ELIZA'S BABES: OR THE Virgins-Offering.  
BEING Divine 

Poems, and  
Meditations.    
Written by a LADY, who only desires to advance the glory of GOD, and not her own.  
LONDON, Printed by M. S. for Laurence Blaiklock, and are to be sold at his Shop near the Middle-Temple Gate. 1652.   

TO MY SISTERS.  
Look on these Babes as none of mine,  
For they were but brought forth by me;  
But look on them, as they are Divine,  
Proceeding from Divinity.   

To the READER.  
WHen first the motion came into my mind, that these Babes of mine, should be sent into the world; I would feign have suppressed that motion, for divers reasons which may be imagined, by them, that shall read them: But especially by those, that knew my disposition. But rising one day, from my Devotions, it was suggested to my consideration, that those desires were not given me, to be kept in private, to myself, but for the good of others.  
And if any unlike a Christian shall say; I wrote them, for mine own glory. I like a Christian, will tell them; I therefore sent them abroad; for such a strict union is there betwixt my dear God and me, that his glory is mine, and mine is his; and I will tell them too, I am not ashamed of their birth; for before I knew it, the Prince of eternal glory had affianced me to himself; and that is my glory.  
And now to all such shall I direct my speech whose brave spirits may carry them to high desires. Place not your affections in your Youth, beneath yourselves; but if you would be happy on earth, and enjoy these outward blessings, with free and lawful contentment; bestow your first affections on my Almighty Prince. I would have you all love him, and him to love you all. I being his, must do, as he will have me: and methinks, he directs me to tell you, that you shall never be happy on Earth, nor glorious in Heaven, if you do not love him, above all earthly things. More, I must tell you, that if you will dedicate to his service, and present into his hands, your wealth, wit, spirit, youth, beauty, he will give you wealth, if less, more useful: your wit more pure, your spirit more high, and transcendent, and your youth and beauty, which time will steal from you, or some malignant disease, with pain, rend from you; them he will lay up awhile for you, and return them again for eternity, with great advantage. And that you need not doubt of the certainty of what is told you, they that tell it you have found part of it true, and shall the rest. I cannot be content, to be happy alone, I wish you all blessed too; nor can I smother up those great and infinite blessings, that I have received from him, with private thanks. That Great Prince of Heaven and Earth, proclaimed by Angels, that he was come into the world, to show his good will and love to me; was here content, to die a public death for me, to save me, from a Hell of misery; in which I lay, and should have lain, bade not he, the Prince of Peace, and the fairest and chiefest among the sons of men, shed his most precious and royal blood, for me; and before he died be left word, that I should not fear, for it was his great and glorious Father's will, to bestow on us a Kingdom. And was so great a Prince, not ashamed to avow so great affection and love to me, and shall I be ashamed to return him public thanks, for such infinite and public favours? No: I will not, but with all my mind, heart, and soul, I bless and praise my Almighty God, for so great benefits, bestowed on me, his unworthy servant. Methinks it is not enough for myself only to do it, but I must send out my Babes, to do it, with me, and for me: And if any shall say, others may be as thankful as she, though they talk not so much of it; Let them know that if they did rightly apprehend the infinite mercies of God to them, they could not be silent: And if they do not think the mercies of God worth public thanks; I do, and therefore I will not be ashamed, to be that one in ten that returned, to acknowledge himself a cleansed Leper. And now my Babes some may say to you, unless you had been more curiously dressed, or more finely shaped, your Mother might have kept you in obscurity. Tell them, I sent you to their more learned and refined wits, to form you to a more curious shape, and tire you in a more enticing dress. But this I will say for you, You want none of your limbs, and your  are of rich materials. I dare not say, I am loath to let you go: Go you must, to praise him, that gave you me. And more I'll say for you, which few Mothers can, you were obtained by virtue, borne with ease and pleasure, and will live to my content and felicity. And so Adieu: But stay! Something you may truly say for your own imperfections, and your Mother's excuse, That some of you were borne, when herself was but a child; but  
My joy, my bliss, my happy Story  
In Heaven is writ, and that's my Glory.   



Psalm 56. Vers. 10.  
I Glory in the word of God,  
To praise it I accord.  
With joy I will declare abroad,  
The goodness of the Lord.   

All you that goodness do disdain,  
Go; read not here:  
And if you do; I tell yond plain,  
I do not care.  
For why? above your reach my soul is placest,  
And your odd words shall not my mind distaste.   
And when you read these lines, mistake not a Divine affection, for a Poetical fancy; for I affect not to express my fancy, but I would have my fancy express my affection.   

The Invocation.  
Come Sacred Muse to me this day,  
And ever here, make you a stay  
Within the closet of my breast;  
For I with thee, do find great rest.  
My sweet Companion, here thou art,  
Dear Lord, Let it not from me part.  
From thee, this gift, I did receive,  
To thee, the same I do bequeath.  
Aspire, aspire, my mind, aspire,  
From earthly things unto the higher.  
Set not thy mind on base desires,  
But think upon the heavenly Quires,  
Of Angels sweet, that singing be,  
And still the face of God do see.  
Admiring much, his wisdom great,  
And glorious sweetness of his seat.  
Then high my Soul to that sweet place,  
Where glory is, with mirth and grace.   

The Request.  
Come sweet Spirit expel my fear,  
Assure me that thou hast a care  
Of me, and of my giddy youth,  
Assure me of it, still for Truth,  
That thy Spirit shall me direct,  
And that thy power shall me protect.  
Then shall my spirit be at rest,  
And with sweet thoughts my soul be blest,  
When that I know, thou lovest me,  
And that my youth shall guided be,  
By that Spirit, that doth dispose,  
All for the happiness of those,  
The which be servants unto thee;  
Blest be thy Name, that so made me.   

The Answer.  
HIs Spirit much thou dost desire,  
His Spirit much he will inspire.  
What thou desirest, that shall be,  
Thou hast thy wishes granted thee.  
With thee, needs must I wish to live,  
That makest me wish what thou wilt give.  
Lord harden thou my heart, as hard as steel,  
And loves vain passion, let me never feel,  
Only in Heaven, my soul shall seek her rest,  
In Heaven perpetually to be blest.  
On Earth a while I must tormented be,  
Because that sin, too much abides in me.  
It is the enjoying of thy Spirit,  
That makes my soul here, true joy inherit.  
And here to show me that thou hat'st my sin  
Thy Spirit like the Sunbeams, is drawn in.  
Then doth my Soul, full woe, and sad remain  
Till that sweet spirit doth appear again.  
Then when thy Spirit, again reigns in me  
Then comes my joy, away my pain doth flee.  
For when thy Spirit my Soul doth enjoy,  
Nothing can then, my happy Soul annoy.  
For why? No cause of sorrow, I can see,  
Because, beyond myself, it raiseth me.   

Anguish.  
FRom this distraction, Lord my poor soul bring,  
That still thy heavenly praises, I may sing.  
For this distemper doth my soul affright;  
My Lord, it takes from me, all my delight,  
And pleasure that I had, in serving thee.  
This trouble great, vain folly brings to me.  
If from thy holy service, I be ta'en,  
No comfort can I find, but endless pain.  
For what can yield our Souls here true content,  
If to serve thee, we are not wholly bend?  
For here I see vain pleasures, quickly fly,  
And that which I did love, must surely die.  
But in thy service, if I pleasure take,  
And thy sweet word my whole delight do make.  
That word doth still my drooping soul assure,  
That for the best it shall be all to me,  
If patiently I do await on thee.   

Of Submission.  
WHat comes to me, Lord comes from thee?  
Nought comes to me, but comes from thee.  
What though, against my will it be,  
If thou it fitting seest for me.  
Let be, and Master thou my will,  
That I thy servant, may fulfil  
Thy holy will, and thee obey:  
Make me obedient be, I pray.  
If I obey thy Majesty,  
I need not fear, although I die.   

Hope.  
WHat though my morning be debarred of light,  
For me thou shalt break forth, a noon most bright.   

The only Comforter.  
WHat in this world do I dearer esteem?  
Or greater in my mind, here still do deem?  
Then that Spirit which floweth still from thee,  
Which makes my soul in happy bliss to be?  
For nothing in this world, here can me please,  
Nor yet my Soul, from pain and grief can ease:  
But thy sweet spirit which abides for aye,  
For these vain worldly things, do fade away.  
My soul immortal, did proceed from thee,  
And pleased with mortal things, she cannot be.  
You earthly pleasures, I can use you all,  
But treasures of my soul, I'll not you call.  
Go flee vain pleasures, for sure all must grant,  
Nought can us please, but what is permanent.  
In thee my Lord, my soul alone is blest,  
In thee alone, I do attain sweet rest.   

The Souls Flight.  
WHither away, my Soul, dost high,  
That thou so fain, from me wouldst fly?  
Sure it is, to some holy place;  
That thou thyself, there may'st solace.  
Thou wilt not here abide with me,  
But go to God, there to be free.  
To him thou liv'st, to him thou fliest,  
That is the reason that thou highest.  
And here I wish thee not to stay,  
I wish to Heaven, thou might'st away.  
From Prison oft, I wish thee free,  
That thou mayst be at liberty.   

The Virgins Offering.  
WIth thee, blessed Virgin, I would bring  
An Offering, to please my King.  
Two Turtle Doves, thou didst present,  
Can there be better by me sent.  
A Lamb more pure, than they could be,  
I heard was thither brought by thee.  
These two small Turtles now of mine,  
To him, I do present with thine.  
The Lamb will serve for thee and me,  
No better offering, can there be.  
Thus with thee, Virgin do I bring  
An offering will please my King.   

To my Doves.  

YOur life, I meant not, till my death  
Might give you freedom with my breath.  
And when I breathed in Heaven's Air free,  
I did intent your liberty.  
But offered now, you sure must be,  
A Sacrifice of thanks from me.  
When we are dead, we cannot give,  
Our offerings must be while we live.  
Two Doves, no Phoenix, you must be.  
I must see that live, comes from me:  
You as an offering, go from me,  
But on your wings, my heart must be.  
My heart now free, from all desire,  
But what is kindled by heaven's fire.  
To him, I do present, as free,  
As ever he did give it me.  
I on your wings, would sore aloft,  
And still live free from humane thought.  
Accept great God, what I present,  
Thy glory is my Souls intent.   

Go now my Doves, and soar aloft,  
The drooping heart raise you full oft,  
To such a height, bear it away,  
That it may see celestial day,  
And never let it on earth rest;  
But leave it in Heavens glorious breast.    

The Triumph.  
Sigh thou from thrall hast set me free,  
I will sing praises unto thee.  
Thou hast brought me from Temptation,  
And filled me with contemplation  
Of thy heavenly habitation,  
In which lives a glorious Nation,  
Which triumphantly do sing,  
Praise and glory to their King.  
No darkness, nor no doleful night,  
Obscures their Vision of delight,  
No noise doth interrupt their voice,  
They do incessantly rejoice.  
Mayst thou my Soul, now be so bold,  
That glorious place for to behold,  
And say, how that fair Cities blest,  
In which the righteous shall have rest.  
The walls are raised of Gems more bright,  
Then are the Diamonds here in sight:  
The Saphire, Diamond, Ruby fine,  
Their beauty in each one combine.  
The other Gems their lustre bright,  
With them do give so fine a light;  
That like the Rainbow it doth show,  
But far more bright, you'll think I know.  
Most glorious things, are said of thee  
Thou City, where the mighties be,  
The streets, are of the purest mould,  
Exceeding far, the brightest gold;  
And from God's glorious Throne doth spring  
A River that sweet pleasures bring,  
Adorned with many a goodly tree,  
Which fresh and flourishing ever be.  
They do not only please the eye,  
But heal the wounds, would make us die,  
Nor fruitless do their trees appear,  
But pleasant fruit yield all the year.  
I do not wonder, fruit so rife  
Upon these goodly Trees of life.  
No change, doth in this place appear,  
No scorching heat, nor cold is here.  
This heaven the bright Lamb his wife gives,  
And she in this place always lives.  
She is more lovely than the Rose,  
Fresh, fair and beauteous, and still goes,  
In long white Robes, so pure and clear,  
Like Orient Pearl she doth appear:  
And on her head, a Crown more bright,  
Then is the Sun, here in our sight.  
The pure white Lily, at her feet,  
And pleasant Rose there strive to meet;  
For all their beauty and their grace,  
Is from reflection of her face.  
These lovely flowers do never fade,  
But for eternity were made.  
How can this place but pleasing be?  
When here such pleasures you may see!  
And in this place, you may behold,  
The ancient Martyrs Crowned with gold,  
With Palms of Victory, in their hand,  
Which were given them at God's command.  
By a bright stream like Crystal pure,  
The blessed Saints sit safe and sure.  
In a fair Grove, pleasant and sweet,  
They with great joy each other meet.  
And they recount, their troubles past,  
And their transcendent joys at last.  
The Quires of Angels, still do sing  
Continual praises, to their King  
Like them, let me, be praising thee,  
While here on earth thou'lt have me be.  
Here let me drink, deep of that spring  
That flows from thee, and I shall sing,  
Sweet praises to thy holy name:  
My tongue and hand, shall speak thy same,  
I still must end my God to thee,  
All praise and glory given be.   

To my Sister. S. G.  

Heaven's bright shining star, shine in thy face,  
Thy mortal body, with rare virtue's grace.  
I wish those beams may still thy soul inwrap,  
That Satan may not thy sweet soul entrap.  
From his malicious suares, I wish thee free,  
That thou mayst have thy soul at liberty.  
Set not thy heart upon these fading pleasures,  
Thou art an heir to heavens eternal treasures.  
Their vain delights will not abide, but vanish  
From thy pure soul, in youth them quickly banish,  
If thou delight in them they'll breed thy pain,  
But if thou banish them, then shalt thou gain  
To thy high-born Soul immortal treasure,  
Celestial joy, true eternal pleasure.  
Then here on earth thy heaven thou shalt begin,  
For pleasures vain, entice thee unto sin.  
Vain pleasure soon, Sweet Sister do thou fly,  
That sin in thee, may fade full soon and die.  
Fix thou thine eyes on that fair Sun of light,  
Who aye inwrap thee in his beams most bright  
Dazzle and blind thine eyes, to earthly things,  
Open them in Heaven, where his sweet angels sings.  
He bring thy soul to that immortal place,  
Where like the Sun shall shine thy mortal face.   

I know you pleased will be, to hear of me,  
If I am blest or happy, you shall see.  
My Soul, I therefore now have sent you dressed,  
When so she's tired, she cannot but be blest.  
My glory and my Lord have ta'en from me  
The garments of sad mourning, you shall see:  
Upon her head a Crown of joy he'ath placed,  
How can she be but happy, when so graced.  
The bright fair robe of honour she hath on,  
Which can be given but by himself alone,  
Seeing he hath dressed me for his throne of glory,  
But I must stay to act another Story.    

Canticles 2.  
THe Winter is past, the Summer is come, I will now solace myself in the Vineyards of my beloved; for he will guide me here by his Counsel, and at length receive me to his Glory.   

The Rapture.  

