[Page]
[Page 1]
July 19. 1666. The 5th. day.
Meditation 1.
GReat God, how short's man's time; each minute speaks
He is but dust, and that his Vessel leaks.
Each moment of my momentany time,
Does plainly tell me 'tis not mine, but Thine.
He gives me time to live, and verily
Ere long I shall have likewise time to dye.
Meditation 2.
After the time of Life is ended, then
Oh there's
Another Time for sons of men;
A great
ETERNITY will surely come,
Of blessed Happiness, or cursed Doom.
Lord, grant I may be one of those that may
Enjoy the first with thee another day.
Meditation 3.
Down to the Grave I must e're long descend,
Leave all my friends behind; thither
I bend
And steer my wearied Course unto that Port,
To which all sorts of Nations do resort.
When I cast Anchor, grant, O Lord that I
May safely ride where Christ himself did lye.
Meditation 4.
This World a Sea of trouble is, and Man
Is swimming through this vast wide Ocean.
The Billows beat, the Waves are angry, and
'Tis seldom that he spies a helping hand
To Buoy his head up, O great God, let me
Be kept from sinking into misery.
This day is past; but tell me, who can say,
That I shall surely live another day.
[Page 2]
July 20. The 6th. day.
Meditation 5.
I can but die but once, why should I fear?
Whether I fear or not, 'tis all as near.
O but my Soul, consider that sad time
Gives every thing to death, leaves nothing thine.
Except thy stinking Carcase, which shall be
Dispos'd to weal or woe eternallie.
Meditation 6.
The Passing-Bell sounds harsh unto the ear
Of all that do the
King of Terrours fear.
But let a man have but an interest
In
Jesus Christ, 'twill toll him to his rest.
Lord, give me such a gift, none other I
Crave or desire, whether I live or die.
Meditation 7.
Death puts an end to every thing below,
It gives the killing wound, the fatal blow.
Of those that here a while did but reside,
But for a time, the last act is,
They dy'd.
Then grant, O Lord, that I may act this Part
Well on the Stage; then Death, lo here's my Heart.
Meditation 8.
Scarce do I pass a day, but that I hear
Some one or other's dead; and to my ear
Methinks it is no news: but Oh! did I
Think deeply on it, what it is to die.
My Pulses all would beat, I should not be
Drown'd in this Deluge of Securitie.
Think every day thy last, and ready be;
And so th'uncertain hour shall welcome thee.
[Page 3]
July 21. The 7th day.
Meditation 9.
Man's life is like a Rose, that in the Spring
Begins to blossome, fragrant smells to bring;
Within a day or two, behold Death's sent,
A publick Messenger of discontent.
Lord, grant that when my Rose begins to fade,
I may behold an everlasting shade.
Meditation 10.
Alas, what is the
World? a Sea of Glass.
Alas, what's
Earth? it's but an Hour-glass.
The Sea dissolves; the Glass is quickly run;
Behold, with speed man's Life is quickly done.
Let me so swim in this Sea, that I may
With thee live happy in another day.
Meditation 11.
Had I as many days to live, as I
See drops are in the Sea, yet I must die▪
Each day a drop, would carry away a day;
And so my life would swiftly pass away.
Jehovah great, humbly I thee beseech
The number of my days me for to teach.
Meditation 12.
I every day do see that here below
Is nothing permanent, away they go.
Friends and Relations, every thing that I
Do cast mine eyes upon, is vanity.
Give me a portion then even in that place,
Where still I may behold thy blessed face.
I now ly down to rest, but do not know
Where by the morning God will me bestow.
[Page 4]
July 22. [SAB] The first day.
Meditation 13.
What great security possesses some,
Who think that Death's asleep, or cannot come?
How miserable are such Souls, who think
To live even as they list, of sin to drink.
Wide seas and rivers? when alas they see
Not their approaching damning destinie.
Meditation 14.
The time is short sayes
Paul! it's short indeed;
For it hath Eagles wings, and flees with speed
Each minute from us: how should we improve
This our short time, that does so swiftly move.
