Pelecanicidium, or, The Christian adviser against self-murder together with a guide and the pilgrims passe to the land of the living : in three books.

THE CHRISTIAN ADVISER AGAINST SELF-HOMICIDE, OR SELF-MURDER. BOOK I.

SECT. I. Accoast.

STay, Desperate Souls! Let's have a word or two! Examine Well, what you but Once can do! Can any Fiend allure with such a Call, That you must post, and run into the Fall! Or is your Conscience cozen'd with false Hope, That Heaven is t'ane by Water, Knives, or Rope? For no man sure seeks Hell; Nor sets his Will On Purpose to bring forth the Fruits of Ill. Man was, and is betray'd with specious Show; And meets with Losse in seeking More to know.

SECT. II. Induction.

SMooth-handed Pleasure beckens Most awry; And has a Wanton Witchcraft in the Eye. Unwieldy Wealth (that's stiff, and pursie grown) A Hoard's, that He, that has, yet does not own; Or Others vainer Breath, wherewith some build Castles in Air, their Names with it to gild. These are Hell's usual Cordage (Traps and Gins) Wherewith Men twist the Cables of their Sins; With which they to destruction tye so fast, As if unto th'Abysse th'ad Anchor cast.

SECT. III. Lovers.

OR is't some whining calm of Love, that's crost, That has your Hearts into the Hazard tost? Is there No Remedie for what you loose, But, Woodcock like to cure it with a Noose? Is Nature plunder'd that she'as lost her Store? What canst not finde 'mongst all All to please, One more? Why sneak ye else alone? Why sigh? Why pine? Why set up Idols on each sainted Shrine? So tempt ye Heaven; And with your frantick Fits Endanger losse of Life, as well as Wits.

SECT. IV. Great Spirits.

COme ye stiff Hearts, that know not how to bend! That All wou'd borrow, but wou'd Never lend!

Has strong Affliction prest ye to the Ground? And left ye Speechlesse, as y'had lately swoun'd? Can dire Resolves help? Or Stabs cure a Wound? Have ye lost All Things? And 'bove Those your Fame? Life was before. Let it out-live A Name. Impatient Fingers of Mindes overhot, Open not Skains, but run them All a knot. Unrulie Pris'ners, fetter'd, strive in vain; And more do hurt themselves, the more they strain.

SECT. V. Melancholick.

BUt, cloudie Natures, swallow'ing stupid Follie, Like Pills, wrapt up in pleasing Melancholie! Forbear your Dumps! And let in Reasons Light! Else you may hasten; or forestall your Night, Be sociable Creatures! as First made. Occasion shunn'd, does Sad Events evade. Be well imploy'd! For Idlenesse has been Porter, and Executioner to Sinne

SECT. VI. Iealous.

ANd, Why so Jaundic't are ye Man? or Wife? Your Local Hell does wearie, shorten Life. Think ye that Jealousie, Ill got, Worse born, Must have Death drive it through the Suretie-Horn? Whose narrow passage is the only way For foolish Hopes to seek by Night the Day? Shalt thou, cause th'other happens on a Shelf, Needs therefore madly cast away thy Self?

SECT. VII. The Frighted Childe.

WHo's there? The woful Childe of Parents Rage. Whither art going to prevent thine Age? What Stepmother has frighted thee to do That, when thou com'st at, thou wilt tremble too? Beware of Haste! Thy Steps do lead to Hell; Where Rage, where Horrour do for ever dwell. Storms last not Alwayes. Have a Care, mad Childe! Thou thinkst to scape the Worst, and art beguil'd. Thy Parents Wrath may sooner be appeas'd, Than everlasting Torments can be eas'd.

SECT. VIII. The Debaucht Prentice.

WHy Prentice buy'st That Cord? Thy look bewrayes, There's something in thee, that thy Self betrayes. Has thy lewd recklesse Youth summ'd Tavern-Scores? Or hast exchang'd thy Masters Wares for Whores? Do'st fear thy Parents Bond? Thy Credits Losse? All these? And hast thou yet another Crosse? Then Wrath on All sides haunts thee, and the Maid, Or Masters Daughter, thou hast ill betray'd. And wud'st thou binde up all within that String? Life is of higher Price, then any Thing.

There's Hope to cure all These. There's None in Death. For There thou stranglest Hope in stifling Breath. Because th'hast injur'd Others, must Thou still Increase thy doing Wrong to lessen Ill? Bethink thee then! And make not more thy Curse! Since Ill to Ill is Step from Step to Worse.

For there's no Price that can this Reck'ning pay. Turn back! Repent! Thy Score may waste away.

SECT. IX. The unfortunate Merchant.

SEek not that poison, Merchant, for thy Taste! Must thou be lost 'cause Ships away are cast? Canst fear a Prison, whence there may be Bail? And flee'st from that into a Hopelesse Goal? Wu'd any Mad Man seek the Sergeant's Hand? On Such an action too, as ere shall stand? Losses may be regain'd, but this can never. This is a Losse but Once, but Losse for ever.

SECT. X. The Bloody Murtherer.

