crucifixion scene Ecce gui tollit peccata Mundi.   

PIOUS INSTRUCTIONS, IN MEETER.  
FITTED TO THE WEAKER CAPACITIES.  
Thy justifications were sung by me, in the place of my Peregrination. Ps.  118. v. 54. 
PRINTED in the year 1693.  
With licence of Superiors.   

ADVERTISEMENTS.  
1. COnsidering that those for whom I chief made these Verses, are not skilled in the reading of Abbreviations, which sometimes are pronounced otherwise than they are written; to avoid the confusion that might follow, if I should write them as usually words which are abbreviated ending in D. and are pronounced with a T. I have written them with T. as pronounced.  
2. Complying with the desires of some friends, I have noted in the Margin several Texts, which are related unto in this book, and commonly but one in a place; althô there be many more relating to the same subject: the Margin not being capable to contain all.  
3. And note, that in the Verses, are not always the very same words of the Text, but sometimes only the substance, or allusions to the Text.  
4. Again, observe that the Catholic Bible names four Books of Kings, whereas the Protestants call the two first, the Books of Samuel. And whereas the Protestants divide the 9th. Psalms, and join the 146. and 147. Psalms in one, which the Catholic Bible upon better Authority doth not; in all my Citations I follow the Catholic Bible: and therefore the Psalms which I cite between the 9th. Psalms, and the 147. are always the Psalms following, in the Protestant Bible. As for example; when I cite the 136. Psalms, Upon the rivers of Babylon: it is the 137. in the Protestant Bible: and so of the rest.   

THE PREFACE.  
HAving been conversant above three and thirty years with the poor, whom to assist has been my employ; I find a docile spirit amongst them: and that many of them are hungry, as I may term it, and eager after Instructions, not so much in curiosity, as to be informed of their duty. But, I fear, this of holy Jeremy is too much verified in these days. The little ones have asked bread, and there was none that broke it to them. Lament. c. 4. v. 4. Not but that there are many excellent Sermons made, many pious and learned Books writ: but that men of this age being grown so curious, and of itching ears after eloquence of speech, acquaint and refined language in Prose, Poëticall fancies, and conceits, in Verse: that where these are not found, the Sermon, or Book, takes not, let the subject be never so pious: which makes most Preachers, and Writers, incline to dress up, what they render, in such sort that it may be grateful to those who esteem themselves the Wits of the Age. And perhaps all the profit they reap from them, is this Elogium: The man spoke well; he has writ good language, and is full of witty conceits: and in the mean time, those who seek more after the virtue, than the curiosity of the word, are deprived of their desires: the language, or conceits, so exceeding their capacities, that they cannot attain unto the sense: and so make little or no advantage.  
I speak not this as condemning such Preachers, or writers: for certainly, when Piety, Learning, Wit, and Eloquence, are joined together, that is the most complete Work. But I rather make an Apology for these plain Verses, which I dedicate unto the Poor, who indeed stand most in need of Instructions, which must be given to them in an humble and low stile, befitting their capacities. Wherefore, I hope, no pious person will carp at them, which are beneath a Poet's censure: since I pretend not to Poetry in them: but only have put such Instructions, as I think needful to the Poor People, in Meeter, fitted for tunes: such manner of reading being most delightful to young People, sooner learned, and better retained: which they may learn to sing, and so prevent the great abuse that is now a days among many, in singing profane and lascivious songs. And I doubt not but some will say, that these exceed the length of songs. I grant it: but since I make them for Instructions, commonly the subject I treat of, (considering the capacities they are fitted to) cannot be fully explicated in shorter, to their advantage. And they may serve the good man to sing working at his trade; thereby to edify his family. Receive then, you little ones of Christ's flock, and my dearly beloved, these my small endeavours for you, and make that use of them which I hoped for, when I made them: that knowing what is evil, you may avoid it: and what is good you may embrace, and put it into practice: that so Christ's coming may not be in vain to you: who came not only to redeem you from sin, but also to teach you Virtue. And if this Book may happily advantage you in this, (as I hope it will) I have what I aimed at and as I ever had a love for, and desire to serve you, so I hope you will be mindful, in your prayers, of  
Your true friend in Christ, B. Leo of S. Mary Magdalen.   

THE TABLE OF THE CONTENTS.  

A Devout Prayer. p. 1  
Christ's Thirst of man's salvation. p. 5  
The Seven Sacraments. p. 14  
Baptism and Penance. p. 21  
The Sacrament of love. p. 34  
The Sacrifice of the Mass. p. 45  
The israelites Lamentation. p. 52  
The 2. part. A sinner's Lamentation. p. 61  
The World's glory is Vanity. p. 63  
The 2. part. True joy in Virtue. p. 71  
The fruits of Drunkenness. p. 76  
Death and Life in the Tongue. p. 82  
Take not God's name in vain. p. 89  
A Liar to be excluded human society. p. 97  
The true Art of loving well. p. 102  
Of Pride. p. 111  
2. Part. Of Humility. p. 115  
Of Patience, and the contrary. p. 120  
Of Obedience, and the contrary. p. 127  
Of Poverty, and the contrary. p. 138  
Of Chastity, and the contrary. p. 146  
Do Pennance. p. 153  
Of Prayer. p. 162  
Our Father. p. 171  
Hail Mary. p. 178  
Of Fasting, and the contrary. p. 185  
Of Alms-deeds and the contrary. p. 193  
The Angel Guardians advice. p. 200  
Liberty and Mortification. p. 209  
Hope and Despair. p. 213  
Of Death. p. 222  
Of Judgement. p. 229  
Of Hell. p. 238  
Of Purgatory. p. 244  
Of Heaven. p. 252  
S. Mary magdalen's Life. p. 261  
S. Francis his Life. p. 278  
The Books Address to the Reader. p. 315    

A PIOUS HYMN, OR PRAYER IN HONOUR OF CHRIST AND HIS B. MOTHER.  

HAil MARY, hope of all mankind;  
Hail pious, pure, and meek of mind;  
Hail full of grace; 
Luk 1. v. 28.  God's holy spouse:  
Of all that's good the Treasure house.   

Hail Virgin chaste, 
Luk. 2. v 7.  Christ's Parent dear,  
Thou who alone didst merit here  

Luk. 1● v 35● Isai 7. v. 14.  Without a father to have child,  
To be a Mother undefiled.   

Empress of Angels, queen above,  
Poor sinners comfort, for Christ's love  
Pity my tears: let joy begin  
In my poor heart defiled with sin.   

Comfort a Sinner in distress,  
And give not to the merciless  
The honour which is due to thee:  
O Heavenly queen, my Helper be,   

And plead my case before thy son,  

Isai. 59 v. 2. Wisd 1. v. 3.  From whom by sin I've basely run:  
Whose rage and fury I do fear,  
And without thee dare not appear.   


Ps. 50. v. 6.  For unto him I've sinned alone.  
My tears present unto his Throne,  
And do not turn away thy face,  
O Holy Mary, full of grace.   

Be thou my sad heart's keeper here,  

Prov. 1. v. 7.  Imprint in me God's holy fear,  
Obtain for me pureness of life,  
In actions good, and void of strife.   


Eccli. 21. v. 1.2.  Obtain that I may sin detest,  
To love what's just, and there to rest.  
O Virgin sweet, my heart's delight,  
None hath or êre shall shine so bright   

Like thee, among the female Kind,  

Luk. 7. v. 28.  Whom God alone did worthy find  
To bear his son, who pardon gave  
To Mary sinner, 
Luk. 7. v. 48.  satan's slave.   

O pardon beg of him for me,  

Ps. 37. v. 5.  From sin's great load that he will free  
My doleful soul: lest at the last,  
In Hell with devils it should be cast.   

O pious Rose without a thorn:  
(Their help who here in sin are born.)  
Pray unto Christ for me each hour,  
That he will free me from the power   

Of tempting Flesh, the world, 
Revel. 12. v. 12.1.10.2. v. 16. Gal. 5. v. 17.19.  and Devil,  
Who sorely press me unto evil,  
On every side, in sense, and soul:  
Dear Mother help, and keep me whole.   

Christ, 
10.3. v. 16.  only son to God above,  
I beg for thy dear Mother's love,  

Luk. 11. v. 27.  In whose blessed womb thou didst take Flesh,  
Whose sweet breasts milk did thee refresh.   

By her on bended knee I crave  
Thy mercy Lord: 
Luk. 2. v. 1 ●. 1.10. ●. v. 14 Coloss. 2. v. 14.  who once didst save  
The world, and souls which are therein,  
Paying the debt of Adam's sin.   

Tho' I in conscience guilty be,  
Yet mercy beg, o God, 
Ps. 50 v. 1. Mark. 10. v. 47.  of thee.  
Have mercy, Christ, God's only son,  
Pardon the evil I have done.   

Mercy itself; show it to me,  
My sinful soul from satan free:  
Blot out my sins, 
Ps. 50. v. 11.12.  by mercy's art,  
Create in me a new clean heart.   

Grant lively Faith and Hope to me,  
In perfect Love that I may be:  
And that at death my soul may rest, 
Revel. 14. v. 13.   
which is a gift of all the best.   

Grant that my heart so grieved be  
For sin, 
Ps 50. v. 19  that I be joined with thee:  
Make me so worthily receive  
Thy Body, as all sin to leave.   

Withdraw thy anger, Christ my dear;  
Let thy pure Blood wash me so clear, 
Ps. 50. v. 4.   
Without in body, and within,  
My heart so clear from filth of sin,   

That when grim death doth seize me here,  
The Angel strong may then appear, 
Ps. 90. v. 11.   
Who is my Custos, by thy grace,  
And me among the Just may place.   

While death my body paineth much,  
Let second death me no way touch; 
Rev. 2. v. 11.   
Althô my flesh do putrify,  
My soul let in thy bosom lie.   

That when I rise my Judge to see, 
2. Macchab. v. 9   
I always may remain with thee,  
And never from thee parted be,  
But praise thee for Eternity. 
Ps. 83 v. ●.    

Hear us, o Lady, for thy son  
Doth honour thee: all that is done  
Which of him thou dost crave.   

Sweet JESUS, by thy Mother dear,  
Who prays for us poor Sinners here,  
We beg our souls to save.    

CHRIST'S THIRST OF MAN'S SALVATION.  
JESUS said, I thirst.  Jo. c. 19 v. 28. 

OUr corporal substance hath original birth,  
And is composed of four Elements;  
The fire, and air, cold water, ponderous earth;  
All natural bodies have these four contents.  
Their qualities, drought, moisture, cold, and heat,  
By consequence, they do participate.   

The Body healthful is, while these remain  
Even proportioned: but if one prevail,  
It generates sickness, bitter grief, and pain,  
And causeth stomach, health, and strength to fail,  
Creating death, and doth dissolve the whole,  
Except by Physic you the same control.   

As fire more active is of all the four,  
So heat its quality exceeds the rest;  
The thirsty man is crucified much more,  
Than who with cold or hunger is oppressed.  
By sickness hunger's less than, 'twas before,  
But burning thirst increases more and more.  
Christ therefore used this word, Thirst, to declare  
The great desire he had of man's salvation:  
His loss in grace, and virtue to repair,  
To die for sin, and free him from damnation.  
Thrice he did thirst; in Heaven poor Man to be:  
On Earth made man; and dying on the Tree.   

The Prophet David, who in many things  
Prefigured Christ, Redeemer of mankind,  
As is recorded in the Book of Kings, 
3. Kings. 23. v. 15.   
To drink of Bethleem's water had a mind.  
Of Bethleem's cistern water who'll give me  
To drink, 
1 Chron. 11. v. 17.  that my great thirst allayed may be?   

No other water, wine, or pleasant drink,  
Can satisfy or please this holy King:  
He of the living water than did think,  
Which out of Bethleem's Cistern was to spring,  
That was Christ, 
Math. 2. v. 1.  the Messiah, who was born  
In Bethleem, to save man, who was forlorn.   

So God, the King of Kings, in joys above  
Seemed not content; he had a burning thirst,  
Proceeding from the passion of his love, 
Io. 3. v. 16.   
Man to redeem, who was by sin accursed,  
To take our flesh, 
Io. 1. v. 14.  and wrap his Deity  
Within the robes of our humanity.   

In Bethleem he was born, and man became, 
Mat. 2. v. 1.   
To taste our bitter water which doth spring,  
From tribulation, sorrow, pain and shame,  
And purchase for us that which life doth bring. 
john 4. v. 13.   
He who doth drink the water I shall give,  
Nêre more shall thirst, but with me every live.   

This water's Grace, which that we may obtain,  
As Pattern Christ Example to us gave,  
To practise Virtue while we here remain,  
Whom we must imitate, if Grace we'll have.  
I here on Earth do you example give, 
joh. 13. v. 15.   
That you may imitate me while you live.   

But since he found all men defiled with sin, 
Rom. 5. v. 12.   
Before they could be capable of grace,  
They were with tears and sorrow to begin,  
First to lament, and grieve their sinful case.  
These tears he thirsted from man's heart and eye,  
That man might drink this water, and nêre die.   

When Christ did thirsty sit at jacob's well,  
He craved of the Samaritan to drink, 
joh. 4. v. 7.   
What drink he meant this woman could not tell,  
Of that well-water she did only think.  
Why dost thou water ask of me, 
V 9  since Jews  
Samaritan's assistance do refuse?   

To show what sort of water 'twas he meant  
Christ openly declares her sinful state, 
Ibid. v. 17.   
Desiring that she should the same repent,  
And give him tears proceeding from sin's hate. 
Ibid. v. 10.   
If thou didst know me, water thou wouldst give,  
And water beg, which makes the soul to live.   

This tear-probatick water healeth all  
Infirmities of soul, 
john. 5. v. 4.  when being moved  
By contrite heart, 
Ps. 50. v. 19  and from the eyes doth fall,  
It still prevails with God, as hath been proved  
In David, Peter, Magdalen, who gained  
Sin's pardon, and God's holy grace obtained.   

Since Christ this water craves, his Thirst allay,  
Shed tears proceeding from true love and grief;  
Let these be bread unto you night and day: 
Ps. 41. v. 4.   
And doubt not they will bring your soul relief.  
For Magdalen's caused God, 
Io. 11. v 35. v. 44  made man, to weep,  
And raise her brother from his deadly sleep.   

Christ also thirsted our perfection here,  
That we might our Creator imitate, 
Math. 5. v. 48.   
And therefore did like us on Earth appear, 
Coloss. 1 v. 28.   
To teach us Virtues love, and sin's true hate  
Before he came Virtue was little known, 
Gen. 6. v. 5.12.   
Less practised: nature was to vice so prone.   

Reason obscured by sin, and Will depraved, 
Eph. 4. v. 18.   
The careless Soul seemed to be ignorant  
Of future life: and what corrupt Flesh craved  
She granted, not considering her own want,  
And giving scope to sensuality, 
v. 19   
Made that her Heaven, with worldly Vanity.   

But when Christ came, he taught us to deny  
The Belly-God, and Idol-Wealth to hate, 
Phil. 3. v. 19 Coloss. 3. v. 5.   
Which teach the soul the true God to defy,  
And place her Joy in Lust, and worldly state.  
With the true God these Dagons cannot stand, 
1. Kings. 5. v. 3.   
Their base desires still thwarting his command.   

Against the Flesh Christ war did here declare,  
By Fasting, Watching, Travels, Cold, and Heat.  
Thus teaching us our Flesh still to beware, 
1. Pet. 2. v. 11.   
And as our greatest Enemy to treat.  
Riches, and Honours he did also fly:  
To teach the World's contempt, would naked die.   

Christ also taught profound Humility,  
Joined with Obedience, even unto death; 
Philip. 2. v. 8.   
All injuries he suffered patiently,  
And prayed for Foe to his expiring breath. 
Luk. 23. v. 34.   
These Virtues, with the rest, that we might learn,  
He thirsted: since they are our chief concern.   

Did this allay the Thirst of Christ? no, no.  
He more and more still thirsted our soul's good,  
That he might Grace and life on us bestow,  
He thirsted death, and shedding of his blood.  

Luk. 12. v. 50  A bloody baptism is for me behind,  
Till it be done, how much I'm pressed in mind.   

The great desire Christ had of man's salvation  

Math. 21. v. 7.8.9.  Made him with joy and Triumph to ascend  
And to admit this 〈◊〉 Accl●mation,  
Hosanna from those who did him attend,  
They also strewed Palm branches in his way;  
Thus representing his victorious day.   

When Christ the Law of Moses had completed  

Math. 26. v. 28.  A Sacrament of Love he did ordain,  
Where his beloved with his Flesh he treated,  

Math. 28. v. 20.  Resolving thus on Earth still to remain.  
Did this as yet allay his loving thirst?  
No: it was still as great as at the first.   

Nothing this burning thirst could satisfy,  
Love's fever had so much inflamed his heart,  
But shedding blood, and on the Cross to die;  
He was so deeply wounded with Love's dart.  
He therefore rises, 
Math. 2●. v. 46.  and in haste doth go  
To meet with Judas, now his mortal foe,   

Who had betrayed him to the wicked Jews;  

Math. 26. v. 15.  For thirty pence a compact he did make;  
Knowing the place of Prayer, which christ did use,  
Resolved him there with armed host to take.  

Math. 26. v. 23.  Christ knew his heart, and treacherous design:  
Yet Love would not permit him to decline.   


joh 18. v. 1.  But to the Garden cheerfully he went,  
And to declare that he was passable;  
As God, he did to Nature represent  
His future pains, which were so terrible  

Luk. 22. v. 44.  To the inferior part, which was to die,  
That he fell in a bloody Agony.   

The sense rejected what the soul approved,  
Accepting all that did advance our good:  
The sense at this with fear was so much moved,  
That Christ was bathed in a sweat of blood.  

Luk. 22. v. 42.  He prayed he might be freed, yet did resign,  
Thy will be done, o Father, and not mine.   

Great was the fear and terror; yet his Love  

1. joh. 4. v. 18  Transcended, and at last expelled all fear.  
Our soul's salvation he preferred above  
His life, and ease, as after did appear.  

Math 26 v 46 Mark 14  This made him boldly meet his enemies:  
His Love all pain, and torment now defies.   

This made him take scoffs, 
v. 42. Math 26.27. Mark 15. L●k. 22.23. Io. 19  blows, rebukes and scorns,  
False accusations, and ne'er to reply;  
His Whips at Pillar, and his Crown of Thorns:  
And Sentence that as guilty he must die.  
This made him bear his Cross till he did fall,  
This nailed him to't: this made him taste the gall.   

This made him, 
Luk. 23. v. 34.  hanging on the Cross, to pray  
For those that put him to this shameful death:  
Their malice still with love he did repay,  
Which love was constant to his dying breath,  
His thirst could not be quenched until he dved,  

Io. 19 v. 34.  And they with lance had pierced his sacred side.   

His victory could not his thirst allay,  
But, Samson like, who had a thousand killed,  
With a jaw bone, 
judg. 15. v. 19  in that victorious day,  
With burning thirst had died in the field,  
But that God caused a fountain clear to spring  
Out of that bone, which sweet allays did bring:   

Thus Christ, though, by his Cross, he had subdued,  
And overcome our mortal enemy,  
Thirsted on th' Cross, and to his Father sued  
On our behalf, to gain a Legacy,  
Which was the seven sacraments, that be  
Life-giving fountains, flowing from that Tree.   

I thirst. O Father, from my Wounds let flow  
Those sacraments, which may Man's wants supply,  
And by them you in mercy may bestow,  
Grace to their souls that they may never die:  
And thus preserve, what I so dearly bought,  
And make them practise, what on Earth I taught.   

These were the Foutains, which the Prophet saw  
In spirit, when he did the same foretell.  
Out of your saviour's Fountains you shall draw  

Isai. 12. v. 3.  Water in joy, while here on earth you dwell.  

Isai. 55. v. 1.  Come, come, make haste, all you who thirsty be,  
Drink at these Fountains, which to all are free.   

Behold the good, God's thirst brought to mankind,  
It made him man, and here on Earth to dwell;  
The way to virtue it caused us to find:  
It purchased Heaven, and preserved from Hell.  
O let us thirst his pleasure to fulfil,  
That we may never act against his will▪   

Let this thirst last, whilst here on Earth we are,  
Which will preserve us from Eternal thirst;  
And teach us those vain pleasures to beware,  
Which make the soul eternally accursed.  
Let's Grace and Virtue thirst, until we die,  
That we may quench it in God's deity.   
Amen.   

THE SEVEN SACRAMENTS.  
I saw seven golden Candlesticks and in the midst of them one like the son of Man  Apoc. c. 1. v. 12. and 13. 

The sun gives light unto the eye,  

Io. 1. v. 9  So doth God's grace unto the soul,  
That man may walk secure thereby,  
And from sin's wound preserve it whole.  
But if this light should be put out,  
The soul would perish without doubt.   

For nature is so weak and frail,  
And flesh and blood to sin so prone,  
The enemy would soon prevail,  

Io. 15. v. 5.  If God should leave poor man alone.  
Grace is the soul's security,  
Against her mortal enemy.   

This grace Christ purchased on the Tree,  
And that it might with us remain,  
The Sacraments ordained be,  
Which also do lost grace regain.  
These are the conduits, which convey  
God's grace to souls, which him obey.   

These from the side of Christ did flow;  
These with his blood & death were bought:  
By their right use God doth bestow  
His gracious gifts, as we are taught.  
These signs Christ in his Church did place,  
Still in themselves conferring grace.   


Rev. 1. v. 13.  S. John the shape of one did see,  
Midst seven candlesticks of gold,  
Who seemed the son of man to be;  
And seven stars in's hand did hold:  

v. 16.  Which shows the Sacraments receive  
From Christ, the grace they in us leave.   

In Exodus weare also told,  
Moses commanded was to frame  

Exod. 25. v. 31.37.  A Candlestick of purest gold,  
And place seven Lamps upon the same,  
Which were to burn, and to give light  
In th' Tabernacle day and night.   

This Candlestick did signify  
Christ's Church: The seven lamps declare  
The Sacraments, wherein doth lie  

Prov. 8. v. 31.  The oil of Grace, and true lights are,  
Illuminating, with God's grace,  
The soul of man, his resting place.   

seven things our bodies do require  
To their beginning and support;  
When they are born they food desire,  
But yet not of the strongest sort:  
Breast-milk feeds them while they are young,  
And grosser meat when they are strong.   

Physic's required when Health doth fail,  
Salves are applied to wounded parts:  
When Physic seems nought to prevail,  
Rich Cordials must revive their hearts.  
Superiors they are governed by:  
By Marriage they do multiply.   

These seven things most needful are,  
To give us life, and it maintain.  
seven Sacraments Christ did prepare  
For souls, whilst here they do remain.  
Baptism the first, 
Tit. 3. v. 5. Io 3. v. 5.  regenerates  
By water, souls, which God creates.   

For though the soul is innocent,  
Yet when it's in the Body placed  
United, 
Ps. 50. v. 7.  'tis incontinent  
Guilty, and in its self defaced.  

Rom. 5. v 12 Tit. 3.  By Adam's sin it dead remains,  
Baptismal grace its life regains.   

By Confirmation it is fed  
With milky grace; till it be strong,  
It must not taste that living Bread:  
To the adult this doth belong.  

Act ●. v. 17.  This gives to it the Holy Ghost,  
To strengthen it against Hell's Host,   

Who seek the soul's first fruit to gain,  
When use of reason doth appear.  
By Confirmation do remain  
In us God's Spirit, Love, and Fear,  
It doth enable us to fight,  
That we may put the devil to flight.   

Let no one than this Sacrament  
Neglect. You Parents still take care,  
That you to Bishop do present  
Your children; but first them prepare,  
To this great gift of Confirmation,  
That it may prove to their Salvation;   

When reason's ripe, a stronger food  
Christ in his love did here ordain,  
His precious Body, 
MarK. 14. v. 22.23. Io. 6, V 56.  and his Blood,  
That he with us might still remain,  
And we not fear the greatest evil,  
Being dreadful made unto the devil.   

Of this transcendent act of love,  
I shall not now pretend to treat,  
Nor how much it doth us behoove,  
Oft to receive this Heavenly Meat.  
There, and the rest, I do reserve  
To treat alone, as they deserve:   


job. 7. v. ●.  Man's life on Earth a Warfare is,  
'Gainst devil, World, and Flesh he fights:  

james. 3. v. 2.  He often errs and doth amiss,  
And wounded is by satins sleights.  
A souêrain Salve Christ did prepare,  
To heal, and keep him from despair.   

This Sacramental Penance is,  
Which, 
Io. 20. v. 23.  right applied, doth heal the soul,  
Where God gives to it Peace's Kiss,  
And grace, all passions to control,  
To root out all inord'nate Love,  
And six its joys on God above.   

What requisites most needful are,  
That Penance may work these effects,  
I shall hereafter full declare,  
And also what are the defects,  
Which hinder Sacramental grace,  
And hateful sin set in its place.   

When sickness doth so much prevail,  
That you expect your Friend to die,  
And usûall Physic seems to fail,  
Rich Cordials than you must apply,  
Life to preserve, till Nature's spent,  
Which also death sometimes prevent.   

Thus Extreme Unction doth apply  
The Church's Prayer, 
jam. 5. v. 14.  if death appear  
To those who agonizing :  
Which God is often pleased to hear,  
And longer life grant, 
V 15.  to this end  
That they their former may amend.   

Or else it doth prepare to death,  

V 15.  By full remission of their sin,  
That when they yield their vital breath,  
Life everlasting may begin.  
O! always beg, you ne'er may die  
Without this sacred remedy.   

Judges and Magistrates we need,  
The Body Politic to guide:  
So Priests, and Prelates, 
Act. 20. v. 28.  rule and feed  
All such as in the Church abide.  

Luc. 22. v. 19  Hence 'tis that such might still remain,  
Christ Holy Order did ordain.   


Io. 20. v. 22. Act. 13. v. 3 etc. 6. v. 6. 1. Tim. 4. v. 14. 2. Tim 1. v. 6.  These have their power from above,  
The Holy Ghost Christ to them gave,  
Those they ordain Christ doth approve,  
And they the self same power have.  
They are the Guides unto our soul,  
Good to promote, and Vice control.   

Priests consecrate the Sacrament,  
Of the most Holy Eucharist;  
They do absolve the Penitent,  
As being authorised by Christ:  

Io. 20. v. 23.  Whose sins you quit the same do I;  
And whose you bind the same I ty.   

By Wedlock Bodies multiply,  
And souls, which God in them creates.  
The Sacrament doth grace apply,  

Mat 19 v 6.  And God this Contract consecrates.  
Who grace to Man and Wife doth give,  

Eph 5. v. 33.  That they in mutûall love may live,   

That they their duty may fulfil,  
Breeding their Children in God's fear,  
To love him and fulfil his will:  
That, when at Judgement they appear,  
They may not bear their Child's blame▪  
As being Authors of the same.   

Here you compendiously do see  
The virtue of the Sacraments,  
As also why they seven be;  
Which sacred number represents  
The seau'nfold grace of God's blessed Spirit,  
Which we by Sacraments do merit.   

These seven stars are our true Guide,  
That we may shun the Gulf of sin:  
By these we in God's grace abide,  
And glory at our death do win.  
Let's all praise Christ, by joint consents,  
Who purchased us these Sacraments.   
Amen.  

THE TWO TABLES AFTER SHIPWRECK, BAPTISM AND PENANCE.  
Baptise in the Name of the Father  Math. 28. v. 19 

Great ships, which seem to dare the seas,  
Are oft staved on a Rock:  
Which careful Pilot might with ease,  
Have saved from fatal knock,  
If he Land mark, or Beacon had,  
With care kept in his eye,  
In storms and tempests ere so bad,  
He might have steered by.   

But now, alas! it is too late,  
The Ship is broke, and all  
The goods are lost: O doleful fate!  
That often doth befall  
The Negligent. Now all his care  
Must be, his life to save,  
Since Ship is lost, and all its ware,  
Lest Sea should prove his grave.   

And to do this he finds small hope,  
No other ship is nigh,  
To lend him boat, or cast him rope,  
To save his life thereby.  
Till laying hold of plank, or table,  
He passes through the waves,  
At length finds footing, firm and stable;  
Whereby his life he saves.   

A stately ship God once did place  
On this World's dangerous waves;  
This freighted was with holy grace,  
Which here from shipwack saves.  
This ship was Man, the Pilot soul,  

●en 4 v. 〈◊〉. Eccli. 5. v. 17.  His Guide was reason's light:  
His will had power to control,  
And make him steer aright.   

The crafty Pirate, who did see  
That Man would sail secure,  
Until this Light extinguihed be,  
The same did straight procure.  

Gen. 3. v. 4.  With lies he tempts, and doth prevail,  
The right way not to steer:  
Poor man believes, secure doth sail,  
The Rock he doth not fear.   


Gen. 2. v. 17.  This Rock was the forbidden Tree,  
Which he was not to touch:  
If so, death's prize he was to be,  
God's Pact with him was such.  

Gen. 3. v. 6.  The devil tempts, with Eve his wife,  
He eats and fears no blame;  
Thus sense deprived his soul of life,  
And we partake the same.   


Gen. 3. v. 15. c. 22. v. 18. Ps. 131. v. 11. Math 27. v. 26.  For all were lost, and still had been,  
Had not God, in his love,  
Promised Redemption from this sin,  
And all guilt to remove.  
Christ by his death did this fulfil,  
And Sacraments ordain,  
As helps for us to do his will,  
And favours here obtain.   

Of these, Baptism, and Penance are  
Those, which we Tables call:  
Ordained our losses to repair,  
And save us after fall,  

Rom. 5. v. 12. Gen. 3. v. 19  The first shipwreck that Men sustained,  
Was by Origînall Sin:  
From this, by death, Christ them regained,  
Or else all damned had been.   

Tho' Christ from pains of Hell did save,  

Rom. 5. v. 8 9.10. Io 3. v. 5.  By shedding of his Blood:  
Yet joys of Heaven no one shall have,  
But by Baptismal flood.  
This Christ ordained, that so his merit  

Math. 8. v. 19  Might be to Man applied:  
And that he now, new born in spirit,  
Might in his grace abide.   

Hence 'tis, that Children christened be;  
Christ died for all: 
2. Cor. 5. v. 16. Marc. 10. v. 14.  who saith  
The little ones let come to me,  
Althô they have not faith:  
The Parent's faith may here suffice,  
As well as Parents fall,  
Did cast them out of Paradise,  
And purchased Hell withal.   

When christening Font cannot be had,  
Desire and Love supply:  
Or else some Saint's case had been bad,  
Who did without it die.  
Of Baptism, several sorts there be:  
Water, Love's Fire, and Blood.  
If th'first to have man is not free,  
The other are as good.   

The fruits of this great Sacrament,  

Tit. 3. v. 3.  Are Justifying grace:  
The sin which we have by descent,  
That doth our soul deface,  
And actûall are remitted; but  

Act. 2. v. 38. Io. 3. v. 5 Marc. 16. v. 16.  Here grief is still required;  
Heaven gates are oped, which were shut,  
Where's all can be desired.   

After this Sacrament received,  

Esay. 59 v. 2.  Who in great sin doth fall;  
His soul of this grace hath bereaved,  

Rom. 6. v. 25.  And purchased Hell withal.  
This second shipwreck we do name,  
From which the soul to save,  

Hebr. 6. v. 4.5.6.  No one can twice baptise the same,  
What help then can he have?   

Our merciful Redeemer hath  
Left us a second Table,  
Which, joined with a perfect Faith,  
Grace to restore is able.  
This Sacrament of Penance is,  
The soul's security;  
Which if the soul doth willing miss,  
It's lost eternally.   

THE SECOND PART OF PENANCE  
Whose sins you remit they are remitted.  Jo. 2●. v. 23. 

CHrist, 
Math. 9 v. 13.  who came sinners frail to save,  
As we read in Saint John,  

Io. 20. v. 23.  Absolving Power in his Church gave,  
And this to Priest alone.  

Ibid.  Whose sins on Earth you do remit,  
And whose you do retain,  
The first in Heaven I also quit,  
The other shall remain.   

We sin, in thought, in word, or deed;  
All sin comes from these three.  
Three ways to satisfy there's need,  
That sin remitted be.  
So Penance, that's the Sacrament,  
Contains a triple part.  
Confess the fault; 
I am. 5. v. 16. Math. 5. v. 25.  the wronged content,  
With sorrow from the heart.   


2. Cor. v. 10.  These three, when as they perfect be,  
And joined with Absolution:  
As Sacrament impart to thee  
Of grace a distribution.  
Where God is reconciled again  
To thee, in perfect love,  
From Hell thou'rt freed, and dost remain,  
God's Heir to Heaven above.   

Let no one here this doubt admit,  
Suggested by his foe,  
How can this Penance small acquit  
Of sin? when all men Know,  
Sin doth deserve Eternal pains;  
And what proportion's this?  
Pennance is but while life remains,  
And that for ever is.   

It's true: 
Math. 5. v. 27.  God's Justice seeks severe  
Proportion to the debt;  
And these two equal balanced were,  

Ps. 84. v. 11.  When Mercy Justice met.  
That was, when Christ, Man to regain,  
Upon the Cross did die;  
This Sacrament he did ordain,  
His merits to apply,   

To sinful soul, that's gone astray:  
And Baptism doth the same.  
Let none deny then but man may  
Remit sin, in Christ's name.  

john. 20. v. 23.  If you believe Christ's God and Man,  
Believe he cannot lie,  
And by this Sacrament he can  
His Justice satisfy.   

And though Christ's merits did supply  
Our inability;  
Think not, because he once did die,  
You are so quit and free,  

Luk. 13. v. 3. Rom. 2. v. 6.  That you may Penance now neglect,  
And good works set apart:  
As though our saviour would protect  
A wicked sinful heart,   

No: Christ will not encourage Sin,  

Ps. 44. v. 8. Heb. 1. v. 9  Which odious is to God.  
Be sure if you do fall therein,  
You'll feel his scourging rod.  

Luk. 13. v. 3.  Except in heart you do repent,  
And, as Christ hath ordained,  
Make use of Pennance Sacrament  
Where pardon is obtained.   

First see that you true sorrow have,  
For sins you have committed:  
Your soul you can't without this save,  
Nor of sin be acquitted.  
To have this grief, consider well,  

Rom. 6. v. 23.  What fruit by sin you gain,  
With loss of Heaven you purchase Hell,  
And devil's slave remain.   

For what is sin, but à privation  
Of your act's rectitude?  
Contempt of God, and your salvation,  
And all ill doth intrude:  
Your soul's possessed by the devil,  
Where he doth rule and reign,  
Compelling it to what is evil,  
This is a sinners gain.   

This well considered, must needs move,  

1. john. 3. v. 8.  Your soul sin to repent:  
But chief loss of your God's love,  
In heart you must lament;  
This most of all let soul resent,  

Isay 59 v 2. jer. 17. v. 13. Osee. 4. v. 12.  That God is from her parted,  
(Who is her Centre of content.)  
Because she proved false hearted.   

Here let your soul grieve bitterly,  
With sorrow from the heart:  
Hence forth resolve you'll rather die,  
Than from your Lord departed.  
If he'll be reconciled again,  

Zach. 1. v 3. Isai. 1. v. 18.  Such sorrow will him win,  
To come to you, and there remain,  
Remitting all past sin.   

Next, 
Act. 19 v. 18.  all the sins you do recall  
To mind, you must confess,  
Their nature, circumstance, and all  
What's doubtful still express:  
If you conceal but one great sin,  
Or what much aggravates,  

Act. 5. v. 4.  A greater evil you fall in;  
Such sacrilege God hates.   

It maketh void your whole Confession,  
And no sin there is quitted,  
When Priest absolves; but new trangression  
And mortal sin's committed:  
And all sins after, while you live,  
Tho' you confess them plain,  
And Priest doth Absolution give,  
Unpardoned still remain.   

For till the first sin be confessed,  
That once you did conceal,  
God pardons none of all the rest:  
Be sure then it reveal,  
With all, which you since that committed,  
How oft confessed, received;  
That sacrilege may be remitted,  
And Conscience be relieved.   

When you to Priest your sins confess,  
Let neither shame, or fear,  
You hinder: but still truth express,  
And make Confession clear:  
Fear not the Priest will them disclose,  
For he is sure of this,  
If ever he discovers those  
His soul condemned is.   

Thirdly; this Sacrament requires  
You satisfy for wrongs:  
And this as Priest of you desires,  
To Penance this belongs.  

Exod. 22. v 1 Luk. 19 v. 8.  Your neighbour satisfaction make,  
Restoring what's his due;  
And ask his pardon for God's sake,  
That God may pardon you.   

To God, your satisfaction is  

Ps. 50. v. 19  A contrite humble heart,  
To mend what you have done amiss:  
No more from him to part,  
By sinful thought, 
Esay. 59 v. 2.  by word, or deed;  
Be sure you this intent.  

Math. 10. v. 22.  Pray him to help in time of need,  
Persever to the end.   

Tho' all this cannot straight be done,  
Yet really resolve,  
This to perform, when you are gone,  
That Priest may you absolve;  
Thus Sacrament works its effect,  

Io. 20. v. 23.  Which is your sins Remission,  
And grace of God, which will direct,  
To mend your life's condition.   

Be sure avoid this great abuse,  
Which I fear some fall in,  
To make this sacramental use,  
An instrument to sin.  
Because Christ left this help for all,  
Who truly do repent,  
They little care how oft they fall,  
And lost grace less resent.   

For Who presumes to sin, because  
He may here find salvation;  
Directly runs into the jaws  
Of Hell, to his damnation.  
For, to confess thus, without doubt  
He never is absolved;  
Till he doth also cast this out,  
And better is resolved.   

This Sacrament was not ordained,  
T'embolden you in sin;  
But that, when grace is here regained,  
You may abide therein.  

Luk 7. v. 38.  With Magdalen past sins lament,  
And follow Christ your Lord;  
Thus you will find true hearts content,  
When Christ and you accord.   

All praise and glory to Christ's Name,  

Mark 2. v. 10.11.  Who sin did here remit,  
As Man: and to men gave the same,  
Full power to acquit.  
As Father me to Earth did send,  

john. 20. v. 21.  I also do send you;  
Absolve poor Sinners, to this end  
That they good life renew.   
Amen.    

THE SACRAMENT OF LOVE, OR THE SACRAMENT OF SACRAMENTS.  
This is my Body. This is my Blood.  Math. 26. v. 26.28. 

