University of Virginia Library

TO THE READER

Reader, if over-critical thou be,
Enter not in; go where is better cheer
And if thou art ingenious and free,
Draw nigh, I bid thee kindly welcome here
Eat freely, and bless God, if thou dost find
Refreshing pleasure, with true profit joyn'd
Here thou hast choice variety of Dishes,
That they were better cook'd, the Author wishes.

TO THE Truly Honorable and Religious, The Lady MARY VAUGHAN,

Vertuous Consort to the Right Worshipful Sir HENRY VAUGHAN, &c. And my very good Lady; All health and happiness.

Madam, these sacred Poems which ensue,
Intended were to follow that which I
Once tendred to your honorable view,
Excuse me that I cannot gratifie
Your full desires; the Stationer thought best
To print these first, next (if these take) the rest;
Madam, till then accept of what is prest.
Your Ladyships most humble and obliged Servant, to command, Nich. Billingsley. Nov. 5. 1666.

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE SIR EDWARD HARLEY KNIGHT OF THE BATH

So humbly prays Your Honors devoted Servant, N. B.

TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFULL Sr TREVIR WILLIAMES KNIGT AND BARRONET

Right worthy Sr, your braue heroicK spirit
Is fam'd abroad buT sith beyoNd my merit
Great loue your woRship show'd to me I do
Here send a mEan acknowledGement to you,
This poor Miner Vawch my brain broughT forth,
Wishing that It were equAl to your worth
Oh! how raRe is it for a maN to find
Renown, and Worldly wealth wth gooDness joyn'd.
So as they are, In you! who would Be crown'd
He must be hoLy, in good works Abound;
Iustice deLights to have you cleaR her Laws,
Poor men reIoyce to have you beaR their cause
For you hAve help'd (vengeance tO God belongs)
Unto their right, theM that sustaiNed wrongs,
Live long bEloved, much happinEss attended
Long life, ChriSt Jesus crown you in The end.
Sir, I am Your very humble Servant, N. B.

The Invocation.

To his much honored Friend JOHN BIRCH, Esq;

One of His Majesties Justices of Peace for the County of Hereford, &c.

From my study at Abergaveny Ian. 1. 1666. N. B.

To the Right Worshipful, The Company of HABERDASHERS in LONDON, &c.

Worshipful,

Which is the unfeigned desire of (Most Noble Patrons) Your most humble servant Nich. Billingsley. Awre, March 25. 1667.

A TREASURY OF DIVINE RAPTURES.

A

1. On Abba.

2. On an Abetter.

Satans commands (oppos'd to Gods) are ten
Which are observed by the most of men,
This lying Prince heartens us on to ill,
Tells us his Laws are easie to fulfil.
But God's are hard, besides his pay is greater,
And thus the Dev'l becomes the Souls Abetter.

3. On Ability.

Man can do nothing of himself, unless
God give him leave, 'tis wisdom to express
If God so please, to morrow we'l pursue
Such and such things. Once a presumptuous Jew
Said thus t'his friends, to morrow Ile be blest
And crown'd with mirth, the Bridal-chamber drest
Resolv'd Lam, to frolick out the day
With my fair Bride, and who dare say me nay?
And when 'tis night, I do intend to meet,
My Souls delight, within the Genial Sheet;
I will, I will, whether God will or no:
Blasphemous wretch! to morrow gone, both go
To bed, but lo! before the Game was vy'd,
Death struck the jovial Bridegroom and his Bride.

4. On Abjuration.

In Baptism, we to Christ our souls betroth,
The World, Flesh, Satan, do renounce by oath.
But ah! our words prove wind, our minds do vary
And we t'our Abjuration walk contrary.

5. On an Abcedary.

The Worlds a School, and we to School are set
To learn Love, in Afflictions Alphabet,
That Christ-cross row, but ah! how dul! how slow
Are we to learn? till God do make us know.
O Heaven, I crave that thou wilt be my Tutor,
And make thy Spirit of Grace my co-adjutor.

6. On Abridgment.

The World's a Book in Folio, fairly writ
With Gods own hand the creatures found in it
Are Letters, spelling out the Authors Glory,
And man's th'Abridgment of that ample story.

7. On Absence.

Alas! alas! we know not how to prize
A real good, while 'tis before our eyes:
No sooner gone, oh then we can set forth
Its praise, and prize it for it's real worth;
But yet we soon forget our absent friends,
And laud the present out of base self ends.

Carendo potuts quam fruendo nos bona nostra intelligimus Cic. Poma fugientia sunt gratissima. Vanescit absens & novus intrat amor.

8. On Absolution.

9. On Abstinence.

10. On Absurdity.

To make a Garment for the Moon,
To drein the Ocean with a Spoon,
To build up Castles in the Ayr;
Before soul Swine to cast Pearls fair,
To paint the Dolphin in the Woods;
Or Savage Boare in liquid Floods;
To light a Candle at noon day;
To seek for Water in the Sea:
To set the Fox to keep the Geese;
To wrest the Club from Hercules.
To put the Cart before the Horse,
To seek a Blessing in a Curse,
Is held absurd, to think to win,
A glorious Crown, yet live in Sin;
Prepost'rous is, none can Heav'n gain,
Without the price of labours pain.

11. On Abundance.

12. On Abuse.

Give, give, the Horse-leech cries, we more do crave,
And yet do still abuse the things we have:
This man abuses Honor, that his Riches,
Him drink besots, this dainty fare bewitches;
And is't not just with God to take from us
His Blessings, seeing we abuse them thus?

13. On an Academy.

Some graceless ones that haunt those publick Schools,
(Hobs-like) evade meer Atheists, Scripture-fools,
Such as for holy ends improve their parts,
May bless God for such Nurseries of Arts.

14. On Acceptation.

15. On Acceptation of persons.

Not God, nor nature, death, nor devil do
Respect mens persons, onely Man doth so,
Persons should be regarded for their faith,
Not faith for persons (as a wise man saith.)
Accept of me in Christ, O God, my King,
So wilt thou be well-pleas'd with what I bring.

16. On Accounts.

Great God! when I would cast up the accounts
Of all my sins, their number far surmounts,
Th'hairs on my head, the Heavens Starry bands,
Earths blades of grass, the Sea beleag'ring sands.
Lord, onely thou the great Arithmetitian,
Canst sum them up; let Christ be my Physician,
His merits are infinite, with which he stops
The mouth of Justice, those sanguineous drops
That trickled down his wounds is balm to heal
My soul; for pardon I through him appeal
To thee, dear Lord, 'tis Mercy that I crave,
Thy saving Mercy let thy servant have:

17. On an Accuser.

The Devil, that grand accuser of our Souls,
Hath not his name for nought, what bloudy scrouls
Hath he against mans self, and now and than
Accuseth man to God, yea God to man:
Angels accuse us, and the Law likewise,
The Judge himself accuses, Conscience flies
In our guilt-blushing faces, sinners be
Against us; none but Christ can set us free,
From all our accusations, run my soul
To Christ by faith, and Christ will make thee whole.

18. On Acquaintance.

Worldly acquaintance mischief oft attends,
'Tis said, many acquaintance, but few friends
My soul, acquaint thy self with God, and rest
In peace, of all acquaintance his is best;
This true friend neither can, nor will deceive thee
Nor in an Orphan-state will ever leave thee,
But give thee visits; promises they are
His Bonds; go put those Bonds in suit by pray'r.

19. On an Acquittance.

O God, our sins are debts, and more and more,
We in thy Justice Books, still run on score,
Can never pay, and we must therefore lie
In Hells black prison to Eternity.
But O we have a Surety (Christ) whose death
Alone; can make offended Justice sheath
His keen-edg'd sword; Love that transcends degree,
Our King he dies to set us Rebels free:
He suffred for our sins; we by his stripes
Are heal'd, and from our eyes all tears he wipes.
The Debt's discharg'd, to Justice nothing's due,
As our acquittance, writ in bloud, doth shew.

20. On Actions.

Do not the Silver-breasted Rivers go
Back to the wealthy Seas from whence they flow?
So to Gods glory must our Actions tend,
As in him they begin, so must they end.
As from the Sacred Fountain of his Grace
They first took rise, so to their proper place
They must retire, the Ocean of his Glory
Must swallow up our Actions transitory;
May I, what ever I assay to do,
Make God my Alpha, and Omega too.

21. On an Adamant.

Our hearts are like this unrelenting stone,
Nothing can melt them, save the bloud alone
Of the Messias: O sweet Jesus grant
Thy bloud may mollifie my Adamant:
Lord at thine hands a tender heart I crave,
A heart of flesh, let me thy servant have;
So shall I love thee, and adore thee still,
And yield obedience to thy Heavenly will.

22. On Addition.

God multiplies his Mercies more and more,
Ungrateful we, who to our sins vast score
Add new offences daily; but be't known,
God hath large showres of vengeance to pour down
Upon our guilty souls, unless we rent
Our rocky hearts, and speedily repent.

23. On an Adjective.

The World's an Adjective, it cannot stand,
Without a Substantive, th'Almighties Hand:
And I can nothing signifie at all
Without Gods Grace, unpropt by it I fall.

24. On an Adieu.

The Old man bids the World adieu,
When he can stay no longer in it,
He whom Gods Spirit did once renew,
Had rather lose the World that win it.
That he in Heaven with Christ may dwell,
He longs to bid the World farewell.

25. On an Adjourn.

Dear Lord! how apt are we t'adjourn
The day and hour of our Return
From sin to thee! from morn to noon
We put it off, say 'tis too soon;
And when lifes Sun is almost set,
O then we dying thee forget.

26. On Admonition.

27. On Adoption.

We were not born Gods children, but so made;
The Dev'le, we for our natural father had;
Through Grace snatch'd from th'old Family of Hell,
In Heavens noble Family Saints dwell;
Are disoblig'd from sin, new names receive,
And an Estate which they shall never leave,
Pleasant and safe; to an inheritance
In light, kept for them; them doth he advance,
The heirs shall never die, for be it known
Eternitie's a Jewel of their Crown.
Man, he Adopts a defect to supply;
God, out of pity, not necessity.
He had an only Son, nor lov'd he any
Like him, Man but one heir adopts, he many;
Hath Land for all; Man soon adopts a Son,
A Deed is sealed, and the thing is don,
But when God was about to constitute
Us Sons and Heirs, his wisdom could find out
No easie way, he could not seal a Deed
But by his own Sons bloud, his Son must bleed.
Men on adopted persons entail do
Their Land, but God his Land and himself too.
O what great Portions to Gods Heirs do fall,
Heaven's theirs, Glory is theirs, yea, God and All
How precious are their Names, their Prayrs Tears, blood
In Gods esteem, and O that Satans brood,
Nay Traytors should be made Heirs to the Crown,
Such Love was never to the Angels shown.
And O what Sweets from out the Gospel flower
May a Believer suck! when in our gore
We tumbling lay, and were with sin bemir'd,
And neither deserv'd love, nor love desir'd;
He lov'd us then, when we had soild, defac'd
His Image, broke his Law, us he embrac'd,
When we by Sin our Pedigree had lost,
He did restore it to us to his cost.

28. On Adoration.

Angels and Saints, my fellow-creatures be,
And therefore shall not be ador'd by me;
God who hath made me, and did me restore,
Him only, and none else I must adore.

29. On Advancement.

30. On Advantage.

The World in one Scale, blessed Jesus lays,
The Soul in t'other, and the Soul out-weighs
To gain the World, and lose the precious Soul,
Is such a vantage, as the damn'd condole.

31. On an Adventure.

O how sad were my Adventures!
Thus to forfeit mine Indentures,
But to pay my just Debentures,
Into Bond my Saviour enters.
O my Soul, sin no more,
Lest worse fall then did before.

Magnum est memorabile facinus non sit absque periculo. Tertul.

32. On an Adverb.

Live, thats and Act, but much Divinity
Lies couch'd in this one Adverb holily.

33. On Adversity.

The Sts. like Glo-worms, in the darkest night
Of sad afflictions, do reflect most bright,
Rue is the Herb of Grace, oft times our woe
Becomes our weal, our Saviour found it so;
For first he Vinegar and Gall drank down
O'th' Cross, e're he receiv'd his glorious Crown:
Mourning lasts but till morning, nightly sorrow
Is Herald to a joyful shining morrow.
Now Storms arise, anon a prosperous Gale,
Fans curteous blasts, upon the swelling Sail.

34. On Adultery.

All other sins may be subdu'd by might,
Adult'rate mixtures only are by flight;
Flee Fornication, holy Paul doth say,
Yet O how many like fed Horses neigh
After their neighbours Mates: the Brownist strives
For all things to be common, Ergo Wives.

35. On an Advocate.

O happy Mary for whom Jesus pleads,
Judas condemns, but he commends thy deeds
Judas accuse, and slander while thou wilt,
Jesus acquits, and clears us of our guilt.
Earth judges evil, what Heav'n pronounceth good
The moving Rhet'rick of our Advocates blood,
Pleads strongly for us, and we need not fear,
Though all the Devil's in Hell against us were.
Our Sav'ours bloud which on the Cross was spilt,
Quenches Gods wrath, and satisfies for guilt.
Such as for help unto the Mother run,
Shall have but little succor from the Son.

36. On Affection.

Kind Mary pours an Alabster Box,
Of precious Spikenard on her Saviours feet,
And with her chiefest Ornament, her Locks,
She wipes them, humbleness and zeal her meet.
O how doth love in Maries heart abound,
She serves God, not by th'ounce, but by the pound!

37. On Afflictions.

How light afflictions are! how transitory,
Compared to the weight of endless glory!
Or if compar'd to sin, or if to Hell,
And yet when our proud hearts do rise and swell,
We think them heavy, for they press us down,
Many dislike the Cross, but not the Crown:
Tis true affliction hath a vexing sting,
But know withal, it hath a flying wing;
The shadows of the night shall flee away,
And we shall see an everlasting day;
Afflict'ons water like a Land-flood shall
Be soon dry'd up, the Saints rise by their fall,
Their night-cloaths flung aside, they shall be drest
In rich array, and be for ever blest.

38. On Agents.

Satannick Agents, are rubbish to scour
The Vessels of Gods house, Ashur had pow'r
To vex Gods Israel, this being done
The smarting rod into the fire is thrown.
'Tis said, the rod of wicked ones shall not
Alway remain upon the righteous lot.

39. On Air.

The Throne of night and day, the airy main,
The mint of winds, the treasures house of rain,
Becomes the common dish, (so Heaven decreed)
Whereon all creatures every moment feed.

40. On an Alarm.

Sound an Alarm, thy Messengers fulfil,
Thy pleasure Lord, yet men are drowzy still.
O when thy second Trumpet shall be sounded,
The unbelieving World shall be confounded.

41. On an Albe.

This vestment in it self is pure from sin,
But yet not holy, nor are all within
That wear't, Lord make me inwardly sincere,
No matter then what outwardly I wear.

42. On an Alehouse.

Those common Quagmires of all naughtiness,
And rendezvouz for such a love excess:
All sober men decline, the lowzie Alehouse
Fits men first for the Gaol, and next the Gallows.

43. On an Alembick.

Mans heart's a Chymick, Limbeck that distils
The tears of grief warm'd with the sense of ills;
O when for sin, my Spirit'al Stillatory,
Drops holy tears, thine be, O Lord the Glory.

44. On Almes.

We to receive Gods Blessings in, have store
Or hands (like B[illeg.]us,) to relieve the poor
We have but one to use, and that alas!
Is withered too, as Jeroboams was.
Its not enough to say, God help, and give
Good words, unless the hungry we relieve;
The Poor like the Camelion cannot feed
Upon light Air: Give unto such as need;
Let Artaxerxes like our open Palms,
Be liberal in distributing Alms.

45. On Allowance.

Our daily Bread, is from Gods daily care,
Who feeds the wing'd Citizens of the Air:
Doth he not also cloath us day by day,
Who decks the Lillies in such rich aray?
Thus having food, the commons God hath sent,
And raiment too, let's be there with content.

46. On an Altar.

Great God! upon the Altar of my heart,
I offer up the Sacrifice of praise
To thee; be pleas'd to take it in good part,
And make me glorifie thy Name always:
Let who will prize Altars of Wood or Stone,
There's no such Altar as a Fleshly one.

47. On Ambition.

Desires that but the Poles no limits know,
How they transport that man in whom they grow
Such as aspire at Honors highest pitch,
Like gazing Thales tumble down the Ditch.
Great God! when my ambitious thoughts would climb
To get a name by works compos'd of slime,
Check thou my sinful pride, let me not reach
At such a union as may cause a breach;
Nor close with sin, but still to minde recall
Great Babels building, was great Babels fall.

Quo fortunatius erexit ac levati[illeg.] humanas opes, hoc se supprimere magis selicem decet. Sen. Trag. 6.

48. On Almost.

Alas! how many have salvation lost,
For want of thorough Reformation?
The almost Christ'an shall be sav'd almost,
But quite to all eternity undone.
The Crown belongs to such as persevere,
As good never a whit, as ne're the neer.

49. On Alpha and Omega.

Of all thy labors, and intentions, see
That God thy Alpha and Omega be.
He that's the Alpha of all Mercies, shall
Be the Omega of my service all.

50. On Amen.

It gives assent to what before was spoken,
Tis an assuring, assevering Token.
Let's pray in faith, that when conclude we do
With our Amen, Heav'n may say Amen too.

51. On Amendment.

Augustus said of Galba's crooked back,
Warn thee I can, better I cannot make:
God in his goodness Ministers doth send us,
To warn us but it is his grace must mend us.
If we remend our lives, and by Gods grace
Reform what is a miss, he will imbrace
Us in his loving armes, lay by his Rod,
And be to us a reconciled God.

52. On Anarchy.

The members have their head; the Stars the Sun,
Nature abhors kingless confusion.

53. On Anathema.

Oh to b'Anathematiz'd
And deliver'd up to Satan,
Is, if rightly exercis'd,
Worse than what befell to Dathan.
Serious censures were but sports,
Heretofore in some mens Courts.

54. On Anotamy.

Substract Christ and his Members, holy ones,
The world is nothing but a Trunk of bones.

55. On an Anchor.

Who upwards on his God hopes Anchor casts,
Can triumph in the midst of stormy blasts.

56. On Angels.

Angels heav'ns nobles; those bright flaming powr's,
Untainted Spirits, are the Saints Servitors,
While here they live, and when of life bereaven,
Those blessed Convoys carry them to heaven.
Thus they attended Abram, Daniel, Mary,
And Laz'rus when dead, did to glory carry.
Saints by creation are than Angels lower,
But Saints above them by adoption soar.

57. On Anger.

Morosus is like Flax, or Gun-powder,
No sooner touch'd but he is all on fire;
And raging, not unlike the furious wind.
Vents out the wilde distempers of his mind.
Anger is a short madness, it suspends
The use of Reason, it estrangeth Friends.
Be angry, there's the reins; angry at sin,
But sin not, there's the bridle curbs us in.
Hearken to Socrates, if thou wouldst fly
Rash Anger, think on Gods all-viewing eye.
As the Divine Philosopher doth say,
The best way to lay Anger, is delay.

Maximum iræ remedium est mora. See Sen.

58. On an Angler.

God is an Angler, so is Satan too,
He takes to save, but Satan to undo.

59. On Antichrist.

Peter lays by his sword, and takes the Keyes,
The Pope lays by his Keyes, and now adayes
Falls to his sword; yet many to him flock,
As if he had the Key t'undo Heav'ns lock.

60. On an Antidote.

Gods sacred Word is, and hath ever bin
A sov'raign Antidote against all sin.
Lord, if thy med'cinable Word dispell
Sins venom from my heart, I shall be well.

61. On Antipathy.

The strong-rib'd Oak bears an antipathie
Gainst the pale Olive; and the thrifty Bee
Against the pilfring Wasp; discord doth breed
Betwixt the Serpents, and the Womans seed;
But most of all in man, mans flesh and blood
Is enmity against God, and what is good.