BUt whom behold I There with Hands so red, And Face so pale, as if he were half dead? Lay down that Dagger! Mercies endlesse Store Cain's Fact exceeds; or Iudas Sale; or More.

SECT. XI. The curious Zealot.

AH! What say'st Thou, that break'st asunder Text? And seekst out Scruples, that thou may'st be vext? And look'st for such Decrees of God, as Fate? Poring to know whom He'd predestinate? Those Characters are legible to'th' Wise I'th' Book of God, as saving Mysteries. Do well; and be accepted. Can'st not see? Thou wantest Faith. Thou want'st Humilitie.

No Wonder Then; Though Desperation make Thee ready Fuel for the Brimstone Lake.

SECT. XII. The tender Conscienc't Despairer.

WHat ayl'st poor Tender Conscience, late misled? Why, That was ••tone, He gave Thee; 'Twas not Bread. Said He? (Too vile to live to spend Gods store, Thou do'st but heap up Sin with spending more. Thou tread'st on groaning Earth, and robb'st the Good By wrongful eating up the Godly's Food.) Hast Thou lesse Right unto the Creature, than, For whom All was at first created, Man? Or has the Serpent chang'd his former Cheat To' a Contrarie as false. Thou must not Eat? He meant not Thee. God made Thee Living Heir O'th' Earth; unnaturalize not by Despair! Canst be a Burthen to the silent Earth? And wert not to thy Mother 'fore thy Birth? Deluding Satan see, thy Soul wu'd Presse. He takes advantage of thy heavie Dresse; And leads to Mischief by the Wildernesse. He's now turn'd Saint to turn Thee from thy Joy To'a dark Labyrinth the better to destroy. Shines not the Sun on All? The Bad? The Good? Bears not Earth equally for all her Food? 'Twixt Good and Bad what difference makes the Main? Or what Distinction Windes? or falling Rain? No Eurthen thou unto the Earth canst be. Unload thy Sin. The Burthen is on Thee.

SECT. XIII. A horrid, yet true Story of one that hang'd himself, upon his Knees, with a Bible on a Stool open before him, and a Paper to signifie that he had repented.

VVHat Storie have I heard? What rueful Tale? What monstrous Match, of Piety and Bale? E'en to Beliefs Abortion? That a Crime, So big, shou'd bear Religion out of Time? Can any Christian make his Will of's Minde Before, so black a Deed to leave Behinde, To shew, his Act spawn'd not from Discontent, But that he was Prepared, did Repent? And, that of Death he need not be afraid, The Sacred Book was ope, and 'fore him laid. Mad Zeal to Blindnesse he makes double Pairs In Kneeling Posture Hanging joyns to Prayers! What greater Sin cu'd Satan ere devise, Than put Devotion into Bloudshot Eyes! Are Cursed Fruits produc't by Blessed Trees? How comes else Blasphemie upon its Knees? Where Gods Church is, must there Hells Chappel be? Religion, Witchcraft, and Idolatrie? What Jugling Cozenage This? To gild Damnation? 'Tis a strange Tenet sure? What? Damn'd Salvation? I did repent saidst thou? Thou didst resolve The greatest Sin to act, that could involve. For, cou'dst have clear'd by Sorrow thy past Score, Thou in This One hast done them Millions o're. The Pardon of all Those This does prevent. To much One Such. Who shall for This repent?

Nay; Who is't can? Such Actors past their Scenes, When off the Stage have lost their Time and Means. For, as the Tree does fall, so must it lie, Until the mighty Judge does come to try. Then, as our Deeds have been or Good, or Ill, He will our Measures with our own Corn fill. Blest They shall reign, that did obey's Commands. Hells Zelot! Who requir'd This at thy Hands? Religion, if ye make a Pedlars Trusse, From such Gear in't Good Lord deliver us.

SECT. XIV. One that will not plead to save his Goods.

IS That a Christian standeth at the Bar, That will not be to's Wife or Childe a Scar? Why didst ought then unjust? Offences be The greatest stains unto a Familie. Speak Mute! Pull off thy vain Pretences Hoods! Wu't cast thy Self away to save they Goods. For ought thou Know'st the Jewries tender Heart, Or Judges Wisdom way may finde to start. Wu't Thou upon thy Life commit a Rape? And block the Door, by which thou might'st escape?

SECT. XV. A Desperate Malefactor.

COndemned Malefactor, why such strife Within thy strugling Breast to shorten Life? Thou hast not many dayes. Make use of Those! Wu't thou turn Hangman to preserve thy Clothes? Yea, rather then the People see thy Day,

Thou wilt prevent, and make thy self away. There may be yet Reprieve. At worst, thy Death, Repenting paid, will give thee Heavenly Breath.

SECT. XVI. A Wench with Childe.

ANd Why that Physick, Wench? Hast loos'd thy Shooe? Wu't to Adulterie adde Close Murder too? What though th'ast broke thy Leg? thy Credit's lame? By breaking Neck do'st think to cure the same? More salvage then a Tygresse! brutish! wilde! Hast neither Mercie on thy Self? nor Childe? By Covering Sin, and seeking Shame to hide How many might have liv'd, that fouly dy'd. Blinde Wounds, than open ones, more long endure; And oft prove Mortal, that might else have Cure.

