Jacobs ladder, or, The devout souls ascention to Heaven, in prayers, thanksgivings, and praises in four parts ... : with graces and thanksgivings : illustrated with sculptures / by Jo. Hall.

SACRED POEMS UPON SELECT SUBJECTS: WITH Divine Meditations OF THE Vanity of Mans Life, and the World. And also of the Four Last Things Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell. With Graces.

Speaking to your selves in Psalms, and Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, sing∣ing and making melody with your Heart to the Lord,

Eph. 5. 19.

The Souls Breathing after Her Heavenly Country.

1.

JErusalem, my happy home, O that I were in thee, Oh would my Woes were at an end, thy joys that I might see.

2.

Oh happy harbour of the Saints, Oh sweet and pleasant Soil, In thee no sorrows may be seen, No Cross, no Grief, no Toil.

3.

In thee no sickness ever is; No Hurt, no Ach, no Sore, There is no Death, nor ugly Devil, but life for evermore.

4.

No damp, no mist is found in thee, No Cloud, nor darksome Night. There every Star shines like the Sun, There God himself gives Light,

5.

Thy Houses are of Ivory, Thy windows Christal clear; Thy Tiles are maide of beaten Gold: Oh would that I were there!

6.

Thy Turrets, and thy Pinacles, With Carbuncles do shine; Thy very streets are pav'd with Gold Exceeding pure, and Fine.

7.

Within thy Gates can nothing Come, Which is not passing Clean: No Spiders Web, no Dust, no Dirt, No Filth may there be Seen.

8.

Thy Saints are Crown's with Glory great, They see God face to face; They still Triumph, they still Rejoyce, Most happy is their case.

9.

We that live here in Banishment, continually do Moan We sigh, we Sob, we Weep, we Wail, continually we Groan.

10.

But there they in such pleasure Live, and such delight alway, That unto them a thousand Years doth seem but Yesterday.

11.

Thy Vineyards, and thy Orchards, are Most beautiful and Fair, Full furnished with Trees about, Exceeding Rich, and Rare,

12.

Thy Gardens, and thy gallant Walks, Continually are Green; There grows such sweet and pleasant Fruit, As no where else is Seen.

13.

There's Nectar and Ambrosia, There's Musk and Civet Sweet, There's many fine and dainty Drugs lie trodden under Feet.

14.

There's Cinamon, and Sugar too; There Myrrh and Balm abound. What tongue can tell, or heart conceive, The joys that there are found▪

15.

Quite through the streets, with silver streams The flood of Life doth flow, Upon whose Banks on every side, The Trees of Life do grow.

16.

The trees do evermore bear Fruit, And evermore do spring, There evermore do Angels sit, And evermore do sing.

17.

There David stands with Harp in hand, As Master or'e a Quire; Ten thousand times, that man is Blest, that doth this Musick hear.

18.

Gods praises there are always sung, with Harmony most sweet: Old Zachary, and Simeon, Have not their songs to seek.

19.

Their Magdalen hath left her moan, and cheerfully doth sing, With blessed Saints, whose Harmony In every street doth Ring.

20.

O Heavenly frame, Jerusalem, At length I hope to see, Thy glorious Throne, and in the same, For evermore to be.

21.

O Heavnely City, fair, and bright, when shall I come to thee, When shall my sorrows have an end, Thy Joys that I may see.

Upon the Passion.

1.

THus died the Prince of Life; He That could not die, even dyed for me: My thoughtful heart, Lord shall arise, And ponder these deep Mysteries.

2.

What means his Death, that knew no sin? Or what my life, who live therein? Mine was the debt, and Death my due, Though thou wast pleas'd thy Son to sue.

3.

Thou Lord, wast pleased on him to lay The debt, and He the price to pay: Thy Gospel-feasts, though sweet to me Are the Emblems of His Agony.

4.

And Oh! how great his Sufferings were, Who the Wrath of God & man did bear; The Father then forsakes the Son, And creatures against their maker run.

5.

Judas betrays, Disciples flee, —Whilst Jews and Romans Crucifie: Hereat the Sun furls up his light, And clothes the Earth in sable Night.

6.

The joyless Stars even seemed to say, Israel had quenched the Lamp of day; The stubborn Mountains they lament, The Rocks they are asunder Rent.

7.

