A feast for vvormes Set forth in a poeme of the history of Ionah. By Fra. Quarles. Quarles, Francis, 1592-1644. 1620 Approx. 166 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 54 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2006-06 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A10260 STC 20544 ESTC S115474 99850693 99850693 15917 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A10260) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 15917) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 974:3) A feast for vvormes Set forth in a poeme of the history of Ionah. By Fra. Quarles. Quarles, Francis, 1592-1644. [108] p. Imprinted by Felix Kyngston, for Richard Moore, and are to be sold at his shop in Saint Dunstans Church-yard, in Fleetstreet, At London : 1620. In verse. With a title-page woodcut. Signatures: A-N⁴ O² . The first leaf is blank. "Pentelogia" has separate dated title page; register is continuous. Reproduction of the original in the Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng 2005-06 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2006-01 SPi Global Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2006-03 Judith Siefring Sampled and proofread 2006-03 Judith Siefring Text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-04 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion A FEAST FOR WORMES . SET FORTH IN A POEME OF THE HISTORY OF IONAH . By FRA. QVARLES . ad hoc . ab hoc . per hoc . This Naked Pourtraiture before thine Eye , Is Wretched , helplesse MAN , MAN borne to Die : On either side , an ANGELL doth protect him As well from EVILL , as to GOOD direct him : Th' one poynts to DEATH , the t'other to a CROVVNE ; Who THIS attaines , must tread the OTHER downe : All which denotes the Briefe of MANS Estate , That HEE 'S to goe from HENCE , by THIS , to THAT . AT LONDON . Imprinted by Felix Kyngston , for Richard Moore , and are to be sold at his shop in Saint Dunstans Church-yard , in Fleetstreet . 1620. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE , ROBERT , LORD SYDNEY , Baron of Penshurst , Viscount Lisle , Earle of Leicester , Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter . SIR : two things more especiall haue made me industrious to doe your Lordship seruice : The one is , the loue you did beare to my ( long since ) deceased Father ; whom ( dead ) your Lordship did please to honour with your Noble remembrance . The other is , your vndeserued Fauours , and Honourable Countenance towards me in your passage thorow Germany , where you haue left in the hearts of men , a Pyramis of your Worth. As for the first , I am heire to that seruice , which my Father , ( alwayes obseruant to your Honour ) was ready to performe . As for the second , my selfe , in more particular stand obliged . In respect of both , heere I dedicate my selfe , and these few leaues to your truly-Noble Selfe , hoping your Lordship will vaile my boldnesse in your good acceptance , and crowne my labours with your approbation : SIR , Your Lordships truly obseruant , FRA. QVARLES . TO THE READER . Reader , J fairely salute thee : I List not to tyre thy patient eares with vnnecessary language ( the abuse of complement . ) My mouth 's no Dictionary : it onely serues as a needfull Commentary , vpon the obscure Text of my meaning . J haue heere sent thee the first fruits of an obortiue Birth . Jt is a dainty subiect , not Fabulous , but Truth it selfe . VVonder not at the Title , ( A FEAST FOR WORMES : ) for it is a Song of Mercy : VVhat greater FEAST than Mercy ? And what are Men but WORMES ? Moreouer , J haue gleaned some few Meditations , obuious to the History ; Let me aduise thee to keepe the Taste of the History , whilest thou readest the Meditations , and that will make thee Rellish both , the better . Vnderstanding Reader , fauour me : Gently expound , what it is too late to correct . He le va de Golpe , Dios sea con ella . Farewell . THE PROPOSITION OF the whole Worke. 'T Is not the Record of Great HECTORS Glory , Whose matchlesse Valour makes the World a Story ; Nor yet the swelling of that Romans Name , That onely Came , and Look'd , and Ouercame ; Nor One , nor All of those braue Worthies Nine , ( Whose Might was Great , and Acts almost Diuine , That liu'd like Gods , but di ' de like Men , and gone ) Shall giue my Pen a Taske to treat vpon : I sing the praises of the KING of Kings , Out of whose mouth , a two-edg'd Smiter springs , Whose Words are Mystery , whose Works are Wonder , Whose Eyes are Lightning , and whose Voyce is Thunder , Who like a Curtaine spreads the Heauens out , Spangl'd with Starres , in Glory round about : 'T is HEE that cleft the furious waues in twaine , Making a High-way passage through the Maine : 'T is He that turn'd the waters into Blood , And smote the Rocky stone , and caus'd a Flood : 'T is HEE , that 's iustly Armed in his Ire , Behind with Plagues , before with flaming Fire : More bright then mid-day Phoebus , are his Eyes , And whosoeuer sees his Visage , Dyes . I sing the Praises of Great Iudah's Lion , The fragrant Flowre of Iesse , the Lambe of Sion , Whose Head is whiter then the driuen Snow , Whose Visage doth like flames of Fire Glow : His Loynes begirt with Golden Belt , His Eyne Like Titan , riding in his Southerne Shine , His Feet like burning Brasse , and as the noyse Of surgie Neptunes roaring , is his Voyce . This is that Paschall Lambe , whose dearest Blood Is soueraigne Drinke , whose Flesh is sauing Food : His precious Blood , the Worthies of the Earth Did drinke , which ( though but borne of Mortall birth ) Returnd them Deities : For who drinkes THIS , Shall be receiu'd into Eternall Blisse : Himselfe the GIFT , which HE himselfe did giue , His Stripes heale vs , and by HIS Death we liue : HEE acting GOD and MAN in double Nature , Did reconcile Mankind , and Mans Creator . I , heer 's a TASKE indeed ; if Mortals could Not make a Verse , yet Rocks and Mountaines would : The Hils shall daunce , the Sunne shall stop his Course , Hearing the subiect of this high Discourse : The Horse , and Gryphin shall together sleepe , The Woolfe shall fawne vpon the silly Sheepe , The Crafty Serpent , and the Fearfull Hart Shall ioyne in Consort , and each beare a part , And leape for Ioy , when my VRANIA sings , She sings the praises of the KING of Kings . THE INTRODVCTION . ¶ THat * Ancient Kingdome , that old Assur swai'd , Shew'd two great Cities . Ah! but both decai'd , Both mighty Great , but of vnequall growth ; Both Great in People , and in Building , both ; But Ah! What hold is there of Earthly Good ? Now Grasse growes there , where these braue Cities stood . The name of one , Great Babylon was hight , Through which the rich Euphrates takes her flight From High Armaenia to the ruddy Seas , And stores the Land with rich Commodities . ¶ The other Ninus , Niniueh the Great , So huge a Fabrick , and well chosen Seat , Dan Phoebus fiery Steeds ( with Maines becurld , That circundates in twice twelue houres the World ) Ne'r saw the like : By Great King * Ninus hand , 'T was raisd and builded , in th' Assyrians Land , Which he subdude : 'T was plac'd twixt riuers twaine , Licus , and swift Tygris that runnes amaine : Begirt she was with Walls of wondrous might , Creeping twice fifty foot in measur'd height . Vpon their bredth , ( if ought we may relie On the report of Sage Antiquity ) Three Chariots fairly might themselues display , And ranke together in a Battell-ray : The Circuit that her mighty Bulke imbraces , Containes the mete of sixty-thousand paces : Within her well-fenc't - walles you might discouer Fiue hundred stately Towers , thrice told ouer ; Whereof the highest draweth vp the eye , As well the low'st , an hundred Cubits hie ; All rich in those things , which to state belong , For beauty , Braue , and for munition , Strong : Duly , and daily this Great worke was tended With ten thousand Workmen ; Begun , and ended In eight yeeres space ; How beautifull ! How faire Thy Buildings ! And how foule thy Vices are ! ¶ Thou Land of Assur , double then thy pride , And let thy Wells of Ioy be neuer dri'de , Thou hast a Palace , that 's renown'd so much , The like was neuer , is , nor will be such . ¶ Thou Land of Assur , trebble then thy Woe , And let thy Teares ( doe as thy Cups ) o'rflow ; For this thy Palace of so great renowne , Shall be destroy'd , and sackt , and batterd downe . But cheere vp , Niniueh , thine inbred might , Hath meanes enough to quell thy Foemans spite : Thy Bulwarkes are like Mountaines , and thy Wall Disdaines to stoope to thundring Ordnance call : Thy watchfull Towers mounted round about , Keepe thee in safety , and thy Foe-man out : I , but thy Bulwarks aide , cannot withstand The direfull stroke of High Almighties hand ; Thy Wafer-walles at dread Iehouah's blast Shall quake , and quiuer , and shall downe be cast : Thy watchfull Towers shall asleepe be found , And nod their drowsie heads downe to the ground : Thy Bulwarks are not Vengeance-proofe ; thy Wall , When Iustice brandisheth her Sword , must fall : Thy lofty Towers shall be dumbe , and yeeld To High Reuenge ; Reuenge must win the field ; Vengeance cries loud from heauen , she cannot stay Her Fury , but ( impatient of delay ) Hath brim'd her Vials full of deadly Bane : Thy Palace shall be burnt , thy People slaine : Thy Heart is hard as Flint , and swolne with pride , Thy murth'rous Hands with guiltlesse blood are dy'de ; Thy silly Babes doe starue for want of Food , Whose tender Mothers thou hast drench't in Blood : Women with child , lie in the streets about , Whose Braines thy sauage hands haue dashed out : Distressed Widowes weepe , ( but weepe in vaine ) For their deare Husbands , whom thy hands haue slaine : By one mans Force , another man 's deuour'd , Thy Wiues are rauisht , and thy Maids deflowr'd , Where Iustice should , there Tor● and Bribes are plac't : Thy ' Altars defild , and holy things defac't : Thy Lips haue tasted of proud Babels Cup , What thou hast left , thy Children haue drunke vp : Thy bloody sinnes , thine Abels guiltlesse blood Cries vp to heauen for Vengeance , cries aloud : Thy Sinnes are ripe , and ready for the Sickle . Heere rouze thy selfe , my Pen , and breathe a little . THE ARGVMENT OF THE HISTORY . GOd a sent Ionah the Prophet , to the Nineuites , to denounce his Iudgements against them for their sinnes : b but Ionah tooke shipping , intending to fly to Tarshish : c God raised a Storme , which indangered the Ship : d Whereupon the Mariners ( perplext ) e did cast Lots , to see for whose sake the Tempest was : The Lot fell vpon Ionah , f They all consented , and cast Ionah into the Sea : g But God prouided a Whale , which receiued Ionah , and swallowed him , in whose Belly he continued three Dayes , and three Nights : Where ( h He praying to God ) i God at length spake to the Whale , and the Whale did cast him vpon dry Land safe and sound : k So God commanded Ionah the second time , to goe and denounce his Iudgements against the Niniuites . l So Ionah went to Niniueh m and prophecied , that ( vpon the expiring of forty dayes ) Niniueh should be destroyed : n Whereupon the Niniuites beleeued ; o And the King caused a Fast to bee proclaimed , p so that God likewise repented of the Euill that He had intended to haue done them ; q Vpon which , Ionah was discontended , r Desired to die , s Went out of the City , & lay without the Gate , to see what would become of Niniueh after the forty dayes : t There he made him a Booth of reeds and houghes , to guard him from the extremity of the heat of the Sunne , and Wind : But the heat of the Sunne , and the feruency of the Wind strait wither'd it : u Whereupon God raised vp a Gourd , which gaue him much content . * But the next morning , God sent a Worme which did eate it to the ground : x So Ionah grew againe into passion , for the losse of the Gourd , wisht to die , y And iustified his Anger : z Whereupon God deputes with Ionah , framing his argument , à minore ad maius , viz. That if thou ( Ionah ) hadst so much compassion , and grieued so much for the losse of a trifling Gourd , * Should not I ( that am the God of mercy ) take Compassion vpon so Great a City ? TO THE MOST HIGH : HIS HVMBLE SERVANT IMPLORES HIS FAVOVRABLE ASSISTANCE . O All-sufficient God , Great Lord of Light , Without whose Gracious ayde , & cōstant Sprite , No labours prosper ( howsoe're begun ) But flie like Mists before the morning Sun : O raise my thoughts , and cleare my Apprehension , Infuse thy Spirit into my weake Inuention : Reflect thy Beames vpon my feeble Eyes , Shew me the Mirrour of thy Mysteries ; My Art-lesse Hand , my humble Heart Inspire , Inflame my frozen Tongue with holy Fire : Rauish my stupid Senses with thy Glory ; Sweeten my Lips with sacred Oratory : And ( thou O FIRST and LAST ) assist my Quill , That first and last , I may performe thy Will : My sole intent's to blazon forth thy Praise ; My Ruder Pen expects no Crowne of Bayes . Suffice it then , Thine Altar I haue kist : Crowne me with Glory ' , and take the Bayes that list . A FEAST FOR WORMES . THE ARGVMENT . The Word of God to Ionah came , Commanded Ionah to proclaime , The vengeance of his Maiesty , Against the sinnes of Nineuy . Sect. 1 THe Dreadfull Word of God , his high Decree , That aye remaines , and cannot frustrate bee , Came down to Ionah , from the heuens aboue , Came downe to * Ionah , heauens anoynted Doue , Ionah , the flowre of old Amittais youth , Ionah , the Prophet , Sonne , and Heire to * Truth , The blessed Type of him , that di ' de for vs , That Word came to him , and bespake him thus , " Arise , trusse vp thy Ioynes , make all things meet , " And put thy Sandalls on thy hasty feet , " Gird vp thy reynes , and take thy staffe in hand , " Make no delay , but goe , where I command ; " Me pleases not to send thee ( Ionah ) downe , " To sweet Gath-Hepher , thy deare natiue Towne , " Whos 's tender paps , with plenty ouerflow , " Nor yet vnto thy brethren shalt thou goe , " Amongst the Hebrewes , where thy spredden fame " Fore-runnes the welcome of thine honor'd name . " No , I 'le not send thee thither : Vp , Arise , " And goe to Nineueh , where no allyes , " Nor consanguinity preserues thy blood , " To Nineueh , where strangers are withstood : " To Nineueh , a City farre remou'd " From thine acquaintance , where tha' rt not belou'd : " I send thee to Mount Sinay ; not Mount Sion , " Not to a gentle Lambe , but to a Lion : " Ne yet to Lydia , but to bloody * Passur , " Not to the land of Canan , but of Assur , " Whose language will be riddles to thine eares , " And thine againe will be as strange to theirs ; " I say , to Nineueh , the worlds great Hall , " The Monarchs seat , high Court Imperiall : " But terrible Mount Sinay will affright thee , " And Pashurs heauy hand is bent to smite thee : " The Lions rore , the people's strong and stout , " The Bulwarkes stand afront to keepe thee out . " Great Ashur minaces with whip in hand , " To entertaine thee ( welcome ) to his land . " What then ? Arise , be gone ; stay not to thinke : " Bad is the cloth , that will in wetting shrinke . " What then , if cruell Pashur heape on strokes ? " Or Sinay blast thee with her sulph'rous smokes ? " Or Ashur whip thee ? Or the Lions rent thee ? " P'sh ; on with courage ; İ , the Lord haue sent thee : " Away , away , lay by thy foolish pity , " And goe to Niniueth that mighty City : " Cry lowd against it , let thy dreadfull voice " Make all the City eccho with the noyse : " Not like a Doue , but like a Dragon goe , " Pronounce my iudgement , and denounce my Woe : " Make not thine head a fountaine full of teares , " To weepe in secret for her sinnes : Thine eares " Shall heare such things , wil make thine eyes run ouer , " Thine eyes shall smart with what they shall discouer : " Spend not in priuate , those thy zealous drops , " But hew , and hacke ; spare neither