Divine Songs and Meditacions (1653) Part 2

In which reveiw of mentall store, One note affordeth comforts best, Cheifly to be preferd therfore, As in a Cabinet or Chest One jewell may exceed the rest.

G.o.d is the Rock of his Elect In whom his grace is incoate, This note, my soule did most affect, It doth such power intimate To comfort and corroberate.

G.o.d is a Rock first in respect He shadows his from hurtfull heat, Then in regard he doth protect His servants still from dangers great And so their enimies defeat.

In some dry desart Lands (they say) Are mighty Rocks, which shadow make, Where pa.s.sengers that go that way, May rest, and so refres.h.i.+ng take, Their sweltish Wearinesse to slake.

So in this world such violent Occasions, find we still to mourn.

That scorching heat of Discontent VVould all into combustion turn And soon our soules with anguish burn,

Did not our Rock preserve us still, Whose Spirit, ours animates, That wind that bloweth where it will Iohn 3.8 Sweetly our soules refrigerates, And so distructive heat abates.

From this our Rock proceeds likewise, Those living streames, which graciously Releives the soule which scorched lies, Through sence of G.o.ds displeasure high, Due to her for inniquity.

So this our Rock refres.h.i.+ng yeelds, To those that unto him adhere, Whom likewise mightily he sheilds, So that they need not faint nor fear Though all the world against them were.

Because he is their strength and tower, Whose power none can equalize.

VVhich onely gives the use of power Which justly he to them denies, Who would against his servants rise.

Not by selfe power nor by might, But by G.o.ds spirit certainly, Zach. 4.

Men compa.s.se and attain their right, For what art thou, O mountain high!

Thou shalt with valleys, evenly.

Happy was _Israell_, and why, Jehovah was his Rock alone, Deu. 33.29 The _Sword of his Excellency_, _His sheild of Glory_ mighty known, In saving those that are his own.

Experience of all age shewes, That such could never be dismayd Who did by Faith on G.o.d repose, Confessing him their onely ayd, Such were alone in safty stayd.

One may have freinds, who have a will To further his felicity, And yet be wanting to him still, Because of imbecility, In power and ability.

But whom the Lord is pleas'd to save, Such he is able to defend, His grace and might no limmits have, And therefore can to all extend Who doe or shall on him depend.

Nor stands he therefore surely, Whose Freinds most powerfull appeare, Because of mutabillity To which all mortalls subject are, Whose favours run now here, now there.

But in our Rock and mighty Fort, Of change no shadow doth remain, His favours he doth not Transport As trifles movable and vain, His Love alone is lasting gain.

Therefore my soule do thou depend, upon that Rock which will not move, When all created help shall end Thy Rock impregnable will prove, Whom still embrace with ardent Love.

Another Song.

The Winter of my infancy being over-past Then supposed, suddenly the Spring would hast Which useth every thing to cheare With invitation to recreacion This time of yeare.

The Sun sends forth his radient beames to warm the ground The drops distil, between the gleams delights abound, _Ver_ brings her mate the flowery Queen, The Groves shee dresses, her Art expresses On every Green.

But in my Spring it was not so, but contrary, For no delightfull flowers grew to please the eye, No hopefull bud, nor fruitfull bough, No moderat showers which causeth flowers To spring and grow.

My Aprill was exceeding dry, therfore unkind; Whence tis that small utility I look to find, For when that Aprill is so dry, (As hath been spoken) it doth betoken Much scarcity.

Thus is my Spring now almost past in heavinesse The Sky of pleasure's over-cast with sad distresse For by a comfortlesse Eclips, Disconsolacion and sore vexacion, My blossom nips.

Yet as a garden is my mind enclosed fast Being to safety so confind from storm and blast Apt to produce a fruit most rare, That is not common with every woman That fruitfull are.

A Love of goodnesse is the cheifest plant therin The second is, (for to be briefe) Dislike to sin.

These grow in spight of misery, Which Grace doth nourish and cause to flourish Continually.

But evill mocions, currupt seeds, fall here also whenc springs prophanesse as do weeds where flowers grow VVhich must supplanted be with speed These weeds of Error, Distrust and Terror, Lest woe succeed

So shall they not molest, the plants before exprest Which countervails these outward wants, & purchase rest Which more commodious is for me Then outward pleasures or earthly treasures Enjoyd would be.

My little Hopes of worldly Gain I fret not at, As yet I do this Hope retain; though Spring be lat Perhaps my Sommer-age may be, Not prejudiciall, but benificiall Enough for me.

Admit the worst it be not so, but stormy too, He learn my selfe to undergo more then I doe And still content my self with this Sweet Meditacion and Contemplacion Of heavenly blis,

VVhich for the Saints reserved is, who persevere In Piety and Holynesse, and G.o.dly Feare, The pleasures of which blis divine Neither Logician nor Rhetorician

Another Song.

Having restrained Discontent, The onely Foe to Health and Witt, I sought by all meanes to prevent The causes which did nourish it, Knowing that they who are judicious Have alwaies held it most pernicious.

Looking to outward things, I found Not that which Sorrow might abate, But rather cause them to abound Then any Greife to mittigate Which made me seek by supplicacion Internall Peace and Consolacion

Calling to mind their wretchednesse That seem to be in happy case Having externall happinesse But therewithall no inward grace; Nor are their minds with knowledg pollisht In such all vertues are abollisht

For where the mind 's obscure and dark There is no vertu resident, Of goodnesse there remaines no spark; Distrustfullnesse doth there frequent For Ignorance the cause of error May also be the cause of terror

As doth the Sun-beames beutify The Sky, which else doth dim appeare So Knowledg doth exquisitly The Mind adorn, delight and cleare Which otherwise is most obscure, Full of enormities impure.

So that their Soules polluted are That live in blockish Ignorance.

Which doth their miseries declare And argues plainly that their wants More hurtfull are then outward Crosses Infirmities, Reproach, or Losses.

Where saving Knowledg doth abide, The peace of Conscience also dwels And many Vertues more beside Which all obsurdities expels, And fils the Soule with joy Celestiall That shee regards not things Terrestiall.

Sith then the Graces of the Mind Exceeds all outward Happinesse, What sweet Contentment do they find Who are admitted to possesse Such matchlesse Pearles, so may we call them; For Precious is the least of all them.

VVhich when I well considered My greife for outward crosses ceast, Being not much discouraged Although afflictions still encreast, Knowing right well that Tribulacion No token is of Reprobacion.

Another Song.