Mosaic Sacraments Adieu;  
To this you must resign the place.  
You were but Figures, 
Hebr. 10. v. 1.  here's the true  
Fountain, and source of heavenly grace.  

Io. 6. v. 49.51.  You did prefigure what is here,  
True God and Man, our JESUS dear.   

Not oxen, 
Levit. 1. v. 2. c. 7. v. 9 Gal. 2. v. 19 c. 5. v. 2.  sheep, nor calves, or bread,  
Are offered here, as in that Law.  
Those types and figures now are dead;  
Aaron like sacrifice nêre saw;  
True God and Man's our Sacrifice,  
And here upon our Altar lies.   

He's Sacrifice, 
Hebr. 9 v. 28. Hebr. 9 v. 12.14.  and Sacrament,  
And first did offer-Sacrifice,  
The Priest by his Commandment,  
The Consecrating Words applies.  
By death he sacrificed on th' Cross,  
It's offered here without life's loss.   


Io. 1. v. 14.  God's son for Man's sake did descend  
From Heaven, took flesh, and man became,  
And practised virtue, to this end,  

Io. 13. v. 15. Math. 16. v. 24. Luk 9 v. 23.  That Man might learn to do the same.  
If you will my Disciple be,  
Deny yourself, & follow me.   


Io. 19 v. 28.  And when the scriptures were fulfilled,  
And what of him was writ completed,  
Tho' innocent, the Jews him killed,  
Whom they before had vilely treated.  
His Love nailed him unto the Cross,  
Man to redeem, and his great loss.   

He died but once: yet still doth die,  

Revel. 13. v. 8.  And shall as long as world doth last,  
As to th'effect, not really:  
His suffering state is gone, 
Rom. 6. v. 9  and past.  
That memory of this remain,  
A Sacrifice he did ordain.   

In the last Supper, he did make  
With his Disciples, he took seat,  
And Blessing Bread and Wine said, 
Math. 26. v. 26.28.  Take,  
This is my Body which you eat;  
This is my Blood: 
Luk 22. v. 19  do you the same,  
As a Memorial in my Name.   

Thus, Phaenix-like, he still revives,  
Tho' for our sins he once was dead,  
Like Pelican, to save our lives,  

Io. 6. v. 55.58.  His children with his flesh he fed.  
What Mother ever did, in stead  
Of Milk, with her blood children feed?   

Here did he perfectly fulfil,  
What Solomon of him did write;  
The sons of men, who do my will,  

Prov. 8. v. 31.  To be with them is my delight.  
Whom by my Death I did revive,  
With my own flesh, I keep alive.   

And this I do, that they may be  
Raised up from their poor humble state,  

2. Petr. 1. v. 4.  And that they may be one with me,  
By perfect love, and sin's true hate.  

Io. 6. v. 56.  Who eats my Flesh abides in me,  
And to him I'll united be.   

Mercy and Love did me incline,  
To leave my Father's glorious Throne,  
That I might Man's frail Nature join  
To my divine, and make them one.  
I took his flesh, and do hereby  
Return it, with my Deity.   

O sacred Banquet, 
Revel. 19 v. 9  th'Angels treat,  
Supper of Lamb, and Wedding Feast!  
On Earth become poor Man's true Meat,  
That he while here may find true rest,  

Io. 6. v. 56.  And to his Spouse Christ wedded be,  
And join him for Eternity.   

Behold here God's transcending Love,  
Which, if it were consid'red well,  
The hardest heart to love would move,  
And make it in God's love excel.  
Love made God man, 
Io. 3. v. 16.  on th' cross to die,  
And in this Sacrament to lie.   

The Paschall Lamb prefigured this,  
Which also was men to remind,  

Exod. 12. v. 13.  How striking Angel doors did miss,  
Where Lamb's Blood sprinkled he did find,  
When Egypt's firstborn all were slain,  
And Hebrews did alive remain.   


1. Pet. 1. v 19 Revel. 5. v. 9  By this Blood all men were set free,  
From the deserved pains of Hell:  
And by the same preserved be  
From devil, while on the Earth they dwell;  
Who goes about Souls to devour;  

1. Petr. 5. v. 8.  But where this Blood is ●ath no power.  
The Brazen serpent did make whole  
From desert's serpents poisonous bite,  

Numb 21. v. 8.  All that beheld it on the Pole;  
So doth this Lamb, where Faith is right;  
This nailed once upon the Tree,  
From serpent's bite set all men free.   


Gen. 2. v. 9  A Tree was placed in Paradise,  
Life Giving those who should it taste.  
This Sacrament was Christ's deaths price,  
And in his Church by him was placed.  

Io. 6. v. 50.  Who eats of this shall never die,  
But live with Christ eternally.   


Exod. 16. v. 4.15.  With Manna God his children fed,  
In Desert, 'twas their only meat,  
Which place supplied of Flesh, and Bread,  
Thus God did his Beloved treat;  

Wisd. 16. v. 20.  All pleasant tastes it did contain,  
In health, and strength, they did remain.   

True Manna is this Sacrament,  
Which doth contain all heavenly grace,  
And fills the Soul with all content,  
Till it in joy beholds God's face.  

Io. 6. v. 49.50.  Who eat that Manna now are dead;  
He nêre shall die that's with this fed.   

See how all types and figures are  
Completed in this Sacrament,  
Which grace gives with all virtues rare,  
To feed here is the soul's content.  
Yet soul that is in wicked state,  
This Sacrament doth nauseate.   

A stomach weak and disaffected  
Rejectes the best meat that it takes:  
And if by Physic not corrected,  
What's good the cause of Death it makes.  
Who this receive unworthily,  
Of Death and Judgement guilty .   

THE SECOND PART OF DUE PREPARATION.  
Who receives unworthily receives Judgement to himself.  1. Cor. 21. 

THE counsel of S. Paul then take,  
Before you do approach this Feast,  

1. Cor. 11. v. 28.  Examen strict in Conscience make,  
Of what is sinful in the least:  
If Charity, and Faith be true,  
And nought in Conscience trouble you.   

As Body by the soul doth live,  
Which separated straight doth die:  
So Faith life to the Soul doth give,  
And to the works of Charity.  

Rom. 3. v. 20. jac 2. v. 26.  Without Faith works are truly dead,  
Without works Faith is quite misled.   

A lively Faith, when you receive,  
Is the first thing that God requires:  
Of this the poor soul to bereave,  
The devil of all things desires.  

Io. 6. v. 52.  How can a Man Christ's true flesh eat?  
Thus did the Jews our Saviour treat.   

Their Query was, how can this Man  
Give us his flesh? They did not own  
That Christ was God, who all things can,  
At pleasure do with word alone;  
Who made all things of nought, can't he  
By word make Bread his Body be!   

The Jews had never doubted this,  
Had they believed him God to be,  
So when Man doubts, most clear it is,  
He doubts of his Divinity.  
Think this not much; believe Christ can  
Do all things, 
Io. 1. v. 14.  who is God and Man.   

Believe you then this verity,  
Confirmed by Christ's repeated word;  
The Fathers with S. Paul agree;  
The Church and Councils all accord,  
When lawful Priests christ's word pronounce,  
That's Flesh of Christ which Bread was once.   

What wine was also is made Blood,  
Of neither substance doth remain,  
True Faith is here misunderstood  
By those, that teach that doctrine vain.  
Christ's under signs of Bread and Wine:  
No Bread remains, or fruit of vine.   

And since his Body's glorified,  
It is against the Christian Faith,  
His Flesh and Blood here to divide:  
Who one receives the other hath.  
If these you part, than Christ can die  
Once more, 
Rom. 6. v. 9  which makes the scriptures lie.   

Christ consecrated Wine, and Bread  
And Priests the same commanded were,  
To mind us that when Christ was dead,  
His Flesh and Blood were parted there.  
But now his Body's glorified,  
Blood in his Body doth abide.   

When sacred Host the Priest divides,  
Your senses then be sure control:  
Believe Christ still entire abides,  
In part as much as in the whole.  
The Priest breaks but the signs you see,  
In each his Blood and Body be.   

Next prove if you have Conscience clear:  
For if in mortal sin you be,  
At this great Feast do not appear;  
For than you are Christ's enemy.  

Marc 14. v. 14.  With my Disciples I Pasch make,  
Be sure the same no Judas take.   

If you find sin's wound in your soul,  
Make use of Pennance Sacrament,  
Which Christ ordained to make it whole:  
Where sin with grief you must resent,  
Confess; resolve it to amend:  
The Priest absolves you to this end.   

Then see you are in Charity,  

Math. 5. v. 25.  With those who ever you offended,  
And let your love united be,  
To other virtues, or intended.  
Thus take this Sacrament of Love,  
That you may live with Christ above.   

See that you Wedding Garment have,  
Pure in your Soul, with virtues dressed.  
For want of this, rebuke Christ gave,  
To one who was at wedding Feast.  
How cam'st Thou here? 
Math. 22 v. 12.13.  to Hell be gone,  
Not having wedding Garment on.   

When from this Feast you do departed,  
Be sure this great abuse you fly,  
To cast all sorrow from your heart,  
And lead your life as formerly.  

Luk 11.2.26.  This doth your sin increase ten fold,  
Oft to resolve, and nêre to hold,   

When you depart, straightway begin  
Your promises to execute,  
Avoiding what doth lead to sin;  
Embrace what yieldeth virtues fruit,  
Be on your guard, 
1. Petr. 5. v. 8.  and ready stand,  
Believe your Enemy's at hand,   

To try if he can separate  
Christ from your Soul, by sinful act.  

Ps. 118. v. 128. Rom. 12. v. 9  Increase in you sin's perfect hate,  
And oft renew the late compact,  
Which you with God have made: and die,  
Rather than from it basely fly.   

Fear not, but fight courageously,  

Chrysost. Homil. 65  You are made dreadful by love's fire,  
To this your mortal enemy,  
To quench it is all his desire,  
Breath forth this fire in satan's face,  
He cannot stand, but soon gives place.   

Then turn unto your JESUS dear,  
Embrace him with a loving heart,  
Desire he'll take his lodging here,  
And never from you to departed.  
Remain, O Lord, for night draws on  
Of sins Temptation, 
Luc 24. v. 29.  be not gone:   

How senseless are men to refrain,  
Receiving this blessed Sacrament:  
Since that it doth all grace contain,  
And fills the Soul with true content.  
The cause of this is liberty,  

Eccls. 12. v. 12.  The Flesh would not restrained be.   

All honour, praise, and glory be  
To Christ, for this great sign of love.  
That you may for Eternity  
Live, joy, and reign with him above,  
Oft humbly take this Sacrament,  
In soul to God, and virtue bend.   
Amen.     

THE SACRIFICE OF THE MASS.  
Do this in remembrance of me.  Luc 22. v. 19 

THE light of reason dictates this,  
That there's a God from whence we came:  
It also dictates, that there is  
A Sacrifice, due to the same,  
By which we do him Homage pay,  
And our true Lord and Master own,  
And for his blessings daily pray;  
This honour's due to him alone.   

The Heathens, by the self same light,  
Did own a God, and sacrifice:  
But yet their judgement was not right▪  
They many owned, and did devise  
Horrid Oblations, to express  
Their duty to the Gods they owned:  
They sacrificed, 
Ps. 105. v. 37.  as merciless,  
Their children, not the least bemoaned.   

In Nature's Law, as we are taught,  

Gen. 4. v 34.  Man Sacrifice to God did yield:  
Thus duty paid and Blessings sought;  
Cain gave to him fruits of the field,  
And Abel of his flocks, 
v. 5. v. 4.  as due.  
But Cain's Oblation God rejected:  
God knew that Cain's heart was not true;  
Just Abel's offering was accepted.   

In Moyse's Law commanded were,  
Four Sacrifices, for salvation;  
Burnt Offerings, 
Levit. ●. v. 9  which consumed all there;  
The second was of Expiation.  

Exod. 29 v. 36. Leu. 7. v. 12. Leu. 15. v. 15. Numb. 16 v. 47.  The third Thanksgiving they did call.  
The fourth preferred their just petition.  
To these the Law obliged all,  
God's grace to gain, and sin's remission.   

The first did own God's Deity,  
And that from him 've our Creation.  
The next did purge iniquity,  
And thus preserved from damnation.  
The third for blessings gave God praise.  
The fourth for favours made request,  
These Sacrifices of those days,  

Rom. 7. v. 6.  Christ did abolish with the rest,   

And in the new Law did ordain  

Luk 22. v. 19  One great unbloudy Sacrifice,  
Which in effect doth all contain,  
Where he himself concealed lies:  

v. 19  Which he commanded should be done,  
And now it is without life's loss,  
In memory how he God's son,  
Made man, did die upon the Cross,   

Where he for sin did satisfy,  

Rom. 9 v. 11. and 18.  And by his merits purchase grace.  
We to our souls must them apply,  
That grace of sin may here take place,  

Heb. 13. v. 15.  Which by this Sacrifice we do,  
Where of Christ's Death we God remind,  
And for his grace and pardon sue,  
Which through his merits we do find.   

This Sacrifice the Mass we call,  
From the word Mitto, that's to send:  
For here by Christ God sends to all  
His grace, who with true faith attend,  
And we by Christ return again,  
Our prayer and thanks to God above.  
And thus the faithful do remain,  
By this Oblation in God's love.   

When first from Satan Man was freed,  

2. Pet●. 1. v. 19  Upon the Cross by meek Lamb's Blood,  
That we might still this loving deed  
Bear in our minds, and for our good,  
A Sacrifice Christ did ordain,  
Wherein himself would offered be:  
And thus on Earth with us remain,  
From Death of sin to keep us free.   

By this great Sacrifice we own,  
That God, made Man, died on the Cross:  
And that Christ able was, alone,  
Man to redeem, and his great loss:  
This now doth expiate our sin:  
By this we thanks for favours give:  

Io. 6 v. 56.57.  By this we beg and graces win:  
By this, made one with Christ, we live,   

Here's Sacrifice and Sacrament,  
The same that's offered we receive:  
This by Oblation's to God sent,  
Which Christ for our relief did leave.  
This Sacrifice, in full, contains  
What all the old prefigured;  
The Author of them all remains  
Here, under signs of Wine and Bread.   

How can we think God will deny,  
What here we ask in JESUS Name?  
Since Christ, that we might satisfy  
His Justice, did ordain the same.  
As he by Death did satisfy  
The Debt, 
Coloss. 2. v. 14.  that to our sins was due:  
So we by Mass his Death apply  
To us, and forth our pardon sue.   

No fast, no Prayer or other act,  
Doth God so please, as doth the Mass.  
No Sin, no Crime, or horrid fact,  
In their demerits can surpass  
The merits of our saviour dear,  
Which are in virtue infinite,  
And for our souls are offered here.  
All men to Mass let this invite;   

Since that for those who present are,  
It's offered in a special sort,  
And they above the rest do share  
In the effects, who there resort;  
But most of all, who with the Priest  
The same do offer with pure heart:  
For they by this are joined with Christ,  
And void of grace shall nêre depart.   

The Angels here on Christ attend;  
Be sure with reverence to remain:  
Lest Christ and them you should offend,  

Io. 2. v. 15.  And Curse instead of Blessing gain.  
We read that Christ with his own hand  
Chastised those which the Church abused:  

Io. 9 v. 31.  All Church-profaners guilty stand,  
The Prayers of such will be refused.   

If by just let you can't be by  
In person, when the Mass is said;  
Devoutly still the same apply  
Unto your soul, where you are stayed:  
Make you an Altar of your heart,  
With sorrow pierced; 
Ps. 50. v. 18.  heat with love's fire;  
By Prayer devout act you the part  
Of Priest, 
2. Cor. 8. v. 12.  and you'll have your desire.   

For Dead, as well as Living, we  
Do offer up this Sacrifice:  
And surely they partakers be,  
Since Holy scriptures do advise  
To pray for them: 
●. Macch. ●2. v. 46.  so when you here,  
Or absent, do your prayers say,  
Still let your Charity appear,  
And for those Souls devoutly pray.   


1. Cor. 11. v. 26.  Since Mass doth Christ's Death represent,  
Devoutly on it meditate:  
All your past evils there repent,  
Raise in your soul sin's perfect hate;  
With tears reflect upon the pain,  
Which he for sin did once endure,  
That he to God your soul might gain,  
And heavenly joys for you ensure.   

And as Christ is the Mass-Oblation,  
Doubt not God's wrath to pacify,  
And through his merits have Salvation,  
Who for your sake vouchsafed to die:  
If you devout with Priest do join,  
And offer up this Sacrifice,  
Where under signs of Bread and Wine,  
True God and Man obscured lies.   

In all your wants devoutly go  

Coloss. 11 v. 19.20,  Unto this Treasure-house with speed,  
Where God doth freely grace bestow,  
Supplying us in all our need;  
When you are tempted unto evil,  
To this great Sanctuary fly,  
Where you'll be shielded from the devil,  
And under God's Protection lie.   


Numb. 28 v 3. Ezech. 46. v. 13.  The Jews did daily Sacrifice  
A Lamb, and thus their duty paid:  
The same doth holy Church advise,  
And therefore Mass is daily said,  
That you to God may honour give,  
And keep your soul still in his grace,  
To Mass devout be while you live,  
That with the Just you may have place.   
Amen.   

THE ISRAELITES LAMENTATION IN THEIR CAPTIVITY.  

THE FIRST PART.  
Upon the rivers of Babylon there we sat, and wept whilst we remembered Zion.  Ps. 136. v. 1. 

THE Prophets, by internal light,  
Of future things have such foresight,  
That what's to come they tell as past,  
And often what is first put last.   

Thus David did, in spirit, see,  
The Israëlites Captivity:  
Their bitter sighs, and Lamentation,  
For holy Sion's Desolation.   

Upon the Riv'rs of Babylon,  

See the whole. Psalm. 136.  We sat, and wept, and made our moan,  
In this our doleful, and sad state,  
On Zion we did meditate.   

How we sometime were happy there,  

4. Kings. 22. v. 16.17.  But for our sins exiled were;  
City and Temple are destroyed,  
All desolate doth lie, 
Isai. 64. v. 10.11.  and void.   


Ps. 106. v. 13.  How often did God patiently  
Bear with our sins, and sweetly try,  
By less chastisements, if he could  
Win us, and if return we would?   


Ps. 106. v. 12.13. Ps. 77. v. 34.41.  When he chastised we promised fair,  
When he withdrew we took no care.  
Thus often tried we nêre amended,  
Our crying sins to God ascended.   

We often did our God deny,  
And fell into Idolatry.  

Ps. 105. v. 37.  We sacrificed our children dear,  
To Idols: God we did not fear.   

The holy Temple we abused,  
And Holy Sacrifice misused,  
Would not God's holy Law obey,  
Regarded not what Priest did say.   


Isay. jeremy. Ezech. joel & e.  The Prophet's warnings we still slighted,  
In vice and wickedness delighted:  
Our Heaven was Wealth, and Carnal Pleasure,  
Which we affected without measure.   


Ier 25. v. 10 11. Ps. 105. v. 43 jer. 32 v. 28 29.30.  Thus we provoked our loving God,  
To lay upon us Justice rod.  
As we his Mercy oft abused,  
To show us Mercy he refused.   


4. Kings 25. v. 21. v. 3. jer. Lament. 2▪ v. 20. Baruch. 2. v 3. Ezech. 5. v. 18. 4. Kings. 24. v 24 4. King. 25. v 9.13.14.15.  Our dearest friends by th'sword lay dead,  
Our Wives and Children famished.  
O doleful day! for want of meat  
The Parents did their Children eat.   

The fierce Chaldeans, who did take  
Our City, did us Prisoners make,  
They Zion burnt, and Temple sacked,  
Our sins did cause this horrid fact.   

To Babylon, their chiefest City,  
They brought us slaves, 
4. King. 24. v. 15.16. 1. Chron. 9 v. 1.  where void of pity,  
They used us with a cruelty,  
Exceeding Egypt's slavery,   

Our Bread was short, our Drink was scant;  

jer. Lam. 1. v 11. ●. 5. v. 4.  Who can with tongue express our want?  
The labours we did undergo,  
For others forced to blow and sow.   


jer. Lam. 5. v. 5.  Our enemies did domineer,  
And keep us in such awe and fear,  
Like Slaves, we under foot were trod,  
chastised with the Whip and Rod.   

This ill exceeded all the rest,  
And our poor souls with grief oppressed,  
To serve our God we were not free,  
But pressed unto Idolatry.   


Barud. 6. v 3 jer. Lam. 1. v. 4.  Their Temples, Altars, Sacrifice,  
Reminding us how Zion lies,  
In ashes, and the Temple torn,  
With all the Altars now forlorn.   

This caused such grief, 
v. 16.17.  no pleasant thing  
Can any pleasure to us bring.  
But more increased our tears and grief,  
Our sorrows could find no relief.   


Ps. 136. v. 1.  They placed us by the river side,  
Where whispering stream did curling glide,  
The banks were set with sallow trees,  
About them pleasant notes of bees.   

This did increase our Melancholy,  
To meditate on our past folly;  

Deut. ●● v. 13●  How with true joy we once abounded,  
And with God's blessings were surrounded.   

How, 
v. 14.  of all nations, we were blest,  
Our Temple did excel the rest;  

2. Chron. 7. v. 13.14.15.  By sacrifice we did obtain,  
All spirit' all good, and did remain,   

God's chosen people: 
Deut. 7. v. 6.  till by sin  
To leave his laws we did begin,  
And sacrifice to Idols, which  
Our hearts with folly did bewitch.   

For this allowed of liberty,  
In carnal pseasure we might lie,  
Without control, and Heaven make  
On earth: which freedom we did take.   


jerem. etc.  And though the Prophets did foretell  
Those ills, which for our sins befell;  
Their preaching we would not believe,  
But freedom to our senses give:   


Ps. 144. v. 18.  Which justly brought us in this thrall,  
Which when into our mind we call,  
No music, voice, or pleasant thing,  
Can to our sad hearts comfort bring.   


Ps. 136. v. 2.  We therefore hanged our Organs by,  
Than play, we had more mind to cry;  
And when they scoffing bid us sing,  
This grief unto our hearts did bring.   

Reminding us, though now too late,  
Of our lost joys and pleasant state:  

v. 3.  Sing unto us of Sion's songs;  
Joy to this pleasant place belongs.   

Leave of your melancholy thought,  
Live cheerfully, where you are brought,  
Conform to us, and think not on  
Jerusalem, from whence you're gone.   


4. King. 25. v. 24.  And you shall live with us in peace,  
All slavish cruelty shall cease;  
To gather Wealth you shall be free,  
And joy with us in liberty.   

No: though our slavery be great,  
And us so cruelly you treat,  
Jerusalem we'll nêre forget,  
Nor love on Babylon will set.   


Baruch. 4. v. 1.  For, though our sins deserved this,  
We now repent what's done amiss,  

Ezech. 33 v. 12.16.  And hope God will be pacified,  
Who Penitents nêre yet denied.   

This is a place more fit to use  
Sighs, holy songs we'll not abuse,  

Ps. 136. v. 4.  To sing them in this wicked land,  
Lest we should with you guilty stand.   

In this, some comfort we do find,  
To keep Jerusalem in mind:  
Which if we ever do forget,  
Let this our Penalty be set;   


v. 5.  That our right hand forgotten be,  
That's what is dearest let us see  
Forsook by God; nay let him cause  

v. 6.  Our Tongues to cleave unto our jaws.   

If she have not the chiefest place  
Still in our joy: and with God's grace,  
We hope to see her walls rebuilt,  
The Temple purged where blood was spilt.   

New Altars made, and sacrifice  
Offered, which God will not despise,  
But pardon give, with a cessation  
Of his just wrath, and indignation.   

This we'll pray for while we live here,  
And from this time live in God's fear,  
With hope expecting our recall,  
When we will praise him, great and small.   

Their Penance did with God prevail,  

1. Esdr. 1. v. 1. c. 2. v. 1.  And of their hope they did not fail:  
But God recalled them back again,  
In Joy and peace they did remain.    

A SINNERS LAMENTATION IN THE DEVIL'S BONDAGE.  
THE SECOND PART.  
Many are the scourges of a sinner.  Ps. 3●. v. 10. 

O You, 
jer. Lam. 1. v. 12.  that do pass by this way,  
Stop here, and make some little stay;  
Attend and lend to me your ear,  
That you my doleful case may hear:   


Ezeck. 14. v. 8.  Which may a warning to you be;  
And also make you pity me,  

Eccles. 1. v. 14.  Who on these pleasant banks can find,  
No object to content my mind.   

The murmuring waters music make,  
Wherein the Ear may pleasure take,  
The streams, reflected by the sun,  
Delight the eyes to see them run:   

A fragrant smell the flowers cast,  
The fruits delicious to the taste,  
All's here that may the senses please,  
Refresh the Body, and give ease.   


Eccles. 2. v. 1.11.  Yet all these bring no joy to me,  
But objects of my sorrow be;  
Reminding me what I have lost,  
By hateful Sin how dear it cost.   

Zion is still within my mind,  
Christ's holy Church, where I did find  
Those inward joys and consolations,  
That far excelled these recreations.   


Prov. 15. v. 15.  A Conscience clear was my great feast,  
Where I still fed on what was best:  
Christ's Body was my daily bread,  
His Blood my drink: thus was I fed.   

Wherein I found all true delight.  
Faith gave my Understanding light;  
True Charity my Heart inflamed;  
The sweets I felt cannot be named.   

No eye êre saw, 
1. Cor. 2. v. 9  or ear heard tell,  
Nor can Man's Heart conceive it well,  
What God for man doth here provide,  
While he doth in his love abide.   

Love doth his Heart secure from fear,  

1. Io. 4. v. 18.  Hope makes his future joys appear  
As present: thus he doth possess,  
In part, 
Ps. 15. v. 9  his future happiness.   

This happy state was I once in,  

Eccli. 40. v. 9.10.  Till I consented unto sin.  
Which in a trice robbed me of all,  
And turned my sweets to bitter gall.   

The World, the devil, and flattering Flesh,  

Numb. 21. v. 5. c. 11. v. 5.  Promised my Sad heart to refresh.  
Like those with Manna surfited,  
I sought with onions to be fed.   


Math. 12. v. 45.  And granted what the Flesh desired,  
And yielded what the World required.  
These Idols I adored, in place  
Of God: and so I lost his grace.   

And then the devil did soon possess  
My heart, and to all wickedness  
Did tempt it: thus to sin I fell,  
Without the fear of God or Hell.   

The Sacraments I little used,  
And when received, I them abused;  

Math 6. v. 5.  My Prayer was hypocritical,  
I little read, or none at all.   

I slighted counsel; except bad,  

Prov. 18. v. 3.  All good adiuce did make me sad.  
The Flesh did live without control;  
She domineered, and not the Soul.   

What Senses willed, 
Eph. 2. v. 3.  the Will did grant,  
She used not the least restraint,  

jude 1. v. 4.  Which made me live worse than a beast,  
In filth of Sin I kept my Feast.   

The Devil tossed me like a ball,  

Eccli 27. v. 12.  From this unto the other wall:  
From one sin to another pressed,  
That I could find no kind of rest.   

My conscience, 
Prov. 12. v. 18.  now and then, would by't,  
My Reason had some little light,  
●h●●● only served to torment:  
My Heart was hard, would not relent.   

What frights and fears did me possess,  

Prov. 28. v. 1.  Whilst I lived in this wickedness?  
The thought of God was like a dart,  
With horrid fear it pierced my heart.   

This to expel, my mortal foe  
Would tempt me, here and there, to go,  
To this, and that lewd company,  
That all good thoughts might in me die.   


Ps. 54. v. 6.  Yet these great fears in me nêre ceased,  
But daily more and more increased,  
My Reason now began to clear,  
Which made me more and more to fear.   


Heb 10. v. 31.  God's Judgements now were in my eye,  
And Hell, my due, when I should die:  
The doubtful hour of corpôrall Death,  
Each moment might expire my breath.   


Wisd. 17 v. 9.10.  All sudden noise, that I did hear,  
Did make me tremble, quake and fear;  
My very shadow made me start.  

Ps. 114. v. 3.  O what a Hell's a sinful Heart!   

When I, on Zion, cast my thought,  
How once my soul with joy was fraught,  

Ps. 41. v. 4  The brackish tears ran down my eyes,  

Ps. 37. v. 9  I filled the air with sighs and cries.   

To think how happy I had been,  
How miserable, now, by sin.  
This made me Music cast away, 
Eccli. 22. v. 6.   
More mind to weep I had than play.   

My crafty foe did bid me sing,  
That he again my heart might bring  
In love with these deceitful joys,  

1. Io. 2. v. 16.17.  Which now appeared to me but toys.   

How can I sing in this strange land,  
Afflicted by a cruel hand?  

Rev. 18. v. 7.  Where pleasures are my grief's increase,  
And purchase pains without release.   

Where Flesh, indeed, may pleasure take,  

1. Petr. 2 v 11. Rom. 8. v. 13.  But for herself a Hell doth make;  
Where she in fire shall ever lie,  
Still wishing but shall never die.   

No, 
Rom. 5. v. 5.  no. I hope, I yet shall see  
Jerusalem, it's dear to me;  
Where my good God doth live and reign;  
I hope he will be pleased again.   


jam. 4. v. 9  And me into his mercy take,  
Who now am willing for his sake  
In grief and sorrow still to lie,  

v. 10.  So I for sin may satisfy.   


2. King. 12. v. 13.  And this hope to my soul doth bring,  
To think how sometimes Israel's King  
Had been a sinner, yet regained  
God's love, and in his grace remained.   

The Israêlites were also sent,  
Oft, for their sins, to banishment;  
Yet, by Repentance, did obtain,  

1. Esdr. 2. v. 2. etc.  That they were called back again.   

I will not therefore settle here  
My joy, as if it Heaven were;  
But will with bitter grief lament  
My wickedness, and time misspent.   


Ps. 6. v. 7. Ps 41. v. 4 Ps. 50. v. 19  With tears, I'll wash my couch, and bed,  
They shall be day and night my bread:  
A contrite heart J'll offer God,  
To beg that he'll withdraw his rod.   

If he at first my Prayer doth slight  
J'll own it is but just and right,  

Numb. 15. v. 30.31.  Since I did slight and him contemn,  
He justly may my soul condemn.   


Ps. 33. v. 5.  I will persever, and not fear,  
But he my Prayer at last will hear,  

Ezech. 33. v. 11.  Since he desireth not the loss,  
Of Man, redeemed by the Cross.   

Like the good Father he'll receive  
The Prodigal, 
Luk. 15. v. 22.  when he will leave  
His wickedness, and home return,  
With fire of love his heart will burn.   

With tears of joy he'll him embrace;  

Luk. 15. v. 7.  And to his soul restore his grace;  
He'll feast, and with his friends rejoice,  
With Music, dance and singing voice.   

This happy hour I will expect,  
J'l never tears and Prayers neglect,  

Ps. 15. v. 9  Bêing confident he'll hear my cry,  
And mercy show before I die.   
Amen.    

THE WORLD'S GLORY IS VANITY. TRUE JOY IN VIRTUE.  
All things that are done under the sun are vanity and affliction of spirit.  Ecclesiastes. 1. v. 14. 

WHat is this World, and all therein,  
But Vanity, producing sin?  
Except the soul withdraw her love,  
And Eaglelike take flight above,  
And there in contemplation high,  
On God doth fix her piercing eye.   

Where she in God will clear behold  
Herself, her worth, and doth unfold  
The fallacies the World doth use,  
To win men's love, and them abuse,  
By representing that for good,  
Which proves disguised, when understood.   

She takes the Titles that declare  
God's attributes, and Symbols are  
Of Heavenly Bliss, to name her toys,  
That they may seem to us true joys.  
But when you once do them detect,  
As vain, you slight, contemn, neglect.   

By honour, power and Majesty  
She raiseth some to that degree  
As Gods on Earth, 
Dan. 3. v. 5.  they will be treated,  
As though their Thrones with God's were seated.  
Riches and Pleasures have some blinded,  
That other Heaven they never minded.   

Some did in Beauty so excel,  
Like Goddesses on Earth did dwell,  
Puffed up with Pride, adored by Men,  
And Deified by Poet's pen  
This glory now in dust doth lie,  
All's vanished in the twinkl'of eye.   

And if ought here of them remains,  
It is their soul's most sinful stains,  
Which in God's Justice may require,  
The flame of Hell's Eternal fire,  
Of Worldly Joy this is the end,  
To which she brings her dearest friend.   

Are here her joys from sorrows free?  
No, they are mixed with misery.  
Honour doth meet with emulation,  

Hest. 7. v. 10.  Which often causeth great vexation;  
And when it seems past Fortune's frown,  
Proud Aman-like, it is cast down.   

With labours great men riches gain.  
What frights and fears do they sustain?  
Lest they should lose their Idol Wealth,  
They often hazard life and Health.  
And when death comes they no more have,  
Than a poor Coffin, Shroud, and Grave.   

Great Alexander in his Throne  
Was not content, though he alone  
The world possessed: he oft did weep,  
His soul found want, disturbing sleep.  
Nothing the soul can satisfy,  
That is beneath a Deity.   

The Epicure and Sodomit,  
Whom name of Beast doth most befit,  

Eph. 4. v. 18 19  Like swine in carnal puddle lie,  
By this obscuring Reason's Eye:  
They shames disease, and sickness find,  
With lost repute, true grief of mind.   

Behold a drunkard in his cups,  
What comes to hand, clear off he sups,  
With hellish smoke he fumes his brains,  
Till void of reason he remains:  
He curses, swears, he damn's his soul,  
He spews, like swine in it doth roll.   


Wisd 2. v. 6. etc.  These are the joys, and glory great,  
With which the world her friends doth treat;  
This course of life considered well,  
To men of sense seems but a Hell,  

Rom. 6. v. 21.23.  Leading poor Souls to that infernal,  
Where devils are and flames Eternal.   

Base world, who here false joys for true  
Dost give thy Lovers, now Adieu.  
No longer shalt thou Tyrannize  
On sense, and soul, to make thy prize,  
No longer joy I'll seek in thee,  
Hence shall my joy in Virtue be.   

THE SECOND PART. HEAVEN UPON EARTH. OR TRUE JOY IN VIRTUE.  
A secure mind is as it were a continual Feast.  Prov. 15. v. 15. 

TO stop a flood doth pains require;  
Small hopes with oil to quench a fire:  
So flood of Vice, 'tis hard to turn,  
Where Carnal love the Heart doth burn.  
Yet burns assuage by greater heat,  
So Virtues love, makes that retreat.   

To win Man's Heart to Virtues love,  
Is properly God's work above,  
Especially where sin is placed,  
And sense Man's Reason hath defaced:  
Yet Virtue known, is of that force,  
It gains the Heart, and changeth course.   

The cause is known by its effect:  
So I will Virtue here detect,  
Not by defining, as the use,  
But by the fruits it doth produce:  
The which Man's Reason will so please,  
They'll steal his Heart, and love with ease.   

Health, Honour, Riches, to possess,  
May termed be World's happiness:  
But since in Heart Fear doth remain,  
That what it gives 'twill take again.  
They can't be deemed felicity;  
Where Fear's, 
1. joh. 4. v. 18.  true Joy can never be.   

A Man that is in Conscience clear,  
Is void of sorrow, fright, and fear;  
He feareth nought the World can take;  
It's Joy to him, 
Rom 5. v. 3.  if for God's sake  
He loseth all, and pains endure,  
Rewards above he knows are sure.   


Math. 9 v. 29.  Christ's promise of an hundred fold,  
For what is lost, makes him so bold,  
That Persecution he don't fly,  
But runs into't courageously.  
If he's possessed with any fear,  
It's lest he may not suffer here.   

The greatest honours here on Earth  
Bestowed by Man, or due by Birth,  
He slights, as mean, and Vanity:  
When he above doth cast his eye,  
To be God's son, his Spouse, 
Io. 1. v. 12. 1. Io. 3. v. 1.  his friend,  
Are honours which do those transcend.   

On Earth was Alexander great,  
Who sat in h●● Imperial seat;  
To judge the World seems glory high;  

Math. 19 v 28. 1. Cor. 6. v. 3.  Compared to his he doth deny,  
Since by Christ's promise judge he shall  
The Angles, and the World with all.   

Croesus with riches did abound,  
Which do command on Earth what's found,  
These he contemns, 
Math. 19 v 24. Mat. 5 v. 3. jam. 2. v. 5.  since 'tis a venture,  
If ever they shall Heaven enter.  
He blessed calls his Poverty,  
which from that doubt doth set him free.   

King Solomon, 
Eccli. 2. v. 10.  who did possess  
All what was pleasant, did confess  
'twas Vanity, 
v. 11.  and grief of mind:  
True joy therein he could not find,  
But Man from these withdrawing love,  
Doth taste the lasting joys above.   

Hence 'tis, no worldly Crosses can  
Disturb the soul of Virtuous Man:  
Since he all here as vain doth flight,  
And sufferings are his great delight.  
For if with Christ, 
2. Cor. 1. v. 7.  saith Sacred story,  
He shares in pain, he shall in glory.   


Gal. 6. v. 14.  This makes him pains and Crosses thirst,  
Th'unsuff'ring state he deems the worst.  
If others don't him mortify,  
He makes himself his enemy,  
With hunger, cold, and labours great,  
And Discipline, 
Gal. 5. v. 2.  his Flesh doth treat.   

To all affronts he'll open lie,  
What's Will requires he will deny:  
Still saying, 
Luk 22. v. 42.  Father, with God's son,  
Not mine but thy blessed will be done:  

2. Tim. 2. v. 4.  Who as he came all men to save,  
So he them glorified would have.   

All Virtues are his great delight,  
To practise them both day and night,  
For they to soul do glory bring,  
And wed her to the heavenly King,  
Where she in joy shall still remain;  
What price too great for so great gain?   

Here you the reason clearly see,  
Why virtuous Man from grief is free.  
For aught on Earth he hath no love,  
Therefore no loss his heart doth move.  
Cursed Envy's reach he doth not fear,  
His soul's above, 
Phil. 3. v. 20.  though Body here;   

Where he doth daily take a taste  
Of Heavenly joys, as if there placed.  
On Love's smeet Manna he doth feed,  
Which all supplies in time of need.  