62. On Antiquity.

What is most ancient, is the truest Text,
We read first God says, and the devil says next.
What God affirms, the Tempter he denies;
Gods truths are elder than the Devils lies.

63. On Ants.

64. On an Ape.

Satan Gods Ape, that Prince of darkness can
Shine like an Angel, to delude poor man.

65. On an Apparitor.

Summond by death, th'Apparitor of Heaven,
Appear we must, and an account be given.

66. On Apparel.

Adam he sins, as soon as he preceives
This shame, he makes him breeches of fig-leavs
And afterwards he clothes with coats of skins
His nakedness, but could not hide his sins.
Thus man at first for need did clothes invent,
Which since are us'd for pomp and ornament;
Gorgious attire, and silken braverie,
Is but the badge of our desert to die;
What thief was ever of his Halter proud,
Although a silken one were him allow'd?
If so, methinks our proud fantastick Jacks,
Should blush to carry all upon their backs,
As of his learning Bias said, I bear
All mine with me, so they of what they wear,
Yet oft they stand, for all their lofty looks
Deeply recorded in their Mercers books:
Fair feathers now adays do make fair Fowls,
Bodies are better cloath'd alas! then Souls,
O if Christs righteous Robes my soul adorn,
No matter though my clothes were thred-bare worn.

67. On the Appetite.

How dull to good is our souls appetite?
But ah! what's bad we relish with delight.

68. On an Apple.

One Apple did undoe our Grandam Eve,
And the whole world, yet daily we receive
Forbidden fruits; alas! unwholsom food
We love, and loath what is intirely good.

69. On the Apple of the eye.

Gods people are the Apple of his eye,
O do not make this tender Apple cry;
God his eye's Apple charily doth keep,
O how it grieves him when 'tis made to weep!

70. On Application.

The skilful Preacher having cleard his Text,
Derives fit Doctrines thence, applies it next,
The boy the explication onely bends,
Fits for the mark, but application sends
The arrows home: how Davids heart began
To sink, when Nathan said, Thou art the man.

71. On Apostacy.

72. On the Apostles.

Christs Vicars, the Apostles equal were
For Rule, Power, Honor, Peter did not bear
Supremacy; all did in gifts excell,
Yet one (and he the richest) went to Hell.

73. On an Arbitrator.

Christ Jesus is the onely Arbiter,
By whom to God we reconciled are.

74. On an Arch-Bishop.

Christ is the true Arch-Bishop of our souls,
He oversees, and our Estate condoles.

75. On an Archer.

The devils an Archer, & mans heart the white
On which his fi'ry Darts of Trials light.

76. On an Argument.

To seek and save lost sinners Christ is come,
The argument that mov'd him was drawn from
The Topicks of his Love, there was alas!
No mer't in us to bring such things to pass.

77. On Arithmetick.

Our sins to such a reck'ning are amounted,
As cannot by the numb'ring Art be counted.

78. On an Ark.

79. On Armour.

Gods Armour is of proof, against all evill
Shot at us from the world, the Flesh, the Devil,
His Helmet, Brest-plate, Shield, Sword, Girdle, Shoes,
Will both defend us, and offend our foes.

80. On an Arrest.

Death is a Serjeant, and he Warrants brings
For our Arrest, from the great King of Kings.
The greatest and the least, the worst the best,
Have sinned, and must submit to deaths Arrest.

81. On an Arrow.

O when God sends his Arrows from his Bow,
It must needs work a speedy overthrow;
When from his twanging Bow the Dev'l lets fly
Tentation's Arrow, God can put it by.

82. On Arts.

Life's short, but Art is long;

ο ιος βραχυ τεχνη μακρη. Hyp.

Natural parts
Are by the study of the Liberal Arts
Very much heightned: but Arts golden Ring
Set with Grace Di'mond is a glorious thing.

83. On Articles.

Christ by his death hath cancel'd Justice scrouls
Of Articles, drawn up against our souls.

84. On Artillery.

My soul groan thunder, let thy pray'rs & tears
Be thine Artillery, to storm Gods ears.

85. On Ascension.

Christ by Angels was at ended,
When he into Heav'n ascended;
At the Resurrections morn,
Thither shall the Saints be born.

86. On Ashes.

Ashes hides fire, what God for us hath done
We hide in th'ashes of Oblivion.

87. On Asking.

Who asks shall have, if Lord, it be thy task
To grant, well may I make it mine to ask.

88. On an Ass.

Men blame the Ass for creeping on the Road
Yet go more sluggish in the ways of God.

89. On an Assault.

Faiths shield is good against the dev'ls assault,
Yet oft we want it through our own default.

90. On an Assize.

The grand Assize draws on, the Judge is just,
And by his Verdict stand or fall we must.

91. On Assistance.

O God, if thou withdraw thy gracious hand
From us, we fall; if thou assist, we stand.

92. On Assurance.

Assurance that Christ is ours may be gain'd,
The Saints have it desir'd, to it attain'd;
Some more, some less, there are degrees we know
Sometimes it ebbs, always it doth not flow.
Assistance (which few have) is a rare Gem.
God from his people, for to humble them,
Sometimes withdraws it, through our carelesness
Sometimes we want it, and our Christian peace.
O how the dev'l disturbs! when once we meet
With this Assurance, oh tis very sweet!
W'oft hang our harps upon the limber willows,
And weep (as Isr'el) by the water-billows
For want of this; this Wine of Paradise,
Revives the heart, how comfortable is
Gods smile! Assurance makes the low sublime,
And puts a man in heav'n before his time.
Assurance is exceeding profitable;
It makes a Christian strenuous and able
For service, free to do what must be done.
Faith makes a Christian walk, Assurance run.
Assurance is a Flow'r that only grows
In a pure heart, a spring whence comfort flows:
A Whetstone to the Graces, Hope, Love, Zeal;
A weight that of obedienre moves each Wheel,
Be much in duty; keep thy consc'ence pure,
Act faith, and thou hast made thy calling sure.

93. On Astrologie. Astronomy.

Astrol'gy shows the Stars effects and force,
Astronomy, their Measure, Motions, Course,
And though this hath its being from the other,
I like the Daughter, love who will the Mother.

94. On Atheists.

Audacious Atheists to the world proclaim,
They love such deeds, as might the De'il shame
Atheists are worse then Devils; Devils do
Believe there is a God, and tremble too;
Those say, there is no God, who doth take care
Of things below, have neither faith nor fear.
The Devil quakes at the Day of Judgment; they
Deride it, which will shortly them dismay.
Strange! ev'n the Sons their sire in sins excell;
What! Atheists here on Earth, when none in Hell.

95. On Attonement.

We had offended Heav'n; deserved Hell,
Christ an attonement makes, & all is well.

96. On Augmentation.

Who worketh out with fear his own salvation,
This spirit'al living, gets an augmentation.

97. On Attributes.

God single is, as being uncompounded,
He's infinite, and therefore is unbounded;
Immutable, th'Eternal, Three in one,
Who by his back-parts onely can be known;
Most wise, most strong, most true, most good, most just,
Most merciful, believe in him we must;
Perfect, and bless'd, and glorious is he,
O if this God be ours, how blest are we!

98. On Auricular confession.

The Scripture bids, and what it bids is best,
Confess to God, not to the Popish Priest;
Auricular confession taught in schools,
How it ensnares the consciences of fools!
What is it but a superstitious Gin
To nourish, yea, and harden men in sin.
My soul confess thy sins to God alone,
And he will pardon what thou hast misdone.

99. On Authority.

The Law's Authority, depends
On God, the mighty King of Kings,
And this exceedingly commends,
Its worth above all humane things:
How precious is the Law of God?
My soul upon it always plod.

100. Of the Authors of things, according to Scripture.

101. On Autumn.

The Sylvan quire cease their harmonious notes,
And sullen forrests d'on their yellow coats;
Ceres bright locks are shorn; the mellow fruits
Are torn from laden boughs; their summer sutes
The sapless branches d'off, the gaudy ground
Is now disrob'd, the year with plenty crown'd.
Great God thou sowst thy words immortal seed
On the ground of our hearts, but ah! they breed
The weeds of sin, in us these weeds destroy,
That we a joyful Harvest may enjoy.

102. On Awe.

Should God from Sinai thunder forth his Law,
(As once) 'twould strike us with a dreadful aw,
Since he in Gospel-mildness doth appear,
O let us serve him with an holy fear.

103. On an Axe.

The Axe is heavy, sharp, to cut and hew
In pieces for the fire, or else to square,
The Axe without the hand can nothing do;
Gods Judgments and his Comminations are
His Axe in those respects, and every Tree
That brings not forth good fruit, hew down and burn'd shal be.

104. On an Axel-tree.

The Nations Axel-tree doth ev'n begin
To sink under the pressing weight of sin,
O Christ the Saviour of the World be pleas'd
To bear our burden, and we shall be eas'd.

B

1. On Babel.

While the presumpt'ous world, swoln big with pride
Strove to enhance their names, and fondly try'd
To build a Tower, whose ambitions spire
Might kiss the Skies; Jehova in his ire
Dismounts his awful Throne, doth quickly quell
Their rash attempts to teach them to rebell tongues;
Against his Sov'raign power, confounds their
(Before but one) and they'r assembled throngs
He cleerly routs; enforcing them to run
Abroad the world, so leave their work undon:
Thus did the means they use, as safe and sure
T'avoid dispertion, the same procure:
Thus God will bring to naught their counsels still,
Who act contrary to his mind and will:
Great God! when my unlimited desires
Prompt me to ill, quench quench those raging fires,
O let the ill success of Babels Tower,
Tame my proud heart, & bring it one peg lower,
And if I must needs lofty Structures raise,
Grant I may seek thy glory, not mens praise.

2. On a Baby.

Natures Epitome, lifes dawn; a thrumb
Of man, forsakes the chamber of the womb,
To hang upon the brest, and loves to be
Sung to, and dandled on the mothers knee:
Nothing will sooner still its tear-throat cries
Then crackling rattles, and fond lullabies.
Man at the best is easily beguil'd
With flattering pleasures like the whimpering child,
Alas! how flux! how fading are the joys
Which are engendred, by vain trifling toys.
The world presents us with; Soul to thy rest
Return, King

Ps. 116. 17.

David's lullaby is best.

3. On Back-biting.

A good name upon earth is no small bliss,
No chain of Pearl doth so adorn as this;
To whom and what you speak of men be wary;
Sland'rers are Devils

The Greek word for Devil, signifies slanderer, 1 Tim. 3. 11. μη διαβολουε, not slanderers, in the Greek it is not Devils.

; O be exceeding chary
And very tender of a mans good name,
He acts the Devils part, that doth defame:
The wounds inflicted by a sland'rous tongue
Can no Physitian heal; yet will the wrong
That's done t'another many times rebound
Upon the shooters soul, he that doth wound
The reputation of his neighbour shall
Find in the end himself, hurt worst of all:
Such bury men alive (oh cruelty!)
Tis an irrepariable injurie;
Let us from calumny, as from the Devil flee.

4. On Back-sliding.

Ioash was good, while his good Unckle reign'd,
But when he dy'd, O how was Joash staind
With foul Idolatry; he did interr
Religion in his Unckle's Sepulcher.
We live in the Leass fall; how many tast
Of Heav'nly gifts, yet slink away at last,
A double Lamp, the word and spirit may
Enlighten men, who after fall away
Wholy and finally; Lord! work in me
A thorough-work of grace, let me not be
An Alch'my Christ'an, make me sound in heart,
And let not me from thy Statutes depart:
That which doth in Hypocrisie begin,
Ends in Apostacy, that hellish sin:
Lord! make me persevere, the race to run,
And perfect in me what thou hast begun;
That so, I may not, when I am almost
At hav'n be Ship-wrack'd, and for ever lost.

5. On a Bag of Money.

6. On a Ball.

The worlds a Ball, made up of quarters four,

Asia, Africa, Europe, America.

And with the spangled Heavn bequilted ore;
Pleasure, Honor, and Riches are its all,
Which though the earth stands still, still rise and fall;
Square dealings can scarce any where be found,
The reason is, because the world is round.

7. On a Ballance.

Theudas would to himself some-body seem,
So we do of our selves too well esteem;
Laid in the ballance of the Sanctuary,
Alas! we are too light, no weight we carry.

8. On Balm.

9. On Bands.

10. On Banishment.

Man for his fin from Paradise was sent
Into the world, his life's a banishment;
When the just soul is from the body freed,
O that's a blessed banishment indeed!

11. On a Banner.

Christ brings t'his Wine-cellar his Spouse, his Dove,
The Banner he spreads over her, is Love.

12. On a Banckrupt.

Plaut.

13. On a Banquet.

The King of Heav'n, his son, and spirit too,
Invite t'a banquet, but how few do go:
Let Nabal or Belshazar turn feast-maker,
Lord! what a multitude will be partaker,
But let such know, whose souls do feast on evils,
They are in the mean while a feast for Devils.

14. On Baptism.

We to the heav'nly Can'an cannot pass,
Unless we first wade through the sea of glass;
Regeneration's Lavour, is that sea,
Wherein we all must wash, and cleansed be:
A man God's Kingdom never can inherit,
That is not born of Water and the Spirit:
There's no approaching to Gods gracious throne
Unwash'd; the glassie sea must be sail'd on.
God's word's our compass, but the spirit driven
The Pinnace of our souls, arrives at Heaven:
In Baptism, we our selves engaged have
To Christ, took our press-money; there, we gave
Our names up to the Captain General
Of our Salvation, to obey his call:
There did we vow, and solemnly protest,
Still to be true to his sweet interest;
To fight it out under his Royal banner,
Till death, and that in a couragious manner.
Now if when call'd to suffer for his name.
We should flinch back, O were it not a shame?
Nay, Christ against us may our Baptism bring
As an Indictment for this very thing:
How shall we look on Christ another day,
Who from our colours falsly fall away?
O where alights, the curse, flying roul,
But in the dwelling of the perjur'd soul,

Zac. 5. 4.

15. On a Barber.

The Barber shaves the hair, and clips the face.
Nature deforms us, we are trimm'd by grace.

16. On Barrenness.

Ah me! how naked are we! O how bare?
Till with Christs right'ous robes we clothed are.

17. On a Bargain.

Who contracts with the Devil, & fells himself
To him for worldly pleasures, honors, pelf
That bargain yields bare gain, nay him undoes,
For light chaff, he his precious soul forgoes.

18. On a Barge, or Bark.

The world's a sea, we Barks by spirit-gales driven
We sail, O whither are we bound? to Heaven.

19. On Barking.

Ba'ls Priests are blind, they wander in the dark
Dumb dogs they are, & cannot therefore bark
But if they should; Saints live above their spite,
Dogs bark against the Moon, they cannot bite.

20. On Barley.

Christ above four thousand fed,
(Not with various dishes)
With seven loaves of barley-bread,
And a few small fishes:
Strange! seven baskets were repleat,
With the Offall, broken meat.

21. On a Barn.

The Sts. are wheat, the best, the noblest grain,
Heav'n is the barn wherein this wheat is lain.

22. On a Bar.

Christ is a Judge, before him at the Bar,
The trembling sinner one day must appear.

23. On a Barrel.

The woman of Sarepta could not fare ill,
Whose meals was still encreased in her Barrel:
Lord! when my stock of grace is well nigh spent,
Give more, and I therewith will be content.

24. On Barrenness.

To bear no fruit, was ever held a shame,
Nay a curse too, O how are we to blame?
On whom the largest showres of Gods word fall,
That yet are barren, bear no fruit at all.

25. On a Barretter.

The Barretter, who studies brawling Laws,
Will set his tongue to sale in any Cause;
Raw wounds he loves, and references hates,
In tricks and querks, and quarrelsom debates
He onely trades; his answers are evasions,
His arguments are snarling cavillations:
The work he brews in the Vacation long,
He in the Term-time broacheth with his tongue;
This greedy Horse-leech loves to suck and draw
The putrid bloud of the corrupted Law;
But of this wrangler soft, I must be mute,
For fear against me he commence a suit.
No more but this, such as delight in jarrs
Should God destroy, wo be to Barreters.

26. On a Basis.

The King's the Basis, people to sustain,
The Kings prop is the Lord, by whom King
Nay, if the Lord, who ruleth over all,
Did not uphold the world, the world would fall reign:

27. On Bashfulness.

Blushing is vertues tincture, comely grace
Is oft pourtrayed by the bashful face:
T'have cheeks distain'd with a vermiliion dy
For sin, oh this is pious modestie.

28. On a Basilisk.

Sin is a Basilisk, its poisnous breath,
Is mortal, 'tis the Harbinger of death:
Let's first discover it, and make it flie.
Lest it should us pursue, and so we die,

29. On a Basket.

Blessed shall be thy Basket and thy store,
If Gods Law thou obey, and him adore;
But curst thy basket, and thy store shall be,
Who wilt not do as God commandeth thee.

30. On a Bason.

When his disciples feet our Saviour scour'd,
Water into a Bason first he pour'd:
We are by nature Base ones, Lord pour in
Thy grace, & from our souls feet

The Affections are the feet of our souls.

wash off sin.

31. On a Bastard.

This luckless issue, Heavens image coin'd
With a forbidden stamp, but few do mind;
And yet who is there, that delights not in
That ugly monster, Satans bastard sin?
Considred in his natural estate,
Ev'ry man is an illegitimate:
The unbelieving wretch, is one base-born,
God looks upon him with contempt and scorn:
He is a person vile, one of earths breed,
A Brat engendred of the Serpents seed:
Be sure, God will not father him therefore,
But lay such Bastards at the Devils door.
By faith it is, that God takes cognizance
Of us for sons: 'tis faith doth us advance.
By faith we are Gods children through Christ's merit,
Faith gives us right and title to inherit.
Til faith be wrought, we have no right to heav'n,
Onely to lawful heirs that Land is given.
Tis faith that doth legitimate, until
Thou do believe, thou art a Bastard still.
Boast not thy Pedigree, the devil can show
As full as good a Coat of Arms as thou.

32. On a Bath.

33. On a Battel.

Away, fond fool, wilt thou prepare t'embatter
With the great God, whose thundring judgments rattle
About thine ears, when all the world records
With one consent, the Battel is the Lords.
Alas! alas! it is in vain to strive
Against that God, whose wisdom can contrive,
And power effect, thy certain overthrow,
And hurl thee head-long into hellish woe.

34. On a Bay-tree.

The wicked, spreading like a Bay-tree green,
Dies in a trice, and can no more be seen:
But mark the upright man, for that man's end
Is peace, flourishing blessings him attend.

35. On a Beacon.

We fire our Beacons when an en'mie's near,
When sin invades us, how secure we are!
The Beacon of mine heart, O Lord! enflame
With grace, and Satan shall retreat with shame.

36. On a Beagle.

The quick-nos'd Beagle, follows hard the chase,
How slow are we in the pursuit of grace!

37. On a Beam.

A beam is in our eye, we mind it not,
But in our brother's can discern a more;
To find out others failings, we are prone,
But O 'twere well, did we amend our own.

38. On Beans.

To him that brings his mind unto his means,
O how delicious is a mess of Beans!
He that hath in the bread of life a share,
Can be contented with the meanest fare.

39. On a Beard.

Methinks that hairy argument of Age,
To sober actions should men engage;
Its man prerogative: O what a grace
Where vertue ruleth, is a well-thatch'd face!

40. On a Bear.

I see an ill-shap'd Bear, and I begin
To think, am I not more deform'd by sin?
Lord, I by nature am austere and rough,
But ah! thy grace can make me smooth enough.

41. On Beasts.

The Forrest Burgesses by nature wild,
Rav'nous & fierce, Gods power makes more mild
Gentle, and merciful to man, than men;
Dan'el was safe when in the Lyons Den.
In Dioclesians Reign, the Christians thrown
To Leopards, Wolves, and Bears, were let alone.

