Mildmay Fane, Earl of Westmoreland: Otia Sacra (privately printed 1648), complete text

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[Image with inscription 'Otia Sacra... Optima Fides...Deus nobis hæc Otia fecit. Virg : ... London Printed by Richard Cotes. 1648.']

Otia Sacra title page. 'Deus nobis haec Otia fecit.' Virg. Printed by Richard Cotes, London, 1648

(enlargement)

[ p.ii ]

Infans Natus, Filius Datus.

Esay 9. 6.

S there a Child born? what great wonder's that?
When 'tis natures property to Generat;
But here's a Sonne too given, which implies
All that can be ascrib'd to Mysteries;
For He's a Father, Brother, Kinsman, Friend,
Both Sacrifice and Priest to recommend
That offering up : Samaritan past by
Himself to Act the height of Charity
On us lay stript wounded; A Physitian
Cures the disease of our indisposition
To ought that good is; Shepheard to redresse,
And bring us back out of the wildernesse;
Where we had gon astray into his fould,
A Merchant that Redeems us who were sould
To sinne and bondage ; and to make all good,
Contented was to spare his previous blood:
So was a Lambe before the Shearers led,
To be disroab'd, despis'd, and slaughtered,
That we might Live in credit, and put on
The whiter Robe of his Salvation:
Th's Atlas-like the Government doth bear
Upon His shoulder, and if Counsellour
We would esteem Him, we should be content
To make his mercies our encouragement:
For mighty faults deserve a mighty rod,
But He an Everlasting mighty God,
The Prince of Peace, full of Compassions store
Holds out the Golden scepter evermore,
And that this Birth and Gift to us be knowne,
He pleads himself Our cause at's Fathers Throne.

Christus

[ p.iii ]

Christus

Totus, Solus, in Omnibus

E tibi deficias fac sit tibi Totus Iësus
Nec metuas, Christus sat tibi solus erit
Omnibus & cupiens rebus gaudere secundis
Conferat in Dominum singula facta suum

That to your selfe you be not wanting, make
Iesus all yours, and Christ alone your stake;
For who desires enjoyment of good things
Must place upon his Lord what e're hee brings.

Tantillus Homo, & Tantus Peccator.

Ow small a thing is Man, and yet Immence,
In acting over Disobedience;
From the first spawing time He did begin
To hatch Rebellion, and to foster sin:
Dispute His Makers Mandate, and make choice
To yeeld unto the Subtil Serpents voyce:
Thus then betray'd, ere since he doth preferr
Custome to be New-natures Usherer;
And so prescribes, Thinking he doth no worse
Then his Fore-father who entail'd the curse,
A new Beleefe of credit would put on,
That God would signe a new Redemption:
As if his Sonne into the world did dain,
Once for to come, should come for him again;
And so He will; yet not by Ransome led,
To purchase that again man forfeited

[ p.iv ]

By second Error, but as Judge to try
(Whilst Conscience verdicts) each enormity:
And as mans misdemeanours They expresse,
Though Great in Guilt, in Goodnes He'l goe lesse.

Ad Amicum.

Randia parva juvant, Parvus Lectusq; domusq;,
Nec magnus Puer est, nec focus ille tuus.
Parvis magna solet virtus gaudere micatque
Oppositis positum grandius ingenium.

Before a Sacrament.

S there a Feast to day ? must I make one
          At so great Celebration?
And am I yet to seeke how to be drest
          As to become a worthy Guest?
If to some other Table bid I were
         My Taylor, and my Shoomaker,
Sempster, and Barber, all might mustred be
         To add to my Formality.
But this more reall than all else, implies
         A Banquet fill'd with mysteries:
God's manifested in the Flesh and thus
         The height of mercy shown to us:
And if the Rule of charity begins
         At home, let's call to mind our sins,
Befreind our selves so farre as to Confesse,
         How much He did, and we doe lesse;
Be joyfull for so Great a Saviours Power,
         Yet in Contrition melt a shower,
To think how oft whilst lewd affections guide
         We make our Lord New crucifide,

Tim. 3. 16

[ p.v ]

Heb. 2.14.

Then if we would no more of horror dread,
         We may approach and take this bread
And wine, the Comfort and the staffe, whereby
         Not Life but Lifes Eternity
Secured is, and then with Grace possest,
         Shew that we have an interest
In his high merits which alone Comprise
         Power to quell our Enemies.
And though our former Actions turn'd to weed,
Let's now bring Faith though but a Mustard seed.
   So may we all remove that high appears
   In our Conceipts, into a sea of Tears;
   For 'tis His Blood no other Jordan can
   Cuer the Leperous Assyrian.

I Cor.I.30.	Qui factus fuit
	nobis a Deo
Prov. 9. 10	Sapientia;	Ut Timeamus ; utpote Initium.
I Cor. I.29.	Justitia;	Ut nostræ nihili pendamus quoniam carnalis.
	Sanctificatio	Ut in posterum (vitæ prioris pravitate reli- ctâ) secundum sacrosanctam tam verbi ejus quam Exempli normam ambulemus.
	Redemptio.	Ut ne quid amplius Diabolo, Peccatis scilicet & affectionibus Carnalibus sed ipso Sacri- ficanti sacrificio; Ipsosmet in omni sancta & pura conversatione Consecremus & sacrificemus.
	Non Recusantes, Cruci viZ. Afflictionibus & Tribulationi- bus pro Illo succumbere, Qui istius Gravitatem & Anxi- atatem pro nobis sustentaverat.

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Columna Fidei.

U R Senses are bewitch'd, and seem to grow
So to the Creature, and on things below,
That all our busied Fancy can devise,
Serves more to sink them, than to make them rise:
For out of sight and minde, at once agree
To blind-fold Nature from Eternitie;
And leave her groveling, for to groap her way
Here in This Transitory bed of Clay,
Till Faith steps in; and in the stead of wings,
Unto Beleef, a lofty Pillar brings,
Whereby we should be raised up; And thus
Ascend to Him, descended once for Us.

K A R D I A G N W S T H S
On the Title Page.

Here is a Fowle wont hide its head
To Passe so undiscovered:
Judging it self exempt from eyes
Of others, whilst it none descryes.
Not much unlike are such to these,
Who commit Closet-trespasses
And Chamber-dalliance ; and then
Goe for unseen, 'cause so of Men.
If They my Pillars top attein,
They'l finde an eye tryes heart and rein:
But Natures Pur-blinde sight short is;
Nor can she rise alone to this,
Till Grace assist, which will such vertue yield,
As both t'ascend the Pillar, gain this Shield.

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Design, printed size 9.84cm wide by 1.62cm high

O T I A S A C R A.

Ad Libellum suum

O E without Dedication, for that might
Imply I sought to Shelter what I write
Under some Patronage : I can afford
None Sharers in this Offering with my Lord:
His are both Line and Leisure, which mis-spent,
The fault lyes on th' unhappy Instrument
That should improve both better : But 'tis done,
And Thy fate is decree'd, thy woof is spun,
Censure must passe : Yet Blush not since thy Strings
Are onely consonant with holy things.

