Some Prison Meditations, Poem 3

Some Prison Meditations · Poem 3

p. 119Here followeth now a hint of that great Day

That Chriſt ſhall ſit upon his Throne for aye;

In which his Enemies ſhall bow the knee,

And unto him ſhall in ſubjection be;

In which his Foes ſhall coverd be with ſhame,

That have reproachfully ſpoke of his Name:

In which the Crown upon his head ſhall flouriſh,

In which Day he his Lambs will feed & nouriſh.

VVHen Babylon is fallen, fallen, then

Have at the Beaſt that monſtrous Man of ſin,

Which hath ſeven Heads, ten Horns, whoſe coming will

Be after Satans power and working ſtill,

A more immediate working than before

Was ſeen to be in this great Scarlet Whore,

With ſigns and lying wonders he ſhall come,

Deceiving all the World, excepting ſome

Whoſe Names are written in the Book of Life,

Theſe will the Lamb defend, theſe are his Wife.

This man of ſin ſhall none of them ſeduce,

It is impoſſible he ſhould produce

That lying-wonder that can them deceive,

Do all he can, they will not him believe.

Them Chriſt will keep, they in his ſtrength ſhall ſtand

That won't receive his mark in their right hand,

Nor in their foreheads, nor this Beaſt adore,

(Nor fall down to his Image) which before

p. 120Was, and was not, yet is, and which ſhall be

Much wonder'd after, when the world ſhall ſee

His Prophet call for fire down from Heav'n,

And cauſe the Image of the Beaſt with ſeven

Heads and ten Horns to ſpeak▪ and then to cauſe

As many as would not obey his Laws,

And worſhip him; likewiſe this is decreed,

They muſt be kill'd, whoe're they be, with ſpeed:

With theſe his wonders he will much deceive

All men on earth that won't the truth believe,

Or did not truth receive with love to it,

Upon all ſuch this dreadful doom is writ,

Who pleaſure took in all unrighteouſneſs,

Shall all be damn'd for their laſciviouſneſs.

This Beaſt Chriſt ſhall defeat and ſoon annoy,

The brightneſs of his coming ſhall deſtroy

This rampant Beaſt who glories in his ſtrength,

Shall ſo confounded be, that he at length,

And his falſe Prophet, Jeſus Chriſt ſhall take,

And caſt them both alive into the Lake.

And then, O then that bleſſed Prince alone

Shall reign and be exalted on his Throne;

For then an Angel he ſhall ſend to bind,

And chain up Satan, who the world did blind,

And them deceive; but Satan then no more

Shall able be men to deceive before

A thouſand years be fully come and ended,

That time from him all men ſhall be defended.

But ſome may here object to me, and ſay,

Chriſt now doth ſit upon his Throne, to day,

p. 121Did yeſterday, to morrow will, and ſtill,

For ever did, and doth, and ever will.

In order therefore to their ſatiſfaction

That are propounders of this old objection;

'Tis granted Chriſt now ſits upon a Throne,

But this he now ſits on, is not his own,

For 'tis his Father's Throne he now ſits in,

So properly his own it hath not bin,

As 'tis his Fathers; for himſelf hath ſaid,

'Tis the Reward his Father hath him paid

For that moſt great and glorious victory

He did obtain ore Death when he did dye;

He overcame, and ſate down on the Throne

With God his Father; ſo ſhall ev'ry one

That overcomes, ſit down with him, and be

Plac't in the Throne of Chriſt; by vvhichwhich vve ſee,

As God the Father hath his Throne, ſo ſhall

Our bleſſed Jeſus have his Throne an'all.

From vvhence vve learn that certainly 'tis ſo,

That Chriſt ſits on a Throne, his Father's tho;

And ſo as true and certain alſo 'tis,

There is another Throne that vvill be his;

Of vvhichwhich moſt glorious Throne I am to ſpeak,

VVhichWhich vvill that other Throne in pieces break,

That throne, I mean, the Pope and Beaſt ſits on,

I do not mean the throne God ſits upon;

And therefore that I might not tedious be,

I'le fall upon it ſtraight, novv preſently.

p. 122A Throne in Scripture vve read of that ſhall

As an Inheritance to Jeſus fall.

It is the promiſe of the Father he

Shall one day ſit thereon, exalted be

To rule the Nations with an Iron Rod;

This ſhall be given to him by his God:

For 'tis the Covenant his Father made

With him, that he (as I before have ſaid)

Should ſit and rule upon the Throne for ever,

Of David; diſpoſſeſt he ſhall be never:

When once the throne he doth and ſhall obtain,

He then will ever govern, rule and reign.

