THE SACRIFICE OF A SINNER, TO CHRIST OUR REDEEMER. 1. CHRIST of thy Saints the a Eph. 4.15. Head, the b Luk. 1.33. King, Whose bounties un-exhausted spring Doth to thy meanest c Ioh: 1 16. members bring Eternal streams of grace. Give me, (sweet Saviour) Thee to sing, In holy hymns, with heart condign Which eating age, nor envies sting Shall in no time deface. 2 Thou Lord, with glorious beams d Ioh: 1.9 all bright ●lazing around thy Throne of light Outreaching far my feeble sight, e Exod 33.20 here, in death's shade exiled, ●ns clouds dispel; guilts load make light Which doth surcharge my fainting spirit, 1. Tim. 6 16 ●hat I may spread thy praise, thy might, with heart pure, vndefyl'de. 3 a Ioh: 4.24. With worship chaste, in soul sincere, Thou shouldst be celebrated in fear. Hence, ye b Mat. 7.6. unclean, that dare appear with hands, with hearts profane. O let a c Esay. 6.6, 7. Seraphim draw near A slamming Coal, whose hand doth bear My lips, my heart, from Heaven's high sphear● to purge from double stain. 4 Then shall these documents divine, By which thy crosses ●ruits, do shine To happy Life, conducting Thine, my Thoughts by day, by night. With meditation deep confyne: At morn, midday, my weak engine While Heavens clear Torch his course decli● shall in thy praise delight, 5 Son, with thy Sire, in d joh. 1.12. years, in mig● In all e Phil. 26 15. coequal: f Ro. 11.33. man's dim sight Transcending: g heb. 1.3. C●l. 1. 6● 67 like thy pattern bright An Other, and the Same. True God of God; mild h Matt: 1.16.1. Maid-borne wi● Blessed i gen. 13 12. Ladder, reaching earth aright, Co-apting things of greatest height with low: Lights glorious beam. 6 Safety of Souls, sight of the blind, Haven, where the shipwrakt shelter find, End of all toils, Ease of the mind, pressed down with sinful load. Reward of works, due in no kind, To conflict past the Palm assigned, Souls cure, with sins sore sickness pinned, the banished man's abode. 7 Blessed a gen. 9.14. bow▪ bepaynting azure air, Thy pledge who did the World repair, b gen. 6.14. Ark, rendering Thine secure from care of o●erflowing floods, Their Crown that fight, their prize most rare That run; earth's peace, heaven's joy: hells fear; A saving c 1. Cor. 10 4. Rock to thine, a d 1. Cor. 12.3. snare to such as sin secludes. 8 e ●u● 2.32 Israel's glory, f luc. 10. Gentiles light, Summe of the father's wished-for sight, Of Paradise, the dear delight. Eternal Tree of life. g gen. 2● 9 On source which watering day and night In four clear streams divided right Preserves, from years, from day's despite, but art, or gardener's knife. 9 The a Rom. 10.4. Laws, the b Act. 10.43. Prophet's scope, who she● Thy face, when Thou the c 2. Cor. 3.14. veil withdrew Of Types; of d Col. 2.17. Shads the body true; e Io. 1.36 Lamb, f Heb. 13 10. Altar, g Heb. 2.17. Priest at ones; h Rev. 13 8. Lamb killed before the World's first view; Altar, which sin inherent slew, Priest, who in man did grace renew mounting alone i Heb. 9 24 heavens Thrones▪ 10 I sing my k Heb. 9.15. Mediators praise, Whose hand o'er all the sceptre sways, Who l Col. 1.20 Angels fall did stint, yet stays, m 1 Cor. 1.30. man fall'n, did raise again. Who filled the breach, by wondrous ways, Of Heaven's proud Apostats, hells preys, Earthlings adorned with Angel's rays 'mong'st the immortal train: 11 But say (sweet jesus) what procured Thee, in a n Phil. 2.7. servants shape immured, To pity man in sin obdurde God's rebel to beefriend? To plead for him who thee abjurde, Suffering thy Godhead lurk obscured, Last, on the o Phil. 2, 8. Tree (O Tears) endured, an ignominious end? 12 a Tim. 1 15. Else perished had the World for aye, b Col. 1 20. No other Means God's wrath could lay, c Rom. 6.4. None else, could, (working deaths decay,) Man's Image fi●st, infuse; d Gal. 3.13. None else, Laws pain severe could pay; Heaven's wal's to scale no other way, To varnish fresh graves rotten prey, Means, Thou alone couldst use. 13 without Thee Lord, e Rom. 8.11. supremely blest; Whom highest honour doth invest, f Phil. 2.9.10, 11. For Man with pains extremely pressed, by spoils of conquered Hell g Esay 53 7.10. ●eavens glorious courts had near encrest: ●or should our flesh's load, to rest ●boue the Spheres, its self addressed 'mid'st heavens blest hosts to dwell. 14 ●ence, sprang Man's ease exyling toil ●s hopeless groans, which, so did boil ●y breast, that Thou pourd'st in the Oil of Mercy, in his wounds. ●is Plaints procured thy soul's turmoil h Esay 5● ●at Thou his l●t di●st●ake, to foil ●ne, Death and Hell O Glorious spoil! ●hich, reason's ray confounds. 15 Our guilts soul shame, sname did deface, Empurp●ring thy unstained face: Thy clouds, thy care, our light, our peace, our Victory thy lifts, Thy hells, in heaven procured us place, Our honour grew by thy disgrace, O Wisdom, if not found by grace, Man's wit involves in mists. 16 O saving Knowledge, which of right a 1. Cor. 1.21. The deepest Polititans sight O'resyles, drowned in eternal night, In clouds of self-conceate! O contrares, which by nature fight Thus reconciled, mixed by thy might, Things weighty balancing with light, O change! O wonders great! 17 Thy dumps, our doo●efull hearts did c●● Our teare-blind sights, thy tears did cle● Thy deep afflictions calmed our fear, Thy bands us fred from pain. b 2 Cor. 8.9. Thy wants our wealth procured; we ● Robes, by thy rags: grieves, thou didst ● Our griefs, our languish, endear thy blood, did ours restrain. 