SECT. XVII. A Despairing Client.

WElcome from Westminster! If I may say. What? wu't not answer? Hast not gain'd the Day? The Tryal went against thee by thy Look. How comes this Pen-Knife in thy Sleeve, I took? Thou dost not mean for Losse of Land, or Pelf, To draw, and enter Judgement gainst thy Self? Let too hot Passion take some cooling Ayre! And raise a Title unto Heaven by Prayer! Wu't spoil a good Cause by thy loud Despair. Come all the Rest of much Distorted mindes! Come! Bring your Griefs, like Loads of several kindes! And let me shew you, where's your Rest! your Balm! The last to be your Cure, the first you Calm.

SECT. XVIII. Instruction from the frame of Nature.

SPell first in Nature's Book, Gods bigger Print, And read his Glory in his Creatures in't. As first he gave joynt-Being unto All. One does another to his Dutie call.

The Sun provokes the Plants to flow'r, and seed. Heats living Creatures in their Kindes to breed. He gilds the Day, and lends Moon silver Light; While she directs the Tides, and rules the Night, Attended by the Stars with twinkling bright.

Man onely is above their Influence; Except his Vegetation, and his Sense. Those are his grosser Parts. But else his Stature Is tall as Angels by' Intellectual Nature.

SECT. XIX. From Mans Creation, and Re∣demption.

THe World for Man, Man like Himself He made; And Man shall last, when all the World shall vade. Wherefore the Universe, so great, we see, Is summ'd in Man, in his Epitome. The World, and every Creature in the same Were made to glorifie the Makers Name. God, though Man fell from his first blessed State, By'th' Word in's Son to Blisse did Renovate. His standing in the Gap Heavens Justice staid. His Sponsion th'Execution then delaid.

So fell not Man, as Angels did. Their Fall Had none to interpose, was past recall. Then by th'oreshadowing of the Holy Ghost The Virgin did concelve Him, sav'd the Lost. So took He Humane Nature; and did dye, That he Gods Wrath for Man might satisfie. Sufficient for the whole World was his Death. Efficient only unto such as breath, And live by Faith in Him. With Him Man rose. He then to Heaven Mans Mediator goes. So Man depends on Him; or should. For He To th' Father must Man's Intercessor be. Who rob Him of such Office, or deny His Power, shall finde Him Judge. He comes to try. No Stars then such Intelligencers be, As Dreams have made them from Astrologie. All keep their Courses; and in Order move; As if each Part with T'other were in Love.

SECT. XX. Self-Preservation from Instinct.

ALl by Instinct Self-preservation seek; E'en savage Creatures to their own are meek. By Bears are Cubs lickt. With Whelps Lions play. On others Panthers; not their own Kinde prey. Tygres do others, Themselves never slay. Hares leave their Forms. Deer rouze; and flee from Hounds. These lodge; Those squat; Both run for covert Grounds, And all, these labour for, is Life to save From those, whose greedy Mouths it soon wu'd have.

SECT. XXI. Examples of Self-preser∣vation.

THe warie Carp, scar'd by the ravenous Pike, Darts under Banks, and into Mud does strike. The frighted Fowl, that sees the Falcon nigh, Steals up on Wing, with Speed away does fly: The Dog-sprung Patridge from the Hawk does go; And drops in Thicks; or shelter in a Rowe. The Nightingale o're Thorn sits tender Breast; Lest Danger should surprize her at her Rest; And, watching sings away Nights silent Hours, Else her the Sloemorm unperceiv'd devours. Some, that but Plants are, seem quick Sensitives, Do shrink from Touch, as if to save their Lives. The Marigold does open with the Sun, And shuts gainst hurtful Dewes, when Day is done. The Daisie does the like, that closes leaves; Least any Hurt it from the Night receives.

SECT. XXII. Self-Homicide against Nature.

SElf-Preservation is to All a Law, Which Nature hath imprest Life's Length to draw. How comes it then, that Man should only finde Self-Murder out, against e'en Naturies kinde? Self-Murder! Why, my Hair affrighted stands; My Knees do Knock; and Tremblings seize my Hands. After amazement I examine, Who 'Tis dares Such Deeds, as Well as 'tis, can do?

If Men? Sure Reason might their Madnesse binde. For That gives better Light to Every Minde.

SECT. XXIII. Reason against Self-Murder.

1.

HAst but One Building? And That statelie? fair? Wu't ruine That, which thou can'st not repair? And That not Thine too? But for Use, in Trust? And think'st, to fire That House, was lent thee, Just?

2.

Take All Things! Weigh Them in the Scale with Life! And muster All, that move within thee Strife! So Prizelesse That, That is so Rich a Gemme, As That outweighs the Numerous Weight of Them.

3.

