, nor flock, nor fleece can thrive.
Moses and Aaron had God's substitution,
To put his works and will in execution.
[Page 8] They were his Instruments, his mediate hand
Went in and out before his chosen band.
Moses for Eminence hee held the chair,
The charge of souls was left to Aaron's care.
Moses was Magistrate and swaid the sword,
Aaron dispenser of the Sacred Word:
Both were install'd by God's immediate hand;
Without these twain, nor Church nor State can stand:
The Lord is founder, and chief Corner Stone
Of governments; the power is his alone.
The Ministrie cannot promulge the word,
Unless supported by the secular sword:
Moses and Aaron joyntly both together;
All's off the hooks where there is want of either.
Moses (though meek) was Captain for Conduction,
Aaron was ghostly Father for Instruction.
The Charge in Chief it was for preservation,
As food, and raiment, and like reparation;
Not only so, but for the flocks protection
From ravenous wolves, rot, scab, and such infection,
Order and union; hence may be collected,
(which in these dangerous dayes is much neglected)
These are the Master-props, of Church and State,
Which cherished sweet peace doth propagate.
Our text may tolerate this application
Ther's many straggling straies within this Nation,
Many blind guides, in these dogmatick daies,
Lead's captive souls into pernicious waies.
Many escapes which start out of the fold,
By word nor sword that will not be controld;
For want of Discipline and due correction
People perverse are pestred with infection.
EPILOGUE.
My honored Lords, advanc'd to Moses place,
Mercie with judgement see yee interlace;
[Page 9] Spare the Subjected, debellate the strong,
Support your flocks from violence and wrong:
Supplant ill weeds, that spread in every place,
Which let's the growth of the good Hearb of Grace.
Upon a Sermon delivered upon the occasion of the Rain descending in June and July. 1652.
PSAL. 147. 7, 8. Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving: sing praises upon the harp unto our God: Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth: who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.
O Let the people of all sorts and ranks,
Unto our God sing prais, with giving thanks:
Sing to the Harp, with David's spirit, and voice,
And let the hearts of all the earth rejoyce.
Sing and resing unto the King of Kings,
Which hath reviv'd all vegetable things.
The God of mercies, of his great good will,
On barren earth, make's Clouds drop fatness still:
With wonderment, wee well may sing, and say.
Our June and July's turned into May:
Those wonted withering months, men use to mow,
Our grass did then both freshly spring and grow.
Let's magnifie our God with publick praise,
With Psalms, and Hymns, and Hallelujahs.
When Tellus was dismantled of her green,
And on our Sun-burnt soil small grass was seen,
Then Earth's inhabitants agast did stand,
Dreading a fearful famine through this land.
Wee wretched worldlings, have a faithless Crew,
Which do despair, unless all things ensue
According to their gaping expectation,
They whine, repine, with grudging murmuration.
[Page 10] Others there are depend on nature's will,
Thinking the clouds do constantly distill
Their Influence; sans Providence Divine;
This their belief, shall bee no Creed of mine,
For wee by Sacred writ, do understand,
The clouds, God's bottles, are within his hand,
And when those sponges hee shall please to wring,
Wee earthlings here, expect a fruitful spring.
Behold, vain man, with eyes of purblind reason,
God's open hand come's never out of season:
He send's his former and his later rains,
Thy herds with grass, thy life with bread sustain's:
When man with diffidence is most despairing,
The cloudy heav'ns give's hope that rain's preparing;
When wee conclude wee're starv'd, undon, forlorn,
God's fair Inheritance abound's with corn;
Not in low vales alone, but Mountain tops,
With laughter and great joy, wee reap our Crops.
Bless mee; the bounty of God's liberal hand,
With admiration hath enrich'd this land.
If wine, oyl, rayment, food for life be scant;
Content's a feast, can satiate all want.
What shall wee render for our preservation,
Our breath, our being, life, and sustentation?
Let us with exultation, sound his praise,
That feed's us, clothe's us, lengthen's out our daies:
Rejoyce, (I say) I say again rejoyce;
Let us lift up our heads, hearts, hands, and voice.
Lord let it bee our Constant resolutions,
To land thy love, for all thy distributions.
JOHN 1. 8. If wee say that wee have no sin, wee deceive our selves, and the truth is not in us.