1. Io. 4. v. 16.  He still grows more and more divine,  
And thus by Love his God doth join.   

Here you the Worldly joys may see,  
Compared to Virtues nothing be.  
Betwixt them there's no parallel,  
More than's of Heaven and cursed Hell.  
Make you your choice; 
Rom. 6. v. 23.  yet take advice,  
To choose what end in Paradise. Amen.     

woe to you who are mighty to drink wine and stout men in drunkenness.  Esay 5. v. 22. 

VAin Ovid's Metamorphoses forbear  
Admiring, here you greater have than there:  
The Gods their own work changed in Heaven placed,  
By Man on Earth God's work is here defaced.   

Noah's Flood is still a wonder to Mankind,  

en. 7. v. 18.  Observe and you shall here a greater find;  
Heavn's Floodgates opened and great showers fell;  

v. 11.  But this great Deluge is produced by Hell.   

That, many bodies did of life bereave.  
Here Sentence of Damnation Souls receive:  

Gen. 9 v. 11.  God promised that should never be again:  
Men, and the Devil, will have this remain.   

We read the Giants with the Gods made war;  
Twixt God and man this makes a real jar.  
Here Man blasphemes, and doth his God defy,  
Nay that there is a God he dares deny.   


Dan. 4. v. 30.  Nabuchodonosor was turned a Beast:  
These men, like swine in Wash, do make their Feast,  
Until their Reason they have overthrown,  
And only by their shape from beasts are known.   

That Man might glorious be, God Reason gave,  

Prov. 20. v. 1. Ps. 81. v. 6.1. Io. 3. v. 8.10.  This Man destroys to be the Devil's slave.  
A blessed Exehange! of all the greatest evil,  
Of God's true son to be the child of Devil.   

These changes great, and more are made in man  
By devilish Flood of liquor, pipe and Can.  
The Poets feign a River runs in Hell;  
This hath broke bounds, and flows on th'earth. we dwell   


Gen. 8. v. 16.  No man revived after Noah's great Flood;  
From this vast Deluge few return to good.  
Men other vice are gained to leave and hate;  
A Man is rarely stayed at this Flood gate,   

Which broken down lets in all sort of sin,  
All God's Commands man boldly breaks therein.  
No wonder; 
Os. 4. v. 11.  since his Weapon, Reason's light,  
The Devil gains; disarmed how can he fight?   

The first Command, One God thou shall adore,  
The Drunkard slights, he loves his belly more.  
He curses, 
Phil. 3. v. 19  damn's; he takes God's Name invain;  
This Ale house Music sounds while Cups remain.   

God's Sabbath he contemns and holiday  
He breaks, at Cards, and Dice, with others plays,  
He'll honour neither Parent, or Superior,  
While he's in's Cups, each man is his Inferior.   

His Idoll-Will all men must then adore.  

Prov. 20. v. 1. Gen 19 v. 33.35.  Denied he kills or dies in bloody gore.  
In Wine doth brutish Luxury abound, found.  
Lot-like his Daughter serves, when Wife's not   


Eccli. 49. v. 1. Prov. 21. v. 17.  By Drunkenness he doth a Beggar grow,  
Then cheats, then robs, and steals from friend or foe.  
He lies by course, and tells detracting story,  
Unjust desires do share his sinful glory.   

The Church Commands he doth as little keep,  
Fasting, and Prayer shall nêre disturb his sleep.  
Let soul be damned so please the Flesh he can.  
What state's so bad as this of Drunken Man?   

Many more sins the drunkard doth commit;  
To name them to chaste ears it is not fit.  
For liquors strong are fuel to the fire  
Of Luxury, 
Prov 23. v. 31.33.  and heart's unchaste desire.   


Eccli. 31. v. 38.  Of all sins drunkenness you see's the Mother,  
The devil Father, who wed one another  
In Alehouse, where they drunken children get,  
By Pipe, and Pot, and other snares there set.   

Behold how drunkard doth his soul defile,  

Prov. 12. v. 11.  And of all good the same he doth beguile,  
Besides his soul, he Reputation stains,  
On earth short life and scorn are all his gains.   


Gen. 9 v. 22.  Noah when drunk disclosed his nakedness;  
So drunken Man his folly doth express,  
His words and actions men to laughter move;  
What Man of Reason such a life can love?   

Since Reason's lost by Vice of Drunkenness,  
Men who invite unto it, do express  
A seeming grief, that God hath made them men,  
And wish, like Beasts, that they were made again.   

If change in them God will not what is man,  
They'll make themselves Brute Beasts in which they can.  
Come let us taste the pleasures of the Beast,  
To Brutish men this is the pleasantest Feast.   


Isa. 56. v. 12.  Drink and be merry, sorrow cast avay,  
Enjoy yourselves while in this house you stay.  
Come here's a Health, be sure this Glass go round;  

job. 21. v. 13.  All grief and care in this good liquour's drowned.   

devilish advice; taught by the Prince of Hell,  
Lest man should glory have from whence he fell.  
Be merry: 
Prov. 23. v 29.30.  what in sin and God's abuse?  
Drink Healths, which Death unto the soul produce?   

If you'll not sorrow, and for sin grieve here,  
Sorrows of Hell and just Damnation fear;  
Where, wit the drunken damned Society,  
You shall drink healths in flames Eternally.   

They slight the joy that is in Virtue found,  
with God and Heaven, when their Heads turn round.  
O Beastly Men! by men of sense avoided,  
As enemies to God and men exploded:   


judith. 13. v. 10.  And to themselves the greatest enemy,  
Who seeming would like Holophernes die;  
At least they hazard limbs and neck to break;  
O sad account to God which they shall make!   

Of lost time also, and their money spent,  
In sin, which for their good to them was lent.  
The Liquor also which they vainly waste,  
Consuming all, so they may please the taste.   


Isai. 5. v. 11 Luc 16. v. 24.  O cursed  which brings souls to Hell,  
In glutton Dives fiery place to dwell:  
Where floods of flames shall pour down thy throat  
Which will produce this vain repenting note;   

O would to God in time I had been wise!  
And sense had never blinded Reasons Eyes!  
My boon Companions can give no relief;  
Here lie I must, encompassed with grief.   

The cursed devils are my company,  
On whom in cups I called, 
Math. 25. v. 41. Revel. 16. v. 4.  with them I lie  
In fiery Bed, which my old note renews,  
Blasphemous curses, Music which we use.   

Beyond this fire, 
Isay. 26. v. 10.  it's torturing grief to me,  
That I the face of God shall never see,  
But feel his scourge, 'cause I his Law contemned,  
With Rebel Angels justly here condemned.   

I wish all men would timely warning take,  
This brutish Vice of drinking to forsake,  

Isay. 28. v. 7.  Which is the inroad to all sort of sin,  
And hard to leave, when once they fall therein.   

Feed not your Bellies, swinelike, 
jam. 5. v. 5.  to the knife;  
Seek not joys here, but in the other life.  
Hence fly your drinking friends society,  
Mind you were made to join a Deity.   

Cast not away this Counsel, as they use.  
Away! its Melancholy: Here's abuse.  

Dan. 5. v. 5.  Beware Balthasar's hand upon the wall,  
W●ch while he's drinking writes his great downfall.   


Luk. 21. v. 34.  That night he lost his life: do you beware,  
God's eye above doth see, and will not spare  
The least of faults, but note it down by hand  
Severe: much more shall drunkard guilty stand,   

Who hundreds hath made partners in his sin,  
Poor sottish soul! henceforth do thou begin  
A Reformation: leave this Mother Vice;  
Attendants all will vanish in a trice.   

Fix thought on Heaven; 
Phil. 3. v. 20.  let thy converse be  
With Angels: that is the society  
God made thee for, and there with him to dwell,  
While brutish drunkards buried are in Hell.    

DEATH AND LIFE  
Are in the hands of the tongue.  Prov. 18. v. 21. 

THe soul, though active, yet while here  
Within the Body s●●●s confined,  

Math. 12. v. 34.  In this defective doth appear,  
Not able to declare her mind,  
Without the use of instruments,  
Of which the Tongue is always chief,  
In the revealing her intents,  
Her love, her hate, her joy, her grief.   

Hence 'tis the Tongue participates  
In her soul's actions, good or ill,  
So do the lips, which are the gates,  
That shut and open at her will,  
Thus death and life are said to be  
In the Tongûes' power 〈◊〉 her hands,  
Althô the sin's formality  
Is in the Will, which all commands.   

But yet from fault the Tongue's not free:  
Some Tongues so ready are to speak,  

Eecli. 4. v. 34 Eccli. 32. v. 10.11.  Like Fancy they as nimble be,  
Let fly at all, and thus they break  
The Laws of Reason, God and Man:  
With evil words they wound the soul,  
They speak before their Reason can  
Well judge what's right, and them control.   

Hence 'tis, Saint James declares, that he  
Who to Religion doth pretend,  
And leaves his Tongue at liberty,  
Of his Religion there's an end;  

jam. 1. v. 26.  Except a Man his Tongue refrain,  
And make of it Religious use,  

Ps. 139. v. 12.  He doth pretend to it in vain,  
'tis not Religion, but abuse.   

A Tongue that's let at liberty,  

jam 3. v. 8.  Saint James doth call a restless evil,  
Abounding with iniquity,  
And brings the soul unto the Devil.  
It swears, it curses, 
v. 9.10.  it blasphemes,  
It lies, detracts, and causeth strife,  
It treats men with injurious Names,  
Which oft occasions loss of life.   

It doth the innocent defame,  
By telling stories too and fro;  

jam. 3. v. 6.  It puts the whole World in a flame.  
Such Tongue to 'scape, what man doth know?  

Ps. 56. v 5. Ps 13. v. 3.  David compares it to a sword,  
Under its lips Asp's poison is,  
Hundreds sometimes, but with a word,  
Infecting, or with whispering hiss.   

Detracting words it doth let fly,  

Prov 24 v. 9 21 Eccli 20. v. 28.30.  To th'loss of others Reputation:  
Thus wounds the souls of standers by,  
And many times to their Damnation.  
For they do oft too much attend,  
And credit the Detractours speech:  
When they the absent should defend,  

Math. 7. v. 12.  As Christian Charity doth teach.   

And thus they guilty do become,  

Rom. 1. v. 32 Leu. 5. v. 1.  By Silence seem to give consent,  
In their defence are wholly dumb,  
And lend their ear with much content.  
Hear, what Saint Bernard says of this,  
Men to detract, or others hear,  
Which of these two more wicked is,  
It doth not plain to me appear.   

Again, the Tongue by words impure,  

1. Cor. 15. v. 33.  Provokes the Hearers unto Lust:  
For which one day, let man be sure,  
A strict account he render must,  
As instrumental to their evil,  
As envying their dear soul's salvation,  
Against his God, he joins the devil,  
And brings their souls unto damnation.   

O fie lascivious Man! for shame,  
Beware your Tongue, 
Eccli 27. v. 7. Math. 12, v. 34.  for it doth show,  
You are in heart the very same,  
Since by his Tongue Man's Heart we know:  
Let then your Tongue be chaste and pure,  
And Heart convert from that great Vice;  

Rev. 21. v. 27.  For no uncleanness we are sure,  
Shall ever enter Paradise.   

See what great evils men run in,  
By their unchaste detracting Tongue:  
Besides their own most wicked sin,  
All hearer's sins to them belong.  

Coloss. 3. v. 8.  Beware this Vice then from this day,  
And of your Tongue most careful be:  

Ps. 18. v. 14.  Still with King David humbly pray,  
From others sins, O Lord spare me.   

Some Tongues are good, and Life do give,  
By Godly counsel, Prayer, and Preaching;  
They gain from sin, and win to live  
In virtue, by their pious Teaching;  
Souls to convert, of all good works  
(Saint Denis calls) the most divine.  
Let them be with the Jews, or Turks,  

Dan. 12. v. 3.  Such Teachers shall with glory shine.   

Choice silver, saith wise Solomon,  
That pure Tongue is, 
Prov. 10. v. 20.  which many teacheth,  
To worship God, and call upon  
His Holy Name, and if it preacheth  
Good doctrine, from all errors quit,  
He truly names it, 
Prov. 15. v. 4.  Wood of life,  
Reviving all that taste of it:  
Such Tongues are always void of strife.   

To injuries they make reply,  
With meek, with mild, with humble spirit:  
They always speak with charity,  
Which pleaseth God, and grace doth merit.  
They pray, they sing, they praise God's Name,  
If grateful office they can do,  
They still are ready for the same;  
True Charity prompts thereunto.   

Such blessed Tongues, are instruments  

Eccli. 37. v 21.22.26.  To do themselves and others good:  
They cross the Devil's cursed intents,  
Christ's Death to frustrate, and his Blood:  
Which he by wicked Tongues oft gains,  
Destroying Christian Charity:  
Well knowing Christ's most bitter pains,  
For such will ineffectual be.   

The nature of the Tongue you see:  
It is the best, and wor●● of things,  
As you do use it, certainly  
Death to the soul, 
Eccli. 37. v. 21. Ps 100 v 6 Eph 4. v. 29.  or life it brings.  
Of others tongues do you beware,  
Lest you be partner in their sin:  
And of your own take equal care,  
That you the same Gulf fall not in.   

Come Children, hear, 
Ps. 33. v. 12.  and credit me,  
Saith David, I'll teach you God's fear:  
Who with long life would blessed be,  
And see good days, while he is here,  

v. 14.  Let him his Tongue refrain from ill,  
His lips let not deceitful be:  
Thus he'll perform his Maker's will,  
Long Life and happy days shall see.   

But since it doth to God belong,  

Prov. 16. v. 1.  As Solomon the Wise declares,  
To govern, and to rule the Tongue,  

Ps. 140. v. 3.  With David let us make our Prayers,  
Put to my Mouth, O Lord, a Keeper,  
To lips a door of circumstance,  
Before I speak, 
Eccli. 11. v. 8.  that I may deeper  
Weigh, if it doth my good advance.   

For if by words no good accrues,  
To you, or to your neighbour's soul,  
To speak it's better to refuse,  
Than let your Tongue so idle roll.  

Prov. 10. v. 19 Ma●. 12. v. 6. Eccli. 20. v. 8.  For since in many words there's sin,  
And we for words account must give,  
From idle words your Tongue keep in,  
So you'll in Peace and quiet live.   

When you would speak, take care it be,  
Still to God's honour, praise, and glory:  
Your words inflame with charity,  
Abhor unchaste, detracting story:  

Math. 5. v. 9  Employ your Tongue in making Peace,  
Instructing others, and in Prayer.  
Thus will the Tongue your good increase,  
And after in your glory share.   

Thrice happy are such Tongues as these,  
They give life to themselves and others:  
Who seek both God and Man to please,  
Without offence unto their brothers.  
Such Tongues, while others are condemned  
To Fire, for all Eternity,  

Ps. ●3. v. 5.  In Heaven shall praise God without end,  
In the celestial Hierarchy.   
Amen.   

Thou shalt not take God's Name in vain.  Exod. 20. v. 7. 

WHen God Man's Body made of Earth,  

Gen 2. v. 7.  He breathed a soul into that clay,  
And gave to him a noble birth;  
Who was, to love him and obey;  

Gen. 1. v. 28.  Whom as their Lord all Creatures here,  
Were to obey, to love, and fear.   


Gen 3. v. 3.  And God descended from above,  
In Paradise with him to walk,  
To manifest to him his love,  
Familiarly with him would talk:  
His person man was to adore,  
Respect, and honour ever more.   

But, when to sin Man did not fear,  
He was averted in his heart,  
And hide himself, 
Gen 3. v. 8.  durst not appear:  
Thus from God's presence he did part,  

v. 19  And had this for his Penalty,  
With brutish beasts to live and die.   

Man being thus estranged by sin  
From God, and his blessed conversation,  
Idolatry he straight fell in,  
To Creatures gave God's Adoration.  
O strange Exchange! The Lord of all  
To subject here doth prostrate fall.   

And this, because he did contemn  
His Maker's Precept, love, and grace,  
To Brutes his Lord did him condemn,  
No more to see his blessed face:  
And as he now conversed with Beasts,  
Their beastly Pleasures were his Feasts.   

Thus Man in Reason blinded lay,  
Forgetting God, and to what end  
He was created; went astray  
From Nature's Law, till God did send  
Him ten Commands; 
Exod. 20. v. 1 etc. Mat. 19 v. 17.  which do contain,  
What's needful Heaven to regain.   

Where first, 
Exod. 20. v. 1.2.3. v. 7.  he doth reveal again  
Himself, one God to be adored.  
Next, that Man shall not take in vain,  
The Name of him, his dreadful Lord:  
Which he'll have honoured by all here,  
As much, as if he did appear.   

And this the Israelites well knew,  
That Holy Name they durst not speak:  
But gave to it the honour due,  

Burgens. ad dit to Lyra, on. the 3 c. of. Exod.  Lest God's Commandment they should break.  
None but the Priest in Church alone,  
Might name the Tetragrammaton;   

Which holy Name doth signify,  
The same as God, 
Exod. 3. v. 14. Exod. 6. v. 3.  in our tongue,  
The Essence of the Deity:  
And only did to God belong.  
Names of his attributes they used,  
Which also must not be abused.   

Much less our dear Redeemers Name,  
JESUS; which all men must adore:  
Which signifies much like the same,  
That Name doth which we named before:  

Phil. 2. v. 10.  At JESUS Name let all knees bow,  
In Heaven, on Earth, and Hell below.   

The very devils in Hell do tremble,  
When Men these Names devoutly use;  
And God their sins will not dissemble,  
Who boldly do the same abuse.  

Exod. 20. v. 7. Deut. 5. v. 11.  Who take God's Name in vain they shall  
Be guilty, and condemned withal.   

Much more, if they shall by it swear,  
As now a days too many do,  
Setting aside God's love and fear,  
And headlong to the Devil go:  
With him in fire for êre to lie,  
Still wishing, 
Rev. 9 v. 6.  but shall never die.   

Of sins, rash swearing is most vain:  
It is a Sin of pure contempt;  
It brings no pleasure, or rich gain;  
Of swearing Man had never dreamt,  
If God the same had not forbid,  
The Vice of swearing had lay hid.   

Hence 'tis the swearing vice God hates,  
And lays on Man this punishment.  
Deprived of grace, his soul creates  
New sins, to vice beîng wholly bend.  
This, with the Wise Man, we must yield,  
Who sweareth much, 
Eccli 23. v. 12.  with Vice is filled.   

The same affirms, the Plagues of God,  
And punishments, 
v. 12.  shall nêre depart  
The swearer's house: of whose just Rod,  
He, while on Earth, shall find the smart.  
It's feared this swearing vice alone,  
The World with Plagues hath overflown.   

To take an Oath, when Law requires,  

jer. 4. v. 2.  Is counted a Religious act:  
To execute what God inspires,  
I bind myself by Vows compact.  
Thy Law, saith David, 
Ps. 118. v. 106.  I did swear  
To keep, O Lord, and thee to fear.   

When you make Oath, saith Jeremy,  
Be sure in it these three are found  
Judgement, Justice, 
jer. 4. v. 2.  and verity,  
And that to swear you ' re also bound;  
For who, saith Wiseman, 
Eccli. 23. v. 14.  vainly swear,  
Not justified, but guilty are.   

From sin, in Oath, if you'll be free,  
Swear not at all, 
Math. ●. v. 35. I am. 5. v. 12.  as Christ commands;  
Let Yea, and Nay, your answer be,  
Which, with the just, as firmly stands.  
Who false will prove, and tell a ,  
By Oath you never shall him tie.   

Who sweareth oft, is much the same,  
No Oath his heart to Truth shall bind.  
Who fears not to abuse God's Name,  
To lie you will as ready find.  
Who'll swear, will lie, who'll lie, will steal,  
Who with a swearer than dares deal?   

Besides this Vice, there is another,  
Which equally breaks this Command:  
Blasphemous Cursing is its brother,  

Levit. 24. v. 16.  Which makes men equal guilty stand;  
Which sin is greater I can't tell,  
Since both condemn the soul to Hell.   

I shall not speak of Blasphemy,  
'Gainst God immediately directed,  
But of that which seems hid to lie,  
Little regarded, till detected.  
Your curse to Creature, doth reflect  
On God, and shows your disrespect.   

God all things made, and they were good,  

Gen. 1. v. 31.  All were created for man's use;  
If this were rightly understood,  
How durst Man offer this abuse?  
To curse the Gift, and Giver slight,  
O  Rebel, filled with spite!   

Saint Judas relates, 
jud. 1. v. 9  that Michaël,  
Contending stiffly with the Devil,  
Durst not him curse, he knew full well,  
Blaspheming was the greatest evil:  
Tho' sin his Nature had depraved,  
God's handwork there was still engraved.   

But many men, if they are crossed,  
By stick or stone, by wind, or beast,  
As if their reason they had lost,  
They will not suffer in the least;  
They curse, blaspheme, not fearing God,  
Nor his severe chastizing rod.   

Nay, Man, God's Image, they fear not,  
To curse, blaspheme, and wish all evil,  
As though their God they had forgot,  
They sacrifice Man to the Devil:  
Wishing the Devil him to take,  
Tho' God, made Man, died for his sake.   


Gen. 4. v. 3.4.  To own God, Man did Sacrifice,  
And give to him still of the best;  
By cursing, Man his God defies,  
Gives man to th' Devil, with the rest.  
Who oft upon the Devil calls,  
To him by cursing prostrate falls.   

O bold affront! O dread contempt  
Of our great God, and King of Kings!  
Vile rebel Man, who dares thus tempt  
The Lord, and Maker of all things!  
When thou call'st on the Devil, fear,  
He may thee straight in pieces tear.   

Tho' God doth the Blasphemer spare,  
Permitting him still here to live,  
Yet he and his the worse do fare,  
For wicked curses he doth give. 
Wisd. 1 v. 6.   
No wonder, since he oft doth call,  
For Pox, and Plague they should befall.   

And if this Vice he will not mend,  
But in the same perversely die,  
Hellfire, most sure, will be his end,  
There with his Devill-God to lie,  
In fiery bed, and ever shall  
With curses on the Devil call.   

Let all men then, in time beware,  
And this good scripture-counsell take,  
Not once to curse, or vainly swear,  
Which enemies to God them make;  
Who such doth leave, and when he parts,  
The Deved doth soon possess their hearts.   

Hear then the Wiseman: 
Eccli. 23. v. 10.  seldom name  
God, or his Saints in conversation;  
And when you do pronounce the same,  
Show great respect and veneration:  
Thus you this Precept will not break,  
Tho' you their Names should often speak.   

Still Honour, Praise, 
Ps. 95. v. 8.  and Glory give  
To God's blessed Name, while you are here:  
Love, fear, and serve him, while you live,  
And then to die you will not fear.  
With the Profane you will not lie,  
But praise God's Name Eternally.   
Amen.   

A LIAR TO BE EXCLUDED,  
Lying Lips are abomination to our Lord.  Prov. 12. v. 22. 

IF Man did think on his once happy state,  
A  of all things in the World he'd hate:  
Since by a Lie the Devil did deceive 
Gen. 3. v. 4.   
His Father Adam, and his Mother Eve,  
And by it brought them into God's displeasure,  
With justice loss, of all the greatest treasure. 
v. 7.    

Besides, they were cast out of Paradise,  
To toil for Bread: 
v. 23.  this was sins deadly price;  
With blinded reason and depraved will,  
Heavn's loss, Hell's gains, who can conceive the ill?  
And shall a Liar heavenly joys regain!  
No: He in Hell for ever must remain.   

heavens King is Truth; there nought but Truth shall enter:  
Liars descend into the lowest Centre. 
Io. 14. v. 6. Io. 8. v. 44.   
To Lying Devil, Father of all Lies,  
Brought forth by envy, which the Truth defies.  
These are the Parents of a Lying Man;  
A base offspring bring me if you can?   

A Liar, of all creatures, is the worst:  
By God and Man deservedly accursed, 
Prov. 6. v. 17. Ibid. 12. v. 22.   
Since, Angellike, by thought men can't declare  
Their minds, by Tongue, as instrument, they are  
To tell their thoughts, that men might know their mind,  
And freely deal with them in every kind.   

This ordinance of God is by a Lie  
Orêthrown, and all human society  
Destroyed: for since a Liar no one can  
Believe, who dares converse with such a Man?  
All Trade is stopped; discourse, Man's great delight,  
Is silenced, by this accursed wight.   

Who name of Man doth not deserve, but rather  
Of Devil, in man's shape; for he's his Father. 
Io. 8. v. 44.   
Dumb Beasts will not allow his company,  
They make true signs: his Tongue does aways lie.  
Where shall we then find place for him? I'll tell.  
In lonely Desert, till he goes to Hell.   

Or that he may repent, and poor soul save,  
Cut out his Tongue, let him go to his grave  
Speechless, since of it he made such bad use,  
That Hell is due to him for the abuse.  
Without eye, hand, or tongue, 
Math 2●. v. 8.5.  it's better go  
To God, than with them to our mortal foe.   

It is no wonder that God hates a ,  
Since that it strikes at his blessed Deity.  
Truth is God's Essence; this a  denies:  
All Verity, and God, it still defies.  
Beware; for Ananias, and his wife,  
For telling Ly were both deprived of life. 
Act. 5. v. 5.10.    

For land they sold they brought short of the price,  
And gave Saint Peter: this was Hell's advice.  
He asked: They boldly told him, this is all.  
At his rebuke, for lies, they dead did fall.  
Who taught you to the holy Ghost to lie? 
v. 3.   
To God and man, you do the truth deny.   

Great reason also Men have to despise  
A liar, 
Prov. 24. v. 9  who, by his detracting Lies,  
Defames their Credit, and doth cause such strife,  
That Love destroys, and many time's Man's life,  
By quarrels he doth raise. Yea Lies alone  
Kingdoms and Families have overthrown.   

Who is there living that hath yet forgot,  
The horrid Oatish Presbyterian plot?  
Where Oats, and Bedloe, with hell's cursed crew,  
Vented their Lies, and still invented new.  
How many men did they send to the grave?  
When Royal family 'twas hard to save.   

Then Lying devils did break Pale of Hell,  
And ever since with men on Earth do dwell;  
Who seem to have possessed the greatest part  
Of this poor Nation, lodging in man's heart.  
To dispossess them, and to Hell confine,  
By loving Truth let every true Heart join. 
Zach 8. v. 16.    

A Liar then, 
Eccli. 28. v. 15.  is enemy accursed,  
To God and Man; and to himself the worst.  
For Lying mouth, 
Wisd. 1. v. 11.  saith Solomon, doth kill,  
The souls of them who bear this wicked will.  
O monstrous Man! 
Io. 8. v. 44.  that is for nothing good;  
Not Man but devil, if right understood.   

That hissing serpent, which Man first deceived,  
Teacheth to whisper words of Truth bereaved; 
Eccls. 10. v 11. Rom. 1. v 30. Prov. 5. v. 13. jam. 3. v. 6.   
I'll tell you this; but look you do not tell  
The Man concerned: O cursed Firebrand of Hell!  
Who with thy tongue dost put the world in flanes,  
Cursed serpent devil fits thee of all Names.   

Besides detraction, Lying doth produce  
Many more sins: This Proverb is in use,  
Give me a Liar, I'll give thee a Thief.  
By Lying, he doth think to gain belief,  
Theft to conceal: but if he'll not amend,  
Hell, by the Gallows, soon will be his end.   

A man that is to cursed Lying bend,  
While here, in part, receives his punishment.  
This is his Plague, when he speaks Truth, as just,  
No one believes him, or his word will trust.  
See here how useless Liar is on Earth:  
He had been happy, stifled in birth.   

You Parents, to whom God doth children give,  
Teach them by Truth in love of God to live.  
Let not the Lying devil them deceive,  
By Lies, of joys their dear souls to bereave.  
O wicked Parents, who, while young, neglect  
This devilish Vice in children to correct!   

You Liars, guilty of this deadly crime,  
Leave off, Repent, amend, while you have time,  
Speak what is just, 
Eph. 4. v. 25.  do not the truth deny,  
The Lying devil and his Lies defy.  
Love, and serve God, his just Laws still attend:  
Thus, once a Liar, may make happy end.    

THE TRUE ART OF LOVING WELL.  
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God.  Math. 22. v. 37. 

I Shall not here, like Ovid, teach  
The Art of brutish Carnal Love:  
But that which did exceed his reach,  
Practised by Seraphins above:  
Which God, 
Io. 13. v. 34.  made man, did teach to men,  
To join them to their God again.   

To love those only who love you,  
Or objects, that your senses please,  

Math 5. v. 46.  What do you more than Heathens do?  
Or brutes, ●ho Belly love and ease?  
Your God above, whom you don't see,  
I'll teach to love, and Enemy.   

This Christ did teach, 
v. 44.  while he was here,  
By words, 
Luk 23. v. 34.  and his most rare example;  
The same to follow do not fear;  

Rom. 5. v. 15.  He for you grace hath purchased ample;  
He hath raised Man unto this state;  
He can love those, 
Act 7. v. 60.  who do him hate.   

To do this, cast your eye above,  
Contemplate God's most lovely features,  
Then for his sake you'll learn to love,  
In him, all his beloved creatures:  
And most of all, 
Gen. 1. v. 26.  his Image dear,  
Which wrapped in flesh is placed here.   

The Elements to Centre tend,  
As Water, Earth, the Air, and Fire,  
Where they do rest, as in their end,  
To hold them back, doth force require.  
The iron doth to Loadstone cleave,  
That it may virtue thence receive.   


Ps 72. v. 26.  God Centre is to soul of man,  
Which here to Body is confined;  
And, without him, there's nothing can  
Give satisfaction to her mind.  
He is the Loadstone, where she gains  
Perfection, and content remains.   

For, what are objects of Man's love,  
Wealth, Power, Beauty, Riches, Glory,  
All these are found in God above,  
In high degree, saith sacred story.  

Wisd. 1. v. 7.1. joh 4. v. 19  God all perfections doth contain:  
Since he loves you, love him again.   

He loves you, not for interest,  
As if you could him profit bring;  
But that you may with him have rest,  
In glory of your heavenly King:  
Where you, with Angels, shall always  
In joy sing forth his glorious praise.   

Love makes the consort of the Choir;  
For all their Notes are tuned by Love:  
And Love is all their hearts desire,  
Their God is Love, 
1. joh 4. v. 16.  that reigns above:  
By Love you do him perfect join;  
To love him truly then incline.   

To gain your loving heart's consent,  

Gen. 1. v. 26. 1. joh 4. v. 9 joh 1. v. 14. joh. 20. v. 17.  Behold what here on Earth is done;  
All creatures made for your content:  
Nay, he has sent his only son,  
To take your flesh and Brother be,  
From sin and Hell to set you free.   

All objects of true Love are here,  
Laid open to your corporal view,  
Since all that's perfect doth appear,  
In Christ, who God and Man is true.  

Ps. 44. v. 5.  He is the beauty of Mankind,  
In Body, features, grace, and mind.   

He is not only amiable  
In body, but likewise in heart;  
His love to you was firm, and stable,  

joh. 13. v. 1.  Till Death did soul and Body part;  
While here on Earth, for your souls sake,  
No pains did he refuse to take.   

He fasted, prayed, he watched, he taught,  
Cold, Hunger, Thirst, he did endure:  
Salvation for your soul he sought,  
And to make future Glory sure,  

Ro. 5. v. 8.  By bitter pains he died on th' tree;  
Thus much thy JESUS loved thee.   

Now, he to heaven is ascended,  

Io. 14. v. 2.1. Io. 2. v. 2. Rom. ●. v. 34. Heb. 7. v. 25.  Beholding Father face to face,  
His Love to you is still extended,  
He hath prepared you a place;  
That it may be your final home,  
He is your Advocate become.   

Love this your God-Man, who loves you,  
And for your sake hath done all this;  
In all your ways prove to him true;  
Against his Laws nêre do amiss:  
His blessed will be sure obey,  

Math. 19 v. 17.  To Heaven it is the only way.   

THE SECOND PART.  
I say to you, love your Enemies.  Math. 5. v. 44. 

If you love me, 
joh. 14. v. 15.  saith Christ our Lord,  
Be sure you keep this my command:  

joh. 15. v. 12. Math. 22. v 39 1 joh. 4. v. 20.  With one another still accord;  
Your Brother love as your right hand;  
Who doth not here his Brother love,  
Loves not his God who is above.   

Not only love him, who loves you,  
For blindest Heathen doth the same,  
But love your Enemy, 
Math. 5. v. 44.  as true;  
Tender his life, his goods, his fame;  
So you, who Enemies have been  
To me, 
Math. 6 v. 12.14.  shall love and pardon win.   

God made man's soul his image dear,  
To live with him eternally,  
And though to sin he did not fear,  
And thus became his Enemy,  
Revenge on him he did not take,  
But, taking flesh, died for his sake.   

Here learn of God, 
Math. 5. v. 45.  your Heavenly Father,  
Who sinner feeds, as well as just,  
To feed your Enemy; yea rather  
Than friend: so you may humbly trust,  

Luk. 6. v. 38.  That God your soul with grace will feed,  
Since you fed Foe in time of need.   

You cannot love his wickedness,  
But as God's Image you must love,  

1. joh. 4. v. 20.  To's Pattern Kindness here express;  
If Peace you love, that is above,  
Then merciful to you he'll be,  
Who for his sake loved Enemy.   

The Just dost lesser stand in need  
Of love, 
Rom 8. v. 2.  than he who is in sin;  
From satan's power the first is freed,  
While this, 
2. Timi 2. v. 26.  his slavery lies in.  
O pray that God will set him free,  
Then God will mercy show to thee.   

But if Revenge thou seekest to take,  

Math. 18. v. 32 33.  For injury that's gone and passed:  
Thou liable thyself dost make,  
To guilt forgiven, and at last,  
As cruel, damned thy soul will be;  
Not showing Mercy, showed to thee.   

With joy forgive then Man's offence;  
Since Christ our Lord hath promised you,  

Mark 11. v 25 Eccli 28. v 2. Mark. 4. v. 24.  For sin it shall make recompense,  
And debt remit, which to its due.  
What measure you give to your Brother,  
The same shall you have, and no other.   

His loss is most, when he wrongs thee,  
In body, goods, or reputation:  
Without Repentance, his will be  
The loss of God, and soul's salvation.  
Pray you the Father, as the Son,  
Forgive; 
Luk. 23. v. 34.  he knows not what h'as done.   

If you saw Beast in danger great,  
You straight would run his life to save,  
And enemy away would beat;  
Yet you here no compassion have,  

●●. Pet. 5. ●. 8.  Where devil hath got man in his power  
And soul is ready to devour.   

Again, if JESUS thou dost love,  
Reflect for sinners he did die:  
And see thou his Disciple prove,  
Who prayed for his Enemy.  
If thou dost hate the tempting D●vill,  

2. Tim. 2. v. 25.26.  Pray for thy Brother, drawn to evil.   

Lest God should for thy cruelty,  
Let thee fall into sinful state:  
And in thy wickedness to die,  
And then Repent but when too late,  
O that I had my Brother loved;  
Then God had not his Grace removed.   

Besides, remember, that thy Foe,  

Isay 38. v. 7.  Is also thy own flesh and blood;  
If he chance evil way to go,  
Endeavour thou to make him good:  
Let's all in love united be,  
Against our common Enemy.   

Thus for God's love, and JESUS sake,  
As also bound by Nature's Law,  
Compassion on thy Brother take;  
All rancour from thy heart withdraw,  

Exod. 32. v 32. Rom. 9 v. ●.  God's Image love, bewail his loss,  
Since Christ redeemed him by the Cross.   

Revenge and Envy came from Devil,  
Who envied God and our blessed state,  
Beware this, 
Coloss 3. v. 8. Eccl. 28. v, 1,  as the greatest evil,  
Which 'gainst Man shutteth heavens gate.  
There all do burn like Seraphin,  
No Envy-fire can enter in.   

God came from Heaven, 
Luk 12. v. 49.  to cast fire  
Upon the Earth, that is Man's Heart,  
And that it burn is his desire,  
That he may never from him part.  

Deut. 4 v. 24. Heb 12. v. 29.  God is this fire of Charity,  
By love Man joins him perfectly.   

Love then your God who did you make,  
That you may live Eternally:  
And love your Brother for his sake,  
Not only Friend, 
Math. 5. v. 44.  but Enemy.  
So you'll do that for which he came,  
Join Heaven and Earth in love's great flame.     

OF PRIDE.  
God resists the proud: to the humble he gives grace.  1. Petr. 5. v. 5. 

PRoud Lucifer, like Morning star,  
All other Angels did excel,  
Till he by Pride with God made war,  

Luk 10. v. 18. Isai 14. v. 14.  And thus from Heavenly Glory fell.  
Within the Sun I'll place my seat,  
As God himself I will be great.   

He looked on his capacity,  
Which by Creation he received,  
And this forgetting would not be  
To God beholding, but deceived  
By Pride, 
Isai 14. v. 13.  to Glory did intent  
By his own power to ascend:   

He others tempts with this proud thought;  

Rveal. 12. v. 7.  But Michaël did him resist;  
At last to his consent he brought  
One whole third part, which glory missed.  
The third part of the stars I saw,  

v. 4.  The Dragon down with's Tail to draw.   

When this Temptation once had passed,  
And tried the nine Angelic Quires;  
God did confirm the good; but cast  

v. 9  The proud into Eternal fires.  
Who's like to God? says Michaël,  
Proud Lucifer be gone to Hell.   

He after finds, in Paradise,  
Poor Man, created for his place,  
And gives to him the same advice,  
God's Image in him to deface:  
Eat but the fruit of this fair Tree,  

Gen. 3. v. 5.  And like to God thou straight shalt be.   

Proud Eve desirous to be great,  
The fruit, 
Gen. 3. v. 6.  bêing pleasant to the eye,  
Took, and persuades Adam to eat,  
And both lost Paradise thereby.  
As dust thou art, 
v. 19  to dust return.  
And in Hell fire hereafter burn.   

Behold, here our first Parents fall,  
And had not God, made Man, once died;  

Rom. 5. v. 12.18.  The Devi'l by this had gained us all:  
The cursed effect of hateful Pride;  
And though we are redeemed, in part,  
Still of that sin we find the smart.   

For we are still to Pride so prone,  
That our best actions scarce are free:  
So had we that to tempt alone,  
In danger great our souls would be.  

Eccli, 10. v. 14. Dan. 3. v. 5.  How many have rebelled by Pride,  
And would on Earth be deified?   

Nabuchodonosor, we read,  
On Earth as God would be adored;  
His lot was fire, who êre did dread  
The true God, 
v. 6.  and this act abhorred:  
God for his Pride made him a Beast,  

Dan 4. v. 30.  With brutes to live, and make his feast.   