Ad Viatorem.

Umina, non Nummos, Me dum cernis Meditantem,
Et Me-ditantem crede (Viator) habes.

/ p.3 /

Triangle in circle with EST written across it

In Unitate Trinitas.

Hat Number 'bove the rest,
                  For ever Blest,
                Which God Himself doth daign
To Branch into, yet Re-unites again,
  For as His Prescience could tell
                                  When Angels fell
That Man would follow, and there should be One
   Sent for to make Redemption:
So from our Misery did He Infer
   Th' necessity of a Comforter.
   This doth inspire, That did Create,
   The second did Regenerate:
                Thus though Distinct, They are
                                  Yet singular,
And One wise-ever Power it is doth Tie
This Triple Knot into a Unitie.

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Mundi

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Ex Maxima Parte
  nondum Vocati.

Participes Verbi et
  Sacramentorum,
  qui fuêre vocati
  sed nondú electi.

Electi, ideoque vo-
  cati.

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   Sanctificationem.
Qui propter externam
  vocationem Domini per
  Verbum, interne & effe-
  ctualiter vocantur per
  Spiritum Sanctum.

Justificationem.
Grex parvulus Christi,
Luk. 12. 32.

Glorificationem.
Tertia pars Domini, Za-
char. 13.9.

Let me not treat the Broad highway to Sin,
But being Elect declare my Call therein.

Seminantur

à Deo

   Veritas
   Pax
   Amicitia.

     Ut Alterutri
     prodeβemus

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Inter Homines

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à Diabolo

   Mendacium
   Discordia
   Inimicitia.

     Ut Alterutrum
         devoremus.

/ p.5 /

A Morning Thought.

          Sithence it is given
To Man, to follow's Labor till the Even;
          And when that Star doth close
Up Day, then to seek quiet and repose,
          Let Us what's of our Own
                Learn to make known,
                          To be
But so much Cash of purchas'd Misery;
                All else Confess
( Of Love and Providence) true happiness.

          For as our Souls had been
A Combating all Day with Flesh and Sin,
          And then for Captives led
In Slumbers Fetters ; Prison'd in a Bed.
So by the Nights Exchange again to Day
                             They may
          (Set free) take up their Armes,
      And having overcome those Charmes,
Boldly Conclude the Victory to keep
When as they Warr for Him kept them asleep.

                No other Ransom Need
                          To Speed
          This Liberty ; but once awake,
                  Into our thoughts to take,
                 What such Confinement might
Administer of Danger in One night,
                  And how th'all-wakefull eye
      Provided had for our Delivery;
Which on the wings of Contemplation rais'd
Again, w'are Mounted, whilst His name is prais'd.

Psal.104.23

/ p.6 /

Psalm 19.

* The Son of
Blindness in
the Syriac.

Cæli enarrant Gloriam Dei.

Re we asleep? or doe we see
No more than did blind * Bartime?
      Or are our Senses Charm'd to lie
      Benumm'd into some Lethargie,
      Whilst Sin makes of's a Conquest ?   Rise
      Flesh-buryed Soul, and from the Skies
      Let thy wing'd thoughts to thee relate
      Who 'twas those structures did Create,
Where in Thy Hemisphere at large is pen'd,
More wonder then frail Clay can comprehend.

      Whether a Sun, a Moon, a Star,
      A Comet or a Meteor,
      A Various Bow, true sign of Peace,
      Swoln Clouds, which cause on earth increase
      When breaking they Distill ; the Glum
      And horrid beat of Thunders Drum
      We hear or see: Why are these sent ?
      But t'shew His is Omnipotent,
Who thus in Characters doth write, whereby
We have a Lecture in Divinity.

      For as those great and lesser Lights
      Distinguish Time by Dayes and Nights;
      So was it Day with us untell
      Our Disobedient Parents fell.
      Yet as the Tincell'd Night gives way
      At th'opening o'th' true Golden Day;
      So did the powers of Darkness fly,
      The Sun of Righteousness being by:
And when we Comet-struck, int' Sin had run,
The Father did redeem us by the Son.

/ p.7 /

      When th'Undertaker first did dain
      For to restore His world again,
      He us'd no other lock or sluce
      I'th' Clouds, but sent a Bow of truce.
      What did His Mercy less, when we
      Who are the Worlds Epitome,
      Delug'd in Sin, lay Breathless, Drown'd,
      Untill Our Saviours Pretious Wound
Open'd a Drayn, wherewith he laid us dry,
From wickedness into fertility ?

      The Aire imprison'd, fain would try
      The virtue of more Liberty:
      Yet meeting with a tougher Cloud
      Is forc'd to quarrell, and speak loud.
      So if we seek our freedom heer,
      We must no Cloud of Fortune fear:
      But like Bonargeses, proclame
      What we profess, then be the same.
For whilst the Face looks one way, and the Mind
Another, 'tis like Rain brought against the Wind.

There shall no Thunder-crack, nor dash of wet,
Prodigious Comet, in us fear beget;
But the Suns Purple, and the Silver wings
The Moon puts on, bespeaks us Saints and Kings,
Whilst Iris Endless Peace, the numerous Lights
Adorn the Night, discypher all delights:
Which for to seek to compass and obtain,
He that quits life and all here, makes great Gain.

/ p.8 /

My Countrey Audit.

Lest Privacie, Happy Retreat, wherein
I may cast up my Reck'nings, Audit Sin,
Count o'r my Debts, and how Arrears increase
In Natures book, towards the God of Peace:
What through perversness hath been wav'd, or don
To My first Convenants contradiction:
How many promis'd Resolutions broke
Of keeping touch (almost as soon as spoke.)
   Thus like that Tenant who behind-hand cast,
   Intreats so oft forbearance, till at last
   The sum surmounts his hopes, and then no more
   Expects, but Mercy to strike off the score.
So here, methinks, I see the Landlords Grace
Full of Compassion to my drooping Case,
Bidding me be of comfort, and not griev'd,
My Rent his Son should pay if I believ'd.

Cui in calamitatibus soli sit fidendum.

Juv. Sat.10.

Hen first the Towring Hills, the loftier Pine,
Exchang'd to ride upon the swelling brine:
Neptune prepar'd, and with more Active skill
Grew sometimes in the Vale, sometimes on th'Hill:
Whilst Floating in a compleat tackle drest,
She's taught to Sayl from Cadis to the East:
Where Ganges runs, and from those coasts being come,
To steer a course back to Illyrium:
Then was that coward Fear banish'd the Mind
And Heart of Man, ambitious still to find.

