OTIA SACRA  
Deus nobis hoec Otia fecit. Virg:  
London Printed by Richard Cotes. 1648.   

Columna Fidei.  
OUR Senses are bewitched, and seem to grow  
So to the Creature, and on things below,  
That all our busied Fancy can devise,  
Serves more to sink them, than to make them rise:  
For out of sight and mind, at once agree  
To blindfold Nature from eternity;  
And leave her groveling, for to groap her way  
Here in This Transitory bed of Clay,  
Till Faith steps in; and in the stead of wings,  
Unto belief, a lofty Pillar brings,  
Whereby we should be raised up; And thus  
Ascend to Him, descended once for Us.   

ΚΑΡΔΙΑΓΝΩΣΤΗΣ. On the Title Page.  
THere is a fowl wont hide its head,  
To pass so undiscovered:  
Judging itself exempt from eyes  
Of others, whilst it none descries.  
Not much unlike are such to these,  
Who commit Closet-trespasses  
And Chamber-dalliance; and than  
Go for unseen, 'cause so of Men.  
If They my Pillars top attain,  
They'll find an eye tries heart and rain:  
But nature's purblind sight short is;  
Nor can she rise alone to this,  
Till Grace assist, which will such virtue yield,  
As both t'ascend the Pillar, gain this Shield.   
OTIA SACRA.  


Ad Libellum suum.  
Go without Dedication, for that might  
Imply I sought to Shelter what I write  
Under some Patronage: I can afford  
None Sharers in this Offering with my Lord:  
His are both Line and Leisure, which misspent,  
The fault lies on th' unhappy Instrument  
That should improve both better: But 'tis done,  
And Thy fate is decreed, why woof is spun;  
Censure must pass: Yet Blush not since thy Strings  
Are only consonant with holy things.   

Ad Viatorem.  
NUmina, non Nummos, Me dum cernis Meditantem,  
Et Me-ditantem crede (Viator) habes.   

EST  
In Vnitate Trinitas.  
THat Number 'bove the rest,  
For ever blessed,  
Which God Himself doth deign  
To Branch into, yet reunites again,  
For as His Prescience could tell  
When Angels fell  
That Man would follow, and there should be On  
Sent for to make Redemption:  
So from our Misery did He Infer  
Th' necessity of a Comforter.  
This doth inspire, That did Create,  
The second did Regenerate:  
Thus though Distinct, They are  
Yet singular,  
And One wise-ever Power it is doth Tie  
This Triple Knot into a unity.   

 


Mundi  
Ex Maxima Parte nondum Vocati.  
Participes Verbi es Sacramentorum qui fuêre vocati sed nondum electi. 

Ad  Sanctificationem. 
Qui propter externam vocationem Domini per Verbum, interne & effectualiter vocantur per Spiritum Sanctum.  Justicationem. 
Grex parvulus Christi, Luk. 12. 32.  Glorificationem. 
Tertia pars Domini, Zachar. 13. 9    
Electi, ideoque vocati.    
Let me not tread the Broad highway to Sin,  
But being Elect declare my Call therein.  


Seminantur  
à Deo Inter Homines à Diabolo  
Veritas Inter Homines Mendacium  
Pax Inter Homines Discordia  
Amicitia Inter Homines Inimicitia  
Ut Alterutri prodessemus  
Ut Alterutrum devoremus.     

A Morning Thought.  

Sithence it is given 
Psal. 104.73.   
To Man, to follows labour till the Even,  
And when that Star doth close  
Up Day, then to seek quiet and repose,  
Let Us what's of our Own  
Learn to make known,  
To be  
But so much Cash of purchased Misery;  
All else Confess  
(Of Love and Providence) true happiness.   

For as our Souls had been  
A Combating all Day with Flesh and Sin,  
And then for Captives led  
In Slumbers Fetters; prisoned in a Bed.  
So by the night's Exchange again to Day  
They may  
(Set free) take up their arms,  
And having overcome those charms,  
Boldly Conclude the Victory to keep  
When as they war for Him kept them asleep.   

No other Ransom Need  
To Speed  
This Liberty; but once awake,  
Into our thoughts to take,  
What such Confinement might  
Administer of Danger in One night,  
And how th'all-wakeful eye  
Provided had for our Delivery;  
Which on the wings of Contemplation raised  
Again, w'are Mounted, whilst His name is praised.    


Psalm 19  Coeli enarrant Gloriam Dei.  

ARe we asleep? or do we see  
No more than did blind 
* The Son of Blindness in the Syriac.  Bartime?  
Or are our Senses charmed to lie  
Benumbed into some lethargy,  
Whilst Sin makes of's a Conquest? Rise  
Flesh-buried Soul, and from the Skies  
Let thy winged thoughts to thee relate  
Who 'twas those structures did Create,  
Where in Thy Hemisphere at large is penned,  
More wonder then frail Clay can comprehend.   

Whether a Sun, a Moon, a Star,  
A Comet or a Meteor,  
A Various Bow, true sign of Peace,  
Swollen Clouds, which cause on earth increase  
When breaking they distil; the Glum  
And horrid beat of thunder's Drum  
We hear or see: Why are these sent?  
But t'shew He is Omnipotent,  
Who thus in Characters doth write, whereby  
We have a Lecture in Divinity.   

For as those great and lesser Lights  
Distinguish Time by days and Nights;  
So was it Day with us untell  
Our Disobedient Parents fell.  
Yet as the tincelled Night gives way  
At th'opening o'th' true Golden Day;  
So did the powers of Darkness fly,  
The Sun of Righteousness being by:  
And when we Comet-struck, int' Sin had run,  
The Father did redeem us by the Son.   

When th'Undertaker first did deign  
For to restore His world again,  
He used no other lock or sluice  
I'th' Clouds, but sent a Bow of truce.  
What did His Mercy less, when we  
Who are the world's Epitome,  
Deluged in Sin, lay Breathless, drowned,  
Until Our saviour's precious Wound  
Opened a Drain, wherewith he laid us dry,  
From wickedness into fertility?   

The air imprisoned, fain would try  
The virtue of more Liberty:  
Yet meeting with a tougher Cloud  
Is forced to quarrel, and speak loud.  
So if we seek our freedom here,  
We must no Cloud of Fortune fear:  
But like Bonargeses, proclaim  
What we profess, then be the same.  
For whilst the Face looks one way, and the Mind  
Another, 'tis like Rain brought against the Wind.   

There shall no Thunder-crack, nor dash of wet,  
Prodigious Comet, in us fear beget;  
But the sun's Purple, and the Silver wings  
The Moon puts on, bespeaks us Saints and Kings,  
Whilst Iris Endless Peace, the numerous Lights  
Adorn the Night, decipher all delights:  
Which for to seek to compass and obtain,  
He that quits life and all here, makes great Gain.    

My country Audit.  
Blessed privacy, Happy Retreat, wherein  
I may cast up my reckonings, Audit Sin,  
Count o'er my Debts, and how Arrears increase  
In nature's book, towards the God of Peace:  
What through perverseness hath been waved, or done  
To My first Covenants contradiction:  
How many promised Resolutions broke  
Of keeping touch (almost as soon as spoke.)  
Thus like that Tenant who behindhand cast,  
Entreats so oft forbearance, till at last  
The sum surmounts his hopes, and then no more  
Expects, but Mercy to strike off the score.  
So here, methinks, I see the Landlords Grace  
Full of Compassion to my drooping Case,  
Bidding me be of comfort, and not grieved,  
My Rent his Son should pay if I believed.   

Cui in calamitatibus soli sit fidendum.  
WHen first the towering Hills, the loftier Pine,  
Exchanged to ride upon the swelling brine  
Neptune prepared, and with more Active skill  
Grew sometimes in the Vale, sometimes on th' Hill:  
Whilst Floating in a complete tackle dressed,  

Iuv. Sat. 10.  She's taught to sail from Cadis to the East  
Where Ganges runs, and from those coasts being come,  
To steer a course back to Illyrium:  
Then was that coward Fear banished the Mind  
And Heart of Man, ambitious still to find  
More worlds and works of wonder, wherein He  
Might trace the Greatness of the deity.  
Then as if fortified with steel and brass, 
Hor. Od. 3.   
Ventured his Bottom on this field of glass,  
So brickle and unconstant, as contrives  
A nearness unto Death, yet with reprives.  
A small Gale overfills the sails, a leak  
Is sprung, in shorter time than I can speak.  
Then being o'er-set above, o'r-charged beneath,  
What can expected be but present Death?  
Unless we seek to Him, at whose command  
Becalmed into Obedience, Tempests stand,  
Rising when He so pleases, and are gone  
When He Planes o'er their rugged Motion:  
Whose Power at life's expressed, when weight ascends,  
And almost to the crystal sky extends: 
Psalm 107.   
And then again, when Nature on't doth enter,  
It is permitted for to wash the centre.  
Then are such troubled as on it do ride,  
Rolling and Tottering from side to side,  
Being drunk through fear and sorrow; nor can tell  
How many Sands shall knowl their Passing-bell.  
Thus in a Trance dismayed, and quite bereft  
Of sense, save of a little spark that's left  
To kindle hopes, They to their Maker Cry,  
Who straight releases them from Misery,  
Sending a Calm; whereat the Liquid plain  
Becomes to them a Looking-glass again:  
So They in mind restored, have quick access  
Unto the Haven of their Happiness.   

My carol.  

ARise, arise  
Dull Fancy from the bed of Earth,  
And that low strain  
Besots thy vain;  
That so thou mayst devise  
Some Record of that famous Birth,  
Which about This time, as our Date will have,  
One Son for All the rest the Father gave.   

Leave to the Bee  
To set a Valuation  
On this, or that  
Fair Garden-plat,  
There t' Browse some Flower or Tree:  
And to some foreign Nation,  
To crown their Annals with the Pelican,  
Or far-fetched cordial, Mirabolan.   

Here's Comfort more;  
A gift that's far beyond all worth,  
The Curious mind  
Could ever find  
In what a Plant e'er bore,  
Or Barren wilderness brought forth:  
Sweetness excels the Bee's bag, and such Good  
As proved our Strong Restorative by's Blood.    

To overcome by Contraries.  
IN human things 'tis held a maxim wife,  
To seek to Overcome by Contraries:  
And in Diviner, if we will express  
Obedience of God, it holds no less;  
For t'conquer Pride whereby we fell, no Art  
Is comparable to a Contrite-Heart.   

To Improve Afflictions.  
IF David found it good He'd been in Trouble,  
What would it teach Me am a sinful Bubble;  
But that th' Afflictions we meet with here,  
Are sent to Steer Us to our God more near?  
Who thus improves his thoughts on things go cross,  
Without a Riddle, makes Great gains of Loss.   

They that sow in Tears, shall reap in joy.  
AS in the country-parable it's found,  
God's meant by Husbandman, and Man by ground,  
His Word the precious Seed, that doth excel  
All other grain; Our hearts the Arable:  
So will't inform We should our soil prepare,  
To recompense so Great a seedsmans' care;  
And neither pricked with Pride, stupid like Stones,  
Laid Common to all wicked Motions:  
Be unprovided t'save, much less t'afford  
Increase against the Harvest of the Lord:  
Wherefore as Earth 'thout Culture sithence man's fall  
Is of fruits barren, thriftless prodigal:  
So do the dispositions and desires  
Nature brings forth, abound with Thorns and Briers;  
Which to correct, the Master's strict Command  
Is to break up again the Fallow-land:  
And by Contritions Coulter and ploughshares  
To dress our Minds, furrow our Cheeks with tears  
Of true Repentance. And those thus destroy  
The Weeds of Sin, shall surely reap in Joy.   

Ascensus Gratiarum, Descensus Gratiarum.  
IF there be any virtue left that can  
Pull Blessings down, 'tis Gratitude in Man;  
And to be humbly thankful, that alone  
Makes Him true subject for Compassion.  
All Other Graces as Assistants sit  
Upon the woolsacks for to farther it;  
In representing how the Law concludes  
On God's Rich Bounties, Our ingratitudes:  
So thereupon Impeachment's drawn to show  
Delinquencies, and what He gives, we owe.  
First then unless dejected Care possess  
The Heart and Soul for by-past wickedness,  
And stir up Resolution to become  
Henceforth more righteous, even to martyrdom:  
In vain it is to hope, or yet surmise  
The acceptation of such sacrifice  
From Him, whose all-discerning eye doth pierce  
The very centre of the Universe,  
And knows before we think: Let our thoughts fly  
To overtake His providential eye;  
Then we shall straight be conquered, and confess  
His Bounties, but our own Unworthiness.  
And like the Eagle, first such flight begin  
From the low contemptible Vale of sin,  
Until Confession and Amendment raise  
Our stretched our Pinions to the clouds in praise.  
And then when all is done that we are able,  
Still we must know, we're but Unprofitable.   

Contemplatio Diurna.  
WHen we behold the Morning Dew  
Dissolve i'th' rising Sun: What would it show?  
But that a Sun to us did rise,  
Our father's hoary sin to Atomise.  
And when the Flowers displayed appear,  
To entertain the mounting Charettier:  
What would they speak in that fair dress?  
But Man's redemption out of wrethchedness.  
For the shade-shortning Noon can tell  
The Proud, and such as with Ambition swell;  
That whilst upon Opinions wing  
They seek to sore, they work their lessening.  
And the prognostic Western set,  
May Our Conditions rightly counterfeit;  
For if we rise, shine, and set clear,  
The daystar from on high's our Comforter:  
If Sin beclowd us as we fall,  
Our next day's rise will prove our funeral:  
Et quid lachrymabilius?   

ubi desinit Medicus, incipit Theologus.  

Pharmaca aegrotantibus Optima.  
COrpore si tu agrotas,  
AEsculapius vocetur:  
Anima sin sit, devotas  
Preces quisque Meditetur.   

Convictus facilis & maxime Nutriens.  
Nec quid comesurus cures,  
Paucis nam Natura gaudet:  
Verbum Dei si procures,  
Dapes (quis quis velit) laudet.   

Aer Optimus & ad Veram Valetudinem propius conducens.  
AEra dum Malignum quaeris  
Sis morbosus; nec sit mirum:  
Sancto sodale si frueris,  
Té que efficiet talem virum.   

Exercitium veram sanitatem comparans optime.  
EXercearis licet tota  
Nocte Dieque Fata vocent:  
Sed si Deo facta, Vota  
Sint sincera, Haec non nocent:  
Ad sanitatem potius veram  
Et aeternam, Viam docent.   

Where the physician's skill can do no more,  
Divinity must best of health restore.    

Annus annulus, &c. Diminutione largimur.  

AS the Year, Serpent-like doth cast its Skin,  
And's stripped o'th' Old, when as the New comes in;  
What would' tinform, but that anew w'invest  
Ourselves in Christ, Old Adam's Rags detest?  
And if a Janus' Bifronted doth stand,  
Looking at once to this and tother hand,  
What would He teach our Consciences, save this,  
To see at one View whence Salvation is,  
And whence our woe came; that for this we may  
Our Tribute Tears, for that all-praises pay?   

Now when the Season blossoms in its Spring,  
And time puts on a particoloured wing;  
Why should not our Souls, which before did lie  
Defiled through th'smutch of Sin, receive a die  
(Whereat the Rose may blush) from that same flood  
(All Streams surpasses) of our saviour's Blood?  
For if that leprosy we fain would heal,  
This is our Jordan, stained with Cutchinneal.  
If from our first Sire we received a wound,  
This is that Spikenard that can make us sound.   

And as th'approaching Sun comes daily on  
For to supplant the winter's garrison:  
So should our frozen hearts be thawed, and Melt  
When we to Mind call what our Jesus felt,  
And we deserved; His zodiac should bring  
Us to the tropic of our Summering  
In those warm thoughts, till ripe in faith and hope,  
Love like a Vale, cover Our horoscope:  
For what can we return for His, who rent  
The Temples to free us from Punishment?   

O let the lustful Clusters we behold  
Betasseling Autumn, and those Ears of gold-  
Resembling Corn, say to us, if we thirst  
Or hunger: He who is both Last and First,  
Did tread the Wine press for us, and fulfil  
What was to us due for our Parents ill;  
That so we might be numbered 'mongst those guest  
The Lamb invited to his marriage-feast.  
And though we once fell by what one Tree bore,  
God by another's fruit did us restore.   

Then whilst the sharped-sharped Winter seems to lay  
Stripes on the bearing earth, and Blasts th'array  
She late was decked in; Spitting on her face  
Its feathered-rain, (all embling the disgrace  
For Us He felt, who would have known no shame,  
Had we been Innocent and without Blame)  
Doth't not decipher how a lily pure  
Sprung up 'midst Thorns, Scourgings to endure:  
And how They Spat upon a Face that shined,  
Which proved our eyesalve, who before were blind?    

My Observation at Sea.  

THough every thing we see or hear may raise  
The maker's Praise;  
For without Lightning or Thunder,  
His Works are all of wonder;  
Yet amongst Those there's none  
Like to the Oceon.   

Where (not a Catalogue to keep  
Of several Shapes inhabiting the Deep)  
Let but our Thoughts confer  
With what once graveled the Philosopher:  
And we must straight confess  
Amazement more, but apprehension less.   

The Fire for heat and light  
Most exquisite:  
And the All-tempering air  
Beyond Compare.  
Earth's Composition and Solidity,  
Bountiful Mixed with Humidity.  
But here for Profit and Content,  
Each must give place to th' Liquid Element:   

Whose Admirable Course, that Steers  
Within Twelve hours Mariners,  
Outwards and Homewards bound:  
May be Sufficient Ground  
To raise Conclusion from thence  
At once, of Mighty Power and Providence.   

For as the Cynthian Queen  
Her bounty less or more vouchsafes be seen:  
So by her wain She brings  
The Tides to Neaps, and by her Full to Springs:  
Yet not but as He pleas  
Who set Her there, chief Governess of Seas:   

Which understood  
Truly by such would seek for traffic good,  
They must their Anchors weigh  
Out of the oozy dirt and Clay  
Earth's Contemplations yield,  
And hoisting sails, They'll straightway have them filled  
With a fresh-Mackerell Gale, whose blast  
May Port them in true happiness at Last.   

There th'in a Bay of Bliss,  
Where a Sweet Calm our welcome is:  
Let us at length the Cables veer  
Fore and abaff, that may our Moorage clear  
From warp or winding, so ride, fixed upon  
Our hope's sheet-anchor of Salvation.    

Upon Moses put young to Sea, or hid in an Ark of Bulrushes:  

Exod. 2. 2, 3.  THis son of Amram, soon as born did find  
Pharaoh a Tyrant, but the midwife's kind:  
So being from that bloody Doom set free,  
Becomes His mother's Care and Huswifrie;  
Who to His safety, that She might confer  
More hopes, She makes him first a Mariner:  
A good presage; whereby it was implied,  
His People He through the Red-Sea should guide.   

In Mosen adhuc Infantem Amni commissum.  

Exod. 2. 3. 14.  Cur latitans juncis Moses fit Nauticus Infans?  
Ut ducat Populum per Vada Rubra suum.   

Docem Praecepta. Acrost. Konist.  
1 I n AEgypte cum fuisses,  
respexit (Solus) ut Exisses.  
2 E rrantes in Eremo plectit paucos,  
posteros ut reddat Cautos.  
3 H abeas Nomen non in Vano  
ore, sed in Corde Sano.  
4 O pere, nec sordeat Dies,  
in quâ jussa Sancta quies.  
5 V erus Amor Paternalis  
docent in Parentes qualis.  
6 A rdens Cura ignoscendi,  
tollat Rabiem Plectendi.  
7 D oceat Casta Vitae normam  
qui & Vitam dat & formam.  
8 E ripiendi queis fruentur  
alii, nec sit Mens libenter.  
9 V era Testimonia Testes  
reddant laetos, falsa Moestos.  
10 S is Contentus tuâ sorte;  
Nec junctam cupias Portam Porta:  
Capias Vitam tunc pro Morte.   

The Contempt of this World, raises the Others Esteem.  
WHen all the virtue we can here put on,  
Is but refined Imperfection,  
Corruption caleined: A mineral vain,  
Where Clay (to be more prized) some Ore doth gain:  
Why should we not employ the best of Care,  
To learn wherein Truest Contentments are,  
And how attained? The jeweller's command  
O'er Art, is how to foil the Diamond  
As may add Lustre to it: So, who tries  
Less to Esteem of This world's Flatteries,  
Sets higher Value on the Other, where  
Perfection proves th' eternal Jeweller.   

In Diem Natalem.  
NE morìatur Homo, Sanctus de Virgine purâ,  
Mirificxsque hodie nascitur Ille Puer.  
Ne Peregrinetur Factus Peregrinus & Idem est,  
In Cunis Stabulum Glorificatque suis.  
Ne pro Delictis Proavi plectatur, amara  
Pocula fert, alio non patienda Modo.  
Exul ut è Coelis Migrans terraque Marique  
Jactatus, tenebras Mortis, & Ima petit,  
Nos ut surgamus Sancti, quoque Luce fruamur  
AEterna, Astriferas incolit Ille Domus.   

In Eandem.  


Christus Vita Venit:  
Christus Veritas Venit:  
Christus Via Venit:  
Venit Mors Discedunt  
Venit Mendacium Discedunt  
Venit Error Discedunt    
Laeta Dies Cunctis, Mors quâ calcanda recessit,  
Nascitur in Domibu● dummodo Vita suis:  
Plena Dies Lucis Verum quâ clarius exstat,  
Et Falsi Fuscum tollitur Omne Genus:  
Fansta Dies in quâ Via stornitur Omnipotentis,  
Error & aufertun, Clara, Beata Dies.   

To kiss God's Rod; occasioned upon a child's Sickness.  

WHat ever God's Divine  
Decree  
Awardeth unto Mine  
Or me,  
Though't may seem ill,  
With patience  
I am resolved to undergo,  
Nor to His purpose once say no,  
But Moderate both Mind and Will:  
And Conquering th' Rebellions of Sense,  
Place all content in true Obedience.   

Thus I create it good  
When His  
Correction's understood,  
Which is,  
Not to destroy,  
But to reclaim,  
And t'cause me turn a new-leaf ore,  
Count all an Error-writ before,  
So find the sting of Flattering Joy:  
Making the scope of all My future aim,  
To Reverence and glorify His Name,   

Thus when our God will frown, if we weigh it  
In judgements Scales, we make't a Benefit.    

My Penthouse against the Storm of Grief, occasioned upon the Death of a dear Friend.  

O How the Blasts  
Temptation Casts  
Against my Naked Ston,  
Threaten Subversion;  
Sithence the Decree of late was Thine  
To take away My sheltering Vine!   

Well, let them blow,  
Break clouds and rain,  
Their Gusts and showers in vain;  
For Confident I am,  
My gracious God upholds the Frame,  
Whilst I the Olive Sprouts see grow.   

Thus to my Hart  
I may impart  
Th' assurance of a Peace,  
Wherein such Trials cease  
If Patience-born; that Fear is good  
When it withstands ill, not of ill withstood.    

Man Levens the Batch.  
GOD makes all things for good; 'tis Man  
Sowers and worsts Creation:  
Who Leven'd by his Father, thence  
Becomes all Disobedience;  
No thought, no word, no action He  
Contrives, can own Integrity  
To Him that made Him, for by Deeds  
As Words and Heart, his growth's in weeds,  
Which whilst neglected do express  
God's Grace, but Man's unfruitfulness:  
Now if again man would bear Corn,  
He must himself a Weeder turn.   

The Attributes of true Love.  
WE call that Patience, when provoked we can  
Defer revenge, but 'tis true love in Man:  
And when with open hand we would express  
Our bounty's Tribute, some style't Lavishness:  
But They mistake, as far as those despise  
All steps whereby an Other Man doth rise;  
Yet think they have Love too; and boast no less  
Than that She is their constant Patroness:  
If Her Decrees be not to seek her own  
Praise, (as not seemly) whither are such blown,  
As thus would tempt Her anger, when 'tis taught  
She is not to be moved to an ill thought,  
But's ever pleased, and doth rejoice to see  
Truth sit in Triumph o'er iniquity:  
As She sustains, and is contented still  
With what wind blows, so do her hopes sails fill,  
When from the windows of belief doth breathe  
A steady Gale, t'advance her course beneath:  
Till by the Saints transplanted, and above,  
She's moored within that Port, and called True Love.   

Contraria juxta se posita Gal. 5. 19 to 23.  


