DAILY MEDITATIONS: OR, Quotidian Preparations for, AND Considerations of DEATH AND ETERNITY.  
Begun July 19 1666.  
By Philip Pain: Who lately suffering Shipwreck, was drowned.  Job 30.23. 
For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living.  Eccles. 12.1. 
Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, etc.  
CAMBRIDGE: Printed by Marmaduke Johnson. 1668.   

The Porch.  
TO lives a Gift, to die's's a Debt that we  
Each of us owe unto Mortality.  
What though the dead do ghastly look, and we  
Like Children frighted are even but to be  
Spectator's of a dying man or woman?  
Yet nothing's to be feared that is so common.  
It is not Death that we in them do see;  
It's but the Mask wherewith 'twill veiled be.  
Yet where's the m●n or woman that can look  
Death in the face, as in some pleasing book?  
Can we contented be to view our face  
In such a dreadful, doleful Looking-glass?  
O where's the man or woman that can cry,  
Behold I come, Death I desire to die?  
O where's the man or woman that can say,  
Lord, I desire my dissolution day?  
And what's the reason 'tis so hard to die,  
To leave this World so full of vanity?  
What makes it terrible? nought but the sense  
Of guilt & sin: Break down this potent fence,  
And then be sure for aye you shall enjoy  
Joys everlasting, Everlasting joy.  
P. P.   


July 19 1666. The 5th day.  

Meditation 1.  
GReat God, how short's man's time! each minute speaks  
He is but dust, and that his Vessel leaks.  
Each moment of my moment any time,  
Does plainly tell me 'tis not mine but thine.  
He gives me time to live, and verily  
Ere long I shall have likewise time to die.   

Meditat. 2.  
After the time of Life is ended, then  
Oh there's Another Time for sons of men;  
A great ETERNITY will surely come,  
Of blessed Happiness, or cursed Doom.  
Lord, grant I may be one of those that may  
Enjoy the first with thee another day.   

Meditat. 3.  
Down to the grave I must ere long descend,  
Leave all my friends behind; thither I bend,  
And steer my wearied Course unto that Port,  
To which all sorts of Nations do resort.  
When I cast Anchor, grant, O Lord, that I  
May safely ride where Christ himself did lie.   

Meditat. 4.  
This World a Sea of trouble is, and Man  
Is swimming through this vast wide Ocean.  
The billows heat, the waves are angry, and  
'Tis seldom that he spies a helping hand  
To buoy his head up. O great God, let me  
Be kept from sinking into misery.   

This day is past; but tell me, who can say  
That I shall surely live another day.    

July 20. The 6th day.  

Meditat. 5.  
I can but die but once, why should I fear?  
Whether I fear or not, 'tis all as near.  
O but my Soul consider, that sad time  
Gives every thing to death, leaves nothing thine,  
Except thy stinking Carcase, which shall be  
Disposed to weal or woe eternally.   

Meditat. 6.  
The Passing-bell sounds harsh unto the ear  
Of all that do the King of Terrors fear.  
But let a man have but an interest  
In Jesus Christ, 'twill toll him to his rest.  
Lord, give me such a gift, none other I  
Crave or desire, whether I live or die.   

Meditat. 7.  
Death puts an end to every thing below,  
It gives the kill wound, the fatal blow.  
Of those that here a while did but reside,  
But for a time, the last act is, They died.  
Then grant, O Lord, that I may act this Part  
Well on the Stage; then Death, lo here's my  depiction of a heart .   

Meditat. 8.  
Scarce do I pass a day, but that I hear  
Some one or other's dead; and to my ear  
Me thinks it is no news: but Oh? did I  
Think deeply on it, what it is to die,  
My Pulses all would bear, I should not be  
Drowned in this Deluge of Security.   

Think every day thy last, and ready be;  
And so th'uncertain hour shall welcome thee.    

July 21. The 7th day.  

Meditat. 9  
Man's life is like a Rose, that in the Spring  
Gins to blossom, fragrant smells to bring:  
Within a day or two, behold Death's sent,  
A public Messenger of discontent.  
Lord grant, that when my Rose gins to side,  
I may behold an Everlasting shade.   

Meditat. 10.  
Alas, what is the World? a Sea of Gliss.  
Alas, what's Earth? it's but an Hower-glass.  
The Sea dissolves; the Glass is quickly run:  
Behold, with speed man's Life is quickly done.  
Let me so swim in this Sea, that I may  
With thee live happy in another day.   

Meditat. 11.  
Had I as many days to live, as I  
See drops are in the sea, yet I must die:  
Each day a drop, would carry away a day;  
And so my life would swiftly pass away.  
Jehovah great, humbly I thee beseech  
The number of my days me for to teach.   

