University of Virginia Library

The fourth Meditacion.

Alas my Soule, oft have I sought thy Peace,
But still I find the contrary encrease,
Thou being of a froward disposicion,
Perceivest not thy mercyfull Physician
Doth give thee forthy health these strong purgacions
So may we call out daily molestacions,
VVhich how to beare, that thou mayst understand
Take heed of two extreams under Gods hand,
The one is, too light takeing thy Distresse,
The other's, hopelesse Greife or Pensivenesse;
Between these two, observe with heedfull eye
A middle course or mediocrity;
Consider for the first, if one correct
His Child, who seemeth it to disrespect,
VVarding the blow or setting light therby,
How is he beat again deservedly;
So if that thou should'st seem to disregard,
The Chastisments of God, or seek to ward
The same by wayes or meanes impenitent,
How just shall God renew thy punishment:
If Physick for our Bodies health be tane,
VVe hinder not the working of the same,
Strong Physick if it purge not, putrifies,
And more augments then heales our malladies,
And as is sayd, our manifold Temptacions,
Are nothing but thy scouring Purgacions,
VVherin a dram too much, hath not admission,
Consected by so Skilfull a Physician
VVho will not have their bitternesse abated,
Till thy ill humors be evacuated;
Then loose it down for thy Humilliacion,
And hinder not its kindly Opperacion,
As thou mayst by untimely voyding it
By vain contentments, which thou mayst admit,
VVhich makes us drive repentant thoughts away,
And so put far from us the Evill day;
But that content which is by such meanes got
Is like cold water, tane in severs hot,
VVhich for the present, though it seem to ease,
Yet after it encreaseth the disease;
But thou dost rather unto Grief incline,
At Crosses therfore, subject to repine,
Supposing oft, thy present troubles are
Intolerable, and thy bane declare;
VVhilst thou for this, thy selfe dost maserate
Dispair unto thee doth intimate,
That none hath been afflicted like to thee,
Unparaleld thy visitacions bee;
The by-waies being thu, discovered,
Endeavour in the right way to be led,
With tru Repentance, hope of pardon joine,
Deny thy selfe, and trust for help divine,
Seek first with God in Christ to be at peace,
Who onely can thy Tribulacion cease,
For he that laid the Rod (affliction) on,
The power hath to pull it off alone;
Twere but in vain for one that were in debt,
To see the Officers a discharg to get,
Till with his Creditor he doth agree
He cannot walk out of his danger free;
So vain are they, which think their course is sure,
When in the use of meanes they rest secure,
Whereas if God his blessing doth restrain
VVe by the creature can no help attain:
Though it hath pleased God out of his grace,
Naturall causes over things to place.
Yet keeps he to himselfe, (blest be his name)
The staffe and operacion of the same;
Then do not think my Soule to find redresse
By meanes of Freinds, or by self Skilfulnesse,
But rather all created helps deny,
Save as they serve for God to work thereby:
Now for as much as God is just alone,
Know, without cause he hath afflicted none,
Sith without doubt, his wayes so equall be,
For som great fault he thus correcteth thee,
Therfore to lowest thoughts thy self retire,
To seek the cause that moved God to ire.
Which when thou findest, whatsoere it be
As thy right hand or eye so dear to thee,
Resolve for ever to abandon it,
Be watchfull lest the same thou recommit,
Renew thy Covenant with God, and vow
In the remainder of thy dayes, that thou
Wilt walk before him with an upright heart
If for that end his grace be on thy part,
If when hereto thou dost thy forees try,
In them thou find a disability,
Then look to Christ, who doth thy weaknesse veiw
And of compassion will thy strength renew,
From him alone thou mayst that grace derive
Which like a Cordial or Restorative,
Will strengthen and repair thy faculties,
Which else are dead to holy exercise,
Twill make thy Understanding apprehend
God as a Father, who in Love doth send
Correction to his Children when they stray,
When without check the wicked take their sway;
This grace once tasted, so affects the will,
As it forsaketh that which cannot fill;
The well of living waters, to frequent,
Can onely fill the Soule with tru content;
The memory it doth corroberate,
To keep a store, the Soule to animate,
Gods precious promises the treasures be,
Which memory reserves to comfort thee;
The over-flowings of this grace divine
To goodnesse the affections will encline,
Turning the hasty current of thy love
From things below, unto those things above,
Seeing it is the grace of Christ alone,
Which makes the Soule to be with God at one,
Endeavour for it, give thy selfe no rest,
Till feelingly thereof thou be possest.