A brief and short Treatise, CALLED THE CHRISTIANS PILGRIMAGE TO HIS FATHERLAND.  
SHOWETH The troubles that he shall meet withal in passing this World as a wilderness, to the Heavenly Canaan, which is the true Christians Fatherland.  
By THOMAS ODELL Englishman.  
At AMSTERDAM, Printed by john Fredericksz Stam, dwelling by the South-Church at the sign of the HOPE. Anno M D C XXXV.   

To the right honourable and virtuous Queen ELYZABETH,  
All grace, peace and comfort from God the Father of mercy, through jesus Christ our loving Lord and Saviour be multiplied unto you, and so lead your Majesty by his H. Spirit through this world, as a woeful wilderness, and bring your Highness at the last into his Heavenly Canaan, which is the daily desire of your Majesty's poor petitioner THOMAS ODELL Englishman.  
HAving hard and minded the manifold trials & troubles, wherein the Lord hath exercise your Majesty, I have ofttimes purposed some part of my poor labour, to present unto your Lord and King (now at rest) but I was oftentimes hindered in things concerning myself, and most of all through the grievous afflictions that befell your Majesty. Your Highness with many other may think it strange, that one so base should be so bold or presume to present any thing to your Highness' hands, wanting learning, which thing I willingly confess, for he that giveth out his beast talents, giveth to one five, to another two, and to another one, and yet may not that one be buried, but brought to the bank to the Lord, and owner's praise, and good of whomsoever it shall him please. I minding these things, and withal your Majesty's lowly and lovely behaviour towards our countrymen or women of mean estate, have been emboldened now at the last to present unto your Highness this small Treatise, showing unto all, that the life of a true Christian, is no other than a Pilgrimage through this wilderness unto our Heavenly Canaan. And these things have I written in sundry parts, first for such which through the great strife and contention in these days are forced to run too and fro, seeking the truth. Secondly the Pilgrimage of Abraham & Sarah, our faithful parents, and other of base estate: Also of Hester, with her Uncle Mordicai. And lastly some part of the work of our loving Lord and Saviour Christ jesus in his Pilgrimage, to work out our Redemption. These things have I brought forth according to the grace of God, given unto me, and acknowledging that my sight but dark, & my knowledge but in part, I do humbly entreat your Majesty, and each Godly Reader, through Christian love, to bear with my weakness herein, and so commit the issue to the Almighty, who preserve your Majesty's person from all your enemies, secret or open, strengthen you in all cumbats inward & outward to the end; and then give your Highness a Crown of glory in Heaven for ever and ever, Amen. So let it be, o Lord.   

A Pilgrams Meditation, to let each understand, The Christians Pilgrimation unto his Fatherland.  

Christ maketh declaration  
For such as seek salvation,  
Them counsel doth aford,  
Wills them make meditation,  
Their prayers preparation,  
By searching in his word,  
Which is a light, will guide them right,  
Christ putting too his hand,  
Will hold them fast, so they at last  
Shall find their Fatherland.   

WHo now will take for his soul's sake  
This journey for to go,  
To him we say, first learn the way,  
The Scripture teacheth so.   

Thus saith the Lord search in my word  
There thou the way shalt find,  
Seek him with hart, he will impart,  
And let thee know his mind.   

The Lord did tell to Daniel  
That in this latter day,  
Many should go both too and fro,  
And ask after the way.   

And how some wife should them advise,  
Led them in righteousness,  
And that the Lord would such reward,  
Yea them for ever bless.   

Christ doth relate strait is the gate  
And narrow is the way,  
In which regard bids us strife hard  
Without shall many stay.   

Take head to all that will the call,  
And say come go with me,  
The way I know and many more,  
The way is fair and free.   

I know it well and can thee tell  
From place to place throughout,  
Leave of to read common with speed  
There is no fear or doubt.   

But go thou on let them alone,  
Dispute not with such men,  
Whose words are fair, yet like a snare  
To draw the back again.   

For many preach and others teach,  
Yet they themselves are blind,  
Puffed up with pride, and cannot guide  
Which many thousands find.   

But take thou head, the Scripture read,  
Then God will be thy guide,  
Seize not to pray both night and day,  
So shall thy foot not flyde.   