42. On Beauty.

Beauty! what is it but a Vernal Flow'r,
Now fresh, alas! and wither'd in an hour
Grace is the best complexion of the Soul,
Compar'd to that, all other beauty's foul;
It is ev'n at the first Plantation,
Like Rachel, very fair to look upon.
But still the more it lives, the more it sends
Its rays of beauty forth; that which commends
Christs lovely Spouse, is Soul-adorning grace,
Not the external features of the Face.
All glorious the Kings Daughter is within,
She is fair, though she have a Black-Moors skin.
Christs sparkling Robes of Right'ousness adorn
The soul, these never can be thred-bare worn.
Grace is the Holy Ghosts Embroidery;
This roseate Beauty onely in Gods eye
Sets off a Soul; such as in heart are pure
He loves, but spir't'ual Lepers cann't endure.
Unto his lesser Heav'n God doth repair,
The Dove delighteth in the purest air.
The Spir't, who in the likeness of a Dove
Descended, fair-complexion'd souls doth love.
This is Gods rest, here he for ever dwells,
This beauty never fades, O this excells!
It is the fairest heart, not fairest face
Christ loves; the glory of a man is grace.
Christ Bride she wears no Necklace on her neck
The Graces are a Chain of Pearl that deck
Her Lilly Soul; Grace is a precious thing
To th'Soul, as is the Diamond to the Ring,
The Sun to th'world; an heav'n enamel'd mind
Is such a Beauty as is hard to find.
Grace is a Flower of Delight, which Christ
Loves to smel to; Grace makes us like the Highst:
O what is there that may with Grace compare!
There's nothing here below so rich, so rare.
But O the Jewels which on Christ were hung,
Cannot be blazon'd by a mortal tongue.
Deformities immediately flow
From sin, but blessed he, no sin did know.
By th'Spirit conceiv'd, that is the reason then
Why he was fairer than the sons of men.
Mirror of Beauty in his looks divine,
O what a graceful Majesty doth thine!
Christ is described with an head of Gold,
Ey-dazling gold, & his Doves eves behold Cant; 11
His Spouse, his cheecks are as a bed of spices,
His loveliness the Virgin-heart entices.
What may be said, falls infinitely short
Of his resplendent worth; who can report
His rare unparagon'd perfections? man
Can never do it, for no Angel can.
In's person, disposition, suff'rings, graces,
And conversation all men he surpasses.
To God, to Saints, and to the Angel-quire,
He's very lovely; what should we admire
But his perfections? there is not a spot
In him, his Beauty's seamless as his Coat.
Beauty draws love; his beauty Christ imparts,
O wear this Rose of Sharon in your hearts.
Sinners, get Christ, in gaining him you get
The richest Jewel in Heav'ns Cabinet.

43. On a Bed.

My body's earthly clothes which now I have,
I shortly shall put off, and in the grave,
My last bed, rest; but raised I shall be,
And with these very eyes my Savior see.

44. On Bees.

45. On a Beggar.

Oh! in my bones such a disease doth lurk,
A knavish beggar cry'd, I cannot work:
And afterwards confest it was the Lazies;
We work not for our souls, such our disease is.
Lord, we deserve thy whip, need no curb Bridles,
Who are by nature troubled with the idles.
Beggars we are, whose hourly wants implore
Each Meals relief; we beg at Heavens door,
Give us this day our daily bread; we crave,
God gives it us, we can but ask and have.
Who live upon Gods alms, must not refuse
His reffuse; beggars must not pick and chuse.
That news of Beadles, and their tort'ring whips
Is not the language of Gods angry lips,
Is a rich mercy: Beggars should be humble,
Thou art a Beggar, ah! why dost thou grumble
And murmure at thy God! wilt thou repine
That art sustain'd by Providence Divine?
If the Alms-basket of Gods Providence
We slight, how justly may he say, go hence:
Go hence, proud beggars, with your cursed state
And come no more for Alms at Heaven-gate.
I am a Beggar, Lord, let me partake
Of grace and glory, for Christ Jesus sake.

46. On Beginnings.

Sin its first rise, as ev'l must be withstood,
Grace its first rise, embrac'd as being good.
Where is no grace to crush sin in the shell,
Sin grows, and it will hurry men to hell.
Perpetuated woes are Vices dregs,
Lets crush betimes these Cockatrices Eggs.

47. On Being with Christ.

To be with Christ in Glory, doth include
A Priviledge of the first Magnitude;
Saint Paul long'd to d'epart, that he might rest
On that soft pillow, his dear Saviors brest,
As the belov'd Disciple John, once did,
While in the flesh, our life of grace is hid
Under Corruptions veil, until we be
With Christ, our grace is in its infancie.
O when we sit with Christ, and wear crown,
Our graces shall be fully ripe, and blown,
Which here are in the buds; here we inherit
The first-fruits, there the full crop of the Spirit.
Death is sweet to the Saints, to heav'n they come
By crossing of this Mare-Martinium:
Here we behold Christ darkly, through a glass;
There shall his veil be taken off his face,
And he in his Embroidery appear;
Heav'n were not Heav'n, if Christ were not there.
Christ with his graces, here his Spouse doth honor
In heav'n, his glory he will put upon her.
She shall shine by his beams, sit next his throne,
By vertue of her Marri'ge Union.
Here she's in sable for her absent Love;
But Christ in heav'n her mourning will remove,
And clothe her in white robes; Christ he prepares
An Handkerchief to dry up all her Tears.
O there the heart, and all the senses shall
Be fill'd with joy at once, none thence can fall.
In heav'n we ever with the Lord shall rest,
The Saint, when there, hath his Quietus est.

48. On Believing in Christ.

And shall the Saints for ever be possest
Of heav'nly thrones? with Christ in glory rest!
Oh then, lets try our selves whether or no
We are such persons, as to Christ shall go
At deaths arrest? from hence we must be gone
But shall we go to Christ? this may be known
As thus; if here the life of grace we live
In Christ, Christ us will when we die, receive:
How blest is union! union is the ground
Of priviledge; in Christ we must be found
Clad in his robes of Holiness, before we
Can be with Christ dress'd in his robes of glory
O labour to get faith; faith is the grace
Unites to Christ; faith moves Christ to embrace
Us in his loving arms; by faith alone
Christ as an husband, as a Lord we own.
Faith gives the interest, tis faith doth bring
Christ home unto the soul; Christ is the ring,
Faith's finger puts it on; faith opens wide
The orifice, in her sweet Saviors side,
And drinks his blood; faith justifies, make clear
O get faith, of all graces Faith is Queen:
Faith paves a Cawsie to a heav'nly throne,
Believers die Heirs to the glorious crown:
O Lord enrich me with that saving grace,
That I amongst thy Saints may have a place.

49. On a Bell.

The Gospel is a Silver-warning Bell,
To ring men in to Christ, and yet to Hell
How many go? its sound we cannot hear,
Unless God, Spirit ring it in our ear.

50. On Bellows.

My zeal is but a spark; Lord! I desire
Thy Spirits Bellows to blow up my fire,
That I may to the glory of thy Name
Ascend still to thee, in an holy flame.

51. On the Belly.

The Belly's Natures Kitchin, is't not odd
A House of Office, should become a God?
Many do serve their Bellies, oh how few
Yield God that honor which to him is due!

52. On Beloved.

God hath made us, whom sin had once undon,
Beloved, in his Well-beloved Son.

53. On a Belt.

Falshood surcingle most; how few are there
About their loins, Truths golden girdle wear!
That man must needs be strenuous and stout,
That with the Belt of Truth is girt about.

54. On a Bench.

The worlds a Bench, whereon a while we stay,
Till we to Heav'nly thrones are call'd away.

55. On a Benefice.

Men now adays fat Benefices get,
And straightway lay aside the Preachers net.
So I win souls to God, I do not care
How small my Profits, and my In-comes are.

56. On Benefits.

As benefits bestow'd, bind the receiver;
So hearty thanks return'd, oblige the giver,
Christ cleans'd the Leper, and we read but one
Often, that gave God thanks for what was done.

57. On the Best.

58. On a Beetle.

How beetle-blind are we ! how void of sight,
Ev'n in the midst of glorious-Gospel light.

59. On Betraying.

Judas his Master with a Kiss betrays,
How many Judasses are now adays!

60. On Betrothing.

O let's admire Christ's love in us betrothing,
Ev'n while we were the objects of his lothing.

61. On a Bever-beast.

Men for the skin pursue the Beaver-beast,
Satan from hunting souls, doth never rest.

62. On Bewitching.

The world's a witch, with honour, pleasures, riches,
The spells she casts, she multitudes bewitches.

63. On the Bible.

The sacred Testament both new and old,
Are the two Lips, by which God doth unfold
For our souls health, the counsels of his brest;
And therefore of all books, the Bible's best.

64. On Bigamy.

Christ's constant to his Spouse, the Church our Mother,
Nor will he ever marry any other.

65. On a Bile.

Sin is an angery bile, which few do feel,
And nothing but the bloud of Christ can heal.

66. On a Bill.

The bill chops wood, cuts off excresences,
So must repentance our iniquities.

67. On a Bill.

Satan against the Saints, prefers his bill,
But Christ the right'ous Judge acquit them will.

68. On Birds.

The feather'd people of the air agree
To carol forth Gods praise, and shall not we?

69. On the New-Birth.

Twice born! how can this be? by flesh & blood
This mystery cannot be understood:
By faith it may, without Regeneration,
Of water and the Spir't, there's no Salvation.

70. On a Bishop.

The Scripture sayes, a Bishop must be blamless,
Chaste, sober, holy, (not profane, & shameless)
Not close, but free; to godly men propitious,
Apt for to teach, (not piteful and malicious.
Such men were Titus, Timothy, and Paul,
And our late Jewels, Davenant, Usher, Hall.
Such are, (and O may they be long enjoy'd)
Laborious Reynolds, charitable Floyd:
To mild Nicholson, some wish the turn'd-out tribe
That can (they say) to Gods command subscribe:
Might be unchain'd, have freedom to dispense
The Gospel, though they miss'd preheminence,
Love best perswades, the learned have exprest,
And wise men find, the Golden mean is best.

71. On a Bit, or Morsel.

'Tis by free grace, we are sustain'd and fed,
Alas! we ne're deserv'd one bit of bread.

72. On Bitterness.

Sin makes fair promises, but nothing less
Performs, it always ends in bitterness.

73. On a Bit, or Snaffie.

Lord! when my tongue would gallop into sin,
Thy Presence is the bit must keep it in.

74. On a Blab, or Long-tongue.

'Twas Davids pray'r; Lord, set a watch before
My mouth, & of my lips keep thou the door,
He that gives too much freedom to his tongue,
Offends his God, and doth his neighbour wrong.

75. On Blackness.

There's none, but is originally soil'd
With inbre'd filth, and actually spoil'd,
We are born Moors, and by continual sin,
This swarthiness hath much increased been:
We have no virtual nitre of our own
To whiten us, the bloud of Gods dear son
Can only cleanse, and purifie the soul
And make us fair, who are by nature soul.

76. On a Bladder.

Pride puffeth up the heart, but death's design'd
To prick this bladder, and let out the wind.

77. On Blame.

For crucifying Christ their Lord, we blame
The Jewes, yet daily do the very same;
Our sins are ranckling thorns, the nails, the spear
That fear our Lord, and we shed not a tear.

78. On Blasphemy.

Blasphemy is a bullet, that rebounds
From God at whom 'tis shot, & the blaspheme wounds.

79. On Blessedness.

80. On blessings.

All blessings are from God, his golden bouls
Of mercies still refresh our bodies, souls;
His blessings ever over-flow the banks
Of our desires, and shall we ebb in thanks?
God will, if we be thankful for the store
Of blessings he allows, allow us more.

81. On Blindness.

82. On Blockishness.

Before the fall our understandings light
Was clear, but since how darkned is our sight
How blockish are we! how unapt to learn
The things; that do immediately concern
Our everlasting peace! O Lord restore
To us thine Image, by us lost before:
Be pleas'd to open our sin-sealed eyes
That we may know thee, and thy goodness prize.

83. On a Blossom.

Grace is the bud that sprouts on Par'dise tree
The blossome is glorious Eternitie:
Unless we bud in grace, we shall not bloom
In glory, none but Saints in Heaven find room.

84. On Bloud.

85. On Blowes.

We did commit the fault, but justice dealt
The blows to Christ; the dol'rous stripes he felt,
That so we might be heal'd, to him was carv'd
The punishment, that sinful we deserv'd.

86. On Boasting.

Tell me fond man, whereof hast thou to boast,
Whose days are ev'l at best, but few at most;
Earths best delights are checked-with'r with sorrow,
And dost thou brag of what shall be to morrow!
But if thou must be proud, make this thy Pride,
To know Christ Jesus, and him Crucifi'd.

87. On the Body.

How brittle is this fleshy Cabbinet,
Wherein the richest Diamond is set!
But time will come, when this vile mortal case,
Shall glorious Immortality imbrace.
The body is, while here infirm and weak
Our earthen ware, a little thing will break
Trajan's ashes after his death, to Rome
Were brought, and honor'd: at the day of doom
So shall the precious ashes of the Just,
Be much esteem'd, and shine as Silver dust.
Christ risen is, and he's the bodies head,
Therefore the body shall not still lie dead:
Saints bodies rais'd from out their slumbring grave
Neither diseases, nor defects shall have;
The body here's a clog, a lumpish thing,
In heaven it shall have a nimble wing.
Here muddy, vile, passive, and transitory,
In heav'n transparent, beautifi'd with glory
Impassible, grown to a perfect stature,
Free from the wants, and woes, & wrongs of nature
Immortal Heaven is an healthful Air,
There is no sadness, nor no dying there.
When the Saints soul shall with the body meet,
How blest will be their greeting! O how sweet!

88. On a Body of Death.

Sin is a body, for it weighs us down,
In prayer it hinders our Ascension;
We with corruption over-power'd shall be,
Till death pull off these weights and set us free.
Sin is deaths body, it is Carrion smell
Annoys the gracious soul, which loaths t'dwell
In Meseck, and sojourn in the Tents
Of Kedar, whence arise unsav'ry scents
O wo is me, that I am forc'd to stay
With sin! how long the pious soul doth say,
Shall I be vex'd with inmates, O my God,
With thee I long to settle mine abode.

89. On Boldness.

God holds his scepter forth, & ev'ry one
May come with boldness to his gracious throne
The child with confidence makes known his wants
To his dear father, and his father grants
What he desires, and shall not God much rather,
Who has the disposition of a father
As well as the relation, supply
His Childrens wants, when they unto him cry.
How should we to this tender father run
In all conditions, when by sin undone;
O say to God, Father, my heart, my heart,
O quicken, soften it; does Satan dart
Temptations at us? God relieves his Saints,
Who in his bosom pour forth their complaints.

90. On a Bolt.

A fools bolt is soon shot, the Proverb says.
Scripture Fools, wicked men: ah now adays
Do make a Bolt of their licentious tongue,
To blaspheme God, & do their neighbor wrong.

91. On a Bond.

Christ dy'd the Saints may well be over-joy'd.
For now Wraths bond and obligation's void.

92. On Bondage.

Embondaged for ever we had been,
But that our blessed Savior stood between
God and our souls, redeem'd us with his blood.
Which streamed from him like a crimson flood.
Sin, death, & hell, Christ by his death trod under
And snapt those bonds (that held us fast) in sunder

93. On a Bonfire.

The flick'ring flames of sprightly fire,
Unto the highest Arch aspire.
Mount up my soul, to God above,
On winged flames of holy love.

94. On Books.

Experience tells, vain Books, and idle Plays,
And such as Ovids Amatorious Lays,
How well they sell! whilst better Tractates lye
Untouch'd, Religious Books but few will buy.
Sad times! for one that in Gods Bible looks,
There's ten that pore on Cards, the devils books.
All want on books, could some have their desire,
Would be condemn'd to an Ephesian fire;
And though it would the Devil much displease,
Yet might one say, as Alcibiades,
Of the Athenian heaps of burning scrowls,
I ne're saw clearer fire, nor purer coals.

Nunquam vide ignem clariorem.

95. On Borrowing.

Our lives, and what we have, of God we borrow,
Who may recal them in before to morrow:
Let me not grumble, Lord, but be content
To pay what thou demand'st what thou hast lent

96. On Bosoms.

Meek Moses bosom is the Law Divine;
The golden gospel wherein grace doth shine
Christs bosom is, and as in sacred Story
It is recorded, Abraham's his glory.

97. On a Bottle.

When all the liquor in our bottle's spent,
So long as there's a Well, lets be content.

98. On a Bowl.

Wealth, honor, pleasures, to and fro do roul;
Nor is't a wonder, for the Worlds a Bowl.

99. On Bounds.

God who is boundless in himself surrounds,
The raging waters with appointed bounds,
Also the days of man, that then he can
Not pass, alas! our life is but a span.

100. On Bounty.

101. On a Bow.

God like our enemy hath bent his Bow,
And threats a universal overthrow:
To the ungodly world, withal our hearts,
Lets turn to him before he thrills his darts.

101. On a Bower.

The whole world is an heavenly earthly bow'r,
Hev'n is its sieling, and the Earth its floor,
But ah! our Bower, this heav'n, this earth, must pass
Away, as well as we, who are as grass.

103. On a Box.

Mans body is a box till death it split
The Soul, that precious Gem is kept in it.

104. On Boyes.

The world is in our eye like sportive boyes,
We trade for trifles, and are all for toyes.

105. On Bracelets.

Abrahams servant put loves Golden Bands,
A brace of Bracelets on Rebekah's hands;
But O how gloriously will Christ adorn
His spouse! what bracelets shall by her be worn!

106. On a Brand.

God plucked us as brands from out hel fire,
Who neither could deserve, nor yet desire
This at his hands My soul, free-grace admire!

107. On Bran.

How sieve-like is the Memory of man,
'Tis too retentive of the grosser bran;
All sinful trash, and rubbish, but alas:
It lets Gods word, the purer flour, through pass.

108. On Brass.

A man for Eloquent may pass,
But wanting Charity, alas!
He is as tinkling sounding Brass.

109. On Brawling.

For Bawling Curs and salvage Bears,
To fall together by the ears
Is common; 'tis a horrid shame,
For such to brawl that bear Christ's Name.
If we have wrangled heretofore,
Now let's be Friends, and sin no more.

110. On Bread.

Bread is life's staff, and yet we cannot stand
By it, unless God hold it with his hand.
God's blessing is the only stay and prop
Of that staff Bread, without it down we drop.
Our feeder is our food, not on his grounds,
This Shepherd feeds his sheep, but with his wounds
Christ is the living, & life-giving bread,
That soul that feeds on him, shall never need.

111. On the Breast.

With the humble Publican
May I smite upon my breast,
And sigh out this fair request,
Pardon Lord me sinful man.

112. On Breath.

The breath that in our Nostrils is,
Is the Anointed of the Lord;
And what he freely doth afford,
He may recal when ere he please.
Lord when I breath my last, grant I
May reign with thee Eternally.

113. On Breeches.

Breeches which in the room of fig-leaves came
Are but the badges of our guilt and shame,
And this (methinks) should serve to humble all
That wear them, since they minde us of our fall.

114. On Brethren.

All they that Christianity embrace,
Are Brethren by Creation or Race;
Are Brethren by Prosession or Place,
And by Regeneration or Grace.
Behold how good, how pleasing 'tis to see,
Brethren by Race, Place, Grace, in one t'agree.

115. On Brevity.

I came, I saw, and then I overcame
Victorious Cæsar, said King Philp wrote
Threats to th'Laconian Lords, but to the same
They only answer'd if—(as stories Note)
Lord come and see, and conquer us: Let man,
If thou be for us, hurt us if—(he can)

116. On Briars.

Sins are entangling briars, which are found
Within mans heart, that barren piece of ground.
These wound the soul the gracious soul desires
Nothing more, then to get out of these Briars.

