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Meditation 2. Of Chastitie.

Tho heau'nly Steeres-man, which was erst my guide
Vnto the hau'n of peace and happy rest,
Where I could wish at anchor ay to ride,
Free from worlds stormes, which mortals heere molest;
Doth now vnto my whiter Muse suggest,
The praise of heau'nly Chastitie to sing,
Most needfull grace for those, in peace, that rest:
For when she most tranquillity doth bring,
Man most in danger is of Lusts enchanting sting.
For such is Hels malicious subtilty,
With all aduantages still to assaile
The part vnarm'd of mans mortalitie,
That he with greater danger may preuaile:
And when we all his instruments do quaile
Of Anger, Enuy, Couetize, and Pride:
In humble quiet peace, he will not faile,
By slight, within our wils with brands to slide,
Wherewith he fires the gates, and all the Towne beside.
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Thus when as Ioab and the host were prest
To lye in Tents, and Fields a warfaring,
And Ishai's sonne in Peace at home doth rest,
Diuinest Hymnes and Layes on Harpe to sing;
Malicious Basiliske with lustfull sting
Enflames his eyes, which set his heart on fire,
And from his heau'nly peace to warre doth bring,
Such lustfull warres, such raging hot desire,
As breed him dismall broiles and Gods reuenging ire.
For mans whole life is a continuall warre
With Satan, World, his fleshes sinne and Lust:
Satan the Captaine, these his Souldiers are,
Against these alwayes stand in armes we must:
But most of all, when we in peace doe trust,
We want Dame Chastity's commanding Power,
Sweet holy Lady, faithfull, pure and iust,
In peace and rest our safe defence and tower,
Dames Laps enriching more than Danaës golden shower.
Thou; that from slime of earth man first did'st raise,
To beare thine owne expresse similitude,
That he in purity might spend his dayes,
And all corruption, sinne and lust exclude;
Who hast his heart with Grace diuine indude,
To be thy temple, and thy Spirits Cell,
From me all thoughts, words, acts vnchast seclude,
Whilst I the honour of this vertue tell,
For in a heart vnpure, chast Spirit will not dwell.
I take her for that vertue of the minde,
Which doth the Furiousnesse of Lust retaine
In reasons bounds; And our affections binde
In Royall Links of Vertues golden Chaine:
As Abstinence doth appetite restraine
From foode immoderate: So from desire
Vnlawfull, she doth mind and flesh containe,
And bounds in limits Generations fire,
As meekenesse bounds the rage of Zeales reuenging ire.
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For eu'n as Appetite, without restraint
Of Abstinence, delights in Gluttony,
And valiant Zeale is, without Meekenesse, taint
With cruell rage, and spites malignity:
Eu'n so without this vertue Chastitie,
The noblest vigour of sweet generation,
Abounds in Lust, and foule Adultery,
And spends the vitals without moderation,
But Chastitie bounds all to lawfull propagation.
In twofold currents runnes her purer sourse,
Body's and minds; The minde remaineth chast,
Though one by violence the Body force,
Againe thy mind may be corrupt, vnchast,
Though thou no act in flesh committed hast:
Thine eyes, hands, eares, words, lookes, least lustfull thought
She will containe, if in thine heart once plas't:
Th' vnspotted Lambe, whose bloud thee dearely bought,
Vnchastly neuer spake, look'd, did, once heard or thought.
She hath her first diuine pure excellence
With her beginning, from our Soules creation:
That heau'nly, holy, purest influence
God breath'd into the Lump his hand did fashion.
And though at first by Natures deprauation,
She as all other vertues did vs leaue,
Yet we againe by true mortification
Of earthly Members, her againe receiue,
And seeke, as members chaste, to chastest head to cleaue.
For as nought better can the mind containe,
Than reading, heau'nly thoughts and meditation,
So nothing fleshly lusts doth more restraine,
Than Fasting, Prayer, and mortification:
Sweet chastity's of heau'nly propagation,
And as none gaine gift of Virginity,
But by the Spirits chaste sanctification,
So none conserue their Sacred Chastitie,
But by that Spirits working, Grace and Sanctitie.
