Divine Meditations Raised from Three Leaves of Nature — William Prynne

Divine Meditations Raised from Three Leaves of Nature · William Prynne

A CHRISITAN PARADISE. OR A Divine Poſie, Compoſed of ſundry Flowers of Meditation, gathered from the ſweet and Heavenly Contemplation of the Nature, Fruites, and Qualities of Gardens.

THE PREFACE.

SOare up my Muſe upon the Eagles Wings,

Above the Clouds, and ſcrue up all thy ſtrings

Unto their Higheſt Straines, with Angels Layes

Mens Soules to raviſh, and their Hearts to raiſe

From Earth to Heaven, with thoſe ſweeteſt Notes

Which Gardens tender to thy plodding thoughts.

A Theame of Meditation, ſo Divine,

Rich, pleaſant, uſefull, that no golden Mine,

No Hony-Combe may once with it compare;

Lord Feaſt our Soules with its Coeleſtiall fare,

Fruites, pleaſures in ſuch wiſe, that they may ſtill

Loath this worlds Cates, with all things that are Ill,

Taſting no Pleaſure but in Things above,

The onelyonly Dainties which they ought to love.

A briefe Character of a Garden.

A Garden is an Earthly Paradiſe,

No mortall Creatures, but Gods owne deviſe,

(The aGen. 2. 8. 9.firſt who Planted Gardens, which began

At the Creation; God then binding Man,

(ThebGen. 1. 28. 29. c. 2. 8. 15. Lord of all his workes) to this ſweete Trade

To Keepe and Dreſſe the Garden he had made:

This was Mans firſt imployment; ſo as He

In this Reſpect a Gardner ſtil'd may be;

The firſt and beſt of Trades; whichcGen. 3. 6. to 20. Adams taſt

Of the forbidden fruite hath much debaſt,

And with it Gardens too, which thereby loſt

Much of their Pleaſure, to our Paine and coſt.

Yet in this dolefull State of ſinne, and vice;

They ſtill remaine Mans terrenedEccleſ. 2. 5. Paradiſe;

Yeelding not onelyonly Profit, but delight.

Foode, Cates, Salves, Phiſicke, Pleaſures to the ſight,

And other Senſes; ſolacing the Minde

With ſundry Objects which it there may finde,

It, and the Body to refreſh and cheare,

When as they tired, vexed, grieved are.

But this is nought to thoſe Soule-raviſhing,

Sweete, heavenly Meditations which doe ſpring

From Gardens, able to rap and inſpire

The coldeſt Muſe, with a Coeleſtiall fire;

Yea melt the flintieſt Heart, and it advance

Above the Spheares in a delightfull Trance?

Theſe make an Eden of each Garden-Plot,

And here are fallen to my Muſes Lot.

Meditations of the firſt Kinde.

1.

FIrſt then, a garden paints out to our Eyes

And Hearts, its primeeGen. 2. 8. 9. Inventor, God moſt wiſe;

Whoſe peereleſſefPſal. 104. 24. Dan. 2. 20. Pro. 3. 19. Jer. 10. 12. c. 51. 15. Epheſ. 3. 10. Col. 2. 3. Wiſedome, Art, skill ſhine moſt bright

In every Tree, Plant, Herbe, Flower which our ſight

Beholds in Gardens; whoſe variety.

In ſmell, taſte, colour, forme, fruite, quality,

And uſefull vertues for all maladies,

Wounds, Ulcers, Aches, ſtripes, Infirmities

Of Man and Beaſt, (ſo many that Mans Art

Hath not as yet found out the thouſand part

From Adams fall till now,) at large deſcry

Gods matchleſſe Art and wiſedome to each eye.

View we the goodly Colours, Beauty, Frame,

Embroidry, carving, fruites, leaves, rootes (which ſhame

And poſe all Artiſts) with the Joynts, and ſweete

Proportion of thoſe Parts, which in them meete;

And we muſt needes confeſſe him gPſal. 104. 24. 1 Tim. 1. 17.onelyonly wiſe

Who theſe rare peeces did at firſt deviſe,

Without a Patterne; and doth dayly raiſe

Such worlds of goodly Fabrickes to his praiſe.

O let our Hearts, words, workes, ſtill celebrate

HishPſal. 147 5. Job 36. 5 Rev. 7. 12. boundleſſe wiſedome, who did theſe create.

2.

That moſt tranſcendent Beauty which we ſee

With dayly admiration in each Tree,

Plant, Herbe, Carnation, Lilly, Tulip, Roſe,

With worlds of other Flowers, which the Noſe

Affect withiCant. 2. 12. c. 5. 13. pleaſant ſmels, and beautifie

The Earth and Gardens, more than ſtarres the skie,

Shining with rareſt Colours of each kinde,

So freſh, mixt, ſorted, that they rap the Minde

Into amazement; ſweetly manifeſt,

In ſome darke meaſure, to each pious Breaſt,

Gods moſt ſurpaſſingkPſal. 27. 4. Pſal. 90. 17. Beauty; to whoſel1 Tim. 6. 16. 1 Joh. 1. 5. Light

The Noone-day Sunnes more darke than any Night.

Why doe we then like doting Fooles admire

A comely Face, necke, hand, buſh, brave Attire,

Or waxe proud of them? (as moſt doe,) ſince graſſe,

Trees, mMat. 6. 28. 29. Luk. 12. 27 Iſa. 40. 6. 7. 8.Lillies, flow'rs, In beauty farre Surpaſſe

The faireſt Kings Queen's, Ladies, whoſe hands, face

And rich Array, compar'd to theſe, are baſe.

O! if we dote on Beauty, let the Rayes

Ofn1 Tim. 6. 16. Gods Eternall Glory, paſt all praiſe

And Comprehenſion, pierce, melt, rap, tranſport

Our Soules with oPſa. 116. 1. Pſal. 73. 25. 26. Pſal. 16. 2. 5. 6. 11.Love, & ſcorch them in ſuch ſort,

That they may ever burne with its ſweete flame,

And deeme all Beauty elſe not worth the Name;

Being imperfect,pIſa. 40. 6. 7. 8. Pſal. 103. 15. 16. Pſal. 90. 5. 6. 7. fading every Houre,

Not halfe ſo lovely, comely as a flower.

3.

Each Plant, Herbe, Roote, Graſſe, Flower which doth grow,

In Gardens, qPſal. 104. 1. 14. 15. 16. Jer. 10. 12. 13. c. 51. 15. c. 32. 17.Gods Almighty power forth ſhow.

Since all the Monarches, Artiſts, Men that live,

With all their might, wit, skill, can never give

Life to exiſtence to the ſmalleſt flower.

Much leſſe an Eſſence: O what little power

Is there in greateſt Kings; who cannot make

One Graſſe, Herbe, Plant, though Neſtors yeares they take

To doe it! O, what wondrous Potency

Is there in God! whoſe rGen. 1. & 2. Pſal. 104. 14. 15. 16. Pſa. 33. 6.word did inſtantly

Create all Creatures, Herbes, Trees, Plants that grow,

In Gardens, Orchards, Woods, Fields here below?

O let our Minds, when we theſe Creatures ſee,

Upon his sJer. 5…. 15. Dan. 2. 27.mighty Power ſtill fixed be:

Which as it tPſal. 104. 14. 15. 16. Pſal. 147. 8. Mich. 5. 7.dayly makes the faireſt Trees,

Plants, Herbes, and Flowers, ſpring by ſweete degrees

Out of the vileſt duſt; can likewiſe raiſe

Us from the very grave, his power to praiſe.

Be then ourvPſal. 116. 6. Pſa. 116. 6. Pſa. 40. 2. 3. Jer. 32. 17. 27. Eph. 3. 20. Caſes, Croſſes ne're ſo ill,

Take courage, God can mend them when he will;

And in due ſeaſon make us ſpring againe,

Like withered Plants, Herbes, Flowers, after raine.

4.

Gardens ſhew forth xPſal. 33. 5. Pſal. 65. 11. Gen. 1. 11. 12. 29. 30.Gods goodneſſe to mankinde,

Which he who ſeeth not in them, is quite blinde.

For, doth not that great, ſweete, variety

Of garden Plants, Fruites which delight the Eye

And other Senſes; eaſe, helpe, and redreſſe

All paines, wounds, ſores, diſeaſes that oppreſſe

Both Man and Beaſt; yeelding them Phyſick, Food,

Salves, Sauce, Cates, Cordialls, Fumes, Cloathes, all that's good

Or uſefull for them, plainely yPſal. 104. 24. Pſal. 145. 7. 15. 16.manifeſt

Gods gracious Bounty to each Man and Beaſt?

O what abundant Service,zPſal. 107. 8. 15. 21. Pſ. 145. 7. 8. Zech 9. 17. thankes, praiſe, Love,

Are due from Man unto his God above?

Who hath thus ſtored Gardens, fields, each place,

With ſuch great plenty of theſe gifts of grace?

O, let us bluſh that we ſerve, love, no more

God, who hath bleſt us with this happie ſtore.

And hence conclude in our Neceſſity,

That this good God willaPhil. 4. 19. all our Wants ſupply:

He who our Gardens doth with theſe things ſtore,

Our Bodies, Soules, will feed, feaſt, fill much more.

5.

A Garden like a Glaſſe, GodsbPſal. 104. 1. 14. 15. 16. Providence

Reflects moſt clearely, to the dulleſt ſenſe;

Who for Mans uſe and Service in each Clime,

Makes Trees, Plants, Herbes, Flowres, SeedescCant. 7. 12. c. 2. 12. 13. Gen. 1. 11. 12. 29. 30. ſpring in due time,

Which are moſt uſefull, fit to eaſe, heale, feede,

And helpe thoſe in the countries where they breed.

And placed neare him great variety

Of Herbes, Salves, Phiſicke, for each Malady,

Both eaſie, cheape and ready ſtill at hand,

If He their vertues did but underſtand.

O what a tenderdPſal. 8. 4. Job 7. 17. 18. Ezech. 47. 12. Care hath God of Man,

Thus to provide for each diſeaſe that can,

Or doth befall him, ſuch cheape, ready Cures!

OePſal. 145. 1. 2. 7. 21. praiſe him for this care which ſtill endures.

And ſith that He our wealth doth ſo reſpect,

Let usfDeut. 6. 12. c. 8. 11. take heede, we never him neglect;

Nor yet our ſelves, but thankefully gIſa. 38. 21. Ezech. 47. 12. 2 King. 8. 29.make uſe

Of what may to our Health, or eaſe conduce.

Lord, when we walke in Gardens to delight

Our mindes, or ſences, let the ſweeteſt ſight

Of Thee, and theſe thy Attributes, which they

Preſent moſt clearely to us day by day;

Rap up our Soules into ſuch Extaſies,

That they nought elſe but Thee; may love or priſe.

Meditations of the ſecond Ranke.

MOreover Gardens lively repreſent

Chriſt to our Eyes and Mindes, with bleſt content.

1.

For firſt, as Gardens, yeeld allhGen. 2. 8. to 17. Eccleſ. 2. 5. Jer. 29. 5. 28. Cant. 4. 16. c. 5. 1. 2. c. 6. 2. 3. 11. rarities

And pleaſant Objects to delight the Eyes

And other Sences; ſo all pleaſant, ſound

Soule-chearingi2 Cor. 1. 3. 4. 5. 6. Phil. 2. 7. 8. 9. Heb. 10. 33. 34. Comforts, Joyes in Chriſt are found.

Our Hearts to ſolace; whence moſt ſweetneſſe ſprings

When we taſte nought but Gall in other things:

O bleſſed Jeſus ſuch Soule raviſhing

Groves, ſtreames ofk2 Cor. 1. 3. 4. 5. 6. ſweeteſt Cordialls from Thee ſpring

To cheare our drooping Soules in all diſtreſſe,

That did they once butlPſal. 34. 8 taſte their luſhiouſneſſe,

And more than Honey ſweetneſſe, they would be

Rapt and mPſa. 73. 25. Cant. 2. 5. c. 5. 8.inamor'd with nought elſe but Thee.

O let me feele how good, how ſweete thou art.

Then thou alone ſhalt feaſt, fill, have mine Heart.

2.

Againe, as fruitefull Gardens bring ſorth ſtore

OfnEzech. 47. 12. Deut. 11. 10 1 King. 21. 2. Gen. 2. 9. Herbes, Receites, for every Sickeneſſe, ſore,

Wound, Ʋlcer, Ache that hapneth to Mankinde.

So in ouroIſa. 53. 4. 5. 6. 1 Joh. 1. 7. c. 2. 2. Rev. 1. 5. Saviour Chriſt, our Soules may finde

A Soveraigne Herbe, Balme, Salve for to appeaſe

Helpe, heale, each ſore, wound, ulcer, ach, diſeaſe

That doth or can them any times annoy,

Grieve, paine, perplex, or threate them to deſtroy:

Are then our Soules ſicke, wounded, like to dye

With any ſinne, or deadly Maladie;

O let us thenpMat. 11. 28. 29. c. 9. 11. 13. 1 Tim. 1. 15. reſort to Chriſt with ſpeede,

For Herbes, Salves, Phyſicke, all elſe that we neede;

Whoſeq1 Joh. 1. 7. Rev. 1. 5. Heb. 9. 14. Blood's a royall Balme, receipt to ſave

All Soules which from it helpe, health, Phiſicke crave.

3.

Gardens ſtill yeeld a pleaſant fragrantrGen. 27. 27 Hoſ. 14. 6. Cant. 2. 13. c. 4. 11. c. 7. 13. ſmell,

And rich perfumes; Chriſt doth them farre excell

In hissCant. 1. 3. 12. 13. 14. Eph. 5. 2. Cant. 5. 5. 13. Rev. 8. 3. 4. ſweete-ſmelling Odors, which aſcend

Into Gods Sacred Noſtrells, to amend

Perfume and ſweeten, all thoſe ſtinking, ſowre,

Ʋnſavory Prayers, which to God we powre,

In Chriſts ſweete Name; whoſe horrid ſent and ſtinke

(More Loath-ſome than the vileſt kennell, ſinke,)

Would elſe ſo muchtIſa. 64. 6. offend his Sacred Noſe

That he both it, and his Eares too would cloſe

Againſt them; yeavIſa. 1. 13. 14. 15. Pro. 28. 9. deteſt, both them and us;

Where now theſe Odors make them gracious,

FarrexRev. 8. 3. 4. ſweeter than the richeſt ſent that can

Be found out, to delight the Noſe of Man.

