THORNTON & Sc
Booksellers,
ii The Broai
Oxford.
Divine Mifcellanies ;
OR, SACRED
POEMS.
IN TWO PARTS.
PART I. Sacred to Chriftian Devotion and Piety,
CONSISTING OF
HYMNS and DIVINE MEDITATIONS,
Upon various Subjects and Occafions
Cfciefly from tbe A U T H O R's own Experience.
PART II. Sacred to pra&ical Virtue and Holinef?,
Containing three EPISTLES.
I. A pradical PARAPHRASE on the
TEN COMMANDMENTS.
Humbly addrefs'd to the Church of England, upon their excellent
Order of Reading them.
II. The CHRISTIAN WARFA RE ;
Or, a ferious Exhortation to Virtue and Piety :
Humblf addrefs'd to the Proteftant DilTcaters.
III. The Divine Original and primitive
Beauty of CHRISTIANITY.
Set forth in the Birth, Life, Sufferings, Drath, Refcrreftion and
Afcenfion of our LORD and SAVIOUR
J E S U* S CHRIST-,
And the Life and Conduct of his APOSTLES :
Humbly addrefs'd to all ProfeiTors of Chriftianity, for their holy
Imitation. Written in plain and eafy Language,
For the Delight'and Improvement of all Lovers
of DIVINE POETRY;
By J A M E S M A X \Y E L L.
COLL. iii. 1 6. Teaching and admonishing one another in
Pfalms and Hymns, and f pi ritual Songs, finging with Grace ia.
yaur Hearts to tlte Lord.
BIRMINGHAM: Printed for the AUTHOR,
by T. WARREN, jun. MDCCLVl.
O F T H E
Subfcribers Names.
0060090* H & Rev - Mr - William Adam,
){( )& Bed-worth.
Dr. Thomas Afprey, Olney.
r - Thomas JEton,
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Mrs. Mary Avarill, Broadway.
Mr. Simon Anfel, 'Ditto.
Mr. Thomas Afhwin, Compton-Scorpion.
B
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&affo 2 Books.
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M r . H arx is, Husbands- S of worth
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THE
To the Subscribers.
Gentlemen^ Ladies and Others,
have, by your generous Subfcrtytions,
encouragd the Publication of this
Wort:
TB E G leave to return you my hum-
ble and hearty Thanks for this Favour :
But I am very forry that I have tried
your Patience fo long, tho' it was what I
could in no wife help; and I have alfo
made feme Additions to the Book as a
grateful Acknowledgment of my Obliga-
tion to you : Therefore I hope that
it will now with the Blefling of GOD,
make you an ample Amends for generoufly
encouraging ^his mean, tho* well defign'd
Performance. ^-,id that you may be well
rewarded for this and every other pious
and generous Aft, not only in this Life,
but that which is to come, is the fervent
Prayer of your fmcere Wellwilhcr in
0>rijl y
Aid moft obliged humble Servant ',.
J* M,
THE
P R E F ACE
T is a Thing not only cuftoma-
ry, but alfo necefTary to fill
fome Pages at the Beginning of
a Book, with an EPISTLE
to the Reader, commonly calL
ed, the PREFACE, wherein
the AUTHOR gives (or ought to give), his
der fome Account of his Performance.
And therefore I ftiall (with the Blefling of
GOD) follow this common, and commendable
Rule ; hoping that all my candid Readers will
take the Pains to perufe it with an unprejudicM
Mind j for I am fenfible that it is a Thing too
common among Readers to overlook the Preface,
and go on to read the other Parts of the Book in
an irregular Manner, without carefully obfer-
ving the AUTHOR'S Meaning,, 'till they come to
Something ambiguous, or difagreeable to their
Tafte 5 and then with a prejudic'd Mind they
threw afide the Book refolving never to look in
it more, without it is with a Defign to cavil :
And
PREFACE.
And then they defame the Book with Loads of
Reproach to every one they meet, wh'ch hinders
their own and others profiting by it : Whereas if
they had with an impartial and unprejudicM
Mind, open to Conviction, carefully read the
Preface and the Reft of the Book in a regular
Manner, they might have found it both edifying
and entertaining j and both they and their Friends
might have received great Benefit by it Now
let fuch confider what Injury they do themfelves
and otheis hereby.
This have I faid, not only becaufe 1 am afraid
of their doing fo by this mean Performance of
mine, but alfo to convince People of this gene-
ral Error : And if they do fo by other eminent
Authors, I may well expeft that they will do fo
by me ; for I have been already inform'd that ma-
ny are prejudic'd againft my Underftanding be-
fore they fee my Performance becaufe of the
Defpicablenefs of the Author. Many (I am told)
are ready to fay, "How can fuch a one do any
M Thing that is worth our Notice? a poor illiterate
* Mechanic ! Ah ! tis meer Nonfenfe ! I would
not pretend to encourage fuch a one." But
ftay, my Friends, be not too hafty in your Cen-
fures, but let me prevail with you to lay afide all
Prejudice, and to judge with Candour and that
not only for my fake but for your own and others 5
for 1 am certain that many have deprived them-
felvea and others o-f the Benefit they might other-
Ways
PREFACE.
frays kave received from many an excelent Dif-
e^urfe thr-o Bigotry and a prejudic'd Spirit. I fKalt
or.ly mefttion two remarkable Inftances of thisia
Seriptare, i The Greeks, they counted the
Preaching of the Crofs of CHRIST Fooliflinefs,,
feecaufe it was not adcrn'd with Human Wit and
Learning, i Cor. i 22 23.
2 The Jews, How they were prejudic'd a-
gainft our LORD JESUS CHRIST, becaafe of his
mean Apearance, Birth, and Parentage, and want
of Human Learning? tho* he manifefted his Divine
Authority, Wifdom, Power and Goodnefs, by fur-
prizing Miracles, fuch as was never wrought be-
fore, and which was effectual for convincing o-
thers 3 yet when he came into his own Country and
taught in their Synagogues, in fo much that they
were aftonifhed at him, yet they faid with Con-
tempt, Whence bath this Man this Wifdom, and
tbefe mighty works? Is not this the Carpenter's
Son ? Is not his Mother called Mary ? And his
Brethren James, and Jofes, and Simon, and Ju-
das ? and his Sifters are they not all with us ?
Whence tfien hath this Man all theft things ?
Jin& they were offended at him.
And J ESUS faid unto them, A Trophet
is not without Honour fave in his own Country,
and in his own Houfe.
And he did not many mighty works there becaufe
cf their Unbelief. MAT. xiii, 5410 the End,
MARK vi. 3, 4.
Thus?
The PREFACE.
Thus, my Friends, I hope I have made good
my Aflertion, and have /hewn fome of the bad
Erfe&s of a Prejudiced Mind, fuffer me now to
give you a brief Account of this my weak Per-
formance.
In the firft Part (which confifts of Hymns and
divine Meditations) I hope ferious Chriftians (of
every Denomination) may find fomewhat enter-
taining both in their folitary Meditations, and
focial Converfations, and Devotions, tho' it be
not adorn'd with fuch lefty Flights of Thought,
nor fuch elevated Language as may be found in
the Works of many of our fublime Authors in this
polite Age. Nor is my Aim fo much to tickle the
Ear of the Polite, as to affeft the Heart of the Seri-
ous. And 1 have labour'd to have my Language
plain, and decent; my Meaning obvious and clear
to common Underftandings j my Judgment ortho-
dox, both practical and evangelical j my Verfe
fmooth and agreeable, and moftly in Pfalm Mea.
fures; tho' they were never defign'd for public
\Vorfhip5 yet they will go in the common Pfalm
Tunes, of long, and /horr, and common Metres,
and may be fung or read, as the Reader pleafes.
This Part you will find moftly experimental,
as is faid in the Title Page: And this (I hope)
will render it the more acceptable to all exper
rienc'd Chriftians.
The fecond Part, which confifts chiefly of
praftical Exhortations, and Admonitions, 1 hope
that.
Tke PREFACE.
that thi*s (with the Blefling of GOD) may be
made ufeful for awakening, convincing, and
converting Sinners, and for building up Belie-
vers in their moft holy Faith. And that it may
anfwer this good End, I have (as much as poffi-
ble) avoided all needlefs Controverfy 5 fo that
1 am perfuaded that 1 have given no juft Offence
to any fincere Chriftians of any Denomination ;
for I have made the Word of GOD my Rule thro*
the Whole. And therefore 1 hope that no feri-
ous Chriftians will defpife the Work becaufe of
the meanefs or Unworthinefs of the Author 5 for
it is GOD that worketh in us, both to will and to
do of his own good Pleafure. PHIL. ii. 13.
And you know that he often makes ufe of the
meaneft Inftruments to do his greateft Works.
Witnefs the Apoftles, who were moft of them
but mean Fiihermen, yet did he make ufe of
them to publilh his Gofpel, and to reform a rude
ftubborn and rebellious World, and eftabli/h a
new Religion in it ; and that, in Opposition to
all the potent Rulers, learned Rabbles, and
Philofophers. And did he not make the Chil-
dren in the Temple fing Hofanttabs to CHRIST
while the learned Priefts and Scribes blafphemM
his Name? And had I look'd back into the old
Teftament 1 might have brought numerous
Proofs of this. To inftance a few, I ftiall refer
my Readers to GOD'S wonderful Dealings with
) Mofgs, Gidiw, 2)avtd t and dfflQS* Thefe
are
P R E F A C E.
are fufficient Proofs of GOD'S making ufe of
mean Inftruments, for effecting his wonderful
Works, and celebrating his Praifes. And thus
is made manifeft what was fpoken by the great
Apoftle Waul. i COR. i. 27. GOD hath cbo-
fen the foolijh 'Things of this World^ to confound
the wife j and the weak Things of the ivorlil> to
confound the Things which are mighty. There-
fore, my Friends, defpife the Author how you
will, but defpife not this Work 'till you have
carefully perus'd it with an unprejudic'd Mind :
And if you find any Thing in it inconfiftant with
the divine Oracles, rejeft it , but if it be nowife
inconfiftant therewith, you ought not to defpife
it tho* it be not polifh'd with the Rules of Art.
And if you find any Thing here that by the
Grace of GOD is made ufeful to you, give unto
him the Glory, who hath made ufe of fo poor
an Inftrumept for your Good: And I think you
will have the greater Reafon to adore his infinite
Power and Goodnefs, who hath manifefted his
Grace in fo fingular a manner j for if GOD hath
made an Inftrument of me to manifeft the Power
of his Grace, I think he never made ufe of a
weaker Inftrument. But let none therefore def-
pife his Work upon this Account 5 for when a
great Operation is perform'd with poor Inftru-
ments, the greater Praife is due to the Operator.
And you may remember what the great Apoftle
Taul faid. I. COR. i. 17. CHRIST fent me to
frtacb
Ue PREFACE.
f reach the Go/pel : Not with Wtfdom of Words , I ell
tie Crofi of CHRISfJbould be made of none Effett.
And in another Place he compares the Minifters
of the Gofpel to earthen Veffels. II. Con. iv.
7. 'But iv e have this tfreafure in earthen Veffels^
that the Excellency of the Tower may be ofGO'D,
and not of us. But let none think here that I
glory in my own Weaknefs, and defpife human
Learning : No, my Friends, far be it from me,
1 only aim to magnify the Grace of GOD j for I
have Nothing but what I have received.
But here ic may probably be expected that I
fhould give fome Account how I came by this
Talent : And this I fhall do with as much gen-
uine Brevity as I can. <y/.
Ever fince I came to Years of Underftanding,
and could read, I took great Delight in Poetry*
and as I advanc'd in Tears, my Inclination was
drawn chiefly to delight in divine Poetry, and
about the twenty-firft or twenty-fecond Year of
my Age I became acquainted with Dr. Watts'*
Imitation of the Tfalms cf 'David, and his Hymns*
and divine Songs for Children, his Lyric Teems*
and Mfcellaneous thoughts , and Mr. Broivv's
Hymns, and Mr. Erskitie's Gofpel Sonnets^ and
fome others which Providence hath caft in my
Way, both before and after this Date, which
tended greatly to enliven my Affections for di-
vine Poetry ; And tho' my Education was but
mean, my worldly Circumftances very low, my
Time
fhe PREFACE.
Time much taken up to get Bread for my Family,
and my Imagination but dull; yet notwithftand-
ing all thefe I had a great Delight in divine
Poetry. And I am almoft afhamed to tell the
World of another Difad vantage that lay in my
Way, viz. that I unadvifedly enter'd myfelf into
the State of Matrimony before I was twenty-one
Years of Age, and before I had acquir'd any Art
or Calling to get a Living j and finding my own
Error (when too late) I fet myfelf Apprentice to a
Weaver j which Art (thro' the Bleffing of GOD)
1 acquir'd almoft to a Miracle : And all this be-
fore I had made any Progrefs in the An of Poe-
try : Yet for all thefe, and more Difadvantages
than is fit to acquaint the World with, I took to
ftudying Poetry ; and tho' 1 had no Advantages,
or Qualifications for it but a keen Appetite, yet I
purfu'd it with great Delight j and tho' my firft
Effay was very mean (as 1 acknowledge my be ft
will appear in the Eyes of the Polite) yet as I
purfu'd this delightful Study, I found it as an
inexhauftible Fountain, and the more I drew the
more free it came : And having /hewn fome
of my weak Performances to fome of my Ac-
quaintance, they met with a very kind Recep-
tion, and 1 was perfuaded ftill to go on j 'till
at laft it grew to the Bulk that it now is. And
now I venture to let it go abroad in the World,
notwithftanding the meanefs of its Drefs : Know-
ing that if it pleafe the Almighty and alwife
Difpof.f
PREFACE.
Difpofer of all Things to make it inftrumental to
his Glory and the Good of Souls he is able. And
if he do I am fatisfied, however I may be defpi-
fed by Critics, for the Meanefs of this weak Per-
formance.
I know it is not adorn'd with lofty Airs of Lan-
guage, nor grand Imags of Thought ; nor is
the Rules of Poetry fo exaclly obferved, as to
render it amiable in the Eyes of the polite and
critical Part of Ithe World , yet it hath already
obtain'd the Approbation of many learned and
Judicious Chriftians, as well as the honeft illite-
rate Ones ; and therefore I /hall venture th e
Cenfures of the Reft. And now, my friendly
Chriftian Readers, excufe my Plainefs, and
read without Prejudice, and beg of GOD a Blef-
fing on what you read ; and then if this weak
Performance be made anywife ufeful to you, I
hope you will not forget to give unto GOD the
Glory, who hath made ufe of fo mean an Inftru-
ment for your Edification.
And for my Part, 1 fliall count my Labour
doubly recompenced, even in this World 5 for
1 have had fo much Pleafure in the Compcfure
of thefe Verfes, as hath fully fatisfied me for all
my Trouble ; and what an additional Pleafure
it will be to me to hear of their being made in-
ftrumental for the Good of others, GOD only
knoweth.
Now
fbc PREFACE.
Now to conclude, It may not be amifV to inform
my friendly Readers that the chief of all this was
compos'd at my Work, and by the Bleffing of Go D
I was carried on with fo much Pleafure that it
was fcarce any Hinderance to my worldly Cal-
ling, but often both of thefe aflifted each other.
But if any Jhould here charge me with Prio'e
and Arrogance in this Attempt, and this Account
of it, I fhall not pretend to juftify myfelf, but 1
rejoice to think that this fhall be impartially de-
cided one Day by him who feeth the Secrets of
all Hearts. To him therefore 1 commit this
Performance, begging his Blefllng upon it, that
it may be made inftrumental for his Glory, and
the Good of Souls: And hoping for his divine
Blefllng, on this ray honeft (tho' weak Attempt)
1 venture to fend it abroad in the World, wi/hing
Grace, Mercy and Peace on all them into whofe
Hands it fhall come 5 yea, Peace be on all them
that love our LORD JESUS CHRIST in Sincerity,
THE
HT H E Invocation p a ge i
I. Zlbt divine Original of <Poetry ajjerted
and proved^ the abufe of it lament ed, and the
Jnnocency of it defended^ by way of Intro-
II. Attempting to praife GOD, and imploring his
AJJiftanee 5
III. 2)r 'awing near to the throne of Grace, by a
Mediator. An Hymn. < 7
IV. A Morning Hymn. 9
V. 4n Evening Hymn. 10
VI. An Ejaculation on A Lord'stDay Morning, iz
VII. On the Cammomile. A Similitude of the
Church. . . 13
VIII. 'Profejfirs excited to Tiety^ and Sinners to
Repentance : Fromfeveral Scriptures. 20
IX. ttedifiiugmJhingZoveofGovi or ', Angels
punijh'd and Menfaved. 23
X. The fame > cr, the Juftice and Goodnefs of
GOD.
XI. Mechanical Exercife applied to devotion and
'Piety ; or the Weaver's Meditations.
MED. I: On the Uncertainty of Life. 27
MED. II. Bewailing my own Unconflancy. 29
MED. III. Exciting to ^Diligence in 'Duty. 31
MED. IV. Contentment. 33
XII
CONTENTS.
XII. A Song of Traife to God for his innumera.
ble Mercies to Soul and Body. 34
XIII. T'ke Struggling* of Flefo and Spirit. 38
XIV. Hypocrify common to all', or, the Weak-
nefs of faith lamented, 42
XV. *The Happinefs of Go/pel Enjoyments ; or the
firfl Fruits of Heaven. Written in the Tojl-
fcript of a Letter to a Friend. 46
XVI. tte Believer's Triumph, over the Troubles
of this Life. Written in the Toft fir ipt of a
Letter, to my honoured 'Parents in Scotland,
about the Beginning of that unnatural Re-
bellion, 1745, 49
XVII. Another 'Pojlfcript of a Letter, to my
honoured Tarents and Friends in Scotland,
1746, before the Rebellion was qutWd, 50
XVIII. The Vleafure of'Publick Worjbip. From
ffalms Ixxxiv. i, 2, 10, 7, 12. 51
XIX. A Song of <Praife and Thanksgiving to
GOD, for the Fiftory obtained over the Re*,
bels at Culloden-Moor, April the ibth
XX. A Serious ^Thought oMay the ()th. 1747. 54
XXI. <The Benefit ofPublick Worjhip ; or a Song
ofPraifefor the Lord's 'Day Morning. 55
XXII. Self Examination, on a Lord's Evening. 57
XXIII. <fhe Goodnefs of GOD recorded ;or, a Song
ofPraifefor Rain after a parching 'Drought*
written on that Oscafion in May 1743. 58
XXIV
CONTENTS,
XXIV. The unequal WA R. Go
XXV. A Song ofPraife to God 63
XXVI. Advice to Touth ; Or, Serious Exhortati-
ons to my own Children. - 67
I. To my Son William, Aged ii Tears, 1754. ^
II. To my Son James, Aged 9 Tears, 1754. 71
III. 'To wjy <& John, Aged j Tears, 1754. 74
IV. Tb^v Son Lazarus, Aged 5 T^rr. 1754 77
XXVII. A general Exhortation to my 4 Sons. 79
XXVIII. The Youth's <Prayer for Wtfdom, or
the Word of God the befi Guide : from Tfalm
cxix. <g. 84
XXIX. A Serious Refieflion, on May the Zotb
N. S. 1753. 86
XXX. Cbrifi a Light .to the Gentiles > cr, a
Song cfPraife jor the Go/pel. Jfaiah, xlii.
6, 7. 87
XXXI. <Prayer for the Enlargement of Cbrift's
Kingdom upon Earth. Mat. vi. 10. 'J.hy
Kingdom come . 88
XXXII. A Song of praife to God for National
'Protection. 90
XXXIII. ttt fir ait way to Heaven-, from federal
Scriptures. . 91
XXX IV. The Tower of Sovereign Grace. 94
XXXV. An Elegy on the 2)eat of a Chtijtian
Friend. g^
Her Epitaph, <\-f
XXXVI. The Ble/ingof the Lord is in tie ttoufe
of the Righteous. Prov. iii. 3^. ^
XXXVII. The goodnefs of God recorded^ i>r A
Song of Traije to God for a plentiful Crop anA
a fine Harvejl, after & very long and f roily
Spring, and wet Summer. 1754. lot
SXXVH1. the convinced Sinners Reflection an&
*> Refotutlon*
J
CONTENTS.
Refolution. 103
Tte Fall -and Recovery of Alati. i :6
Remarks 113
XL. On the Four laft things, j 16
I. Death. ib.
'Poftfcript. A jborr Elr.zv on the 'Death of Mr.
(~reor?e Grove, an / 120
II. Judgment. 121
III. Heaven. 127
IV. Hell. 131
Epitaphs. 137
I. On Mr. John Simons, an Acroftic. ib.
II. On Mr. George Grove, the Irfant befcr;
mentioned. ib.-
III. On Mr. Jofeph Barber, an Jr.fant, 'ixko dt-
parted this Life, Kov. IQ. 175?. 138
'Tie ^Author's Apology to the Clerpy of the Church
of England. 139
Epijlle I. Yhe Introduction. 147
A ( Prattical i Paraphrc.Je cut he Yen Commandments
Humbly addres'd to the Church of England. 148
A Serious Reflection upon the Whole. 205
Epiftle II. 'The Chriflian Warfare: or a Strieus
Exhortation to Virtue and *Piety, Humbly
addrefs'd to the Troteftant < Dij)~enters. 213
yjbt Author's Apology, to the "JDiffentin^ Ji'ti-
nifters. ib.
The Introduction. 219
Seftion I. ffie Nature c-fthe Chrijlian n r arfare<zz$
SeClion 11. The Cbrifiian Armour. Eph. vi. 14.
SeCtion III. An Alarm^ or Central Call to all Sin.
tiers* to come and inlift tltmfd-ves in ike Cbrift '
tan ll'arfare, to feht under Chrift's Banner .-
'
CONTENTS.
With the 'Benefits accruing to themiaho accept
and the danger they are in who refufe the
Gofpel Call. - 231
Special AUreffes to four Sorts, viz-.
L To Tout b. - 235
JI. To the Middle- Aged. - - 238
III. To the Aged. ' - 242
IV. </o 2)eferfer$, or B art/liters. ^ 249
Seff. V. A more particularAddrefs to the Diflent-
ers, on federal fcrious Confederations : By way
J Application. - 252
Epiftle III. The divine Original and primitive
'Beauty c/Chriftianity ?<:. 261
Sett. I. <The 'Birth of Chrift. ib.
Sect. II. The Life cf Chrift. -- 265
Sect. 111. Laft Sufferings and%)eatbcfChriR. 269
Seft. IV. 'Ike Re/urr'eftiori (fChiib. 277
Scfl. V. Chrift Appearing to his 2)ifctplet, and
giving them Conimiffion to preach his Gofpel :
ami' afcexding up into Heaven. - 278
Sett. VI. ' The giving cf the Holy-gbojt. 282
Sett. VII. 'She primitive 'Beauty of Chriftianity,
Jet forth in the holy conduff of the ApoftJes. 286
Sett V11I. T'ke primitive Beauty ef Chriftianity,
farther (et forth in the glorious Order of the
Gofpel Miniftry. 309
S(cl. IX. Objections againfl Chrjftianity. 309
Ob je Eli on I. ib.
Objection II.
r. - 320
Scft. X. Aferious Reflection upon the Whole> 322
E R.
E R R A T A.
Page 14. Line 8. for vindicatate, read vindicate.
P. 21. L. ii. for alpiercing, read All -piercing.
P. 24. L. 17 for Emanuely read Immanuel. P. 43.
I/. 2 read All-feeing. P. 44. L. ; read rev'rence.
tb. L. ii read All-piercing. P. 62. L. 7 for you,
read ye. P. 85. L. 15. for cue, read due. P. no.
20. read hearken 'd. P. 114. 1. ii. for beft, read
Reft. P. 116. juft under the rumng Title inftead
of XXXIV. read XL.
There are feveral Overfights in the Pointing
which 1 hope the Reader willcorreft for himfclf,
If more Miftakes my Readers find,-
Let them correft with candid Mind,
And this will prove them Men of Senfe,
"While Carpers fhew their Ignorance :
For fome illnatur'd Critics try
How many Faults they can defcry,
And then for Wits to get a Name,
Againft the Author they exclaim.
But let them, who fo quick can 'fpy
Each Mote that's in their Brother's Eye,
Mind (whilft cenforioufly they frown)
To caft the Beams out of their own.
THE
THE
INVOCATION
I.
TERNAL King, who reign'ft on high
Supreme o'er all Authority :
'Tis Condefcenfion infinite
In thee, to ftoop to Worlds of Light,
To fee what's done above the Sky,
"Where mighty Angels proftraje lie
Before thy Face, while they adore
Infinite Wifdom, boundlefs Pow'r.
II.
They count it too, a Pleafure fweef,
To caft their Crowns beneath thy Feet,
"While they the mighty Theme renew
Of Praife to thee their Maker due:
Yet all the higheft Notes they raife,
Can ne'er advance thy boundlefs Praife,
More than it was ere Time began,
Or Duft was falhion'd into Man.
III.
But, LORD, what Condecenfion then
Is this in thee, to ftoop to Men,
And to accept of humble Praife,
From fuch unworthy Worms as thefe !
B This
2 ttc INVOCATION.
This ftrikes my Soul with fweet Surprize,
And fuffers Faith and Hope to rife
Toward thy Throne, with humble Lays,
And weak Attempts to fpeak thy Praife.
IV.
Yea, LORD, thou alfo doft beftow
Celeftial Gifts on Men below ;
Therefore to Thee mine Eyes I lifr,
From whom proceeds each peifecl Gift :
Endue me, LORD, with heav'nly Skill
Rightly to guide my {lender Quill 5
Infpire my Heart, enforce my Lays,
To celebrate thy wond'rous Praife.
V.
I ask none of the feigned Nine,
To make my Mufe with Luftre ihine 5
Thofe heathen Fiftions I abhor,
But thy celeftial Aid implore :
To thee I look with humble Face ;
O! fill me with thy heav'nly Grace,
Till I'm prepar'd to dwell on high,
And praife thy Name more perfectly.
VI.
Then /hall I with unfainting Tongue
Praife Thee with fweet celeftial Song,
Arr.ongft thy bright redeemed Choir
Eternally, and never tire :
My Heart and Tongue lhall then unite
To praife thy Name with fweet Delight 5
"Yea, a]l my inward Pow'rs fliall join,
And ev'ry Strain be Love divine.
DIVIN E
Divine Mifcellanies ;
O R,
SACRED POEMS.
PART I.
Sacred to Chriftian Devotion and Piety.
I, T'be 1>ivhu Original of POETRY tr
and pr-oved , the Abnfe of it lament ed^ and the
Innocency cfit defended,
By Way of INTRODUCTION.
I.
"ITT H E K firft the Heav'n-born Mufe began
' V Her facred Wings to try,
She was the toremoft in the Van
To praife the Deity.
II.
Delightful in JEHOVAH'S Eye,
Her own almighty Sire 5
Employ 'd, his Name to magnify,
Amidft the heavenly Choir.
B 2 Thus
4 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part I.
III.
Thus like a Nymph divinely bright
The Mufe at firft did fhine :
Man's Soul fhe ravifti'd with Delight,
In Raptures all divine.
IV.
But now, alafs, with Grief I fea
This heavenly Gift abus'd,
By Sons of bafe Impiety,
To vicious Purpofe us'd.
v.
They take of this celeftial Fire
To kindle helli/h Flames ;
And thus they pleafe their loofe Defire,
With vile licentious Themes.
VI.
Hence fome of ferious Minds fuppofe
That this celeftial Ait,
"Was ne'er defign'd for fuch as thofe,
\Vho are of pious Heart.
VII.
Thus doth the Mufe ftill lofe Renown 3
Her Worth is little priz'd :
Between the Critic and the Clown,
Shc*s fhamefully defpisM.
VIII.
Yet on her fvveet, delightful Wing,
She bears celeftial Lays 5
"While Saints adore their heavenly King,
Or Angels fing his Praife,
JESUS!
Sacred to Chriftian Devotion and Piety* 5
IX.
JESUS ! thy wond'rous dying Love,
Shall ftill employ the Mufe,
While each redeemed Soul above,
This matchlefs Scene reviews J
X.
Angels fhall join their grateful Sftrains,
To celebrate thy Praife,
Who wond'ring faw thy bleeding Veins,
"With Horror and Amaze !
XI.
And thus through all Eternity
The Heav'n-born Mufe lhall fing,
Raptures of fweeteft Harmony,
To GOD, th' eternal King.
XII.
The Wonders of redeeming Love,
Shall be her choiceft Theme :
This all the ranfom'd Souls above r
Shall joyfully proclaim.
II. Attempt ting to fraife GOD, ami imploring
bis Affi fiance..
I.
'"TOtheemy GOD, I'd humbly
A facred Song of folemn Praife
But, ah, how vain is this Defign,
Without thy Influence divine !
B 3
6 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part I.
II.
A Tree fprung from degenerate Root,
Can bear no good, no wholfome Fruit,
Till took from the wild Olive Wood,
And new ingrafted in the Good.
111.
Juft fuch am I by nat'ral Courfe,
By Nature wild, by Practice worfe,
Till took from the wild Olive Tree,
And new ingrafted, LORD, in thee !
IV.
I fprung from Nature's Wildernefs,
And, LORD, without renewing Grace,
Can neither think nor fpeak one Word,
Kor do one A.61 to pleafe my LORD !
V.
But, LORD, I totally refign
Myfelf to Influence divine !
O let thy Spirit on me blow,
And make the Seeds of Grace to grow !
VI.
Infpire my Jlfafe ; inftruS my Tongue 5
Aflift my weak advent'rous Song j
And let thofe/rf/ff? and humble Lays
Prove inftrumental to thy Praife.
VII.
Then let my Soul on Wings of Love
Rife near thy glorious Throne above,
And all my Pow'rs /hall join to raife,
An everlafting Song of Praife.
I'll
Sacred to Chriftian Devotion and Piety. 7
viii.
I'll fing the Wonders thou haft done:
Thy Love in CHRIST, thy darling Son :
The Wonders of renewing Grace
That fitted Worms for thine Embrace.
IX.
Tea, with thy brighteft Saints I'll vie,
To praife the boundlefs Myftery,
That GOD fhould manifefted be
In Flejbj to fet the Rebels free.
III. ^Drawing near to tie throne of Grace, by
a Mediator. An H Y M N.
I.
I T H holy Fear and humble Awe,
LORD, I approach thy Throne of Grace,
And all my humble Hopes I draw
From JESU'S perfeft Righteoufnefs.
II.
Without his Righteoufnefs array'd,
"Who dares approach thine aweful Throne ?
Tremble, my Soul, and be afraid,
If thou haft not this Raiment on.
III.
Fierce Thunderbolts at thy Command,
Would dafti me, LORD, to endlefs Fire,
Should I before thy Juftice ftand
Without this rich, divine Attire.
But
8 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part I.
IV.
But thanks to thy forgiving Grace,
Thro* JESU'S rich atoning Blood,
I may by Faith approach thy Face,
Kor dread the Fury of thy Rod.
V.
Come then, O fweet celeftial Dove,
And clothe me with this Robe divine I
Do thou my filthy Rags remove :
Self-Righteoufnefs 1 now refign.
VI.
Inborrow'd Strength and Righteoufnefs,
I would before my GOD appear ;
For in mine own (I muft confefs)
I hope for no Acceptance there.
VII.
O then, my Soul, adore the "Grace,
And Goodnefs of thy dying LORD,
That f'jffer'd in the Sinner's Place,
And Heav'nly Hopes again reftor'd !
VIII.
O! praife the great eternal THREE,
Who join'd, the Captives to reftore'!
Come, all ye humble Souls, with me
This matchlefs Scene of Love adore.
IX.
Let's boldly now approach the Throne,
To plead the Merits of that Blood,
That does for all our Guilt atone,
And gives us free Accefs to GOD.
IV. A
Sacred to Chriftian Devotion and Piety. 9
IV. A Morning HYMN.
I.
AW A KE, my Soul, with thankful Voice,
In fweet celeftial Lays :
Let all thy inward Pow'rs rejoice,
To iing thy MAKER'S Praife.
II.
My Soul, adore that watchful Eye,
And that Almighty Hand,
That turn'd the num'rous Dangers by,
That did around thee ftand !
III.
This Night what Judgments might have fell
Upon my guilty Head !
My Soul might have been fent to Hell 1
My Fleih among the Dead!
IV.
Or raging Flames, or dreadful Storms,
Have laid my Duelling wafte :
Or Midnight Fears in various orms,
Might have difturb'd my Reft.
V.
But I fecurely laid me down,
And did in Safety fleep :
My gracious GOD! thy Hand alone
My feebU Frame did keep!
What
lo DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Parti,
VI.
What /hall I render, LORD, to thee
For Favours fo divine ?
I here devote myfelf to be,
Dear LORD ! for ever thine.
VII.
My Soul and Body 1 commit
Into thy faithful Hand :
For what thy \Vifdom feeth fit,
I ftill prepared Hand.
VIII.
Conduft and guide me all my Days,
Until my Jaft Remove ;
Then take me up to fing thy Praife,
In thy bleft Courts above.
V. An Evening H Y M N.
I.
now, my Soul, and meditate
The Favours of the Day ;
And at thy great CREATOR'S Feet
Thy thankful Homage pay.
III.
Think, O my Soul, what thou doft owe
To thy CREATOR'S Love,
That did another Day allow,
Before thy laft Remove.
But
Sacred to Chriftian Devotion and Piety .' n
III.
But think, if this fhould be the laft
That thou on Earth muft have,
Ere thy frail Body muft be caft
Into the gloomy Grave.
IV.
Think, O my Soul, where thou muft dwell,
"When thou haft dropt thy Clay 5
Down in the dreadful Lake of Hell,
Or mount to endlefs Day!
V.
'Tis Time this great Concern to know
Before thou fhut thy Eyes,
And to what Region thou muft go,
When this frail Body dies !
VI.
O! then in hafte for Refuge fly
To JESU'S wounded Side,
And by true Faith thereon rely,
Thy num'rous Crimes to hide !
VII.
Thence Blood and Water both did flow,
To cleanfe and juftify :
Thy Spirit, LORD, on me beftow,
This Balfam to apply.
VIII.
Then fprinkl'd with atoning Blood,
I'll give mine Eyes to Sleep - r
And truft thy Providence, my GOD,
My deeping Duft to keep.
VI.
iz DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part I.
VI ^//EJACULATION on* Lord's Day Morning.
HO W would my Heart rejoice,
To hear my Neighbours fay,
" Come, let us hear our Maker's Voic
" With chearful Hearts to Day !
II.
" Let's all with one Accord
" Approach his facred Place,
" To meet our condefcending LORD,
" With Meffages of Grace.
III.
** He'll meet us with a Smile,
" And bid us welcome there,
" If we with Hearts refin'd from Guile,
" To hear his Word draw near."
IV.
FATHER! thy Spirit fend,
To work in us this Frame :
JESUS ! our kind atoning Friend,
Our Hope is in thy Name.
V.
Come, O celeftial DOVE,
Thy quickning Pow'rs impart,
W'ith holy Zeal, and Faith and Love,
Fill ev'ry fluggifh Heart.
VI-
Then fhall we joyful ling
Thy Praife O LORD our GOD!
We'll celebrate our HeaVnly KING,
fpread his Name abroad.
Sacred to Chriftian Devotion and Piety. 1
VH. On the CAMMOM1LE.
j4 Similitude of the CHURCH.
I.
GEE how the Camm&mile is fpread,
So thick upon the Ground 5
And ftill the more thereon we tread,
The more it does abound.
II.
But if it's not oppreft and trod,
It foon declines and dies 5
Domeftick Weeds does then corrode,
And it in Ruin lies.
III.
Juft fo the Church in every Age,
When Perfecutors roar,
And all the powers of Hell engage,
The Righteous to devour.
IV.
The more they ftrive to break their Peace,
With their malicious Spite,
Their Faith and Love, and every Grace,
Shine more divinely bright.
V.
They love each other's Face to fee,
And every Clamour dies,
Expecting every Hour to be
A bloody Sacrifice.
VI
1 4. D i v i N E MISCELLANIES, [ Part 1.
VI.
Then in their Trouble and their Grief,
Unto the LORD they Cry,
" Send us, O LORD, fom^ quick Relief,
" Before thy Servants die !
VII.
*' See how our Foes infult Aloud,
" And Triumph in our Shame :
" Arife, O LORD! confound the Proud,
And vindicatate thy Name.
VIII.
* { Then fhall our thankful Lips declare
" Thy Wonders in our Days,
" And teach our Seed (with faithful care)
" To Celebrate thy Praife. "
IX.
The LORD looks with a gracious Eye
Upon their fore Diftrefs ;
And fends Deliv'rance from on high,
Ev'n in the \Yildernefs.
X.
" Thefe Wolves (faith he) that would Deftroy
" .My Sheep, or make them flee,
" Are but the Hunters 1 employ,
" To bring them back to me.
XI.
. .*' "When ye were Wand'ring -far from me,
" Thefe were the Rods 1 us'd,
" To bring you back, and make you fee
ye my Grace abus'd.
XII.
Sacred to Chriftian Devotion and Piety $
m XII.
" Yet will I make your Enemies
" To know that I am GOD 5
" And they fhall feel (to their furprize)
" The Fury of my Rod.
XIII.
" If Faithfully ye fear my Natwe r
" And love my holy Laws,
** Ye ftiall not be expos'd to Shame '-,
" I'll vindicate your Caufe.
XIV
Oh! the rich Goodnefs of the LORD!
How wond'rous are his Ways!
Let Saints in every Age record
The Mercies of their Days.
XV.
He gives them Reft on ev'ry Side,
And makes th' Oppreffor ceafe j
Then Malice, Envy, Strife and Pride,.
Do but the more increafe !
XVI.
The Love of many waxeth cold 5
Lukewarmnefs does begin 5
While there's no Wolf difturbs the Fold,
But thofe that breed within.
REFLECTION
I.
AN D is not this our dreadful Ca'fe,
Here, in thefe BritiJh-Lands?
Have we not thus abus'd GOD'S Grace,
And broke his juft Commands?
C a II. Hatfe
i.6 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part L
II.
Hath he not giv'n fweet Reft and Peace
To us on ev'ry Side ?
And have nnt we thus turn'd his Grace
To Wantonefit and 'Pride ?
III.
Think What Deliv'rances he wrought
In our fore Father's Days,
Their Foes and all their Schemes he brought
To Shame and foul Difgrace..
IV.
Navies' he funk, dark Plots reveal'd,
And Armies flrong he broke :
His Churches Breaches oft he heal'd,
And eas'd her heavy Yoke.
V.
And like wife in thefe later Years,
Hath he his Arm made bear j
Subdu'd our Foes, retnov'd our Fears,
And made our Souls his Care.
VI.
He alfo makes our fruitful Field
Produce a large increafe 5
So that we are with Plenty fill'd,
* Amidft the Wildernefs.
VII.
Nor are thefe Bleffings of the Ground
The btft that GOD beftows,
We hear his Go/pel's joyful Sound,
\Vhe,ie fweet Salvation flows.,
VUl
Sacred to Chriftian Devotion and Piety. if
VIII.
With what a lib'ral Hand hath he
His Favours here beftow'd!
But, ah, what bafe Returns have we
Made to the LORD our GOD!
IX.
Dues not Intemp'rance, Luft, and Pride
Moft fhamefully abound?
Malice, and Spite on ev'ry Side,.
And Envy fpr'ead around"?
X.
'Prophaneyiefs like a mighty Stream
Along our Streets run down !
Againft their Maker Men blafpheme,
For all his Kindnefs fhoym !
XI.
Alafs ! what bafe Ingratitude,
We render to our GoD,
For all his Favours kind and good,
He hath on us beftow'd.
XII.
Tet ftill we reft and fleep fecure,
Becaufe his Vengeance ftays 5
As if his Patience would indure,, .
Becaufe his Wrath delays.
XI11.
Juft fo the Jews in antient Timer
(His only chofen Flock)
Did long (with their repeated Crimes)
Their gracious GoD provoke.
c 3 .
j8 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part I.
XIV.
Yet tho' they Nat'ral-Bratiches were,
And Children of his Love 5
Jnftice would them no longer fpare,
But, did them clean remove.
XV.
And made their Enemies pofTefs
Their Land, fo richly ftor'd 5
Becaufe they did his Laws tranfgrefs.
Nor would believe his Word.
XVI.
Now they muft wander here and there,
Through all the Earth abroad $
That ev'ry one may fee and fear
The Juftice of a GOD.
XVII.
And fince the LORD would not them fpare,
Who fprung from ^frr'am's Stock j
What better can we hope to fare,
If we his Hand provoke ?
XVIII.
Are we not like wild Olive Sougts
Ingrafted in their Place?
On whom the LORD our GOD beftows
Abundance of his Grace.
XIX.
Then let us humbly hear and fear,
And tremble at his Word j
And never more prefume to dare
The Vengeance of the LORD*
XX,
Sacred to Chriftian Devotion and Piety, rg
XX.
Churches abroad in Ruins lie
That firft receiv'd the Word 5
And will the LORD pafs Britain by,
If we provoke his Sword?
XXI.
Oh ! no ! tho* Mercy long hath flay'd,
His juft avenging Rod 5
Let's think how we have err'd and ftray'd,,
And have provok'd our GOD!
XXII.
Come, let us fearch and try our Ways,
And turn unto tie LORD!
And humbly beg forgiving Grace,
According to his Word.
XXIII.
Come, let us all before his Throne 4
Pour out our fervent Cries j
And plead the Merits of his SON,
Where all his Treafure lies.
XXIV.
Let's give him Reft by Night nor Day,
'Till he in Mercy hears,
And turns his dreadful Wrath away
And calms our gloomy Fears.
XXV.
Then, then the great JEHOVAH will
I With us make his Abode ;
And this fhall be a chofen Ifle
Unto the LORD our GOD.
XXVL
XXVI.
But if his Goodnefs will not melt
Our ftubborn frozen Hearts j
Then we for all our heinous Guilt
Muft meet our due Deferts.
xxvir.
And who can ftand before the Face
Of this Almighty LORD,
"When to avenge his injur'd Grace
He whets his glitt'ring Sword !
XXVIII.
Tremble, my Soul, to think on this,
And no more dare rebell :
Traitois he drove from higheft Blifs
Down to the lowefl Hell.
