A treasury of divine raptures consisting of serious observations, pious ejaculations, select epigrams, alphabetically rank'd and fil'd by a private chaplain to the illustrious and renowned lady, Urania, the divine and heavenly muse : the first part.

B

1. On Babel.

WHile the presumpt'ous world, swoln big with pride Strove to enhance their names, and fondly try'd To build a Tower, whose ambitious spire Might kiss the Skies; Jehova in his ire Dismounts his awful Throne, doth quickly quell Their rash attempts to teach them to rebell Against his Sov'raign power, confounds their tongues; (Before but one) and they'r assembled throngs He cleerly routs; enforcing them to run Abroad the world, so leave their work undon: Thus did the means they use, as safe and sure T'avoid dispersion, the same procure: Thus God will bring to naught their counsels still, Who act contrary to his mind and will: Great God! when my unlimited desires Prompt me to ill, quench quench those raging fires, O let the ill success of Babels Tower, Tame my proud heart, & bring it one peg lower, And if I must needs lofty Structures raise, Grant I may seek thy glory, not mens praise.

2. On a Baby.

NAtures Epitome, lifes dawn; a thrumb Of man, forsakes the chamber of the womb, To hang upon the brest, and loves to be Sung to, and dandled on the mothers knee: Nothing will sooner still its tear-throat cries Then crackling rattles, and fond lullabies. Man at the best is easily beguil'd With flattering pleasures like the whimpering child, Alas! how flux! how fading are the joys Which are engendred, by vain trifling toys. The world presents us with; Soul to thy rest Return, * King David's lullaby is best. * 1.1

3. On Back-biting.

A Good name upon earth is no small bliss, No chain of Pearl doth so adorn as this; To whom and what you speak of men be wary; Sland'rers are Devils * ; O be exceeding chary And very tender of a mans good name, He acts the Devils part, that doth defame: The wounds inflicted by a sland'rous tongue Can no Physitian heal; yet will the wrong That's done t'another, many times rebound Upon the shooters soul, he that doth wound The reputation of his neighbour shall Find in the end himself, hurt worst of all: Such bury men alive (oh cruelty!) Tis an irrepariable injurie;

Let us from calumny, as from the Devil flee. * 1.2

4. On Back-sliding.

IOash was good, while his good Unckle reign'd, But when he dy'd, O how was Joash staind With foul Idolatry; he did interr Religion in his Unckle's Sepulcher. We live in the Leass fall; how many tast Of Heav'nly gifts, yet slink away at last, A double Lamp, the word and spirit may Enlighten men, who after fall away Wholy and finally; Lord! work in me A thorough-work of grace, let me not be An Alch'mis Christ'an, make me sound in heart, And let not me from thy Statutes depart: That which doth in Hypocrisie begin, Ends in Apostacy, that hellish sin: Lord! make me persevere, the race to run, And perfect in me what thou hast begun; That so, I may not, when I am almost At hav'n be Ship-wrack'd, and for ever lost.

Domine quod cepisti perfice, ne in portum nanfra∣gum accidat.

Beza.

5. On a Bag of Money.

IƲdas hath got the bag, the bag hath got Judas * ; 'tis hard to bear the bag and not

Be covetous, the heart's not fill'd with pelf; Judas is Burser, and he shuts himself Into his Pouch; * the more he hath, the more He covets: the Apostles that were poor, Are not so having; Judas has the Coyn, Yet if he have not more, he will purloyn, And filch it: ah! what satisfaction can These outward things afford the heart of man? The Bag is given to the worst of men Most commonly; Judas had better been Without the Bag, than have the Bag, and have The Dev'l with it; Christ our Redeemer gave The Bag to Judas, and he gave the rest Of his Apostles Grace, now which sped best? Judas he bore the Bag, and yet behold He is accurst, Heav'n with a key of gold Cannot be opend, sooner Hell gate may; Despairing Judas makes himself away. And now farewel his Bag with Bulloin cramd, The wretch must go to hell, and there be damnd. ¶ Better Gods blessing with an empty purse, Than one well-lin'd, attended with a curse. * 1.3

6. On a Ball.

THe worlds a Ball, made up of quarters four, * And with the spangled Heavn bequilted ore; Pleasure, Honor, and Riches are its all, Which though the earth stands still, still rise and fall;

Square dealings can scarce any where be found, The reason is, because the world is round. * 1.4

7. On a Ballance.

THeudas would to himself some-body seem, So we do of our selves too well esteem; Laid in the ballance of the Sanctuary, Alas! we are too light, no weight we carry.

8. On Balm.

BAlm is an Emblem of our Saviors blood, As that cures wounds, so this our sov'raign good To heal sins ulcer, Justice doth it calm. How sweet! how precious is Gileads balm! This cures the Serpents biting; this doth save, By this, we into heav'n an entrance have. O sinner, thou hast got a gangren▪d soul, This Balm apply▪d by faith, wil make thee whole. But few there are to whom Christ is reveal'd, And that's the reason why so few are heal'd Of their soul-wounds; but in our Hemisphere The Sun of Right'ousness is risen here For sin-distemp'red souls, with him he brings A healing Vertue, in his balmy wings. Sweet Jesu, to my smarting wounds apply The Balsom of thy Blood, or else I dye.

Sanguis Christi salus Christiani. Ber.

9. On Bands.

TRy, sinners try to burst in twain Christ's bands, And cast his cords from your co-arcted hands; But know his bands will not be snapt in sunder, He can, I and he will, still keep you under: This mighty Prince, beyond the reach of man In Sion reigns, dethrone him if you can: ¶ Such as against the Lord their forces bend, Shall meet with dire confusion in the end.

10. On Banishment.

MAn for his fin from Paradise was sent Into the world, his life's a banishment; When the just soul is from the body freed, O that's a blessed banishment indeed!

11. On a Banner.

CHrist brings t'his Wine-cellar his Spouse, his Dove, The Banner he spreads over her, is Love.

12. On a Banckrupt.

A Sparing father, and a spending son, How they agree! what's by the father don, The Heir undoes; lightly come, lightly go, He must have horses, dogs, attendants too: No mar'le, for thrift and he are at a fray, And who can hold the thing that will away? He's in the field, when thrift is in the town, At last this gallant's whole estate's up blown: ¶ Better for having much t'have hate befall, Then to be pitied for spending all.

