A Treasury of Divine Raptures, Epigrams · Epigrams C · Epigram 128 – Epigram 225
128. On Chriſt.
1. Stanza.
CHriſt is a Panoplie, a Magazin
Of all good things, a Jewel of great worth,
A thouſand Treaſuries of Joy are in
His name, 'tis ſweet as Ointment poured forth.
'Tis th'only Muſick to a Chriſtians ear,
And oh that in our hearts it graven were!
2.
He that hath Chriſt, can have no more, for Chriſt
Is all that is, imaginable all
That is deſirable, he is the High'ſt,
All Heavenly bleſſings from this Fountain fall.
We are made right'ous by his only Merit,
And holy by his ſanctifying Spirit.
3.
His Spir't burns up our droſs, & makes our graces
Sparkle like furnace gold, Chriſt the mind fills
With light in us, a tender heart he places;
And files off the Rebellion of our Wills.
Upon the Soul he riſes, and he brings
An healing vertue in his balmie wings.
4.
God is through Chriſt propitious to us,
And alſo in good part takes all we do;
Chriſt bears Saints names upon his breſt, and thus
His Father he preſenteth them unto;
So bringing them into requeſt and favour,
How ſweet to God, Chriſt off'red prayers ſavor
5.
Chriſt keeps the Royal Fort of Grace, that it
Be not blown up, Chriſt is a Chriſtians ſtrength;
The Crown of the Saints vict'ries muſt be ſet
Upon Chriſts head, he gives to us at length
Our Garland, when we overcome by fight,
Which we can never do, but through his might
6.
Kings can proclaim War in a time of Peace,
But Chriſt proclaims Peace in a time of War.
He gives the agonized Conſcience eaſe;
By him to God we reconciled are.
What a ſweet calm and Sabbath in the Soul
He cauſes! O this Balm can make us whole!
7.
Chriſt di'd, that us to life he might advance,
He's gone before to take poſſeſſion
Of Heaven in the name of all the Saints,
And he prepares for ev'ry one a throne.
He crowns us after all our ſuffrings
And actings for him, we ſhall reign as Kings.
8.
Vaſt is the diſproportion between
Chriſt and the Creature; Chriſt is all in all,
The Creature nothing, emptineſs is in
All earthly comforts, what a bubble Ball
Is this vain World? (the object of Saints loathing)
And yet how many damn their ſouls for nothing!
9.
Chriſt is the great Lord Treaſurer, in him
Are hid all Treaſures both of Grace and Glory;
O how ſhould we this pearl of price eſteem,
He that hath Chriſt hath a rich Inventory:
How ſhould a Chriſtian ſit down ſatisfi'd
With Chriſt, though other things are him deni'd.
10.
A man may flow in wealth and yet be poor,
Not having Chriſt, but he that Chriſt poſſeſſes
With all his royalties, needs nothing more,
A Chriſtleſs ſtate is ſad beyond expreſſes.
He that wants Chriſt, is a vile filthy ſlave,
And can no comfort, no ſalvation have.
11.
Sinners make ſure of Chriſt, O never ceaſe
Trading in Ord'nances, till you have got
This bleſſed pearl of price; Chriſt Jeſus is
With all accumulated good things fraught.
Two words there are which only yield ſatiety
Unto the Soul, Diety and Propriety.
12.
Chriſt's an enriching bleſſing that excels
A ſupream good, a good ſufficient
And ſuitable in him all fulneſs dwells;
In him alone we can find true content.
He's Grace, Gold, Balm, Bread, Wine, Salvation,
To deck, enrich, heal, ſtrengthen, comfort, crown.
13.
He is a ſhield, if we in danger are;
Are we diſconſolate, he is a Sun;
He hath enough to furniſh ſouls and ſpare;
My empty ſoul to his abundance run.
Chriſt is all that the heart can wiſh; a man
No Ciſtern needs, who hath the Ocean.
14.
Chriſt is a ſanctifying good, he all
Conditions to us facilitates;
His bleſſings on our health, wealth, kindred fall,
Yea, all our comforts he condulcorates,
Sanctifies all the croſſes on us roul,
They ſhall be medicinal to the ſoul.
15.
Chriſt is a bleſſing rare, but him few have,
Thoſe to whom God hath both the Indies given
He hath not given Chriſt their ſouls to ſave,
They have Earths fat, but not the dew of Heaven.