The Graves their sealed doors unclose; —The dead awakened, also Rose; The amazed Centurion, mourning crys, —Oh! 'tis the Son of God that Dyes.

8.

Thus these all labour to confess —Thy Deity, thy Righteousness. Enough Dear Lord! these offer me Supports, for the utmost faith in thee.

The Souls Farwell.

1.

FArwel poor world! I must be gone; Thou art no home, no rest for me; I'le take my staff, and travel on, Till I a better world may see.

2.

Why art thou loath my heart? O why Do'st thou recoil within my Breast? Greive not but say Farwel, and fly Unto the Ark, my Dove! there's Rest.

3.

I come, my Lord, a Pilgrims pace, Weary and weak I slowly move, Longing, but can't yet teach the place, The gladsome place of rest above.

4.

I come my Lord! the floods here rise, These troubled Seas foam nought but mire; My Dove back to my bosom flys; Farwel poor world! Heaven's my desire.

5.

Stay, stay, said Earth, whether fond one? Here's a fair World, what wouldst thou have, Fair World, Oh no! thy beauties gone, An heavenly Canaan, Lord, I crave.

6.

Thus th' ancient Travellers; thus they Weary of earth, sigh'd after thee; They are gon before, I may not stay, Till I both thee and them may see.

7.

Put on my Soul! put on with speed. Though th' way be long, the end is sweet. Once more, poor world! Farwel indeed, In leaving thee, my Lord I meet.

Of Mans Life, by the Right Ho∣nourable the Lord B.

1.

THe World's a Bubble, and the life of Man, Less then a Span; In his Conception, wretched from the Womb, So to the Tomb. Curst in the Cradle, and brought up to Years, With cares and fears. Who then to frail Mortality shall trust; But Limns the Water, or but Writes in dust.

2.

Yet since with sorrow here we live op∣prest, What life is best? Courts are but only Superficial Schools To dandle ••ools, The Rural parts are turn'd into a den; of savage men. And where's a City from all vice so free, But may be termed the worst of all the three?

3.

Domestick cares afflict the husbands bed Or pains his head. Those that live single, take it for a Curse, Or do things worse. Some would have children, those that have them moan, Or wish them gon. What is it then to have, or Have no Wife; But a single thraldome, or a double strife,

Our affections still at home to please, Is a disease; To cross the Sea to any forreign soil, Perils and Toyl; Warrs with their noyse affright us; when they cease, W'are worse in peace. What then remains? but that we still should cry, Not to be born, or being born to die.

All Vanity but Virtue.

SWeet day, so cool, so calm, so bright, The Bridle of the Earth and Sky. Sweet dews shall weep thy fall to Night, For thou must Die!

Sweet Rose, whose hew, angry and Brave, Bids the rash Gazer wipe his Eye, Thy root is ever in its Grave,

And thou must Die.

Sweet Spring, full of sweet Days, and Roses, A Box where sweets compacted lye; My Musick shews you have your Closes, And all must Die.

Only a sweet and virtuous Soul, Like seasoned Timber never gives, And when the whole World turns to Coal Then chiefly Lives.

The Vanity of mans Life.

WHat are poor men, but quickned lumps of earth, A feast for worms, a bubble full of breath, A looking-glass for grief, a flash, a minute, A painted tomb with putrefaction in it. A map of death, a burthen of a Song, A winters dust, a worm of five foot long, Begot in sin, in darkness nourisht, born In sorrow, naked, shiftless, and forlorn; His first voice (heard) is crying for relief, Alas he comes into a world of grief. His first age is sinful, & his youth is vain, His life's a punishment, his death's a pain. His life's an hour of joy, a world of sorrow, His death's a winters night that finds no morrow.

Mans life's an hour-glass, which being run Concludes that hour of joy, and so is done.

2.

How poor a thing is man? how vains his mind? How strange, how base, and wavering like the wind? How uncouth are his ways, how full of danger? How to himself is he himself a stranger? His hearts corrupt, and all his thoughts are vain; His actions sinful & his words prophane; His wills deprav'd, his senses are beguiled, His reasons dark, his members are defiled, His hasty feet are swift, and prone to ill, His guilty hands are ever bent to kill. His tongues a spunge of venom; or of worse His practice is to swear, his skill to curse. His eyes are fire-balls of lustful fire, And outward helps to inward foul desire, His body is a well-erected station, But full of folly, & corrupted passion.

