July 23. The second day  

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

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

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

Meditation 20  
How loath, how backward are we all to leave  
This transitory world? Let Death bereave  
〈◊〉 of those Mundane things, yet if we still  
●●solve to live and die to Christ, what ill  
Can happen to us? Lord, before I die  
Let me a better Kingdom fare espy.   

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

July 24. The third day.  

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

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

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

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

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

July 25. The 4th. day.  

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

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

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

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

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

July 26th. The 5th. day  

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

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

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

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

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

July 31. The third day.  

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

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

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

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

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

August 1. The 4th day.  

Meditation 53.  
How often should we think of this, that we  
Must ere long yield to Death's supremacy?  
The time ere long will come, when we shall be  
No more; and shortly we no time shall see.  
O that I might be then prepared for this  
So great a Change, and be received to bliss.   

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

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

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

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

August 2. The 5th day.  

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

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

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

Meditation 60.  
〈◊〉 is a surly Sergeant, no respect  
〈…〉 to persons, does their tears reject;  
〈◊〉 will blind his eyes, away we must,  
〈…〉 call, and return to the dust.  
〈◊〉 grant that I may death behold with joy,  
〈…〉 o my soul let it bring no annoy.   

〈◊〉 minute gives my time a shorter time:  
〈…〉 prepare for Death is a sad crime.    

August 3. The 6th. day  

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

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

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

Meditation 64  
What makes the Saints on earth desire to be  
Dissolved, and that blessed day to see?  
What makes them whilst they're here below to  
Against this body of Corruption?  
Lord, they know not when they from henc● 〈◊〉  
On them a glorious Kingdom thou'lt bestow   

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

A POSTCRIPT TO THE READER.  

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

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

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

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

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

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

Let the Example of this Pilot young,  
(So skilled in Spiritual Salling) thee inform  
To steer thy Course through Baca's Vale, along  
To this fair Haven, (fear nor Wind, nor Storm)  
Till thou arrive with him, in whom did dwell  
Some good thing toward the God of Israel.   
M. J.