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<DATE>2010-04-15</DATE>
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<NAME>John Pas</NAME>
<RESP>MURP</RESP>
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x Add TEMPHEAD, change DATE, validate
x Add DIV TYPEs, validate
x Review structure, use FRONT, BODY, BACK or rarely GROUP
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<IDG S="marc" R="UM" ID="A89009">
<STC T="W">m1489a</STC>
<BIBNO T="oclc">45789361</BIBNO>
<VID>172672</VID>
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<TEXT LANG="eng">
<FRONT>
<DIV1 TYPE="title page">
<PB REF="1" MS="y">
<P>AN EXHORTATION To all People in general.</P>
<P>Together with a WARNING TO THE Drunkards OF ENGLAND, Who were my Companions in the Kingdom of Darkne&s;s, whom my Soul pities.</P>
<P>Being a Te&s;timony to the Way and Truth of God, by one whom the Lord hath vi|&s;ited, and in &s;ome mea&s;ure gathered out of the World, and Wickedne&s;s thereof; Known by the Name of <HI>Robert Maynforth.</HI></P>
<P>Printed for <HI>T. Sowle;</HI> And &s;old at the Crooked-Billet in <HI>Holywell-Lane,</HI> in <HI>Shorsditch,</HI> 1691.</P>
</DIV1>
<DIV1 TYPE="to the reader">
<PB REF="2">
<PB N="3" REF="2">
<HEAD>AN EXHORTATION To all PEOPLE In general, <HI>&amp;c.</HI></HEAD>
<HEAD>To the Reader, or Readers.</HEAD>
<P>THE &s;everal Particulars following this Epi&s;tle, are &s;ome things writ|ten and declared, which I met with and pa&s;&s;ed through, as I travelled from <HI>Ae|gypt</HI> and <HI>Sodom,</HI> where out Lord Je&s;us was crucified, in the way as I walked towards the Lord's holy Mountain, which the Lord is E&s;tabli&s;hing in the top of the Mountains, and &s;hall be exalted above the Hills, and all Nations &s;hall flow to it, that the Lord may teach them of his Ways, that they may walk in his Paths, which leads to the Land of Re&s;t and Peace for ever.</P>
<P>For I knowing that a few Words in due Sea&s;on, may be &s;erviceable to the Weak, and
<PB N="4" REF="3">to tho&s;e who have any de&s;ires after God, or &s;uch as be &s;eeking the way to <HI>Sion,</HI> with their Faces thither wards, that they may not look out at any dangers or difficulties that the Enemy of their Souls &s;hall pre&s;ent, but to go on in the Name &amp; Power of the Lord God, who will give them &s;trength to go through all the hard&s;hips that ever may befall them, if they be faithful to him: Therefore, I advi&s;e all that are hone&s;t-hearted, look not forth to the Mountain of <HI>Samaria,</HI> nor to the Temple for wor&s;hip, nor to the <HI>Ma&s;ters of Art</HI> (as they are called) to be taught, who are &s;trangers and aliens to the Life of God, which is the Light of men, and there|fore mu&s;t be mi&s;erable Comforters, as I can truly &s;ay by Experience, they were to me: Mo&s;t men in this part of the Country, who have known my Education from my Youth, know that I was brought up all my days among&s;t them; &s;o as to them it is little need of declaring or writing what my Conver&s;ation hath been, &s;eeing they cannot but know it; yet for Truth's &s;ake, and for the good-will I bear to all People, who have any de&s;ire<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter"> thereafter, who&s;e Faces I have not &s;een, nor they me known, I am not a&s;hamed to con|fe&s;s and declare my manner of Life, in the days of my former Conver&s;ation, in the time of ignorance, which the Lord was plea|&s;ed to wink at, that he alone may have the
<PB N="5" REF="3">Honour of his own Work, who hath put it into my heart for to do it, that he only may have the prai&s;e of the &s;ame, who is God over all ble&s;&s;ed for ever.</P>
<P>I was &s;eventen Years of Age before I drank any &s;trong Drink; and before I was Twenty Years old, I was clearly let &s;ee the evil and abu&s;e of it, and through the occa|&s;ion and acquaintance I had among&s;t men, I &s;aw the Temptation, whereof I had de|&s;ire to &s;hun, and &s;o continued in a pretty moderation until I was Thirty years old, and then began the Enemy of my Soul to draw me out into Liberty and Loo&s;ene&s;s, and to keep company with proud men who de|lighted in Drunkenne&s;s; and all along in this filthy Abomination, even National <HI>Prie&s;ts</HI> and <HI>Teachers</HI> were one with me in the &s;ame Exce&s;s of Riot, which blinded me the more: and &s;o I can truly &s;ay, the Leaders of the People cau&s;ed me to err, thinking I might do as they did; yet all that time of Darkne&s;s and Ignorance the Lord had not left him&s;elf without a Witne&s;s within me, which te&s;tified daily again&s;t that cour&s;e of Life I then lived in, which often broke my Peace, and troubled me many times, &s;o that &s;ometimes I could not &s;leep nor re&s;t; and &s;o I continued in that condition, until I was Forty years of Age: And I having a precious Woman to my Wife, who began to &s;ee the
<PB REF="4">
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<PB N="4" REF="5">