MOst people hover here below,  
Too near the earth, I'll not do so;  
But I'll arise, and to Heaven go,  
I will not tarry here below.   

This earthly state's, too mean for me,  
I'll flee where the bright Angels be,  
That still the face of God do see,  
With them, my Soul can best agree,   

'Mong them I'll set me down and sing,  
The praises of our glorious King,  
By him we have our blessed being,  
We with delight his praises sing.   

Still in this Rapture let me bide,  
And from this pleasing bliss never glide,  
But be like to the Eagle eyed.  
I have just now methinks descried   

The glorious Sun in Heaven so bright,  
On this transcendent throne of light;  
It dazzles now my humane sight;  
The lust of it is so bright.   

● would not now with mortals be,  
●o tell them in what bliss are we.  
●et them arise, and come to me,  
●f they would know our dignity.   

● let me not to earth now go,  
How dark and hideous, it doth show,  
They crawl like Aunts methinks below,  
Among such Creatures I'd not go.   

But if to earth thou wilt have me,  
To do what thy will doth decree;  
Let me descend more willingly;  
By me thy will must acted be.   

But yet before I go away  
Grant I beseech, for what I pray,  
Or let me here with thee still stay,  
Take no offence at my delay.   

Oh let thy heavenly Sun of light  
With me send down his beams most bright,  
So to my soul shall be no night,  
She being enwrapped in heavens bright light.    

The Flight.  
ELiza for, ask now not here,  
She's gone to heaven, to meet her Peer.  
For since her Lord, on earth was dead,  
What tarry here! she'd not, she said.  
And to the heavens, she took her flight,  
That she might be still in his sight,  
And so to us she bid adieu,  
But proved herself a lover true.   

The Life.  
IF as men say, we live not, where we are,  
But where we love,  
I live above.  
For what on earth, or yet in heaven is there  
Desired can be,  
'tis none but thee.  
Great God, thou only worth desiring art,  
And none but thee, then must possess my heart.   

My Wishes.  
I Wish no wit to wrong my Brother,  
I wish not wealth to wrong another;  
I wish no beauty to enthrall,  
I wish no worldly wish at all.  
I wish from sin God would me bring,  
I wish for heaven, at my ending.   

Upon a pain at heart.  
GOd laid his hand upon my heart,  
To see, if I would from it part:  
I was content to let it go,  
I liked it best to have it so;  
For than no more it should be pained,  
When it with him a place had gained,  
But he'd have't here, a few more days,  
An Instrument unto his praise.   

The Portion.  
WHat if the world on me should frown,  
Thou art my Crown;  
〈◊〉 wealth and beauty part away,  
Thou art my stay.  
Let others count this world a hell,  
In it I'm well;  
●o wonder, if I happy be,  
Sith, I'm in thee;  
For why? in thee all bliss doth dwell,  
Then here, to me can be no hell.   

The Friday before Easter.  
WHy should I now, lament & moan?  
The blessed seed, to day was sown,  
Shall never in the earth decay,  
But rise in triumph, the third day.   

On Easter day.  
A Rise and see, why dost thou sleep,  
The bed of earth, could not him keep,  
The Sun is risse, that made the day,  
●n grave, thou needs fear no decay.  
Those glorious beams hath made the earth,  
A place to give thee a new birth.  
From Mother's womb thou cam'st to be  
A Creature of Mortality;  
From womb of earth, thou raised shalt be,  
A creature like the Deity;  
When thou art pleased, that I shall die,  
I am content in earth to lie:  
There shall I safely lie and rest,  
Till thou wilt raise me with the blessed.  
Though I could wish, that it might be  
As were my childish thoughts in me,  
That like Elias I might rise,  
On Cherubs wings, in Chariot wise:  
To thy bright heaven, where I might be,  
There clothed with immortality:  
Those thoughts were childish 'tis confessed,  
In grave I must be for heaven dressed.  
The earth a while, my body must retain,  
Though as a King, my Soul in heaven doth reign.   

The Pavilion.  

ON thy fair wings, most sacred Dove,  
Let me be raised, with thee on high  
Unto the heavenly God of Love,  
Where I shall rest me quietly.   

No ill shall there my Dove affright,  
I'll bid all fear on earth adieu,  
For I am now at such a height,  
As cannot reached be by you.   

In this Pavilion I shall sing,  
Though I may see you fly at me,  
I am assured by his bright wing,  
He will not let me wounded be.    

The Submission.  

MY soul to Heaven would hast & fly,  
And there make suit, that I may die  
Because from heaven she is detained,  
Lives in a body sometimes pained:  
And in her glory cannot be,  
So long, as here she stays in me.   

But that thy will she doth respect,  
And looks to what thou hast elect,  
And will contented be to stay;  
That here thy will, she might obey:  
The wisheth rather to please thee,  
Then in her glory for to be.    

The Change.  
Vain world, when as I loved thee.  
Dire sadness still possessed me,  
But since I lernt to despise thee,  
Sweet joys and gladness filleth me.   

The Choice.  
HEavenly treasure,  
In some measure  
Hast thou here unto me sent,  
Yet I would die,  
And to heaven fly  
To possess a full content.  
My soul's sweet joy  
Nought doth annoy:  
But my body's sometimes pained,  
I cannot be  
From all ill free,  
Till bright heaven, I have obtained  
Here the story  
Of thy glory  
Is that which doth me delight;  
But sure more joy,  
With no annoy  
Must be in thy Palace bright,  
With speed thy will  
Let me fulfil,  
And take me to thy heavenly light.   

The Rest.  
FRom Heaven still flows such sweet Celestial joy,  
That this earth's troubles shall not me annoy,  
For I above them shall set safe and free,  
And underneath me shall them gliding see.   

The morning Star.  
BRight morning star of heavenly light,  
Rise to my Soul, and banish night,  
And with thy fair bright beams expel  
Those clouds that make this world like hell:  
And with thy sweet attractive power,  
Raise thou me, to thy blissful bower:  
Where being raised, let me aye rest,  
Fixed in the Region of thy breast;  
Where like a bright star I shall shine,  
I being arrayed in rays of thine.  
And to the darksome world shine bright,  
I living in thy glorious light.   

The world's farewell.  
NOw to the world I bid adieu,  
I'm hasting better things to view:  
To Heavens fair Palace shining bright,  
It may be I may fly to night,  
And 'mong bright Angels spend my time,  
To hear and see, but what's Divine:  
And with an Orient light be clad,  
And live like to the Angels glad;  
For what makes me so joyful here,  
Cause in thy robes, I shall appear.  
Lie thou my body in theeath,  
Till thou shalt gain a better birth.  
From earth thou cam'st spotted with sin,  
And thither so returnest again.  
When thou art purified than I  
Shall take thee and thou shalt not die:  
And when the Trumpet thou dost hear,  
Thou in thy glory shalt appear.  
A King doth come to bring that lort,  
Which he himself for thee hath got,  
A Kingdom 'tis, of joy and glory,  
And now, I end my earthly story.   

The Swans.  

Fair Swans, you now beyond me go,  
In pleasant Robes, like pure white snow,  
But I ere long shall be more bright,  
In fair eternal robes of light.   

Your fair robes fall and fade away,  
But my bright robes, shall never decay.  
You sing they say, before you die,  
But when I'm dead, then sing shall I.    

To a friend at Court.  
REtired here content I live,  
My own thoughts to me pleasure give.  
While thine own actions anger thee,  
Sweet quiet thoughts contenteth me.  
This blessing sweet retiredness brings,  
We envy none, but pity Kings.   

Christ's Kingdom.  

With you blessed Angels, I must sing,  
That brought the news of heaven's great King  
That from bright Heaven awhile did part,  
To raise his Kingdom with my heart.   

Before he came there was great strife,  
To lead me to a hellish life:  
But like an humble Babe cam'st thou,  
Yet made those mighty powers to bow.   

Thou didst regain me for thy right,  
For I at first sprang from thy light,  
Satan aside a while drew me,  
But could not keep me Lord from thee.   

When thou hast cast off that foul fin,  
Thy Kingdom in me didst begin,  
And here thou wilt still reign in me,  
Till I shall come and reign with thee.   

At thy approach, black shades did vanish,  
And from my heart thou fear didst banish,  
And in their room did light appear,  
And joy instead of dreadly fear.   

Sweet joy and peace, thou didst bring me,  
How can I choose but sing to thee:  
To my great God all glory be,  
Thou placest his Kingdom here in me.    

Vain thoughts banished.  

A Dieu vain thoughtt, Adieu, Adieu,  
My Soul no more delights in you,  
You're no companion for my spirit,  
I must a heaven of bliss inherit.   

Your darkness dims my souls clear fight,  
And you debar me of heaven's light:  
When free from you I heaven can view;  
Vain thoughts, I now will banish you.    

My intention.  
GO vain invention, get you hence,  
With me make not your residence,  
Court not my Muse with fine invention,  
To praise my God 'tis my intention,  
Lord let no line be writ by me,  
That excludes, or includes not thee,   

Earth's honour slighted.  
OF Earthly honour tell not me;  
The vanity of it I see:  
'tis like a flower that soon doth rise,  
If ruffly struck it falls and dies.  
But that bright honour which I prize,  
Sweetly springs up and never dies;  
And's like the Sun whose pleasing ray,  
Doth banish night, and bring the day:  
His pleasant sweet attractive light,  
Raiseth me to a heavenly height.  
With this fair honour being dressed,  
I'm free from fear, and live in rest.  
'Tis heavenly honour I esteem,  
All earthly honour vain I deem:  
The one is made to fall and die,  
I love what bides eternally.   

Luke 20.36. In that world they shall be equal to the Angels.  

HEre like the Angels let me be,  
And as those blessed spirits free:  
From vain engagements let me bide,  
And as they with thee still reside.   

Like them I'm made, by my new birth,  
But I'm still wrapped in robes of earth.  
Through a dark mantle I thee see,  
But oh that I unwrapt may be.   

This blessing now on earth me give,  
That like thine Angels I might live.  
So shall my soul such sweet joys find,  
That earthly things I shall not mind.    

Upon the morning rise.  

NOw welcome sweet and pleasant Morn,  
Do you not think, that I you scorn:  
Cause with a more Oriental light,  
Embellished is my blessed spirit.   

With thanks I still you entertain.  
For by your light, my eyesight gain:  
But you are darkness, to that light,  
That is descried, by my souls sights.    

Upon hearing the Birds sing.  
SWeet Birds with you I'll set and sing,  
Due praises to our heavenly King.  
Like you me thinks, I am as free,  
So made great divine Prince by thee.   

My Robes.  

I Will not now to thee Lord come  
As I from Adam came,  
But I will come as in thy Son,  
His Robys shall hid my shame.   

He is my Spouse, and my loved Lord,  
In him thou lovest me,  
I to thy will would still accord,  
And with him still agree.   

In his bright Robes, I will present  
Myself to thee and say,  
To do thy will is my intent;  
In him I thee obey.   

Thou canst not now, Lord me reject,  
Thou must me perfect see:  
His beauty doth on me reflect,  
I'm beautiful to thee.    

The Dart.  

SHoot from above  
Thou God of Love,  
And with heaven's dart  
Wound my blessed heart.   

Descend sweet life,  
And end this strife:  
Earth would me stay,  
But I'll away.   

I'll die for love  
Of thee above,  
Then should I be  
Made one with thee.   

And let be said  
Eliza's dead,  
And of love died,  
That love defied.   

By a bright beam, shot from above,  
She did ascend to her great Love,  
And was content of love to die,  
Shot with a dart of Heavens bright eye.    

Of Poetry.  

POets they say are always poor,  
But 'tis not they are at thy door.  
They cannot choose but wealthy be,  
For why? Rich poems flow from thee.   

'tis they that climb the hill, is none of thine,  
But go for aid unto the Muses Nine.   

No wonder though such fools are poor,  
That go for Alms to a wrong door.  
They seek to them to get their wealth,  
Who have too little for their selfe.    

To the King. writ, 1644.  
TO thee, Great Monarch of this Isle  
I send my Babes, pray make them smile;  
For yet methinks 'tis in thy power,  
To make them smile, or let them lower.  
They're children to that Prince of might,  
Who is the Prince of peace behight.  
Do not with war my Babes affright,  
In smiling peace is their delight,  
My Prince by yielding won the field,  
Be not too rigid, dear King yield:  
Examples that are great and high.  
I hope you'll follow, fix your eye  
On my great prince, that is your King,  
He left a Heaven, you peace to bring.  
A Kingdom I'd not have you leave,  
But rather three reformed receive.  
All bliss and peace I wish to you,  
Let us in peace, your presence view.   

To the Queen of Bohemiah.  
LOng since, it was by me desired,  
To see that Queen so much admired;  
But well I knew, 'twas not for me,  
Great Princesses to go to see.  
But thraldom's key, did let me out,  
And trouble brought my wish about,  
By thraldom than I freedom gained,  
By trouble my desire obtained.  
I than did see her so admired,  
And thy rich grace's Lord inspired.  
A mind so great and bravely bear,  
What in the most breeds care and fear.  
A spirit high so humble be,  
To deign her sweet regards to me.  
Her I admire, and for her pray  
On earth she may live many a day:  
And when this earth she shall forsake,  
That into heaven, thou wouldst her take,  
Where on a Throne she may be Crowned,  
And with bright Angels compassed round.   

The Lover.  

COme let us now to each discover,  
Who is our friend, and who our Lover,  
What? art thou now ashamed of thine,  
I tell thee true, I'm not of mine.   

And you will say when you him see,  
That none but he, desired can be,  
He is the only pleasing wight,  
Whose presence can content my sight.   

For He's the purest red and white,  
In whom my soul takes her delight▪  
He to the flowers heir beauty gives,  
In him the Rose and Lily lives,   

His pleasant hair with feemly grace,  
Hangs by his fair sweet lovely face,  
And from his pleasing eyes do dart  
Their arrows which do pierce my heart.   

These beauties all are richly graced,  
For on his head, a crown is placest,  
Of glory, which doth shine so bright,  
As mortal eye can see this light,   

This lovely Lords, the Prince of Peace,  
In him, my joys will still increase;  
For he's the true, and constant friend,  
Whose love begun, will never end.   

From Heaven he came with me to dwell,  
And saved my soul from direful hell,  
'Tis he alone my heart doth gain,  
That keeps me from eternal pain.   

While here I live, here he will be;  
Death cannot separate him from me:  
And when I die, he will me place,  
Where I shall ever see his face.   

Into his glory, he'll take me,  
This do I know, this shall you see.  
And now you know my loved friend,  
My loves begun, it will not end.    

The renowned King.  

LAdies! if beauty you desire,  
Or to high fortunes do aspire,  
Come now with me I have descried,  
A Prince, that to all, can you guide.   

He is a King of great renown,  
And on your head can place a Crown  
And with immortal beauty bless,  
Can you wish more? yet wish no less   

If you desire this Prince to see,  
Then leave the world and go with me,  
To true Elysian fields, i'll guide  
You, where I this great Prince espied.   