And as Chriſts fragrant perfumes farre excell

The ſweeteſt Incenſe, in his Fathers ſmell,

So doe they likewiſe in the ſent of thoſe

Whom he hath choſen; to whoſe Sacred Noſe

The fragrant'ſt Odors matcht withyCant. 1. 3. 12. 13. 14. Chriſts are ſtinke

And more unſavory than the fouleſt ſinke:

Sweete Jeſus let thy pleaſant perfumes move,

And raviſh all our Soules, with thy ſweete Love.

4.

Gardens have pleaſantzGen. 2. 10. Iſa. 53. 11. Cant. 4. 15. Fountaines, where we may

Our bodies bathe, and waſh their filth away,

Yea quench our thirſt, our heates coole, and revive

Thoſe Trees, Herbes, Plants that fade, and make them thrive.

Chriſt hath a pleaſantaIſa. 55. 1 Joh. 7. 37. 38. c. 4. 13. 4. 15. Jer. 2. 13. Zech. 13. 1. Rev. 1. 5. 1 Joh. 1. 7. Fountaine, Spring, or Well

Of ſweete and living waters, that excell

All others, ſpringing in him, where we may

Bathe, coole, refreſh our Soules, and waſh away

The filth of all our ſinnes; and eke revive

Our withering Graces, and them cauſe to thrive.

Lord ever ba the our Soules in this bleſt ſpring,

Which will both Health, Joy, ſafty to them bring.

5.

Moſt PleaſantbGen. 1. 11. 12. 22. 30. Gen. 2. 8. to 16. 1 King. 21. 1. Cant. 6. 2. c. 5. 1. &c. Hearbes, Rootes, Fruites in Gardens grow,

To feede and feaſt mens Pallats: Such fruites flow,

And ſpring from Chriſt, our Soules to fat, cMat. 11. 28. 29. Pſal. 63. 5. Pſal. 19. 10. Iſa. 25. 6.feaſt, cheare,

As farre ſurpaſſe all Cates that Gardens beare;

No Honey, Marrow, Manna may compare

With his rare ſweete-meates, and Coeleſtiall Fare.

O come anddPſal. 34. 8. taſte how ſweete Chriſts dainties be,

Then will we long to feaſt with None but He.

6.

Gardens are fraught with Arbors, Trees, whoſe ePſal. 80. 10. Hoſ. 4. 13. Jon. 4. 5. 6.ſhade

Cooles and repels Heate, ſtormes which would invade,

And ſcorch us ſore: Chriſt hath a fCant. 2. 3. Iſa. 25. 4. 5. c. 4. 6. c. 32. 2. Pſal. 121. 5. Pſal. 17. 8. 1 Theſ. 1. 10.ſhade moſt ſweete

Againſt all ſcalding Heates, all ſtormes we meete,

Yea from his Fathers burning Wrath and Rage,

Which none but he can quench, coole, or aſſwage:

O then in all ſuch ſcorching Flames ſtill fly

To Chriſts ſweete ſhade, for eaſe and remedy.

7.

Gardens are full ofgGen. 2. 8. to 17. c. 3. 1. 2. 3. Cant. 5. 1. c. 6. 2. Eccle. 2. 5. beauty and delight

And ſo is Chriſt in all his choſen's ſight;

None halfe ſohCant. 5. 9. 10. 11. comely, Lovely, faire as He,

In whom we nought but comelineſſe can ſee.

O let his beautyiCant. 5. 4. to 16. c. 8. 6. 7. Rom. 8. 38. 39. kindle ſuch a fire

In all our Soule, as never ſhall expire;

And may conſume all flames of luſtfull Love,

Wedding us onelyonly unto Chriſt above.

8.

Gardens are ever rich and fruitefull ground;

All uſefull Herbes,kGen. 2. 8. to 16. Iſa. 51. 3. c. 61. 11. Ezech. 28. 13. c. 31. 8. 9. c. 36. 35. Joel. 2. 3. Trees, fruites in them abound;

Chriſt is thelCant. 5. 10. Joh. 1. 1. 2. 16. Rom. 8. 29. Col. 2. 9. 10. beſt, prime peece of all Man-kind,

In whom alone all good things we may finde

At any ſeaſon, in ſuch copious ſtore,

As will ſuffice mankinde for evermore.

O then mIſa. 55. 1. 2. Jam. 1. 5. Joh. 1. 16.reſort to him for every thing

We want, in whom all good things grow and ſpring.

9.

The Seedes, Plants, Rootes which we would have to grow.

In Gardens, wenGen. 28. Iſa. 61. 11. Luk. 13. 19. there bury, ſet, or ſow:

So Chriſt that he might grow and fructifie,oJoh. 19. 41. 42.

Within apJoh. 20. 1. to 18. Garden did intombed lye,

WhereqMat. 28. 19. Mar. 16. 15. Col. 1. 5. 6. 23. Rom. 10. 18. Rev. 14. 6. Pſal. 19. 4. ſpringing up from death to life againe,

He fild theqMat. 28. 19. Mar. 16. 15. Col. 1. 5. 6. 23. Rom. 10. 18. Rev. 14. 6. Pſal. 19. 4. world with his increaſed traine;

Which Iury onelyonly did confine before,

But now the world, which ſcarce conteines his ſtore.

10.

Chriſt, here on earth did Gardens highly grace

rJoh. 18. 1. 2. 3. 26. c. 19. 41. 42. c. 20. 1. to 18.Reſorting oft unto them, in which place

He was betray'd, entomb'd, rais'd up, and then

Firſt there appear'd to Mary Magdalen.

Each Garden then we ſee, ſhould ſtill preſent

Chriſt to our ſight, minds, thoughts, with ſweete Content;

Wherein with Eyes of Faith, we may behold

Chriſt walking with us, as hesJoh. 18. 1. 2. walkt of old

With his Diſciples, to inſtruct, joy, cheare,

Our blind, ſad Hearts, and baniſh all their feare:

Here may we view falſetJoh. 18. 3. to 18. Judas, him betray,

With fained kiſſes; and thence lead away

With Bands of Catch-poles, arm'd with, Swords, Bills, ſtaves;

To teach us to beware ſuch flattering Knaves,

Who are moſt treacherous when they ſeeme moſt kind:

And that a Judas we ſhall ever finde

Amidſt Chriſts choyce Apoſtles; who for gaine

Will both betray Chriſt, and his choſen traine,

And them in their ſweete Gardens trap, ſurpriſe,

Where they no danger ſaw, nor could deviſe:

Here, may we eye vJoh. 19. 41. 42.Chriſt lying in his Tombe

To ſweeten death, and all our graves perfume.

Here may we ſee himxJoh. 20. 1. to 18. 1 Cor. 15. 54. 55. 56. 57. riſe up the third day

To conquer Death, and take his ſting away,

Leading him Captive in triumphant wiſe

That we might learne his terrors to deſpiſe,

And never dread thisy1 Cor. 15. 54. Rom. 6. 9. 10. 11. vanquiſht Enemie,

Who kills us once to live eternally.

Here may we view our Bodies, by zJob 19. 25. 26. 27. 1 Cor. 15. 20. to 56. 1 Theſ. 4. 13. to 18. Rom. 6. 9. 10. 11.death ſlaine

And turn'd to Duſt, by Chriſt rais'd up againe

In glorious ſtate, to live in Endleſſe Joy

Above Deathes reach, and all them can annoy.

Here may we finde our Saviour ſtill appeare

From day to day, our drooping Hearts to cheare,

In each roote, ſeede, plant, herbe, which ſhall ariſe

Out of the Earth; whichaRom. 1. 19. 20. 21. ſhewes him to our eyes;

What neede of Popiſh Pictures then to bring

Chriſt to our Eyes, minds, thoughts? ſith every thing,

Plant, Herbe that in our Gardens ſprouts, lives, growes,

His life, Death, riſing, farre more clearely ſhewes?

bIſa. 2. 20. c. 30. 22. c. 31. 7.Away then with theſe Curſed Idolls; we

Chriſt no where elſe will ever ſeeke, view, ſee

But in hiscGal. 3. 1. 1 Cor. 10. 3. 4. c. 11. 24. 25. Word, Workes, Sacraments, wherein

We onelyonly can behold him, without ſinne;

And when we long him, or his Acts to Eye,

If Bibles faile, each Garden will deſcry

Them to us, in more ſweete and lively wiſe,

Than all the Pictures Papiſts can deviſe.

Bleſſed Lord Jeſus when we ever walke

Within a Garden, Let us with thee talke,

In ſuch ſweete Contemplations, and delight

Our Soules, Eyes, Senſes with thy bleſſed ſight,

Which every Garden Tree, Plant, Herbe, Flower, Graſſe,

Reflects more clearely than a Chriſtall Glaſſe:

Then ſhall each Garden which we view or ſee,

A bleſſed ſeconddEzech. 28. 13. Eden to us be.

Meditations of the third Claſſe.

A Garden is a Map of Paradiſe,

The plot, eGen. 2. 8. 9.from whence all Gardens took their riſe.

Compar'd, they ſuite, and make an Harmony,

Which cheares our Soules with its ſweete melody.

1.

For firſt, as God didfGen. 1. 8. to 16. c. 3. 1. 2. Eden Plant, decke, fill

With choyceſt Trees, Herbes, Fruits; ſo men doe ſtill

Their gDeut. 11. 10 Can. 6. 2. 3. 11. to 16. c. 5. 1. 2.Gardens with theſe dayly decke, ſtore, grace,

And more enrich, than any other place.

2.

Eden was full ofgGen. 2. 8. to 16. Iſa. 51. 3. pleaſure and delight

Of goodly Trees, Flow'rs, Fruites to pleaſe the ſight,

And Pallate: So arehEccleſ. 2. 5 Cant. 5. 1. 2. c. 6. 2. 11. Gardens, where we finde

Moſt pleaſant objects both for Eye, Mouth, Minde.

3.

Eden was veryiIſa. 51. 3. Joel. 2. 3. Gen. 13. 10. fruitfull: Gardens are

The kIſa. 58. 11.fertil'ſt plots, and moſt Fruites ever beare.

4.

Eden was ſeated cloſe bylGen. 2. 9. 10. 11. 12. Rivers ſides,

And watred with their Chriſtall ſtreames and tides;

Thus are moſtmIſa. 58. 11. Num. 24. 6. Cant. 4. 5. Gardens ſeated, that they may

Become more fruitfull, pleaſant, greene, freſh, gay.

5.

Eden was kept and dreſt bynGen. 2. 15. 16. Adam, who

Was bound by God this taske to undergoe.

And who but oJoh. 20. 15. Jer. 29. 5. 28. Amos 9. 14.Men, doe yet ſtill keepe and dreſſe

Thoſe pleaſant Gardens which we here poſſeſſe?

Beaſts, Horſes, Oxen, helpe to till our ground,

Fit to dreſſe Gardens, onelyonly Men are found.

Hence may we learne that GodpEzech. 16. 49. Mat. 20. 3. 6. 1 Tim. 5. 13. 1 Theſ. 4. 11. 2 Theſ. 3. 6. to 16. Exod. 20. 9. hates Idleneſſe

In all eſtates, who ought ſtill to addreſſe

Themſelves to ſome good honeſt worke, Art, trade,

Sith AdamsqGen. 2. 15. c. 3. 13. ſet to worke as ſoone as made;

Though the ſole Monarch of the world, and all

The Creatures in it; which before the fall

Were at his meere Command, and did afford

Him all he needed,rGen. 1. 26. of their owne accord.

6.

God had no ſooner Adam made, but He

HimsGen. 2. 8. to 17. c. 3. 1. to 7. Iſa. 51. 3. plac'd in Eden, happie there to be,

As in the choyceſt, fruitefulſt, pleaſant'ſt plot

This lower world could unto him alot.

All take delight intCant. 5. 1. c. 6. 2. 11. c. 8. 13. Gardens to reſide,

The onelyonly Edens where they would abide:

Whence all who have but one ſmall piece or plot,

Of Earth, will to a vJer. 19. 5. 18. Amos 9. 14.Garden it alot.

7.

Man entredxGen. 2. 15. to 25. c. 3. 1. 2. into Eden voyd of ſinne;

O let us thinke of this, when we begin

Our Garden doores to enter, that we may

Avoyd all ſinne, whichyRom. 5. 12. 13. 14. mankinde firſt did ſlay;

And dayly ſtrive to be as Innocent

As Adam, when he into Eden went.

8.

The Tree of Knowledge (which did typifie

Chriſt, or his Sacred Word to Adams Eye,)

InzGen. 2. 3. 16. Rev. 2. 7. midſt of Eden ſtood: Thus each Plant, Tree

Which we in midſt of Gardens chance to ſee,

Chriſt and his Sacred Word in lively wiſe

Preſent, ſhew, point out to our mindes and Eyes.

9.

Eden aaGen. 3. 1. to 16. 2 Cor. 11. 3. 1 Tim. 2. 24. Serpent had which did betray

Firſt Eve, then Adam, and them caſt away

By his Temptations, their Credulity.

No wonder then if we ſometimes eſpie

Not onelyonly Weedes, but Serpents, Adders, Snakes,

Toades, & ſuch vermin (whoſe meere aſpect makes

Moſt men to tremble) in our Garden-plots,

To make us feare thatb2 Tim. 2. 26. 2 Cor. 11. 3. Serpent, which beſots,

Betrayes, and ſtings us ſtill through pleaſures, vice.

As he did Adam in old Pardiſe:

O let us then in no place reſt ſecure;

Sith he in Eden did Man firſt allure.

Much leſſe in pleaſantcIſa. 1. 29. c. 65. 3. c. 66. 17. Cant. 5. 1. c. 6. 2. Gardens, where he ſtill

Tempts Men and Women oft times unto ill:

10.

ThedGen. 3. 1. to 16. firſt and Mother ſinne, from whence all vice

Sinnes, miſchiefes ſpring, was hatcht in Paradiſe:

Here Father Adam caught that breake-necke fall,

Which in a moment quite undid us all.

O let our Gardens put us ſtill in minde

Of this great ſinne, whoſe reliques we ſtill finde

Remaining in us: and let every weede

We ſee in Gardens, cauſe us to take heede

That no one ſinne within us ever ſpring,

To worke our ruine, or our ſoules to ſting.