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<PB N="6" REF="6">emptine&s;s of the <HI>Prie&s;ts</HI> Teachings, and to leave hearing of them, finding them to be fruitle&s;s Trees, which cumber the Ground, and burden the Creation, and bring no Fruit to God; and &s;he waiting in &s;implicity of heart, found &s;omething check and reprove her inwardly, after which &s;he was drawn to tho&s;e People who are in &s;corn called <HI>Qua|kers,</HI> among&s;t whom it was clearly manife&s;t|ed to her, that the Light of the Spirit of Chri&s;t Je&s;us, was a &s;ufficient Teacher and Leader into all Truth; and then began the Prie&s;ts to ca&s;t their Envy and Malice not on|ly again&s;t my poor Wife, but again&s;t me, for &s;uffering her to go to the <HI>Quakers</HI> Mee|tings, (as they call'd them) and &s;o endea|voured to &s;tir me up again&s;t my dear Wife, and put it upon me to tell her, <HI>If &s;he would not cea&s;e Meeting with them, and de&s;ert them, I might leave and for&s;ake her;</HI> and that I ought to tell her, <HI>They met together to commit Whore|dom &amp; Filthine&s;s in lying one with another;</HI> and this they pre&s;&s;ed daily upon me; But truly they could not per&s;wade me to believe any &s;uch thing, becau&s;e I knew her Conver&s;ation to be Cha&s;te, and always coupled with fear, and witne&s;&s;ing daily again&s;t my ungodly Practices, which I was condemned for in my &s;elf; and being upon a time under Condem|nation, for the Deeds I had done, which &s;he perceived, and knew at &s;uch times I was
<PB N="7" REF="6">willing to plea&s;e her, that &s;he might not condemn me al&s;o, asked me, <HI>If I would per|mit and allow that &s;ome of her Friends might have a Meeting at my Hou&s;e;</HI> which to plea&s;e her withal (rather then out of love to the Truth) I was made willing to it: She ask|ed me to hear them, which I was much un|willing to: She &s;aid, <HI>If I would hear them, if I could &s;ay any thing again&s;t what they decla|red, I might &s;peak and object: And if they could not make good what they had &s;poken, &s;he would ask me for no more Meetings:</HI> At which Mee|ting I was convinced, tho' not converted; for by that of God in my Con&s;cience I was &s;atisfied that what was declared, was Truth; &s;o within a &s;hort time after, I was made willing to come out from the Prie&s;ts, and their Ma&s;s-Hou&s;es al&s;o, and went among the People of God, together with my dear Wife, tho' with much &s;hame and trouble, to bear the Scoffs and Reproaches of wicked People, which cau&s;ed me to rea&s;on in my &s;elf, and conclude &s;uch Revilings and Scorn I could not bear, therefore I thought to con|form a little to my Companions and Ac|quaintance, and own tho&s;e People too, and &s;o I continued at lea&s;t a Year; and then I was let &s;ee, I could not be Heir of two King|doms; and if I did not walk faithfully be|fore the Lord, in what he had manife&s;ted to me, and in me, to be my duty, who knew
<PB N="8" REF="7">my heart, and the thoughts thereof, it had been better for me not to have known the way of God, and his Righteou&s;ne&s;s, then af|ter to have known it, to turn therefrom: Upon which con&s;ideration, I began to be more faithful to the Lord in what he requi|red, and &s;o more &s;trength was given me, and through the Power of his Might, I be|came bolder to bear Te&s;timony for the Lord again&s;t <HI>Prie&s;ts, Tythes</HI> and <HI>Offerings,</HI> which were only to continue during the fir&s;t Co|venant, and through the Lord's power was carried over them, through Pri&s;ons and &s;poiling of Goods, for the Lord's &s;ake and his Truth, and had Joy thereby in the pre|&s;ence of mine Enemies. So <HI>Friends,</HI> I can truly &s;ay, by experience, that it is faithful|ne&s;s to the Light of Chri&s;t Je&s;us, that the Lord requires, for to obey is better than Sacrifice, and to hearken then the fat of Rams; therefore it is nothing of that which is Natural of our &s;elves, neither Carnal Wi&s;dom, nor Humane Learning, that can give true Knowledge of God, and his Will to the Creature; but it is the Lord's Work in the Creature, through mercy, to reveal him&s;elf by the Light of his Son, which hath not only lightned me and &s;ome few more; but every man that cometh into the World, that through him, who is Light, and in him is no Darkne&s;s at all, People might be &s;a|ved
<PB N="9" REF="7">from darkne&s;s, and the deeds thereof, which are Carnal, Sen&s;ual and Devili&s;h.</P>
<P>So all dear Hearts, to the true Light which you are all enlightned with, I commit you, de&s;iring you in God's fear it may lead you and guide you in all things, at all times, and be your Coun&s;ellor when you lie down, and when you ri&s;e up; and as you come to have unity with the Light of Chri&s;t Je&s;us, you will come to witne&s;s Fellow &s;hip and U|nity with God; and you will feel the &s;trength of his Love to con&s;train you to love him, honour and obey him with all your Hearts and Souls; and &s;o you will witne&s;s a growth, and increa&s;e in the Knowledge of God in Chri&s;t Je&s;us, and &s;o become the Di&s;|ciples and Followers of Chri&s;t, and know the Truth, and the Truth &s;hall make you free, and by the good Leadings thereof, re|ceive the end of your Faith, even the Salva|tion of your Souls, which is many thou&s;and fold better than all earthly Plea&s;ures, and all earthly Enjoyments; therefore why &s;hould we not &s;ell all for that Kingdom, which fades not away, which &s;tands not in Meats and Drinks, but in Righteou&s;ne&s;s, and Peace, and Joy in the Holy Gho&s;t, which is prepared from all Eternity for them that believe in the Lord Je&s;us, and for the Te|&s;timony of his Name, are made willing to for&s;ake all the World, and the Glory there|of,
<PB N="10" REF="8">and love not their Lives unto Death, &s;o they may fini&s;h their Cour&s;e with Joy, in obeying or &s;uffering what the Lord requires, that for a Recompence of Reward they may receive Eternal Life, with the little Lamb<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter"> of my Father's fold, who cries after the Lord in the Power of his Might, to bring into his Re&s;t the Prodigals in <HI>England,</HI> that they may look upon him whom they have pierced, as I have done, who was one with them in the &s;ame exce&s;s of Riot; but now through the largene&s;s of the Love of God I am become alive, who was dead, and for the Seed's &s;ake I cannot but declare tho&s;e things which I have &s;een and heard.</P>
