War with the devil, or, The young man's conflict with the powers of darkness, in a dialogue discovering the corruption and vanity of youth, the horrible nature of sin, and deplorable condition of fallen man, also, a description of the power and rule of conscience, and the nature of true conversion. : To which is added, an appendix, containing a dialogue between an old apostate and a young professor, worthy the perusal of all, but chiefly intended for the instruction of the younger sort. / By B.K. author of Sion in distress, or The groans of the Protestant church. Keach, Benjamin, 1640-1704. Approx. 308 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 183 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI : 2007-01. N01010 N01010 Evans 1207 Evans 1682 APW3686 1207 99009619

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 Early American Imprints, 1639-1800 ; no. 1207. Early American Imprints, 1639-1800 ; no. 1682. (Evans-TCP ; no. N01010) Transcribed from: (Readex Archive of Americana ; Early American Imprints, series I ; image set 1207) Images scanned from Readex microprint and microform: (Early American imprints. First series ; no. 1207; 1682) War with the devil, or, The young man's conflict with the powers of darkness, in a dialogue discovering the corruption and vanity of youth, the horrible nature of sin, and deplorable condition of fallen man, also, a description of the power and rule of conscience, and the nature of true conversion. : To which is added, an appendix, containing a dialogue between an old apostate and a young professor, worthy the perusal of all, but chiefly intended for the instruction of the younger sort. / By B.K. author of Sion in distress, or The groans of the Protestant church. Keach, Benjamin, 1640-1704. The twelfth edition. [Two lines from Psalms] [6], 177, [1] p. ; (16mo) Printed by William Bradford, [New York : 1707] In verse. By Benjamin Keach. Imprint supplied by Rosenbach. Recorded twice by Evans, among imprints for 1707 and 1714 respectively. Numerous errors in paging.

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 eng Dialogues. Juvenile literature -- Poetry -- 1707. 2005-10 Assigned for keying and markup 2005-11 Keyed and coded from Readex/Newsbank page images 2006-04 Sampled and proofread 2006-04 Text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-09 Batch review (QC) and XML conversion

War with the Devil, OR, THE Young Man's Conflict WITH THE Powers of Darkneſs, In a Dialogue Diſcovering the Corruption and Vanity of Youth, the horrible Nature of Sin, and Deplorable Condition of Fallen Man,

Alſo, A Deſcription of the Power and Rule of Conſcience and the nature of True Converſion. To which is added, An Appendix, containing a Dialogue between an Old Apoſtate and a Young Profeſſor, Worthy the Peruſal of all, but chiefly intended for the Inſtruction of the Younger ſort.

By B. K. Author of Sion in Diſtreſs, or The Groans of the Proteſtant Church.

The Twelfth Edition.

Where-with ſhall a Young Man cleanſe his way? by taking heed thereto, according to thy Word, Pſa. 119 v •

By a Friend, in Commendation of theſe Poems. MY Muſe is dull, although I have a will This Book for to commend, I want the skill. I know not how its worth for to declare, Few Poems doubtleſs, with it compare; Not for rare elegent Scholaſtik ſtrains, Which flow alone from thoſe quick witted brains▪ Who with their Rhetorick and curious Art Strive to effect the fancy, not the Heart. This Treatiſe read (kind Friend) and thou ſhalt ſee, 'Tis cheifly fill'd with choice Divinity, The Author ſoars on high, his main deſign Is to inſtruct that precious Soul of thine I'th' path Caeleſtial, ſhews thee very plain, How thou in Chriſt an Int'reſt may'ſt obtain, Or i • in Chriſt thy Soul has got a place, He, to thy Joy, ſhews forth thy happy caſe; This Poem's like a meſſenger ſent forth, To give a viſit to the drouzy Earth; The ſluggiſh Soul it ſtrives for to awake, Before it drops into the fiery Lake. There's very few on Earth do live, But might from hence ſome Benefits receive. • or though it is brought •• rth in this our Clime, Yet 'twill agree with every place and time. • ts Meſſage is of ſuch a large extent, It may in truth to all the World be ſent: To Male and Female, low and high degree He ſpeaks a word to b • nd as well as free. All, in whom Conſcience dwells he lets them ſee Conſciences great pow'r and Authority. When Heav'ns hot thunder-bolts with fire & hail, Made Aegypts mighty▪ Monarch's courage fail; Conſcience ſt • pt in, made him cry out amain, The Lord is juſt; I, and my Wicked Train •• ve ſinn'd: Yea, Conſcience alſo brings Saul Son of Kiſh, the firſt of Iſrael's Kings, Before the Prophet humbly to confeſs That he had ſinn'd, and acted wickedneſs. Conſcience made David to cry out amain, 'Tis I have ſinn'd: I have Uriah ſlain. Though David • lew a Lyon and a Bear, And did not the great Gyants courage fear; Yet Conſcience made him ſtop and tremble too: And more than this you'l find Conſcience can do. Here's Counſel for Profeſſors and Profane, Chooſe or refuſe, here's loſs and alſo gain. One Reaſon, Reader, of this Mode or Stile, 〈◊〉 that it might with honeſt craft beguile, Such curious Fancies who had rather chuſe To read ten lines in verſe than one in Proſe, And as the nimble Fly, that lightly ſprings, Againſt the flames, until ſhe burns her wings, 〈◊〉 taken Captive with that ſulph'rous flame, • ith which ſhe only ſought to ſport and game: So whilſt thoſe curious fancies think to play, With this ſmall piece, 'twill ſecretly betray Them to their Conſcience, and if Conſcience ſend Them to God's Word, the Author has his end, Provided that unto the ſame they yeild, And Grace and Conſcience do obtain the Field. Farewell, W. B.
To the Reader; in Vindication of this Book. ONe or two lines to thee I'll here Commend, This honeſt POEM to defend From Calumny, becauſe at this day, All Poetry there's many do gain-ſay, And very much condemn, as if the ſame Did worthily deſerve reproach and blame. If any Book in Verſe, they chance to ſpy, Away Prophane, they preſently do cry: But tho' this kind of Writing ſome diſpraiſe, Sith Men ſo captious are in theſe our days; Yet I dare ſay, how e'er the ſcruple roſe, Verſe hath expreſs'd as ſecret things as Proſe. Though ſome there be that Poetry abuſe, Muſt we therefore, not the ſame method uſe? Yea, ſure, for of my Conſcience 'tis the beſt, And doth deſerve more honour then the reſt: For 'tis no humane knowledge gain'd by Art, But rather 'tis inſpir'd into the Heart By Divine means; for true Divinity Hath with this Science great Affinity: Though ſome through Ignorance, do it oppoſe, Many do it eſteem, far more then Proſe: And find alſo that unto them it brings Content, and hath been the delight of Kings. David, altho' a King, yet was a Poet, And Solomon alſo, the Scriptures ſhow it. Then what if for all this ſome ſhould abuſe it? I'me apt to think that Angels do embrace it, And though God giv't here but in Part to ſome, Saints ſhall hav't perfect in the World to come. E. B.
Youth in his Ʋnconverted ſtate. Youth. THE Naturaliſts moſt aptly do Compare My age unto the Spring, whoſe beauty's rare, When Sprightly Sol enters the • olden Sign, Which is call'd Aries, his glorious ſhine And ſplendent Rays do cauſe the Earth to ſpring, And Trees to bud, and quicken every thing, All plants and Herbs and Flowers then do floriſh; The graſs doth ſprout the tender Lambs to noriſh. Thoſe things in Winter that ſeem'd to be dead, Do now riſe up and briskly ſhew their head, And do obtain a Natural Reſurrection, By his hot beams and powerful Reflection. How in the Pleaſant fruitful Month of May, Are Meadows clad with flowers rich and gay; And all Earth's Globe adorn'd, in garments green Mix'd with rare Yellow, crown'd like to a Queen The Primeroſe, Cowſlip, and the Violet, Are curiouſly with other Flowers ſet. And chirping birds with their melodious ſounds Delight Mans heart, whoſe pleaſure now abounds The Winter's paſt, with ſtormy Snow and Rain▪ And long 'twill be e'er ſuch things come again; Nothing but joy and ſweet delights appear, Whilſt doth abide the ſpring-time of the Yea • Thus 'tis with me who am now in my Prime▪ In merriment and joy I ſpend my time; And like as birds do in the lovely Spring, I ſo rejoyce with my Conſorts, and Sing, and ſpend my days in ſweet paſtimes and mirth, And nought ſhall grieve, or trouble me on Earth: I am reſolved to ſearch the world about, But I will ſuck the ſweetneſs of it out. No ſtone I'll leave unturn'd, that I may find Content and joy unto my craving mind: No ſorrow ſhall, whilſt I do live, come near me; Nor ſhall the Preacher with his fancies ſcare me; At Cards and Dice and ſuch brave Games I'll play And like a Courtier, deck my ſelf moſt gay; With Periwig and M • ff, and ſuch fine things, With ſword and Belt, Goloſhoos and Gold-rings, Where Bulls and Bears they bait, and Cocks do fight I do reſort with ſpeed, there is my delight. To drink and ſport among the jovel Crew, I do reſolve, what ever doth enſue: And court •• ir Ladies, that I alſo love, • nd of all things very well approve, Which tend my ſenſual parts to ſatisfie, • rom whence comes all my choice felicity. What e'er mine ears do hear and Eyes behold, Or Heart deſire, if ſo that all my Gold • nd Silver can for me thoſe things procure, • ſpare no coſt, nor pains, you may be ſure, • hus is my Life made very ſweet to me, • hilſt others hurried are in miſery; • hoſe minds with ſtrang • conceits troubled remain, • inking by loſing all, the way to gain. Such Riddles I can't learn, I muſt them leave, What's ſeen and felt I am reſolv'd to have, Let every man his mind and fancy fill, My Luſt I'll ſatisfie, and have my will; Who dares controul me in my preſent way, Or vex my mind i'th' leaſt, or me gain-ſay? What ſtate of Life can equal this of mine? Youths gallantry ſo bravely here doth ſhine. Conſcience • Controul you, Sir! in truth and that dare ī, For your contempt of my Authority. You tread on me without the leaſt regard, As if I worthy were not to be heard; You ſtrive to ſtiffle me, and therefore I Am forc'd aloud, Murder, with ſpeed to cry, • can't forbear, but muſt cry out amain, • uch is the wrong which from you I ſuſtain. Youth. What are you, Sir, you dare to be ſo bold? ſcorn by any He to be contrould. • er I have done with you, I'll make you know, • ou ſhall your Power and Commiſſion ſh • w. Conſcience. Be not ſo hot, and you ſhall know my Name, • nd alſo learn from whence my power came. • n no Uſurper, yet I do Command •• u for to ſtop, and make a preſent ſtand. • ur Pleaſures you muſt leave and Vicious Life, • e there will grow a very bitter ſtrife ••• ween you and I, as will appear anon, From theſe Courſes you don't quickly turn, For all the courage which you ſeem to take, The News I bring's enough to make you quake. Youth. Who e'er thou art, I'll make you by and by Confeſs you have accus'd me wrongfully. From Murder I am clear in thought and deed, Thus to be charg'd, doth cauſe my heart to bleed; Pray let me crave your Name, if you are free, If you provoke me, worſe 'twill quickly be; You ſeek occaſion, and are quarrelſom, And therefore 'tis I do ſuppoſe, you're come, But if your Name you don't declare to me, I am reſolv'd to be reveng'd on thee. Conſcience. What violence (alas!) can you do more, Than that which you have done to me before? Forbear your threats, be ſtill and hold your hand And quickly you ſhall know and underſtand My Name, my power, and place of Reſidence, Which may to you prove of great conſequence, I am a Servant to a Mighty King, Who Rules and Reigns, and Governs every thin • Who keeps one Court above, and here below Another he doth keep, as you ſhall know; O're this inferiour Court placed am I To act and do as his great Deputy. I truly judge, according to my light, Yea, do impartially to each Man right. Thoſe I condemn who vile and guilty are, And juſtifie the holy and Sincere. • order'd am to watch continually, O're all your Actions with a wary Eye, And I have found how you of late time Committed many a bold and horrid Crime, Of Murder, Treaſon, and like Villany Againſt the Crown and gracious Dignity Of that great Prince from whence you have your breath, Who's King & Ruler over all the Earth. I am his Judge, Attorney-General, And have Commiſſion alſo, you to call Unto the Bar, and make you to confeſs Your horried Crimes and fearful guiltineſs; A black Indictment I have drawn in truth, Againſt thy ſelf, thou miſerable Youth Thy pride I ſhall abate, thy Pleaſure mar, And bring thee to confeſs, with tears, at bar, Thy ſport and Games, and youthful Luſt to be Nought elſe but ſin and curſed Vanity. And for to put you alſo out of doubt, My Name is Conſcience which you bear about, No other then th' accuſing faculty, Of that dear Soul which in thy breaſt doth lie: I by that Rule, Mens thought and way compare, By which their Inward parts enlightned are; And as they do accord, or diſagree, I do accuſe, or clear immediately, According to your light you do not live, But violate that Rule which God doth give To you to ſquare your life and actions by; From hence comes in your woe and miſery. Youth, Conſcience art thou? why did'ſt not ſpeak e'er now▪ To mind what thou doſt ſay I can't tell how. Thou melancholly Fancy, fly from me, My pleaſure I'll not leave in ſpight of thee. Other brave Gueſt, you ſee, to me are come, And in my Houſe for thee there is no room▪ Doſt think I will be check'd by ſilly thought, And into ſnares my fooliſh fancy brought? Is't you which cry out Murther, only you? A Fig (alas!) for all that you can • . For though againſt me you do prate and preach, Your very Neck I am reſolv'd to ſtretch. I'll ſwear, corouſe and whore, ſay what you will, Till I have ſtiffled you, and make you ſtill, I'll clip your Wings, and make you ſee at length, I do know how to ſpoil you of your ſtrength, When you do ſpeak, I will not lend an ear; I'll make in truth as if I did not hear. If you ſpeak loud when I am all alone, I will riſe up, and ſtraight way will be gone To the brave Boys who toſs the pot about; And that's the way to wear your Patience out, I'll go to Plays and Games, and Dancing too, And e'er a while, I ſhall be rid of you. Conſcience. Thou ſtubborn fooliſh Youth, be not ſo raſh, Leſt e'er you be aware you feel my Laſh. I have a ſting, a whip, yea, and can bite, Before you ſhall o'ercome, I'll ſtoutly fight; • 'll gripe you ſore, and make you howl anon, If you reſolve in ſin ſtill to go on. • 've o'recome ſtrong hearts, & made them yeild, • nd ſo ſhall you before I quit the field; • o where you will, be ſure I'll ſoon come after, • nd into ſorrow will I turn your laughter. • Twill prove hard work for you to ſhake me off, Tho' you at me do ſeem to jeer and ſcoff; • s if o'er you I had no Juriſdiction, Or was a Dream, a Fancy, or ſome Fiction. • or all your wrath, I yet muſt you diſturb, Tho' you offended are, I can't but curb • nd ſnib you daily, as I oft have done, • ill you repent, and from lewd Courſes turn. • or till the cauſe be taken quite away, Th' Effect will follow, what e'er you ſay: • nleſs your light wholly extinguiſh'd be, 〈◊〉 ſin remains, diſturbance you will ſee. Therefore I do beſeech you ſoberly • or to ſubmit to my Authority, • bey my voice, I prithee make a tryal, • efore you give another flat denyal. 〈◊〉 more ſweet comfort I don't yeild to you, Then all which doth from ſinful actions flow, • hen me reject; but otherwiſe, my Friend, • y Checks receive, and to my motions bend. • et peace within what ever thou doſt do, • nd let vain pleaſures and corruptions go; •• at will be better for thy ſoul at laſt, • han Gold or Silver, or what elſe thou haſt: • nd ſince we are alone, let thee and I • ore mildly talk aboue Supremacy. • 't beſt for you that pride and Folly reign, • hich nought doth bring, ſave ſorrow, ſhame and Pain, And Conſcience to reject, who perfectly From guilt and bondage ſtrives to ſet you free Have not theſe luſts by which thou now art led▪ Brought many a man unto a piece of Bread? What brave Eſtates have ſome conſum'd thereby▪ And now are forc'd in Barns on Straw to lie? How has the Wife been ruin'd with the Child, Beſides poor Conſcience grievouſly turmoyl'd? Nay, once again, give ear, I prithee hark; Han't many a brave and curious Spark Been brought in ſtinking Priſons there to lie, For yielding to their Luſt and Vanity? How many ſwing at Tyburn every year, For ſtabbing Conſcience without care or fear? And ſome alſo out of their wits do run, And by that means are utterly undone: Some men ſo ſtiffle me, I cannot ſpeak, And then they ſport and play, and merry ma • e, Reſolving that I ſhall not gripe them more, But quickly then afreſh I make them roar. Some of them I do drive into Diſpair. When in their face I do begin to ſtare, No reſt nor peace at all their Souls can find, I ſo diſturb and ſtill perplex their mind. What ſay you now, young-man, will you ſubmit? Weigh well the danger, and the benefit. The danger on the one hand will be great, If me you do oppoſe, and ill intreat. Sweet profit comes, you ſee, on th • other hand To ſuch who ſubject are to my command. What doſt thou ſay; ſhall I embraced be? Or, wilt thou follow ſtill thy Vanity? Youth. Was ever young-man thus perplex't as I, • ho flouriſhed in ſweet proſperity? • here-e'er I go, Conſcience dogs me about, • o quiet I can have, in doors nor out. C • nſcience, what is the cauſe you make ſuch ſtrife, I can't enjoy the comforts of my Life? I • m ſo grip'd, and pinched in my breaſt, I know not where to go, nor where to reſt. Conſcience· 'Cauſe you have wronged and offended me, •• ving vain Pleaſures, and Iniquity. • he Light you have, you walk not up unto, • ou know 'tis evil which you daily do. • y witneſs I muſt bear continually • r the great God, whoſe glorious Majeſty, • d in thy Soul give me ſo high a place, 〈◊〉 for to ſtop you in your ſinful race; 〈◊〉 muſt reprove, accuſe, and you condemn, • hilſt you by ſin, his Sov'raignty contemn; 〈◊〉 can't betray my truſt, nor hold my peace, • ll I am ſtabbed, fear'd, or Light doth ceaſe; • ll you your life amend, and ſins forſake, • hall purſue you, though your heart doth ake. Youth. How bold and malepert is Conſcience grown! •• ough I upon this Fellow daily frown, • d his advice reject, yet ſtill doth he • ock at my Door, as if he'd weary me. • ſcience I'll have you know, in truth, that I, • erſon am of ſome Authority: Are you ſo ſaucy as to curb and chide Such a brave Spark, who can't your ways abide 'Tis much below my Birth and Parentage, And it agrees not with my preſent age; For to give place to you, or to regard Thoſe things from you I have ſo often heard. Conſcience. Alas! Proud fleſh, doſt think thy ſelf too high, To be ſubject to ſuch a one as I? Thy betters I continually gain-ſay, If they my Motions don't with care obey. My Power's great, and my Commiſſion large, There's ſcarce a Man, but I with folly charge. The King and Peaſant are alike to me, I favour none of high or low degree: If they offend, I in their faces • ly, Without regard or fear of ſtanders by. Youth. Speak not another word, don't you perceive There's ſcarce a Man or Woman will believe What you do ſay, you're grown ſo out of date? Be ſilent then, and longer do not prate. I'th' Country your credit i • but ſmall, There's few care for your company at all: The Husband-man the Land-mark can't remove, But you ſtraightway him bitterly reprove; Nor plow a little of his Neighbours Land, But you command him preſently to ſtand▪ There's not a Man can go i'th' leaſt a wry, But out againſt him fiercely you do fly. The People therefore now ſo weary are, They've thruſt you out almoſt of ev'ry Shire: And in the City you ſo hated be, There's very few do care a ruſh for thee: For if they ſhould believe what you do ſay, Their Pride and Bravery would ſoon decay, Their ſwearing, cheating, and their drunkenneſs, Would vaniſh quite away, or grow much leſs. Our craft of Profit and our Pleaſure too, • ould ſoon go down, and ruin'd be by you. The whores and bawds, with the Play houſes then Would be contemned by all ſorts of Men. • ou ſtrive to ſpoil us of our ſweet delight, • ur Pleaſures you oppoſe with all your might. The Fabrick of our Joy you would pull down, • nd make our Youth juſt like a Country clown. • e half Phanaticks ſhould be made ('tis clear) 〈◊〉 unto thee we once inclined were. • t this amongſt the reſt doth chea • my heart, • here's very few in London take thy part. • re and • here one, which we Nick-names do give, • ho hated are, and judg'd not fit to live. Tis out of faſhion grown, I daily ſee, •• nſcience for to regard i'th' leaſt degreee. 〈◊〉 that can't whore and ſwear without controull, • e do account to be a timerous Fool. • erefore though you ſo deſperately do fall • o • poor me, yet I do hope I ſhall 〈◊〉 looſe from you, and then I'll tear the ground, 〈◊〉 in all joy and pleaſure will abound. Conſcience. 〈◊〉 poor deceived Soul! doſt thou not know, 〈◊〉 moſt of all mankind i'th' broad way go? What though they do moſt wickedly abuſe me? Wilt thou alſo in the like manner uſe me? What though they will of me no warning take, Till they drop down into the S • ygian Lake? Wilt thou be-friend the curſed Serpent ſo, As to go on till comes thy Overthrow? What though I am in no requeſt by them, Don't they likewiſe Gods holy word Condemn, Don't they the Goſpel caſt quite out of ſight, Leaſt from their Pleaſures it ſhould them afright? What tho my Friends are toſs'd about and hurl'd, Their Inward Peace is more then all the World Can give to them, or from them take away, Whilſt they with diligence do me obey. As I enlightned am by God's Precepts, Which are a guide and Lanthorn to my ſteps. O come proud Heart, and longer don't contend, But leave thy Luſts and to my Scepter bend: For I'll not leave thee, but with all my pow'r I'll follow thee, unto thy dying hour. Youth, Into ſome private place then will I fly, Where I may hide my ſelf, and ſecretly There I'll enjoy my ſelf in ſpight of thee; And thou ſhalt not i'th' leaſt know where I be. Conſcience, Nay, fooliſh Youth, how can that thing be done, From Conſcience it is in vain to run; No ſecret place can you find out or ſpy, To hide your ſelves from me, ſuch is my Eye, I ſee i'th' dark as well as in the Light, No doors nor walls, will keep thee from my ſight. Where e'er thou art, or goeſt, am I not near, Thy Soul with horrid guilt to ſcare and fear? Could Cain or Judas, get out of my reach, When once between us there was the like breach? Did I not follow them unto the end, And made them know what 'twas for to offend My glorious Prince, and me his true Vice-Roy? Vengeance doth follow them who us annoy. My Counſel then I prithee take with ſpeed, For thats the way alone for to be freed From Vengeance here, and Wrath alſo to come, When thou doſt dye, and at the day of Doom. Youth. What! can't I • ly from thee▪ nor thee ſubdue? Then I entreat thee, Conſcience, don't purſue, Nor follow me ſo cloſe; forbear a while, Don't yet my Beauty, nor my pleaſure ſpoil. This is my Spring and flower of my Age; Oh! pity me, and ceaſe thy bitter rage: Don't crop the tender Bud, it is too green: Oh! let me have thoſe dayes others have ſeen, Forbear thy hand till my wild Oats are ſown; • hey muſt be ripe alſo, before they're mown; Thou haſt forborn with ſome for a long time, That which I ask of thee is but the Prime, Of thoſe good days which God beſtows on me, Oh, that it might but once obtained be! • Tis time enough for to adhear to thee, After I've ſpent my time in Gallantry, • n earth's ſweet joy and ſuch tranſcendent pleaſures, • hich Young Men do eſteem the chiefeſt Treaſures. Conſcience. After all voilence and out-rage great Done to poor Conſcience, do you now entreat, Thinking for to prevail by flattery? But that in truth I utterly defie; 'Tis quit againſt my Nature, you muſt know, Unto vile Luſt fond pity for to ſhow; God has not given ſuch a diſpenſation, For me to wink at your abomination; If God doth once but blow your Candle out, I ſhall be quiet then, you need not doubt, (But woe to you, as ever you was born, If God doth once his light to darkneſs turn.) But while in you remains that legal Light, Your ſins I can't endure in my ſight. No liberty, God, (I am ſure) will give, To any one in horrid Sin to live; Nor will he give allowance for a day: 'Tis very dangerous for to delay The work of thy Repentance for an hour, What thy hand finds to do, do with thy pow'r. If me you don't believe, I prithee Youth, For to reſolve thy ſelf, go to God's Truth. Youth. Well! ſince that you no comfort do afford, I will enquire of God's moſt Holy Word: So far I will your Counſel take, for I Am ſorely troubled; whither ſhall I fly? I will make tryal, I reſolve to ſee, Whether the Truth and Conſcience do agree. The lip of Truth can't lye, though Conſcience may, When that miſ-guided is, it leads aſtray. If Truth and Conſcience ſpeak the ſelf-ſame thing, 'Twill ſome amazment to my ſpirit bring. That now I ask for, and earneſtly crave, Is ſome ſhort time in ſin longer to have, Conſcience denys it me: Truth, what ſay you? Oh! that you would a little favour ſhew To a poor Lad, alas! I am but young, Like to a flower which is lately ſprung, Out of the ground, and Conſcience day and night▪ Strives for to tread me down with all his might; Or, as the Froſt the tender Bud doth • il, So has he ſtriven to do a great while; Muſt I reform, and all my ſins forſake? Some fitter ſeaſon then▪ O let me take. For all things there's a time under the Sun, And when I older am I will return. Truth. Nay, hold, vain Youth, you are miſtaken now, No time to ſin God doth to thee allow. If I may ſpeak, attend, and you ſhall hear, I with poor Conſcience muſt witneſs bear; I am his guide, his Rule, 'tis by my Light He acts and does, and ſpeaks the thing that's right, You are undone, if you don't ſpeedily Leave all your ſins and curſed vanity. Art thou too Young thy evil ways to leave, And yet haſt thou a precious Soul to ſave? Art thou too young to leave Iniquity, When Old enough in Hell for ſin to lie? • ome fitter ſeaſon (Youth) doſt think to find? The Devil doth dart that in thy mind. No time ſo fit, as when the Lord doth call; Thoſe who rebellious are, they one day ſhall Smart bitterly for their moſt horrid evil, In yielding to, and ſiding with the Devil. But once again, prithee heark to me; Don't God, whilſt thou art young, call unto thee? Remember thy Creator therefore now, And unto him with ſpeed ſee you do bow. The firſt ripe Fruit (of old) God did deſire, And ſo of thee he likewiſe doth require, That thou to him a Sacrifice ſhould'ſt give Of thy beſt days, and learn betimes to live Unto the praiſe of his moſt Holy Name; And not by ſin ſo to prophane the ſame. This is (Young Man) alſo thy chooſing time, Whilſt thou therefore doſt flouriſh in thy prime, Place thou thy heart upon the Lord above; And with Chriſt Jeſus alſo fall in Love. Did not JEHOVAH give to thee thy Breath, And alſo place thee here upon the Earth; And many precious bleſſings give to thee, That thou to him alone ſhould'ſt ſubject be? God out of Bowels ſent his precious Son, Thy Soul from evil ways with ſpeed to turn; Who for thy ſake was nailed to the Tree To free thy Soul from Hell and miſery. And whilſt in ſin (vile wretch) thou doſt remain, Thou doſt, as 'twere, him Crucifie again; Thy ſins alſo (O Young Man) God doth hate, His Soul doth loath, and them abominate; Nought is more odious in his bleſſed fight, Than thoſe baſe Luſts in which thou tak'ſt delight. And wilt thou not, O Young Man! be deterr'd From thy vain ways? what, is thy heart ſo hard! Shall nothing move thy Soul for to repent, Nor work Convictions in thee to relent? Give ear to Truth, Truth never ſpoke a lye, And fly from ſin and youthful vanity. Thoſe that do ſeek Gods Kingdom firſt of all, And do obey Gods ſweet and gracious call, They ſhall find Chriſt, and lie too in his Breaſt, And reap the Comfort of Eternal reſt. But if thou ſhould'ſt this golden time neglect, And all good motions utterly reject; And • light the day of this thy viſitation, That will to God be ſuch a provocation, That he'll not wait upon thee any more, Nor never knock hereafter at thy door. While terms of peace God doth therefore afford, Subject to him, leſt he doth draw his Sword. If once to anger him you do provoke, He'll brake your bones, and wound you with his ſtroke. Who can before his indignation ſtand, Or bear the weight of his revengeful hand? How dareſt thou a War with him maintain, And ſay, o're thee Chriſt Jeſus ſhall not Reign? Wilt thou combine with his vile Enemy, And yet preſume on his ſweet clemency? Wilt thou, vile Traytor-like, contrive the death Of that great King, from whom thou haſt thy breath? Wilt thou, caſt dirt upon the Holy One, And keep Chriſt Jeſus from his rightly Throne? Is't not his right thy Co • ſcience for to ſway? Ought he not there to Reign, and thou Obey? Dar'ſt thou reſiſt his dread and Soveraign power? Yea, or hold parley with him for an hour, To gratifie the Devil, who thereby Renews his ſtrength, yea, and doth fortifie Himſelf in thee, and makes his Kingdom ſtrong, By tempting thee to ſin whilſt thou are young? The Blak-a-moor as ſoon may change his skin, As thou may'ſt leave and turn away from ſin, When once a habit and a cuſtom's taken, Then ſinful wayes are hard to be forſak • n. Dar'ſt thou, vile wretch, Chriſt's Government oppoſe And with the Devil and corruption cloſe? Had'ſt rather that the Devil reign o're thee, Than unto God Almighty ſubject be? Which will be beſt, doſt think, for thee i'th' end, The Lord to pleaſe, and Satan to offend? Or Satan for to pleaſe, and ſo thereby, Declare thy ſelf JEHOVAH's Enemy? For thoſe who live in ſin, 'tis very clear, They Enemies to GOD and JESUS are. And wilt thou yield unto the Devil ſtill, And greedily alſo his will fulfil? Doſt think, vain Youth, he'll prove to thee a friend, That thou do'ſt ſo his curſed ways commend? Has Sin (which is his odious excrement) So ſweet a ſmell, yea, and a fragant ſcent? Shall that which is the ſuperfluity Of naughtineſs, be precious in thine e • e? And doſt thou Value Chriſt and all he hath, Not worth vain pleaſures here upon the Earth? Shall he eſteemed be by thee (vile duſt!) Not worth the Pleaſures of a curſed Luſt? 