Meat out of the eater: or, Meditations concerning the necessity, end, and usefulness of afflictions unto Gods children. All tending to prepare them, for, and comfort them under the crosse. / By Michael Wigglesworth.

Author: Wigglesworth, Michael, 1631-1705.2005-10

[Page]

MEAT OUT OF THE EATER: OR, MEDITATIONS Concerning The Necessity, End, and Usefulness of AFFLICTIONS Unto Gods Children.

All tending to Prepare them [...] and Comfort them under the CROSSE.

By Michael Wigglesworth

CAMBRIDGE: Printed by S. G. and M. [...]. for John Vsher of Boston. 1670.

[Page 3]

Tolle Crucem. All Christians must be Cross bearers.

If any man will my Disciple [...]e,

Let him take up his Cross and follow me

None can with me and mine partak [...]

Who doth not all for me forsake.

Meditation I.

All Christians must be Sufferers

That would be Christ his Followers.

[1]
ALl that resolve to be
Christ's faithful Followers,
Must be contented in this world
Acts 14.22. Mat. 10.37, 38. & 16.24, 25.
To be great Sufferers.
They must renounce themselves,
And their own wills deny,
Take up their Cross, and follow Christ
Through Sufferings chearfully.

[Page 4]
[2]
Not onely lighter Griefs
Mat. 10.39. Heb. 12.4.
This Cross of ours implies:
But, when the Lord us calls thereto,
Greatest Extremities.
This must be taken up,
(Willingly undergone)
For Christ's dear sake, who suffered more
For our Redemption.

[3]
The Christian that expects
An Earthly Paradise
When Christ bids his take up the Cross
And bear it, is unwise.
We must not on the knee
Be alway dandled,
Nor must we think to ride to Heaven
Upon a Feather-bed.

[4]
Our way to Heavenly Rest
Is all against the stream;
We must not sail with Wind and Tide
As too too many dream:
But row against them both
And many Storms endure;
Till we arrive at that sweet Port
Where Saints shall rest secure.

[Page 5]
[5]
Our way is up the Hill,
Which mounteth to the Skies:
But that's the way to Death and Hell
Which low and down-hill lies.
'Tis easie to Descend,
And down the Hill to roll:
But this is labour to Ascend,
And painful to the Soul.

[6]
But who would not take pain
Against the Hill to climbe,
That so they may true Rest attain
And Happiness in time?
Rather then down the Hill
With present ease to run
(As most men do) untill they be
Eternally undone.

[7]
Strait is the Way and Path
Mat. 7.13, 14. Luke 13 24.
Which leadeth unto Life:
Heaven is not gain'd by 
 [...]ase and Sloth,
But by an earnest stri
 [...]e.
But broad are all the wayes
That to Destruction lead,
And many many are the feet
That daily therein tread.

[Page 6]
[8]
Let others take their choice,
And run what way they please;
Let them enjoy their Lusts, and take
Their fill of Carnal Ease:
Chuse thou the narrow Path,
My Soul, and walk therein;
Thou know'st this is the onely way
Eternal Life to win.

Meditation II.

God doth in Mercy scourge his owne

In Wrath he others lets alone.

[1]
IF in this narrow Path
And way that is so strait

 [...]et. 4.
You meet with Difficulties great▪
Be not disconsolate▪
The straitness of the way
Betokeneth opposition,
Afflictions, Dangers, Crosses, Snares
In this our frail condition.

[Page 7]
[2]
These are the Common-Lot
Of all God's Children dear.
Through many Sorrows they must pass
The Lord that truely fear.
There's no Calamity
Doth unto thee befall,
But such as common is to men;
1 Cor. 10.13.
Yea to the best of all.

[3]
Though various are the wayes
And sufferings whereby
God doth his Children exercise,
Correct, and also try:
Yet all must bear the Cross
Before they wear the Crown;
2 Tim. 2.12.
All must partake of chastening
Whom God vouchsafes to own.

[4]
It is in Mercy then
That God chastiseth his,
And lets them not Correction want
When as they do amiss.
They are in trouble now
That he may give them rest,
Psal. 94▪ 12, 13.
When as the Pit shall digged be
For such as them opprest.

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[5]
All that Christ's Members are
Must be made like their Head:
Heb 12.8. Hos. 4.14.
He is a Bastard not a Childe
That's never chastened.
God letteth some alone,
(Leaves them to take their course)
And by his Rod reclaims them not;
They sin without remorse.

[6]
They will not cross themselves,
Nor their own wills deny:
God will not cross them, nor correct,
To do them good thereby.
They w
 [...]x more impudent,
Eccles 8.11.
And bolder to do evil,
Through God's forbearance, till at length
Mat. 25.41.
He hurl them to the Devil.

[7]
Psal. 81.11, 12. Psal. 94.12. Jo
 [...] 7.17, 18. Isaiah 1.
This is a fearful case
To be thus left of God:
Great mercy 'tis to be subdu'd
By scourging with the Rod▪
My Soul be thankful then
That God thee thus corrects:
Who might have let thee headlong run
With those whom he rejects.

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Meditation III.

The third doth further hint at th' Ends

For which the Lord Affliction sends.

[1]
GOd doth chastise his own
In love, their Souls to save:
And lets them not run wilde▪ with them
That no Correction have.
Now as the Rod restrains
Prov. 23.14.
From posting down to Hell:
So by the same God doth excite
And teach us to do well.

[2]
Affliction is Christ's School
Psal. 94.12.
Wherein he teacheth his
To know and do their Duty, and
To mend what is amiss.
For though Afflictions may
Unto the Flesh be painful:

David and other Saints of God
Have found them very gainful.

[Page 10]
[3]
Psal. 119.67.
Before I was chastis'd,
Saith he, I went astray:
But since I've learnt with better care
To keep thy Precepts way.
Ver. 71.
'Tis good for me that I
Have been afflicted sore,
That I might learn to know thy Laws
And swerve therefrom no more.

[4]
Isa. 48.10.
These are God's Fining-Pot,
Wherein he melts his Gold,
Consumes the dross and maketh it
Malac. 3.2, 3. Dan. 11.35.
More lovely to behold.
These are his Fullers Sope
To wash our spots away,
That being thus refin'd and wash'd
Him glorifie we may.

[5]
As sharpest Winter Frosts
Do clarifie the Aire,
And cleanse our Blood, soften the Earth
And it for Seed prepare,
Making it fruitfuller:
So do Afflictions sore
Lev. 26.40▪ 41.
Correct the rankness of our hearts,
Cl
 [...]anse, and subdue them more.

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[6]
Much Honey turns to Gall
And Cholerick excess;
And too-too-much Prosperity
Breeds Pride and Wantonness:
Deut. 32.15. Isa. 27.9. Heb. 12.1
 [...], 11.
Afflictions purge them out,
Like bitter Alöe,
Which, though unpleasant to the taste,
Far wholsomer may be.

[7]
Full Diet, dainty Fare,
With Idleness and Ease
Ezek. 16.49, 50.
Heap up bad Humours, and contract
Many a foul Disease,
To Soul, and Body too.
Dang'rous, and Troublesome;
Which must be purged out in Time
By some 
Catholicum.

[8]
Strong Wine makes weak heads giddy
Procuring Drunkenness:
Long Peace and Plenty likewise breed
Jer. 5.7, 8.
Intemperance and Excess.
We soon are Surfeted
With strong delicious matter:
And therefore God, who knows our frame,
Mingleth our Wine with Water.

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[9]
Afflictions are like Ballast
I'th' Bottom of a Ship;
For though perhaps without the same
We might more lightly skip:
Yet every little puff
Would quickly set us over,
And sink us in the Ocean Sea
No more for to recover.

[10]
Jer. 4.3, 4.
Our Hearts are over-run
Much like a fallow Field,
Which must be broke and plowed up
Before it fruit can yield:
Psal. 129.2.3. Jer. 31.18, 19.
Afflictions are God's Plough
Wherewith he breaketh us,
Tears up our Lusts, those noisome Weeds,
And fitteth us for use.

[11]
Grace in Prosperity
Lies hid unoccupy'd:
But is by Chastening set to work,
And by the Cross descry'd.
The Cross to Virtue trains;
It tries, it makes to grow;
It sanctifies, purgeth and heals;
It humbleth and layes low.

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Meditation IV.

The fourth by various Arguments

Strives to beat down all Discontents,

And overcome Discouragements.

[1]
SInce then our gracious God
And Father that's above
For such great Ends useth his Rod
In Faithfulness and Love:
Heb. 12.6.
Why should'st thou once repine,
Or murmure at the Cross,
Impatient man? without such blows
Thy Soul would suffer loss.

[2]
Except that need there be,
1 Pet. 1.6.
And thy Soul's health require,
He useth not severity,
Nor stirreth up his ire.
He layes on thee no more
Job. 34.23.
Then what may reach the End,
And do thy Soul the good for which
He doth Affliction send.

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[3]
Iam. 3.33.
He that unwillingly
Afflicts the sons of men,
Cannot take pleasure in the grief
Of his own Childeren.
He layes on his no Crosset,
But that they may attain
Some higher good. He sends no losses
But for their greater gain.

[4]
Burning and Cutting 'bide,
Hunger and Thirst endure
Thou wilt, thy Body from Grim Death,
Or Sickness to recure:
Thy Soul is much more worth,
And its Salvation dear;
Why then what may Soul-health procure
Should'st thou refuse to bear?

[5]
Christ never flattered thee,
Nor promis'd Carnal Ease,
Nor worldly Honour, Pleasure, Gain,
Security, o
 [...] Peace.
He told the worst at first,
(It was thine 
A, B, C)
Ma
 [...]. 16.24.
That every one must bear the Cross
That would his Follower be.

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[6]
Why should'st thou think it strange
1 Pet. 4.12.
To meet with fiery Triall?
Or to be put upon the task
Of serious Self-deniall?
Thou owest more to Christ,
Who shed his dearest Blood,
And bare God's Wrath, for to procure
Thine Everlasting good.

[7]
The Son of God himself
By whom the World was made
Heb. 5.8, 9. & 12.2, 3.
Took up the Cross, endured Death,
And so our Ransom paid.
He had no need to die;
But we had been undone:
Unless that He our Punishment
And Pain had undergone.

[8]
He past through Sufferings
Luke 24.26. Mat. 10.24, 25. Rom. 8.26. Gal 3.13. 1 Cor. 15.55, 56.
Into his glorious state:
It's fit that Members be content
Their Head to imitate.
Himself hath born the Curse,
And ta'ne away the Sting:
So that the Cross is now become
A sanctified thing.

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[9]
Therefore take up the Cross;
The Rod in meekness kiss:
Be silent and him reverence, who
Thy God and Father is.
Ezra. 9.13. Heb. 12.1
 [...].
Who less afflicteth thee,
Then thou deserved hast;
Yea and afflicteth thee, that so
A gainer be thou may'st.

[10]
Jer. 30.11. 1 Cor. 10.13.
Measure and Moderation
In Chast'ning he respecteth;
And none of his beyond their strength
By pain or grief dejecteth.
Although he burn the Dross
Luke 21.18.
He will not waste his Gold:
If with the one hand he cast down;
His other doth uphold.

[11]
The smothering smoaking Flax
Mat. 12.20.
Hee'll not extinguish quite:
To break a bruised shaken Reed
Is none of his delight.
Hee'll not contend for ay,
Isa. 57.16.
Nor evermore upbraid:
Lest that the spirit before him fail,
And Souls that he hath made.

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[12]
Thou cravest oft a pledge
Heb. 12.7
Of Christ's free love to thee.
A pledge thou hast, if Chastening
Thou bearest fruitfullie.
God deals with us like sons
If Scourging we endure,
For unto patient Suffering
He will his sons inure.

[13]
What if thy strength thee fail?
If Sicknesses increase?
If Creature-comforts thee forsake?
Psal. 27.10. Psal. 46.1, 2, 3.
If dearest Friends decease?
If wants do multiply,
And woes come on amain?
If Men and Devils should conspire
To aggravate thy pain?

[14]
Droop not faint-hearted man,
Thou art not yet undone:
So long as God himself survives,
Psal. 73.26. Judg 14.14.
And is thy Portion.
Out of the Eater He
Will surely bring forth Meat:
And Spiritual Good more sweet then honey
Out of Affliction great.

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Meditation V.

The fifth perswades to Patience,

From that rich future Recompence;

Minding us of our Heavenly Rest,

Which should revive us when distrest.

[1]
MEekly to bear Christ's yoke
It is an Honour high:
Thou Christ wilt surely them reward
Who bear it patiently.
For this short Grief of ours,
2 Cor. 4.17.
And our Affliction light
Shall work of glorious Happiness
A far more lasting weight.

[2]
Psal. 97.11
For just men light is sown
(Reward laid up in store)
Psal. 126 5.
Who sow in tears shall reap in joy,
And after mourn no more.
They'll one day wear a Crown,
Who now the Cross sustain:
1 Cor. 15 58▪
In Christ our Lord no suffering,
Nor labour shall be vain.

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[3]
Reign with him long shall they,
1 Tim. 2▪ 12.
With him that suffer do:
Who follow him in's Death, partake
Shall of his Glory too.
Not that our services
Isa. 64 6.
Deserve such recompence:
But he resolveth to set forth
2 Thess. 1.10.
His own Munificence.

[4]
Who can expect a Crop
Or Harvest to obtain;
That breaks no ground, that sowes no seed.
That undergoes no pain?
To triumph who can hope
That doth the Battel shun?
Eternal Glory whoso findes,
Must first through rough wayes run.

[5]
Thou art a Pilgrim here;

 [...]. 39.12.
This world is not thy home:
Then be content with Pilgrims fare,
Till thou to Heaven come.
What if thou tossed art
With boisterous winds and seas?
Behold the Haven, where thou shalt
Heb. 4.9.
Enjoy long rest and ease.

[Page 20]
[6]
What if thy conflict with
The roaring Lion be?
If thou be call'd to fight against
World, Flesh, and Devil, all three.
1 Joh. 4.4. Rom. 16 20.
Stronger is Christ in thee
Then strongest Enemy,
Who Satan under thy Souls feet
shall tread down speedily.

[7]
Souldier be strong, who fightest
Heb. 2.
 [...]0.
Under a Captain stout:
Dishonour not thy conquering Head
By basely giving out.
Endure a while, Bear up,
And hope for better things:
War ends in Peace; and Morning light
Mounts up on Midnights wings.

[8]
Through Changes manifold,
And Dangers perilous,
Isai▪ 43.2. Heb. 11.14, 16. Mar. 25.34.
Through fiery flames, and water-floods,
Through wayes calamitous,
We travel towards Heaven
A quiet Habitation:
Christ shews a Kingdom there prepar'd
Ev'n from the worlds foundation.

[Page 21]
[9]
O Heaven, most holy place,
Which art our Country dear▪
What cause have I to long for thee,
2 Cor. 5▪ 2, 4, 8.
And beg with many a tear?
Earth is to me a Prison;
This Body an useless wight:
And all things else vile, vain, and nought
To one in such ill plight.

[10]
Oh Christ make haste, from bands
Of Sin and Death me free;
And to those Heavenly Mansions
Be pleas'd to carry mee:
Where glorified Saints
For ever are possest
1 Thess. 4.17.
Of God in Christ their chiefest Good,
And from all troubles rest.

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Meditation VI.

Christ's Sufferings are our Copy-book,

Whereon we often ought to look.

[1]
Heb. 12.2, 3.
LEt every suffering Saint
Consider Jesus Christ,
What Sufferings great he under-went,
Who is our Blest-High-Priest.
What Misery can'st thou name,
He hath not undergone,
Who was most innocent and just,
Isa. 53.9.
And nought amiss had done?

[2]
When we are like to faint,
And when our spirits fail;
When discontents, discouragements
And terrours us assail:
When thou art apt to say,
No grief was e're like mine;
Then think of Christ, and sure thou'lt say,
His far exceeded thine.

[Page 23]
[3]
Art thou a Prisoner?
Our Lord himself was bound.
Mat. 27.2. Chap. 26.65 67, 68.
Art thou disgrac'd? why, he was scorn'd
And trampled to the ground;
Blindfolded, spit upon,
Most wrongfully accused,
Reviled, mocked, buffetted,
Mat. 27.28, 30.
And wickedly abused.

[4]
Art thou in Poverty?
Why, Christ himself was poore,
2 Cor. 8.9. Mat. 8.20
And had not where to lay his head;
It's like he gives thee more.
Art thou in Heaviness?
He was a man of Grief;
Isa. 53.3. Mat 26.38.
Whose Soul was sorrowful to Death,
To purchase our relief.

[5]
Or do Temptations vex thee?
He tempted was likewise:
Heb. 2.18 & 4 15.
He pitieth when such things perplex thee,
And helps thee when thou cries.
Do Sin and Wrath distress thee?
None so distrest as he,
Mat. 
 [...] ▪ 46.
Who underwent God's direful wrath,
From wrath our Souls to free.

[Page 24]
[6]
If thus our Generall
Joh. 12.26.
No danger hath declin'd:
Well may his Souldiers be content
Some hardship for to find.
If he hath suffered
In whom no guilt was found:
Well may we suffer for our faults,
Whose sins so much abound.

[7]
If God's dear Son hath dy'd,
And born his Fathers ire:
Well may the sinfull sons of men
Pass through a gentle fire.
Isai. 53.4, 6.
Since onely for our sake
All this he under-went:
What cause have we with our light Cross
To be right well content?

[8]
John 18.11.
He drank up all the Dregs,
And bitterest of the Cup:
Gal. 3.13.
The Cup, he gives us, is allay'd,
And but a little sup.
Oh then my sinful Soul!
If Christ to suffering call,
Take up thy Cross, and willingly
Follow thy Generall.

[Page 25]

Meditation VII.

The worldly man's Prosperity

Is onely gilded Misery.

[1]
ALthough God's dealings are
Exceeding various
Respecting outward things, which be
Adverse or Prosperous;
That none can certainly
Eccles. 9.1, 2.
Discern God's Love or Hate,
By being in Affliction,
Or in a Prosperous state:

[2]
(For now and then a Saint
Enjoyes Prosperity:
And sometimes wicked men are plagu'd,
And are in Misery)
Yet commonly we see
Acts 14.22. Job 21.7, 8, 9, 10, 13.
Affliction is the Lot
Of precious Saints; whil'st others thrive
I'th' world, who serve him not.

[Page 26]
[3]
They are afflicted less
Then God's own Children dear:
Psal. 17.14.
And it's no wonder, if we minde,
They have their Portion here.
Yet silly sinfull flesh
Psal. 73.3, 4, 5.
At this is apt to grumble:
And at the scandal of the Cross
There are too many stumble.

[4]
They flourish like a Tree;
They have the world at will:
Job 21.24.
Their Breasts are flowing-full of milk;
Marrow their bones doth fill.
They have no sorrows great
Their vigour to decay:
Nor is their Moisture radical
Consum'd and sweal'd away.

[5]
While better men are sick,
Their bodies are in health:
Whil'st others are distrest with wants,
They flow in worldly wealth.
They have their time of peace,
While others are in trouble.
If other men have Plenty too,
They have it more then double.