<CLOSER><SIGNED>R. M.</SIGNED></CLOSER>
</DIV1>
</FRONT>
<BODY>
<DIV1 TYPE="text">
<PB N="11" REF="8">
<HEAD>To the Drunkards of <HI>England,</HI> who were my Companions in the Kingdom of Darkne&s;s, whom my Soul pities.</HEAD>
<OPENER><SALUTE>FRIENDS,</SALUTE></OPENER>
<P>THE de&s;ire of my Heart is, that all Men might come to the Knowledge of the Truth, and be &s;aved, that thereby they might obtain Freedom, and come forth of <HI>Egypt,</HI> where Darkne&s;s remains, to the Supper of the great King, where Bread &s;hall be given them, and their Waters &s;hall be &s;ure; therefore why &s;hould any peri&s;h with Hunger, and the Way of Life and Fulne&s;s &s;o near to every one, even within them, Truth in the inward parts, which is &s;uf|ficient to lead out of all Error, and to guide their &s;teps in the Paths of Peace: therefore the Way is not &s;o hard, as the Souls Enemy would have People believe it is, though it be &s;aid to be Narrow, it is but to that part which cannot inherit God's Kingdom; and tho&s;e that come to Chri&s;t, who is the Way to his Father, who is the Light of Men, to lead and guide them to his Father, and to make his Yoke ea&s;ie, and his Burden light are his Witne&s;&s;es, who is that
<PB N="12" REF="9">true Prophet <HI>Mo&s;es</HI> writ of, <HI>Whom the Lord would rai&s;e like unto me,</HI> (&s;aith he) <HI>him &s;hall you hear; and every one that will not hear that Prophet, &s;hall be de&s;troyed.</HI> So all you who have not obeyed nor regarded that Prophet, though you have been often check and reproved by him in your Hearts and Con&s;ciences, though you obeyed him not, loving your own Wills and Carnal Plea&s;ures better then the God of your Life; and if he &s;hould leave &s;triving with you, you are left without Excu&s;e, for he hath appear|ed to you, who appeared outwardly in the days of his Fle&s;h, and hath now in the&s;e la&s;t days appear|ed inwardly by the Light of his Spirit, according to the Scriptures, which &s;aith, <HI>Chri&s;t within the hope of glory;</HI> And ble&s;&s;ed be the Lord, thou&s;ands be living Witne&s;&s;es of this Eternal Truth, which is herein declared of, not out of any Self-Exaltation, but for the Prai&s;e of God whom I honour; and the de&s;ire of my Soul, and the end of my Writing is, (according to the good Will of God) that all may come from under Death's bonds, into the Light of the Lord Je&s;us, which will let them &s;ee the Evil within them, and the Deceivers without them, who abide not in Chri&s;t's Doctrine, but teache for Doctrine the Commandments of Men, who are of the World, who&s;e Ways and Wor&s;hips are vain, who are Men-plea&s;ers, and re&s;pect mens Per&s;ons, and receive Honour one of another, contrary to Chri&s;t and his Royal Law, who though he were
<PB N="13" REF="9">a King, he &s;aid he received not Honour from Men; but tho&s;e men are &s;et up by man, and are not true Followers of Chri&s;t, nor keep his Sayings, therefore I am bold to call them <HI>Sedu|cers,</HI> who follow the Lu&s;t of the Fle&s;h, Covetou&s;|ne&s;s, Drunkenne&s;s and Pride, who&s;e Lives are Prophane, and Works are abomination to the Lord, and I know they are &s;een by many, who will confe&s;s they are &s;uch men as &s;erve not the Lord Je&s;us Chri&s;t, but their own Bellies, and yet will not be di&s;waded from them, but love to follow their pernicious ways, rather then the Light of Chri&s;t Je&s;us, which manife&s;ts them, and though they be Convinced that they be not Godly Teachers, nor &s;ent of him, yet they will not be Converted from them, to the Light of Chri&s;t Je&s;us, which would turn them from the Power of Satan, to the Power of God, wherein is Salvation to every one that believes, to the <HI>Jew,</HI> and al&s;o to the <HI>Gentile;</HI> therefore is it not a &s;ad thing to &s;ee how the Devil betwitcheth People, and blinds their minds, le&s;t they &s;hould be turned to the Truth, in this Day of the Lord's Power, wherein he is more plentiou&s;ly pouring forth of his Spirit upon the Seed of <HI>Ja|cob,</HI> and his Ble&s;&s;ings upon his Off-&s;pring, which makes them cry to the Inhabitants of the Earth, who have any &s;ence, and be not pa&s;t feeling, to come out from among&s;t them, and touch not the unclean thing, and the Lord will receive them. Have you not read in the Scripture<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter"> of Truth,
<PB N="14" REF="10">of a certain Rich Man, that Chri&s;t &s;poke of who was clothed with Purple and fine Linnen and fared Sumptuou&s;ly every day, who dyed, and was buried, and being in great Torments, de|&s;ired to have one &s;ent to his Father's hou&s;e, for he had five Brethren, that he might warn then le&s;t they &s;hould come to that place of Torment; but it was denyed him. Though it be this day te&s;tified to you through one who was dead, and is by the Power and Re&s;urrection of the Lord Je&s;us Chri&s;t rai&s;ed from Death to Life, to warn People, who are yet in Darkne&s;s, and under the &s;hadow of Death, and under the power of a &s;trange King (to wit, the Soul's Adver&s;ary) to come forth of the Darkne&s;s, and &s;hew them&s;elves in the Light of the Lord Je&s;us, which lighteth every man that cometh into the World, and will &s;hew them their evil deeds, and lead out of them, and brings Salvation to all that are faithful, and obey him, which was the very end of his coming, to &s;ave lo&s;t Men and lo&s;t Women from their Sins, and to de&s;troy the Works of the Devil, (which is Sin) under which burden of Sin and Corrup|tion the Spirit of the Lord hath &s;uffered, and the Lamb as one &s;lain, who&s;e Bowels of Love and Merey now flows forth to his Creation, Men and Women, and would have them come to him, that they might have Life; but the God of the world hath blinded the Eye of their under&s;tanding, whereby they are &s;ettled in a Life below the Son,