Faith, hope and love from God above  
See that thou take with thee,  
Seek them with hart, he will impart,  
For God is kind and free.   

What father is so hard to his  
Children, that ask him bread,  
To give a stone, we see each one  
Would have his children feed.   

Much more the Lord his Spirit aford  
To such as ask in faith,  
It is the word that Christ our Lord  
Unto his servants saith.   

These gifts of grace where the take place  
The Lord doth well approve,  
Amongst them all she principal  
Is faith that works by love.   

Faith, hope and love are from above  
And may not be divided,  
Faith doth unfold, hope taketh hold,  
When both by love are guided.   

When man once hath obtained faith,  
He is like ship forth sailing  
Upon the seas in storms always,  
His courage often quailing.   

When storms arise, than faith outcries  
And will not leave of sounding,  
Till he can say, hope make a stay  
For here is sure grounding.   

Then hope in haste will anchor cast,  
Where faith hath found abiding,  
And keep the ship from sand and clip,  
So long as it lies riding.   

When storms are paste, then in all haste  
The anchor up is taken,  
Faith will not fail, but hoist the sail,  
And weight till winds do waken.   

Then sails he forth, east, west, south, north,  
As God shall give direction,  
By rocks and sands, by fearful lands,  
Still finding God's protection.   

Though God thus bless, give good success,  
Thy faith yet will he try,  
But all for good, well understood,  
Though oft he make the cry.   

Yea when storms rise in fearful wise,  
And make thee pray with weeping,  
Thou shalt discern, Christ at the stern,  
Who then will not be sleeping.   

But up will stand, the winds command  
And cease to cease their swelling,  
Which must obey, without delay,  
'Gainst him is no rebelling.   

Then gone is fear the Heaven near,  
Where thou shalt make thy stay,  
In Fatherland at his right hand,  
To live with him for aye.   

Thus much for all in general,  
But now to you, O Queen,  
We shall relate those of high state,  
Which here have Pilgrams been.   

As Paul doth write and eke recite,  
The greater sort of old,  
From age to age, their Pilgrimage  
Unto the jews unfold.   

He brings a train in golden chain,  
The lovely patriarchs,  
Which did by faith, as there he saith,  
Great things, well he that marks.   

This work begun he doth anon  
In order set them down,  
As Abel, Enoch, also Noah  
Three men of great renown.   

But here we shall not speak of all,  
Though the were men of worth,  
In other place, we touch there case,  
But here we chose on forth.   

A faithful man, whose life now can  
Learn us, if we take head,  
And have good care, because we are  
Accounted for his seed.   

For Paul he saith, that we by faith,  
Are Abraham's children,  
And if that we his children be,  
So are we Pilgrams then.   

If we refuse, we do abuse,  
Christ jesus in his word,  
Who tells us this, the servant is,  
Not better than his Lord.   

This Abraham meek as a lamb,  
When God did call him forth,  
Left friends and land, and took in hand  
A journey of great worth.   

A Covenant the Lord did grant  
To him and his for ever,  
Who lived upright in his God's sight,  
Who also failed him never.   

To Canaan this faithful man  
With wife and Loath came thither,  
And ran his race from place to place  
This said he knew not whether.   

For God did try him presently,  
Sent famine in the Land,  
And then must he to Egypt flee,  
Yet found God's helping hand.   

In Egypt there he lived in fear,  
Through beauty of his wife,  
He feared sore that some therefore  
Would take away his life.   

Then Abram sought away he thought  
Would take away this fear,  
He said to all, both great and small  
That she his sister wear.   

When as the King, had heard this thing  
took Sara into court,  
But God therefore did plague him sore  
That small was his comfort.   

Sent them away without delay  
From Egypt the must part,  
To Canaan and there anon,  
He tasted this like smart.   

He said like thing unto the King  
Abimelech by name,  
Who took her then from him again,  
Yet God did help the same.   

The Lord him loved this King reproud,  
Who gave him her again,  
So strife did cease, and he had peace,  
Which did not long remain.   

He laboured sore, diged wells store  
In that his time of rest,  
This King's herdsmen strove with him then  
And took away the best.   

But Abram would not that it should  
Continue in their hand,  
He that redeems for that it seems  
It was the best in land.   