11.

Man had no ſooner ſinned, but GodeGen. 3. 8. to 24. caſt

Him out of Eden, and then layd it waſte;

Curſing the Earth with thornes, Weeds, Barrenneſſe

For his offence, which he before did bleſſe:

When then our Gardens, weedie, barren grow

Thinke of the cauſe from whence theſe evills flow,

(Our ſinne; Gods curſe:) and when we enter in,

Or iſſue out of Gardens, let that ſinne

Which moved God man-kind firſt to exclude.

From Edens bliſſe, with teares be of us rude.

We cannot over-ponder or lament

That ſinne which Man out of his Eden ſent.

And learne from hence, that none gaine ought by vice,

OrfRev. 22. 14. 15. ſinne, at Laſt, but loſſe of Paradiſe.

12.

Man baniſh't Eden for his wilfull ſinne,

Was ever aftergGen. …. 22. 23. 24. barr'd from entring in

Againe, by a bright ſword with fiery flame

Which turned every way to guard the ſame.

The hedges, pales, walls, doores, that cloſe and fence

Our gardens, to keepe Men and beaſts from thence,

Should ever mind us of this ſword, that vice,

Which thruſt and kept man out of Paradiſe:

And teach us with all care, paines, induſtry,

To ſtrive to enterh2 Cor. 12. 4. Rev. 2. 7. Eden that's on high.

Since we are thus excluded this below,

The very place whereof none this day know;

13.

Mans loſſe in Edens Garden, might affright

Us all, and dampe the joy, mirth, and delight,

Which Gardens yeeld; yea had not Chriſt repaird,

What man there loſt, we ſhould have quite deſpaird.

But now take courage and no more complaine;

Chriſt in a garden hath reſtor'd againe

What Adam therein loſt; that wee might all

Be there repair'd, where firſt we caught our fall:

Which that I may with ſweeter fruit declare,

I'le Chriſt with Adam; place with place compare.

1.

Adam at firſt in Eden wasiGen. 3. 1. to 9. betraid,

And trap't by thoſe ſnares which the Serpent layd.

Chriſt in a Garden was betraid, and ſnar'd

By Judas, kJoh. 18. 1. to. 16.and thoſe troops which hee prepar'd.

2.

Adam in EdenlGen. 3. 1. to 24. caught that break-necke fall

Which in a moment did undoe us all:

Chriſt in a mJoh. 19. 41. 42. Rom. 6. 1. to 12.Garden tooke his loweſt fall

Into the grave, which rais'd and made us all.

3.

Adam there fell innGen. 3. Rom. 5. 12. 13. 14. ſtate of Innocence,

And wreckt us all, by this his prime offence:

Chriſt inoJoh. 18. 1. to 16. c. 19. 41. 42. Rom. 6. 7. 8. 9. a garden fell, though free from fault,

To make us guiltleſſe, and our ſtate exalt.

4.

Adam pRom. 5. 12. 13.by ſinne, ChriſtqIſa. 53. 4. to 12. Rom. 4. 25. for ſinnes onelyonly fell:

Hee for his owne; Chriſt, for thoſe in us dwell.

5.

Adam fellrGen. 3. 22. 23, 24. flat, but could not riſe againe:

Chriſt fellſAct. 2. 24. to 37. but roſe, nought could him downe detaine.

6.

His fall himſelfe, with alltRom. 5. 12. to 20. 1 Cor. 15. 22. his race downe threw:

Chriſts fall him rais'd, with all his choſen crue.

7.

He in avGen. 3. Joh. 19. 41, 42. c. 20. 1. to 12. Garden fell; there Chriſt aroſe

To ſave man there, where hee himſelfe did loſe.

8.

Adam there falling, didxGen. 3. 19. Rom. 5. 8, 9. corruption bring

Ʋnto himſelfe, and all who from him ſpring:

Chriſt dead and buried here, didyAct. 2. 24. to 36. c. 13. 34. 35. 37. 1 Cor. 15. 50. 52, 53. 54. never ſee

Corruption, and all his did from it free.

9.

Hee fell in EdenzGen. 3. 1. to 12. by the tree of life

Of which hee ate, allured by his wife:

Which tree (that in theaGen. 2. 9. midſt of Eden grew)

Inſtead of giving lifebRom. 5. 7, 8, 9. &c. him and us ſlew.

Wee by our cJoh. 6. 50. 51. 54. 57, 58.eating of this bleſſed tree

Of life, Chriſt Jeſus, are thereby made free

From death and hell, who planted was, and lay

dJoh. 19. 41. 42.Entomb'd amidſt a garden,e1 Cor. 15. 54, 55, 57. death to ſlay:

10.

Adam wasfGen. 3. 22. thruſt from Eden to his loſſe:

Chriſt from agJoh. 18. 1. 2. to 16. Garden lead was to his Croſſe.

11.

HehGen. 3. 22, 23, 24. baniſht Eden, could returne no more,

Chriſt all his choſen thither to reſtore,

Dragg'diJoh. 18. 1. 2. c. 19. 41, 42. from a garden, was brought backe againe

And there entomb'd, as ſoone as he was ſlaine.

12.

In EdenkGen. 3. 3. to 18. Rom. 5. 7. to 16. death againſt man firſt prevail'd:

Death in alJoh. 19. 41. 42. c. 20. 1. to 17. Garden was by Chriſt firſt quail'd:

Here he aroſe againe from death: and then

Appear'd there firſt to Mary Magdalen.

Winning the field of Deaths, Sinnes, Devils Hoſt,

In that ſame place where Adam firſt it loſt:

And there triumphed over all this Sect,

Where they their Trophies did at firſt erect.

Needs muſt our Gardens then be very ſweet,

And pleaſant, where theſe acts of Chriſt all meet:

Which rightly pondred by us, in a trice,

Would change each Garden to a Paradiſe,

And make us ſee, that we by Chriſt gaine more

In Gardens now, than Adam loſt before.

Sweet Jeſus when a Garden we eſpie

Rap thou our ſoules into an extaſie.

With theſe, or ſuch like pious Thoughts; that we

An Eden in each Garden-plot may ſee;

And feele a bleſſed Heaven ſtill to grow,

Within our ſoules, whiles we are here below.

Meditations of the fourth Claſſe.

AGaine; mee thinks a Garden Gods bleſt Word

Doth well reſemble, and therewith accord.

1.

For firſt as mGen. 27 27. Hoſea 14. 6.Gardens yeeld moſt fragrant ſmels,

So Gods deare Word in nCant. 5. 16. 2 Cor. 2. 15.ſweetneſſe farre excels:

Its rich perfumes, and odours ſtill entice

His Saints tooPſ. 119. 97. 47. 48. 72. 111. 112 113. 127. 140. 159. 167. love it, in moſt ardent wiſe.

O let our pDeut. 6. 6. 7. 8. 9. c. 11. 18. 19. 20. Pſ. 119. 97.houſes, words, thoughts, acts, lives, ſmell

Of it's ſweete odors, which all elſe excell.

2.

qCant. 5. 1. 2. 3. 1 King. 21. 2.Gardens yeeld ſtore of pleaſant fruits, rootes, cates,

Herbes, ſallads, cordials, fit for all eſtates,

To feed, feaſt, pleaſe their pallats, and to cheare

Their drooping hearts, oppreſt with paine, griefe, feare.

Gods bleſſed word is ſtor'd withr2 Pet. 1. 3. 4. 2 Cor. 1. 4. 20. Rom. 15. 4. 9. 10. Pſ. 19. 8. 10. Pſ. 119. 72. 127. Ier. 15. 16. promiſes,

Which feed, feaſt, cheare, the hearts of all degrees:

And are more pleaſant, cordiall, ſweete, and deare

To drooping ſoules, than all this worlds beſt cheare.

O let us daily ſolace, fat, feaſt, fill,

Our ſoules with theſe bleſt cates, & cheare them ſtill.

3.

As Gardens ſo the Scriptures yeeld great ſtore,

Of ſPſal. 42. 4. to the end. Pſ. 43. 5. Iſa 1. 5. 6. to 21. Act. 3. 19. 1 Joh. 1. 7.ſalves, and good receits for every ſore,

Wound, ſickneſſe, griefe, which mens ſoules can affect,

No hope of health, for thoſe who them neglect.

O let us priſe theſe balmes, which ſoules can cure,

If they be heal'd the bodies ſafe and ſure.

4.

Gardens are full of alltGen. 2. 8. to 16. Cant. 6. 2. c. 5. 1. 2. variety

Of flowers, herbes, fruits which delight the eye.

And bring moſt ſweete refreſhment and content,

To ſuch as are to meditation bent,

Yea all of all ſorts: So Gods ſacred word

To all of all rankes, can and doth afford

A copious ſtore, and ſweete variety

Of u2 Pet. 1. 3. 4. 1 Tim. 3. 16. Heb. 6. 12.great and pretious promiſes, which lye

Diſperſed in it, to refreſh, joy, eaſe

All ſad dejected ſoules, and them appeaſe.

O with what pleaſure, joy, and bleſt delight,

May tyred drooping ſoules, both day and night

Walke in the midſt of this ſweete Paradiſe,

Where all refreſhing comforts grow and riſe?

Let theſe be ſtill ourxPſal. 1. 2. Pſal. 119. 97. Deut. 6. 6, 7, 8, 9. c. 17. 19. Joſh. 1. 8. ſtudy, night and day,

Which all our griefes, feares, ſins will chaſe away.

5.

All yCant. 5. 1. c. 6. 2. 11.Gardens ſweet refreſhment ſtill afford

To tyred bodies, ſpirits: So Gods word

To zIſa. 40. 1. 2. c. 61. 1. 2. 3. c. 26. 20. Rom. 15. 4.weary ſoules oppreſt with ſinne, and ſpent

With griefe, yeelds ſweete refreſhment and content:

Here may they find bleſt reſt, repoſe, and eaſe,

When nought elſe can them comfort or appeaſe.

O let our ſoules for ever dwell and reſt

In its refreſhing ſhade, which makes them bleſt.

6.

GardensaCant. 4. 12. Iſa. 5. 1. incloſed are, Gods word is ſo,

Within hisbRom. 3. 2. 1 Tim. 3. 15. Iſa. 6. 16. Churches pale: there muſt we goe

To ſeeke and find it; ſith the Church doth keepe,

And ſhew the Scriptures to Chriſts choſen ſheep;

But not confirme or give authority

To them, who doecRom. 2. 16. Epheſ. 2. 20. her judge, ſurport, and try.

7.

Gardens aredJer. 39. 4. c. 52. 7. c. 29. 5. 18 Amos 9 14. Common both to rich and poore,

To all of all ſorts: So the Scriptures doore

Is ſhut to none, but open ſtands toeMat. 28. 19. 20. Mar. 6. 15. all

Degrees of men: to rich, poore, great, and ſmall.

Yea fLuk. 4. 18. c. 7. 22. Mat. 11. 5. Jam. 2. 5. 6. 2 Cor. 9. 9.pooremen (moſt part) have a greater ſhare

In this rich Garden, than the great'ſt that are.

8.

Gardens are fruitfull, and make all thingsgIſa. 61. 11. grow,

That men in ſeaſon in them plant, or ſow:

Gods word is fertile too, andhCol. 1. 6. Act. 19. 20. 1 Theſ. 1. 5. to the end. makes men ſpring,

Grow, thrive in grace, and much fruit forth to bring.

9.

Gardens moſt ſweetly picture to our eyes

Minds, thoughts, God, Chriſt, and man in livelywiſe:

Thus doe the iJoh. 5. 39. 2 Pet. 1. 2. 4. 19. Eph. 2. 8. to 13. c. 2. 12. 13. Pſ. 39. 5. 6.Scriptures too, in farre more bright

And perfect colours paint them to our ſight.

He who would theſe exactly know and ſee,

Muſt on the Scriptures alwaies looking be.

10.

Gardens are full of objects, whence we may

SweetkPſal. 143. 5. Pſ. 104. Iſa 40. 6, 7, 8. c. 61. 11. contemplations raiſe from day to day,

To make us better, and tranſlate our love

From earth to heaven, and thelCol. 3. 1, 2, 3. things above:

So are the Scriptures. O thrice happy they

WhomPſal. 1. 1. 2. meditate ſtill in them night and day,

To mend their lives, hearts, ſoules, and elevate

Them from an earthly, to an heavenly ſtate.

All othernAct. 19. 19. Col. 2. 8. ſtudies,oJoh. 17. 3. Jer. 23. 28, 29. 1 Pet. 1. 23. 25. Pſal. 119. Pſal. 19. 7. to 14. matcht with theſe, are baſe,

And leave the ſoule but in a damned caſe.

OnelyOnly the Scriptures make us truly bleſt,

And guide our ſoules unto eternall reſt.

11.

Lord let us daily more and more diſcry

The ſacred Scriptures worth and dignity;

Our ſoules to cheare, feaſt, raviſh with their love,

That wee our words, thoughts acts may guide and move,

As they direct, and let each Gardens ſight

Preſent them to our thoughts with ſweet delight.

That while we view this leafe of natures booke,

We may more clearly into Gods booke looke;

pRom. 1. 19. 20. 21. Act. 14. 17. c. 17. 24. to 31.The one whereof gives to the other light:

And both conjoyn'd, will yeeld more ſweet delight.

Meditations of the fifth Sort.

AGaine, in Gardens we may view and find

A lively map and picture of mankind;

And day by day both in them read and ſee

The ſtory of our ſelves, and what we bee.

1.

For firſt thoſe qLuk. 13. 19.ſeeds, which we in gardens ſaw:

And bury in their wombes that they may grow,

And ſpring up thence: preſent unto our eyes

ThatrGen. 38. 8. 9 humane ſeede, from which we all ariſe,

And ſprout: at firſt ſowne, planted in the wombe,

And there inter'd, as in a Garden tombe,

Till it be quickned formed and made fit

To come into the World, and breake from it.

2.

Each ſeed, root, plant we ſee in Gardens ſpring,

And peepe out of the earth, doth ſweetly bring

Unto our mindes, and ſhadowes to our eyes

Mans birth into this world, in lively-wiſe:

WhosGen. 38. 28, 29. 30. breakes, and creepes out from his mothers wombe,

Like ſeede out of the earth, that he may come

Into this wretched world, whoſe miſery

As ſoone as borne, ſtill makes him weepe and cry.