The holy leaves of Sacred writ  
Are those Elisians, there let's get,  
Where with joy we shall him find,  
This glorious Prince will please your mind   

He's like the Rose in Sharon fields,  
Pleasant to sight, and sweetness yields,  
With sweet and fair, from his bright face,  
The Lily and the Rose gets grace,   

With serious thoughts now him behold  
If you him love you may be bold,  
And in his presence ever be,  
His beauty will reflect on thee.   

If thou get beauty from his face,  
He will you take from your mean place,  
And on his Throne he will set thee,  
Where with his Crown thou crowned shalt be,   

That beauty still with thee will stay,  
Time will not carry it away.  
That Crown shall no man take from thee,  
But thou shalt wear't eternally.    

To my Sister, S. S.  

SWeet Sister, Let us in Heaven greet,  
Since here on earth we cannot meet  
Hard by that stream of Crystal pure,  
To meet thee there I will be sure.  
That stream which from this Throne doth rise,  
Whose waters pure cure our ill eyes:  
Then let us sit us down and rest,  
No enemies shall us there molest.  
Let's leave our bodies here as dead,  
When thus our Souls to heaven are fled:  
Where we possess a ravished joy,  
When as the world lies in annoy.  
Let's take those waters now and drink,  
'Twill make us then no more to think  
Of these base follies here below,  
Dear Sister, let us both do so.  
Then let us set us down and tell  
By whom we were redeemed from hell,  
'Twas he that sits on you bright Throne,  
Wrought our redemption all alone.  
Who would not now their souls prise high,  
For whom so great a Prince did die.  
Come let us up those streams and see,  
Where those bright glories sitting be.  
There Three in One conjoined we see,  
And yet each Person differing be.  
There sets our powerful God alone,  
Upon his glorious heavenly Throne,  
At his right hand sits his dear Son,  
Oh! Who would think he'd let him come  
From that bright Throne to suffer here.  
And for our sakes vile to appear.  
Ten thousand, thousand Angels be  
Tending about his Throne you see:  
They sing the praises of that King,  
Oh hear, how rare, and sweet they sing!  
My senses now are ravished quite,  
My Soul is filled with such delight,  
That if I now my choice might have,  
They should my body lay in grave,  
And say, That I did choose to die,  
And let my body on earth lie,  
Till it most glorious should be,  
Like to Those Angels that we see.  
The holy Spirit there doth bide,  
For in the Son they all reside.  
No bodily presence doth appear,  
But of that God that suffered here.  
These glories cannot limned be  
By my frail pencil, well I see.  
Now let us down those banks, like green  
Rich Velvet, whereupon are seen  
Bright orient Pearl, and Rubies fair,  
Strowed on the velvet here and there,  
Bright Diamonds scattered there do lie,  
Look! there springs up the violet by:  
As if a pride that sweet flower took,  
Her face in that bright Gem to look,  
The pure white Violet doth delight,  
To hang upon that Ruby bright,  
The sweet Carnation Pink that grows  
By that rich Pearl, how fine it shows.  
Now let us on these sweet banks rest,  
Methinks we are divinely blest.  
Look by those crystal streams, there grows  
The Lily fair, and lovely Rose.  
How in the waters they do show,  
Brighter than they do where they grow.  
A Lustre fine those waters give  
Into those plants that by them live.  
Come let us now go walk and see,  
Like whom we shall hereafter be,  
See there Elias doth appear  
Like to the Angels that are here,  
did forget; we shall in light,  
Be like his glorious body bright,  
But hark! Methinks I hear one say,  
Thou must from Heaven to Earth away:  
You must your children go and teach,  
How they this blessed place may reach,  
●will be a pleasant sight to see  
Their faces like those Angels be,  
The which ere while, we did behold,  
In Robes more bright than is the gold;  
The which on earth we think so fine,  
When we in those base metals shine,  
But yet before you go away,  
●ere me a little what I say:   

●f cross you find things go below,  
On earth a while it must be so,  
●et it not trouble your blessed mind,  
●n Heaven you shall no crossness find,   

●f any ask you how I far,  
Then tell them sure I'm free from care;  
For I'm in heaven, you left me there.    

The Vision.  
WHy from celestial bliss, did you  
Draw me? these meaner things to view,  
Through those fair gates of pearl, get I  
And that most pleasant wall passed by,  
Up that pure river straight I went,  
That from the throne takes his ascent,  
Then to the glorious throne I got,  
Where I did see, O God, what not:  
For whatsoever doth excel,  
In thee, doth in perfection dwell.  
That glorious Lustre and bright ray  
Made me forget my mortal day.  
Me thought that fine Oriental light,  
Made me like it appear as bright.  
From these sweet joys why draw you me  
Myself in meaner Robes to see?  
For since I used to heaven to go,  
All things on earth do sordid show.   

The Heart.  
TWo hearts in one breast can there not remain,  
The one heart puts the other heart to pain.  
My heart I will still keep, take thou thine own,  
My heart is happy when disturbed by none.  
Without a heart I know you cannot live,  
Therefore your own I freely to you give.  
Mine is in Heaven, and will admit no change,  
To leave my rest in heaven, on earth to range.  
I'd have it written in my happy story,  
None had my heart but heaven's great prince of glory  
My youth's affection, to him I did send,  
None can have any but what he will lend.  
From mortal thraldom dear Prince keep thou me  
So though on earth, I as in heaven shall be.   

The Bride.  

●Ith you me ask, Why borne was I?  
I'll tell you; 'twas to heaven to fly,  
●●t here to live a slavish life,  
〈◊〉 being to the world a wife.   

●hen I was born, I was set free,  
●om mortals thraldom here to be;  
●r that great Prince prepared a bride,  
●●at for my love on earth here died.   

●●y not I than earth's thraldom scorn,  
●th for heaven's Prince I here was born?  
●●match't in heaven I we are a Crown,  
●t earthly thraldom pulls me down.    

On the day dedicated to the God of Heaven.  
●Ord, if this day belongs to thee,  
No part of it pertains to me.  
●hen sigh this Day, is wholly thine,  
●et thoughts and actions be divine.  
●et my soul, be divinely clad,  
●nd let me be like Angels glad.  
●ith Angels food, this day feed me,  
●nd let heaven's Nectar my drink be.  
●nd to complete my hearts desire  
●nd down a beam of heaven's bright sire.  
〈◊〉 it let me that pure path see,  
●hat leads to glorious bliss and thee.   

The Defiance.  

COme now tumultuous floods and show,  
Your spite by tumults, you shall know,  
Eliza's placest above your reach  
Upon her soul you make no breach,   

Unto the world, you do let see  
You'd have her lose, but gain shall she,  
What you can get she doth not mind,  
Her treasure lies not in your wind.    

When my Brother was sick.  

IF that my Brother thou wilt take from me,  
Lord with thy will make me contented be.  
But if it be, thy blessed will my Lord,  
To my request to bend and to accord.  
And if no harm, to him, that it might be  
In this request, then gracious God hear me,  
And grant, that well and long, he here may live,  
And honour thee, and glory to thee give  
And be an instrument here of thy praise,  
And in thy service, spend and end his days.  
But if in his young years, my Lord thou please  
From pain and grief to take him unto ease.  
And if thou fit dost my Brother see,  
With thee to reign in glory, then to be,  
Here subject to a world of slavish fears;  
For in this mortal world we must have cares.  
Only in heaven we shall sweet freedom gain,  
In heaven, there is no fear, no care, nor pain.  
Then to thy holy will, my gracious Lord,  
Make me thy servant ever to accord.  
And if to Heaven thou wilt my Brother take,  
● pray thee teach my soul for to forsake  
●ain earthly thoughts, and flee from earth to thee,  
●o with my Brother's soul my soul shall be.   

My wishes are, those beams may ravish thee,  
That wrapped me now in sweet felicity.    

The Guard.  
YOu blessed Angels, that still live,  
And tendance on us mortals give,  
From my most dear Lord you are sent,  
To tend on me, for the intent,  
From harm and danger me to keep.  
You are my guard while I do sleep,  
● do not grudge for to confess,  
Nay my poor soul can say no less;  
● am unworthy of that favour,  
Granted to me from my Father,  
That you on me, should tendance give,  
Ye which in glory still do live.  
● have offended him each hour,  
And done the ill lay in my power.  
Then you, that still obedient be,  
Oh! why should you attend on me.  
This is a mystery full deep;  
You being righteous, sinners keep.  
My God I pray thee make me know,  
Why those blessed Angels should do so?  
For should I my deserts consider,  
My judgement thus I must deliver,  
Into the pit, and dungeon deep  
Where Satan is adjudged to keep:  
Where fire and brimstone raging be  
Where pain abides perpetually,  
Into this place of misery,  
There should I go, when that I die.  
Go leave thy thoughts, thy own thoughts leave,  
And from thy God, answer receive.  
From that fierce place of misery,  
Thee for to save, the Lord did die.  
And though no sin he did commit,  
He of his goodness thought it fit  
To take thy sins, and quit them all,  
And bid thee then no more to fall.  
And tells thee, thou needs not to fear:  
For why of thee he takes the care.  
And that on earth while thou dost live,  
For tendance on thee he will give.  
His Angel's charge, thee to protect,  
And be the guard of his Elect;  
His mercy is the only reason  
We are secured from Satan's Treason.   

Felicity.  
I Am my Gods, and he doth let me see  
In him a true and sweet felicity.  
Those springs of joy, that rise still fresh in me,  
Proceed my dear sweet heavenly Prince from thee   

On sudden Death.  
IF thou in haste shalt send for me  
Great God to live in Heaven with thee,  
Though to some minds it sudden be,  
It is not sudden unto me.   

Heaven.  
LOrd thou dost bring a heaven with thee,  
Then where I am a heaven must be,  
For thou art ever Lord with me.   

The Giver engaged to the Receiver.  
THou sayest thou art engaged to me  
For what I give, when I'm to thee:  
Thou dost accept a gift that's poor.  
For it I have ten thousand more.   

The Sun Beams.  
THy blessings, like the Sunbeams be  
Reaching from heaven to earth on me.  
Like a rich Canopy they show,  
Spreading from Heaven, doth round me flow.  
'Tis not abundance rich makes me,  
But a sufficiency from thee.   

To my Brother.  
ELiza says when as she dies,  
she'll banish tears from all your eyes,  
Unless for envy you will weep,  
That you could not her blessed soul keep  
From her eternal bliss and joy,  
To live with yours in earth's annoy.  
When you have brought me to my grave,  
Then tell the world, 'tis what I'd have,  
Ye need not say you left me dead,  
But say, I am laid in my bed.  
Where I shall safely lie and sleep,  
For heavens great Emperor doth me keep.  
'Mong Kings and Princes that attend.  
Till to our glory we ascend.   

What I Love.  
GIve me a Soul, give me a Spirit,  
That flies from earth, heaven to inherits  
But those that grovel here below,  
What! I love them? I'll not do so.   

The only bound.  
MY boundless spirits, bounded be in thee,  
For bounded by no other can they be.   

The Christians happiness.  
GOds high Spirit shall thee direct,  
His Angels shall thee still protect.  
They shall thee guard, while thou dost sleep,  
They from all evil shall thee keep.  
So thou no evil needs to fear,  
Because of thee God takes the care.   

The Retribution.  

●F thou art pleased to have my heart,  
● Accept it Lord from me,  
●ith thou dost choose it for thy part,  
● give it none but thee.   

Mine eyes to thee I do present,  
Accept them now of me;  
For thou unto me hast them lent,  
They do belong to thee.   

Thus heart and eyes, and all are thine,  
That do belong to me.  
Before I knew that they were mine,  
They were all made by thee.    

God's Commands easy.  

MY Lord! how easy is thy will  
Do, as I would be done unto.  
Thy holy Law I then fulfil,  
And give the Lord his praises due.   

Why should I to another do,  
What I would not have done to me,  
All praises to thee Lord, is due,  
For all we have proceeds from thee.    

Praise.  

GLory to my gracious Lord,  
Who to my wishes doth accord,  
While here I live, I must thee praise,  
For as in Heaven I spend my days.   

For nought doth here my soul annoy,  
But I possess a Heaven of Joy.  
And when from this bliss, thou'le take me,  
In glorious Heaven my soul shall be.    

The Companion.  
WHo doth an heavenly Muse enjoy,  
Regards not this vain world's annoy.  
Nor can they ever be alone,  
Heaven's Muse is there Companion.   

Upon the loss of my Brother.  
WHen loss of aught would thee torment,  
Cry; 'tis thy will, Lord I'm content.  
My love must not divided be,  
'Twixt Earth and Heaven, thou'lt have me see.  
My brother from me thou hast ta'en,  
But yet content I must remain.  
A Brother and a friend was he,  
But much more thou wilt be to me.  
When thoughts of absence moves a tear,  
Thy will is, that I should forbear,  
He went not but by thy decree,  
And I must not displeased be.   

On the Sun.  
AT height of noon, it cannot be,  
That I can fix mine eyes on thee,  
●ut when at setting; I am bold,  
With settled eyes thee too behold,  
● onverter of Atheistick thought,  
●hou wert to me, when as I sought  
● remedy against that sin,  
Which I too deep was falling in.  
Some one above thee must make thee,  
Thou governed by a God must be.   

Being told, she was proud.  
MY body, it must surely die,  
Off to be proud then what have I.  
Yet proud, if they will have me be,  
My high-born soul, it is of thee.  
But Lord, my Soul, is none of mine,  
Shall I be proud, of what is thine?  
As being thine, from pride I'm free,  
It is enough I'm freed by thee.   

My pleasing Life.  

SWeet quiet, sweet obscurity,  
Here in this life, best pleaseth me,  
Till from earth's thrall I shall be free  
To live in glorious bliss with thee.   

When from earth's tumults I am free  
To contemplate great God on thee  
A heaven of bliss in thee I see  
How can this life, but pleasing be.   

Nothing of thee merit I can,  
But yet when free from thrall of man,  
I can thee serve with heart more free,  
Then from that thraldom still keep me.    

To a Lady unfaithful.  
Madam,  
THe Prince of heaven being in love with you  
Did to his glorious Kingdom, bid Adieu.  
The heaven, he was awhile content to leave  
To see, if you would his chaste love receive.  
You did belong to him, when he you sent  
Into the world; but you from him soon went,  
And his chaste love, so pleasing and so sweet,  
You left your wanton Paramour to meet,  
With his unlawful love you pleased yourself,  
Fie Madam, leave him, he is but an Elf.  
See what your dear sweet Prince hath done for you,  
'Tis very strange, but yet 'tis very true.  
When he did see you wantonise with them  
Who were professed enemies to him:  
He then with his fierce enemy did fight,  
To reingain you as his ancient right.  
He lost his royal blood to purchase you,  
How can you then but to this Prince prove true.  
Can you a Coward love, and slain your name  
By being false unto this Prince of fame?  
Your wanton lovers actions hate the light,  
And you're ashamed to act them in our sight.  
Then here I'll tell you, if you know not it,  
All your actions, and vain thoughts unfit,  
Your true and lawful Lord doth strait espy,  
He sees the wanton glances of your eye.  
Think with yourself, and then you will refrain,  
You both yourself, and your great Lord defame.  
I wonder how you can this vain world love,  
●f you did forget your heaven above,  
〈◊〉 in your ill unlawful actions live.  
●●r God doth freely all things to you give:  
●ve you but constant to his love and true,  
〈◊〉 things are lawful to be used by you.   