〈◊〉 there more good in ſinful Vanity, • han is in all the Glorious Trinity? • hat which men think beſt, that will they chuſe, • hings of ſmall value 'tis they do refuſe. • hat thoughts haſt thou of Chriſt then, ſinful Soul, • hat thou his Meſſengers do'ſt thus controul, • d do'ſt to him ſo turn a deaf ear, • s Knoks, his calls, and wooings wilt not hear, Nor him regard, though he ſtand at the door▪ • ith Myrrhe and Frankincenſe, yea, and all ſtore O • rare Fruit, and choice Spice, as Cinnamon • es, Spikenard, Camphire, and Saffron? 〈◊〉 precious things, Poor Soul! of Heaven above, 〈◊〉 hath with him, yet nothing will thee move 〈◊〉 ope the door: for all his calls and knocks • ou let'ſt him ſtand until his precious locks 〈◊〉 wet with dew and drops of the long night. • us thou do'ſt him deſpiſe, reject and flight. 〈◊〉 rather keep'ſt thy Luſt and Pleaſure ſtill, • an that Chriſt ſhould thy Soul with Heaven fill, • nough he ten thouſand Worlds doth yet excell, 〈◊〉 makes that heart where he in truth doth dwell, 〈◊〉 be a Heaven here upon the Earth, • ng the Soul with precious joy and mirth, • ich makes gray headed Winter like a ſpring, 〈◊〉 Youth like to Caeleſtial Angels ſing; 〈◊〉 Soul he doth ſo greatly elevate, • t it diſdains and doth abominate • enſual pleaſures in compariſon • eſus Chriſt his dear and only Son. • e perſwade thee for to taſte and try 〈◊〉 good Chriſt is, for then aſſuredly, Thou wilt admire him, yea, and Praiſe the Lord That ever he did to thy Soul afford, Such a dear ſaviour, and ſuch good Advice, To lead thy Soul into ſweet Paradice, For none do know the natute of that Peace That inward joy the which ſhall never ceaſe, But he himſelf who doth the ſame poſſeſs▪ Oh! • aſte and ſee, for then you will confeſs, No pen can it expreſs, no tongue declare, It's Nature's ſuch (O Young man!) 'tis ſo rare Chriſt is the SƲMMƲM BONƲM, it is h • In whom alone is true felicity; Such is the nature of Mans panting Breaſt There's nought on Earth can give him perfect reſ • 'Tis not in Honour, that is Vanity: For ſuch, like beaſts, and other mortals dye, Kingdoms and Crowns they tottering do ſtand, The Servant may the Maſter ſoon Command. Belſhazzar, who upon the Throne did • it, His Knees againſt each other ſoon did hit, How was he ſcared when the writing came And wrote upon the Wall, ev'n the ſame That afterwards befel, his end being come, Receiv'd his fatal ſtroke, which was his Doom. Great men oft-times being fil'd with great fear; Being perplext they know not how to ſtear. Tall Ceaders fall when little ſhrubs abide, Though Winds do blow and ſtrangely turn 〈◊〉 Ti • For man in honour lives but a ſhort ſpace. He dyes like to the beaſts, ſo ends his race: Where's Nimrod now that mighty Man of old, And where's the Glory of the head of Gold? Great Monarchs now are moulder'd quite away, Who did on earth the Golden ſcepter ſway, In higheſt place of Humane Government: None ever found therein ſolid content. Of Alexander 'tis declar'd by ſome, How he ſate down when he had overcome The Eaſtern World, and did w • ep very ſore Becauſe there was one World and no more For him to Conquer. Thus alſo 'tis ſtill, This world's no • big enough Man's Soul to fill, Riches and Wealth alſo can't ſatisfy, That precious Soul which in thy breaſt doth lie. If ſtore of Gold and Silver thou ſhouldſt gain, 'Twould but increaſe thy ſorrow, grief and pain. Riches, (O Young Man) they are but empty things, And fly moſt ſwift away with Eagles wings. When riches thou doſt heap, thou heapſt up ſorrow, They'r thine to day, alas! but gone to morrow, Fires may come and thy Treaſures burn, Or Thieves ſteal them, as they have often done. He that hath thouſands by the Year, this night May be as poor as Job before 'tis light. And as for pleaſure which thy Age doth prize, Why ſhould that ſeem ſo lovely in thine eyes? 'Tis but a moment they with thee will laſt, And ſadneſs comes alſo when they are paſt, The Brute his pleaſures hath as well as thee, Man's cheifeſt good therefore can't pleaſure be, And whilſt thou ſtriv'ſt thy evil Luſt to pleaſe, Thy raging Conſcience (Youth) who ſhall appeaſe? With this ſweet Meat, I tell thee alſo, Friend, Thou ſhall't have ſour ſauce before the end. And as for Beauty, that alſo is vain, Unleſs thou canſt the inward Beauty gain. What's outward Beauty, ſave an evil ſnare, By which vain ones oft-times deceived are? That beauty which mans carnal heart doth prize, Renders not lovely in JEHOVAH's eyes. Though deckt with Jewels, Rings and brave attire, The glorious King their beauty don't deſire; His hearts not taken with't, but otherwiſe The Beauty of vain ones he doth deſpiſe. Thouh very fair, yet if de ••• 'd with ſin, They like unto Sepulchres are within, Loathſome and vile i'th' ſight of God are they, And ſoon their ſeeming Beauty will decay: It fades and withers, and away doth paſs, Juſt like unto the flower of the graſs. The curled Looks, yea, and the ſpotted Face, God • 're a while will bring into diſgrace. Thoſe Ladies which excel all others too Muſt feed the Worms within a day or two, Death and the grave will ſpoil their beauty quite, And none in them ſhall never more delight. As for thy Age, in youthful dayes we ſee, Youth minds nought elſe ſave curſed vanity, Soon may thy Spring alſo meet with a blaſt, And all thy glory not an hour laſt. The Flower in the Spring which is ſo gay, Soon doth it fade and wither quite away. Nothing on earth canſt thou find out or 'ſpy, That will content thee long, or ſatisfie That Soul of thine, if ſtill you ſearch about Till you do find the rareſt Science out. For if on Learning once you place your mind, Much vanity in that alſo you'll find. For Humane Knowledge and Philoſophy, Can't bring thy Soul into ſweet Unity With God above, and Jeſus Chriſt his Son, In whom, poor Youth, is happineſs alone, Dote not on Honour then, nor yet on Treaſure, Nor Beauty, Learning, Youth, nor Pleaſure; All is but Vanity that's here below, Truth and Experience both the ſame do ſhow. Come, look to Heav'n, ſeek thou for higher joys, Let Swine take husks, and Fools theſe empty toys. Come, taſte of Chriſt, poor Soul, and then you will Of joys Caeleſtial receive your fill▪ If thou doſt drink but of the Chryſtal Springs, Theſe outward joys thou 'lt ſee are trifling things. If Heavens ſweetneſs once thou hadſt but caught, Thou wouldſt account Earth's beſt enjoyments naught Honour & riches too Chriſt has great ſtore And at's Right hand pleaſures for evermore. Doſt think that he who makes Mans life ſo ſweet, Whilſt he with grievous troubles here doth meet, And in believing hath ſuch ſweetneſs placed, Though his own Image greatly is defaced, Can't give to him much greater Conſolation; When all the ſowr's vaniſht of Temptation? If with the bitter, Saints ſuch ſweetneſs gain, What ſhall they have when they in Glory reign? Youth. Be ſilent Truth, leave o • , for I c • n't • ear Your wh • ning ſtrains, nor will I l •• g • r 〈◊〉 Such melancholy Whimſies, they're ſuch ſtuff, Which ſuits not with my age: I have enough O • it already, and alſo of you, S •• h you my in 'reſt ſtrive to overthrow. When I appeal'd to you I was perplext, And with ſad melancholy ſorely vext: But ſince I do perceive the Storm is o're, You I don't think to trouble any more. Long winded Sermons, Sir, I do not love, Nor of your Doctrine in the leaſt approve. No liberty to me I ſee you'll give, In ſweet delights and pleaſures for to live. I don't intend Phanatick yet to turn, Nor after ſuch diſtracted People run; An eaſier way to Heaven I do know, And therefore, Sir, Farewel, farewel, to you. My bride, my ſports, and my old company, I will enjoy, and all my bravery I will hold faſt, yea, wantonly fulfil My fleſhly mind, ſay Preachers what they will? Conſcience. Ah Youth, ah Youth! is' • ſo in very deed, Wilt thou no more unto God's truth give heed? 'Twas • ut my mouth to ſtop, I now do find, That unto Truth you ſeemingly inclin'd. But this, O Soul, I muſt aſſure to thee, What thou haſt heard has much enlightned me, And my Commiſſion too it doth renew, As will appear by what doth next enſue. Have you from God been called thus upon, And ſhall your heart be hardned like a ſtone? You can't plead ignorance, Oh Youth, 'tis ſo, You plainly now have heard what you ſhould do, Your ſin will be with grievous Aggravation, If quickly you don't make a Recantation. Your ſin will now be of a ſcarlet dye, And many ſtripes prepared I eſpy, With which you muſt he beat; becauſe that you, Your Maſters Will ſo perfectly do know, But for to do the ſame you ſtill refuſe, And your poor Conſcience wickedly abuſe: You'll ſhew your ſelf a curſed Rebel now, If unto Chriſt with ſpeed you do not bow▪ Wilt thou thy ſins retain, when thou doſt he • r How much againſt the Living God they are? Wilt thou caſt dirt into his Bleſſed Face? Oh! tremble Soul, and dread thy preſent caſe. Youth. Now my good days, I ſee they will be gone, My inward thoughts will ne'er let me alone; Ah that I could but ſin without controul, And Conſcience would no more diſturb my Soul; His bitter gripes much longer I can't bare, He's grown ſo ſtrong that little hope is there; But he'll prevail, ſuch conflicts do I feel, My Courage now and Reſolutions reel: But yet I am reſolv'd once more to try, And ſtruggle will to get the maſtery. I cowardly will not acquit the Field, Nor at the ſecond Summons will I yeild. I'll make once more another ſtout eſſay, • 're unto Conſcience I will yeild the day, Ah! how can I my ſweet delights forſake, Without reſiſtance to the laſt I make? Conſcience, although I ſinful am, I ſee, There's many thouſand ſinners worſe than me, There's none can live and from all ſin be clear, That I from Truth did very lately hear. My heart is good, though it is true, that I Am overcome through humane frailty. Conſcience. O cutſed wretch! dar'ſt thou thy heart commend? Come tremble Soul, and it to pieces rend, Don't I moſt clearly in thy heart behold Moſt horrid luſt, 'twould ſhame thee were it told: All rottenneſs and filthy do I eſpy, In that baſe heart of thine to lurk and lie: There Vipers breed and many a Cockatrice; The ſpawn of every Sin and evil Vice. Like a Sepulchre, Soul, thou art within, N • ught's there but ſtink and putrifying ſin, Out from thy heart all evil doth aſcend, And yet wilt thou thy filthy heart commend? And doſt thou think thy ſtate good for to be, Cauſe thou doſt find many as bad as thee? You are ſo naught, if you from ſin don't turn, You muſt for ſin in Hell forever burn, Except ye do repent. Truth tells you plain, You periſh muſt, • n everlaſting pain. Youth. Well, ſay no more, if this be ſo, I muſt Go unto Truth again, or I ſhall burſt; My heart will break, I clearly do diſcern, I therefore now muſt yield, and alſo learn What's my ſtate, my Nature, Oh! that I did k • ow, Come, Truth, I pray, will you this favour ſhow. As to explain this thing to me more clear, For Conſcience doth my Soul with horrour ſcare, Is he i'th' right, Oh Truth, or is he wrong? I find Convictions in me very ſtrong. What is my ſtate? declare it unto me, And ſet my troubled Soul at Liberty. Truth. What Conſcience ſpeaks (O Young Man) is moſt right And vain it is with him longer to fight Conſcience againſt thee doth his witneſs bear, And dreadful danger alſo doth declare, Thoſe he condemns by light received from me, Th' Ete • nal God condemns aſſuredly; And God is greater than thy heart, Oh Soul! Who can enough thy grievous ſtate condole If Conſcience doth its Teſtimony give, That you in ſin and curſed ways do live, And that thou art an unconverted Wretch: If 'tis from hence, between you there's a breach, And this be ſo, as it you can't deny, What would you do, if you this night ſhould die? If in this ſtate this life you do depart, Undone for evermore (Young Man) thou art, As ſure as is the mighty God in Heaven, Againſt thy Soul the Sentence will be given. Conſcience his power did from God receive, And if you don't obey, and him belive, But do reject his Motions, 'tis all one, As if Chriſt Jeſus you did tread upon; Whilſt he doth Rule by Laws that are Divine, 'Tis Treaſon him to ſtop or undermine. And once again, to ſhew thee thy eſtate, Thou being, Young Man, not regnerate, No God nor Chriſt have you; 'tis even ſo, And this indeed's the ſum of all your W • . In God no int'reſt (Youth) haſt thou at all, He's quite departed, ever ſince the Fall, And is become thy dreadful Enemy, His angry Face is ſet moſt vehemently Againſt thy Soul, and that's a fearful thing, Enough thy Pride with vengeance down to bring; Each Attribute againſt thy Soul is ſet, And all of them alſo together met. To make thee every way moſt Miſerable; Which Wrath for to with-ſtand, what Man is able He'll ſuddainly thy Soul to pieces tear, And his Eternal Vengeance make thee bear; His Wrath it will upon thy Soul remain, Till you by Faith are truly born again. Youth, This Doctrine which to me you do declare It is enough to d • ive one to diſpair; If it be ſo, I grant, I am undone, But God is gracious and has ſent his Son. He's full of Bowels, therefore hope do I, He'll not on me his Juſtice magnifie. Truth. 'Tis true God's gracious, yet he will not clear, Thoſe guilty Souls who don't his Juſtice • ear: He's very gracious, yet he's full of ire, And is to ſuch like a conſuming • ire. He ſent his ſon, 'tis true, for Souls to dye But many miſs and faſly do apply His precious Blood; therefore my Counſel take▪ Don't you too ſoon an application make, O • Gods ſweet Grace, nor yet of Chriſts dear Blood Until by you the Goſpel's underſtood. Thoſe who are whole, no Phyſitian have, The Sick and Wounded Soul Chriſt came to ſae. What doſt thou judge thy preſent ſtate to be, How do's it ſtand, and is it now with thee? Youth, I am a Sinner, and my heart doth bleed, My ſin-ſick Soul doth a ſweet Saviour need, My Conſcience tells me that I am moſt vile, And grievouſly, for ſin, doth me turmoil. Truth. No Saviour can you have, unleſs you do Reſolve to leave your Sins, and let them go: Nor for your Wounds is there a help, be ſure, 'Till Cauſes be remov'd which do procure, And bring on you that pain and bitter ſmart, Which you cry out of in your part. Youth. My trembling Soul's amaz'd and fill'd with fear; Another way, Oh Truth! thy courſe I'll ſteer; I muſt forſake all evil ways, for I Do ſee the danger and the Miſery, Which doth attend the way that I am in, Whilſt I do keep and hug my curſed ſin. There's ſcarce a night which paſseth o're my head, But dread I do the making of my Bed; (E're Morning comes) in the ſad depths of Hell. My Conſcience therefore now does me compel To bid adieu to all ſweet joy and pleaſure, To Lyes and Fraud and all unlawful treaſure, In ſports and games I • ll take no more delight, But contrariwiſe I'll PRAY both day and night, Conſcience has overcome me with his gripes, Tr • th follows him ſo with his threatn'd ſtripes, The wall's broke down, the Old Man runs away, And Conſcience follows cloſe to cut and ſ • ay: And threatens too no Quarter he will give, And ſeems before him every thing to drive, Luſt forced is in Corners now to to • ly, Where it doth hide it ſelf moſt ſecertly, And watcheth alſo, thinking for to get An opportunity once more to ſet, And fall on Conſcience, which it doth diſdain, 'Cauſe Conſcience ſays Corruption muſt be ſlain, I ſide with him, becauſe I would have peace, But ſtill 'tis doubtful when theſe Wars will ceaſe. Devil. What pity is't thy Sun ſhould ſet ſo ſoon, Or ſhould be clouded thus before 'tis noon; No ſooner riſen in thy Horrizon, And ſweetly ſhine, but preſently is gone? Shall Winter come before the ſpring is paſt, And all his fruit be ſpoil'd with one ſad blaſt? Shall that brave flower which doth ſeem ſo gay, So quickly fade and wither quite away? What pity 'tis that one ſo young as thee Should thus be brought into Captivity. Heark not to Conſcience, for I dare maintain, 'Tis better for to hug thy Sins again. Thy Conſcience (Youth) thou haſt too lately found, Doth but amaze and give thy Soul a wound. Conſider well, adviſe, and thou ſhalt ſee, My ways are beſt, come hearken unto me, I'll give thee honour, pleaſure, wealth and things Which prized are by Noble Men and Kings; Let not this make-bate with an angry frown, Throw all thy Glory and thy pleaſure down, Let not ſtrange thoughts diſtreſs thy trubled mind, What ſatisfaction canſt thou have or find, But that which floweth from this World alone? 'Tis I muſt raiſe thee to the ſublime throne, The Hell thou feareſt may be but a ſtory, And Heaven alſo but a feigned Glory, If this don't •• artle thee, then ſpeedily I will ſtir up an other enemy· Old Man, rouze up, I charge you to awake And ſwiftly too, your life lies at the ſtake. And Mistriſs Heart, ſtir up your willful Will. Is this a ſeaſon for him to ſit ſtill? If unto Truth and Conſcience he gives place, Our Int'reſt will, you'll ſee, go down a pace; Judgment is gone already, and doth yield, And Courage too, I fear, will quit the field, Some ſins are ſlain, and in their Blood do lie, And others into holes are forc'd to fly As for Affection he doth hold his own, Though Conſcience doth upon him ſadly frown. Remembrance will unto him trai • rous prove, If I his thoughts from Sermons can remove, I'll make his mind run after things below, And raiſe up trouble which he did not know, And he'll forget what he did lately hear, And ceaſe will then his former thoughts and fear. If I can pleaſe his ſenſual appetite, There is no fear of any ſudden flight; His Breaſt is tender and apt to entertain The ſparks of Lust which long he can't reſtrain, I'll blow them up and kindle them a-new, And to Conviction ſoon he'll bid adue. New objects I'll preſent unto his ſight, In which I'm ſure he can't but take delight, I have ſuch hold of him, there is no doubt But I once more ſhall turn him quite about. His old Companions alſo I'll provoke, At's door again to give another knock: Their ſtrong enticements hardly he'll with-ſtand, They can (you ſee) his ſpirit ſoon command. Youth's old Companions. How do you ſir? what is the cauſe that we, Can't (here of late) enjoy your Company? It ſeems to us as if you were grown ſtrange, As if in Youth there was ſome ſudden change. Youth. I have not had the opportunity, Beſides on me there doth ſome burthen lie, Which doth preſs down my ſpirits very ſore, And makes me ſeldom go forth o'th' door. Companions. I warrant you, Sirs, 'tis Sin afflicts his Soul, And he's juſt going now to turn • ool. Come, come away, to Age ſuch grief belongs, To Youth, brave mirth and ſweet melod'ous ſongs. Come drive theſe thoughts away with Pipe and Pot Sing and Carouze till they are quite forgot. The lovely ſtrains of the well tuned Lute, Where Plays they Act, do with our Nature ſute. Come▪ go with us upon a brave deſign, The which will chear that drooping heart of thine, Come, generous Soul, let thy ambitious eye, Such fooliſh fancies and vain dreams defie. Shall thy Heroick ſpirit thus give place To ſilly dotage, to thy great diſgrace? Vicinus. The Young Man yields, being poſſeſs'd with fears, They would reproach him elſe with ſcoffs and jears But afterward his head begins to ake, And Conſcience then a freſh begins to wake, And ſtings him after ſuch a bitter ſort, It puts a period unto his Jovial ſport. The thoughts of Death, which Sickneſs doth preſage; Doth trouble him, he cannot bear the rage, And inward gripes of his enlightn'd breaſt, And therefore now again he thinks 'tis beſt To heark to Conſcience, whom he did refuſe, And grieviouſly did many times abuſe. Conſcience, Go mourn, thou wretch, for ſad is thy Condition, Pour forth a-main the water of Contrition. Wilt thou appear to men Godly to be, When all is nothing but Hypocriſie? Wilt thou to Truth ſo often lend • n • ar, And yet to Satan alſo thus adhere? You were as good have kept your former ſtation, As thus to yeild afreſh unto Tentation; Go unto Truth, if God give ſpace and room, Before I do pronounce your final Doom. Truth. Come, come, Young Man, Don't thy Con • ictions loſe, But cheriſh them, & timely alſo chuſe The one thing needful, which alone is good▪ That God may waſh thy Soul in Chriſt his Blood. Thy Soul is precious, 'tis of greater worth Than all the things that are upon the Earth; For if that the whole world you now could gain, And all the pleſures of it could obtain, And in exchange your Soul ſhould loſe thereby, What would your profit be when you muſt dye? When once thy Soul is loſt, thou loſeſt all: Oh! that will be a very diſmal fall! Do'ſt thou not know what I of Hell declare, Of th' hideous Howlings of the damned the • e? How canſt thou with devouring Fire dwell, Or lie with Devils in the loweſt Hell? Thoſe who do in their natural ſtate remain, Muſt live forever in that reſtleſs Pain. All Fornicators, Drunkards and the Lyar, Muſt have their Portion in that Lake of Fire; With Thieves, Revilers and Extortioners, And ſuch who are moſt vile Idolaters; The Proud, the Swearer, and the Covetous, God doth pronounce on them the ſel • -ſ • me Curſe. And thoſe who live in vile Hypocriſie, Or do back-ſlide into Apoſt • cy; Let ſuch unto my preſent words give heed, Their Pain and Torment ſhall all mens exceed. What wilt thou do, or whither canſt thou fly, Where canſt thou hide from the great Majeſty? Who tries the reins, and ſearches every heart, Conſcience declares that thou moſt guilty art. Condemned Soul! thou know'ſt that this is ſo, And this moreover which I plainly ſhow, Will come to paſs, as ſure as God's above, If from all ſin with ſpeed you don't remove; As ſure as you do live, where e're you dye, To Hell you go to all eternity: Except Repentance in your Soul be wrought, With vengeance thither you • ll at laſt be brought, You are the Man for whom God did prepare That dreadful Toph • t, where the Damned are, The which is made exceeding large and deep, The Damned in that doleful place to keep, Oh! call to mind what Conſcience doth this day Charge you withal, before you're ſwept away; Leſt you from him do hear no more at all, Till you into thoſe ſcorching flames do fall; What mercy is't that Conſcience ſtrives ſo long, And his Convictions ſtill in you are ſtrong! Oh! fear, leſt ſin do fear your Conſcience quite, And God alſo put out your Candle light! And give you up unto a heart of ſtone, As he in wroth has ſerved many a one; Then to repent, it will be much too late, Such is the danger of a lapſed ſtate. You • g M • n, take heed you don't this work delay, And put it o •• unto another day. Your own Experience may diſcover this, M • n's Life a bubble and a vapour is Alas! thy days on Earth will be but few, They fly away like to the morning dew, Like as the cloud and ſhadow ſwiftly flies, Or, dew doth paſs as ſoon as th' Sun doth riſe: So fly thy days, thy golden months and years, Much like the bloſſom • that moſt gay appears; And on a ſudden fades and does decay; So Youth oft times doth wither quite away▪ Thy Age thou do'ſt unto the Spring compare, And to the Flowers which appear ſo rare. From hence, O Young Man, learn Inſtruction now, Don't thy Experience daily teach thee how, The Flower withers and hangs down its head, Which curiouſly of late ſo flouriſhed; The Meadow's clad in glorious aray, But's ſoon cut down, and turned all to Hay. Like Jonah's Gourd, which ſprang up in a night, And periſhed as ſoon as it was light. Or like a Poſt which quickly paſſeth by, Or Weaver's Shuttle, which he maketh fly, Or as a Ship when ſhe is under ſail, Doth run moſt ſwift when ſhe has a full gale. So are thy days, they in like manner fly, How many little Graves may'ſt thou eſpy? Come meaſure now thy days, and ſee their length, Number them not by years, by health nor ſtrength; All theſe uncertain rules you muſt refuſe, Though that's the way which moſt of men do uſe▪ 〈…〉 to live till they old aged are, 'C • uſ • their p • og •••• o • s long lived were. That Rule from Truth you ſee doth greatly vary, And which Experience ſheweth is contrary. You hear the things which you ſhould reckon by, Things ſwift in motion's gone moſt ſpeedily. Thy Life's uncertain, (Youth) 'tis but a blaſt, Thy Sand is little, long it will not laſt, Thy houſe, though new, yet it is very old, Gone to decay, and turning to the mould, You're born to dye, and dead alſo you were, Before you liv'd or breathed in the Air. And dye you muſt, before that live you do, Except you dye to live as I do ſhew. Thy dreadful ruin, (Soul) is very nigh, Unleſs thy Tears prevent it ſpeedily. What is thy purpoſe now, what's in thy mind? Which way doſt think to take, how art inclin'd? Youth. Thy ways, (O Truth) I am reſolv'd to run, And never more will I to folly turn. I tremble, at the thoughts of Death and Hell, My Soul is wounded and my wounds do ſwell. My pains increaſe, Therefore my purpoſe now Is far more ſtrict to be, and for to bow • nto Chriſt JESƲS, that I may obtain, Some healing Medicine to remove my pain. No reſt can I, ſave in my Duty, find, I unto prayer am very much inclin'd. God wi •• , I hope, theſe latter ſins forgive, Since I more Godly do intend to live, And ſo reſolve to wait and take ſuch care, That Satan ſhall no more my Soul inſnare. Vitinus. He from this day becomes a great Profeſſor, Though far from being yet a true Poſſeſſor. Chriſt he has got into his mouth and head, And not internally rais'd from the dead, But in Old Adam ſtill does he remain, Not knowing what 'tis to be born again. When Satan ſees it is in vain to ſtrive, The Soul into its former ſtate to drive, But that it will forſake groſs wickedneſs, And will alſo the Truths of Chriſt profeſs, He yields thereto, reſolving ſecretly, To blind its eyes in cloſe Hypocriſie, And ſo appears under a new diſguiſe, Moſt ſubtilly thy Soul for to ſurprize, Perſwading him, the War which he doth find Daily to be within his troubled mind, Is ſaving Grace againſt iniquity, Which has prevail'd and got the victory; When it is common Grace (we do ſo call) And not the Grace that's ſupernatural. He takes the work of Legal Reformation For the only work of true Regeneration. Here he doth reſt and ſeem to be at eaſe, When all is done his Conſcience to appeaſe. But I'le give place to this Religious Youth, To hear diſcourſe between him and the Truth. Youth. Oh! happy I, and bleſſed be the day, That unto Truth and Conſcience I gave way. I would not be in my old ſtate again, If I thereby ſome thouſands might obtain. From Wrath, and Hell, my Soul is now ſet free; For I don't doubt, but I converted be. The Word, with power, ſo to me was brought, A glorious change within my Soul is wrought. Truth. Young Man take heed, leſt you miſtaken are, Converſion's hard, it is a work ſo rare, That very few that narrow paſſage enter, Though far that way there's thouſands do adventure, Yet miſs the mark for all their inward ſtrife, They fall far ſhort of the new Creature-life; Come, let me hear your Grounds of evidence: For I don't like your ſeeming confidence. I doubt I ſhall find you under God's curſe, And ſtill your Caſe as bad, if not much worſe, Then 'twas when you did no Profeſſion make, But did your ſwing in all Prophaneneſs take. The Phariſee was a Religious man, Yet nearer Heaven was the Publican. If ſhort of Chriſt you fix or faſten do, 'Twill be your ruin and your overthrow. Youth. What do you mean? this Doctrin's too ſevere; For all might ſee that I converted were. But if my Grounds you are reſolv'd to weigh, You ſhall forth-with hear what I have to ſay; And the firſt Ground which I reſolve to bring, For to evince, to clear and prove the thing, Is from Convictions which I have of ſin; Which once I hugged and delighted in. Truth. Alas poor Soul! this Reaſon ſoon will fly, For moſt do ſee their vile Iniquity. They are convinced by their inward light, That ſin is odious in JEHOVA'S ſight, But yet vile Sinners are nevertheleſs, And don't one d • am of ſaving Grace poſſeſs. King Pharaoh, Eſau, yea, and Judas too, They were convinced of their ſins (you know:) That they were Saints, there's no Man doth believe; For all thoſe three the Devil did deceive. As he beguiled them, he may likewiſe, With cunning Stratagems your Soul ſurpriſe. Nay, and he has, ſo far as I can judge, Unleſs you do ſome better Reaſon urge, To prove Converſion in your Soul is wrought; I do declare your ſtate is very nought. How many Men under Convictions lie, Yet never born again until they dye? What haſt thou elſe to ſay and to produce, Sith ſlight Convictions are of little uſe? Youth. I do not only ſee my ſin, but I Do mourn and grieve for ſin continually. And thoſe which ſo do mourn they bleſſed are, Don't you alſo the ſelf ſame thing declare? Truth. Nay hold a little, thou may'ſt weep amain; And yet in thee may many evils reign. And thou may'ſt mourn for ſin, as many do, Becauſe of ſhame, of bitter pain, and wo, Which now it brings and leads unto i'th' end, And not b • cauſe thereby you do offend The living God, and wound your Saviour, who Did for your ſake ſuch torment undergo. Mourn more for th' evil which doth come thereby▪ Than for the evil which in it doth lie. Th •• ground is weak, for Eſau it appears, D • d mourn and weep, and let fall bitter tears: And yet you know that Eſau was prophane, And fa • was he from being born again. Youth. But I go further yet, I do confeſs, My horrid evils and my guiltineſs; If I confeſs my ſins, as I have done, God he is juſt, and is the faithful One; Who will my ſins forgive and pardon quite, And blot them out of his own precious ſight, This being ſo, what cauſe then can you ſee, But that I'm turn'd from my Iniquity? Truth. This will not do, 'tis not a certain ground; Some do conf • ſs their ſins whoſe heart's unſound. When Phara •• ſaw the Judgment of the Hail, His heart began then greatly for to fail. I've ſin'd this time, the Lord is juſt, ſaid he, I, and my People (alſo) wicked be. Though Pha • aoh, Saul, and Judas, each of them, God did reject, and utterly condemn; Yet theſe, when under wrath, are forc'd to cry, Lord we have ſin'd; their Conſcience ſo did fly Into their Faces, that it made them quake, And unto God Confeſſion ſtrait to make. Confeſſion may be made alſo in part; And not of ev'ry ſin that's in the heart. Men may confeſs their ſin, and their great guilt, Who the dire nature of it never felt. Confeſs their ſins in their extremity, When Conſcience pinches them moſt bitterly. Confeſs their ſins which they committed have, Yet don't intend thoſe curſed ſins to leave. Youth. But I confeſs, and alſo do forſake, My ſtate therefore, 'tis clear, you do miſtake▪ Thoſe who confeſs and do their ſins foregoe, God will to them his precious Mercy ſhow. Therefore don't trouble me, 'tis very plain, I for my part am truly born again. Truth. In this alſo you may deceived be. Men may forſake all groſs iniquity, Yet in their Souls may ſome ſweet morſel lie, Which they may hug and keep cloſe ſecretly. They may ſin leave, but not as it is ſin; Which has too often manifeſted been If the leaſt ſin thou didſt forſake aright, All ſin would then be odious in thy ſight. Judgement and Reaſon may your ſins oppoſe, And utterly refuſe with them to cloſe; Yet may thy will and thy affections joyn, To favour ſtill and love thoſe ſins of thine. If ſin's not out of thy Affection caſt, Thou wilt appear an Hypocrite at laſt; If ſin's i'th' Will and in th' Affections found, 'Tis a true ſign thy heart is unſound. When they do meet with ſtorms & with bad weather, Leſt all their Goods and Ship do ſink together, When in the Soul great ſtorms and tempeſts riſe The Devil then may ſubtilly adviſe, The Soul to throw ſome of its ſins away, To make a Calm that ſo thereby he may, Perſwade the Soul the danger is quite gone, And that the work in him is fully done. 