trunke , nor lops : " Make heauen , & earth rebound , whē thou discharges , " Plead not like Paul , but roare like Boanarges : " Let not the beauty of the buildings bleare thee , " Nor let the terrours of the Rampiers feare thee : " Let no man bribe thy fist , ( I well aduise thee ) " Nor foule meanes force thee , nor let faire entice thee : " Ramme vp thine eares : Thy heart of stone shall bee ; " Be deafe to them , as they are deafe to thee : " Goe cry against it . If they aske thee , Why ? " Say , God of heauen commanded thee to cry : " In stead of prayers , and duties they should doe me , " Behold , their wickednesse is mounted to me : " The fatnesse of their fornication fryes " On coales of raging lust , and vpward flies , " And makes me sicke : I heare the mournfull grones " And heauy sighs of such , whose aking bones " Th' oppressor grindes : Alas , their grones implore me , " Their pray'rs , and their oppressions come before me : " Behold , my children they haue slaine , and kill'd , " And bath'd their hands within the blood they spill'd : " The steame of guiltlesse blood makes suit vnto me , " The voice of many bloods is mounted to me ; " The vile prophaner of my sacred Names , " He teares my titles , and mine honour maimes , " Makes Reth'rick of an oath , sweares , and forsweares , " Recks not my Mercy , nor my Iudgement feares : " They eat , they drink , they sleepe , they tyre the Day " In wanton dalliance , and delightfull play . " Heauens winged Herald Ionas , vp , and goe " To mighty Niniueh , Denounce my woe ; " Aduance thy voice , and when thou hast aduanc't it , " Spare Shrub , nor Cedar , but cry out against it : " I come my Selfe with plagues , Goe thou afore me , " For all their wickednesse is come before me . Apolog. Authoris . IT was my morning Muse ; And for her sake I thus apply my selfe to vndertake This serious taske , ( A taske for Doctors Muse To spend vpon ) Then let me pleade excuse : For as good Physicke will not bate his force , And ( being well appli'd ) prooue ne're the worse , Though giuē by hands , that could nor reade , nor write , That skill not how , nor need not know t'apply't : So this ( perchance ) may make another keene , Though I , and it be blunt ( as whetstones beene . ) Applicatio . TO thee ( Malfido ) now I turne my Quill , That God is still that God , and will be still . The painfull Pastors take vp Iona's roome : And thou the Niniuite , to whom they come . Meditatio prima . HOw great 's the loue of God vnto his creature ? Or is his Wisedome , or his Mercy greater ? I know not whether : O th' exceeding loue Of highest God! that from his Throne aboue , Will send the brightnesse of his Grace to those That grope in Darknesse , and his Grace oppose : He helpes , prouides , inspires , and freely giues , As pleas'd to see vs rauell out our liues . He giues vs from the heape , He measures not , Nor deales ( like Manna ) each his stinted lot , But daily sends the Doctors of his Spouse , ( With such like oyle as from the Widowes cruse Issued forth ) in fulnesse , without wasting , Where plenty may be had , yet plenty lasting . I , there is care in heauen , and heauenly sprights , That guides the world , & guards poore mortall wights . There is ; else were the miserable state Of Man , more wretched and vnfortunate Than sauage beasts : But O th' abounding loue Of highest God! whose Angels from aboue Dismount the Towre of Blisse , fly to and fro , Assisting wretched man , their deadly foe . What thing is Man , that Gods regard is such ? Or why should he loue retchlesse Man so much ? Why ? what are men ? But quicken'd lumps of earth ? A feast for wormes , A bubble full of mirth , A looking-glasse for griefe , A flash , A minnit , A painted Toombe , with putrifaction in it : A mappe of Death ; A burthen of a song : A winters Dust ; A worme of fiue foot long : Begot in sinne ; In darknesse nourisht : Borne In sorrow , Naked , Shiftlesse , and forlorne : His first voice ( heard ) is crying for reliefe . Alas ! He comes into a world of griefe : His Age is sinfull , and his Youth is vaine , His life 's a punishment , his Death 's a paine : His life 's an howre of Ioy , a world of Sorrow , His death 's a winters night , that findes no morrow : Mans life's an Houreglasse , which being run , Concludes that houre of Ioy , and so is dun . ¶ Ionah must goe : Nor is this charge alone To Ionah giuen , but giuen to euery one . You Magistrates , arise , and take delight . In dealing Iustice , and maintaining right : There lies your Nineueh . Merchants , arise , Away , and to your Ships , and Merchandise . Artificers , arise , and ply your shops , And worke your trade , and eate your meat with drops . Paul , to thy Tents , and Peter , to thy Net , And all must goe that way which God hath set . ¶ Grant , liefest Lord , for our Deare Borrow sake , Thy loue , in sending to vs , neuer slake : Encrease succession in thy Prophets liew , For loe , thy Haruest's great , and Workmen few . THE ARGVMENT . But Ionah toward Tharsis went , A Tempest doth his course preuent : The Mariners are sore opprest , While Ionah sleepes , and takes his rest . Sect. 2 BVt Ionah thus bethought : The City's great , And mighty Ashur stands with deadly threat , Their hearts are hardned , that they cannot heare : Will greene wood burne , when so vnapt's the seire ? Strange is the charge : Shall I goe to a place Vnknowne and forraine ? Aye me ! hard 's the case , That righteous Isr'el must be thus neglected , When Miscreants and Gentiles are respected : How might I hope my words shall there succeed , Which thriue not with the flocke I daily feed ? Moreo're I weet , the Lord is wondrous kind , And slow to wrath , and apt to change his mind Vpon the least repentance : Then shall I Be deem'd as false , and shame my Prophesie . O heauie burthen of a doubtfull mind ! Where shall I goe , or which way shall I wind ? My heart like Ianus , looketh to and fro : My Credit bids me , Stay ; my God bids , Goe : If Goe ; my labour 's lost , my shame 's at hand : If Stay ; Lord ! I transgresse my Lords command : If goe ; from bad estate , to worse , I fall : If stay ; I slide from bad , to worst of all . My God bids goe , my credit bids me stay ; My guilty feare bids fly another way . So Ionah straight arose , himselfe bedight With fit acoutrements , for hasty flight : In stead of staffe , he tooke a Shipmans weed ; In stead of going , loe , he flies with speed . Like as a Hawke ( that ouermatcht with might , Doing sad penance for th' vnequall fight , ( Answ'ring the Faulkners second shout ) does flee From fist ; turnes tayle to Fowle , and takes a tree : So Ionah baulks the place where he was sent ( To Nineueh ) and downe to * Iaffa went ; He sought , enquired , and at last he found A welcome Ship , that was to Tharsis bound , Where he may fly the presence of the Lord : He makes no stay , but straightway goes aboord , His hasty purse for bargaine finds no leisure , ( Where sin delights , ther 's no account of treasure : ) Nor did he know , nor aske , how much his Fare : He gaue : They tooke ; all parties pleased are : ( How thriftlesse of our cost , and paines , are we , O blessed God of heauen , to fly from thee ! ) Now haue the Pilots drunke their parting cup , And some ( with Sailors tune ) are hoysting vp , Others the while , the faithfull Anchor wey , The Ship , ( as loth to leaue her quiet key , ) Creepes easly off , and ( with directed course ) She glides along the shore with gentle force ; And now the whistling wind begins to dally With Aura's fanne : Now stronger gusts doe fally Forth , rudely playing on the hollow saile , And from the Mountaines blowes a lusty Gale : She mounts the billowes with a lofty grace , And now she cuts the Deepe , and scuds apace From land ; from whence ( vnwilling ) she was driuen , Nothing 's perceiued now but Sea , and heauen ; Betwixt them both , the blustring winds doe play : The waues know not which Master to obey : For now the East wind mutin's with the West , And now the West wind counterbuffes the East , And now the hollow Boreas roares amaine , And vexed Notus thwarts the North againe : Thus crossely crost , they threaten in reuenge , To force the world from off his stedfast henge . The Guide's perplext , and knowes not what to doe , His Art 's amaz'd , in such a maze of woe : The Welkin stormes , and rages more and more , The Raine powr ▪ s downe , the Heauens begin to roare , As they would split the massie earth in sunder , From them that liue aboue , to those liue vnder : The restlesse waues , and rolling billowes beate , As they would shoulder Neptune from his feate ; The billowes seeme to mount the clouds , ( or higher ) The dusky clouds did flash with often fier : Now doth the Ship as high as heauen swell , And now ( o'rwhelm'd with waues ) as low as hell ; The Barke no lesse doth yeeld to Neptunes sway , Than lofty Tow'rs , when thundring Ordnance play . The hardy Mariners begin to quaile : They vere their maine sheet , and they strike their saile : Their haire , bolts vp , pale Death vsurps their cheekes , Their mouthes are ful of cryes , their tongues of shreeks : They sound with endlesse line , and sound againe : They pumpe , and still they pumpe , but all in vaine : They row , and breake their Oares : At last th' assay Each Mariner vnto his god to pray . They prai'd , but winds did snatch their words away , And lets their pray'rs not goe to whom they pray : But still they pray , but still the wind , and wether Do turne both pray'rs , & sayles they know not whither : Their gods were deafe , their danger waxed greater , They cast their wares out , and yet ne're the better : But all this while was Ionah drown'd in sleep , And in the lower Decke was buried deepe . Meditatio secunda . BVt stay : This was a strange and vncouth word : Did Ionah fly the presence of the Lord ? What mister word is that ? He that repleats The mighty Vniuerse , whose lofty seat's Th' imperiall Heauen , whose footstoole is the face Of massy Earth ? Can he from any place Be spar'd ? or yet by any meanes excluded , That is in all things ? ( and yet not included , ) Could Ionah find a resting any where So void , or secret , that God was not there ? I stand amaz'd and frighted at this word : Did Ionah fly the presence of the Lord ? Mount vp to heauen aboue , and there he is , Swaying the Scepter of his Kingly blisse : Bestride the earth beneath ( with weary pace ) And there he beares the Oliue branch of Grace : Diue downe into th' extreme Abysse of Hell , And there in Iustice doth th' Almighty dwell . What vncouth Cloyster could there then affoord A screene 'twixt faithlesse Ionah , and his Lord ? ¶ Ionah was charg'd , to take a charge in hand ; But Ionah turn'd his backe on Gods command ; Shooke off his yoke , and wilfully neglected , And what was strictly charg'd , he quite reiected : And so he fled the power of his Word ; And so he fled the presence of his Lord. ¶ Good God! how poore a thing is wretched man ? So fraile , that let him striue the best he can , With euery little blast hee 's ouerdon . If mighty Cedars of great Libanon , Cannot the danger of the Axe withstand , Lord ! how shall we , that are but Bushes , stand ? How fond , corrupt , and sencelesse is mankind ? How faining deafe is he ? How wilfull blind ? He stops his eares , and sinnes : he shuts his eyes , And ( blindfold ) in the lap of danger flies : He sinnes , despaires ; and then , to stint his griefe , He chuses death , to baulke the God of life . ¶ Poore wretched sinner , trauell where thou wilt , Thy trauell shall be burthen'd with thy guilt : Climbe tops of hils , that prospects may delight thee , There wil thy sins ( like Wolues & Beares ) affright thee : Fly to the Valleys , that those frights may shun thee , And there like Mountaines they will fall vpon thee : Or to the raging seas ( with Ionah ) goe ; There will thy sinnes like stormy Neptune flow . Poore shiftlesse Man ! what shall become of thee ? Wher'ere thou fly'st , thy gryping sinne will fly . ¶ But all this while the Ship , where Ionah sleepes , Is vexed sore , and batter'd on the Deeps , And well-nigh split vpon the threatning Rocke , With many a boystrous brush , and churly knocke : God send the comfortlesse , an happy howre , And shield all good men from such stormy stowre . THE ARGVMENT . The Pilot thumps on Ionah's brest , And rowzeth Ionah from his Rest : They al cast Lots , ( being sore affrighted : ) The sacred Lot on Ionah lighted . Sect. 3. THe haplesse Pylot finding no successe , ( But that the storme grew rather more than lesse , For all their toylesome paynes , and needlesse pray'rs , Dispairing both of life , and goods ) repaires To Ionahs drowzie Cabbin ; mainly calls ; Calls Ionah , Ionah ; and yet lowder yawles ; Yet Ionah sleepes ; and giues a shrug , or two , And snores , ( as greedy sleepers vse to doe . ) The wofull Pylot iogs him , ( but in vaine . ) ( Perchance he dreames an idle word , or twaine ; ) At length he tugs and puls his heauie course , And thunders on his brest , with all his force . But ( after many yawns ) he did awake him , And ( being both affrighted ) thus bespake him : " Arise , O Sleeper , O , arise , and see , " Ther 's not a twiny thrid , 'twixt death , and thee : " This darksome place ( thou measur'st ) is thy graue , " And suddaine Death rides proud on yonder waue ; " Arise , O Sleeper , O , arise and pray , " Perchance thy God will heare , and not say , Nay : " Perchance thy God's more powerfull then our's : " Arise , Arise , and pray with all thy pow'rs , " If so be , God will haue compassion on vs , " And turne away this mischiefe he hath done vs , The sturdy Saylers ( weary of their paine , ) Finding their bootlesse labour lost , and vaine , Forbare their toylesome taske , and wrought no more , But wisht for Death , for which they look'd before ; They call a parley , and consult together , They count their sinnes , ( accusing one another ) That for his sinne , or his , this euill was wrought : In fine , they all prooue guilty of the fault ; But yet the Question was not ended so : One sayes , 'T was thine offence , but he sayes , No , But t' was for thy sake , that accuses mee ; Rusht forth a third ( the worser of the three ) And swore it was anothers , which ( he hearing ) Deny'd it flat , and say'd , 'T was thine for swearing : In came a fift , accusing all ; ( replying But little else ) they all chid him for lying ; One sayd it was , another say'd 't was not : So all agreed , to stint the strife by Lot : Then all was whist , and all to prayer went ; ( For such a buis'nes , a fit complement ) The lot was cast ; 't pleas'd God , by Lots to tell . The lot was cast ; The lot on Ionah fell . Meditatio tertia . O Sacred Subiect of a Meditation ! Thy Works ( O Lord ) are full of Admiration , Thy iudgements all are iust , seuere , and sure , They quite cut off , or else by launcing cure The festring sore of a Rebellious heart , Lest foule infection taynt th' immortall part . How deepe a Lethargie doth this disease Bring to the slumbring Soule through carelesse ease ! Which once being wak't , ( as from a Golden Dreame ) Lookes vp , and sees her griefes the more extreme . How seeming sweet's the quiet sleepe of sin ? Which when a wretched man 's once nuzz'ld in , How soundly sleepes he , without feare , or wit ? No sooner , are his armes together knit In drowzie knot , athwart vpon his brest , But there he snorts , and snores in endlesse rest ; His eyes are closed fast , and deafe his eares , And ( like Endymion ) sleepes himselfe in yeares ; His sence-bound heart , ne answeres to the voyce Of gentle warning , no , nor does the noyse Of strong reproofe awake his sleeping eare , Nor lowder threatnings thunder makes him heare ; So deafe's the sinners eare , so numb'd his sence , That sinne 's no corrosiue , nor no offence ; For custome breeds delight , deludes the heart , Beguiles the sence , and