C-upio Formans  
A-dmiror Creaturam  
R-eminiscor Injurice  
O-btempero Vosunteti    


S-anctitatem Curo  
V-irtuti Seruio  
T-rucsentian Sperno  
I-ncontinentian Noso  
R-apacitatem fugio  
I-rasei nequeo  
P-atientia Vineo  
S-asutem Spero    
Like Night to Day, or foils that Raise  
The Lustre of the Diamonds praise:  
Such, and no other virtue Lies  
Hind in th' approach of Contraries.   

Love begets Fear.  
'TWas of Thy Goodness (Lord) at first I had  
Knowledge of what was Good, and what was bad:  
Yet through the Ill of Nature become blind,  
I followed Sin, and left thy Fear behind:  
By which I forfeited a Blessing, till  
Thou of thy Mercy, free and Gracious will  
Signest me a Pardon in that style, Repent,  
That so I might avoid all Punishment.  
Thus then roused up and wakened, I began  
Thy judgements, Blessings, Love, and Fear to skan:  
And in a Scoale when I them all had weighed,  
Methought I loved Thee still, still was afraid.   

My Invocation.  

GReat, and Good God, of Justice, Love;  
As That to Fear, so grant This move  
My Trembling Heart, till It retain  
Some Sparks of heat and life again;  
Sithence My Creation-Fuell's don  
Lighten again the Turf by thine own Son.   

Small hopes of This, unless I may  
In awe to That, find a decay  
Of such Lewd Thoughts, Words, Acts, did bring  
My whole Man to a wintering  
In Lust, and Sin, and growth of Grace,  
T'assure a fruitful springtide in the place.   

How's that attained? By heat, not cold,  
'Tis that the Bounteous Marygold  
Displays its Treasure; and kind Showers  
(Not Frosts) befriend both fruit and Flowers:  
Thaw then my Breast till't open Zeal,  
And let my Eyes those sighs reveal  
In rain, that my Affections may subdue,  
So from my Old congealed Clot raise thoughts new.    

Misericordia Dei Splendidissima.  
God's Mercy shines 'bove all His works, as far  
As doth the Cyprian-Queen out-light a star.   

To Man. Epig.  
HArd-Hearted Man! what canst thou say,  
That Thou thyself hast turned to Brick thy Clay:  
But that Thy Hopes are built upon  
His Promise once sent Fountains out of Ston:  
Wherefore to Sacrifice to God's desire,  

Psalm 51. 17  man's Heart must be the Altar, Sighs the fire.   

My Pool of Bethesda, or the Effusion of Christ's Merits to heal our Miseries.  
WHen Children would go, or Cripples stand,  
Crutches and Stools are framed for Arm and Hand  
To rest upon, lest such attempting shall  
Without like Props occasion them to fall.  
What are the Sons of Adam? if we try,  
Condemned to lameness and to Infancy  
Through Sin, and so disabled to Pace  
The Paths of virtue, tread the Steps of Grace;  
Till God of's Mercy pleased to Confer  
A standing stool, as if from th' Carpenter,  
Though He himself was Artist, and did frame  
This Remedy for Those were Weak and Lame:  
So that without a farther Inquisition,  
We All were, and are such, Christ's the physician.   

The Five Porches to Bethesda.  
MAn is Bethesda, and's five Senses be  
Porches unto that Great Intermery,  
Where Divers Cures are sought for; yet not one  
Attained but through an angel's Motion,  
Grace poured on the Heart; which who so can  
Improve, becometh straight a perfect Man:  
But Those who Opportunity neglect,  
Must not an other Saving help expect.  
For as the Cripple Thirty eight years lay,  
And had done more, had not Christ come i'th' way:  
So whilst these poured out waters we would try,  
Others step in, profane their Sanctity.  
Lusts both our Ears, and Eyes, and Palates charm:  
Through Nostrils and by Fingers we do harm;  
And 'cause all over Leprous and defiled,  
We'd fain be cleansed, to health be reconciled,  
Yet cannot get so soon into this Tide,  
Afford us of that Jordan from Thy side.   

Soliloquium.  
ANima, quid tam tristaris?  
Ocule, quid Lachrymaris?  
Cur in Pectore singultus?  
Cur Moerore madet vultus?  
Quî fit, gemitu plangescis  
Cor, ut si integram non esses?  
Cum, quo hic fruamur toto  
Nostro non in Dei voto.  
Ejus est suffragii, sortem  
Dare, Vitam dare & Mortem.  
Mortis certitudo, brevem  
Vitae Curam reddit levem:  
Et post Mortem, sit levamen  
Quod Vivetur semper tamen:  
Nec mensurâ quâvis, horae  
Vespertinae, vel Aurorae  
Metitur: aeternâ Luce  
Sed (haec dicta Dies) duce:  
In quâ, cum gandeat omnis Sanctus,  
Luctus sistat, sileat planctus:  
Poenam (hic) quâ laboramus  
Somno Mortis nam mutamus:  
Et quid mali hora dedit,  
Gaudio Sempiterno cedit.  
Qui sic mutant, invidendos  
Sentio solos: non deflendos.  
è contra Pectora Peccatis data,  
Cor corruptum, Ora lata,  
Animam infectam Malis,  
Nox dum sequitur fatalis,  
Lugeat, doleat Omnis Tales.   

A Carol.  
(IF nothing else) may not this season move,  
Or Time become true Chronicle of love?  
And so allay the Fury, stint the Rage  
Or madness doth predominize this age?  
When for to ransom Man, whose least Offence  
Was charactered in Disobedience,  
He who knew no Sin came, that, to fulfil  
The Mercy Statute of His father's will:  
Thus He forgave, and gave, to let us know  
What to our Very Enemies we owe,  
By His Example; and decrees this fate  
To the Posterity unfortunate  
Of too-beleeving Adam, That They must  
Give themselves over to no other Trust  
Than what His Word assures, nor to make less  
That first of Sins, Create them numberless,  
In envy, Malice, and Ambition,  
But join to Charity Contrition  
For by-past faults, and resolutions raise  
To spend the future in our maker's praise:  
Obey Him first, than Those His Glorious Powers  
Shall substitute for our superiors:  
And with our own Condition whatsome're  
Content, enjoy a full Harmonious Sphere;  
Leaving no Orb for Discords fond increase,  
Sithence He that's born for us was Prince of Peace.   

A Quid Retribuam.  
POor sin-bound-naked-creature Man, ne'er knows  
What to return for that His God bestows;  
But as Prosperities increase, goes less  
I'th' retribution of Thankfulness:  
His eyes not open but with Clay made dim,  
Renders that Miracle, not wrought on Him,  
Remains so stupid, but where Faith's declined  
Int' unbelief, such are for ever blind:  
Now that I may like judgement still prevent,  
By entertaining True-Souls-Nutriment,  
Not poison: let Example spurr me on  
To take the Cup filled with Salvation;  
And t'praise his holy Name that did prepare  
Such Cates for those heavy and Laden are,  
Sins Dromidaries swift by Nature led  
To run to Evil, here unburden  
By One who bore both cross and shame, to free  
The Pliant branch of Eve's posterity:  
(So have I tender Saplings seen unbroak,  
When Tempests have o'er-turned the sturdier Oak:)  
And if in Sacrifice we'd pass degrees,  
The best for acceptations from the knees,  
Outward and inwardly expressed; whereby  
To notify unfeigned Humility;  
For such deny to show repentance thus,  
Surely forget Christ came from Heaven to us:  
And those of that short memory may know  
Their Portion's here; They shall not to Him go,  
Whose Riches, raiment, Food, and all Relief  
To them Condemn this World, make Him their Chief.  


E-dat  
V-itam  
C-aelestem  
H-omo  
A-nimi  
R-ecti  
I-ejunent  
S-imulantes  
T-alibus  
I-nest  
A-morities    
Though All must truly say, They've done amiss,  
Yet there Goes more than ordinary to This:  
For He that would not make the banquet sour,  
Must form His Relish to his SAVIOUR.   

A Pelican feeding her young with blood out of her own breast, a type of our Saviour.  


P-orrigit  
E-ximtos  
L-atus  
I-ndulgetque  
C-ruores  
A-leseant  
N-ati  
V-ulneribusque  
S-uis.    
Behold Here from the pelican's breast sprung  
A stream of precious blood to feed her young.   

In Sanctam Coenam Domini, Epig.  
WAsh and be clean; Eat, Drink this, and 't will save:  
So easy is the suit our Lord doth crave:  
Yet with the healed cripple, back He'll call thee,  
And bid Thee, Sinn no more, lest worse befall thee.   

A Dedication of my first Son.  

IS it not fit the Mould and Frame  
Of Man, should dedicate the same  
To God, who first Created it: and t'give  
To Him the first fruit of that Span we live?   

In the world's Infancy could Hannah tell,  
She ought to Offer her son Samuel  
To Him that made him, and refine  
That Sacrifice with flower and Wine?   

Was Abraham's long expected seed  
From Sarah's womb condemned to bleed?  
And shall the times now they grow Old, conclude  
In faithlesness, and in ingratitude?   

Let shame awake us, and where blessings fall,  
Let every one become a prodigal  
In paying vows of thanks, and bring  
The best, and best for Offering.   

Where am I then; whom God hath deigned to bless  
With hopes of a succeeding happiness  
Unto My house? Why is't I stand  
At th' Altar with an Empty hand?   

Have I no Herds, no Flocks, no oil,  
No incense-soil?  
Is not My Grainary stored with flower that's fine?  
Are not my Strutted Vessels full of Wine?   

What temporal Blessing's wanting to suffice  
And furnish out a lively Sacrifice,  
Save only this, to make a Free-Will-offering  
of an Infancy?   

Which if I should not do, that piled-up  
wood, whereon lay Sarah's child;  
The Temple would accuse me, where the son  
Of Elk'na first had Dedication.   

Wherefore accept, I pray thee, this  
Thou've given, and my first son is:  
Let him be Thine, and from his Cradleling,  
Begin his services first reckoning.   

Grant, with his days, thy Grace increase, and fill  
His Heart, nor leave there room to harbour ill:  
That in the Progress of His years  
He may express whose badge He wears.    

In Quadragesimam.  
WHen all the days w'have borrowed are misspent,  
Had we not need to beg more time were Lent;  
And not to suffer This too, to be gone,  
Because abused through superstition?  
A knife to cut with's good, but if to kill  
It be abused, why then we deem it ill.  
All things are made for use; Abuses came  
But as Usurpers to deprave the same:  
And in some kind or other all we do,  
Speak, think, or have, those have their morals too.  
Our pampered Bodies oft such thoughts put on,  
That they become like to proud Jessuron:  
And when our minds from full Cups are expressed,  
They're like to Baltashazzer's at His Feast:  
Our Actions too, laden with temporal good,  
Cannot permit t'aspire at spiritual food;  
But overfed, we surfeit, and become  
Like to the Beast in all things, save being dumb:  
Tongue-tied we are not, when we would express  
Our Enmity, from th'root of Bitterness:  
Nor yet uncharitable, unless in this,  
To judge that those who hunger do amiss,  
And such as thirst too, whilst our Cups run o'er,  
And Bellies are made Magazines of store.  
It should be otherways, if we would shun  
The heavy doom of sad Temptation;  
And as the Meat and Drink of Faith, prepare  
A Holy-Fasting-sanctifying Prayer,  
Cooked from our cornered hearts, and not the streets,  
A Sacrifice incensed with Love for sweets.  
And thus performing what is Lent aright,  
We'll fear no schismatic, nor Anchorite.   

A Hymm occasioned upon going to receive the blessed Sacrament when it was a snow.  

INvited now to Sup with Thee my Lord,  
All that I am is at a Period  
How to be fitly dressed,  
And so t'become a worthy Guest;  
For 'tis prepared alone  
For such as have the Wedding garment on,  
Which through, Guilt I want,  
And all my Substance t'buy one is too scant.   

Make Me a Purse then, from His Sacred Score,  
Whose institution 'twas, and will do more  
For Those believe His name,  
That to redeem us Sinners came  
Into the World, and shed  
His precious blood, which might stand all in stead;  
By a quick Faith apply  
The sovereign balsam of His Agony.   

For like the Man met thieves, we all were left  
Naked and Wounded, Spectacles of Theft  
And Rapine too, wherein  
We weltering lay, a prey to Sin;  
Till th' true Samaritan  
Passing this way, Redemption began,  
Not sparing Wine, nor oil  
Out of His Hands, and Feet, and Side the while.   

Thus now upon Recovery again,  
Bound up in His Grave-cloaths, brought to our Inn,  
And Earnest left, to prove  
His high Compassion and Love:  
What care should be t'express  
In all our future Actions thankfulness?  
Which no way's better spent  
Than in partaking right this Sacrament:   

Which, without Cleansed hearts, and minds that Can  
Turn a new leaf with the Centurian,  
More of a Christian show,  
Made white as is this day with Snow;  
And like the prophet's suit  
Purged with hyssop from what doth pollute,  
We cannot hope to do;  
Nor that, 'less prompted by thy Grace thereto.   

Whereto (I pray Thee) so much mercy add,  
That I may have some Balm from Gilead  
To heal my Leprous Sore,  
Whilst humbled for my Sins before,  
My future days may be  
The Inventory of more Piety;  
My forehead bear thy stamp  

Rev. 7. 3. Mat. 25.4.  As servant, having oil still in my Lamp.    

A Reveille matin, or Good morrow to a friend.  

AS the Black Curtain of the Night  
Is open drawn  
By the gray-fingered Dawn,  
To let out light,  
And bid good Morrow to the Teeming Day:  
So let all darkened thoughts Through Sin,  
Call in  
Their Powers, that led them in a blindfold way:  
And roused up from security,  
Bring better fruits unto Maturity.   

For now the Fragrant East  
The Spicery o'th' World,  
Hath hurled  
A rosy Tincture o'er the Phoenix nest;  
And from the last day's Urn  
An Other springs,  
And brings  
With it a Charettier too in its turn:  
So then by this new fire  
Be Goodness hatched, all wickedness expire.   

Then as This Prince of Heat doth rise,  
In Power, and in Might seem stronger,  
Proclaiming that 'tis Night no longer;  
By vanquishing the Witchcrafts of the Skies,  
The Spelly-vaprous Mists:  
So let th' enlightened Soul  
Control  
Our Actions, that no farther they persist  
To follow sense, whereby t'invite  
Ruin, the sauce t' unruly Appetite.   

Thus now it's clear,  
Out of all Question,  
The world's unmasked, and all of Vailing gone.  
Phoebus' Triumphant o'er our Hemisphere:  
Let us not therefore in disguise  
Seek, or Bravado,  
To shadow as if under Maskerado  
So many faults and villainies,  
Knowing that He who made the Light,  
Cannot Himself be destitute of sight.   

But though His Providence  
Did this beget,  
That Suns that rise should set,  
And in appearance vanish hence:  
Yet doth He claim for th' interest  
Of Day-lights bliss,  
We slumber not amiss;  
When as our Light is borrowed by the West:  
But the Choice cabinet of mind adorn  
With Contemplations may befit next Morn.    

Trium Gratiarum maxima Charitas.  

WHen all Perfections prove  
But like some sound  
Of Brass,  
Wherein no certain Note is found,  
Without Harmonious Love;  
What do we see then more, than through a Glass?   

We may with Eloquence  
Beguiled our Speech,  
And then  
Offer at more than we can reach,  
And bring an Influence  
Of Works to raise us: yet are we but Men.   

For if provoked we be,  
We'll not forgive;  
And so  
Forget the wrong we did receive,  
Though it be Love's decree;  
Until we can work our revenge in woe.   

The churl, whose sparing skill  
Denies to feed  
The Poor,  
And such as stand in greatest need;  
Yet thinks he doth no ill,  
Whilst He walks double on his Ivory floor.   

An Other, envy-swoln,  
When once 'twas heard  
By chance,  
That such a one was new preferred,  
Cries, What are honours stolen!  
Yet by the same tract strives Himself t'advance.   

This Mushrum may appear,  
When first the Sun  
Doth rise;  
But when His Hemisphere is run,  
And that the even draws near,  
It shuts up all its treasure, and so dies.   

Unless revived again  
BY love's sweet Charm,  
O'er which  
No Night or Vapour can do harm;  
For neither Pride, Wir, Gain,  
Can make us truly Live, or truly Rich.   

But if Affection  
To Truth prevail,  
And say,  
No Suffering shall turn the Scale,  
Nor yet promotion:  
This Night will turn into eternal Day.    


Matth. 13.  El Sembrador, or, the sour.  

ALL are Solicitous, who grounds possess,  
To know  
Both when and how to sow,  
That promise may to them the Most increase.   

And by the several Seasons, Change, or Wain,  
Full, or  
Increase, to stir them for  
What might be properest of every grain.   

Nor do they search so deep as for a Mine  
Of Gold;  
Yet what's the fittest mould  
For every seed, can readily define.   

And doth not great neglect and sloth appear  
In these,  
Whom Barley, Wheat, rye, Pease,  
Affect alone in being cheap or dear:   

Whilst that the Fallows of their hearts, untilled,  
No more  
Can promise than before,  
To be with Cockle-thoughts and Darnell filled.   

For when the Bells do seem all In to Chime,  
They'll say  
This is some holiday;  
So never frame a work unto the time.   

All that they pray, or hear, or read, or do,  
Shall be  
Choked with the briery  
Cares of this world, which they are Slaves unto.   

Before the Reverend Preacher can divide  
His Text,  
Some one soon telsed the next,  
Yet's robbed of it; For 't falls by th' highways side.   

An Other gets a Point by th' end, and may  
Go on  
Till Persecution  
Declare him Niobe: then he must stay.   

As when a Soil's prepared with art and Care,  
The hind  
Such Crops doth always find,  
As to's endeavours answerable are.   

So let our Hearts be throughly wed of Sin,  
And then  
They'll prove good ground again,  
And bring us more than thousand profits in.    

Necesse, est Vt  
Temporum Vitia Careant Deiamicitia  
Absque vera tristitia.  


Terminus  
à quo 

Rom. 13. 13.  
Gula  
Scortum  
Ebrietas    
per quem 

Joel 2. 12.  
Jejunium  
Luctus  
Maestitia    
ad quem 

Luk. 1.53.  
Abundantia  
Gaudium  
Laetitia.      


Opera  
Tenebrarum— Fugienda  
Poenitentiae— Amplectenda  
Misericordiae— Acquirenda.    


Sic fiet; Ut  
Dentium 
* Mundities.  Candor cedat Copiae & ubertati  
Armorum Clangor cedat Paci & tranquillitati  
Pestilentae ardor cedat Sanitati & temperiei.    
Quod fac sit Dominus huic Mundi angulo Anglise.  
AMEN.   

A carol.  

WHat though't be Cold, and frieze,  
Let no good Christian lose  
So much of heat and Zeal,  
As not for to Remember  
That blessed day of December:  
And what to shepherd's Angels did reveal,  
Which doth of right Claim lay  
To All that ever Man can write or say.   

A Saviour's born for Us,  
What News more precious?  
Were't but some neighbour's Son,  
The Bells would straightways ring—  
In Cakes for Gossipping;  
So soon the tidings o'er the Town would run,  
And many a light brain tossed  
Amongst the Goodwives, where to place their Cost.   

And shall my frozen heart  
Not thaw, and bear its part  
In jollity for this:  
Whereby not I alone,  
But each believing one  
May promise to Himself eternal bliss?  
For such can ne'er be Cold,  
Who have this birthday in their hearts enroled.   

But may be said to burn,  
Till soon thanks they return,  
Which though far short they reach,  
The comfort is most sure,  
'T hath healing wings to Cure  
Not for reward, but to make up the breach,  
Which so repaired 't is we  
Must make it good 'gainst Satan's battery:   

Whereto belongs this Care  
In Chief and Singular,  
That stricter guards we keep,  
Because both night and day  
Th' Artillery doth play,  
Nor doth our Adversary ever sleep:  
Then we shall show hereby  
Christ's Favour hath not slipped our memory.    

Upon the birth of a child.  
WHen I (O Lord) Thy Mercies scan,  
Stooping unto the Publican,  
Who stood afar off, and didst deign  
To give, that He might ask again:  
(For not the outward-beaten-breast,  
Nor down-cast-look could make Him blessed;  
But 'twas thine own Power did control  
His former Vice, stamp New His soul.)  
Methinks I am so far set free  
From all Sins bonds and tyranny,  
As that raised up in hopes; no More  
I need Zacheus Sycamore:  
But (though a Dwarf in Grace) conclude  
I see Christ 'bove the Multitude  
Calling me down; as if to say,  
He meant to be my Guest to day;  
And (though a Sinner) crown My wish,  
Bringing an Olive-branch for's Dish.   

This is a true saying, That Christ came, &c. 
Tim. 1. 1, 15.   
BE a thing true or false, our Nature lies  
Always so prone to Novelties,  
That we are caught: and what is done or said,  
Tickle, till we have uttered;  
Yet are a sleep whilst this True sayings come,  
(Or else with Zachary struck dumb 
Luk. 1. 20   
Through incredulity) although 't express  
In it the height of our unworthiness:  
And this the Scope, That He was anointed King  
Although he governed every thing,  
Contented was of's footstool t' make a throne  
Where He might work Salvation,  
And so is a true Jesus; nor doth thus 
Mat. 9.13.   
Become unto the Righteous, 
Mark 2.17.   
But to Those likewise who through sins decree  
Condemned were to misery,  
Amongst whom the Apostle, whilst he'averrs  
Himself as chief, so little errs:  
What should we Judge ourselves to be, whose all  
Of Life is but apocryphal,  
Less than the least of Mercies: yet again  
When in our ills we not remain,  
Goodness shall cause that sceptre to distil  
All saving Grace into the will;  
So that repaired by this, forgiven by that,  
We may thus far be consolate,  
That Princely Clemency, and wonted love,  
May both the Crime and guilt remove:  
Then though the chiefest of the Chief we be,  
If we repent, this Verse may set us free.   

My Looking-Glass.  
FOe to Ill-faces for thy truth, be free  
And Shadow back my soul's deformity,  
Thou'lt please me better far, than that which can  
Return a Raven White, or black a Swan:  
For if thou shouldst like to thyself, rubbed o'er,  
Give All for Moteless that comes Thee before,  
I might suspect, (that justly) whilst thou'rt set  
To me' n Diameter for Counterfeit,  
So horrid black my Conscience doth present  
My Guilt-complexions Night Firmament,  
Not tinceled with one Star of Grace, or Spark  
Of Goodness, but Sin-clouded o'er and Dark.  
How shall I then presume to Claim a right  
In any Dawn of Mercy and of light?  
Unless My Faith give credit for the Loan;  
And so God's Son lend from th' Reflection  
Of His Bright Merits, so much power to say,  
My Pardon's sealed, and Night is turned to Day:  
And then, and not before, I may seem dressed,  
When His Great Favour, my Great Sin's confessed.   

Shamed by the Creature.  
THe thankful Soil manured and Winter dressed,  
Returns the hind an Autumn interest  
For all His care and Labour: nor denies  
To be unclothed, to deck his granaries:  
So doth the youthful Vine those Prunings own,  
When as her blossoms are to Clusters grown;  
Nor (to show thanks) doth spare her blood to spill,  
That so the Planters Vessels She may fill.  
This Vegetable Lecture may indeed  
Cast a Blush o'er me, whose return for seed  
So far falls short, as not for every one  
To bring an Ear; but for a whole Season none,  
No not that Corn again was left in trust,  
And Harrowed up under My barren Dust:  
But pregrant Nature doth so rule and reign,  
That with wild Oats She chokes the better Grain;  
And where My grateful Heart should die my Press,  
It's all Besmeared with unthankfulness.  
Nor can a Thought, a Word, or Act proceed  
Out of My Clay, that turns not straight to Weed:  
And for My Fruits, ere Ripeness is begun,  
Abortive-like, They wither in the Sun  
Of Self-Conceit: Lord prune once more this Vine,  
And Plow this Ground, left the Figtree's doom be Mine. 
Luk. 13.7.    

To Man, on his frail Condition.  
WHat permanence to Earth or Clay is due,  
Fond Man consider, for that Emblems you:  
This Day brings human flesh under Death's yoke, 
Hodie vidi, herividi, &c.   
And yesterday I saw a Pitcher broke.  
Our Forms are different, Substances the same:  
The subtle Artist doth both Vessels frame  
For honour and the Contrary; and thus  
Our great Creator moulds and fashions us.  
If we would then our maker's praise set forth,  
We should take Care to become Those of worth.   

The Fallacy of the outward Man.  

ARe we awake, or do our Eyes  
Only with th' Gloworm sympathize,  
To light the Pismire to his bed,  
When it through toil and labour's wearied?   

