Thrifts Eqvipage Viz. Fiue Diuine and Morall Meditations, of 1. Frugalitie. 2. Prouidence. 3. Diligence. 4. Labour and Care. 5. Death [by Robert Aylett] |
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Meditation 5. Of Death.
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Meditation 5. Of Death.
Come, let's shake hands, we in the end must meete:
I haue prouided me this goodly Chaine
Of Graces, at thy comming thee to greete,
For thou wilt not for fauour, gold or gaine,
Thy fatall stroke, one moment, heere refraine:
Well, close mine eyes, and dimme my Bodies Light,
These shining Gems for euer shall remaine,
My soule for to enlighten; Oh! then smite,
It skils not when, nor how, so as my heart stands right.
I haue prouided me this goodly Chaine
Of Graces, at thy comming thee to greete,
For thou wilt not for fauour, gold or gaine,
Thy fatall stroke, one moment, heere refraine:
Well, close mine eyes, and dimme my Bodies Light,
These shining Gems for euer shall remaine,
My soule for to enlighten; Oh! then smite,
It skils not when, nor how, so as my heart stands right.
Ah! why look'st thou so pale, as thou didst feare?
Thee, before men and Angels, I forgiue,
I wish thee not a minute to forbeare,
I neuer shall the Life of Glory liue,
Till thou vnlock'st the doore my soule to giue
Inlargement from this Prison house of clay,
For which she long hath struggled and did striue,
Yet still the Flesh, the Spirit downe doth way;
And fitting 'tis I should my Makers leasure stay.
Thee, before men and Angels, I forgiue,
I wish thee not a minute to forbeare,
I neuer shall the Life of Glory liue,
Till thou vnlock'st the doore my soule to giue
Inlargement from this Prison house of clay,
For which she long hath struggled and did striue,
Yet still the Flesh, the Spirit downe doth way;
And fitting 'tis I should my Makers leasure stay.
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Thou earthquake-like this prison house must shake,
Before my Soule be loosed from her bands,
And make my Keepers tremble all and quake,
Lo then a holy Angell ready stands,
To saue her from hels-watches grizly hands:
And though heau'ns sudden Light my Soule amate,
She forward goes, and nothing her withstands,
A ioyfull entrance to most happy state,
Thus passe we thorow Deaths-doore, in at heau'ns narrow gate.
Before my Soule be loosed from her bands,
And make my Keepers tremble all and quake,
Lo then a holy Angell ready stands,
To saue her from hels-watches grizly hands:
And though heau'ns sudden Light my Soule amate,
She forward goes, and nothing her withstands,
A ioyfull entrance to most happy state,
Thus passe we thorow Deaths-doore, in at heau'ns narrow gate.
Welcome, as sleepe, to them that right thee know,
And easie as a Downy-Bed of Rest,
But thou most gastly-terrible dost show,
To those, that thou do'st vnawares arrest:
Sweet hau'n to Soules with worlds winds, waues opprest;
A Rocke to those that swimme in sweet Delight;
Sweet hoast of Saints, who with perfumes hath drest
The Beds, wherein their Bodies, all the night,
May rest, till Trumpets sound, awake to glorious Light.
And easie as a Downy-Bed of Rest,
But thou most gastly-terrible dost show,
To those, that thou do'st vnawares arrest:
Sweet hau'n to Soules with worlds winds, waues opprest;
A Rocke to those that swimme in sweet Delight;
Sweet hoast of Saints, who with perfumes hath drest
The Beds, wherein their Bodies, all the night,
May rest, till Trumpets sound, awake to glorious Light.
To Poore thou shew'st thy honey, hid'st thy sting,
The Rich thy Sting, but not thy honey see,
Like Iailour thou doest good and bad newes bring
To Soules, that in the flesh imprison'd be;
One must dye euer; th' other shall be free.
Thou that dost Death, to thine, by dying make
The Messenger of such great ioy and glee,
Direct my Muse, in what I vndertake,
That I may Death discerne, ere Death we ouertake.
The Rich thy Sting, but not thy honey see,
Like Iailour thou doest good and bad newes bring
To Soules, that in the flesh imprison'd be;
One must dye euer; th' other shall be free.
Thou that dost Death, to thine, by dying make
The Messenger of such great ioy and glee,
Direct my Muse, in what I vndertake,
That I may Death discerne, ere Death we ouertake.
What's Death but a diuorce or separation,
Of Man and Wife, that neuer could agree,
From Bed and Boord, and from Cohabitation?
