Britains Remembrancer, Poem · Canto 3

Britains Remembrancer · Poem · Canto 3

p. 74The third Canto.

The House of MOVRNING, which most …eare,

(And flye so much) is praised here.

It showes that outward Ioyes and Care,

Nor m…erly good, nor evill, are;

But things indiff'rent; which the wise

Nor over-praise, nor under-prize.

The strife within our Authors brest

About his stay, is next exprest.

Then doth it orderly recite

What Reason argu'd for his flight:

What Faith alleaged, to reprove

The Motives urging his remove:

What Armes for him, she did prepare,

To bide the shock of Death, and Feare:

What proofe she to his Conscience made,

That, he a lawfull Calling had,

In midst of this great Plague to tary,

By Warrant-extraordinary:

What, thereupon he did conclude:

What Ioy, and Confidence ensu'd:

How much this Favour he doth prise,

Above Earths glorioust Vanities:

How he his Time desires to spend:

And so, this CANTO hath an end.

HOw childish is the World! and what a path

Her Throng of braine-sick Lovers trodden hath!

Like brutish herds they troupe along together,

Both led, and leading on, they know not whither.

Much hoping, where no ground of Hope appeares,

Much fearing, where indeed, there are no feares.

In those things pleased, which t…ue Mirth destroy:

For that thing grieved which procureth Ioy:

Most shunning, what might bring most gain unto thē;

And seeking most, for what would most undoo them.

How few are so cl…are-sighted, a… to see

What pleasures mi…gled with afflictions be?

Or what conten…ments doe concealed lye▪

Behinde the seeming dangers which they flye?

How few have, by experience, unde…stood

That God hath sent their troubles for their good?

How few consider, to what fearfull ends,

The faire smooth way, of easefull Pleasure tends?

p. 75And, therefore, oh! how few adventure dare

Where Mournings, rather then where Laughters are?

Though God himselfe prefer the house of Griese,

Before vaine Mirth; and Pleasures of this life

Hath termed Thornes, that choke the heav'nly seed:

Yet few of us have taken so much heed

Of what the sacred Volume doth record,

(And, flesh and blood) distrusteth so the word

Of his fi…me Truth) that blindly we pursue

Our owne vaine counsels, and his Tract …schew.

'Tis therefore doubtfull, it would vaine appeare,

If I should labour to discover here,

How many secret pleasures I have seene

While in the Ce…s o… Mourning I have beene.

And, what contentments God bestowed hath,

When I have walkt the solitary path

Of Disrespect; (ass…ulted by those feares,

Which oft affront us in this Vale of tea…es)

O… what prevailing hopes I have possessed,

When I, beyond all hope, have seem'd oppressed.

For, vulgar men, doe such expressions hold

To be but idle Paradoxes, told

By those, who grown distemper'd, through some gri…f

Vent melancholy passions, past beleefe.

And as our Vpland Pesants, from the shores

Beholding how the Sea swels, fomes, and rores,

Iud…e foolishly, that …v'ry Seaman raves,

Who talkes of mirth and safety on the waves:

So, they will fondly passe their doome on me,

Who strangers to the Seas o… Sorrow be.

But, though the world allow not what I say,

Yet, that the Love of God, proclaime I may;

That, I may justifie him in his Word;

That for mine owne availe I may reco…d

What I have seene: and that experience might

Encrease my hopes, and hope put feare to flight,

In future suffrings: here I testifie,

(And Heav'n is witnesse, I affirme no lye)

My soule did never feele more ravishment,

Nor ever tasted of more true content,

Then when my heart, nigh broke with secret paine,

Hath borne as much as e're it could sustaine;

And strugled with my passions, till it had

Attained to be excellently sad.

Yea, when I teares have powred out, where none

Was witnesse of my griefe but God alone,

He hath infused pleasures into me,

Which seldome can in publike tast…d be.

Such Griefe is Comforts Mother. And I mow

Oft times with mirth, what I in teares did sow.

Before my eyes were d…yed; I have had

More cause of singing then of being sad.

The Lampe in darkest places gives most light;

And truest Ioyes arise from Sorrowes night.

My Cares ar… Blessed Thistl…s, unto me,

W…ich wholesome are, although the… bitter be:

And though their leaves with prick… be overgrowne▪

(Which paine me) yet their flowres are full of down,

Wher…on my head lyes easie when I sleepe:

And I am never saddest when I weepe.

Yet, long it was before I could attaine

This Mystery: Nor doth it appertaine

To all. For, ev'n as Sarah had not leave

Within her body Isack to conceive,

(VVhichWhich laughter signifies) untill in her

Those customes …ailed which in women are:

So, in our soules, true Ioyes are not conceived,

Till we by some afflictions ar… bereaved

p. 76Of carnall appetites, and cease from su…h

Vaine pleasures as affect us overmuch.

To little purpose doe they looke for these

Conc…ptions, who are evermore at ease.

Such comforts are of those but rarely found,

VVhose wheele of Fortune never runneth round▪

No soule can apprehend what maketh glad

The grieved heart, but his that griefe hath had,

And various interchanges: nor can he

VVho knowes the joyes that in such sorrowes be

As these I meane, a true contentment take

In any merriment, this world can make:

(No not in all her pleasures) if among

Her sweets, there should be sharpnesse wanting long.

For (being fearfull that his bodies rest

The soules true peace might secretly molest)

His mirth would make him dull: his being jolly

(As worldlings are) would make him melancholy:

And (if no other cause be thought upon)

Would g…ieve, because the sense of griefe were gone.

Whilst I have gallopt on in that Career,

Which youth, in freedome, so affecteth here;

And had the most delightfull blandishment,

My youth could yeed me for my hearts content:

When I in handsome robes have beene araid,

(My Tailor, and my Mercer being paid)

When daily I on change of dainties fed;

Lodg'd, night by night, upon an easie bed,

In lordly Chambers; and had therewithall

Attendants forwarder then I to call,

Who brought me all …hings need…ull: when at hand▪

Hounds, Hawkes, and Horses were at my command:

When chuse I did my walks, …n hills, in vallies,

In Grove…, neere Springs, or in sweet garden allies▪

Repo…ing either in a naturall shade,

Or in neat A…bors, which by Art were made:

When I m…ght have …equir'd without deniall,

The Lut…, the Organ, or deepe-sounding Viol…,

To cheere my spirits; with what else beside

Was pleasant: when my friends did this provide

Without my cost or labour: Nay, when all

Those pleasures I have shared, which be…all

In praises, or kinde welcommings, among

My dearest friends; my soule retain'd nor long

Nor perfect rest, in those imperfect things:

But, often droupt amid their promisings,

Grew dull, and si…kly: and, contrariwise

Hath pleased beene in want, …and miseries.

Fo…, when long time, ev'n all alone they laid me,

Where ev'ry outward comfort was denayd me▪

To many cares and wants unknowne obtruded;

From fellowship of all mankinde excluded;

Expos'd to slandrous censures, and disgrace;

Subjected to contempts, and usage base;

With Tortures threatned, and what those attends;

By Greatmen frown'd on; blamed of my Friends;

In…ulted on by Foes; and almost brought

To that for which their malice chi…fly sought:

Ev'n then, my spirits mounted to their height,

And my Contentment slew her highest flight.

In those di…easings, I more joy received,

Then can from all things mortall be conceived.

In that contemn'd estate, so much was cleared

My Reasons eye; and God so bright appeared

To my dim-sighed Faith; that, lo, he turned

My Griefes to Triumphs Yea, me thought, I scorned

To labour for assistance from abroad,

Or beg for any favour, but from God.

p. 77I fear'd not that which others thought I feared;

Nor felt I paine, in that which sharpe appeared:

But, had such inward quiet in my brest,

Till outward ease made way to my unrest;

That, all my Troubles seemed but a Toy.

Yea, my Affliction so encreast my Ioy,

That more I doubted losse of my content,

By losing of my close imprisonment,

Then ever I can feare the bodies thrall,

Or any mischiefe which attend it shall.

For, as if some Antipathy …rose

Betwixt the pleasures of the world, and those

Enjoyed then; I found t…ue Ioyes begin

To issue ou…, as they were entring i….

Ti…l others brought me hopes of my Release,

I scarcely held it worth my hopefulnesse.

I had no frighting dreame; no waking care:

I tooke no thought for meat, nor what to weare;

I sleighted frownes, and I despis'd the threat

Of such as threatned, were they meane or great▪

I laught at dreadfull Rumors, and disdained

Of any suffrings to have then complained,

I valued not a jot the vulgar doome,

Nor what men prat…d might of me b…come.

I mind…d no such trifles, wherewith you,

And I, and others, are oft busied now:

But, being, as it were exiled, then,

From living in the world, with other men,

Twixt God, and mine owne Conscien…e, to and fro,

My thoughts, in a quotidian walke, did go.

With Contemplations, I was then inspired,

Beseeming one that wholly was retyred.

I thought, like him, that was to live al…e;

I did like him, that had to doe with none.

And, of all outward actions left the care

VntoUnto the world, and those who lived there,

Nor hath God onelyonly pleased beene to show

What comforts from a p…ivate griefe may flow,

But, that a new experience might be taught me,

He to the house of Publike-s…rrow brought me

In this late Pestilence ▪ And, there I saw

Such inward joy commixt with outward awe;

Things bitter with such sweetnesses allaid;

Such pleasures, into sorrowes cup convaid;

Such fi…me-assurance, in the greatest dangers;

Such f…endlines, when others friends were strangers;

Such f…eedome in restraint; such …ase in paine;

Such life in death, and ev'ry feare so vaine,

(Which outwardly affrights) that Pleasures Court

Would halfe be robbed of her large resort,

(And stand lesse visited,) if men could see

What profits in the Cels of Sorrow be.

For, he that knew what wisdome there is had,

Would say that mirth were foolish, laughter mad:

That …ase perpetu…ll bringeth endlesse paine:

That carnall joy arives at hope in vaine:

That, from all outw…rd perils …o be free,

M…y prove most per…llous▪ that, h…alth may be

The d…adl'est sicknesse: that, our pleasures are

But pit-f…ll… ▪ our se…urity a snare;

And, that sometimes those things to which we run,

May bane us more, then those we s…eke …o shun.

I found it so. And, in my blamed slay,

(Whilst others f…om the Plague made haste away)

I gained some renewings of that …es… ▪

Whereof I h…d beene formerly possest.

