A SUBPAENA from the high Imperial Court of Heaven, to be served upon all men: upon an Information preferred by JUSTICE against Mankind.  
With the Answer, and Reply from MERCY, and her directions how to come to Heaven, if we avoid Sinne.  
Shrink not from this Subpaena, which is penned;  
esteem it well, for sure thou must appear:  
What thou hast been, and how thou dost offend.  
each word & thought will be prescribed there.  
Rightly that judge, will thy Records forth call;  
daily therefore prepare unto thy trial:  
None is exempt, all must then prostrate fall  
at Death's command, no man can make denial.  
Now then provide, on pain of thy damnation,  
here to amend thy former evil ways:  
Oh sinner, learn to seek for thy salvation,  
if thou in Heaven wouldst have eternal joys.  
O jesus arden's 〈◊〉.  
Imprinted at London by I White.  
1620.   
A SUBPAENA.  

The Information of justice.  

ALmighty GOD,  
thou Monarch of all might.  
Who made the Sea, the Earth,  
the Heavens and all:  
Whose Malestie,  
whose power is infinite:  
at whose command all powers do prostrare foll:  
By whom all Monarches of the world do reign;  
who setteth up, and pulleth down again.   

Justice complains, whereas our of thy Grace,  
thou mad'st a Creature of the earthly frame,  
And put him in a most delightful place,  
with all abundance richly in the same,  
Where nothing wanted to content desire,  
which heart or soul for solace might require.   

His Will and Wish were joined both in one,  
his liberty was absolute in mind:  
No fear of Death; for sinning there was none,  
he had restraint but only in one kind:  
On pain of Death, he was forbid to taste  
the Fruit in midst of Paradise was placed.   

Being alone thy Majesty thought good  
to make a Woman for his more delight,  
Which should be of the self same flesh & blood;  
his consort and his comfort day and night:  
But at her motion he forthwith rebelled,  
and justly was from Paradise expelled.   

By disobedience he did thus begin  
to bring Mankind in bondage to the Devil  
He was the first original of sin,  
which brought in death with all succeeding cu●  
That by his fall, posterity was stained,  
both Hell and Death by disobedience, gained   

Now did he see his nakedness and sin.  
and might detest the cause of such a fall,  
He lost that state he was created in,  
to bring in Death upon himself and all,  
He lost thy favonr being so beloved:  
to cast him off in justice thou wast moved.   

But thou (although by so rebellious deed,  
he was to death and just damnation brought)  
Didst make a promise, by the Woman's seed,  
death and damnation should be over wrought:  
And what he lost by his committed crime,  
both that and more, should be regained in time:   

In the mean space, thou leftest him Natures law,  
a Chancery within his secret breast:  
Which Conscience might keep his flesh in awe,  
in flying sin, and following what was best:  
But weak or wilful whether was the cause,  
he flieth out and breaketh Nature's laws.   

A second Law thou didst by Moses give,  
more full and which did Nature's law express:  
But after neither of them he doth live,  
his sinful actions evermore increase:  
He doth complain and says, they Laws are such  
his weakness great, their burden is too much.   

Fullness of time brings in the Law of Grace,  
the promised Seed to Eva was foretold,  
Should clear the guilt, and help all Adam's race,  
is now performed; and what hath been in hold,  
In debted thralls to death, to Hell for sin,  
jesus frees all, and calls the reckoning in.   

This Law of Grace, which as himself hath said,  
the burden's light, and easy for to bear:  
Who bears this yoke, was never overlaid,  
when love bears all, and not enforced fear;  
But for this law, as allthe rest he careth,  
for love or fear, the breach of neither spareth.   

For heavenly joys thou didst man create,  
Though Lucisor through pride from thence did fall  
Thou wouldst advance him to that glorious state  
what Angels lost, man should attains to all:  
Where Angels fell, they had no reparation,  
their fall was wilful, and without temptation.   

But man was tempted by a potent foe,  
who most envying that an earthly wight  
Should by his Maker be advanced so:  
sought by all means with hate of malice might  
To wrest him our of favour and of grace.  
to put him from that everlasting place.   