And of thoſe many Proteſtants who hear
Of Chriſt, but few him in their hearts do bear.
16.
Chriſt is a crowning bleſſing, a choice good;
God gives thee all he hath in giving him,
A greater favour cannot be beſtow'd
By the great God, oh highly it eſteem:
God gives to thee the bleſſings of his Throne,
In giving thee his well-beloved Son.
17.
Chriſt is a laſting good, all other things
Are like the Lamp, which while it ſhines it ſpends:
He's a diffuſive good, free merry Springs
From this full Fountain; common good commends
The Donors bounty. Lord, let Chriſt be mine;
All to me bo…h for food and medicine.
18.
Chriſt is our King, he governs and protects us;
Chriſt is our Prieſt, he ranſoms & redeems us;
Chriſt is our Prophet, he teaches and directs us.
What tongue can tel how highly he eſteems us?
Chriſt is our Way, Truth, Life, to guide, teach, cheriſh,
How can we go amiſs, or er, or periſh!
19.
My Soul! part with thy Luſts for Chriſt thy King,
Know him in the firſt place; O let the ſtreams
Of Love run toward him; do ev'ry thing
In his ſtrength, make Chriſt all in all thy aims:
Who aims not at Gods Glory never can
Hit the mark of his own ſalvation.
20.
Truſt for Salvation to a Jeſus ſingle,
The Papiſts make Chriſt ſomthing, but not all,
Their merits & Angels pray'rs, with chriſt's they
Rejoyce in Chriſt, upon him often call mingle,
For Chriſt be thankful, and in praiſes flow,
A greater gift than Chriſt God cann't beſtow.
129. On Chriſtianity.
CHriſt'anity is no diſgraceful thing,
Sin brings to ſhame; but godlineſs doth bring
To honour, to a throne; it always ends
In glory, no diſgrace to be Chriſt's friends:
To be an heir of Heaven, is high renown;
¶ Sin draws hell after it, but grace a crown.
130. On a Chriſtian.
1.
CHriſt is affixed to a Chriſtian's heart
By thought, deſire, love, faith; in converſation
He is link'd faſt to Chriſt, never to part,
And hath thoſe prelibations of ſalvation,
Of joyes long-laſting, and ſoul-ſatisfying:
Grace makes the St. rejoyce to think of dying.
2.
A Chriſtian engraffed in the Vine,
Produceth kindly, ſeaſonable fruit;
Grace within, good works without him ſhine,
And good diſcourſes from his lips flow out;
He mourns for ſin, rejoyceth in the Lord,
He reads, and feeds upon the ſacred word.
3.
A Chriſtian is a runner in a race;
Enfir'd with zeal, the marks he always eyes,
Is often in the exerciſe of grace,
And in the ſtrength of Chriſt obtains the prize:
My ſoul throw off two weights, the World and Sin,
Begin the race betimes, hold on and win.
130. On a Chriſtle…s perſon.
1.
A Chriſtleſs man is poor, he's nothing worth,
He ſtands condemned for the guilt of ſin,
He hath no holineſs to let him forth,
He's filthy; like an Infant tumbling in
It's blood; i'th' law what was the Leper foul,
But the ſad embleme of a Chriſtleſs ſoul?
2.
A Chriſtleſs wretch in Scripture is compar'd
To things moſt vile, as to a Swine, a Dog,
A Viper, nay a Devil; he's all beſmeard
With filthy luſts, his hearts a rotten bog:
Since Plague-ſores run upon him, blind he is;
And the more blind, becauſe he thinks he ſees.
3.
He's dead, and yields a moſt unſav'ry ſmell,
So that God loaths him, he hath no part ſound;
He is th' exact Epitome of Hell,
From him nothing but dregs is running found;
He is baſe born, caught in the Devils gins,
An ear-board ſlave when he moſt freely ſins.
4.
Can he find comfort when he comes to dye?
His wounds do bleed, & he hath no Phyſitian;
He is in debt, and hath no ſurety,
A Chriſtleſs, is a comfortleſs condition:
He no ſalvation hath; at the great day,
The very looks of Chriſt ſhall him diſmay.