It forced foll…, further to depart:

It brought Gods me…cies nearer to my heart:

p. 78Brave combats in my soule did then begin,

Which I tooke courage from, and pleasure in.

New trialls of my Frailty did befall;

And, of Gods love, I had new p…oo…es withall.

In all my discontentments, such con…ents,

And of Gods wo…kings, such experiments

Vouchsafed were; that crowned should I live,

With all those glorious wreathes that King… can g…ve,

And had by them obtain'd each happin…sse,

Which wo…ldlings in their greatnesse do… possesse;

I would not sell the comfort of my s…ay

For that, and all which those imagine may.

Nor doe I over-prise the same, altho,

The ignoran…e of some will think I doe:

For, it hath left within me, ever since,

Of Gods firme love, so strong a confidence,

That, whatsoever accidents betide,

I hope to stand the better fortifi'd

Whilst here I live: and that no time to come

Can send me to a place, so perilsome,

That I shall feare it, or, to undergoe

The dreadfull'st perills man can fall into;

If that my calling doe oblige me to it,

Or God, in Iustice, m…ke me undergoe it.

In other cases, I expect no mo…e,

But, rather, lesse imboldning then be…ore.

For, he that any dangerous taske assumes,

Wi…hout good warrant, fo…lishly presum…s;

Tempts God; and justly perisheth, unlesse

The ve…le of Mercy hide his wilfulnesse.

Yea, they who over desp'rately have dar'd

Bold things at first; at last have basely fear'd,

Re…enting their foole-hardinesse▪ in vaine,

When hope was lost, of turning ba…k againe.

For, though from dang…r…, griefes, and miseries,

Far greater comforts oftentimes arise,

Then from prospe…ity (if we attend

God… pleasure, and accept what he doth send)

Y…t, o… themselves, nor paines, nor pleasures can

Felicitate; nor is the wit of man

So perfect, that precisely he doth know

His owne just temper, or his nature so,

As to appoint himselfe, what will be needing

Of weale, or woe, (nought wanting, or exceeding)

And therefore, as some man hath by affecting

Ease, wealth, or temp'rall fame, (without respecting

Gods pleasure) often perished by that

Which his unbounded will ha…h reached at;

So, they who shall that …ase or wealth contemne

(Which God by law…ull meanes doth offer them)

And they, who shall unthankfully refuse,

Of any outward ble…sing, meanes to use,

(Through discontent, selfe trust, or wilfull pride)

When they might honestly those meanes provide▪

Ev'n both of these are g…ilty of offence,

Against the wise ete…nall Providence:

And are in danger to be l…ft of God,

In those misleading p…ths which th…y have trod.

These things I mused; and in heart revolved

A thousand more, before I was resolved

To keepe in London, where m…n draw no breath

But that which menaced the b…dies death.

And, seeing▪ many have condemn'd the fact.

As an unwar…antabl…, foolish act:

Since, i… may teach them to forbeare to give

Their Verdict, till they Evidence receive:

Since, thus to mention it, a m…ane… may be,

To build againe the like Resolves in me

p. 79When …uture perill so requireth it;

And when, perhaps, this minde, I may forget:

Yea, since the manner of it, may, perchance,

Deliver others from some ignorance,

And help their Christian Res…lutions out,

When they are thrall'd with carnall feare, or doubt:

Ev'n for these causes, (and to glorifie

The pow'r of God in this my victory)

I will relate what Reason… m…de me stay:

What …opes they were, which drove my feares away:

And, with what circumstances, I obtained

That knowledg, which my shaking Faith maintained.

When I perceiv'd the PESTILENCE to rage

In ev'ry street, nor sparing sex, nor age;

How from their City-hive, like Bees in May,

The fearfull Citizens did swarme away:

How fast our Gentry hasted to be gone:

How often I was urg'd and call'd upon,

To beare them company: what safeties were

By absence promist; what great terrors here

My death did m…nace: how, by timely flight

I might behold my Country with delight:

How nothing could be gotten by …y stay,

But wants, and new afflictions ev'ry day:

With such like disadvantages, which brought,

A hundred other musings to my t…oug…t.

They made it seeme, a while, well wor…h reproving,

To stay, a minute, longer from removing▪

But, then my Conscience also did begin

To draw such pow'rfull Moti…es, from within▪

And, to propose before my understanding

Such Reasons, my departure countermanding,

As made me stagger, and new doubts to make,

What course it best behoved me to take.

At first, I thought by counsell from the Wise,

To build up my Resolves, and to advise

By their opinions what I …hould pursue;

But, of the gravest I perceiv'd so few

Who could advise them…elves; that I grew more

Divided by their counsels, then before.

I saw such foolishnesse, and such distractions,

Appeare among them in their words and actions;

That I perceiv'd they had enough to doe,

Their owne particulars to looke unto.

Then, guided by example would I be;

But, that I quickly found no Rule …or me;

For, they who in opinion do consent,

Oft differ, in …he active President.

And some, who have a tongue the truth to say,

Have wanted grace to walke the safest way.

Beside, mens actions, which indiffe…ent are,

May foolish, wise, or bad, or good appeare,

As their unknowne occasions are who doe them;

And, small respect is to be had unto them,

By way of P…esident, till we can finde

Their outward motives, and their secret minde▪

This heeding; and still waxing more molested,

With diff…ring thoughts, and reasons undisgested,

I knew no better way, then to repaire

For counsell unto God, …y humble Pray'r;

Beseeching his direction, how to take

That course, which for his glory▪ most should make.

And he (I think) was please… to suggest,

That if I askt my Conscience what was bes…,

His Word and Spirit would informe her so,

That she should shew me what was best to do.

Then, from the noise of other mens perswasions,

(From selfe-c…nceit, and from those vaine occasions,

p. 80Which bring disturbances) I did retire,

Gods pleasure, of my Conscience, to enq…ire.

Who, finding in my brest a strong contention

Twixt Fai…h and Reason; and, how their dissention

Was fi…st to be composed (that I might

The sooner understand the t…uth aright)

She call'd a Court within me; s…mmon'd thither

Those Pow'rs, and all those Faculties together,

Which Tena…ts a…e in chiefe u…to the Soule:

Their faulty inclinations did controule:

And, that she might not without profit chide,

Some ill advis…d courses rectifi'd.

Then will'd she FAITH and REASON to debate

Their Cause at large: and, that which they, of late,

Had urg'd confusedly within my brest,

She will'd them, into Method, to digest:

That so, my Iudgement might the better see,

To whether part I should enclined be

They both o…e…'d. And, REASON (who suppos'd

Delay bred danger) hastily compos'd

Those many strong perswasions, wherewithall

She did my person from the City call;

Before my Conscience, them in order laid,

And (as halfe angry) thus me thought she said.

What meanest thou, thus fondly, out of season,

To shew thy boldnesse in contempt of Reason?

Why art thou alwayes these mad courses taking?

Thy Lines, and Actions, Paradoxes making?

Why thus pursu'st thou what to ruine tends,

To glad thy foes, and discontent thy friends?

By making wilde adventures, to the blame

Of thy blinde Faith, and my perpetuall sh…me?

Is't not enough, that by thy little caring

To humor Fooles, and by thy over daring

To …eard proud Vices, thou h…st lately cros…

Thy way to riches, and preferment lost?

Is't not enough, that when thou dost become

The scorne of Foole…, thou wert delivered from

A m…ked Hate, ev'n in that day, and place,

Which Malice had assign'd for thy disgr…ce?

And sawst the shame of that unjust I…tention

Alight on him who plotted that Invention?

Is't not enough, that thou escape… hast

Through many wants and perils und…sgrac'd,

When thy advent'rous Muse drew downe upon thee

Those Troubles which were like to have undone thee?

Suffice not these, unlesse thou now assay

A needlesse act? and foole thy life away

By tempting Heav'n, in wilfull staying there,

Where, in thy face grim death doth alway stare?

Looke what thou d…st, and w…ll obse…ve …hine errors,

For, thou art round about, enclos'd with terrors.

And if thou be not stupid thou maist see

That there is cause thou shouldst affrighted be.

Dost thou not smell the vapours of the Gr…ve?

Dost thou not heare thy plague-sicke neighbours rave?

Dost thou not tast infection in the Aire?

Dost thou not view sad objects of despaire?

Dost thou not f…ele thy vitall pow'rs assailed?

Dost thou not finde thy spirits often quail…d?

Or with thy judgement hast thou lost thy sense,

That thou dost make no greater speed from hence?

Marke there, how fast with Corpses they do throng▪

See yonder, how the Shadowes, passe along.

Behold, just now, a man before thee dies:

Behinde thy back, another breathlesse lies.

That Bell, now ringing, soundeth out the Knell

Of him, whom thou didst leave, last ev'ning, well.

p. 81Lo, he that for his life, lyes gasping, there,

Is one of those who thy companions were

This very morning. And, see, see, the Man

That's talking to thee, looketh pale, and wan,

Is sick to death; and, if thou doe not run

For helpe, will die before his tale be done.

Yet, art thou no… afraid? I prethee, tell

Why mightst thou not have beene that man as well?

Though he this minute hath prevented thee,

Why maist not thou, the next that followes be?

Why shouldst not thou as quick…y drop away,

Since, fl…sh and blood thou art, as fra…l as they?

What can thy speedy dissolution hinder,

Since thy complexion is as apt as tinder

To take that Flame? And, if it seize thee must,

What art thou better, then a heap of dust?

There is no Constitution, Sex, Degree,

Or Age of man, from this contagion free.

Nor canst thou get an Antidote to fit

For all Infection, though, perhaps, thy wit

Could learne thy temper so, as not to wrong…

Thy health, by things too weak, or over strong.

For, men oft change th… temper they should hold,

Are sometime hot; sometime againe are cold▪

One while are sprightly, otherwhile are dull;

Are now too empty, and anon too full:

That, tis a doubtfull, and a curious act,

To adde a just proportion, and substract

(In using outward meanes of pres…rvation)

According to the bo…ies variation.

And, many, therein failing, lose their lives,

By wrong, or misapply'd Preservatives.

Thou shalt have, therefore, but uncertaine hopes

From Druggists, or Apothecary shops.

To warrantize thy health▪ if thou on those

In staying here, thy confidence repose.

And sure, thou neither harbor'st such a thought,

That, thou of any better s…uffe art wrought

Then other men: nor trustest unto Charmes,

To keepe off this Disease from doing harmes:

For, those unhallowed Med'cines, and i…pure,

Breed greater Plagues, then those they seeme to cure.