takes away the smart . ¶ But stay ; Did one of Gods elected number , ( Whose eyes should neuer sleepe , nor eye-lids slumber ) So much forget himselfe ? Did Ionah sleepe , That should be watchfull , and the Tower keepe ? Did Ionah ( the selected mouth of God ) In stead of roring Iudgements , does he nod ? Did Ionah sleepe so sound ? Could he sleepe then , When ( with the suddaine sight of Death ) the men ( So many men ) with yelling shreekes , and cries , Made very heau'n report ? and shooke the skies So vncouth , that the ship it mought haue riu'n ? Hard must he winke , that shuts his eyes from heau'n . O righteous Isr'el , where , O , where art thou ? Where is thy Lampe ? thy zealous Shepheard now ? Alas ! the rau'nous Wolues will worr ' thy Sheepe ; Thy Shepheard's carelesse , and is fall'n asleepe ; Grim dogs will rowze thy Flock , and rule the rost ; Thy Sheepe are scatter'd , and thy Shepheard's lost ; Ah weladay ! whose words beseeme the Altar , Their works discent , and first begin to faulter ; And they , that should be Watch-lights in the Temple , Are snuffes , and want the oyle of good example ; The chosen Watch-men , that the Tow'r should keepe , Are waxen heauy-ey'd , and fall'n asleepe . ¶ Lord , if thy Watch-mē wink too much , awake them ; Although they slumber , doe not quite forsake them ; The flesh is weake , say not ( if dulnesse seaze Their heauy eyes ) Sleepe henceforth : Take your ease : And we poore weakelings , when we sleepe in sin , Knock at our drowzie hearts ; and neuer lin , Till thou awake our sinne-congealed eyes ; Lest ( drown'd in sleepe ) we sinke , and neuer rise . THE ARGVMENT . They question Ionah , whence he came , His Country , and his peoples Name , He makes reply : They mone their woe , And aske his counsell what to doe . Sect. 4. AS when a Thiefe's appr'ended on suspect , And charg'd for some supposed malifact , A rude concurse of people , strait accrewes , Whose itching eares euen smart , to know the newes , The guilty pris'ner ( to himselfe betray'd ) He stands deiected , trembling and afrayd : So Ionah stood the Saylers all among , Inclosed round amid the ruder throng . As in a Summers Euening you shall heare In Hiue of Bees ( if you lay close your eare ) Confused buzzing , and seditious noyse , Such was the murmur of the Saylers voyce . " What was thy sinfull fact , that causes this " ( Sayes one ) wherein hast thou so done amisse ? " Tell vs , What is thine Art ( another sayes ) " That thou professest ? Speake man , Whence awayes , " From what Confines cam'st thou ? ( A third replies ) " What is thy Country ? And of what allies ? " What , art thou borne a Iew ? or Gentile ? Whether ? " ( Ere he could lend an answere vnto either ) A fourth demands : Where hath thy breeding been ▪ All what they askt , they all askt o're againe . In fine , their eares ( impatient of delay ) Becalm'd their tongues , to heare what he could say . So Ionah ( humbly rearing vp his eyes ) Breaking his long kept silence , thus replies : " I am an Hebrew , sonne of * Abraham , " From whom my Land did first deriue her name , " Within the Land of Iury was I borne , " My name is Ionah , retchlesse , and forlorne : " I am a Prophet : ah ! but woe is me , " For from before the face of God I flee , " From whence ( through disobedience ) I am driuen ; " I feare Iehouah , mighty God of Heauen : " I feare the Lord of Heauen , whose glorious hand " Did make this stormy Sea , and massy land . So said , their eares with double rauishment , Still hung vpon his melting lips , attent , Whose dreadful words , their hearts so neere impierc't , That from themselues , themselues were quite deuers't . Like as in a hot Summers euentide , ( When lustfull Phoebus re ▪ salutes his Bride , And Philomela 'gins her caroling : ) A heard of Deere are browzing in a spring , With hungry appetite , misweening nought , Nor in so deepe a silence fearing ought : A sudden cracke , or some vnthought ▪ of sound , Or bounce of Fowlers Peece , or yelpe of Hound , Disturbes their quiet peace with strange amaze , Where ( sencelesse halfe ) through feare , they stand at gaze : So stand the Sea-men , ( as with Ghosts affrighted , ) Entraunc'd with what , this man of God recited . Their ( whilome sturdy ) limmes wox faint , and lither , Their hearts did earne , their knees did smite together : Congealed blood vsurpt their trembling hearts , Which coldly crawld about in all their parts : Who ( trembling out some broken language , ) thus : " Why hast thou brought this mischiefe vpon vs ? " What humour led thee to a place vnknowne , " To seeke a forrein land , and leaue thine owne ? " What faith hadst thou , by leauing thine abode , " To thinke to fly the presence of thy God ? " Why hast thou not obey'd ( but thus transgrest ) " The voice of God , whom thou acknowledgest ? " Art thou a Prophet , and dost thou amisse ? " What is the cause ? And why hast thou done this ? " What shall we doe ? The tempest lends no eare " To fruitlesse chat , nor doe the billowes heare , " Or marke our language : waues are not attent , " Our goods they float , and all our paines are spent : " Our Bark's not weather-proofe , for aye to last ; " ( No Fort so strong , but daily siege will wast . ) " The Lot accuses thee , thy words condemne thee , " The waues ( thy deaths-mē ) striue to ouerwhelme thee : " What shal we do ? Thou Prophet , speak , we pray thee : " Thou fear'st the Lord ; Alas ! we may not slay thee : " Or shall we saue thee ? No , for thou dost fly " The face of God , and so deseru'st to dye : " Thou Prophet , speake , what shal we doe to thee , " That angry seas may calme , and quiet be ? Meditatio quarta . GIue leaue a little to adiourne your story , Run backe a step , or twaine , and looke afore ye : Can he be said to feare the Lord , that flies him ? Can Word confesse him , when as Deed denies him ? My sacred Muse hath rounded in mine eare , And read the myst'ry of a twofold feare : The first , a seruile feare , for Iudgements sake ; And thus the damned Diuels feare and quake . Thus Adam fear'd , and fled behind a tree : And thus did bloody Kain feare and flee . Vnlike to this , there is a second kind Of feare , extracted from a zealous mind , Full fraught with loue , and with a conscience cleare From base respects : It is a filiall feare ; A feare whose ground would iust remaine , and leuell , Were neither Heauen , nor Hell , nor God , nor Diuell . Such was the feare that Princely Dauid had ; And thus our wretched Ionah fear'd , and fled : He fled asham'd , because his sinnes were such ; He fled asham'd , because his feare was much . He fear'd Iehouah , other fear'd he none , Him he acknowledg'd ; Him he fear'd alone : Vnlike to those men , that ( befoold with errour ) Frame many gods , and multiply their terrour . Th' Egyptians , God Apis did implore , God Assas the Chaldaeans did adore : Babel to the Deuouring Dragon seekes , Th' Arabians Astaroth ; Iuno the Greekes ; The name of Belus , the Assyrians hallow , The Troians , Vesta ; Corinth , wise Apollo ; Th' Arginians sacrifice vnto the Sunne ; To Light-foot Mercury bowes Macedon ; To god Volunus , louers bend their knee : To Pauor , those that faint , and fearfull bee : Who pray for health , and strength , to Murcia those ; And to Victoria , they that feare to lose : To Muta , they that feare a womans tongue : To great Lucina , women great with young : To Esculapius , they that liue opprest : And they to Quies , that desire rest . O blinded Ignorance of antique times , How blent with errour , and how stuft with crimes Your Temples were ! And how adulterate ! How clog'd with needlesse gods ! How obstinate ! How void of order , and how inconfuse ! How full of dangerous and foule abuse ! How sandy , were thy grounds , and how vnstable ! How many Deities ! yet how vnable ! Implore these gods , that list to howle and barke , They bow to Dagon , Dagon to the Arke : But he to whom the seale of mercy 's giuen , Adores Iehouah , mighty God of Heauen : Vpon the mention of whose sacred Name , Meeke Lambs grow fierce , and the fierce Lyons tame : Bright Sol shall stop , and heauen shall turne his course : Mountaines shall dance , and Neptune slake his force : The Seas shall part , the fire want his flame , Vpon the mention of Iehouah's Name : A Name , that makes the roofe of Heauen to shake , The frame of Earth to quiuer , Hell to quake : A Name , to which all Angels blow their trumps ; A Name , puts frolicke man into his dumps : ( Though ne're so blythe ) A Name of high renowne , It mounts the meeke , and beates the lofty downe ; A Name , deuides the marrow in the bone ; A Name , which out of hard , and flinty stone , Extracteth hearts of flesh , and makes relent Those hearts that neuer knew what mercy ment . O Lord ! how great 's thy Name in all the Land ? How mighty are the wonders of thy hand ? How is thy Glory plac't aboue the heau'n ? To tender mouthes of Sucklings thou hast giu'n Coerciue pow'r , and boldnes to reprooue , When elder men doe what them no'te behooue . O Lord ! How great 's the power of thy hand ? O God! How great 's thy Name in all the Land ? THE ARGVMENT . The Prophet doth his fault discouer , Perswades the men to cast him ouer : They rowe , and toyle , but doe no good , They pray to be excus'd from blood . Sect. 5. SO Ionah fram'd the speech to their demand ; " Not that I seeke to trauerse the command , " Of my deare Lord , and out of minde peruerse , " T' auoyd the Niniuites , doe I amerce " My selfe ; Nor that I euer heard you threat , " ( Vnlesse I went to Niniueh , ( the great ) " And doe the message sent her from the Lord ) " That you would kill , or cast me ouer boord , " Doe I doe this ; 'T is my deserued fine : " You all are guiltlesse , and the fault is mine : " 'T is I , 't is I alone , 't is I am he : " The tempest comes from heau'n , the cause from me ; " You shall not lose a haire for this my sin , " Nor perish for the fault that mine hath bin ; " Lo , I the man am here : Lo , I am He " The roote of all ; End your reuenge on me ; " I fled from God of Heau'n ; O , let me then " ( Because I fled from God ) so flie from men ; " O , take me , ( for I am resolu'd to die ) " As you did cast your Wares , so cast in Me ; " I am the man , for whom these billowes dance , " My death shall purchase your deliuerance ; " Feare not to cease your feares ; but throw me in ; " Alas ! my soule is burthen'd with my sin , " And God is iust , and bent to his Decree , " Which certaine is , and cannot altred bee ; " I am proclaim'd a Traytor to the King " Of heau'n , and earth : The windes with speedy wing " Acquaint the Seas : The Seas mount vp on hie , " And cannot rest , vntill the Traytor die ; " Oh , cast me in , and let my life be ended ; " Let Death make Iustice mends , which Life offended ; " Oh , let the swelling waters me embalme : " So shall the Waues be still , and Sea be calme . So said , the Mariners grew inly sad , ( Though rude , and barbarous ) and much ydrad , As moou'd to see a Stranger ( for their good ) Lay downe his life , which offer they withstood , Till they had sought with all their pow'r and skill , To saue the man , and not the Ship to spill : They digg'd , and deepely delu'd the surrow'd Seas , With brawny armes they plough'd the watry Leas , Hoping ( in vaine ) by toyle to win the shore , And wrought more hard , thē erst they wrought before . Alas ! their strength now failes , and weares away , ( For bodies wanting rest , doe soone decay ) The Seas are angry , and the waues arise , Appeas'd with nothing , but a Sacrifice : Gods vengeance stormeth like the raging Seas , Which nought but Ionah ( dying ) can appease . " Bootlesse it is , to thinke by any deed " To alter that , which God of heau'n decreed : " Ionah must die , 't is folly to say , No ; " Ionah must die , or else we all die too ; " Ionah must die , that from his Lord did flie ; " The lot determines , Ionah then must die ; " His guilty word confirmes the sacred lot , " Ionah must die then , if we perish not . " If Iustice then it be , that he must die , " And we sad Actors of his Tragedie ; " ( We begge not ( Lord ) a warrant to offend ) " O , pardon bloud-shed , that we must intend . " Though not our hands , yet shall our hearts be cleare : " Then let not stainelesse Consciences beare " The pond'rous burthen of a Murthers guilt , " Or voyce of harmelesse bloud , that must be spilt ; " For lo , ( deare Lord ) it is thine owne Decree , " And we sad ministers of Iustice bee . Meditatio quinta . BVt stay awhile , this thing would first be knowne : Can Ionah giue himselfe , and not his owne ? That part to God , and to his Country this Pertaines , so that a slender third is his ; Why then should Ionah doe so great a wrong , To deale himselfe away , that did belong The least vnto himselfe ? or how could he Teach this , ( THOV SHALT NOT KILL ) if Ionah be His life 's owne Butcher ? What , was this a deed That with the Calling he profest , agreed ? The purblind age ( whose workes ( almost diuine ) Did meerely with the oyle of nature shine , That knew no written Law , ne yet no God , To whip their conscience with a steely Rod , ) How much did they abhorre so foule a fact ? When ( led by Natures glimpse ) they made an Act , That what man e're is so vnnaturall To kill himselfe , should want a buriall ; Can such doe so , when Ionah does amisse ? What , Ionas , Isr'els Teacher ! and doe this ? The Law of charity doth all forbid , In this thing to doe that , which Ionah did ; Moreo're , in charity , 't is thy behest , Of dying men to thinke , and speake the best ; The mighty Samson did as much as this ; And who dare say , that Samson did amisse , If heau'nly Spirit whisper'd in his eare Expresse command to do ' t ? then likewise heare , Who knowes of Ionah , whether , yea , or no , A secret Spirit will'd him to doe so ? ¶ Sure is the knot that true Religion tyes , And Loue that 's rightly grounded , neuer dyes ; It seemes a Paradox , beyond beliefe , That men in trouble should prolong reliefe ; That Pagans , ( to withstand a Strangers Fate ) Should be neglectiue of their owne estate , Trusting their liues vpon a twyny thread , And ( dauntlesse ) daunce about in dangers dread . Where is this Loue become in later age ? Alas ! 