And what are all the proud of heart,  
But senseless Brutes and void of reason;  
To arrogate what is God's part,  
Unto themselves, which is high Treason?  

1. Cor. 4. v. 7.  What hath Man but what God did give?  
Humble, and grateful let him live.   

For when he once doth glory in  
What he received, as though his own,  
It is a sacrilegious sin,  
Which seeks the Giver to dethrone.  
He would have men adore him here,  
For his great parts, which do appear.   

And if his will they'll not obey,  
His Heart with fiery Fury burns,  
He seeks their life to take away,  
Or prejudice in life-concerns.  
O child of Lucifer! beware,  
This Pride in thee God will not spare.   

God doth resist, 
1. Pet. 5. v. 5 etc.  and hate the Proud,  
And doth withdraw his helping grace,  
Without which, 'tis by all allowed,  
No one shall see his blessed face.  
Without Grace no one can do good,  

joh. 15. v. 5.  Which was the purchase of Christ's blood.   

Pride, 
Eccl. 10. v. ●. v. 15.  which both God and Man do hate,  
Is root of sin, and all that's evil.  

v. 14. v. job 41. v. 25. Eccli. 10. v. 15. Ibid.  It makes Man to Apostatate,  
Withdraws his Heart, to join the devil.  
From curses he shall nêre be free,  
And in the end subverted be.   

All virtues Pride doth overthrow,  

Gen. 3. v, 5, 6,  All vice came from this Cursed Tree;  
It seeks its Glory here below,  
With Lucifer its place shall be:  
Who doth himself on Earth exalt,  
Shal● humbled be for this default.   


Isay 2. v. 12. Math. 23. v. 12 Math. 5. v. 3.  And who is Humble in this life,  
With humble Christ shall reign above;  
While here he lives is void of strife,  
And gains of every Man true love.  
Blessed Virtue of Humility,  
Which doth from Hell, and Devil free.   

THE SECOND PART.  
God gives grace to the Humble.  

PRoud Lucifer had gained such footing  
In soul of Man, by Adam's Sin,  

Gen. 3. v. 7.  And Pride in Nature had such rooting,  
Whose Slave poor Man long time had been,  
Humility without God's grace,  
Had never more regained place.   

And no small grace was here required,  
Man's Nature now to innovate:  
Since to be great most men desired,  
And did abhor the humble state.  
Example no less than divine,  
Can make Men to the same incline.   

God therefore, who did reign above,  
In power, and great Majesty,  
Would Man become, for poor Man's love,  
And teach him true Humility.  

Luk. 2. v. 7.  Humility made him poor born;  
The same his Life did here adorn.   

Scorn, and Contempt he still endured,  
With humble death, 
Phil. 2. v. 8.  upon the Cross;  
That we might all be well assured,  
This way we must redeem our loss.  
I gave example; 
Math 11. v. 29.  learn of me,  
Humble in Heart, and Meek to be.   

Besides his own example rare,  
To win us to this virtue great,  
An humble Virgin he took care  
To choose, for his Incarnate seat.  
When, Hail God's Mother, Gabriel said,  
Behold, 
Luk 1. v. 38.  saith she, the Lord's Handmaid.   

What greater trial could you have  
Of any Man's Humility?  
The answer she to Angel gave,  
Deserves praise to Eternity.  
And certain 'twas Humility,  
That caused her Mother of God to be.   

My soul, saith she, 
v. 46.47. etc.  doth magnify  
The Lord, and in my God rejoice,  
Regarding my Humility,  
Henceforth shall every human voice  
Me Blessed call: Here you may see  
The way, how you may Blessed be.   

Again, if you consider well,  

joh. 3. v. 23.  You'll find that all great Saints did still,  
In this rare Virtue most excel;  
Thereby with grace their souls to fill.  
The waters to the valleys flow;  

1. Petr. 5. v. 3.  God doth on th' humble grace bestow.   

This Virtue also is the Mother  
Of all the rest, which we should love:  

Phillip 2. v. 7.  Since it made God become our Brother,  
And makes us sons of God above.  

Math 48. v. 4.  The lower in Humility,  
The higher you'll exalted be.   


Eccli. 23. v. 20.1.  This from all vice secures the soul,  
Where this is, Satan hath no power,  
This checks his Pride, and doth control  
This Lion, 
1. Pet. 5. v. 8.  who doth souls devour:  
Who's like to God? breath in his face,  
He flies away, and leaves the place.   

To gain this Virtue oft reflect  
Upon the Sins you have committed,  
And of your duties great neglect,  
Which God hath oftentimes acquitted.  
How oft you have abused your God,  
And under foot his graces trod.   

Then you will think, you are the worst  
Of all God's Creatures on the Earth;  
That you deserve to be accursed,  
As heinous Sinner from your birth.  

Wisd. 5. v. 21.  ' 'Gainst Sinners shall all Creatures fight,  
In their God's cause: This is but right.   

If then it chance that any Man  
Doth slight, and undervalue you,  
With all your force strive what you can  
To own, and answer, it is true,  
I have deserved this, and much more,  
Who have thus slighted God before.   

And though your Brother, who doth this.  
Doth not consider your demerit,  
And doing this may do amiss,  
Forgive him, 
Math. 18 v. 34.  and with humble spirit  
Cry out, O God, this is my due,  
Because I have offended you.   

Then God will pardon your offence;  

Ps. 33. v. 19  The humble-hearted he still loves:  
This for past sins shall recompense,  
Such satisfaction he approves.  
For humble Penitents Christ died,  
And for their Sins hath satisfied.   

Besides, 
Luk. 18. v. 14.  the Humble he exalts,  
To places whence Proud Angels fell,  
Proud-hearted Men, for their defaults,  
With Devils proud he casts to Hell.  
Embrace profound Humility,  
Which raiseth to so high degree.   

Dear humble JESUS, who didst give  

Phil. 2. v. 8.  Of this great Virtue rare example,  
Grant of thy Mercy while we live,  
Pride under foot we still may trample;  
And that, by true Humility,  
We join thee for Eternity.   
Amen.    

OF PATIENCE, AND THE CONTRARY.  
In your Patience you shall possess your souls.  Luk 21. v. 19 

WEre Men of reason void, like Beast,  
This Sacred Doctrine would be vain,  
In Patience you shall find true rest,  
And Master of yourself remain.  
For Beast will spurn, he'll by't, and cry,  
If you his flesh do lance, or burn,  
Althô without it he should die,  
Not sensible of that good turn.   

But Man of reason, who doth know  
What's good for Body, for health's sake  
Most bitter pains will undergo,  
And most unpleasant Potion take,  
Life to prolong: though he is sure,  
This Mortal Body once must die.  
What pains then should not man endure,  
That's soul may live Eternally?   

Had Man not sinned, he had no pain  
Of Body felt, nor was to die, 
Rom. 5. v. 12.   
But here in pleasure to remain,  
Till called by God to live on high.  
But since he sinned, and did contemn  
His Maker, for unlawful pleasure,  
To pains and Death God did condemn 
Gen 3. v. 19 v. 7.   
His soul, deprived of heavenly Treasure.   

To free his Soul from future pain,  
And Heaven also to regain,  
Afflictions here he must sustain, 
Act. 14. v. 21.   
And Patient still in them remain:  
For Christ did not redeem Man so,  
As from all sufferings to acquit,  
That he should nothing undergo,  
And yet with him in glory sit.   

If you will my Disciple be,  
Saith Christ, and with m'in Heaven reign, 
Mat. 16. v. 24.   
Take up your Cross, and follow me,  
By sufferings, while you here remain. 
2. Cor. 4. v. 4.5.   
For Men do often Sins commit,  
Which do deserve the pains of Hell:  
And if from them they will be quit,  
They suffer must while here they dwell.   

Who doth for Justice suffer here,  
Christ blessed calls; 
Mat. 5. v. 10.  with promise great,  
That he to Heaven shall be Heir,  
With Angels there shall have his seat.  
But yet no sufferings grateful be,  
To him, or any grace do merit,  
Except he takes them Patiently,  
With humble and resigned spirit.   

Saint Paul affirms none crowned shall be,  
But those who lawfully have fought; 
2. Tim. 2. v. 5.   
That is who suffer Patiently,  
As Christ by word and deed hath taught.  
Hence 'tis the scriptures also say,  
That Patience needful is to men, 
Heb. 10. v. 36.   
Christ promises to bear away,  
And Glory to regain again.   

For Patience satisfies for Sin,  
Preserving also from the same,  
And grace here for the soul doth win,  
And Glory promised in Christ's Name.  
If Patiently you suffer here, 
Rom. 8. v. 17.   
With Christ, you shall be glorified,  
Who for your sake no pain did fear,  
But Patiently did all abide. 
1. Pet. 2. v. 23.    

This Patience is a blessed Treasure,  
Which to us so much good doth bring;  
It keeps the soul from God's displeasure, 
Prov. 14. v. 29.   
And wed's it to her Heavenly King.  
With wedding Garment she adorns,  
For of most Virtues she's the Mother;  
Tho' in this life her Crown's of thorns, 
Rom. 8. v. 17.   
It will be glorious in the other.   

But furious Man with Sin abounds,  
His Weapon, that is, Reason's Light,  
Is laid aside: he it confounds  
With Rage. Disarmed how can he sight?  
Thus he lies open to his Foe,  
Ready to do his wicked will,  
At beck he brings him to his bow, 
Eccli. 28. v. 13.   
To swear, to curse, to wound, to kill.   

Like raging Beast he seemeth mad,  
He stairs, he foams, he tears his hair;  
Fears not to do what's êre so bad;  
Of all things, Fury then beware, 
Ps. 36. v. 8 Eccli. 27. v. 33.   
For such are odious unto God,  
Who in the meek and mild doth dwell:  
But those shall feel his scourging rod,  
Among the Furies cast in Hell.   

For furious Man flies in God's face,  
When he is crossed, or aim doth miss,  
He will not bear the least disgrace, 
Prov. 27. v. 4.   
By word, or deed, or childish hiss,  
He'll suffer nothing for past sin,  
Nor Cross abide for Glory's gain.  
New Sins he daily doth run in,  
Good counsel's given him in vain.   

Hate Fury then, as Enemy  
To grace, 
jam 1. v. 20.  and Virtue of the Soul:  
Your Will in all things still deny,  
All Passions thus you will control.  
Believe there's nothing comes by chance. 
Prov 46. v. 33.   
But God permits it for your good.  
Thus what befalls will still advance  
This Virtue, rightly understood.   

When God afflicts think not he hates,  
But Check the Passions of your Mind;  
For sufferings open Heaven gates,  
Where you Rewards for them shall find.  
Whom God doth love he doth chastise; 
Heb. 12. v. 6.   
There are two reasons for the same,  
Learn these and you'll be truly wise,  
Receiving all in's holy Name.   

First Fatherlike he doth correct,  
When you in any thing offend,  
That for your evil being checked,  
You after may your life amend;  
And for your past Sins satisfy  
His Justice, while you here remain:  
So reconciled to him, hereby  
Lost Grace, and Glory you'll regain.   

Next: though you were no Sinner great,  
Yet God doth oftentimes afflict,  
And place, with Job, on Dunghill Seat, 
job. 2. v. 8.   
Obliging unto Penance strict,  
That he may thus your Patience try,  
And here your Soul with Grace may fill,  
And give you Glory when you die,  
For Resignation to his Will.   

Here you the fruits of Patience see,  
How advantageous 'tis to soul;  
From future sufferings it sets free,  
From Sins dread wound it Keeps you whole; 
jam. 1. v. 4.   
It merits Grace, while you are here,  
And when at Judgement you shall stand,  
The loss of Heaven you will not fear, 
Math. 5. v. 4.   
Since Meek, and Mildred possess the Land.   

If therefore any Cross befall,  
Take it as from God's holy hand,  
And say, Thy Will be done in all:  
'Gainst Anger always ready stand.  
The Lord doth give, 
job. 1. v. 21.  the Lord doth take,  
The Lord's most holy Name be blest,  
With thanks and Patience, for his sake,  
Your Cross receive; then you'll find rest.   


Prov. 16. v. 32.  Thrice happy is the Patiented Man,  
Who doth his Soul thus full possess,  

Prov. 15. v. 8.  To Anger nothing move him can,  
Or with vain grief his Heart oppress;  
So that on Earth he hath begun  
His Heaven, 
Ps. 9 v. 19  and is assured of this,  
He shall, when here his glass is run,  
With God live in Eternal bliss.   

To JESUS dear all Honour be,  
who patiently died on the Cross,  
Lamblike he suffered, 
jer. 11. v. 19  us to free  
From Hell, and heavens eternal loss.  
Dear JESUS, grant for thy love's sake,  
That while on Earth we here do live,  
We cheerfully may Crosses take,  
That Joys Eternal thou mayst give.   
Amen.   

OF OBEDIENCE.  
Obedience is better than Sacrifice.  Eccl. 4. v. 17. 

MAn's Reason dictates that t' obey,  
Is Nature's obligation,  
By which our duty we do pay,  
To God for our Creation.  
Dumb Brutes, and Creatures void of sense,  
Do teach the very same;  
The Vice of Disobedience,  
First from the Devil came.   

All Creatures tend to do God's Will,  
By natural Inclination:  
That Man might not the same fulfil,  
The Devil by Temptation  
Prevailed, and thus made him abuse  

Gen. 4. v. 7. Eccli. 15. v. 17.  The Freedom of his will,  
Which God did give him, to refuse  
And fly from what is ill.   

When Christ this World did leave, he gave  

Act. 20. v. 28. Heb. 13. v. 17.  Us Pastors to obey:  
Which are his Flock to guide and save,  
Lest they should go astray:  
Those who hear you, 
Luk 10. v. 16.  the same hear me,  
And those who you contemn,  
Do me despise, and Rebels be,  
And such I shall condemn.   

The Church to slight, and not to hear,  

Math. 18. v. 17.  Is Excommunication,  
Pronounced by Christ; and 'tis most clear,  
Unto the souls Damnation.  

Io. 16. v 13.  To hear the Church is most secure,  
Which God doth still direct,  

1. Tim. 3. v. 15.  Which is of Truth a Pillar sure,  
All Errors to detect.   

As we are bound, by our Creation,  
God's pleasure to fulfil:  

Eph 6. v. 1. Eccli. 3. v. 8.  So we are bound by Generation,  
To do our Parents will.  
That's when their will doth not gainsay  
God, our Creatours, will;  
Whom we must honour and obey,  
Above the Creature still.   

But next to God, 
Exod. 20. v. 12. Deut. 5. v. 16. Eccli. 3. v 15.  we them must fear,  
Love, honour, & respect,  
Relieve their wants while they are here,  
And gratefully reflect,  
What care and pains they underwent,  
In our past Infancy;  

v. 14.  And still endeavour their content,  
Or else we guilty be.   

That Men on Earth might quiet live,  
In Peace and Unity,  
God unto them a King did give,  

1. King. 8. v. 22.  Approving Monarchy:  
Commanding them still to obey  
Him, honour, love, and fear,  

1. Pet. 2. v. 17. Math. 22. v. 21.  And to him their just Tribute pay,  
As his Vicegerent here.   

King's sacred are by God appointed,  
To whom we must submit:  

Ps. 104. v. 15.  Not daring to touch his Anointed,  
Who on his Throne do sit,  
To Rule and Govern here below,  
The wicked to correct,  

Rom. 13. v. 4.  And on the good Rewards bestow,  
And Fatherlike Protect.   

If they should not do what is right,  

v. 2.  We may not yet rebel.  
To seek our due by Arms and Might,  

v. 2.  Directly leads to Hell:  
We patiently must all endure,  
And humbly daily pray,  
That God from sin will us secure,  
And guide them in the way.   


1. Cor. 7. v. 3.  A mutual Obedience,  
'Twixt Man and Wife is due,  
There's little danger of offence,  
Where Faith and Love are true.  

Eph. 5. v. 23.  Let wife remember Man's her Head,  
To honour, and obey:  

1. Cor. 7. v. 39  Which Tie doth last till she be dead,  
Or God takes him away.   

When you yourselves do servants make  
To Masters here on Earth;  
And for your service Wages take,  
Tho' they should be: by birth,  
Inferior, 
Colos. 3. v. 22.  yet you must obey  
Them, in their just desire,  
And never what's their will gainsay:  
This, Justice doth require.   

You servants, saith Saint Paul, 
Eph. ●. v. 5.  be sure  
You faithfully fulfil  
Your work, while service you endure,  
Perform your Masters will.  

v. 6. & 7. Colos. 3. v. 24.  Do not your service to the eye,  
But serve, as to the Lord:  
That you God's grace may gain thereby,  

1. Io. 3. v. 18.  Let words and deeds accord.   

Let Masters, Kings; 
Colos. 4. v. 1.  and Prelates know,  
They Master have above,  
Who Power did on them bestow,  
Their subjects to improve:  

Heb. 13. v. 17.  To whom account they once must render,  
How they have governed here;  
If they their subjects good did tender,  
And taught God's Love and Fear.   

You see that God ordained, that all  
Shall in Obedience live:  
That they may be secure from fall,  
And him Just Tribute give.  
For proper Judgement, and self-will,  
'Gainst God do oft rebel:  
And are the Authors of all ill,  
And plunge the Soul in Hell.   

Saint Austin saith, that nothing burns  
In Hell, but Man's self-will;  
Who this denies, and humbly learns,  
His Master's to fulfil,  
By his Obedience is secure,  
(Where no Sin is intended)  

Colos. 3. v. 24.  And of Rewards from God is sure,  
When this short life is ended.   

But, who Superiors disobey,  
And slight their just desires,  
Will be condemned, 
Colos. 3. v. 25.  in th'latter day,  
Unto Eternal fires.  

Rom. 13. v. 1.  For as all Power is from God,  
So those who it resist,  

v. 2.  Shall surely feel his scourging Rod,  
If they in it persist.   

The World would in confusion be,  
Without state-government:  
The like in Church you soon would see,  
If Laws did not prevent:  
Except on Earth men had a Law,  
To govern them thereby;  
Of no one they would stand in a●●  
But set up Anarchy.   

What is the cause of Heresy,  

Eccli. 10. v. 14.  But disobedient Pride?  
Men will not on the Church rely,  

jud. 1. v. 18.  But take themselves for Guide:  
And thus they into errors run,  
And stubbornly defend,  
The Heresy they have begun,  

Mat. 1●. v. 17.  Until they are condemned.   

Rebellion also is a Child  
Of disobedient Heart;  
Those men who are with this defiled,  
From God's just Law departed.  
'Gainst God and Man they do rebel,  
Whom God doth reprobate:  
Thus headlong they run on to Hell,  
Repenting when too late.   

Hence Murders, Rapes, hence Fire, and sword;  
This lays all desolate:  
This brings to slight God, and his Word,  
New Doctrines to create.  

Rev. 12. v. 7. v. 9  As Lucifer rebelling fought,  
And into Hell was cast:  
So those who have Rebellion taught,  
Will perish at the last.   


Exod. 20. v. 12.  Long life is promised unto those,  
Who Parents do obey,  
But death their eyes shall sooner close,  
Who do not duty pay.  
Where Father blesseth, 
Eccli. 13. v. 11.  without doubt,  
God blessing doth bestow:  

v. 11.  When Mother's Curses do root out,  
Whole Families we know.   

Here we do see the sad effects,  
Of this unnatural Vice:  
The stubborn Heart God nêre directs.  
Take then Saint Paul's advice:  

Rom. 13. v. 5.  To higher Powers subject be,  
And this for Conscience sake,  
Thus from God's Curse you will be free,  
And happy end will make.   

For since all sinful acts proceed,  
From disobedient will;  
Deny your will, and you'll be freed,  
From Sin, and God's fulfil.  
Hence: that our own wills we submit,  
The Scriptures do advise;  

1. King. 15. v. 22.  Affirming that the same to quit,  
Excels our Sacrifice.   

By word, and deed, 
Luk. 2. v. 51.  Christ taught the same;  
His Mother still obeying:  
And to Saint Joseph, bearing name  
Of Father, duty paying.  
I came not here, 
job. 6. v. 38.  by Father sent,  
To seek and do my will;  
But mine, while here, is always bend,  
His pleasure to fulfil.   

Christ, full of grief, in bloody sweat,  

Math. 26. v. 44.  Desirous to be quit;  
Three times his Prayer did repeat,  
Yet always did submit:  
Father, not mine, 
Luk. 22. v. 42.  but thy blessed will,  
Be now and ever done:  
To imitate be ready still,  
This most obedient son.   

Since Christ, as Man, would subject be,  
And his own will deny,  
Tho' it were good: much less ought we,  
On self-will to rely.  

Gen. ●. v. 21.  For since our will to Sin is prone,  
And from the Truth to slide:  
It's dangerous to act alone;  
Much safer with a Guide.   

We read that Abrâm, to fulfil  
God's pleasure, and command,  

Gen. 22. v. 10.  Was ready on the Mount to kill  
His son, with his own hand;  
This so pleased God, above the rest,  
He promised, 
v. 18.  in his seed  
All Generations should be blest,  
By Christ, from Devil freed.   

God doth esteem Free-wills submission,  
Above all Sacrifice,  
Conjoined with the Heart's Contrition.  
For from the Heart arise  
All human actions; then give this,  
And you give all you have:  
And you can never do amiss,  
But Soul at Death will save.   

Except to God you give your Will,  
No Sacrifice is grateful:  
Tho' you should fast, and pray, yet still  
Your Works are to him hateful.  
The People pleaded, they had fasted;  

Esai. 58. v. 3.  The Prophet answered well,  
Your self-Will with your Fast still lasted,  
Which brings the Soul to Hell.   

Let all men be, while here they live,  
Obedient to Superious:  
And also never let them give,  

Rom. 12. v. 10.  Affront to their Inferiors.  
Thus Pride of Heart will be subdued;  
And self-Will overthrown;  
The Soul with grace will be endued,  
And made with God all one.   

Dear JESUS, 
Phil. 2. v. 8.  since Obedience laid  
Thee dead upon the Tree,  
And thus for Disobedience paid;  
We humbly beg of Thee,  

Math. 16. v. 24. Luk 9 v. v. 23.  That we may be obedient still,  
And our own will deny,  
Conforming to thy blessed will,  
That we may never die.   
Amen.   

OF POVERTY, AND THE CONTRARY.  
Blessed are you poor, for yours is the Kingdom of God.  Luke 6. v. 20. 

IF Cicero the Eloquent,  
Or Aristotle that great Wit,  
Had taught, or Angel hither sent,  
In golden letters had this writ,  
The Poor are blest, they'd not have gained  
Disciples, but alone remained.   

For since Dame Nature this doth teach,  
To lay up for a Winter's day;  
It had been vain for them to preach  
The contrary, or to gainsay  
The Emmets, 
Prov. 6. v. 6.8.  who in summer hid  
Corn, and for Winter do provide.   

And since God's greatest friends on Earth,  
With riches were by him rewarded,  
This Doctrine had died in its birth,  
And never would have been recorded,  
Than Rich the Poor more happy are;  
Such new Divines men would beware.   


job. 1. v. 3. Gen 12. v. 7. c. 22. v. 17.  Was not just Job with riches fraught,  
And Abrâm promised Chanaan's Land?  
The Israëlites from want were brought,  
Through Desert, by God's mighty hand:  
And to a rich Land, 
joshua. 3. v. 17.  which did flow  
With Milk, and Honey, they did go.   

While Adam's Sin had men enslaved,  
And light of Reason had so blinded, 
Eph. 4 v. 18.19.   
That they like Beasts themselves behaved,  
And future joys but little minded:  
They followed what did please the sense,  
And little thought of going hence.   

Or that they had à Soul to save,  
Denying th'Immortality  
Thereof: but when Flesh to the Grave  
Did go, the Soul did also die.  
This made them seek their Heaven here,  
And nothing more, than Want, to fear.   

And our good God did so comply,  
With human frailty Man lay in:  
That he did not immediately  
Command Perfection: but from Sin  
To keep, 
Levit. 20. v. 22.24.  and in his fear to live,  
And he would temporal Blessings give.   


Io. 1. v. 14.  But when the Plenitude of Grace,  
God's Son, from Heaven did descend,  
What did before seem vile and base,  
He took upon him, to this end,  
That we might still convinced be,  
What World esteems is Vanity.   

He Flesh would take of poorest Mother,  
In stable born, 
Luk▪ 2. v. 7. Math. 4 v 19.21. Luk. 6. v. 20.  and Manger laid:  
He chose Poor Men, would have no other  
For his Disciples: to them said,  
Blessed are you, who here are Poor,  
Of Heavenly joys you may be sure.   

When one did ask how he might gain  
Heaven, 
Math. 19 v. 16. v. 17.  Keep the Commands:  
But if Perfection you'll attain,  
Sell all you have, and with your hands  
Give to the Poor, 
v. 21.  and follow me:  
This doing you will perfect be.   

Who Heaven and Earth possessed, 
jer. 12. v. 7.  and All,  
Seemed All to leave, Poor Man to be.  
To raise Man from his deadly fall,  
And free him of his misery.  
He lived Poor, 
Ps. 87.16.  and naked died:  
And must Men rich on Earth abide?   

Mark, of himself what he did say:  
The Fox hath holes, 
Luk. 9 v. 58.  but Son of Man  
Hath no place, where his head to lay:  
Or Worldly Treasures, 
Prov. 17. v. 5.  that he can  
Say, This is mine: and shall men scorn  
Those who are Poor, or Poorly born?   

Let Rich Men judge it not a folly  
All to forsake, and imitate  
Christ: Of all states this is most holy,  
The World with all its Wealth to hate.  
We have left all, 
Math. 19 v. 27.  and followed Thee,  
Saith Peter; What Reward shall be?   

Amen I say to you, that when  
The son of Man in Majesty  
Shall sit, 
v. 28.  you all shall rise again,  
And Judges ôre twelve Tribes shall be:  

v. 29.  And who for me shall Riches leave,  
For one an Hundred shall receive.   

This makes so many Men forsake  
Their Father, Mother, House, 
v. 29.  and Land,  
Religious Lives to undertake,  
And be at other men's command,  
Their Cross to take, 
Math. 16. v. 24.  and Will deny,  
To live with Christ Eternally.   

And for this reason they refuse  
Riches on Earth, though they be good,  
If rightly used; but most abuse  
Them: and it's hard, if understood,  
To keep them, 
Math. 19 v. 24.  and to Heaven go;  
They are to Virtue such a Foe.   

They are the Ministers to Vice,  
They purchase all for sinful Heart,  
What it desires, all in a trice,  
They bring, and Men will freely part  
With them, to purchase hateful Sin,  
But not that they may glory win.   

They naturally do so bewitch  
men's Hearts, 
Eccls. 4. v. 8. Eccls. 5. v. 9  as still to desire more;  
Their fingers to receive still itch,  
But will give nothing to the Poor;  
What they part with for any good,  
Comes from their Heart like drops of blood.   

This is the Idol they adore,  
Auârice is the Root of evil: 
Colos 3. v 3 1. Tim. 6. v. 10 Luk. 12 v. 15. Eccli. 10. v. 9   
Set not your Heart on it therefore,  
For certain it brings to the Devil.  
More souls by Wealth have gone astray  
From God, than any other way.   

Our Saviour Christ affirmeth this:  

Math. 19 v. 24.  A Camel can as easy pass  
Through eye of needle, as in Bliss  
A rich Man enter. Yet, alas!  
Most Men do Riches here desire,  
Which brought rich Dives to Hell fire.   

What then? can't Rich Man saved be?  
Yes; if he will dispense his Wealth,  

Dan. 4. v. 24.  And to the Poor in Alms be free,  
He may preserve his soul in health,  
And friends of this his Mammon make; 
Luk. 16. v. 9   
At death, to joys his soul they'll take.   

But since it is so hard a thing,  
Wealth to possess, and not to set  
Your Heart upon it; from you fling  
What is superfluous, and thus get  
Claim to this Promise; 
Luk. 6. v. 20.  Blest are you  
In spirit Poor, Heaven is your due.   

O blessed Exchange! 
Luk. 6. v. 38.  for Worldly Pelf,  
To be partaker of God's glory:  
If you'll give gold, he'll give himself,  
If we may credit sacred story.  

Mat. 6. v. 29.  Then send your Riches there before,  
Where you shall live for evermore,   

And you, who Poor are, don't repine,  
But be contented with your state:  
Be Poor in spirit, 
Math. 5. v. 3.  and in fine  
Your wants will open Heaven's Gate.  
God's Just, and will reward you there,  
For Wants you patiented suffer here.   

Be not solicitous, 
Mat. 6. v. 25.  or fear,  
That you shall want , meat, or drink,  
To God your wants do all appear:  
Be not mistrustful, or once think  
That he, 
v. 26.  who Birds and Beasts doth feed,  
Will you neglect in time of need.   


Mark 10. v. 38.  You know not what is for you best;  
Health, sickness, Wealth, or Poverty.  
Trust him with Life, and all the rest,  
Obedient still unto him be;  
Be confident and never fear,  
What's best for Soul, he'll give you here.   

Most certain 'tis true Poverty  
Is here on Earth the greatest Treasure:  
From Sin it keeps the Soul most free,  
Increasing Virtue in great measure:  
It frees a Man from fear of loss,  
And joins with Christ upon the Cross.   

He suffers Hunger, Thirst, 
1. Cor. 4. v. 11.  and cold,  
Which when received with Resignation,  
Do purchase Heaven more than gold,  
And more secure him from Damnation.  
Blessed Poverty, which Soul doth bring,  
And weds her to its Heavenly King.   

Yet all who Poor are be not blest,  
For some are Poor against their will,  
And in desires do never rest,  
But still contrive them to fulfil:  
Their Hearts are so much set on wealth,  
It often brings them unto stealth.   

Those Poor are blessed, who in spirit  
Are humbly with their state content:  
Such daily do increase their merit,  
By wants and Crosses, to them sent.  

Luk. 6. v. 21.  These shall in Heaven have their fill,  
For Resignation to God's will.   

Let Rich and Poor than warning take,  

Ps. 61. v. 11.  On Riches let no'ne set his heart,  
But freely give them for God's sake:  
And when his soul shall hence departed,  
He shall from his God mercy find,  
Since to the Poor he was so Kind.   

You Poor, deem not your lot the worst,  
Nor greedily seek after gain;  

Luk. 6. v. 24.  Which makes so many Souls accursed,  
But patiently your wants sustain.  
Then they from Sin will keep you free,  
And Rich in Heaven with Christ you'll be.   
Amen.   

OF CHASTITY.  
He that can take it, let him take it.  Math. 19.12. 

SInce God was pleased, not to make  
All Men at once, but did decree,  
One flesh should of another take,  
And thus in blood related be:  
That they might one another love,  
In heart, and all division hate,  
As Nature's instinct doth them move,  
God to this end did them create:   

A Lawful Union is required,  
Betwixt the Male, and Female King:  
Which, 
Mat. 19 v. 5.  as in Flesh, so it's desired,  
They both united be in mind.  

Gen. 1. v. 28. Eph. 6. v. 4.  T'increase is God's Commandment,  
And breed up Children in his Fear;  
This must be Wedlock's chief intent,  
As by the Scripture doth appear.   

So that before the World was filled,  
The Marriage-Precept had great force;  
If all, 
Gen. 9 v. 1.  but few, again were killed,  
Men would be bound to take that course:  
But since no want of Men we have,  
Our great God when he Man became,  
Of single Life example gave:  

Mat. 19 v. 12.  Exhorting us unto the same.   

Yet since a single Life to live  
Is hard, 
1. Cor. 7. v. 25.  now Nature's prone to ill,  
Command of this he would not give,  
But left all men to their free will:  
He did commend those, who for Heaven  

Mat. 19 v. 12.  Themselves on Earth did Eunuches make,  
To whom a special glory's given:  
He that can take it, let him take.   

Saint Paul saith, of Virginity  
I have no Precept, yet do give  
This counsel: If you will be free  
From many cares, chaste, like me, 
1. Cor. 7. v 32.  live.  
Wedlock is good but Single Life  
Is better: 
v. 38.  Wedlock trouble brings.  

v. 34.  The Virgin's void of Worldly strife,  
Wedded unto the King of Kings.   

This Virtue is Angelical;  
The Angels live in purity.  
But Men, Since their First Parents Fall,  

Gen. 6.2 v. 12.  Inclined are to Luxury.  
Virginity like God doth make,  
Who all impurity doth Fly:  
By Luxury men do partake  
With Brutes, in Bestiality.   

This Virtue is to Flesh and blood  
So hard, that, till the Law of grace.  
It was by few right understood,  
Virginity few did embrace:  
Yet Some there were the Same approved.  
Elias single Life embraced,  
For which he was by God removed  
From Men, in fiery Chariot placed.   

Among the Gentiles 'tis recorded,  
The Sibyls Kept Virginity:  

4. King. 2. v. 11.  For which they were by God rewarded,  
With the rare Gift of Prophecy;  
Foretelling Christ's Nativity,  
Who was all Mankind to redeem.  
Since God rewards Virginity,  
What Man will not the same esteem?   

When God descended from above,  
Took Flesh, and so became our Brother;  
To show how much he this did love,  

Luk. 2● v. 27. Io. 19 v. 27.  He chose a Virgin for his Mother:  
And when upon the Cross he died,  
His Mother to a Virgin gave,  
Saint John: who while she did abide,  
Took care of her unto the grave.   

And now to Heaven he is ascended,  
This his beloved Virgin says,  

Revel. 14. v. 4.  By Troops of Virgins he's attended,  
Who follow him the Lamb always.  
By all this you may plainly see,  
That those who pure and chaste live here,  
Above the rest beloved be,  
And with him always do appear.   

If you hereafter would be great,  
While here on Earth, a Virgin live,  
That you with Virgins may have seat,  
To Whom Christ doth a Garland give.  
But if it chance you wedded be,  

Gen. 6. v. 3.  Abstain from all unlawful Lust:  
For lustful Men shall never see  
The Face of God, as 'tis but just:   

For he doth Heaven, and God contemn,  
For Flesh-delights, and Carnal Love:  
And God to Hell will him condemn,  

Gal. 5. v. 19.21.  Nêre to possess true joys above.  
As he loved Flesh-Concupiscence,  
In fire of Lust took his delight,  
In fire he shall make recompense,  
With Dev'ls condemned, which is his right,   

This Vice of Lust doth so deface  
The soul, consenting to the same,  
That it falls wholly in disgrace,  
With God, who for it Man became.  
My Spired, 
Gen. 6. v. 3.  said God, shall not abide  
In Man, because he's Flesh that is,  
The Flesh his soul doth wholly guide,  
Still leading it to what's amiss.   

Young Men, and all who single are,  
And you who are in wedded state,  

Rom. 13. v. 13.  The Vice of Luxury beware;  
This sin of all sins truly hate:  

Eph 4. v. 18.  For this doth so much Reason blind,  
The sense doth seem to govern all:  
That by their lives, 
v. 19  if you'll but mind,  
Not Men, but Beasts you may them call.   

Men, who are in just Wedlock tied,  

1. Thess. 4. v. 5.  May not enjoy all sort of pleasure:  
They always careful must abide,  
Lest they lose grace the soul's great Treasure.  
They are not to all actions free,  
Nor to all words, or lustful thought:  
Many of these may sinful be,  
As by our Reason we are taught.   

To keep true Purity of mind,  
Men still must be upon their guard:  
Rebellious motions when they find,  
They must suppress, though it he hard.  
The best way is, th' occasion fly,  

Eccli. 5. v. 27.  Avoid the Objects which do move,  
The Touch, the Tongue, the Ear, the Eye,  
And what the sense is prone to love.   

The Eye 's the casement of the soul,  
The Ear's the door that lets all in;  
The Touch, with Lust, inflames the whole;  
The Tongue doth strongly tempt to sin;  
If sense and Member you'll not check,  
But yield to their unjust desire,  
The Devil hath you at his beck,  
With Lust to set your Heart on fire.   

David, we read, did Sin contract,  
By cast of eye on Bersabee, 
2. King 11. v. 2.4.   
This to prevent Job made compact  
With's eyes, 
job. 31. v. 1. Eccli. 13. v. 1.  lest they should Virgin see.  
If you touch pitch, it will defile;  
So when you touch a female kind,  
Sense doth the Soul of grace beguile,  
Corrupting thus the chastest mind.   

Words have great force, and tempting are,  
Since they the state of mind express. 
Mat. 12. v 34.   
Of Tongue, in all your ways, take care,  
Lest it plunge Soul in wickedness.  
And Since by Ear the word doth move  
The Heart, and taketh lodging there,  
Which blows the Fire of Carnal Love,  
'Gainst words unchaste still stop your Ear. 
Eccli. 28. v. 28.    

These counsels take, and always pray,  
To God, for Purity of mind: 
Wisd. 8. v. 21.   
That Flesh the Spirit may obey,  
That he may lodging in you find,  
Who doth delight in the chaste Soul:  
His Spirit there doth take its rest, 
1 Cor. 6. v. 19   
From sinful wounds to keep it whole.  
How much is chaste and clean Heart blest?   

Dear Author of all Purity,  
Sweet JESUS, born of Mother-maid,  
Grant, that with all sincerity,  
I may acknowledge what is said;  
And also use my best endeavour,  
To keep my Soul, and Body pure;  
That I may live with thee for ever, 
Mat. 5 v. 8 Reu. 14 v. 4.   
In joys, which always shall endure.   
Amen.   

DO PENNANCE,  
Or you shall all perish.  Luc 13. v. 5. 

THrice happy state that Man was in,  
Before he had committed Sin:  
Lordlike on Earth he did all sway; 
Gen. 1. v. 28.   
All Creatures were him to obey.   

Delightful fruits the Earth did yield, 
v. 11.   
With pleasant Flowers in every field;  
There was no need of spade or plough,  
No labour, care, or sweat of brow.   

The Air was always temperate,  
No piercing cold, or parching heat;  
No change of weather Man did fear,  
'Twas pleasant Springtime all the year. 
Gen. 2. v. 8.    

There was no Sickness, or Disease;  
Nothing could hurt, but all did please:  
If strength decayed, or youth did fade,  
By th' Tree of Life all new was made. 
v. 9    

So Man, 
Wisd. 2. v. 23.  though Mortal, ne'er had died,  
But here in pleasure was t'abide.  
Till God to joys had him translated  
In Heaven, for which he was created.   

