Exercises Upon the First Psalm in Prose and Verse, Exercises · Meditations in verse

Exercises Upon the First Psalm in Prose and Verse · Exercises · Meditations in verse

p. 123Meditations, vponupon the first PSALME; in verse.

The Contents of these Meditations.

The Muse, first sings the heauenly Blisse; and shewes how vaine the earthly is.

The wrong way thither, with the right: are here, laid open to your sight.

The iust mans, glorious weale it showes. the sinners, matchlesse, endlesse woes.

And good, and bad, are both exprest; that you may learne, and chuse the best.

YOu; whose ore-weary, restlesse soules desire;

The prime content, to which all creatures tend;

p. 124And to that matchlesse Blessednesse aspire:

Which (though most seeke) most faile of in the end.

Lo; here a heauenly Muse points out the way,

Wherein you safe may runne, and neuer more

In those blinde-crooked paths of danger stray;

Which hauehave misled so many heretofore.

No prize vnsought, or trifting newes she sings;

But that, for which your many aduentures are:

That, which to gaine; Rich, poore-men slaues & Kings,

doe howerly, watch and labour, sweat and warre.

Yet most perhaps in vaine; For, what they get

By their endeauour in the Common Course

Yeeldes no felicities but Counterfeit:

And often, driues them on from bad, to worse.

Yong bloods, are snared with the painted sweetes

Of lust, or beauty: and beleeue that there,

Is full contentment. The rich glutton greetes

His boundlesse appetite, with curious fare.

The worldling, makes inquest for happinesse;

And dreames, to finde it in a trade of gaine:

He in his Auarice himselfe doth blesse,

And as his thirst is, such his blisse doth faine.

The happinesse of some, in rich attire,

High Titles, or vaine-glorious pompe depends;

p. 125A louing wife, another doth desire:

Good-toward Children, or vnfained friends.

Kings, in their awfull thrones of Soueraignty;

And vncontrould prerogatiues delight:

The Courtier, sooths vp them in vanitie;

And thinkes it heauen, to be their Fauourite.

But they are all deceiu'd; For, all these be

Vaine-fruitlesse aymes; like grasse will beauty fade,

Lust, will to loathing turne, and then shall he

Who there sought happinesse, be haples made.

A hungry famine, may those Creatures wast

Which glut cram'd Epicures: or some disease,

May take away the pleasure of the tast.

And where is then, the happinesse of these?

Fire; water, theeues or Rust, consume the store

Of richest men; and he, that but to day

Had great possessions, is tomorrow poore:

Or dies; or sees it, to his foes a pray.

Gay cloathes, to Ragges we hauehave exchanged seene.

Foule stinch, and wormes the proudest ruin'd hauehave.

And those; that dearer then their soules hauehave beene,

HaueHave shar'd their wealth, & laught the to their graue

She; that hath kist, embrac't and sworne to day

A Thousand vowes of kindenesse in thine arme:

p. 126When thou art cold, and in a sheete of clay;

Shall keepe anothers bed and bosome warme.

Those Princes, that hauehave largest kingdomes got,

Are neuer quiet, whilst there doe remaine

Some other Emperies which they hauehave not:

Nay, if they might, the next, and next obtaine

Till they had all. Perhaps they would be sad

(If not for some poore toy or Humor crost)

That more things were not knowne which might be had:

Or lest, what they enioyed should be lost.

What blisse affords a Crowne; when treasons, war,

And nightly cares, disturbes the owners rest?

More sad amid their armed troopes they are,

Then he that walkes alone with naked brest.

Though all the meanes, to be secure they take

Some horror, still appeares their soules to grieue;

And greatnesse, neuer such a guard could make,

But sorrowes would get in, and aske no leaue.

Though, they had all the pleasures of the sence,

And ten times doubled their prerogatiue;

Though Parasites applaude their Excellence,

And yeelde them adoration while they liue:

Though they attained to as much, as he

Who on the Iewish Throne next Dauid sate:

p. 127Had so much wisedome, and could prying be

Through eueryevery Creature, to behold their state.

When that were done; but little hope had they

From any thing on earth, content to gather.

That great wise Prince, made tryall; and could say:

That, to the soule they brought vexation rather.

And, when pale death assailes; the thoughts & feare

Which trouble poorest men: shall ceaze their soule.

Their paines, shall be as sharpe as Bond mens are;

Their flesh shall stinke as much; and be as foule.

