Poems Occasioned by a melancholy vision Or A melancholy vision upon diuers Theames Englarged: Which by seuerall Arguments ensuinge is showed His gaudie musa tenebris: By H. M. [i.e. Humphrey Mill] |
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THE ALLVRING SLEIGHTS OF SIN, AND PROMISES.
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 | Poems Occasioned by a melancholy vision |  |
THE ALLVRING SLEIGHTS OF SIN, AND PROMISES.
First, for the Thoughts.
The Argument, with charge to the Muse.
Muse, raise thy voice, arm'd with revenge to sin.Disclose his plots, and evidence give in
Dash't with reply, for the poore sinners sake,
Bring verdict in, then sentenc't let him be,
To hell: his pleaders judge to miserie.
The alluring nature of sinne.
When sinne with heavens Angels found successe,And since that time (on earth) hath found no lesse,
It goes on still, to bring men downe to hell,
Where Sathan is, which once above did dwell.
Yet for reward, doth promise much content.
So serpent like, it doth men circumvent.
Sinne first begins, much like a rubbing sore,
A little give, that little cals for more.
Thus many littles doe rise to a summe,
And so insnar'd from sin, then few do come.
Man loves his sin, but sin returnes him hate,
Man bids a price, but sin holds up its rate.
Man gives his hand, his eye, or any part,
All will not serve, till sin hath got the heart.
What think'st thou me (saith sin) to be so base,
That give delight, to any of that race?
That doth me love, and tread my pleasant wayes,
Ile give thee mirth, come now fulfill my joyes.
If rich thou wilt, then rich thou sure shalt be,
Or to be great; Ile greatnesse promise thee,
Come follow me, and men shall thee admire.
Name what thou wilt, and thou shalt have thy minde,
Unto me onely loving be and kinde.
Ile change my selfe, to Angell shape to please,
Thy humours fond, and so I will thee ease.
If merry thou, then merry will I be,
If sad thou art, Ile seeme to greeve for thee;
If play thou wilt, then will I make thee sport,
And shew my face, when thou art all amort.
Come please thy thoughts: thy thoughts are now as mine,
Thy thoughts are free, to sin thy thoughts incline,
Sometimes to pride, sometimes to lust and rage,
Sometime to scorne the best men of the age.
Sometime sin past, let on thy thoughts long stay,
Sometime let present sin, drive that away:
Sometime thy thoughts for sin to come, be prest,
Till it come forth, let thy thoughts never rest,
The desperate temptation of sinne, to vile words.
And let thy words be lying, proud, and stout,Still make thy selfe, the best of all the rout:
Great words of slanders, malice, strife, & wrong,
Why art thou made, but thus to use thy tongue?
Speake loftily to fooles, they'l thinke thee rare,
Draw men with words to me, ile thee reward,
When they by meanes of thee, doe me regard,
Plead thou for sinne, but for the adverse part,
Sweare, curse them down, & vex them to the hart.
The cursed temptation of sin, to hellish practises.
So let thy practise answerable beTo thoughts and words, as thou hast learn'd of me.
Deny no sin, no pride, or wanton lust.
Grow rich by fraud, see on the world thou trust.
What needst thou care (for rich) when thou art fed,
Both full and fat, with the deceitfull bread.
And for the poore, what are the poore to thee?
Care for thy selfe, poore thou in time maist be.
Get what thou canst, returne it not againe,
And seeke thy ease, though others are in paine.
And if on any, goods or money spend,
Let be on such, as such like things intend.
Resort to such, as goe in the same way,
Which Sathans guard, attend on every day.
Care not to pray, good books read not, nor heare,
Love pleasant things, for back and belly cheare:
Detract from good men, see thou honour give,
To those that serve me, and most rudely live.
Be still perverse, and I shall ever like it,
And to observe these things be thou addrest,
What's wanting now, ere long shall be exprest.
The blasphemous consent of the sinner to the temptations of sinne.
If this be true, that sinne doth promise me,Ile follow it, and so we shall agree.
To please my selfe shall be my chiefest care,
Oppose me not: I thinke no man doth dare.
Why should I not in sinfull thoughts delight?
Why should I not speake proudly in despight?
Ile be perverse, in practise, say who will,
Turne backe thy heart, in sinne take not thy fill.
What can I wish, but pleasure and content?
This I shall have, I need not to repent.
I shall be rich and great, I like it well,
And counted wise, with them 'mongst whom I dwell.
Why should I live a melancholy life?
And lose the sweet of sinne to purchase strife?
I am not bound to any, rich or poore,
Get what I can, Ile part with nere the more.
Unlesse it be to such, as love sins hire,
Feare not the fable of eternall fire:
Good men, and goodnesse, I will still disgrace,
Ere I have done, truth shall not shew her face.
To jeere Religion, shall be still my sport:
So Ile goe on in sin, without controule,
What dost thou mean? speak thou immortal soul.
A divine speech of the Soule to the bodie.
Why dost thou thus, adde daily sinne to sinne?Why dost thou gender horror thus within?
Why dost thou sell thy self, wchonce was bought,
With Christ his bloud (for sin) which brings thee nought.
Shame and confusion follow thee in hast,
All thy delights, then quickly will be past:
Why wast thou made, that thou dost thy indeavor
Going about to purchase hell for ever?
Or what have I done, that thou sell'st me quite,
For aye to dwell, with everlasting night?
Wast thou not made to helpe and succour me?
Was I not made to teach and comfort thee?
Was not Gods Image stampt upon me when,
He breath'd me life, as he did other men?
Why labor'st thou, to make me like the devill?
Who can be lesse, when he hath done so evill?
Thou art become a prison to me now,
And to be freed (alas) I know not how,
Open this prison, that I must not doe,
By violence; for that is sinfull too.
From this dunghill, that doth upon me lie,
Then to the mountaine of eternall rest,
There would I live, and dwell among the blest.