131 On the Church.
TO ſee God's Church a bleeding vine, to ſee
Chriſts ſpouſe with garments roll'd in bloud ſhould be
Matter of lamentation to all
That God their father, her their mother call:
Tis time to hang upon the limber willowes,
Our mournful harps, when on the ruffling billows
Of ſad afflictions, the Church Gods Ark
Is toſſed like a weather-beaten Bark:
But let's not fret, for the Almighties hand
That guides the Stream, can bring it ſafe to land,
I and he will; ſinking it need not fear,
Tis alway under his indulgent care:
The Churches ſhip may reel becauſe of ſin,
But cannot periſh, for Chriſt is therein:
The Churches Anchor is in Heaven caſt,
Saints are his portion, and ſhall that be loſt?
His glory, and ſhall that ecclipſed be,
Wholy, and finally! no certainly.
From, and by oppoſition, God can
…is Church deliver; oft the wrath of man,
Works or his praiſe; the Lord ſteps forth & ſaves
His Ship, when almoſt ſwallo…'d by the waves!
The Churches pangs Gods glory doth advance,
And ſhall help forward her deliverance.
God hath by ſufferings alwa…es propagated
Religion, it hath riſen when conculcated,
Bloud is the Churches ſeed, in bloud tis founded
By ſanguine ſhowrs, it evermore abounded,
Abel by bloudy Cain was murthered,
And ever ſince the Churches veins have bled;
But ſhe is like the Vine which grows by bleeding,
And like the Palm-tree under preſſures ſpreading
132. On a Churl.
A Clowniſh churl, or churliſh clown
By's words, Saints by their works, are known.
133. On Cider.
A Glaſs of ſparkling Demock wine is good;
But O how cheering is my Saviors blood?
Pomona's Orchards never could produce
A liquor of ſuch admirable uſe.
134. On a Cymbal.
CYmbals were us'd in former dayes,
To ſound forth Gods diviner praiſe.
135. On Cinders.
WE are a ſinful people, O what hinders
Us Sodom like from being burnt to cinders▪
136. On Cinnamon.
ARabia ſends us Spicy Cinnamon,
Our fragrant graces flow from Chriſt alone;
Sweet-wood yields not ſo red…lent a ſmell
As do thoſe vertues, which in Chriſt Spouſe dwell.
Legitur Exod. 30. 23. and Cant. 4. 14. Ducamus a canna vel a can lignum & nama dulce.
137. On the Cinque-Ports.
OUr ſenſes are the Cinque-ports of the ſoul,
Satan and ſin at every little hole
Strive to creep in, unleſs we ſtand upon
Our guard, we ſhall for ever be undone.
138. On a Cipher.
WHo doth no good when he hath ſin forſook,
Stands for a cipher in Gods counting book
139. On Cipras.
FIne Cipras-veiles fair Ladies wear
Over their curious ſhaded hair,
O yet your hearts with graces deckt;
So Chriſt himſelf ſhall you affect.
140. On a Circle.
THe world's a circle, therefore never can
Fill the triangulated heart of man.
141. On a Circuit.
GOds Juſtice rides in circuit, he is bent
To puniſh ſinners, yet how few repent!
142. On Circumciſion.
THe Badge whereby Gods people once were known
From forreigners, was circumciſion;
Since circumciſion of the outward part
Is ceas'd, Lord! circumciſe thy ſervants heart.
143. On Circumference.
WE by a pair of compaſſes, Gods law
Should th'whole circumf'rence of our live; draw,
Let's fix on God our center, and go ſtill
By practiſe round the compaſs of his will:
Lord! let the lines of my peripherie,
In thee my center evermore agree.
144 On Circumſpection.
WHo hath with Mary choſe the better part;
Is careful to preſerve grace in his heart;
He plies the Ordinances breaſt; he hath
Fear while he ſojourns here, yet lives by Faith.
145. On a City.
JEruſalem which is above, is free,
The mother of us all; what liberty,
And ſafe protection is there in that City,
Whoſe King, and Governour is God Almighty?
Angels (the great Kings courtiers) who are here
Our Guardians, are our companions there.
Socrates being ask'd, what country man
He was, replied, I'me the worlds Citizen:
This anſwer by a Chriſt'an may be given,
I am a free-born Citizen of Heaven.
146. On a Ciſtern.
MY heart's a ciſtern, may the ſtream of grace
From God the Fountain, run therein apace.