Yea, er'e their breath forsake them one whole houre,

Their greatest glorie, may be turn'd to scorne;

But in one Age, the Rumor of their power

May be no more then his, that is vnborne.

And then; alas! to what poore fortunes brought

Are those; whose blisse, on will of these, depends?

Such; as nor do, nor speake, nor scarce thinke ought;

But that, which to their Princes humor tends?

For these; are Honours tennants but at will;

Which when he list, the giuer may recall:

And causelesse (if he please) obiect some ill;

To iustifie his dealing, with their fall.

And what a miserable state were this,

For any, to be deemed happy in?

p. 128Poore soules awake; see; see what trust there is

In that, wherewith you hauehave deluded beene.

Let wantons, seeke in lust what is not there.

Let Epicures, at Feasts for blisse enquire.

Let Misers looke on dust, till dust they are:

And wordly men, the worlds vaine louelove desire.

Let Kings of Earth; affect an earthly Crowne.

Let Courtiers at the Court attend their Fates.

And whilst they catch the bubbles of renowne;

Let fooles; still wonder, at their happy states.

But you; that hauehave the end of these, descernd,

And surer grounds of blessednesse would know:

Come, heare what of a Prophet, I hauehave learn'd:

Who, sung this heauenly subiect, long agoe.

He taught my Muse; and you, she teacheth how,

Best beauties, best perfection to imbrace.

With Angels foode, she will replenish you;

And make you richer, then old Adam was.

In stead of mens false friendships, and their louelove

Vnperfect, and inconstant, here below:

You, shall be deere vntounto the Saints aboue,

And into fellowship with Angels grow.

Where you shall louelove, and be belou'd of all;

Without (the least) distrust, or Ielousie:

p. 129And death, or time, or nought depriue you shall;

But yeeld content (at full) eternally.

If, with your vanities, you can dispence,

And slight those fauors, which each worldling craues;

You shall be Fauorites, to that great Prince,

To whom, Earths greatest Monarks are but slaues.

Such wished honours, She shall bring you to,

As Kings can neither giuegive; nor take away.

And, that you may not feare, what flesh can do,

Shall be as free; and full as great as they.

Yea, that true Blisse, to which all writings tend;

And most are yet to learne: here, know you shall.

By knowing, may enioy it in the end;

Enioying, be contented there withall:

Vntill your soules, enriched with that store,

Shall neuer know desire, or lothing more.

But, you must listen with attention then;

And hitherto, your vtmost power enforce:

For, 'tis not; 'tis not (oh you sonnes of men)

Obtain'd, by eueryevery ordinary coarse.

The way to blisse; is neither made by strength,

Nor humane policie. Though many a tract,

Makes shew of leading thither; yet, at length,

It turnes another way, and brings to wrack.

p. 130The Pagans, had a thought, some God head should

Direct them thither; and in feare they might,

Misse that good Deity, which guide them could:

They seru'd too many Gods, and lost it quite.

The old Philosophers (not knowing this;

That Nature, by our fall, was growne corrupt)

By Morall Vertues, onelyonly sought for blisse:

Which did, their hoped Passage, interrupt.

For, when they had done all, which might be

By strict Morality, to gaine their passe;

And time, their course, vntounto an end had brought, wrought,

Their ayme they mist; because, Christ wanting was.

For, though some good they did; yet, missing him,

To sanctifie their vertues, and to take

Those faults away, which bad escaped them:

Into this rest, no entrance could they make.

The blinded Iewes, by ceremonious lawes,

And strict obseruing of their ancient guise,

HaueHave labour'd for it; but, vponupon some cause,

That way was long since chang'd, and from-ward lies

By vaine will-worship, others goe. And some,

By formall shewes, of Zealous sanctitie.

By way of their owne merits, many come:

And come farre short, of true felicitie.

p. 131A thousand other, crooked paths there be;

Which seeme, to be direct; yet, lead astray:

Lest therefore, some of those, miscarry thee,

That hast a longing, to the blessed way;

Who happy are; lo, here it shall be showne,

And how, thou mayst thy selfe, be such an one.

VERS. 1.

Blessed is the man, that doth not walke in the counsell of the vngodly, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the seat of the scornfull.

FIrst, get thee out of that vngodly way,

(The way of Nature) in which, all the race

Of Adams Progeny; hauehave gone astray.

Walke out of it, into the way of Grace.