IF wee or yee, if all of us or any,
'Mongst the unstable Crowd of Earth's ill many;
[Page 11] With arrogance dare say, wee have no sin,
Hee sin's, and wretchedly offend's therein,
For at the best they are but self-deceivers,
Berest of truth, deluded, false beleevers.
The Saints illustrious, vessels of perfection,
They do not brag nor boast of self-perfection;
But are of meekly garb; amongst these wee
Stand not on points of self-integritie,
But grant, if that wee say, wee have no sin,
Our selves wee cheat, wee have no truth within.
Our saints in shew, puft up with inspiration,
These finless sort disclaim all Condonation:
This Paradox is of so deep a die,
The best condemn't, they all adjudg't a lie.
A cloud of Penitents wee may recount,
Whose excellencies our best acts surmount,
And these by Invocation did not lin
To supplicate God's mercie for their sin,
The best of saints their hands were oft unclean,
Even as a menstrous cloth, defil'd, obscene.
wee need not travel far, to start the crew
Of some that are as naught, as they are new,
Who dare disturb the Pastor in's devotions,
And in great Congregations cause commotions.
Affront the Magistrate, even to his face,
Thwart him with tearms of overmuch disgrace,
By works, and words, the better wee may ken,
To segregate these Sects from sober men;
They're heady, giddy, constant as the winde,
To every cavilling fallacie inclin'd,
Blasphemers, boasters, proud, and insolent,
Despising order, Civil Government:
By these and other spots they are well known,
To be a tribe that truth will never owne.
These thus perverted lately did begin
To hold this tenet, that they have no sin.
[Page 12] The Saints in virtue, which did aye excel,
This hainous heresie condemn'd to hell;
The General Councils with considerate ire
Adjudg'd these crimes to be calcin'd with fire.
Yee that so boast of spirit to be brim full,
Which say yee have no sin, your selves yee gull.
Com all yee missed, erring, gross mistakers,
Vain glorious Ranters, or censorious Quakers;
Bring all your tricks, your toies and wrested sleights,
Let's poise them by the Sanctuaries weights.
Lord, if wee sin against thee and offend,
(For who sin's not, that here his dayes doth spend?)
Wash me, O wash nee throughly from my sin,
Blood, and pollution which I wallow'd in.
If sinfull I my self shall justifie
My mouth condemn's mee, giveth mee the lie:
Hee that's nost just hath failings, oft doth fall,
On Earth hee live's not that sin's not at all:
Here may wee add these useful short digressions,
Two to the temple went to make Confessions;
Pride and Humilitie goe both to pray,
But differently, the clean contrarie way;
The Pharisee, the Publican despised,
His own good works and alms he highly prized:
The publican's low posture, and Contrition
Obtained grace, when pride had no remission.
This is that sin hul'd Lucifer from heaven,
Which is most capital amongst the seaven:
This is the sin of Serpentines device,
Ejected Adam out of Paradise:
These Luciferian sons and heirs of Pride
Are not at height till Demi-Deifi'd.
Now to close up as wee did first begin,
Wee with Saint Paul conclude all's under Sin.
1 JOHN. 3. 9. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin: for his seed remaineth in him: and hee cannot sin, because he is born of God.
BEtwixt this present and precedent Text
Many perverted are, and much perplext:
The first is, If wee say wee have no Sin,
Wee do deceive our selvs, no truth's within;
This, He that's born of God commit's no Sin,
Hee cannot sin, his seed remain's within:
This is the substance of this twofold Text,
Though some words want, others for feet's annext.
Some rash precipitants of late discover,
And give it out, those texts do thwart each other:
Some overweeners sleight all sound direction,
Oppose all truth which soothe's not their affection;
Some rudely read, wanting all sage sobriety
Conclude that twixt these Texts there's contrariety:
To carnal eyes though these seem opposite,
The spirit of truth doth friendly counite.
None ever yet that liv'd in Earth's vast round,
But Adam's spot within his flesh was found.