'Tis not enough therefore ſome ſins to leave, But every ſin you muſt reſolve to have And caſt o're-board, yea, and that willingly, Or elſe you ſink to all Eternity. Not by conſtraint as Conſcience doth compel, As ſome are forc'd to do who like it well, Who leave the Act, but love to it retain: Such leave their ſins, and yet their ſins remain. Youth, Theſe are hard ſayings which you do relate, And I indeed ſhould queſtion my eſtate, Were't not for other grounds and reaſons clear, By which I know that I converted were. Sir, there's in me a very glorious change, Moſt Men admire it, and do think it ſtrange, That one who lately did both ſcoff and jear, Thoſe men and People, which I now do hear, And follow'd Vice and ev'ry vanity; Should on a ſudden thus reformed be, And utterly my ſelf alſo deny, Of my ſweet joys, and former Company. Truth. From outward filthineſs a Man may turn, And not be chang'd in heart when he has done: A legal change I grant he may be under, Yet may not Soul and Self be cut aſunder. An outward change in Men there may be wrought, And yet their hearts within be very nought. The Swine that wallows in the mire now, May waſhed be, but ſtill remains a Sow. Perſons may cleanſe the out ſide of the Cup, And Dogs may ſpew their naſty Vomit up, But yet do keep their beaſtly Nature ſtill, And e're a while they manifeſt it will. Many Profeſſors fall a way and dye, For want of being changed thorowly, The Phariſee was chang'd, he did appear As indeed a precious Saint he were; He differ'd quite from the poor Publican, He thought himſelf a far more happy Man. But all this was in ſhew, and not in heart; He therefore had in Chriſt no ſhare nor part. Except your Righteouſnes doth his excel, You in no wiſe ſhall in God's Kingdom d'well. 'Tis a falſe change, and cannot be a true, Unleſs you are in all things wholly new, Old Herod will reform in many things. When once he finds his Conſcience bites and ſting • , To hear John Baptiſt alſo was • e led, Yet after wards depriv'd him of his Head, So far this ſeeming Saint was turn'd aſide, That he alſo our Saviour did deride; And when his Men of War ſet him at nought, Whilſt Accuſations they againſt him brought. Simon the Sorcerer, alſo you read, Was changed ſo, he gave great care and heed, To Philips Preachings; yea, and ſuddenly He leaves his Witch-crafts and his Sorcery; But was a courſed Caitiff all the while, Like a Sepulcher painted inward vile. Another man in ſhew, 'tis like thou art, Yet not made new, and changed in thy heart; Men in thy Life may no great blemiſh ſpy, Yet in thy breaſt much rotenneſs may lie, Towards all men thy Conſcience may be clear, Conſcience ſo far may for thee witneſs bear, That you in Morals it doth not offend, Yet unto God it may not you Commend; But otherwiſe, it in your face may fly, And you condemn for ſin continually, For ſecret evils which it's privy to, Which none knows of ſa • e only God and you, Therefore (O Young Man) if you look about, Of your Converſion you have cauſe to doubt Satan ſo greatly may your heart deceive, That not one dram of Grace thy Soul may have, Which ſaying is and of the pureſt kind, For that, alas! there's very few do find. Youth. But I am call'd of God and do obey The Voice of Truth and Conſcience every day▪ God's called Ones, I'm ſure you can't deny, But they are ſuch whom he doth Juſtifie: Therfore tis clear and very evident, That Grace alone hath made me penitent. My heart is ſound, my Grace true alſo, My Confidence there's none ſhall overthrow. Truth, Thou ſeemeſt too Confident, 'tis a bad ſign; For fears attend, where ſaving grace doth ſhine. I tell thee (Youth) that many called be, But few are choſen from eternity. Judas was call'd, and did obey in part, And yet he was a Devil in his heart. There is an outward and an inward call, The latter only is effectual. Therefore you muſt produce ſome better ground, For this don't prove that your Converſion's ſound; But that thou may'ſt ſtick faſt ſtill in thy birth Or prove Abortive, when thou art brought forth. 'Tis rare, O Youth! for to be born a-new, And hard to find out when the work is true. Youth. Though it be ſo, what cauſe have I to fear, When that • y Evidences are ſo clear? I do belive and truſt in GOD through Faith, And he which ſo doth the witneſs hath Within him ſelf, and ſhall aſſuredly Be ſaved alſo when he comes to dye. Truth. Thou may'ſt belive as moſt of people do, And yet to Hell at laſt thy Soul may go. The Faith of credence it is like you have, Which cannot quicken, purifie or ſave. Some Jews believ'd in Chriſt, you alſo find, Yet to their Luſts there hearts were ſtill inclin'd; And out of Satans Kingdom were not freed, Nor made Diſciples of the Lord indeed. Simon the Sorcerer, he did believe, Yet did his Soul no ſaving grace receive▪ But was a child of Satan never the leſs, And ſtill was in the the Ga • l of bitterneſs. The ſtoney ground with joy receiv'd the ſeed, And for a time brought forth as you may read, And yet their hearts they were but hearts of ſton • Their Faith was temporary, ſoon 'twas gone. The Devils do belive as well as you, Yea, and Confeſs that Jeſus they do know: They tremble alſo, when ſome men can't ſay, They ever did unto this preſent day. Such Faith as Devils have muſt Men obtain, Which ſerves for nought, ſave to augment their pa • If on a Death-bed Conſcience do awake, 'T will cauſe them then to tremble and to quake▪ And roar like Devils when they do eſpye, The dreadful wrath of that great Majeſty, Whom they offend, and againſt pureſt Light, And knowledge too moſt wickedly did ſlight▪ This faith will ſerve their grief to aggravate, But not to help them out of that eſtate, 'Tis eaſie to belive that Chriſt did dye; But hard his blood, in Truth, for to apply▪ Men may raiſe up the dead to life again, As eaſie as true ſaving Faith obtain By their own power, an inherent skill, Nought doth oppoſe it more than Mans own will; Until Almighty power makes it bend, 'Twill not to Grace, nor Jeſus condeſcend. That power which rais'd up Jeſus from the dead, Works Faith in Saints, where by they'r quickened: The Faith of Credence, and Hiſtorycal, Is eaſie had. I ne're deny it ſhall; But preicious Faith, the Faith of Gods Elect, As 'tis a Grace and gloriouſly bedeckt With other Graces, ſo twill never grow But in the honeſt heart, where God doth ſow The bleſſed ſeed, which, like a gardon pure, Doth yield its fruit to th' laſt, you may be ſure. And when this Faith is wrought in any Soul, It throws down ſelfe, and wholy then doth rowl On Jeſus Chriſt, as its beloved one, On whom it reſts, and doth depend alone. If God has wrought this preicious Grace in thee, Sin thou doſt hate, yea, all Iniquity; And Luſt doth not predominate and reign, If thou by faith art truly born again. Chriſt thou exalt'ſt as he is prieſt and King, And as thy prophet too in every thing; He does in thee wholy the ſcepter ſway, And thou art govern'd by him every day: Sin can't prevail, ſuch is thy happy caſe, If thou haſt got this rare Victorious Grace: It purges and doth purifie thy heart, Wholy renewing thee in every part. Men by its Fruits true Faith do come to know, And by their works the ſame do alſo ſhow; What Faith is thine? what think'ſt thou now of it? I greatly fear 'twill prove a counterfeit. Examine thy Eſtate, and take good heed, To cloſe with Jeſus Chriſt, and that with ſpeed. For at th' Body without the ſpirit's dead, The ſame of Faith you know is alſo ſaid; Without Obedience doth thy Faith attend, Yet for all this you'l periſh in the end. Youth. I am obedient, and am free to joyn In fellowſhip with Saints, ſuch Faith is mine I willing am to do, as to believe; • he Devil can't therefore my Soul deceive. • or I have clos'd with Chriſt already ſo, That none my Faith ſhall ever overthrow. The many prayers I make both day and night, Do doubtleſs prove that my converſion is right. Truth. I tell thee Soul, Men may do more then this, And yet they may of true Converſion miſs. God's Ordinance many do obey, And Members of God's holy Church are they, And of its Priviledges ſeem to ſhare, As if that they truely Converted were. They may diſcourſe, and ſeem to be devout, And may not be deſcerned, nor found out: They with the flock may walk, lye down and feed, And ſo remain till many Years ſucceed: Nay, not diſcover'd be until they ſtand Among the Goats at Jeſus Chriſt's left Hand. The fooliſh Virgins joyn'd themſelves with theſe And fore to meet the Bridegroom did ariſe, But e're the Bridegroom came, their caſe was ſad For they nought elſe but emty veſſels had: A bare profeſſion, and a meer out-ſide, And did no Oyl, nor ſaving Grace provide. Many great Preachers, and diſputers too, Chriſt will not own, nor any favour ſhew; Tho' in his Name they mighty works have done He'll to them ſay, ye wicked one be gone, I know you not therefore be gone from me, All you vile Workers of Iniquity; You ſay oft-times you ſeek the Lord in prayer; That you may do and let fall many a tear, And yet not be in a Converted State; For many ſeek with tears when 'tis too late; Others, like Sea-men, in a ſtorm do cry, When Conſcience doth rebuke them bitterly. And ſome under afflictions do cry and howl, And grievouſly their ſtate do then condole; Then promiſes and reſolutions make, That they ſuch courſes will no longer take But when the ſtorm and the afflictions o're, They are as bad, nay, worſer then before. Some pray in form, and others pray by art And ſome to mend the badneſs of their heart; Their hearts are wounded, and then ſpeedily, Their prayers to heal it they do ſtraight apply. The Sin in th' day, and pray when it is night: They ſin again, but prayer doth heal it quite. They think 'tis well, if tears they can let fall, Their tears and Pray'r, they think will cure all, And ſo that way poor Conſcience they beguile, They ſilence him, yet ſiners all the while. Their pray'rs, alas, can't waſh their filth away, Though they do nothing elſe both night and day, 'Tis on their prayers they reſt, and do depend, Which, like a broken ſtaff, they fall i'th' end. A Saint in prayer, no reſt nor eaſe can gain, Unleſs Chriſt's Blood thereby he doth obtain; And Grace alſo, his ſin to mortify; For Chriſt, as well as pardon he doth cry: But otherwiſe it is with moſt of Men, They cry for pardon, and do alſo then In their vile hearts regard iniquity; And for this cauſe God doth their ſuit deny. Their prayers are to God abomination, Whilſt they do hide and cover their tranſgreſſion▪ Some out of Coſtom do perform their prayer, Not out of Conſcience or from Godly care; And others alſo for vain-glory ſake, Like Phariſees they many prayers make. In ſight of men, in publick ſuch will pray, But in the Cloſet lettle have to ſay. And ſome to God alſo ſeem to draw near, Yet not in love, nor out of filial fear, They with their mouthes and tongues much kindneſs ſhow, When as their hearts are fix'd on thing below. 'Tis for the heart that Chriſt doth cheifly call, And reaſon 'tis that he ſhould have it all; For he the ſame did buy, and purchaſe dear, Yet Satan has the chief poſſeſſion there. God at the door, and in the porch doth ſtand Whilſt Satan may the braveſt Room Command. They lope to him, and keep JEHOVAH out, And yet in prayer they ſeem to be devout. There's ſome will pray, and up his duty keep, When th' ſoul is quite, and th' Body near aſleep. Who ever prays, and pra • s not fervently, In faith, in truth, and in ſincerity; Their prayers are ſin, and them God will not hear Nor mind their cry when they to him draw near. 'Tis not enough a Duty for to know, But how alſo each Duty you ſhould do. For men may pray, read, hear, and meditate, And yet be in an unconverted ſtate. They out wordly may many truths profeſs, But not in heart, the power of them poſſeſs. The Law i'th' Letter keep, yea, have the ſhell, Yet feed on husks, and want the true kernel The Young Man which to Jeſus Chriſt did run, He many things as well as you had done; And yet fell ſhort, as you may plainly ſee, Of the chief part of true Chrſtianity. What ſay yon now O Youth, do you not fear, That you by Satan much deceived are? Have you no Dalilah, which ſecretly Doth in your heart or in your Boſom lye? Don't you to ſin ſome ſecret love retain; If it be ſo, you are not born again. Conſcience I fear, and God's reſtraining grace, Has only ſtop'd you in your former race. Like to a Dog that's kept up by a chain, So Conſcience does from ſin oft-times reſtrain. But if the chain ſhould ſlip, then looſe he goes, And preſently his churliſh nature ſhows; To your own righteouſneſs do you not truſt, I fear you do, come ſpeak, or Conſcience muſt, Don't you conclude God is oblig'd to you, Since you have let ſo many evils go? And are ſo holy here of late become, Are not your duties ſet up in the room, And place of Chriſt? Oh! ſee you do not make A ſaviour of your own for Jeſus ſake, Did ever ſin, ſinful to you apear? And, as 'tis ſin, to it great hatred bear, Would you not ſin, were there no hell of pain, Becauſe you know the Lord doth it diſdain? Rather, it's not fear of Puniſhment, That you of late ſeem thus for to relent? Or doth there not ſome carnal baſe deſign, Move thee ſo far unto God's Truth to joyn? Is not thy end to get a name thereby? Or only done, Conſcience to ſatisfy? Or done to free thee from reproach & ſhame, Which ſin doth bring upon a perſon's name Ha'ſt not it done, and wiſely caſt about This way, for to prevent a Bank • rut? Or done for to augment thy outward ſtore To ſave thy ſtock, and add unto it more? For riotous living, which attend thy age, Conſumes apace, and want it doth preſage. Come ſpeak, O Youth, and be not thou unfree To let me underſtand how 'tis with thee. Come call to mind what thou haſt heard of late And thereby judge of this thy preſent ſtate. Youth. I do not ſee but my Condition's good, I have ſuch hopes and Faith in Chriſts dear blood, Though many imperfections I do ſee, Yet God is gracious and will pardon me: For many failings there are in the beſt, That is amiſs I'll mend and ſo do rest. Truth▪ Thy Hope will fail like to a Spider's webb, Thy flood of Confidence will have its ebb, If thou prove guilty of thoſe things which I, Did unto thee ſo lately ſignifie. Thy ſpots will not be like the ſpots of thoſe, Which God for Children to himſelf hath choſe: And ſince you are ſo loath for to be try'd, And leſt you ſhould alſo ſome evils hide; To Conſcience I'll appeal, you have done wrong To ſtop his mouth and hinder him ſo long: He's ſo enlightened now he can declare As much as we at preſent need to hear. He'll ſpeak the truth, and his opinion ſhow. And nothing will he hide which he doth know. If unto him you will attend with care, Of other witneſſes no need is there. If he, O Young-man, be but on your ſide, And is your Friend, you need none elſe provide. But if againſt you, and, do prove your Foe, With vengeance then be ſure down you will go. But if you will not hear what he ſhall ſay, He'll make you tremble in the Judgement day. Conſcience, I do i'th' Name of the great King Require you forth your evidence to bring Againſt this Man, accuſe, or ſet him free, According as you find his ſtate to be: Stand up for Chriſt your dread & Soveraign Lord, And Judge for him as he doth Light afford. Be not deceiv'd by L • ſt, a Bribe to take, But Judge by Law; Chriſt's honour lies at ſtake. For to ſpeak h • m • and loud have you forgot? Is he converted now or is he not? What do you ſay? your Teſtimony give: Is all ſin dead, or doth there any live? Is he new born, and chang'd in every part? Or is't in ſhew only and not in heart? Conſcience. Sir, ſay no more, I am at your Command, And you ſhall hear how things at preſent ſtand, He hath, O Truth, almoſt deceived me By's late pretences unto Sanct • ty: But having now afreſh receiv'd more light, I muſt declare he was an Hypocrite. He's not renew'd or truly born again. Which I to you ſhall clearly now explain. For, firſt of all, his Faculty, call'd Will, That is perverſe and very wicked ſtill; Though I ſtir up to goodneſs every hour, Will doth oppoſe it with his greateſt pow'r. He'll never pray in private day nor night: But I muſt force him to't with all my might. The old man is not ſlain I do eſpy, But has much favour ſhown him ſecretly, Though I do force him into holes to run, Yet he doth nouriſh him when all is done. His Love and his Affections are for ſin, And ſo in Truth they ever yet have been. He's troubl'd more at ſin becauſe of guilt, Than at the Odium of its curſed filth. When he's abroad amongſt Religious Men, Preciſe and Zealous he is always then: But when amongſt ſuch who ungodly be, He ſuits himſelf to their vile company. Some ſins are left which Men condemn as groſs, Yet one he keeps, and hugs it very cloſe: Luſt doth bear rule and much predominate, And he on it doth love to ruminate. 'Tis ſhame an outward fear doth him reſtrain, Or elſe the act he would commit again. If he from outward blots can keep his Name, That Saints can't him accuſe nor juſtly blame, He's ſatisfied, and very well contenr, Though to his Peace I never gave conſent. Peace he oft-times doth ſpeak unto his Soul, And ſcarce will ſuffer me him to controul. When I ſometimes do catch him in a lye, And do reprove him for Hypocriſy: To ſtop my Mouth he vowes he will with ſpeed Amend what is amiſs, and take more heed▪ And more than this of him I could relate, And ſhew how you have hit his preſent ſtate: But that he will not ſuffer me to ſpeak, He blinds mine eyes, that ſo I might not rake Into his heart and life, leſt he thereby Meet with great ſhame for his iniquity. Truth. Conſcience, forbear, you need not to inlarge; If you do lay theſe things unto his charge, He is undone, alas! his precious Soul Is under wrath; who can enough condole His ſad eſtate? the Goſpel he'l profeſs, But ſtill remains i'th' gall of bitterneſs. Is this the Saint which ſeemed ſo preciſe, And did appear God's Statutes much to prize? A Saint in ſhew, a Devil in his heart; And muſt with Devils alſo have a part This day is coming, and is very near, When Hypocrites ſhall be ſurpriz'd with fear; The everlaſting burning fiery Lake. Is made more hot on purpoſe for his ſake But ſince you are not ſear'd, nor I yet gone, Before we leave him quite do you go on; Let us purſue him ſtill, for who doth know What God may yet upon his ſpirit do? If God grant him one dram of ſaving Grace, That will yet do; though 'tis a doubtful caſe, Whether or no God will his Grace afford To ſuch as he, who thus offend the Lord, For ſuch whom Satan doth this way deceive, 'Tis hard to bring them truly to believe. He never was convinced thorowly, Of Sin, and of his nat'ral miſery. His loſt eſtate he truly never ſaw, Nor what it is for to tranſgreſs God's Law, How he's undone thereby he never knew, Nor what for ſin original was due. And as he did for ſin ne're kindly bleed: So of a Chriſt he never ſaw the need. The abſolute want and great neceſſity Of JESUS Chriſt, he never did eſpy. But on falſe bottoms he has built 'tis clear; I do conjure you therefore to declare Him utterly unclean from top to toe, And let him underſtand you are his Foe. The Plague is in his head, and no place free, But in his heart it rages vehemently. Lance him unto the quick, and make him feel, Lay on ſuch blows as may cauſe him to reel. Conſcience. Come, come, O Young-Man, liſten unto me, I will no longer thus deceived be. I from God' word, commiſſion have a-new, To, tell, thee what is like for to enſue; For all thy hopes and ſeeming goodly ſhow, Thou art a wretched ſinner thou doſt know, Think'ſt thou on Conſcience to commit a Rape And yet God's dreadful Vengeance to Eſcape? Dar'ſt thou again under a new diſguiſe, Encounter with thoſe former enemies? You are the ſame i'm ſure, although you have Changed your coat, poor mortals to deceive. Ungodly wretch, doſt thou not dread my name Who'm come once more againſt thee to proclaim A ſecond War, and to declare alſo, God's ſtill thy Enemy and bitter Foe. His Sword is whet, his Bow he'll alſo bend, To cut down thoſe that do like thee offend. Nought he hates more than vile Hypocriſy, And from his Preſence, Youth, thou canſt not fly. Youth, Conſcience, be ſtill, though I a ſinner be, There's none doth know it now ſave only thee. Conſcience. Deceived Soul! doth none know it but I? Where's the great God, is he not alſo nigh? Doſt think, vain Youth, the interpoſing Cloud From God's all ſearching Eye can be a ſhroud? Or doſt thou think God's Seat is ſo on high, That he cannot thy inward thoughts eſpy? None know't but me! know'ſt thou not who I am? Have I not power for to accuſe and damn? Should I be ſtill, it would be a ſad day, Unleſs thy ſins were purged clean away. And whilſt I ſpeak, and thou doſt ſtop thine Ear, Nothing but War and tumult thou wilt hear. I'll never ſide with thee nor take thy part, Whilſt horrid guilt remains in thy heart. Nor would I mind thy flattery or frown; Wert thou the higheſt Prince of great'ſt renown, That ever did on earth the ſcepter ſway, Before thy face I would thy evils lay. At the ſmalleſt ſin, be ſure, I can't connive; And therefore with me 'tis in vain to ſtrive. For where I am an enemy indeed, I'll plague that heart until I make it bleed. A cloſe and ſecret Foe, Young Man, am I, Who am alſo with thee continually. What e're you think or ſpeak, yea, act or do, Of it (Poor Soul) I very well do know: Thy ſecret Luſt, and what is done i'th' night Which thou aſhamed art ſhould come to light, I then am nigh and know it very well, And more then this I am reſolv'd to tell; I unto thee ſhall prove an enemy, When thou art brought into adverſity; When death and ſickneſs comes, then thou ſhalt ſee, How thou with horror ſhalt amazed be. Then my black Bill againſt thee will be large, For then againſt the I will bring a charge, Which will make thy ſad face like Aſhes look, And wound thy Soul as if a knife was ſtruck Into thy very heart, and make thee mourn, And curſe the day that ever thou waſt born. I'll make thee underſtand (clearly) in the end, What 'tis (vile wretch) poor Conſcience to offend Heark once again, for I have more to ſay; When this life's ended, there's another day. Look now about thee, Youth, for there's to come, The black, the dark, and dreadful day of Doom. When thou doſt dye, I'll bite and ſting thy Soul, Whilſt that in flames doth burn and doth condole Its damned ſtate for yielding unto ſin, Which has alone the ruine of it bin. And alſo when i'th' Judgment Day you ſtand▪ Amongſt the Goats at Jeſus Chriſts Left hand, Thy dreadful ſtate and tryal for to hear, Then I againſt thee ſtraitway muſt appear; Yea, and ſhall ſpeak more plain than now I can, Becauſe I am clouded by the fall of Man; And am by Satan often-times miſled, And utterly unable rendred A true and right deciſion for to make, He ſo beguils me that I do miſtake, And a wrong Judgment often times retain, Till Truth ſets me into the right again. But Satan then ſhall no more power have, The heart of any man for to deceive. I in that day ſhall you provoke and urge, For to confeſs with ſhame before the Judge, Thy evil Luſt and cloſe Hypocriſy, Unto thy own eternal miſery. I ſhall accuſe thee ſo in that great day. Thou ſhalt not have one word (Young Man) to ſay Thy inward parts ſo opened then ſhall be, That nothing ſhall be hid i'th' leaſt from me, And I before the dreadful Judge ſhall ſhow, All ſecret things that ever you did do; And in your face ſo fiercely ſhall fly, That you with horror ſhall be forc'd to cry, Guilty, guilty, O LORD! then thou muſt hear The dreadful Sentence, which no one can • ear; Go, Go, ye Curſed! that's a word of • ire, And you muſt down into eternal fire, Where Hypocrites and Unbelievers lie, Broyling in pain to all Eternity. And as the fire evermore will burn, And thou from thence ſhalt never more return▪ So alſo I ſhall then afflict thy Soul, Whilſt thou in ſcalding Sulp • er flames doſt rowl, I like a Worm, or Serpent, then will • bite, And gnaw thy Soul, thou crurſed Hypocrite, Thoſe inward ſtings which always thou wilt find, Of cruel gnawing in thy tortur'd mind Will then increaſe and aggravate thy woe, In ſuch a ſort there is no Tongue can ſhow. You then will think how you did me abuſe, And my good Counſel bitterly refuſe. And how you labour'd to put out my Light, Who in Gods paths would lead your feet aright Your baſe delays and put-offs you'l repent, And that your time ſo fooliſhly was ſpent That you for love which unto Luſt you bore, Should loſe your Soul, and that forever more. To think how near you were unto ſalvation, Will prove another grievous aggrevation: To bid ſo fair for Heaven, yet to miſs, What greater trouble can there be than this? To ſee the ſhip i'th' mouth o'th' Haven loſt, That doth, ye know, Preplex the Merchant moſt. I'll tell you alſo how you wilfully Brought on your ſelf that dreadful miſery: And how I did oft-times to you declare The bitter torments which you then muſt bear, And what your Pride and Luſt would bring you to, If you did not reſolve to let them go. Ah! thou'lt ſee how thou art quite undone, And how all hopes for evermore are gone. Thoughts of thoſe golden Seaſons once you had, And vainly loſt, will then be very ſad. Thou might'ſt, hadſt thou improv'd the means of Grace Beheld, with Saints, Gods reconciled face And enter'd Paradice, where Angels ſing Anthems of Joy to the Eternal King; Thou might'ſt have ſung to him melodious Pſalms With thoſe whoſe hands ſhall bear triumphant Palms Who with Eternal love ſhall raviſh'd be, Reigning with CHRIST to all Eternity. Heaven is a place whoſe Glory doth excel; The Thouſand part of it no tongue can tell Man's heart (Truth ſays) cannot i'th' leaſt conceive What thoſe ſhall have who truly do believe. Who would loſe Chriſt and his immortal treaſure, For one baſe Luſt and moments time of pleaſure? But if what's ſaid of Heaven will not invite thee, Then let hell-torments with black vengence fright thee And make thee yield to Truth without delays, Before God puts a period to thy