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Wherefore as wantonnesse, Adultery,
Amongst the wicked workes of flesh are nam'd,
So Meekenesse, Continence, and Chastity
Are call'd the Spirits Fruits by none defam'd:
Talke scurrilous to heare she is asham'd,
Her modest lookes are free from Wantonnesse,
Vncleannesse, Filthinesse may not be nam'd
Within their mouthes, that Chastitie professe,
Tongue, eye and eare, th' affections of the heart expresse.
The Heathen did this Chastitie of minde,
In all that came to worship God, require,
For they her seated in the Soule did find,
From whence comes eu'ry good or bad desire:
And as Soules substance pure immortall fire,
Doth Bodies made of Elements transcend,
So doth the Chastitie of minde aspire,
Our Soules to Angels purity doe tend,
When we in flesh with them in chastest thoughts contend.
The fleshes Chastitie is to be free
From sinfull touch, or act; that of the mind
Is Faith vnuiolate; not to agree
To any lustfull thought: we seldome find
The body chaste, where minde is ill inclin'd.
In this she doth Virginity transcend,
That she is the Preseruer of mankind,
And from chaste nuptiall bed doth children send,
Without which all the world would perish soone and end.
These therefore alwayes her Companions are,
Shamefastnesse, Continence, and Modesty,
The enemies that of her stand in feare,
Are Fornication, wanton Luxury;
For she ay chastens their iniquitie:
The Seminary's of Delight and Pleasure,
Carowsing, Chambering, and Gluttony,
Which Worldlings heere account their greatest treasure,
She hates, and liues in all by Natures little measure.
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Fulnesse of meat, Sleepe, play, Garrulity,
With ease of body, costly vaine attire,
The fuell are of Lust and Luxury,
Which heere dry vp our humid and conspire
To burne our soules and bodies in hell fire:
Other sinnes are without, but generation,
To procreate by mutuall desire,
Except it be confin'd with moderation,
A sinne is 'gainst our body's health, and soules saluation.
Lust may be lik'ned to some Riuer maine,
Bounded by purest Channels of her owne,
Wherein so long as she her streames containe,
Her waters pleasant, pure and sweet are knowne,
But if her swelling waues so proud be growne,
They passe their Bounds, and ouerflow the Plaine,
Her flouds late pure, now foule & muddy showne,
And boundlesse ouerflow the grasse and graine;
So rageth lawlesse Lust, let loose from Vertues raine.
For we are like vnruly Horses all
Still neighing after neighbours wiues: But she
Vs, as with Bit and Bridle, doth recall,
And makes our Lusts to reasons rules agree:
Thus two as in one Body ioyned be,
And are for mutuall Bounds of sweet desier,
And bounded thus, the act is Chastitee,
Like to the vsefull Element of fier,
Which bounded all preserues; but loos'd is all's destroyer.
This boundlesse Lust some liken to the Fire,
And Brimstone God did downe on Sodome raine,
Virginity to mount, God doth require
Lot to escape vnto, who doth obtaine
Rather in little Zoar to remaine:
So they, that from Lusts Sodome-scorching flame,
Can not Virginiti's high Mount attaine,
May stay in Zoar, which they wedlock name
The Citti's safest, but the Mount of greater fame.
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As glorious Sunne, when he doth first arise,
Is both of heau'n and earth the wonderment,
Eu'n so a woman, modest, chast and wise,
Of House and Husband is the ornament:
An honest Wife's a gift from heauen sent.
As light on golden Candlestick shines bright,
So Beauty in a woman continent,
A Lampe to House and Husband all the night,
All day like glorious Beames of Titans heau'nly Light.
And as that is the noblest victory,
Which Souldiers with most danger do obtaine,
So she, that keeps her honour'd Chastitie,
'Gainst most temptations, doth most glory gaine:
'Tis harder base affections to restraine
In ease and rest, than moderate aright
A Kingdome, which by open force we gaine,
So many are our Lusts that in vs fight,
So strong is Satans force, so subtill is his slight.
