DIVINE POEMS.
BY EDMVND ELIS, Master of Arts, and Fellow of Baliol Colledge in Oxford.
Epist. ad 1 Cor. C. 3. V. 18.
[...].
LONDON, Printed by T. Lock for the use of the Author. MDCLIX.
TO THE READER.
READER,
DO not expect to have an account why I set forth these Poems again: If thou shalt like them, thou wilt not doubt but I had Reason sufficient to make them as publike as I could: If thou art one of those Vain Fellowes that scorn and deride them; to tell thee the reason I had for it, would be no other then to talk of [Page] Colours to a Blinde Man, or of Sounds to one that is Deaf. If any man wonder that l thus incurr the Censures of People, let him know, That if my Heart do not starngely deceive me, I would rather expose my self to the continual Aspersions of the Foulest Mouths; or be in danger of Death it self, then neglect any Opportunity of doing God such service, as J doubt not but I shall by my further Publication of these my Vn-worldly, and most Retir'd Imaginations; which, being composed in Meetre, will (I suppose) sute the better with the Genius of some, and be the apter to insinuate, and work themselves deep into the Memories of all that read them. And now Reader, if thou bee'st a CHRISTIAN indeed, I shall intreat [Page] thee by all the Love that thou owest to Him that was CRUCIFIED for thy sake, that thou wouldst Oppose with all thy Might, that Vain Spirit of Foolish Talking and Writing, which is gone abroad into the World to the great Dishonor of HIS Name; who has told us, that we shall give an account of every idle word. And here I cannot but Exclaim aloud (to Thee and all True CHRISTIANS) against some of M r. COWLEY's Verses; particularly that Part of his Book, which hee entitles THE MISTRESS; in which there are several Expressions so provoking to Speculative Lust and uncleanness, that I can't conceive how a CHRISTIAN, that casts his Eye on them, can think otherwise, then that the Author [Page] did either Forget that There is a GOD, or that 'tis Sinful to be Lascivious. What Prophaneness also is this Author guilty of, who uses these Sacred Words, HEAVEN, DEITY, DIVINE PRESENCE, FAITH, &c. to set forth his Dissolute, Amorous Conceptions: Let any man of Common Reason judge whether the Mindes of any Readers Vitiously inclin'd, (and such surely are all those that delight in those POEMS) be not as apt to be wholly Debauch't, and Corrupted, by a Work of this Nature, as those mens Bodies are to take Infection, when they are amongst sick folke, who are already dispos'd to the Disease. Alas! alas! Are not men apt enough of themselves to be Vain in their imaginations! Must the Froath [Page] and Vanity of wanton Mindes bee wrought up, and increased by the VVit and Studies of such Learned Persons; and those owning the Name of CHRISTIANS! O Tempora! O Mores! I know very well what an Heavy Burthen of Anger and Hatred J am like to Vndergo for VVriting thus against a Book so generally Applauded: But, whilst J Depend upon GOD, as J hope J shall ever do, J shall not sink under it. VVhenever J am Rail'd on, if J Hear not of it, 'tis Nothing to Me; if J do, 'tis the Object of My Patience, the Exercise whereof is the Delight of My Soul. As for such Censures as These, That I Envy Mr. COWLEY the Great Name Hee has of a POET, &c. My Answer is, l am so far from [Page] endeavouring to Detract from His Personal Reputation, that I shall openly confess, I should be more Impudent indeed, then many Virulent Tongues have Pronounced me, if I should not Acknowledge Him to be one of the most Learned, and Ingenious Persons, that ever J knew to have Written an English Verse. For my part, I confess, I had never the True Art of Poetry; I had once some Inclination towards it; which for want of Vse, I have now lost. As for those few Verses J have Printed, J have still the same Opinion of most of them, that J had at first: but some EPIGRAMS (J confess) J finde upon serious Consideration to be such (as to the Matter, with the Expression) that if any man Vpbraid mee with [Page] them, J shall be ready to say,
—Pudet haec opprobria nobis, &c.