[Page 27]
[6]
They live and lie at ease,
Amos 6.4, 5, 6.
While others are in pain:
And meet not with Calamity
Their mirth for to restrain.
While godly men are weeping,
And laying sin to heart:
They're feasting, singing, or else sleeping,
Because they fell no smart.

[7]
Their eyes stand out with fat;
Psal. 73.7
They've more then heart can wish:
Honey and milk, butter and oil
Do drop into their dish.
The World them dandleth,
Like Darlings on her lap,
And streams delights into their mouth
From this and th'other Pap.

[8]
They prosper in their way,
Psa. 37.7.
And bring their ends to pass,
Judging themselves as happy men,
Psa. 49.18.
As ever any was.
Because they have success,
They bless themselves therein:
They think God loves, and favours them,
Though they still love their sin.

[Page 28]
[9]
Psal. 55.19.
Because they have no changes,
Therefore they fear not God:
They do not dread to anger him,
Because they feel no Rod.
Eccles 8.11.
God doth not execute
His Sentence speedily
'Gainst wicked works: therefore they're bold
To do more wickedly.

[10]
God gives them outward things,
And they the same bestow
Jam 4.3. Luke 16.13.
Upon their Lusts: they serve the world,
And unto Mammon bow.
In him they put their trust;
Him they most highly prize:
Unto this Idol every day
They offer Sacrifice.

[11]
For having made the World
The God whom they adore,
They rake and scrape, they pill and pull,
and covet more and more.
The World doth fill their Head,
And occupy their Heart:
But God, to whom both these belong,
They leave for him no part.

[Page 29]
[12]
Their Riches make them proud,
1 Tim. 6.17.
And puff them up in minde:
Their Plenty doth besot them too,
And make them worse then blinde.
They see no need of Christ,
Rev. 3.17 Mat. 19.22, 23, 24.
But by his Grace set light:
Despise a Saviour, shut their eyes
Against the Gospel's Light.

[13]
They being fat and full
Deut. 32.15.
Are wanton, 
Jesurun-like;
They kick and spurn against God's Love,
And at his Bowels strike.
Whil'st he them nourisheth,
Isa. 1.2.
Against him they rebell:
And under Satan's Banner fight,
John 18.44.
Like wicked Imps of Hell.

[14]
Thus their Prosperity,
Prov. 1.32.
Through God Almighty's Curse,
Doth make them wax more insolent,
And grow still worse and worse.
Their Table is their Snare,
Psal. 69.22.
Their Delicates a Baite
Which leads them to turn Belly-gods,
And grow Intemperate.

[Page 30]
[15]
Prov 23.31, 33.
Their over-flowing Cups
Entice to Drunkenness:
And then expose to filthy Lust
Their pampered Carkases.
The greater strength they have:
The stronger to do evil.
The healthfuller their Bodies be:
More fit to serve the Devil.

[16]
2 Chron. 36.15, 16 Ezek. 23.9, 10, 11.
God warns them by his Word;
They're deaf and do not hear:
He cuts down others with his Sword;
They neither feel nor fear.
Isa. 42.25 Jer. 5.3.
If God vouchsafe to scourge them,
Yet they like Mad-men feel not:
Or if they feel, their hearts are hard;
Repent, and turn they will not.

[17]
Exod. 8.27, 28. 
compared with 34.
Whil'st that the smart is on,
Perhaps they promise fair:
But, 
Pharaoh-like, when respite comes,
They shew you what they are.
2 Pet. 2.22.
To wallowing in the mire
Like filthy unclean Hogs,
And to their vomit back again
They run, like greedy Dogs.

[Page 31]
[18]
Since then they chuse their Bane,
And will no warning take:
They have their choice, and may thereof
Their best advantage make.
God will no more take pains
Isa. 1.5. Hos. 4.14.
To scourge them for their sin:
But lets them glut themselves therewith,
And end as they begin.

[19]
He winketh at their faults,
And lets them take their course;
Yea gives them up unto their lusts,
Psal. 81.11, 12. Mat. 23.32. Mat. 25.41.
To sin without remorse:
Till having fill'd their measures,
The Lord to Judgement call;
Where op'ning all his fiery Treasures,
Hee'll pay them once for All.

[Page 32]

Meditation VIII.

Saints happier be when most distrest,

Then wicked men are at the best.

[1]
WE have the Wicked view'd,
And seen his best estate:
And who would chuse with him to share,
Except a Reprobate?
Prov. 1.32.
For sure the Simple's ease
Shall turn to his decay:
And the Prosperity of Fools
Shall utterly them slay.

[2]
Psal. 92.7.
When wicked men like Grass
Do springing up arise,
When they are in a flourishing case
That work iniquities:
'Tis for their cutting down
To perpetuity;
It's but to ripen them for woe,
And endless misery.

[Page 33]
[3]
The less Affliction here
Luke 16.23, 24, 25.
They feel, the more's to come
The greater Blessings they abuse,
The heavier is their Doome.
Now let us take a Saint
Whom men account accurst,
Because they judge him plagu'd of God.
And view him at his worst.

[4]
Suppose his case as bad,
As bad it well can be:
And his Calamity more sad
Then commonly we see.
Dispose him where you will,
Do with him what you can:
Yet God is present with him still
He is a happy man.

[5]
Let Sickness come upon him,
Or great Tormenting Pain:
God will not lose him,
Jam. 5.11. Acts 23.11.
 but a Saint
A Saint shall still remain.
In Prison him immure,
All comforts from him take:
You cannot rob him of his God,
Nor him unhappy make.

[Page 34]
[6]
Isa. 43.2.
Plunge him into the mire,
Or water; God is neare:
Cast him into the burning Fire;
Psal. 42.7.8.
God will be with him there.
If many roaring waves
Of great Affliction roll
Over his head: God so supports
They cannot sink his Soul.

[7]
(
Jacob in servitude,

Joseph in Prison Chains,

Moses in his long Banishment
Heaven's Favourite still remains.
Three Children in the Fire

Daniel i'th' Lions Den
Have God to guard them: so had 
Paul
When Shipwrack'd. Happy Men!)

[8]
Deut. 33. 27.
The Everlasting Arms
Are underneath his head
To bear him up; and hence it comes
He is not swallowed,
Psal. 44.17, 18, 22
Nor suffered wickedly
From God to turn aside:
As by his carriage will appear
When troubles him betide.

[Page 35]

Meditation IX.

The Carriage of a Childe of God

Vnder his Fathers smarting Rod.

[1]
HE sees a hand of God
In his Afflictions all,
Job. 1.21. & 2.10.
And owns it for to be his Rod,
Whatever Cross befall.
For whosoever be
Th' immediate Instrument,
2 Sam. 16.11.
He knows right well that God himself
was the Efficient.

[2]
And that Afflictions
Job 5.6.
Rise not out of the Dust:
Nor are they order'd by 
 [...] will
Of Man, or Devils lust.
If that the Grief be small
Or the Chastisement light:
Yet since God sends it not in vain,
1 Kin. 22.48, 49.
Light strokes he dare not slight.

[Page 36]
[3]
If greater be the Blow,
H
 [...]b 12.5, 6.
It doth not him dismay:
Because he knows a Fathers hand
Such stripes may on him lay.
Joel 2 12 Amos 4.12.
But he prepares himself
Betimes to meet the Lord
By true Repentance, as he hath
Commanded in his Word.

[4]
Lam. 3.39, 40 42 Job. 10.2. Job 34.31, 
 [...]2. Job 36.8, 9, 10, 11, 15. Job 42.6.
To search and try his wayes,
To finde out what's amiss,
To leave his sins, to loath himself
His first great Business is.
And having once found out
What sin hath God offended;
He seriously bewails it, and
Endeavours to amend it.

[5]
Heb. 6.18.
Unto the cleansing Blood
Of Jesus Christ he flies;
Psal. 51.7.
And to his wounded Conscience
That Soveraign Balm applies:
Which can both Cleanse and Heal;
1 Joh. 2.2. Heb 9 14 Re
 [...] 
 [...] 5.
Both pacifie God's wrath,
And cure a guilty Sin-sick Soul,
When 'tis improv'd by Faith.

[Page 37]
[6]
And though he be unworthy
To look God in the face;
Yet through the Merits of his Son
Heb. 4.15, 16. Job 19.25▪ 26 27. Lam 3.31, 32.
He begs and hopes for Grace:
Being right well assur'd
That though the Lord chastise him;
Yet will he not cast off his Soul,
Nor utterly despise him.

[7]
But if by all his search
He cannot finde the cause
For which the Lord afflicteth him,
Or from his Soul withdraws:
Yet he believeth, that
For just and holy ends,
To humble, purge, and better him
The Lord Affliction sends.

[8]
And though he cannot say,
Job 10.2, 7.
I have at random run,
Or wickedly by some known sin
Away from God have gon:
Job 7.
 [...]0 Job 9.2, 3.
Yet so much sin he sees
Both in his heart and wayes,
As God may judge it meet therefore
To scourge him all his dayes.

[Page 38]
[9]
1 Pet. 5.6.
Himself he humbleth under
The mighty hand of God:
1 Sam. 3.18. Job 2.10.
And for the sake of that sweet hand
Doth kiss the sharpest Rod.
He taketh up his Cross,
Denieth his own will,
Advanceth God's above his own,
And yieldeth to him still.

[10]
Lam. 3.29, 30.
Unto the yoke of Christ
He doth his neck submit:
He turns his cheek to him that smites,
And meekly taketh it.
Lam. 3.22, 23, 25.
Yea when his grief is most,
And sorest is his pain:
He still endeavoureth good thoughts
Of God for to retain.

[11]
His earnest care and prayer
When greatest is his smart,
Is that he never may blaspheme
God with his mouth or heart.
He beggeth Patience
In his extremities
To bear Gods hand, that so his heart
may not against him rise.

[Page 39]
[12]
If murmuring thoughts do rise
Psal. 73.13 14, 15, 22.
(Or heart begin to swell)
He strives to beat them down again;
He hates such thoughts like Hell.
God he resolves to love,
Deal with him as he will:
And in his Mercy to confide
Job 13 15.
Although he should him kill.

[13]
To God that smiteth him
He strives to get more near.
He will not cease to pray,
Psa. 88.1.2 9 13. Psa
 [...]. 42.7, 8, 9.
 although
God seem to stop his ear.
Though God hath long delay'd
To answer his request,
Yet will he seek, and never cease,
Whil'st life is in his brest.

[14]
He waiteth patiently
Psal. 46.1 2, 4.
Untill deliverance come,
And will not use dishonest means
Isai 28.16.
To shun what's troublesome.
He hates all sinful sleights
To get his Cross from under:
He will not break his Bonds,
Psal. 116.16.
 but stay
Till God them out asunder.

[Page 40]
[15]
Gen. 8.13, 14, 16.
Noah would not leave his Ark,
Nor out of Prison break,
Although he saw the ground was dry,
Till God did to him speak.
1 Sam. 26.9, 11.
David refus'd to kill
King 
Saul his mortal Foe,
That persecuted him to Death,
And wrought him so much woe.

[16]
He rather chose to wait
Till God should plead his Cause,
And of his Enemy him avenge,
Then for to break God's Laws.
Thus every Saint will rather
Iob 36.21.
Chuse Suffering, then to Sin:
He will not God offend Self-ease
or Safety for to win.

[17]
Mat. 26.70; 75.
But if through Humane frailty,
And over-bearing power
Of strong Temptation, he do swerve
And fall i'th' evil hour:
(As sometimes 
Peter did)
Luke 22.32.
It grieveth him full sore,
He weeps and mourns, repents, returns,
Grows stronger then before.

[Page 41]
[18]
The longer God afflicts him,
Psal. 119.67, 71. Eccles. 7.3.
The better he is for it:
Love's Holiness the more, loath's sin
And learneth to abhor it.
The more he is bereft
And stript of outward things:
The less he dotes on these wilde Fowl
That take them to their wings.

[19]
When Creature-comforts fail;
When sorrows him surround,
He takes the faster hold of God
In whom true Comfort's found.
When Conduit-pipes are stopt,
When Streams are vanished:
The more he to the Fountain hastes,
And lives at the Well-head.

[20]
Thus 
David comforted
1 Sam. 30.6.
And cheer'd himself in God
When all was gone: although he felt
The anguish of the Rod.
Thus 
Jacob took fast hold
Gen. 32.26 28.
And wrestled with the Lord,
When as he was distrest for fear
Of cruel 
Esau's Sword.

[Page 42]
[21]
Prince-like he wrestled
And would not let him go,
Untill he had a Blessing got
To shield him from his Foe.
Thus every suffering Saint
By wrestling shall prevail,
And having overcome at last
Be styled 
Israel.

Meditation X.

Although Afflictions tanne the skin,

Such Saints are Beautiful within.

[1]
Cant. 2.14.
HOw amiable is
The face of suffering Saints,
Where God thus quieteth their hearts
And stilleth their complaints!
Where 'tis their daily care,
And earnest hearts desire,
To love, and bless, and honour God
In middest of the fire.

[Page 43]
[2]
Where nothing grieves them more
Psal. 139.21, 22, 23, 24.
Then what their God doth grieve:
Where nothing pleaseth them like that
Which makes them sin to leave.
Where though they have a will
And wishes of their own:
Yet at the foot of Jesus Christ
Mat. 16.24.
They meekly lay them down.

[3]
These are the happy men,
Judge of them what thou please
Jam 5.11 
compared with Job 42.6, 7, 8.
Vain world; Amongst thy Darlings all
Thou hast not one like these.
As God is dear to them,
So they to him are dear:
And he to all the world ere long
Will make it to appear.

[4]
The Daughter of the King
Psal. 45.13.
All glorious is within,
How black soever and Sun-burnt
May seem her outward skin.
Because I blackish am
Cant. 1.5, 6.
Upon me — look not ye
Because that with his beams the Sun
Hath looked down on me.

[Page 44]
[5]
A patient suffering Saint
Is a right comely one:
Though black as 
Kedar's Tents, and as
Curtains of 
Solomon.
Thus beautifie my Soul
Dear Saviour; thus adorn it.
As for the Trappings of the world,
And Bravery, I can scorn it.

[6]
Mat. 23.25, 26, 27, 28.
Some deck the outside fair;
But are like Graves within:
Some sweep and wash their houses clean,
Whose hearts most nasty been.
Some bodies fat and fair
Have Souls both foul and lean:
But howsoe're my Body fare,
Lord make my Soul more clean.

[Page 45]

A Conclusion Hortatory To those that are, or hereafter may be in Affliction.

[1]
ANd now, my Christian Friend,
That shalt these Lines per use;
Oh that they might thine heart perswade
The Cross of Christ to chuse!
And to esteem it more
Then greatest Worldly Treasures!
Light grief would bring thee glorious joyes,
2 Cor. 17.
Short pain Eternal Pleasures.

[2]
I have endeavoured
The Cross for to adorn,
By setting forth its comliness,
Although the world it scorn.
I have discours'd in brief
What profit comes thereby,
That thou might'st be encouraged
To bear it patiently.

[Page 46]
[3]
I have before thine eyes
An humble gracious Saint
Bearing the Cross upon his back
Endeavoured to paint.
Now strive to imitate;
After this Copy write:
This is the onely end for which
I did the same endite.

[4]
I would not for this world,
Were it a world of Gold,
(Yea for a thousand times as much,
And more then can be told)
I would not Rules prescribe
And unto thee commend,
And yet my self be negligent
Those Rules for to attend.

[5]
It is my daily Prayer,
Lord let me never teach
That unto others which my self
Have little care to reach.
I have not told thee Tales
Of things unseen, unfelt,
But speak them from Experience;
Believe it how thou wilt.

[Page 47]
[6]
Yet I shall tell the Truth,
And nothing from thee keep;
Before I wrote this sentence out
I sat down twice to weep
Tears of remorse and sorrow
Because I am so poore
In these rich graces, and because
I have attain'd no more.

[7]
That having been so long
A Scholar in this School,
I have so little progress made,
And been so great a fool.
But I shall say no more,
But pass from this discourse.
My weeping tears do blinde mine eyes,
And me thereto enforce.

[8]
My son despise not thou
Heb. 12.5.
The Lords chastising hand,
Nor faint when thou corrected art:
But turn at his command.
Oh be not obstinate
(No better then before)
Lest God provoked be to smite,
Lev. 26.18.
And lay on seven times more.

[Page 48]
[9]
For thus he threateneth;
Verse 23, 24.
If that ye will not be
By all my strokes reformed yet
But still walk cross to me:
Then will I also walk
Contrary unto you
In wrath and fury, and seven times
More Plagues will on you throw.

[10]
Dear Brother, Christian Friend,
Be wise for thine own ease,
And do not wilfully thy God
And Father milde displease.
Lam. 3.33, 34.
He loveth not to grieve,
Nor crush the sons of men:
Why should'st thou love to anger him,
Or for to grieve him then?

[11]
It may be thou hast been
Some headstrong Bullock like▪
Kicking and spurning at the Rod,
And running on the Pike.
Now 
 [...]en bemoan thy self;
And cry, Lord turn thou me,
That have a stubborn sinner been,
And turned I shall be.

[Page 49]
[12]
If 
Ephraim thus repent
And pray; God quickly hears,
Jer. 31.18, 19, 20
Embraceth him as his dear Childe,
And wipes away his tears.
God listeneth for to hear
The voice of true returners,
And is most ready to speak peace
To broken-hearted mourners.

[13]
Oh let 
New-England turn,
When gentler Warning's given:
Lest by our sins the Lord to use
Severity be driven.
It will be to our cost
To put him thereupon:
Oh therefore let's repent in time,
Before we be undone.

[14]
Incorrigibleness
God's Anger will increase:
True Penitence, and Faith in Christ,
This anger will appease;
And nothing else can do't.
Lord give us hearts to say,
Turn us to thee,
Hos. 14.2.
 and all our sins
Purge out and wash away.

[Page 50]
[15]
Hos. 6.1, 2.
Come let's return to God,
He hath us torn, Hee'll heal:
He hath us smitten with his Rod,
And binde us up he will.
After two dayes are past
He will us so revive,
And on the third day raise us up
That we in's sight shall live.

Psal. 80.19.
Turn us again Lord God of Hosts,
And make thy countenance
To shine upon us, and so we
Shall have deliverance.

Amen.

[Page]

RIDDLES UNRIDDLED, OR Christian Paradoxes Broke open, smelling like sweet Spice N [...]w taken out of Boxes.

Each Paradox is like a Box

That Cordials rare incloseth:

This Key unlocks, op'neth the Box

And what's within discloseth;

That whoso will may take his fill,

And gain where no man loseth.

[Page]

RIDDLES Unriddled OR Christian Paradoxes.

Light in Darkness,
Sick mens Health,
Strength in Weakness,
Poor mens Wealth,
In Confinement
Liberty,
In Solitude
Good Company,
Joy in Sorrow,
Life in Deaths,
Heavenly Crowns for
Thorny Wreaths,

Are presented to thy view

In the Poems that ensue.

If my Trials had been thine,

These would cheer thee more then Wine.

[Page 53]

Light in Darkness.

