Eliza's babes, or, The virgins-offering being divine poems and meditations / written by a lady, who onely desires to advance the glory of God and not her own.

Psalme 56. Vers. 10.

I Glory in the word of God, To praise it I accord. With joy I will declare abroad, The goodness of the Lord.

All you that goodness doe disdaine, Goe; read not here: And if you doe; I tell yon plaine, I doe not care. For why? above your reach my soule is plac'st, And your odd words shall not my minde distaste.

And when you read these lines, mistake not a Divine affection, for a Poeticall fancy; for I affect not to express my fancy, but I would have my fancy express my affection.

The Invocation.

Come Sacred Muse to mee this day, And ever here, make you a stay Within the closet of my brest; For I with thee, doe finde great rest. My sweet Companion, here thou art, Dear Lord, Let it not from me part. From thee, this gift, I did receive, To thee, the same I doe bequeath.

Aspire, aspire, my minde, aspire, From earthly things unto the higher. Set not thy minde on base desires, But thinke upon the heavenly Quires, Of Angels sweet, that singing be, And still the face of God doe see. Admiring much, his wisedome great, And glorious sweetnesse of his seat. Then hie my Soule to that sweet place, Where glory is, with mirth and grace.

The Request.

Come sweet Spirit expell my feare, Assure me that thou hast a care Of me, and of my giddy youth, Assure me of it, still for Truth, That thy Spirit shall me direct, And that thy power shall me protect. Then shall my spirit be at rest, And with sweet thoughts my soule be blest, When that I know, thou lovest me, And that my youth shall guided be, By that Spirit, that doth dispose, All for the happinesse of those, The which be servants unto thee; Blest be thy Name, that so made mee.

The Answer.

HIs Spirit much thou dost desire, His Spirit much he will inspire. What thou desirest, that shall be, Thou hast thy wishes granted thee. With thee, needs must I wish to live, That mak'st me wish what thou wilt give. Lord harden thou my heart, as hard as steel, And loves vaine passion, let me never feel,

Onely in Heaven, my soul shall seek her rest, In Heaven perpetually to be blest. On Earth a while I must tormented be, Because that sin, too much abides in me. It is the injoying of thy Spirit, That makes my soule here, true joy inherit. And here to shew me that thou hat'st my sin Thy Spirit like the Sun-beams, is drawn in. Then doth my Soul, full wo, and sad remaine Till that sweet spirit doth appeare againe. Then when thy Spirit, againe reigns in me Then comes my joy, away my paine doth flee. For when thy Spirit my Soul doth injoy, Nothing can then, my happy Soul annoy. For why? No cause of sorrow, I can see, Because, beyond my selfe, it raiseth me.

Anguish.

FRom this distraction, Lord my poor soul bring, That still thy heavenly prayses, I may sing. For this distemper doth my soul affright; My Lord, it takes from me, all my delight, And pleasure that I had, in serving thee. This trouble great, vaine folly brings to me. If from thy holy service, I be tane, No comfort can I find, but endlesse paine. For what can yeeld our Souls here true content, If to serve thee, we are not wholly bent? For here I see vaine pleasures, quickly fly, And that which I did love, must surely dye. But in thy service, if I pleasure take, And thy sweet word my whole delight do make. That word doth still my drooping soul assure, That for the best it shall be all to me, If patiently I doe awaite on thee.

Of Submission.

WHat comes to me, Lord comes from thee? Nought comes to me, but comes from thee. What though, against my will it be, If thou it fitting seest for me. Let be, and Master thou my will, That I thy servant, may fulfill Thy holy will, and thee obey: Make me obedient be, I pray. If I obey thy Majesty, I need not fear, although I dye.

Hope.

WHat though my morning be debard of light, For me thou shalt break forth, a noon most bright.

The onely Comforter.

WHat in this world doe I deerer esteem? Or greater in my minde, here still do deem? Then that Spirit which floweth still from thee, Which makes my soule in happy blisse to be? For nothing in this world, here can me please, Nor yet my Soule, from paine and grief can ease: But thy sweet spirit which abides for aye, For these vaine worldly things, doe fade away. My soul immortall, did proceed from thee, And pleas'd with mortall things, she cannot bee. You earthly pleasures, I can use you all, But treasures of my soule, Ile not you call. Goe flee vaine pleasures, for sure all must grant, Nought can us please, but what is permanent. In thee my Lord, my soul alone is blest, In thee alone, I doe attaine sweet rest.

The Soules Flight.

WHither away, my Soule, do'st high, That thou so fain, from me would'st fly? Sure it is, to some holy place; That thou thy selfe, there may'st solace. Thou wilt not here abide with me, But goe to God, there to be free. To him thou liv'st, to him thou flyest, That is the reason that thou highest. And here I wish thee not to stay, I wish to Heaven, thou mighst away. From Prison oft, I wish thee free, That thou mayst be at liberty.

The Virgins Offring.

WIth thee, blest Virgin, I would bring An Offering, to please my King. Two Turtle Doves, thou didst present, Can there be better by me sent. A Lambe more pure, then they could be, I heard was thither brought by thee. These two small Turtles now of mine, To him, I do present with thine. The Lambe will serve for thee and mee, No better offering, can there be. Thus with thee, Virgin doe I bring An offering will please my King.

To my Doves.

YOur life, I ment not, till my death Might give you freedome with my breath. And when I breath'd in Heavens Aire free,

I did intend your libertie. But offer'd now, you sure must be, A Sacrifice of thanks from mee. When we are dead, we cannot give, Our offerings must be while we live. Two Doves, no Phenix, you must be. I must see that live, comes from me: You as an offering, goe from me, But on your wings, my heart must be. My heart now free, from all desire, But what is kindled by heavens fire. To him, I doe present, as free, As ever he did give it me. I on your wings, would sore aloft, And still live free from humane thought. Accept great God, what I present, Thy glory is my Souls intent.

Goe now my Doves, and soar aloft, The drooping heart raise you full oft, To such a heigth, bear it away, That it may see celestiall day, And never lett it on earth rest; But leave it in Heavens glorious brest.

The Triumph.

SIth thou from thrall hast sett me free, I will sing prayses unto thee. Thou hast brought me from Temptation, And fild me with contemplation Of thy heavenly habitation, In which lives a glorious Nation, Which triumphantly doe sing, Praise and glory to their King. No darknesse, nor no dolefull night,

Obscures their Vision of delight, No noise doth interrupt their voice, They doe incessantly rejoyce. Mayst thou my Soule, now be so bold, That glorious place for to behold, And say, how that faire Cities blest, In which the righteous shall have rest. The wals are rais'd of Gems more bright, Then are the Diamonds here in sight: The Saphire, Diamond, Ruby fine, Their beauty in each one combine. The other Gems their lustre bright, With them doe give so fine a light; That like the Rainbow it doth show, But far more bright, you'l think I know. Most glorious things, are said of thee Thou City, where the mighties bee, The streets, are of the purest mold, Exceeding farr, the brightest gold; And from Gods glorious Throne doth spring A River that sweet pleasures bring, Adorn'd with many a goodly tree, Which fresh and flourishing ever bee. They doe not onely please the eye, But heal the wounds, would make us dye, Nor fruitlesse doe their trees appear, But pleasant fruit yeeld all the year. I doe not wonder, fruit so rife Upon these goodly Trees of life. No change, doth in this place appeare, No scorching heat, nor cold is here. This heav'n the bright Lamb his wife gives, And she in this place alwayes lives. She is more lovely then the Rose, Fresh, faire and beauteous, and still goes, In long white Robes, so pure and clear,

Like Orient Pearl she doth appear: And on her head, a Crowne more bright, Then is the Sun, here in our sight. The pure white Lilly, at her feet, And pleasant Rose there strive to meet; For all their beauty and their grace, Is from reflexion of her face. These lovely flowers doe never fade, But for eternity were made. How can this place but pleasing bee? When here such pleasures you may see! And in this place, you may behold, The ancient Martyrs Crown'd with gold, With Palms of Victory, in their hand, Which were giv'n them at Gods command. By a bright streame like Christall pure, The blessed Saints sit safe and sure. In a faire Grove, pleasant and sweet, They with great joy each other meet. And they recount, their troubles past, And their transcendent joyes at last. The Quires of Angels, still do sing Continuall praises, to their King Like them, let me, be praising thee, While here on earth thou'lt have me bee. Here let me drinke, deep of that spring That flows from thee, and I shall sing, Sweet praises to thy holy name: My tongue and hand, shall speake thy same, I still must end my God to thee, All praise and glory given bee.

To my Sister. S. G.

HEavens bright shining star, shine in thy face, Thy mortall body, with rare vertues grace.

I wish those beams may still thy soul inwrap, That Satan may not thy sweet soul intrap. From his malicious suares, I wish thee free, That thou mayst have thy soule at liberty. Set not thy heart upon these fading pleasures, Thou art an heire to heavens eternall treasures. Their vain delights will not abide, but vanish From thy pure soul, in youth them quickly banish, If thou delight in them they'l breed thy paine, But if thou banish them, then shalt thou gaine To thy high-borne Soul immortal treasure, Celestiall joy, true eternall pleasure. Then here on earth thy heaven thou shalt begin, For pleasures vaine, intice thee unto sin. Vaine pleasure soon, Sweet Sister doe thou fly, That sin in thee, may fade full soon and dye. Fix thou thine eyes on that faire Sun of light, Who aye inwrap thee in his beames most bright Dazle and blinde thine eyes, to earthly things, Ope them in Heaven, where his sweet angels sings. He bring thy soul to that immortall place, Where like the Sun shall shine thy mortall face.

I know you pleas'd will be, to hear of me, If I am blest or happy, you shall see. My Soul, I therefore now have sent you drest, When so shee's tyr'd, she cannot but be blest. My glory and my Lord have tane from me The garments of sad mourning, you shall see: Upon her head a Crowne of joy he'ath plac't, How can she be but happy, when so grac't. The bright faire robe of honour shee hath on, Which can be giv'n but by himselfe alone, Seeing he hath drest me for his throne of glory, But I must stay to act another Story.

Canticles 2.

THe Winter is past, the Summer is come, I will now solace my selfe in the Vineyards of my beloved; for he will guide me here by his Counsell, and at length receive me to his Glory.

The Rapture.

MOst people hover here below, Too neer the earth, Ile not doe so; But Ile arise, and to Heaven goe, I will not tarry here below.

This earthly state's, too meane for mee, Ile flee where the bright Angels bee, That still the face of God doe see, With them, my Soul can best agree,

'Mong them Ile set me downe and sing, The praises of our glorious King, By him we have our blest being, We with delight his praises sing.

Still in this Rapture let me bide, And from this pleasing blisse nev'r glide, But be like to the Eagle ey'd. I have just now methinks descride

The glorious Sun in Heaven so bright, On this transcendent throne of light; It dazles now my humane sight; The luste of it is so bright.

•• would not now with mortals be, ••o tell them in what blisse are we. ••et them arise, and come to me, ••f they would know our dignity.

•• let me not to earth now goe, How dark and hideous, it doth show, They crawl like Ants methinks below, Among such Creatures I'de not goe.

But if to earth thou wilt have me, To doe what thy will doth decree; Let me descend more willingly; By me thy will must acted bee.

But yet before I goe away Grant I beseech, for what I pray, Or let me here with thee still stay, Take no offence at my delay.

Oh let thy heavenly Sun of light With me send down his beams most bright, So to my soule shall be no night, She being inwrapt in Heav'ns bright light.

The Flight.

ELiza for, aske now not here, She's gone to heaven, to meet her Peer. For since her Lord, on earth was dead, What tarry here! she'd not, she sed. And to the heavens, she took her flight, That she might be still in his sight, And so to us she bid adieu, But prov'd her selfe a lover true.

The Life.

IF as men say, we live not, where we are, But where we love, I live above. For what on earth, or yet in heaven is there Desir'd can be, Tis none but thee. Great God, thou onely worth desiring art, And none but thee, then must possesse my heart.

My Wishes.

I Wish no wit to wrong my Brother, I wish not wealth to wrong another; I wish no beauty to enthrall, I wish no worldly wish at all. I wish from sin God would me bring, I wish for heaven, at my ending.

Ʋpon a paine at heart.

GOd laid his hand upon my heart, To see, if I would from it part: I was content to let it goe, I lik't it best to have it so; For then no more it should be pain'd, When it with him a place had gain'd, But hee'd hav't here, a few more dayes, An Instrument unto his praise.

The Portion.

WHat if the world on me should frown, Thou art my Crown;

〈◊〉〈◊〉 wealth and beauty part away, Thou art my stay. Let others count this world a hell, In it I'me well; ••o wonder, if I happy be, Sith, I'me in thee; For why? in thee all blisse doth dwell, Then here, to me can be no hell.

The Friday before Easter.

WHy should I now, lament & moan? The blessed seed, to day was sown, Shall never in the earth decay, But rise in triumph, the third day.

On Easter day.

A Rise and see, why dost thou sleep, The bed of earth, could not him keep, The Sun is risse, that made the day, ••n grave, thou needs fear no decay. Those glorious beams hath made the earth, A place to give thee a new birth. From Mothers wombe thou cam'st to be A Creature of Mortality; From wombe of earth, thou rais'd shalt bee, A creature like the Deity; When thou art pleas'd, that I shall dye, I am content in earth to lye: There shall I safely lye and rest, Till thou wilt raise me with the blest. Though I could wish, that it might bee As were my childish thoughts in mee, That like Elias I might rise, On Cherubs wings, in Chariot wise:

To thy bright heaven, where I might bee, There cloath'd with immortality: Those thoughts were childish tis confest, In grave I must be for heaven drest. The earth a while, my body must retaine, Though as a King, my Soul in heaven doth reign.

The Pavillion.

ON thy fair wings, most sacred Dove, Let me be rais'd, with thee on high Unto the heavenly God of Love, Where I shal rest me quietly.

No ill shall there my Dove affright, I'le bid all feare on earth adieu, For I am now at such a height, As cannot reached be by you.

In this Pavillion I shall sing, Though I may see you fly at me, I am assur'd by his bright wing, He will not let me wounded bee.

The Submission.

MY soul to Heaven would hast & fly, And there make suit, that I may die Because from heaven she is detain'd, Lives in a body sometimes pain'd: And in her glory cannot be, So long, as here she stayes in me.