Doth not the Bank of Moss appear  
Crisped up in moonshine far more clear;  
When argus-eyed with many a Mite,  
It waits upon the Goddess of the Night?   

Have not the wanton Fairie-Elves  
Their torchbearers, Light as themselves,  
That with our Fancies sport and play,  
Until they lead us quite out of the way?   

Cannot a Spangle, Pin, or Bead,  
By Candle-light, int' Error lead;  
And representing Treasure, claim  
A stooping to the Mat or Bord for th' same?   

'Tis from no other, but from hence  
That whilst alone with th' outward sense  
We do behold, and not with th' mind,  
We are asleep, or we are blind.   

Awake and See: Let Sin no more  
Lock up the Window and the door  
To thy fair apprehension (Soul,)  
But let its own allurements give control.   

Let this false treasure, vapour, spark  
Of candid dew, shine in the Dark,  
And the bejeweled worm Eschew  
The morn, left that her Diamonds prove untrue.   

But Let Thy Lustre foil-less be,  
And so present the Day to thee:  
Let Sparks of Grace, and Truths light steer  
Thee to Contemplate Thy Lord Treasurer.   

Who not on boards or Mats did lie,  
But did Install Humility:  
Whilst in the Chambers of the Inn  
One spies a Bead, an Other sees a pin.   

He is that Light which doth convey  
All wise men to th'eternal Day,  
Whilst Fools by false Illusions fire,  
As in the Dark slip into Dirt and Mire.   

'Twas He alone; whose wounded side  
And Hands and Feet are glorified,  
Whilst Potentates with Jewels hung,  
But Barren Moss-banks are, and filthy dung.   

No sweat, no Travail, grief nor Pain,  
Did His Love Shun, to win again  
Thee that were't Lost: His Mercies shone  
Far above th'Glance of Truest Diamon'.   

Wherefore if Thou mak'st use of this  
Worms Love to Raise thy thoughts to His;  
If with Industrious Care Thou bring  
Home to thyself His suffering;   

If by reflection thou return,  
Sighings unfeigned, for sighs, and burn  
In Zeal: no falsified delight  
Can e'er deprive thee of thy sight.  
But with the eye of Faith thou Mayst behold  
A Crown immortal prized 'bove purest Gold.    

Upon the Times.  

A Wake thou best of sense,  
Intelligence,  
And let no Fancy-vapour steer  
Thy Contemplation t' think that peace is near,  
Whilst war in words we do bemoan,  
There's nothing less left in Intention.   

England that was, not Is,  
Unless in Metamorphosis,  
Changed from the Bower of bliss and rest,  
To become now Bellona's Interest,  
In danger of a funeral Pile,  
Unless some happy Swift means reconcile.   

Which how to bring to pass,  
Beyond man's hopes, alas,  
Therefore be pleased (Thou) who didst make  
Atonement for His sake,  
To silence this unnatural spell,  
As Thou didst once the Delphian Oracle.    

My Reformation.  

If all the Span  
Of days  
Lent here to Man  
To Pilgrim in,  
And in time's calendar enroled,  
God should but Skan,  
What might He find for weight and Measure,  
But Pounds and Pecks of this and t' other evil;  
No one marked to His Praise,  
But spent or sold  
For Profit, or in Pleasure:  
By wholesale  
Unto Sin;  
And by retail  
Unto the Flesh, the World, the Devil.   

If the Immense  
Goodness  
Did not dispense  
Its power upon  
Our frailties, that like Clay or Glass  
Makes no defence  
'Gainst Potters, or the Glasiers skill:  
What could we promise to withstand such loss,  
Our misery's redress,  
Unless (Alas!)  
His Son He let them kill:  
So Himself t' pay  
That by One,  
Which on all lay;  
And t'expiate, through grief and cross.   

Here am I lost,  
So small,  
Yet so much cost,  
Wherein the debt  
Would well-nigh drive into despair,  
Had not the Most  
Of me been dross, and so unfit  
To take the stamp of any Grace or Good;  
Until he that made all,  
Did to repair  
My cracked estate, and knit  
By His pain;  
Wherein met  
To set again  
That Breach for Balm, His precious Blood.   

Captives ye know  
Are led  
Into much woe  
And Sufferance,  
Until by ransom they get free  
Again; and so  
No more are bound, but to those ways:  
Where lies my bond and Obligation then?  
To Sin was canceled,  
But still with Thee  
My Saviour, whose bays  
O'er Death's sting,  
Hell, and Chance,  
A Conquest bring  
To set me at full Liberty again.   

Not what I will  
To speak,  
Or do My fill,  
As Appetite,  
Not Reasons Fescue shall direct;  
But with that Skill,  
Thy Gracious Mercies shall infuse  
To make me truly sensible of those;  
Whilst I the Fetters break,  
And so detect  
That which did me abuse,  
My Young years,  
Which were light,  
Too void of fears,  
That so I might the rest for Thee compose.    

My Close-Committee.  

HOw busied's Man  
To seek and find  
An Accusation  
Against all those  
He deems his Bodies good, or Goods oppose!  
And winks at such as Hazard Soul and mind.   

Nothing of late  
Is done or spoke,  
But either King or State  
Concerned are;  
The while Each 'gainst his Neighbour wages War,  
So 're all the bonds of love and friendship broke.   

And how Comes this,  
But that we do  
Or utter what's amiss  
In every thing;  
Making Each Fancy Lord, each Will a King,  
And all that Checks not Reason, Treason too?   

Were't not more wise,  
To lay about  
Which way for to surprise  
That traitorous band  
Of Sins, that in our bosoms bear command;  
And entertaining Grace, t' cause those March out?   

Our Lust, our Pride,  
Ambition,  
Or whatsome'r beside,  
Seems to give way  
To that unjust Militia and Array,  
Bring we t' our Close-committees inquisition:  
Thus when our hearts these for Malignants brand,  
Commit them not, but banish them Thy Land.    

Humiliation without Reformation, a foundation without a Building; Reformation without Humiliation, a Building without a foundation.  

BEst Architects whether in Brick or Ston,  
Cast first to lay a sure Foundation,  
Then raise the fabric; Confident hereby  
T' assign 't a term of perpetuity:  
While Lesser Artists failing of that Care  
And skill, erect them Castles in the air,  
An Element unconstant, which betrays  
To ruin whatsoever there those raise.  
Such, and no Other are They, so profess  
To add by Reformation, happiness;  
Yet want the Basis for to build upon  
To make it last, Humiliation;  
When others seemingly cast on the flore,  
Yet are reformed no better than before:  
So here Foundation without Building is,  
And there a Building on a Precipice.   

Wherefore let me be humbled first, and then  
reformed so, as never to sin again:  
Blending these two together, with intent  
To Build an Everlasting Monument.    

A Carol.  
A Wake dull Soul, 
Luk. 2.  and from thy fold of Clay  
Receive the blessed tidings of the Day: 
8. 10.   
Not of a Foxes Cubb, 
13.  whose guile might be  
A promise of successive tyranny. 
32.   
Nor o' th' Victorious Eagles farr-spread wing, 
2. 1.   
The chiefest of the world's parts covering: 
John 1. 20.   
But of a Lamb that's yeaned, a child that's born,  
No Spectacle of Glory, but of Scorn; 
Luke 2.   
For in the house of bread, This Bread of life, 
17.   
For us, is come to Joseph and his wife: 
11.   
And though the City David's were, 
7.  therein  
His Son no Throne Possesses, but an Inn. 
4. 5.   
There thou Mayst find him, at whose mean, low birth,  
The mightiest Potentates of all the Earth,  
Nay Oracles, are silenced and gone,  
Nor longer serve the devil's delusion.  
The Delphian Fiend confesses, He's overcome.  
And by an hebrew-born-child stricken dumb.  

Dion, Suidas, Nicepho.  The Letters of th'Old Law effaced are,  
Down falls the Statue of great Jupiter,  
With th' Twins, and their nursing Beast: which shower  
Of Prodigies, rouse up the Emperor,  
Who thus far in the dark could see, t' erect  
In honour of th' Almighty Architect,  
An Altar in the capitol to's Son  
First-born, with the sole dedication.  
If Light thus thorough darkness shone, why is't,  
That thou who hast the gospel's beams, the mist  
Of errors canst not dissipate, but still  
Becom'st Idolater in doing ill?  
How doth thy Pride and envy hatch deceit,  
And fond Ambition raise thee in conceit  

Psalm 44. 20.  Of thine own worth, when all such honours can  
But dress thee up more stately Beast, no Man?  
The serpent's brood like Twins do always Pare,  
Which by Thy beastly humours fostered are:  
Thy tongue no more thy heart's cross-row doth spell,  
Than if thou were't an Other Oracle:  
Be silent then, nor longer more profane  

1 Cor. 6. 19  That Holy Temple, for which thou art ta'en;  
But let the lamb's blood wash away the stains  
And Characters were written in thy veins  
By thy first Parents, and which sithence thou hast  
By thy endeavours into Volumes cast,  
Throw down thyself for Him who meekly came  
Into the world for thee, a child, a Lamb,  
Born to be Slain for thee, yet slain before,  
To make the Victory and Conquest more.  
Humility's a child; a Giant, Pride;  
Goliath from the hand of David died:  
So though like Foes, thy ill Affections grow  
Unto immensity, a powerful throw,  
Out of the Sling of Faith, of Hope, and Love,  
May all that Monstrous-uncouth-brood remove.  
Then Mayst thou reign without suspicion, free  
As Pharaoh did, till this nativity:  
Then shall Thy Conscience Oraclise thy Fate,  
Than was Augustuses more Fortunate;  
Nor in the Capitol, but in thy heart  
Erect an Altar to Him, let each Part  
Express thou art awake, and seeing canst tell,  
That now Salvation's come to Israel. 
Psalm 14. 11.    

In Pueros Bethlehemiticos quos Herodes morte Christi causa multavit. 
Mat. 2. 16.   
INnocuis nocuit, justo dum Injusta minatur,  
Infanda Infantum Laurea Poena dabat.   

My Handkerchief to dry my eyes after the loss of a most dear Friend.  

LOrd, sithence the best  
Of Thine,  
Their Portions have  
Of Sorrow, Sickness, and the Grave:  
Why should the worst repine,  
Though Thou lockest up their chiefest joys in rest?   

Joys, here but Lent,  
And so  
That we can say,  
W' enjoy them for a day,  
'Tis of mere Mercy, when for all we owe,  
The Landlord must distrain to have his rent.   

This the unthrifty course we take,  
Begets,  
Whilst Pity moved, he tells  
Us, He'll repair our tottering Cells,  
And quite strike off our former debts,  
If with Contentment, thankfulness partake.   

These against sadness are  
An Antidote,  
Preventing its Cold poison, and  
A heat-allaying-Julep, where Thy hand  
Doth Thy displeasure in a Fever note:  
They style the Grave, whether' Tbe near or far,  
T'be but a Bed; wherein when all must sleep,  
Let them rest envied, for our Sins we'll weep.    

On the protomartyrs Death.  
THey w'r of Deucalion's race, could be of no other,  
Who stoned St. Stephen, Pyrrha was their Mother.   

In Epiphaniam, sive manifestationem. 
Psal. 148.3.   
DUm manifesta Novo Christi quae Gentibus Astro  
Lux hodierna refert, Astra loquantur Ave.   

A Morning Fancy upon recovery from sickness, and the birth of a Son at the same time.  

MArk but the Sluggards shame, the Change  
Where Pismires numerously do range;  
And you'll conclude, no sight so quick to try  
Distinction in Those Creatures industry.   

See but a shower of Motes that seem to beat  
Some busy traffic in a sunbeams heat:  
Then tell me what eye's so distinctiall,  
As for to single One out of them all.   

This, and much Less is Man, whose numerous fry  
Fills the world to preserve posterity:  
And yet there was an Eye both frowned and smiled;  
A Sickness here, but there a Lovely Child.   

Singling out One, to show at once the room,  
Where's Mercy do His judgements overcome:  
And when the Fatherly Chastisement's don,  
Crowns him the joyful Father of a Son.   

What can be here returned? the full expense  
Of a whole summer's toil and providence,  
Or such a pack of lighter merchandise,  
As in the Sun delight to exercise?   

These, and no better are what we can raise,  
To show our thanks, saving a heart of praise,  
Which God Himself must give; and then 'tis no more,  
Than t'borrow of one, to pay the same a score.   

Yet Lord, here be my Creditor, and lend  
A Soul, that may so much to Thanks pretend:  
That whilst it seeks thine own but to restore,  
Thou by acceptance Mayst create it more.    


Psalm 82. 6, 7.  From God to all Princes for moderation in taxing their Subjects.  
THough styled Gods, yet must ye die like men,  
Saith God the Lord: Hear what he speaks again,  
Whose Children if you'd all accounted be,  
(O Israel's Princes) leave off cruelty:  

Ezek. 45.9.  And let your judgements, Justice so put on,  
That there be no room for Oppression:  
Neither exact from those who call you Lord,  
More than your needs require, their powers afford.   


1 Cor. 1.31.  Verbum Dei manet in aeternum.  

Psalm 105. 119.  LAEtari in Domino juvet; & cum Lubrica turbent,  

Psal. 8. 6.  Solamen Verbum Nocte dieque suum.   

Vt sit & Cogitationibus, Verbisque, Factisque propitius Omnipotens.  

GReat God in whom all Justice reigns  
And Truth,  
Let not the reins of youth,  
So slacken in me still,  
T'enthrall and Captivate my thoughts to Ill,   

Much less my Deeds: but as thy Son  
Begun  
Where Solomon  
Laid Ston:  
So make thy house my heart,  
And scourge out of it each mechanic part.   

Neither let words that die when spoke,  
Provoke  
My Soul to think,  
They'll sink  
Into Oblivion,  
As soon as They are uttered and gone.   

Place a sentinel before  
My door,  
That by my Tongue  
be song  
No Anthem but Thy Praise,  
Nor let it ever send forth other lays.   

Thus may my thoughts and words, which usher on  
My Deeds to Action,  
By Thy Divine Power purged from th' dross of Sin,  
Pave me a Golden Tract to Progress in:  
Which if thou crown with Grace too, let appear  
Dormant, yet watchful, ceasing never here.    

Non est bonum judere cum sanctis.  
OMnis Caro moritur,  

Mal. 4. 2.  Et Sol Iustitiae Oritur,  

Luke 1. 78.  Proferens Sanitatem,  

Isa. 60.1, 2.  Si volumus,  
In Alis;  
Quâ curet Vanitatem,  
Quam Colimus  
In malis.  
Ideo Qui timet Omen Inferni,  
Metuat Nomen AEterni;  
Et absit pravaricari,  
Si velis Sanari.   

Ad Angliam in quinti Novembris Feriam Annoalem.  
FEstum quid proferas Insula? quid Diem  
Commemoratione dignam existimes  
Si Hanc praetereas? in quâ Mirabilis  
Acta est benignitas Liberationis,  
Qualem qui comparet Antiquis seculis,  
Parem inveniat nusquam in Atavis,  
Gigantum licet repetat Fabulam,  
Quâ Coelum ipsum stultitiâ petitur;  
Mons super Montem palam ostenditur,  
Ast hìc ad Centrum usque & Infernas  
Terrarum nigras itur Cavernas:  
Monet opertâ fronte malities,  
Sed caeca jugulat, neque à pendente  
Malo, quam à periculo latente  
Tam dirum Nefas; munit Conditio  
In quâ praevalida stet admonit io.  
Serpens Innocuus dummodo tuendus,  
Quoniam Reptilis facilè fugiendus  
Herbarum sub umbra conditus metuendus.  
Cui nec dissimiles Dolos fuisse  
Hos subterraneos, Quos latuisse  
Usque ad Vigiliam Diei festi,  
Memineris in quâ Manifesti  
Amoris Divini patuêre Radii.  
O! si mihi faveat Arcadia  
Terra, vel Nemus, ut inveniam in Illis  
Quibuscum notare Diem: Lapillis,  
Uti mos we terum, nec mihi Rubro  
Tinctus sit Calamus atramento,  
Cum Luceat Dies & à sanguine Liberata:  
Nigroque carbone notata  
Nusquam Conveniat; nam licet Atra  
Machinatio Ista & Tartarea  
Frustavit Hanc Dominus, & Tenebrarum  
Orcum fugavit Lumine Gratiarum.  
Tutior Anglia ut in posterum sies  
Cordibus Gratis notetur Dies.   

Quid maxime semper in votis habeat.  

VOtis si faveant Numina fervali,  
Peccatis Placeant parcere; quantulum  
Parcae Temporis & cedere posteris  
Vitae Limitibus velint  
Texetur Melioribus  
Telis in addent.   

Contemptu in habeat Splendida Seculo in  
Hoc Nugalia: nam in Vespere Condita est  
Aurorae facies, nec rugit amplius,  
Cum Nox adfuerit Dies  
Lethi, sic Thalumis modo  
Dormiet Omnis.   

Dum mane est fugiat Machina Tartari,  
Nec in Meridiem Serdida contrahat,  
Vespertinaque tunc Tempora conspicit  
Laetus, Iudicium cupit,  
Sperat Coelicu, at I●●probus  
Altera suadet.    

Time's Mintage.  

OF all the scattered Brood,  
Or Brotherhood,  
Drawn from creation's line,  
To Blazon Providence divine;  
The Worm, the Snail,  
The Ant, the Fly,  
Best make discovery  
What Adam did entail  
On His posterity.   

To dwell with Dust and Clay,  
Which symptom may  
Man's Low condition,  
That without intermission  
Heaps up with care  
What here is got,  
And Ignorant knows not,  
These Transitory are,  
Nor shall endure, but rot.   

What was Domitian's game,  
Or th' Sluggards shame,  
The Bloodless creeping beast  
Carries his house wherein to rest,  
Or Legless one,  
But Emblemer  
Of frailty, would infer  
Danger to be trod upon  
By every Passenger.   

And do we break our ease,  
To follow these?  
Fly at preferments pitch;  
And adding to our heaps grow rich  
In Muck and Slime?  
When 'tis our Soul  
Immortal should control,  
And so Calcine our time  
From all such dross to Gould.   

Which by afflictions tried,  
And worldly crosses purified,  
Our Great Redeemer will apply  
His stamp to give it currency.    


Parab.  In Divitem & Lazarum.  


Luke 16. 19  DIves Quidam Ingens, sed nondum Nomine Dignus,  
Purpureo Decoratus erat; Victuque Superbo  
Gaudet & Assiduis Dapibus; nec sumptibus ullis  
Parcitur, Ingluviem Queis possit pascere Foedam,  
Sed Mare Consulitur Totum, & longinqua Potestas  
Terrarum excutitur: nec non Iunonia Regna  
Addunt Ingenuis cumulatim proemia Mensis:  
Nec deerat, nisi Flammiferens Ignisque futurus.  
Mortuws Iste tamen, Somno Lethale sepultus  
Dicitur— nil aliud—   

Pauper & Alter erat, gracilis Quem buccea reddit  
Spectandum Charitate Magis, nudisque lacertis,  
Frigidus ante fores procumbens Divitis, Omne  
Solatium à Canibus Lambentibus esse fatetur:  
(Non etenim blando hoc captanda est gloria seclo)  
Mortuus est etiam: Sed Queis discrimine vitae  
Dissimilis Fortuna fuit, His Mortis & idem:  
Nempe; Quod in fragilis gaudetur tempore mundi  
Vertitur in Lachrymas; Durissima quaeque fuêre  
Illius Arbitria, accipiunt pro munere Pectus.    

Upon the Rich Glutton, and Poor beggar. 
Parable.   

THere was a Certain Mighty Rich man, had  
No other name (in Scripture) although clad  
In Purple: who deliciously did fare  
Daily, for which there neither Cost nor Care  
Was spared, to feed his Gluttony with store,  
Of what the Seas could yield when Galed o'er;  
And whatsome'r both Earth and Air afford,  
Seemed Heaped Tributes to his quainter board:  
So that no Element to his desire  
Was Niggard, save what was reserved, the Fire.  
Yet this man Died, and on that sleepy score  
Was Buried— and no more—   

There was an Other, whom spare Diet made  
More spectacle for Charity, being laid  
Naked and Cold before the Rich man's gate;  
Who full of sores, and all Disconsolare,  
Saving from what the licking Dogs apply,  
Concludes all this world's pomp but flattery:  
Then He Dies too. But as in life these were  
Nothing akin, so in Diameter  
Death Their Condition states, for now't appears,  
What here was sown in Joy, there's reaped in tears;  
And He who by hard Fate was here oppressed,  
In Abraham's Bosom finds an Interest.    

A Reveille matin to my best Friend.  

LOrd, when the Casements of Mine eyes,  
To welcome in  
The Morn, first opened are;  
Grant that my Heart may early sacrifice  
To Expiate for Sin,  
Prepare:  
And mustering up Thy Favours and Its Crimes,  
Cashier the One, let th' other stand enrolled  
To evidence at full that Time of Times  
Wherein Thou Ransom'dst me, who once was sold.   

Let all the drowsy Vapours pressed  
My Fancy down,  
Dispel and give it way  
To rise betimes, and to be better dressed;  
So dignify and Crown  
The Day  
With Anthems may set forth that Glorious flame  
Thy love burst out in, when my fault was so,  
I'd line for e'er benighted in the same,  
Hadst Thou not vanquished and overcome my fo.   

Cause (I beseech thee) that moist dew  
That falls upon  
My waking Temples tress  
By every yawn, Thy goodness taught to show,  
An Exhalation  
Express,   

Obeying no heat save what did proceed  
From that most Righteous Sun, whose beams alone  
Were of full Power to refine the deed  
Our Parents drossed by their Corruption.   

And as My arms unfolded stand,  
To fathom out  
The Latitude, as't were,  
twixt the Beds either side Meridian:  
Let my Thoughts sore about  
That Sphere,  
Unparalleled for Grace: and stretch to be  
Embracers of those Mercies did extend  
Beyond all sounding Plummet or degree,  
And thither all my Kids and Fatlings send.   

Thus ta'en by th' hand by His whose felt  
What mine deserved,  
I'm up; and straight perceive  
The morning's Birth bedewed with his whose smelled  
All of Perfumes, and served  
T' conceive  
Such Raptures in Me, that no part nor sense  
Could be at quiet, till it rose to make  
This Offering, and from a full influence,  
Inspired of Love, Dull Thanklesness t'forsake.   

Now if my Eyes, my Heart, my Head, my arms,  
Embrace, Contemplate, feeling, seeing charms,  
Where can this Exorcism trulier stay,  
Than on that Star which changed our Night to day?    

Quid Amabilius.  
IF I must needs Discover  
I am in Love: be Christ again my Lover,  
And let His Passion bring  
My Actions to their touch and censuring:  
Who in this world was born,  
Lived in it, and was put to death with scorn,  
That I to Sin might die  
Being born again, so live eternally:  
Thus I'll no longer make  
Addresses to my Glass for this curls sake,  
Or that quaint garb, whereby  
I may enchanted be with flattery:  
Nor on Luxurious vow,  
Becircling rosebuds seek to Gird my brow;  
But with a melting thought  
Bring home that Ransom whereat I was bought,  
In Contemplation  
Of that same plaited Crown He once had on.  
And when my Glove or shoe  
Want Ribbond, Call for th' Nails that pierced Him too:  
Else farther to be dressed,  
Borrow the Tincture of His naked breast:  
Nor wash, but in Soul Pride,  
Then use no other basin than His Side:  
So, up and ready, think  
How He, for Me, low in the grave did sink,  
That I again might rise  
With Him, who was both Priest and Sacrifice,  
To make atonement in  
The Difference twixt his father's wrath, man's fin;  
Whereto it must remain,  
That I through Faith requite this love again.   



Luke 24. 5, 6.  Quare Viventem quaritis? Non Hic est.  
Quare inter quaritis? enim est.  
Quare Mortuos quaritis? surrectus est.   


Dumin  
Luxuria & Libidine, Et in omnium denique malorum consuetudine conquiescamus,  
Arrogantiae & Avaritia, Et in omnium denique malorum consuetudine conquiescamus,  
Tranquillitate & Tyrannide Et in omnium denique malorum consuetudine conquiescamus,    


Et tamen  
Salvatorem & Salvationem, Denique quicquid bonoium ex omni munificentia & singulari providentia largiri dignetur Omnipotens, petere conemur; quid aliud ni● viventem inter morivos quarimus?  
Veritatem & Vitam, Denique quicquid bonoium ex omni munificentia & singulari providentia largiri dignetur Omnipotens, petere conemur; quid aliud ni● viventem inter morivos quarimus?  
Immunitatem & Immortalitatem, Denique quicquid bonoium ex omni munificentia & singulari providentia largiri dignetur Omnipotens, petere conemur; quid aliud ni● viventem inter morivos quarimus?    