<PB N="15" REF="10">the end thereof will be more bitter than Death, for their Re&s;t is (out of the Truth, out of the holy Mountain) in <HI>Egypt,</HI> where the Innocent &s;uffered, and &s;uffers, and the Darkne&s;s remains upon &s;uch to this day, and they will not give up to &s;et forwards towards the Land of Peace and Re&s;t, for the way is tedious to that Nature they are in, and the Enemies numerous, therefore it is high time to feel after the good Old Way, to the Land of Promi&s;e.</P>
<P>So in the fear of the Lord ca&s;t away the works of Darkne&s;s, (Sin and Evil) and come to the Light of Chri&s;t Je&s;us, that you may be armed with it, whereby you may be drawn out of your Lu&s;ts, out of your Plea&s;ures, out of your Pride, out of your Covetou&s;ne&s;s, out of vain Wor&s;hips, out of your idle talking and fool|i&s;h Je&s;ting, out of your Drunkenne&s;s, Wanton|ne&s;s and &V;ncleanne&s;s, yea, and from all manner of Sin, into that which is Pure, into that which is Holy, which is of God's begetting, and is of more value then all Created Objects; is not that of God which te&s;tifies again&s;t Sin, and &V;ngodli|ne&s;s? yea, I can truly &s;ay that was it, which judged me, and condemned me when I was young, before I was made &s;en&s;ible what it was.</P>
<P>So all dear People, fear the Lord, and take heed of loving your Lu&s;ts, better then the God of Life that manife&s;ts them, with the brightne&s;s of his coming, and with his breath, would de&s;troy them; &s;o then if you peri&s;h in your Evil ways,
<PB N="16" REF="11">your De&s;truction is of your &s;elves, in neglecti<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="2 letters"> &s;o great Salvation, and not prizing your Sou<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="2 letters"> Redemption, which is freely tendred in the Co|venant of Light and Life, which is Mercy <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 word"> &s;peakable; and that you &s;hall one day confe&s;<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter"> you are left without Excu&s;e to your eternal W<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1+ letters"> and Mi&s;ery for evermore, if you go on in yo<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="2 letters"> Rebellion again&s;t the Lord, and you &s;hall re|member you were warned by one, who was <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 word"> Companion with you in your unfruitful Works <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 word"> Darkne&s;s, called,</P>
<CLOSER><SIGNED>R. M.</SIGNED></CLOSER>
</DIV1>
<DIV1 TYPE="poem">
<PB N="17" REF="11">
<HEAD>The true Teacher found, which manife&s;teth mens Teachings unprofitable, who deny the true Teacher within.</HEAD>
<L>WHere is the Word, the Life and Law,</L>
<L>Which keeps the Children in the Awe?</L>
<L>Where is the Truth, the Grace, &amp; Peace,</L>
<L>Which makes all Jars and Wars to cea&s;e?</L>
<L>Where is the Light that &s;hines &s;o bright</L>
<L>Throughout the Nations in the Night?</L>
<L>Where is the true and &s;afe po&s;&s;e&s;&s;ion,</L>
<L>The righteous Law, above Profe&s;&s;ion?</L>
<L>Why do the Nations 'gain&s;t it ri&s;e?</L>
<L>Is't not becau&s;e it te&s;tifies</L>
<L>Again&s;t their deeds, that they be evil,</L>
<L>Acted in &s;ervice of the Devil?</L>
<L>Why doth the Woman <HI>Jezabel</HI> preach,</L>
<L>Who is forbidden for to teach,</L>
<L>And to &s;educe poor Souls with Lyes,</L>
<L>With painted &s;hows and feigned cryes.</L>
<L>Tho' &s;he be decked as a Queen,</L>
<PB N="18" REF="12">
<L>All her Adulterous skirts are &s;een,</L>
<L>By tho&s;e that cannot to her bend,</L>
<L>Nor ear unto her Witchcrafts lend,</L>
<L>Her Prie&s;ts again&s;t delu&s;ion cries,</L>
<L>Although them&s;elves be in that gui&s;e,</L>
<L>Being &s;trangers to the Living way,</L>
<L>Among&s;t the dead they have their prey,</L>
<L>Tho' they the Scriptures often read,</L>
<L>Crying peace, peace unto the dead,</L>
<L>Yet they cannot the my&s;tery &s;ee,</L>
<L>Who&s;e minds are dark i'th' Enmity,</L>
<L>Tho' humane Learning they have &s;tore,</L>
<L>That makes them but adore the Whore,</L>
<L>Being enriched by her gain,</L>
<L>Cau&s;eth them labour with their brain,</L>
<L>To keep in Darkne&s;s all they may,</L>
<L>Le&s;t they &s;hould turn from them away</L>
<L>Unto the Truth, (which was before</L>
<L>Fal&s;e Prophet or the Scarlet Whore)</L>
<L>Which is the Way, Chri&s;t, the Churches Head,</L>
<L>Who gives his Children living Bread,</L>
<L>That they may never hunger more,</L>
<L>Being fed by his Eternal &s;tore,</L>
<L>Which flows forth to his Children dear,</L>
<L>Who are kept low in dread and fear,</L>
<PB N="19" REF="12">
<L>Therefore all Souls that feed below</L>
<L>The Bread of Life; your Food we know</L>
<L>To be no more than fed with death,</L>
<L>Feeding of that which is beneath</L>
<L>The Son of Righteou&s;ne&s;s his Seed,</L>
<L>Who is Salvation &s;ure indeed,</L>
<L>To all that in his Light believes,</L>
<L>But Sorrow to them his Spirit grieves:</L>
<L>Oh come to him! who crys within,</L>
<L>And he'l redeem you from all Sin;</L>
<L>For he hath often for you waited,</L>
<L>To have you turn from that he hated,</L>
<L>Who was not far from you, (unknown)</L>
<L>Checking for Sin to pre&s;s it down;</L>
<L>He calls to all that would be free</L>
<L>From Sin and all Iniquity,</L>