But that thy will shee doth respect, And looks to what thou hast elect, And will contented be to stay;

That here thy will, she might obey: The wisheth rather to please thee, Then in her glory for to bee.

The Change.

VAine world, when as I loved thee. Dire sadnesse still possessed me, But since I lernt to dispise thee, Sweet joys and gladnesse filleth me.

The Choice.

HEavenly treasure, In some measure Hast thou here unto me sent, Yet I would dye, And to heav'n fly To possesse a full content. My soul's sweet joy Nought doth annoy: But my body's sometimes pain'd, I cannot bee From all ill free, Till bright heaven, I have obtain'd Here the story Of thy glory Is that which doth me delight; But sure more joy, With no annoy Must be in thy Palace bright, With speed thy will Let me fulfill, And take me to thy heavenly light.

The Rest.

FRom Heaven still flows such sweet Celestiall joy, That this earths troubles shall not me annoy, For I above them shall set safe and free, And underneath me shall them gliding see.

The morning Star.

BRight morning star of heavenly light, Rise to my Soul, and banish night, And with thy fair bright beams expell Those clouds that make this world like hell: And with thy sweet attractive power, Raise thou me, to thy blissefull bower: Where being rais'd, let me aye rest, Fixt in the Region of thy brest; Where like a bright star I shall shine, I being array'd in rayes of thine. And to the darkesome world shine bright, I living in thy glorious light.

The worlds farewell.

NOw to the world I bid adieu, I'me hasting better things to view: To Heavens faire Palace shining bright, It may be I may fly to night, And 'mong bright Angels spend my time, To hear and see, but what's Divine: And with an Orient light be clad, And live like to the Angels glad; For what makes me so joyfull here, Cause in thy robes, I shall appear. Lye thou my body in theeath,

Till thou shalt gain a better birth. From earth thou cam'st spotted with sin, And thither so return'st agen. When thou art purified then I Shall take thee and thou shalt not dye: And when the Trumpet thou dost hear, Thou in thy glory shalt appear. A King doth come to bring that lort, Which he himselfe for thee hath got, A Kingdom 'tis, of joy and glory, And now, I end my earthly story.

The Swans.

FAire Swans, you now beyond me go, In pleasant Robes, like pure white snow, But I ere long shall be more bright, In faire eternall robes of light.

Your fair robes fall and fade away, But my bright robes, shall nev'r decay. You sing they say, before you dye, But when I'me dead, then sing shall I.

To a friend at Court.

REtired here content I live, My own thoughts to me pleasure give. While thine owne actions anger thee, Sweet quiet thoughts contenteth me. This blessing sweet retirednesse brings, We envy none, but pity Kings.

Christs Kingdome.

With you blest Angels, I must sing, That brought the news of heav'ns great King That from bright Heaven awhile did part, To raise his Kingdome with my heart.

Before he came there was great strife, To lead me to a hellish life: But like an humble Babe cam'st thou, Yet made those mighty powers to bow.

Thou didst regain me for thy right, For I at first sprang from thy light, Satan aside a while drew me, But could not keep me Lord from thee.

When thou hast cast off that foule fin, Thy Kingdome in me didst begin, And here thou wilt still reign in me, Till I shall come and reigne with thee.

At thy approach, black shades did vanish, And from my heart thou feare didst banish, And in their room did light appear, And joy instead of dreadly feare.

Sweet joy and peace, thou didst bring me, How can I chuse but sing to thee: To my great God all glory be, Thou plac'st his Kingdome here in me.

Vaine thoughts banisht.

A Dieu vain thoughtt, Adieu, Adieu, My Soule no more delights in you, You'r no companion for my spirit, I must a heaven of blisse inherit.

Your darknesse dims my souls cleare fight, And you debar me of heavens light: When free from you I heaven can view; Vain thoughts, I now will banish you.

My intention.

GO vaine invention, get you hence, With me make not your residence, Court not my Muse with fine invention, To praise my God tis my intention, Lord let no line be writ by me, That excludes, or includes not thee,

Earths honour slighted.

OF Earthly honour tell not me; The vanity of it I see: Tis like a flower that soon doth rise, If ruffly struck it falls and dies. But that bright honour which I prise, Sweetly springs up and never dies; And's like the Sun whose pleasing ray, Doth banish night, and bring the day: His pleasant sweet attractive light,

Raiseth me to a heavenly hight. With this fair honour being drest, I'me free from fear, and live in rest. 'Tis heavenly honour I esteem, All earthly honour vain I deem: The one is made to fall and dye, I love what bides eternally.

Luke 20.36. In that world they shall be equall to the Angels.

HEre like the Angels let me be, And as those blessed spirits free: From vaine engagements let me bide, And as they with thee still reside.

Like them I'me made, by my new birth, But I'me still wrapt in robes of earth. Through a darke mantle I thee see, But oh that I unwrapt may be.

This blessing now on earth me give, That like thine Angels I might live. So shall my soul such sweet joys find, That earthly things I shall not minde.

Ʋpon the morning rise.

NOw welcome sweet and pleasant Morn, Doe you not thinke, that I you scorn: Cause with a more Orientall light, Imbellisht is my blest spirit.

With thanks I still you entertaine.

For by your light, my eye-sight gain: But you are darknesse, to that light, That is discride, by my souls sights.

Ʋpon hearing the Birds sing.

SWeet Birds with you Ile set and sing, Due praises to our heavenly King. Like you me thinks, I am as free, So made great divine Prince by thee.

My Robes.

I Will not now to thee Lord come As I from Adam came, But I will come as in thy Son, His Robys shall hide my shame.

He is my Spouse, and my lov'd Lord, In him thou lovest me, I to thy will would still accord, And with him still agree.

In his bright Robes, I will present My selfe to thee and say, To doe thy will is my intent; In him I thee obey.

Thou canst not now, Lord me reject, Thou must me perfect see: His beauty doth on me reflect, I'me beautifull to thee.

The Dart.

SHoot from above Thou God of Love, And with heav'ns dart Wound my blest heart.

Descend sweet life, And end this strife: Earth would me stay, But I'le away.

I'le dye for love Of thee above, Then should I bee Made one with thee.

And let be sed Eliza's dead, And of love dy'd, That love defi'd.

By a bright beam, shot from above, She did ascend to her great Love, And was content of love to dye, Shot with a dart of Heavens bright eye.

Of Poetry.

POets they say are always poor, But tis not they are at thy door. They cannot chuse but wealthy be, For why? Rich poems flow from thee.

Tis they that clime the hill, is none of thine, But goe for aid unto the Muses Nine.

No wonder though such fools are poor, That goe for Alms to a wrong door. They seek to them to get their wealth, Who have too little for their selfe.

To the King. writ, 1644.

TO thee, Great Monarch of this Isle I send my Babes, pray make them smile; For yet methinks tis in thy power, To make them smile, or let them lower. They'r children to that Prince of might, Who is the Prince of peace behight. Do not with war my Babes affright, In smiling peace is their delight, My Prince by yeelding won the field, Be not too rigid, dear King yeeld: Examples that are great and high. I hope you'l follow, fix your eye On my great prince, that is your King, He left a Heaven, you peace to bring. A Kingdome I'de not have you leave, But rather three reform'd receive. All blisse and peace I wish to you, Let us in peace, your presence view.

To the Queen of Bohemiah.

LOng since, it was by me defir'd, To see that Queen so much admir'd;

But well I knew, t'was not for mee, Great Princesses to goe to see. But thraldomes key, did let me out, And trouble brought my wish about, By thraldome then I freedome gain'd, By trouble my desire obtain'd. I then did see her so admir'd, And thy rich graces Lord inspir'd. A minde so great and bravely beare, What in the most breeds care and feare. A spirit high so humble bee, To deigne her sweet regards to me. Her I admire, and for her pray On earth she may live many a day: And when this earth she shall forsake, That into heaven, thou wouldst her take, Where on a Throne she may be Crown'd, And with bright Angels compast round.

The Lover.

COme let us now to each discover, Who is our friend, and who our Lover, What? art thou now asham'd of thine, I tell thee true, Ime not of mine.

And you will say when you him see, That none but he, defir'd can bee, He is the onely pleasing wight, Whose presence can content my sight.

For He's the purest red and white, In whom my soule takes her delight▪ He to the flowrs heir beauty gives, In him the Rose and Lilly lives,

His pleasant haire with feemly grace, Hangs by his faire sweet lovely face, And from his pleasing eyes do dart Their arrows which do pierce my heart.

These beauties all are richly grac'st, For on his head, a crown is plac'st, Of glory, which doth shine so bright, As mortall eye can see this light,

This lovely Lord's, the Prince of Peace, In him, my joyes will still increase; For he's the true, and constant friend, Whose love begun, will never end.

From Heaven he came with me to dwell, And sav'd my soul from direfull hell, 'Tis he alone my heart doth gaine, That keeps me from eternall pain.

While here I live, here he will bee; Death cannot separate him from me: And when I dye, he will me place, Where I shall ever see his face.

Into his glory, hee'l take mee, This doe I know, this shall you see. And now you know my loved friend, My loves begun, it will not end.

The renowned King.

LAdies! if beauty you desire, Or to high fortunes doe aspire, Come now with me I have descride, A Prince, that to all, can you guide.

He is a King of great renown, And on your head can place a Crowne And with immortall beauty blesse, Can you wish more? yet wish no lesse

If you desire this Prince to see, Then leave the world and goe with me, To true Elisian fields, i'le guide You, where I this great Prince espi'd.

The holy leaves of Sacred writ Are those Elisians, there let's gett, Where with joy we shall him finde, This glorious Prince will please your minde

He's like the Rose in Sharon fields, Pleasant to sight, and sweetnesse yeelds, With sweet and faire, from his bright face, The Lilly and the Rose gets grace,

With serious thoughts now him behold If you him love you may be bold, And in his presence ever bee, His beauty will reflect on thee.

If thou get beauty from his face, He will you take from your mean place, And on his Throne he will set thee, Where with his Crown thou crown'd shalt bee,

That beauty still with thee will stay, Time will not carry it away. That Crowne shall no man take from thee, But thou shalt wear't eternally.

To my Sister, S. S.

SWeet Sister, Let us in Heaven greet, Since here on earth we cannot meet Hard by that stream of Christall pure, To meet thee there I will be sure. That streame which from this Throne doth rise, Whose waters pure cure our ill eyes: Then let us sit us downe and rest, No enemies shall us there molest. Lets leave our bodies here as dead, When thus our Soules to heaven are fled: Where we possesse a ravisht joy, When as the world lies in annoy. Let's take those waters now and drink, 'Twill make us then no more to think Of these base follies here below, Dear Sister, let us both doe so. Then let us set us down and tell By whom we were redeem'd from hell, T'was he that sits on you bright Throne, Wrought our redemption all alone. Who would not now their soules prize high, For whom so great a Prince did die. Come let us up those streams and see, Where those bright glories sitting bee. There Three in One conjoyn'd we see, And yet each Person differing be. There sets our powerfull God alone, Upon his glorious heavenly Throne, At his right hand sits his dear Son, Oh! Who would think he'd let him come From that bright Throne to suffer here. And for our sakes vile to appear.

Ten thousand, thousand Angels bee Tending about his Throne you see: They sing the praises of that King, Oh hear, how rare, and sweet they sing! My senses now are ravisht quite, My Soule is fill'd with such delight, That if I now my choice might have, They should my body lay in grave, And say, That I did chuse to dye, And let my body on earth lye, Till it most glorious should bee, Like to Those Angels that we see. The holy Spirit there doth bide, For in the Son they all reside. No bodily presence doth appear, But of that God that sufferd here. These glories cannot limned bee By my frail pencell, well I see. Now let us down those banks, like green Rich Velvet, whereupon are seen Bright orient Pearl, and Rubies fair, Strow'd on the velvet here and there, Bright Diamonds scattered there doe lye, Look! there springs up the violet by: As if a pride that sweet flower took, Her face in that bright Gem to look, The pure white Violet doth delight, To hang upon that Ruby bright, The sweet Carnation Pink that growes By that rich Pearl, howe fine it show's. Now let us on these sweet bancks rest, Methinks we are divinely blest. Look by those christall streams, there grows The Lilly fair, and lovely Rose. How in the waters they doe show, Brighter then they do where they grow.

A Lustre fine those waters give Into those plants that by them live. Come let us now goe walk and see, Like whom we shall hereafter be, See there Elias doth appear Like to the Angels that are here, did forget; we shall in light, Be like his glorious body bright, But hark! Methinks I hear one say, Thou must from Heaven to Earth away: You must your children goe and teach, How they this blessed place may reach, ••will be a pleasant sight to see Their faces like those Angels bee, The which ere while, we did behold, In Robes more bright then is the gold; The which on earth we think so fine, When we in those base mettals shine, But yet before you goe away, ••ere me a little what I say:

••f crosse you find things goe below, On earth a while it must be so, ••et it not trouble your blest mind, ••n Heaven you shall no crossness find,

••f any aske you how I fare, Then tell them sure I'me free from care; For I'me in heaven, you left me there.

The Vision.

WHy from celestiall bliss, did you Draw me? these meaner things to view, Through those faire gates of pearl, get I

And that most pleasant wall past by, Up that pure river strait I went, That from the throne takes his ascent, Then to the glorious throne I got, Where I did see, O God, what not: For whatsoever doth excell, In thee, doth in perfection dwell. That glorious Lustre and bright ray Made me forget my mortall day. Me thought that fine Orientall light, Made me like it appear as bright. From these sweet joyes why draw you me My self in meaner Robes to see? For since I us'd to heaven to go, All things on earth do sordid show.

The Heart.

TWo hearts in one breast can there not remain, The one heart puts the other heart to pain. My heart I will still keep, take thou thine own, My heart is happy when disturb'd by none. Without a heart I know you cannot live, Therefore your own I freely to you give. Mine is in Heaven, and will admit no change, To leave my rest in heaven, on earth to range. I'de have it written in my happy story, None had my heart but heav'ns great prince of glory My youths affection, to him I did send, None can have any but what he will lend. From mortall thraldome deare Prince keep thou me So though on earth, I as in heaven shall bee.

The Bride.