Ut itaque  
Mortis amaritudine relicta  

Vita foelicitatis fruamur aeternâ  
Vitia vitemusutpote ad mortem aeternam ducentia, & Amphoram amplectemur aquae Caelestis.   
Nequitiam in nobismetipsis necemus,  
Ut beneficia Resurrecti acquiramus.  
Descendamus per poenitentiam pro peccato in nostrorum ipsorum Contemptum,  
Ut Ascendamus per benevolentiam humilitatis ipsius in Gloriam.  
Sic responsum habeamus,  

Quando sponsum videamus,  
Vt deposito Terrestri simus induti cum caelesti.   
Et sepositis in sepulchro Carnalibus,  
Non illic speretur frui spiritualibus.  
Sed veriùs de talibus dici potest hic non enim surrecti sunt & eum illis Animae nostrae.  
Foelices ter & amplius,  
Qui Peccato ita Mortui fuerint  
Vt simul cum Christo quam certissimè resurrexerint.     

The necessity and grounds of Faith.  
MAN in the state of Innocency, knew 
Gen. 1. 26.   
Nothing to fear (whom all things were set under)  
But was Created by perfections pattern, 
Gen. 1. 28.   
And so above all hopes: till he whose Pride 
Luk. 10.18.   
Sent him like Lightning from the place of Bliss,  
To become Prince of Darkness, (which alone 
2 Pet. 2. 4.   
Proves Nurse to envy and Maliciousness:) 
Jude 6.   
Drowned in his hopeless Fortunes, seeks all means 
Rev. 20.10.   
To make fond Man partaker of his woe.  
By Deprivation, not of Paradise 
Gen. 3. 24.   
Alone, but of the glorious maker's presence; 
Gen. 4.16.   
And of those Visions beatifical, 
Ezek. 1.5, 15   
The Banishment from which, is Held to be  
The Chief of Torments threatened for degree:  
So 'twas decreed, to sharpen Satan's Crime,  
Sweeten God's Mercy: t' cause his Comforts less,  
God's glory to appear by much the more;  
And therefore mark how 't falls out; Man's alone,  
So God provides him for Companion 
Gen. 2. 20.   
Part of himself, a help, but such, whose skill 
Gen. 2.23, 10   
Fit to receive the subtle serpent's guile, 
Gen. 3. 1.   
And help to cheat too, when the subjects, Pride,  
Ambition, or the like, what e'er's forbidden;  
As straight betrays him to the greatest offence  
He could have fallen in, Disobedience. 
5,   
Now whilst he seeks to know, he's Ignorant, 
6,   
Yet knows more than he should, That he was naked, 
7,   
And so provides him Leaves to Cover that  
Which without Leave he thus was stripped into,  
Nor rests he there secure; it seems the guilt  
Of what he had done, presented as a glass  
His soul's deformity through Nakedness,  

10,  In not believing God, (whose Voice but heard)  

8,  They Boldly enter Thickets, though afraid:  
Hence may that Passion count its age, and then,  
What antidote prescribable, save hope,  
That still Looks forward, 'less in Promises  
Which calls the thoughts back, to see what shall come:  
And this must work by Faith, and Faith recall  

15,  The first Seducers Doom, (to be overcome  

Heb. 11. 2.  By the same sex's Issue, was overcome first,  
Which is the substance of our wished Desires,  

Rom. 8.24,  And Evidence of what each soul admires,  

Iob. 1.16.  Yet sees not, though thereby Salvation's wrought,  

2 Cor. 1.20.  And Grace to win it; Absence prompts the mind  

Iob. 3. 15, 16.  To Incredulity; till faithfulness,  

Luke 23. 2,  Grounded upon those Promises ne'er fail)  

24,  Assures itself of Pardon and forgiveness,  

46.  Through him that was accused, condemned and died,  
Yet Lives to try, and Judge hereafter all.  

Rom. 8.34.  By whose alone sufficiency of Merits,  

1 Tim. 2.5.  And intercession as our Mediator,  
There is found ground and Ankerage for Hope  

Ephes. 2.9.  To Stretch the Justifying Cable on;  
When all that ever from ourselves proceeds,  
Avails us nothing, but t' increase misdeeds:  
Yet as a Body without motion,  

Iam. 2.26.  Or spirits quickening, so Faith alone,  
Without some operative concurrences  
Is Dead, not Lively, but a Dream or Shadow,  
chimaera, or such like, wherein we seem  
To have some fancy-glimmerings of the truth,  
Yet not believe it, not so much awake  
As t'apprehend Christ and his benefits:  
So suit our works according to his will,  
Whose will it was to suffer that which we  
Deserved had: and t'undergo the wrath 
1 Thes. 1.10.   
We justly had pulled down upon ourselves.  
The outward sense prevails much with our nature, 
Ephes. 2.3.   
And every one is apt to apprehend  
Some wonders thence: from Lightning, Thunder, Hail,  
The stormy winds and Tempests (without doubt,  
God's warning-piece) laden with nature's Cartridge,  
Whereat the very Heathen feat and tremble, 
Nero, &c.   
And the mere worldling is convinced thereby  
To think there is a God, whilst all the fruits  
And benefits the earth repays him with  
For all his sweat and labour, be ascribes  
Solely to th' Seasons temperature and bounty,  
Not thinking in whose Fist the deeps and hills are; 
Psal. 95.4.   
And Both (for Nature couples them) impute  
What ever good successes they obtain,  
Or health, strength, wealth enjoy, to Casualty,  
Chance, or Good Fortune, (as they call it) born  
To tread a few steps here, and then return  
They know not whither, they believe still well:  
So how they should believe well, scorn to Learn;  
When on the contrary, that Soul subdues 
Luk. 1.46.   
The motions of the sensual appetite, 
49,   
Which causes surfeit upon outward means, 
50,   
And fixes all Imagination, 
51,   
Up to the Throne from whence all blessings rain, 
52, 53.   
And Chastisements but drop, (yet so, as when  
They mollify, not with their often fall,  
They surely do confound and break withal,  
Is in pursuance of the maker's praise,  

Luke 23. 47.  And contemplation of that work of Wonders,  

Mar. 15.39.  Made the Centurion first think of God:  
It doth believe the Sampler, and endeavour  
To work it stitch by stitch, whereof such Love  

John. 15.13.  Was never shown before, begins the thread,  

Ephes. 5. 2.  Humility and Meekness seconds it;  

Phil. 2. 8.  Charity, Patience, and Long-sufferance  

Mat. 11.29.  wind up the Bottom: for these well Cast o'er,  

Iob. 10. 11.  Will perfect Faith, so that it need no more,  

Rom. 2. 4.  To Rise to him, that did descend for Us,  
And bring his Mercies down to take that rise by,  

Mal. 4. 2.  Craving his Healing Wings to imp our Feathers,  
That so we flag not through laziness  
Towards what good is, nor yet make a plain-  
Discovery that our quarry still is earth,  
But like the true-bred Chicken of the Eagle,  
With raised up Beak behold the glorious Sun,  

Ibid.  That Sun of Righteousness, till all the Dark  
And misty Vapours that our sins had raised  
Dispel and vanish at his Merits rays.  

Ier. 8. 22.  No Balm from Gilead may refresh and heal  
The festered sores of our Corruptions,  
But such as that Samaritan applies:  
For as our leprosy through sin was grown  
To a more cankered Infection  

2 King. 5.15,  than Naman, the assyrians, and Gahezies':  

27.  There must another Jordan be found out  

Zach. 13.1.  To work the cure; a Purple stream of blood  
Flowing out of a precious saving Side,  
To wash our Souls white, when applied by Faith;  
Not only Seven times, but all that Time  
Alots us here to breath in: That Disease 
2 King. 5.27,   
Compared to snow, being cured, resumes the flesh 
14.   
Of a young Infant: Here an infant's flesh 
Luke 2. 21.   
And blood not spared, procures so bright a tincture,  
As that no snow can parallel for whiteness,  
The Lambs blood-washed Robes, wherein the Saints 
Iob. 1.29.   
Are clad here, first by Christian faith and Grace, 
Rev. 19.8.   
And therein dressed, hereafter enter glory;  
So thenceforth shall we promise happiness  
Unto ourselves in each condition;  
When our Assurance, for foundation,  
Hath the tried cornerstone, and all the fabric 
Isa. 28.16.   
Is pedestalled upon those precious piles 
Luke 23. 26.   
He bore, and bore him, bidding us bear after. 
Phil. 2. 8.   
And by which plenall satisfaction, 
Mat. 10.38.   
The Vials of his father's wrath were stopped. 
Rev. 16.1.   
God by reproof sends Sluggards to the Ant, 
Prov. 6.6   
Proud Courtlings to th' Riches of the fields: 
Matth. 6.28.   
And why should we not think that we are taught  
By Love, to love again? were our heart's iron, 
Magnes Amoris Amor.   
A Loadstone might attract them, and (such Love is)  
Do the mild Turtles so engage themselves  
By nature's mandate, That the loss of one,  
Denies the other benefit of Like?  
And shall we not resent that benefit  
Our Saviour purchased for us, quitting Life,  
To make ours sure for ever? Or, how is't  
We can survive, not droop and pine away,  
For our offence (which was the cause) we ought, 
2 Cor. 5. 15.   

1 Cor. 15. 21.  And the Dominion that sin hath o'er us,  
Else 'tis an other lesson Grace instructs,  

Luke 24. 26.  And that's to entertain his Sufferings  

1 Pet. 2.24.  As our enlargement, his Stripes, for our healings;  
Embracing all those Bounties with such Souls,  
May ready be to melt and to dissolve  

2 Cor. 6.4.  In tears contritionall for their Corruptions;  

5,  Yet raised with Comfort of such Mercies, Riches,  

6,  Be fruitful in the works of Piety  

10.  Henceforth, and praises of his holy Name  

Ephes. 1.23.  Who is the Fountain, and must give the same,  

John 4. 14.  Unless with Bartimeus we were blind,  

Gen. 2.7.  How do we not perceive the Clay we tread on,  
To be the substance whereof we were made:  
And by the Sun that attomed into Dust,  
Tells us but what we must dissolve into:  
Or like the Shadow represents us, see  
We not what 'tis, and what we all shall be?  
That in observance of our bubble Thoughts,  
We still aspire, and make our Fancies dance  
Within the Imaginary pool of Pride,  
Or sea of Self-conceit; This not of Eyes,  
But dimness of the mind is too too bad,  
Wherewith bemisted in our apprehensions,  
We dream we fathom all perfections,  
And yet but grope after the least of truths,  
It may be in the twilight of our reason,  
We offer at obedience to instruction,  
And seek to be informed: If what we hear  

John 3. 1,  Fly not beyond our pitch, (a great Professor,  

4.  Master of Israel, once was gravelled  
Upon that Shelf) and 'twas through lack of Faith;  
Had he but had so much, as t'have compared  
With that least Grain of all, 
Mat. 17.20.  no Mountain could  
Have bragged of firmness 'gainst his moving power.  
But to show truly what esteem we ought  
To set upon ourselves, 'tis here set down,  
When the prophetic Prince, and Prince of Prophets, 
Psalm 22.6.   
Compares his Royalties but to a Worm;  
And by the best Authority can vouch, 
Math. 18.3.   
An innocent, and little harmless child  
Is placed for us to imitate: And those  
Who would aspire great blessings of salvation, 
Mat. 20. 16.   
For to be Last is First, and First but Last, 
Mark 9 35.   
lest greatest, greatest Least: 
Luke 9 48.  Epitomise  
Ourselves, and we become voluminous  
In grace's Library: when if we swell  
With pride of our own Worth, the smallest vent  
Unwinds that blather, blasting our intent: 
Luke 18. 11.   
And that we may once more Example scan, 
12,   
Consider th' Pharisee and Publican. 
3.   
But if all these not serve to break our stone  
And iron hearts; 
Zach. 9 9  mark what he Rode upon  
Into the City, who Salvation brings, 
Psalm 18.10.   
And when he lists rides on the Winds swift wings.  
Doth the least cross or rub we meet withal,  
Set our whole little world afire, and raise  
Tempestuous motions to disturb the rest  
And quiet of our Souls: 
Psalm 44.11.  Prompting revenge?  
And yet behold, 
Job 31.20.  our Food and Raiments friend  
Led to the slaughter, Dumb, 
Isa. 53.7.  and to the Shearers  
Without an angry Bleat to show distaste!  
Are we so frozen-handed, that we fear  
To open any help to those that need,  
Upon this scruple, lest thereby we seem  
To break the Ice for Merit to start out at,  
So seek to share with him in whom all Lies,  

Gal. 5. 6.  As if we knew not that our Faith were lame,  

1 Cor. 13. 1.  Without this Grace for to support the same;  
And that if in his Name who fed the hungry,  
Cured the diseased, healed both Lame and blind,  
Administering (whilst here he was amongst us)  

Luke 19 9  All comforts, for our imitation  
And pattern to walk by) we do refresh  

Deut. 15. 7.  Any the sons of Abraham with water,  

Mat. 23.40.  A Mite or rag may help necessity,  

Luke 16. 9  He will accept it, as to him 'twere given,  
And the reward or recompense is Heaven.  
Call we to mind when moved to any wrath,  
How many ways we daily do transgress  
Our gracious God's decrees, who as the sarcel  
Or master Feather of his Mercies wings,  
To raise them above all his other Works,  
Abounds in Patience, and delays due judgement,  
To favour our Repentance with more time,  

Mat. 26. 67.  Never forgetting, how He bore the Taunt  

Mark 14.65.  That whited Wall cast on him, nor the Buffet,  

Luke 22. 63,  Scourging, or Spittings on, all that disgrace,  

64.  envy, and Malice could contrive for us  

Mar. 15. 17,  Who had deserved no less; and then perchance  

18.  Such Lessons may procure our temperance.  
To suffer is a double kind of phrase,  
For so he did that died for us, yet still  
'Tis through his sufferance that we are alive,  
And suffered to enjoy one benefit;  
Whilst by our Evil ways, what in us lies  
We crucify the Lord of Life each hour:  
As when our thoughts forge mischief on our beds, 
Psal. 36.4.   
Are not his temples crowned anew with thorns?  
Our hands that should be open to Relieve,  
If that they grasp more than our own, so thieve  
Or work oppression: and our feet are swift  
In shedding Blood too: how do such again  
Nail his unto the Cross? our tongues are tipped  
With poisoned Envies and Maliciousness,  
False lying, slanders, all that's impious,  
Tuning our Lips to Blasphemy, and lose  
Unsavoury talk. 
John 19 34.  do they not seem to spit  
On him afresh? tearing that window open  
With our spear-pointed Discord, that let in  
The Gall-less Dove brought the true branch of Peace  
And Reconcilement, whilst from thence did flow  
A Crimson shower of pure Compassion,  
And satisfying Mercy in the height,  
His Side (I mean) that like noah's Ark had been  
Our safeties from the Deluge wrought by him,  
And now Remains our pledge, that those that fly  
Unto that Sanctuary never Die.  
We through our nature's weakness, not of power  
To give the Least of Sufferings resistance,  
Although we promise fair, as Peter did,  
May here be taught to trust so far to Faith,  
Not that proceeds from vain security, 
Luke 22. 33.   
Lest then the Crowing-Cock give us the lie; 
34.   
But such whereby we are Regenerate, 
Rom. 3. 28.   
And justified, more than bare Law could promise,  
As to overcome the great'st temptation,  
And judge the buffetings of Satan Blessings; 
Matth. 4. 1.   
The World, the wilderness, 
8, 5.  and Every high  
Conceit of our own worths we are tickled with,  
To be the Mount: Superlative designs,  
As when we pry too far into God's Ark,  
And sift those Mysteries, 'neath the Cherubs wings,  
We seem upon the Temples Pinnacles.  
Thus travailing like Pilgrims here a while,  
Nothing but dangers and vexations,  
Allurements through enticing change, betrays  
Us to the snares of His precipit ways,  
Whose Art destructive by enchantments power,  
Seeks to encompass us within that circle  
He fell himself into through presumption:  
Which to eschew, whilst God's long-suffering, patience,  
And charity shown to his handy work:  
His meek Humility, and chief of graces,  
Favours us with forbearance; Let's come home  

Psal. 95. 8. 
Heri vidi Fragile Frangi, Sen. trag.  
Hodie vidi Mortalem mori. Sen. trag.  
Quim Dies vidis veniens Superbum,  
Hunc Dies videt rediens jacentem, Ibid.   Whilst 'tis to Day, (for who can tell to whom  
The morrow shall belong?) and in that way,  
Tract by the prodigal i'th' Parable,  

Luke 15. 13,  Seek out our father's face with love and meekness,  

18,  And we are sure of his embracing arms.  

19,  For though through nature's subtlety we have been,  

20.  As 'twere, hid deep within the caves of Earth,  
Buried in Worldly cogitations;  

Rom. 5. 6, 8.  The Merchant of our Souls did spare no pains  
Nor cost in myning through the earth's dark veins  
To purchase us, so brings again to light.  
Yet as pure Gold requires the Finers art,  
And Diamonds polishing, and to be cut:  
So here He past the Furnace, and became  
Chief Jeweller, for 'twas the Blood o'th' Lamb, 
Heb. 10.4.   
Not of he-Goats could serve; and if we grind 
Heb. 9 12.   
Ourselves for Sin to powder, 
The sacrifices of the Old, but shadows of the New.  we're refined  
So as at first we were, unmanned by her  
Should be our help; 
A Diamond dissolvable by goat's blood, and to be cut with the help of its own powder:  that still she might so prove  
God bringsed about, no other vessel serves  
To entertain a guest of so great price,  
As that must ransom all the world besides,  
But of that Sex; 
Luke 1. 28.  and though the news at first  
Struck terror and amazement, 
29.  afterwards  
It was sole Remedy against fear: for as  
The name of Caesar to the Seaman once, 
Quid Times? Caesarem & Fortunam suam vehis, Luca.   
Proved of security, sufficient  
To make him put to Sea: So here the Virgin  
Assured that 'twas Emmanuel she carried, 
Matth. 1.23, 24.   
Gave Joseph courage not t'abandon Her;  
But casting Anchor on those promises,  
To become full of Faith, and by what ere  
The Lord suggested In that Course to steer. 
Gen. 12. 3.   
Thus was time brought a-bed of what its young  
And tender Infancy had only shown  
By Revelation to the Patriarchs, 
Isa. 7. 14.   
Prophets, and men of God; and which now past, 
John 3. 15.   
Upon these latter Times by Faith is cast: 
Gal. 4.4,5.   
So he that was before all time begun, 
1 Tim. 2.5.   
Came in the fullness, 
1 Sam. 17. 26,36.  and remains a Son  
To mediate with the Father, that our fears  
Canceled by Faith, we might become Coheirs. 
Psal. 3. 6.    



Bona  
Regni Terreni 

Potestas quibus opponuntur Infirmitas  
Horror quibus opponuntur Ignominia  
Divitiae quibus opponuntur Paupertas  
Deliciae quibus opponuntur Luctus.    
Regni Coelestis 

Haec  
Temporaria sine Illis.  
Sempiterna. Illis.      
Joys Flitting Pleasures, Transitory Lie,  
Accompanied with much infirmity  
Below here: whilst without th' allay of woe,  
Heaven for eternity doth those bestow.   

The Brazen Serpent.  
THe world's a Wilderness, and Man therein  
Exposed to the bite and sting of Sin,  
Whose wages, Death, from that same curse began,  
Ushering in need of a physician:  
Then did the Great Creator of mankind  
(And all things else) a ready balsam find  
To cure those wounds, corrupted Nature so  
Contracted had for its own overthrow:  
Whose Mercy by a Type, at first invites  
Unto belief the stiff-necked Israelites,  
Brings Moses into credit as they pass,  
By setting up a Serpent made of Brass,  
To foil Sin at's own weapon, and to bring  
The future hopes of our recovering  
By Him alone who lifted on the Tree,  
A cursed Death endured to set us free;  
His gored Head, pierced Side, and Hands and Feet,  
With Crown of Thorns, and Spears, and Nails did meet,  
That we might tread on Carpets, and become  
Coheirs with Him in truest Elysium:  
That bitter Cup he did vouchsafe to pledge,  
For us whose teeth by sour grapes set on edge,  
Were almost helpless; must incite us on,  
To seek the liquour of salvation.  
Taste vinegar and Gall here first, and be  
Greatly Ambitious of humility;  
Cast down ourselves for him was raised for us,  
If we desire to rise Glorious.  
Bear cross, be robbed and hurt, shame undergo,  
Pass from Jerusalem to Jericho,  
There meet with thieves, no healing hopes we can  
Expect, but from This true Samaritan.   

Good Fridays Reveille, or on the Passion. Salutis Cataplasmus.  
MAy we call this day's task to mind,  
And prove we to each other still unkind?  
Doth Passion bear o'er Reason sway,  
Making us quite neglect this Passion day?  
Why are we suffered so to err,  
As not t'remember our Great Sufferer  
In Praises due? who whilst he dies,  
Shows what He'd have us do for Enemies,  
Forgive them first; for thus He sues  
Unto His Father for the cursed Jews:  
Next, whatsoever Crosses come,  
To be like Sheep before the Shearers, dumb;  
Or Lambs unto the Slaughter led  
In Meekness, not with fury hurried:  
Then through that Conflict he endured,  
If humbly we believe we shall be cured;  
For it falls short in other art,  
To frame a remedy for such a smart,  
As from the sting of doing amiss,  
In following Sin to death here heaped up is;  
And to apply this plaster, lay it on,  
There needs no Others hand, save Faith's alone.   

On Easter-day. 1648. 
Death, where is thy sting?  
Grave, where is thy victory?   
EAch thing below here hath its day,  
As in the Proverb's said;  
And so it comes to pass that they  
Conquer are Conquered.  
For He who for man's fault assigned  
Death, and 2 Graves reward,  
Was pleased those bands for to unbind,  
And so himself not spared,  
But issuing forth his heavenly throne,  
Vouchsafes the Earth to bless,  
And became here a little One  
To make our Crimes go less:  
Not that our disobedience can  
In weight or measure shrink;  
But that this Great physician  
Before us takes the drink,  
That bitter Potion we had  
Deserved to quaff, and thus  
He weeps Himself, and becomes sad  
To purchase Joy for us.  
And more than so: for every one  
Will for his friend lay down  
Some spark of love: but he alone  
His Enemies to crown  
Refused not Death; so deep from high  
His Mercies did extend;  
And if you ask the reason why,  
'Twas mere for Mercies end.  
Yet that grim Death and mouldy Grave  
No longer be His Prison,  
Than He himself alone would have,  
He 'bides not there, but's risen.  
And if we would as Conquerors rise  
With him who vanquished those,  
We must not fear where danger lies,  
For Him all to expose:  
But though the Grave do open stand,  
And persecutions reign,  
At hell's desire and death's command,  
Look on our Sovereign,  
His Banner doth present the Cross  
He bore, and bare Him too  
For us; and we must count it loss  
To fail what he did do.  
Thus Sin and Hell, the Grave and Death  
Must quit the field and fly,  
Whilst in contempt of borrowed breath,  
We'd live Eternally.  
Thrice happy day whereon the Sun  
Of Righteousness did rise,  
And such a glorious Conquest won,  
By being our Sacrifice:  
And as unhappy He, that shall  
Not find the white and best  
Of Stones to mark the same withal,  
And prized above the rest.   

To Prince CHARLES, in April, 1648. Upon the hopes of his Return.  
SEems not the Sun more Glorious in his ray,  
When as the Cloud that shadowed's blown away?  
Is not each beam He darts then truly said,  
Of triple heat after being sequestered?  
The Crimson streaks belace the Damaskt West,  
Calcined by night, rise pure Gold from the East,  
And cast so fair a Dapple o'er the Skies,  
That all the Air's perfumed with Spiceries:  
And shall we think when jealousy and fear  
Are out of Breath, the Day of hope's not near?  
Doth it not bloom already, and untie  
That stubborn knot of Incredulity?  
When blossoms fall, we say our Trees are set,  
But so, as may a womb of fruit beget.  
Thus when the clumsy Winter doth incline  
His candid Icicles, for to resign  
To Flora's beauty, and the Spring drives on,  
T'oretake Maturity's perfection,  
The Cold so tyrannised had o'er blood,  
Is thaughed, and each enjoys new livelihood:  
The Mariner meeting a stress of weather,  
That with his Shrowds and Tackle shakes together  
His apprehensive thoughts, till they are spent,  
And nought but Death and danger represent:  
With what a full Sea of content doth he  
Making a Coast embrace security?  
These, and much more, Illustrious Sir, become  
The Issues of your little martyrdom,  
With whom all good and loyal hearts did bring  
Ambitious heat to join in suffering;  
For Seas prove calm when as the storm is o'er,  
And after Cold, warmth is of Comfort more.  
Best Diamonds may have foils; mistakes have gone  
To blemish; yet raised disposition  
More splendid in esteem; no more to say,  
You are the April to our future May.   