Reader, Farewell: And Looke narrowly into what thou readest in these ensuing Leaves; which if thou dost, J doubt not but thou wilt find the Author such a one, as neither Courts thy Applause, nor Fears thy Censures.
Man that is born of a Woman, is of few dayes, and full of trouble,
Job 14. 1.
1.
OUR Time's still
Flying: and we all make hast
To Live our last.
We Come into the World to See't; and then
Go out agen.
We are born
Crying, and we spend our Breath
In
Sighs till Death.
Our Life is but a
Toyle: ere we can Trie
What course of Life is best, 'tis time to Die.
2.
The Merchant wasts himself with fretting Cares;
With Hopes and Feares:
And when his Baggs are fill'd, his
Last Day comes;
He leaves his Summes.
[Page 2] When he would joy in what his Pains have got▪
Straight he is not.
By all the Care wherein his Life is spent,
Perhaps he gets a
Costly Monument.
3.
The Scholar bends his Curious Thoughts to find
What is the
Mind.
He studies to Know
Good, but seldome Does
The
Good he Knowes.
Some
winding up their wit to an High Straine,
Have crackt their Braine.
He that's most Learned, onely comes to this,
To Know at last how Ignorant he is.
4.
The Ranting Gallant weares out Time and Cloathes,
To learn New Oathes:
He scorns to take
Affron's, but thinks it Brave
To be
Hell's Slave.
The Coontrey Farmer's thinking night and day
Of
Corn and
Hay.
But
Hawkes and
Houndes are for the better sort,
Who
lose their Time in Seeking of their Sport.
5.
In ev'ry Action, whatsoe're it is,
Something's amiss.
Or can't get
Heat.
Some
Bitterness still interrupts our Joyes,
Or Too much
Cloyes.
Our Choicest Comforts are
inlay'd with Fears;
And all our Pleasures Sprinkled o're with
Tears.
6.
Amid'st this
Trouble here's My Hope, that I
Shall shortly Die.
Our Time
Ore-cast with Sorrow soon Decaies,
Like Winter-Dayes.
W'are Pilgrims here on Earth: This is our VVay,
No Place of Stay.
The VVay's unpleasant: Come, Death, be My Friend;
And bring Me quickly to My
Journey's-End.
Preparation to the H. Communion.
1.
FArewell
Beloved Sins: I must be gone:
Nay, hold! I must!
Ah! how I Sigh, and Sob, and moane,
To leave each Lust!
I must not
Live so Loose, as heretofore:
My
Father Sayes that I shall
Play no more.
2.
He that made
Wint, and
Corne, would have us Dine
VVith Him to day:
VVhere we shall See our Soul's SUN
shine;
And hear Him Say,
Here take my
Flesh and
Blood; come
Drink and
Eate:
To get You BREAD what
Drops once did I
Sweate?
3.
But, oh Dear JESU, All my
Raiment's torn,
I dare not Come.
My Feet I have defil'd this Morn;
They'l
Foul thy Roome.
But Thee, LORD, I'le
put on: So Thou shalt be
The Wedding-Garment, Bridegroome, Feast
to Me.
That which I do, I allow not; for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I, Rom. 7. 15.
1.
MY
Mind keeps out the Host of SIN,
Sense lets 'em in:
I'th'
Phant'sie, as i'th'
Trojan Horse,
They Hide their
Force,
[Page 5] Till Opportunity they find
To
Sally, and Subdue the Mind.
2.
My
Childish Soul oft
Cries for what
It straight doth Hate.
My
Lusts, which Reason should Controul,
War 'gainst my
Soul;
And having got the Victory,
Rom. 7. 23▪
Bring me into Captivity.
3.
My Love
against My Will is hurl'd
Upon the World:
I See not
in the Dark. I know
Not what I Do,
When
Sin besets me; so
befool'd,
I hate to do even
what I would.
4.
O when shall my lost Soul Obtain
Her Selfe again▪
To Act Her own Hate, and Desire!
O Sacred FIRE!