Meditat. 12.  
I every day do see that here below  
Is nothing permanent, away they go;  
Friends, and Relations, every thing that I  
Do cast mine eyes upon, is Vanity.  
Give me a portion then even in that place,  
Where still I may behold thy blessed face.   

I now lie down to rest, but do not know  
Where by the morning God will me bestow.    

July 22. [SAB.] The first day.  

Meditat. 13.  
What great security poss●sses some,  
Who think that Death's asl●ep, or cannot come?  
How miserable are such Souls, who think  
To live even as they list, of sin to drink  
Wide seas and rivers? when alas they see  
Not their approaching damning destiny.   

Meditat. 14.  
The time is short, says Paul: it's short indeed;  
For it hath Eagles wings, and flees with speed  
Each minute from us: how should we improve  
This our short time, that does so swiftly move.  
Lord grant, I be not prodigal of Time,  
Thinking 'tis thine that I do use, not mine.   

Meditat. 15.  
The dead they praise thee not; the living they  
Sound forth thy blessed praises every day.  
In grave there's no remembrance of thee,  
But of thee in that place forgetful be.  
Lord grant that I may praise thee, whiles that I  
Have time to live, and summoned not to die.   

Meditat. 16.  
The misery of man is great on him,  
Because his time he knows not; 'tis his sin,  
And nothing else, that thus hath man undone,  
And makes this Race of Life painful to run,  
Lord, give me knowledge of my time, that so  
Prep●●'d I may be here before I go.   

One day of grace more here I have enjoyed,  
It's God's great mercy I am not destroyed,  
That greatly have provoked him—    

July 23. The second day.  

Meditat. 17.  
Whilst in this world I stay, some hopes have I  
That I shall reign in Heaven eternally:  
But when my time is past, and I am gone,  
There's no hope left for me to build upon.  
Lord, grant me full assurance whilst that I  
Am here, so willing I shall be to die.   

Meditat. 18.  
We are but babes of yesterday, and we  
Are sons and daughters of Mortality.  
From dust we came, to dust we must again,  
And to the grave with speed we fly amain.  
Lord, let the thoughts of Death possess my heart,  
That so Thee and my Soul may never part.   

Meditat. 19  
How brutish, Oh how senseless are all those,  
Who to the World do so themselves dispose,  
As if there were no God to serve, no Death  
That's coming to deprive them of their breath?  
Lord help me so to live, that I may be  
Never forgetful of my Death or Thee.   

Meditat. 20.  
How loath, how backward are we all to leave  
This transitory World? Let Death bereave  
Us of those Mundane things, yet if we still  
Resolve to live and die to Christ, what ill  
Can happen to us? Lord, before I die  
Let me a better Kingdom fare espy.   

As the great God still adds unto my days,  
It's but new matter for me him to praise.    

July 24. The third day.  

Meditat. 21.  
How often have I viewed the graves, and gone  
Unto that place, and yet returned home  
Again unto my house: The time will be  
When I must go, but not returning see.  
Lord, give me so much grace, that I may be  
Evermore mindful of Eternity.   

Meditat. 22.  
What mean those showers, those drops, that from on high  
Descend, to call men to Eternity?  
Both Young and Old, no Sex is spared; O why?  
What is the cause of our Mortality?  
Lo here it is; A blessed God we have  
Offended, therefore we must to the grave.   

Meditat. 23.  
Death strikes the Young man, and the Old man must  
Yield to Death's stroke, and return to the dust:  
Nor Strength, nor Beauty, Riches, Honours, lent  
But for a while, cannot our death prevent.  
Oh how should we then use these things below,  
That must be left when we from hence do go.   

Meditat. 24.  
Man's life it is but lent him here, and he  
Is but a debtor to Mortality.  
Those fading Comforts that below we have  
Or do enjoy, will leave us at the grave.  
Lord, grant that when my Comforts all are gone,  
I may with Thee have sweet Communion.   

This day is past, God mercy shows to me,  
Who am a Dust-heap of Mortality.    

July 25. The 4th day.  

Meditat. 25.  
Alas poor Death, where does thy great strength lie?  
'Tis true, I'm mortal, yet I cannot die.  
I tell thee, If I die in Christ, it is  
The way thou show'st me to eternal bliss.  
By death I live, if that I live to Christ,  
And then thou'lt say the mark I have not missed.   

Meditat. 26.  
Alas, what's Sorrow? 'tis our portion here;  
The Christian's portion, Trouble, Grief, and Fear:  
He is The Man of Sorrows here below  
Of all the men on earth; yet let us know,  
Christ left his Grave-clothes, that we might when grief  
Draws tears, or blood, not want an Handkerchief.   