Besides; What Cowardise it is to dye, Meerelie for Feare of Facing Miserie; Which, if thou stand'st, does Wheel about, does flye, And leaves thee Great by Such thy Victory. For no Man's Wretched, but Who thinks him so More might be happy, if themselves they'd know. Opinion 'tis, that much does Bedlam fill, Where Men are tortur'd by their own crosse Will. We make our own Hobgoblins in our Heads; One Foot Frights T'other then, Wheres'ere it treads. The Fears of Death do cause us oft to dye. So leap we into Graves, when Tombs we flye. Mistaking Creatures, Men themselves condemn; And make a Bedlam of their Bethelem. As what for Labours destin'd, late Abuse Has nam'd All Bridewells, where they whips do use

4.

Or think'st, The Spirit is Mortall? That it dyes When chilling Death doth Mortall flesh Surprise? Wer't so Man were no better, than a Hogge;

Than Lion, dead, better's a living Dogge. The loaden Asse, with burthen pressed down, Goes into streams To drink, but not To drown.

5.

Mark! Who has tri'd Self-homicide; and come By happie Help into Life's loathed Room. How gladly they survive The Despe'rate Act! And with Sad shame behold Their hideous Fact! For Nature still abhorres to be Unsluc't; And from it's Being to Not to Be reduc't.

6.

Why standeth Sentrie The discerning Eye, And often acts at distance the quick Spye? Why does The Eare with care bestow It's sense, T'import the Newes, and give Intelligence? Why is The Tast so quick? The Smelling nice? And, 'gainst what's ill, give Larum in a trice? Why is The Touch so tender, 'voiding Paine, The Warning piece to make Retreat amaine? These Cinque-Ports are, as with their Fire in pan, 'Gainst Danger set to guard The Isle of Man. For Life's dear Safety All, as one, conspire In Preservation of the Self entire. How Keeps He Faith with These, that's so Uniust, By Violence of's Hands betraying Trust?

7.

Why seek'st A Corner? Is The Deed so base? Thou sham'st to Common Iudgement put the Case? That sure is very foule, that All condemn; And thy Self too. Why else avoydest Them? Even Malefactours, new condemn'd At Bar, That scarce cu'd speak Before, Then Pleaders are, To gaine the Judge's Favour for Reprieve, For A Prolonger, that their Snast may Live. And wu't thou throw the Taper in the Fire? And cause, what might Long shine at once expire?

8.

Wu't thou Keep 'Sizes in thy self? Act All? Be Judg? Be Jury? Party Criminall? Accuser? Jayler? (All unfit to do) And must thou be the cursed Hangman too? Blind Judge! thou know'st not Nature's statute Law; That bids thee Save; And thou saist, Hang, and Draw. Thy Jury••s pact, of Passions all a-flame. Th'art not the Party, but some other Name. For thou art not thy self. Nor is thy Crime Such, as thou think'st it at the present time. Th' Accuser is suborn'd; the Jayler's mad; A Prison making, where none ought be had; Mistaking thy free Chamber, that's thy Hall, Of Judgment too, thy Golgotha, and All. The Hangman has no Warrant; Nor the Shreife; Where All is thus 'gainst Law, what needs Repreife.

9.

What Combat's this? Where fight not Two, but One? Who gives the Wound, must fall. Flesh Kill'd by Bone. A strange Encounter! Where there none to part, The Rebell Hand dies with it's Blow at Heart.

10.

But Hark! thy Parents call! thy Freinds! thy Wife! They bid thee, Spare, what's not thine Own, thy Life. If Not for love, yet Hold thy hand for shame! Blot not Posterity, nor brand thy Name! Prevent not Future Issue! For thy Deed, (As much as in thee lyes) makes Mankind bleed. Yea; Should All into Such a Pitt be hurl'd, A Suddain Fun'erall Soone would Sweep the World; As Waters Fury Once did All engage, Thou would'st bring Death to All by Human Rage. The Diff'erence Only; What was there one Floud, Thou fain Would'st change to many streams of Blood.

11.

Thy Countrey and the Magistrate Supream Do claim thee as a Branch o' th' Common Stream.

For there's a Publicke Right in Every Man, That Life He neither may dispose; nor can.

12.

Canst make a Law, than Natures, more to bind? And null Her Statute that at first was sign'd? Then didst thou make thy self. If not, Submit! Who's not Above that Law, is Under it. A Law is made to punish an Offence; And not Authority for Violence. A Law's the Rule of Justice, Bond, whereby To knit, No Force to break Societie. The end of Laws is This; That Men increase By Justice 'mong Themselves so, that milde Peace May blesse their Fellowship; Which should be so, As if th'were holy, and no change might know. The right Lawmakers Sacred Priests appear Of Justice; Each to Her's A Minister How comes it Then, that Thou do'st so assume. To break what's holy? Or how dar'st presume?

SECT. XXIV. Arguments from Religion.

BUt Wher's Religion all this while? Yea, Where? Had God been in thy Thoughts, th'hadst not been there. There in grim darknesse, out of Sight of Heaven, Self durst not Self attempt Life t'have bereaven. Religion is the Bank, the Quickrow Bound, That pens the Waters, and divides the Ground. By this the Vineyard's fenc't from Fox and bore. That Watch to Spoil It's Beautie, and It's store. Nor has the Roaring Lion there the Power To Rend with Pawes, or with his Jawes devoure. And though his Fury compasses about Earth, Sea, and Ayr, yet is he there shut out.

