Some Prison Meditations, Poem 1

Some Prison Meditations · Poem 1

p. 1SOME Priſon-Meditations AND EXPERIENCES, &c.

AS I in Priſon lie, I ſometimes muſe

What ſhould the reaſon be they me ſo uſe,

That they contrary unto Law & Reaſon,

Should keep me here in Jayle ſo long a ſeaſon.

No crime or charge againſt me can they lay,

Yet I ſhall lye in Priſon ſtill, they ſay.

I think their will's their Law, I cannot ſee

But that the reaſon is they thus uſe me.

What ſhould the reaſon be, they nought will have,

But what's their will to keep me as their ſlave

Within ſtone walls, and bars of iron ſtrong,

As if I had done unto them ſuch wrong,

Or had committed crimes of ſuch a nature,

So filthy and ſo foul, with ſo much rancour,

Againſt their Worſhips: What have they no Law

To try me by? Or have they got no maw

To do me right? What ſhould the reaſon be?

I am an Engliſh man, and am born free:

My Birth-right is not then without juſt cauſe

To lie in Jayle contrary to the Laws:

p. 2But there's a reaſon which I now eſpye,

Why they will make me ſtill in Priſon lye,

And that's becauſe (they ſay) I am a Preacher,

And of Phanatiques am a conſtant Teacher;

And therefore 'tis they me in Priſon hold,

Unleſs I would be wickedly ſo bold

To promiſe them that I will preach no more,

Then will they me to liberty reſtore;

If I'le conform, then they will ſhew me favor,

Methinks to me theſe things have no good favor.

But what, is't now a crime to Preach and Pray,

That I muſt lie in Priſon night and day?

For that, and for no other cauſe do know,

But preaching Truth, muſt I be uſed ſo,

Full ſeventeen Months and more, as I have been

In Priſon now; is Preaching ſuch a ſin,

That ſuch as preach, and have not their conſent,

Can't be redeem'd except they do repent,

But muſt be kept in priſon all their dayes

(As I ſhall be (ſometimes) then Worſhips ſays?)

The Prophet Moſes was not of this mind.

For he would not Gods holy Spirit bind,

Nor limit it to this or t'other man,

He was content that thoſe ſhould preach that can:

For when complaint againſt ſome to him came,

Eldad and Me…al were the men by name.

Of whom 'twas ſaid, Theſe men do propheſie;

What, for my ſake, ſaith he, doſt thou envie?

I would to God the Lords poor people all

Were Prophets, and that on them all might fall

p. 3Such meaſures of the Spirit from the Lord,

That may enable them to preach his Word.

But now the caſe is alter'd much I ſee,

Their Worſhips will not ſo contented be

As Moſes was; to priſon he muſt go,

That preacheth now without their leave: I know

They would not be ſo ſerv'd themſelves, if they

Should be forbid to either preach or pray,

Be clapt in priſon for it when they ſhould

Do either of them, I believe they would

Not take it well to walk ſo in the dark;

The Prieſt forgets that ere he was a Clark.

Would they be us'd ſo by Romes brats, and be

Forc't to conform to Romes idolatry?

They do profeſs from Rome they're ſeparated,

And that by them Romes cruelty is hated:

And yet will they the conſcience force of thoſe

That cannot with them in their Worſhip cloſe.

Methinks in this they do not do by me

As they themſelves by Rome would uſed be.

But 'tis my comfort in the midſt of all

My many troubles, which ſome count but ſmall,

They cannot charge me juſtly with a fault,

Which can by Law give cauſe thus to aſſaults

My Carkaſe, ſo to keep it thus in Jayle,

Againſt their Law refuſing to take Baile.

Nay, though they were commanded by the King,

They would not him obey, nor me forth bring

To any Legal tryal, that I might

Receive that juſt reward which is by right

p. 4My due, for more of them I do not crave,

And 'tis but reaſon that I that ſhould have:

Had I by Law deſerved Bonds or Death,

I ſhould contented be to loſe my breath.

But if I have not any Law offended,

'Tis time, I trow, my trouble now were ended.

But I a Preacher am, I don't deny,

Though much unworthy of the Miniſtry;

A worthleſs Worm, unworthy of that love,

That Grace and Mercy which came from above

Into my ſoul, by which I did receive

A Miſſion for to preach without their leave;

The Biſhop of our ſouls did me ordain

To preach, his Grace I truſt is not in vain

That he beſtow'd on me to preach his word,

And to declare his wondrous works abroad:

And though for this I do in priſon lye,

I can in him rejoice moſt heartily,

And praiſe that God alone that doth eſteem

Of ſuch a worthleſs one as I, and deem

Me worthy of the croſs, that for his Name,

And for the ſake of Chriſt to ſuffer ſhame.

But yet ſome ſay I am a fool to lie

In Jayle ſo long, depriv'd of liberty:

Why ſhould not I to them a promiſe make,

That I all kind of preaching will forſake;

For 'tis againſt the Law that ſuch as I

Should preach, unleſs I were ordained by

The Biſhops, then without all doubt I may;

But might they not upon as good ground ſay,

p. 5The bleſſed Martyrs in the Marian dayes

Did act againſt the Law; for Bonner ſayes,

You are not by the Law to preach or pray,

Except you do conform, ſuch prayers ſay

As by the Queen and Church are now thought fit

Should uſed be throughout the Land; but yet

Thoſe Martyrs then would not perſwaded be,

But ſtoutly ſtood to Non-conformity;

They rather choſe in fiery flames to burn,

Than from what truth and light they had to turn

There are two ſorts of fools as I have read,

And one of them 'tis true I am indeed:

The one wiſe Solomon ſo plainly paints

In their own colours, ſuch will nere be Saiths;

For, Fools (ſaith he) are ſuch as knowledge hate,

Such is their dreadful, miſerable ſtate,

That they the fear of God do never chuſe,

Becauſe they would not Wealth and Honor loſe;

Such ſet a high eſteem upon their luſts,

Their Pride and Pleaſure, and their gold that ruſts;

In ſuch like fools iniquity abounds,

And both in City and in Countrey ſounds.

Fools belch out Oaths, and dreadful Execrations,

Which are unto the wiſe man great vexations:

Fools call on God moſt wickedly to damn 'um,

And dare him to his face, as 'twere, to ram 'um

Into the very pit of Hell; Fools ſay

There is no God to hear when men do pray;

Their Oaths to hear, or puniſh them for ſin,

Which they with greedineſs do wallow in:

p. 6As quaſſing off of bowls of Beer and Wine,

Until they are as drunk as any Swine;

With whoring, roaring, and their ſports and play,

That by them now are uſed ev'ry day,

As baiting Bulls and Bears with dogs, and ſuch

Like ſports as theſe, of which there is too much;

With idle Stage Plays too, and ſuch like trade,

There's many ſouls deſtroy'd that God hath made:

He then's a fool that for theſe earthly toys

Doth loſe eternal life and heav'nly joys.

There are another ſort if fools I find,

But thoſe fools are quite of another mind.

Theſe fools all worldly glory do deſpiſe,

Becoming fools, that ſo they may be wiſe:

All worldly wiſdom theſe for Chriſt account

But loſs and dung; to win Chriſt doth furmount

All Arts and Sciences, all worldly treaſure,

There's none to them like him, theſe take no pleaſure

In world or worldly things, they are but droſs

Who offers them the world, bids them to loſs.

Theſe do the glory of the world diſdain,

Becauſe its greateſt glory is but vain,

An empty ſhell, a water-bubble fading,

Its greateſt glory is not worth the having.

Theſe are ſuch fools they can more glory ſee

In Chriſt their Prince, than any there can be

In all Honor, Glory, Beauty, Fame,

The world affords, or any tongue can name;

A crucified Chriſt theſe fools would know:

As for the world, ſay theſe, tuſh, let it go.

p. 7The world no peace nor comfort can afford,

Like to a minutes preſence of the Lord.

Though wife and children unto them be dear,

Yea dearer far than any thing that's here,

That if the world were theirs, at their diſpoſe,

Yet would they be content it all to loſe,

Before they'd part with either wife or child,

Their pretty babes ſo tender and ſo mild;

And yet the Love of Chriſt is dearer far

Unto their ſouls than wife or children are:

The love of Jeſus Chriſt ſurpaſſeth all:

Theſe fools are ready when their Lord doth call

To leave for him their Wife and Children, and

Their Goods and Houſes, Countrey, & their Land,

Yea, Life it ſelf (though ſweet) for his ſweet ſake,

That for their filthy ſins did undertake:

Theſe know their Life is hid with him in God,

And that he will them help to bear the Rod.

Theſe are ſuch fools they know that perſecution

Is unto them a token if ſalvation,

And that unto their perſecutors 'tis

A certain token of perdition is:

Such fools as theſe I therefore highly priſe,

For there are none but ſuch that's truly wiſe.

'Tis true, to worldly wiſe men he's a fool

That ſeeks no other wiſdom then the School

Affords that Chriſt inſtructs his Schollars in,

There's none of them that values that a pin:

The Spirits teaching ſuch laugh at and ſcorn,

And do reſolve that of it they'l not learn:

p. 8And therefore God that's juſt and only wiſe,

Doth juſtly ſtop their ears, and blind their eyes,

And from the prudent hides his precious truths,

When he to babes reveals them, from whoſe mouths

He wil have praiſe, they ſhall the good way find,

When thoſe that ſay they ſee, are wondrous blind.

Well then, I am content a fool to be,

But not a fool that loves iniquity;

But ſuch a fool who for eternal bliſs,

Am well content to ſuffer more than this

For his ſweet ſake that ſuffer'd more for me,

When for my ſake he dyed on a tree

A ſhameful, curſed, bitter, cruel death

On my behalf, to expiate the wrath

Of God his Father; there was none but he

Could do't, and that the more engageth me

To be a fool, as fools pleaſe to eſteem me,

For precious Jeſus ſeke, who did redeem me;

Whoſe love unto my ſoul I far more priſe

Then all the fading-wealth beneath the skies;

And for his glorious Name am well content

To ſuffer and endure impriſonment,

And do reſolve through Chriſt & ſtrength of grace

I nere will be ſo filthy, vile and baſe,

By any means my liberty to gain,

Whereby the Name of God I might prophane.

I were a fool indeed if for a trifle

I ſhould ſo much my Conſcience wrack and rifle

Of all that conſolation, joy and peace,

And in a moment cauſe it all to ceaſe,

p. 9That I now have and feel in Chriſt my Lord,

By Faith and Grace, and comfort of his word,

And wrack that Faith by which I know I ſtand

In full aſſurance that the Holy Land,

That Paradiſe of God, that Reſt I mean,

That goodly place no mortal eye hath ſeen,

Is mine by right of teſtament, and wil,

Confirm'd to me by blood which Chriſt did ſpill,

To purchaſe that poſſeſſion for my ſoul

Where him I ſhall enjoy without controul,

And there I know I God and him ſhall ſee

In perfect joy, and true felicity;

All ſorrow then with me ſhall have an end

No more Oppreſſion ſhall my ſoul offend:

What ever now I loſe, I then ſhall find;

Oh how the thoughts of this contents my mind!