18 a luc. ●● 44 That crimson sweat, these drops which drowned Thy blessed face, with rays ours crowned, b Rev. ● 5. Sins leprous spots, which souls confound, from Parent's seed they purged. Thou, shaked by deaths approaching wound, against death mad'st us secure be found, Thou of our innocence the ground, for us, with guilt was urged, 19 c Ma● 27.46 And when thou seemed some space to be, Depriv'de from heaven of all supply, Yet banished Man, still dear to Thee Thou never didst forsake. Man's state was still before thine Eye Till entering Hell, Thou set him free, O d deut. 23. Cross once cursed, now happy Tree, Source, whence all good we take. 20 When Thou thyself triumphde o'er shoes Nailed to the Cross, exposed to bloes, Charged by thy proud insulting foes with infamy, with shame. Torn, naked, pale, a map of woes, Whilst floods of wrath thou undergoes, Thy side trans-fixde, from which forth flo'es a e joh. 19 34. double gushing stream, 21 a luk. 23.46 Thy soul commending to thy Sire, While 'twixt two b luk. 23.39. thieves, Thou didst expire c Col. 2.15. Loe, than enlarging thine Jmpire Thy foes Thou Captives led, Triumphing on the Tree, hell's ire, d hos. 13.14. Death's sting, Earth's Kings that did conspire Bound, hand and foot, thy wraths hot fire their shame, before Thee bred. 22 Thou ledst (great Victor) foiled in fight Those e heb. 2.14. bands, in darkness that delight Roots of man's ruin, foes to right, f Rom. 8.2. Sin, bound Thou didst detain; To Heaven's high courts, a glorious sight, God's Rebels vanquished by thy might, Condemned in chains of horrid night for ever to remain. 23 Lo, here, death's g 1 Cor. 15.26. double-poynted sting, h 1 Cor 15.56. Laws hand writ there traversed, (deaths spring) Trodden underfoot, in triumph bring Thou didst, i Col. 2.14. nailed to thy cross. Thee, swallowing up (death conquering King) k 1. Cor. 15.55. Death to itself, the grave did bring: On ravening Wol●e, prayed ravishde thing, Victorious by loss. 24 By death insulting, held as dead, Death's death Thou was, and deaths remeed. O Thou who dost God's secreets spread, a john. 1.18. Author, revealer wise, Heaven's pure delight, the woman's seed, Who b gen. 3.15. treading down the Serpent's head, To wretched Man, didst pity plead, Way, leading to the Skies, 25 Oh, what had been our fearful fate, Dear soul's Redeemer? what our state? Of ire, what huge inunding spaite had quenched our offspring weak? Without thee Lord? hell's preys of late, c Col. 1.1. Who 'mongst thy saints didst us relate, And mounting heavens with glory great, deaths brazen bars didst break. 26 Who saves us in the day of ire, When all shall be refined with fire Who with thy Spirit dost us inspire, d ● Co● 5.5. Arls of eternal Life. Thy SPIRIT of peace, our pledge, our hire, Who, 1. Eph. 13 14. all unites of thy empire To Thee, our Head, our soul's desire, for ever shunning strife. 27 His sevenfold grace doth us defend From snares, the World, the flesh, forth send, From Fiends infernal, which do bend theirs powers against Thine, by night, Which fly like a psal. 91 5.6. pests by day, in end On wings, with faith and hope empened, Heaven's starry circuits, we transcend by virtue of his might. 28 He, who eternally forth came With Father, and with Son, the Same Third b 1. joh. 5 8. branch, joined with that twofold stream, c Rom. 8.16. witness on earth to bear, By him confirmed, we d Eph. 2.18. access claim, To Gods high Throne: with fear and shame Brought low; by him we do proclaim, e Rom. 8.15. Abba, O Father dear. 29 f Rom. 8.36. He sending up a secret groan, Doth penetrate God's ears anon, No words, no cries can reach his Throne, nor speedier pierce the skies, He doth unsyle the eyes alone Of souls sincere, to them is shown The laws hid sense● He doth enthrone the low; the proud despise, 30 Souls languishing his grace revives, To wand'ring steps he regress gives; The fall'n lifts up, deaths throes relieves, by warm light of his flame. The hardest heart of flint he reaves, For iubjects, Rebel's home receives; Subdues the stubborn, that believes, no hardness breeds him shame. 31 Even as perfumes, which most excel, Work on weak scents, and do dispel All former loathe: So befell Thy Saints, the Virgin's dear: a Cant. 1.2.3. How soon thy Names sweet fragrant smell Was poured forth, all prostrate fell, Who 'gainst Thee did before rebel, Thy yoke now gladly bear. 32 O let this dewy shower descend, Of thy sweet Oil, that We in end That Rock of safety may ascend, admitting no retreat. Conduct us who on thee depend, ( b Col. 3.4. Lifegiving essence) us defend, Who here our days in dangers spend which us each moment meet. 33 Led us, poor Pilgrims, unexpert, Our Compass, Pilot, Pole, who art, Through this inhospitall desert, this veil of bitter tears, Where peril lurks in every part, Where Asps their poisonous stings forth dart, Whose plains, no pleasures else impart but scrotching drought, and fears. 34 a Esay. 55 1. Led us, those rivers to frequent Where milk and honey yields content. O! ever bless, with good event, the wrestle of thine own Till, coming in the firmament Unlooked for, by earth's trembling tent, When times last b Rev 10.6. Period shall be spent, Thy glory thou make known. 35 That Day shall rest, c Reu 6.14 Heaven's rolling spheres, Earth's refluous tumults, deaths pale fears, d Reu 23.5. O day, which never night outweares, Night, by no day displaced! Then, to the source floods course reteires, Time lurking then, no more appears, Hid in the vast abyss of years, from whence, it first did haste. 36 a Rev: 21.4 O day, which doth all bliss impart To all, who upright are in heart; b Rev: 21.8. O day of horror, full of smart, to all of spirit impure! c Reu: 21.4. Day, which shall sobs of saints convert In songs of Joy: Day which shall dart, Wrath on the wretcht, who then shall start waked from their sleep secure. 37 d Mat. 1 34.31. That Trumpets terrifying sound That day, their ears, their souls, shall wound In sine deep Lethargy, long drowned, to hear a fearful doom, Whose noise, whose murmurings profound Shall call, what ere earth's limits bound Or who in floods, Rev: 20 13 o'rewhelmde are found hid in the Ocean's womb. 38 Who cheardare with the World's bright Eye, invested yet with mortality, f Thess. 4 16.17. Or whose dead ashes scattered fly, dispersed through earth or air, ●his days sharp trial all must see, ●sentered once life's misery, ●ea, babes, which scarce yet breathing be, must at this found appear 39 a 2. Thes. ●. 