To which, there lyeth no hard passage, thence:

For, if thou wade, but thorow Baptismes ford,

And passe the thorny hedge, of Penitence:

Thou straight art guided thither, by the Word.

p. 132Yet, take thou heede, when thus thou entred art;

Lest that corruption, which doth still remaine:

By vaine affections, ill-aduise the heart,

To walke with the vngodly, backe againe.

Cast not thine eyes about, on those gay bayts;

That grow, beside the way of Blessednesse:

But, shun thou all occasion, that awayts,

To draw thee into paths of wickednesse.

Let not the louelove of honour, pleasuré, ease,

Reuenge, lust, enuy, pride, or auarice:

Nor any such ill Counsellours, as these;

Thy feet, vntounto an euill course entice.

Pursue not wordly things, as worldly men,

That know not God, or true religion, do:

But, giuegive his Honour first respect; and then,

With moderation, seeke the creature to.

Let no desire, without that compasse stray;

Which honesty, and piety hath set.

For, if thy thoughts doe euer breake away,

And Counsels of vngodly longings get.

They will not leaue thee; but, from lust, to lust,

Allure thee on, in the vngodly path:

Vntill, they bring thee, to some act vniust.

And there, the sinners way beginning hath.

p. 133Oh! if through weaknesse, and attending to

Vngodly Counsels; thou shalt thither rome:

As all indeede (though all their best they doe)

Into the way, of euill doers, come.

Yet, stand not there; continue not in sin:

But, by repentance, soone returne againe:

Lest, thou shouldst, by insisting long therin;

Affect it, and for euer there remaine.

Vse, gets a habit; and the habit got,

The title of a Sinner, gaineth thee:

And sin, in this gradation resteth not,

Till to a Scorner, thy Commencement bee.

And then beware. For, if degree thou take

So far; and be a Doctor of their Chaire:

The next progression, thou from thence canst make;

Is either hell immediate, or dispaire.

In thinking ill; we doe from heauen-ward goe;

In acting it, we further run astray:

But, if we to deride religion grow;

There's hardly hope, that we repent vsus may.

For, though God can the course of nature turne;

Bid aire descend, and earth aboue it rise:

Quench heat in fire, make frozen water burne;

And in all creatures, change the qualities.

p. 134Yet, that he therfore will; it followes not.

And so; although he can repentance giuegive,

To such, as hauehave a wicked habit got:

And, in despight of him, and vertue liue.

Assoone, shall I beleeue; that desperate Churle,

Who, from a rough steep cliffe, or high Tower wall,

Himselfe a furlong from the top doth burle;

May raise himselfe, in middest of the fall:

As that; the Sinner, who, of wilfulnesse,

Hath cast himselfe downe, from the hold of grace;

Can leaue that deep-deep gulfe, of wickednesse,

And in the rocke of mercy, get a place.

It is a rare-gain'd fauour, when God daignes

That vicious liuer grace, at his last breath:

Who, from no sinne, for louelove of Good, refraines;

Nor, thinkes to aske forgiuenesse, vntill death.

But, 'tis a Miracle, if euer hee

Shall, in his life, or death, forgiuenesse get;

Who knowes, and scornes, the means that profer'd be:

For, neuer was it found exampled yet.

Of these three steps; oh! be yee wary then;

To sit, or stand, or walke, doe you forbeare:

In seat, or way, or counsell, with those men;

That Scorners, Sinners, or Vngodly are.

p. 135Nor, will this be enough. For, as the Swaine,

Who sitteth downe, when he himselfe hath lost:

Is no more like, to reach his home againe;

Then he, that quite another way doth post.

So they, who thinke it is enough, to shun

The ordinary path, that Sinners tread;

And take no heed, what good is to be done:

Shall neuer, of true happinesse be sped.

Or, like as they; who, without Sterne or Card,

Dare seeke an vnknowne Coast, for golden ore:

May crowne their voyage, with a rich reward;

Assoone as those, that vse nor Saile, nor Oare.

Right so; as well may such, as loosely liue,

The prize of happinesse attaine vntounto:

As those; who hope, they shall at blisse ariue,

Although not one foot thither-ward, they goe.

And therfore listen, my aduise vntounto:

That you may learne, what you have yet, to doe.

p. 136VERS. 2.

But his delight is in the Law of the LORD, and in his Law doth he meditate, day and night.

WHen Gods great mercy, safely brought thee hath;

From all the counsels, waies, & seats of sin:

Lest thou stray backe againe; take vp the path

That iust against it lies; and walke therin.

