A buckler against the fear of death; or, Pious and profitable observations, meditations, and consolations: by E.B.

Sect. I. Riches cannot protect us from the stroke of Death.

OF richest men in holy writ I read, Whose basket & whose store the Lord had blest, And in the land exceedingly increas'd Their wealthy substance; yet they all are dead. Riches do not immortalize our nature: The richest dyes as well's the poorest creature.

'Bove all, the wealth of Solomon did passe; Ne'r was man master of a greater store: He went beyond all Kings that went before. Silver as stones, and purest gold as brasse, Adorn'd Jerusalem: a glorious thing! Yet death strikes into dust this wealthy King.

Meditation 1.

IF 'gainst Death's stroke my riches cannot arm me, Nor comfort me a jote when I am dying: I'll take a care these witches do not harm me Whilst I do live. I know they will be trying To do me any mischief; as before And now they mischief all the whole world o're.

Some riches hurt with that old sinne of pride: Rich men extremely swell; most commonly This sinne and wealth both in one house abide: Poore men are loo'kd on with a scornfull eye. Strangely is his heart puft up with pride's bellow•• That hath a fatter fortune then his fellow••.

His words are big, looks lofty, mind is high; He with his purse will needs drive all before him: He ever looks for the precedency; And vext he is if men do not adore him: He bears the sway: another man must b••, If not so rich, not half so good as he.

Some men wealth doth infect with churlishnesse: They answer roughly: they are crabbed mise••s. (Course bread yields hardest crust) This is a dresse Wherewith wealth decks our accidentall risers. Since Nabals death a thousand ri••h men be In every point as very hogs as he.

Some wealth makes prodigalls: there's no excesse But they runne into. Back and belly strive Which shall spend most: belly, with drunkennesse And gormandizing: back, for to contrive New stuffs and fashions. This excessive crue Have wayes to spend that Dives never knew.

Observe these Caterpillers: One man puts Into his throat a cellar full of drink: Another makes a shambles of his guts. The back is not behind; you would not think, How for themselves, and for their curious dames, One suit of clothes a good fat manour lames.

Some wealth makes idle: like so many drone•• They suck what others sweat for, and do hate All good imployments. Many wealthy ones Have neither callings in the Church nor State; And during life do nothing day by day But sit to eat and drink, and rise to play.

These mischiefs are in wealth and many more: It throws men into many a foolish lust. But if Gods bounty multiply my store, I'll drain these 〈◊〉〈◊〉from 't: For when I must Grone on my death-bed, these sinnes will displease me And fright my soul, but riches cannot case me.

Lord, either keep me poore, or make me rich In grace as well as goods: my wealth undresse (If I have any) of those vices which Are wont to clothe it; so shall I possesse Riches without those sinn••s that riches bring, That when death comes they sharpen not hi•• sting.

Meditation 2.

THough God doth 〈◊〉〈◊〉me all my time along With best of bl••ssings, make my 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉, Fill ••ull my 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉my 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 To labour; and although his 〈◊〉〈◊〉give As much to me as to a thousand more; Though I am rich and all my neighbours poore;

Though Fortune f••nne me with a courteous wing; Though gold be at my back; though I have sail'd With prosp••rous ••ales; though not an adverse thing Did 〈◊〉〈◊〉be••de me; though I never fail'd Of good succ••ss in any undertaking: Yet am I still one of the common making;

A piec•• of ••ust an•• clay: and I may go 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉. Ou•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉; God at first made us so: He 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉rich mans life but like a span; 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉: And both 〈◊◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊◊〉 Death doth strike.

When they are fallen both alike they lie; Both breathlesse, noisome, livelesse, senselesse, cold: Both like the grasse are withered, dead and d••ie; And both of them are ghastly to behold. The ods is this, The poore man 'mongst the croud Of buried mortalls hath the coursest shroud.

Why sinne the foolish sonnes of men for gain? Why doth the Land-lord ra••k? the Us'••er bite? Why doth the Judge with bribes his conscience stain? Why doth the bauling Lawyer take delight In spinning causes to a needlesse length, Untill his clients purse hath lost its strength?

Why are Gods Ministers become men-pleasers? And why are ••atrones simonia••all? Why are our Advoca••es such nippy teasers Of honest causes? why the devil and all Do Misers scrape? and why do Tradesmen rear Their price, yet sell time ••earer then their ware?

Sure these bad courses cannot choose but hurt us; They mak•• D••aths looks more ghastly, and his sting Mor•• piercing: but our wealth cannot support us 'Gainst small 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉fears that Death will bring. Riches do promise much but do deceive us: When we have need of succour then they leave us.