/ p.9 /

More worlds and works of wonder, wherein He
Might trace the Greatness of the Deitie.
Then as if fortify'd with steel and brass,
Ventur'd his Bottom on this field of glass,
  So brickle and unconstant, as contrives
  A nearness unto Death, yet with reprive.
A small Gale over-fils the sayls, a leak
Is sprung, in shorter time than I can speak.
Then being o'r-set above, o'r-charg'd beneath,
What can expected be but present Death?
  Unless we seek to Him, at whose command
  Becalm'd into Obedience, Tempests stand,
  Rising when He so pleases, and are gon
  When He Planes o'r their rugged Motion:
Whose Power at life's exprest, when weight ascends,
And almost to the Crystall Skie extends:
And then again, when Nature on't doth enter,
It is permitted for to wash the Center.
  Then are such troubled as on it doe ride,
  Rowling and Tottering from side to side,
  Being drunk through fear and sorrow; nor can tell
  How many Sands shall knowl their Passing-bell.
Thus in a Trance dismay'd, and quite bereft
Of sense, save of a little spark that's left
To kindle hopes, They to their Maker Cry,
Who straight releases them from Misery,
  Sending a Calm; whereat the Liquid plain
  Becomes to them a Looking-glass again:
  So They in mind restor'd, have quick access
  Unto the Haven of their Happiness.

Hor. Od. 3.

Psalm 107.

/ p.10 /

My Carroll.

                ARise, arise
  Dull Fancy from the bed of Earth,
             And that low strain
             Besots thy vain;
         That so thou mayst devise
  Some Record of that famous Birth,
Which about This time, as our Date will have,
One Son for All the rest the Father gave.

                   Leave to the Bee
  To set a Valuation
               On this, or that
               Fair Garden-plat,
         There t'Browse some Flower or Tree:
  And to some Forraign Nation,
To crown their Annals with the Pelican,
Or far-fetcht Cordiall, Mirabolan.

                   Here's Comfort more;
   A gift that's far beyond all worth,
               The Curious mind
               Could ever find
           In what a Plant e'r bore,
   Or Barren wilderness brought forth:
Sweetness excels the Bee's-Bagg, and such Good
As prov'd our Strong Restorative by's Blood.

/ p.11 /

To overcome by Contraries.

N humane things 'tis held a Maxime wife,
To seek to Overcome by Contraries:
And in Diviner, if we will express
Obedience to God, it holds no less;
For t'conquer Pride whereby we fell, no Art
Is comparable to a Contrite-Heart.

To Improve Afflictions.

F David found it good He'd been in Trouble,
What would it teach Me am a sinfull Bubble;
But that th'Afflictions we meet with heer,
Are sent to Steer Us to our God more neer?
Who thus improves his thoughts on things goe cross,
Without a Riddle, makes Great gains of Loss.

They that sow in Tears, shall reap in Joy.

S in the Countrey-Parable it's found,
God's meant by Husbandman, and Man by ground,
His Word the pretious Seed, that doth excell
All other grain; Our hearts the Arable:
So would't inform We should our soil prepare,
To recompence so Great a Seedsmans care;
And neither prickt with Pride, stupid like Stones,
Laid Common to all wicked Motions:
Be unprovided t'save, much less t'afford
Increase against the Harvest of the Lord:

/ p.12 /

Wherefore as Earth 'thout Culture sithence mans fall
Is of fruits barren, Thistles Prodigall:
So doe the dispositions and desires
Nature brings forth, abound with Thorns and Briers;
Which to correct, the Masters strict Command
Is to break up again the Fallow-land.
And by Contritions Coulter and Plough-shares
To dress our Minds, surrow our Cheeks with teares
Of true Repentance. And those thus destroy
The Weeds of Sin, shall surely reap in Joy.

Ascensus Gratiarum, Desensus Gratiarum.

F there be any Vertue left that can
Pull Blessings down, 'tis Gratitude in Man;
And to be humbly thankfull, that alone
Makes Him true subject for Compassion.
    All Other Graces As Assistants sit
    Upon the Wool-sacks for to farther it;
    In representing how the Law concludes
    On Gods Rich Bounties, Our ingratitudes:
    So thereupon Impeachment's drawn to show
    Delinquencies, and what He gives, we ow.
First then unless dejected Care possess
The Heart and Soul for by-past wickedness,
And stir up Resolution to become
Henceforth more righteous, ev'n to Martyrdome:
In vain it is to hope, or yet surmize
The acceptation of such Sacrifize
From Him, whose all-discerning eye doth pierce
The very Center of the Universe,
And knows before we think: Let our thoughts flye
To overtake His providentiall eye;

/ p.13 /

Then we shall straight be conquered, and confess
His Bounties, but our own Unworthiness.
    And like the Eagle, first such flight begin
    From the low contemptible Vale of sin,
    Untill Confession and Amendment raise
    Our stretcht out Pinions to the clouds in praise.
         And then when all is done that we are able,
         Still we must know, we're but Unprofitable.

Contemplatio Diurna.
         W Hen we behold the Morning Dew
Dissolve ith' rising Sun: What would it shew ?
          But that a Sun to us did rise,
Our Fathers hoary sin to Atomise.
          And when the Flowers display'd appear,
To entertain the mounting Charettier:
          What would they speak in that fair dress ?
But Man's redemption out of wretchedness.
          For the shade-shortning Noon can tell
The Proud, and such as with Ambition swell;
          That whilst upon Opinions wing
They seek to fore, they work their lessening.
          And the Prognostick Western set,
May Our Conditions rightly counterfeit;
          For if we rise, shine, and set Cleer,
The Day-Star from on high's our Comforter:
          If Sin beclowd us as we fall,
Our next dayes rise will prove our Funerall:

Et quid lachrymabilius?

/ p.14 /

Ubi desinit Medicus, incipit Theologus.

Pharmaca ægrotantibus Optima.

Orpore si tu ægrotas,
Æsculapius vocetur:
Anima sin sit, devotas
Preces quisque Meditetur.

Convictus facilis & maxime Nutriens.

ec quid comesurus cures,
Paucis nam Natura gaudet:
Verbum Dei si procures,
Dapes (quisquis velit) laudet.

Aer Optimus & ad Veram Valetudinem
propius conducens.

Era dum Malignum quæris
Sis morbosus; nec sit mirum:
Sancto sodale si frueris,
Téque efficiet talem virum.

Exercitium veram sanitatem comparans optime.

Xercearis licet tota
   Nocte Dieq; Fata vocent:
Sed si Deo facta Vota
   Sint sincera, Hæc non nocent:
   Ad sanitatem potius veram
   Et æternam, Viam docent.

Where the Physitians skill can doe no more,
Divinity must best of health restore.

/ p.15 /

Annus annulus, &c. Diminutione largimur.

S the Year, Serpent-like doth cast its Skin,
And's stript o'th' Old, when as the New comes in;
What would 'tinform, but that anew w'invest
Our selves in Christ, Old Adam's Rags detest ?
And if a Janus Bifronted doth stand,
Looking at once to this and t'other hand,
What would He teach our Consciences, save this,
To see at one View whence Salvation is,
And whence our woe came ; that for this we may
Our Tribute Tears, for that all-praises pay ?

Now when the Season Blossomes in its Spring,
And time puts on a party-colour'd wing ;
Why should not our Souls, which before did lye
Defil'd through th'smutch of Sin, receive a dye
(Whereat the Rose may blush) from that same flood
(All Streams surpasses) of our Saviours Blood ?
For if that Leprosie we fain would heal,
This is our Jordan, stain'd with Cutchinneal.
If from our first Sire we receiv'd a wound,
This is that Spikenard that can make us sound.