Gods Church is Noah's Ark; Which maugre Rage Does act yet Safely on the bill'owie Stage.

SECT. XXV. The Cause of Desperate Actions.

NO marvail then, when Her strong Pale is down, Like Ship-sprung Planks, the waves break in and drown How cu'd Such Fury else, such dire Events Lay hold on Christians in their Discontents! This is that Black Eclipse, that baneful Cause, That not alone portends such Ills, but drawes. When holy Worship does become a crime; And Weeds spring up, and overgrow the Time. When every Humonr Vents it's purulence; And Scripture's made a Nose of wax of Sence. When Poyson fills the Market, sells for Food; How can the People's Nourishment be good! When humane Fancies for their Judgements go, And down Opinion does Religion throw. When All's our own, and Nothing's due to God, As if w'had banisht Him from Our Abode. When Malice out of Hearts has sulphur'd love, And the fell Serpent has devour'd the Dove. When there's Delight in Evil; and Men run; As in Contempt, with Back upon the Sun. When Noughts left Christian, but the only Name, As if in Ashes Men wu'd seek a Flame. When Christs High Ordinances Men reject, And make's Commandements of none Effect. When Men deny the Power of Godlinesse, And dare most horrid Blasphemies expresse.

When Christians question Scripture, War 'gainst God, As if they did defie his dreadful Rod. When in such Wickednesse Men dare to boast, Resist and dare deny the Holy Ghost. When— I must not write ought more; Lest then, My trembling Hand shu'd drop my sinking Pen; Strook looking Backward, see rais'd Babels Brick; Or Forward, see remov'd the Candlestick.

SECT. XXVI. Lamentation for the Church.

THen mourn, Thou Virgin, desolate, in brine! Bewail the Miseries, that now are Thine! Behold the Children dash themselves 'gainst Stones! And madly strive, who first shall break their Bones. Sit down in mourning in thy Sackcloth Shell! And let thy Groans be as each Back-rung Bell! Fire, Fires's within their Hearts! Of Envie! Hate! As Wickednesse were Fuel unto Fate. And each seems act so much the Wretched Elf, First to destroy Another, then Himself.

SECT. XXVII. Expostulation with the Atheist.

WHat Enyo guides? What curst Erinnis drives! Men to throw headlong into Hell their Lives? Is there no God? Say Atheist! Is there none? Thy Conscience needs must tell thee, There is One. The Heavens declare his Glorie; Earth his Power;

His Wisdom All; His Providence each Flower. No Hearb that peeps in Woods, or showes in Fields, But Argument sufficient 'gainst Thee yields. Who made the Universe? Some Power Above, From Whom comes Life? By whom all Things do move, And, if A God. Is not that Trine-One He, Whom the Athenians thought unknown to be? That God, whom they false worshipt thou must know. Thy Baptism bound thee t'own Him, and Self owe. Be else Apostate! Stand! Stand out the Tryal! And Thou at last shalt finde Him by Denyal. Delude thy Self! And mock at horrid Hell, As, 'twere A Tale, that Pollicie did tell! There's such a Place. For of it Thou dost smell Thy Brimstone-Oaths, and thy diseased Fire Thy lustful Flames in curses that expire, Shew there s A Hell; And likely not far off; For Part of it was in thy gracelesse, Scoff.

SECT. XXVIII. With the Universarian.

BUt worse than Atheist! If there worse can be, For Thou Religion makest Blasphemie. Thou Universal-Grace-Man, that doest place, The rankest Poyson in, Best Balsame, Grace! To purge the Sins of all the World Christ di'd. A Truth. And yet it ought to be deni'd, As thou do'st rend the Text; and wu'dst infer, As if that Satan were Interpreter. Mark with what Subtilty the Devil tryes! With such large Spectacles t'abuse thine Eyes!

Mark Consequences! If for All He di'd, He then for All most fully satisfi'd; And if he satisfi'd for All, forepast, to come, No Debt is due; And if No Debt, No Doom. What may'st Thou then not do? in Sin abound. Thou canst not fail. For Scripture is thy Ground. Why should'st denie a Lust? Or hold thy Hand From Murder, when it with thy Ends do's stand? Say Naboths Death was Just! Condemn his Wit! For Ahab offer'd Fair. The Ground laid Fit. Hold Iezabel for Wise! Make good Her Fast! But Mark his Curse! And read her End at last! Christ di'd for All. For All the World Christ di'd; For whom soe're Believes he satisfi'd; For whom soe're Believes in Him; His Will do's do; All Those the Priviledge belongeth to. He would have All be sav'd. But ye would not. He said, and wept. O There! O There's the Blot! What! What shall we Then say! Shall Sin take Place! Shall We continue still in Sin, that Grace May more abound! Say as S. Paul then did! God forbid. O tell! How shall We that are Dead to Sin, (Abusing Grace) Shall we yet live Therein? Know Ye not that All, All so priz'd as We, Which into Iesus Christ Baptized be, Into His Death have been Baptiz'd? We then With Him by Baptism int' His Death (for Men) Are buri'd, that as Christ was rais'd from Dead By th' Glory of the Father, We (so led) Should Walk in Newnesse of our Life, (and be, As He, that is so dead from Sin, is) free.