147. On a Citron.
MUch us'd in Phyſick is the citron juyce,
But o what rare effects doth grace produce!
148. On Civet.
SWeet Civet is but ſweat, ariſing from
Civet-cats cods, grace is the beſt perfume.
149. On Civility.
WHo is unto civility inclin'd,
That ceremonial grace, commends his mind;
Yet men may in morality excell,
As Prudence, Temperance, and go to hell:
Mortality may as well damn as ſin,
And therefore is not to be reſted in.
Cleans'd muſt the ſacrifices inward be,
God he reſpects, and crowns hearts-puritie;
Civil'ty waſhes but the outward part,
Grace th'inward: Bleſſed are the pure in heart.
150. On Clay.
SHould God but breath on us; or take away
The breath he gave us, what were we but clay
151. On a Clame.
THe Saints lay clame to heaven; & reaſon good
Twas purchas'd for them, by their Savior… blood.
152. On Clamour.
SIn in the ears of juſtice, ſounds as loud
As thunder breaking from a rumbling cloud.
153. On a Clapper.
THe mouth's a Bell, Gods praiſe cannot be rung
Unleſs we uſe the clapper of the tongue.
154. On a Clark.
A Clark may by his Bell, call others in
To worſhip God, while he himſelf ſerve ſin.
155. On a Claſp.
THe Cov'nant is a golden claſp, whereby
God us t'himſelf, himſelf to us doth tye.
156. On a Clauſe.
SOme-what injurious to God's greatneſs tis,
Timpriſon him, in a Parentheſis.
157. On Claws.
GReat Judah's Lyon, hath adunced claws,
To tear the wilful breakers of his Laws.
158. On a Claw-back.
ALL is not Goſpel that the claw-back ſayes,
Yet to be diſpraiſed by him is a praiſe.
159. On Cleanſing.
BY nature we are all defil'd with ſin,
And with the Leper muſt cry out, Unclean.
Sin i… an i…pu…e Iſſue, none can bring
Purity thence, tis a polluting thing;
A ſinners heart's ſo black, that only hell
Can pattern it, and be it's paralell;
But Grace is a ſpirit'al Lavor, ſtil'd
Regenerations waſhing; Souls defil'd,
Faith & Repentance cleanſe; Grace lays the ſoul
A whitening, ſearches wounds, and makes them whole.
Grace is of a Celeſtial nature, though it
Wholly remove not ſin, it doth ſubdue it;
Mary's tears as they waſhed Chriſts feet, ſo
Her heart; Grace engraves holineſs unto
The Lord upon the heart, in characters
Indelible; to Glory Grace prefers.
160. On Clearneſs.
THe bodies of the Saints made more divine,
More clearly than the Sun at Noon ſhall ſhine
161. On Cleaving.
GOd is the ſov'raign good, he that would cleave
To him by Faith, muſt the ungodly leave.
162. On Clemency.
CLemency is the Ornament of Kings,
Surer is the ſecurity it brings,
Becauſe frequent revenge allays the hate
Of few, but it doth all men irrita…e.
¶ That Prince will be belov'd, & long ſhall ſtand,
Who rules his Subjects with a gentle hand.
Salvum regem in aperto clementia praeſtabit. Sen.
163. On a Clerk.
THe greateſt Clerk, the Proverb ſays,
Is not the wiſeſt man always.
164. On a Clew.
THe clew-thred of Chriſts merits leads us thro
The winding Labyrinths of Sin and Wo.
165. On a Client.
I Am a Client unskill'd in the Laws,
And Satan Articles againſt me draws,
But Chriſt my Advocate doth plead my cauſe.
166. On a Cliff.
THe Cliff repells the Oceans pride,
Saints built on Chriſt can Storms deride.
167. On a Climate.
SOme that through many Climates run,
Are yet unto themſelves unknown.
168. On Climbing.
HIgh winds ſhake moſt the Cedars tall,
Haman by climbing got a fall.
169. On a Clyſter.
THe Clyſter frees the Head from pains,
Grace from the Heart corruption dreins.
170. On a Clock.
THe Clock tells us each hour in the day
How by degrees our time doth ſteal away,
Therefore we ſtill had need to Watch and Pray.