The Prophet Eſay did this truth foreſee,

That Jeſus Chriſt ſhould thus exalted be:

To us; ſaith he, a Child is born, a Son

Is given unto us; there ſhall upon

His ſhoulders be the Government, his Name

Shall called be the Wonderful (for Fame

A) Counſellor, the mighty God, the Prince

Of Peace, the everlaſting Father; hence

It is his Government ſhall ſtill encreaſe,

For of his Government nor of his Peace

There is no end; upon the Kingdom and

The Throne of David he ſhall ſit, his hand

Shall hold the Scepter, and he Davids Kingdom

Will rule, and order ſhall with ſo much wiſdom,

And ſhall eſtabliſh it with Judgement, and

With Juſtice too likewiſe, throughout the Land,

p. 123That henceforth and for ever if ſhall be,

The zeal of God the Lord of Hoſts ſhall ſee

This done, his zeal ſhall this perform, and then

Our bleſſed Lord ſhall rule and reign, and when

He ſits upon his Throne, the Throne of David,

Then ſhall the Seed of Abraham be ſaved.

If this be truth, as doubtleſs but it is,

I think there's few that lives, ſo wicked is

Plain Scripture to deny, except it be

The Pope of Rome, that whoriſh State, and he

That ſaith he hath got ſuch a Light within,

That ſheweth what is not, and what is ſin:

The firſt indeed, as I before have ſaid,

The Scriptures by command and threats have laid

Aſide, that no man dares in them to look,

Nor ſcarce, at I have ſhewn, no other Book.

The other ſaith the Scriptures he don't need,

He hath a Light with which he can both read,

And ſee and know what's good, and what is bad,

And ſhould if he the Scriptures never had.

Theſe both a crafty, ſubtile trick have got,

That none may do or ſay what they think not

Agrees with eithers mind or intereſt;

But I to heed the Scriptures think it beſt.

But to go on, this is but by the by;

Yet I do think and know they muſt the lye

Give to the Scripture, that will not believe,

Or do deny that Chriſt the Throne ſhall have,

p. 124That throne of David, and his Kingdom ſway,

And that the Nations ever ſhall obey

His Laws and Precepts, ſo his will ſhall even

Be done on earth as now 'tis done in Heav'n.

But that I may this truth yet further clear,

Which is ſo precious, lovely and ſo dear

To all that wait, and long, and love to ſee,

That Chriſt alone ſhould thus exalted be;

See what Jehovah unto David ſaid,

Who by an Oath a Covenant had made

With David, That unto his Seed for ever

His throne he would eſtabliſh, and would never

Break that ſame Oath, that Covenant, that Word

That is gone forth out of his mouth; the Lord

Once ſwore to David by his Holineſs,

That he his Seed for evermore would bleſs,

And ſhould endure for ever, and his Throne,

As long at there was either Sun or Moon.

By Davids ſeed muſt needs be underſtood

The ſeed of Faith; for there's no likelihood

That any other ſeed ſhould keep his throne,

For after the Meſſiah came, was none

Of Davids nat'ral ſeed that did poſſeſs

His Throne or Kingdom; yet nevertheleſs

The oath God ſwore to him, was, that for ever

His ſeed ſhould ſit upon his throne, and never

Be diſpoſſeſt thereof. But now it's plain

His throne is empty til it ſhall again

p. 125By Chriſt be mounted, who God wil enthrone

And ſet thereon; he is that Seed, and none

But he, and thoſe that he then ſhall now hath

Made one with him through Grace, not Works, but

Both he and they together ſhall ſit down

On Davids throne, and wear a glorious Crown-Faith:

We find that Peter in the Acts confirms

This expoſition fully in plain terms:

Knowing, ſaith he, that God had ſworn an Oath,

(Which cannot be a fable, but a truth)

That of the fruit of Davids loyns ſhould be,

According to the fleſh undoubtedlie,

Chriſt ſhould be rais'd to ſit on Davids Throne:

This Peter ſaith; I am not then alone:

If neither he nor I you will believe,

What, wil you then an Angel now receive,

By whom this expoſition likewiſe ſhall

Confirmed be from Heaven? I think then all

Wil be content more of this truth to hear,

There's ſome it love, though others do it fear,

The Angel Gabril who from God was ſent

Unto a City nam'd Naz'reth, he went

Unto a Virgin 'ſpouſed to a man,

He named Joſeph was, the line down ran

From David unto him: the Virgins name

Was Mary, unto whom the Angel came,

And her ſalute with ſaying to her, Hail,

Thou highly favour'd, bleſſed woman ſhal

p. 126Conceive, thy womb ſhall now bring forth a Son,

And thou ſhalt call his Name (when he is born)

JESƲS, he ſhall be great, and called be,

The Son of the Moſt High; undoubtedlie

God ſhall to him the throne of David give,

And on it he ſhall ſit, and ever live,

And ore the Houſe of Jacob ever reign,

His Kingdom ſhall for evermore remain;

For of if there ſhall never be an end,

This God to do doth certainly intend.

If Peter were a man none could afford

To Credit, yet methinks an Angels word

All men ſhould credit, out of doubt believe

What they do ſpeak from heaven, and all receive

What they do ſay, as well as part or ſome,

For part of this believed is by Rome:

To wit, that Chriſt was of a virgin born,

Though they believe God won't on earth his horn

Exalt; yet he the horn of his Anointed

Wil ſure lift up, for ſo he hath appointed.