The speech of the Soule workes effectually bringing the Sinner to the brinke of despaire.
Alas poore soule, thy lamentation greeves me,Nothing I have, of what sinne saith he gives me:
But horrid conscience with his dreadfull store,
Brings evils on me, and these call for more.
Sin promis'd sweet, the sowre comes in place,
And credit too, and for it comes disgrace:
And to be rich, but who so poore as I?
My wisedome is, true folly I descrie.
Nothing of truth doth once from sin proceed,
Sin is untruth, in thought, in word, and deed:
Thy painted face, I doe defie and scorne,
Woe worth the time that ever I was borne,
To make a league with thee, the mouth of hell,
Where I ere long (I feare) must goe to dwell.
Every Creature brings report of vengeance.
When to the heavens, I doe lift mine eye,They all at once, my sins so great defie.
And doe disdaine, to smile upon me so,
I apprehend, each one is turn'd my foe.
When I astorme or tempest see appeare,
My thoughts are troubled with perplexed feare.
The fiery storme that never will blow ore,
I thinke comes toward, for me laid up in store,
I being foule; or if the weather faire,
It shames me quite, and fils me with despaire:
And if a Christian meet me, I thinke then,
I shame the company of all such men,
If one as vile (I note) as I have beene,
He brings fresh torment, such is seldome seene,
When in the streets I goe, I feare some tile,
Will vengeance take, on me that am so vile.
A beast I see at slaughter, then I sorrow,
'Tis thine to day (thinke I) it's mine to morrow:
And when I eate or drinke, I feare Gods hand,
With meate in mouth, will cut me from the land.
The little Birds that lift their notes on high,
With pleasant tunes my foulnesse doe defie,
They free from care, ten thousand on me waite,
They flye from snares, sin takes me with its bait.
All things upon't, with one consent do feare me:
And when it's chopt, me thinks it threats to swallow,
Me quicke: for I still in my sin do wallow:
Of raine that falls to cause a pleasant crop,
I feare ere long, to be deni'd one drop
VVhen heapes of dust, in pit's cast, I think still,
All such as I, th' infernall pit must fill,
VVhen I see men, cut downe the tender grasse,
Then fearful thoughts within my breast do passe,
Thinking I see Times sithe, (that is sins hire)
To make me fewell for devouring fire.
When night draws on the day then draws away,
It's like that night, that never will decay,
That utter darknesse which in hell will be,
The thoughts of which, adde to my miserie
VVhen I put off my rayment, then thinke I,
The wormes will come to supper by and by:
VVhen I lye downe (in bed) desiring sleepe,
My body hath no rest, my soule doth weepe.
If slumber, doth but once, possesse mine eyes,
My cōscience calls for wrath, for vengeance cries,
The starres that twinckle when I chance to see,
They seem to blush at my deformitie.
VVhen morning light appeareth to my sight,
I wish for wings, to fit me for a flight.
Lest that should bring me naked on the stages,
And make me odious to all after ages.
And every thing, my ruine brings a pace.
Help I have none, the Lord he will not heare me,
For when I pray, his angry lookes doe feare me:
Sathan stands by, and claimes me for his owne,
Sin helpes me not; by sin I'm overthrowne.
Sinne failes of his promises, and doomes the Sinner to miserie.
Now sin speaks truth, that seldome truth doth tel,I will thee helpe, but 't shall be into hell;
What thou hast done, I pray thee blame not me,
For what I 'ue done, my office sets me free,
I am enabled by the devils power,
For to enlarge his kingdome every houre:
VVhy should not I thus promise much content?
Although the truth be far frō such event:
How would such fooles brought be to lust and pride,
Were not il things as good things beautified?
Thou car'dst for none, who now doth care for thee?
Away, be gone into thy miserie.
By Faith and Prayer, hee claimes an interest in Gods mercie.
O Lord this horror justly falles upon me,The rage of sinne, and Sathan lies upon me.
Eternall pit; where hellish curres doe barke:
All comforts faile, Lord if thou faile me too,
I am undone, to make no more adoe.
Was never none restor'd, that was so bad?
Was never none brought backe, and mercy had?
Thy hand was up, and yet thou did'st not strike,
Save me, for I my former wayes dislike.
My sins are great, greater thy mercies are,
My sins are many, more thy mercies farre.
What though my sins exceed in weight & measure,
Thou with a word canst ease me at thy pleasure.
My sinnes doe but as creatures sins appeare,
But mercie from a God, frees men from feare.
VVhy did'st thou send thy son frō heaven to die
But them to save, that under wrath did lye?
And so to free from under Sathans band,
And to redeeme poore, captives by his hand?
And I am one, that in my sight am lost,
Seeke me againe, let Sathans will be crost.
And then will I thy goodnesse still unfold,
And cause poore sinners mercy to behold.
Hee findes successe in his suit with God.
Alas poore man! I pitie on thee take,I doe intend, thee my redeem'd to make:
Onely, thou shalt be servant unto me.
I heard thy mone, my bowels could not stay,
To grant thy suit no longer Ile delay.
Thy dreadfull passion came before my sight,
Then my compassion sent down heavenly light:
I will thee make an instrument of praise,
To fight with sin and Sathan, all thy dayes.
Seeing I have brought thy soule and body back,
From hell, whether sin commanded thee to pack,
And after thou hast serv'd me here in love,
Then thou shalt dwell with me in heaven above.
And sin and death, that sought to ruine thee,
Shall be arraign'd, and both condemn'd by me.
The nature of Death, with his unsatiable speech and lamentation.
VVhen death by sin, had once possest the earth,And found that man was mortall made by birth,
Still since that time, he strikes at all mankinde,
As well the great, as those that come behinde.
The first man living, though a mighty King,
Death ventred on, and struck him with his sting.
All good & bad, that liv'd in ancient time,
Though some liv'd long, yet some died in their prime.
The best that ever on the earth had breath,
Though free from sin, yet was not freed frō death
He darts down some and claimes the rest for due.