171. On a Clog.
THe World's a Clog, which doth controul
The motion of the mounting Soul.
172. On a Cloyſter.
A Man, a Cloyſter may be ſhut up in,
And yet his Soul take liberty to ſin.
173. On a Cloak.
ZEal as a Cloak our Saviour clad *,
No better garment can be had.
*Eſ. 59. 17.174. On a Cloſet.
GOd Cloſet-prayers doth regard,
And them will openly reward.
175. On Clothing.
SWeet Jeſu deck me with thy right'ous cloathing,
So ſhall mine be the object of my loathing.
176. On Cloves.
AS Cloves ſend forth a very fragrant ſmell,
So do the Graces that the Saints in dwell.
177. On a Cloud.
THe Clouds of our Offences intervene,
So that Gods Sun-bright eye cannot be ſeen.
Clouds are the Magazines of Snow and Rain,
Our Sins do in them vert'ally coutain
Treaſures of vengeance, ſin makes Heav'n frown,
And then thick ſhowrs of wrath come tumbling down.
178. On a Clout.
SElf-right'ouſneſs enwrapping us about,
Is as a rotten ragg, or menſtrous Clout.
179. On a Clown.
AS civilized Citizens diſown
The rude behaviour of the hob-nail'd Clown,
So Saints from Sinners by their lives are known.
180. On a Club.
THe Club of vengeance knocks down thoſe,
Who out of malice God oppoſe.
181. On a Cluſter.
CHriſt is the Vine, and Cluſters full of juice
Hang upon him, for the Believers uſe.
182. On a Coach.
PRay'r is a Coach which by the Spirit driven,
Hurries our Souls into the Courts of Heaven.
183. On a Coal.
LOrd touch my tongue with a coal taken fro
Thine Altar, ſo ſhall I thy praiſes ſhow.
184. On a Coaſt.
HEaven is a ſecurer Coaſt,
The Saints are thither riding Poſt.
185. On a Coat.
Who cuts his Coat according to
His cloth, ſhall not a begging go.
186. On a Coat of Mail.
THe Coat of Mail preſerves the body whole:
Nothing but Faith in Chriſt can ſave the ſoul.
187. On a Cobler.
THe Cobler draws through Aul-made holes
His ends, and lives by mending ſoles:
But ah, Soul-ruines, who condoles!
188. On a Cobweb.
THe Spider ſpreads her Fly-entangling Nets,
Snares to trepan the Saints, the Sinner ſets.
189. On a Cockatrice.
THey who indulgence give to filthy vices,
Do hatch the poyſonous eggs of Cockat…ices;
Miſchiefs are like the Cockatrices eye,
If they ſee firſt, they kill; foreſeen, they die.
190. On a Cock.
THe Bird that warned Peter of his fall,
Doth us betimes to our devotion call.
191. On a Cockney.
THe Cockney that is up ſo nicely brought,
Soon ſhews that he was better fed then taught
192. On a Cockle.
THe Cockle from her ſhell abhors to come,
So a good Houſe-wife loves to ſtay at home.
193.
On Co-Eſſential.
On Co-Equal.
On Co-Eternal.
GOD, Chriſt, the Spir't, are but one ſupernal,
Co-equal, Co-eſſential, Co-eternal:
Thrice bleſſed, Three in One, and One in Three,
May I adore, admire, love none but Thee,
My Maker, Saviour, Conſolation:
O pleaſe to make my heart thy leſſer Throne.
194. On a Coffer.
A Dunghil wretch for Gold of Ophir,
Will damn his Soul, to cram his Coffer.
195. On a Coffin.
THe greateſt King that ever Scepter ſway'd,
At laſt is in a narrow Coffin lay'd.
196. On a Cognizance.
WAnt is the Badge of Poverty, the Saints
Have Crowns and Scepters for their cognizance
197. On a Co-heir.
ARt thou a Saint? thou art Co-heir with Chriſt;
And highly art in favour with the High'ſt.
198. On Coin.
THe golden Saints for current Coin will paſs,
In Heavens Kingdom; Hell is all for Braſs.
199. On a Coit.
TO caſt the Coit is pretty childiſh play.
It's ſad for Coin to fling the Soul away.
200. On a Cullender.
OUr mem'ries like the Cullender that ſtreins
Pure liquor out, but droſſie dregs reteins.