Refine My Heart, and that it be
Kept
Pure, O LORD, I give it
Thee.
The SOUL's Lethargy, Or, No Sense of SIN.
1.
MY Soul Sin-smitten feels no Blow! Struck down
She's in a
Swoun!
Thus wrong'd, She can't Complain!
She lies
Astonied, can't Call on
The GOD of Her
Salvation,
To help her up again.
2.
I'm
Sick because I have no
Pain: My Sore,
That's now
Skinn'd ore,
Will
Putrify, I fear:
My Soul hath lost Her
Vital Heat,
True
Zeal: Her
Pulse gives ore to
Beat,
As if her
Death were near.
3.
Mine Eyes are ope to
Weep, not
See: My Mind
Untranc'd I find,
Pierc'd with a
Fiery Dart!
Ah! now I am Awak't again,
Fresh Sorrow gripes my Heart.
4.
Lo! Gracious JESU! lo! How
Sick am I!
How like to
Die!
Maim'd by the Host of
Hell!
Let but the
Prince of Darkness Flye
Before the Lustre of Thine Eye;
I'le View Thee, and be well.
Her House is the way to Hell, leading down to the Chambers of Death, Prov. 7. 27.
HER House is the (next) way to Hell,
Satan's
Strong-Hold: the Furies
Cell.
There's Venom in her Sweetest Breath:
Her Tempting Hair's the
Snare of Death.
The Flaming Beauty of Her Eyes
Is but the Devil's
Sacrifice.
Her looks are
Gaudy, but not
Fine:
Her Clearest Beauties
Blaze, not
Shine.
O go not after her! Refrain
From seeking that whose Loss is Gain.
Vain Joyes, like Shades, Fly, when
Embrac'd:
Such
Paint, when
Toucht, is straight
Defac'd.
Such
Sweets of Love let me Decline,
They are but
Poyson Drunk in
Wine.
Lusts sparkling Flame, to
Wild-Fire turns;
Such Boistrous Heat warms not, but
Burns.
Beware the
Siren when She
Sings:
Bees full of
Honey have their
Stings.
CHRIST's Death.
1.
THis day Prest with our Sins, the MOST HIGH
Fell.
Least he should
Feed on Us, Christ
Satiates Death
With his own
Bloud: Quenching the Flames of
Hell,
Enkindled by the
Fire of's Fathers Wrath.
To make Atonement for our Sins GOD Dies:
Our Jesus is GOD, Priest, and Sacrifice.
2.
Lo, how the hasty Jews cry
Crucifie!
Lo, how they judge the
Holy One to Death!
Whose Attribute is
Immortality!
Lo, how they murther Him who gave them Breath:
The
King of Glory suffers
Shame; and He
That Made the World is
Hang'd upon a
Tree.
3.
Lo, how they Naile unto the Cross His HANDS.
Who
Spans the Heavens! how his Feet they Pierce,
Who over
Hell and
Death Triumphant stands:
Whose boundless
Presence fills the
Universe!
How the ALMIGHTY ev'ry Varlet scorns;
Lo, He by whom
Kings Reign, is Crown'd with
Thorns.
4.
And now the Souldier with his Cruel Spear
Dares Pierce the Side of the blest
Prince of Peace:
His Torments are so great as
Man can bear,
The Angry
God-head will not make them less:
[Page 9] When he thought that
stood off, Grief fill'd his Heart:
Curst Sin! for which GOD and CHRIST seem'd to Part!
5.
He
Bow'd his head, on which so Heavy lay
The Sins of
Adam, and all
Adam's Seed;
Which by his
Death He did
Revive this Day;
To heal our wounded Souls his Limbs did
Bleed.
Lord, I believe, let me partaker be
Of Thy Deaths Power, that I may Live to Thee.
CHRIST'S RESURRECTION.
1.
OUR LORD is Risen; and the Powerful Grave
Holds him no longer; He hath made his way
Even through the
Gates of Death, that He might save
His Heav'nly Flesh from turning into Clay.
The
Grave knew not whom he had taken; when
He saw who 'twas, he let Him out agen.
