Comfortable Cordials Against Discomfortable Fears, Title page – Dedication
COMFORTABLE CORDIALS, AGAINST DISCOMFORTABLE Feares of Impriſonment, and other ſufferings in good cauſes. Containing ſome Latine Verſes, Sentences, and Texts of Scripture, written by Mr. WILLIAM PRYNNE on his Chamber walles in the Tower of London, during his Impriſonment there; ſince Tranſlated by him into Engliſh VERSE.
2 CORINTHIANS 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11.
Bleſſed be God, even the Father of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that wee may bee able to comfort them which are in any troubles by the comfort wherewith we our ſelves are comforted of God. For as the ſufferings of Chriſt abound in us, ſo our conſolation alſo aboundeth by Chriſt. And whether wee be afflicted, it is for your conſolation, & ſalvation, which is effectuall in enduring of the ſame ſufferings, which we alſo ſuffered: or whether wee bee comforted, it is for your conſolation and ſalvation. And our hope of you is ſtedfaſt; knowing that as you are partakers of the ſufferings, ſo alſo you ſhall be of the conſolation. For we would not, Brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Aſia, that we were preſſed out of meaſure above ſtrength, in ſo much that wee deſpaired even of life. But we had the ſentence of death in our ſelves, that we ſhould not truſt in our ſelves but in God which raiſeth the dead: who delivered us from ſo great a death, and doth deliver; in whom we truſt, that he will yet deliver us: you alſo helping together by Prayer for us, that for the gift beſtowed upon us, by the meanes of many perſons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.
Printed Anno. 1641.
TO THE RIGHT VVORShipfull his very Noble and highly Honoured good Friend, SIR WILLIAM BALFORE Knight, Lievtenant of the Tower of LONDON.
SIR, it were Ingratitude and Injury,
For me in ſilence here to paſſe you by,
And not preſent theſe Cordialls unto you,
Sith they, and all my ſervice are your due,
For all your Noble Favours in the Tower,
Which have ingag'd me to my utmoſt power,
To be your eternally devoted poore Friend and ſervant, WILLIAM PRYNNE.
COMFORTABLE CORDIALLS, OR Latine Verſes and Sentences, written by Mr. William Prynne on his Chamber Walls in the Tower of London, during his Impriſonment there; Since tranſlated into Engliſh by him.
1.
TRanſtulit in Coelum Chriſti praeſentia Clauſtrum:
Quid faciet Coelo, quae Coelum jam creat Antro?
Chriſts preſence hath my Priſon turn'd into
A bleſſed Heaven; what then will it doe
In Heav'n hereafter, when it now creates
Heav'n in a Dungeon? Goales, to Courts tranſlates?
2.
Stigmata Chriſticolis, ſplendentia ſidera; ſanguis,
Purpura regalis; mutilataque Membra, Decorum;
Vincula, gemmatus Torques; Opprobria, plauſus;
Vulnera, Martyrium; M…rs; Vita; Gravamina, Lucrum.
Optima cun…ba piis, Triſtiſſima ſola miniſtrant;
V…ica Crux ſanctis, Via, Ianua, ſumma ſalutis.
Brands, unto Chriſtians are bright Starres; Blood ſpent,
A Royall Purple; Maym'd Limbes, Ornament;
Bonds, Chaines of Pearle; Reproaches, Praiſe (no ſtaine)
Wounds, Martyrdome; Death, Life; Oppreſſions, Gaine.
To godly men the ſaddeſt fates only
All beſt things bring, and their joyes multiply;
The Croſſe alone to Saints is the high way,
Gate, ſumme of ſafety, Meanes of endleſſe Joy:
3.
Chriſtus ubique pium comitatur; Carceris Antrum
Ingreditur: Turres. Denſiſſima M…enia, Rupes,
Foſſas, Ferratas Portas Obstacula, Flammas
Permeat intrepidus; ſocius ſolamen, Amicus,
Omnia ſecluſis, ſolus; ſaturatque benignus
Deliciis ſuperum ſitientia Corda ſuorum,oan. 20. 19.
Diſcipulis foribus cluſis intravit amaenus,
Chriſticolis clauſis habitat conviva perennis.
O fortunatus cui Con-captivus Ieſus,
Laetiſicans radiis triſtiſſima Clauſtra ſupernis;
Vincula non illum, Tormenta gravamina moeſtum
Efficiunt, animum retinentem utcunque ſorenum.