Had he not eat of Knowledge-Tree,  
From grief and pain he had been free.  
Do Pennance, he had never heard,  
If he his God had loved and feared.   

By sin he lost all, 
Gen. 3. v. 6.7. v. 24. v. 18. v, 19,  in a trice,  
And was cast out of Paradise:  
The Earth must yield no Bread to eat,  
But what he gets with toil and sweat.   

Birds, Beasts, and Fish, did from him fly,  
Would not obey God's enemy;  
'Gainst him the Elements rebel,  
Sickness and death, 
v, 19,  now due, with Hell.   

He, and his, Heaven were then excluded,  
With devils in fire to be detruded.  
In this sad state they must remain,  
What lost not able to regain,   

Till God, made Man, for Man did die,  
And for Sin did so satisfy,  
That, with his Grace, we able are  
Our greatest losses to repair. 
Phil. 4. v. 13.    

That is, lost Heaven to regain,  
And Keep us from Eternal pain.  
By Penance this is to be done,  
If you will credit Christ, God's son:   

Who, when on Earth, to Men did preach,  
This sacred Doctrine he did teach;  
Do Penance, and see it be true,  
Or else you'll perish, as your due.   

His blessed Forerunner, when he came,  
Preached to the Jews the very same:  
Do Fruits of Penance, ready Stand; 
Math. 3. v. 2.8.   
God's Kingdom now is nigh at hand.   

The Axe is laid unto the Tree; 
v. 10.   
What Trees unfruitful, it shall be  
Cut down, and cast into the fire,  
As God's great Justice doth require.   

Not by words only, but by deeds,  
While here, Christ sowed true Penance seeds. 
Math 11. v. 29. Math. 16. v. 24.   
That we the same may imitate,  
And not Repent when 'tis too late.   

He fasted, watched, he wept, he prayed,  
He suffered all upon him laid, 
Isai. 53. v. 7. Math 26. v. 27 Mat. 14. v. 15. Luk 22. v 23. Io 18 v. 19 Isai 53. v. 5.   
With buffets, whips, with Crown of Thorn,  
His sacred Flesh was rend and torn.   

Nailed to the Cross, he meekly died,  
With cruel Lance they pierced his Side:  
He suffered, what was due to sin,  
As if a sinner he had been.   

Whose Life, from sin, like Christ's, so pure?  
Of glory who is so secure?  
His Flesh had joined the Deity:  
To sin it could not subject be.   

Yet, as we read in sacred story,  
That he might enter into glory,  
He was to suffer thus and die, 
Luk. 24. v. 26.   
To Rise, and to Ascend thereby.   

None then can plead, that they are free  
From doing Penance, though they be  
Not Sinners great: For this is sure,  
Who'll Glory have, 
Act. 14. v. 21.  must Pains endure.   

Two reasons why, I shall here give,  
Men must do Penance while they live.  
First that they satisfy for Sin;  
Next that they may not fall therein.   

All know that sin deserves Hell Fire, 
Math. 25. v. 41.46.   
And that God's justice doth require  
We satisfy here for the debts,  
Or else the Sin he'll not forget.   

For we could never satisfy,  
Tho' in Hell-Torments we should lie,  
If Christ had not our want supplied,  
And by his Death once satisfied.   

But now Poor Man can satisfy,  
If he, by Penance, 
Rom. 8. Ps. 17.  will apply  
Christ's merits to his sinful Soul:  
From Sin 'twill purge and keep it whole.   

Saint Austin saith, that euêry Man,  
Must satisfy in what he can:  
Without our help God did us make,  
But to be saved, we share must take.   

And if we do what in us lies,  
Christ by his Death our want supplies:  
And thus we Satisfaction make,  
By Penal Acts we undertake. 
Act. 26. v. 20.    

But he who'll nothing suffer here,  
For Sin committed, let him fear;  
Tho' Christ on th' Cross did for him die,  
He perish shall Eternally.   

And with the Damned Repent for ever,  
That here he used not his endeavour,  
By Penance strict to satisfy  
God's Justice, and his friend to die.   

Who hath in scripture past his word,  
That he'll sheathe his Revenging Sword;  
If Sinners will do Penance, 
Isai. 1. v. 18.  he  
Will pardon, and in Friendship be.   

Sinners, he saith, Return to me,  
In your whole Hearts converted be:  
By Fasts, 
joël 2. v. 12.  and Tears, your Sins lament:  
Your Hearts, and not your Garments rend:   


Isai. 1. v. 18.  And though your Sins in Blood were died,  
As Snow they shall be purified:  
And I'll, 
jer. 31. v. 34. Ezech 33. v. 15.16.  bear them no more in mind,  
But you shall my free Pardon find.   

This is the force of Penance true,  
It quits from all to Sin that's due:  
But if here Penance be neglected,  
In Hell the Soul must be corrected.   

Now, that your Penance may be right,  
Look in what Sins you did delight,  
And Penance let proportioned be,  
In quality, 
Mat 3. v. 8.  and quantity.   

If you to Wealth enslaved yourself,  
Give to the Poor your Worldly pelf:  
If you have sinned in Gluttony,  
By Fasting you must satisfy.   

If your Offence were Brutish Lust,  
Chastise your Body, 
Gal. 5. v. 24.  'tis but just:  
With Hunger, Thirst, with cold, with heat,  
With Whip and Scourge the Rebel treat.   

If you have been puffed up with Pride,  
Contempt, Disgrace, and Scorn abide:  
If Passion hath been your Offence,  
Let Patiented sufferings recompense.   

Do you the like, in all the rest;  
That satisfaction is the best,  
When in the Member, or the sense  
You did offend, you recompense.   

Besides your Penance quality,  
Observe the like in quantity;  
If your offences have been great,  
Yourself with equal Penance treat. 
Mat. 3. v. 8.    

Think not great sins, and small, require  
But equal grief, or purging sire,  
Or what for one, the same for more,  
Will satisfy, and grace restore.   

God by his Prophet doth declare,  
Some more, than others, punished are.  

Revel▪ 18 v. 7.  How much in pleasures she did live,  
So much of torment to her give.   

To bring forth Penance worthy fruit,  
Let it with your Offences suit:  
And doubt not God will it approve,  
And you receive into his love.   

And do not think Sinners alone,  
While here, have Pennance undergone.  
No, no: You'll find that the most just,  
Durst not unto their Justice trust;   

Except by Penance they did tame  
Their Flesh, 
Rom. 8. v. 13.  lest they should lose their aim,  
Of heavenly joys, which are not gained  
But by great sufferings, here sustained.   

Besides this they did know full well,  
That Pleasures draw to Sin and Hell:  
But Acts of Pennance do secure  
The Soul from Sin, and joys ensure.   

This made Saint John his life begin  
In Penance, 
Mark. 1. v. 6.  not due to his Sin:  
For he in Womb was sanctified,  
Without great Sin he lived and died: 
Luk. 1. v. 25.    

Yet would in lonely Desert live,  
No pleasures to his Flesh would give,  

Mat. 3. v. 4.  But clothed himself in Camel's hair;  
Honey and Locusts were his fare.   

The great Saint Paul, Vessel elect,  
His Flesh by Penance did subject, 
1. Cor. 9 v. 27.   
Lest whilst he taught Men Sin to hate,  
Himself might be a Reprobate.   

If these great Saints were not secure,  
Except they Pennance did endure,  
Believe our Saviour's words are true,  
Do Penance, or else Death's your due.   

Let every Man then be content,  
To live and die a Penitent;  
To grieve the loss by Adam's Sin,  
To grieve his own: thus Heaven win.   


Theophy lact.  It's said that after Adam's fall,  
That he with grief to mind might call  
In Paradise his happy state,  
God placed him just before the Gate;   

That so he might his fault repent,  
And never more to Sin consent.  
Like reason have the Just, while here,  
To grieve, lament, and Sin to fear.   

How needful Penance is, you see,  
To euêry man in his degree;  
It satisfies for Sinners Sin;  
If Just, it doth preserve therein.   

Let no one then true Penance fly,  
But in it live, and in it die:  
That suffering with Christ crucified, 
2. Cor. 1. v. 7.   
With him he may be glorified.   
Amen.   

OF PRAYER.  
Prayer is good, with Fasting, and Alms deeds.  Tob. 12.8. 

GOd made Man's Soul, in some degree,  
An Image of his glorious feature: 
Gen. 1. v. 26. Wisd. 2. v. 23.   
As he's a Spirit one and three,  
So did he make this noble creature,  
One Spirit, which hath Will commanding,  
With Memory, and Understanding.   

This Image is to imitate  
Its Maker, and thus perfect be;  
Thus glory to participate,  
When from the Body it is free.  
As God my Father's perfect, 
Mat. 5. v. 48.  see  
You perfect be, and follow me.   

The soul is placed in Body here,  
To govern it by Reason's light:  
To live in God's true Love and Fear,  
To keep his Laws and live upright.  
If you will live Eternally,  

Mat. 19 v. 17.  Keep my commands and evil fly.   

I'll be your God, and you shall be,  
My People, and my servants true;  
T' obey, to love, and worship Me,  
In all subjection, as is due:  
But mark the fatal consequence,  
Of Adam's disobedience.   

Before Man did God's law transgress,  
The Flesh was subject to the spirit:  
But, after sin, it was no less  

Gal. 5. v. 17. Rom. 7. v. 23.  Rebellious, as the soul did merit.  
The soul that would be like to God,  
By vile Flesh under foot was trod,   

Which did so rule and domineer,  
That sense had Reason wholly blinded.  
Thus soul had cast away God's Fear, 
Rom. 8. v 7.8.   
And Flesh to please was wholly minded.  

Rom. 6. v. 6.  Till our Redeemer purchased Grace,  
Which soul reseated in her place.   

And gave her power to control  
Her nature's Passions, prone to evil,  
From wound of Sin to keep it whole,  
To love her God, and hate the devil.  
But yet this labour did require,  

Gal. 5. v. 17.  Her Flesh still thwarting her desire.   


Eph. 2. v. 23. Eph. 6. v. 12.  ' 'Gainst her likewise the World and Devil,  
Both with the Flesh confederated,  
To plunge her in all sort of evil,  
And joys, for which she was created,  
To make her forfeit, and to lie  
In fire, with devils, Eternally.   

These three are cause of all offence,  

1. Io. 2. v. 16.  And bring unto the soul all strife:  
The Flesh, and Eyes-Concupiscence,  
Conjoined with the Pride of Life:  
'Gainst these the soul three Weapons hath,  
Fasting, Almsdeeds, and Prayer in faith.   

By Fasting we the Flesh subdue,  

Luk. 11. v. 4.  By Alms we lessen Worldly love:  
By Prayer for Pardon we do sue,  
To our good God who reigns above.  
Prayer, 
Luk. 22. v. 46.  buckler-like, the soul defends,  
From fiery darts the Devil sends.   

The devil, who is a spirit'all foe,  
And our first Parents did deceive,  
How to resist, Man would not know,  

Io. 15. v. 5.  If with his Grace God should him leave.  
Obscuring Reason he doth fight;  
We him discouêr by grace's light.   

Grace is God's gift unto the soul, 
Eph. 3. v. 7.   
You're prone to Virtue while in grace:  
It helps you Passions to control,  
Preserves from sin, makes devil give place:  

Rom. 6. v. 23. Mark. 11. v. 24.  By Grace God's friend you do remain,  
By Prayer devout this Grace you gain.   


Luk. 11. v. 13.  True Prayer to God is thus defined,  
Not only a set form of Words,  
But Elevation of the mind,  
Where, with the Word, the Thought accords.  

Mat. 6. v. ●.  By Prayer the soul with God doth treat,  
Addressing to his Mercies seat.   

Prayer devout's a Work divine,  
Teaching the Soul, though it's placed here,  

Mat. 7. v. 11.  How she may her Creator join:  
In whom she lives secure from Pear,  
As Child, in want to Mother cries,  
So Soul to her dear Father flies.   

Two sorts of Prayer to God we use,  
The one with mouth th'other in mind:  
The Oral you do much abuse,  
When other thoughts in heart you find;  
Let Tongue and Heart in Prayer agree,  
That your Request may granted be.   

Besides, to gain your Prayers Request,  
Be sure it tends to your Souls good,  
With sorrow, faith, and Virtues dressed,  
Conjoined with th'merits of Christ's Blood.  

Io. 16.13.  Such Prayer as this God nêre denies,  
It's still a grateful Sacrifice.   

First you must Sin detest, and grieve  
In heart, resolving to amend:  
The Penitent he doth relieve,  
When to reform he doth intent.  

Prov. 28. v. 9 Ps 108. v. 7.  But who'll abide in sinful state,  
His Prayer, saith Wiseman, God doth hate.   

But virtuous soul nothing requires,  
That's to God's honour, and her good,  

Mat. 21. v. 22.  But God ●ill grants what she desires.  
Yet this is to be understood,  

Luk. 11. v. 8.9 10  If she in faith to God doth bend,  
With true Persev'rance to the end.   

When you make Prayer for tempôrall things,  

Mark. 10. v. 38.  Not knowing what is for you best,  
Resign yourself to th' King of Kings,  
Who will, if good, grant your Request.  
Thus still conclude; O Father dear, 
Mat. 6. v. 10.   
Thy Will be done, while we are here.   

The humble Prayer, with confidence  
In God, (who ready is to give)  
Doth gain release of sins offence,  
And Grace for soul, 
Eccli. 35. v 19 1. Pet. 5. v. 5.  while here you live.  
Such prayers the heavens do penetrate,  
The Proud Man's prayer God still doth hate.   


Prov 28. v. 9 Luk. 11. v. 8.9.  Again let Prayer persev'rant be;  
God often doth your Patience try,  
Not granting straight, that he may see,  
If you with Hope on him rely;  

Math. 10. v. 22.  Who doth persever to the end,  
To hear, and save him I intent.   

Let Prayer devout, and fervent be,  
From heart inflamed with God's true Love,  

Mat. 5. v. 25.  And reconciled to Enemy:  
Such Prayer God always doth approve.  
My Meditation set on fire  
My heart, saith David, 
Ps. 38. v. 4.  with desire.   

Such Prayer doth always Grace obtain,  
Preserving likewise from all evil:  
By this victorious you remain,  
Against your Enemy the Devil.  

Io. 14. v. 13.  What êre you ask God in my Name,  
Be sure, saith Christ, i'll do the same.   


Tob. 12. v. 12.14.  Old Tobies Prayer did mercy find,  
God sent the Angel Raphaël,  
To heal him, who before was blind:  
And devil from Sara to expel.  
Pray'r's good, 
v. 8.  said Raph'ël, When't conjoins  
Fasting, and Alms, it Mercy finds.   

Elias prayed it might not rain,  

3. king. 17. v. 1. c. 18. v. 45.  And no rain did for three years' fall:  
He prayed that it might rain again:  
Sweet showrs fell down, reviving all.  
By Prayer the heavens did open, and shut,  
As though all power in Prayer were put.   

Stout Josue's victorious hand  
Fight, he feared th'approaching night;  

joshua 10. v. 12.13.  By Prayer commands the Sun to stand:  
It stood, and gave him more daylight.  
No wonder Creatures Prayer obey,  
Since the Creator it did sway.   

The Jews in Desert of't rebelled,  
And God to Anger did provoke:  
But Moyse's Prayer his hands fast held,  
From giving the Revenging stroke.  
Permit my Anger, God did say, 
Exod. 32. v. 10.11.   
Which is restrained while thou dost pray.   

Behold the force of fervent Prayer,  
Attended with due circumstance:  
All losses past it doth repair,  
The Soul in grace it doth advance,  
Until by Love she doth God join, 
1. Io. 4. v. 16.   
And thus in him become divine.   

In all temptations still be sure,  
To use this Buckler of Defence:  
As Bull-work this will you secure,  
From devils, and your great God's offence.  
Lest in temptation you should fall, 
Mat. 26. v. 41.   
By Prayer upon your Father call.   

And as the devil doth go about,  
Still watching whom he may devour; 
1. Pet. 5. v. 8.   
So, saith S. Paul, still pray devout,  
That God will free you from his power: 
1. Tessal. 5. v. 17.   
He doth not mean, that you shall be  
Always in Prayer upon your knee:   

All men may follow their Vocation,  
As he declares; 
1. Cor. 7. v. 20.  but then be sure,  
You have in it communication  
With God, by word and thought most pure:  

Colos. 3. v. 17.  Do what you do in the Lords Name,  
Then this with Prayer will be the same.   

Thus, who's at work, or in the Choir,  
Will still be praying in effect,  
Offering their hearts, with pure desire,  
To God, that he may them protect.  
Thus they'll remain without all fear,  
Of Satan's snares, while they live here.   

And at their Deaths, they'll surely find  
God present, helping in that hour;  
If they by Prayer will him remind,  
He will protect them by his power,  
And take their Soul, still to remain  
In joys: By Prayer this you obtain.   
Amen.   

OUR FATHER.  
When you pray, pray thus, Our Father.  Math. 6. v. 10. 

WHen God came down, our Flesh to take,  

Io. 3. v. 17. Mat. 11. v. 29.  Two reasons moved him thereunto;  
That he might die for poor Man's sake,  
And also teach him what to do;  
For Men by Sin were grown so blind,  
That Virtues path they could not find.   

Christ did not then, as formerly,  
Command men this and that to do:  
Threatening, if not, 
Exod. 21 v. 12.16.17. Act. 1. v. 1.  they sure should die:  
In Virtue's path he first did go.  
Christ by Example first did teach,  
And then he did begin to preach.   

This is the best of ways in teaching,  
When deeds the words associate:  
It far excels all other preaching,  
And brings a man to imitate.  

Luk▪ 6. v. 12.  Christ day and night did often pray,  
And afterwards taught us the way.   

Son; 
Eccli. 18. v. 23.  saith the Wise, before you pray,  
Prepare your heart, tempt not the Lord:  
All worldly cares cast clear away,  
Let tongue and mind in Prayer accord;  
With reuêrence still your Prayer begin,  

v. 23.  Lest that it should be turned to sin.   

The like Christ teacheth in this Prayer,  
By Preface, which doth us remind  
Our thoughts to Heaven must repair,  
If any favour we will find.  
These words do also cheer the heart;  
Our Father which in Heaven art.   

Christ doth call God our Father here,  
For he to us a Being gave;  
And names himself our Brother dear,  
Who took our Flesh our Souls to save.  
Tell my dear Brothers, 
Io. 20. v. 17.  I intent,  
To God our Father to ascend.   

What can give greater confidence,  
That we shall gain our just desire?  
Thôed were release of great offence,  
Since we of Father it require.  

Luk. 15. v. 20.  The Father spendthrift did receive:  
The like he'll do when Sin we leave.   

This also doth our Hope increase,  
That Christ, God's Son, our Brother is;  
Who, though in Heaven, 
Rom. 3. v. 34.  doth never cease  
To mediate for what's amiss.  
O Father, life for all I gave,  
Those who return receive, and save.   

Thus, b'ing encouraged, humbly kneel,  
Before your God, prepared in heart:  
And whensoever you do feel,  
That he good motions doth impart,  
Be sure you do them prosecute,  
That they in time may bring forth fruit.   

Then Cross yourself: say, In the Name,  
Of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost;  
The Devils tremble at the same,  
It guards you from that Hellish Host,  
It shows one God and Persons three,  
That God, made Man, died on the Tree,   

Thus armed with faith, devoutly say,  
Our Father which in Heaven art:  
And also with Devotion pray,  

jam. 1. v. 5.  That he will grace to you impart,  
Then make this seuênfold great request,  
Which of all Prayers is the best.  
Hallowed be thy Name always;  
Of all Requests first let this be,  
That all may honour, and obey  
God, their Creator, one and three.  

Exod 33. v. 20.  But since none can see him and live,  
To his blessed Name this honour give.   

Thy Kingdom come. God's pleased to say,  

Revel. 21. v. 3. Prov. 8 v. 31.  With Men my Tabernacle is.  
I take delight with them to stay,  
And guide them to Eternal bliss.  
For their sakes I took flesh and died,  

Mat. 28. v. 20.  And still on Earth with them abide.   

O let him reign in you by love,  
Let his Love's Sceptre in you sway,  
By sinful Act him nêre remove,  

Isai. 59 v. 2. Wisd 1 v. 3.4.  Like Subject true his Word obey:  
Thy Kingdom come; Lord govern here,  
My Heart keep in thy love and fear.   

Thy Kingdom come; Lord grant to me,  
That while I live I do thy Will,  
That I may thy Disciple be,  

Mat. 25. v 41. v. 34.  And pleasure in all things fulfil:  
That I may scape thy dreadful frown,  
And hear, come blest, receive a Crown.   

Thy Will be done: for that is best,  
In Earth as 'tis in Heaven, still:  
What êre befalls, still quiet rest,  

job. 1.21 1 King. 3. v. 18.  Conforming to his pleasing Will.  
What you command, O God, or send,  
Let me subscribe to, to the end.   


Gen. 4. v 7. Mat 23. v. 37.  God given hath  to man,  
Which Ladylike doth domineer,  
Reject, accept, at list she can,  
She governs Flesh, while she is here;  
Water's before thee set, 
Eccli 5. v. 17.  and Fire,  
To choose what's best be sure aspire.   

But since our Reason is so blind,  
That oft it knows not what is best,  
And will to Flesh is so inclined,  
It yields to Flesh and blood's Request:  
Beg God to work in you his will,  
That, like the Saints, you do it still.   

Give us this day our daily bread,  

Ps. 144. v. 17.  Who with thy blessing all dost fill;  
As hitherto we have been fed,  
Be pleased the same continue still.  

1. Cor. 3.7.  Tho' we for Corn do plough and sow,  
Without thy gift we nothing mow.   

And chief give thy holy grace,  
Which is the soul's true spirit'all Bread:  
That she with thee may find a place,  
In Heaven, when as the Body's dead.  
Oft give to us the Sacrament,  
Containing thee, and all content.   

And forgive us our Trespasses,  
As we offenders do forgive:  
This is the chief way to appease  
God's Wrath, in Charity to live.  

Mat. 6. v. 12.14.15.  As you do Brother's fault remit,  
So God will your offences quit.   

But if in Anger you thus pray,  
You beg a curse instead of Blessing.  
No more forgive me you do say,  
Then I do Enemy transgressing.  
If you'll revenge on Enemy,  
You beg Revenge, 
v. 15.  and guilty .   

Before this Prayer you do begin,  
Examine if you are in Love  
With all men, 
Prov. 8. v 29.  lest it turn to Sin,  
And Curse instead of Prayer prove;  

Mat. 18. v. 34.  If you forgive not from your Heart,  
Of your Offence you'll find the smart.   

And lead us not into Temptation,  
But sent us help when we are tempted;  
Lest that it prove to our Damnation.  
We do not beg to be exempted,  
From all assaults; 
Wisd, 3, v, 6,  We must be tried,  
Before we can be justified.   

None shall be crowned, 
2, Tim, 2, v, 5,  saith Saint Paul,  
But he who lawfully hath fought:  
Who's tempted, 
I am, 1, v, 12.  blessed Saint James doth call,  
For by Temptation glory's bought.  
When he shall overcome, saith he,  
With glory he shall crowned be.   

But us deliver from all evil,  
In soul and Body we thee pray:  
From Enemy, from sin, and Devil,  
Protect us Lord, while here we stay.  
When soul returns to thee ag●●n,  
That it be saved, Lord say,   
Amen.   

HAIL MARY.  
Hail full of grace, our Lord is with thee.  Luk. 1. v. 28. 

GOd seeing from Eternity,  
Man's fall from his thrice happy state:  
That he again revived might be,  
And Heavenly joys participate,  

Io. 1, v: 14, Luk, 1, v, 31. Isa, 7, v, 14,  His Flesh would take, and Man become,  
Conceived in a Virgin's Womb.   

And that his Mother might not be  
Polluted, with her Parent's Sin,  
By merits of his Death was she  
Preserved: which otherwise had been.  
That Christ's Flesh taken of her might be,  
Not tainted, but from Sin most free.   

And when in Womb she was conceived,  
She was replenished with God's grace,  
Of which she never was bereaved;  
To Sin she never did give place.  
But in God's grace she still remained,  
Unspotted, pure, and never stained.   

To this pure Virgin Gabriêl said,  
Hail full of grace, our Lord's with thee:  
Tho' you are now, and shall be Maid,  
God's Mother also, 
Luk. 1. v. 35.  you shall be.  
Let's all respect this happy Mother,  

Heb. 2 v. 11.12.  Since God by her became our Brother.   

What malice hath some men possessed,  
To speak against Christ's blessed Mother?  
Like Enemies to her professed:  
This comes from Satan, and no other.  
He hates her, who hath helping been  
To conquer Devil, Death, and Sin.   

When Man did eat of Knowledge Tree,  

Gen 3. v. 15.  And Satan gloried in his prey,  
God said, I will put Enmity  
'Twixt thee and Woman, from this day.  

v. 15.  The Woman yet shall bruise thy head,  
Tho' thou a Woman hast misled,   

And since proud Satan cannot reach  
The Queen, who doth in Heaven reign,  
He craftily poor Man doth teach,  
Her honour here on Earth to slain.  
So who blaspheme her join the Devil,  
Who is the Author of this evil.   

But let all men forewarned be,  

Luk 1. v. 28.  Remembering what the Angel said;  
Marry fear not, our Lord's with thee:  
Let wicked men than be afraid,  
To speak against her, lest that God,  
Should make them feel his scourging Rod.   

Our Lord's with thee: thou shalt conceive  

v. 35.  By holy Ghost, true God and Man:  
Consent, O Marry, and give leave;  
Doubt not, 
Mat 19 v 26. Luk 1. v. 38.  God this and all things can.  
Behold, says she, the Lord's Handmaid,  
Let it be done as thou hast said.   


v. 28. Luk. 11. v. 27.  Among all women blest thou art;  
That is, above all others blest:  
Fullness of grace God did impart  
To thee, but not so to the rest.  

Colos. 1. v. 19 Io. 1. v. 14.  Thy blessed Womb was lodging place  
Of Christ, the Plenitude of grace.   

Thou Morningstar wert to our Day  
Of happiness: thou gav'st the light,  
That grace's Banner did display,  
And brought us out of sinful night.  
Thou fair, 
Cantic. 6 v 9 Revel. 12. 〈…〉,  like Moon, as Sun elect,  
With Crown of Stars thy head is decked.   

Thy chaste Soul doth in purity,  
Excel the nine Angelic Quires;  
The greatest Saints in sanctity:  
Thou hast all that thy heart desires;  
More knowledge than the Cherubins,  
More flaming love than Seraphins.   

The Fruit is blessed of thy Womb;  

Luk. 1. v. 28.  From this all glory came to thee:  
All men, past, present, and to come,  
By this Fruit were, and blessed be:  
Whose name was JESUS; that's a Saviour,  
Who cleansed our Souls in bloody Laver.   

This Name of JESUS comfort brings,  
To us poor sinners whilst we live.  

Io. 14. v. 16. c. 16. v. 23 S. Bernard.  What êre we ask the King of Kings,  
In this blessed Name, he'll freely give.  
JESUS is Music to the Ear,  
Honey to mouth, and Heart doth cheer.   

This Name is our security,  

Act. 4. v. 12. Phil. 2. v 10.  Against the power and fear of Devil.  
Who, when it sounds, away doth fly,  
And leaves off tempting us to evil:  
When he doth tempt, 
Rom. 10. v. 13.  you need not fear,  
If you call on your JESUS dear.   

Besides this Name, there is another,  
Which by us all must hon'red be,  
The Name of God's most blessed Mother,  
Who Man became to set us free.  
That's Holy Marry; Mother of God,  

Gen. 3. v. 15.  Who on the Serpent's Head hath trod.   

This holy Name doth signify  
Lady, or one who domineers,  
As she doth ôre our Enemy.  
Let us then say, with sighs and tears,  
O Holy Mary, for us pray,  
Now, and upon our dying day.   

Beware your Soul you do not slain,  
With misbelief, as some do say,  
To beg Saints Prayers is but in vain,  
And God's true honour's cast away.  
As though God's honour lessened were,  
By seeking Intercessors there.   

Come unto me, 
Mat. 11. v. 28.  the Lord doth say,  
He bids you not go to his Mother:  
As though she Sin's grief could allay,  
Saint Peter, Paul, or any other;  
Since they are dead, how can they hear  
Our Prayers, who now do not appear?   


jam. 5. v. 16.  To those who labour Christ did say,  
I'll you refresh, come unto me.  
That Saints will Grace give we nêre pray,  
To do this heinous Sin would be.  
Yet since Prayers of the Just prevail,  
We beg to pray they will not fail.   


job. 42. v. 8.  God sent Job's friends, who had offended,  
To beg that he would for them pray.  

v. 8.  To grant what Job asked he intended,  
Tho' their Request he cast away.  

Rev. 5. v. 8.  Thus Saints by Prayer our wants relieve,  
Tho' to us Grace they cannot give.   

And doubt not but our Prayers they hear,  
For they our thoughts in God do know,  
In whom, as in a Crystal clear,  
They see all things which are below.  
If Angels know not Sin is quit,  

Luk. 15. v. 7.  How can they'n Heaven rejoice at it.   

And since the Saints for friends might pray,  
When here; 
I am. 5. v. 16.  why not now they are gone?  
Will God this Priuîledge take away,  
That they shall leave their friends alone?  
If here't was counted Charity,  
Shall they in Heaven less loving be?   

This doctrine false from Devils came,  

1. Tim. 4. v. 1.  Who are to Saints and Sinners foes:  
To lessên Saints honour is their aim,  
That we may this advantage lose:  
If tempting devils may here assault,  
Why not Saints prayîng defend from fault?   

In all your life time, night and day,  
Make Prayer to God, become your Brother,  
The blessed Saints desire to pray  
For you, and chief your dear Mother.  

Io. 19 v. 27.  Christ gave her Mother unto Saint John,  
So she's the same to euêry one.   

Beg that she will your Mother be,  
And next to God of you take care,  
To pray for your felicity,  
And that all Sin you may beware,  
Now, and in the hour of your Death,  
When you must yield your vital breath.   

For on that hour all doth depend:  
It Sorrow brings, or lasting joy:  
Beg her by Prayer, you to defend,  
That Satan may you not annoy.  
Pray, Mother, that I die in love,  
To live with you and God above.   
Amen.   

OF FASTING, AND THE CONTRARY.  
JESUS fasted forty days and forty nights.  Math. 4.2. 

YOu see that our first Enemy,  
The devil, by Prayer is overthrown:  
How Flesh the next subdued may be,  
I shall endeavour to make known.  

Hest. 14. v. 2.1. Cor. 9 v. 27.  Prayer doth prevent the Devil's aim,  
Fasting rebelliôus Flesh doth tame.   

Yet 'tis most certain, that, without  
Fasting, your Prayer doth little avail:  
When Flesh is pampered, 
Rom. 8. v. 5.7.8.13.1. Pet. 2. v. 11.  there's no doubt,  
The devil will soon with you prevail;  
The Flesh is his chief Instrument,  
By which he gains the soul's consent:   

For Stomach, full with meat and drink,  
Obscures the poor soul's Understanding:  
That she on God can little think,  
And thus she leaves the sense commanding,  
Consenting to what Flesh requires,  
Sleep, Sloth, 
Gal. 5. v. 19.20.  and all unchaste desires.   

Hence 'twas, that when God Laws did give,  
To Man, he grounded them on Fasting,  
That he might still obedient live,  
And thus obtain Life everlasting.  

Phil. 3. v. 19  The Belly-God you must deny,  
Which doth the true God still defy.   

To Man God's first Law was, that he  
Should keep strict Fast, and to abstain:  

Gen. 2. v. 17.  Eat not the fruit of this fair Tree,  
And in my love thou shalt remain.  
The Fruit was fair, 
Gen. 3. v. 6.  and pleased the Eye;  
Man eat; lost all by Gluttony.   

And we his children, from that time,  
Of Gluttony do feel the smart:  
By this our Parents heinous crime,  
From God averted in our heart,  

1. Cor. 15. v. 50. Gal, 5, v, 17,  Inclined unto Flesh-Liberty,  
The Soul's most Mortal Enemy.   

The second Law, which God did give,  
Was to great Moses, in the Mount:  
If by that Law we justly live,  
To God we once must give account.  

Exod, 23, v, 16,  T'approach God there he had not dared,  
Had he not been by Fast prepared.   


v. 18. Exod. 31. v, 18.  He fasted forty days and nights,  
And then received the ten Commands,  
Which guide our Reason like ten Lights,  

v. 18.  And written were by God's own hands,  
In stony Tables, to declare  
The people Stonyhearted were.   

For though the Wonders were so great,  
God wrought for them by Moyse's hand,  
Ungratefully they him did treat,  

Ps. 104.  And often in Rebellion stand.  
While Moses' fasts in their behalf,  

Exod. 32. v. 4.  They make themselves a golden calf.   


v. 6. v. 19 v. 4.  They eat, they drink, about it dance,  
The God of Heaven they deny,  
This Idol's honour to advance:  
This was the fruit of Gluttony.  
When Moyse's zeal this evil saw,  

v. 19,  He broke the Tables of the Law.   

Here in a trice one Gluttônous Act,  
Made void the Fast of forty days;  

Exod 33. v. 4 Exod. 32. v. 31. Exod. 34. v. 28. v. 29.  Moses makes them this Sin retract,  
And for this wicked people prays,  
And by like Fast he did obtain,  
The Tables of the Law again.   

Our Saviour when he did intent,  

Mat. 4. v. 2.  To give to us the Law of grace,  
Kept forty days Fast, to this end,  
That we this Virtue might embrace:  
Without this, 
Gal. 5. v. 24.  we pretend in vain,  
God's Law to keep, or Grace obtain.   

You see in Fasting God did give  
The Laws of Nature, Moyse's, Grace:  
To show, if blameless you will live,  
And have your Reason still take place,  

Rom. 8. v. 13.1. Cor. 15. v. 50.  By Fasting you the Flesh must tame,  
Or doubtless you will miss your aim.   


1. Cor. 9 v. 27.  Fasting doth curb the Flesh delights,  
And leaves the Soul to domineer,  
Who freed from Flesh courageous fights,  
Against the devil, and doth not fear,  
Who of his Weapon, Flesh, disarmed,  
Can little do, by Fasting charmed.   

The Soul by Fasting here doth live,  
Like Angel, ruled by Reason's light:  
To whom God Grace doth freely give,  

Prov. 8. v. 31. 3. King. 19, v, 8, 4, King. 2, v, 11.  To be with her is his delight.  
Elias day and night did fast,  
And hence in fiery Chariot passed.   

The force of Fasting's very great,  
God threatening Ninives overthrow,  

jonas 3. v. 4. v. 5. v. 10.  Their Fast approached his Mercy seat,  
And Grace on them he did bestow.  
What power hath Fasting here you see,  
Which made God change his first Decree.   


Gen. 3. v. 7. Gen. 9 v. 22. Gen. 19 v. 33. Numb. 11. v. 33. Ps. 77. v. 30.31.  By eating, Man lost Innocency,  
By drinking Noah's shame did appear,  
By drinking Lot lost Continency.  
Who God in th'forehead did not fear,  
But eat, and drank, and Belly filled,  
When they were fat fed, God them killed.   


Luk. 16. v. 19 v. 22.  Rich Dives feasted gorgeously,  
Nothing was wanting to his Taste:  
Hungry, in Hell, now he doth lie,  
In Fire among the devils placed.  

v. 21.  Poor Laz'rus Begged Bread at his door,  

v. 22.  Who feasts with God for evermore.   

Feasting, if you consider well,  
Is Man's most mortal Enemy:  
Blindfold it leads the soul to Hell,  
When Reason's blind it doth not see,  

v. 24.  Of Gluttony what is the fate;  
Till damned it doth repent too late.   

Fasting of Chastity's the Mother;  

S. Basil. Hom de jejunio  In keeps the soul to Virtue bend,  
It doth preserve Grace, and to other  
Rare Virtues makes her full intent.  
The fruits of Feasting are Hell's gain:  
By Fasting Man doth just remain.   

This made the Saints so much esteem  
The Virtue of true Abstinence:  
Themselves secure they did not deem,  
Without this Buckler of defence.  
It shields from Fiesh and Devil's dart,  
That it shall never wound the heart.   

Saint John, Christ's great Forerunner fasted;  

Luk. 1. v. 15. Mark. 1. v. 6.  He no delicious meat would eat,  
What Desert yields he only tasted,  
With Penance strict, he Flesh did treat.  
Thus kept the Grace he was born in,  
And never did consent to Sin.   

Saint Paul, though by God's choice elected,  
While here, did seem his Flesh to hate,  
By Penance strict he it corrected,  

1, Cor 9, v. 27.  Lest that he might prove Reprobate.  
If you examine you will find,  
The Saints were all of this Saints mind.   

If therefore you will be secure,  
From tempting Flesh, and Devil fell:  
By Fast God's grace you must procure,  
To guard you while on Earty you dwell.  
Fasting preserves from new offence,  

joël. 2. v. 12.  And for past Sins makes recompense.   

Hence 'tis the Church commands to Fast,  
Yet this is to be understood,  
As long as health and strength doth last,  
She seeks hereby her children's good.  
Three sorts of Fasts in Church there are,  
Which I will briefly here declare.   

The first is called natural,  
And broke by crumb, or drop we take.  
The next Ecclesiastical,  
One meal a day in this we make:  
The third is abstinence, when we,  
Excepting flesh, to eat are free.   

Unto the first the Church doth bind,  
When We receive the Sacrament.  
Lent, Fridays, Eves, where Fast we find,  
We must with one meal be content.  
On Saturdays we do abstain,  
When only Flesh we do refrain.   

Behold what profit doth accrue  
To us by Fasting? then besure  
To give Obedience, what is due,  
To Holy Church, while you endure.  
Who hears the Church, 
Luk. 10. v. 16.  the same hears me;  
Who'll not, as Heathen let him be.   

The meat hurts not which enters in  
When it is took with moderation:  
Your Disobedience is the Sin,  
Which makes you guilty of Damnation.  

Gen. 1. v. 31. Gen. 3. v. 11.  Good was the Apple Adam eat,  
Yet eating his offence was great.   

As Satan tempted him, so here  
He tempts to Disobedience:  
The Flesh bids eat, and never fear,  
The Soul yields to Concupiscence.  
Thus, not regarding Church command,  
Man boldly eats what comes to hand.   