Keepe on foreright; let nothing tarry thee:

For, non-progression, there; regression is.

But, if thou in continuall motion bee;

(Though slow it doth appeare) it brings to blisse.

To helpe thee on, two sacred Scrowles there are;

Which may direct thy Pilgrimage throughout:

They profer'd are, to eueryevery Passenger;

And can informe them, where they stand in doubt.

The first sure marke, that tels vsus we are right,

In this blest progresse, and hauehave quite abhord

The way of Sinners; is a true delight,

VntoUnto the Law, of our eternall LORD.

p. 137Whilst that affection holds; there is no feare,

Or danger of relapse. No wicked traine,

Which the vngodly roundeth in thine eare,

Can moue thee, to partake therein againe.

But, lest thy heart deceiue thee (for mans heart

Is false, and oft betrayes him to his foe)

Make triall of his truth (if wise thou art)

And I will shew thee, how thou mayst doe so.

Search, if there be no carnall vaine respect,

That drawes on this delight; or, if to thee

Those volumes, which thou seemest to affect:

Be pleasing, as the Word of God they bee.

Try, if thy Conscience, will for witnesse come,

That thou hast, with a true endeauour, sought

To exercise his Law; abroad, at home,

By day, by night, in deed, in word, in thought.

For, know well this, that by the Night and Day,

It is not onelyonly meant, in weale and woe:

Or, that thou shouldst, from time to time assay,

Vntired, in the way of Blisse to goe.

But, thou with knowledge, must proceed therin.

By pondering Gods Law, both in the Night,

Of his Old Testament, which veyl'd it in:

And in the New; that Day-like gaue it light.

p. 138First, thou must meditate, how man was made,

And (being made) a Law from God receiu'd:

How he transgrest, and fell; and falling, had

That Law (with some new circumstance) reuiu'd.

Thou must consider, how the same was writ,

First, in the heart by nature; then in stone:

And how, in Essence, neuer altring it.

Of Accidents, God added many a one.

Thou must conceiue; the prime Essentiall part

Of this great Law, was Christ: and Christ, the End

Of all those things, which thou inform'd of art;

Throughout the booke, before his comming pend.

Thou must obserue, how eueryevery passage there,

Doth shadow out that substance; and foretell,

In holy riddles, what did plaine appeare;

When his, so long-expected Day befell.

Then, hauing passed o're the cloudy Night,

Of Types, darke Figures, hidden Prophesies,

And deepe Aenigma's; thou must seeke the light,

To be instructed in these Mysteries.

Thou, in the Day, Gods Law must meditate.

The Day of his New Testament; wherein,

The Morning-Star appear'd: and set a date,

To that thicke darknesse, which so long had bin.

p. 139And, when thou seest how all the visions, dreams,

And Prophesies obscure, discouered are;

By those bright-shining, and thrice-glorious beames,

Which, at thy Sauiours comming did appeare.

Thou must (in that faire sun-shine of his grace)

Consider, with what infinite respect,

God daign'd to pity, thy distressed case:

And how much, Hee, thy well fare did affect.

From poynt, to poynt, thou well consider must;

The Law in his New Testament declar'd,

The Law of Faith, which makes the sinner iust:

And opes the gate, which Adams crime had barr'd.

Theron affix thy heart; and learne to know,

How God, from age to age, this Law deriu'd.

How, that of Moses, did abolisht grow:

With, what must be perform'd; and what beleeu'd.

For, those who thus much learne; & teach, & then

Continue practise, in a course vpright:

May best enstiled be, those happy men;

That meditate Gods Law, both Day and Night.

If this thou reach; or, but endeauour well,

To that degree of Grace, which God shall daine:

The Worthies of the world, thou shalt excell;

And win the prize, for which they seeke in vaine.

p. 140Yea; cheare thy soule; and let nor paine, nor care,

Nor losse, nor height, nor depth, nor ought at all,

The world can tell thee; make thy soule to feare;

For this; to Blessednesse, conduct thee shall.

Nay, thou already, therein; blessed art.

And euen, those stormes of troubles, that oppresse,

and hem thee round about, on eueryevery part;

Shall make more perfect, thy true happinesse.

Which will be such; as tongue-tide eloquence,

Shall be vnable to report thy blisse:

Yea, so vnthought of, is that excellence,

No heart, e're halfe imagin'd, what it is.