days. As Eye can neither ſee nor Tongue expreſs, The glory which Gods Saints in heaven poſſeſs: So there's no man which can conceive the wo, That Souls ſhut up in hell do undergo. If men could number all the ſtars of Heaven Or count the duſt which by the wind is driven, Or tell the drops of water in the ſeas, Or count the Sands, then might a man with eaſe Declare the nature of that dreadful pain, Which damned Souls forever muſt ſuſtain. But Stars, nor Duſt, nor Drops, nor Sands can be Number'd by any man, neither can be Expreſs the nature of God's dreadful ire, Which Souls lie under in Eternal fire. In Hell all's darkneſs, not one beam of Light: Whats greater ſorrow than eternal Night? In Hell all's Death, and yet there is no dying, Nought there is heard but moſt hideous crying, Their pains end not, from it there's no exemption, Their Cries admit no help, there's no redemption, Nor none to pity them, nor hear their groans Whiſt they do make their lamentable moans. The Lord who dy'd will then rejoyce to ſee, Vengeance pour'd forth upon thoſe Souls that be Veſſels of Wrath, who for rejecting Grace Muſt have their portion in that doleful place, No Earthly pain or torment can declare The woful Anguiſh which the Damned bear; For if thoſe Plagues could be defin'd by men, Infinite puniſhment 'twould not be then. Infinite Wrath it is to ſatisfie; And God be ſure, will Juſtice magnifie. Didſt thou but hear the groans and hideous cry Of Souls Condemned to all Eternity, How would it ſcare, and cauſe thy heart to ake, And every limb of thee to tremble and to quake, Then, think on this, before the time doth come, That God doth paſs on thee thy final Doom. Truth. What ſay'ſt thou now? how can'ſt thou ſleep in peace, Until theſe inward gripes of Conſcience ceaſe? How canſt thou think i'th' leaſt thy ſtate is good, When Conſcience ſwells & makes ſo great a flood? Or raiſes ſtorms and tempeſts in thy breſt? Becauſe of ſin he will not let thee reſt. Come, make a ſearch, Conſcience is not miſled, The very Truth before thee he has ſpread. What will you do at death and Judgment day, If Conſcience thus you ſlight and diſobey? Make peace with God, for worſer are his cryes, Than if ten thouſand witneſſes ſhould riſe Againſt thy Soul; 'twill be a dreadful thing To have thy Conſcience then to bite and ſting. Youth, Some comfort, Truth, alas, my Soul doth melt, Such gripes as theſe, what Man has ever felt? I have ſome doubt my ſtate is very nought, 〈◊〉 that Converſion is not truly wrought. My heart condemns me and doth me reprove; 'Tis thou alone which canſt my grief remove. Truth. Before you have a Plaiſter for your ſore, Your wound muſt yet be ſearch'd a little more: If ſlightly heal'd only for preſent eaſe, The Remedy's as bad as the Diſeaſe. Doſt know what time thou didſt this wound receive 'Tis worſer far, I fear, than you believe: 'Tis deep, it ſtinks▪ yea, and 'tis venomous; And doth expoſe thee to God's dreadful Curſe. The ſting or dart ſticks faſt too in thy Liver, Which doth thy ſmart and bitter pains procure. Thy ſtate is bad, thou haſt thy mortal wound, No Limb, or any part of thee is ſound; If thou couldſt live, and never more offend, Yet by the Law thy Soul is quite condemn'd: If from all actual ſin you ſhould be clear, Yet by the Law you ſtill moſt guilty are Of former Crimes, Treaſon and Felony, And juſtice doth aloud for Vengeance cry, Nor will ſhe pardon, or reprieve give forth To any Sinner living on the Earth. Againſt thee too the Sentence is forth gone, And th' Day of Execution doth draw on: Nought is between thee and eternal Death; But ſome ſhort hours of uncertain breath: Sin is ſo vile, and Juſtice ſo ſevere, That in the leaſt 'twould not Chriſt Jeſus ſpare; But Juſtice he muſt fully ſatisfie, Who came to be man's bleſt Security. And ſince in Chriſt thou haſt no ſhare nor part, See what a ſelf-condemned Soul thou art. Youth. O curſed Sin! is this my ſad condition. Truth I believe hath made a right deciſion. I have my Soul deceived all along, Though in my heart Convictions oft were ſtrong. Oh! horrid Luſt, and baſe deceitful Devil Is this the fruit of your ſweet pleaſing evil? And thou, falſe World, what art thou now to me? For I alas! am ruined by thee. O whither ſhall I fly? what path untrod For to eſcape th' incenſed wrath of God? Will none for me ſome ſecret place provide, Where I from flaming Vengeance cloſe may hide? Truth. Vain is all this, for none can find a place To hide from God (ſuch is thy bitter caſe) If to the ends of all the Earth you fly, Vengeance will you purſue with Huy and Cry. If you ſhould take a ſudden haſty flight, To ſeek ſome ſhelter in the ſhades of Night; 'Twould alſo fail thee, though it ſhould be done; For unto God Darkneſs and Light is one. No, if thou couldſt ſome ſolid Rock eſpy, To hide thee from God's dreadful Majeſty, Can Rocks, doſt think, prevent, yea, or reſtrain The ſtroke of Juſtice, and not fly in twain? There is no Sea, nor Shade, nor Rock, nor Cave Which can from Vengeance ſhelter thee or ſave, The Sea would part, the hardeſt Rock will ſplit; Where Juſtice aims, her fiery Darts muſt hit. Canſt thou eſcape? alas! what place is there To hide from him who's preſent ev'ry where? Youth. Oh Truth! what ſhall I do, how can I ſtand, Or bear theſe Tortures of God's heavy hand? My Spirit may infirmities ſuſtain, But who can bear this inward cutting pain? Is there no help, no Salve to heal my Wound; What, no Phyſician for me to be found? Will Tears nor Prayers no help at all afford, Watchings, Faſtings, nor hearing of the Word? Or if that I could live and ſin no more, O what is ſin, and what's my Gangrene ſore? O what's the nature of iniquity, If nought my ſoul can cleanſe or purifie? Rivers of Oyl, much Gold, or Earthly Wealth, Will not redeem my Soul, nor purchaſe health. Ah! I am loſt, the cauſe is truly ſo, I am undone, and know not what to do, Have you no word of Comfort now for me? Oh, muſt I dye in this extreamity? Truth. Doſt find thy ſelf ſick at the very heart? And doth my ſearchings make thy Wounds to ſmart Doth ſin, as ſin, upon thy Spiritly? And doth its weight and burden make thee cry? Doſt know thy wound is Epidemical? And that for thee there is no help at all By Law nor Levite? doſt thou ſee thy loſs, And thy own Righteouſneſs to be but droſs) Youth, I know not what to ſay, I am in doubt Some ſin is hid, which yet I can't find out. My heart is deep and very traiterous; Every day I find it worſe and worſe; I grieve for ſin, and yet I am in dread That I in ſin am greatly hardened. Yet this, O Truth, I hope is wrought in me, Sin I do hate, as 'tis Iniquity, I would not Chriſt offend nor grieve again, Were there no Hell or place of future pain: O that e're I againſt the Lord ſhould ſin, Who has to me ſo good and gracious bin! Againſt the Lord, againſt the Lord alone, Have I this horrid evil often done. Oh! I do ſee that I in ſin am dead, And my iniquity's gone o're my head As a great burden which I cannot bear, Oh! that I might but of a Saviour hear, All my own Righteouſneſs I prize no more Than ſtinking refuſe of a Common-ſhore. Truth, Come Youth, chear up, if this be ſo indeed, I tell thee then, Chriſt for thy Soul did bleed, Glad tydings now I unto thee do bring, There's Mercy for thee in the Heav'nly King. Chriſt to appeaſe God's Wrath did hither come, And I am ſent by him to call thee home. Riſe up, riſe up, his blood for to apply, And thou ſhalt ſoon be healed perfectly. Youth, Ah, could I but believe what thou doſt ſay Unto my Soul, 'twould be a joyful day. Alas, on me a mighty burden lies, I cannot ſtir, nor power have to riſe. Can Lazarus, who in the grave doth lie, Death's cruel Fetters and ſtrong Bands unty? Can he awake? what power has he to ſtrive, When dead, and ſtinks? alas, he can't revive, Although dead but four days, then how ſhall I, Who have lain dead in my iniquity Ever ſince Adam (as it plain appears) Which is indeed above five thouſand years? Jehovah which at firſt my heart did make, Muſt by his Pow'r it into pieces take; That ſo he may create my heart-a-new, E're good from Chriſt doth to my Soul accrue, 'Tis he muſt give me pow'r to will and do, And raiſe me up, e're I can creep or go. Truth. Though that be true, yet hearken unto me, And take the Counſel which I'le give to thee? And thou ſhalt find, as ſure as God's above, He will thy Fears and all thy Doubts remove, And raiſe thee up out of the empty Pit, And on a Rock alſo ſtill ſet thy feet. Firſt thing of all which to you I commend, Be ſure you don't your Conſcience more offend, Do not grieve that, but always take great eare In every thing to prove your ſelf ſincere. He that in Morals walks not faithfully, No marvel 'tis if Chriſt do paſs him by: In ev'ry Nation thoſe accepted are, Who walk uprightly, and the Lord do fear, Thoſe who do follow on to know the Lord, He will to them his ſaving help afford. I do exhort you in the ſecond place, For to attend upon all means of grace. Do not neglect to hear God's bleſſed Word, But prize each ſeaſon which the precious Lord Is pleas'd in Mercy on you to beſtow, For unto you thereby much good will flow. My third advice make uſe of ſpeedily, Lift up your voice unto the Lord on high, pour forth your Soul to him both night and day, And you'l prevail, though he at firſt ſay nay. Though you at firſt may with repulſes meet, Your Soul yet proſtate JEHOVAH's feet. He's ful of bowels, long he can't refrain E're he comes forth to eaſe you of your pain. Thy Prayers and tears and ſpiritual contrition, Will move his heart to ſend thee a phyſician, Who will apply a plaiſter to thy Wound, Which will hereafter ever make thee ſound, Chriſt's Blood will heal, 'twill cleanſe and purify, If now the ſame by faith you do apply. Such grief is thine, no Medicine will be good, Nor heal thy Soul, but thy dear Saviour's Blood▪ The good Samaritan will caſt a look, Though thou of Prieſt and Levite art forſook? Into thy Wounds he will pour in Oyl and Wine, The which will heal that bleeding Soul of thine. O Cry to God, my Siſter (Grace) to ſend, 'Tis ſhe at laſt will prove thy ſpecial Friend. If God is pleaſed but to ſend her down, Thy head with Glory ſhe will ſtraitway crown, But here I'll advertiſe thee firſt of all, Be ſure you do for the right Siſter call: For there are two, and both of one Sir-name, The one is lovely fair, the other lame, The one is common, the other chaſt and pure, And will be true to thee, you may be ſure, The one will dwell where ſin predominates, The other loaths and bitterly it hates, And makes a thorow change where ſhe doth dwell, And will all filth out of that heart expel, Where ſhe doth take up her ſure reſting-place; Rare is the nature of true ſaving Grace. Thy ſtubborn Will ſhe'l make for to ſubmit, And thy affections change as ſhe thinks fit. Thy heart ſhe can new mould, and make it ſoft, And will bring down each high and ſinful thought. The Old-Man ſhe will into pieces tear, She'l cut and kill, and nothing will ſhe ſpare That's oppoſite unto the Prince of Light, She'l put the Devil to a ſpeedy flight; She'l make him leave his ſtrongeſt hold, and run, And quite forſake his former Garriſon. She'l take no pity on the Old-Man's Age, She'l pay him off for all his wrath and Rage, And curſed Malice, Pride and every ſin, Which of long time he has the Author been, 'Tis ſhe can work upon the Covetous, And change his heart to keep an open houſe, To give and to diſtribute of his ſtore To th' cloathing and refreſhing of the Poor. 'Tis ſhe brings down the proud and lofty mind, Which nat'rally was to that vice inclin'd. 'Tis ſhe can tame the wild ſtrong-headed Youth, And make the Lyar always tell the truth. 'Tis ſhe which makes the froward very meek, And the revengeful not revenge to ſeek. 'Tis ſhe which quenches Young-mens luſtful fire, And makes them to diſdain that baſe deſire. 'Tis ſhe will make thy Soul for to defie Each Dalilah and all Hypocriſie. She's like to Oyl and Wine, and will give peace And inward joy, which never more ſhall ceaſe. 'Tis ſhe muſt put Chriſt's bleſſed Robes on thee, And bring thy Soul out of Captivity. 'Tis ſhe muſt thee adorn and beautifie, And make thee lovely in Chriſt Jeſus Eye Oh ſhe'll inflame thy Soul with precious love To Chriſt alone, which none ſhall e're remove. 'Tis ſhe which tyes that conjugal bleſt knot, Which can't be broke, nor ever be forgot. 'Tis ſhe that makes Chriſt and the Saints but one, And makes them of his very fleſh and bone. 'Tis ſhe will help thee in this time of need, Yea, a Diſciple will make thee indeed. And this to thee alſo I muſt declare, Thou of this Grace ſhalt have a part and ſhare. Since 'twas for thee thy precious Lord did die, He can't thy Soul of ſaving Grace deny; Give him no reſt, 'till more he doth give forth, For to compleat in thee the ſecond Birth, Be earneſt with him, ſtrive to hold him faſt, And thou, like Jacob, wilt prevail at laſt. Though he at firſt may ſeem to ſtop his Ear, Y • t importunity will make him hear. Thy time, I'm ſure, it is the time of love, And thy deep wounds will make him from above To pity thee, and for to caſt an eye, As thou polluted in thy blood doſt lye; What e're is needful to thee, he will give, And raiſe thee up to life, and make thee live; Yea, manifeſt to thee ſuch conſolation, As for to cloath thee with his own ſalvation. Come, make a tryal, and do not deſpair, Look up to Heaven, Soul, thy help is there. Youth. Thy Counſel I reſolve to take with ſpeed, If 'twas for me Chriſt on the croſs did bleed; I will ſend up a ſigh, a bitter groan, And earneſtly implore his gracious Throne. Moſt Holy God, who dwelleſt in the light, Ah, What am I before thee in thy ſight; Wilt thou attend, or liſten to my Cry, Thou know'ſt my grief, and where my pain doth lie, Canſt thou not eaſe my deeply wounded Soul, Who in my blood am forc'd to lie and roul? Is there no Balm in Gilead, is there none? Into dark ſilence then, Lord, I' • e be gone. Where are thy Bowels, is thy Mercy • l • d? Lord, think upon the Blood Chriſt Jeſus ſhed; If thou can't heal my Soul of all its grief, Then let me periſh without al • relief. Why were thy ſides pie • ced? Lord Jeſus, why? Didſt ſuffer • or thy own i • i •• ity? There was no ſin, I' • e ſure, nor guilt in thee That caus'd thy pains; didſt thou not die for me? Didſt thou not Juſtice fully ſatisfie, And pay the Debt? Muſt I in Priſon lie, When Reſtitution's made i'th' highest degree? Oh, come • and ſet my Soul at liberty, Knock off theſe bolts and chains, and bring me forth Out of this pit, deep Mi •• , and bands of Death. Lord, muſt I bleed? did I not bleed before In thy ſad Wounds? can Juſtice challenge more? O, ſhall my heart-ſtrings break? my Soul doth groan I languiſh, Lord, whilſt thou ſtand'ſt looking on. Lord, doſt thou hear the Ravens when they cry? And wilt thou not my preſent wants ſupply? Wilt thou the door of Mercy ne're unlock? Lord, open unto me, now I do knock. O Son of David, help; think on thy Word, And unto me ſome Mercy, Lord, afford. IESUS. What voice is this? who is't that makes this cry? What ſinful Wretch is in extreamity, That thus implores for help, and follows me? That takes no nay, although I ſilent be? Youth. Lord, 'tis a poor dejected piece of Earth, That is undone, and ſighs for a new birth. IEſus. Was I not ſent only to Jacob's race? How c •• 'ſt thou then to have ſo • old a face To importune me, when ye know full well You are not of the flock of Iſrael? Come you not of the curſed Gentile ſeed? Be gone from me, and further don't proceed. Youth. Ah! help dear Lord, and ſome Compaſſion ſhow For to whom elſe, or whither can I go? Ieſus. Is't meet that I ſhould give to Dogs that Bread, With which the Children ſhould be nouriſhed? Youth. True, Lord, that I grant, and ever ſhall, Yet may the Dogs eat up thoſe Crumbs which fall From their own Maſters Table: though a whelp, Lord, look on me▪ O precious Saviour, help. Ieſus. What aileſt thee, poor Soul, what's thy condition, Which makes thee ſhed th • ſe tears of ſad contrition? Youth. My grief, my pain, and great extremitie, Lord, thou doſt know, and all my wants doſt ſee. Ah! I have ſinn'd, and am ſo vile and baſe, I hate my ſelf, and loath my preſent caſe. I am a lump of filth, wholly unclean, A viler Creature there has never been. I languiſh, Lord, my wounds they are not ſmall: And I have wounded thee, that's the worſt of all· Ieſus. Come, ceaſe thy grief, what is't thou doſt deſire? My Soul doth melt, my heart is ſet on fire, My bowels yearn, I longer can't refrain From tears, as well as thee I am in pain: Thy wounds afflict me, and thy bitter cry Doth pierce my heart, I know thy miſery ▪ What is it, Soul? ſpeak forth thy mind to me; What doſt thou crave, or ſhall I do for thee? Come, ope thy heart to me, for I am nigh Thy ſuit to grant, thy want: for to ſupply. Youth. 'Tis not for Riches, nor for pleaſure here, Nor Honours, which by men ſo prized are, Nor length of days, Lord, do I ſeek or crave, 'Tis ſomething elſe my Soul doth long to have, The Earth's a blaſt, and all the World's a bubble: There's nothing in't can eaſe me of my trouble. Such is my ſtate, nought but thy hand can ſave, 'Tis thou muſt raiſe dead Laz'r • s from the grave. Knock off theſe bolts, and ſet thy Priſoner free, And give thy grace (Lord JESUS) unto me. My fainting Spirit comfort and refresh, O ſpare my Soul, but crucifie the flesh; Compleat thy Work (Lord Jeſus) on my heart, And thy own Righteouſneſs to me impart. There's nought, I ſee, will do me any good, Save the dear Merit of thy Precious Blood. My bleeding Soul will faint away and dye, If thou doſt not thy Blood with ſpeed apply. How has my panting breſt ſent many groan, With bitter tears unto thy gracious Throne, For one ſweet look and aſpect of thine Eye? There's nothing elſe which will me ſatisfie: Oh! manifeſt thy Love unto my ſoul, For that will cure me and ſoon make me whole. My gaſping Soul's diſſolved into ears, Whilſt pleas'd with hopes, and yet poſſeſs'd with fears▪ My great Requeſt, alas! is only this, Come ſeal thy Love to me with a ſweet kiſs: For nought is there on Earth, nor Heaven above, Which I eſteem or value like thy Love. A promiſe grant, ſome Word to lie upon, Before my life and little hopes be gone. My Soul's afraid, and trembles, thou doſt ſee, Becauſe I know that I unworthy be: Ah! I have made thee bleed, I am ſo vile, Thy frowns I do deſerve, but not one ſmile. How did I grieve and put thy Soul to pain! The thoughts of it doth cut my heart in twain, Thy Meſſenger, how did my Soul refuſe, and my poor Conſcience, wickedly abuſe, Who did receive Commiſſion from above, Either to clear, or ſharply to reprove, I unto Truth oft-times turn'd a deaf ear, And unto Satan rather did adhere. I ſlighted thee, and ſin I did embrace, Which ſhames me greatly to look in thy face. If thou ſhouldſt pardon ſuch a one as I, And ſave my Soul to all eternity, And me embrace in contract of Love, And all thy wrath forever quite remove: It would be Grace and Love beyond degree, And ſuch which never can expreſſed be: O, wilt thou ſpeak again, dear Saviour, do, A Promiſe, Lord, or I'll not let thee go. Ieſus. What Faith haſt thou, poor ſoul, canſt thou believe, And ſtedfaſtly my benefits receive? Doſt think that I have power and a heart To ſave, or help, and free thee from thy ſmart? Youth. My faith, alas, is weak, O ſend relief, Lord, I believe, O help my unbelief, That precious voice which I did lately hear, Will ſoon remove my doubts and all my fear. If Love, as well as pity, thou doſt ſhow, 'Twill give me joy, and take away my wo. But thou mayſt, Lord, my Soul commiſerate, And yet may I be in a dying ſtate. Over Jeruſalem thou didſt Lament, Who had no ſaving Grace for to repent. Is there in thee ſuch Bowels of compaſſion, As to beſtow thy ſelf and thy Salvation, On ſuch a Worm as I, whoſe wounded breſt is heavy loaded, and would fain have reſt? O help, dear Lord; my fainting Soul will dye, Without an anſwer from thee ſpeedily. Ieſus. Look up to me and ſee my Love deſcending, 'Tis from Eternity, and has no ending. Canſt thou have more, dear Soul? thou haſt my heart; What e're is mine, to thee I will impart. Thy ſcarlet ſins are waſhed quite away, Not one of them unto thy charge I'll lay Pull up thy drooping heart, be of good chear, Thy ſins, though never ſo great, forgiven are. I able am to ſave to the uttermoſt All thoſe who do in me put all their truſt. Thoſe which do come to me, I in no wiſe Will caſt them out, therefore lift up thine eyes▪ Behold my hands and feet, and do not doubt, For I have wiſht and cleans'd thy Soul throughout. Thy debts I've paid, and quitted thy old ſcore; Thy former faults I ne'er remember more. Enter the Royal Fort, thou haſt obtain'd: Th' holy fountain of pleaſure, holy Love unſtain'd Take up thy Lodging in Eternal Love, What's here below, thy treaſure is above. Chear up, poor heart, I tell thee thou art mine. My blood was shed to ſave that Soul of thine: With endleſs joys thy Soul I'll ſatisfie, And in my Boſom ever shalt thou lie. In my enfolded Arms I now thee take, And do engage i'll never thee forſake. In the fire and in the Water i'll be near, And help thee through all grief and trouble here, Yea, I'll be with thee always to the end, And Death at laſt I'll cauſe to be thy friend; And make its paſſage alſo unto thee Only an entrance to felicitie. Rivers of pleaſures thou ſhalt have to the brim, Wherein the prophets and Apoſtles ſwim, And with great Glory thou ſhalt Crowned be, And on the throne ſit down with me. World, Death nor Devil ever ſhall remove My heart from thee, for thoſe I truly Love, I Love the end: Ah, Soul 'tis thou ſhalt lie In my own Arms to all Eternity. Youth. Darkneſs is gone, daylight begins to ſpring, Heavens melody I find the ſweeteſt thing. The Sun is riſen now, it is broke forth, And gloriouſly enlightens my dark earth. My Soul is raviſh'd with this joyful ſight, Yea, and diſſolv'd with Love and true delight: My heart is melted with Coeleſtial fire, And has obtained at length its own deſire, My frozen Soul muſt needs run down a main, Which ſuch hot beams from Jeſus doth obtain; The door is open'd, Chriſt has given a knock Has made it fly, and has diſſolved the rock. My heart which was ſo hard is made to yield, Chriſt has overcome me now and won the field. The war is ceas'd between the Lord and I, A peace is made to all Eternity. What joy is this! Ah, 'tis beyond all Meaſure: There's nothing like to inward joy and pleaſure. As was my burden, ſo I find my reſt, O that was great! and this can't be expreſt. What heart can taſte of theſe tranſcendent joys, And not account Earth's pleaſures empty toys! Such is the nature of a ſecond birth; Makes Heav'n on Earth, turns ſorrow into mirth. Once was I blind, ſenceleſs, bewitch'd, nay, mad, I thought in Chriſt no comfort could be had: Religion was, I thought, a fooliſh thing, Which could no pleaſure nor profit bring. I thought Profeſſors greatly were miſled, When I beheld what things they ſuffered: But now I am convinc'd of my miſtake, For I my ſelf could for Chriſt Jeſus ſake, Any deriſion or Affliction bear; Such inward peace in him, and joy is there▪ What man would not all earthly glory ſlight, For one ſmall dram, or taſte of ſuch delight? To have Chriſts Love, and in his Boſom lie, Yields true content, and ſweet felicitie. Ah happy • ▪ I live! my Soul's involv'd, In ſecret raptures, ſighs to be diſſolv'd, And be with Chriſt, my home and reſting place, For to enjoy and ſee him face to face. And in the int'rim, Lord, whilſt here I ſtay, I faithfully will do what thou doſt ſay. And help, me Lord, thy praiſe for to declare Unto all precious Children far and near. O help me to lift up my voice on high! Let joyful Hallelujahs pierce the sky. And eccho back again, reſound on Earth, Since thou haſt wrought in me the ſecond birth: Let me with the Coeleſtial Angels ſing, And make thy praiſes round the world to ring, Thou'ſt brought my Soul out of the loweſt pit, And in the paths of Sion ſet my feet, Thou haſt from Darkneſs brought me into Light, And to my eyes thou haſt reſtored ſight, Nay, haſt my Soul ſav'd from Eternal death And ſhall not I thy praiſes, Lord, ſing forth? O let my tongue, my heart, and life make known The favour, Lord, which to me thou haſt ſhown Let me aloft, by thy beſt Grace, aſpire To ſound thy praiſe with the Coeleſtial Quire. With ſwift wing'd Cherubims, Lord, let me joyn, To magnifie that glorious Name of thine. Let not remainders of the fleſh diſturb My precious peace that's new▪ O do thou curb, Yea, kill and crucifie each evil thought, With vengeance let thoſe Rebels down be brought, And let me on the Earth live all my days Unto thy Glory and tranſcendent praiſe. And then, great God, when theſe ſhort days are o're, With S • raphims I'll ſing for evermore. Truth. What Melody and triumph do I hear? Whoſe voice is this that ſoundeth in my ear? What Eagle-ey'd Soul's this that ſoars on high, That with ſwift wings aloft doth mount and fly; And in Eternal Love ſeems to lie down, Adorn'd with Grace, and raviſh'd with the Crown Of inward peace? that taketh up its reſt At Jeſus Chriſt's ſweet ſatisfying breaſt, And breaking forth in raptures can't expreſs, As he would do, his humble thankfulneſs? Youth. 'Tis I, bleſt Truth, the Conqueſt now is won, Grace has prevail'd, I am the Conquer'd one. My Grief is turn'd to joy, yea and my night, Is alſo turn'd into Eternal light, Thy power's great when Grace doth work with thee, Ye ſoon do then obtain the Victory. Bleſt be the day that ever thou wert ſent, To change my heart, and move me to repent, Dear love to thee, O Truth, I ſhall retain, So long as I upon the Earth remain. I'll keep thee cloſe, and hide thee in my heart, For thou more precious than rich jewels art. I'le loſe my all before i'le part with thee, So much I love and prize thy company. Though Satan ſtir up foes never ſo cruel, Devil nor men ſhall rob me of this Jewel. J am reſolv'd a thouſand deaths to dye, Before J will Gods Bleſſed Truth deny. Though of Deceivers there are multitude, Yet none of them ſhall my poor Soul delude. Though they do thee reproach, ſlight and contemn, J by Exper'ence can refute all them, Who ſay thy words nought but dead letters are, Which men may burn or into pieces tare; The out-ſide of the Book they only ſee, Who thus do ſpeak reproachfully of thee: For did they but thy inward power know, They'd never ſpeak, as often times they do; But ſoon they would God's written word extol, Above that Light which they cry up in all. The Light which Conſcience unto me doth give, J'll always own as long as J do live, But from God's word doth its chief light deſcend; Therefore the Scriptures I'll commend: For had we not God's Word to light our hearts, The Heathen which do live in Forr • ign parts, Who never heard of Chriſt, might underſtand As much as any do in this our Land, Alas! we ſhould have been unto this day, In all reſpects as ingnorant as they. But I'll forbear, becauſe I muſt with ſpeed Attend upon Gods Truth with care and heed, To hear what will he ſay. O Truth, wilt thou Concerning me ſhew forth thy Judgment now! I do entreat thee Prove me thorowly, For ſtill I do retain a jealouſie Over my heart, becauſe that I have ſeen How I deceived often times have been. Truth. Conſcience, to thee I muſt once more deſcend, The Controverſie thou alone muſt end: How is it with him now? what doſt thou ſay? Haſt any thing unto his charge to lay? Remember what I formerly have ſhown, And let thy preſent thoughts with ſpeed be known. Conſcience. I always ready am Judgment to give, According to the Light I do perceive, And never was more free than now am I My thoughts to ſhew; your ſuit I can't deny. O Sir! the caſe is chang'd; I am his Friend, His ſweet Condition I muſt needs commend. Grace has ſubdu'd corruption in his heart, That he's made clean, and waſh'd in every part; My teſtimony you may take for truth, He's now become a very humble Youth; He's truly Godly, Faithful, and ſincere, I do for him, and ſhall my witneſs bear: All kind of Evil doth his Soul defie, He hates above all things Hypocriſie; Will and Affections now are changed quite, That in the Lord alone is his delight. There's no Command of Chirſt, not any one That he's convinced of, but he has done; He faithfully alſo the Lord obeys, Without excuſes, put offs, or delays, He grieveth moſt for ſins that ſecret are, Which unto men do not i'th' leaſt appear. He's more in ſubſtance than he is in ſhow, When high'ſt in joy, his heart is very low. All his own Righteouſneſs he doth diſown, And does rely on Jeſus Chriſt alone, Chriſt is become ſo precious in his ſight, He's firſt with him i'th' morn, and laſt at night. He willingly has taken up the Croſs, And doth account, what-e're is his but droſs, And parts with it moſt freely, Chriſt to gain, Since he hath found Earth's beſt enioyments vain. Chriſt he exalts as King i'th' higheſt degree, And gives each Office its full dignitie, He uſes me alſo moſt tenderly, Becauſe he knows that my Authority Is from above, it is for Jeſus ſake He ſides with me, and doth reſolve to take My part alwayes, what e're he doth ſuſtain, He'l rather ſuffer than would make me gain. Chriſt has in me ſet up his bleſſed Throne, And over me no other King he'l own; Chriſt muſt alone in me the Scepter ſway, And he will die before he'l give away Chriſt's Right and Soveraignty in his dear Soul. He is reſolv'd to ſuffer no controul, In things alone which to me appertain, Fear leſt thereby Chriſt's Glory he ſhould ſtain. Truth, Oh! happy young man! bleſſed from above, Bleſſed with Grace, and raviſh'd with the love Of the Eternal Lord, in whoſe ſweet breaſt Thou now doſt lie, and ever more ſhalt reſt. Thy honour's laſting, now it can't decay. Thy treaſure's ſure, thieves cannot ſteal't away; Thy Pleaſures are beyond thoughts or conceit, And thy rare Beauty is without deceit. Thy ſtrength, thy Wiſdom, nor thy Youth ſhall fade Nor canſt thou die, thou art immortal made. Eternal Life is given unto thee, And thou ſhalt reign to all Eternitie. Vi • inus. There's none on Earth is able to expreſs The inward peace this Young-Man doth poſſeſs: Whilſt to his joy he clearly doth eſpy This bleſſed Concord, and rare Harmony: Conſcience and Truth moſt ſweetly do agree, He's free'd from bondage and Captivitie. Chriſt's Spirit doth with Conſcience witneſs bea • , He's born of God, and is become an Heir (With his dear Saviour) of Eternal bleſs: What Conſolation can there be like this? But whilſt thus fill'd with joy and true delight, The Devil falls on him with all his might; With ſtrong aſſaults, his Faith for to deſtroy, Which much abates and mitigates his joy, But Satan failing in his Enterprize In one reſpect, another way he tries; And with malicious threats he breaketh forth, Spitting his venomn and his helliſh wrath; Which in ſome meaſure may to you appear, By what immediately doth follow here. Devil. Heark, heark, thou curſed wretch, vengeance is mine, And I'le repay't upon that Soul of thine; In dreadful wrath I will contend with thee, If thou wilt • o • again ſubmit to me, Will not my ſhining Glory thee invite, Nor all my Agents fell thy Soul affright To leave thoſe curſed ways in which you go? Then I'le ſ • me way contrive your overthrow. Though out of your Dominions I am bea • , And forced am at preſent to retreat; Yet I'le return like a Lyon ſtrong, And break thy bones in pi •• es ere't be long. Youth, Father of Lyes, do'ſt think I dread thy frown? 