Meditat. 27.  
Is Death so formidable? Can the chance  
Of one poor day change our fresh Countenance?  
Is there so much in Death, that we should be  
Like Children frighted at our destiny?  
Of Heaven give me assurance (Lord) and I  
Shall ne'er believe Death looks so dreadfully.   

Meditat. 28.  
Can I in greatness fare surmount the sky,  
Or yet in glory could the Sun outvie;  
Can I be more than any man that lives,  
Great, Fair, Rich, Wise, all in Superlatives:  
Yet if I were still mortal, there would be  
A debt still to be paid to death by me.   

Lord, as thou givest me more hours to live,  
So with it, Oh do thou thy grace me give.    

July 26. The 5th day.  

Meditat. 29.  
How mutable is every thing that here  
Below we do enjoy? with how much fear  
And trouble are those gilded Vanities  
Attended, that so captivate our eyes?  
Oh, who would trust this World, or prise what's in it,  
That gives, and takes, and changes in a minute?   

Meditat. 30.  
Sure every soul in this world hath its day  
Of grace, and if he will improve it, may.  
The time will come when it shall have an end,  
Even when we must unto the grave descend.  
Lord, help me now to know the things that do  
Belong unto my peace, and them pursue.   

Meditat. 31.  
We have no Licence from our God to waste  
One day, one hour, one moment, that do haste  
So swiftly from us in our sinful pleasures,  
But rather to lay up for lasting treasures.  
Lord, spare me yet a little, that I may  
Prepare for Death, and for the Judgement-day.   

Meditat. 32.  
The damned now in Hell, that there do lie  
In endless flames, that howl, and weep, and cry  
For anguish great, this is their deepest Crime,  
Heart-vexing trouble, Oh Mispence of Time!  
Oh who would rush into those flames of Fire,  
That of misspending time they may inquire?   

Lord, let thy Terrors every day cause me  
To prepare for my end, and ready be.    

July 27. the 6th day.  

Meditat. 33.  
Our Saviour he ascended up on high,  
And led death conquered in captivity:  
The Grave is sweetened by him; why should we  
Be loath to share in this his Victory?  
Lord, as death thou hast overcome, Oh so  
Conquer my sins ere I from hence do go.   

Meditat. 34.  
By Faith the Christian acts, whilst here beneath  
He lives, till death his Faith and Life bereave;  
But when this life is ended, he enjoys  
The things that he believed, Eternal Jove's.  
Lord, grant that I may here by Faith foresee  
A glorious Mansion prepared for me.   

Meditat. 35.  
These Arms, these Hands, this Face, they ere long must  
Decay, consume, and moulder into dust;  
The time will be, when time shall be no more  
Upon this earth, as it hath heretofore.  
Great God, then grant that I may serious be  
In and about things of Eternity.   

Meditat. 36.  
I've often heard, that su●h a Friend is dead,  
And that another lays his weary head  
Down in the grave; yet this no news to me,  
Whilst I live here in sin and vanity.  
Lord, help me now to think the time will come  
For me, as well as those that now are gone.   

As strong, as young as now I am, yet must  
I be for certain buried in the dust.    

July 28. The 7th day.  

Meditat. 37.  
Our days, our time, appointed are by God,  
And beyond that we may not have abode  
Here on this sinful earth: the day draws nigh,  
When every one shall have a time to die.  
Lord, as the time does from me pass away,  
Grant me thy grace whilst in the world I stay.   

Meditat. 38.  
Frail Mortals post with speed after those things,  
Which at the last nought else but sorrow brings:  
Most think not of a great Eternity  
That's drawing on apace. Lord, grant that I  
May whilst I'm here pursue with might and main,  
Those things that will bring everlasting gain.   

Meditat. 39  
All Creatures in their kind sound forth the praise  
Of their blessed Maker; yea, the glorious Rays  
Of his great Majesty appeareth on  
The least of all the Works of Creation.  
But Lord, Man by his sin dishonours thee,  
Who art the God of Immortality.   

Meditat. 40.  
Whilst we are here below, we act and move,  
And this, and that we seek for to improve:  
The time will come when that our places shall  
Not know us; we shall be no more at all.  
Lord, grant that I may those great things improve,  
That are brought down to earth from heaven above.   

Give me an interest in thy Son, and then  
Though I die ne'er so much I'll live again.    

July 29. The First day.  