8. When flammes shall furiously confound (Lightning thy glorious Throne around) What e'er shall be their object found, in this inferior Frame. Shaking the World, even to the ground, razed from its centre, laid profound, Dissolving what earths fabric crowned with greatest Art, or fame. 40 b Mark. 13 24. The Suns clear beams, clouds shall enfold, c Rev: 6 13 Stars loss their light (earth's pride controlled) What Earthlings did most precious hold d 2 Pet. 3.10. records of wit, of strength, e 2. Pet. 3 10. Shall with this mowments rare mould, More quickly melt than can be told, All this great All shall, (as of old) a Chaos turn at length, 41 f Esay. 19 20. Then when the screiches, and frightful cries Of such God's wrath as underlyes, Increase the noise of rushing skies, of earth's disjointed frame, g Mat. 25 22. He makes divorce, that's only wise, The damned goats he doth despise Points out his lambs, h Rev. 7 14. whose sinful dies he purged with bloody stream. 42 a Rev: 7 9 When blessed souls shall fred of fear Thy Throne encircling, Thee draw near, As days comforting Beam, the sphere the Orb of purest heaven. b Rev: 11.12 The clouds transcending, c Rev: 14.14 shining clear, Thy footsteps stretched forth to bear, Those trembling bands shall straight reteare down to the Centre driven. 43 Trembling to hear the thundering noise, Of thy three-forked fearful voice, Which straight their souls, with sad annoys with terrors strange shall pierce. d Mat. 2●. 41. Hence, hence ye cursed, hell's convoys, Who of this Portion erst made choice, In chains of darkness, end your Joys, amidst hell's furies fierce. 44 Go cursed for aye, exiled from light, From hope, from e Rev: 14 1●. rest, from all delight, Where worms ne'er dying, wrath and spite f Matt. 25.20 gnashing of teeth, and tears. ●then, what horror, what affright, ●hall on those hopeless prisoners light, ●ebarrde eternally his fight, who on the throne appears, To the right Virtuous and WORSHIPFUL, THE MUSES Dear Minion, St. W. MURE, Knight. Author. Epigram. WHen thy sweet Sophoclean strains I read, Motions of Love, and Admiration breed Within my breast; for thy soule-charming Songs (To whom the Laurel as thy due belongs) Have raised in Me hot flammes of kind Desire That I must love Thee still, and still admire, Thy glorious choice, and with deserved praise Stir up thy Muse, a higher flight to raise, Well dost Thou now disclaim that Dwarfling fond, And builds thy Thoughts upon a divine ground. Walter Forbes DOOMSDAY Containing, HELL'S horror, and HEAVEN'S happiness. By Sir WILLIAM MURE yo: of Rowallane Knight 1 BUT now, my Spirit refreshed a space, Forbearing pressed steps to trace Aspires above the vulgar press, to raise a second flight. I feel my bosom piece and piece Warmed with unusual flammes: Give place Eare-charming fancies, Art's disgrace, affording false delight. 2 Thoughts, which above the spheres incline, Wings, furnish to my weak engine, If Thou, O Lord, the a 2. Sam. ●●. 3. Horn of Thine in me, this Rapture wrought Be present by thy power divine, Grant in my lines thy might may shine, From dross of sin, my spr'ite refine, raise from the earth my thought. 3 But why thus pants thou in my breast Affrighted soul, deprived of rest? What sudden fears thy joys molest, what jars disturb thy peace? Why tremblest thou, with terrors pressed, To hear that fearful doom expressed By that great Judge, who ever blest is just, as full of grace. 4 here pause a space, (My Soul) acquent Thyself this judgement to prevent: No moment of our time is spent, which thither doth not lead. The dangers seen, which do torment Thy troubled mind with discontent 'gainst them, let fervent suits be sent Jmmunitie to plead. 5 Haste, haste my Soul, shake off delay, Which too much of thy time makes prey Lay up provision for that Day, there boldly to arrive. Where Reprobats, accursed for aye, Shall wish in vain their life's decay, That earth would to their souls make, way● them swallowing up alive. 6 Oh! what encounter sad shall be 'twixt souls, from darkness chains set free, And bodies, mates in misery called forth, to be combynd, Not for reciprocal supply As friends new joined in amity, But never dying, aye to die, in quenchless flammes confined. 7 Deaths loathsome den, detested Jail, Scout, following sin with stretched sail, Which fleeting froths, which pleasures frail, On Rock of shipwreck led. Mask of mischief, sins slender veil, Good Motions ever bend to quail, Which in the birth thou didst assail Them burying as they bred. 8 Wretch, who to pamper dust, didst dote, Whom Hell attends with open throat, Ready to retribute the lote to thy deservings due. Oh! what hath violate death's knot, That still in grave thou didst not rot, Mass overspred with sins foul spot, raised, anguish to renew? 9 Thus (too too late) the Soul shall rail; re-entering this abhorred jail, Which recombynd, while both bevaile Life's misgoverned reins, Then Angels shall to Judgement hail. There, whence no party can appeal, To hear deaths sentence countervail, Lives joys, with endless pains. 10 O wretch, who Judgement here delays, Whom false security betrays, Who ne'er thy Sins black sum surveys which future anguish breeds. Then, shall the Ancient of days Who all men's works in balance lays, Examine all thy words, thy ways, thy thoughts, thy foul misdeeds. 11 None shall this search ●euere eschew, From books laid open to his view, A summar process shall ensue, conform to thy trespass. Thy sins all summoned, thou which slew, Approving thy damnation due, When all the blessed celestial crew, shall on thee, verdict pass. 12 Thou, who to lewdness now art prone, What shame, what smart, (life pleasures gone) Shall on thee feaze, when gazed upon By earth, by angry heaven? When naked, comfortless, alone Thou trembling stands before the Throne, Under God's wrath, guilts load dost groan, fears, with thy faults made even. 13 When thy tormenting conscience torn, Thou guilty stands that judge before Whose Image did thy soul adorn, who did infuse thy breath. Who pitying thee to sin forlorn, Left heavens, was of an earthling borne, Lived loathed, died with contempt and scorn emptied the Cup of wrath. 