He loved dear, that water clear,  
And held it all his life,  
Gave it a name, fit for the same  
Called it the well of strife.   

These trials hear kept him in fear,  
Yet were they not quiet done,  
The great'st of all did him befall,  
When as he had a son.   

Which must be ta'en, and also slain,  
And offered to the Lord,  
For sacrifice Abram likewise  
Did strait obey his word.   

He took Isaac, laid on his back  
The wood to make the fire,  
The Altar make the wood up laid  
Then Isaac did inquire;   

Now for the lamb. And Abraham  
Said, God would it provide,  
Laid him thereon, and thereupon  
A Angel to him cried.   

When he did stand with knife in hand  
To slay his only son,  
With words so mild, kill not thy child,  
This work was now near done.   

Looking aside a Ram he spied  
And that he offered there,  
Thus God did prove his faith & love,  
And blessed him every where.   

The Lord was nigh and stood him by,  
And did increase his strength,  
That he went forth as man of worth,  
And won the prize at length.   

For why truly he looked high,  
He sought a city fair,  
Built by the Lord, who did aford  
It him, who now is there.   

Whose children all, both great & small  
Which seek the things are best,  
Their time well spend, shall in the end  
Therein his bosom rest.   

Though Sara weak, God would not break,  
The Covenant he made,  
Gave her Isaac, of whom we spoke,  
Which was a lively shade.   

For she at length, by faith got strength  
Conceved and bare this son,  
By faith alone, all sins were gone  
By faith this prize she won.   

God's promise made, gave his faith aid  
Where to she had an eye,  
Who made her seed, as we may read  
Like stars upon the sky.   

Her Daughters all, that follow shall  
Her lowelynes in life,  
Made her man Lord, in deed and word,  
Although she were his wife.   

Who loved her dear, yet Godly fear  
Made her him reverence,  
I do not fear, the faithful hear  
At this will take offence.   

Humility exalteth high,  
Be it with great or small,  
When such as pride do make their guide  
At length shall cache a fall.   

Those parents blessed are at their rest,  
That ran a Godly race,  
Now shall we know how God also  
Did high exalt the base.   

Rahab may not be quite forgot  
Who did receve the spies,  
Though she seemed light by faith upright  
Found favour in God's eyes.   

She dwelled we know in jereco,  
Which was a sinful city,  
These spies came there in deadly fear,  
And she on them had pity.   

She heard each day that josua  
Was come to take the land,  
And did believe that God would give  
The same into his hand.   

These spies were sought, but she so wrought,  
That thee preserved were,  
Who let her prove their faith and love  
Which took away her fear.   

A token they gave her that day,  
To hang over the wall,  
Her house thereby did stand firmly,  
When all the rest did fall.   

And josua to spies did sayè  
Perform your promise made,  
Who brought her thence with her parents  
And friends under her shade.   

After we read of judah's seed,  
One took her to his wife,  
And through the same Christ jesus came  
Which is the Lord of life.   

Let all learn here that live in fear,  
To love and lodged such spies,  
Which now do preach, & them cá teach  
And set before their eyes.   

Their woeful case in such a place,  
Where soul can have no rest,  
And so them bring to Christ their King,  
Where they shall both be bleft.   

Here followeth the trials of Queen  
Hester, with her Uncle Mordicai,  
that captive in Babylon, and how the  
Lord did highly exalt them.   

HEre shall we find, how Hester kind  
With her friend Mordicai,  
God turned their grief into relief,  
Their sorrows into joy.   

We find it thus, King Assurus  
Did make a royal feast,  
Which lasted long, his love was strong,  
And stretched to the least.   

Upon a day in Royal ray,  
He for Queen Vasta sent,  
That each might see the Queen bewte,  
But she would not consent.   

Wherhfore the King, about this thing,  
took counsel of his wise,  
Who told him hence a great offence  
Might to them all arise.   

Their wives might say, shall we obey,  
Queen Vasta hath denied,  
Thus shall each man be vexed than,  
His wife will him deride.   

These wise then said, seek for a maid  
Throughout your Kingdoms all,  
And let your grace give her the place,  
Which did to Hester fall.   

For she was fair, had godly care,  
For which the Lord her blessed,  
That she found grace for the King's face,  
And Vastas roome possest.   