't is gone in endlesse Pilgrimage From hence , and neuer to returne ( I doubt ) Till reuolution wheele those times about ; Chill brests haue staru'd her here , and she is driu'n Away ; and with Astraea fled to heau'n : Charity , that naked Babe is gone , Her hony's spent , and all her store is done , Her winglesse Bees can finde out ne'r a bloome , And crooked * Ate doth vsurpe her roome ; Nepenthe's dry , and Loue can get no drinke , And curs'd Ardenne flowes aboue the brinke : Braue Mariners , the world your names shall hallow , Admiring that in you , that none dare follow ; Your friendship 's rare , and your conuersion strange : From Paganisme to Zeale ? A suddaine change ! Those men doe now the God of heau'n implore , That bow'd to Puppets , but an houre before . Their Zeale is feruent ( though but new begun ) Before their egge-shels were done off , they run , As when bright Phoebus , in a Summer tide , ( New risen from the pillow of his Bride ) Enueloped with misty fogges , at length Breaks forth , displayes the mist , with Southern strēgth ; Euen so these Mariners ( of Peerelesse mirrour ) Their faith b'ing vayl'd within the mist of errour , At length their Zeale chac'd ignorance away , They left their Paganisme , and 'gan to pray . ¶ Lord , how vnlimmited are thy Confines , That still pursu'st man in his good designes ! Thy mercy 's like the dew of Hermon hill , Or like the Oyntment , dropping downward still From Aarons head , to beard ; from beard , to foot : So doe thy mercies drench vs round about : Thy loue is boundlesse ; Thou art apt , and free , To turne to Man , when Man returnes to thee . THE ARGVMENT . They cast the Prophet ouer boord : The storme alay'd : They feare the Lord ; A mighty Fish him straight deuoures , Where he remayned many howres . Sect. 6. EVen as a member , whose corrupted sore Infests , and rankl's , eating more and more , Threatning the bodies losse ( if not preuented ) The Surgion ( after all faire meanes attempted ) Cuts off , and with aduised skill doth choose , To lose a part , then all the body lose ; Euen so the Mariners perceiuing all Their labour spent , and the effect but small , And of necessity that all must dye , If Ionah leaue not their society , They tooke vp Ionas , and with one accord , And common ayde , threw Ionas ouer boord ; Whereat grim Neptune wip't his fomy mouth , Held his tridented Mace vpon the South ; The windes were whist , the billowes daunc't no more , The storme allay'd , the heau'ns left off to rore , The waues ( obedient to their beheast ) Gaue ready passage , and their rage surceast : The skie grew cleare , and now the glorious light Begins to put the gloomy clouds to flight : Thus all on suddaine was the Sea tranquill , The heau'ns were quiet , and the Waues were still . As when a friendly Creditour ( to get A long forborne , and much-concerning debt ) Still plyes his willing debter with entreates , Importunes dayly , dayly thumps , and beates The batter'd Portalls of his tyred eares , Bedeafing hm with what he knowes , and heares ; The weary debter , to auoyd the sight He loathes , shifts here , and there , and eu'ry night Seekes out Protection of another bed , Yet ne'rethelesse ( pursu'd and followed ) His eares are still layd at with lowder volley Of harder Dialect ; He melancholly , Sits downe , and sighes , and after long fore-slowing , ( T' auoyd his presence ) payes him what is owing ; The thankfull Creditour is now appeas'd , Takes leaue , and goes away content , and pleas'd . Euen so these angry waues , with restlesse rage , Accosted Ionas in his pilgrimage , And thundred Iudgement in his fearfull eare , Presenting Hubbubs to his guilty feare : The Waues rose discontent , the Surges beat , And euery moments death , the billowes threat ; The wether-beaten Ship did euery minnit Await destruction , while he was in it : But when his ( long expected ) corps they threw Into the deepe , ( a debt through trespasse due ) The Sea grew kind , and all her frownes abated , Her face was smooth to all that nauigated . 'T was sinfull Ionah made her storme and rage , 'T was sinfull Ionah did her storme asswage . With that the Mariners astonish't were , And feard Iehouah with a mighty feare , Offring vp Sacrifice with one accord , And vowing solemne vowes vnto the Lord. But God ( whose breath can make the heauens shake , And in an instant , all that force can slake , Whose pow'rfull word can make the earths foundatiō Tremble , and with his word can make cessation , Whose wrath doth mount the waues , & tosse the Seas , And make them calme , and whist when e're he please : This God , ( whose mercy runs on endlesse wheele , And pulls ( like Iacob ) Iustice by the heele ) Prepar'd a Fish , prepar'd a mighty Whale , Whose belly should be prison-house , and baile For retchlesse Ionah . As a Garner dore Opens his double leafe , to take the store , Wherewith the haruest quits the Ploughmans hope , Euen so the great Leuiathan set ope His beame-like Iawes , ( as glad of such a boone ) And at a morsell , swallow'd Ionah downe . Till Rosy-cheek't - Aurora's purple dye Thrice dappl'd had the ruddy morning skye , And thrice had spred the Curtaines of the morne , To let in Titan , when the Day was borne , Ionah was Tenant to this liuing Graue , Embowel'd deepe in this stupendious Caue . Meditatio sexta . LO , Death is now , as alwayes it hath bin , The iust procured stipend of our sinne : Sinne is a golden Causie , and a Road That 's leuell , pleasant , that is euen , and broad , But leads at length to death , and endlesse griefe , To torments and to paines , without reliefe . Iustice feares none , but maketh all afraid , And then falls hardest , when 't is most delaid . But thou reply'st , Thy sinnes are daily great , Yet thou sitt'st , vncontrold vpon thy seat : Thy wheat doth flourish , and thy barnes doe thriue , Thy sheepe encrease , thy sonnes are all aliue , And thou art buxom , and hast nothing scant , Finding no want of any thing , but want , Whil'st others , whō the squint-e'yd world counts holy , Sit sadly drooping in a melancholy , With brow deiected , and downe-hanging head , Or take of almes , or poorly beg their bread : But Young man , know , there is a Day of doome , The feast is good , vntill the reck'ning come . The time runnes fastest , where is least regard ; The stone that 's long in falling , falleth hard ; There is a Day , a dying Day ( thou foole ) When all thy laughter shall be turn'd to Doole , Thy roabes to tort'ring plagues , and fell tormenting , Thy whoops of Ioy , to howles of sad lamenting : Thy tongue shall yell , and yawle , and neuer stop , And wish a world , to giue for one poore drop , To flatter thine intolerable paine ; The wealth of Pluto could not then obtaine A minutes freedome from that hellish rout , Whose fire burnes , and neuer goeth out ; Nor house , nor land , nor measur'd heapes of wealth , Can render to a dying man his health : Our life on earth is like a thrid of flax , That all may touch , and being toucht , it cracks . ¶ As when an Archer shooteth for his sport , Sometimes his shaft is gone , sometime 't is short , Sometimes o' th' left hand wide , sometimes o' th' right , At last ( through often triall ) hits the White ; So Death sometimes with her vncertaine Rouer , Hits our Superiours ( and so shootes ouer ) Sometimes for change , she strikes the meaner sort , Strikes our inferiours ( and then comes short ) Sometimes vpon the left hand wide she goes , And so ( still wounding some ) she strikes our foes ; And sometimes wide vpon the right hand wends , There with impartiall shafts , she strikes our friends ; At length , ( through often triall ) hits the White , And so strikes vs into Eternall night . ¶ Death is a Kalender compos'd by Fate , Concerning all men , neuer out of Date : Her dayes Dominicall are writ in blood ; She shewes more bad dayes , then she sheweth good ; She tells when dayes , and months , and termes expire , And shewes thee strange aspects of fearefull fire . ¶ Death is a Pursiuant , with Eagles wings , That knocks at poore mens dores , and gates of Kings . Worldling , beware ; for , lo , Death sculks behind thee , And as she leaues thee , so will Iudgement finde thee . THE ARGVMENT . Within the bowels of the Fish , Ionah laments in great anguish ; God heard his pray'r , at whose command , The Fish disgorg'd him on the Land. Sect. 7. THen Ionah turn'd his face to heau'n , and pray'd VVithin the bowels of the VVhale , and sayd , " I cry'd out of my balefull misery " Vnto the Lord , and he hath heard my cry , " From out the paunch of hell I made a noyse , " And thou hast answer'd me , and heard my voyce : " Into the Deepes and bottome thou hast throwne me , " Thy Surges , and thy VVaues haue past vpon me . " Then Lord ( said I ) from out thy glorious sight " I am reiected , and forsaken quite , " Nath'lesse while these my wretched eyes remaine , " Vnto thy Temple will I looke againe . " The boyst'rous waters compasse me about , " My body threats , to let her pris'ner out , " The boundlesse depth enclos'd me , ( almost dead ) " The weedes were wrapt about my fainting head , " I liu'd on earth reiected at thine hand , " And a perpetuall pris'ner in the Land ; " Yet thou wilt cause my life t' ascend at length , " From out this pit , O Lord , my God , my Strength ; " When as my soule was ouer-whelm'd , and faint , " I had recourse to thee , did thee acquaint " With the condition of my wofull case , " My cry came to thee , in thine holy Place . " Whoso to Vanities themselues betake , " Renounce thy mercies , and thy loue forsake . " To thee I 'le sacrifice in endlesse dayes , " With voyce of thanks , and euer-sounding praise , " I 'le pay my vowes ; for all the world records " With one consent , Saluation is the Lords . So God ( whose Word 's a deed , whose Breath's a law , Whose iust command implies a dreadfull awe , Whose Word prepar'd a Whale vpon the Deepe , To tend , and waite for Iona's fall , and keepe His out-cast body safe , and soule secure ) This very God , ( whose mercy must endure When heau'n , and earth , and sea , and all things faile ) Disclos'd his purpose , and bespake the Whale , To redeliuer Ionah to his hand ; Whereat the Whale disgorg'd him on the Land. Meditatio septimu . I Well record , a holy Father sayes , " He teaches to denie , that faintly prayes : The suit surceases , when desire failes , But whoso prayes with feruencie , preuailes ; For Pray'rs the key that opens heauen gate , And findes admittance , whether earl ' or late , It forces audience , it vnlocks the eare Of heau'nly God , ( though deafe ) it makes him heare . Vpon a time * Babel ( the Worlds faire Queene , Made drunke with choller , and enrag'd with Spleene ) Through fell Disdaine , derraigned Warre ' gainst them That tender Homage to Ierusalem : * A Mayden fight it was , yet they were strong As men of Warre ; The Battaile lasted long , Much bloud was shed , and spilt on either side , That all the ground with purple gore was dyde : In fine , a Souldier of Ierusalem , * Charissa hight , ( the Almner of the Realme ) Chill'd with a Feuer , and vnapt to fight , Into Iustitia's Castle tooke her flight , Whereat great Babels Queene commanded all , To lay their siege against the Castle wall ; But poore * Tymissa ( not with warre acquainted ) Fearing Charissa's death , fell downe , and fainted ; Dauntlesse * Prudentia rear'd her from the ground , VVhere she lay ( pale , and sencelesse ) in swound , She rubb'd her temples ( lost in swouny shade ) And gaue her water , that * Fidissa made , And said , Cheare vp , ( deare Sister ) though our foe Hath ta'ne vs Captiues , and inthrall'd vs so , We haue a King puissant , and of might , Will see vs take no wrong , and doe vs right , If we possesse him with our sad complaint , Cheare vp , wee 'l send to him , and him acquaint . Timissa ( new awak'd from swound ) replies , Our Castle is begirt with enemies , And clouds of armed men besiege our walls , Then suer Death , or worse then Death befalls To her , ( who ere she be ) that stirres a foote , Or dares attempt , this place to fally out : Alas ! what hope haue we to finde reliefe , And want the meanes that may diuulge our griefe ? Within that place , a iolly Matron won'd , With firie lookes , and drawen-sword in hond , Her eyes , with age , were waxen wond'rous dim , With hoary locks , and visage sterne , and grim ; Her name * Iustitia hight ; to her they make Their moane , who ( well aduis'd ) them thus bespake : " Faire Maydens , well I wot ; y' are ill bedight , And rue the suffrance of your wofull plight , But Pitty 's fond alone , and rankles griefe , And fruitlesse falls , vnlesse it yeeld reliefe : Cheare vp , I haue a Messenger in store , Whose speed is much , but faithfull trust is more , Whose nimble wings shall cleaue the flitting skies , And scorne the terrour of your enemies , * Oratio hight , well knowne vnto your King , Your message she shall doe , and tydings bring , Prouided that * Fidissa trauaile with her , And so ( * on Christs name ) let them goe together . With that , Fidissa hauing ta'ne her errant , And good Oratio , with Iustitia's Warrant , In silence of the midnight , tooke their flight , Arriuing at the Court that very night ; But they were both as any fier hot , For they did flie as swift , as Cannon shot , But they ( left suddaine cold should doe them harme ) Together clung , and kept each other warme : But lo , the Kingly gates were sparr'd , and lockt , They call'd , but none made answere , then they knockt , Together ioyning both their force in one , They knockt amaine ; Yet answere there was none ; But they that neuer learn'd to take deniall , With importunity made further triall : The King heard well , although he list not speake , Till they with strokes the gate did wel-nie breake . In fine , the brazen gates flew open wide ; Oratio moou'd her suit : The King replide , Oratio was a faire , and welcome ghest ; So heard her suit ; so graunted her request . Fraile Man , obserue , In thee the practice lies , Let sacred Meditation moralize . Let Pray'r be feruent , and thy Faith intire , And God will graunt thee more then thy desire . THE ARGVMENT . The second time was Ionah sent To Niniuy : so Ionah went : Against her crying sinnes he cri'd , And her destruction propheci'd . Sect. 8. ONce more the voyce of heau'ns-high-Cōmander ( Like horrid claps of heau'ns-diuiding-thunder , Or like the fall of waters breach ( the noyse B'ing heard farre distant off ) such was the voyce ) Came downe from heau'n , to Ionah new-borne-Man , To re-baptized Ionah , and thus began ; Am I a God ? Or art thou ought but Dust ? More then a man ? Or are my Lawes vniust ? Am I a God , and shall I not command ? Art thou a man , and dar'st my Lawes withstand ? Shall I ( the motion of whose breath shall make Both Earth , and Sea , and Hell , and Heauen quake ) By thee ( fond man ) shall I be thus neglected , And thy presumption scape vncorrected ? Thy Faith hath sau'd thee ( Ionah : ) Sinne no more , Lest worse things happen after , then before ; Arise ; let all th' assembled pow'rs agree To doe the message I impose on thee ; Trifle no more , and , to auoyd my sight , Thinke not to baulke me with a second flight . Arise , and goe to Niniuy ( the great ) Where broods of Gentiles haue ta'ne vp their seat , The Great-Queene-regent-mother of the Land , That multiplies in people like the sand ; Away , with wings of time , ( I 'le not essoine thee ) Denounce these fiery Iudgements , I enioyne thee . Like as a yongling that to schoole is set , ( Scarce weaned from his dandling mothers tet , Where he was cockerd with a stroking hand ) With stubborne heart , denyes the Iust command His Tutor will's : But being once corrected , His home-bred stomack 's curb'd , or quite eiected , His crooked nature 's chang'd , and mollified , And humbly seeks , what stoutly he deny'd ; So Iona's stout , peruerse , and stubborne hart , Was hardned once , but when it felt the smart Of Gods auenging wrath , it strait dissolu'd , And what it once auoyded , now resolu'd T' effect with speed , and with a carefull hand Fully replenish'd with his Lords Command , To Niniueh he flyeth like a Roe , Each step the other striues to ouergoe ; And as an arrow to the mark does fly , So ( bent to flight ) flyes he to Niniuy . ( Now Niniuy a mighty Citty was , And all the Citties of the world did passe , A Citty which o're all the rest aspires , Like midnight ▪ Phoebé 'mong the lesser fyers , A Citty which ( although to men was giuen ) Better beseem'd the mighty King of Heauen , A Citty Great to God , whose ample wall , Who vndertakes to mete with paces , shall Bring Phoebus thrice a-bed , e're it be dun , ( Although with dawning Lucifer begun . ) When Ionas had approacht the City gate , He made no stay to rest , ne yet to baite , Nor yet with oyle , his fainting head he ' noynts , Nor stayes to bathe his weather-beaten ioynts , Nor smooth'd his countenance , nor slick't his skinne , Ne craued he the Hostage of an Inne , To ease his aking bones ( with trauell sore ) But went as speedy , as he fled before , The Cities greatnes made him not refuse , To be the trump of that vnwelcome newes His tongue was great with ; But ( like thunders noyse ) His mouth flew ope , and out there rusht a voyce . When dewy-cheek't Aurora shall display Her golden locks , and summon vp the Day Twice twentie times , and rest her drowzy head Twice twentie more , in aged Tithons bed , Then Niniueh this place of high renowne , Shall be destroy'd , and sackt , and batterd downe . He sate not down