Mali parta male dilabuntur, ill got ill spent:

Quae subito veniunt subito quandoque, recedunt, Quot cervos tot fures habemus.Plaut.

Actaeon-praeda fuit canibus.Ovid,

13. On a Banquet.

THe King of Heav'n, his son, and spirit too, Invite t'a banquet, but how few do go: ••et Nabal or Belshazar turn feast-maker, ••ord! what a multitude will be partaker, ••ut let such know, whose souls do feast on evils, ••hey are in the mean while a feast for Devils.

14. On Baptism.

WE to the heav'nly Can'an cannot pass, Unless we first wade through the sea of glass; Regeneration's Lavour, is that sea, Wherein we all must wash, and cleansed be: •• man God's Kingdom never can inherit, ••hat is not born of Water and the Spirit: ••here's no approaching to Gods gracious throne Unwash'd; the glassie sea must be sail'd on. God's word's our compass, but the spirit driven ••he Pinnace of our souls, arrives at Heaven: ••n Baptism, we our selves engaged have To Christ, took our press-money; there, we gave Our names up to the Captain General Of our Salvation, to obey his call: There did we vow, and solemnly protest, Still to be true to his sweet interest;

To fight it out under his Royal banner, Till death, and that in a couragious manner. Now if when call'd to suffer for his name, We should flinch back, O were it not a shame? Nay, Christ against us may our Baptism bring As an Indictment for this very thing: How shall we look on Christ another day, Who from our colours falsly fall away? O where alights, the curses flying roul, But in the dwelling of the perjur'd soul, Zac. 5. 4.

15. On a Barber.

THe Barber shaves the hair, and clips the face; Nature deforms us, we are trimm'd by grace.

16. On Barrenness.

AH me! how naked are we! O how bare? Till with Christs right'ous robes we clothed are.

17. On a Bargain.

WHo contracts with the Devil, & sells himsel•• To him for worldly pleasures, honors, pelf, That bargain yields bare gain, nay him undoes, For light chaff, he his precious soul forgoes.

18. On a Barge, or Bark.

THe world's a sea, we Barks by spirit-gale•• drive•• We sail, O whither are we bound? to Heaven▪

19. On Barking.

BA'ls Priests are blind, they wander in the dark▪ Dumb dogs they are, & cannot therefore bark▪

But if they should; Saints live above their spite, Dogs bark against the Moon, they cannot bite.

20. On Barley.

CHrist above four thousand fed, (Not with various dishes) With seven loaves of barley-bread, And a few small fishes: Strange! seven baskets were repleat, With the Offall, broken meat.

21. On a Barn.

THe S^ts. are wheat, the best, the noblest grain, Heav'n is the barn wherein this wheat is lain.

22 On a Bar.

CHrist is a Judge, before him at the Bar, The trembling sinner one day must appear.

23. On a Barrel.

THe woman of Sarepta could not fare ill, Whose meals was still encreased in her Barrel: Lord! when my stock of grace is well nigh spent, Give more, and I therewith will be content.

24. On Barrenness.

TO bear no fruit, was ever held a shame, Nay a curse too, O how are we to blame? On whom the largest showres of Gods word fall, That yet are barren, bear no fruit at all.

25. On a Barretter.

THe Barretter, who studies brawling Laws, Will set his tongue to sale in any Cause;

Raw wounds he loves, and references hates, In tricks and querks, and quarrelsom debates He onely trades; his answers are evasions, His arguments are snarling cavillations: The work he brews in the Vacation long, He in the Term-time broacheth with his tongue; This greedy Horse-leech loves to suck and draw The putrid bloud of the corrupted Law; But of this wrangler soft, I must be mute, For fear against me he commence a suit. No more but this, such as delight in jarrs Should God destroy, wo be to Barreters.

26. On a Basis.

THe King's the Basis, people to sustain, The Kings prop is the Lord, by whom Kings reign; Nay, if the Lord, who ruleth over all, Did not uphold the world, the world would fall.

27. On Bashfulness.

BLushing is vertues tincture, comely grace Is oft pourtrayed by the bashful face: T'have cheeks distain'd with a vermiliion dy For sin, oh this is pious modestie.

28. On a Basilisk.

SIn is a Basilisk, its poisnous breath, Is mortal, 'tis the Harbinger of death: Let's first discover it, and make it flie. Left it should us pursue, and so we die.

29. On a Basket.

BLessed shall be thy Basket and thy store, If Gods Law thou obey, and him adore; But curst thy basket, and thy store shall be, Who wilt not do as God commandeth thee.

30. On a Bason.

WHen his disciples feet our Saviour scour'd, Water into a Bason first he pour'd: We are by nature Base ones, Lord pour in Thy grace, & from our souls feet * wash off sin. * 1.5

31. On a Bastard.

THis luckless issue, Heavens image coin'd With a forbidden stamp, but few do mind; And yet who is there, that delights not in That ugly monster, Satans bastard sin? Considred in his natural estate, Ev'ry man is an illegitimate: The unbelieving wretch, is one base-born, God looks upon him with contempt and scorn: He is a person vile, one of earths breed, A Brat engendred of the Serpents seed: Be sure, God will not father him therefore, But lay such Bastards at the Devils door. By faith it is, that God takes cognizance Of us for sons: 'tis faith doth us advance. By faith we are Gods children through Christ's merit, Faith gives us right and title to inherit.

Til faith be wrought, we have no right to heav'n, Onely to lawful heirs that Land is given. Tis faith that doth legitimate, until Thou do believe, thou art a Bastard still. Boast not thy Pedigree, the devil can show As full as good a Coat of Arms as thou.

32. On a Bath.

TEars are a Bath, My sou•• bathe thee therein, When Peter had defil'd himself with sin, He washd his soul with penetential tears, The water of Con••••tion heals and clears: The tears which impure Mary did impart, Not onely washd Christs feet, but cleans'd he•• heart. O sinners, make vour eyes a flowing fount Of tears, wee•• for those sins you cannot count. Christs blood's a Bath, a fount set ope for sin And for uncleanness: Go, my soul, step in And bathe thee there, his Blood will scour so, That crimson sins shall seem as white as snow. O tis this Blood of Christ that lays the soul A whitening, these two bathes do make soul•• whole.