117. On Bribes.

118. On a Bridegroom.

Christ is the Bridegroom, and the Church his Bride,
Whose hearts with loves eternal bands are ti'd,
He found her foul, but he hath wash'd her so,
That now she's whiter than the driven snow.

119. On a Bridge.

Death draws the bridge of life, sends in a trice
Sinners to Hell, but Saints to Paradise.

120. On Bride-well.

To work in Bride-well is an easie toil
To their's who must in broad hel always broil.

121. On a Bridle.

Think often on the all-discerning eye
Of the great God, who always doth descry
Thy secret thoughts from perpetraing sin,
No better bridle for to keep thee in.

122. On Brightness.

The blessed Saints though here obscure they be
To the World's eye, yet shall hereafter see
God face to face, and gloriously bright;
Out-shine the sparkling Jewls of the night.

123. On Brimstone.

Here blue flam'd brimstone much offends the smell,
Oh how doth it torment the damn'd in Hell.

124. On Brine.

Pray'rs that are pickel'd with the brine of tears,
God barrels up in his attentive ears.

125. On a Brink.

Alas! we dance upon destructions brink,
And each sin is a weight to make us sink.

126. On a Broad-way.

No wonder many love so well the road
That leads to ruin, tis because its broad.

127. On a Brood.

The brood is safe hous'd underneath the wings
Of the indulgent damm, our safety springs
From God whose wings shall ever over-spread
His Saints, and never any feathers shed.

128. On a Brook.

129. On a Broom.

How necessary is the Houswifes broom,
To sweep out dust that genders in the room!
But oh! the besome of Jehovahs ire
Sweeps dusty souls, into infernal fire.

130. On Broth.

Esau for a mess of broth
Sold his Birth-right; we are loth
To exchange things transitory,
For immortal boundless glory.

131. On the Brow.

Lord! I have sinn'd, that is the reason thou
Lookest on me with so severe a brow;
Behold me in the face of thy dear Son,
O then I know thou wilt no longer frown.

132. On a Brush.

We brush our dusty cloaths, sin soils the soul,
Yet how content are we to keep that foul.

133. On a Brute.

The Oxe will know his owner, and the Ass
Her master's crib, but Israel (alas!)
Will not know me, says God, they have destroy'd
Themselves, and made their understanding void.
Till God open our lips, our mouths are dumb,
And we more brutish then a Brute become.

134. On a Bubble.

How vain a thing is man; his life's a bubble,
Replenish'd with winds of care & trouble.

135. On a Buck.

We run from God, and are by nature wild
A Bucks, grace cicurates, & makes us mild,
O God, to me be pleased to impart
Thy grace, O that can tame my wanton heart.

136. On a Bucket.

We have a well, let's let our bucket down,
To fetch up waters of Salvation.

137. On a Buckler.

God is a guarding buckler to the just,
Who in his sure defence repose their trust.

138. On a Bud.

Lord nip the bud, before the bloom begins,
For ah! I would not flourish in my sins.

139. On a Bug, or Hob-gobling.

Our wayward children, we with bugbears fear,
T'were well if terrifi'd from sin we were.

140. On a Building.

The Royal Palace where the Saints shall dwell,
A building is, not made with mortal hands;
How doth it in Maginificence excell!
Above the starry Firmament it stands;
'Tis spacious, precious, specious, and pure,
And shall to all eternity endure.

141. On a Bullet.

Gods thund'ring judgments like the bullet run,
Shot from the bowels of the murd'ring Gun.

142. On a Bul-rush.

Hang down our head? we like a bul-rush may,
Yet not be truly humbled when we pray.

143. On a Bul-wark.

God to his people is a bulwark strong,
So that Hell-gates shal never do them wrong.

144. On Bundles.

The Tares that growing with the Wheat is found,
Shal for hell fire be in bundles bound.

145. On a Burgess.

Each Saint (chosen by God himself) is sent
To set, as Burgess, in Heav'ns Parli'ment:
And with those noble Peers the Angels sing
Immortal praise, to their triumphant King.

146. On Burials.

Nature, kind to her own, did first devise
T'entomb a Corps with solemn obsequies;
And surely grace allows a Burial,
To th'Holy Ghost his Temples, when they fall.

147. On Burning.

Come see my zeal for God, Jehu pretends;
An holy zeal, but he had base-by-ends:
Lord kindle in my heart, a burning flame
Of real zeal to glorifie thy name.

148. On Burrs.

Sinners to one another stick like burrs;
O why should Saints fall out, like wrangling currs!

149. On Burthens.

150. On a Bush.

The burning bush was unconsum'd with fire,
For God was in't, O let's his pow'r admire;
The fire of persecution, cannot tame
Christs Church, for he is with her in the flame.

151. On a Bushel.

Those graces which the Saints as lights conceal,
Under a bushel, tryals oft reveal.

152. On a Busie-body.

Ardelio , so much abroad doth roam,
Its hard for him to finde himself at home.

153. On Business.

The business that we are set about
While we are in this world, is to work out
Our own salvation with trembling fear.
But O how few make this their chiefest care!
O Lord, enable me to work, that I,
May have grace wages glory when I dy.

154. On a Butter-fly.

We smile to see our little Children try
Their skill, to catch the painted butter-flie.
And yet alas, we do the very same,
Nay worse our selves, O is not this a shame!

155. On But.

Bad is the But mars all, some but for some
Pleasures or Profit, unto Christ would come;
But for his wife, with whom he must go dwell,
But for the bidding of his friends farewel;
But for th'interring of his father dear,
But for his viewing of his field bought there.
But for the trial of his Oxon, he
Would follow Christ, ah Lord! such Buts have we,
'Tis blessed when our Buts are for the best,
Ye were as bad as any of the rest;
But ye are wash'd, but ye are cleansed now,
How sweet is the wine, from such good butts does flow!

156. On a But.

Gods glory is the but, but Christians hark,
Grace is the only Arrow hits that mark.

157. On a Butcher.

The Butcher lives by killing, we by dying
To sin, and our corruptions mortifying.

158. On a Butler.

The Butler keeps provision, O hoord
Up in thy heart the food of life, Gods word.

159. On Buttery.

The Butt'ry is a necessary place,
O blessed heart that is well stor'd with grace.

160. On Buying.

He buys, and sels, and liveth by the loss,
The Proverb says, when worldly things go cross
With any; but if they that buy and sell
Would speak the truth, doubtless things would go well.

161. On a By-way.

Sin is a by-way, easie to be found,
By all that are for hells dark Kingdom bound;
For want of light, and a good guide to lead
Them right, so many in sins by-path tread.
The words a light, Lord let thy spirit be
My guide, that I thy glorious face may see.
I must walk in the narrow way, before that I
Can finde true rest, grace leads us into glory.

C

1. On a Cabinet.

The heart is Gods peculiar Cabinet,
And Satan knows not what is in it set,
Heav'ns a rich Cabinet, where God reconds
Glorifi'd Sts. those sparkling Diamonds.

2. On a Cable.

Great God! to come to thee we are unable,
O draw us with thy love; thy love's a Cable.

3. On a Cage.

The gracious soul desires to be dismist
From out the bodies cage, to be with Christ.

4. On a Caitiffe.

O Lord, I have contrair'd thy just command,
Lo! I as a convicted Caitiffe stand,
Trembling before thee; guilty Lord I cry,
Yet plead for mercy, since thy Son did dye.

5. On a Cake.

Great God! well may a cake upon the coals,
Suffice our bodies, so thou feast our souls.

6. On Calamity.

Men grieve when they calamity are in,
But oh who is there lays to heart his sin!

7. On a Calender.

Vertue alas! is look'd upon of late,
But as a Calender grown out of date.

8. On Calends.

O may I yield at the Greek Calends (never)
To Satan's laws, but serve the Lord for ever.

9. On Calis.

The Dev'l says come to me, but I'le undoe thee;
The world says follow me, but I will slight thee;
The flesh says follow me, but I'le forgo thee,
But Christ says follow me, and I'le delight thee:
Run, run my soul, thy Savi'ors call is best,
He ⋆ is the Way, Truth, Life, shun, shun the rest.

10. On the Calves of the lips.

If of our lips, we offer up the calves,
And not our hearts, we serve the Lord the halves.

11. On a Calme.

God that allays high winds, & stills rough seas,
Can calm the consc'ence, give the troubled ease

12. On a Caltraps.

Christians march towards heaven, to cause their stay,
The spiteful world hurls caltraps in their way

13. On a Camel.

The crowching camel, shall as soon go through
An Eagles eye, as Misers to Heav'n goe.

14. On a Camp.

Most darkness love, & late the Gospel's Lamp
No mar'le, for they belong to Satan's camp.

15. On a Candle.

Men place a candle having tin'd the wick,
Not und'r a bed, but in a candle-stick,
For common benefit, so God prefers
His Ministers, to be his Houshold Stars.

16. On a Cane, or Reed.

Man like a Reed, still shaken with the wind,
Till fixed on his God, no rest can find.

17. On a Canker.

Sin is a canker, it infests the soul,
Christ kills it by his death, and make us whole.

18. On a Cann.

In Bacchus Courts, he is the only man
That smoaks Tobacco, & can soak the Cann.

19. On a Cannon.

O how uneven are our lives, O Lord;
Reduced to the Canon of thy word!

20. On a Cannon.

The thunder-mocking Cannon vomits fire,
But ah! how dreadful is th'Eternal ire.

21. On a Cap.

The cap relieves the head, and keeps it warm;
The heart preserv'd by grace; can catch no harm.

22. On a Captain.

Christ is our Captain, if we stand our ground
He will all our soul-enemies confound,
His death's, our life; his power alone can quell
Sin and the world, nay all the Devils in hell.

23. On Captivity.

By Satan, we for evermore had been
Led captive, and embondaged to sin;
Had not our Savior cancelled the scrouls
Of angry Justice, and redeem'd our souls.

24. On a Carbonade.

The Reprobates their bodies, and their souls,
Must broil in hell, on everlasting coals.

25. On a Carbuncle.

Sin is a carbuncle, it evermore
Shines bright, yet is a dangerous Plague-sore.

26. On a Carkass.

The soul-less carkass, none take pleasure in,
And can God think we love souls dead in sin?

27. On Cards.

The pleasures of the world, are Satan's cards,
Who in them most delights, he most regards.

28. On a Cardinal.

The chiefest Cardinal the Roman pack,
Cannot preserve a Cardinal from wrack.

29. On Care.

A prudent and religious care is good,
A soul-dividing care must be withstood:
We are charg'd to commit our way unto
The Lord, not undertake his work to do,
Which is to take care, as it's ours to cast;
Care is a spir't'al canker that doth waste
The spir'ts, when 'tis excentrick; we in brief
May sooner add a furlong to our grief
By our distrustful care, than to our joy
A cubit. Care excessive will destroy,
As it dishonours much the King of Kings,
So it takes off the heart from better things:
And while we thinking are how we shall do
To live; to die we not remember how.
Lord! what tumult'ous swarms of buzzing Cares
Hive in man's Head! how silver'd are his Hairs
Before the time! how Care distracts the Mind!
It breaks the sleep, by it the Body's pin'd,
The Soul is wrack'd. 'Twas Adams, want of care
Made us become so careful as we are.
The Curse bred Care, Lord may I always cast
My care on thee, who cared for me hast,
And wilt do still; 'tis wisdom to unload
And cast the burthen of our care on God.
To a Believers care Death puts an end;
Death comes to a Believer as a friend,
And says, do not distract, nor thus disquiet
Thy Mind about thy clothing and thy diet.
In gath'ring wealth, let not thy Head and Heart
Be prick'd with care, I will but thrill my Dart
Once at thee, and thou shalt be dispossest
Of all those cares that thus torment thy Brest.
My Soul care to please God, but oh! beware
Of Heart-dividing, God-distrusting care.

30. On Carelesness.

When Adam grew careless of Gods command
And left off Innocencies robes, he caught
The Falling-sickness, could no longer stand
Upright, his carelesness (alas!) hath brought
The Universe which was (before his fall)
A Paradise into an Hospital.

31. On Carnal Security.

32. On Carriage.

As children of the High'st, we should behave
Our selves, and be obedient, humble, grave,
Industrious, heroical, and holy,
Cheerful, not given to pensive Melancholy;
Longing to be at home: the Saints do still
Readily out of love obey Gods Will:
Lowly they are, it never was allow'd
To any of Gods children to be proud.
Left for a while, fall into Sin they do,
That learn they may on lower ground to go,
And that their Plumes may fall. Saints sober are
In their Opinions, Speeches, and Attire.
Diligence in their Calling they express,
God never seals Warrants to Idleness.
The Sts. are high-born of the true blood Royal,
And scorn to act the thing that is disloyal,
To stain their noble Birth, they are upright,
And in Gods holy ways take great delight;
For though in a strange country now they be,
Yet they the New Jerusalem shall see;
Death will convey them thither, that shall come
Safe to their fathers house, their long'd for home.

33. On Carking.

We may not cark, and care excessively;
For worldly things, these perish, we must die.

34. On Carrying.

In this life a Believer, by the Saints
Is carri'd, him their prayers wings advance,
And when he is of this frail life bereaven,
The blessed Angels carry him to Heaven.

35. On Carols.

The carols which the Heralds of the spring
Chant forth, are dull to what the Saints shall sing
Eternally to their melliffluous King.

36. On a Carpenter.

Afflictions as a Carpenter oft squares,
And for Gods spir't'al building us prepares.

37. On a Carper.

Momus doth always carp at other crimes,
He might do wel to view his own somtimes.

38. On a Cart.

Christ as a Cart with sheavs of full-ear'd corn,
Was press'd, by him were our offences born.

39. On a Carver.

The curious Carver may in brass, or stone,
Carve Images, so he let God alone.

40. On Cassia.

How fragrantly the Cassia smells,
But Grace the sweetest sweets excels.

41. On a Cask.

My soul is empty, Lord, make it thy task,
To pour thy wine of grace into my cask.

42. On a Casket.

Who ever wanteth wisdom, let him ask it
Of God, to hold it in the heart's a Casket.

43. On a Cassock.

Cassocks are in request with Levi's Race,
No garment so becomes the soul, as Grace.

44. On a Cast-away.

Tis hard to know, until the Judgement-day,
Who is a Reprobrate, or Cast-away.

45. On Casting down.

God humbles those whom he intends to crown
His way of raising, is by casting down.

46. On Casting off.

We must cast off the Works of Darkness e're
We can put on, and Light's bright armour wear.

47. On a Castle.

Sin, and the World, and our Corruptions wrastle
Against us, but the Lord is our strong Castle.

48. On a Catch-pole.

Satan that Catch-pole lurks in secret holes,
To take advantage to undo our souls.

49. On a Cater.

The Raven was a Cater to refresh
Elijah twice a day, with Bread and Flesh.

50. On Catechising.

Were more time spent in Catechising Youth,
More would be constant lovers of the truth.

51. On Cates.

Gods Ordinances those delicious Cates
Are free for all men, He keeps open Gates.

52. On Caterpillars.

How soon can God those Caterpillars kill,
That to the Sons of Sion bear ill will.

53. On a Catarrhe.

When we can mourn for sin, O then we are
Bound to bless God, this is a good Catarrhe.

54. On a Cathedral.

A den of Thieves is that Cathedral Church
Become, whose Prelates live upon the lurch.

55. On a Catholick.

He a true Catholick is not become,
Who yields obedience to the Church of Rome.

56. On a Cat.

The melancholy Cat for Mice doth watch,
Satan to slay our souls lies at a Catch.

57. On Cattle.

Since God hath given the Cattle for our use,
To his dishonour let's not them abuse.

58. On a Caudle.

A pleasing Caudle many love to sup,
What sweetness is there in Salvations cup!

59. On a Cave.

Christ is a Rock, and ev'ry wound a Cave,
And whoso hides therein shall safety have.

60. On a Caveat.

We may be angry, very zealous in
A good cause, but beware we do not sin.

61. On a Cavalier of the worser sort.

Canary, Sherry, Cider, Ale, or Beer,
Will make him merry, that's a Cavalier:
His King he honours, God he ought to fear,
Since both by Solomon joyn'd, enjoyned are.

62. On a Caviller.

Zoilus the Caviller finds fault with many,
When 'tis well known he is as bad as any.

63. On a Cauldron.

John in a Cauldron of hot burning oyl
Was forc'd to stand, and him alive they boyl,

64. On a Cause.

God is the causer of all good things still,
As Satan is, and ever was, of ill.

65. On a Causey.

Heav'ns Causey is strewd with rough flinty stones,
But hels low-way is pavd with smoother ones

66. On Ceasing.

There must be a ceasing from ill, before
We can do well. Repent, and sin no more.

67. On a Cell.

How sad is it for evermore to dwell
With dev'ls, tormented in hells dismal Cell.

68. On Cement.

Love is a Cement, joyning holy ones
Together, it uniteth living stones.

69. On a Censer.

My heart's a Censer, Lord, let the incense
Of Prayr and Praises, weakly rising thence,
Be to thy sacred Nostrils acceptable,
Since I would offer better, were I able.

70. On Censuring.

Men are by nature miserably prone
To censure others, let themselves alone.
Other mens motes we can with ease descry,
But in the mean while our own beams pass by.

71. On a Center.

The soul of man is not compleatly blest,
Till it in God (its proper Center) rest.
Still towards God a pious heart will roul,
Because he is the Center of the soul,
Immutable, and whose Perle herie,
Drawn round about him, is Eternitie.

72. On a Centurion.

He commands men, but he that can command
Himself, is stronger than an armed band.

73. On Ceremonies.

Since Christ became a real Sacrifice,
The Law of Jewish Ceremonies is
Abolish'd; there's a Consummatum est
Giv'n to them all: all legal rites are ceast.
Ere since the Temples veil was rent in sunder,
No ritual Obligation keeps us under.
Rome readmits them, the Saints are far from it,
They loath to lick up the Galatians vomit.

74. On Certainty.

He must be much in duty, must keep pure
His heart, and still act faith, that would procure
The Jewel of Assurance, which hath bin
By Saints obtain'd, and may be so agen.

75. On a Certificate.

Grant that Certificate, Lord, to my soul,
The Leper had, Thy saith hath made thee whole.

76. On Ceruse.

None but a Jezabel devoid of grace,
With painting Ceruse will besmear her face.

77. On Cessing.

What cessing of estates is here below?
The Saints above no such taxations know,
Praise is the tribute which to God they owe.

78. On a Chaffer.

My heart's a chaffer, Lord let thy spirit blow
Zeals dying coals in me, & make them glow.

79. On Chaffe.

Light, dry, and empty chaffe, God in his ire
Will burn, with inextinguishable fire.

80. On a Chaine.

Christ as a token of his love bestowes
A chain of vertue, to adorn his Spouse.

81. On a Chair.

A chair affords us ease, when tir'd we are;
Tis dangerous sitting in the Scorners chaire.

82. On a Challenge.

An angry word, calls on a challenge oft,
But strife's diverted by an answer soft.

83. On a Chalice.

Cast up we must the old leaven of malice;
Ere we drink off the Sacramental Chalice.

84. On Chalk.

The Spir't of God hath as it were with chalk,
Mark'd out the way, wherein the Sts. do walk

85. On a Chamber.

The Sts. by faith (that Jacobs Ladder) clamber
Up to Heaven's glorious glistering Star-Chamber.

86. On a Champion.

Our Champion Christ for us hath won the field,
And made the pow'rs of hells dark Kingdom yield.

87. On Chance.

All things to pass, Gods providence doth bring,
Not the blind goddess chance, there's no such thing

88. On a Chancellour.

This honour to each St. Gods Spirit doth deal,
To be the keeper of the Kings Broad-Seal.

89. On Chanel.

Lord let the chanel of free grace run in
My soul, and that will purge out all my sin.

90. On Change.

The whole world is a shop of change, for welth
We exchange poverty; for sickness health;
Pleasure for sorrow; and honour for scorn;
Oft-times before, the evening and the morn.
The day changes to night, the night to day,
Summer to winter, youth to age gives way.