No beauty, forme, or golden Vestiment
Do so adorne the Body; as the Mind
Is graced by this Vertues Ornament:
Without sweet Light the Sun as soone we find,
As Shamefastnesse from Chastity disioyn'd:
Immodest lookes are Darts against her throwne,
When man and womans light aspects are ioyn'd,
The battel's fought, both sides are ouerthrowne.
Ah cruell fight! where neither side defends her owne.
As eyes from wanton lookes, eu'n so our eare
'Gainst all immodest Charmes, we must inclose;
For Shamefastnesses vaile these off doe teare,
And our affections prone to Lust vnlose:
The Flame and Fier do not sooner close,
Than Impudence and foule vnchastity,
Then Beauty, like Gold-ring in swinish Nose,
Doth roote in Durt of Jmpudicity,
No Body's chast where Mind's ioyne in Adultery.
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Who is not cloth'd in robe pure snowy white
Of Chastitie, the Lambe will neuer know:
Then Dames, that in faire ornaments delight,
Desire to be, as you desire to show:
All richest Pearles, Gold, Iewels, heere below,
Are nothing to this Gem of Chastitie:
No fairer Flower, doth in Loues garden grow,
Than Blush of Shamefastnesse, and Modesty,
No Iewell like the Belt of Truth and Sanctitie.
Nor doe I onely heere of you require
A Continence, for feare of Law or Fame,
But such a Chastitie I doe desire,
That neither may your Mind nor Conscience blame
Oh let it be vnto your Soules a shame,
A Bird should you in Chastity transcend,
The Turtle neuer changeth mate or name,
For this the Story Iudith doth commend,
But this is no Command, but counsell for a friend.
Take heere for patterne Rachels chastest sonne,
Who eu'n a princesse lustfull soft embrace
For vertues Loue, not feare of shame, did shun:
I heere might grant Lucretia a place,
But that selfe-murther doth her foule disgrace:
Penelope's a Mappe of Chaste desire,
Who farre away all Jdlenesse doth chase,
Nor takes least heate from Suiters lustfull fire,
But twice ten yeeres expects her dearest Lords retire.
Susan's so chaste, her rumour dares not blame,
To this high pitch of honour they doe rise,
That shunne all idlenesse, and wanton game,
And more than gold their names & honour prize.
Sobriety them ay accompany's,
Both in their speaking, eating, and attire,
Their modest gate, sweet carriage, shamefast eyes,
Doe proue their Beds be nests of chaste desire,
To quench more than enflame the brands of lustfull fire.
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Eu'n fruitfull Venus, true to husbands side,
May win from heau'ns high

Iuno

Queene the golden Ball:
And virgin-Pallas may be well denide
The honour, which chast Matrons doth befall.
Glory of either Sexe! Oh how then shall
This hand vnchast of that pure chastnesse write,
By which Christs-Bride surmounts the daughters all,
And doth the Queenes and Concubines delight,
Binding eu'n mighty Kings with her most glorious sight?
Her turtle-voyce, Doues eyes, as Lilly-white
Excels the thornes, so She all Womankind:
Yet loues but one, whom she in bed by night,
Doth seeke for long, at last alone doth find:
He her alone in armes embraceth kind,
And she alone delights in his imbrace:
Chast Bridegrome, chastest Bride together ioyn'd,
Of Saints beget a holy heau'nly race:
With this high Mystery, Christ doth chast Wedlocke grace:
And brandeth with spirituall Fornication,
Those, who on earth their chastest Head forsake,
And stoope to Jdols and abomination,
Here choyce of Louers to themselues to rake:
The Saints and Angels they for Bridegrome take,
When they before their Images do fall:
Thus she the Scarlet-whore herselfe doth make,
And they her bastards which she beareth all:
Such bastards, with true-heiers, ne'r inherit shall.
As chast, so we a ielous Bridegrome haue,
And as his Loue, like Death, is sure and strong,
So's Ielousie as cruell is as graue:
Who such a louing Husband dares to wrong,
His ielous Fury may expect ere long
But now I stray from sweetest Meditation,
I ought to end, as I began my song:
One word more of a Worthy of our nation,
A patterne worth thy learning, loue, and imitation.