And, ah! what pleasures can be more excelling;

Then those, that are beyond both thought, & telling?

VERS. 3.

And he, shall be like a Tree planted by the riuers of waters, that will bring forth his fruit in season, his leafe shall not fade, and whatsoeuer he doth, shall prosper.

p. 141BVt, sensuall men, must hauehave a sensuall touch,

Of what we tell them; and some obiects view:

By which, their reason, may perceiue as much,

As, either words, or signes, hauehave power to shew.

For els, although the portion be but small,

Which they (at best) of these things can conceiue;

That little portion will be nought at all.

And (as in vaine) our labour we may leaue.

That (therfore) you, some little glympse may see.

Of that abundance of contentment; which

Must wait on those, that this way happy bee:

And make them, without want, or lothing, rich.

Marke well, those euer-green-leafe-bearing Trees;

Which, in some fruitfull valley, planted are:

Where; with their nature, soyle, and clime agrees;

And riuers flow, to moyst them, all the yeare.

Where, neither Summers heat, nor Winters cold,

Nor sterrile drought, nor rotting wet, offends.

But where, the aire doth such good temper hold,

That floures doe leaues, and fruits still floures attend.

For, as those trees, may so much moysture take,

As they shall either neede, or can containe;

And nothing misse of, which compleat may make,

What to a trees well-being, doth pertaine.

p. 143So, by the louelove of Gods eternall law;

Mens soules, are set anew. in Paradise.

Where; from the Riuers of Gods grace, they draw

The nourishments, of true felicities.

Their state is constant, lasting euermore.

And not one true contentment, can be found,

In Earth, or heauens immesurable store;

But, with that wisht perfection they are Crown'd.

Their soules hauehave all that full of happinesse,

Which can in any soule, contained be:

As trees, best planted; hauehave that fruitfullnesse,

Which most becomes the nature of a Tree.

They in the Church, Gods Garden planted are;

Where Christ, that liuing rock, remaineth still.

And, from his side (the crimson Fountaine there)

Lifes pretious liquors, plentiously distill.

His blessed Sacraments and faithfull Word,

Preserues their growth, and makes them fructifie;

Till they, doe fruit for eueryevery MonethMonth afford,

And beare the leaues, of blest eternity.

Neuer; no neuer, can their beauty fall

from ripe perfection; but, as you hauehave seene

A goodly bay-tree flourish: So, they shall

Be, winter, sommer, spring and Autumne greene.

p. 142And then; in all things, they shall prosper too;

What er'e betide them; or what ere they do.

VERS. 4.

The vngodly are not so: but are like the chaffe which the winde driueth away.

BVt, lest that all which hath been said, should faile

To make you well conceiue, how much it may

Redound to eueryevery seuerall mans availe;

To grow approued, in this blessed way.

And since, the natures of most men, are such;

As that, the promises of best contents,

Do seldome halfe preuaile with them so much,

As slauish feare, of threatned punishments.

Know this; that whatsoeuer mortall wight,

The way of life, here taught him, doth refuse:

He shall not onelyonly, be depriued quite,

Of these; and all those hopes, that he pursues.

But, his condition, from the blessed, shall

So farre be differing; that, no strife, vnrest,

p. 144Shame, horror, or misfortune, can befall:

But, his dispairing soule, it shall arrest.

If you e're noted hauehave, how far we prize

The lightest chaffe, beneath the waighty graine;

How safe the one is kept, how firme it lies;

How vile we count the other, and how vaine.

Betwixt the worldling, and right blessed man;

Such difference is there. For, as eueryevery winde,

The sleighted chaffe, doth this, and that way fan;

And no abiding place, will let it finde.

So, that vngodly, irreligious crue,

Who make their heauen on earth; and scorning these

True paths of blessednesse, those toyes pursue,

Which may their owne proud eye, or belly please:

Eu'n those; by puffes of windy vanity,

Strong-raging passion, and vntamed lust:

Are hurried, with such strange incertainty,

To this, and that, eueryevery act vniust.

As, whatsoeuer rest they seeme to take,

Their life is wholly restlesse; and no day,

No houre, no minute, sleeping, or awake:

In any setled peace, continue they.

The Glutton would be rich; but is perplext,

To thinke, that he must then abate his fare.

p. 145The Miser, would hauehave honour; and is vext,

To see how costly, courts and greatnesse are.

Th'Ambitious, couets ease; but findes it mars

His high designes: and may his hopes deface.