••Ith you me ask, Why borne was I? I'le tell you; twas to heaven to fly, ••••t here to live a slavish life, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 being to the world a wife.

••hen I was born, I was set free, ••om mortals thraldom here to bee; ••r that great Prince prepar'd a bride, ••••at for my love on earth here dy'd.

••••y not I then earths thraldom scorn, ••th for heavens Prince I here was born? ••••match't in heaven I we are a Crown, ••t earthly thraldome puls me downe.

On the day dedicated to the God of Heaven.

••Ord, if this day belongs to thee, No part of it pertains to mee. ••hen sith this Day, is wholly thine, ••et thoughts and actions be divine. ••et my soule, be divinely clad, ••nd let me be like Angels glad. ••ith Angels food, this day feed mee, ••nd let heav'ns Nectar my drink bee. ••nd to compleat my hearts desire ••nd downe a beam of heav'ns bright sire. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it let me that pure path see, ••hat leads to glorious bliss and thee.

The Defiance.

COme now tumultuous flouds and show, Your spite by tumults, you shall know, Eliza's plac'st above your reach Upon her soul you make no breach,

Unto the world, you do let see You'd have her loose, but gain shall shee, What you can get she doth not mind, Her treasure lies not in your wind.

When my Brother was sick.

IF that my Brother thou wilt take from me, Lord with thy will make me contented be. But if it be, thy blessed will my Lord, To my request to bend and to accord. And if no harm, to him, that it might bee In this request, then gracious God hear me, And grant, that well and long, he here may live, And honor thee, and glory to thee give And be an instrument here of thy praise, And in thy service, spend and end his daies. But if in his young years, my Lord thou please From paine and grief to take him unto ease. And if thou fitter dost my Brother see, With thee to raign in glory, then to be, Here subject to a world of slavish fears; For in this mortall world we must have cares. Onely in heaven we shall sweet freedom gain, In heaven, there is no fear, no care, nor pain. Then to thy holy will, my gracious Lord, Make me thy servant ever to accord.

And if to Heaven thou wilt my Brother take, •• pray thee teach my soul for to forsake ••ain earthly thoughts, and flee from earth to thee, ••o with my Brothers soul my soul shall bee.

My wishes are, those beams may ravish thee, That wrapt me now in sweet felicity.

The Guard.

YOu blessed Angels, that still live, And tendance on us mortals give, From my most dear Lord you are sent, To tend on me, for the intent, From harm and danger me to keep. You are my guard while I do sleep, •• do not grudge for to confesse, Nay my poor soul can say no lesse; •• am unworthy of that favour, Granted to me from my Father, That you on me, should tendance give, Yee which in glory still do live. •• have offended him each hour, And done the ill lay in my power. Then you, that still obedient be, Oh! why should you attend on me. This is a mystery full deep; You being righteous, sinners keep. My God I pray thee make me know, Why those blest Angels should do so? For should I my deserts consider, My judgement thus I must deliver, Into the pit, and dungeon deep Where Satan is adjudg'd to keep: Where fire and brimstone raging be

Where pain abides perpetually, Into this place of misery, There should I goe, when that I dye. Go leave thy thoughts, thy own thoughts leave, And from thy God, answer receive. From that fierce place of misery, Thee for to save, the Lord did die. And though no sin he did commit, He of his goodnesse thought it fit To take thy sins, and quit them all, And bid thee then no more to fall. And tells thee, thou needs not to fear: For why of thee he takes the care. And that on earth while thou dost live, For tendance on thee he will give. His Angels charge, thee to protect, And be the guard of his Elect; His mercy is the onely reason We are secur'd from Satans Treason.

Felicity.

I Am my Gods, and he doth let me see In him a true and sweet felicity. Those springs of joy, that rise still fresh in me, Proceed my dear sweet heavenly Prince from thee

On sudden Death.

IF thou in hast shalt send for me Great God to live in Heaven with thee, Though to some minds it sodain be, It is not sodain unto me.

Heaven.

LOrd thou dost bring a heaven with thee, Then where I am a heaven must be, For thou art ever Lord with mee.

The Giver engaged to the Receiver.

THou saist thou art ingag'd to me For what I give, when I'm to thee: Thou dost accept a gift that's poor. For it I have ten thousand more.

The Sun Beames.

THy blessings, like the Sunbeams bee Reaching from heaven to earth on me. Like a rich Canopy they show, Spreading from Heaven, doth round me flow. 'Tis not abundance rich makes me, But a sufficiency from thee.

To my Brother.

ELiza saies when as she dies, Shee'l banish tears from all your eyes, Unlesse for envy you will weep, That you could not her blest soul keep From her eternall blisse and joy, To live with yours in earths annoy.

When you have brought me to my grave, Then tell the world, tis what I'de have, Yee need not say you left me dead, But say, I am laid in my bed. Where I shall safely lye and sleep, For heavens great Emperor doth me keep. 'Mong Kings and Princes that attend. Till to our glory we ascend.

What I Love.

GIve me a Soule, give me a Spirit, That flyes from earth, heaven to inherit•• But those that grovell here below, What! I love them? I'le not do so.

The onely bound.

MY boundlesse spirits, bounded be in thee, For bounded by no other can they be.

The Christians happinesse.

GOds high Spirit shall thee direct, His Angels shall thee still protect. They shal thee guard, while thou dost sleep, They from all evill shall thee keep. So thou no evill needs to fear, Because of thee God takes the care.

The Retribution.

••F thou art pleas'd to have my heart, •• Accept it Lord from me, ••ith thou dost chuse it for thy part, •• give it none but thee.

Mine eyes to thee I doe present, Accept them now of me; For thou unto me hast them lent, They doe belong to thee.

Thus heart and eyes, and all are thine, That doe belong to me. Before I knew that they were mine, They were all made by thee.

Gods Commands easie.

MY Lord! how easie is thy will Do, as I would be done unto. Thy holy Law I then fulfill, And give the Lord his praises due.

Why should I to another doe, What I would not have done to me, All praises to thee Lord, is due, For all we have proceeds from thee.

Praise.

GLory to my gracious Lord, Who to my wishes doth accord,

While here I live, I must thee praise, For as in Heaven I spend my dayes.

For nought doth here my soul annoy, But I possesse a Heaven of Joy. And when from this blisse, thou'le take me, In glorious Heaven my soul shall be.

The Companion.

WHo doth an heavenly Muse injoy, Regards not this vain worlds annoy. Nor can they ever be alone, Heavens Muse is there Companion.

Ʋpon the losse of my Brother.

WHen losse of ought would thee torment, Cry; 'tis thy will, Lord I'me content. My love must not divided be, 'Twixt Earth and Heaven, thou'lt have me see. My brother from me thou hast tane, But yet content I must remaine. A Brother and a friend was he, But much more thou wilt be to me. When thoughts of absence moves a tear, Thy will is, that I should forbear, He went not but by thy decree, And I must not displeased be.

On the Sun.

AT height of noon, it cannot be, That I can fix mine eyes on thee,

••ut when at setting; I am bold, With setled eyes thee too behold, •• onverter of Atheistick thought, ••hou wert to me, when as I sought •• remedy against that sin, Which I too deep was falling in. Some one above thee must make thee, Thou govern'd by a God must be.

Being told, she was proud.

MY body, it must surely dye, Off to be proud then what have I. Yet proud, if they will have me be, My high-borne soule, it is of thee. But Lord, my Soul, is none of mine, Shall I be proud, of what is thine? As being thine, from pride I'me free, It is enough I'me freed by thee.

My pleasing Life.

SWeet quiet, sweet obscurity, Here in this life, best pleaseth me, Till from earth's thrall I shall be free To live in glorious blisse with thee.

When from earths tumults I am free To contemplate great God on thee A heaven of blisse in thee I see How can this life, but pleasing be.

Nothing of thee merit I can, But yet when free from thrall of man,

I can thee serve with heart more free, Then from that thraldome still keep me.

To a Lady unfaithfull.

Madam,

THe Prince of heaven being in love with you Did to his glorious Kingdom, bid Adieu. The heaven, he was awhile content to leave To see, if you would his chast love receive. You did belong to him, when he you sent Into the world; but you from him soon went, And his chast love, so pleasing and so sweet, You left your wanton Paramour to meet, With his unlawfull love you pleas'd your selfe, Fye Madam, leave him, he is but an Elf. See what your dear sweet Prince hath done for you, 'Tis very strange, but yet tis very true. When he did see you wantonize with them Who were professed enemies to him: He then with his fierce enemy did fight, To reingain you as his ancient right. He lost his royal bloud to purchase you, How can you then but to this Prince prove true. Can you a Coward love, and stain your name By being false unto this Prince of fame? Your wanton lovers actions hate the light, And you'r asham'd to act them in our sight. Then here Ile tell you, if you know not it, All your actions, and vain thoughts unfit, Your true and lawfull Lord doth straight espie, He sees the wanton glances of your eye. Think with your selfe, and then you will refraine, You both your self, and your great Lord defame. I wonder how you can this vain world love,

••f you did forget your heaven above, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in your ill unlawfull actions live. ••••r God doth freely all things to you give: ••ve you but constant to his love and true, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 things are lawfull to be us'd by you.

The Curse.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 thou detainst my right from me, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 never will wish worse to thee. ••ou ill enough hast in thy selfe, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 right to thee will prove an Elf. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Angels will be good to mee, ••t Devils they will prove to thee. Metamorphis strange I see, ••gels with me, Devils with thee; ••us while I wish no ill to thee, ••ith what I have God will blesse me. ••nd will with what thou dost detain ••t thee to a most hellish paine.

This on my Tombe shall written bee, When I in Glory am with thee.

••Ain mortals, you thinke I am dead, You are deceiv'd, for I am fled. Into that Kingdome I did chuse, When as the earth I did refuse. And I in glory now am plac'st, And with a Crowne in Heaven am grac'st. My soul in fair bright Robes doth shine, My Lord, methinks they'r like to thine. Which in the Mountain did appear Glorious shining, bright and clear.

On marriage.

LOrd! if thou hast ordain'd for me, That I on earth must married be: As often I have been foretold, Be not thy will, by me contrould. And if my heart thou dost incline Children to have, Lord make them thine, Or never let't be said they'r mine. I shall not like what's not divine. I no ambition have for earth, My thoughts are of a higher birth. The Souls sweet Babes, do bring no pain, And they immortalize the name.

The Gift.

MY Lord, hast thou given me away? Did I on earth, for a gift stay? Hath he by prayer of thee gain'd me, Who was so strictly knit to thee.

To thee I onely gave my heart, Wouldst thou my Lord from that gift part? I know thou wouldst deliver me To none, but one belov'd by thee.

But Lord my heart thou dost not give, Though here on earth, while I doe live My body here he may retain, My heart in heaven, with thee must reigne.

Then as thy gift let him thinke me, ••ith I a donage am from thee. And let him know thou hast my heart, ••e onely hath my earthly part.

••t was my glory I was free, And subject here to none but thee, And still that glory I shall hold If thou my Spirit dost infold.

It is my blisse, I here serve thee, Tis my great joy; thou lovest mee.

The choice of my Friend.

PRay tell the world, I did chuse thee, Cause thou aspir'st to heaven with mee. I did not chuse for earthly state, But 'cause thou seem'st base earth to hate.

It was not earth, my love did merit, 'Twas a high and heavenly spirit, Thus with heaven, I did decree That such a one my friend should be.

And while our spirits doe aspire To heaven, I have my hearts desire, And still methinks I am yet free, We living both great God in thee.

The change.

Great God! HOw hast thou chang'd my thoughts in me, For when I thought to be a wise,

I then did think troubled to be, Because I saw most live in strife.

But thou a husband hast given me, Whose sweet discretion doth direct, And orders all things so for me, As if of heaven, he were elect.

To take all trouble quite from me, That earths possession here doth bring, And so doth leave me quite to thee, Thy praises here to sit and sing.

Promise Performed.

MY Lord, thou hast perform'd most free What in thy word thou promis'd me. That if thy Kingdome first sought wee, All things on earth should added bee.

Thou hast giv'n me earth, water, aire, And heavenly fire which is more rare, That heavenly flame thou hast sent me, To offer up the earth to thee.

And if thou pleasest them to take, I willingly shall them forsake. I'le not be loth to give to thee What of thy bounty thou gav'st me.

Plenty thou hast, great God in store, And if thou please canst give me more. If earth thou tak'st, and heaven giv'st me A gainer yet, I much shall bee.

Not a Husband, though never so excelling in goodness to us, must detaine our desires from Heaven.

MY heart I finde upon her wings, Ready to flee from earthly things. But that the vertue lives in thee, On earth a while retaineth me.

Not that of life I weary am, For what on earth here wish I can, From heavens great Prince, receive I doe, I must most freely tell to you.

Great blessings from him I injoy, And with him I have no annoy, Yet these must not retaine my heart, Another of me claims his part.

To heavens great prince I must away, No love on earth here must me stay. He lent me but awhile to you, And now I must bid you adieu.

My Descent.

IF any one thinke meane of me, 'Tis cause they doe not my birth see, I did descend from a great King, And an Immortall God did spring.

I'me daughter to the King of Kings, And must contemn base earthly things. To heaven's great Prince, he married me, And now my linage you may see.

And while I mean am in your eye, I often to my glory flye, And with my great Prince do abide, Where placed by his blessed side.

With heavenly blisse methinks I'me crown'd, His glorious beams do me surround, Where I set and hear the story Of my Prince, and see his glory.

To my Husband.

WHen from the world, I shall be tane, And from earths necessary paine. Then let no blacks be worne for me, Not in a Ring my dear by thee. But this bright Diamond, let it be Worn in rememberance of me. And when it sparkles in your eye, Think 'tis my shadow passeth by. For why, more bright you shall me see, Then that or any Gem can bee. Dress not the house with sable weed, As if there were some dismall deed Acted to be when I am gone, There is no cause for me to mourn. And let no badge of Herald be The signe of my Antiquity. It was my glory I did spring From heavens eternall powerfull King:

••o his bright Palace heir am I. ••is his promise, hee'l not lye. ••y my dear Brother pray lay me, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was a promise made by thee, ••nd now I must bid thee adieu, ••or I'me a parting now from you.

My Bill of thanks to Mr. C.