<L>To cea&s;e from man, who&s;e breath's &s;oon &s;pent,</L>
<L>And hear but him who breath him lent,</L>
<L>Who is to his a perfect Teacher,</L>
<L>And is the only Spirit reacher,</L>
<L>Who came men's Lives not to de&s;troy,</L>
<L>But Souls to &s;ave from all anoy,</L>
<L>Who walks in vertue of his Life,</L>
<L>Knows that which kills both Lu&s;t and Strife,</L>
<PB N="20" REF="13">
<L>Of which a mea&s;ure you have within,</L>
<L>That never gave con&s;ent to Sin,</L>
<L>But &s;tood always a Witne&s;s pure,</L>
<L>Again&s;t him that would you allure:</L>
<L>So if Redeemed you would be</L>
<L>Into the <HI>Chri&s;tians</HI> Liberty,</L>
<L>Slight not your day of Vi&s;itation,</L>
<L>By looking at Prede&s;tination,</L>
<L>Not owning Chri&s;t that he &s;hould reign</L>
<L>I'th' hearts of men, Sin to re&s;train;</L>
<L>Therefore come &s;earch and try, and hear,</L>
<L>Without Money in God's pure fear,</L>
<L>And willing be on him to waite,</L>
<L>Till he appear, tho' it &s;eem late,</L>
<L>Within your Brea&s;t you may him find,</L>
<L>If him to hear you be inclin'd.</L>
<L>So while it may be &s;aid to day,</L>
<L>Come, come, and &s;ee where the Lord lay;</L>
<L>But all that will not hear his Call,</L>
<L>Eternal plagues &s;hall on them fall,</L>
<L>Which &s;hall for evermore endure,</L>
<L>And be to them their portion &s;ure.</L>
</DIV1>
<DIV1 TYPE="poem">
<PB N="21" REF="13">
<HEAD>The dangerous &s;tate of all People, who are out of the Covenant of Life.</HEAD>
<L>A Few words to all &s;ober-minded,</L>
<L>Who with darkne&s;s have not com|bined,</L>
<L>To &s;erve that Prince for term of days,</L>
<L>Which he per&s;wades, without delays,</L>
<L>Servants to be to Sin and Evil,</L>
<L>It is the covenant of the Devil:</L>
<L>For no le&s;s time he will agree,</L>
<L>Then during Life, his Slaves to be.</L>
<L>So all that would your freedom know,</L>
<L>From Sin and Satan here below,</L>
<L>While you are in this Hou&s;e of Clay,</L>
<L>Regard not outward Bonds I &s;ay,</L>
<L>For there the Enemy may prevail,</L>
<L>And cau&s;e your Faith thereby to fail,</L>
<L>Looking at things that here we &s;ee,</L>
<L>Which &s;eems unpo&s;&s;ible to be,</L>
<L>Being not &s;een with Eye of Faith,</L>
<L>Cannot plea&s;e God, as Scripture &s;aith,</L>
<PB N="22" REF="14">
<L>But come down to God's witne&s;s near,</L>
<L>Which &s;tands i'th' Con&s;cience alway clear</L>
<L>To &s;hew unto you Words, and Deeds,</L>
<L>Whether &s;avoury, or &s;tinking Weeds:</L>
<L>And whether you hear, or forbear</L>
<L>That which reproves Sin, will be clear,</L>
<L>Which is mo&s;t pure and light al&s;o,</L>
<L>And &s;hews man Sin where-ever he go</L>
<L>Which is God's Love to all mankind</L>
<L>To give them light that were full blin<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter"></L>
<L>Ble&s;&s;ed are they that faithful be</L>
<L>To what the Lord doth let them &s;ee</L>
<L>To be their duty, day and night,</L>
<L>Acting as in their Ma&s;ters &s;ight;</L>
<L>Then nothing can be done in ha&s;te,</L>
<L>But light their Coun&s;ellor, will ta&s;te</L>
<L>And judge that down, which doth <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 word"></L>
<L>If it be not i'th' holy fear.</L>
<L>And here's the Exerci&s;e indeed</L>
<L>Of <HI>Chri&s;tians,</HI> as they are freed:</L>
<L>Yet &s;uch as will not Truth retain,</L>
<L>But in their Lu&s;ts &s;till will remain,</L>
<L>A&s;&s;ure them&s;elves this is a warning</L>
<L>From that which gives a true di&s;cernin<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter"></L>
<PB N="23" REF="14">
<L>As he can &s;ay who liv'd i'th' Lu&s;t,</L>
<L>Before he came to know the Ju&s;t,</L>
<L>And was as bad as they can be,</L>
<L>Until the Lord did let him &s;ee</L>
<L>By his pure Light, what he had done</L>
<L>Again&s;t the Record of his Son;</L>
<L>And then it was a time of trouble,</L>
<L>To &s;ee him&s;elf wor&s;e than a bubble,</L>
<L>And he not only in that &s;tate,</L>
<L>But all that did the Light &s;o hate;</L>
<L>And then he wept with Sorrows grief,</L>
<L>Until the Lord &s;ent him Relief,</L>
<L>Which was his pre&s;ence to refre&s;h</L>
<L>His fainting Soul near to peri&s;h.</L>
<L>So all wait low in Chri&s;t who's pure,</L>
<L>Till him you know your Souls to cure,</L>
<L>Who is the good <HI>Samaritan,</HI></L>
<L>To cure and heal the wounded man,</L>
<L>And tho&s;e that will not own his cure,</L>
<L>Eternal Plagues &s;hall all endure;</L>
<L>And &s;uch from Sorrow can never cea&s;e,</L>
<L>Nor have therefrom any Relea&s;e.</L>
</DIV1>
<DIV1 TYPE="poem">
<PB N="24" REF="15">
<HEAD>Concerning Perfection.</HEAD>
<L>ALL you that &s;coff at Purity,</L>
<L>Perfection looking not to &s;ee,</L>
<L>While you are here on this &s;ide Grave,</L>
<L>Nor any thing that &s;hall you &s;ave</L>
<L>From Sin, and &s;inning, while you'r her<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter"></L>
<L>Yet hopes at Death you &s;hall be clear;</L>
<L>And then to pa&s;s to Re&s;t and Peace,</L>
<L>And have with Death a full relea&s;e;</L>
<L>So that no judgment can you grieve,</L>
<L>Becau&s;e you do on Chri&s;t believe.</L>
<L>Is this your Hope and Faith indeed,</L>
<L>Who lives i'th' Lu&s;t, and have no need</L>
<L>To be redeem'd from that condition?</L>
<L>But &s;till runs on without &s;u&s;pition,</L>
<L>Without the &s;ence of deadly danger,</L>
<L>Being to Truth a very &s;tranger,</L>
<L>And him who is the good Phy&s;itian,</L>
<L>Who would cure with much contrition</L>
<L>And none but Chri&s;t can do that Cure</L>
<L>Of your Di&s;ea&s;e which brings mo&s;t &s;ure</L>
<L>Eternal death to all that love it,</L>
<L>And none but he can remove it.</L>
<PB N="25" REF="15">