The guilty Flesh payes Costs, the Soule is free;
Yet Both ere long shall one another see,
Freed from foule Sinne, the cause of all their strife,
And shall in Wedlocks Bands reioined be,
To loue, and liue, for aye, like Man and Wife,
A holy, happy, quiet, and eternall Life.
Of Man and Wife, that neuer could agree,
From Bed and Boord, and from Cohabitation?
The guilty Flesh payes Costs, the Soule is free;
Yet Both ere long shall one another see,
Freed from foule Sinne, the cause of all their strife,
And shall in Wedlocks Bands reioined be,
To loue, and liue, for aye, like Man and Wife,
A holy, happy, quiet, and eternall Life.
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But this I of the first Death vnderstand;
(Lord! of the second, neuer let me taste)
This is the way into the holy Land,
That doth into continuall darknesse cast:
No mortall Sense did euer see or tast
The seconds anguish, terrour, horrour, paine:
The first is short, the second aye doth last,
Age, Sicknesse, men to dye the first constraine,
The Diuels in the second, soules and bodies chaine.
(Lord! of the second, neuer let me taste)
This is the way into the holy Land,
That doth into continuall darknesse cast:
No mortall Sense did euer see or tast
The seconds anguish, terrour, horrour, paine:
The first is short, the second aye doth last,
Age, Sicknesse, men to dye the first constraine,
The Diuels in the second, soules and bodies chaine.
This, setteth willing soules from bodies free,
That, soules in bodies holds against their will,
By this, from Bodies weight we quited be,
That, with such weight of sinne the soule doth fill,
As to the Pit infernall presse it will:
This, takes good men away before their time,
Lest they be ouer-whelm'd with too much ill,
That, seizeth on the wicked, for their crime.
That leadeth downe to Hell, by this to heau'n we clime.
That, soules in bodies holds against their will,
By this, from Bodies weight we quited be,
That, with such weight of sinne the soule doth fill,
As to the Pit infernall presse it will:
This, takes good men away before their time,
Lest they be ouer-whelm'd with too much ill,
That, seizeth on the wicked, for their crime.
That leadeth downe to Hell, by this to heau'n we clime.
The first, hath onely power in the graue,
Second, in Hell; One, vs depriues of sense,
By th' other, sense of endlesse Paine we haue,
Both, haue one name, yet see their difference.
Sinne mother is of both: In innocence
Had Adam stood, Death neuer had been knowne,
But second Adam hath remou'd long sence
The sting of this first Death, eu'n by his owne:
Thus from a Plague, Death is to Saints a fauour growne.
Second, in Hell; One, vs depriues of sense,
By th' other, sense of endlesse Paine we haue,
Both, haue one name, yet see their difference.
Sinne mother is of both: In innocence
Had Adam stood, Death neuer had been knowne,
But second Adam hath remou'd long sence
The sting of this first Death, eu'n by his owne:
Thus from a Plague, Death is to Saints a fauour growne.
Christ meeteth her as Esau on the way,
And giues a charge vnto her rougher hands,
No euill against Iacob to assay;
Thus turnes he to embracements all her Bands;
Death, made by Sinne our mortall foe, now stands
Our first fast friend, to bring vs vnto blesse;
And though awhile our carkases she brands
With vile corruption, and Rottennesse,
Our soules the whilst abide in ioy and happinesse.
And giues a charge vnto her rougher hands,
No euill against Iacob to assay;
Thus turnes he to embracements all her Bands;
Death, made by Sinne our mortall foe, now stands
Our first fast friend, to bring vs vnto blesse;
And though awhile our carkases she brands
With vile corruption, and Rottennesse,
Our soules the whilst abide in ioy and happinesse.
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All first Death gets, is Rottennesse and Dust,
A Body onely, in corruption sowne,
To kill seeds of Concupiscence and Lust,
That it more glorious after may be knowne,
Our earthly part thus turneth to her owne,
But shall againe a heau'nly body rise,
And as at first, be with the Spirit one,
Which long hath liu'd in ioyous Paradise,
Waiting till Christ her mortall should immortalize.
A Body onely, in corruption sowne,
To kill seeds of Concupiscence and Lust,
That it more glorious after may be knowne,
Our earthly part thus turneth to her owne,
But shall againe a heau'nly body rise,
And as at first, be with the Spirit one,
Which long hath liu'd in ioyous Paradise,
Waiting till Christ her mortall should immortalize.