14 Witness, earth trembling at his pains, Day's beam, which all in clouds detains, The silver Moon, which pale remains, for horror of the sight. Witness his hands, with bleeding veins, Of this great All which holds the reins, His side pierced through to purge thy stains, polluted sinful wight. 15 Where shall thou then safe shelter find Soul, than the sightless Mole more blind, When with those straits extreme confined faint, pale, confused thou stands? By doom, which cannot be declined, Adjudgde for ever to be pined, Where day ne'er dawnde, Sun never shined 'mongst the infernal bands. 16 Where tears no truce, plaints find no plac● On either hand in desperate case, Behind thee, who thy paths did trace, attend thy woeful lote, Before thee flamms, Earth's frame deface Above, an angry Judge's face, Below, Thee gaping to embrace, Hell's sulphure-smoking throat. 17 Thy fears, shall be with cries encrest Of damned Souls, with anguish pressed With grief, with horror unexprest, of due deserved ire. The fyre-brands of a conscious breast, Shall of thy terrors not be least, While worms, which on thy conscience feast thy easlesse pain conspire. 18 But when (most like a thunder dart) That separating doom, a Mat. 25.41. Depart, Pronounced, shall pierce thy panting heart, with a most fearful knell. Which shall thee from God's presence part, Exposed to torments, that impart Nor end of time, nor ease of smart, while headlongs hurled in hell. 19 Their shalt thou dive in depths profound, Still sink but never meet a ground, In waves still wrestling to be drowned, deluded still by death; Crying, where comfort none is found, Pinned, where no pity rage doth bound, Thy Cup, with floods of vengeance crowned of the Almighty's wrath. 20 Bathed in a bottomless abyss, Pain still encressing, ne'er remiss, Where Scorpions sting, where serpents hisse, worms, never satiate, gnaw. Racked, thinking what thou was, now is, Deprived for aye from hope of bliss, For toys, eternal joy didst miss, nor crubed by love, nor awe. 21 No Torment doth itself extend here, Pain of sense. all the members to offend, Which universal grief doth send, doth every part entrinch: There pains, which reasons reach transcend On soul and body both descend, No joint, nerve, muscle, without end but several plagues do pinch. 22 Lascivious Eye, with objects light Which erst did entertain thy sight, Weep, there exiled in endless night locked up in horrid shades. Nyce Ear, whose Organ erst did spite, All sounds, whence flowed no falls delight There, horror ever and affright thy curious sense upbraids. 23 Smell, erst with rare perfumes acquent, Still interchangde to please thy scent, For incense, sulphur (there) doth vent, smoke for thy odours sweet. Taste, unto which to breed content, Robert were the Earth, Sea, Firmament, Mongst souls, which penury torment There, famine Thee doth meet. 24 Vile wormling, Thou whose tender pride, The weakest Sunshine, scarce couldst bide, There, plunged in this impetuous tide, must feel the force of fire. Where damned souls on every side, Howling and roaring still abide, Which find no shelter them to hide from this eternal ire. 25 There, the Ambitious, who in skies Did (late) on wax-joind wings arise, Of base contempt is made the prize, the Proudling pestered down. There Dives, who did erst despise Of famished souls, the piercing cries, Shall one cold drop of water prize above a Monarch's crown. 26 Lo, there the vile licentious Goat Whom lawless lust did ●arst besotte, Enchainde in the embracements hot of furious raging flames. There, to the drunkards parched throat, Justice, doth scrotching drought allote In floods of fire, which judgde to float still vain refreshment claims. 27 On Covetous, on cruel wight, Shall equal weight of vengeance light, With biting usury, with spite, the poor ones who did press. So to the remnant that did fight, against heaven's decrees, their conscience light, God's wrath shall be proportionde right, by measure, more or less. 28 Soul, which unpitied ever plains, here, suffering for thy sins soul stains Flammes, lashing whips, racks, fiery chains tormenting outward sense. Of all most terrible remains, Loss of God's face, Pain of loss. while thou sustains. O hell of hell! O pain of pains! still to be banished thence. 29 But when thou hast as many years Those tortures felt, as shine in spheres Lights, fixed and straying, eyes have tears or waves the azure Plain, No nearer are their end those fears, Ever beginning, which thou bears, No change abates, no date outweares, thy ever pinching pain. 30 O dying life! O living death; O stinging fire, blown by God's breath; O boiling lake, no ground which hath, destroying nought it burns! O overflowing flood of wrath, Which damned souls are drenched beneath, O pit profound, O woeful path; whence, Entrer ne'er returns. 31 Sweet a Rom. 5.10. Reconciler, Prince of peace, Who pitying Man's most wretched case, Didst hellish agonies embrace in soul, in body shame, Let me in those extremes find grace, Enlightened by thy glorious face, Ranked 'mongst thy Saints, the elect race whose ways thou didst proclaim. 32 O! let me safe protection plead Unto my soul, which full of dread, Hangs over Hell, by life's frail thread conserude but by thy might, That when, heavens, whence it did proceed, Its separation have decreed, With b gen. 8.8. Noah's Dove, Thou mayst it lead there whence it first took flight. 33 Oh, how it lunges, on wings to rise, (Secure from sins contagious dyes) Endenizde citizen of skies with Thee, for aye to rest. Oh, how it doth the Jail despise, In flesh's fetters, it wh●ch ties, And lets it, to enjoy the prize, with which thy Saints are blest. 