I here conclude, it is a certain truth,

That Chriſt ſhal come and reign here on the earth;

For on the Earth once Davids throne was plac'd,

And on the Earth it now is quite defac'd:

And on the Earth his throne ſhall be again,

Then Chriſt ſhall on the Earth both rule … reign;

For on the throne of David he ſhall ſit,

And ore his Kingdom rule, and govern it.

p. 127But here by ſome it may objected be,

That Chriſt doth reign now on the earth, and he

Exalted is already by his Father,

And ſhall not rule nor reign on Earth no other-

Wiſe, than by his Wiſdom, Strength and Pow'r

He rules his Saints and People ev'ry hour;

And ſo the World by's Might and Providence

He govern'd hath ere ſince he went from hence.

Small ſign it is that Chriſt on Earth doth reign,

When few his Laws obey, and few refrain

Him to blaſpheme, but ready are to evil,

What ever they are prompt to by the Devil.

Doth Chriſt now reign & rule amongſt thoſe men

That ſwear, and curſe, and drink, & roar, and then

Fall out and quarrel, fight and kill, and whore?

Of whom the World doth yeild ſuch mighty ſtore

That one would think, and may conclude ful well,

That moſt are rul'd by Lucifer or Hell.

Can any one think or imagine how

Chriſt ſhould be ſaid to reign on earth? when now

His people are moſt times ſo much oppreſſed,

So perſecuted, and ſo much diſtreſſed,

That for his ſake they're made a mock and ſcorn,

Whoſe time is now not to rejoice, but mourn.

For what is done to them, is done to him,

He takes it ſo, and ſo't will be, all them

That perſecute his Saints, ſhall find it ſo

When he appears, though now they won't it know.

p. 128When Saul with Letters went to Damaſcus

To perſecute and ſpoile the Saints, then thus

Chriſt ſaid to him when, on the way, he ſmites

Him to the ground with thoſe bright ſhining lights

That ſhone about him; and all thoſe that went

With him, no doubt the High-Prieſt had them ſent

Him to aſſiſt in this great work of darkneſs,

To perſecute thoſe men that were ſo faultleſs,

That Chriſt rebukes him as he on the way

Did go, and (as I ſaid) did to him ſay,

Saul, Saul, why doſt thee thus me perſecute?

To kick againſt the pricks it is no boot.

Then Saul aſtoniſht, ſays, Lord, who art thou?

I'm Jeſus whom thou perſecuteſt now.

For what thou doſt to them, thou doſt to me,

Thou canſt not them afflict, but I must be

Afflicted with them; if thou art their fo,

I feel the ſtroke, the wound is mine alſo.

If Jeſus Chriſt will when he comes accuſe

All them that do his Saints to help refuſe,

VVhen they in priſon were, or ſick, or lame,

Or naked, hungry, and will them ſo blame

Becauſe they did not cloath, or them relieve,

Nor unto them would any comfort give,

Nor viſit when in Gaol or ſick they were,

And them refuſe to ſuccour and to cheat,

And takes what's done to them, done to himſelf,

When he ſhall ſay to them that have much wealth,

p. 129Depart you curſed into ſcorching flames,

Eternal burnings, hound in fiery Chains

Of dreadful darkneſs now and evermore,

Prepared for the Devil; for before

When I was ſick, you did not viſit me,

That is, you did not comfort them that be

My little ones, when they diſtreſſed were,

No help, nor no aſſiſtance would you spare:

For as you did to them, you did to me:

Depart then now, for ever curſed be.

If Chriſt, I ſay, ſhall take theſe things as done

Unto himſelf, they ſuffer not alone

That are his people, but he ſuffer ſo

In them, that this I'de very gladly know

How Chriſt on earth is ſaid to rule and reign,

VVhen ſtill on Earth he's crucifi'd and ſlain.

When Chriſt his father David's throne ſhal mount,

He ſhall all evil works call to account.

The Heathen ſhall be his Inheritance,

VVhen he unto his Kingdom ſhall advance;

Then he the utmoſt parts of th' earth ſhall have,

And will his poor deſpiſed people ſave;

VVhen his Dominions ſhall extended be

Through all the earth, and eke from ſea to ſea,

And from the Rivers to th'ends of the earth,

This great Dominion is his right and birth:

For when his Kingdom that we pray for's come;

VVhichWhich ſtrongly doth import there is no room

p. 130Left to conceit▪ he doth already reign,

And in his Kingdom is; for then 'twere vain

To pray for that which now already is,

And hath been many hundred years, if 'tis

But two, as many now a-dayes do ſay,

Let's tare out then that Pray'r he taught's to pray.

But when it's come (I was about to tell)

That all things ev'ry where will go full well;

For then the Will of God will likewiſe even

Be done on Earth, as now 'tis done in Heaven;

There will be then no Ram 'um, dam 'um Blades,

That tare, & ſtare, & fight would with their ſhades;

But all his creatures living will him praiſe,

Becauſe of thoſe moſt joyful glorious dayes,

That Chriſt ſhall rule and reign here on the Earth,

The Scripture plentifully holdeth forth,

That he that reads impartially may know

It is a glorious heav'nly Truth, although

It is the moſt eſteemed but a fable,

Yet thoſe that be the born of God are able

To ſee much heav'nly glory in't, they do

Receive ſuch comforts from't, and not a few,

That they are made, through Grace, nothing to fear

What they may ſuffer for the Glory there.