33. On a Battel.

AWay, fond fool, wilt thou prepare t'embat•••• With the great God, whose thundring judg¦ments rattle About thine ears, when all the world records With one consent, the Battel is the Lords.

Alas! alas! it is in vain to strive Against that God, whose wisdom can contrive, And power effect, thy certain overthrow, And hurl thee head-long into hellish woe.

34. On a Bay-tree.

THe wicked, spreading like a Bay-tree green, Dies in a trice, and can no more be seen: But mark the upright man, for that man's end Is peace, flourishing blessings him attend.

35. On a Beacon.

WE fire our Beacons when an en'mie's near, When sin invades us, how secure we are! The Beacon of mine heart, O Lord! enflame With grace, and Satan shall retreat with shame.

36. On a Beagle.

THe quick-nos'd Beagle, follows hard the chase, How slow are we in the pursuit of grace!

37. On a Beam.

A Beam is in our eye, we mind it not, But in our brother's can discern a mote; To find out others failings, we are prone, But O'twere well, did we amend our own.

38. On Beans.

TO him that brings his mind unto his means, O how delicious is a mess of Beans! He that hath in the bread of life a share, Can be contented with the meanest fare.

39. On a Beard.

MEthinks that hairy argument of Age, To sober actions should men engage; Its man prerogative: O what a grace Where vertue ruleth, is a well-thatch▪d face!

40. On a Bear.

I See an ill-shap'd Bear, and I begin To think, am I not more deform'd by sin? Lord, I by nature am austere and rough, But ah! thy grace can make me smooth enough.

41. On Be••sts.

THe Forrest Burgesses by nature wild, Rav'nous & fierce, Gods power makes mo•• mil•• Gentle, and merciful to man, than men; Dan'el was safe when in the L••ons Den. In Dioclesians Reign, the Christians thrown To Leopards, Wolves, and Bears, were let alon••

42. On Beauty.

BEauty! what is it but a Vernal Flow'r, Now fresh, alas! and wither'd in an hour. Grace is the best complexion of the Soul, Compar'd to that, all other beauty's foul; It is ev'n at the first Plantation, Like Rachel, very fair to look upon. But still the more it lives, the more it sends Its ra••s of beauty forth; that which commends Christs lovely Spouse, is Soul-adorning grace, Not the external features of the Face.

All glorious the Kings Daughter is within, She is fair, though she have a Black-Moors skin. Christs sparkling Robes of Right'ousness adorn The soul, these never can be thred-bare worn. Grace is the Holy Ghosts Embroidery; This roseate Beauty onely in Gods eye Sets off a Soul; such as in heart are pure He loves, but spir't'ual Lepers cann't endure. Unto his lesser Heav'n God doth repair, The Dove delighteth in the purest air. The Spir't, who in the likeness of a Dove Descended, fair-complexion'd souls do••h love. This is Gods rest, here he for ever dwells, This beauty never fades, O this excells! It is the fairest heart, not fairest face Christ loves; the glory of a man is grace. Christ•• Bride she wears no Necklace on her neck The Graces are a Chain of Pearl that deck Her Lilly Soul; Grace is a precious thing To th' Soul, as is the Di••mond to the Ring, The Sun to th' world; an heav'n enamel'd mind Is such a Beauty as is hard to find. Grace is a Flower of Delight, which Christ Loves to smel to; Grace makes us like the Highst: O what is there that may with Grace compare! There's nothing here below so rich, so rare. But O the Jewels which on Christ were hung, Cannot be blazon'd by a mortal tongue.

Deformities immediately flow From sin, but blessed he, no sin did know. By th' Spirit conceiv'd, that is the reason then Why he was fairer than the sons of men. Mirror of Beauty in his looks divine, O what a graceful Majesty doth shine! Christ is described with an head of Gold, Ey-dazling gold, & his Doves eyes behold Cant. •• 1•• His Spouse; his cheecks are as a bed of spices, His loveliness the Virgin-heart entices. What may be said, falls infinitely short Of his resplendent worth; who can report His rare unparagon'd perfections? man Can never do it, for no Angel can. In's person, disposition, s••ff'rings, graces, And conversation all men he surpasses. To God, to Saints, and to the Angel-quire, He's very lovely; what should we admire But his perfections? there is not a spot In him, his Beauty's seamless as his Coat. Beauty draws love; his beauty Christ imparts, O wear this Rose of Sharon in your hearts. Sinners, get Christ, in gaining him you get The richest Jewel in Heav'ns Cabinet.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Theodoret.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Chrysost.

43. On a Bed.

MY body's earthly clothes which now I have, I shortly shall put off, and in the grave, My last bed, rest; but raised I shall be, And with these very eyes my Savior see.

44. On Bees.

••He Hony-merchants in the prime of May, By sun shine thro' the fragrant meadows stray With Cypras wings, and by their Chymick skill, ••xtract the quintessence of Flow'rs, to fill Their hollow-vaulted cells: what heavy loads Their laden thighs transport to their aboads? When others pine with want, in winters cold, They live upon their self-made liquid Gold. So in prosper'ties summer, should we lay Up store of grace, against a winters day.

45. On a Beggar.

OH! in my bones such a disease doth lurk, A knavish beggar cry'd, I cannot work: And afterwards confest it was the Lazies; We work not for our souls, such our disease is. Lord, we deserve thy whip, need no curb bridles, Who are by nature troubled with the idles. Beggars we are, whose hourly wants implore Each Meals relief; we beg at Heavens door, Give us this day our daily bread; we crave, God gives it us, we can but ask and have.

Who live upon Gods alms, must not refuse▪ His reffuse; beggars must not pick and chuse. That news of Beadles, and their tort'ring whips Is not the language of Gods angry lips, Is a rich mercy: Beggars should be humble, Thou art a Beggar, ah! why dost thou grumble And murmure at thy God! wilt thou repine That art sustain'd by Providence Divine? If the Alms-basket of Gods Providence We slight, how justly may he say, go hence; Go hence, proud beggars, with your cursed stat•• And come no more for Alms at Heaven-gate. I am a Beggar, Lord, let me partake Of grace and glor••, for Christ Jesus sake.

