Midnights Meditations of Death With Pious and Profitable Observations, and Consolations [by Edward Buckler]: Perused by Francis Quarles A little before his Death |
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| 3. | Sect. 3. Pleasures cannot protect us from the stroke of Death.
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 | Midnights Meditations of Death |  |
Sect. 3. Pleasures cannot protect us from the stroke of Death.
Under the sunne there was not any joy
Which Solomon that wise and famous King
Had not a tast of: whatsoever may
Gladnesse, content, delight and solace bring,
That he from the creature gathers;
Not one pleasure doth he keep
His heart from: yet he's asleep
In the dust among his fathers.
Which Solomon that wise and famous King
Had not a tast of: whatsoever may
Gladnesse, content, delight and solace bring,
That he from the creature gathers;
Not one pleasure doth he keep
His heart from: yet he's asleep
In the dust among his fathers.
His senses had those objects which delight,
Content, and please and ravish most his touch;
His tast, his hearing, smelling, and his sight,
His mind and humour too, all had as much
Of delicious satisfaction
As from all beneath the skie
Ever could be fetched by
Any possible extraction.
Content, and please and ravish most his touch;
His tast, his hearing, smelling, and his sight,
His mind and humour too, all had as much
Of delicious satisfaction
As from all beneath the skie
Ever could be fetched by
Any possible extraction.
Three hundred concubines he had to please
His touch: by turns each of them was his guest
At night. Seven hundred wives beside all these;
The worst of them a Princesse at the least.
Such a female armie meets,
To make his delight run o'r.
Sure they are enough to store
Twice five hundred pair of sheets.
His touch: by turns each of them was his guest
At night. Seven hundred wives beside all these;
The worst of them a Princesse at the least.
Such a female armie meets,
To make his delight run o'r.
Sure they are enough to store
Twice five hundred pair of sheets.
To please his tast this great Kings daily chear
Exceeded for varietie and plentie:
He had his Roe-buck and his Fallow-deer,
His fatted fowl, and everie other daintie.
He had palate-pleasing wine:
Gormandizers, whose best wishes
Terminate in toothsome dishes,
No where else would sup or dine.
Exceeded for varietie and plentie:
He had his Roe-buck and his Fallow-deer,
His fatted fowl, and everie other daintie.
He had palate-pleasing wine:
Gormandizers, whose best wishes
Terminate in toothsome dishes,
No where else would sup or dine.
And everie day both men and women-singers
Imprisoned his eare with charming voices:
The Viol touch'd with artificiall fingers,
An Organs breathing most melodious noises:
Sackbut, Psalterie, Recorder,
The shrill Cornet, and the sharp
Trumpet, Dulcimer and Harp;
These all sounded in their order.
Imprisoned his eare with charming voices:
The Viol touch'd with artificiall fingers,
An Organs breathing most melodious noises:
Sackbut, Psalterie, Recorder,
The shrill Cornet, and the sharp
Trumpet, Dulcimer and Harp;
These all sounded in their order.
And in his gardens he had lovely ranks
Of flowres for odour all sweets else excelling,
Whose beauteous lustre stellifi'd the banks;
All these were to delight his sense of smelling,
And perfumes of sweetest savour,
Which all other nations bring
As a present from their King
Who did woo his Princely favour.
Of flowres for odour all sweets else excelling,
Whose beauteous lustre stellifi'd the banks;
All these were to delight his sense of smelling,
And perfumes of sweetest savour,
Which all other nations bring
As a present from their King
Who did woo his Princely favour.
For objects which were wont to please the eye,
He wanted none. Did he desire a sight
Of what might most affect? variety
Of lovely'st objects spangled with delight
Everiewhere themselves present:
Scarce did anywhere appear
Other objects then did wear
Outsides clothed with content.
He wanted none. Did he desire a sight
Of what might most affect? variety
Of lovely'st objects spangled with delight
Everiewhere themselves present:
Scarce did anywhere appear
Other objects then did wear
Outsides clothed with content.
Behold his thousand wives! If he would know
The height of beautie, it is seen in those.
A battel in a field of sanguine snow
Betwixt the spotlesse lilie and the rose:
Part they would on no condition,
Nor would either of them yield;
Yet at length are reconcil'd,
And there made a composition.
The height of beautie, it is seen in those.
A battel in a field of sanguine snow
Betwixt the spotlesse lilie and the rose:
Part they would on no condition,
Nor would either of them yield;
Yet at length are reconcil'd,
And there made a composition.
His gorgeous clothes, his silver and his gold,
His jewels, his incomparable treasure
Were all of them delightsome to behold,
And gave the eye a glorious glut of pleasure.
His friends, his magnificent
Buildings, fish-ponds, gardens, bowers
Interlac'd with gallant flowers
Gave both eye and mind content.
His jewels, his incomparable treasure
Were all of them delightsome to behold,
And gave the eye a glorious glut of pleasure.
His friends, his magnificent
Buildings, fish-ponds, gardens, bowers
Interlac'd with gallant flowers
Gave both eye and mind content.
Yet he's dead. Delights cannot protect us
From Deaths assaults; pleasures eternize not
Our nature: yea, when sicknesse shall deject us
They will not ease nor comfort us a jote.
What doth most exactly please us
Here appears not where a grave is;
And what most of all doth ravish
On a death-bed will not ease us.
From Deaths assaults; pleasures eternize not
Our nature: yea, when sicknesse shall deject us
They will not ease nor comfort us a jote.
What doth most exactly please us
Here appears not where a grave is;
And what most of all doth ravish
On a death-bed will not ease us.
Meditation 1.
Methinks the trade of brainlesse Epicures
Is not so good as it doth seem to be.
The sweetest cup of luxury procures
No man below an immortalitie.