'Tis paſt thy skill to throw my Glory down; Thy head is broke, thou art a beaten Fo, And chained up; alas, thou canſt not do According to thy wrath and curſed ſpight, Chriſt's Pow'r is mine who ſtronger is in Might; Me he'l not leave, though tempted am by thee, Yet he knows how to help and ſuccour me. What matter is't although thou art inraged, When the great Pow'r of Heaven is ingaged To ſide with me always, and takes my part? Though thou a Lion and a Serpent art, Yet may'ſt as ſoon the Lord of Life o'recome, As to produce or work my final Doom, So Long as I do for his Glory ſtand, And am obedient to his beſt Command. Devil. But I have ſo much craft and ſubtilty, That I can make the Lord thine Enemy; Though thou do'ſt think he i • become thy Friend, I'le by temptation move t ••• to offend Him ere't be long; and ſoon you will eſpy In's anger you he'l caſt off utterly: And then I'le tear and rend you as I liſt, And you ſhall have no power to reſiſt. Youth, God has beſtow'd on me his precious Grace, That I abhor the thoughts of giving place To thee, O Satan, though thou doſt entice, God will preſerve my Soul from deadly vice; But if through weakneſs him I ſhould offend, In Bowels he'l to me his pardon ſend. Chriſt is my Advocate; God will paſs by All ſins of Weakneſs and Infirmity. Although he uſe the Rod, his precious Love I'm ſure from me he never will remove. Devil. Your hopes will fail, alas, black clouds will hide Your glorious Sun, your steps will quickly ſli • e; Your morning's bright, but ſoon 'twill over-caſt, And all your joy will ſcarce a moment laſt. Though Truth doth now thy preſent ſtate commend, Yet you will find the Proverb's true i'th' end, That the young Saint will an old Devil be; You'l die and periſh in Apoſtaſie. Youth. 'Cauſe thou haſt loſt thy former happy ſtate, With malice thou ſtir'ſt up thy bitter hate Againſt my Soul, thou ſhew'ſt thy wicked ſpight, But thy vile teeth are broke, thou canſt not bite. Thou doſt on me caſt forth an envious frown, Becauſe thou haſt forever loſt thy Crown. Becauſe thy Morning's turned into night, Doſt think thou ſhalt my Soul amaze and fright, With ſuch inſnaring thoughts? I thee defie; Nothing can break that bleſſed band and Tie, Or Covenant which Chriſt with me has made, My ſtanding's 〈◊〉 , my Crown can never fade. He that has in my Soul this work begun, Will finiſh it, I'me ſure, e're • e has done. There's ne're a Lamb or Sheep of his dear fold, But he will keep, he has of them ſuch hold, That in the midſt of danger they ſhall ſtand, And none ſhall pluck them out of his ſtrong hand, They by his Pow'r are kept in ev'ry Nation, Till they are ſafely brought unto Salvation. Upon the Rock of Ages I am placed, And my foundation never can be razed; Though Mountains ſhould depart & Hills remove, Yet Chriſt will never change in his dear Love. Nor cauſe his Covenant of l • ſting peace To be remov'd, nor his ſweet Mercy ceaſe. Thus Truth and Conſcience both joyntly agree, That the new-birth is truly wrought in me. Th' Immortal Seed, I'm ſure, muſt needs bring forth A Babe Immortal; and my Heav'nly birth Doth ſhew to all, and clearly ſignifie, I cannot periſh in Apoſtaſie. The Head and Members of one Nature are, Or elſe Chriſt's Body a ſtrange Monſter were. As ſure as he's in Heaven ſo ſhall I, And reign with him to all Eternity, Devil. My words, I ſee, no place at all can find Within the Center of thy evil mind; I'le leave thee therefore with my dreadful Curſe, Which is as bad as Hell, nay, it is worſe Than all the Plagues of the infernal Lake; And let all thoſe who love me, vengeance take Ʋpon ſo vile a Wretch; and though I do Forſake thee now, within a day or two I'le come again, and will thy Soul torment Till thou of thy Repentance ſhalt repent. Youth. O Lord, I praiſe thee for that glorious Pow'r, Which helpt my Soul in ſuch a needful hour Of ſtrong aſſaults from the vile wicked one; Thou help'ſt me to reſiſt him, and he's gone. Therefore, dear God, be pleaſed to inflame My heart with Grace to magnifie thy Name; And when he comes again, O then be near, And let thy Truth alſo for me appear, Though I am young and weak, I ſhall thereby Not fear th'aſſaults of any Enemy. Come ſpeak, O Truth, wilt be on my ſide, 'Tis in thy ſtrength ſtill I very much confide. Though I am feeble, thou art mighty ſtrong; And whilſt for me, there's none can do me wrong. Truth. I will, dear Soul, ſupport thee whilſt on Earth, And ſave thee from the rage of Hell and Death: I will aſſiſt thee by a mighty Arm, And keep thee day and night from hurt and harm; And with my glitt'ring Sword cut down and ſlay All curſed Enemies who thee gain-ſay. Grace. If Truth ſhould fail, I will thy wants ſupply, Thou need'ſt not doubt of my ſufficiency, Light I will be in Darkneſs, Joy in Grief, And when in Trouble great, I'le bring relief. If always thou doſt on my Arm rely, The Devil will be forc'd with ſpeed to fly. Never on me did any Soul depend, But they obtain'd Deliv'rance in the end. I'll help thy Soul through all its Chriſtian ſtrife, And bring thee ſafe to Everlaſting Life. Conſcience. I'le be third that will lend thee an hand, We'll all combine to make a triple band. A threefold Cord can't eas'ly broken be, I'le be a Friend in thy Adverſitie, There's not a Foe on Earth thou need'ſt to fear, So long as I for thee my witneſs bear, That thou in Truth doſt walk before the Lord, And that thy ways do with his Word accord. The evil Fo ſhall be aſhamed quite, Whilſt faithfully thou walk'ſt up to thy Light; And Satan never can get any ground, Whilſt I declare thy heart is truly ſound. Clear up, poor Soul, I'le feaſt thee conſtantly, And plead for thee before the Enemy, My ſweeteſt wine alſo I'le keep to th'end, At death I will thy Soul with that befriend. God's Word that is thy ground in every thing, His Glory is thy aim, from thence doth ſpring All ſervice thou doſt do towards the Lord, His Spirit therefore to thee he'l afford; That doth bear witneſs for thee, ſo do I, And will alſo when thou do'ſt come to dy. The Young-Man Experiencing Converſion truly wrought in his Soul, and that he's delivered from the Power of the Tempter, breaks forth into theſe following Hymns of Prayer and Praiſes to GOD.
A Myſtical Hymn of Thanſgiving. MY Soul mounts up with Eagles Wings, And unto thee, dear God, ſhe ſings; Since thou art on my ſide My enemies are forc'd to fly, As ſoon as they do thee eſpy; Thy Name be glorify'd. Thou makeſt Rich by making poor; By Poverty add'ſt to my Store; Such Grace doſt thou provide. Thou wound'ſt as well as mak'ſt whole, And heal'ſt by wounding of the Soul; Thy Name be glorify'd. Thou mak'ſt men blind by giving ſight, And turn'ſt their darkneſs into light; Theſe things can't be deny'd. Thou cloath'ſt the Soul by making bear, And giveſt food when none is there; Thy Name be glorify'd. Thou killeſt by making alive, By dying doſt the Soul revive, Which none can do beſides; Thou doſt raiſe up by pulling down, And by abaſing thou doſt Crown, Thy Name be glorify'd. By making bitter thou mak'ſt ſweet, And mak'ſt each crooked thing to meet; I'th' Soul which thou haſt try'd; The fruitleſs tree thou mak'ſt to grow, And the green tree doſt overthrow; Thy name be glorifi'd. The conquer'd the conqueſt gains; By being beat the field obtains, Which makes me therefore cry, Lord, while I live upon the Earth, Since thou haſt wrought the ſecond birth, Thy Name I'll magnify. Thou mak'ſt Men wiſe by coming fools; By emptying thou fill'ſt their Souls, Such Grace doſt thou provide; By making weary thou giv'ſt Reſt, That which ſeem'd worſt, proves for the beſt; Thy Name be gloryfi'd. Thou art far off and alſo near, And not confin'd, but ev'ry where, And on the clouds doſt ride. O thou art Love, and alſo Light; There's none can get out of thy ſight; Thy Name be glorifi'd. Lord thou art great and alſo good, And fit'ſt upon the mighty flood, By whom all hearts be try'd; Thou art a Tree, yet art but One, And comprehended art of 〈…〉
The Exellency of peace of Conſcience. My Conſcience is become my Friend, And chearfully doth ſpeake to me, And I unto his motions bend, Althoug that I reproached be; I matter not who doth revile, Since Conſcience in my face doth ſmile. My Conſcience now doth give me reſt, My burthen's gone, my Soul is free; Again I would not be opreſt In the old bands of miſerie, For Kingdoms nor for Crowns of Gold, Nor any thing that can be told. My Conſcience doth with precious food, Feed my poor Soul continually; Its dainties alſo are ſo good, All ſinful ſweets do I defy: This Banquit's laſting, 'twill ſupply My wants, and feed me till I die. My Conſcience doth me chearful make, When I am much poſſeſt with grief; And when I ſuffer for its ſake, 'Twill yield me joy and ſweet relief: Though troubles riſe, and much increaſe, I in my Conſcience ſhall have peace. When others to the Mountains fly, And ſore amaz'd do trembling ſtand; A place of ſhelter then have I, And Conſcience will lend me its hand To lock me in the Chamber faſt, Till the Indignation's over-paſt. At Death, and in Judgment Day What would men give for ſuch a Friend? All thoſe which do him diſobey, They'll it repent i'th' end; When ſuch are forc'd to howl and cry, My Soul ſhall ſing continually.
An Hymn on the ſix Principles of Chriſt's Doctrine. Heb. 6.1, 2. REpentance is wrought in my Soul, And Faith for to believe; Whereby on Jeſus I do roul, And truly him receive. As my dear Lord and Soveraign, Him always to obey; And in all things o're me to reign, And govern night and day. Chriſt's Baptiſm it is very ſweet, With laying on of Hands; My Soul is brought to Jeſus feet In owning his Commands. Thoſe Ordinances men oppoſe, And count as carnal things; I have clos'd with, and tell't to thoſe, From them rare Comforts ſpring. My precious Lord I muſt obey, Though men reproach me ſtill; I'll do what ever chriſt doth ſay, And yield unto his will. On Chriſt alone I do rely, Though men Judge otherwiſe; Becauſe I can't Gods Truth deny, I am reproach'd with lyes. Let them deride, yet for Chriſt's ſake Reſolved now am I, in his own ſtrength the Croſs to take, Yea, and for him to dye. Before J'll ever turn my back On him whom J do love; For J do know J ſhall not lack His preſence from above. For he has promiſ'd to the end, To me he will be near; And be to me a faithful friend, Which makes me now to fear. Whatever Men or Devils do In ſecret place deſign, He ſoon can them quite overthrow, And help this Soul of mine. The Reſurrection of the Dead I conſtantly maintain; When all thoſe which lie buried, Shall riſe to life again. And that the Judgment day will come, When Chriſt upon the Throne Shall paſs a black Eternal Doom, Upon each Wicked one. But all the Saints then joyfully With Bowels he'll embrace, And Crowns to all eternity Upon their heads he'l place, And in the Kingdom ſhall they reign, Prepared long before, And alſo ſhall with Chriſt remain, In bliſs for evermore.
A Spiritual Hymn. THe Sun doth now begin to ſhine, And breaks forth yet more and more, Meer darkneſs was that light of mine, Which I commended here-to-fore. I was involved in my ſin; Had day with out, but night within. My former days I did compare, Unto the ſweet and lovely Spring; I thought That time it was as rare, As when the chirping Birds do ſing; But I was blind I now do ſee There was no Spark nor Light in me. My Spring it was the Winter-time, Yet, like the midſt of cold December; The Sun was gone out of my Clime, And alſo I do now remember My heart was cold like any ſtone, My leaves were off, and ſap was gone. God is a Sun, a ſhield alſo, The Glory of the World is he; True Light alone from him doth flow, And he has now enlightned me; The Sun doth his ſweet beams diſplay, Like to the dawning of the day. How pre • ious is't to ſee the Sun, When in the Morning it doth riſe, And ſhineth in our Horizon, To th' clearing of the cloudy Skies! The miſty Fogs by this ſtrong Light Are vaniſh'd quite out of our ſight. Thus doth the Lord in my poor heart, By his ſtrong beams and glorious rayes The light from darkneſs clearly part, And makes in me rare ſhining days. Though fogs appear and clouds do riſe, He doth expel them from mine eyes. Were there no glorious Lamp above, What dark confuſion would be here! If God ſhould quite the Sun remove, How would the Sea-man do to ſteer! My Soul's the World, and Chriſt's the Sun, If he ſhines not, I am undone. In Winter things hang down their head, Until Sol's beams do them revive; So I in ſin lay buried, Till Jeſus Chriſt made me alive: Alas, my heart was Ice and Snow, Till Sun did ſhine and Winds did blow. Until warm Gales of Heavenly Wind Did ſweetly blow, and Sun did dart Its Light on me, I could not find No heat with in my inward part Then blow thou wind and ſhine thou Sun, To make my Soul a lively one. In nat'ral Men there is a Light, Which for their ſins doth them reprove, And yet are they but in the Night, And not renewed from above: The Moon is given (it is clear) To guide men who in darkneſs are. The Sun for brightneſs doth exceed The Stars of Heaven or the Moon; Of them there is but little need When Sun doth ſhine towards high noon. Juſt ſo the Goſpel doth excel The Law God gave to Iſrael. All thoſe who do the Goſpel ſlight, And rather have a Legal guide; The Sun's not riſen in their ſight, And therefore 'tis that they deride Thoſe who commend the Goſpel-Sun Above the Light in every one. Degrees of Light I do perceive Some of them weak and others ſtrong; That which is ſaving none receive But thoſe who unto Chriſt belong; Yet doth each Light ſerve for the end, For which to man God did it ſend.
Divine Breathings. A Hymn. LEt not the Sun Eclipſed be, Nor any dark Cloud interpoſe Between thy ſelf (dear Chriſt) and me, Who art that bleſſed Sharon's Roſe: O let thy face upon me ſhine, Since thou by choice haſt made me thine. Always let me walk in the Light, Till Grace doth me with Glory crown; Turn not my Morning into Night, Nor let my Sun go down; O let thy face upon me ſhine, Since by dear Purchaſe I am thine. Let not thick Fogs, O Lord, ariſe From the groſs Lump of inward Earth, To th' hiding of the glorious Skies, The thoughts of that's as bad as Death: O let thy Face upon me ſhine, Since by Adoption I am thine. Lord, let my Morning be more bright, And my Sun ſhine to th' perfect day; And let mine Eyes have ſtronger ſight, That I behold its glory may. O let thy face upon me ſhine, Since God by Gift has made it thine. Lord ſhine and make my heart more ſoft, And temper it, the ſeal to take; Make it according as it ought, Lord do • t for thy own Names ſake. O let thy face upon me ſhine, Since by ſweet Contract I am thine. The Light of thy dear Countenance, It is the thing I only prize; Let not therefore mine ignorance Darken the light of my dim eyes: O let thy face upon me ſhine, Since I by Faith am wholly thine. O be my Strength, my Light, my Guide, Always until I come to dye; And from thy paths ne're let me ſlide, But light me to Eternity: O let thy face upon me ſhine, For I my ſelf to thee reſign. There's many, Lord, who daily cry, Oh! who will ſhew us a • y good? 'Tis in thy ſelf, Lord, it doth ly, Although by few 'tis underſtood: O let thy face upon me ſhine, For I by conqueſt now am thine. Lord, in the Light I thee enjoy, And with thy Saints Communion have, No Devil can that ſoul deſtroy, Whom thou intendeſt for to ſave: O let thy face upon me ſhine▪ For I can • ay, Lord, thou art mine. Let not the Sun only appear, For to enlighten my dark heart; But to poor Souls both far and near, The ſelf-ſame Glory. Lord, impart: O let thy face upon them ſhine As it doth now, dear▪ God, on mine. Let Light and Glory ſo break forth, And Darkneſs fly and quite be gone, That all thy Saints upon the Earth May in the Truth be joyn'd in one, O let thy face ſo brightly ſhine, As to diſcover who are thine. Let Grace and Knowledge now abound, And the bleſt Goſpel ſhine ſo clear, That it Romes Harlot may confound, And Popiſh darkneſs quite caſhier: O let thy face on Sion ſhine, But plague thoſe curſed Foes of thine. Let France, dark Spain, and Italy Thy Light and Glory, Lord, behold; To each adjacent Countrey Do thou the Goſpel plain unfold: O let thy face upon them ſhine, That all theſe Nations may be thine. Let Chriſtendom new Chriſt'ned be, And unto thee O let them turn, And be Baptiz'd, O Chriſt, by thee With th' Spirit of the Holy One, O let thy face upon it ſhine, That Chriſtendom may all be thine. And carry on thy glorious Work Victoriouſly in every Land; Let Tartars and the mighty Turk Subject themſelves to thy Command, O let thy face upon them ſhine, That thoſe blind People may be thine. And let thy brightneſs alſo go To Aſia and to Africa; Let Egypt and Aſſyria too Submit unto thy bleſſed Law, O let thy face upon them ſhine, That thoſe dark Regions may be thine. Nay, precious God, let Light extend Chinia and Eaſt-India; To thee let all the People bend, Who live in wild America: O let thy bleſſed Goſpel ſhine, That the blind Heathens may be thine. Send forth thy Light like to the morn Moſt ſwiftly, Lord, O let it fly From Cancer unto Capricorn; That all dark Nations may eſpy Thy Glorious face on them to ſhine, And they in Chriſt for to be thine. The Fulneſs of the Gentiles, Lord, Bring in with ſpeed, O let them fear Thy Name in Truth with one accord, Live they far off or live they near: O let thy face upon them ſhine, And let us know, Lord who are thine. And let alſo the glorious news Of thy Salvat • on, yield relief Unto the ſad diſtreſſed Jews, Who hardned are in Unbelief; O let thy face upon them ſhine For Abram's ſake, that Friend of thine. O don't forget poor Iſrael, But let Light and Glorious Rayes Cauſe their rare Beauty to excel, Beyond what 'twas in former days, O cauſe thy face ſweetly to ſhine That Jews and Gentiles may be thine. O let all Kingdoms now with ſpeed, And all the Nations under Heaven, From all groſs Darkneſs now be free'd, And power to thy Saints be given; That they in Glory, Lord, may ſhine, According to that Word of thine.
An APPENDIX, Containing a Dialogue between an Old Apoſtate and Young Profeſſor. Apoſtate. HOw many ſtraights and croſſes have I met, Since I my ſelf to ſeek for Canaan ſet! Red Seas and Wilderneſſes lie between; Why venture I for what I ne'er have ſeen? Why can I not, where I am now, Remain? Or to my old delights turn back again. My head has been perplext with cares and fears, Since to theſe Preachers I inclin'd mine ears. They were but fancies that diſturb'd my mind, I ſought for ſomething which I could not find. Would God in Egypt I had ſtill remain'd, For there's no Canaan likely to be gain'd. Conſcience be ſilent, don't diſturb me more. Upon ſuch things I will no longer pore, For back to Egypt I will now retire Where I ſhall have things to my hearts deſire. Devil. Purſue thy purpoſe, thou ſhalt under ••• n • What-e're I have ſhall be at thy command▪ My Kingdom's great, this world is whol •• • ine, Bow down to me, and all ſhall then be th ••• ▪ Afraid I was I ſhould have loſt thee quite. The • 's nought like that which here's now in th • ſig •• Behold the Bags of Gold which thou ſhalt have, Honours on earth, riches and pleaſures brave, When others forc't in Priſon are to lie, Thou ſhalt enjoy thy precious liberty. When Kings and Princes do upon them frown, Thou ſhalt be held in honour and renown. Thou haſt much goods laid up for many years, And long ſhalt live free from all cares and fears. Thy ſeed eſtabliſh'd too ſhall be on earth, And thou ſhalt ſpend thy days in joy and mirth. Thoughts of Religion utterly diſdain, Nor think of God, or Jeſus Chriſt again, Phanatick fables never more regard, The pains of Hell, of which thou oft haſt heard, Are nought, ſave fictions of their crafty head; With fear of nothing are they frightened, That mad-men like, they do tread under feet Thoſe lovely joyes which wiſe men find moſt ſweet Religion's nought but a deviſed thing, Which up at firſt ſome crafty head did bring To awe the minds of fools, who wanting wit, Take that for Gold that's a meer counterfeit. The truth of Scripture thou haſt cauſe to doubt, For divers places thou may'ſt ſoon find out Which inconſiſtent to each others be, Of what it ſpeaks there is no certainty. Conclude in Truth there is no God at all, Why ſhould'ſt thou be ſo fooliſh as to call On him, whom thou did'ſt never ſee or know, Unleſs its thus, becauſe that moſt do ſo? Let Melancholy fancies now therefore Ne're vex thy mind, nor grieve thee any more. Enjoy thy ſelf on Earth, and heap up Gold, No good like that which purſe and bags do hold. Come eat and drink, to morrow thou muſt dye; And afterwards there's no Eternity, As ſome ſuppoſe, for thou i'th' grave ſhalt rot, And as the Beaſt be utterly forgot: But ſince you know it is reproach to them, Who all Religion utterly contemn, Thou may'ſt Religious alſo ſeem to be, For there is one that's very fit for thee. Melodious ſounds, ſweet mirth, and Muſick rare, Do much affect the heart, and charm the ear. No worship on the Earth doth ſuit ſo well With flesh or blood, or doth for eaſe excell, Or with man's intereſt doth ſo well agree, Like what's maintain'd in f • mous I • aly. That, that's the worship which for thee I 〈◊〉 ▪ I'me not againſt thy turning Catholick. If there's a Heaven of this thou need'ſt not 〈◊〉 An eaſier way for thee I can't find out. The way's ſo broad, whole Nations walk there 〈◊〉 , And perſons of all ſorts, no let is ſin. Wer't thou at Rome, thoud'ſt hear melodious ſoun • ▪ Sweet ioys and mirth on every ſide ab • unds; Fine boys and men raviſhing Notes do ſing, Whil'ſt Organs play in Conſort, and Bells ring; In that brave w • y thou'ſt have thy liberty To do ſuch things as others do deny. Thou may'ſt be mad▪ carouze and domineer, Strict Roman Cat • olicks ſuch things can bear; If thou doſt ſwear, drink healths, yea, or ſhould'ſt curſe There's few i'th' Ch • rch would like thee ever the worſe, Or if thou ſhould'ſt ſome curious Lady ſpye, Or view ſome pretty Maid with wanton eye, To court or play with her thou need'ſt not fear, For Venial Sins, alas! all ſuch things are; And one great help and remedy thou'lt have, Which from all grief and danger will thee ſave; If it fall out by chance at any time. Thou ſhouldſt commit ſome great and henious crime There is ſtraight-way the bleſſed Abſolution, A preſent help and yet no Superſtition. For a ſmall ſum of Money ſoon is had A pardon for all ſins tho' never ſo bad. His holineſs for a few Shillings can Murder and Perjury forgive to any Man; Nay, unto thee can grant a Diſpenſation To kill and Murder any in a Nation, Who us and th' Holy Church hate and deny; Come, trouble not thy ſelf, but ſtraight comply With this fam'd Church, to whom ſuch power's given To ope and ſhut with eaſe the Gates of Heaven. And make that ſin to day which ne'er was ſin, and that lawful, which lawful ne'er has bin. Come, buy the Beads and Crucifix alſo, And as the Church believes believe thou too. For this I hope to ſee over a few days ſome thouſands more cleaving unto thoſe ways, And thou wilt not ſuch an advantage gain, As now thou may'ſt with eaſe, I am ſure, obtain And ſince in kindneſs and affection dear, I've ſhew'd thee how to be preferred here, And do engage thy faithful Friend to be; There's ſome ſmall things I'de have thee do for me; Speake evil of the way thou late waſt in; Belye them all, and charge them too with ſin, Their faults lay ope, ſet nought at all be hid, Revile, reproach, and ſlander in my ſtead; Shew how they differ, that they can't agree, There's little Love, and want of Charitie. Of Canaan's Land raiſe thou an ill Report, To turn them back who are going for't▪ One thing at preſent I would have thee do, There is a friend of mine which thou doſt know, Who has a Son which is indeed his Heir, That to his fooliſh Notions doth adhere, If he ſhould viſit thee, with ſpeed do thou Treat with this pieviſh youth, I'll teach thee how To controvert the cauſe, my place ſupply, And do what I could not do formerly. His forward zeal will do my Kingdom wrong, Cauſe others alſo in that way to throng. And you ſhall alſo ſome deriſion bear Through his hot zeal, if that you ha'nt a care. Vi • inius· The thoughts, which Satan darts into his mind, He cloſeth with, and fully is inclin'd His Counſel for to take, what-e'er become O • his poor Soul at the great Day of Doom, An Atheiſt he's become in heart and li • e, And hath abandon'd all his Chriſtian ſtrife, He's ready •• w, and • it for any 〈◊〉 , An 〈◊〉 prepared for the 〈◊〉 . But ſince the Gentleman and he are met, I will give way and hearken how they treat, About this Youth, that has o • La • e begun, Reſolvedly to Hea • en for to run You'l hea • how this Apoſtate will engage, To turn him from his bleſſed Pilgrimage. Apoſtate. What! my old Friend E. R. Sir, I am glad To ſee you once again, yet I am ſad, And grieved ſore to ſee you look ſo ill; What evil, Sir, I pray has you befell? What is the cauſe of this your preſent grief? If I can give or help you to relief, Or comfort you i'th' leaſt, I willing am, And ſhall rejoyce alſo I hither came. • enr. Ah, Sir, my Son, my Heir, doth grieve my mind, He from whom I moſt comfort hop'd to find, Contrariwiſe will prove a plague to me, Unleſs he can with ſpeed recovered be. He'l be a Preacher, I do think, er'e long, He's ſuch a Bookiſh-fool, and ſo headſtrong, That I have little hopes he'l e're be good; Here's cauſe of grief, if rightly underſtood. He is become ſuch a vile Heretick, That Rome's good Church, and the true Catholick Moſt vilely, I perceive he doth diſdain, And doth, forſooth, tell me, he's born again. I do beſeech you, Sir, do what you can, If you can't change his mind, there's not a Man I think, in truth, that ever prevail will; O arm your ſelf therefore, and try your skill; If you can turn him from thoſe ways, then I Shall be engag'd to you until I dye. You were deceiv'd your ſelf ſome time ago▪ And therefore now more able are to ſhow The vanity of theſe deviſed ways, And Bookiſh Fables of theſe ſilly days, Having the Scripture in our Mother-Tongue Has been the ruin of us all along; For, ſince men did our holy Church forſake, And up new Notions of Religion take, Nought but confuſion in the World we ſee, And otherwiſe, in Truth, 'twill never be, Until their Books i'th' fire all do burn, And they unto the Ancient Church do turn. Apostate. I am, good Sir, of that opinion too, And ſorry am to hear what now you do Relate to me, and will alſo, in truth, Do what I can to turn that ſilly Youth; For I can ſhew and make him underſtand The danger that attends on every hand. The hope of unſeen things will him deceive, And Faith's but a meer fancy, I believe: That's the chief good which Man doth here enjoy, And that's the evil which doth him annoy, Or doth deprieve him of his joy and bliſs, None but Phanaticks will deny me this; Who boaſt of that they never did poſſeſs; They lye, alas, and are (in truth) no leſs Than frantick fools, for I could never ſee Of what they ſpeak, there's any certainty. I will therefore endeavour out of love, Your Son from theſe deluſions to remove: And ſince I do perceive he's near at hand, I'll take my leave Your Servant to Command.