46. On Beginnings.

SIn its first rise, as ev'l must be withstood, Grace its first rise, embrac'd as being good. ¶ Where is no grace to crush sin in the shell, Sin grows, and it will hurry men to hell. Perpetuated woes are Vices dregs, Lets crush betimes these Cockatrices Eggs.

47. On Being with Christ.

TO be with Christ in Glory, doth include A Priviledge of the first Magnitude; Saint Paul long'd to depart, that he might res•• On that soft pillow, his dear Saviors brest, As the belov'd Disciple John, once did. While in the flesh, our life of grace is hid

Under Corruptions veil, until we be ••ith Christ, our grace is in its infancie. O when we sit with Christ, and wear our crown, Our graces shall be fully ripe, and blown, Which here are in the buds; here we inherit The first-fruits, there the full crop of the Spirit. Death is sweet to the Saints, to heav'n they come By crossing of this Marc-Martuum: Here we behold Christ darkly, through a glass; There shall his veil be taken off his face, And he in his Embroidery appear; Heav'n were nor Heav'n, if Christ were not there. Christ with his graces, here his Spouse doth honor ••n heav'n, his glory he will put upon her. She shall shine by his means, sit next his throne, By vertue of her Marri'ge Union. Here she's in sable for her absent Love; But Christ in heav'n her mourning will remove, And clothe her in white robes; Christ he prepares An Handkerchief to dry up all her Tears. O there the heart, and all the senses shall Be fill'd with joy at once, none thence can fall. In heav'n we ever with the Lord shall rest, The Saint, when there, hath his Quietus est.

48. On Believing in Christ.

ANd shall the Saints for ever be possest Of heav'nly thrones? with Christ in glory rest!

Oh then, lets try our selves whether or no We are such persons, as to Christ shall go At deaths arrest? from hence we must be gone But shall we go to Christ? this may be known As thus; if here the life of grace we live In Christ, Christ us will when we die, receive: How blest is union! union is the ground Of priviledge; in Christ we must be found Clad in his robes of Holiness, before we Can be with Christ dress'd in his robes of glory O labour to get faith; faith is the grace Unites to Christ; faith moves Christ to embrac•• Us in his loving arms; by faith alone Christ as an husband, as a Lord we own. Faith gives the interest, tis faith doth bring Christ home unto the soul; Christ is the ring, Faith's finger puts it on; faith opens wide The orifice, in her sweet Saviors side, And drinks his blood; faith justifies, make clean O get faith, of all graces Faith is Queen: Faith paves a Cawsie to a heav'nly throne, Believers die Heirs to the glorious crown: O Lord enrich me with that saving grace, That I amongst thy Saints may have a place.

49. On a Bell.

THe Gospel is a Silver-warning Bell, To ring men in to Christ, and yet to Hell

How many go? its sound we cannot hear, Unless Gods Spirit ring it in our ear.

50. On Bellows.

MY zeal is but a spark; Lord! I desire Thy Spirits Bellows to blow up my fire, That I may to the glory of thy Name Ascend still to thee, in an holy flame.

51. On the Belly.

THe Belly's Natures Kirchin, is't not odd A House of Office, should become a God? Many do serve their Bellies, oh how few Yield God that honor which to him is due!

52. On Beloved.

GOd hath made us, whom sin had once undon, Beloved, in his Well-beloved Son.

53. On a Belt.

FAlshood surcingles most; how few are there About their loins, Truths golden girdle wear! That man must needs be strenuous and stout, That with the Belt of Truth is girt about.

54. On a Bench.

THe worlds a Bench, whereon a while we stay, Till we to Heav'nly thrones are call'd away.

55. On a Bene••ice.

MEn now adays fat Benefices get, And straightway lay aside the Preachers net. So I win souls to God, I do not care How small my Profits, and my In-comes are.

56. On Benefits.

AS benefit's bestow'd, bind the receiver; So hearty thanks return'd, oblige the giver, Christ cleans'd the Leper, and we read but one Often, that gave God thanks for what was done.

57. On the Best.

GOd, that on us dost the best things bestow, To thee the best of what we have, we owe; Thou showr'st on us the riches of thy grace, We fling sins filthy ordure in thy face, For Gold give dirt, and is not this a shame? How blind our sacrifice are, how lame! He that delights in God, bestowes on him The strength of his affections; the cream Of his performances; to God he brings The very best he hath, for offerings; The firstlings of the flock, and of the sat Thereof, nor grumbles in the least thereat. God who is best, will with the best be serv'd; Domitian would have his Statute carv'd In burnish'd Gold, and not in Brass, or Wood, God who is good himself, craves what is good; The best of our best things, he best approves, Our golden servicies he dearly loves. Hypocrites duties do procure Gods loathing, They offer to him that which cost them nothing: They care not what before the Lord they bring, A lazy pray'r, or such like sorry thing:

A cheap Religion always likes them best; A costly one they very much detest: A broken heart is my best sacrifice, O Lord, I trust thou wilt not it despise: O grant that I may labour to do first My best, and then let Satan do his worst.

58. On a Beetle.

HOw beetle-blind are we! how void of sight, Ev'n in the midst of glorious-Gospel light. Omentum Cimmeriis tenebris atrociorem. Lactan.

59. On Beiraying.

JƲdas his Master with a Kiss betrays, How many Judasses are now adays!

60. On Betrothing.

O Let's admire Christ's love in us betrothing, Ev'n while we were the objects of his lothing.

61. On a Bever-beast.

MEn for the skin pursue the Beaver-beast, Satan from hunting souls, doth never rest.

62. On Bewitching.

THe world's a witch, with honour, pleasures, ri∣ches, The spells she casts, she multitudes bewitches.

63. On the Bible.

THe sacred Testament both new and old, Are the two Lips, by which God doth unfold For our souls health, the counsels of his brest; And therefore of all books, the Bible's best.

64. On Bigamy.

CHrist constant to his Spouse, the Church our Mother, Nor will he ever marry any other.

65. On a Bile.

SIn is an angery bile, which few do feel, And nothing but the bloud of Christ can heal.