Nor art thou, of that Brotherhood, which sees

The Booke of Gods particular Decrees;

And Gypsie like (by heathnish Palmistry,

Or by the lines of Phisiognomy)

Conjectures dareth not alone to give,

Who of this Plague shall dye, or who shall live:

But also wicke…ly, presumes to t…ll

Which man shall goe to heav'n, and which to hell:

Of these I know thou art not. For, as yet

I hope thou hast not so forgone thy wit:

To credit their illuding p…ophanations,

Which are but fantosmes of illuminations

Begot in these late Ages (by misch…nce)

Betwixt much pride, and zealous ignorance.

Thou dost not think thy merits greater are

Then other mens, that God thy l…f… should spare.

Nor canst thou hope thy safety to poss…sse,

For that thy follies or thy sinnes are lesse.

Since if thou hadst but one time beene mis-led,

Thy life for that one time were so…fei…ed.

And, this Disease, with outward ma…ks, doth strike.

The Righteous, and the Wicked, both alike.

Then, since thou art a Sinner, and art sure,

That sinne did first this Pestilence procure:

Since thou maist also justly say with griefe,

That, thou of all transgressors art the chiefe:

p. 82Since thy offences some of those have bin,

Which h…lpe to bring this great Infection in:

Nay; since it may be (if thou search thy heart)

That thou a principall among them art,

Who from the Ship must Ionas-like be throwne,

Before this Tempest will be over blowne▪

Why doth it not thy guil…y soule dismay,

And make thee hasten more to flye away?

It may be thou dost vainly hope for Fame,

By doing this. Oh! what availes the same,

When thou art raked up quite void of sense,

Among the slaughters of the Pestilence?

What will it profit when thou sleep'st in clay,

Some▪ few should praise, and some lament thy stay?

Some heed it not? Some make a mocke thereat?

Some deeme thee foolish, others d…sperate?

Some, judge thy tarying might for trifles be?

Some, for thy best intention slander thee?

Or with base trash thy breathlesse Muse bely… ▪

Or, mis-report thy dying, if thou dye?

For, if thou chance to perish in this Place,

These wayes, and other meanes to thy disgrace,

Thy Foes will finde▪ and in thy fall contented,

Accomplish what, thy life might have prevented.

But say to scape alive thy Lott it be;

A troupe of other perils wait on thee.

Thou know'st not what extremities may fall,

Nor how thy heart may struggle therewithall.

Such Poverty upon this Towne may seize,

E're God asswage the rage of this Disease,

That meanes may saile thee; and before supply

Thy friends can send thee, thou maist famisht lye:

For they who now affect thee, and with whom

Thou shal…, perhaps, to live resolv'd become,

Ev'n they may perish in this Pest, and leave thee

To strangers whose affections will deceive thee:

In time of health, but slenderly befriend thee:

In sicknesse, to a lonely Roome commend thee:

Make spoile of what is thine, and senslesse be

Of helping, and of all regard of thee.

And then it will, perchance, afflict thy mind

That thou unto thy selfe wert so unkinde,

As to neglect th…t wholesome Country Ayre▪

Whereto thy friends invited thy repaire.

Thou maist remember, when it is too late,

Those pleasures, and that happy healthy state

Thou mightst have had: A…d wi…h how much respect

Thou shouldst have liv'd with those that thee affect;

A comfort to thy Parents, who with feare,

D…e sorrow for thy needl…sse lingring here:

For, them thou leavest, an… some friends beside,

(To live, 'twixt hope and feare, unsatisfi'd

By this thy doing) whom thou dost abuse,

If that which may d…scomfort them thou chuse.

And, when they shall thy wilfulnesse condemne,

With what good Reasons wil… thou answer them?

Thy Dwelling is not here; nor is thy stay

Compelled by Affaires that urge it may.

Thou hast nor publike neither private charge;

But, maist in any place, goe walke at large.

The wo…ld conceiveth not the least suspition,

That thou art either Surgeon, or Physitian,

(Whose Art may stand this place in any s…eed;)

Or that thy friends will thy attendance need.

For thou canst neither Broths nor Caudles make,

Nor drenches good enough for horse to take.

Thou hast no Calling, that may warrantize

This boldnesse: neither can thy wit devise

p. 83How thou will answer God, f…r daring thu…

An act so needlesse, and so perillous.

Consider well, that there are paines in death;

Consider, that when thou ha…t lost thy breath,

Thy Flesh, the deare companion of thy Soule,

Shall be rejected as uncleane, and foule,

And, lodge within a Grave, contemn'd and vile,

Which might have liv'd esteemed, yet a while.

Consider, that thou hast not an estate

Of being, which is base or desperate;

But such, as few on earth possesse a better,

Though each one, that hath ought, enjoyes a greater.

Consider, that thou dost endanger now

The blessing of long life. Consider, how

Thou mightst have lived to a larger measure

Of riches, of preferment, or of pleasure;

And profited thy Country, whereunto

Thy Death, or Sicknesse, will no service do.

Nay, if thou now miscarry, where will be

Those honest hopes which late possessed thee?

To …hose thy Studies who an end shall adde,

Which but a while agoe, beginning had?

And, being left unfinisht, make the paine

And houres, upon them spent, to be in vaine?

With somewhat thou endued art, whereby

Thou ma…st thy blessed Maker glorifie;

Thy selfe advantage, and a joy become

To such as well affect thee; and 'gainst whom

(If thus thy selfe thou separate) thou shalt

Commit a most inexpiable fault.

Oh! the…efore, I beseech thee, wary be,

To thinke what service God requires of thee:

Think, what thou w…st thy selfe; and call to mind,

That some wel-wille…s thou maist leave behinde,

Whose hopes thou should'st not wilfully bereave,

(Whose loves thou should'st not unrequited leave)

By hazarding thy Life, which is a debt

To their deservings. For, thou know'st not, yet,

How that may grieve thy soule, or fill thy head

With troubled sancies, o… thy dying-bed.

I cannot make d…scovery, by all

My faculties, and po…'rs rationall,

What worke tho… maist imagine should be done

T…at's worthy of the hazard thou dost run.

Nor can, as yet, my understanding reach

(What hope soever Faith may please to pre…ch)

To those Felicities; which after death

Her supernaturall Doctrines promiseth.

Nor finde I suc… assurances, a… may

Preserve thee unaffrighted in thy stay.

For when within my Naturall Scale I place

Those Arguments, and Promises of Grace,

Which Faith alledgeth; they so ayrie prove,

That they my Ballance very little move.

Yea, such transcendent things declareth she▪

As they me thinks should so distemper thee,

That doubts and terrors rather should possesse

Thy Soule, then hopes of reall …appinesse;

Since what in Death, or after Death shall come,

Are things, that Nature is estranged from.

Fly therefore, this great perill. Seeke a place

Where thou maist plead more safely of thy Case:

And, since thy God, with Reason, thee doth blesse,

Now, most thou need'st it, be not reasonlesse.

All this (and what the ca…nall wit of man

Object, in such an undertaking can)

Did R…ASON urge, to make my stay appeare

An act imp…ovident, and full of feare:

p. 84And what her seeming rightfull c…use advances,

Was utt'red with such dreadfull ci…cumstances,

That she did hal…e pe…swade me to confesse,

My Resolution would be foolishnesse.

But, when my R…ASON had no more to speake,

My FAITH began: & though her st…ength was weak,

(Because my …railties had enfeebled her)

Yet, then I felt her with more vigour stir,

Then in lesse perills. For, she blew aside

Those fogs whe…ewith my heart was t…rrifi'd:

Made cleare my Iudgement: and (as having wa…gh'd

The speech f…regoing) thus, me thought, she said.

How wise is REASON in an Ethnicke Schoole,

And, in divine proceedings, what a foole?

How many likely things she mus…er can,

To startle and amaze a naturall man,

W…ich, when I am advis'd withall, are found

But pannick feares, and terrors without ground!

And yet, how often doth blinde Ignoranc…,

Above my reach her shallownesse advance?

Or else of madnesse, wickedly condemne

My wisdome, and my safest paths contemne?

Yet be not thou (my Soule) deceived by

The foolishnesse of humane Sophistry.

But, since by thy Afflictions, thou hast got

Exp…rience, which the world attaineth not;

Give heed to me, and I will make thee know

Those things which carnall Reason cannot show.

Yea make thee by my pow'r more certaine be

Of that which mortals can nor heare nor see,

Then of the plainest objects that appeare

VntoUnto the sense of corp'rall eye or eare:

And though my promise, or my counsell seeme

To vulgar Iudgements, but of meane esteeme,

Ile so enable the… those seares to bide,

W…erewi…h the worldly-wise are terrifi'd;

And, teach thee such contentednesse to gaine,

Though in Deaths gloomy shades thou dost remaine:

That, thou (without all doubtings) shalt perceive,

Thou shouldst not this afflicted Citie leave.

And Flesh and Blood, with wonder, shall confess…

That Faith hath pow'r to teach men fearlesnesse,

I… perils; which do make their hearts to ake,

Who scoffe at her, and part with Reason take.

It cannot be denyed that this Place

Yeelds dread enough, to make the boldest face

To put a palenesse on, unlesse the minde

Be over much to sen…esnesse enclinde:

Because, we nat'rally abhor to see

Such loathed objects of mortality.

'T…s also true, that there is no defence

To guard the body from this Pes…ilence,

Within the compasse of mans pow…r or wit:

Nor can thy merit so prevaile with it,

But that (for ought thou knowest) thou maist f…ll

The growing number of Death… weekly-Bill.

And what of that? whìlst I befriend thee shall,

Ca… such a common danger thee apal…?

Shall that, which heath'nish men, and women beare,

(Yea tender infants) without shewes of feare,

Amate thy spirit? shall the drawing nigh

Of that, from which thou has… no meanes to …ye,

(And which thou walkest toward, ev'ry day,

(With seeming stou…nesse) fright thee now away?

Is Death so busie grow…e in London streets,

That h… with no man in th… Country me…ts?

Beleeve… thou, the number he hath slaine

Hath added any thing unto the paine?

p. 85Or, hast thou lately apprehended more

Deaths fearfull gast lin…sse, then heretofore,

That in this time of tryall thou shouldst finde

Thy Soule to slavish Cowardice enclinde?

Death is that Path, which ev'ry man must tread;

A…d, whe… thou shalt d…scend among the dead,

Thou go'st but thither where thy fathers be,

And whither, all that live shall follow thee.