34 For Thee I thirst, O living spring, Pure source of life, who guides faith's wing, By flight, to reach the highest thing, to compass things most hard. When shalt Thou me from danger bring To Port of peace, my God, my King, Blessed giver, and the gifted thing? rewarder, and reward? 35 When shall I from exile set free My native home, my country see? When one immortal Pinions fly, that holy City reach? Whose streets pure gold, gold buildings be Apoc. 19 ●● Walls, stones most precious beautify, Ports solid Pearls, Guests never die, whose peace, no pains impeach. 36 Eternal spring, (shrill Winter gone,) This Climate constant makes alone, Nor flaming heat, nor frozen Zone distemper here do breed. From Lamb's sweet breath, on glories throne Installed, are balmy odours thrown, Time hath no turns, here change is none, no seasons do succeed. 37 Pale envy, emulation, spite, Nor death, nor danger here affright, here hopes nor fears, nor false delight, in sublunary toys. Apoc. 21.23. No Lamp darts forth alternat light The Lamb's sweet face here shines ay bright, Which of the Saints doth bless the sight who do in him rejoyse. 38 here simple beauty scorneth Art, Rose-cheeked youth, old ages dart, Joys perpetuity impart, no war disturbs this peace. O this God's Palace royal art Prepared in these, 1. Pet. 1.20. with all desert For all that upright are in heart, ere light did paint heaven's face. 39 Thou, by whose power the spheres are rol● Earth's hanging Orb, who dost uphold, Great Architect, King uncontrolled, Lord of this Universe, Installed here on a Throne of gold, Dost diamantine sceptre hold, Givest Laws to earth, hence dost behold how wights below converse. 40 If here, such eye-enchaunting sights, Amazing beauties, choice delights, This Mansion low, of dying wights Earth's brittle Orb adorn, What wonders then, what glorious lights, Must beautify those reckless heights, Thy blessed abode, which days, which nig● vicissitude doth scorn? 41 If these such admiration breed, What Thou, who didst heavens Curtain sprea Earth stayed midst air, that it doth need its weight nought to sustain. Who full of Majesty and dread, Of intellectual powers dost plead Attendance, on thy face which feed, O ever blessed train! 42 Archangels, Angels, clothed with might, Thrones, Cherubs, Seraphins of light, Princes and Powers all shining bright, Dominions, virtues pure. With beams that sparkle from the sight, ●nflamde, which fly no other flight But satiat rest, rapt with delight, which doth for aye endure. 43 O sweet society! how blest They, who these orders have increased, From labour free, in peace who rest surpassing humane sense? Where bless, where glory doth invest Apostles, Martyrs, and the rest Of holy Saints, with tortures pressed, to death, in Truth's defence. 44 The Patriarches, Prophets, Lights divine, (Clear stars on earth) bright suns here shine here all the elect host, death's line which yet have overpast. Incorp'rat to their Head, incline One way, Joys common all combine, This band no discord can untwine, love doth eternal last. 45 1. Cor. 4.6. Of glory amongst these bands elect, Degrees there are, but no defect, Dan. 1●. 3. Full vessels all, none can expect more, than the lest contains. Man's heart no pleasure can project, But greater doth from hence reflect, One cause, in all works one effect, of measure none complains. 49 O Joys! my drossy spirit, which wing Upwards, above the spheres to spring, (Times Father) where thy praises ring, which Saints, which Angels raise: Apoc. 9 ●. Where all around Thee in a ring Heaven's hosts, high Allelujahs sing, O heavenly consort! Blessed King, blessed people, thou who praise. 47 No woeful earth-confined wight, With Owlish eyes can view this light: The weak horizon of Man's sight, far, far which doth outreach, This unexpressible delight, Doth reasons dazelde eye benight, What I cannot conceive aright, Lord, let experience teach. 48 Give me, that in some measure small (While flesh's bands my spirit enthrall) ● may, a far, a glance let fall, at these contentments point, These termlesse Joys which (one day) shall In honey, turn Saints bitter gall, From guilt, when flamms shall purge this Ball this Engine huge disjoint, 49 When the Archangel's voice shall raise The graves pale guests, 1 Cor. 15 50. the World amaze, Around all burning in a blaze, 1. Thes. 4 16. suffering for man's offence. What Joys, then, sleeping Saints shall seize How much this long-longde sight them please This sight, deaths fetters which shall ease, all passed cares, compense? 50 O what a happy hour! how dear, How glorious shall this day appear To thee my Soul, when fred from fear, grim death, thou dar'st outface? When (thy redemption drawing near) Life's toils shall trophies to Thee rear, luke. 21.28. Which cankring Time shall ne'er outwear, nor foes despite de●ace. 51 Though tyrants, have by doom unjust In furious flammes thy carcase thrust, Not deigning It, to earth to trust with honour of a grave, No Atom of thy scattered dust, But see this solemn Meeting must, Purged from corruption, from rust of sin did It deprave. 52 Thy shape renewed, more glorious made Than when it entered deaths dark shade, Raised by his vivifying aid, Death's powers who did control. With flesh adorned, which ne'er shall fade, Nor rot in earth's cold bosom laid, But live for aye the Mansion glade, of a Triumphing soul. 53 No beauty, nature brought'to light Did ravish most amazed sight, Which, as far short, from day as night, from This, shall not be found, Which shall adorn each newborn wigh● Copartner of this hid delight, The lame shall leap, proportionde right, ●say 35 6. the dumbo, God's praises sound. 54 Caught up, 1 Thes. 4 17. 1. Cor. 6. ●. when on immortal wings To air, this stage which overhings, To meet thy Head, the Saints who brings, to judge the damned train. (Saints, erst accounted abject things, Objects of scorn, weak underlings, On thrones installed, now sceptred Kings Eternally who reign) Apoc. 10, 55 What bands enclustred thee around, Shall make the Heavens with hymns rebound, That Thou a straggling sheep art found, their numbers to increase? Luk. 15.7. ●f they did such applauses sound At thy conversion, how profound Shall be their joys, to see thee crowned, with them to acquiesse? 