His hungry jawes will ner'e be satisfied,
While one doth live and on the earth abide.
And if that once the man that lives he have.
Brought down to death he bars him in the grave
And so triumphs, and rules among the slaine,
For where his kingdome is there he doth raigne,
When he hath pill'd the world, of all her store,
Though this is done (yet) still he wishes more.
O, that there were an other world or two,
I would to worke and make no more adoe.
O that I mght but use, my kingly power,
Then I would seek mans ruine every hower.
Graves yeeld no food, that give me such content,
As living, flesh, to that my mind is bent.
Nothing there is, so pleasant to my taste,
As lives of men, when I doe lay them waste.
What, am I made a King but for a time?
No power can I use, amongst the slime,
Unlesse it be, the silly wormes to slay,
That can I in the least part of the day.
I thought I should have been a King for ever,
Sin set me up I doing my indeavour.
Perform'd the worke that I was bid to doe,
I fear'd no man for I was hardy too.
As sure, so quicke, for in a little space,
All nations, people were brought in deadly case.
Which cōstant was, though all the world was fading.
This is not all (I think) I heard some say,
I must be bound ore to the judgement day:
If it be so, I my defence will make,
As Kings of all their subjects, place doe take.
Untill that time, you'l heare no more of me,
How stands the case, then all the world shall see.
Sinnes probable destinie.
Sinne's now accus'd, with all his sinfull crimes,Laid to his charge, 'tis corrupt are the times:
The righteous man, which doth against sin stand,
Is very like to have the upper hand.
Unto the seate of Justice sin is brought,
An equall judge doth never stand for nought.
But tries the truth, and gives to each his due,
When once of it, he hath had a carefull view.
Sinne being apprehended, is accused before an impartiall Judge.
Sinne hath me vext, ere since I had a being,And all men else, that carefull are in seeing;
Shall finde him plotting mischiefe with his will,
VVith malice, murther, striving for to kill.
And every plant that is not of his owne.
If one be good, that hee would from him take,
If one be bad, he tries him worse to make.
From bad to worse: from worse, to worst of all,
More could I say, sin counts these things but smal.
Sinnes vile answer and Request.
Answer to this, what, is this true or no?Tis all but lyes, he is my deadly foe.
He speakes for malice his words have no favor,
Hee's but a foole, and thinkes to curry favour.
Because (forsooth) I am not so precise,
Though I doe sweare, he tells as many lies,
He hates my waies, and I hate his as much,
I doe him scorne as also loath to touch.
What though in mirth I take my liquor well,
What though I brawle, & rail with them I dwel.
What though I play and sport, both day & night,
Though I blaspheme, and court what I might.
I force no man if I can any draw
With craft or fraud, I hold it in good law.
This I will add, I'le open all my store,
Seeing he is vext, I'le vexe him ten times more
Because indeed, I doe not often pray,
And when I doe, my heart shall be away,
Poore foolish things, yet farre above my reach.
Pray Sir consider (this) and free me quite,
Out of the hands of this malicious wight.
The Impartiall Iudge his answer, he turnes over Sinne and Death, to be tried by the Judge of the world.
Now well it is, I heard you each oue single,But thy vile words have made my eares to tingle,
What he did say, thy words have now made worse
What cāst expect, but Gods eternal curse?
His words are true, thine most unjust appeare,
Sin's the Delinquent, the Righteous man I cleare;
Ile turne thee over to that righteous Judge,
To whom the world must yeeld, though many grudge.
There thy confession shalbe on record,
Besides the rest, that will come word for word:
I have no baile, must I in prison lye?
That matters not, from God thou canst not flye:
And Death, of whom I heare such ill report,
I understand to be thy great consort,
Call him to me: it's no matter, let him stay,
Both are reserv'd unto a greater day.
The righteous man, that did thee apprehend,
Will ruine thee, thou canst it not defend.
Your seeming friends, each one will turne a foe
The Righteous man hath leave granted to prosecute Sinne, and Life to prosecute Death.
Who's that below, that faine would speak with mee?A poore sinner (Lord) that lies in miserie.
What is that other, which by thee doth stand?
Lord this is Life, that doth preserve a land.
What would yee have? speak both, for both have breath.
Free me from sin. Free me (likewise) from death.
What hath Sin done, or Death, seeing you desire?
Sin promis'd good; but death comes for sins hire.
Here they are both, give us both leave to speake,
If thou deny Lord, both our hearts will breake:
Both speak your minds, the Saints I made the Jewry,
All that doe ill, are like to taste my fury.
Now sinner speake, for righteous made thou art,
Not by thy workes; in Christ thou hast a part,
Life stay a while, a little silent be,
Then thou shalt speak, and none shal hinder thee?
The Information against sinne in generall.
Sinne was at first, where Angels now do dwell,There ventred sin, & brought some down to hel.
And for his sake had'st blessed all the Land,
(The best of earth) in place of Paradice,
Thou did'st man set; and set on him a price,
There he had then, all things at his command,
The fiercest creatures, then upon him faun'd.
This Tyrant did a breach soone after make,
Thou cursed'st man and all things for his sake.
Then thrust he was from Paradice so sweet,
The earth being curst, so justice thought it meete.
All fishe and fowle, then kept far of a lowring,
The beasts untam'd, and so became devouring.
Sin was the cause, Cain did his brother kill.
Poore Innocent! Lord 'twas against thy will.
And did not sin, those native tongues confound,
And Babels building levell with the ground?
So 'twas for sin, God drowned all the earth
A monstrous wombe, brings an untimely birth,
When fire on Sodom, and those goodly Cities,
Fell twas for sinne, wast not a thousand pities?
Nay, thou thine owne deliveredst by thy hand
Captives to be within a Heathen land,
For sin, and there a long time were in paine.