SECT. XXIX. Invitation to the Direction.

BUt (O distressed Souls) leave These! Come near! And I will point where Heaven do's bright appear. As Those that sink down Fathoms in a Well, At dining time to one another tell: Seest not (though Noon it is, yet dark here) far From this our Depth we may behold a Star!

SECT. XXX. The Direction.

FIrst prostrate fall! Then humbly upward rise On bended Knees! And mount thy dewed Eyes? Strike! Srike thy Breast! Till th'hast new fi'rd thy Heart With Holy Zeal! And, earnest, strain each Part With Penitence! Get Faith to sharpen sight! Now, stedfast, look through Heaven! Behold the Light! Behold the Lamb of God in Glory sit At's Fathers Right Hand! See Him from thy Pit! Behold Him There thy Mediator! See! What is't can now so much discomfort thee? But, if thy too weak Eye can't long thus look, Behold His Picture in the Holy Book! There read him clos'd within the Virgins Womb! That He to Fold might fetch the stray'd Sheep home. Observe Him combating the Devil Twice! By Active, Passive, doubled Victories!

In Desart foil'd him, spoil'd him On the Crosse; For Human gain, and wu't Thou make it Losse? Observe his Miracles! And thou shalt finde, He cur'd the Deaf, the Dumb, the Lame, the Blinde. Read on! And 'twixt times pray, as thou do'st read! And praise too! That He Life gave to the Dead. But, lest these Things thou may'st not understand Receive a Pescue from a Holy Hand! Choose such as did in Persecution stand! For, who in Tryal left the Truth, can He Be well conceiv'd to be a Guide for Thee?

SECT. XXXI. An Orthodox Divine the Best Instructer.

HE will unlock the Treasures of Salvation, From Genesis unto the Revelation. He'l shew Thee the Original of All, What is Pure Truth, and what's Apocryphal. H'as no new Lights to Lead Thee up and down. Nor fancies Revelations in his Crown. He'l preach to Thee for Gods sake, Not for Ends, Nor takes he Pains, that marres, His labour mends. He point blank damns none. But instructeth All, To shun the Way, wherein the Desp'rate fall. He lops presumptuous Growths; Lest bearing Top Too much, from High they down do Headlong drop, (O how lies Man, if out o'th' Line of Grace, Too ope to th' Enemie in every place!) He dares not take Religion for A Cloak; Nor cry up Dunghil-Steam for Altar-Smoak. He dares not meddle with the Holy Things Without Commission whence he Warrant brings;

Nor will he turn Apostate for Mens Hands. No: Might he have a Dean and Chapters Lands. He knowes well, How th' Apostleship was given; And how 'twas left, as 'twas receiv'd from Heaven. T'Apostles, and to th' Angel of each Church; Whose Office was to feed; Not Kill; Not Lurch. He knowes, It was deriv'd by single Streams; And is not drown'd in Consistorian Dreams. He I teach thee Mercie, as his Master, meek; He tells thee Christians no Revenge must seek. Revenge on others then's A dangerous Shelf. 'Void Shipwrack! Lay not Hands upon thy Self! Ah haplesse Time! Wolves Sheep-Skins o're them draw. But thou may'st know Them by the Tearing Paw.

SECT. XXXII. Preservation by Assumption and Religious Reason.

ME thinks I hear him say, what now I write, God First did out of Darknesse bring the Light. And wu't do Contrarie, to what he then, Reduce that Light to Darknesse back agen? God in's own Image did Man first create. Wu't that destroy? Turn Self-Assassinate? How in Gods Image at Gods Image strike? Thus Self-divided 'gainst Thy Self turn Pike? God blest Both; Bade Both, Increase and Multiply. And with a Curse wu't Thou turn Natures Key? He gave Them Freedom on All Fruits to carve And must thy Spight amidst that Plenty starve?

He Thee Dominion o're the Creatures gave, And wu't Thou to the Serpent turn a Slave? The Tree of Life, and That, which made too wise He placed in the midst of Paradise; What? Nought but Root and Branch? Wu't stab the First? And taste thine own Death in the other, curst? Eve had Excuse: The Serpent did deceive. But Thou deceiv'st Thy Self. Who shall Relieve? Must Man for Flesh, and Bone of Bone Dear Parents leave? And joyn to her, as One? And She was but a Rib ta'ne from his Side. Which Way then canst Thou Self from Self divide? What Law pretend'st to justifie That Force, That both commits A Rape, and makes Divorce? For Sin God drove Them out. They loath, dismisse. Thou Fly'st Thy Self; Yea, Barricad'st from Blisse. Eves Eldest Son, that first did Murther Act, Gave Blood a Voice, that cry'd against his Fact. And, though but banisht, seem'd to die with Fear, (So sweet was Life) They'd kill Him every where! And wu't Thou midst the Safety that Thou hast, Thy Self undo! And into Horrour cast? And was his Sentence more than he cu'd bear? What must Self-Murder thinkst Thou, needs then fear? Sin links to Sin. A Lye made Murder worse. Was Mercie short, that his Despair must curse? Eve might forget her Grief for Abels Death, And have some Joy restor'd her in a Seth. But Thou damm'st up the Hopes of Life to flow. Thou cutt'st thine own Root. What can ever grow? Nor can this Crime admit of Reparation. Repentance thus prevented is Damnation. Noah's Ark thou sink'st, Thou blott'st out Abrahams Creed. All Families shall be blessed in his Seed.