91. On a Chappel.

God hath his Church, and tis observed where
God's Church is, Satan hath his chappel neer

92. On a Chaplain.

He is a chaplain for the Prince of Hell,
That in debauchry bears away the Bell.

93. On a Chap-man.

Satan's a chap-man, and his shop is fraught
With wares, but all the ware he sells is naught.

94. On Charges.

Christ will not put the Soul to any charges,
Love only he desires for his free Largess.

95. On a Charge.

God hath a Book to Register mens sins,
And when the day of Judgment once begins,
It shall be op'd, O then what a black charge
Against a Sinner shall be read at large.
I will reprove thee, and in order place
Thine open-secret-sins before thy face;
This done the Judge shall sentence in his ire
The cursed into everlasting fire.

96. On a Charger.

My heart's a Charger, Lord scour off all sin,
And put the sweet-meats of thy grace therein

97. On a Chariot.

Pray'r is a Charret, it to heaven brings,
And draws down blessings from the King of Kings.

98. On Charity.

Char'ty increaseth Faith, begetteth Hope,
Makes us at one with God, it is the scope
Of the whole Dec'logue; it do all things can,
It is man's way to God, God's way to man.
It's now grown old and cold, there's many do
Talk on't, 'tis understood but of a few.
The Heart must be the Spring, the Hand the Pipe,
The Poor the Cistern, what we cannot keep,
Let's freely give, that we may in the close
Receive those things which we can never lose.

99. On Charms.

The Worlds a Circe, O what various harms,
Trip on the heels of her enchanting charms!

100. On a Charter.

All things are a Believers future glory
And present blessings, a large Inventory.
Because God unto him his Heir doth grant
The Covenant of Grace; the Covenant
Is our great Charter, free Grace doth restore
To us what Sin had robb'd us of before.
I am God, ev'n thy God, surely all things
Are ours, if God (who is the King of Kings)
B'ours, and we have in God an interest,
By vertue of our being link'd to Christ.
By faith in Christ we have a title to
All things in Heav'n above, and Earth below.

101. On Chastity.

Chastity is the mark denotes the Just,
It curbs with Reason's reins the rage of Lust.
'Tis beauty to our souls, (whom it attires)
Grace to our body, peace to our desires.
It is the glory of our lives, and there
It doth grow cheap, where gold is not though dear.
Chastity, without charity to feed
And nourish't, is a Lamp that oyl doth need:
Chastity wrong'd, abides, it but once ends,
It with the beauty very much contends.

102. On Chastisements.

Who knows not that he hath offended,
Will not be scourg'd nor soon amended;
But I have sinn'd and here I stand
To bear the blows, thy chasting hand,
Shall lay upon me; O my God
Reform me, by thy tut'ring Rod.

103. On Chattering.

Good Hezekiah, chattering like a Crane
Was heard by Heaven, and healed of his pain.

104. On the Chancery.

There is no Chancery court in Heaven above,
Where all the Sts. are linck'd in endless love

105. On Cheapness.

The Prince of darkness, is content that thou
Shouldst have pleasures & riches cheap enow;
Only give him thy soul; indulge to vice,
Ad he is satisfy'd, the greatest price
That can be given, he asks; and yet he tells
His customers cheap are the wares he sells,
Nor are his wares, if rightly understood,
But the meer forms, and counterfeits of good:
God gives abundantly to all that lack
Real good things, and taketh nothing back.
Come you that have no money; come and buy
Blessings and graces, without price; deny
He will not any, since the best things are
Best cheap, to spare to ask them, folly 'twere.

106. On Cheer.

107. On Chearfulness.

How are the Angels ravish'd with delight,
While they are praysing God! a gracious sprite
Serves God with cheerfulness, he only can
Be truly chearful; that's an upright man.

108. On a Cheat.

Satan's a Sophister, he hath Decoys
To draw us in, and cheat us of our Joys.

109. On a Check.

The Flesh let's loose the Reins,
We gallop into Sin,
The Spirits Check restreins
And pulls us back agin.

110. On Cheeks.

Christ's cheeks are as a Bed of fragrant Spices
His Aromatick vertues love entices.

111. On Cheese.

Job compassed about with miseries.
Tells God that he had curdled him like cheese

Job 10. 10.

112. On the chief Good.

113. On a Cherry.

How pleasing is a Cherry to the sight
And taste; Grace to the Soul yields more delight.

114. On a Chest.

The Miser locks up treasure in his chest,
And we should store up Graces in our brest.

115. On a Chick.

The Chick is safe hous'd under the Hens wings,
So we protected by the King of Kings.

116. On a Chider.

Soft answers lessen wrath, he that's a Chider
Launces the Bile, and makes the breach the wider.

117. On Children.

118. On the Chimes.

Sweet is the Musick of a chime of Bells,
But Heavens diviner harmony excells.

119. On a Chimney.

It is in Winter warm, in Summer chill,
We all the year are burning hot to ill.

120. On a Chinke.

Fill up each chink of our desires none can
But God alone; the World is empty, vain.

121. On a Chin.

A man may have a well thatch'd chin,
Yet freez for want of zeal within.

122. On a Chip.

A ciens graffed in a righteous stock,
Was once a chip of the old (Adams) block.

123. On a Chirurgeon.

He is the chief and best Chirurgeon who
Can heal Soul-wounds, this Christ alone can do.

124. On Chivalry.

To overcome our selves and die
To Sin, is the best Chivalry.

125. On Choler.

A man exceeding teasty grows
When yellow choler overflows.
But Grace the Passions subdues.

126. On Choosing.

Martha minds the World, while Mary
Chose the one thing necessary;
So will ev'ry gracious heart,
Always choose the better part.

127. On Chrystal.

The Law's a Crystal Glass, wherein
We see the ugly face of Sin.

128. On Christ.

129. On Christianity.

130. On a Christian.

130. On a Christless person.

131. On the Church.

To see God's Church a bleeding vine, to see
Christsspouse with garments roll'd in bloud should be
Matter of lamentation to all
That God their father, her their mother call:
Tis time to hang upon the limber willowes,
Our mournful harps, when on the ruffling billows
Of sad afflictions, the Church Gods Ark
Is tossed like a weather-beaten Bark:
But let's not fret, for the Almighties hand
That guides the Stream, can bring it safe to land,
Land he will; sinking it need not fear,
Tis alway under his indulgent care:
The Churches ship may reel because of sin,
But cannot perish, for Christ is therein:
The Churches Anchor is in Heaven cast,
Saints are his portion, and shall that be lost?
His glory, and shall that ecclipsed be,
Wholy, and finally! no certainly,
From, and by opposition, God can
His Church deliver; oft the wrath of man,
Works or his praise; the Lord steps forth & saves
His Ship, when almost swallow'd by the waves:
The Churches pangs Gods glory doth advance,
And shall help forward her deliverance.
God hath by sufferings alwayes propagated
Religion, it hath risen when conculcated,
Bloud is the Churches seed, in bloud tis founded
By sanguine showrs, it evermore abounded,
Abel by bloudy Cain was murthered,
And ever since the Churches veins have bled;
But she is like the Vine which grows by bleeding,
And like the Palm-tree under pressures spreading

132. On a Churl.

A clownish churl, or churlish clown
By's words, Saints by their works, are known.

133. On Cider.

A glass of sparkling Demock wine is good;
But O how cheering is my Saviors blood?
Pomona's Orchards never could produce
A liquor of such admirable use.

134. On a Cymbal.

Cymbals were us'd in former dayes,
To sound forth Gods diviner praise.

135. On Cinders.

We are a sinful people, O what hinders
Us Sodom like from being burnt to cinders!

136. On Cinnamon.

Arabia sends us Spicy Cinnamon,
Our fragrant graces flow from Christ alone;
Sweet-wood yields not so redolent a smell
As do those vertues, which in Christ Spouse dwell.

137. On the Cinque-Ports.

Our senses are the Cinque-ports of the soul,
Satan and sin at every little hole
Strive to creep in, unless we stand upon
Our guard, we shall for ever be undone.

138. On a Cipher.

Who doth no good when he hath sin forsook,
Stands for a cipher in Gods counting book

139. On Cipras.

Fine Cipras-veiles fair Ladies wear
Over their curious shaded hair,
O yet your hearts with graces deckt;
So Christ himself shall you affect.

140. On a Circle.

The world's a circle, therefore never can
Fill the triangulated heart of man.

141. On a Circuit.

Gods Justice rides in circuit, he is bent
To punish sinners, yet how few repent!

142. On Circumcision.

The Badge whereby Gods people once were known
From forreigners, was circumcision;
Since circumcision of the outward part
Is ceas'd, Lord! circumcise thy servants heart.

143. On Circumference.

We by a pair of compasses, Gods law
Should th'whole circumf'rence of our lives draw,
Let's fix on God our center, and go still
By practise round the compass of his will:
Lord! let the lines of my peripherie,
In thee my center evermore agree.

144. On Circumspection.

Who hath with Mary chose the better part,
Is careful to preserve grace in his heart;
He plies the Ordinances breast; he hath
Fear while he sojourns here, yet lives by Faith.

145. On a City.

146. On a Cistern.

My heart's a cistern, may the stream of grace
From God the Fountain, run therein apace.

147. On a Citron.

Much us'd in Physick is the citron juyce,
But o what rare effects doth grace produce!

148. On Civet.

Sweet Civet is but sweat, arising from
Civet-cats cods, grace is the best perfume.

149. On Civility.

150. On Clay.

Should God but breath on us; or take away
The breath he gave us, what were we but clay!

151. On a Clame.

The Saints lay clame to heaven; & reason good
Twas purchas'd for them, by their Saviors blood.

152. On Clamour.

Sin in the ears of justice, sound as loud
As thunder breaking from a rumbling cloud.

153. On a Clapper.

The mouth's a Bell, Gods praise cannot be rung
Unless we use the clapper of the tongue.

154. On a Clark.

A clark may by his Bell, call others in
To worship God, while he himself serve sin.

155. On a Clasp.

The Cov'nant is a golden clasp, whereby
God us t'himself, himself to us doth tye.

156. On a Clause.

Some-what injurious to God's greatness tis,
T'imprison him, in a Parenthesis.

157. On Claws.

Great Judah's Lyon, hath adunced claws,
To tear the wilful breakers of his Laws.

158. On a Claw-back.

All is not Gospel that the claw-back sayes,
Yet to be dispraised by him is a praise.

159. On Cleansing.

By nature we are all defil'd with sin,
And with the Leper must cry out, Unclean.
Sin is an impure [?] Issue, none can bring
Purity thence, tis a polluting thing;
A sinner's heart's so black, that only hell
Can pattern it, and be it's paralell;
But Grace is a spirit'al Lavor, stil'd
Regenerations washing; Souls defil'd,
Faith & Repentance cleanse; Grace lays the soul
A whitening, searches wounds, and makes them whole.
Grace is of a Celestial nature, though it
Wholly remove not sin, it doth subdue it;
Mary's tears as they washed Christs feet, so
Her heart; Grace engraves holiness unto
The Lord upon the heart, in character,
Indelible; to Glory Grace prefers.

160. On Clearness.

The bodies of the Saints made more divine,
More clearly than the Sun at Noon shall shine cleave

161. On Cleaving.

God is the sov'raign good, he that would
To him by Faith, must the ungodly leave.

162. On Clemency.

163. On a Clerk.

The greatest Clerk, the Proverb says,
Is not the wisest man always.

164. On a Clew.

The clew-thred of Christs men its leads us thro
The winding Labyrinths of Sin and Wo.

165. On a Client.

I am a Client unskill'd in the Laws,
And Satan Articles against me draws,
But Christ my Advocate doth plead my cause.

166. On a Cliff.

The Cliff repells the Oceans pride,
Saints built on Christ can Storms deride.

167. On a Climate.

Some that through many Climates run,
Are yet unto themselves unknown.

168. On Climbing.

High winds shake most the Cedars tall,
Haman by climbing got a fall.

169. On a Clyster.

The Clyster frees the Head from pains,
Grace from the Heart corruption dreins.

170. On a Clock.

The Clock tells us each hour in the day
How by degrees our time doth steal away,
Therefore we still had need to Watch and Pray.

171. On a Clog.

The World's a Clog, which doth controul
The motion of the mounting Soul.

172. On a Cloyster.

A man, a Cloyster may be shut up in,
And yet his Soul take liberty to sin.

173. On a Cloak.

Zeal as a Cloak our Saviour clad

Es. 59. 17.

,
No better garment can be had.

174. On a Closet.

God Closet-prayers doth regard,
And them will openly reward.

175. On Clothing.

Sweet Jesu deck me with thy right'ous cloathing,
So shall mine be the object of my loathing.

176. On Cloves.

As Cloves send forth a very fragrant smell,
So do the Graces that the Saints in dwell.

177. On a Cloud.

The Clouds of our Offences intervene,
So that Gods Sun-bright eye cannot be seen.
Clouds are the Magazines of Snow and Rain,
Our Sins do in them vert'ally contain
Treasures of vengeance, sin makes Heav'n frown,
And then thick showrs of wrath come tumbling down.

178. On a Clout.

Self-right'ousness enwrapping us about,
Is as a rotten ragg, or menstrous Clout.

179. On a Clown.

As civilized Citizens disown
The rude behaviour of the hob-nail'd Clown,
So Saints from Sinners by their lives are known.

180. On a Club.

The Club of vengeance knocks down those,
Who out of malice God oppose.

181. On a Cluster.

Christ is the Vine, and Clusters full of juice
Hang upon him, for the Believers use.

182. On a Coach.

Pray'r is a Coach which by the Spirit driven,
Hurries our Souls into the Courts of Heaven.

183. On a Coal.

Lord touch my tongue with a coal taken fro
Thine Altar, so shall I thy praises show.

184. On a Coast.

Heaven is a securer Coast,
The Saints are thither riding Post.

185. On a Coat.

Who cuts his Coat according to
His cloth, shall not a begging go.

186. On a Coat of Mail.

The Coat of Mail preserves the body whole:
Nothing but Faith in Christ can save the soul.

187. On a Cobler.

The Cobler draws through Aul-made holes
His ends, and lives by mending soles:
But ah, Soul-ruines, who condoles!

188. On a Cobweb.

The Spider spreads her Fly-entangling Nets,
Snares to trepan the Saints, the Sinner sets.

189. On a Cockatrice.

They who indulgence give to filthy vices,
Do hatch the poysonous eggs of Cockatrices;
‘Mischiefs are like the Cockatrices eye,
‘If they see first, they kill; foreseen, they die.

190. On a Cock.

The Bird that warned Peter of his fall,
Doth us betimes to our devotion call.

191. On a Cockney.

The Cockney that is up so nicely brought,
Soon shews that he was better fed then taught

192. On a Cockle.

The Cockle from her shell abhors to come,
So a good House-wife loves to stay at home.

193. On Co-Essential, Co-Equal, Co-Eternal.

God, Christ, the Spir't, are but one supernal,
Co-equal, Co-essential, Co-eternal:
Thrice blessed, Three in One, and One in Three,
May I adore, admire, love none but Thee,
My Maker, Saviour, Consolation:
O please to make my heart thy lesser Throne.

194. On a Coffer.

A dunghil wretch for Gold of Ophir,
Will damn his Soul, to cram his Coffer

195. On a Coffin.

The greatest King that ever Scepter sway'd,
At last is in a narrow Coffin lay'd.

196. On a Cognizance.

Want is the Badge of Poverty, the Saints
Have Crowns and Scepters for their cognizance

197. On a Co-heir.

Art thou a Saint? thou art Co-heir with Christ;
And highly art in favour with the High'st.

198. On Coin.

The golden Saints for current Coin will pass,
In Heavens Kingdom; Hell is all for Brass.

199. On a Coit.

To cast the Coit is pretty childish play.
It's sad for Coin to sling the Soul away.

200. On a Cullender.

Our mem'ries like the Cullender that streins
Pure liquor out, but drossie dregs reteins.

201. On Cold.

Are we as cold as Aspine Snow,
Or as the frozen Zone;
The Fire we know, will make us glow,
Grace warms a heart of stone.

202. On Coldness in Religion.

Some Jehu-like drive furiously for Heaven,
But of their Chariot wheels are soon bereaven.
Their Spring is turn'd to Autumn, & their gold
To clay; their zeal for God is grown key-cold.
Sad Times! Men cast Religion out of place,
Rather then bear for it the least disgrace.
So little zeal is for Gods glory shown,
That sure we live under the frozen Zone.

203. On a Collar.

The Collar checks the Stallion in,
Restraining Grace keeps men from sin.

204. On Collection.

The World is a Collection of all
The Creatures; 'tis a very goodly Ball.

205. On a Colledge.

Heav'n is a Colledge, Saints Christs Scholars here.
Are Angels Fellows when once entred there?

206. On a Colleague.

Angels are our Colleagues and we must still
Praise God, and readily obey his Will.

207. On a Collier.

The Devil and Collier are alike for hew,
Both black; and so are we till born anew.

208. On the Collick.

Pain damps our mirth, small mind hath he to frolick,
That's pained with the Belly-wringing Collick.

209. On Colours.

The Star-embellish'd Bird which Juno so
Admires, th'embroidred skie-adorning Bow
Presaging showrs, eye-pleasing colours show,
Which men born blind cannot distinctly know.
We cannot know the things that do concern
Our peace, till God be pleas'd to make us learn.

210. On a Column.

The Fabrick of the Heav'ns do lean upon
No other Column, but Gods Word alone.

211. On a Combat.

Two sons of Valour dealt so thick their blows,
As that one Sword unto the other owes
No wound, they slic'd each other while their bloud
Commix'd together, made one crimson Floud.
At last these Combatants of Mars both fell
And made their clashing armouring their Knell.
We must all our Soul-Enemies knock down
Before we can obtain a Victors Crown.

212. On a Comb.

The Comb is us'd to plain the hair
Grace only makes the Soul look fair.

213. On Commination.

Gods dreadful threatnings give man warning do,
Before his Murd'ring-pieces give the blow.
O when God menaceth, let us begin
To quake and greatly tremble, lest by sin
We should occasion his severer frown,
And on our heads denounced Plagues draw down
God warn'd us hath, some judgments he hath sent
And more will come, if England not repent.

214. On Cumbrance.

Much business Martha distracts,
Whilst Mary the best things affects.

215. On Combustion.

The Waters of Repentance can
Allay the flame of sin in man.

216. On a Comedie.

A comedie is turbulent at first,
But calm at last. Good Times succeed the worst,
Though now we mourn, our God will comfort send,
A sad beginning hath a joyful end.

217. On Comliness.

The Church is Beauties Magazin,
Her comliness is all within,
Without she hath a tawny skin.
Her misery hath tann'd her so,
But Mercy which from Christ doth flow,
Can make her fairer than the Snow.

218. On a Comet.

When God hangs out the dismal blazing Star,
Portending Famine, Pestilence and War,
Foretelling change of Governments and Times,
He means to punish our offending Crimes.
Now if we would such dire effects prevent,
Return we must, and speedily repent.
Three Comets lately shin'd, and thousands are
Dead with the Plague, & hundreds fall'n by War.
And oh that Prince, and Priest, and People too,
Would keep a Fast indeed, and not in show.
Return we must, and suddenly repent,
Or else our Plagues will more and more augment.

219. On Comfort.

Mourning precedes, and comfort doth ensue,
The wound is launc'd, then cur'd, that is the true
Sun-shine of joy, which comes after a showr
Of tears, God his best Wine doth last forth pour.
First he prescribes sorrow for sin, anon
Broaches the Wine of Consolation.
The Devil contrarily shews the best first,
And keeps till last (for a reserve) the worst:
He first presents the sug'red meats of Sin,
And after the sad reck'ning is brought in;
When he had shew'd Judas the silver bait,
He struck him with the Hook, and caught him strait.
God pours the golden oyl of Joy into
The broken vessel, his choice comforts flow
In, while tears are pour'd out, sad nights of sorrow
Are Ushers to a glorious shining morrow.
The comforts of Gods Spirit, are real, pure,
Holy, soul-filling, sweet, lasting, secure,
Glorious, transporting, cordial comforts, none
But Saints shall sit with, Christ upon the Throne;
And sit down with him at the Table, where
Cœlestial delicates provided are.
Although the Seeds-time of the Saints be wet,
Yet they shall with a joyful Harvest meet.
Gods Sun-bright face, all sorrow shall destroy,
And turn their Tears into the Wine of Joy.