The Curse.  
〈◊〉 thou detain'st my right from me,  
〈◊〉 never will wish worse to thee.  
●ou ill enough haste in thyself,  
〈◊〉 right to thee will prove an Elf.  
〈◊〉 Angels will be good to me,  
●t Devils they will prove to thee.  
Metamorphis strange I see,  
●gels with me, Devils with thee;  
●us while I wish no ill to thee,  
●ith what I have God will bless me.  
●nd will with what thou dost detain  
●t thee to a most hellish pain.   

This on my Tomb shall written be, When I in Glory am with thee.  
●Ain mortals, you think I am dead,  
You are deceived, for I am fled.  
Into that Kingdom I did choose,  
When as the earth I did refuse.  
And I in glory now am placest,  
And with a Crown in Heaven am graced.  
My soul in fair bright Robes doth shine,  
My Lord, methinks they're like to thine.  
Which in the Mountain did appear  
Glorious shining, bright and clear.   

On marriage.  
LOrd! if thou hast ordained for me,  
That I on earth must married be:  
As often I have been foretold,  
Be not thy will, by me controlled.  
And if my heart thou dost incline  
Children to have, Lord make them thine,  
Or never leted be said they're mine.  
I shall not like what's not divine.  
I no ambition have for earth,  
My thoughts are of a higher birth.  
The Souls sweet Babes, do bring no pain,  
And they immortalize the name.   

The Gift.  

MY Lord, hast thou given me away?  
Did I on earth, for a gift stay?  
Hath he by prayer of thee gained me,  
Who was so strictly knit to thee.   

To thee I only gave my heart,  
Wouldst thou my Lord from that gift part?  
I know thou wouldst deliver me  
To none, but one beloved by thee.   

But Lord my heart thou dost not give,  
Though here on earth, while I do live  
My body here he may retain,  
My heart in heaven, with thee must reign.   

Then as thy gift let him think me,  
●ith I a donage am from thee.  
And let him know thou hast my heart,  
●e only hath my earthly part.   

●t was my glory I was free,  
And subject here to none but thee,  
And still that glory I shall hold  
If thou my Spirit dost enfold.   

It is my bliss, I here serve thee,  
'tis my great joy; thou lovest me.    

The choice of my Friend.  

PRay tell the world, I did choose thee,  
'Cause thou aspirest to heaven with me.  
I did not choose for earthly state,  
But 'cause thou seem'st base earth to hate.   

It was not earth, my love did merit,  
'Twas a high and heavenly spirit,  
Thus with heaven, I did decree  
That such a one my friend should be.   

And while our spirits do aspire  
To heaven, I have my hearts desire,  
And still methinks I am yet free,  
We living both great God in thee.    

The change.  

Great God  
HOw hast thou changed my thoughts in me,  
For when I thought to be a wise,  
I then did think troubled to be,  
Because I saw most live in strife.   

But thou a husband hast given me,  
Whose sweet discretion doth direct,  
And orders all things so for me,  
As if of heaven, he were elect.   

To take all trouble quite from me,  
That earth's possession here doth bring,  
And so doth leave me quite to thee,  
Thy praises here to sit and sing.    

Promise Performed.  

MY Lord, thou hast performed most free  
What in thy word thou promised me.  
That if thy Kingdom first sought we,  
All things on earth should added be.   

Thou hast given me earth, water, air,  
And heavenly fire which is more rare,  
That heavenly flame thou hast sent me,  
To offer up the earth to thee.   

And if thou pleasest them to take,  
I willingly shall them forsake.  
I'll not be loath to give to thee  
What of thy bounty thou gav'st me.   

Plenty thou hast, great God in store,  
And if thou please canst give me more.  
If earth thou tak'st, and heaven giv'st me  
A gainer yet, I much shall be.    

Not a Husband, though never so excelling in goodness to us, must detain our desires from Heaven.  

MY heart I find upon her wings,  
Ready to flee from earthly things.  
But that the virtue lives in thee,  
On earth a while retaineth me.   

Not that of life I weary am,  
For what on earth here wish I can,  
From heavens great Prince, receive I do,  
I must most freely tell to you.   

Great blessings from him I enjoy,  
And with him I have no annoy,  
Yet these must not retain my heart,  
Another of me claims his part.   

To heavens great prince I must away,  
No love on earth here must me stay.  
He lent me but awhile to you,  
And now I must bid you adieu.    

My Descent.  

IF any one think mean of me,  
'Tis cause they do not my birth see,  
I did descend from a great King,  
And an Immortal God did spring.   

I'm daughter to the King of Kings,  
And must contemn base earthly things.  
To heaven's great Prince, he married me,  
And now my lineage you may see.   

And while I mean am in your eye,  
I often to my glory fly,  
And with my great Prince do abide,  
Where placed by his blessed side.   

With heavenly bliss methinks I'm crowned,  
His glorious beams do me surround,  
Where I set and hear the story  
Of my Prince, and see his glory.    

To my Husband.  
WHen from the world, I shall be ta'en,  
And from earth's necessary pain.  
Then let no blacks be worn for me,  
Not in a Ring my dear by thee.  
But this bright Diamond, let it be  
Worn in remembrance of me.  
And when it sparkles in your eye,  
Think 'tis my shadow passeth by.  
For why, more bright you shall me see,  
Then that or any Gem can be.  
Dress not the house with sable weed,  
As if there were some dismal deed  
Acted to be when I am gone,  
There is no cause for me to mourn.  
And let no badge of Herald be  
The sign of my Antiquity.  
It was my glory I did spring  
From heavens eternal powerful King:  
●o his bright Palace heir am I.  
●is his promise, he'll not lie.  
●y my dear Brother pray lay me,  
〈◊〉 was a promise made by thee,  
●nd now I must bid thee adieu,  
●or I'm a parting now from you.   

My Bill of thanks to Mr. C.  
THough my words rare thou dost not find,  
Might not God be praised by my mind.  
The heart, not phrase, God doth esteem,  
To him my heart in them are seen.  
Let men, like God, my words, not mind  
In them, a thankful heart they find.  
To praise him is my souls intent,  
For his great blessings he hath sent.  
You said at the end of my days,  
God would them bring out to my praise.  
My own praise! I regard it not.  
● have enough; God is my lot.  
● would hear God now praised be  
For his great blessings given to me.  
 bills of thanks oft sent to you,  
For earthly blessings, and they're due.  
Shall not then heavenly blessings be  
More prized than earth; they shall by me.  
This Bill of thanks to you I send,  
What though it be not rarely penned?  
'Tis the intention of my heart,  
That I in it to you impart,  
It is not only sent to thee,  
But Preachers all praise God for me.  
I with a Trumpet could proclaim  
Praises to the God of fame;  
For teaching me to know his name,  
All people for me do the same.   

Being in pain.  
LOrd, if my sin produce my pain,  
Pray let me never sin again.  
For pain is grievous unto me,  
And sin is hateful unto thee.  
Let me not do what troubleth thee,  
And thou'lt not send what grieve shall me.  
But if my patience Lord thou tryest,  
If I will bear, what thou appliest,  
To cure the malady of sin,  
Cease not my pain, but 'scended again;  
For pain I rather would endure,  
Then grieve thine eyes of light so pure.  
That our most secret thoughts do spy,  
And wanton glances of the eye:  
For which thou sendest punishments,  
Or else corrects with sapience.   

Being taken with a sudden pain on the Day appointed for God's public Service.  
LEt not this pain Lord, deter me  
From public offering praise to thee.  
Though private prayers may pleasing be  
From others, and as well from me.  
But public blessings thou giv'st me,  
And public praise I'd offer thee.  
Thou te●st me, if I will confess  
Thee before men; thou'lt do no less  
For me before thine Angels bright,  
And thy great Father in his light.  
In private I may serve thee here,  
But that to men doth not appear.  
I then in public will serve thee,  
Whiles here thou givest me liberty.  
And not depend on charity,  
To think I do belong to thee.   

The Antidote.  
THis Antidote will cure your fear.  
The God of heaven for you takes care.  
They cannot fear, that live above,  
Their fear is cured by their love.   

My Satisfaction.  

I Am content with this earth's fate,  
'Cause I am borne for higher state.  
Sweet quiet here I wish no more,  
I'd have my glory kept in store,   

Yet I have on those Robes of glory,  
Of which I oft have read the story.  
That pure refined souls do wear,  
Living in regions free from care.   

For with the eye of faith I see  
Myself sweet Prince, as I'm in thee:  
And with thee I do live above,  
Because we live where we do low.   
But Oh my God when shall it be that the dark Lantern of Faith, shall be swallowed up in the bright mantle of sweet fruition?   

Being called a Stoic  
NOt as a Stoic I'm exempt from care,  
But as a Christian I would all things bear.  
Nor that I blinded am and nothing see,  
No: I see all, but take all patiently.   

God's Prerogative.  
LOrd, shall I grudge at thy just will,  
Or shall I question thy great skill,  
And think the world thou dost not rule  
As thou art wont; peace silly fool.  
Without his rule it cannot stand,  
All things are done at his command.  
Do not then grudge at what he doth,  
Nor in thy heart have any ruth  
'Gainst them who now do rule the Land,  
They have no power but from his hand.  
The earth is his, and he plucks down  
Who him displease, and gives the Crown  
To others, if they him obey,  
They shall still rule; if not, than they  
Shall be destroyed with his frown,  
And to their foes he'll give their Crown,  
Then let me Lord myself submit  
To what thy wisdom seethe fit.  
Sith no authority can be,  
But what appointed is by thee.   

My Mansion.  
Liza for, do you not care,  
She lives in heaven, free from earth's fear,  
●er 'bidings in those regions be,  
●er converse with the Deity.   

Man's unkindness my Benefit.  
LOrd, what a courtesy doth man to me,  
When he's unkind, he drives me strait to thee.  
Where I my dear sweet Prince, do ever find  
Careful for me, contenting, pleasing, kind.  
Then let them be, as liketh them to me,  
●Ile not complain, sigh I can come to thee,  
Who art my joy, my love, my crown, my peace,  
In whom my joys abound, and still increase.   

My Second Part.  
I Did withdraw me from the stage  
Of this vain world, in my best age,  
Thinking for heaven thou hadst be dressed,  
So I retired for my rest.  
But thou a Prophet hadst me made  
Unto myself when I had said.  
Another part I here must play,  
Before I went from hence away.  
A wife thou choo'st out for my part,  
Which I misliked in my heart;  
And thought wedded to none to be  
Great Prince of Heaven and earth but thee.  
But thou that hadst ordained that part,  
Foundst out a means to turn my heart:  
Because my Lord, thou'lt have me see  
We happy in that life may be,  
But then on thee, we must depend,  
For thou alone that bliss canst send.  
For should our Husbands love fixed be  
Upon some others, not on thee.  
Heaven's Prince will never thee forsake,  
But still his darling will thee make.  
And should he of thee careless be,  
Heaven's Prince, he will more careful be.  
He from the earth will raise thy heart,  
That thou content mayst act that part.   

The Resurrection.  

WHy should I be afraid to die,  
Or let my body in earth lie.  
In that safe bed I'm laid to sleep,  
When others in their closerts weep.   

It is to me a quiet night,  
And next day brings the wished light,  
That makes for me eternal day,  
My body there feels no decay.   

And when I waken, I shall find  
All things well pleasing to my mind.  
Youth, beauty, spirit, now present  
Themselves for that days Ornament.   

With Robes more bright than are the beams,  
That from her pleasing Sun here streams,  
Decay they say they never will,  
For they were made with exact skill,   

To adorn the bodies that ascend,  
And on the Deity attend,  
Now shall I see my Princely peer,  
That I on earth did hold so dear.   

And with him still converse shall I,  
Who would not now let their soul fly,  
 there's no fear of decay,  
Fools that think death a dismal day.    

Fearful Uncertainty.  

OH you that know not when you die,  
Wither your Souls to heaven shall fly,  
Or wander, in the dismal shade,  
No wonder though you be afraid.   

Would you not wear black hellish weeds?  
Avoid then, wicked sinful deeds.  
Do actions that are just and right,  
If you would live in heavenly light.   

Do you think peace you can enjoy,  
That others with your deeds annoy?  
No! what you unto others do  
Assure yourselves, shall fall on you.   

And if good council, now you slight  
Look in Hell's mouth, and be affright.  
Avoid betimes, that hellish fume,  
Which all your pleasures will consume.    

To General Cromwell.  

THe Sword of God doth ever well  
I'th' hand of virtue! O Cromwell,  
But why do I, complain of thee?  
'Cause thou'rt the rod that scourgeth me?  
But if a good child I will be,  
I'll kiss the Rod, and honour thee;  
And if thou'rt virtuous as 'tis said,  
Thou'lt have the glory when thou'rt dead.   

Sith Kings and Princes scourged be,  
Whip thou the Lawyer from his fee  
That is so great, when nought they do,  
And we are put off from our due.  
But they for their excuse do say,  
'Tis from the Law is our delay.  
By Tyrant's heads those laws were made,  
As by the learned it is said.  
If then from Tyrants you'll us free,  
Free us from their Laws Tyranny.  
If not! we'll say the head is pale,  
But still the sting lives in the tail.    

To a Lady that bragged of her Children.  
IF thou hast cause to joy in thine,  
I have cause too to joy of mine.  
Thine did proceed from sinful race,  
Mine from the heavenly dew of grace.  
Thine at their birth did pain thee bring,  
When mine are borne, I set and sing.  
Thine doth delight in nought but sin,  
My Babes work is, to praise heavens King.  
Thine bring both sorrow, pain and fear,  
Mine banish from me dreadful care.   

The Conquest.  
GOd made on earth a paradise at first,  
For man, but he by sin betrayed his trust.  
But heavens great Prince who came to conquer sin,  
For me won Heaven and Paradise again.   

Questions and Answers.  

Qu. LOrd! why have I so much from thee?  
An. thou'rt child to me.  
Qu. But why on earth have I such store?  
An. In Heaven is more.  
Qu. Lord I have more than I do need?  
An. The poor then feed.   

Then sigh I'm thine,  
I'll be divine,  
And what I've more.  
I'll give the poor.    

To a Friend for her Naked Breasts.  

MAdam I praise you, 'cause you're free,  
And you do not conceal from me  
What hidden in your heart doth lie,  
If I can it through your breasts spy.   

Some Ladies will not show their breasts,  
For fear men think they are undressed,  
Or by't their hearts they should discover,  
They do't to tempt some wanton Lover.   

They are afraid tempters to be,  
Because a Curse imposed they see,  
Upon the tempter that was first,  
By an allseeing God that's just.   

But though I praise you have a care  
Of that all-seeing eye, and fear,  
Lest he through your bare breasts see sin,  
And punish you for what's within.    

Safety.  
MY gracious God be not my foe,  
It matters not if man be so.  
And let my ways great God please thee,  
Then from all foes I shall be free.   