2.
Upon this Day the SUN's Creator
Rose,
And the Eternal LIFE came from the Dead:
He that made Ours, did His blest Eyes Unclose,
And saw the Place where his own Corps were lay'd.
Death
Conquer'd thus, He lay'd his
Grave-Cloaths by,
As
Trophees of his Signal
Victory.
3.
I know not whether may more strange be thought,
For GOD to Die, or MAN to
Rise agen:
Our Holy JESUS made both True: He Fought
The
Lion Death even in the Grave, his
Den.
And thus he Enter'd the Strong Bounds of
Fate,
Not as
Led Captive, but to
Captivate.
4.
The
King of Terrors now has lost his Power,
And is become a Servant unto all,
Who will but imitate their SAVIOUR,
Who made a
Triumph of his
Funerall.
And now Hee's up, me thinks I hear him Say
To all that Die in Him,
Rise, come away.
Christ's ASCENTION.
1.
VVHo on the
Water Walk't, now Climbs the
Air;
And without
Dying, thus He
goes to Heaven:
Although His Habitation now be there,
Yet we on
Earth are not of Him bereaven.
He's like those
Lights which in the Skies appear,
Though there His
Body be, His
Raies are here.
2.
Now He's
Ascended up on high, lo, He
Gives us His Hand that we may get up too:
By Him our
Strength, we VValk, our
Light, we see:
He makes us Able, Shews us vvhat to Do.
[Page 13] To Heaven Hee's gone for us there to Provide.
Blest they whose GOD's their
Harbinger, and
Guide.
3.
Look up, My Soul, (and with blest
STEPHEN) See
Thy JESUS Standing on th'right hand of God.
And then think Earth too meane a Place for thee,
VVhom He Redeem'd with his most pretious Blood.
Sweet
JESU, Thou vvast pleas'd to
Buy me, Come,
(I'm not the
World's but
Thine) and Fetch Me
Home.
The Loyns of the Minde Girded: or An Holy Vow.
THere is a GOD! My Soul, how durst thou Stray!
Thou'lt
Meet His Vengeance if thou go this way!
Return! Return! lo, this
Path seems too
Broad:
Here
Many goe: the VVay to Heaven's no
Road.
My Soule, put on thy
Garments: Gird them fast:
'Twill make thee
Comely, thus to go
Straight-lac't.
And now I am
Resolv'd: in spight of
Hell,
And my
False Heart, I'le still strive to Do well.
In all my
Warfare I'le
Hold fast My
SHIELD.
Then Satan Do thy worst, Ile win the Field.
Sinful Dreams.
1.
THE
Prince of Darkness loves to Fight
Our Souls by
Night.
That Black
Old Serpent often Creeps
Ore one that Sleeps:
As Vipers often Crawle upon
Men Sleeping in the Shade at Noon.
2.
SIN (like a
Thiefe) comes in by Day
Some secret way,
And Lurks (Hid from True Reasons' Eye)
I'th' Phantasie,
'Till Sleep makes Us secure and quiet,
Then breaks forth, and Commits the Riot.
Come, My Dear GOD, and Lodge thou in My Breast,
That when My Body
Sleeps, My Soul may Rest.
The BACKSLIDERS Recantation; Or, A Farewel to the World.
1:
FAlse-hearted
World farewel! go to▪ I find
Thee too unkind:
[Page 13] I took thee for a Friend, did love to Play
With thee all day:
But thou didst
cog the Dice: I (to my shame)
Lost every Game:
Thy
Stakes were Pleasures, and deceitful Toys:
Mine were
True-coine, full weight, large, Solid Joys.
2.
Now thou hast got all that I had, I see,
Thou slightest mee.
Thou wast wont to embrace me kindly; and
Give me thy Hand.
With many promises of Love, but Lo!
Thou art my Fo!
Though all my Serious Thoughts (good Company)
(Fool that I was!) I left to follow Thee.
3.