And as th'approaching Sun comes daily on
For to supplant the Winters Garison:
So should our frozen hearts be thaw'd, and Melt
When we to Mind call what our Jesus felt,
And we deserv'd; His Zodiack should bring
Us to the Tropick of our Summering
In those warm thoughts, till ripe in faith and hope,
Love like a Vale, cover Our Horiscope:
For what can we return for His, who rent
The Temples to free us from Punishment ?

/ p.16 /

O let the Lustfull Clusters we behold
Betasseling Autumn, and those Ears of gold-
Resembling Corn, say to us, if we thirst
Or hunger: He who is both Last and First,
Did tread the Wine press for us, and fulfill
What was to us due for our Parents ill;
That so we might be numbred 'mongst those guest
The Lamb invited to his Mariage-Feast.
And though we once fell by what one Tree bore,
God by Anothers fruit did us restore.

Then whilst the Sharp'd-breath'd Winter seems to lay
Stripes on the bearing earth, and Blasts th'array
She late was deckt in; Spitting on her face
Its Feather'd-rain, (all embling the disgrace
For Us He felt, who would have known no shame,
Had we been Innocent and without Blame)
Doth't not discypher how a Lilly pure
Sprung up' midst Thorns, Scourgings to endure:
And how They Spat upon a Face that Shin'd,
Which prov'd our Eye-salve, who before were blind ?

My Observation at Sea.

Hough every thing we see or hear may raise
The Makers Praise;
For without Lightning or Thunder,

His Works are all of wonder;
Yet amongst Those there's none
Like to the Oceon.

/ p.17 /

       Where (not a Catalogue to keep
Of severall Shapes inhabiting the Deep)
                 Let but our Thoughts confer
With what once Gravel'd the Philosopher:
                 And we must straight confess
Amazement more, but apprehension less.

                 The Fire for heat and light
                              Most exquisit:
                 And the All-tempering Aire
                              Beyond Compare.
Earth Composition and Solidity,
Bountifull Mixed with Humidity.
           But here for Profit and Content,
Each must give place to th' Liquid Element:

           Whose Admirable Course, that Steers
           Within Twelve Houres Mariners,
                      Outwards and Homewards bound
                      May be Sufficient Ground
          To raise Conclusion from thence
At once, of Mighty Power and Providence.

                      For as the Cynthian Queen
Her bounty less or more vouchsafes be seen:
                      So by her wain She brings
The Tides to Neaps, and by her Full to Springs:
                      Yet not but as He pleas
Who set Her there, chief Governess of Seas:

/ p.18 /

Exod. 2.
2, 3.

Exod. 2.
3. 14.

                              Which understood
Truly by such would seek for Traffique good,
                      They must their Anchors waigh
               Out of the Oozie dirt and Clay
                      Earths Contemplations yeild,
And hoysing Sayles, They'l straightway have them fill'd
           With a fresh-Mackerell Gale, whose blast
May Port them in true happiness at Last.

                      There th'in a Bay of Bliss,
           Where a Sweet Calm our welcom is:
           Let us at length the Cables Veere
Fore and abaff, that may our Moorage cleere
From warp or winding, so ride, fixt upon
Our Hopes Sheat-Anchor of Salvation.

Upon Moses put young to Sea, or hid in
an Ark of Bulrushes

His son of Amram, soon as born did find
Pharaoh a Tyrant, but the Midwives kind:
So being from that bloody Doom set free,
Becomes His Mothers Care and Huswifrie;
Who to His safety, that She might confer
More hopes, She makes him first a Mariner:
A good presage; whereby it was implide,
His People He through the Red-Sea should guide.

In Mosen adhuc Infantem Amni commissum.

Ur latitans Juncis Moses sit Nauticus Infans ?
Ut ducat Populum per Vada Rubra suum.

/ p.19 / (image of page 19)

Decem Præcepta. Acrost. Kenist.

I	J	n Ægypto cum fuisses, respexit (Solus) ut Exisses
2	E	rrantes in Eremo plectit paucos, posteros ut reddat Cautos.
3	H	abeas Nomen non in Vano ore, sed in Corde Sano.
4	O	pere, nec sordeat Dies, in quâ jussa Sancta quies.
5	V	erus Amor Paternalis doceat in Parentes qualis.
6	A	rdens Cura ignoscendi, tollat Rabiem Plectendi.
7	D	oceat Castæ Vitæ normam qui & Vitam dat & formam.
8	E	ripiendi queis fruentur alii, nec sit Mens libenter.
9	V	era Testimonia Testes reddant lætos, falsa Mæstos.
10	S	is Contentus tuâ sorte; Nec Iunctam cupias Portam Portæ : Capias Vitam tunc pro Morte.	Isa. 5. 8.

The Contempt of this World, raises
the Others Esteem.

Hen all the Vertue we can here put on,
Is but refined Imperfection,
Corruption Calcin'd : A Minerall vain,
Where Clay (to be more priz'd) some Ore doth gain:

/ p.20 /

Why should we not employ the best of Care,
To learn wherein Truest Contentments are,
And how attain'd ? The Jewellers command
O're Art, is how to Foyle the Diamond
As may add Lustre to it: So, who tries
Less to Esteem of This worlds Flatteries,
Sets higher Value on the Other, where
Perfection proves th'Eternall Jeweller.

In Diem Natalem.

E moriatur Homo, Sanctus de Virgine purâ,
   Mirificusque hodie nascitur Ille Puer.
Ne Peregrinetur Factus Peregrinus & Idem est,
         In Cunis Stabulum Glorificatque suis.
Ne pro Delictis Proavi plectatur, amara
         Pocula fert, alio non patienda Modo.
Exul ut è Cælis Migrans terraq; Mariq;
         Iactatus, tenebras Mortis, & Ima petit,
Nos ut surgamus Sancti, quoque Luce fruamur
         Æterna, Astriferas incolit Ille Domus.

In Eandem.

Christus	\| ‹ \|	Vita Veritas Via	\| › \|	Venit:	\| ‹ \|	Mors Mendacium Error	\| › \|	Discedunt.
Læta Dies Cunctis, Mors quâ calcanda receβit, Nascitur in Domibus dommodo Vita suis: Plena Dies Lucis Verum quâ clarius exstat, Et Falsi Fuscum tollitur Omne Genus: Fausta Dies in quâ Via sternitur Omnipotentis, Error & aufertur; Clara, Beata Dies.

/ p.21 /

To Kisse Gods Rod; occasioned upon
a Childs Sickness.

Hat ever Gods Divine
                  Decree
      Awardeth unto Mine
                            Or Mee,
         Though't may seem ill,
              With patience
      I am resolv'd to undergo,
      Nor to His purpose once say no,
         But Moderate both Mind and Will:
And Conquering th'Rebellions of Sense,
Place all content in true Obedience.