Till thou in mercy brought'st them backe againe,
Nay Christ himselfe when he a suretie came,
For man: then sin caus'd him to beare the blame,
A sinner he was, though this seemeth strange,
Twas not his owne, yet made his by exchange.
Where sinne must be, and all that love it well.
The Information against sinne for his particular.
Now for my selfe, the greevance that I nd,For ever doth torment me in my mind,
And drawes me on, to serve my cursed will,
Sometimes to one, sometimes to other ill.
From doing good, he hinders me, and when,
He cannot (thus) prevaile with me, O then,
He strives; to bring upon me other things
Cares of this world, which armed are with stings.
If to my dutie, constant I abide,
Then hee doth seek to puffe me up with pride.
At every turne, for me he layes a baite,
And ever for to catch mee lies in wait.
And if hee cath mee he is well, I sick,
If he do not, hee hath an other trick.
He tells me vengeance is for my reward,
The Lord, my service doth no whit regard
And fils my Conscience with such horrid store,
Of thoughts despayring as I said before.
Hee'd make me frame such hard conceits of thee,
That thou no mercie hast in store for me,
This is so bad, nay worse then all thats past,
For to forsake thy mercy at the last.
And root out sin, quite from mans living race.
For this is true, thou know'st it all full well,
Of all these things, thy blessed Saints can tell.
The truth of this, I know sinne doth defie it,
Put sinne aside, no creaturne can deny it.
Sinne begins, and railes at the person. He is confin'd to the charge.
What canst thou say? these things are too too bad!Beleeve them not: this Rascall, he is mad.
'Tis not my sleights, my person 'tis he hates,
He speakes in grosse: and like a Parret prates:
As bad himselfe, in heart; though faire in shew,
With flatt'ring words, he cheateth not a few,
His life was base and vile 'twas knowne ful wel,
I saw such things, I am asham'd to tell
What, sin grow modest now? so doth the Devill,
This worse then bad, doth still increase thy evill.
Thou dost blaspheme (seeing) I this man do take,
To mercie and resolve him blest to make.
Dost thinke, that I, do not man search within
That I need thee, to agravate his sin?
Speake to the case, or else hold still thy tongue,
He hurts thee not, but thou dost him the wrong.
Sinnes defence for him selfe.
Thou knowest I am, allmost as old as time,And yet I am, but comming to my prime.
I for thy Justice did prepare a place,
When none was found tis not a doubtfull case.
And what I doe, I doe it by permission,
And to thy will, I ever yeeld submission.
I trie the good, and make the badd appeare,
The world may know, who doth thee love & fear
In doing that, which I am bidde to doe,
But when tis done should I be guilty too.
I am a king and hold it in disgrace,
To be arraing'd (thus) in an open place.
Being so belov'd almost of every wight,
Except some few which owe to me a spite.
The most of which are weake, or else are poore,
And sometimes such that goe from dore to dore.
My labour's free, I never yet had pay,
I, of my stocke do spend still to this day.
But what I doe, I doe it by perswasion,
Not by constraint when I doe make invasion.
Some of the best, their weaknesse glory in,
Infirmities; what are they else but sin?
Nay sin in thine doth worke still for the best,
And through their trouble enter they to rest.
And so by me, thy mercies magnified.
Hee craves leave for his witnesses to speake.
Now let these speake, which I have cald to beMy witnesses, for they will stand for me.
Now all are here let Ignorance be first,
The second, hee that for redd earth doth thirst,
The third, the man, thats overcome with Lust,
The fourth be Pride, they speak will, what is just.
Leave is Granted.
Tis very like my Iustice will be knowne,To thee, and them, when you are all orethrowne.
Come, let them speake in this thou hast thy will,
Although I know, twill nothing be but ill.
Old clownish Ignorance speakes first (hee is silenc'd.)
I hard my vather zay, that God dud makeA leeving mon his pleazar vor to take.
Above oll things himzelf he shood zarve vurst,
On that Belzebub woule wos accurst.
I know no harme of all that zin ere did me
I ready wos to doe what erezin bid me.
Ichave him knowne omost a hunderd yeere.
And never to this day put me in feare.
Now be me troth I leek him passing well,
He dos oll good vor ought thot I con tell,
Chamzure when I am zad he makes me merry
Zhaks of my dumps & makes me zing downdere
Chave knowne zomtimes when I was very zick
Zin made me well and zhowd zome pretty trick.
In oldorn times when zin was more regarded
Our lond by him was better then rewarded.
Now every boy zeems wizer than his Vather
And to be poor tho rich by zin tha'd rather
Twaz ne'r good world zēse we had zo much preaching
Vor zin goes down on beardles boies stās teaching
Who ere zaw noddies zhow themselves zo mad,
To vexe umzelves whon pease they mout a had;
Chaue zonns my selfe if they zo wise do prove
To vollow zuch they zoone shood lees my love.
Chamzure ould vokes, woll leek it vary well.
Come hold thy tongu thy vilenesmaks me grutch
Another speak for thou hast spoke too much.
Covetousnesse the second.
Sin liv'd with me, (as I may say) while now,He made me rich, Ile not relate it how,
I car'd it faire, none could in me espie,
A noted fault to say black is thy eye.
My Gold I got by sinne doth my heart cherish,
And helpes at need when other helps do perish,
I ne'r knew griefe (that sin upon me brought,
Let them have grief (for me) that for grief sought.
I gaine by sin, give loosers leave to prate,
Wer't not for sin, I had nere got this estate.
If sin do good, why should he suffer bad?
Let sin have that, as formerly he had.
To stand for sin, I hold it my best part,
If sin goe downe, alas 'twill kill my heart.
What he did promise me, he also paid,
And what is false his enemie hath said.
Pray free him (now) or else I must restore,
My goods ill got. I have done, Il'e say no more.
Wanton Lust the Third.
I am sorry now, to see sin at the barr,What is the cause this man proceeds so farre?
Sin ever did, with pleasure much delight me,
When all things else, did seeke still to affright me.