There ſhall I ſee a joyful, goodly ſight,

Thoſe precious ſouls, and thoſe Saints in light

That have before endur'd the Croſs and ſhame,

Reproach, rebuke and ſcorn, defame and blame,

With cruel mockings, ſcourgings, whippings and

Moſt barbarous deaths almoſt in ev'ry Land,

Which for a Crown of Life they did abide,

A Kingdom, Glory, and a Throne beſide:

What tongue can tell me what that joy will be,

When I ſo many bleſſed Saints ſhall ſee,

All glorifi'd, and ſhining as the Sun,

And as the Stars, far brighter than the Moon,

With bleſſed Abram Father of the faithful,

The thoughts of this methinks is wondrous joyful.

p. 10There will be Iſaac, Jacob, and the reſt

That in the Lord are ſweetly gone to reſt;

There Peter, Paul and John, with many more,

That in their Pilgrimage laid up in ſtore

A good foundation 'gainſt the time to come,

VVho for Chriſt ſake forſook both all and ſome;

With all thoſe bleſſed Martyrs that have bore

A faithful teſtimony 'gainſt the Whore,

Thoſe helliſh, filthy, cruel brats of Rome,

And all their Romiſh ſtuff, their droſs and ſcum,

Their god of bread, their great abomination,

Their idle, brain-ſick Tranſubſtantiation:

If I among all theſe do get a ſhare,

As praiſed be the Lord I nothing fear;

But in this place of joy I have my portion,

A place of Reſt, a Stock, a Houſe, a Manſion;

As Chriſt my Jeſus when he went away,

Did to his well-belov'd Diſciples ſay,

That ſure within his Fathers Houſe were many;

And this I doubt not, but if there be any,

He will prepare a dwelling-place for me,

VVhere I ſhall all this glory find and ſee:

Then were not I a fool if for my freedom

I ſhould offend dear Chriſt, and loſe a Kingdom,

A throne, a Crown of Life and endleſs Glory?

If I were ſuch a fool, I ſhould be ſorry.

VVhat would it my profit ſhould I gain the world,

If ſhortly into Hell my ſoul be burl'd

Among the damn'd, not only for a moment,

But if ever to endure eternal torment

p. 11In flames of fire to waſte and not conſume,

In dreadful, diſmal ſights, where is no room

Left for Repentance, no Redemption new

From this Tartari'n Lake, infernal Crew,

Where Dives may to Father Abra'm cry,

Oh Father Abram, ſee what torment I

Endure in flames of fire; my ſcorched tongue

Doth burn and fry; Oh Father be not long,

But ſend good Laz'rus, who I once rejected,

I now in torments am; but he's reſpected:

Send him (I pray) to eaſe my tongue, my grief,

And with cold water give me ſome relief.

But Abraham thus anſwer'd him, and ſaid,

My Son, remember when thou waſt array'd

In Purple and fine Linnen, and didſt fare

Deliciouſly, thou wouldſt by no means ſpare

The ſorry crumbs that from thy Table fell;

But now he is in Heav'n, thou art in Hell:

Thou hadſt thy portion in that World before;

Thy torments now muſt be for evermore:

You'l then conclude with me, as I hope well,

I'd better dye in Jayl, than burn in Hell.

A Gaol! what's that? it's no unpleaſant thing

If Chriſt be there, that only bleſſed King;

He with his Love doth make a Priſon ſweeter,

(Tho unto ſence it ſeems to be ſo bitter)

Than any Princely Court, or ſtately Palace,

When with his preſence he the ſoul doth ſolace.

If in a Priſon Jeſus Chriſt be there,

It's cauſe of joy to meet him any where.

p. 12No ſorrow can nor will that ſoul betide

That hath dear Jeſus lying by his ſide:

And he that night and day can take a nap,

In Jeſus Chriſt the Lord's Anointed's Lap,

Can there rejoice, and in a Dungeon ſing

For joy of heart, that Chriſt is there with him.

Tho Paul and Silas in the ſtocks were laid,

At midnight they in that condition pray'd,

And ſung for joy of heart, their Lord was there,

And with his love did them refreſh and chear,

And made their bonds ſo pleaſant and ſo choice

With his good preſence, comforts and ſweet voice,

That made them ſing aloud with joyful praiſe,

VVhichWhich did their Jaylers ſtoniſh and amaze,

And put them into ſuch a fright and fear,

They could not tell the Priſoners were there,

Not knowing that in Priſon they were free,

VVhen others were in bonds, in liberty.

Why ſhould I then with Priſon-bonds be frighted

(Tho in my bonds I am by many ſlighted?)

Sith I full many, many times have known,

That bleſſed Jeſus leaves me not alone,

But doth refreſh my ſoul both day and night,

I never am out of his Princely ſight.

He by his Spirit doth my ſoul uphold,

So teach and comfort, ſtrengthen and new-mold,

So frame, ſo form, ſo faſhion and compoſe

My heart ſo vile, to be at his diſpoſe,

That with my bonds I'm mighty well content,

And at's command to be, I'm fully bent,

p. 13So he with ſtrength and grace ſupport my ſoul,

VVho ere he be in this that ſhall controul.

And ſo he pleaſe ſtill to continue with me,

Nor will he ever leave me nor forſake me,

As he hath promis'd in his faithful word,

VVhichWhich I believe, and to it do accord,

And am aſcertain'd that he cannot lye,

Nor ne'r his holy, bleſſed ſelf deny;

Nor will he break that Covenant he made

VVith faithful Abraham, and all his ſeed,

That ſeed of Faith, I mean, not of the Law,

That which the Scriptures long ago foreſaw;

Then need not I to fear what man can do,

(VVhat ere he be) that ſaith he'l make me rue:

If Chriſt my Jeſus be but on my part,

I need not fear, they cannot make me ſmart;

Nor can they touch my hair, except he pleaſe

Them to permit, I cannot one hair leeſe;

But ſhould he them permit to try my Faith,

My Love and zeal to him, and for his truth,

On me ſome grievous torments to inflict,

VVith which my ſinful fleſh they ſhould afflict,

And ſorely bruiſe, and wound, and cut and burn,

Yet would ſuch handlings to my comfort turn;

In taking up, and bearing of the Croſs,

There can nor will be to my ſoul no loſs;

It is the certain way unto the Crown,

Chriſt went that way himſelf, 'twas his renown.

Then now O Lord aſſiſt me with thy Grace,

That I may run (not faint) that bleſſed race

p. 14Which in the end will bring me to that reſt

Where Sin and Satan can't my ſoul moleſt,

Where I ſhall never hear Oppreſſions voice,

Nor grief, nor pain, nor trouble, but rejoice

In thee alone, and praiſe thy holy Name,

Admire thy Glory, Beauty, and thy Fame;

Where I ſhall have no work to do but praiſe

The God of Heav'n, the King of Saints always.

And if thou Lord doſt pleaſe ſtill to employ me

In any harder work, thereby to try me,

Grant as the day is, ſo my ſtrength may be,

For ſtrength I have not any but from thee.

And then command me what ſhall ſeem good to thee,

I am thy Servant, ready to obey thee.

1. MY ſoul praiſe thou the God of Might,

And in the Lord be glad,

His Grace is wondrous in thy ſight,

for he ſuch pity had

2. Of thee when thou a ſinful wretch

didſt wallow in the mire

Of luſt and filth, then did he ſnatch

a brand out of the fire.

3. He lov'd thee when thou lovd'ſt not him,

ſuch was his Love and Grace,

He took thee from the very brim

Of Hell that diſmal place.

p. 154. VVhen terrors did my ſoul amaze,

and ſorrows day and night,

He out of them my ſoul did raiſe

to ſee thoſe beams ſo bright,

5. That on my darken'd ſoul did ſhine,

which darted from the Son

Of Mercy, Grace, and Love Divine,

my ſoul with it was won,

6. More to admire than comprehend;

comprehend I could not,

VVhat kind of love God did intend

unto my foul, I knew not.

7. Comfort and light I did receive,

which ſweetly ſtaid my heart,

And made me wait, hope and believe

God would his mind impart.

8. At length unto my thirſting mind

that long'd ſo much to know

More of his Grace and Mercy kind,

the Lord was pleas'd to ſhow

9. unto my ſoul that theſe were pangs,

new-birth pangs upon me,

Which much in doubt for ſometime hangs,

I knew not they were on me.

p. 1610. But when the Lord had me begat

a lively hope unto,

Then I perceiv'd 'twas nought but that

with cords my ſoul he drew:

11. I ſay, with cords of love ſo ſweet,

ſo choice unto my ſoul,

VVith which the Lord did me then meet,

that was ſo vile and foul.

12. Then ſtraight-way did the Lord ſpeak peace

and iſſues out a pardon,

The troubles of my ſoul did ceaſe;

that heart which I did harden,

13. VVas then moſt ſweetly mollifi'd,

even melted, and ſo broken,

My ſoul was then ſo ſatisfi'd

it hardly can be ſpoken.

14. Oh then how was my heart inflam'd

with love to Chriſt my Lord,

That of his word I was not aſham'd,

but gladly could afford

15. To loſe my All for his dear ſake

that loſt his Life for me,

And laid it down, that he might make

my peace with God, and be

p. 1716. An able Saviour that can ſave

me to the uttermoſt,

That I an open way might have

to God, which I had loſt.

17. Oh then my ſoul, how art thou bound

thy ſelf to ſerve no more!

Thou from the Lord haſt mercy found,

praiſe thou his Name therefore.

18. Be not a ſervant unto men,

their luſts do not obey;

Nor ſerve no longer any ſin

that will thee ſoon deſtroy.

19. But ſerve the Lord with all thy might,

'twas he that hath thee bought,

Thou art non's elſe, but his of right,

he thy ſalvation wrought,

20. And paid a price for thee ſo dear,

ſo precious and ſo great;

Then praiſe the Lord, him love and fear,

for that is wondrous meet.

21. Forſake him not, he is thy Life,

thy Peace, thy Joy, thy All,

A preſent help in time of ſtrife,

in troubles great and ſmall.

p. 1822. And tho the wicked rage and ſtorm,

and threaten what they'l do,

There's none of them can do thee harm,

Chriſt is thy Rock: then lo,

23. What cauſe to fear the wrath of man,

it's that ſhall praiſe the Lord,

And the remainder he'l reſtrain;

this ſhall be known abroad.

24. My ſoul truſt thou in God alone,

fear not what man can do;

For Chriſt will ſit upon his throne;

and then to them, wo, wo.

This I have learn'd, and by experience found,

The more my troubles for Chriſt do abound,

My joy and comfort by Chriſt doth encreaſe,

And daily grow and multiply, not ceaſe,

Decay nor vaniſh, but my Lord doth ſtill

Exceedingly my ſoul (with his ſweet will)

Affect, pleaſe and delight, there's nothing more

Can do't; the King of Saints be prais'd therefore.

It's true, there can be no affliction joyous

Unto the fleſh, but very ſore and grievous:

The fleſh doth not eſteem a Priſon gainful,

But bitter, and moſt miſerably painful;

And ſo I find it ſometimes is with me,

It makes me wiſh in heart I could get free,

p. 19Alwayes provided I could have the ſame

With honor to my Lord (the King) and's Name,

Which is more dear to me than is my life,

My little all, my Children, and my Wife;

And they are dearer to me, tho I ſay't,

Then all the world beſide, I'm ſure I know't:

Then if I with my fleſh and blood ſhould reaſon,

I ne'r had ſtaid in Jayl ſo long a ſeaſon.