XXIX.
O, that we all may "Warning take,
Each darling Sin to hate !
Grant this, O LORD, for JESU'S Sake,
Btfore it be too late.
VIII. "Profe/brs excited to Piety, and Sinners
TO Repentance :
From feveral SCRIPTURES.
A L L ye who dare profefs
To bear the Christian Name,
Let nothing that's unclean poflefs
A Dwelling in your Frame.
II.
SacreA to Chriftian Devotion and Piety. 21
II.
Let all your Thoughts be pure.
And all your Words be true j
And let your Actions all procure
Bright Characters for you.
III.
Let your Example Ihine
In all Men's Sight fo fair,
That all may own the Stamp divine
That is imprinted there*
IV.
Think on the facred Ties,
By which your Souls are bound j
And think upon th' alpiercing Eye
That fees you all around.
V.
Think on that awful Day
That haftens on apace,,
When Heatfn and Earth /hall pafs away
Before the Ju&gfs Face.
VI.
Think on thofe Words, Well donej*
Which lhall by Chrifl be fpoke
To ev'ry true and faithful One
Belonging to his Flock.
VII.
" Come, ye belov'd of GOD,
" I'm come to fet you free $
* Ye have the Paths of Duty trod,
Now you ihall reign with me."
2Z DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Parti.
VIII.
O ! what tranfporting Joys
This will to Saints afford,
To hear their 'dear Redeemer's Voice
Invite them to his Board !
IX.
But, O ! the cutting Words
That Hypocrites muft hear !
'T^ill pierce their Hearts like flaming Swords
With Horror and Defpair.
X.
" Depart from me ! depart !
" Ye Hypccrites, and dwell
*' With Devils (this is your Defert)
" Down in loweft Hell. "
XI.
O Sinners, Warning take !
O Saints, be drawn by Love f
Sinners, behold the fiery Lake !
Saints, view the Crowns above !
XII.
O/ may this kind Advice
Be on your Hearts impreft,
By him who makes the Simple wife,
And gives the Weary Reft!
XIII.
Come, O celeftial Dove,
Thy Influence impart/
*Tis thou muft make the Wheels to move,
And quicken ev'ry Heart.
XJV
Sacred to Chriftian Devotion find Piety.
XIV.
Abundantly impart
Thy kind enliv'ning Grace/
Then fhall we run with chearful Hearr,
Nor tire, nor lofe the Race.
IX. T'be diftinguijhing love of GOD ; 0r, An-
gels punijfj'd and Men Javed.
I.
DOWN from their native Skies
Th' apoflate Angels fell j
And Thunder-Bolts of largeft Size
Perfu'd them down to Hell/
II.
There do the Traytors lie,
Bound with immortal Chains /
And muft thro' all Eternity,
"Where boundlefs Horror reigns.
III.
Juftice did on them feize
With fierce revengful Breath :
No Ranfom's offer'd to appeafe
For them it's dreadful Wrath.
IV.
But, Oh! the matchlefs Grace
Of GOD the fov 'reign LORD,
That pity'd Man's rebellious Race t
Who difobey'd his Word/
24 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part I.
V.
For Men he freely fent
His dear beloved SON,
To bear their dreadful Puniftiment,
And for their Guilt atone.
VI.
Oh/ the amazing Love
That filled the SAVIOUR'S Heart!
That made him leave his Throne above,
To die for Man's Defert.
VII.
For poor unworthy Worms
Of jfdam's fallen Race,
"What "Wonders his rich Love performs/
His rich abundant Grace.
VIII.
The Law would not abate
One Afite, but all muft die,
Except a Ranfom infinite
Would Juftice fatisfy.
IX.
Then, lo, Emanuel comes
With Piry in his Eyes,
And Man\ frail Nature he affumes,
And in their flead he dies.
X.
Now fee him rife again,
At GOD'S Right-Hand he ftands,
And pleads the Merits of his Pain,
And their Releafe demands.
Xf.
. Sacred /o-Chriftian Devotion And . Piety. 25
XI.
O ! Love beyond Degree !
Be Heav'n and Earth amaz'd,
To fee him bleeding on the Tree,
For finful Worms abas'd/
XII.
Thus did the Father give
His ^Darling, to redeem
All 'Penitents that do believe
Unfeinedly on Him.
XIII.
But, O celeftial Dove,
Thy quickening Pow'rs impart!
And with true Faith, and heav'nly Love,
Fill my degen'rate Heart.
XIV.
Elfe all this Love's in vain
To poor unworthy, me,
Unlefs I'm truly born again,
And fan&ified by thee.
XV.
My bafe corrupted #?//,
And all it's Powers controul 5
And with thy heav'nly Graces fill
My vile polluted Soul.
XVI.
Then with thy new born Race
Of Worjhippers on high,
I'll join to praife Redeeming Grace
Thro' all Eternity.
D X. The
26 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Parti.
X. The fame ; or, the Jufticc and Good-
nefs of GOD.
I.
O W N from the Top of heav'nly Blifs
Th' apoftate Angeh fell 5
And Juftice doom'd the trayt'rous Race
Down to the loweft Hell.
II.
So on the Top of earthly Blifs,
Lo, our firft Tarents ftood ,
But foon they loft their Taradtfe,
By Sin againil their GOD.
III.
So Juftice alfo doom'd our Race
To HelPs infernal Pit,
Except a SAVIOUR in our Place
Would pay the utmoft Mite.
IV.
But, Oh ! for ever be ador'd
The Riches of his Grace,
Who fent a SAVIOUR and reftor'd
Our guilty fallen Race \
V.
JESUS the everlafting GOD,
Whom ^Angel-Minds adore,
Affum'd our Flejh, and fhed his Shod,
Our Ruin to reftore !
VI-
Sacrtd to Chriftian Devotion and Piety. 27
VI.
Juftice did lay it's dreadful Stroke
Upon his guilrlefs Head !
He bore the Curfe, the legal Toke
In finful Mortal's flead!
VII.
For this, ye Saints for ever raife
Your thankful Voices high;
And fing your great REDEEMER'S Praife,
Thro' all Eternity.
XL MECHANICAL EXERCISE
Ap$1>ie<H to Devotion and Piety 5
OR, THE
Weaver's Meditations.
MEDITATION I.
On the Uncertainty of LIFE.
I.
HILST here I hang 'twixt Earth andSkies,
A Monitor before mine Eyes,
Urges his Way with earneft Hafte,
To Jhew how fail my Moments wafte.
II.
Yet is this Monitor too flow,
The Swiftnefs of my Time to IhoW 5
For oft he intermits his Courfe,
But my Days run with conftant Force.*
D 2 III. My
JOB. TJi. .
28 DIVINE MISCELLANIES. [Part I.
III.
My Soul! what Leflbn fiiould'ft thou learn
from this fo awful a Concern?
Thou know'ft not if one Moment more
Is now allotted to thy Score !
IV.
Then with what Diligence and Care
Should'ft thou for thy great Change prepare ?
Redeem the Time that yet remains,
iNegleft no Means, and fpare no Pains!
V.
Lift up, my Soul, thy fluggifii Eyes,
And view by Faith the glorious Prize
Laid up in Heav'n, for only them,
That faithful follow CHRIST the LAMB.
VI.
Hark what the LORD thy SAVIOUR faith,
" Jftkcu art faithful to the ZDeatb,
** jiCrovm tf Life Til give to thee,
*' And tkoujhaU live, yea reign <ositb me."*
VII.
LORD, I would run at thy Command
To leach this Cro*xn at thy Right-Hand,
But, ah! dear LORD, I daily find
The Fetters of a carnal Mind !
VIII.
A {lift me, LORD, elfe all is vain 5
Do thou my wand'ring Feet reftrain:
O wafh me in atoning Blood,
And fit me for thy bleft Abode !
IX. I
* Rev. ii. 1C;
Sacred to Chriftian Devotion and Piety. 29
IX.
I then in fweet celeftial Lays,
"With grateful Heart fhall fing thy Praife 5
Yea, with thy brighteft Saints above,
I'll vie to praife Redeeming Love.
MEDITATION II.
Bewailing my own
UNCONSTANCY.
I.
YI/"HiLST here I hang 'twixt Earth and Skies,
Fain would my Spirit upward rife,
And with my Contemplation rove
Thro' all the Realms of Biffs above.
II.
Fain would I view the glorious Place,
"Where JESUS /hews his fmiling Face 5
And all his happy Saints above,
How they rejoice, and praife, and love/
III.
Fain would I learn of them to praife
My GOD in fweet celeftial Lays,
Before I quit this heavy Clay,
And mount to Realms of endlefs %)ay.
IV.
When to thefe Things I lift mine Eye*,
All earthly Glories I defpife 5
And count the brighteft Scenes beiow
All but a vain and empty Show.
V. Then
V
30 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part I.
V.
Then do I dream the Monfter Sin
Is dead (that lurk'd fo long within.)
.Each vain Delight 1 lov'd before,
\Yith all my Heart I then abhor.
VI.
Then am I fill'd with Extafies,
But, ah, how foon the Rapture dies/
How foon this heav'nly Frame departs,
^hen Sin begins to try its Arts. -
VII.
Sometimes by Frowns, fometimes by Smiles,
This World my fickle Mind beguiles 5
"While Satan (by malicious Arts)
Doth often throw his poifon'd Darts.
VIII.
But ftill, alafs, above the Reft,
The Traitor dwells within my Breaft /
This wicked Heart, alaf*, I find
Is more deceitful than the Wind.
IX.
Then like the Sow that hath been wafti'd,
Into the Mire again I'm daih'd /
My tow 'ring Hopes are funk again,
And I am drown'd in Sin and Pain.
X.
And muft it, LORD, be always fo,
"Whilft I'm a Sojourner below ?
O/ fpeak but one Sin conqu'ring Word,
And ev'ry Luft ihall be abhor'd.
XI. Come,
Sacred to Chriftian Devotion and Piety. 31
XI.
Come, holy Spirit, and remain
With me, not like wayfaring Men
That tarry only for a flight*
And thence depart by Morning-Light.
XII.
In me, LORD, chufe thy fixt Abode j
Make me a Temple for my GOD :
Ereft thy Throne within my Heart,
And never, never! more depart.
MEDITATION III.
Exciting to DILIGENCE in Duty.
I.
"D E T W I X T the Earth and Skies I hang,
My Feet upon the yielding Poles 5
"Whilft the fwift Meflenger I fling
Reminds me how each Moment rolls.
II.
Then, O my Soul, with equal Hafte
Improve- thy Moments as they fly j
For this frail Life will foon be paft,
And then comes on Eternity !
in.
And think, my Soul, how much is gone
Of this fhort Life, in youthful Toys !
And think how little thou haft done
To fit thee for eternal Joys !
IV. Let
32 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [ Part I.
IV.
Let this excite thy Diligence,
To fit thee for thy heav'nly Home ;
And dote no more on Things of Senfe,
But walk by Faith for Time to come.
V.
But, LORD, if thou doft not reflrain
My wand'ring Feet, I am undone:
Let JESV'S Blood wafh every Stain,
And for my num'rous Sins atone.
VI.
Then fliall I run with chearful Feet
In thy Commands, O GOD of Grace !
When fill'd with all thy Graces fweet,
And cloth'd with JESU'S Righteoufnefs.
VII.
But, LORD, I totally depend
On thee for Righteoufnefs and Strength,
To bring me to my Journey's End,
Thro' this dark Wildernefs at length.
VIII.
Then when 1 meet thy Saints on high, .
"Who now my dear Companions are,
We'll fpend a whole Eternity,
Thy matchlefs Goodnefs to declare !
XI.
With what unfpeakable Delight,
JESUS, fhall we thy Name adore,
Who brought us to the Realms of Light,
Redeena'd from Sin and Satan's Pow'r!
MED. IV.
SttcreA to Chriflian Devotion and Piety. 33
MEDITATION IV.
CONTENTMENT.
i.
T O, here I fit, or rather hang,
^ And whilft the Shuttle fwiftly flies,
With chearful Heart I work and fing,
And envy none beneath the Skies,
II.
"When I on Contemplation's Wings,
Thro' heav'nly Objects fweetly rove,
Thrones, Sceptres, Crowns of earthly Kings,
I count unworthy of my Love !
!
Could I but .fee my JESUS Smile,
And hear him whifper, " Thou art mine. 1 '
This World with all its Pomp and Spoil,
Moft gladly could I then refign !
IV.
Let others feek for Corn and Wine,
And Earth with all it's mighty Store 5
Let JESUS fay but, " I am thine."
I'll anfwer, LORD, I ask no more!
V.
If thou art mine I'm fafe and bleft,
I charge my Heart no more to rove :
Here fix, my Soul, thy fettl'd Reft,
And never feek another Love.
VI. LORI>>
34 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part I.
VI.
LORD, if I'm thine, and thou art mine,
What can my Soul defire befide !
All other Things I now refign,
If thou confent I'm fatisfy'd.
VII.
But, LORD, my Truft is in thy Name ;
I dare not truft my own falfe Heart,
To keep in this celeflial Frame,
If thou, my GOD, my All, depart.
V1IJ.
Imprifon me in thine Embrace,
Nor let my Faith e'er lofe thy Sight,
'Till I ihall fee thee Face to Face,
fn Realms of everlafting Light.
XII. A S O N G of Praife to G o D
for bis innumerable Mercies to Soul and Body.
I.
T ORD, the rich Favours of thy Hand
Should 1 attempt to number o'er,
I might as eafy count the Sand
That crouds upon the ebbing Shore.
II.
'Twas thou, my GOD, my Being gave,
And ftamp'd thine Image on my Frame :
And ev'ry Gift that I receive,
Thou art the Giver of the fame.
III. While
Sacred to Chriftian Devotion and Piety. 35
irr.
While in the Secret Womb I lay,
Thy Hand did form each fev'ral Part:
My Subftance thou didft then furvey,
And finifh'd with unerring Art.
IV.
My tender Life thou then didft fpare,
Before I to the Light did come >
And 1 was caft upon tby Care,
Ev'n from my tender Mothers Womb.
V.
My num'rous Wants on ev'ry Side,
Before I could the fame exprefs,
My GOD, thy gracious Hand fupply'd,
And fuccour'd me in all Diftrefs.
VI.
Thus thro* my tender Infant Age,
Thy Hand hath been my Guard and Guide 3
And ftill thro' Life's advancing Stage,
Thy Mercies have been multiply 'd.
VIL
And what innumerable Snares,
Seen, and unfeen have t efcapt,
Thro' thefe my few revolving Years,
Becaufe thy Hand me fafely kept.
vnr.
For thefe thy temp'ral Favours, LORE,
I owe eternal Thanks to thee ;
But when 1 read thy holy Word,
Still greater Miracles 1 fee,
IX. Here
36 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part I.
IX.
Here I'm inform'd how Adam fell,
And did thy holy Law tranfgrefs 5
And thereby was condem'd to Hell,
Both he, and all his future Race.
X.
And here I'm told how thou haft fent
Thy Son to fuffer in the Place
Of all who truly do repent,
Believe, and truft the Plan of Grace.
XI.
By thefe thy glorious Myft'ries, LORD,
Which thus thou haft reveal'd to me,
My finking Hopes thou haft reftor'd,
That I thy Face in Peace might fee.
XII.
Again I would adore thy Grace,
That did reftrain my wand'ring Feet,
"When 1 the Paths of Sin did trace,
So dangerous, and yet fo fweet !
XIIL
Oft haft thou made my Confcience fpeak,
And check my bafe corrupt Defires,
"When I thy holy Laws did break
\Vith vile licentious youthful Fires I
XIV.
But ah, how often have I broke
Thy holy Laws, my folemn Vows !
And from my Neck /hook oft" thy Yoke,
And did the Road to Ruin chufe.
XV. LORD,
Sacred to Chriftian Devotion and Piety. 37*
XV.
LORD, hadft thou left me thus to run
In the broad Path I lov'd fo well,
I might have long ere now been gone
Down to the dark Abyfs of Hell !
XVI.
LORD, I adore thy matchlefs Love,
That check'd my vicious Pow'rs fo ilrong 5
But when I join thy Saints above,
My Soul fhall raife a fweeter Song.
XVII.
But, LORD, thou know 'ft my Strength is frail;
My wand'ring Feet are prone to flray ;
Corruptions oftentimes prevail,
And drag me Hill the downward Way.
XVIII.
O let thy Spirit guide me Hill
In Paths of Truth, in Paths of Grace,
'"fill I upon thy holy Hill
Shall ft and compleat in Right eoufnefs.
XIX.
Then /hall 1 join thy glorious Throng
Of Saints upon the heav'nly Shore,
And with unfainting Heart and Tongue,
Thy matchlefs Love in CHRIST adore.
XX.
Oh / could I then devife a Song
Proportionable to thy Love>
It would furpafs each heavenly Tongue,
And ev'ry golden Harp above.
E XIII. The
38 D i v i K E M i s c E L L A N I E s, [Part I.
XIII. The STRUG G LINGS of
FJe/b and Spirit.
I.
ALAS, LORD, how my feeble Soul
Doth totter to and fro j
Unftable as the Waters roll,
When ftormy Tempefts blow !
II.
Sometimes I think the Monfter Sin
Shall lord it here no more :
And then I joyfully begin
On Wings of Faith to foar.
III.
My chearful Soul does then rejoice
To wing its heav'nly Way :
The LORD is then its only Choice,
My joyful Heart can fay.
IV.
Thus, LORD, when thou doft on me fliine,
With Beams of heav'nly Giace j
All other Loves I can refign,
And thee alone embrace.
V.
Then fill'd with Joys divinely fweet,
I hope 1 never more
Shall yield to Sin, whofe bafc Deceit
Imangled me before.
VI. Bur,
Sacred to Chriftian Devotion and Piety. 39
VI.
But, ah, how foon I grow fecure,
And think all Danger's o'er :
I think my Standing is fo fure,
That I ihall fall no more.
VII.
But, ah, how foon my rifing Flight
Is dallied down again !
My Day is turned into Night,
My Pleafure into Pain.
VIII.
Into the Gulph of Sin again,
I'm plunged Head and Ears!
And then there's nothing doth remain,
But gloomy Doubts and Fears.
IX.
When e'er I think myfelf moft fafe,
Then is my Danger moft:
Straight comes an overwhelming Wave,
And all my Strength is loll.
X.
Then am I fill'd with Fear and Grief:
Sad State thu I am in !
"While Doubts and Fears and Unbelief,
Still aggravates my Sin.
XI.
But, O, the Goodnefs of the LORD!
How wond'rous great to me,
He fpeaks a kind reviving Wordj
And fets the Captive fr^e.
E 2 XII. Thus
40 D i v i N E MISCELLANIES, [ Part 1.
XII.
Thus quicken'd by his gracious Word,
My Soul revives again :
Forever bletfed be the LORD,
"Who thus removes my Pain.
XIII.
Then I my bafe Ingratitude,
"With hearty Grief deplore /
Bccaufe I've fin'd againft my GOD,
Myfelf I do abhor.
XIV.
Then Sin in it's own native Hu3,
Appears before mine Eyes ;
And I with humble Giief review
My pall Iniquities.
XV.
Then I refolve with all my Heart,
Never to ftray again :
Kever from rhee, my GOD, to part,
But conilant Watch maintain.
XVI.
The Thought of finning any more,
Seems "worfe than 1)eatk to me :
This Traytor $, LORD, I abbor
That hath offended thee.
XVII.
Then lo, I think the Serpent\ Head
I've got beneath my Feet/
My vicious Lufts are now all dead :
The Vid'ry is compleat !
XVIII. But
Sacred to ChriiHan Devotion and Piety. 4*
XVIII.
But ah, how quickly I forget
My folemn Voivs and T'ies,
When Sin does me again befet
With all its Subtleties.
XIX.
My ftrongeft Efforts then I find
Too weak to Hand its Wiles :
It fteals upon my fickle Mind,
And all my Pow'rs beguiles.
XX.
Thus am I daily brought to fee
How feeble, LORD, I am,
My Strength depends alone on thee,
My Hope is in thy Name.
XXI.
Look down, LORD, with a gracious Eye,
And Pity on me take :
Pafs all my Black Offences by,
For my dear JESU'S Sake.
XXII.
And let thy Spirit guide my Feet
In Paths of Righteoufnefs, .
Till I fhall reach the golden Street,
And Stand before thy Face.
XXIII
Then fhall I with nnwav'ring Heart
Thy Praifes, LORD, proclaim,
With Saints and Angels bear a Part,
To magnify thy Name.
E 3 Oh
42 B i v 1 N E MISCELLANIES, [Part I.
XXIV.
Oh, with what Tranfports fhall I tell
Thy wond'rous \Yoiks above ;
My Soul redeero'd from Sin and ////,
By Wifdom, To-iv'r and Zoiv /
XXV.
To praife the glorious Three in One,
My thankful Soul Jhall vie
With thofe fweet Si tigers round thy Throne,
Thro' all Eternity.
XIV. Hypocrify common to all ; or
Weaknefs of FAITH lamented.
! 'jiv'i '/at -(t ^
.ib'X
A LAS/ how, weak is all our Faith
In our CREATOR GOD !
How we deferve his dreadful Wrath,
And his avenging Rod-
II.
'NYhen we approach before the Face
Of our fuperiour Worms,
How caretully we ftrive tu place
Our "Words, and Modes and Forms.
IJJ,
We fear left we, let (lip. a Word,
That may offend their Ear:
And left our Manners feem abfurd,
We take abundant Care.
IV. Now
Sacred to Chriftian Devotion and Piety: 43
IV.
Now did we but as firm believe
That GOD'S alfeeing Eye,
Did all our Thoughts, Words, Deeds perceive,
And that continually:
V.
And that we muft ere long be brought
Before his awful Bar y
To give Account of each vain Thought,
And Word, and Aclion there :
VI.
Then how fincere and uprightly
Sould we ourfelves demean,
Before the LORD, whofe holy Eye
Abhors the fmalleft Sin.
VI I.
Should we not then confounded lie,
And blu/h before his Face; ,
And be afham'd to lift an Eye
Toward his holy Place?
VIII.
But, ah, how carelefly can we
Approach his Throne of Grace ;
Becaufe our carnal Eyes can't fee
J
Our great CREATOR'S Face.
JX.
But, if we were now to appear
Before an earthly King*
Our Suit to oft'er to his Ear,
For fome important Thing :
X. Then
44 DIVINE MISCELLAK IE s, [Pan I .
X.
Then with what Diffidence and Fear,
Should we approach his Throne !
And with what low Submiflion there,
Make our Petition known.
XI.
Thus partially we rev 'ranee more
Our fellow Worms of Clay,
Than ev'n the LORD, whofe fov'reign Pow'r
The Univerfe doth fway.
XII.
Put, ah, what bafe Hyfofrify y
Is this before the LORD !
Before whofe quick alpiercing Eye,
All Falfhood is abhor'd.
XIII.
Alas! alas! what faithlefs Worms,
Are all our fallen Race,
How we th* old Serpent's Will perform,
And well deferve his Place !
XIV.
Remove our flupid Madnefs, LORD,
And bafe ingratitude 5
Then (hall we love thy Holy Word
More than our daily Food.
XV.
O! were our Faith ftrong as our Senfe,
How chearful fhould we run
In thy Commands! not flee from thence ;
Thy Will, LOKD, ftiould be done.
XVI.
Sacred to Chrjflian Devotion and Piety. 45
XVI
Objefts of Senfe attraft our Eyes,
"With fair deceitful Toys 5
And Things unfeen we then defpife,
Ev'n everlafting Joys.
xvir.
Nay, LORD, thy Threat'nings too are vajn,
To make our Spirits move ;
V* Hie dead and faithlefs we remain,
We neither fear nor love.
xvm.
Quicken our droufy Faith, O LORD !
Make all the Wheels to move ;
Then ihall we run with one Accord,
And work with filial Love.
XIX.
O! fend thy fweet celeftial DOVE,
Our Spirits to enflame j
Then ihall we no more faithlefs prove,
But love and fear thy Name.
XX.
'Till Faith /hall be exchang'd for Sight,
Upon the heav'nly Shore 5
Then fhall we gaze with fweet Delight,
Our Hearts prove falfe no more.
xxr.
Then perfect Love /hall fill the Place
That Faith was in below :
Our Souls fhall praife thy matchlefs Grace,
And no Mifgivings /how.
XV. The
46 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part I.
XV. The Happinefs ofGofipd Enjoyments;
Or, tbefirft 'Fruits of HEAVEN.
Written in the Tofifcript of a L E T T E R to a Friend.
I.
C\ Happy People, where the LORD
Unveils his fmiling Face !
Where he reveals his favirg Word,
And iheds abroad his Grace.
II.
This is the higheft Scene of Blifs
We Mortals can enjoy :
The Dawn of hsav'nly Mirth, it is
Where PJeafures never cloy.
m.
Then let us thankfully improve
His Grace fo richly Hied 3
And never more prefume to rove
From CHRIST our living Head'
IV.
O let us never reft at Eafe
Upon this earthly Clod,
But ftill prefs on from. Grace to Grace,
'Till we approach our GOD.
V.
'Till we /hall fee him Face to Face,
With all his Glories on,
And dwell in that delightful Place
Before his glorious Throne.
VI. There
Sacrel to Chriftun Bcrotrtn ' ZTLl !>Uty\ 47,
There /hall we range th' ftberial
Thofe glorious Realms above !
There /hall we breath celeftial Strains,
And ev'ry Thought be Love.
VII.
There with the dngeh we /hall fing,
And with the Saints /hall praife,
JESUS, our 'Prophet, (Priefl and Kin^
In everlafting Lays.
VIII.
Nor /hall the fweet Employment tire,
Or e'er give Caufe of Pain j
But at the Height of fweet Deiire
We ever /hall remain.
JX,
O happy Time ! when /hall it be!
When /hall our Soul afpire
To that delightful Company,
And help to fill the Choir.
X.
O, may thefe Thoughts cheer up our Minds,
-And bear our Souls above
Thefe high and rough tempeft'ous "Winds,
That would disburb our Love,
Xf.
O! who wouJd not defpife the Toys,
And Vanities on Earth,
To be partakers of thefe Joys,
Ev'n eveilafting Mirth.
XII. Who
84 DIVIE MISCELLANIES, [Part I
XII.
"Who would not fuffer any Pains,
And bear a Crofs with Joy,
That fees the Reft which there remains
Laid up for Saints on high ?
XIII.
Nay, who would not for JESU'S Sake
(Were no Reward in View)
Lay down their Lives ev'n at the Stake,
Their faithful Love to fhew !
XIV.
Small were this Love compar'd with his
Ten Thoufand Lives to give,
"Who for his bitter Enemies
Did die that they might live.
XV.
O, wond'rous Love beyond compare,
Let ev'ry Soul admire.
And thofe that hope therein to fhare
Still imitate it nigher.
XVI.
Now may the GOD oi<Peace remain
With you a conftant Gueft,
Till Death /hall break your
And fend you fafe to Reft.
A
XVL Ttie
Sacred to Chriftian Devotion and Piety. 49
XVI. The Believer's Triumph, over the
Troubles of this Life.
Written in the Poft-fcript of a Letter, to my ho-
noured PARENTS in Scotland, about the 'Be-
ginning of that unnatural Rebellion y 1745,
I.
f"\ happy Souls, whofe Peace is made
With GOD, thro' JESU'S Blood!
Safely they fit within the Shade,
When Terrors are abroad.
II.
No Troubles can affright their Souls,
Or tempt them to defpair :
In darkeft Nights when Tempefts roll
They fee the Havens fair.
III.
They know their Houfe on Earth that ilands
"Will no long Time endure ;
'But they've a Houfe not made -with Hands,
In Heaven eternal fure.
IV.
They long for the commanding Word
To drop their heavy Clay,
And be forever with the LORD
In Realms of endlefs Day.
V.
Tho' they in fiery Chart OH ride-
To their eternal Reft j
Their Faith and Patience thus are tryM,
And they forever bleft.
F VI. Let
50 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part I.
VI.
Let Faith and Patience then endure,
Thefe Pains will foon be paft,
And then the Pleafures they enfure
Eternally fhalllaft!
vi r.
Then fear not fuffering, no nor Death,
Nor ought that Men can do :
Believe in GOD with fteady Faith,
His Arm fhall bear you thro'.
XVII. Another Poft-fcript of a LETTER,
To my honour'' d P A RENT sand FRIENDS /* Scot-
land, 1746, before the Rebellion was quell' d
1LT OLD out, Faith, and Tatience too,
Thefe /hort Troubles to go thro':
Soon they will be over-paft,
And Salvation ye /hall tafte.
Think upon the great Reward,
To be ever with the LORD !
To behold his fmiling Face,
And adore his matchlefs Grace /
"With the Saints and Angels fing
Hallelujah's to your King !
Endhfs will thefe Pleafures be,
Void of Sin and Mifery !
Yield n.)t then, nor be afraid,
But implore JEHOVAH'S Aid,
To afiift you in your Race,
With his alfufficient Grac*.
Thui
Sacred to Chriflian Devotion and Prety. 51
Thus implore with one Accord,
** Grant us Faith and Patience, LORD" j
** For alas, without thy Grace,
" We fhall faint and lofe the Race :
" But if thou wilt Grace afford,
" We /hall then obey thy Word :
" No more fhall we yield to Fear,
* Knowing thou art ever near.
" LORD thou art our mighty Friend,
" O, affift us to the End !
" Then fhall we thy Name adore,
" When we reach the heav'nly ihore t
** Joyfully we then fhall fing,
u Praife to thee, our heav'nly King.
XVIII. The PLEASURE of
PUBLICK WORSHIP
From PSALM Ixxxiv. i, 2, 10, 7, J2
I.
TJ O W amiable are thy Courts,
O LORD of Hofts, to me,
When thither my glad Soul reforrs,
And holds Converfe with thee !
II.
But when by Providence my Feet
Are kept from thine Abode,
With pantin g Heart I long to meet,
Thy Prefence, O my GOD !
F 2 HI. Much
52 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part I.
III.
Much rather would I keep the Door
\Vhere thou delights to dwell,
Than fhine in Courts bedeck'd with Ore
Amongft the Heirs of Hell.
IV.
S'OKy O fweet delightful Place !
There would my Soul abide,
And live upon the Feafts of Grace,
Thy King does there provide.
V.
Thrice happy he, O GOD of Hoft,
V\ hofe Hope is in thy Name :
His Soul /hall in a SAVIOUR boaft,
Nor be expos'd to fhame.
XIX. ^ SONG of Praife and Thankf-
giving to GOD,
Tor the Viftory obtained over the Rebels at
Culloden-Moor, April the ibtb 1746.
I.
T OR D, thou haft heard our humble Cries,
Ami feen our flowing: Tears ;
And fent Deliverance from the Skies,
To chafe our gloomy Fears.
II.
When Savage-'Beafts in humam Shape
In numerous Swarms did roar 5
And wide their yawning Jaws did gape,
Thy People to devour.
III. LORD,
to Chrlftian Devotion and Piety. 53
III.
LORD, thou didft ftop their threat'ning Breath,
By thine almighty Pow'r 5
And fav'd us from the Jaws of Death
In the diftreflive Hour!
IV..
Our Lives, our Laws, out Liberties-}
Our All had been their Prey,
Had not the LORD (to their Surprize)
Appear'd for us that Day.
V.
So, LORD, as thou our all didft fave
From their devouring Jaws,
We now devote the All we have
To thee, who gaia'd our Caufe.
VI.
[Thefe Savage-BeaJls (unus'd to fear)
Did flee before our Face 5 j
Becaufe thou didft for us appear,
And put them to Difgrace.
VII.
Let others boaft of Strength and Skilly
But we will praife the LORD,
"Who guards us fafe from ev'ry 111:
His Name ihall be ador'd.]
VIII.
Oh ! let us never more forger
"What to the LORD we owe,
Who did our haughty Foes defeat
With fuch a humbling Blow.
* 3 Oh!
54 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Parti.
IX.
Oh! ye, who humbly fought his Face
In that diftreflive Hour ;
Forget not now to praife his Grace,
His Wifdom, Love and Power.
X.
Remember now the Vows ye made,
Amidft your Fear and Grief:
Now let your folemn Vows be paid,
To him who fent Relief.
XX. ^SERIOUS THOUGHT
On May tie qtb, 1747.
HP HIS Day arriv'd to twenty feven,
But, ah ! itill how unfit for Heaven !
How vain I've fpent my youthful Days !
Yet LORD, thy Vengeance ftill delays!
O may thy Goodntfs melt my Heart,
Ard make me from each Luft depart !
LORD, give me Giace now to abhor
Each tDellllah I lov'd before 5
And let CHRIST JESU'S Blood atone
For all the Follies I have done !
Tliis is the only Plea 1 have,
Whereby a Pardon I may crave :
O let me then by this prevail,
Mone can plead this aright and fail.
My
Sacred to Chriftian Devotion and Piety. 55
My next Petition LORD, I make
(And this likewife for JESU'S Sake)
Is that I may this Day begin
To live to Thee, and die to Sin :
And if thou doft prolong my Days,
Make me an Inftrument of Praife,
Till I am fitted to afpire,
And join the bright celeftial Choir,
XXI. <rte BENEFIT of
PUBLICK WORSHIP.
Or, a SONG of P R A I S E for the
L o R D ' s-D A Y Morning.
I.
f "T H I N K, O my Soul what thou doft lofe,
When abfent from thy Maker's Houfe,
"When he with fmiling Face defcends
To meet and blefs his faithful Friends !
II.
"Where e'er they meet for Praife or Pray'r,
The LORD is prefent with them there,
To hear their Praifes, and Complaints,
And to fupply their num'rous Wants.
III.
And is not his a gracious Ear,
He bids us ask and he will hear 5
Nor only hear, but our Requeft
Fulfil, if Wifdom fee it beft ?
IV.
56 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part I
IV.
Then let us to his Houfe repair
To offer up our Praife and Pray'r :
Humbly approach his Throne of Grace,
And feek the GOD of Jacob**, Face.
V.
Does not one Day to hear his Voice
Exceed a World of carnal Joys,
"Where brightest Scenes of Mirth appear,
That end in Trouble, Grief and Fear ?
VI.
Then joyful hail the facred Day,
On which he doth his Love difplay :
With chearful Hearts let us rejoice
This Day to hear our Maker's Voice.
VII,
This is the Day our JESUS rofe,
And vanqui/h'd all our dreadful Foes :
Then let us all rejoice to fing
Praife to the LAMB, our Heav'nly King!
VIII,
He broke the Prifon of the Gravf,
And Death a mortal Wound he gave :
Believers now triumphant fing,
'* O 'Death I where is thy bitter Sting ?
IX.
** O Grave ! where is thy Victory ?
" Our Bodies fafe in thee /hall lie,
" Till Chrift /hall ope our flumb'ring Eyes,
" And bid our fleeping Duft arife.
XX11.
Sacred to Chriftian Devotion and Piety. 57
XXIT.
On a LORD'S DAY Evening.
I.
A/f Y Soul, what haft thou learnt this Day ?
How far advanc'd thy heav'nly Way ?
One Sabbath mote thou haft enjoy'd,
But ah, how haft thou been employ'd ?
II.
Haft thou on Contemplation's Wings
Been foaring toward heav'nly Things,
And feeking for a bleft Abode
With thy REDEEMER, and thy GOD?
in.
What if this Sabbath now /hould be
The laft that thou on Earth muft fee,
Art thou prepared now to fpend
A Sabbath that ftiall never end ?
IV.
Hath Faith been aftive ? haft thou heaid
The Word of GOD, with due Regard?
And didftthou with a Heart fincere
Join in his Worfhip, Praife and Pray'r?
V.
Or haft thou run thefe Duties o'er
With thoughtlefs Heart as heretofore
Thou oft haft done ? O Confcience fpeak,
And faithfully my Errors check,
VI.
58 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part
VI.
My Soul, confider (ere too late)
The Danger of thy prefent State,
If Sin be not yet mortify'd
CHRIST'S Blood to thee is not apply'd
VII.
And if thou canft no Sweetnefs tafte
In holy Duties, then thou haft
No Title to the Joys above,
Where all is Praife and perfect Love.-
VIII.
My Soul, confider then thy Cafe,
"Whilft yet it is a Day of Grace,
Nor let foft Slumbers clofe thine Eye
'Till thou to CHRIST for Refuge fly.
IX.
Then fprinkled with atoning Blood,
Thou mayft lie down at Peace with GOD,
And take thy Reft and deep fecure,
Tho' thefe frail Eyes fhould wake no more.
XXIII. The GOO&XESS of GOD Recorded,
O R,
ASONG of PRAISE,
For Rain after a parching ^Drought, written on
that Occafion in May 1743.
I.
E Britons all, with one Accord,
Adore the Goodnefs of the LORD,
"Who reigns fupreme in Heav'n above,
Yet vifits Men with fpecial Love.
II. When
Sacred to Chriftian Devotion unit Piety. $$
II.
When Nature languifhing did mourn ;
The fields with parching Drought did burn,
His Mercy fent refre/hing Rain,
To chear the thirfty Earth again.
III.
The flow'ry Fields his Praife exprefs,
And Beafts who tafte the fpringing Grafs,
And Birds with chearful Voices fing
The Praifes of their heav'nly King.
IV.
Then fliall ungrateful Man refrain,
And have his Voice to fing in vain ?
Shall we who fhare his choiceft Love
The moft ungrateful Creatures prove?
V.
Oh, no ! with chearful Hearts rejoice,
And praife the LORD with thankful Voice !
Let every Sex, and every Age,
In this delightful Work engage.
VI.
Praife him who fends you frefh Supplies
Of Mercies daily from the Skies j
Nor let the Beaft untaught and rude
Upbraid your bafe Ingratitude.
VII.
' Life, Health, and Wealth, and daily Food,
And all we have we owe to GOD j
Then /hall our bafe ungrateful Tongues
Deny the Tribute of their Songs?
VIII. No!
6o DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Parti.
VIII.
No ! let^s thankfully record
The matchlefs Goodnefs of the LORD,
And all his wond'rous Mercies great
To every rifing Age repeat.
XXIV. 7%e unequal WAR; or, the Tower
and Goodnefs of Go D $ and the Folly and Mad-
tie fs of SINNERS in rebelling againft him:
From JOB. ix. 4. As the ii3th PSALM.
\\T H O e'er prefum'd the unequal War,
With his Creator GOD to jar,
And did obtain the Victory ?
What did old Lucifer obtain,
With all his great and mighty Train,
Who firft the foolifh Match did try ?
II.
When he in heav'nly Glory dwelt,
And no Pain but Ambition felt,
Becaufe he was not Head fupreme ;
He founded then his loud Alarms,
And call d his Legions all to Arms,
With lefty Hopes of mighty Fame.
III.
The great JEHOVAH with a Smile,
Their fruitlefs Hopes did foon beguile,
A Moment makes them all expire !
He needed not to lift his Rod,
But with an awful Frown or Nod,
He dafh'd them down to endlefs Fire!
There
Sacred to Chriftian Devotion and Piety. 6i
IV-
Ml
There do the wretched Traytors lief*-
And muft thro* all Eternity,
Bound fail with ftrong immortal Chains !
And ftill inftead of Hopes of Eafe,
Their Mif'ries constantly increafe,
Expelling daily fiercer Pains !
V.
And what did our firft Parents gain,
When they in ^Paradife did reign,
Bleft with immortal Life and Peace ?
"When they did venture to rebell,
How foon they from their Glory fell,
And ruin'd all their unborn Race 1
VI.
And what have any of their Seed
(Who did their foolifh Foot-Steps tread)
Gain'd by this mad unequal W r ar ?
Can any mighty mortal boaft
That he his MAKER'S Will hath croft,
Or did his glorious Purpofe mar ?
VII.
When he upon the winged Wind
Rides to fulfil fome grand Defign,
Who then can ftop his whirling Carr ?
Or when upon the raging Flame
He rides to vindicate his Name,
Who can withftand the Go D of War ?
G VIII. Le-
62 V D i v i N E MISCELLANIES, [Part.t.
VIII.
Legions of Angels round him ftand,
All ready arm'd at his Command,
His A&s of Juftice to perform !
Swifter than Lightning from the Skies,
Deftruflion darting from their Eyes,
To blaft the bold, the Rebel \Votm !
IX.
Then tremble, O you mortal Worms /
And now lay down your hoilile Arms
At your CREATOR'S awful Feet.
This is much brighter' Wifdom far,
Than thus t' attempt th' unequal War,
Againft a Being infinite /
X.
Come then, and bow before the LORD,
Before he draws his glitt'ring Sword,
For if his Fury once arife,
Ten thoufand Worlds will in his Hand
Be as a {ingle Grain of Sand,
That on proud J3eptune\ Margin lies !
XI.
Amazing Pow'r 5 yet richer Grace
Shines in our great CREATOR'S Face,
When he in CHRIST is reconcil'd I
"When a poor Penitent doth come
By Faith in CHRIST, he takes him Home,
And makes him his adopted Child !
XII. Such
Sacred to Chriftian Devotion and Piety. 63
XII.
Such is his Power, and fuch his Love,
The Eagle temper'd with the Dove,
A GOD of Power, a GOD of Grace/
Come then, my Soul, with holy Awe,
Let this thy beft AffeSions draw,
And humbly bow before his Face.
XXV. A SONG of PRAISE to GOD
r^L R E A T GOD, eternal, and fupreme,
Who can thy boundlefs Praife exprefs?
Thy brighteft Angels for this Theme
Their Infufficiency confefs,
II.
But ah, what then are Worms of Clay
To /hew the Glory of thy Name, .
When Angels in their bright Array
Can never grafp the mighty Thems !
III.
Juftice might pour devouring Flame
On us, in everlafting Showers,
Should we prefume to take thy Name
In fuch polluted Lips as ours.
IV.
But, LORD, fince thou deft condefcend
T' accept of Praife from Adam\ Race y
My Soul in fweet Amazement ftands
At tbis {urpriz-ing Stoop of Grace /
G z V. I
64 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part I
V.
I too would try to fpeak thy Praife,
Thou MAKER of my humble Frame 5
But ah, what Honours can I raife
To thy eternal glorious Name ?
VI.
For all the bright celeftial Choir
(So far furpaffing mortal Man)
Can ne'er advance thy Glory high'r
Than 'twas ere Time itfelf began /
VII.