Alas! why should wee then be so afraid,
Heere to endure a little griefe or paine,
Be it on Racke, or Bed? so I be laid
Safe in my Graue, my soule thereby shall gaine;
Lord! grant me Faith, and Patience to maintaine
Hels last encounter, when my Soule is shaken!
The holy Martyrs did not so complaine
Of Paine, when Soule was from the body taken,
As when their Conscience by tentation was awaken.
Heere to endure a little griefe or paine,
Be it on Racke, or Bed? so I be laid
Safe in my Graue, my soule thereby shall gaine;
Lord! grant me Faith, and Patience to maintaine
Hels last encounter, when my Soule is shaken!
The holy Martyrs did not so complaine
Of Paine, when Soule was from the body taken,
As when their Conscience by tentation was awaken.
This Death, though painefull, quicke dispatch doth make,
The second, hath eternitie and paine,
They rightly at Death's horrour, quake and shake,
Where griefes within, more than without remaine,
Whose conscience them more terribly doe straine,
Than any outward torment they endure,
Who sees heau'ns most incomparable gaine,
And can thereof by Faith himselfe secure,
Is certaine, Death can nought but good to him procure.
The second, hath eternitie and paine,
They rightly at Death's horrour, quake and shake,
Where griefes within, more than without remaine,
Whose conscience them more terribly doe straine,
Than any outward torment they endure,
Who sees heau'ns most incomparable gaine,
And can thereof by Faith himselfe secure,
Is certaine, Death can nought but good to him procure.
For body fraile, one like his glorious head
For pleasures, profits, hopes and honours vaine,
(Whereby than eas'd, we are more troubled:)
Eternall rest, and freedome from all paine,
Wer't thou, my Soule, but sentenc'd to remaine
In this fraile body, yet a thousand yeeres,
Oh! how wouldst thou of wearinesse complaine,
And maladies thy Flesh about her beares,
And seeke Death as a blessing eu'n with many teares?
For pleasures, profits, hopes and honours vaine,
(Whereby than eas'd, we are more troubled:)
Eternall rest, and freedome from all paine,
Wer't thou, my Soule, but sentenc'd to remaine
In this fraile body, yet a thousand yeeres,
Oh! how wouldst thou of wearinesse complaine,
And maladies thy Flesh about her beares,
And seeke Death as a blessing eu'n with many teares?
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Yea should this life last without tediousnesse,
Oh! Doe but thinke that as thou more do'st sinne,
Thou addest more vnto thy wretchednesse,
For Death at first, by Sinne did enter in,
Who would not leaue these loathsome ragges! to winne
That glorious, shining roabe of Righteousnesse,
Thou shalt not lose thy Body, but thy Sinne,
Thou it againe shalt meete in happinesse,
Corruption shall indeede be changed, not thy Flesh.
Oh! Doe but thinke that as thou more do'st sinne,
Thou addest more vnto thy wretchednesse,
For Death at first, by Sinne did enter in,
Who would not leaue these loathsome ragges! to winne
That glorious, shining roabe of Righteousnesse,
Thou shalt not lose thy Body, but thy Sinne,
Thou it againe shalt meete in happinesse,
Corruption shall indeede be changed, not thy Flesh.
As Golden Ore, in Finers fier cast,
Is not consum'd, but cleans'd from drosse, and tride;
So substance of the body doth not waste,
Onely by Death is purg'd, and purifide.
Should Soules heere in their Tabernacles 'bide,
With all infirmities till Day of Doome,
How weary would they be, of rest denide,
And wish their Bodies sleeping in their Tombe,
Vntill the ioyfull Day of Resurrection come?
Is not consum'd, but cleans'd from drosse, and tride;
So substance of the body doth not waste,
Onely by Death is purg'd, and purifide.
Should Soules heere in their Tabernacles 'bide,
With all infirmities till Day of Doome,
How weary would they be, of rest denide,
And wish their Bodies sleeping in their Tombe,
Vntill the ioyfull Day of Resurrection come?
So long as heere our Bodies doe remaine,
They haue like Wooll one tincture naturall,
But Death them dyeth all in purple graine,
To make them Robes for Sprites Celestiall,
For we in heau'n like Kings and Princes all
Shall reigne in new Hierusalem for ay,
The Graue vs like each side of Red Sea wall,
From cruell Egypts bondage on our way,
Doth to the Land of heauenly Canaan conuay.