to take deliberation , What manner people were they , or what Nation , Or Gent , or Saluage , nor did he enquier What place were most conuenient for a Cryer , Nor like a sweet-lipt Orator did steare , Or tune his language to the peoples eare , But bold , and rough ( yet full of maiesty ) Lift vp his trumpet , and began to Cry , When forty times Dan Phoebus shall fulfill His Iournall course vpon th' Olympian Hill , Then Niniueh ( the Worlds great wonder ) shall Startle the Worlds foundation with her fall . The dreadfull Prophet stands not to admire The Cities pomp , or peoples quaint attire , Nor yet ( with fond affection ) doth pitty Th' approching downfall of so braue a City : But freely lifts his dismall voyce on high , Not caring who excepts against the Cry , When fortie Dayes shall be expir'd , and run , And that poore Inch of time drawne out and dun , Then Niniueh ( the Worlds Imperiall throne ) Shall not be left a stone , vpon a stone . Meditatio octaua . BVt stay ; Is God like one of vs ? Can hee , When he hath said it , alter his Decree ? Can he that is the God of Truth , dispence With what he vow'd ? or offer violence Vpon his sacred Iustice ? Can his minde Reuolt at all ? or vary like the winde ? How comes it then to passe ? How mought it bee , That hauing limited his iust Decree Vpon the expiring date of fortie dayes , He then performes it not ? But still delayes His plagues denounc't , and Iudgement still forbeares , And stead of fortie Dayes giues many yeares ? Yet fortie Dayes , and Niniueh shall perish ? Yet fortie yeeres , and Niniueh doth flourish : A change in man's infirme ; in God 't is strange ; In God , to change his Will , and will a Change , Are diuers things : When God repents from ill , He wills a change ; he changes not his Will ; The subiect 's chang'd , which secret he kept close , But not the mind , that so did it dispose ; Denounced Iudgement God doth oft preuent , But neither changes counsell , nor intent : Moreo're He seldome threatens a perdition , But with expresse , or an impli'd condition : So that , if Niniuey do turne from ill , God turns his hand , he doth not turne his Will. ¶ The stint of Niniuey was forty dayes , To cry for grace , and turne from euill wayes ; To some the time is large ; To others small , To some 't is many yeeres ; And not at all To others ; Some an hower haue , and some Haue scarce a minute of their time to come : Thy span of life ( Malfido ) is thy space , To call for mercy , and to cry for grace . ¶ Lord ! what is man , but like a worme that crawl's , Open to danger , euery foot that falls ? Death creeps ( vnheard ) and steales abroad ( vnseene ) Her darts are sudden , and her arrowes keene , Vncertaine when , but certaine she will strike , Respecting King , and begger both alike ; The stroke is deadly , come it earl ' , or late , And once being struck , repenting's out of date ; Death is a minute , full of sudden sorrow : " Then liue to day , as thou maist dye to morrow . THE ARGVMENT . The Niniuites beleeue the Word ; Their hearts returne vnto the Lord ; In him they put their only trust : They mourne in Sackcloth , and in dust . Sect. 9. SO said ; the Niniuites beleeu'd the Word , Beleeued Ionas , and beleeu'd the Lord ; They made no pause , nor iested at the newes , Nor slighted it , because it was a Iew 's Denouncement : No , Nor did their gazing eyes ( As taken captiues with such nouelties ) Admire the strangers garb , so quaint to theirs , No idle chat possest their itching eares , The whil'st he spake : nor were their tongues on fier , To raile vpon , or interrupt the Cryer , Nor did they question whether true the message , Or false the Prophet were , that brought th' embassage : But they gaue faith to what he said ; relented , And ( changing their mis-wandred wayes ) repented ; Before the searching Ayre could coole his word , Their hearts returned , and beleeu'd the Lord ; And they , whose dainty palats cloy'd whileare With cates , and vyands were , and luscious cheare , Doe now enioyne their lips , not once to tast The offall bread , ( for they proclaim'd a Fast ) And they , whose wanton bodies once did lye Wrapt vp in Robes , and Silkes , of princely Dye , Lo now , in stead of Robes , in Rags they mourne , And all their Silkes doe into Sackcloth turne . They reade themselues sad Lectures on the ground , Learning to want , as well as to abound ; The Prince was not exempted , nor the Peere , Nor yet the richest , nor the poorest there ; The old man was not freed , ( whose hoary age Had eu'n almost outworne his Pilgrimage ; ) Nor yet the young , whose Glasse ( but new begun ) By course of nature had an age to run : For when that fatall Word came to the King , ( Conuay'd with speed vpon the nimble wing Of flitting Fame ) He strait dismounts his Throne , Forsakes his Chaire of State he sate vpon , Disrob'd his body , and his head discrown'd , In dust and ashes grou'ling on the ground , And when he rear'd his trembling corpes againe , ( His haire all filthy with the dust he lay in ) He clad in pensiue Sackcloth , did depose Himselfe from state Imperiall , and chose To liue a Vassall , or a baser thing , Then to vsurpe the Scepter of a King : His golden cup of Honour and Authority , Made him not drunke , and so forget mortality , ( Respectlesse of his pompe ) he quite forgate He was a King , so mindlesse of his State , That he forgate to rule , or be obey'd ; Nor did he weild the Sword , nor Scepter sway'd . Meditatio nona . ¶ IS fasting then the thing that God requires ? Can fasting expiate , or slake those fires That Sinne hath blowne to such a mighty flame ? Can sackcloth clothe a fault ? or hide a shame ? Can ashes clense thy blot ? or purge thy ' offence ? Or doe thy hands make God a recompence , By strowing dust vpon thy bryny face ? Are these the tricks to purchase heau'nly grace ? No , though thou pine thy selfe with willing want ; Or face looke thinne , or Carkas ne ▪ r so gaunt , Although thou worser weeds then sackcloth weare , Or naked goe , or sleep in shirts of haire , Or though thou chuse an ash-tub for thy bed , Or make a daily dunghill on thy head , Thy labour is not poysd with equall Gaines , For thou hast nought but labour for thy paines : Such idle madnesse God reiects , and loaths , That sinkes no deeper , than the skinne , or cloaths ; 'T is not thine eyes which ( taught to weep by art ) Looke red with teares , ( not guilty of thy hart ) 'T is not the holding of thy hands so hye , Nor yet the purer squinting of thine eye ; 'T is not your Mimmick mouthes , nor Antick faces , Nor Scripture phrases , nor affected Graces , Nor prodigall vp-banding of thine eyes , Whose gashfull balls doe seeme to pelt the skyes ; 'T is no : the strict reforming of your haire So close , that all the neighbour skull is bare ; 'T is not the drooping of thy head so low , Nor yet the lowring of thy sullen brow , Nor howling , wherewithall you fill the ayre , Nor repetitions of your tedious pray'r : No , no , 't is none of this , that God regards ; Such sort of fooles their owne applause rewards ; Such Puppit-playes , to heau'n are strange , and quaint , Their seruice is vnsweet , and foully taint , Their words fall fruitlesse from their idle braine ; But true Repentance runnes in other straine ; Where sad contrition harbours , there thy hart Is first acquainted with an inly smart , And restlesse grones within thy mournfull brest , Where sorrow finds her selfe a welcome ghest ; It throbs , it sighes , it mournes in decent wise , Dissolu's , and fills the Cisternes of thine eyes ; It frights thy pensiue soule , with strange aspects Of crying sinnes committed ; It detects Thy wounded conscience ; It cryes amaine , For mercy , mercy , cryes , and cryes againe ; It vowes , it sadly grieues , and sore laments , It yernes for grace , Reformes , Returnes , Repents ; I ; this is Incense , whose accepted sauour Mounts vp the heauenly Throne , and findeth fauour : I ; this is it , whose valour neuer failes , With God it stoutly wrestles , and preuailes : I ; this is it , that pierces heauen aboue , Neuer returning home ( like Noah's Doue ) But brings an Oliffe leafe , or some encrease , That works Saluation , and eternall Peace . THE ARGVMENT . The Prince and people fasts , and prayes ; God heard , accepted , lik'd their wayes : Vpon their timely true repentance , God reuerst , and chang'd his sentence . Sect. 10. THen suddenly , with holy zeale inflam'd , He caus'd a Generall act , to be proclam'd , By good aduice , and counsell of his Peeres ; Let neither Man , nor child , of youth , or yeeres , From greatest in the City , to the least , Nor Heard , nor pining Flock , nor hungry beast , Nor any thing that draweth ayre , or breath , On forfeiture of life , or present death , Presume to taste of nourishment , or food , Or moue their hungry lips , to chew the cud ; From out their eyes let Springs of water burst , With teares ( or nothing ) let them slake their thurst : Moreo're , let euery man ( what e're he be ) Of high preferment , or of low degree , D' off all they weare ( excepting but the same ) That nature craues , and that which couers shame ) Their nakednesse with sackcloth let them hide , And mue the vest'ments of their silken pride ; And let the braue cariering Horse of warre , ( Whose rich Caparisons , and Trappings are Of sumptuous beautie , and of glorious show ) Let him disrobe , and put ▪ on sackcloth too ; The Oxe ( ordain'd for yoke ) the Asse ( for load ) The Horse ( as well for race , as for the road ) The burthen-bearing Cammell ( strong and great ) The fruitfull Kine , and eu'ry kind of Neate , Let all put sackcloth on , and spare no voyce , But crie amaine to heau'n , with mightie noyse ; Let all men turne the Byas of their wayes , And change their fiercer hands , to force of praise : For who can tell , if God ( whose angrie face Hath long bin wayning from vs ) will embrace This slender pittance of our best endeuour ? Who knowes , if God will his intent perseuer ? Or who can tell , if He ( whose tender loue , And mercy ' extends his Iudgements farre aboue ) Will change his high Decree , and turne his sentence Vpon a timely , and vnfain'd Repentance ? And who can tell , if God will change the lot , That we , and ours may liue , and perish not ? So God perceiu'd their works , and saw their wayes , Approu'd the faith , that in their works did blaze , Approu'd their works , approu'd their works the rather , Because their faith , and works went both together ; He saw their faith , because their faith abounded , He saw their works , because on faith they grounded , H' approu'd their faith , because their faith was true , H' approu'd their works , because on faith they grew ; He saw their faith , and works , and so relented , H● approu'd their faith , and works , and so repented ; Repented of the plagues , they apprehended ; Repented of the Euill , that he intended : So God the vengeance of his hand with-drew , He tooke no forfeiture , although 't were due ; The Euill , that once he meant , he now forgot , Cancell'd the forfeit bond , and did it not . Meditatio decima . ¶ LO , into what an ebbe of low estate The Soule , that seekes to be regenerate , Must first decline ; Before the Ball rebound , It must be throwne with force against the ground ; The Seed cannot encrease in fruitfull eares , Nor can she reare the goodly stalke she beares , Vnlesse bestrow'd vpon a mould of earth , And made more glorious , by a second birth : So fares with Man ; Before he can bring forth The braue exploits of truly noble Worth , Or hope the granting of his sinnes remission , He must be humbl'd first in sad contrition ; The plant ( through want of skill , or by neglect ) If it be planted from the Sunnes reflect , Or lack the dew of seasonable showres , Decayes , and beareth neither Fruit , or Flowres ; So wretched Man , if his repentance hath No quickning Sunne-shine of a liuely Faith , Or not bedew'd with show'rs of timely teares , Or works of mercy ( wherein Faith appeares ) His pray'rs , and deeds , and all his forged grones , Are like the howles of Dogs , and works of Drones : The skilfull Surgeon , first ( by letting blood ) Weakens his Patient , ere he does him good ; Before the Soule can a true comfort finde , The Body must be prostrate , and the Minde Truly repentiue , and contrite within , And loath the fawning of a bosome Sin. But Lord ! Can MAN deserue ? Or can his Best Doe Iustice equall right , which he transgrest ? When Dust and Ashes mortally offends , Can Dust and Ashes make Eternall mends ? Is Heau'n vniust ? Must not the Recompence Be full Equiualent to the Offence ? What mends by mortall Man can then be giu'n To the offended Maiestie of heau'n ? O Mercie ! Mercie ! on thee my Soule relyes , On thee we build our Faith , we bend our eyes ; Thou fill'st my empty straine , thou fil'st my tongue ; Thou art the subiect of my Swan-like song ; Like pinion'd pris'ners at the dying Tree , Our lingring hopes attend , and wayte on thee ; ( Arraign'd at Iustice barre ) preuent our doome ; To thee with ioyfull hearts we cheerely come ; Thou art our Clergie ; Thou that dearest Booke , Wherein our fainting eyes desire to looke ; In thee , we trust to reade ( what will release vs ) In bloudy Caracters , that name of IESVS . ¶ What shall we then returne to God of Heau'n ? Where nothing is ( Lord ) nothing can be giu'n ; Our soules , our bodies , strength , and all our pow'rs , ( Alas ! ) were all too little , were they ours : Or shall we burne ( vntill our life expires ) An endlesse Sacrifice in Holy fires ? ¶ My Sacrifice shall be my HEART entire , My Christ the Altar , and my Zeale the Fire . THE ARGVMENT . The Prophet discontented prayes To God , that he would end his dayes ; God blames his wrath so vnreprest , Reproues his vnaduis'd Request . Sect. 11. BVt this displeasing was in Iona's eyes , His heart grew hot , his blood began to rise , His eyes did sparkle , and his teeth struck fire , His veines did boyle , his heart was full of yre ; At last brake foorth into a strange request , These words he pray'd , and mumbl'd out the rest : Was not , O was not this my thought ( O Lord ) Before I fled ? Nay , was not this my Word , The very Word , that these my lips had shaped , When this mis-hap mought well haue bin escaped ? Was there , O was there not a iust suspect , My preaching would procuer this effect ? For loe ; I knew of old , they tender loue ; I knew the pow'r , thou gau'st my Tongue , would moue Their Adamantine hearts ; I knew 't would thaw Their frozen spirits , and breed relenting awe ; I knew moreo're , vpon their true repentance , That thou determin'dst to reuerse thy sentence ; For lo , I knew , thou wert a Gracious God , Of long forbearance , slow to vse the Rod ▪ I knew the power of thy Mercies bent , The strength of all thy other works out-went ; I knew thy tender kindnes ; and how loth Thou wert to punish , and how slow to wrath ; Turning thy Iudgements , and thy plagues preuenting , Thy mind reuersing , and of Eu'll repenting : Therefore ( O therefore ) through this perswasion , I fled to Tarsish , there to make euasion ; To saue thy credit ( Lord ) to saue mine owne : For when this blast of zeale is ouer-blowne , And sackloth left , and they left off to mourne , When they ( like dogs ) shall to their vomit turne , They 'l vilipend thy sacred Word , and scoffe it , Saying , Was that a God , or this a Prophet ? They 'l scorne thy Iudgements , & thy threats despise , And call thy Prophets , Messengers of lyes . Now therefore ( Lord ) bow downe attentiue eare , ( For lo , my burthen's more then I can beare ) Make speed ( O Lord ) and banish all delayes , T' extinguish ( now ) the tapour of my dayes : Let not the minutes of my time extend , But let my wretched howers find an end ; Let not my fainting sprite thus long aby In her fraile mansion of mortality : The thrid's but weake , my life depends vpon , O