Yea, when sicknesses do lay
Him upon his bed, and strain
Everie part with deadly pain,
All his pleasures flie away.
Is not so good as it doth seem to be.
The sweetest cup of luxury procures
No man below an immortalitie.
Yea, when sicknesses do lay
Him upon his bed, and strain
Everie part with deadly pain,
All his pleasures flie away.
Let's put the case there was a belly-god,
Whose studie 't was to give his throat content;
To sacrifice to's panch both rost and sod
Was his religion. Every element
Its imployment had: The Waters,
Fruitfull Earth and nimble Air,
Ransack'd with a costly care,
For fish, flesh and fowl, were caters:
Whose studie 't was to give his throat content;
To sacrifice to's panch both rost and sod
Was his religion. Every element
Its imployment had: The Waters,
Fruitfull Earth and nimble Air,
Ransack'd with a costly care,
For fish, flesh and fowl, were caters:
The other cook'd it. This luxurious race
Did breath his stomach twice a day at least;
And each dish floted in provoking sawce,
Which still afresh his appetite increas'd.
From Dives that's now in hell,
For a table full of rare,
Toothsome and delicious fare,
This man bears away the bell.
Did breath his stomach twice a day at least;
And each dish floted in provoking sawce,
Which still afresh his appetite increas'd.
From Dives that's now in hell,
For a table full of rare,
Toothsome and delicious fare,
This man bears away the bell.
Well; this fat hog of Epicurus stie
Falls sick of surfeting, or else the gout
Or dropsie gripes him most tormentingly,
That you would think his soul were going out.
Pains do hinder him from sleeping,
He lies restlesse, and is so
Full of tossings to and fro
That his house is fill'd with weeping.
Falls sick of surfeting, or else the gout
Or dropsie gripes him most tormentingly,
That you would think his soul were going out.
Pains do hinder him from sleeping,
He lies restlesse, and is so
Full of tossings to and fro
That his house is fill'd with weeping.
His servants, seeing him so out of quiet,
Sadly bespoke him thus, Sir, here's a Phesant,
A dish of Partridge, Larks, or Quails, (a diet
Your Worship loves) a cup of rich and pleasant
Wine that comforts where it goes,
Muscadine, Canarie, Sherrie,
That hath often made you merrie:
This may ease you of your throes.
Sadly bespoke him thus, Sir, here's a Phesant,
A dish of Partridge, Larks, or Quails, (a diet
Your Worship loves) a cup of rich and pleasant
Wine that comforts where it goes,
Muscadine, Canarie, Sherrie,
That hath often made you merrie:
This may ease you of your throes.
The man repli'd, If I had wine by ods
Better then nectar, which the poets feigne
Was drunk in goblets by the heathen Gods,
It would not ease me of my smallest pain.
Should God rain me from the skies
Manna, glorious Angels food,
'T would not do me any good:
'Gainst it would my stomachrise
Better then nectar, which the poets feigne
Was drunk in goblets by the heathen Gods,
It would not ease me of my smallest pain.
Should God rain me from the skies
Manna, glorious Angels food,
'T would not do me any good:
'Gainst it would my stomachrise
There was another that plac'd no delight
In any thing but wealth; his chiefest good
Was purest gold: whether 't were wrong or right
He would be gaining: for he never stood
Upon conscience at all.
And to cry down avarice,
As he thought, was a device
Merely puritanicall.
In any thing but wealth; his chiefest good
Was purest gold: whether 't were wrong or right
He would be gaining: for he never stood
Upon conscience at all.
And to cry down avarice,
As he thought, was a device
Merely puritanicall.
To lie, to cheat, to swear, and, which is worse,
To forswear, to dissemble in his dealing,
Went ever down with him as things of course:
Nor would he slack a jote at down-right stealing.
Blind he was not; yet he saw
Not that statute-usury
Was at all forbidden by
Any part of morall law.
To forswear, to dissemble in his dealing,
Went ever down with him as things of course:
Nor would he slack a jote at down-right stealing.
Blind he was not; yet he saw
Not that statute-usury
Was at all forbidden by
Any part of morall law.
'T was fish whatever came within his net:
Sweet smell'd the dunghill that affoorded gain.
On such a thriving pinne his heart was set,
No thoughts but golden lodged in his brain.
Scraping thus early and late,
And increasing by these bad
Wayes and means, at length he had
Heaped up a vast estate.
Sweet smell'd the dunghill that affoorded gain.
On such a thriving pinne his heart was set,
No thoughts but golden lodged in his brain.
Scraping thus early and late,
And increasing by these bad
Wayes and means, at length he had
Heaped up a vast estate.
They say a Turkish Musulman, that dies
A faithfull servant unto Mahomet,
Shall presently enjoy a paradise
Of brave delights indeed: The place is set
All about with glorious matters;
There are rivers, pleasant benches
Straw'd with flowres, & gallant wenches
That have eyes as broad as platters,
A faithfull servant unto Mahomet,
Shall presently enjoy a paradise
Of brave delights indeed: The place is set
All about with glorious matters;
There are rivers, pleasant benches
Straw'd with flowres, & gallant wenches
That have eyes as broad as platters,
And many other joyes as good as these.
But all are bables to that strong content
Wherewith the man we told you of doth please
Himself in his estate: More merriment
In the images of Kings
Doth he find then six or seven
Martyr'd Turks do in their heaven.
Hearken how the miser sings;
But all are bables to that strong content
Wherewith the man we told you of doth please
Himself in his estate: More merriment
In the images of Kings
Doth he find then six or seven
Martyr'd Turks do in their heaven.
Hearken how the miser sings;
I'll eat, drink, and play,
And I'll freely enjoy
My pleasures before I am old;
I'll be sorie no more,
For my soul hath in store
Abundance of silver and gold.