What Kingdom to be wished.  

WHose Kingdom can I wish but thine,  
Who makest hell, Heaven and me divine.   

●hat Kingdom ought I wish to be,  
●t where all thine shall reign with thee.   

●l thoughts of Kingdoms I will banish,  
●t of thy Kingdom will not vanish.   

No Kingdom must I wish,  
But heavens great Prince of glory,  
Which if I be divine,  
Will be mine only story.   

earthly blessings do me surround,  
With heavenly blessings I am crowned.  
●n earth I live free from all care.  
because heaven's King I love and fear.    

Comfort in Temptations and Afflictions.  
COme Christians that so mazed be  
At earth's events, O come and see  
What cause there is for your dismay,  
When God takes care for you each day.  
Th'Apostle bids us then to joy,  
When as temptations us annoy.  
And heavens great Prince said unto you  
Before, he bid the earth adieu.  
Let not your hearts here troubled be,  
For if you do believe on me,  
In heaven a Palace there is for you,  
Fear not, in me, it is your due.  
Is't prison that doth you affright?  
In dungeon deep he'll be your light.  
Is't war whose fear you do pretend?  
The Lord of Host can you defend.  
Is't sickness that doth cause your dread?  
He easy can make your sick bed.  
Unless by these he will you take  
Into his glory, and there make  
You to behold those Visions fair,  
Will ravish you from all your care.  
Then sigh heaven's King can safe you keep,  
There is no cause for you to weep.  
You shall not enter to his rest,  
If you by doubting him molest.   

On going to the Sacrament.  
I To the world Lord will let know,  
That I desire thy death to show;  
By going to some public place,  
And take the pledges of thy grace.  
And when I take the bread, than I  
Will say, my Lord did for me die.  
And thus I'll do great God for thee,  
For thou hast done much more for me;  
And when I drink the wine I'll tell  
Thy blood redeemed my soul from hell;  
And then I'll offer up to thee  
What thou sweet Prince! requirest of me.  
None but the Sacrifice of praise  
Dost thou require now adays,  
And that I should remember thee,  
When as these things are done by me.   

My Prayer in my Youth.  
MY Lord, whose mercies to me are unspeakable; Who in thy works art great and powerful, wholly bend mine affection on that which is certain, and not subject to varibility; to that which no sinister mishap can alter; Oh, let not my Soul which thou hast made to be fed with heavenly Manna (which still will last) here seek to be satisfied with vain delights, which soon will vanish. Banish from me the Thoughts of vain delights, and make me know that they must end. And for those infinite blessings which thou hast deigned to bestow upon me, make me for ever to admire thee, and from my heart send up the sweet incense of thanks and praise for thy heavenly benefits bestowed on me thine unworthy servant.   

The Temptation.  
MY Soul! Wouldst thou find favour with the Lord, be not then afraid to go to him; Let not the fear of thy former past sins, nor of thy continual weakness be an occasion to hinder thee of thy happiness, but let the assurance of the pardon of thy sins, and the certainty of the promise to strengthen thy weakness, animate thee to go confidently to the throne of grace. There do not imagine that thou seest thy sins stand as a thick cloud to keep thy prayers from ascending to the presence of thy God, nor think that through that dark cloud thou seem'st unseemly in the eyes of thy loving father; be not thou ignorant that the bright beams of his gracious favour, hath dispersed those clouds of thy sins, never to be gathered again together, before his pure eyes. Know thou, that he will not let such fearful sights, and sad appearances, to stand in his presence, to affright his dear chosen children; No my Soul! such sights are not there; he that calls thee hath removed from thee all those things which should hinder thy passage to him; or disturb thy quiet appearance, before him. He calls thee, and bids thee be confident in his presence; He assured thee by his word that thou shalt find his spirit strengthening thy weakness, and enabling thee to perform that which thou thoughtest impossible for thee to overcome.  
My Soul! he hath brought thee from thy straying errors, he hath enabled thee to overcome the manifold temptations of thy subtle enemy, when he would have made thee to have thought there was no God, than thy God manifested himself to thee, when he would have had thee taken pleasure in the vain delights of this wicked world, than thy dear father having a watchful eye, and a careful mind over thee, sent a heavy dulness into all the powers of thy soul & body, enforcing thee as it were to leave those earthly vanishes, because neither soul nor body could take delight in those things, which others call pleasures, by reason of thy exceeding heavy dulness. Then dost thou my soul, think that a most severe punishment on thee from thy father, when thou sawest others enjoy the blessings of thy God with great contentment; Then in the height of this distemper wert thou my soul almost brought to the pit of despair. When as the enemy pictured before the eyes of thy soul, the sad appearance of the anger of thy God, and still he persisting in his pernicious temptations, bid thee leave ●is service, telling thee it was to no purpose to be so careful to serve him, for thy prayers were not heard, ●hy tears not regarded, thy heaviness not removed; and ●f God's word be true, he hears all that calls upon him, ●nd removeth from them their griefs. Thus subtly ●elt my enemy with me, thinking to have in wrapped me in his hidden nets of most pernicious temptation's. First, making me to think my God was angry, then that he heard not my prayers, and that his word was false: thus by consequence feign would he have made me to have doubted of thy being, O my eternal and ever-being Father. By these snares would he have bereft me of the hope I had in thy word, by which I was brought to know thee. Thy creatures teach us (I acknowledge O Lord) to know that there is a God, but they cannot teach us to know how to come to this God, or how to find comfort in thee our God; 'tis only thy word can declare to us what thou art, and thy spirit it is that must assure us, that this word is thine. It was thyself O Lord, who art able to perform what thou hast decreed, that hast brought this flinty heart of mine to the knowledge of thee. My Lord, I must ●eeds confess thy powerful working in framing this heart of mine to the belief of thy word, and thee; for before thy spirit mollified this heart of mine, thy word was to it like water gliding over the hardest marble, no whit entering or piercing the same.  
My gracious Lord, thy divine Majesty in all the changes and chances of my life, hath had a most peculiar care of me, for now hast thou taught me to know, that those temptations, and those perplexities, in which my soul was in, have been all disposed for the good and happiness of my Soul. Now thou makest me to know that thy word is true, and that our grief doth work for our good: for though our temptations be never so great, thou canst and wilt deliver thy children.  
It was thy Majesty that kept me from doubting of thy being; it was thy fatherly goodness that stupefied the powers of my Soul and Body with that heavy dulness, not because thou wouldst punish me for my sins, no! thou didst teach me to know, that my gracious Saviour had already endured the punishment that my sins deserved; My Lord, thy Majesty did not lay that dejection on me proceeding from thy justice, but thy mercy. For my God I must confess to thee, that which thou then didst know, for than I did love the world, more than I loved thee, and because thou wouldst have me love the pleasure that should never end; thou mad'st me to take no pleasure in these delights, which never end but in sorrow. That heaviness was then a bitter pill to purge my Soul from the gross humours of earthly love, that afterwards she may be made more fit and apt to receive the sweet bliss of thine everlasting love. This thy love to me kept me from falling into the miserable pit of despair; thy loving kindness it was that moved thee to let that word of comfort with which thou sustainest thy servant St. Paul, sound ever in my ears, That thy grace should be sufficient for me without which grace of thine, I not having sufficient strength of myself, should have fallen into the gulf of everlasting misery. Thy love likewise kept me constant to thee and thy service, & kept me from doing or saying that in my despairing thoughts, that had not been fit for thy servant to do or utter. Thy unwearied love and great wisdom it was that sent those trials and temptations to me in my youth, that thou mightest sanctify my youth to thy service, and make me careless of those pleasures, that my young years were too much addicted to.  
For if thy Majesty had suffered me to have run on, to have taken pleasure in those vanities, till I had been enwrapped in them, and had set my whole delight in those vanishing pleasures. Then had it been more hard and grievous to me to have left them; But thou, O my Lord, didst deal more graciously with me; for before I knew what pleasures meant, thou took'st from me the ●ove of pleasure, for which great mercy of thine, I render thee most hearty thanks.  
My Lord! When I consider of these thine infinite mercies, I cannot choose but admire thy goodness, and admiring, say unto thy heavenly Majesty. O Lord, what am I that thou shouldest have such a peculiar care of me; I am not worthy to be in thy thoughts, much more unworthy to be beloved of thee; yet it doth evidently appear that thou dost love me, in that thou takest off from me the love of the world; for my Lord-unless thou lovest me, thou wouldst not have cared for my love, and I know that it was in love that thou wea●nedst me from the world, because that I should love thee alone, and not the world.   

The Angels Joy.  
YOu blessed Angels, by my Father are we honoured to have you for our attendance. Sure your lovely faces could not but look sad when my Saviour suffered: for methinks it was a sad fight to behold, your loving Lord hang tormented on a cursed tree, and for those too, whose sins caused his torment; and then for you to hear him cry out in the bitterness of his Soul, My God, my God, Why hast thou forsaken me? Methinks it should have so incensed your wrath against us poor mortal creatures, that you should have petitioned to your All-powerfull Lord▪ that all humane flesh should have suffered endless torment, seeing they had so justly deserved it, rather than your righteous Lord should have died.  
But whether my Soul; in the deep consideration of the undeserved suffering of thy righteous Saviour dost thou run? Shall the Angels which are our attendants be grieved at our happiness? My Soul, wrong not those blessed spirits with such vain thoughts; for God was not pleased, nor his wrath appeased towards us till that time: Oh sad time, yet pleasant time, the time of thy most gracious dying: Sad, in respect of thy torments, O blessed Saviour; yet pleasant in respect of the unexpressable liberty, and endless happiness, which by thy powerful dying we obtained.  
Oh Blessed Spirits, I cannot now think, that you were displeased with us, for your nature doth so concur with his will, that it cannot be opposite to it.  
But yet God was angry; yea, to the very apprehension of his only Son, What else made him cry out so grievously, My God, Why hast thou forsaken me? God was angry then with his Son, for us; you had reason then of grief for him, not anger towards him: but yet sure to see him angry with his Son, and to see his only Son so grievously tormented, you could not but be moved, what then must move you? sure it could be nothing, but our sins for which he suffered.  
Oh you heavenly Spirits. I find you rejoicing, when we had our Saviour born, and sure you could not but rejoice, when the work of our salvation was finished, your joy was then intermingled with your sorrow, if you be capable of sorrow, for you could not but sorrow, to see your God so grievously to suffer; you could not but rejoice, to see that they on whom you attended, should be so happy, that by his death they should be admitted to enjoy eternal life.  
If you joy at our repentance, sure your joy at our ●rgivenesse, and then was the time of our forgiveness ●ome, when he willingly yielded up his life, that we ●ight live eternally, than was our debts paid, when as ●y now glorified body, Oh Son of glory, was debarred ●f the heavenly appearance, of thine eternal Godhead.  
Ye blessed Angels, ye joyed in your sorrow, and ●ot we, but our sins were hateful to you, which were ●he cause of his most grievous suffering.  
More bitter than grim death could be,  
My sin, my Lord was unto thee,  
Because I sinned my Lord did die,  
Because he died, hate sin will I.   

On Earthly Love.  
FRom thee, O Heaven of glory flows that celestial stream, that being taken hath power to make us forgetful of our earthly love, the which must vanish, and alone can set us free from those tormenting passions.  
Thou sweet stream, having cured us of those distempered passions, hast then the power to work in our hearts a more peaceable and durable affection: earthly affection, ever brings distemper, sometimes distraction; but that sweet love, which thou O pearly fountain, raisest in our breast, flameth in our hearts, peace, rest, joy, and it worketh a perpetual assurance of still enjoying what we love, wish, or can in heart desire.  
My Lord! My soul is ravished with the contemplation of thy heavenly love; and I cannot choose but infinitely admire thy mercies to me thine unworthy servant; for grievous were the perturbations which I was subject to, when I was infected with the poison-bane of earthly affections, the which a time thou wert pleased to let reign and tyrannize in my breast, which like a thorn in the flesh, not being drawn out, by the hand of art, lies throbbing and working torment, not only to the place where it hath taken up its abode, but brings distemper to the whole body: So that unruly passion having taken up his place in my heart, did not only tyrannize there, but wrought distraction in my Soul, and bred distemper in my body; But blessed be thy Majesty for that distemper, for in that time of my weakness, thou Oh all-powerfull hand, by thy most heavenly art, didst draw from my heart that tormenting passion, and by the addition of thy heavenly love, which thou didst leave in the room thereof; thou repairedst in me the breaches that that unruly passion had made.  
When I was sick I thought that I should die,  
I did mistake, 'twas earthly love, not I   

HOSEA 2.19. My Contract.  
MY Lord! Doth not thy Majesty send thy messages of love and favour, to those that will take hold of them, and believe there shall be a performance of what is promised, Thy Word tells us, That they that believe in thee shall have eternal life: My Lord, I do believe it, and that this Message, sent by thy royal Ambassador, belongs to me, aswell as to any other; [I will marry thee to me for ever] Thou art righteous and wilt perform it; who would now refuse so great, and so good a King? I disdain not marriage, I desire it with this great Prince, who is the Prince of Kings, and at whose footstool they must one day lay down all their Crowns, and bring in all their riches at his command: The greatest of them must confess they hold their Sceptres of him, and to him they must do service, at his will. This is a Prince of such exact perfection, that I cannot see any thing in him any way to be disliked. When I consider any creature, I can find in it but little to be beloved, but a great deal of inconvenience with it, to be disliked; why then should I set my mind on the creature of so little worth? and not wholly have my mind intent on the Creator, who alone is excellent. Most mighty Prince, I must confess myself unworthy to be the least servant in the Court of so magnificent a King; much less to be one who shall have the honour to be married to thee; but because I do think myself unworthy of thee, shall I be such a fool to refuse so great a fortune? No, I will not. My Lord! I now challenge thy promise, for I do think thou hast prepared me a mind for thyself, for thou mad'st me long since to be ambitious of perfection, but when I saw it was not to be obtained in this world, how slightly did I esteem of all things in it? thou having prepared my mind for thyself, by the dislike of all imperfect creatures, and the love of perfection, Thou mad'st me to see a clear perfection in thyself, and wroughst in me a love to thee; and because I dare not presume to the thoughts of possessing thee, thou seeing my desires, sent that comfortable message to me, and to all that do sincerely love thee, that thou will receive us to thyself, and wilt marry us to thee for ever.  
I being wedded to Heaven's King,  
As his blessed Spouse must his praise sing.   

