Divine glimpses of a maiden muse being various meditations and epigrams on several subjects : with a probable cure of our present epidemical malady if the means be not too long neglected / by Chr. Clobery ...

Age.

MAn's no stay'd creature: Lo! he now appears Transform'd from what he was: his hoary hairs And baldness shew that Winter's neer, when late 'Twas but high harvest. Ceres (out of date) Pursues her sister Flora on with speed, Blow'th to bespeak of her, for next years seed. Thus times revolve, and then return: but man Review's no more what's past: the strongest can But one time have, and but once have that time; To Platonize, in Christians is a crime. Grave Sir! time present's only in your power, The past and future times are none of your: You can't the first recal, nor latter tell What it shall bring to pass: this you know well: If you but lose the present, your time's lost, Irrevocab'ly gone; nay more, 'Twill cost Your loss of labour, body, soul, and all, And that for ever: Oh! let this appal Your subtle heart; rouze your clogg'd memory Time to redeem, lest you eternally Rue that neglect: you're wise: pray therefore weigh How your state stands▪ for he that did conveigh All to you that you have, or can have here, Past it but for six days, not for a year: Four of the best expir'd, if rightly cast, Infancy, childhood, youth and manhood past; You now are in the fifth, at Fryday's stage; But Saturday left for your doating age; And that's half pain, half play, the school-boys maze, And old mens too: for then their life's a blaze;

Like a spent candle, which if let alone, Burns dim, then flashes, and is forthwith gone. But ah! look further; then comes on the day That should thy Sabbath be; the day of pay 'Twill be to all: for all shall have their hire, As they deserve, though not as they desire: Who finde it not a pleasure-day of rest, Finde it a pain-day not to be exprest Oh then begin to think, and cast about With care how to work your salvation out. I know your care is great those things to save, Whereof no use at all you'll shortly have: You're penny-wise, pound-foolish: nay, much worse: You're body-wise, soul-foolish: O dire curse! You to advise (as others) were too bold: Might jealousie provoke; since you are old, Should I to you, Put off the old man, say, You'll think I bid you cast your self away. That's a fond errour: pray mistake me not: It will not shorten health or life a jot: Suppose the worst, if you should thereby die; 'Twill screw your life up to eternity. Work: work your change: for now the days are neer, Of which you'll say in sorrow, pain, and fear, I have no pleasure in them; when your sky, Sun, Moon, and Stars shall dark'ned be on high, And Clouds shall follow rain, House-k eepers tremble, The strong men bow themselves, and grinders nimble Through paucity shall cease, the window-peepers Be darkned, and the street-doors shut by keepers; When you shall undergo those other woes That Isr'el's royal preacher quaintly shows: Desire shall fail, your dust to earth return, Your soul to God, your carkase to the urn. 'Twill be too late to work, when death's dark night Hath you envelopt, robb'd of light, and sight;

Sure none defer their work (but thriftless fools) 'Till dotage hath depriv'd them of their tools That they should work with: think you he that gave Men souls, and bodies, with endowments brave To do him service, can contented be In his foe's work them all imploy'd to see? And take the Devil's gleanings? we such folly Would highly scorn: And can our God, most holly An wise, be so deluded? Man, remember, Thy yeer is almost past, it's high December: Work ne'er so hard, who'll give thee a yeers pay, To work for him 'twixt this and new-yeers day? Yet God will do't, if thou wilt faithful prove, And serve him in true fear, with fraudless love: Give him thy heart; and less thou canst not give, Nor craves he more: So thou shalt surely live: Live, beyond date of death, or force of fear, Where nothing that offends shall more come near. What canst expect thy gain more to advance, Then thy life's change, for firm inheritance? Such an inheritance earth ne'er did see: Thy self thy everlasting heir shalt be: A better Lord was never tenant had, If thou refuse him, thou art worse then mad: He'll make thee co-heir with his own sole son, The Lord of Heaven and Earth, and with him one. Haste, haste; accept the motion whilst thou may'st: 'Tis a cheap purchase, whatsoe'er thou pay'st: And he expects no more but thy old clothes, Thy carnal habits, which he likewise lothes, But will's thou cast them off; for he retains No servitor, on whom such ragg remains: He'll clothe thee in white Robes of righteousness, Whose glory Cherubims cannot express: Add to the pow'r he gives but thy endeavour, And thou shalt sit inthron'd with him for ever.

Quick; shift thy vestments; and go hide thee in Those splendent Robes; cast off thy rags of sin: Let lusts and passions a new Master get: Speed; lest thou be prevented by Sun-set: Now; now's thy time to do't: for who doth know Whe'er thou shalt live a minute more, or no? This done, thou'lt reap invaluable gains: And I'll require but thanks for this my pains: Nay, if thou give me none, content I'll be, He for whose glory 'tis, will pay them me.