220. On Commands Legal, Evangelical.

Christ is the King of Kings (by him Kings reign)
And shall not he royal Edicts Ordain
To rule his Subjects by? 'tis well for Saints
That they are check'd by awful Laws restraints.
Th'heart would be ready to run wild in sin,
Did not Christs Law coerce and hold it in.
How many now are in the Devils Pound,
That from Christs Precepts have been stragling sound!
A godly man to God and Christ his laws
Consents, obeys in love; Gods Spirit draws
I'th' yoke with us, as a divine Loadstone
It moves the heart, which cannot move alone.
It blows upon the soul, and with its gales
Quickens in duty, the affections sails.
All Christs commands are very profitable;
Centring in blessedness, are honourable;
Are nectariz'd with jov, are transitory,
Saints now under the Yoke, shall rest in Glory.
Needs must the Laws and Statutes Christ enacts,
Be Eligible then for these respects.
The Gospels golden mandates easie are,
Compared to the Moral Law severe;
This, bids us Do and Live, That our desires
Accepts; Pers'nal Obedience This requires;
A surety That admits; This bids and threats,
But strengthens not to do; That power lets
Into the soul; its Precepts sweetned be
With promises, where is sincerity
God in the Gospel winks at our defects;
The Law perfect Obedience exacts.
Christs Laws are sweet and easie, if compar'd
To sins commands; Sin presses down as hard
As Lead, how easie are the Laws of Grace
Oppos'd to Hell! Hell is a restless place.
If Christs Commands we in the Ballance poyse
With Heavens Glory, and eternal Joys,
How light they are! what disproportion
Is there between our Service and the Crown
Of recompence, our travels and our pains
Are grains, compar'd with future massie gains.
O love the ways of God, and always bow
To Christs commands, Believers are not now
Under the thundring curses of the Law,
No, nor its Ceremonies; Stand in aw,
Yet serve God out of choice; his Law is right,
His yoke is easie, and his burthen light;
Think of the joy, the glory, the reward
Of godliness, Duty will not seem hard.

221. On a Commander.

Death over-came men-conq'u'ring Alexander,
But was subdu'd by Christ, the worlds Commander,
Christ by his death far greater conquests gain'd
Then Alexander all his life obtain'd,
Death yields to him, death that doth all devour,
And Satan too, is vanquish'd by his power.

222. On Commendation.

The Saint's an Angel drest in flesh and blood;
His inclinations do aim at good;
His vertues are too great to be reveal'd,
And yet (me thinks) too great to be conceal'd:
Grace doth advance him far beyond the Pen,
Or the weak knowledge of admiting men,
No flowing language, nor words richest dress
And loft'st sence, can his full worth express,
Then since thou canst not paint him life & limb,
Admire Gods goodness in admiting him.

223. On a Comment.

Bad is that comment which corrupts the text,
Such is the Rhemist to Gods word annex't.

224. On Commerce.

Saints have commerce with God by ordinances,
Before to heav'nly Thrones he them advances.

225. On the comming of Christ.

226. On coming to Christ.

227. On a Commissary.

The ravenous Raven was Gods commissary,
Provision to Elisha for to carry.

228. On a Commission.

The Father to his Son commission gave,
To come lost sinners for to seek and save,
A bleeding Christ will broken hearts recover,
He comes to heal, read his Commission

Luk. 4. 18.

over,
Me hath he sent to heal the broken hearted,
Lost sinners are by him call'd, and converted.

229. On Commodities.

The best of our commodities do come
By water, weeping brings us comfort home.

230. On Common things.

That which is common, proper is to no man,
For how can it be proper since tis common?
Nor can it still be said t'excell the rest,
For what is common is not always best.

231. On a Common-Wealth.

232. On Commotion.

He who allays the furious raging Ocean,
Can pacifie the peoples mad commotion.

233. On Communicativeness.

The best things most communicative are,
Of what they have, what benefits is there
Of Diamonds in rocks; the end alone
Of life is usefulness; the cloud pour down
Their silver showrs; the sun doth sparss abroad
Its golden beams, the sea doth Rivers load
With pearly streams; Christ is deffusive still,
And freely to us give himself he will:
Despair we might, should he slight our condition,
And tell us we are not in his commission:
To such sinners as we, he is not sent;
But he is willing that we should repent
And have him? thus his mind he doth declare,
Come unto me, all ye that weary are,
He fain would have the match made up between
Us and him, was such freeness ever seen?
The upright Christian hath a liberal heart
To Christs poor, he loves always to impart
To heal anothers wounds, the golden Balms
Of mercy, he is ever giving alms:
Mercy, and liberality always
Is th'Ensign that integrity displayes:
A good man is a common good, where e're
He lives, to shew mercy he doth not spare:
God-like he makes Charities springs to run
Among poverties valleys, bad men shun
Occasions to do good; he that alone
Is good unto himself, is good to none.

234. On Communing.

Men do commune with others at fit seasons,
But ah! who is there with his own heart reasons.

235. On Communion.

The Saints communion is with Christ their head
In grace or glory,
And with his Members either live or dead,
Now glad, now sorry:
A gracious heart with God communion hath
By contemplation;
By true desire, pure Love, adhering Faith;
In conversation,
Up towards God from whom all comforts roul;
Grace bears the soul:
In prayer we speak to God, in whom our bliss is,
And God he kisses
Us with the kisses of his lips, in the
Sacrament, he
Gives us a privy seal of his free grace,
Doth us embrace.
The spirits Load-stone draws the heart by love
To God above.
God is the center of the Soul, and where
He is, tis there:
A Christian as the Bird in the Nest,
In God doth rest;
God is our Father, Husband, Friend, Rock, Treasure,
Good beyond measure:
In him all fulness and all sweetness dwells,
O he excells!
My Soul to have with God sweet intercourse
Thy self divource
From sin, and from the love of worldly things,
Whence no true comfort, nor contentment springs.

236. On Commutation.

The Sts. traffick with God by pray'rs & tears,
For grace and glory, rich cælestial wares.

237. On Company.

238. On a Condition.

Compare we our condition, and our
Desert together, w'have deserved more
Afflictions, and have deserved less
Mercies from God, we cannot but confess.
Compare we our estate with others such,
As may cause wonder that we have so much:
Compare we our estate with Christ upon
The earth; compare we our condition
With what it was, and shall hereafter be,
So shall we not complain of poverty.
We once lay in our blood, hell's heirs assign'd,
We shall dye shortly, and leave all behind,
If we have not what we desire, we have
More then we brought, or carry to the grave.

239. On the Comparative Degree.

240. On Compassing.

Er'e we get into Christ, we must come out
Of sin, the next way home is round about.

241. On Compassion.

Compassion doth as naturally flow
From God our heav'nly Father us unto,
As light does from the sun, his bowels yearn
Towards his children, we must also learn
To be as he is, merciful and mild
To those that of their comforts are beguil'd.
Christs Passion, nor his compassion
Is ended; oh his Bowels! every grone
Of the sick patient goes to the heart
Of this Physitian; he doth impart
His cord'al-promises to stay the soul
From fainting, and does their estate condole
In his relenting spirit, his love-streams in
Poor souls, that find themselves heart-sick of sin:
Though he will sinners wound and make them bleed,
Yet will he never break the bruised Reed:
Bonner, as one observ'd, was full of gutts,
But ah! empty of bowels, God he shuts
Not his compassion up, but does relieve
Our pining wants, and grieve with them that grieve.

242. On Compensation.

We shall be justifi'd according to
Our works, but not for any good we do:
God in Christ Jesus our good works regards,
And through Christ Jesus we expect rewards:
Faith in Christ Jesus help us to a Crown,
All Popish Merits therefore we disown.

243. On Compitency.

To have a competency, and to want
Contentment, is an heavy punishment:
Covetousness is a dry drunkenness,
Perchance if one had more, he would have less
Content; the more men have the more they still
Desire, man's heart the world can never fill:
He hath enough that is with his Estate
Contented; learn we then to moderate,
And lessen our desires; a little blest
Is much, a competent estate is best:
Did Esau say I have enough of store;
And oh shall not a Saint say so much more!

244. On a Competitor.

Saints are competitors for Heaven, that place
Of bliss; Glory is for the heirs of grace.

245. On Complaining.

A child of God complains of what he wants,
He grieves he is so bad; from ordinance
To ordinance, he goes for a supply
Of his great wants, though he dares not deny
The work of grace, yet he laments he hath
No more grace, that he hath so little faith,
So little love, so little zeal that's true,
And that he can for God so little do.
While some complain of poverty alas!
My soul, do thou complain thou wantest grace.

246. On a Complement.

We complement with God, if we profess
We love him, yet delight in wickedness.

247. On Complexion.

Christ he is white and ruddy in complexion,
In him there is an excellent connexion
Of purest colours, he is full of grace,
Therefore the Virgin-heart doth him embrace.

248. On Complices.

Sworn foes to vertue, and fast friends to vices,
Sprung from th'infernal Den, are fit complices
To further Satan's wicked enterprises.

249. On a Composition.

Christ is a composition of all sweets,
O blessed they whom he divinely greets!

250. On Comprising.

God is immense beyond all bounds extended,
And therefore can he not be comprehended.

251. On Compunction.

All they that have received the Spirits Unction,
First self conviction; after that, compunction.

252. On Computation.

My sins to such a reck'ning do amount,
That they surpass Arithmetick's account.

253. On Compulsion.

Satan can but perswade, could he compell,
Scarce one should go to Heav'n, but all to hell.

254. On a Comrade.

He that in wickedness delights to trade,
May fitly stiled be the Devils comrade.

255. On Concatenation.

The grace of the spirit are like a Row
Of orient Pearls, which hang together do
Upon Religion's string, and serve to deck
Christ's Bride, this is the Chain adorns her neck:
Who hath one grace hath all, Gods spirit places
An habit in the heart of all the graces,
There is such a concatenation
In them, that he who hath not all, hath none.

256. On Concealing.

Who so conceals by sin, and wickedness
Shall not be crown'd with prosperous success,
But he that doth confess and sin forsake,
Shall obtain mercy for Christ Jesus sake.

257. On Conceaving.

Behold! in sin our mothers did conceave us,
What is bred in the bone will hardly leave us.

258. On Conceiving.

The Joys which God shal to his Saints impart,
Out-vie the large conceptions of mans heart.

259. On Conceit.

Many conceit they shall in Heaven dwell,
Whose lives declare they are design'd for hell.

260. On a Concent.

Angels and Saints are singing in one tune,
Eternal praise to heavens great Trin-Une.

261. On Conclusion.

Grace terminates in glory, the conclusion
Of sin, is misery and sad confusion.

262. On the Concomitants of Faith.

263. On Concord.

The fairest flower of a Princes Crown,
Is peace; to Church & State peace brings renown.
Peace is a girdle, that together tyes;
Family-Members; O let's Concord prize.

264. On a Concourse.

265. On a Concubine.

She is the Devils hackney, dearly hir'd
To carry men to hell, with lust infir'd,
Still us'd, and yet the Jade is never tir'd.

266. On Concupisence.

My Soul avoid concupiscence,
It is the Fountain head, from whence
All our enormities do flow,
And consequently endless woe.

267. On Condemnation.

No condemnation is the share
Of them, who in Christ Jesus are,
Who never walk according to
The flesh, but as the Spir't bids, do.

268. On Conditions.

269. On a Conduct.

Our foes are strong to tear in sunder,
We of our selves, weak to resist,
Yet shall we conquer, sighting under
The conduct of our Captain Christ:
Sweet Jesus help me to subdue
The World, and Sin, and Satan too.

270. On a Conduit.

Christ is a conduit, Saints to him goe
For living waters, which do from him flow.

271. On Confection.

Sinners and Saints are here together mingled,
But at the Judgment day, they shall be singled.

272. On Confederacy.

The World, the Flesh, the Devil conspire our ill,
And we must pray to God against them still.

273. On Conference.

Some Plants will better bear neer other Trees,
Then when they grow alone in godliness,
The Saints thrives best, when they associate,
And one another's Faith corroborate:
When the Trees planted in Gods Orchard grow
At too great distance, they less fruit do show.

274. On Confession.

Sinfulness is asleep, confession
A sign we are awak'd, or there is none;
If our sins to our God we open lay,
He will conceal them at the latest day:
God will not cancel what man doth conceal,
Confession heals; he that will not reveal
His grief to his Physitian, hath no care
Of his own cure, too many such there are.

275. On Confidence.

Friends Venice-glasses are, use them we may,
But if we lean to hard upon them, they
Will break, but God for ever doth abide,
My Soul! therefore in him alone confide.

276. On Confines.

God who at once surveys the world's wide borders,
All things for his own glory wisely orders;
Lord sanctifie my heart, that I may not
From the bounds of thy Law depart one jot.

277. On Confits.

The sugred confits that the Devil
Presents us with, are truly evil.

278. On a Conflict.

We must contest against the Devils trial,
By Faith; & with our selves, by self-denial.

279. On Conformity.

Rome roughly drives men to observe her Laws,
But to conform to his, God mildly draws.

280. On Confusion.

Confusion of sin must next ensue
Confession, or Repentance is not true.

281. On Confutation.

The Athiest that denies a deity,
Shall when he comes to Hell confuted be.

282. On Congealing.

The Sun of Right'ousness dissolveth in-
To tears, hearts bound up with the frosts of sin

283. On Congestion.

Let sons of Earth heap up their unsumm'd gold
My God! O may my heart thy graces hold.

284. On a Congey.

At Jesus Name each knee shall bow,
Him service Men and Angels owe.
But good Romanio tell me who,
Commanded thee to congey so
At Jesus Name, true Saints defie
Syllabical Idolatry.

285. On Congratulation.

The blessed Angels do congratulate
The sinners freedom from his natural state.

286. On Congregation.

That Congregation is not well taught,
Whose Priest is either ignorant or naught.

287. On congruity.

Sinners at league against the godly be,
And shall not Saints among themselves agree!

288. On a Connie.

The feeble Connie burroughs in the rock,
A Saint in Christ can at all dangers mock.

289. On Conjecture.

A man may guess and be deceiv'd,
But what Truth says, must be believ'd.

290. On Conjoyning.

From Christ the Saints receive their Unction,
And they are One, O blest conjunction!
Great and good, rich and holy are
Happy, but yet conjunctions rare.

291. On a Conjurer.

He that to do the Devils work engages,
Shall certainly receive damnable wages;
And such as to the Devils workman run
For help, shall by so doing be undone.

292. On Connexion.

God, Duty and Reward together ties,
By sweetning his Commands with Promises.

293. On a Conquerour.

294. On Conscience.

295. On Consecration.

Jesus Christ was consecrated,
To be our King, Priest, and Prophet;
We are by him reinstated,
Ransomed from Sin and Tophet.
Come let us fall down before him,
And with reverence adore him.

296. On Consent.

Consent in will to what the judgment likes
Facilitates an action: Paul thus speaks
I consent to the Law that it is good,

Rom. 7. 16.

And therefore by him it was not withstood;
A Saint consents to Gods commands, therefore
They are not grievous; Sinners evermore
Are under force, terrour of Conscience
Hales them to duty, not its excellence;
Such are like Slaves unto the Gally chain'd,
That are (whether they will or no) constrain'd
To work, but godly men like Subjects free,
Yield to their Princes Laws; they love to be
Forward in loyalty, and will confess
Their equity and reasonableness.
Saints find in Gods commands so much content,
As draweth forth consent, and this consent
Both easie and familiar made them hath,
Consent is a concomitant of Faith;
The Saint consents to have Christ, and to have
Him upon his own terms to rule, to save.
He makes it not his talk to pick and choose,
But with whole Christ doth very freely close,
For better or for worse; he sees there lies
Beauty and glory in Christs opprobries.
Purely for love, he loveth Christ for Christ;
Without whom Heaven given by the High'st
Is no sufficient dowry for a Saint,
A Saint consents without the least constraint.
Christs beauty and sweet disposition draws
The Will to yield obedience to his Laws.
The Will (which as the Master-wheel) doth carry
The whole soul with it, as Sts. consents to marry
With Christ (replenished with Graces store)
On this condition, never to part more.
He will part freely with his life, but not
With Christ; indeed Death when it slips the knot
Between the soul and body, it conjoyns
The Soul and Christ more sure; a Saint resigns
By way of Deed of Gift the interest
That he hath in himself, wholly to Christ.
His own name, his own will he yields to lose,
And will be wholly at Christ's wise dispose.
Christ hath the best and purest of his love,
Which nothing shall be able to remove.
That easie is which with consent is done,
The March between Christ and the Soul goes on,
With cheerfulness she giving her consent,
Nor shall she e're have cause for to repent.
Lord I assent, and give my consent to
Thy sacred Laws: but ah! I cannot do
What they command; yet wholly I resign
My self to thee, O be thou wholly mine.

297. On Consequents.

298. On Consideration.

299. On a Consistory.

Coonscience is Gods Consistory,
And his lesser Throne of Glory.

300. On Consolation.

301. On Consonants.

Ask without Vowels, Consonants are dumb;
So, without Graces, Men as Bruits become.

302. On a Consort.

What consort's there when Consorts live in strife?
O what a Jewel is a loving wife!
O what a blessed harmony is there,
When man and wife do serve the Lord with fear!

303. On Conspiracy.

Sampsons Foxes were agreed
To consume the Corn with fire;
Satan and his cursed seed,
Do against the Church conspire
And her overthrow endeavour,
But she shall abide for ever.

304. On a Constable.

Constable mind your charge, the Drunkard reels
About the streets, go lay him by the heels.
Who sin corrects, he mercifully deals.

305. On Constancy.

306. On Constellation.

'Tis not the influx of a Constellation,
But sin that bringeth ruine to a Nation.

307. On Constitution.

Some men of such a constitution are,
That for their sins they cannot shed a tear:
But let no Saint be thereat discontent
The Vessel may be full, though it wants vent.

308. On Constraint.

Sinners compell'd do yield, the gracious Saint
Obeys God out of love, not by constraint.

309. On Construction.

Without addition or deduction,
Things may admit a good Construction.

310. On a Consul.

Romes Consuls honourable things did do,
God grant our Counsellours may do so too.

311. On Consultation.

When we would get what really is good,
We must not take advice from flesh and blood.

312. On a Consumption.

A man may have his body plump and whole,
Yet a Consumptive, a diseased soul.

313. On Consummation.

As Glory is the consummation
Of Grace, so Grace is Glory here begun.

314. On Contact.

The Loadstone by a vertual contact
Draws Ir'n to it. Gods Spir't doth attract
Us by a supernat'ral instinct
T'himself, to Christ by faith our hearts are link't

315. On Contagion.

Sin infects all the powers of the soul,
And members of the body; puts the whole
Man out of order: if Christ bathe us in
His blood, that frees us from the plague of sin.

316. On Containing.

God is immense in ev'ry place remaining,
Contain'd of nothing, yet all things containing

317. On Contemplation.

Felicity, the Stagarite assign'd
To the high contemplation of the mind;
By contemplation the Souls pow'rs are prest
To act upon (this most perfect object) Rest:
The Nursery of Piety it is,
St. Herom stiled it his Paradise;
It's a friend to the Graces, contemplation
Helps very much to water the Plantation:
A Treasury it is, where all the Graces
Are locked up, this a Prospective-Glass is,
By which the Saints see things not to be seen
By mortal eyes; this Portal lets us in
To glory, and puts us in heav'n before
Our times, King Davids thought were evermore,
Travelling towards the Jerusalem
Above, which made him things below contemn:
A devout Soul in contemplation,
Is never loss alone; then when alone
By good desires, in the best company,
Even with his God and Saints it loves to be.

