A POEM DEDICATED TO THE Lasting Honour of the Pious and Reverend Divine Mr. RICHARD BAXTER.
RICHARD BAXTER
HATH GOD MADE A GLORIOUS LIGHT
TO GUIDE OUR STEPS IN THIS APOSTATE NIGHT
WITH GRACE, WITH GIFTS, WITH COURAGE HATH GOD BLESS'D
HIM TO CONDUCT THE CHURCH TO CANAAN
's REST.
REgardless Age! could
England's pur-blind Sence
Imagine that
Eternal Providence
Createth wonders still, as formerly
He wrought for
Israel's sake, we All should Spy
An ANGEL Brandishing a
Gospel-Word,
Resolving (by That only Powerfull Sword,)
Deliverance to the Churches to aford.
Brought out we have been from
Egyptian Yoke
Although not free'd from fear of
Amalek's Stroke
Xerxes(that Eastern Terrour) did not fright
The
Grecians, as the
Tall' Zanzummims Sight
Enlarg'd our fear, had not Almighty Power
Rais'd up A
JOSHUA in This needfull Hour.
How Many tedious Yeare have We abode
And weary'd Steps in pathless
Desart trod,
Trav'lling from Stage to Stage, and Round About
Hemm'd in between the
Mounts of
Fear and
Doubt?
Great hath Our longing Expectation been
Of keeping
Jubilees, not Wand'ring (in
Distrust,) so long, in
Wilderness of Sin;
Murm'ring although Our
Waters have been sweet
And Loathing
Manna, as not fit to eat.
Drawn up we have been into Numerous
Forms,
Endless Contentions, whilest approaching
Storms
(Arm'd with the face of Vengeance) raise our fears
Gather round Our Tents, and hallow in our ears.
Loud Ecchoing Sounds (alas!) doe scarse Awake
Our Charmed Minds, or prompts us (yet) to make
Religion our great Work: we only Croud
In
New Opinions, under which we shroud
Our Hearts; Remaining still as
Vain: as
Proud:
Ʋnchar
[...]able: Whisperers of
Lyes
Selfish, and
Covetous; under This Disguise,
Lord! What a mighty Puther hath been rais'd
In
Babylon? The Church hath stood Amaz'd!
Greedy in Expectation of some Bright
Holy, (most Humble) Soul-Reviving
Light,
To chase Away these
Shades of Winter
Night.
THese many Years, we all have gon a Round
O're Hills and Dales, (Led by uncertain Sound;)
Giddy with knowledge we have long been made
Unstable, since the
Pulpit grew a
Trade;
Into the Dith, (like
Lost-Sheep) have we Stray'd;
Defiled filthily hath our
Fleece been,
Each
Broad-Sleeve of Our (Starch'd) Profession, in
Opprobrious pickle! yet we Buffet all
(Unchristian-like,) who but Lament our
Fall
Revile (yea Persecute) and Nick-names call.
Such are but
Bashan's Rams-Horns Batt'ring down
The Church, (not
Jericho, or
Triple-Crown.)
Each conscientious Shepherd passing by
Points at
Our Engine of Divinity!
Sighs much to see Our great
Apostacy.
In This Degenerate Age
Religion stands
Neglected [like
Old Monuments] with hands
Though Listed Up, yet broke: with batt'red face
Half gon: (An Object rather of Disgrace;)
Just like King
David' Men, with Beards half-shorn
Stands
True-Religion, made a Publique Scorn,
Apostate Age! how are We swerved from
Pure Christianity? Upbraid not
Rome
Or think
That only, the
Apostate See,
Since
Many Antichrists with
Ʋs there be;
They (Spiritual)
Babel founded deep in bloud,
And We,
Those Ruines; plaister up with Mud.
[
[...] Notions: Schism: and a blind Mill-horse Track:]
E're since a
Crape-Profession cloath'd our back.
Narrow but Plain, i
[...]
Canaan's blessed Rode
In which the Primitive Christians safely trod;
Great talks of
New-Light spread; And since our hope
Hung down its head, We yearly
Burn the Pope;
[That Flame
Lights well to See, how much we Grope.]