I have not been from all temptations free,

But many times they have aſſaulted me;

But Chriſt with's Grace my ſoul hath ſo ſuſtain'd,

That on my ſoul temptations have not gain'd

Such ground or root againſt me to prevail;

Through him they have not made me faint or fail:

And though they ſeem to be no pleaſant things,

Yet are they ſuch as profit to me brings:

For by temptation is my Faith ſo prov'd,

And made more precious, when I'm nothing mov'd

But helpt againſt them, and made to endure;

They work ſuch patience in me, I am ſure,

That I'm contented to abide the ſtorm,

Becauſe they work for good, and not for harm.

I plainly find by tribulations, I

Have learn'd my many frailties to eſpye,

Such as I never knew nor learn'd before,

I little thought that I had had ſuch ſtore;

I now can ſee my heart ſo vile, ſo baſe,

So prone to ſtart aſide, ſin to embrace,

So ready to betray me to my foes

That lodge within my breaſt, and with them cloſe;

p. 20So dull, ſo ſtupid, and ſo indiſpos'd,

So vain, ſo fooliſh, ſeldom well compos'd,

So ready to affect the world, and'ts pelf,

Secretly ſaying, Maſter, ſave thy ſelf;

Why ſhouldſt thou thus thy tender ſelf expoſe

To be ſo long afflicted by thy foes?

Why ſhouldſt thou man ſo long in Priſon lye?

Thou maiſt fall ſick, and of that ſickneſs dye;

Ponder the matter well, tender thy life.

Thy pretty children, and thy loving Wife.

So ſelfiſh is my heart, ſo prone to pleaſe

This ſinful fleſh of mine, that loves its eaſe,

So full of unbelief and diffidence,

So ready to let go all confidence,

So fruitleſs, negligent, ungrateful,

So crafty and ſo ſubtile, ſo deceitful,

I find it hard my heart to underſtand,

It hath ſo many turnings, windings, and

So many evils doth it ſtill attend,

I dare not truſt it, nor unto it lend

An ear to hear its many cunning quirks

That in it ſecretly, lies hid and lurks,

But watch againſt, oppoſe and crucifie,

Leſt it prevail ore me, and ſo I dye,

And ſleep the ſleep of death, and all in vain

I do or ſuffer, prove my loſs, no gain.

Now then my ſoul behold what cauſe thou haſt

To look back to the time that's gone and paſt,

And ſee, conſider, weigh, remember and

Bewail thy ſins for number as the ſand:

p. 21Thy ſelf abhor, and loath, and mourn for thy,

Uncomelineſs and great imparity

To Chriſt thy Prince, that ever bleſſed one,

That dy'd for thee, elſe hadſt thou been undone,

And held in Chains of darkneſs evermore,

In Hell thy ſelf to moan, thy ſins deplore;

A bond ſlave held in Satans Chain and Kingdom,

Subjected to his will, his wiles and wiſdom;

If thou ſhouldſt have what thou by ſin didſt merit,

Thou never wilt eternal life inherit.

Look back, I ſay, behold and ſee what caſe

Thou'rt in through ſin, that ſo by thee the Grace

Of Chriſt thy King, may ſo be magnifi'd,

His Name exalted, and ſo glorifi'd,

That thou maiſt live for ever in his ſight,

And that the King in thee may take delight.

And now behold my ſoul how thou art bound,

Here the rich love of the Lord to ſound,

Declare and publiſh, that all men may ſee

How dearly Chriſt thy King hath loved thee,

And what the manner of that love hath been,

In taking thee from ſuch a ſtate of ſin,

From Satans pow'r of darkneſs into light,

Tranſlating thee into that Kingdom bright

Of his dear Son, that Prince of Life and Peace

And Lord of Glory, who will never ceaſe

By's blood to ſpeak far better things than all

The blood of Abel did, which loud did call

For God's juſt veng'ance 'gainſt his brother Cain,

Who had his brother murder'd, kill'd and ſlain;

p. 22I ſay, that ſpeaks far better things for thee,

On thy behalf, to God his Father; he

By virtue of his Death and Mediation,

Who lives for ever making interceſſion,

By which he pleads thy cauſe, where now he's ſitting,

And anſwers for thoſe ſins thou art committing

In weakneſs, frailty, and againſt thy will,

Conſent, good liking; and doth daily fill

Thee with aſſurance that thy ſin's forgiven,

And blotted out, and all thoſe ſcores made even

That thou ſtoodſt charged with before the ſeat

Of God's tribunal, terrible and great,

Which in that Court of Conſcience there was plac't,

In which thou waſt arraign'd, condemn'd and caſt.

1. How wonderful thy goodneſs Lord

hath ever been to me,

That thou ſuch kindneſs ſhouldſt afford

of Grace and Mercy free,

2. To ſuch a ſinful wretch as I,

ſo empty and ſo vile,

So fill'd with ſuch iniquity,

that's ready me to file.

3. O Lord, it's wondrous in my fight,

that thou ſhouldſt have regard

To ſuch a worthleſs, nothing-wight,

which makes my heart (though hard)

p. 234. To melt as wax before the fire,

when I thy Grace do weigh,

It ſo enflameth my deſire;

Come Lord, and make no ſtay,

5. And let my ſoul taſte more of love,

my ſoul is not content

Without thoſe ſhow'rs fall from above

that may my ſoul prevent:

6. Thoſe ſhow'rs of mercy, love & grace

that may be to my heart,

As ſhow'rs to the new-mown graſs,

that I may ne'r depart

7. From thee who art my God and King,

my Refuge and my Stay;

But that I may thy praiſes ſing:

Come Lord without delay.

The more Chriſt doth himſelf to me make known,

The more to me his love and Grace is ſhown:

The more my ſoul enjoyes and doth poſſeſs,

The more it longs to have that happineſs,

More to receive, enjoy, find, feel and taſt,

That by its force, and ſtrength, and power, at taſt

All thoſe remains of ſin might be ſubdu'd,

And that no fair pretence might me delude,

Deceive and harm, by taking of my mind

From Heav'n & Heav'nly things; nor me ſo blind,

p. 24Or cauſe to dote on any thing below,

Or make my ſimple heart in love to grow

With them, or any thing they can propoſe,

The more I gain of them, the more I loſe.

And that through Chriſt and ſtrength of grace I might

Have all my whole affections vanquiſht quite;

So kill'd, ſo ſlain, ſo conquer'd and orecome,

That in my heart there might be left no room

For any filthy ſin or luſt to harbour,

That oft hath caus'd my ſoul to ſigh, and labour

Under the pow'r thereof, the grief, the pain,

Of which my heart doth many times complain

By reaſon of the domineering power

Of Sin and Satan, that for ev'ry hour

Did once aſſault me with its bates and wiles,

Thoſe cunning ſtratagems which oft beguiles

Poor ſouls, and brings them oft-times to a ſnare,

In which they're taken ere they are aware.

But now this is become my ſouls ambition,

To have it brought in full and whole ſubjection

To Jeſus Chriſt my Lord, that nought but he

May rule and bear the ſway in me, and be

Both uppermoſt and chief, and reign as King

Within my ſoul and heart; oh! that's the thing

I long to find, and feel, and know, and have,

And day and night do always beg and crave,

That Chriſt might dwell by Faith ſo in my heart,

That I might get and learn that bleſſed Art,

To bring down ev'ry thought into ſubjection,

And caſt down ev'ry vain imagination,

p. 25And ev'ry high thing that doth ſelf and fleſh

Exalt againſt the Lord my God; I wiſh

And earneſtly deſire that I might be

So dying to the world, the world to me,

Transform'd by the renewing of my mind,

And not conform'd unto the world, but find

The Art to know and prove what is that good,

That perfect, acceptable will of God;

And that I might the pow'r of Jeſus know,

The power of his Reſurrection, ſo

The fellowſhip of his dear ſuffering;

That my poor ſoul might be in ev'ry thing

And his diſpoſe, and while I've life and breath,

So made conformable unto his death,

That if by any means I might attain

The reſurrection of the dead, and gain

To be conform'd to th' Image of the Son,

Who 'mongſt the many Brethren was firſt-born,

That I in heart and mind might dwell no more

Here on the earth, but in my ſpirit ſore,

Reſt, dwell, and live, and walk, and climb

Into that Paradiſe, that Throne ſublime,

Where Chriſt doth ſit in ſhining glory, he

I'de there be with, and ever with him be:

With which moſt glorious place O Lord affect

My ſtony heart, that I may have reſpect

To nothing more, nor nothing more ſo eye,

Than that reward that's in Eternity,

That ſo my ſoul may have the ſtrength to bear

The troubles I am like to meet with here,

p. 26That in the darkeſt diſmal'ſt time and day,

No trouble may my ſoul amaze nor fray.

And take away the Clouds and Miſts that be

Sometimes between my heart, my ſoul and thee,

That ſometimes vails from me that love & light,

And hides thy face and glory from my ſight,

Which makes my ſoul for to lament and mourn,

Such troubles are too heavy to be born.

And ſuffer not my ſoul no more to live

So much below that glory thou wilt give

To thoſe that love thy Name, to thoſe that fear

The Lord thy Chriſt, and wait when he'l appear

And fill my heart and ſoul with ſuch a meaſure

Of Light, in that eſtimable treaſure,

That I by Faith thy glorious face may ſee,

With which my ſoul may ſtill refreſhed be,

And always have aſſurance of thy love,

By that ſweet ſealing-Spirit from above.

Take up my thoughts into thoſe endleſs joys,

Let me no longer live upon thoſe toys

That's here on earth, thoſe paſſing earthly things,

That rather to my ſoul diſquiet brings,

Than any joy or comfort, Lord I find,

There's nothing in this world gives peace of mind.

In that Celeſtial place where thou doſt dwell,

That place of glory that no tongue can tell,

Nor mortal eye hath ſeen, nor heart conceive

What's there in ſtore for them that do believe,

There where thy Preſence is, there's fulneſs, ſtore

Of joy and pleaſures, now and evermore.

p. 27Then, by thy Spirit give me to behold

The Glory of thy Self, to me unfold

That moſt tranſcendant Beauty, and that Light,

Where Angels worſhip thee both day and night;

That though no heart is able to conceive it,

Nor mortal eye perceive the Brightneſs of it,

Nor tongue relate what things are laid up there,

For them that do thee love, and ſerve, and fear;

And though I can't the leaſt of Mercies merit,

Yet Lord reveal them to me by thy Spirit,

That I may daily more and more ſo ſlight,

So diſeſteem the world, that I ſo might

Juſt as a pilgrim-ſtranger, travel here,

So freed from all the world and worldly care,

That I might never think my ſelf at home,

Until I find that City that's to come.

Before thou canſt arrive this bleſſed Port,

And enter in this Haven, ſuch a ſort

Of waves and tempeſts may againſt thee riſe,

Which Satan will againſt thee ſo deviſe,

To keep thee off by force, with wind & weather,

Unleſs thou play the man thou't ne'r come thither:

Then look about thee and conſider well,

And hearken unto what I ſhall thee tell;

Thou ſeeſt thou haſt a journey now to go,

Be careful that thou doſt it travel ſo,

Still caſting off thoſe things that may thee let,

That thou may'ſt ſafely to the end on't get.