The Souls Agitation.  
MY great and glorious God In what a strange agitation is my Soul, being assailed by two contrary considerations; the one of my heavenly bliss, in which thou didst at first make me, and to which thou hast and wilt, in the fullness of time again restore me; the other of the sordid and vile condition, in which I had by my rebellion enwrapped myself. The thoughts of the first fills me with a sweet contenting joy; the consideration of the other with a hateful detestation of myself; for when I record in my mind, how thou at the first mad'st me a creature of a rare composition, one part of thine own divine spirit, the other of earth purified, by thy heavenly art, and built up fit for a Temple for thy divine greatness to inhabit; these thoughts fill me with a pleasing contentment. But when the consideration of my vile condition, in which by my too much yielding to please my earthly companion, comes into my mind, I then hate myself, for I have thereby made myself subject to all painful diseases, yea, to mortality, by my intemperance; for how justly might I have pleased myself in the lawful and temperate use of all thy other creatures; and could not a whole world of pleasures content us, but we must take that one forbidden? My God I am to myself, a hateful creature, how much more must I needs be to thee, whose eyes can behold no impurity? but my dear Father look not now on me as I have clothed myself, but look on me as new arrayed by thy blessed Son, the King of Saints.  
And to settle the disturbed motion of my mind, send down a beam from thy glorious divinity, that might so enlighten the eyes of my Soul, that I might now behold myself, as clothed with thyself, for thou wert pleased to  thy divine nature with my mortality; that my mortal nature might be made immortal, by being joined to thy divinity. My great God these thoughts will not only take off my hatred from myself, but I fear, if it be possible, make me too much love and admire myself: but it cannot be; for that bright beam from thee, makes me see myself, not but in thee, and with these thoughts hast thou so raised my Soul beyond what it was, that I see myself clothed with the bright white robes of thy pure innocence; for thou knowest no sin. I now look on myself as sacred, and on this flesh as immortal, only because it hath spo●ted itself with sin, after thou hadst made it purer than the common earth; therefore in the earth must it be laid again to be purified till it be fit to be new built up a glorious structure for her divine companion: Then wilt thou take us both up into thy glorious habitation, where we shall not be capable of doing any thing that shall any more cause us to part from ourselves or thee.  
I once immortal was Lord! made by thee,  
I that bliss lost; But I again it see▪  
Restored with more, great Prince of Saints to me.   

The Contempt of the World.  
MY Gracious God Do I offend thee, if I contemn the world? I find thy blessed Apostle counting all but dung in respect of the knowledge of thee; then by his example I hope I offend thee not; but yet, when I consider it is thy workmanship, which is most excellent, and thou hast given it to the sons of men, I cannot but call my thoughts in question with some suspicion of fear of offending thee; for my dear God I confess, that what I see most desired by people, for themselves or for others, is to me most displeasing and distasteful. My powerful God if I do not offend thee in it, still keep me in this mind; if I do, root out (as it is my daily prayer) this contempt, and all things else that within me disliketh the pure eyes of thy divine Majesty.  
My Lord! Somewhat to clear myself to the world, that I do not offend in this point (for thou knowest my heart) I do not contemn any thing in it, as thinking meanly of it, as thou hadst made it; My great God thou madest all things good at the beginning, but since the making of them, the perfection of all things is much changed. Our sins altered the purity of all things in the world; then as it is made sordid, by our sins, I distaste those odd things I see pleasing to the most.  
But my Lord! This may draw me into another inconvenience, and make some think, I think better of myself then of others, for distasting those things sullied with sin; But I know thou wilt answer for me, that I confess to thee that by nature I am sinful, addicted to love those things soiled by our sins; so that it doth not make me think well of myself, but it makes me love and admire thee the more; when I see thy abundant mercy to me, in giving me a mind, so contrary to the most; for I doubt not but thou hast made many in the world as happy as thou hast made me, in giving them such a mind; For my dear Father! What do they achieve when they attain that here which they desire, a few conveniences, accompanied with ten thousand troubles, ●ears, and distasteful cares; for I have often heard some express, how happy they should be but for such and such inconveniences, when I having food and raiment ●ufficient, and possess a heaven of felicity in thee, am happy without a But.   

The Royal Gods.  
MY Lord! With what a Title hast thou honoured the Kings of the earth: I have said ye are Gods; and the Children of the most high. Thou hast given them that Title their desires pretended too, to be Gods, and to be of their race, they that knew not thee, my great God nor from what true immortal race they sprung; yet would have the world think them to be of divine lineage, and themselves to be gods. And shall not we, who know from whom and by whom King's reign, think our Princes to be as they are styled by that great King, who set them to reign for him? God forbidden, but that we should so think of them, and they of themselves. He is the great God of the world, and hath set them as lesser Gods under him, to govern and protect that people over which he hath placest them. The people must then honour their King, as a God under him, not observe or adore him above him; and he must esteem himself as a God ●oo●; if he be of that great immortal race he will not degenerate, but will be like to him: He will be like a fiery pillar in the night of ignorance and darkness, to direct them which way they shall walk; and as a cloud in the day of persecution, to keep them from the pursuing adversary: he will my God with thee hid them under his wings, and they shall be safe under his protection: he will be just too; punishing those who seek the destruction of thine and his people. His bowels of mercy will be extended, and he will not punish according to their deserts; and rather than destruction shall shall come to thine and their people, they will follow the example of that renowned Prince, thy firstborn Son, they will with him a while leave their glory, and take up with him an humble deportment, and cry with him, Thy will be done not mine: They thus imitating thee, their great pattern, shall be blessedt by thee with eternal renown, and crowned by thee in immortal glory: but first thou hast said, They must die like men.   

The Rule.  
MY Lord! What an infallible rule hast thou left us, to know, whether we be thine or no; for if the preaching of the Gospel of our blessed Saviour Jesus Christ, be to us foolishness, and as a thing we delight not in, we may justly fear we are to perish: but if it be esteemed by us the power and excellent wisdom of God, which delights our hearts; we may be confident we shall be saved; for the preaching of the Gospel is to them that perish foolishness, but to us that are saved it is the power of God, 1 Cor. 1.18.   

PSALM 119.165. The Souls Peace.  
MY great God how often dost thou make us to see, and by experience to know the truth of thy most acred Word, 'tis great peace indeed, that they possess who love thy law: thou keepest them in such secure and pleasant pavilions, that nothing shall ofiend them, they must speak to thy praise, whom thou hast blest, and if I have been thought too mean to speak in the praise of ●n earthly King; My God, I cannot but confess myself too mean, too ignorant to speak off, and in the praise of the Majesty of Heaven.  
But Oh thou greatest and highest Ruler of all the Great on earth, under whose feet lie all their crowns of Majesty: Thou hast told us thou art no respector of persons, but thou acceptest of the prayers and praises of thy meanest creatures. Then must my Soul speak to the praise of thy Sacred Majesty, for the peace that thou hast given me, since the time that thou hast taught me to love thy Law; thou hast made me to delight in the multitude of peace, thou hast given me peace in thee, thy blessed Son set me at peace with thee, and I have such a peace in thee, that all the oppsition of the world cannot take from me. I am at peace with thy servants, I am sure they will not hurt me; I am at peace with thy creatures, for thou hast made the stones, and beasts of the field to be at league with them that fear thy name; I pass by thy creatures, and thorough them without fear, for they are at peace with me.  
But canst thou my Soul say, thou thus possessest a happy peace withal No, I cannot: for than they that have sought to disturb my peace, by their odd untruths, will tell me, I said not true; for I have seen and felt their Arrows of uncivil war strike against my heart: But my God thou hast so strongly armed it, that their arrows have recoiled back, and not pierced my heart: How can I choose then most blessed and sweet finger of Israel but speak in thy own words; 
Great peace and rest shall all such have  
As do thy Statutes Love,  
No danger shall their quiet state,  
Impair or once remove.    

The Support.  
MY Lord! When in my young years, the consideration of thy infinite mercies, had penetrated my heart. I confess there was with it, an earnest desire i● me to do or suffer something, whereby I might manifest my love to thy Majesty, for those great unexpressable favours that thou hast deigned to bestow on me thy unworthy servant. But than had I no other thoughts in me, but that if the contrary Religion (which then too much abounded) had prevailed, I then might have offered up my life in flames, with devotion to manifest my love to thee: But now thou hast turned the tide, and art pleased to suffer two great powers to rise, both professing to maintain the truth of our Religion, so that now thou hast taken off my thoughts for suffering so for thy sake, but thou hast put me on another: My Lord! I will not say worse for me: for whatsoever is done by thee, with me or by me: I am confident, it is the best and fittest for me, though death to some spirits be easier to bear then reproachful speeches: And I confess with impatience heretofore did my unruly Spirit, detest reproachful words, and thought a religious death far better: For my Lord, thou knowest what reproaches and slanderous speeches they are subject to, that profess thy name, or declare thy mercies to them.  
But let them now speak, and in their speech, declare their little love to thee my Lord, and their malice and spite to thy children, thou shalt set my spirit beyond the reach of their contempt, where with a holy contempt with thee, I shall laugh such fools to scorn. And now I dare not say, I am an ignorant woman, and unfit to write, for if thou wilt declare thy goodness, and thy mercy by weak and contemptible means, who can resist thy will. My gracious God, I will be now so fare from being unwilling to do it, that I will not rest till I have done it, for in all ages thou wilt not leave thyself without a witness of thy mercy and goodness to thy children, and therefore I will send out my words to speak thy praise, and as thou hast made them comfort to some troubled minds, so I wish they may be to more, when they shall see the truth of thy merciful dealing with me, and how thou hast made me so happy in this world, as my heart can wish; for thou hast given me my hearts desire, and hast fulfilled the request of my lips; for there is not that thing in the world that I can desire more, than what thou hast given to me. For long since, my Lord, when thou hadst given me sense to see, that no earthly thing though never so excellent or pleasing could give us a perfect contentment, than made I my prayer to thy divine Majesty, that thou wouldst be pleased to give me that which the world could not give; and though I confess I did then think it was impossible ever to possess a true content in this world, yet my dear Father, I must now ask thee pardon for those misdoubting thoughts; for I have seen thou canst give us a joy, and a true content, beyond the expression of our souls, in this world; for when we possess thee with, and in thy creatures, we enjoy a felicity that fills our hearts with an unexspressable delight; My Lord! when thou art pleased to manifest thyself unto our souls, thou bringest all that can be desired. Death that to some natures, the mention of it is bitter▪ to thine, thou makest it a pleasing companion, and with pain thou makest them pleased and happy, and for the bitter speeches of the world, which thy children must hear, thou makest us to forget or contemn them.  
I must confess to thy honour, my great King, that thou makest me not to remember the bitterness of this life, thou answering me with such joys in my heart, and thus wilt thou at length, my gracious God, bless all thy children that with an upright mind, and a sincere heart, do earnestly seek their happiness alone in thee, and not from the world.   

PSALM 85.10. The Perfume.  
IN thee most blessed Prince, are those two excellent ingredients mixed, which yield so sweet a sent to the world, that no corrupted air of our unsavoury enemy is able to disperse. Thy most blessed body, the sweetest and truest perfume that ever proceeded out of the earth, was joined with the odoriferous scent of righteousness from heaven. Blessed joseph, knew thy perfect body needed no embalming; That pure Balsam that came from heaven at the beginning, kept thy precious body from corruption.  
On the cross was all that that was to be suffered in the body, finished, God would not suffer his holy one to see corruption; truth made haste, and sprung the third day from the earth, and righteousness shown herself from heaven; in thee met mercy and truth, righteousness and peace there kissed each other. Now are they in thee conjoined never again to be separated. 'Tis not for ignorant man, seeing thou hast not revealed it, to examine what thou didd'st with thy precious soul, when thy body was in the grave. My Lord! I will not search into those secrets, kept in thine own Cabinet: Thou hast revealed enough to confirm my faith, and to make me happy. Thou hast told me, That righteousness looked down from heaven; I will not expect thy coming from any other place.   

The Acknowledgement.  
MY Omnipotent God, feign would I say something to thee, but I am afraid. But shall my womanish fear make thee lose thy glory; My God it must not! Thy glory must so dazzle mine eyes, that I must not regard the censure of the world.  
And if thou, O allseeing eye! seest aught of myself, in what I writ or say, restrain my hand from writing, and my tongue from speaking; but if thy glory be the intention of my heart, let not my hand and tongue be ashamed to confess that I cannot but see those infinite blessings that thou hast bestowed on me, which thou hast not as yet bestowed on all. My Lord! I were a fool if I did not see them; I were a beast if I did not acknowledge them; but thou hast taught me to know the only true God, and jesus Christ whom thou hast sent into the world, to take away my sins; this wisdom given me by thee, inlightens mine eyes to see thy blessings, and that I must not be like a beast which receives many favours from thee, without acknowledgement; Then with infinite thanks I do acknowledge to thy glory, thou hast enriched me with a multitude of thy blessings.  
And that I may know, that whatsoever is in me tending to good, is from thee: there are times that I cannot see any thing that hath any appearance of good in me; for when, by thy mercies, I lay me down in peace to take my rest, being happy in the consideration of thy infinite mercies, and full of thy goodness; yet in my sleep I find my thoughts busied in nothing but a multitude of confused follies, and vain imaginations, which plainly represent to me my natural condition; that by nature I cannot think a good thought; but thou remembering thy mercies in the morning again, restorest to me thy gifts and graces in which I was happy the night before; So that thou makest me to lie down in peace, and to rise with joy, when I see that thou dost each day renew to me thy heavenly gifts, for thou art to me as thou art to all that fear thee, the light of my eyes, the joy of my heart, and a Crown of glory to my head.  
My Lord! shall not these blessings of thine be acknowledged by me, to thy praise and glory? for fear the world should say, I were proud of them: Most people glory in something or other, and thou hast said, Let them that glory, glory in the Lord. My God thou hast heard my prayer, that I leanrt of thy servant, that thou wouldst give me a glorying heart, and now thou makest me with him to rejoice in the God of my Salvation. My Lord! experience hath taught me to know, that if I delight in earthly things, thou wilt take them from me; for thou wilt not have thy children delight in any thing more than in thyself. But if we love thee thou wilt manifest thyself to us, and wilt give us more full possession of thy desired self. But my beloved Lord, if after the expression of my excessive joy, for being thine, I shall through the frailty of mine own nature, and thy sufferance fall into any great transgression, to make thee for a while to withdraw from me, the pleasing and joyful light of thy countenance. My tender Father, assure me that thou wilt again restore me to the joy of thy salvation here in this world, or thou wilt in thy mercy take me to a more full possession of thee in the felicity of thy chosen, where I shall perpetually rejoice with thy children. But to make me careful of myself, let me remember thy warning, Let him than thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.   

The invincible Soldier.  
MY Lord, the Lord of Hosts; I being in sweet security under thy banner, cannot but acknowledge with thanks thy mercy to me, for the means that brought me to this felicity. Thou art merciful to me in letting me be borne of Parents, who were listed under thy command, and to be brought up by her that did survive, who knew thy service was perfect freedom. She that was happy in being a Soldier of thine, used her authority by love, to bring her children under the obedience of that General, whom she served, and to make me love him in my childhood, whom her experience had taught to love and admire; inforc'd me to read his Royal story, wherein I might see his victorio us conquest, who was never foiled. There did I see his enemies had all their forces from him, wherewithal they resisted him. His wisdom, his power, his valour, stole into my heart a little desire to follow him. But when I came to consider what a great Prince I should serve, what impenetrable weapons and armour he had provided for me to defend myself, what rewards he had promised to give to all that did overcome; I began to contemn the thoughts of serving any but that victorious Prince of glory. And seeing great God, thou hast bid us take that impenetrable armour. I will not willingly ever go without it. Then dear Prince bestow on me the Girdle of Truth, and put on me the breastplate of thy Righteousness, and let my feet be shod with the Gospel of peace, and let me have the shield of Faith, and set on my head the Helmet of Salvation, and instruct me how to wield the Sword of the Spirit, and when I am so armed, I shall not fear the fiery darts of the assailing enemies, Though they be principalities, and powers and rulers of darkness in this world; My Prince whom I serve, is a Ruler of those Rulers, and will assist me: yea the stars shall aid us in their courses against our adversaries. That bright morning star shall arise on our side, to enlighten us, and to dazzle and affright our weak-sighted resisters, with his exceeding brightness. The sweet influence that flows from that overruling star shall make us to renew our strength, each hour to maintain the battle: his gracious aspect will make all his fight Soldiers victorious Conquerors, and at the length he will take them up into a Triumphant chariot of glory, to reign with him as Kings in his Kingdom of immortal felicity, where he will place on their head a Crown of eternal glory.   

