BOCHIM.
Sighs poured out by some troubled Hearts, and tendred towards continuing the precious savour of the good Name of the late worthy Man of God,
JOHN VERNON, who having faithfully served his Generation, and finished his Testimony, by the Will of God, fell asleep the
twenty ninth day of the
third Month, 1667.
An ACROSTICK.
IEHOVAH, Lord, Oh what's the cause that thou
On
Sions back such furrows deep do'st plow?
Here hast thou smote her sore, this wound is deep,
Now in disposing thy dear
JOHN to sleep.
VERNON that Son of Oyl, renowned Plant;
Eliah's Spirit had; that royal Saint.
Right for thee kept by grace throughout his day,
Now in his flowred strength hast call'd away.
On Willow Trees Saints Harps do hang this day.
Now nought but tears; sweet Lord then hast away.
AN ELEGY.
IS
VERNON also gone? what, after
Glass?
Call for the mourning women, say alas,
Who ever can this loss and breach repair,
For Souls and Bodies who like him shall care?
To both (as
LƲKE) he was belov'd
Physitian,
And made for sin his closest
Inquisition.
He cloth'd the naked, and the poor he fed;
This man of bowels death hath captive led.
In Worship he abhor'd humane invention,
And so was thought a man of great contention▪
(In Church and State) against Apostates all,
(Both Beast and Whore) he had a holy Gall.
For which he was depriv'd, vext, and opprest;
But now is slipt aside, hid and at rest.
And though,
Eliah like, he had some passion,
He did excel in bowels of compassion.
For he to build an house his stock did spend,
(Not for himself) but
Sion to befriend.
Breach upon breach; Ah what is Gods intent?
To smite our Shepherds thus! What sin is meant?
What duty, or what lesson is expected?
Let (by a double spirit) be effected;
His empty place and Family supply,
His Friends support, and fit us all to die.
A SOLILOQUIE.
Psalm. 77.6.
‘I call to remembrance my Song in the Night. I commune with my own Heart, and my Spirit made diligent search.’
WHat ails thee, my poor grieved mind,
That thou liest lingering thus behind?
As listless to attend the Hearse
Of thy choice Friend with mournful verse?
Others dexterity should be
An argument to quicken thee.
Nay importunities should move,
Besides thine own constraints of love:
Shake off dull melancholy then,
Handle the readie VVriters Pen.
Alas, nor heart, nor hand is strong,
To utter a becoming Song;
'Tis irk some work, (my friends may think)
While gall and vinegar I drink;
While evidently all may see
God writes those bitter things to me;
Puts me to silence with disgrace,
Shuts out my cry, spits in my face.
It seems improper, such a time,
To speak heart-breaking thoughts in Rhime.
'Tis true, if any should advise,
Thy putting forth in wonted guise;
To deck the Tombs, or spread the praise,
Of men debauched all their dayes.
In Righteousness thou should'st decline,
The offering any help of thine.
But here is nothing else design'd,
Then bring to light, and keep in mind,
The Grace that did a Worm engage,
To be Gods Witness in his Age.
In a great strait indeed am I,
'Tis hard to grant, hard to deny;
My willing mind would shew regard,
My sinful heart and hand retard.
I would attempt, but then I fear,
I Grace shall rather cloud then clear:
However I can do no less,
Then shew what thoughts my mind impress;
Set forth his worth to Friends and Foes,
Exhort this Age, and therewith close.
JOHN VERNON, Anag.
In Nue Honor.
For Christ was hunted, griev'd, disgrac'd;
With Christ is
In New Honor plac'd.
I.
2
Chron. 35.25
Am. 5.16.8, 9.
Jer. 9.17, 18, 20, 21.
Lam. 2.18. ch. 5.14,
to 18
COme
Sions Mourners, men of holy skill,For lamentation in the Ashes lie;
Come skilful mourning Women, weep your fill,
Take up a wailing, help to raise the cry.