          Thus I create it good
                            When His
              Correction's understood,
                            Which is,
                    Not to destroy,
                    But to reclaim,
          And t'cause me turn a new-leaf ore,
          Count all an Error-writ before,
          So find the sting of Flattering Joy:
Making the scope of all My future aim,
To Reverence and Glorifie His Name.

Thus when our God will frown, if we weigh it
In Judgments Scales, we mak't a Benefit.

/ p.22 /

My Penthouse against the Storm of Grief,
occasioned upon the Death of a dear Friend.

How the Blasts
Temptation Casts
              Against my Naked Ston,
              Threaten Subversion;
   Sithence the Decree of late was Thine
   To take away My Sheltring Vine !

                         Well, let them blow,
                         Break clouds and rain,
              Their Gusts and Show'rs in vain;
              For Confident I am,
   My Gratious God upholds the Frame,
   Whilst I the Olive Sprouts see grow.

                         Thus to my Hart
                          may impart
              Th'assurance of a Peace,
              Wherein such Trials cease
   If Patience-born; that Fear is good
   When it withstands ill, not of ill withstood.

Man Levens the Batch.

OD makes all things for good; 'tis Man
Sowers and worsts Creation:
Who Leven'd by his Father, thence
Becomes all Disobedience;

/ p.23 /

No thought, no word, no action He
Contrives, can own Integrity
To Him that made Him, for by Deeds
As Words and Heart, his growth's in weeds,
Which whilst neglected doe express
Gods Grace, but Man's unfruitfulness:
Now if again man would bear Corn,
He must himself a Weeder turn.

The Attributes of true Love.

E call that Patience, when provok'd we can
Deferr revenge, but 'tis true love in Man:
   And when with open hand we would express
   Our Bounties Tribute, some style't Lavishness:
   But They mistake, as farr as those despise
   All steps whereby an Other Man doth rise;
   Yet think they have Love too; and boast no less
   Than that She is their constant Patroness:
If Her Decrees be not to seek her own
Praise, (as not seemly) whither are such blown,
As thus would tempt Her anger, when 'tis taught
She is not to be mov'd to an ill thought,
But's ever pleas'd, and doth rejoyce to see
Truth sit in Triumph o're Iniquitie:
   As She sustains, and is contented still
   With what wind blows, so doe her hopes sails fill,
   When from the windows of Beleef doth breath
   A steady Gale, t'advance her course beneath:
   Till by the Saints transplanted, and above,
   She's Moor'd within that Port, and call'd True Love.

/ p.24 /

Contraria juxta se posita
Gal. 5. 19. to 23.

   Like Night to Dayt, or foyles that Raise
   The Lustre of the Diamonds praise:
   Such, and no other Vertue Lies
   Hid in th'approach of Contraries.

/ p.25 /

Love begets Fear.

Was of Thy Goodness (Lord) at first I had
Knowledge of what was Good, and what was bad:
   Yet through the Ill of Nature become blinde,
   I followed Sin, and left thy Fear behind:
   By which I forfeited a Blessing , till
   Thou of thy Mercy, free and Gracious will
   Sign'st me a Pardon in that style, Repent,
That so I might avoid all Punishment.
Thus then rows'd up and wak'ned, I began
Thy Judgments, Blessings, Love, and Fear to skan:
And in a Scoale when I them all had waigh'd
Methought I lov'd Thee still, still was afraid.

My Invocation.

Reat, and Good God, of Justice, Love;
As That to Fear, so grant This move
My Trembling Heart, till It retain
Some Sparks of heat and life again;
Sithence My Creation-Fuell's don
Lighten again the Turf by thine own Son.

Small hopes of This, unless I may
In awe to That, finde a decay
Of such Lewd Thoughts, Words, Acts, did bring
My whole Man to a wintering
In Lust, and Sin, and growth of Grace,
T'assure a fruitfull Spring-tide in the place.

/ p.26 /

How's that attain'd ? By heat, not cold,
'Tis that the Bounteous Marygold
Displayes its Treasure ; and kinde Showers
(Not Frosts) befriend both fruit and Flowers:
   Thaw then my Breast till't open Zeal,
   And let my Eyes those sighs reveal
      In rain, that my Affections may subdue,
      So from my Old Congeal'd Clot raise thoughts new.

Misericordia Dei splendidissima.

ODS Mercy shines 'bove all His works, as farr
As doth the Cyprian-Queen out-light a Starr.

To Man. Epig.

Psalm 51.
17.

Ard-Hearted Man ! what canst thou say,
That Thou thy self hast turn'd to Brick thy Clay:
But that Thy Hopes are built upon
His Promise once sent Fountains out of Ston:
Wherefore to Sacrifice to Gods desire,
Mans Heart must be the Altar, Sighs the fire.

My Pool of Bethesda, or the Effusion of Christs
Merits to heal our Miseries.

Hen Children would goe, or Cripples stand,
Crutches and Stools are fram'd for Arm and Hand
To rest upon, lest such attempting shall
Without like Props occasion them to fall.

/ p.27 /

   What are the Sons of Adam ? if we try,
   Condemn'd to Lamenesse and to Infancy
   Through Sin, and so disabled to Pace
   The Paths of Vertue, tread the Steps of Grace;
Till God of's Mercy pleased to Confer
A standing stool, as if from th' Carpenter,
Though He himself was Artist, and did frame
This Remedy for Those were Weak and Lane:
   So that without a farther Inquisition,
   We All were, and are such, Christ's the Physition.

The Five Porches to Bethesda.

An is Betheda , and's five Senses be
Porches unto that Great Infermery,
Where Divers Cures are fought for; yet not one
Attain'd but through an Angels Motion,
Grace powred on the Heart; which who so can
Improve, becommeth straight a perfect Man:
But Those who Opportunity neglect,
Must not an other Saving help expect.
   For as the Cripple Thirty eight years lay,
   And had done more, had not Christ come ith' way :
   So whilst these powr'd out waters we would try,
   Others step in, Prophane their Sanctity.
Lusts both our Ears, and Eyes, and Palates charm:
Through Nostrils and by Fingers we doe harm;
And 'cause all over Leprous and defil'd,
We'd fain be cleans'd, to health be reconcil'd,
Yet cannot get so soon into this Tide,
Afford us of that Jordan from Thy side.

/ p.28 /

Soliloquium.

Nima, quid tam tristaris ?
Ocule, quid Lachrymaris ?
Cur in Pectore singultus ?
Cur Mærore madet vultus ?
Quî fit, gemitu plangescis
Cor, ut si integrum non esses ?
Cum, quo hic fruamur toto
Nostro non in Dei voto.
Ejus est suffragii, sortem
Dare, Vitam dare & Mortem.
Mortis certitudo, brevem
Vitæ Curam reddit levem :
Et post Mortem, sit levamen
Quod Vivetur semper tamen :
Nec mensurâ quâvis, horæ
Vespertinæ, vel Auroræ
Metitur : æternâ Luce
Sed (hæc dicta Dies) duce:
In quâ, cum gaudeat omnis Sanctus,
Luctus sistat, sileat planctus :
Pœnam (hic) quâ laboramus
Somno Mortis nam mutamus :
Et quid mali hora dedit,
Gaudio Sempiterno cedit.
Qui sic mutant, invidendos
Sentio solos : non deflendos.

