The Pilgrimes New-yeares-Gift or, Fourteene Steps to the Throne of Glory. By the 7. Corporeall and 7. Spirituall Acts of Charitie, and those made Parallels. By Ralph Crane |
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| Mercies seuen Acts Spirituall. |
| 1. |
| 2. |
| 3. |
| 4. |
| 5. |
| 6. |
| 7. |
 | The Pilgrimes New-yeares-Gift |  |
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Mercies seuen Acts Spirituall.
Canto 1.
MERCIE puts on a more celestiall face,
commands the Pilgrime take a grauer Pen,
For thou must write (quoth she) & I must grace
what only now concernes the Soules of men.
First then record how good, and how direct
A deed it is, The Sinner to correct.
commands the Pilgrime take a grauer Pen,
For thou must write (quoth she) & I must grace
what only now concernes the Soules of men.
First then record how good, and how direct
A deed it is, The Sinner to correct.
To
feed the hungry, Mercies first degree,
May with this first Spirituall paralleld be,
For a Stray-sinners Soule, that long hath swarv'd
Frō Christ (lifes bread) may be cal'd hunger-staru'd
Then to correct and turne that Soule to good
Is rightly said to giue Spirituall food.
So much for the Coherence; and through all
The Corporeall workes, so meet Spirituall.
May with this first Spirituall paralleld be,
For a Stray-sinners Soule, that long hath swarv'd
Frō Christ (lifes bread) may be cal'd hunger-staru'd
Then to correct and turne that Soule to good
Is rightly said to giue Spirituall food.
So much for the Coherence; and through all
The Corporeall workes, so meet Spirituall.
God
rebuk'd Laban, cause he did pursue
Iacob: Christ, Paul: Paul rebuk'd Peter too
Boldly and openly: which shewes, we ought
To reprove sin in any: 'tis so taught
Throughout the Word; by Law, & by the Lamb
(Who (all obedient) for the obedient came.)
List to the counsell of the Holy Ghost
(Where dwels all Goodnesse plentifully most)
If thy weake Brother, through temptation fall
Restore him, ye that are Spirituall:
So saies the Spirit of all Comforts-beautie,
Which showes this worke is a Spirituall Duty
It is a Mercy to the Soules of men
And brings them to the way of life agen:
One Dutie so depends vpon another
He that Corrects, will sure Instruct his Brother:
Coheres with that before; for he that feeds
The hungrie, will giue Drinke to him that needs:
'Tis such a golden-chaine, so linck'd together
In Soule, and Body, 'tis the same in either.
Iacob: Christ, Paul: Paul rebuk'd Peter too
Boldly and openly: which shewes, we ought
To reprove sin in any: 'tis so taught
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(Who (all obedient) for the obedient came.)
List to the counsell of the Holy Ghost
(Where dwels all Goodnesse plentifully most)
If thy weake Brother, through temptation fall
Restore him, ye that are Spirituall:
So saies the Spirit of all Comforts-beautie,
Which showes this worke is a Spirituall Duty
It is a Mercy to the Soules of men
And brings them to the way of life agen:
One Dutie so depends vpon another
He that Corrects, will sure Instruct his Brother:
Coheres with that before; for he that feeds
The hungrie, will giue Drinke to him that needs:
'Tis such a golden-chaine, so linck'd together
In Soule, and Body, 'tis the same in either.
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Canto 2.
T'instruct the Ignorant,
what grace it brings the soule
MERCIE relates; and leaue doth grant
the Pilgrime to enroule.
To
giue the Thirstie Drinke the second Act
what grace it brings the soule
MERCIE relates; and leaue doth grant
the Pilgrime to enroule.
Of Mercie corporeall is this Mercies Tract:
For what is Ignorance, but the fearefull Thurst
And drought of knowledg: In Gods wrath oft curst,
Swearing, the Erring, and Idolatrous Brest
Should neuer enter into his faire Rest.