201. On Cold.
ARe we as cold as Aſpine Snow,
Or as the frozen Zone;
The Fire we know, will make us glow,
Grace warms a heart of ſtone.
202. On Coldneſs in Religion.
SOme Jehu-like drive furiouſly for Heaven,
But of their Chariot wheels are ſoon bereaven.
Their Spring is turn'd to Autumn, & their gold
To clay; their zeal for God is grown key-cold.
Sad Times! Men caſt Religion out of place,
Rather then bear for it the leaſt diſgrace.
So little zeal is for Gods glory ſhown,
That ſure we live under the frozen Zone.
203. On a Collar.
THe Collar checks the Stallion in,
Reſtraining Grace keeps men from ſin.
204. On Collection.
THe World is a Collection of all
The Creatures; 'tis a very goodly Ball.
205. On a Colledge.
HEav'n is a Colledge, Saints Chriſts Scholars here.
Are Angels Fellows when once entred there?
206. On a Colleague.
ANgels are our Colleagues and we muſt ſtill
Praiſe God, and readily obey his Will.
207. On a Collier.
THe Devil and Collier are alike for hew,
Both black; and ſo are we till born anew.
208. On the Collick.
PAin damps our mirth, ſmall mind hath he to frolick,
That's pained with the Belly-wringing Collick.
209. On Colours.
THe Star-embelliſh'd Bird which Juno ſo
Admires, th'embroidred skie-adorning Bow
Preſaging ſhowrs, eve-pleaſing colours ſhow,
Which men born blind cannot diſtinctl… know.
We cannot know the things that do concern
Our peace, till God be pleas'd to make us learn.
210. On a Column.
THe Fabrick of the Heav'ns do lean upon
No other Column, but Gods Word alone.
211. On a Combat.
TWo ſons of Valour dealt ſo thick their blows,
As that one Sword unto the other owes
No wound, they ſlic▪d each other while their bloud
Commix'd together, made one crimſon Floud.
At laſt theſe Combatants of Mars both fell
And made their claſhing armouring their Knell.
We muſt all our Soul-Enemies knock down
Before we can obtain a Victors Crown.
212. On a Comb.
THe Comb is us'd to plain the hair
Grace only makes the Soul look fair.
213. On Commination.
GOds dreadful threatnings give man warning do,
Before his Murd'ring-pieces give the blow.
O when God menaceth, let us begin
To quake and greatly tremble, leſt by ſin
We ſhould occaſion his ſeverer frown,
And on our heads denounced Plagues draw down
God warn'd us hath, ſome judgments he hath ſent
And more will come, if England not repent.
214. On Cumbrance.
MUch buſineſs Martha diſtracts,
Whilſt Mary the beſt things affects.
215. On Combuſtion.
THe Waters of Repentance can
Allay the flame of ſin in man.
216. On a Comedie.
A Comedie is turbulent at firſt,
But calm at laſt. Good Times ſucceed the worſt,
Though now we mourn, our God will comfort ſend,
A ſad beginning hath a joyful end.
217. On Comlineſs.
THe Church is Beauties Magazin,
Her comlineſs is all within,
Without ſhe hath a tawny skin.
Her miſery hath tann'd her ſo,
But Mercy which from Chriſt doth flow,
Can make her fairer than the Snow.
218. On a Comet.
WHen God hangs out the diſmal blazing Star,
Portending Famine, Peſtilence and War,
Foretelling change of Governments and Times,
He means to puniſh our offending Crimes.
Now if we would ſuch dire effects prevent,
Return we muſt, and ſpeedily repent.
Three Comets lately ſhin'd, and thouſands are
Dead with the Plague, & hundreds fall'n by War.
And oh that Prince, and Prieſt, and People too,
Would keep a Faſt indeed, and not in ſhow.
Return we muſt, and ſuddenly repent,
Or elſe our Plagues will more and more augment.
219. On Comfort.
MOurning precedes, and comfo…t doth enſue,
The wound is launc'd, then cur'd, that is the true
Sun-ſhine of joy, which comes after a ſhowr
Of tears, God his beſt Wine doth laſt forth pour.
Firſt he preſcribes ſorrow for ſin, anon
Broaches the Wine of Conſolation.
