[Page]A MITE from Three MOURNERS: In MEMORIAL of THOMAS GLASS, a Pattern of Faith and Patience in the Churches, naturally caring for their state, who died in the Lord, the 30th day of the Seventh Month, 1666. being the same day twelve-month that the beloved John Wiggan (his Fellow-Labourer, and Witness to the Cause of Christ) was taken from the evil to come.
AN ACROSTICK.
The Glass that ran so well, is now run out:
Hark slumbring Virgins, hark to know the reason!
O haste to trim your Lamps; look well about:
Many are foolish, and will slip their season.
Amazing Midnights Cry, is sure at hand;
Such as have Oyl in Vessels with their Lamps,
Mat. 25.
Go meet him as your Bridegrooms chosen Band;
Lift up your Heads: though foolish, fill'd with damps,
Alas cry out, Pray give us of your store;
Sent are to buy, but find Shops ope' no more:
Sinners have also reason to weep sore.
J pray the Church this instant may improve
Vnto the end revealed from above.
Jer. 18.7, 8.
AN ANAGRAM.
Thomas Glass: Glass as Moth.
GLass
as a Moth's now crush'd, return'd to dust;
A brittle thing, not to be lean'd upon:
The will of God herein is done, and just,
Though for a time he brightly through him shon,
To great refreshment of his Heritage,
Amidst this hot, weak, weary, tyring day;
Making them wish, and ready to presage,
That he amongst them might much longer stay.
So fitted, furnish'd for Gods work was he,
In which he labour'd, during heat and cold,
And therein did obtain a good degree,
In bearing up for God a Witness bold.
But ah! how diff'rent are our thoughts and ways
From God our Lord's, that are so far above?
That Paths pursuant most unto his Praise,
At first we seldom see, chuse, like or love.
W. A.
An ELEGY.
MY Heart with grief and pain is prest,
As over-charged in my Brest:
Its struglings of a divers kinde,
Perplex and intricate my Minde:
Confus'd Entanglement appears,
Of Sence, with Faith; of Hopes, with Fears:
Vicissitudes of Up's and Down's;
Of Smiles, that interfere with Frowns;
As Twins that mutually contend.
To bring which Contests to an end,
I thought it ill to keep them pent;
But in this order gave them vent.
SENCE.
O That my Head were as a springing Well;
Jer. 9.1, 2.
Mine Eyes as Rivers, streaming down with Tears!
Isa. 22.4, 5.
O that I in some Wllderness did dwell,
Psal. 55.5, 6, 7.
Where none might mark my sighs, my groans, my fears!
Where Heart might break for what is come to pass
Jer. 31, 15.
By Gods fresh breach on my dear Looking-
Glass.
2 Sam. 18, 33.
FAITH.
Hold! hold thy peace for shame! The Lords at hand;
Zeph. 1.7. Phil. 4.5.
Let Moderation now to all appear;
1 Thes. 4.13.
Let Faith for Soul-submission give command;
Psal. 39.9.
Let Perfect Love check such tormenting Fear.
1 John 4, 18.
Thy standing's founded as on Mounts of Brass:
Psal. 125.1, 2.
What mean such out-cries for a broken
Glass?
Zech. 6.1.
SENCE
If this my loss were personal alone,
Micha 7.9.
My Sin deserves it; I should bear such strokes:
Nehem, 9.33.
But O (methinks) I hear poor
Sion groan,
Lam. 3. per totum.
'Gainst me all day his Jealousie thus smokes:
Psal. 79.5.
My Walls are fall'n, my Gates are burnt (alas!)
Nehem. 1.3.
My Golden Pillars are as broken
Glass.
Lam. 4.1
FAITH.
Such swift severe dispatches, clad with wonder,
Psal. 94.12, 13.
Bring teaching Lessons to th' obedient Ear;
Micha 6.9.
Who waiting in the secret place of Thunder,
Psalm 81.7.
Attends with Silence, Rev'rence, Godly Fear:
Heb. 12.28, 29.