THE PROLOGUE. ATtend, kind Friend, read with a ſerious eye, And thou ſhalt a ſharp Conflict ſoon eſpy Between a Man quite void of Godly fear, And a dear Youth, most holy and ſincere. The one affirms all Godlineſs is vain, The other counts it for the greateſt gain. Mark thou the end of both, and thou ſhalt ſee What's best to chuſe, Grace or Iniquity. Apoſtate. Well met, good Sir, from whence pray do you come? Profeſſor. I am a ſtranger, and am trav'lling home. Apostate. Are you a ſtranger in this Country? Profeſſor. Yea, as were our Fathers formerly. an old Apostate and Young Profeſſor. Apoſtate. But from whence came ye? lets confer together. Profeſſor. From Egypt, Sir, Apoſt. I am Trav'lling thither, Apoſtate. What is your buſineſs, Sir, that thus in pain You ſtrive againſt the wind with might and main? E're further you do go, ſit down, account, See whether that you run for, will ſurmount The labour great, and loſs you will ſuſtain Before the prize in truth you do obtain. What place is this to which you think to go, That t • • iſe you▪ may fully know. For good inſtructions to you I'll afford, When I this thing from you have plainly heard, Profeſſor. I am for Canaan that moſt holy Land, I'll travel there, as God doth command; Whoſe worth and value I do know f • ll well, For Riches it doth, far, all things excel. And though all things I loſe e're I come there, 'Twill all my loſſes, I am ſure, repair. The worth of that therefore for which I run, I did account before I firſt begun. Apostate. Know you of certain that the place is ſo ra • e? You may miſtake, for you was never there, Profeſſor. Ah, Sir, of it I have a glorious ſight, Which doth my Soul tranſcendently delight, Although in perſon there I have ne'er been, Yet I moſt plain ſweet Canaan oft have ſeen, Beſides, I lately ſpoke with a dear friend, Who did the other day from thence deſcend; And unto me its glory he did ſhow, Its precious worth from him I came to know: Some of its fruit alſo to me he gave, Which makes me long till I poſseſſion have. Apoſtate. Is't not the fancy of thy craſy-head? I have likewiſe of ſuch a Canaan read; It may be ſo, or ſo it may not be, It ne'er ſeem'd real truly unto me. Who would for things which ſo uncertain are, Such loſſes ſuffer, and ſuch labour bear. A bird i'th' hand's worth two i'th'buſh, ye know, This Zeal (poor Lad) will work thy overthrow. Profeſſor. You vainly talk, and live by fight and ſenſe, I walk by faith, which is the evidence Of things not ſeen, here with an outward eye. What thou ſee'ſt not, I clearly do eſpy, 'Tis not the fancy of a craſy-brain, For Moſes, that its glory he migh gain, All Egypts Treaſure quickly did forego, Was that the way unto his overthrow? No, no, dear Sir, he ſaw it was the way To peace and honour in another day; The glory real, did his Soul behold, To be ſo great, that never can be told. If thou had'ſt drunk but of its glorious ſprings, Thou would'ſt it prize above all Earthly things, If thou had'ſt taſted but of Canaan's honey Thou would'ſt eſteem it more than bags of Money, Altho' I make, alas, a poor profeſſion, Yet I have now ſomething in my poſſeſſion, Lock'd up moſt ſafe in my refreſhed breſt More rare than Pearls within a golden Cheſt. True peace of Conſcience, that, thro' grace I have Which paſſeth all mens knowledge to conceive. I would of it not be deprived again, If that I might ten thouſand worlds obtain. Apoſtate▪ Tuſh ſ • lly fool, kick Conſcience quite away, Ne'er mind his motions, nor what he does •• y. I ſtifl'd him, and that a good while ſince, And took revenge of his Proud Inſolence▪ His gaſping groans I no ways did regard, But let my heart againſt him grow ſo hard, That I do judge I have his buſineſs done. He's dead, in truth, and to dark ſilence gone, That now I can without the l • ſt controul, Have any pleaſure which delights my Soul. Profeſſor Ah, Sir, go on, if thats the choice you make, I never will ſuch curſed Counſel take. Who ever doth his Conſcience ſo abuſe, Doth his dear Maker in like manner uſe And though in you, poor Conſcience now lies ſ • ain I'th' Judgment day he will revive again, And then againſt you his ſad witneſs b • a • , And in your face moſt ghaſt fully will ſt • re You'l have the worſt at laſt, I grieve to ſee You hardned thus in your iniquity. Apoſtate. My ſorrow's gone, but thine, alas! will double, Concerning me thy ſelf do thou not trouble. The ſtorms and bluſtring winds are over-paſt, And very ſafe I am arrived at laſt, In that ſame Port where Princes do delight For to repoſe and harbour day and night, Toſs'd I have been upon the boiſtrous Seas, And 'till of late ne'er could find reſt nor eaſe. But now I am ſafely landed, and with good Shall ſatisfied be, whilſt thou art toſs'd i'th' flood. Thou ſhalt, poor Youth, in dreadful ſtorms be hurl'd Whilſt I ſhall find a very quiet World. All thy beſt days are gone, and plung'd thou' • t be Into ſad Gulfs of woful Miſery. Unleſs thou doſt recant and ſtop thy courſe, Thou'lt ſee things with thee will grow worſe & worſe. Thoſe fools who do their nicer Conſcience mind, E're long they ſhall but little friendſhip find. Profeſſor. Sir, Storms and Tempeſts, do I know, attend, Thoſe who reſolve poor Conſcience to befriend, Paul's Portion 'twas, who from his very youth Had kept good Conſcience, and obey'd the truth. He met with bluſtring winds, was toſs'd about, Yet did bear up for Canaan moſt devout, Till he at laſt the glorious voyage made, Getting the Crown which never away ſhall fade. All thoſe who ſail'd this way, have all along Met with groat oppoſition and much wrong From Pyrats, Spoylers, and uſurpers, who Contrived have the Righteous to undo. • his terrifies me not becauſe that I • now 'tis the way to true Felicity. • he gold and precious things the Merchant gains, 〈◊〉 quit his coſt, and recompence his pains, • he Riches which he brings at his return, Makes him great dangers often-times to run. • o hopes of joys, the which Coeleſtial are, Makes me no labour, nor no coſt to ſpare. • ou are for preſent things, I further ſee, • ou are for Earth, but Heaven is for me. • ou are for pleaſures, and for bags of Gold, 〈◊〉 am for that which Moſes did behold. • ou are for eaſe, whatever it doth coſt, And honours here, tho' Soul for it be loſt. Who makes the wiſeſt choice, let him declare, • et Death and Judgment ſhew who wiſe men are. My purpoſe I'll purſue, what e're I meet, My portion's great, my peace no counterfeit. • eaven is my port, there's ſuch a place I'm ſure, • ought ſhall entice me, nor my Soul allure • o looſe my hold, I'll keep firm in my ſtation, • hough in my way I meet with tribulation. • et I moſt ſafe ſhall there at laſt arrive, • o men nor Devils ever ſhall deprive, • y Soul of that Eternal dwelling place, • uch confidence I have obtain'd, through grace. Apoſtate. If I ſhould grant things which ſo doubtful are, That there's a Canaan or a Heaven, where • weet joys abound, beyond what's here below; 〈◊〉 hard it is for any man to know, The ready way unto that ſeeming place, Conſider this, Oh, 'tis a weighty caſe! For there ſo many ways and vices be How thou ſhouldſt find the right I do not ſee. Thou art a ſtranger too, thou told'ſt, be plain; Come, come, Young man, turn with me back again Youth. Nothing (dear Sir) more certain is than this, That there's a Heaven or eternal bliſs. The Heathen could by natures light eſpy Mans cheifeſt good or beſt Felicity, Muſt needs excel the high'ſt enjoyment here, And ſhall this doubtful unto thoſe appear Who have Gods works moſt dreadfully made known Yea, and his word, which very few or none Who live in any Land the like have had; Shall ſuch turn Atheiſts? this is very ſad. Is not JEHOVAH every where made known By fearful Judgments, which are dayly ſhown? And, why, think you, I can't the true way find, Seeing Jeſus has in writings left his mind In plain Characters; and whil'ſt I obſerve, J from the truth am ſure no ways to ſwerve; he came from thence himſelf the other day, And gave directions how to find the way; This writing's firm, 'tis ſigned with his Blood, That the Old dragon, with his mighty flood Of Superſtition, and perſecuting fire, Could not it ſpoil nor gain his curſt deſire. The holy Scripture God to us has given To guide our Souls in the right way to Heaven. Though Satan has made oppoſitions ſtrong, Yet ſtill we have it in our Mothers-Tongue. • nd by this means, moſt plain J come to know, The very foot-ſteps where the flock did go. Apoſtate. Though you of Scripture ſeem to make your boaſt, Your hopes of that will ſudenly be loſt. • or you much longer it an't like to have, • our Souls and others thus for to deceive, • or holy Church once more will quite deſtroy This Engliſh God which they ſeem to enjoy. Thou art unlearn'd, the Scripture doſt not know, • ut wreſteſt them unto thy overthrow. Youth. They are unlearn'd whom God has never taught, • ut have in Popiſh darkneſs up been brought, • hey are unlearn'd who never had the Spirit, Who think they can by Works Salvation meri • . They are unlearn'd, who fooliſhly deny • he Spirits Teachings and Authority • or to excel all humame Arts and Science, • nd on man's teaching wholly have reliance. • hey are unlearn'd, or very poorly read, • hat teach Chriſt Jeſus is a piece of bread, • hich Rats and Mice may eat, and vomit up, • nd do deny the Laity the Cup. • r thoſe for whom Chriſt did his Body break 〈◊〉 of the Cup did bid them all partake. • hey are unlearn'd, who think that Purgatory, On be ought elſe than a meer feigned Story. They are unlearn'd, whoſe Doctrine doth declare, 〈◊〉 Church two heads doth on its ſhoulders bear, That Woman which has any Husbands more Than only one, is a notorious Whore. That man's unlearn'd, who learned never hath The ABC of the true Chriſtian Faith. That man I grant is wholly yet unlearn'd, Who ne • er knew himſelf, nor yet diſcern'd The curſed nature of his heinous Sin, Nor what eſtate by nature he is in. That man's unlearn'd who never went to School, To learn, for Chriſt, how to become a Fool. That man's unlearn'd, yea, and a very Sot, Who hath his Soul and Jeſus Chriſt forgot, And doth eſteem Earth's empty vanity, Above that good which Saints in God eſpy. I am unlearn'd, and yet have learned how To crucifie the fleſh, yea, and to bow To Jeſus Chriſt, and for his precious ſake, His yoke and burden willingly to take, And follow him where-ever he doth go, And him alone determine for to know. Who for my ſake upon the Croſs did dye, Him I have learn'd alone to magnifie, And to exalt him as he's Prieſt and King, And as my Prophet too in every thing. And this, through grace, I learned have of late To be content what ever be my ſtate. Some things, I muſt confeſs, I ne'er could lea • Nor any ways perceive, ſee, or diſcern. I never read of Peter's tripple Crown, Nor that he ever wore a Popiſh Gown. I never learn'd that he did Pope become. Or Rule o'er Kings like to the beaſt at Rome. J never learn'd that he kept Concubines, Or ever power had to pardon ſins. I never learn'd he granted Diſpenſations, To poiſon Kings or Rulers of thoſe Nations, Who were prophane, or turned Hereticks, Or did refuſe the Faith of Catholicks. I never read he was the Churches head, Or did forbid the Clergy for to wed. I never read that he had • h • ſts of Gold, Or that great buſineſs by 〈…〉 • ere Sold, I never read he's call'd His Holyneſs, Yet had as much as any Pope, I gueſs. I never learned Peter did magnifie Himſelf above all Gods, or Gods on high, Or that upon the neck of Kings he trod, Or ever he in Cloth of Gold was clad. • never read that he made Laws to burn • uch as were hereticks or would not turn • o Jeſus Chriſt, much leſs to murder thoſe Who did in truth Idolatry oppoſe. 〈◊〉 never learn'd nor could unto this day That th' Pope and Peter walk'd both in one way, Yea, or that they in any thing accord, • ave only in denying of the Lord. 〈◊〉 that they alſo greatly differ do, • f which I think to give a hint or two, • eter deny'd him▪ yet did love him dear, • he Pope denyes him, and doth hatred hear • o him, and to all thoſe that do him love, • ho bear his Image, and are from above. • eter deny'd him, and did weep amain, • he Pope denyes him with the greateſt diſdain. Peter deny'd him yet for him did dye, The Pope in malice him doth crucifie. Peter denyed him thrice, and then repented, The Pope a thouſand times, but ne'er relented. Peter and John no mighty Scholars were, Yet few for knowledge might with them compare. Poor Fiſher-men do find the way to Heaven, When Scholars go aſtray, who Arts have ſeven. The Learned School-men put our Lord to Death, And very few of ſuch Chriſt called hath. But poor deſpiſed perſons he doth call, And paſſeth by the high-flown Cardinal. For human learning, and ſuch kind of preaching, Is nothing to the bleſſed ſpirits teaching. I Learning like▪ and grant that men may uſe it, Yet would I not have them to abuſe it. Apoſtate. Leave off theſe canting ſtrains, and don't deride Our holy Father, for I can't abide To hear ſuch prating fools. Are you ſo wiſe? Dare you the holy mother Church deſpiſe? 'Tis that Religion I like beſt of all. The Pope I do adore and Cardinal. There's Pomp and Riches, and a worldly glory, What you talk of, is an unpleaſant ſtory, There's Pleaſure, Profit, ſafety and much eaſe, Which doth the fleſh as well as ſpirit pleaſe. Here's Heaven and Earth, what canſt thou more deſire ▪ Or of thy God, or any man require? Thy way th' haſt loſt, and Canaan wilt not ſee, Therefore with ſpeed turn back again with me, Profeſſor. Could I no other Reaſon give or urge To prove Rome's Church untrue, I can't but judge This which you ſpeak, doth plainly it declare, For in Chriſts Church no ſuch vain Pomps appear; No worldly glory doth Chriſts Church adorn, For she's afflicted, much deſpis'd and torn. Her beauty can't with outward eyes be ſeen, Her beauty and her glory are within. When John ſets forth the Anti-chriſtian ſtate, Much outward P • mp, 'tis true, he doth relate; The Whore is deckt with Gold, brave ſtones & Pearl, Who at poor S •• n doth with envy ſnarle. No liberty to th' fleſh the Lord doth give; Saints muſt alone after the Spirit live; No ſerving God and Mammon, Sir, 'tis plain, To hell you go, except you're born again. If you'll be Chriſts, with ſpeed then turn you muſt To crucify the Fleſh, with all its luſt. No cauſe have I to •• ar to go aſtray, Whilſt I walk daily in the narrow way. All thoſe who do Gods holy Word contemn, No Light nor Truth is there at all in them. Their feet on the dark Mountains ſoon will fall, And utter Ruin will o're-take them all. But as for me, no cauſe have I to doubt, But I shall find this bleſſed Canaan out. To turn to Aegypt with you, back again, The thoughts of it my ſoul doth much diſdain. Doſt think I'll leave my Qu • ils and Manna rare, For ſtinking Garlick, and b •• e Onions there? Apoſtate, For all your Courage, Sir, I do ſuppoſe, You will repent that ever you have choſe To leave the Comforts of a preci • us World, And with ſound zeal thus blindly to be hurl' • You are a man that might 〈…〉 be Unto great honour, ſtate and di • nitie. Your Father's Maſter of a good Eſtate, And you too are his heir, I • ear of late. But if you don't this new Religion leave, One Groat of him you are not like to have. Profeſſor, This World in a juſt Ballance oft I try, And find it lighter far than Vanity. Riches, alas! they are but bags of cares, And honours nought, ſave fool-bewitching ſnare • Your outward joy will turned be to ſadneſs Your pleaſure into pain, your wiſdom's madneſs▪ You catch at nothing, 'tis at beſt a bubble, Which long you cannot keep, altho' you double Your diligence, and think to hold it faſt, 'Twill fly with ſpeed, 'tis but an empty blaſt. What frantick fit is this? Will you deſtroy Your higher hopes for ſuch a fancy'd joy? This World's juſt like th'S • rump • t, of whom • ' • e rea • , Who with ſweet Fumes in • ice • h to her Bed. With amorous G • ances promiſes a bliſs, And hides deſtruct on with a feigned Kiſs. She has her Tricks, and her enſnaring Wiles, But lodges Death under deceitful Smiles. S • e • ugs t • e S • ul ſhe •• tes, yea, and doth prove A very J • das where ſhe feigns to love. Take heed therefore, leſt you be catch't i'th' ſnare, And buy your late Repentance much too dear. Theſe Comforts here, which you do precious call, Each wiſe man ſees they're vain and flitting all. To think I ſhould repent, no cauſe is there, If things by you rightly conſider'd were. What Moſes choſe of Old, the ſame do I, All vain allurements I do quite defy. 〈◊〉 knew, when firſt my Journey I did take, I muſt my Fathers houſe learn to forſake. • n Abraham's ſteps I am reſolv'd to go, What-ever I expoſed am unto. What-e'er I loſe, Chriſt will make't up to me, When • of Canaan ſhall poſſeſſed be. I ſeek no honour here from any one, True honour comes (dear Sir) from God alone.▪ To be an Heir unto a great Eſtate, Or Son unto ſome earthly Potentate, • s nought to what, by Grace, • am born to. My Portion's great, i know not how to ſhow I'm heir unto the mighty King of heaven. To me, e'er-long, ſweet Canaan will be given. I do reſolve to hold out to the end, Altho' I han't one Groat nor earthly Friend To favour me; I never will return Until this glorious Canaan I have won. Apoſtate, What ground have you (my friend) for to believe If you forſake all things, you ſhall receive • his land you ſpeak of, for your own poſſeſſion? Unto your heart 'tis good to put this queſtion; For divers do unto great things lay claim, Yet ſome oft-times, I ſee, and ſure I am, Unto ſuch Lands can no good title ſhew, Although they ſtrive for them, as you may do. If you ſhould ſell what-e'er you have for this, And yet at laſt ſhould alſo of it miſs, You'l ſee your ſelf at length then quite undone Conſider of't and back with me return, For no good title of it can be had, 'Twas this, alas! which once did make me ſad To ſave my own, I thought, 'twas beſt for me Unleſs of this I could aſsured. Profeſſor. Don't think you ſhall my zeal for Heaven co • Nor my dear Soul with fancies thus be fool. Rouſe up (my Soul) now in thy own defence, And ſhew thy clear, thy precious evidence. Can any thing be plainer here on Earth, 'Twas purchas'd for me by Chriſt Jeſus's Death. The Father doth his Kingdom own, and he For his own Child has late adopted me. And if a Child, I alſo am an Heir, And ſhall with Jeſus this like glory ſhare. Apoſtate. How do you know you be his Child? in this You may miſtake, and ſo may Canaan miſs. Profeſſor. My late converſion doth moſt plainly prove, My inward birth is truly from above. The Truth and Conſcience both agree in one, I am through Grace no Baſtard, but a Son. • oſe whom God doth by his own Spirit lead, • ey are his Sons, you in the Scripture read. • ies all this, ſince I did firſt believe, 〈◊〉 earneſt of this Land I did receive. A • d divers promiſes alſo there be, •• ich bind it firmly over unto me. • ot my title unto Heaven good, • hen ſign'd and ſeal'd to me by Chriſt his blood? Y • u ſee by theſe I have a certain ground, And good aſſurance for Gods Kingdom found. 〈◊〉 you, as it appears, do quite diſpair, Without all hopes of ever coming there. Apoſtate. Nay, ſtay a little, don't affirm that neither, •• y may not I as ſoon as you, come thither? • ough in that way in which I late did walk, • as deceiv'd with many other folk; • d thought that heaven was intail'd to thoſe • hich did the Pope and Church of Rome oppoſe. • inking a man a ſeparate muſt be • m that ſame Church or elſe could never ſee, • d, nor injoy eternal Peace and Reſt; • d therefore I, like others, did proteſt • inſt that Ancient Mother-Church, whom now • n reſolv'd to own, yea, and to bow • wn unto her, with all humble ſubjection, • inking tis beſt for ſafety and protection, • ſolving never more to vex my mind, 〈◊〉 I have done; for I ſhall ſooner find 〈◊〉 this ſmooth way, aſſurance for Salvation, • an if I had kept in my former ſtation. Hopes I may have, no certain ground I know The Church affirms we can attain unto. But Promiſes moſt clear are made to thoſe Who ſeek for the Old Way, and with it cloſe: And that Rome's Church can plead Antiquity, No Proteſtant I'm ſure can it deny: Yea, and muſt grant, whatever's their profeſſi •• That none, ſave Rome, can prove their true Succeſſ •• From thoſe brave Churches which firſt planted 〈◊〉 By the Apoſtles as their Acts declare. And therefore (Youth) you muſt no longer boaſt Of •• ith and Confidence, for you have loſt Your Way to heaven; and muſt therefore look Unto that Church which long has been forſook. From the true Church to rend and ſchiſmatize, Is a ſad thing, though many it diſpiſe. For though Corruption in the Church there be, Yet all ſhould walk in uniformity. Profeſſor. Sir, I deny your Churches Conſtitution, Which makes me loath you, & for your pollution Corruption, and vile ſpots, they are ſo bad, No Church of Chriſt the like hath ever had; Which I reſolve fully to make a pear Before I'll leave you, if you'r pleas'd to hear. Apoſtate. Rome's Church was rightly gather'd that's moſt clea • Saint Paul himſelf to this doth Witneſs bear. Faith and Repentance truly did they own, And were baptized in due form 'tis known; N • Church in Conſtitution right has been, If that our C • ur • h i'th' leaſt doth • ail herein. Profeſſor. 〈◊〉 Church▪ I grant, was true i'th' Apoſtles days, 〈◊〉 yours from that doth differ many ways▪ • me's Church was very famous heretofore, • t is become the ſcarle • coloured Whore. • om the true Faith ſhe has departed quite, • d the true Church was forc'd to take her flight • to the dark and howling wilderneſs, • here ſhe lay hid in ſore and great diſtreſs, • om the vile Beaſts, and Dragons furious rage, And ſo remained until this latter Age. 〈◊〉 Rome's Church now were like unto the old, • hen with the Romaniſts we all would hold, But when ſhe is become Chriſts Enemy, 〈◊〉 • d out of Babylon doth bid us fly. • f you can prove Romes Church hath not declin'd • rom that Church-ſtate by Paul himſelf defin'd, Then you will undertake for to do more, Than any Papiſt ever did before. • he Jewiſh Chu • ch God once did own and love, • ut for their Sins he did them quite remove • ut of his ſight, they'r broken for their ſin, • ith other Churches, which have famous been, • nd yet do keep ſome outward form and ſhow • f Worſhip and Church-ſtate, as Rome may do. • ho has, in Truth, nought left ſave a bare name, • s has been clearly prov'd by men of fame. 〈◊〉 you would bring your Viſibility, • o prove your Church is true; I do reply, 〈◊〉 • etter Argument I need not bring • o prove you' • falſe, than that ſame very thing. For the true Church was hid, did not appear A thouſand two hundred and ſixty year. And then wheras you in the ſecond place Mention Antiquity, 'tis a clear caſe Your Church is under age, yea much too young Out of th' Apoſtacy, alas, ſhe ſprung. A Baſtard Church, baſe-born, meer National, And therefore that's for you no proof at all. The fleſhly ſeed i'th' Church muſt not be brough • John Baptiſt and our Saviour both ſo taught. Chriſt's Church is gather'd by regeneration, and not as 'twas in former diſpenſation. You in a lineal way do go about, To take in thoſe whom Jeſus hath ſhut out. The Ax is now laid to the root o'th' l •• e, And every one true penitent muſt be, And muſt obtain of God true ſaving Grace, Who in his holy Church would have a place. Your Church is not ſo gather'd, therefore I Deny your Church and its Antiquity; That Church which is uph • ld by th' carnal Sword, And not by th' Power of God's holy Word, Is very falſe. And that Romes Church is ſo, Not a few worthy Authors plainly ſhow. And whereas ſhe much boaſts of Holineſs, No People, doubtleſs, in the World have leſs; For Rome, like to a ſtinking common ſhore, Receives what every one caſts forth o'th' door. She's like a cage of every hateful 〈◊〉 , As is recorded in Gods ſacred Word. The Coun ••• which an ancient Author gave, Let ev'ry Soul with ſpecial care receive. He that w • uld holy li • e, from Rome be paking, There's all thi • gs elſe, but Godlineſs i • l • king. She alſo doth Doctrines of Devils hold, According as th' Apoſtle hath fore-told. In charging people to abſtain from meat, Which God alloweth us freely to eat. And in denying perſons for to wed, Though God allows the undefiled Bed. By means of theſe moſt curſed Prohibitions Your Clergy ſtinks alive with groſs pollutions. And many of your filthy Popes of Rome Have Sodomites and Buggerers become; Whor • dom and Inceſt they have minc'd ſo ſmall, As ſcarce to count them any ſin at all. Moſt curſed St • ws allowed a • e by them, Whom none i'th' Popedom dare i'th' least condemn. Vile Ni ••• m • n • ers many of them were, Haters of God no ſin (in truth) is there, But ſome o'th' Popes of it have guilty been, As may upon Record be early ſeen. Is this your holy Head and reverent Father, Next unto Chriſt Supream? is he not rather A Devil incarnate? the worſt of Mankind, Who can in Hell a viler Sinner find? I • Rome Chriſt's Church, Chriſt's Spouſe, his only Love, His und • 〈◊〉 One, and ſpotleſs Dove? Si • , don't miſtake, ſhe is that Scarlet Whore, Whom Jo • n characterized heretofore. Which I ſhall full evince and make appear, If you with patience will but lend an ear. Apoſtate. I find you in Reproches free enough, But ſhall expect you ſo too in your Proof. Thoſe Common Epithets of Beaſt and Whore, Are daily flung at every bodies doore, But for to warrant your ſeverer doom, Prove that they properly belong to Rome. Profeſſor. That truth Gods ſecret Word doth well explain; That City which o're Kings of th' Earth did reign, Was that ſame Whore, the Spirit clear doth ſhow, And that Rome was the City, all men know, Who then above all others bore the ſway, 'Twas Rome the Nations fear'd and did obey. And ſtill you Papiſts to her Biſhops give. Headſhip ov'r all who on the Earth do live: Before him Kings and Emperors muſt ſubmit, That ſo he may the mighty Monarch ſit. Whil'ſt abſolute pow'r he claims, and Soveraignty Above all Princes, by his Tyranny. From whence all perſons may conclude it true, By their firſt Mark, the title is his due. The ſecond Character of Babylon, Is Pompe and Sate, wherein ſhe proudly ſhone. That Rome has been a rich gay coſtly Whore, England once found, I wiſh ſhe may no more. Infinite Sums almoſt ſhe ſqueez'd from hence, For Pardons, Obits, Annates, Peter-pence And through each Land, where ſhe her t • i • m • hs led, Wh • l • ſwarms of Lucuſts, Prieſts, and Friers were p •• ad, Theſe (as the •••• zar • s to the Tu •• ) Were faithful ſlaves •• i • to promote her work. Whilſt to maintain thoſe drones ſhe ſwept away, The fat and we • l • h of Nation • for their prey. In the thir • pla •• , ſhe doth mens Souls • nſlave, This mark in •• m ▪ moſt evident we have. With dangerous Vows, unwarranted Traditions, Implicit Faith and thouſand Superſtitions, Pretended Miracles, Apparent Lyes, Damnable Errors and fond Fopperies, She clogs the Conſcience, and to make all well, Boaſts all her dictates are infallible: And then (to fill her meaſure) i'th' laſt place, 'Tis ſaid ſhe would Gods precious Sion raze. This can of none but R • me be underſtood, That drunken Whore, who reels in Martyrs blood; As I more largely now ſhall make appear, And then with patience your excuſes h • ar. Within the compaſs of ſix t •• uſ • nd years, Has been preſented to the Eyes and Ears Of future Ages, the moſt ſ • d Contents Of bloody Tragedies, the dire events Of dreadful Wars, in ſev'ral Generations, The overthrow of many fruitful Nations: But all comes ſhort of Romes moſt • lood • bill, Which doth the Earth with Sanguine vo • umns fill. Jeruſa • em that City of Renown, Sack't by Veſpaſian, burnt and bro •• n down; It was indeed a dreadful Deſolati • n, And ſo have Conquerors dealt with many a N • tion All Conqu'rors e • er found a time to ceaſe, When once they'd conquered, t •• n they were at peace. They murder'd not, but ſuch as would 〈◊〉 yield, To own them for their Lords: and in the field They ſlew them too, with weapons in their hand, For their defence, and always ready ſtand To give Quarter to thoſe that it demand, But this vile Strumpets blood-be-dabbled hands Finds not a period, never countermands Her cruel rage, her murders know no end, She ſlaughters when ſhe pity doth pretend: Years terminate not her blood-thirſty acts, She ſlays without examining their facts. In times of Peace her treach'rous hands have ſhed, Blood without meaſure: ſhe hath murthered By curſed Maſſacrees, her Neighbours, when They thought themſelves the moſt ſecure of men. One might fill volumns with her bloody ſtory, In which ſhe ſtill perſiſts: Makes it her glory T' invent ſtrange Torments to deprive the breath Of Chriſtians, by a tedious lingring death. The brutiſh Nero firſt of Tyrant Kings, From whoſe baſe root nine other Tyrants ſprings, Whoſe moſt inhumane Acts, not to their glory, Did leave the world a lamentable ſtory; And to their laſting and eternal ſhame, Did purchaſe to themſelves that hateful name Of Bloody Monsters in the ſhape of men, Whoſe cruel acts deſerve an I • on Pen, That might perpetuate to after-times, Theſe Heathens Cruelty; record the Crimes For which theſe Chriſtians willingly laid down, Their earthly houſes for a heavenly Crown. Refl • ct a while (Sir) and but caſt your eye, Firſt on thoſe Heathen Emp'rors cruelty. Then view the bloody Papiſts, and compare Their Cruelties together, and as far As Egypts Darkneſs did exceed our Night, Or Midnight differs from the Morning-light, So far the Papiſt's Cruelty does exceed The worſt of Heathen Tyrants, and indeed The worſt of Tyrants, ſince the world began, Or ſince diſſention fell 'twixt man and man. If Cyp • ians and Euſebius words be true, Theſe perſecuting Emp'rors yearly ſlew Millions of Souls, ſhedding their guiltleſs Blood, Which ran like waters from a mighty flood. So void their hearts were of all humane pity, They ſpar'd no Age, nor Sex, nor Town, nor City. The things wherein theſe Chriſtians did offend, Were only this, they did refuſe to bend. Their Heaven devoted knees, or fall before Thoſe Idol-Gods th • ſe Emp'rors did adore. They did believe One God created all, They did believe in Chriſt, and down did fall Proſtrate upon the Earth, and daily bring S • crifice only to that Heav'nly King. Their Emperors Gods theſe Chriſtians did deride, This was the cauſe ſo many Millions dy'd. Theſe Emperors thinking themſelves engag'd Their Idols to revenge grew more enrag'd, To ſee the Chriſtians boldly to deſpiſe Their Gods, and honour Chriſt before their Eyes: They did conclude the nature of th' offence Deſerv'd no leſs tha • Death for recompence. 