cut that thrid , and let my life be done ; My brest stands faire , O strike , and strike againe , For nought , but dying , can asswage my paine : For liefer 'tis to dye , then liue in shame , For better 't is to leaue , and yeeld the game , Then toyle for what at length must needs be lost ; O kill me , for my heart is sore imbost ; This latter boone vnto thy seruant giue , For better 't is for me , to dye then liue . So wretched Ionah ; But Iehoua thus ; What boot's it so to storme out-ragious ? Does it become my seruants heart to swell ? Can anger helpe thee , Ionah ? Doest thou well ? Meditatio vndecima . ¶ HOw poore a thing is man ! How vain 's his mind ! How strange , & base ! And wau'ring like the wind ! How vncouth are his wayes ! How full of danger ! How to himselfe , is he himselfe a stranger ! His heart 's corrupt , and all his thoughts are vaine , His actions sinfull , and his words prophane , His will 's deprau'd , his senses all beguil'd , His reason 's darke , His members all defil'd , His hastie feet are swift , and prone to ill , His guilty hands are euer bent to kill , His tongue 's a spunge of venome , ( or of worse ) Her practice is to sweare , her skill to curse ; His eyes , are fierballs of lustfull fire , And outward spyes , to inward foule desire , His body is a well erected station , But full of filth , and foule corrupted passion , Fond loue ; and raging lust , and foolish feares , Excessiue ioy , and griefe o'rwhelm'd with teares Immoderate ; and couetous Desier , And sinfull anger , red , and hot as fier ; These daily clog the soule , that 's fast in prison , From whose encrease , this lucklesse brood is risen , Respectlesse Pride , and lustfull Idlenes , Foule ribbauld talke , and lothsome Drunkennes , Fruitlesse Despayre , and needlesse Curiositie , Odious Ingratitude , Double Hypocrisie , Base Flattery , and haughty-ey'd Ambition , Heart-gnawing Hatred , and squint-ey'd Suspition , Self-eating Enuie , Enuious Detraction , Hopelesse Distrust , and too-too sad Deiection , Reuengefull Malice , Hellish Blasphemie , Idolatry , and light Inconstancie ; Daring Presumption , wry-mouth'd Derision , Fearefull Apostacie , vaine Superstition . ¶ What heedfull watch ? And what contin'all ward ? How great respect ? and howerly regard , Stands man in hand to haue , when such a brood Of furious hell-hounds seeke to suck his blood ? Day , night , and hower , they rebell , and wrastle , And neuer cease , till they subdue the Castle . ¶ How sleight a thing is man ? How fraile and brittle ? How seeming great is he ? How truly little ? Within the bosome of his holiest works , Some hidden Embers of old Adam lurks ; Which oftentimes in men of righteous wayes , Burst out in flame , and for a season blaze . ¶ Lord teach our hearts , & giue our soules directions , Subdue our Passions , Curb our stout Affections , Nip thou the bud , before the Bloome begins ; Lord , keep all good men from presumptuous sins . THE ARGVMENT . A Booth for shelter Ionah made ; God sent a Gourd for better shade ; But by the next approching light , God sent a Worme consum'd it quite . Sect. 12. SO Ionah ( sore opprest , and heauy-hearted ) From out the Cities circuit straight departed , Departed to the Easterne borders of it , Where sick with anguish sate this sullen Prophet ; He built a Booth , and in the Booth he sate , ( Vntill some few daies had expir'd their date With ouer-tedious pace ) where he might see , What would betide to threatned Niniuie ; A trunk that wanteth sap , is soone decay'd ; The slender Booth of boughs and branches made , Soone yeelded to the fire of Phoebus Ray , So dri'd to Dust , consuming quite away : Whereat , the great Iehoua spake the word , And ouer Iona's head there sprang a Gourd , Whose roots were fixt within the quickning earth , Which gaue it nourishment , as well as birth ; God raised vp a Gourd , a Gourd should last , Let wind , or scortching Sunne , or blow , or blast ; As coales of fier rak'd in Embers , lye Obscure , and vndiscerned by the eye ; But being stird , regaine a glimm'ring light , Reuiue , and glow , burning a-fresh and bright ; So Ionah 'gan to cheare through this reliefe , And ioyfull was , deuoyded all his griefe : He ioy'd to see , that God had not forgot His drooping seruant , nor forsooke him not ; He ioy'd , in hope the Gourds strange wonder will Perswade the people , he 's a Prophet still ; The fresh aspect did much content his sight , The herball sauour gaue his sense delight ; So Ionah much delighted in his Gourd , Enioy'd the pleasures , that it did affoord : But Lord ! what earthly thing can long remaine ? How momentary are they ! and how vaine ! How vaine is earth , that man 's delighted in it ! Her pleasures rise ; and vanish in a minnit : How fleeting are the ioyes , we find below ! Whose tides ( vncertaine ) alwayes ebbe , and flow ; For lo ! this Gourd ( that was so faire , and sound ) Is quite consum'd , and eaten to the ground ; No sooner Titan had vp-heau'd his head , From off the pillow of his Saffron bed , But God prepar'd a silly , silly worme , ( Perchance brought thither , by an Easterne storme ) The worme that must obey , and well knew how , Consum'd it quite , ne left it root , nor bow ; Consum'd it straight , within a minut's space , Left nought , but ( sleeping ) Ionas in the place . Meditatio duodecima . ¶ THe Pleasures of the world , ( which soone abate ) Are liuely Emblems of our owne estate , Which ( like a Banquet at a Fun'rall show ) But sweeten griefe , and serue to flatter woe . ¶ Pleasure is fleeting still , and makes no stay , It lends a smile , or twaine , and steales away . ¶ Man's life is fickle , full of winged haste , It mocks the sense with ioy , and soone does waste . ¶ Pleasure does crowne thy youth , and lulls thy wants , But ( sullen age approching ) straight auaunts . ¶ Man's life is Ioy , and Dolor seekes to banish , It doth lament , and mourne in age , and vanish . ¶ The time of pleasure 's like the life of man ; Both ioyfull , both contained in a span ; Both highly priz'd , and both on sudden lost , When most we trust them , they deceiue vs most ; What fit of madnes makes vs loue them thus ? We leaue our liues , and pleasure leaueth vs : Why what are Pleasures ? But a golden dreame , Which ( waking ) makes our wants the more extreame ? And what is Life ? A bubble full of care , Which ( prickt by death ) straight empties into ayre : The flowers ( clad in far more rich array , Then earst was Salomon ) doe soone decay ; What thing more sweet , or fairer then a flowre ? Nath'les , it blooms , and fades within an howre ; What thing more pleasing then a morning Sun ? And yet this pleasure euery Day is dun : But thou art heire to Croesus , and thy treasure Being great , and endlesse , endlesse is thy pleasure ; But thou ( thou Croesus heire ) consider must , Thy wealth , and thou , came from , and goes to dust ; Another's noble , and his name is great , And takes his place vpon a loftie seat ; True 't is , but yet his many wants are such , That better 't were he were not knowne so much . Another binds his soule in Hymens knot , His Spouse is chaste , and faire withouten spot , But yet his comfort is bedasht , and done , His grounds are stock't , and now he want's a sonne . ¶ How fickle , and vnconstant's mans Estate ! Man faine would haue , but then he knowes not what ; And hauing , rightly knowes not how to prize it , But like the foolish Dunghill-cock imploy's it : But who desires to liue a life content , Wherein his Cruze of ioy shall ne'r be spent , Let him consider what may be desir'd , The date whereof is not to be expir'd : For that 's not worth the crauing , to obtaine A happinesse , that must be lost againe ; Nor that , which most doe couet most , is best ; Best are the goods , mixt with contented rest ; Gasp not for * Honour , wish no blazing glory , For these will perish in an ages story ; Nor yet for pow'r , for that may be conferr'd On fooles , as well , as thee , that hast deseru'd . Thirst not for Lands , nor Mony ; wish for none , For * Wealth is neither lasting , nor our owne ; Riches are faire inticements , to deceiue vs ; They flatter , while we liue , and dying , leaue vs. THE ARGVMENT . Ionah desires to dye , The Lord Rebukes him , He maintaines his word , His anger he doth iustifie , God pleads the Cause for Niniuie . Sect. 13. WHen ruddy Phoebus had ( with morning light ) Subdu'd the East , and put the stars to flight , The Lord prepar'd a feruent Easterne wind , Whose drought together with the Sunne combin'd , Each adding fier to the others heat , ( With strong vnited force ) amaine did beat , And sore reflect vpon the helplesse head Of fainting Ionah ( that was well-nye dead ) Who turning oft , and tossing to and fro , ( As they that are in torments vse to doe ) And ( restlesse ) finding no successe of ease , But rather , that his tortures still encrease ; His secret passion to his soule betrai'd , Wishing with all his heart to dye , and said ; O kill me ( Lord ) or lo , my heart will riue ; For better 't is for me to dye then liue : So said , the Lord did interrupt his passion , Saying , How now ? Is this a seemly fashion ? Doth it become my seruants heart to swell ? Can anger helpe thee ? Ionah , do'st thou well ? Is this a fit speech ? or a well-plac'd word ? What , art thou angry ( Ionah ) for a Gourd ? What , if th' Arabians with their ruder traine Had kill'd thine Oxen , and thy Cattell slaine ? What , if consuming fier ( falne from heauen ) Had all thy seruants of their liues bereauen , And burnt thy Sheep ? What , if by strong oppression The Chaldees had vsurpt vniust possession Vpon thy Cammels ? Or had Boreas blowne His full-mouth'd blast , and cast thy houses downe , And slaine thy sonnes , amid their iollities ? Or hadst thou lost thy Vineyard full of trees ? Or bin bereaued of thine only Sheep , That in thy tender bosome vs'd to sleep ? How would thine hastie spirit then bin sturr'd , If thou art angry , Ionah , for a Gourd ? So Ionah frames his answere thus , and saith , Lord , I doe well to vex vnto the death ; I blush not to acknowledge , and professe Deserued rage , I 'm angry , I confesse ; 'T would make a spirit that is thorow frozen , To blaze like flaming Pitch , and frie like Rozen : Why dost thou aske that thing , that thou canst tell ? Thou know'st I 'm angry , and it beseemes me well . So said , the Lord to Ionah thus bespake ; Dost thou bemoane , and such compassion take Vpon a Gourd , whose seed thou didst not sow , Nor mou'd thy skilfull hands to make it grow , Whose beautie small , and profit was but slight , Which sprang , and also perisht in a night ? Hadst thou ( O dust and ashes ) such a care , And in-bred pittie , a trifling plant to spare ? Hadst thou , ( O hard and incompassionate , To wish the razing of so braue a State ) Hadst thou ( I say ) compassion , to bewaile The extirpation of a Gourd so fraile ? And shall not I ( that am the Lord of Lords ) Whose fountaine's neuer dry , but still affords Sweet streames of mercie , with a fresh supply , To those that thirst for grace ? What shall not I , ( That am the God of mercie , and haue sworne To pardon sinners , when soe're they turne ? ( I say ) shall I disclaime my wonted pitie , And bring to ruine such a goodly Citie , Whose hearts ( so truly penitent ) implore me , Who day and night powre foorth their soules before me ? Shall I destroy the mightie Niniuie , Whose people are like sands about the sea ? 'Mong which are sixe-score thousand soules ( at least ) That hang vpon their tender mothers brest ? Whose prettie smiles did neuer yet descry The deare affection of their mothers eye ? Shall I subuert , and bring to desolation A Citie , ( nay , more aptly tearm'd a Nation ) Whose walls are wide , and wondrous full of might ? Whose hearts are sorrowfull , and soules contrite ? Whose infants are in number , so amounting ? And beasts , and cattell , endlesse , without counting ? What , Ionah , shall a Gourd so moue thy pitie ? And shall not I spare such a goodly Citie ? Meditatio vltima . ¶ MY heart is full , and knowes not how to vent ; My tongue proues traytor to my poore intent ; My mind 's in labour , and find's no redresse ; My heart conceiues , My tongue cannot expresse ; My organs suffer , through a maine Defect ; Alas ! I want a proper Dialect , To blazon forth the tythe of what I muse ; The more I meditate , the more accrewes ; But lo , my faultring tongue must say no more , Vnlesse she step where she hath trod before . What ? shall I then be silent ? No , I 'le speake , ( Till tongue be tyred , and my lungs be weake ) Of dearest mercie , in as sweet a straine , As it shall please my Muse to lend a vaine ; And when my voyce shall stop within her sourse , And speech shall faulter in this high discourse , My tyred tongue ( vnsham'd ) shall thus extend , Only to name , Deare mercie , and so end . ¶ Oh high Imperiall King , heauens Architect ! Is man a thing , befitting thy Respect ? Lord , thou art wisdome , and thy wayes are holy , But man's polluted , full of filth , and folly , Yet is he ( Lord ) the fabrick of thy hand , And in his soule he beares thy glorious brand , How-e're defaced with the rust of sin , Which hath abus'd thy stamp , and eaten in ; 'T is not the frailtie of mans corrupted nature , Makes thee asham'd , t' acknowledge man , thy creature ; But like a tender father , here on earth , ( Whose child by nature , or abortiue birth , Doth want that sweet and fauourable rellish , Wherewith , her creatures , Nature doth imbellish ) Respects him ne'rthelesse ; so stands the case , 'Twixt God , and sinfull man : Though sinne deface The glorious portraiture that man did beare , Whereby he loath'd , and vgly doth appeare , Yet God ( within whose tender bowels are Deep gulfs of mercie , sweet beyond compare ) Regards , and loues , ( with reu'rence be it said ) Nay seems to dote on man ; when he hath strayd , Lord , thou hast brought him to his fold againe ; When he was lost , thou didst not then disdaine To think vpon a vagabond , and giue Thine only Sonne to dye , that he might liue . How poore a mite art thou content withall , That man may scape his downe-approching fall ? Though base we are , yet didst not thou abhorre vs , But ( as our story notes ) art pleading for vs , To saue vs harmlesse from our foemans iawes ; Art thou turn'd Oratour , to plead our cause ? ¶ How are thy mercies full of admiration ! How soueraigne ! How sweet's their application ! Fatning the soule with sweetnes , and repayring The rotten ruines of a soule Despayring . ¶ Loe here ( Malfido ) is the feast prepar'd ; Fall too with courage , and let nought be spar'd ; Taste freely of it , Here 's no Misers feast ; Eate what thou canst , and pocket vp the rest : These precious vyands are Restoritie , Eate then ; and if the sweetnes make thee drie , Drink large Carouses out of Mercies cup , The best lies in the bottome , Drinke all vp : These cates are sweet Ambrosia to thy soule , And that , which fils the brimme of Mercies boule , Is dainty Nectar ; Eate , and drinke thy fill ; Spare not the one , ne yet the other spill ; Prouide in time : Thy Banquet 's now begun , Lay vp in store , against the feast be done : For lo , the time of banquetting is short , And once being done , the world cannot restor't ; It is a feast of Mercy , and of Grace ; It is a feast for all , or hye , or base ; A feast for him that begs vpon the way , As well for him that does the Scepter sway ; A feast for him that howerly bemoanes His dearest sinnes , with sighs , and teares , and groanes ; A feast for him , whose gentle heart reformes ; A feast for MEN ; and so a FEAST FOR WORMES ¶ Deare liefest Lord , that feast'st the world with Grace , Extend thy bountious Hand , thy Glorious Face : Bid ioyfull welcome to thy hungry ghest , That we may praise the Master of the Feast ; And in thy mercie grant this boone to mee , That I may