Meditat. 41.  
How eagerly doth vain man here pursue  
These worldly things, when his days are so few?  
His time is short, it's short, yea short indeed,  
That flies so swiftly from him, with such speed.  
Lord, help me to consider that I must  
Not here live always, but return to dust.   

Meditat. 42.  
How precious! Oh how precious is our Time?  
Sure to misspend it is a sinful Crime.  
This Pearl being lost, is never to be found  
Again, though all the world our cries resound:  
O thou that art the God of Ages, give  
Me that grace, for to know what 'tis to live.   

Meditat. 43.  
What are our days unto Eternity?  
Our present joys, to future misery?  
What is there in this world that stable is?  
What's all that's here below to lasting bliss?  
Jehovah help me here, that so I may  
Enjoy eternal bliss another day.   

Meditat. 44.  
ETERNITY! O Soul-amazing thought,  
That never to my senses yet was brought  
Rightly to understand it: O the height,  
The breadth, the length, the depth of what I slight!  
Help, Son of David, mercy on me have;  
This is a coming, I must to the grave.   

I now repose my weary head upon  
My Pillow, but I shall be shortly gone.    

July 30. The second day.  

Meditat. 45.  
God's mercy unto man is great, who gives  
Unto him life, 'tis enough that he lives;  
God might have justly took our lives from us  
Long afore this, Death following the Curse.  
Lord, grant the Curse may be removed from me,  
The grave then (Lord) will smell most fragrantlie.   

Meditat. 46.  
Long life a mercy is to good and bad,  
And makes the hearts of most men very glad;  
Yet the true Child of God desires home,  
Unto his Father's house for to be gone.  
Lord, when thou seest fit, work grace in me,  
That I may so in Heaven desire to be.   

Meditat. 47.  
Adam was placed unto his hearts desire  
In Paradise, until he did aspire  
To storm the Heavens; whence Death did assume  
His Title, King of Terrors, to consume  
Frail sle●●, and in a moment make it fly  
From Earth to Heaven, from hence t'Eternity.   

Meditat. 48.  
No sooner did we change our Mother's Womb  
For this frail World, but by and by a Tomb  
Prepared is, and Mourners they attend  
To lead us softly to our Journeus end.  
Lord, grant that when my change comes, I may be  
Then fit t'enjoy Communion with thee.   

Death is a Lot is common unto all,  
And when weare gone, Friends cannot us recall.    

July 31. The third day.  

Meditat. 49.  
In Heaven are eternal joys; and sure  
In that place there are Remedies to cure  
Our here Sin-sick'ned Souls: but Oh shall I  
Be made a Patient of this Remedy?  
Lord, I believe a Heaven there is; but this  
The Question is, Shall I enjoy that bliss?   

Meditat. 50.  
In Hell are Torments, Torments without end;  
And them I must endure, if that no friend  
I have of Jesus. O my Soul, must I  
Go from PAIN here, to Pain eternally?  
I know there is a Hell: Lord, grant that I  
May go from Earth to Heaven when I die.   

Meditat. 51.  
My Soul tell me, Are there not many that  
Do wish for Heaven, and yet miss the Gate?  
How many do (with Balaam) wish that they  
May departed like a Saint at dying day?  
Lord, let me to be like them here desire,  
Upon this earth, as when they do expire.   

Meditat. 52.  
How many are there that may take their Harps  
And hang upon the Willows; mournful hearts  
Would best become such as must go from hence,  
And then in Hell have lasting residence.  
O Lord, how little do I think on this,  
That I may be one that may miss of Bliss?   

I am (I see) still Mercies Monument;  
For more, one day is still unto me lent.    

August 1. The 4th day.  

Meditat. 53.  
How often should we think of this, that we  
Must ere long yield to Death's supremacy?  
The time ere long wil●, come, when we shall be  
No more; and shortly we no time shall see.  
O that I might be then prepared for this  
So great a Charge, and ●e receiv d to Bliss.   

Meditate. 54.  
The sons of men are prone to forget Death,  
And put it fare away from them, till breathe  
Gins to tell them they must to the grave;  
And ●hen, Oh what would the● give but to h●ve  
One year of respite? Help me, Lord, to know  
As I move here, so my time moves also.   

Meditat. 55.  
Whilst we live here, we have he blessed voice  
Of God by Ministers, the blessed noise  
And sound of Aaron's Bells: the time will be  
When we no more of this shall hear or see.  
Help, Lord, that I may then improve the same  
Unto the praise and glory of thy Name.   

Meditat. 56.  
The time will be, when we shall be No more:  
Where will the World be then? 'Twill be No more.  
Where will our Comforts be? They'll be No more.  
Where will our Friends be then? They'll be No more.  
Lord, grant me then thy grace, lest that No more  
Do seize upon me, and I be No more.   