THough my words rare thou dost not finde, Might not God be prais'd by my minde. The heart, not phrase, God doth esteem, To him my heart in them are seen. Let men, like God, my words, not minde In them, a thankfull heart they finde. To praise him is my souls intent, For his great blessings he hath sent. You said at the end of my dayes, God would them bring out to my praise. My own praise! I regard it not. •• have enough; God is my lot. •• would hear God now praised bee For his great blessings giv'n to me. You'ave bils of thanks oft sent to you, For earthly blessings, and they'r due. Shall not then heavenly blessings be More priz'd then earth; they shall by mee. This Bill of thanks to you I send, What though it be not rarely penn'd? 'Tis the intention of my heart, That I in it to you impart, It is not onely sent to thee, But Preachers all praise God for me. I with a Trumpet could proclaime Praises to the God of fame;

For teaching me to know his name, All people for me doe the same.

Being in paine.

LOrd, if my sin produce my paine, Pray let me never sin againe. For pain is grievous unto me, And sin is hatefull unto thee. Let me not do what troubleth thee, And thou'lt not send what grieve shall me. But if my patience Lord thou tryest, If I will bear, what thou applyest, To cure the malady of sin, Cease not my pain, but send't again; For pain I rather would endure, Then grieve thine eyes of light so pure. That our most secret thoughts doe spie, And wanton glances of the eye: For which thou sendest punishments, Or else corrects with sapience.

Being taken with a sudden pain on the Day appointed for God's publick Service.

LEt not this pain Lord, deter me From publick offering praise to thee. Though private prayers may pleasing bee From others, and as well from me. But publick blessings thou giv'st me, And publick praise I'de offer thee. Thou te••st me, if I will confess Thee before men; thou'lt do no lesse

For me before thine Angels bright, And thy great Father in his light. In private I may serve thee here, But that to men doth not appeare. I then in publick will serve thee, Whiles here thou givest me liberty. And not depend on charity, To think I doe belong to thee.

The Antidote.

THis Antidote will cure your fear. The God of heaven for you takes care. They cannot fear, that live above, Their fear is cured by their love.

My Satisfaction.

I Am content with this earths fate, Cause I am borne for higher state. Sweet quiet here I wish no more, I'de have my glory kept in store,

Yet I have on those Robes of glory, Of which I oft have read the story. That pure refined souls doe wear, Living in regions free from care.

For with the eye of faith I see My selfe sweet Prince, as I'me in thee: And with thee I doe live above, Because we live where we doe lowe.

But Oh my God! when shall it be that the dark Lanthorne of Faith, shall be swallowed up in the bright mantle of sweet fruition?

Being called a Stoick

NOt as a Stoick I'me exempt from care, But as a Christian I would all things beare. Nor that I blinded am and nothing see, No: I see all, but take all patiently.

Gods Prerogative.

LOrd, shall I grudge at thy just will, Or shall I question thy great skill, And think the world thou dost not rule As thou art wont; peace silly fool. Without his rule it cannot stand, All things are done at his command. Doe not then grudge at what he doth, Nor in thy heart have any ruth 'Gainst them who now do rule the Land, They have no power but from his hand. The earth is his, and he plucks down Who him displease, and gives the Crowne To others, if they him obey, They shall still rule; if not, then they Shall be destroyed with his frown, And to their foes hee'l give their Crown, Then let me Lord my selfe submit To what thy wisdom seeth fit. Sith no authority can be, But what appointed is by thee.

My Mansion.

Liza for, doe you not care, She lives in heaven, free from earths feare, ••er 'bidings in those regions be, ••er converse with the Deity.

Mans unkindnesse my Benefit.

LOrd, what a courtesie doth man to me, When he's unkind, he drives me straight to thee. Where I my deer sweet Prince, do ever finde Carefull for me, contenting, pleasing, kinde. Then let them be, as liketh them to me, ••Ile not complain, sith I can come to thee, Who art my joy, my love, my crown, my peace, In whom my joys abound, and still increase.

My Second Part.

I Did withdraw me from the stage Of this vain world, in my best age, Thinking for heaven thou hadst be drest, So I retired for my rest. But thou a Prophet hadst me made Unto my selfe when I had said. Another part I here must play, Before I went from hence away. A wife thou choo'st out for my part, Which I misliked in my heart; And thought wedded to none to bee Great Prince of Heaven and earth but thee. But thou that hadst ordain'd that part, Foundst out a means to turne my heart:

Because my Lord, thou'lt have me see We happy in that life may be, But then on thee, we must depend, For thou alone that blisse canst send. For should our Husbands love fixt be Upon some others, not on thee. Heavens Prince will never thee forsake, But still his darling will thee make. And should hee of thee carelesse bee, Heavens Prince, he will more carefull bee. He from the earth wil raise thy heart, That thou content maist act that part.

The Resurrection.

WHy should I be afraid to dye, Or let my body in earth lye. In that safe bed I'me laid to sleep, When others in their closets weep.

It is to me a quiet night, And next day brings the wished light, That makes for me eternall day, My body there feels no decay.

And when I waken, I shall finde All things well pleasing to my minde. Youth, beauty, spirit, now present Themselves for that days Ornament.

With Robes more bright then are the beams, That from her pleasing Sun here streams, Decay they say they never will, For they were made with exact skill,

To adorne the bodies that ascend, And on the Deity attend, Now shall I see my Princely peer, That I on earth did hold so deer.

And with him still converse shall I, Who would not now let their soul fly, Seing there's no fear of decay, Fools that think death a dismall day.

Fearfull Ʋncertainty.

OH you that know not when you dye, Whither your Souls to heaven shall fly, Or wander, in the dismall shade, No wonder though you be afraid.

Would you not wear black hellish weeds? Avoid then, wicked sinfull deeds. Do actions that are just and right, If you would live in heavenly light.

Do you think peace you can enjoy, That others with your deeds annoy? No! what you unto others doe Assure your selves, shall fall on you.

And if good councell, now you slight Look in Hells mouth, and be affright. Avoid betimes, that hellish fume, Which all your pleasures will consume.

To Generall Cromwell.

THe Sword of God doth ever well I'th hand of vertue! O Cromwel, But why doe I, complain of thee? 'Cause thou'rt the rod that scourgeth mee? But if a good child I will bee, I'le kiss the Rod, and honour thee; And if thou'rt vertuous as 'tis sed, Thou'lt have the glory when thou'rt dead.

Sith Kings and Princes scourged be, Whip thou the Lawyer from his fee That is so great, when nought they doe, And we are put off from our due. But they for their excuse do say, 'Tis from the Law is our delay. By Tyrants heads those laws were made, As by the learned it is said. If then from Tyrants you'l us free, Free us from their Laws Tyranny. If not! wee'l say the head is pale, But still the sting lives in the tail.

To a Lady that bragg'd of her Children.

IF thou hast cause to joy in thine, I have cause too to joy of mine. Thine did proceed from sinfull race, Mine from the heavenly dew of grace.

Thine at their birth did pain thee bring, When mine are borne, I set and sing. Thine doth delight in nought but sin, My Babes work is, to praise heav'ns King. Thine bring both sorrow, pain and fear, Mine banish from me dreadfull care.

The Conquest.

GOd made on earth a paradice at first, For man, but he by sin betrayd his trust. But heavens great Prince who came to conquer sin, For me won Heaven and Paradise againe.

Questions and Answers.

Qu. LOrd! why have I so much from thee? An. Th'art child to me. Qu. But why on earth have I such store? An. In Heav'n is more. Qu. Lord I have more then I doe need? An. The poor then feed.

Then sith I'me thine, I'le be divine, And what I've more. I'le give the poor.

To a Friend for her Naked Breasts.

MAdam I praise you, 'cause you'r free, And you doe not conceal from me What hidden in your heart doth lye, If I can it through your breasts spy.

Some Ladies will not show their breasts, For feare men think they are undrest, Or by't their hearts they should discover, They do't to tempt some wanton Lover.

They are afraid tempters to be, Because a Curse impos'd they see, Upon the tempter that was first, By an all-seeing God that's just.

But though I praise you have a care Of that al-seeing eye, and feare, Lest he through your bare brests see sin, And punish you for what's within.

Safety.

MY gracious God be not my foe, It matters not if man be so. And let my wayes great God please thee, Then from all foes I shall be free.

What Kingdome to be wisht.

WHose Kingdome can I wish but thine, Who mak'st hell, Heaven and me divine.

••hat Kingdome ought I wish to be, ••t where all thine shall reign with thee.

••l thoughts of Kingdoms I will banish, ••t of thy Kingdome will not vanish.

No Kingdome must I wish, But Heav'ns great Prince of glory, Which if I be divine, Will be mine onely story.

••arthly blessings doe me surround, With heavenly blessings I am crown'd. ••n earth I live free from all care. ••ecause heavens King I love and feare.

Comfort in Temptations and Afflictions.

COme Christians that so mazed bee At earths events, O come and see What cause there is for your dismay, When God takes care for you each day.

Th'Apostle bids us then to joy, When as temptations us annoy. And heavens great Prince sed unto you Before, he bid the earth adieu. Let not your hearts here troubled be, For if you do beleeve on me, In heav'n a Palace there is for you, Fear not, in me, it is your due. I'st prison that doth you afright? In dungeon deep hee'l be your light. I'st war whose fear you do pretend? The Lord of Host can you defend. I'st sicknes that doth cause your dread? He easie can make your sick bed. Unless by these he will you take Into his glory, and there make You to behold those Visions fair, Will ravish you from all your care. Then sith heav'ns King can safe you keep, There is no cause for you to weep. You shall not enter to his rest, If you by doubting him molest.

On going to the Sacrament.

I To the world Lord will let know, That I desire thy death to show; By going to some publick place, And take the pledges of thy grace. And when I take the bread, then I Will say, my Lord did for me dye. And thus Ile doe great God for thee, For thou hast done much more for mee; And when I drinke the wine Ile tell Thy blood redeem'd my soul from hell;

And then Ile offer up to thee What thou sweet Prince! requirest of me. None but the Sacrifice of praise Dost thou require now adayes, And that I should remember thee, When as these things are done by mee.

My Prayer in my Youth.

MY Lord, whose mercies to me are unspeakable; Who in thy works art great and powerfull, wholly bend mine affection on that which is certain, and not subject to varibility; to that which no sinister mishap can alter; Oh, let not my Soul which thou hast made to be fed with heavenly Manna (which still will last) here seek to be satisfied with vain delights, which soon will vanish. Banish from me the Thoughts of vaine de∣lights, and make me know that they must end. And for those infinite blessings which thou hast deigned to bestow upon me, make me for ever to admire thee, and from my heart send up the sweet incense of thanks and praise for thy heavenly benefits bestowed on me thine unworthy servant.

The Temptation.

MY Soul! Woulst thou finde favour with the Lord, be not then afraid to goe to him; Let not the feare of thy former past sins, nor of thy continuall weak∣ness be an occasion to hinder thee of thy happiness, but let the assurance of the pardon of thy sins, and the certainty of the promise to strengthen thy weakness, animate thee to goe confidently to the throne of grace. There do not imagine that thou seest thy sins stand as

a thick cloud to keep thy prayers from ascending to the presence of thy God, nor think that through that dark cloud thou seem'st unseemly in the eyes of thy loving father; be not thou ignorant that the bright beames of his gracious favour, hath dispersed those clouds of thy sins, never to be gathered again together, before his pure eyes. Know thou, that he will not let such fear∣full sights, and sad appearances, to stand in his presence, to afright his dear chosen children; No my Soul! such sights are not there; he that cals thee hath removed from thee all those things which should hinder thy pas∣sage to him; or disturbe thy quiet appearance, before him. He cals thee, and bids thee be confident in his presence; He assured thee by his word that thou shalt finde his spirit strengthning thy weakness, and inabling thee to performe that which thou thoughtest impossi∣ble for thee to overcome.

My Soul! he hath brought thee from thy straying er∣rours, he hath inabled thee to overcome the manifold temptations of thy suttle enemy, when he would have made thee to have thought there was no God, then thy God manifested himself to thee, when he would have had thee taken pleasure in the vaine delights of this wicked world, then thy dear father having a watchfull eye, and a carefull minde over thee, sent a heavy dulnes into all the powers of thy soul & body, inforcing thee as it were to leave those earthly vanishes, because neither soul nor body could take delight in those things, which o∣thers call pleasures, by reason of thy exceeding heavy dulness. Then dost thou my soul, think that a most se∣vere punishment on thee from thy father, when thou sawest others injoy the blessings of thy God with great contentment; Then in the height of this distemper wert thou my soul almost brought to the pit of despair. When as the enemy pictur'd before the eyes of thy soul, the sad appearance of the anger of thy God, and still he

••ersisting in his pernicious temptations, bid thee leave ••is service, telling thee it was to no purpose to be so ••arefull to serve him, for thy prayers were not heard, ••hy tears not regarded, thy heaviness not removed; and ••f Gods word be true, he hears all that cals upon him, ••nd removeth from them their griefs. Thus subtly ••elt my enemy with me, thinking to have in wrapt me in his hidden nets of most pernicious temp∣••ations. First, making me to think my God was angry, then that he heard not my prayers, and that his word was false: thus by consequence faine would he have made me to have doubted of thy being, O my eternall and ever-being Father. By these snares would he have bereft me of the hope I had in thy word, by which I was brought to know thee. Thy creatures teach us (I acknowledge O Lord) to know that there is a God, but they cannot teach us to know how to come to this God, or how to finde comfort in thee our God; 'tis onely thy word can declare to us what thou art, and thy spirit it is that must assure us, that this word is thine. It was thy selfe O Lord, who art able to performe what thou hast decreed, that hast brought this flinty heart of mine to the knowledge of thee. My Lord, I must ••eeds confess thy powerfull working in framing this heart of mine to the belief of thy word, and thee; for before thy spirit mollified this heart of mine, thy word was to it like water gliding over the hardest marble, no whit entring or piercing the same.

My gracious Lord, thy divine Majesty in all the chan∣ges and chances of my life, hath had a most peculiar care of me, for now hast thou taught me to know, that those temptations, and those perplexities, in which my soul was in, have been all disposed for the good and happiness of my Soul. Now thou makest me to know that thy word is true, and that our grief doth work for our good: for though our temptations be never so

great, thou canst and wilt deliver thy children.