Thou art no other than a ſtranger here,

A ſojourner as all thy fathers were.

p. 28Then think not thou ſhalt be ſo kindly us'd,

For ſtrangers many times are much abus'd;

Though ſtrangers ſhould be all received well,

And entertained be; it all times fell

That ſojourners, and ſuch as ſtrangers be,

Which travel towards Heav'ns eternity,

That holy City, Heav'nly Canaan,

Did find ſmall friendſhip here from any man;

Our fathers, Abraham, and Iſaac too,

With Jacob, and the reſt, did find it ſo:

For they did live as ſtrangers in the Land,

Which was by Promiſe their own Country, and

Becauſe they ſought a City God had made,

That had foundations, he the baſis laid,

The builder and the maker of the ſame

Was he alone: they from their Country came

To ſojourn in the Land of Promiſe, when

God call'd them forth out of their Country, then

They ſought by Faith another Country, where

They ſhould have reſt from travel, and the care

That uſually attends the way they went,

To heav'ly Canaan where they were bent

To go through thick and thin, what ere it coſt,

The end would make amends for all they loſt;

They all did die in Faith, did not receive

The Promiſe, yet the Promiſe did believe.

And if, my ſoul, thou doſt intend to go

In that ſame path they went thou'lt find it ſo,

That thou art but a Pilgrim-Stranger here,

A Travellor unto a Country, where

p. 29Thou wilt a Reſting-place enjoy indeed,

Then go not back, but on the way proceed:

Think it no hard thing thou ſhouldſt be a ſtranger,

And that thou art attended with ſuch danger

In thy own native Country; nay, that place,

That very City, which with ſuch diſgrace

Hath thee abur'd with ſuch contempt and ſcorn,

In which thou were both bred, brought up & born;

Who ſhould of right a Mother be to thee,

And thou her Child defend from injurie,

And from whoſe breaſts thou ſhouldſt ſuch nouriſhment,

And not from her ſuſtain ſuch detriment

As thou haſt done, and ſtill art like to do,

If ſhe ſo much degenerate into

A Monſter ſo unnatural and ſtrong,

Without all pity to devour her young:

If thou hadſt unto her ſome Rebel bin,

Then juſtly might ſhe puniſh thee for ſin:

If thou by Oaths hadſt made her Land to mourn,

That were a thing ſhe ought not to have born;

Or, hadſt thou by ſuch foul debauchery,

Her glory blemiſh'd with ſuch infamy,

As ſome have done, ſhe ought not to refrain

From ſuch Corrections as might thee reſtrain;

Or, hadſt thou given any cauſe unto

Her righteouſly or juſtly to purſue

Thee at this rate, as for ſome time ſhe'th done,

Then let her never own thee for her ſon,

But caſt thee off as one to be rejected,

And nevermore by her to be reſpected.

p. 30But if thou haſt in nothing her offended,

Nor any evil to her haſt intended;

If thou haſt rather laboured her to ſave

From thoſe great Evils, which God's Judgements have

Been threatned long againſt her glory, then

Why ſhould ſhe evilly intreat thee, when

Thou ſpeak'ſt ſomtimes, yet keepſt within thy ſtation,

Againſt her ſins, ſin ſhameth any Nation,

And will at length bring down that dreadful Wrath

Of that just God, whoſe Judgments on the Earth

Have oft been manifeſted on ſuch places,

To do uncleanneſs who have ſet their faces,

And have rejected counſel, who did harden

Their hearts like to a ſtone, ſuch God won't pardon,

Though he will ſuffer long, and preſently

Don't rain down Fire and Brimſtom from on high;

As once he did on Sodom, who the ſtrangers

That Lot receiv'd, who, like devouring rangers,

The Angels hunted for about Lot's door,

Until they ſmitten were with blindneſs ſore;

Nor would they hearken unto Lot's advice,

But griev'd his foul, perſiſted in ſuch vice

That did from Heav'n bring down God's Wrath &c. Ire,

Conſum'd they were with his eternal Fire.

Doſt thou to London do ſuch injury,

When thou reprovd'ſt her ſins ſo modeſtly,

That no exceptions juſtly can be taken,

To that end too that London might awaken,

And from her ſins return, repent, and live,

And never more ſuch great occaſion give

p. 31To God, whoſe Wrath revealed is from Heav'n

Againſt all ſuch unrighteouſneſs of men,

That Truth withhold in all unrighteouſneſs,

And live in every kind of viciouſneſs,

As ſhe hath done for many years, and doth

By crying ſins call down for God's great Wrath:

And is there any way ſhe can prevent

The Wrath of God, except ſhe do repent?

Then is not he her friend that doth reprove

Her for her crying ſins, ſo much in love

To her and hers, that alwayes prayes ſhe may

Be kept from thoſe ſore plagues, that ev'ry day

Hangs ore her head, and will for certain be

Upon her on a ſudden, and then ſhe

May cry, Alas! would we had counſel taken,

We had not then been now of God forſaken.

But if for what thy duty is, ſhe do

Become ſo far thy enemy and foe

To perſecute thee for't yet more and more,

And uſe thee ten times worſe than heretofore

She did, yet go thou on, and never ceaſe

To cry aloud and ſpare not, ſpeak no peace

To ſuch as hate reproof, and ſuch as take

Delight in ſerving ſin; elſe may'ſt thou make

Thy ſelf partake with them as guilty be,

As they are of their own iniquity:

For ſo doth duty bind, and love to thoſe

Who for thy love are now become ſuch foes

To thee, that how to ruine thee they ſeek,

And quite undo thy Wife and Children eke,

p. 32Though badly they require thy love and pains,

As for to let thee have no better gains,

Yet this will comfort be unto thee ſtill,

That God will recompence thy wrongs, and will

For what thou doſt in love to him, reward

Thee for't, and will aſſuredly regard

Thy ſighs and groanings, which are ſecretly

Put up to him, into his ears they fly;

His heart they move, his piercing eyes to pity;

But Wo will be to the oppreſſing City.

VVhat ere the uſage be thou meetſt with here,

It can't be worſe than what thy Saviour dear

Did find and meet with from the hands of them

That were his Country-men, for unto him

They gave but ſorry entertainment too,

Although the beſt they had was but his due:

For him they ſtigmatiz'd with names ſo bad,

They ſaid he had a Devil, and was mad,

And call'd him Belzebub, they were ſo bold;

Much more then will they them of his houſhold.

The Servant is not greater than his Lord.

If they no better welcome could afford

To give to him that was the Lord of all:

Thy entertainment then can be but ſmall,

Who art a ſtranger in thy Country now;

A Freeman, yet a Foreigner, then how

Canſt thou expect to be accommodated

Where thou a ſtranger art, and ſo much hated,

By ſuch as don't thee know, nor can't thee love,

Becauſe thou art a Child born from above;

p. 33And yet thou doſt no more require, alas,

Than quietly in peace along to paſs

Unto the moſt Celeſtial Canaan,

No injury thou't do to any man:

No bread thou doſt not ſeek to have, or eat,

But what's thine own, no nor no other meat;

Their Gold nor Silver neither doſt thou crave;

As for their Honour none of it thou't have:

And yet, like Eſau, they prove ſo unkind,

Thou canſt not through this world a paſſage find,

To go in peace, without the fear of danger,

Unto that Country where thou art no ſtranger;

But go thou muſt, there is no remedy,

'Tis but a folly by the way to lye.

Shouldſt thou go back and from that Country run,

Take opportunity for to return

Back to the vomit, or unto the mire,

As thou maiſt many have, if thou deſire

To live at eaſe, and take thy pleaſure here;

But then be ſure thou't loſe the glory there,

And like to Eſau, fall to ſo much dotage,

To ſell thy Birthright for a meſs of pottage.

Thenf or a Pilgrim ſtranger thy ſelf take,

Thou art no other; no proviſion make

But what may ſerve thee in thy journey here,

That is enough, then take no further care;

Conſider, here no biding-place haſt thou,

No City that continue will, then how

Shouldſt thou that care that is inordinate

Caſt off, leſt thou ſhouldſt ſurfeit with it ſtrait?

p. 34Or it be in thee like to weeds and thorns,

Far worſe then all the cruel mocks and ſcorns

That thou maiſt meet with in this pilgrim-ſtate

From all the Seed of Iſhmael, who hate

The free-born Children, and the heav'nly Seed,

Which do the Land of Promiſe chiefly heed;

But caſt thy care on God, and be content

With Food and Rayment, which he hath thee ſent,

And hither to provided hath for thee;

Then let thy care be caſt on him, for he

Doth care for thee and thine, and alwayes will;

Then let thy care be only to fulfill

His bleſſed mind, and how thou maiſt him pleaſe,

To do his Will brings moſt content and eaſe.

Conſider that the World doth paſs away,

There's nothing in't that will long with thee ſtay,

Nor nothing in't that brings true comfort neither,

But he that doth Gods will abides for ever.

Why ſhouldſt thou then ſeek great things for thy ſelf?

Nay, ſeek them not, not any worldly wealth,

It is but labour loſt, if thou hadſt got

The world; for all its glory profits not:

But rather will a hindrance prove to thee,

No furtherance at all the world can be

In this thy journey, which thou now muſt go,

Then love it not, but count it for thy ſo.

Remember Godlineſs is ſuch great gain,

Together with Contentment, if attain

Unto't thou doſt, it will thee richer make

Than all the world can do, then nere forſake

p. 35That way in which thou maiſt be rich in faith,

There's none is truly rich but he that hath

That durable and everlaſting treaſure

Which far exceeds the glory, wealth and pleaſure

That all the world affords; if one had all

Which is therein, its glory is but ſmall;

For on the greateſt of it may be writ,

All is but tranſitory, and not fit

For none but thoſe that will no other have,

Which leaves men ere they get unto the grave;

Thoſe mind no more then what will bring them thither

Tho there they part, & cannot go together:

But Heav'nly treaſure is not of this kind,

A man can never leave this wealth behind;

The dead are bleſs'd that in the Lord do dye,

They reſt from labour, and their work doth hie

To follow after them; they have no loſs,

Death unto ſuch produceth no ſuch croſs,

Their wealth to loſe, for them to dye is gain,

Becauſe with Chriſt they'l evermore remain.

What bleſſedneſs is like unto this bliſs!

What riches is comparable to this!

Though one be poor, yet making many rich;

And though one nothing have, to be one which

Poſſeſſeth all things, and can ſay, All's mine,

And unto him that doth believe, all's thine;

Gods Miniſters are yours, the world withall,

And life and death, this ſubſtance is not ſmall;

Things preſent and to come are alſo yours;

It can't be known what wealth true faith procures:

p. 36He only is the wealthy happy man

That reads God's precious promiſes, and can

Believe and truly ſay, that theſe are made

To him in Chriſt; what ere in them is ſaid

He can by Faith apply, by Faith can ſee

That none of them are Yea and Nay, but Yea,

In Chriſt Yea and Amen, all of them are

To him that in them through Chriſt hath a ſhare.