But I'le Return to Them again: I'le rome
No more from
Home:
The Mind that
Staies within shall ne're complain
Of
Wind or
Rain,
Of Care or Grief: for
Storms shake onely Breasts
That seek their Rests
Without doors, where is nought but Toile; as though
To be kept warm, they'de lie on
Beds of
Snow:
4.
Great God! I leave the
World, and come To Thee:
Open to Mee.
I
Knock! O let me
Find thy
Throne of Grace,
I
Seek thy Face!
[Page 16] I'le
Dye to sin, put off My self, and then
Be Born agen.
Christ's
Bloud shall be my
Life. The WORD (that can
Call up the Dead) is
Breath to the
New Man.
I am a sinful Man!
1.
BAd Thoughts, like Swarms of
Flyes infest
My
Corrupt Brest!
Each
Op'ning of my heart lets in
Some
Treach'rous Sin!
My best
Intents are Pale, and wan
Like the
Old Man!
And thus my wretched Mind is still
Remiss to Good, or
Bent to Ill.
2.
These are my
Hidden Sins: but oh!
They quickly grow
To
Outward Acts: Vain Words and Deeds
Spring from these
Seeds.
VVith these
Materia's Satan tries
To
Build up
Vice.
VVhich is the
Storehouse of all Sin:
Our Adversaries Magazine.
3.
Pluck out the Serpent ere it
Wind
Into thy Mind:
[Page 15] A Vitious Temper's Sin, all ore
A
Putrid Sore;
From which, Streams of
Corruption
Do daylie Run;
Physician search my Heart, and see
What Kind of
Sore thus troubles Mee.
4.
All my Diseases,
LORD, discry:
Thy Blessed Eye
Heals all thou Com'st to See; whose
Beams
Will dry the Streams
Of these
Ill Humours, and dispell
The Mists of Hell:
The Dark Fumes of all Fond Desires,
Smoak rising up from
Lustfull Fires.
5.
I must confess, I have long bin
The
Slave of
Sin.
But
Righteous Judge, now set me
Free,
And Ile
Serve Thee:
I have
Rebell'd, I have withstood
My King my God!
But
LORD that
Bill, which
Justice brings to thee,
Blot with the
Blood which thou didst shed for mee.
A Foule Morning; or, The Young Converts Doubts, &c. Help thou mine Unbelief. Mark 9. 24.
HElp Master of my Faith! I'm forc'd to Winke
At this Bright Truth! in these great Depths I Sink!
O! 'tis beyond my reach, I cannot Tread:
Nor can I
Swimme unless thou
Hold my Head!
My Reason's at a
stand! Thus are
Thy Wayes
Past finding out! How
Dazling are Thy
Rayes
(O
SUN of RIGHTEOUSNESS) to Humane Sight?
Like Thy Great Convert, I can't
See for
Light!
Thou
Shin'dst about me, and I straight was
Blinde!
On Thee I thought, and straight I lost my Minde!
Stretcht out to compass Thy Vast Truths, it broke!
My
Hot Zeal Flash't, and so it turn'd to
Smoke!
My Joyes are chang'd to
Doubts and
Fears, which roul
Like stormy Billowes in my
Wav'ring Soul!
Shine forth my SUN▪ amidst these
Showers of Tears,
Let thy
Clear Beams pierce through these
Clouds of Fears!
Shew me Thy Hidden Manna! Angels Food!
I long to
Tast and
See that thou art Good?
I'm Come to See Thee LORD, though Vile, and Poor,
O let me in! Ile die else at thy Door!
Nemo repente fuit turpissimus.
ARs
Magni Sceleris Gradus requirit:
Hujus nec citò fit
Magister Artis.
Tardè provehitur Nefas, Malorum
Quicquid
Ponderibus suis gravatur.
[Page 17] ANGUIST artarei Propage
repit,
N
[...] vellet rapidos movere gressus.
Nè Mentem
vitio exci
[...]et *
Stupentem
Sic L
[...]ntè Sc
[...]eris Venena Peraunt
Humanas Animas: Premunt
(que) laesas
Crudis Vulneribus,
Lev
[...]s dolores.