3.

How slight a thing is man, how frail & bri••le How seeming great is he, how truly little. Within the bosom of his holiest works, Some hidden embers of old Adam lurks. Which oftentimes in men of purest ways Burst out in flame, and for a season blaze. Lord teach our hearts, and give our souls directions,

Subdue our passions, curb our stout affe∣ctions. And in thy mercy grant this boon to me, That I may die to sin, and live to thee.

4.

Our life on earth is a like a thred of flax, That all may touch; and being toucht, it cracks. Death is a Kalender compos'd by fate, Concerning all men, never out of date: His days Dominical are writ in blood; She shews more bad days, then she sheweth good She tells when days, and months, and terms expire, Mesuring the lives of mortals by her squire Death is a Pursuvant with Eagles wings, That knocks at poor mens doors, and gates of Kings. Worldling beware betimes, death sculks behind thee, And as she leaves thee, so will Judgment find thee.

A Farewel to the World by the Ho∣nourable Sir H. W.

FArewel ye gilded follies; pleasing trou∣bles, Farewel ye honoured rags, ye glorious bubbles.

Fames but a hollow Eccho, gold pure clay, Honour the darling but of one short day, Beauty, the eyes idol, but a damask'd skin, State but a golden prison to live in, And torture free-born minds; imbroyde∣red trains, Meerly but pagents for proud swelingveins And blood ally'd to greatness is alone; Inherited not purchas'd, not our own. Fame, honour, beauty, state, train, blood and birth, Are but the fading blossoms of the earth.

2.

I would be great, but that the Sun doth stil Level his rays against the rising hill; I would be high, but see the proudest oak, Most subject to the rending thunderstroke I would be rich, but see men too unkind, Dig in the bowels of the richest mine; I would be wise, but that I often see The fox suspected, whilst the ass goes free, I would be fair, but see the fair & proud, Like the bright Sun oft setting in a cloud. I would be poor, but see the humble grass Still trampled on by each unworthy Ass, Rich hated, wise suspected, scorn'd if poor, Great fear'd, fair tempted, high still en∣vyed more. I have wisht all, but now I wish for neither Great, high, rich, wise, nor fair, poor, Ile be rather▪

3.

Would the world now adopt me for her heir, Would beauties Queen entitle me the fair, Fame speak me fortunes minion, could Ivy Angels with India, with a speaking eye Command bare heads, bow'd knees, strike Justice dumb, As well as blind & lame, or give a tongue To stones by epitaphs, be call'd great master, In the loose rimes of every Poetaster. Could I be more than any man that lives, Great, fair, rich, wise, in all superlatives; Yet I more freely would these gifts resign Than ever fortune would have made them mine. And hold one minute of this holy leasure, Beyond the riches of this empty pleasure.

4.

Welcome pure thoughts, welcome ye silent groves, These guests, these courts my Soul most dearly loves. Now the wing'd people of the sky shall sing My cheerful anthems to the glad somspring A pray'r book now shall be my looking-glass, In which I will adore sweet vertues face, Here dwell no hateful looks, no palace cares, No broken vows dwell here, nor pale∣fac'd fears.

Then here Ile sit & sigh my hot-loves folly And learn to affect an holy melancholly. And if contentment be a stranger then, Ile nere look for it but in Heaven agen.

Conclusion.

BIrth is a brag, Glory a blaze, Honours earths pomp, riches a gaze. Fame is but a wind, Beauty a flower. Pleasure a dance, the World a bower In Heaven with thee, Lord let me be: On earth, my Heaven's alone in thee.

Quatuor Novissima: OR, Meditations on the four Last Things; Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell.

Death.

CAn he be fair that withers at a blast, Or he be strong that airy breath can cast? Can he be wise, that knows not how to live Or he be rich; that nothing hath to give?

Can he be young thats feeble, weak, & wan So fair, strong, wise, so rich, so young is man So fair is man, that death, a parting blast, Blast his fair flower, & makes him earth at last, So strong is man, that with a gaspingbreath He totters and bequeaths his strength to death. So wise is man that if with death he strive His wisdom cannot teach him how to live: So rich is man, that, all his debts being payd His wealths the winding sheet wherein he layd: So young is man, that broke with care and sorrow, He's old enough to day to die to morrow. Why brag'st thou then, thou worm of five foot long, Tho' art neither fair nor strong; Nor wise nor rich nor young.