It was thy Majesty that kept me from doubting of thy being; it was thy fatherly goodnes that stupified the powers of my Soul and Body with that heavy dul∣ness, not because thou wouldest punish me for my sins, no! thou didst teach me to know, that my gracious Saviour had already indur'd the punishment that my sins deserv'd; My Lord, thy Majesty did not lay that dejection on me proceeding from thy justice, but thy mercy. For my God! I must confess to thee, that which thou then didst know, for then I did love the world, more then I loved thee, and because thou wouldst have me love the pleasure that should never end; thou madst me to take no pleasure in these delights, which never end but in sorrow. That heaviness was then a bitter pill to purge my Soul from the grosse hu∣mours of earthly love, that afterwards she may be made more fit and apt to receive the sweet blisse of thine e∣verlasting love. This thy love to me kept me from fal∣ling into the miserable pit of despaire; thy loving kind∣nesse it was that moved thee to let that word of comfort with which thou sustainest thy servant St. Paul, sound ever in my ears, That thy grace should be sufficient for me without which grace of thine, I not having sufficient strength of my self, should have fallen into the gulf of e∣verlasting misery. Thy love likewise kept mē constant to thee and thy service, & kept me from doing or saying that in my dispairing thoughts, that had not been fit for thy servant to doe or utter. Thy unwearied love and great wisdome it was that sent those tryals and tempta∣tions to me in my youth, that thou mightest sanctifie my youth to thy service, and make me carelesse of those pleasures, that my young years were too much addicted to.

For if thy Majesty had suffered me to have run on, to have taken pleasure in those vanities, till I had been in∣wrapt

in them, and had set my whole delight in those vanishing pleasures. Then had it been more hard and grievous to me to have left them; But thou, O my Lord, didst deal more graciously with me; for before I knew what pleasures meant, thou took'st from me the ••ove of pleasure, for which great mercy of thine, I ren∣der thee most hearty thanks.

My Lord! When I consider of these thine infinite mercies, I cannot chuse but admire thy goodness, and admiring, say unto thy heavenly Majesty. O Lord, what am I that thou shouldest have such a peculiar care of me; I am not worthy to be in thy thoughts, much more unworthy to be belov'd of thee; yet it doth evi∣dently appear that thou dost love me, in that thou ta¦kest off from me the love of the world; for my Lord-unless thou lovest me, thou wouldest not have cared for my love, and I know that it was in love that thou wea∣••nedst me from the world, because that I should love thee alone, and not the world.

The Angels Joy.

YOu blessed Angels, by my Father are we honoured to have you for our attendance. Sure your lovely faces could not but look sad when my Saviour suffered: for methinks it was a sad fight to behold, your loving Lord hang tormented on a cursed tree, and for those too, whose sins caused his torment; and then for you to hear him cry out in the bitterness of his Soul, My God, my God, Why hast thou forsaken mee? Methinks it should have so incens'd your wrath against us poor mor∣tall creatures, that you should have petitioned to your All-powerfull Lord▪ that all humane flesh should have

suffered endlesse torment, seeing they had so justly de∣served it, rather then your righteous Lord should have dyed.

But whether my Soul; in the deep consideration of the undeserved suffering of thy righteous Saviour dost thou run? Shall the Angels which are our attendants be grieved at our happinesse? My Soul, wrong not those blessed spirits with such vain thoughts; for God was not pleased, nor his wrath appeased towards us till that time: Oh sad time, yet pleasant time, the time of thy most gracious dying: Sad, in respect of thy torments, O blessed Saviour; yet pleasant in respect of the unex∣pressable liberty, and endless happiness, which by thy powerfull dying we obtain'd.

Oh Blessed Spirits, I cannot now thinke, that you were displeas'd with us, for your nature doth so concur with his will, that it cannot be opposite to it.

But yet God was angry; yea, to the very apprehen∣sion of his onely Son, What else made him cry out so grievously, My God, Why hast thou forsaken mee? God was angry then with his Son, for us; you had rea∣son then of grief for him, not anger towards him: but yet sure to see him angry with his Son, and to see his onely Son so grievously tormented, you could not but be mov'd, what then must move you? sure it could be nothing, but our sins for which he suffered.

Oh you heavenly Spirits. I finde you rejoycing, when we had our Saviour born, and sure you could not but re∣joyce, when the worke of our salvation was finished, your joy was then intermingled with your sorrow, if you be capable of sorrow, for you could not but sor∣row, to see your God so grievously to suffer; you could not but rejoyce, to see that they on whom you atten∣ded, should be so happy, that by his death they should be admitted to injoy eternall life.

If you joy at our repentance, sure your joy at our

••rgivenesse, and then was the time of our forgivenesse ••ome, when he willingly yeelded up his life, that we ••ight live eternally, then was our debts paid, when as ••y now glorified body, Oh Son of glory, was debar'd ••f the heavenly appearance, of thine eternall God∣••ead.

Yee blessed Angels, yee joyed in your sorrow, and ••ot we, but our sins were hatefull to you, which were ••he cause of his most grievous suffering.

More bitter then grim death could be, My sin, my Lord was unto thee, Because I sinn'd my Lord did dye, Because he dy'd, hate sin will I.

On Earthly Love.

FRom thee, O Heaven of glorie flowes that celestiall stream, that being taken hath power to make us forgetfull of our earthly love, the which must vanish, and alone can set us free from those tormenting pas∣sions.

Thou sweet stream, having cur'd us of those distem∣pered passions, hast then the power to work in our hearts a more peaceable and durable affection: earthly affection, ever brings distemper, sometimes distraction; but that sweet love, which thou O pearly fountain, rai∣sest in our breast, flameth in our hearts, peace, rest, joy, and it worketh a perpetuall assurance of still injoy∣ing what we love, wish, or can in heart desire.

My Lord! My soule is ravisht with the contemplati∣on of thy heavenly love; and I cannot chuse but infi∣nitely admire thy mercies to me thine unworthy ser∣vant;

for grievous were the perturbations which I was subject to, when I was infected with the poison-bane of earthly affections, the which a time thou wert pleas'd to let reigne and tyrannize in my brest, which like a thorne in the flesh, not being drawne out, by the hand of art, lies throbbing and working torment, not onely to the place where it hath taken up its abode, but brings distemper to the whole body: So that unruly passion ha∣ving taken up his place in my heart, did not onely ty∣rannize there, but wrought destraction in my Soul, and bred distemper in my body; But blessed be thy Maje∣stie for that distemper, for in that time of my weaknes, thou Oh all-powerfull hand, by thy most heavenly art, didst draw from my heart that tormenting passion, and by the addition of thy heavenly love, which thou didst leave in the room thereof; thou repairedst in me the breaches that that unrulie passion had made.

When I was sick I thought that I should dye, I did mistake, 'twas earthly love, not I.

HOSEA 2.19. My Contract.

MY Lord! Doth not thy Majestie send thy messages of love and favour, to those that will take hold of them, and beleeve there shall be a performance of what is promis'd, Thy Word tels us, That they that beleeve in thee shall have eternall life: My Lord, I do beleeve it, and that this Message, sent by thy royal Embassador, be∣longs

to mee, aswell as to any other; [I will marry thee to mee for ever] Thou art righteous and wilt perform it; who would now refuse so great, and so good a King? I disdain not marriage, I desire it with this great Prince, who is the Prince of Kings, and at whose foot-stool they must one day lay down all their Crowns, and bring in all their riches at his command: The greatest of them must confess they hold their Scepters of him, and to him they must doe service, at his will. This is a Prince of such exact perfection, that I cannot see any thing in him any way to be dislik't. When I consider any creature, I can finde in it but little to be belov'd, but a great deal of inconvenience with it, to be dislik't; why then should I set my minde on the creature of so little worth? and not wholly have my minde intent on the Creator, who alone is excellent. Most mighty Prince, I must confess my self unworthy to be the least servant in the Court of so magnificent a King; much lesse to be one who shall have the honour to be marryed to thee; but because I doe thinke my selfe unworthy of thee, shall I be such a fool to refuse so great a fortune? No, I will not. My Lord! I now challenge thy promise, for I doe think thou hast prepared me a minde for thy selfe, for thou madst me long since to be ambitious of perfection, but when I saw it was not to bee obtain'd in this world, how slightly did I esteem of all things in it? thou having prepared my mind for thy self, by the dislike of all imperfect creatures, and the love of perfection, Thou madst me to see a clear perfection in thy self, and wroughst in me a love to thee; and because I dare not presume to the thoughts of possessing thee, thou seeing my desires, sent that comfortable message to me, and to all that doe sincerely love thee, that thou wil receive us to thy selfe, and wilt marry us to thee for ever.

I being wedded to Heavens King, As his blest Spouse must his praise sing.

The Soules Agitation.

MY great and glorious God! In what a strange agita∣tion is my Soul, being assail'd by two contrary con∣siderations; the one of my heavenly bliss, in which thou didst at first make me, and to which thou hast and wilt, in the fulness of time againe restore me; the other of the sordid and vile condition, in which I had by my re∣bellion inwrapt my selfe. The thoughts of the first fils me with a sweet contenting joy; the consideration of the other with a hatefull detestation of my selfe; for when I record in my minde, how thou at the first mad'st me a creature of a rare composition, one part of thine owne divine spirit, the other of earth purified, by thy heavenly art, and built up fit for a Temple for thy divine greatnesse to inhabite; these thoughts fill me with a pleasing contentment. But when the considera∣tion of my vile condition, in which by my too much yeelding to please my earthly companion, comes into my minde, I then hate my selfe, for I have thereby made my self subject to all painfull diseases, yea, to mortality, by my intemperance; for how justly might I have pleas'd my selfe in the lawfull and temperate use of all thy other creatures; and could not a whole world of pleasures content us, but we must take that one for∣bidden? My God! I am to my selfe, a hatefull crea∣ture, how much more must I needs be to thee, whose eyes can behold no impurity? but my dear Father look not now on me as I have cloath'd my self, but look on me as new arrai'd by thy blessed Son, the King of Saints.

And to settle the disturbed motion of my mind, send

downe a beam from thy glorious divinity, that might so inlighten the eyes of my Soul, that I might now behold my selfe, as cloathed with thy self, for thou wert pleas'd to cloath thy divine nature with my mortality; that my mortall nature might be made immortall, by being joy∣ned to thy divinity. My great God! these thoughts will not onely take off my hatred from my self, but I fear, if it be possible, make me too much love and admire my selfe: but it cannot be; for that bright beame from thee, makes me see my selfe, not but in thee, and with these thoughts hast thou so rais'd my Soul beyond what it was, that I see my self cloath'd with the bright white robes of thy pure innocence; for thou knowest no sin. I now look on my selfe as sacred, and on this flesh as immortall, onely because it hath spo••ted it selfe with sin, after thou hadst made it purer then the common earth; therefore in the earth must it be laid again to be purified till it be fit to be new built up a glorious structure for her divine companion: Then wilt thou take us both up into thy glorious habitation, where we shall not be capable of doing any thing that shall any more cause us to part from our selves or thee.

I once immortall was Lord! made by thee, I that bliss lost; But I againe it see▪ Restor'd with more, great Prince of Saints to me.

The Contempt of the World.

MY Gracious God! Doe I offend thee, if I contemn the world? I finde thy blest Apostle counting all

but dung in respect of the knowledge of thee; then by his example I hope I offend thee not; but yet, when I consider it is thy workman-ship, which is most ex∣cellent, and thou hast given it to the sons of men, I cannot but call my thoughts in question with some sus∣pition of fear of offending thee; for my dear God! I confess, that what I see most desired by people, for themselves or for others, is to me most displeasing and distastefull. My powerfull God! if I doe not offend thee in it, still keep me in this minde; if I doe, root out (as it is my daily prayer) this contempt, and all things else that within me disliketh the pure eyes of thy divine Majesty.

My Lord! Somewhat to clear my selfe to the world, that I doe not offend in this point (for thou knowest my heart) I doe not contemn any thing in it, as thinking meanly of it, as thou hadst made it; My great God! thou madest all things good at the beginning, but since the making of them, the perfection of all things is much changed. Our sins altered the purity of all things in the world; then as it is made sordid, by our sins, I distaste those odde things I see pleasing to the most.

But my Lord! This may draw me into another in∣convenience, and make some thinke, I thinke better of my selfe then of others, for distasting those things sully∣ed with sin; But I know thou wilt answer for me, that I confess to thee that by nature I am sinfull, addicted to love those things soyled by our sins; so that it doth not make me think well of my self, but it makes me love and admire thee the more; when I see thy abundant mercy to me, in giving me a minde, so contrary to the most; for I doubt not but thou hast made many in the world as happy as thou hast made me, in giving them such a minde; For my deare Father! What do they atchieve when they attaine that here which they desire, a few conveniences, accompanied with ten thousand troubles,

••ears, and distastefull cares; for I have often heard some express, how happy they should be but for such and such inconveniences, when I having food and raiment ••ufficient, and possesse a heaven of felicity in thee, am happy without a But.

The Royal Gods.

MY Lord! With what a Title hast thou honored the Kings of the earth: I have said yee are Gods; and the Children of the most high. Thou hast given them that Ti∣tle their desires pretended too, to be Gods, and to be of their race, they that knew not thee, my great God! nor from what true immortall race they sprung; yet would have the world think them to be of divine linage, and themselves to be gods. And shall not wee, who know from whom and by whom Kings reigne, think our Prin∣ces to be as they are stil'd by that great King, who set them to reigne for him? God forbid, but that we should so think of them, and they of themselves. He is the great God of the world, and hath set them as lesser Gods un∣der him, to governe and protect that people over which he hath plac'st them. The people must then honor their King, as a God under him, not observe or adore him above him; and hee must esteem himselfe as a God ••oo••; if he be of that great immortall race he will not degenerate, but will be like to him: He will be like a fiery pillar in the night of ignorance and darknesse, to direct them which way they shall walk; and as a cloud in the day of persecution, to keep them from the pursuing adver∣sary: he will my God with thee hide them under his wings, and they shall be safe under his protection: hee will be just too; punishing those who seek the destru∣ction

of thine and his people. His bowels of mercy will be extended, and he will not punish according to their deserts; and rather then destruction shall shall come to thine and their people, they will follow the example of that renowned Prince, thy first-born Son, they will with him a while leave their glory, and take up with him an humble deportment, and cry with him, Thy will be done not mine: They thus imitating thee, their great patterne, shall be blessedt by thee with eternall renown, and crow∣ned by thee in immortal glory: but first thou hast said, They must dye like men.