<L>Take heed therefore no time delay,</L>
<L>Le&s;t you &s;hould mi&s;s of Cure I &s;ay</L>
<L>Of that &s;o dangerous Di&s;ea&s;e,</L>
<L>Which without Cure brings Plagues, not ca&s;e;</L>
<L>Therefore it's good to weigh the cau&s;e</L>
<L>Before you dye, to have a pau&s;e</L>
<L>How that your Souls may be delivered,</L>
<L>When that from Bodies they be &s;evered;</L>
<L>For this will be both &s;ure and true,</L>
<L>That every one receive their due,</L>
<L>And likewi&s;e be rewarded &s;o</L>
<L>According to'th' Deeds they did do</L>
<L>In the Bodies where they had place.</L>
<L>Before they had run out their race;</L>
<L>And look how Death doth &s;top their Wind,</L>
<L>So Judgment &s;hall them &s;urely find,</L>
<L>And then the Judgment &s;hall proceed,</L>
<L>According as hath been decreed;</L>
<L>And all that have not walk't with God,</L>
<L>A&s;&s;uredly &s;hall feel his Rod,</L>
<L>And likewi&s;e many grievous Woes</L>
<L>Shall then be added to the Foes</L>
<L>Of the great God of Power and Might,</L>
<L>Who to all men hath given a Light</L>
<PB N="26" REF="16">
<L>To lead them &s;afe from the dark Power</L>
<L>And from the Sorceries of the Whore:</L>
<L>But to his Enemies will be torment,</L>
<L>Becau&s;e they thought not to repent,</L>
<L>Nor would believe that they &s;hould dye,</L>
<L>When they tran&s;gre&s;s'd continually;</L>
<L>Therefore they'r left without excu&s;e</L>
<L>Who did his Witne&s;s then abu&s;e,</L>
<L>When they prefer'd their plea&s;ures here</L>
<L>Before the Lord, who bought them dear,</L>
<L>And if the Lord &s;hould &s;triving cea&s;e,</L>
<L>And &s;orrow &s;end, and no more peace</L>
<L>Unto tho&s;e Souls that have not priz'd</L>
<L>The day of God, by them de&s;pis'd,</L>
<L>How great will be their cry, and &s;orrow</L>
<L>When day is pa&s;t that hath no morrow</L>
<L>Therefore all you that loves delight</L>
<L>In that which is darker then night,</L>
<L>Awakened be, and &s;tand upright</L>
<L>To Chri&s;t Je&s;us in his pure Light,</L>
<L>Which &s;hines i'th' Hearts, to let men &s;ee</L>
<L>What is not good nor pure to be;</L>
<L>And if obeyed in its leadings,</L>
<L>Will not admit &s;uch proceedings,</L>
<L>As brought them on with &s;uch an hand</L>
<L>As &s;carcely one to make a &s;tand,</L>
<L>For to con&s;ider of their end,</L>
<PB N="27" REF="16">
<L>That do their time &s;o vainly &s;pend,</L>
<L>Their end therefore will &s;adne&s;s bring,</L>
<L>Who counted Truth a lying thing,</L>
<L>And the pure Light a fooli&s;h guide,</L>
<L>To keep their &s;teps, they &s;hould not &s;lide;</L>
<L>By which Lord keep us in thy power,</L>
<L>On thee to wait for evermore.</L>
<L>And thy pure Truth pre&s;erve &amp; &s;pread,</L>
<L>That they may live which now are dead.</L>
</DIV1>
<DIV1 TYPE="poem">
<HEAD>To the Back&s;liders in Heart.</HEAD>
<L>YOu that have &s;een the holy Land,</L>
<L>Wherein ripe Grapes &s;o fully &s;tand,</L>
<L>And &s;ome of you did ta&s;te the Fruit,</L>
<L>That grew therein, tho now turn'd <HI>brute</HI></L>
<L>And chu&s;es rather with Bea&s;ts to feed,</L>
<L>Then to be followers of that Seed</L>
<L>Which would have led you to the &s;ame,</L>
<L>And given you an eternal Name,</L>
<L>If you had &s;tood within your Tent,</L>
<L>And not for fear of men relent,</L>
<L>But to the Lord had faithful been,</L>
<L>Then you like Willows had been green,</L>
<L>And likewi&s;e fed under your Vine,</L>
<L>Al&s;o refre&s;h'd as with new Wine:</L>
<PB N="28" REF="17">
<L>But now you've gotten other Lovers,</L>
<L>And hopes be&s;ide to have &s;ome covers,</L>
<L>Becau&s;e of Truth you got &s;ome Words,</L>
<L>Which will prove to your &s;ides like Swords;</L>
<L>How will you an&s;wer the ju&s;t Judge,</L>
<L>Who do again&s;t his Witne&s;s grudge,</L>
<L>Which would have led you out of death,</L>
<L>And all things el&s;e that are beneath,</L>
<L>If you had been but hone&s;t-hearted,</L>
<L>And from the Truth never departed,</L>
<L>The Lord to you had been a portion,</L>
<L>Pre&s;erving you from all abortion,</L>
<L>To te&s;tifie again&s;t the dark</L>
<L>Which have no covenant with the Ark:</L>
<L>But now you'r in a &s;ad condition,</L>
<L>By refu&s;ing your commi&s;&s;ion,</L>
<L>And gone to &s;erve under the Bea&s;t,</L>
<L>Who promi&s;es your Souls to fea&s;t;</L>
<L>But you that's by the Serpent led,</L>
<L>And likewi&s;e by the Hireling fed,</L>
<L>Poor food it is unto your Souls,</L>
<L>You feed on Earth among&s;t the Moles,</L>
<L>The du&s;t you know is Serpent's meat,</L>
<L>And Plagues is to them that do eat</L>
<L>Of any Bread, but that is living,</L>
<L>Which is not of the Father's giving,</L>
<PB N="29" REF="17">
<L>Which he keeps for his Children dear,</L>
<L>Even tho&s;e that do him always fear,</L>
<L>Then tho&s;e that have their birth-right &s;old,</L>
<L>For their Belly mu&s;t pine with Cold,</L>
<L>And hunger mu&s;t them pinch be&s;ide,</L>
<L>Becau&s;e the Lord they have deny'd,</L>
<L>Who would have fed them to the full,</L>
<L>And cloth'd them better then with <HI>wool:</HI></L>
<L>But &s;eeing the Lord you have deny'd,</L>
<L>Before you came for to be try'd,</L>
<L>What you could &s;uffer for his Name,</L>
<L>Rather then to deny the &s;ame,</L>
<L>The greater Plagues will be your due</L>
<L>Then if you had not been i'th' view,</L>
<L>Of &s;uch things as are not fading,</L>
<L>Freely given without upbraiding</L>
<L>Unto all tho&s;e that faithful be,</L>
<L>Who lives and walks in purity.</L>
<L>But you that have prefer'd your Lives,</L>
<L>Children, Hou&s;es, or your Wives,</L>
<L>Before the Lord, that bought you dear</L>
<L>That you his Name might always fear,</L>
<L>Better you had not profe&s;t his Name,</L>