In warrs of Ignorance, they are said to liue,
And fire & thirst are the fair'st fruites warrs giue
I giue you Milke to Drink (saith Paul) not Meat
Which shewes the faintnes of an Ignorant heat:
God calls the Glory of the Ignorant, Drought:
And like Men famish'd, their Lifes Ioyes goe-out
Instruction (like a Riuer) then let in
Waters the Soule, that lay eu'n parch'd with Sin:
And marke their glorious Reward that do't
They that to right waies turne the Wanderers foot
Themselues (like fixed Starres who erring neuer)
Shall in th' Eternall Kingdome shine for euer.
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Goe teach all Nations (willing all to saue)
And (what makes perfect his Cōmand) Baptize,
That in their Soules a heau'nly Spring might rise;
Then to Instruct the Ignorant, is to giue
Spirituall Drinke, by which the Soule may Liue:
when Food & Drink's giuen: diuine Charitie saith
Counsell the doubtfull: Cloath the bare in faith
Canto 3.
What Comfort's due to Those,
Counsels the Doubtfull Spirit,
The Pilgrims Pen doth here disclose
whilst MERCIE doth infer it.
To
cloath the Naked: (the third Step to grace)
Counsels the Doubtfull Spirit,
The Pilgrims Pen doth here disclose
whilst MERCIE doth infer it.
With this Spirituall worke, may ranke in place
There's Nakednes in Soule (which is in Man
The greatest want) when Christ is not put-on:
His sufferings his Righteousnesse, his Merits
Which are the vestments that adorne meeke spirits
Those Soules are deck't with Graces, & shine most
Set with the Counsells of the holy Ghost:
Then to be Doubtfull, and of hard beliefe
Is miserable Nakednes: a griefe
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Since it first prou'd the Iewes Reiection;
Faith is that wedding Robe, In which not drest
We are disgrac'd, and turn'd out from the Feast;
Which still confirmes the vnseemelines of doubt.
Faith's call'd a Brest-plate: if we walke without,
We are not onely Bare, but want Defence,
And euery Euill, knowes our Indigence:
Euery Temptation woundes with the least touch;
The Force though weak, the doubter helps it much
And sticks in his owne Arrow: his flesh cleaues
VVide ope to Ils, whose heart no Faith receiues:
He that to this Soules-Succour lends a hand,
Helpes to remoue this house built vpon Sand,
And sets it on a Rock (his Sauiours Trust)
To the next Worke of comfort he'll be iust.
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Canto 4.
How sweete it is to lend
Comfort to th' Sorrowfull,
MERCIE her speech doth sweetly bend.
and He doth write at full.
To
ransom Captiues the fourth Mercie plac'd
Comfort to th' Sorrowfull,
MERCIE her speech doth sweetly bend.
and He doth write at full.
In the first ranck, may with this worke bee grac'd
There are Spirituall Captiues: when within
The Soule lies geyu'd with Fetters made of Sinne,
Chain'd to Despaire and Guilt of euill-Merit,
To Comfort, is to Ransome such a Spirit:
Or at the least to let the minde in frame
With the sweet thought of their Redeemers name;
(That Sacred Ransome for all penitent Men
Loaden with Sorrow, for their load of Sinne)
To this most beauteous Mercy, (saith Saint Paul)
Gods speciall Attribute may moue vs all:
The God of Comfort being Gods glorious name,
Whence, we receiuing Ours must giue the same
To the afflicted Conscience: Ease her load
With what our selues are Comforted of God.
Christ in sweet words, makes knowne himselfe to be
The Lord of Comfort; saying Come to me
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The Holy Ghost, hee's generally proclaim'd
A Comforter: his onely worke on Earth
Is to raise Ioy, to meete our Second Birth:
Well with a Christian may this worke agree
So Star-like fix'd in the whole Trinitie.
To light and guide Compassion in Mankind
That the next worke it may the easier finde:
He that lends pitty to Greifes mournefull Song,
Patience will blesse his Soule, to beare a Wrong.
Canto 5.