〈◊〉 may we 〈…〉 T •• ſe Heathen 〈…〉 ſuch Cruelty. 'Twas not becauſe they worſhip not aright, But worſhipt not at all, nay, did deſpight Unto theſe Idols which they Gods did call, Affirming, that they were no Gods at all. An act not to be born by fleſh and blood, To have the Edicts of their Gods withſtood. Yet in the midſt of all thoſe Tyrants rage, Serious advice a little would aſſwage Their helliſh Fury, and for ſome time ceaſe, And give the Chriſtians a breathing ſpace. And when as thoſe ten Em • e • ors ceas'd to be, Then terminated all their Cruelty. 3 Hundred years accompliſht their fi • rce wrath, And then the Heathens own'd the Chriſtian Faith. And now their Emp'rors do as much adore The God of Heaven and Earth, as they before Had done their Idols; and zealous for the Church, Give great donations, make their Biſhops rich. And now proud Rome, ſince Conſtantine the great Thou by degree • haſt taken up thy Seat; Puft up with Riches, ſwo • n with filthy Pride, From Gods pure Laws haſt quickly turn'd aſide And now ſuch Biſhops only doſt thou chuſe, As God doth hate, and utterly refuſe; Proud, ſenſual, and void of th' holy Spirit; Such as the Lord hath ſaid ſhall not inherit Eternal Glory; ſuch thy Biſhops be; Who ſhould be fill'd with Truth and Purity. Shining like lights before the Flock, that they The better might diſcern the perfect way. B • t now inſt • ad of ſuch as theſe, behold They are preſumpt • ous proud, imp • rious, bold; Changing the Worſhip that the Lord makes known, And in its ſtead will introduce their own. Yea, ſo preſumptuous are they in their Pride, As to affirm God's holy Word's no guide For men to walk by; the only Rule that they Do counſel men, nay, force them to obey, Is their Traditions, which th' affirm to be Far more authentick then our Lords Decree, Within his holy Word he us hath given, For a ſure light to guide our ſteps to Heaven. And now theſe Chriſtians whoſe moſt tender heart Dares not believe them, fearing to depart From Gods directions, which in his bleſs'd word He hath ſo plainly left upon record: Theſe are the men this wicked Strumpet hath So often made the objects of her Wrath, Making the Earth to drink the guiltleſs Blood, Of ſuch as for Gods holy Word have ſtood. Oh! Let the blood-drunk Earth ne're ceaſe to cry Unto the Heaven enthroned Majeſty, 'Till God take vengeance, as he did on Cain, For all the righteous Abels ſhe hath ſlain. Not for denying, but honouring the Lord, Yea, for believing that his ſacred Word Is the moſt perfect, and the trueſt guide, The Rule by which all Doctrines ſhould be try'd. Our bleſſed Lord bids ſearch them, for ſaith he, They are the words that teſtifie of me. •• h • re's the cauſe, behold the reaſon why • e Whor • h • s acted ſo much cruelty. In 〈◊〉 • hers doth this W ••• e •• vent, W •• reby ſhe daily ſl • ys the innocent. The numbers she hath murder'd do ſurmount The ſtricteſt of Arithmeticks account What Country hath not taſted of the Cup, That her moſt bloody hands have filled up? How hath she ſtirr'd up Nations to engage Againſt each other, to ſatisfie her Rage? Where Millions have been brought unto the duſt, Only to ſatisfie this Strumpets luſt; That she the better might ingroſs the power Of Hell into her hands, and ſo devour At her blood-thirſty pleaſure, ſuch as she Could not perſwade to love Idolatry. Perfidious France! whoſe moſt inhuma • e wrath Paſſing the limits of a Chriſtian Faith Within the ſpace of eight and twenty days, Thy bloody hands moſt treacherouſly Betrays Ten thouſand Souls, and to that bloody score, Adds quickly after twenty thouſand more. How many murders more that Popiſh Nation Have done, the Romiſh Hiſt'ries make relation; And yet from Cruelty, Rome has not ceas'd, But as her years, her Murders have increas'd; And ſwoln to bigger numbers in leſs ſpace, As Bellarmine affirmeth to her face; Who thus atteſts, that from the morning light Until the Sabel Curtains of the night Were cloſely drawn, her bloody hands did •• ay A hundred thouſand Souls; O! let that day In Characters of blood recorded be, That may remain unto Eternity. O let the E •• th that drinketh in the rain, That did receive the blood of all the ſlain; Let both the Heavens, and the Earth implore The God of Heaven to confound the Whore. O poor Bohemia! thou haſt had a taſte, When wicked Julian laid thy Country waſte. Burning thy Towns and Villages with fire, Sparing not Young nor Old, nor Son nor Sire, What multitudes unnumbred were thy ſlain, Which in the field unburied did remain! Thou found'ſt the Wolviſh Popes in every age Contrive thy ruin, many times engage Thy Neighbour Nations to ſhed forth thy blood, Only becauſe faithful Bohemia ſtood • or Gods pure Worſhip, Martin the ſ • xth excites Emperours, Kings, Dukes, Barons, Earles and Knights, With one conſent to fall upon that Nation, On no leſs terms, than on their own Salvation; Promiſing alſo upon that condition, To give a full and abſolute Remiſſion Unto the vileſt ſinner that e'er ſtood Upon the earth, that would but ſhed the blood, •• ough but of one B • hemian; O rage! • ot to be parallel'd in any age; • xcept that Monſter, who did ſore rebuke • he over charitable Popiſh Duke Of D' Alva; and would you know his Crime? • was becauſe that he in ſix years time, •• rough too much lenity, caus'd not the earth To drink more Chriſtian b • a • d than iſſued forth 〈◊〉 eighteen thouſand Souls; 〈…〉 the Duke • as thought by Papiſts worthy o • •• buke. •• ighteen thouſand in ſix years, ſo •• w, 〈…〉 of your 〈…〉 , In humanely to murther? yea, indeed, Becauſe their former Numbers did exceed. But if the Duke of Alva's bloody bill Came ſhort in number, yet his hand did fill It up with Torments, ſo dreadful to rehearſe, As that the very thoughts thereof would pierce A Marble heart, make Infidels relent; Torments that none but Devils could invent, But if all this was over, little ſtill, His Predeceſſors added to the bill. For from the time that helliſh Inquiſition Did from the Devil firſt receive Commiſſion, As well approv'd Hiſtory doth relate, Till thirty years expired had their date. By cruel Torments which they ſtill retain, Was a hundred and fifty thouſand ſlain: And yet before they took away their bre • th, They for ſome time did make each day a death. Depriving them, as far as in them lay O • all th' comfort that either night or day Affords mankind; for them there was not found, So much Sun-light as to behold the ground On which they ſtood: Each day that giveth light, Was unto them like Egyp • darkeſt Night 〈◊〉 H • l • iſh darkneſs thus they made them ſpend Their weary hours, and kindly in the end Deſtroyed them: the Company they had Within thoſe darkſome Caverns, was their ſad And melancholy thoughts, their ſ • ghs and groans, Their doleful Lodgings was upon the ſtones, If noyſom Creatures bred and foiſtr • d there, Th • ſe noyſome Creatures their Companions were What food they eat, was only to ſecure Their Souls alive, that ſo they might endure The ſeveral Torments that they did provide, And ſo a hundred and fifty thouſand dy'd, Beſide what dy'd by perſecuting hands, Within the Popes Confines in ſeveral Lands. Thus may I ſooner ſpend my ſtrength and tears, And tire (if you regard) your eyes and ears, Than give a full and abſolute relation, Of all the acts at Romes Abomination. Oh! may my native Country rather hear Their bloody Acts, than in the leaſt part bear • er burthen, or behold her murd'ring hand Once more ſpread thro' the Confines of our land. But I perceive theſe truths are dully heard, And that you little my diſcourſe regard. Apoſtate. Yes, yes, I hear and ſmile, what Tragedies You make of lawful juſt ſeverities. The Martyrs you applaud were Rebels too, And ſtill againſt Authority would go • f then they ſuffer'd, who (pray) is to blame? Profeſſor That I have ſhewn already to their ſhame. • nd I would have my Country-men to take Another taſte, that may preſerve awake Their drowſie Souls, who take a dying nap, • uch like deluded Sampſon on the lap •• luſtfull Delilah, whoſe treacherous breath • nds forth the Meſſenger of Sampſons death 〈◊〉 not the Strumpets ſugar'd words 〈…〉 • hee to give credit t'her, that' • 〈…〉 To promiſe faireſt when ſhe doth intend To deal falſeſt, ſhe doth betray her friend, Like wicked Cain, firſt of that ſinful race That ſlew his Brother ſmiling in his face. From the firſt time that e're the helliſh rage Of Jeſuits appeared on the ſtage To act their parts in England, France, and Spain, And Italy her bloody hands hath ſlain, Nine hundred thouſand ſouls or there about, E're many years had run their hours out. Of the Americans by Popiſh Spain, In fifty years was fifteen Millions ſlain. The poor religious Waldenſes, whoſe e • e, Like the quick-ſighted Valtur, did eſpy Romes filthy whoredoms, and freely diſclaim Her vile Idolatry, and hate the ſame; Drunk dreadful draughts of Romes moſt bloody 〈◊〉 Which ſhe with Hell-bred fury poured up. And for no other cauſe, her bloody hands She did ſtretch forth, with hell inraged band • , Being ſent abroad, forthwith to put to death Both young & old, each man that draweth breat • And yet, as if ſhe had not been content To murder Parents with their Innocent And harmleſs Babes, as if their helliſh-breath Had now been ſpent with putting ſouls to deat • Fourſcore ſweet Babes that never did offend, Famiſh'd to Death, their harmleſs lives did end Search, ſearch into the deep Abyſs of hell, And ſee if all the Devils can parallel So vile an act, O moſt imperious Treaſon Againſt the King of Kings 〈…〉 of 〈◊〉 • re Papiſts Chriſtians, and are theſe their Acts • o puniſh ſuch as ne're committed Facts? • re thoſe right actings, fitting Goſpel-times, • o lay on babes the weight of higheſt Crimes? Did Chriſt do thus, or has he ever given Them leave to deal ſo with the heirs of Heaven? Thoſe Murdered Souls under the Altar lie, Crying, How long Eternal Majeſty, How long wil't be e're thou avenge thy Saint • , And lend an ear unto their Sad complaints? Theſe Waldenſes being overcome and dead, A little Remnant, that eſcaped, fled, Taught by Dame Natures Moral Laws to ſave Their much deſired lives within a Cave Did hide themſelves, hoping at laſt, that they Taking advantage of an another Day, When Golden Titan had laid down his head, • pon the pillows of his Weſtren Bed, And Pr • ſerp • na, Lady of the Night, Had drown her Sable Curtains, then they might Tranſport themſelves into ſome other Land, And ſo eſcape out of the Hunters hand. But as the Hound that hunts the wearied Heart, Doth ply their ſteps and never will depart The Fields and Meadows or the ſilent Wood Till they Surprize the Beaſt; ev'n ſo theſe blood▪ Devouring Monſters having found the Cave, Moſt barb'roſly did make that place their grave, Wherein four hunderd yielding up their breath, Were in a barb'rous mannner choak'd to death. No Nation in the World hath ever ſeen, • Foe ſo dreadful as the Whore has been, It is far better to be overcome By Turk or Heathen than by Chriſtian Rome. What part of Europe now can make their boaſt, And ſay they have not taſted to their coſt Of Romiſh Mercy? Some are yet alive, Whoſe Perants felt the Death ſhe did contrive. O Germans! thy poor diſtreſs'd Eſtate Will ſpeak to future Ages, and relate Whole volumns of her bloody Murders, and The Murder'd Souls of bleeding Ireland Cry night and day for Vengeance, and implore Gods Heaven enthroned Majeſty e'er more, To put a period to her Helliſh Power, That we may overtake her in an hour. Thoſe dreadful Murders, have the eyes and ears Of ſome now living, heard and ſeen the Tears Of Soul-afflicted Parents, whoſe ſad eyes Beheld their Murder'd Babes, and heard their cryes. Their Daughters Raviſh'd, and when that was done. Cruelly Murdered; and the hopeful Son, By unheard Torments, ſlain before their eyes, Whilſt they beheld their Childrens miſeries: Their Children murder'd, and their Wives defil'd, Whoſe Bodies they ript up, being great with Child. And all this, while Parents and Husbands were Forc'd to behold, what fleſh and blood can't bear the bear Relation. What Adamant heart Melts not, when I theſe dreadful things Impart? Riping up Child-great-Women was not all, For that, although inhumane, was but ſmall, Compar'd with othe • Torments they endur'd; Whoſe Patience bore what could not elſe be cur'd; Tearing out Bowels▪ Boyling Men alive. Theſe Dea • hs, and w • rſe, thoſe monſters did contrive. We ſee how they have dealt with every Nation; And ſhall we think at laſt to find compaſſion? The piteous Cries of Parents ne're could move Them to extend the ſmalleſt dram of love. The Tears that ran from dying Infants eyes Like plenteous ſhowers from the darkned Skies, Whoſe great abundance might have made a River, Yet all theſe floods of bri • iſh Tears could never Enter a Papiſts heart ſo hard condens'd, So voide of pity, and all humane ſence. To hear the doleful ſhrieks, and dying groans Of poor diſtreſſed Babes, who make their moans, To Soul-Afflicted-parents e'er they part, Theſe are the things delight a Papiſts heart; To ſee the dying gaſps before the Death Of tortured Souls, whoſe life-forſaken breath Had waited many a tedious hour paſt, When their tormented Souls ſhould breath their laſt. Whoſe dolorous ſighings penetrate the Skies, Thoſe objects do delight a Papiſt's eyes. And can we now at laſt expect to find • hat Rome's grown merciful, and Papiſts kind? No, no, we cannot do't, if we but fix Our ſerious thoughts upon late Sixty Six: When London was conſum'd, that Famous City, • ts Ruins do be-ſpeak them void of pity. By Rome's contrivance was fair London burn'd, Englands Metropolis to aſhes turn'd. T • eir Merchants of their Riches quite bereft, To day Rich men, to morrow nothing left. Their Wives and Children harbourleſs became, Their ſubſtance all conſumed in the Flame; To day this Famous City's deck't in Gold, To morrow an amazement to behold. The doleful Shreiks, and lamentable Cries, The floods of Tears that ran from weeping eyes, As true reſemblances, bid repreſent, The ſorrows that our Neighbours underwent. And can we think that Hell-begotten Rage, That did provoke ſo many to engage In ſuch an Act, far worſe then th' Powder Treaſon, Can we ſuppoſe, if we conſult with Reaſon, The Fury of their Helliſh Rage expir'd So ſoon as e're that famous place was fir'd? No, no, (good Sir) your Pardon, I preſume, Thoſe Hell-engendered Flames that did conſume So fair a City in ſo ſhort a ſpace, Hell gave thoſe flames Commiſſion down to raze, Not only London, but every Soul that hath A heart reſolved to maintain the Faith Of JESƲS, Proteſtants, both great and ſmall, Rome hath determin'd their eternal fall. And thoſe more Formal Proteſtants, whoſe Zeal May ſecretly perſwade them to conceal Their ſeeming Faith, and feignedly to cloſe With Romes Erroneous Doctrine, and ſuppoſe Thereby to ſave their Lives; let none believe Such vain Perſwaſions, many did deceive Themſelves; for Rome, that painted Whore, Will deal with them as she hath done before, With ſuch as hoped in the ſelf-ſame kind, To meet with Mercy, but nought leſs did find. Chriſt never gave unto his Church Commiſſion For to make Laws for grievous Perſecution. No outward Force were they, i'th' leaſt, to uſe, Much leſs poor Innocents for to abuſe, By Burning, Starving, Roaſting on a Spit, And tauntingly to make Sport of it. The holy Saints and People of the Lord, Their only Weapon was Gods ſacred Word. With that bleſs'd Sword always they overcome, And did Refute all Hereticks; but ROME Makes uſe ('tis plain) o'th' Carnal Sword and Fire, 'Tis Blood, 'tis Blood, this Locuſt doth deſire, Death without Mercy, Acts of Cruelty, The matter muſt decide continually. The way they uſe to turn a Soul from Error Is the moſt dreadful Fleſh-amazing Terror Of horrid Rack • , whereon a Man muſt lie Tortur'd to Death, dying, yet cannot dye. • trange kinds of Inſtruments devis'd to tear The fleſh from • ff the Bones; Theſe ſometimes were Her friendly Admonitions to reclaim Such whom she doth for Hereticks defame. What Maſſacrees hath she contriv'd by Night, When Nature doth to Reſt, each Man invite! When ſleep hath clos'd their Eyes, no thoughts of harms, Did them poſſeſs, but in their folded Arms Their Wives & Children lay, with hope, that they Thro' Grace, might live to ſee another Day. Then came theſe Murd'ring Butchers, ſent from Hell, Nothing but BLOOD would their vile Rage repel; • aying dear Babes and Mother in their gore, •• ll all were dead they ſcorned to give o'er: If theſe Church-dealings will not work contrition She can erect a curſed Inquiſition: A dreadful place of Cruelty and blood, Whoſe Torments ſcarcely can be underſtood. A loathſom Dungeon and vile ſtinking Cell, A place of Darkneſs, repreſenting Hell; VVhere nothing is ſo plentiful as Tears And bitter ſighs, and yet can find no ears To hear their cryes and lamentable moans, Nor hearts to pity them for all their groans, VVhere many tedious days and nights they ſpend Not knowing when their ſufferings will have end, If ſuch like Arguments (Sir) will confute A Heretick, the Papiſts may diſpute VVith all the world, nay, Heathen Rome could never Come nigh a Papiſt with their beſt endeavour▪ They ſcorn all Turk or Pagan (for contrival Of Barbarous Cruelties) ſhould be corrival; For Inhumanities they moſt defie, And ſcorn that Cann • bals ſhould them come nigh. A bloody Papiſt ſtrives to counterfeit The Plague of Hell, as far as Mans conceit Can reach unto, or Devils could invent; This is a Papiſts knocking Argument. Thus, thus is Rome drunk with the Martyrs blood, VVhich has run down like to a mighty flood. O! it is Rome, that is that Scarlet Whore, Which thus doth hate and perſecute the poor, And all which are unto Truth inclin'd, To ſerve the Lord with a moſt perfect mind, Accord • n • to the tenor of his Word: All ſuch the ſtrives to put unto the Sword: And ſuffers none to buy, nor ſell, nor live, But ſuch as homage unto her would give. Upon her head alſo Saint John did ſee Was writ the curſed name of Blaſphemy: Setting her ſelf on Gods Imperial Throne: Saving, I am, beſides me there is none. I have the Keys of Heaven in my hand, Both earth and Hell is at my ſole command. I ſhut and open unto whom I pleaſe, I Torment give to ſome, to others eaſe. Lo, thus God's ſecret Word doth point her forth, This, this is ſhe, there's none in all the Earth That ever did adventure to lay claim To that perſumptuous and Blaſphemous Name, As King of Heaven, Earth, and Hell, but ſhe, Therefore Romes Church muſt the vile Strumpet be. Apoſtate. Sir, ſpeak no more, forbear your ſland'rous lyes, The holy Church ſuch murd'rous acts defies: Do not believe all ſtories you do hear, 'Tis hard for you to make theſe things appear. Profeſſor. Theſe things were not (Sir) in a Corner done, Beſides, I never yet have heard of one That is for you, or ſtandeth on your ſide, Who by juſt proof theſe things ever deny'd; For they, alas, notoriouſly are known, And many Papiſts alſo them do own: Beſides, 'twas late ſome of theſe Cruelties Murder and Blood, and barb'rous Tragedies • ere done, and acted; ſome alive now be Who with their eyes theſe villanies did ſee. About the Year (dear Sir) of Fifty five A dreadful Maſſacree did Rome contrive Near unto France, i'th' Dukedom of Savoy, Where thirty thouſand Souls ſhe did deſtroy, Who were Commanded without all delays Papiſts to turn, and that within three days; Who for refuſing were then preſently Put unto Death with barb'rous Cruelty, Some with ſharp ſpears thruſt thro' their privy parts, Whil'ſt others ſtabbed were unto their h • arts. Some Babes they cut in pieces, ſome they Roaſted, And ſome upon the tops of ſpears they toſſed: Virgins were Raviſh'd, Widows and Wives, All barb'rouſly deprived of their lives: Some were drove forth on bitter Ice and Snow, And many knock'd o'th' head as they did go. Thus were thoſe Souls brought into miſery; See it at large in Morlands Hiſtory. Two hunderd thouſand Proteſtants or more Were Maſſacreed by this vile bloody Whore In Ireland; there's many now alive who ſaw what kinds of deaths they did contrive, By which ſome of their dear Relations then Were tortured by thoſe moſt bloody men. How can you, Sir, theſe things i'th' leaſt deny, Which are ſo obvious unto ev'ry eye? Apoſt. Youth, 'tis the Faith of Roman Catholicks, Thus for to deal with all vile Heretick; Yet 'twas Rebellion too, ſay what you will, For wh • ch the Church did many thouſands kill▪ To Magiſtrates they d • ſobed • ent were, And therefore they juſt puniſhment did • ear. Profeſſor Peter and John they Rebels were alſo, By that ſame argument which uſe you do, To Magiſtrates they did refuſe to bend, VVherein they knew they ſhould the Lord offend. In Civil things they always did ſubmit, And preached alſo, 'twas a thing moſt fit, In things which unto man do appertain; But Chriſt o're Conſcience ought alone to reign. Ev'n ſo thoſe Martyrs bare an upright mind Unto their Prince, and ever were inclin • d In al • juſt things obedient for to be; Yet did ſtand up for Chriſt his Soveraignty, And were reſolv'd in matters of their Faith, To worſhip God, as holy Scripture ſaith, According to that light which he doth give, Up unto which each Soul on Earth ſhould live. And though your Church doth put poor men to Death, 'Twas from the Devil ſuch curſt Laws came forth. The tares with wheat ſhould grow unto the end, Till God is pleaſ'd the Reapers for to ſend. That 'twas from Satan, I don't doubt i'th' leaſt, For he did give unto this bloody Beaſt 〈◊〉 Pow'r and Seat, and his Authority, 〈◊〉 to effect all curſed villany, Apoſtate. T •• y were ſome evil Perſons, without doubt, 〈◊〉 •• ept into the Church, that work • about 〈◊〉 Murderous Deeds, the Church did not allow, 〈◊〉 u • terly against them did a ••• Profeſſor. The filthy Pope, and evil Cardinal, With Biſhops, Monks and Fryars you ſo call, With fiery Jeſuiſts, for to be brief, In all theſe Murd'rous Acts theſe were the chief. Bulls, falſe Pardons and curſed Diſpenſations From bloody Rome has ruin'd many Nations. You can't deceive, nor hood-wink the world more Time has diſcovered the Scarlet Whore. We now know how clearly to bring our Charge, As I could ſhew, but that I can't enlarge. Apoſtate. I know not how further (Sir) to excuſe The holy Church; you put me in a Muſe; But ſhe's more kind and gentle grown of late, And doth ſuch Cruelties Defy and hate. Profeſſor. ROME to a Wolf may fitly be compar'd, Who whilſt againſt his will is quite debar'd From ſeeking of his Prey, being ty'd in Chains, Seems very peaceable, though he remains A VVolf in Nature ſtill, if ever he At any Rate can get his Liberty, Doth ſtraight-way run, impatient of delay, And cannot reſt until he's got his Prey. So Rome ſeems kind and gentle, until ſhe Can find again an Opportunity, VVhich with unwearied Pains and often Tryal She ever ſeeks, and hardly takes Denyal; VVhich if ſhe once obtains, she will not ſtay From ſhedding Blood on Minute of a Day. Apoſtate. 'Tis a vain thing with you for to Contend, And therefore I had rather make an end; 'Tis out of love I ſpeak, to have you leave Your evil Errors, ſpeedily to cleave Unto that Church who only can decide All Controverſies, even to divide The Truth from Error, Light from Darkneſs, ſo That every one the ready way may go. But you ſeem ſo reſolved in your mind, That little hopes, alas, of you I find. But (Youth) conſider once again, I pray, The Troubles of a now approaching day. For ſore Amazements will you overtake, Unleſs you do your Purpoſes forſake. If once our Church the Day obtains, be ſure Then down you Hereticks muſt go forever. Let former ſtroaks of Juſtice take ſuch place As for to move you wiſely to imbrace That Counſel which in tender love I give, That in Safety evermore you may live, O • you'll Repent that ever you begun Theſe dangerous ways of Hereſie to run. 