They haue like Wooll one tincture naturall,
But Death them dyeth all in purple graine,
To make them Robes for Sprites Celestiall,
For we in heau'n like Kings and Princes all
Shall reigne in new Hierusalem for ay,
The Graue vs like each side of Red Sea wall,
From cruell Egypts bondage on our way,
Doth to the Land of heauenly Canaan conuay.
As he, who for ill-doing lyeth bound,
Trembles & quakes when loosed from his bands,
He must before the Iudgement Seat be found,
To giue account for workes done by his hands,
But he most stout and resolutely stands,
Whose Conscience him of euill doth acquite:
So men reioyce, or feare, when Death commands
Them to appeare before the Judge vpright,
There to receiue iust doome, for things done wrong or right.
Trembles & quakes when loosed from his bands,
He must before the Iudgement Seat be found,
To giue account for workes done by his hands,
But he most stout and resolutely stands,
Whose Conscience him of euill doth acquite:
So men reioyce, or feare, when Death commands
Them to appeare before the Judge vpright,
There to receiue iust doome, for things done wrong or right.
53
As water-drops, which fall in Fountaine pure,
Die not, but are preseru'd incontinent,
So Bodies perish not, but ay indure,
Onely resolu'd to their first Element:
Our spirits fly to heau'n whence they were lent.
As drops of raine which from the heau'ns descend,
Are all into the wombe of Tethys sent:
So Saints dead Bodies to Earths bowels tend,
Whence drawn vp by Sonnes heate, to heau'n they re-ascend.
Die not, but are preseru'd incontinent,
So Bodies perish not, but ay indure,
Onely resolu'd to their first Element:
Our spirits fly to heau'n whence they were lent.
As drops of raine which from the heau'ns descend,
Are all into the wombe of Tethys sent:
So Saints dead Bodies to Earths bowels tend,
Whence drawn vp by Sonnes heate, to heau'n they re-ascend.
What is our Life? a wind, a course to death:
They that on Earth the longest course can gaine,
Runne in the end themselues quite out of breath,
And no more but their courses end obtaine;
To which, they that liue fewer yeeres attaine.
God here to men doth life, like money, lend:
Which at our Day we must pay backe againe.
As without oyle the Lampe no light doth send,
So when our humid's spent, our Life is at an end.
They that on Earth the longest course can gaine,
Runne in the end themselues quite out of breath,
And no more but their courses end obtaine;
To which, they that liue fewer yeeres attaine.
God here to men doth life, like money, lend:
Which at our Day we must pay backe againe.
As without oyle the Lampe no light doth send,
So when our humid's spent, our Life is at an end.
As Pilgrim with long trauell wearied,
Layes downe his Flesh to sleepe in darkest night,
But Visions houering about his head,
Do shew vnto his Soule most heau'nly Light,
And doth with Dreames his spirits so delight,
He wisheth oft the night would euer last:
So fares it with the new-deceased wight,
When in the graue his Body sleepeth fast,
And Angels haue his Soule in Abrahams-bosome plac't.
Layes downe his Flesh to sleepe in darkest night,
But Visions houering about his head,
Do shew vnto his Soule most heau'nly Light,
And doth with Dreames his spirits so delight,
He wisheth oft the night would euer last:
So fares it with the new-deceased wight,
When in the graue his Body sleepeth fast,
And Angels haue his Soule in Abrahams-bosome plac't.
As Starres of heau'n, which first in East do shine,
Arise, till their Meridian they haue past,
But do from thence as fast againe decline,
Till they into the Westerne Seas are cast:
Eu'n so vaine Mortals, here are all in hast,
Till they their highest pitch of strength attaine;
But that once got, they fall againe as fast,
And downeward to the graue descend amaine,
Some here a shorter, some a longer course obtaine.
Arise, till their Meridian they haue past,
But do from thence as fast againe decline,
Till they into the Westerne Seas are cast:
Eu'n so vaine Mortals, here are all in hast,
Till they their highest pitch of strength attaine;
But that once got, they fall againe as fast,
And downeward to the graue descend amaine,
Some here a shorter, some a longer course obtaine.
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And as hee's happiest, whom the swiftest wind
Brings soonest to the Port, and hau'n of rest,
So's he, that soonest in the graue doth find
Harbour against worlds stormes, which him infest.
Death doth but like his brother Sleepe arrest
The weary wight, where he a longer night,
Himselfe in graue, than in his bed may rest;
And yet no longer, than till Christ our Light
Awakes vs, to enioy for ay his glorious sight.