Light in Darkness followeth next,

Which holds forth Comfort from the Text

To such as are in minde perplext,

And with Temptations strangely vext.

SONG I.

[1]
THus far in generall
About Afflictions,
Wherewith the Lord will exercise
All whom he owns for sons.
Now of particular Ailes
And Exercises great
(Such as most commonly befall)
We purpose to entreat.

[Page 54]
[2]
P
 [...]ov. 18.14.
The Spirit of a man
Will many Griefs sustain:
But who can bear a wounded Sp'rit?
This is the greatest pain.
First then for Spiritual Griefs,
Temptations, and distresses,
Wherewith the Devil keepeth down,
And some good Souls depresses.

[3]
Isa. 50.10, 11.
There is a childe of Darkness
That walketh in the light,
That thinks his ill state very good
And therein takes delight.
There is a childe of Light
Whose state is very good,
Yet walks in sadness, in the night,
Till this be understood.

[4]
Thick Clouds sometimes arise
And darken the Noon-day:
A Mist may blinde Believers eyes,
They cannot see their way.
Although they walk in Light,
Satan so undermines
Their Comfort, that they see no Light
Which round about them shines.

[Page 55]
[5]
Sometimes they doubtful are
Concerning their estates:
Sometimes conclude against themselves
That they are Reprobates.
Such things may Saints befall;
Yet are they never left
Of God, nor of his awful fear
Are utterly bereft.

[6]
They dare not wickedly
Jonah 2.4. Psal. 88.1, 2, 3, &c Is
 [...]. 42.3.
Away from God depart,
But after his sweet presence mourn,
And seek him with their Heart.
Such bruised trembling Reeds
Christ will in no wise break:
But in the most accepted time
Chap 61.1, 3.
will comfort to them speak.

[7]
He will into a flame
Blow up their little spark,
And make his face on them to shine
That now are in the dark▪
For he will not cast 
 [...],
I
 [...]a. 5
 [...].15▪ 16.
Nor evermore forsake
Those that relie on him for grace,
And him their Portion make.

[Page 56]
[8]
Come, poor distressed Souls,
And hear your Grievances:
Learn how you may with Spiritual Arms
Temptations force repress.
Hear what the Flesh suggests
For your discouragement:
Learn what the Spirit may reply
Soul-sinkings to prevent.

SONG II.
Being a Dialogue wherein the Speakers are Spirit and Flesh.

Spirit.

[1]
Psal. 42.5, 11.
MY Soul what aileth thee
Thus heavily to droop,
And under thine Affliction
Dejectedly to stoop?
Art thou the onely man
That hath Affliction seen?
And have not better men then thou
As much afflicted been?

[Page 57]

[2]

Hast thou no part in God?

Or doth he cease to love thee?

If neither this, nor that be so,

What can so greatly move thee?

Flesh.

I heretofore did hope
My sins were pardoned
Through God's free-grace, that all my debts
were wholly cancelled:

[3]
That Christ had satisfy'd
For me, and clear'd the score;
That God was therefore reconcil'd
And would be wroth no more:
Yet now he hides his face
And on me seems to frown;
He will not hear my suit for grace,
But wounds and casts me down.

[4]
He writeth bitter things,
Job 13.26.
And makes me to possess
My sins of youth: to minde he brings
My faults and trespasses.
Will God cast off from ay?
Psal. 77 78.
And Anger still retain?
Will he depart ev'n quite away,
And no
 [...] return again?

Spirit.

[Page 58]

[5]
John 13.1.
Where Christ once sets his love
He loveth to the end,
And nothing can him change or move
From being still our Friend.
God cannot cease to love,
Where once he did begin:
Although he may with stripes reprove
And chasten thee for sin.

[6]
Be humbled for thy falls,
My Soul, and turn to God,

 [...]. 3.12.
Who from thy wandrings thee recalls
By this his gentle Rod.
Attend unto his voice,
Return to him that smites

 [...]. 3.11, 12.
For good; who every childe corrects
In whom his Soul delights.

[7]
Fathers may chide and whip
Their Children till they smart:
But whil'st their hand inflicteth stripes,
They pitty with their heart.
They cast not off a Childe,
Although they angry be:
Nor doth thy Heav'nly Father milde
Reject and cast off thee.

[Page 59]

SONG III.
Another Dialogue or Combate between the Flesh and Spirit.

Flesh.

[1
OH but I greatly fear,
My sufferings are not such
As Childrens Nurture use to be,
But that they differ much.
They are too great and long
(I fear) to stand with love:
Such overwhelming strokes, me-thinks,
Do rather hatred prove.

[2]
Were I a Childe of God
He would more gently deal:
Nor would he alwayes use the Rod,
But sometimes help and heal.
But I am day by day
Afflicted very sore:
My sufferings have been many years,
And still are growing more.

Spirit.

[Page 60]

[3]
God doth more gently deal
Then thou considerest well:
Lam. 3.22, 23.
For had he us'd extremities
Thou hadst been now in Hell.
He is not so severe
As thou imaginest;
For some, that were to him most dear,
Have been much more distrest.

[4]
Gen. 27.43▪ 44. 
 [...] Gen. 31.28, 41.
Jacob from 
Esau's rage
To 
Padan-Aram sent,
The toyl and pain of twenty years
Hard service under-went;
Oft being circumvented
By 
Laban's subtile feats:
But he was fain to be contented
For he knew no deceits.

[5]
Gen. 32.6, 7. Chap. 34.
 [...] ▪ 30. Chap. 35.
 [...], 22. 
 [...].
Thou know'st what sorrows great
He after passed through,
One trouble hardly over-blown
Before he met a new▪

Moses brought up a Prince,
From 
Egypt Banished
Lived in Exile forty years,
And laboured for his bread.

[Page 61]
[6]
Joseph an innocent,
Gen. 27.28.
Through Bretherens cruel hate,
Was sold to strangers, and so brought
Into a servile state.
No sooner gains he favour
I'th' eyes of 
Potiphar:
But is accused of that Crime,
Gen. 39.17.
Which he did most abhor.

[7]
His Master is incens'd,
Vers. 19▪ 
 [...]. Psal. 105.18.
The innocent is shut
Into a Dungeon dark, his hands
And feet in fetters put.
And though the Lord was pleas'd
This rigour to abate
After some time; yet dwelt he long
In this imprisoned state.

[8]
The Church was sore opprest
Exod▪ 1.14.
In 
Egypt many a day,
And made like Slaves, with rigour too,
To serve in brick and clay.
And though they cry'd to God
Exod. 2.23.
With groans and many tears:
Yet were they in this Bondage held
Above an hundred years.

[Page 62]
[9]

Read Job 1st & 2d 
 [...]
What thinkest thou of 
Job
And his great Sufferings?
Do not thy griefs, compar'd with his,
Seem light and little things?
So dismal was his case,
So strange his sorrows all,
Job 4.7. 
compared with
As Wise ones thought could unto none
But wicked men befall.

[10]
Job 42.7, 8.
But God befools them for it,
And lets them understand
That 
Job was such an upright man,
As none was in the Land:
That notwithstanding all
That he had undergone
For a long time, yet was he still
His most beloved one.

[11]

David a man of God,
One after God's own heart,
In his long lasting Banishment
Of sorrows had his part;
Deprived of God's House,
1 Sam. 26.1, 18, 19.
Hunted from place to place,
With restless feet and weary steps
Forc'd up and down to trace:

[Page 63]
[12]
Flying to save his life,
In Caves and Forrests hiding▪
Untill at length in 
Ziklag-Town

 [...] Sam. 27.6. Chap. 3
 [...].3
 [...].
He found some safe abiding.
E're long his Town is burnt,
His Wives are Captive taken,
His Souldiers speak of stoning him,
He seems of all forsaken.

[13]
Had 
David said, God hates me,
In this his greatest need
When as all other Comforts fail'd,
He had been poor indeed.
But in his deep distress,
And over-bearing grief,
He comforted himself in God,
And from him found relief.

[14]
Heman from youthful years
Psal. 
 [...].
Was ready for to die,
Distracted with amazing fears
He cries continuallie;
Complaining that the Lord
His face away did hide,
Had made his wrath pass over him,
And cast his Soul aside.

[Page 64]
[15]
Yet 
Heman was a Saint,
And calls the Lord his God,
Verse 1.
God of his Health, 'midst all complaints
And lashes of the Rod.
Take courage then my Soul,
And put away thy fear:
Thy sufferings well may stand with love,
Although they greater were.

[16]
And as for length of Time;
Examples do thee show,
That divers Saints have Sufferers been
A longer time then thou:
So that it well appears,
That altereth not the case,
(Of man's short life the longest Time
Is but a little space)

[17]
For what are twenty years
Unto E
 [...]ernity?
Eternal Rest will make amends
For all this Misery.
When Time shall pass away
Like an untimely Birth,
These transient Griefs shall be forgot,
Or thought upon with mirth.

[Page 65]

SONG IV.
A Dialogue wherein the Speakers are Distressed Conscience and Rectified Judgement.

Consc.

[1]
'TIs not Affliction barely
That doth my Soul distress:
But rather multitude of sins
Psal. 38.3▪4.
And mine own wickedness.
Nor is it former faults
That now are brought to minde,
So much, as swarms of present sins
And hateful Lusts I finde.

[2]
Had ever any one
So vile a heart as mine?
So barren under all God's pains
Nurture and discipline?
The Saints of God have found
Affliction to sever
Their Souls from sin; but I finde mine
More boisterous now then ever.

[Page 66]
[3]
Ezek. 24.
 [...]3.
This makes me greatly fear
And question mine estate;
Lest I be nothing else but dross
Jer. 6.28, 29, 30.
And silver reprobate,
That is not purify'd
By passing through the fire,
Fit to be trampled under foot
And troden in the mire.

Judgment.

[4]
Conscience, this is a Time
Wherein thou art benighted,
And seest not things as formerly,
Because thou art dim-sighted.
Job 33.23.
Now therefore haste to some
Thy doubts that answer may:
Or for the present hark to me,
And hear what I shall say.

[5]
While Physick is at work,
Ill Humours are disturb'd:
So while Chastisements are at work,
Corruptions may be stirr'd.
They do but shew what was
Within the heart before:
They may discover hidden Lusts,
They do not make them more.

[Page 67]
[6]
God hath ordain'd the Rod
Prov. 3.11, 12.
To do his Children good;
And this the Saints in God's due time
Have felt, and understood:
Not alwayes presently,
And while the smart is on:
Job 3. Psal 77.2, 3, 4, 7.
For some of them have then cry'd out,
As if they were undone.

[7]
No chast'ning joyous is,
Heb. 12.11.
But seems at present hard:
Yet brings forth fruits of Righteousness,
And sweet Peace afterward.
Therefore my sinful Soul,
And doubting Conscience,
Hope well for after-fruit; and do'nt
Judge all by present sense.

[8]
Gods Physick is at work
To purge Corruption out:
And this in time he will effect,
Believe and do not doubt,
He first discovereth sin,
Shews thee what wanting is,
Makes thee to feel thy need of help,
And mourn for what's amiss.

[Page 68]
[9]
This is some hopeful fruit,
And do not this despise:
J
 [...]b 42.6.
For God is making thee more vile
And base in thine own eyes.
Builders may be at work
Before thou see a Stone:
God may be working good for thee,
Though thou discernest none.

Consc.

[10]
Oh but my heart is hard,

 [...]. 63.17.
Much like the Adamant:
It cannot weep, nor mourn for sin,
Nor pour out its complaint.
It cannot kindly melt,
Though daily sins abound
In thought, affection, word, and deed,
Which Conscience prick and wound.

Judgm.

[11]
There may be tenderness

Compare Is
 [...] 63.17 
with Chap. 64 6, 7, 8.
Where hardness most is felt:
And notwithstanding want of Tears
The heart may truely melt.
All are not broken-hearted
That store of Tears can weep:
And some that have them not, may have
Humiliation deep.

[Page 69]
[12]
He that bewails his sins
Psal 51.2, 3▪ 4, 7, 10. Isa. 1▪ 16, 17, 18.
Because they God offend,
That tr
 [...]ly hates them, Pardon begs,
Endeavours to amend:
That flies to Christ for grace
To mortifie his Lust,
Jer. 3
 [...].18▪ 19.
That mourns because he mourns no more;
This man repents I trust.

[13]
Doth not my Soul do thus
(Speak Conscience) day by day?
I know that thou wilt speak the truth:
Thou canst not this gainsay.
Well then be comforted,
And doubt not of thy state▪
But still endeavour every sin
More thorowly to hate.

[14]
And labour for to taste
Eph. 3.
 [...]8, 
 [...]9.
The sweetness of Christ's love▪
Nothing can m
 [...]lt the heart lik
 [...] [...]h
 [...]s
Ps
 [...]l. 119.135, 136.
Sweet Sun-shine from abo
 [...]e▪
This can the Rock dissolve,
And make the waters flow
Out of the hardest flinty Heart,
1 Joh. 4.1
 [...] ▪
Where never good did grow.

[Page 70]

SONG V.
A Dialogue between the Flesh and Spirit.

Flesh.

[1]
BUt oh me-thinks the Lord
Is angry with my Prayers,
The more I cry to him for help
The worse it with me fares.
The more I sue for grace
And beg for some relief:
The more he lets me be distrest,
And doubled is my grief.

[2]
I fear he reckoneth
My Prayers to me, for sin,
And rather is displeas'd therewith.
Then takes delight therein.
If God reject my Prayer,
I fear he me rejects.
For how can he despise their Prayer
Whose persons he respects?

Spirit.

[Page 71]

[3]
Against his people's Prayers
The Lord sometimes may smoke,
Psal. 8
 [...].4.
When some sin unrepented of
His anger doth provo
 [...]e▪ 
Psal 66.18.
If 
David sin regard
God will not hear his Prayer:
To search for, finde out, mourn for sin,
L
 [...]m 
 [...].40.
My Soul make this thy care.

[4]
God puts thee upon search,
Josh. 
 [...].1
 [...].14.
Would have thee diligent
To finde out what offensive is▪
And to be Penitent.
Be thou displeas'd with s
 [...]n,
Jer 3.12, 13, 14, 22. Chap. 3
 [...].19.20.
And hee'll be pleas'd with▪ thee:
Hee'll turn to thee his face, if thou
Turn from iniquitie.

[5]
Some-Times the Lord delayes▪
And makes us long to wait▪
For other ends▪ as for to make
Us more importunate,
Mat. 15.23, 24▪ 
to 29.
To try our Self-denial,
Our Faith, Love, Patience.
Sometimes to make his Power shine forth
In-our deliverance.

[Page 72]
[6]
He lets our troubles grow
Exod. 14. & 15 Cha­pters.
Unto the greater height,
That his Salvation might appear
More glorious in our sight.
For these, and other more,
Such great, and gracious Ends
The Lord defers to hear our prayer,
For he no hurt intends.

[7]
Gen. 18.19.
Our Prayers are sometimes heard,
Not just unto our minde,
Yet heard they are, and answered
In some far better kinde.
2 Cor. 12 8, 9.
God may deny to grant
That thing that we request,
Yet answer in a better thing,
For he knows what is best.

[8]
Be silent then frail Flesh,
Thou savourest not these things:
Thy wisdom doth but vex my Soul;
Leave off thy Reasonings.
Gen. 3.
Satan by Serpents mouth
Mankinde did undermine:
And I perceive he now assayes
To ruine me by thine.

[Page 73]

SONG VI.
Another Combate between the Flesh and Spirit.

Flesh.

[1]
SOul thou hast cause to fear
Thy Faith will not hold out:
And that it is but counterfeit
Thou do'st so often doubt.
See what a mighty power
Of Unbelief prevails
From time to time! and how thine heart
And Faith thee often fails!

Spirit.

[2]
Oh sly and sinful Flesh!
Thou art a treacherous Thief,
That robs me of my Faith, and then
Condemns for Unbelief.
They're thy suggestions vile
(That do'st with Hell comply)
That make me doubt, who otherwise
On Christ alone rely.

[Page 74]
[3]
John 1.12▪ Acts 8.37 1 Cor. 1.30▪ Phil. 3.9▪ 10. Heb. 12.14.
Whole Christ with all my heart
I earnestly embrace;
And for my whole Salvation I
Relie upon his grace:
Renouncing all my own
Both Righteousness, and Sin▪
Endeav'ring Holiness, as well
As Happiness, to win.

[4]
And blessed be the Lord,
Phil. 1.6.
Who will compleat my Faith,
Weak though it be, as he the same
At first begotten hath:
1 Pet. 1.5. Mat. 16.18.
Mean while he it supports;
And as himself doth tell,
It never shall be vanquished
By all the force of Hell.

[Page 75]

SONG VII.

Satanical injections foul

Shall not undo the godly Soul

That them bewails, resists and h [...]tes,

Nor need such question their estates.

[1]
I May not here neglect
Another case to minde,
Wherewith some precious Souls to be
Full sore agriev'd I finde:
A case calamitous,
Beyond the help of man;
For out of Satans deadly gripe
Christ onely rescue can.

[2]
Blasphemous, hellish thoughts
Into his minde are cast
Concerning God; which make him quake,
And stand like one agast.
Imaginations black,
And Fancies filthy-foul
Are darted in with violence,
Which stab him to the Soul.

[Page 76]
[3]
Which way soe're he turns
His Understanding's ey,
Think what he will, these fancies vi
 [...]e
Do meet him presently.
Poor Soul he them resists
And struggleth as for life:
But yet he cannot keep them out
By all his care and strife.

[4]
The more he with them strives,
The more they wound and vex him▪
The more he dreads and feareth them,
The worse they do perplex him.
And when he meditates
Or prayes to God for grace,
Then most of all such horrid thoughts
Do stare him in the face.

[5]
This makes him dread to pray,
Or reade, or meditate,
Because such thoughts mix with his prayers
As God, he knows, doth hate.
For all these Blasphemies
And thoughts that Hell suggests,
He judgeth them his own hearts sins,
Although he them detests.

[Page 77]
[6]
Experience daily shews
It may befall a Saint
To be thus dogg'd with Hell's black Hounds
Until he almost faint.
And barely this to know,
That ever any were
Thus exercis'd that feared God,
May mitigate thy fear.
Lam. 2.13▪

[7]
It yields us some support
To know we're not alone,
But that through such a dismal way
Some have before us gone.
But for to come more near,
And speak unto thy grief
What in a few lines may be spoke,
The answer is in brief;

[8]
Such thoughts how vile soever
And full of Blasphemy,
They are no further our own sins
Rom. 7.1
 [...], 20.
Then we with them comply.
They are the Devils sins,
And his suggestions foul,
Not thine who mournest under them
And ha
 [...]'st them with thy Soul.

[Page 78]
[9]
Be not discouraged;
God will not them impute
To thee, but unto him who do'th
Those poisoned Arrows shoot.
But, oh thou wilt complain,
Rom. 7.23, 24.
My heart is tinder-like
As prone and ready to take fire,
As Satan is to strike.

[10]
Well, let it humble thee
To feel a treacherous part
A sinful Self; a wicked Flesh
Remaining in thy heart.
Yet for thy comfort know,
Thou hast not lost the field,
So long as thou do'st sin resist,
And strivest not to yield.