Sin was to me, still full of pleasing straines,
In my esteeme my pleasure is my gaines.
Say what you will, these tricks of youth all must,
Agree, to me, and will fulfill their lust,
Man is not made of all, to take direction,
Nor like a stock, to be without affection.
Sin shewes me beautie kindles my desire,
And then those sparkes, come to a flaming fire.
When many cares and feares, upon me stay,
Sins pleasant objects, drive them all away.
Sin's such a thing as brings to no man strife,
Sin is so sweet, I love it, as my life.
Let sin be quit, for he is good and kind,
Speake brother Pride, for I have spoke my mind
Pride the fourth.
I never knew, but Sinne went bravely drest,And ever did accompany the best.
He went along, so gracefull in the street,
He joy'd my heart, when once I did sinne meet.
To all his friends observing time and place,
He'd be most free, or else he held it base.
At any feast, or any meeting then,
He tooke his place above all other men.
He spake so much, and in such lofty straines,
That all might see he had not shallow braines.
Himselfe behav'd with such great Majesty,
That each man did upon him cast his eye.
And by his lookes, he seem'd both grave and wise,
Poore silly men, alwayes he did despise.
He scorn'd to be a servant unto any,
But like a Lord, he sought to rule ore many.
He slights advice, his owne wayes like him best,
Once crosse his will, he cannot take his rest.
He ore his equals, us'd to domineere,
And his inferiours, alwayes kept in feare.
He hated all, that would not to him bend
And turnes his foe, though first, a seeming friend.
If he be once in place of Justice set,
He'd tyrannize, or otherwise would fret.
He would contemne and curse his miserie
And if that men, would not his counsell take,
Hee'd cast them off, and varlets of them make,
If one in parts, did but before him goe,
Then most of all, hee proved his deadly foe.
And all of whom, he gets the upper hand,
He keeps them down, and binds them in his band
All this and more like things, do call sin Father,
Sin is in hold, that hee were free Id'e rather.
Hees now by one that lou'd him once, betraid,
Hee's now in feare of him, he made afraid.
He hath been bold, but now he seemes to quake
I hope thou wilt some pity on him take.
Shall hee prevaile ore sin, when sin is stronger?
For he hates sin, when he can sin no longer.
A generall speech, rejecting sinnes witnesses, with a command for a reply.
Now sinne hath spoke, and all that for him standThis will not doe, to free him from my hand.
His witnesses (sinne) have discovered cleare,
Though bad before now worse it doth appeare.
And they themselves, for standing on his side.
Will vile appeare, for they shall now betride.
Lay home the truth, that no man can deny.
A Reply against sins defence, particularly.
What is thy age, or what doth it availe?I'ts nothing worth, when goodnes doth men fail?
It doth increase, and bring Gods wrath apace,
And for thy age, makes thee in worser case,
Twa's not thy mind that god should have the praise:
Pretending right, thou intend'st wicked waies.
God needs not sinne for to set forth his glory.
Nor any thing of all thy sinfull story.
This wicked way, that thou proceedest in,
Thou makest God, the author of thy sin:
God ne're approves thee, nor thy sinfull acts,
He made his lawe, to damne, thy cursed facts.
Thou dost oppose Gods will, with all thy might,
To yeeld to his law is against thee quite.
Tis not to trie, thou meanst but to destroy;
All living men thou seek'st still to annoy,
Good men, thou dost so hamper with thy snares,
And thou the bad, bring'st to eternall cares.
Thou lying wretch, doth God cōmand thee evil,
Then damn thee for't? thou hast it from the devill.
Thou art a King, if so I may beleeve thee
And shame with men, it seemes, doth now much greeve thee.
Why should'st thou not, beare, now the greatest blame.
Mē do thee love, their love wil turn to hate
Thy friendship doth, make way still for debate.
The poore and weake, that do oppose thy way,
Will be too strong for thee, as thou shalt say,
Thy labours which were alwaies freely bent,
Were better spar'd then they should ill be spent.
What is thy stock? but cursed poisonous store
Still as thou spendst, increasing more and more,
Thou dost none force, but with thy subtil gins;
Thou hid'st the soure, & shew'st the sweet ossins.
But if he will not yeeld, unto thy will;
Thou tri'est thy power, his soul with wrath to fil
For those that in their weaknes made their boast
Twas when that sin, was by Gods power crost.
Which did through weaknes, overcome thy strength,
And over sathā, did triumph at lēgth.
What good doth come by sin, sin nought intends,
'Tis Gods event; sin seekes for cursed ends.
One trouble still, thou bring'st upon an other.
If one be gone thou bring'st in many other.
If any rest comes from Gods blessed hand,
Then thou in malice, dost against it stand.
Whē God in mercy, doth forgive mās sin,
With doubts, cares, feares, thou fill'st his heart within.
Although Gods grace, be thus exalted high,
To save poore soules that under sin did lye.
Gods goodnesse, that brings forth such event.
His owne experience agravates Sinne, His witnesses make the case worse.
By proofe of all the Saints, that live on earth,VVho knowes thy fruits, the'ir al untimely birth.
And I my selfe, by thee was led away,
Me toundoe, thou sought thus every way
I did blaspheme, when thou did'st promise gaines,
Then thou did'st bring, despaire for my paines.
Thou hast confest before the Iudge below,
Thy wickednesse as doth the Lord well know.
Thou didst despite me with a shamelesse face,
And us'd all meanes, to bring me to disgrace.
I did my suit remove, from common Law,
Where thou didst think, to keep me still in awe.
In equitie, here I shall finde releefe,
And ease my mind, and quite expell my greefe.
And for thy cause most vile it doth appeare,
To all that heare, or see, tis very cleare.
And those that stand as witnesses for thee,
Now they themselves, as bad appeare to be.
They did intend to adorne, thy ugly stature,
But have thee bad, made of a viler nature.
He refuseth to answer their bsurdities, but threatens Ignorance.