To Easter Day.  

WElcome Blest Day, where on  
The Sun  
(Not of the Spheres alone)  
Did rise,  
But that of Righteousness, who shone  
Our True-Light, was our Sacrifice.  
For 't've been night  
With us,  
Dark, Everlasting, dismal, Vaporous,  
Entailed from our first Parents Appetite:  
Till by the Power and Might  
Of this Light of the world, our Shades took flight.   

Death, Hell, the Grave  
That ever Crave  
And never satisfied appear,  
No longer their Dominions have,  
Sithence vanquished by this conqueror,  
Who doth enlighten every faithful Sphere.   

Now that each Orb consenting prove  
The while,  
And trulier might feel those comforts move  
From so Great Light, such precious love  
We must reflect, and back recoil,  
To see what either hath in's Lamp of Oil.   

For without Doubt  
Their share is Darkness, let their lights go out:  
And where again  
one's light doth shine through virtues before Men,  
'Tis True Divinity,  
Our heavenly Father's glorified thereby.    

Soliloquium ad Salvatorem.  

QUid in Me conspicuum  
Nisi Vitium?   

Peccans ab Originale,  
Non vult adhuc nisi Male.   

Vile Lutum,  
Fit Pollutum.   

Quaenam est conceptio Mentis? vana,  
Seu Prophana:   

Verba sed (Heu) nostra ventis  
Parent; non rationi Mentis:   

Facere nec quidquam lubet  
De Illo, quod Ipse jubet.   

QUid in Tua fancy  
Nisi Gratia?   

Sed qui Tempus antecedit  
In Tempore Seipsum dedit;   

Sanguine lavare,  
Emundare.   

Ast, quod caro factum fuit  
Verbum, instruit:   

Dum quod scriptum est locutus  
Qui & vinctus, & solutus:   

Qui pro Illis quos creavit,  
Nulla pati denegavit.   

Verba Facta  
Cor Correcta  
Factor sint,  
Qui pro summa Laude,  
Vacuus est ab omni fraude.   
AMEN.   

The true Bread of Life. John 6. 48.  
BRead is the staff of life, 
Lev. 26.26  and life's the scope  
Of every man's desire, aim, and hope;  
Yet He who was the spoil of Death (for so  
The Syriack renders him) yielded thereto. 
Gen. 5. 25.   
And after more than any else e'er saw  
Of Years and days, did at the last withdraw,  
To show the frail condition here beneath  
Of those who in their nostrils bear their breath:  
So that compared unto eternal bliss,  
A Shadow, Bubble, Span, all Emblem This.  
Why then should Thoughts be tossed to Court such Clay,  
But that Our nature's mandate we obey?  
And may do so, whilst appetite puts on  
No other garb god-save Moderation:  
The bounty Ceres from her Golden Ear  
Scatters to bless the painful Labourer,  
Comes from above too, yet when ground and bread,  
'Tis but our Tabernacle's nourished,  
And that but for a while; the Soul must be  
Beholding to an Other Grainarie;  
Not that which Moses Prayer caused to fall  
To satiate the Israelites withal;  

2 Kings 4.  Nor of such Barley-loaves grew once on earth,  

42, 43.  Wherewith Elisha fed some in a Dearth:  
These might have hunger after; but Those blessed  
With the True batch of Life may ever rest  
So satisfied, as with the height of store,  
For such shall, never need to hunger more,  
But an eternal life enjoy, wherein  
No dearth or famine is, save that of Sin:  
Plenty and joys for evermore dispose  
Themselves to be the Comforters of those.  
And whilst our Faith makes that a life indeed,  
The other seems to trust a broken reed.  
Afflictions sour that temporal bread with Leaven,  
Which this is freed of, for it comes from Heaven.   

A Carol.  

WHen we a gem or Precious stone have lost,  
Is not the fabric or the frame  
Of Fancy busied, and each thing tossed  
And turned within the room?  
Till we the same  
Can find again, Is't not a Martyrdom?   

Doth Vanity affect us so: yet are  
We slumber-charmed, nor can employ  
A thought that backward might reduce, so far,  
Lively to represent  
Our Misery,  
Who fell, and thus incurred a Banishment?   

Shall we leave any corner Reason lends  
To give sense light, unsought, untried?  
To find how far our Liberty extends,  
And how refound we were  
Re-edified  
By th'Shepherd, and by th'Son o'th' Carpenter?   

May not this skill and love in him, require  
The white and better stone to Mark,  
And t'raise this time above all others higher,  
Wherein He came (though Light)  
Into the Dark,  
For to restore unto mankind its sight?   

Most sure it will: and where neglect denies  
To be observant of this Day,  
It proves not only forfeiture of eyes,  
But all parts seem asleep  
Or gone astray:  
So's the house again unbuilt, and lost the sheep.    

Tragicomoedia vitae Humanae.  
ORimur & Morimur,  
Mors & Nativitas simul introcunt:  
Quid ergo Gloria Mundi Istius?  
Verùm Theatrica ingredi Scilicet,  
Egredíque semper, Mos fuit vetus,  
Est etiam hodie, erítque, donec  
Postrema scena peragenda est, in quâ  
Simul Omnes iterum partes ut agant prodierint:  
Laevaque acies multis Miseriis  
Finem impone●t, suae Tragoediae;  
Dextrum Cornu dum in Choreis  
Sponsi resone●t Epithalamium:  
Ambo Epilogum Tragicomoediae  
Narrent, dum manet Ambos Conclusio.   

In Horologium.  
MEntitur celeri facilis rota tempora cursu,  
Et properans Tardam praeterit Illa Diem:  
Sic Horam Alatam superet modo Plumbea virtus,  
Cum juvet in stimulos pondere pressa suos.  
Faltere quam facile est dum non sentitur, amisso  
Pondere tarda rota est, tempora sed fugiunt.  
O! mihi sic Liceat prudenti Corde fugaces  
Annumerare Dies, ut mihi Pondus erit.  
Sic possem subito vitam disponere seclo,  
Ut renovet Claram Candida sera Diem.   

The tragicomedy of man's life.  
HEre One is born, and there an Other dies,  
Nativity and Obsequies  
Enter at once; What then is all  
This world's Pomp, but theatrical?  
For to come out, and to go in  
Hath evermore the Custom been,  
And will be till the latter scene  
Summons us all at once again.  
Then shall the lefthand file in misery,  
Shut up the story of their tragedy:  
Whilst with a Chorus the Right wing  
The bridegroom's Epithalamie doth sing,  
Both giving a Catastrophe  
Unto this tragicomedy.   

Upon a Clock.  
THe swifter lying Wheel o'r-runs the Day,  
Would make it seem as guilty of Delay;  
And the winged hour outstretch as conquered  
In swiftness, by the Plummets weight of lead:  
The fallacy is easy, for admit  
That weight were off, than time would outfly it.  
O let my flitting days so numbered be  
By a wise heart, they prove of weight to me:  
So may I life dispose, that in the end  
By setting bright, it may a clear Day send.   

Quid Vita Vera, Quaenam Mors certissima.  
Soli vivunt— QUi in Christo vivunt.  
Soli Mortui— Qui in Peccato remanent.  
Seducit in Tentationem Vivificat per sui Ipsius oblatione.  
V●pote Conditionis nostrae V●pote Mileriae nostrae & Misericordie  
AEmulus Satanas Patris quam Memor Christus.  
Veram igitur ut Vitam habeamus,  
A Peccato dehinc abstineamus.  
Moriamur itaque— Non in sed à Peccato;  
Ut Fruamur Vitae— Quae sit & in & à Domino.   

Upon a very wet S. Stephen's day.  
GOd would his Saints should be bemoaned,  
So the day weeps for Stephen stoned.   

In Diem Circumcisionis ad Adamum sive totam humani Generis stirpem.  

Luke 2.21.  CIrcumcisus erat, Legi sic paruit Olim,  
Ut parat invitis Pilea certa suis:  

Gal. 2.4, 5.  Et Novus in vetulo dignatur Parvulus orb  
Vivere, Nos animis Vestiat Ille novis.  
Tempora sic fugiant, Magna est Mutatio secli,  
Non Mutare, suas mutet Adamus Opes.   

Upon Easter day.  

SIn buried Soul awake and rise,  
Let not the Conquered More  
O'er thy Affections Tyrannize:  
All that This world affords for Ore  
But drossy is, nor the least Mite  
Of happiness in Fleshly Appetite.   

The devil from the first was styled  
A liar, and hath still  
Improved His malice, so beguiled  
Us as our Parents to his will;  
Each Word we utter, Thought conceive,  
Or Act, all serves but t'help him to deceive.   

No marvel then if Thou were't bound,  
When 'twas a Threefold Cord,  
A Trident mischief that doth wound,  
Requires a Treble Patience to afford  
Relief: with which we here were sped,  
When th'womans' Seed did break the serpent's head.   

First 'twas One God in three Compact,  
Vouchsafed to work this Cure,  
Though't seemed the Sons alone, this Act,  
Both Father and Spirit were there most sure:  
For 'tis without Contention,  
All Three in One worked man's Redemption.   

They were three Wisemen from the East  
Conducted by a star,  
Refused no Travail for this Guest,  
But came with Presents from afar,  
To Court heaven's Munificence  
With Gold, with Myrrh, and Frankincense.   

Those three indeed bewitch our sense,  
And what could Men bring rather?  
Faith was in Infancy, and thence  
It chose to suit the Gift, I gather,  
As whereby t'shew what Dawning 'tis  
That Entertains the blossoms of our Bliss.   

The Fruit comes after: and that was,  
When He who knew no sin,  
Condemned, yet contented as  
A malefactor Great had been,  
Not only Born, but born to bear  
Our Crimes, became for men a Sufferer.   

Suffer He did, and was interred,  
And shall fond man refuse  
To Die for Him; or be afeard  
To bear, nay, t'see his cross, and choose  
Rather to pass a moment's pleasure  
Here, than partake of such a lasting Treasure?   

Shame Rouse us, and as He did sleep  
Three days within the Grave:  
So let our Sins be buried deep,  
That They no more Dominion have;  
Nor hang like Plummets on our thighs,  
When with our Blessed Saviour we should rise.   

Who for our sakes this Conquest won  
O'er Hell, the Grave, and Death,  
Three that sought man's Confusion;  
Till Man-with-God-unite, beneath,  
So far prevailed, as first to Die,  
Then Rose again to Crown the victory.    

Christ alone the Author and finisher of our Faith.  
WHilst we believe (no more) we but resemble  
The Devils, for Those do so too, and tremble.  
He who for man's redemption was sent,  
Will be of true Faith the accomplishment,  
As well as framer; and assurance gives,  
Though yet unseen, of Large Prerogatives,  
As to become Coheirs in that estate  
Which He did purchase for th'regenerate:  
No Others to be quoted are, but all  
Authors besides This One, apocryphal:  
He opens to's the door to true belief,  
Who seeks t'come in another way's a thief.   

Upon a Thanksgiving day for a Victory.  

TRue Victory, on fame's wings taught  
To fly aloft,  
So covers all the Plash  
Or Stream wherein her falser tidings wash,  
That none of them more rise,  
Upon our Faiths to tyrannize,  
But put to plunge what shift to try,  
Shunning the Hawks pounce, meet the Pole, so die.   

Now as In Aqueducts, the source  
Must guide the Course,  
And to the same degree,  
Heighten the reach of its humidity;  
So 'tis but just and even,  
That Benisons sent down from heaven,  
Should thither rise again in praise,  
And fill each calendar with holidays.   

Not such as wont make red-Ink dear,  
Charging the year  
In memory, t'express  
This or that Man's a Saint, could go no less.  
But by duties t'show  
Our Thanfulness, and what we owe;  
As from that Place alone we can  
Conclude our spring of Blessings first began.   

Thus whilst for praise we set apart  
Both Day and heart,  
And sweetly do embrace  
God's mercies meeting in his holy place;  
'Thout question He'll go on  
To perfect the Conclusion,  
And crown the Conquest farther, so  
That that ne'er more be our friend, He deems foe.    

 
Gloria Pyramidum sifeat Memphiticaesensus  
pyramid ad Dominum quâ libet me potest   




Lucis Amplectenda, 

scilicet Joel 2.12.  
Poenitentiae  
Jejunium  
Fletus  
Planctus    
Tenebrarum Fugienda, 

scilicet Rom. 13.13.  
Nocturna  
Securitatis,  
Comessatio & Ebrietas,  
Scurrilitas & Luxus,  
Lis & Invidia.      


Quorum Proemia sic diverse;  
His Ex Misericordia, 

Copia,  
Hilaritas,  
Gandium,  
Conferuntur.    
Illis Ex Iustitia,  
Penuria,  
Anxietas,  
Moestitia,  
Conferuntur.    
This difference in works is known,  
The first is God's, t'others our Own.    

My Embassie. Aliter cum Domino & cum Principibus Mundi istius negotiandum.  

Votum Deo si mandatur,  
tOr gemitibus rumpatur,  
siT ocellis fons, in ore  
ferUens precis, cum amore  
eleeMosynentur Manus,  
Nec Legatus rediet vanus.   

Forma Cordis, sed infecti  
jUvet, os pictura recti,  
neC blandities parectur,  
donUm dum prameditetur,  
Sub alternum Regem satis,  
Flectent Ista Quem nil gratis.    

Catena Causarum ad Salutem pertinentium  
 
Man heart's so sinkt to Sin wedded to Vice  
It needs a chain to bring it unto Christ.   

The Seed of the Woman breaks the serpent's head.  

(1) Pegasus.  ALipes Astra petens (sic Fabula) gramina rumpit,  
In Fontes Montis 
(2) Helicon.  Culmina versa stuunt:  
Siccantes 
(3) Horat. Ovid. Ar.  Vatum satiantur 
(4) Hippocren.  Nectare venae,  
Ne careant animis 
(5) Obid animas quasi habere dicuntur utpote & immortalia quodammodo videntur, & Immortales etiam creasse: nam, Dignum Laude virum Musa vera● mori.  Carmina digna suis.  
Nec careant dum 
(6) Luke 1. 31.  vera subit victoria, frangit  
Serpentem 
(7) Genesis 3. 15.  soboles gui Mulieris erat:  
unde fit ut cunctis virtutum Flumina manant,  

(8) Luke 1. 70. 1 Pet. 1. 10.  Vatidicis 
(9) Matth. 10.41. & 5.12.  Cunctos praemia dumque manent,  

(10) 1 Cor. 6.11.  Diluit & 
(11) Genus ab humo huminum, & ade● in Peccatis volumini ut omni Gratiarum succo pro●sus vacuum videatur.  siccos, sic Pulvere 
(12) Gen. 3. 19  spargit amorem,  

(13) Luke 22.44. John 19.34.  Purpureum: 
(14) 2 Pet. 1. 3.  fidas & 
(15) 1 Pet. 3.4. Christi Passio induit Fidele & Purpurâ: Resurrectio vero & ascensio Coronam addunt Victoriae, ut ita Secum Reges etiam simus participesque Patri, Gloriae.  Diadema capis.   

A Carol.  

Luke 2.  WAs all the world by Caesar taxed to know,  
What wealth each Country, City, house could show?  
Did that Decree extend but just so far  
As where Cyrenius was Governor?  
Yes sure, where e'er the Roman power bore sway,  
None could decline the Doom of Syria.  
So camed to pass, that He of David's stem,  
Hastened from Nazareth to Bethlehem  
With his espoused Mary, and got there  
Of what's before time, Time's th'accomplisher:  
Nor would the Darkness of those days confess  
A currency unto such Preciousness;  
But house and City, country, all three seem  
To cast upon those Guests the lowest esteem;  
And so the other Strangers well may be,  
Shuffle these Friends into the Ostierie.  
What do we less, whilst Emperour-like each one  
Bears o'er his lesser world Dominion,  
And freedom hath to tax each Sense, to bring  
Its best of treasure to this Offering:  
Yet as asleep, or blind with nature's light,  
We learn to court all Objects save the right:  
And whilst those houses should been tricked o'er  
For Him alone, they'd let in Sin before:  
The Cities of our hearts possessed with vice,  
Will not change garrison at any price;  
So what the Region of our Souls can grant,  
Is, t'appear rich in ill, all good to want:  
Yet though this Province, Fort, and Sconces all  
Taken, betrayed, and under Satan's thrall;  
'Tis not presumed, but that by Faith being led,  
All these may easily be recovered,  
Nay, all are won already to that breast,  
Prepared is to welcome this new guest.   

In Sanctum Stephanum Protomartyrem patientem & duritiem Corduum Judaeorum Lapidantium.  
MArtyrii dum prima Petris sua Laurea vincit,  
Saxea Saxosi Corda Manusque gerunt.   

To new-year's Day.  
IF Eagles shifting but their Bills, have made  
Their youth return, so years seem retrograde;  
And if't be true, that every change of Skin  
To th'creeping brood, doth a new age begin:  
Or whilst th'eleven Months like food appear  
To satiate the hungry Janivere.  
Why should not man this Riddle too unfold,  
And be renewed by putting off the Old?   

Armamenta ad oppugnandos Hoftes, Carnem scilicet, Mundum & Satanam, Maxime necessaria.  

VErus Christianus sit,  

Ephes. 6. 11. &c.  Veritate Cinctus  
Justitiâ armatus,  
Pacis Calceamento vinctus,  
Salvatione Galeatus,  
Super Omne, Fidei scutum  
Cum Spiritus Ense reddent tutum,  
Nec deesse potest Ei,  

Heb. 6. 19  Unquam Anchora Firma spei.    


 
In stead of Jacob's Ladder here is one  
To teach thee how to go to heaven upon,  
His in a Dream did Angels represent  
Passing both from and to the Firmament  
But this applied unto thy Heart will guide  
Thee broad awake, to thy redeemer's side    

Amass Licuit, Quem peccasse poenituit.  
VT in initio Annorum  
Inscii,  
In Hamum  
Satanae,  
Et Improvidi  
Incidimus:  
Ita Malorum Nostrorum  
Conscii,  

Zach. 3. 8.  Ramum  

Esay 11. 1.  Salvationis  
Fide  
Capiamus:  
Tune— Spes Libertatis erit— si non amplius nimis— Cura Peculî.   

Quid proficiet homini fi totum Mundum lucretur, & perdat Animam suam?  
QUae sibi lucrae facit Fragilem Qui comparat Orbem  
Totum, Animam cúmque Hic perdat & Ipse suam?  
Nulla salus Terris, Brevis & mundana voluptas,  
Coelicolis nulla est turbida perpetuò,  
Preferat immeritis Haec splendida Lubrica Nugis,  
Terrestris superûm nulla valoris erint.   

Ad quendam tam Potentia quàm Intelligentia & Doctrina, Divitiis aequè ac Nobilitate & honoribus praeditum.  
INgeniosus Homo es, nec quisque Potentior orb  
Ditior & nullus, Nobiliárve fuit:  
Partibus eximiis juncta est Vigilantia fortis,  
Nec decrat titulis Copia magna tuis.  
Hoc tantum si scire placet (me judice) restat,  
Ut reddas Domino qua tibi Cuncta dabat.   

Englished:  
Thou art a witty man, nor's every one  
I'th' world for Power thy Companion;  
In Birth and Riches all thou dost outfly,  
And excellent Parts backed with Authority.  
On Thy arrears this only now may fall,  
Thou spend these to His praise who gave them all.   

Temporibus hisce maxim discendum.  
FAcilè credimus quod volumus:  
Velimus igitur Bonae,  
Et statim credemus  
Non omni Mendacio,  
Sed Potius Verbo  
Veritatis Ipsi.  
Omnis Anima Potestatibus subserviat superioribus. 
Rom. 13.    

Such as stand upon false Bottoms in saving their souls.  

The Ignorant.  INscius innumeros Domini meditatur Amores,  
Et salvum nihilo se putat esse suo:  

The Presumptuous.  Alter at indubias Veniarum concipit Artes,  
Ut sibi, dum Cunctis Victima Christus erat.  

The worldly Wise.  Mundanis nimium sapit Alter amoribus, atque Hic  
Sola Deo profert Munera ut accipiat:  

The morally civil.  Hic quoque civilis fruitur jam tempore vitae,  
Nec dubitat Coelis quin fruiturus item:  

The Hypocrite.  Sanctior oppositis sibi dum blanditur Inanis  
Fictilis, & Meritis se valuisse suis,  
Rumpitur, & nullam capit Ille vel Iste salutem,  
Durabit Christo quae stabilita Fides.   

In Epiphaniam sive manifestationem Domini.  

John 1. 5.  Nonne putes Merito Caecos Qui Luce serenâ  

Numb. 24. 17. Luke 1 78.  Nil cernunt, ad quos Phosphorus Ipse venit,  

John 3. 19  Nec tamen Evigilant? Densâ Caligine Gentes  

Luke 1. 79. Ephes. 5. 8.  Umbrantur Miseri, (vespera tota Dies)  

Matth. 2. 1.  Sed tamen inveniunt stellam, sic noctis Imago  

2 Thess. 5. 5.  Versa est è tenebris quâ duce clara Micat;  

Matth. 2. 1. 1 John 3. 5.  Et Magus in magno meditatur Lumine Divum,  

Isa. 10. 3.  Sponte Novum Astrologos Astrum agitatque viros.  

John 1. 16. Luke 2. 6.  Sin quorsum hoc rogites? ut sit Manifestus ad Omnes,  

gall 4.4.  Omni Qui in pleno tempore natus erat.   

Natus, Damnatus, Necatus, Glorificatus.  
Descendere descendit è Coelis ut (pravitate quâ depressi simus Carnali relictâ.) ascendamus in Coelos: Pati dignatus in Mundo pro immundis, Vt possideant Lucem, Qui meruissent Crucem. Morte mulctari se praebuit, Vt Vitam capiat, qui Mori debuit. Agnus in Montem passus, pastus & in Montem agnus. Pastor succumbit Oneri Legis, ut languori succurrat parvuli gregis. Ne desit Fons, adest Mons: ad depremendam sitem, (Hanc) cape, Veram Vitem: Qui multo cum cruore Mori vellet; ut humanos ab humanis erroribus avellat. Anguis ut à praecipitio redimatur Ingratus; sanguis Pretiostssimi effunditur, & confossum Latus: Tumuli limitibus se Captivum tradidit, Vt à Satanae Militibus nos Liberos redderet. Sepulchro obdormivisse Lapideo videtur, ut duritiei Cordis humani oblivisceretur. Morti pro triduo Temporis paret, Mori ut peccatis quotidie nos praeparet; & ne quid in Redemptione sit amissum; horrendum Barathri petit Abyssum. Sed Qui Lux vera est, & ab aeterno, non manet tenebris nec in Inferno; Ast Palmam feriens verae victoriae, Coronam Fidelibus texnit Gloriae. Et ne sit Fidei Thomae defectio, Octavo iterum die est ●a●efacta resurrectio. Postquam ab eis per quadraginta Dies notus fuit & conspectus, Nubem induit & susceptus: à Monte qui Oliveti vocatur sursum receptus est Pacificator, Cujus readventus est futurus, ita cum judicaturus. Mente Me Deus sic donet Spirituali, Vt non sim iterum Reus hujus Mali.   

A Threefold Cord is not easily broken.  

MEek, Lowly, Humble, was that threefold Cord,  
Our Lord,  
To pull us up to Heaven did afford.   

He bore the Cross first for us, and became  

Esay.  A lamb;  
Washed His Disciples feet, to teach the same.   

But who takes out this lesson? is not Pride  
Our Guide.  
Envy, Oppression, Malice too beside?   

To cross what's good, bleat after Natures call,  
T'enthrall  
Others; set traps t'ensnare their feet withal.   

We can the best of care and thought unbind,  
To find  
What may enrich the Body, not the mind.   

So still be cumbered about serving much,  
And grudge  
That Others have not equal share in such.   

When if our Saviour we believe alone,  
But one  

Luk. 10.42.  Thing needful was, and that was Mary's own.   

That better permanent part, grant that I  
May try,  
To compass through unfeigned humility.    

Regula nullo modo Spernenda.  