Man that did fall through Adam's strong temptation  
him to redeem, thou sentest thy only Son,  
Resoring him to favour and salvation:  
What Adam lost, the Woman's seed hath won  
Who fell not tempted, is adiud'gd to Hell:  
Man is redeemed, who by temptation fell.   

Eternal God, what should thy Mercy move,  
for to forbear this deadly sinner so?  
He yields no show of thanks for all thy love,  
no benefits make him his sin forgo:  
What thou dost hate, that wicked life he follows;  
as Hogs in dirt, in silthy ways he wallows.   

Thy Laws can not his sinful life restrain,  
his care is for thy benefits but small:  
His life declares thy threats he holds but vain:  
his works do show he loves thee not at all;  
Long suffering Mercy makes him so to trust,  
that he forgets that thou art also Just.   

Like as the Child cares not for Father's threats,  
words are but wind, he follows on his play:  
This creature so himself and thee forgets,  
till thou thy Rod of justice on him lay:  
In all his pleasures, from thee he doth fly,  
he seeks thee not, but when he fears to die.   

What is that seeking, forced by constraint,  
all youthful days to run it out in pleasure,  
And when that Death, or sickness makes him faint,  
than he seeks homeward; thou must wait his leisure:  
Not like to Abel, offering thee the best,  
but like to Cain, the worst of all the rest.   

His prime of Youth, and all his golden years,  
his wits and, wealth, all given to the Devil:  
When fe●ble age drawn on, with hoary Hairs,  
that now 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to practise former evil:  
When sin 〈◊〉 him that he can sin no more▪  
he seeks to thee, who served thy foe before.   

Caused thou in justice such presumption like,  
the benefit thou giv'st him out of Grace,  
To draw him, home, before thy hand would strike  
to turn all to a clean contrary case?  
God's Mercy passeth all his Works (he sayeth,)  
therefore presuming, he his sin delayeth,   

Thy Mercy is to such as do repent;  
but not to sinners, which remain in sin:  
Who was a sinner, if he have intent  
to change his life, he may thy Mercy win:  
But who presuming, sinneth in that kind,  
by justice, he may never Mercy find.   

He runneth on, such arguments are rise,  
with him who takes in sin so great delight,  
They may give colour to a sinful life,  
presuming thou in justice wilt not smite:  
A damned life doth evermore invent,  
such reasons which may further his intent.   

This creature cares not that thy Son was slain,  
the only cause such pains he did abide,  
To pay his debts, and bring him home again;  
wounded in hands, in heart, head, feet, and side:  
Though for his sin, thy dearest Son did die;  
his hourly sins do still him crucify.   

Vertue● 〈◊〉 fled and banished away.  
what virtue now at all is put in ure?  
All deadly sins do each where bear the sway  
Oh great jehovah, how canst thou endure?  
Fullness of sin doth now so much abound,  
it annoys the heavens, & overcharge the ground.   

Behold my case, O God, I may be bold  
to say, my Sword and balance are sore shaken:  
Canst thou endure I should be bought and sold,  
that poor men's suits for bribes should be forsaken:  
Descend, O God, to earth down from the skies,  
for none but thou, redresseth poor men's cries.   

Who cares for poor? yet poor as dear to thee,  
as is the greatest Monarch which doth reign;  
His ransom like, and Heaven for him as free:  
yet poverty is held in great disdain:  
So did the Glutton Lazarus despise,  
but now this joys, and he in torment lies.   

Do they love thee, when thou thyself hast said,  
who doth relieve and giveth to the Poor,  
Doth all to me, and they shall be repaid  
full weight and measure, yea an hundred more?  
They show their trust and love to thee is small,  
the Poor get nothing, though thou givest all.   

Thy Creatures made for man in thy creation,  
in Sea, on Land, in and above the Skies,  
They all agree in making exclamation,  
they still pour out for justice gricuous cries:  
Thou gav'st them Man, for to be rightly used;  
but clean contrary they are all abused.   

For nature's use, Apparel is charged quite,  
all is converted to excessive pride:  
The Sun, the Moon, the Stars, the day, and night.  
cry their abuse may be in justice tried;  
Thy meats & drinks, thy Gold & earthly treasure  
are all abused in Just and fleshly pleasure.   