Brings soonest to the Port, and hau'n of rest,
So's he, that soonest in the graue doth find
Harbour against worlds stormes, which him infest.
Death doth but like his brother Sleepe arrest
The weary wight, where he a longer night,
Himselfe in graue, than in his bed may rest;
And yet no longer, than till Christ our Light
Awakes vs, to enioy for ay his glorious sight.
To all that labour, pleasing is the end;
The Traueller inquireth for his Inne:
The hired Seruant, when his Yeere doth end:
The Husband, when his Haruest doth beginne:
Merchant of his Aduentures comming in:
The Woman, when her ninth Month doth expire:
So Saints, of Death haue euer mindfull bin:
For where's our Treasure, there's our hearts desire,
And where our Crowne is laid, our eyes do ay aspire.
The Traueller inquireth for his Inne:
The hired Seruant, when his Yeere doth end:
The Husband, when his Haruest doth beginne:
Merchant of his Aduentures comming in:
The Woman, when her ninth Month doth expire:
So Saints, of Death haue euer mindfull bin:
For where's our Treasure, there's our hearts desire,
And where our Crowne is laid, our eyes do ay aspire.
Therefore the dying Saints like Swans do sing,
Foreseeing, that they in the graue should rest
From Labours, and be freed from the sting
Of Sinne, which here their liues did most infest:
Why should we with Deaths feare be so distrest?
When as the Lord of Life himselfe did die,
That we from sting of Death might be releast;
Eu'n Sinne, the Cause of all our Misery,
And made Death our first step to true Felicity.
Foreseeing, that they in the graue should rest
From Labours, and be freed from the sting
Of Sinne, which here their liues did most infest:
Why should we with Deaths feare be so distrest?
When as the Lord of Life himselfe did die,
That we from sting of Death might be releast;
Eu'n Sinne, the Cause of all our Misery,
And made Death our first step to true Felicity.
The truth hereof the sacred Pages seale,
When that which commonly we dying call,
They call it sleeping: For Christ did repeale
The Act of dying, by his Funerall:
Thus Patriarchs, Prophets, Kings, Apostles, all
Lie sleeping, till the finall Resurrection,
From Adam, to the Iudgement generall,
All to this fatall Lord must yeeld subiection,
And sleepe secure and sound vnder his safe protection.
When that which commonly we dying call,
They call it sleeping: For Christ did repeale
The Act of dying, by his Funerall:
Thus Patriarchs, Prophets, Kings, Apostles, all
Lie sleeping, till the finall Resurrection,
From Adam, to the Iudgement generall,
All to this fatall Lord must yeeld subiection,
And sleepe secure and sound vnder his safe protection.
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The Wiseman therefore, better doth commend
The Day of Death, then of Natiuity;
By that, our paine and labours haue an end;
This, the Beginning is of Misery:
The Lord of Life, who Life and Death did try,
Proclaimeth endlesse Blessednesse to those,
With rest from labour, in the Lord that die:
Blessed whom he to liue in him hath chose,
But till their Death, from Labour they haue no repose.
The Day of Death, then of Natiuity;
By that, our paine and labours haue an end;
This, the Beginning is of Misery:
The Lord of Life, who Life and Death did try,
Proclaimeth endlesse Blessednesse to those,
With rest from labour, in the Lord that die:
Blessed whom he to liue in him hath chose,
But till their Death, from Labour they haue no repose.
See, but how wiser Heathens entertaine
This fatall stroke, this last necessity:
How they on Birth-dayes, lowd lament and plaine;
At Funerals, make mirth and melody;
For that begins, this ends all misery:
No man, say they, that doth not Death despise,
Can here on earth enioy true Liberty,
They onely saw an end of miseries,
But lo! heau'n stands wide open vnto Christians eyes.
This fatall stroke, this last necessity:
How they on Birth-dayes, lowd lament and plaine;
At Funerals, make mirth and melody;
For that begins, this ends all misery:
No man, say they, that doth not Death despise,
Can here on earth enioy true Liberty,
They onely saw an end of miseries,
But lo! heau'n stands wide open vnto Christians eyes.
Ah why should Painters limme Death with a dart,
Time with a Syth, before him cuts all downe,
Death doth but lance, and play the Surgeons part,
Time fells the Corne, that's ready to be mowne.
Alas! what Cruelty hath Death vs showne?
Thou art but as a Seruant vnto time,
To gather Fruits which, he saith, ripe be growne:
In Wine-presse thou but treadest out the wine,
To barrell vp in Tombes that there it may refine.