And I'll freely enjoy
My pleasures before I am old;
I'll be sorie no more,
For my soul hath in store
Abundance of silver and gold.
In this day and night
Will I place my delight;
It shall fatten my heart with laughter.
No man shall excell me;
For who is 't can tell me
What pleasures there will be hereafter?
Will I place my delight;
It shall fatten my heart with laughter.
No man shall excell me;
For who is 't can tell me
What pleasures there will be hereafter?
His irreligious song was hardly ended,
When at his gate was heard one softly knocking:
It was that Tyrant Death, who came attended
With troups of griping throes; all these came flocking
Round about this golden fool.
As the issue did assure us,
God had sent these ghastly Furies
For to take away his soul.
When at his gate was heard one softly knocking:
It was that Tyrant Death, who came attended
With troups of griping throes; all these came flocking
Round about this golden fool.
As the issue did assure us,
God had sent these ghastly Furies
For to take away his soul.
Alas, Sir, said his servants what may be
The cause you send us out such wofull grones?
How fell you into such an agonie?
What ails your throat, your head, your heart, your bones
Or your stomach, or your brains,
That you howl so? here before you
Is that which must needs restore you,
And ease your extremest pains.
The cause you send us out such wofull grones?
How fell you into such an agonie?
What ails your throat, your head, your heart, your bones
Or your stomach, or your brains,
That you howl so? here before you
Is that which must needs restore you,
And ease your extremest pains.
Here's gold and silver and as stately stuff
As England, Scotland, France, or Ireland yields:
Of jewels and of plate you have enough:
Of any man you have the fruitfull'st fields.
Fattest oxen throng your stall;
Tenants tumble in your rent:
Those to whom you mony lent
Bring both use and principall.
As England, Scotland, France, or Ireland yields:
Of jewels and of plate you have enough:
Of any man you have the fruitfull'st fields.
Fattest oxen throng your stall;
Tenants tumble in your rent:
Those to whom you mony lent
Bring both use and principall.
This cannot chuse but comfort. But the man,
That lay upon his easelesse death-bed sprawling,
Made this replie, If any of you can
By marks infallible make sure my calling
To my soul, and my election;
If from any text divine
You could prove that Christ is mine,
This would be a good refection.
That lay upon his easelesse death-bed sprawling,
Made this replie, If any of you can
By marks infallible make sure my calling
To my soul, and my election;
If from any text divine
You could prove that Christ is mine,
This would be a good refection.
Or if you could assure my parting ghost
Of seeing God to all Eternitie,
Of being one amongst that heavenly host
Whose blisse it is to praise him endlessely;
This were comfort that accordeth
With his case that is distrest
As now I am, but the rest
On a death-bed none affoordeth.
Of seeing God to all Eternitie,
Of being one amongst that heavenly host
Whose blisse it is to praise him endlessely;
This were comfort that accordeth
With his case that is distrest
As now I am, but the rest
On a death-bed none affoordeth.
There was another man whose occupation
Was to passe time away: he made a trade
Of that which men do call a recreation:
He was indeed a very merry blade.
Taverns, bowling-alleys, playes,
Dauncing, fishing, fowling, racing,
Hawking, hunting, coursing, tracing,
Took up all his healthfull dayes.
Was to passe time away: he made a trade
Of that which men do call a recreation:
He was indeed a very merry blade.
Taverns, bowling-alleys, playes,
Dauncing, fishing, fowling, racing,
Hawking, hunting, coursing, tracing,
Took up all his healthfull dayes.
But on a time a sudden sicknesse came,
And seised him in each extremer part,
(This grudging did begin to spoil his game)
But at the length it fast'ned on his heart;
There it plung'd him wofully,
And forthwith the man is led
Home and laid upon his bed:
Think him now at point to die.
And seised him in each extremer part,
(This grudging did begin to spoil his game)
But at the length it fast'ned on his heart;
There it plung'd him wofully,
And forthwith the man is led
Home and laid upon his bed:
Think him now at point to die.
A little after came into the room
A gallant troup of necessarie stuff,
His coachman, falconer, huntsman, page, and groom,
His mistresse with her hands both in a muff,
Sorie all to see him so.
But see how these fools invent
To give a sick man content,
And to ease him ere they go.
A gallant troup of necessarie stuff,
His coachman, falconer, huntsman, page, and groom,
His mistresse with her hands both in a muff,
Sorie all to see him so.
But see how these fools invent
To give a sick man content,
And to ease him ere they go.
One breaks a jest, another tells a tale;
One strikes the lute, another sings a dittie;
(But neither of them pray to God at all)
Another tells what news is in the citie:
Everie man is in his vein,
And all jointly do contrive
Pleasant passages to drive
Out of doore their masters pain.
One strikes the lute, another sings a dittie;
(But neither of them pray to God at all)
Another tells what news is in the citie:
Everie man is in his vein,
And all jointly do contrive
Pleasant passages to drive
Out of doore their masters pain.
They ask'd him if he pleas'd to take the air,
Or call for's coach and ride to see a play.
And whether he would hunt the buck or hare,
Or to a tavern go to drive away
Or to drown times tediousnesse,
Or else to a tennis-court
Whither gallants do resort,
Or else play a game at chesse.
Or call for's coach and ride to see a play.
And whether he would hunt the buck or hare,
Or to a tavern go to drive away
Or to drown times tediousnesse,
Or else to a tennis-court
Whither gallants do resort,
Or else play a game at chesse.
The man reply'd, Ye know I must be gone
The way of all, I cannot tell how soon;
And I have other things to think upon:
Already it is with me afternoon;
Erelong my declining sunne
Needs must set. Oh! my life hangs
On a thred: these mortall pangs
Crack it. Out my glasse is runne.