My Soul's in Admiration loft,
"When I thy Greatnefs think upon :
The Grandeur of th' Angelic Holt,
And order of thy Heav'nly Throne /
VIII.
There thou the great JEHOVAH reign?,
MAKER of all created Things /
Immenfity alone contains
The LORD of LORDS, and KING of KINGS/
IX.
Thou art from all Eternity,
And to Eternity the fame /
All Things are naked to thine Eye,
And fubje& to thy Pow'r fupreme.
X.
Eternally thy Schemes were laid,
According to thy holy Will,
Before the Heav'ns or Earth was made :
A 11 Things thy Purpofes fulfill.
XI. There's
Sacred to Chriftian "Devotion and Piety. 65
XI.
There's not an la/eft, Worm, or F//V,
Bird, Beaft, or Man unknown to thee !
At thy Command they live and die,
According to thy great Decree !
XII.
Thy Wifdom, Pow'r, and Holinefs,
Juftice, and Truth, and Goodnefs fhine,
With Beams fo bright, none can exprefs
"Which Attribute is moft divine!
XIII.
"Who can by fearching find out Thee,
The great Infinite and Unknown?
In EfTence One, in Perfons Three,
Known only to thy felf alone !
XIV.
The Univerfe at thy Command
jRofe out of Nothing at thy Word !
And ftill the ipacious Fabrick flands,
To ihew the Glory of its LORD,
XV. ^
Each of thy Works proclaim thy Praffe,
According to their various Kinds :
How wond'rous are thy Works and Ways?
In all infinite Wifdom fhines !
XVI.
In Nature's Book I fee thy Face
With mofttranfcendant Luftre fhine 5
But when I read thy Book of Grace,
1 fee thy Glories more divine.
XVII. When
66 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part 1.
XVII.
When Faith beholds thy matchlefs Grace
Sending thy dear beloved SON?
To die for Alan's guilty Race, .
Who had themfelves by Sin undone.
XVIII.
Lo, here thy Wifdom, Pow'r and Love,
Seem each to vie which /hall out fhine ;
While Juftice does the Scheme approve,
And Truth Confirms the Al divine 1
XIX.
Here Angels wonder and adore
This matchlefs Stoop of Love divine j
Yet can they not the Depth explore 5
'Tis deep and high beyond their Line !
XX.
Yet jftill they gaze and wonder on,
And praife thy Name with fweet Delight 3
And own the Infinite Unknown
Is far above created Sight !
XXI.
LORD, I would alfo lift mine Eyes
To fee the Wonders thou haft done :
T' adore thofe glorious Mifteries,
Reveal'd to me by CHRIST thy SON.
XXII,
O ! draw me by the Cords of Love,
And teach me daily to afpire ;
'Till I'm prepar'd to dwell above,
And join the bright Angelic-Choir.
XXVI. AD-
Sacred to Chriftian Devotion and Piety ; 67
XXVI.
Advice to Youth ;
Or, Serious
EXHORTATIONS
To my own CHILDREN.
I. To my Son W I L L 1 A M y
Aged ii YEARS, 1754.
I.
1LL1AM my firil-born Son, attend
Upon the C^nfels of my Mouth:
Remember now thy latter End,
And thy CREATOR in thy Youth.
II.
Think now how much of Life is fpent
In Vanity, and childi/h Toys 5
And think how foon thou wilt be fent
To endlefs Woes, or endlefs Joys.
III.
Think alfo how unfit thou art
For fuch a vaft and dreadful Change 5
And how thy Soul from Fle/h muft part,
To trace a Road fo dark and ftrange !
IV. Then
68 DIVINE MISCBLLAISMES, [Parti.
IV-
Then if it's not prepar'd to dwell
With CHRIST, in everlafting Light j
Down to the dreadful Lake of Hell,
\\ith trembling it rauft take its Flight !
V.
Then think how Flefh and Soul muft meet,
And muft united be again 5
And ftand before CHRIRT'S Judgment Seat,
And thence be doorn'd to endlefs Pain !
VI.
Then down to the infernal Lake
United they muft trembling fly,
And there their dreadful Poition take,
And that through all Eternity !
VII.
And there in To-rments Night and Day
They muft endure an endlefs Storm j
For on the Vitals there will prey
The quenchlefs Fire, and deathlefs Worm !
VIII.
Then think how dreadful 'tis to die
Unfan&ify'd, and thus prepar'd
To launch into Eternity,
In Hell to have thy laft Reward !
IX.
O dreadful Thought ! forevermore
In Hell's infernal Chains to lie !
In endlefs Burnings there to roar,
And long for Death, yet never die !
X. This
Sacred to Chriftian Devotion and Piety. 69
X.
This is the Portion of all thofe
Who do againft the LORD rebell 5
And do not with his Go/pel clofe,
Their Part muft be the Lake of Hell.
XI.
Then, O my Son, I.pray be wife,
And with my Counfel now comply 3
So ihalt thou gain the glorious Prize,
Laid up with CHRIST above the Sky.
XII.
The Goffel is the Field wherein
The <PearIe ofgreateft 'Price is found ;
It leads us to the Flood whete Sin,
And Guilt fliall be forever drown'd.
XIII,
But know this is a fealed Book,
The Trcafure herein hidden lies $
So none can clearly therein look
Till GOD anoint their nat'ral Eyes.
XIV.
Then humbly bow before the Face
Of thy CREATOR, and implore
A Portion of his faving Grace,
To guide thee to the heav'nly Shore.
XV.
Then fee thou make GOD'S Word thy Rule 5
Invoke his Spirit for thy Guide :
Beg that he would conduct thy Soul
Where Streams of living Waters glide.
XVI. Ob-
70 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part I.
XVI.
Obferve what's in his Word forbid,
And what's commanded mind with Care ;
Thofe facred Truths fliall not be hid,
If fought with humble fervent Pray'r.
XVIF.
In Paths of Truth, in Paths of Grace,
Beg that the LORD would guide thy Way :
Nor in this World's dark Wilderneis,
Leave thee in Error's Path to ftray.
XVIII.
Thus humbly walk before thy GOD j
Obferve his Will with careful Eye j
So /halt thou find the narrow Road
That leads to endlefs Joys en high.
XiX.
There Sweets celeftial well refin'd
At GOD'S Right-hand forever dwell,
To feaft thyfelf immortal Mind,
Beyond what Thoughts, or Words can tell.
XX.
O then forfake each vain Delight,
And feek this blefl immortal Prize :
There's Day without fucceeding Night>
And pure unmixt eternal Joys.
II.
Sacred to Chriftian Devotion and Piety. 71
II. ft my Son J A M E <?,
Aged 9 TEARS, 1754.
* AMES, thou my Namefake, pray obey
J The Counfels that I give this Day :
This will make glad thy Father's Heart,
And Comfort to thyfelf impart.
II.
Remember thy Creator GOD,
Now in the 'Days of youthful Blood,
Before the evil Days draw on
When carnal Joys fhall all be gone.
III.
If thou feek not thy Maker's Grace,
Till 'Death ftiall ftare thee in the Face 5
Think then how dreadful it will be
To launch into Eternity !
IV.
Short is the Date of carnal Joys,
They're all but falfe and flatt'ring Toys :
The beft Enjoyment Earth affords
Are fainting Shadows, flatt'ring Words.
V.
Then, O my Son, fix not thy Heart
On Things that leave a lafting Smart j
But now in Youth fet thou thy Mind
On Pleafures folid and refin'd.
VI. But
72 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Parti.
VI.
But ask'ft thou where thefe Pleafures lie ?
I anfwer far above the Sky,
At GOD'S Right-hand 5 there Pleafures dwell,
Beyond the Pow'r of Tongues to tell.
VII.
But fay'ft thou, how /hall I get there,
And of thofe boundlefs Pleafures fhare ?
I'll fhow thee how thou mayft obtain
Thofe Joys that ever fhall remain:
VIII.
Begin betimes to feek the LORD,
And fearch the Treafures of his Word :
Oft humbly bow before his Face,
And beg a Portion of his Grace.
IX.
Beg that he early would begin
To kill in thee the Pow'r of Sin 5
And that he would thy Heart incline
To keep his Statutes all divine.
X.
Beg that he would on thee beftow
Thefe heav'nly Graces here below,
Faith, Knowledge, Zeal, Hope, Patience, Love,
And Glory with himfelf above.
XI.
Then ftill maintain a valiant Fight
Againft each carnal vain Delight :
A Fight againft each darling Sin,
And ftrive to keep thy Confcience clean.
XII. This
Sacred to Chriftian Devotion etncl Piety. 73
XII.
This is the Way t 'obtain the Prize,
Laid up with CHRIST above the Skies,
"Where everlafting Pleafures dwell,
Beyond the Pow'r of -Tongues to tell.
XIII.
If thus thou feek'ft thoufhalt obtain j
None ever truly fought in vain ;
No faithful Soul fhall ever find
The LORD unfaithful or unkind.
XIV.
But if thou doft my Words defpife,
And wilt not feek this glorious Prize,
Know then thy Place muft Ihortly be
In everlafting Mifery !
XV.
Children who ftubbornly reject
Their Parents Words, and ftill negleft
To feek the GOD of Jacob* & Face,
The Lakt of Hell muft be their Place :
XVI.
Where Fire and Brimftone's all their Fare,
With endlefs Wailing and Defpair !
Tea, endlefs Woe and conftant Grief,
Forbids their hoping for Relief.
XVIL
This is the Portion of all thofe,
Who do the Word of T'ruth oppofe :
But thofe who fear the LORD fhall find,
He's gracious, merciful and kind.
H XVIII. Thus
74 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part I.
XVIII.
Thus have I fet before thine Eyes,
Life and the bright immortal Prize 5
Death and the endlefs Pangs of Woe,
Let Reafon chufe which of the Two :
XIX.
For one of thefe muft furely be
Thy Portion thro' Eternity /
Then, O my Son, in Time be wife,
And chufe the bright immortal Prize,
XX.
Then let thy Lot be rich or poor,
Heav'n will be thy eternal Store :
True Pleafure /hall thy Life attend,
And Glory at thy latter End.
III. fo my Son J O H N.
Aged Seven Tears, 1754.
I,
*V0 HN, thou my Son, my fprightly &oy t
J Come hearken to my Voice j
Let pious Thoughts thy Mind employ,
And make the LORD thy Choice.
11.
Begin betimes to feek his Face,
And fear his holy Name:
This will afford thy Soul true Peace,
And keep thy Face from Shame,
III, Beg
S&cred to Chriftian Devotion and Piety, yc
III.
Beg that he would direcl thy Way
In Paths of Truth and Grace ;
Nor leave thy wand 'ring Feet to ftray
In this dark Wildernefs.
IV.
Strive daily more to know his \\ill,
In order to Obey 3
And beg that he thy Soul wou'd fill,
"With Grace from Day to Day.
V.
This is the Way to Happinefs,
"Where endlefs Pleasures dwell j
While Sinners, (who feek not his Grace,)
Are plunged into Hell.
VI.
There Fire and Brimftone on them rolls,
In one eternal Storm :
And Confidence preys upon their Souls
Like an immortal Worm !
VII.
Then, O my Son y be wife betimes,
And feek the heav'nly Prize 5
And Shun thofe bafe voluptuous Crimes
That would attract thine Eyes.
VIII.
Let no vain Thoughts thy Mind employ,
Nor foolifh Words thy Tongue :
Thy Parents fee that thou Obey,
That here thy Pays be long.
H z IX. Againft
76 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Parti.
IX.
Againft all foolifh empty Toys,
Maintain a conftant Fight :
"With wicked rude mifchievo^s Boys,
See thou take no Delight.
X.
Vain Pleafures are the worft of Foes,
That War againft the Soul 5
And if thou doft not them oppofe,
They will thee foon controul.
XI.
Then ftill implore thy Maker's aid,
To guide thy wand'ring Feet 5
So fhalt thou in due time be made
A Conqueror complete.
XII.
Come then, my So y in early Years, -
Begin to fear the LORD :
This will prevent a thoufand Snares,
And heav'nly Joys afford.
XIII.
Think now what Pleafure and Content
'Twill yield in antient Days,
To fee that all thy Life was fpent
In holy pious Ways !
XIV.
Or if the LORD fliould fee it beft,
In Youth to cut thee down,
The fooner thou wilt be at Reft 5
The fooner reach thy Crown :
XV. For
Sacred to Chriilian Devotion and Piety. 77
XV.
For there are glorious Crowns prepar'd
For ev'ry faithful One,
"Who truly loves and fears the LORD,
"When mortal Life is gone.
XVI.
Nor are celeftial Joys conce.al'd
'Till up to Heav'n they go 5
But heav'nly Joys are oft reveal'd
To Saints while here below.
XVII.
But thofe who do forfake the LORD,
Or never feek his Grace,
Shall be eternally abhor'd,
And banifti'd from his Face.
XVIII.
Down in th black infernal Lake,
7 <r * f\
They muft forever dwell,
"Who will not here a Warning take,
And Ihun the Road to Hell,
IV. To my Son L .4 Z A R U S,
Aged 5 YEARS. 1754.
I.
*T ORD-Help, is thy dear Name,
*-* O, may thy Nature be
Renew'd by Grace, to feek the fame,
From Sin to fet thee free /
* So the Word LAZARUS iigaifies.
H 3 II. His
78 DIVINE MISCELLANIES* [Part I.
II.
His Help thou much dolt need,
Poor filly feeble Worm/
Without his gracious aid indeed,
Thou nothing can 'ft perform.
III.
O, may'ft thou imitate
Thy antient Name-Sake's Ways 5
Then tho' thou be in low Eftate,
To Heav'n God will thee raife !
IV.
Poor Lazarus in Rags,
And putrifying Wounds
Laid at the rich Man's Gates to beg
The Leavings of his Hounds.
V.
Tho' he could cot obtain
One fympathizing Word,
Brit haughty Frowns and vile Difdain
From that luxurious Lord :
VI.
Yet when to GOD he pray'd,
He heard his faithful Cries,
And fent his Angels fafe to guide
His Soul above the Skie-s !
VII.
While with an angry Frown-
(As facrcd Scriptures tell)
He caft that Eficur'an down
Into the lowe'ft Hell/
VIII, O,
Sacred to Chriftian Devotion and Piety.
VIII.
O, may'ft thou Warning take !
Now in thy Days of Youth,
Do thou the Ways of Vice forfake,
And chufe the 'Paths of Truth.
IX.
Then will the LORD thee raife
Above the Stary Sky,
To fee his Face, and fing his Praife,
Thro' all Eternity.
XXVII. A general Exhortation to my
Four SONS.
I.
O M E, O my dear beloved Sons,
Obey your Father's Voice :
All mortal Vanities renounce,
And make a wifer Choice.
II.
For 'tis your endlefs Happinefs
Alone that I intend,
Which makes me kindly you Addrefs,
Thus like a faithful Friend.
III.
Come then, my little Children dear,
And hearken to my Voice :
Now make it in your Touth appear,
That Virtue is your Choice,
IV. O,
So DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part I.
IV.
O, live in Love and Unity ;
Tcur angry Paffions quell 5
And flill in true Humility,
Each other ftrive t' exctll.
V..
Oh ! how delightful 'tis to fee,
Children with one Accord,
All in united Bands agree
To love and fear the LORD !
VJ,
This would afford me more Delight
Than if th' "World were mine,
To fee my Chil.ii en all Unite,
And with true Virtue fhine.
Vil
And think how much this will redound
To your owr. Happinefs,
If ye in Faith and Love abound,
And ev'ry Cbrtfian Grace :
VIII.
"Whatever ye on Earth poflefs,
Richc-s or Poverty ;
The LORD your happy Souls will blefs,
And ev'ry Want.fupply.
IX.
Then happy ye, in Life and Death,
And rhro' Eternity,
If ye purfuc v 's holy Path
That Itaus i w joys on high.
X. Come
StttnH to Chriftian Dtvotion and Piety. Si
X.
Come then, my dear beloved Sons,
This holy Track purfue ;
So /hall ye be fuch happy Ones,
Here and hereafter too.
xr.
Then early feek your Maker's Grace,
And pardon thro' CHRIST'S Blood,
That ye complete in Righteoufnefs
May ftand before your GOD.
Then happy, happy, fhall ye be,
When CHRIST to Earth defcends,
To judge the World, and to fet free
The Bodies of his Friends \
XIII.
Then fhall ye join the Saints on high,
And Crowns of Glory wear 5
Yea reign with CHRIST eternally,
Secure from ev'ry Snare /
XIV
Oh ! the bright Triumphs of that Day,
When CHRIST again fhall come,
To raife his Saints in bright Array,
And fafe conduct them Home /
XV.
O ! think what fweet tranfporting Joys
This will to Saints afford,
To join the Armies of the Skies,
With CHRIST their deareft LORD /
XVI. But
82 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part I.
XVI.
But know that nothing that's unclean
Before GOD'S holy Eye,
Shall ever be admitted in
To that Society.
XVII.
The Scriptures plainly doth exclude,
The WahrMi and 'Profane j
tfbftvtt't Liars, Murderers, and the 'Proud,
Shall never Heav n obtain/
XVIII.
Except they're wafh'd in JESU'S Blood,
And fanclify'd by Grace,
They cannot ftajid before a GOD
OfperfeftHolinefs
XIX.
O then, my Sons, I pray take heed
To keep your Garments clean 5
And beg to be entirely freed
Prom each prevailing Sin.
XX.
Avoid all wicked Company,
With Diligence and Care ;
And keep aconftant watchful Eye
On ev'ry hurtful Snare.
XXI.
Carnal Delights may now appear,
With fair inviting Smiles j
But ftill remember and beware
Of Saran's crafty Wiles.
XXII. Fair
Stored to Chriftian Devotion and Piety. 83
XXII,
Fair Baits he'll lay before your Eyes,
To draw you to his Gin 5
And whofoe'r believes his Lies,
Are furely caught therein.
XXIII.
But fee that boldly ye refift
His bafe deceitful Charms :
Draw near to GOD and he'll affift,
And guard you with his Arms.
XXIV.
Depend not then on your own Strength,
But on a Saviour truft 3
So ihall he bring you fafe at length
To dwell among the Juft.
xxv.
Let Briars and Thorns befet their Way,
And Darknefs veil the Sky ;
Still they are fafe, and only they,
That on the LORD rely.
XXVI.
Thus have I fet before your Eyes
The Way to Manfiwsfair,
Where you may find th' immortal Prize,
And 'fcape the tempter's Snare.
XXVII.
Now if ye will i;ot hear my Voice,
But chufe the Road to Hell ;
Then ye muft take your woful Choice,
And there forever dwell.
XXVI II. U*
84 DIVINE Mr SCELL AN I ES, [Parti,
XXVIII.
tte Y O U T H's Prayer for Wijdom,
Or the Wort of G O D the befr Guide:
From Pfalm cxix, 9.
1.
TT O W ftiall the Youth fecure his Way,
^ From Error's glootaiy Path ?
How find the Road to endlefs Day,
And fhun eternal Death ?
II.
Thy Word, O LORD, with Light and Pow'r,
Directs our doubtful Way j
And fafe conduits us to the Shore
Of everlafting Day.
III.
Thy Word, O LORD, tho' often try'd,
Still void of Drofs appears :
Not all the Books on Earth befide,
Such happy Truth declares.
IV.
Here I am brought to underftand
The dire Defert of Sin 5
And how I may at thy Right-Hand
Drink endlefs Pleafures in.
V
But, LORD, without thy Spirits Aid,
The Letters dead appear :
Nor Threats nor Promifes there made,
Excite my Hope or Fear.
VI. But
" Sacred to Chriftian Devotion and Piety. 85
VI.
But when thy Spirit with thy Word
Celeftial Truth reveals,
It's like afoarp two Edged Sword,
It wounds, and alfo heals.
VII.
It opens our beclouded Eyes,
And makes the Blind to fee :
Makes Rich the Poor, the Simple Wife,
And fets the Captives free.
VIII.
Not Honey unto hungry Souls
Such fweetnefs can afford,
As when true Faith with Joy beholds,
The Treafures in thy Word.
IX.
LORD, let thy Spirit then direft,
My ever doubtful Feet ;
Then fhall I with all cue Refpeft
fie em thy ^Precepts fweet.
X.
Thy Law and Gofpel then /hall be,
My ftudy Day and Night,
When thou haft op'd mine Eyes to fee
Thof e Treafures with Delight.
XXIX. A
86 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part 1.
XXIX. 4 SERIOUS REFLECTION,
On May the 2cth N. S. 1753.
HP H I S Day to I'hirty-titio arrivM,
But ah, how carelefs have I liv'd !
How have I fpent my precious Time ?
In Vanity my choiceft Prime /
And now the Bloom ofTcutb is gone,
And Jge is now a haft'ningon 5
Ere long, I know, I muft appear
Before my MAKER'S awful Bar:
But, LORD, alas! what have 1 done,
Thy Lovet'obtain, thy Wrath to fhun?
A bafeTianfgreffor I have been,
A Slave to Satan and to Sin.
LORD ! /hould'il thou for thine injur'd Grace
Contend, I fall before thy Face !
Guilty, and felf-condemn'd I own,
Deferving thy Eterrnl Frown.
But LORD, 1 humbly would implore,
!For JESU'S Sake, wipe out my Score,
And wa/h my Soul in that rich Flood
Of Water pure, and crimfon Blood^
That fprang from his dear wounded Side,
"When he for Sinners freely died :
Then iliall I Hand before thy Face,
A Miracle of Sov'reign Grace ;
Thy matchlefs Love I'll then adore,
l : or ever on the Heav'nly Shore.
XXX, CHRIST
Sacred to Chriftian Devotion and Piety. 87
XXX.
CHRIST a Light to the GENTILES;
Or, a Seng cf c Praifefor tfre Gofpel,
Ifaiah, xlii. 6, 7.
i. , . . . . j ^
I.
H ! how illuftrious was the Day,
When JESUS CHRIST appear'd,
And chas'd the gloomy Night away,
And all the Shadows clear'd.
II.
We Gentiles in this Sritijb Ifle,
In Error's Gloom did lie,
'Till JESUS deign'd on us to 'fmile 5
And brought Salvation nigh.
in.
O! how we worfliip'd Wood and Stone,
The Work of our own Hands,
Before the Saviour CHRIST was known,
Within thefe flritijh Lands.
IV.
But now we're taught the glorious Way,
That leads us fafe to Heav'n j
And CHRIST our dreadful Debt to pay,
His precious Blood hath giv'n.
V.
O 'Britons \ then with all your Tongues,
His matchlefs Love adore ;
And let your ever grateful Songs,
Rebound from Shore to Shore.
I 2 VI. JESUS
88 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part I.
VI.
JESUS, to Thee, our Songs of Praife,
With thankful Hearts we bring 5
We'll celebrate thy matchlefs Grace,
And thy Salvation fing.
VII
All Praife to Thee, incarnate GOD,
Eternally be giv'n,
Who with thine own moil precious Blood,
Hath made our Peace with Heav'n.
VIII.
Faint are our Praifeshere below,
But when to Heav'n we rife,
Our Souls enflam'd with Love /hall flow,
In endlefs Exrafies.
XXXT. Prayer for the Enlargement of
CHRIST'S Kingdom upon Earth. Mat. vi. 10.
tfby Kingdom come,
I.
V/f AKE bare thine Arm, Almighty LORD,
Make all the Nations fee
The Pow'r and Glory of thy Word,
And bow to CHRIST the Knee.
II.
Pity the Nations, LORD, that lie
In Error's gloomy Shade 5
And let the 2)ay-fpr ing from on High,
Around their Tents be fpread.
III. Fain
Sacrecffo Chriftian Devotion and Piety. 9
III.
Fain would we fee thy Gofpel Grace,
Through all the Earth difplay'd >
And ev'ry Soul of Adam's Race,
Thy faithful Subjects made.
IV.
Shall not thy Go/pel as the Sun,
Through all the Nations fhine ?
All bow to CHRIST thy Son and own,
HisSov'reign Pow'r divine ?
V.
O let them be his Subjects now,
By legal Threats purfu'd !
And to his Gofpel Scepter bow ;
By Sov'reign Grace fubdu'd.
VI.
Haften the joyful Day, O LORD,
When Gentiles^ Greeks and Jews
Shall turn to thee with one Accord,
Unable to Refufe.
VII.
Gird on thy Sword upon thy Thigh,
O thou moft mighty Prince !
And ride forth now Viftorioufly,
The Nations to convince.
VIII.
Snatch thou the Prey from Satan's Jaws,
By Sov'reign Pow'r divine :
Now vindicate thy Righteous Caufe,
And be the Glory Thine*
1 3 XXXII. J
9o DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part I.
XXXII.
A Song of Pralfe to G O D for Nati-
onal 'Proreffion.
I.
RE A.T GOD of JJofts, to Thee we owe,
Our Life and faf j Abtfde,
For all above, and all below
Are govern'd by thy Mod.
II.
We Britons in this Narrbern IJIe,
Tho' but a little Band,
Sit fafe beneath thy gracious Smile}
Defended by thy Hand.
III.
LORD, 'tis by thine Almighty Arm,
That we in fafety dwell.
Secure from all the threaten'd Harm,
Of haughty Rome and Hell.
IV,
AnJ fhould we this attribute LORD,
To any Thing but Thee,
How falfe, ungrstjful, and abfurd,
"Would thw our Conduct be ?
V.
But LORD, we own thy pow'rful Hand 5
Thy Goodnefs we adore,
And ftill to blefs our finful Land,
We earneftly implore.
VI. Remove
Sacred to Chriftian Devotion and Pietyi 91
VI.
Remove our Guilt, reform our JJle >
Make Wars and Tumults ceafe,
On us, LoRt>, let thy Prefence fmile,
And give us endlefs Peace.
VII.
To be our Guard, continue Thou,
And let us ne'r forget,
That all we have, to thee we owe,
As an Eternal Debt.
XXXIII.
ftraigbt Way to H E A V E N.
From feveral Scriptures.
I.
" HP A K E up thy Crofs and follow me
(The dear Redeemer faith)
" If you would my Difciples be,
'* And chufe the Heav'nly Path.
If.
" Whofo Will fnffer /hama and Lofs,
" Yea, part with all for me ;
" With Faith and Patience bear the Cro/s,
" Shall my SDifctfhi be.
II.
l< But whofo is afham'd of me
ic Before the Sons of- Men 5
" Of him will I a/hamed be,
." When I return again.
IV. And
92 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part I
IV
" And he who counteth Houfe or Lands,
" Or Friends, or Life too dear,
*' To part with, when my Cttufg demands,
" Shall have in me no fhare.
V.
" But thofe who part with all they have,
" For me, with willing Mind,
" Shall better Things on Earth receive ,
" And Life Eternal find."
VI.
Who then will freely venture all
For the REDEEMER'S fake ?
Come now obedient at his Call,
And endlefs Life partake.
VII.
"Who will the fweets of Senfe let go,
\Vith it's alluring Charms,
And caft their naked Souls into
The dear REDEEMER'S Arms ?
VIII.
Alas, O LORD, in vain we ask
One Soul of A'lam^ Race,
To venture on fo hard a Task,
Without renewing Grace.
IX.
But, LORD, fpeak thou one pow'rful Word,
And by thy Grace divine,
Each Idol Lull that we ador'd,
We'll chearfully refign.
XXXIV. T&t
Sacred to Chriftian Devotion and Piety. 93
XXXIV. the P O W E R of
Sovereign Grace,
i.
O N G have I obftinately ftood
Againftthy Gofpel Call ;
But now by Sov'reign Grace fubdu'd,
LORD, at thy Feet I fall.
II.
ThQWreacber with laborious Skill,
Hath try'd and try'd again,
To conquer this my ftubborn Will,
With Reafons ftrong, in vain.
III.
Sinai^s fierce thunders oft I've heard,
Like Trumpets founding loudj
But little did my Soul regard,
'Till Grace my Heart fub4u'd.
IV
Not all 'the Terrors of the Latin
Could e'er my Will fubdue,
Till Grace my frozen Heart did thaw,
And form'd my Soul anew.
V
Of natural .Powers let others boaft,
And Self acquired Skill 5
And fay that Man hath never loft
The Freedom of his Will.
V.
94 15 1 VINE MISCELLANIES, [Part I
VI.
Of nat'ral Strength I'll boaft no more,
Or any Will of trine :
Thy Love in CHRIST, LORD, I adore,
And fov'rein Grace divine.
XXXV. An ELEGY on the Death
Of a Chriftian Friend.
T O R D, we muft own thy Sentence juft,
^ That doth command us back to Duftj
For ever be the Thought abhor'd, -\
That would attempt a murm'ring Word, S
Againft thy righteous Hand O LOAD / j
Yet LORD, when thou thy Summons fends,
And tak'ft away our deareft Friends,
Suffer us humbly thus to vent
Our Grief, their Abfence to lament.
Nature, O LORD, cannot forbear
To mourn a faithful Friend fo dear 5
A Fricnil indeed it is we mourn,
Whofe Cjnduft here, did well adorn
Each Station of the human Life,
A Neighbour, Afotber, and a Wife 5
A Chriftian, humble and fincere,
Who ftrove to keep her Confcience clear :
A tender fympathizing Friend,
"Who freely would Affiftance lend
To all in a diftreflive Hour,
So far as it was in her Pow'r.
Sacred to Chriftian Devotion and Piity.
Her very Soul was filPd with Love
Infus'd by the celeftial 'Dove :
Ko Rancour broil'd within her Breaft,
For Love each clam'rous Thought fuppreft$
Fair Picture of the Saints above,
"Whofe whole Delight is Praife and Love.
All who her Converfation knew
Muft own this Character is true.
O, who can then forbear a Groan
"When fuch a faithful Friend is gone ?
Nature muft tremble at the Stroke
"When fuch endearing Bonds are broke 5
Yet, O my Friends with Patience bear 5
Let Prudence ftop the falling Tear 5
Nor let an unbecoming Flood
Provoke a wife difpofing G.OD.
Remember ftill with humble Awe,
tDeath came by breaking of GOD'S LAW :
Then let us not count him fevere
When he removes our Friends moft dear 5
For all have fin'd, we plainly know,
And 'Death's the fmallefl Debt we owe
To GOD, whofe holy Law we broke,
And did refufe his gentle Took.
But, O, the Goodnefs of the LORD
That hath our dying Hopes reilor'd,
'Death is no real Punifhment
To any true and faithful Saint,
'Tis but the Door that lets them in,
"Where everiafting Joys begin.
Then
gS DIVINE MISCELLANIES, Part I.]
Then let us blefs our SAVIOUR GOD,
That pav'd the dark and gloomy Road,
And made the Punifhment to prove
The Way to endlefs Joys above.
Ceafe then, my Friends, each dull Complaint,
Nor let your drooping Spirits faint,
Let Faith and Hope thus eafe your Pain, -^
' The Time is fhort that doth remain >
<l Ere we /hall joyful meet again ! J
" O happy Time when we /hall meet
" In endlefs Joys divinely fweet!
*' tDeath then no more /hall cut the Chain,
'* Nor /hall we ever part again.
" O with what Pleafure and Surprize ^
" Shall we (with Saints above the Skies) >
' Join in eternal Extafies ! _)
" This World is but a Wildernefs ;
* c Heav'n is our proper refting Place ;
" There, there the Weary are at Reft,
" Nor Guilt nor Fear does them moleft !
** There do they /ing and never ceafe,
** Nor faint nor tire in Realms of Peace :
** Nay, there their Pleafures far excell
" The Pow'r of Thoughts or Words to tell!
" And there we hope our Friend is gone
" To thefe eternal Joys unknown !
" Come, let us then our Grief forbear,
" For this we have no C aufe to fear :
" But let us with the utmoft Care
" To follow her, our felves prepare 5
" Then
Sacred to Chriftian Devotion And Piety.- g7
" Then /hall we quickly too afpire,
*' And join that bleft immortal Choir. "
Let this, my Friends, your Spirits chear,
And banifh ev'ry gloomy Tear :
Give all your Sorrows to the Wind,
The LORD is gracious, juft, and kind ;
Then wait with Patience for the Hour
When he your Comforts /hall reftore,
Then Grief /hall interpofe no more.
Her EPITAPH.
TLJ E R E we commit unto thy Truft,
O Grave ! thefe dear Remains of %)ufl- 9
Till the Arch-An&l from the Skies
Shall ihout and bid the 1)ea(l arife 5
Then muft thou ope thy Prifon Door,
And this dear Captive thence reftore.
XXXVI. fbe Eleffing of the LORD
is in the Houfe of the Righteous.
. 33.
1.
/"\ Happy, happy, Families,
Where true Religion dwells/
This, alt corrupt and carnal Joys
Abundantly excells /
II.
The Blefllng of the LORD alway
Is in the facred Houfe,
Where they with conftant Fervour pay
Their Night and Morning Vows.
K III. Their
98 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part I.
III.
Their Night and Morning Sacrifice
(Of Prayer and of Praife)
Meet kind Acceptance in his Eyes,
And he approves their Ways.
IV.
All who obey his juft Commands,
He in this World will blefs ;
And ev'ry Labour of their Hands,
He'll crown with kind fuccefs.
V.
Their Children like fair Olive-Wants,
He fets around their Board,
Like a young Age of rifing Saints
To love and fear the LORD.
VI.
But fome perhaps may here objeft,
" How can thefe Words be true?
" Don't oft the Righteous fuffer Lack
" Worfe than the Wicked do. ?
VII.
" Do not the Wicked oftentimes
" Againft their Maker fpurn,
" And flourish ev'n amidft their Crimes,
" While Saints in Secret mourn? "
VIII.
To this I anfwer, This is true,
For wife and holy Ends,
The LORD permits Afflictions too,
Sometimes to feize his Friends.
IX. While
Sacred to Chriftian Devotion and Piety. 99
IX.
"While he permits the Sons of Tride
In mighty Pomp to fhine ;
Tho' they his faithful Saints deride,
And mock at things divine.
X.
Yet is the LORD both juft and wife,
Yea, holy good and kind :
This all the Faithful with their Eyes
Shall fee, and truly find.
XI.
Tho' Clouds and fDarknefs vail his W&y :
His Fcof-fteps are unknown j
Yet Truth and Juftice conftantly
Surround his glorious Throne.
XII.
Each bitter Drop his Saints here tafte
Is fweettn'd with his Love:
And, O, the bleft immortal Feafc,
Referv'd for them above /
XIII.
His Rod and Staff are their ftrong Stay
Thro' this dark Wildernefs :
His Smiles drive all their Fears away,
In ev'ry new Diftrefs.
XIV
But on the Heads of haughty Worms,
He'll pour Deftruc~Hon down j
Ev'n Fire and Brimftont t furious Stoims,
And endlefs Wees unknown.
K z XV. The
loo DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part I.
XV.
The higher here on Earth they rife,
And ftill the more they fwell 5
The greater fliall be their Surprize 5
The lower fink in Hell !
XVI.
Then wait with Patience, O ye Saints,
Nor fear the Tyrant^ Rage 5
The LORD hears all your juft Complaints,
And will for you engage.
XVII.
Ye are his Fav'f ites and his Choice,
Fear not what Men can do j
He'll turn your Sorrows into Joys,
And all your Foesfubdue.
XVIII.
Commit your Way unto the LORD,
And humbly wait his Will $
He'll faithfully perform his Word,
And your Z)t fires fiiljill.
XXXVU.
Sacred to Chriflian Devotion and Piety. 101
XXXVIT. ne Goodnefs of G O D re-
corded; or, a Song of fraife to GOD for a
plentiful Crop and a fine Harveft, after a very
long and frofty Spring, and wet Summer.
I.
O M E, let us raife a facred Song
To GOD, our Sov'reign King;
This well becomes each Britijb Tongue,
And BrttiJJj Heart to flng.
II.
Britain is fure a fav'rite Ifle,
Which GOD the LORD hath bleft,
And made his Countenance to fmile,
On her above the reft.
iir.
Tho' in the Spring he feem'd to frcJwn,
And we began to mourn,
And think that he was weary grown,
Nor would his Love return.
IV.
But foon he fent refre/hing Drops
Upon the rugged Ground,
And made the Earth with plenteous Crops,
Of precious Grain abound \
K 3 r.
102 DIVINE MISCELLAKIES, [Part I.
V.
Then didft thou, LORD, the Clouds reftrain
From their accuftom'd fhowers,
'Till we had well fecur'd the Grain,
From their definitive Powers.
VI.
O ! what a Debt of Thanks and Praife
We owe to Thee, our GOD,
For all the Mercies in our Days,
Thou haft on us beftow'd.
VII.
But on our bafe Ingratitude
Let's humbly now reflefr,
And think how we to praife our GOD,
Moft fhamefully neglect.
VIII.
Our Souls, Snr Bodies, Health and Food,
And ev'ry Thing we have,
"We owe to thee, our gracious GoD r
Whcfe bounteous Hand them gave.
JX.
LORD, let thy Goodnefs melt our Heart*
For our Ingratitude,
And make us fee our black Deferts,,
From Thee, our gracious GOD !
X.
O give us Grace that we may mourn
For all our Follies part j
And humbly now to thee return,
Oir gracious GOD, at laft.
XI. O
Sacr ec? to Chriftian Devotion an$ Piety.
XT.
O GOD, let thy rich Bleffing crown
Each Gift thy Handbeftows,
That we with thankful Hearts may own,
From whence each Mercy flows.
XII.
Then lhall we leave upon Record,
Thy goodnefs in our Days 5
That ev'ry Age may truft thy Word,
And grateful fpeak thy Praife.
xxxvin.
The convinced SINNERS Reflec-
tion and RefolutiQn.
i.
T S not the Time already paft,
Sufficient to fuffice
My bafe corrupted Carnal Tafte,
And my voluptuous Eyes ?
II.
Have I not Safan*s Servant been-,
And long at his Command
Perform'd the drudgery of Sttr,
With willing Heart and Hand?
III.
Long have 1 walk'd in the broad Path r
That leads to endlefs Woe j
And /hall I in this Road to 2)eafk t
Still thus unthinking go ?
IV. Is
DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part I.
Is it not Time yet to begin
To think upon my Ways,
To turn from ev'ry darling Sin,
And make no more delays?
V.
What hath GOD'S Patience fo long ftay'd,
And fhall I at it fpur n 5
While Grace (in all it's Charms difplay'd)
Invites me to return ?
VI.
LORD / /hall I ftill thy Grace withftand ?
Thy wholefom Counfels fhun ?
Rebell againft thy kind Command,
And hafte to be undone ?
VII.
No ! LORD, my hard and frozen Heart,
To melt does now begin ;
Thro' Grace I now refolve to part
With ev'ry darling Sin.
VIII.
By thine almighty Grace fubdu'd,
Here at thy Feet I lie,
Deploring my Ingratitude^
And former Enmity !
IX.
I now adore thy matchlefs Grace,
That op'd my flugrgi/h Eyes,
And let me fee my dang'rous Cafe,
And where my Refuge lies.
X. And
Sacred to Chriftian Devotion and Piety. 105
X.
And wilt thou, LORD, a Wretch receive,
So vile a Wretch as me,
Who hath been long to Sin a Slave,
A Rebel unto Thee ?
XL
Yet LORD, I find it in thy Word,
That whofoe'er believes,
Repents, and turns to thee the LORD,
Thy gracious Arm receives.
XII.
To this rich Promife I lay Claim,
O GOD of boundlefs Grace !
With contrite Heart, and humble Shame,
My Guilt I now confefs !
XIII.
1 now refolve thro' Grace divine,
I'll yield to Sin no more ;
But now to thee myfelf refign,
No other GOD adore.
XIV.
But, LORD, my Refolution's vain,
In my own Strength to Hand,
My Lufts will foon revive again,
If thou withdraw thy Hand.
XV.
Yet is thy Grace fufficient, LORD,
Therefore I truft in thee 5
Let it (according to thy Word)
Sufficient be for me.
XXXIX.
lo6 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, Parti.]
XXXIX.
and RECOVERY of M A N.
i.
TJ[ A P P Y was our firft Parents Cafe
a A Ere <# defil'd their Frame !
In faradife GOD did them place,
To drefs and keep the fame.
II.
With his own Image they were bleft,
Sov'reign o'er all below 5
Each fijb and Fowl, and ev'ry Seafi,
Did to their Scepter bow.
III.
All Things delightful to their Tafte,
In plenty there did flow:
Yea, choice of Fruits for their Repaft,
Did in that Garden grow.
IV
Free Liberty they had to eat,
Of ev'ry Tree fave one :
And pow'r to live in that bleft State,
While it they let alone.
V.
On this Condition did they (land,
For them and all their Race 3
Would they obey but this Command,
Nor Life nor Joy fliould ceafe.
VI. But
Sacred to Chriftian Devotion end Piety. 107
VI.
But if they did prefume to tafte
Of that forbidden Tree,
tDeath Ihould them inftantly arreft,
And fill with Mifery.
VII
Satan (with his malicious Mind)
Their happy State efpied 5
And thefe rich Pleafures of Mankind,
He grevioufly envied.
VIII.
Thus fill'd with Envy at their State,
The Serpent he employs ;
And taught him with his bafe Deceit,
To tempt with unknown Joys.
IX.
Then prefently the Serpent goes,
With Satan in him hid,
And craftily did then propofe
The Fruit that Gor> forbid.
X.
He told him (with his flatt'ring Lies)
That this furprizing Food,
"Would open their beclouded Eyes
And make them wife as GOD.
XI.
Then prompted with ambitious Views,
To make their Blifs compleat 5
No longer could they then refufe
To tafte the guilded Buit.
XII. But
DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Parti.
XII.
But, ah ! how foon (tho* too too late)
Their Folly they did fee !
They faw the Serpent's bafe Deceit,
And their own Mifery.
XIII.
Terror appear'd on ev'ry Side,
And in their deep Diftrefs,
They Fig-leaf-Coverings made to hide
Their fliameful Nakednefs.
XIV.
The LORD came down (with angry Brow)
T' avenge his injur'd Grace 5
" Adam, (he called) where art th ou ?
Why hideftthou thy Face \
XV.
" What, haft thou eaten of that Tree
" The which I did command,
" Thou /houldft not eat thereof (faid he)
Nor touch it with thy Hand?"
XVI.