318. On Contempt.

The world with all it's pleasures, profits, glory,
Is transitory:
And it gives no content to them that prize it,
Let's then despise it;
And use it so, as though we us'd it not;
Envy doth blot
Fair honours credit, swelling Titles are
Dreams in career:
Riches have wings, but for a while they stay,
Then flee away,
Pleasures alas! how quickly do they fade
When grief invade!
My Soul, there's nothing that deserves thy love
But God above:
O run to him, and strive to be possest
Of him, so shalt thou be for ever blest.

319. On Contending for Heaven.

And does there then remain a glorious Rest
For Saints? O let us zealously contest
For it against all oppositions,
We must pass thorough Thornes to sit on Thrones,
We er'e we reign, three Regiments must rout,
The flesh, and Devil within, the world without.
By giving battel to them in the way,
Heav'n is for triumph, but it's now a day
Of battail, let's fight the good fight of Faith,
There's no cessation of Arms till death.

320. On Contention.

321. On Contentment.

322. On Continence.

Venus will freeze, if Ceres (belly-cheere)
And Bacchus (wine) make not a fire for her;
Prayer and Fasting is the Agnus castus,
And Lettice to cool lust, which else may wast us!

323. On Continuance.

324. On a Contract.

There is a contract past between
Christ and the Soul that hateth sin,
The Soul that takes delight in evil,
Hath chosen for her mate the Devil.

325. On Contradiction.

He contradicts his Pray'rs that says thy will
Be done, and always doth his own fulfill;
If thou repent, and not reformest, this
Repentance with a contradiction is,
God will forgive, but thou to Hell shalt go,
Forgiveness with a contradiction too!
Heaven is with joys & hell with torments stock'd,
Be not deceived, God will not be mock'd.

326. On Contraries.

Contraries are as Commentaries to
Destroy each other, if oppose we do
Contrary natures diametrally,
We learn what to embrace, what to pass by,
If the departing sun should not leave night
To follow it, the day would seem less bright.
The foil adds grace to th'Jewel, ignorance
Barking at learning, doth its worth advance,
He knows the worth of heat (I dare be bold)
Who felt the sharpness of a freezing cold,
Even health it self, did but no sickness vex,
Would be thought sickness, and as much perplex;
Nay, foul sin by a sober Meditation,
Affordeth an unwilling Illustration
To grace (which doth our souls so beautifie)
'Gainst which it vaunts a contrariety.

327. On Contribution.

I read the Ancients made oyl to be
The sacred embleme of true Charity;
The golden oyl of contribution,
Like A'rons oyl, must trickle down upon
The poor, which are the garments lower skirts,
The Saints to pious uses wealth converts:
Not only Christ (in whom all fulness dwells)
Commands to do good works, but grace compells.

328. On Contrition.

329. On a Controller.

God is the great controller of our Souls,
Whose Byas naturally hell-ward rouls.

330. On Controversie.

In fundamental Truths be resolute
And stable, he that falshoods would confute,
Makes these his fixed Poles, whil'st Scepticks tost
On controversial seas, are giddi'd, lost.

332. On Contumacy.

Self-will'd we are by nature, if God please
He can pul down our stubborn hearts with ease
And make the Mountain of our pride decrease.

332. On a Conventicle.

Where men do meet to serve the Lord with fear
For holy ends, no Conventicle's there.
When men (like Venners party) meet and stickle
T'effect some ill, O that's a Conventicle.

333. On Conversation.

Where there is a good conscience, there will
Be a good conversation, pure hearts still
Go with pure lives, when with its golden beams
Grace shines abroad, how beautiful it seems!
If the stream be corrupt, we may suspect
The Spring to be impure, a Saint will act
For God, of God he very often talks,
And with God, Noah-like, he always walks,
Is exercis'd in Angels work, always
Serving his God, and singing to his praise:
A Christian is full of spir't'al mirth,
His life's a very Heaven upon Earth;
The conversation of Saints is where
God is, in Heaven e're themselves come there,
Shall we account them pure, whose conversation
Is not in Heaven, Gods Holy habitation;
But in hell rather, Satans dwelling place?
How justly may such as are voyd of grace,
Reproach and scorn Religion when they see't
Thus kicked down, with our unholy feet.
The Clock hath not its motion within
Alone, without there moves the Dyal-pin:
Sincerity of heart is seen upon
The Dyal of the conversation.
A pure heart hath a golden Frontispice,
It loves fair vertue, and abhors foul vice,
Grace like new wine, will have vent, cannot be
Concealed, the fruits do manifest the Tree,
Although within Religions main work lies,
Yet must our light shine forth to others eyes,
The Saints are called Jewels in the sight
Of others, they reflect a lustre bright,
When we have Gospel-conversations,
We in Gods Church, are sparkling Diamonds.
Saints lives come near to Christ their all in all,
As the Transcript to the Original.
Christ in his conversation, lovely seems,
His life was purer than the sunny beams;
'Twas a fair copy never any one,
Wrote without blotting, saving Christ alone,
Who knew no sin; his lips never did speak
A word amiss, his feet did never tread
A step awry, and he who was a way
For others to walk in, did never stray
Out of the way himself, his life's throughout,
A pattern of good works, he went about
Still doing good even from the cratch unto
The Cross, he never any ill did do.
As Moses face did shine when he had bin
With God, so we in holiness must shine.
Our carri'ge and deportment should declare,
That of Heavens City, Burgesses we are.
And that we to Jerusalem above
Are going, thorough the high-way of Love.
Sincer'ty in the heart as holy leaven,
Makes the heart to swell, & rise as high as Heaven.
The upright man orders his conversation
Aright, and God will shew him his salvation.
Some brag they have good hearts, but their lives are
Crooked, they hope to go to heaven, but their
Foot-steps take hold of Hell, while Saints set on
Religions head an honourable Crown,
Adorn the Gospel; such shall reign no doubt,
Who copy in their lives the Bible out.

334. On Converse.

335. On Conversion.

Gonversion is a change of mind, heart, will,
And life, to what is good from what is ill:
Conversion of a sinner by degrees;
And painfully is wrought, as God doth please,
Tis not the word that man speaks, nor the man
That speaks to us the word of truth, which can
Convert a soul; conversion is wrought
By knowing things, the spirit hath us taught
Otherwise than before, truth is alone
The truest Touch-stone of conversation,
A moral, formal mental, temporary,
Conversion many have, and yet miscarry:
Rich mens conversion is hard and rare,
A sound conversion is whole, sincere,
Growing in grace, constant in holiness,
Its worth no tongue is able to express.
If one return that unto God belongs,
The blessed Angels welcome him with Songs,
The Devils follow him with furious cry,
His old Colleagues, with scorn and obloquy,
Aversion from sin, conversion
To God, makes way for an eternal Crown.
'Tis not enough not to commit foul crimes,
But we must practice good, and this betimes.
(Timothy-like) if fruit we forth will bring
In Autumn, we must blossom in the Spring.

336. On Conviction.

337. On Convocation.

There shall be a Convocation
Of all Saints at the great day,
To be crown'd with Salvation,
And to reign with Christ for ay.
In the New Jerusalem
O may I be one of them

338. On Convulsions.

What strange convulsions Reprobates in hell
Endure for ever, O what tongue can tell!

339. On a Convoy.

My soul is under sail, Lord, if thou be
My convoy, I the Port of peace shall see.

340. On a Cook.

The Saints are ghests, and Glory is their dish,
A better Cook than Grace I would not wish.

341. On a Coop.

Hell is the Devils Coop Sinners run in,
But never can find the way out agin.

342. On a Co-partner.

If of Christs grace participate we do,
We shall share with him in his glory too.

343. On a Cope.

The Cope and Vestments of as much renown,
Will b' out of season, when the Pope goes down.

344. On a Copy.

Christs love was holy, hearty, kind, and stable,
And we should follow him as we are able.

345. On a Copy-hold.

Heav'n is a Christians Copy-hold more sure
Than any, for it ever shall endure.

346. On a Copiss.

Sinners shall Copiss-like be hewen down.
With Gods just Ax, and into Hell fire thrown.

347. On Copper.

Such are but Copper Christ'ans, who profess
That they know Christ, yet live in wickedness.

348. On Copperas.

Sin is as poys'nous as the Copperas;
No Antidote can drive it out, but Grace.

349. On Copulation.

God first of one made two, and now ties two
In one, which knot Death only can undo.

350. On Coral.

We rub therewith Teeth-breeding Infants
Great ben'fit often from hard usage comes.

351. On a Cord.

Love is a cord binds us to Christ, and draws
Our hearts to yield obedience to his Laws.

352. On a Cordial.

Gods Word is a strong cordial to the Saint,
This comforts him, when he is like to faint;
In wants and woes it yields support divine;
Turns Marah waters into pleasant wine.
Let sickness come, the comforts of the Word
Can allay it, and saving health afford;
The fiery trial, this is that opposes,
And turns the flame into a bed of Roses.
The sense of pardon takes away the sense
Of pain. Suppose Death come to fetch us hence,
A Christian can out-brave it, O Death where
Is thy sting! by the Word the spirits are
Reviv'd and chear'd; thus ev'ry child of God
Tastes honey at the end of the tart rod.
It's good t'have such a Julip lying by,
As can expel Deaths venom, when we die.

353. On a Core.

We must take out the core of malice from
Our hearts, before we to Gods Table come

354. On Cork.

Hope is the Cork that makes a Saint to swim
Above the floods, which else would ruine him

355. On a Cormorant.

Hell is a Cormorant, devouring all
The souls, that into Satans clutche; fall.

356. On Corn.

Good Works are crown'd, the husbandman takes pain
Before he reaps the pride of Ceres Plain.

357. On a Corner.

Each dusty corner of the heart must be
Swept clean, to entertain the Trinity.

358. On a Corner-stone.

Christ is resembled to a Corner stone;
The whole weight of the Fabrick lies upon
The Corner-stone, the weight of our salvation
Lies upon Christ, Christ is our sustentation.
Christ is the real Atlas, his firm shoulders
Are of the Churches weight, the main upholders.
He is that golden Pillar bears up all
Th'Elect, and while he stands, they cannot fall.
The Corner-stone ev'n as a Medium doth
Firmly unite, and link together both
Parts of the building; so when God and man
At variance were, this Corner-stone again
United them, yea did cement them too,
With his own bloud, and more what could he do?
The Corner-stone is that which gives alway
Direction to the Builders, how to lay
And place all other stones; he in his sight
Must have the Corner-stone, who would build right.
Christ Jesus is a Saints direction,
And rule, in all things by him to be done.
And have an eye, continually we must
Upon his word, and his example just.
The fairest stones because of beauty, are
Plac'd in the Corner, Christ is very fair,
The beauty of the spir'tual Mansion:
How rarely lovely is the precious Stone!
Christ who sustains, unites, adorns, directs,
Excells all Corner-stones in five respects.
He is a living Stone, and for his praise,
He unto the whole Building, Life conveys,
Hence Saints for spiritual buildings fit,
Are stiled Living Stones in sacred Writ.
He is a Stone of Gods immediate laying;
He is a Corner-stone without decaying.
As fast now, as he did at first, he cleaves;
He from the other stones no strength receives,
Christ is a Corner-stone that reaches from
The bottom to the top; all good things come
From him alone: One Christ the need supplies,
Of the whole Church, which on his grace relies
Note hence, the Church is firm, fair, with Christ one,
The Pope is not the Churches Cornerstone.
The truth of Christs two Nature; Christ is strong
And very near to those to him belong.
Lean not on sandy pillars, Christ is able
To prop thee, cast thy care on him; be stable,
Be comforted, Christ is the Corner-stone
Of Grace, as well as of Salvation.
He's strong though you be weak; recal to mind
The Corner-stone when you Church-tottrings find
Christ is a Stone elect, he is likewise
A precious Stone in Gods, Saints, Angels eyes:
And in himself, his person, and his graces,
Are glorious, so the Church for such a Basis.
Christ by the most of men despised is,
Because of ignorance, pride, prejudice.
In largeness and duration Christ excells
All other precious Stones, all fulness dwells
In him, no noble qualities he wants,
O the great riches of Believing Saints!
O bless God for this precious Corner-stone,
Encourag'd be to build on him alone:
Prize what refers to Christ, esteem him more
Than all the Jewels on the Indian shore:
So will you stick faster to him, and do,
And suffer gladly what he calls you to.

359. On a Cornet.

The Cornet was esteem'd in elder days,
David would have it us'd to sound Gods praise
Now let us with our hearts our voices raise.

360. On a Colonel.

The Colonel commandeth armed Bands,
How blest is he, who his own self commands!

361. On Coronation.

At Death a Christian shall compleatly be
Install'd into his honour, he shall see
God face to face, on him shall oyl be spread,
And the Crown-Royal set upon his head.
Saints of the Kingdom now are heirs renown'd,
Doth not the heir desire to be crown'd?
And, oh, shall not the Saints, while here they stay,
Be longing for the Coronation-day!

362. On a Corporation.

Christ is the head-officer, th'heirs of salvation
Are members of a blessed Corporation.

363. On a Corps.

Till God infuse grace into us, we can
Nor feel, nor act, no more than a dead man.

364. On Correction.

365. On a Corrival.

The Souls a Virgin, Christ and Satan wo her,
Christ to enrich her, Satan to undo her.

366. On a Corrasive.

The Law must first corrode, and search the wound,
Before the Gospels balm can make it sound.

367. On Corruption.

Hyblæan Hony is commixt with Wax:
The finest linnen hath both stains and bracks.
Gold hath its dross, and on the self-same ground,
Bright wheat, and also cumbrous weeds is found.
Ev'n so corruption in the Church of Christ,
May stand, and yet with it true Grace consist:
In Heav'n there's none but good, there's none in hell
But bad; both bad & good on earth do dwell.
The Church is Heaven's Kingdom call'd, because
Heav'ns King rules it by his Cœlestial Laws.
Yet still it is but Heaven upon Earth,
Whilst militant, some failings will sprout forth;
Nor may we therefore separate, for sure
The Gospel's fair, though mens lives are impure.
Gods floor hath chaff with corn, his drag-net hath
Rubbish with fish, his house vessels of wrath
With those of honor; the Moon sometimes wains,
And when 'tis at the Full, it hath some stains.
To the prepared it is not exprest,
My friend, how came you in with such a ghest.
Corruption, succedaneous to the fall
Of the first man, is that Original
Iniquity which Adam by the act
Of his so foul transgression, did contract,
And transmit to posterity, this is
Th'effect of that which Adam did amiss.
Corruption reigns not, though it may abide
In Saints, God looks it should be mortifi'd;
And he, if in the main we be upright,
Will pass them by, and very much delight
In all our duties, though remain they do,
Yea them reward here, and hereafter too.
And now my soul be careful to discover
Thy special vile affections; O watch over
Sins of thy calling, nature, constitution,
Time, place, and with a constant resolution
Strive to subdue them, by thy prayers wrastle,
And give not o're till thou hast won the Castle

370. On Cosmographie.

Tis said the World is spherical and round,
And that's the reason why there can be found
Little square dealing, roundness signifies
Perfection, yet below but little lies.

371. On Cost.

Our Saviours precious bloud was spilt,
To satisfie for all our guilt,
He did bleed out at ev'ry vein
Our pardon, by his loss we gain.

372. On a Costardmonger.

The Costardmonger sels Pears, Apples, Plums
Satan puts off his wares to all that comes.

273. On a Costrel.

This Vessel's full of Liquor, but alas!
My heart is empty of the wine of Grace.

374. On a Cottage.

The body is a Cottage, and it must
Resign it's Tenant, then return to dust.

375. On Cotton.

Our spungie eares are apt to drink
Foul language, as the Cotton Ink.

376. On a Couch.

King Davids Couch was watered
With tears, which for his sins he shed.
And O that I for sin could weep,
And my poor heart in sorrow steep!

377. On the Covenant.

Do this and thou shalt live, the covenant old
Urg'd this, but this afforded comfort cold.
But the new says, Believe and live for ever,
Accepting for the deed, our best endeavour.
The Law commandment gives, but not converts;
The Gospel brings salvation to our hearts,
And our hearts to salvation; each Saint
Because he is with God in covenant
Is blest already; I their God will be,
And they shall be a People unto me.
Happy that people, whose God is the Lord!
This is the crowning blessing, O sweet word!
To have God to be ours, to be possest
Of God, cannot but make us fully blest.
No tongue can tell thy blessedness, who art
In Christ, and in his Covenant hast part.
Mans fall did prove within a little space,
An in-let to the covenant of grace.
The Covenants Tie is Sure, for all do grant,
Christ is the Suretie of the covenant.
They are the Favourites of Heaven, who are
Link'd to, and under Gods indulgent care.
Such only as are undefil'd with sin,
And pure in heart, are interessed in
The covenant of Grace, we have no right
To the new covenant till washed white.
God he hath made his Will, and will not fail
To settle Heaven, upon us by entail.
With this Proviso in the Will, that we
Be purifi'd, and holy persons be.
The covenant is our great charter, this
Entitles us to ev'ry thing that is
In Earth and Heaven, the Saint in wealth excels,
By having Christ, in whom all fulness dwells.
Christ is the hinge and pillar, upon which
The covenant of Grace (which makes us rich
In all things) turns; 'tis founded upon Christ,
And sealed in his blood, an interest
We have in Christ, by faith, this golden chain,
Present and future things by faith we gain.
The covenant is a golden Zone or clasp,
That God to us, and us to God doth hasp.
In elder times the girdle was a token
Of chastity; the covenant once broken,
The Church doth lose her pure virginity,
Israel Gods Spouse fell to Idolatry:
A sin that did directly cut in sunder
Th'afed'ral knot, that she's divorc'd what wonder?
Our solemn Obligations are of late,
As an old Almanack gone out of date:
But covenant violation is an high
Affronting sin, which God will not pass by
Without revenge, a bold affront will make
God draw his sword, and vengeance on us take.
O if God's covenant so sacred still,
Will not restrain us, God hath chains that will;
Eternal chains: Have we not cause to mourn,
When Christians do Carthaginians turn,
And make no reck'ning of their Oaths at all?
Unless we do repent, perish we shall.
Mourn England, mourn for covenant violation.
Which is a flying roll against thy Nation.
The Sacramental covenants, thy vow
In Baptism, and at the Lords Supper, thou
Hast started from, and hast done nothing less
Than what thou promisedst in thy distress.
How shamefully hast thou thy God forgot?
And made his covenants like a Gypsies knot,
Fast or loose at thy pleasure; or reform
Thy ways and labour to prevent a Storm
Of falling vengeance; O repent betimes,
And God will pardon thy Heav'n-daring crimes.

378. On Covering.

The wings of mercy hover over
A Saint, his sins free grace doth cover,
Who of Christ Jesus is a lover.

379. On Covetousness.

380. On a Cough.

A cough cannot be hid no more (they say)
Can love, external signs do them bewray.

381. On a Coulter.

Did not the coulter cut the earth, the share
Were useless, and the ground no Corn would
So till manur'd by grace, we barren are.

382. On Counsel.

383. On the Countenance.

'Tis the Index of the mind,
Shewing how we are inclin'd,
Grace more pleases, if it glance
From a comely countenance
But a heart that shines with grace,
Doth surpass the fairest face.

384. On a Counter.

A counter is of small account, so we
Are little worth, till sanctifi'd we be.

385. On a Counterfeit.

A kiss preceded glozing Judas Treason,
Counterfeit shews, are never out of season,
And oftentimes transcend the bounds of reason
A counterfeit Religion shall find
A real Hell, for Hypocrites assign'd,
How blest are they whose hearts with grace are lin'd!

386. On a Countermine.

Satan will countermine us, if we do
Dig for salvations Mine, malicious so!