Ut sit  
Deo Gloria 
Uni veri solo etsi Triplici Trinuno unanimitèr non secundum hominis fictum, sed sui ipsius id est veritatis verbum Totus inservire, quoniam Non vult participem cultus Jesus.   
Principi Honor 
Debitam obedientiam utpote gubernandi causa in nos, ab Ipso Domino in omne scilicet quod Mandata non exuperet Licitae Praeposito, reddere, quoniam Oppugnat Dominum spernere Regem.   
Reipublicae salus 
Tantam tribuere Legum institutionibus et constitutionibus reverentiam, ut in omni actione unam vel alteram instar metae appetitui praefigere, quoniam ut salus Populi suprema lex, sic sine Legibus nulla salus Populo.     


Sic  
Veram Devotionem in Deum verum, verbo dum sacro Fides adhibeatur sancta compares.  
Agnitionem & remunerandi observantiam quam humilem, Grato, Pio, & Patientiae summae Fatrono-Principi.  
Pacem sic Tranquillam & ab omnibus [bonis scilicet] maximè optatam Patriae.    


Quibuscum Armatus Deterreant. 
Nec Papalis haeresis  
Nec Fatalis Hypocrisis  
Nec effrenata Anarchia  
Confusionis Anomalia  
Nec Galeata Dementia  
Ex Plebeia Insolentia   
Quin Homo Probus sis  
Tam uno quam Ambobus.    


Triplex hominum Conditio.  
Creatio prima, Gen. 1. 26. In Innocentia Creatus, Ephes. 4.24.  
Depravatio secunda, Gen. 3. 6. In Disobedientia dislocatus, Gen. 3. 23, 24.  
Restauratio tertia, Gen. 3. 15. In Summa clementia redintegratus, Rom. 8. 32.  
Indutut spiritu divino, 1 Cor. 15.45.  
Captus Dolo serpentino, Gen. 3. 4.  
Florens sole matutino, Luke 1. 78.    


Ab origine quàm puro sine labe vel peccato,  
Postea in statu non securo, utpote hortideprivato,  
Donce in Christo redempturo tunc credendo sublevato.  
Haec cum Fide percepisses,  
Etsi Miserrimus fuisses,  
Causum Spei invenisses.     

In Passionem & Resurrectionem Domini.  
QUimodo tantorum Tumulorum vincula solvit,  
Carceribus Tumuli traditur Ille novi:  
Sic Placuit, maculâque animae purgentur ab omni,  
Sanguine jam proprio diluit Ille suo.  
Humanum inveniens aperit humus illico venaes,  
Sarcophagus Dominum sed retinere nequit.  
Quid sedes in Tumulum somnose Miles apertum?  
Quem vigiles vigilant Mortis & arma rapit.  
Cum sociis stupefacta videt Maria Sepulchrum,  
In queis latitia & Mista pavore fuit.  
Inveniant Dominum veniunt ut Marmore clausum,  
Mane situs Dominus, nec manet usque diem:  
Visurae gaudent Christum, metuúntque remoto  
Saxo, dum visus Angelus est Domini.   

Crux Vera  

Non in Ligno, Sed in Signo,  


Ducis  
Victoria,  
Crucis  
Gloria,    
Privatio Vitae Donatio.   

All other CROSSES may disquiet rest,  
But this was that by which mankind is blessed.    

C-r-u-c-j-f-i-g-i-t-u-r.  
- urrit ad Exitium Genitrix, repetitque Reatum  
Filiolus: Poenas Hic dabit, I●●a suas.  
- uminat ut Miseros Rex Inclytus, Alta relinquens  
Ima petitque, subit Nubila lucis Opus.  
- nicus à sceptris humiles facit Ille recessus  
Sponte, suam tribuit Qui quoque vita fuit:  
- 'em brevis è teneri concretáque pulvere forma  
Quam vitiosa regunt, Ambitiosa velit.  
- uncta Viro Consors, quâ cum de sorte perenni  
Consulit, & Culpa haec (Morte) perennis erat:  
- actus homo Dominus moritur, sed Morte subacta  
Commutat fortem, & vita Perennis erit.  
- rritat Superos Gens improba, sed super omne  
Grata est, quae à scisso Pectore fusa fluit.  
- ratia pro ingratis datur integra, Justus Iniquis,  
Pro Peccatore haec Pectora laesa mancnt.  
- nduit & nostras humanâ faece volutaes  
Naturas, nobis Coelica tecta facit.  
- ransfixúsque fuit, quo transeat omnis alumnus,  
Et videat passum pacificúmque virum.  
- ictus Amore hominum vinctus, Captivus & Idem,  
Ut Libertatis spes modo certa siet:  
- espice sic Miserum, Miseros qui è gurgite Mortis  
Eripuit, rapiant Viscera nostra, sua.   

Spectaculum ver●e Humilitatis.  


C— um  
H— unc  
R—espicias  
I—  
S  
T— ibi  
V— ita  
S— alus    


S— uccumbit  
I— nnocens  
M— ihi  
O— nus—  
N— atum—    
If in a glass one would descry  
Perfect and true Humility;  
Then go no farther, but observe  
He bore the Cross which we deserve.   

Pilat's Inscription. 
Joh. 19 19   



I—  
N—ascens—  
R—edimit—  
I—njustos— 
1 Pet. 3. 18     
What PILATE wrote, He wrote, and did refuse  
To alter for the highpriest of the Jews:  
This Just man's birth with prophecy suits well,  
Who came to save the lost of Israel. 
Mat. 9 13.    



Pater  
Ignosce  
Insciis  
Remitte  
Errantibus  
Gravissimo  
Iudicio  
Subditis  
Condones  
Obsecro  
Miseris  
Peccantibus  
Amissoque  
Saluti  
Succurres  
I  
O.    
Of All the virtue's happiness Create,  
None outshines this, To be Compassionate:  
Mercy the God of Glory doth prefer,  
Although All's other works are singular.  
This Kingly Pattern here before us set,  
Should teach us to forgive, and to forget.    

La Citta Improvida.  


Jaceo  
Eversa  
Ruinis  
Utpote  
Sanctum  
Angularem  
Lapidem  
Emisi  
Meum.    
A Building that is tied and free from weather,  
Hath all its parts well Cymented together;  
For where such Unity In itself's away,  
That structure falls under some quick decay.  
This City bore name of Peace alone,  
Whose Builders did refuse their Corner stone.   

Il vero monte Testaccio.  


G  
O  
L  
G  
O  
T  
H  
A    
Memento mori, or a Deaths-head worn  
Upon a finger, oft becomes a scorn;  
For what through use familiar is grown,  
Nature counts less by apprehension.  
Yet be advised, this Mount of dead men's skulls,  
A greater dread and terror on thee pulls,  
Who durst by Sins, and loose desires below,  
Make him again pay that which thou didst owe.   

Easter days Resurrexit.  

SEt the Cliff higher  
Now,  
And raise  
Each heart's key,  
To present a Vow  
In praise  
Of him who lately was our buyer,  
And of this Day  
Which He makes clearer far than Other days.   

For look we back, and there  
We may with ease  
See what we were,  
Transformed beyond  
All works, did please  
The Maker  
So  
That whilst He did commend  
What He had done, Man wrought his endless woe;  
Nor of those praises longer was partaker.   

Before when known  
To be,  
By innocency's livery,  
The fairest likeness of Creation;  
All other Things  
Were but to Man as Offerings,  
Whereby  
He might maintain  
The Title of the world's true sovereign.   

Justice and Mercy both,  
The King of Heaven  
Delights to show;  
And in his hands the Skoals doth hold so even,  
That whilst enforced to punish, yet he's loath  
To overthrow;  
And so a way prescribes, wherein  
Man may revenged be of sin.   

To this effect,  
When He saw time,  
His Son was sent,  
That all disgraces of the Crime  
On Him being spent,  
No contumely or neglect  
Might lie behind,  
To sink into Despair a troubled mind.   

So suffered He  
To set  
Man  
Free  
Again,  
Whose debt  
Required no less  
To recompense  
The Guiltiness  
Of so great Disobedience.   

Which bond discharged,  
All are enlarged,  
Who can through Faith arise  
With Him who Clarifies  
Beyond our apprehension,  
The splendour this day's Skies  
Put on,  
To emblem His Bright Resurrection.    

In Diem Natalem etiam & Jejunalem quoniam Mercurialem Mensis ultimam.  
Quondam Festa Dies, nunc jejunantibus apta es,  
Ut Queis non prosunt Gaudia Maesta juvent.   

Englished:  
A Holiday thou wast, and art so still;  
For Holy Fasting saves, when Riots kill.   

In novi Anni Diem Primam Dialogismus.  
DUm novus Annus init, an nos nova Pectora flectent,  
Cum Vetulo Vetulas vin periere vices?  
Quid potius? nam qui memorare novissima certet,  
Immemor errati gaudeat esse sui.   

Ineffabilis Amor atque Admirabilis Christi.  
 
Vt manus 
(1) In Crucem. alat●.  extensas pandit 
(2) Judais.  Crudelibus, Ipsos  

(3) Gensila●.  Nos velut amplexu comparat Ille suo:  

(4) Ovid. Met.  Pythonem innumeris adimens Hydramve 
(5) Vam laborum Herculis.  sagittis●  
Serpentum 
(6) The old Serpent, the Devil.  Proavum, 
(7) S●mon virgins.  haec ●a sagitta neca●.  
Nullus Apollonia salvios fiat arte Neporum,  
Nec quisquam Alcidis ●obore major erit:  
Hic tamen haec magni 
(8) Christ's conquest over death.  repetit victoria mundi,  

(9) Ferendo serit.  Es superat poenas Ille ferendo suis.  
Pauperis est numerare Pecus, duodecimus olim  
Herculeanus erat Huic labour innumerus  

(10) Man had so offended God, that nothing but God and Man could make atonement.  Nempe quod in nostris ranta est numeratio Culpis,  
Vt nisi qui posset singula nulla juves.  

(11) All power was given him of the Father, who voluntarily undertook the work of our redemption.  Posse & velle suum est, sic nos redempsit iniquos,  
Et firma in st tuat Anchora 
(12) He becoming the truest Anchor of our hopes, we cannot vere out the Cable of faith upon better security against all shipwracking.  vera Fidem.   

To my Gracious God.  
Retired into a Calm of Leisure, Led  
By Providence thus: grant me busied  
Here after for My King and countries good,  
The Church and State where I took Livelihood:  
That in my Calling I may never falter,  
But hew wood and draw water for thine Altar.   

The Object of Love and Power.  


I— nspic●ps  
E— mentem  
S  
V  
S.    
Lost Man, when to be saved cannot devise  
To expiate His guilt by Sacrifice;  
Till Priest and Prophet, King, and all agree  
In One, to offer and win Victory;  
This for what's past; the other act of power  
He gained for us, who is our Saviour.   

Use and Memory Parents to wisdom.  

Use out of Date, and to Remember  
Our saviour's Birth, wont bless December,  
Cried down: What may we judge by these?  
But this, That Wisdome's in decrease,  
And certainly must Folly own,  
When other Parents are not known.    
The End of the First Part.   




— Tutus in Umbra Silvestram tenui Musam meditatus avena. Virg: W.M. sculpsit    

To my Book, upon the second Part, and the Title Page. Famulentur Prioribus.  
THy first Part bears a stamp Divine,  
And so may pass for currant Coin;  
Though Momus Cark, and Zoilus bark,  
Thou art preserved as in an Ark:  
For what one doth by Faith apply,  
No flood of envy can destroy.  
Yet how to help thee at a lift,  
That must be now my Second drift:  
For seeing thou wilt not alone  
Come forth, but be attended on,  
It's fit thy servant still should be,  
Adorned with modest loyalty;  
Such as the hills, and Groves, and Brooks  
Afford the Fancy, 'stead of Books;  
And help Contentedness to wade,  
Though not to swim under a shade  
Of such Security may give  
'Gainst heat and cold Prerogative  
Defence: where no times rays or Thunder  
Shall blast or scorch those so lie under.  
But who themselves in Peace can thus read o'er,  
Need but be thankful, and ne'er wish for more.   

The Second Part.    

Human Science Handmaid to Divine. Famulentur Prioribus.  
ALl were not Cedars that grew on  
The Top of towering Lebanon,  
But here and there some less Plant set  
To give attendance on the great:  
So have I seen a grove of Pine  
Becircled with Eglantine;  
A Towle of Oaks that seemed the higher,  
For overlooking of the Brier;  
The Beech, Ash, Elm, take't not in scorn  
From the low Shrub and prickly Thorn  
That underneath their shades they dwell,  
And guard their roots as sentinel:  
Meadows, and Fields, and Gardens all  
Produce both simples, medicinal,  
And herbs of less esteem; yet these  
May some one sense or other please.  
Fountains with crystal may compare,  
As they run out are known to share  
With this and that Land-water, till  
They colour change, yet Rivers fill.  
And if I would my Fancy rear,  
To lineat a day most clear;  
It should be such a one, wherein  
Some wool-pack Clouds in corners been.  
Thus the wise God of Nature chose  
And things in order to dispose:  
And human Raptures only doth command  
As servants to Divine, to wait at hand.   

Occasioned by seeing a Walk of Bay-trees.  
NO Thunder blasts Jove's Plant, nor can  
Misfortune warp an honest Man;  
Shaken He may be, by some one  
Or other Gust, unleaved by none:  
Though tribulation's sharp and keen,  
His Resolutions keep Green;  
And whilst Integrity's his wall,  
His Year's all Spring, and hath no Fall.   

Inter Acus & Aculeos pugna.  
MAn like a little world, opens a pack  
Of Government, to all such Climes as lack;  
Wherein those humours that disturb the health,  
For Power, do represent a commonwealth;  
And Nature (uncontrowlably) would try,  
To subject all under her Monarchy;  
But in that Conflict finds no small disease,  
Whilst all restrained Authorities displease.  
Here may we see as from a Chaos spun,  
Discord, at push of pike; and Factions t'run  
A tilt: so break int' shivers and destroy  
The strict command of either's sovereignty.  
Yet neither Title need we fear to lose,  
Sithence there's both King and commonwealth 'mongst Bees.   

Sorte tua sis Contentus.  
DUm fremit immodic is rapiturque voragine ventis,  
Et vetat irato Gurgite Navis iter,  
Littoribus Placidum Pelagus, non Indica reddens  
Munera, sed Conchâ dat propiore dapes.  
Elige quod mavis est, Tumidos insistere Fluctus  
An Portum, Exitium quarere, sive bonum:  
Tentet Avarus Opes, & Amara pericula Ponti,  
Tuta cupit modicis rebus inesse Fides:  
Quamvis Castrae petas, Fora vel Togatus Amasses,  
Invenias Laqueis haec comitata suis:  
Sola manet requies Animo Quem jurgia nulla,  
Nulla vaporiferaeque Ambitionis habent.  
Sed satur, in proprio formentur pectore pacis  
Semina, quae fugiant Militiam atque Forum:  
Gaudeat umbriferis Sylvis pro Classe, Loquaces  
Lympharumque Choros Curia nec sileat.  
Namque Avibus junctis repetitur murmur cantus,  
Et saltabundum ceruat ubique Pecus:  
Gramineis locuples jactet jam terra tapetis,  
Et violae soboles sub sepe coepta ferunt.  
Pisciculis avidis Esca est inimica voracem  
Dum Condens hamum, sic cupidos capiens.  
Nec minus Agricolae dum tendit retia Turdus  
Praeda fit, aut Visco fallitur Ipse suo:  
Si sequeris Leporem, pedibus petit Ille salutem,  
Currenti stimulos addit & Ipse metus.  
Sin Rubis evigiles iremulas multo cane Damas,  
Ostendunt nemori non adhibenda Fides.  
Sis ubicunque velis, facias modo quid libet, Omne  
Te Cruciat, Menti ni sit amica quies.   

Insula Britannica ad seipsam.  
QUid moror in terras? Pinus descendit in undas,  
Et tondet Vitreas Classica sylvacomas.  
Gallia, quid profers? quid Tu Teutonica tentas?  
Hesperiésque tuis quidve Carina Malis.  
Num dabitis Legem Oceano Mihi Iura negantem,  
Littora Cui, Liquidus paret & Oceanus.  
Conficiam eximias Aurato tegmine Puppes,  
Signentur Rubrâ candida vela cruce.  
Ne caream verbis ubi Rectum quaerere Ius est,  
Pulmones strenuos, AErea Lingua vomet.  
Moenia si quisquam violenti fulmine tundet,  
Lignea forte putet, Igneaque inveniet.   

Chloris Complaint.  
Do not the Planets (Howe'er  
They wander) still retain a proper sphere?  
And seasons serve the year to bless,  
Although the Storms and Tempests are no less?  
Seem not becalmed Seas more fair,  
Than if th''ve never been irregular?  
And shall fond Man alone be said,  
To be of all things else unpacified?  
Lions to lion's kind, and Bears  
Friendly to such; so Wolves partake o'th' fears  
With their pursued kin; The fell  
Est tiger can with her associate dwell:  
And yet (as if unhumaned) we  
By no means with each other can agree;  
So that (we may degenerate  
From nature's mandate) all our Passion's hate,  
And where a Mishcief may befall,  
All Disposition's turned to prodigal,  
Nor is there for Compassion  
Left any room (now 't's out of fashion,)  
Befriend me wind, I'll try the wave,  
Though some there be must sink, yet some 'tmay save,  
My calendar yet marks out spring,  
Disgust may shake, not blast the Blossoming.  
And therefore as I roaved astray,  
'Tis reconciling Truth points now the way,  
In which I would be thought as far  
From variation, as the fixedst star;  
But with a constant shining thence,  
Serve King and country by my Influence.   

My New year-gift to the Times.  
NOvum aperiens janitor nunc Annum,  
Jani Bifrontis Quis Nothus Caesarum,  
Restet ab victam longè Britanniam,  
Templa clausurus iterum Britannicis?  
Barbariem nunquam, (vel raro saltem)  
Tam feram memini Legisse seclis  
Vt jam ostenditur,  
Fratres in Fratres;  
Filiae Filiique,  
Obedientiâ omni,  
Tanquam protinus soluti,  
In matres etiam & in Patres,  
Vim ferunt rapide,  
Parentes mutuo  
Natos natasque maximo  
Habent Odio,  
Sexus, AEtates licet numeras,  
Dissensionum undique querulas;  
Rixasque intelligis & Invidiae  
Artes ministratur assiduè;  
Majorem sub Leonino  
Temperiem invenias Axe, vel Canino,  
Tam fervida  
Torquet Alterutrinque Ira,  
Adeoque torret Discordiarum Flamma,  
Vt destruit & consumit Omnia:  
Friget in hoc aestu tamen,  
Charitatis solamen,  
Et quicquid saevitiae  
Produxit unquam Scythiae:  
Glacialis Sphaera,  
Hujus inimicitiae  
Fiat Imago vera.  
Bellica fuimus  
Praeda Romanis,  
Nec non Saxonibus,  
Quondamque Danes,  
Vicinis etiam victima Normannis.  
Ast in Postremo  
Hoc (absente Populo)  
Qui nos confundat Seculo,  
Ipsosmet petimus  
Et pro Purpureo victore,  
Quisque nunc tingitur Fratris Cruore.   

The Fift of November, being in Kent a stony country.  
AM I in Kent? and can I be no more  
Befriended than to want a Stone to score  
That scape from Danger; which had it overcome,  
Might have both conquered Kent and Christendom.  
Dye-mans' although not rare now, Rubies are  
Through our dissensions made peculiar  
Blaz'ners of virtue's Heraldry: nor can  
The Tincture serve of the Cornelian;  
The Topaz, sapphire, and the Emrald may  
On fingers worn, proclaim it Holiday:  
But I must find a whiter, though it came  
Not far, but whence fair Albion took its name,  
The Cliffs of Dover, on whose Candid breast  
I shall presume to share an interest  
On this Occasion, that no rubrics spell  
May henceforth in some Booker's Chronicle  
Eclipse my glory, or exempt my praise,  
By ranking me amongst the Workedayes.  
Surely the Dye that black design put on,  
Would crave the best of all, and whitest Ston  
To mark that Providence, which did prevent  
The mischief of that vapouring Element:  
Which hatched below, should our Conceptions rouse,  
(In that before it grew pernicious,  
The Shell was cracked; and so that enterprise  
Was vanquished, with th'abortive Cockatrice)  
First to the great Deliverer, and then  
A freedom of acknowledgement 'mongst men,  
That all of them may (as their fortunes are)  
Spend something on a solemnising care.  
And as the Powder should have been our chance,  
Now let' texpress loud our deliverance.   

Anglia Hortus.  
THe Garden of the world, wherein the Rose  
In chief Commanded, did this doubt propose  
To be resolved in; Whether sense to prize  
For umpire to Create it Paradise:  
One led by th'Ear of Philomela tells tales,  
And straightway call'st the land of Nightingales;  
An Other sharper sighted, ravished, cries,  
O that I could be turned now all to eyes!  
A Third received such raptures from the taste  
Of various dainty fruits, that it surpassed;  
A Fourth was caught (not with perfume) commends  
The Indian Clime, but what here Nature lends;  
Last, if you would satins or Velvets touch,  
For soft and smooth, Leaves can afford you such.  
And thus disposed, whilst every Sense admires,  
'Tis senseless t'plant 'mongst Roses, Thistles, Briars.   

Naumachia. In Pugnam Navalem inter Hispanos & Batavos, die Octobris, Anno 1639. Commissam in freto vulgò Le manche; ubi victoria His, tulna quàm foelicissimè Illis accidit.  
Castiliana suos ardentes linquere Portus  
Justa est Neptuno & frigidiore frui:  
Occurrit Liquidis Teutonica classis ab Oris,  
Vt Ligno huic Ignes supped'tare queat.  
Sole exusta suo solvit de littore Puppis,  
Frangitur & Tepidis Artibus inter aquas.  
Bella gerunt Homines, nec non Elementa vicissim,  
Contendunt vires notificare suas.  
Ignea sublimes vis occupat, Altera mergit  
Tumosa AErios Ambitionis habet:  
Sola manet nostras Terrestria tuta salutes  
Conditio: maneat sic stabilita diu 
Ab Aqua & Igne liberavit nos Domus.    

Ad Amicum super quatuor Anni Tempora & quatuor AEtates hominum Comparative.  
BRumalis secli inconstantia,  
Te reddat Moestum ab Infantia,  
Ver praebeat Flores vanitatis  
Ideo juventutis, satis  
Viribus Virilis aetas,  
In AEstate cum nil metas  
AEstuet vano: dum senescis  
Para fructum, adest messis.  
AEstivum, Hyemale, vernum,  
Ceres ducunt in aeternum.   