66. On a Bill.

THe bill chops wood, cuts off excresences, So must repentance our iniquities.

67. On a Bill.

SAtan against the Saints, prefers his bill, But Christ the right'ous Judge acquit them will.

68. On Birds.

THe feather'd people and the air agree To carol forth Gods praise, and shall not we?

69. On the New-Birth.

TWice born! how can this be? by flesh & blood This mystery cannot be understood: By faith it may, without Regeneration, Of water and the Spir't, there's no Salvation.

70. On a Bishop.

THe Scripture sayes, a Bishop must be blamless, Chaste, sober, holy, (not profane, & shameless) Not close, but free; to godly men propitious, Apt for to teach, (not piteful and malicious. Such men were Titus, Timothy, and Paul, And our late Jewels, Davenant, Ʋsher, Hall.

Such are, (and O may they be long enjoy'd) Laborious Reynolds, chari••able Floyd: To mild Nicholson, some wish the turn'd-out tribe That can (they say) to Gods command subscribe: Might be unchain'd, have freedom to dispense The Gospel, though they miss'd preheminence▪ Love best perswades, the learned have exprest, And wise men find, the Golden mean is best.

71. On a Bit, or Morsel.

TIs by free grace, we are sustain'd and fed, Alas! we ne're deserv▪d one bit of bread.

72. On Bitterness.

SIn makes fair promises, but nothing less Performs, it always ends in bitterness.

73. On a Bit, or Sn••ffle.

LOrd! when my tongue would gallop into sin, Thy Presence is the bit must keep it in.

74. On a Blab, or Long-tengue.

'TWas Davids pray'r; Lord, set a watch before My mouth, & of my lips keep thou the door, ¶ He that gives too much freedom to his tongue, Offends his God, and doth his neighbour wrong▪

75. On Blackness.

THere's none, but is originally soil'd With inbre'd filth, and actually spoil'd, We are born Moors, and by continual fin, This swarthiness hath much increased been:

We have no virtual nitre of our own To whiten us, the bloud of Gods dear son Can only cleanse, and purifie the soul And make us fair, who are by nature soul.

76. On a Bladder.

PRide puffeth up the heart, but death's de∣sign'd To prick this bladder, and let out the wind.

77. On Blame.

FOr crucifying Christ their Lord, we blame The Jewes, yet daily do the very same; Our sins are ranckling thorns, the nails, the spea•• That tear our Lord, and we shed not a tear.

78. On Blasphemy.

BLasphemy is a bullet, that rebounds From God at whom 'ti•• shot, & the blaspheme•• wound••.

79. On Blessedness.

THat in reversion, there's a blessedness The Saints believe; and Scripture doth ex∣press▪ Blessedness is the souls perfection, Of Christ'an industry tis the whet-stone, The Saints highest ambition, tis the flower Of his delight, the end which evermore All men desire; this is the white all aim To hit, this is the center; this is the flame That nourisheth our zeal; this precious Gem, Hangs not upon an earthly Diadem: It lies not in the acquisition, Of things beneath the circle of the Sun:

It cannot be by any chymick skill Extracted here, emptiness cannot fill: For birth, for wealth, for worldly joys, for wit, None might compare with Solomon, and yet He tells us in the hight of contemplation, That all is vanity and soul-vexation. Alas! the sacred Tree of blessedness, Doth not grow in an earthly Paradise: For sin hath not, God curst the loathed ground, How then therein, can blessedness be found? And yet there▪s many digging for it here, As if a curse could any blessing bear. Fire may as easily from water-springs Be drawn, as blessedness from earthly things: The world's below the soul, it's foot-stool tis, And therefore ••annot crown it with true bliss. Worldly accommodations cannot still The troubled heart, nor with true comfort fill: Riches can never satisfie the soul, Because not real, and away they roul, Like a swift stream; therefore they never can, With endless happiness, enrich a man; Riches are thorns, they vex the head with care Of getting, so they wound the heart with fear Of loosing them, a man may be possest Of golden Mountains, and be never blest: The sole enoyment of these things below, Will bring a curse; cannot therefore bestow

Happiness on us, Gold (tis sad to tell) Hath sunk the souls of many men to Hell: Judas for money his salvation sold, The Pharises bought with refined mould Their own damnation: creatures comforts can Derive no true felicity to man: 'Tis in an higher Region, they that do Seek for it here, do to the wrong box go: Blessedness is too delicate a Plant To dwell in natures soil, he knows no want That hath it; O how blest is his condition, That hath a full and sensible fruition Of God the supream good; there's nothing ca•• But God enjoy'd, beatifie a man. God is the chiefest good, he makes them ble•• Who in him only, acquiesce and rest: Blessedness is the alone Diamond, In God the Rock of ages to be found. He is the top of all felicity, The center in whom all the lines agree: The soul is not compleatly happy, till It meet in God, who only can it fill In blessedness, or else it is not right, Are these Ingred'ents, spirits of delight; So meliority, and sweet variety, Compleat perfection, and a full satiety: Eternities the highest link of bliss, Its sun-shine never sets, nor clouded is▪

God only can true blessedness afford, Blest are the people whose God is the Lord. Sinner lament thy sins, false ways decline, And sweat hard till thou finde this golden mine; ▪Tis feizable, the flaming Sword of fin, Can only keep thee back from entring in Th'heavenly Paradise: Get an interest In Christ, walk uprightly, and thou art blest: That thou art bound for heav'n, do thou not say Who steer'st thy course the quite contrary way, But thou that art a Saint free grace adore That, that must set thee on the blissful shore; I must pass through the gate of grace, before I Can enter into the White-Hall of Glory.

80. On Blessings.

ALL blessings are from God, his golden bouls Of mercies still refresh our bodies, souls; His blessings ever over-flow the banks Of our desires, and shall we ebb in thanks? God will, if we be thankful for the store Of blessings he allows, allow us more.

81. On Blindness.

TIs day, and yet we grope the way to finde, Strange▪ that the Gospels light should make us blinde. ••he world's God blindes mens eyes, they nei∣ther can ••ee their Disease, nor their Physician.