The Devil contrarily ſhews the beſt firſt,
And keeps till laſt (for a reſerve) the worſt:
He firſt preſents the ſug'red meats of Sin,
And after the ſad reck'ning is brought in;
When he had ſhew'd Judas the ſilver bait,
He ſtruck him with the Hook, and caught him ſtrait.
God pours the golden oyl of Joy into
The broken veſſel, his choice comforts flow
In, while tears are pour'd our, ſad nights of ſorrow
Are Uſhers to a glorious ſhining morrow.
The comforts of Gods Spirit, are real, pure,
Holy, ſoul-filling, ſweet, laſting, ſecure,
Glorious, tranſporting, cordial comforts, none
But Saints ſhall fit with Chriſt upon the Throne;
And ſit down with him at the Table, where
Coeleſtial delicates provided are.
Although the Seeds-time of the Saints be wet,
Yet they ſhall with a joyful Harveſt meet.
Gods Sun-bright face, all ſorrow ſhall deſtroy,
And turn their Tears into the Wine of Joy.
220. On Commands
Legal
Evangelical.
CHriſt is the King of Kings (by him Kings reign)
And ſhall not he royal Edicts Ordain
To rule his Subjects by? 'tis well for Saints
That they are check'd by awful Laws reſtraints.
Th' heart would be ready to run wild in ſin,
Did not Chriſts Law coerce and hold it in.
How many now are in the Devils Pound,
That from Chriſts Precepts have been ſtragling found!
A godly man to God and Chriſt his laws
Conſents, obeys in love; Gods Spirit draws
I'th' yoke with us, as a divine Loadſtone
It moves the heart, which cannot move alone.
It blows upon the ſoul, and with its gales
Quickens in duty, the affections ſails.
All Chriſts commands are very profitable;
Centring in bleſſedneſs, are honourable;
Are nectariz'd with joy, are tranſitory,
Saints now under the Yoke, ſhall reſt in Glory.
Needs muſt the Laws and Statutes Chriſt enacts,
Be Eligible then for theſe reſpects.
The Goſpels golden mandates eaſie are,
Compa…ed to the Moral Law ſevere;
This, bids us Do and Live, That our deſires
Accepts; Pers'nal Obedience This requires;
A ſurety That admits; This bids and threats,
But ſtrengthens not to do; That power lets
Into the ſoul; its Precepts ſweetned be
With promiſes, where is ſincerity
God in the Goſpel winks at our defects;
The Law perfect Obedience exacts.
Chriſts Laws are ſweet and eaſie, if compar'd
To ſins commands; Sin preſſes down as hard
As Lead, how eaſie are the Laws of Grace
Oppos'd to Hell! Hell is a reſtleſs place.
If Chriſts Commands we in the Ballance poyſe
With Heavens Glory, and eternal Joys,
How light they are! what diſproportion
Is there between our Service and the Crown
Of recompence, our travels and our pains
Are grains, compar'd with future maſſie gains.
O love the ways of God, and always bow
To Chriſts commands, Believers are not now
Under the thundring curſes of the Law,
No, nor its Ceremonies; Stand in aw,
Yet ſerve God out of choice; his Law is right,
His yoke is eaſie, and his burthen light;
Think of the joy, the glory, the reward
Of godlineſs, Duty will not ſeem hard.
221. On a Commander.
DEath over-came men-conq'u'ring Alexander,
But was ſubdu'd by Chriſt, the worlds Commander,
Chriſt by his death far greater conqueſts gain'd
Then Alexander all his life obtain'd,
Death yields to him, death that doth all devour,
And Satan too, is vanquiſh'd by his power.
222. On Commendation.
THe Saint's an Angel dreſt in fleſh and blood;
His inclinations do aim at good;
His vertues are too great to be reveal'd,
And yet (me thinks) too great to be conceal'd:
Grace doth advance him far beyond the Pen,
Or the weak knowledge of admiring men,
No flowing language, nor words richeſt dreſs
And loft'ſt ſence, can his full worth expreſs,
Then ſince thou canſt not paint him life & limb,
Admire Gods goodneſs in admiring him.
223. On a Comment.
BAd is that comment which corrupts the text,
Such is the Rhemiſt to Gods word annex't.
224. On Commerce.
SAints have commerce with God by ordinances,
Before to heav'nly Thrones he them advances.