è contra

Pectora Peccatis data,
Cor corruptum, Ora lata,
Animam infectam Malis,
Nox dum sequitur fatalis,
Lugeat, doleat Omnis Tales.

/ p.29 / A Carroll

⁽I

F nothing else) may not this season move,
Or Time become true Chronicle of love ?
And so allay the Fury, stint the Rage
Or madness doth predominize this age ?
When for to Ransome Man, whose least Offence
Was character'd in Disobedience,
He who knew no Sin came, that, to fulfill
The Mercy Statute of His Fathers will:
Thus He forgave, and gave, to let us know
What to our Very Enemies we ow,
By His Example; and decrees this fate
To the Posterity unfortunate
Of too-beleeving Adam, That They must
Give themselves over to no other Trust
Than what His Word assures; nor to make less
That first of Sins, Create them numberless
In Envie, Malice, and Ambition,
But joyn to Charity Contrition
For by-past faults, and resolutions raise
To spend the future in our Makers praise:
   Obey Him first, then Those His Glorious Powers
   Shall substitute for our Superiours:
   And with our own Condition whatsome're
   Content, enjoy a full Harmonious Sphere;
   Leaving no Orb for Discords fond increase,
   Sithence He that's born for us was Prince of Peace.

/ p.30 / A Quid Retribuam.

Oor sin-bound-naked-creature Man, ne're knows
What to return for that His God bestows;
But as Prosperities increase, goes less,
I'th' retribution of Thankfulness:
His eyes not open but with Clay made dim,
Renders that Miracle, not wrought on Him,
Remains so stupid, but where Faith's declin'd
Int' unbeleef, such are for ever blind:
Now that I may like Judgment still prevent,
By entertaining True-Souls-Nutriment,
Not Poyson: let Example spurr me on
To take the Cup fill'd with Salvation;
And t'praise his holy Name that did prepare
Such Cates for those heavie and Laden are,
Sins Dromidaries swift by Nature led
To run to Evil, here unburthened
By One who bore both Crosse and shame, to free
The Pliant branch of Eves posterity:
(So have I tender Saplings seen unbroak,
When Tempests have o'r-turn'd the sturdier Oak:)
And if in Sacrifice we'd passe degrees,
The best for acceptation's from the knees,
Outward and inwardly exprest; whereby
To notifie unfeign'd Humility;
For such deny to shew repentance thus,
Surely forget Christ came from Heaven to us:
And those of that short memory may know
Their Portion's here; They shall not to Him go,
Who's Riches, Rayment, Food, and all Relief
To them Contemn this World, make Him their Chief.

/ p.31 / (enlargement of page 31)

Though All must truly say, They've done amiss,
Yet there Goes more than Ord'nary to This:
For He that would not make the banquet sower,
Must form His Relish to his SA V I O U R.

A Pelican feeding her young with blood out of her
own Brest, a type of our Saviour.

Behold Here from the P E L I C A N S Brest sprung
A stream of precious blood to feed her young.

/ p.32 /

In Sanctam Cœnam Domini, Epig.

Ash and be clean; Eat, Drink this, and 't will save:
So easie is the suit our Lord doth crave :
Yet with the healed Creeple, back He'll call thee,
And bid Thee, Sinn no more, lest worse befall thee.

A Dedication of my first Son.

S it not fit the Mould and Frame
Of Man, should dedicate the same
To God, who firsst Created it: and t'give
To Him the first fruit of that Span we live ?

In the worlds Infancy could Hannah tell,
Shee ought to Offer her sonn Samuel
To Him that made him, and refine
That Sacrifice with Flowre and Wine ?

Was Abrams long expected seed
From Sarah's womb condemn'd to bleed ?
And shall the times now they grow Old, conclude
In faithlesness, and in ingratitude ?

Let shame awake us and where blessings fall,
Let every one become a Prodigall
In paying vows of thanks, and bring
The first, and best for Offering.

/ p.33 /

Where am I then ; whom God hath deign'd to bless
With hopes of a succeeding happiness
Unto My house ? Why is't I stand
At th'Altar with an Empty hand ?

Have I no Herds, no Flocks, no Oyl,
No Incense-bearing-Shebah-soyl ?
Is not My Grainary stor'd with Flowre that's fine ?
Are not my Strutted Vessels full of Wine ?

What Temporall Blessing's wanting to suffice
And furnish out a lively Sacrifice,
Save onely this, to make a Free-
Will-offering of an Infancy ?

Which if I should not doe, that pil'd-
Up wood, whereon lay Sarah's childe;
The Temple would accuse me, where the son
Of Elk'na first had Dedication.

Wherefore accept, I pray thee, this
Thou'st given, and my first Sonn is:
Let him be Thine, and from his Cradleling,
Begin his services first reckoning.

Grant, with his Dayes, thy Grace increase, and fill
His Heart, nor leave there room to harbour ill:
That in the Progress of His years
He may express whose badg He wears.

/ p.34 /

In Quadragesimam.

Hen all the Dayes w'have borrowed are mis-spent,
Had we not need to beg more time were Lent;
And not to suffer This too, to be gon,
Because abus'd through superstition ?
   A knife to cut with's good, but if to kill
   It be abus'd, why then we deem it ill.
All things are made for use; Abuses came
But as Usurpers to deprave the same:
And in some kinde or other all we do,
Speak, think, or have, those have their morals too.
   Our Pampred Bodies oft such thoughts put on,
   That they become like to proud Iessuron :
   And when our minds from full Cups are exprest,
   They're like to Baltashazzer's at His Feast:
   Our Actions too, laden with Temporall good,
   Cannot permit t'aspire at Spirituall food;
   But over-fed, we surfet, and becom
   Like to the Beast in all things, save being dumb:
   Tongue-tide we are not, when we would express
   Our Enmity, from th'root of Bitterness:
   Nor yet uncharitable, unless in this,
   To judge that those who hunger doe amiss,
   And such as thirst too, whilst our Cups run o're,
   And Bellies are made Magazines of store.
   It should be otherwayes, if we would shun
   The heavie doom of sad Temptation;
   And as the Meat and Drink of Faith, prepare
   A Holy-Fasting-sanctifying Prayer,
   Cook'd from our Corner'd hearts, and not the streets,
   A Sacrifice Incens't with Love for sweets.
      And thus performing what is Lent aright,
      We'l fear no Schismatick, nor Anchorite.

/ p.35 /

A Hymm occasioned upon going to receive the
blessed Sacrament when it was a snow.

Nvited now to Sup with Thee my Lord,
All that I am is at a Period
                         How to be fitly drest,
                   And so t'become a worthy Guest;
                         For 'tis prepar'd alone
For such as have the Wedding garment on,
                         Which through Guilt I want,
And all my Substance t'buy one is too scant.

Make Me a Purse then, from His Sacred Score,
Whose institution 'twas, and will doe more
                         For Those beleeve His name,
                   That to redeem us Sinners came
                         Into the World, and shed
His precious blood, which might stand all in stead;
                         By a quick Faith apply
The Soveraign Balsome of His Agony.