Time with a Syth, before him cuts all downe,
Death doth but lance, and play the Surgeons part,
Time fells the Corne, that's ready to be mowne.
Alas! what Cruelty hath Death vs showne?
Thou art but as a Seruant vnto time,
To gather Fruits which, he saith, ripe be growne:
In Wine-presse thou but treadest out the wine,
To barrell vp in Tombes that there it may refine.
As we greene Fruites more difficulty pull,
Than those we find hang ripe vpon the tree,
So youthfull Sprites of heate and vigor full,
More hardly die than they that aged be:
This is the greatest difference we see,
Betweene their courses that are short and long,
Both goe the broad way of Mortality,
Death, like a mighty wind here layes along,
As weake and hollow Elmes, so Cedars stout and strong.
Than those we find hang ripe vpon the tree,
So youthfull Sprites of heate and vigor full,
More hardly die than they that aged be:
This is the greatest difference we see,
Betweene their courses that are short and long,
Both goe the broad way of Mortality,
Death, like a mighty wind here layes along,
As weake and hollow Elmes, so Cedars stout and strong.
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Who is so strong whom she hath not cast downe?
Looke all the generations gone and past,
Their ancient Monuments by Bookes are knowne,
In Graze their Bodies all to dust do waste;
The Iewes long-life more eagerly imbrac't,
As 'twas a type of endlesse happinesse,
But since Christ in his youth of Death did taste.
All Substances fulfill'd, their Figures cease,
Now happiest he whom Death the soonest doth release.
Looke all the generations gone and past,
Their ancient Monuments by Bookes are knowne,
In Graze their Bodies all to dust do waste;
The Iewes long-life more eagerly imbrac't,
As 'twas a type of endlesse happinesse,
But since Christ in his youth of Death did taste.
All Substances fulfill'd, their Figures cease,
Now happiest he whom Death the soonest doth release.
Happy, though clouds of stones thy head infold
Like Steph'ns, so open heau'ns shew pure & cleare,
And though a Trance like Pauls so fast thee hold,
That whether thou without the Body were,
Or in the Body, thou canst not declare.
Though thus Death doth like sleepe thy flesh arrest,
The ioyes of heau'n shall to thy Soule appeare,
Not to be vttered: Lo, they are best
By Negatiues, not by Affirmatiues exprest.
Like Steph'ns, so open heau'ns shew pure & cleare,
And though a Trance like Pauls so fast thee hold,
That whether thou without the Body were,
Or in the Body, thou canst not declare.
Though thus Death doth like sleepe thy flesh arrest,
The ioyes of heau'n shall to thy Soule appeare,
Not to be vttered: Lo, they are best
By Negatiues, not by Affirmatiues exprest.
No eye hath seene, no eare hath euer heard,
No heart conceiue, no tongue that can recite
The ioyes, th' Almighty hath in heau'n prepar'd,
For them that here do liue and die aright:
Oh enter Soule into thy Lords delight!
This ioy thou canst not in thy selfe containe,
For thou art bounded, that is infinite;
Who enters, shall for euer there remaine,
And for these finite Cares, Ioy infinite obtaine.
No heart conceiue, no tongue that can recite
The ioyes, th' Almighty hath in heau'n prepar'd,
For them that here do liue and die aright:
Oh enter Soule into thy Lords delight!
This ioy thou canst not in thy selfe containe,
For thou art bounded, that is infinite;
Who enters, shall for euer there remaine,
And for these finite Cares, Ioy infinite obtaine.
Oh! who can know this Death, and be afraid?
Although amongst the pots thou lie a time,
Thou like a siluer Doue, shalt be arraid
With golden feathers, which like heau'n shall shine.
But ah! Thus with my selfe I do diuine,
Without least perill, by free Speculation:
But should Death seize on this my brittle Shrine,
And offer me to act my Meditation,
How should I tremble at my houses desolation!
Although amongst the pots thou lie a time,
Thou like a siluer Doue, shalt be arraid
With golden feathers, which like heau'n shall shine.
But ah! Thus with my selfe I do diuine,
Without least perill, by free Speculation:
But should Death seize on this my brittle Shrine,
And offer me to act my Meditation,
How should I tremble at my houses desolation!
57
That which is now familiar to my thought,
Will bring me then Amazement, Horror, Feare.
Alas! this battel's not so easily fought,
Except Iehouah on our side appeare.