To answer them, it is not worth the while,Alas poore fooles, sinne doth them all beguile.
Old ignorance. With his corrupted sence,
Though old he be, he'l finde sins recompence:
Though twice as long he live, yet curses store
For him, and such, do still waite at the dore.
He threatens Covetousnesse.
And he that covets wealth, and layes up gold,Through sin, will finde, at last himselfe he sold;
His golden Gods, cannot him save from danger,
Nor comfort him; God is to him a stranger:
His sinfull gaines, will prove to him but losses,
And trouble, when sin brings a thousand rosses:
Hee curseth Lust, and shewes ruine.
And he that is addicted so to lust,O cursed wretch, he thinkes it all but just,
He'l finde ere long, his bodily estate,
His soule undone, he l then repent too late:
The sweet of sinne, turnes sower at the last.
He damneth Pride to Hell.
So Pride, that goes about to set Sinne free,Himselfe he brings, in the like miserie:
He must be stript, and naked shall appeare,
Before the Judge, that all may see and feare,
Though set on high, yet he below must dwell,
And so with Sinne possession take of hell.
He craves leave for his witnesses to speake.
So I have done, but foure I have brought,Those ever still, t'whom sinne has ruine sought,
So that the blessed, and the damned crue,
Speake to sins face, and say, this is all true.
Let not sinne say, 'twas I that did undoe him,
And make men think, but one, the rest stuck to him.
Lave is granted.
Speake all they shall, and knowledge shall begin,He'l kill his heart; then bounty shall step in,
When they have spoke, they straight shall comfort finde.
My Saints and Angels too, shall all declare,
Sins shame on earth, though they in heaven are,
The damned shall relate a dreadfull story,
Speake truth of sinne, and so set forth my glory.
Knowledge first speakes.
Lord, sinne did strive, in Ignorance to keepe,Making secure: in folly me to sleepe.
But when I once found out his hellish art,
I, to be freed from sinne, gave thee my heart:
I sought to know thy will, and so to doe it,
Still thought of time, when I should be put to it:
I did observe sinne with his cursed charmes,
Brought some to one, and some to other harmes,
According as he saw mens natures bend,
Suting temtptations to his cursed end,
And as he findes his swellings to arise,
There he doth blow those sparkes, we may surmise.
He'l let men know, all things, but what they should
All outward things, which best doe fit their mould.
If he can call, another, foole, or Asse,
He thinkes his wisedome's very well to passe:
If he know how to breake an idle jest,
Of witty fellowes, he counts himselfe the best.
He sets his knowledge at too great a rate;
If he have been but once in forraigne parts,
He will so talk, as though he had all the arts.
Now all this while, he does not once indeavour,
To know the Lord, his wayes, which are for ever.
Himselfe to know, he doth not once desire,
He's so bewitcht, and setled in the mire.
If he intends but good, and God to know,
Then sinne doth seeke that good to overthrow.
But if he cannot drive, those thoughts away,
He puts him off, still, till another day.
From day, to day, but never comes that morrow,
At last by sinne, he's brought to endlesse sorrow.
If one be brought, refraining outward evill,
He thinkes ('tis well) he doth detest the divell:
If one doth good, that good, then save him must,
Heaven he must have, or else God is not just.
If in these things he doth himselfe deny,
Yet he will threaten judgement suddainly.
Man knowes not how, to answer such objections,
Sin hath by-wayes, and men take his directions
Now Lord, let him no more a being have,
Give saving knowledge, then our soules Lord save.
Liberalitie the second.
Sinne strives to make men covetous and base,Keepe what I have, I should in any case.
Perswades me still, that I my selfe may want,
And if I should, friends would be very scant,
So I must not, diminish of my store,
What though men want, I did not make thē poore.
Sin would be master, of that men call mine,
I should keepe up all that, that's truly thine,
If I doe give, it must be sparingly,
Sinne saith, 'tis best, to keepe it till I die:
But if I doe a bounteous heart expresse,
He'l make me thinke, I maintaine idlenesse:
And must repent of all the good that's done,
And breake the thread, so soone as it is spun:
Or else take warning, not to give to any,
And slight the cries of poore, though ne're so many.
When I deny the poore, that doe complaine,
Then I must thinke what's sav'd, is all cleere gaine.
Thus labours sinne, to make me like a slave,
And live in bondage, unto what I have.
Chastitie the third.
Sinne with his trickes, doth me so much allure,And with his snares, my hurt doth so procure.
I feare some ill, which puts my soule to frights,
Lest that I should be taken with those baites,
Which for my life are laid; sinne ever waites,
To bring me in by this, his strong temptation,
He might at last bring me to condemnation
He hides the sting, but that which seemes delight,
He sets it out, and backes it with his might:
So by degrees, a little makes no matter,
But then to more, thus he doth use to flarter:
If this take not, then raises stormes within,
Of lusts wild-fire, distemper all through sinne.
He telles me, those that were in Gods account,
Most holy men, and others did surmount,
Yet they in this sinne lived many a yeare,
If well with them it went, what need'st thou feare?
Goe, take thy pleasure, at worst thou maist repent,
Fulfill thy lust; tush, thou wilt nere be shent.
If filthy lust take thus, the guilt it brings,
Goes not alone, but with it other things.
I observe those, that he doth conquer when,
They'r so insnar'd doe never turne agen.
Now save us Lord, from all those cursed wayes,
And cut off sinne, we'll serve thee all our dayes.
Humilitie the fourth.
Sinne with his breath, would puffe me up so full,Of great conceits, who foolish am and dull,
That what I doe, the best I doe exceed,
Such thoughts in me sinne labours still to breed:
Of what I doe, I lose the comfort still,
For sinne doth trie my heart with pride to fill;
And then I must my betters still contemne,
All of all sorts, I proudly must condemne.
Though I doe ill, and all men know the same,
I must deny't, as quit from any blame,
And if I am to any man a debter,
Tush let him waite, for am not I his better.