She brought to light all Hamans' spite,  
That would the jews destroy,  
The ground of this envy of his  
He took from Mordicai.   

Who did resort, and sat in port  
Of King Assurus place,  
And saved his life from men of strife,  
Who afterward found grace.   

This Hamans' head was exalted,  
And lified up so high,  
All charged now to bend and bow,  
When as he passed them by.   

But Mordicai would not obey,  
No honour he would give  
To Haggagite an hypocrite,  
So long as he did live.   

He knew indeed of wicked seed,  
This Haman up was sprung,  
For he no doubt typed one out,  
Whose days will not be long.   

Then he abused, and sore accused  
The jews before the King,  
Charging them high with treachery,  
And so obtained this thing.   

This King than sent incontenent  
Throughout his Kingdoms all,  
By such a day to take away,  
Their lives and spoil them all.   

Then Mordicai did fast and pray,  
And rend his clothes likewise,  
He put a sack upon his back,  
Made many bitter cries.   

With grief he goes doth this disclose  
To Hester contenent,  
And gave her charge with speeches large,  
Where to her ear she lent.   

For thus said he think not to be  
At rest or save thy life,  
Seek to the King about this thing,  
To take away the strife.   

It may be thought, that God hath brought  
Thy here unto this place,  
Herein to use, and save the jews,  
In this their woeful case.   

Hester did say to Mordicay,  
Command the jews said she,  
Three days to fast, no food to taste,  
And likewise pray for me.   

She was in fear, none might come near  
Till he had for them sent,  
Yet live or dye, now go will I,  
And to the Court she went.   

She found time fit, the King did sit  
Upon his Royal seat,  
Which Sceptre by did Hester spy,  
On whom his love was great.   

Held Sceptre out, then gone was doubt  
On Sceptre she took hold,  
Though he sat high, spoke lovingly,  
His words made Hester bold.   

Now free from fear she drew him near,  
Who asked her intent,  
What she did crave or sought to have,  
He would there to consent.   

She prayed the King with him to bring  
This Haman to her feast,  
This feast she made was but a shade  
To cover her unrest.   

The night before this King was sore  
Trouble no rest could take,  
Sore was he tried on every side,  
The Lord kept him awake.   

For God would not have that forgot,  
Which should preserve the jews,  
Put in his mind, this way to find,  
His time that night to use.   

He made with speed men for to read,  
Things that recorded were,  
In reading they found Mordicai,  
That loved the King so dear.   

And sav'th his life from men of strife,  
And yet had no reward,  
But now the King did mind the thing,  
And that with good regard.   

Went to the feast which then was dressed  
But Haman was not there,  
For he did lurk had other work,  
A gallos did prepare.   

For Mordicay and would that day  
Have hanged him thereon,  
The King knew not this wicked plot,  
And sent for him anon.   

The King did than ask of Haman  
His counsel in a case,  
What he should do to that man who  
He minded for to grace.   

Haman him told things manifold,  
Which fear we need not name,  
His mind was high, though who but I,  
Which turned to his shame.   

Then said the King perform each thing  
On Mordicai the jew,  
This like a dart in Hamans' hart  
His courage overthrew.   

Then Mordicay he did array  
In Kingly clothing fair,  
On King's horse he must mounted be  
Led through the city there.   

With crown on head a great man led  
His horse from place to place,  
And all the way, this must he say,  
Thus doth the King him grace.   

And honour so that he may go,  
Esteemed of all men,  
This being done, they go each one  
Unto his place again.   

And so that day came Mordicay  
Again to the King's port,  
And Haman went told this event  
His friends in woeful sort.   

His wife she resh did not refresh,  
Or comfort him at all,  
His words she heard, and for reward  
Did prophesy his fall.   

This King than sent incontenent,  
For Haman to the feast,  
This hearing than he came anon  
His banquet now was dressed.   

Whereat the King did ask what thing  
It was that Hester sought,  
Were it half his she should not miss  
See here what love had wrought.   

For to be short in humble sort,  
She asked but her life,  
And of the jews which made him muse,  
Lo here begun the strife.   

She did unfold, said we are sold,  
To be destroyed all,  
But had it been for servants then,  
My suit I had let fall.   