But let us still obedient be,  
To holy Church, 
Mat. 18. v. 17.  in all our ways:  
That from Christ's curse we may be free  
Remembering what Saint Austin says:  
Who'll not the Church his Mother call,  
Have God for Father never shall.   

Let no Flesh-Devill then prevail,  

Phil. 3. v. 19  To make you Belly-God adore:  
To feast now, what will it avail,  

Luk. 16. v. 24.  When you must hunger evermore?  
From Sin preserve your Soul by Fast,  

Rev. 19 v. 9  That you may Feast with God at last,   
Amen.   

OF ALMSDEEDS.  
Make to yourselves friends of the Mammon of iniquity.  Luk. 16. v. 9 

IN the beginning, God did give  
All things in common here below:  
That men might still united live,  
No one his Portion than did know;  
God did not parts to men assign,  

29.  No one could say, this Land is mine.   

When Men on Earth did multiply,  

Gen. 13. v. 9  The Earth in parts they did divide,  
Who had most power, gained most thereby,  
The weakest poorest did abide.  
Thus Avarice did first begin,  

1. Tim. 6. v. 10.  Which Scripture calls the Root of Sin.   

By Property their hearts were set,  
On greedy gain, and Worldly Love:  
Their aim was worldly Wealth to get,  
They little minded joys above;  
They were to Flesh and Blood so bend,  

jam. 5. v. 5.  Their Heaven was this World's content.   


Ps. 16. v. 15.  The Soul's desire's nêre satisfied,  
Till she joins God her final End:  
She having with the Flesh complied,  
To her desires doth wholly bend:  
So men their Heaven seek in this life,  
Which is the cause of Worldly strife.   

For they to greatness do aspire,  
And Wealth's increase, 
Prov. 28. 〈◊〉. 22.  which all commands:  
They grieve to see another higher,  
In honour, riches, or in lands.  
This makes them plot, both day and night,  
How they may gain by wrong or right.   

Hence 'tis they cheat, they rob, they kill,  
To gain a little worldly wealth:  
To satisfy their greedy will,  
They often hazard life, and Health.  
The Idol-Riches they adore;  
Give these, and they will ask no more.   


Prov. 1●. v. 20. Eccli 13. v. 24. Eccli. 4. v 4.5.6. Eccli. 13. v. 24.  They are no friends unto the Poor,  
Their wants they'll not the least supply:  
But harshly drive them from the door,  
As their Wealth's greatest Enemy.  
Let them consider how unjust  
They are hereby, unto their trust.   

For though God some men did permit,  
To have more than some others have:  
Yet his decree he doth not quit,  

Deut. 14. v. 29. Eccli. 4. v. 1.2.3.4.  By which the Earth he common gave.  
All Men are by her Fruits to live:  
To Poor the Rich are bound to give.   

For since they do the Land possess,  
Which food unto the Body yields:  
To those which only Trades profess,  
To till and sow who have no fields,  

Eccli. 29. v. 12.  In want they're bound to give them bread,  
Or give account when they are dead.   

For God hath placed the Rich man here,  
Not only his own flesh to feed,  
But to be his true Dispenseer,  

Luk. 16. v. 11.  Distributing where he sees need.  
Account of this he once must give,  
If bad, 'tis Death; if good, he'll live.   

Our Saviour's counsel here then take,  
And freely give unto the Poor:  

Luk. 16. v. 9  Thus wicked Mammon friends will make,  
Of whose assistance you'll be sure;  
Your Soul, when it doth Body leave,  
The Poor shall into joys receive.   


Isai. 58. v. 7. Prov. 17. v. 5.  The Prophet bids you to refresh  
Who hungry are, and naked cloth,  
And not despise them, your own flesh,  
Nor their infirmities to loath.  

Tob. 4. v. 8.  Do still as you would be done by,  
To all in great necessity.   

Christ's counsel here Command becomes;  
Sell what you have, 
Luk. 12. v. 33.  and Alms bestow:  
The Saints in Alms have spent great sums,  
Before the Poor should naked go:  
These words of Christ made them so free,  
What you give them, 
Mat. 25. v. 40.  you give to me.   

Alms, 
Eccli. 29. v. 17.  saith the Wiseman, do defend,  
More than the strong man's shield, or spear,  
Against assaults our foes intent:  
The Soul, thus armed, doth not fear:  
Alms reinforce her so with grace,  
They raise the Siege, and leave the place   

And though you should be Sinners great,  
True Charity hides all your Sins,  

v. 16. Tob 4. v. 11 Luk. 6. v. 38.  And pleads before God's Mercy seat,  
And of him Pardon for you wins.  
Who gives to him, he will give grace,  
And Heaven shall be his resting place.   

Alms, Avarice from heart remove,  
Extinguishing its raging heat;  
They also lessen Worldly Love,  

Tob. 4 v. 12. Eccli. 3. v. 33.  And bring the Soul with God to treat:  
As waters do extinguish fires,  
So Alms resist what Sin requires.   

Alms, saith the Angel Raphaël,  
Do free from Death, 
Tob. 12. v. 9 Tob. 4. v. 10.11. Ps. 111, v. 10.  and purge from Sin,  
They purchase Mercy, keep from Hell,  
As if we Sinners had not been.  
They life obtain with God above;  
So much doth God our Alms-deeds love.   

The Wise man doth this counsel give,  

Eccli 20. v. 15.  Lay up your Alms in th'Poor Man's heart,  
These will preserve you while you live,  
From ill: and when you hence departed,  

Tob. 4. v. 11.  Will help you in that dangêrous hour,  
And shield you from the Devil's power.   

This Virtue, seems by Daniel,  
With God to be the most prevailing:  
In winning grace it doth excel,  
And of God's Mercy seldom failing;  

Dan 4. v. 24.  Thy sins with Alms, O King redeem,  
Of all ways, this I most esteem.   

An Angel to Cornelius said,  

Act. 10 v. 4.  Thy Prayer and Alms-deeds are ascended  
To God, and shall be well apayed:  
Go unto Peter, who's descended  
To Joppen, credit what he saith,  
He shall instruct thee in the Faith.   

The praise of Alms-deeds is to long,  
For me at present to rehearse,  
Exceeding limits of a song;  
So I'll conclude all in this Verse;  
Give Alms, 
Luk. 11. v. 41.  saith JESUS, and behold,  
All things are pure to you, as Gold.   

Besides the Alms which Body feeds,  
There is another you must give;  
Instruct your Brother, 
Eccli. 18. v. 13.  where it needs,  
To love God, and in's Fear to live;  
As Soul the Body doth excel,  
So doth this Alms, which keeps from Hell.   

A third Alms yet you must bestow,  
Without which God you cannot please,  
To pardon and forgive your Foe:  
From sin thus you will have release:  
If you do, 
Luk. 6. v. 37.38. Mat. 18. v. 340.  God will pardon give:  
If not: you still shall guilty live.   

Remember what you daily say,  

Math. 6. v. 11.  Give us this day our daily Bread:  
Feed you the hungry, then thus pray,  
And your soul shall with grace be fed.  

Luc. 6. v. 38.  For as you do to others give,  
So God your wants will still relieve.   

We say, 
Mat. 6. v. v. 12.  Our trespasses forgive,  
O gracious Lord, and them forget;  
As we offenders do relieve:  
And freely pardon them their debt:  

v. 14.  If you do pardon hearty,  
He'll pardon you, his Enemy.   

And this will quit your soul of Fear,  
In the last dreadful Judgement day:  
When you these thundering words shall hear,  
Which to the Wicked Christ will say:  
You'd not forgive, 
Mat. 25. v. 41.  to Hell be gone;  
Nor give: so Glory you'll have none.   

But then Christ to the Merciful  
Shall say, Come, Mercy you shall find,  

v. 34.  Since you to Poor were pitiful,  
And to your Enemy as kind.  
Possess the Crown prepared for you,  
Which is to Alms and Mercy due.   
Amen.   

THE ANGEL GUARDIAN'S ADVICE TO HIS PUPIL.  
He hath given his Angels charge of thee.  Psal. 90. v. 11. 

THe charge of Men to Angels here  
God gave, them to direct,  
In all their ways, 
Ps. 90. v. 11.  in Love, and Fear  
Of him: and to detect  
Temptations of their Enemy,  
To keep them from all evil:  
To win their hearts to God on high,  
From Flesh, the World, and Devil.   

Give ear to me, my Pupil dear,  
Who am your Angel-Keeper;  

Tob. 5. v. 20.21.  Who day and night do guard you here,  
Fear not, I am no sleeper,  
But always watchful, you to mind  
Of good, and when your Foe  
Doth tempt, to ill, in any kind,  
That you may it forgo.   

Consider, Man, your dignity,  
How high your nature's flown;  
Above the highest Hierarchy  
Of Angels, 
Mark. 16. v. 19  to God's Throne.  
Whose Love to you was not confined,  
Making one part, your Soul,  
His Image: 
Gen. 1. v. 27.  'twas then in his mind,  
To honour more the whole.   


Io. 1. v. 14.  From Heaven to Earth he did descend,  
Your Nature to unite,  
To his divine, 
Rom. 5. v. 18.19.  unto this end,  
That he might make that right,  
Which Adam's Sin depraved; this great  
Work by his Death he wrought:  
At God's right hand it now hath seat,  
As by the Creed you're taught.   

No wonder then, that God commands,  

Ps. 90. v. 12.  His Angels to make care  
Of Mortal Men, and in their hands,  
Them to support and bear;  
Lest Satan hurt them any way,  
Since they thus honôred be.  
And we, as readily obey,  
And them do serve as free.   

Since than you are thus dignifyed,  
Scorn basely to descend,  
To worldly love; 
Deut. 6. v. 5. Mat. 22. v. 37. Luk. 10. v. 27.  let yours abide  
In Heaven, unto the end.  
Let Satan cursed you not deceive,  
And stoop you down to Sin,  
Since what he lost you shall receive,  
The place he once sat in.   

By Sin he fell, and you must rise  
By Virtue, to his place:  
Hate Sin; 
Eccli. 21. v. 2. Rom. 6. v. 23.  love Virtue; thus be wise,  
In keeping of God's grace.  
What's Sin? but pleasure of the Flesh,  
That's common to the Beast,  
Which doth the soul no whit refresh;  
God is her only feast.   


1. Pet. 5. v. 5.  The pound of heart God doth resist,  
The humble he doth call,  
To heavenly Thrones, the Angel's mist,  
Whose Pride was their downfall.  
Hence comes the Mortal Enmity,  
Of them unto Mankind,  
That Men to Glory raised should be,  
Doth sore perplex their mind.   


Mat. 26. v. 15,  'Twas greedy gain made Judas sell  
His Saviour, and his Soul.  

Mat. 19 v. 29.  The world's Contempt doth make men dwell  
With God, above the Pole.  

Gen. 19 v. 24.  Foul Lust caused Sodom to be fired;  
 Souls wed God above:  

Gen. 4. v. 11.  Cain's Envy curse from God required;  
Man's one with God by Love.   


Luk. 16. v. 22.  'Twas Gluttony that Dives rich,  
Did bury deep in Hell:  

v. 22.  'Twas Laz'rus' want and hunger which  
Made him in Heaven to dwell.  
The furious Man abounds with sin;  

Mark. 5. v. 4.  The Meek possess the Land;  
The Idle Heaven shall never win;  

2. Tim. 2. v. 5.  Who fights shall crowned stand.   

In fine all Vice doth separate  
'Twixt God, 
Isai. 59 v. 2.  and Man's Soul here,  
And only this can make him hate,  
That which he loves so dear.  
This Virtue that doth reunite  
The Soul again to God,  
When she the Flesh and World's delight,  
Both under foot hath trod.   


Mat. 4. v. 35. Rev. 12. v. 9  As Devils tempt you unto Sin,  
So I to Virtue move:  
Malice moves them the Prize to win,  
In me 'tis only Love.  
To follow them the Flesh doth please,  
To which my counsel's grief:  
This Heaven doth bring, the Soul's true case,  
That Hell, where's no relief.   

Attend and hearken night and day,  

job. 32. v. 8 Heb. 1. v. 14.  Unto God's inspirations,  
Which I inspire, and them obey,  
Repelling all Temptations,  
Which come from Satan, and to know  
The good, from bad, ask me,  
Who am to teach you here below,  
And your Instructor be.   

God says, 
Exod. 23. v. 20.  My Angel shall precede,  
And keep you in the way:  
Contemn him not, 
v. 21.  who you doth lead,  
But do his voice obey.  

v. 22.  And I an Enemy will be  
To yours, and will chastise  
Those who do any hurt to thee,  
In goods, or otherwise.   

As Gabriël, 
Luk. 1. v. 26.  I Message bring  
To you, from God above,  
To love and practise every thing  
That's good, I do you move.  
Like Raphaël, 
Tob. 12. v. 14.  J'm sent to thee,  
That I may make thee whole,  
When serpent's bite hath made thee see,  
What ill Sin brings the Soul.   


4. Esdr. 4. Antiph. at. Bened. in the office of the Angel Guardian Act. 12. v. 7. I am. 4. v. 7.  As Uriell is Shepherd chief,  
Orê God's beloved Flock:  
So I from you do chase the Thief,  
Awaking like a Cock.  
When he assaults, I put in mind,  
What ill comes by consent:  
If you resist, here you shall find  
Relief, with Soul's content.   

And thus, like Michaël, I fight,  

Rev. 12 v. 7. Rev. 12 v. 9  Against the Dragon fell,  
Who would rob you of Grace's light,  
And plunge your Soul in Hell.  
I check, I move, I pray to God,  
I leave no way untried,  
That you may scape God's heavy rod,  
And in his love abide.   

Be mindful then oft in the day,  
Of me, 
Tob. 5. v. 15. Gen. 48. v. 16.  your loving Guide,  
And me as oft devoutly pray,  
With you still to abide.  
Sin not, and thus yourself deceive,  
Because Men do not see;  
What's hid from others I perceive,  
And nothing's hid from me.   

Set guard on th' Tongue, 
Prov. 18. v. 21 Mat. 12. v. 34.  for in its hands,  
Is life and death of Soul;  
It test fies how your heart stands:  
And if you'll keep it whole,  
Shut Eyes, and Ears 'gainst Objects bad,  
Which by them enter in;  
And cause the Heart to be full sad,  
When they have made it sin.   


Gen. 9.21. Coloss. 3. v. 5.  Take equal care of all your senses,  
And Members, guard them well:  
Raise up against them these strong fences,  
The Fear of God, and Hell.  

Rom. 6. v. 13.  Make them to serve your Maker dear,  
As Virtues Instrument;  
To purchase Heaven with them here,  
This was your God's intent.   

Receive all Crosses cheerfully,  
From hand of your good God;  

Math 16. v 24. Prov. 3. v 12. Heb. 12. v 6. Rev. 3. v. 19  With them you must your glory buy,  
And kiss his scourging Rod.  
Who doth in life chastise you here,  
To spare you afterward,  
And keep you in his Love and fear,  
The Soul's securest guard.   

In all distress, 
Ps. 9 v. 11. Ps. 17. v. 31.  put confidence  
In God, your Fathêr above,  
And in dear JESUS, though gone hence,  
Since he died for your Love.  
The presence of the Holy Ghost,  

Wisd. 1. v. 4.  With clean heart seek to have,  
The Prayers beg of the Heavenly Host,  
That God your soul will save.   

With good thoughts I'll you oft inspire,  
Comply then with the least,  
Nourished, spark-like, 'twill set on fire,  
Your Soul to act what's best.  
But if first motion you neglect,  
And that be not attended,  
Your heart God leaves then to direct:  
When slighted, he's offended.   

When you do pray, with Faith attend,  

Mat. 21. v. 22.  And God in Heaven adore;  
Devout persever to the end,  
Christ's Mother's help implore.  
Such Prayers with joy I do present  
To God, and with you crave,  
What you do ask with due intent,  
In due time you may have.   

These counsels take, and still obey  
My holy Inspiration:  
Thus shall I teach you Virtues way,  
Which leads unto Salvation:  
And at your Death with joy present  
Your Soul unto God's Throne,  
Where we for êre, in joys content,  
Shall praise him, Three, and One.   

Honour, 
Pup.  and Praise to God above,  
Who doth his Angels send;  
Thanks to you, Custos, for your Love,  
Who do your Charge attend.  
I vow that I will you obey,  
When I your voice do know:  
That I may not deceived be, pray,  
Or in my duty slow.   
Amen.   

A DIALOGUE BETWEEN LIBERTY AND MORTIFICATION.  
Mortify your Members, which are upon the Earth.  Coloss. 3. v. 5. Lib. 
AS slumbering I lay,  
Me thought I saw a Man,  
His hair was turned grey,  
His colour waxed wan,  
Lean-faced, and hollow-eyed,  
His Body skin and bone:  
I asked; He thus replied,  Mor. 
J'm Mortification.  Lib. 
Where do you live? and why  
Do you the Flesh thus treat?  Mor. 

I live in Monastery,  
Where I do little eat;  
My sleep the like; my Flesh  
With Discipline I tear,  

Mat. 11. v. 29.30.  And this doth me refresh,  
Christ's painful Cross to bear.   

All this I do, to keep  

1. Cor. 9 v▪ 27. Ps 6. v▪ 7.  Flesh subject to the spirit;  
For past Sins I do weep,  
And to increase my merit.  
The hardest Virtues I  
Do practice, and thus stand  
Prepared, 
Phil. 1. v. 20.21.23.  for Christ to die,  
When Faith and Love command.   Lib. 

What needs this strict Life? now  

Coloss. 1. v. 20. Act▪ 1▪ v. 10. c. 7. v. 55.  Christ hath Sin's debt full paid,  
And this you must allow,  
Heaven Gates are open laid.  
Enjoy what pleasure's here,  
While God you life doth send,  
Believe, and never fear,  
But Heaven shall be your end.   

God pleasant things did make  
On Earth, 
3. Esd●. 8. v. 44.  for men to use:  
And pleasures you to take,  
As sinful, do refuse.  
Are you than God more wise,  
To judge what's good and evil?  

1. Tim. 2. v. 4.  D'ye think he'll Sin disguise,  
To cheat you to the Devil?   Mor. 

'Tis true when God did make  
The World, and Man therein,  

Gen. 1. v. 29 Gen. 2. v. 17.  He made all for his sake,  
To use: and without Sin,  
Excepting Knowledge Tree,  
Which, though its fruit was good,  
To eat forbid was he.  
He eat, 
Gen. 3. v. 6.7.  and guilty stood.   

And thus did he, by Sin,  
Forfeit his right to all  
Pleasures; and grace must win,  

Luk. 13. v. 3.  By taste of bitter gall.  
I grant Christ's Death did free  
From Hell: yet that of Heaven  
Man might possessor be,  
Many commands are given.   


Io 3. v. 5.  He first baptised must be,  
And when hath use of reason,  

Mat. 19 v. 17.  God's ten Commands must he  
Keep strict: break them 'tis Treason;  
Condemning 〈◊〉 to die,  
His Justice to appease,  

Mat. 3. v. 8.10. ●  He must here satisfy,  
By works which may him please.   


Gal. 5. v. 24.  That's corporal affliction,  
With sorrow from the heart,  
Joined with the contradiction  
Of his rebellious part,  

Mark. 8. v. 34.  And Christ to follow right,  
He must himself deny;  
Bear Crosses, 
2. Cor. 4. v. 17.  and thus fight,  
To live Eternally.   

For Christ, though God's dear Son,  

Luk. 24. v. 26.  Can not in glory be,  
But by pains undergon,  
And dying on the Tree.  
His Saints sought their Salvation,  
The selfsame way, 
Ps. 33. v. 20.  as best,  
And by much Tribulation,  
They ent'red into rest   

And he, who'll glorious be,  

Rom. 8. v. 17.  With Christ must suffer here:  
From Hell pains if be free,  
He must not Penance fear.  

Math. 7. v. 13.14.  Narrow is heavens way,  
Broad is the way to Hell;  
Few love in that to stay:  
In this do many dwell.   Lib. 
Since all you say is true,  
As Scriptures testify,  

1. Pet. 2. v. 11.  Pleasures I bid Adieu,  
In Penance I will die.  

Rom 8.. v. 13. Ps. 118. v. 59 Rom. 8. v. 13.  No longer Liberty,  
Let that cursed name be gone;  
I will your Convert be,  
Blessed Mortification.   

A DIALOGUE BETWIXT HOPE AND DESPAIR. OR HOPE CONVERTING A DESPAIRING MAN.  
Althô he should kill me I will trust in him.  Job. 13. v. 13. Hope. 
WHat fruitless sighs and sobs are these,  
Which Echo in my ear?  
Distrustful thoughts do never please;  
Hope must be joined with Fear;  
That tears to Soul may fruitful be,  
And sorrow comfort bring.  
These joined, with love of God, do free  
The Conscience of guilt's sting.  Desp. 

'Tis I, poor Soul, who sigh & weep,  
To think what joys are past,  

Wisd 17. v. 10.  What frights do now possess my sleep,  
In Hell straight to be cast.  
The good I've lost, the ill I've gained,  
Do sore perplex my mind,  
How I my Soul with Sin have stained,  
That I no joy can find.   

When once I lived in Conscience clear,  
And service of my God:  

1. Io. 4. v. 18.  Love had secured my heart from fear,  
Of his chastizing Rod.  
All creatures me afforded joy,  
God's praises I did sing,  
My Flesh my Spirit did obey,  
My Soul, my heavenly King.   

Cursed Satan, 
1. Pet. 5. v. 8.  envy'ng my good hap,  
With his, sought my downfall;  
My careless Soul he did entrap;  
And brought it in Sin's thrall.  
Now all things that I see, 
Wisd. 17. v 9  or hear,  
Add sorrow to my grief,  
My Sins in Conscience still appear,  
And I despair relief.   


Rom. 7. v. 23. Gal. 5. v. 17.  For now my senses all rebel,  
And war against my Soul:  
God's grace, my help, I base did sell,  
For Sin. How to control,  
Or them restrain, I do not know,  
They Reason do so blind,  
Theyed pleasure bring her to their bow,  
And thus corrupt the mind.   Hope. 

Poor Soul, considering your sad state,  

Ps. 41. v. 4.  You reason have to weep,  
To sigh, and to lament your fate,  
With grief of heart most deep:  
For on the Earth no state's so bad,  

Ps. 5. v. 7. Ps. 10. v. 7.  As that of sinful heart,  
Which once God's grace, and favour had,  
And from it did departed.   


Ps. 44. v. 3. Eccl. 12. v. 7. Eph. 2. v. 8. Tit. 3. v 7. Rom 6. v. 23. Ps. 93. v. 19 Mat. 8. v. 12. Eccli. 39 v 35.36.  Grace keeps Man's Soul in God's true Love,  
By Sin God him doth hate;  
By Grace he's heir to joys above,  
By Sin in damned state.  
While he's in grace, God doth him greet  
With heavenly consolation:  
In Sin with Hell's food he doth meet,  
Sad grief and desolation.   

What grief hath Father child to leave,  
Who loves him tenderly?  
Who can the Mother's grief conceive,  
Who sees her children die?  
For loving friends to part for ever,  
Is grief beyond expression.  
Exiled from all, to come back never,  
How sad in this condition?   

For loving Man and Wife to part,  
Is little less than Death.  
Of all griefs, 
Eccli. 41. v. 1.  this destroys the heart,  
Our life's expiring breath.  
All these are griefs, in high degree,  
Yet join them all in one,  
Equal they can't the misery,  
That's found in sin alone.   

For God, who bears all Titles dear,  
Of pleasure and of Love;  
From soul is separated here,  
By sin, 
Isai. 59 v. 2. Mat. 25. v. 29. Ezech. 16. v. 27. Mat. 12. v. 45.  and doth remove  
All's Blessings from her, and doth give  
Possession to the Devil,  
Where Tyrannising he doth live,  
Enslaving her in evil.   

The forenamed sorrows have release,  
By time, and do expire:  

Wisd 17. v. 10.  The Conscience-grief doth still increase,  
Till it brings to Hell-fire.  
Where its nêre dying worm doth feed  
On th' soul, 
Isai. 66. v. 24. Wisd. 5. v. 3.  to think what's lost:  
Which vain remorse doth in it breed,  
To think how dear sin cost.   Desp. 
What you have said, I own for Truth,  
Bêing sensible in soul,  
Of much: Had I took care in youth,  
I had preserved it whole.  
Man's frailty, once I would not own,  
But scorned those were in sin:  
And thus by Pride, 
Ps. 1●7. v. 67.  was overthrown;  
Same state I now live in.  Hop. 

Tho' God, in you, hath punished Pride,  

Ps. 118. v. 71.  And left you without grace,  
That falling, humble you abide,  
With shame's blush in your face;  

Ps. 31. v. 10.  Yet by no means you must despair,  
But on his Mercies call;  
Which in your God transcending are,  
Man's Refuge after fall.   

How many sinners found relief,  
In Heaven now are Saints?  
When they for sin mixed tears with grief,  
God heard their doleful plaints.  
And he hath promised, 
Isai. 1. v. 8. Ezech. 33. v. 14 16.  he'll receive,  
Sinners, at their return,  
If they their sinful course will leave,  
In Hell they shall not burn.   Des. 

Cain he was sorry, yet was cursed,  

Gen. 4. v. 1●. Mat. 27. v. 5.  And Judas hanged himself:  
Of greatest sinners, I'm the worst,  
Poor, weak, a graceless Elf:  
Mine's greater than the sin of Cain;  
Christ had not shed his blood.  

Wisd. 16. v. 29.  I more ungrateful here remain,  
Than Cain, pay'ng ill for good.   

I, 
Mat. 26. v. 15.  Judas-like, who's Lord did sell,  
And still his grace abused,  
When Christ by grace in me would dwell,  
I basely him refused:  

Io. 8. v. 44.  Adjoined his Enemy in fight,  
'Gainst him, and thus ungrateful,  
His precious Blood, and death did slight;  
A sin of all most hateful.   Hop. 

Enough Despair: no more of this:  
Men plunged as deep in sin,  
And as ungrateful, did not miss,  
But oft have pardoned been.  
If Cain, and Judas did lament,  
And yet grace did not find;  
They did not truly sin repent,  
And were not right in mind.   

Cain seemed sad, yet we don't read,  
Because he had done ill:  
Or did repent that wicked deed,  

Gen. 4. v. 14.  But feared men would him kill.  
Judas repent, what was done,  
Yet wanted Mercy's hope,  
And Faith in Christ, 
Mat. 27. v. 3.  God's only son,  
So hanged in a rope.   


2. King. 11. v. 4. v. 15.24. 1. King. 16. v. 1.12. Io 21. v. 17. Mat. 26. v. 74. Io. 19 v. 34.  David adultery did commit,  
And murder; after, he  
Was chose by God in Throne to sit,  
Prophet and King to be.  
Peter, of all made chief, when tried,  
His Master did forswear:  
With spear Longinus pierced Christ's side,  
Yet all these pardoned were.   

What greater sins can you conceive,  
Or more ungrate full Men?  
Yet those, when they did evil leave,  
And did return again,  
With tears of Eyes, 
joel. 2. v. 12.  and grief of heart,  
With hope and Faith conjoined,  
By fervent Prayer and Pennance smart,  

v. 13.  To Mercy God inclined.   

Who did receive them in his love,  
And grace on them bestow,  

Ezech. 18 v. 22. Rom. 5. v. 20.  The guilt of sin he did remove;  
Where Vice, now Virtues grow.  
Thus they, with many more, became  
Great Saints, and reign above:  
Remitted sins, 
Luk 7. v. 47.  increase the flame  
Of Gratitude and Love.   

If any sin he'll not forgive,  
It's that which you are in:  
Despairing Mercy, 
1. Io. 5. v. 16. jer. 18. v. 12.13.  while you live,  
The greatest of all sin.  
By this, you do deny in him,  

Ps. 144. v. 9 Eph. 4. v. 19  His greatest Attribute;  
Which leads the soul unto Hell's brim,  
Despair's accursed fruit.   

God's Mercy's greater, than Man's Sin;  
So is the Price Christ gave,  
Upon the Cross, his Soul to win,  
And from Damnation save:  
Put trust in God, 
Ps. 90. v. 14.15.  and in the merit  
Of Christ, thy Saviour dear:  
Leave Sin; 
Ezech. 18. v. 32.  by Faith raise up your spirit,  
And pardon never fear.   Des. 

I grant, all's true, that you do say,  
But yet this Mercy, I,  
Who Sinner am, know not the way  
To gain, or to apply  
Christ's merits to my Soul: I fear,  

Prov. 28. v. 9  While J'm in state of Sin,  
My sighs and Prayers God will not hear:  
This oft hath proved been.   Hope. 

That is, while Heart remains perverse,  
Ready to sin again:  

Eccli. 34. v. 31.  But when Man grieves his sinful course,  
And doth from sin refrain,  
By Sacraments, let him apply  
Christ's merit to his soul:  
Christ promised, who can never lie,  

Io. 20. v. 23.  That he will make it whole.   Desp. 
Sweet Hope; 
Rom. 8. v. 24.  which dost to Heaven bring,  
Your Convert I will be:  
devilish Despair away I'll fling,  
And hearken unto thee.  
I'll weep, I'll grievee, I'll leave all sin,  
By Sacraments will I  
God's Mercy seek, his grace to win,  

Eccli 2. v. 11.  And thus in Hope will die.  
Amen.   

OF DEATH.  
Remember thy last Ends, and thou wilt not sin for ever.  Eccl. 7. v. 40. 
It is appointed for all men once to die.  Hebr. 9 v. 27. 

THe soul of Man, since Adam's fall,  

Eph. 4. v. 18, 19  Is so obscured by Flesh and Blood,  
The senses seem to govern all,  
As if the soul nought understood.  
Men to this life do so attend,  
They little think upon their End.   

The whole Earth, sayeth Jeremy,  

jer. 12. v. 11.  With desolation's desolate,  
And he declares the reason why,  
That we may mend before too late.  
No one considers deep in heart,  
That from this life he must departed.   

Much less, 
2. Cor. 5. v. 10.  that he account must give,  
Of all what ever he hath done;  
And that he must for ever live  
In joys, or sorrow, when he's gone;  
This want of true consideration,  
Is chiefest cause of Man's damnation.   

The Wiseman therefore doth advise,  
That in your ways you mindful are  
Of your last things: 
Eccli. 7. v 40.  thus you'll be wise,  
And for a happy death prepare.  
You'll never sin, or do amiss,  
While this your Meditation is.   

What is grim Death, in picture made  
With Dead-Man's skull, and standing by  
Hourglass, with crooked , and spade,  
Arm, and Leg-bones, that cross do lie?  
Death nothing is, but Life's privation,  
The soul and Body's separation.   

But yet how sad that hour will prove;  
When Flesh and soul must separate;  
Which were so firmly joined in love,  
No tongue is able to relate.  

S. Denis. Ps. 54. v. 5.  Among all other dreadful things,  
That day to Man most terror brings.   

That puts an end to carnal pleasures,  
Which then to Soul cause bitter grief:  
That separates from Worldly treasures,  

Luk. 12. v. 20.  Which then afford men no relief:  
That parts from Children, Wife, and Friend;  
To Worldly joys that puts an end.   

That quells the spirit of the proud,  
And stubborn disobedient heart;  
That makes the Sinner cry aloud,  
His guilty Soul's loath to departed.  
Wealth, honour, Power will not prevail,  
When Death arrests, he takes no Bail.   

Your Life to mend he'll grant no space,  
But to the Judge your Soul present;  
Where bribes, or friendship, find no place:  
To late 'twill be then to repent.  

Eccl. 11. v. 3.  As at that hour you're found to be,  
So you'll be for Eternity.   

Delights and Pleasures, wanton Love,  
Which were, before, your heart's content,  
In that most dreadful hour, 
Wisd. 5. v. 3.  will prove  
Grief to your Soul, which will lament,  
To think how for these pleasing toys,  
She is deprived of real joys.   

Those than will pass, and leave behind  
A strict account for her to make:  
Why she let them possess her mind,  
And Pleasure with the Flesh did take.  
Since she was made for joys above,  
And to contemn all Carnal Love.   

Then Glory, Honour, Power, Wealth,  
In which vain Men do put their trust,  
Youth, Beauty, Valour, Courage, Health,  
Will all be buried in the dust.  
That Man will vile to God appear,  
Who seemed so great and glorious here.   


Eccls. 1 v. 8.  All these you'll own then to be vain,  
On which before you placed your love:  
Despairing than you will remain,  
To think upon your God above,  
How he will justly you condemn,  
Who did, for these, his Laws contemn.   


Ps. 33. v. 22.  O dreadful day, to wicked Soul!  
Which here in body did neglect,  
Her sense, and passions to control,  
And crooked Nature to correct:  
Still yielding with depraved will,  
Her Flesh-desires here to fulfil.   

Whereas in Body she was placed,  
Corrupted Nature to restrain,  
And what she found in it defaced,  
By grace and Virtue to regain:  
But she let senses govern all,  
By which the devil procured her fall.   


Mat. 25. v 7.  The Prudent Virgins imitate,  
With oil in Lamp, prepared remain,  
Not with the foolish, 
v. 8.  when too late,  
To seek, 
v. 10.  and knock, but all in vain.  
The gate is shut, you are forgot,  
The Bridegroom says: 
v. 12.  I know you not.   

Have oil of works in Lamps of Faith,  
'Gainst midnight-Death: 
●●●l. 5.6. ●●●m. 2. 〈◊〉 4.24.  thus ready stand,  
And glory not (as scripture saith)  
In Faith alone, lest Spouse command,  
You, 
Ec●●●●●at. 22. v. v. 12.13.  not adorned with works, to lie  
In fire, yet dark, and nêre to die.   

Take warning then, before too late,  

Deut. 32. v. 29.  And that your life you may amend,  
On your departure meditate:  
That Worldly pleasures will have end:  
That Riches you must leave behind,  
Which will at Death perplex the mind.   

O Death! 
Eccli 41. v. 1.  how bitter is the thought  
Of thee, to those who do possess  
Peace in their Riches, which have brought  
Their Soul to Sin, and Wickedness.  
To leave their Idols is their grief,  
Which now can yield them no relief.   

These thoughts will draw your love from wealth;  
From carnal pleasures still refrain,  
If you will keep your Soul in health;  
Think what, at Death, by them you'll gain;  

Rev. 18. v. 7.  How much you lived in pleasures here,  
So much of torments you may fear.   

Since then the pleasures of the Flesh,  
Wealth, Honour, Glory, are but vain,  

Phil. 3. v. 8. Eccli 2. v. 10.11. Isai. 40. v. 6.  And at Death can't Your soul refresh,  
As base and vile do you disdain;  
Esteem them all mere Vanity,  
Which pass away immediately.   


james. 1. v. 10. Coloss. 3. v. 1.2.  And fix your love upon those pleasures,  
Which are prepared for you above:  
Those Honours, Glory, Joys, and Treasures,  
Which will both true and lasting prove:  
Love nothing, but in God; 
Ps. 41. v. 3. Luk. 2. v. 29.  and he  
From fear of Death will set you free.   

While you live here, be enemy  
To Flesh and Blood: 
Gal. 5. v. 24.  Fast, Watch, and Pray,  
Relieve the Poor in Charity:  
Be Humble, Patient, and Obey.  
Still Virtue practise, and Sin fly,  
Thus you will stand prepared to die.   

Besides that Death doth put an end,  
To all those Worldly Vanities:  
It doth the soul from Body send,  
To lasting Joys, 
Mat. 25. v. 13.  or Miseries.  
And there's not any certainty,  
When this great Day, or Hour, shall be.   

God doth the Hour of Death conceal,  
That we may always ready stand:  

1. Thess. 5. v. 2. Mat. 24. v. 44.  Thief-like it doth upon us steal,  
Believe it then to be at hand.  
In Conscience clear with Virtues dressed,  
That when you die, your Soul may rest.   

What Madness 'tis, but for an Hour,  
To lie in sin, and hazard all:  

1. Io. 3. v. 8.  To keep within the Devil's power,  
And not to God for Mercy call.  
If in that Hour you chance to die,  
Your soul is damned Eternally.   

Fear Death before it comes, and be  

Mat. 24. v. 44.  Upon your guard, against that Hour:  
Love God, and be assured, he  
Will you defend from Satan's power.  

Eccl. 8. v. 12. c. 12. v. 24. Prov. 28. v. 14.  Thrice happy man, that liveth here,  
Replenished with God's Love, and Fear.   

Then come Death early, come it late,  
Foreseen, or sudden; when you die.  

Prov. 14. v. 26. Eccli. 33. v. 26. 1. Io. 4. v. 16. job. 14. v. 14.  Fear hath secured you from Hell's gate,  
Love joined you to the Deity.  
Let Death be always in your mind,  
That you these blessed effects may find.   
Amen.   

OF JUDGEMENT.  
After Death followeth Judgement.  Hebr. 9 v. 27. 

AS we are servants, placed here,  
Our Master's pleasure to fulfil:  

2. Cor. 5. v. 10.  So we before him must appear,  
To prove if we have done his Will:  
Where every one reward shall have,  
As here he did himself behave.   

Death's only Messenger, to cite  
All Souls before God's dreadful Throne:  
Where he will pass a Judgement right,  
And Justice do to every one.  
Twice God will Judge: at Death, the Soul;  
When Bodies rise, he'll Judge the whole.   


Dan. 7. v. 10. Rev. 20. v. 12.  As soon as Soul from Body parts,  
All's oped to the Conscience view:  
Who knows the secrets of men's Hearts,  
Will pass a Sentence, just and true.  
The Soul, that moment, knows its doom;  
Go thou Accursed, or Blessed come.   

Yet God will have one Genêrall day,  
When soul and Body shall appear:  
The Bodies, 
1. Thess. 4. v 16. v. 17.  which before dead lay,  
Shall rise with horrid dread and Fear.  
All must appear at Trumpet's sound:  
To that Assize all men are bound.   


Rom 2. v. 5 6. Mat. 7. v. 15.  God will have all men public tried,  
Who good and bad were, shall appear;  
God's Judgements will be justified,  
Tho' some Men were disguised here:  
Wolves, sheepskins than must lay aside,  
No one, 
Hebr. 4. v. 13.  that day, his fault can hid,   

As Bodies did with souls partake,  
And share with them in sinful acts:  
They also here account must make,  
And judged be of all their facts.  
If good, with soul they'll happy be;  
If bad, condemned to misery.   