Nay sinne would make me set my selfe most out,
When cursed pride, my folly spreads about:
If men do not give me the cap and knee,
I scorne them must, as enemies to me.
Will they not bend to such a man as I,
I'de make them know, their carriage I defie.
If I doe good (it's seldome and not much)
A worthy worke, sinne telles me, of all such,
If one good thought comes in, or word goes forth,
Sinne saith, it is esteem'd of wondrous worth:
Of all that's ill, account God doth not take,
But takes all well, even for my persons sake:
Poore am I (Lord) help, else my heart will breake,
VVhat good I doe, or have, Lord 'tis thine owne,
The ill is mine: let sinne be overthrowne.
Then shall thy praises be exalted high,
By humble men, that doe on thee relie.
The Lord commands the Saints in heaven to speake what they found of sinne.
Now have these mortals each one spoke his mind,So let immortall spirits speake in their kinde:
As they have found and knowne let them bring in
Their testimonie, so 'ile judge of sinne.
And as he did my creatures still betray,
So from my wrath, he shall receive his pay
For what is done: so Justice by my hand,
He shall receive; 'twill bring ioy to the land.
A speech of the Saints in Heaven, against sinne.
We dwelt on earth, but now in heaven are,To serve the Lord, it was our daily care,
'Mongst many troubles sinne was still the cheefe,
And by his factors did procure our greefe.
Both day and night he waited still to catch,
To trap our soules, he evermore did watch:
And so by sinne, our lives were made unquiet.
And we through weaknesse, many times did yeeld,
Then sinne did triumph, when he got the field.
Then did he blaze our faults, throughout the nation,
And striv'd to bring us all to desperation.
The strong offended, th' weak made weaker were,
The bad grew worse, and at our falls did jeere,
But when by thee we got our former strength,
Against all sinne we did resolve at length.
Then sinne did strive to force us to his bent,
Against all conscience seeming good intent.
Propounding laws, which claimes it as a due,
To have us yeeld to that which was untrue,
But when we would not gree unto their charmes.
We were betraid, and brought to deadly harmes.
Some were adjudg'd in prison to be cast
And were brought out and burned at the last;
Some of us starv'd, some cut in peeces small,
Some rackt to death, which death was worst of all:
So many torments ages can record,
That sinne did bring, because we kept thy word,
So sinfull men, with mischiefes set us round,
Till they had laid us underneath the ground.
But thou (O Lord) when ended were our dayes,
Brought'st us above, where now we sing thy praise.
The man presseth God by Argument, to destroy sinne.
And now thy Saints that live upon the earth,They doe despise, sinne makes it still his mirth,
Though they be pillars of the time and place,
Uphold the world, still for mans living race:
Take them away, the world would soone be fir'd,
Sinne with his imps against the just are hir'd:
Lord cut off sinne, for now his cause is tri'd,
And free thy Saints which on the earth abide.
The Angels reply against sinne.
Although we were not made like earthly creatures,But more Divine, and of celestiall natures;
Sinne was so bold, with Angels he attempted,
Against the Lord: sinne was not there exempted,
Then Legions did such treason there conspire,
Sinne was ador'd, the Angels had their hire.
Sinne was the cause, that they were cast to hell,
Sinne made escape, and still on earth doth dwell.
Why should not he, which was the cause of evill,
Partake with wrath, and torment with the devill?
Sinne did the Angels blessed state prevent,
So let him now share in the punishment,
Else we should fall by sinne within an houre;
We now attend and looke to thine elect,
We know that sinne doth daily them infect,
Drawing from them the comforts of thy grace,
So bringing them into a dreadfull case.
Sinne doth deface thy image in the minde,
An other stampe when we returne we finde,
So sinne doth quell the motions of thy spirit,
Yet by their works, sinne tels them they shal merit,
Sin doth destroy the worke of thy creation,
Doe thou destroy sin, for mans preservation.
The Damned are called to witnesse against sinne.
Come now yee fiends of darknesse, shew and tell,What yee on earth did, what ye finde in hell:
You cursed furies, and you damned spirits,
That wrought for sin, and now you have your merits:
Ye horrid factors ever were for sinne,
Survey your gaines, returne, and bring it in.
You liv'd in sin, and with sin did converse,
Your living death will helpe you to rehearse.
You were his friends, doth friendship still remain?
If all be lost, where is your sinfull gaine?
Speake now you hell-hounds of this dreadfull story,
Sinne will be silent ever to my glory.
First, how they were deceived by sinne, and compares sinne to contemptible things, and how he failes of his promise.
Sinne did bewitch us with his cursed smiles,And by deceipt he trapt us with his wiles:
He hid the light, darknesse before our eyes,
Was set: and still the truth we did despise.
Like Batts and Owles that hate the lightsome day,
And as the theef loves darknesse for his prey;
Such is the sinner, having cursed ends,
Against whoever any good intends.
We hated all, and never had regard,
To man nor cause, unlesse 'twere for reward:
VVe were like bruits, save onely we could talke,
VVe liv'd by sense, and did most vilely walke:
O cursed viper, who can set thee out?
Great part of hell thou art, there is no doubt,
Thou limbe of Sathan, none can match thy evill,
God made thee not, but thou didst make the devill.
Thou ugly serpent monster of the earth,
Thou bring'st forth daily thy unshapen birth,
Thou scum of vermin, thou art worst of any,
And if there were ten thousand times as many:
The Plagues of Egypt cannot equall thee,
Nor all that have been, are, or ere shall be,
The lesser vermine on the earth so glides,
They seek not me they sting but once for all,
The body not the soule they cause to fall.
Thou in all places hast thy subtill snares,
To bring all men to everlasting cares.
The more thou sting'st the more thou dost delight,
Both soule and body thou seek'st to stroy quite.
Sinne didst not thou like fooles lull us asleep?