The King said than, were is the man  
That doth presume so high,  
Then answ'red she Haman is he,  
That sits the King so nigh.   

The King was wroth, stood up went forth,  
But Haman begged grace,  
Of Hester kind, but none could find,  
He now had run his race.   

He sat upon, or leaned on  
The bank where Hester sat,  
The King came in, than did begin  
His heart to rise thereat.   

Who said likewise before mine eyes  
Will he now force the Queen,  
Therewith came in his chamberlain,  
And told what he had seen.   

After the Pallas stood a gallos,  
That was exceeding high,  
haman's invent, whereon he meant  
To hang up Mordicai.   

But God the Lord would not aford,  
That it should come to pass,  
But let the King Haman to bring,  
Who thereon hanged was.   

Queen Hester then, begun attain  
With meekness and with tears,  
Sought of the King, that he would bring,  
The jewcs out of their fears.   

Who letters sent incontenent  
Performed her request,  
For break did he that treachery,  
So that the jews had rest.   

House of Haman the King gave than  
To Hester that same day,  
took Hamans' ring a costly thing,  
And gave it Mordicai.   

The words of one called Solomon  
May here be seen of all,  
Humility shall mount up high.  
When pride shall have a fall.   

O worthy Queen, here have you seen  
Queen hester's Pilgrimage,  
With great & small, so goes it all,  
And hath from age to age.   

There are none free, if that they be  
Children of Abraham,  
By saith in Christ, Son of the highest,  
That meek and lovely lamb.   

Who for our sake did undertake  
A Pilgrimage on earth,  
pay Adam's debt, and us doth set,  
In favour by new birth.   

He us outsought, and dearly bought,  
We now are not our own,  
He will us prove, how we him love  
Who hath his love thus shown.   

What had we in all dead in sin,  
Whence did this love arise,  
He loved us first, that were accursed,  
And so his enemies.   

O love of loves, well he that proves  
And yields him love again,  
Counts world's love los, & like to dross,  
So he may Christ attain.   

Who with words meek, wils us to seek  
His Kingdom first of all,  
And righteousness for to possesses  
The other things he shall   

Give us indeed, as we have need,  
And that from day to day,  
He faithful is, and will do this,  
To all that him obey.   

True faith this day is in decay,  
The most seek worldly wealth,  
Stryving for it, their souls forget,  
Seek not Gods saving health.   

Yet he hath thus forbidden us,  
Our treasure here to lay,  
Where rust or mot, may cause it rot,  
Or thiefs may take away.   

Lay it with love in Heaven above,  
From thence it shall not part,  
It cannot miss, where treasure is,  
There also is the heart.   

Paul doth confess, that Godliness  
It is the greatest gain,  
If we consent therewith content,  
For that shall still remain.   

When other stufe more than I n'ofe,  
Shall vanish in the wind,  
And they no rest, that had possessed,  
Such things as made them blind.   

Th'Apostle Paul took view of all  
Such things he had before,  
Put them to flight, set his delight  
In Christ that gave him more.   

Of heavenly wealth, for his souls health,  
And for good of us all,  
In his work we may read and see,  
His trials were not small.   

His Pilgrimage unto old age,  
No fear could cast him down,  
For his reward, Christ had prepared  
In Heaven for him a Crown.   

Not him alone, but for each one  
That run his race throughout,  
Shall have likewise a Crown for prize,  
Their is no fear or doubt.   

This Crown for prize in Heaven it lies  
Under the Father's hand,  
This find we may, Christ is the way  
Unto our Fatherland.   

Thus doth he say, I am the way,  
The truth and life also,  
And that no man without me can  
Unto the Father go.   

Which shows that we by nature be  
But things of little worth,  
For dead in sin, we must begin,  
To seek a second birth.   

His Kingdom we else cannot see,  
Muchles the same inherit,  
Except we then be borne again  
Of water and of Spirit.   

Which if we seek with prayers meek  
And with a lively faith,  
He will it give, that we may live,  
For it is our soul's breath.   

Which will us guide on every side,  
If we there to give ear,  
And at the last, will set us fast,  
And learn us Godly fear.   

Such fear as this beginning is,  
Of wisdom from above,  
Which hath too by for company  
A lively faith with love.   