dye to sinne , and liue to thee . FINIS . S. AMBROSE . Misericordia est plenitudo omnium virtutum . THE GENERALL VSE OF this History . ¶ WHen as the Ancient world did all imbarke Within the compasse of good Noahs Arke , Into the new-washt world a Doue was sent , Who in her mouth return'd an Oliffe plant , Which in a silent language this related : How that the waters were at length abated : Those swelling waters , is the wrath of God , And like the Doue , are Prophets sent abroad : The Oliffe leafe's a ioyfull type of peace , Whereby we note Gods vengeance doth decrease ; They salue the wounded heart , and make it whole , They bring glad tydings to the drooping soule , Proclaiming grace to them that thirst for Grace , Mercie to those that Mercie will embrace . ¶ Malfido , thou , in whose distrustfull brest Despayre hath brought in sticks to build her nest , Where she may safely lodge her lucklesse brood , To feed vpon thy heart , and suck thy blood , Beware betimes , lest custome and permission Prescribe a Right , and so she claime possession . ¶ Despairing man , whose burthen makes thee stoop Vnder the terror of thy sinnes , and droop Through dull despayre , whose too-too sullen griefe Makes Heauen vnable to apply reliefe , Whose eares are dull'd with noyse of whips & chaines , And yells of damned soules , through tort'red paines , Come here , and rouze thy selfe ; vnseele those eyes , Which sad Despaire clos'd vp ; Arise , Arise , And goe to Niniuey , the worlds great Palace , Earths mighty wonder , and behold , the ballace , And burthen of her bulk , is nought but sin , Which ( wilfull ) she commits , and wallowes in ; Behold her Images , her fornications , Her crying sinnes , her vile abominations ; Behold the guiltlesse bloud that she did spill , Like Spring tides in the streets , and reeking still : Behold her scortching lusts , and taint desier , Like Sulph'rous Aetna blaze , and blaze vp hier ; She rapes , and rends , and theeues , and there is none Can iustly call the thing he hath ; his owne ; That sacred Name of God , that Name of wonder , In stead of worshipping , she teares in sunder ; She 's not enthrall'd to this sinne , or another , But like a Leper's all infected ouer ; Not only sinfull , but in sinnes subiection , She 's not infected , but a meere infection . No sooner had the Prophet ( Heau'ns great Spy ) Begun an onset to his greater Cry , But she repented , sigh'd , and wept , and tore Her curious haire , and garments that she wore , She sate in ashes , and put sackcloth on , All drencht in briny griefe , all woe ▪ begon ; She calls a Fast , proclaimes a Prohibition To man , and beast ; ( sad tokens of contrition ) No sooner prayd , but heard ; No sooner groan'd , But pitied ; No sooner grieu'd , but moan'd ; Timely Repentance speedy grace procur'd , The sore that 's ta'ne in time , is quickly cur'd : No sooner did her trickling teares , or'-flow Her blubber'd cheekes , ( slie messengers of woe ) But straitwaies heau'n wip't her suffused eyes , And gently strok'd her cheeks , and bid her rise ; No faults were seene , as if no fault had bin , Deare Mercy made a Quittance for her sin . ¶ Malfido , rouze thy leaden spirit , Bestirre thee , Hold vp thy drowsie head , Here 's comfort for thee ; What if thy Zeale be frozen hard ? What then ? Thy Sauiours Blood will thaw that frost agen : Thy prayr's that should be feruent , hot as fier , Proceed but coldly from a dull Desier ; What then ? Grieue Inly , But doe not dismay , Who hear's thy pray'rs , will giue thee strength to pray : Though left awhile , thou art not quite giu'n o're , Where Sinne abounds , there Grace aboundeth more : ¶ 'Las , this is all the good that I can doe thee , To ease thy griefe , I here commend vnto thee A little Booke , but a great Mystery , A great Delight , A little History ; A little branch slipt from a sauing tree , But bearing fruit as great , as great mought bee ; A small abridgment 't is of Gods great loue ; A Message sent from heauen by a Doue : It is a heauenly Lecture , that relates To Princes , Pastors , People , all Estates Their seu'rall duties . ¶ Peruse it well , and binde it to thy brest , There rests the Cause of thy Defectiue rest : But reade it often , or else reade it not : Once read , is not obseru'd , or soone forgot , Nor is 't enough to reade , but vnderstand , Or else thy tongue , for want of wit , 's prophan'd , Nor is 't enough to purchase knowledge by it ; Salue heales no sore , vnlesse the party apply it : Apply it then ; 'T is hard , and mickle paines , Doe what thou canst , and pray for what remaines . The particular application . ¶ THen thou , that art opprest with sad Despayre , Here shalt thou see the strong effect of Prayre : Then pray with faith , and ( feruent ) without ceasing ( Like Iacob ) wrestle , till thou get a blessing . ¶ Here shalt thou see the type of Christ , thy Sauiour ; Then let thy Suits be through his name , and fauour . ¶ Here shalt thou finde repentance and true griefe Of sinners like thy selfe , and their beliefe ; Then suit thy griefe to theirs , and let thy soule Cry mightily , vntill her wounds be whole . ¶ Here shalt thou see the meeknes of thy God , Who on Repentance turnes , and burnes the Rod ; Repents , of what he meant , and seemeth sorrie ; Here mayst thou then behold him pleading for ye : Then thus shall be thy meed , if thou repent , In stead of plagues and direfull punishment , Thou shalt finde mercy , loue , and heauens applause , And God of heauen ( himselfe ) will plead thy cause . ¶ Here hast thou then compil'd within this Treasure , First , the Almighties high , and iust displeasure Against foule sinne , or such as sinfull bee , Or Prince , or poore , or high , or low degree . ¶ Here is descri'd the beaten Road to Faith : ¶ Here mayst thou see the force that Preaching hath : ¶ Here is describ'd in ( briefe but ) full expression , The nature of a Conuert , and his passion : His sober Diet , which is thin , and spare , His clothing , which is Sackcloth ; and his Prayre Not faintly sent to heauen , nor sparingly , But piercing , feruent , and mightie cry : ¶ Here maist thou see , how Pray'r , and true Repentance Doe striue with God , preuaile , and turne his sentence , From strokes to stroking , and from plagues infernall , To boundlesse Mercies , and to life Eternall . ¶ Till Zepher lend my Bark a second Gale , I flip mine Anchor , and I strike my saile . FINIS . O Dulcis saluator Mundi vltima verba quae tu dixisti in Cruce , sint vltima mea verba in Luce ; & quando amplius affare non possum , exaudi tu cordis mei desiderium . A Hymne to God. WHo giues me then an Adamantine Quill ? A Marble tablet ? And a Dauids skill ? To blazon foorth the praise of my dear Lord In deep grau'n letters , aye vpon Record To last , for times eternall processe , suer , So long , as Sunne , and Moone , and Stars enduer : Had I as many mouthes , as Sands there are , Had I a nimble tongue for euery Starre , And euery word I speake , a Caractere , And euery minutes time ten ages were , To chaunt foorth all thy praise it nought auaile , For tongues , and words , and time , and all would faile : Much lesse can I poore Weakling tune my tongue , To take a taske befits an Angels song ; Sing what thou canst , when thou canst sing no more , Weep then as fast that thou canst sing no more , Be blurre thy booke with teares , and goe thy wayes , For euery blurre will proue a booke of praise . Thine Eye that viewes the mouing Spheares aboue , Let it giue praise to him that makes them moue : Thou riches hast ; Thy Hands that hold , and haue them , Let them giue praise to him , that freely gaue them : Thine Armes defend thee , then for recompence , Let them praise him , that gaue thee such defence : Thy Tongue was giuen to praise thy Lord , the giuer , Then let thy Tongue praise highest God for euer : Faith comes by hearing , and thy faith will saue thee ; Then let thine Eares praise him , that hearing gaue thee : Thy heart is begg'd by him that first did make it , My sonne , giue me thy heart ; Lord , freely take it : Eyes , hands , and armes , tongues , eares , and hearts of men , Sing praise , and let the people say , Amen . ¶ : Tune you your Instruments , and let them vary , Praise him vpon them in his Sanctuary , Praise him within the highest Firmament , Which shewes his power and his gouernment , Praise him , for all his mighty Acts are knowne , Praise him according to his high Renowne , Praise him with Trump victorious , shrill , and sharp , With Psaltry lowd , and many-stringed Harp , With sounding Tymbrell , and delightfull Flute , With ( Musicks full Interpreter ) the Lute , Praise him vpon the Mayden Virginalls , Vpon the clerick Organs , and Cymballs , Vpon the sweet maiestick Vyalls touch , Double your ioyes , and let your praise be such ; Let all , in whom is life and breath , giue praise To mighty God of Hosts , in endlesse dayes ; Let euery Soule , to whom a voyce is giuen , Sing Holy , Holy , Holy , Lord of heauen ; For loe , a Lambe is found , that vndertooke To breake the seuen-fold-seale , and ope the Booke : ¶ O let my life add number to my dayes , To shew thy Glory , and to sing thy praise ; Let euery minute in thy praise be spent , Let euery head be bare , and knee be bent To thee ( deare Lambe ; ) Who ere thy praises hide , O let his lips be clos'd , and tongue for euer ty'de . Halelujah : Gloria Deo in excelsis . Eleuen Pious Meditations . 1 ¶ WIthin the holy Writ I well discouer Three speciall Attributes of God ; His Power , His Iustice , and his Mercy , All vncreated , Eternall all , and all Vnseparated From Gods pure Essence , yet from thence proceeding All very God , All perfect , All exceeding ; And from that selfe-same Text three names I gather Of Great Iehoua ; Lord , and God , and Father ; The first denotes him mounted on his Throne , In Power , Maiesty , Dominion ; The next descries him on his Kingly Bench , Rewarding Euill with dreadfull punishments ; The third describes him on his Mercy-seate , Full great in Grace , and in his Mercy great ; ¶ All three I worship , and before all three My heart shall humbly prostrate , with my knee ; But in my priuate choice , I fancie rather , Then call him Lord , or God , to call him Father . 2 ¶ IN Hell no Life , in Heauen no Death there is , In Earth both Life , and Death , both Bale , and Blis , In Heauen 's all Life , no end , nor new supplying ; In Hell 's all Death , and yet there is no dying ; Earth ( like a partiall Ambidexter ) doth Prepare for Death , or Life , prepares for Both ; Who liues to sinne , in Hell his portion 's giuen , Who dyes to sinne , shall after liue in Heauen . ¶ Though Earth my Nurse be , Heauen , be thou my Father ; Ten thousand deaths let me enduer rather Within my Nurses armes , then One to Thee ; Earths honor , with thy frownes , is death to mee : I liue-on Earth , as on a Stage of sorrow ; Lord , if thou pleasest , end the Play to morrow : I liue on Earth , as in a Dreame of pleasure , Awake me when thou wilt , I wait thy leisure : I liue on Earth , but as of life bereauen , My life 's with thee , for ( Lord ) thou art in Heauen . 3 ¶ NOthing that e'r was made , was made for nothing : Beasts for thy food , their skins were for thy clothing , Flow'rs for thy smell , and Herbs for Cuer good , Trees for thy shade , Their Fruit for pleasing Food : The showers fall vpon the fruitfull ground , Whose kindly Dew makes tender Grasse abound , The Grasse is made for beasts to feed vpon , And beasts are food for Man : But Man alone Is made to serue his Lord in all his waies , And be the Trumpet of his Makers praise . ¶ Let Heau'n be then to me obdure as brasse , The Earth as yron , vnapt for graine , or grasse , Then let my Flocks consume , and neuer steed me , Let pinching Famine want , wherewith to feed me , When I forget to honour thee , ( my Lord ) Thy glorious Attributes , thy Works , thy Word . O let the Trump of thine eternall Fame , Sound euer , Euer hallow'd be thy Name . 4 ¶ GOd made the World , and all that therein is , Yet , what a little part of it is his ? Quarter the Earth , and see , how small a roome Is stiled with the name of Christendome ; The rest ( through blinded ignorance ) rebels , O're-run with Pagans , Turks , and Infidels : Nor yet is all this little Quarter his , For ( though all know him ) halfe know him amisse , Professing Christ for lucre , ( as they list ) And serue the triple Crowne of Antichrist ; Yet is this little handfull much made lesser , Ther 's many Libertines , for one Professor : Nor doe Professors all professe aright , 'Mong whom there often lurks an Hypocrite . ¶ O where , and what 's thy Kingdome ? ( blessed God ) Where is thy Scepter ? wher 's thine yron Rod ? Reduce thy reck'nings to their totall summe , O let thy Power , and thy Kingdome Come . 5 ¶ MAN in himselfe 's a little World , Alone , His Soul 's the Court , or high Imperiall Throne , Wherein as Empresse , sits the Vnderstanding Gently directing , yet with awe Commanding : Her Handmaid's WILL : Affections , Maids of Honor , All following close , and duly wayting on her : But Sin , that alwaies enui'd mans Condition , Within this kingdome raised vp Diuision ; Withdrawne mans Will , and brib'd his false Affection , That This , no order hath , nor That , Election ; The Will proues traitor to the Vnderstanding ; Reason hath lost her power , and left commanding , She 's quite depos'd , and put to foule disgrace , And Tyrant Will , vsurps her Empty place . ¶ Vouchsafe ( Lord ) in this little World of mine To raigne , that I may raigne with Thee in thine : And since my will is quite of good bereauen , Thy will be done in earth , as 't is in heauen . 6 ¶ WHo liue to sin , they all are theeues to Heauen , And Earth ; They steale frō God , & take vngiuen ; Good men they rob , and such as liue vpright , And ( being bastards ) share the free-mans Right ; They 're all as owners , in the owners stead , And ( like to Dogs ) deuoure the childrens bread ; They haue , and lack , and want what they possesse , They 're most vnhappy , in their most happinesse : They are not goods , but riches , that thou hast , And not be'ng goods , to eu'ls they turne at last . ¶ ( Lord ) what I haue , let me enioy in thee , And thee in it , or else take it from mee ; My store , or want , make thou , or fade , or flourish , So shall my comforts neither change , nor perish ; That little I enioy , ( Lord ) make it mine , In making me ( that am a Sinner ) thine ; 'T is thou , or none , that shall supply my need , O Lord ; Giue vs this day our daily bread . 7 ¶ THe quick-conceited Schoole-men well approue A difference 'twixt Charitie , and Loue ; Loue is a vertue , whereby we explaine Our selues to God , and God to vs againe : But Charity 's imparted to our Brother , Whereby we traffick , one man with another : The first extends to God ; The last belongs To man , In giuing right , and bearing wrongs ; In number , they are twaine , In vertue , One ; For one not truly being , t' others none . ¶ In louing God , if I neglect my Neighbour , My loue hath lost his proofe , and I my labour : My Zeale , my Faith , my Hope that neuer failes me , ( If Charitie be wanting ) nought auailes me . ¶ ( Lord ) in my Soule , a spirit of Loue create me , And I will loue my Brother , if he hate me : In nought but loue , le ts me enuy my betters ; And then , Forgiue my debts , as I may detters . 8 ¶ I Finde a true resemblance in the growth Of Sin , and Man ; Alike in breeding , both ; The Soul 's the Mother , and the Diuell Syer , Who lusting long in mutuall hot desier , Enioy their wils , and ioyne in Copulation ; The Seed that fils her wombe , is foule Tentation ; The sinnes Conception , is the Soules Consent ; And then it quickens , when it giues content ; The birth of Sin is finisht in the action ; And Custome brings it to its full perfection . ¶ O let my fruitlesse Soule be barren rather . Then bring foorth such a Child , for such a Father : Or if my Soule breed Sin , ( not being wary ) O let it either dye , or else miscarry ; She is thy Spouse ( O Lord ) doe thou aduise her , Keepe thou her chaste , Let not the Fiend entice her : Trie thou my heart , Thy Trials bring Saluation , But let me not be led into Temptation . 