On ECCLES. 9.7. Go eat thy bread with joy, etc.  
MY Dear Lord! with what a sweet and pleasing object this morning hast thou presented mine eyes, that they may deliver it to my heart, for to my heart, thou art pleased to speak it, and if any shall ask if that message was sent to me, I will aver it was, for they who by the hand of faith lay hold on the promises of God, are and shall be partakers of those promises; My hand presented that object to mine eyes, mine eyes delivered it to my heart, my heart took hold of it by the hand of faith; so that I may confidently say, It belongs both to Soul and body; And now methinks I hear my God saying to me, Go, But some may say, Go is a word of separation, and so he will say to those that shall for ever be debarred of his happy presence: but yet to me he says, Go, but it is not from him, but with him, to that blessed place from which Adam fell; and I am sure it is not from him, but with him; for from him is hell, but here is joy and gladness to my heart, and delicacy of clothing, and in his presence is the fullness of joy and at his right hand is life everlasting. But did I say it is to that place from which Adam fell; my thoughts then hovered too near the earth; it is to heaven my God bids me go with him; for I must eat my bread with joy, and drink my wine with a merry heart, and let my garments be always white, and my head must want no odoriserous ointment, for God accepts thy works.  
My Lord! When I consider that those words were spoken to those whose works thou acceptest: My confidence is somewhat shaken; whether or no those words were spoken to me, for thou art a God of pure eyes, and canst not behold iniquity. I am a creature unclean, defiled with original and actual sin. How then canst thou O God accept my works, for unclean hands defile what they touch.  
But stagger not my soul, nor doubt; for now to my memory is presented, that to the house of David was a fountain set open, for sin, and for uncleanness: Hast thee thither my soul, that thou mayst be clean, for thou needst not doubt, but that fountain belongs to thee; for from eternity by election wert thou affianced to him, that was to be the immortal son of David, and so thou being of his lineage, the privilege of that fountain must belong to thee: yea my Soul, thou hast heard himself cry out; If any thirst let him come to him and drink, and out of him shall flow rivers of living water.  
I will not stay, but will hast and run to thee O blessed fountain of life, and I will drink abundantly of that desired water, that shall make me capable of so great a bliss, and purge me clean from my actual and original pollutions, so that my God may accept my works, and I go with confidence to eat my bread and drink my wine with a merry heart.  
But stay my Soul! dost thou think to run to heaven in a full career of felicity and pleasure; thou canst not but remember that the servants of God, have eaten the bread of affliction, and drunk the wine of astonishment, and mingled their drink with their tears; this was their portion heretofore; I confess it was so, but I find in this message at (now) which calls to my mind that there was a time when I could not do so; for when I lay polluted in the deformity of my sins, and had my hands foul with the poison of mine iniquities; 'tis no wonder, if then our bread be the bread of affliction, and our wine the wine of astonishment, and how can we choose but mingle our drink with our tears, when we feed ourselves with those hands which we have washed in poison? how can we choose but think that that bread must end us here, and carry us from a fearful life in this world to be tormented in a hideous place of misery for ever.  
On●y God How can they either eat or drink with contentment, who have not first sought out that fountain wherein they may wash themselves clean from that dreadful poison: But my Soul, have heard thee ●ay, thou wouldst hast to that pure stream, and wash thee clean from thine iniquities, and thou being clean, mayst now go and possess those free liberties.  
My Soul, Thou must now flee to heaven, and there eat that living bread, and drink that wine of life, which cannot be taken but with excessive joy, so that out of them shall flow rivers of living waters; springs of joy shall rise in thee, and streams of thanks and praise shall flow from thee, to thy dear God, for his infinite blessings; these will be to thee rivers of life.  
And from heaven my soul mayst thou take those white garments with which thou mayst always be clothed, for his garments were white and glistering: then ask for those robes of purity that are his, for thou mayst be sure thou shalt obtain; and being clothed in those garments thou needst not fear thou shouldst ever be found naked or unseemly dressed, for thou shalt be gloriously habited, because God will make thy righteousness in him as clear as the light, and thy just dealing as the noon day; and now my Soul thou loving and desiring those garments of righteousness, needst not fear that thy head shall want any precious ointment; for if thou with and in that great King, lovest right and hatest iniquity; God, even thy God will anoint thee with the oil of gladness.  
And now my Soul, Thou seest the privileges that are presented to thee in this speech: but thou saidst erewhile, it belonged to thy body too; I confess it did, but my thoughts were so taken up with the consideration of the infinite felicity of my Soul, that I had almost forgot my body; and truly did not she accord to the action of my Soul, and desire with her only to be happy by the privileges that adhere to her by reason of my Soul, I would never seek to content her, nor regard any privileges that belongs to her, but she is an assenting companion to my Soul, and an instrument to convey the promises of God to her, and shall hereafter be a perfect glorious companion with her in eternal bliss, I will now regard the privileges that belong to her in this message: And though I thought tha● place from which Adam fell too mean for the felicity o● my Soul, yet for my body it is a place sufficiently considerable; and seeing the benefits that were lost by the first Adam, are all, with many more restored to thee by the second: My body, thou mayst go with my Soul, and eat thy temporal bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart, and thy garments may be pleasant and delighting, and thy head want no odoriferous ointment, for our bountiful and liberal God, hath given us many creatures for pleasure and delight, as well as for necessity; but 'tis with a restraint, our bodies are of Adam's race, we must not touch that which is forbidden; thou mayst use them all with an innocency, not with any sinister end, or to think to make thyself like a God, by them or with them; but thou mayst lawfully use them all to praise thy God, for them and with them.  
Thus my body, thou seest thou art happy with my Soul, and my Soul is happy in thee, and you shall be both glorious together in Heaven; and now my heart can wish no greater bliss on earth, but my tongue must ever say, 
To my Great God all glory be,  
That gives such blessings unto me.    

Ambition.  
MY Lord, I will not ●inely desire to pry into thy Cabinet of secrets, to find out what was the reason, why thou didst cast down those sometime bright Angels in Heaven, now tormenting & tormented spirits in hell; but I have heard that some have thought that it was for having too ambitious and too high desires.  
My Lord! Can their desires be raised higher than are mine? for I confess mine reach unto thy Throne; Nothing will now satisfy me, but to be enthroned with thee in glory. I am grown so confident too, that I aver those high desires in me to be lawful, and know that for them thou wilt not cast me from thee, but wilt enthrone me with thee,  
My Lord! I see 'tis dangerous to do any thing in thy service without a command, or a message from thee: For I see many things done by thy command, blest with felicity, when without, punished with misery. I find no command given them for such desires; but methinks I hear that blessed Apostle of thine, When returned from his heavenly rapture, calls to me, and tells me from thee, that I must seek those things that are above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God, and that my life is hid in Christ with thee: so that now I seeking to attain my high desires, made lawful by thy command, am not only placed on thy Throne, by thee, but I am in thee; and those rebellious Spirits that sought to obtain their ambitious desires, without thy commands, are not only cast out of thy blessed presence, but also are for ever to be tormented in eternal misery.  
Now on thy Throne thou hast placest me,  
Great God with thee,  
No greater bliss can wished be,  
My Lord by me.  
I now will set me down and rest  
Being so high blest.  
MY God I will not do good on earth to shine with thee in glory: But because I will shine with thee in glory, I will do good on earth.   

Upon Peter's denial.  
SAint Peter! How well had it been, hadst thou spoke and kept thy word; for why shouldst thou be offended at thy good Master; he telling thee that himself should be smitten, you should but be scattered: Had he told you that you should be smitten, and he separated from you, there might have been some reason, you might have been offended; but when himself was to be smitten, and for your sakes too, to secure you from eternal destruction; Methinks the offence was taken on the contrary side. But if in thy family, it was so taken, thou strict Prince of perfection, no wonder if it be so in families of loser liberty, and full of imperfection. I do not wonder to hear thee say, Thou wilt not be offended, but I wonder that thou were not overjoyed to hear him telling thee, that for all he should so suffer, yet he would after he was risen, go before you into ●alille. Methinks, I should hear you filling the world ●ith songs of , for joy of that Kingdom ●e hath promised you, from his Father, and for the assurance he gave you of his resurrection; rather than hear ●ee denying such a powerful and loving Master, with ●athes. My Lord! Let me, with him, not be ashamed ●o profess thee; but keep me from the shame of de●ying thee, or if thou mayst gain glory by my fall, give ●e with him, abundance of tears, and a heart and ●ongue to confess my fault to thee, and to the world, ●hat thou and they may see with him, my repentance.   

My Redemption acknowledged.  
MY Lord! Hast thou spoken it, and shall it not be performed? It is impossible? Thou the Ruler of ●ll the world, hast by thy blessed Prophet, bid, that ●hey which are redeemed by the Lord, declare with praise, how he hath redeemed them from the hand of the oppressor, rather than thy word should not be fulfilled to thy faithful friend; Thou wilt raise him children ●ut of the dust of the earth, rather than this command not be performed, thou wilt raise me who am as one out of the dust to be one of them, that must declare with praise, how thou hast delivered me from the hands of mine enemies. And though I find it a thing now adays done but by few; and so by doing it, may make myself a wonder, and ridiculous to the world, and some other womanish reasons, that might detain me from it; yet I cannot but know thou hast redeemed me● and I must confess, it was thou alone, my great God that hast done it, for it was none but the great God, and Ruler of the world, that could deliver me 〈◊〉 of the Lands of that great enemy of mine, and of all mankind; that Prince that rules in the air, who goes about like roaring Lion, seeking each minute to devour us: O● of the arms and power of that fiery enemy, hast tho● unparalleled Conqueror delivered me, else had I bee● led captive to his will; For that great deliverance 〈◊〉 thine, my Soul shall render thee continual praise: I was thou, O great Prince of life and death, that triumphed over death, thou only canst deliver me from th● fear of death, and make me embrace it with a Heave● of contentment. It is only thou my Lord, who alon● dost arise to them that fear thy name, with healing i● thy wings, canst, and hast cured me of, (to man) uncurable diseases. Thou hast cured me too of the plague o● my own heart.  
No Conqueror did Conquer aught,  
But o'er what Death had power,  
Thou Conqueror haste Conquered Death,  
Which Conquered us each hour.   

PSALM ● Thou hast compassed me about with Songs of Deliverance.  
BLessed King! Well mayst thou say, Thou shouldst b● compassed about with Songs of deliverance, when th● Lord of Hosts was thy hiding place; with him are n● Complainers; in his presence is nothing but joy; thos● that are under the protection of his pleasant wings, cannot but have their hearts full of excessive joy, which moves their tongues to sing songs of praises and thanksgiving to their great and powerful protector for delivering them out of all their troubles; needs must thou be compassed about with Songs of delight, thou couldst not choose but sing thyself too, those Songs thou didst teach to thy chief Singers; that they might enclose thee in the sweet air of delighting praises, and with thee my Soul must desire to sing, when with thee I am so protected.   

Saint Stephen.  
GOd can make our faces to shine like Angels to daunt our enemies; and he here can make us to see his face to shine in glory, to comfort our Souls: Why then should we fear our fiercest enemies; why then should we not be confident of the aid of our loving and powerful God.  
Thy blessed power is like thy Light,  
But our frail fear is like our night.  
MY Soul being placest on the wings of contemplation, with them raises me to the Regions of felicity.   

The foundation and felicity.  
MY great God Thou that hast aided me in laying the foundation of assurance, assist me still now ●owring in the turrets of contentment; and let all know, that they can never with safety ascend the turrets of delighting contentment; if they have not first laid the true foundation of assurance.   

Upon the Temptation of the doubting of Heaven.  
MY Soul! Though that subtle enemy of thine, and of all men, do seek to seduce thee, by his insinuating persuasions, to doubt of that unexpressable and immortal felicity of thy Soul and body: yet my Soul, faint not! For if the holy Writ be true, thy felicity is certain; the which my gracious God I do most confidently believe, to be the written word of the God of all the world, by whose word and will, I, and this Fabric were created; though that pernicious enemy, seeks to persuade me that it is a fancy of a studious brain, and writ to keep people in awe to human obedience. And because nothing doth please our Souls, but the thoughts of eternal bliss, nor affright them, but the dread of eternal punishment, therefore have they feigned a heaven for reward of the virtuous, and a hell for punishment of the disobedient; and that those felicities, of which I have written, are but fictions of my own brain, and somewhat like they that invented it, and partly taken out of it.  
But my gracious God, keep me, that I fall not by these temptations, but let me know why he is, and hath been so busy in drawing me to doubt of thy being, and of that glorious heaven, which I do notwithstanding his temptations, believe I shall possess with thee.  
My God is it to draw me to a lose liberty of my life, and so by disobeying thee, I might live in fear of being cast out of thy favour to eternal punishment? if so! I will tell him, that he may cease his labour: for if that which I believe to be the holy word of God, be a fancy of any brain, it is so just and pleasing to my soul, that with all my power and might; I will endeavour to lead my life according to the direction of that exact and royal Law; and so hateful is any thing to me that is contrary to it, that when thorough my frailty I do what in it is forbidden, I am hateful to myself, till I am assured that that offence be washed from me, and that something within me assures me, that the breach of that transgression, is pardoned. This is a strong argument to me against that temptation, and of the divinity and eternity of my Soul; for if my Soul were not to be eternally either happy or miserable, why should the expectation of eternal misery, trouble me, and the assurance of eternal bliss so exceedingly joy me. Tempter go! Reason and experience teacheth us to see, that likeness breeds love; our Souls, our minds (for such things there are) can never love nor delight in what is not; but our Souls affect eternal glory, then sure such a thing there is: but be it so, or be it not, such a thing is presented to our consideration, and if I am not to live a life of eternal bliss hereafter; yet for the happiness of my present life, I will so near as I can run in the paths that lead to that heaven, which I so much affect, that I might live with a confident hope that I shall possess it, for nothing can truly satisfy my Soul, but a heaven of eternity, and with these thoughts I can live on earth in a heaven of felicity.  
Tempter! Thou art like to lose thy labour, for I must take up that resolution, not to live a sensual and vicious life; for if I have no grace, such a life is hateful to my disposition, and such a life would not I live, were there no God to give blessedness, or no Devil to torment. But one thing more I have now to tell thee; I in the Sanctuary of the great God of all the world, presenting my petitions to him, that by something I might be assured that thy wicked suggestions to make me doubt of his being, were false, I was directed to consider the glorious Sun, which then shined bright in mine eyes; so that I plainly see, that great God, of whose being thou wouldst have me doubt, doth aid and assist me against thy wicked temptations: for it cannot be but a great God, that can make and govern so glorious and so great a light, the God that made that, made me; that God I did offend in my first parents, and since in my own person, but to him am reconciled in his first borne Son Jesus Christ, who is God and man, and for his sake shall I possess a Kingdom of felicity here, and at the last a Kingdom of eternal glory.  To him be Glory.  