56 As pansive Pilgrim, sore distressed, Weary and weak, with famine pressed, Whom fear of Robbers doth infest, straying alone, in need. If He, while dreaming least of rest, Should in an instant, be addressed, Where, he might live, for ever blest, how should his Joys exceed? 57 Even so my soul (now on the way) Too easily seduced astray, When Thou shalt find this solid stay, this Centre of repose. How shall the pleasures of this day, Adorning Thee, with rich array, Thy suffered labours all allay, afflictions all compose. 58 What boundless Ocean of delight Shall quench all pains, all passed plight, Endured wrongs, digested spite, of tyrannising pride? Mat. 14 31. By Angels, Messengers of light, When brought in thy Redeemers sight, Set free, from death's eternal night adjudged, in bless to bide. 59 Mat. 25.34.35.36. When large Memorials shall record The meanest good, thou didst afford, To poor, to sick: when deed, nor word shall want the own reward: 1 joh. ●. 1 The Judge, thy Advocate, thy Lord: Who now absolves, Thee, first restored: O bond! O double-twisted cord! O undeserude regard. 60 But O! when Thou casts back thine eyes, Thy voyage dangerous espies Foes ambushments, laid to surprise, thy ways when thou dost vieu, The trains set forth Thee to entice, Base pleasures, which Thou didst despise, What boundless joys shall thence arise? what Solace sweet ensue? 61 What strange applauses thence shall spring? When Saints do shout, when Angels sing? When Heavens hie vaults, loud Echoes ring, of that Absolving voice? Mat. 25 34. Come Ye, whose faith did upwards spring Contempt who on the World did fling, Blest of that great Sky-ruling King. Enter in endless joys. 62 O Joys, with these as far un-even To Man which to conceive are given, As loftiest of the Planets seven earths Centre doth transcend. Gen. 3 24. (By wit, who press to pry in heaven, Back by a Cherubin is driven) Man's Reason is a v●ssell riven, can little comprehend. 63 O Joys, as much bedazling sight, As day's bright Beam, the weakest light, Above small Gnats, as Eagles flight amidst the clouds ensphearde, joys, as far passing all delight, Yet ever heard by humane wight, As ghastly screiches of Owls, which fright, with Larks sweet laves compared. 64 These boundless Joys, 1 Cor. 13 12. this endlese peace, In this, claims principally place, To see God clearly, face to face, Him, 1. joh. 3.2. as He is, to view. (Not here, as doth frail Adam's race, Who through a glass this sight embrace, And steps of things created trace, to reach these pleasures true.) 65 With Judgement pure, to know, as known, These Persons three, in essence One, God varying in names alone, Father, Son, holy Ghost. To know, why Man to lewdness prone (Angels o'erpast) God did repone, In state of grace, why mercy shown To Some, while damned are Most. 66 Which Joys, on all the Saints elect, On souls and bodies both reflect, By ravishing the Intellect, the Memory and will. Which all the Senses do affect With pleasures far above defect, Who can the rich contents detect, those blessed Bands which fill? 67 How more perspective, pure and free, (Sequestered from mortality) The Understanding faculty, how prompter it perceives: How more sublime the Object be, The Union inward, and more nigh: Joys, of a more supreme degree, the Intellect conceives. 68 Here charged with chains of flesh and blood, We apprehend by Organs rood, The drossy minds of Earth's weak brood, imagined knowledge swells: There, bathing in a boundless flood Of bliss, we shall, (as spirits which stood) Know, (unpust up) our Sovereign good▪ In him, all creatures else. 69 What object can, in greatness, height, In glory, majesty, in might, This parallel, whence all delight, all pleasure, only springs? With rays of uncreared light Which cherish, not offend the sight, Who shines most blest, for ever bright, eternal King of Kings. 70 What Union, can so strict be found, So firm, successionlesse, profound, Man's deepest speculation, drowned is in this vast abyss. This gulf, this Ocean without ground, The ravished mind doth wholly bound, It drenched herein, with glory crowned baths in a Sea of bless. 71 If charming sounds, ensnaring sights, In minds of wonder-strucken wights Do move, such violent delights as pass the bounds of speech, The Joys then midst these reckless heights, Ay bright with ever-burning lights, Must far transcend the loftiest flights, wits most profound can reach. 72 The fluid Joys, which here entice, From things corruptible arise, No Union, but external, ties the sense and object frail: How should we then these pleasure's prize, Which ever last above the skies? This Union strict, all change defies, this bond can never fail. 73 What superexellent degrees Of joy, the Jntellect shall seize? When It, with clear, unsyled eyes the speces, natures, strength, Of beasts, of birds, of stones, of trees, Of herbs, the hid proprieties, Th'essential differences sees of Creatures all at length? 74 Of joy, what overflowing spaite, Inunding this Theatre great, Drench with delight shall every state here marshaled above? Till now, even from the World's first date, When Saints secure from sins deceate, Their Palms, 2 Tim. 4 8. their Crowns receive, who late earths utmost spite did prove. 75 Nor shall the knowledge of the pain, The torments which the damned sustain, The cryms which erst their souls did stain, impair these joys divine: These black Characters show most plain God's justice, their deserved bane, The brightness of the blessed train opposed, more clear doth shine. 76 Their Vengeance, shall the Just rejoyse, (Heavens bless compared with hell's annoys) As erst by regal Prophet's voice, divinely was foretell. Saints should encompassed with Joys, Psalm. 