[11]
Are wicked thoughts thy load
Psa. 119.113.
And heavy burden still,
From which thou longest to be freed
Rom. 7.17, 23, 24, 25▪
As from the greatest ill?
The Lord is nearer thee
Then thou art well aware:
He keeps thee that thou art not caught
Psal. 91.3
By Satans deadly snare.

[Page 79]
[12]
Yea though Temptations strong
May thee sometimes surprise;
If by Repentance from thy falls▪ 
Psa▪ 32.
 [...].
God helps thee to arise:
Fear not, all turns to gain;
For Gold is purify'd,
And loseth nothing, but its dross,
By being often try'd.

[13]
Christ hath the Devil fast,
Luke 1
 [...].3
 [...].
And holds him in a Chain,
And that he may not swallow thee
He doth him still restrain.
He can no longer vex thee
Rom. 1
 [...] 2
 [...].
Then Christ shall him permit
Who will in season take him off,
When he shall see most fit,

[Page 80]

SONG VIII.

[1]
ANd now for such as feel
These hellish Buffettings,
And anguish of these sudden darts,
Which are the Serpents stings;
I shall a word or two
Of Counsel here annex:
God make them useful unto — some
Whom Satan doth perplex.

[2]
Exod. 20.9. Eccles 4.9, 10, 11, 12 Matth. 6.6.
Follow thy Calling close.
Love not to be alone;
Save onely when by secret Prayer
Thou makes to God thy moane.
Omit not secret Prayer,
Nor other Means neglect:
The Tempter hath thee where he would,
If once he that effect.

[Page 81]
[3]
Thy help is in the Lord;
Hos. 13 9. Ezek. 36.37.
From him it must be sought:
Use thou the Means, and wait his time,
Who lingers not for nought.
Thy Prayers are poor and vile;
Yet do not them forgoe:
For what were that, but for to give
Thy weapon to thy Foe!

[4]
Cry mightily to God
2 Cor. 12.8. Psal. 56.3
When other Helpers fail:
Relie upon him stedfastly,
When terrours thee assail.
The more the Devil strives
(For this is all his scope)
To rob thee of thy Spiritual Arms,
1 Thess. 5.8. Heb. 10.35.
The faster hold thy hope.

[5]
Bewail the sin that cleaves
Rom 7.24, 25.
Unto thine holy things,
And look unto the Blood of Christ
1 Joh. 2.1, 2. Matth. 8.26
Which acceptation brings.
Be not too much dismay'd,
Nor 'stonished with fear:
But unto Christ who is thy strength
Labour to keep more near.

[Page 82]
[6]
Mat. 14.30.
Distracting horrid Fear
The Soul of strength deprives,
Draws in these thoughts, and to the Devil
A great advantage gives.
Jam. 5.16.
Adventure not to smother
Temptations in thy brest:
Keep not the Devil's counsel, if
Thou do'st the same detest.

[7]
Make out for help in time;
2 Cor. 
 [...]1.3.
Lest by some subtile wile,
Or hidden craft to thee unknown,
The Serpent thee beguile.
Temptations are like Poison,
Provide an Antidote:
'Tis easier mischief to prevent,
Then cure it when 'tis got.

[8]
Jer. 4.14.
Recall not wicked thoughts
Of them to take a view
(No not to make thee loath them more)
Lest thou this folly rue:
But thrust them out of doors,
Jam. 4.7.
And strongly say them nay;
And if thou canst not rid them so,
Flee thou, and run away.

[Page 83]
[9]
Be not thou like the Sheep,
That, being in a maze,
In stead of running from the Woolf
Stand still and at him gaze:
Till having one devour'd
He comes to worry more,
And then they run, but stand again
Still gazing as before.

[10]
Bemoan thy self to God;
Psa. 119.113.
In generall them confess:
But if thou think them o're again
They will thee more distress.
Let every Christian man
Gen. 6.5. Prov. 24.9. Psal. 81.12.
Unto his thoughts take heed:
For God can whip thee with thy thoughts,
Until he make thee bleed.

[11]
Give not thy minde to think
Of vain or evil things,
As thou desirest to escape
These hellish Buffettings.
Thus I have briefly given
My Counsel in this case.
The Lord direct thee what is good
To follow and embrace.

[Page 84]

Reader, I give thee here

Two Songs in other Meetre:

I hope they will not make a jarre,

But close up all the sweeter.

SONG IX.

[1]

 [...]sa 30 1.
LOrd from the deeps I cry'd to thee.
2
My voice Lord do thou hear;
Unto my supplications voice
Let be attent thine ear.
3.
Lord who should stand? if thou O Lord
Should'st mark iniquitie:
4.
But with thee there forgiveness is
That feared thou may'st be.

[2]
Psa. 65.3.
Works of iniquity prevail
Against me sore do they:
But as for our Transgressions
Thou shalt them purge away.
Micah 7.18.
For who's a God like unto thee
Pard'ning iniquity?
And the transgression of his folk
That freely passeth by?

[Page 85]
[3]
I for the Lord wait, my soul waits;
Psal. 130.5.
And I hope in his Word.
Then morning watchers watch for morn,
6.
My soul more for the Lord.
Let Israel for Jehovah stay,
7.
In waiting hopefully:
Because that with Jehovah there
Is kinde benignity.

[4]
I to the Lord from my distress
Jonah 2.2.
Did cry, and he gave ear:
Out of Hells belly I did cry,
And he my voice did hear.
Why therefore should I be afraid
Ps
 [...]l 49.5.
In dayes that evil be?
When as my heels iniquity
About shall compass me.

[5]
My soul, 
 [...] wherefore dost thou bow
Psal 42.11.
Thy fell 
 [...]own heavily?
And wherefore in me makest thou
A stir tumultuously?
Hope thou in God, because I shall
With praise him yet advance:
Who is my God, he also is
Health of my Countenance.

[Page 86]
[6]
Isa. 126.3, 4.
Upon the Lord for evermore
See that your selves you stay;
For there is in Jehovah store
Of strength that lasts for ay.
In peace, in peace thou wilt him keep
Whose minde is staid on thee;
Because that in thy self, O Lord,
His trust repose doth hee.

[7]

 [...]ai. 50.10.
Though such as truly fear the Lord,
And's Servant's voice obey,
Walk in the dark and have no light:
Themselves yet let them stay
With confidence upon their God,
And in the Lord's Name trust.
11.
But such as walk by their own fire,
Lye down in sorrow must.

SONG X.
A Dialogue or Discourse between the Believing Soul and her Saviour.

Soul.

OH Christ my grief is such,
Because I love not much;
As addeth to my sore,
Because I grieve no more.

[Page]

Give me a broken heart,

That may both bleed and smart,

That I so often stray,

That I no more obey.

Oh make me love thee dearly,
And trust in thee sincerely:
And help me well to prove
Mine interest in thy Love.

That God Omnipotent
Is freely-well-content
To cancel all my debts,
And all my sins forgets.

O Christ let me be thine▪
And be thou wholly mine:
Let me be thine entire;
Be thou mine I desire.

Sav.

Ah poor distressed Soul
So sad and sorrowful,
That weakly dost believe
And wouldst more strength receive;

Behold at thy request
I'm here full ready prest
To save and succour thee;
Fear not to come to mee.
Mat. 14.28, 29.

[Page 88]

Thou didst mine aid implore,

And now it's at thy doore.

Malac. 4.2.

I am thy Surgeon,

Do not thine Healer shun.

Do'st with thine heart embrace
Joh. 1 12. Mat. 13.44.
Both me and all my grace?
Canst me thy Treasure make,
And for thy Portion take?

Psal. 119.94. Mat. 11.29.
Do'st thou thy self resigne,
And yieldest to be mine?
Would'st thou as willinglie
Be rul'd as sav'd by me?

Joh. 6.37.40.
Then I my self entire
Do yield to thy desire.
Believe and do not doubt
I will not cast thee out.

I am and will be thine;
Eph. 1.3, 6, 7.
And all this wealth of mine
Dear purchased by me
I freely give to thee.

Gal. 5.22. Psal. 130.8.
L
 [...]ght, pardon, joy, and peace,
Eternal life, and ease,
With full Redemption,
Shall be thy Portion.

[Page 89]

Also my Father mild

John 20.17. John 14.16, 17.

Thy Father will be styl'd:

My Spirit the Comforter

Shall be thy Strengthener.

He shall thy Will renew
Ezek. 36.26, 27.
And by degrees subdue
Thy Lusts, and all thy foes
That Holiness oppose.

He will to thee impart
An humble broken heart,
Increase of Spiritual strength,
And Victory at length.

Doubt not poor soul; Be strong
Psal. 27.14. John 14.27.
For me that waitest long:
And fear not to believe
That I my peace thee give.

Upon me wholly roll
Psal. 37.3, 4, 5.
The Burden of thy Soul:
Thy self upon me stay,
And then rejoice for ay.

Soul.

Is This my Saviour's voice
That bids me to rejoice?
To me, vile wretch this word
Directest thou▪ dear Lord!

[Page]

Will God be reconcil'd

To one that is so vil'd?

Wilt thou thy self bestow

On me so base and low?

Shall I now live for ay
That went so long astray?
Wilt thou such grace out-stretch
Unto a sinful wretch?

O Gracious Grace indeed!
Shown in a time of need.
O God of Grace, 
All Grace!
How pleasant is thy face!

Psal. 116.1, 2, 12.
To God what shall I render?
Who me vouchsafes to tender
In this my low estate,
Which was so desolate.

Had I a thousand hands
To do what he commands;
Ten thousand Hearts to love him,
To fear him, and improve him,

As many Lives t'expose
And for his sake to lose:
Yet could I never do him
The service that I ow him.

[Page] [...]

[Page 91]

Thy Love doth all surmount,

Ephes. 3.18, 19.

And is beyond account:

I never can express

Sufficient thankfulness.

Yet help me to endeavour
2 Cor. 5.14, 15. Psal. 73.25.
To honour thee for ever;
Thee onely to desire,
Love, Reverence, and Admire:

Thee let me ever serve,
And never from thee swerve:
Let this sweet face of thine
Upon me alwayes shine.

Let no sin interpose
To hide, or make me lose
Thy Countenances light,
Which on me shines so bright.

[Page 92]

Sick mens Health.

FOr Sick men to be well,
For those that are in pain
To finde some ease, recover strength,
And to wax whole again
(By Means or else without)
This is no Novelty:
But to be sick and well at once,
This is a Mystery.

And for our Sicknesses
To be a Salve to heal.
Our deadly Sores, a soveraign Balm
For to procure our weal;
This is a 
Paradox,
Hard to be understood:
But these discourses following▪
Explain, and make it good.

I shall not intermeddle
With the Physicians Art:
Nor Medicines prescribe, which may
Relieve thy Body's smart.

[Page 93]But what may help thee bear
Thine outward Misery
With Patience, as becomes a Saint,
And to get good thereby.

Meditation I.

[1]
OF all Afflictions that
The outward man oppress,
None are more grievous to endure
Job 2.4, 5.
Then Pains and Sicknesses;
Especially if great,
And long continuing:
Oh what vexation to the Flesh,
And Anguish do they bring:

[2]
Yet may such anguish great
Befall a childe of God:
Not from an Enemie's wrath, but from
His gentle Father's Rod.
God chasteneth his in love
Heb. 12.6, 7.
Ev'n when he seems severe,
Exempting not from smarting stripes
Those whom he counts most dear.

[Page 94]
[3]
Job 2.7, 8.
Most Patient holy 
Job
Was broken out all o're
With painful boils from head to foot
Loathsome, and grievous sore.
What strange Extremities
Befell this precious Saint
Chap. 2.12, 13.
His Friends astonishment declares,
So doth his own complaint.

[4]
His Visage was so marr'd
Familiars knew him not.
Job 30.17, 18, 
 [...]7, 30.
His stiffened Garment girt him like
The Collar of his Coat
With running of his Sores:
His bowels boil'd within:
His bones were burnt with fervent heat
Chap. 19.20.
And clave unto his skin.

[5]
His bones were pierc'd with pain;
His sinews took no rest:
Besides the many other woes
Wherewith he was opprest.
He could attain no ease
Nor respite, not a little;
Chap. 7.19.
No not so long as till he might
Have swallowed down his Spittle.

[Page 95]
[6]
Religious 
HezekiahIsai. 28.1, 12.
Whose Zeal for God excell'd,
(In whose defence the Lord of Hosts
Had Proud 
Sennacherib quell'd)
With Sickness great and sore
Was sharply visited,
And in the middest of his dayes
Was numbered with the dead.

[7]
He poureth out complaints
Vers. 3, 14.
And cries to God above.
He like a Swallow chattereth
And mourneth as a Dove.
But when the Lord him hears,
And doth Salvation give,
He then can see, and also say,
That by such things men live.
Ver. 16.

[8]
Good 
Lazarus may be sick,
John 11.3, 14.
Though Christ's beloved Friend:
Yea of his Sickness he may die,
And to the grave descend.
Poor 
Lazarus the Beggar
Luke 16.20, 21, 22.
Laid at the Rich mans doores
To beg relief, he may be sick
And also full of sores:

[Page 96]
[9]
He may through Sickness die,
Or through distressing want;
And yet be carried unto Heaven
And crowned for a Saint.
So then 'tis no new thing
The Saints of God to see
Under Diseases, Sickness, Pain,
And sore Extremitie.

Meditation II.

[1]
ANd now my Soul, go to,
For thine instruction
Rom. 15.4.
What canst thou learn, when thou art told
What Saints have undergone?

Soul. I see I have too long
Lam. 2.13.
Me with my self compar'd,
And by much poreing on my self
Have been too much ensnar'd.

[Page 97]
[2]
I thought my own condition
Sometimes more sad then any:
But now I see I have not felt
One half so much as many.
These Saints forementioned,
It plainly doth appear,
Have suffered more in one Months time,
Then I have in a Year.

[3]
Nay when I ponder well
What 
Job did once endure:
My Pains and mine Infirmities
Are but Flea-bitings sure.
The Lord was just, I know,
In all that them befell:
Both just and gracious toward me
I may account him well.

[4]
He hath not punish'd me
Job 1
 [...].6.
So much as I deserve,
That from his just Commandements
So much and often swerve.
And should be still afflict me
Much more then yet he hath:
He will not wrong me,
Lam. 3.22, 39.
 who deserve
His everlasting Wrath.

[Page 98]
[5]
And howsoe're the Lord
Be pleas'd with me to deal;
Although he never in this world
Should me release or heal;
Mat. 26.39. Lam. 3.29.
O let my Will submit
To his, that is most just;
Let me not murmure, but abase
My self unto the dust.

[6]
1 Thess. 5.18.
Lord make me thankful too
For all that gentleness
Which in thy Chastenings towards me
Thou daily do'st express.
For Mercy 'tis, that I
Who more, much more, transgress,
Then many of God's precious Saints,
Am yet afflicted less.

[Page 99]

Meditation III.

[1]
THough Christ were never sick,
Yet sure he under-went
Such piercing bitter pains,
Psal. 22.14, 15, 16.
 as were
More then equivalent:
And by his Sufferings
He took away the sting
1 Cor. 15.55, 56, 57.
Of all our Sufferings, Sickness, Pain,
And every evil thing.

[2]
Yea he them sanctify'd
By virtue of his Blood,
That they might as effectual Means
Psa. 23▪4. & 119.71 Job 33.19—31. Job 36.8, 9, 10, 11
Promote our Spiritual Good.
For he knew how to make
Trouble the way to Peace,
Sickness the way to soundest Health,
And Pain the way to Ease.

[Page 100]
[3]
Some men have Bodies sound,
But Souls most deadly sick:
Blinde Eyes, hard He
 [...]ts, stiff Wills
'Gainst all Commands that kick.
3 John ver. 2.
Some men have thriving Souls,
Though Bodies not in health:
And God doth make their Bodies Ailes
Promote their Spirit's wealth.

[4]
'Tis better to be sick,
And have thy Soul wax whole:
Then in a Body hail and strong
To have a sickly Soul.
For through Soul-sicknesses
Thou do'st dishonour God:
Who may be honoured when thou bears
Submissively his Rod.

[5]
Diseases bodily
May help thee to do well:
But Soul diseases, if not cur'd,
Will carry thee to Hell.
Our Bodies may sometimes
Need Physick, more then Food:
So may our Souls need Sicknesses
And Pains, to do them good.

[Page 101]
[6]
Our Bodies Sicknesses
Are Physick for the Soul,
Corrected by a skilful hand
That can its force controll:
Who will so moderate,
And qualifie the same,
That it shall do no hurt, but good▪
Oh blessed be his Name!

[7]
By these he doth prevent
Much hurt that might be got;
Preserves us from Infectious Air
As by an Antidot,
'Gainst Constitution sins
Whereto our Nature bends▪
And those whereto our Calling leads,
Hereby he us defends.

[8]
By these he purgeth out
Isa. 1.25. J
 [...]b 34.31, 32.
Bad Humours, namely Pride▪
Self-love, Impatience, Worldliness,
And many more beside.
By these he doth our Wills
Unto his Will subdue:
And makes us Peace, with Holiness,
Heb. 12.10▪ 11.
And heavenly things pursue.

[Page 102]
[9]
By these he quickeneth us
Our duty to attend,
Makes sin more bitter, teacheth us
To minde our latter end.
Job 42.5, 6.
By these he rend'reth us
More vile in our own eyes,
And helpeth us more heartily
His favour for to prize;

[10]
Makes Christ more precious to us
And Earthly things more vain.
Rom. 8.23.
By these he doth from too much love
Of present things us wean:
Makes us to think of home,
And long for Heavenly Rest,
Whilest here we feel our selves to be
With endless griefs opprest.

[11]
2 Cor. 4.16, 18.
As th' outward man decayes
And is consum'd away,
The inward man thus gathereth strength
And vigour every day.
Who would not Physick take
Such Health for to procure?
And that their souls such gains might make,
A little smart endure?

[Page 103]

Meditation IV.
A Dialogue wherein the Speakers are Fear and Faith.

Fear.

[1]
BUt what if Sickness bring
Extremity of Pain?
How shall I then have Patience, or
Good thoughts of God maintain?
I know Extremities
Are grievous for to bear:
And, which more grievous is, I shall
Dishonour God, I fear.

Faith.

[2]
Dread not Extremities
My Soul, thou need'st not fear it,
But if God please to lay more Pain,
Hee'll give more strength to bear it.
Such is his Faithfulness
Psal. 37.24. I
 [...]a. 63 9.
He will no Burthen throw
Upon thy back, but what himself
Will help thee undergo.

[Page 104]
[3]
Thy Strength is very small,
Thy Patience that is less;
Thy Foes are strong, the World, the Devil▪
And thine own Wickedness.
Thou canst but little bear,
As well as little do:
Deut. 33.27.
But th'Everlasting Arms can bear
Thee, and thy Burthen too.

[4]
If those Almighty Arms,
That made the World, infold thee:
No matter what the Pressure be;
Psal. 55.22.
Doubtless they will uphold thee.
His Spirit helps us bear
Our greatest Miseries,
Ro. 8.26. 
 [...].
And takes our Burthens heavier end
In our Extremities.