But that I may a little further clear

This much deſpiſed Truth, to me ſo dear

And choice, and ſweet; I will ſome Reaſon ſhow,

That Chriſt the Kingdoms of the Earth ſhall ſo

p. 131Poſſeſs, as yet he never did, but ſhall

One day them have in full poſſeſſion all.

Firſt then, when Chriſt ſhall rule on Earth, and reign,

And Davids Throne ſhall be ſet up again,

There ſhall be ſuch, ſo great increaſe of Peace,

That Quarrels, Broils, and Wars ſhall ever ceaſe;

Then ſhall there be no envying nor hating,

No Titles unto this and that debating

By Sword and Fire, as now is and hath bin,

And ever will and ſhall be until then;

All men ſhall then ſo quietly enjoy

What they do build and plant, none ſhall anoy,

Nor them moleſt, they in their habitation

Shall then ſecured be, no moleſtation,

Nor no diſquiet ſhall e're them come near,

They ſhall poſſeſs without all kind of fear

What is alloted them, they'l be ſo ſure,

That none ſhall trouble unto them procure:

The Nations then, though now, and heretofore,

Have learned War, they War ſhall learn no more.

Of Righteouſneſs there then ſhall be a ſtream

Shall run through ev'ry ſtreet; (this is no dream

Nor fond conceit) Juſtice and Equitie

Will flouriſh then, and there no more will be

Oppreſſion us'd, the cauſe of him that's poor

Shall not perverted be, nor nevermore

The Widows cauſe, or Fatherleſs ſha'nt then

Be turned back; at that time ſhall no men

p. 132Hate one another, nor no man then ſhall

Imagine ill againſt his brother; all

Shall live in ſuch a bleſſed unity,

No man ſhall do another injury;

And then that very great antipathy

That now between the creatures is, ſhall dy:

For then the Wolf ſhall lie down with the Lamb,

And dwell together, ſure of this I am:

The Leopard then ſhall lie down with the Kid;

The Calf and Lion young are alſo rid,

The one of 's preying nature, and the other

Can now confide in him, as in a brother:

Nay, though the Lion, be a Fatling by,

He'l not him harm, they'l down together lye,

So gentle and ſo tame they will be, then

A little Child may lead them both; and when

This time is come, the Cow then with the Bear

Shall feed their young, together lye, and there

The Lion ſhall like to an Ox eat ſtraw,

To prey on fleſh he now ſhall have no maw;

The deadly, great, and moſt deſtructive nature,

The Venom which is found now in the creature,

Their deadly ſting ſhal then be took away,

When once a ſucking-Child ſhall dare to play

On the Asps hole, the weaned Child may then

Not fear to put his hand upon the den

Of that ſo deadly Cockatrice, for there

They ſhal not hurt, deſtroy, none ſhal them fear

p. 133In Gods moſt holy Mountain, and the Earth

Shal filled be with knowledge and with mirth;

Cover'd with knowledge ſhal the Earth then be,

As now we ſee the Waters do the Sea.

There's ſuch a glorious time as this to come,

Or elſe the Prophets are miſtook; not ſome,

But all, for all of them of this time ſpoke,

Foreſeeing that there was a heavy yoke

That Rome ſhould keep the faithful People in,

And afterward that curſed Man of Sin,

Until there come a Rod out of the Stem

Of Jeſſe, and a branch ſpring out of him,

Out of his Root ſhall ſpring that holy Prince,

That King of kings and Lord of lords; from hence

It comes, that Chriſt our Lord is ſaid to be

Of Davids Off-ſpring (notwithſtanding he

Is Davids Root) and ſhal poſſeſs his Throne

In the appointed time, as hath been ſhown.

But that I might this Truth yet clearer make,

Then this that follows likewiſe from me take,

That Chriſt ſhal rule and reign on Earth as King,

To prove I further do this Reaſon bring;

Becauſe the Earth and all that therein is,

Are by Creation-right, all of them his,

They were made by him; and not only ſo,

But for him too, and then his Right we know,

It is, that one day he ſhould them poſſeſs,

Which were made for him to enjoy and bleſs

p. 134With Righteouſneſs, with which he'l judge the poor,

Reprove the meek with Equity; & more,

He with the Rod of 's Wrath wil ſmite the Earth,

And ſlay the wicked alſo with his breath;

For Righteouſneſs the girdle of his loins,

And Faithfulneſs the girdle of his reins

Shall be, and then will come that bleſſed day,

That he (the Root of Jeſſe) will diſplay

The Glory of his Reſt, as on a hill,

Stand for an Enſign, and the Gentiles will

Unto it ſeek, his Reſt ſhal glorious be,

Thrice happy they that ſhall this Glory ſee.