The way of all, I cannot tell how soon;
And I have other things to think upon:
Already it is with me afternoon;
Erelong my declining sunne
Needs must set. Oh! my life hangs
On a thred: these mortall pangs
Crack it. Out my glasse is runne.
Time was I doted on these idle toyes:
Now can they not a dram of comfort yield.
Too late I see they are death-bed joyes,
No refuge from soul-vexing storms, no shield
When a mortall blow is given.
Prate no more: let not a man
Open's mouth unlesse he can
Tell me how to get to heaven.
Now can they not a dram of comfort yield.
Too late I see they are death-bed joyes,
No refuge from soul-vexing storms, no shield
When a mortall blow is given.
Prate no more: let not a man
Open's mouth unlesse he can
Tell me how to get to heaven.
There was another that for nothing car'd
(It was a woman) but for vain excesse
In bravery of clothes; no cost was spar'd,
Nor art, nor care, that served to expresse
To the full a female pride:
But at length it came to passe
That this spruce and gallant lasse
Fell extremely sick and di'd.
(It was a woman) but for vain excesse
In bravery of clothes; no cost was spar'd,
Nor art, nor care, that served to expresse
To the full a female pride:
But at length it came to passe
That this spruce and gallant lasse
Fell extremely sick and di'd.
But I must tell you, that, whilst like a lion
Pains tore her bones in pieces, ere she sent
Her last breath out, (imagine her of Sion
A matchlesse daughter) to her chamber went,
Weeping ripe, her good handmaiden,
Purposing as much as may be
To chear up her dying Ladie:
For with comforts was she laden.
Pains tore her bones in pieces, ere she sent
Her last breath out, (imagine her of Sion
A matchlesse daughter) to her chamber went,
Weeping ripe, her good handmaiden,
Purposing as much as may be
To chear up her dying Ladie:
For with comforts was she laden.
Thus she began, and spake it with a grace,
Be comforted, good Madame, never let
A little sicknesse spoil so good a face;
Your Ladyship cannot so soon forget
Your contents. If ever any
Gentlewoman liv'd that might
Find materialls of delight,
You, good Madame, have as many.
Be comforted, good Madame, never let
A little sicknesse spoil so good a face;
Your Ladyship cannot so soon forget
Your contents. If ever any
Gentlewoman liv'd that might
Find materialls of delight,
You, good Madame, have as many.
Here for your feeet are tinkling ornaments;
Here are your bonnets, and your net-work-cauls,
Fine linen too that every eye contents,
Your head-bands, tablets, eare-rings, chains, and falls,
Your nose-jewels, and your rings,
Your hoods, crisping-pinnes, & wimples,
Glasses that bewray your pimples,
Vails, and other pretty things:
Here are your bonnets, and your net-work-cauls,
Fine linen too that every eye contents,
Your head-bands, tablets, eare-rings, chains, and falls,
Your nose-jewels, and your rings,
Your hoods, crisping-pinnes, & wimples,
Glasses that bewray your pimples,
Vails, and other pretty things:
Here are your dainty mantles, and your sutes
Of changeable apparel, and your tires
Round like the moon, your bracelets, (finger-fruits)
Of busie houres) mufflers, and golden wires;
And so many more that no man
Can repeat nor yet remember
From October to September:
This would comfort any woman.
Of changeable apparel, and your tires
Round like the moon, your bracelets, (finger-fruits)
Of busie houres) mufflers, and golden wires;
And so many more that no man
Can repeat nor yet remember
From October to September:
This would comfort any woman.
Suppose her, if you will, an English Lady;
And think you heare her waiting-gentlewoman
Bespeak her thus, Madame, here is a gawdy
And glorious shew, (these fashions are not common.)
Here's your beaver and your feather,
Here are silver-ribband knots,
Trunks full of rich riding-coats,
Gallant shelters 'gainst the weather.
And think you heare her waiting-gentlewoman
Bespeak her thus, Madame, here is a gawdy
And glorious shew, (these fashions are not common.)
Here's your beaver and your feather,
Here are silver-ribband knots,
Trunks full of rich riding-coats,
Gallant shelters 'gainst the weather.
Here are your holland and your cambrick-smocks,
Your gowns of velvet, satten, taffatie,
Irons to curvifie your flaxen locks,
And spangled roses that outshine the skie:
For your head here's precious geere,
Bonelace-cros-cloths, squares & shadows,
Dressings, which your Worship made us
Work upon above a yeare.
Your gowns of velvet, satten, taffatie,
Irons to curvifie your flaxen locks,
And spangled roses that outshine the skie:
For your head here's precious geere,
Bonelace-cros-cloths, squares & shadows,
Dressings, which your Worship made us
Work upon above a yeare.
Rich chains of pearl to tie your hair together,
And others to adorn your snowie breast;
Silk stockings, starre-like shoes of Spanish leather:
And that which farre excelleth all the rest
And begets most admiration,
Of your clothes is not their matter,
Though the world affords not better,
But it is their Frenchest fashion.
And others to adorn your snowie breast;
Silk stockings, starre-like shoes of Spanish leather:
And that which farre excelleth all the rest
And begets most admiration,
Of your clothes is not their matter,
Though the world affords not better,
But it is their Frenchest fashion.
Madame, believe 't, the fairest of the Graces
Subscribes to you. Whenever you appear
Adorned with your gold and silver-laces,
Your presence makes the greedi'st eye good chear.
This consideration
In time past was wont to please you:
Now then, Madame, let it ease you
And afford you consolation.
Subscribes to you. Whenever you appear
Adorned with your gold and silver-laces,
Your presence makes the greedi'st eye good chear.