58.10. bath in their blood, whom death destroys Happy, who so his life employs, 'mongst Saints to be enrolled. 77 here oft (with wonder rapt) we find, The punishment with virtuous mind, The fault with the reward combined, at which the lust repines. There, fault with punishment confined Reward, to virtuously inclined, Eternal justice undeclinde, impartially assigns. 78 As these, and more joys unexprest, The Understanding do invest, As in the Centre of its rest, So here, the will doth pause In peace, which cannot be encrest, Not wrestling passions to digest; O calm tranquillity! how blest They, whom this loadstone draws. 79 Hence spring, such ardent flammes of love To God, to all the Saints above, That not one joy, these hosts do prove which It, do not delight, Hence, It, no fewer joys do move, Then God, Copartners doth approve, Joys infinite, which ne'er remove nor weakened are by slight. 80 As souls, which horrid shades enchain, This, do not feel their meanest pain, With mates most hated to remain for aye, by just decreite: How happy then, this glorious train, With these, eternally to reign, Who mutual love, do entertain, Insep'rablie unite? 81 From thence a quiet calm Content A sympathyzing sweet consent, Satiety which unacquent with loathing, doth arise. Man here in earth's ignoble tent, Desires unbounded still torment, The more he hath the more is bend things fading to comprise. 82 O soul, which life doth here expose To inward fears, to outward foes, Deluded by deceiving shows with shades of seeming bliss, When with content, thy Cup oreflows When hopes nor vast desires thou knows, How dear shall be this sweet repose which aye beginning is? 83 O Peace! on which all hap depends, Man's understanding, which transcends To Thee alone, our labour tends, our Pilgrimage aspires. Happy, in Thee, his life who spends, In Joy, in peace, which never ends, To present toils, which solace sends encentring our desiros. 84 By perfect justice, what excess Of Joy shall to the will accresse? Outshining Adam's righteousness in innocent estate? (But O! this Joy, who can express? Not tongues of Angels, Man's much less, O ravished Soul, here acquiesse, drenched in this Ocean great) 85 His Reason, Adam's sense, and will Did serve, this God: but changeable Was this submission, now, but still All do themselves subject To God: by bond most durable, Fearing no fall, secure from ill, Rendering the soul most am'able to God, self, Saints elect, 86 O soul dejected, plunged in fear, Which stinging thoughts, minds horrors tear Thy wounded spirit, who canst not bear, with inward terrors torn. O how invaluable! how dear, Would this integrity sincere To Thee (in conscience racked) appear, which doth the saints adorn? 87 This innocence which doth exclude All spots, polluting, earth's frail brood, Pure, undistainde, perfectly good, free from least sinful thought: Saintes aye refreshing with that food Of Gods winged messengers, which stood Confirmed in grace by purple flood, which Man's redemption wrought, 88 Nor shall less measure of content To Memory of Saints present How life's small period here was spent, encompassed with cares. From wars most pitiful event If settled, sweetest peace is spent, The soul, which erst did most lament joys most, now fred of tears. 89 Of passed sight, the doubtsome fate The Soldier doth with joy relate. The sea-tosde wight, in dangers great, if gone, most pleasure finds. Past miseries inunding spaite, Most sweetens Saints triumphing state, Foes spoils, which no invasion threat, less ravish noble Minds, 90 From passions fred, for happiest lote, Their purest parts which did bespot●e, Struggling, as exhalations hot in humid clouds enclosed; From slights of darts, the World forth shot (Enticements, which the best besotte) While these in their remembrance floar, how much are they rejoysde? 91 Revolving in this calmest peace, How God, by his preventing grace, Our steps restrain'de, whilst we did trace the tempting paths of death, Of monstruous Sins in hottest chase, How, He in love did us embrace; In this to joy, Saints ne'er shall cease, while they in bless do breath. 92 The long vicissitude of years, Of Times, the Memory endears, Since World's first Age, above the spheres, of blessed celestial bands. Which, while this Company admires, 'Cause of these changes, clear appears In Providence large book, which bears Records of Seas, of Lands. 93 In this great Volume, read they shall Why Angels first, first Man did fall, Why God did This, not These recall, of his eternal grace. Why He did Abraham's seed install, Peculiar most of Nations all, And why to Gentiles these made thrall, were planted in their place. 94 In these great Archives, scrold is found, Why dearest Saints are trodden to ground, By Tyrant's pride, to which no bound oft is below assigned. To wit, more glorious to be crowned As their affections did abound Joys may proportional redound, as cresses them confined. 95 Nor shall the Body now all bright, Mat. 12 4●. The fellow soldier of the spirit. Be frustrate of these joys, by right of its redemption due. Of all, the Noblest sense, the Sight Impassable, not harmed by light Above all measure shall delight, amazed with wonders new. 96 How shall the ravished Eye admire, When Suns past number, Mat. 13 43. do appear? Darkening that spark, our hemisphere, which clears with cheerful rays. On all hands, Nought, when far and near Encounters sight, but objects clear, Blessed Empyrean bands, which wear Crowns, Palms, immortal bays. 97 How shall this Beauty us amaze? How on this glory shall we gaze? How on our bodies, which do blaze with brightest beams of light? Our bodies which ere death did seize, (Death which no prayers can appease) Most loathsome burdens were to these whom most they now delight. 