Didst thinke, Death would with Complement forbeare,
And onely thee delight with Meditation?
No, he will try what courage thou dost beare,
And seize vpon thy Fleshes habitation,
It laying waste, till all in Christ haue restauration.
Will bring me then Amazement, Horror, Feare.
Alas! this battel's not so easily fought,
Except Iehouah on our side appeare.
Didst thinke, Death would with Complement forbeare,
And onely thee delight with Meditation?
No, he will try what courage thou dost beare,
And seize vpon thy Fleshes habitation,
It laying waste, till all in Christ haue restauration.
Then as I feele this outward man decay,
Grant I may strong and stronger grow within,
And by a constant daily dying may
Be arm'd, against this strong man enter in;
That though he seize vpon this man of sinne,
My inward man may like the siluer Doue,
That newly hath escap't the Fowlers ginne,
Fly to her Lord and Sauiour aboue,
And be embraced in his blessed armes of Loue.
Grant I may strong and stronger grow within,
And by a constant daily dying may
Be arm'd, against this strong man enter in;
That though he seize vpon this man of sinne,
My inward man may like the siluer Doue,
That newly hath escap't the Fowlers ginne,
Fly to her Lord and Sauiour aboue,
And be embraced in his blessed armes of Loue.
Oh! there I shall inioy eternall rest,
And happy Peace, which here I craue and misse,
And wander further more and more distrest.
What if some little paine in passage is,
Which makes fraile flesh to feare Deaths pallid kisse?
That paine's well borne, that endlesse ease doth gaine,
And from Sinnes cruell slauery dismisse.
Sleepe after Toyle, faire-weather after raine,
Peace after Warre; ease is most pleasing after paine.
And happy Peace, which here I craue and misse,
And wander further more and more distrest.
What if some little paine in passage is,
Which makes fraile flesh to feare Deaths pallid kisse?
That paine's well borne, that endlesse ease doth gaine,
And from Sinnes cruell slauery dismisse.
Sleepe after Toyle, faire-weather after raine,
Peace after Warre; ease is most pleasing after paine.
We all are wanderers weary of our way,
And hasting to the Graue our certaine home:
This world's the Flood which doth our passage stay,
Till Charons boat to weft vs ouer, come.
Who Life did limit by eternall Doome,
And times for all things hath established,
Appoints each Centinel vnto his roome,
And so the termes of Life hath limited.
None may depart, but by their Captaine licensed.
And hasting to the Graue our certaine home:
This world's the Flood which doth our passage stay,
Till Charons boat to weft vs ouer, come.
Who Life did limit by eternall Doome,
And times for all things hath established,
Appoints each Centinel vnto his roome,
And so the termes of Life hath limited.
None may depart, but by their Captaine licensed.
58
Nefarious wretch! who with flagitious hand,
Dares violate the Temple God did raise,
A Mirrour here of all his Workes to stand,
His wisedome to commend, and goodnesse praise:
He that appoints the great worlds nights & daies;
From her Creation to last Reuolution,
Determins all thy small worlds workes and wayes,
Who wilfully then hasts his dissolution,
Seekes to gain-say his Makers constant resolution.
Dares violate the Temple God did raise,
A Mirrour here of all his Workes to stand,
His wisedome to commend, and goodnesse praise:
He that appoints the great worlds nights & daies;
From her Creation to last Reuolution,
Determins all thy small worlds workes and wayes,
Who wilfully then hasts his dissolution,
Seekes to gain-say his Makers constant resolution.
The longer life I know the greater sinne;
The greater sinne, the greater punishment,
Yet if thou Souldier-like art entred in,
Thou must go on with stoutest hardiment,
And not depart without commandement.
Oh lie not downe, and thee to rest betake,
Ensuing ills of liuing to preuent,
Though life hath nought that can her loued make,
Yet giues it no iust Cause that thou should'st it forsake:
The greater sinne, the greater punishment,
Yet if thou Souldier-like art entred in,
Thou must go on with stoutest hardiment,
And not depart without commandement.
Oh lie not downe, and thee to rest betake,
Ensuing ills of liuing to preuent,
Though life hath nought that can her loued make,
Yet giues it no iust Cause that thou should'st it forsake:
And yet, O sinfull man! do not desire,
To draw thy dayes forth to the last degree,
Vntill the measure of thy sinfull hire,
Be heaped vp with all impiety,
Against the day of Wrath and Ielousie,
Whilst thou this sinfull Body bearst about,
Laden with Sinnes, and foule Iniquity,
Their numbers more and more increase no doubt,
Most happy he whom Death the soonest helpeth out.