Anoint me, Lord, with eye-salve, to discern What poore contents the world affords at best. Instruct me, Lord, and I shall quickly learn That without thee there's no condition blest. Bad wayes of gaining into hell will drive me: But all my wealth will not from Death reprive me.

Meditation 3.

SOme therefore sinne because they do abound In store of wealth: this is the onely ground Of many sinnes. Gods laws they do tran••gresse; They w••ong their equals, a••d the poore oppresse; They 〈◊〉〈◊〉religion and civilitie Both under foot; all kind of tyrannic

They exercise on all within their reach. Nothing can keep them in; they make a breach Through all those senses which at the beginning God set to keep rebellious man from sinning: They will be reveilers, whoremongers, swearers, Drunkards, oppreslours, liers, and forbearers Of no impiety: this is the reason, Great men they are, and rich. 'T is petty treason, Though in a modest way, for to reprove Those sinfull courses which our betters love. If we dare do it, though we have a calling To do it boldly, we are tax'd for bawling And sauc••e fellows; and another day Sure we shall smart for 't. Lord, I'll never say, I'll sinne because I'm rich; unlesse that I Could say, I'm rich, and therefore will not die.

Meditation 4.

IF from Deaths stroke my riches cannot shield me, Nor on my death-bed any comfort give; Then I will take a care that they shall yield me Some joy and comfort whilst I am alive, And never shall a jote my sinnes increase, Nor hinder me from going hence in peace.

I'll get them well: my calling shall be lawfull; My brows or brains shall sweat for what I have: And I will use my calling with an awfull Regard of God and conscience; nor will crave What I have not a right to. They do eat Scarce their own bread whose faces never sweat

Unlesse they sweat with eating. Nor can I Find any warrant for those wayes of gain Which many men do get their livings by: To keep a needlesse Al••house to maintein An idle familie: to be a Pander, A Fortune-teller, or an Apes commander:

A purblind Crowder, or a Rogue that canteth; A Cuckold by consent for ready pay: A sturdy Begger that not one limb wanteth: Or one that borrows money on the way: A Us'rer, who whether 't shine or rain, If the Sunne stand not still, is sure of gain.

For these I find no warrant: nor for dealing Deceitfully in selling or in buying. To take more then what's sold is worth, is stealing; Or to give lesse: the art of multiplying Our lands, or gold, or silver, by subtracting From other mens, or by unjust exacting

What is not ours. Better (in my opinion) It were to seed on barley-bread and pottage Made of salt, water, and an onion: To wear a thred-bare coat, and in a cottage Smoke-bound and rusty pennylesse to dwell, Then to get wealth unlesse I get it well.

And when 't is justly gotten, every thought That I'll bestow upon it shall be such As it deserves: If heav'ns full hand hath brought Plenty into my bosome, if as much I have as I could wish, my care shall be To think of 't all as of a vanity.

A vanity that, for ought I do know, May take its flight and in an houre leave me. As God had many wayes for to bestow His bounty on me, he hath to bereave me As many more: as moveables I'll deem it From me, or with me; and I will esteem it

A strong temptation unto many a sinne, That never will perform what it doth promise: That wealths fair books when we are deepest in The greater reck'ning God exacteth from us. I'll not afford my wealth a better thought: And I do think I think on 't as I ought.

And as I ought I'll use 't: Not to be fewel For any lust, nor to maintein my riot; Not to be prodigall, vainglorious, cruel; Nor yet to make my potent purse disquiet My poorer brother: but from thence I'll raise My neighbours profit and my Makers praise.

Where there is need, I'll ready be to give, Glad to distribute: naked ones I'll cover: Hungry and thirsty souls I will relieve: Widows distress'd in me shall find another Husband: to orphanes I will be in stead Of parents to provide their daily bread.

I'll never empty send the poore away••: The Church shall ever find my purse unty'd: The King shall have his due without delay: The Common-wealth shall never be deny'd. Thus shall my wealth be common unto many, If ever God be pleas'd to send me any.

Riches so justly gotten, and imploy'd So pi••usly, although they cannot make A man immortall, that he should avoid The grave and rottennesse; yet do not shake The soul with terrours and such desperate fears, As what's ill gotten doth, when Death appears.

Make me a faithfull Steward, holy Father, Of what thou hast intrusted me withall. Where I straw'd not grant I may never gather; Nor sinne in spending: Then send Death to call Me to account, Lord, when thou wilt, and I Shall entertein the message joyfully.