Chriſt every where accompanies good Men;
He goes with them into the Priſons Den;
The Towers, thickeſt Walls broad ditches, Gates,
Of Iron, Barracadoes, Flames and Graces
Doth boldly paſſe through; proves Companion,
Friend, ſolace, all things of himſelfe alone;
VntoUnto cloſe Priſoners and fills plenteouſly
The thirſty ſoules of his, with heavenly
Delights. *John 20: 19. Hee entered in the dores faſt ſhut
To his Diſciples, them to comfort; but
With godly priſoners he's a conſtant gueſſe
Reſides; O happic he who doth poſſeſſe
Chriſt for his Fellow-priſoner, who doth gladde
With heavenly Sunbeames, Goales that are moſt ſad,
Bonds, Torments, Briſons, make not him ſad; he
Retaines a quiet mind how ere things be.
4.
Nullat o…us vinctus Chriſti virtute ſolutus;
Permanet immunis, cluſus vel Carcore Vinclis.
Liber ubique, pius, placidus, benedictus, amoenus,
Indomitus; tacitum circumfert pectore Coelum:
Triſtia Laetificans, Moeſtisſima cuncta ſerenans;
Vincula diſentiens, arctiſſima clauſtra recludens.
He is not bound whom CHRIST hath made free; he
Though ſhut cloſe Priſoner, chaind, remains ſtill free,
A godly Man's at large in every place,
Still cheerefull, well content, in bleſſed caſe,
Vnconquer'd; he a ſecret Heaven ſtill beares
About within his breſt, which ſad things cheares,
Diſpells his blackeſt cloudes of griefe, off ſhakes
His chaines; and cloſeſt priſons open makes.
5.
Vincula non Animam cohibent, haud carcere cluſam:
Sidera tranſvolitat, Terram, Mare, cuncta pererrat
Alipes, immenſi fines tranſcendit Olympi;
Limit is impations, arctari neſcia Mundi
Cancellis; tantum requieſcens Numine vaſte;
Seeurus, placiduſque Piis, vel turbine, Pertus;
No bands the ſoule of Man can once reſtraine;
No Priſon it incloſe, nor yet containe;
It ſoares above the Starres, and ſwiftly flyes
O're Earth, Sea, all things; mounts beyond the skies,
And bounds of the vaſt Heav'ns, impatient
Of Limits, ignorant how to be pent
Within the Rayles of this whole world; onelyonly
Reſting within the boundleſſe Deity;
A ſecure, pleaſant harbour to Godly
Men, even in a ſtorme of Miſery.
6.
Vincula quid trepidas? quid tela minantia? Flammas,
Vulnera? quid rabidi Tormenta, Cruceſve Tyranni?
Aſpera pro Chriſto, dulciſſima; qui DiademaRev. 2. 7. 11. 17. 21. c. 3. 5. 12. 21. c. 21. 7. 2 Tim. 1. 7. 8.
Vincenti Statuit, Lignique cruore paravit.
Scenicaturba Choros, ſpectacula, Tympana, Mimes,
Ludicra ſtuproſis celebret, ſpectetque Theatris;
Vincula Christicolae, Mutilatio, ſtigmata, Furcae
Gaudia plura ferunt, cumulataque Praemia condunt.
Hiſtrio, Scena, Iocus, ſaltatio, Maſcara, Cantus,
Riſus Sardonicos generant, fictoſque Cachinuos.
Cordolium verum, gemitus morſuſque perennes:
Dulcia poſt triſtant, peramara ſalute coronant.
Why fearſt thou Bonds? why threatnings? Weapons? Fires?
Wounds? why the torments, Croſſes or the Ires
Of raging Tyrants? ſith the ſharpeſt things
We undergoe for Chriſt, moſt ſweetnes brings.
who hath prepar'd and purchaſed for him
Who *Rev. 2. 7. 11. 17. 21. c. 3. 5. 12. 21. e 21. 7. 2 Tim. 4. 7. 8.overcomes, a glorious Diadem
By the Blood of his Croſſe. Let then the Crue
Of ſtage Frequenters celebrate, and view
Playes, Dances, Paſtimes, Players, ſports in baſe
And filthy Theaters, where growes no grace.
Chaines, Mutilations, Pillories, Brandes bring,
To godly Chriſtians farre more joyes, heaping
Moſt large rewards upon them. Players, Playes,
Jeſts, Dancing, Maskes, Songs, generate alwayes
But deadly Laughters, feigned ſhoutes; *…m 4. 9. 1 c. 5. 1.true griefe,
Sighes, laſting gripes of Conſcience, paſt reliefe.
Sweet worldly pleaſures ſtill in *Pro. 14. 13.ſadneſſe ceaſe;
When *2 Cor. 4. 17. 2. Tim. 2. 12.bittereſt ſufferings bring Crownes, ſafety, peace.
7.