If other fear, do come us near,  
It standeth us in stead,  
It lights the mind, this shall we find,  
When we the Scripture read.   

It stands us by, helps memory,  
And brings lost things to light,  
It will give strength, so at the length  
False fears must take their flight.   

This gift of Christ, it is the highest,  
Which he had promised,  
From Heaven to sent, unto the enter,  
We thereby might be led.   

In his Gospel, and knew him well,  
And his Kingdom also,  
For want of this, many of his  
Did him not rightly know.   

His work then done, had overwon  
The Devil, Hell and Death,  
He came again, to these weak men,  
And breathed on them breath.   

Then did he call, and bade them all,  
Receve the holy Ghost,  
And so by it, he made them fit,  
Whieh gift he never lost.   

This comforter exceedeth farrs  
All comforts in the earth,  
Then must we read, and take good head,  
We lose not this new birth.   

Though much it cost, yet may be lost,  
Which hear we shall make known,  
This Spirit is sent, and is but lent,  
And that to help our own.   

The Law doth Paul a shadow call,  
Whose substance was in Christ,  
Isaac no doubt, typed him cut,  
Which was one of the highest.   

Rabecka she then hear must be  
A shadow of great worth,  
In whose womb we do read and see  
Too stryved for the birth.   

Esaw came first, although the worst,  
The birthright yet he got,  
jacob came last, held his heel fast,  
And after hath his lot.   

Esaw did hunt, made light account,  
His birthright quickly sold,  
For cup of porridge, that could his courage,  
And made his heart full cold.   

The birthright gone, blessing was none  
His heritage was lost,  
jacob was blessed, he dispossessed  
In Edom live he must.   

The like success through carelessness,  
Befell unto King saul,  
The Lord did send, him to this end,  
To slay the Mallachits all.   

The King he spared, had no regard,  
But sought to blind Gods eyes,  
Some beasts he brought, to please he thought  
God with a sacrifice.   

But all this cost was labour lost,  
God took from him that day,  
The spirit of grace, and in the place  
Sent one did him dismay.   

As then with saul, so now with all,  
That do his laws abuse,  
This thing doth here learn all to fear,  
And it a right to use.   

The Lord is high, judgeth justly  
No person doth respect,  
Both great & small, this find they shall  
Which do his laws neglect.   

Yet hath regard and doth reward  
As each deserved hath,  
Some through weakness his laws transgress,  
Yet saveth them by faith.   

When they repent their sins lament,  
And call to him for grace,  
He will draw near, their prayers hear,  
And help them in this case.   

Thus do will he, that all may see  
Him merciful and kind,  
And will not break, a reed so weak  
But rather it upbinde.   

Nor quench with strokes, the flex that smokes,  
But rather makes it burn,  
No pleasure hath in sinner's death,  
But seeketh his return.   

He doth not like to Moses strike,  
Saying fulfil the Law,  
That done hath he, and yet must we  
Still learn to live in awe.   

Law doth relate, shows us our state  
In sin against the highest,  
Are gone too far, like schoolmaster,  
It brings us back to Christ.   

Then must we learn, for to discern,  
In what estate we stand,  
Then if we see we laden be,  
Christ holdeth out his hand.   

Calls us anon, bids us put on  
His yoke that easy is,  
Which quicken will, and our hearts fill  
With peace and joy of his.   

Doth us advise and learn likewise,  
He lowly is in heart,  
Which brings us rest, that is the best,  
And easeth all our smart.   

Yet are not we, now quite set free,  
We must take up our cross,  
It under go, both too and fro,  
And count world's pleasure lose.   

Nor yet must we compelled be  
Like Simon of Syreen,  
Christ bore the smart, this after part,  
Is for God's children.   

To flesh and blood, this seems not good,  
But flesh must bear no sway,  
To fleshly lust we may not trust,  
The Spirit must be our stay.   

The flesh is rude, the Spirit renewed  
Must guide us to the end,  
If we be feed, and thereby lead,  
Then shall we not offend.   

It will us guide on every side,  
If we thereto give ear,  
And at the last, will set us fast,  
And free us from all fear.   

It will us bring to Christ our King,  
At his appointed day,  
Int' Fatherland, at his right hand  
To live with him for aye.   
FINIS.