Death is that Haven, where t…y Barke shall cas…

Her hopefull Anchor, and lye moored fast,

Exempted from those furious windes and seas▪

VVhichWhich in thy heav'nly voyage, thee diseas….

Death i… th… Iaile-deliv'ry of …he Soule:

Thy joyfull yeare of Iubilee: thy Goale:

The Day that ends thy sorrowes, and thy sins;

And that, wherein, best happinesse begins.

A lawfull act, then wherefore shouldst thou feare

To prosecute; although thy death it were?

Full oft, have I enabled thee to bide

The brunt of dreadf…ll stormes, unterrifide▪

And, when thy dastard Reason (not espying

That heav'nly Game, at which thy Faith was flying)

Di…heartned grew; I did thy body free

From ev'ry p…rill which enclosed thee:

So working, that those thin…s thy praise became,

Which Malice had projected for thy shame;

And, common Reason, who suppos'd thee mad,

Did blush to see how little wi… she had.

Yet, now againe, how f…olishly she tryes

To cast new fogs b…fore thy Iudgements eyes?

…hat childish Bug-Bea…es hath she mus…red …ere,

To scar t…y senses with a causelesse f…are?

Of those loath'd Objects wherefore doth she tell,

Which v…x the sight, the hearing, and the smell?

Since, when the utmost of it shall be said,

All is but Death; which can but strike thee dead.

And when that's done, thou shalt (by me revived)

Enjoy a better life then thou has… lived.

If those hobgoblin terrors of the grave,

(Wherewith meere nat'rall men affrighted have

Their troubled soules) deterre thee from that path,

Whereto the will of God injoined hath;

To thee (oh! Soule) how dreadfull would it be

If WARRE, with all her feares enclosed thee?

Nay, if such common terrors thee amaze,

How wouldst thou quake, if in a generall blaze,

The world should flame about thee? (as it may,

Perhaps, before thou see another day)

Sure, if these Scar-crowes do det…rre thee so,

Thou scarce wilt welcome (as thou oughtst to do)

That Moment when it comes; nor so rejoyce,

As they, who long to heare the Bridegroomes voice.

Here therefore stay, and practise to inure

Thy soule to tryalls; that thou maist endure

All chang…s, which in after times may come:

And wait with gladnesse, for the Day of Doome.

Seeke here, by holy dread, to purge away

Those Crimes which heape up terrors for that day.

Endure the scorching of this gentle fire▪

To purifie thy heart from vaine desire.

Learne here, the death of righteous men to dye;

That thou maist live with such eternally.

H…re, exercise thy Faith, and watch, and pray,

That when thy body shall be mixt with clay

The frigh…full Trumpet, whose amazing sound

Shall startle H…ll, and shake earths massie Round.

May make thee leape with gladnesse from thy grave,

And no sad horrors in thy Conscience have.

p. 86What canst thou hope to purchase here below,

That thou shouldst life unwillingly for goe?

Since, there is nothing which thou canst possesse,

Whose sweetnesse is not marr'd with bitternesse:

Nor any thing so safe, but that it may,

To th…e, become a mischiefe, many a way?

If honourable thou mightst live to grow,

That honor may effect thy overthrow.

And (as it makes of others) make of thee

A thing as blockish, as bruit creatures be▪

If Rich; those Riches may thy life betray;

Choake up thy vertues, and then flye aw…y.

If Pleasure follow thee; that pleasing vaine

May bring thy soule to everlasting paine:

Yea, that which most thou longest to e…joy,

May all the pleasures of thy life destroy.

Seeke therefore true co…t…n…ment where it lies,

And feare not ev'ry B…bies fantasies.

If Life thou love; Death is that entring in

Where life which is eternall doth begin.

There, what thou most desirest is enjoy'd;

And, Death it selfe, by dying is destroy'd.

Though length of life, a blessing be confest,

Yet, length of dayes in sorrow is not best.

Although the Saylor, sea-roome doth require,

To reach the harbour is his chiefe desire:

And, though 'tis well our debts may be delay'd,

Yet, we are best at ease when they are paid.

If …itle…, thou aspire unto: Death brings

The Faithfull, to become immortall Kings:

Whose glorie passeth earth…y pomp, as far

As Phoebus doth outshine the Morning-star.

Desirest thou a pleasant healthfull dwelling?

By Death thou gain'st a Country so excelling;

That, plenty of all us…full things is there,

And all …hose objects that delightfull are.

A golden pavement thou sh…lt walke upon;

And lodge in Buildings wall'd with precious stone.

If in rich Garmen…s to be cloath'd thou seeke,

The Persian Mon…rks never had the like:

For, Puritie it selfe thy Robe shall be;

And like the Stars, thy Crowne shall s…ine on thee.

Hast thou enjoyed those companions here,

VVhose love and fellowship delightfull are?

Thou shalt, when thou from sight of those art gone,

Of that high Order be installed one,

VVhichWhich never did false Brother entertaine;

VVhereof, ev'n God himselfe is Soveraigne:

And in whose company thou shalt possesse

All perfect, deare, and lasting friendlinesse.

Yea, there ev'n those whom thou on earth hast lo…ed

…n…se time (with such love as is approved)

Thou shalt enjoy againe: and not alon…

Their friendship; but the love of ev'ry one

Of those blest men and women, who both were,

And are, and shall be, till our Iudge appeare.

Hath any mortall beauty pleas'd thee so,

That, from her presence thou …rt loath to goe?

Thou shalt in stead of those poore imperfections,

VVh…r…on thou setlest here unsure affections▪

The Fountaine of all Beauties, come to see

(Wi…hin his lovely bosome lodged be)

And know (when thou on him hast fixt thine eye…)

That, all earths Beauties are deformities.

To these, and happinesses, greater far

Then by the heart of man conceived are,

Death maketh passage. And, how grim soe're

He may to those that stand aloo… appeare;

p. 87Yet, if thou bide unmoved in thy place,

Till he within his armes doe thee embrace;

Thou sh…lt perceive that who so timely dieth,

Enjoyes contentments which this life denyeth.

Thy feare of painfulnesse in death is vain…;

In Death is eas…; in Life, alone, is paine.

Man makes it …readfull by his owne inventions▪

By causelesse doubts, and groundlesse apprehensions.

But, when it comes, it brings of paine, no more

Then Sleepe, to him that restlesse was before.

Thy Soules departur…, from the Flesh, doth maze,

And thee afflicteth more then there is cause:

For, of his sting, thy Saviou…, Death despoiled:

And, feares, and dangers from the Grave exiled.

Thou losest not try Body when it dyes;

Nor doth it perish, though it putrifies.

For, when the time appointed, it hath laine,

It shall be raised from the dust againe,

And, in the s…ead of this corrupted one,

Thy Soule, a glorious Body shall put on.

But hadst thou not a Faith which might procure the…

Such comforts, and such life in death assure thee:

Or, though thou shouldst, by dying, be possest

Of nothing else, but of a senselesse rest:

Me thinkes thy …arnall Reason should, for that,

Perswade thee rather to be desperate,

And stay, and seeke for Death, e'…e languish in

Perpetuall sorrowes, such as thine have bi….

For, if to God-ward, …oy thou foelest not,

What comfort to the world-ward …ast thou got,

Which may desirous make thee to delay,

Or linger out thy life another day?

'Tis true that God hath given thee a share

I… all thos… Pleasures, that good pleasures are;

And (to the Giver… glory be i… spoken)

H…e hath bestow'd on thee as many a …ok…n

Of his abundant love, as he bestowes

On any, with so sew external sh…wes.

For ev'n of outward things he doth impart

As much as fits the place in which thou art;

With full as many pleasures as may serve,

Thy Patience, in thy suff…ings, to preserve:

And, when for Rest, and Plenties, thou art fitter,

I know, he will not make thy cup so bitt…r.

But if thou live for outwar'd pleasures meerly;

By living thou dost buy them over dearly.

For (if thy peace in God were s…t aside)

So many wayes thou hast beene crucifi'd,

That some would think thy Fortune (if they had it)

Most bitter; though most sweet thy hopes have made it.

H…re, but a Pilgrimage thou dost possesse,

I… wandring, and perpetuall restlesnesse.

Like Travellers, in sunshine and in raine,

Both d…y and wet, and dry and wet againe.

With rest, each Morning, well refresh… and merry▪

A…d, ev'ry Ev'ning, full of griefe, and weary.

To Vanity, in bondage thou dost lie,

Still beaten with new stormes of Misery;

And, in a path to which thou art a stranger,

Assaulted with variety of Danger.

His Face, sometime, is hid, whence comforts flow,

And, men and devills, seek thy overthrow.

Sin multiplies upon thee, ev'ry day:

Thy vitall pow'rs, will more and more decay:

Wealth, honor, friends, and what thou best dost love,

Doth leave, deceive thee, or thy torment prove;

Mans very Body burthens him; and brings

VntoUnto itselfe a thousand torturings▪

p. 88Thy Heart, with many Thinkings is perplext:

Yea, by thine owne Affections thou art vext:

And (though by overcomming them at last,

Thy soule hath comfort when the fight is past,)

Thou hast perpetuall conflicts, which requir…

Continuall watchfulnesse: for, no Desire

Or nat'rall Passion, ever did molest

The heart of Man, that strives not in thy brest.

In ev'ry Pleasure, somewhat lurks to scar thee▪

In ev'ry Profit, somewhat to ensnare thee:

Whole armies of Afflictions swarme about thee,

Some fight within thee; some assaile without thee:

And, that which thou conceivest shall releeve thee,

Becommeth oft another meanes to gri…ve thee.

Yea, thine owne thoughts, thy spe…ches, and thine actions,

Occasion discontentments, and distraction:

And all the portion which thou dost inherit,

Yeelds nought, but perturbations of the spirit.

In Childhood, all thy pleasures were but toyes;

In heat of Youth, as fruitlesse were thy joyes:

Thy riper yeares, do nought but ripen care:

And, imperfections, thy perfections are:

If Old thou grow, thy griefes will aged be▪

And, Sicknesse, till thou dye, wil live in thee.

Thy Life's a Warfare, which must quite be done,

E're dangers vanish, or the Field be won.

It is a Voyage full of wearinesse,

Till thou thy wished harbor dost possesse:

And, thou of no externall Ioy canst b…ast,

That may not e're thy dying day be lost.

But, truth to say, what thing dost thou possesse,

Which others thi…ke to be a happinesse?

The world allowes thee little that is hers,

And …hee to very small esteeme prefers.