And Thou deny'st That Promise by Thy Deed. For truly did'st beleive, That Christ were come. To cure The Leprous, Palsi'd, from the Tombe To raise the Dead, Thou couldst not, Wretch, then have A desp'rate Thought. Since His will All wou'd Save. Or did'st conceive The Love of God to Man. How Infinite It was, above Our Span; To send His Onely Son, Of Such Esteeme, From Heaven to Earth, that He might Man redeeme; To suffer Scorns sharp Scourges, Crosse, and Death; And even His Father's wrath to give us Breath; To bid Us lay Our Burthens on his Back; And In His Name to beg whats'ere we lack; To tell, He came to Save, and Not Condemne; How melted He o're Deaf Hierusalem! Dust-blind Hierusalem with Prophets Bones. Shee must dismantled be for murd'rous Stones. How often did He call the People, clock. As Hen her Chickens; But they stirr'd like Rock. T'was not bad Memory, that Him forgot: But perverse Wilfullness. For they would not. They would not Turn, nor Know, what did belong To their Day's Peace, nor heare the Charmer's Song. How he embalm'd Prediction of their Fall, Chief, Only Mourner for Their Funrall. He, He bequeathed All Salvation's Good; And Sign'd The Testament with's Pretious Bloud; And left Two Blessed Sacraments, as Seales; By which to Us A Proper Right He deales. O wonderfull the Grace, Thy Love does give! Jesus! Thou woo'st Us, Not to Dye, but Live! He teaches Us the Meanes to Certain Cure, The Means to Health, that is For ever Sure. He is the Life, the Light, the Guide, the Way

Unto the Dead, the Blinde, the Lame, the Stray. To help our Wants He teaches how to pray. He is the Best Physitian to the Sick. He Wits restores unto the Lunatick. He is the Shepheard, that does Watch and Keep From Wolf-like Satan his Believing Sheep. Then let's not make our Reason lesse, then Sense, To flye Protection, and such Providence! He leads his to the Pastures, ever green, And in Communion oft by them is seen. He drives Them by the Streams that ever run; And after folds them at the Setting Sun. His Yoke is easie; and his Burthen Light. 'Tis Day in Goshen; Though in Egypt Night.

SECT. XXXIII. By Comparatives in Law and Gospel.

BY Mighty Wonders He redeem'd the Slave. By Miracles as great he preacht to Save. He Waters Walls made; and a Path midst Seas; Through which his People made their Passe with Ease. And, when pursuing Pharaoh with his Host Thought to destroy, their Wheels and all was lost. The Waves did close. So what was firm before, Was Waters Throat, as was the Earths to Core; By Day a Cloud he was, a Fire by Night To guard, and to conduct his People right; And, that he might his mighty Arm expresse, He led them fourty Yeers through Wildernesse; As many Dayes He in the Flesh did fast, When in the Wildernesse He Satan cast.

The Womans Seed the Serpent found, did feel It bruise his Head, as he had bruis'd His Heel. A Wildernesse for Paradise had Stain; For Wildernesse was Paradise a Gain. From Heaven with Manna, and with Quails he fed His People broaching Rock the while he led. Three Fishes and two Loaves were Thousands Bread. He was the Brazen Serpent that did heal; Which on Mount Calvarie He did reveal; And, as on Sinai He the Law did give, A Judge He'l come to th' Dead, and those that Live. The Nations Then were scatt'red, and did fall. He was their Dread, the Mighty General; And by his Conduct, and so great Command, He marches Conquest into Holy Land. This, This was He, that conquer'd Hell, and Death; And broke the Chains of Darknesse, forg'd Beneath. He, He victorious from his Tomb do's rise, And raises Man, as his Redeemed Prize. Wu't Thou turn Sadducee? and This withstand? Or wu't Thou rise with Halter in thy Hand? He has Ascended up in Triumph where Thou may'st by Faith in Glory finde Him. There.

SECT. XXXIIII. Supposition of Satisfaction.

BY This I deem Thy Frenzie does abate. For whom Thou erst did serve, Thou now do'st hate, I see thy streaming Eyes, thy mournful Tears Wash off thy Blacknesse. Christs Blood drowns thy Fears.