3.

The weake young tender blades, and ſprouts that grow,

Up firſt from ſeeds, rootes, plants, doe lively, ſhew

Unto our eyes and thoughts, mans infancie

WhotEzech. 16. 4, 5. Exod. 2. 6. cannot ſtand or goe, but crawle and lye

Ʋpon the ground, like blades, graſſe, ſprigs new thruſt

Out of the earth, which leane, lie on the duſt.

4.

Their further growth in ſtrength, height, breadth, each day;

Mans *Gen. 21. 8. 12. c. 25. 27. Judg. 13. 24.daily growth in all theſe, well diſplay;

Untill his youth out-grows his infancie,

By ſenſeleſſe ſteps, and make him ſprout up high.

5.

Their progreſſe till they bloſſome and forth bring

Gay, goodly, lovely, ſweet flowers in the ſpring,

And Summer ſeaſon, aptly typifie

Our freſh, ſweet*1 Cor. 7. 36. flowring youth, which in each eye

Makes us as comely, lovely, freſh, and gay,

As garden-trees, flowres in the month of May;

Though ſtill asuIſa. 40. 6, 7. 8. 1 Pet. 1. 20. Pſal. 102. 11. Pſal. 103. 15. Pſ. 90. 5, 6. Jam. 1, 10. Job. 14. 2. fading as the tendreſt flowre,

Oft cropt and withered in leſſe than one houre.

6.

Their next ſucceeding fruits and ſeeds, expreſſe

Our riper yeares, and age of fruitfulneſſe;

*Num. 1. 3. 18. c. 4. 3. 1 Tim. 3. 4, 5, 6. 2 Chr. 10. 6. to 12.Fit for imployment, and the practicke part

Of any ſcience, calling, trade, skill, art,

Or publicke office in the Church, or State:

For which our youth's too ſoone, our age too late.

7.

Their full ripe Leaves, fruits ſeeds, which bend, and *Iſa 34. 4. c. 64. 4.fall

Ʋnto the earth at laſt; may mind us all

Of mans old age, which will himxEccleſ. 12. 2, 3, 4. bow, then caſt,

Or bring quite downe unto theyGen. 3. 19. duſt at laſt,

From whence hee ſprung, and uſeth toz2 Sam. 19. 31, 35, 35. 1 King. 1. 1. Gen. 27. 1. decay

His ſtrength, teeth, ſenſes, parts, which fall away

As leaves, ſeeds, fruits in autumne: and him make

Like withered ſtalkes, which leaves, ſeedes, fruits forſake;

Before his aged ſhriv'led Body dyes,

Whilſt it weake, bed-rid, ſenſeleſſe, halfe-dead lyes.

8.

The *Zech. 11. 2.falling of their withred ſtalks, trunkes, boughs,

Unto the earth at laſt; moſt lively ſhewes,

That ouraJob 5. 26. old age, it ſelfe will kill us all

At laſt, and make us dead to earth to fall,

Though neere ſo healthy, wealthy, mighty, ſtrong:

And that, if nought elſe kill us, bGen. 5. 5. to 32.living long

Will doe it: a diſeaſe which none can cure:

If others ſcape, old men to dye are ſure.

9.

The buring of theſe old ſtalkes, leaves againe,

When falne downe on the earth, ſhewes forth moſt plaine,

Before our eyes, our funerals, when we

Quite dead and withered, ſhall cGen. 23. 4. to 20. c. 47. 30.interred be,

And ſhut cloſe priſoners in our motherdGen. 3. 19. earths

Darke wombe, from whence at firſt we had our births.

10.

Their rotting there, and turning into duſt;

Inſtructs us how the grave ſhall rot and ruſt

Our corps, and turne them intoeGen. 3. 19. Eccleſ. 3. 10. c. 12. 7. duſt at laſt,

Sith God ſuch ſentence hath againſt them paſt.

11.

The ſeedes which drop into the earth, and there

f1 Cor. 15. 36, 37, 38. to 55. 1 Theſ. 4. 13. to 18. Job. 19. 25, 26, 27.Rot for a time, but yet againe appeare,

And ſpring afreſh, more glorious than before,

And by their riſing much increaſe their ſtore:

Demonſtrate to us in moſt pregnant wiſe,

How our dead rotten Corps againe ſhall riſe

Out of the duſt, and graves wherein they lye,

In greater vigour, glory, dignity.

Then ever they enjoy'd; and gaine farre more

By riſing, than by death they loſt before.

O let this arme us againſt all the feare

Of death or grave, and ſtill us joy and cheare.

12.

When wee behold ſomegPſ. 90. 5, 6. Pſ. 103. 15. 16. Pſal. 129. 6. tender bud or blade,

Nipt with the froſt, winds, ſtormes, to fall and fade

So ſoone as ſhot forth: wee may learne thereby

How men oft times even in theirhEccleſ. 4. 3. Job. 3. 11. 16. 21. c. 10. 18. 19. infancie

As ſoone as borne, yea ſometimes in the wombe

Are nipt and cropt by death, and to their Tombe

Depart from hence ſo ſoone, ſo ſuddainly,

As if they were borne onelyonly for to dye.

Let younglings then, as well as old prepare

For death, from whichiIſa. 40. 6, 7, 8. Heb. 9. 27. none un-exempted are.

13.

When as we view thekPſal. 103. 15, 16. Iſa. 40. 6, 7, 8. Job. 14. 1, 2. Iſa. 28. 1. 4. Jam. 1. 11. 1 Pet. 1. 24. braveſt, faireſt flowers

Cropt, blaſted, withred, vaniſht in few houres:

We may therefrom contemplate, how that wee

By ſuddaine death oft blaſted, withred be,

Cropt off, conſumed in few minutes ſpace,

Even in the flowre, prime, pride, choyce, vigour, grace

Of all our dayes, whenlIſa. 28. 15. 18. death from us did ſeeme

The fartheſt off, and we did not once dreame

Of its approach. A truth we daily ſee,

Which ſhould teach youth, for death prepard to be.

14,

The ripe fruits, ſeedes which wee in gardens view,

Pluckt off, and gathered; clearly to us ſhew

How mJob. 5. 26.men of ripe yeares, are moſt commonly,

Pul'd off by death, and ſo ſhould looke to dye,

At leaſt as ſoone as ripe, if not before,

Sith then they ſtand neere unto grim deaths doore,

Whom if he ſpare to pull or ſhake downe, they

Will of themſelves in ſhort ſpace fall away,

And drop into his mouth. Let then all ſuch

Stand nJob. 14. 14. Gen. 27. 2.ſtill prepar'd for death, who doth them touch.

15.

Each ſeed, fruits, leafe, flowre, bloſſome we ſee fall,

Fade, rot within our GardensoIſa. 1. 30. c. 34. 4. c. 40. 6, 7, 8. c. 64. 6. Job. 14. 1, 2. Heb. 9. 27. ſhew how all

Mankinde muſt fade, fall, rot, and dye like theſe

Each in his time, and periſh by degrees;

And that no age, ſexe, calling, ſtate is free

From death, to which they ever ſubject be:

And ſo ſhould teach all topPſal. 90. 5. 6. 12 Pſ. 39. 4. 5. 12. account each day

Their laſt, wherein they looke to paſſe away.

16.

Each Garden in the yeares foure ſeaſons paints

Forth to our eyes, and us full well acquaints

With mans foure ages, which doe comprehend

The whole race of his life, untill it end.

In qPſal. 38. 35, 36. Pſ. 92. 7.ſpring time they depaint our infancie,

And younger yeares: in ſummer they deſcry

Our youthfull flowring age. In Autumne they

Our riper yeares, and drooping age diſplay;

In rIſa. 1. 30. Ezech. 17. 9, 10. Pſal. 102. 4. 11.winter when they ſhriveled, naked are,

And all amort, decayd: they then declare

Our old decrepid, withred, dying yeares,

When, all within us, dead, nought freſh appeares,

Wee can no time then in our gardens be,

But wee our ſelves may there read, know, view, ſee,

By contemplation, in more compleat wiſe

Than in all pictures painters can deviſe.

O let us view our ſelves in this bright glaſſe

Each day, and ſPſal. 90. 9, 10.ſee there how our ages paſſe,

And ſlit away, untill wee wither, dye;

TotDeut 32. 29. mind us ſtill of our mortality:

17.

Beſides, by meditation we may hence

Behold, mind, know our ſtate of innocence

Before our fall: ſince God diduCen. 2. 8. to 17. Adam place

In Edens garden, in a ſtate of Grace,

And Innocence, it both to keepe and dreſſe,

Where he not long enjoy'd this happineſſe.

18.

Yea, in our Gardens we may read and eye

Our fall and ſtate of ſinne and miſery,

Sith we in xGen. 3. Rom. 5. 8, 9. &c.Edens Garden caught that fall

Through Adams ſinne, which did undoe us all,

AndyRom. 7. 8. to 25. c. 9. 12. plunge us into ſuch a woefull ſtate

Of ſinne, and vice, as makes God us to hate;

And dailyzRom. 1. 25. to 32. c. 7, 8, to 25. Jam. 1. 13, 14, 15. ſpurres us unto all exceſſe

Of horrid ſinnes, and monſtrous wickedneſſe;

WhichaPſal. 9. 17. Mat. 25. 41. 46. caſt us headlong into hell, and make

Ʋs nought but fuell for that fiery Lake,

A diſmall ſtate indeed, whoſe thought ſhould rent

Our ſtony hearts, and cauſe them to relent.

19.

But not diſpaire, ſith in this very place

Chriſt hath reſtored us to a ſtate of grace,

Of which it minds us, all ſad hearts to cheare,

And us from our collapſed ſtate helpe reare.

For as Chriſt in abJoh. 18. 1. to 16. c. 19. 41, 42. c. 20. 1. to 17. Rom. 4, 25. 1 Cor. 15. throughout. 2 Cor. 4. 14. Eph. 2. 10. Garden was betrayd,

And dead, there in a new ſepulcher laid,

So did he there from death riſe up againe,

And thereby rais'd up all his choſen traine,

From their loſt, lapſed, to a bleſſed ſtate

Of grace and glory. O then celebrate,

And ever bleſſe, praiſe, love, ſerve Chriſt, who thus

Hath rais'd, redeem'd, reſtor'd, exalted us:

And let each Garden put us ſtill in mind

Of theſe three ſtates belonging to mankind,

Without whoſe perfect knowledge, view, and ſight,

We cannot know God, nor our ſelves aright.

20.

Each weed which wee in gardens ſee to grow,

Our ſinfull ſtate, and ſeedes of vice us ſhew,

Both fromcGen 3. 17, 18, 19. mans fall in Eden firſt did ſpring,

And ſighs,dGen. 3. 1, 2. 1 King. 11. 1, to 10. 2 Chron. 21. 1, to 12. 2 Tim. 2. 17. c. 3. 1. to 9. 2 Pet. 2. 1, 2. Col. 2. 8. Act. 20. 29, 30. groanes, teares, ſhould from our hard hearts wring,

21.

We ſee the fatteſt Garden ground ſtill breeds

The largeſt, rankeſt bryers, *Prov. 24. 31. Iſa. 39. 13. Zeph. 2. 9. Hoſ. 9 6.nettles, weedes:

So greateſt ſinnes, crimes, vices uſually,

In men of greateſt parts, wit, dignity,

And in the richeſt perſons, Natures grow,

Not in the vulgar meaner ſort below.

The pregnant wits, beſt Natures voyd of grace,

Are greateſt ſinnes, crimes, vices common place.

O truſt not then toeEph. 2. 1, 2, 3. c. 4. 17, 18, 19. Rom. 1. 24. to 32. Job. 15. 16. Rom. 7. 14. to 25. Nature, parts or wit,

Which if true grace controll not, are but fit

To breed thoſe rankeſt weedes, which overgrow

Them in ſhort ſpace, and worke their overthrow.

22.

That fIſa. 58. 11. c. 61. 11. Ezec. 36. 35. Joel. 2. 3. Deu. 22. 2.fruitfulneſſe and great variety

Of good and uſefull fruits, plants, herbes we eye

In Gardens: minds us of thatgCol. 1. 10. 6. Rom. 1. 13. Phil. 4. 17. c. 1. 11. Jam. 3. 17. 2 Pet. 1. 5. to 11. fruitfulneſſe,

Thoſe uſefull vertues, graces they expreſſe,

Which ſhould ſtill grow, and flouriſh in mankind,

In whom, alas, we them moſt rarely find.

What? ſhall our gardens, fruitfull, uſefull be,

Stor'd with all good fruits, herbes, rootes? and yet wee

Be barren, fruitleſſe, void of vertue, grace,

And nought but luſt, vice, weeds in us have place?

O ſhame! O ſinne! let gardens teach us then,

Now to prove fertile, good and gracious men.

23.

Each GardenshCant 2. 12, 3. Hoſea 14. 16, 7. Pſ 103. 25, Pſ. 92. 17. glorious luſtre in the ſpring,

And Summer time: ſets forth mens iDan. 4. 4 30.flouriſhing,

Gay, proſperous worldly State, which carnall eyes,

And hearts, moſt part, doe over love and prize,

Without good reaſon, ſithkDan. 4. 30, 31, 32, 33. c. 5. 30, 31. c. 6. 1. to 27. Pſal. 37. 35, 36. Pſ. 73. 18, 19, 20. Job. 20. 5, 6, 7. c. 21. 11, 12, 13. Pſal. 92. 17. 2 Chron. 33. 11. c. 36. 1. to 22. Joſh. c. 10. & 11. & 12. Judg. 1. 5, 6, 7. Job. 1. 13. to 22. Lam. 4. 6. within one howre

It oft-times fades, and withers like a flowre.

How many ſee wee great, rich, in good plight,

At morning; baſe, poore, wretched, dead, ere night?

In thrones to day, adorned with a Crowne;

In chaines ere morning, ſlaine, or quite put downe?

All times and ſtories ſeale this truth; be wiſe

Then now, and learn this worlds pompe to deſpiſe.

24.