At least how Sojourners their time should pass,
1 Pet. 1.17.
That's measur'd by a running shaken
Glass.
1 Cor. 7.29, 30, 31.
SENCE.
Hark! hark! how
Sion sighs, as put to shame;
Psal. 44.9,-.16.
My Children scatter'd, Plague doth thousands slay;
Isa. 51.18. Jer. 21.6.
Poor
London undone with devouring Flame;
Isa. 24.l2. & 3.25, 26.
Distress on Land, and bloody War at Sea.
Lam. 1.20.
My Strength is not as Stones, nor Flesh as Brass;
Job 6.12.
Why am I broke as Shards, or abject
Glass?
Jer. 15.18.
FAITH.
But what's the cause, in this confused noise,
Jer. 8.6. Ezek. 21.12.
So few speak right, few smite upon the thigh?
Nahum 2.7.
Few get by heart the tabring Turtles Voice;
Ezek. 7.16.
What have I done? Ah Master! Is it I?
Mark 14.19.
Till such Reflects be made, expect (alas!)
Hos. 5.15.
A toyling Milstone, for a tiring-
Glass.
Isa. 47.2. & 3.23, 24.
SENCE.
I captive sit by
Babel's Rivers brink,
Psal. 137.1, 6.
My Heart ev'n broke, my Harps on Willows hang;
Lam. 2.18. & 5.15.
When on poor
Sion's Ruines I bethink,
Joel 1.13, 16.
I cannot tune the Songs which once I sang.
Levit. 26.19.
Her Heav'ns are Iron, and her Earth as Brass;
Isa. 1.22.
Her Silver Dross, her Diamonds as
Glass.
Lam. 4.1, 2.
FAITH.
Such worldly Sorrow tends to Death at length,
2 Cor. 7.10.
Not to Repentance; lie not on the ground:
Josh. 7.10.
Take Gospel-Armour; gird thy Loyns with strength:
Ephes.6.13, 14.
With search the troubling
Achan may be found.
Josh. 7.13. Lam. 3.40.
If Grace provide thee Shooes of Steel and Brass,
Ephes. 6.15. Deut. 33.25
Thou may'st stand Harping on this Sea of
Glass.
Rev. 15.2.
SENCE.
The Righteous perish, Good Men snatch'd away;
Psal. 12.1. Mich. 7.1.2.
The rest led Captive: (how am I bereft!)
Isa 57.1, 2.
Most leave their Station; Mighty Men decay.
2 Sam. 1.27.
If any pleasant Picture yet be left,
Isa. 42.22.
Upon its Comeliness a wind doth pass:
Isa. 40.6, 7.
Thus all my Hopes dash as a Christal
Glass!
Psal. 103.15, 16
.FAITH.
Those costly Coverings (likely) did provoke
Act. 14.15, 18.
To burning Jealousie, when over-priz'd,
Isa. 2.16, 17, 18.
And must be dash'd by a displeased stroke;
Exod. 34.14. Isa. 42.8.
As
Moses' Serpent, when 'twas idoliz'd.
2 Kings 18.4.
If that was stamp'd on as a piece of Brass,
Jer. 22.24, 28.
No marvel 'tis so with a beautious
Glass.
Lam. 4.20.
SENCE.
Have pity (saith she) while I thus bemoan;
Job 19.21.
My Sin's remembred, and my Son is slain;
Chap. 6.14.
More natural to care for me was none:
1 Kings 17.18.
How can such Losses be repair'd again?
Philip. 2.20.
Who'll sow, and send the feet of Oxe and Ass,
Numb. 27.16, 17.
Besides all Waters, as did painful
Glass?
Isa. 32.20.
FAITH.
Take heed, take heed, lest Flesh be too much ey'd,
2 Kings 2.9, 14.
In what th' Anointing onely can repair:
Numb. 11.17, 25, 29.
Broke Sycamoors by Oaks may be supply'd;
Isa. 32.9, — 20.
Fall'n Bricks by Stones, to make the Palace fair;
Isa. 9.8, 9, 10, 11.
But by such patching 'twill be worse, (alas!)