GReat Sins don't
Leap, but
Creep into the Heart:
No man can straight be Master o'th'
Black Art.
Those Evills go on
Slowly to their Height,
Which carry with them a more Pondrous
weight,
Th'
Old Serpent's off-spring never use to
Run,
Temptations come on Softly: Men would shun
Their
Fierce Approach. Thus Vice
Soul-poyson's known
Seldome to have quick
Operation.
Thus as in
Body, so in
Mind tis true;
The
Grief's but little, whilst the
VVound is
New.
Interioris Hominis Suspiria. Video aliam legem in Membris meis, &c.
ME Miserum? Variis torquentur Pectora Votis:]
Distrah
[...]t Affectus
Lex ea
Dupla meos!
Sic
Divisa capit
geminum Mens aegra Dolorem
Lex poscit
poenas utra
(que) laesa suas!
Servulus
infoelix Peccati Vapulo! Flagris
(Heu miser!) Infestis
Oscula saepe dedi.
Sc
[...]cet ingratum temerè sinus accipit
ANGUEM;
Auro
splendenti nigra Venena bibo:
Deliciis Premo
[...] ipse meis: scelerísque nefandi
(Blandulus hic Ignis!) Lambit & Urit
amor!
Eheu!
Captivum mea me
trahit us
(que)
voluptas!
Excruciant animum Gaudia prava meum!
Hostas & ipse mihi, Victus, Captus
(que) Triumph
[...]
Ingemit at
spoliis mens mea sana suis!
Ut mea sanentur, Tu Mihi redde Tua!
Corda Tuo
mundes proprio
foedata Cruore!
Tu mihi da
Pacem, Ms Deus, ipse tuam!
I see another Law in my members, warring against the Law of my mind, &c. Rom. 7. 23.
VVRetch that I am! My Wishes are my Pain,
Two
Laws so different rend my Heart in twain!
My Heart
Divided Bleeds in either part!
Offending either
Law I'm sure to
Smart!
Inslav'd to sin I'm forc'd to bear this Yoke,
I
Kiss the Rod ev'n whilst I feel the
stroak!
Th' ungrateful SERPENT in my brest I warm!
How I quaff Poyson! and embrace my harm!
My
Pleasure is my
Trouble; and the
Heat
Of Fond Desire what is't but a
cold Sweat?
Alas! I'm taken with the baits of SIN!
Those
corrupt joys but feed the
Worm within!
I
Triumph when my heart me
Pris'ner takes:
My mind is griev'd thus at the
spoyle it makes!
O JESU! for me
wounded, see My Wound!
Give me thy
Bruises that I may be
sound!
With thy
Blood wash my
Heart in
Bloud Imbrude!
Give me that
Peace which may this
War conclude!
Wherewithall shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy Word, Psal. 119. 9
HArken young men, and here you may
Find out a clean and safer Way.
[Page 19] If you go there,
Fall sure you will:
For
Filthy ways are
Slipp'ry still.
Be but
Schoold by God's
Law, and then
You'l nere Run in the
Dirt agen:
You'l
Wash your
Garments in the
Bloud
O'th' Prince of Peace,
the Lamb of God.
Out of this
Wilderness of Sin
These
Crooked Ways, which now y' are in,
Gods Word, that
Fiery Pillar can,
If Follow'd, lead to
Canaan.
This is the
Star, which in the
Night
Of Sin and Death, will give you
Light:
Tis onely This, Young men, can tell
How to avoid the
Gates of Hell.
Eye well this
Lamp, this
Leading Fire,
'Twill bring you quite out of the
Mire:
If you go on, and wont beware,
You'l surely
Sink, and Perish there.
BACKSLIDING. I have sinned!
THese Offerings of Uncleanness Foul
That Glorious IMAGE in my soul,
The
Picture of my LORD, which he
(Lim'd in his Blood) once gave to Me!
These Works of Darkness do
Benight
My Inward man, that
walkt in Light.
But now (alas!) I go astray!