The ſuddaine blaſts and winters which befall

Our Gardens, and lPſ. 103. 15, 16. Iſa. …0. 6. 7. 8.decay or ſtrip of all

Their luſtre, beauty, flowers, fruits, repreſent

Unto our eyes and minds; that diſcontent,

Diſeaſes, croſſes, loſſes, which oft blaſt

Decay, conſume, dry up, ſpoyle, and lay waſt

Mens bodies, fortunes, ſtates, and in ſhort ſpace

Leave them weake, mJob. 1. & 2. & 3. ſee k. before.naked, in moſt wretched caſe.

A truth we daily ſee. Let none then bleſſe

Himſelfe, or truſt in worldly happineſſe,

Which every croſſe, ſtorme, ſickneſſe will decay;

And when our winter comes will fade away.

25.

The Garden flowers wee ſee, each yeare to dye

AndnIſa. 40. 6. 7. 8. Pſ. 103. 15. 16. laſt not many Months:oJob. 14. 1. 2. c. 8. 9. Pſal. 102. 11. the brevity

Of mans fraile, life, demonſtrates to our ſight

In lively ſort, and ſhould each day and night,

Fit, andpJob. 14. 14. Iſa. 38. 1. 2. 2 Tim. 4. 6. 7. 8. Mat. 24. 42. c. 25. 13. Luk. 12. 38. prepare us for our dying day,

And all vaine thoughts of long life chaſe away.

Hence holy men did place theirqJoh. 18. 41. Mat. 27. 60. 2 King. 21. 18. Tombes of old,

Within their garden, where they did behold

So many pictures of mortality,

From day to day, and ſommons ſtill to dye;

For feare their Garden pleaſures and delights,

Should chace away death from their thoughts or ſights.

And ſhould inſtruct us in therEccleſ. 11. 8. 9. c. 12. 1. &c. midſt of all

Our pleaſures, paſtimes death to mind to call.

But chiefly when we in our Gardens walke,

Where we ſtill view him in each leafe, flowre, ſtalke,

That fades, falls, withers. So that we are blind,

Yea ſottiſh, if we there death doe not mind.

26.

The new freſh garden flowers,ſJob. 14. 7, 8, 9. 12. Hoſea 14. 5, 6, 7. Cant. 2. 12, 13. Pſal. 104. 30. herbes, plants wee ſee

Spring up in place of thoſe that withred be,

From their ſeedes, rootes; moſt ſweetly to us ſhew,

The newtJudg. 2. 10. Pſal. 48. 15. Eccleſ. 1. 4. ſucceſſions in mankind, which grow,

Out of the ſeed and loynes of thoſe who dye,

Whoſe vacant places they fill and ſupply.

27.

When wee behold thoſe garden flowers, herbes, trees,

Which ſeem'd quite dead in winter, by degrees

When ſpring-time comes,uCant. 2. 12, 13. Job. 14. 7, 8, 9. 12. Hoſea 14. 5, 6. 7. revive, ſprout up on high,

And flouriſh more than they did formerly:

It ſweetly ſhewes, minds, learnes us, when as wee

With ſickneſſe, croſſes, loſſes, withred be,

And all amort, xJoh. 42. 10. to 17. Hoſea 14. 5, 6, 7. Micah 7. 8, 9, 10. Pſal. 34. 19. 22. Pſ. 37. 32, 33, 37, 39, 40. Pſ. 40. 1, 2, 3. Pſal. 138. 7. Pſ. 142. 7. Pſal. 145. 18, 19, 20. Pſal. 71. 20, 21. Ezech. 37. 1. to 12.that if with patience,

Faith, prayer, hope and ſtedfaſt confidence

We waite on God, we ſhall revive, grow, ſpring,

In his due time, and gaine a flouriſhing,

Farre better ſtate, than we enjoyd before;

As Job with others have done heretofore.

Be then our croſſes, caſes what they will,

Paſt hope paſt helpe in carnall eyes: yetyPſ. 42. 5, to the end. Pſ. 43. 2, 3, 5. Pſal. 4…. 1, 2, 3. 4. Pſal. 27. 1, 2, 3. 14. Pſal. 29. 11. Pſal. 31. 23. 24. Pſ. 40. 1, 2, 3. Ezech. 37. 1. to 13. ſtill,

Let us with chearfull, joyfull hearts relye,

And wait on God for helpe; who certainly

Will in beſt time, our winter ſeaſon end,

And us a joyfull Spring and Summer ſend:

Wherein we ſhall revive, grow, flouriſh more,

And happier be than ever heretofore

God, who our fields and gardens makes to ſpring,

Will much more cauſe us tozHoſea 14. 5, 6, 7. ſprout, grow, ſhout, ſing:

Which well digeſted, would us cheare and joy

Amidſt all croſſes, which could us annoy:

Yea baniſh all our a1 Cor. 15. 55, 56.feare of death or grave,

From which we ſhall abIſay 26. 19. Job. 19. 25, 26, 27. 1 Cor. 15. 1 Theſ. 4. 13. to 18. Joh. 11. 24. reſurrection have

To endleſſe glory, which each gardens ſpring,

Unto our minds and eyes, with joy ſhall bring.

28.

The diverſe ſorts of herbes, flowers, plants, rootes, trees,

Of different Natures, Qualities, Degrees,

We ſee grow in our Garden, without jarre,

Or diſcord, cloſe together, or not farre

Aſunder: To us aptly repreſent,

What ſweet cRom. 12. 10. 16, 18, 19. c. 13, 8, 9, 10. c. 15, 5, 6. 7. Gen. 13. 8, 9. Eph. …. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Heb. 12. 14, 15.agreement, concord, love, conſent

There ought to be 'twixt men, although they be

Of different natures, callings, minds, degree,

When planted in one Country, City, place,

Church, houſhold, or diſ-joyn'd ſome little ſpace.

And checkes alldProv. 13. 10. c. 17. 14. c. 18. 6. 19. 1 Cor. 1. 11, 12, 13. Rom. 16. 17, 18. proud, malignant, turbulent,

And greedy men, who are to diſcord bent;

And never reſt content with what they have,

But otherseIſay 5. 8. Mich. 2. 2, 3. Lands, goods, places, ſeeke and crave,

Enduring none to live in quietneſſe

Neare them, that they alone might all poſſeſſe.

5.

When as wee ſee weeds Gardens overgrow,

Deface, kill herbes, flowers, fruits that in them blow,

Through meere neglect, and want of weeding; wee

As in a map or glaſſe, may thereby ſee,

How weeds off2 Chron. 33. 2. to 15. Prov. 11. 11. c. 12. 7. c. 14. 11. Pſal. 140. 11. Pſ. 37. 38. 2 Pet. 2. 1. to 22. ſinne, luſt, vice men over-grow,

Diſgrace, deturpate, kill, and overthrow,

For want of timely weeding: and deface,

Choake all their parts, wits, vertues, gifts of grace:

And ſo ſhould teach us with all care to weed

Them out, as faſt as they within us breed:

Which, if neglected will in ſhort time gaine

Such roote, that they will in us ſtill *Joh. 8. 11. 2 Chro. 34. 15. 16. 17. Jer. 13. 23.remaine,

Ʋntill they over-runne, kill, quite decay

Our vertues, parts, and caſt our ſoules away.

30.

As Gardens are thegGen. 3. 8. to 15. Cant. 5. 1. richeſt, pleaſanteſt

Prime parts of all the Earth: SohGen. 1. 26. to 31. c. 2. 18. to 22. c. 3. 1. to 8. Pſal. 8. 4. to 9. mans the beſt,

Chiefe, primate, Lord of all Gods workes: which high

Advancement and ſurpaſſing dignity,

Should make himiPſ. 95. 1. 7. Pſal. 100. 1. 2. 3. 4. thankefull, and ſtrive to excell

All elſe in goodneſſe, graces, living well;

There being nought ſokProv 13. 5. Mat. 7. 6. 2 Pet. 2. 21. 22. Iſa. 1. 6. c. 66. 3. 4. c. 64. 6. Zach. 11. 8. loathſome, vile or baſe

As men devoyd of goodneſſe, vertue, grace;

The vileſt toades, or creatures we behold

Are better than ſuch men ten thouſand-fold.

For ſhame then let our graces, lives, expreſſe,

Grace, Crowne that ſtate of honor, we poſſeſſe.

31.

The care men have tolIſa. 5. 2. Cant. 4. 12. Mat. 21. 33. fence, weed, dung, prune, dreſſe,

Thoſe Gardens, Orchards which they here poſſeſſe

To make them fruitfull, pleaſant: ſhould excite

Us all with greater care, paines and delight,

Our ſoules to fencemJer. 9. 14. Iſa. 55. 1, 2, 3. Joh. 15. 5. 8. weed, water, dung, prune, dreſſe,

That they in fruits of grace, and pleaſantneſſe,

May more abound; it being to no end

Thoſe, not our ſelves, to fence, ſoyle, dreſſe, & mend.

32.

When we behold ſmall Gardens fraught with ſtore

Of rareſt flowres, herbes, fruits, and yeelding more

Of theſe than greateſt Gardens, commonly

Made more for pleaſure, than commodity:

We may contemplate, how ſome men of ſmall

And little ſtature, oft excell the tall,

Great, vaſteſt, men of bulke, in gifts, wit, parts,

True valour, learning, wiſedome, skill in Arts:

And hownPſal. 78. 70. 71. 72. Eccleſ. 4. 13. 14. c. 9. 15. 16. 1 Cor. 1. 16. 17. 18. Jam. 2. 1. to 8. 2 Cor. 4. 7. to 12. 1 Cor. 4. 9. to 14. Job. 32 9. Jer 5. 5. 6. mean men for birth, ſtate, fortune, place

Oft times tranſcend in wiſedome, parts, arts, grace

In rareſt gifts, and vertues of each kind

The Greateſt Nobles, Peeres, in whom we find

Too oft more ſhew than ſubſtance, leſſe within

Than in a ruſſet coat, or courſer skinne:

It is not greatneſſe, honour, wealth, place then

That make us fruitfull, good, or better men

Than others: but our goodneſſe, vertue, grace,

And fruitfull lives, without which all are oDan. 11. 21. Pſal 15. 4. Iſa. 32. 5. 6.baſe

What ever he their births, ſtates, dignities

By them, not theſe, God will thempMal. 3. 16. 17. Mat. 7. 22. 23. Act. 10. 34. Col. 3. 25. 1 Pet. 1. 17. judge and priſe,

The pooreſt men adorn'd with themqProv. 12 26. Pſ. 16. 3. excell

The greateſt Kings in whom they do not dwell.

33.

Lord, make each Garden, I ſhall henceforth ſee,

A Chriſtall looking-glaſſe, and booke to mee,

Wherein I may mine owne Mortality

And humane ſtate ſo clearly view, deſcry,

Read, and contemplate, as each day to mend

My ſinfull life, and fit mee for my end;

Still walking worthy of that humane ſtate

Wherein thou mad'ſt mee, till thou ſhalt tranſlate

Mee to a better in the heavens high,

Where I with thee ſhall live eternally.

Meditations of the ſixth Ranke.

ONce more, a Garden paints forth to our view,

The ſtate of Gods Church, and his choſen crue.

1.

For firſt, as Gardens arerIſa. 5. 1, 2, 3. Gen. 2. 8, to 12. 1 King. 21. 2. Cant. 4. 12. Mat. 21. 33. choyce plots cull'd out

From other common grounds that lye about,

And ſequeſtred from them for ſpeciall uſe:

So God his Church and Saints doth call, and chuſe,

Then ſet apart from others,ſIſa 41. 8, 9. c. 44. 1, 2. Eph. 1. 4. 2 Theſſ 1. 13. 1 Pet. 2. 9. Rev. 17. 14. of meere grace,

For ſpeciall uſe, and his owne dwelling place.

2.

GardenstCant. 4. 12. Matth. 21. 33. Iſa 5. 2. encloſed are with walls, pales, bounds,

Hedges, dikes, and more fenc'd than other grounds:

So God his Church and choſen dothuPſal. 125. 2. Iſay 4. 5. 6. c. 5. 1, 2. c. 27. 2, 3. Pſal. 34. 7. Pſ. 121. 3. to the end. encloſe,

And fence with walls, pales, dikes againſt all foes,

Boares, beaſts that would annoy, or roote them out,

And none ſo ſafe as they are fenc'd about.

3.

Gardens are often xMat. 21. 33. Iſay 5. 2. 6. Luc. 13. 19.digg'd to kill their weedes;

And them to plant, ſow with good fruits, rootes, ſeedes

Of all ſorts, which elſe would not there ſpring, grow:

So Gods elect, and Church, whiles here below

Are oft times digg'd andyPſal. 129. 3. Jer. 26. 18. Jer. 4. 3. Hoſ. 2. 23. c. 10. 12. 2 Chr. 33. 11, 12, 13. Pſal. 119. 67. Iſay 48. 10. plough'd up ſundry waies

By foes, and croſſes which God on them layes,

Their weedes of ſinne, vice, error for to kill,

And them with all good plants, rootes, fruits to fill;

Plant, ſow, of which they werezJer. 22. 21. 2 Chron. 34. 16, …7. uncapable,

Ʋntill digg'd up, and made Gods arable.

O let us never murmur, nor complaine

When God thus digs or ploughs us for our aHeb. 12. 10, 11. Pſ. 119. 67. Iſa. 1. 25. Dan. 11. 35. Mal. 3. 3.gain,

Our ſins to root up, and in us to plant

Inſtead of them, all graces which wee want.

4.

bIſa. 5. 1, 2, 3. Mat. 21. 33.Gardens are dung'd, dreſt, kept with ſpeciall care

To make them fertile, and more fruits to beare:

Gods Church and choſen are ſtill dung'd, ſoyld, fed,

With his ſweetc1 Pet. 2. 2. Iſa 55. 1. 3. Joh. 6. 30. to 62. Word, and Sacramentall bread,

And dailyd1 Cor. 3. to 12. dreſt, kept with great coſt, care, toyle,

To make them uſefull, fruitfull, fat, rich ſoyle,

By ſacred Gardners; elſe no eRom. 7. 18. Joh. 1. 1…. Act. 20. 32. c. 26. 18.one good thing,

No fruits of grace would in them grow or ſpring.

O let us anſwer Gods great coſt, paines, care!

If after theſe we barren, fruitleſſe are,

It will be fatall;fIſa. 5. 1. to 8. Pſ. 80. 12. 13. 2 Chron. 24. 15. 16, 17, 18. God in wrath will haſte

To roote us up, and lay us ever waſte:

5.