When this is come to paſs, that Prophecie,

Spoke by Iſaiah, will fulfilled be;

Behold, in Righteouſneſs a King ſhall reign,

And Princes rule in Judgment ſhall again;

As from the wind and tempeſt which we ſee,

A hiding-place, a covert there ſhall be,

As in a dry and thirſty place, and as

The ſhadow of a mighty great Rock is;

A man ſhall be as Water, Rivers, and

As ſuch a Rock is in a weary Land:

The eyes of them that ſee ſhall not be dim,

The ears of them that hear ſhall hearken, then

The raſh of heart ſhall knowledge underſtand,

Their paſſions then they ſhall ſo well command:

The tongue of ſtammerers ſhall ready be

To utter words, to talk, to ſpeak plainly.

p. 135The Glory of that day ſhall be ſo great,

My pen's too weak that Glory to repeat.

So great it is, my thoughts it doth ſo fill,

That here another Reaſon follow will,

That Chriſt ſhal come the Earth to rule, will be

Apparant made, as 'twil appear; for he

By right of purchaſe is become the Lord

Of all the Earth, and all it doth afford:

He therefore dy'd, reviv'd, and roſe again,

That he might this Prerogative obtain,

To be the Lord both of the quick and dead.

(This may in Pauls Epiſtle ſoon be read)

By his obedience to his Father, he

Obtained ſuch a glorious dignitie,

By dying on the Croſs that curſed death,

For which his Father him exalted hath,

And ſuch a Name hath given unto him,

Above all names that's given into them

That are in Heav'n, in Earth, or underneath

The Earth, to him all which have life and breath▪

At his moſt glorious Name their knees muſt bow,

(There's few but will for truth this ſure allow)

And ev'ry tongue confeſs that Chriſt is Lord,

This Glory they muſt unto God afford.

When God the Father rais'd Chriſt from the grave

He then to him this Princely honour gave,

To ſit at his right hand in heav'nly places,

(In recompence of all thoſe foul diſgraces

p. 136That he ſuſtain'd while he was on the Earth,

Although he was the King thereof by birth)

So far above all Principalitie,

All Power, Might, Dominion, Dignity,

And ev'ry Name that's nam'd, not only whom

Is in this world, but in that world to come;

And hath put all things underneath his feet,

Though all things be'nt ſubjected to him yet;

He bore the great iniquities of many,

(Of all indeed, he did not leave out any)

Then with the great a portion he'l divide,

And with the ſtrong divide the ſpoil beſide;

Becauſe he did his ſoul pour out to death.

This glory God to Chriſt now given hath,

That as the Earth he bought, and paid the ſcore

That it ſtood charged with, ſo he'l reſtore

All things again when he from Heav'n deſcends

To take away what ever in't offends;

And then all living ſhall enjoy and ſee

How glorious Chriſt's Government will be.

That which already hinted is, well may

Give ſatisfaction unto all, if they

Be ſo unbyaſſ'd, and be ſo intent

In ſearching out what all the Prophets meant,

(And Chriſt and his Apoſtles; for all they

Did propheſie and ſpeak of this good day)

By theſe and ſuch like ſayings as I bring,

Of which there is a multitude that ſing

p. 137The ſelf-ſame ſong as I above have done,

For ſure I am they all with me are one.

But ne'retheleſs it ſtill is my intent

One Reaſon more to contribute or hint:

That Chriſt ſhall rule and reign here on the earth,

Is true, becauſe it is his right by birth;

He (Chriſt) the firſt born is of ev'ry creature,

And he of all things alſo is the Maker;

The firſt-born is mongſt many brethren too,

The firſt begotten Son of God, and who

The brightneſs of his Fathers glory is,

The expreſs Image of his perſon, his

(Gods) only Son, whom he appointed Heir

Of all things that hath been, ſhall be, or are

In Heav'n above, or in the Earth beneath,

They all are his by birth, there's none that hath

Nor can deprive him of his right, it's ſure

To him, and ſhall for evermore enoure.

Saith David in his Pſalms, The Heathen rage,

Vain things imagine; what doth this preſage?

God ſits in Heav'n, and hath them in deriſion,

And will at length himſelf make the deciſion;

Though they do ſet againſt him and's Anointed,

And counſel take, they ſhall be diſappointed▪

Ʋnto them all he'l ſpeak then in his wrath,

Though he forbears, and ſeems to be ſo loth;

Yet will he vex them in his ſore diſpleaſure,

When he ſhall ſet his King, his only Treaſure,

p. 138Upon his holy Hill, then the Decree

Concerning him will ſoon declared be:

Thou art my Son, I have begotten thee,

Then ask my Son, ask thou, I ſay, of me,

And I will give thee thine Inheritance.

Thou ſhalt upon my Holy Hill advance.

The Heathen ſhall be to thee for a portion,

The Earth I give to thee for thy poſſeſſion,

The utmoſt parts thereof I give, and thou

Shalt break them with a Rod of Iron now,

In pieces ſhalt thou daſh them as a Veſſel

That's broken a in Morter with a Peſtle.