[5]
If that our Pains increase,
And grow upon us sore:
2 Cor. 1.5. 1 Cor. 10 13.1
 [...]
He makes our Comforts to abound,
And Spirituall Joyes, much more.
For God most faithfull is,
That lets not his be try'd
Beyond their strength; but them supports,
That they may it abide.

[Page 105]
[6]
When left unto our selves,
1 Sam. 25.22. 
compared with 2 Sam. 16.10, 11.
Small Trials vex us sore:
And greater ones are better born,
When God assists us more.
In lesser straits, God's help
We are less apt to minde:
In greater straits we seek him more,
And more assistance finde.

[7]
Hence then Extremities
Which make us for to roll
Upon God's Power and Faithfulness
Psal. 37.5. Psal. 55.22.
The Burthen of our Soul:
Which force us out of Self
And unto Heaven send us;
They do but drive us to our Strength,
Deut. 33.26, 27.
For God will succour lend us.

Fear.

[8]
But what if God withhold
His Countenances light
In time of great Extremity,
And leave me in the night?
If God forsake me then,
Alas, my Faith will fail:
And Satan watching for a prey,
Will over me prevail.

Faith.

[Page 106]

[9]
His countenances light
If God from us withdraw,
In Sickness, and with fear of wrath
Be pleased us to aw
 [...]
1 Pet. 1.6 Isai. 54.7, 8.
It's but if there be need▪
And 'tis but for a while;
When th'end is once attain'd, his frown
Is turned to a smile.

[10]
Jer. 33.20, 26.
The Sun can sooner cease
To shine out of the sky:
Then Christ can cease to favour thee,
That do'st on him rely.
Rom. 8.35, 37, 38, 39.
This Earth, that stands so firm,
Shall from her Center move:
Sooner then God Unchangeable
Will take away his Love.

[11]
Nay he will thee support
And strengthen with his Grace:
And while the one hand thee corrects
Cant. 2.6. Heb. 13.5.
The other will embrace.
He will not thee forsake,
Nor leave thee in the mire:
Yea he will bring thy Soul like Gold
Job 23.10.
More bright out of the Fire.

[Page 107]
[12]
Soul, wherefore should'st thou then
Dread Sicknesses, or Pain?
Which in the upshot hurt no Saint,
Rom. 8.28.
But alwayes turn to gain.
Lord, help me to rejoice
When I am chastened,
That thou art now conforming me
29.
To Christ my blessed Head.

Whoso is wise,
Hos. 14.9.
 and doth
These things consider well,
Shall know God's wayes to be most right,
And forth his praises tell.

[Page 108]

Strength in Weakness.

THat weak ones may grow strong
We very often see:
But Strength in Weakness to behold,
This is a Noveltie.

To see a Weak man Strong,
And Strongest when most Weak;
To see the Strong through Weakness fall
And all their bones to break:
This is a 
Mystery
A Christian 
Paradox;
But this ensuing little Key
The Cabinet unlocks.

SONG I.

[1]
MAn's Strength meer Weakness is,
As frail as 
Venice glass:
Isa. 40.6, 7.
And all his Excellency like
The flower upon the grass.

Adam in Paradise,
And in his perfect state,
Gen. 3 6.
When left of God unto himself▪
Could soon degenerate

[Page 109]
[2]
He that was strong at first
Immediately grew weak:
And let the stock of Grace run out,
Like vessels that do leak.
Hence we are all made weak,
Rom. 5.6, 12, 14.
And neither have Free-will
To chuse, nor Power to do what's good,
But onely what is ill.

[3]
But God, the God of Grace,
His Blessed Son imploy'd
And sent to ransome and restore
John 3.17.
What 
Adam had destroy'd.
He having us Redeem'd
And Ransom'd with his Blood▪
And also purchased for us
Rev. 1.5, 6.
All grace and saving good.

[4]
Restoreth us to life,
Eph. 2.5, 6, 1
 [...].
Createth us anew,
Enableth us to do what's good
And evil to eschew▪
But still he keeps the Stock
John 15▪4, 5.
Of grace in his own hand,
And hath not left it unto us
To be at our command.

[Page 110]
[5]
Phil. 4.13.
The strongest Saints have need
Of daily fresh supplies:
And Christ will teach them where their strength
And all their power lies.
Unless the Sun do shine,
Soon vanisheth the Beam:
Unless the Fountain feed it still,
Soon dry'd up is the Stream.

[6]
Hence if the strongest Saints
Begin to grow secure,
Neglect their watch, trust in themselves;
Christ will not this endure.
He leaves them to themselves,
And lets them try their strength:
They fall and feel their weaknesses
Unto their cost at length.

[7]
2 Sam. 11.2, 3, 4.
Thus 
David sadly fell:
And who more strong then 
David?
Or who more graciously himself
In all his straits behaved?

David, while weak, was strong,
And kept his 
 [...]ands most pure:
But in his strength he grew most weak
By being too s
 [...]ure.

[Page 111]
[8]
Peter was confident
Luke 22.33 & 56, 57, 58, 60.
And thought he had much strength
To follow Christ through thick and thin:
But what came on't at length?
He thought his Love so great,
He could with Christ have dy'd:
But ah frail man! e're morning light
He Christ three times deny'd.

[9]
Some haply here will say;
If Saints of such renown

Obi.
Have been so foil'd, and to the ground
In time of Triall thrown;
What will become of me,
That am so weak and frail?
How shall I stand, when violent
Temptations me assail?

[10]
Though God sometimes permit

Sol.
The strongest Saints to fall,
To stain the glory of all Flesh,
And to awaken all:
Yet let not weak ones faint,
Nor be discouraged,
Who feel their wants and weaknesses,
And flee to Christ their Head.

[Page 112]
[11]
Isa. 40.29, 30.
For Christ hath strength enough:
Do thou on him depend,
And he will make thee stand in storms,
And hold out to the end.
For in our weakness great
Christ's strength doth more appear:
We never are so safe, as when
We get to him most near.

[12]
When sense of our own wants,
And manifold defects,
Drives us to Christ our onely strength:
Then he the weak protects.
Hence we are never stronger,
Then when we are most weak:
Because we then most heartily
Christ's help and succour seek.

[13]
2 Cor. 12.5, 7, 9, 10, 11.
Thus 
Paul that great Apostle,
When I am weak, saith he,
Then am I strong; Because the strength
Of Christ then rests on me.
Therefore I rather chuse
In weaknesses to glory,
Then of my Revelations great
To tell an ample story.

[Page 113]

SONG II.

[1]
ANd now for want of strength
And weakness Bodily,
I could say much; For few, I think▪
Have felt it more then I.
I have been many years
So impotent and weak
As none are able to conceive
That onely hear me speak.

[2]
And when I finde most strength
And thereupon assay
To serve the Lord with all my heart
In the most publick way;
Just when I should set forth
Such feebleness assails me
That I am like a man half dead,
All strength and vigour fails me.

[Page 114]
[3]
I go to God and tell him,
Thou Lord hast strength, I want it
To do thee service therewithall,
In faithfulness O grant it.
Thou putt'st me now on service,
And strength in me there's none:
Therefore on thee the God of strength
I will depend alone.

[4]
Mine eyes are wholly thus
Unto the God of strength:
I cast my self upon his Power,
Who succours me at length,
And in the time of need
Doth such assistance give,
That those who hear me scarce know how
My weakness to believe.

[5]
But this is certain truth,
My strength again is gone,
And languishings return, as soon
As e're the work is done.
And every such attempt,
In this my weak estate,
My bodily Ails for divers weeks
Doth much exasperate.

[Page 115]
[6]
By every little doing
I suffer very much:
Yet at God's hand I neither dare,
Nor have I cause to grutch▪
Hath not the Potter power
To frame out of the clay
One vessel for to serve him thus▪
Others another way?

[7]
But I have said enough,
All tending to depress
The Creature, and for to advance
God's Power and Faithfulness▪
For sure his Power shines forth
2 Cor. 12.9. Jer. 9.23, 24. 1 Cor. 1.31.
In our Infirmity;
That whoso glorieth, glory may
In God alone most High.

[Page 116]

SONG III.
A Dialogue wherein the Speakers are Troubled Conscience and Rectified Judgement.

Troub. Consc.

[1]
OH, but my weakness brings
Unserviceableness,
And takes me off from Christ's sweet work▪
Who can this grief express?
When as the Body fails
The Soul, and hindereth it
In all its motions, like a clog;
I am for nothing fit.

Rect. judgm.

[2]
If Christ disable thee
From doing as before,
He calls thee to some other work
That he approveth more.
Passive Obedience
More hard then Active is:
And Christ will own and honour that,
Who owns and crowneth this.

[Page 117]
[3]
Thou still art serving Christ▪ 
1 Pet. 4.12, 13, 14.
Though in another way:
And he thy Service will accept
And crown another day.
Thy Suffering is his work,
Col
 [...]ss. 1.24.
As well as Doing was:
Thy service in a suffering way
Christ rather chosen has.

[4]
If Christ hath call'd thee off,
1 Kings 17.1, 3, 4.5.
After a short assay,
From Publick Service; cease dispute,
And cheerfully obey.
Masters are pleased best,
When as their will is done,
Although a nobler work be left
To do a meaner one.

[5]
If he be pleas'd to make it
Thy business to sit still:
Thou pleasest him the best, by meek
Submission to his Will.
God hath no need of us,
Nor any work of our:
Yet for the deed he takes our will,
Where he denieth power.

[Page 118]
[6]
Although the work be small
Thou canst for him effect:
2 Cor. 8.12.
Yet if there be a willing minde
He doth the same accept.
For not by th'outward bulk
Of what we do fulfill,
God doth esteem our services;
But by the Doers will.

[7]
For this he will reward thee
As richly at the last:
As if thou able wert to do
More work then e're thou wast.
Thou hast a gentle Master,
That sets no cruel task:
But when he deitly abate thy strength
He doth less service ask.

[8]
Do what thou canst, my Soul
For God no more expects:
Luke 12.48.
Where much he gaves, he looks for much;
Where less, hevless accepts.
But make not this a cloak,
Vile Flesh, for Slothfulness:
Deut. 10.2
 [...].
God will be ser
 [...]'d with all our might,
Be 't more, or be it less.

[...]

[Page 123]
[5]
He was a Rich Poor man,
Whose Poverty prepar'd him
For Heav'n: But he a poor Rich man
Whose Worldly Wealth ensnar'd him.
That man is Poor indeed
Both when he lives and dies,
That hath some Treasure here on Earth,
But none above the skies.

[6]
He that enlarg'd his Barns
Luke 18, 20.
To treasure up his store,
Was fetch'd away to Hell that night,
And died worse then poor.
And so is every man,
That being worldly-wise
Provides for th'outward man, but doth
The Heavenly wealth despise.

[7]
All Poor men are not Rich
('Twere happy if they were)
But such as Christ enriched hath,
And unto God brought neare.
All Rich men are not Poor
(That were a wofull case)
But such as have no part in Christ,
Nor any saving grace.

[Page 124]
[8]
Let not the poorest Saint
Despond; for thou art rich:
Nor richest Worldling bless himself▪
For thou may'st be a wretch▪
Mat. 
 [...].33. Luk. 16.9 Luke 12.33.
But let both Rich and Poor
Endeavour to make sure
Of Heavenly Treasure, Spiritual Wealth▪
This onely will ensure.

[9]
If others will be fools
And no true wisdome learn:
Yet what belongs unto my peace,
Lord, help me to discern.
Psal. 17.14.
To have my Portion here
Oh let me never chuse:
Nor for the sake of trifling Toyes
Eternal Joyes refuse.

[10]
My Soul craves better things
Then this World can afford:
Psal. 73.25, 26.
Thou art the Portion that I chuse,
Give me thy self, O Lord.
I shall be richer then,
Then if I were possest
Of all the Riches, that are found
Both in the East and West.

[Page 125]

Meditation II.

[1]
THe World doth value men
According to their Wealth,
Without enquiring how 'tis got,
By Honesty, or Stealth.
What such a man is worth
They commonly declare
By telling what his yearly Rent
Or his Possessions are.

[2]
But God doth more esteem
Mens Virtues then Estates;
And if they have small Grace, or none▪
Accordingly them rates.
When he 
Belshazzar weigh'd
With 
Babel at his back,

 [...]
Although he were an Emperour
He found him weight to lack.

[Page 126]
[3]
I'le not envie the Rich,
Nor will I sleight the Poor:
But what God prizeth more then wealth▪
That I will value more.
For Poor men may be rich,
And Rich men may be poore;
If those have Heavenly wealth, and these
Have none but Earthly store.

[4]
Prov. 11.
 [...]
For Riches profit not
When as the day of Wrath
Is come; But Gospel-Righteousness
Delivereth from Death.
Prov. 12.26.
The Upright man is better,
(Though in a Sheep-skin clad
And fed with Indian Bread and Water)
Then those whom Wealth makes mad.

[5]
Though Riches in the World
Jam. 2.2, 3.
Do make men honourable;
Though Poverty do bring contempt,
And render despicable:
Yet God oft-times bestows
Mat. 11.25.
True Faith with Saving Grace,
And Heavenly Glory upon those,
Whom men account most base.

[Page 127]
[6]
Weak, foolish, mean, obscure,
1 Cor. 1.27, 28.
And such as men despise,
Such are the Persons and the things
Whereon God sets his eyes.
Of such he maketh Sons,
Yea more then Sons,
Jam. 2.5.
 his Heirs
And Fellow-heirs with Christ, that so
The Kingdom may be theirs.

Meditation III.
A Dialogue, the Speakers being, Faith and Unbelief.

Vnbelief.

[1]
THou speakest sleightly how
Of all these outward things:
But what, when Poverty thee wounds
With all her Pois'ned Stings?
What if thy Weaknesses
Bring on distressing wants?
How wilt thou then behave thy self?
Or live without complaints?

Faith.

[Page 128]

[2]
Perhaps I may not live
Those future Months to see:
And then 'twere folly to take thought
For what shall never be.
But if the Lord see fit
That I on Earth abide
Mat. 6.26—34.
A longer time, he can and will

 [...] sustenance provide.

[3]
1 Tim. 6.8.
If I have Meat and Drink,
Though neither of the best,
And Clothes that will but keep me warm,
I shall not be distrest.
Mean things give me content;
For God can mean things bless,
Psal. 37.16.
More then their overflowing Cups
That greatest things possess.

[4]
Those that abound in wealth
May lose it in a night;
And be despoil'd of all they have
Before the morning light:
And if they have no God
To help them in their need;
It matters not what once they were,
They'll then be poor indeed.

[Page 129]
[5]
But he that hath the Lord
Psal. 23.
 [...].
Engag'd by Covenant
To stand his Friend at every turn,
That man can never want,
My Soul be thankful then;
Thou hast a better lot,
Psal. 16.5, 6.
Although thy substance be but small,
Then worldly men have got.

[6]
Thou hast a gracious God
Who never will forsake thee,
Heb. 1 5. Psal. 7 24.
But here on Earth hee'll do thee good,
And then to Heaven take thee.
A blessed Portion He
To all that on him trust:
Whose Souls and Bodies he will feed;
But hee'll not feed their Lust.

[7]
Our Saviour teacheth us
For daily bread to pray;
Mat. 6.11.
Not for a twelve-months Bread at once,
But for each present day:
That so we might on God
From time to time depend,
Believing that our present help
Will help us to the End.

[Page 130]
[8]
Of present things, my Soul,
What present need requires
1 Tim. 
 [...].8, 9. Ma
 [...]. 6 25—34.
Thou dost possess: here stay thy thoughts
And bridle thy desires.
Beware lest future things
Thy careful minde distract:
For carking care can nothing else
But guiltiness contract.

[9]
Rev. 21.7. Gen. 33.
 [...] 
 [...]
Good reason hath the man
To be content with small things,
Who when he is at lowest ebb,
Yet still possesseth all things.
For God is All in all

I have All 
 [...] Ja­cob 
 [...] 17 Ro. 11.
 [...]6
Through Christ his gracious Son,
The Ocean whence all streams proceed,
And into which they run.

[10]
He is a living Spring,
A Fountain never dry:
Though water in the Pitcher fail,
The Fountain can supply.
That man is not i'th'dark,
Psal. 84.11.
That still enjoyes the Sun:
Although his Fire be quite gone out,
And Candle ends be done.

[Page 131]

Meditation IV.

[1]
O Man of little faith!
Behold the winged Fowls,
Mat. 6 26.
The Ravens, Crows, and Cormorants,
The Kites, the Hawks, the Owls,
Also the numerous Doves
Whose flocks make dark the Aire▪
And tell me who for all this Crew
Doth kindly food prepare.

[2]
The Heavenly Father's wise
And wondrous Providence
Gives unto all these Multitudes
Their daily sustenance.
Doth God take care of Fowls
Psal. 149.9. Luk. 12.24.
And hear the Ravens cry?
And can he see his Saints in want
And not their wants supply?

[Page 132]
[3]
Rom. 8.32.
He that did not withhold
From death his onely Son,
But gave him up, that we through him
Might gain Salvation:
He that hath given us
An interest in his Blood,
Will not deny us lesser things
That may promote our good.

[4]
1 Pet. 1.4. Luke 12.32. Mat. 13.43. Mat. 7.9, 10.11.
He that hath called us
To his Inheritance,
And unto royal dignity
Intendeth to advance:
He that will make us shine
In glory like our Head,
Will not put off his Childeren
With stones in stead of Bread.

[5]
For Meat and Drink and Clothes
What need the Childe take care
That hath a Father Kinde and Rich
To tender his welfare?
Isa. 49.15 Psal. 14
 [...] 5. Psa. 
 [...]4.1.
Thy Father is more kinde
Then Earthly Fathers be:
Amongst them all there's none so wise
Nor none so rich as He.

[Page 133]
[6]
If Kinde, he wants not will;
If Rich, he wants not power:
If Wise, he knows what's best to give▪
And when's the fittest hour.
He knows what be thy wants
Ma
 [...]. 6.32. Isa 65.24.
Before thou them declare:
And oft bestows before thou ask
The things that needfull are.

[7]
He hath thy wants prevented,
Rather then wants supply'd:
And not without great cause thy Suit
At other times deny'd.
He knows what things will most
Unto thy weal conduce:
And when such things as may do good
Will be of greatest use.

[8]
Thou oft hast try'd his love,
Luke 22 35.
And found his readiness
To give thee succour and supplies,
Whens'ever in distress.
Let past Experiences
2 Cor. 1.10. Psal. 34 9.10.
Make thee in him confide:
Who will for all that in him trust
Most seas'nably provide.

[Page 134]
[9]
Thou wantest thankfulness:
This calleth for complaint
Against thy self: of other things
Thou hast no present want.
Oh get a thankful Heart;
1 Cor. 1.30. Mat. 7.7.8, 11.
Christ can this want supply▪
And if thou seek it seriously,
Will not thy suit deny.

Meditation V.

[1]
THis Meditation
Mine Heart hath comforted;
Mat 15.26, 27.
 [...]
That he who feeds the Dogs with crumbs,
Will give his Children Bread.
By Bread I mean both that
Which our frail Body feeds,
And also that which doth relieve
Our Spiritual wants and needs.