Laodicea in her own conceit Was rich, and yet how poor was her estate! The blind man in the Gospel till Christ came, Recov'red not his sight, and in Christ's name Implore we must, the spirit to inlight Our spir't'al eyes, for we have lost our sight.

82. On Blockishness.

BEfore the fall our understandings light Was clear, but since how darkned is our sight How blockish are we! how unapt to learn The things; that do immediately concern Our everlasting peace! O Lord restore To us thine Image, by us lost before: Be pleas'd to open our sin-sealed eyes That we may know thee, and thy goodness priz••

83. On a Blossom.

GRace is the bud that sports on Par'dise tree, The blossome is glorious Eternitie: Unless we bud in grace, we shall not bloom In glory, none but Saints in Heaven find room.

84. On Bloud.

THe bloud that guish'd from murd'red Ab•• Empierc'd the heav'ns, with its reveng•• soun•• But ah! the bloud of my dear, Lord was spilt, To cleanse my bloud-debabled soul from guil•• It cries for pardon, scours out all my stains, Procures my freedom from eternal pains.

How precious is the Balm of Gilead! By it salvation can be only had. Christ, he will have the honour of the cure, Or he will never heal us to be sure: The oyl in Rhemes (tis stori'd) never wasts, Though always us'd, Christ's bloud for ever lasts, Bubbling from his pierc'd side: O make recourse My soul still to this Fountain; O divorce Thy self from sin, (sin is the thing confounds,) Take Sanctuary in his sanguine wounds: This is the sacred Bath open'd for sin, And for uncleanness, go my soul step in And bathe thee there, this is that spir'tal spring That makes clean hearts; Christ's bloud's a pre∣cious thing; If to the heart applied, it makes it flourish In holiness, nothing like this doth nourish The fainting soul, no desperate condition There is with Christ, who is the best Physitian: His bloud hath sov'raign vertue to restore, All wounds, he hath a Salve for ev'ry sore.

Sanguis Christi salus Christiani. Bern.

Oceultes viribus egregius sons. Juven.

85. On Blowes.

WE did commit the fault, but justice dealt The blows to Christ; the dol'rous stripes he felt, That so we might be heal'd, to him was carv'd The punishment, that sinful we deserv'd.

86. On Boasting.

TEll me fond man, whereof hast thou to boast, Whose days are ev'l at best, but few at most; 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••est ••e••ig••••s▪ are check•••• w••rk'•• wi••h sorrow, And dost thou brag of what shall be to morrow! But if th••u must be proud, make this thy Pride, To know Christ Jesus, and him Crucifi'd.

87. On the B••dy.

HOw brittle is this fleshy Cabbinet, Wherein the richest Diamond is set! But time will come, when this vile mortal case, Shall glorious Immortality imbrace. The body is, while here infirm and weak Our earthen ware, a little thing will break Trajan's ashes after his death, to Rome Were brought, and honor'd: at the day of doo•• So shall the precious ashes of the Just, Be much esteem'd, and shine as Silver dust. Christ risen is, and he's the bodies head, Therefore the body shall not still lie dead: Saints bodies rais'd from out their slumbri•• grave▪ Neither diseases, nor defects shall have; The body here's a clog, a lumpish thing, In heaven it shall have a nimble wing. Here muddy, vile, passive, and transitory, In heav'n transparent, beautifi'd with glory, Impassible, grown to a perfect stature, Free from the wants, and woes, & wrongs of n••¦tur••

••mmortal Heaven is an healthful Air, There is no sadness, nor no dying there. When the Saints soul shall with the body meet, How blest will be their greeting! O how sweet!

88. On a Body of Death.

SIn is a body, for it weighs us down, In prayer it hinders our Ascension; We with corruption over-power'd shall be, Till deathpull off these weights and set us free. ••in is deaths body, it is Carrion s••ell Annoys the gracious soul, which loaths t'dwell ••n Meseck, and to sojourn in the Tents Of Kedar, whence arise unsav'ry seents. O wo is me, that I am forc'd to stay With sin! how long the pious soul doth say, ••hall I be vex'd with inmates, O my God, With thee I long to settle mine abode.

89. On Boldness.

GOd holds his scepter forth, & ev'ry one May come with boldness to his gracious throne The child with confidence makes known his wants To his dear father, and his father grants What he desires, and shall not God much rather, Who has the disposition of a father As well as the relation, supply His Childrens wants, when they unto him cry. How should we to this tender father run ••n all conditions, when by sin undone;

〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉

〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉

O say to God, Father, my heart, my heart, O quicken, soften it; does Satan dart Temptations at us? God relieves his Saints, Who in his bosom pour forth their complaints.

90. On a Bolt.

A Fools bolt is soon shot, the Proverb says. Scripture Fools, wicked men: ah now adays Do make a Bolt of their licentious tongue, To blaspheme God, & do their neighbor wrong.

91. On a Bond.

CHrist dy'd, the Saints may well be over-joy'd, For now Wraths bond and obligation's void.

92. On Bondage.

EMbondaged for ever we had been, But that our blessed Savior stood between God and our souls, redeem'd us with his blood, Which streamed from him like a crimson flood. Sin, death, & hell, Christ by his death trod under, And snapt those bonds (that held us fast) in sunder

93. On a B••nfire.

THe flick'ring flames of sprightly fire, Unto the highest Arch aspire. Mount up my soul, to God above, On winged flames of holy love.

94. On Books.

EXperience tells, vain Books, and idle Plays, And such as Ovids Amatorious Lays,

How well they sell! whilst better Tractates lye Untouch'd, Religious Books but few will buy. Sad times! for one that in Gods Bible looks, There's ten that pore on Cards, the devils books. All want on books, could some have their desire, Would be condemn'd to an Ephesian sire; And though it would the Devil much displease, Yet might one say, as Alcibiades, Of the Athenian heaps of burning scrowls, I ne're saw clearer fire, nor purer coals. * * 1.6

95. On Borrowing.

OUr lives, and what we have, of God we bor∣row, Who may recal them in before to morrow: Let me not grumble, Lord, but be content To pay what thou demand'st what thou hast lent

96. On Bosoms.

MEek Moses bosom is the Law Divine; The golden gospel wherein grace doth shine Christs bosom is, and as in sacred Story It is recorded, Abraham is his glory.