The Rule.

MY Lord! What an infallible rule hast thou left us, to know, whether we be thine or no; for if the preach∣ing of the Gospel of our blessed Saviour Jesus Christ, be to us foolishnesse, and as a thing we delight not in, we may justly feare we are to perish: but if it be esteem'd by us the power and excellent wisdom of God, which de∣lights our hearts; we may be confident we shall be sav'd; for the preaching of the Gospel is to them that perish foolishnesse, but to us that are saved it is the pow∣er of God, 1 Cor. 1.18.

PSALME 119.165. The Soules Peace.

MY great God! how often dost thou make us to see, and by experience to know the truth of thy most

••cred Word, 'tis great peace indeed, that they possesse who love thy law: thou keepest them in such secure and pleasant pavillions, that nothing shall ofiend them, they must speak to thy praise, whom thou hast blest, and if I have been thought too mean to speake in the praise of ••n earthly King; My God, I cannot but confess my self too mean, too ignorant to speak off, and in the praise of the Majesty of Heaven.

But Oh thou greatest and highest Ruler of all the Great on earth, under whose feet lye all their crownes of Majesty: Thou hast told us thou art no respector of persons, but thou acceptest of the prayers and praises of thy meanest creatures. Then must my Soul speak to the praise of thy Sacred Majesty, for the peace that thou hast given mee, since the time that thou hast taught mee to love thy Law; thou hast made me to delight in the multitude of peace, thou hast given me peace in thee, thy blessed Son set me at peace with thee, and I have such a peace in thee, that all the oppsition of the world cannot take from me. I am at peace with thy ser∣vants, I am sure they will not hurt me; I am at peace with thy creatures, for thou hast made the stones, and beasts af the field to be at league with them that feare thy name; I passe by thy creatures, and thorow them without fear, for they are at peace with me.

But canst thou my Soul say, thou thus possessest a hap∣py peace withall No, I cannot: for then they that have sought to disturbe my peace, by their odd untruths, will tell me, I said not true; for I have seen and felt their Arrows of uncivill war strike against my heart: But my God thou hast so strongly arm'd it, that their arrows have recoyl'd back, and not pierc'd my heart: How can I chuse then most blessed and sweet finger of Israel but speak in thy own words;

Great peace and rest shall all such have As doe thy Statutes Love, No danger shall their quiet state, Impaire or once remove.

The Support.

MY Lord! When in my young years, the considera∣tion of thy infinite mercies, had penetrated my heart. I confess there was with it, an earnest desire i•• me to doe or suffer something, whereby I might manifest my love to thy Majesty, for those great unexpressable fa∣vours that thou hast deigned to bestow on me thy un∣worthy servant. But then had I no other thoughts in me, but that if the contrary Religion (which then too much abounded) had prevail'd, I then might have offer∣ed up my life in flames, with devotion to manifest my love to thee: But now thou hast turn'd the tide, and art pleas'd to suffer two great powers to rise, both pro∣fessing to maintain the truth of our Religion, so that now thou hast taken off my thoughts for suffering so for thy sake, but thou hast put me on another: My Lord! I will not say worse for me: for whatsoever is done by thee, with me or by me: I am confident, it is the best and fittest for me, though death to some spirits be easier to bear then reproachfull speeches: And I con∣fesse with impatience heretofore did my unruly Spirit, detest reproachfull words, and thought a religious death far better: For my Lord, thou knowest what reproach∣es and slanderous speeches they are subject to, that pro∣fesse thy name, or declare thy mercies to them.

But let them now speak, and in their speech, declare

their little love to thee my Lord, and their malice and spite to thy children, thou shalt set my spirit beyond the reach of their contempt, where with a holy contempt with thee, I shall laugh such fools to scorne. And now I dare not say, I am an ignorant woman, and unfit to write, for if thou wilt declare thy goodness, and thy mercy by weak and contemptible means, who can re∣sist thy will. My gracious God, I will be now so farre from being unwilling to doe it, that I will not rest till I have done it, for in all ages thou wilt not leave thy selfe without a witnesse of thy mercy and goodnesse to thy children, and therefore I will send out my words to speak thy praise, and as thou hast made them comfort to some troubled mindes, so I wish they may be to more, when they shall see the truth of thy mercifull dealing with me, and how thou hast made me so happy in this world, as my heart can wish; for thou hast gi∣ven me my hearts desire, and hast fulfil'd the request of my lipps; for there is not that thing in the world that I can desire more, then what thou hast given to me. For long since, my Lord, when thou hadst given me sence to see, that no earthly thing though never so ex∣cellent or pleasing could give us a perfect contentment, then made I my prayer to thy divine Majesty, that thou wouldst be pleased to give me that which the world could not give; and though I confesse I did then think it was unpossible ever to possesse a true content in this world, yet my dear Father, I must now aske thee par∣don for those misdoubting thoughts; for I have seen thou canst give us a joy, and a true content, beyond the expression of our souls, in this world; for when we possesse thee with, and in thy creatures, we injoy a feli∣city that fils our hearts with an unexspressable delight; My Lord! when thou art pleased to manifest thy selfe unto our souls, thou bringest all that can be desired. Death that to some natures, the mention of it is bitter▪

to thine, thou mak'st it a pleasing companion, and with paine thou makest them pleas'd and happy, and for the bitter speeches of the world, which thy children must heare, thou mak'st us to forget or contemne them.

I must confesse to thy honour, my great King, that thou makest me not to remember the bitternesse of this life, thou answering me with such joyes in my heart, and thus wilt thou at length, my gracious God, blesse all thy children that with an upright minde, and a sin∣cere heart, doe earnestly seek their happinesse alone in thee, and not from the world.

PSALME 85.10. The Perfume.

IN thee most blessed Prince, are those two excellent ingredients mix'd, which yeeld so sweet a sent to the world, that no corrupted aire of our unsavoury e∣nemy is able to disperse. Thy most blessed body, the sweetest and truest perfume that ever proceeded out of the earth, was joyn'd with the odoriferous scent of righteousnesse from heaven. Blessed Ioseph, knew thy perfect body needed no imbalming; That pure Bal∣sam that came from heaven at the beginning, kept thy precious body from corruption.

On the crosse was all that that was to be suffered in the body, finished, God would not suffer his holy one to see corruption; truth made hast, and sprung the third day from the earth, and righteousness shewed her selfe from heaven; in thee met mercy and truth, righ∣teousnesse and peace there kissed each other. Now are

they in thee conjoyn'd never againe to be separated. 'Tis not for ignorant man, seeing thou hast not reveal'd it, to examine what thou didd'st with thy precious soul, when thy body was in the grave. My Lord! I will not search into those secrets, kept in thine owne Cabinet: Thou hast reveal'd enough to confirme my faith, and to make me happy. Thou hast told me, That righteousnesse looked downe from heaven; I will not expect thy coming from any other place.

The Acknowledgement.

MY Omnipotent God, faine would I say something to thee, but I am afraid. But shall my woman∣ish fear make thee loose thy glory; My God it must not! Thy glory must so dazle mine eyes, that I must not regard the censure of the world.

And if thou, O all-seeing eye! seest ought of my selfe, in what I write or say, restraine my hand from writing, and my tongue from speaking; but if thy glory be the intention of my heart, let not my hand and tongue be asham'd to confesse that I cannot but see those infinite blessings that thou hast bestowed on me, which thou hast not as yet bestowed on all. My Lord! I were a fool if I did not see them; I were a beast if I did not acknowledge them; but thou hast taught me to know the onely true God, and Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent into the world, to take away my sins; this wisdome given me by thee, inlightens mine eyes to see thy blessings, and that I must not be like a beast which receives many favours from thee, without acknowledg∣ment; Then with infinite thankes I doe acknowledge to thy glory, thou hast inriched me with a multitude of thy blessings.

And that I may know, that whatsoever is in me ten∣ding to good, is from thee: there are times that I can∣not see any thing that hath any appearance of good in me; for when, by thy mercies, I lay me down in peace to take my rest, being happy in the consideration of thy infinite mercies, and full of thy goodnes; yet in my sleep I finde my thoughts busied in nothing but a mul∣titude of confused follies, and vaine imaginations, which plainly represent to me my naturall condition; that by nature I cannot think a good thought; but thou re∣membring thy mercies in the morning againe, restorest to me thy gifts and graces in which I was happy the night before; So that thou makest me to lye downe in peace, and to rise with joy, when I see that thou dost each day renue to me thy heavenly gifts, for thou art to me as thou art to all that fear thee, the light of my eyes, the joy of my heart, and a Crowne of glory to my head.

My Lord! shall not these blessings of thine be ac∣knowledged by me, to thy praise and glory? for fear the world should say, I were proud of them: Most peo∣ple glory in something or other, and thou hast said, Let them that glory, glory in the Lord. My God! thou hast heard my prayer, that I leanrt of thy servant, that thou wouldst give me a glorying heart, and now thou makest me with him to rejoyce in the God of my Sal∣vation. My Lord! experience hath taught me to know, that if I delight in earthly things, thou wilt take them from me; for thou wilt not have thy children delight in any thing more then in thy selfe. But if we love thee thou wilt manifest thy selfe to us, and wilt give us more full possession of thy desired selfe. But my beloved Lord, if after the expression of my excessive joy, for being thine, I shall through the frailty of mine owne na∣ture, and thy sufferance fall into any great transgression, to make thee for a while to withdraw from me, the plea∣sing

and joyfull light of thy countenance. My tender Father, assure me that thou wilt againe restore me to the joy of thy salvation here in this world, or thou wilt in thy mercy take me to a more full possession of thee in the felicity of thy chosen, where I shall perpetually rejoyce with thy children. But to make me carefull of my selfe, let me remember thy warning, Let him tha thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

The invincible Souldier.

MY Lord, the Lord of Hosts; I being in sweet secu¦rity under thy banner, cannot but acknowledge with thankes thy mercy to me, for the meanes that brought me to this felicity. Thou art mercifull to me in letting me be borne of Parents, who were listed under thy command, and to be brought up by her that did survive, who knew thy service was perfect freedom. She that was happy in being a Souldier of thine, used her authority by love, to bring her children under the obedience of that Generall, whom she serv'd, and to make me love him in my child-hood, whom her experi∣ence had taught to love and admire; inforc'd me to read his Royall story, wherein I might see his victorio us conquest, who was never foil'd. There did I see his e∣nemies had all their forces from him, wherewithall they resisted him. His wisdome, his power, his valour, stole into my heart a little desire to follow him. But when I came to consider what a great Prince I should serve, what impenetrable weapons and armour he had provided for me to defend my self, what rewards he had promis'd to give to all that did overcome; I began to contemn the thoughts of serving any but that victori∣ous Prince of glory. And seeing great God, thou hast

bid us take that impenetrable armour. I will not wil∣lingly ever goe without it. Then dear Prince bestow on me the Girdle of Truth, and put on me the brest-plate of thy Righteousnes, and let my feet be shod with the Gospel of peace, and let me have the shield of Faith, and set on my head the Helmet of Salvation, and in∣struct me how to weild the Sword of the Spirit, and when I am so arm'd, I shall not fear the fiery darts of the assailing enemies, Though they be principalities, and powers and rulers of darknes in this world; My Prince whom I serve, is a Ruler of those Rulers, and will assist me: yea the stars shall aid us in their courses against our adversaries. That bright morning star shall arise on our side, to enlighten us, and to dazle and afright our weak-sighted resisters, with his exceeding brightness. The sweet influence that flows from that over-ruling star shall make us to renew our strength, each houre to maintaine the battail: his gracious aspect will make all his fighting Souldiers victorious Conquerors, and at the length he will take them up into a Triumphant chariot of glory, to raigne with him as Kings in his Kingdome of immortall felicity, where he will place on their head a Crown of eternall glory.

On ECCLES. 9.7. Goe eat thy bread with joy, &c.

MY Dear Lord! with what a sweet and pleasing ob∣ject this morning hast thou presented mine eyes, that they may deliver it to my heart, for to my heart, thou art pleas'd to speak it, and if any shall aske if that message was sent to me, I will aver it was, for they who

by the hand of faith lay hold on the promises of God, are and shall be partakers of those promises; My hand presented that object to mine eyes, mine eyes delivered it to my heart, my heart took hold of it by the hand of faith; so that I may confidently say, It belongs both to Soul and body; And now methinks I hear my God saying to me, Go, But some may say, Goe is a word of separation, and so he will say to those that shall for ever be debar'd of his happy presence: but yet to me he sayes, Go, but it is not from him, but with him, to that blessed place from which Adam fell; and I am sure it is not from him, but with him; for from him is hell, but here is joy and gladnesse to my heart, and delicacy of cloathing, and in his presence is the fulnesse of joy and at his right hand is life everlasting. But did I say it is to that place from which Adam fell; my thoughts then hover'd too neer the earth; it is to heaven my God bids me goe with him; for I must eat my bread with joy, and drink my wine with a merry heart, and let my garments be alwayes white, and my head must want no odoriserous oyntment, for God accepts thy workes.

My Lord! When I consider that those words were spoken to those whose works thou acceptest: My confi∣dence is somewhat shaken; whether or no those words were spoken to me, for thou art a God of pure eyes, and canst not behold iniquity. I am a creature unclean, defil'd with originall and actuall sin. How then canst thou O God accept my workes, for unclean hands de∣file what they touch.

But stagger not my soul, nor doubt; for now to my memory is presented, that to the house of David was a fountain set open, for sin, and for uncleannesse: Hast thee thither my soul, that thou maist be clean, for thou needst not doubt, but that fountain belongs to thee; for from eternity by election wert thou affianc'd to

him, that was to be the immortall son of David, and so thou being of his linage, the priviledge of that fountain must belong to thee: yea my Soule, thou hast heard himselfe cry out; If any thirst let him come to him and drinke, and out of him shall flow rivers of living wa∣ter.