Hee that by natural birth is born of God
Commit's no sin, so need's not dread his rod,
No, there was none in all the Earth but one
Which is our Saviour Jesus Christ alone:
Some few there are 'mongst every Tribe and Nation
That mercy sealed by Regeneration:
Of such 'tis said, that they commit no sin,
Because they hate and loath to live therein:
Others averse to these that's neighbours nigh,
As those with solace, work iniquity,
And these are they, whose faculty and frame,
Do boast of ill, whose glory is their shame;
These are enamour'd, as Pigmation was
One his stone statue lively limned lafs;
[Page 14] These make of sin their trade and occupation,
Their sport, their pastime, mirth and recreation,
Their business traffique, and the sole affairs,
Live in't and on't, and do abandon cares:
And in this sense 'tis said, hee cannot sin,
Unless consent, conjoyn, comply therein:
Many are missed, many go awry,
The best do fail, but fall not finally:
Hee cannot sin a Sin to condemnation,
That hath the earnest of his own Salvation,
Hee cannot sin to death in any case,
That is protected by preventing grace:
When hope seem'd helpless, in the greatest need,
God hath reserv'd in his a holy seed.
On barren soils wee see few fruits are seen,
Ingrafted grace in God's time will grow green;
Though in the root no sap seem's visibly,
Yet grace all seeming wants can well supply;
The seed of grace at spring will fructifie,
Though with Sin's storms it perish seeminglie.
2 PET. 1. 9. Wee have also a more sure word of Prophecie whereunto yee do well that yee take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place untill the day dawn, and the day stor arise in your hearts.
TH' Apostle for himself, and's fellow Jews,
Send's to his Churches sure and certain news;
Debate's the evidence of revelation,
Upon the case of Christ's transfiguration.
Hee stronglie back's his Message and assertion,
Confirm's his babes begotten by Conversion;
What hee and others heard, and saw with eye,
Hold's not so sure as word by prophesie;
[Page 15] Moses and all the Prophet were of old,
Their Laws are all in Court of heav'n inrol'd;
Their verity hath vauquish'd all denials,
Like purest gold sustain'd the fiery trials;
The scrupulous Jews do mutually consent
Unto the truths, in the old Testament;
The Maxime which doth credit this the most,
is the Dictator, was the Holie Ghost;
The scope, and drift, of this asseveration
doth ratifie Messia's Incarnation:
Next he commends their diligential heed,
Their practick part, in that they hear or read;
And here forewarn's, that superficially
They do not read, but with a single eye;
Withall implies, that some are child-like bold,
Call for new Lessons ere they have learnt the old.
Here with som sorts of lights of various shine,
Som dark and dim, and som more chrystalline;
Our Fathers saw but by a shadowed light,
Wee have the sun shine that perspicuous light;
They had the dawning, Wee the morning star;
Wee saw it home, but they remote and far.
In this our day let us so act our parts,
Untill Aurora rise within our hearts;
That after our few dayes so transitory,
This star may stear us to the sun in glory.
EZEK. 36. 26. And I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I well give you an heart of flesh.
WWen Israel had by graceless provocation
Deserv'd God's wrath and angrie indignation,
By joyning with the heathen of those times,
In idols service such nefarious crimes,
Mercie, in room of Judgement God did render,
Becaus his mercie alwaies is most tender:
[Page 16] Hee take's away, remove's their heart of stone,
Instead thereof give's them a fleshly one:
How this hard heart is aptly Qualifi'd
With weak expressions shall be specifi'd.
A stone is dark, and suteth with the night,
Cannot discern, because it lack's the light:
A stone ponderous, downward doth descend
Unto Earth's Center, that's it's proper end;
A stone that's cold, may heated be by fire,
But from it's heat, to coldness will retire;
A stone hath many properties beside,
Sans means of grace cannot be mollifi'd.
The heart of stone which now wee have in hand
Will not obay, nor learn to understand;
This stonie heart it hath been hammered oft,
By preaching, teaching, yet will not be soft;
Though massie hammers violently have knock't it,
Nor force, nor fire can break, no nor decockt it.
Wee will pass by a while this heart of stone,
And view the New, I mean the Fleshsly One:
The heart of flesh is fearful to offend,
It's humble, lowly, will both bow and bend;
This is the wounded, weeping, bleeding heart,
Prickt with compunction, suffereth grievous smart;
This heart of flesh assiduously relenteth,
And therewithall unfeignedly repenteth;
This heart of flesh it is the sacred Inne
Which welcom's grace, and shut's the doors of Sin;
This heart's a harbour, refuge for devotions,
Which entertain's all pious spiritual motions;
'Tis up heap'd happiness to bee thus hearted,
The joy's expresseless, for to bee Converted.
What God can do, and what he doth, and how,
It fitly follow's knowingly to know:
What God can do, wee see in the Creation,
With wonderment, exceeding admiration.