Adam no longer could withdraw
From GOD'S alfeeing Eye 5
Tho' he had broke his holy Laii\
From him he could not fly.
XVII.
Poor Afamthzn came trembling out,
And thus replied he,
" The Woman took of the fame Fruit,
<c And alfo gave to me."
XVIII. " Eve,
Sacred to Chriftian Devotion and Piety, 109
XVIII.
e Eve, (then the great JEHOVAH faid)
" What's this that thou haft done ?
" Thy KusbanH> and thyfelf betray'd,
" To Death and Woes unknown !"
XIX.
" The Serpent LORD, (replied fhe)
*' Did me indeed deceive 5
'* He took of this forbidden Tree-,
" And unto me did give"."
XX
The LORD then to the Serpent faid,
" Becaufe thou haft done this,
" A Curfe /hall reft upon thy Head,
** 'Bove every Beaft that is.
XXI.
'* Upon thy Selly fhalt thou go,
And 2)tfft lhall be thy Meat:
** And thou ftialt be abhorcd too,
" For this thy bafe Deceit.
XXII.
" And I'll put Enmity betwixt
" The Woman's Seed and thee :
*' And thou fhalt be with Envy vest
" At my fublime ^Decree.
XXIII.
" The Wcman fhe fliall have a Son,
" That on thy Neck /hall tread :
** He fhall deftroy what thou haft done,
" And bruife thy cruel H(aJ.
L " Thy
no DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part I.
XXIV.
* Thy Malice he fhall only feel^
" In a diftreffive Hour,
*' Biting with Envy at his Heel,
" While he deftroys thy Pow'r."
XXV.
Thus was the Covenant of Grace
At firft reveal'd to Man :
And Hope reftor'd to Alan?* Race,
In this furprizing f Plart.
XXVI.
The LORD then to the Woman faid,
*' Since thus thou didft tranfgrefs,
" Thy Troubles fhall be multiplied 5
** Thy Sorrows fhall encreafe.
XXVII.
fl In Frailty fhalt thou Seed conceive,
" With Pain thy Cbildrenbear :
" Thy Husband Rule o'er thee fhall have,
" And thou his Pow'r fKalt fear.'*
XXVIIJ.
And unto ^4Jam too he faid,
" Woe fhall attend thy Life ;
" Bccaufe thou haft me difobey'd,
" And harken'd to thy Wife.
XXIX.
<( The Ground is curfed for thy Sake,
" And henceforth Ilia 11 it bear
<c :////?/ andT^orw, and I will make
" Th^e earn thy Bread with Care."
Front
Sacred to Chriftian Devotion anH Piety. Hi
XXX.
From Taradife then drove he them,
(That fweet delightful Place)
To till the Ground from whence they came,
"With Toil that ne'er fhould ceafe.
XXXI.
Inftead of JE/k's Garden fair,
They in the Wildernefs
Muft fp<?.nd their Lives in Sorrow there,
And toil with fweat of Face.
XXXII.
Thus did their dreadful Woes come in
Like an outflowing Tide 5
They felt the'dire EfFeas of Sin,
Soonaa they difobey'd.
XXXIII.
But, O, the gooJnefs of the LORD /
How boundltfs is his Grace !
He fent a Saviour, and reftor'd
Our guilty fallen Race.
XXXIV.
He fpake and bid four Thoufand Tears
Their hafty Courfe roll on,
And lo, the Saviour (CHRIST) appears,
The Woman's promis'd Son !
XXXV.
He, who from all Eternity
Was GOD'S beloved Son 5
Is fent in Man's frail Fhjb to diej
And for their Guilt t 1 atone !
L 2 Be-
TIZ DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part I.
XXXVI.
Behold the great Meffiah comes,
With Meeknefs in his Face/
And Man's frail Nature he affumes,
And fuffers in their Place !
XXXVII.
dr.geh beheld his matchlcfs Birth,
With Wonder and Surprize,
And down to fpread the News on Earth,
They gladly left the Skies /
XXXV11I.
Thus did the great MeJJiab come,
Vile Rebels to fet free :
Born of an humble Virgin's Womb,
Of mean and low Degree /
XXXIX.
And on thefe Terms he doth redeem,
All them that do believe,
Repent, and humbly come to him,
His Graces to receive.
XL.
Such he reftores to higher Blifs
Than Man was in before !
O Man ! aftoni/h'd be at this,
And his rich Love adore.
XLI.
The vileft Sinner he forgives,
Who heaitily repents ;
And on his holy Name believes,
And to him ihevvs his Wants.
He
Sacred to Chriftian Devotion and Pisty. 113
XLII.
He tenders his Salvation free,
That all may tafte the fame :
To Sinner's of what e'er Degree,
Halt, Maimed^ Blind or Lame !
XL1II.
Tea, lo, he fends his Servants forth
To Hedges and High-Ways,
T' invite all Sinners on the Earth
To come and tafte his Grace.*
XLIV.
Thus hath he left without Excufe,
All the Rebellious Race,
"Who obftinately do abufe,
The Riches of his Grace.
REMARKS,
i.
Thus may we fee the happy State,.
Man at the firft was in t
And how all Troubles then took Date,
Juftatthe#/rf/6of Sin!
II.
Thus may we fee the matchlefs Grace,
And goodnefs of the LORD,
That pitied Man's rebellious Race*
And Heav'nly Hopes reftor'd.-
Luke, XIV. 23;
!> 5
ii4 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, Parti.]
L\.
"Well might the Angel-minds admire,
At this furprizfng Scene,
To fee their LORD in Alan's attire.
And dwell in Flejb N v ith Men !
IV.
Here we may^fee the happy Cafe
That faithful Souls are in,
Who do partake of this rich Grace,
And are redeem'd from Sin !
V.
They are redeem'd from Satan's Chains,
And dreadful Slavery :
Hetrs of the beit that there remains
For happy Souls on high.
VI.
And here we fee the wretched State,
That Sinners yet are in,
Who ftill continue obftinate,
The willing Slaves of Sin /
VII.
Th' old Serpent's Vaffah ftill they are 5
Deceiv'd with flatt'ring Lies :
They walk upon a dreadful Snare,
"While he blindfolds their Eyes. -
VIII.
Upon the brink of endlefs Woe,
With heedlefs Feet they run :
Ah, will ye thus contented go,
And hafte to be undone ?
Will
Sacrecl to Chriftian Devotion anfr Piety,
IX.
"Will Fear not drive, nor Love you draw,
Nor JESU'S lovely Charms
Make your hard frozen Heaits to thaw,
And flee into his Arms ?
X.
Hark how he calls to Sinners chief,
That are with Sin oppreft,
* c Come unto me, and find Relief 7
" I give the Weary Refi.\
XI.
This Call (if flighted) will one Day
Make you with Terror quake,
"When you muft quit this Sta? *>of Clay
For Hett's infernal Lake !
XII.
But LORD, our Arguments (alas !)
Are all in vain to draw,
'Till thou exert thy pow'rful Grace,
The Sinner's Heart to thaw.
XIII.
But, LORD ! one Word of Sov'reign Grace 5
One pow'rful Word of thine, " ,
Will make the ftouteft Rebel ceafe,
And all his Arms religo.
} Math. si. iS, tjt
u6 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part I.
XXXIV.
O N T H E
Four loft Things, (vifc.)
DEATH, JUDGMENT, HEAVEN, and
HELI.
I. DEATH,
I,
TO, DEATH the King of Terror rides
Triumphant thro' the World nnfeen !
The Monfter Sin, 'tis him provides
With all his dreadful Magazine.
II.
Upon his pale, or fable SfeeJ,
He rides with a refiftlefs fway :
His awful Summons ftrikes with Dread,
And ev'ry Mortal muft obey !
III.
O ! the innumerable Darts
"With which his pregnant Quivtf's fiU'd !
Thefehe impartially imparts,
none are from his Stroke conceal'd,
IV. Not
Sacred to Chriftian Devotion and Piety. 117
IV
Nor Ricb^ nor Woor, nor Old, nor
From thefe his fatal Darts can fly :
The High and Zow, the ?ftrf& and
Without Diftindion round him lie.
V.
But why hath DEATH fuch potent Force,
And why fo fierce his Arrows fly ?
SIN brought in DEATH, and fo by Courfe
As all have Sinn'd fo all rnuft die /
VI.
But was this all the Punilhment
That bold rebellious Worms muft feel 5
Then they in Sin might reft content,
VII.
The ^Drunkard then his Cups might quaff 5
The Glutton too his Palate pleafe ,
And the 'Profane might f wear and laugh :
The Jntolent might take his Eafe.
VIII.
Since all muft die, they could but die 5
If DE A TH did them annihilate,
Then might they leave this World with Joy,
For DEATH would pay their total Debt.
IX.
Or peevifh Souls when tir'd of Life,
. And Difappointments on them light,
With Hemp or Steel might end the Strife,
And bid this World of Cares Good-night.
But,
ii8 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Parti.
X.
But, Oh ! the (hocking awful Scene,
That after DEATH will ftraight enfue !
Vengeance willfeize the Guilty then,
And pierce their Souls with Terror through.
Xf.
Down in the black iiferxal Den
"Where ^Devils and the ^Damned lie,
Thefe muft take up their Lodging then,
And thatthio' all Eternity !
XII.
Then DEATH is Cure an awful Scene,
However Fcoh may jeer and feoff,
And pleafe themfelves with Fancies vain,
And fhakt the fear of dying Q&\
X11I.
But, O! the dreadful mad Miftake'
That fuch fool-hardy Souls will find,
"When plung'd into rh' infernal Lake
As foon as mortal Life's refign'd !
XIV.
Such is the woeful Lot of thofe
Who obftinate 'gainft GOD rebell ;
When DEATH their nat'ral Eyes doth clofe,
Their Souls muft ope their Eyes in Hell / 1
XV.
Oh ! Danger not to be expreft,
To live in Love, or league with Sin ,
Each Day expos'd to DEATH'S Arreft
"When endlefs Torments will begin.
t Luke xti. .23.
My
Sacred to Christian Devotion ttnd Piety.
XVI
My Soul ! and canft thou thus remain
Contented here, and take thine Eafe,
Whilft thus expos'd to endlefs Pain
As foon as DEATH thy Flejh fhall feize ?
XVII
O dreadful Thought/ LORD, I adore
Thy Mercy infinitely great,
That did not cut me off before,
But let me fee my wretched State /
XVIII
LORD ! hadfl thou on a legal Score
"With Juftice ftri& upon me fell,
DEATH might have feia'd me long before,
And fent my guilty Soul to Hell !
XIX
But, O ! forever be ador'd
Thy matchlefs Love, and fov 'reign Grace,
That Hopes of Mercy are reilor'd,
By CHRIST, to Adam's fallen Rac$ 1
xx
Since CHRIST did Human-Flejh affume,
And died to conquer DEATH and Hell t
And rofe to make his Followers Room
That they with him in Heav'n may dwell!
XXI
Peace then, ye Saints 5 bid Fears be gone,
Since CHRIST for you hath conquer'd DEATH,
He'll alfo raife you near his Throne,
And make you Conqu'rers too thro' Faith.
The*
DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part I.
XXII
Then fear not Hell nor ghaftly DE % ATH,
Nor Tribulations here to come ;
Believe in CHRIST with fteady Faith,
His Arm fhall fafe conduS you Home.
'POSTSCRIPT.
A Short ELECT on the Death of
Mr. GEORGE GROVE, an Infant^
Who departed this Life November tit 2$d 1754.
humbly ^Dedicated to his furviving 'Parents,
Mr. FRANCIS, and Mrs. MARY GROVE,
ly their moft bumble Servant, J. M.
PEACE O my Friend^ let not Excefs
Of Grief your tender Souls deprefs,
Tho' a dear Sabe t with lovely Charms
Is fnatched from your tender Arms;
Yet let this Thought your Spirits chear,
And flop the overflowing Tear $
Since GOD in Wifdom faw it beft
To take him to eternal Reft
Ere he advanc'd to riper Years
To be expos'd to fatal Snares 5
Think then how gracious and how kind
The Lord is, tho* we (Mortals blind)
Can't trace the unknown Path he keeps
Thro* Clouds of Darknefs, mighty Deeps !
"Who knows what unfetn Dangers lay
Before this Infant in the Way
\Vhen
Sacred to Chriftian Devotion 'and Piety. 121
Which GOD forefaw, and thought it belt
To take him to a Place of Reft !
How weak, alafs, is human Strife
To trace the Depths of Providence!
Let's then with humble Minds adore
Thofa Myfl'rtes which we can't explore 3
And render to the LORD the Praife
That's due to all his Works and Ways!
Thus let your Sorrows be fuppreft,
And eafe the Troubles of your Breaft:
This is the only Way to find
Comfort to chear a troubled Mind.
II. JUDGMENT.
I.
13 EH OL D the Day / the awful Day
Is hafting on apace,
When Heaven and Earth fhall pafs away
Before the Judge 's Face !
II.
When CHRIST the Sov 'reign judge fhall corns
And in the Clouds appear,
All Mankind then their final D*om,
With Grief or Joy ftiall hear.
III.
In glorious Pomp and bright Array t
Shall he that Day appear :
The Earth lhall tremble at his Sway,
And ihaking of his Spear.
*M IV. L-
122 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, Part I.]
IV.
Legions of jfageh then lhall ftand
Around his Judgment Scats
Attending on his great Command,
As Minifers of State.
V.
The great Arch Angdthen he'll fend,
His dreadful Irump to found :
The noife of which each Tomb lhall rend,
And lhake the folid Ground !
VI.
The 'Dead lhall open then their Eyes,
At that furprizing Sound I
And come forth to the great Affizt)
And Hand upon the Ground.
VJI
Not one forgotten or unknown,
Shall then in fecret lie,
But all lhall come forth, ev'ry one
Before the Judge's Eye.
VIII.
Thofe burnt with Fire, and thofe devour'd
By Fijb or Fowls that flie 5
Each Atom lhall be then reftor'd
With perfecl Symmetry.
IX.
He'll give his Angels then Command
To bring his Children forth,
Out of each far and diftant Land,
from Eaft, lVeli t South and North t
Theft
'Sacre&to Chriftian Devotion ant Piety. 123
X.'
Thefe will he fet on his R%fit-Hant} t
As Shepherds part their Sttep :
The Wicked w his Left fhall Hand,
And proper Diftance keep.
XL
And ev'ry Eye fhall then behold
The Glory of the LORD :
Thofe that him bought, he that him fold,
And all that him abhor'd.
XII.
Tho' when to fave the NYorld he cams
He WAI of them dafpiVJ
They fhall behold him now with Shame,
And horribly furpnVd !
XIII.
O! with what trembling Hearts and Byes
(Before his awful Bar)
Shall ftand his bitter Enemies,
And dread the unequal "War !
XIV.
Then he in Judgment fhall proceed 5
The Books fhall open'd be,
And ev'ry Criminal (with dread)
Shall his Incitement fee.
XV.
Conscience fhall witnefs to their Face
How they in former Times
Slighted the gracious Calls of Grace^,
And hug'd their darling Crimes.
M a But
U4 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Parti.
XX'I
Eut firft to thofe on his Right-Hand,
The Judge /hall then proclaim,
*' Well done, ye Faithful ; my Command
*' Ye kept, andown'd my Name.
XVII
' Come, ye Beloved, and potfefs
" The Kingdom long prepar'd
' For yon, ere Time began its Race :
" 'Th your divine Reward.
XVIII
' Ye lov'd my Name, belie v'd my Word,
44 And wi/h'd my Caufe fuccefs:
* Your Alms you freely did affoid
" To mine, when inDiflrefs.
XIX
*' Thefe I accept as done to me,
" And will the fame Reward :
" To Crowns ye fhall exalted 6e,
" And reign with me your LORD.*'
XX
Oh! with what Pleafure and Surprize
Will they this Sentence hear /
To Heav'nly Mansions then they'll rife,
Triumphing thro' the Air.
XXI
But, O, how will the guilty Croud
(That on the Left /hall fland)
Tremble to hear the Judge aloud
Pronounce with ftcrn Command,
Depart
Sacred -to Chriftian Devotion and Piety. 125
XXII
" Dpart from me, ye wicked Race,
" To everlafting Fire :
" Ye who refus'd to feek my Face,
" And pleas'd your bafe Defire.
XXIII
" In Luxury ye fpent your Store 3
" My Favours ye abus'd 5
" While ye the Hungry at your Door,
" T&ur wafting Crumbs refus'd.
XXIV
" Now this from me is your Defert,
" Go and forever dwell
" With Devils, ye fhall feel the Smart
" Of quenchlefs Flames in Hell."
XXV
Then prefenfly /hall they retire,
And into Hell be hurl'd 5
While Storms of Brimftone (all on Fire)
Shall then confume the World!
XXVI
To Rocks and Mountains then they'll call,
To fall on them to hide ,
But their Petitions then will all
Be utterly deny'd !
XXVII
What dreadful Terrors then {hall feizc
On tKefe rebellious Souls !
No dainty Difttes there to pleafe,
Nor Confcience drowning Bowls I
But
iz6 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part I.
xxvin
Bin endlefs Torments will begin
To feize on them that Day :
And for the fliort Delights of Sin
They dearly then muft pay /
XXIX
6 Sinners ! then without Delay,
A friendly Caution take ;
And to prepare for that great Day,.
Each darling Sin for fake 1
XXX
The Joys and Terrors of that Day,
Do all our Thoughts furpafs !
LORD ! make us Wife that now we may
Improve our Day of Grace.
XXXI
.That we before thy Face may iland,
On that tremendous Day,
Among the Sheep on. thy Right-Hand,
And cloth'd with white Array.
XXXII
Whatever elfe, LORD, thou deny'ft,
O ! let us this obtain / ,
That we may praife thy Love in CHRIST
In an eternal Strain.
HEAVEN
StcreH te Chriftian Devotion wd Piety. 127
III. HEAVEN.
I.
tJ E A V ' N ! O the fweet delightful Place /
How it revives each pious Mind,
To think when here prepar'd by Grace,
They there fhall endlefs Pleafures find !
II.
"When Faith and Hope have fixt their Eyes :
On thefe celeftial Joys above 5
All earthly Glories they defpife,
And count unworthy of their Love I
III.
Here Faith beholds the flaughter'd LAMB,.
Standing amidft his FATHER'S Throne 5
And Hope rejoices in his Name,
That doth for all her Guilt atone /
IV
Yea, pious Souls by Faith behold
The glorious City of their GOD,,
Vvhofe Streets are pav'd with pureft Gold,
And there they hope for their Abode.
V.
The Architectures fo divine,
The glorious Building fo complete,
'Tis far beyond a Human Mind
It's mntchlefs Beauties to relate!
The
128 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part I.
VI.
The brighteft Things beneath the Skies
Are Metaphors too mean and bafe,
To form Ideas to our Eyes,
Of that tranfcendant glorious Place,
VII.
But holy Faith can there behold,
Beauties more glorious and refin'd,
Than the moft pure refined Gold,
And precious Stones of ev'ry Kind/
VIII.
Tho' precious Stones, and purefl Gold,
Are Metaphors to fet it forth ;
And ncheft Things of earthly Mold,
Jet all too mean to fpeak its Worth.
IX.
But to the carnal earthly Mind,
Thefe Things appear but dull and dry 5
AsT 'earls when caft before the Swine \
No Beauty there can they efpy.
X.
But what does holy Souls delight
Is not the Walls oi precious Stone t
Nor Golden Street*, but the fweet fight
Of GOD upon his glorious Throne !
XI.
'Tis there the great JEHOVAH reign?,
"Whofe Beams create eternal Noon :
His Light the radiant Sun out Ihines
far more than wvfas doth the
Sacred to Chriftian Devotion and, Piety.
XII.
Likewife the happy Company,
That round his fpacious Throne adore
The Glory of hisMajefty,
His ll'ifdomt yujlice, and his ^Pow'r.
XI11.
His glorious Minifters of State
That round at proper diftance ftand,
And humbly on his Orders wait
To execute each great Command !
XIV.
Thole Myriads of Ar.&els bright,
Who chearfully perform his Will,
With utmoft Vigor and Delight,
Nor Pain nor Wearinefs e'er feel !
XV.
Befide the bright celeftial Throng
Of Souls redeemed by JESU'S Blood ;
How they adore with Heart and Tongu*
The matchlefs Glories of their GOJX
XVI.
Thus Faith (by Revelation taught)
With Joy beholds the Things unfeen :
But when our Feet fhall there be brought,,
What endlefs Pleafures will begin/
XVII.
Here darkly we as thro* a Glafs
Behold the Glory of the LORD 5 "V-i
But when we fee him Face to face
What matchlefs Toys will it afford ?
*
Thi
130 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part L
XVIII.
This, this furpafies ev'ry Thought,
And fills our Souls with fweet Defire 5
O! when fhall we be thither brought
To join the bright celeftlal Choir \
XIX.
Since Faith affords fo much Dclighf,
"What muft the full Fruition be,
"When we the Beatific Sight
In everlafting Light /hall fee !
XX
O happy entertaining Thought /
May this excite us to prepare $
That we may in due Time be brought
To thefe eternal Manfions fair.
XXI.
In order hereto let us then
Forfake each foolifh vain Delight 5
And bravely quit ourfelves like Men,
The holy Chrifiian-War to fight.
XXII.
Let's oft on Contemplation's Wings
To thefe celeftial Manfions rife,
And view by Faith the glorious Thing*
Above thefe ruinable Skies.
XXIII.
Then /hall we on all earthly Things
Look down with holy fweet Difdain /
Defpife the Crowns of earthly Kitigs t
As empty Trifles poor and mean.
XXIV. Then
Sacred to Chriftian Devotion and Piety. 131
XXIV.
Then fliall we fee far brighter Things
Laid up for us above the Skies :
Then Ihall we long for Angel's, Wings
To bear us where our Treafure lies.
IV. H E L L.
i.
JJ E L L ! O the dark Abyfs of Woe,
Where GOD'S tremendous Vengeance reigns!
There the Impenitent muft: know
The Weight of his eternal Chains/
II.
Far from the Beams of heav'nly Light,
The dark infernal Region lies 5
And adding Horror to the Night,
Sulphureous Vapours conftant rife /
III.
There Satan the firft Traytor lies,
With all his black rebellious Crew :
How Juftice dafh'd 'em from the Skies,
And down to Hell did them purfue.'
IV.
Confin'd in that prodigious Lake
They lie beneath GOD'S dreadful Rod /
And ev'ry Sinner there muft take
His Part, who flights the Calls of Goj>.
V. And
132 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part I.
V.
And O the raatchlefs Pains they feel /
Their bitter Groans, their deep Diftrefs
O'ertops the brighteft Toet's Skill
Their boundlefs Horror to exprefc !
VI.
With Hunger, lo, their Bowels pine,
With Thirft their Throats are all on Flames/
And lo, inftead of Bread or Wine,
Their only Food's fulphureous Streams /
VII.
Their Torments for Variety,
Are JJeett and Cold in dire Extreams 3
Kow frozen ftifF perhaps they lie,
Anon in dreadful raging Flames !
V1IL
They feel the bitter Pangs of Deatfc.
Yet never can their Souls expire:
Upheld by GOD'S almighty Breath,
Which ftill maintains the quenchlefs Fire.
IX.
And wha-t adds Horror to their Grief,
Is everlafting black Defpair /
No glim'ring Hopes of a Relief
Can erer be cxpe&ed there.
X.
But endlefs Torments Night and Day,
And Woe and Grief in ev'ry Form:
And on their Vitals there mud prey
CQtifcience % that dire immortal Worm /
XI. O
Sacred to Chriftian Devotion and Piety. 135
XI.
O how they long and wi/h for Death,
And gnaw their everlafting Chains :
Curfe GOD that ftill maintains their Brsath,
Which dill augments their dreadful Pains/
XII.
Likewife to aggravate their Woe,
Out of their Dungeon Heav'n they 'fpy 3
And pious Souls, that here below
Defpis'd their vain pernicious Joy.
XHI.
Thofe they abhor'd with bitter Spite,
And us'd with Cruelty and Scorn :
Mow thefe they fee array'd in White,
And glorious Crowns their Heads adorn /
XIV.
O / how 'twill grieve their Hearts to fee
Thofe whom they rnted, rais'd on high*
While they for evermore muft be
Confin'd in hellifh Flames to lie.
XV,
While Cotifcience rends the gauling Woundy
Reminding them of former Times,
How they defpis'd the Gofpel Sound,
And hug 'd their dear beloved Crimes.
XVI.
While hellifli Fiends do them upbraid
With all their pad Iniquities :
And Grief and Woe from every fide,
Join to augment their Miferies !
N there
134 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Parti.
XVII.
There, not one pitying Eye is found,
To footh their Grief or dry their Tears 5
But endlefs Terrors them furround,
And everlafting gloomy Fears.
XVIIJ. t
The Atkeifr there no more believes
That there's no Sin-revenging GOD :
HisPow'rand Juftice he perceives,
And groans beneath his dreadful Rod.
XIX.
The jDrunkard there no more does Laugh,
And cheer his Heart with Beer or Wine :
There's not a Cup for him to quaff,
To chafe the Sorrows of his Mind.
XX
The Glutton with luxurious Meat,
Can't pleafe his raging keen Defire :
He there can nothing find to eat,
But Rocks of Brimftone all on Fire /
xxr.
The Worldling there can't hug his Gold,
Nor fmile to fee his Heaps increafe,
For which he Soul and Body fold,
To everlafting dire Diftrefs.
XXII.
The bafe lafriviotts Wretches there
Can't gratify their lewd Defires;
But groan they muft in black Defpair,
V here Life, nor Mifery expires.
And
Sacred to Chti flian Devotion and Piety. 13 5
XXIII.
And how the Swearers there do roar,
Bound with immortal Fetters ftrong j
And curfe themfelves for evermore,
With Flames of Lightning on each Tongue.
XXIV.
The Lyars too /hall alfo know,
And own the Truth of God's own Word,
"When plung'd into the Gulph of Woe,
For ever banifh'd from the LORD *.
XXV.
And rhe Voluptuous alfo there
Shall find no entertaining Games :
No Mufic to delight the Ear,
But dreadful Groans, and hid'ous Screams/
XXVI,
Yea, ev'ry Sinter there fhall find
All their Delights for ever fled :
"While Confcitnce gnaws their troubled Mind,
And Flames of Brimftone form their Bed.
XXV If.
O! dreadful State of endlefs Grief,
In everlafiing Flames to lie 5
To long for *D(ath to bring Relief,
y tt 'Death for ever from them fly /
XXVIII.
LORD ! I adore thy matchlefs Grace
That haft not caft my guilty Soul
Into that black and difmal Place
Where fiery Billows conftant roul I
* Rev. xxi. 8.
N Z Had
DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part
XXIX.
Had it not been for JESU'S fake
My Soul might long ere now been there,
Roaring amidft that dreadful Lake,
In everlafting black Defpair.
XXX.
LORD ! that I may thefe Horrors fliun,
O let me now obtain thy Grace /
And clothe my naked Soul upon
\Y ith J E s o 's perfect Rigjbteoufnefs,
E P I-
Sac fed to Chriftian Devotion and Piety. 137
EPITAPHS.
I. On Mr. JOHN SIMONS,
An Acroftic*
JEST not at %)earh ; for who can fave y
Or refcue from the gloomy Grave ?
Here, lo, I lie, cut down tho' Young 1 ,
Nor will the Reader's Days be long :
Swift do your fleeting Moments fly,
In hafte comes on Eternity f
_, , , . , J 1
Mortals, then ere it be too late,
O think upon your future State ;
Now, is the only Time you have,.
Soon you*ll be filent in the Grave.
II. On Mr. GEORGE GROVE, t he-
Infant before mentioned.
RAVE! to thy cold and grafping Arms^
E ntruft we thefe delightful Charms
O f precious Duftj 'till CHRIST fliall fay,,
R efign, O Grave, thy conquer'd Prey.
G ladly this Infant then /hall rife, f
E vade thy Arms and climb the Skies !'
G rieve not ye tender 'Parenfs dear /
R ejoice in Hope ; dull Thoughts forbear":
O think how this dear Babe ihall rife
V iSc.rioufly, and mount the Skies,
E mploy'd in heavenly Extafies!
N 3
138 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part 1.
III. On Mr. Jofeph Barber, an Infant^
who departed this Life* Nov. ip. 1755.
JUST nip't amidft his op'ning Bloom,
O here the lovely Infant lies !
S ecur'd from all the Ills to come,
E re the tempeft'ous Billows rife.
P eace then, ye Parents, hope at leaft,
H is Soul is fafe among the Bleft.
But think, ye young, and thoughtlefs Tribe,
A nd bid each vain Del 'grit adieu :
R emember, none pale Death can bribe,
B chold ha ftands prepared for you.
Endeavour then with all your Pcw'rs
Rightly t' improve your prcfent Hours.
cf the FIRST PART.
J . f
Divine Mifcellanies ;
O R,
SACRED POEMS.
PART II.
Sacred to Pra&ical Virtue and Holinels.
The Author's APOLOGY to the CLERGY
of the CHURCH of England.
Reverend Gentlemen,
HE following EPISTLE being di-
refted to your Church by Way of Ex-
' '>
hortation, Admonition and Inftrudion,
i t ma y JJQ Jooked upon by you as an
arrogant Attempt} and you may (perhaps) fay,
" Who is this meddlefome Fellow, that makes
this bold -Attempt, to offer fuch an Epiftle to the
Church of England? Sure it is one that has more
Affurance than good. Manners !" But pardon me
Gentlemen, if fuch a Query, or Accufation
Jhould be made concerning the unworthy Au-
thor,
140 ^bt Author'* Apoi,OGr to the CLERGV
thorj let the following Account fuffice for the
former, as the following APOLOGY may proba-
bly do for the latter, viz,
To fatisfy the curious Enquirer I give the
following Account of myfelf, as,
FIRST I am a Stranger. Secondly I am a
Layman, and that of the loweft Rank. Thirdly
I profefs myfelf a Troteftanfy and a fine ere Lo-
rer of all true Ckriflians^ who love our LORD
JESUS CHRIST in Sincerity, and bear his Im-
age, whether in the Church of England or not.
And this I o^Fer for the principal Reafon, why
I have taken upon me to publifli the three fol-
lowing Epijlles.. But I proceed no farther in this
Account of myfelf ; what I have already faid on
this Head, may appear defpicable to fome, and
fuperfluom to others.
But to proceed in my jJpology according to Pro-
mife, I fhall (with all due Reverence and Sub-
miffion to you and your facred Office) lay down
the following Reafons in Anfwer to fuch Objefti-
c/ns as I expect to be made againft the firft Efif-
tle, as firft, if it be objected that 1 have gone out
of my own Province, (by my own Confeflion of
being a Lay-Man) and have ufurpt upon yours,
In anfwer to this, abundance of Scriptures I
rcight quute for my Defence, but I fliall trouble
you
cf the Church of EJ^ GL A N D. 141
you but with this one, viz. Luke ix. 49, 50.
And John anfweredandfaid, Mafter, we faw one
caftitig out ^Devils in thy Name ; and we forbad
him, bccaufe he follow eth not with us. And Jefus
faiA unto him, forbid him not : for he that is not
againtt- us, is for us. Now 1 refer it to you*
candid Judgments, whether or not 1 am againft
you. 1 think it will appear plain that I am on
your Side. And whether it is lawful, and ex-
pedient for Laymen thus to exhort, admonifh,
and inftruft, I appeal to Scripture , Reafon, and
Hiftcry ; andthefe 1 find on my Side. Inftances
of this in abundance might be produc'd, were it
as needful as it is eafy j but 1 think it is entirely
fieedlefs to ufe any more Arguments to prove it
fince I know of none that deny it. But if it
fhould be obje&ed again, They were, or ought to
have been t better qualified for this Work than thou
art?
This I own 5 yet notwithftanding, it is certain-
ly every Ones Duty to do what he can in this
Way : And we are told, T'hat GOD accepteth a
willing Mind, according to what a Man hath t
and not according to what fa hath not
But if it Ihould be again objected, jThat the
variety of excellent Books already extant, and the
Sermons daily delivered from the fulpit, feem to
raider fuch weak dttewpts as this ufiltfs.
In
In anfwer to fuch an Obje&ion as this ({hould
it be made,) I own that there are abundance of
excellent Books extant, as alfo many excellent
Difcourfes daily delivered from the Pulpit j and
were the Cure actually efrefted thereby, it would
render all other Attempts of this Kind needlefs :
But daily Experience doth too plainly teftify
that the Contagion of Profanefs is ftill raging
amongft us 5 and that, notwithftanding all thefe
excellent Antidotes againft ir.
Can it then be thought unneceffary for any one
to do what they can to prevent this violent ftream
of Wickednefs, that is like to deluge the World
again?
But it may perhaps be obj:;led again, Why is
tbis Fpiftle di retted to the Church ^/ENGLAND ?
Are there no Breakers of thefe Commands but us ?
In anfwer to this I reply, it is Matter of La-
mentation to every ferious thinking Mind, that
there are fo many of every Profeffion oiChrijlians
amongft us, who do fo little regard thefe Holy
Commandments of GOD, tho' they all profefs that
they believe it is their Duty to obftrve them :
Kor do I accufe the Church of ENGLAND with
this more than others : But one would think that
the Members of the Church of ENGLAND fhould
be more circumfpeft in the difcharge of this Du-
'y
of the Church of E N G L A N D. 143
y than any other, upon account of this excellent
Order. Yet notwithftanding this, and all other
Motives in your Conftitution againft the violating
of the Laws of GOD, it is too evident that it is
little regarded by many. For I have in my own
Obfervation, feen and heard many who profefs
themfelves Members of this National CHURCH,
that will even dare to jeft at tDeatb, make a mock
-at Hell ; yea, and laugh at the moft important
I'ruthsin thejpord of GOD, and make them but
Matters of Sport and Merriment ; and even in
their Mirth, (as well as in their Paffion) will call
to their Maker for Damnation on their own and
others Souls ! Thefe Things (I fay) I have
been Eye and Ear Witnefsto. But I fuppofe that
you of the f acred Funfticn maybe intire Stran-
gers to fuch horrid Converfation, becaufe I think
the very Prefence of a Reverend Divine, would
deter fuch Wretches from fuch intolerable Con-
verfation. This is the principal Reafon why I
have made this Addrefs to the Church of Eng-
land; and in my Opinion it is a very juft one :
For who can fee their Fellow Creatures thus run-
ing headlong into Deftruftion, and not pity them ?
And it is poor Charity (I think) to pity and
make no Attempts to aflift, efpecially when
there is any Appearance of doing any good / As
if a Man were a drowning, and another that faw
him would not try to help him : This would
appear very hard Hearted indeed ! And are not
thofe
J44 tte Author Apology to the CLERGY
thofe in a far more dangerous Condition which I
have juft mentioned ? Therefore I am perfwad-
ed that this is my Duty, let the Iffuebe what it
will 5 And thro' the Grace of GOD aflifting me,
I am refolved to do it, tho' the Succefs fhould
be never fo fmall.
It is true I have had but fmall Succefs, when
I have reproved fome of thefe , efpecially the
Swearers. Some of them (as I faid before) I
have found entirely Atheiftical, breaking all
Bounds, They will not fcarce form an Excufe,
but are refolv'd to go on without either Fear
or Thought.
Others I have found of another Degree, who
plead Excufes: Some will plead, They believe
it is no Harm, becaufe they tlink none ; the y wij}}
no Body any HI, tko* they thus Jpeak. Others,
T'hat they never fxear but when in a Vajflon, and
theh they cannot help it. Others again will plead >
That tbofe that refrain fw earing are fly, c-nd will
cheat and lie, tho' they will not /wear \ Others
will plead Excufe from the Practice of thofe
who ar in higher Stations : Nay, they will even
affirm That you, their Miniflers will do fo, as well
at any ofem t and therefore they think they are
partly tollerated. But how true or falfe this Ac-
cufation is, I pretend not to determine, (being a
Stranger) but I have endeavoured to anfwer, and
confute this, and all fuch vain Excufes that I
have
of tie Church of E N G L A N T>. 145
have met with from fuch notorious Offenders, in
the following EPISTLE $ and have alfo endea-
voured (to the utmoft of my Power) to exhort
them to true Repentance, both by Threatning s
and Promifes from the Word of Go D ; and I could
find no better Argument to plead than that ex-
cellent Refponfe which you have in your Order
of reading thefe holy Commandments.
But let none think that this is any Ways in-
tended to reproach, either you, the REVERE&D
CLERGY, or the Laity of the CHURCH of Eng-
land 5 or to cavil at any of your facred Conftitu-
tion. No, GENTLEMEN, far be it from me, for
I here declare before that GOB, who feeth the
Secrets of all Hearts, and before whom we muft
all fhortly appear, that 1 have no fuch unworthy
View or Defign.
And I appeal to him, who is the Searcher of all
Hearts^ whether Love to the Souls of my fellow
Creatures, and a Defire to promote his Glory
was not my principal Deiign: And if it pleafe
him, who is the FATHER (ALi^hts^ and the Au-
thor and Giver of every good and perfeft Gift,
to give a Electing to this weak Performance, and
make it inilrumental to his own Glory, in con-
verting one Soul from the Error of his Ways, I
Ihall count myfelf abundantly recompenfed for
all nay Pains, however this may be defpis'd by
Men.
O Now
Now, Reverend GENTLEMEN, 1 humbly lay
this at your Feet, defiring your Approbation no
farther than Truth and Justice will admit : And
to conclude at prefent, I heartily wifh all your
faithful Labours may be crowned with abundant
Succefs: And may the Spirit of CHRIST guide
you into all Truth, and make you the happy In-
ftruments in his Hand, to convince, and convert
many Souls to himfelf 3 and may the CHURCH
of England (now militant) fhine more and more
with Truth and Purity, 'till /he become a Part
of the CHURCH Triumphant above, this is the
earneft Defire and fervent Prayer of,
Reverend GENTLEMEN,
Tour irojt obedient humble Servant,
J. M.
E P I S-
EPISTLE I.
The INTRODUCTION.
TIT* HEN ye, ray Friends, approach the facred
Place,
Jointly to feek the GOD of -Jacob** Face,
There ye attend to hear the holy Law,
That ftruck the trembling world with humble a we,
"When great JEHOVAH did himfelf come down
To write this Law upon the ftubborn Stone,
How eafily the ftubborn Stones receiv'd
Each facred Stroke, JEHOVAH there engrav'd !
But, ah, Uow hard it is to write this Law,
On Men's hard frozen Hearts, that will not thaw
By all the melting Flames of heav'nly Love,
Sent to this finful Nation from above !
Now each great Precept of this holy Law,
Let us review with Fear and humble Awe,
And well examine our own Heart with Care,
To fee if thefe Commands are written there :
And if they are, let's thankfully adore
GOD'S matchlefs Goodnefs, and infinite Power:
But if they're not, let's give him then no Reft,
'Till by his Grace they're on our Hearts irapreft.
O
APRACTICAL
PARAPHRASE
ON THE
Ten Commandments:
EXODUS xx.
i.
JAMtkt LORD thy GOD
Who hath redeemed thee by my powerful
from Egypt's Bondage, and hath Jet thee free ;
Therefore thoujhalt have no. more GODS but me.
Te cry for Mercy with apparent dwe t
O LORD, incline cur Hearts to keep this Law!
Now when we feek our Maker's gracious Aid,
To guide us in his holy Paths to tread,
We ought with Care, and holy Zeal to fee
That our whole Hearts do with our Lips agree 5
Elfe" we before our Maker ihall be found
Like tinkling Brafs, a vain and empty Sound.
Examine then with holy jealous Care,
When ye to GOD prefent this humble Pray'r, .
Am
Sacred to Pra&ical Virtue and Holinef?. 149
" Am I refolved now (with all my Heart)
Freely from ev'ry Idol-Luft to part,
That doth in any Oppofition ftand
Againft my Maker in this great Command 1
Is he my GOD, and he my Choice alone,
And JESUS CHRIST his great co-equal Son,
Together with the fweet celeftial Dove,
Are thefe the Objects of my Faith and Love ?
Do I believe this glorious Myftery 2
Of the eternal glorious Trinity , ^
In Effence One t and yet in Perfons Three ? j
And that they're not divided nor confus'd ?
And are their Names by me with rev'rence iis'd
And if I do, what Reafon can I give
\Vhy I this dazzling Myftery believe ?
Is it becaufe I have it by Tradition?
Or as it is a Scripture Propofition ?
Well, if I court this holy Doctrine true
( That Atheifts bold, nor Infidels e'er knew)
Tho* I cannot this Myftery explore, ^
Do I this GOD unfeigaedly adore,
And daily long to know and love him more ? j
Is he the Centre chief of my Defires 3
The only Objecl that my Soul admires?
And do I long to fee his glorious Face, "J
And be a Miracle of fov'reign Grace, >
To dwell for ever in his kind Embrace? j
And do 1 long his glorious Name to praife
In everlafting fweet celestial Lays?
03 ^ o*
DlVIN* MlSCBLLAHIHS, [Part II.
*' Or do I rather make this- World my Truft?
And this my God, a Heap of gLit'ring Duft?
Do I indulge fouae dear beloved Sin?
Search, LORD, and make thy Tabernacle clean,
For lo, I know thy quick All-piercing Eye
Sees ev'ry Secret that doth in me lie I"
Now thus commune with your own Heart and fee
If your Petitions and Deflres agree.
Such ferious Self-Enquiry is the Way
That leads to Regions of eternal Day.
II.
7"* HO Up alt no Kind of graven Image frame,
Of the Celettial or Terreftrial Name:
I'hcujhalt ntt bono to anyfuch thy Knee,
I'ho' with a vain Pretence to worjbip me$
Sut only in mine own appointed lVay t
7b me, thy G023, thy humble Homage pay -,
For I the LORI) thy GOT* have jealous Eyes t
AnH vljit eft tie grcfs Iniquities
Of (parents on their future rifwg Rare,
jVko break my La-ivs y and trample on my Graces
%tit Jhower my Mercies often from, above \
On tko*fA)id$) wbo my righteous Trctepts love*
Te cry for Mercy with apparent
LOR'D, incline our Hearts to keef this Law!
Examine
&cred to Practical Virtue Md Holbefs.
EXAMINE then with Care if ye live in
The practice of this GOD provoking Sin:
Whether or not ye do too much adore
Thofe f acred *Altars> which ye bow before.