The Coward, would hauehave fame; but feares the wars:

And Leachers, doubt diseases, or disgrace.

Yea, in their hearts, so many strange desires,

Are often lodg'd, and those so opposite:

That, by enioying what one lust requires,

They bar themselues, some other wisht delight.

But grant, their outward state were setled more,

More thriuing, and in losse, and changes lesse:

That they hauehave ease, and honour, with their store;

And to the world-ward, setled happinesse.

Yet, neither can they wake, nor sleep in peace.

Their conscience, like a flaming-fire within;

Will seare, and scorch, and burne: and neuer cease

Vntill dispaire, to nestle there begin.

Or say they scape this to. And whilst they liue,

So stupid grow, that in securitie,

They senselesse lie; vntill their soules, it driue

Into a helplesse, hellish lethargie.

Yet, which is worse; far worse, then what is past:

(And makes me tremble, when I call to minde

p. 146Their fearfull cause) there is a Day at last;

In which they pay for all, that is behinde.

But, those sad terrours will my Muse rehearse,

In what she singeth, on the following Verse.

VERS. 5.

Therefore the Vngodly shall not stand in the Iudgement, nor Sinners in the Congregation of the Righteous.

OH you! whom neither Gods eternall louelove,

Nor vertues beauty, nor his sacred Law;

Nor promises of matchlesse Blisse, can moue:

Nor threatned losse therof, preserue in awe.

You; that are neither wooed to repent,

Your follies, for this lifes vncertainties:

Nor won, to seeke the way of true content;

By inward feares, nor outward miseries.

Though none of these, can gaine you to assay,

For that high Blessednesse, which crownes the good;

p. 147Nor force you, to forgoe that damned way,

Which seemeth pleasing, vntounto flesh and blood.

Oh yet! for that rare priuiledge, which those,

Who louelove Gods Law, shall hauehave; when flaming fire,

Doth all this massie Globe of earth enclose:

To rectifie your course, I you require.

For know; there are not onelyonly, in this world,

A thousand mischeefes, plagues, heart-stinging cares,

And dreadfull Iudgements; ready to be hurld,

From Heauens high Battlements, about your eares:

But, after death, there is a time will come,

To hasten all, which is delayed here.

A Day of vengeance, and a Day of Doome:

In which; all Adams Of-spring, shall appeare.

The dreadfull Iudge, in glory will descend;

With his great Hoast of Heauen, compast round.

Seas, Earth, and Hell, shall at his Bar attend,

With al their prisoners, when the Trump doth sound.

A hideous Bonefire, through the world shall blaze.

The Roofe of Heauen, shall like a parchment scrowle,

At his appearing, shrinke; and with amaze,

The dead shall rise; the liuing, frighted howle.

And, neither sex, condition, nor degree;

Shall hauehave respect, or place: but eueryevery one,

p. 148Without distinction, shall in person bee;

Before the great Almighties Iudgement Throne.

Your purest beauties, shall attract no more,

That Iudges eye; then foulest vlcers can.

He, shall not bribed be, with Indian Ore:

Nor moued, by the flattring tongue of man.

Kings, are in his esteeme no more that Day,

Then slaues: or, poorest wretches on the earth.

He, prizeth no man, for his rich aray:

Nor ought regardeth, noblenesse of birth.

In his Grand Court of Iustice; he admits,

No subtill Trauers, no Demurs, Repeales,

Delayes, Iniunctions, neither any Writs

Of Error, nor Excuses, nor Appeales.

No bribed Fauorites, hath Hee to raise,

By motions at his Bar: On him, attends

No Groomes, nor Kinsmen, that his Lordship swayes:

To wrest the course of Iustice, to their ends.

No great man sends his letters to entreat,

To change his sentence; nor a costly fee:

That hires him any way to mitigate,

What he hath once, resolued to decree.

You sons of Adam; you shall doubtlesse come,

(Though sleight perhaps my counsell may appeare.

p. 149To such a Iudge; to such impartiall Doome:

And finde all true, that I foretell you here.

Yea; if you harken not to the command

Of your Creator; nor, his Law delight:

You shall not in that Iudgement guiltlesse stand.

But fall condemned, in the Iudges sight.

And, when the Righteous, are assembled there:

With, Come you Blessed. And at full possesse,

(According to the promise, made them here)

The ioyfull Crowne of endlesse happinesse.