WHilest Crowding in a sad confused Rout
(In which true Piety is justled Out.)
The Lord of Hosts (his Kingdom to increase)
Hath sent us
His Embassadour of Peace.
Grace into him is poured, to Instruct
Rash
Zeal[?], and mired Steps for to Conduct
A right, in Paths of
Truth, Peace, Amity,
Compassion: (Christian-like
Conformity.)
Erecting A HOLY TEMPLE,
1 Kin. 6.7.
[Wherein dwells
Wisdom, with
Pure Religion which excells
In Meekness]
Pav'd with Love: [A shame to Those
That Hammer forth, with loud (
Canonical) Blows
Hideous Shapes, which
Harden (but not Molifie)
Gazers on Their (
Gorgon-like) Divinity!]
Imbroydered all Throughout with Saving Grace
Flourishing the Banner
of Triumphant Peace
This Famous WORTHIE
stands, whose Gifts and Parts,
(Shining in
Lowliness,) steals all our Hearts.
Wisdom, Experience, Conduct, Courage too
Is found in
Him, to Lead us safely through
This Howling Desart, where the
Wolvish sound
Hurries the
Flock, and their soft ear doth wound;
Confirming
Faith and
Patience; strengthning
Love
Opposing Errours, and Debates, which move
Unruly Passions, and engender Strise,
Rending Divisions, whilest
Religious Life
Abateth, and its hidden (Vital part)
Gives up the Ghost, as Stabbed at the Heart.
England's Commissioner for Peace, is He
Heavens Blessed Harbinger: Ordain'd to be
A
Sanctuary to the
Church of God,
That hath been Scourg'd with
Plague, and
Flaming Rod▪
Hath been
Benighted, and in
Wilderness,
Grov'ling a long time (as all must confess:)
O're-cast with
Egypt's Darkness, and in
Wiles
Devis'd by
Satan (who mankind beguiles)
Beleagur'd Round; In such a
Lab'rynth, where
Leviathan's hoarse Sounds, Awake our fear.
Eternal GOD! When
Thy Church was Dejected
Singl'd out for Slaughter,
Thou didst then Protect it:
Sending us such a
Light as few expected;
Dear God: Thy Praise shall never be neglected.
HArk! (hark again) methinks we hear the sweet
Inamouring Sound of
His so glorious Feet,
(Moving o're Mountains) who
Glad Tydings brings
To
Ev'ry Sinner, from the King of Kings.
Of
Ʋniversall Grace for All Mankind:
(Conveigh'd To All, who are Resolv'd in mind;)
Obliging to some
Law, the
Heathen World
[Nigh lost, through willfull
Ʋnbelief, and hurl'd
Down headlong into such a dismall
Vale
Un'wares) where
Darkness did so much prevail,
(
Confusion also) [till
This Glorious Light
Thrust forth Its Conquering Rays, and scatter'd
Night.]
The Militant Church is Happy in
This Guide
Her footsteps to
Direct that none may slide
Establishing Her
Knowledge: and Her
Love;
(
Consormity so like to GOD above.)
His Vital Substance few aright Descry
Ʋnseen It must be, [when Our
Dazled Eye
Repells That
Sun-Shine of Divinity!
Comfort our selves we doe (for all) to think
His Beams make
Day, though Glittering through the
Chink.
'Tis very strange that in a Crazed Shell
Of bone and skin, such
Sanctity doth dwell!
Crowning Religion with such
Conversation
As makes Him a
Great Blessing to Our Nation
(Not'thstanding many Proud mens Emulation.
All after Ages shall, of
Him, Relate
And Praises to JEHOVAH Consecrate,
Nation shall unto Nation,
This Great Act
Sound forth, in hearts of
Harmony, Compact;
Recording evermore THY worthy Fame
Eternizing the Glory of the same;
Saints All, with
Angels also, shall Proclaim
THY GREAT SALVATION! when we BAXTER name.
⟨21. Dec. 1680⟩
FINIS.