To draw thy dayes forth to the last degree,
Vntill the measure of thy sinfull hire,
Be heaped vp with all impiety,
Against the day of Wrath and Ielousie,
Whilst thou this sinfull Body bearst about,
Laden with Sinnes, and foule Iniquity,
Their numbers more and more increase no doubt,
Most happy he whom Death the soonest helpeth out.
Despaire not yet, fraile, silly, fleshly wight,
Nor let Distrust amate thy manfull heart,
Nor Satans malicing dismay thy sprite,
Thou in thy Sauiours merits hast a part,
Oh why shouldst thou despaire, that certain art
Of Christ thy Sauiour? Lo! in him is grace,
From thee for euer to remoue Hels smart.
And that accurst hand-writing to deface,
No sinnes can be so great, but Mercy may haue place.
Nor let Distrust amate thy manfull heart,
Nor Satans malicing dismay thy sprite,
Thou in thy Sauiours merits hast a part,
Oh why shouldst thou despaire, that certain art
Of Christ thy Sauiour? Lo! in him is grace,
From thee for euer to remoue Hels smart.
And that accurst hand-writing to deface,
No sinnes can be so great, but Mercy may haue place.
59
How then should any wretched wight be wonne,
To spoile the Castle of his life and state?
Is't not Gods doing whatsoeuer's done
In heau'n and earth? Did he not all create
To liue and die by his eternall Fate?
Who dares then striue with strong Necessity?
That constant holds the world in changing state,
All ought be willing here to liue or die:
Life, Death, ordained are by heau'nly Destiny.
To spoile the Castle of his life and state?
Is't not Gods doing whatsoeuer's done
In heau'n and earth? Did he not all create
To liue and die by his eternall Fate?
Who dares then striue with strong Necessity?
That constant holds the world in changing state,
All ought be willing here to liue or die:
Life, Death, ordained are by heau'nly Destiny.
Then witnesse Death, that willing I lay downe
My Body, sure to put it on againe;
My fleshly Baggage, for a heau'nly Crowne,
My earthly Bondage in the heau'ns to raigne.
I leaue this Tent of brittle clay, to gaine
In heau'n a mansion holy, spirituall.
Lo, my corruption here I downe haue laine,
For incorruption, pure, Angelicall,
And for a heau'nly Parlour, chang'd my earthly Hall.
My Body, sure to put it on againe;
My fleshly Baggage, for a heau'nly Crowne,
My earthly Bondage in the heau'ns to raigne.
I leaue this Tent of brittle clay, to gaine
In heau'n a mansion holy, spirituall.
Lo, my corruption here I downe haue laine,
For incorruption, pure, Angelicall,
And for a heau'nly Parlour, chang'd my earthly Hall.
Lord, this I craue, Direct me in the way,
So shall I certainly attaine my end:
If well my Part on mortall Stage I play,
Saints, Angels, my beholders, shall commend
My Action: God and Christ shall be my friend:
And when my flesh to Natures Tyring-roome,
From whence it came, shall quietly descend:
It there shall rest vntill the Day of doome,
And then in heau'nly Quire a Singing-man become.
So shall I certainly attaine my end:
If well my Part on mortall Stage I play,
Saints, Angels, my beholders, shall commend
My Action: God and Christ shall be my friend:
And when my flesh to Natures Tyring-roome,
From whence it came, shall quietly descend:
It there shall rest vntill the Day of doome,
And then in heau'nly Quire a Singing-man become.
Sweet Death, then friendly let me thee embrace:
He truly liues, that liuing, learnes to die:
Now smiling, like a friend, I see thy face,
Not terrible, like to an enemy:
But I with Prayer end my melody:
Lord grant, when Death my passing-bell doth ring,
My Soule may heare the heau'nly Harmony
Of Saints and Angels, which most ioyfull sing
Sweet Hallelujahs to their Sauiour, God and King.
He truly liues, that liuing, learnes to die:
Now smiling, like a friend, I see thy face,
Not terrible, like to an enemy:
But I with Prayer end my melody:
Lord grant, when Death my passing-bell doth ring,
My Soule may heare the heau'nly Harmony
Of Saints and Angels, which most ioyfull sing
Sweet Hallelujahs to their Sauiour, God and King.
FINIS.
| Thrifts Eqvipage | |