Again ſaith David in another place,

Such is the Majeſty of Chriſt, the Grace

Of this moſt mighty Prince, and Lord of all,

That Kings ſhall ſtoop, and down before him fall;

And they that in the Wilderneſs do live,

Shall bow before him, and him honor give;

His Enemies (who will they, nill they) muſt

Fall down before him, and ſhall lick the duſt:

The Kings of Tarſhiſh, and them of the Iſles,

Shall preſents bring to him to have his ſmiles;

The Kings of Sheba, and of Seba too,

Shall offer gifts to him, if that would do:

Yea, all the Nations under Heav'n that are,

Shall him obey, all Kings then ſhall him fear.

And David in another Pſalm doth ſay,

That God his Enemies will drive this day

p. 139Before him; God will then his foes down beat,

And plague all men he will that do him hate:

My faithfulneſs, ſaith God, with him ſhall be,

My mercy alſo, and his Name I'le ſee

Shall be exalted, I will ſet his hand

Upon the Sea, ſo in the Rivers, and

He'l cry, Thou art my God, my Father then,

And ſay, the Rock of my Salvation, when

My firſt-born I will make, whoſe ſo by birth,

Far higher than the Kings are of the Earth.

But ſome it may be here will now object,

And ſay, Theſe Scriptures all have no reſpect

To Chriſt, but Solomon by them is meant;

And David penn'd theſe Pſalms to that intent,

To ſhew he ſhould be ſet on ſuch a throne,

That like to him there ſhould be never none

So great, ſo rich, ſo mighty as was he;

If ſo, then all theſe things fulfilled be.

I anſwer, That theſe Scriptures can't be ſo

Receiv'd nor underſtood; for this I know,

That Solomon was never God's firſt-born,

Nor never did God ſo exalt his Horn,

To give to him ſuch great and large Dominion

To reach from ſea to ſea; in my opinion

Nebuchadnezzar was a greater man

Then ever was the great King Solomon;

For Daniel ſaid to him, O King, it's thou

Art grown ſo mighty, ſtrong and great, that now

p. 140Thy potent greatneſs reacheth unto Heav'n,

Such is thy boundleſs and thy large Dominion,

It doth extend unto the ends of th' earth,

God unto thee ſuch glory given hath.

Though Solomon his glory was ſo much,

That in his day there was no King had ſuch;

Yet conſid'ring Nebusshadnezzar he

Was great Commander univerſallie,

O're all the world, it clearly follow will,

Thoſe Propheſies God did not then fulfil

In Solomon, becauſe it's plain that he

Had never ſuch a glorious Monarchie,

(I then conclude, they meant, and rather may,

The King of Babylon, which none will ſay)

So univerſal as the others was,

Nor yet ſo great nor univerſal as

Our Lords ſhall be when he doth come to reign,

As thoſe fore-cited Scriptures ſpeaketh plain,

Beſides what I before did ſhew indeed,

That Chriſt muſt be that King of Davids ſeed.

Theſe reaſons then I end, though many more

I might produce, in Scripture there's ſuch ſtore:

But I with theſe ſhall well contented be,

Such ſatisfaction are they unto me.

But yet I matter not, for th' ſake of thoſe

That may more doubtful be, before I cloſe,

Bring forth ſuch Scriptures, which do more conduce

To ſatisfaction then I here produce.

p. 141That propheſie of Balaam, who when

He hired was to curſe Gods Iſrael, then

He propheſi'd and ſaid, My eyes ſhall him

Behold, but ſhall not now, they are too dim▪

I ſhall behold him, but it won't be nigh,

Though I the knowledge have of the moſt High:

There ſhall a Star come out of Jacob, and

A Scepter out of Iſrael; the Land

Of Moab ſhall he ſmite, the corners all,

The ſons of Seth ſhall be deſtroy'd and fall,

And Edom ſhall, becauſe of their tranſgreſſion;

So Seir likewiſe ſhall be a poſſeſſion

Unto his Enemies; but Iſrael he

Shall in thoſe days do then moſt valiantlie:

Then out of Jacob will he come that ſhall

Poſſeſs and have dominion o'ne them all.

Balaam then took up his Parable,

Beheld and ſaw that day was terrible,

And ſaid, Alas! though 'tis a day of bliſs

To Jacob, who ſhall live when God doth this!

Again, good Hannah when the Lord her Womb

Had opened, that ſhe conceiv'd, to whom

He gave a Son, which when ſhe had brought forth,

She lent unto the Lord; a ſon of worth

He was to her, yet for the Lord ſhe'l ſpare

Her child, her only ſon that was ſo dear;

And then to pray and praiſe the Lord goes ſhe,

And thus ſhe ſaith by way of propheſie:

p. 142The Adverſaries of the Lord ſhall be

All broke to pieces: out of Heaven ſhall he

Thunder upon them, then the Lord will judge

The Earth and ends thereof; this priviledge

The Lord ſhall have, and ſtrength he'l give his King,

And will the Horn of his Anointed bring

To be exalted, and he'l help the feet

Of all his Saints, though men them ill entreat:

As for the wicked they ſhall ſilent be

In darkneſs, when that they this day do ſee.

To do theſe wondrous things God will not fail,

For know by ſtrength no man ſhall then prevail.