MERCIE expresseth here:
the pilgrime here sets downe
How those that wrongs with Patience beare
gain an eternal crown
To
giue to Those a harbour that haue none
the pilgrime here sets downe
How those that wrongs with Patience beare
gain an eternal crown
Was a worke Corporeall in the fifth place showne,
As Patience now in this Spirituall forme
Which hath a welcome for wrongs sharpest storm
And to giue Iniuries house-roome is no more
Then to Lodge Enemies, distress'd, and poore;
which makes our Acts, the nobler in their course:
And puts our Euills to the weaker force:
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“So Iniuries indur'd, their Stings are gone:
That God, which last of Comfort held the name
Is here the God of Patience; both the same;
By his Long-suffering, Penitence works our Peace;
And by our Patience we our Soules possesse:
Our Patience hauing a Possession then,
Who should lodge there, but Iniuries of men?
That place to Euills properly belongs
“The house of Patience is the Inn of Wrongs:
The holy Prophets are before vs plac'd
As precedents of Patience: but most grac'd
By Christ, and his Endurings: witnesse Scornes,
Reproaches, Spight, Blasphemy, Buffets, Thornes,
Last, his most Pretious Suffering, that excells,
And hath raisd Patience, boue all Vertues else:
And for the Thorny-crowne, prickt it with Starrs,
Shining through Corporeall, or Spirituall Warrs:
Who would not beare wrongs since i'th end they proue
All Iewells, set about their Crowne aboue?
Without the next, impossible he should liue,
He that beares Wrongs, will graciously forgiue.
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Canto 6.
Vn-spleenfull MERCIE bids
the Pilgrime tell with Pen,
That He his soule from sinning rids
that doth Forgiue all men.
The
Uisitation of the sick, the sixt
the Pilgrime tell with Pen,
That He his soule from sinning rids
that doth Forgiue all men.
Corporeall worke, is to this Mercy fixt:
For on the Bed of sicknesse harshest men
Will both Forgiue, and aske Forgiuenes then,
That time, the most reuengeful spleene will melt,
In teares, and not in blood, his Reuenge felt:
The motiue then, to drawe this good worke on vs,
Is to thinke still, that sicknesse were vpon vs:
And as the worldling, when hee's sure to die,
Will then giue all, no man more liberally;
(For reason of his bounty, this we giue him,
Because he can nor keepe, nor carry with him)
So hee that's most reuengefull, most malicious,
Will shew himself, in that kind, then least vitious,
When Visitation like a frosty night
Bindes vp the Riuers of his Blood, and Spight:
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He will forgiue (as Charitie tyes man)
If hee be ne'er so vild, he'l forgiue then,
In that he hath no power to Iniure men.
Howeuer by this blest Example liue
And because Christ forgaue, let vs forgiue,
For his sake honour it; and in this respect,
It being the speciall marke of Gods Elect,
The next will sweetly fall into thy way
For hee that Pardons will be apt to pray.
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Canto 7.
Here (lastly MERCY saies,
and He doth here comprise
The honour of that Soule that Praies
euen for his Enemies.
and He doth here comprise
The honour of that Soule that Praies
euen for his Enemies.
The
Burying of the dead not disagrees
With this Worke, Praying for our Enemies:
For as Oblivion's said to be a Grave,
And Ills forgotten, their true Buriall have:
So, when we Pray for Foes, we there comprise
The Funerall of all our Iniuries:
Neuer in life to be remembred more,
But like things Buried, seal'd, and couered-ore:
This Praying loue: which makes vp Charitie best
And both (faire Mercy) in this tract exprest
'Tis like a Tomb stone here ouer Deaths Inne
And couers the great Multitude of Sin:
Blessed Saint Stephen, thus with loud voice cride
(And buryed his Foes wrongs, before he dide)
Lord lay not to their charge their sin (though deep)
And when hee had thus spoke, hee's said to sleepe,
To shew the meeknesse of his death, and that
Wrongs were no sooner pardon'd, but forgot:
It is a Mercy that Christ lights vs to,
Forgiue them, for they know not what they doe.
Your Enemies loue. Doe well to those that spight you,
Blesse them that curse, & Pray for thē that smite you.
'Mongst Mercies works this shines the special Iem
Both to bring wrongs to th' graue, & pray for them:
As Christian Charitie vseth this Remorse,
Prayers are oft said ouer an Ill mans coarse
(To the worlds iudgmēt) which this work implies
We ought to pray eu'n for our Enemies.