This consideration
In time past was wont to please you:
Now then, Madame, let it ease you
And afford you consolation.
The dying woman, when this speech was done,
After a grone or two made this replie,
Doth such a curtain-lecture suit with one
That everie houre doth look when she should die?
'T is not congruous. Wer'st thou able
My poore naked soul to dresse
With a Saviours righteousnesse,
This indeed were comfortable:
After a grone or two made this replie,
Doth such a curtain-lecture suit with one
That everie houre doth look when she should die?
'T is not congruous. Wer'st thou able
My poore naked soul to dresse
With a Saviours righteousnesse,
This indeed were comfortable:
But all the rest is not. Oh! how I grieve
To think upon my former vanitie:
Alas, I feel these toyes cannot relieve,
Nor ease, nor comfort. Thus let luxurie
Pitch on what it will, its joyes
Are but painted, nor can bring us
Ease when pangs of Death do wring us,
Much lesse can they make our dayes
To think upon my former vanitie:
Alas, I feel these toyes cannot relieve,
Nor ease, nor comfort. Thus let luxurie
Pitch on what it will, its joyes
Are but painted, nor can bring us
Ease when pangs of Death do wring us,
Much lesse can they make our dayes
Eternall here. Thy servant, Lord, beseecheth
The presence of thy spirit that discovers
How vain that carnall joy is which bewitcheth
With pleasant poison all her sottish lovers.
Let not earth-delights forestall me:
Help thy servant to provide
Pleasures that will then abide
When thou sendest Death to call me.
The presence of thy spirit that discovers
How vain that carnall joy is which bewitcheth
With pleasant poison all her sottish lovers.
Let not earth-delights forestall me:
Help thy servant to provide
Pleasures that will then abide
When thou sendest Death to call me.
Meditation 2.
Farewell those pleasures which the creatures breed:
These carnall comforts shall be none of mine;
They slink away in time of greatest need:
I'll get me comforts that are more divine,
Such as God provideth for us
By his Spirit and in his word:
They are such as will afford
Joy unspeakable and glorious.
These carnall comforts shall be none of mine;
They slink away in time of greatest need:
I'll get me comforts that are more divine,
Such as God provideth for us
By his Spirit and in his word:
They are such as will afford
Joy unspeakable and glorious.
Unsanctified palates cannot find
A relish in Gods service: 't is their follie
That nothing in it suiteth with their mind,
That they account religion melancholie.
And the cause of their misprision
Is because they cannot see
Things divine; for yet they be
In their naturall condition.
A relish in Gods service: 't is their follie
That nothing in it suiteth with their mind,
That they account religion melancholie.
And the cause of their misprision
Is because they cannot see
Things divine; for yet they be
In their naturall condition.
But sanctified souls have better eyes.
Each Person in the sacred Trinitie
Sends comfort down, and such as farre outvies
The best delight that is below the skie.
Father, Sonne, and holy Ghost,
Be it spoke with reverence,
Seem to strive which shall dispense
Blessings that do comfort most.
Each Person in the sacred Trinitie
Sends comfort down, and such as farre outvies
The best delight that is below the skie.
Father, Sonne, and holy Ghost,
Be it spoke with reverence,
Seem to strive which shall dispense
Blessings that do comfort most.
The Father, as his title often writes
Himself a God of peace and consolation,
He sends me comforts by those sacred lights
Which bring me errands from his habitation:
And so firm and full and free
Is each promise in his book,
That on whichsoe'r I look
Blessed comforts I do see:
Himself a God of peace and consolation,
He sends me comforts by those sacred lights
Which bring me errands from his habitation:
And so firm and full and free
Is each promise in his book,
That on whichsoe'r I look
Blessed comforts I do see:
So firm, that first the hugest hills and mountains
Shall dance out of their places, starres shall fall,
Streams shall run backward to their mother-fountains,
The earth shall tumble, ere he will recall
One of's promises: For why,
(And this gives strong consolation
In the middest of temptation)
He's a God, and cannot lie.
Shall dance out of their places, starres shall fall,
Streams shall run backward to their mother-fountains,
The earth shall tumble, ere he will recall
One of's promises: For why,
(And this gives strong consolation
In the middest of temptation)
He's a God, and cannot lie.
So full, that there's not any thing left out
That I could wish. What I would have him be
God is. Would I be compassed about
With mercie? find relief in miserie?
Would I by his Spirit be led?
And have all my sinnes forgiven?
And hereafter go to heaven?
All this God hath promised.
That I could wish. What I would have him be
God is. Would I be compassed about
With mercie? find relief in miserie?
Would I by his Spirit be led?
And have all my sinnes forgiven?
And hereafter go to heaven?
All this God hath promised.
So free, that to deserve that promis'd glory
I nothing have but what his mercie gave me:
'T is gratis rather then compensatorie
Whatever God doth to convert or save me.
And if any good I do,
'T is done by supplies Divine;
So Gods work and none of mine:
Grace begins and ends it too.
I nothing have but what his mercie gave me:
'T is gratis rather then compensatorie
Whatever God doth to convert or save me.
And if any good I do,
'T is done by supplies Divine;
So Gods work and none of mine:
Grace begins and ends it too.
What if by nature I was made a sheep,
And by corruption I am gone astray,
Whether I think, or speak, or do, or sleep,
Or wake, do ever wander from the way
I was set in, and am toss'd
So by lust that my soul wanders
Into many by-meanders,
Like a sillie sheep that's lost?
And by corruption I am gone astray,
Whether I think, or speak, or do, or sleep,
Or wake, do ever wander from the way
I was set in, and am toss'd
So by lust that my soul wanders
Into many by-meanders,
Like a sillie sheep that's lost?