Lord, grant I be not prodigal of Time,
Thinking 'tis thine that I do use, not mine.
Meditation 15.
The dead they praise thee not; the living they
Sound forth thy blessed praises every day.
In grave there's no rememberance of thee,
But of thee in that place forgetful be.
Lord grant that I may praise thee, whiles that I
Have time to live, and summon'd not to die.
Meditation 16.
The misery of man is great on him,
[...]ecause his time he knows not; 'tis his sin,
[...]nd nothing else, that thus hath man undone,
[...]nd makes this Race of Life painful to run.
Lord, give me knowledge of my time, that so
Prepar'd I may be here before I go,
One day of grace more here I have enjoy'd;
It's Gods great mercy I am not destroy'd,
That greatly have provok'd him.
[Page 5]
July 23. The second day.
Meditation 17.
Whilst in this world I stay, some hopes have I
That I shall reign in Heaven eternallie:
But when my time is past, and I am gone,
There's no hope left for me to build upon.
Lord, grant me full assurance whilst that I
Am here, so willing I shall be to dye.
Meditation 18.
We are but babes of yesterday, and we
Are sons and daughters of Mortalitie.
From dust we came, to dust we must again,
And to the grave with speed we fly amain.
Lord, let the thoughts of death possess my heart
That so Thee and my Soul may never part.
Meditation 19
How bruitish, Oh how sensless are all those,
Who to the world do so themselves dispose,
As if there were no God to serve, no Death
That's coming to deprive them of their breath?
Lord, help me so to live, that I may bee
Never forgetful of my Death or Thee.
Meditation 20.
How loth, how backward are we all to leave
This transitory world? Let Death bereave
Us of those Mundane things, yet if we still
Resolve to live and die to Christ, what ill
Can happen to us? Lord, before I die
Let me a better Kingdom farre espy.
As the great God still addes unto my dayes,
It's but new matter for me him to praise.
[Page 6]
July 24. The third day.
Meditation 21.
How often have I view'd the graves, and gone
Unto that place, and yet returned home
Again unto my house: The time will bee
When I must go, but no returning see.
Lord, give me so much grace, that I may be
Ever-more mindful of Eternitie.
Meditation 22.
What mean those show'rs, those drops that from on high
Descend to call men to Eternity?
Both Young and Old, no Sex is spar'd; Oh why?
What is the cause of our Mortality?
Lo here it is; a blessed God we have
Offended, therefore we must to the grave.
Meditation. 23.
Death strikes the Young man, and the Old man must
Yield to Death's stroke, and return to the dust:
Nor Strength, nor Beauty, Riches, Honours, lent
But for a while, cannot our death prevent.
Oh how should we then use these things below,
That must be left when we from hence do go?
Meditation 24.
Man's life it is but lent him here, and he
Is but a debtor to Mortalitie
Those fading Comforts that below we have
Or do enjoy, will leave us at the grave.
Lord, grant that when my Comforts all are gone▪
I may with Thee have sweet Communion.
This day is past, God mercy shews to me,
Who am a Dust heap of Mortalitie.
[Page 7]
July 25. The 4th. day.
Meditation 25.
Alas poor Death, where does thy great strength lye?
'Tis true, I'm Mortal, yet I cannot dye.
I tell thee, if I dye in Christ, it is
The way thou shew'st me to eternal bliss.
By death I live, if that I live to Christ,
And then thou'st say the mark I have not mist.
Meditation 26.
Alas, what's
Sorrow? 'tis our portion here;
The Christian's portion, Trouble, Grief, and Fear;
He is
The Man of sorrows here below
Of all the men on earth; yet let us know,
Christ left his Grave-clothes, that we might when grief
Draws tears, or blood, not want an Handkerchief.
Meditation 27.
[...]s Death so formidable? Can the Chance
Of one poor day change our fresh Countenance?