Till from our eyes, like Rivers, tears run down,
Though
in nue honour, we have lost our Crown.
II.
Mat. 24.12. 2
Tim. 3.12, 13
Rev. 22.11.
Joel 3.13.
Mat 23.32.
Psal. 56.8, 9.
Iniquities do more and more abound,They that were filthy, will be filthy still.
Heaven daring sins without controle are found;
With wickedness how doth the Ephah fill!
Saints! fill your Bottle with repenting tears,
Then
in nue honor quickly God appears.
III.
Isa. 5.18,
to 25 Ch 9.8,
to end. 1
Cor. 3.13.
Hag. 2.6, 7, 21.
Heb. 12.26, 27
A fixed Series of rebukes a late,Like Wave on Wave, discovers dirt and mire,
In Persons, Families, in Church and State,
No stone in
Sion but is tried by fire.
All old Creation things with trembling mixt,
Nought stands but what is
in nue honor fixt.
IV.
Isa. 57.1. 2
Kin. 22.19, 20
Mic. 7.1, 2.
Ezek. 24.16, 17, 21, 22, 23.
'Mongst other warnings of a dreadful dayApproaching on the remnant that are left;
The Righteous fail, the best men caught away;
Of sence and feeling seem the rest bereft,
How swift the ruines of this old World haste,
Whilst
in nue honor Saints so swift are plac'd.
V.
2
Kings 2.11. 2
King.
[...], 17.
Isa. 68.17.
Luke 16.22 Mat. 24.21. Heb. 1.14. 2
Sam. 1.26, 27
Amid these troops of fiery Chariots prest,The Royal Offspring home to bring with speed;
My heart is pain'd to undergoe the rest,
Of parting with this
Israelite indeed.
Yet when I think how many are debasing,
I durst not grudge him
in nue honor placing.
VI.
2
Kin. 21.9.12 1
Kings 18.17. Chap. 21.20. 1
Cor. 4.3.
John 12.26.
But who in such a stormy Wind can partWith such a Father, such a Friend indeed,
And not cry out in bitterness of heart,
A double share I of thy Spirit need?
Though carnal
Israel, Israels troubler calls thee,
Yet
in nue honor Israels God enstalls thee.
VII.
2
Kings 2.12. Chap. 13.14.
Zach. 12.5.
Jer. 29.21.
Am. 5.10. 1
K. 22.8.
Rev. 11.8, 9, 10, 11.
Poor
England little thinks, doth less bewailIts Chariots and best Horse-men troop away;
When Witnesses and loud Reprovers fail,
Our grand tormenters are dispach't, say they,
In open streets expos'd to scorn such lie,
Ere
in nue honor they be rais'd on high.
VIII.
Psalm. 68.13.
Jer. 8.28.
Lam. 1.2. Cb. 2.10, 4, 5.
Job 16.16.
Isa 25.8, 9.
What though (dear Soul) thy worth hath not appear'd,But black among the Pot-sherds thou hast lien,
Thy vilage mar'd, thy beauty been besmear'd,
By mingling
Sions Dust with tears of thine.
That du
[...] is wash't, those tears are wip'd away,
Since
in nue honor thou are call'd to stay.
IX.
Heb. 11.38.
Am. 7.10.
Gal. 2.5, 6.
Jer. 6.27, 28.
Ezek. 26.3, 7.8
Mark 8.38.
Earth was not worthy of thee, could not bear thee,Prophane, and loose Professors far'd alike;
Thy words and walks did make them fret or fear thee,
'Gainst those defilements thou wert bent to strike.
In base compliances thou dread'st to bow,
Wert then in shame, art
in nue honor now.
X.
Acts 8.2, 9, 39.
Job 29.12.
to 17
Job 31.16.
to 22
M
[...] 25.37.
to 40 2
Tim. 1.16,
&c Phil. 2.20, 21,
Ah what a troop of weepers I discry,Of Widows, Fatherless, Sick, Prisoners sad,
Poor, Exiles, Desolate, condemn'd to die,
Shewing how they by thee were chear'd and clad.