According to our Proverb 'tis the fate

Of that man to be poor that God doth hate;

And ſuch are they that doth oppreſſion uſe,

And do the innocent therewith abuſe;

Who are corrupt and partial in the Law,

That do the poor and needy tear and claw,

Like to a Lyon, or a ranging Bear,

So wicked Rulers to the people are,

Which do encourage thoſe that evil do,

But do the righteous Lion-like purſue;

That do abhor the upright man, and hate

Him likewiſe that rebuketh in the Gate;

That Judgment turn to Wormwood, & who hath

Left executing Righteouſneſs on earth;

Whoſe treading is upon the poor, who make

That man their prey that doth their ways forſake,

Or that departeth from iniquity,

Such they account for mad men, and who buy

The needy for a pair of ſhoes, the poor

That buy for ſilver, by oppreſsion ſore

Such cauſe the righteous man to howle and cry,

With violence the earth is covered, by

p. 37Their turning Judgement backward into Gall,

The fruit of Righteouſneſs to Hemlock, all

Such men are very poor, though very rich;

This is an Orthodox truth, but very which

May ſeem to be a Paradox to thoſe

That love the world, and have its honor choſe.

Then ſee my ſoul thou doſt not fret at him

That ſeems to proſper in his way, not them

That know no ſorrow like to other men;

Whoſe eyes ſtand out with fatneſs, and whoſe pen

Writes grievouſneſs, which thing they have preſcribed

To turn aſide from judgment, unleſs bribed;

The needy and the right of him that's poor,

They take away, and by oppreſsion ſore

The Widow doth become to them a prey,

And th' fatherleſs are robbed ev'ry day;

Although with fat ſuch have got ſhining faces,

Yet they (my ſoul) do ſtand in ſlippery places;

Then envy not their great proſperity,

Their breath is in their noſtrils, they muſt dye;

Though pride doth compaſs ſuch as with a chain,

And violence, yet ſuch men are but vain;

They in their beſt eſtate are vanity,

And ſo are all things elſe beneath the sky;

And God will bring ſuch men to deſolation,

The wicked ſhall not ſtand in th' Congregation

Of the upright; ſuch are but as a dream

In which a man in's ſleep doth think and deem

He hath much wealth; but when he doth awaken,

He finds it but a dream, himſelf miſtaken.

p. 38So are ſuch men, the Lord will ſure deſpiſe

Their Image when he doth awake and riſe

To call them down into deſtruction, then

They'l know that God's the Lord, and that he can

Them in a moment viſit all with horror,

And can them utterly conſume with terror.

If this be ſo, thou haſt no cauſe to fear,

The fear of man will bring thee to a ſnare▪

Truſt thou in God, and then thou wilt be ſafe,

For God thy God ſuch ſtrength and power hath,

Thou needſt not fear what man, a worm, can do,

Whoſe dayes are as a ſpan, his hours few;

Who is as graſs that flouriſheth to day,

But on the morrow goes quite to decay.

Poor man is juſt like to a famous flower,

That liveth now, but cropt and gone next hour;

His dayes are like unto a Wevers Shuttle,

So like to glaſs, or ſome ſuch brittle mettle;

So frail is man, though of his ſtrength he boaſt,

His life is wind, he ſoon doth come to duſt.

Though he in pride may ſwell, and think to riſe

Above the Rocks, nay ſore above the skies,

Yet he muſt dye, and waſteth then away,

When once death comes, death wil for no man ſtay

Though he be one as great as great may be,

Man giveth up the ghoſt, and where is he?

Then as thou doſt along thy Journey go,

I hope thou'lt ne're forget thy Maker ſo,

To fear the Graſs ſo much thou goeſt by,

Or any famous Flower thou doſt eſpye,

p. 39To quit thy journey for ſuch fading duſt

As Graſs and Flowers are, which ſhortly muſt

Be made as ſtubble; for the wicked ſhall,

And then be burnt as in an Oven, all

Be made as aſhes underneath the feet

Of them that they did evilly entreat;

Why ſhouldſt thou fear them then, what fear can be?

The wicked fear where no fear is, and flee

When none doth them purſue, away they go,

But ſure the righteous man doth ne're do lo:

For though ten thouſand doth his ſoul inviron.

He doth not fear, but bold is as a Lyon:

If thou doſt hearken unto Wiſdoms voice,

And lay her words up in thy heart as choice,

As precious ſtones, as ſilver, or as gold,

Now lend an ear, for Wiſdom hath thee told,

That thou though in a Gaol, ſhalt ſafely dwell,

The righteous map, with him it ſhall go well;

He lives in quiet from the fear of evil,

Of Bears or Lyons, Tygers or the Devil:

Thou haſt no cauſe, my Soul, thy foes to dread,

Didſt ever ſee or know, or hear or read

That any at the Gibbet or the Stake,

That thither came for Truth, or for the ſake

Of Jeſus Chriſt; did any ever find

Him prove unfaithful, or ſo much unkind,

To leave them in that needful time and hour

Of great temptation, and he not impowr

Their ſouls ſo far that they could bear the Croſs

With joy, eſteeming it their gain, no loſs

p. 40To loſe their lives? which loſs they did endure,

Which did to them eternal life procure.

And hath not God this promiſe made to thee,

That thou by him ſhalt ne're forſaken be?

Was't ever known that any were aſham'd

That truſted in him, though they might be blam'd

By wicked men? Indeed they all times were

Accounted evil, and ſuch men as are

Not fit to live; this was the caſe of Paul,

How did the wicked Jews reproach and call

Him Heretick and mover of Sedition,

For preaching of the Doctrine of Contrition,

That they might of that horrid ſin repent

In crucifying Chriſt, to which intent

He labour'd much with no ſmall jeopardy,

In loſing Life and Liberty thereby?

Yet he the work Chriſt call'd him to, would follow,

For which they counted him a wicked fellow,

And ſometime cryed out againſt him, than,

You men of Iſrael help, this is the man

Who is ſo peſtilent, hath ſuch a face,

So impudent, that he this holy place

Hath now poluted; this is alſo he

That teacheth all men every where to be

(As we our ſelves have oft times heard and ſaw)

Againſt this Place, the People and the Law.

They ſometimes fall on him, and him they beat,

And ſometimes bring him to the Judgement-ſeat:

Sometimes againſt him inſurrections make,

That ſo they might the more occaſion take

p. 41Him to accuſe of making Uproars, when

They were themſelves, and none but they the men.

Before the Judgment-Seat they him accuſe

To be the man that doth their Law abuſe.

This is the man, ſay they, that here doth preach,

For he in ev'ry place all times doth teach

To worſhip God contrary to the Laws,

And therefore he's a man we have juſt cauſe

To cry againſt, and unto him to give

Sore puniſhment, for he's not fit to live.

The Wicked do the Godly all abhor.

This was not only Paul's condition: for

When Chriſt was preach'd, the unbelieving Jews

Were mov'd with envy at that bleſſed news,

And took unto themſelves, by Luke's report,

Men that were lewd and of the baſer fort,

And brought together ſuch as they could get,

To make an Uproar, and the houſe beſet

Of Jaſon, in whoſe houſe ſome Brethren were

Met altogether in the Name and Fear

Of Jeſus Chriſt, whom theſe lewd fellows ſought,

To that intent that they them might have brought

Forth to the people, them for to abuſe,

It may be ſtone them, or ſome way ſo uſe

The Brethren, that the Jews might have their will,

Which for to have, no matter who they kill.

But God, which hath the ſtrength of envy bound,

Did ſo provide, the men could not be found;

But Jaſon they did take, and certain more,

Whom they did drag, and draw, and pull before

p. 42The Rulers of the City, crying, Theſe

Were at a Meeting, may your worſhips pleaſe,

In Jaſon's houſe, we now did take them there;

Theſe are the men that make us all to fear:

For they the world have turned up-ſide-down,

And here were met together in our Town,

Whom Jaſon hath receiv'd; all theſe men do

Contrary to the Laws of Ceſar, who

Doth ſay (and that doth moſt of all displeaſe us)

There is another King, which is one JESUS.

Beſides all theſe, the Prophets who of old

Did ſuffer much, as Scripture hath us told:

For Daniel was put in the Lions Den,

Becauſe he pray'd. Remember thoſe three men,

Nam'd Shadrach, Meſhach, and Abednego,

Who for Truth's ſake by men were uſed ſo,

As to be in a fiery Furnace caſt;

But they did not thoſe cruel burnings taſt,

For God did them preſerve, to let thee know

That he is able thee to keep alſo.

With Ahab good Elijah needs muſt be

The man that troubled Iſrael, though he

Was not; but un…o Ahab boldly ſaith,

Thou art the man thy ſelf that trouble hath

Brought unto Iſrael; 'tis no… I …hat am

The man, but thou that follow…ſt Balaam.

It was one portion of good Jeremy,

For he, good man, was uſed cruelly,

They kept him in the Dungeon night and day,

Until his feet ſtuck faſt in miry clay.

p. 43And others tortur'd were, they not accepting

Of their deliv'rance, neither yet reſpecting

Their lives, nor any thing to ſave or gain,

A better Reſurrection to obtain.

And ſome of cruel mockings tryal had,

And ſcourgings too, their uſage was ſo bad;

And yet they joyful were, and well content

To ſuffer Bonds, endure Impriſonment;

And ſome were ſtoned and were ſawn aſſunder,

Such inhumanity would make one wonder

That wicked men ſhould ere ſo wicked be,

To exerciſe ſuch barb'rous crueltie.

Theſe tempted were, ſome with the ſword were ſlain,

Some wandered about, to and again,

In Goat and Sheep-skins, being deſtitute,

The wicked did them ſtill ſo perſecute.

Theſe were afflicted and were much tormented,

And yet their Zeal for God they ne're repented.

Some wandered in Deſarts, and in Caves,

Becauſe they would not be the Devil's ſlaves:

In Dens likewiſe and Mountains of the Earth,

Although they were the Heirs of Heav'n by birth.

Theſe all were men whoſe graces made them lovly

Of whom this wicked world was nothing worthy:

Theſe all a very good report obtain,

They di'd in Faith, and ſuffer'd not in vain;

For they in Heav'n their Saviours face ſhall ſee,

When thoſe that perſecuted them ſhall be

In hell tormented with the Devil ſore,

And all thoſe evil Angels evermore.

p. 44Thou ſeeſt, my ſoul, it was the portion now

Of better men than thee to ſuffer, how

Shouldſt thou rejoyce in bon…s, them gladly take,

Becauſe thou art in bonds for Jeſus ſake?

Let no diſcouragement upon thee ſeize,

God can deliver thee when he doth pleaſe,

And will, no doubt, when he ſhall think it fit;

His time's the beſt, which time is not come yet.

But if he will not thee deliver, then

Wilt thou ſubmit unto the luſts of men?

No, fall not down to Gold, nor Word nor Stone,

But worſhip thou the Lord thy God alone;

Nor fall not in with what is mans invention,

Let that, my ſoul, be never thy intention:

What ere it be that may befall thee here,

Go on thy journey, do thou nothing fear

But Chriſt; thy Jeſus will be with thee ſtill,

And give thee ſtrength, thy heart with comfort fil;

Then hye thee on, thy life is as a race,

Keep on thy way, there's but a little ſpace

Of time but thou thy race wilt run to th'end,

Then ſlothful be'nt, but rather thy pace mend;

Neither turn back, nor into by paths ſtep,

And thou the benefit thereof wilt reap;

Be'nt weary, faint not, follow this way ſtill;

The other is the broad way, and that will

Lead to deſtruction; many that way find:

This leads to Life, then loyter no behind,

But like a nimble Racer, run thy Race;

And that thou maiſt the better run apace,

p. 45So run as one that doth not beat the air,

Nor of thy ſinful body make no ſpare,

But keep it down, elſe thou the fool wilt play,

Faint and give ore, and be a caſt-away.