Yet God's my shepherd: When his mercy spi'd me
Wandring it brought me home; and ever since
It doth watch over, feed, defend, and guide me,
And ever will do so till I go hence:
And hereafter in the even,
When my latest sand is runne,
And my pasture here is done,
It will fold my soul in heaven.
Wandring it brought me home; and ever since
It doth watch over, feed, defend, and guide me,
And ever will do so till I go hence:
And hereafter in the even,
When my latest sand is runne,
And my pasture here is done,
It will fold my soul in heaven.
The Sonne doth comfort. 'T was his errand down
To preach glad tidings to the meek, and turn
Their wo to ease; to earn a glorious crown
For sinners, and to comfort those that mourn;
Broken-hearted ones to bind,
And to set at libertie
Pris'ners in captivitie,
And give eye-sight to the blind.
To preach glad tidings to the meek, and turn
Their wo to ease; to earn a glorious crown
For sinners, and to comfort those that mourn;
Broken-hearted ones to bind,
And to set at libertie
Pris'ners in captivitie,
And give eye-sight to the blind.
There's comfort in his wounds: His sacred stripes
Do heal our leprous souls of all their sores:
'T is nothing but his pretious bloud that wipes
Our guilt away and cancelleth our scores.
Six times did he shed his bloud,
(And sure our estate did need it
That so many times he did it)
And each drop was for our good.
Do heal our leprous souls of all their sores:
'T is nothing but his pretious bloud that wipes
Our guilt away and cancelleth our scores.
Six times did he shed his bloud,
(And sure our estate did need it
That so many times he did it)
And each drop was for our good.
Those circumcision-drops of's infancie,
Those drops that's anguish in the garden vented,
Those drops when he was scourged Jewishly,
Those drops when's head with sharpest thorns was tented,
Those drops when his limbs were nailed
To the crosse, those when the fierce
Souldiers spear his side did pierce;
Each drop for our good prevailed.
Those drops that's anguish in the garden vented,
Those drops when he was scourged Jewishly,
Those drops when's head with sharpest thorns was tented,
Those drops when his limbs were nailed
To the crosse, those when the fierce
Souldiers spear his side did pierce;
Each drop for our good prevailed.
There's comfort in his crosse: That vile old man
That hangs about us to our dying day
Is crucified with him that it can
Not exercise half of its wonted sway:
Lessened is its kingly power.
Surely sinne, it struggles so,
Hath receiv'd a mortall blow,
And is dying everie houre.
That hangs about us to our dying day
Is crucified with him that it can
Not exercise half of its wonted sway:
Lessened is its kingly power.
Surely sinne, it struggles so,
Hath receiv'd a mortall blow,
And is dying everie houre.
There's comfort in his death: For us he dy'd,
For us he felt his Fathers heavie wrath,
And his impartiall justice satisfi'd,
And us his alsufficient passion hath
Pluck'd from Satan vi & armis,
And his meritorious pain
Freed us from sinnes guilt and stain,
And whatever else might harm us.
For us he felt his Fathers heavie wrath,
And his impartiall justice satisfi'd,
And us his alsufficient passion hath
Pluck'd from Satan vi & armis,
And his meritorious pain
Freed us from sinnes guilt and stain,
And whatever else might harm us.
There's comfort in his resurrection too.
He rose again that we might be accounted
Righteous and just, (This no man else could do)
And that our sinnes, whose number farte surmounted
All the starres that shine in heaven,
All our hairs, and all the sand
That lies scattered on the strand,
For his sake might be forgiven.
He rose again that we might be accounted
Righteous and just, (This no man else could do)
And that our sinnes, whose number farte surmounted
All the starres that shine in heaven,
All our hairs, and all the sand
That lies scattered on the strand,
For his sake might be forgiven.
And God the holy Ghost doth comfort bring:
By speciall office it is his imployment
To settle in the soul a lively spring,
From whence doth issue such a sweet enjoyment
Of divine, heart-pleasing blisse,
As the world will not believe,
Nor can any heart conceive
But the heart wherein it is.
By speciall office it is his imployment
To settle in the soul a lively spring,
From whence doth issue such a sweet enjoyment
Of divine, heart-pleasing blisse,
As the world will not believe,
Nor can any heart conceive
But the heart wherein it is.
It is this blessed Spirit that doth seal
Assurance to my conscience of a share
In what God, in and through his Sonne, doth deal
To needy sinners that converted are.
It assures me of Gods love
In the free and full remission
Of my sinnes, and exhibition
Of those joyes that are above.
Assurance to my conscience of a share
In what God, in and through his Sonne, doth deal
To needy sinners that converted are.
It assures me of Gods love
In the free and full remission
Of my sinnes, and exhibition
Of those joyes that are above.
Let now the world, that's wont to tell a storie
Of strange delights, shew me but such a pleasure,
As to be sure of God, and Christ, and glory,
And then I'll hug it as my choicest treasure.
Thus each Person of the three
Is imploy'd (if I do live
Holy as I ought) to give
Joy and comfort unto me.
Of strange delights, shew me but such a pleasure,
As to be sure of God, and Christ, and glory,
And then I'll hug it as my choicest treasure.
Thus each Person of the three
Is imploy'd (if I do live
Holy as I ought) to give
Joy and comfort unto me.
Grant a man once to be in Christ, and he
On sublunarie pleasures soon will trample;
And yet for pleasures, who shews best, will vie
With all the world: give him but one example,
What gets pleasure, and what feeds it;
Whatsoe'r 'mongst earthly things
To the mind most pleasure brings;
He can shew what farre exceeds it.
On sublunarie pleasures soon will trample;
And yet for pleasures, who shews best, will vie
With all the world: give him but one example,
What gets pleasure, and what feeds it;
Whatsoe'r 'mongst earthly things
To the mind most pleasure brings;
He can shew what farre exceeds it.