I judge you not; only let Confidence fpeak,
And fay if ye this holy Precept break.
Ill
'T'HOU Jhalt not take my holy Name in vattt,
Nor dare my glorious Attributes profane $
For 7, the Z0R2>, wia not them guiltless
Whoever dare be thus profandy bold.
Ye cry for Mercy with apparent
LORE, incline our Hearts to ktep this Law !
Now fuffer me a friendly Word to fpeak
To fuch as do this holy Precept break,
The firft are thofe who without Fear or Awe,
Partly thro' Ignorance do break this Law,
By taking GOD'S nooft holy Name in vain,
In a meer heedlefs and unthinking Strain ;
And in their common Talk, or Mirth they'll fay,
' OGoD ! O CHRIST! GOD blefs me ! oft fay
they:
And many more fuch vain unthinking Words,
Their common Talk and common Mirth affords 5
let think this is no Harm : O grofs Miftake !
Doth thie notplainly Go D 's Commandment break?
Hia
DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part II;
His Name muft be rever'd with humble Awe,
By ev'ry one that would obey his Law.
Remember this in all your Converfation,
For 'tis no vain nor needle fs Exhortation.
i?i
The fecond Sort to whom I now would fpeak,
Are thofe who yet more bold this Precept breafc,
With bitter Oaths, and dreadful Imprecations*
The Produft of their mad unruly Paffions.
But think (I pray) when ye this Prayer make,
Ye, who fo freely this Commandment break.
O think (I fay) how vain your Breath is fpent
To cry for Mercy, and yet not repent I
To cry for Grace, your frozen Hearts to thaw,
And to incline them to obey thii Law :
And is not this your Maker\ Name to mock,
And turn all your tDovotion to a Joke ?
For if repeating pious Forms be all,
Ye Christian Worjlrip, ignorantly call,
A *Parrot then may be a Cbriftian too,
And pray as fervent and devout as you.
O dreadful Impudence ! confider well
If this be not the ready Road to Hell.
But thus I've reafon'd fev'ral Times with you,
And fome have own'd that what I faid was true 5
But fome have faid, " We often ftrive in vain
Such hafty Words fntirtly to refrain,
For when provok'd our Paffions fo prevail
That all our beft Endeavours often fail."
'
Sacred to Practical Virtue and Holinefs, 15$
To fuch I anfwer, your Endeavours all ">
Are none (1 doubt) or elfe but very fmall, \
When ye fo freely for ^Damnation call.
Oh ! did you know but what ^Damnation is,
Your Hearts would tremble at fuch Words as this!
O dreadful State, forevermore to dwell
Down in the black infernal Lake of Hell !
In Fire and Brimftone, black fulphurious Streams,
And envious tDeviis feeding ftill the Flames /
This is their Food, and for their Mufic too,
They've endlefs Wailings and immortal Woe !
Then let this /hocking 1 Word no more be namM,
To wifh yourfelves, or any other damn'd.
Some will at Trifles cry, GOD'S Shed and
Wounds !
O dreadful Words how fhocking are their Sounds,
If C H Ri s T did fuffer Wounds, and flied his Blood,
To purchafe Pardon with that precious Flood
For Rebels, who had broke his Father's Law,
One well might think each frozen Heart Ihould
thaw :
For without this all Mankind muft have fell
Down to th' infernal Lake where ^Devils dwelU
But can you hope for Pardon thro' his Blood,
Who thus ungratefully affront your GOD ?
O grofs Prefumption ! fpeedily repent,
Elfe nothing will your endlefs Woe prevent.
. . " I ' ^ *-'-' *
But fome will fay, " A.h, this is no fuch Crime
As you would reprefent it in your Rhyme 5
ct vc . Elfe
154 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, (Part II.
Elfe wife and learned Men would ftand in Awe,
And not fo freely dare to break this Law j
For ev'n our Rev'rend Clergy oft we fee
Will curfe and fwear, and drink as faft as we :
Tea, any common Vice that can be nam'd
Will they commit : Then why fhould we be
blam'd ?
Altho' (tis true) they fometirnes teach this Way,
Ye muft not do like us, but as we fay,
But futely if they thought it were fo bad,
They never would prefume to be fo mad :
Therefore we'll take our Chance, for we /hall
fpeed
No worfe than Thoufands, who do thus proceed :
For tho' fome will not fwear they'll bafely lie,
And that is worfe." This is their common Cry.
To this I anfwer, Ah ! prefumptuous Fools !
"What think you then that this GOD'S Anger cools?
And thatbecaufe your Company is great
That this GOD'S flaming Vengeance will abate,.
O grofs Miftake ! what, have ye never read
What wretched Crouds the fatal Broadway tread,
That leads to endlefs Woe, and dire Defpair,
Whilft Life's ftrait Path that leads to Man.
Jionsfair,
Hath only here and there a 'Traveller ? *
The num'rous Heaps in Hell yield no Relief,
But fadly aggravate each others Grief 5
And
* Math. Tii t i$) 14.
Sacred to Practical Virtue and Holinefs. 155
And thofe efpecially, who oft have been
Tempters, and Part'ners in each others Sin.
Did Numbers 'bate GOD'S Wrath in any Ways
To the old World in Righteous Noah's Days,
When only Eight in all the World were found
That feat'd the LORD, and all the Reft were
drown'd ?
Or Sodom, where were found but only Three
That wou'd believe, and from GOD'S Vengeance
flee ?
On all the Cities of that wretched 'Plain^
Fierce Storms of Fire and BrimftoneGoD did rain,
Becaufe Tranfgreflbrs were fo num'rous grown,
They urged him to pour his Vengeance down. *
Then flatter not yourfelves that Numbers great
Will any Ways GOD'S flaming Wrath abate :
Plead then no more, " This is fo common grown
And us'd by fome who wear the facred Gown."
Whatever Patrons ye pretend to plead,
Thefe will at laft fland you in little Stead.
Again ye plead, " This Crime it is but fmall,
And doth not for fuch heavy Judgments call."
O grofs Miflake! ye Swearers, blufh for Shame,
When ye prophane your Maker's holy Name,
When ye before his awful Bar muft Stand
To anfwer for your breaking his Command,
Where will ye then find out your found Excufes
To fcreen you from his Wrath for fuch Abufes ?
Will this ferve Turn to fay that Thoufands more
Did fo as well as you, both Rich, and Poor ?.
* Gen. xix. 24, 25 Or
156 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part 1 1.
Or that your Rev'rend Clergy did the fame,
Therefore ye thought ye were not much to blame?
Or that ye thought the Crime it was but fmall,
Tho' ye did often for Damnation call,
Ye thought no Harm, and wi/h'd No-body ill
"When thefe fad Words your wicked Mouths did
fill ?
May we not then fuppofe the JUDGE to fay
To you at the great awful Judgment Day,
" Come forth, ye Rebels, now ye fhall receive
What ye fo often from my Hands did crave ,
Ye did (inftead of fearing my great Name)
With Oaths and Imprecations me biafpheme,
Yet fay ye thought it but a trifling Crime,
Becaufe my Patience waited fo long Time ,
And that becaufe it was fo common grown,
Therefore ye thought that I would never frown,
Ah ! ftupid Fools, whofe Reafon Luft hath
choak'd,
Thought ye I was a GOD that would be mock'd?
Such grofs Miftakes lhall now be all reveal'd,
Altho* my Juftice hath been long conceal'd,
Ye now /hall feel the Fury of my Rod,
And know that I am the Almighty GOD.
Depart from me, ye Wicked and profane,
"Who did not fear, but took my Name in vain j
And if you think the Numbers that have been
Partakers with you in this heinous Sin
Will now afford you any kind Relief,
Or in the leaft abate your endlefs Grief,
"Go
Sacred to Pra&ical Virtue and Holinefs. 15?
Go then and fee what Comfort ye can take
With Many fuch in the infernal Lake ."
Think noWjye^w^TYry, howye then will dar*
To plead fuch Reafons at your Maker's Bar :
Such Arguments (you'll find) will all be vain,
And only aggravate your endlefs Pain .
O Swearers then, confider and repent,
And fo avert this dreadful Punifliment.
To think this Sin is fmall is meer Delufion,
And this at laft you'll find to your Confufion.;
This Sin hath fev'ral heinous Aggravations, j) O'
As you may fee in thefe fhort Obfervations.
'Tis breaking the firft Table of the Law
(And this I think fhould ftrike each He art .with
Which doth peculiarly to GOD pertain, [ Awe>
"Thou (halt not take my holy Name in vain .' '
Secondly, there's no Profit ye can plead
That e'er could tempt you herein to proceed,
But vile Prefumption, Pride, or wilful Spite,
That made you thus to fin againft the Light.
Thirdly, it is moft bafe Ingratitude,
Thus to provoke a GOD fo kind and good,
Who gave ye Tongues to blefs his holy Name,
If thus you ufe them to profane the fame-
Fourthly, 'tis alfo grofs Hypocrify\
When for his Grace ye humbly feem to Cry,
T'incline your Hearts to keep this holy Law,
With great Appearances of humble Awe.
Fifthly, ye teach the rifing Generation
To do fo to, without Confederation.
P This
158 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part II.
This is the Reafon why fo many do,
This dang'rous Track fo eagerly purfue.
This makes the burden'd Earth with Groans
complain
To bear a Load of Wretches fo profane,
\Vho boldly take it's Maker's Name in vain.*
Thus far I've fpoke only to you who fwear
"With fmall Remorfe, and yet do not forbear,
But or thro' Cuftom, or fometimes thro* Taffion
Practice this Sin, or fome perhaps for Fajhion,
O fhameful Practice in a Chriftian Nation.
But I'd almoft forgot one prime Objection,
\Vhich ye retort with fo much keen Reflection,
"To wit, That tkofe who will not Swear will Lie,
And that is nvorfe. To which 1 here reply,
I fhall not ftayto contradict this Charge,
Becaufe I don't intend hereto enlarge ;
But now confider, if this Charge were true,
It would not be the leaft Excufe for you /
Lyars I don't pretend to juftify,
Them I intend to fpeak to by and by :%
But next confider this (I pray) likewife,
If ye ben't guilty too of telling Lies;
And if you be (as I have Caufe to fear
Moft of you are, who are fo apt to fwear)
Then think how vain this Argument ye ufe,
Ye only hereby do yourfelves accufe.
Confider then and let your Confcience fpeak,
\\hether or not both thefe Commands ye break /
* Htm. viii, 11. 1 See the ^th Commandment.
Nay
Smcred to Pra&ical Virtue and Holinefs. 1 59
Nay, is not this a bafe malicious Spite
Againft the Men who ftrive to walk upright?
Becaufe they cannot run with you to Sin,
Therefore ye cry, "they're Hypocrites wit hin\"
Thus ye ufurp upoti your Maker's Part,
Whofe Right alone it is to judge the Heart :
Man's Eye the outward Part can only judge,
GOD only knows what in the Heart doth lodge.
Cenforious judging then avoid with Care, *>
For all muft fland before their Maker's Bar, V
And fliall impartially be judged there. S|
Now the laft Sort to whom I here would fpeak
Are thofe who yet more bold this 'Precept break j
Who boldly and prefumptuoufly rebell,
As if they were in hafte to plunge in Hell !
But flay a Little whllfl my Words ye hear, .,< /<
Will nothing (lop you in your mad Career ?*,#
Are ye fo flout, and fo Hell-hardy bold *
As thus to think ye ne'er can be controul'd ?
Ah / flupid Fools/ How long d'ye think 'twill C
hold ? J
Can't he (d'ye think) 'gainft whom ye now \
rebell, . /
Soon blaft your Pride, and all your Stoutnefs
quell, S
And dafhyou down into the loweft Hell ?
O think on this before it is too late,
Ere Death hath ended your probation State /
Confider now how ye can bear to dwell
endlefs Burnings in the Lake of Hell ?*
* Ifai, xxxiii, 14.
P Z Where
160 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part II.
"SYhere Fire and Brimftone, black Sulphurious
Streams,
Still addfrelh Fuel to the raging Flames !
Then Confcience too (that never dying Worm)
"Will gnaw your Hearts in the moft woful Form-
Then will ye curfe yourfelves for wretched Fools*
Thit did defpife all Wifdom's choiceil Rules /
And gnaw your burningTongues with endlefsPain
\Vith which ye did your Maker's Name profane !
Confider this, ye that forget the LORD,
Before he draws his awful glitt'ring Sword 5
For if his Anger once begin to glow,
He'll daih you down to everlafting Woe.
But fom perhaps will at my Counfel fpurn,
And my Advice only to Laughter turn,
Becaufe th' old Serpent craftily doth teach 'em,
. That GoD'savenging Rod fhall never reach 'emf
Ami thus they build their Hopes on flat'ring Lies,
Alas ! when will the wretched Fools be wife.
Are ye fo ftrong to bear the dreadful Load,
The Vengeance of a pure Sin-hating Go D ?
Well 5 ye may Laugh, and Mock, and Sneer,
and Scoff,
And put the thoughts of 2)eatb and Judgment off j
But they will come, perhaps ere you're aware,
And you'll Hand fpeechlefs at your Maker's Bar.
Bat yet would ye but heartily repent,
There's Hopes you might this endlefs Woe pre-
vent;
t Gen. iii, 4,
But
Sacred to Pra&ical Virtue and Holinefs, 161
But if ye don't while yet 'tis call'd, To
All Hopes will be forever fled away.
Delay not then one Day ere you begin
To turn to GOD, and leave each darling Sin,
Left Death o'ertake you ! quickly it will come,
And then you're fixt for your eternal Doom:
Then, then there is no Hopes of Pardon there/
Nothing remains but Terror and Defpair/
Whilft Life remains there's Hope if ye repent,
Ye may efcape this endlefs Punifhmenr,
But after Death, no Hop* remains at all,
For none can then your dreadful Doom recal ,
Now if this friendly Counfel ye defpife,
And ftill againft the Light will /hut your Eyes,
Here 1 muft leave you your own Souls to
murder,
I've faid enough, fo I proceed no further,
But beg that GOD" by his almighty Pow'r,
May turn your Hearts, and work th' effectual
Cure.
Here I conclude what I intend to fay
To you, who do this 'Precept difobey :
GOD grant that it may have fome good Effel
On all, who do this holy Law rejeft .
IV
13 E MEMBER ftitt tbefacred Sabbat h-Z)ay,
I'Q k(tp it Holy to the LORD alway.
i6z D i v i N E M i s c E L L.A N i E s, [Part II .
On fix 'Days of the Weekjhatt Work be done,
J.U that isjuft and right beneath the Sun-.
But to, tit Seventh's a 'Day of holy Reft,
Whereon jhatt labour neither Man nor Beafi:
For on fix 2)ays the LORD made Heav'n and
"Earth ;
To Sea and all therein he then gave 'Birth ,;
Svt on the Seventh he from his Works did reft t
Wherefore the LORD the holy Sabbath ble(l y
And hallo-iv'd it, that Man might do thefame>
Jn Honour of his great CREATORS Name .
Ye cry for Mercy with apparent Awe,
O LORD, incline our Hearts to keep this Law !
* But do ye think, my Friends, this is enough,
Juft vvhilft ye are beneath thefacred Roof,
To cry for Mercy, and for Grace t'incline
Your Hearts to keep this holy Law divine 5
Then ftraight return to finful Vanity,
And is not this moft grofs Hypocrify ?
But now that none may this Commandment break
Thro' Ignorance, or out of blind Miftake,
I'll here defcribe how many difTrent Ways
Men may profane the holy Sabbath Days.
* Note, I don't enter here into any Difpute about keeping the firft,
cr fevcnth Dy of the Week ; for I com els myfelf to be of the fame
Opinion with the CHURCH of ENGLAND in thi; and am dtis-
tied from Scripture the ririt Day of thcWeck is the Chriftian-Sabbath,
though not nieution'd beie .
Now
Sacred to Pralical Virtue and Holinefs.' 163
Now thofe who fpend the tDay in idle Sloth,
And thofe, who do what is forbidden both,
In Thought, or Word, or Deed; in Work, or Play,
All thefe are Breakers of the Sabbat h-Eay.
And whatfoever Station Men live in,
This is a very GoD-provoking Sin :
Yet is it aggravated more or lefs
In ev'ry one according to their Place,
Now fuffer me a friendly Word to fpeak
To all, who do this holy Precept break.
O tremble then, ye Men of high Degree,
Who by your Pow'r, s or lawlefs Liberty
Make Men tranfgrefs, or by your bafe Example
Make many on this holy Precept trample.
Your's is a high Degree of Aggravation,
And brings Deftru&ion on a finful Nation.
Sad Proofs of this the Scripture doth afford,
And dreadful Threat'nings alfo from the LORD
Againft all thofe who break this holy Law;
Let this ftrike ev'ry Human-Heart with Awe.
Examine then thofe idle Country-Wake^
A Cuftom which, this holy Precept breaks/
Tho' this curs'd Seed it feems at firft was fown
By a ftria Order from the Englijh Throne.*
* (Viz.) The Book f Sports, firft publifli'dby King JAMES t
And republifh'd again by King CHARLES I. (fuppos'd by tbe In-
fluence of A rchbifh op Laud.) Whereiu was contained a free Liberty
for all manner of Sports and Paftimes on tke Lord's Days in the Af-
ternoon. And cTcry Church Miniftei was obliged to read it in the
Church on the Lord's Day, or elfc to lofc their Places. See the Hif-
tory of tbe King's of England,
Strange
164 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, (Part II.
Strange Aft indeed / What then were Men too
Holy,
That they muft thus be forced into Folly ?
They're not fo now (I think) if none withftand it
They'll Sin enough tho' they be not commanded !
Yet they were thought (it feerns) too Holy then
That they were forc'd the Sabbath to profane /
Audacious Rulers fure / infpir'd from Hell
That made them thus in Wickednefs excell :
That nothing lefs would pleafe their vicious
Tafte,
Than thus to have JEHOVAH'sLaws fuppreft!
Like Jcrolcam who did in Vice excell ,
And caufed Jfrael alfo to rebell.
'Twas not enough (it feems) for them to Sin,
But they by Force mufl needs draw others in/
But thanks to GOD our gracious Rulers now
Do no fuch bafe immoral Laws allow :
Yet this curs'd Seed hath took fo deep a Root
That to this Day 'tis fcarcely rooted out :
And yet our Civil Laws no Man can blame,
But thofe v. ho ought to execute the fame.
Ye Officers, who are in Pow'r and Place,
"Why do ye not fuch Wickednefs fuppr^fs?
Cobfi&bles and Cburcb-ll r ArdtHs, why do you
Such bafe unlawful Wickednefs allow ?
Ye know you are by folcmn Oaths rc;sin*d
To fee the Sabbath bs no ways profau'u*.
f Sec tl*ir Oath* at the Vifitation.
Ye
Sacred to Pra&ical Virtue and Holinefs, i6
Ye ought t'infpeft the Men of ev'ry Trade,
Nor let it be a Day of Traffick made : (are
To fearch each tipling Houfe where Drunkards
"When they fhould to GOD'S holy Houfe repair,
Survey the Streets and Fields where many play,
And fee that none profane the Sabbath-Day.
This is your Duty ; but if ye negleft,
What can ye from the LORD of HOSTS expect,
But certain fearful looking for of Wrath,
And everlafting Mif'ry after Death?
Confider this, and plead not Ignorance,
For that I'm fure muft be but vain Pretence.
Ye who are Barents 1 would next addrefs,
"Who alfo do this holy Law tranfgrefsj
And fet your Offspring bafe Examples too,
That they may after the fame Manner do.
Some of you by your boundlefs Toleration
Do oft corrupt the rifing Generation ;
Barents I've heard upon the Sabbath-%)ay
Say to their Children* " Go your Ways to play."
Nay, this is here fo very common grown
That few will at this fiuful Cuftom frown,
But rather think it is an hatmlefs Thing, O
And fo this great Command away they fling, S
This great Command of GOD the fov'reign ^
King!
O grofs Miftake ! or rather willful Error !
How will ye ftand before the awful Terror
Of the great Judge, when he to Earth defcends
To judge his Foes, and recommence his Friends*.
Such
Such are his "Friends, who love and ftand in Awe,
And fuch his Fee s, who difregard his Law 5
But who can be thought fitter Heirs of Hell,
Than thofe who teach their Offspring to rebell ?
Confider this, ye ^c.rents^ now in Time,
And no more think this is a trifling Ciime :
Are ye not chaxg'd by GOD'S moil holy Word,
To train your Children up to fear the Lord ? *
And /hew them what great Things he's done
for you,
That they may truft, and love, and fear him tco ?f
Confider this, ye that forget the LORD,
And difregard the Precepts of his Word^
Before he rouze for you his dreadful lr,
And da/h you down to everlafting Fire,
Ye who are Matters, I would next advife,
That ye your Pow'r difcreetly exercife,
O'er all who your domeftic Servants Are,
Their Souls are under your paternal Care.
Suffer them not by either Work or Play,
E'er to prophane, the holy Sabbarh-tDay.
If this ye do, the LORD witt furely ble&, ^
And give each Labour of your Hands Succefs, >
And make your Comforts daily to encreafe: J
But if ye this neglect, think how you muft
Give an Account of what was in your Truft,
To the great awful Judge fupreme and juft ! '
Ye Ctildren too, who are in youthful Days,
Spend not your Sabbaths now in idle Plays.
Eph. vi. 4. t Deut vi. y j pOL L s*.
Confider
Sacrtd to Pra&ical Virtue and Holinefs. 167
Confider now, if ye your Sabbaths fpend
In holy Duties, GOD will be your Friend.
But if you fpe-nd them now in Vanity,
The LORD will be your dreadful Enemy!
And now I humbly would myfelf addrefs,
To all, who do this holy Law tranfgrefs,
In Thought, or Word, or Deed, or idle Sloth,
Think ye the LORD will not with you be wrath?
Then read thefe Texts of Scripture here below,
And then confider if thefe Things be fo. *
Again confider, if it does afford
You no Delight to ferve and praife the LORD,
Then how unfit ye are for Heav'n above,
Where all their Work is only Praife and Love.
Think how difpleafing Heaven would be to you,
Were ye but now admitted thereunto !
Juft fo 'twould pleafe a ftupid Afs to bring,
Him to the Palace of foma noble King,
Where choiceft Mufic of all Sorts are play'*},
And curious Complements are alfo paid ,
His braying Throat would all the Mufic fpoil,
And all the fweeteft Harmony -defile.
Ev'n fo 'twould pleafe an unregen'rate .Mind
"Were it in Heav'n, it could no Pleafure find,
No more than Diamonds, or a golden Mine,
Would pleafe the Fancy of a loathfome Swine.
But don't deceive yourfelves, none thus unfitted
Shall ever be within HeavVs Gates admitted.
* Nth xiii. 18. Exod. xxxi. 14, 15. NumV. xv. 36. Jer. xvii. 27.
Ifa. iviii. 13. luck. xx. iz 17.
Thofe
168 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part II .
Thofe who on Earth do not a Sabbath love,
Shall ne'er enjoy th' eternal Reft above.
If ye find no Delight in holy Duty,
Ye have no real Mark of Heav'n about ye :
And if Death feize you whilft ye thus remain
Tour Pa*t muft be eternal Woe and Pain.
Here I conclude what I propos'd to fay
To all Profaners of the Sabbath-Day.
LORD, grant that it may meet with good Succefs,
On all who do this holy Law tranfgrefs.
Thus the firft Table of the Law is plain,
Which doth peculiarly to GOD pertain :
And now the Second alfo doth enfue,
Which fhews what Duties unto Men are due.
TJOWUK thy Father and thy Mother too,
That thou on Earth mayfi many 2)ays review
Te cry for Mercy 'with apparent
O LOR2) incline our Hearts to keep this Law.
Now that we may the better underftand
The large Extenfivenefs of this Command,
Let's now confider this Command extends
To all the World and its remoteft Ends j
Superiors and Inferiors of ev'ry Kind,
Unto their proper Duties this doth bind :
And
Sacred to Practical Virtue and Holinefs. 169
And Equals too, that they fhould do the fame
To fuch as they'd have others do to them.
This is the large Extent of this Command,
As Scripture gives us plain to underftand.
And now let each (according to their Places)
Examine well themfelves in all thefe Cafes.
Parents and Children is the firft Relation
Which I exhort to Self-Examination.
Now 'tis the Inferior's Place firft to begin,
T* examine if they dutiful have been.
Ye Children, then examine now 1 pray,
And fee if ye your Parents well obey.
CHILDREN.
-gA. -*jr ;i } j,-' v, ,-ji -jit ;,{) ' // f ,u L'fj :\
" A M I a Child under my Parents Care ?
Do I fubmit to them with Love and Fear?
Do I ftill Honour them with due Refpeft,
Nor their Commands, or good advice reject ?
And when they chide, or are fometimes fevere,
Do I with Patience, and Submfffion bear?
When they reprove, or fharply me correct
Do I fubmit with humble due Refpedl ?
Or when their Tendernefs makes them forbear
The Rod oft'titnes when I deferve fevere,
And they my Faults do but with foftnefs chide,
When from my Duty I have turn'd afide :
Does this ftill melt my Heart, whilft I with fear,
And filial Love their friendly Coanfels hear 5
Q_ Becaof*
170 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part II.
Becaufe I find it in GOD'S holy Word,
Children obey your Barents in the LORD ?*"
Now thofe who are fuch dear beloved Ones,
The LORD doth chufe for Daughters and for
Sons.
Learn well your Duty here, while Liferemain*,
And GOD in Heav'n will well reward your
Pains.
But thofe, who are quite of another Sort,
And do but at their Parents Words make Sport,
And wilfully againft them ftill rebell,
Thefe are (no doubt) the ftubborn Heirs of Hell !
And if they do not fpeedily repent,
They furely will be quickly thither fent.
And ye, who are arriv'd at riper Age
Before your 'Parents leave the dusky Stage,
See that ye ufe them ftill with kind Refpeft,
And their Neceffities no wife negleft ;
But daily help them with your earthly Store, ^
If Providence hath put it in your Pow'r, >
And Need require before their Warfare's o'er, j
This is contained in the fifth Command,
As CHRIST haih given us to underftand. f
And whilft your Duty, thus you plainly fee,
Woe to you if you difobedient be ;
For furely if this Duty ye negleft,
The LORD at laft will alfo you reject :
But if ye thts perform it faithfully,
He'll never let you Lnfers be thereby.
yi. I. t Matth. xv. s, 6
Safred to Pra&ical Virtue and Holinefs, 171
PARENTS.
T E T Taretits next examine thus their HeartSj
^And fee if they with Prudence afl their Parts.
" Am I aTarent? Do I then take Care
To know when to correct, and when to fpare ?
Bo I with Prudence, not with Fondnefs Love,
"With Care my Children's little Faults reprove ?
With iharper Strokes correct their larger Crime?,
Shewing the Dang'roufnefs of Sin betimes/
Do I (according to GOD'S holy Word)
Teach them betimes to know and fear the LORD:
Setting a good Example in their fight,
That they in Virtue's Ways may take Delight 5
And do I with, and for them daily pray,
That GOD would guide them in his perfeft Way*
And fo prepare them for his heav'nly Blifs,
Where endlefs Joy and perfeft Pleafure is?
Do I likewife with honeft prudent Care
Provide them Food to eat, and Clothes to Mfear,
According as my Station will afford,
By the kind Providence of GOD the LORD ?
And do I them impartially Refpeft,
Not loving fome, while others I negleft ?
And when true Virtue doth a difPrence make,
Do I diftinguifh fome for Virtue's fake ?
Now, have myChildrenprov'dtomeungrateful
(A Principle which is of all mod hateful)
Conference , pray tell me, is the Fault mine own
By fome imprudent Conduft I have Jhewn ?
Hav,
PIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part 11.
Have I been too indulgent, or fevere, "J
Or have lus'dthefe Means with pru dent Care> S
The Rod, Advice, and humble fervent Pray'r? >j
Speak Conference now, and give thy Verdift in,
And fhew me truly where my Fault hath been."
O happy 'Parents, if your Confcience tell
"Ye have in all thefe Things behaved well :
But if youi Confcience herein you accufe,
See that you BOW more prudent Methods ufe*
Husbands and Wives is now the next Relation
that's here to tryly Self-Examivation.
WIVES.
" A M I a Wife ? Then do I Hill fubmit
*^ Myfelf unto my Hus&aad as is fit ?*
And do I make GOD'S Word my conftant Guiile,
Fearing from that bright Rule to turn afide $
Knowing I am an Emblem of the Church^
Where no Deceit or Wickednefs fliould lurch ?
Is my Adorning not vain outward %)refs>
But Faith and Love and ev'ry Chriftian Grace ?
Do I each vain and fooli/h Failiion hate,
Wearing my Raiment, modeft, clean and neat,
According as my Station may afford,
"With all Hunaility before the LORD?
Do I my Body faithfully preferve
In Cbaflity, nor from my Husband fwerve ?
Or do 1 goffip after idle News,
While I negieft the Buflneis of my Houfe?
* Eph- it Con.
Sacred to Pra&ical Virtue ani Holinefs. 173
Confcience, now fpeak and freely tell thy TaJe,
For unto thee I humbly here appeal."
O happy "Wives, if thus your Converfation
Be order'd with all holy Obfervation !
For thus the holy Women did of old,
Which to this Day is to their Honour told.*
Thus /hall your Price be of more value far
Than all the Gems that in the Indies are !
Ye need not then adorn yourfelves with Gold,
For ye are of a much diviner mold.
HUSBANDS.
" A.^ * a ^ us ^ an< ^ ? Do I then demean
Myfelf with Prudence, as I ought herein?
Are Wives an Emblem of the Church, then I
An Emblem am of CHRIST the LORD on high 1
And do I then ftill ftrive to imitate
This glorious Pattern, void of all Deceit?
Do I my Wife unfeignedly refpeft,
As CHRIST the Church ? Or do I ftill negleft
Some fpecial Duties which to me belong?
LORD, fearch my Heart, and fliew me what
is wrong-
Am 1 ftill loving, faithful, j-jft, and kind,
And always of a fympathizing Mind ?
And do 1 likewife honeftly provide
Things to fupply her Wants on ev'ry Side ?
And do 1 ftrive that we at laft may be
Joyful Companions thro' Eternity ?
a -3 *
* I Peter i ii. 5 , 6
J74Dirr*E Mr SCE i i A K i E s, [Part II.
I rhis the Point to which 1 daily fteef
With all my Might, with Heart and Mind fincere?
Let Conference now the Matter fair decide,
And fhew me where I've from my Doty ftrayM.'*
O happy Husfcancis, if ye thus purfue
The Paths of Duty faithfully and true I
Husbands and Wives who thus perform their Part?,
Shall always have true Comfort in their Hearts..
O happy Families where e'er fuch meet,
Their Livesmuft nee 's be moft exceedingfweet !
And whatfoever they on Earth poffefs
The Lord willthem with heav'nly Comforts blefs.
And now let this excite each wedded Pair
To ftrive that they may of thefe Comforts lhare.
Mafters and Servants I would next advife,
Thus to commune with yourown Hearts likewife.
SERVANTS.
V E Servants then, this is your proper Task,
Firft to begin, your Conferences to ask,
" Am i a Servant* Do 1 than purfue
My Mailer's Bufinefs faithfully and true ?
Kot only when my Mafter ftandc-th by
(As if I only aim'd to pleafe his Eye)
But do I faithfully perform each Part
As to the Lord, with Singlenefs of Heart :
Not grudgingly, and with unwilling Mind ^
But cheaifulJy with all my Will refign'd, >
Ev'n tho' n-,y Mailer's frcward and unkind : ^y
" Knowing
Sacred to Pra&ical Virtue dwTHolinefs, 175
Knowing I have a Matter, ev'n the LORI>
Who will my faithful Service well reward ? " *
O happy Servants, if ye thus behave,
Ye of the LORD lhall Wages good receive;
If thus ye farithfully ferve CHRIST the LORD,
A Crown of Glory fhall be your Reward.
But thofe who are purloining and unjutt,
Difhoneft and unfaithful to their Truft,
Thefe alfo /hall receive their due Reward,
Ev'n Wrath and Vengeance from the Righteous
(LoRir. t
MASTER S.
a&^Hb-fcJfrUVie^ 7/iJ I{iiul*lit3 ?'; 1 f/J
MASTERS, now noy Advice is next to you,.
That ye examine in this Manner too.
" LJ ATH Providence advanced me to be
A Matter having Servants under me ?
Then do I to my Servants alfo give
Such Things as I would willingly receive,
If Providence divine had chang'd the Cafe v
to *
And I had been now in my Servant's Place?
For have 1 not a Matter too on high,
Before whofe holy, quick, All-piercing Eye,
My Thoughts, my Woids, and all my Actions lie
"Who will without refpedi of Perfons judge
The haughty Matter, and the lab'ring Drudge ?
And, O my Soul, what tho' 1 here poflefs
A large Ettate ; yet ftill I mutt confefs
I'm but a Steward 5 and I know like way
That foon will come the awful reckoning Day,
* Eph. vi, 5- 8. Col. iii 44. t Col. iii. 25. Wien
176 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part 1 1.
When I muft give Account, of what I've done
"With all that I pofleft beneath the Sun !
Then if I have my Mailer's Goods abus'd,
Or any of them indifcreetly us'd,
How lhall I ftand before my fov'reign's Face,
If he fhould doom me to that dreadful Place
Of everlafting Mifery and Pain,
"Where his juft Vengeance doth forever reign *
"Well, do I then to ev'ry one impart
Their full Reward, with chearfulnefs of Heart !
Do 1 likewife (as knowing 'tis my Duty) *
Take care of all the Souls that are about me?
Do 1 as carefully my Servants check ~}
When they do any of GOD'S Precepts break ~>
As if they did their proper Work neglecl ? ^
Confcience now fpeak, and tell me plain and true,
Whether or not my Duty thus I do ;
Por this I know thou wilt fpeak Truth at laft,
When I before GOD'S Bar am quit or caft 5
Therefore it is my grand Concern to know
Whether thou wilt accufe me there or no.'*
O happy Matters, who with Zeal purfue
Thofe holy Paths the antient 'Patriarchs knew f
But thofe, who walk in the contrary Road,
Shall alfo have their juft Reward from God. |
Rulers and Subjects is the next grand Cafe
That's proper now to mention in this Plaxre.
* Gem. xViii 12. \ Col. iii, 45. James v. j. s .
S UB-
Sacred to Pra&ical Virtue find Holinefs. 177
SUBJECTS,
" U A T H Providence allotted me to be
A Subject under Mens Authority?
And am I then a faithful loyal 'Friend
Unto the civil Pow'r, by wiiich I'm fcreen*d
From all the Malice of my vicious Foes,
Who woald my rightful Liberties oppofe ?>}*! T
For were it not for civil Laws and Pow'r,
Tfee Wicked would the Righteous quite devour.
Tbefe civil Pow'rs are all of GOD ordain'd
That Juftice may be on the Earth maintain'd :
Then whofo dare prefume to fpeafc a Word
Againft thefe Pow'rs, doth fpeak agairtft the
LORD,
Who hath rdained them on Earth to guard,
His People fafe from the Oppreflor's Sword. *
Then do I duly fend my Pray'r on high,
For Kings and all plac'd in Authority ;f
That GOD may 'ftablifh this our Britijh Throne,
And make it pure and gracious like his own ?
Do 1 likewife (whatever others do)
Full Tribute pay to whomfoever due? $
Now were the civil Pow'r to grow fevere 5
In temp'ral Things, would I with Patience bear'
But if they would my Confcience alfo bind,
Do I refolve (thro' Grace) with humble Mind,
And holy Courage, ftiJl to fland my Ground,
When Perfecutors would my Hopes confound ?
* Rom. jtiii. I-.-5, U Tiin. ii< z. \ Rom, xiii. f.
178 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part II.
But, O! what Caufe have we to blefs the Lord,
"Who doth fuch Liberties to us afford !
Makes our fucceflive Princes juft and kind,
And gives our Fears, and Dangers to the Wind '
Let Sons of Hell and Rome their Lies ftill forge,
Sill do I pray, GOD blefs our fov'reign George ',
"With Length of Days, Profperity and Peace,
True Wifdom, Faith, and ev'ry chriftian Grace:
And when he lays his earthly Scepter down,
May he in Heav'n receive a glorious Ciown?"
Thus let each Subject ftriftly fearch his Heart,
To fee if he performs a loyal Part,
Toward thofe Minifters, GOD hath ordain'd,
To fee that Truth, and Juftice be maintain'd.
This is the Duty of each fev'ral one,
That lives beneath our gracious Sritijb Throne.
But now to make my promis'd Task compleaf,
1 muft addrefs our fov'reign Pow'rs of State 5
Tho' fome may think 'tis Arrogance in me,
To fpeak to Men of fuch fublime Degree,
But that I may keep by Truth's facred Side,
The holy Scriptures /hall be here my Guide 5
Therefore 1 hope none will the fame decry,
But fuch as Scripture's facred Truth deny.
RULERS.
O W let our gracious Sov'reign thus appeal
To GOD, and Confcience with a holy Zeal }
" Hath GOD repos'd in me this facred Truft
To rule a People nura'rout as the Duft?
Do
Sacred to Practical Virtue and Hollnefs. 179
Do I like Solomon fincerely pray,
LORD, give me Wifdom to direct nay Way!
I ask not Riches, nor for Length of Days,
Nor for the Necks of my proud Enemies,
But for true Wifdom to direft my Way,
That I the Scepter righteoufly may fway ? * yM
Do I like e David(\ils good Sire likewife}
Sill fet the LORD my GOD before mine Eyes
Knowing that he continually doth ftand
As an Infpeftor ftill at my right Hand ? f
Do I likewife with him myfelf behave
So that no wicked Thing to me ihall cleave ? $
The (land 'ring Tongue, the wicked froward
Proud and malicious do I make depart? [Heart,
And do I fet mine Eyes upon the Juft ?
In fuch alone do I repofe my Truft ?
GOD'S holy Word hare I hid in my Heart,
Refulving from its Rules ne'er to depart ?**'*?
Thus hath (I hope) our gracious Sovereign done
Like holy %)avid, and wife Solcmonj
Therefore let ev'ry Subjed then impart,
True Love to him with faithful loyal Heart.
MINISTERS of STATE and MAGISTRATES* -.
VE States-Men too, in whom he hath put Truft,
Search nojv your Hearts if ye do right andjuft
And Magiftrates of ev'ry Rank Likewife,
Search now your Hearts with fair impartial Eyes,' V
u-'ltfw
* IlCluoo. t. 9, 10. t PC xri, . t Pf- , i &. * cxix. i r. - 1
And
DIVINE MISCELLANIES, (Part II.
And in this Manner ye may alfo try
If Confcience will you fairly juftify.
" Hath GOD by his kind Providence ordain'd
Me here to fee that Juftice "be tnaintain'd ?
Then do I with a true and upright Heart
My legal Pow'r, with faithfulnefs exert?
Or have I taken Bribes to blind the Eye,
And pafs'd the Rich, tho* bafe Tranfgreffor by*
Or have I help'd to frame pernicious Laws
T' opprefs the poor, ev'n in their righteous Caufe,
Can I with holy Jobiv GOD appeal,
That he would all my fecret Crimes reveal ?" *
O happy Statefmen ! yea thrice happy fure,
\Yhofe Confciences like y^'s are ever purs 1
And happy alfo is the Magiflrate,
Whofe Heart like Job's abhoreth all Deceit.
' '~i( fr;jVV vloi-i **<ic O
CLERGY and Laity, I'd next advife
Thus to examine your own Hearts likewife,
To fee that ye do each perform his Part,
With holy Zeal, and Uprightnefs of Heart.
LAITY.
OW in thiiManner ye your Heartsmay fearch,
Ye who are Membersof th'eftablifh'd Church,
" Do I myfelf with Dtcency behave
Toward my Paftor, modeftly and grave ?
Do I with conftant Diligence attend
Upon his Miniftry, my life t' amend ?
* Job. *
Do
Sacred to Praftical Virtue and Holinefs. iSi
Do I with Love his Admonitions hear ?
Hisjuft Reproofs with humble Patience bear?
Do I efteem him for hrs Office highly,
And not as thofe who do reproach him flyly ?
If he is faulty do 1 humbly mourn,
And not as thofe who do to Laughter turn
All his Misfteps, and thence a Licenfe take
That they more freely GOD'S Comtnands may
break ?
Ah! fhameful Pra&ice ! common in this Nation,
Which furely will bring endlefs Condemnation.
Do I toward his Living give my Part
"With willing Mind, and Chearfulnefs of Heart?''
Thus having done let Conscience fairly fkeW
Whether or not your Duty thus ye do :
And if your Confcience does you plainly tel!
You have thofe Duties all performed well,
Ye may rejoice ; but if it does accufe,
Repent, amend, ere ye the Seafon lofe.
CLERGY.
VE Rev'rend Clergy, next eon{Ider well,
And unto Confcience make a fair Appeal,
To fee if ye likewife perform your Part
Toward your People with an upright Heart.
But you may think (perhaps) I'm here- too bold,
And like the Scribes and 'Pbarifees of old,
With frowning Brow ye may retort me thus,
" Pray who art thou, that thou inftriifteft us ?
R A
i8z DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part II.
A bafe unworthy Layman poor and mean,
And now to teach thy Teachers doft begin ? *
"Tis not thy Place to fpeak but only hear,
Therefore thy farther Arrogance forbear."
To this I anfwer, (tho' it be not nice)
A Fool may give a wife Man good Advice :
If mine be fuch, then pray the fame receive,
And this is all of you I humbly crave }
But if its fooli/h, trivial and vain,
"When I have fpoke I'll not reply again.
Now this I humbly offer, if you pleafe,
To try yourfelves with Queftions fuch as thefe,
" Have I obtain'd this Honour of the LORD,
To be a Preacher of his holy Word ?
Do I with conftant Labours Day and Night
Study to know my Matter's Will aright ?
Or do I often fpend my Nights and Days
In idle Paftimes, and voluptuous Plays ?
Am I a bright Example to my Flock?
Or do I make Religion but a Joke?
Do I with holy Zeal my People warn,
Exhorting them to mind their great Concern:
Shewing the dreadful Danger they are in,
\Vhile they remain in love or league with Sin?