Among her Minions: but, in ev'ry place

Endeavors to affront thee with disgrace;

D…prives thee of thy labours, and bestowes

On Parasites, on Foo…es, and on thy Foes,

Thy due: and with a spightfull enviousnesse,

Thy best approved Studies doth suppresse.

Behold, … …rothy Masq…e, an idle Song,

The witlesse jesting of a scurrilous tongue,

Th… capring Dancer, and the foining Fencer,

The bold Buffoone, the slye Intelligencer;

Those fool…sh raving fellowes, whose delights

Are wholly fixed on their Curs and Kites ▪

The Termly Pamphlet…rs, whose Dedications

Doe sooth and claw the times abominations:

Ev'n such …ike things as these can purchase grace,

And quickly compasse Pension, …ift, or Place;

When, thy more honest Labours are abused,

Contemned, sleighted, or at best refused.

If such a one as these forenam'd, resort

To set abroach his qualities in Court,

He findes respect, and as an usefull man,

His Faculty, some place afford him, can.

He soone hath entertainment. Or if not,

Yet, something may sor his availe be got.

A base Invention, that scarce merit may

The reputation of a Puppet-play,

So…e spangled Courtier, or some foolish Lord ▪

Admires, affects, and of his ow…e accord

Prefers it to the Prince, or to the King,

As an ingenious, or much usefull thing.

And (ten to one) if then the Author can

But humor well his Lordship, or his man

(That rules his Honors wisdome) it may gaine him

Some such like Lord as that to en…ertaine him,

For his c…mpanion; y…a, the privy purse

May open to him: and, be fareth worse

Then many a Foole hath done, unl…sse e're long▪

He purchaseth to be enro…l'd among

The best Deservers; and arise to be

Superior to a better man then be.

Twixt these and thee what distances appeare?

And, twixt your Fortunes what a space is there▪

When thou hadst f…nished a Worke divine,

(As much for others profit, as for thine)

Thou scarcely found'st a man, to make thee way

Thy Present, at thy Soveraigne… fee… to lay.

And when thou didst▪ No sooner laid he by

What tendred was, but some in…urious eye

Did quickly take thereof a partiall view,

And with detracting Censures thee pursue.

Yea, those meere Ignorants, whose courtly wi…

Can judge of nothing, but how cloathes doe fit;

How Congees should be acted; how their Boy

Obs…rve them should; or some such weighty …oy:

Those Shreds of Complement, patcht up for things

To fill vast Roomes in Palaces of Kings,

(As Antiques doe in Hangin…) more for show▪

Then any profit, which from them c…n flow.

…v'n those (scarce worth our laughing at) have pa…

Their doomes on that which thou presented hast;

As if they understood it: and, as those,

…y chance did censure, so the Censure goes.

If these, or any such like Mountebanks,

By slavish fawning, or by pickin… thanks;

By ho…eliest services, (or worse) by cheating;

Extorting from the poore, or by defeating

Men hone…ly disposed, (or, by any

Of those ill meanes, whereof this age hath many)

Can, out of heggery, their fortunes reare▪

To hundreds, or to thousands by the yeare:

They thinke themselves abus'd, if any grutch

O… m…rmur, as if they had got too much.

But, though thou from thy childhood wert employ'd

In painf…ll studies, and hadst not enjoy'd

So much externall profit, as would pay

The charges of thy Troubles, for a day:

(Nay, rather, hindrance hadst, and punishment,

For that, which gave most honest men content)

Yet (marke their dealing) when but hope there was

Of gaine to thee (which never came to passe)

And though that gaine were lesse then Traders can

Allow sometimes unto a Iourney-man:

Yea though it were to no mans prejudice;

(…ut many profiting) and did arise

By thine owne labours: that small yearly summ…

Expected for, nought, yet, but losse doth come)

Was grumbled at; as if it had beene more

Then any ever gained heretofore;

And would the Common-weale have prejudised,

Had none, thereof, to frustrate thee, de…ised.

Some, therefore (whose maliciousnesse is yet

Vnanswer'd for) themselves against thee set;

And, by the dammage of their owne estate,

Have labour'd, thee and thine to ruinate.

Some others, as injuriously, as they,

Laid causelesse Nets, to snarle thee in thy way:

And have procured, for thy best intents,

Reproofes, Contempts, and Close Imprisonments;

(As rigo…ous as ever were inflicted,

Of those th…t for High Treason stood convicted)

Yea, that which might an honest wealth have won thee,

…as that, whereby they sought to have undone thee.

p. 90Foule Scandals, thy best actions have attended.

And (as if on thine Infamy depended

The Kingdomes glory) Pamphlets false and base,

Yea, publike Ma…ques, and Playes, to thy disgrace,

Were set abroach; till justly they became,

To those that made, and favour'd them, a shame.

In Rimes, and Libels, they have done thee wrongs;

Thou hast beene mention'd in their drunken Songs,

Who nothing worse unto thy charge could lay,

But, that, thou didst not seeme so bad as they.

Meere Strangers, who are quite unknowne of thee,

(Although they see not what thy manners be)

Take pleasure to traduce thee, and to draw

Those things in question, which they never saw.

Nay, at their publike meetings, few forbeare

To speake that s…andall, which they thinke, or heare▪

Ev'n since this Plague began, and whi…st thy hand

Recording was that Iudgement on this Land;

Thou art inform'd, that, Westward from this place

(Some scores of miles) a generall rumor w…

Both of thy biding here, and of thy death.

And, they who said, thou hadst expir'd thy breath,

(Supposing, as it seemes) it could not be

That God from this Disease would shelter thee)

Reported also, that, of Grace forsaken,

And, by the sin of Drunkennesse o'retaken,

Thou brok…st thy neck. It may be those men thought,

That when the Plague …hy life to end bad brought,

They sh…uld have added som…what, to have slaine

The life of good Report, which might remaine.

Nor was that ayme quite void. For, (though of all

Grosse sins, the staine of t…at, least b…ur thee shall)

Some straight beleev'd what malice did surmise;

Condemn'd thy Vertues, for Hypocrisies.

Made guilty all thy Lines of evill ends ▪

Vs'd thee, as Iob was used by his friends▪

Did on thy Life un…hristian Censures passe▪

Affirm'd, thy Death had showed what it was;

And, many a one that heard it, shall not know

Vntill his dying day, it was not so.

But, then they shall perceive, that most of that

Is false, which men of others use to prate.

But, wonder it is none, that thou among

Some Strangers, in thy Fame hast suffred wrong:

For, …o, thy Neighbours (though they privy be

To no such act as may difparage thee,

But unto many rather, which in show,

Appeared from a Christian minde to flow)

Ev'n they, in private whisp'rings, many times

Have taxed thee as guilty of those crimes

Thou never perpetratedst, but dost more

Abhor them, then do Mizers to be poore.

And from th…se blots the more thy life is free,

The more is theirs defilde, by slaundring th…e.

In wicked Places (where yet n…ver came

Thy foo…) some ac…ed follies in thy name:

That others present, knowing not thy face,

Might spread abroad of thee, to thy disgrace,

VVhat others did. And, such a mischiefe, none

But perfect Malice, could have thought upon.

Thy very Prayers, and thy Charities

Have …cked beene, and judg'd hypocrisies.

When thou wert be… employed, thou wert s…re

The b…sest imputations to endure.

When thy intentions ha…e beene most sincere,

Mens misconstructions alwayes ha…shest were;

And, when thy piou… action thou hadst wrought,

Then▪ they the greatest mischiefe on thee brought.

p. 91The best, and most approved of those Laies,

By thee composed for thy Makers praise;

Have lately greatly multipli'd thy F…es,

And, not procur'd alone the spight of those

Whom brutish Ignorance bes…ts among

The misconceiving and ill…terate throng:

But▪ they who on the seats of Iudgement sate,

Thee, and those Labours have inveighed at.

The Learned, who should wiser men have beene,

Did censure that which they had never seene.

Ev'n they, w…o make faire shewes of sancti…y,

(God grant, it be not with hypocrisi…)

With spightfulnesse, that scarce can matched be,

Have shamefully tr…duced that, and thee.

Nay, of the Clergy, some (and of the chiefe)

Have with unseemly f…ry, post beleefe,

So undervalu'd, and so vilifi'd

Those Labors (which the tryall will abide,

When their proud spleene is wasted) that, unlesse

God had, in mercy, curb'd their furiousnesse,

(And by his might abated, in some measure,

That pow'r of acting their impe…ious pleasure)

Their place, and that opinion they had gained,

Of knowledge, and sincerity unfained,

Had long ere this, no doubt, made so contemn'd

Those Lines, and thee; that thou hadst beene condemn'd

VVithout a triall. And so true a feeling

Hadst gain'd ere now, of base and partiall dealing,

That, Disconten… …ight then have urg'd thy stay,

In hope this Plague, would th…t, have tooke away:

But, thou by others, hast receiv'd the …ings

Of Malice ▪ otherwayes, in other things.

Those men, whose over-grosse and open crime…,

Are justly taxed in thi… …onest …imes,

Have by the generall notice of thy name,

Sought how to bring thee to a generall shame,

By raising causelesse rumors to be blowne

Through ev'ry quarter where thy lines are knowne.

For, there's no place without an enuious …are,

And slan…rous tongues be ready ev'ry where,

To cast, with willingnesse, disgrace on those,

Of whom, some good report, beforehand, goes.

And since thou canst not answer ev'ry man,

As he that's knowne in some few Townships, can;

The falsest Rumors Men divulge of thee,

Doe soone become a common Fame to be.

Moreover (that lesse cause there may appeare,

Why thou shouldst life desire, or dying feare)

The most affected thing this world containes,

Hath tor…ur'd thee with most heart-breaking paines.

For, they whom thou hast loved: they to whom

Thou didst obliged many wayes become:

Yea …hey who knew thy faithfulnesse; ev'n they,

Have made their outward kindnesses the way

To make thee most ingratefull seeme to be,

Yea, they have heaped more disgrace on thee,

More griefes, and disadvantages, then all

Thy Foes together, bring upon thee shall.

And long pursued have, to thy vexation

Their courses with harsh trickes of ag…ravation;

Yet still pretending Love: which makes the curse,

Of this Affliction twenty times the worse.

I will …ot say that thou affl…cted art

In this (by them) without thy owne desert:

For who perceives in all how he offends?

Or thinks, that God correction causelesse sends?