Shorten the time (Almighty:) 'tis too long  
that man runs on in wickeanes and sin:  
Hastenin justise to revenge thy wrong,  
send Death abroad to call all sinners in;  
Grant out Subp●nass, let not Death make stay,  
but to thy judgemeus bring all flesh away.    

A Subpaena from the Court Imperiall.  

THE GOD of Gods,  
who all the world hath wrought,  
And out of Nothing,  
made the world's wide frame:  
Who man's salvation by all means hath sought,  
and by his blood hath ransomed the same:  
By this Subpaena giveth charge to thee,  
thou fail not at his judgement feat to be.   

And that thou fail not for to bring in place,  
all those Records thy Conscience doth hold;  
That Chancery can best declare thy case,  
what it is now, what it hath been of old:  
Of this thy charge thou mayst not make denial,  
for that's the day appointed for thy trial.   

Fail not upon the hope of thy salvation,  
to clear thy reckoning at that dreadful day:  
Provide thyself on pain of thy damnation,  
to free thy charge; and answer as thou may:  
Within this world thou mayst to Mercy trust,  
but I have sworn that day I will be Just.   

Witness myself, who at thy first creation,  
made thee a Man; the Heavens and all for thee,  
Witness myself, who to work thy Salvation,  
sent my dear Somie, by Blood to set thee free,  
Doc not refuse these Mercies, which are mine,  
lest Hell's damnation fall out to be thine.    

The Speeches of Death, provided to execute the Subpaenae.  

IAm at hand (full well I know my charge)  
with all post haste I'll make a quick dispatch  
But let me have Commission at large,  
then shall I frustrate many a sinful match:  
Then God by man shall not be so offended,  
for with my Dart, all flesh shall soon be ended.   

I'll make the proud to stoop, for all his pride:  
Ile'bring the Rich for all his Gold away:  
The Leecher shall not in his silth abide:  
the Glutton shall not for his dainties stay:  
They are now careless, but when I do wound,  
I terrify the loftiest lives on ground.   

Oh how they offer to redeem their days,  
they would give all so death would set them free;  
If Death would be corrupted any ways,  
not all the world so rich as Death might be:  
In health and youth, who value Death but small,  
when death doth strike, to Death they offer all.   

But what says Mercy, she doth look as if  
she would endeavour to procure my stay:  
She loves me not, she holds me as a thelfe,  
who would so soon her darling bring away,  
If she begin to speak, I know her mind,  
out of her love, she pleadeth for Mankind.    

Mercy her speech for Mankind.  

GReat King of Heaven,  
justice speaketh true,  
Man justly doth provoke  
thy wrath and ire:  
If thou in justice shouldst pay him his due,  
he hath deserved everlasting fire;  
But in this World thy Mercy thou hast placed,  
whilst it endures, so let thy Mercy last.   

Send out Subp●●●s that I grant it fit.  
to let men know they have a reckoning day,  
For execution, stay thy justice yet,  
their lives amend perhaps some sinners may;  
'tis known thy Mercy yields the more content;  
than justica can, if sinners would repent.   

'tis not the sinner's death thou dost desire,  
'tis his conversion thou hast ever sought:  
If man receive for sin a sinner's hire,  
it comes from that which he himself hath wrought:  
Grace and Salvation thy desire is known:  
if Hell and Death, the sin and fault his own.   

Respite the time, that I may do my best,  
to let men know the danger they stand in:  
Thy hate to sin, by justice is expressed:  
I'll try if Love may move him from his sin.  
justice is stern, Severity plays his part,  
Mercy (perhaps) may sooner move the heart.    

The speech of Mercy to Mankind.  

WHen all Mankind by Adam's fall had lost  
both Paradise, the hope of Heaven & all:  
In those distresses, than I helped most;  
I promised upon that grievous fall,  
In time a Fruit should spring from Woman's seed,  
should clear the guilt, and cancel Adam's deed.   