387. On a Counterpane.

Glory is for the Saints, writings are drawn
And seal'd, holiness is the Counterpane.

388. On a Counter-poyson.

What though I have a sin-envenom'd soul,
Christ's bloud by faith appli'd, can make me whole.

389. On Countervail.

Short-liv'd affliction, cannot countervail
Triumphant glory, which shall never fail.

390. On County.

Gods gifts abound in ev'ry County,
But O, how few admire his bounty.

391. On Country.

What thou here on us many sorrows come,
We are but strangers, Heaven is our home,
Ours by the Fathers Ordination;
Ours freely purchas'd for us by the Son;
Ours sealed to us by the Holy-Ghost,
To our own country, we apace do post:
Though now we be but wards, and not possest
Of it, yet are we Heirs to it at least:
When we to perfect growth in grace attain,
We shall a plenary possession gain.
God give us grace, to find repentance way,
That come to our own home, at last we may.

392. On a Couple.

A pair of Pigeons, or two Turtle-doves,
God will accept, who free-will offrings loves,

393. On Courage.

Fortitude is the fairest blossom that
Springs from a noble mind, its heat and hate
Conquers the enemy before the field
Be sought in; Valiant Saints makes Satan yield,
It is a noble Conquest to o'rethrow
A potent Foe, and never strike a blow.

394 On a Course.

The whole course of our living must
Be loving, let us never thrust
Love out of doors, many will talk
Of love; few love in Love to walk.

395. On a Courser.

What speed the courser makes, we have a race
To run, O why do we not mend our pace?
The prize is glory, which is won by grace.

396. On a Courtier.

Perfumed Silk-worms, shining bubbles,
That Pedlars shops about them bear,
Frequent the place of glorious troubles,
Sad coming were such anticks are!
Better be in Gods Court a Porter,
Than dwell where glistring sinners quarter.

397. On a Cousener.

A man may cousen man unseen,
But God will not be mock'd,
He hath a Key to let him in,
Although the heart be lock'd,
Lord! I confess my sins to thee,
O be thou pleas'd to pardon me.

398. On a Cowl.

An ag'd Matron neer her end,
Did request her Belgick friend,
A bald Friar's crown t'extend
Over her, (as saves the story:)
E're she was of life bereaven,
That her sins might be forgiven,
And her Soul might pass to Heaven,
Without entering Purgatory:
O how sad are their condition,
Who are kept in superstition!

399. On a Cow.

God's word t'our souls doth sincere Milk allow
For nourishment, not so the vb'rous Cow.

400. On a Coward.

Satan is like a French-man, bold at first,
Resist him, and you'l put him to the worst.

401. On a Crab-fish, Crab-tree.

How many in Religions trade,
Do like the Crab-fish retrograde,
And like the Crab-tree can produce,
No fruits but sow'r, sarce fit for use.

402. On a Cradle.

Securitie's a Cradle, we must keep
Strict watch, lest Satan lull us fast asleep.

403. On Craft.

404. On Cramming.

Our bodies are well-cramm'd, and pampered,
Whilst our souls pine for want of living bread.

405. On the Cramp.

The Cramp contracts and pulls the sinnews in,
So grace checks sinners, who run mad in sin.

406. On a Crane.

I must be wratchful as the Thracian fowl,
Or else the Devil will surprize my Soul.

407. On a Crany.

A fault in others through the smallest crany,
Is seen, and talk'd of, but alas! scarce any,
See & confess their own, though they have many.

408. On a Crasiness.

God sets us work to do, our souls are lazy,
And want of stirring, makes them sick and crazy.

409. On a Cratch.

O strange! he that did in his wisdom stretch
Th'heav'ns out, lay cradled in a simple cratch

410. On Craving.

Our wants are great, the only way of having
Them still suppli'd, is to be always craving.

411. On a Creaking noise.

Man not regards the creaking of a Cart,
Nor God the pray'rs of an ungracious heart.

412. On a Creak.

How many souls are there that spring a leak,
And suffer Ship-wrack er'e they touch the creak!

413. On Cream.

God's word is Milk, the Hearer is the Boul
To keep it in, in ev'ry gracious soul,
It turns to Cream, which he in praises, pray'rs,
Doth offer up to God's attentive eares.

414. On Creation.

415. On Credence.

Assent and giving credence to
All that the Scripture saith,
Concerning Christ, who suffer'd so,
Precedent is to Faith.

416. On Credit.

As of our conscience we must have a care,
So likewise of our credit, never dare
Unseemly things, Saints have a lasting name,
When sinners reputation turns to shame:
It's a good thing to have praise to us carv'd,
But it's a better to have praise deserv'd:
This credit wealth cannot procure, but grace,
Not goods but goodness; happy is his case,
Whose own heart not condemns him, such as do
Honour the Lord, he them will honour too.

417. On a Creditor.

God is a Creditor, he lends
Us time and talents to improve,
Which who so misimploys mispends,
Provokes to wrath the God of Love.
Sin is a debt, our Creditor is just,
And if our surety pay it not, we must.

418. On Credulity.

Tis a vice to believe nothing, or none;
All things, or all, that is said to be done:
A cred'lous man is to a fool a kin,
Believing all he hears, this brings strife in,
A wiseman will not at the first rebound,
Take a report, Truth is by sifting found.

419. On the Creed.

You that have heard so much of Christ, can pray,
Yet cannot with humble adherence say,
My Jesus, and my Lord, I tell you true,
The Devil can say his Creed as well as you:
Lord, I believe not only that thou art,
And what thou sayst, but in thee, may I part
With all for thee, and from thee never start.

420. On Creeping.

In sin (alas!) our motion is not slow,
In duty, oh! how creepingly we goe.

421. On a Cresset-light.

Lord! set the Beacon of my heart on fire
With Holy zeal, and let the flame aspire
To thee, the highest Orb of my desire.

422. On a Crest.

Such as do go with an elated Crest,
Shall be cast down, but such as are deprest
With sense of sin, shall be advanc'd and blest.

423. On a Crib.

Oh! if the Ass her Masters crib doth know,
Man should know God, who all the world doth ow:
His Maker, his Redeemer, who supplies,
His wants, and pities his infirmities.

424. On a Cricket.

As merry as a Cricket one may be,
Whose heart is fill'd with dire perplexity.

425. On a Crier.

Gods Ministers are Criers, and they dare not
But crie aloud, & shew to men and spare not
Their horrid sins, dumb Preachers that betray
Their trust, shall be condemned another day.

426. On a Crime.

The bloud of Christ can expiate a fault,
Not to be purg'd with Brimstone, Fire, & Salt

427. On a Cripple.

Adam became a Cripple by his fall,
Hence lame in holy duties are we all;
But some belong to Jesus Hospital.

428. On a Critick.

It's easier to find fault then
To imitate; the transverse pen
Of snarling Mome dashes this out,
And Aristarch at that doth pout.
My Soul condemn thy self, and know
That God to thee will favour show.

429. On the Crocodile.

Nile 's poys'ny Pyrate kils (Historians say)
The man, then bathes him in his tears straitway.
So some whose rear-commanding eys let fall
Dissembling showres, have hearts brim fill'd with gal.

430. On a Crost.

Great God plough up my heart, that fallow-field,
And sow thy grace therein; O make it yield
A fruitful crop, that thou may'st have the praise,
And I enjoy the benefits always.

431. On Croises or Pilgrims.

The Cross-sign'd Pilgrim travels far to some
Devotious place, to him Christ bids us come,
And he will to our Country bring us home.

432. On a Crook.

Christ is our Shepherd, & his Spir't the Crook
That guides us in the way we have forsook.

433. On a Cross.

One may be signed with the Cross,
And yet for Heaven be at a loss.

434. On a Cross way.

Cross is the way that leadeth to a Crown,
No man can go to Heaven on beds of doun.

435. On a Cross-bow.

Affliction is a Cross-bow, endless bliss
The white, by that a Saint is sent to this.

436. On a Cross-row.

The child learns by degrees the Christ-crossrow,
So we (alas!) come all by ease to know
The things of God, and what to God we owe.

437. On Crosses.

Enngland alas! for many years hath seen
Enough of crosses; here hath always been
Cross doing, and Cross dealing with each other,
How many heretofore have kept a pother,
To pull material crosses down? there are
But few pull sin down from them, and prepare
To bear Crists Cross, which he on them doth lay
Crosses to Heaven are a surer way
Than pleasures; crosses are the turning key
Of Paradise, Saints by them have no loss.
Wicked men crosses have, but not Christs cross.
Suppose I meet with crosses, crosses are
A Cath'lick mis'ry; therein all men share,
And should I grieve? this reason may suggest
This is constraint, godly content is best.
Saints by the Christ-cross (though no letter) know
More than by all the Letters in the row.
God sends his sons to th'Free-School of the Cross,
Where they learn best, the fire consumes their dross
And purifies them; Golden Christians have
Been tri'd, God smites in love, that he may save
What ever crosses do the Saint molest,
His last end, shall assuredly be blest.
Crosses not only mind us of our crimes,
But also serve to better us sometimes.
We climb up by the Cross to Heavens story.
The cross-way is the only way to glory.

438. On Crotchets.

Some crotchets in his head a man may have
Sometimes, and yet be neither Fool nor Knave

439. On a Crowd.

Multitudes crowd to Hell apace,
The way of sin is broad,
Few travel towards Heaven (alas!)
Grace is a narrow road.

440 On Crowing.

The crowing of a Cock amazes sore
The Emperour of Beasts, and makes him rore;
It foreshews change of weather: Peters eye
When the Cock crew, shed tears abundantly.

441. On a Crown.

On Earth Saints all their life are gold preparing,
To make a Crown in heaven worth the wearing,
Saints their Crown-royal have: Crowns only are
For Kings and Princes of renown to wear:
Their Crown is free from care, 'tis not envi'd,
For all are crown'd, theirs always doth abide.
Pardon's a mercy, but rich mercy 'tis
To crown us; O what kind of love is this!
How will the Saints advanc'd to Heaven above,
Read over Lectures of Free-grace and Love.
And O how will they forth his praises sound,
Who with his loving kindnesses are crown'd!
Alas! that men should be so stupid grown,
As for a rattle to forego a Crown.

442. On a Crowner.

The Crowner by his Quest finds murder out,
Soul-search for sin we seldom go about.

443. On a Crucifix.

Many do superstitiously adore
The Crucifix, who cannot yet abide,
The Cross of Christ, and trample on the floor
With scornfull feet, the blood of God beside:
Like that French King, who when he swore would kiss
The Cross, as if nothing were then amiss.

444. On Cruelty.

The Devils cruelty transcends the rage
Of greatest Tyrants, that in any age
Quaff'd humane blood, Charybdis chaf'd with wind,
Or the fell Tyger of th'Armenian kind,
Is not so rough, so fierce, as he is when
He hath seiz'd on his prey, the souls of men.
His name's Apollyon, he rent and tore
The man in whom he was, and made him rore.
O! if when chain'd he was so fierce, so hot,
What will he do when he full pow'r hath got!

445. On a Crum.

Lord, we do not deserve in greatest need
A crum of bread;
For we have broken all the sacred bands
Of thy commands.
Yet in Christ Jesus all things we possess,
O give us hearts thy praises to express.

446. On a Crupper.

The crupper keeps the Saddle steady, so
But for restraint, great evils men would do.

447. On a Cruse.

Lord may I to thy glory use
The little that is in my cruse,
Whilst most their plenty do abuse.

448. On a Crust.

Lord I will not complain of want,
Whilst thou a crust to me dost grant:
Nor will I say thou art unjust,
If that should fail, but in thee trust.

449. On a Crutch.

When the poor man is falling, such
To whom the Lord hath given much
Of worldly means, should never grutch
To stay him with a silver Crutch.

450. On crying Sins.

Sins crying are, when come to their full height,
When God more special notice of them takes,
They call for present help even in a streight,
God hears their cry, and the stout sinner shakes,
How wicked are our times! O Heav'n forgive
Our crying sins, and let poor England live.

451. On a Cub.

Although the fool at small beginnings mocks,
A Cub may prove in time a ravenous Fox.

452. On a Cubit.

Our Saviour said, what man can add
One cubit to its stature,
By taking care, and yet all are
Thereto inclin'd by nature.

453. On a Cube.

A cube Hieroglyphically shews
An honest man, whose actions are square,
With such converse; his company refuse
Whose dealings like a sphere, are circular.

454. On a Cuckold.

The horned He-moon never thanks returns
To him that made him, & gave him his horns.
But yet men gratifie the Devil when in
Their hearts they nourish his foul bastard sin.

455. On a Cuckow.

The Cuckow in one tune delighteth still,
So do the most of men in acting ill.

456. On a Cuckquean,

A Cuckquean is a Jade that for base pelf.
Becomes a Hackney, & lets out her self;
Though men who love their wives cannot abide her,
Wife-haters, though she brings to hell, will ride her.

457. On a Cucumber.

It is by nature cold, and so are we,
To what is good, till warm'd by grace we be

458. On the Cud.

When we do read or hear that which is good,
We should by meditation chew the cud.

459. On a Cudgel.

When Love unreasonably is abus'd,
Then is a Cudgel seasonably us'd.

460. On a Cuff.

Sinners do love to play at blind mans buff,
And Satan unawares gives them a cuff.

461. On Cuffs.

Grace makes men gallant, & doth more adorn,
Than ruffling cuffs which on mens wrists are worn.

462. On Cunning.

To avoid Satans snares we must be cunning,
The prize before our eyes is won by running.

463. On a Cup.

As to us here for Jesus Christ his sake,
The bitter cup of persecution's given;
So we from Jesus Christ his hands shall take,
The sweet cup of salvation in Heaven.

464. On a Cupboard.

The Cup-board serves to keep provision in,
Mans heart holds in it, either grace or sin.

465. On a Cupping-Glass.

Physitians use the Cupping-glass to draw
Our bloud, with scarrify'ng of the skin,
And so a Christian must use the Law,
To suck out the corrupted bloud of sin.

466. On a Curate.

The thin-fac'd Curate taketh all the pains,
Yet he can scarce pick out a livelyhood,
The bouncing Parson raketh all the gains;
Though he (God knows) does very little good,
I fear at the great day of Christs appearing,
This will appear to be a crime past cleering.

467. On Curd.

To be without as white as Curd,
And black within is most absur'd,
From such, deliver us good Lord!

468. On a Curfew.

This night the Bell calls to bed, but oh!
Before the next, my passing Bell may go.

469. On Curiosity.

470. On a Cure.

Sin is a Soul-disease, which no Physitian,
Save Christ can heal, who knows best the condition
Of each distemp'red patient; he is sure
To speed, who seeks in faith to him for cure:
Till cur'd we are, we are unfit to do
God any service, that he puts us to.
Lord! I believe that my poor sin-sick soul
Shall be, if thou but say the word, made whole.

471. On Currant money.

The Saints of God, for currant money pass
In heavens Kingdom, being stampt with grace

472. On a Curre.

Sinners are snarling currs, and they delight
To bark at Saints? but them they cannot bite.

473. On the Current.

Salvation-work (which we should make our strife
Is hard, because the currant of the life
Is to be altered; that the Tide of sin,
Which ran so strong before, should now agin
Be turn'd; that men sailing to Hell with speed,
Should now sail Heav'n-ward? here's a work indeed!
O Lord be pleas'd to sanctifie me so,
That what is good, I make think, speak and do.

474. On Currents.

Base lusts are sweet, to Satan's Apes;
As to the taste Corinthian Grapes.

475. On a Currier.

This Leather-dresser labours har'd
Spurr'd on by recompencing gaines;
O did we think of our reward
In heav'n, we should for heaven take pains.
For such as labour shall have rest,
And they that persevere are blest.

476. On Cursedness.

He is accurs'd, that being born in sin,
(Recovery unsought) lives, dyes therein.
He that from Christ hath not a pardon first,
Must hear from Christ, this sentence, Go ye curst:
O suffer not thy slumbring eyes to rest,
Till Christ hath seal'd thee a Quietus est,
Give no peace to thy self, till thou with God
Have peace, thou art still under the black Rod,
Till thou repent, he that in known sins goes
On wilfully, is damned in the close:
O let not us retain, nor entertain,
Sin, lest on us the curse thereof remain.

477. On Curses.

The curses mentioned in sacred Story,
Are sinners portions, yea their Inventory,
And at the day of death their portion shall
Be truly paid them, pleasure ends in Gall,
And though perchance (enjoying good success)
They in their wickedness, themselves do bless:
Yet are they heir-apparents to God's curse,
And what (pray tell me) can befall them worse:
O if we could avoid the curses due
For sin, repent we must, and sin eschew.

478. On Crusing.

Some have (as well as Job) cursed the day
Of their first birth, but of their second birth,
None ever curs'd the day, O blessed they
That are New-born! that day occasions mirth.
Cursing is made the common weapon now
Of anger, and the ill he cannot do,
Wrath wishes, sad it is it should be so.

479. On Curstness.

Curst Cows have shortest hornes, & he that can
Talk most, is not always the wisest man.

480. On a Curtain.

Sin is a Curtain drawn between
The Soul, and God's bright shining face,
His glory, ah! cannot be seen,
Till sin be vanquish'd by his conqu'ring grace.

481. On a Courtesie.

We must not strein at courtesie to see
Who shall go first, but each one strive to be
Foremost in duty, in this strife agree.

482. On a Curtezan, or a two-legg'd Jade.

Room, pray Sirs room, I can no longer hold,
My fury in, since vice is so extold.—
Impudent quean! who ne're had so much grace,
As is portended by the blushing face,
To swarm like Bees! here's master to infuse
An angry zeal into a frozen Muse;
And now my just incensed Muse proclaims
An open War against salacious Dames
And their rank Riders; she intends to throw
Her whirling Arrows, from her twanging Bow,
At such as do belong to Venus Court,
And are delighted with that beastly sport:
Who Tinder-boxes love, and will adventure
On Quivers ope, for every shaft to enter,
O shameful! Silken gallants have their queans,
And filthy drabs, which soak away their means,
They waste their strength on such, as are no less
Than the Elixars of all naughtiness,
Half-eaten with the Pox, alluring Dames,
Are fuel which do feed their lustful flames:
But more of this—and such as love the trade,
Expect kind Reader, when I come to Jade.

483. On a Cushion.

Idleness is the Devils Cushion,
By sitting on it, thousands are undone.

484. On Custody.

A christian must set a constant guard
About his heart, and keep with watch & ward
His heart; his heart must still be in his eye,
The heart requires the strictest custody:
For 'tis the spring, which maketh all our deeds
Run pure, or muddy, life from thence proceeds.
Lock up thy heart with God, (how safe are they
That daily do so?) and give him the Key.

485. On Custom, or Tole.

Levi no sooner call'd from the Receit
Of Custom, does upon his Savior wait,
And at his home, makes him a costly feast;
He could not entertain a better guest.
Lord! if it be thy custom to take tole,
Satan may take my sins, take thou my Soul.

486. On Custom, or Use.

487. On a Cutler.

He is a Blade that lives by making blades,
But he that in the Ordinances trades,
Shall live, though death his mortal life invades.

488. On a Cut-purse, Cut-throat.

He is an arrant Thief that cuts the purse,
And he a murtherer, that cuts the throat;
[OMITTED] that indeed be bad, yet this is worse,
[OMITTED] oth deserve to wear a Pendant knot
[OMITTED] ch below the ears, 'its good to do
[OMITTED] others as we would be done unto.

489. On a Cynick.

The Cynick in his Tub, found more content,
Than Alexander in his glistering Throne;
In Contemplation his time he spent;
This wept, because no more Worlds were his own.

290. On the Cynosure.

The Pilot well observes the Cynosure,
And so should we God, that Northern Star;
Until we touch the Port, and land secure
In Heav'n, that Haven where no dangers are,
Where neither sin our happiness destroys,
Nor sorrow interrupts our endless joys.

The Post-script to the Reader.