[Page 135]
[2]
That's Bread of Life indeed,
John 6 27, 51 55.
Which never doth decay:
Which maketh those who thereon feed
To live and thrive for ay.
This Bread makes dead men live;
John 1
 [...] 25.26.
And lets none living dy,
But feeds them to Eternal Life;
This is a Mystery.

[3]
Such Bread Christ Jesus gives,
His own dear Flesh and Blood,
Wherewith he nourisheth our Souls▪
Oh this is wondrous food!
He that the greater gives
Will not the less deny:
Rom. 8 32. 1 Tim 4.
 [...]
But when our Bodies stand in need,
He will their wants supply.

[4]
Again, when I behold
What great things God bestows
On Turks and Pagans (Infidels)
And such as live like those.
I certainly conclude
He hath some better Treasure
To give his Saints, then Worldly-wealth,
Honour, or Carnal Pleasure.

[Page 136]
[5]
For will not God deal better
With Servants, then with Foes?
With Children, then with Enemies
And such as Christ oppose?
Hath not Christ purchased
Far better things for Saints,
Then common bounty here affords
To faithless Miscreants?

[6]
The 
Turkish Empire vast,
What is it? but a Bone
That by the Master of the House
Unto the Dogs is thrown?
The Gold Mynes of the West,
And Riches of the East,
Are often-times possest by one
That lives and dies a Beast.

[7]
If God bestow such gifts
On 
 [...]oody brutish men:
Psal. 31.19. 1 Cor. 2.9.
 [...]
Oh what great things hath he in store
For his dear Childeren!
No mortal eye hath seen,
No Ear did ever hear,
Nor Heart conceive, what Christ prepares
For such as do him fear.

[Page 137]
[8]
Earth's Treasures are but dung,
Phil 38. Amos 2.7.
And carnal Pleasures base,
Unto those Joyes the Saints enjoy
Before Christ's Royal face.
The richest Robes are Rags,
And contemptible geer,
Unto those bright and shining Robes
Mark 9.3.
The Saints in Glory wear.

[9]
The stateliest Palaces,
2 Cor. 5.1—9.
If we should them compare
With those Celestial Mansions,
More vile then Hog-sties are.
What now we have in hope,
We shall have in fruition,
When all ungodly men at once
Are drowned in Perdition.

[10]
My Soul, rejoyce in God,
Who will enrich thee more
Then those, that of all Earthly wealth
Possess the greatest store.
If thou be Christ's, then He,
Cantic. 2.16.
And all he hath is thine.
Oh feast thy self with these sweet thoughts,
And with them sup and dine.

[Page 138]

In Confinement Liberty.

WHat may this Riddle mean?

Confined, and yet Free!

In Bands, yet Loose! A Prisoner,

And yet at Libertee!

'Tis but a Notion sure;

No, No, It's very True,

And that these Pages following

Will prove and plainly shew.

SONG I.

[1]
MOst men love Libertie,
And covet Elbow-room
To have their Wills, to serve their Lusts,
And up and down to rome.
God's Wayes they count a Prison,
Rom. 8.6, 7, 8.
His Precepts and Commands
A heavy Yoke; his Threatenings
Like Fetters and strong Bands.

[Page 139]
[2]
Come let us break their Bands
Psal. 2 3.
And cast their cords from us:
Let's give the Reins unto our Lusts,
And not be Bridled thus.
This Liberty of theirs
John 8.34. Rom. 6.16.
The greatest Bondage is:
For he's a Bondslave unto Sin
That loves to do amiss.

[3]
He is a Prisoner
Eph. 2.2.
Unto his mortal Foe,
Who leads him bound with Cords of sin
Unto Eternal woe.
Such Prisoners may enjoy
External Libertie,
And being under no restraint
They run to Hell more free.

[4]
Ah wofull Liberty!
To such as it abuse;
Which leads them to Captivity,
Who their own Bondage chuse.
Prov. 1 32. & 5.22.
I rather had be bound
With Fetters made of Brass,
Then to enjoy my Liberty
And be at such a pass.

[Page 140]
[5]
Job 36.8, 9, 10.
God bindeth some in Chains,
And in Afflictions Cords,
And by these Bands, unto their Souls
More Libertie affords.
Who would not be in thrall,
Soul-Liberty to gain,
Rather then Sins and Satan's thrall,
And Captive to remain?

[6]

Manasseh was a slave
To Sin, and never free;
2 Chron. 3
 [...].10.11, 12, 13, 15.
Untill his Foes had carried him
Into Captivitie:
But being bound in Chains,
He calls to minde his sins,
Humbleth himself, and to bewail
His former life begins.

[7]
His Prison was a place
Of greatest Libertie:
For from the bondage of his sins
It helpt to set him free.
As Liberty abus'd
Procur'd his Misery:
So Bonds him humbled and prepar'd
For blessed Liberty.

[Page 141]
[8]
While 
Jonah's stubborn will
Jonah 1.
Did over him prevaile
It brought him down into the Deeps
And Belly of the Whale.
That fearful Prison house
Chap. 2.
Him to Repentance brought,
And then for Body and for Soul
Ver. 10.
The Lord Salvation wrought.

[9]
The Basket of good Figs
Jer. 24.
 [...].6, 
 [...] ▪
To 
Babylon were sent
In mercy, that they might be freed
From sorer punishment.
That being humbled there
Under God's mighty hand,
He might return them back again
Into their Native Land.

[10]
Thus some that are in Bonds
By Bondage, get more free:
Others are 
 [...]ett'red with their sins
That walk at libertee.
His own Iniquity
Prov. 5.22.
The wicked man shall take:
His sins, like Cords, shall hold him fast,
And Satan's Prisoner make.

[Page 142]

SONG II.

[1]
THough Liberty it self
Is greatly to be sought;
And they are happy that know how
To use it as they ought;
Especially whose hearts
Esteem and highly prize
And likewise carefully improve
Their Spiritual Liberties.

[2]
Yet when the Lord is pleas'd
Such freedom to deny,
He can another Freedom give
Ev'n in Captivity.
When he our Will subdues,
And helps us be content
With his dispose, there's Libertie
Even in Imprisonment.

[Page 143]
[3]
Man's unsubdued Will
Rom. 8.7, 8. Psal. 119.45, 47. 2 Cor. 
 [...]0.5.
Is a most heavy Chain:
That man may walk at Liberty
That can this freedom gain.
When as the Will is brought
Into Captivity
Unto the holy Will of God;
This is sweet Liberty.
Psal. 119.32.

[4]
Let but the Will be broke,
Phil. 4.11, 12, 13.
Its Tyranny undone,
And other Bands that us restrain
Will quickly be as none.
For then the Soul applies
It self to get that good
Thereby, which God intends, and Christ
Hath purchas'd with his Blood.

[5]
And God that can bring good
Rom. 8.28.
Out of the greatest ill,
If that we seek him seriously,
His Promise will fulfill.
He will unfetter us,
Job 33.27. & 36.8, 9.10.
And set our Souls more free,
Ev'n by restraining Bands, from sin
And Satan's Tyranny.

[Page 144]
[6]
Hee'll wean us from the world,
And all things here below;
Mar. 19.29. 2 Cor. 4.17, 18.
And better things in stead of these
He will on us bestow.
Hee'll set our hearts upon
The things that are above:
And give us more and more to taste
The sweetness of his Love.

[7]
He will enlarge our Souls
To run his Precepts way:
2 Cor. 5.14. 1 Joh. 5.3.
The love of Christ shall us restrain
Most gladly to obey.
And his Commandements
They shall delightfull be.
Thus he can make Restraint a means
Of greatest Libertie.

[8]
Hos. 
 [...] 6, 7, 14.
God hedges up with thorns
The Path of Wanderers,
That have of Creature-comforts been
Too eager Followers,
Stops their pursuit, them brings
Into a Wilderness,
That thereunto their humbled Souls
He may more Love express.

[Page 145]

SONG III.

[1]
THe Saints have never been
To meet with God more free
Then when they have been most depriv'd
Of outward Libertee.
When Banished, Confined,
Impris'ned they have been:
They have God's Presence more enjoy'd,
And more his glory seen.

[2]
When 
Jacob fled from home
Because of 
Esau's spight,
And lay abroad i'ch'open Aire
Gen. 28.11, 12, 13.
Upon the Earth all night:
He saw that wondrous Ladder,
Whose top to Heaven raught,
Which Jesus Christ God-Man, and our
Salvation by him, taught.

[Page 146]
[3]
Exod. 3.1.2, 4, 
to 10.
Moses i'th'Wilderness,
During his Banishment,
Meets with the God of 
Israel,
And is to 
Israel sent
To carry welcome news
Of their deliverance,
And that the Lord would lead them forth
To their Inheritance.

[4]
Dan. 6.22. Dan. 3.25. Rev. 1.9, 10, &c.
Daniel i'th' Lions Den
Had Angels company.
And when those three were in the Fire,
The Son of God stood by.

John in his 
Patmos-Isle
Most glorious Visions had,
And Revelations of such things
As make God's 
Sion glad.

[5]
Acts 16.25, 26.
While 
Paul and 
Silas sing
Together in the Stocks;
The Lord an Earthquake sends, and all
The Prison-doors unlocks.
Acts 23.11. & 27.24.
Sundry sweet Visions
Had 
Paul in his Restraint:
The Lord appearing to confirm
And cheer his Suffering Saint.

[Page 147]
[6]
The time would fail to tell
Examples of this kinde:
These are enough to prove, that Saints
May God in Prison finde,
Where God is most enjoy'd,
There's sweetest Liberty:
But many have enjoy'd him most
In their Captivity.

[7]
Lord, let me more enjoy
Thy Presence in Restraint:
And then of wanting Liberty
I need not make complaint.
My Soul bring out of Prison,
Psal. 142.7.
That I thy Name may p
 [...]a
 [...]se:
Oh set my feet at liberty
To walk in Wisdom's wayes.

[Page 148]

In Solitude Good Company.

TO be alone sometimes
And want no Company
Whil'st men are Musing; this you'll say
Is no great Rarity.
But when we are alone
To have Good Company,
The best that ever man enjoy'd,
This is a 
Mystery.

How such a thing can be,
Although Religion teach it,
And many can discourse thereof,
Yet Nature cannot reach it.

[1]
MAn's Nature sociable
Delights in Company,
Declines and dreadeth Solitude,
And loves Society.
Hence to be stript of Friends,
And to be left alone,
Psal. 102.6, 7.
Must needs be grievous in it self,
A sore Affliction.

[Page 149]
[2]
But bitter though it be,
God's Presence can allay
The Bitterness of Solitude,
And take it quite away.
Our Sav
 [...]our tells the Twelve,
You all desert me w
 [...]ll:
John 16.32.
Yet I am not alone, b
 [...]cause
The Father's wi
 [...]h me still.

[3]
And as he was with Christ
So is he nigh to all
(For Christ his sake) that call on him,
In truth that on him call.
Psal. 145.18.
And he hath promised
To be with his alwayes:
And that he never will forsake
Josh. 1.5.
Nor leave them all their dayes.

[4]
That when they p
 [...]ss through fire
Or water, hee'll be there:
Isa 43.2.
The fire it shall not burn, nor floods
Them drown, 'cause he is neare.
He dwells i'th'burning Bush.
Exod. 3.2, 3.
To see the Fire so blaze,
And yet the Bush keep unconsum'd,
Good 
Moses did amaze.

[Page 150]
[5]
Affliction, though a fire,
God's Saints cannot devour;
Because the Lord dwells in the Bush,
And keeps it by his Power.
The Lord is present still,
And maketh his aboad
With all true Saints; such Company
Hath every Childe of God.

[6]
John 14.23.
If any man me love
He will my words obey;
My Father loves him: we will come
And with him make our stay.
The holy Spirit of Truth,
That sweetest Comforter,
Ver. 16.
He will for ever dwell with those
That true Believers are.

[7]
Oh glorious Priviledge
Of such as God do fear!
Psal. 27.10.
Though other Friends forsake them, yet
The Lord is alwayes near.
Christ holds them in his hand,
John 10.28, 29.
And none shall pluck them out:
The Father, who is more then all,
Them holds; they need not doubt.

[Page 151]
[8]
They dwell in Solitude,
Are in a lonely case,
That have no int'rest in this God,
Nor comfort from his Grace.
For such poor Souls as these
My heart could even bleed:
For when their Creature-comforts fail,
They're left alone indeed.

[9]
I can remember still
That dismal Solitude;
The horrour of that Lonesomness
(And state of Widowhood)
Wherein my Soul was once,
From God estranged farre:
Prov. 15.29.
That was a wilderness indeed.
Such onely Lonesome are.

[10]
But he is not alone
That hath the Trinity,
The Father, Son, and Holy-Ghost,
To keep him company.
Such comforters as these
Isa. 61.3. Zeph. 3.14, 17.
Can chear the Desolate:
And make them sing for joy, who sit
In solitary state.

[Page 152]
[11]
Psal. 41.3▪ Deut. 33.27.
When such a man is sick,
The Lord will make his Bed:
And when he languisheth, his Arms
Are underneath his head.
And when he sits alone,
The Lord will with him talk:
Or if he wander in the Woods,
His God will with him walk.

[12]
Psal. 3.5. Psal. 4 8.
And when he lieth down
He may securely sleep:
Because the Lord in his own Arms
Will him most safely keep.
He may repose himself
Psal. 91.1, 4, 5.
Under th'Almighty's shade:
And in the time of danger great
He need not be afraid.

[13]
God watcheth over him
For good, and not for ill:
When he lies sleeping in his Bed,
The Lord is with him still.
And when he doth awake,
Psal. 139.
 [...].
He may with God converse,
Make known to him his wants, and all
His hearts desires rehearse.

[Page 153]
[14]
Who truly pities him
Psal. 103.13. Psal. 34.6, 7, 10.
Who can his wants supply,
Support him in, and bring him out
Of all his misery.
Of Christ's redeemed ones
This is the happy case:
To such high Fellowship as this
1 John 1.3.
We are advanc'd through Grace.

[15]
Speak then all you that reade:
Can that man be alone?
That hath his God so near, to whom
He may his wants make known.
Had ever any man
Psal. 73.25.
A better Friend then this?
Lord may I but enjoy thee more,
I others less shall miss.

[16]
O turn to me thy face,
And on me mercy show:
Psal. 25.16, 17, 18.
For I am in a lonely case,
Afflicted, poor also.
Mine hearts straits be enlarg'd
Bring me out of distress:
My pain and my affliction see,
And all my sins release.

[Page 154]

SONG II.

[1]
ANd now for such as are
Of dearest Friends bereft,
That in a solitary state
Most desolate are left:
Oh might I speak a word
That might allay your grief,
Instruct you how to bear your Cross,
Or lend you some relief.

[2]
Suppose a Friend had lent thee
A Stock at thy desire,
To make thy best improvement of,
Till he should it require.
Would'st think thy Fried unkinde
For taking of his own,
When as in lending it at all
Great Courtesie was shown?

[Page 155]
[3]
Thy Wife, or Childe, or Friend,
They were but Blessings lent thee:
They were the Lords both first and last;
Psal. 24.2. Mat. 20.15. Job 1.21.
And doth not this content thee?
May not the Lord require,
When he sees fit, his own?
Thou may'st be thankfull unto him
They were no sooner gone.

[4]
Hast thou a part in God?
Canst him thy Father call?
John 20.17.
Assure thy self thou hast a Friend
That doth surmount them all.
This Friend doth still remain,
Psal. 
 [...]7.10. & 102.27.
When other Friends are gone:
Therefore thou needest not to mourn
As if thou wert undone.

[5]
But if thou hast not got
Assurance of this Friend:
Acquaint thy self with him in time
Job 22.21. Joh. 13.1.
Who lives and loves to th'end.
He is a better Friend
Then Father, Mother, Wife,
Or any other dearest Friend
Thou hadst in all thy life.

[Page 156]
[6]
Let but Christ Jesus come,
And dwell within thy Heart:
Isa. 57.15. Psal. 68.5.
And he will chear thee wondrously,
And mitigate thy smart.
He will a Father be
U
 [...]to the Fatherless,
A Husband to the Widow sad,
A Judge in her distress.

[7]
Rev. 3.2
 [...].
Behold! he stands and knocks;
Haste, open speedilie,
And hee'll come in, and thou shalt sup
With him, and he with thee.
Psal. 24.7, 9.
Lift up your heads ye Gates;
Ye Doors that last for ay
Be ye lift up, that enter in
The King of Glory may.

[8]
That Soul may change her chear▪
And be no longer sorry,
That entertaineth such a g
 [...]est,
Even the King of Glory.
Thou canst not be alone,
Nor want Society,
When God the Father, Son, and Spirit,
Shall be thy Company.

[Page 157]

This following Song was penn'd

Eight years agone at least:

I hope it may be useful here

As any of the rest.

SONG III.
A Dialogue between the Flesh and Spirit.

Flesh.

[1]
LOrd any Cross but this
I'le be content to bear:
But oh I cannot part with one
Whom I esteem so dear.

Sp.

Shall mortal man presume
Job 4
 [...] 2.
His Maker to instruct?
Or teach Jehovah in what Paths
He shall his Soul conduct?

[2]
Unto the Lofty One
Is
 [...]. 
 [...]7.15.
Becomes it thee to say,
I will not go to Heaven, Lord,
In such a rugged way?

Fl.

Alas! what means the Lord
To chasten me so sore?
I thought my load was great enough▪
And yet he layes on more.

Spirit.

[Page 158]

[3]
1 Pet. 1.6.
God doth no more inflict
Then he doth needful see:
To need more load where was so much
Should greatly humble thee.
Had gentler Means prevai
 [...]'d
To make thee turn to God:
Lev. 26.21.
'Tis like there would have been no need
Of this more smarting Rod.

Flesh.

[4]
What then? am I more vile
Then all the world beside?
That none but I in such a sort,
That none but I am try'd.

Sp.

Job. 40.4.
'Twere good thou wert more vile,
At least in thine own eyes:
Another's faults excuse not thine;
Thy sin for vengeance cryes.

Flesh.

[5]
But oh my loss is such
As none have had but I.
Did ever any feel the like
To my Calamity?
If every Circumstance
Of mine Affliction
Be weighed well; in such a Path
I think no man hath gone.

Spirit.

[Page 159]

[6]
Thou may'st be much deceiv'd
To think thy case more sad,
And thine Afflictions heavier
Then ever any had.
What if the way be such
As never foot did tread?
Some must go foremost: why not thou,
As well as others, lead?

[7]
What if through uncouth wayes
Jer. 2.6, 7.
God make thee long to trace?
If yet at last he bring thee safe
Unto a resting place:
Shalt thou not have good cause
His mercy to adore?
And to extoll and magnifie
His Name for evermore?

[8]
Are not thy sins much more
Then all thy Sufferings?
Job 11.6.
And do'st not thou deserve from God
Ten times more bitter things?
Small reason hath the man
To murmure at the Cross,
Whom God might justly punish with

 [...] 
 [...].22, 3
 [...] ▪
Eternal Pain and Loss.