Oh what a glorious time this then will be,

When Saints ſhal reign with Chriſt triumphantlie!

That moſt tranſcendent glory, and the ſtate

Chriſt ſhall be in, which he'l participate

To them their lot, their portion and a ſhares,

Becauſe they're ſons, they likewiſe are Joint-heirs

With him, and in his throne they ſhall ſit down,

And ſhall receive a Kingdom and a Crown;

Not ſuch a corrupt Crown that fades away,

But ſuch a Crown of Life that won't decay:

Then fear not little Flock, for 'tis the pleaſure

Of God your Father to give you the treaſure

That's in a Crown; by Grace he will you ſave,

And hath thought meet the Kingdom you ſhould have:

He that is Prince of Kings, Kings of the earth,

Who you ſo lov'd, that you he waſhed hath

p. 143From all your ſins in his moſt precious blood,

He undertook for you, in your place ſtood,

And now hath made you Kings & Prieſts by birth,

And one day you ſhall reign with him on earth.

Then ſhall that Princely, Heav'nly ſong be ſung

On Harps of God moſt ſweetly tun'd and ſtrung,

The ſong of Moſes, who Gods ſervant was,

The holy Lambs ſong likewiſe this ſong is;

Which ſong methinks before I further go,

I muſt inſert, that you this ſong may know.

Moſt great and marvellous all thy works are,

Lord God Almighty! who ſhall not thee fear

And glorifie thy Name! for thou art holy,

And juſt and true thy ways are, righteous wholly:

All Nations ſhall now come and worſhip thee,

For now thy Judgements manifeſted be:

Thou King of Saints, moſt true, juſt are thy wayes.

This ſong then Saints ſhall ſing, & him ſhal praiſe:

Such perfect, heav'nly frames of heart they ſhall

Be alwayes in, their glory won't be ſmall,

But ſuch as always ſhall their ſouls ſo fill

With joy, they'l ſing praiſe to the Lamb, and will

Continually rejoice, ſet forth the praiſe

Of him who is the Ancient of all Dayes;

For then the glory of the Lord they'l ſee,

The Lamb will always with them preſent be:

They then will God ſee face to face, no blame

Will he find in them, but will write his Name

p. 144Upon their foreheads, he will dwell with them,

And they for evermore ſhall be with him;

They then ſhall be his people, he will be

Their God for ever, to eternitie.

Then ſhall they hear no ſighing nor no cries,

All tears he'l wipe away from off their eyes.

No death nor mourning, ſorrow, greif nor pain,

Shall ever overtake thoſe ſouls again;

For ſuch things then there will be left no room,

Becauſe the Bride enjoys her dear Bridegroom.

If ſhe rejoiceth now to hear his voice,

When ſhe his face ſhall ſee, ſhe may rejoice:

When ſhe beholds his perſon, and doth ſee

His Beauty, Glory, and his Majeſtie;

All former things with her will paſs away,

Now ſhe can ſing, and on Gods Harps can play.

Nothing can her to grief or ſorrow move;

How can ſhe mourn, that hath her fill of Love?

What ere ſhe did here in this mortal ſtate,

She'l now rejoice, to mourn it is too late.

The Bride did mourn and weep while he was gone

Who is her Bridegroom, though ſhe wan't alone.

Her heart was with him, he with hers, and ſtill

He with his Spirit did her always fill

With full aſſurance that ſhe was his Bride,

And that he from her went but to provide

A City and a Manſion for each one,

And then he'd come, and leave no more his own

p. 145And wel-beloved Spouſe, his chiefeſt Joy,

His Darling to the Lions to anoy;

Who can report the joy when ſhe goes thither,

She there wil meet with when they meet together?

Thus have I hinted, as I ſaid I would

In ſuch a place, ſo well as well I could,

The doubtleſs fall of that great Scarlet Whore,

Who in her loftineſs and pride doth ſoar

Above the Throne of Kings, but ſhe ſhall be

Thrown down from thence into the deepeſt Sea,

From whence ſhe nevermore ſhall riſe again,

The healing of her breach will be in vain.

And as I promiſ'd, ſo I've now perform'd,

To hint that Chriſt ſhall one day be enthron'd;

Yet one or two words more by way of uſe

I ſtill have yet to ſay, which may produce

Some good effect to ſome, though not to all,

But to the Whore (I think) 'twill none at all;

But ſome there be which are of her, that yet

Adore her much, if they'l reade what is writ,

(I mean her plagues here hinted in this book)

It may provoke them now about to look,

If they'l conſider well what Sorcery,

What Fornications and Idolatry,

What guiltineſs there is upon her ſtill

Of th' Martyrs blood which ſhe a Sea did ſpill:

Who knows but that it may a motive prove,

Some one, or more, from off their lees to move:

p. 146And who can tell but this may call forth ſome

From out of her, leſt they ſhare in her doom;

When they ſhall reade her ſins her plagues withal,

Or elſe partake with her in her great fall?

