University of Virginia Library

Doubt 12.

From Afflictions.

SOUL.
I'le name but one thing more which doth create
Perplexing thoughts, and very much abate
The vigour of my joy, who fain would grace
My high profession with a smiling face.
Afflictions manifold attend upon,
Just as its shadow, pure Religion.
With inward gain is joined outward loss;
Before a Crown we must expect a Cross.
Disciples must stoop down and take it up,
Pledging their Saviour in his bitter cup.
All things uncertain are under the Moon;
These comforts quickly spring, wither as soon.
Estates are bubbles, broke as soon as blown,
We hardly know what thing to call our own.
Job was a great man, did not want for ought,
And yet was quickly to a dunghill brought.
Poor Jonah in his gourd did much delight;
But Jonah's gourd was blasted in a night.
All are uncertain, Saints more so, who stand
Compast with enemies on ev'ry hand,
And when for nothing they deserv'd the rod,
Have suffer'd for the matters of their God.
Because to their Religion firm they stood,
Home they have been sent through a Sea of blood.
Walk through the world, in ev'ry place you'l find
The men of earth against the Saints combin'd;
Consult the Ages past, and read their story,
You'l see Gods children went through shame to glory.
And 'tis not easie for us to deny
Our life, our peace, or our prosperity.
The young man at this stumbling-block did fall,
He'd rather part with Christ, than part with all.
And many have at first fairly set out,
Who, when the storm waxt great, have tackt about.
Christ they esteem'd far less than an Estate,
And would not have him at too dear a rate.
Christ and pleasures are good, Christ & earth too,
But they thought Christ alone would never do.
Now who can tell, what we may meet before
Our journey ended is, and time no more?
Though now we fallow lie, yet plowers may
Make long their furrows on our back one day:
And in those furrows may, my little store
Of seeming-grace be buried, rise no more.
If God should leave me, ah! how soon should I
Desert his cause, and from my colours flie.
In Sun-shine-days 'tis nothing not to fear,
And challenge enemies when none appear.
It's nothing to be good, when seeming so
Brings credit with it, and preferment too.
Who would not hug a Christ, when hugging him
We may in Pleasures river daily swim?
But it is difficult for one to crie
Hosanna, when Rulers say, Crucifie.
To bear a Cross for Christ, and all forego
Rather than shipwrack Faith and Conscience too.
To be disgrac'd, a beggar, nay to die
Of deaths the worst, rather than him denie:
This, this is hard, and calls for greater store
Of Grace than I have, though I had much more
Than yet I have. The very thought doth pinch;
Sure when I come in traces I shall flinch
And break the yoke, and he that doth not bear
Christs heavy Cross, his Crown shall never wear.

FAITH
Why troublest thou thy self about the morrow?
The present day is big enough with sorrow.
Dangers at distance are the worst by far;
They lose their terrours as they nearer are.
A Lion's not so fierce as he is painted;
We sufferings may like, when once acquainted.
Such as in corner sit by fire-side,
Say, weather's cold, and who can it abide?
But when they once are up, and out, they find
The day befriends them more than did their mind.
Such is the present case, persons at ease
Count flea-bites, symptoms of some sad disease.
Nothing more certain is, than thou shouldst be
Ready to part with all for God, when he
Calls thee unto it, no enjoyment shou'd
Sever thee from his love, no, not thy blood.
But possibly thou shalt not thus be tri'd;
God in the hollow of his hand may hide
Both thee and thy concernments; thou mai'st have
A sweet and easie passage to thy grave.
He in his Chambers may thee hide, and then
Safe thou shalt be from all the rage of men.
When storms abroad, thy Halcyon-days shall last
Until the Indignation's overpast.
Yet grant, that he in wisdom number out
Afflictions to thee, compass thee about
With gall and travel; know that he can roul
In sugar bitter pills, lay in thy soul
With such surpassing joys, as thou shalt be
Even in Heaven, whilest in misery.
Men can no further reach than th' outward part;
He can by speaking peace ravish thy heart.
Of crosses the world hath not half such store
As God of comforts; for he can do more
To chear thee in an hour, than all the rage
Of enemies to trouble in an age.
He can with grace so fortifie thy heart,
So shed his love, as thou shalt not depart
From him, nor from his ways, his power can
Perfect the work of grace it once began.
And will he stick at either? surely no,
He'l bare his arm, and broach his comforts too.
If thou shouldst lose thy land, silver and gold,
He will to thee restore an hundred-fold.
If for his sake thou have a thousand foes,
He, he alone will far out-number those.
When all these Stars are darkned, that Sun will
By his resplendent beams make day-light still.
If thou imprison'd be, he at that time
Will carry thee into his house of wine,
And feast thee richly there, so in a trice
Turn thy dark dungeon into Paradise.
So he hath done for others, who have found
Sweet unseen consolations most abound.
When they were heavy-laden with the cross;
Whereby their gains did much outweigh their loss.
They suffer'd all with joy, in prisons sung.
Accounting all for Christ meer dross and dung.
When the Apostles whipt were for Christs name,
Away they went rejoicing in that shame.
And sure that God who strengthen'd them, will be,
Act but thy faith, full out as good to thee.
Burdens shall be proportion'd to thy back:
When strength is small, yet strength thou shalt not lack.
If that thy way at last be dirt and mire,
Thou shalt get thorough it, and shalt not tire.
Weather and way fear not, no, fear thou neither,
Both strength & steps thou shalt renew together.
In arms of love Christ will thee carry through
All the sharp trials, which he calls thee to.
Therfore though weak, fear not the wickeds rod,
Weak ones shall be as David, he as God.