New generous Wine will break old Shop-worn-
Glass.
Matth. 9.16, 17.
SENCE.
Alas! who then shall live when God appears?
Numb. 24.23.
Who can the Test of such Refinings bear?
Mal. 3.2.
When Fire and Furnace he in
Sion rears,
Isa. 31.9.
Sinners in
Sion must be fill'd with fear.
Chap. 33.14.
His Eyes as Flames, his Feet as burning Brass
Rev. 1.14, 15. Isa. 64.3.
Will melt hard Adamants as fluid
Glass.
Nahum 1.6.
FAITH.
The Fire indeed is hot, the Breach is large;
Isa.. 48.10.
But He sits by, to do us, make us good:
Mal. 3.3.
If one Hair fall not but with special charge,
Matth. 10.30.
If Lilies, Sparrows, have their Paint and Food;
Luk. 21.18. & 12.6, 7.
If God takes care of Oxen, Birds, and Grass,
1 Cor. 9.9.
He's more concern'd in his dear precious
Glass.
Matth. 6.26. to 30.
SENCE.
Ah that both Saints and Sinners could lament,
Acts 20.37, 38.
In Town and Country, where this
Glass did run,
Matth. 9.15.
The golden hours they foolishly mispent,
Prov. 5.11, 12, 13.
Ere this his Generation-Work was done!
Chap. 17.16.
Had we an
Hiram skill'd to work in Brass,
2 Sam. 18.18.
Jachin and
Boaz might be rear'd for
Glass.
1 Kings 7.13, 21.
FAITH.
'Tis true, he's sick, and sleeps, whom Jesus lov'd:
John 11.3, 11, 12.
But they that sleep so, shall do well at length;
1 Thess. 4.14.
They rest from Labours, are from Sin remov'd:
Rev. 14.13.
Weep not! He's gone but to renew his Strength!
Isa. 57.1, 2.
We face to face shall see him: for (alas!)
Chap. 52.8.
We saw but darkly through that fractur'd
Glass.
1 Cor. 13.12.
SENCE.
Must I be strip'd then of my choice Attire?
Exod. 33.5.
To offer
Isaac, is an heavy Trial:
Gen. 22.1, 2.
Must I be season'd thus with Salt and Fire?
Heb. 11, 17.
How hard a Lesson is this Self-denial!
Mark 9.49.
My Nail's remov'd; its weight is fall's, (alas!)
Matth. 19.22.
Cups, Flagons, great and small, all broke as
Glass.
Isa. 22.24, 25.
FAITH.
Take heed of murmuring: When God comes down
1 Cor. 10.10.
To bind up Jewels that on Earth he finds,
Mal. 3.17.
To raise and fix them in a glorious Crown,
Zech. 9.16. Isa. 62.3.
He calls for chearful Gifts from willing Minds:
2 Cor. 9.7.
When he would have a Laver made of Brass,
Exod. 38.8.
Mark how each Daughter offer'd up her
Glass.
Chap. 35.21, —29.
SENCE.
These are hard Sayings! Deep to Deep doth call!
John 6.60.
My Flesh begins to fail, my Heart to sink!
Psal. 42.7.
'Tis hard to feed on Vinegar and Gall;
Lam. 3.54.
To eat with Ashes, and with Tears to drink.
Vers. 18, 19, 20.
From me (if it be possible) let pass
Psal. 102.9, 10.
Such deadly Draughts, mixt is a breaking
Glass.
Matth. 26.39.
FAITH.
Cease
Rachel's Weeping; Hope is in thine End:
Jor. 31.15, 16, 17.
Thy Children to their Border God Will bring;
Chap. 50.34.
He'll plead thy Cause, thy Right He will defend:
Isa. 51.22, 23.
Then
Kedar's Dwellers, and the Rock's, shall sing.
Chap. 42.11. & 24.14, 15.
Thy Countenance, that black and scorched was,
Lam. 4.8. Psal. 68.13, 14.
Shall shine in brightness like transparent
Glass.
Rev. 21.18, 21.
A. C.