My happy Life, to a Friend.  
Dearest in Friendship, if you'll know  
Where I myself, and how bestow,  
Especially when as I range,  
Guided by Nature, to love change:  
Believe, it is not to advance  
Or add to my inheritance;  
Seeking t'engross by Power (amiss)  
What any other Man calls his:  
But full contented with my own,  
I let all other things alone;  
Which better to enjoy 'thout strife,  
I settle to a country life;  
And in a sweet retirement there,  
Cherish all Hopes, but banish fear,  
Offending none; so for defence  
Armed Capapee with Innocence;  
I do dispose of my time thus,  
To make it more propitious.  
First, my God served; I do commend  
The rest to some choice Book or Friend,  
Wherein I may such Treasure find  
T'enrich my nobler part, the mind.  
And that my Body Health comprise,  
Use too some moderate Exercise;  
Whether invited to the field,  
To see what Pastime that can yield,  
With horse, or hound, or hawk, or t' be  
More taken with a well-grown Tree;  
Under whose Shades I may rehearse  
The holy lays of Sacred Verse;  
Whilst in the Branches parched higher,  
The winged Crew sit as in a quire:  
This seems to me a better noise  
Than Organs, or the dear-bought voice  
From Pleaders breath in Court and Hall  
At any time is stocked withal:  
For here one may (if marking well)  
Observe the Plaintive Philomela  
Bemoan her sorrows; and the Thrush  
Plead safety through Defendant Bush:  
The Popingay in various dye  
Performs the Sergeant; and the Pie  
Chatters, as if she would revive  
The Old Levite prerogative,  
And bring new Rotchets in again;  
Till crows and Jackdaws in disdain  
Of her Pide-feathers, chase her thence,  
To yield to their pre-eminence:  
For you must know't observed of late,  
That Reformation in the State,  
Begets no less by imitation,  
Amidst this chirping feathered Nation;  
Cuckoos Ingrate, and Woodcocks some  
Here are, which cause they't seasons come,  
May be compared to such as stand  
At Terms, and their returns command;  
And lest Authority take cold,  
Here's th'ivy's guest of wonder, th' Owl,  
Rufft like a Judge, and with a Beak,  
As it would give the charge and speak:  
Then 'tis the Goose and Buzzards art  
Alone, t'perform the client's part;  
For neither Dove nor Pigeon shall,  
Whilst they are both exempt from gall.  
The Augur, Hern, and soaring Kite,  
Calendar weather in their flight;  
As do the Cleanlier Ducks, when they  
Dive voluntary, wash, prune, play;  
With the fair Cygnet, whose delight  
Is to outvie the snow in white.  
And therefore always seeks to hide  
Her feet, lest they allay her pride.  
The moorhen, Dobchick, Water rail,  
With little Washdish or Wagtail;  
The Finch, the Sparrow, Jenny Wren,  
With Robin that's so kind to men;  
The Whitetail, and Tom Tit obey  
Their seasons, bill and tread, than lay;  
The lyric Lark doth early rise,  
And mounting, pays her sacrifice;  
Whilst from some hedge, or close of furs,  
The Partridge calls its Mate, and churrs;  
And that the country seem more pleasant,  
Each heath hath pout, and wood yields pheasant;  
Juno's delight with Cock and Hens  
Turkeys, are my domestic friends:  
Nor do I bird of Prey inlist,  
But what I carry on my Fist:  
Now not to want a Court, a King-  
Fisher is here with Purple wing,  
Who brings me to the springhead, where  
Crystal is Lymbeckt all the year,  
And every Drop distils, implies  
An Ocean of Felicities;  
Whilst calculating, it spins on,  
And turns the pebbles one by one,  
Administering to eye and ear  
New Stars, and music like the Sphere;  
When every pearl calcined doth run,  
And represent such from the Sun:  
Devouring Pike here hath no place,  
Nor is it stored with Roach or Dace;  
The chubb or Cheven not appear,  
Nor Miller's Thumbs, nor Gudgeons here,  
But nobler trout, beset with stones  
Of ruby and of Diamonds,  
Bear greatest sway; yet some entrench,  
As sharp-finned perch, and healing Tench;  
The stream's too pure for Carp to lie,  
Subject to perspicuity,  
For it must here be understood,  
There are no beds of sand and Mud,  
But such a gravel as might pose  
The best of Scholars to disclose,  
And books and learning all confute,  
Being clad in water Tissue suit.  
These cool delights helped with the air  
Fanned from the Branches of the fair  
Old Beech or Oak, enchantments tie  
To every senses faculty;  
And master all those powers should give  
The will any prerogative:  
Yet when the scorching noon-days heat,  
Incommodates the Lowing Neat,  
Or Bleating flock, hither each one  
Hasts to be my Companion.  
And when the Western sky with red-  
Roses bestrews the Day-stars bed:  
The wholesome Maid comes out to Milk  
In russet-coats, but skin like silk;  
Which though the Sun and Air dies brown,  
Will yield to none of all the Town  
For softness, and her breaths sweet smell,  
Doth all the new-milcht Kie excel;  
She knows no rotten teeth, nor hair  
Bought, or Complexion t'make her fair;  
But is her own fair wind and dress,  
Not envying city's happiness:  
Yet as she would extend some pity  
To the drained Neat she frames a ditty,  
Which doth enchant the beast, until  
It patiently lets her pail fill;  
This doth the babbling echo catch,  
And so at length to me't doth reach:  
Straight roused up, I verdict pass,  
Concluding from this bonny Lass,  
And the Birds strains, 'tis hard to say  
Which taught Notes first, or she, or they:  
Thus ravished, as the night draws on  
Its sable Curtain, in I'm gone  
To my poor Cell; which 'cause 'tis mine,  
I judge it doth all else outshine,  
Hung with content and weather-proof,  
Though neither Pavement nor roof  
Borrow from Marble-quarr below,  
Or from those Hills where Cedars grow.  
There I embrace and kiss my Spouse,  
Who like the Vesta to the house,  
A Sullibub prepares to show  
By care and love what I must owe.  
Then calling in the Spawn and fry,  
Who whilst they live ne'er let us die;  
But every face is hers or mine,  
Though minted yet in lesser Coin,  
She takes an Apple, I a Plumbe,  
Encouragements for all and some:  
Till in return they crown the herth  
With innocent and harmless mirth,  
Which sends us joyful to our rest,  
More than a thousand others blessed.   

De Imperatorum Julianorum lineae ultimo Et Sulpitii sive Electorum primo.  
VT Cadat infoelix nec sicca morte Tyrannus,  
Vindictam Patriae Vindicis Arma dabant:  
Nempe Neronis erat Fatum dum terruit urbem,  
Tandem terrifico succubuisse jugo.  
Sic Calvum Galbam appellant, sceptroque recepto,  
Temnunt Calvitiem Plebs opinata suam.  
Quid tu Caesareo gauderes nomine Sergi?  
Cum non Caesaries ulla relicta tibi.  
Imperium si fortè velit supplere relictum,  
Debuit & Capiti Comperiisse Comas.   

Englished thus:  
That the unhappy Nero might be said  
To fall most like a Tyrant, not in bed.  
Vindex in France raised arms, and sought thereby  
To vindicate the wrongs of Italy:  
The Fates were just to Him, so frighted Rome,  
Making at last fear Master of his doom:  
So baldpate Galba to the Throne did rise,  
Whom straight the Common-people 'gan despise,  
Crying, Why shouldst thou Caesar's name put on,  
When all the hair grew on thy head was gone?  
If He the empire's bark anew would rig,  
He should have brought with him a Periwigg.   

In quendam Fictilem infirmi Corporis.  
INfirmum & fragile est Corpus tibi (Fictile) verum  
Mens tua sub curvo corpore recta latet.   

Placet in Vulnus, Maxima cervix.  
FLagranti stomacho Turdus vorat undigue Zuras,  
Dum ferret arte gelu frigidiore Diem:  
Sic modo Pinguescens capitur, citiúsque paratis,  
Aucipis ingeniis praeda petenda jacet.  
Saepiùs hoc discat Ditescens atque Gulosus,  
Sic moderare dapes ut sibi lucra fiant.  
Prospera nam subito mutentur tempora lapsu,  
Et latet in pulchro gramine Mortis acus.   

Upon a journey of His Majesty's into Scotland, and His safe Return.  
THe Planets whilst they move in several Spheres,  
Cut out our time in weeks, in months, in years;  
In Night and Day; whose revolutions bring  
The day, night, week, month, year into a Ring.  
What do our Princes less, when they go forth  
A Progress West or East, or South or North?  
Is not the first step that they forward set,  
The Suns, when He his Golden locks doth wet  
In Thetis lap, to all that stay behind?  
Is not the world eclipsed to them, and blind?  
Do not all Minutes stretch, and seem to grow  
Each to an hour, to such as think them so?  
Do not our crossed, yet longing hopes, present  
Each hour a month or year in banishment?  
They do: and 'twas not long since we were they  
Who stood as exiled from our Star of Day;  
Whilst visiting Those parts whence He did rise,  
He cast a general splendour o'er those Skies,  
Leaving us only Cynthia and her Train,  
To gives us hopes He would return again:  
And so he doth enrich again our Sky,  
Bringing those hopes unto maturity,  
Our Clime with Tropick's changed, and the same  
Season of day, now length of night doth claim:  
Those only who by Elevation  
Before enjoyed a lucid Horizon,  
Once yearly now with more perfection shine  
A whole month, Phoebus, suffering no decline:  
Did I but call't a month? They deemed it less,  
If they could apprehend their happiness;  
And we I'm sure had reason t'think it more,  
Than many Ages counted o'er and o'er.  
For as the sun's withdrawing leaves one world,  
Into a winter's tyranny t'be hurled,  
Whilst it doth bless an Other; so 'twas thus  
In Scotland, June; but February with us  
Till his return; which changed the Season quite,  
Then ours with Corn, with Snow their hills were white;  
The night that was resigns, and day's begun  
With us already by our Gracious Sun.  
Let Them pass envy-free who boast them may  
In the possession of this Month or Day;  
For time wrapped up in swiftness doth appear  
When past, as if an Age were but a year;  
A year a month, a month a week, and That  
An hour or minute, whilst we consolate  
Ourselves may in this bliss; that future time  
Seems always slower-winged in its Clime:  
Their jubilee was short and quickly gone,  
Ours under CHARLES is a perpetual one.   

In quendam nomine Stone-house.  
SAxea Pulchra Domus frons est sed nulla fidenda,  
Nam si Ipsam introeas, invenies vacuam.   

To N. B. an Angler.  

THou that dost cast into the Silver brook  
Thy worm-fed Hook,  
The greedier Fishes so to cheat  
Seeking for meat,  
Remember that time's wheel will bring  
Thy deeds to censuring;  
And then as thou through wile  
Those Creatures didst beguile,  
So caught thou'lt be for thy deceit,  
And made the food for thine own bait.   

Let this suffice to cause thee t'steer aright,  
Both day and night;  
That skilfully avoiding this,  
That Shelf thou miss;  
For 'tis not all for to repent  
Thy youthful days misspent,  
But care must now be had,  
The future be not bad.  
And as thine Audit waxeth near,  
So Thy accounts make perfecter.    

In Quendam Glareosam.  
QUisquis Te docuit Praeceptor, fecit & Idem  
Littora Qui & sterilem bobus aravit Humum.   

Amoris Sigillum.  
 
C-orpore Cor latitans nondum est manifeste notatum,  
O-re, neque ingenio semper inesse queat:  
N-empè quod eximium est pretióque notabile cernunt,  
Difficiles aditus Cordit & alter opus.  
I-nnocuos quae corda viros, faciáneve Fideles,  
A-ssimilent animis Pectus & Ora suis.   

Englished:  
Man's heart locked up within his secret breast,  
Cannot by tongue or Gesture be expressed;  
For what's of so great worth, we must suppose,  
It is a work of power to disclose:  
Such hearts as make Men faithful and upright,  
Are those at once both Looks and minds unite.   

Genii Hujus Laris & Penatum salutatio; Ad Rivulum Stanliacum nuper in stagnum hoc Mervordianum Ductum.  
O Dulce Flumen Vitreum,  
Fundens Crystallum Liquidum  
In Mare Hoc Domesticum,  
In verum Nectar Piscium:  
Mulces & Allicis dum curris  
Somnos, Musicis susurris:  
Nec evigilat Cadentis  
Aqua vestra ut Torrentis.  
Liceat Rhodano Loquaci  
Strepitus, quoniam fugaci:  
Domum Hanc Circundatam,  
Munis & veddis Insulam;  
Sicut Orbem dat Rotundum  
Thetis, Tu cingis hunc Mundum.  
Afferat Hortorum Decus  
Priapus, Pan donet Pecus:  
Tu silvane mittas flores,  
Cypria Hic conflet Amores,  
Dearum seu Deorum Chorus,  
Totus fiat Munificus,  
Ut pro splendore laude Digno  
Undecimo addaris signo:  
Tunc Omni Numine propitio,  
Frui detur sacrificio.   

Virtus vera Nobilitas.  
WHat doth He get who e'er prefers  
The scutcheons of His ancestors?  
This chimney-piece of Gold or Brass,  
That Coat of arms blazoned in glass;  
When those with time and age have end,  
Thy Prowess must thyself commend.  
The smooty shadows of some one  
Or Others trophies carved in stone,  
Defaced, are things to whet, not try  
Thine own Heroicism by.  
For cast how much thy Merits score  
Falls short of those went thee before;  
By so much art thou in arrear,  
And stain'st Gentility I fear.  
True Nobleness doth those alone engage,  
Who can add virtues to their Parentage.   

Upon a Roe.  
TRamite nil metuat recto Qui incedere vellet  
Capreolus, casus devia Rupis habent.   

Upon a Cock.  
IAm mea Nocturnos Pellat vigilantia somnos,  
Nuntius Aurorae dummodo Gallus adest.   

Upon King CHARLES return out of Scotland in November, 1641.  
DOth CHARLES return to make our Climate shine,  
And shall not every Spring run Claret-wine?  
Is not the calendar reversed, and where  
December's dirt, and th'Frost of Janivere,  
Threatened a winter, now those sheets display  
Themselves o'er fruitful June, or teeming May:  
For thus as' thin the Tropics may we boast,  
That two fair Seasons have twice blessed our Coast  
Ere one whole year ran round: The time He went  
Seeming the Springs forerunner, or our Lent;  
For so He was but borrowed, and we rest  
Pleased with's return alone, who's interest  
Sufficient of Himself, in which bank lies  
The Treasure of His subjects hearts and eyes:  
See how they Flock else, and with tumbling haste  
Are less content because so soon He passed.  
Be satisfied, ye have your Prince again,  
Fro' th' North, and CHARLES triumphant, not in Wain.   

In quendam nomine Squier, haud Generosum.  
ARmiger es neque Arma geris, non Martis at Artis,  
Indutus Galea es Ingenioque vales.   

Upon the King and Queen's meeting after long absence.  

THe welcome showers of April's morning dew  
Distilled upon the Bosom of the Earth  
Beget a May; whose livery anew  
Clothes Fields and Woods, and there creates such mirth  
Amidst the winged quire; that echo tells  
It o'er again from nature's minstrels.   

The spicy gums that so perfume the East,  
To bid the Sun good-morrow; are not more  
Esteemed for that, than is the golden West,  
But that of Treasures Both have hidden store,  
Is manifest: no perils can deter  
The forward hopes of the Adventurer.   

No world, no season, spring, summer, nor fall  
In Fruits, in Flowers, Treasures could ere present  
Such sweet and wealthy joys Harmoniall  
From country, or from Element:  
As when our Gracious King and his bright Queen,  
Did after Twelve months parted intervene.    

In Sim. & Lev. Pot. & Top.  
NAtura His par est, Vitio nam non caret Alter,  
Et virtute Carens Alter, uterque Opibus.   

Cordium Concordia vera.  
 
It is not meant, that three in one should be,  
But in each heart triple capacity,  
Wherewith to serve one's God, ones King, ones Friend,  
To which assigned, and for no other end;  
In Flaming Zeal upwards to mount again,  
In Loyalty to own a sovereign,  
In mutual Love society t'maintain.   

To N. B. for his Company.  
FRiend, Can I be at home, and you the same,  
Yet neither meet?  
The courteous Flame the Flame,  
And Streams each other greet,  
Although it seem from either Pole they came,  
Or farthest stretched  
Meridian fetched.  
Surely it is but some malignant star  
That would debar  
This influence, for fear  
We should more bright appear:  
Souls in Conjunction frame the perfectest Sphere,  
So I to you must move, or you move here.   

Ad Amicum, de Vita Beata.  

ME qualem capiat Iudice Formulam,  
Vita Commodius Tempora solvere:  
Nec tantum tenui pareat Ilici,  
Quem frangant Aquilones, neque vertici  
Pinus stelliferae fidat ut arduo:  
Imis non Careant Coelica Culmina,  
Dormitque Occiduis Lucifer Alpibus.   

Non est ut nihilo Laudéve Parvulo  
Speret maxima; nam semper honoribus  
Tantis praefigitur Lubrica Scalula; quae  
Ergo, nec cupiat Ditior ut siet  
Ponti Teutonici Littore: Fertiléque  
Agro vivere Fagis celeberrimo  
Nondum nunc Placeat: Vinea Ripula  
Secretis liceat sit nota passubus  
Mentem nec laceret, Pondera talibus  
Incumbunt Gravia: est Montis Acutuli  
Ditantem-Locum ut in subsidium petat.  
Alis Si-Lineis pervolet aequora  
Quisquam, Naufragium vix fuget ultimum:  
Et si in Remiget Omnibus Amnibus.  
Portus non Aditum hic invenit Ullibi;  
Nam Quot in Tonitru Hesperies Vomit,  
Dotes provideant Indica viscera;  
Dum Marsupia fert Alter Apostolus  
Simonis Filio nec fit Iniquior:  
Captis vae nisi sit cautus Agellulus,  
Cum Parvo sonitu subrepit Inscia  
Frigilla, & Nemorum jurgia suscitet,  
Subrisum moveat Pullus Hirundinis,  
Necnon & Monachi cui Domus arbore.  
Exit ter nobilis cedere Conjugis,  
Voto qui voluit sit licet improbum,  
In Vanumque habeat quidquid & impedit,  
Mentem quin sibi jam comparet integram  
Vivat nam facili, cumque parabili  
Re; nec Carleolis invidet Artibus.  
Sed Coco vacuus praeparet Allia,  
Gustum sic patina in contrahat optimum:  
Nec desint Oleo Crurula Pulluli,  
Reprensa ex Pridianóque superstite,  
Adsit Bos Aridus, Lingulaque Hinnuli  
Suis Buccina, jentacula optime  
Condit Rancida tunc Artocrea addita  
Baccae Cervisia est in pretio, afferat  
Promus Poculáque Alcimedontica:  
Sectari Leporem Climate Limpido,  
Dum suadet Catulis hora sagacibus,  
Cedant Temporibus dumque Caniculis  
Brumae sydera jam quaeritet anxiè:  
Damorum Domus, in Queis tremebundula  
Terret Hospites & Silva Populeis.  
Si quando libeat Limine proprio  
Versari Officiis, non Saliaribus  
jactet Foemineis; Sed ut Equestribus  
Se exornet studiis, Ferra Ferocibus  
Dans Pullis; Sonipes Lorea despuat:  
Nunc volvens pedibus queis viduaverat  
Vulturnus Nemora, & nunc Folia, abditis  
In Musaeolis & vertere Dactylo,  
Sic fitque ut valido Corpore gaudeat  
Solutus Medico Hic, atque Animo simul.    

In praise of Fidelia.  
GEt thee a Ship well rigged and tight,  
With Ordnance store, and manned for fight,  
Snug in Her Timbers Mould for th'Seas,  
Yet large in hold for merchandise;  
Spread forth her Cloth, and Anchors weigh,  
And let Her on the Curld-waves play,  
Till fortune-towed, she chance to meet  
Th'Hesperian home-bound Western Fleet;  
Then let Her board-um, and for Price  
Take Gold-ore, sugarcanes, and Spice.  
Yet when all these Sh'hath brought a shore,  
In my Fidelia I'll find more.   

Two Turtles billing, and death with his scythe over them, ready to make separation; To whom this Divide & Impera.  
NAture hath o'er Affection so much won,  
To knit a knot never to be undone  
Whilst life remains; but Death to show his power  
Cuts and Divides, so becomes Emperor:  
Yet the Relict for to prevent Fates charms,  
Doth voluntary fleck into death's arms.   

To Sir John Wentworth, upon his Curiosities and Courteous entertainment at Summerly in LOVINGLAND.  
WHen thou the choice of nature's wealth hast skaned,  
And brought it to compare with Lovingland;  
Know, that thou Mayst as well make wonder less,  
By fancying of two Timbering Phoenixes  
At the same time: and dream two Suns to rise  
At once, to cast fire 'midst those Spiceris:  
(Pregnant She is) yet that must not deny  
The purest Gold to come from Barbary,  
Diamonds and Pearl from th'Indies, to confer  
On every Clime some thing peculiar,  
(For so She hath:) And like a sum to all  
That Curious is, seems here most liberal,  
Affording in Epitome at least,  
What ere the world can boast of, or call best.  
Now as contracted virtue doth excel  
In power and force, This seems a Miracle;  
Wherein all travellers may truly say,  
They never saw so much in little way:  
And thence conclude their folly, that did steer  
To seek for that abroad, at home was near  
In more perfection: Wouldst thou Phoebe meet,  
Apollo, or the Muses? not in Crect  
And Greece, but Here, at Summerly, those are  
Removed to dwell, under a patron's care,  
Who can as much Civility express,  
As candy lies, or Grecia Barbarousness:  
Wouldst thou be sheltered under Daphne's groves,  
Or choose to live in Tempe, or make loves  
To any place where Shepherds' wont to lie  
Upon the Hills, Piping security  
Unto their flocks? here the sweet Park contains  
More eevenness than the Arcadian Plains:  
Nor yet enchanted by those shadowed rings,  
Some say the Fairies print with revelings,  
But's all in one die clad, and doth appear  
Like the Springs Favourite throughout the year.  
The useful Ash, and sturdy Oak are set  
At distance, and obey; the Brambles met  
Embracing twine int' Arbours, to conceal  
And harbour such as stock this Common-weal;  
Until their Master please they should delight  
His, or his Friends desire and appetite:  
All tales of Satyrs banished are from hence,  
And fabled Goblins that delude the sense;  
'Tis real Venison and abroad, in paste  
Alike may satisfy both eye and taste.  
The Nobler Plants, as fir Deal, and the Pine  
Weeping out resin, bleeding Turpentine;  
Like the lifeguard, upon the Hall attend  
At nearer distance; where the Gods descend  
To keep their Courts, and either Globe's devised,  
To grasp the Elements epitomised.  
The sunbeams steady Fire, with the air  
Of the inconstant winds indialled are:  
So whilst the one, the hour doth infer,  
The Other Points a rule for th'Mariner:  
Earth here's embroidered into Walks, some strait,  
Others like Serpents are, or worms to bait  
Occasions hook till every humour come,  
And feed here fat as in Elysium.  
Nor is there water wanting in this wood,  
Clear as if running, Calm as if it stood,  
And so contrived by nature's helper Art,  
There's no appearance from the whole or part,  
That any sullen sluice to malice bent  
Can open, to impair that Element;  
Nor yet th'Ambition of a Springs o'erflow,  
Cause it t'exceed, or Limits overthrow.  
Thus like a gold Chain linked, or Bracelet strung,  
From carcanet Pleasures on Pleasures hung,  
And such delightful objects did descry  
Pursuing of each other, that the ey  
Astonished at such wonder, did crave rest,  
For fear of Forfeiting its interest  
In so great bliss, for over-dazled t'grew,  
And dim of sight made by each object new.  
So there's a parley granted, and some space  
To gather strength 'twix This and tother place,  
But very short, not half a Mile at most,  
We landed were again, and made a Coast;  
Where if all ancient Poets were to write,  
They'd need no other fountain to indite  
Story of all kinds with, but dip their pen,  
Then swear the Muses more than nine, were ten;  
For here dwelled one whose magic could infuse  
A fluency beyond all other Muse,  
And Court the Soil, with so much Art applied,  
That all the world seems Barbarous beside.  
Here Fish and Fowl inhabit with such state,  
As Lords and Ladies wont when served in Plate,  
Rich Arras, or the like, Bill, Breed, and swim  
In all delightful solace to the brim.  
Decoyed by so much rapture, on we pass  
Unto a Castle that enchanted was  
By th'magick spell of music; till there set  
We found a Cod like to Euterpe's net,  
To catch all Passengers, the Lesbian Lute,  
Overcome in harmony became there mute:  
Whilst as for Table to the Song-books served  
The crystal fountain: so have I observed,  
When walking near a stream, the heavens to be  
Beneath my feet, to ease astronomy:  
There tell the Gammuth of the Stars, and crack  
Of all their motions even with Tychobrack.  
The Fablers of old, I guess, might find  
Some Objects t'help invention, but the mind  
Was sure prophetic, for what ever is  
Described for rare by them, 'twas meant by this.  
And yet this falls short too, when He to whom  
The Cost and Care Owes tribute, 's there to sum  
Up All, with such humanity, and press  
Of crowded Favours, and heaped courtesies,  
As Friendship were a Jeweller the while,  
His welcome seemed the Diamond, Those the foil.   

Ad Amicum aegrotantem.  
OMnes Te invisum veniunt AEgrote valebaes,  
Nec fuerat Comitis spes tibi, solus eraes:  
Haud te etenim invideo, tanti nam non valet hospes,  
Quem mihi det morbus, sed bene Solus ero.   

Upon King CHARLES's meeting with the Dukes of YORK and GUOCESTER, and the Lady ELIZABETH, his three children at Maidenhead, the 15 of July, 1647.  
AFter a drought, like welcome rain,  
To Bless the Grass and Flowers again,  
Lick up those dusty heats destroy  
Their Brisker hude, Virginity:  
No less of Comfort and of sweets  
Proves it now Charles his Children meets;  
When an intestine Warlike force,  
Had caused so many years divorce.  
He prays for them; their tender eyes  
Returned Him duty sacrifice:  
Until each others breast appears  
Affection all dissolved to Tears,  
Which to the High-mark-point flown on,  
Stand ready brimed for passion.  
But here all humours that annoy  
Are banished, and give place to Joy;  
Yet such as doth prevail oft times,  
To make a tear no mark of Crimes.   

All streams come from, and return to the Sea.  
QUaeris aquas sitiens? nescis quod Flumina Cuncta  
In Mare se rapiunt, nec satur? ah sitias.   