98 What breast can bond this joys full spaite, To see fall'n Angels chayrs of state, Filled with our friends, familiars late, Love long dissolved, renewed? To see, to know (O wonder great) Saints all, all times did here relate Since Abel's blood (a long-long date) his brother's hands imbrued. Gen. 48 99 By force of flammes, which all subdue, When brought to nought, this world's false show Of Heaven, P t. 3.3. of earth, the fabric new what wonders shall afford? Things, 9 Rev: 2. which before we never knew, Charming our ever-gazing view, With pleasures endless, perfect, true, which tongue cannot record. 100 But none of all these objects rare, Can with thy sight, O Christ, compare, Fullness of Joy reflecteth there on these, at thy right hand. In Righteousness, Psal. 17.15. thy face preclare, Who viewing, satisfied are, For which'a place, Thou didst prepare before thy Throne to stand. 101 If that great Herald of Heaven's King, Record of Thee, sent forth, to bring, For Joy, did in thy presence spring, an Embryo, yet unborn. If yet a babe, thy sight benign, So Simeans soul with joy did sting, That he his Obsequies did sing, With age and weakness worn. 102 If Eastern Sages spar'de ●o pain By Pilgrim's toils, thy sght to gain, An infant, borne, but to be slain, in manger, meanly laid; What soul then can ●ese joys contain Which shall arise to see Thy reign? The glory of thy heavenly train, whose pomp sh●ll never fade. 103 But O! (Me thinks) of heavenly lays A Comfort sweet my sense betrays, By Organs of min: Ear, allays all mind-remoding cares. Above time, moion, place, which raise My ravished thoughts, to hear his praise Proclaimed, which heavens blessed hosts amaze, by Notes of Angels airs. 104 O harmony! transcending Art Of which, the hopes, ease present smart: Thrice happy they who bear a part in this celestial Quire. O blessed Musicians, most expert, Whose Ditties, all delight impart, Whose hymns exhilarate the heart and entertain the Eare. 105 Of Ambrosia, of Nictar streams, (Heavens dainties lid in heathenish names) An endless feast the Lamb proclaims to all the Saints above. The Saints refreshed north with his beams Then worldlings withvaine pleasures dreams, O how desiderable selnes to Thine, this feast of Love. 106 If beggars vile themselves hold graced, At Tables of great Kings to feast, With curious cates to please their taste with choice of rarest thngs: Oh! what a heavenly sweet repast Do Saints enjoy, which a●e shall last, Who at immortal Tables placed, feast with the King of Kings. 107 Of all these Millions which frequent This Paradise of sweet content Perfumes most rare refresh the sent, from a perpetual spring. Comforting Ointments odours vent, Sweetening the heaven's transparent tent, Which flow from him his blood who spent His, to this bless to bring. 108 Which, (as in smell, taste, hearing, sight) In feeling als enjoy delight, The Body changed, spiritual, light, apt every way to move, Nimble, as thought, to reach by flight, (Unwearied) heavens supremest height The Centre low, from Zenith bright, as It, the Mind doth move. 109 By Motion swift, here, Bodies tossed, If thus endangered to be lost, The feeling sense, affected most participats most pain: What Joys (to view this numbrous host) The Elementar regions, crossed, When both unharmed through heavens may post shall then this sense sustain? 110 If Spasmes, if Palsies, pincing throes, Of Colic pains, invade, (healths foes) These torments, Feeling, undergoes most sensible of grief. Now when sequestered from those woes, Which mar life's unsecure repose, How shall this sense, set free, rejoyse, exult, at its relief? 111 But even as one (more bold than wise) A Pilgrimage doth enterprise, O'er Atlas' tops, which hid in skies▪ crowned are with Winter glass: Huge Mountains past, while he espies Jmpenetrable Rocks, arise, Forced to retire, his course applies by smother paths to pass. 112 So, while above the Spheres I press, Steps, not by Nature reached, to trace, The clouds to climb with halting pace lets infinite impeach. Those reckless joys, this boundless peace In number, measure, weight, increase: That scarce begun, my Song must cease, these heights transcend my reach. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Fancies Farewell. SON 1. TOo long my Muse (ah) thou too long didst toil, An Aethiopian striving to make white: ●ost seed on surrowes of a fruitless foil, Which doth thy travels, but with Tares acquit. henceforth farewell, all counterfeit delight, blind Dwarfling, I disclaim thy deity, ●y Pen, thy Trophies never more shall write: Nor after shall thine arts inveigle me. With sacred strains, reaching a higher key, My Thoughts above thy fictions far aspire: Mounted on wings of immortality, ● feele my breast warmed with a wountlesse fire. My Muse a strange Enthusiasm inspires, And piece and piece thy flame, in smoke expires. SON. 2. Hours misemployed, evanisht as a dream, My lapse from virtue, and recourse to Ill, I should, I would, I dare not say, I will By due repentance and remorse redeem. Love's false delight, and beauty's blazing beam Too long benighted have my dazzled Eyes, By youth misled, I too too much did prize Deceiving shades, toys worthy no esteem. Plunged in the tide of that impetuous stream, Where finest wits have frequent naufrage made, O heavenly Pilot, I implore thine aid, Rescue my soul, in danger most extreme: Conduct me to thy Mercies Port, I pray, Save Lord, Oh, let me not be cast away. SONNET 3. Look home, my Soul, defer not to repent, Time ever runs: in floath, great dangers lie: Impostumed soars the patient most torment, While wounds are green, the salve with speed apply Works once adjourned, good success seldom try, Delay's attended still with discontent: Thrice happy he, takes time ere time slide by And doth by foresight afterwit prevent. Look on thy labours: timouslie lament, Trees are hewed down unwholesome fruits bring forth Thy younger years, youths sweet Aprile misspent Strive to redeem, with works of greater worth. Look home I say, make haste: O shun delay, Hoist sail, while tide doth last: Time posts away FINIS.