For like the Man met Theeves, we all were left
Naked and Wounded, Spectacles of Theft
                         And Rapine too, wherein
                   We weltring lay, a prey to Sin;
                         Till th'true Samaritan
Passing this way, Redemption began,
                         Not sparing Wine, nor Oyle
Out of His Hands, and Feet, and Side the while.

/ p.36 /

Rev. 7. 3.
Mat. 25.4.

Thus now upon Recovery agen,
Bound up in His Grave-cloaths, brought to our Inn,
                         And Earnest left, to prove
                   His high Compassion and Love:
                         What care should be t'express
In all our future Actions thankfulness ?
                         Which no way's better spent
Than in partaking right this Sacrament:

Which, without Cleansed hearts, and mindes that Can
Turn a new leaf with the Centurian,
                         More of a Christian show,
                   Made white as is this day with Snow;
                         And like the Prophets sute
Purged with Hysope from what doth pollute,
                         We cannot hope to do;
Nor that, 'less prompted by thy Grace thereto.

Whereto (I pray Thee) so much mercy add,
That I may have some Balm from Gilead
                         To heal my Leprous Sore,
                   Whilst humbled for my Sins before,
                         My future dayes may be
The Inventory of more Piety;
                         My forehead bear thy stamp
As servant, having Oyl still in my Lamp.

A Reveille Mattin, or Good morrow to a friend.

S the Black Curtain of the Night
                  Is open drawn
              By the Gray-fingred Dawn,
                       To let out light,

/ p.37 /

And bid good Morrow to the Teeming Day:
        So let all Darkned thoughts Through Sin,
                                  Call in
Their Powers, that led them in a blind-fold way:
        And Rows'd up from security,
Bring better fruits unto Maturity.

          For now the Fragrant East
          The Spicery o'th' World,
                                 Hath hurl'd
A rosie Tincture o'r the Phœnix nest;
          And from the last Dayes Urn
                     An Other springs,
                                 And brings
With it a Charettier too in its turn:
               So then by this new fire
Be Goodness Hatcht, all wickedness expire.

       Then as This Prince of Heat doth rise,
       In Power, and in Might seem stronger,
       Proclaiming that 'tis Night no longer;
By vanquishing the Witchcrafts of the Skies,
                  The Spelly-vaprous Mists:
                  So let th'enlightned Soul
                                   Controul
Our Actions, that no farther they persist
          To follow senfe, whereby t'invite
Ruine, the sawce t' unruly Appetite.

Thus now it's cleere,
Out of all Question,
The world's unmask'd, and all of Vailing gon.
Phœbus Triumphant o'r our Hemisphere:

/ p.38 /

      Let us not therefore in disguise
                Seek, or Bravado,
To shadow as if under Maskerado
           So many faults and Villanies,
           Knowing that He who made the Light,
Cannot Himself be destitute of fight.

                     But though His Providence
                               Did this beget,
                     That Suns that rise should set,
             And in appearance vanish hence:
             Yet doth He claim for th'interest
                               Of Day-lights bliss,
                      We slumber not amiss;
When as our Light is borrowed by the West:
But the Choice Cabbinet of minde adorn
With Contemplations may befit next Morn.

Trium Gratiarum maxima Charitas.

Hen all Perfections prove
         But like some sound
                                             Of Brass,
          Wherein no certain Note is found,
                   Without Harmonious Love;
What do we see then more, than through a Glass ?

                   We may with Eloquence
                           Beguild our Speech,
                                      And then
          Offer at more than we can reach,
                   And bring an Influence
Of Works to raise us : yet are we but Men.

/ p.39 /

                   For if provok'd we be,
                           We'll not forgive;
                                      And so
          Forget the wrong we did receive,
                   Though it be Love's decree;
Untill we can work our revenge in wo.

                   The Churle, whose sparing skill
                           Denies to feed
                                      The Poor,
          And such as stand in greatest need;
                   Yet thinks he doth no ill,
Whilst He walks double on his Ivory floor.

                   An Other, Envie-swoln,
                           When once 't was heard
                                      By chance,
          That such a one was new prefer'd,
                   Cries, What are honors stoln!
Yet by the same tract strives Himself t'advance.

                   This Mushrum may appear,
                           When first the Sun
                                      Doth rise;
          But when His Hemisphere is run,
                   And that the Ev'n draws near,
It shuts up all its treasure, and so dies.

                   Unless reviv'd again
                           By Loves sweet Charm,
                                      O'r which
          No Night or Vapour can do harm;
                   For neither Pride, Wit, Gain,
Can make us truly Live, or truly Rich.

/ p.40 /

                   But if Affection
                           To Truth prevaile,
                                      And say ,
          No Suffering shall turn the Scale,
                   Nor yet promotion:
This Night will turn into eternall Day.

Matth. 13.

El Sembrador, or, the Sower.

LL are Solicitous, who grounds possess,
To know
Both when and how to sow,
That promise may to them the Most increase.

And by the severall Seasons, Change, or Wain,
Full, or
Increase, to stir them for
What might be properest of every grain.

Nor do they search so deep as for a Mine
Of Gold;
Yet what's the fittest mold
For every seed, can readily define.

And doth not great neglect and sloath appear
In these,
Whom Barley, Wheat, Rie, Pease,
Affect alone in being cheap or dear:

Whilst that the Fallows of their hearts, untill'd,
No more
Can promise than before,
To be with Cockle-thoughts and Darnell fill'd.

/ p.41 /

For when the Bells do seem all In to Chime,
They'll say
This is some Holiday;
So never frame a work unto the time.

All that they pray, or hear, or read, or do,
Shall be
Choak'd with the Brierie
Cares of this world, which they are Slaves unto.

Before the Reverend Preacher can divide
His Text,
Some one soon tels't the next,
Yet's robb'd of it; For 't falls by th' high-wayes side.

An Other gets a Point by th' end, and may
Go on
Till Persecution
Declare him Niobe : then he must stay.

As when a Soil's prepar'd with art and Care,
The Hinde
Such Crops doth alwayes finde,
As to's endevours answerable are.

So let our Hearts be throughly wed of Sin,
And then,
They'll prove good ground agen,
And bring us more than thousand profits in.

/ p.42 / (image of page 42)

Necesse, est Ut

Temporum Vitia		Careant Dei amicitia
Absque vera tristitia. Terminus

		à quo				per quem				ad quem
Rom. 13.13	\| ‹ \|	Gula Scortum Ebrietas	\| \| \|	Joel 2. 12.	\| ‹ \|	Jejunium Luctus Mœstitia	\| \| \|	Luk. 1.53.	\| ‹ \|	Abundantia Gaudium Lætitia.

Opera
Tenebrarum Pœnitentiæ Misericordiæ	\| › \|	——	\| ‹ \|	Fugienda Amplectenda Acquirenda.