Or do I run with thtrn to mad Excefs
Of vicious Riot, Games and Drunkennefs ?
Hath Providence alloted me a Place
"Whereby I do abundant Wealth poflefs,
* John ix. 34.
And
Sacred to Practical Virtue and Holinfcfs. 183
And do I much thereof continually
To charitable Ufes well apply ?
Or do I rather love to take mine Eafe,
And fpend it all in vile luxurious Ways ;
Hireing a Curate for a very Trifle,
"While I my Confcience daily ftrive to ftifle ?
But know 1 not, Confcience will fpeak the Truth
Eie lon'g, tho' I at prefent flop its Mouth ?
Am I exalted to an Office high
Over my Brethren in Authority ?
Then do I mind my Mafter CHRIST'S Command
Vv'hich he did give his T'tvelve to underftand ? *
Do I ftill imitate the great Saint Tattl,
Who was a bright Example for us all ?"
Let Confcience anfwer now each fliort Enquiry,
According as the Circumftances vary,
And if your Confciences you juftify,
Then you have Caufe of inward Peace and Joy ;
But if they do againft you Witnefs bear,
Then ye may know that ye have Caufe to fear.
Now if this Counfel's good, I pray receive it,
Tho' I confefs 'twas but a Fool that gave it :
But if 'tis Arrogance, I'll own my Crime,
If injuft Balances you'll weigh my Rhyme*
And then let Truth the Matter fair decide,
truth's facred Cenfure humbly I'll abide.
I own I've fpoke my Mind both blunt and plain,
But Evil be to them, who Evil mean.
* Math. xx. 2547.
R z Now
DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part 11.
Now each Superior and Inferior Cafe,
V'hich 1 propos'd to mention in this Place,
I have gone thro', and hope I've none offended,
But if I have 'twas no wife here intended.
Now Equals of all Ranks, I next adv.ife
To fearch your Hearts with fair impartial Eyes,
And fee that ye unto each other do
Juft as you'd have your Neighbours do by your.
This is CHRIST'S golden Rule , * and 'tis
Shame
That any one, who bears the Chriftian Name f
Should this negleft, or difregard the fame. -*
'Tis not enough to render Love for Love,
If ye would CHRIST'S fincere Difciples prove,
But ye muft alfo render good for ill,
If ye would be his happy Fav'ritas ftill. f
Now whofo ftrives not thus to walk at leaft,
They are but almoft Chriftians at the beft,
And vainly bear the holy Chriftian Name
"While thus they walk contrary to the fame-
Thus have I briefly fpoke (tho' blunt and plain)
To all thofe Cafes in a homely Strain :
And now let all a friendly Warning take,
And no more wilfully thh Precept break 5
Por as I alfo heretofore have faid,
If we implore our Maker's heav'nly Aid
To guide us in his holy Paths to tread,
* Math. *ii. is. t Math. v. 4447.
And
Sacred to Practical Vittue and ttolinefs. 185
And yet indulge a wilful Luft within,
Our fervent Pray'rs are thereby turn'd to Sin. *
And now I haften to the Sixth Command^
Which next in order doth before us ftand.
VI.
HTHE Sixth Commandment is, ttoujbatt not kill :
Or, Human-Shod nowife unjuftly fpill.
Te cr^ for Mercy with apparent A~ve y
O LORD, incline our Hearts to keep this Law !
To break this Law is of a dreadful Nature,
To kill ourfelves, or our dear fellow Creature I
And whofoe'er does any Thing that tends
Hereto, againft this Law of GOD offends :
Then if we would obey this Law with Care,
"We mull avoid each open hurtful Snare,
Whereby the precious Life may be in Danger,
Whether our own, ourNeighbour's, or a Stranger.
Thus did our SAVIOUR CHRIST this Law ex-
Exhorting all from Anger to refrain ; [plain,
And /hews that Anger, and all hafty Wrath
(Tho' that may not procure immediate Death)
.Yet this (he ihews) is a moil dang'rous Crime,
And, /hall be punifh'd by the Jul^e fublime.
And whofo doth his 'Brother ridicule
With fpitefui Hatred, ev'n to call him Fool,
Shall be in danger of Hell's quern hlefs Fire j
Where miferable Life can ne'er expire.
* Srt tfec fitft'C<mmiara 1 Matth. v. si, -:.
R 3 Thus
iS6 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part II.
Thus hath he fhewn that ev'n the flighted Stain
Of this black Sin will doom to endlefs Pain.
But if fuch fpiteful Words condemn to Hell,
As here our SAVIOUR doth us plainly tell,
What dreadful Danger then muft they be in,
Who with their Hands commit this bloody Sin ?
Who cruelly themfelves, or others kill ;
What endlefs Anguifh muft they one Day feel ?
O ! fhameful Thing that any fuch are found,
Or ever heard of here on Christian Ground /
Yet fuch here are, ev'n in this fav'rite Land,
Who wilfully dare break this great Command.
Yea fuch here are, who to the Church belong,
Thatb;eak this irfTT, with Refolution ftrong.
And they are fuch as I (hall here defcribe,
Who yet I doubt belong to Satan's Tribe.
Then fufier me a little to reflect
On fuch who do this holy La~v reject.
Firft, thofe who \vreftle, or at Cudgels play,
Tho they may not themfelves or others flay,
Yet by this foolifh, vain, and vicious Sport,
Oft cut their own, and others Lives off fhort. '
With haughty Hearts they boaft of ftrength and
Skill,
And glory when each other's Blood they fpill /
But think fiow foon this Strength and Skill ye
Will all be humbl'd, and forever loft ! [boaft ?
Alas! 'tis but a Puff of airy Breath,
That in a Moment will expire at Death!
Lo, the proud Sinner, who of Strength did boaft
Now in the Grave, and all his Glory loft/
Juft
Sacre d to PraSical Virtue (Md Holinefs. 187
Juft in the Prime of all his boafted Strength,
Death tript his Heels and laid him all at Length!
His brawny Limbs now bound in Death's cold
His Spirit groaning in eternal Pain / [Chain,
Fain would he now a faithful Meflage fend
To fliew your Folly and your dang'rous End,
Or could he now permitted be to come,
And warn his Brethren whom he left at home,
Now to be wife, and fpeedily repent,
And fo efcape this dreadful Puni/hment
Which he endures ; that they might not inreafe
His boundlefs Torment, endlefs Wretchednefs 5
But, ah ! in vain for this to GOD he cries,
The fmalleft Boon to him he now denies/
"While Life remain'd the Go/pel Sound he heard,
The which he did not in the leaft regard,
But after vain voluptuous Sports he hie'd,
And fo was cut off in his flowery Pride.
N ow in the black infernal Pit he lies,
And toward Heav'n in vain he lifts his Eyes/
His former Folly now he mourns in vain,
That, only aggravates his Grief and Pain.
"While Life remain'd he thonght that he was
ftrong,
And Death would never feize on him fo young;
And fo put off Repentance till too late,
Now Death hath ended his probation State 5
And plung'd him downev'n to the Gulph of Woe
"Where he nor End, nor Eafe /hall ever know /
Confider this, ye vain voluptuous Toutb>
And now give Ear unto the Word of Truth,
Which
DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part II
Which tells you tho' ye walk in vain Delight,
And do what feems moft pleafing in your fight,
And tafte of all the Sweets of carnal Mirth
That ever can be tailed here on Earth,
Yet know for all GOD will to Judgment bring
you,
And your own Conference bitterly will fting you ! *
O think on this and be not in fuch Hafte
Your precious Lives fo lavifhly to wafte /
Death will come foon enough : do ye take Care
Left it fhould feize you ere you are aware !
O ! then repent while Life doth yet remain,
Fof after Death Repentance will be vain.
^Drunkards and Gluttons I would next advife
Now to consider this Command like wife :
Tho feme of you (perhaps) may here miflake,
And think ye do not this Commandment break,
But if you well examine 'twill appear
That ye are alfo very guilty here.
Doth not Intemperance ev'n the Senfes flay,
And drive the Man, and Reafon quite away,
And only leave a ftupid Beaft in Place,
"Where once a Man of Senfe and Rtafon was ?
And then v;hen Senfe and Reafon both are
gone, 1
They break not only this Command alone, r
But (Confcience then afleep) they flick at none.' i
Kay, doth not this the Body alfo kill
In fpite of all the beft 'Pbyfciari's Skill ?
* Eccltf- xi. 9.
Yea
Sacred to Practical Virtue and Holinefs.
Yea, kills it not the Soul eternally,
Tho' (true it is) the Soul can never die
Yet it configns it to eternal Wrath,
Which is in Scripture call'd the fecond Death ? *
If this ben't Murder, then what is, pray tell
Which Soul and Body murders both in Hell?
Thus with your Cups, and your luxurious Difhes
Ye kill yourfelves to pleafe your carnal Wifhes '
Confider this, I pray you and be wife,
Ere Death hath fealed up your mortal Eyes,
An.d you're confign'd eternally to dwell
With raging Devils in the Lake of Hell/
Remember now your Brother, whe did long
For one poor Drop to cool his flaming Tongue ;
Tho' that (1 think) would little eafe his Pain,
Yet could he not that Favour fmall obtain !
No, not one Drop ihook from the Finger's End
Of Lazarus , the LORD to him would fend!
Tho' 'twas but Water too that he did crave,
Yet could he not one fingle Drop receive ! f
Confider this, ye who in flowing Bowls
Of richeft Liquors drown your precious Souls :
Think how 'twill be, when ye muft leave your
Mirth,
And all thofe Pleafures ye enjoy on Earth,
To be caft down in burning Flames to dwell
Forever in the dreadful' Lake of Hell /
There no luxurious Difhes will be found,
But Fire and Brimftone blazing all arouad !
* Rev. xx. 6. t Like xvi, 1316.
In-
190 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, (Part II.
Inftead of Meats and Drinks, fulphurious Streams 5
Inftead of Mufic, dreadful Groans and Screams/
Confider this, ye who in Plenty rowl,
Yet have no Pity for a ftarving Soul:
Ye who are blind and deaf to all the Cries "?
Of your poor Brethren in Extremities, >
\Vhen all their Wants are laid befofe yeurEyes: j)
Think how this will your bcundlefsMifriesf well
"When ye (like 1)ives} ope' your Eyes in Hell,
And fee the Poor in Heav'n, who here were
ftarv'd,
Nor could they with your wafting Crumbs be
ferv'd.
To fee them there, with CHRIST their LORD
renown'd,
And with immortal Joy and Glory crown'd,
"While ye are howling with the damn'd in Hell,
O think (I pray) how this your Grief will f well !
Twill then be juft that ye no Pity find,
"When ye to others Wants were deaf and blind.
Confider this, and now your Lives amend,
Ere GOD does you to thefe dire Torments fend.
VII.
TH E Sev'nth Command doth next before us
Which is, Commit thou no Adultery. (lie,
Tf cry for Mercy with apparent A'te*
LORD, incline our Hearts to ktep this
Sacred to Pra&ical Virtue and Holinefs, 191
BUT now to make this Precept yet more plain,
CHRIST in his Sermon doth the fame explain,
And /hews that Wkcfo loeks with luftful Eyes
Upon a Woman, guilty is Uktixife
Of breaking this Commandment in his Heart,
Tho' he be clear in ev'ry outward Part. *
O then take Care how ye your Thoughts let loofe,
And guard your Eyes, thofe Windows of the houfe,
For oftentimes thefe Windows have let in
A ftrong Temptation to commit this Sin.
Like wife the great and good Apoftle 'Paul
Shews that our Actions do not only call
For ftrong Reftraint 5 but that each Word in Place,
Should always be with Comlinefs and Grace,
If we pretend to bear the Chriilian Name,
Elfe our Profeflion's but an idle Dream, f
Confider this, ye vrhofe lacLvious Tongues
Are fill'd with loathfom Words, and filthy Songs.
This alfo doth reprove a Number great
\\hofe odious W'ords are ihameful to repeat.
Thvire is a Cuftom (and a bafe one too)
Which many in this finful Land purfue:
In Autumn, when they in the fruitful Field
Gather the Fruits, the LORD makes it to yield,
They then without Rcmorfe a Licenfe take
To let their Tongues this holy Precept break,
And fay, " It is no Haim, 'tis Harveft now
We now may let our Tongues at Random go."
/
* Math. T. 28. t Col. Jv. 6, Eph. v. 5, 4,
Ah /
192 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part II.
Ah ! vile Ingratitude I do you requite
The LORD with fuch bafe Infolence, and flight
The Favours of your Maker's bounteous Love ?
Don't your own Confciences for this reprove ?
Should not each Mouth with grateful Praife be
fill'd
To him, who makes the Earth her Produft yield?
O then confider what Ingratitude
This is ye offer to your Maker GOD,
"Who does to you both Life and Breath beftow>
And all ye have to his rich Grace ye owe !
How will ye anfwer this before his Face,
Who thus abufe the Riches of his Grace ?
There's no Excufe that any here can plead 5
'Tis plain they willfully did thus proceed.
Such bafe lafcivious Talk doth ill become
Any who do the Chriftian Name affume.
Conrfder this, and fpeedily repent,
Ere you be to eternal Torments fent.
Now lince fuch Thoughts and Words are thus
What muft it be to thofe who do indeed forbid
Such bafe unfeemly Wickednefs commit,
As they're afraid Ihould be expos'd to Light ?
This is the Product of the former two,
"\Yhen many no fuch Thing intend to do :
But thus we fee when Luft conceived hath
It brings forth Sin, and then Sin brings forth
And that not temp'ral, but eternal too, [Death !
E'vn everlafting Mifery and Woe !
Confider
Sacred to Praftical Virtue and Holinefs. 193
Confider this with fear and humble Awe,
All ye who dare to violate this Law, ' ..
Tho' ye be hid from ev'ry mortal Eye,
Th* all-feeing GOD doth all your deeds efpy :
Yea, and one Day will bring them all to Light,
Altho' committed in the darkeft Night/
Innumerable Eyes /hall then behold
Each fecret Crime which ye have done of old ;
Whilft you're excluded from the Manfions fair :
For nothing that's unclean can enter there. *
O then confider, and repent in Time,
And take not this to be a trifling Crime :
'Tis fuch a Crime as without true Repentance
Will make you farl beneath that dreadful Sentence
Of " Hence depart ! go and forever dwell
With Devils in th' infernal Lake of Hell." f
This is no Jeft, whate'er ye now may think,
Whilft ye perfift you're tot'ring on the- Brink
Of everlafting Mifery and Pain,
From whence Redemption none can e're obtain*.
O then be wife, and hate fuch Vanity,
If you'd efcape eternal Mifery,
And e're enjoy the Manfions fair on high/
O let this Thonght your luftful Paffions bind:
This holy Thought that was in ytfepb's Mind,
Ho-iv jjjall I T'his vile Wicke&neft commir, ~)
Jhidfw arahift my GOD before icbofe Si^bt >
Ibe Mi-night Shade is as the Noon-day-ligkt? j
Forbid it y Lo R D ! nor let me ever dare
To Jin agaitift T'bee i^bo art ev'ry Where! ^
* Rev. si 7, t Matili, t,. 4t. f Gcu. 3^. 9.
S O
194 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part Ii.
O happy Jofepb who could thus repell
That bold Temptation with fuch Faith and Zeal/
He chofe to fuffer for his Innocence,
Rather than yield to vile Concupifence.
LORD! let this Faith ev'n as a Bridle bind
Th' unruly Lufts of me and all Mankind.
VIII.
TH E Eighth Command let's next confider
well,
\Vhich is in thele brief Words, T'houjhalt rtotftgal.
Te cry for Merry t xitb apparent
O LORD, incline our Hearts to keep this Law !
CONSIDER now, ye who this Prayer make,
Whether ye knowingly this Precept break,
Or if ye do with Heart and Mind (incere
Obey this Law, with Diligence and Care.
But now that none may this Co mmandment break
Thro' Ignorance, or wilful blind Miftake,
I'll here lay down fome gen'ral Rules to know
Whether ye break this holy Law or no.
Then firft, they break this Law, who by Excefs
"Wafte the good Things GOD lant you to poffefs,
And fqander them away without Difcretiofij
Thofe rob themfelves and the next Generation.
Confider this, ye Spendthrifts^ who deftroy,
A.td wafte the Things GOD lent you to enjoy.
Sacred to Pra&ical Virtue and Holinefs. 195
Ye are not Matters of thefe Things, but muft
Account for all committed to yoor Truft,
Whether ye have thefe Things difcreetly us'd,
Or any of them wailed and abus'd.
Now when ye fpend on bafe voluptuous Luft
The Things which were committed to your Ttuft,
Confider what Account you foon muft give
To that great GOD from whom ye did receive.
And O, how many in this World have been
Brought to great Want by this voluptuous Sin!
Tbofe *xho Jo after Vanity purfue,
Sball ere they die have Caitfe the fame to rue?
Nor only they, but their dear Offspring too.
Ye JliiferSy too (the oppofita extreme)
Ye are the next here culpable of blame:
Ye fteal from Back and .Belly, GOD and Man,
And jake and pilfer, what, and where you can.
Ye worft of Felons, O, how will ye dare ~)
To ftand before your Maker's awful Bar ! v
And think how fonn ye muft be fummon'd there. _)
Third, thofe who deal unjuftly by their Neigh-
bour,
Or pinch the Poor for their Induftr'ous Labour.
And, ev'ry Way of falfe deceitful Dealing
Doth violate this Law as well as Stealing :
For whofo gives not ev'ry one their Due
Breaks this great Law, the Scriptures plainly
ihew. t
u ... ttvoO
* rrov. XZTU. 19. t Rom. xui. 7.
~ *
S 2 Fourrfi
196 DIVIKE MISCELLANIES, [Part II
Fourth, thofe to whom the LORD hath fent
great Store,
Tet have no Bowels to aflift the Poor,
Nor Good to do with what they here poffefs j
Thefe alfo do this holy Law tranfgrefs.
They're unjuft Stewards, and they quickly rnuft
Give an Account of what was in their Truft.
And fifthly thofe who clip thg Sabbat b-'Day :
Thofe fteal from GOD and take his right away.
Now by thefe Hints you eafily may know
Whether ye break this holy Law or no.
Now think on this when ye this Prayer make,
And no more wilfully this Precept break,
lfe this will be a heinous Aggravation
To all your Guilt, and to your Condemnation.
Here I conclude what I propos'd to fpeak
To fuch as do this Eight-Commandment break.
IX.
A G A I N S T thy Neighbour no falfe Witnefs
bear,
But fpeak the Truth with Heart and Mind fincere.
Ye cry for Mercy with apparent
O LORD, incline our Hearts to keep this Law !
CONSIDER this, ye Stand? rers> who defame
"With vicious Lies your honeft.Nif/w'sName $
Or
Sacred to Practical Virtue and Holinefs, 197
Or vindicate a wrongful Accufation
To take away another's Reputation :
Yea, ev'n the precious Life fometimes likewife
Is took away through bafe malicious Lies.
O then confider this prodigious Crime,
And now repent while ye have Life and Time \
Elfe dreadful will your Condemnation be,
Ev'n endlefs Woe, and boundlefs Mifery.
And ye who do by Falfhood and Deceit
Strive to encreafe your Subftance and Eflate:
Confider now the Folly of this Sin,
And what prodigious Danger ye are in /
Ye Soul and Body fell for earthly Gajn,
And thus ye purchafe endlefs Woe and Pain.
O, foolifti Bargain, thus your Souls to fell
For filthy Drofs, and plunge yourfelves to Hell/
O, now confider which ye worft deceive,
Yourfelves, or them whom thus ye now bereave,
When ye with flat'ring Lies, and falfe Deceit,
The Credulous and hoaeft Hearted cheat!
O ! mad Miftake if thus ye hope for Gain,
For it will prove eternal Woe and Pain !
Jf ye get Riches by a lying Tongue,
Te fur fly do your/elves the great eft Wrong. *
Now when ye offer up this humble Pray'r,
Confider that ye /hortly muft appear
Before the GoD of Truth, whofe holy Eye
Hates and abhors Guile and Hypocrify /
And Liars all, and fuch as Lying love,
Shall bs excluded from his Courts above 5
* Jer, KTiii ii. Pro*, xxi f.
S 3 And
198 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part II.
And muft their everlafting Portion take
With ^Devils in the black infernal Lake ! %
Confider this, ye Liars now I pray
Before you feel the Truth of what I fay,
A nd no more aft the crafty&r^tf's Part,
"Who fhft began this bafe deceitful Art
O think what Mifchief his firft Lies did dr,
The which we have abundant Caufe to rue.
O ! then be wife, and live ami aft like Men,
.And no more aft th' old Serpent's Part again.
Now Iff the lap great Trecept of this Law
Our bumble jerious Meditations draw.
ft if r ;' ". ' >.- ,O
PEE thtt tbcu covet not thy Neighbour's Houfe.
Neither bis Wife (his dear beloved Spoufe.)
Servants, ncr Bea/ls which Jo to kirn belong^
T'hou jhalt not feck to get by Fraud or Hrofig .-
Or wbatfoever is tby Neighbour's Right ',
not covet, envy, grudge, or /pit e^
Te pray that GOD his Mercy would impart, "
write thefe wbolfom Laivs on ev'ry Heart.
Now fuffer me a little to exprefs
Their Folly, who againft this Law Tranfgrefs.
Now thofe (I think ) who this laft Precept break
Can fcarcely do it out of blind Miftake,
Rev. xxi.
Since
Sacred to PraSical Virtue and Holinefs.
Since full Contentment's all that it requires,
All it forbids is covetous Defires:
Therefore (I think) 'twill be of little Ufe
For any one herein to plead Excufe :
For who can fay (upon this earthly Clod)
They have lefs Good th an they deferve from God?
Since all that's Good is forfeited by Sin,
What Room is left for any to repine ? [moie
There's none on this Side Hell but what have
Than they deferve, howe'er diftreft and poor!
Peace then, O finful Man, no more repine,
For what thou haft is not by Merit thine.
Confider then, O Man, with humble Heart,
How great thy Crime if difcontent thou art!
O, heinous Crime to -manner and repine'
Againft the Hand of Providence divine!
For whatfoever GOD on Man beftows
'Tis his free Gift: Not what to Man he owes^
But yet this Sin hath dif'rent Aggravations :
As Providence hath fixt our dif'rent Stations.
Thofethen to whom kind Providence hath lent
Sufficiency, and yet they're not content,
Becaufe they fee that fome have more then they,
This takes their Satisfaction quite away, [fhare
Thefe will (no doubt) of the fame Vengeance
"Which drove the Leader from the heav'nly
Down to the Lake of everlafting Fire! [Sphere
(Hell was his Lot, to rule was his Defire.)
Except they do unfeignedly repent,
They'll furely lha>e of the fame Punishment.
Their
200 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part II.
Their bafe ambitious covetous Deflre
Is ftill infatiate, ftriving to afpire.
" Where I (fay th*y) in fuch a ones Condition,
This would prevent forever mine Ambition.
I would defire no more than juft to be
In fuch a happy State as He, or She
That's juft above me in the next Degree."
But do you think that this would eafe your Pain,
Could ye but this ambitious Wifh obtain?
Ah! grofsMiftake/ this covetous Defire
Is ftill infatiate, like the raging Fire!
And ftill the mere it has, the more 'twill crave,
Like the infernal Pit, or gaping Grave /
For could it but this one Degree obtain,
Then for the next as eagerly 'twould drain/
And fo on till it reacht the higheft Sphere,
This bafe Ambition never would forbear.
Well then, ambitious Soul, couldft thou obtain
The higheft Sphere e'er yet obtain'd by Man,
"What Satisfaction think'ft thou it would bring
\Yaft thou o'tr all the World anointed Kinp- ?
O
Thou then (perhaps) might be a Slave, yet more
Than ev'n the whining Beggar at thy Door.
When all the World did ftoop to Alexander,
Did his Ambition reft, and ceafe to wander ?
No ! only more infatiate than before,
Becaufe he could not find one Empire more,
For him to conquer: This provok'd his Teais,
As by the Hift'ry of thofe Times appears.
Tho' all were Subjects, this no Comfort gave,
While he to wild Ambition was a Slave.
Fear
Sacred to Practical Virtue find Holinefs. 201
Fear then vain Mortals, each ambitious View,
This is the Track that the old Serpent drew,
Who firft againft his Maker did rebel,
For which he juftly was caft down to Hell !
So flill the farther ye purfue this Road,
The farther ftill ye are eftrang'd from GOD.
O then forbear 5 no more this Track purfue,
Left the fame Vengeance alfo feize on you.
This alfo fpnils whatever ye poflefs,
If ye this bafe ambitious Luft carefs:
But if ye would at Happinefs arrive,
And for the fame induftr'oufly would ftrive,
The following Lines (if carefully ye mind)
Will /hew you where this Happinefs to find.
Godlinefs with Contentment is the Gain *
That will reward you for your Toil and Pain.
Tho' this is Meat the World knows nothing of,
And therefore at it they but fneer and feoff:
To thefe celeftial Joys, alas, they're blind,
Till heav'nly Light breaks in upon their Mind 5
But when from Prejudice the Mind is clear'd
No earthly Joys may be with this compar'd 1
Thofe earthly Heros who divide the Spoil,
Have no fuch Joys to recompence their Toil !
But fome perhaps may this Objelion make,
" What is this Godlinefs of which you fpeak,
And which you fay will bring fo great Reward,
That earthly Joys can't be with it compar'd ?"
To this I anfwer, if you fain would know
What is, and whence true Godlinefs doth flow,
f I Tim. v. f. Chap. iv. S.
202 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part II.
It is a Principle of Grace divine, [fhine
Which makes the Soul with heav'nly Luftre
It makes the Soul to love and fear the Lord,
Hope, and believe, and reft upon his Word.
It is a Duty all Men owe to GOD :
It alfo flows from his Love Died abroad
In Man's degen'rate Heart, by Pow'r divine,
And makes him in his Maker's Image fhine.
It is a Principle of living Faith
That well believes what e'er JEHOVAH faith.
It penctrat&s above the utmoft Sky,
And there beholds infinite Trcafures lie.
This is (I fay) what makes Men truly blefs'd :
They're only rich who are of this pofleft.
O then forbear purfuing empty Toys,
For that is what tiue Happinefs deftroys;
But be content with what ye here poffcfs,
This is the Way to make your Joys encreafe.
But here the Poor perhaps may thus reply,
Amidft their Wants and hard Extremity,
" We covet no fuch high and lofty Things,
As Thrones and Scepters, Crowns of earthly
Kings,
Nor large Eftates, or ought of lofty Stature,
But only Things to fatisfy frail Nature ;
Had we but Food and Raiment we Should be
As well content as thofe of high Degree >
But who can be content while thus they lack
Food for the Belly, Clothing for the Back ?"
To this 1 anfwer, It mft be sonfeft,
Such Wants as thefe may humbly be expreft,
And
-Sacred tt> Practical Virtual Holinefs. 205
And if you have not by your Indifcretions
Broughtthisupon yourfelves, aid your Relations,
With humble Mind ye then may feek Relief,
To mitigate your Mifery and Grief.
To your Superiors then yourfelve? fubmit
With all Humility (as is moft fit)
Reveal your Wants, and let them plainly know
"What hard Extremities ye undergo ;
"Defiring them ev'n for CHRIST JESU'S Sake,
That they would on you fome Companion take,
And help you with what GOD to them hath lent,
And what they give you, therewith be content.
Grudge not at them, nor blame GOD'S Provi-
dence
That hath alloted you fuch Circumftance.
But fome perhaps may here reply again,
" To ask the Rich is almoft now in vain,
For they are grown fo cruel and fo hard,
That they our Miferies-will not regard,
But pinch us in our Wages, tho' we ferve
Them faithfully, they'll makes us pine and
ftarve.
And who can be content while thus they're us'd
Like Slaves or Beafts, inhumanly abus'd ?"
To this I anfvver, True, their Crime is great,
Who ufe their Fellow Creatures at fuch rate;
But ftill remember that the Time's not long
Ere GOD will juftly recompence each Wrong.
And this hard Lot of yours perhaps may be
To try your Faith and Patience, and to fee
If
204 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, (Part II.
If you will ftill rely upon the LORD,
And truft each faithful Promife in his Word j
For certainly the LORD will ne'er deceive
Them who his Word urtfeignedly believe
Know then, true Faith and Patience is the bed
Relief for all that afe on Earth oppreft.
Wait then (I fay) \\ithPatience on the LORD,
Nor fear^but he your Troubles will Regard,
And alfo give a large and free Reward.
And tho' you cannot earthly Wealth obtain,
Yet feek the LORD, nor Ihall ye feek in vain,
If him ye feek aright with all your Heart,
Much better Things he will to you impart.
If ye are fuch as feek for better Things
Than worldy Pelf, with its deceitful Wings,
Then never fear but ye at laft /hall find
Riches that are both folid and refin'd,
And fit to chear a bk-ft immortal Mind.
But ye who have by your own Folly brought
"Want on yourfelves, ye have but what ye fought 5
Ye have no Room nor Reafon to complain,
Nor grudge at thofe who wifely did refrain,
And honeftly did worldly Wealth obtain.
Confider then, and heartily repent
That you've abus'd what GOD unto you lent, C.
And brought upon yourfelves this Punifhment. S
O then repent, left y e fhould alfo mifs
Of Heav'n at laft and eveilafting Biifs.
For know that if ye murmer and repine,
Ye only hereby aggravate your Sin.
A
Sacred, to Pradical Virtue and Holinefs. 21.5
A Serious REFLECTION upon the Whole.
TT H U S far have I coniider'd each Command,
According as they here in order ftand j
If any ferious Chrijlj-an I've offended,
I've widely raift of what I here intended.
Now let -us all with Care our Hearts infpe<5r,
And humbly mourn for ev'ry fad Defeil 5
And no more wilfully thus dare proceed
To break the leaft, but carefully take heed,
For breaking one w guilty are of all, *
And each doth for eternal vengeance call, f
O dreadful Thought ! tremble, my Soul, andfear,
For thou deferv'ft this Punifhmentfevere I
But fome perhaps may here objeft and fay,
" \Yhothen fhafl ftand at the great Judgment-day,
For where is one that is entirely free,
And never broke thefe Laws in no Degree ? "
To this I anfwer, No Man fince the Fall,
Save CHRIST alone, could ever keep them all 5
And if the LORD had dealt with us fevere,
None could have at his righteous Bar been clear j
Yet hath his wond'rous Mercy interpos'd,
And for our help a SA VIOVR hath propos'd 5
A coftly SAVIOUR ! our black Guilt t' attone,
No lefs than CHRIST, his dear eternal Son %
That whofoever fhall on him believe,
They fhall not perifh, but of him receiv
* James ii. 10. t Gal. >". io> TfVV
T A
zo6 Div i N E MISCELL AN ins (Part II.
A full Redemption from the fiery Law, *
O Sinners! this your frozen Hearts fhould thaw.
For all were doom'd to everlafting Woe,
Had not CHRIST JESUS condescended fo:
Nor is ftricl Juftice in the lead made void,
But fully pleas'd, and Mercy magnify*d.
The true Believer's Guilt on him was laid,
Por them, lo, he a Sacrifice was made /
See how he bends beneath this griev'ous Load,
The Sin of Man, and Vengeance of a GOD .'
\Vhen he attoned for their heinous Guilt,
His Flefli was tore / his precious Blood was fpilt I
The fpiteful Scoffs of Men h humbly bore,
And Wrath of GOD : Juftice could ask no more.
A fpotlefs Vilim he for them did die,
That they might reign with him eternally.
O matchlefs Mercy ! Love beyond Degree !
Angeh before did ne'er fuch Wonders fee !
But if the Angels when they hereon gaz'd
"Were fill'd with Rapture ; wond'roufly amaz'd,
"What caufe have we, poor Mortals, to adore
This Scene of Love unparaliel'd before ?
O Sinners, view this Scene with melting Eyes,
"With all your Souls this precious Saviour prize !
For tho' you have the wurft of Sinners been,
If you are brought to know the ftate you're in,
And flee to CHRIST by Faith, and true Repen-
tance,
He will from you remove the dreadful Sentence
That is denounced by the fiery La~c>
On ev'ry one that's guilty of a Flaw.
laJwiii. 16.
Sacred to Practical Virtue and Holinefs. 207
Tho' that condemns to everlafting Fire
All rhofe who keep it not foil and entire,
Yet thcfe who flee to CHRIST to find Relief,
In him find Comfort to afwage rheir Grief,
And calm the Tumult of their gloomy Fears,
And flop the Torrent of their flowing Tears.
His Lore is boundlefs: Infinite his Pow'r :
He faves true Penitents at the laft Hour,
But fome perhaps may here prefume to fay,
" If there is Pardon found for fuch as they,
"Who've well nigh fpentall their whole Lives in
And only at the laft they did begin [Sin,
To cry for Mercy, and did then repent,
\Y hen they their Prime had all in Pleafure fpent.
Why then fliould we check all our fond Defires,
And quench fo foon Youth's dear delightful
Fires ?
Why may wenotin Youth indulge our Pleafure,
Then in old Age we may repent at Leifur* ?
Religion's but a dull and taftelefs Thing,
Therefore inYouth we'lltake a pleafant Swing. "
To this I anfwer, Ah / deluded Toutb !
Alas / Alas/ did ye but know in Truth
The dreadful mad Miftake that ye are in,
To hope for Pleafure whilft you're Slaves to Sin .
Pleafure in Sin / alas/ 'tis but a Dream [tream
"Which when awake will make your \Yoes ex-
O could 1 clear but your beclouded Eyes, >
And fhew you where the Source of Pleafure/
lies, f
Thisgrofs Deceit would ftrike you with Sur-(
prize : )
T *
DIVINE MISCELLANIES [Tart II.
Thefe falfe Delights world vani/h then as Coon
As a dim Candle in the brighteft Noon.
Oh, did you know but the amazing Odds
Of Pleafure in thefc two contrary Roads,
To wit, the- Way of Faith and Holinefs,
And that of carnal Pleafure and Excefs, '
"You'd fay the Joys of Faith are truly fweet,
But carnal Joys are nothing but Deceit .
Some think the Pieafure only is at laft,
And that Religion yeilds no f weet Repaft:
grofs Miftake/ Religion here does yield
More true Delight than if this World were fill'd
\Vjth all the dear Delights of carnal Mirth
That ever yet were tailed on the Earth .
Thofe who havetafted both will freely own
That this is Truth: Yea, tho' there were no
Crown
Prepar'd for thofe, who faithful ferve the LORD,
The Joys of Faith yield here a full Reward.
"Wife Solomon, who large Experience had,
Says, In the Midfi of Mirth the Heart is fad.*
But in the Midft of Mourning, Grief and Tears,
True Joy breaks in and the dull Spirit cheers.
Gr/V/(with the Faithful) may endure a. Night,
'But /<?, true Joy returns by Morning-Light . f
1 dare to fay the ancient Martyrs found
More Pleafure when the Flames did them fur-
round,
Or when they hung on Gibbets rack'd with Pain,
Than Scnfualifts could ever yet obtain,
* Prov. xiv. 13. t Pfal. xx*. 5.
Ev'n
Stcredto Pra&ical Virtue and Holinefs. 209
Ev'n in the brighteft Scenes of carnal Mirth
That ever they have, here enjoy'd on Earth.
But if on Earth, fuch heav'nly Pleafures flow,
From Faith and Hope, to Pilgrims here below,
What muft the Quinteffence of Pleafure be
To fuch in Heav'n when from all Trouble free?
This far furmounrs our Reafon to conceive,
Or ev'n our Faith it's Vaftnefs to believe: [beft
Faith then muft yield, and Senfe fhall then know
Thcfe bounlefs Joys that cann't be here expreft.
Now if the Joys of Faith (thofe lovely Charms)
\Vill not yet draw you to a Saviour's Arms,
Confider now the Danger you are in,
\Vhilftyeremainthe willing Slaves of Sin. .
If ftill againft the Flames of I-ove ye fpurn,
\Vhom they won't melt the Flames of Wrathwill
burn.
Oh! 'tis a dang'rous Pathii) which you go,
You're on the Brink of everlafting Woe!
The flender Thread of Life is all the String
On which your dear immortal Spirts fwing!
This (lender Thread alone doth bear you up,
\Vhilft Satan's flat'ring Lies fupportsyour Hope:
But think how eafy this frail Thread is broke,
By ev'ry unfeen accidental Stroke/
Unthought of and unfeen 'Deaths Arrows fly,
None knows who firft they'll hit or who pafsby/
The blooming Toutb amidft his flowry Prime,
As oft they take as thofe worn out with Time ;
View but Golgotha, and you may efpy
Thoufands of ev'ry Size and Rank do lie.
T 3 Again
210 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, (Part II.
Again confider this, If you were Cure
That your frail Lives would many Years endure,
But know you then when thus your Lives you've
In Vanity, that ye /hall then repent, [fpent
And then amend your Lives and fo receive, ~)
A Pardon free ere ye this World /hall leave, >
And then your Heads lay quietly in the Grave? ^
O grc.fs Deceit! Thus Satan leads ycu on
Till all your vain dtlufive Hopes are gone 5
Then will he plunge you into black Defpair,.
"When all your Hopes are vanifli'd in the Air.
O then confider and no more prefume,
But now be wifer for the Time to come,
Rfptvttwce is GOD'S Gift , let all Men know,.
And as he pleafes he does it beftow.*
Ffit!) who fought it carefully with Tear-,
Obtain'd it not, as by GOD'S Word appears.f
Though rarely fome have this obtain'd at laff,
But, ah, how few till Life and Time is pad.
Thep, then they may repent, but ah, in vain j
Repentance will but aggravate their Pain !
Yet they forever muft repent and grieve,,
That they fo madly did themfelves deceive.
Thus have I /hewn you where your Danger
lies, "y
And how you may obtain th' immortal Prize ; >
Yea, Life and Tteatk I've fct before your Eyes! j>
Oh! then be wife, ard chufe the heav'nly Path*
And ftiun the Road that leads to endlefs Death.
* Acts xi, 1 8. t Heb. xli. 19.
Sacred to Praftical Virtue and Holinefs. ?i *
But fome perhaps may fay, " 1 do believe,
Therefore 1 hope GOD will my Faults forgive-;
For why the Goffel Covenant we fee
Is this, Believe and thou Jbalt favedbe. *
Why do you then cry up the holy Law,
And <?er eitr Hearts the vail ofMofes draw*
\\hat would you lead us back to Sinai 1 s Flames,
"When we are come to Ston's milder Beams?
We are not now under the legal Terms : ">
We now embrace the Go/pel in our Arms C.
Which fcreen us from the Law's black threat- X
'ning Storms,"
To this I anfwer, don't you here miftake,
And fo prefume GOD'S holy Laws to break :
Thofe moral Precepts fent by Mofes's Hand
Ordained were thro' ev'ry Age to ftand. f
The Goffel never was defign'd to give
Men Liberty immoral Lives to live.
Let this fttike each prefumptuous Soul with, awe,
The Goffel ftill is guarded by the Law. j
Thofe who prefume to break the La-iv t abufe
The Gofpel, and its holy Terms refufe ;
And thofe who do abufe it muft fall under [der.
Far greater Vengeance than black Sina?* Thun-
Tho* that made ev'n the folid Earth to lhake,
And ftubborn Hearts of Men and Beafts to quake !
Yet, a much fiercer Storm of Vengeance flies
Toblaft the Worms, who Goffel Grace defpife! t
*Mark,.xvi. 16. Acb xvi. 31. \ Matth. xv. 17, 18. \ Rom. vi. 15. 23
J Heb, x i* 31,.
Yet
212 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part II
Yet lo, the Gofptl tenders Pardon free
To Penitents of high and low Degree,
Who do by Faith to that fweet Refuge flee/
But take this Caution, true Faith ne'er is found
Where true Repentance hath not plough'd the
Ground ;
But where Repentance well hath plough'd it up,
There, new Obedience is the fruitful Crop.
ttf 2)e*ils they believe and tremble too, *
But fee that better Faith be found in you,
Elfe yow'll have Caufe its fruirlefsnefs to rue*
True Faith indeed leads up to Hear'n above
But ftill remember I'kat it works by Love, f
True Faith (like OylJ makes all the Wheels
to go
In Duty's Path, with fweet Delight, and lo,
Still Fruits of new Obedience from it flow.
Tho' Works (tistrue) will never juftify,
If we with Confidence on them rely,
Yet Works (I fay) muft here our Souls prepared
Ere we are fitted for the JManJionsfair t >
For nothing that's unclean can enter there. \ *
Here I conclude, and join with you my Parr,
LORD, write theft Laws on ev'ry human Heart.
Jamri ii, 19, t Gali *, 6. \ Rtv, zzt, 17,
E N 2) of the frjl EPISTLE.
EPISTLE
EPISTLE II.
THE
Chriftian Warfare:
OR, A SERIOUS
EXHORTATION
To VIRTUE and PIETY.
Humbly addrefs'dto the ProteftantDissENTERS
The Author's Apology, to the DISSENTING
MINISTERS.
Reverend Gentlemen,
O A V I N G in the foregoing EPISTLE made a
ferious Addrefs to your Brethren of the efta-
bli/h'd Church, I thought it might not be improper
nor unfeafonable to make one alfo to you on ano-
ther Subject: Knowing it is the Duty of all Men
(and efpecially all who profefs the facred Name
of Chriftians) to have a Regard for the Welfare
of each other. And tho' it is our Unhappinefs
(who profefs Chriftianity) that we are not all a-
greed in our Thoughts, about fome Things in our
raoft
214 tt>t AUTHOR'S APOLOGY,
moft holy Religion ; nor do I expeft that ever
we fliall in this fallible State : Yet this we may
and ought to do, (or die let us forever deny the
facred Name of Chriftians) viz, to love one ano-
ther 5 for this our great LORD and MASTER
hath given for adiftinguifhing Charafter to know
his Difciples by, JOHN xiii. 3*. &y tkisjball
all Men know that ye are my Ztifciples^ if ye have
Love one to another. Again we are exhorted ta
love, Not in Word, neither in Tongue > but in
2)eed, and in Truth, i JOHN iii. 18. And our
LORD hath fummed up the whole moral Law
in this one \Vord, LOVE. MATTH. xxii*
37 3^1 39- Again the great Apoftle St. PAUL
fays, Love worker b no III re his Neighbour-.