[Page 160]
[9]
Be silent then frail Flesh:
Impatience hold thy tongue,
And murmu
 [...]e not against the Lord,
As if he did thee wrong.
Job 34.10, 17.
Justice can do no wrong▪
Nor Mercy cruel be:
Wisdome sees this condition
To be the best for thee.

[10]
Love ordereth all for good;
Rom. 8.28. Psa. 41.3. Heb. 13.5.
Power hath undertaken
To give thee strength: And Truth hath said
Thou shalt not be forsaken.
Take courage then, my Soul,
And moderate thy fears:
Rev. 7.17.
For God himself, who causeth grief,
Will wipe away thy tears.

[11]
1 Pet. 5.6.
Under his mighty hand
Do thou thy self abase:
Hos. 6.1, 2.
Return to him with all thine heart,
And sue to him for Grace.
Thy Darkness into Light
He speedily will turn,
Isa. 57.15
Who After-mercies hath in store
To comfort them that mourn.

[Page 161]

Joy in Sorrow.

CAn Joy and Sorrow meet
That are so opposite?
The one so Bitter, th'other Sweet?
What, can such Foes unite?
What! meet in one small Heart!
And lovingly agree!
Joyn hands and strengthen one another▪
Doubtless it cannot be.

As 
Aaron's Serpent-Rod

Exod. 7.12.
Rods of th'Inchanters swallow'd:
So godly Sorrow eateth up,
That Sorrow that's unhallow'd.
It worldly Sorrow kills:
But helpeth Spiritual Joy.
These two will strengthen one another,
And not each other 'stroy.

The deepest godly Sorrow

Isa. 61.3.
Spring-Tides of Joy brings in.
The more a Soul can joy in God,
The more he mourns for sin.

[Page 162]
This Grief the Channel is
In which Joy loves to run:
And Joy the Channel deeper plows
Then when 'twas first begun.
If any 
Nicodemus
Say, How can these things be?
As 
Philip to 
Nathaniel said,
So I say, Come and see.

SONG I.

[1]
UNto this General Head
We need not much to say,
For all that went before doth tend
Our Sorrows to allay.
Yet forasmuch as Grief
From various Causes springs;
Nor is it possible to name
Each thing that Sorrow brings:

[2]
Wee'll spend a few leaves more
Concerning Grief, th' Effect;
That so we may apply a Salve,
And no man's Sore neglect.
If then thou art a Saint
That languishest in Grief:
God hath provided Cordials
To yield thy Soul relief.

[Page 163]
[3]
Thou must these Cordials know,
And how to take and use them:
Beware thou do not in a Pett
Neglect, much less refuse them.
God would not have us Blocks
That nothing lay to heart:
Nor would he have us mourn like those
In Christ that have no part.

[4]
Perhaps thou hast displeas'd him,
And therefore art in pain:
But Jesus Christ will soon appease him
1 Joh. 7, 9.
If thou return again.
He is thy Father still,
And doth not cease to love thee:
Although he scourge thee for thy faults,
Or for thy sins reprove thee.

[5]
Art thou in heaviness
For some great outward loss?
Of choicest Comforts, dearest Friends?
Or for some other Cross?
'Tis fit that when God smites
Jer. 5 3.
Thou shouldest feel the smart:
But let Afflictions bitterness
Make thee lay sin to heart.

[Page 164]
[6]
If this Affliction be
Jer. 2.19.
An evil bitter thing:
Oh what a bitter thing is Sin,
That doth Affliction bring?
More evil is the Cause
Then the Effect can be:
Job 11.6.
For God doth punish less by far
Then thine iniquitie.

[7]
Is it a bitter thing
To be in Heaviness?
What is it then to grieve the Lord,
Amos 2.13. Deut. 32.6. Lam. 3.33.
And with my sins to press?
To wrong a loving Father?
Provoke a gracious God
(Who takes no pleasure in our smart)
To whip me with his Rod?

[8]
Convert thy Sorrow's stream
Into the Channel right:
Psal 51.4 2 Cor. 7.9, 10. Jer. 31.18, 19.20.
And chiefly mourn because thou hast
Done evil in his sight.
Thus into godly sorrow
Thy worldly sorrow turn,
And God will turn away his wrath
When thus he sees thee mourn.

[Page 165]
[9]
As oftentimes we see
In some acute Disease,
To cut a Vein and let him Blood
Will give him present ease:
Right so doth godly sorrow,
The bleeding of the Heart,
Asswage the most heart-killing Grief,
And wondrous ease impart.

[10]
Empty bad humours out;
First cool and cleanse the Blood:
And then a Cordial will revive
And do the man more good.
So when thou humbled art,
Isa. 5
 [...].15.
And purged from thy sin:
The Lord himself will comfort thee,
And Cordials sweet give in.

[11]
The deeper that the Plough
Of true Repentance goes:
Luke 7.47, 50.
The richer Crop of Spiritual Joy
And Holiness there grows.
The greater Spiritual Joy
The Lord to us imparts:
The more again it humbleth us,
Ezek. 36.31.
And breaks our stony hearts.

[Page 66]

SONG II.

[1]
HEarken what God doth speak
To such as mourn aright,
That under his Afflicting hand
Are broken and contrite.
Blessed are those that mourn;
Matth. 5.4.
They shall be comforted:
As first in Sorrow, so in Joy
They shall be like their Head.

[2]
Thus saith the lofty One,
Th' Eternal, Holy Lord;
Isa. 57.15, 16.
I dwell in humble contrite Hearts,
That tremble at my Word:
Their Spirits to revive,
And greatly them to chear;
For I'le not alwayes angry be,
With such as do me fear.

[Page 169]

SONG III.

[1]
THis World's the Vale of Tears:
Psal. 23.4.
We must not look to be,
Whilst we are cloth'd with sinful Flesh,
From griefs and sorrows free.
Here Grief and Joy take turns:
Hereafter Grief shall cease;
Isa. 35.10.
And in the room thereof shall come
Eternal Joy and Peace.

[2]
If for a little moment
Isa. 54.7, 8.
God seem to frown upon thee:
With Everlasting kindnesses
He will have mercy on thee.
Our time of suff'ring here
Is but a little while:
And then his frown, that makes thee sad,
Will turn into a smile.

[Page 170]
[3]
Thy Tears are like good Seed
Sown in a fruitful Field:
They are not lost, but shall in time
A joyful Harvest yield.
Psal. 126.5, 6.
Who sow in tears shall reap
In joy: who go and mourn
Bearing choice seed, shall sure with joy
Bringing their sheaves return.

[4]
In midst of Sorrows great
Let this thy Grief allay,
Rev. 7.17.
That God will turn thy tears to joy
And mirth another day.
The more thy Sorrows here
And Sufferings have bin:
The greater joy and Happiness
Hereafter thou shalt win.

[5]
'Tis better now to mourn
And to rejoice hereafter:
Then for to wail eternally
For sinful mirth and laughter.
Rev. 18.7. 2 Cor. 4.17.
Short sinful Pleasures have
Long-lasting endless pains:
Short and light suff'rings have long joyes
And everlasting gains.

[Page 171]
[6]
Eternall Happiness
Will make amends for all.
While Faith beholds what joy's to come,
Verse 18.
It counts all suff'rings small.
If drops of Heav'nly Pleasure
Be sweet unto thy taste:
How sweet will streams and rivers be,
Psal. 36.8, 9.
Where drink thy fill thou may'st?

[7]
Thy future joy so great
And Ocean-like shall be:
That thou must enter into it,
Mat. 25.21.
It cannot enter thee.
Oh what a joy is that
That Thought cannot conceive!
1 Cor. 2.9.
That mortal Tongue cannot express,
Nor Heart of man believe!

[8]
The greatest present Griefs,
That thee so much annoy,
Will soon be swallowed in that Sea
Of Everlasting joy.
'Twill then a Pleasure be,
To think of what is past:
And greatly adde unto thy joy
To minde how sad thou wast.

[Page 172]

SONG IV.

Solamen miseris focios habuisse doloris

Christum cum sanctis—

[1]
IT is an ease in Grief
To have Coparteners:
It yields some comfort and relief
T' have Fellow-sufferers.
Especially to have
Such as our case bemoan,
As lay to heart our sorrows, and
Under our burden groan.

[2]
Ephes. 4.4, 5▪6.
The Saints all make one Body,
Have Union with one Head;
Are acted by one Spirit, and
By him are quickened.
Heb. 13.3.
Hence then they cannot chuse
But feel each others smart,
Their Burden bear, lament their case,
And in their woes take part,

[Page 173]
[3]
They cannot chuse but mourn
With such as mourners be:
And be afflicted too with those
Rom. 12.15. John 11.16.
Whom they afflicted see.
Christ gives them tender hearts,
Therefore they fellow-feel:
They pitty, pray for, comfort them,
And seek each others weal.

[4]
This is a Comfort then
To Saints in misery,
To have such sweet Companions
Of their Calamity.
That when they are in sorrow
They sorrow not alone:
But meet with some that heartily
Their Miseries bemoan.

[5]
Oh let it never be
That Saints should Saints infest,
And add unto each others grief,
That are with grief opprest.
This wisdom from above
Jam. 
 [...].15.
Comes not, but from beneath:
And ill becometh those in whom
The Spirit of Love doth breath.

[Page 174]
[6]
That Spirit of Love and Peace,
Who dwells in all the Saints,
2 Cor. 13.11. Job 6.14. Phil. 2.1, 2, 3▪
Unite our hearts, appease our strife,
Cease quarrels and complaints:
Help us to pitty more,
And pray for one another,
To strive who shall in love outstrip
And go beyond his Brother.

[7]
This were a blessed strife;
Thus ought we all to strive:
Were this our strife; how would it make
Ephes. 4.16.
Souls, Towns, and Churches thrive.
As many Shoulders make
A heavy Burden light:
So might our Burdens lightened be,
Were but our Spirits right.

[8]
Well: Friends may pitty us
And at our Sorrows grieve;
They cannot alwayes help: But Christ
Can pitty and relieve.
This is the main support,
And comfort of the Saints,
That Jesus Christ them pittieth, when
Psal. 103.13.
They pour out their complaints.

[Page 175]
[9]
Friends sometimes stand aloof,
Psal. 38.11.
And Bretheren may forget us,
Or strangers be unto our griefs;
The World at nought may set us:
But Jesus Christ regards us
Psal. 136.23. John 14.18.
Ev'n in our low estate;
He mînds us well, and leaves us not
Forlorn and desolate.

[10]
Our gracious,
Heb. 2.17, 18. Chap. 4.15.
 great High-Priest
Is such an One as can
From his Experience pitty us
With bowels of a Man.
Afflicted been he has
Isa. 63 9. 
 [...]
In their Affliction:
And therefore their Affliction was
As if it had been none.

 [...]

[11]
Though far above all Griefs
In Glory Christ remains:
Yet of the Sorrows of his Saints
A feeling he retains.
He tells our wanderings,
Psal. 5
 [...] ▪ 8.
And bottleth all our tears,
Is well acquainted with our griefs,
And writeth down our fears.

[Page 176]
[12]
He knows thy Sicknesses;
He feeleth all thy smart:
Thy sufferings are his sufferings,
And reach his tender heart.
And if he know and feel
All that doth thee agrieve:
Isa 40▪1, 2, 29, 31.
He will with choicest Cordials
Thy fainting Soul relieve.

[13]
Coloss. 1.24.
If these thy Sufferings
He reckon to be his:
Hee'll shortly put an end thereto,
Joh. 14.3.
And take thy Soul to Bliss.
Christ will not suffer long:
For he's not perfected,
1 Cor. 15.49.
Till all his Members be made like
In Glory to their Head.

[Page 177]

SONG V.

[1]
THus far we have apply'd
Our speech to mournful Saints,
To chear them under all their Griefs,
And silence their Complaints.
But all men are not Saints
Whom Sorrow doth oppress:
Some may be in a heavy case,
Yet far from Holiness.

[2]
Some Hearts are almost broke
With Carnal Sorrows force▪ 
H
 [...]sea 7.14.
That godly Sorrow never touch'd
With any true remorse.
What shall we say to these
That may some ease impart?
What Soveraign Medicine shall we use
To mitigate their smart?

[Page 178]
[3]
Poor Souls! I pitty you,
And do your case bemoan:
But peace to you I may not speak,
For God himself speaks none.
Isa. 57.20, 21.
There is no peace, saith God,
To th' wicked when distrest:
But they are like the troubled Sea
Which boils and cannot rest.

[4]
Oh that the Lord himself,
Who now doth thee chastise,
And makes thee sad, would waken thee
And open thy blinde eyes!
That God would help thee grieve
For what should grieve thee most!
Jer. 3.13, 
 [...]1.
That thou a wretched sinner art,
That thou thy God hast lost.

[5]
Thou hast not him to go to
When sorrows thee agrieve:
Lam. 1.16.
The Comforter is far away
That should thy Soul relieve.
Thou hast offended God
And grieved him full sore:
Zec. 1.12.10.
And now he grieveth thee, let this
Grieve and ashame him thee more.

[Page 179]
[6]
Could'st thou but lay to heart
Thy sinful woful state:
It quickly would thine other griefs
Asswage and mitigate.
Oh get thy worldly grief
Turned to godly sorrow.
Mourn for thy sins, and put not off
Repentance till to morrow.

[7]
Oh turn from every sin
Hos. 14 2, 3, 4.
To God with all thine heart:
And make thy peace with him through Christ;
In Christ oh get a part.
Acts 10.43. Job 33.23, 24, 
to 30.
If sorrow bring thee home
To God in Christ: believe
It will the happiest grieving be
That ever thou didst grieve.

[8]
For God that wounded thee,
Hos. 6.1, 2. Isa. 1.16, 17, 18.
Thy Soul will also heal:
And unto thee his gracious love
In Christ he will reveal.
Oh therefore haste to Christ!
That so thou may'st not mourn
Like unto them that have no hope,
Because they never turn.

[Page 180]

Life in Deaths.

WHat 
Mystery is this
To seek for Life in Death
The great Destroyer of the Sons
Of 
Adam and of 
Seth?
Can 
Death beget sweet Life?
Can such an Honey-comb,
So sweet and precious, come forth
Of Death's devouring Womb?

Yes: Christ hath broke the Teeth
And ta'ne away the Sting
Of Cruel Death; that Death is now
Become another thing.
It is a Messenger
Sent for to fetch us home
Vnto our Father's Royal House,
Whither all Saints must come.

It is a Bridge, whereby
We pass to Heavenly Rest,
Out of the Sorrows of this world
Wherewith we are opprest.

[Page 181]But I'le not here detain thee:
Reade on, and thou shalt see
Both many Deaths in one short Life,
And Life in Deaths to be.

SONG I.

[1]
THis World's a Wilderness
To God's afflicted Saints.
A place of Dangers, Fears, and Foes;
A place of Woes and Wants.
This Life's a very Death,
At least a dying life:
For this is Death in Life, to finde
Sin in our Hearts so rife.

[2]
That we not onely are
Encompassed with Foes:
But have a treacherous Part within
Rom. 7.17.
That doth with Satan close.
That's ready to seduce
And lead us into Evil,
And on a sudden to betray
Our Souls unto the Devil.

[Page 182]
[3]
We pestered are with sin
So long as here we live:
Which makes us cry, From this vile death
Verse 24.
Who will deliverance give?
Bodies of Sin and Death
We carry to and fro:
And carry must unto our grief,
Whil'st we are here below.

[4]
Verse 23.
We finde a Law of Sin
Within our Members dwelling;
Which is against God's holy Law
(Chose by our minde) rebelling:
So that we cannot do
The good things that we would;
And oftentimes we do those things
Which leave undone we should.

[5]
For though we mourn for sin.
And watch, and strive and fight:
Yet is our weakness often foil'd
By Satan's subtile sleight.
This is a heaviness,
A Death unto the Saints,
Rom. 7.18, 19.
Whereof the best while here on Earth
Make sorrowful complaints.

[Page 183]
[6]
Oh what a glorious thing
In all true Christians eyes
Would full deliverance be from Sin▪ 
Verse 24
They would this freedom prize
More then the richest Mynes,
Or most resplendent Gems:
They would prefer it far before
Scepters and Diadems.

[7]
It would be richer Gains
Psal. 19.9, 10, 12. Psal. 119.5, 71, 72.
Then Honour, Pleasure, Wealth:
It would be sweeter to their Souls
Then Libertie or Health.
Yea Temp'rall Life it self
Might not herewith compare,
Which is more worth then all things else
Which most esteemed are.

[8]
Who would not then be willing,
When Christ him calleth hence,
To lay aside this sinful Flesh,
Cause of so much offence?
What Saint, that hateth sin,
Can love this life so well,
As for the sake thereof to chuse
In sinful Flesh to dwell?

[Page 184]

SONG II.

[1]
THis then is Life in Death,
Heb. 12.23. 1 Joh. 3.2. Rev. 21.27.
That Death will set us free
From Sin, which is our Spiritual Death,
And greatest Miserie.
We shall no more be griev'd
With mindes that are so vain:
Of Pride, or Sloth, or Worldliness
We shall no more complain.

[2]
1 Cor 13.10, 12.
Our Ignorance shall cease;
So shall our Unbelief:
Our Passions shall no longer be
A cause of daily grief.
Against God's Providence
Our hearts no more shall swell:
Nor these our unsubdued Wills
Against his Will rebell.

[Page 185]
[3]
Our Senses shall no longer
Be inlets unto Sin:
Nor shall there be an home-bred Thief
To let his Comrades in.
God, whom we here offend
And injure every day
In thought, word, deed, we shall no more
Offend him then for ay.

[4]
During this mortal life
We walk in midst of Snares,
And we are apt to be surpriz'd
And caught at unawares.
Our subtile Enemy
Luke 22.31.
Us every hour besets,
Seeks to allure us by his Baits
Into his deadly Nets.

[5]
He like a roaring Lion
1 Pet. 5▪8. Gen. 3.1, 2, &c.
Runs hunting for his Prey;
And like a subtile Serpent he
Lies watching night and day:
Lets no advantage slip
Whereby he may annoy us,
Draw us to sin, disturb our peace;
Distress, if not destroy us.

[Page 186]
[6]
Death is the Red Sea, which
When once we are got through,
Exod. 14.3, 28, 29.
Pharaoh (the Devil) with his Host
Can us no more pursue.
God will this Sea divide
And make it us inclose,
Like walls, letting us pass through safe▪
And then drown all our Foes.

[7]
Th'Egyptians cannot follow
Unto the other side:
They shall be drowned in the Sea,
O're-whelmed with the Tide▪
The Tempter shall no more
A wicked thought suggest:
Nor once entice to any thing
That God and we detest.

[8]
Temptations u
 [...]o sin
(Which vex us 
 [...]ere so sore,
Although they do not Master us)
Shall trouble us then no more▪
Then shall our joyful Souls
Eternal Praises sing,
For this their full Deliverance,
To that Immortal King.

[Page 187]

SONG III.

[1]
WHil'st we are here on Earth
We're dying every day:
1 Cor. 15.31. Mat 6 34.
Each day brings some new woe or grief
Whil'st we are cloth'd with Clay.
We dwell in midst of Deaths
And Death amidst us dwells,
As too too well appeareth by
These daily doleful Knells.