97. On a Bottle.

WHen all the liquor in our bottle's spent, So long as there's a Well, lets be content.

98. On a Bowl.

WEalth, honor, pleasures, to and fro do roul; Nor is't a wonder, for the Worlds a Bowl.

99. On Bounds.

GOod who is boundless in himself surrounds, The raging waters with appointed bounds, Also the days of man, that then he can Not pass, alas! our life is but a span.

100. On B••unty.

ALL's lost that is laid out, but what is giv'n to Christ & his poor members (heirs of heaven Though pilgrims here) is lost like scattred grain, And at joys harvest, shall be found again: The end of life is service; to extend Good things to such, as want is the great end Of our creation; let us not be found Unprofitable burthens to the ground. Almes is a sacrifice gratulatory, Pleasing to God, and its reward is Glory. Estates are Talents lent to trade withal, We are but stewards; God may quickly call For our accounts, of what we have disburst, The tree that bare no fruit our Savior curst.

101. On a Bow.

GOd like our enemy hath bent his Bow., And threats a universal overthrow: To the ungodly world, withal our hearts, Lets turn to him before he thrills his darts.

101. On a Bower.

THe whole world is an heavenly earthly bow'r, Hev'n is its sieling, and the Earth its floor,

But ah! our Bower, this heav'n, this earth, must pass Away, as well as we, who are as grass.

103. On a B••x.

MAns body is a box till death it split The Soul, that precious Gem is kept in it.

104. On Boyes.

THe world is in our eye like sportive boyes, We trade for trifles, and are all for toyes.

105. On Bracelets.

ABrahams servant put loves Golden Bands, A brace of Bracelets on Rehekah▪s hands; But O how gloriousl•• will Christ adorn His spouse▪ what bracelets shall by her be worn!

106. On a Brand.

GOd plucked us as brands from out hel fire, Who neither could deserve, nor yet desire This at his hands My soul, free-grace admire!

107. On Bran.

HOw sieve-like is the Memory of man, 'Tis too retentive of the grosser bran; All sinful trash, and rubbish, but alas! It lets Gods word, the purer flour, through pass.

108. On Brass.

A Man for Eloquent may pass, But wanting Charity, alas! He is as tinkling sounding Brass.

109. On Brawling.

FOr Bawling Curs and salvage Bears, To fall together by the ears Is common; 'tis a horrid shame, For such to brawl that bear Christ's Name. If we have wrangled heretofore, Now let's be Friends, and sin no more.

110. On Bread.

BRead is life's staff, and yet we cannot stand By it, unless God hold it with his hand. God's blessing is the only stay and prop Of that staff Bread, without it down we drop. Our feeder is our food, not on his grounds, This Shepherd feeds his sheep, but with his wounds Christ is the living, & life-giving bread, That soul that feeds on him, shall never need.

111. On the Breast.

WIth the humble Publican May I smite upon my breast, And sigh out this fair request, Pardon Lord me sinful man.

112. On Breath.

THe breath that in our Nostrils is, Is the Anointed of the Lord; And what he freely doth afford, He may recal when ere he please. Lord when I breath my last, grant I May reign with thee Eternally.

113. On Breeches.

BReeches which in the room of fig-leaves came Are but the badges of our guilt and shame, And this (methinks) should serve to humble all That wear them, since they minde us of our fall.

114. On Brethren.

ALL they that Christianity embrace, Are Brethren by Creation or Race; Are Brethren by Profession or Place, And by Regeneration no Grace. Behold how good, how pleasing 'tis to see, Brethren by Race, Place, Grace, in one t' agree

115. On Brevity.

I Came, I saw, and then I overcame Victorious Caesar, said King Philp wrote Threats to th' Laconian Lords, but to the same They only answer dif—(as stories Note) Lord come and see, and conquer us: Let man, If thou be for us, hurt us if—(he can)

116. On Briars.

SIns are entangling briars, which are found Within mans heart, that barren piece of ground. These wound the soul the gracious soul desires Nothing more, then to get out of these Briars.

117. On Bribes.

BRibes are attractive, 'tis a bribe that draws On Friendship sooner then a right'ous cause;

Witness Gehazi, Judas, Samuel's sons, But ah! the bribed into ruine runs: Though the bag be drawn with a double cord Of silk and silver, favour and reward. He that receives against the innocent, Injurious bribes, unless he do repent Of that foul crime, shall find another day, That vengeance is the Lords, and he'l repay.

118. On a Bridegroom.

CHrist is the Bridegroom, and the Church his Bride, Whose hearts with loves eternal bands are ti'd, He found her foul, but he hath wash'd her so, That now she's whiter than the driven snow.

119. On a Bridge.

DEath draws the bridge of life, sends in a trice Sinners to Hell, but Saints to Paradise.

120. On Bride-well.

TO work in Bride-well is an easie toil To their's who must in broad hel always broil.

121. On a Bridle.

THink often on the all-discerning eye Of the great God, who always doth descry Thy secret thoughts from perpetraing sin, No better bridle for to keep thee in.

122. On Brightness.

THe blessed Saints though here obscure they be To the World's eye, yet shall hereafter see

God face to face, and gloriously bright; Out-shine the sparkling Jewls of the night.

123. On Brimstone.

HEre blue flam'd brimstone much offends the smell, Oh how doth it torment the damn'd in Hell.

124. On B••ine.

PRay'rs that are pickel'd with the brine of tears, God barrels up in his attentive ears.

125. On a Brink.

ALas! we dance upon destructions brink, And each sin is a weight to make us sink.

126. On a Broad-way.

NO wonder many love so well the road That leads to ruin, tis because its broad.

127. On a Brood.

THe brood is safe hous'd underneath the wings Of the indulgent damm, our safety springs From God whose wings shall ever over-spread His Saints, and never any feathers shed.

128. On a Brook.

THe bubling brook that wantons up and down The flowry enameld Meads, and trips upon The murmering pebbels, slips into the main, And still payes tribute to the watry Plain: Ev'n so to God who first to us conveys, His love, should we return the streams of praise.

129. On a Broom.

HOw necessary is the Houswifes broom, To sweep out dust that genders in the room! But oh! the besome of Jehovahs ire Sweeps dusty souls, into infernal fire.