[...]s there so much in Death, that we should be
Like Children frighted at our destinie?
Of Heaven give me assurance (Lord) and I
Shall ne're believe Death looks so dreadfully.
Meditation 28.
Could I in greatness farre surmount the skie,
Or yet in glory could the Sun out-vie;
Could I be more than any man that lives,
Great, Fair, Rich, Wise, all in Superlatives:
Yet if I were still Mortal, there would be
A debt still to be paid to death by me.
Lord, as thou givest me more hours to live,
So with it, Oh do thou thy grace me give.
[Page 8]
July 26th. The 5th. day
Meditation 29.
How mutable is every thing that here
Below we do enjoy? with how much fear
And trouble are those gilded Vanities
Attended, that so captivate our eyes?
Oh, who would trust this World, or prize what's in it,
That gives, and takes, and changes in a minute?
Meditation 30.
Sure every soul in this world hath its day
Of grace, and if he will improve it, may.
The time will come, when it shall have an end,
Ev'n when we must unto the grave descend.
Lord, help me now to know the things that do
Belong unto my peace, and then pursue.
Meditation 31.
We have no License from our God to waste
One day, one hour, one moment, that do haste
So swiftly from us in our sinful pleasures,
But rather to lay up for lasting treasures.
Lord, spare me yet a little, that I may
Prepare for Death, and for the Judgment-day.
Meditation 32
The damned now in Hell, that there do ly
In endless flames, that howl, and weep, and cry
For anguish great, this is their deepest Crime,
Heart-vexing trouble,
Oh Mispence of Time!
Oh who would rush into those flames of Fire,
That of mispending time they may enquire?
Lord, let thy Terrours every day cause me
To prepare for my end, and ready be.
[Page 9]
July 27. The 6th. day.
Meditation 33.
Our Saviour he ascended up on high
And led Death conquer'd in captivity:
The Grave is sweetned by him; why should we
Be loth to share in this his Victorie?
Lord, as death thou hast overcome, Oh so
Conquer my sins ere I from hence do go.
Meditation 34.
By Faith the Christian acts, whilst here beneath
He lives, till death his Faith and Life bereave;
But when this life is ended, he enjoyes
The things that he believ'd, Eternal Joyes.
Lord, grant that I may here by Faith foresee
A glorious Mansion prepar'd for me.
Meditation 35.
These Arms, these Hands, this Face, they e're long must
Decay, consume, and moulder into dust;
The time will be, when time shall be no more
Upon this earth, as it hath heretofore.
Great God, then grant that I may serious be
In and about things of Eternitie.
Meditation 36.
I've often heard that such a Friend is dead,
And that another layes his weary head
Down in the grave; yet this no news to me,
Whilst I live here in sin and vanitie.
Lord, help me now to think the time will come
For me, as well as those that now are gone.
As strong, as young as now I am, yet must
I be for certain buried in the dust.
[Page 10]
July 28. The 7th day.
Meditation 37.
Our dayes, our time, appointed are by God,
And beyond that we may not have abode
Here on this sinful earth; the day draws nigh
When every one shall have a time to die.
Lord, as the time does from me pass away,
Grant me thy grace whilst in the world I stay.
Meditation 38.
Frail Mortals post with speed after those things
Which at the last nought else but sorrow brings
Most think not of a great Eternity
That's drawing on apace. Lord, grant that I
May whilst I'm here pursue with might and main,
Those things that will bring everlasting gain.
Meditation 39.
All Creatures in their kind sound forth the praise
Of their blest Maker; yea, the glorious Rayes
Of his great Majesty appeareth on
The least of all the Works of Creation▪
But Lord, Man by his sin dishonours thee,
Who art the God of Immortalitie.
Meditation 40
Whilst we are here below, we act and move,
And this and that we seek for to improve:
The time will come when that our places shall
Not know us; we shall be no more at all.
Lord, grant that I may those great things improve,
That are brought down to earth from heaven above
Give me an interest in thy Son, and then
Though I dye ne're so much I'le live agen.