And darkensse bring when light did once but peepe
All seedes of evill in us thou didst sowe.
All seeds of good thou still did'st overthrowe.
Our thoughts of God, our souls, our death, our change
Our sins, heaven, hell, all these were very strange,
We had our fills of fin we made our boast
And they that in their sins exceeded most
Were most belov'd with us of all the rest
The worst of men, wee counted still the best
Though knowledge we did want to purchase fame
Wee'd sweare and lie and thereby raise a name
If good we knew we never did intend
To do that good or if bad strive to mend.
Sinne promi'sst us to free us still from strife
And give us good the daies of all our life.
And at the end we need not feare but we
Should dwell in heaven, to all eternitie.
Some n'ere were raised from the sleepe of sinne,
Till they in hell close prisoners were within.
The first of that, of which they now have more.
This we can say, and more, if need require,
Now one alone, relate sins fearfull hire,
And how we are, and in what wofull place,
Our company, and endlesse, easelesse case.
Some of them in a dreadfull manner relate the torments of hell, and cries out for vengeance upon sinne, and departed.
O heavens heare, and earth, what sin hath brought,Upon all us, that sold our selves for nought:
We are through sin accursed from the Lord,
Of men and Angels we are all abhorr'd,
I want a tongue to shew this wrathfull rage,
And fury to remaine times after age.
The blacknesse and the darknesse is so great,
Light there is none, but still abides the heate,
Of fire and brimstone, burning in the flame,
The dregs of sinne is mingled with the fame.
We live yet die, and dying still remaine:
Our soules with horrour, bodies fill'd with paine.
How dreadfull 'tis, and in what grievous sort,
Laid on all parts and persons, ile report,
We drinke our teares, and sorrow is our food,
Curses our portions, we see nor heare of good
We heard, these all the damned soules do know,
The ghastly lookes, and lamentable grones,
The great complaints, with heavie griefe & mones,
Sin there attends and acteth still his part,
Blows up the fire, there worms still gnaw the heart:
The dungeon is exceeding large and deepe,
Where ugly vermine evermore doe creepe.
The devils doe attend us every houre,
And bring fresh torment by their cursed power.
No dram of comfort ever doth come neare it,
This heavie doome we hellish Imps must beare it.
We have no friendship, none to shew us favour,
And all are fierce, and of a rude behaviour,
No ease at all at any time we finde,
Our bodies burne, and anguish burnes the minde.
Diseases all, strangullion, stone, or gout,
The least part of our torment set not out.
But one thing more, and that is worst of all,
Our paines to all Eternity stay shall.
When dayes, and yeares, and ages, are all past,
Our plagues remaine, our torments still do last.
No comfort, friends, no ease, nor end will be
Found, now I sinke under my miserie.
Thou curse of curses, thou the cause of it,
That I and all, that in the infernall pit,
Must stay: yet thou art never a whit asham'd,
Of all thy vilenesse that hath now been nam'd,
Thy name: and cursed let it so remaine,
O Damne him, damne him, to a horrid cell
Not here with us, but in another hell.
For if with us, our sinnings wil not cease,
And him to see our torments will increase.
Ah worse, yet is the friend if worse may be,
I must away, the Divells come for mee.
The Charge to the Iury.
The case is cleare ther's none that can deny it,That sins the cause of all our great disquiet.
The heavenly host with men on earth concluded,
The damned too all were by sinne deluded.
These things and more (I do aberre) be true,
And so the case doth now appeare to you.
Now as you finde so give your verdict in,
Accordingly, Il'e sentence give on sin.
The Introduction to the verdict.
Against thy person sin was ever bent,And all thy workes to spoyle was his intent,
But sinne to him did prove a deadly foe,
And did oppose the worke of his redemption,
Which sinfull men should give from sins exemptiō.
But when in this he could not have his will.
His bloud he shed, the worth remaineth still.
He watcht with death, to keepe him in the grave,
Of what was done, men might not comfort have.
But all in vaine, 'twas sinfull labour lost,
Man was redeem'd, and comfort had; sinne crost.
Against the Spirits blessed worke in hand,
He sets himselfe, and goodnesse doth withstand:
And from all men, all comfort he would take,
And in mans heart an Idoll God he'd make,
'Tis time, tis time, to take with sinne a course,
With men 'tis ill, in time it would be worse.
The verdict of the Iurie, against Sinne and his witnesses.
We have concluded in our consultation,And finde sinne guilty, by the information,
For his defence to be most rude and vaine,
His witnesses as bad, appeareth plaine,
They guilty are, as parties in the cause,
They broken have, nay they condemne thy lawes.
The reply proves, and their examination,
We finde them worthy of a deepe damnation.
The Preface to the sentence.
Now sinne thou art convicted, all may see,The Jury to thy judgement doth agree;
Thy wickednesse is open laid to view,
To all the world: which say that hell's thy due,
And those foure men which for thy cause did stand,
The cursed'st worke that ere they tooke in hand,
For love of thee themselves have now undone,
They plaid for sweet, they have the sower wonne.
The Sentence against Sinne.
I sentence Sinne for ever to be cast,In lowest hell; where furious flames doe last,
In dungeon darke where fire is divided.
The light from heate, there thou shalt be derided.
All torment that the devils can invent,
With all their store of curses shall be spent,
On thee: from thence thou never shalt returne,
In flaming wrath thou evermore shalt burne,
To all delights now thou shalt bid farewell,
Away, begon into the pit of hell,
The sentence against Sinnes assistants.
And you that for sinne acted such a part,And 'gainst my truth have tried all your art,
Receive your doome, for this will be your hire,
Ye cursed goe into eternall fire,
Where divels dwell, and monsters doe inherit,
The fruits of sinne; there each one hath his merit,
There you shall stay for ever, and from me,
No light of comfort you shall ever see.
In sorrow you eternitie shall spend,
Depart from me, for now you know your end.
FINIS.
| Poems Occasioned by a melancholy vision | |