I wil not stay, but will hast and run to thee O blessed fountain of life, and I will drinke abundantly of that de∣sired water, that shall make me capable of so great a blisse, and purge me clean from my actuall and originall pollutions, so that my God may accept my works, and I goe with confidence to eat my bread and drinke my wine with a merry heart.

But stay my Soul! dost thou thinke to run to hea∣ven in a full career of felicity and pleasure; thou canst not but remember that the servants of God, have eaten the bread of affliction, and drunke the wine of astonish∣ment, and mingled their drinke with their tears; this was their portion heretofore; I confesse it was so, but I finde in this message at (now) which cals to my minde that there was a time when I could not do so; for when I lay polluted in the deformity of my sins, and had my hands foul with the poison of mine iniquities; 'tis no wonder, if then our bread be the bread of affliction, and our wine the wine of astonishment, and how can we chuse but mingle our drinke with our tears, when we feed our selves with those hands which we have washt in poison? how can we chuse but thinke that that bread must end us here, and carry us from a fearfull life in this world to be tormented in a hideous place of misery for ever.

On••y God! How can they either eat or drink with contentment, who have not first sought out that foun∣taine wherein they may wash themselves clean from that dreadfull poison: But my Soul, have heard thee ••ay, thou wouldst hast to that pure stream, and wash thee

cleane from thine iniquities, and thou being clean, maist now goe and possesse those free liberties.

My Soul, Thou must now flee to heaven, and there eat that living bread, and drinke that wine of life, which cannot be taken but with excessive joy, so that out of them shall flow rivers of living waters; springs of joy shall rise in thee, and streams of thanks and praise shall flow from thee, to thy dear God, for his infinite blessings; these will be to thee rivers of life.

And from heaven my soul maist thou take those white garments with which thou maist always be cloath'd, for his garments were white and glistering: then aske for those robes of purity that are his, for thou maist be sure thou shalt obtaine; and being cloath'd in those gar∣ments thou needst not fear thou sholdst ever be found naked or unseemly drest, for thou shalt be gloriously habited, because God will make thy righteousnes in him as clear as the light, and thy just dealing as the noon day; and now my Soul thou loving and desiring those garments of righteousnesse, needst not fear that thy head shall want any precious ointment; for if thou with and in that great King, lovest right and hatest ini∣quity; God, even thy God will annoint thee with the oyle of gladnes.

And now my Soul, Thou seest the priviledges that are presented to thee in this speech: but thou saidst ere-while, it belonged to thy body too; I confesse it did, but my thoughts were so taken up with the considera∣tion of the infinite felicity of my Soul, that I had al∣most forgot my body; and truly did not she accord to the action of my Soul, and desire with her onely to be happy by the priviledges that adhere to her by rea∣son of my Soul, I would never seek to content her, nor regard any priviledges that belongs to her, but she is an assenting companion to my Soul, and an instrument to convey the promises of God to her, and shall here∣after

be a perfect glorious companion with her in eter∣nall blisse, I will now regard the priviledges that belong to her in this message: And though I thought tha•• place from which Adam fell too mean for the felicity o•• my Soul, yet for my body it is a place sufficiently consi∣derable; and seeing the benefits that were lost by the first Adam, are all, with many more restor'd to thee by the second: My body, thou maist goe with my Soul, and eat thy temporall bread with joy, and drinke thy wine with a merry heart, and thy garments may be pleasant and delighting, and thy head want no odorife∣rous ointment, for our bountiful and liberall God, hath given us many creatures for pleasure and delight, as well as for necessity; but 'tis with a restraint, our bo∣dies are of Adams race, we must not touch that which is forbidden; thou maist use them all with an innocen∣cy, not with any sinister end, or to thinke to make thy selfe like a God, by them or with them; but thou maist lawfully use them all to praise thy God, for them and with them.

Thus my body, thou seest thou art happy with my Soule, and my Soul is happy in thee, and you shall be both glorious together in Heaven; and now my heart can wish no greater blisse on earth, but my tongue must ever say,

To my Great God all glory bee, That gives such blessings unto me.

Ambition.

MY Lord, I will not ••inely desire to pry into thy Ca∣binet of secrets, to finde out what was the reason, why thou didst cast down those sometime bright Angels in Heaven, now tormenting & tormented spirits in hel; but I have heard that some have thought that it was for having too ambitious and too high desires.

My Lord! Could their desires be rais'd higher then are mine? for I confesse mine reach unto thy Throne; Nothing will now satisfie me, but to be inthron'd with thee in glory. I am grown so confident too, that I aver those high desires in me to be lawfull, and know that for them thou wilt not cast me from thee, but wilt in∣throne me with thee,

My Lord! I see 'tis dangerous to doe any thing in thy service without a command, or a message from thee: For I see many things done by thy command, blest with felicity, when without, punisht with misery. I finde no command given them for such desires; but methinkes I hear that blest Apostle of thine, When returned from his heavenly rapture, cals to me, and tels me from thee, that I must seek those things that are above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God, and that my life is hid in Christ with thee: so that now I seeking to attaine my high desires, made lawfull by thy command, am not onely placed on thy Throne, by thee, but I am in thee; and those rebellious Spirits that sought to obtain their ambitious desires, without thy commands, are not onely cast out of thy blessed presence, but also are for ever to be tormented in eternall misery.

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Now on thy Throne thou hast plac'st me, Great God with thee, No greater blisse can wished be, My Lord by me. I now will set me downe and rest Being so high blest.

MY God! I will not doe good on earth to shine with thee in glory: But because I will shine with thee in glory, I will doe good on earth.

Ʋpon Peters denyall.

SAint Peter! How well had it been, hadst thou spoke and kept thy word; for why shouldst thou be offen∣ded at thy good Master; he telling thee that himselfe should be smitten, you should but be scattered: Had he told you that you should be smitten, and he separa∣ted from you, there might have been some reason, you might have been offended; but when himselfe was to be smitten, and for your sakes too, to secure you from eternall destruction; Methinks the offence was taken on the contrary side. But if in thy family, it was so taken, thou strict Prince of perfection, no wonder if it be so in families of looser libertie, and full of imperfection. I doe not wonder to hear thee say, Thou wilt not be of∣fended, but I wonder that thou were not over-joyed to hear him telling thee, that for all he should so suffer, yet he would after he was risen, goe before you into

••alille. Methinks, I should hear you filling the world ••ith songs of thanks-giving, for joy of that Kingdome ••e hath promised you, from his Father, and for the assu∣••••nce he gave you of his resurrection; rather then hear ••ee denying such a powerfull and loving Master, with ••athes. My Lord! Let me, with him, not be ashamed ••o professe thee; but keep me from the shame of de∣••ying thee, or if thou maist gain glory by my fall, give ••e with him, abundance of teares, and a heart and ••ongue to confesse my fault to thee, and to the world, ••hat thou and they may see with him, my repentance.

My Redemption acknowledged.

MY Lord! Hast thou spoken it, and shall it not be performed? It is impossible? Thou the Ruler of ••ll the world, hast by thy blessed Prophet, bid, that ••hey which are redeemed by the Lord, declare with praise, how he hath redeemed them from the hand of the oppressor, rather then thy word should not be ful∣••••l'd to thy faithful friend; Thou vvilt raise him children ••ut of the dust of the earth, rather then this command not be performed, thou vvilt raise me who am as one out of the dust to be one of them, that must declare vvith praise, hovv thou hast delivered me from the hands of mine enemies. And though I finde it a thing now adays done but by few; and so by doing it, may make my self a wonder, and ridiculous to the world, and some o∣ther womanish reasons, that might detaine me from it; yet I cannot but know thou hast redeemed me•• and I must confesse, it was thou alone, my great God that hast done it, for it was none but the great God, and Ruler of the world, that could deliver me 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the Lands of that great enemy of mine, and of all man-kind;

that Prince that rules in the aire, who goes about like roaring Lyon, seeking each minute to devour us: O•• of the arms and power of that fiery enemy, hast tho•• unparalel'd Conqueror delivered me, else had I bee•• led captive to his will; For that great deliverance 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thine, my Soul shall render thee continuall praise: I was thou, O great Prince of life and death, that trium∣phed over death, thou only canst deliver me from th•• feare of death, and make me imbrace it with a Heave•• of contentment. It is onely thou my Lord, who alon•• dost arise to them that fear thy name, with healing i•• thy wings, canst, and hast cur'd me of, (to man) uncu∣rable diseases. Thou hast cur'd me too of the plague o•• my own heart.

No Conqueror did Conquer ought, But o're what Death had power, Thou Conqueror hast Conquer'd Death, Which Conquer'd us each houre.

PSALME •• Thou hast compast me about with Songs of Deliverance.

BLessed King! Well maist thou say, Thou shouldst b•• compast about with Songs of deliverance, when th•• Lord of Hosts was thy hiding place; with him are n•• Complainers; in his presence is nothing but joy; thos•• that are under the protection of his pleasant wings, can∣not but have their hearts full of excessive joy, which

moves their tongues to sing songs of praises and thanks∣giving to their great and powerfull protector for deli∣vering them out of all their troubles; needs must thou be compassed about with Songs of delight, thou couldst not chuse but sing thy Self too, those Songs thou did∣dest teach to thy chief Singers; that they might in∣close thee in the sweet aire of delighting praises, and with thee my Soule must desire to sing, when with thee I am so protected.

Saint Stephen.

GOd can make our faces to shine like Angels to daunt our enemies; and he here can make us to see his face to shine in glory, to comfort our Souls: Why then should we fear our fiercest enemies; why then should we not be confident of the aide of our loving and powerfull God.

Thy blessed power is like thy Light, But our frail fear is like our night.

MY Soul being plac'st on the wings of contemplati∣on, with them raises me to the Regions of feli∣city.

The foundation and felicity.

MY great God! Thou that hast aided me in laying the foundation of assurance, assist me still now ••owring

in the turrets of contentment; and let all know, that they can never with safety ascend the turrets of de∣lighting contentment; if they have not first laid the true foundation of assurance.

Ʋpon the Temptation of the doubting of Heaven.

MY Soul! Though that subtle enemy of thine, and of all men, doe seek to seduce thee, by his insinua∣ting perswasions, to doubt of that unexpressable and immortall felicity of thy Soul and body: yet my Soule, faint not! For if the holy Writ be true, thy felicity is certaine; the which my gracious God I doe most confidently believe, to be the written word of the God of all the world, by whose word and will, I, and this FabriCk were created; though that pernicious enemy, seeks to perswade me that it is a fancy of a stu∣dious braine, and writ to keep people in awe to human obedience. And because nothing doth please our Souls, but the thoughts of eternall blisse, nor afright them, but the dread of eternall punishment, therefore have they fained a heaven for reward of the vertuous, and a hell for punishment of the disobedient; and that those felicities, of which I have written, are but fictions of my owne braine, and somewhat like they that invented it, and partly taken out of it.

But my gracious God, keep me, that I fall not by these temptations, but let me know why he is, and hath been so busie in drawing me to doubt of thy being, and of that glorious heaven, which I do notwithstanding his temptations, believe I shall possesse with thee.

My God is it to draw me to a loose liberty of my life,

and so by disobeying thee, I might live in fear of being cast out of thy favour to eternall punishment? if so! I will tell him, that he may cease his labour: for if that which I beleeve to be the holy word of God, be a fancy of any braine, it is so just and pleasing to my soul, that with all my power and might; I will endeavour to lead my life according to the direction of that exact and roy∣all Law; and so hatefull is any thing to me that is con∣trary to it, that when thorow my frailty I doe what in it is forbidden, I am hatefull to my selfe, till I am as∣sured that that offence be washed from me, and that something within me assures me, that the breach of that transgression, is pardon'd. This is a strong argument to me against that temptation, and of the divinity and e∣ternity of my Soul; for if my Soul were not to be eter∣nally either happy or miserable, why should the ex∣pectation of eternall misery, trouble me, and the assu∣rance of eternall blisse so exceedingly joy me. Tempter goe! Reason and experience teacheth us to see, that likenesse breeds love; our Souls, our minds (for such things there are) can never love nor delight in what is not; but our Souls affect eternall glory, then sure such a thing there is: but be it so, or be it not, such a thing is presented to our consideration, and if I am not to live a life of eternall blisse hereafter; yet for the hap∣pinesse of my present life, I will so neer as I can run in the paths that lead to that heaven, which I so much af∣fect, that I might live with a confident hope that I shall possesse it, for nothing can truely satisfie my Soul, but a heaven of eternity, and with these thoughts I can live on earth in a heaven of felicity.

Tempter! Thou art like to loose thy labour, for I must take up that resolution, not to live a sensuall and vicious life; for if I have no grace, such a life is hate∣full to my disposition, and such a life would not I live, were there no God to give blessednesse, or no Devil to

torment. But one thing more I have now to tell thee; I in the Sanctuary of the great God of all the world, presenting my petitions to him, that by something I might be assur'd that thy wicked suggestions to make me doubt of his being, were false, I was directed to consider the glorious Sun, which then shined bright in mine eyes; so that I plainly see, that great God, of whose being thou wouldst have me doubt, doth aid and assist me against thy wicked temptations: for it can∣not be but a great God, that can make and governe so glorious and so great a light, the God that made that, made me; that God I did offend in my first parents, and since in my owne person, but to him am recon∣ciled in his first borne Son Jesus Christ, who is God and man, and for his sake shall I possesse a Kindome of feli∣city here, and at the last a Kingdome of eternall glory.

To him be Glory.

On the Sun-rising.

AS the appearance of the Sun-beams, disperseth the clouds of darkness, which brings sadness to the earth: so let the bright shining beams of thy Spirit, O heavenly Son of light disperse the clouds of darke de∣spairing thoughts and vaine imaginations, the which do darken the brightness of my Soul, and bring sadness to my heart. Let them purifie and raise my minde, that I may still be singing praise, and let me ever say.

To my great God all glory be, Who makes his light to shine on me.

Heaven upon Earth.

MY Lord! Though thou wilt not take me from earth to live in Heaven with thee; yet thou comming ••rom heaven to live on earth with me, makes me on ••arth to live in heaven with thee.

The Temple.