Therefore Love is tbejulfiling of the L*w. ROM.
xiii. io. A
Now I think thefe Precepts render it the Du-
ty of every one to do what good Offices they can
for each other. And in order thereto, I have
made the following bold (tho* weak) Attempt.
And tho' it may appear mean and defpicable in
the Eyes of fome in this polite Age, yet by the
Bleffing of GOD it may be made ufeful to ethers.
And be it known to you all, it is the Fruit of
Love, let it be look'd upon as it will in the World:
And Solomon (who was the wifeft Man) tells us,
PROV. xxvii. 5. Open Rebuke is better tbanfe-
tret Love . Therefore may I fay, Silver ani Gold
have I none'-) but fur.b as I have give 1 unto you,
But here I am feofible that I may fall under
your
to tht PROTZSTANT DISSENTERS.
your CXinfures for going out of my owa Province \
and for my mean Qualifications for this great
Work. Some of you may perhaps fay,
" Since Providence hath put thec in a lower
c Station of Life, and thou art not endued with
" thofe Qualifications of Human-learning that arc
" requifite for this great Work of inftru&ing o-
" thers ; thou oughteft therefore to be quiet and
" do thine own Bufinefs, and not attempt to
*' teach others when thou haft more Need to be
" taught. Jft be Blind lead the Blind botbjbau
" fall into the Witch"
To this I anfwer (with all due Reverence and
Submiifloii) I acknowledge my mean Qaulifica-
tions, myBlindnefs, and all my Disadvantages for
this Undertaking j yet notwithftanding, if my
Words be (as I hope they are) according to Truth
and Sober nef Si I may therefore hope to be ex-
cus'd by all the candid and faithful Minifters of
CHRIST. And farther, with all Humility, I
ihall offer the following Texts of Scripture to
your Confideration, wherein I think it is not on-
ly allowed, but alfo commanded for Laymen, or
common Chriftians, (as well as Minifters) to ex-
hort, reprove, admonifh, and inftruclone another}
for Inftance, HEB. Hi. 13. Exhort one anothtr
daily while it is called, to 'Day ; left any of you
be hardened through the 'Dereitfulnejs of Sin.
CHAP. x. 24. 25. Let us confider one another^
t0 f revoke unto Lovt^ and to g&od Works-. 2jx-
horting
n6 The AUTHOR'S APOLOGY.
Porting one another : AnA fo mucb the more, as
ye fee the 'Day approaching. JAMES v. 19, 20.
Brethren, if any of you do err from the Truth ^
and one convert him ; Let him know, that he
which converteth the Sinntr from the Error of
his Way-, jhall fave a Soul from Heath, and pall
bide a Multitude cf Sins. COL. iii. 16. Let
the Word of C H R i s T dwell in you richly in all
Wifdom ', teaching and admonifiing one 'another in
ffalms, and Hymns, andfpiritual Songs.
Now thefe and many more might be produced
to juftify the Exhortations of Laymen in general
But for my own Sufficiency for this great Work,
I have but little to fay. I muft confefs I am but
a very weak Inftrument, being unacquainted
with the original Languages in which the holy
Scriptures were written: But if the prefent
Tranflation may not be fafely depended upon ;
then as good it were banifh'd out of the World.
And if I have aflerted any Thing here contra,
diftory thereto, or inconfiftent with the Oracles
of Truth i let me be weighed in an even "Balance,
and let facred Truth pafs itsjuft Sentence. Tho'
I muft confefs that my Performance doth not
ihine with fuch Luftre as if it had come from
a learned Pen : Yet 1 am confident that every
wife and candid Reader will foon perceive the
Honefty of my Defign: And that plain Truth is
my only Aim j and that without meddling with
controverted Points of Divinity, which often tend
to
to the PROTESTANT DISSENTERS. 217
to gender Strife rather than Edification. And
as I have avoided all controverted Points of Di-
vinity, the Reader will ailo find that I have as
carefully avoided all Controverfy about leflVr
Matters which we are not all agreed about, and
which are ftot abfolutely neceffary to Salvation j
for my Defire is to profit all, and offend none.
But you may be ready to charge me with Pride,
and Arrogance in thefe bold Attempts, and think
that I am defirous of vain Glory. To which I
/hall now reply, I dare not pretend to juftify
myfelf before GOD ; for if I fay that I have no
Sin IJJjall deceive myfelf, andtke T"ruth would not
be found in me : But this I know, that I only mult
anfwer for it. (i. e.) I mean the Danger is to my-
felf: But I remember ftill that he that had but
one rfalent committed to his Charge, and impro-
ved it not, was condemned for an unprofitable
Servant : And therefore if it pleafe the LORD
(who hath given me this weak Talent) to ac-
cept of this fmall Improvement of it, I am abun-
dantly fatisfied, however it may be defpifed by
Men. But I am fully perfuaded that it is my
Duty to do what in me lies to excite every one
(as well as myfelf) to confider their Ways, and
amend their Live? : For can it be thought un-
neceflTary at this Time, when there appears fo many
black Symptoms of approaching Apoftacy, a-
mongft Men of every Profeffion, Rank, Sefc, and
Age 5 (viz.) Pride, Covetoufnefs, Malice, Spite,
U Envy,
218 Tfo AUTHOR'S APOLOGY,
Envy, Contention, Schifm, Herefy, Prophanefs,
Lukewarmnefs, Formality, and Sloth * Do not
all thefe, and many more fuch Sins fhamefully
abound in this Land of Light and Liberty ? and
what can we then expeft for fuch Ingratitude
(without a fpeedy Reformation) but to be left to
fall into a total Apoftacy here, and a certain fear-
ful looking for of Judgment hereafter^ and fiery
IndignationiWbicbjbalt devour the Adverfaries*.
Hath not this been the Lot of other Nations ? And
why not of this? Is it not then high Time for all
that bear the Name of Cbrifiians to beftir them-
felves, and to do what they can to prevent their
own, and others Deftru&ion?
This is then the Defign of this bold (tho* weak)
Attempt, and the earneft defire of,
Tour hearty Well-wijber, in CHRIST,
*nd mcft bumble Servant
J. M.
The
The INTRODUCTION.
*VTO W, ye my Friends, who from the CHURCH
* diffent,
And are not with her facred Rules crntent:
Her Rites and Ceremonies feem abfurd
To you, and not according to GOD'S Word 3
And therefore (having gracious Liberty)
Ye w'orfinip GOD in your peculiar Way.
To blame your Practice herein, or commend,
Is not the Bufinefs that I here intend,
But to exhort you to confider well,
And fee that ye in Holinefs excell ;
Elfe your diffenting from the common Croud
Will but proclaim your heinous Guilt aloud.
And fince 'tis fo that ye do not fubmit
To Men's Inventions, which ye think unfit
For Chriflian Worjbif 5 therefore ye refufe
Conformity, and feperate Meetings chufe.
Confider then, and make a folemn Paufe,
'Till you've examin'd well the real Caufe
Why ye do fiom th' eftablijh'd Church diffent,
And are not with her facred Rites content.
DifTention is nowife to be defended,
If it may be with Honefty amended :
But if you can't with Confcience fafe conform,
A quiet Diflention is no real Harm.
But here are many Things laid to your Charge,
The which if true, your Fault is very large 5
U Z Tour
<Tbt INTRODUCTION.
Your Brethren oftentimes upon you fix
The Names of lelf-conceited Schifmatics,
Blind Biggots, Hypocrites and many more
Such heinous Crimes they heap upon your Score.
Confider then, befide your Maker's Eye,
How many more into your Conduct pry
\Yhn on each Stumble, or Mif-ftep you take,
Will very readily their Silence break,
And fay, * Ah, there's your Saints that feem to b
* So much precifcr, and more pure than we !
* Are thefe the Mtn who ftand in Awe of Sin ?
4 They're all alike, meer Hypocrites wjthin 1 *
Now let each one examine well his Heart,
And fee if this be truly his Defert.
The Controverfy 1 can not decide, [wide;")
Nor would 1 uy to make th.3 Breach more >
GOD only knows who lhall the Teft abide, j
To raife Difputes I no wife here intend,
But to advife you as a faithful Friend:
To flatter or to banter I difdain,
Yet will 1 fpeak my Mind both blunt and plain.
And this 1 know if ye thefe Names deferve,
Ye widely from your own Profeffion fwerve .
But itill remember, difFrent Modes and Names,
And all the jaring oppofite Extreams
Of Judgment, which make here a mighty Sound,
"Will lighter than the empty Chaff be found,
"When CHRIST the Judge Jhall come in flaming
Fire,
How will the Hypocrite's vain Hopes expire 7
Like
INTRODUCTION!
Like Clouds of Smoak before the driving Wind
They'll leave their vain expe&ed Blifs behind/
But thofe in whom true Faith and Love are
found,
Shall then be with immortal Glory crown'd,
And reign with CHRIST through all Eternity,
"Whilft Hypocrites in quenchlefs Flames Ihall
lie.
O then take Care to keep your Garments clean,
Having a Confcience always pure within}
Then need ye not the World's Reproaches fear,
Nor be afham'd when Men revile you here,
The Bolt fhall on the Shooter's Head reboun4$
And fmite him with an everlafting Wound .
If falfly you're accus'd you may rejoice,
And lift your Hearts to GOD with thankful Voice
That ye are counted worthy to p.artake,
Shame and Reproach for your Redeemer's Sake*
For great is the Reward which (hi!l be giv'tt
"fa you ( faith CHRIST) refervedfafe in Heav'n,
For fb fervid they the <Prophets all of Old,
And all the Faithful* who the Truth did hold.\
Rejoice ('faith he,) and be exceeding gleid>
For Ion Earth no better Ufage had $.
Fear not ( faith he,) my little chofen Flock,
Nor let your Hearts with gloomy Fears be broke ,
For 'tis your heav'nly Father's WtUtogive
To you the Kingdom^ who on me believe \\.
But let none take this Confolation wrong,
This doth to none but faithful Souls belong}
* Aftsir, 41, t Mat,T, n, i z, t Ch *Fi r > l *> U Luke,jui, j*,
U 3 Thofe
<The INTRODUCTION.
Thofe who purfue the Paths of Virtue ftilt
In fweet Obedience to their Maker's Will.
The Followers of the LAM'S where'er be goes,
Tho' all the Hofts of Earth and Hell oppofe:
Refolv'd thro' Grace they will this Track pur-
fue,
Not fearing all that Earth and Hell can do.
Thefe are the happy Souls that /hall be crown'd
With CHRIST their LORD ; eternally renow'd.
But let this precious ^rutb be ne'er forgot,
That ( Perfecutfon is the common Lot
Of all that walk in this true narrow Way,
Which leads to Realms of evtilafting Day :
Tea, all the faithful Folfwers cf the LORD
Were ever by a fpiteful World abhor'd. *
* 2 Tim, iii, iz.
SECTION
SECTION I.
Nature of the Chriftian Warfare.
HPH E Cbriliian Life is all a Warfare here, ^
And ev'ry true and faithful Volunteer S-
Counts not this World, nor Life itfelf too dear j
To part with at their heav'nly Captain's Call :
They for his Sake can freely give up all.
But thofe that would inlift themfelves herein,
*Tis proper for them firft ere they begin
Now to fit down and fairly count the Coft,
Left Courage fail when they lhall want it
moft,
And they recant and let the Prize be loft. *
Confider then what great and mighty Foes,
Ye in this holy Warfare muft oppofe j
Satan^ the Workl^ the Flejh with ev'ry Luft 5
Thefe muft be conquer'd and laid in the Duft;
And when you've conquer'd thefe you Ihall be
crown'd,
And for illuft'rous Champions renown'd. f
Thefe are the Foes with which ye now muft
fight,
If you would reach the glorious Realms of Light.
But if you think thefe are no num'rous Throng,
Yet know they're crafty, violent and ftrong :
* Luke xiv. 31 . \ Re?, iii. zi.
For,
224 DIVINE MISCELLANIES [Part II
For, Satan firft, with his deceitful Charms,
"Will drive to cheat you in a thoufand Forms 5
He'll feed your Hopes (perhaps) with airy
Dreams,
And bid you not to fear, your happy Names
Are written in the Sock of Lift above,
And nothing can them ever thence remove.
And then (perhaps) when he hath led you on
In bold Prefumption, till your Hopes are gone,
Like Clouds of Smoak diflblv'd in fleeting Air,
He'll plunge you in the Gulph of black Defpair.
'Tis certain thefe are his deceitful Schemes, ^
To lead his VaJJals on in wide Extreams S
Of killing Fears, or elfe prefumptuous Dreams '
He tells the Touth, " Tou need not yet begin
To turn to GOD ami leave your darling Sin:
"Its Ttme enough for that a great While hence $
'Therefore in Youth tafte ye the Sweets of Senfe.
tDei)9iion*s only fit for antient Tears,
When Baldnefs, or the hoary Head appears j
j4nd then a few repenting fears and Cries
Wiafor your youthful Vanities fujficc"
With what Delight the Toutb does liften here!
Such Language fuits his young voluptuous Ear.
But, ah, little does the Wretch believe
That all his Craft is only to deceive.
His Words are fofter than the very Oil,
While he does fuch unthinking Fools beguile.
Then to the Azfd with a Frown he turns,
Who now perceives his wretched State and
mourns,
Sacred to Practical Virtue and Holinefs. 225
" '//J all in vain no-iv to begin to fray,
Fur thcu bajllojl tkeftleffing by 2)elay.
ky 'Prayers now will not thy T>oom prevent,
But aggravate tby Sin and 'Puni foment."
Thus like a crafty Fowler is he fet
To draw the Simple to his fatal Net,
And when he cannot with his flatt'ring Lies,
Then he fome new and falfe Suggeftion tries.
A Thoufand bafe malicious Arts he ufes
To tempt to Sin, then for the fame accufes.
1e Hypccritcs /faith he) your Cries are vain*
GOD'S gracious Audience ye can ne'er o&rairt.
Then he upbraids them for their various Blots,
And tells them thefe are not GOD'S Children's
Spots.
Thus like a Lion doth he gape and roar,
And daily feeketb whom he may devour.*
But, Thanks to GOD, this Tyrant ftrives in vain
To ftretch an Inch the Limits of his Chain.
The great JEHOVAH\afa him at his Beck,
And mars his Purpofe with a humbling Check
Then fear him not, but ftill on GOD depend,
For he's the only never failing Friend.
But now the fecond Captain, with his Band
Appears, and will your holy Courfe withftand,
To wit, the World, its Forces will combine, O
And with the former Fiend againft you join, p-
And ftrive to ftifle ev'ry Spark divine ! }
Your old Companions, they will taunt and jeer,
And fome will on you frown, and fome willfneer.
* J Peter, T, *
Then
226 DIVINE MISCELLANIES [Part II.
Then Poverty (perhaps) will overtake you,
And all your former Friends will then forfake you .
Then Perfecution will (perhaps) arife, [prize
"Which ftrikes poor tim'rous Souls with fad fur-
Then you'll be drove (perhaps) from Houfe and
Daily expe&ing worfer Things to come. [Home
Your neareft Relatives (perhaps) may be
The keeneft Inftruments to make you flee ;
"Whilft none will lend their Aid to bear the Crofs,
"Which brings with it fuch Trouble, Shame, and
Lofs.
And Life itfelf, and ev'ry Thing that's dear ^
Is now in Danger, plainly doth appear. *
This ftrikes the Coward with furprizing Fear. X
In great Perplexity, now doth he ftand,
And Doubts and Fears appear on ev'ry Hand.
And then comes in the third audacious Foe,
More dang'rous far than both the former two :
He gives the deepeft Wounds, and keeneft Smart,
To wit, the bafe deceitful wicked Heart. *
This comes with all its bafe corrupted Train,
And makes the braveft Soldiers to complain,
And often doubt that all their Hopes are vain :
For when they've thought the VicVry was com-
plete,
And all their Lufts were trod beneath their Feet,
Their Faith has rais'dthem to Mount 'Pjfga'sTop,
And they've been fill'd with fweet celeftial Hope
Jef . xrii. y.
Then
Stcre&to Practical Virtue and Holinefs. 227
Then have they view'd the Heavenly Landjcafg
o'er,
And thought they were juft at the happy Shore.
Each lordly Luft they bravely could difdain,
And thought to them they'd never yield again 5
But, ah, how foon this bafe fallacious Foe
Hath given them a dreadful Overthrow !
Thefe dead and bury'd Lufts revive again,
And fill their Souls with Horror, Grief and Pain :
They thought they were juft at the heav'nly
Shore,
And thefe vile Traytors would rebel no more,
Then they began to think themfelves fecure,
And all their Lufts were driven out o' Door 5
But, ah, how foon they new Avenues find
To enter in and to difturb the Mind !
Their vicious Powers do foon revive and fwell,
And drag them down, ev'n to the Gates of Hell,
Now if the braveft Soldiers meet fuch Foils,
And Sin their beft Experience oft beguiles :
If fuch domeftic Foes ftill lurk within,
Confider then, ye who would now begin
To lift yourfelves for Soldiers in this War,
With what domeftic Foes you're call'd to jar.
Now 1 fhall here endeavour to defcribe
The chief Ringleaders of the curfed Tribe.
The firft is <Pride, a moft pernicious Foe,
"Which always brings the haughty Sinner low. *
* Prov. xiix. 23, xvi, 18.
This
228 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part II
This commonly goes foremoft in the Van,
And was the very firft Sin that began,
And brought Deftru&ion on the Race of Man.
Then Avar if e brings up the fatal Rear,
'Pride's bafe voluptuous Breaches to repair :
Now tho' thefe are contrary to each other,
Yet do they commonly refide together :
But, O what bafe Di /harmony they make,
They caufe the Fillers of the Houfe to fhake !
Yet ftill they live like brauling Man and JVtfe,
Which always dwell in Enmity and Strife,
Thefe are the ^Parents too of all the reft
Vile Lufts that dwell in Man's corrupted Breaft.
To count their Offspring, O who can pretend,
For they in Legions conftantly alcend
Out of the bafe deceitful Heart wkhin,
And bring the Soul in Bondage oft to Sin.
Malice, and Envy, Rage, and fhnd'ring Spite,
Murder, Adultery, tteft, and vain delight 5
frophanenejs too, of ev'ry vicious Kind,
That dwells fo much in Man's corrupted Mind 5
Yea, all Rebellions "gainft both GOD and Man,
Proceed frcm thefe two Captains of the Clan.
All thefe are Children of this curfed 'Pair:
Whofe very Breath pollutes the wholfom Air.
Thefe, you muft fight againft with all your
Might,
Tho* ye before in them took great Delight j
And this (perhaps) you'll find more hard to do,
Than to encounter both the former two ;
For,
Sacred to Pra&ical Virtue and Holinefs. 229
For, O how hard a Thing it is to fight
Againft the ObjecT: of our Hearts Delight!
Yet, tho' as dear as a Right-hand or Eye,
They muft be now cut off and thrown away,
If in this holy Army you'd inlift,
To be the faithful Soldiers of CHRIST :
For he accepts of none but fuch as part
Freely with ev'ry Idol of the Heart:
Therefore with all your might you muft oppofe
Thefe diabolical and darling Foes,
If ye would wear the bright celeftial Crown
Of everlafting Glory and Renown.
SECTION II.
The CHRISTIAN ARMOUR:
EPH. vi. 74 1 8.
T)ERHAPS your Courage now begins to fail.
A And you're afraid you never /hall prevail
Againft thefe great Goliabs, which do ftand
T' oppofe your Way with monft'rous Swords in
Hand :
But come chear up, and never yield to fear,
Lo, here is Strength, and Help for ever near.
But ftill remember ye muft ne.ver truft
In your own Strength, which is but feeble Duft,
But let your Hope and Confidence be laid
Upon your great CREATOR'S gracious Aid.
X Anil
230 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part 11.
And if ye would be Chrijlian Soldiers brave,
Know that ye muft the Chriflian Armour have,
That ye may ftandfafi in The evil %)ay,
Anil all the <Po-iv'rs of Earth an I Hell difm&y.
See then that ye put on this Holy 'Drefs,
Girt round with 7"ruth ; your Breafl-'Plate
Right eoufne ft :
Tour Feet well food with Gojpel Preparation,
'f hat ye may tread the *Path of GOD'S Salvation
'But above all take Faith, that powerful Shield,
That ye may ftand undaunted in the Field,
And quench the fiery tDart* and crafty Wiles J
Of Satan and the World, which ofr beguiles
Unguarded Souls by either Frowns or Smiles- ^
And when you've made this proper Preparation,
Take alfo Hope, the Helmet of Salvation:
And take the Spirit's Jharp two-edgd S-ivord t f
Which is the great JEHO^AH's holy Word : *
This will (with holy Skill) cut down your Foes,
All that would dare your holy Courfe oppofe.
Then cafi the Anchor Hope within the Veil^
And never once let gloomy ^Doubts prevail.
Then daily pray, and make your Supplication
To your great Captain for complete Salvation-.
Imploring ftill the great JEHOVAH'S Aid,
To guide you in his holy Paths to tread.
But fix your Hopes, and Confidence upon
"Your great REDEEMER'S Righteoufnefs alone,
Ye Chriftian Soldiers, thus yourfelves prepare
And take thefe Weapons for the Ho'ly-War 5
Then
Sacred to Pra&ical Virtue and Holinefs. 231
Then boldly fight in your Redeemer's Name,
And never yield to finful Fear or Shame:
Nor /hall ye only fight, but overcome
Thofe Beafts of Prey that round the Foreft roam.
Satan (hall flee, and tremble too with Fear,
At fhaking of your Captain's glitt'ring Spear.
The World fliall own, with Envy, Grief, and
Shame,
Your glorious Conqueft in Immanuel^ Name.
Your Lufls fhal-1 vanilh 5. yea, and ye ihall be
llluftrious Conqu'rors o'er the potent 'Three.
So fhall ye win the bright immortal Prize,
Laid up for you with CHRIST above the Skies.
SECTION III.
An ALARM 5 or, general Call to all Sinners, to
come and inlijl themfelves in tie Chriftian War-
fare, to fight under CHRIST'S Banner : With
the ^Benefits accruing to them who accept, afal
the 'Danger they are in who rejuje the Gofpel
Call.
OW, whofoe'er will lend obedient Ears,
This Day I do beat up for Volunteers,
In my great heavenly Captain JESU'S Name,
I call to Weak, and Strong, to 'Blind, and Lame,
To Rich and <Poor, of ev'ry Sex and Size,
To Sinners of all Sorts beneath the Skies 5
X 2 With
232 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part II.
"With Gofpel Licenfe, I extend the Call,
"Without Diftin&ion, freely to you all.
To ev'ry Creature of the Human Race,
Lo, CHRIST fends forth hisMeflfages of Grace. *
All who are willing now themfelves t'inlift
To be the faithful Soldiers of CHRIST,
Come now obedient to his gracious Call,
L<o, he is ready to receive you all j
And ye fhall find Reft to your weary Sou-Is,
Yea, endlefs Peace where Grief nor Trouble
rouls :
But let this Truth fink in your Hearts and Ears,
That he accepts of none but Volunteers.
But whofo will lay down their hoftile Arms,
And hearken to his Goffels winning Charms
And come obedient to his gracious Call,
His Arms are open to receive you all.
The beft of Wages too ye fhall receive,
And the beft Entertainment ye can have,
"Yea, Bread of Life to feed your hungry Souls,
"VYater of Life, and Wine in flowing Bowls.
Tho* empty Fools may mock, and jeer, and feoff,
Lo, here is Food the World knows nothing of.
The beft of LivVy too fhall be your Drefs,
Ev'n the white Robe of JESU'S Right coufnefs /
The Prize at laft, a bright immortal Crown
Of everlafting Glory and Renown.
Here's all th' Encouragement ye can defire :
Tea, here's Salvation from eternal Fire I
* Matth. xxv iii. ig.
But
Sacred to Praftical Virtue anl Holinefs 233
But this know alfo, None of thefe are due
By any Merit, or Defert from you :
'Tis all the free, and gracious Gift of GOD,
And purchas'd by a dear Redeemer's Blood !
Come then, all ye, who have been Slaves to Sin
And think what Self-deceivers ye have been!
CHRIST'S Yoak is eafy, and his Burden light ;
His Ways are Pleafure, and his Work Delight.
\Yho then will come and put his Armour on,
And bid each bafe beloved Lult begone ?
"Whatfay'ftthou, Soul, who art with fin oppreft 1 ")
And know 'ft no Way to eafe thy troubled Breafl >
This War will ifTue in eternal Reft. 3
Come then, and put this holy Armour on,
And freely bid thy darling Lufts begone :
Come boldly fight, and tread thefe Monfters
down,
So {halt thou win this bright immortal Crown.
But know the fearful, and the Unbelievers,
All Hypocrites, and foolifh Self-deceivers,
And all who are in love or league with Sin,
And are not willing to inlift herein,
Thefe miift at laft their endlefs Portion take
"With Devils in the dark infernal Lake j
"Where, Fire and 'Brim^ene is thtir choiceft Fare
And ev'ry Comfort is abandon'd there j
For all the Mufic, and the Mirth they know,
Are endlefs Wailings, and immortal Woe ! *
What fay ye then, ye Sinners of all Kinds ?
Shall Satan ftill delude your carnal Minds ?
* Rev. xxi. 8.
X 3 Will
234 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Partll
Will ye not yet quit your rebellious Arms,
And yield unto this glorious Captain's Charms!
What are your Eyes ftill fix'd on earthly Toys,
And blind to all thefe bright celeftial Joys?
Are ye refolv'd, whatever others do,
That ye will ftill this dang'rous Track purfue ?
O! dreadful Madnefs, if ye ftill refift
Thefe gracious Tenders, made to you by Cbrift :
But know, if thus ye obftinate remain,
You're on the Brink of everlafting Pain.
O ! think how fooli/h is your Approbation,
To chufe Deftruftion, and refufe Salvation
To live in Bondage when you may be free
Is fure the greateft Folly that can be !
Yet fuch the ftupid Folly is of thofe,
Who do not with CHRiST'sgraciousG0/tf/clofe.
They're Slaves to Satan, and his cruel Will
They drudge and labour daily to fulfil !
To ferve and pleafe him, they no Pains do fpare,
Yet feed on Husks, inftead of wholfome Fare.
But all who faithfully ferve CHRIST the LORD
A Crown of Glory is their fure Reward. *
Their LORD is T'ruth itfelf, nor can deceive.
Thrice happy they who do on him believe.
* Rev. 11. 10.
We
to Pra&ical Virtue and Holinefs. 235
SPECIAL
ADDRESSES
To four SO RfS, (viz.)
I. To Youth, II. Tie Middle-aged, III. The
Aged, IV. The Deferters, or Backfliders.
I. To rOUTH.
WELL, what fay ye, ye lovely blooming
Yemh?
"Will ye give Ear unto the Words of Truth ?
Will ye give Ear to CHRIST'S fweet charming
Voice,
And make him now your only Love and Choice ?
If ye ats willing, now's the only Time
To clofe with him, while in your youthful Prime,
Corns then begin your young delightful Days
With the fweet Work of Prayer and of Praife:
And let the Word of GOD be your Delight,
And Meditation both by Day and Night.
Confider well th' Advantage ye will have
If ye do now CHRIST'S Gofpel Grace receive.
'Tis eafy Work if ye in Youth begin,
To get the Vi&'ry o'er your darling Sin :
236 DIVINE MISCELLANIES [Part II.
'Tis like a Tree that's tender, green an \ young,
"Whofe Roots are not yet faft'ned in fo ftrong:
'Tis eafier Work (I fay) to root it out,
Than when *tis once grown ftubborn, old. and
E'vn fo it is with thofe who young begin [ftout.
To fight againft the vicious Powers of Sin :
But thofe who this delay till afterward,
The Roots of Sin grow many, ftrong and hard.
Repentance is not eafily obtain'd,
"When Men have long in Wickednefs remain'd.
But lovely Youths, in whofe moft tender Years,
A ftricl Regard to Piety appears, [find
Shall tafte thofe Sweets, and thofe rich Treafures
To which the World is ignorant and blind! *
O think how fweet and pleafant it will be,
"When in old Age ye (hall look back and fee
That ye in Youth began to feek the LORD, ~)
And found much Sweetnefs in his holy Word : /
"What matchlefs Joys will this to you afford ! j
Or if you are cut off in youthful Days,
Death only will to higher Pleafures raife J
And waft you fafe above the lofty Skies,
To be Poffeflbrs of eternal Joys.
But thofe who do this needful Work delay
Are oftentimes in Anger fnatch'd away,
And plung'd into the dreadful Lake of Hell,
"Where Hypocrites, and vile Apoftates dwell.
O then, ye lovely Toutbs y begin betimes
To feek the LORD, and leave your darling Crimes
No earthly Joys can be with this compar'd
To love and fear, obey and pleafe the LORD!
* Rev. ii. 17-- Ma tth. xiii. 44.
Sacred roPra&ical Virtue and Holinefs. 237
What Honour like to this can ye obtain,
To be enroll'd amongft the glorious Tiain
Of faithful Saints, array'd in Robes of white,
And reign with CHRIST in everlafting Light!
Come then, ye lovely YOUTHS, nor more delay,
But now accept CHRIST'S gracious Call to Day :
His Yoak is eaf y, and his Burden light ; "J .
All his Commands are holy, juft, and nght: >
In keeping them there's Profit, and Delight- j
Depend upon it, ye fhall ne'er repent
That ye fo early yielded your Confent.
But if ye do the Gofpel-call refufe,
Ye then the Road to endlefs Ruin chufe.
O then confider, in your youthful Prime,
That Now is the moft f \vc-t scctptid Time!
If this ye lofe, ye never more may have
Another Call, 'till call'd into the Grave !
For tho' you may be now in youthful Bloom,
Death may as fpeedily upon you come
As on thofe Heads worn out with num'rous Years,
In whofe pale Looks e'vn Death itfelf appears!
Again confider, fhould your Days be long,
Still your corrupt Affections grow more ftrong:
If ye continue dill to live in Sin,
The harder Work you'll find it to begin
To turn to GOD j your vain Delights to leave,
If ye in Youth do not his Grace receive.
Believe not then the bafe Deceiver's Tongue,
That would perfuade you ftill, Tou are too young
To lift yourfelves in this great War to fight ,
toforfake each y out If nl dear %)elight.
238 DIVINE MISCELLANIES [Part II
O ! dreadful Madnefs if ye this believe,
For this is Satan's Flatt'ry to deceive j
And to delude you to his fatal Snare, [pair ^
And plunge you in the Gulph of black Def- S
"When Death, pale Death fhall in your Faces ^
Confider then what Danger you are in, [ftare !
"While y remain the wretched Slaves of Sin 5
If ye refufe the Gofpel's gracious Terms,
Think how you'll bear to meet a GOD in Arms!
In Arms of Vengeance to deftroy his Foes,
"Who did his Laiv and Go/pel both oppofe /
Before him then will burn devouring Fire ;
And where ihall then his guilty Foes retire ?
To Hills and Mountains they in vain /hall ciy,
TY> V<i'J~ ^ ->~. from hie r\rvAf'^ M-Ji^ftv
Confider this, dear YOUTHS, and no more go
In the broad Path that leads to endlefs Woe.
II. To the MIDDLE-AGED.
AND what fay ye, ye, who at middle Age
Are now arriv'd, ere ye yourfelves engage
In this gcjind War, which you are call'd unto ?
Are you not yet refolved what to do ?
At .middle Age, alas/ what did I fay ?
Nay, this may be to you ev'n the laft Day .'
The very laft ye on this Earth may have,
Ere ye are fwallow'd by the gaping Grave /
What
Sacred to Pra&ical Virtue and Holinefs. 239
What think ye then ? Speak, is it not high Time
(When ye in Vanity have fpent your Prime)
Now to Hy down all your rebellious Arms,
And hearken to the Gofpel's fweeter Charms,
And to put on the Cbriftian Armour too,
"With holy Refolution to fubdue ? *
O then no more th' important Work delay,
But hearken to your Maker'? Voice to Day :
And flee to CHRIST, by Faith, on Gofpel Terms,
He'll yet receive you in his gracious Arms.
Tho' you have long provok'd him to his Face,
And long defpis'd the Riches of his Grace 5
Yet if you're heavy laden with your Sin,
And from a Senfe thereof with Grief begin
To cry, Alas ! alas! what Jhall I do? J
And who jhall fave me from eternal Woe? >
And kill in me this Soul dejlrcying Foe ? X
By Night or tDay, ro Comfort can I find,
This Load of Guilt fo much afflicls my Mind.
The Senfe cf S ; n is no-w fo heavy grown,
Into the Mire it deeply jinks me down.
Nor doth it only jink me in the Mire,
Sitt will ere long (I d;ubt) to enUefi Fire.
Alas ! 'while I this Monjler Sin have ferv'd
How wide I from my Happinefs bavefiverv^d !
Ah ! no-w I fee the Madnefs of my Sin j
Alas ! where hath the foolip ll'and'rer been ?
Thro" fatal Mazes I have madly run t
An d daily bafted to be quite undone.
* I Cor. in. 25 } *6*
240 Dl V INE MlSCE LLA NI ES, [Part II.
Thy holy Laws, LORD ! I have bafely broke :
My Stubborn Neck hath Ion* refused thy Took.
A Prodigal, and Rebel I have been,
A wretched Slave to Satan and to Sin !
And yet, O LOR'D ! dofl thou [end forth thy Catt
70 poor and heavy la f hn Sinners all,
To come to thee, and thou wilt give them Reft,
And eafe the 'Burdens of their troubled, Breaft ? *
LORI) ! at thy Call, I now am come at laft, }
And owning all my fwful Follies pafl, *.
Here at thy Feet, my fe If I humbly caft. ^
I own O LORD, I have my >fe If undone : ">
No hope remains but in thy darling SON, v
Whe gave his Life for Rebels to atone. X
Sut, LORD, fo vile and fihhy as J am,
J to this Favour hardly dare lay Claim.
My waken'd Confcience now doth loudly tell,
I do deferve the lo-weft plare in Hell.
Secaufe I have fo vile a Rebel been,
And havefo willingly run on in Sin,
Tet, LORD, Til hope, forjhould lno-w defpair,
jTfcis ivouldbut make thy Vengeance more fever e :
Tea, and difionour thy great Name yet more
Than all my heinous Sins have done before :
For lo, thou art a GOD of Mercy (till,
faithful and juft thy Tromife to fulfill' : f
Therefore Til hope, and humbly yet implore^
For JESU'S Sake wipe out my guilty Score :
Tet, LORD, if th$u deny^fl, Imufl be dumb 5
lo'jcn I don't deferve the fmalleft Crumb
* Matth. x\. 28. t I.John i, 9.
Sacred to practical Vmue and Holinefs. 241
Of Mercy, from thy juft and righteous Hand,
Who did fo long thy holy Will withfland.
Tet, LoRD,//>#0 t hi f Favour ivilt bellow,
An endlefs <Dett ofPraife to thee Til owe :
Til vie with all thy glorious Heft above,
To praife the Wonders cf redeeming Love.
O Then, look down upon my deep tDiftrefs,
Jlnd magnify thy rich forgiving Grace.
< Iho > I no Merit of mine own can plead,
LORD, look on him ivh did for Sinners bleed.
Since JESU.S dy'dpoir Sinners to fet free,
Then j or his Sake have Mercy, LORD, en me.
If thus (1 fay) ye do yo jrfelves addrefs
To your CREATOR, and your guilt confefs,
With deep Remorfe, and true unfeigned Grief,
By Faith in CHRIST, ye fhall obtain Relief:
Ye fhall a Pardon, full, and free receive,
If thus ye feek, and heartily believe :
For this is prorais'd in GOD'S holy Word 5 *
And this to Penitents may Peace afford 5
For Heaven and Earth fhall fooner pafs away,
Than one Word fail which CHRIST the LORB
doth fay. f
What fay ye then ? Will ye in Sin perfift ?
Or will ye under C H R i s T yourfe Ives inlifl?
Refolve you how which portion ye will take,
A Crown of Glory, or a burning Lake.
For unto one of thefe ye foon muft go,
To Heaven above, or down to Hell below.
* Ifai, lv. 7. t Mark. xiii. 31.
O
T
242 Dl VI N E MlSC ELLA N I E S, [Part II.
O then be wife, and quit yourselves like Men,
That you may Grace, and endlefsLife obtain.
Confider well what Danger you are in,
While ye remain in L/ove or League with Sin.
And think what vaft Advantage it will be
If ye to CHRIST do now for Refuge flee.
J Tis dreadful Madnefs if to Sin ye cleave,
And do not now the Grace of GOD receive.
This you will think yonrfelvesl'm fure one Day
If ye do not his gracious Call obey.
O that you'd think fo ere it is too late ;
Ere Death hath ended your Probation State $
Elfe you will think fo in th' infernal Chains,
Where GOD'S eternal furious Vengeance reigns !
The juft Reward of their Ingratitude,
Who thus defpife the Goodnefs of a GOD.
III. 7b the AGED SIGNERS.
D what fay ye, who now to the laft Stage
f Life are come, ere ye yourfelves engage
In this great War, againft the Powers of Sin ?
Will ye not yet this needful Work begin ?
Have you liv'd h'ere fo Jong, yet never knew
This wond'rnus Myft ry, to be born anew ?
If you continue in your natural State
Great is your Folly and your Danger great.
You have been bound in &/4ff'l cruel Chains,
"While he prepar'd you for eternal Pains.
And
Sacred to Pra&ical Virtue and Holineft. 243
And are you willing to continue ftill
The wretched Subjects of his curfed Will ?
And are you willing now to leave this World,
To be with him to Hell forever hurl'd ?
O dreadful Thought ! Do ye not yet repent,
And tremble at the Thoughts of thisEvent ?
O, think how ye this wretched World mud leave,
And be thruft down to the infernal Cave,
Where Fire and Brimftone, black fulphurious
Streams
Muft be your Bed, in everlafting Flames /
There /hall ye alfo fee, at utmoft Height,
The glorious Realms of everlafting Light,
"Where all the holy, valiant Champions are,
Who were brave Soldiers in this holy War,
"Wearing their glorious Crowns, and white Array >
Triumphing in the Realms of endlefs Day ;
"Whilft ye are roaring in the Lake of Hell,
In Torments worfe than mortal Tongues can tell.
Then Confcience too (that never dying Woim)
Will gnaw your Hearts in the moft wretched
Form.
Twill then upbraid you with fuch Words as"
thefe, [Etft
Thou liv'dft on Earth and took' ft thy carnal \
And did* ft thy baje luxurious 'Palate phafe :
And did'fl neghft the Go/pel's joyful Sound
Where many thoufants fiveet Salvation found!
T i tfberc
244 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part II
tfhere mighfjl tbou too, Salvation lave obtained "J
Hadfl tbou not ft ill in Unbelief remain' d^ S
Jlnd all my Checks rrcft fcornfully difdain^d. j
Remember bow J often did tbee tell, *>
7 hat tbou ivatt in the ready Road to Hell >
TetftiUagaiKft tbe LORD tbou ivould'fl reltl. ^
No-it thou mufl in thefe endlefs Torments lie
through all tbe Atfs cf Eternity.
Then will ye cry, Jflas ! what mud I dwell
Forever in this dreadful Lake of Hell !
O cutting ^Thought ! alas ! this makes me Jbiver,
<To think upon tlis aiicful lllrd, FORE V E R !
What \ mufi J lie ten-thousand Jges t ere,
jtmlyct my wretched End be ne'er tie mar !
Mas ! alas ! is this Eternity !
O ! could I curfethis dreadful GOD and die \
But -ah) alas, my wijhes all are vain,
Rtfentmtnt does but aggravate my 'Pain f
O that J never once bad heard the Sound
OfGofpel T'id/n^s on the eartlly Ground ;
Fcr this fad "Thought torments me ivorft of all,
T'hat Jrffys'id its fiveet inviting Call !
O that J ne'er hadllv'd onChridian Ground,
Nor ever heard the Gcfpel's Joyful Sound!
Thus may we not fuppofe the Wretch to cry,
Amidft the Pangs of endleis Mifery ?
Cor.fider this, ye aged Sinners all, p
And fpeedily upon your Jl&tker call, >
Left his juft Vengeance quickly on you fall. ^
O think (I pray ) what Danger ye are in,
If yet you are the wrttched Slaves of Sin.
What-
Pra&ical Virtue and Holinefs. 245
What have you liv'd on Earth fo many Years
Till fcarce a Hair on your bald Head appears?
Tour furrow'd Brows declare that Death is nigh^
Your flutt'ring Breath juft ready now to fly,
And the next Step is black Eternity ! ^
And can you thus contentedly remain,
Unfanclifi'd, and not yet born again?
O hafte, hafte hafte, and for a Pardon fue,
Ere you are forc'd to bid this World adieu /
Your Candle now is but a glimm'ring Snuff,
'Twill be blown oat (psrhaps) by the next Puff j
Therefore 'tis dreadful if you now delay,
And put off your Repentance one more Day.
But now perhaps 'twill be th' old Serpent's Care
To fwell your Guilt and tempt you to Defpairj
He'll tell you now '7/'f but in vain to pray t
Fcryou have hft the 'Bl effing by 2) el ay.
This is his common Courfe when Men begin
To apprehend the Danger they are in:
But don't ye now his flatt'ring Lies believe,
For all his Craft is only to deceive :
And have not ye believ'd him too too long ?
Then truil no more his bafe deceitful Tongue
For this is his laft Point, which if he gain, "V
Then he hath caught you in his cruel Cha in >
Wherein you're bound to everlafting Pain. J
But if you now unfeignedly repent,
His curfed Scheme you totally prevent.
If now no more ye do in Sin perfift,
But freely under CHRIST yourfelvesinlift.
An \ now receive him on the Gofpel Terms,
He'll welcome you into his gracious Arms.
Y 3 Come
Di VINE Miscfi LLANIES, [Part
Come then and bow before your Maker's Face,
And all your Guilt with grief & /hame confefs
And thus implore his rich forgiving Grace.
LORD / at tby Feet a wretched Sinner lies,
Unworthy to lift up his guilty Eyes
Yo-rarJs thy 'Throne, thy Mercy to implore,
Yet fa, I caff myfclf at Mercy's 'Door
Vile ami polluted ' Leprous too all o'er ! X
But, LOKD, I've heard there 1 * Mercy found
with thee,
Ev'n for foch vile unworthy Worms as me !