<L>Nor have made mention of the &s;ame,</L>
<L>Seeing you proved &s;o deceitful,</L>
<L>And to the Truth turned hateful,</L>
<PB N="30" REF="18">
<L>What may you now of him expect,</L>
<L>Who doth his Grace and Love reject;</L>
<L>For tho&s;e that know their Ma&s;ter's will,</L>
<L>And accordingly do not fulfill,</L>
<L>More &s;tripes are due unto their Back,</L>
<L>Then them that do &s;uch <HI>knowledge</HI> lack</L>
<L>Repent, repent I &s;ay, with &s;peed,</L>
<L>That from your Sin you may be freed,</L>
<L>For God is near to pardon all,</L>
<L>That in his Life do cry and call,</L>
<L>Or with the Wicked receive your hire</L>
<L>Eternally in flames of Fire.</L>
</DIV1>
<DIV1 TYPE="poem">
<HEAD>To the &s;uffering Seed and Birth Immortal.</HEAD>
<L>TO the Seed which yet in bondage lies,</L>
<L>And under great oppre&s;&s;ion cries</L>
<L>To be delivered from &s;uch thrall</L>
<L>That it is pre&s;&s;ed down withall,</L>
<L>By the &s;ad weight of earthly power,</L>
<L>Through the Enchantments of the Whore,</L>
<L>Which is gone forth over the Lands,</L>
<L>And's not excluded with great Bands;</L>
<PB N="31" REF="18">
<L>For all Nations under the Globe</L>
<L>Polluted are with the Whore's Robe,</L>
<L>And none can &s;tand again&s;t her Horns,</L>
<L>But in that Might that bore the Thorns,</L>
<L>And that's the force that will &s;ubdue</L>
<L>Her filthy and rebellious crue,</L>
<L>By which he will likewi&s;e make way</L>
<L>For his own Seed, without delay</L>
<L>To pa&s;s as through a Sea of Water,</L>
<L>And all his Enemies &s;oon will &s;catter,</L>
<L>Even <HI>Pharaoh</HI> like, withall his Ho&s;t,</L>
<L>And leave them not a man to boa&s;t</L>
<L>Of what they've gotten by their Might,</L>
<L>In all their Fightings in the Night:</L>
<L>Therefore all come and lay to heart</L>
<L>The hone&s;t thing, and &s;et apart</L>
<L>That which is evil in the ground,</L>
<L>And keep within the mode&s;t bound,</L>
<L>And you will &s;ee an Army great,</L>
<L>That in your hearts have got a &s;eat,</L>
<L>Which will be work enough to quell,</L>
<L>For by your &s;trength you'l not repel,</L>
<L>Nor any force beneath the Sun</L>
<L>Can that remove they have begun;</L>
<L>Unarm'd therefore you cannot &s;tand,</L>
<L>Before the power of &s;uch a band.</L>
<PB N="32" REF="19">
<L>Nor are you likely to prevail,</L>
<L>But mu&s;t before them &s;urely fail,</L>
<L>If not well armed with the Sword</L>
<L>Of the Spirit, which is the Word</L>
<L>O'th God of Life, of Power and Might,</L>
<L>Able to drive all out of &s;ight</L>
<L>That &s;hall oppo&s;e his holy Will,</L>
<L>And likewi&s;e can their Blood &s;oon &s;pill;</L>
<L>So then its not the &s;trength of Arm</L>
<L>Of Fle&s;h that can pre&s;erve from harm,</L>
<L>Nor any force of humane Nature,</L>
<L>That can pre&s;erve men in that &s;tature,</L>
<L>But that they mu&s;t even &s;oon decay,</L>
<L>If not refre&s;hed day by day</L>
<L>With the plea&s;ant and living &s;treams,</L>
<L>Which &s;hines &s;o bright with Chry&s;tal beams,</L>
<L>Which &s;prings, and flows in the&s;e our dayes,</L>
<L>And fills our Hearts and Mouths with prai&s;e,</L>
<L>That we cannot now &s;ilent be,</L>
<L>But to declare what we do &s;ee,</L>
<L>And if the Enemy &s;hould prevail</L>
<L>To ca&s;t our Bodies in &s;ome Goal,</L>
<L>As he hath done, &s;ome heretofore,</L>
<L>Which faithful Te&s;timony bore</L>
<PB N="33" REF="19">
<L>Again&s;t the Rulers in tho&s;e times,</L>
<L>Who Spirit-wor&s;hip counted crimes</L>
<L>In this his day that God hath rais'd</L>
<L>A Seed, for which his Name be prais'd;</L>
<L>And if our Mouths be &s;topt, from &s;peak|ing</L>
<L>In this good day of Light out-breaking,</L>
<L>We know the Lord can rai&s;e the dead,</L>
<L>To come with prai&s;es on their head,</L>
<L>Tho' they were dead as any Stones,</L>
<L>And had no moi&s;ture in their Bones,</L>
<L>Yet that would not be Con&s;olation</L>
<L>To tho&s;e poor Souls in Reprobation,</L>
<L>But as we abide in the Spirit,</L>
<L>We &s;ee the wicked cannot inherit</L>
<L>The promi&s;es made to the Seed,</L>
<L>According as hath been decreed;</L>
<L>Therefore they hate us every way,</L>
<L>Yet for them we can freely pray</L>
<L>The Lord to open their blind Eyes,</L>
<L>That they may &s;ee whom they de&s;pi&s;e,</L>
<L>And this we can de&s;ire at large,</L>
<L>The Lord lay not unto their charge,</L>
<L>What they again&s;t us here have wrought</L>
<L>When they our Lives &amp; Livings &s;ought:</L>
<L>So Lord, if it &s;tand with thy Will,</L>
<L>Bring many Saints to <HI>Sion</HI>'s Hill,</L>
<PB N="34" REF="20">
<L>To hear thy Voice, and plea&s;ant Song,</L>
<L>Which thou ha&s;t &s;ent the Babes among,</L>
<L>To be their comfort, in this time</L>
<L>Where Innocency is counted crime,</L>
<L>Which is a time of great tryal,</L>
<L>To prove if we will make denyal</L>
<L>Of our true Faith, and our Profe&s;&s;ion,</L>
<L>As tho&s;e have done who want po&s;&s;e&s;&s;ion</L>
<L>Of that &s;weet Life that &s;hall endure,</L>
<L>And be to thine a comfort &s;ure,</L>
<L>In which, O Lord, us always keep</L>
<L>That we be &s;afe, when others &s;leep</L>
<L>In their carnal &s;ecuritie,</L>
<L>Blind i'th' darkne&s;s they cannot &s;ee,</L>
<L>From which, O Lord, keep us alwayes,</L>
<L>In thy pure Life, thy Name to prai&s;e.</L>
</DIV1>
<DIV1 TYPE="poem">
<HEAD>To the Hireling Shepherds.</HEAD>
<L>ALL you that Preachers, made by man,</L>
<L>See who requir'd that, of you than</L>
<L>To teach and preach for Lucres &s;ake,</L>
<L>Under pretence <HI>Chri&s;tians</HI> to make,</L>
<PB N="35" REF="20">
<L>But your chief aim is for your gain,</L>
<L>Which makes you run with might and main,</L>
<L>To get your Merchandizes &s;old</L>