Anlicus imbellis gemmis, Dominaeque Capillis
Auriculas onerat, magnoque decore venuſtat,
Stigma, Cicatrices, mutilatio pulchrius Aures
Chriſtigenae decorant, radiiſque micantibus ornant,
O Decus eximium referentia Vulnera Chriſtum:
Talibus inſignis ſuperis peramatus abibis.
Th'unmanly Courtier with his Miſtreſſe Haire,
And Jewels, lades his eares, to make them faire.
When as Brands, Scarres, and Croppings ſarre more dight
A Chriſtians eares, and make them ſhine more bright.
O Matchleſſe Glory, Woundes which Chriſt expreſſe!
Adorn'd with theſe, Gods love thou ſhalt poſſeſſe.
8.
Paſſio Coelipetis Alpha, at Solamen Omega:
Principium Lachrymis decoratur: Meta, Triumphis.
Suffering's their Alpha who to Heaven tend;
But Joy is their Omega finall end;
Their Entrance is adorn'd with teares of Woe,
Their end with Triumphs, which then griefes outgo.
9.
Nil Crus ſentit in Nervo, ſi Anima ſit in Coelo.
The Legg feeles nothing in the ſtockes, if the
Soule, minde, Affections in Heav'n placed be.
10.
Non timet in carcerem qui ſcit contemnere Libertatem,
Vitam, voluptatem, Famam: cui Mundus Ergaſtulum,
Terra Exilium, Dens habitaeulum, Mors Solatium.
He feares no priſon who knowes to deſpiſe
Freedome, Life, pleaſure, Fame, which others priſe:
To whom this world's a priſon; Earth, a place
Of Exile, God, a Manſion; Death, Solace.
11.
Servus Chriſti etiam in vinculis, Liber.
Servus Peccati etiam in ſumma Libertate captivus.
Chriſts Servants even in priſon are ſtill free:
Sinnes, in the greateſt freedome, captives bee.
12.
Nil corpus patitur in Ergaſtulo, ſi Animus ſit in Coelo.
The body ſuffers nought in priſon, when
The mind it ſelfe is lodged in Heaven.
13.
Quid Coelum ſine Deo, niſi Barathrum?
Quid Barathum cum Deo niſi Coelum?
What's Heav'n without God but a very Hell?
What's Hell but a Heav'n, if God once there dwell?
14.
Nullibi inearteratur, qui ubique in Chriſto liberatur:
Nunquam dejicitur, qui ſemper à Jehova ſuſtentatur.
He in no place can once impriſoned be,
Who in all places is *Joh. 8. 36. Gal. 5. 1.by Chriſt ſet free:
He never is *Pſal. 37. 24.dejected, who alway
Hath great Iehovah for his prop and ſtay.
15.
Nuſquam ſolus qui ubique cum Deo;
Nunquam Miſer qui ſemper cum Chriſto,
He never is alone, who every where
Hath God himſelfe, him company to beare,
He never can be miſerable, who
Is alwayes with Chriſt, who doth with him goe.
16.
Vbi Deus adeſt. ibi non eſt Carcer, ſed Paradiſus; Non Ergaſtulum,
Sed Palatium; non Barathrum, ſed Coelum.
Where God is preſent, there no Priſon is,
But a ſweet Paradiſe of Joy and bliſſe;
No Bridewell, but a Palace; no darke Cell,
But a bright Heaven, where all comforts dwell.
17.
Carcer probat Amicos, detegit Inimicos;
Excludit Mundum, includit Deum:
Alit virtutes, extinguit Libidines,
Edocet Temperantiam; cohibet Luxuriam;
Mortificat earnem, ſanctificat hominem;
Ingenerat gratiam, the ſaurizat Gloriam.
A priſon tries Mens friends, detects their Foes.
Shuts out the world, God to men doth incloſe;
Nouriſheth vertues, Luſts extinguiſheth;
Temperance teacheth, Riot reſtraineth,
Quite kills the fleſh, but makes the Man holy;
Ingenders Grace, *2 Cor. 4. 17. 2 Tim. 4. 8.and treaſures up glory.
18
Turris Chriſtianos fideles fictè incarcerat, verè liberat, Vnicum Dulciſſimum Chriſti lugum, [cui ſubjugari eſt perfectè manumitti] Imponendo: multiplicia gravisſimaque Carnis, peccati, Mundi, Diaboli vincula [quibus ill… queari, eſt certiſſimè captivari,) diſcutiendo.
The Tower true faithfull Chriſtians feinedly
Impriſons, but them ſets free verily,
By putting on them Chriſts ſweet yoake onelyonly,
To which to be ſubjected, is truely
To be enfranchiſed; by ſhaking off
The manifold, and moſt heavy chaines of
The fleſh, ſinne, World, Di'le; in which for to lye
Inſnarde, is to be captiv'd certainely.