Then, with a curse excluded, shall you goe;

Amongst the damned spirits, into hell:

Shut out from blisse, into a world of woe;

Amid those tortures, which no tongue can tell.

And when, as many hundred thousand yeares,

You hauehave endur'd; as there be on the shore,

Small stones, or sands: the time no shorter weares;

Nor will your plagues grow fewer, then before.

Nay, though you were reseru'd for no more paine,

Nor other discontentment, then the misse,

Of that great good, to which the iust attaine:

In (such priuation) hell enough there is.

We see, that when ambitious men hauehave got

Respect, and meanes enough, to liue at rest:

p. 150Yet, if they misse some marke, wher at they shot;

They fret, as men without compare vnblest.

We see that Worldlings; who, on tempting gold,

HaueHave set their thoughts, can ten times better beare

The brunt of labour; hunger, thirst, and cold:

Then liue well fed, and warme; with coffers bare.

We likewise know; that Louers, barr'd the sight

Of their deare Mistresses; can ne're receiue

Content; nor cause of comfort, or delight:

Though free from outward paines, or want, they liue.

Nay rather; it torments, and greeueth more

Their vexed soules, then smart of body may:

And more, themselues, they thinke insulted ore;

Then if, for triall, on the Racke they lay.

This we hauehave knowne. And if, priuation can

On earth so torture; where euen torments are

Imperfect. Oh! how much more greeuous than,

Shall those soules finde it, that must feele it there?

If here; thou canst not brooke contempt, disgrace;

To be depriu'd of honour, or the view

Of those false beauties; wherein thou do'st place

Contentment here. Ah! what will there ensue?

How? how, wilt thou endure it, wretched Elfe?

When thou shalt know, what riches they possesse,

p. 151Who shall be blessed: and perceiue thy selfe

Debarr'd, for euer, of that happinesse?

When thou eternally, shalt be a scorne;

Of thy contentment stript; of peace, of friends:

Of all the fellowship of Saints, forlorne;

And no Companions left, but damned Fiends.

When thou; to endlesse darknesse banished,

Shalt burne with the desire, of seeing Him.

With whose perfections, Angels eyes are fed:

And in respect of whom, the Sun is dim?

Oh! what a passion will torment thy soule;

When thou shalt misse that sweetnesse? And imbrace,

Insteed therof; deformity, as foule,

As hell, can put vponupon her lothsome face.

What wilt thou doe, alas! when thou must beare

All this great horror; and sharp pangs withall?

For thus; euen thus, will the vngodly fare:

When that great Iudgement, ouertake them shall.

And it shall adde, vntounto their torment to;

What e're they suffer, say, or thinke, or do.

p. 152VERS. 6.

For, the LORD knoweth the way of the Righteous: but the way of the Vngodly shall perish.

BVt that no righteous Man, deterr'd may be,

From labouring, for his blessednesse, through doubt,

That the Almighty, doth nor mark, nor see:

How many painfull steps, he paceth out.

And likewise, that no Sinner may, vnwarned,

His owne vaine way pursue, with false surmize:

That God doth ouer-passe, as vndiscerned;

The course he takes; or winke at villanies.

Know this, you happy men, that would attaine

To perfect Blisse. That, howsoe're you seeme

Obscur'd on earth; and oft to spend in vaine,

Your labours, and your liues, without esteeme.

There's not a drop of bloud, a sigh, a teare,

An inward smarting, or an outward grone.

p. 153A sleight vnkindnesse, or a scoffe you beare:

But the Almighty knowes them, eueryevery one.

If you but sweat a little, in this path:

He sees it; and in time, reward it will.

Not one sad thought, your heart in secret hath:

But God both knowes therof, and mindes it still.

Though you close prisoners were, in strictest thrall,

Neglected of the world, and seene by none,

But such oppressours, as would smother all,

Which for your praise, or comfort, might bee knowne.

Though you were mew'd, where none might come to tell,

What you hauehave done, or suffer'd,in this way:

And being in some dungeon, forc'd to dwell;

Had mourn'd, to death, shut from the sight of day.

Yea, though your foes should labour, to obscure

Your good endeauours, with a slandrous fame;

And brand you, with vile actions so impure,

That all men thought you, worthy death and shame.

Yet, God; whose bright, and all-beholding eyes,

Viewes present, past, and eueryevery future thing:

Sees vndeceiu'd; and whatsoe're he spies,

To light, will one day, to your glory bring.

He knowes; & knowing, doth approue your course.