With this Worke, Praying for our Enemies:
For as Oblivion's said to be a Grave,
And Ills forgotten, their true Buriall have:
So, when we Pray for Foes, we there comprise
The Funerall of all our Iniuries:
Neuer in life to be remembred more,
But like things Buried, seal'd, and couered-ore:
This Praying loue: which makes vp Charitie best
And both (faire Mercy) in this tract exprest
'Tis like a Tomb stone here ouer Deaths Inne
And couers the great Multitude of Sin:
Blessed Saint Stephen, thus with loud voice cride
(And buryed his Foes wrongs, before he dide)
Lord lay not to their charge their sin (though deep)
And when hee had thus spoke, hee's said to sleepe,
To shew the meeknesse of his death, and that
Wrongs were no sooner pardon'd, but forgot:
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Forgiue them, for they know not what they doe.
Your Enemies loue. Doe well to those that spight you,
Blesse them that curse, & Pray for thē that smite you.
'Mongst Mercies works this shines the special Iem
Both to bring wrongs to th' graue, & pray for them:
As Christian Charitie vseth this Remorse,
Prayers are oft said ouer an Ill mans coarse
(To the worlds iudgmēt) which this work implies
We ought to pray eu'n for our Enemies.
To do the contrary shewes the curse o'th Law,
But this on vs the Gospels blisse doth draw,
That Gospel, which God cals a Couenant-new;
A new-Command. Christ giues it these words due,
Lifes-newnesse: the New man: how well cohere
May these sweet Attributes with a New-yeere?
Call then the old, the Law: whose force is done.
And the New-yeare, the Gospel, and Gods Sonne,
The time of Grace, Redemption, Comfort, Peace,
And may your Ioyes in those rich Gifts increase,
That so you louing these works (both waies seuen)
May shine 'mongst mē, & then be Stars in heauen;
In that Triumphant Citie, glorious place,
So vnexpressible, so full of Grace;
With such transparant Beautie deckt, so shining
With all Maiesticke glory, so inclining
To Blessednesse, that those which it enioy
Are turn'd to Angels, freed from all annoy.
But this on vs the Gospels blisse doth draw,
That Gospel, which God cals a Couenant-new;
A new-Command. Christ giues it these words due,
Lifes-newnesse: the New man: how well cohere
May these sweet Attributes with a New-yeere?
Call then the old, the Law: whose force is done.
And the New-yeare, the Gospel, and Gods Sonne,
The time of Grace, Redemption, Comfort, Peace,
And may your Ioyes in those rich Gifts increase,
That so you louing these works (both waies seuen)
May shine 'mongst mē, & then be Stars in heauen;
In that Triumphant Citie, glorious place,
So vnexpressible, so full of Grace;
With such transparant Beautie deckt, so shining
With all Maiesticke glory, so inclining
To Blessednesse, that those which it enioy
Are turn'd to Angels, freed from all annoy.
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Bvt here this Pilgrime staid,
(alas with much distresse)
He found himselfe too weakly made
such Rarenesse to expresse.
(alas with much distresse)
He found himselfe too weakly made
such Rarenesse to expresse.
Therefore with humble Eyes,
of that faire Citie (new
Hierusalem) he prostrate lies
in Contemplation true.
of that faire Citie (new
Hierusalem) he prostrate lies
in Contemplation true.
And with him MERCY rests
and gently doth commend
Vnto your true compunctiue Brest,
this Pilgrime to defend.
and gently doth commend
Vnto your true compunctiue Brest,
this Pilgrime to defend.
And if you please t'apply
some Balme vnto his Paine,
The Wretch that groveling now doth lie
she saies may rise againe.
some Balme vnto his Paine,
The Wretch that groveling now doth lie
she saies may rise againe.
And on an Oaten Reed
vnto Heauens glorious King
For such a sanctimonious deed
his Thankfulnesse out-ring.
vnto Heauens glorious King
For such a sanctimonious deed
his Thankfulnesse out-ring.
FINIS.
| The Pilgrimes New-yeares-Gift | |