[Page 11]
July 29. The First day.
Meditation 41.
How eagerly doth vain man here pursue
These worldly things, when his dayes are so few?
His time is short, it's short, yea
short indeed,
That flies so swiftly from him, with such speed.
Lord, help me to consider that I must
Not here live always, but return to dust.
Meditation 42.
How precious! Oh how precious is our time?
Sure to mis-spend it is a sinful Crime.
This Pearl being lost, is never to be found
Again, though all the world our cries resound.
O thou that art the God of Ages, give
Me that grace, for to know what 'tis to live.
Meditation 43.
What are our dayes unto Eternity?
Our present joyes, to future misery?
What is there in this World that stable is?
What's all that's here below, to lasting bliss?
Jehovah help me here, that so I may
Enjoy eternal bliss another day.
Meditation 44.
ETERNITY! O Soul-amazing thought,
That never to my senses yet was brought
Rightly to understand it; O the height,
The breadth, the length, the depth of what
I sleight!
Help, Son of
David, mercy on me have;
This is a coming, I must to the grave.
I now repose my weary head upon
My Pillow, but I shall be shortly gone.
[Page 12]
July 30. The second day.
Meditation 45.
Gods mercy unto man is great, who gives
Unto him life, 'tis enough that he lives;
God might have justly took our lives from us
Long afore this, Death following the Curse.
Lord, grant the Curse may be remov'd from me,
The grave then (Lord) will smell most fragrantlie.
Meditation 46.
Long life a mercy is to good and bad,
And makes the hearts of most men very glad;
Yet the true Child of God desireth home,
Unto his Fathers house for to be gone.
Lord, when thou seest fit, work grace in me,
That I may so in Heaven desire to be.
Meditation 47.
Adam was plac'd unto his hearts desire
In Paradice, until he did aspire
To storm the Heavens; whence Death did assume
His Title,
King of Terrours, to consume
Frail flesh, and in a moment make it fly
From Earth to Heaven, from hence t' Eternity.
Meditation 48.
No sooner did we change our Mothers Womb
For this frail World, but by and by a Tomb
Prepared is, and Mourners they attend
To lead us softly to our Journeys end.
Lord, grant that when my Change comes, I may be
Then fit t' enjoy Communion with thee.
Death is a Lot is common unto all,
And when w
[...] are gone, Friends cannot us recall.
[Page 13]
July 31. The third day.
Meditation 49.
In Heaven are eternal joyes; and sure
In that place there are Remedies to cure
Our here Sin-sick'ned Souls: but Oh shall I
Be made a Patient of this Remedy?
Lord, I believe a Heaven there is; but this
The Question is,
Shall I enjoy that bliss?
Meditation 50.
In Hell are Torments, Torments without end;
And them I must endute, if that no friend
I have of JESUS. O my Soul, must I
Go from
PAIN here, to Pain eternally?
I know there is a Hell: Lord, grant that I
May go from Earth to Heaven when I die.
Meditation 51.
My Soul tell me, Are there not many that
Do wish for Heaven, and yet miss the Gate?
How many do (with
Balaam) wish that they
May depart like a Saint at dying day?
Lord, let me to be like them here desire,
Upon this earth, as when they do expire.
Meditation 52.
How many are there that may take their harps
And hang upon the willows; mournful hearts
Would best become such as must go from hence,
And then in Hell have lasting residence.
O Lord, how little do I think on this,
That I may be one that may miss of Bliss?
I am (I see) still Mercies Monument;
For more, one day is still unto me lent.
[Page 14]
August 1. The 4th day.
Meditation 53.
How often should we think of this, that we
Must ere long yield to Death's supremacie?
The time ere long will come, when we shall be
No more; and shortly we no time shall see.
O that I might be then prepar'd for this
So great a Change, and be receiv'd to bliss.
Meditation 54
The sons of men are prone to forget Death,
And put it farre away from them, till breath
Begins to tell them they must to the grave;
And then, Oh what would they give but to have
One year of respite? Help me, Lord, to know
As I move here, so my time moves also.