'Tis
Dark: I cannot see the WAY!
The Comforts once I had, are gone;
As if the Holy DOVE were Flown.
She loves
VVhite-houses; stayes not in
A House of Clay,
Defil'd with Sin:
But sure she Hovers ore my Brest;
Like Birds that find a
Snake i'th'
Nest.
The DOVE vvill come again, no doubt,
VVhene're the SERPENT is throvvn out.
O LORD,
Restore to me thy Grace!
I hope Thou didst but
Hide thy Face.
O JESU! do but
Look on Me,
Like Peter
I'le VVeep bitterlie!
By thy Bright Face shew me my Stain,
Ile pour forth Tears to wash it clean.
I hope the DAY will come again anon:
The SUN of RIGHTEOUSNES is Set, not Gone.
INCONSTANCY.
1.
AH me! how soon my Soul
takes VVing and Flies
At ev'ry thing she spies,
Some
Impress ev'ry Object makes upon
My
Soft Affection.
Sometimes I Relish
Heavenly Manna, then
I lose my Tast, and turn to Husks agen.
2.
The
Dainties of this World I'd fain enjoy,
But
Tasted, straight they
Cloy.
Sometimes
Good Conscience bids me be a Guest
At her
Continual Feast:
VVith her I find Content; but straight I'm gone,
Call'd out to Speak with some Temptation.
3.
Satan
Bewtiches me: I cannot
Stirre,
Though I'm
Uneasie here.
I know 'tis pleasant to do well, but still
I covet to do ill.
My Actions are Themselves the Pain they merit;
My Thoughts are all
Vexation of Spirit.
O my BELOVED, that my soul might be
More Constant unto Thee▪
O that my Brest had
Vestal Flames! that I
Might love
Continually:
Lord
open thou mine Eyes, that I may see
Thy Glorious Face, Ile look on nought but Thee.
Peccatum Redivivum: Or, The Rebellion of a Conquer'd Lust.
THis
Sore breaks out agen! shall Death and Hell
Be still in hopes! And shall I ne're be well?
Thus some at their
Uprising Die; some may
Like
Judas, at Christ's Table
Fall away.
O LORD, put forth thy Hand: O GOD, make hast
To help me, or I shall
Fall back at last.
Lo, JESU, how I
bleed afresh! Lo, I,
Unless Thou Close my wounds, shall Faint, and Dyel▪
My
Sense begins to fail: my
Heart is grown
So Cold (O Lord) as
Ice, so Hard as
Stone:
Which with a
Coale from off thine
Altar Thavv,
And
Unbenumme, that it may
Feel thy Lavv;
That by its
Stroakes I may be vvak't from Sin,
That novv I may be griev'd for vvhat I've bin.
Thus vvith thy
Physick, Lord, recover me,
That I may have an Appetite to thee,
VVho art the
Bread of life. O let me cease
To
long for that vvhich feeds but the Disease.
Tis onely Thou, my God, canst make me vvhole!
Tis onely Thou canst cure my Dying Soul!
Refresh me (O let me not be deny'd!)
Even vvith that
VVater vvhich came from thy Side.
A Dialogue between a Carnal Man, and a Penitent Sinner.
1.
COme, leave these Melancholly Fits:
They'l put thee quite out of thy Wits.
When thou art Old, thou mayst have leisure
To Grieve: now take thy fill of pleasure.
Let
Bacchus, and sweet
Venus too
With their Fresh Garlands Crown thy
Brow.
That it may be kept Smooth and Fair,
That Sorrow make no
Wrinkles there.
In Mirth pass all this time away:
Come don't make
Winter of thy
May.
Now whilst it is thy Ages
Spring,
Thou shouldst learn with the
Birds to
Sing:
Reserve thy Tears, and Sighs and Groans,
For Old dim Eyes, and Aking Bones.
2.
My Sadness is no Melancholly:
I'm then most
Merry, when least
Jolly.
My Pleasure is to Grieve for Sin:
Hence 'tis that I so soon begin.