On the Sunrising.  
AS the appearance of the Sunbeams, disperseth the clouds of darkness, which brings sadness to the earth: so let the bright shining beams of thy Spirit, O heavenly Son of light disperse the clouds of dark despairing thoughts and vain imaginations, the which do darken the brightness of my Soul, and bring sadness to my heart. Let them purify and raise my mind, that I may still be singing praise, and let me ever say.  
To my great God all glory be,  
Who makes his light to shine on me.   

Heaven upon Earth.  
MY Lord! Though thou wilt not take me from earth to live in Heaven with thee; yet thou coming ●rom heaven to live on earth with me, makes me on ●arth to live in heaven with thee.   

The Temple.  
MY God Is my body the Temple of the Holy Ghost? What Palace can there be in this small Fabric, fit ●o entertain so great a Prince; yet thou hast said, If my love thee, thy Father will love them, and thou, and ●ee, and thy holy spirit, which cannot be separated ●rom thee, will come and make thy abode with him. My Lord and King! thou knowest I love thee, for ●ong since I was willing to have left the world, and all ●he blessings that thou hast given me in it, to have gone to live with thee: but what talk I, leaving the world to come to live with thee. Thou art come into ●he world to live with me and in me. But my great Lord, where in me, shall I find thee; hast thou inthron'd thyself in my heart, give me then thy assistance, that no proud imagination, for my own greatness, may arise to disenthrone thee, and make the distaste that habitation; but be thou in my heart, ever attended by sweet humility and humble obedience. Let all the members of my body be employed in thy service; Let my hands administer to thy Saints, and not stretched ●ut to covetousness. Let my feet be swift to run in the ways of thy commandments, and not to shed innocent blood: or if in my head thou hast taken up thy seat, there let humility attend on thee too, or I sha●● fear thou wilt go from me; for thou resistest th●● proud: but though thou be'st high, and instabitest eternity, yet thou, O great Prince will dwell with th● humble. Then in my head, and in all that belong to 〈◊〉 do thou find humble obedience, that there I might retain thee. Let not mine eyes have any proud look nor be windows to let in vanity, but let them be eve● looking to the hills from whence cometh my salvation▪ Let not my tongue which thou hast given me to serum thee, be employed to backbite or defame any th● lest of thy children, or any one; for how know I who ar● thine, or who not, but let my tongue be ever speaking to thy praise and glory; and let the words of mouth be accptable in thy sight; nor let mine ears listen t● any idle or unseemly discourse, that may displease th● divine Majesty, and let my nostrils be ever filled wit● the sweet savour that comes from thy heavenly garments: So if all the faculties of my body be imploye● by my Soul, humbly to serve thee, I shall live and express a glorying heart, because I know this body is th● Temple of the Deity.  
Then where I am a Heaven must be,  
For thou dost bring a Heaven with thee.   

The true Object of Love.  
MY Lord! When thou wert pleased to take my thoughts quite off from the world, I was directed to regard that place, where thou bidst us cease from man, for wherein is he to be accounted of, for his breath is in his nostrils, yet he a creature after thine own image, and the excellentest of all thy workman ship on earth yet this rare creature, his love, his hatred not to be regarded, for thou canst in an instant take away that thin fume of life, and then what power hath he to love or hate. My Lord! He is indeed a most contemptible creature in respect of thee. But when my Soul enters into the consideration of thy greatness and deep abyss of thy endless power and mercy. My Soul is struck dumb, and knows not what to say, but silence giving me opportunity to consider of thy infinite love to me, power, form, beauty and excellency, in, and about thee; my Soul is wounded with a deep affection towards thee, and love cannot, will not be silent: And ●ow my great and powerful God, was it not enough for thee, to make so great and beautiful a structure for me, and for all men; but when I had run from thee, by my disobedience into the territories and tormenting arms of my enemy, for thee, O most glorious Prince of eternal bliss, to leave thy Kingdom where thou ●ert attended by a multitude of bright Angels, and blessed Saints, which continually sing thy praises with ●heir heavenly voices; for thee to leave such transcendent delights, to take on thee my frail flesh, and come ●o me, and subject thyself to all the contempts that ●n insulting enemy could impose: had nor this been enough to have manifested an unanswerable love to so contemptible a creature, but thou, My dear Prince I who wouldst set a perfect pattern of humility and ●ove, for all that were thine to follow for love to me, ●hou wert content to die, and the most painful and ignominious death that could be inflicted on the mean●st person: Thou who wert served by all the world, was pleased thus to serve for me, and to die, to save me from eternal death; and before I knew into what tormenting habitation I had plunged myself by my rebellion, ●hou wert pleased to declare to me how thou hadst redeemed me out of those most cruel inthralments, by ●hy willingly yielding to die for me; for none could ●ave power, O great Prince of Heaven and earth, to have taken away thy life, hadst thou not laid it down of thine own accord thou wert please to tell me too though I live here among thy enemies and mine, yet ● should not be afraid of them, for they can but kill my body, and that too not without thy leave, for none ca●● take thy children out of thy hand, unless thou ar● pleased to deliver them into the hand of their persecutors, and by that fiery Chariot to convey us to that immortal Kingdom, which thou hast promised to thou that believe on thee; where we shall receive from th● hand the beautiful Crown of our eternal glory. ● my God Who can choose but be ravished with thy unfa●dom'd mercy, and unexpressable love to thy poor, ye● by thee enriched creatures. My dear Prince! Wha● shall I do, to let all the world know what engagements my Soul hath to thee. I do wish it were in my power, as in my desires, that all the world may sing Halalujahs to thee for the saving of my Soul from tha● cruel adversary, and for the glory that thou wilt inve●● her in, and that they would sing public praises unt● thee, for thy mercies to themselves too: would tha● were their employment, then should not thy service be so much slighted, nor thy name so much dishonoured nor thy servants so much contemned; But 
Let them sing praises to thy name,  
Whom thou hast blest,  
And kept their Souls from endless pain  
And placest in rest.  
Thou hast me kept from hellish pain,  
And placest in rest.  
How can I choose but praise thy name  
When I'm so blest.    

Rom. 12.1.  
MY Lord! I cannot plead ignorance, for I must confess I have often read it, and knew that I was to ●er up myself a living sacrifice to thy Majesty, and to ●ve myself wholly to thy disposing, and not to have ●y sequestered thoughts from thee, dedicated to mine ●wn ends, in either my actions, words or thoughts: but ●y dear Father, I now plainly see the necessity of entering ●to thy Courts, to hear thee, most gracious Prince ●eake to us by thy Ambassadors; And I, nor any other ●ught to say; what should I go thither, to hear a man ●ell me, but what I knew before? But my Lord, thy Ordinances are powerful, and thou workest more effectually ●n our hearts for the most part, by the preaching of ●y word from them, then by our own reading and study, and now I begin to suspect, I have not offered up my ●lse so exactly to thee, as I should; for me thought, ●e besought me from thee, to offer up myself a living sacrifice, wholly and acceptably to thee, My Lord! I ●ave heretofore long since given myself to thee by ●ierce meals; but I fear, reserving something from thee, ●nd if offering myself wholly to thee, be but a reaso●oble serving of thee, sure when I reserved any thing ●om thee, that service was contemptible: But graci●us Father, pardon all that heretofore I have done a●isse in thy service, for now I do give up myself wholly to thee; But how shall I dare to say myself, I ●are not appear by myself in thy presence, yet with, ●nd in myself I may; Thou hast taught me out of thy ●oyall story, to know that thou hast given me that Princely Son of thine, I cannot choose but accept so ●ich a present; then seeing he is mine, and I am his, I am confident to present myself to thee, with and in him; My Lord, thou canst not but take the care 〈◊〉 me, now I have given myself wholly to thee; th● gracious Father let me live without fear of falling fr●● thee; for if I fall from thee, wilt not thou lose pa●● of thy glory? My Lord, I know it stands not wi●● thine honour to let that perish which is committed i● to thy hands; then sigh I have committed myself wh●●ly to thee, let me with confidence sit down and re●● and fear no evil, 
For from all ill I shall be free,  
Sure nothing can be ill to me.    

Upon Adam's fall.  
MY Dear God did thy Majesty make Adam wi●● before he fell, than any man; or hast thou si●● his fall given man the gift of Faith, or had he no nee● of Faith, or did Adam not believe thee the maker 〈◊〉 all things, so much as we believe each other? Su●● Adam did not believe thee, when thou toldst him th●● the day he should eat of that tree, he should die t●● death. We think men wise when they avoid what 〈◊〉 told them will hurt them. I find Adam not so wi●● and if one tell us, Mercury will cause our death, w●● that are called the depraved Sons of Adam, will not ea● it, if we be in our right senses, though the pureness 〈◊〉 the colour may tempt us, and it be only a morta●● man that tells us so, who neither made it, nor eve● tried it. Adam believed not the O Lord, who made that tree, and gavest the nature to it; O Adam, wha● made thee to eat of that tree, hadst thou not this grea● world full of all pleasures to content thee, a beautiful healthful active body, a mind endued with all excellent and pleasing knowledge: No where couldst tho●● cast thine eye but it had pleasing objects: nothing couldst thou taste, but it was delicious; no troubled mind, no distracted thoughts, to take thee one minute, from these delights, or cause thee to wish a change. Oh what then was it? But now I must check myself; Great God pardon me, I now sin with Adam, whiles I am enquiring why Adam ●inn'd: he would know what he should not, I what I cannot; Thou hadst made him so wise as was sufficient for any mortal man; and hadst given him such qualities of his Soul as were requisite to have made him for ever happy, in that blessed condition. Frail Adam, I will no more examine, whether thou hadst faith or no, or whether thou didst think to have been happier by what was kept from thee, then in possessing what was so plentifully given to thee.  
Great God, I will content myself to know thou hadst made him at first in a happy condition, and us so in him; and will be patiented now I see myself in a worse: because thou hast given me faith to believe I shall be in a better. And as Adam made himself unhappy by expecting to be happier; So I shall be more happy by believing I shall be gloriously perfect hereafter.   

Security in Danger.  
MY Lord! When with that blessed servant of thine I send up to thee my petitions for security against those that rise up against us; Let me receive his assurance that thou hearest me out of thy holy hill, and let me say with him, I will lay me down and also sleep in peace, for thou Lord only makest me dwell in safety. I will not be afraid, of ten thousand of people, that should beset me round about; for seeing it hath pleased thee to let me be in a Kingdom of division, though blessed be thy name who hath yet preserved me, I am now in a place of peace, yet for aught I know I might to morrow be encompassed with ten thousand enemies, though not to me in particular, yet to those among whom I am now in safety: But if thou art pleased I shall be so enclosed, then let not me be afraid of them, shr thou canst preserve me, either by destroying those that would harm me, or by letting me find favour in the sight of mine enemies, or by their hands canst thou send me to thy blessed Tabernacle of security, where I shall never need any more to send up prayers for deliverance, but shall always sing praises to thee, for having so many ways to deliver me.  
And so all fear I now may bid adieu,  
Go enemies, I'm secured from you.   

The Royal Priesthood.  
PEace! Present now no more to me (to take my spirit from the height of felicity) that I am a creature of a weaker sex, a woman. For my God If I must live after the example of thy blessed Apostle, I must live by faith, and faith makes things to come, as present, and thou hast said by thy servant, that we shall be like thy blessed Son: then thou wilt make all thy people as Kings and Priests, Kings are men, and men are Kings; And Souls have no sex; the hidden man of the heart, makes us capable of being Kings; for I have heard it is that within makes the man; then are we by election capable of as great a dignity as any mortal man; But thoughts of mortals! now Adieu; I will close the eyes of my Soul, to mortality, and will not open them but to eternity; seeing that by thy grace and faith in thee, thou hast made us partaker of thy divine nature, by thy assistance I will live by faith; I will no more now see myself as mortal, but as an immortal King will I begin to live, that hidden man never dies, but when mine immortal King, that placest me in this Kingdom of felicity with him; shall see it fit time, he will raise me on a triumphant Chariot, composed of the wings of bright Angel, to his immortal Kingdom of Glory, where I shall reign with him for all eternity, and never more desire to change. And as a Royal Priest must I be to thee; ever offering up the sweet incense of my praises to thy divine Majesty, for thy infinite mercies to me, thy unworthy servant.   

The secure Pavilion.  
MY God, Thy children need not now pray that those lips may be put to silence that speak grievous things against them; they have long since had a friend, and thou a servant, that sent up his petitions to thee for that, and as if he been ravished with a present answer from thee, he cries out; O how great is thy goodness, that thou hast laid up in store for them that fear thee, before the Sons of men, that would dishonour thy servants. And now he hath brought us so pleasing a message from thee, that it is no wonder if we with disregard slight those unsavoury words which we hear. And now look here all you who shall any way slight or annoy his children, by your odd speeches; they are placest above your reach, for God will laid them in the secret of his presence, from the pride of men, he will keep them secretly in his Pavilion, from the strife of tongues, you may shoot, but your aim must be above your head, if you think to hit them, and when you have shot, your arrows cannot reach them, but they may light where you would not have them, on your own heads.   

A Question.  
MY God What business on earth is worth detaining a Soul from Heaven, that is prepared with desire to come from earth, to live in heaven with thee.  
Palmer! Why told you me, God hath something here remarkable for me to do, before I leave the earth; else could I have laid down my head each night, with expectation of a mornings rise in heaven; now I do lay it down only with a contenting joy, that I am his, and that when his will is done with me, or by me here; I shall then go to possess tha Heaven which only can content the desire of my immortal Soul: Had you not told me so, I might have hoped, that excessive joy, for the glory which I shall possess, might have raised me to that bliss to which I do aspire. My God, my Soul breathes after thee, and cannot be satisfied, till she comes to a full possession of thee.  
Lord, what on earth can there be done by me,  
Worth keeping here, my longing Soul from thee.   


Wings my Doves you have now obtained  
To flee to that Invincible Rock  
Where you may hid you safe  
In those Cliffs of Security  
From your Malignant Enemies,  
Who may flee after you.  
And think to grasp you,  
And so to hurt you,  
But they cannot.   

But you may without any gall tell them;  
You are placed beyond their envies reach,  
And with that blessed Apostle may say  
'Tis a small matter for me to be judged  
By you, or of man's judgement  
The Lord is Judge of all;  
He judgeth me, and I  
Am safe under  
His powerful Wings.