Our loss, weep they, will scarce repaired be,
Till
in nue honor we meet Christ with thee.
XI.
Zac. 11.4, 5. 2
Cor. 12.29.
Job 2.11, 12, 13.
Psal. 39.9.
Mich. 7.9.
Iob 34.31, 32.
Among the flock of Slaughter, clad with dust,Through sympathy in Spirit oft am I;
But with
Job's Comforters sit mute I must,
Since grief amounts to such extremity.
His indignation, having sin'd, let's bear,
Till
in nue honor he our breach repair.
XII.
Ezek. 9.4.
Isa. 66.5.
Job 16.19, 20.
Ezek. 11.15.
Zach. 11.5.
Chap. 3 8, 9.
A trembling remnant 'mongst the rest I spy,Of Mourners mark'd and seal'd in front and hands;
Whom carnal Brethren casting out, do cry,
Where's now your God? our mount unshaken stands.
But to their shame he will appear at last,
When
in nue honor are markt Mourners plac'd.
XIII.
Iam. 1.27.
Jer. 49.11.
Ps. 107.41, 42.
Ps. 37.25, 26.
Psal. 68.5, 6.
Isa. 54.5, 6, 7.
For his blest chastned Houshold, left with God,The pregnant Widow, and her hopeful Seed.
Friends, Servants, Sojourners, that feel this Rod,
My flesh doth tremble, and my heart doth bleed.
Through right to Christ, yet raised from the dead,
Ye
in nue honor have a better head.
XIV.
Psa. 1 37.2, 4.
Prov. 25.20.
Job. 4.2, 3, 4, 5
Chap. 16.2.
Ps. 97.11, 12.
Cant. 4 6.
Among these mourners should I strive to sing,Like Vinegar on Nitre it would seem;
If to their sorrows I more weight should bring,
A woful Comforter they'l me esteem.
Haste to thy Mountain (Soul) with mourning Wings,
Till
in nue honor light from darkness springs.
XV.
Deut. 32.28, 29
Prov. 1.22.
Numb. 32, 23.
Luke 19.40.
Isa. 66.15.
Luk. 14.31, 32.
But ah poor sinners! When will ye be wise?They'r gone, who did disturb your carnal peace.
But sins abiding, stones shall cry, and rise,
Rather then Gods contest with you shall cease.
With flames his controversie he'l renew
If
in nue honor ye no right pursue.
XVI.
Psalm. 74.9: 2
Chr. 36.15, 16
Isa. 42.14, 15, 16
Luke 21.25, 26
Joel. 3.16.
Zach. 9.11, 12.
His Prophets he no longer now imploies,His slighted, scorn'd Ambassadors, withdraws;
But with Heav'n-shaking, earth afrighting noise,
As if seven Thunders spake, he pleads his cause.
Stout sinners! gird your loyns, decision's nigh;
Saints! to your Fortress,
in nue honor fly.
XVII.
Mat. 11.23, 24
Neh. 9.17.
Jer. 23.9, 10.11
Isa. 57.9, 10.
Prov. 1.23:
Dan. 4.27.
Backsliding
England, once professing high,Now turning
Egypt-ward in spight of wrath;
Thy Oaths, base crouchings, deep Apostacie,
To sins and vengeance flood-gates opened hath.
Turn, turn at Gods reproof, break off thy sin,
Else ne're expect
nue honor stepping
in.
XVIII.
Ez. 10.2:
Isa. 25.4. 2
Tim. 4.16, 17
Ps. 32.8, 73, 24
Isa. 51, 14, 16.
Yet hope's in
Israel still, though flesh hath none;A shelter from the storm have Saints provided,
When desolate expos'd, lest most alone,
They by Gods Eye and Counsel shall be guided:
When desolations at their height begin,
Such earth-quakes usher their
nue honors in.