What I did promise, I performed truly,  
the precious choice I took for mankind's sake  
God's dearest Son, who did perform it duly,  
for man's salvation, did man's Nature take;  
And by his Passion, whereas man was thrall  
to Death and Hell, he freed him out of all.   

justice doth now as ever heretofore,  
call on that sinners may receive their due;  
And I endeavour now as evermore,  
for man's repentance, and Salvation sue:  
At Mercies suit, God ever granteth Grace,  
and for repentance giveth sinner's space.   

O that I might make suit, with that success  
to mortal men, as when I do to God;  
That they would yield to me that readiness,  
to fly the danger of his heavy rod:  
I ever found God ready upon trial,  
why then should man give Mercies sure denial?   

I sue not for myself, but for thy gain,  
to make them heyrens of Heaven & those joys:  
I'll show them how they may thereto attain,  
and reason why to sly all worldly toys,  
If Man will put what I direct in ●●e,  
of Heavenly bliss and joys he shall be sure.    

The true state of a Sinner.  

FIrst let me show what is his grievous state,  
who doth in sin, and sinful life delight:  
Which misery may force a man to hate  
the causes which do work that woeful plight:  
What mischief more, then live in fear and grief,  
when heaven or earth can yield him no relief?   

If to the Heavens he dare lift up his eyes,  
his hart & soul with trembling fear do grudge  
His Bird in breast most heavy on him lies,  
and tells him thence he must look for his judge:  
Whose terror is to all which run astray,  
most dreadful at the main tribunal day.   

If he the World and all her creatures view  
upon the earth which creep, that fly, or swim,  
Their thought & sight will make his heart to rue,  
that all were made for him, abused by him,  
No thought that is, will sinners more dismay,  
than things abused, at their dying day.   

The Usurer how is he racked with Gold  
when he is dying, gasping out his breath?  
What torment hath the Lecher to behold  
fair Dames, when he is yielding unto death?  
In life, what did delight the sinner chief,  
at Death, doth force the greatest woe and grief.   

To hear of Death, the sinner's hart doth shrink,  
the day of Doom doth rend his soul in twain  
ti's terrible to call to mind, and think  
how Death and judgement hast to him amain:  
No day nor night the sinner findeth quiet  
a spotted soul and conscience doth deny it,   

Those black Records within the dismal book,  
fast locked within the closet of the Breast,  
When as the sinner thereupon doth look,  
with fears and terrors then is he oppressed:  
In all the world no torment, grief, or pain,  
are like the thoughts which do the conscience stain.   

These are the foes which inwardly do dwell  
which sinners do about them ever bear,  
Who still torment them in their inward Hell.  
racking and rending of them every where,  
When others laugh they make a pleasant show,  
with face dissembling in the mainest woe.   

Let mortal men consider in this case,  
think of the time they are to tarry here;  
Behold the Sun how swift he runs his race;  
so do man's days, their death approacheth near:  
Forfeit not Heaven for the flowers of May,  
what are they worth once withered away?   

Let man consider in his Conscience thi●,  
when he hath rashly done some deadly sin,  
And comes to think that he hath done amiss,  
what grief of mind he forth with falleth in:  
But when the time of doing good is spent,  
those thoughts do yield him joy & all content.   

Man was provided for eternal joys,  
his proper Country is with God above:  
Why should he dote upon these worldly toys?  
what is the gain of all this worldly love?  
A Conscience cloyed, and naked sent away,  
a sore accuser at the latter day.   

Consider on the work of thy Creation,  
how far thou art in debt to God therefore,  
Then think upon the work of thy Redemption,  
in which thy debt is multiplied more:  
Let these two things thy heart & conscience move  
urge not his wrath who thou art bound to love.   

When wicked thoughts, or motions breeding sin  
within thy heart temptations do inflame:  
When that thou findest Reason doth begin  
to yield consent to execute the same;  
Then have recourse to meditate on this,  
and hardly thou shalt dare to do amiss.    

A daily Meditation, which Mercy offereth to Mankind.  

The day of Death.  

Think now thou liest on thy dying bed,  
thy heart, thy head, thy Senses all do fall,  
Striving for life, each member ghastly spread,  
trembling at death, which makes so fierce assail:  
If at Death's hour, thy sins thou dost defy,  
then dare not live, in state thou dar'st not die.   