Can learning please? he is a man of parts.
Me thinks sure at his very fingers end
He hath exactly all the liberall arts;
At least he hath such arts as will commend
Any man a great deal more,
And will sooner bring to heaven,
Then will any of those seven
On which learned men do pore.
Me thinks sure at his very fingers end
He hath exactly all the liberall arts;
At least he hath such arts as will commend
Any man a great deal more,
And will sooner bring to heaven,
Then will any of those seven
On which learned men do pore.
His Logick is so scientificall,
His Syllogismes are in so blest a mood,
A thousand arguments his heart lets fall
That rightly from good premises conclude
Him a child of God on high,
And a member of his Sonne,
And an heir, when's race is runne,
Of a blest Eternitie.
His Syllogismes are in so blest a mood,
A thousand arguments his heart lets fall
That rightly from good premises conclude
Him a child of God on high,
And a member of his Sonne,
And an heir, when's race is runne,
Of a blest Eternitie.
His Rhetorick excells. He can perswade
More then those well-penn'd sweet orations which
Demosthenes or Tullie ever made.
Doth he that prayer-hearing God beseech?
Presently his eare he gains.
For fine words it is no matter:
Let him like a swallow chatter
Or a crane, yet he obtains.
More then those well-penn'd sweet orations which
Demosthenes or Tullie ever made.
Doth he that prayer-hearing God beseech?
Presently his eare he gains.
For fine words it is no matter:
Let him like a swallow chatter
Or a crane, yet he obtains.
And for Arithmetick; his numeration
Is of his dayes: this makes the man applie
His heart to wisdome, that in any station
He may perform his dutie prudently.
And those sinnes, to make them hatefull,
Which his conscience most do cumber
Everie day the man doth number;
And Gods blessings, to be gratefull.
Is of his dayes: this makes the man applie
His heart to wisdome, that in any station
He may perform his dutie prudently.
And those sinnes, to make them hatefull,
Which his conscience most do cumber
Everie day the man doth number;
And Gods blessings, to be gratefull.
And for Addition; 't is his diligence
Vertue to adde to faith; to vertue, knowledge;
Love, godlinesse, peace, kindnesse, patience,
One to another: that his soul's a Colledge
Filled with divinest graces:
And not one grace idle lies,
But all do their exercise
In their severall turns and places.
Vertue to adde to faith; to vertue, knowledge;
Love, godlinesse, peace, kindnesse, patience,
One to another: that his soul's a Colledge
Filled with divinest graces:
And not one grace idle lies,
But all do their exercise
In their severall turns and places.
When he subtracteth, 't is not from the poore,
As most men do, not from the King nor Church;
But from sinnes monstrous bodie. More and more
He weakens the old man that lies at lurch
In each of his faculties,
And his master-sinne, the strongest
Lust that hath been harboured longest
In his soul he mortifies.
As most men do, not from the King nor Church;
But from sinnes monstrous bodie. More and more
He weakens the old man that lies at lurch
In each of his faculties,
And his master-sinne, the strongest
Lust that hath been harboured longest
In his soul he mortifies.
He multiplies not, as in many places
Men do, his riches; but he multiplies
And doth augment his saving gifts and graces,
If not in habit yet in exercise.
He divides his goods, he feedeth
Hungrie bellies, and relieveth
Such as are distress'd, and giveth
Unto everie one that needeth.
Men do, his riches; but he multiplies
And doth augment his saving gifts and graces,
If not in habit yet in exercise.
He divides his goods, he feedeth
Hungrie bellies, and relieveth
Such as are distress'd, and giveth
Unto everie one that needeth.
When he reduceth, 't is his conversation
In ev'rie point from what it was by nature:
He moulds his life into another fashion,
And shews himself to be a new-made creature.
And for such a mans Progression;
He's not fixed in his place
Like a statue, but in grace
Grows to credit his profession.
In ev'rie point from what it was by nature:
He moulds his life into another fashion,
And shews himself to be a new-made creature.
And for such a mans Progression;
He's not fixed in his place
Like a statue, but in grace
Grows to credit his profession.
He ever worketh by the Rule of Three
That do above in heaven bear record.
The Golden Rule, whereby his actions be
Squar'd and directed, is their written word.
Though sometimes he work by Fractions,
Gives God broken services,
'Cause he's flesh in part; yet is
He sincere in all his actions.
That do above in heaven bear record.
The Golden Rule, whereby his actions be
Squar'd and directed, is their written word.
Though sometimes he work by Fractions,
Gives God broken services,
'Cause he's flesh in part; yet is
He sincere in all his actions.
And for a pious mans Astronomie;
What if he cannot tell the sev'rall motions
Those orbs have which do roll about the skie?
Starres names, site, bignesse, and such other notions?
What if he know not how soon
The sunne will eclipsed be?
Nor hath wit enough to see
The new world that's in the moon?
What if he cannot tell the sev'rall motions
Those orbs have which do roll about the skie?
Starres names, site, bignesse, and such other notions?
What if he know not how soon
The sunne will eclipsed be?
Nor hath wit enough to see
The new world that's in the moon?
Yet he doth know the milkie way that leads
Unto the palace of the highest King:
Whose presence the whole host of heaven dreads,
Who made the starres, the spheres, and everie thing;
Steers the course that each orb runnes,
Binds starres influence, looseth the bands
Of Orion, and his hands
Guide Arcturus with his sonnes.
Unto the palace of the highest King:
Whose presence the whole host of heaven dreads,
Who made the starres, the spheres, and everie thing;
Steers the course that each orb runnes,
Binds starres influence, looseth the bands
Of Orion, and his hands
Guide Arcturus with his sonnes.