<L>At a dear rate, both new and old,</L>
<L>For to maintain your greedy paunch,</L>
<L>Which is your God, him for to &s;tanch,</L>
<L>A Law you have for to compel</L>
<L>People to come, to buy and &s;ell,</L>
<L>Without approving of your Wares,</L>
<L>They mu&s;t accept them as their &s;hares,</L>
<L>Altho' they be not worth the buying,</L>
<L>Yet pay they mu&s;t without denying:</L>
<L>Are not the&s;e &s;ad and unju&s;t things</L>
<L>To pay for them no profit brings?</L>
<L>And this you &s;ell without controul,</L>
<L>Which adds no comfort to the Soul,</L>
<L>Nor all the feigned words you &s;teal</L>
<L>Cannot a wounded Con&s;cience heal,</L>
<L>But daubing with untempered durt,</L>
<L>In&s;tead of Cure, you do them hurt;</L>
<L>For &s;till you &s;eem to be in nature</L>
<L>Ravenous Wolves in humane &s;tature,</L>
<L>Which doth both raven and devour</L>
<L>Rich mens E&s;tates, as al&s;o poor,</L>
<L>Tho' you be clothed with Sheep-skin,</L>
<L>The Wolf's alive in you within,</L>
<PB N="36" REF="21">
<L>Which makes you rob &amp; &s;poil the flocks,</L>
<L>And utterly de&s;troy men's &s;tocks,</L>
<L>You'r Truth-re&s;i&s;ters, by your &s;igns,</L>
<L>Being the men of corrupt minds,</L>
<L>And &s;uch as now cumber the Ground,</L>
<L>For no good Fruit in you are found;</L>
<L>So you are prov'd the fruitle&s;s Trees,</L>
<L>And like the drones which &s;poil the Bees,</L>
<L>Altho' you read the Scripture true,</L>
<L>Without the Spirit, what doth en&s;ue</L>
<L>But only for your carnal Wills,</L>
<L>You keep poor Souls in that which kills,</L>
<L>To which purpo&s;e you make a trade</L>
<L>Even to delude Man, Wife, and Maid,</L>
<L>Keeping their Souls in bondage &s;till,</L>
<L>If you can but the &s;ame fulfill,</L>
<L>To make them run for what you read,</L>
<L>And give you Money for that's no Bread;</L>
<L>For &s;hame therefore let it &s;uffice</L>
<L>That you be drunk with Avarice,</L>
<L>And cea&s;e teaching and &s;ilent be,</L>
<L>And wait on Chri&s;t he'l let you &s;ee</L>
<L>What is your duty, and your place,</L>
<L>Obedient be think't no di&s;grace.</L>
<L>That you may not be of that &s;ort,</L>
<L>Which of the holy Re&s;t come &s;hort,</L>
<PB N="37" REF="21">
<L>But that you may rewarded be</L>
<L>VVith them that lives in puritie,</L>
<L>VVhich will be &s;weeter to your &s;pirit,</L>
<L>Then all without you do inherit,</L>
<L>And ble&s;&s;ed you will be al&s;o,</L>
<L>In every thing you do undergo,</L>
<L>And as you come t'obey the Light,</L>
<L>Surely your peace will be in &s;ight.</L>
<L>Lord God it grant, if that thou plea&s;e,</L>
<L>That all that &s;eek thee may find ea&s;e,</L>
<L>Through Faith in Chri&s;t as he's reveal'd</L>
<L>VVho hath the wounded always heal'd.</L>
</DIV1>
<DIV1 TYPE="poem">
<HEAD>The <HI>Conclu&s;ion.</HI></HEAD>
<L>NOw to conclude, leaving what hath been &s;aid</L>
<L>To all that reads it, with impartial Eye,</L>
<L>Which to believe they need not be afraid,</L>
<L>Being true Words, in which there is no Lye,</L>
<L>Tho' Godly men were always &s;coft and &s;corn'd</L>
<L>For the Name of Chri&s;t, which was their chiefe&s;t good,</L>
<L>Yet they rejoyc'd to &s;ee his Truth adorn'd,</L>
<L>Tho' for &s;o doing it co&s;t &s;ome their Blood,</L>
<PB N="38" REF="22">
<L>Which was but that they then had left to &s;pend,</L>
<L>That they thereby might gain a better prize,</L>
<L>Which would be &s;weeter to their Souls i'th' end</L>
<L>By therein dwelling where true vertue lies,</L>
<L>Wherein is &s;weetne&s;s, much better than Life</L>
<L>To Souls Immortal in the quiet place,</L>
<L>The Godly Ones who are made free from &s;trife,</L>
<L>Who are engag'd to run the holy race,</L>
<L>And come away to witne&s;s for the Lord,</L>
<L>And his pure Truth reproach'd in the&s;e our days,</L>
<L>Tho' for &s;o doing they have been abhorr'd,</L>
<L>Which is no other but what hath been always</L>
<L>For Truth, is Truth, and all that do err from it,</L>
<L>Mu&s;t once confe&s;s how they have done de&s;pite,</L>
<L>To th' Grace of God, and his holy Spirit,</L>
<L>By making Sin their pa&s;time and delight;</L>
<L>Yet they &s;hall know to their eternal &s;orrow,</L>
<L>That they were warn'd of what was then to come</L>
<L>Of a dark Night, which could bring forth no morrow,</L>
<L>Which is the portion and the Wicked's doom,</L>
<L>Who have not priz'd the day of Vi&s;itation,</L>
<L>In which all men are left without excu&s;e,</L>
<L>By &s;hewing them wherein is Condemnation</L>
<L>To all the World, that doth the Light abu&s;e,</L>
<L>In which true &s;ence, Lord, keep thy tender Flock,</L>
<L>Alive in thee for their &s;afety and Rock.</L>
</DIV1>
<DIV1 TYPE="poem">
<PB N="39" REF="22">
<HEAD>A Godly Reque&s;t.</HEAD>
<L>LOrd God of Life and Power, thy Truth more &s;pread,</L>
<L>That they which truly &s;eeks within may read,</L>
<L>For Truth i'th' inward parts that thou requires,</L>
<L>To which, O Lord, &s;trengthen all weak de&s;ires,</L>
<L>That Grace &amp; Peace may grow in the&s;e our dayes</L>
<L>By quickning of the dead, thy Name to prai&s;e,</L>
<L>That &s;o thy glorious Name may be exalted,</L>
<L>And that kept down which hath from thee revolted</L>
<L>Which Work, O Lord! thou ha&s;t with us begun,</L>
<L>Through &s;hining of the Light of thy dear Son:</L>
<L>Therefore, O Lord! if that it &s;o plea&s;e thee,</L>
<L>Shine forth on more thy Glory for to &s;ee,</L>
<L>That &s;o thy Prai&s;es may with men encrea&s;e,</L>
<L>And thou may&s;t know, who art the God of Peace,</L>
<L>That they with us, and we with them may &s;ing</L>
<L>Hallelujahs, and Prai&s;es unto thee our King.</L>
</DIV1>
<TRAILER>THE END.</TRAILER>
</BODY>
</TEXT>
</EEBO>
</ETS>