Nor will I say this injury proceeds,

Fromany Malice. For, perhaps, it breeds

p. 92From their distemper'd love. And God to show

Some needfullsecret (which thou best maist know

By this experiment) a while doth please,

To make thy late Contentments thy Disease.

Thy first Acquaintan…e, who did many a yeare

Enjoy thy fellowship (and glad appeare

To seeme thy friends) have wearied out their love,

By length of time; and strangers now doe prove.

Thou also seest, thy new acquaintance be

Worne out as fast as gotten. For, to thee

Most come, for nothing but to satisfie

Their idle fruitlesse curiositie:

And, having seene, and found thee but a man,

Their friendship ended, just as it began.

Nay, they who all thy course of life have seene,

And (in appearanc…) have perswaded beene,

So well of thy uprightnesse, as if no…ght

Could move in them, of thee, one …vill thought:

These, by a little absence, or the sound

Of some untrue Relation (wanting ground)

Doe all their good opinion some…ime change;

Suspect thy mann…rs, and themselves …strange,

So unexpecte…ly▪ and without cause,

That what to judge of them it makes thee pause▪

For they that vertuous are, but in the show,

Doe soone suspect, that all men else, are so.

Th…se things are very bitter unto such

Whose hearts are sensible to ev'ry touch

Of kindnesse, and unkindnesse; and they make

Life tedious, where they deepe impr…ssion take.

But, many other griefes thy Soule doe grinde;

And thou by them, art pained in a kinde

So diff…ring from the common sense of others,

(Although thy patience much distemper smothers)

That Reason might me thinkes contented be,

Thou shouldst pursue thy Death to set thee free.

I spe…ke not this, as if thou didst repin…

At these, or any other lots of thine:

Nor to discourage thee, be…ause the World

So little of her Grace on thee hath hurl'd.

For, I would have thee scorne her love; and know

That whe…her sh… will favour th…e or no,

I wil…, in thy due season, make thee rise

To honor, by that way which me… despise:

Ev'n to those honors, which are greater then

The greatest that conferred are, by men.

And, this I mention, in reproach of them

Whose Pride, thy humble Mufings, doth contemn…:

And …o remember thee, how vaine it were,

To seeke for life, where such harsh dealings are.

And, as I would not have thee wish to live

…or love of any thing, this world can give:

So, I am loath her troubles should have pow'r

To make thee seeke to shorten life an houre.

But rather in contempt of all her spight,

To lengthen it, untill pale Envie quite

Consume her selfe; and thou at last be sent

From hence, victorious, crowned with content.

I therefore, here, perswade thee not to stay▪

That vainly thou mightst foole thy life away:

Or, that some poore applauses may be got;

Or, for such trifling ends as profit not;

And, whereof, Reason her di…like infers:

For, my opinion jumps in that, with hers.

I doe not counsell thee to cast aside

That care▪ which teacheth wisely to provide

For wholsome Antidotes: Or to observe

Such courses, a… are likely to preserve

p. 93Thy body sound: nor is it my intent,

Thou shouldst employ, by way of complemen…,

Thy time in visiting infected friends;

When to their comfortings it little tends.

Nor am I pleas'd in him that so presumes,

Or such a franticke foolishnesse assumes,

As desperately to thrust himselfe among

The noisome brea…hings of a sickly thro…g,

When such a danger nothing may availe:

And, where the meanes of lif… will surely faile.

Nor would I now betray thee to thy sin;

Or worke thy losses, that thy foes may win;

Or make thee tempt thy God; or grieve thy friends▪

Or barre thy Labors of their wished ends:

Nor can…t thou thinke thy Rea…on well hath said,

To cast such stumbling-blockes, as she hath laid:

For, just and comely things, I doe advise;

And, seeke not Mischiefes, but their Remedies.

A carnall Wisedome sayes she seeth not

What knowledge and assurance may be got

Of those eternall things, that objects are

Of Chr…stian hope. But, wherefore shouldst thou feare

What …lesh and Blood blasphemously hath said?

Since, into thee already are convaid

…th Notions, and the reall sense of that

Which they, who would not see, doe stumble at?

Meere humane Reason cannot …each to know

Of many thousand Creatures here below,

The s…cret natures: Doe not wonder thou,

That few celestiall things perceive she can:

But call to minde, that to be fl…shly wise,

Is to be foolish in Truths Mysteries.

Give God the praise, who hath on thee bes…owne

A better apprehension then thine ….

Remember still, to cherish this beleefe;

Let Prayer daily fet thy Faith releefe:

And be assur'd that I advise thee best,

What e're thy carnall Reason shall suggest.

If thou suppose that thou hast ought begun,

Which may thy Coun…ry profit, being done,

Or honor God: proceed thou in his name,

With cheerfulnesse, and finish up the same.

For God will either give thee life to doe it,

(If cause the…e be) or call another to it

Of better gifts▪ And, if thou grudge at this,

Thou seekest thine owne honor, more then his:

And, though a pious purpose thou pretend,

Thy holy shew…s have some unholy end.

Say, thou among the m…ltitude must fall;

Say, they that hate thee, thereof triumph …hall;

Or others (out of levity) contemne

Thy course; or thee unj…stly should condemne,

As Reason pleads? what prejudice to thee

Wo…ld this be more, then s…ch mens pra…ses be?

What harme is this to thee wh…n …hou art gone?

And hast no se…se of any wrong that's done?

What needst thou care, if all the wo…ld suppose

To hell thou sinkest; if thy spi…it it goes

The way to heav'n? And in that narrow path

A …lessed being, unperceived hath?

Pursue brave Actions, as a Christian ought,

And, care not thou what shall of them be thought:

(Except to rouze up other men it be,

By making them perceive what rouzed thee)

When thou dost walke uprightly, walke thou on,

And scorne to looke aside, who looks thereon:

For▪ he's a foole (if not an hypocrite)

That in well-doing feeleth no delight,

p. 94Vntill some witnesse of his deeds he know,

Or feele some praises his proud sai…es to blow,

Nay, he that cannot in a vertuous deed,

(Wherein, his Conscience, warrants to proceed)

Persist without returning, though he should,

Of all the world together, be controul'd;

Or, if he thought it not a favour too

That God would call him such a worke to doe;

(Yea though that for his paines, he should become

Abhorr'd of all men▪ t…ll the Day of Doome)

Ev'n such a Man is farre below that height,

To which by perfect Vertue climbe he might;

And lose he doth, by feares that are in vaine,

The bravest honor that his Faith can gaine.

Thy Reason sayes, that thou a sinner art;

And, thereupon doth urge thee to depart.

But wherefore should the guilt of sin …ffright

F…m staying, rather then from taking flight?

For, if thou shalt remove away from hence,

Thy guilt retaining, by impenitence,

God hath not so his Plagues confined hither,

But that they may pursue thee any whither.

And whereas here, the danger, and the feare,

Encompassing this place, might so deterre,

So mollifie, and awe thy heart within thee;

So move, and to amend thy life, so win thee,

That God shall clense thy soule of ev'ry staine;

And reconcile thee to himselfe againe:

Perhaps, the wicked vaine securit…,

That will attend thee whither thou shalt flye,

May m…ke the measure of thy sinnes compleater,

Thy comforts fewer; t…y afflictions greater;

When least thou fearest, most of all disease thee;

And keepe off this, that some worse thing may seize thee:

And, though thy Reason urge thee to beeleve,

Thy friends may wronged be, or too much gri…ve,

By this adventure: I, thy Faith, assure thee,

That if my Motives may to stay procure thee,

(For such good purposes as I propose)

Thy God shall pay thy friends what ere they lose;

Make some (by fearing what thy dangers are)

Of their owne wayes to take the greater care:

K…epe others (by preserving of them sad)

More watchfull, that might else lesse heed have had▪

And, sti…re up thee for them, and them for thee,

So zealous in continuall vowes to be,

As w…ll (perchance) worse perils drive away,

Then those, which are so feared, in thy stay.

Oh! God, how many soules, by fleeing hence

Scape this, and catch a deadlier Pestilence!

How many hearts whom Feare doth somewhat strike

With sorrowes, which begins Repentance-like,

(And might by staying here, accomplish that,

Which ev'ry true Beleever aimeth at)

Will fall from those beginnings, by their flight,

And lose the feeling of Gods Iudgement…, quite?

How many! by wr…ng seeking to prevent,

Their heav'nly Fathers loving chastisement,

Incor…igible in their lives will grow?

And bring themselves to utter overthrow?

And oh! what multitudes, by staying here,

Shall change their dread, into a filiall feare?

Their feare to love, and love, and laud thee too,

For sending that, which they abhorred so!

Like them, who in the Deeps employed be,

Here, thou the wondrous works of God shalt see.

That thou maist tell …he world what he hath done;

And sing the praise of that Almighty-One

p. 95To this, and future a…es. And▪ for what

Did he thy Soule and Body first create?

For what redeeme thee? For what end infuse

That Fa…ulty, which thou dost call thy Muse?

For what, but for his honor, to declare

Thos… Iudgements and his Mercies which will h…re

Be showne unto thee? and to sing the Story

Of wh…t thine eye beholdeth to his glory?

For, if not here, then where? Or if not now,

Then, at what other time expectest thou

So faire an oprortunity, to shew

With how much readinesse thou couldst be…tow

Thy life, and all thy faculties, on him

(And, for his servic…) who bestowed them?

What nobl…r Subject can the wo…ld afford,

For thee, or for the Muses to record,

Then will those Iudgements, and those Mercies be▪

Which God will in this place disclose to thee?

If Reason seeke some purpose in thy stay,

Me thinks, this purpose please thy Reason may:

For, though those men who love their owne vaine praise,

Have little care of their Creators waies,

And finde small pleasingnesse in those Relations,

Which are compos'd of such like Observations;

Yet, all the glorioust acts of greatest Kings,

A…e triviall, worthlesse, base, and foolish things▪

Respecting these. And, though some nicer wits

Scarce think that such a Subject well befits

Their artfull Muses. Yet, twixt this and that

Whereon they love to plod and meditate,

There's much more diff'rence, then betweene their Laie…

And those which they doe most of all dispraise:

And they who live (the time) I hope shall see,

These Poems, much, more prized then they be:

Yea, though it may appeare to common Reason,

An act impertinent, and out of season,

For such an end as this to make thy stay:

Let not her carnall Sophismes thee dismay.

For sin…e thou seest a vaine Historian dares

His person to adventure in the warres,

That he (for fame, or hire) may w…i…e a story

Of wha… is done to his Commanders glory:

This action, wherefore shouldst thou startle from,

As if thy Iudgement it would mis-become?