XIX.
Isa. 35.30 4.
Luke 21.28.
Josh. 7.10.
Joel. 2.17.
Numb. 16.47.
Joel 2.14.
Then mourning, trembling, Sionist's attend,Though heart & hand grow faint, lift up your head.
The Achan search, the breach and gap defend,
'Twixt Porch and Altar stand, 'twixt quick & dead.
Peace may be made (perhaps) a pardon had,
And plowed Sion
in nue honor clad.
XX.
Num. 14.22, 23
Ez. 14.13.
to 21
Zep. 2.2, 3.
Luke 19.42.
Isa. 49.4, 5.
Mic. 5.5.
Nay though this Age must needs be swept away,That
Noah's, Daniel's, Job's, find no regard;
Decrees be seal'd, and men have lost their day,
Yet shall your faithful work have full reward.
Th'
Assyrians floods your peace shall not annoy,
Ye
in nue honor shall your God enjoy.
A. C.
An ANAGRAM and ELEGY, on his dear deceased Friend,
John Vernon.
JOHN VERNON, Anagram,
VINE ON HORN.
How,
Vine on Horn? these things do not agree
In course of nature; pray you let us see
How spiritualized they together stand,
To answer here unto our case in hand.
Isa. 5.1, 2.
Jer. 2.21.
Psalm. 60.15.
Luke 1.69.
Rom. 11.17, 24. & 6.5.
Joh. 12.28, 29.
Psa. 18.2.
P. 92.10.
Jo. 17.10.
Rom. 8,9 1
John 2.3.
Isa. 26.4.
Psal. 138.8.
Isa. 35.10.
SAints God calls
Vines,and CHRIST is call'd a
Horn,On which all Saints are planted, can't be torn
From him again, though they be weak as
Vine.
This
Horn supports, supplies, says, these are mine;
And shall yet more be known, as his at length,
Because this Horn has everlasting strength,
To bring all things to pass to them belongs,
And fill their mouth's with everlasting Songs.
Jer. 2, 21.
Psal. 92.10, 23, 5. 1
John 2.27. 2
Cor. 3.5, 6.
Gen. 49.22. Ps. 92.12, 13, 14.
Hos. 14.5.6
Gen. 40.23.
Psal. 64.4.
Psal. 109.31.
Acts 7.9.
Psalm. 56.1, 2, 5, 6.
Psalm. 41.5, 6, 7, 9. with 55.12, 13, 14.
Psalm. 35.12.
Jer. 13.16, 17.
But ah, this Vine's cut down, this noble Vine,That fresh Oyl from this Horn did make to shine;
With which he was indeed so well annointed,
As made him meet for what he was appointed;
A fruitful bough he was, by Well and Wall,
Which did supply, support, made him grow tall.
The Archers sorely shot, did hate, and grieve
His tender Soul, but God did him relieve.
How many shock's from sinners, and from Saints
Did he sustain, producing sad complaints
To God his God, when men would not regard,
But all his love and labour ill reward.
His Soul did mourn in secret for such pride
John 7.37.
Phil. 2.21. 2
Tim. 3.5. 1
Pet. 1.4.
Isa. 24.5.14.57.9.
Jer. 2.23.
Mal. 3.7.
Jer. 9.1, 8, 21.
Ezek. 21.6 9.4.
He found with many long before he di'd;To see a worldly, formal, selfish spirit,
'Mongst men professing Heaven to inherit.
Defilements deep, declining, and debasing;
Facings about, and yet in all out-facing;
Such gashings made our tender Vine to weep,
Sigh, sorrow, deeply, till he fell a sleep.
Isa. 22.12.
Jer, 9.17.
Ezek. 21.3, 4.
Joel 3.16.
Psalm. 42.7.
Psalm. 88.7.