And therefore let it be a uſe of terror,

Of great aſtoniſhment, of fear and horror

Unto the Pope and all his Cardinals,

His Moncks and Friers, ev'n thoſe Canibals,

Who eat the fleſh of men, trade with their ſouls,

And drink the blood of Saints, as Wine in bowls;

Let pains, and pangs, and ſorrows on them ſeize;

The time doth haſten now, when God will eaſe

Himſelf of ſuch an evil Generation,

Who are ſuch foes to Chriſt, his Death and Paſſion,

Whom they would tear & pluck out of his throne,

If they thereby could but keep up their own.

The next and laſt word I intend to ſpeak

At this time, is unto the poor and meek,

Thoſe filly harmleſs Lambs, the lot and ſtock

Of Jeſus Chriſt our Lord, that little flock.

Here's comfort new for you and conſolation,

That follow hard in the Regeneration,

That bleſſed Lamb of God which went before,

Whom follow after fully; for the more

You follow him, the more your peace will be

Here, and hereafter your felicitie.

Though he lead thorow many rocky wayes

To that ſweet place of reſt, yet ſee you praiſe

p. 147Your Prince, it is the certain way that leads

Unto God's Kingdom, though it trouble breeds

Unto the fleſh, to climb ſuch rocks and hills,

He will go with you that with pleaſure fills

Your ſouls; there can be then no cauſe of fear

To go that way that Chriſt is with you there.

For he hath been and is ſtrength to the poor,

Help to the needy in diſtreſs; and more,

A refuge from the ſtorm, and from the heat

A ſhadow is when grievous ſtorms do beat;

The ſtorm of furious ones, whoſe blaſt doth fall

As doth a mighty ſtorm againſt a wall;

Know, where you cannot go he will you carry;

And he that ſhal come, wil come, and won't tarry.

Fear not then, little Flock, rejoyce and ſmile

At this, it's but a very little while

But he will come, and wil you all imbrace;

Then ſhal you ſee his glorious ſhining face;

The way's but ſhort, the labour's ſmal you ſpend;

Faint not, you'l ſoon come to your journeys end;

Afflictions are but light, the Glory's pondrous

But a moment; eternal Glory's wondrous:

There's no compariſon between theſe twain.

If for a light Affliction you can gain

A weight of Glory, for a moment you

Receive eternal-Glory with Chriſt doo.

What loſs can't be? who would not walk a path

That dirty is, if it an ending hath

p. 148In Reſt and in unutterable Joys,

Rather than one that leads to nought but toys?

The beſt and all of them this great fault have,

They leave a man when he goes to his grave;

Nay more, while he is but on toys a poring,

And is them like to petty gods adoring:

They ſteal away his heart, if he intend

To follow that way ſtill, 'twil in the end

Lead him to death, that death, to never dy,

But live in torments to eternity,

Then wait with patience, for your Prince and King,

When ha appears he then will with him bring

Such great rewards will make up all your loſſes,

Your ſuffrings, trials, troubles, and your croſſes;

Content your ſelves, be ſatisfi'd, and reſt

In this, that you have ſuch an intereſt

In Chriſt, and in his Glory, that no man,

Though nere ſo mighty, or ſo great, that can

Deprive you of't, God greater is than they;

None can you harm, if he but ſay them nay.

Admit they ſhould do what with their will ſtands,

They can't you pluck out of your Father's hands.

Beware then that you don't his love diſdain,

Take heed you don't his holy Name prophane

By any ſin, or unbeſeeming walking,

By any fooliſh jeſting, idle talking;

But I the Priſoner of the Lord beſeech

You all to ſtudy and conſider which

p. 149Way you may ſanctifie that holy Name,

And bring forth praiſe and hounour to the ſame:

That ſacred Name of God, which now doth ſeem

To be reproach'd, which ſome do much blaſpheme.

Walk worthy of that calling wherewith ye

Are called, and be ſure you alwayes ſee

Your converſation all times cloathed is

With lowlineſs, that Chriſt-like grace of his,

That unto all men you may make't appear,

That as was Chriſt, ſo you like-minded are;

And be not raſh, but meek, enduring wrong,

If you be like to Chriſt, he ſuffer'd long:

Forbear ye one another, live in love,

And God will ſtill be with you from above;

And keep your hearts & minds through Chriſt our Lord,

If you like brethren do in love accord.

Then make it ev'ry one your great endeavour,

And do at all times in the ſame perſever

To keep the Spirits unity and peace,

That God may dwell with you, and you increaſe

In all the fruits and graces of the Spirit,

You may eſteem'd be worthy to inherit

A Crown of life, a Kingdom and a Throne,

Which will enjoyed be by thoſe, and none

But thoſe that faithful are unto the death,

For ſo God's holy bleſſed Spirit ſaith.

I now conclude and end, and take my leave,

Hoping theſe lines, though rude, you will receive,

p. 150And mend thoſe faults in love you may there find.

If any benefit you reap, then mind

To give the praiſe to God, the honour's his;

Give none to me, but all to him whoſe 'tis.

All Glory be to him that ever liveth;

I'm yours in him to love and ſerve,

John Griffith.

FINIS.

End of the text · John Griffith, Some Prison Meditations (1663)