No choyce ſeedes, roots, plants, herbes in gardens grow,

Ʋnleſſe men them there firſtgGen. 2. 8. Iſa. 5. 2, 3. Jer. 29. 5. 18. Amos 5. 11. c. 9. 14. plant, ſet, or ſow,

When hGen. 3. 17. 18, 19. Heb. 6. 8. Prov. 24. 31. Zeph. 2. 9. Hoſea 9. 6. Iſa. 34. 13.weeds, graſſe, herbes, plants, that are common, there

Spring up and grow without our coſt, paines, care:

No choice rare plants, rootes fruits of ſaving grace

Will ſpring or grow, in any Church, Saint, place,

Ʋnleſſe God firſt themiIſa. 60. 21. c. 61. 9. 1 Cor. 3. 5. to 12. Eph. 2. 1. to 14. plant, ſow cheriſh there,

When all by nature weeds, and ill fruits beare,

And common Morrall vertues; which are found

In very Pagans, heathens, common ground.

Lord plant and ſtore our ſoules with grace, that we

May ſweet and fruitfull Gardens be to thee.

6.

Gardens are fruitfull kIſa. 61. 11.making that to grow

With great increaſe, which men within them ſow:

Gods Church and choſenlMat. 13. 8. 24. Joh. 15. 5. 8. Col. 1. 10. fertile are, the ſeed

Sowne in their hearts, a large increaſe doth breede,

Though more in ſome than others: Happy wee

If ſuch a large increaſe God in us ſee.

7.

No Garden ſoyle ſo good, but that itmGen 3. 18. Iſay. 34. 13. Prov. 24. 31. Zeph. 2. 9. Hoſ. 9. 6. breeds,

And of its owne accord, brings forth ſome weeds,

Which not pluckt up with care would overflow,

And quickly kill the fruits that in it grow:

The beſt, the pureſtnMat. 13. 24. to 51. Rev. 2. 3. 1 Joh. 11. 8. 9. 10. Jam. 3. 2. Rom. 7. 7. to. 25. Prov. 24. 16. Churches, Saints that be

From weeds of ſinne, vice, errors are not free,

Which do and will ſtill in them daily grow

Ʋp of themſelves, whiles they are here below.

And not oHeb. 12. 15. 16, 17. Mat. 13. 1. 23. Heb. 4. 1. 11. c. 3. 13. 1 Cor. 5. 6, 7.pul'd up, kept downe with daily care,

Much paines, would ſoone hide, kill, choake all their rare

Reſplendent vertues, graces: O then ſtill

Be rooting up theſe weedes that be ſo ill.

8.

pProv. 24. 30, 31.Weeds in a Garden are a loathſome thing;

And though we cannot hinder them to ſpring

Up there, yet ſtill wee roote them up with ſpeed,

And not permit them there to grow roote, ſeed:

Weeds of corruption, error, ſinne that riſe

Ʋp in the Church, or Saints, to Gods pure eyes,

(And their owne too) are a vileqHab. 1. 13. Prov. 13. 5. 1 Cor. 5. 1, 2, 6, 7, 10, 12, 13. horrid ſight,

Which though they cannot ſhunne, yet ſtill theyrRom. 6. 1. to 23. c. 7. 7. to 25. Gal. 5. 16. to 26. Heb. 12. 4. 1 Cor. 9. 26, 27. fight

Againſt them, never ſuffering them to dwell,

Roote, breed within them, but with care expell,

And kepe them under, that they never raigne

Within them, though their reliques there remaine:

That Church, man then is but in evill plight,

Which doth not thus againſt ſinne dayly fight;

Which ſhould by farre more loathſome to us be,

Than all the weedes we in our gardens ſee.

9.

As Gardens, ſo Gods Church, SaintsſJoh. 1. 16. Col. 1. 10. Eph. 1. 23. c. 3. 16, 17, 18, 19. 2 Pet. 1. 5. to 12. 2 Cor. 8. 7. ſtored are

With all the fruits, herbes, plants, of grace moſt rare,

Rich, uſefull: here alone we may view, find

All graces, vertues, of what ever kind;

Whoſe ſhining luſter and variety,

Make them moſt lovely in each ſacred eye.

10.

Gardens are verytCant. 5. 1, 2. c. 6. 2. 11. c. 8. 13. Gen. 27. 27. Hoſ. 14. 6. pleaſant, ſweet in ſmell,

Alluring men in them to walke, live, dwell,

Gods Church and choſen Saints are like: no place

Or company to all indu'd with grace

Is halfeuPſal. 16. 3. Acts 2. 42, 46, 47. Heb. 10. 24, 25. 1 Joh. 1. 3. c. 2. 19. Pſ. 27. 4. ſo pleaſant, lovely ſweet as they:

Wherein, wherewith they long to be, dwell, ſtay

For ever, and xPſal. 84. 1. to 12. Pſal. 42. 1, 2. Pſ. 27. 4.would rather Porters bee

Within Gods houſe, than men of beſt degree,

Or Kings without it: finding more content

And ſweetneſſe in one day or houre well ſpent

Within it, than in thouſand yeares, weekes, dayes,

Paſt elſe where in the pleaſant'ſt feaſts, maskes, playes.

Thoſe who in Gods Church, Saints, no ſuch delight,

Or ſweetneſſe find, may judge, their ſtates not right.

11.

And as men thus yCant. 5. 1. c. 6. 2. 12. c. 8. 13.delight to walke, live, dwell,

In pleaſant gardens, which they like full well:

SozCant. 8. 13. c. 6. 2. 2 Cor. 6. 16. 17. 18. Lev. 26. 12. Eph. 3. 17. Rev. 7. 15. c. 21. 3. c. 3. 20. Gal. 2. 20. 1 Joh. 3. 24. c. 4. 16. Chriſt within his Church, Saints, walkes, reſides,

Lives, dwels, and in no place on earth abides,

Delights or joyes, ſo much as in them: where

Hee feeds, feaſts, reſts, and doth his pallace reare.

Sweet Jeſus let my ſoule thy garden bee,

That thou maiſt ſtill delight, walke, dwell in mee.

12.

NoaGen. 2. 5, 6. 10. 11. Job. 8. 16. c. 14. 9. Iſa. 1. 30. Jer. 14. 1. to 21. Iſa. 58. 11. Pſ. 65. 10. 11. Hoſea 14. 5, 6, 7. Gardens ſpring, grow greene, or fructifie,

Ʋnleſſe the Sun ſhine on them from on high,

And clouds drop raine, dew on them to revive

Their withred fruits, and make them ſprout, grow, thrive:

No Church or Saint canbIſa. 27. 2, 3. Mal. 4. 2. Pſal. 80. 7. 19. Luc. 1. 78, 79. 2 Cor. 4. 4. 6. Pſ. 72. 6. Joh. 1. 16. Heb. 6. 6, 7. Ephe. 4. 15. c. 2. 21. 2 Theſſ. 1. 3. 1 Pet. 2. 2. 2 Pet. 3. 18. 1 Cor. 3. 5. to 11. ſpring, grow, thrive in grace,

Ʋnleſſe the rayes of Gods moſt bleſſed face,

And Chriſts (the Sonne of righteouſneſſe) bright beames,

Shine on them: and their ſweeteſt ſhowres, dewes ſtreams,

And influence from heaven on them drop,

To make them beare a rich and ample crop.

Lord let thy Church and choſen ever bee

Bleſt with theſe rayes, ſhowers, ſtreames which flow from thee:

Then ſhall they cPſ. 1. 3. Jer. 17. 8. Pſ 92. 13, 14, 15.ſtill be green, freſh, flouriſhing,

And ſtore of fruits of grace to thee forth bring.

13.

Gardens have in them all ſorts of herbes, trees,

Flowers, rootes, plants: So thedEph. 2. 10. 12, 13. 16. to 25. c. 3. 5. 6. Gal. 3. 27, 28. Jam. 2. 1. to 10. Mat. 13. 47, 48. Church hath all degrees,

And rankes of men within her, high, and low,

Rich, poore, old, young, good, bad, here in her grow.

ThiseActs 10. 11. to 17. Mat. 13, 47, 48, 49. Peters ſheet, Chriſts net did typifie,

And is a truth apparant to each eye.

From hence the Church hath gain'd the ſtile and name

OffPſal. 19. 11. Rom. 10. 18. Matth. 28. 19. Mar. 16. 15, 16. Catholicke, ſith all ſorts in the ſame

Compriſed are. Let no men then ſeclude

Themſelves from her, who doth all ſorts include.

14.

As gGen. 2. 10. Num. 24. 6. Iſa. 58. 11.Gardens, ſo Gods Church, Saints planted are

ByhPſ. 1. 3. Jer. 17. 8. Heb. 6. 7. Cant. 4. 15. Iſa. 27. 2, 3. Joh. 4. 13, 14, 15. c. 7. 38. c. 19. 34. 1 Joh. 5. 6. 8. Re. 21. 6. c. 22. 17. 1 Cor. 3. 5. to 12. rivers ſides, and Chriſtall ſtreames, their rare,

Rich, precious fruits, to water day by day,

Which elſe would fade, and wither quite away:

The living waters, ſprings, ſtreams of Chriſts blood,

Word, ſpirit, grace, prepared for their good;

Still by or in them glide, run, flow, and ſpring,

To make them ſweete, greene, pleaſant fruits to bring

In more abundance. OiHeb. 6. 8. Mat. 3. 10. c. 7. 19. Luc. 13. 6, 7, 8. thrice wretched wee,

If under theſe we withered, barren be.

15.

When kPſal. 80. 13. Cant. 2. 15.wild bores, beaſts breake into Gardens, they

Them roote up, waſt, deface, and much decay:

WhenlPſal. 80. 12, 13, 14, 15. 2 Chron. 34. 15. to 19. Acts 8. 1, 3, 4. c. 9. 1, 2. c. 12. 1. to 7. cruell, potent tyrants, wolves, boares, ſwine,

Breake in upon Gods Church, or Saints, they mine,

Roote up, ſpoyle, waſt them, unleſſe God aſſwage,

Reſtraine, divert, or quell their ſpitefull rage.

Lord alwayes mPſ. 125. 2, 3.fence thy Church, Saints round about,

Againſt all foes, who ſeeke to roote them out;

And when thou ſhalt permit them to breake in,

Oh then, let them root nought out but their ſinne.

16.

As ripe ſeeds ſhooke downe, with winds, ſtormes or raine,

In Gardens to the Earth, therenLuc. 13. 19. 1. Cor. 15. 36, 37, 38. Mat. 13. 8. ſpring againe

With great increaſe; where every little ſeede

A new great plant, and more ſtalkes, ſeedes doth breede:

So in Chriſts Church and Garden, every oSanguis Martyrum ſemen Eccleſiae. Cyprian.drop

Of Martyrs blood there ſhed, brings forth a crop,

And largepActs 8. 1. to 16. c. 11. 19. to 25. Exod. 1. 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. increaſe of Chriſtian plants, who fill

The places where their foes their blood did ſpill,

To their great griefe and ſhame: who thought thereby

Quite to prevent and kill their progeny;

Which they meane while did onelyonly plant and ſow,

And by that blood they ſhed made theſe to grow.

Yea, as ſome Garden plants, herbes often cropt

Spring up more thicke: So Gods Church, Saints oft lopt,

Cut downe, cropt, (nay deſtroy'd in carnall eyes

Conceit) by cruell Tyrants; ſprout, ariſe,

And grow more thicke, great; numerous thereby,

TheqExod. 1. 12. Philemon. 10. Philip. 1 1. 14. 16, 17, 18. Acts 8. 1. to 16. more cut downe, the more they multiply:

Witneſſe therEuſeb. Theoderet. Nicephorus, Socrates, Evagrius, the Centuries, the Engliſh, & French books of Martyrs. Churches ſtory in each age,

Which gain'd, increas'd, not loſt by tyrants rage.

O let us then be willing thus to ſow

Our blood, that thence new troops of Saints may grow,

To ſtore Chriſt Church, mantaine his cauſe when we

Are turn'd to duſt, conſum'd and ceaſe to bee.

17.

The Garden herbes, flowers, plants which ſeemeſJob 14. 7, 8, 9. Cant. 2. 11, 12, 13. Hoſea. 14. 5, 6. Pſ. 104. 29, 30. 14. Iſa. 53. 2. Mat. 24. 32. to die,

In winter, when hid under earth they lye

Within their Rootes or Seeds, yet ſpring againe,

When winter ends, through Summers heat and raine,

And ſhew that they were neither dead, kill'd, loſt,

But onelyonly nipt and hid by winters froſt;

Becauſe they thus in ſummer ſpring, revive,

And ſhew themſelves to every eye alive:

Moſt ſweetly, clearly to us demonſtrate,

Gods choſen Saints and Churches winter-ſtate,

Whoſe faith and ſaving gracestPſal. 51. 9, 10, 11, 12. Pſal. 42. 5, 6. Pſ. 77. 1 to 11. Revel. 3. 2. ſeeme to die

In their temptations, and ſo buried lye

Within their ſeeds, roots, that they want the ſence,

Fruits, comforts of them: and conclude from thence,

That they no doubt are quite dead, kill'd, ſpoyl'd, loſt

And they undone, by their ſharpe winters froſt.

But yet when theſe their boyſtrous ſtorms are paſt,

And Summer comes, theyuHoſea 14. 5, 6. Mich. 7. 8, 9. Iſa. 40. 29, 30, 31. Job 17. 9. Pſ. 92. 12, 13, 14, 15. Luc. 22. 32 Rev. 2. 19. re-appeare at laſt,

To their great comfort, and ſo ſprout, grow, thrive

A freſh, that all ſee, they were ſtill alive;

And onelyonly hid, benummed for that ſpace.

O then let all indu'd with ſaving grace

Learne hence their drooping ſoules to comfort, cheare,

In all temptations, caſes, where they feare

A loſſe of graces: Loe, they x1 Joh. 3. 9. Pſ. 1. 3. Pſ. 125. 1, 2. Rom. 8. 35. to the end. Jer. 32. 38, 39, 40, 41. Eſa. 58. 11. Pſ. 37. 24.ſtill remaine

In ſafety in them, and ſhall ſpring againe.

What though they cannot now them feele or eye;

Wait but a while, and they ſhall them diſcry.