MY God! Is my body the Temple of the Holy Ghost? What Palace can there be in this small Fabrick, fit ••o entertaine so great a Prince; yet thou hast said, If my love thee, thy Father will love them, and thou, and ••ee, and thy holy spirit, which cannot be separated ••rom thee, will come and make thy abode with him. My Lord and King! thou knowest I love thee, for ••ong since I was willing to have left the world, and all ••he blessings that thou hast given me in it, to have gone to live with thee: but what talke I, leaving the world to come to live with thee. Thou art come into ••he world to live with mee and in me. But my great Lord, where in me, shall I finde thee; hast thou in∣••hron'd thy selfe in my heart, give me then thy assist∣ance, that no proud imagination, for my own greatnes, may arise to disinthrone thee, and make the distaste that habitation; but be thou in my heart, ever atten∣ded by sweet humility and humble obedience. Let all the members of my body be imployed in thy service; Let my hands administer to thy Saints, and not stretcht ••ut to covetousnesse. Let my feet be swift to run in the wayes of thy commandements, and not to shed in∣nocent blood: or if in my head thou hast taken up thy

seat, there let humility attend on thee too, or I sha•••• fear thou wilt goe from me; for thou resistest th•••• proud: but though thou beest high, and instabitest e∣ternity, yet thou, O great Prince will dwell with th•• humble. Then in my head, and in all that belong to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 doe thou finde humble obedience, that there I migh•• retaine thee. Let not mine eyes have any proud look nor be windows to lett in vanity, but let them be eve•• looking to the hils from whence cometh my salvation▪ Let not my tongue which thou hast given me to serv•• thee, be imployed to back-bite or defame any th•• least of thy children, or any one; for how know I who ar•• thine, or who not, but let my tongue be ever speakin•• to thy praise and glory; and let the words of mout•• be accptable in thy sight; nor let mine ears listen t•• any idle or unseemly discourse, that may displease th•• divine Majesty, and let my nostrils be ever filled wit•• the sweet savour that comes from thy heavenly gar∣ments: So if all the faculties of my body be imploye•• by my Soul, humbly to serve thee, I shall live and ex∣presse a glorying heart, because I know this body is th•• Temple of the Deity.

Then where I am a Heaven must be, For thou dost bring a Heaven with thee.

The true Object of Love.

MY Lord! When thou wert pleas'd to take my thoughts quite off from the world, I was directed to regard that place, where thou bidst us cease from man, for wherein is he to be accounted of, for his breath is in his nostrils, yet he a creature after thine owne i∣mage, and the excellentest of all thy workman ship on earth yet this rare creature, his love, his hatred not to be regarded, for thou canst in an instant take away that

thin fume of life, and then what power hath he to love or hate. My Lord! He is indeed a most contemptible creature in respect of thee. But when my Soul enters into the consideration of thy greatnesse and deep a∣bisse of thy endlesse power and mercy. My Soul is struck dumbe, and knows not what to say, but silence giving me opportunity to consider of thy infinite love to me, power, forme, beauty and excellency, in, and about thee; my Soul is wounded with a deep affection to∣wards thee, and love cannot, will not be silent: And ••ow my great and powerfull God, was it not enough for thee, to make so great and beautifull a structure for me, and for all men; but when I had run from thee, by my disobedience into the territories and torment∣ing arms of my enemy, for thee, O most glorious Prince of eternall blisse, to leave thy Kingdome where thou ••ert attended by a multitude of bright Angels, and blessed Saints, which continually sing thy praises with ••heir heavenly voices; for thee to leave such transcen∣dent delights, to take on thee my frail flesh, and come ••o me, and subject thy selfe to all the contempts that ••n insulting enemy could impose: had nor this been enough to have manifested an unanswerable love to so contemptible a creature, but thou, My dear Prince I who wouldest set a perfect patterne of humility and ••ove, for all that were thine to follow for love to mee, ••hou wert content to dye, and the most painfull and ig∣••ominious death that could be inflicted on the mean∣••st person: Thou who wert serv'd by all the world, was ••leas'd thus to serve for me, and to dye, to save me from ••ternall death; and before I knew into what torment∣••ng habitation I had plung'd my selfe by my rebellion, ••hou wert pleas'd to declare to me how thou hadst re∣••eem'd me out of those most cruel inthralments, by ••hy willingly yeelding to dye for me; for none could ••ave power, O great Prince of Heaven and earth, to

have taken away thy life, hadst thou not laid it down•• of thine owne accord thou wert please to tell me too though I live here among thy enemies and mine, yet •• should not be afraid of them, for they can but kill my body, and that too not without thy leave, for none ca•••• take thy children out of thy hand, unlesse thou ar•• pleas'd to deliver them into the hand of their persecu∣tors, and by that fiery Chariot to convey us to that im∣mortall Kingdome, which thou hast promised to thou that beleeve on thee; where we shall receive from th•• hand the beautifull Crowne of our eternall glory. •• my God! Who can chuse but be ravisht with thy unfa••∣dom'd mercy, and unexpressable love to thy poor, ye•• by thee inriched creatures. My dear Prince! Wha•• shall I doe, to let all the world know what engage∣ments my Soul hath to thee. I do wish it were in my power, as in my desires, that all the world may sing Ha∣lalujahs to thee for the saving of my Soul from tha•• cruel adversary, and for the glory that thou wilt inve•••• her in, and that they would sing publick praises unt•• thee, for thy mercies to themselves too: would tha•• were their imployment, then should not thy service be so much slighted, nor thy name so much dishonoured nor thy servants so much contemn'd; But

Let them sing praises to thy name, Whom thou hast blest, And kept their Souls from endlesse paine And plac'st in rest. Thou hast me kept from hellish paine, And plac'st in rest. How can I chuse but praise thy name When I'me so blest.

Rom. 12.1.

MY Lord! I cannot plead ignorance, for I must con∣fesse I have often read it, and knew that I was to ••er up my self a living sacrifice to thy Majesty, and to ••ve my selfe wholly to thy disposing, and not to have ••y sequestred thoughts from thee, dedicated to mine ••wn ends, in either my actions, words or thoughts: but ••y dear Father, I now plainly see the necessity of entring ••to thy Courts, to hear thee, most gracious Prince ••eake to us by thy Embassadors; And I, nor any other ••ught to say; what should I go thither, to hear a man ••ell me, but what I knew before? But my Lord, thy Ordi∣••••nces are powerfull, and thou workest more effectually ••n our hearts for the most part, by the preaching of ••y word from them, then by our own reading and stu∣••y, and now I begin to suspect, I have not offered up my ••lse so exactly to thee, as I should; for me thought, ••e besought me from thee, to offer up my self a living ••acrifice, wholly and acceptably to thee, My Lord! I ••ave heretofore long since given my selfe to thee by ••ierce meals; but I fear, reserving something from thee, ••nd if offering my selfe wholly to thee, be but a reaso∣••oble serving of thee, sure when I reserved any thing ••om thee, that service was contemptible: But graci∣••us Father, pardon all that heretofore I have done a∣••isse in thy service, for now I doe give up my selfe wholly to thee; But how shall I dare to say my self, I ••are not appeare by my selfe in thy presence, yet with, ••nd in my self I may; Thou hast taught me out of thy ••oyall story, to know that thou hast given me that Princely Son of thine, I cannot chuse but accept so ••ich a present; then seeing he is mine, and I am his, I am confident to present my selfe to thee, with and in

him; My Lord, thou canst not but take the care 〈◊〉〈◊〉 me, now I have given my selfe wholly to thee; th•• gracious Father let me live without fear of falling fr•••• thee; for if I fall from thee, wilt not thou loose pa•••• of thy glory? My Lord, I know it stands not wi•••• thine honour to let that perish which is committed i•• to thy hands; then sith I have commited my self wh••••∣ly to thee, let me with confidence sit downe and re•••• and fear no evill,

For from all ill I shall be free, Sure nothing can be ill to me.

Ʋpon Adams fall.

MY Dear God! did thy Majesty make Adam wi•••• before he fell, then any man; or hast thou si•••• his fall given man the gift of Faith, or had he no nee•• of Faith, or did Adam not beleeve thee the maker 〈◊〉〈◊〉 all things, so much as we beleeve each other? Su•••• Adam did not beleeve thee, when thou toldst him th•••• the day he should eat of that tree, he should dye t•••• death. We thinke men wise when they avoid what 〈◊〉〈◊〉 told them will hurt them. I finde Adam not so wi•••• and if one tell us, Mercury will cause our death, w•••• that are called the depraved Sons of Adam, will not ea•• it, if we be in our right senses, though the purenesse 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the colour may tempt us, and it be onely a morta•••• man that tels us so, who neither made it, nor eve•• try'd it. Adam beleev'd not the O Lord, who made that tree, and gavest the nature to it; O Adam, wha•• made thee to eat of that tree, hadst thou not this grea•• world full of all pleasures to content thee, a beautifu•• healthfull active body, a minde indued with all exce••∣lent and pleasing knowledge: No where couldst tho•••• cast thine eye but it had pleasing objects: nothin••

couldst thou tast, but it was delicious; no troubled mind, no distracted thoughts, to take thee one minute, from these delights, or cause thee to wish a change. Oh what then was it? But now I must check my selfe; Great God pardon me, I now sin with Adam, whiles I am in∣quiring why Adam ••inn'd: he would know what he should not, I what I cannot; Thou hadst made him so wise as was sufficient for any mortall man; and hadst given him such qualities of his Soul as were requisite to have made him for ever happy, in that blessed condi∣tion. Frail Adam, I will no more examine, whether thou hadst faith or no, or whether thou didst thinke to have been happier by what was kept from thee, then in possessing what was so plentifully given to thee.

Great God, I will content my self to know thou hadst made him at first in a happy condition, and us so in him; and will be patient now I see my selfe in a worse: because thou hast given me faith to beleeve I shall be in a better. And as Adam made himselfe unhappy by expecting to be happier; So I shall be more happy by beleeving I shall be gloriously perfect hereafter.

Security in Danger.

MY Lord! When with that blessed servant of thine I send up to thee my petitions for security against those that rise up against us; Let me receive his assu∣rance that thou hearest me out of thy holy hill, and let me say with him, I will lay me downe and also sleep in peace, for thou Lord onely makest me dwell in safe∣ty. I will not be afraid, of ten thousand of people, that should beset me round about; for seeing it hath pleas'd thee to let me be in a Kingdome of division, though blessed be thy name who hath yet preserv'd me, I am now in a place of peace, yet for ought I know I might to

morrow be incompassed with ten thousand enemies, though not to me in particular, yet to those among whom I am now in safety: But if thou art pleas'd I shall be so inclos'd, then let not me be afraid of them, shr thou canst preserve me, either by destroying those that would harme me, or by letting me finde favour in the sight of mine enemies, or by their hands canst thou send me to thy blessed Tabernacle of security, where I shall never need any more to send up prayers for deli∣verance, but shall alwayes sing praises to thee, for ha∣ving so many wayes to deliver me.

And so all fear I now may bid adieu, Goe enemies, I'me secur'd from you.

The Royall Priest-hood.

PEace! Present now no more to me (to take my spi∣rit from the height of felicity) that I am a creature of a weaker sex, a woman. For my God! If I must live after the example of thy blessed Apostle, I must live by faith, and faith makes things to come, as present, and thou hast said by thy servant, that we shall be like thy blessed Son: then thou wilt make all thy people as Kings and Priests, Kings are men, and men are Kings; And Souls have no sex; the hidden man of the heart, makes us capable of being Kings; for I have heard it is that within makes the man; then are we by election capable of as great a dignity as any mortall man; But thoughts of mortals! now Adieu; I will close the eyes of my Soul, to mortality, and will not open them but to eternity; seeing that by thy grace and faith in thee, thou hast made us partaker of thy divine nature, by thy assistance I will live by faith; I will no more

now see my self as mortall, but as an immortall King will I begin to live, that hidden man never dies, but when mine immortall King, that plac'st me in this King∣dome of felicity with him; shall see it fit time, he will raise me on a triumphant Chariot, compos'd of the wings of bright Angel, to his immortall Kingdome of Glory, where I shall reigne with him for all eternity, and never more desire to change. And as a Royall Priest must I be to thee; ever offering up the sweet incense of my praises to thy divine Majesty, for thy in∣finite mercies to me, thy unworthy servant.

The secure Pavillion.

MY God, Thy children need not now pray that those lips may be put to silence that speak grievous things against them; they have long since had a freind, and thou a servant, that sent up his petitions to thee for that, and as if he been ravisht with a present an∣swer from thee, he cryes out; O how great is thy good∣nesse, that thou hast laid up in store for them that fear thee, before the Sons of men, that would dishonour thy servants. And now he hath brought us so pleasing a message from thee, that it is no wonder if we with disregard slight those unsavory words which we hear. And now look here all you who shall any way slight or annoy his children, by your odd speeches; they are plac'st above your reach, for God will laide them in the secret of his presence, from the pride of men, he will keep them secretly in his Pavilion, from the strife of tongues, you may shoot, but your aime must be a∣bove your head, if you think to hit them, and when you have shot, your arrows cannot reach them, but they may light where you would not have them, on your own heads.

A Question.

MY God! What businesse on earth is worth detain∣ing a Soul from Heaven, that is prepar'd with de∣sire to come from earth, to live in heaven with thee.

Palmer! Why told you me, God hath something here remarkable for mee to doe, before I leave the earth; else could I have laid downe my head each night, with expectation of a mornings rise in heaven; now I doe lay it downe onely with a contenting joy, that I am his, and that when his will is done with me, or by me here; I shall then goe to possesse tha Heaven which onely can content the desire of my immortall Soul: Had you not told me so, I might have hop'd, that excessive joy, for the glory which I shall possesse, might have rais'd me to that blisse to which I doe a∣spire. My God, my Soul breaths after thee, and can∣not be satisfied, till she comes to a full possession of thee.

Lord, what on earth can there be done by mee, Worth keeping here, my longing Soul from thee.

Wings my Doves you have now obtain'd To flee to that Invincible Rock Where you may hide you safe In those Clifts of Security From your Malignant Enemies, Who may flee after you. And think to graspe you, And so to hurt you, But they cannot.

But you may without any gaul tell them; You are plac'd beyond their envies reach, And with that blest Apostle may say 'Tis a small matter for me to be judg'd By you, or of mans judgement The Lord is Judge of all; He judgeth me, and I Am safe under His powerfull Wings.