Thou wond'rest at thy Sin 'gainst God, so Good; And start'st at th' Offering to Moloch Bloud. Do! Sigh againe! That will blow Holy Fire! Sighes are the Bellowes to Divine Desire. Those Groanes, like Thunder in the troubled Ayre, Will make thy Brest, as Skye, Serene, and faire. What though thou dost endure A storme, or Two? By This thou storm'st, tak'st Heaven and entrest to? Thou safely maist commit Thus Violence. This holy Murder slayes thy First Offence.

SECT. XXXV. Consolation.

'Tis well, thou dost complaine; And wisely Say, Thou hadst forgotten, Untill Now, to pray. Th'art Now alive. Thou walk'st, and talk'st with God. Thou hast his Kisse. H' hath cast away his Rod. When first the Subtile Hunter did prevaile, He took Thee Sleeping. Then he did assaile. He frighted Thee with Specters, and grim Dreames. He cast A Mist 'twixt Thee, and Truth's clear Beams. O look not Back! And eye the Deadly Place, Where thou had'st fall'n, had it not been for Grace! With th' Apprehension where thou late didst tread, Be not, as he at Rochester, strook Dead; But rayse with prayse to Heaven thy thankfull Head When God's Protction leaves Us, what are We? Our drunken Madnes reales to Misery. Hel's Craft insinuates Ease from Present pain, Gives Torment There, leaves here Eternall Staine.

SECT. XXXVI. Satans Craft and Policie.

SO Lucifer undoes our Reasons Stock, Insensibly He drawes Us up a Rock; And seems to rest Us in this Grot, that Cave, With pleasing Sense, of what we think to have; With Shadowes coz'ning our deluded Eye; And does pretend to lead us to the Skie. Until H'has mounted Us to th' Slipp'rie Top; Where staggering down We into Hell do drop. Thus does his Subtlety set hidden Traps, Most greedily rejoycing in our Lapse, His Kindnesse wu'd destroy Us. For, behold, He offers Poyson in a cup of gold! Mark! How at First he gilded over Vice. His Apple was The Cheat of Paradise. Like Gods we should be; Know both Good and Evill. But Rebells to The Subject's of the Devill.

SECT. XXXVII. Incouragement against Temptation.

Shall we believe A Lye. Or him, that saith The truth, He is? O let Us give Him Faith! Thou shalt not Kill, did God in's Law expresse? No: Not be Wroth His Gospell sayes. That's Lesse. Let's Mind Our League in Baptisme, made gain'st Evill! That we wu'd fight 'gainst World, The Flesh and Devill!

That we wu'd joyn our Force, sans Fear of Losse, Like valiant Souldiers under Christ his Crosse. We so are Christians. So we stoutly stand; And make our Ground good, whilst w' obey Command. His Standarts our Protection. So We shall Be Safe, Let whatsoever can befall. A Foil We may have: not a Final Fall.

SECT. XXXVIII. Advance of Resolution.

THen let the World raise, muster cheating Weights! Let tickling close-armd Flesh draw forth her Baits! And let the Devil set out slye Deceits! Let them embodie All! We dread no Harms. Yea; Let Hell come too, with it's Magick Charms! Let's keep close Order! And our Christian Arms! Jesus! The Word! And then they break amain. The World turns Back, when we Heaven, Heaven do claim. We fight so fast, the Flesh has lost her Force. Resistance makes him flie: Prayer makes him curse. Hell's Charms do vanish, Jesus! At Thy Name. Thou wert our Captain. So we overcame.

SECT. XXXIX. Prevention.

BUt, if the Devil stalks to Thee, Alone; And thinks He has Advantage One to One; And tempts Thee, as thy Saviour, set high; Showes Kingdoms, and their Glory in thine Eye;

And promises the Gift of such Worlds All; If that Thou down to Worship him wu't fall: Cashier him with Christs Word: Hence Satan get! The Lord thy God to Worship is thy Debt! Him only shalt Thou serve. He's gone and's Net.

SECT. XL. Summary Fortification.

TAke Courage Fellow-Christians! Let's rejoyce! I hear Hearts Comfort from a Heavenly voice!

God spar'd not His own Son: But for Us All Did Him deliver up. How! How then shall He not with Him give freely Us All Things? Since He's the Fountain of All Good that springs. Who is He that Condemns? 'Tis Christ that di'd; Yea rather that is ris'n in Heaven t' abide; Who is at Gods right Hand; and Who does make His Intercession also for our Sake.

Who then shall seperate Us from Christs Dear Love? Shall Tribulation? shall Distresses move? Shall Persecution? Famine? Nakednesse? Shall Peril? Shall the Sword do more then These? Through Him that loved Us so much Before, In All these Things W' are Conquerours and more.

For I'm perswaded, Neither Death it is; Nor Life; Nor Angels; Principalities; Nor Powers; Nor Present Things; Nor Things to come; Nor Height; Nor Depth; Nor Creature (that takes room)

Shall be'able Us to sep, rate from the Love Of God in Iesus Christ, our Lord Above.

O Blest the Time, that Christ for all once di'd! Is He Our Life! Abhorre Self-Homicide!

LAUS DEO.