130. On Broth.

ESau for a mess of broth Sold his Birth-right; we are loth To exchange things transitory, For immortal boundless glory.

131. On the Brow.

LOrd! I have sinn'd, that is the reason thou Lookest on me with so severe a brow; Behold me in the face of thy dear Son, O then I know thou wilt no longer frown.

132. On a Brush.

WE brush our dusty cloaths, sin soils the soul, Yet how content are we to keep that foul▪

133. On a Brute.

THe Oxe will know his owner, and the Ass Her master's crib, but Israel (alas!) Will not know me, says God, they have destroy'd Themselves, and made their understanding vo••d. Till God open our lips, our mouths are dumb, And we more brutish then a Brute become.

134. On a Bubble.

HOw vain a thing is man; his life's a bubble, Replenish'd with winds of care & trouble.

135. On a Buck.

WE run from God, and are by nature wild A Bucks, grace cicurates, & makes us mild, O God, to me be pleased to impart Thy grace, O that can tame my wanton heart.

136. On a Bucket.

WE have a well, let's let our bucket down, To fetch up waters of Salvation.

137. On a Buckler.

GOd is a guarding buckler to the just, Who in his sure defence repose their trust.

138. On a Bud.

LOrd nip the bud, before the bloom begins, For ah! I would not flourish in my sins.

139. On a Bug, or Hob-gobling.

OUr wayward children, we with bugbears fear, T'were well if terrifi'd from sin we were.

140. On a Building.

THe Royal Palace where the Saints shall dwell, A building is, not made with mortal hands, How doth it in Maginificence excell! Above the starry Firmament it stands; 'Tis spacious, precious, specious, and pure, And shall to all eternity endure.

141. On a Bullet.

GOds thund'ring judgments like the bullet run, Shot from the bowels of the murd'ring Gun.

142. On a Bul-rush.

HAng down our head? we like a bul-rush may, Yet not be truly humbled when we pray.

143. On a Bul-wark.

GOd to his people is a bulwark strong, So that Hell-gates shal never do them wrong.

144. On Bundles.

THe Tares that growing with the Wheat is found, Shal for hell fire be in b••ndles bound.

145. On a Burgess.

EAch Saint (chosen by God himself) is sent To set as Burgess, in Heav'ns Parli'ment: And with those noble Peers the Angels sing Immortal praise, to their triumphant King.

146. On Burials.

NAture, kind to her own, did first devise T' entomb a Corps with solemn obsequies; And surely grace allows a Burial, To th' Holy Ghost his Temples, when they fall.

147. On Burning.

COme see my zeal for God, Jehu pretends; An holy zeal, but he had base-by-ends: Lord kindle in my heart, a burning flame Of real zeal to glorifie thy name.

148. On Burrs.

SInners to one another stick like burrs; O why should Saints fall out, like wrangling currs!

149. On Burthens.

COme unto me, I hear my Savior say To ev'ry sin-press'd soul, O come away All ye that grone under sins massie weight, And I will ease you, and refresh you streight: My yoke is easie, and may well be worn, My burden's not too heavy to be borne: Yield, yield my soul, his are no Tyrant Laws, His spir't will help thee; If the Loadstone draws The Ir'n, the Iron easily may move, So thou—Out of a principle of love Obey thy Savior, serve him with delight; Love makes sin heavy, and Christs burden light. God never burdens us, but that he may Un-burthen us of sin, there's in the way Of duty, joy, and Heaven at the end, O think of the reward, that doth attend Your service, and bless God you are not under The curses of the Law, the Law rores thunder.

150. On a Bush.

THe burning bush was unconsum'd with fire, For God was in't, O let's his pow'r admire; The fire of persecution, cannot tame Christs Church, for he is with her in the flame.

151. On a Bushel.

THose graces which the Saints as lights con∣ceal, Under a bushel, tryals oft reveal.

152. On a Busie-body.

ARdelio, so much abroad doth roam, Its hard for him to finde himself at home.

153. On Business.

THe business that we are set about While we are in this world, is to work out Our own salvation with trembling fear. But O how few make this their chiefest care! O Lord, enable me to work, that I, May have grace wages glory when I dy.

154. On a Butter-fly.

WE smile to see our little Children try Their skill, to eatch the painted butter∣flie. And yet alas, we do the very same, Nay worse our selves, O is not this a shame!

155. On But.

BAd is the But mars all, some but for some Pleasures or Profit, unto Christ would come; But for his wife, with whom he must go dwell, But for the bidding of his friends farewel; But for th' interring of his father dear, But for his viewing of his field bought there. But for the trial of his Oxon, he Would follow Christ, ah Lord! such Buts have we, 'Tis blessed when our Buts are for the best, Ye were as bad as any of the rest; But ye are wash'd, but ve are cleansed now, How sweet's the wine, from such good butts does flow!

156. On a But.

GOds glory is the but, but Christians hark, Grace is the only Arrow hits that mark.

157. On a Butcher.

THe Butcher lives by killing, we by dying To sin, and our corruptions mortifying.

158. On a Butler.

THe Butler keeps provision, O hoord Up in thy heart the food of life, Gods word▪

159. On Buttery.

THe Butt'ry is a necessary place, O blessed heart that is well stor'd with grace.

160. On Buying.

HE buys, and sels, and liveth by the loss, The Proverb says, when worldly things go crofs With any; but if they that buy and sell go well. Would speak the truth, doubtless things would

161. On a B••-way.

SIn is a by-way, easie to be found, By all that are for hells dark Kingdom bound; For want of light, and a good guide to lead Them right, so many in sins by-path tread. The words a light, Lord let thy spirit be My guide, that I thy glorious face may see. I must walk in the narrow way, before that I Can finde true rest, grace leads us into glory.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ps. 116. 17.
• * 1.2

  The Greek word for Devil, signifies slanderer, 1 Tim. 3. 11. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, not slanderers, in the Greek it is not Devils.
• * 1.3

  Qui tenet marsupium tenetur a marsupio.

  Amb.
• * 1.4

  Asia, Africa, Europe, America.
• * 1.5

  The Affections are the feet of our souls.
• * 1.6

  Nunquam vide ignem clariorem.