SOUL.
All will be well: within a change I find
Some settlement in mine once shaking mind.
Time was, I never could hold up my head,
But a doubt came, and struck my comforts dead,
Making me droop again. Did I but take
Hold of a promise, heart and hand would shake.
I thought my self too bold, and still did fear
Such high presumption would cost me dear.
But now the clouds begin to scatter, and
Darkness doth vanish, I now can see land,
Who lately saw nothing but swelling Seas
Of deep and boundless, endless miseries.
When I go out, methinks I see above
God smiling on me with his beams of love.
And when at home I sit, there is good store
Of Gospel-comforts knocking at my dore,
Commanding entrance, which do smooth my brow,
And I wax cheerful, though I know not how.
Its calm within, without I see it fair:
Those things that threatned, now dispersed are.
Risen the Sun is, and a glorious light
Comes from him, chasing hence my dismal night.
Where fears were rank, sweet consolations grow,
Rejoice I must, whether I will or no.
But how comes this about? what hand hath brought
Such Cordials in, when of them least I thought?
My peace beginning hath, my fears an end;
But how, I'd gladly know, and who's my friend.
Oh! it is Faith, precious and high born Faith.
Faith's voice alone it is, which to me saith,
Shake off thy dust, fear not, arise and shine,
Thy light is come, God and his all are thine.
Fool that I was! that so long time should be
Spent in such strangeness between Faith and me!
That I the door should ope to every doubt,
And shut at the same time, believing out.
So I will do no more; Faith's my relief,
I will believe, Lord help mine unbelief.
Get thee hence, Satan. Doubts be gone, I will
Relie upon my God, and trust him still.
My sins and sorrows, though they'r manifold,
Shall never force me to let go my hold:
But I upon his grace will hang, and say
Mine thou hast been, art now, shalt be for ay.
He is Immutable, and why should I
Doubt of that love which hath Eternity?
Abiding frowns such love cannot abide,
I'le trust him therefore though he from me hide.
This is my fixt resolve, which is not made
In mine own strength, but thine; Lord, faith would fade,
And soon give way to doubts, were't not each hour
Preserved by thine own Almighty pow'r.
And so still let it be; grant thou that I
May live believing, and believing die.
Faith is my strength, be thou Faith's strength, till we
In Heaven meet once for eternitie.
When of these Creature-comforts I have none,
Let me rejoice in thee mine only One.
Whatever I do want, let me all make
Up in thy self, Lord, for dear Jesus sake.
Yea when thou frownest, and lay'st on thy rod,
Let me relie upon an angry God
Grant me to cast my self, and each affair,
At all times on thy tender love and care.
And Father, while that I by Faith adhere
Unto thy boundless grace, make it appear
Thou hast accepted me. Lord feed my sense
With thine own love; draw up mine evidence
And seal it by thy Spirit; that I may
Glory in thee my God throughout the day.
And when I leave the world, let Angels be
My convoy in my passage unto thee.
Let Hope at last end in fruition,
And Faith be swallowed up of Vision.
Conduct me to that place, where I shall sing
Eternal praise to thee my God and King.