[2]
Now one dear Friend departs,
E're long another goes:
Whose turn comes next, or mine or thine,
Or whose, God onely knows.
Thus we are oft constrain'd
The pains of Death to 'bide:
Acts 20.37, 38. 2 Cor. 11 29.
For Death doth often wound our heart
Through one or other's side.

[Page 188]
[3]
Pains, Losses, Sicknesses,
Temptations, Sorrows, Sin;
All these are daily Deaths, from which
We can no freedom win,
Untill we die our last:
One death will end them all,
And set our Souls at liberty.
Which here are held in thrall.

[4]
Rom. 8.22, 23.
The Pains of Life together
Amount unto no small pain:
Who would not one Pain more endure
And so get free from all pain?
Job 14.14.
But we must stay God's time,
And wait till he shall call:
And then one Death will set us free
From Pains and Sorrows all.

[5]
Rev. 21.4. 2 Cor. 5.1. Rev. 14.13.
Then once for all we die,
That die we may no more:
But live in Bliss eternally
The face of God before.
Death is of Life the Gate:
It is the Door whereby
We enter shall into a state
Of Immortality.

[Page 189]
[6]
This then our Comfort is,
This is our Life in Death;
To know our Soul shall be in Bliss
When Death hath stopt our Breath.
And that this Body vile,
1 Cor. 15.43. Phil. 3.21.
That now is laid in dust,
And turn'd to Earth, within a while
Be rais'd in Glory must.

[7]
So soon as Death hath clos'd
Our mortal Bodie's eyes:
Our Soul shall mount with greatest speed
Luke 16.22.
Above the Starry Skies
Born upon Angel's wings
Unto that Heavenly Rest;
Where of Eternal Happiness
Mat. 25.46.
She shall be full possest.

[8]
O Death where is thy Sting?
1 Cor. 15.55, 57.
Thy Victory O Grave?
How art thou conquered, and made
Our Servant, yea our Slave!
Thanks be to God, who gives us
Through Christ the Victory:
That we may live to praise his Name
For this Eternally.

[Page 190]

Heavenly Crowns FOR Thorny Wreaths.

SONG I.

[1]
WHen Christ was crown'd with Thorns,
Mat. 27.29, 30.
And smitten with a Reed
Upon the Thorns, to wound his Head
And for to make him bleed;
The world did little think
This was the King of Glory:
So when we speak of Crowns for Thorns,
They think it's but a story.

[2]
But as our Lord doth now
His Crown of Glory wear;
Who for our sake did wear those Thorns
And such Abuse
 [...] 
 [...]ear:
So shall th'Afflicted Saints
That suffer for his sake
E're long be Crowned like their Head,
And of his Joyes partake.

[Page 191]
[3]
Those that for doing well,
For keeping Christ's Commands,
For bearing witness to his Truth
Suffer Reproach or Bands,
Rev. 7.14, 15, 16, 17.
Or any other Pain
To keep their Conscience pure;
Such of a glorious Recompence
And rich Reward are sure.

[4]
Those that are persecuted
Because of Righteousness,
Are Blessed ones, saith Christ,
Mat. 5.10, 11, 1
 [...].
 for they
Heav'ns Kingdom shall possess.
And Blest are ye whom men
Revile and persecute,
To whom for my sake heinous Crimes
They wrongfully impute

[5]
Rejoice and be ye glad
Hereat exceedingly;
Because there is a great Reward
Laid up for you on high.
For thus they persecuted
The Prophets that of old
Reprov'd their sins, and faithfully
God's Counsel to them told▪

[Page 192]
[6]
Mark 10.29, 30.
Who Father, Mother, Wife
For love of Christ forsakes;
Or of his Houses▪ Lands, Estate
For him small reckoning makes:
Shall here an hundred fold
With Persecutions gain;
And in the World that is to come
Eternal Life obtain.

[7]
2 Tim. 2.11, 12.
If in a suffering state
Of Christ we Followers be:
We shall be unto him conform'd
In Royal Dignitie.
Mat. 19.28.
Those that have stuck to Christ
In Tribulations great,
Shall Reign with Christ, and sit with him
Upon his Judgement-Seat.

[8]
But those that suffer pain
Foul Errours to defend,
That for vile Fancies of their own
Dread not their liv
 [...]s to spend:
Such do in vain sup
 [...]ose
They suffer for Christ's sake.
'Tis not the Suff'ring but the Cause
That doth a Martyr make.

[Page 193]

SONG II.

[1]
THat Eminent Apostle
And holy Martyr 
Paul,
That laboured more for Jesus Christ,
And suffered more then All,
When as his race was run
And life almost laid down
For Christ: Henceforth, saith he,
2 Tim 4.8.
 there is
Laid up for me a Crown,

[2]
Which Christ that Righteous Judge
Shall give to me above:
And unto all, as well as me,
That his Appearing love.
Christ Jesus at that day
Will all Believers own:
Mat. 25 34, 35.
And all their faithful Services
And Patient Sufferings crown.

[Page 194]
[3]
Not onely such as have
For Jesus shed their Blood;
John 8.31, 32. Mat. 11.29.
But all that have embrac'd the Truth
And firm therein have stood:
All that have meekly born
Christ's Yoke because 'twas his
Shall be rewarded, and shall share
In Everlasting Bliss.

[4]
1 Cor. 15.41.
Although some Stars outshine
The rest in Glory bright:
Yet every Star i'th' Firmament
Is full of glorious light.
So every vessel then
Shall full of Glory be,
Though some are of a larger size,
Some of a less degree.

[5]
Our Lord will call to minde
The meanest services
That any man with upright heart
Hath done for one of his:
Mat. 10.42.
So that a Cup of Water
Tend'red unto a Saint
For love of Christ, shall not reward
Nor acceptation want.

[Page 195]
[6]
Much less will Christ forget
Heb 6.10 
compared with Heb. 
 [...] 32, 39
Their love and labour sure
That take great pains, and for his sake
Afflictions long endure.
He that will smallest things
So graciously regard,
Will not far greater things neglect
And leave without reward.

[7]
As in his suffering Saints
Acts 9.4, 5. 2 Thess. 1.10.
Christ suffereth now; so he
In all his glorified Saints
Will glorified be.
Their Sufferings now are his,
Their Glory will be his:
Christ should his Glory lose, if Saints
Should future Glory miss.

[8]
Christ's precious Sufferings,
Isa. 53.4, 5, &c. Gal. 3.13, 14. Rev. 1.5, 6.
And whole Obedience,
Have purchased for us this Crown
And glorious Recompence.
He dy'd that we might live,
Wore Thorns that we might reign.
The End of his own Sufferings
Christ, doubtless, will obtain.

[Page 196]
[9]
As surely then as He
Reproach and Shame endur'd,
And by his Sufferings hath for us
A glorious Crown procur'd;
As sure as we him follow
In patient suffering here;
2 Tim. 2.11, 12.
So certainly this glorious Crown
We shall hereafter wear.

SONG III.

[1]
HOw great this Glory is
No mortal tongue can tell:
Isa. 64.4. Rom. 5.10, 17, 18. 2 Thess. 1.10.
But that it far exceeds our thoughts
And words we know full well.
'Tis that which Christ's own Blood
Hath purchas'd and acquir'd:
'Tis that which God will then bestow
That he may be admir'd.

[Page 197]
[2]
God's wayes are not like ours,
Isa. 55.8. Eph. 1.6, 14. Rev. 5.12.
Nor are his thoughts like our:
For he will glorifie his Grace
And magnifie his Power,
Yea and his Wisdome too
By glorifying us,
And therefore Christ will make his Saints
Exceeding glorious.

[3]
That Glory must be great
And of surpassing fame
Which God bestows to get himself
Isa. 55.13. Rom. 9.23.
An Everlasting Name.
They shall be crown'd indeed
With Glory at that day,
When as the richness of their Crown
God's Glory must display.

[4]
When every Saint shall be
Isa. 62.3.
A Diamond in Christ's Crown:
They must be glorious Saints indeed,
To set forth his Renown.
The Saints shall shine like Suns
Dan. 12.3. Mat. 13.4
 [...].
Array'd with glorious light,
That through their lustre Christs own Beams
May shine more clear and bright.

[Page 198]
[5]
O glorious, rich Free-grace!
And Everlasting Love,
That God's own heart unto these thoughts
Before all time did move!
O wondrous Condescension
Eph. 3.18, 19.
Of God's most gracious Son!
And matchless Love of Jesus Christ
Beyond comparison!

[6]
Phil. 2.5, 7, 8.
Who for our sake was pleas'd
Under a mean outside,
Under the Garment of frail Flesh
His Majesty to hide:
Who ware a Crown of Thorns,
Who shed his dearest Blood,
Isa▪ 53.5.
Who bare his Fathers Wrath for us
To purchase Saving Good,

[7]
That he 
 [...]ght us Redeem
Rev. 5.9, 10. Rom. 5.17, 18, 19, &c.
From endless Misery,
And by his Sufferings us advance
To Heavenly Dignity.
He was content to be
Abus'd, Reproach'd and Scorn'd
That we might be advanced, crown'd,
And gloriously adorn'd.

[Page 199]
[8]
That such as have deserv'd
God's vengeance for to bear
Eternally, should Royal Robes
And Crowns of Glory wear!
Saints can you think of this
And not this Grace admire?
And do not you that are no Saints
To share therein desire?

[9]
Which is the better choice?
With Christ in Bliss to dwell,
Deu
 [...]. 30.19. 
compare Mark 9.43▪ 44. 
with Phil. 1.23.
Or for to roar eternally
Amidst the flames of Hell?
What? are you in a doubt
Which of the twain to chuse?
Well, chuse to burn, if that be best:
Chuse Hell, and Heaven refuse.

[10]
This were a fearful choice.
What then? Will you be wise?
Oh be so; get a part in Christ:
Him love, him seek, him prize.
Mat. 11.28, 29.
Receive him with his Cross;
His Yoke with meekness bear:
And then Free-Grace will give you Crowns
Rom. 5.17.
Of Glory for to wear.

[Page 200]

SONG IV.

[1]
1 Joh. 3.1, 2.
BEhold what matchless Love
The God of Heaven shows,
To those on whom Eternal Life
And Glory he bestows!
If now God calls them Sons;
How glorious shall they be,
When being made like Christ, they shall
Him in his Glory see?

[2]
Their Body frail and vile,
That's in Corruption sown,
Shall then be raised up again
In Incorruption.
This Mortal must be cloth'd
With Immortality:
And then shall Death be swallow'd up
In perfect Victory.

[Page 201]
[3]
It is at present sown
1 Cor. 15.42, 43, 44.
A Body Naturall:
But shall arise again e're long
A Body Spirituall.
We now need many helps
Our vigour to maintain,
As Meat, Drink, Sleep: but shall need none
After we rise again.

[4]
It's now in weakness sown;
But shall be rais'd in power:
Sown in Dishonour; but shall rise
In Glory at that hour.
It shall be wholly freed
From all Infirmities,
And be most active, hale, and strong
When once it doth arise.

[5]
Though subject to Reproach
Whil'st living; and when dead
Must needs be carried out of sight,
G
 [...]n. 23.4. Phil. 3.21.
And quickly buried:
Yet Christ shall raise it up
With Beauty shining bright,
More lovely then the Morning fair,
With Heavenly Glory dight.

[Page 202]
[6]
And if the Body shew
So beautiful and faire:
How shall the Soul be beautify'd
And shine beyond compare?
Rev. 21.11, 18, 19. Rev. 19.8▪
Adorn'd with costly Robes,
More precious far then Gold,
Of Christ's unspotted Righteousness
Most lovely to behold.

[7]
When as God's blessed Image
That was defac'd by Sin
Is perfectly restor'd again
And ever dwells therein.
1 John 3.2. 2 Cor. 3.18.
When as it shall behold
God's Glory shining bright,
And be transform'd and glorious made
By that most glorious sight.

[8]
When like a Glass it shall
Receive those glorious Rayes,
And back again reflect the same
To God's Eternal Praise.
When in the Sea of Bliss
It constantly shall move:
And be for ever ravish'd with
The sweetness of his Love.

[Page 203]
[9]
If 
Moses face did shine
Exod. 34.29, 30.
By being forty dayes
I'th' Mount: how shall their faces shine
That dwell with God alwayes?

Moses his Back-parts saw
But they shall see his face:
And to their joy unspeakable
Enjoy the God of Grace.

[10]
Oh happy, happy Souls
That in God's Bosome rest!
That of the Fountain of all Bliss
Already are possest!
Your Labour's at an end;
Your Seed in Tears was sown:
But now you reap a joyful Crop
2 Tim. 4.7, 8.
And wear a glorious Crown.

[11]
We that are still below
Have much work yet undone;
A War to wage, sharp Thorns to wear,
1 Tim▪ 6.12. 1 Cor. 9.24, 25.
A painful Race to run.
Lord help us so to run
As that we may obtain:
That when this life is at an end,
We may in Glory reign.

[Page 204]

SONG V.

[1]
Heb. 12.
 [...].
OUr Saviour, for the joy
That was before him set,
Endur'd the Cross, despis'd the shame,
And paid for all our debt.
And as himself did eye
That future glorious 
 [...]state:
So would he have the thoughts thereof
Our Souls to animate.

[2]
To him that hath begun,
And will compleat our Faith,
We are commanded for to look;
Who thus despised hath
The Ignominious shame
For that most glorious joy;
And having suffered, is set down
At God's right hand on high.

[Page 205]
[3]
And though some Gospellers
Call this an Hireling Spirit:
Yet more of such a Spirit, Lord,
Grant that we may inherit.
For surely thou didst more
Thy Father's Glory prize,
Then these, that at this rich Reward
Would seem to shut their eyes.

[4]
Oh but the love of Christ
Should wholly us constrain
To do all duties, bear the Cross,
And suffer every Pain.
True;

Compare Mat. 25.34, 35. 
with Titus 3.4▪ 5, 6, 7.
 and the love of Christ
In this most strongly moves us,
That hee'll regard us, and thus reward us
Meerly because he loves us.

[5]
If Christ hath purchased
A glorious rich Reward
For all his Followers: shall not w
 [...]
This Recompence regard?
If he Rewards propound
To whet our diligence:
Is not our over-looking them
The way to Negligence?

[Page 206]
[6]
Heb. 11.24, 25, 26.
Unto this Recompence

Moses had such respect;
That all the Glory of the World
He could for this reject:
Esteeming Christ's reproach
More rich then 
Egypt's Treasures;
Chusing Affliction with Gods Church,
Rather then sinful pleasures.

[7]
2 Pet. 3.14.
Since then we do expect
Such glorious things as these:
How ought we to bestir our selves
So good a God to please?
How should the wayes of Christ
Most pleasant to us seem?
How should this make the heaviest Cross
Rom. 8.18.
Grow light in our esteem?

[8]
Oh let the thoughts of this
Incorruptible Crown,
Which shall on patient suffering Saints
So frankly be bestow'n,
Heb. 12.1, 2.
Effectually perswade us
For to amend our pace,
And with more chearfulness and speed
To run our Heavenly Race▪

[Page 207]
[9]
More readily to do
And willingly to bear
Whatever Christ shall call us to
So long as we are here;
Knowing that all our Pains
Though worthless, poor,
1 Cor. 15▪58.
 and vile
Shall such a rich reward obtain
Within a little while.

[10]
How many men can wade
Up to the knees in Blood
To win an Earthly Kingdom, which
Can do them little good?
Which brings them nought but sorrow;
Which cannot satisfie▪
Which may be lost before to morrow;
And must be, when they die.

[11]
And shall not we take pains
1 Cor. 9.24, 25.
To win a Heavenly Crown;
Which having once, through grace, obtain'd
Shall ever be our own?
A glorious, ma
 [...]ie Crown,
A rich Inheritance,
1 Pet. 1.4, 
to 10.
That's undefil'd, that never fades,
Not subject unto chance.

[Page 208]
[12]
Good Lord increase our Faith:
And help us to believe,
That thou wilt such a rich Reward
To all thy Servants give.
2 Cor. 5.14, 15.
And let this love constrain us
To give our selves to thee:
Thou hast us bought and thine we are
Thine let us ever be.

[13]
Now unto him that lov'd us

Rev. 1.5, 6.
And wash'd us from our sins
With his own Blood, and made us Priest
To God, and also Kings▪
That we might live and reign

Chap. 22.5.
The face of God before:
To him be Glory, Honour, Power,
Both 
 [...] and evermore.
Amen.

Be 
 [...] suffering Saint,

 [...] down:

 [...] turn
Thy 
 [...]

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Meat out of the eater: or, Meditations concerning the necessity, end, and usefulness of afflictions unto Gods children. All tending to prepare them, for, and comfort them under the crosse. / By Michael Wigglesworth.

Author: Wigglesworth, Michael, 1631-1705.2005-10

Meditation I.

Meditation II.

Meditation III.

Meditation IV.

Meditation V.

Meditation VI.

Meditation VII.

Meditation VIII.

Meditation IX.

Meditation X.

A Conclusion Hortatory To those that are, or hereafter may be in Affliction.

SONG I.

SONG II. Being a Dialogue wherein the Speakers are Spirit and Flesh.

SONG III. Another Dialogue or Combate between the Flesh and Spirit.

SONG IV. A Dialogue wherein the Speakers are Distressed Conscience and Rectified Judgement.

SONG V. A Dialogue between the Flesh and Spirit.

SONG VI. Another Combate between the Flesh and Spirit.

SONG VII.

SONG VIII.

SONG IX.

SONG X. A Dialogue or Discourse between the Believing Soul and her Saviour.

Meditation I.

Meditation II.

Meditation III.

Meditation IV. A Dialogue wherein the Speakers are Fear and Faith.

SONG I.

SONG II.

SONG III. A Dialogue wherein the Speakers are Troubled Conscience and Rectified Judgement.

Meditation II.

Meditation III. A Dialogue, the Speakers being, Faith and Unbelief.

Meditation IV.

Meditation V.

SONG I.

SONG II.

SONG III.

SONG II.

SONG III. A Dialogue between the Flesh and Spirit.

SONG I.

SONG II.

SONG III.

SONG IV.

SONG V.

SONG I.

SONG II.

SONG III.

SONG I.

SONG II.

SONG III.

SONG IV.

SONG V.

SONG II.
Being a Dialogue wherein the Speakers are Spirit and Flesh.

SONG III.
Another Dialogue or Combate between the Flesh and Spirit.

SONG IV.
A Dialogue wherein the Speakers are Distressed Conscience and Rectified Judgement.

SONG V.
A Dialogue between the Flesh and Spirit.

SONG VI.
Another Combate between the Flesh and Spirit.

SONG X.
A Dialogue or Discourse between the Believing Soul and her Saviour.

Meditation IV.
A Dialogue wherein the Speakers are Fear and Faith.

SONG III.
A Dialogue wherein the Speakers are Troubled Conscience and Rectified Judgement.

Meditation III.
A Dialogue, the Speakers being, Faith and Unbelief.

SONG III.
A Dialogue between the Flesh and Spirit.