Again, this Judgment-day must be,  
That Christ, who here was vilifyed,  

Mat. 24. v. 30.  May then appear in Majesty:  
By who all Causes must be tried.  

2. Tim. 4. v. 1.  Hen then shall Judge the Quick and Dead,  
Who, Thief-like, to the Judge was lead.   

Before this Dreadful day, there shall  

Luk. 21. v. 25. Math. 24. v. 7.  Strange signs in Sun and Moon be seen:  
Great Earthquakes also shall befall,  
Great Wars and Tumults rise, between  
Father and Son, Brother, and Brother;  

v. 7.  All Nations fight one another.   

Besides the Antichristian cheat,  

Mat. 24. v. 24.  With sword and Wonders shall compel  
Most Men, from Christ's Faith to retreat,  
And draw them with himself to Hell.  

2. Thess. 2. v. 8.  He shall be killed by JESUS Spirit,  
And cast in fire, as he shall merit.   


Ose. 3. v. 5. Isai. 10. v. 21. Math. 24. v. 29.  Then the hardhearted faithless Jew,  
Shall be converted to Christ's Faith:  
Soon after these things will ensue,  
The Judgment-Day, as Scripture Saith,  
Before which there will yet appear  
More dreadful Signs, recounted here.   

The sun shall be obscured: 
v. 29. Act. 2. v. 20. Mat. 24. v 29 Luk 21. v. 26. Rev. 6. v. 14.  the Moon  
Shall lose her light, like Blood appear:  
As dark, as Midnight, shall be Noon,  
Which shall fill Men with Dread and Fear.  
The Stars shall fall; the Heavens moved,  
By Earthquakes Mountains be removed.   

From Heaven most dreadful fire shall fall,  

Luk. 21. v. 25 Rev. 6. v. 16.  The sea most horrid noise shall make;  
Sinners shall on the Mountains call,  
To hid them, and with Terror quake.  
With Fear they'll dry, 
Luk 21. v. 26.  and whither away;  
How Dreadful then will be that Day?   

The Ensign of the Son of Man,  
The Cross, 
Mat. 24. v. 30.  shall in the Sky appear:  
They'll tremble, who here from it ran,  
Who loved it, 
Dan. 7. v. 9 Mat. 25. v. 31.  shall with joy draw near  
Then shall be placed the Judgement Seat,  
And Christ appear in glory great.   


Dan. 7. v. 10. v. 10. Ps. 96. v. 3. Mat. 24. v. 31. Mat. 25. v. 6.  Milliôns of Angels shall attend  
Him: Fire shall run before his face,  
He then his Angels forth will send,  
To summon all unto that place:  
At Midnight they'll the Trumpet sound,  
Which will throughout the World resound.   

Arise you Dead; 
1. Thess. 4. v. 16.17.  come out of Grave;  
You also, who alive remain,  
Appear, that you may sentence have,  
Of Joys, or Everlasting Pain.  
The Dead shall rise, 
Rev. 20. v. 12. Math 24. v. 12.  and all shall stand  
Astonished, at this great Command.   

Souls shall their Bodies repossess;  

11.  The Just with joy shall enter in;  
But those who lived in wickedness,  
With grief, 
Rev. 2●. v. 13.  reflecting on their sin;  
As Bodies good, or wicked are,  
They shall receive their sentence there.   

When they before the Judge appear,  

v. 12.  The Conscience-Book will oped be,  
Wherein, as in a Crystal clear,  
Each Man his good and ill shall see.  
All, what lay hid before, 
1. Cor. 4. v. 5.  shall then  
Be open laid, to th' view of men.   

All what in dark, 
Eccli 23. v. 26.  or private place,  
Was done, or what was unconfesed,  
With great confusion, and disgrace,  
Shall open lie, 
Math. 10. v. 26. Eccli. 25. v. 27.  with all the rest.  
Then all shall own, there was an Eye,  
From which no secret hid could lie.   

The devil, 
Rev. 12. v. 10.  who is Man's great Accuser,  
Will vent his Malice at that day,  
As of Man's life the strict peruser,  
Our faults before the Judge will lay.  
All thoughts, words, deeds, which ere have been  
Less virtuous, he'll accuse of sin.   

Thrice happy he, who hath applied,  
By Sacraments, Christ's precious merits,  
Unto his soul, before he died:  
He will not dread these wicked Spirits.  
Whose tears have washed, 
Luk. 7. v. 38, 1. Pet. 4. v. 8.  and Charity  
Covered his Faults, secure shall be.   


jam 5. v 20. Luk. 13. v. 5. Dan. 4. v. 24.  But he who Penance did neglect,  
And with Alms did not sin redeem,  
Will nothing find, him to protect,  
Against the devils; but then will seem  
Wholly dejected, and mute stand,  
At what God shall of him demand.   

It is not Power, or Eloquence,  
That with the Judge will then prevail:  
An humble and clear conscience,  
Is then a friend that will not fail.  
A virtuous Beggar, 
Luk 16. v. 22.  here contemned,  
Will be preferred. and Kings condemned.   

The Liar there shall not prevail,  
The Swearer's Oath will be in vain;  
All craft and Policy will fail;  

Heb. 4. v. 12.13.  Deceitful Tongue will nothing gain,  
Their Truth will naked open ,  
Which none shall dare then to deny.   

Great Honour, Power, 
Prov. 11. v. 4.  and Majesty,  
Wealth, Beauty, Valour, Strength, and Wit,  
Will not at all regarded be;  
Nothing but Virtue then shall quit.  
This shall advance to high degree;  
And those, will prove but Vanity.   


Wisd. 5. v. 1.  The Just shall in great constancy,  
Against their Persecutors stand:  

v. 3.  Who sighing then most bitterly,  
Will their past follies understand:  
How dearly worldly Pleasures cost,  
For which Eternal Joys are lost.   

We, 
v. 4.  mad Men, did the Saints lives deem  
Great madness, and their end disgrace;  
Behold how God doth them esteem, 
v. 5.   
And with his dearest children place.  
What doth our glory now avail, 
v. 8.   
Since of Eternal we do fail?   

The Sheep, then parted from the Goats,  
Shall placed be at God's right hand: 
Mat. 25. v. 32. v. 33.   
Those pleasant, these with doleful notes,  
Shall at the left with Devils stand,  
Expecting Sentence, which shall sever  
Them from the Just, and God for ever.   

Then God unto the Just shall say,  
When I was hungry, or in need, 
v. 35.   
You Ghospell-Counsell did obey;  
And, in the poor, you did me feed:  
What unto them, to me you gave, 
v. 45.   
And from me your reward shall have.   

Come Blessed, 
v. 34.  glory now possess.  
Go you Accursed to Hell fire: 
v. 41. v. 42.   
As you on Earth were merciless,  
And as your horrid Sins require, 
jam 2. v. 13. Mat. 25. v. 46.   
Your Lot with devils in Fire shall be;  
But these shall live for êver with me.   

I wish all Men would oft reflect,  
Upon this dreadful Judgment-Day:  
Then Virtue they would not neglect,  
Nor for vain pleasures go astray:  
Since they account for all must give, 
2. Cor. 5. v. 10.   
They would be careful how they live.   

This was Saint Jerom's Meditation, 
Hieron. de Reg. Monachor. c. 20   
what e'er I do, writ, eat, or drink,  
Upon that great day's desolation,  
And God's strict judgement I do think:  
This Trumpet still sounds in my ear,  
Arise you Dead, make answer here.   

Thrice happy Man, who doth prepare  
For that most horrid dreadful day: 
2. Pet. 3. v. 11.14.   
Who God doth serve, and sin beware,  
And Penance do without delay:  
While others fear, he shall rejoice,  
At Trumpet sound, and Judge's Voice.   
Amen.   

OF HELL.  
Go ye accursed into Everlasting fire.  Math. 25. v. 41. 

AS Man in part Corporeal is,  
He of necessity must die: 
Gen. 3. v. 19 Wisd. 7. v. 1. 1. Cor. 15. v. 5●.   
But when this part from grave is ris ',  
He'll live again Eternally.  
In joy, or grief, in Heaven, or Hell;  
judgement decides where he shall dwell.   

Who lived and died in wickedness,  
With piercing Fire shall then be tried;  
No Tongue is able to express,  
What he with devils shall there abide.  
What grief in soul, what pain in sense,  
What knawing worm of Conscience. 
Isai. 66. v 24.    

For as his Body shared in sin,  
So shall the sense afflicted be: 
2 Cor 5. v. 10.   
The soul, as Actor chief therein,  
Shall undergo most misery.  
The pain of sense no Tongue can tell;  
The pain of Loss will that excel.   

God, by the Wise Man, doth declare, 
Eccli. 39 v. 33.   
In Hell there are Tormenting Spirits:  
Which to revenge created are,  
And punish justly to demerits:  
Who have in fury fortified  
Their Torments. Who shall then abide?   

His fury, who hath them created, 
v. 34.   
They shall power forth without restraint:  
No pain shall ever be abated,  
God will not mind their sad complaint.  
Hail, Fire, Famine, Death, and Scorpions, 
v. 35. v. 36.   
Beasts teeth, and Serpents, are their Portions.   

The Fire will pierce in that degree,  
And so excessively torment;  
That they will so enraged be,  
As their own Flesh to gnaw and rend; 
Rev. 16. v. 10.   
They'll curse the hour, which life first gave,  
And wish the Womb had been their Grave. 
Mat. 26. v. 24.    

The Lord's great Day, says Malachy, 
Malae ●. v. 1.   
Shall like à fiêry furnace flame;  
When all the Proud, like straw, shall be,  
Consumed to ashes, in the same: 
v. 3.   
The Humble shall tread them in fire,  
Who did on Earth so high aspire.   

The wanton and Luxurious Man,  
Shall fiery Serpents there embrace; 
Eccli. 39 v. 36.   
Who greedy after Riches ran,  
Shall come to want, shame, and disgrace.  
The Envious Man shall pine away,  
To think of others happy day.   

The Furious Man the Fire shall tame,  
His Oaths and Curses none shall dread;  
The Lving Tongue shall come to Shame,  
The Slothful shall with Want be fed.  
The Glutton there, 
Luk 16. v. 24.  through burning Thirst,  
Shall judge his case to be the worst.   

The Atheist, than a God will find;  
So also will the Temporiser,  
Who held belief of any kind,  
To save his Wealth; true Faith's despiser.  
All then shall own, what Scripture saith,  
There's but one God, 
Eph. 4. v. 5.  and one true Faith.   

Themselves in vain they will condemn, 
Wisd. 5. v. 7.8.13.   
That for vain Honour, Riches, Wealth,  
The Laws of God they did contemn,  
With virtue, 
Isai 66. v. 24. Mark. 9 v. 44.46.48.  and their ghostly Health.  
These thoughts, like Worm, will knawingly,  
In Conscience, and shall never die.   

They'll also think upon their loss  
Of Heaven, and Vision of their God;  
How for vain pleasures, pelf, and dross,  
They under foot true Riches trod.  
Virtue and Grace, with Glory here,  
As base, by them contemned were.   

They'll envy then the happiness,  
The Riches, Glory, and the Joys,  
Which the Blessed Saints with God possess:  
All which they lost for childish toys.  
Against themselves they will complain, 
Wisd. 5. v. 3.4.   
Most bitterly: but all in vain.   

We spent our lives in Vanity,  
The thought of God we cast away;  
We followed base Iniquity, 
Isai. 22. v. 13.   
And nêre thought on this dreadful Day:  
The way of God we still did slight,  
Of future Glory we made light.   

Then will the Devils them upbraid,  
With their perverse and wicked will,  
Which God contemned, and them obeyed,  
Their pleasures ready to fulfil.  
Their service now they will requite,  
With Torments, Malice, Envy, Spite.   

This thought will most of all torment,  
That this sad state must always last:  
And after many Ages spent,  
There's not an Hour with them yet past.  

Rev. 20. v. 10.  Their Term is long Eternity,  
Which never will diminished be.   

Eternity who can conceive?  
It neither Middle hath, nor End:  
It's still beginning, nêre doth leave  
That station, though it seems to tend  
Forwards, it stands still at a stay;  
And nêre diminisheth a day.   

If those damned Souls could be but sure,  
That, after forty thousand years,  
The Torments, which they do endure,  
Should end, it would abate their tears,  
And comfort bring amidst their pain,  
To think it would not still remain.   

But when this comes into their minds,  

Mat. 25. v 46. Rev. 14. v 11. Revel. 20. v. 10.  They suffer must Eternally:  
No ease, or comfort they can find,  
But unto one another cry,  
How long must we endure? For ever.  
When will our Surrows end? Oh never.   

No, no. As long as God is God,  
So long in sorrows they must stay:  
And feel the fury of his Rod,  

Heb. 10. v. 31. Rom. 2. v. 6.  Because they would not here obey.  
It's dreadful in God's hand to fall,  
Whose Justice spareth none at all.   


Wisd. 19 v. 1.  No pity then can move his heart,  
All Mercy there is laid aside:  
And Justice plays its rigôrous part:  
Oh! what must Sinners then abide:  
Thrice happy is that Man, who here  
Doth Mercy seek, and Justice fear.   


Prov. 8. v. 13. Eccl. 1. v. 27.28.  This Fear will keep the soul from sin,  
And if you should chance to offend,  
Repentance will God's Mercy win:  
Thus sinners may make happy End.  
Prayer, Fasting, 
Tob. 12. v. 8.  Alms-deeds sin redeem,  
And bring the soul in God's esteem.   

'Tis not because you Sinners are,  
You must in Hell with Devils lie:  
But that, while here, you take no care,  
To seek God's Mercy êre you die.  
Do Pennance, 
Ezech. 33. v. 15 16.  while on Earth you dwell:  
Mercy will save your soul from Hell.   
Amen.   

OF PURGATORY.  
The Fire shall try every man's work; whose work burns, he shall suffer loss: yet shall be saved, as by fire.  1. Cor. 3.13.15. 

GOd, just and strict account will take,  

Mat. 12. v. 16.  Of every idle Word we speak:  
And we account to him must make,  
Of the least Precept we do break.  
Some sins are greater, 
Mat. 5. v. 23.  some are less;  
There are degrees in wickedness.   

Which damn the soul, we Mortal call;  
But those, which kill not, Veniâll are:  
There's punishment for great and small;  
But all do not bear equal share:  
For Mortal, pains will ever last:  
For Venîall, pains will once be passed.   

The place to punish Mortal sin  
Is Hell, 
Math. 25. v. 46.  from whence there's no Redemption;  
What's Venïall, alsoes purged in  
Like fire; but yet with this exemption,  

1. Cor. 3. v. 15.  Souls here will be no longer stayed,  
Than they have their last Farthing paid,   

Besides the Pain for Venial Sin,  
Men Satisfaction here must make,  
Far greater, who have careless been,  
Penance on Earth to undertake.  
For ofttimes when the Sin's remitted,  
All temp'rall Punishment's not quitted.   


2. King. 12. v. 13.  To David God did pardon give,  
Yet he received this Punishment:  
Thy Child, saith Nathan, 
v. 14.  shall not live,  
God did his Sin so much resent.  

v. 10.  The Sword shall plague thy Family,  
This shall thy temporal Penance be.   


Ps 6. v. 7.  King David wept both day and night,  
And so on Earth did satisfy;  
But who doth here true Penance slight,  
Must there in Fire and Torments lie.  

Mat. 5. v. 26.27.  And he so long must there abide,  
Till Justice be full satisfied.   

Not all who there are purged, shall  
Continue equal time in th' fire:  
But some, according to Saint Paul,  
Less time than others shall require;  
As they have greater Sinners been,  
So they will be detained therein.   

Some, 
1. Cor. 3. v. 12.  says this Saint, do raise their building,  
With silver, gold, and precious stone;  
Some others, to Temptation yielding,  
With wood, 
v. 12.  hay, stubble: which doth own,  
Some Sins require less Purging may,  
As stubble's sooner burnt than hay.   

But yet, 
Upon the 37. Psalm  Saint Austin doth advise,  
No one to slight this Fire, because,  
It's said that he who purging lies,  
His Sins shall be consumed like straws.  
For though that Fire's not so extensive,  
Yet as Hellfire it is intensive;   

Equally piercing, though its shorter.  
Yet were the Torment, but one day,  
Less painful were the greatest torture,  
That ever on the Martyrs lay:  
For join togêther all Torments here,  
As nothing, they'll to those appear.   

Our Fire, there's dreadful unto all,  
Compared to that, would but appear  
Like painted fire upon the wall,  
Which Men of Reason do not fear.  
Here, Minutes short, long days do seem,  
And every Hour, an Age they deem.   

Besides the Fire, like Torments are  
To those which punish Sin in Hell,  
Excepting, here 've no Despair,  
Like those which there for ever dwell.  
This keeps them from Blaspheming Rage,  
God's pleasure is in this their gage.   

If those refining torments are  
So great: whose pity can permit  
Poor souls to suffer? since by Prayer,  
And other Works, they may be quit;  
Which, daily offered, do not fail,  
But with God's Mercy do prevail.   

This made, as sacred Scripture saith,  

2. Macch. 12. v. 43.  Great Judas send to th' Holy City,  
To pray for those, who died in Faith,  
Fearing their case required pity.  
It is a wholesome, 
v. 46.  and good thought,  
To pray for th' Dead, as there is taught.   

Who then can so ungodly be,  
Them not to help, in what he may.  
If any one a dog should see,  
In such like pains, if any way  
He could relieve him, he would try.  
Shall souls in Fire then help-less ?   

In Job consider their sad cry:  

job. 19 v. 21.  Have mercy you who Friends have been,  
Be●old how we in Fire do lie,  
For small neglect, and Venial Sin.  
The Lord's just hand afflicteth thus,  
Have mercy Friends, & pray for us.   

You Children, 
v. 22.  who feed on our Flesh,  
Whom we brought up by sweat of brow.  
You Poor also, our souls refresh,  
We pitied you; Pray for us now.  

v. 22.  Why do you persecute like God?  
He whips: you'll not withhold the Rod.   

Have mercy on us, for God's sake,  
Whose Friends we are; though now in pain,  
And for your own sakes pity take;  
By Prayer our freedom seek to gain,  
And when before God we appear,  
We'll pray for you, who helped us here.   

Dear Friends, great love you did profess,  
As living; now be to us kind,  
And help us in our great distress;  
Lest out of sight, prove out of mind:  

Prov. 17. v. 17.  Remember that a Friend in need,  
Doth prove himself a Friend in deed.   

O Children dear, have you forgot,  
That you are our own Flesh and Blood?  
That we did still contrive and plot,  
How to advance your Wealth and good.  
And now, when we are in distress,  
Will you prove to us comfortless?   

We suffer, for your sakes, in part,  
That we through your excessive love,  

Eccls. 2. v▪ 19  Too much on gain did set our heart:  
And will you now nngratefull prove?  
Oh help us in our sufferings here,  
Or else God's Judgements justly fear.   

All you, who taste our Charity,  
And Alms receive from us, or Friend,  
In justice you obliged be,  
To pray for us: for to that end,  
You do receive, 
Luk 16. v. 9  and we it gave,  
That we your helping Prayer might have.   

Do not, as too much is the use,  
Our alms receive, and only say  
Lord help him: This is an abuse.  
You for us oft are bound to pray.  
Of this God strict account will take▪  
And you must satisfaction make.   

All faithful Christians pity take,  
Upon us, in our misery;  
And for us intercession make:  
For thus you're bound in Charity;  

Luk● 16. v. 9  Then when you suffer in this kind,  
You helping friends will also find.   


Io. 9 v. 4.  We can not now ourselves relieve,  
That state with us is come and passed,  
But you may to us comfort give,  
By Prayer, Alms, and holy Fast.  
God's Justice thus you will appease,  
And through his Mercy give us ease.   

Kindly receive admonishment,  
From us, before it is too late:  
Your sins, on Earth, truly repent,  
Do works, which open Heaven's gate,  
Make satisfaction, and nêre fear,  
That you shall be confined here.   

And since sin's malice is so great,  
As contradicting God's blessed will:  

Mat. 5. v. 27. Luk. 12. v. 59  That Venîall sins God thus doth treat,  
His pleasure in the least fulfil.  
'Slight not, and say the sin's but small,  
What brings you here, don't little call.   

Do not, as some will vainly say,  
Would I in Purgatory were.  
You can't conceive, what we do pay  
For small offence in Torments here.  
Which justly may compared be,  
To Hell's: except Eternity.   

If you so choice, and tender are,  
That when you chance to burn your hand,  
You roar, and after do beware  
The Fire; by this you understand,  
What Pain 'twould be, if, for a day,  
The whole in fiery furnace lay.   

What would you give yourself to free?  
Whole Kingdoms, if 'twere in your power,  
The Pains would be in that degree,  
That though they were but for an hour,  
To quit yourself, you'd keep a Fast,  
In bread and water to the last.   

Why do you then so slight set by  
These Torments? which, without compare,  
Exceed those: which none can deny,  
And yet in time will not beware;  
But, for a little Flesh-delight,  
Will venture this, come wrong, come right.   

And rather than to undergo  
A little Penance, while you're here,  
Will be to Soul so great a Foe,  
To cast it in those Torments there.  
Be wise, 
Ps. 118. v. 59  take warning, here repent,  
Lest in that Fire your soul relent.   

While you are here, Fast, Watch, & Pray,  
Give Alms; at Crosses don't repine:  
With tears of grief wash sin away,  
With Fire of Love, your soul refine.  
Thus you'll to God pass, through this Fire,  
Like gold, 
1. Cor. 3. v. 14.  and will no Purge require.   
Amen.   

OF HEAVEN.  
Come ye Blessed of my Father, possess a Kingdom.  Math. 25.34. 

THe final End of Man's Creation,  
Was his Creator God to join:  
To whom in soul he hath relation,  
Which doth his Love to him incline.  
He's like to him, in some degree,  
One soul; in Powers a Trinity.   


Gen. 1. v. 27.  This soul God doth in Body place,  
Corrupted Nature to correct.  
To which he gives the light of grace,  
In way of Virtue to direct.  

jud. 1. v. 4. 1. Cor. 15. v. 10.  Some do this grace most vainly slight,  
Some use it for a guiding light.   

The first, for want of light, do fall,  
Into the precipice of Hell.  
The other, God at Death doth call  
To Heaven, with him in joys to dwell.  
Come blessed, possess a Kingdom here,  
 with joy, and void of Fear.   

How great these lasting joys will be,  

1. Cor. 2 v. 9  No Tongue is able to express,  
No Ear êre heard, or Eye did see  
The like, which they do there possess.  
No Heart of Man can full conceive,  
The glory which the Saints receive.   

This Kingdom, in the Revelations,  

Rev. 21 v. 18. v. 19  Is termed a City of pure gold,  
Where precious Stones are twelve foundations,  
That do a glorious Wall uphold.  
Which Wall is made of precious Stone,  
Twelve Gates, 
v. 21.  a Margarite each one.   

The streets with purest gold are paved,  
Which is inlaid with precious stone:  
Christ in the midst, 
c. 22. v. 1.  who Mankind saved,  
Doth sit upon a glorious Throne,  
From whence doth run a River clear,  
Which doth refresh all living here.   


v. 2.  A Tree of Life doth by it grow,  
Which brings forth most delicious fruit,  

c. 21. v. 27.  That place doth no uncleaness know,  
No jars; or strife do with it suit.  
All there in Peace and Love do live,  
To th' Meek, 
Mat. 5. v. 4.  God doth this Kingdom give.   

It's always day, 
Rev. 21. v. 25. c 22. v. 5. v. 23.  they fear no night,  
It's pleasant Springtime all the year:  
The Holy Lamb's their shining light,  
Who gloriously doth there appear.  
Althô, on Earth, he was obscured,  
By scorn, and Death, which he endured.   

Even so his Saints, who here endured  
Shame, Want, Disgrace, and bitter Pain,  
Are there of like Rewards assured:  
As were their suffr'ings, so's their Gain.  

Rom. 8. v. 17  As they for Christ did suffer here,  
So they will be rewarded there.   

Th' Apostles, who in Charity,  
Their lives in labours spent and pain,  
To bring men from Idolatry,  
And Souls from Satan's flock did gain;  

Mat. 13. v. 43.  In Heaven shall like the Sun appear,  
Who were such lights to Sinners here.   

The Martyrs here, in Bloody die,  
Who covered were with Wounds and scars,  
Shall there appear triumphantly,  
Like glorious Champions come from Wars  

Rev. 7. v. 9 ●  With Palms in hands, and Laurel boughs,  
Wreathed like Crowns upon their brows.   

Those Wounds, like Rubies, then shall shine,  
And glorious in their Flesh appear,  

4. Esd. 7. v. 55.  Their faces then will seem divine,  
To Christ their Captain they'll draw near,  

Rev. 4. v. 10.11.  And praises sing Eternally,  
To him who gave them Victory.   

The pure chaste Virgins, clothed in white,  

Rev. 14. v. 4.  Shall still upon the Lamb attend;  
Their Bodies chaste, with glory bright,  
A fragrant savour forth will send,  
They'll there wear Crowns of Victory,  
Obtained against Carnality.   


jam. 1. v. 12.  All shall with glory crowned be,  
And placed among the Angels there,  

Io. 14. v. 2. Rev. 19 v. 1.  Each Man shall sit in his degree,  
According as his Merits were.  
where they shall with the Angels sing.  
Praise be to God, our Heavenly King.   

Above the rest, in glory great,  
Resplendent as the sun shall sit,  
The Queen of Heaven, in glorious seat,  
At Christ's right hand, as doth befit.  
Since he from her his Flesh did take,  
In glory he'll her partner make.   

As they their Bodies did chastise,  
With Watching Labour, 
2. Cor. 4. v 8 9.10. c 6. v. 5. 2. Tim. 4. v. 8.  Pains, and Fasting,  
They glorious shall from Death arise,  
And share in glory Everlasting.  
What joy will soul and Body have,  
When she rejoins it from the Grave.   

This Mortal Body, saith Saint Paul,  

1. Cor 15. v. 54.  Shall put on Immortality,  
Tho' here it suffered, than it shall  
Put on impassibility.  

Mat. 13. v. 43. Wisd. 3. v. 7.  With Beauty it will glorious shine,  
What's Earthly, God will then refine.   

Agility will make it quick,  
And, Sampson-like it will be strong,  
Still healthful, it will nêre be sick,  

Rev. 21. v. 4.  Pain will no more to it belong.  
And it shall have security,  
Of a most blessed Eternity.   

Esay declares, 
c. 25. v. 6. Luk. 22. v. 29.  that God will make  
A sumptuous Feast in this great day.  
Where all delights, they will partake,  
Which he shall there before them lay.  

Rev. 19 v. 9 Luk. 12. v. 37.  Saint John doth this, Lamb's supper call,  
Where Christ himself shall serve them all.   

No pleasant thing shall wanting be,  
Unto the very Body's senses:  
God's hand to them will be so free,  
And lib rall in his recompenses.  

Mat. 19 v. 29.  An hundred— fold they shall receive,  
For any Pleasure they did leave,   

This joy and glory of the Flesh,  
Divines do Accidental call,  
But that which doth the soul refresh,  

1. Cor. 13. v. 12. Mat. 25. v. 21.  Divines do term Essential.  
This doth consist in the clear Vision  
Of God, and in his full Fruition.   

By that we do, with Cherubins,  
The Essence of God clearly see:  
By this we are with Seraphins,  
Inflamed with love, and charity:  
This Love Divines Fruition name;  

Ps. 35. v. 9  God doth absorp them in the same.   

By this their Vision, they do see  
Not only all that God did make,  
But also the Divinity,  
And of his knowledge they partake.  
They see how God is Three, 
1. Io. 3. v. 2.  and One,  
This is Beatitude alone.   


Coloss. 1. ●. 16.17.  As God doth in himself contain  
All things created here below,  
He representeth them again;  
And thus the Saints do come to know,  
What we desire in heart, or say,  
And then for us Poor Sinners Pray.   

Besides their Knowledge, they possess  
All pleasure, 
Isai. 64. v. 4.  that their heart can crave:  
Knowledge alone were comfortless,  
If they Fruition should not have.  
Yet no one God can clearly see,  
But must him join in charity.   

True Honour, Power, Glory, Wealth,  
In God, as in their Fountain, be,  
Peace, Pleasure, Joy, Content, & Health,  
He is their full Felicity.  
They cannot wish for aught in mind,  

Rom. 11. v. 3.  Which in their God they do not find.   

Tho' some in glory greater be,  

Io. 14. v. 2. 1 Cor. 15. v. 41.  Yet none doth envy others state,  
Each one's content in his degree.  
There all do love, and none do hate.  
Who's placed in lowest seat,  
Is joyed to see the other great.   


Luk. 6. v. 38.  All Souls have there overflowing measure,  
As they are capable they're filled.  
For there's an Ocêan of true pleasure.  
All's granted there, what êre is willed.  
If you'll be capable of more,  

Gal. 6. v. 9.10.  While here, be sure you lay up store.   


Ps. 35. v. 9  The Powers of the Soul, all three,  
Are satisfied: the Understanding  
Is filled with light, and Verity:  
The Will, which here is still commanding,  
Shall be content: and Memory  
Filled with secure Eternity.   

As this the Damned doth most torment,  
That their Pains ended will be never:  
So this the Saints doth most content,  
To think their Joys shall last for ever.  
To them a Hell's Eternity;  
To these their great Felicity.   

Since God hath put these in our power,  

Eccli. 15. v. 17.  And Life and Death before us set;  
Let us be wise, and, euêry hour,  
Endeavour to discharge Sin's debt.  
That we grim Death may never fear,  
Nor to the Judge then to appear.   

It is neglect, and want of care,  

jer. 12. v. 11. ●. Esdr. ●. v. 16.  That brings so many to the Devil;  
While living, men will not beware,  
Sin to avoid, and what is evil.  
Much less do they attend to good,  
As if they nothing understood.   

Take then the counsel, 
Eccli. 7. v. 40. Deut. 32. v. 29.  that I gave,  
Your four last Ends still bear in mind.  
This will secure you to the Grave,  
At Judgement you shall comfort find,  
You will avoid the Pains of Hell,  
And with your God in Heaven shall dwell.   
Amen.   

SAINT MARY MAGDALEN'S LIFE.  

The First Part, to her Conversion.  

WHen God the World did first create,  

Gen. 1. v. 14.  And parted Night from Day:  
Two great and gloriôus Lights he made,  
To guide Men in their way.   

The greater Light was called the Sun,  
Which to the Day gave light:  
The lesser, that's the Moon, 
v. 16.  was made  
To guide Men in the Night.   

The Sun's great light doth men direct,  
That they may danger fly:  
The Moon gives light in darksome Night,  
That who in danger lie,   

May by her light escape the same,  
And thus be freed from fears,  
Which do the dark, and Night attend,  
Until the Sun appears.   

Thus when God re-created Man,  
From Death of Sin set free:  
Two Lights he placed in's Holy Church,  
Guides for poor Man to be.   

The first is Christ, 
Zach. 3. v. 8.  that Orient Sun,  
Who, by his conversation,  
Gave light, 
Io 8. v. 12.  and taught the perfect way,  
Which leadeth to Salvation.   

The second for poor Sinners was,  
Who erring from the first,  
In danger of Damnation lay,  
A state of all the worst.   

For Sin, 
job. 15. v. 16.  though it seems sweet at first,  
While it's short joy doth last,  
It leaves grief, sorrow, and remorse,  
When that delight is past.   

Which often lead into Despair,  

Rom 6. v. 23.  And so unto the Devil;  
Except the Soul be taught the Art,  
To draw good out of evil.   

This lesser Light was Magdalen;  
To Moon compared: and she  
Was once Eclipsed by Sin, and thus,  
Did not the danger see.   

For as the Moon from Sun hath light,  
So when the Earth's between,  
The Moon's obscured, because she is  
By Sun no longer seen.   

So God, the Light of Mary's Soul,  
By earthly Carnal Love,  
Was parted from her, and through Sin,  
Did grace's light remove.   

But when the Sun of Justice risen,  

Malac. 4. v 1. Luk. 1. v. 78.  And in this World appeared,  
With Mercy he did her behold,  
And from Sin's darkness cleared:   

And set her up a Light to be,  
To all in sinful state:  
That they by her example might  
Repent, before too late.   

And never more return to Sin.  
But perfectly Christ join:  
As she did, after, lead on Earth  
A pure Life, and divine.   

No one of Pardon may despair,  
Or to recover grace:  
Since Magdalen a Sinner great  
In glory hath a place.   

Althô their Night be perfect dark,  
And danger great appears;  
When this full Moon reflects her light,  
'Twill free the heart from fears.   

For though the first part of her life  
With Sin was dark as Night:  
The other part Moon-like doth give  
To Sinners guiding light.   

Which if they follow, it will bring  
Them out of darksome Sin,  
To Christ, the Sun of Justice bright,  
A new life to begin.   

Saint Luke, 
c. 7. v. 37.  who her Conversion writ,  
Calls her the City-Sinner,  
Who touched with sorrow ran to Christ,  

v. 36.  Where he was sat at dinner.   

Who, 
Mark. 16 v. 9  as Saint Mark affirms, did cast  
Out of her seven Devils:  
For she had been addicted much  
Unto all sorts of evils.   

Saint Gregory doth call these Devils  
The seven Deadly Sins:  
To which she long time slave had been,  
But now her freedom wins.   

And now, 
Rom. 5. v. 20.  where Sin did once abound,  
Grace also doth abound;  
She makes Vice Virtue's Instrument,  
She Pardon sought, and found.   

On Sin she once had placed her love,  
To Christ she now it gave:  
Love was her Death, Love was her Life,  
Thus freed was Satan's Slave.   

Her Senses, and her Members too,  
Which she to Sin did use,  
She now makes Instruments to grace,  
And forth her Pardon sues.   

Her Ears, which unto lewd discourse  
Before were wholly bend,  
She now lends to Christ's words most sweet,  
Which made her heart relent.   

Her Feet, which ran before to sin,  
She doth employ to find  
Her now beloved and dear Lord,  
That she may ease her mind.   

And hearing where at Meat he sat, 
Luk. 7. v. 37.   
She boldly did appear:  
And feared not expelled to be, 
1. Io. 4. v. 18.   
Love had expelled and Fear.   

She who did use to take first place,  
Now humbly stands behind  
Her Lord, and, with tears in her Eyes, 
Luk 7. v. 38.   
Unto his Feet inclined.   

Those Eyes, which with their wanton looks,  

Lament. 3. v. 51.  Of Grace had robbed her soul,  
Shed Flood, which washed her Saviour's Feet,  
Who was to make her whole.   

Her golden Locks, which had enslaved  
Poor souls in Cupid's snare,  

Luk 7. v. 38.  To wipe the Feet of her dear Lord,  
She used as Towel rare.   

Her Lips, which had sin's poison sucked,  
And placed it in her Heart,  

v. 38.  Continued kissing Christ's chaste Feet,  
And from them would not part.   

Until she had on them poured forth  
Her ointments rich and sweet,  
Which caused her Lord most merciful,  
With Mercy her to greet.   

Woman, 
v. 50.  thy sins I do remit.  
Go: homeward now repair,  
Because thou lovest much, 
v. 47.  thy sins,  
Tho' many, pardoned are.   

What Joy these words did cause in her,  
No Tongue can well express,  
Nor Heart conceive, except her own,  
It was to that excess.   

Learn here, Poor Soul, of Magdalen,  
How to return to God,  
To free thyself from Sin's great load,  
And Justice heavy Rod.   

First Ear give unto Gospel word,  
Inspired or taught by Tongue:  
With Mary run thy Lord to seek,  
And Penance not prolong.   

Hate Sin, love JESUS, and declare  
The Sorrow that's within,  
By outward Tears, pressed from the Heart,  
Through thy deep sense of Sin.   

Employ thy hair, that is, thy goods,  
Christ's Feet, the Poor, to feed,  

Tob. 12. v. 9  Fear not, but Alms will thee relieve,  
And help in time of need.   

Pour forth thy ointments, that's, cast out  
True Virtue's fragrant Smell,  
Which will raise up thy Soul above,  
In Heavenly Joys to dwell.   

Give Kiss of Peace to Christ, that is,  
Hate Sin, commit no more,  
And Christ will thee his Blessing give,  

Luk. 7. v. 50.  And Peace to thee restore.   

Grant, JESUS, that we Magdalen's  
Steps of Repentance trace,  
And as we followed her in Sin,  
May follow her to grace.   

Dear Magdalen, for JESU'S sake,  
Pray unto him for me,  
That in this life, in all distress,  
My Helper thou mayst be.    

THE SECOND PART.  
Containing her life after her conversion unto Christ's Ascension.  

BEhold the change of Mary's Life,  
Which first to Sin was bend.  
In service of her Master dear,  
Was after wholly spent.   

We never read she sinned again,  
But followed her dear Lord,  
Administering to him, 
Mark. 15. v. 41. Luk 10. v. 39  and his,  
Attending to his word.   


Luk. 10. v. 39 v. 40.  Which sitting at his Feet to hear,  
Her Sister did complain  
Of her, as idle: but her Lord  
Would have her there remain.   

saying Martha, thou art busied much,  

v. 41.  And dost declare thy Heart,  
Dressing my Meat, but Mary here,  

v. 42.  Hath chose the better part.   

Her brother being sick, she sent  

Io. 11. v. 3.  To let Christ know the same;  
Say'ing; whom thou lov'st is sick; and he  

v. 7.  With his Disciples came.   

She met him, and, as she did use,  

v. 32.  Fell down before his Feet,  
With Kisses from a loving Heart,  
She did her dear Lord greet.   

Where she renewed her Tears again,  
And so much did lament;  
That Christ shed Tears with her, 
v. 35.  and thence  
Unto the Grave he went.   

saying, Lazarus, arise, 
v 43.  come forth;  
He risen up suddenly,  
To the great joy of sisters both,  
And all the standers by.   

Dear Mary, shed these tears for me,  
That I in Bliss may rest,  
Since they prevailed with God to weep,  
And grant thee thy request.   

In gratitude, before Christ's Death,  
She brought rich ointments, 
Io. 12. v. 3. v. 5.  worth  
Three hundred pence: and as he sat,  
On's Head she poured them forth.   

At this the Traitor Judas grieved;  
And said, 
v. 4. Mark. 14. v. 4.  why this excess?  
What she deemed little, he thought much,  
Who prized his Master less,   


Mat. 26. v. 15.  When he sold him for thirty pence:  
O Judas! tell me why  
Thou didst not ask her, who'd give more  
Before her Lord should die?   