Nox Diem sequitur, & Post Tenebras Lux.  
NOn sine nocte Dies, Tenebrae nec luce carentes,  
Sed Comitem sequitur Alteruterque suam.   

To Prince CHARLES.  
SO doth the early plum, the Pear, the Cherry  
Commit a Rape, and make nice Females merry,  
When longing-ripe; as Your return will bless  
The British Islands with new cheerfulness:  
Be pleased no longer therefore, SIR, to tarry,  
Lest a whole Gleek of kingdoms should miscarry;  
But You that are the Blossom of all hope,  
Dispel the Mists from off this horoscope;  
And in the stead of jealousy and fears,  
Let there be harmony throughout Your Spheres.  
There needs no other Midwifery to these,  
(As wished for truth, and now desired peace)  
But Your fair Hand to bring the same to pass,  
And place Your royal Father where he was.  
This be Your Noble issue, whilst all those  
Abortive prove, that so seemed to oppose;  
And while they'd bring to birth, and yet want strength,  
Teach them to know themselves and You at length.   

In readventum meum ad Antiquos Lares.  
TEmpora sic renovant verno sub sidere Terras,  
Sylva & frondiferis sic reparata Comis,  
Post tenebras sic grata Dies: sic Fluminis unda  
Gaudens Oceanum reperiisse suum:  
Ut Meus Antiquos iterum spectare Penates,  
Exultans Animus quod liquisse suos.   

Englished:  
The Spring thus doth the Earth repair,  
The Wood thus puts on leafy hair  
Of more acceptance, so's a Spark  
Of Light after it had been dark:  
The Rivers thus express desire,  
Hast'ning to find their proper Sire;  
As all this My return implies  
To My Old household Deities.   

Navis in Tempestate.  
FOrtuna & ventis agitur Loca certa tenere,  
Nescia fit Dominis paret ut Illa suis.   

The Fallacy of hopes or wishes.  
ALl present good goes less: by Hopes we deem  
Things Great; as Lights far distant greater seem.   

My Farewell to the Court.  
Go (fond Deluder of our senses) find  
Some other Objects Henceforth, to make blind  
With that thy glittering folly; for no more  
I will be dazzled with thy falser Ore:  
Nor shall thy Syren-songs enchant, to taste  
Or smell, or touch those Sorceries thou hast:  
But I will strive first in myself to be  
So much mine own, as not to flatter thee;  
And then my countries, for whose welfare still  
My native thoughts prompt to impress my will,  
And that draws Action forth, whereby to show  
To whom, and what, and when, and where I owe:  
Not as this nod, or beck, or wink, or glance  
Would dictate and imply, to follow chance,  
Fortune, or Favours ever-turning wheel;  
But to be firm and Constant, backed with steel  
And resolution for to give the True  
God what is his, and Caesar Tribute due,  
And that in season too for time and place,  
As th'one requires, and th'other affords grace:  
Not such as only from vain Titles springs,  
And turns to bubble, to court Prince or Kings  
With feigned applauses of whate'er they speak  
Or do, be't ne'er so frothy, fond, or weak;  
But what is clad in truth, and dares not lie,  
Though all the world should turn its enemy,  
Brand it for want of breeding, and conclude  
Because it not dissembles, therefore 't's rude.  
Those dancing days are done, nor longer suit  
My disposition to the Harp or Lute,  
hornpipe, or other Instruments have been  
The commonwealth's disease, ore-swoln its spleen.  
jockey and jinnie footing may appear  
Most trim at the next Wake in Derbyshire;  
Gotyer sail from the Clouds to catch our ears,  
And represent the harmony o'th' Spheres;  
Will. Lause excel the dying swan: Lancer  
Nick it with Ravishments from touch of Lyre,  
Yet uncontrolled by These, I safely may  
Survive; sithence not stung by th' Tarantula,  
(That tickling beast, Ambition, that makes sport  
In our hot Climate, called the verge of Court)  
And so resolve, dressing my minds content,  
Henceforward to be calm, and represent  
Nothing but what my Birth and Calling draw  
My life out for, my God, my King, my Law.  
And when for these my wearied breath is spent,  
Let with my last bloods drop one sigh be sent.   

How to ride out a Storm.  
HE only happy is, and wise,  
Can Cun his bark when Tempests rise,  
Know how to lay the Helm and steer,  
Lie on a Tack Port and Laveer,  
Sometimes to weather, then to Lee,  
As waves give way, and winds agree;  
Nor Boom at all in such a stress,  
But by degrees Loom Les and Les;  
Ride out a Storm with no more loss  
Than the endurance of a Toss:  
For though he cannot well bear sail  
In such a fresh and powerful Gale,  
Yet when there is no other shift,  
Thinkest not amiss to ride a drift;  
To shut down Ports, and tears to Hale in,  
To Seal the hatch up with Tarpalin;  
To Ply the Pump, and no means slack,  
May clear Her Bilge, and keep from wrack;  
To take in Cloth, and in a word,  
Unlade, and cut the Mast by board:  
So Spoon before the Wind and Seas,  
Where though she'll roll, she'll go at ease;  
And not so strained, as if laid under  
The wave that Threatens sudden founder;  
And whilst the fury and the rage,  
Leaves little hopes for Anchorage;  
Yet if She can but make a Coast  
In any time, She'll not be lost,  
But in affections Bay will find  
A Harbour suited to her mind:  
Where Casting out at first the Kedg,  
Which gives Her ground, and privilege  
Of stop, she secondly lets fall  
That Anchor from the Stream men call;  
The Others all a Cock-bell set,  
One after other down are let  
Into the Sea; till at the last  
She's come to Moorage, and there fast,  
In hopes to be new sheathed 's inclined  
To lie aside until carined;  
That when She shall be paid again,  
So graved, She may endure the Main.  
Thus when his vessel hath outgone  
This and that rugged motion,  
His pole-star's fixed, and guides him there  
Where CHARLES is not in wain but sphere;  
Then He'll another Voyage try,  
Laden with Faith and Loyalty,  
Which He no sooner parts with, than  
Dry-ground becomes an Ocean.   

In Incursionem Gustavicam, vel introitum in Germaniam.  
QVem 
1 Bohemiae rex seu Palatinus.  Domus Austriaca ab Patriis secluserat Oris,  
Hunc 
2 Rex suetiae.  Gustave suum adjam remeare facis:  
Nempè Palatinum Coelesti numine tutum  
Fecit, & est Populi Dux Deus Ipse sui:  
Vidit, & attonitas aperit Franconia 
3 Pro omni in Palatinatus Civitate.  portas,  

4 Be Opnam.  Hispanos refugos, 
5 Wirtsburg.  Caesareósque ferunt.  

6 Magdeburg.  Dura per immites salierunt moenia flammas,  
Saevitiam pingens Militis 
7 God's acre praelium Lipsie  Arva jacet.  

8 The Blve flum German.  Albis clara suis lymphis mutata, colore  
Et quasi Rubescens sanguinolenta fluit.  
unde fit? aut quorsum mutatio tanta? requiris  

9 Palatioum in Prague.  Cur fugis á Portis Walstane dire tuis?  
Quae 
10 Imperator in fug●m paratus ut fama.  fugiendi animum Fernande occasio reddit,  
Quis Tibl dat vulnus? quis metus oratenet?  

11 tilius in Monasterium subreptus ut lama sed mendax.  Quid latitas Claustris tanta foeliciter annis  
Castra regens? vivens cur Monumenta petis?  
Vltor adest Dominus, Gentem victamque reponit  
Victricem; Populum restituitque suum,  

12 Saxoniae duae qui se neutralem huc usque reservasset.  Saxioniásque vires tandem laxavit in usum,  
Et Suecus 
13 Hoc ita dictum à multiendine militum.  lango 
14 Hoc vero à puritate causea ad-suscipiendum hoc Bellam maxime movantis, 〈◊〉 ut Aquilae juen à Principibus Populoque Germanico tollatur & ut eis pristi●ae restaurentur Libertates: Almania quasi Tora de quae Hyoci●a sylva cincta Sibi subdie●.  flumine cuncta tulit.   

Roses & Lys unys.  
QUid Ganymedaeas formas canis & Irvis Ignes,  
Reddit enim Caecos Ipse Cupido Deos:  
Quidve Helenam numeras? nempe est perfectio Formae  
Unica, cum fuerint Lilia nupta Rosis.   


Mart. l. 7. Ep. 38.  upon Celius.  
WHilst Celius can no longer hear  
The Newes-transporting BabbIer;  
Nor yet endure a Morning spent  
In entertaining compliment  
From This or That Great person: He  
Feigneth a Gouty infirmity;  
And better falsehood to difguise,  
His founder feet with swaths he ties,  
And seems to go in pain as far,  
As art can prove a Crippeler:  
Till She to Nature turns at last,  
And so in earnest Celius' fast.   


Mart. l. 10. Ep. 47.  A happy Life.  
THat which Creates a happy life,  
Is substance left, not gained by strife,  
A fertile and a thankful mould,  
A Chimney always free from Cold;  
Never to be the Client, nor  
But seldom times the Counsellor.  
A mind content with what is fit,  
Whose strength doth most consist in Wit;  
A Body nothing prone to be.  
Sick, a Prudent simplicity,  
Such Friends as of one's own rank are;  
Homely fare, not sought from far;  
The table without Arts help spread;  
A night in Wine not buried,  
Yet drowning Cares; a Bed that's blessed  
With true Joy, Chastity, and rest;  
Such short sweet Slumber as may give  
Less time to die in't, more to live:  
Thine own Estate whate'er commend,  
And wish not for, nor fear thine end.   

In Magis. Vilet.  
ANni Haec prima Dies Veris sic prima videtur,  
Quâ simul & Violam vidimus & Glaciem;   

To Quintianus. 
Mart. l. 5. Ep. 18.   
THat in December when gifts fly  
From this to that Friend mutually,  
I nought but Books send, thou'lt judge thus,  
Perhaps I'm Avaricious;  
No, know I hate those fond deceits,  
And Crafts in gifts are like to baits  
On hooks, whereon a Fly doth cheat  
The greedier Fish when it would eat.  
And whilst a Poor man sendeth not at all  
Unto's rich friends, He seems more liberal.   

In quendam Militem panem in dorsum portantem.  
VEntrem ut Hic oneret, non tergam oneraere recusat,  
Ventrem Onerat tergam quae exonerare suam.   

Ad Scoto-Britannum cui Carolus noster se subtraxit.  
QUod fugit ad Scotos Rex, quid mirabile Scotus,  
Mutuo nempè Anglis dum datur ille suis  
Redditus est igitur: sic cum modo debita solvant  
Cuncti iterum, Regem fac revenire Tuum.   

Englished:  
What wonder is't, the King to'th Scots is fled,  
When by the English He was Borrowed,  
So now's restored: that all their debts pay thus,  
I'd wish our Brethren send Him back to us.   

Naturae defectus.  
SI Peccare grave est placidum simul, integra non est  
Natura, 
Pastor Fido.  exitium quae cupit Ipsa suum:  
Lex vel dura nimis, quâ cum ●atara videtur  
Offensa, & Vinctis se opposuisse suis.   

In Mortem sui Thesei, J. D. sororem ducturi, Anno 1623.  
NOmine si hoc unquam mors (Invidiosa) meretur,  
Tempora sint Lachrymis digna vel ulla meis,  
Ecce adsunt: Hymen ipse Tedas cum ascendere inssit.  
Accenditque suam Mors gemibunda facem.  
Inque Elegos vertit Nuptialia Carmina, risus  
In Gemitus; vestes nunc Color unus habet:  
Amaracîque fugat flores invisa Cupressus;  
Atque suis Ramis Tempora Cincta tenet.  
Dúmque Mea jam partens animae rapit, altera resto  
Mancus, & ingrata est quae mihi vita manet.   

In Obitum Nobilissimi Principis Mauritii Hassiae, Landgravii, Anno 1633  
GUstavum doleant Alii, doleánt vesecessi●●  
Heu Frederice tuum; nec Careant Lachrymis,  
Fontibus ex bi●is gemini maenâre dolores,  
Nam duplex Cordi Causae gementis erat:  
Nunc ni Triformi huic maneat pars altena telis,  
Impercussa suis Mors inopina redit  
Tertius & Princeps semper deflendus ab omni,  
Parte perit Patriae Lausque decusque suae:  
Virtutes Alii quibus est facundia narrent,  
Suppressa Haec tanto pondere Musa filet.   

An Epitaph on E. W.  
NAture lent time, so He grew old  
And prodigal at once in this,  
Setting it all at stake 'gainst gold,  
Whereof He made his greatest bliss:  
But when She saw He took of All  
Men interest, yet paid Her none,  
She Calls for in the principal,  
And lays it up under this Stone,  
Defessus est ambolando.   

On a Player.  
THou that so oft in jest was wont to die,  
Art now ta'en at thy word, and here dost lie:  
Thine Acts had many Scenes, Death's had but one,  
His Entry was thine Exit, bade be gone;  
Thou act'st a King no more, no that's laid by,  
Nor any's Parasite in flattery;  
Thou hast put off the Clowns slops now, nor art.  
Wrapped with the fury of a lover's part;  
But suit'st thyself in one, wherein all must  
Thy fellow-Actors be, to sleep in Dust.   

In Obitum Ben. Johns. Poetae eximii.  

HE who began from Brick and Lime  
The muse's Hill to climb;  
And whilom busied in laying Ston,  
Thirsted to drink of Helicon;  
Changing His trowel for a Pen,  
Wrote straight the Temper not of Dirt but Men,   

Now sithence that He is turned to Clay, and gone,  
Let Those remain of th' occupation  
He honoured once, square Him a Tomb may say  
His Craft exceeded far a Dawbers way.  
Then write upon't, He could no longer tarry,  
But was returned again unto the Quarry.    

Of an Old Man.  
HAppy is He who on his own fields stage,  
And nowhere else, hath acted o'er his Age;  
He, whom his own house, (had it eyes and tongue)  
Might say it sees Him old, and saw him young,  
Now trusting to a staff, he treads those sands  
He formerly had crept on with his hands:  
So reckons up the long descent and (dotage  
Through decays) of that his homely Cottage,  
He ne'er was drawn with fortune's Train to haste,  
Nor did He flatter foreign springs with taste;  
He was no merchantman might fear the Straits,  
Nor soldier fancying Military baits,  
He never Pleaded, neither strife nor force,  
Of brabbling lawsuits ever made him hoarse:  
But (as uncapable of business) free,  
Cannot resolve what the next town should be,  
Yet doth enjoy a prospect (may control  
All others) of the free air, and Pole.  
Nor casts He up the year by Consuls now,  
But as the Fruit-trees to their seasons bow;  
By Apples Autumn, Spring by Flowers befalls him,  
One field hides Phoebus-face, the same recalls him:  
And thus This Countrey-swains observing way  
Measures within his Ozh at the Course of Day.  
He did remember yongre at Oat, when 't stood  
But for a sapling, so's grown old with's wood:  
And judging that same isle (with less wits blessed.  
More Barbarism) to be th' Indies East:  
He doth conclude the Red-sea to be near,  
Beholding Stanground, Farcet, and the mere:  
And yet through strength unconquered he may gather  
Comfort, the third Age sees him Grandfather.  
Let others wander to the farthest of Spain,  
The way is only Theirs, but life His gain.   

De Tristibus. To a Cat bore me company in Confinement.  
ASsociate to my Tears, whose nature tried  
Makes thee a fit Companion for my side,  
Who Captive sit under Confinements wing  
For Being too active to act suffering,  
So become Passive too: Scratch but thine ear,  
Then boldly tell what weather's drawing near.  
For I'll conclude, no storm of Fortune can  
Prevail o'er Caesar's barque, an honest Man.   

Sola Bella clie piace.  
'TIs but a folly to be nice,  
Since liking sets on Beauty price,  
And what we do affect alone,  
Becomes to Each His Paragon:  
All Colour, Shape, or Form, we know  
Improve to best to those think so;  
For where Esteem its Anchor wets,  
There grows true Pearl, no counterfeits:  
Were She as Crooked as a Pin,  
And yet could Love, it were no sin  
To love again; for Writers tell, 
Magnes amoris amor.   
That love hath in't the Loadstons' spell:  
Were She proportioned like the Sphere,  
No Limb or Joint Irregular;  
Yet to my fancy if she jar,  
I shall not sail by such a star:  
Did She outvie the newborn Day,  
Or th'richest Treasuries of May,  
So that what Skies or Flowers put on,  
Give place to her Complexion,  
I'll sooner deem a black Wench white,  
That's suiting to my Appetite  
Well, in conclusion, hath She Fair,  
Or Brown, or Black, or Golden hair  
Where one is Cupid struck, Venus is there.   

To Retiredness.  

NExt unto GOD, to whom I owe  
What e'er I here enjoy below,  
I must indebted stand to Thee,  
Great Patron of my liberty;  
For in the Cluster of affairs,  
Whence there are dealing several shares:  
As in a Trick Thou hast conveyed  
Into my hand what can be said;  
Whilst He who doth himself possess,  
Makes all things pass him seem far less.   

Riches and honours that appear  
Rewards to the Adventurer,  
On Either tide of Court or Seas,  
Are not attained nor held with ease;  
But as unconstancy bears sway,  
Quickly will fleet and Ebb away:  
And oft when Fortune those Confers,  
She gives them but for Torturers:  
When with a mind Ambition-free,  
These, and much more come home to Me.   

Here I can sit, and sitting under  
Some portions of His works of wonder,  
Whose all are such, observe by reason,  
Why every Plant obeys its season,  
How the Sap rises, and the Fall,  
Wherein They shake off leaves and all;  
Then how again They bud and spring,  
Are laden for an Offering:  
Which whilst my Contemplation sees,  
I am taught Thankfulness from trees.   

Then turning over nature's leaf,  
I mark the Glory of the Sheaf,  
For every Field's a several page,  
Deciphering the Golden Age:  
So that without a Miners pains,  
Or Indie's reach, here plenty reigns;  
Which watered from above, implies,  
That our acknowledgements should rise  
To Him, that thus creates a birth  
Of Mercies for us out of Earth:   

Here, is no other Case in Law,  
But what the sunburnt Hat of Straw,  
With crooked Sickle reaps and binds-  
Up into Sheaves to help the hinds;  
Whose arguing alon's in this,  
Which Cop lies well, and which amiss,  
How the Hock-Cart with all its gear  
Should be tricked up, and what good cheer,  
Bacon with Cook's reports express,  
And how to make the Tenth go less.   

There, are no other wars, or strifes—  
Encouragers, shrill Trumpets, Fyfes,  
Or horrid drums; but what Excels  
All music, Nature's Minstrels  
Piping and Chirping, as they sit:  
Embowred in branches, dance to it:  
And if at all Those do contest,  
It is in this, but, which sings best:  
And when they have contended long,  
I [though unseen] must judge the Song.   

Thus out of fears, or noise of war,  
Crowds, and the clamourings at bar;  
The Merchant's dread, th'unconstant tides,  
With all Vexation besides;  
I hug my Quiet, and alone  
Take thee for my Companion,  
And deem in doing so, I've all  
I can True Conversation call:  
For so my Thoughts by this retreat  
Grow stronger, like contracted heat.   

Whether on nature's Book I muse,  
Or else some other writes on't, use  
To spend the time in, every line,  
Is not eccentric but Divine:  
And though all others downward tend,  
These look to heaven, and ascend  
From whence they came; where pointed high,  
They ravish into mystery,  

Nunquam minus sulus.  To see the footsteps here are trod  
Of mercy by a Gracious God.    

To my Book.  
Go, and my Blessing with Thee; then remain  
Secure, with such as kindly entertain:  
If sent to any Others, tell them this,  
The Author so takes but his Mark amiss:  
Who's fearless of reproach from critics skill,  
Seeing, t'look a given horse i'th' mouth sounds ill:  
And what alone to Friends he would impart,  
Hath not at all to do with Fair or Mart.  
Wherefore whoever shall peruse these rhymes,  
Must know, they were beguilers of spare times.  
ΤΕΛΟΣ   

〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉  
IS there a Child born? what great worder's that?  
When 'tis nature's property to generate;  
But here's a son too given, which implies  
All that can be ascribed to Mysteries;  
For He's a Father, Brother, Kinsman, Friend,  
Both Sacrifice and Priest to recommend  
That offering up: Samaritan passed by  
Himself, to Act the height of Charity  
On us lay stripped wounded; A physician  
Cures the disease of our indisposition  
To aught that good is; shepherd to redress,  
And bring us back out of the wilderness;  
Where we had gone astray into his fouled,  
A Merchant that Redeems us who were sold  
To sin and bondage; and to make all good,  
Contented was to spare his precious blood  
So was a lamb before the Shearers led,  
To be disrobed, despised, and slaughtered,  
That we might Live in credit, and put on  
The whiter Robe of his Salvation:  
This Atlas-like the Government doth bear  
Upon His shoulder, and if counsellor  
We would esteem Him, we should be content  
To make his mercies our encouragement:  
For mighty faults deserve a mighty rod,  
But He an Everlasting mighty God,  
The Prince of Peace, full of Compassions store,  
Holds out the Golden sceptre evermore,  
And that this Birth and Gift to us be known,  
He pleads himself Our cause at's father's Throne.   

Christus. Totus, Solus, Omnibus.  

NE tibi defictas fac sie tibi Totus Iesus  
Nec metuas, Christus sat tibi solus, erit  
Omnibus & capreus rebus gaudere secundis  
Conferat in Dominum singuta facta suum.   

That to yourself you be not wanting, make  
Jesus all yours, and Christ alone your stake;  
For who desires enjoyment of good things  
Must place upon his Lord what e'er he brings.    

Tantillus Homo, & Tantus Peccator  
HOw small a thing is Man, and yet immense,  
In acting over Disobedience;  
From the first sparing time He did begin  
To hatch Rebellion, and to foster sin:  
Dispute His maker's mandate, and make choice  
To yield unto the subtle serpent's voice:  
Thus then betrayed, ere since he doth prefer  
Custom to be New nature's Usherer;  
And so prescribes, Thinking he doth no worse  
Than his forefather who entailed, the curse,  
A new belief of credit would put on,  
That God would sign a new Redemption:  
As if his son into the world did deign,  
Once for to come, should come for him again;  
And so He will; yet not by ransom led,  
To purchase that again man forfeited.  
By second Error, but as Judge to try  
(Whilst Conscience verdicts) each enormity:  
And as man's misdemeanours They express,  
Though Great in Guilt, in goodness He'll go less.   

Ad Amicum.  
PRandia parva juvant, Parvis, lectusque domusa;  
Nec magnus Puer est, nec focus illetuus  
Parvis magna solet virtus gandere micatque  
Oppositis positum grandius ingenium.   

Before a Sacrament.  
IS there a Feast to day? must I make one  
At so great Celebration?  
And am I yet to seek how to be dressed  
As to become a worthy Guest?  
If to some other Table bid I were  
My tailor, and my shoemaker,  
Sempster, and Barber, all might mustered be  
To add to my Formality.  
But this more real than all else, implies  
A Banquet fill'd with mysteries:  
God's manifested in the Flesh, 
Tim. 3. 16.  and thus  
The height of mercy shown to us:  
And if the Rule of charity begins  
At home, let's call to mind our sins,  
Befriend ourselves so far as to confess,  
How much He did, and we do less,  
Be joyful for so Great a saviour's Power,  
Yet in Contrition m●st a shower,  
To think how oft whilst lewd affections guide  
We make our Lord New crucificte,  
Then if we would no more of horror dread,  
We may approach and take this bread  
And wine, the Comfort and the staff, whereby  
Not Life but life's Eternity  
Secured is, and then with Grace possessed  
Show that we have an interest  
In his high merits which alone Comprise  

Iob. 2.14.  Power to quell our Enemies.  
And though our former Actions turned to weed,  
Let's now bring Faith though but a Mustard seen  
So may we all remove that high appears  
In our conceits, into a sea of Tears;  
For 'tis His Blood no other Jordan can  
Cuer the leprous Assyrian   


1 Cor. 1.30.  Qui factus fuit nobis a Deo  

 

Prov. 9 10.  Sapientia; Vt Timeamus utpote Initium.  

Cor. 1.29.  Justitia; Vt nostra nihili pendamus quoniam carnalis.  
Sanctificatio 〈…〉  
Redemptio, 〈…〉.  
Non Recussantes, Cruci● viz. Afflictionibus & Tribulationibus pro Illo suecumber, Que● astius Gravitatem & Anxietatem pro abbis sustentaverut.