 | Divine Songs and Meditacions |  |
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The fifth Meditacion.
Such is the force of each created thing,That it no solid happinesse can bring,
Which to out minds may give contentments sound
For like as Noahs Dove no succour found,
Till shee return'd to him that sent her out,
Just so the Soule in vain may seek about,
For rest or satisfaction any where,
Save in his presence, who hath sent her here.
Gods omnipresence I do not deny,
Yet to the Faithfull he doth spec'ally,
Alone his gracious presence evidence,
VVho seeing all true blessings flow from thence,
Are troubled onely when he hides his Face,
Desiring still to apprehend his Grace,
This Grace of God is taken diversly
And first it doth his Favour signify,
That independent Love of his so free,
Which mov'd him to his mercyfull Decree,
His Merum beneplacitum it is
That's motive of all good conferd on his:
The fruits of this his Love or Favour deare,
Are likewise called Graces every where,
Election and Redempcion, graces are,
And these his Favour cheifly do declare.
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Which do the new Creac'on manifest,
Now these are counted Grace habituall.
And lastly, this the Grace of God we call,
His actuall Assistance on our side,
VVherby we overcome when we are tride;
How ever then the word is understood
Grace is the cheif desirable good.
Tis Summum bonum; is it so? for why?
Because without it no Prosperity,
Or earthly Honours, in the high'st degree,
Can make one truly happy sayd to be,
For as we might their miseries condole
Who should inhabit neare the Northern-Pole,
Though Moon & Stars may there apear most bright
Yet while the Sun is absent, still tis night,
And therfore barren, cold, and comfortlesse,
Vnfit for humane creatures to possesse:
More fruitlesse, empty comfort is the Mind,
Who finds the Sun of Righteousnesse declind.
Yea, though all earthly glories should unite
Their pomp and splendor, to give such delight,
Yet could they no more sound contentment bring
Then Star-light can make grasse or flowers spring;
But in that happy Soule that apprehends
His Loving kindnesse, (which the Life transcends)
There is no lack of any thing that may
Felicity or tru delight convey;
As whilst the Sun is in our Hemisphere,
We find no want of Moon nor Star-light cleare,
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Happines, there is no need of borrow'd joyes,
For where he is who made all things of nought,
There by his presence still fresh joyes are wrought
Nor need he help to make a happy one,
Sith all perfection is in him alone,
Grant then his Grace is most to be desir'd
And nothing else to be so much requir'd;
But here a carnall crew are to be blam'd,
By whom the Grace of God so much is nam'd
Who are experienc'd in nothing lesse
As do their course and practises expresse,
For though they say the Grace of God's worth all
Yet will they hazzard is for Trifles small,
Hereof they'll put you out of all suspicion
VVhen Gods Grace coms with mens in competicion
For holy duties lightly such neglects,
Whereby Gods Love is felt with its effects,
The favour of a mortall man to gain
Though but a shew thereof he do attain,
And that perhaps for some employment base
VVhich one cannot perform and keep tru Grace,
Therefore tis probable, how ere they prate,
Gods Grace they value at too low a rate
For to be purchast by them, sith they leave
Their hold of it, a shaddow to receave;
But they that do in truth of heart professe
That they have found this Pearle of Blessednesse
Will not adventure it for any thing,
Whatever good it promiseth to bring,
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Of earthly pleasures greatest confluence,
Cannot procure that sweet blissefull peace
Which from Gods Favour ever takes encrease;
Yet many times it comes to passe we see,
That those who have tru grace so senslesse be
Of it, that they in seasons of distresse,
Abundance of impacience do expresse,
But tis their sin, and brings an ill report
Upon their cheifest Comfort, Strength, and Fort;
Such therefore should endeavour paciently,
To beare whatever crosse upon them ly,
And that by strength of this consideracion
That they have need of this theyr tribulacion
It may be to mind them of some offence
Which they committed have (perhaps) long since
Yet they remaine unhumbled for it,
Or elce (may be) some Duty they omit,
In which remissive course they will remain,
Till with a Rod they be brought home again;
Or if they would consider how they prove
The Lords great Pacience towards them and Love
In wayting for theyr turning to his wayes,
They would not think so greivous of delayes,
Of restitucion to that solace sound,
VVhich in the sence of Grace is ever found,
VVhich whoso will in Heart and Life preserve,
These following directions must observe;
The first is, to purge out inniquities
VVith all that might offend Gods puer eyes,
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Of God, and that which he doth best approve;
Humility must likewise have a place
In them that will be sure of tru Grace,
Then there must be sincear Obedience
To all Jehovah's just Commandements,
For God will manifest himself to those,
Who by Obedience, Love to him disclose.
Now lastly, that which fits one to embrace
The sence of God's exceeding Love and Grace
Is skilfulnesse in that most blessed Art
Of walking with the Lord with upright heart,
That is to manage all things heedfully,
As in the veiw of Gods omniscient eye,
And so, by consequence, by Faith to joyne
In union with the Trinity divine;
This is the very life of happynesse,
Which one may feel far better then expresse:
But lest whilst being wrapt above my sphere,
With sweetnesse of the Theame, I should appeare
Quite to forget the nature of a Song,
And to some this might seem over-long,
My thoughts theyr workings, speedily suspends,
And at this time my Meditacion ends.
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