Good Racers when a Race they run, they ſtrip,

That ſo they may the better leap and skip

Through all the dirt, and ore the hills and wayes

That they may meet with in their racing playes:

They mind the Gole to touch, to win the Prize,

Ther's nothing more that they have in their eyes.

So thou, my ſoul, ſee that thou caſt away

All weights that in thy running may thee ſtay;

The ſin that doth ſo eaſily beſet thee

Be ſure thou lay aſide, for that will let thee;

With patience run the Race thou haſt to run,

The end is Rest, when thou the Prize haſt won.

As thou a Journey haſt, my ſoul, to go,

As thou a Pilgrim-ſtranger art alſo;

And as thou haſt a Race to run, ſo now

Give ear unto me once again, for thou

Wilt in this Race and Journey have ſuch foes,

As will aſſault thee many times with blows,

And therefore thou a Souldier too muſt be

The fight of Faith to fight couragiouſlie;

For potent Enemies thou haſt a many;

But t'help thee in this fight thou haſt not any

Save him that is the Captain of Salvation,

Yet ſtand unto't, be ſure thou keep thy ſtation.

There are a ſort of enemies will ſally

Forth to confront thee, and will ſtoutly rally

p. 46Up all their force with malice and with ſpight

To overcome thee in this warlike fight:

For know, thou art not only now to wreſtle

With fleſh and blood, but others will thee juſtle;

For lofty Powers and Principalities

VVill new make war with thee, againſt thee riſe,

As once Goliah did 'gainſt little David,

If thou a coward art thou't be out braved:

Beſides thoſe Principalities and Powers

That will lay ſiege againſt thee dayes and hours,

There's Rulers of the darkneſs of this world,

That 'gainſt thee many fiery darts have hurl'd,

VVith wicked ſpirits which are in high places

VVill all againſt thee proudly ſet their faces,

And thou againſt them all muſt now engage,

And ſtoutly on them fall, their pride aſſwage;

Then ne'r give ore, give them no place nor room,

But fight on ſtoutly till thou overcome.

That ſo thou maiſt, it's very good I ſee

Thou ſhouldſt now know from whence thy ſtrength muſt be;

For thou againſt this rabble in thy ſight

Haſt go… no ſtrength nor pow'r, no force nor might;

For all thy ſtrength is only from the Lord,

Fear not, engage, he will thee ſtrength afford,

And will thee fill with courage to the brim;

Go on, but let thy eyes be towards him:

If thou good courage take and play thy part,

He is engag'd to ſtrengthen thy weak heart:

The quarrel is the Lord's, thou needſt not fear

But he'l be with thee both in front and rear,

p. 47And fight thy battels for thee alwayes, ſo

That thou ſhalt be a terror to thy foe,

And bring him to thy foot with ſuch contrition,

He'l lay his weapons down with all ſubmiſſion.

But leſt thy frailties ſhould ſtart ſome objection,

And want ſome ſatisfaction and direction

How thou this Fight of Faith maiſt fight & manage

With ſuch diſcretion, prudence and advantage

All times unto thy ſelf againſt thy foes,

That thou maiſt wound and ſmite them with ſuch blows

As may prove fatal to them, and may crown

Thee with the Victory, I'le here lay down

Such Rules as may prove helpful unto thee,

Then take good heed to them, and theſe they be.

Firſt, in this fight, my ſoul, do'nt fail to take

God's Armour, for no doubt but that will make

Thee able to withſtand in ſuch a day

As evil is, that thou maiſt give no way

Nor ground to any foes or enemies,

For if thou ſhouldſt they will thee ſoon ſurpriſe;

Stand therefore to't thy loyns begirt about

With Truth, leſt they ſhould put thee to the rout;

And never fail to have that Breaſtplate on

Of Righteouſneſs, ev'n Jeſus Chriſt alone;

Thy feet ſhod with the Preparation of

The Gospel, Peace, Atonement, Grace and Love;

Above all, take the Shield of Faith, whereby

Thou maiſt with eaſe at all times conſtantly

Quench all the fiery darts of all the wicked,

Until thou haſt their wiles and ſnares detected:

p. 48For Satan's ſuch a fearful coward, he

Will never ſtand thee long, but from thee flee.

Do thou by Faith, reſiſt him ſtedfaſtly,

He'l take his heels and ſtraight away he'l fly.

Forget not in this Fight, this warlike ſtation,

To take to thee the Helmet of Salvation;

Nor go not forth to fight without that Sword,

The Sword of the Spirit, God's holy Word;

And alwayes pray with Prayer and Supplication,

With fervent, conſtant, earnest Interceſſion;

So in the Spirit watching thereuntoo,

That no Temptation may thee ſo purſue,

Not Satan may not foil thee nor's adherance,

Watch thou to pray'r with conſtant perſeverance.

When all this Armour put on thee thou haſt,

And art aſſured it is fixed faſt,

Then march forth bravely in this warlike poſture,

So full of ſtrength and proweſs, might and luſter,

Thy foes to conquer, kill, ſlay and ſubdue,

Until there be no more left to purſue

Thee any longer with their wiles and ſnares,

Nor thee no more diſturb with warlike cares.

And ſeeing now, my ſoul, I have thee told

What Armour thou muſt have thy ground to hold,

Wi…h me of which thou maiſt thy ſelf defend

From all thy foes, and hold out to the end,

And overcome: but now it's requiſit

I ſhould not leave thee ſo, leſt thou forgit

What is thy duty, what thou maiſt procure

In thoſe great Conflicts which thou wilt endure.

p. 49Then firſt, it's needful thou ſhouldſt underſtand

Who is thy Captain, under whoſe Command

And Conduct thou a Souldier now art liſted,

To be commanded by, to be aſſiſted

And taught thy Arms to handle, and to uſe

With greateſt diſadvantage to thy foes:

Then know, my ſoul, thy Captain is no other

Than Jeſus Chriſt, thy Prince, thy elder Brother,

Who did before thee in this War engage,

VVhen he was here upon this earthly ſtage;

VVho by his valour, ſtrength, courage and might,

Did all his foes o'recome and vanquiſh quite:

He trampled on the world, the fleſh, the Devil,

And ne're was overcome by any evil.

Though he his precious Blood and Life did loſe,

'Twas for thy ſake; the Grave could no way chuſe

But yeild him up; He had the victory

O're Grave and Death, that potent Enemy,

For which he is rewarded, he's exalted

At Gods right hand, though yet he is aſſaulted

By thoſe his foes that now afflict his members,

But they he'l make as duſt, or as the embers.

He hath thy foes already ſo annoy'd;

The world he overcame, the works deſtroy'd

Of Satan and his Imps, ſo far that thou

Need'ſt not to fear them to encounter now.

Then, O my ſoul, be ſure that out of hand

Thou ready art to be at his command;

VVhere e're he lead thee, fail thou not to follow;

Make no excuſe, nor ſay thou'lt come to morrow:

p. 50Delays may prove of ſuch great danger, ſo

Thou maiſt repent thou didſt not run and go

At his command, to Jayle and Baniſhment,

To death with joy, without aſtoniſhment,

To great reproach, to ſtripes, to mockings, and

To have moſt cruel uſage at the hand

Of wicked men, the bondſlaves of the Devil,

Who are at his command, to do what evil

He ſhall appoint them to, ſo ready they

His Helliſh precepts all are to obey:

But let them be as ready as they will

The precepts of the Devil to fulfil,

Be thou more ready far them to withſtand,

Than they can be to be at his command:

For they his ſervants are whom they obey,

And he their Maſter will their wages pay;

A ſervice bad, the wages is more evil,

When he that pays them wages is the Devil.

But leaving them a while their Maſter to,

We will on with our preſent matter go:

If thou'lt an expert, faithful Souldier be,

Then don't receive commands from none but he

Who is thy Captain, under whoſe command

Thou haſt avowed (live or dye) to ſtand

To't ſtill, and fight whilſt thou haſt life and breath,

Ne're to give o're, but faithful be to death:

His voice then hear, his precepts keen, and now

I'le tell thee what he ſaith to thee, and how,

And who thou muſt be careful of they don't

Prevail and ſpoil thee, for ſome will affront

p. 51Thee many ways with ſundry ſudden bouts,

And will attempt to give thee many routs.

Beat up thy Quarters, put thee to the run,

So thou the Crown maiſt loſe when all is done,

Unleſs, my ſoul, (as thou a ſouldier art)

Thou play the man, a valiant ſouldiers part.

Then learn thy poſtures well, handle thy Arms,

And know it is one of thy great concerns

To ſtand upon thy Guard, and keep thy tower,

And always watch againſt the crafty power

Of ſin, the Devil, and his depths and wiles

With which he ſeeketh, labours, toils and moyls

Thee to deceive, delude, deſtroy, devour

Like to a roaring Lyon ev'ry hour;

Whom fail not to reſiſt with that good ſhield

Of Faith, and he will of her flie or yeild.

Beſides the Devil, I would have thee know,

The worlds become thy cruel, deſperate foe:

Thou art not of the world, but choſen now

Out of the world by Jeſus Chriſt; then how

I… hated him, it alſo will hate thee,

While thou haſt life, 'twill be thine enemy:

Nor will it love thee, though it love its own,

The reaſon is, becauſe it hath not known

Thy Father nor his Son thy precious Lord,

And therefore 'tis the world wil not afford

No better entertainment than theſe bands,

With threats, reproofs & ſcorns from ſcoffers hands;

And yet ſomtimes the world, what e'rs the matter,

Will ſpeak thee very fair, will cog and flatter;

p. 52But truſt it not, when with its fading things

It doth lay ſiege againſt thee, and then brings

Such troops of foes which preſently ſet on,

Who'l bid defiance to thee with much ſcorn,

And fall to ſcale thy works, and take thy Fort

With ſuch attempts, ſo ſtrong, in ſuch a ſort,

That if thou doſt not quit thy ſelf, thou'lt yeild,

And like a Coward faint and loſe the field.

Stand then upon thy watch, keep here thy guard,

Leſt thou be foild, and loſe thy great reward.

Let nothing of the world, though ne're ſo brave,

Make thee thereof a good opinion have:

But uſe thy ſhield of Faith, defend thy ſelf;

The world hath nothing in't but empty wealth:

And take thy Sword in hand, of this be ſure,

The ſiege nor battel will not long endure:

That ſhield of Faith the world will overcome;

But when this fight doth end, there's in the room

Another fight; one field's no ſooner won,

But preſently another war's begun.

For there is yet another foe that will

Lie ſecretly in wait thy blood to ſpill;

That are ſo-cloſe, and ſtill in ambuſhcado,

But will not make an onſet with bravado,

Except they catch thee careleſs by the by,

Then furiouſly they will upon thee flye:

But elſe theſe ſecretly lurk here and there,

Waiting to take thee ere thou art aware:

For theſe baſe foes are ſuch as be employ'd

By Satan and his Imps, the world beſide,

p. 53And often by them us'd, that ſo they may

By means of theſe, and by their help betray

Thee to their hands, and ſo unto their will,

That they may triumph over thee, and fill

Themſelves with ſuch revenge, with ſuch great ire,

That they of thee may have what they deſire.