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Thomas Archbishop of Yorks famous See;
When Doctors counsell, and his friends him praid,
For Cure, to vse a female-remedy,
And for that turne, him brought a comely mayd;
Most piously to them replide, and said,
That to preserue his flesh, which was to die,
His Soules immortall Chastitie betraid
Should neuer be: Such heau'nly chastity
Shewes plaine, his Soule doth liue in heau'n eternally.
But as the Lute, which yeelds a pleasant sound,
Doth others, but it selfe, no whit delight;
So, if examples onely I propound
To others, and not practise what I write,
I neuer may approach the chastest Light,
To which our chastest Head before is gone:
For no vnchast one commeth in his sight,
Except with Magdalen they sigh and grone,
And cleanse with floods of teares their filthinesse each one.
Thus clensd our Soule is like Brides liuing-Well,
Whose waters are most pleasant, pure and sweet:
Our bodies eyes like fountaines two, which quell
And quench all Lusts-temptatiōs which they meet:
But now adayes we hold this Grace vnmeet,
In noble valiant brest to intertaine,
Men onely thinke her fit for Dames to greet,
And to their basest Lusts let loose the Raine:
But sure no Vertue dwels, where she doth not remaine.
The Flesh against the Spirit coueteth,
But if the Spirit manfully hold out,
It all Lusts base temptations vanquisheth;
Who haue a purpose resolute and stout,
To temper their affections, may (no doubt)
Defend their honour 'gainst Concupiscence;
And though they oft opposd are by a rout
Of their owne lusts, hels, and worlds violence,
Their chast resolued mind maintaines their innocence.
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Then Fooles are they, that when they haue began
In spirit, in the flesh will make an end:
He that once tastes of Lust, more hardly can
Abstaine, than he that neuer did intend:
Me, from her first Beginnings, Lord defend!
She's like the Serpent that did Eue assaile;
She pleasant fruits and pleasures doth pretend,
Her mouth drops hony-sweet, but with her taile,
She stings eu'n all to hell, with whom she doth preuaile.
But though I make a cou'nant with mine eyes,
Like Iob, no lustfull obiect to behold,
Yet oft this Monster will mine heart surprize,
And vnawares in sinfull Thought infold:
This Serpents cunning sleights can not be told:
The best way to auoyd them can be found,
Is her aloofe to keepe: if thou be bold
To chat with her, she vnawares will wound.
I almost feare her filthinesse now to propound.
Vncircumcised, rayling Philistine!
Who all Gods hoste defies in single fight,
I dare not suffer thee to come within,
Such is thy force, such is thy cunning slight:
Thou art a Gyant of exceeding might.
If you will hearken vnto my perswasion,
Keepe him aloofe, and in the forehead smite.
Best way to shun Lusts furious inuasion,
Is warily here to auoid the least occasion.
Dauid escapes the Beares and Lyons pawes,
And ouerthrowes the Philistine in field,
And yet this subtill Serpent him so drawes,
His heart vnto her Syrens-songs doth yeeld:
Then she him conquers without sword or shield,
And leades him by the eye-lids to her snare.
Heau'ns from such subtill vile allurements shield
All those, that haue a Conscience and care,
Their hearts fit Temples for thy Spirit to prepare.
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Purge vs with Hyssope, and we shall be pure:
Wash vs, we than the Snow shall be more white;
Our Soules and Bodies Temple shall be sure
A holy house, wherein thou mayst delight:
But I the vertue for the vice haue quight,
I purpos'd Chastity here to commend,
But Lust so fiercely with my Muse doth fight,
I scarce mine owne am able to defend:
Therefore with Prayer I my Meditation end.
Oh thou, that mad'st my Soule a little King,
And in this little-world, my-Body plac't;
It subiect making to the ordering
Of Reason, wherewith thou this King hast grac't;
Set first of all the Soueraignes Kingdome fast,
Whereby his Subiects he may rule aright,
That is, affections keepe most pure and chast,
But most in spirituall chastitie delight,
To which adde Constancie, of which I next do write.
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