Besides, My friend, we seldom see
A Crooked Plant,
prove a straight Tree.
Ile not obey that
Ranting God,
Which makes men
Stutter, Reel, and
Nod.
Fond
Venus Bird (I dread such Love)
Looks like a
Vulture, not a
Dove.
If of Her Fire one Spark appear,
Ile Quench it with a Pious Tear.
Now is my Ages Spring I know;
Now is the Time for Grace to
Grow.
When Age with Pain shall fill my Bones,
And turn my shortned Breath to Groans.
Ile think it but an
Aking Head,
And straight I shall be call'd to
Bed.
1. Go, Zelot:
Christian Liberty
Allows us all to be more
Free:
The way to Heaven is broader, then
'Tis said to be by
Pulpit-men.
Those Black Coats are meer
Rocks, they tell
Strange Stories of the
Devil and
Hell,
They, say so many go astray,
'Cause they'd be Hir'd to shew the way:
Those
Big-words which they throw about,
Are onely fit to Scare the Rout.
I'le Care not what
Precisians say,
But Swallow all the joyes I may.
2. My Friend, True
Christian Liberty
Wo'nt make us
Loose, though't make us
Free.
VVe are not bound vvith any
Chain:
VV'are
Girt for
Ornament, not
Pain.
VVe may
VValk, but we must not
Stray:
VV'are onely
Bound to keep our VVay.
The
Liberty, you boast, is none,
But to
Run to Destruction.
VVhilst you abhor to be
Precise,
And
Gallop in the
Road of Vice,
You
Laugh, like
Mad men in your Pains:
And love the
Chinking of your
Chains.
Beware of speaking ill of Those,
VVho
Hidden Manna do disclose:
Who Handle
the Two-Edged Sword,
Even the ALMIGHTY's Powerful Word;
Which if it
Search not, to make Sound,
Will give you an Eternal
Wound.
1. What
Countrey-parson told thee so?
VVhy speakst thou what thou dost not know?
VVho knowes but when our Bodies Die,
Our Souls Die too? therefore will I
The Pleasures of this VVorld to VVin,
Nere stick at that, vvhich Fools call Sin.
2. That is, Thou art Resolv'd to be
Thine ovvn Soul's
Mortall Enemie.
What thou callst
Pleasure, is but
Baite:
Thus thou
lov'st Death, and hug'st thy
Fate.
Those
Comforts, vvhich in Sin vve find,
At first
Embrace, then
Stab the Mind.
When Svvarmes of Thoughts buz in thy Brain,
When thy Head's full of Cares and Pain;
When thou liest Tossing on thy Bed,
Then think of Me, and vvhat I've said.
To All those that Name the Name of CHRIST.
Ah! Love that JESUS, who once Die'd for You:
And, if you Love Him, what He Bids You, Do.
Qui Vitam
posuit pro Te, Tu Dilige CHRISTUM:
DILECTI semper Fac quo
(que) Jussa Tui.
[...],
[...].
O that my wayes were directed to keep thy statutes, Ps. 119. 5.
1.
O That I could
stand firm at last;
And not be reeling to, and fro!
O that J could My GOD
Hold Fast,
And never, never
let Him go!
2.
How often do J
go astray,
And leave my
Rest, my wonted Bliss!
Like a
Lost Sheep in the
High VVay,
Which
Dangerous and
Barren is.
3.
J have no Pleasure in my Sin,
And yet J Act it o're and o're!
J'me still the same that J have bin,
Though fain I would be so no more!
4.
J long to
Keep the Law of GOD,
But still J
Break it to my Pain!
My
Stomack serves to take that
Food,
But straight J
cast it up again.
5.
My GOD! O take me unto Thee,
With
Fire-Hot Zeal
Melt Thou my Heart;
That now I may
New-Moulded bee,
And made
sound in my
Better Part.
6.
LORD,
Lead me by thy Grace, that I
May never
Wander from
Thee more:
Thou art My LIFE, I cannot
Die:
Thou art My
All; I can't be
Poor.
FINIS.