Then of this foe take ſuch a ſpecial care,

Leſt thou by it be brought into ſome ſnare:

For this proud foe (my ſoul) is not without thee,

Thou doſt at all times carry this about thee,

It lies within thy boſome all the day,

At night, at home, abroad, and on the way:

Thou never go'ſt no where, no time without it,

Its alwayes with thee in thy ſecret Cloſet;

Nay, when thou art the moſt and beſt retir'd,

And in thy thoughts moſt clear, and leſs bemir'd,

Turmoil'd or troubled leaſt with ſuch affairs

As tend to thy diſturbance, freeſt from cares,

And think'ſt thy ſelf ſecure and moſt at reſt,

Then will this adverſary play his beſt,

So craftily will labour night and day

To get thee faſt aſleep, that ſo he may

With fine enticing wiles and complements,

Wherewith he's fitted unto all intents

And purpoſes whatever, by the Devil,

The Father and the Author of all evil,

That he might flatter thee, and cog and wo

To that by guile, by force he could not do.

Of this cloſe enemy then have a care,

Him wound and kill, of him make thou no ſpare,

p. 54Which that thou maiſt with conſtant courage do,

I'le now go tell thee who is this proud fo;

This enemy of thine, I tell thee plain,

Are thy own Luſts, who will with might and main

Wage war and fight (but craftily) againſt thee,

With pleaſing baits they'l labour to deceive thee,

And ſooner with the world than thee they'l join,

(Uſe ſtratagems they may, thy heart t'purloin)

And with the Devil too, but they will have

Thee made their vaſſal and their captive-ſlave:

And to accompliſh this, they will thee tell,

Thou art a fooliſh man, and doſt not well

To lie in Priſon when thou maiſt conform,

And keep thy ſelf from ſuch another ſtorm:

And likewiſe they'l ſuggeſt the world's a glory,

A famous, lovely thing, or ſuch like ſtory;

The wealth and honor of it worth the having,

The love of money, nothing elſe worth ſaving;

The friendſhip of the world is very good,

That which a man may have, and yet love God;

And that it would be mighty fine and brave,

If thou ſhouldſt ſuch or ſuch a Living have.

And O how gallant would it he to meet

An honorable perſon in the ſtreet,

If ſuch a one ſhould kindly thee ſalute,

And entertain, with complements to boot,

Give thee reſpect, and offer favours, and,

I am your ſervant Sir, at your command:

Then ſtand not out, thou fool, but with them cloſe,

They may become thy friends that are thy foes,

p. 55And by that means thou maiſt thy ſtate much better

Than now it is by far; and that were fitter

Than thus to lye in Gaol, and ſpend thy little;

Why ſure thou ſhouldſt be of another mettle:

There was a time when thou didſt look more high

Than ſo; for ſhame, wilt thou in New gate lie,

That diſmal, ſtinking, foul and filthy place?

Fye, be aſham'd thy ſelf ſo to diſgrace.

With theſe and ſuch like things thy fleſh would pleaſe,

And ſo delight thee by propoſing eaſe

And pleaſures of the world, that ſo they might

Cauſe thee to love the world, and make thee ſlight

Thy watch, thy guard, and garriſons and all,

And then, what then? thou'rt gone, and ſoon wilt fall

Into the pit, the ſnare that they have made,

To take thee in on purpoſe they it laid.

Well then, its time about thee now to look,

Account it mercy that thou art not took;

Prize it, and well conſider that its now

High time to uſe what ſtrength thou canſt; but how

To manage this affair againſt this ſo,

Come learn of Chriſt, hee'l ſhew thee what to do;

His Grace implore, if thou doſt wiſdom lack,

Ask it of God, he will not turn thee back,

Nor thee upbraid, he giveth liberally,

Ask thou in faith, he will not thee deny.

Moreover, if thou mean'ſt the field to win,

Abſtain from ev'ry luſt, all kind of ſin;

Thy members on the earth now mortifie,

To all of them ſee that thou daily dye.

p. 56Account thy ſelf alive to God; to ſin

Live not, but dye, if thou the field wilt win:

Abſtain from all appearances of evil,

Abhor the works of darkneſs and the Devil.

As for thy fleſh proviſion no time make

The luſts thereof to ſatisfie, nor take

No pleaſure in a fleſhly, carnal mind,

Nor in a frothy ſpirit; thou wilt find

Them hurtful to thee, prethee me believe,

A carnal mind doth oft God's Spirit grieve.

For they that have a fleſhly, carnal heart,

Stil mind the fleſh, and with their luſts won't part:

But ſuch as are born of the holy Spirit,

Will mind thoſe things they ſhall one day inherit.

Beſides, a carnal mind to death will lead,

And many foul and filthy luſt doth breed.

But to be minded ſpiritually,

Is life and peace to perpetuity:

A carnal mind 'gainſt God is enmity,

Nor is it ſubject to his Law; but why?

Becauſe it is an evil, ill diſeaſe,

Who ever hath it, can by no means pleaſe

The Lord; for thou maiſt well be ſure of this,

He that Chriſts Spirit hath not, is not his:

This is my (ſoul) a Maxime certainly,

Who lives after the fleſh, ſhall ſurely dye;

But If thou by the Spirit doſt endeavour

To mortifie the fleſh, thou'lt live for ever.

Now here's the war, the battel is begun,

Hold out my ſoul, till thou the field haſt won.

p. 57The fleſh againſt the Spirit now will luſt,

The ſpirit againſt the fleſh; theſe twain are juſt

Contrary unto each in oppoſition;

There can nor muſt be granted no admiſsion

Of peace or of agreement 'twixt theſe twain;

Then give not o're till thou the fleſh haſt ſlain:

Nor lend no ear to what thy fleſh doth ſay,

But fervently in Faith againſt it pray;

And take thy Sword, that holy Word of God,

To thy aſsiſtance, 'twill thee help afford;

And hide it in thy heart, lay't up within,

That thou againſt the Lord maiſt never ſin;

Thou wilt not be aſham'd when thou ſhalt have

Reſpect to all his Precepts, and them crave;

As for thoſe things wherewith the fleſh doth ſtill

Seek to deceive thee, and doth ſometimes kill

Thee with ſo many fancies, and thy mind

Diſturb with them, and ſeek thy eyes to blind,

Thou might'ſt not ſee the glory that's beyond

The Grave, and tell thee often that its fond

To think of ſuch and ſuch brave things above,

But would have thee the world embrace and love:

But hearken unto me, I'le thee inform

How thou againſt this Enemy ſhalt arm.

Now then my ſoul ſuppoſe (wee'l put the caſe)

That thou ſhouldſt be ſo cowardly and baſe

To hearken to the fleſh, and to it cleave,

And ſhouldſt it follow, and the Spirit leave;

And put the caſe my ſoul that thereby then

Thou ſhouldſt become as great as any man,

p. 58Encreas'd with wealth, and worldly honor have,

Be counted wiſe, enjoy what ere is brave;

Have th' world and all its glory in a ſtring

So much, that thou needſt not want any thing

The fleſh can wiſh, or what thy heart can crave,

But it command, and preſently it have:

And what if with all theſe vain things together,

Thou ſhouldſt a Rapier wear, a Hat and Feather,

And be ſo proud, ſo lofty and ſo ſtout,

That from a man thou'lt ſcorn to take a flout;

And be ſo full of complements, and gallant,

So full of valour, quarrelſome and val'ant,

That if one ſhould but give to thee the lye,

Make no more on't, but ſtab him preſently?

Suppoſe, I ſay, that thou hadſt all theſe things,

And all the glory this world with it brings,

What art the near? in death they can't thee ſerve,

Nor from his dreadful ſtrokes thy life preſerve.

For when the King of terrors to thee comes

Thee to arreſt and ſeize, then all the ſums

The world affords, if all of them were thine,

Would inſufficient be, there's no ſuch Fine

That he of thee will take, thy life to ſpare,

Thy life muſt go, he will not ſtay nor care

For all the world, if thou the world couldſt give,

Then dye thou muſt, and muſt no longer live,

And go to duſt, and leave the world behind thee;

And as thou dy'ſt, juſt ſo ſhall judgment find thee;

For after death there is a day to come,

Which ſome men call the dreadful day of doom;

p. 59A dreadful day indeed, a day of wrath,

Too late then to repent thee of that froath

Thou livedſt in while thou waſt here ſo brave,

And then wilt rue that ere thou waſt a ſlave

Unto the fleſh, the devil, and the world,

If head-long into Hell thou ſhouldſt be hurld.

Oh then (my ſoul) conſider well, and ſee

That all the world will nothing profit thee;

For there's a time to come that ſhall, and will

All thoſe that ſerve their luſts, with horror fill;

When Kings & Captains, Freemen, Rich & Poor,

Bond-men, and great and mighty men ſhall roar

And cry unto the Mountains and the Rocks,

And hide themſelves in holes and dens, in flocks:

Call to the Mountains, Fall on us, and hide

Us from this Throne, befor't we can't abide,

To come to ſee the dreadful face of him

That ſits thereon, ſo diſmal is this time.

We liv'd in pleaſure in time paſt, and mock't

At theſe things then, not thinking we were lockt

So faſt in chains of darkneſs as we ſee

We were: Oh what a righteous Judge is he!

We often call'd upon him us to damn;

Now Rocks fall on us, hide us from the Lamb,

And from this wrath of his, this dreadful doom,

For now the great day of his wrath is come.

Put caſe, my ſoul, that thou ſhouldſt be among

This fearful rout, this miſerable throng,

As out of doubt thou wilt, if thou give way

Unto the fleſh, to pleaſure Dalilah,

p. 60And all the treaſure in the world were thine,

The wealthy Silver, and the Golden Mine;

What wouldſt thou better be? it's nothing worth,

For't can't deliver in this day of wrath.

But come, my ſoul, wee'l back a little walk,

And then wee'l have a little further talk.

By no means fall to dote upon thy luſt,

And hearken not to them; the world as duſt

Is blown before the wind; then be

Content to hear a little more from me.

Suppoſe thou ſhouldſt unto the fleſh give place,

How wouldſt thou look thy Jeſus in the face,

If thou ſhouldſt turn his love and graciouſneſs

Into debauch'ry and laſciviouſneſs?

Nay, though thou ſhouldſt not be ſo much unclean,

So groſly wicked, vile, and ſo obſcene,

So openly prophane, as ſome now are,

But outwardly to carry't pretty fair:

Yet when that day ſhall come whereof we ſpake,

'Twill make thee tremble and thy heart to ake:

When Chriſt ſhall come and ſhall exalted be,

Hee'l find out them that love hypocriſie:

When Zion ſhall be fill'd with righteouſneſs,

And Hypocrites ſurpriz'd with fearfulneſs,

Then ſinners will in Zion be afraid,

With fear aſtoniſht, very much diſmai'd.

Canſt thou, my ſoul, delight to be or dwel

Within devouring fire? or canſt thou tell

How dreadful 'tis? or canſt thou make good chear

Where everlaſting, cruel burnings are?

p. 61No, no, thou canſt not; that's a diſmal day,

There is no end thereof, the pain's for aye.