'Tis a dark, doleful, dangerous Path you go, Recant therefore as many others do. Profeſſor. You may Miſtake, ſometimes the waters flow, Yet on a ſudden I obſerve them low. A Hamon may maliciouſly deviſe Poor Mordicai and others to ſurprize, Yet may h • s Purp • ſes meet with a Blaſt, And he himſelf be hanged too at laſt. The fleſh with all its Luſts to Mortify, Is hard to thoſe that love Iniquity. The Way to Papiſts wholly is Untrod, And unto all who haters are of God, The VVay ſeems Dark to you, Untrod, Uneve • Hard 'tis to th' fleſh, yet 'tis the way to Heaven 'Tis dark to you, becauſe that you are blind, And can't Gods Purpoſe in dark foot-ſteps mind. I've a ſure hand to lead my trampling Paces, To 'ſcape the danger of thoſe dang'rous Spaces. I ſhall paſs ſafe, by means of my beſt Guide, Tho' thouſands fall by me on every ſide. For to turn back will prove a doleful fault, I think upon the Monument of Salt. I am Reſolv'd a thouſand Deaths to dye, Before I'll ever yeild to POPERY. Apoſtate. Thou art too ſtrict, too righteous and p • eciſe, Thou ſ • ight'st ſuch things which prudent men do prize Thou may'ſt have Chriſt, Pleaſure and Honours too, And ſaved be without half this ado. There's very few, alas, are of your Mind, Who unto Rome are not at all inclin'd. Profeſſor. You now condemn me for my holy Life, Wherein, 'tis true, I met with ſtraits and ſtrife But when, dear Sir, you come at length to dye, You'll blame your ſelf, and me you'll juſtify. Did ever any one on a Dying Bed Lament that they were by Gods Spirit led To crucifie their ſins, and undertake All things to leave for the Lord Jeſus ſake▪ If Righteous Ones, alas! ſcarce ſaved are, It greatly doth behove me to take care In holineſs to walk, what e're you ſay, I from the Paths of Life will never ſtray. The Way I know is rough, 'tis hard and ſtreight, And leads me alſo through a Thorny gate. Whoſe ſcratching Pricks are very ſharp and fell, The way to Heav'n is by the Gates of Hell. Your way, 'tis true, ſeems very ſmooth and wide, Since you from Chriſt have lately turn'd aſide. My Paths ſeem long, yours ſhort and very fair, Free from all Rubs and Snares, yet (Sir) beware, The ſafeſt Path is not alwayes moſt even, The way to Hell's like to a ſeeming Heaven. Shall proud Fleſh wantons for a moments pleaſure, Expoſe themſelves to ſhame, and loſs of Treaſure? They'l ſpend their ſtrength, their Gold, and their Eſtates, Amongſt their ſenſual Dame helliſh-Mates. Shall curſed Pleaſures thus be priz'd, and muſt The joyes above be cheaper than a Luſt? Th'ambitious Gallant, for to hoyſt his Name Upon the wings of Honour and of Fame, How will he venture on the point of Spears, And face the mouths of Canons! nought the fears: With Courage ſtout, how will he fight i'th' Flood, When Briniſh Seas are mixt with human Blood! Shall wretched Man be at the Devils will, And dangers run his Luſt for to fulfil? And ſhall not I, when God commands me forth, • ngage for him with all my might on Earth? Or ſhall the promis'd Crown of endleſs Life, • e judg'd a Trif •• e, and not worth a ſtrife? That which vain man accounts to be moſt rare, Is not obtain'd but with much coſt and care, Things of great worth on Earth are got by pains, And he who ventures nothing, nothing gains. And ſhall I then be Startled with a Frown, When full aſſur'd of an Eternal Crown? The Strife which doth an holy Life attend, Will recompenced be, I'm ſure, i'th' end. I will go on, ſince JESƲS doth invite me, His ſtrength is mine, and nothing ſhall afright me▪ Apoſtate I do perceive you are reſolv'd to run In your ſtrict Ways, until you're quite undone, Yet hear a little what I have to ſp • ak, And you will find, 'tis beſt for you to take The Counſel which I give; for you • l eſpy Great Ruin fall upon you ſuddenly. Your Father will • o • own you for his Son, If in this fooliſh ſtrictneſs you'l go on; His face expect hereafter not to ſee, If this your purpoſe and you • pleaſure be. Profeſſor. If Father, Mother, and dear Brethren too Forſake me quite, yet ſtill, I well do know My precious Saviour will my Soul embrace, And I ſhall ſee ſweet Smiles from his dear Face. My ſelf and my Relations all (though dear) I do deny, ſuch is the love I bear To my dear Lord, whoſe Servant now am I, And do reſolve to be until I dye. Come Life, Come Death for Canaan I'll endeavour It is my home and reſting place forever. Better it is that Earthly Freinds abuſe me, Then that Chriſt Jeſus ſhould at laſt refuſe me. I'de rather bear my Fathers Wrath and Ire, Then to be caſt into Eternal Fire. Apoſtate. Fie, fie, Young-man, forbear, and take advice, Let not hot zeal thy fancy thus intice, For to refuſe thoſe pleaſant things which you May here enjoy, as many others do 'Tis much too ſoon for thee to mind theſe things, For nought but Grief and Dotage from it ſprings; 'Twill dull thy wit, and make thee like a drone; And thou'lt be ſlighted too by every one. How mightſt thou live at eaſe and pleaſure have, If once theſe ways thou wouldſt reſolve to leave; And like a Flower flouriſh in the ſpring, And with young Gallants might'ſt rejoyce and ſing, And ſpend thy days in Pleaſure ſweet and rare? I prethee, Youth, conſider, O take care To chear thy heart; behold now in thy ſight, What Earthly joys moſt ſweetly do invite. Profeſſor, Young it is true, I am, and in my Prime, Therefore reſolve for to Improve the time; The flower of my days, doſt think I will Give to the Devil, Luſt for to fulfill? Shall Satan have the primeſt of my days, And put off Chriſt with baſe and vile delays, Until Old Age, and then at laſt preſent The dregs of Time to him? I'll not conſent To ſuch vile thoughts, I will not lend an ear. I to my ſaviour more aff • ction bear. Since firſt of th'living Spring my Soul did drink. All ſinful Pleaſures in my Noſe do ſtink More precious Joy I find in my dear Lord, Than all this World doth, yea, or can afford. If I am ſlighted for Chriſt Jeſus ſake, And judg'd a Fool or Drone, yet I can take All for him, who for me has under gone More ſhame than this before his work was done. This is my choſing time, I have made choice, Gods Word I will obey and hear his Voice. Gods Counſel 'tis, that firſt of all in Youth I ſhould him ſeek, and cleave unto the Truth Your Counſel I abhor ſhall Iuſtful fire Be kindled in my breſt? ſhall my deſire Run out again to Aegypt's curſed ſtuff, I know 'tis nought, of it I have enough. Apoſtate. Alas! the Journey's long, you'll wearied be, And faint before that Kingdom you do ſee. Profeſſor. Nay, Sir, be ſilent, that is falſe; for I By Faith moſt clearly do the Land eſpy. But is the Journey long? blame me no more, Betimes i'th' morning I ſet out therefore. Why didſt thou ſay it was too ſoon for me For to ſet out, if long the Journey be, I do reſove in Youth with ſpeed to ſtrive, Leſt I too late at laſt ſhould there arrive. While ſtrength and youth do laſt, I'll bend my mind To travel hard, becauſe I clearly find Old Age and weary Limbs quite out of caſe To go a Journey or to run a Race Alas! when night is ready to come in, That's not a time this Journey to begin, When Sun and Moon and Stars all darkned be, And clouds return, that we no light can ſee; When Rain and tempeſts do moſt ſore appear, And th' Keepers of the houſe all trembling are; When the ſtrong Men themſelves are forc'd to bow, And Grinders ceaſe alſo, becauſe that now They are but few, and ready to fall out, And thoſe through windows which do look about, Are become dim, nay, darkned, without Light, And doors too in the ſtreet are ſhut up quite. When the low ſound o'th' Grinders ſcarcely heard, He riſeth up too at the voice o'th' Bird; And all the Daughters of ſweet Muſick rare, Are brought too low, don't for ſuch Muſick care; And fears increaſe in thoughts of what's on high, Fears in the way, and fears for what is nigh. When flouriſh ſhall the Almond-Tree alſo, And th' Graſs-hopper ſhall be a burden too When looſed is the precious ſilver Cord, And Golden Bole is broken, as we have heard; When the weak Pitcher at the Fountain's broke, And th' Wheel at th' Ciſtern with a heavy ſtroke When deſire fails, and there, alas! is none, What will ſuch do who han't this Race begun? Beſides, tis clear, my Days Uncertain be Old Age, alas, I may not live to • ee. Young Men are quickly gone; for I behold D • ily, as Young as I, are turned to th' Mould, M • own Experience doth diſcover this: My Life a Bubble and a Vapour is▪ The Flower which doth ſpread, and is ſo gay, Soon may it fade and wither quite away. If I therefore have ſtill much work to do, Or, as you ſay, ſo long a way to go; It doth concern me then, with all my power For to improve each day, yea, every hour: For days to come, I ſee, may not be mine, My time I'll ſpend, not as thou ſpendeſt thine; My weights I'll caſt away this Race to run, Stand ſtill I muſt not, nor with thee return. I muſt provide me Oyl, get Grace in ſtore, For e'er a while I ſhall be ſeen no more This ſide the Grave; I haſte therefore to meet The glorious Judge at the great Judgment ſeat. I muſt make haſte, be ſwift like to the Sun, Leſt that my work's to do when Time is done. Apoſtate. To you, Young Man, I have declared much Of the ſad danger, but your Zeal is ſuch, Nought that I ſay, with you, takes any place; You don't believe me, that's the very caſe. But what's the Reaſon, Youth, ſo many folk Decline thoſe Paths in which you now do walk? Were ways of your ſtrict Holineſs ſo ſweet, They in this ſort would never back retreat; I did reſolve with others for to try, And find you all deceived utterly; Your whole Religion's nought but meer conceit, Let none therefore thy Soul with fancies cheat. Since wiſe men daily do your Ways for ſake, Be thou advis'd and other Counſel take. Profeſſor. If thouſands fall away it is no more Th •• 〈◊〉 the Scripture ſhews was heretofore. Thouſan • s of old from Egypt did adventure, And yet 〈…〉 of them did Canaan enter, They never •• d of Chriſt a ſaving taſte, Who quite away their ſeeming hopes do caſt; Their hearts, al •• , are R • tten and Unſound, Who in Chriſt J • ſus never Sweetneſs found. But what of this? Shall I my LORD deny, Becauſe that you ſome Hypocrites eſpy? Thoſe who do murmur in the Wilderneſs, The Land of Promiſe never ſhall poſſeſs. But if they will the gracious LORD revoke, Shall I from thence reſolve to ſlip the Yoke? Becauſe they don't the glorious Lord believe, Shall Caleb think the Land he can't receive, Becauſe ſo many walk i'th' way to Hell, Shall I conclude, that Heav'n don't excel The vain enjoyments of an evil World? Or ſhall with fancies thus my Soul be hurl'd? To think, becauſe that Swine the grains do chuſe, And Pearls do tread upon, and them refuſe, There is more worth in thoſe baſe ſtinking grains Than in thoſe true Pearls which the Merchant gains? Becauſe theſe ſilly men have loſt their Way, Shall I on purpoſe therefore go aſtray? Becauſe that Judas did for thirty Pence Sell his dear Lord, ſhall I conclude from thence Peter a Fool, who priz'd his favour ſo, That for his ſake all things he'd under go? If fearful Souldiers baſely quit the field, Shall valiant Chapions therefore ſtrait way yield Moſt Cowardly unto their treacherous Fo, Whom they aſſured were to overthrow. If Mariners unskill'd in Navigation Are ſplit on Rocks, ſhall then in the Nation That have that curious Art reſolve therefore Never to uſe the Art of Sailing more? Becauſe the Sluggard ſees the Winds do blow, The rain deſcending with cold Hail and Snow, He doth give o're, and ſays, no longer will Remain i'th' field his barren Land to till. Shall faithful Husband-men from the like ground, Who have oft times by good experience found, Without they ſow, no Harveſt they can have; Reſolve the painful labour quite to leave? He that won't Plow becauſe o'th' Snow and Rain, Shall beg at Harveſt, and ſhall nought obtain. So in like ſort, to mind my preſent caſe, 'Cauſe perſons void of God's true ſaving Grace D'Apoſtatize, as you your ſelf have done, Muſt I to th' Devil with you headlong run? 'Cauſe ſome Profeſſors ſecretly do love Some baſe Corruptions, doth this therefore prove, There's none ſincere for God in all the Earth, Whoſe Souls exper'ence do the ſecond birth? I for my part, through Grace, have this to ſay I never ſhall, nor can I fall away. All thoſe whom God has unto Jeſus given, They never can be diſpoſſeſs'd of Heaven; The promiſe o • Eternal life is theirs, And they like Iſaac, even ſo are Heirs, Who could not miſs nor diſpoſſeſſed be, Unleſs God's Word's made a meer Nu • lity, God's Covenant alſo with Chriſt doth ſtand, Who can ſupply our wants on ev'ry hand. Sin ſhall not reign, ſuch is our happy caſe, We are not under th' Law, but under Grace. This Covenant is not like to the Old, We of a ſurer Perſon now have hold We ſtand not now as Adam did, 'tis plain, God never will truſt that Old Man again. Our Credit's nothing worth, our Surety Is in our room, our wants he muſt ſupply. Beſides all this I'le hint another thing, Which to my Soul doth much refreſhment bring: He that's the Author of my Faith, I ſpy, Will finish it himſelf aſſuredly. He that in me has a good Work begun, Will perfect it alſo, e're he has done, Within God's Saints Eternal Life doth dwell; This would remove the doubt, conſider'd well; Thoſe unto whom Eternal Life is given, How can it be that ſuch ſhould miſs of Heaven? And now to 'breviate, 'tis my intent, Sir, if you pleaſe, to frame an argument. If the new Creature in the Souls of men, Is of God's Spirit born, I argue then, The ſame in nature, it, be ſure, muſt be, Which cannot death, or like mutation ſee; But that 'tis of God's Spirit born, is clear, As John the third doth make moſt plain appear. The Seed alſo doth in their ſouls remain, They cannot ſin to death, who're born again; Gods fears moreover is ſo in their heart, That they from him ſhall never more depart. Thus is my ſtanding very firm and ſure, And to the end I know I ſhall endure, And as for thoſe who fall away and dye, I ſhall diſcover clearly, by and by, What kind of Men and Women they are all, Which will hold forth the cauſe too of their fall. Apoſtate. Moſt confident, I do perceive, you are, Daunted at nothing, yet pray let me hear Thoſe Perſons Names which you did laſtly meet, Who finally reſolve for to retreat, And leave thoſe paths which you ſeem to commend; Come, ſpeak to this, and we will make an end. Profeſſor. Sir, unto me it doth moſt plain appear, As if they Cowards and faint-hearted were; Under their Tongues alſo cloſe ſecretly, Some pleaſant morſels, I am ſure do lie: And in them all doth reign ſome curſed evil, VVhich makes them to conform unto the Devil Apoſtate. As you ſupoſe, but pray (Youth) have a care, For they ſincere and ſober People are. And I do queſtion whether yea or nay, Thou do'ſt them know; what further haſt to ſay? Profeſſor. I told you, (Sir) I knew them very well, And ſince you urge me, I reſolve to tell What kind of folk they are, and alſo ſhall Their Names diſcover unto great and ſmall; Maſter Fea • ful was one that I did ſee, With him was goodly Senſuality. With Dame Miſ-belief, and Goodman Out-ſide, Who turn'd from Chriſt, as ſoon as they were try'd: One Ʋnbelief, a very wicked man; Turn him out of his way, there's no man can. Beſides them alſo, there's one Earthly heart, Who loves nothing ſo well as Plow and Cart: Alſo, there's Eſau Faint-heart, moſt Profane, That ſells his Birth right, Pottage to obtain; With Belly god, a Man that I do find Fleſh-pots and Onions chiefly he doth mind. There's Miſtreſs Diſcontent too, with the reſt, Who would have nought but what ſhe liketh beſt. Maſter Hot-love, Soon-Cold alſo was there, Lately, for zeal, with him few could compare; There's Iſhmael Legal-heart, in truth alſo, When Troubles riſe, he ſtrait away doth go With Maſter Balaam, who doth Jeſus leave The Wages of Unrighteouſneſs to have. Some People alſo I have lately met, Who were with ſin moſt eaſily beſet; And divers heavy weights alſo they bore, Which wearied them, and made them to give o're. A Gentleman I alſo did behold, Whoſe trade was great, and ſtore he had of Gold, He's going back with ſorrow, I do know, Becauſe he can't have Chriſt and the World too. One Maſter Atheiſt, that I think's his Name, As like your ſelf as if he were the ſame; He's fallen back ſo far, and turn'd aſide, That at Religion he doth much deride; He thinks Religion's but a fooliſh thing, Which doth no comfort, nor no profit bring. This is too true, you alſo are the man, To clear your ſelf, deny it if you can; No marvel 'tis you play the Devils part, In labouring thus for to deceive my heart, And blind mine eyes, if that thou kneweſt how; Thou'dſt make me like thy ſelf, and therefore now I am reſolv'd with thee for to ingage, Who ſtriv'ſt to ſtop me in my Pilgrimage. A Foe more vile than you, what Soul can meet? I'l therefore bring you down unto my feet. Some ſtones I think to fetch out of God's Book, Though like Goliah you'd ſeem to look, Yet in his Name, whom you ſo much defy, I ſhall prevail againſt you, by and by. I thought, I muſt confeſs, ſome years ago, I ſhould not in the leaſt been ſtopt by you; Or that I ſhould have met with Oppoſition With ſuch a Foe to add to my affliction. But ſince this is my ſad unhappy fate, I'll add a line or two to vindicate The Dreadful God, ſo far as lies in me, I'll vindicate that Glorious Deity; Who in my Soul his Image ſo has ſet, That I his Glorious Being can't forget. Shall he which form'd both Heaven and the Earth, From whom I have my precious life and birth, Be trod upon, nay, utterly deny'd? What Soul can ſuch a ſinful Wretch abide. Who ſtrives at once, if that you could it do, The life of Religion to o'erthrow. Haſt thou got ought to ſpeak, and wilt thou enter On the debate? yea, durſt thou to adventure To o'pe thy mouth i'th' leaſt for to defend Thoſe thoughts of thine, which clearly aſcend From hell beneath? thou'lt prove thy ſelf thereby The Devil's Friend, Jehovah's Enemy. Apoſtate. Thou childiſh Lad, do'ſt think I am afraid For to declare my ſelf, or am diſmay'd By ſilly dreams and Fa •• ies, which afright Thoſe ſimple Ones who dare not walk i'th' night; Who ſtartle at the ſhadow which they ſee, And think the Devil's near, when 'tis a tree? And ſince I do perceive you underſtand What my Opinion is, I do demand How you can prove, and fully make appear The • e is a God; for none at all I fear. No God nor Devil I at all believe, Nor is there any Heaven to receive T • e Souls of Holy Men when they do dye ▪ Nor is there any Hell of Miſery For Sinners after death, as you co • ceit; A • l is no • ght elſe, ſave a Rel • gious C • eat. Profeſſor. Dare you your Maker, thus with impudence, Deny and tread upon? Such inſolence What Soul can hear! what Age can ſhew the like, Where ſo much Light hath been! ſhall Mortals ſtrike At the great God, and glorious Deity? Whoſe dreadful Being and Exiſtency The Heathens did find out, and gre • tly fear▪ His God-head did to them moſt plain appear By the Creation, Man, as in a glaſs May there behold who his Creator was. 'Tis time to arm my ſelf, and look about, When by an Atheiſt I am challeng'd out: When th' whole of all Religion lies at ſtake, 'Tis time to rouze, and alſo for to ſhake Off ſloath and Idleneſs, and to engage With ſuch a Foe in this my Pilgrimage· If once I ſhould unto an Atheiſt yield, And treach' rouſly alſo acquit the Field; The ſtrongeſt hold of Truth betray ſhould I Into the hands of its worſt Enemy: And ſhould Unman my ſelf of Chriſtian too, And my dear Soul of reaſon overthrow. I ſhould debaſe my ſelf, ſhould I deny My Noble Birth from the great Deity. Man's chiefeſt glory ſprings from's Supream Hea • ▪ In his deſcent from him, who made and br • d And brought him forth, and doth his life maintain▪ From hence Man doth his greateſt honour gain, 'Tis power Divine that Man doth greaten thus As to make, him King of the Univerſe. Who e're diſowns his bleſſed Pedigree, Doth prove himſelf Unnat'ral for to be. For Man to ſay, he came by hap or chance, As 'tis a piece of wilful Ignorance, Himſelf alſo he doth depoſe thereby, From his own honour and rare Dignity; And vile Contempt upon himſelf doth bring, As well as dirt upon that Eſſence fling, Who form'd his Soul, and gave to him his Bre ••• And made him Ruler here upon the Earth. But to proceed, and lend my helping hand, In the defence of Sacred Truth to ſtand, And vindicate my great Creator's Cauſe, By Natures Light, and alſo by thoſe Laws Which Supernat'ral are, and moſt Divine, Whoſe Light excells, yea, and whole Glories ſhine. You ask me, How I can make it appear, There is a God, Attend, and now give ear, And weigh my Arguments and Reaſons found, And let not Satan more your Soul confound, And Reaſon quite deſtroy as he hath done, Leſt to the Devil you do head-long run. Apoſtate. Before you do proceed, this you muſt know, If you a God do th •• k to pr • ve or ſhow, Be ſure of this (Young-Man) it muſt not be By Scripture proof, for its Authority I do deny, and cannot it believe, You neve • ſhall that way my hea • t deceive; The Knowledge which you Supernatural call, Is a meer Cheat, I m • nd it not at all. Profeſſor Though Supernatural Knowledge you deſpiſe, And count Gods holy Word to be but lyes; I briefly ſhall ſtand up in its Defence, And ſhew your Pride and curſed Inſolence. That all may love Gods Word, prize it, and ſee Its worth and weight, and its Authority To be Divine, and by Jehovah given To lead poor Souls in the right way to Heaven: One thing of you i'th' firſt place, I demand, Pray let me know, and • ully underſtand • hen this ſuppoſed Cheat did firſt commence, • nd in what part o'th' world, bring evidence. •• ypt ſtands mute, ſaith it commenc'd not here, • or did the Jews invent it, that's as clear. • sk all the Heathens too in every age, • their Philoſophers brought, on the Stage. • you can find it out, pray bring't to light, Or elſe confeſs your darkneſs worſe than night. • Tis ſtrange that ſuch a univerſal Cheat • hould thus be put upon the World, and yet No one can ſhew who did the ſame deviſe, Nor how, nor whe • the ſame at firſt did riſe. Since all the world ſtands ſilent, and is mute, This might a • period put to the Diſpute. But, ſecondly, I argue once again, There's none of them who do ſo much diſdain The Holy Scriptures, who juſt Proof can bring To ſhew, i'th' leaſt, they were a forged thing; If none can them diſprove, O then, ſay I, What ground have you the Scripture to deny? The Scriptures alſo, I obſerve, have been Strangely preſerved by a pow'r unſeen; In every Age, kept, both in word and ſence, From ſecret Fraud and open Violence, Againſt the num'rous Armies of all thoſe That were both ſecret, yea, and open Foes; No wicked or malicious men could ever Subvert the Scripture, though they did endeavour: The beaſtly Clergy of the Church of Rome, Thorow whoſe hands to us the Scriptures come; Though guilty of moſt vile Abomination, As ever was committed in a Nation, Their curſed ſins are hateful to relate, Which they committed, and did tolerate; And that they might more freely do the ſame, And ſo be kept from ſad reproach and ſhame, They ſay, the Pope himſelf may change the Laws Of th' Holy Goſpel, as himſelf ſees cauſe; And make the ſence of Scripture to agree With tim and place, as he moſt fit doth ſee. How free thoſe Sacriligious Monſters were, (Had God admitted) to extinguiſh clear The Sacred Scripture, and put out their light And fill'd the world with an eternal Night? But we may ſee, although it made its way Thorow thoſe muddy Chanels, yet have they Been ſtill kept pure, and ſtill remain a Law To keep moſt men (ſave Bloody Popes) in awe▪ Now if againſt ſo many Enemies, Who us'd all means that devils could deviſe T'obliterate that Soul-informing-Word It was preſerv'd, and not by humane Sword, How dare you, Sir, perfume for to deny Its bleſſed and Divine authority? Another ground and Reaſon I ſhall urge, Which proves Gods Word Divine, as I do Judge; 'Tis taken from that influence they have Upon their hearts whom God intends to ſave; It turns them from thoſe curſed ways of ſin, Which once they loved and delighted in. It brings them out of Darkneſs into Light, Yea, and diſcovers JESƲS to their ſight Filling their Souls with inward Life and Peace And precious joys, the which ſhall never ceaſe. The Glorious Power which God did afford Always for thoſe who ſtood up for his Word Moſt clearly ſhews, Methinks, to every eye, The Scripture's true, and their Authority To be Divine, what-ever you may ſay, I cannot give this Argument away. How have they been ſupported in the flames? Which as it did perpetuate their Names, So God thereby did ſtir up ten for one, To ſtand up for his Word, when they were gone, Ah! how did they rejoyce, Sir, in the fire, Which made their very Enemies admire! Wouldſt thou one Inſtance have, I could give two, And ten times twenty more, if that would do. But if I ſhould, I'm ſure, I ſhould tranſgreſs, And over-charge th' Appendix and the Preſs. And therefore I will add one reaſon more, To prove Gods Word Divine, and ſo give o're. How has the Scripture made the Atheiſt quake, And all his Limbs with dreadful horror ſhake! VVhen on a Death-bed they have come to lie, Their Conſcience waking in their face did ſly, Though in their health they did it much deſpiſe, And did affirm it was made up with Lyes. Yet has it made them howl at laſt, and cry, We are undone to all ETERNITY. 'Twas like unto the writing on the VVall, VVhich did fore-tell profane Belſhazzer's fall VVhich was ſo terrible, yea, and ſo ſtrange, It wrought amonſt them a moſt ſudden change, Their Mirth and jollity doth now expire, And the proud King doth earneſtly deſire To hear it read, nought then would ſerve the turn But an Interpreter; his heart did burn, His tremling knees ſmote one againſt another, As if his Joynts were looſed from each other. Thus thoſe that won't confeſs JEHOVAH's Name, Are forc'd to own him to their utter Shame. And thoſe who will not of Gods Word allow, Are forc'd by Conſcience under it to bow. Theſe being weigh'd may make you quite give o're, Yea, and Gods Word thus to oppoſe no more. Now if the Scripture cannot be gain-ſaid, Methinks each Soul ſhould be exceeding 'fraid, How they condemn that glorious Deity, Whom they ſo clearly ſhew and magnify. But to leave this a little, and deſcend To mans own reaſon which you ſo commend, How many Heathens did alone thereby Find out (dear Sir) Gods glorious Majeſty? If you your Reaſon would but exerciſe, From Atheiſm, doubtleſs ſoon might riſe, And hate alſo this Soul-deſtroying evil, Thus ſiding with, and yielding to the Devil. Apoſtate Amongſt the Heathen (Youth) were men of ſame Who for their skill in nature had the Name Above all others, which did quite deny There was a GOD or ſuch a Deity. Profeſſor Your Epicurus, and old Ariſtotle, With Theodorus, Bion, and the Rabble, And ſuch like Atheiſts, I muſt grant to you Deny'd there was a God as ſtories ſhew. Philoſophy is good, but men abuſe it. When they like thoſe old Heathen Authors uſe it. God doth ſometimes mens Reaſons darken quite, For not improving of the means of Light. To vile affections up God doth them give, Becauſe on Earth, like Brutes, they ſeem to live. But though theſe natural Sots could not eſpy, By all their skill th' eternal Deity, Yet many thouſand Heathens, I might ſhow, By natures light alone did come to know There was a God, they ſearched ſo about Into Gods Works, they found this God-head out, For when they gave themſeves up ſeriouſly To ſtudy natures Book, and came to pry Into the cauſe of all things here on Earth, And their effects did clearly ſee birth Or firſt Original of every thing, From ſuch an eſſence to deſcend or ſpring. The very Novices in Natures School, May ſoon convince that man to be a fool, Who by the Creatures glory can't diſcern The being of that dreadful Soveraign, Who did them form and make, for every where His glorious God-head they to all declare, Had I but time, I would ſome pages fill, To ſhew to you how that Mans reaſon will Teach him there is a God, for if he mind The nature of his Soul, this he might find. Man's Soul is like a ſpring, or like to fire, It reſteth not aloft, it doth aſpire. And unto Noah's Dove I'll it compare, God is the Ark▪ Souls Reſt alone is there. The fleſh dams up the ſpring, quenches deſire, Keeps out of th' Ark, to which it would retire, Since I perceive Mans Soul doth ſearch about To find ſome higher Good and Being out; Which doth excel all things which are below, This doth to us Gods glorious being ſhow. But to conclude this, no man can diſown, God by his Judgments daily is made known. What ſad examples daily do we hear Of Wrath and Vengeance almoſt every where? Some Drunkerds and Blaſphemers ſtruck down dead, And others with ſtrange Judgments tortured? Some have perſumed the holy God to dare, Whom he would not one little minute ſpare. If this will not Convince you of your Error, I fear you will e're long fall under Terror, For if you will not now Example take, God may of you a ſad Example make. Your ſtate, alas! above all men is ſad Becauſe of God you once ſuch knowledge had, And of his ways, which now you loath and hate; O Sir! Conſider this your woful ſtate, And cry to God, if peradventure He May give you Grace, whereby your Soul may ſee Your hainous ſin, that ſo you may repent, And turn to God before your days are ſpent. Apoſtate. I muſt confeſs I know not what to ſay, If there's a God, then curſed be the day 〈…〉 I was born; for I do know He never unto me will Mercy ſhow; • now reſolve to open my condition, • hough all's in vain; for there's no contrition Will do me good, I utterly am loſt; For I have ſinn'd againſt the Holy Ghoſt. I wilfully have ſinn'd, and there remains Nothing for me but everlaſting pains. O that there was no God! for then ſhould I Be like the Beaſt, when e'er I come to dye. For Love o'th' World and for my preſent caſe I am become like to the troubled Seas. No Reſt nor Comfort ever ſhall I find, Curs'd be the day that ever I declin'd From theſe good ways in which (dear Youth) you go, Or ever I did GOD or JESƲS know! For if I had not known, them it is clear My Sin would not ſo henious now appear. My Conſcience doth prick me to the heart, I never ſhall be eaſed of that Smart. O that I were in Hell! for then ſhould I Soon ſee the worſt of my Extremity. Thou shalt (dear Youth) forever happy be, For thou art Choſen from Eternity, To be an Heir of the Eternal Bliſs; But I, alas, am damn'd! what Wo like this? The Devil with his gliſtring Golden Ball Hath me deceived, but now I ſee my fall To be ſo bad, no tongue can it expreſs, My woful Pain is quite Remedileſs The checks of Conſcience I did greatly ſlight, And loved Darkneſs greatly, hated light; Yea, and of good I never lov'd to hear, Though I of him had hints oft-times moſt clear; And now will he my Soul to pieces tear, And make me his Eternal Vengeance bear! Let all Back-ſliders of me warning take, Before they fall into the Stygian Lake; Yea, and return and make with God their Peace Before the days of Grace and Mercy ceaſe; For mine are paſt for ever, Oh! condole My ſad eſtate and miſerable Soul. My days will quickly end, and I muſt lie Broy • ing in flames to all Eternity. FINIS.