No More! O solemn sound! This night I may  
Be struck by Death, and never see the day.    

August 2. The 5th day.  

Meditat. 57  
How tremblingly do creatur●s here appear  
Before an earthly Judge? what dreadful fear  
Does seize upon them at the Bar of him,  
Who likewise must arraigned be for sin?  
Lord, gran● me here thy grace, and so may I  
With joy at last behold ●hy Majesty.   

Meditat. 58.  
The day of death's a coming; ●fter that  
A day of Judgement will discriminate,  
And put a d●fference 'twixt the Saints and those  
Who do Gods Ways and Precepts here oppose.  
Lord, let me be prepared for that day,  
That so with joy (Lord) thee behold I may.   

Meditate. 59  
The hand of Death strikes sure, there's nothing can  
Obstruct, or hinder it; and every man,  
Whether he will or no, must know that he  
Must into dust most surely turned be.  
O how should I prepare for this, since 'tis  
So sure and certain which I cannot miss?   

Meditat. 60.  
Death is a surly Sergeant, no respect  
Hath he to persons, does their tears reject;  
No bribe will blind his eyes, away we must,  
If he but call, and return to the dust.  
Lord, grant that I may death behold with joy,  
And to my soul let it bring no annoy.   

Each minute gives my time a shorter time:  
Not to prepare for Death is a sad crime.    

August 3. The 6th day.  

Meditat. 61.  
There's nothing that I do, or act, but says  
That I am Mortal with an Emphasis.  
Each day speaks to me, and gives me to know  
That I ere it be long away must go.  
Let me an interest have in Christ, and I  
Shall over Death triumph with victory.   

Meditat. 62.  
How is it that I am so careless here,  
And never mind how I my Course do steer  
For an Eternal Port? and never think  
That at the last my leaky Ship will sink?  
Lord, guard me from those Pirates that would catch  
My Soul, do thou (Lord) be their over-match.   

Meditat. 63.  
Lord, what's the reason I'm so loath to hear  
Of the great day of Death? what means this fear,  
That at the thoughts of death o're-spreads me, and  
Prompts me to give a willing Countermand?  
Jesus, 'tis to be feared I never stood  
As one that's interested in thy Blood.   

Meditat. 64.  
What makes the Saints on earth desire to be  
Dissolved, and that blessed day to see?  
What makes them whilst they're here below to groan  
Against this body of Corruption?  
Lord, they know that when they from hence do go,  
On them a glorious Kingdom thou'lt bestow.   

Lord, if my Soul this night away thou take,  
Let me by morning then in Heaven awake.    
FINIS.   

A POSTSCRIPT TO THE READER.  

'TIs not to show the Author's Wit, but Grace,  
That these sew Poems are exposed to view;  
In which thou may'st behold Youths flowery face  
Set toward Zion, seeking things most true:  
Contemning worldly Vain's, but prising high  
A place i'th' Mansions of Eternity.   

Here was hours spent indeed! and yet not spent;  
Time thus improved, is to Redeem the time.  
For Youth, Death's company thus to frequent,  
(As if a dweller in his shady Clime)  
Does prove a thing so rare, so seldom known,  
That scarce Old Age can call this act its own.   

By hourly meditating on the Grave,  
He ' came acquainted with that darksome Cell;  
Knew that from going thither none could save,  
(We on the Brink of Machpelah do dwell)  
Therefore prepared with sedulous desire  
To take his Bed there, when he should expire.   

And though our Saviour with his Odours sweet  
Hath to the Faithful it perfumed; yet there  
They can't abide for aye: away must fleet  
To Judgement, when the Great Judge shall appear.  
This oft he thought upon: This, this should be  
Our standing thought, when all thoughts else do flee   

Of Hell he's not forgetful; but with dread  
And trembling thinks & speaks thereof: doth give  
Warning to living ones, they should not plead  
For Sin, which brings a Hell without reprieve:  
Excites to Prayer, Repentance, and to stay  
By Faith on Christ for Life which lasts for ay.   

But his most sweetest Contemplation  
Takes wing below, and up to Heaven doth soar:  
There's matter for deep Meditation,  
Where Pleasures do abide for evermore,  
Which neither Eye e'er saw, Earheard, nor can  
Enter into the Heart of any man.   

Let the Example of this Pilot young,  
(So skilled in Spiritual Sailing) thee inform  
To steer thy Course through Baca's Vale, along  
To this fair Haven, (fear nor Winds nor Storm)  
Till thou arrive with him, in whom did dwell  
Some good thing toward the God of Israel.   
J. T.