But now ſuppoſe that no ſuch thing would be,

No wrath to come, no pain or miſerie,

Canſt be content the joyes of Heav'n to loſe,

To gratifie thy luſts, thy mortal foes?

For Heav'n and Glory's ſuch a place, that there

None that's unclean can have a part or ſhare.

But put the caſe there were no joys to be;

What, wouldſt thou with thy fleſhly luſts agree,

So ill requite that Love and Grace ſo great,

Thoſe many entertainments choice and ſweet,

That God hath given thee, though thou a fo

Wert unto him, or to his Grace alſo?

Or wouldſt thou love the World, or turn thy back

Upon dear Jeſus, who was never ſlack

Nor ſlow to do thee all that bleſſed good

That with his honor and thy welfare ſtood?

How couldſt forget his kindneſs, love and grace

With which he doth thee many times embrace!

His gracious condeſcention that was ſeen

In him, when for thy ſake he dy'd between

Two thieves; for thee the wrath of God he bore,

He undertook for thee, and paid thy ſcore:

In him thou liv'ſt, and mov'ſt, and haſt a being,

Through Chriſt thy Lord comes all ſupplies; then ſeing

His grace is ſuch, then be not thou ungrateful

Ingratitude to God or man is hateful:

Where Grace is truly wrought, what cauſe to fear

Is there of Hell? 'twil work although there were

p. 62No joys in Heav'n; that ſoul don't work to merit

The pleaſures there, if he them do inherit,

He'l ſay it is of Grace, and not deſert,

And ſuch a one hath learn'd and got the art

To love dear Chriſt, and love him will and muſt,

Becauſe dear Chriſt was pleas'd to love him firſt.

Again, my ſoul, Ile tell thee one thing more,

We have a Proverb, Store can be no ſore:

Shouldſt thou the world embrace, and Chriſt deny,

Riches will take them wings, away they'l fly;

Thou maiſt be took from them, or they from thee;

Of worldly wealth there is no certainty.

Suppoſe thou ſhouldſt ſome Honor have, and be

As great, as ſtout, as ſtrong, as wiſe as he

That hath as much of theſe as any have,

And be reſpected by the wiſe and grave:

Theſe are but broken Reeds to lean upon,

No man can help thee in the day of doom;

As doth the poor, ſo muſt the rich man dye

And come to Judgement, great men are a lye.

What though thou doſt ſome goods and credit loſe

Becauſe thou wilt not ſin, but rather chuſe

To ſuffer for the ſake and Cauſe of him

That will repay thee all thy loſs agin?

Then think not much at any think that's loſt,

For Chriſt he was for thee at greater coſt

Than thou canſt be for him; his precious blood

Was ſhed to do thee everlaſting good.

Then doſt thou loſe thy All for his dear ſake?

He did it lend, then he his own may take.

p. 63Thou naked cam'ſt out of thy Mothers womb,

And naked muſt return unto thy tomb:

Thou brought'ſt nought with thee, nought canſt carry hence;

Serve Chriſt thy Prince with what thou haſt, from whence

All came thou haſt; then all that ere thoul't have,

At his good ſervice beſt, who came to ſave

Thee from thy ſins, and from the wrath to come;

Then offer up to him thy All, and ſome;

And think it not a heavy burden, nor

Below thee thus to live, and ſuffer for

That Cauſe thou art engag'd in; think't no ſhame

To lye in New gate for the ſake and Name

Of thy dear Jeſus, who hath thee eſteem'd

Worthy to bear his Name, and thee redeem'd,

Who art a nothing, worthleſs worm, ſo vile,

So full of frailties, ready to beguile

Thy ſelf; that he (I ſay) ſhould thee employ

In ſuch a Work or Cauſe, and ſhould thereby

Give thee to ſee his love, himſelf make known

More unto thee than heretofore was ſhown,

And let thee ſee and know thy ſelf, and give

Thee ſtrength to bear reproach, a Jayl, and live

In full aſſurance that he wil appear,

Whom thou ſhalt ſee and meet with in the air,

And all his Saints that dyed for his Word,

And they and thee be ever with the Lord.

If his moſt glorious face thou'lt ever ſee,

And live and reign with him eternallie,

With Chriſt, I ſay, in reſt and endly glory,

Then hearken now, my ſoul, unto this ſtory.

p. 64Thou ſeeſt a Souldier thou art now engag'd

To fight againſt this Rabble that hath wag'd

War with thee many times each day and hour,

To bring thee to ſubmit unto their power;

By ſnares and wiles, the Serpent with his wiſdom

Doth labour hard to make thee of his Kingdom;

Then labour thou as hard with all thy might

To break his ſnares, to know his wiles, to fight

Againſt this Power of death and darkneſs, ſo

That thou maiſt give the Devil ſuch a blow,

That he with his dark Kingdom may loſe ground,

Till they ſhall fall, and never more be found.

Then for thy further information know,

The Devil will for ever be thy fo,

And wil the foe of all men ever be,

And them beguile with feigned flatterie;

Do thou reſolve his works and him to hate,

And never bite nor taſt the Devils baite;

But him reſiſt, withſtand, and alwayes be

For evermore the Devils enemy.

If ſo, my ſoul, thou muſt not think to pleaſe

Thy fleſhly luſts, nor think to live at eaſe,

But hardneſs, as a Souldier, muſt endure,

A Souldiers life is ſuch, thou muſt be ſure;

But pleaſe thy Captain, he that hath thee choſen

To be a Souldier, thy aſſections looſen

From ſuch affairs as now may hinder thee

From ſerving him, whoſe Souldier thou muſt be

To fight this fight of Faith; if thou intend

To overcome, then hold out to the end:

p. 65For thoſe that overcome, the Spirit ſaith,

And do his Works, continue in the Faith;

That keep his holy Word, his Word of Patience,

Shall be exalted, they ſhall rule the Nations;

And he that overcomes, the ſame ſhall be

A Pillar in God's holy Temple, he

Shall go no more from thence out of the ſame,

But Jeſus Chriſt will write on him the Name

Of God, and of the City that is nam'd

The New Jeruſalem, ſo greatly fam'd

For beauty, glory, wealth, that cometh down

From God, and out of Heav'n, where there are none

Can entrance have, which doth not overcome

Both, Sin, the World, and Satan, where's no room

For ſuch: for none but them that do prevail

Shall cloathed be in white, ſuch ſhall not fail

To ſit with Chriſt in glory on his Throne,

And ſing the praiſe of God the Lord alone:

And though by fighting none can nothing merit;

He muſt orecome that will all things inherit.

Then now my ſoul, it's good thou ponder well

What is thy work while thou on earth doſt dwell.

Make it thy ſtudy how thou maiſt be found

In Faith and Holineſs more to abound:

Behold what beauty is in Chriſt thy Jeſus,

Him love and prize, for he is very precious;

Solace thy ſelf with love, his Love ſo choice,

Delight to do his Will, to hear his Voice:

What though in ſtrait and narrow paths he lead?

He in thoſe paths thy ſoul doth ſweetly feed;

p. 66Thou haſt by good experience found and known

That in thoſe paths thou walkeſt not alone,

But he goes with thee, leading by the hand

Thee where thou canſt not hardly go or ſtand,

And makes thoſe ſtrait and narrow wayes to be

So pleaſant and ſo eaſie unto thee,

That thou canſt walk thoſe paths with ſo much eaſe

That many times they much delight and pleaſe

Thee ſo, that thou maiſt ſay, and never ceaſe,

His wayes are Pleaſantneſs, his paths are Peace.

What though no beauty nor no comlineſs

Be ſeen in him by wiſe men, ne'retheleſs

Think ne'r the worſe of him, but love him throughly,

Though he be black, he is exceeding lovely:

Set thy affections on him, ſo delight

In his refreſhing Preſence day and night,

That thou communion with him maiſt maintain,

And labour in his Fear more of't to gain:

Bear thou his Image, learn of him to be

More humble, harmleſs, holy, that as he

A perfect pattern was, ſo is he ſtill;

Him follow fully, and no doubt he will

So entertain thee with ſuch great delights,

So raviſhing thy heart with heav'nly ſights,

Thou wilt be ſo inflam'd, in Love ſo grow

With Heav'n, thou't live no more on Earth below.

My ſoul ſing praiſe unto the Lord;

Declare his mighty Works abroad,

p. 67Praiſe thou his great and holy Name,

That men his wondrous Works may know,

His mighty Acts do thou forth ſhow,

His Glory, Kingdom, and his Fame.

Who though thou waſt a poor poſthume,

He kept thee in thy mothers womb,

And there and then thy life preſerv'd;

He brought thee forth, and gave thee breath,

And oft deliver'd thee from death,

Though thou hadſt nought of him deſerv'd.

When thou hungſt on thy mothers breaſt,

And on her milk didſt richly feaſt,

He was thy God, and did thee keep;

He watch'd ore thee, and did defend

Thee from that fierce infernal Fiend,

He ſlumbred not, nor did he ſleep.

Thou waſt a Child, and Parentleſs,

Praiſe thou the Lord, his goodneſs bleſs;

He rais'd thee up a faithful Friend,

That was a Mother unto thee;

This was his goodneſs verilie:

Praiſe thou the Lord world without end.

All this the Lord did, that he might

Open thy eyes, and clear thy ſight,

That thou maiſt underſtand and ſee

His Goodneſs, Mercy, Grace and Truth,

Which thou beheldſt whilſt but a youth:

To him the glory, honour be.

p. 68And though thy troubles have been great

With which thou haſt in this world met,

They never could make thee to yeeld;

He never in them thee forſook,

But on thee did in mercy look,

And for thee car'd, and thee upheld.

What reaſon then haſt thou to fear,

Or think he will not for thee care

In theſe thy bonds and captive-ſtate;

Such good experience thou haſt ſeen

Of him, from time to time, I mean,

When ere thou waſt in any ſtrait.

What needſt thou care for all thy foes?

There's none of them but he well knows,

And knows the way how to prevent

Them all from doing thee that harm,

Which they do threaten when they ſtorm,

And may be often their intent.

What though the world againſt thee riſe,

With tongues of falſhood and of lyes,

In him alone put thou thy truſt;

And though they perſecute thee ſore,

And hate thee without cauſe the more,

Praiſe thou the righteous God moſt juſt.

My ſoul then magnifie the Lord,

Let all his Saints like praiſe afford,

His Praiſes ſing both night and day;

p. 69He hath regard to all the meek,

He ſtrengthens thoſe that are but weak;

Let all Saints ſing Hallelujah.

Well now, my ſoul, wee'l leave a while & reſt,

And then we will diſcourſe again, it's beſt;

I think we ſhould talk next of other matter;

And foraſmuch as it is now the latter

Moſt evil times, of which we are forewarn'd

By Chriſt himſelf, 'tis good we ſhould be arm'd

Againſt the perils which that time attends;

Then if the Lord us help, and to us lends

Aſſiſtance, we will ſpeak of ſuch a thing

As may unto our mind and mem'ry bring

What Judgments God intends, and hath in ſtore

Againſt that great and Scarlet-coloured Whore;

And of that glorious, bleſſed, holy Day,

When Chriſt ſhall ſit upon his Throne for aye.