Mourn
Sions Saints, oh mourn and weep full sore,Our Vine's cut down, God doth in
Sion roar:
Oh, what's the cause, deep calls thus unto deep?
And all his Billows over us do creep?
Death's of the choisest Saints, like mighty Waves
Luke 16.30. 1
Cor. 11.30.
Rowl on upon us, calling to the Graves,To hear from thence what dead to living say,
Who tell us why they could no longer stay.
Heb. 11.4.
Though dead, yet speak they do, and we must hearSome sad things from them, yet, I greatly fear.
Psalm. 8.8. 1
Tim. 4.6. 1
Cor. 3.17.
Psal. 23.1, 2.
Rev. 7.17. 2
Cor. 6.2, 3.
Isa. 5.1, 2.
Mic. 4.4.
Ezek. 14.23, 24, 16.
Dear Congregation, when this Vine did flourish,Do you consider God made him to nourish,
Succour, support, with wholesom food to feed you,
And by the streams of living Waters lead you;
Ah, did you prize, improve this precious time,
When God thus set you under your own Vine;
What means a first, a second, and a third,
Mic. 6.9.
Jer. 8.6.
So soon snach't from you, search, is there no wordFrom God, of sin, nor duty that you hear?
Oh speak aright, as persons in his fear.
Jer. 9.17.
Lam. 5.15.
Acts 4.36.
Job 29.16.
v. 11.2.25.
Phil. 2.20. 2
Cor. 11.28.
Luke 10.36, 37.
Psalm. 37.21, 26.
Isa. 32.8.
Let Widdows, Orphans, all distress'd ones joynIn this sad Lamentation, for the Vine,
Who so refresh'd bowels disconsolate,
Sought out, and succour'd them at such a rate;
As few like minded left, so truly caring,
Pains, Purse, and Person, he so little sparing,
To Bodies, Souls of many to do good,
He did devise, and by devising, stood.
2
Chron. 34.27.
Eph. 4.32
Rev. 2.2.
Psal. 119.138. 2
Pet. 2.8.
Jer. 9.30.
Let differing Brethren also bear a part,From whom he did with-draw; Alas his heart
Being truly tender, could not bear to see
Defilements rise unto such high degree;
Such cowardize, not valour for the Truth,
Hath been his Souls great burthen from his youth.
Admit in some part here he might be weak,
Isa. 5.17.
Isa. 52.15.
Jude 15.
Job 42.7. 1
Cor. 4.3, 4, 5.
He was a man; but oh when God shall speak,And you shall hear, he'l make you understand,
That your hard speeches crossed his Command;
And that you spake not of his Vine aright,
As you may think you have, whilst it is night.
Luke 23.31. 2
Chron. 34.27, 28.
Mal. 3.3.
Prov. 25.4.
Isa. 1.25.
Jer. 6.28, 29.
Acts 13.41.
Ps. 5.12.
Isa. 31.7.
Isa. 2.18.
Rom. 11.18.
Hos. 14.8.
Isa. 19.1. 1
Pet. 4.17.
Jer. 29.12, 13. 1
Cor. 3.12. 1
Pet. 2.4, 5, 6.
Deut 32.39. 1
Sam. 2.6.
Heb. 13.8.
Mal. 3.6.
Heb. 1.11, 12.
Job 1.21.
Let's all consider, look about, and see,What God, our God hath done to this green Tree!
And fear, and tremble, more remains behind
Of Fire, and Fullers-soap, whereby refin'd
Must be such rusty Vessels, yet remaining,
As we are under all, so little gaining.
Let's all take heed of slighting or despising,
Unduely setting up, or idolizing
Most fruitful Boughs; it is the Horn that bears,
And for abusings, every way thus tears,
And rends, and goes away unto his place,
Till sence of guilt shall make us seek his face;
He bears the Building, he must wear the Crown,
It is his right to raise up and cast down:
He changeth not, abideth still the same,
In all our changes, praise his holy Name.
W. A.