For Geometrie; what if he cannot tell
How many miles the vast earth is about?
Yet doth his pious art by farre excell
In finding many greater matters out:
Matters that exceed the strength
Of best wits, the full extension
Of Christ's love in each dimension,
Height, and depth, & breadth, & length.
How many miles the vast earth is about?
Yet doth his pious art by farre excell
In finding many greater matters out:
Matters that exceed the strength
Of best wits, the full extension
Of Christ's love in each dimension,
Height, and depth, & breadth, & length.
For Grammar; he can wickednesse decline.
His supernaturall Philosophie
Is wisdome to salvation. Most divine
His musick is: That God that dwells on high
Is pleas'd with no other tone.
There is nothing he can heare
Makes such musick in his eare
As a sanctified grone.
His supernaturall Philosophie
Is wisdome to salvation. Most divine
His musick is: That God that dwells on high
Is pleas'd with no other tone.
There is nothing he can heare
Makes such musick in his eare
As a sanctified grone.
For Physick; his most admirable knowledge
Hath found out a Catholicon. (This ranks
His skill deservedly above the Colledge,
Above French or Italian mountebanks.)
There's no sicknesse, he is sure,
Be it ne'r so strong or foul,
That affecteth any soul,
But the bloud of Christ can cure.
Hath found out a Catholicon. (This ranks
His skill deservedly above the Colledge,
Above French or Italian mountebanks.)
There's no sicknesse, he is sure,
Be it ne'r so strong or foul,
That affecteth any soul,
But the bloud of Christ can cure.
The greatest Clerk is but a learned fool,
If's learning be not mixt with godlinesse.
The greatest Scholar's he that goes to school
To learn of Christ the wayes of holinesse.
Thus if learning be a treasure
That doth please, or skill in arts,
Or to be a man of parts;
He that's holy finds this pleasure.
If's learning be not mixt with godlinesse.
The greatest Scholar's he that goes to school
To learn of Christ the wayes of holinesse.
Thus if learning be a treasure
That doth please, or skill in arts,
Or to be a man of parts;
He that's holy finds this pleasure.
Doth toothsome and delicious chear delight?
The godly have it once a week at least.
Our bounty-handed Saviour doth invite
His servants to a rich and sumptuous feast,
Where his own self is our server;
Such a feast of fattest things
As if all the guests were Kings:
Where faith may be her own carver.
The godly have it once a week at least.
Our bounty-handed Saviour doth invite
His servants to a rich and sumptuous feast,
Where his own self is our server;
Such a feast of fattest things
As if all the guests were Kings:
Where faith may be her own carver.
Do riches please? A godly mans estate
Surpasseth that of Crœsus: he hath more
Then out of Christ is had at any rate.
God hath endow'd him with a blessed store
Better then a heap of gold,
Which nor thief, nor moth, nor rust,
Can steal, eat, or turn to dust:
His are bags that ne'r wax old.
Surpasseth that of Crœsus: he hath more
Then out of Christ is had at any rate.
God hath endow'd him with a blessed store
Better then a heap of gold,
Which nor thief, nor moth, nor rust,
Can steal, eat, or turn to dust:
His are bags that ne'r wax old.
Gods rich and precious promises are his,
Which by a precious faith he makes his own:
Gods richest mercy; there's no wealth like this:
Christs precious bloud, whereof a drop alone
Was of higher valuation
Then all men and Angels be,
Or what e'r the sunne did see
Ever since the first creation.
Which by a precious faith he makes his own:
Gods richest mercy; there's no wealth like this:
Christs precious bloud, whereof a drop alone
Was of higher valuation
Then all men and Angels be,
Or what e'r the sunne did see
Ever since the first creation.
Doth rich apparel please? Christs righteousnesse
Clothes all his members to conceal their shame.
Ne'r was Kings daughter in so pure a dresse,
Unlesse she were adorned with the same.
'T is a robe that God doth please:
Angels that on God do wait,
And ne'r lost their first estate,
Are not cloth'd like one of these.
Clothes all his members to conceal their shame.
Ne'r was Kings daughter in so pure a dresse,
Unlesse she were adorned with the same.
'T is a robe that God doth please:
Angels that on God do wait,
And ne'r lost their first estate,
Are not cloth'd like one of these.
For all delights, the cheating world hath none
So good by half 'mongst all her painted store
As those the soul finds in religion:
With purest joy the pious heart runnes o'r.
Let the world diversifie
Her delights a thousand wayes,
Yet they come short of those joyes
That are found in pietie.
So good by half 'mongst all her painted store
As those the soul finds in religion:
With purest joy the pious heart runnes o'r.
Let the world diversifie
Her delights a thousand wayes,
Yet they come short of those joyes
That are found in pietie.
When I must die, my joy that's naturall
Forsaketh me; that which is secular
Takes leave assoon as ever Death doth call;
Joyes that were criminall converted are
Into most tormenting fears:
Onely that which is divine
On a Death-bed will be mine.
And what if when Death appears
Forsaketh me; that which is secular
Takes leave assoon as ever Death doth call;
Joyes that were criminall converted are
Into most tormenting fears:
Onely that which is divine
On a Death-bed will be mine.
And what if when Death appears
It cannot shield me from that fatall blow?
(I would not it should do me so much wrong:
For if I were immortall here below
I were not happie) yet 't will go along
With me when I do depart.
Carnall joyes, Lord, from me banish,
Let divine delights replenish
Ev'rie corner of my heart.
(I would not it should do me so much wrong:
For if I were immortall here below
I were not happie) yet 't will go along
With me when I do depart.
Carnall joyes, Lord, from me banish,
Let divine delights replenish
Ev'rie corner of my heart.
| Midnights Meditations of Death | |