If just it be, our safeties to contemne,

In such a case (if that be good in him)

How much more just, is thy adventure, then

Who sin…t the praise of God, and not o… men?

How mu…h more safely walkest thou, then they?

How much more glory, and how much more pay,

Can thy great Captaine give thee? And how small

Should be thy feare? If thou should'st feare at all.

Nor to thy God, or to thy selfe alone,

Will acceptable services be done

By sta…ing here: but, peradventure some

That living are, and some, in time to come,

May reap advantage by it, and confesse,

That thou wert borne for them; and didst possesse

And use thy life, not for thy selfe alone,

But …hat to others profit might be done.

The gen'rall notice which men take of thee,

Will make thy actions more observed be

Then those of twenty others, who doe seeme

In their small circuits, men of great esteeme:

And, when hereafter it is knowne abroad,

To what good purposes thou mad'st abode

In this afflicted City: on what ground,

Thy blamed resolution thou dost found:

p. 96How sensible thou wert of ev'ry seare,

And of each perill thou adventredst here:

How many friends thou …adst to flye …nto:

How much elsewhere thou migh…st have found to do;

What Censures thou shouldst hazzard, in t…y stay:

VV…at pleasures wooed th…e to come aw…y:

How, thy continuing here was not by chance

By discontent, or humorous ignorance:

How, no compulsion, no perswading Friend,

No office, hope o… gaine, or such like end

Nec…ssitated thee. Yea, when by such,

VVho are to feare e…slaved …vermuch,

All this is heeded well; And when men shall

Consider it, comparing therewithall,

VVhat causes moved thee; what meditation

Confirm'd thy stay; what kinde of conversation

Thou daily practisedst; and what good use

They may from th… experiments produce;

It will perchance occasion some to learne

Those things, which yet they doe not well discerne:

Help, in good Resolutions, some to arme:

Some weake ones in temptations much confirme:

To some become a meanes to make them see

That men despised, may enabled be,

By Faith, to keepe their place undaunted there,

Where men of better seeming gifts doe f…are.

And peradventure thou maist compasse that

Which likeher men in vaine have aymed at▪

For, though it may be said this place hath store

By Calling and by Gifts, adapted more

For such a taske; and that there may be some,

That have no warrant for departing from

Th…se noysome streets, who well enough may take

This pain…s; and thereof thee excused make.

Yet, shall not that …xcuse thee. For, all they

Have Callings, which employ them wholly may▪

Yea, they whose wits are …bler, think not on

That worke, perchance▪ as needfull to be done.

Or if they doe, perhaps, they may expire

Before they have performed it; or tire.

And though they should make perfit their designes:

Yet their obs…urity, may barre their Lines

From taking that effect, which if thou write,

Thy being far more knowne, accomplish might.

For, Fame prevailes with many (now adaies)

And, if uncout…'d, unkist (as Chaucer saies.)

Or grant that many had the same attempted,

(And men of note) yet wert thou not exempted.

For, best it is, when such like things as these

Confirmed are by many witnesses.

Beside, if those assurances which thou

Shalt publish (and thy …aith shall well allow)

Affirmed were by none but such as they

Who might not from this place depart aw…y

Without much losse, or blame: meere naturall men

Might have contemned all those counsels, then,

And all those just reproofes, that may, by thee,

Or any other man objected be,

Against their flavish Feares: and may reply,

That no man staid, but he that could not flye:

Or that none durst become a voluntary,

In such a Fire, for conscience sake▪ to tarie:

And, that no mortall man had pow'r obtain'd

To bide such brunts, till outwardly constrain'd.

Whereas thy free abiding here, will move

Much better thoughts: thy constancy approve;

Procure the more beleefe to thy Relations;

The more effectuall make thy good perswasions:

p. 97And stop th…ir mo…thes, who might some other w…y

Thy paine… have wrong'd, had ought proc…r'd thy stay.

Oh! f…r, far be it, that Lust, Ava…ce,

The strong d…empers of some hat…f…ll Vice,

A stupid Mel…ncholy or the tumors

Of some wilde Passion, or fantasti…ke Humor…,

Should fixe more stoutnesse in the heart of man,

Then temperate, an… pious knowledge can.

Far be it, that old women, for their pay,

Or Sextons for as little b…re, as they,

We in the w…lks of Death should walking see

Without all f…are; yet, they deterred be,

Who boast of knowl…dge; and have sung, and said,

That though in Deaths black shadowes they w…re lai… ▪

They would without dism…y continue th…re;

Because Gods Rod, and Staffe, their keepers are.

Oh! let not this be so: And be it far

From proving true; that they who studious are

Of Wisdome, and of Piety, should shrinke,

Where he, whose head peece is but arm'd with drinke▪

Sits fearlesse: Or, that Vse, or Custome shall

Embolden more, then Christian Faith, and all

The Morall Ve…tues: Or, that thou shouldst yeeld

To carn…ll Reason, and forgoe the Field.

Moe Arguments I could, as yet, expresse,

To prove thy staying hath much usefulnesse:

As that it were unkindnesse to forsake

Those persons here, who comfort in thee take.

For, some professe already, that th…y bide,

By thy example, greatly fortifi'd,

(In their compelled stay) by seeing thee

So willingly, the…r griefes companion be.

Y…a, many a one, observing thee to stay,

Confesseth, he doth shame to flye away.

Thereby, those Resolutions they have got,

Which very lately they embraced not;

And might, perhaps, if now thou shouldst depar… ▪

Become afraid, because thou fearfull art.

Me thinks, it is unmanlinesse to flie

From those, in woe, whom in prosperity

Thou lovedst: yea, tis basenesse, not to share

In …v'ry sorrow which thy f…iends d…e beare,

As well as in their pleasures, if they be

Such friends, as some of thine doe seeme to thee.

Here, thou hast long continu'd. On the bread

Of Dainties, in this City thou hast fed.

Here, thou hast laught and sung; and here thou hast

Thy youthfull yeares, in many f…llies past;

Abus'd thy Christian-liberty, and trod

That Maze, which brings forgetfulnesse of God.

Here, thy example, some corrupted hath;

Here, thou hast moved thy Creators wrath:

Here, thou hast sinned; and thy sinnes they were,

Which holpe to bring this Plague now raging here.

Here, therefore, doe thou fast: here, doe thou mourne,

And, into sighes, and teares, thy laughter turne.

H…re, yeeld …hy selfe to prison, till thou see

At this Assize, how God will deale by thee:

Ev'n here, the time redeeme thou: here, restore

B… good examples, th…se whom heretofore

Thou hast offended: here, t…y selfe apply

Gods just incensed wrath to pacifie.

Here, joyne in true Repen…ance, to remove

…hat Storme which now descendeth from above.

And the…, or live or dye▪ this Place, to thee

A place of Refuge, and of …oy shall be.

Nor Sin, nor Death, nor H…ll, no… any thing

Sh…ll d…scontentment, fea…e, or perill bring

p. 98Which to thy Soule or Body, shall become

A disadvantage; but helpe save thee from

Destruction: Ioyes, as yet, unfelt, procure:

In all temptation, mak… thy minde secure:

Discover plainly how thy Reason failed;

And, make thee blesse the time, thy Faith prevailed.

But, thou dost w…nt a Calling (REASON cries)

Thy staying in this place to warrantize.

And, that untill thereof tho… dost obtaine

The full assurance, all my speech is vaine.

Indeed, the glorioust worke we can begin,

Vnlesse God call us to it, is a sin.

And ther…fore, ev'ry man should seeke to k…ow

What, God, and what vaine …ancy cals him to.

For, Pride ▪ and over-weening Arrogance,

The Devill, or a zealous Ignorance,

Suggests false warrants; and allureth men

To dangerous adventures, now and then:

Yea, maketh some, from God… commands to fall,

And take employments at the Devils call.

To judge thy Calling, then, learne this of me,

That, some Vocations ordinar… be,

Some extraordinary If thou take

An ordinary Calling, thou must make

The common entrance, which that pow'r doth give

Within whose Iurisdiction thou dost l…ve:

Else (whatsoever Cause thou dost pretend)

It is Intrusion: and, thou shalt offend.

If thou conceivest thou some Calling hast

In Extraordinary; see it past

By Gods allowance, from Gods holy Writ▪

Before such time as thou accept of it.

And, then, beware that nothing force thee back,

Or, make thee in thine Office to be slacke.

In briefe; a Calling extraordinary,

To justifie it selfe, these Markes must carie;

And, if it faile of …hem, but in the least,

Thy Conscience is deluded in the r…st.

Gods glory will be aymed at, in chiefe:

It will be grounded on a true beleefe:

It doth not Gods revealed will oppose:

No step that erres f…om Charity it goes:

It seeketh not, what cannot be enjoy'd:

It makes no ordinary calling void:

Some cause not frequent must invite thereto:

And (to accomplish what thou hast to doe)

Some Gift, that's proper for it, must be given,

And then, thou hast thy Calling seal'd from h…aven.

Approve thy selfe by these, and thou shalt see,

That, God, no doub…, hath truly called thee.

To this adventure. For, thy h…art intends

His praise in this, above all other ends.

Thou dost bele…ve, that (whether live or dye)

Thy st…y shall somewhat adde, to glorifie

Thy blessed Maker; and that something shall

To thine, and others profits, here, befall.

Thy Iudgement, to thy Conscience nou…ht discloseth,

Wherein it Gods revealed Will opposeth:

It well agrees with Charity, and tryes

To compasse no impossibilities.

Nor binders it, nor calls it th…e from ought

Which is more necessary to be wrought.

A Cause not ordinary now requires

Thy presence here; and, God himselfe inspires

Thy B…est with Resolutions that agree

To such an a…tion. Gi…ts, which none but he

Can give, he gives thee; such, as are by Nature,

Not found in any sub…oelestiall Creature,

p. 99But, me…rly of his Grace … and, such, as none

Can counterfeit, by all that may be done.

And, whence are all th…se Musiags here exprest?

Wh…nce come these combatings within thy brest

Twixt M… and Reason? who is it that makes

Thy heart so fearlesse, now such horror shakes

The soules of others? what embolden can

The frightfull spirit of a naturall man,

In such apparant dangers to abide?

And yet, his Reason nothing from him hide,

That seemeth to be dreadfull; neither leave him

Such Aymes, or s…ch like Passions to deceive him,

As harden others? Who, but he, that giveth

Each p…rfit Gift, these Gifts to thee deriveth?