Sic fiet; Ut
Mundities.	Dentium * Candor Armorum Clangor Pestilentiæ ardor	\| › \|	cedat	\| ‹ \|	Copiæ & ubertati Paci & tranquillitati Sanitati & temperiei.
	Quod fac sit Dominus huic Mundi angulo Angliæ.
	A M E N

/ p.43 /

A Carroll.

Hat though't be Cold, and Freese,
Let no good Christian leese
             So much of heat and Zeal,
             As not for to Remember
             That blest day of December:
And what to Shepheards Angels did reveal,
             Which doth of right Claim lay
To All that ever Man can write or say.

             A Saviour's born for Us,
             What News more precious ?
             Wer't but some Neighbours Son,
             The Bells would straightwayes ring- - -
             In Cakes for Gossipping;
So soon the Tydings o'r the Town would run,
             And many a light brain tost
Amongst the Goodwives, where to place their Cost.

             And shall my frozen heart
             Not thaw, and bear its part
             In Jollitie for this:
             Whereby not I alone,
             But each beleeving one
May promise to Himself eternall bliss ?
             For such can ne'r be Cold,
Who have this Birth-day in their hearts enrol'd.

             But may be said to burn,
             Till some thanks they return,
             Which though far short they reach,
             The comfort is most sure,

/ p.44 /

It hath healing wings to Cure
Not for reward, but to make up the breach,
Which so repair'd 't is we
Must make it good 'gainst Satans Batterie:

             Whereto belongs this Care
             In Chief and Singular,
             That stricter guards we keep,
             Because both night and day
             Th' Artillery doth play,
Nor doth our Adversary ever sleep:
             Then we shall shew hereby
Christs Favour hath not slipt our memory.

Upon the birth of a Childe.

Hen I (O Lord) Thy Mercies scan,
Stooping unto the Publican,
Who stood afar off; and didst daign
To give, that He might ask again:
(For not the Outward-beaten-brest,
Nor down-cast-look could make Him blest ;
But 'twas thine own Power did controul
His former Vice, stamp New His soul.)
   Methinks I am so far set free
   From all Sins bonds and Tyrannie,
   As that rais'd up in hopes; no More
   I need Zacheus Sycamore:
   But (though a Dwarf in Grace) conclude
   I see Christ 'bove the Multitude
   Calling me down; as if to say,
   He meant to be my Guest to day;
         And (though a Sinner) crown My wish;
         Bringing an Olive-branch for's Dish.

/ p.45 /

This is a true saying, That Christ came, &c.

Tim.1.1,
15.

E a thing true or false, our Nature lies
   Alwayes so prone to Novelties,
That we are caught : and what is done or said,
         Tickle, till we have uttered;
Yet asleep whilst this True saying's come,
         (Or else with Zachary struck dumbe
Through incredulity) although 't express
         In it the height of our unworthiness:
And this the Scope , That He was 'nointed King
         Although he govern'd every thing,
Contented was of's footstool t'make a throne
         Where He might work Salvation,
And so is a true Jesus; nor doth thus
         Become unto the Righteous,
But to Those likewise who through sins decree
         Condemned were to Miserie,
Amongst whom the Apostle, whilst he'averrs
         Himself as chief, so little errs:
What should we Judge our selves to be, whose all
         Of Life is but Apocryphall,
Less than the least of Mercies: yet again
         When in our ills we not remain,
Goodness shall cause that Scepter to distill
         All saving Grace into the will;
So that repair'd by this, forgiv'n by that,
         We may thus far be Consolat,
That Princely Clemency, and wonted love,
         May both the Crime and guilt remove:
Then though the chiefest of the Chief we bee,
If we repent, this Verse may set us free.

Luk. 1.20

Mat.9.13
Mark 2.17.

/ p.46 /

My Looking-Glass.

Oe to Ill-faces for thy truth, be free
And Shadow back my Souls Deformitie,
Thou'lt please me better far, than that which can
Return a Raven White, or black a Swan:
For if thou shouldst like to thy self, rubb'd ore,
Give All for Moteless that comes Thee before,
I might suspect, (that justly) whilst thou'rt set
To me 'n diameter for Counterfeit,
So horrid black my Conscience doth present
My Guilt-complexions Night Firmament,
Not Tincel'd with one Star of Grace, or Spark
Of Goodness, but Sin-clouded o'r and Dark.
How shall I then presume to Claim a right
In any Dawn of Mercy and of light ?
Unless My Faith give credit for the Loan;
And so Gods Son lend from th'Reflection
Of His Bright Merits, so much power to say,
My Pardon's seal'd, and Night is turn'd to Day:
And then, and not before, I may seem drest,
When His Great Favour, my Great Sin's confest.

Sham'd by the Creature.

He Thankfull Soil Manur'd and Winter Drest,
Returns the Hinde an Autumn interest
For all His care and Labour: nor denies
To be uncloath'd, to deck his Grainaries:
So doth the Youthfull Vine those Prunings own,
When as her Blossomes are to Clusters grown;

/ p.47 /

Nor (to shew thanks) doth spare her blood to spill,
That so the Planters Vessels She may fill.
    This Vegetable Lecture may indeed
    Cast a Blush o'r me, whose return for seed
    So far fals short, as not for every one
    To bring an Ear; but for a whole Season none,
    No not that Corn again was left in trust,
    And Harrowed up under My barren Dust:
But pregnant Nature doth so rule and raign,
That with wilde Oats She Choaks the better Grain;
And where My Gratefull Heart should dye my Prefs,
It's all Besmeared with unthankfulness.
  Nor can a Thought, a Word, or Act proceed
  Out of My Clay, that turns not straight to Weed:
  And for My Fruits, ere Ripeness is begun,
  Abortive-like, They wither in the Sun
  Of Self-Conceit: Lord prune once more this Vine,
  And Plow this Ground, lest the Figtree's doom be Mine.  Luk. 13. 7.

To Man, on his frail Condition.

Hat permanence to Earth or Clay is due,
Fond Man consider, for that Emblems you:
This Day brings humane flesh under Death's yoke,
And yesterday I saw a Pitcher broke.
Our Forms are different, Substances the same:
The subtil Artist doth both Vessels frame
For Honor and the Contrary ; and thus
Our great Creator moulds and fashions us.
If we would then our Makers praise set forth,
We should take Care to become Those of worth.

Hodie vidi,
heri vidi, &c.

/ p.48 /

The Fallacy of the outward Man.

Re we awake, or doe our Eyes
Onely with th'Gloworm sympathise,
To light the Pismire to his bed,
When it through toil and labour's wearied ?

         Doth not the Bank of Moss appear
         Crispt up in Moon-shine far more clear;
         When Argus-ey'd with many a Mite,
It waits upon the Goddess of the Night ?

         Have not the wanton Fairie-Elves
         Their Torch-bearers, Light as themselves,
         That with our Fancies sport and play,
Untill they lead us quite out of the way ?

         Cannot a Spangle, Pin, or Bead,
         By Candle-light, int' Error lead;
         And representing Treasure, claime
A stooping to the Mat or Bord for th' same ?

         'Tis from no other, but from hence
         That whilst alone with th'outward sence