Judgment.

The trumpet shall blow, the dead awak'd shall rise, And to the clouds shall turn their won∣dring eyes, The Heavens shall ope, the Bridegroom forth shall come, To Judge the World, and give the World her doom. Joy to the Just, to others endless smart, To those the voice bids come, to these de∣part.

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Death

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Iudgment

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Heaven

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Hell

Depart from life, yet dying live for ever; For ever dying be, and yet dye never. Depart like dogs, with Devils take your lot, Depart like Devils, for I know you not. Like doggs, like Devils, go, go, howl and bark, Depart in darkness, for your deeds were dark Let roaring be your musick, and your food, Be flesh of vipers, & your drink their blood Let fiends afflict you with reproach & shame, Depart, depart into eternal flame. If Hell the portion then of sinners be, Lord give me hell on earth: Lord give me Heaven with thee.

Heaven.

When I consider New Jerusalem. Wherein's reserv'd my Crown, my diadem, O what a Heaven of bliss my Soul enjoyes, On sudden rapt into that Heaven of Joyes, Where troops of Powers, Vertues, Cheru∣bins, Angels, Archangels, Saints and Seraphins, Are chaunting praises to their heavenly King, Where Hallelujahs they for ever sing. Where ioyes are full and pure, not mixt with mourning; All endless, & from which is no returning. No theft no cruel murther harbours there No hoary-headed care, no sudden fear, No pinching want, no griping fast, oppres∣sion,

Nor Death, the stipend of our first trans∣gression; But dearest friendship, love & lasting plea∣sure, Still there abides without stint or measure Fulness of riches, comfort sempiternal, Excess without surfeting, & life eternall.

Hell.

Let Poets please to torture Tantalus, Let griping Vultures gnaw Prometheus, And let poor Ixi••, turn his endless wheel, Let Nerve••s to••ment with whips of steel: They far come short t' express the pains of those, That rage in hell, enwrapt in endless woes, Where time no end, and Plagues find no exemption, Where cries admit no help, nor place Redemption. Where fire lacks no flame, the flame no heat, To make their torments sharp, & plagues compleat, Where wretched Souls to tortures bound shall be. Serving a world of years, and not be free. Where nothings heard but yells, and sud∣dain cries; Where fire never slacks, nor worm ere dies But where this Hell is placed, my muse stop there Lord shew me what it is, but never where. Of Death and Judgment, Heaven & Hell, Who oft doth think, must needs die well.

Short Graces and Thanksgivings before and after Meat.

Before Meat.

SAnctify O Lord unto us the use of these thy creatures of which by our sins, we have made our selves, and grant that the end of our eating and drink∣ing may be to be better enabled to serve thee in our several places, through Jesus Christ our Lord▪ Amen.

After Meat.

ETernal thanks and praise be ascribed unto thee, O blessed Lord, which hast opened thy hand at this time, and made us partakers of thy benefits, Lord let us never cease to offer unto thee the Sacrafice of praise and thanksgiving, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Before Meat.

HUmble our souls before thee, O Lord, and cause us to see the Smalness of out desert, even in respect of the least of thy mercies, and bless these thy creatures to us at this time to the rejoyc∣ing

of the soul of thy Servants through Jesus Christ. Amen.

After Meat.

We give thee most hearty thanks, O Lord, for thy bountiful Liberality to us at this time, grant we may serve thee better in the enjoyment of these favours, Amen.

Before Meat.

LOrd lift up our hearts to look unto thee for a blessing upon our meats, that we may comfortably use thy creatures, as pledges of thy favour, through Jesus Christ. Amen.

After Meat.

LOrd accept our thanks for the mercy we have enjoyed in receiving these thy creatures for our bodily relief, and let us also labour for the meat that perisheth not, for the sake of our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Before Meat.

O Lord bless us, and bless these thy good creatures to the nourishment of our bodies, and grant that whe∣ther we eat or drink, or whatever we do, we may do all to the praise and glory of God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

After Meat.

AS thou hast filled our bodies O Lord with thy good creatures, far above our desert, so be pleased to endue our souls with all Spiritual blessings in heavenly things, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

FINIS.