Meditation 55.
Whilst we live here, we have the blessed voice
Of God by Ministers, the blessed noise
And sound of
Aarons Bells: the time will be
When we no more of this shall hear or see.
Help, Lord, that
I may then improve the same
Unto the praise and glory of thy Name.
Meditation 56.
The time will be, when we shall be
No more:
Where will the World be then? 'Twill be
No more.
Where will our Comforts be? They'll be
No more.
Where will our Friends be then? They'll be
No more.
Lord, grant me then thy grace, lest that
No more
Do seize upon me, and I be
No more.
No more! O solemn sound! This night I may
Be struck by Death, and never see the day.
[Page 15]
August 2. The 5th day.
Meditation 57.
How tremblingly do creatures here appear
Before an earthly Judge? what dreadful fear
Does seiz upon them at the Bar of him,
Who likewise must arraigned be for sin?
Lord, grant me here thy grace, and so may I
With joy at last behold thy Majesty.
Meditation 58.
The day of death's a coming; after that
A day of Judgment will discriminate,
And put a difference 'twixt the Saints and those
Who do Gods Wayes and Precepts here oppose.
Lord, let me be prepared for that day,
That so with joy (Lord) thee behold I may.
Meditation 59
The hand of death strikes sure, there's nothing can
Obstruct, or hinder it; and every man,
Whether he will or no, must know that he
Must into dust most surely turned be.
O how should I prepare for this since 'tis
So sure and certain which I cannot miss.
Meditation 60.
Death is a surly Sergeant, no respect
Hath he to persons, does their tears reject;
No bribe will blind his eyes, away we must,
If he but call, and return to the dust.
Lord, grant that I may death behold with joy,
And to my soul let it bring no annoy.
Each minute gives my time a shorter time:
Not to prepare for Death is a sad crime.
[Page 16]
August 3. The 6th. day
Meditation 61.
There's nothing that I do, or act, but sayes
That I am Mortal with an Emphasis.
Each day speaks to me, and gives me to know,
That I ere it be long away must go.
Let me an interest have in Christ, and I
Shall over Death triumph with victory.
Meditation 62.
How is it that I am so careless here,
And never mind how I my Course do steer
For an Eternal Port? and never think
That at the last my leaky Ship will sink?
Lord, guard me from those Pirats that would catch
My Soul, do
[...]hou (Lord) be their over-match.
Meditation 63.
Lord, what's the reason I'm so loth to hear
Of the great day of Death? what means this fear,
That at the thoughts of death o're-spreads me, and
Prompts me to give a willing Countermand?
Jesus, 'tis to be fear'd I never stood
As one that's interested in thy Blood.
Meditation 64
What makes the Saints on earth desire to be
Dissolved, and that blessed day to see?
What makes them whilst they're here below to groan
Against this body of Corruption?
Lord, they know not when they from hence do go,
On them a glorious Kingdom thou'lt bestow.
Lord, if my Soul this night away thou take▪
Let me by morning then in Heav'n awake.
FINIS.
[Page]
A POSTCRIPT TO THE READER.
TIs not to shew the Author's
Wit but
Grace,
That these few
Poems are expos'd to view;
In which thou may'st behold Youths
flow'ry face
Set toward
Sion, seeking things
most true:
Contemning worldly
Vain's, but prizing high
A place ith' Mansions of
Eternity.
Here was hours spent indeed! and yet
not spent;
Time thus improv'd, is to
Redeem the time.
For
Youth, Death's company thus to frequent,
(As if a dweller in his
shady Clime)
Does prove a thing so rare, so seldome known,
That scarce
Old Age can call this act
its own.
By hourly meditating on the
Grave
He came acquainted with that
darksome Cell;
Knew that from going thither none could save,
(We on the Brink of
Machpelah do dwell)
Therefore prepar'd with sedulous desire
To take his Bed there, when he should expire.