It will not ſtill be winter,yCant. 2. 11, 12, 13. Hoſ. 14. 5, 6. Iſa. 60. 1. Eph. 5. 14. ſpring is neere;

If not before, yet then they will appeare,

In greater luſtre, vigor than before.

Lay up this bleſſed cordiall then in ſtore,

Againſt all evill dayes which will us cheare,

When as our graces hide, and diſappeare.

18.

Hence may we likewiſe Popiſh ſots refell,

Who holdzStapleron, Bellarmin▪ Bozius, Auguſtinus Triumphans, and others. Gods Church on earth ſtill viſible,

In glorious ſort, as if ſhe alwayes grew

In ſummer Ilands, and no winter knew:

When as each true Church, Saint, whiles here below

Oft feele, and find ſuch winters, ſtormes, froſt, ſnow.

As quite ecclipſe,z1 Kings 19. 14, 15. 18. Ro. 11. 3. to 6. Mat. 26. 56. Acts 8. 1. Heb. 11. 36, 37, 38. vaile, hide them, and their grace,

Yea make them ſeeme dead, liveleſſe for a ſpace,

Both in their owne and others ſence; as I

By ſundry ſtories might exemplyfie,

Did not each gardens winter quarter teach

This truth, and it unto our ſenſes preach.

19.

Hence may each Church, S^t further learn to cheere;

Steele, arme themſelves againſt all future feare

Of winter ſtormes, blaſts, tryalls which may ſhake

Their leaves, fruits, ſtalks down to the earth, & make

Them in appearance liveleſſe, voyd of grace,

And in a wretched, helpeleſſe, hopeleſſe caſe,

Like Gardens in cold winters: But yet ſhall

This daunt their faith, or make their hope quite fal?

O no! this winter laſts but for a ſpace,

And then ſucceeds a bleſſed ſpring of grace;

Which ſhall revive, refreſh, repaire, reſtore;

Yea much increaſe, what ſeem'd dead, loſt before,

As it did untoaJob 42. 10, to 17. Job, whoſe latter end

His firſt eſtate in bliſſe did farre tranſcend:

O then, what ever be thy caſe,bMic. 7. 8, 9, 10. Pſ. 27. 14. Pſ. 37. 5, 6, 7, 34. 39. 40. Pſ. 40. 1, 2, 3. Pſal. 113. 7, 8, 9. relye,

Wait, reſt on God with faith, hope, conſtancie,

Who farre beyond thy thoughts will thee tranſlate,

In his due ſeaſon, to a bleſſed ſtate:

He who makes each graſſe, plant, herbe, grow and ſpring,

Will make his Church, Saints much more ſprout, laugh, ſing.

20.

Hence may all raging Perſecutors ſee,

That their attempts againſt Chriſts Church, Saints, be

Vaine, bootleſſe, ſenſeleſſe,cExod. 1. 10, 11, 12, &c. Act 8. 1, to 16. croſſing in event

The very end and ſcope of their intent,

Making them more to thrive, increaſe, and grow,

Inſtead of working their wiſh't overthrow.

O what a wiſe, ſweete, gracious God have wee

Who workes ourdExod. 1, & 2. Gen 38. to 49. c. 50. 20, 21. Eſter. c. 5. to 10. Dan. 3. 19. to the end. &c. 7. throughout. bliſſe out of our miſery?

And makes the malice of our enemies,

The ſpring from whence our greateſt Comforts riſe?

O what beſotted, ſenceleſſe fooles are thoſe

Who Gods true Church, & choſen Saints oppoſe!

They thinke to cruſh, but raiſe them: they intend

To worke their ruine, yet their ſtates amend.

This eGen. 37. to 50.Joſephs brethren,fEſth 5. to 10. Hammons enmity,

KinggExod. 1. & 2. Pharaohs bloodſhed, bondage teſtifie;

With others, whoſe attempts ſtill overthrew

Themſelves at laſt, but made Gods choſen crue.

21.

In winter ſeaſon we can hardly know,

Dead Garden plants from living; ſith in ſhew

They both ſeeme dead and withered to the eye;

But when as Summer comes, we preſently

Diſcerne the dead from thoſe that are alive,

Becauſe the onehJude 12. ſprouts not, the other thrive:

iCant. 2. 11, 12, 13. Mat. 24. 32. Hoſea 14. 5, 6, 7. Job 14. 7, 8, 9, 10.Grow green, heare fruits; So when cold winters blaſt,

Benummes Gods childrens graces, or them caſt

Into a ſwooning fit, or Lethargie,

Themſelves or others hardly can deſcry

Them from dead Chriſtians: but when meanes of Grace,

And ſummer once begin to come in place,

Both are with eaſe diſcerned,kIſa. 66. 14. Mal. 4. 2. Joh. 15. 2. 7. 8. Saints then ſpring,

Revive, and goodly fruits of grace forth bring:

And ſo their hidden life bylJam. 2. 17, 18. Mat. 5. 16. Rev. 2. 19. workes declare,

The other ſpring not, or elſe fruitleſſe are;

And ſo proclaime themſelvesmJude 12. dead. Let all try

Their inward ſtate of life, and grace hereby.

23.

When nIſa. 5. 1. to 8.Gardens fruitleſſe be or overgrowne

With weedes or thornes, they are then open throwne,

Pull'd up, laid waſt: So when a Church with weeds

Is over-run, and nought but errors breeds,

Or groſſe corruptions, ſins;oPſal. 80. 12, 13. Iſa. 5. 1. to 8. 2 Chron. 34. 15. to 20. Rev. 2. 5. Heb. 6. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. c. 2. 3. c. 3. 11. to 17. Matth. 3. 9. c. 7. 19. God then doth caſt

Her walls, pales downe, and forthwith layes her waſt.

Thus doth he deale with private Chriſtians too,

Who by their barrenneſſes, ſinnes, Luſts undoe

Themſelves, provoking God them off to caſt,

Pull downe their hedge, and lay them ever waſt.

O let each Church and Chriſtian then take heed

How they prove barren, or ſinnes in them breed.

If Gods Bill of devorce be once out ſu'd,

p1 Chr. 28. 9. Pſal. 95. 10, 11. Heb. 3. 11, 12. 1 Chr. 34. 16. Heb. 6. 5, 6. Dan. 1. 28. to 32. Heb. 12. 17.There is no helpe, it cannot be eſcheu'd.

23.

In Gardens oft the ſhade and neighbourhood

Of weedes or poyſonous Plants, corrupt the good;

Kill, blaſt, or harme them more or leſſe: So ill

Lewed men of all ſorts in the Church, doe ſtill

Deprave qPro. 22. 24. 25. 1 Cor. 5. to 13. Heb. 12. 15. 2 Pet. 2. 1. 2. 2 Cor. 6. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18.and hurt the better, their meere ſhade

Hath blasted many, and them worſer made.

There's no ſuch Quench-coale, Plague, or bane of grace

As wicked Conſorts, who it moſt deface.

He who would thrive in Grace muſt everrPſal. 26. 4. 5. Pſal. 6. 8. Pſ. 101. 2. to the end. Pſal. 119. 115. Pſal. 139. 19. Pro. 1. 12. to 17. Iſa. 52. 11. Rev. 18. 4. Pſa. 1. 1. flye

With chiefeſt Care, all ill Mens Company.

24.

Some ſtinking weedes ill favour oft devoures,

Unſents the Perfumes of the ſweeteſt flowers

That Gardens yeeld: ThesIſa. 1. 2. to 28. Heb. 6. 5. 6. 7. 8. 2 Pet. 2. 1. to the end. Rev. 2. 4. 5. 14. 15. 16. 19. 20. c. 3. 15. 10. 17. Mat. 7. 21. 22. 23. noyſome ſent and fume

Of Saints and Churches vices oft conſume,

Out-ſmell the richeſt Odours of their Grace;

Which in Gods Noſe, and Mens then finde no place,

Whiles that the ſtinking ſavour of their weedes

Thus drownes their vertues ſent, and it exceedes.

O then roote out theſe naſty Plants, which ſinke

Our ſweeter fumes, and turne them into ſtinke.

25.

Sweete Garden Herbes, Flowers, Spices Bruis'd, intend

Their fragrant Odors, and their ſents amend;

Whilſt whole they tCant. 5. 13. Exod. 30. 34. 23. Iſa. 42. 24. Jer. 6. 20.ſweete are, yet their ſents but feeble

When chruſht, the ſweeter, and their ſmell growes treble,

Thus Gods deare Church and Saints, when pounded, broke

Within Afflictions Morter, by the ſtroke

Of Gods chaſtiſing hand, doe much vPhil. 1. 12. 13. 14. Jam. 5. 10. 11. Act. 8. 1. to 16. 1 Pet. 1. 6. 7. 1 Theſ. 1. 5. 6. 7. 8. Rom. 1. 8.augment,

And more diſperſe their rich and fragrant ſent:

Their fumes, but weake, and ſcarce diſcern'd before,

Grow ten-fold ſtronger, and increas'd in ſtore:

Sending their fragrant Odors farre and nigh,

Before ſcarce ſmelt by thoſe who ſtood cloſe by.

I will not then repine, nor be offended

At that whereby my ſent's ſo much amended:

Yea, ſo dilated, that its incenſe flyes

Throughout the Earth, and mounts above the skies:

The deare, ſweete Incenſe of anxPſal. 51. 17. Iſa. 66. 2. Heart contrite

Perfumes the Heavens, and is Gods delight:

When as a yRom. 2. 5.heart unbroken, yeelds no ſent,

And ne're growes ſweete till into peeces zJoel. 2. 13.rent.

26.

Gardens aHoſt. 7. 7. 8. Jer. 29. 5. Eccleſ. 2. 5. Luk. 13. 19.throughout the world diſperſed lye

In every Clime, grac'd through variety:

Gods Church and Saints are bCol. 1. 6. Mar. 16. 15. 2 Pet. 1. 1.Catholicke for place,

In ſeate disjoyn'd,cEphe. 2. 13. 14. 15. to the end c. 4. 4. 5. 6. 7. 13. 14. Rom. 15. 5. 6. all one in heart and grace,

Their graces, vertues ſweete variety

Fills up their Conſort, crownes their Harmony.

27.

Men Plant no Gardens,dJer. 29. 5. 18. Amos. 9. 14. Eſth. 1. 5. c. 7. 7. 8. but where they intend

To dwell in Perſon, or ſome time to ſpend,

And moſt part onelyonly on their proper Fee,

That they to them and theirs intail'd may be.

God never planted Church in any Nation,

But where he meant to fixe hisePſal. 68. 18. Pſal. 131. 14. Levit. 26. 11. 12. 2 Cor. 6. 16. Rev. 21. 3. habitation,

At leaſt for lives or yeares, moſt uſually

He plants in Fee; Saints forfJoh. 13. 1. Rom. 11. 29. Joh. 14. 16. 17. Iſa. 59. 25. eternity.

Churches, with meanes, Saints, ſtill withgPhil. 1. 10. 11. Col. 1. 9. 10. Gal. 5. 18. 22. 23. fruites of grace,

Thoſe for his Common, theſe his Proper place.

Churches mayhRev. 2. 5. Mat. 21. 43. loſe his preſence; meanes decay,

SaintsiJoh. 10. 28. 29. Rom. 11. 29. c. 8. 30. to the end. ſtill enjoy him, gifts ſhall laſt for aye.

Lord plant me as a Saint, that I may be

To Thee, and Chriſt, th'one Heire, Eternall Fee.

28.

All Gardens kCant. 6. 2. 3. 12. 1 King. 21. 2.beare not the ſame kindes or ſtore

Of fruites alike; ſome fewer, ſome yeeld more,

Some Plants thrive beſt in one, ſome in another,

What wants in one, is ſtill ſupply'd by th'other,

No one abounds with all things; all combin'd,

In ſome or other we may all fruites finde;

Juſt ſo, nol1 Cor. 12. 4. to 31. Epheſ. 4. 13. 16. Private Church, or Saint is ſtor'd

With all perfections: nor doe all afford

The ſelfeſame Meaſure, or degree of grace,

Their gifts, fruites, Omers, vary as their place.

Some in theiriRom. 1. 8. Eph. 1. 15. Col. 1. 4. 1 Theſ. 1. 3. faith excell, they allkEph. 4. 5. Col. 1. 23. agree

In truth thereof, yet differ in degree;

Others abound inkCol. 1. 4. 2 Theſ. 1. 3. love and Charity;

Yet all divided in this unity:

Some are morelNum. 12. 3. Zeph. 2. 3. humble; ſome moremJam. 5. 11. patient

Theſe more nDan. 6. 10.devout are; Others, moreoPhil. 4. 11. Content,

Thoſe have morep1 Cor. 12. 8. Phil. 1. 9. knowledge; theſe moreq1 Pet. 1. 8. Rom 15. 13. 2 Cor. 8. 2. Rom. 15. 13. 2 Cor. 8. 2. joy, or peace

All one in ſubſtance, diverſe in th' Increaſe.

In ſum, theirr1 Cor. 12. 4 to 31. graces, their degrees are many;

Each one his ſhare hath; but the whole not any;

To ſtrangle pride, breed Love, make allsEph. 2. 15. 16. 21. c. 4. 4. 5. 6. 13. but one,

Sith allt1 Cor. 12. 4. to 31. defective, Cyphers if alone.

But joyn'd in One (Chriſt, whencevJoh. 1. 16. all graces flow)

All arexCol. 2. 9. 10. Epheſ. 1. 23. compleate, All graces in All grow.

Let none then thinke they have no grace at all,

Becauſe not all kinds equall; or thoſe ſmall

And weake they have; perchance it isyHeb. 5. 12. 13. 14. 1 Cor. 3. 1. 1 Pet. 2, 2. new ſprung

Infants are perfect Men, though ſmall, weake, young,

Compleate in All their parts, though All not view'd

At firſt, nor like in ſhape, ſtrength, magnitude.

29.

The greateſtzJer. 39. 4. c. 52. 7. Eccl. 25. 2 King. 21. 18. 1 King. 21. 2. Eſth. 1. 5. c. 7. 7. 8. Kings in Gardens much delight

And plant them neare unto their Pallace ſite:

So Chriſt, the King of Kings, hath aaCant. 4. 12. 15. 16. c. 5. 1. c. 6. 2. 11. c. 8. 13. Garden

Here upon Earth, his Church and Godly men,

Wherein he walkes, dwels, much delights, and feeds,

And plants them with all uſefull fruites, herbes, ſeedes.