Think furthermore thou hast all worldly pleasure,  
and every thing which may the flesh delight:  
Suppose thou hast thy fill of worldly treasure,  
what is all worth, when death shall claim his right:  
What was once sweet, is turned now to sour,  
the case quite altered in this dreadful hour.   

For now those things that were thy heart content  
thy wealth and pleasure, force thy bitter woe:  
With trembling conscience, now thou dost repent  
the day, the hour, thou didst abuse them so.    

The judgement day.  

Think furthermore,  
thou heardst the dreadful sound,  
The Trumpet call of the dead to rise:  
And all the world of flaming fire round,  
the judge appearing dreadful in the skies:  
Ask now thy conscience, durst it in bad thought  
〈◊〉 wicked life before that seat be brought?   

If that thy conscience tremble for to think  
upon the terror of that dreadful day:  
If that Tribunal make thy heart to shrink,  
let them this thought drive sinful thoughts away  
And dare not do those wicked actions here  
in which thou dar'st not at that day appear.   

Conside thou who now in health dost live,  
the day of death, & dreadful hour will come,  
Of all thy debts thou must a reckoning give,  
thou canst not void this dreadful day of doom:  
No wit, no wealth, no beauty, force, nor strength,  
but must come to this judgement at the length.    

The pains of Hell.  

THe pains of Hell they must endured be,  
most infinite for torment and for date;  
For sin is wrought 'gainst infinite degree,  
'gainst God whose power exceeds all estimate:  
When infinite that Godhead is offended,  
those pains in justice, never shall be ended.   

Eternal torments correspond the Will:  
shouldst thou live ever, thou wouldst ever sin:  
Thou justly then deservest torments still,  
who would still run that course thou livest in?  
Eternal torments justly do agree,  
where Will and Sin would both eternal be.   

No thought, no tongue, can comprehend or tell  
what are the torments of that damned Fire:  
The plagues, the scourges, tortures are in Hell,  
which justice doth provide for sinners hire:  
A rueful noise, when damned Souls forlorn,  
cry ever, woe the hour we were borne.    

The joys of Heaven.  

Think what it is to come to heavenly bliss;  
to live with God, where Saints & angels dwell  
Those glorious joys which God provides for his  
no heart, no tongue, can comprehend or tell:  
No care hath heard, or eye did ever see  
the heavenly bliss, or joys of that degree.   

Where Majesty so infinite excelleth,  
hath all abundance Majesty may have:  
Where the omnipotent in glory dwelleth,  
with those elect whom jesus blood did save,  
All joys must be still flowing in that place,  
where Saints behold the glory of his face.   

These heavenly joys are certain, without date,  
Old-age renews to youth without decaying:  
Eternal health and treasures without rate:  
no fear of cross or trouble overswaying.  
Who would dote on the worldly pleasures so,  
for love of them to let the Heavenly go?   

Lo here's the end of every mortal man,  
which he comes to at first or at the last:  
There's no avoidance since the world began,  
Time flies away, and Death approacheth fast:  
Consider then of things that shall endure,  
take Mercies offer, and thy Soul is sure.   

The young man says, these are too grave for me,  
the old man says, these thoughts do charge me sore  
To please their humours each of these agree,  
to slight them off, and think of them no more,  
Shift as they will and let them take their pleasure:  
but let them know Death stayeth no man's leisure.     

Counsel to prepare ourselves to return to God, before the day of our Death; for after death there is no repentance.  

IF ye love God, or fear ye Hell's damnation;  
O then repent, defer the time no more:  
here in this life you may obtain salvation,  
now seek, O seek, for heavenly joys therefore  
After that Death thy soul away hath taken,  
none can repent the time is then too late:  
Duly therefore let since away be shaken,  
remove thyself from wicked sinners states▪  
Each day or night, ye● 〈◊〉 the time doth know  
when Christ our judge, in judgement seat will stand  
Ever do think thou hearst his trumpet blow  
sure the time is even now at hand.    

The Books to the Reader.  

THis debt is due upon Doom's day,  
which you are summoned to pay:  
Wherefore my Author well content,  
because he warns you to repent:  
Repentance true God doth require,  
it keeps you from eternal fire.   
FINIS.  
Vi veneranda Sons.