And sure he nought bestowes, but therewithall

He sends occasions that employ is shall.

Few Officers shall w…nt a doubtfulnesse

That they their places doubtfully possesse,

If this be doubtfull; whether God (or no)

Hath called thee to what I bid thee doe.

For, outward Callings, most men doe, or may

Intrude upon, by some sinister way:

By Symony, by Bribe…y, by Spoiles,

By open Violence, or secret Wiles.

And therefore (though the Se…les of Kings they gaine

To strengthen what unduly they obtaine)

Some doubting of their Callings may be had

To God ward, though such doubts be rarely made.

But, for thy Calling thou Commission hast

So firme; and it so many Seales hath past,

That nothing should induce thee to suspect

Thy Wa…rant, or distrust a good effect.

God, from thy Cradle, seemes to have ordain'd thee

To such a purpose: for, he yearly train'd thee

Through sev'rall cares, and perils, so inure

Thy heart, to what he meant thou shouldst endure:

Else why shouldst thou (whose actions honest were

To Man ward, though to God ward foule they are)

Be more for that afflicted, which doth seeme

(To some) a worke deserving good esteeme,

Then are a multitude in these our times,

Convicted of the most notorious crimes?

Why, at thy very birth, did he infuse

Thy Soule with na…urall helpes to forme thy Muse,

Which is a Faculty not lent to many,

Nor by meere Art attained to, of any?

To thee, why gave he Knowledge, such a way

As others l…se it by? And why I pray

Did he bestow upon thee so much Fame

For those few childish lines that thou didst frame

In thy minority▪ Why did he then

(When scarce a man) enroule thy Name with men?

And make thee to be prais'd and priz'd before

Those men whose Yeares, and Sciences are more?

What was there in thy Poems? what in thee,

That seem'd not worthy of contempt to be,

Much more then of applause? And what hast thou

From scorne to save thee, but Gods mercy now?

Beleeve it, he divulgeth not thy Name

For thine owne honor: But to make the same

A meanes of spreading his. From p…rills past

He sav'd not thee, for any worth thou hast,

But, to declare his Mercies At this season,

He moves this plea betwixt thy Faith and Reason,

Not to be passed over, as in vaine;

But, in thy Brest true courage to maintaine.

Thy Muse he gave thee, not to exercise

Her pow'r in b…se and fruitlesse vanities,

p. 100Or to be silenc'd: but, to magnifie

The wondrous workings of his Majesty.

And, as the seales of Kings authorize those

To whom they doe their Offices dispose,

So, these are Signes which force enough doe cary

To seale this calling extraordinary:

And, they who sleight the same will in some measure

Incur the King of heavens high displeasure.

Mor… might be said (hereof to make a proofe)

But, more to say, were more then is enough.

Of this, no further, therefore, I'le dispute;

But, bid thee stay, thy Place to execute.

When FAITH had made this pleading in my brest

My REASON was perswaded to protest

Her full assent, to what she first gainsaid,

Which, that it might be constantly obey'd,

My Conscience, in her Court, did soone decree;

And, all my thoughts were then at peace in me.

From that time forward, neither Friend, nor Foe,

Could startle me in what I meant to doe.

No vaine desires within me did controul…

My purpose: no distrusts did fright my soule:

Nor seemed it, so dangerous, to stay,

As (knowing what I …new) to flye away.

For, though these Arguments, and such as these,

Can never fit in all mens Consciences,

The just Meridian (seeing, variations,

In manifold respects, make alterations)

Yet, mine they suted with; and may, and shall

Be some way usefull, to my Readers all.

I wisht it so: For, I was then inspired

With love to all▪ and all mens weale desired.

Me thought, I pitied those, who should not see

What God within this place did show to me:

And should have grieved to have beene constrained,

Within the City, not to have remained.

For by my selfe, when I to censure b…ought

My present Lott; it pleas'd me: and, me thought,

That, Go… vouch…afed to employ me so,

And furnish me for what I was to doe,

With such a healthfull body, and a minde

To act his will so readily enclin'd;

It seem'd more comfort, and more honour far,

Then if a Mona…kes Favorite I were,

Or might for temporall respects become

The noblest person of all Christendome.

A… …, if I shall not still this minde embrace,

A dog halfe hanged is in better case.

For, when that favour I doe value lesse,

I shall grow senselesse of all happinesse.

Oh! God, how great a blessing, then, didst thou

Confer upon me? And what G…ace allow!

Oh! what am I, and what my parentage?

That Thou of all the Children of this Age

Didst chuse ou… m…, so highly to prefer,

As of thy Acts, to be a Register?

And g…ve me Fortitude and Resolution,

To stay, and view thy Iudgements execution?

That, I should live to see thy Angell here,

Ev'n in his grea…est dreadfulnesse appeare?

That, when a thousand fell before my face,

And at my right hand (in as little space)

Ten thousand more, I should be still prot…cted

From that contagious blast, whi…h them infected!

That, when of Arrowes thou d…dst shoot a flight

So thick by day, and such a storme by night

Of pois…ned shaft▪ I, then, should walke among

The sharpest of them; and yet passe along

p. 101Vnharm'd▪ And that I should behold the path

Which thou dost pace in thy hot burning wrath,

(Yet not consume to Ashes) what a wonder

To me it seemes, when thereupon I ponder!

How great a grace it was, whose tongue can say,

That I who am but breathing dust and clay,

Should waking (and in all my senses, well)

Walke downe the Grave almost as low as hell,

Yet come againe unscar…ed? and have leave

To live and tell what there I did perceive!

Yea come (as from the dead) againe to show

The faithlesse wo…ld what terrors a…e below!

(And justifie, that though a man be sent

Ev'n from the Grave to move men to repent,

No Faith would in those hearers be begot,

Who Moses and the Prophets credit not.)

How great a Mercy was it, that when I

Was thought in dangers, and in griefes to lye,

That, for my Shepheard I had thee my God?

And in the p…th of best contentments trod?

That I, on sweetest Pleasures banqueted,

When other men did eate Afflictions bread?

That, I had perfect joyes ev'n in my teares?

Assured …afety in my greatest foares?

A thousand …omforts, whereof they who lived

In better-seeming states, w…e quite deprived?

And much content, which they will never know,

Who keep those paths in which the Vulgar go.

What ma…hlesse benefits were these! & whence

Canst thou, that gav'st them, have thy recompence,

But from thy self… ▪ Or who but …hou alone

Can give me heart enough to thinke …pon

These Gr…ces as I o…ht? Oh! therefore, daigne

To make my brest suffici…nt to containe

That measure of due thankfulnesse, which may

Accepted be, for what I cannot pay.

And, suffer not my frailties, or my sin

To hide againe, what thou dost now begin

To make me see; but grant to me thy grace,

For ever, to behold thy cheerf…ll face.

Nor Oile, nor Corne, nor Wine can glad me so:

Nor shall their brutish lovers ever know

What joyes within my brest begotten be,

When thy pleas'd countenance doth shine on me.

Let those who of great Kings affections boast,

(And for …heir …avours are engaged most)

Those, who possesse (their starveling soules to please)

Sweet Gardens, Groves, and cu…ious Palaces,

Rich Iewels, large Revenues, princely Stiles,

The flatteries of Lords, and female smiles,

The pleasures of the Chamber, and the Fields,

All those which dainty fare, or Musique yeelds,

The City or the Court; and all tha… stuffe

Of which their hearts can never have enough:

Let these, and those who their desires approve,

With such entising Objects fall in love:

Let them pursue their fancies, till they finde

What so…rowes and disgraces come behinde:

And let the… …urfet on them, till they see

By tride experience, w…at their fruit will be.

I never shall …nvy their happinesse;

Nor cove… their high for…unes to possesse,

If thou p…eserve m… still in thy protection,

And cheere my spi…it by thin… eyes reflection▪

For then I shall not feare the scornes of such▪

My …ares, … shall never grieve me much:

I shall not … to …rouch and sue to them,

Who thee, and me, and ve…tue shall contem…e▪

p. 102I shall nor shrinke nor startle, when I heare

Those evill tidings, which men daily feare.

Not leave my standing, though that in the roome

Of this great Pestilence, a Warre should come.

Or (which were wo…se) anot…er Fiery-triall,

To …orce us, of thy Truth to mak… denyall.

And, in these fearfull times, no temporall blisse

Would seeme a greater priviledge then this,

To those, who now with trembling soules, expect

What our proceedings will at last …ffect.

Yea, they, perhaps, who now are stupifi'd,

Will praise my lot, whē they their chance have try'd.

But (though ev'n all men living should despise

The comfort of it) I the same will prise.

I praise thee for it, LORD, and here emplore.

That I may praise thee for it, evermore:

Th…t these expressions of thy love to me,

May helpfull also to thy praises be

In other men: And (if it may be so)

In other times, and other places too:

And, that the shewing how I did compose

The wa…re which twixt my Faith and Re…son ros…,

M…y teach some others how they should debate

Such doubts within themselves; and arbitrate

(Within their Co…rt of Conscience) what is fit

To be concluded, and so practise it.

For, why so largely, I have this exprest,

That, was not, of my p…rposes, the least.

I beg moreover, that I may pursue

To utter that which I have yet to shew.

And, that nor Sloth, nor Want, nor any Let,

M…y to these Po…es their last period set,

Till I have made my Readers to conceive,

That this was undertaken by thy leave▪

And, that my Censurers may come to say,

There was an usefull purpose in my stay:

Or shew me what they did; or, what I might

Have done to better uses in my flight.

… I lastly, crave (which is, I trust, begun)

That, I …he way of thy Commands may run,

The remnant of my Talent, and my dayes,

Employing in good actions, to thy praise:

That, I, for ever, may those paths refuse

Which may unhallow, or pervert my Muse:

And that, when this is done, I may not fall

Through Pride or Sloth; as if this act were all:

But, humbly strive such other wo…kes to doe,

As thou r…quir'st, and I was borne unto.

Yea fu…nish me with ev'ry thing by which

I best may se…ve thee, and I shall be rich.

This beg I, LORD; and nothing else I crave,

For, more then that, were lesse then nought to have:

I beg of thee, nor Fame, nor mortall praise,

Nor carnall pleasures, nor yet length of dayes,

Nor honors, nor vaine wealth, but, just what may

The Charges of my Pilgrimage defray.

Oh grant me …his; and heare me when I call:

For, if thou stand not by me, I shall fall.