And what he doth approue, shall neuer faile.

p. 154Nor Man, nor Deuill; policie, nor force:

Against his power, or knowledge, can preuaile.

Oh therfore! droop not, though a thousand stormes,

Or likelyhoods of ruine, may appeare:

For, when dispaire puts on her vgliest forme;

Then; is your most assured safety neere.

Nor boast, you Sinners; as if you had found

A readier course, vntounto the truest blisse,

Then righteous men; because, your way is crown'd

With more vaine honour, then their labour is.

Nor, let your painted pleasures, gull you so;

To make you dreame, that God deceiu'd will bee.

Or, that an vnsuspected course you go:

Because, the world your danger cannot see.

For, though a while you prosper, and delude

With shewes of happinesse, the blinded eye

Of fooles; and the abused multitude,

That are in louelove, with your gay vanity.

Yet; ruine, shame, and desolation shall

Confound your way. And vponupon eueryevery one,

That therein walketh, will destruction fall.

Euen then; when least (perhaps) you thinke theron.

Though, in the world; you long hauehave had the names

Of honourable, honest, iust, and wise:

p. 155Walkt in a course approu'd, and left your fames

To after ages; in large Histories.

Though you are great; and Orators can hire;

To cloke your foule proceedings, with faire showes;

Or, to defame the Righteous, here conspire.

And make abhorr'd, the path in which he goes.

Though, at your deaths, with formall pietie,

And workes of publike louelove, you often do

Conceale, your rotten hearts hypocrisie:

Deceiuing so, your selues, and others to.

And, at your funerals, hauehave preacht abrod;

A glorious rumor, of a blessed end:

Those clouds, can neuer blinde the sight of God.

But ruine, shall your wicked course, attend.

Though you; the ancient Heathens prais'd moralities;

The Iewish strictnesse; the hot Zealousnesse

Of Schismaticks hauehave learn'd: with Romes formalities.

To trim your way, with shewes of happinesse.

And though, the Passenger that walks it, carries

A lode of pardons: mumbling, as he goes,

Fiue thousand Creedes; ten thousand Ave Maries:

And, of his owne good merits, addes to those.

Yet, all will faile him; yea, there's many a one,

By you, for Saints canoniz'd; whom your path

p. 156Hath thither brought: where, now they lie & grone,

Beneath the burthen of Gods heauy wrath.

For, he, approues no meanes of happinesse,

Or way of seruing him; but that which he

Hath taught himselfe: And, it is wickednesse;

Another course to seeke, what e're it be.

This you hauehave done, you sinners; so, for this:

Your way, and you, shall perish. And while those,

Whose course you hauehave derided; dwell in blisse;

You; all contentment, shall for euer lose.

That (since you would not vnderstand aright,

The path that leads to safety; whilst you might)

You should, when you are past returning; know,

It was the Way, that you despised so.

THus; hauehave I sung the sum, of what the Muse

Of our great Prophet; in this Ode, pursues.

The way to Blisse. Which, as my weaknesse can,

I striue to leuell so; that eueryevery man;

Yea, little children, may come walke along:

And make it short, and easie, with a song.

p. 157Here, warne I all; but here, I cannot say

Enough, to perfect all men, in that way.

For, some lacke one thing; some another misse,

To further on, theirvoiage vntounto blisse.

Some, faith; some, works; some, louelove; some knowledge want.

In some, repentance; in some, grace, is scant.

The greatest part; defectiue finde, I shall,

Of most of these; and many men of all.

Then, some dispaire; and some presume as far.

Some, too secure; and some, too pensiue are.

Some, pray not; and some, praise not God aright.

That each man therfore; he, well furnish might,

For this aduenture; and with meanes diuine,

Assist him, from his heauenly Magazine.

To fit their seuerall wants; he offers you

A hundred nine and forty (in a row)

Of such Instructions: as, who e're shall please,

To weigh their vse, and liue, and walke, by these.

My life for theirs; at length, they shall attaine

That happinesse, their soules, desires to gaine.

And to assist their weake simplicities,

That cannot sute, their owne necessities,

In that rich treasurye. My humble Muse

Shall be their Guide; their Seruant; and refuse

p. 158No paines (if Gods great Prouidence permit)

Till all these sacred Oracles, she fit

To their capacities. So, I shall be

A help to them: And they may further me,

By their good prayers, in that blessed path:

Whose end, contentment, euerlasting hath.