[Page]
And though our
Saviour with his
Odours sweet
Hath to the Faithful it
perfum'd; yet there
They can't abide for aye: away must fleet
To
Judgment, when the
Great Judge shall appear.
This of he thought upon:
This, this should be
Our standing thought, when all things else do flee.
Of
Hell he's not forgetful; but with dread
And trembling
thinks &
speaks thereof: doth give
Warning to
living ones, they should not plead
For
Sin, which brings a Hell without reprieve:
Excites to
Prayer, Repentance, and to stay
By
Faith on Christ for Life which last for ay.
But his most
sweetest Contemplation
Takes wing below, and up to Heaven doth soare:
There's
matter for deep
Meditation,
Where
Pleasures do abide for
evermore,
Which neither
Eye e're saw,
Ear heard, nor can
Enter into the
Heart of any man.
Let the
Example of this
Pilot young,
(So skill'd in
Spiritual Sailing) thee inform
To steer thy
Course through
Baca's Vale, along
To this
fair Haven, (fear nor
Winds nor
Storm)
Till thou arrive with him, in whom did dwell
Some good thing toward the God of Israel.
M. J.
[Page]
VERSES made by That worthy KNIGHT, Sir. Walter Rawleigh, A little before his DEATH.
GIve me my Scallup shell of quiet,
My Staff of Faith to lean upon,
My Scrip of Joy, Immortal Diet,
My Bottle of Salvation.
My Gown of Glory, Hopes true gage,
And thus I'le take my Pilgrimage.
Blood must be my Bodies Balm,
No other Balm will there be given,
While my Soul like a quiet Palm,
Travails towards the Land of Heaven.
Over the Silver Mountains,
Where spring the Nector Fountains;
There I will kiss the Babe of Bliss,
And drink my Everlasting fill,
Upon every Milky Hill.
My Soul will be a dry before,
And after this will thirst no more,
I'le take them first to quench my thirst,
And taste of Nector Suckets,
[Page]By those clear Wells where sweetness dwells,
Drawn up by Saints, in crystal Buckets.
Then by that happy blissful way,
More peaceful Pilgrims I shall see,
That have cast off their rags of clay,
And walk apparrel'd fresh like me.
And when our Bottles and all we
Are filled with Immortalitie.
Then we these blessed paths will travel,
Stru'd with Rubies thick as Gravel.
Cielings of Diamonds, Saphire Flowers,
High Walls of Coral, Pearly Bowers:
F
[...]om thence to Heavens Bribeless Hall,
Where no corrupted voices braul.
No Conscience moulded into Gold,
Nor forg'd Accuser bought or sold.
No Cause deferr'd, no vain spent Journey,
There Christ alone's the Kings Attourney.
Who pleads for all without degrees,
And he hath Angels, but no Fees.
And when the twelve grand million Jury
Of all my Sins, will in a fury,
Against my Soul black Verdict give,
Christ pleads his Death, and then I live.
Be thou my speaker, taintless pleader,
Unblotted Lawyer, true Proceeder.
Thou givest Salvation even for Alms,
Not with a bribed Lawyers palms.
And this is mine eternal plea
To him that made Heav'n Earth and Sea;
[Page]That since my flesh must die so soon,
And want an head to dine next noon.
Just at the stroak when my veins spread,
Set on my Soul an everlasting head.
Then am I ready like a Palmer fit
To tread those paths which I have writ
Of Death and Judgment, Heav'n and Hell,
Who often thinks on must die well.
The night before he was Beheaded he writ on the Wall in the Prison this Verse.
COwards fear to die, but courage stout,
Rather than live in snuff, will be put out.
By the same Author.
EVen such is time which takes in trust,
Our Youth, our Joys, and all we have
And pays us nought but age and dust▪
When in the dark and silent Grave,
When we have wandred all our ways
Shuts up the story of our days;
And from which Grave, and Earth and Dust
My Lord shall raise me up I trust.
FINIS.