[Page 17] Hee was sole Artifex and Architector,
The mightie God, the powerful prime protector;
In Heav'n and Earth, and in the depths, call'd Seas
Hee will's, hee work's, hee can do what hee please,
For in his hands hee hold's the hearts of Kings,
Floods, hills, high mountains, and all earthly thin
And what God doth by his especial grace
Doth fitly follow, in this second place:
Wee'le instance Esau's thirst for Jacob's blood,
God turn's his heart, and pacifie's his mood,
Heaven still's his rage, Esau grow's remiss,
They're reconcil'd, united with a kiss,
Jacob at every beck call's Esau lord,
Jacob's smooth posture sheath's rough Esau's sword.
The thief in theft that all his life had spent,
Christ grant's his suit with grace for to repent;
This was the Wonderous work of God the Lord
Such semblant mercie truth doth not record.
Was not that marvel marvellous, passing strange.
Soul's bloody heart so suddenly to change;
A Persecuter, to become a Preacher,
The high-priests tyrant should so soon turn teache
In the last place, it serve's for sound direction,
To humble hearts from obstinate affection:
And for this Cure some Cordials are proposed,
That stony hearts may better bee difposed;
The first is humble, pure, sincere contrition,
Which never want's a promiss of remission;
The burning heart, inflam'd with fire of love,
This antidote all hardness doth remove;
The heart obdurate that resisteeh good,
None can dissolve it, but our Saviour's blood;
The heart must suffer pruneing by excision,
Before it's capable of safe condition;
To hurle down hardest holds, the Sacred Word
More powerful is than either fire or sword.
ECCLES. 12. 1. Remember now thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth.
WHen Solomon was vested in his Throne,
Sole, supreme, Soveraign, Regent Lord alone,
He craved wisdome, did the same obtain,
And therewithal an Indian stock of gain:
Honor did homage and attend his Throne;
Riches advanc'd him, more then any one;
Hee gave his heart to gladness, and to folly,
Madness did medicine his Melancholly;
Lets loos the rains, unto all sensual lust,
Pamper'd his pallat to delight his gust;
Daintie, delicious vians, fowles, and fish
A liberal portion, in a lordly dish;
Playes, masks, and motions, did bewitch his sight,
with numerous Concubines he spent the night;
Such Minstrelsie as the inchanted ear
Of roaring Revelists did never hear;
Hee and shee Singers, with melodious notes
Like Philomel, came warbling from their throats;
Psaltries, and Cimbals, stringed Instruments,
Inchanting musick for his solacements:
In stately Structures he was Most luxurious,
In Robes and Raiments gallant, extreme curious:
Gardens like Eden, Fruits and Flowers for pleasure,
Vast minerals of Gold and Silver Treasure:
When with these fond delights his heart had done,
Hee thus conclude's, All's vain beneath the Sun.
Thus glutted with imaginary Joyes,
His vexed spirit disclaim'd these terrene toyes.
Let this suffice by way of Introduction,
This serve's for serious, solid, sound Instruction;
Remember (here) implies the Moral Law,
The Decalogue to keep mankind in awe:
[Page 19] The Law as in a glass, doth clear reflect,
What wee should act, and what wee should neglect.
Remember thy Creator, in thy strength,
Whiles thou art plump, and young, and life hath length,
Not in decrepid, feeble, doting daies,
When faculties shall fail, to sound his prais:
Things of concernment, our immortal state
Must be remembred early, not to late:
'Tis dangerous to defer until to morrow,
One daies delay may cause eternall sorrow.
On pain of death do not procrastinate
Least barr'd of entrance at the marriage gate.
Remember now thy Span, thy pettie Space,
Whiles thou hast Sparing in the day of grace:
It were ingratitude of high degree,
For to forget the cause created thee:
I mean the Mightie God, the grand Creator
Of the fair frame, of all the worlds theater:
Who in six daies did consummate the same,
That all his works might magnifie his name.
Man was the master-piece of God's Creation,
Made marvelouflie, surpassing admiration.
God in's good time, in the creating season,
Endued man with understanding reason;
Hee breath'd in him an ever-living Spirit,
On terms of Service Heav'n for to inherit:
But Man thus made, was lost, whom mercie found,
Only Christ's blood can cure his mortal wound.
FINIS.