Eden was oncebGen. 2. 8. 9. 10. c. 13. 10. Iſa 51. 3. Ezec. 28. 13. c. 31. 8. 9. Joel. 2. 3. Gods Garden ſtil'd, but now

He doth no other Garden claime or know

But his true Church, and choſen Saints onelyonly:

A Paradiſe moſtcPſal. 149. 4. Lev. 26. 11. 12. Iſa. 5. 7. pleaſing to his eye.

30.

When as I view ſome Garden Plants, Herbes, Trees

(Exceeding others in their heates degrees)

StillzPſal. 1. 3. Jer. 17. 8. Ezec. 47. 13. 37. 35. greene all winter long, unnipt with Froſt,

When colder Plants Leaves, greenneſſe, fruites are loſt;

And thoſe not hot, quiteaIſa. 1. 30. c. 64. 5. ſhriveled, kild with cold;

I doe therein contemplate and behold

Three ſorts of Chriſtians, whoſe ſad winter Fates

In perſecutions, differ like their ſtates.

The ſtrongeſt Saints, hot in the fourth degree,

Or third at leaſt of faith, zeale; ſtand bPſa. 1. 3. Pſa. 37. 31. Pro. 17. 8. Ezech. 47. 12. Rom. 8. 30. to the end. Cant. 8. 8. 6. 7.firme, free

From Winters Nips, Blaſts, froſts, which though they beate

Full ſore upon them, cannot chill their heate:

Their inward fire ſtill keepes them warme, freſh, greene;

When others fade, their Graces moſt are ſeene.

Martyres were hotteſt, greeneſt, fruitefulſt when

Froſts hid, chil'd, kild, moſt ſhriveled other men.

The weaker, younger true Saints, hot but in

The firſt degree, or ſecond, oftc2 Tim. 4. 16. Mat. 13. 21. draw in

Their heate, ſap, vigour from their outward parts

Unto the Roote and Center of their hearts,

When winter ſtormes approach, ſo as their greene

Leaves of Profeſſion fade, fall, are ſcarce ſeene

Till winters paſt: meane while their graces lye

Hid for the moſt part in obſcurity,

Like Rootes in Earth, good corne in chaffe, or fire

In aſhes; and as heate is low, or higher

Within, or froſt without, ſo more or leſſe

They chill, fade, ſhrinke, profeſſe or not profeſſe:

Yet in theſe ſharpeſt Froſtsd1 Joh. 3. 9. there's life within,

The hearts not frozen, ſhrivel'd, but the skin:

When ſprings approach cold ſtormes hath chas'd away,

They ſoone peepe up in freſh, greene, bright array.

The Common Chriſtians, who have no degree,

Of heate or ſaving graceeMat. 13. 21. Luk. 8. 13. Jude 12. quite killed be;

And froze to death with perſecutions froſt,

Their heate before was borrowed, now its loſt:

It was the ſunnes not theirs, all forraine fire;

And ſummer fruits in Winter quite expire,

Nor will the ſpring or ſummer them revive,

No wonder, they werefEph. 2. 1. 1 Tim. 5. 6. Rev. 3. 1. dead when firſt alive.

31.

Rootes, Plants, whiles they in Garden-Earth faſt lye,

Are freſh and live, but taken thence gJude 12.ſoone dye:

Gods true Church is a Chriſtiansh1 John 2. 19. Eph. 4. 13. to 17. Heb. 10. 23. 24. 25. Element

Wherein he lives, growes, thrives; if from it rent,

Disjoyn'd, we ſoone fade, wither, quite expire,

We have no life, but in the true Church fire.

32.

The plucking up, and caſting out of weeds

From Gardens, leſt they ſhould good Herbes, Plants Seedes

Corrupt and over-grow; inſtruct and ſhew,

How each true Church ſhould roote up andi1 Cor. 5. throughout. 1 Tim. 1. 20. Mat. 18. 17. out-throw

By ſacred Cenſures, all lew'd wicked, vile

Notorious ſinners, leſt they ſhould defile,

Deprave the good, and her quite over-grow,

At laſt, by ſteps, and worke her over-throw.

33.

All Garden-Flowers, Herbes, Plants contented reſt

With their ownekMat. 6. 28. 29. 30. Native Colours, as the beſt;

Abhorring Artificiall varniſh paints:

So all Gods choſen lIſa. 61. 3.Plants, true hearted Saints,

Themſelves with their ownemMat. 5. 36. 1 Tim. 2. 9. 10. 1 Pet. 3. 3. 4. 5. 1 Theſ. 5. 22. 23. Native Beauty, Haire,

Content; Uſe no Arts, Paints, to make them faire.

A counterfeit Complexion, Buſh, Face, Paint.

Doe ill become anPhil. 1. 10. ſincere-hearted Saint.

Where falſeoIſa. 3. 16. to 25. 2 King. 9. 30. Jer. 4. 30. Ezech. 23. 40. Rom. 12. 1. Ezech. 16. 49. 50. 1 Pet. 3. 2. 3. 4. 5. Dyes, ſpots, appeare upon the skin,

Its ten to one all's falſe, naught, foule within:

Pride, Luſt, Vaine-glory, Chambring, Wantonneſſe,

Or Vanity at leaſt, ſuch ſoules poſſeſſe.

The rootes from whence theſe ſpots, prints, firſt ariſe,

Enough to make all Chriſtians them deſpiſe.

34.

The kGen. 13. 10. Num. 24. 6.loweſt deepeſt Gardens moſt abound

With fruites Herbes, Plants, and are the richeſt ground:

ThelIſa. 66. 2. c. 57. 15. Jam. 4. 6. 1 Pet. 5. 5. 6. humbleſt Saints in fruitefulneſſe excell,

And God in them delighteth moſt to dwell.

Lord alwayes decke me with humility

Which makes men fruitefull, lovely in thine Eye.

35.

Gardens have ſtraite, ſweete, pleaſant walkes for men,

To lEſth 7. 7.walke in, and refreſh their ſpirits, when

They tyred, greeved, ſicke, perplexed are:

So Gods Church, Saints, have many pleaſant, rare,

Straite, even walkes (Gods ſacredmPſal. 119. 1. 3. 32. Gal. 6. 16. Pſal. 1. 1. 2. Lawes, Word, Wayes)

Wherein to walke, runne paſſe on, all their dayes;

Which theirnPſal. 19. 7. to 13. Jer. 15. 16. Pſal. 119. Hearts, Soules refreſh, cheare and delight,

Yea, all their cares, griefes, preſſures make more light

And eaſie, if not totally expell:

O let us in theſe walkes ſtill walke, runne, dwell.

36.

When I behold the goodlieſtbCant. 2. 12 Gen. 1. 12. c. 2. 9. Job 8. 16. Trees, Flowers, grow,

And ſpring out of vile earth, or dung below,

Which have no beauty, ſplendor, comelineſſe

Within them; but meere ſtinke and rottenneſſe.

Me thinkes I ſee thereby, how Gods great power,

Makes ſweete, faire, ſhiningcEph. 2. 1. to 8. 1 Cor. 6. 9. 10. 11. Joh. 1. 16. Col. 1. 9. 10. 11. 1 Theſ. 1. 5. to 10. graces ſpring in our

Vile earthly, rotten, ſtinking, ſinnefull hearts

And Natures (when he us to him converts;)

Wherein nought but ſinnes, vices, luſts did ſpring

Before; and no one grace, nor one good thing:

O let none then deſpaire of having grace

Becauſe his nature, heart are ſinnefull, baſe,

Corrupt and loathſome; ſince God makes ſtinking.

Vile Earth, dung, ſweete, faire, goodly flowers forth-bring.

If thou be one of hisdRom. 8. 28. 29. 30. Eph. 2. 1. to the end. Elect, no doubt

All his ſweete graces, ſhall in thee ſpring out

In his due time; then neither feare, nor faint;

Thee1 Tim. 1. 15 16. 13. 14. 2 Chron 33. 13. 14. worſt of ſinners God can make a Saint.

And though flowers beauty, and mens too which ſpring

Out of meere duſt, arefPſal. 103. 15. 16. Iſa. 40. 6 7. 8. Mat. 6. 30. fading, withering,

Yea ſoone decay, and turne to duſt againe;

Yet g1 Joh. 3. 9. Rom. 11. 29. 2 Tim. 2. 19. Jer. 32. 39. 40. Rom. 8. 30. to the end. Pſal. 125. 1. 2. 3. Pſal. 37. 23. 24, Iſa. 40. 29. 30. 31. Joh. 10. 28. 29.ſaving graces flowriſh, freſh remaine,

And laſt without decay, becauſe they ſpring

Not out of duſt, but from Chriſt our head, King.

Who doth preſerve them alwayes from decay,

And keepe Saints that they ne're fall quite away

From ſaving Grace. Nay, when as our Bodies

Are turn'd to dung, h1 Cor. 15. 1 Theſ. 4. 14. 16. Job 19. 25. 26. 27.Chriſt ſhall cauſe them to riſe

Out of the duſt, like flowers in the Spring,

And to the ſtate of endleſſe glory bring.

O ſweete, ſweete ſolace to each pious breſt;

Which here may ſit downe, and take up its iPſal. 4. 8. Pſal. 116. 7.Reſt.

Lord let each Garden which we henceforth eye

Or walke in, ſuch divine Thoughts inſtantly

Bring to our Mindes, to raiſe our Soules to Thee,

And make us better by what there we ſee.

The Epilogue.

O That all Chriſtians by this Poſie, I

Have here collected would learne inſtantly

When as they in their pleaſant Gardens walke,

Thus with their ownekPſal. 4. 4. Hearts, God and Chriſt to talke

By pious Meditations, from what they

Behold within their Gardens day by day.

How ſweete then would their walkes and Orchards prove?

How would their Soules be fired with Gods Love?

Each Garden then would be a Paradiſe,

A ſecond Eden to the godly-wiſe:

Iſt not a Sinnefull, Shamefull, beaſtly thing

For Chriſtians to toyle, walk, talk, laugh, feaſt, ſing,

Play, ſport themſelves, or meditate onelyonly

Of worldly things, in Gardens conſtantly;

And in the meane time ſcarce to have one ſweete;

Or pious thought from objects they there meete,

Of God, Chriſt, Heaven, Mans Mortalitie,

Preſented to them in each Herbe they Eye?

For ſhame then let us all this fault amend

Hereafter, and our Hearts, Mindes, fully bend

To godly Meditations, whiles we paſſe

Our time in Gardens, where each flower, herbe, graſſe

And Creature we behold, will ſoone ſuggeſt

Some vſefull Thoughts to every pious Breaſt,

It to amend, and with ſweete Extaſies

To elevate above the ſtarry skies.

If any want helpe in this kind, they may

Till better come, make uſe of this Eſſay.

FINIS.

THE SOVLES COMPLAINT againſt the BODIES ENCROACHMENTS ON HER: And the Generall Neglect ſhe findes with Moſt.

BY WILLIAM PRYNNE, above foure yeares Priſoner in the Tower of London; and ſince that, above three yeares Cloſe Priſoner in Carnarvan in North-Wales, and in Mount-Orgueil Castle, in the Iſle of Ierſy.

Matthew 16. 26.

For what is a man profitted, if he ſhall gaine the whole World, and loſe his owne Soule? or what ſhall a man give in exchange for his Soule?

Iſaiah 55. 2. 3.

Wherefore doe ye ſpend money for that which is not Bread? and your labour for that which ſatisfieth not? Hearken diligently unto me, and eate ye that which is good, and let your SOVLE delight it ſelfe in fatneſſe. Encline your eare and come unto me, heare and your SOVLE ſhall live, and I will make an everlaſting covenant with you, even the ſure Mercies of David.

1 Peter 2. 11.

Dearely beloved, I beſeech you as Pilgrims and Strangers abſtaine from fleſhly luſts, which war againſt the Soule.

1 Peter 3. 3. 4.

Whoſe adorning, let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the haire, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparell: But let it be the hidden man of the Heart, in that which is not corruptible; even the ornament of a meeke and quiet ſpirit, which is in the ſight of God of great price.

London Printed by T. Cotes, for Michael Sparke dwelling at the blue Bible in Greene Arbor. 1641.

TO The Right Worſhipfull his highly Honoured good Friend, the Lady ELIZABETH BALFOVRE, Wife to S^r William Balfoure, Knight, Lieutenant of the Tower of LONDON.

MADAM, Your Noble Favours whiles that I

Did in the Tower of London Priſner lye

For ſundry yeares; may now in Juſtice call

For ſome expreſſion of my Thanks, though ſmall.

Having no better meanes to teſtifie

My gratitude, than this ſmall Poeſie,

Devoted to your Service, Ʋſe and Name;

I crave your Kinde Acceptance of the ſame,

And thoſe thereto annexed; fruites of my

Impriſonment; who ſhall both live and dye.

Your Obliged Friend and Servant, WILLIAM PRYNNE.

Divine Meditations Raised from Three Leaves of Nature, Poem 4 – Dedication 4

p. 115A CHRISITAN PARADISE. OR A Divine Poſie, Compoſed of ſundry Flowers of Meditation, gathered from the ſweet and Heavenly Contemplation of the Nature, Fruites, and Qualities of Gardens.

THE PREFACE.

A briefe Character of a Garden.

Meditations of the firſt Kinde.

1.

2.

p. 1193.

4.

5.

Meditations of the ſecond Ranke.

1.

p. 1222.

3.

4.

5.

p. 1246.

7.

8.

p. 1259.

10.

Meditations of the third Claſſe.

1.

2.

3.

p. 1284.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

p. 13112.

13.

1.

p. 1322.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

p. 1338.

9.

10.

11.

12.

Meditations of the fourth Claſſe.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

p. 13811.

Meditations of the fifth Sort.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14,

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

A CHRISITAN PARADISE. OR A Divine Poſie, Compoſed of ſundry Flowers of Meditation, gathered from the ſweet and Heavenly Contemplation of the Nature, Fruites, and Qualities of Gardens.

3.

2.

6.

9.

4.

12.

2.

8.

11.

24.

26.

3.

5.

10.

23.

TO The Right Worſhipfull his highly Honoured good Friend, the Lady ELIZABETH BALFOVRE, Wife to S^r William Balfoure, Knight, Lieutenant of the Tower of LONDON.