9 ¶ FOrtune ( that blind supposed Goddesse ) is Still rated at , if ought succeed amisse ; 'T is she ( the vaine abuse of Prouidence ) That beares the blame , when others make th' offence ; When this mans barne finds not her wonted store , Fortune's condemn'd , because she sent no more ; If this man dye , or that man liue too long , Fortune's accus'd , and she hath done the wrong ; Ah foolish Dolts , and ( like your Goddesse ) blind ! You make the fault , and call your Saint vnkind ; For when the cause of Eu'll begins in Man , Th' effect ensues from whence the cause began ; Then know the reason of thy discontent , The eu'll of Sinne , makes Eu'll of punishment . ¶ ( Lord ) hold me vp , or spurre me , when I fall ; So shall my Eu'll be iust , or not at all : Defend me from the World , the Flesh , the Deuill , And so thou shalt deliuer me from Euill . 10 ¶ THe Priestly skirts of A'rons holy coate I kisse ; and to my morning Muse deuote : Had neuer King , in any age , or Nation , Such glorious Robes , set foorth in such a fashion , With Gold , and Gemmes , and Silks of Princely Dye , And Stones , befitting more then Maiestie : The Persian Sophies , and rich Shaeba's Queene Had ne'r the like , nor e'r the like had seene ; Vpon the skirts ( in order as they fell ) First , a Pomegranat was , and then a Bell ; By each Pomegranat did a Bell appeare ; Many Pomegranats , many Bels there were ; Pomegranats nourish , Bels doe make a sound ; As blessings fall , Thanksgiuings must abound . ¶ If thou wilt clothe my heart with A'rons tyer , My tongue shall praise , as well as heart desier : My tongue , and pen , shall dwell vpon thy Story , ( O Lord ) for thine is Kingdome , Power , Glory . ¶ THe Ancient Sophists , that were so precise , ( And often-times ( perchance ) too curious nice ) Auerre , that Nature hath bestow'd on Man Three perfect Soules : When this I truly scan , Me thinks , their Learning swath'd in Errour , lyes ; They were not wise enough , and yet too wise , Too curious wise , because they mention more Then one ; Not wise enough , because not foure ; Nature , not Grace , is Mistres of their Schooles ; Grace counts them wisest , that are veriest Fooles : Three Soules in man ? Grace doth a fourth allow , The Soule of Faith : But this is Greeke to you : 'T is Faith that makes man truly wise ; 'T is Faith Makes him possesse that thing he neuer hath . ¶ This Glorious Soule of Faith bestow on mee , ( O Lord ) or else take thou the other three : Faith makes men lesse then Children , more then Men , It makes the Soule crie , Abba , and Amen . FINIS . PENTELOGIA : Or THE QVINTESSENCE OF MEDITATION . Mors tua , Mors Christi , Fraus Mundi , Gloria Coeli , Et Dolor Inferni , sunt meditanda tibi . Thy Death , the Death of Christ , the Worlds Tentation , Heauens Ioy , Hells Torment , be thy Meditation . AT LONDON , Imprinted by Felix Kyngston , for Richard Moore , and are to be sold at his shop in Saint Dunstans Church-yard . 1620. Mors tua . 1 ¶ ME thinks , I see the nimble-aged Syre Passe by amaine , with feete vnapt to tyre , Vpon his head an Hower-glasse he weares , And in his wrinkled hand , a Sithe he beares , ( Both Instruments , to take the liues from Men , Th' one shewes with what , the other sheweth when . ) Me thinkes , I heare the Dolefull Passing-bell , Setting an onset to his lowder knell ; ( This moody musick of impartiall Death Who daunces after , daunces out of breath . ) Me thinkes , I see my dearest friends lament , With sighs , and teares , and wofull dryriment , My tender Wife , and Children , standing by , Dewing the Death-bed , whereupon I lye . Me thinkes , I heare a Voyce ( in secret ) say , Thy Glasse is runne , and thou must dye to day . Mors Christi . 2 ¶ ANd am I here , and my Redeemer gone ? Can He be dead , and is not my life done ? Was he tormented in excesse of measure ? And doe I liue yet ? And yet liue in pleasure ? Alas ! could Sinners finde out ne'r a one , More fit then Thee , for them to spit vpon ? Did thy cheekes entertaine a Traytors lips ? Was thy deare body scourg'd , and torne with whips , So that the guiltlesse blood came trickling after ? And did thy fainting browes sweat blood and water ? Wert thou ( Lord ) hang'd vpon the Cursed Tree ? O world of Griefe ! And was all this for mee ? ¶ Burst foorth , my teares , into a world of sorrow , And let my nights of griefe ne'r finde a morrow ; Since thou art dead ( Lord ) grant thy seruant roome , Within his heart , to build thy heart a Tombe . Fraus Mundi . 3 ¶ WHat is the World ? A great Exchange of ware , Wherein all sorts , and sexes cheapning are , The Flesh , the Diuell sit , and cry , What lack ye ? When most they fawne , they most intend to rack ye ; The wares , are Cups of Ioy , and Beds of Pleasure , There 's goodly choice , downe weight , and flowing measure ; A Soul 's the price , but they giue time to pay , Vpon the Death-bed , on the dying Day . ¶ Hard is the Bargaine , and vniust the Measure , When as the Price so much out-lasts the Pleasure : The Ioyes that are on earth are Counterfeits ; If ought be true , 't is this , Th' are true Deceits ; They flatter , fawne , and ( like the Crocadile ) Kill where they laugh , and murther where they smile : They daily dip within thy Dish , and Cry , Who hath betray'd thee ? Mastre , Is it I ? Gloria Coeli . 4 ¶ WHen I behold , and well aduise vpon The Wisemans speech , There 's nought beneath the Sun , But vanitie , my Soule rebells within , And loaths the Dunghill-prison she is in : But when I looke to new Ierusalem , Wherein 's reseru'd my Crowne , my Diadem , O what a Heauen of blisse , my Soule enioyes , On sudden rapt into that heauen of Ioyes ! Where rauisht ( in the depth of meditation ) She well discernes , with Eye of Contemplation , The Glory of God , in his Imperiall Seat , Full strong in Might , in Maiestie compleat , Where troups of Powers , Vertues , Cherubins , Angels , Archangels , Saints , and Seraphins , Are chaunting praises to their heauenly King , Where Halelujah they for euer sing . Dolor Inferni . 5 ¶ LEt Poets please to torture Tantalus , Let gryping Vultures gnaw Prometheus , And let Ixion turne his endlesse Wheele , Let Nemesis torment with whips of Steele ; They far come short , t' expresse the paines of those That rage in Hell , enwrapt in endlesse woes ; Where time no end , nor plagues finde no exemption ; Where cryes admit no helpe , nor place redemption ; Where fier lacks no flame , the flame no heate , To make their torments sharp , and plagues compleat ; Where wretched Soules to tortures bound shall bee , Seruing a world of yeeres , and not be Free ; Where nothing's heard , but yells , and sudden cryes ; Where fier neuer slakes , nor Worme e'r dyes : But where this Hell is plac'd ( my Muse ) ) stop there , Lord , shew me what it is , but neuer where . 1 Mors tua . ¶ CAn he be Faire , that withers at a Blast ? Or he be Strong , that Ayery Breath can cast ? Can he be Wise , that knowes not how to liue ? Or he be Rich , that nothing hath to giue ? Can he be Yong , that 's Feeble , Weake , and Wan ? So Faire , so Strong , so Wise , so Rich , so Yong is Man : So Faire is Man , that Death ( a parting Blast ) Crops his faire Flow'r , and makes him Earth at last ; So Strong is Man , that with a Gasping Breath He totters , and bequeaths his Strength to Death ; So Wise is Man , that if with Death he striue , His Wisdome cannot teach him how to liue ; So Rich is Man , that ( all his Debts b'ing pay'd ) His wealth 's the Winding-sheet wherein hee 's lay'd : So Yong is Man , that ( broke with Care and Sorrow ) Hee 's old enough to Day , to Dye to Morrow : Why bragg'st thou then , Thou Worme of Fiue foot-long ? Th' art neither Faire , nor Strong , nor Wise , nor Rich , nor Yong. 2 Mors Christi . I Thurst ; And who shall quench this Eager Thurst ? I Grieue ; And with my griefe my Heart will Burst ; I Grieue , because I thurst without Reliefe ; I Thurst , because my Soule is burnt with Griefe ; I thurst ; And ( dri'd with Griefe ) my Heart will Dye ; I Grieue , and thurst the more , For Sorrow's drie : The more I grieue , the more my thurst appeares : Would God! I had not grieu'd out all my teares ; I Thurst ; And yet my Griefes haue made a Floud ; But Teares are salt ; I Grieue , and Thurst for Bloud ; I Grieue for Bloud ; for Bloud must send Reliefe ; I Thurst for Bloud , for Bloud must ease my Griefe ; I Thurst for sacred Bloud of a Deare Lambe ; I Grieue to thinke from whence that Deare Blood came ; 'T was shed for Mee , O let me drinke my fill , Although my Griefe remaine Entier still : O soueraigne Pow'r of that Vermilion SPRING , Whose Vertue , neither Heart conceiues , nor Tongue can sing . 3 Fraus Mundi . I Loue the World ( as Clients loue the Lawes ) To manage the vprightnes of my Cause ; The World loues me , as Sheepheards doe their Flocks , To Rob , and spoyle them of their fleecy Locks ; I loue the World , and vse it as mine Inne , To bait , and rest my tyred Carkasse in : The World loues me , For what ? To make her Game ; For filthy Sinne , she sels me timely Shame ; Foorth from her Eyes doe Springs of Venome burst , But like a Basiliske I 'le see her first ; And this my firme intended Course shall be , To poyson her , or she will poyson me : We liue at Iarres , as froward Gamesters doe , Still guarding , not Regarding others Foe ; I loue the World , to serue my turne , and leaue her , 'T is no Deceit to Coozen a Deceiuer ; Shee 'l not misse me , I , lesse the World shall misse , To lose a World of Griefe , t' enioy a World of Blisse . 4 Gloria Coeli . EArth stands immou'd , and Fixt , Her Cituation Admits no locall Change , no Alteration , HEAVEN alway moues , renuing still his place , And euer sees vs with another Face ; EARTH standeth Fixt , yet there I liue opprests ; HEAVEN alway moues , yet there is all my Rest : Enlarge thy selfe , my SOVLE , with Meditation , Mount there , and there bespeake thy Habitation ; Where Ioyes are full , and pure , not mixt with mourning , All Endlesse , and from which is no returning : No Theft , no Cruell Murther harbours there , No Hoary-headed - Care , no sudden Feare , No pinching Want , no ( Griping fast ) Oppression , Nor Death , the stipend of our soule Transgression : But dearest Friendship , Loue , and lasting Pleasure Aye there abides , withouten stin● , or Measure ; Fulnesse of Riches , Comfort sempeternall , Excesse without a surfeiting ; And Life Eternall . 5 Dolor Inferni . THe Trump shall blow , The Dead ( awak'd ) shall rise , And to the Clouds shall turne their wondring Eyes ; The Heauen shall ope , The Bridegroome foorth shall come , To iudge the World , and giue the World her Doome : Ioy to the IVST , to others Endlesse SMART ; To those the Voyce bids COME , to these , DEPART ; DEPART from LIFE , yet ( dying ) liue for Euer ; For Euer dying be , and yet Dye Neuer ; DEPART like Dogs , with DIVELS take your lot ; DEPART like DIVELS , for I know you not ; Like DOGS , like DIVELS goe , Goe Howle , and Barke ; DEPART in DARKNES , for your deeds were Darke ; Let roring be your MVSICK , And your Food Be flesh of VIPERS , And your Drinke , their BLOOD ; Let FIENDS afflict thee , with REPROCH , and SHAME , DEPART , DEPART into Eternall FLAME : If HELL the Guerdon then of Sinners bee , ( Lord ) giue me HEL on Earth ( Lord ) giue me HEAVEN with thee . — vv — vv — I am Define Tibia versus . FINIS . Notes, typically marginal, from the original text Notes for div A10260-e2350 * Assyria Diodor , Siculus , lib. 3. rerum antiqu . 6.4 . Pliny , lib. 6. cap. 26. Strabo , lib. 16. princip . * Assur . Genes . cap. 10.11 . St. August lib. 15. de ciuit . Dei. Diod. Sic. cap. 1. rerum antiqu . The Cituation of the City . The height of the Walls . The Breadth . Ptolimaeus , lib. 6. Geograph . cap. 1. The Circuit of the City . The number of ber Towers . Diod. Siculus cap. 3. rerum antiquarum . Her beauty and strength . The number of ber workmen . Radulf . Volateranus . Nab. 3.15 . The sinnes of Niniueh . Notes for div A10260-e4450 a Chap. 1. 1.2 . b 1.3 . c 1.4 . d 1.5 . e 1.6 . f 1 . 1● . g 1.17 . h Chap. 2.2 . i 2.10 . k Chap. 3.1.2 . l 3.3 . m 3.4 . n 3.5 . o 3.7 . p 3.10 . q Chap. 4. ● . r 4.5 . s 4. ● . t 4. ● . u 4.6 . * 4.7 . x 4.8 . y 4.9 . z 4.10 . * 4.11 . Notes for div A10260-e6010 Historia Ionae incipit . Chap. 1. vers . 1. * Jonah interp . is a Doue . * Amittai interp ▪ is Truth . Vers . 2. Gods charge to Ionah . Ier. 20.3 . Explicit Hist . Hist . Chap. 1. vers . 3. Prima occasio fugae . 2. Occasio . 3. Occasio . Simile . * Ciuitas Palest The Tempest Vers . 5. Explicit Hist . Obiect . Deus regnat in Coelis per gloriā . In terris per gratiam . Apud inferos per institiam . Resolue . Hist. Chap. 1. vers . 6. The Pylot awakes Ionah . The Pylots speech to Jonab . Verse 7. Exp. Hist . Consuetudo peccandi tollit seasum peccati . Math. 13.41 . Histor . Cap. 1. v. 8. Simile . The Mariners speech to Ionas . Ionahs speech to the Mariners . * Hebraei quasi Abrahaei , S. Aug lib. 1. super Gen. Vers ▪ 10. Simile . The Mariners speech . Interrogatio . Admiratio . Neprehensio . Expl. Hist . Obiect . Resolutio . Chap. 1. ve . 12. Iona's last will. Vers . 13. Vers . 14. The Mariners prayer . Expl. Hist . Obiect . Homicida in se , insepultus abijciatur . Seneca . Resolu . Non ideo sine scelere facit alter , &c. S. Aug. lib. 1. de ciuitat , Dei. cap. 26. Iudg. 16.30 . Spiritus latenter hoc iusserat . S. Aug. Cum Deus iubet se iubere sine vllis ambagibus intimat , quis inobedientiam in crimen vocat ? S. Aug. Caritas est infans sine pannis , dans mel api sine pennis . * Dea Litis . Simile . Hist . Chap 1. ve . 15. Simile . Simile . Vers . 16. Vers . 17. Explicit Hist . Simile . Hist , Chap. 2. ver . 1. Verse 2. The prayer of Ionas out of the Whales belly . Vers . 3. Vers . 4. Vers 5. Vers 6. Vers . 7. Vers . 8. Vers . 9. Vers . 10. Explicit Hist . Quitimidè ora● ▪ docet negare . Luke 11.9 . * The Common-wealth . * The Church . * Charity . * Feare * Wisedome * Faith. * Iustice . * Prayer * Math. 21.21 . * John 15.16 . Oratio feruens , velox . Oratio & fides comites indiuidui . Hist . Chap. 3. ver . 1. Vers . 2. Gods second charge to Ionah . Simile . vers . 3. Vers . 4. Iona's prophecy to the Niniuites . Explicit Hist . Obiect . Resolut . Aliud mutare voluntatem ; aliud velle mutationem . Aquin. 1. quaest . 19 art . 7. Mutat sententiam , sed non mutat consiliū , lib. 20. mor. c. 29 Tempus vitae , tempus poenitentiae . Hist . Chap. 3. ver . 5. Vers . 5. 〈◊〉 Hist . Matth. 6 Hist . Chap. 3.7 . The Proclamation of the Niniuites . Vers . 8. Vers . 9. Vers . 10. Explicit Hist . Hist . Chap. 4.1 . Vers . 2. Ionas speech to God. Vers . 3. Vers . 4. Explicit Hist . Virgil ▪ Aeneid . 8. Hinc metuunt , cupiunt , dotent , gaudentque , nec auras Respiciunt , clausae tenebris , & carcere caeco . Hist . Chap. 4. ver . 5. Vers . 6. Simile . Vers . ● . Explicit Hist . Voluptas . Vita . Voluptas Vita . Voluptas , quale Vita , quale . Boctius Philos . consol . * Folia vanitatis . * Lil●a terrae . Hist . Chap. 4. ● . Vers . 9. Gods speech to Ionah . Iob. 2 ● . King. 21.15 . 2. Sam. 12.3 . Ionahs answer . Vers . 10. Gods reply . Vers . 11. Explicit Hist ▪ Notes for div A10260-e29550 Fac quod potes , & quod non pates , pete . Ionah , Chap. 2. & chap 3.10 . Application . Chap. 1.17 . Application . Chap. 3.5 . Application . Chap. 3.10 . Chap. 4. Application . Chap. 1.2 . Chap. 3.4 . Chap. 3.5 . Chap. 3.6 . Chap. 3.10 . Notes for div A10260-e31170 Psal . 150. Notes for div A10260-e31840 Sapere est insipere . Notes for div A10260-e37850 Eccles . 1. Notes for div A10260-e38220 Ex infernis nulla redemp .