When Christ was nailed unto the Cross,  
And all his friends were fled,  

Io. 19 v. 25.  Mary stood constant weeping by,  
With sorrow almost dead.   

When dead, she helped to take him down,  
And in the Tomb to lay:  
Then marking well the Tomb, 
Mark. 15. v. 47.  she went  
To keep the Sabbath-day.   

But little rest sad Mary found,  
Reflecting on her Lord.  
No meat, no drink, or sleep, I judge,  
She did herself afford.   

Early, next morn, 
Mark. 16. v. 1.  with Ave-maries two,  
She took her ointments dear:  
To give her Lord the last farewell,  
The Guards she did not fear.   

Nor who should roll away the stone,  

v. 4.  Which passed much their strength.  
Love gave her wings, Love gave her will,  
Love brought her joy at length.   

But lo, Marry, a second grief!  

Like. 24. v. 3.  The Body is not here;  
The Tomb is open: some have stolen  
Away my Lord I fear.   

Cheer up, Marry, An Angel asks,  
Woman, 
Io. 20. v. 13.  why dost thou weep?  
I know not where 've laid my Lord,  
Which wounds my heart full deep.   


v. 2.  She runs and tells his Brethren this,  
Peter and John ran fast,  
And found what she had said was true,  
And back again they passed.   

But Marry still stood weeping at  
The Tomb: 
v. 11.  would not departed,  
Where her Lord's Body last was laid,  
She had entombed her heart.   

No longer could Christ's clemency  
Forbear, but did appear.  

v. 15.  saying Woman why do you thus weep,  
And whom do you seek here?   

She took him for a Gardener, by  
His habit, 
v. 15.  and replies:  
If thou him took'st, I'll fetch him back,  
Tell me but where he lies.   

Christ seeing Mary's loving tears,  
No longer could conceal  
Himself, but opened Mary's eyes,  
And did himself reveal.   

MARY, 
v. 16.  says Christ. She knew him then,  
And, Rabbi, she replied:  
She saw he was no Gardener, but  
Her Lord, who for her died.   

And fell down at her usual place,  
His Feet to kiss: but see!  
New grief! Her Lord denies her this,  
saying; 
v. 17.  Woman, touch not me:   


v. 17.  But go and tell my Brothers dear,  
That I again do live;  

Mat. 28. v. 7.10.  In Galily they shall me see,  
Where I will blessing give.   

Mary obeys, and in the way,  

v. 9  Christ lets her kiss his feet.  
Love made him first appear to her,  
Her Love with Love did meet.   

How oft to her Christ did appear,  
The Scripture doth not tell;  

10. 11. v. 5.  But we may judge it often was,  
For he loved Mary well.   

And when to Heaven he did ascend,  

Act. 1. v. 14.  Mary was with the rest,  
When Holy Ghost he promised them,  
And his Beloved Blessed.   

Behold how Mary served her Lord,  
And never did departed  
From him, in Joy, or Misery:  
So constant was her Heart.   

Grant, JESUS dear, for Magd'len's sake,  
That I adhere to Thee,  
In Life, and Death, and that her prayer's  
True Joy may bring to me.   

Dear Mother, 
Look in the old Hymn at laud's.  beg this of your Lord,  
As you did for your Brother;  
That in this Life he'll give me grace,  
And glory in the other.    

THE THIRD PART.  
Containing the rest of her life, after Christ's Ascension to her death.  

YOu'll say. While Christ was here on Earth,  
Mary was led in hand.  
Now he is gone, and out of sight,  
Let's see how she doth stand.   


Io. 11. v. 44.  Christ raising Laz'rus up from Death,  
Confirmed his doctrine so,  
How to defame, and blast the same,  
The Jews no longer know.   


Io. 12. v. 10.  To kill him therefore they resolve,  
But God permitting not;  
How to destroy the family,  
They next contrive and plot.   

The brother, sisters, and some more,  
They put into a boat,  
Without Sails, Oars, or any guide,  
Upon the Sea to float.   

Intending to destroy them thus,  
of humane help deprived  
But, by God's Providence, they all  
Safe at Marselles arrived   

Where Magdalen began to preach,  
One God and Saviour dear:  
Such Doctrine these poor Heathens blind  
Before did never hear.   

From Idols many turned were,  
By word, and works, she wrought.  
Till at the last they would adore  
Her, for the God she taught.   

Which made her beg of God, to take  
Her from the praise of men.  
Conveyed she was by Angel's hands,  
Into a lonely Den.   

Where never Man, or Woman, she  
Beheld for thirty years:  
Her meat was what the Mount did yield,  
Her drink was wrought by tears.   

For shedding tears for her past sins,  
And Death of Master; here,  
Immediately at her request,  
Sprung up a Fountain clear.   

To keep fresh in her memory,  
Her dear Lord's death, and loss,  
She begs some Instrument of God:  
An Angel brings a Cross.   

She spent her life in tears of love,  
And heavenly Contemplation:  
Her Heart cursed Satan nêre could move,  
With any vain Temptation.   

Christ, her dear Lord, could nêre forget,  
This his dear Penitent:  
But to her, seven times a day,  
His gloriôus Angels sent.   

Who by their virtue raised her up,  
Into the air so high;  
That with a ravished Soul she heard,  
The Heavenly Harmony.   

And in that space of thirty years,  
As Mary lived there,  
Her Lord an hundred and ten times,  
Did gloriously appear.   

What ravishments he gave her then  
Of Joy, and what excess,  
Excels Man's fancy to conceive,  
Or Tongue well to express.   

God, willing now that Magdalen,  
In soul, this World should leave,  
Revealed her: who, from Maximin,  
Christ's Body did receive.   

And being thus prepared for Death,  
Her Soul left presently  
Her Mortal Body, and, with wings  
Of Love, to God did fly.   

Where now with him she doth remain,  
In joy of Heavenly Bliss,  
Become a Patroness for those,  
Who here have done amiss.   

Behold the Soul of Magdalen,  
At first defiled with sin,  
Refined by Love, and purged by tears,  
At last did Heaven win.   

Let no poor Sinner than despair,  
Of Mercy here, and Grace,  
If Mary's Life he'll imitate,  
And her rare Virtues trace.   

This let him beg of God, in faith  
Of JESUS Passion dear,  
And merits of this glorious Saint,  
Whose Prayers he'll ever hear.   

Blessed Mary, my poor love accept,  
And be to me a Mother;  
Pray, in this Life, God's Grace I have,  
And Glory in the other.   
Amen.    

THE LIFE OF THE SERAPHICAL FATHER S. FRANCIS, IN VERSE. DIVIDED INTO THREE PARTS.  

The First Part, to the making of his Rule.  

GOd made Man's nature innocent,  
Adorned with ,  

Gen 4. v. 7. Eccli. 15. v. 17. Gen. 2. v. 17.  And gave him one Commandment,  
His pleasure to fulfil.  
To break it Death, to keep it Life,  
Was, for Eternity:  
And while on Earth, void of all strife,  
And human misery.   


Luk. 10. v. 18. Rev. 12. v. 9.12.  Cursed Satan, who from glory fell,  
Did hate Man's happy state,  
Made for his place in joy to dwell,  
Where once this proud Fiend sat.  

Wisd. 2. v. 24. Gen. 3. v. 4.  And to deprive him of his Bliss,  
He tempts the fruit to take.  
Thou shalt not die: 'tis not amiss;  
Do but experience make.   

Man, yielding to his Wife's desire,  

v. 6. Rom. 5. v. 12.  Made that unhappy taste,  
Incurred for him, and his, Hellfire,  
Who here on Earth were placed,  
Environed with misery,  
In Reason blinded so;  
They fell into Idolatry,  
Their God they did not know.   

For this, and many other sins,  

Gen 6. v. 7. v. 8.  God thought all men to kill:  
Just Noah, for his, God's Mercy wins,  
Who always did his will.  

Gen. 15. v. 13. Exod. 1. v. 14. Exod. 3. v. 10.  Soon after they returned to sin,  
Th' Egyptians them enthralled:  
God Moses sent their hearts to win,  
For Mercy they then called.   


Exod. 14. v. 2●. Exod 20. Exod ●6. v. 4 13.  By the Red sea they all were freed;  
Commands he gave them ten:  
Whom Moses did in Desert feed,  
And brought them back again,  
Unto the Land of Promise, which  

joshua. 3. v. 17.  With milk and honey flowed,  
Where they became a Nation rich,  
In blessings there bestowed.   

Here they did oftentimes rebel,  
Against their God most high:  

judge 2. v. 12.17.  And by the Serpent's craft they fell,  
Into Idolatry:  
They oft for this chastised were,  

4. King. 25. v. 11.  And into Bondage led;  
Some were corrected by dread fear,  

Ps. 77. v. 14.  When others were struck dead.   

But Vice with men did still renew,  
Till our Redeemer came;  
And laid it open to the view,  
Which caused in men a shame.  
And by his Virtues rare did win  
Them Virtue here to love,  
Which drew their hearts from filthy Sin,  
Now fixed on God above.   

And when for Adam's fault he died;  
And freed from sin and Hell;  
He formed a Church out of his side,  
Where Men secure might dwell:  
Not fearing Satan's strength, 
1. Tim. 3. v. 15.  or sleights,  
Again them to deceive,  
He left therein such guiding Lights,  
If they would to them cleave.   

The Ark of Noah prefigured this,  

Gen. 7. v. 1.23.  Which saved all Souls within;  
But who to enter here did miss,  
Did perish in their sin.  

v. 23.  So those who in God's Church abide,  
Pure in their conversation,  

1. Tim. 3. v. 15.  And from that Faith do never slide,  
Find therein true salvation.   

But after Christ was gone, Alas!  
And his Apostles dead:  

2. Petr. 2. v. 1.2. v. 13. v. 10.18. jud. v. 19 v. 12.  He and the Truth blasphemed was;  
Men, by their senses led,  
Forsook their Faith, and doing good,  
And running to all vice,  
Trod under foot Christ's precious Blood,  
Which was their Soul's great price.   

At this God was offended sore;  
Saint John reveals the same,  

Rev. 7. v. 1.  He power gave to Angels four,  
Whom he sent in his Name,  
To punish men, by sea, and Land,  
Destroying all therein,  
For Man's offence, who now did stand  
Defiled with heinous sin.   

But God, who's still to Mercy bend,  
Once more was pacified:  
Another Moses here was sent,  
Among us to abide.  
Who by his Life was to renew  
Christ's Passion in our mind:  
And lay his Life unto our view,  
That we might Virtue find.   

Another Angel, 
v. 2.  says Saint John,  
I saw come from the East,  
Who cried unto the four, hurt none,  
Sea, Earth, Trees, Fish, or Beast,  
Until in th' forehead, with the Cross,  

v. 3.  I've signed God's servants dear:  
Teaching by sin what heavy loss,  
What comfort's in God's fear.   

Poor Francis of Assize was he,  
Born rich, a Merchant's son,  
With other youth at first too free,  
In pleasures he did run.  
Yet to the Poor in charity,  
He always did increase:  
Which caused him to elected be,  
God's Anger to appease.   

Lo! How God, Sinners, of all Men  
Chose, Sinners to recall.  
King David, Peter, Magdalen,  
And Francis last of all.  
As fittest Patterns here to win  
Them to Repentance by:  
Assuring them, 
Ezech 13. v. 15.16.  if they'll leave Sin,  
They in his Love shall die.   

You may him well an Angel call;  
For his chaste Life and pure:  
From which he never more did fall,  
It always did endure.  
Seraphical, for his great Love,  
Doth Holy Church him name,  
From Seraphins, who burn above,  
Absorped in Love's great flame.   

He had the Sign of God above,  

Rev. 7. v. 2.  As after did appear,  
The Wounds that Christ had for our love,  
He in his Flesh did bear.  
He signed all men in th'forehad deep,  
Renewing in their mind  
Christ's Passion; and his deadly sleep,  
He suffered for Mankind.   

While yet a Merchant's Life he led,  
An Alms was begged, but he  
Denied to give, as busied,  
Tho' other times most free.  
Lo! he runs after speedily,  
(As pity did him move)  
And gave, with Vow nêre to deny,  
Ought asked for God's Love.   

Another begs, who was full bare,  
He knew him nobly born;  
He gave the  which he did wear,  
And put on his all torn.  
These acts of pity moved God so,  
That Francis Mercy wins,  
For Charity conceals, 
1. Petr. 4. v. 8.  you know,  
A multitude of Sins.   

Next night in sleep, Christ did appear,  
And showed where Jewels were.  
Saith: These are for my soldiers here,  
Who Holy Cross do bear.  
He straight prepares for th'Holy Land,  
Where Soldiers wore a Cross;  
He did not Visions understand,  
And thus was at a loss.   

Till Christ revealed to him again,  
He meant not that Warfare,  
But that to suffer, and take pain,  
With him he must prepare;  
By his example to recall,  
Sinners from their sad state,  
To save them from Eternal thrall,  
And cause them Sin to hate:   

To teach them Virtue, and true way  
To Heaven, 
Gal. 5 v. 24. Phil. 3. v. 18.19.  by the Cross:  
Which glory gives in th' latter day,  
When Sinners shall find loss.  
With tears he prays both day and night,  
To know God's holy will:  
And how to do this work he might,  
His pleasure to fulfil.   

Christ from a Cross to Francis spoke,  
Go thou my Church repair,  
Which falling is. He care did take;  
All things prepared are.  
Saint Damians Church (wherein he prayed)  
He did intent to mend,  
Great Sums of money that were paid,  
He saved unto this end.   

And gave them to the Pastor free,  
The same work to complete;  
Who did refuse to take them, he  
Did fear his Father's heat.  
But Francis left the money there,  
Which when his Father knew;  
He ready was his hair to tear,  
So high in rage he flew.   

And presently in haste did run,  
Money and Son to find;  
To punish him who had this don,  
He was resolved in mind.  
Poor Francis, but a Proselyte,  
For fear hid in a cave,  
Not yet arrived to virtue's height;  
Resolved himself to save.   

The Priest showed to his Father then  

Colos. 3. v. 5.  Where his God-mony lay;  
He taking it was pleased again,  
And quiet went away.  
But Francis seemed to be ashamed,  
At this his cowardice:  
And his small Love to Christ he blamed,  
And begged of God advice.   

Who gave him grace, and courage too:  
He straight to th' City went:  
Resolved for Christ to undergo  
What malice could invent.  
By Fasting pale, and poorly clad,  
He sadly walked along,  
The people thought he had been mad,  
With cries about him throng.   

His Fathers hears, goes forth to see,  
Lays on him viôlent hands,  
Brings home, a Prisoner close to be,  
Locked up, and bound in bands.  
His Mother, more inclined to pity,  
Watched opportunity,  
When's Father was gone out of th' City,  
And set her dear Son free.   

He missing him at his return,  
Seeking at last did find:  
With Avarice his heart did burn,  
Which made him thus unkind.  
While he in Vice his money spent,  
His Father minded not:  
But now to Virtue he is bend,  
He deems him but a Sot.   

To th' Bishop he must with him go,  
His Birthright to resign;  

Tim. ●. v. 9  Francis deemed Riches now a Foe,  
And therefore don't repine:  
But strips off all his  withal,  
And gives them altogether,  
And says: I now may truly call,  
Not you, but God, my Father.   

At this the Bishop wept: with heart  
Embraced him in his arms,  
And clothed him, who in joy did part,  
Revived with heavenly charms.  
He goes poor Lepers now to tend,  
He wipes their sores with kiss,  
What did him highly first offend,  
He now esteems a bliss.   

But all this while did Francis see  
Himself at loss, which way  
The Church-repairer he might be;  
And Christ thus to obey  
He could not tell, or yet did know,  
What Rule he should walk by;  
Which did perplex and grieve him so,  
That he wept bitterly.   

Fearing that for his past sins, still  
God was with him offended,  
And would not plain declare his will,  
Till something were amended.  
He therefore wept, fasted, and prayed,  
Whither other acts austere,  
Offering Christ's merits, which once paid  
A Price for Sin most dear.   

All this doth teach how hard a thing,  
'Tis Justice to appease;  
God's Mercy to our Souls to bring,  

Ezech 33. v. 11.12. Ps 90. v. 15.  Sin's burden here to ease.  
Yet if with Francis we persever,  
In Love, in tears, in grief;  
With Francis we shall find God ever  
At hand to our relief.    

SAINT FRANCIS.  
THE SECOND PART OF HIS LIFE.  
From the making of his Rule unto the receiving of the Stygmes, a little before his Death.  

TO God Man's duty twofold is,  
As David doth record. 
Ps. 36. v. 27. 1. Pet. 3. v. 11.   
Do good, decline from what's amiss,  
So thou shalt please thy Lord.  
The latter Francis had fulfilled,  
To good he was inspired,  
The way he knew not, though he willed,  
To do what was required.   

But entering in the Church one day,  
He heard that Gospel preaching,  
Which doth relate what Christ did say,  
When he sent his to teaching.  
Take neither money, 
Mark. 6. v. ●. 8. Luk 10. v. 7. 1. Cor. 9 v. 13.14.  purse, or meat,  
's, Staff, two coats with you,  
What's set before you freely eat,  
It is the Preachers due.   

These words, as from Christ to him said,  
He taketh, and goes away;  
Sesse: Here my Rule's before me laid,  
And I will it obey.  
The Life of Christ to imitate,  
Must I and mine begin,  
Which surely is the perfect state, 
Mark. 10. v. 21.   
For Mortals to live in.   

Christ came, 
Io. 8. v. 12.  and taught all men the way  
Which leads unto Salvation:  
Soon after men did from it stray;  
I'm sent for Reformation.  
Not only my own soul to feed,  
With heavenly Contemplation:  
But also to instruct where need,  
And preach to every Nation.   

His secûlar garments laid aside, 
Heb. 4. v. 12.   
He clothed himself in grey  
Course cloth, his nakedness to hid,  
His 's he cast away.  
He made a Girdle of a Cord,  
His Habit like a Cross:  
To mind the Passion of his Lord,  
Who had redeemed Man's loss.   

He presently began to preach,  
With words that pierced full deep:  
And all poor Sinners he did teach,  
To sorrow, sigh, and weep.  
With confidence in God's great love,  
If they'll new Life begin,  
And crave his Mercy, 
jonas. 3. v. 10.  that's above  
The malice of Man's Sin.   

His words were simple, plain, inflamed  
With fervour of the spirit:  
The Converts number can't be named,  
To gain which he did merit.  
Many did Penance for their ill,  
Forsook the World: would have  
Him teach them how to do God's will:  
To whom a Rule he gave.   

Not made by him, but from above,  
Revealed, as he declares;  
Teaching to hate what Flesh doth love:  
Freeing from Worldly cares;  
Obedienee true, pure Chastity,  
He vows to keep always:  
And also such strict Poverty,  
Not used in those days.   

His Lents were many, lodging hard,  
No linen he did wear:  
No 's his feet from thorns to guard,  
Which oft his Felsh did tear.  
With discipline he did chastise 
1. Cor. 9 v. 27.   
His Body, that the Spirit  
Might rule: and still he did devise  
How to increase his merit.   

Th' Apostles Life, he thus traced out,  
Who twelve were sent to teach 
Luk 9 v. ●. 2.   
Perfection, and, the World about,  
The Faith of Christ to preach.  
So he, when twelve, divided his,  
And sent them to this end,  
To preach the Faith, and what amiss  
In manners to amend.   

And after, when they met again,  
He found that many were  
Converted, and that not in vain  
They preached God's love, and fear.  
Their fervent words, their humble looks,  
With faces pale and thin;  
Their Habit poor, were Christian books,  
To read perfection in.   

Now, that his Rule more force might have,  
With it to Rome he went,  
To be confirmed, and there he gave  
It to Pope Innocent.  
Who thought it hard, and did deny  
The same Rule to approve.  
There were Rules many to walk by,  
Made to increase God's love.   

But lo! To rest when sleep did call,  
This Vision he did see,  
The Lat'ran Church began to fall,  
And to supported be,  
By one poor man; and he did know  
That Francis was the same:  
He then approved it: bid him go,  
And teach it in God's Name.   

And said to those, who by him stood,  
That Francis would repair  
God's Church decayed, by doctrine good,  
And his example rare.  
Poor Francis straight made his Profession,  
There, in Christ's Vicar's hand,  
To keep the Rule without transgression,  
And what it did command.   

And after the Pope's blessing had,  
He humbly went away;  
Praised God, and in his heart full glad,  
For his success that day.  
And so returned unto Assize,  
Where Monks did to him give,  
A Church, which he did highly prize,  
And there resolved to live.   

He loved this Church because 'twas small,  
The sitter for Poor Friars,  
Lady of Angels they it call,  
Because Angelic Quires  
Were here oft heard, and he therefore,  
Commands, when he is dead,  
This Church be counted, evermore,  
Of all his Order●s head.   

Moreover his desire was much,  
This place should honour have,  
Of all: Christ did appear, and such  
A boon unto him gave,  
That whosoever enters in,  
And right confessed be,  
Shall Pardon have, and also win  
Indulgence Plenary.   

Was Francis' Love with this content,  
Who Rule had made for Men?  
No, no. He knew that he was sent  
Each sex to bring again,  
From way of Vice to Virtue's path,  
And therefore made another,  
For Women, which same strictness hath,  
And made Saint Clare their Mother.   

And as he knew that all were not  
Of like ability,  
And Wedlock was some others lot,  
Which makes a worldly ty;  
He made a third Rule, for all kinds,  
Rich, Poor, Wedded, and free,  
Leading to Virtue, yet not binds,  
Under sin's Penalty.   

As our Redeemer, when he came,  
Did teach by word and deed;  
So did Saint Francis do the same,  
And sowed Example's seed.  
Not only by his words, but deeds,  
He moved to Imitation,  
Which are indeed the best of seeds,  
To spring up Reformation.   

Transcending was his Poverty,  
(Which quits of worldly cares)  
Admitting of no Property:  
And this the Heart prepares,  
To fix itself on Heavenly gain,  
All Earthly to despise,  
Which at the last doth prove but vain,  
Dressed up in false disguise.   

He so much loved pure Chastity,  
Of Body, and of Mind,  
That if he felt the contrary,  
Allays he straight did find.  
He disciplined his Flesh full sore,  
In thorns he tumbled so,  
Until his very flesh they tore;  
Or rolled in the snow.   

Francis, the Humble, Men him call,  
He did excel in this.  
The place whence Lucifer did fall,  
Is thought now to be his.  
This Virtue he did recommend,  
To his, and 'twas his pleasure,  
To name them Minors, to this end,  
That they might seek this Treasure.   


1. King. 15. v. 22.  Obedience he well knew to be  
Better than Sacrifice.  
Tho' Father of them all was he,  
Yet still he did devise,  
Subject to be unto another:  
And therefore on the way,  
Obedience strict unto his brother,  
He promised, and did pay.   

And as he, the Creator still  
Humbly obeyed in all,  
So did dumb Creatures do his will,  
Still ready at his call.  
Brothers, and Sisters, he them named,  
To all he was so sweet:  
That Fish, the Fire, and Beast he tamed,  
Who did him kindly greet.   

Our Works are crowned with Patience▪  

jam. 1. v. 4 Mat. 10. v. 22.  That our reward doth merit;  
For all the Pains we feel in sense,  
Or anguish of the Spirit;  
With Christ to suffer he desired,  
In Pain, 
Mat. 16. v. ●4. Mark 8. v. 34.  or any loss.  
To imitate, what he required,  
In bearing of the Cross.   

The Queen of Virtues, 
1. Co.▪ 13. v. 13.  Charity,  
His heart had so inflamed:  
That it would almost melted be,  
When God's Love was but named.  

Mat. 22. v. 39  His Neighbour's Love possessed him so,  
That for his dear Soul's good,  
The hardest things he'd undergo,  
To ' th' shedding of his blood.   

This caused him journey to begin,  
To Egypt's King, that he  
Might to Christ's Church those faithless win,  
Or else a Martyr be.  
In sweetness he did so excel,  
The Sultan freely gave  
Him leave to preach, where he thought well,  
And no disturbance have.   

Missing his aim, which was to die,  
For th' Faith of JESUS dear:  
And finding no great profit by  
His Preaching Christ's Faith here;  
He doth return with weeping eyes,  
Bewailing his great loss,  
Resolves his Love to Sacrifice,  
To Christ, upon the Cross.   

Devotîon great he had to all  
God's Saints, in chief his Mother:  
Whom he did his dear Lady call.  
But yet above all other,  
He prized the Passion of his Lord,  
As Treasure— house of Grace,  
Which doth to souls good thoughts afford,  
And ill away doth chase.   


Io. 3. v. 16. Eph. 6. v. 2.  This is a Glass, wherein we see  
Our God's great Love to us;  
Who rather than we damned should be,  
Chose to be treated thus.  
And also how he Sin did hate,  
That he would rather die,  
Than see men live in sinful state,  
Void of Felicity.   

This teacheth us to love God here,  
As also to hate Sin:  
And as we love him, still to fear,  
Lest we, should fall therein.  
And if by Sin we have lost God's Love,  
Here 'tis restored again:  

Rom. 5. v. 9.10.11.  Offering our tears to him above,  
Joined with Christ's bitter pain.   

This Passion Francis preached to all,  
And thus their, 
Ezech. ●●. v. 4. Rev. 7. v. 3.  Foreheads crossed,  
Imprinting how for Adam's fall,  
Our Saviour's Life was lost.  
That they to him be grateful still,  

Prov. 23.26.  And to him give their heart,  
Abhorring Sin, to do his will,  
And never from him part.   

All Virtues, that Christ taught Mankind,  
Appeared in Francis clear.  
To print them deep in others mind,  
His labour was, while here.  
But now grown weak, that Death draws nigh,  
He knows by Revelation:  
And does employ his thoughts solely,  
In Heavenly Contemplation.   

Let all learn here, how to prepare  
For Death, while they do live:  
To love God still, 
Deut. 6 v. 5. Rev. 14 v. 7.  and sin beware,  
And thus due honour give.  
To teach us this, Christ gave example,  
Which he doth now renew,  
In Francis, who in manner ample,  
Hath laid it to our view.    

THE THIRD PART.  
Containing the remainder of his life, from the receiving of the holy Stygmes, to his Death.  

PRetend I shall not to recount,  
The Miracles he wrought:  
Which were so many, they surmount,  
In number, frail man's thought.  
The actions of his whole life were,  
But one continued wonder:  
To whom all things, while be was here,  
Obedience prompt did render.   

Before his Death, I'll only tell  
How JESUS did him grace,  
With Privilege, that did excel,  
And worthily takes place,  
Of all yet given unto any,  
Which clearly doth declare,  
His merits were both great and many,  
Which thus rewarded were.   

He being on the Mount Alvern,  
In contemplation high,  
Of JESUS' Passion; did so burn  
In Love, that he must die,  
For his dear Lord, or undergo  
Like pain, our sins, him gave.  
Christ heard his Prayer, and yielded so,  
His Wounds that he should have.   

Behold a glorîous Seraphin,  
Descending from above,  
As though he crucified had been,  
Which did inflame his love.  

Isai. 6. v. 2.  Six-winged he was: two veiled his head;  
His feet two; two did fly;  
And while Saint Francis marveled,  
The Seraphin draws nigh.   

And on the Cross there did appear,  
His dear Lord Crucify'd.  
Fast nailed upon't as once when here,  
He for all Mankind dy●d.  
This grieved him, and did so inflame  
His heart, with Love's great fire,  
That to be nailed unto the same,  
Was now his whole desire.   

Lo! from hands, feet, and side, did stream  
Five clear, but bloody rays,  
Which pierced like places as they came,  
Where marks remained always,  
In hands, and feet, like Nails, were plain,  
In's Side the Wound of Spear;  
Which bled, and put him to such pain,  
As though he should die here.   

Having received these stygmes there,  
He now might truly say,  
Let no one molestation bear,  

Gal. 6 v. 17.  But readily obey:  
Since thus with Wounds my Body's signed,  
Of my Redeemer dear.  
Th' example, which in me you find,  
To follow do not fear.   

To him this may be well applied,  
I live; 
Gal. 2. v. 20.  though now not I,  
But JESUS Christ, my Crucify'd,  
Doth live, and in me lie.  
O marvelous Man! true friend of God,  

Phil. 3. v. ●. Gen. 28.12.  Than Man an Angel rather,  
Who under foot the World hast trod,  
And mounted Jacob's ladder.   

By Vice's hate, and Virtue's love,  
Thou walkedst without blame;  
And thus Poor Sinners thou didst move,  
While here, to do the same.  
Obtain that we may imitate  
Thy footsteps in true Love,  
That we may Sin as truly hate,  
And live with thee above.   

Those sacred Wounds he did receive,  
Two years or thereabout,  
Before this frail Life he did leave,  
Which cleared Men of all doubt.  
For they did oftentimes appear,  
Tho' his humility,  
Endeavoured to conceal them here,  
Till he should buried be.   

They oft did bleed with such great pain,  
That he had died thereby,  
But that God would have him remain,  
The World to edify.  
His Body now with labour spent,  
Made weak for JESUS' sake,  
And he to Contemplation bend,  
But little food did take.   

And though, by Sword, as he desired,  
He could not Martyr die:  
Yet greater pains, as God required,  
He suffered patiently.  
And offered up in flames of Love,  
His Soul an Holocaust,  
Which daily did ascend above,  
To him he loved most.   

Knowing his Death was near at hand,  
Not able now to go:  
That he be carried doth command,  
To Portiunculo,  
Our Lady's Church, from Angels named,  
The place that he loved best:  
And here to die he ever aimed,  
And take his final rest.   

To show his love to Poverty,  

Mat 27. v. 35.  And Christ to imitate,  
He naked on the ground would die,  
So stripped him as be sat:  
The same, in his last Testament,  
He doth his Brothers give;  
For he by JESUS dear was sent,  
Poor, 
Ps. 87. v. 16.  like him, here to live.   


Mat. 18. v. 17.  He recommends Obedience  
Most strict, unto Christ's Church,  
That Heresy, on no pretence,  
Among his Brother's lurch:  
True Patiênce, and Humility,  
With other Virtues rare,  
He leaves them, as a Legacy,  
And doth for Death prepare.   

He gives his blessing to his Brothers,  
To live in Love and Peace:  
The same he recommends to others,  
Here, after his decease.  
His soul to JESUS recommending,  
Replenished with great merit,  
By hands of Angels, there attending,  
To God resigns his Spirit.   

He being dead, his sacred Flesh,  
Withered before and hard,  
Became most limber, soft, and fresh,  
To youth might be compared.  
Which with his Wounds, like Rubies dressed,  
Was glorious to behold.  
Assisiûm Men would have it rest  
With them: more prized than gold.   

A stately Church they for it build,  
And in a Vault it lay,  
Which incorrupt, and fresh, doth yield  
Delights, unto this day.  
The World's great wonder it remains,  
The Wounds appear therein.  
What favours great, and immense gains,  
Did his true Penance win!   

Thus did Christ's Church-Repairer die,  
When he had thousands gained,  
From Worldly Love, Flesh-liberty,  
Which had true Faith so stained.  
He in his Order lives again,  
Which to Perfection guides;  
And, as Revealed, shall still remain,  
As long as World abides.   

Great Saints this Order hath brought forth,  
As to the World is known:  
But what's the number, or their worth,  
Is known to God alone.  
The Rule doth so to Virtue bind,  
That if Men well keep it;  
Not one among them they shall find,  
Who'll not in glory sit.     

OF THE CONFRATERNITY OF THE CORD.  
In the cords of Adam, I will draw them in the Cords of Charity.  Ose. 11. v. 4. 

BEsides his Holy Orders three,  
The Pope, of his accord,  
Confirmed a Confraternity,  
Where Girdle is a Cord;  
For those who cannot undergo  
Those strict Rules, yet desire,  
By this blessed Cord, men should them know,  
Related to the Friar.   

Saint Francis made choice of a Cord,  
For Girdle, as the best  
Memorial of his dying Lord,  
In all his sorrows dressed  
For, if you mind it, all along,  
Throughout his Passion still,  
They led him, bound in Cords full strong,  
Wherever was their will.   

This Passion in men's hearts to print,  
Was always his desire:  
Which soften can a heart of flint,  
And set it all on fire,  
With love unto its Saviour dear,  
(Who for Man thus did die.)  
And never any pains to fear,  
His love to show thereby.   

Saint Dominick poor Francis loved,  
And would his Rule embrace:  
But since by him 'twas not approved,  
He begged his Cord in th' place.  
That though he could not of that be,  
He would have some relation  
To him, by this: a Memory  
Of Christ's most bitter Passion.   

Persons of greatest quality,  
Which this World doth afford,  
Have thought it a great dignity,  
To be girt with this Cord:  
That they might be related to  
This Order while they live:  
The great Indults to gain also,  
Which Holy Church doth give.   

Which are as great as any be,  
Continually confirmed,  
Unto this Confraternity,  
And all therein concerned.  
Which hath not any obligation,  
Men binding under Sin:  
But minds us of Christ's bitter Passion,  
That we may glory win.   

Five Pater's and five Aves more,  
You daily are to say:  
To mind how Christ was wounded sore,  
Upon that doleful day.  
In hands, and feet, and in his Side,  
These five you must salute,  
And there, with confidence, abide,  
Till you obtain your suit.   

For what can God the Father here  
Deny his only Son?  
When in his sight his Wounds appear,  
Which he hath undergon;  
To reconcile a sinful soul,  
Unto his Justice great,  
And to dispense rich Grace's dole,  
From his great Mercy's seat.   

With arms spread forth the Friars say  
These Prayers, and make a Cross:  
And thus Saint Francis used to pray,  
Reminding that our loss  
Repaired was upon the Tree,  
When Christ ' shands, feet, and side,  
Were pierced: Which wounds effectual be,  
When thus by faith applied.   

When Amaleck the Hebrews fought,  

Exod. 17 v. 11.  Moses his arms stretched out,  
And praying thus, success he brought,  
But when they fell, was doubt  
Of Victory: which did foreshow,  
How Christ for man should die:  
And, now he's dead, we praying so,  
His Death do signify.   

Upon the Cross, five Virtues rare  
Christ practised, to teach us,  
Daily to beg, and take like care,  
To imitate him thus;  
In Patience, and Humility,  
Which he doth recommend;  
Obedience, and strict Poverty,  
With Love unto the end.   

More pious Practices are there,  
Belonging to the Cord:  
Which by this Saint ordained were,  
To bind men to their Lord,  
In bonds of true Obedience,  
And perfect Charity:  
That when the Soul departeth hence,  
It live Eternally.   

Behold how Francis' Life was spent,  
In Mankind's Reformation:  
Christ's seamless Garment, that was rend,  
And much defaced in fashion;  
That is the Church, with Heresy,  
And vicîous life distained,  
He brought unto its Purity,  
Thousands of Souls regained.   

Thus, Moyses-like, he did bring back  
Pharao's, the Devils, 
Exod. 3. v. 10.  Slaves.  
Their Souls, with filth of Sin made black,  

c. 14. v. 29.  He by the Red Sea saves.  
Reminding what Christ did endure,  
On th' Cross, to free from Sin:  
And by example leads secure,  
Through th' Desert we are in, 
Deut. ●. v. 2.    

Unto the rich Land promised,  
That's Heaven, 
joshua. 3. v. 17. Exod. 3. v. 8.  the place of Bliss,  
Where with sweet Milk and Honey fed,  
The chaste and pure Soul is:  
That is the Vision of God clear,  
And of his full Fruition,  
Of losing it void of all fear.  
How happy's this condition!   

Dear Father, pray unto thy Lord.  
My life, while I am here,  
With thine in all things may accord,  
That Hell I may not fear.  
Dear JESUS, grant, for Francis sake,  
That I thee always love:  
And my life's Pattern by his take,  
So reign with thee above.   
Amen.   

THE BOOKS ADDRESS TO THE READER.  

YOu, gentle Reader, who have read me ôre,  
Grant this Request, to read me yet once more.  
If curious Fancy to the first did move,  
Let now your Motive be, Devotion's love.  
And that your reading may advantage bring,  
Attend not to the Verse, but to the thing.   

The sense consider: deeply in your mind  
Imprint the same: than you will surely find  
A hidden Treasure, which doth rarely lie,  
Within the bosom of Dame Poetry.  
Virtue's discovered, Vice laid to your view;  
That this you fly: that, eagerly pursue.   

Read not, as Pilat asked: What's Verity?  
And then went forth. 
Io. 18. v. 38.  He did not really  
Seek Knowledge: and much less did he intent  
To act: he would be Jews and Cesar's friend.  
He would not know, lest conscience should approve  
What Christ should say, 
Io. 19 v. 12.  & he lose Cesar's love.   

that young Man, who asked of christ to know,  
Which way to Heaven he might securely go,  
When Christ bid him the world and Riches leave,  
This wholesome counsel he would not receive: 
v. 21.   
He would no more discourse with him, 
v. 22.  and why?  
To th'World, and Flesh, he had too strong a tie.   

Beware the like; when you have read this Book,  
Lay't not aside, no more on it to look,  
Because it pleaseth not the Flesh, and Blood:  
But be assured when its right understood,  
It will your Soul to Virtue's Practice win,  
With ravishments to that, and hate to Sin.   

Remember, only Beast that cud did chew,  
Was clean esteemed, 
●ev. 11.3. ●eut. 14.8. ●en. 8 v. ●. ●●k. 3. v. ●. 55.  and sacrificed; to show,  
That if by reading you'll God's love obtain,  
You must reflect, and in the sense remain  
Of what you read: and thus you will reap gain.  
Or else your reading will but prove in vain.   
Expect no Finis to this Book.  

FOr, as Man's Life a Warfare is, 
job. 7. v. 1. Gal. 5. v. 17.   
'Gainst Vice● and Virtue undertook  
Is hard 〈…〉 you miss  
The Crown 〈◊〉 promised only those,  
Who do perseus' to the end, 
Mat 10. v. 22. Mat. 25. v. 13.   
You must be watchful till Death close  
Your eyes: hence you will want a friend,   

Oft to consult as virtuous Guide.  
This Book will prove unto you such,  
If in its reading you'll abide,  
'Twill give your heart a zealous touch.  
Then daily here take your repast;  
And let the End begin again:  
Thus do as long as Life doth last,  
That you may here secure remain.   
Amen.