LORD/ can it be that I Jbould Mercy find,
/, iv ho have been to all thy Beauties blind !
/, iv ho fo long thy righteous Laws have broke,
jindftubborvly refused thy gentle Toak!
J, ivbo fo lon^ thy 'Patience (LORD) have tried,
Jlnd tnofl prefumptuoufly thy Wrath defy^d :
J, iv fro in Vanity have fpent my 'Prime,
AnA only left for thee the Itre^s of f fime !
AndfiaU I yet accepted be of thee ?
Ibis niKJl indeed furprifmg Mercy be \
O, make me then an Instrument of fraife,
To celebrate thy rich forgiving Grace.
C, melt this hard, this frozen Heart of mine,
jtnd ivork a Change in me all o'er divine.
For JESU'S Sake I humbly thee implore,
O Lo RD, wipe out my hlack my guilty Scort \
J own J have a bafe 'I'ranfgrejfor been,
T Slave t to Satan and to Sin ;
Sacred to Pra&ical Virtue tfftf Holinefs. 247-
Confounded here, Jblujh before thy Face,
That Ifo /<? have flighted thy rich Grace.
LORD, fboutd'ft thou cad my guilty Soul to ffell t
SrricJ Juflice muft approve the Sentence well :
But forever be thy Name adcr'd /
J find it promts* & in thy holy Word,
T'hat ivhofoe'er repents and turns to tb(e,
By Faith in CHRIST, Jball yet accept el be. *
Ikefe precious Words afford me feme relief,
LORD, I believe, help thou my Uubelirf :
'But, LORE, Icanrft repent nor yet believe^
Except of thee 7 do this *Poiver receive ;
Grant then, O LORD, thefe Graces unto me,
Then Til repent, btlievt,and trufl in thee.
O -icajb my Soul in that tncft pruious Flood
Of Water pure, and rich atoning 'Blood,
Thar fprung from my dear ]v$v' t sivoundedSide,
When he upon tht Crcfs for Sinners died :
Sojhatt thy Mercy, LORD, be magnified.
Nay, ev'n thy 7u(lice (ball more Glory 'win
^ ' */ J J -7
( Alt ho' I have the Chi<f of Sinners been)
Than if my wort hie fi Soul were Jent to Hell y
Where thy juft Vengeanct doth forever dwell 5
jpjr t/io" I fuftr^d there eternally,
This never naculd thy Jufiice fatitfy ;
But my Salvation thro' CHRIST 's precious %lood y
Shall fully pie afe thy Juft ice, my GOD I
O t ben for Mercy and for jfuftice too,
J humbly plead, a Tardon, LORE, bejlow*
T'ben what a Monument of Mercy 7,
Sball be to Angels thro' Eternity !
* lf*i, IT. 7. Join TI. 37. There
248 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part 11.
There I with them forever Jball adore
hy matchlejs Love, upon the Heavenly Jh ore >
With many millions of Man's fallen Race,
Who loud proclaim thy rich forgiving Grace.
Ob, then my vile corrupted Heart renew j
My (iubborn will, and all my 'Pow'rs fubdue !
This Jball redound to thy eternal < Praife r
And Glory cf thy rich forgiving Grace,
Far more than if my Soul were fent to Hell,
Where thy juft Vengeance doth forever dwell.
Tbo 1 true it is, that all the Heav'nly Choir
Can ne'er advance thy <Praife and Glory high'r
Than 'what it was from all Eternity,
When all thy Creatures did in Silence lie :
Yet fine e thou haft thy gracious Name revealed
A GOD of Mercy, and baft not concealed
This lovely Attribute from my poor Eyes,
From hence alone my humble Hopes Arife.
Yea, this thou baft more highly magnified,
Than all thy glorious Attributes befide,
Jn fending CHRIST, thy dear beloved Son,
To die for Crimes that rebel Worms had done.
Oh, let me then herein obtain ajhare,
And for his Sake hear my unworthy Tray^r.
This humble Suit 1 cannot, ivill not ceafe.
Until theu grant an Anfwer, ZOR2), of 'Peace.
Thus bumble ye yourfelves before the LORD,
And plead the Mercies promised in his Word 5
Then doubt not but ye /hall his Grace obtain,
None ever fought his Face aright in vain.
But
Sacred to Pr a&ical Virtue and Holinefs. 249
But fee that ye prefume to fin no more
As ye have done in Unbelief before 3
Elfe all your Tears and Cries wilt be in vain,
You're on the Brink of everlafting Pain.
Now if you will your MAKER'S Word obey,
Give ear unto his gracious Voice To day:
But if you're not refolved yet to come,
Then you may ftay and hear your woful Doom,,
Ev'n, Hence depart ', go and forever dwell
tilth ^Devils in tb* irfernal Lake of Hell.
IV. 70 DSER.TERS> ^BACKSLIDERS,
OW ye who ha^ve your facred Colours fled,.
And have revolted from your LORD and
head,
What fay ye now ? will ye again return,
And all your bafe ungrateful folly mourn ?
Or will ye at fuch matchlefs Goodnefs fpurn?
O think upon your mad Ingratitude
To trample thus upon Redeeming Blood :
And think upon the Danger you are in,
Whilfl ye againft the Checks of Confcience fin.
Confider how this deathlefs Worm will fting you,
When Juftice into quenchlefs Flames fhall fling
you.
Oh dreadful Thought! And will ye ftili perfifc
To be the trayt*rous Enemies of CHRIST ?
What:
250 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part II.
What! flee from CHRIST, and all his lovely
Charms,
And turn to Satan's Camp and bear his Arms?
fatal Madnefs! Do ye not begin
To fee the dreadful Danger you are in ?
Let but your Confcience anfwer, it will tell,
If thus ye (till continue to rebell,
Your Place muft be the very In weft Hell !
But now if ye will humbly yet return
To your Allegiance, and your Folly mourn,
A gracious Pardon ye ihall yet obtain,
If humbly ye repent and turn again. *
Then come, and like the frodigal of old,
"With contrite Heart your Cafe to GOD unfold, f
" LORD, I have finn'd, I've finn'd before thy
And moft ungratefully abus'd thy Grace ! [Fac:
But now my Folly, and my Shame I own,
1 am not worthy to be call'd thy Son :
But let me one of thy Domeftics be,
Tho' ev'n a Servant of the low'ft Degree,
In any Office that belongs to Thee.
Ah, Foolifh ingrate that I've been to rove
From thee, my GOD, and thus abufe thy Love :
Alas, what fatal Mazes have I trod,
\Vhilft I have err'd and ftray 'd from thee my GoD 1
And doft thou yet invite me to return,
\Vho did fo at thy Loving-Kindnefs fpurn ?
LORD, at thy Feet confounded here I lie,
Towards thy Throne afham'dto lift mine Eye !
' Jer. lit. is. t Luke XT. zi.
And
Sacred to Pra&ical Virtue and Holinefs. 251
And wilt thou yet receive me to thine Arms ?
Lo, here I yield, overcome with Mercy's Charms!
My finful felf I utterly abhor,
And all my bafe Ingratitude deplore.
LORD, guard my Heart that I no more may rove
rom thy dear Camp : Secure me by thy Love.
Let me be nailed to my SAVIOUR'S Crofs,
Rather than fuffer me to wander thus : [move
Then here on Earth, while my frail Lips can
I'll /hew the World the Wonders of thy Love j
And ftrive to bring Revolters back to Thee,
And they lhall praife a pard'ning GOD with me.
And when I reach thy glorious Courts above,
"Where my deceitful Heart no more /hall rove,
There will I vie with all thy Heav'nly Choir,
(Who fpeak thy Praife with moft intenfe Deflre)
To celebrate, in fweet immortal Lays,
The Wonders of thy rich forgiving Grace.
Then, LORD, my humble Supplication hear,
And to my Pray'r bend down thy gracious Ear,
Since JESUS dy'd Backfliders to reftore,
Then for his Sake a Pardon I implore.
Look down>O LORD, and with a gracious Eye >
For JESU*S Sake pafs mine Offences by, >
And fave the Rebel juftly doom 'd to die. J
So fhall the Glory be forever thine,
As is moft due to fov 'reign Grace divine.-'
Thus humble ye yourfelves before the LORD,
And by his Grace ye fhall be yet reftor'd,
But if you ftill continue to rebell,
Your Place muft be where your old Leader fell.
Of
.252, DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Partll.
Of all the Race of Adam that did fall,
Your Cafe muft be the dreadfuleft of all,
"Who after ye the Gofpel had receiv'd,
And with a firm Affent the Truth believ'd,
And then returned back to Satan's Tribe :
\\hat mortal Tongue your Danger cm defcribe ?
Oh ! that you may ccnfider, ere too late,
The Danger of your bafe Apoftate State,
And fpeedily to CHRIST for refuge flee,
That ye may from this woful State get free.
O hafte/ make Hafte! while Mercy yet doth
wait,
For you're undone if you /hould flay too late.
SECTION V.
A more particular Addrefs to tie Diflenters, on
feveral ferious Con/Iterations 5 ly way of Ap-
plication j exciting them to fraftical Holtnefs,
and Thankfulness.
"VT O W I no more this gen'ral Scheme purfue,
But here fpeak more peculiarly to you
To whom I this Epiftle have addreft j
My Mind to you fhall freely be exprefs'd.
And fince 'tis fo that ye profefs to be
The faithful Soldiers of the LORD, then fee
That your Profeffion, and your Lives agree :
Tor
Sacred to Praftical Virtue and Holinefs. 253
For, ah! how vain are empty Modes and Names,
Before a GOD whcfe cjuick all-piercing Beams
Difcern the very Secrets of the Heart,
Ere our frail Lips our Meaning can impart/
O, then examine well, left ye be found
Like Tinkling 'Brafs, a vain and empty Sound !
For lo, we're told that many Men will fay
To CHRIST at the great awful Judgment-Day,
LORT), LORI), we've propbefied in tby great
Name,
And Works have done, eVn mighty Works of Fame-
To whom he'll anfwer, with an angry Frown,
depart from me, for you 1 will not o-wn !
Tour Works you did in bafe Ilypocrify, "}
And vainly thought to 'feape my piercing Eye : >
'Depart, ye Workers of Iniquity. * ^
Then fhall they flee, with Terror from his Sight,
Down to the Regions of eternal Night :
And there muft they their endlefs Lodging take
With Devils, in the black infernal Lake !
O dreadful Sentence! " Who of us /hall dwell
With endlefs Burnings in the Lake of Hell? \
And who fha41 then admitted be to ftand
Before the Judge, and plac'd on his Right-hand
To whom he'll fay, " Come, ye beloved Ones,
Ye now fhall fit on bright celeftial Thrones j
Come, and enjoy the Kingdom long prepar'd
Ere Time began, 'tis your divine Reward ; \
O who (I fay) fhall this fweet Sentence hear,
So pleafing and delightful to the Ear ?
* Matth. vii' 2, 23. t Ifiah rxxiii. 14. \ Matth. XJCY. 34.
Z None
2 $4 V i v r N E MISCELLANIES, [Part 11.
None but the faithful Foll'wers of the LAMB,
\Yho fear'd, and lov'd, and boldly own'd his
Name, [gain
And counted CHRIST'S Reproach far greater
Than all this World affords to wicked Men.
Such are the happy Souls, and fuch alone,
To whom the Judge will then pronounce, well
do fie.
O then, my Friends, take heed what ere ye do
To walk by Faith, as 'Pilgrims here below,
Blfe all your Hopes of being lov'd, and own'd
By CHRIST atlaft, will but your Souls confound !
But for encouragement ftill to purfue
The Paths of Virtue, keep the Prize in View,
The glorious Recommence of tbe Reward, *
To be forever with your deareft LORD !
Confider too your Warfare is but /hort,
Ere ye /hall reach the fair celeftial Port,
If ftill ye tread the ftrait, the narrow Path j
Finifh your Courfe, and keep the holy Faith j
Then fhall ye be amongft the bleft renown'd,
And with immortal Joy and Glory crown'd.
Then be not flothful, but with Zeal purfue
Thofe Tracksthat CH R IST and his Jpoftles drew.
Ye boaft your Jlvceftors f were Heroes brave,
"Who true and faithful Teftimonies gave
Of their Allegiance to the KING ofKiNGS,
And how they did defpife all tempting Things
* Heb, xi, zf> t viz. The aneitnt Puiitats ami modro Nonron-
formifts
That
SacreJ to Practical Viitue and Holrnefs. 255
That would have drawn them from the holy Way
That leads to Realms of everlafting Day :
And with what holy Courage they did ftand
In fweet Obedience to their LORD'S Command
Not fearing them who could the Body kill,
But on the Soul could not effcft their Will,
Yet faithful were unto JEHOVAH ftill.
Well, do ye imitate their virtuous Ways
Their Faith and Love, and ev'ry Chrifti
Ye ought to follow them with one Accord
So far as they did follow CHRIST the LORD :
In vain ye boaft of them except ye do
Their virtuous Ways with holy Zeal purfue.
And thro' what Floods of Dangers ftill did they
Purfue the Path that leads to endlefs Day?
And thro' what- Difficulties did they meet
To feek the LORD, and found his Prefence fweet?
TrUe Loveinflam'd their fympathizing Hearts ,
As Members of one Body, all the Parts i
Share with each other in their Joys and Smarts. 5
So little they efteem'd fuch tempting Things "}
As worldly Pelf (with its deceitful Wings) S.
Pleafures, & Honours with their hidden ftings, ^j
That they refign'd them at their LORD'S Com-
mand,
Tho' Wants and Tribulations were at Hand.
They rather chofe to keep a Confcience clear,
Than buy the World's deceitful Toys fo dear.*
* See Ncal' Hiftory of the Puritans aud modern NoucenformifU
and Dr. CaUmy's Abridgement, &c,
Z 2, And
DIVINE MISCELLAK IE s, [Part 11.
And in the Midft of all their Griefs and Fear,
They poured forth their humble Cries and Tears
Before the LORD, whofe Mercy (till is nigh
To all that fear him, and on him rely ,
Tho' in the Furnace he does them refine,
According to his VYifdom all divine,
And makes them ev'n the pureftGold outfhine
Yet did his gracious Ear attend their Cry,
And he beheld their Troubles from on high j
Then fafely o'er the rough tempeftuous Flood
Brought a Deliv'rer to confound the Proud :
His Royal Hero (WILLIAM) here he brought,
"Who moil viftoriouily his Battles fought.
His Guardian Angels fafely brought him o'er
The bcift'rous Ocean to the SrtfrJJj Shore :
Then on his Head he fet the Royal Crown,
And bid him tread the haughty Tyrants down.
The Royal Hero did his LORD obey,
Reign 'd with a juft, yet with a powerful Sway,
And made the Hofts of Hell and Rome give
Way !
At his Approach their Hearts were fill'd with
Dread,
AVith Terror from the Sritifa Coaft they fled !
Then did the LORD him o'er to Ireland fend,
His faithful Proteftants there to defend,
And by him he redeem'd the precious Lives
Of his dear Children, from the Irijb Knives.
Thence brought him back fafe to the Srtfijh
Throne,
To make his Juftice and his Goodnefs known.
Thu
Sacred to pra&ical Virtue and Holinefs. 257
Thus GOD did make Tyrannic Powers refign,
And fix'd the Crown on worthyGEORGE's Line!
And ftill they new Rebellions try in vain,
To interrupt our gracious Sov'reign's Reign.
Oh ! all ye 'Proteftants^ your Voices raife,
"With thankful Hearts to fing your Maker's
Praife,
For Favours fo fublimely great as thefe ! .
And you efpecially, who moft abhor T
The bafe Pollution of the fcarlet Whore, J*
"What Caufe have you his Goodneis to adore ? N
His Works are done in Truth and Righteonfnefs :
His Enemies unwillingly confefs,
That matchlefs Wifdom, Power, and Glory
fhines
In all his Works,, in all his vaft Defigns.
Then ye who are the Objefts of his Care,
What Caufe have ye his Goodnefs to declare?
He makes your Rulers gracious, jufl, and kind,
And gives your Fears and Dangers to the Wind,
To carry them beyond the raging Seas,
Whilft ye enjoy fweet Liberty, and Eafe,
And thus do ye the Priviledge enjoy
To worlhip GOD in his appointed Way 5
No threatening Tyrant daring to oppofe
The happy Priviledges GOD be/lows,
O then, what Caufe have ye to blefs his Name?
And make his Praife your moft 'delightful
Theme ?
But now, my Friends while ye enjoy fuch Peace
Take heed left Weeds inftead of Fruits encreafe:
Z 3 Whilft
258 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part II.
\Vhilft there's no outward Wolf now to moleft, -.
Take care of them that dwell within your
Breaft : C
Thefe oftentimes prove worfe than all the reft.
Confider now if this be net your Cafe,
"While ye enjoy fweet Liberty and Peace,
Dots not the Love of many now wax cold,
As was fore-fpoken by your LORD of old ?
Does not Lukewarmn&fs gre'atly now abound j
Envy, and Piide, and Malice fpread around?
Does not true Godlinefs ftill fade away,
And ev'ry Grace feem daily to decay?
Confider then what Caufe ye hav to fear,
Left GOD ihould in his dreadful Fury fwear,
Since ye abufe tie Gofpel cfmy Love,
My Cancllejiick Tllfpeedily remove^
jjndye pall grcpe in 2)arhiefs t and Jball kns-'Q
*Iht want 6ft bat which ye have flighted fo.
Ye new pall feel the Fury of my Rod,
j4nd know that Ym a Sin revenging G01>.
O Britons, tremble, and your Sins- forbear,
Left ye ihould foon this dreadful Sentence hear.
Hath not the LORD dealt fo with other Lands>
"VN ho did abufe the Favours of his Hands ?
O think upon his ancitnt Fleck the Jews^
"Who did the Gofpel of his Grace refufe j
See how they're fcatter'd thro' the Earth Abroad
Liku wand'ring Sheep* eftranged from their Godl
Now th<,fe (ye know) his chufen People were,
3tifor iheir Sins the J-^ORD would not them fpare
And
Sacred to PraSical Virtue and Holinefs. 259
And Gentile Cburcbes, which he firft did plant
Lie now in Ruins, and his Go/pel want >
Becaufe they did his Jealoufy provoke,
Their facred Temples he hath long forfook !
Now they are left to worlhip Wood and Stone,
And JESUS CHRIST is now to them unknown I
And have net we, within thisfav'rite Land*
Great Caufe to fear left GOD /hould give Com-
mand
To cut us down as Cumb'rers of the Ground,
If that no better Fruits on us be found ?
If we continue to provoke the LORD, rj
Shall we efcape the Fury of his Sword,
And ftill enjoy the Blefiings of hu Word ? J
"What ! will the LORD continue here to dwell
While we maintain a wicked League with Hell ?
O ! no, my Friends ! great Caufe we have to feas
If we do not this finful Hope forbear,
That GOD in Wrath on us will quickly frown,
And qn us pour his dreadful Fury down/
Do not our Sins for heavy Judgments cry ?
And our Tranfgreffions reach above the Sky?
And naay we not expeft the LORD to pour
His Wrath on us, in one eternal Shower?
Rouze, all ye Saints, and humbly Peace
plore
And never once your fervent Cries give o'er,
Until he blefs your Land from Shore to Shore.
Ye are the facred Fillers of the Earth,
lour earneft Cries reftrain GOD'S fierceft wrath.
.
r < <
re. /
O
a6o DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Partll.
O may your fervent Prayers daily rife
To him thro' CHRIST, a welcome Sacrifice.
O Britons all, begin with one Accord,
To fearch your Ways, and turn unto the LORD 3
So fhall ye ftill his Favourites remain, p
Tour Rights and Liberties he will maintain, \
And fend his Bleffings dftwn like fhowers oO
Rain.
Tour King and Country he will greatly blefs,
And give each Labour of your Hands Succefs.
Tour Land fhall be like Eden's fruitful Field,
Which did a thoufand joyful Bleffings yield.
But if his Promifes will not you draw,
Nor your reluftant ftubborn Spirits thaw,
Then muft you hear the Thunders of his Law.
And if you do'not fpeedily repent,
His dreadful Judmemts will be on you fent.
Deftru&ion like an overwhelming Flood,
Shall fall upon the Stubborn and the Proud.
Here 1 conclude, and humbly join my Pait,
LORD, with thy Grace fill ev'ry Srittjb Heart
EV2) of tbt Second EPISTLE.
EPISTLE
EPISTLE III.
THE
Divine Original and Primitive Beauty of
CHRIST1ANIT Y.
Set forth in the Birth, Life, Sufferings, Death,
Rtfurre&ion. and Afcenfion, of our
LORD and SAVIOUR,
JESUS CHRIST:
And the Life and Conduft of his
Humbly addreft to all Profeffors of Christianity
For their holy Imitation.
SECTION I.
The BIRTH of CHRIST.
II E Time is come, lo, the bright Day appear s
That GOD had promis'd near four thoufand
Years,
That he would fend the Woman's royal Seed
To refcue Man, and Bruife the Serpent's Head. *
GOD'S faithful Saints did long this Day behold
Thro' Types and Prophecies which CHRIST
foretold, f
But what was typify'd is now reveal'd,
And all the holy Prophecies fulfilled,
* Gen. iii. 15. 1 John riii. 56.
Lo>
262 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part II.
Lo, CHRIST the LORD, the great MESSIAH
comes
And Man's frail Nature humbly he aftumes /
This did his Angels fee with ftrange furprize,
Behold their MA K E R in a Manger lies !
A tender Babe juft of a Virgin born !
Us'd with Contempt, Indignity and Scorn !
A Stable for his Palace, and a Manger
The Bed wherein was laid the heav'nly Stranger!
Well might they be prodigioufly amaz'd,
To fee the LORD of Glory thus debas'd. [flame
, Why did not Wrath their heav'nly Breads en-
To vindicate their great CB E A TOR'S Name ?
No : they were fill'd with Wifdom from above,
And fent to fpread this matchltfs Scene of Love.
Down to our Earth, behold they bend their Way,
To fpread the joyful Tidings of the Day,
See now GOD'S Glory round the Shepherds fhinc
With Splendor great, with Lufter fo divine
That mortal Eyes could not fuftain the Sight
Without amazing Terror in the Night j
For lo, it was amidil the dusky Shade
This glorious Viiion was to them difplay.'J.
But lo, the heav'nly Envoy quickly cheers
(With Tidings glad) their humble Hearts Ears.
j4rife (faid he) ye Shepherds^ hafte away
70 ^David's City y there is born to %)ay
^glorious JESUS, who is CHRIST the LORD,
$y whom your humble Hopes Jhall be reftor'd.
A glorious King, a Sun c/Righteoufnefs,
Who (ball all Rations with. Salvatiw blefs.
LaLi
Sacred to Practical Virtue and Holinefs. 263
Laid in a Manger , /0, the Babe yeifll find :
The Antient promised Saviour of Mankind.
Thus Gabriel fpake , th' attentive Shepherds
heard,
And lo, a bright Angelic Hoft appear'd,
-And thus whilft in the radient Clouds they hung,
Their Maker's Praife in heav'nly Strains they
fung;
To GOD be Glory in the high eft (Irahis,
Who in the Heaven of Heavens forever reigns :
Long hath his Goodnefs filfd cur Realms above^
But Menjhall noiv tafle of his fpecial Love.
To Men good Will, and heavenly Veace on Earth^
tfo Angels Joy at great I MM A NU EL'S flirt b !
Thus did the bright Angelic-lloft proclaim,
^ hen they upon the joyful Errand came,
To fpread the News of our REDEEMER'S Birth,
And fill Men's Hearts with heav'nly Joy on Earth :
Then fhall n ot Men refound their Heav'nly Strains
And make their Voices reach th' Jitherial Plains?
Yes, certainly each faithful Soul will raife
To GOD a Song of undiffembled Praife 5
And alfo with the higheil Angels vie,
To fing the Praifes of the Trinity.
Come then, ye dear redeemed Souls and join
Your Hearts and Tonguesin Raptures all divine,
And make your Voices reach the Courts above,
To praife the Wonders of redeeming Love !
Admire, adore, whilft this you meditate,
How JESUS left his glorious Throne of State,
Such
264 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part II .
Such ftrange Indignities to undergo,
To ranfom you from everlafting Woe.
His powerful Word the NYhole Creation made,
And Heav'n and Earth on {lately Fillers laid, *
And his almighty Pow'r fuftainsrhem dill,
And doth in Heav'n and F.arth whatever he will,
Yetdeign'd to leave his glorious Throne rtn high
(Where he had reign 'd from all Eternity)
That he Mans feeble Nature might aflume,
And he th' Offended, take th' Offender's Room !
See how he leaves his bright celeftial Throne
A humble Virgin's Knees to fit upon !
Thus, lover than bis Angels ivas Ice made, f
Born in a Stable, in a Manger laid !
Be Heav'n and Earth amaz'd, and blu/h to fee
Tour great CREATOR in this low Degree/
But, O ye faithful Saints, believe, tis true,
Thismatchlefs Stoop of Love was all for you/
O then with Heart & Tongue proclaim his Praife j
Above the Heav'ns your thankful Voices raife /
His Pow'r, his Wifdom, and his Love adore,
That ftoopt fo low, you Captives to reftore/
Adore the Juftice and the Mercy too,
That did fuch ftrange Myfterious Things for you /
O praife the FATHER who his Darling fent,
T* affume your Nature , bear your Puniihment/
O praife the SON who leadily did come
To bear the Stroke of Juftice in your Room /
O praife the holy SPIRIT, who applies
To you the Blood of this rich Sacrifice ?
* John i 3* t'pfal via 5.
O
Sacred to Practical Vntue and Holinefs. 265
O praife the glorious THREE with one Accord,
Who thus your finking Hopes again reftor'd !
Yea, let your thankful Songs forever rife
Like Clouds of Incenfe to the lofty Skies. ,
S E C T. II.
The LlFEofCHRIS-T, (viz) his Infant
Sufferings in being carried into Egypt from the
Cruelty of Herod : His Return to the Land of
Judea : His ^Temptations^ -public JMiniflry\ and
Miracles.
'"THUS have we heard how fck~R 1ST the LORD
did come,
And our frail Nature humbly deign'd t' aiTume :
Now let us next with humble Hearts review
The matchlefs Labours he for us went through :
And all to purchafc endlefs Lifs and Peace
For rebel Worms of A.lam's fallen Race.
No fooner had he made his Entrance here,
But Hell purfu'd him with a fierce Career :
Herod (that bloody Tyrant of the Age) *)
Infpir'd by Hell did all his Pow'rs engage
To flay the Infant with the utmoft Rage :
And to be fure to flay the holy One,
The monft'rous Tyrant fpat'd nor pitied none,
But ev'ry Babe in fair "Bethlehem Town
Muft by his cruel Sword be hewed down !
Ev n ev'ry Male beneath two Years of Age
Muftfall a victim to h;s Surfed Rage !
AY Ala-?,
66 Dl VINE MlSCE LLANI ES, [Paitil.
Alas, what melting Groans, and mournful Cries^
And flowing Teats from tender Mothers Eyes,
Which one might think would melt a Heart of
Stone,
And make it fympathize with every Groan !
Yet nothing would this Monfter's \Vrarh afwage,
But all muft fall the Vi&inrw of hi* Rage !
o
Yet all in vain, to flay the holy Child j
The cruel Tyrant's Hopes were all beguil'd.
Invtin he thought GOD'S Purpofe to prevent,
For he the Babe had into Egypt fent,
'Till Herod's Pow'r and Policy was fpent.
Thus was the haughty Tyrant's Purpofe croft,
And all his Hopes forever blown and loft.
Thus may we fee how vain it is to fight
Againft a GOD, whofe Power is infinite :
Soon could the LORD have ftopt hiscurfed Breath,
And made him fall immediately by Death,
Yet lo, his Wifdom made his Fury ftay
'Till he faw fit on the appointed Day ;
Then gave Commiflion to his Servant %)tatb t
To flop the cruel Tyrant's Threat'ning Breath.
Then out of Egypt, lo, he call'd his Son,
To make his Juftice and his Mercy known.
And thus did he the Prophecy unfold,
That by the Prophet had been long foretold,
That out of E^pt GOD would call his Son, *
And every Word thai tromis'd muft be done.
New that this Prop, v might be fulfil'd,
Jofeph is warn'd to take - ie holy Child,
And
Sacred to Practical Virtue and Holinefs. 276
And his efpoufed Wife, and fo return
To IJrael's Land where they did once fojourn.
But lo, new Troubles did obftruft their Way, ^
Hearing that Herod\ Son did then bear Sway, C
They fear'd left he the holy Babe fhould flay : X
So bting warned of GOD, they turned afilc
To Nazarttk, and there did long abide,
And that the 'Prophecy might be fulfil" d,
tfhat Jefus fliould a 1<tazareve be ItilM. *
So JBSUS grew in Wifdom, and in Stature,
Strange Myftery, a GOD in huma'n Nature !
And as fupposM at thirty Years of Age,
He now muft in his Minifhy engage :
Then back into jfuiett he returns,
And for the Peoples Sins he fafts and mourns.
New to his Grief to add frefh aggravations,
L.O, he nuirt fuffer Safari's foul Temptations 5
That fo he might in all Things bear a Part
Of our Aftitions, with a tender Heart:
He felt of all as our own fellow Creature,
Only exempt from finful corrupt Nature.
All Saftin's foul Temptations were in vain
His bright infinite Holinefs to ftain.
Then he began to preach, and taught the poor
Such Do&rine as they ne'er had heard before :
The Law in Gofpel mold he did explain,
And /hew'd their Duty both to GOD and Men .-
Not like the crafty Tharifees and Scribes,
\Yho partially did teach for filthy Bribes.
* Ma* M 2J.
A w 2 His
268 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part 7 !!.
His Words did with fuch holy Luftre fhine,
They plainly prov'd his fov'reign Pow'r divine.
He heal'd the S.ckj he gave the Blind their
Sight 5
Made 'Deaf to hear, the Lame to walk upright :
He cleans'd the Leper j, and the ZDead did raife
Made 1)umb to fpeak and flng their Maker's
Praife :
He made the Devils flee from thofe poffeft,
And calmly gave their troubl'd Spirits Reft.
Thus he fulfil'd what good Epiias faid,
Bimfilfdid bear cur Sorrows in ourftead. *
Thus did he prove his Mifiion was divine,
To all who were nor obftinarely blind,
The 'Poor (who were enlighten'd from above)
His Dofhine heard with hcly Fear and Love,
While Scribes and ^Pbarifee s did dare blafpheme
His glorious GOD-HEAD, and reproach his
Name.
Then out of the uncultivated Croud
He twelve %)ifciples chofe, unlearn'd and rude j
With whom he travel'd in a 'Pilgrim's Drefs,
To help the Poor and Needy in Diftrefs :
But, O the matchlefs Travels he went thro',
Surpafs the Power of mortal Tongues to fhew !
The Defert Mountain, and trie Mid-night Air,
Did often Witnefs to his fervent Pray 'r ;
"Not for himfelf, but for Man's fallen Race,
\>ho had ungratefully abus'd his Grace !
* Ifci. Hii. 4.
While
Sacred to practical Virtue and Holinefs. 269
While Foxes had their Holes, each Bird its
Yet had not he whereon his Head to reft !
Hunger, and Thirfl, he often did endure ;
Tho* Lord of all, yet thus became he poor.
All this and more did JESUS undergo "^
For Man, unworthy Man, his bitter Foe, W
"Who plotted ev'n his utter Overthrow ! X
Kay, this was but a Preface to the Grief
He underwent, to purchafe our Relief.
Surprizing Love ! infinite, and divine,
Oh! with what matchlefs Lufttedoth it fliine ?
Oh / may this Love each gracious Soul infpire
With holy Zeal to imitate him nigh'r,
Come, O thou fweet celeftial jDove, and bring
Thy heavenly Graces on thy balmy S* ing,
And fill our Souls with thy celeftial Fire, ">
That we may more this Saviour's Love admire,
And daily ftrive to raife his Praifes high'r.
SECT. Tir.
'The loft SUFFERINGS and DEATH of
CHRIST.
T"" H U S JESUS fpent his Life in Grief and
Teats
(As is fuppos'd) for three-and-thirty Years:
now a greater Scene of Grief and Woe
next tnfue, which he muft undergo :
A 'a 3 Sine*
270 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part 11.
Since he hath undertaken to redrefs
GOD'S broken Law, in Man th' Offender's Place,
One fingle Mite Jufticc will not abate,
(All partial Pay he utterly doth hate.)
So now on JESU'S Head behold he pours
The dreadful Vengeance that was due to ours !
tDci'ils, and A fen (with all their furious Rage)
Are now let loofe againft him to engage :
While GOD'S vindictive Juftice on himf alls,
And for full Reparation ftriaiy calls
Of that juft holy Law that Man had broke :
So on his Head he lays the dreadful Stroke !
The Jews (his Brethren, Countrymen and Kin
According to the Flefh) do now begin
To plot amongft themfelves (with utmoft Skill)
How they might take, and holy JESUS kill.
And Saran too (who's ready ftill t' aflift,
And help the cruel Enemies of Chrift)
Did enter into Judas^ and did fill
His wicked Heart, with his pernicious Skill,
And taught him how he might his LORD betray,
And thereby get unto himfelf a Prey.
Judas was ready to obtain a Prize,
So with his Counfel readily complies,
And to the Je^iflj Triejts he went his Way,
And bargain'd with them JESUS to betray.
Now thit fame Night on which he was betrayed,
A friendly Supptr for his Twelve he mads 5
An Ordinance in order to record
The Death and SufTrings of their dying LORD:
Inftead
Stcrcd to Praftical Virtue and Holinefs. 271
Inftead of that bright Ordinance before, *
When GOD had part the Doors of Jacob o'er,
And ftubborn Eygft's firft born Sons he flew,
When they refus'd to let his People go.
Tho' that Salvation did with Luftre fhine,
If et this is far more glorious and divine.
And as they fate at Supper, JESUS faid,
By one of you lam this Nigbt betrayed, [cord
Now when they heard thefe Words with o-ne Ao
In fad Surprize, cry'd, Is it 7, O LORT)\
Then JESUS anfwer'd plainly, It is one
To inborn Til give a Sop tre we have done.
Then JESUS took the Bread and blcfs'd & brake,
And to his Twelve thefe friendly Words he fpake
Take eat, my friends : this is my Body broke
Per you, and all my chofen faithful Flock.
Then lo, he took the Cup, and bleft the Wine,
And bade them drink the Cordial divine :
%)rink all of this (faid he) this is my 'Blood J
Of the new Covenant : This precious Flood
Shall reconcile you to my Father GD. \
This do (faid he) until the world jball end t
In memory cfyour dear departed Friend.
Thefe Elements are Signs and Seals ofTeace ~>
To you, and all my true and faithful Race, S.
H'bojball by Faith my Covenant embrace. ^
Mow while they eat he dip'd a Sop and gave it
To Judas, who did at his Hand receive it,
To (hew by whom he was to be betray'd,
According as he juft before had faid.
Th* Paffovtr.
Now*
272 Di v i N E Mrsc EL L AN I ES, [Part 11.
Now to conclude this Ordinance, they raife
Their Hearts and Voices in an Hymn of Praife :
Then lo, into a Garden JESUS went,
His heavy Grief and Sorrows there to vent.
Now think, O Chriftians, what a \\eight he
bore,
"\Yhen he for you did pay the dreadful Score !
Firft to the Garden turn youi melting Eyes,
And there behold his dreadful Agonies !
See how he bends beneath his grievous Load,
And fweats great Drops of doted criinfon Blood,
And to his Father's Throne he fends his Cries,
"With broken Heart, and overflowing Eyes,
Father (he cries) ifpojjible it be,
let this bitter Cup HQ\V fn<s Jrcm me I
Ttt not my Will, but LOR&, (by Will be tkr.i,
7,0, I obey tbe Orders of rby Throve.
His human Nature in a faint Condition.
Did urge him here to offer this Petition :
But ftraighl he checks his fainting Heart again,
fifth, Wbyjboi'ld I this bitter Cup refrain,
ll r as it tietfcr this filf-fame End I came ?
therefore, O Father, Glc-rify thy hante 5
Sojbalt tbcu alfo glorify thy Son,
II bcfe Glory ivith thine own is always ot;c.
Z0, / have glsrifi'd thy Jjame Mow,
jJtid done the Work thott gaveft mt to do.
Give trie the Glory noiv which once I had
Wirb thee, O Father, ere t hi World ivis made !
J have made known thy Name unto thy Sheep,
tbofe which tbou toft. given me to keep.
Sacred to Practical Virtue and Holinefs. 273
Zo, thine they were, and them thou gav'ft to me,
And they have known thy Name and loved tbee.
Tbefe have I kept, and none of them are loft,
Save that vile Tray for, ivhcm the holy Gbo/i
2)id by the Trophet long ago Jortel
That he for Money Jhould his Alafterfell. *
Thus having fpoke, behold the Tiaytor comes^
And with a Kifs th' audacious Wretch prefumes
To give the Signal to the barb'rous Croud, ~}
Who round about like Bulls of Bajben flood, j>
And moft inceffantly did feek his Blood ! >)
Next fee him drag'd before the Judgment Seat,
And there accus'd by Fal/hood and Deceit:
Condem'd upon a curfed Crofs to die 3
Us'd with the bafeft of Indignity !
Cloth'd in a purple Robe with haughty Scorn ;
Hail'd in Contempt, and crown'd with piercing
Thorn !
Then with a Reed they fmote his facred Head /
And on his Back the curfed Crofs they laid,
The curfed Crofs whereon he was to die,
And thus in Triumph led to Calvery :
And there with ling'ring Torments, lo, he's s
(lain, f
Expos'd to Shame, and moft exquifite Pain ; >
Us'd with the rudeft Spite, and vile Dif-l
dain ! J
There fixt to the accurfed Wood he ftands,
With Nails drove thro' his precious Feet and
Hands!
* Zechu xi. tz, x;>
From
274 E> ! VIHE MISCELLANIES, [Part II.
From whence behold rich Streams of preciou*
Blood,
To fatfsfy our jaft offended GOD !
Again to GOD he lifts his melting Eyes,
NYith humble Groans and fore lamenting Cries,
j\fy GOD, my GOD, ivhy baft thou me forfook
Beneafb Men's Fury and thine o-wn Rebuke ?
The bafe inhuman Croud that gaz'd beneath,
33id there infult him in the Pangs of Death 5
And pleas'd wirh 11 his Agony, and Pain,
They gladly heatd his holy Soul complain !
And when Jor Prink his parching Throat did
call,
They mock'd his Third wirh Vinegar and Gall :
Yetev'n amidft his /harpeil Agonies,
.
He pray'd for rhefe his cruel Enemies,
FATHER, for give them, fir they do not know
What 'tis they do y or wherefore they do Jo.
This being done he bow'd Ms holy Head,
And faid '7/s done, my "Task is finljbed.
Thus having faid he yielded up the Ghoft,
And dy'd to fave poor Sinners that were loft.
Then one of the rude Souldiers (void of Fear)
Into his Side thruft his unhallow'd Spear, [fly,
From whence did Streams of Blood and Water
Water to cleanfe, and Blood to juftify.
Thus did it pleafe the LORD to bruife his Son,
Not for his own, but Crimes that Men had done,
All this he did tfeat it might be fulnTd,
\Vhich was of old by Prophecy reveal'd j
For
Sacred to Praaical Virtue an:l Holinefs. 275
For lo, one Tittle fliall in nowife fail
Which GOD of old by Prophets did reveal. *
Now let us all with holy Wonder view
The ftrange furprizing Signs of Nntute too
That did appear, and plainly teftified
That it was CHRIST the great MESSIAH <Hd.
All Nature rtcktn'd at the dreadful Sight,
And from the Scene the Sun withdrew his Light.
Sunk in 3 Swooft behold three Hours he lay,
And i'.om the Sight withdrew his golden Ray I
The radiert Skies a fable Veil put oft,
And in hoarfe Thunders mule their frightful
O
Moan .'
W hile ev'ry Breath of Air, in mournful Sighs
Declar'd its Sorrow too with ftrange Surprize /
The Earth (convuls'd) with awful Terror /hook/
Aiham'd upon it's Maker's Blood to look /
Ev'n ftubborn Stones <iid at the Scene relentj
And rugged Rocks were then afunder rent /
The dreadful Shock awak'd the flumb'ring Dead
And many Saints did leave their dusky Bed,
And in the holy City did appear,
The Teftimony of theit LORD to bear.
The Temple's Vail afunder rent in twain,
To /hew that fewr'Jh Shadows now ar* vain ;
For when the real Subftance once is come,
For Types and Shadows there remains no Room.
Th' amaz'd Centurion too (with ftrange Surprize)
Cry'd out, " ! 'tis the Sen r/GoD that diesf
* Luke mxiv. 44.
o
276 DIVINE MISCELLANIES [Part II.
O Cbriftfcvs, view by Faith, this matchlefs
Scene,
And think upon your dear Redeemer's Pain,
Oh ! think if Love could ere with this compare,
That GOD fhoulj at a feeble Mortal's Bar
Submit to Death, and give his Life t* atone
For the black Crimes that Rebel Worms had
done,
Oh / think if Things inanimate thus did
Ev'n feem to blufli, to fee their Maker bleed,
"What caufe have we to tremble at the Thought
That it was Sin all this Confufion wrought /
And can it be that a believing Heart
Can fee the Anguifh and the bloody Smart
That JESUS felt from this black Monfter Sin, ^
And yet not with the utmoft Rage and Spleen >
Refolve agaioft each darling Luft within ? J
No, certainly no true believing Soul,
But what will ftrive this Monfter to controul ;
An4 with the utmoft Rage refolve to fight
Againft each darling Sin with all his Might.
O Chriftians then when ye this Scene review,
Refolve to bid each darling Luft adieu :
Since thefe are Traytors to your deareft LORD,
Let them by you forever be abhor'd.
Blame not the Jews for this inhuman Deed,
But blame your Sins that made your Saviour bleed
The Jews were but the Weapons GOD did ufe,
"When he for you his darling Son did bruife ;
But Sin, curft Sin was the condemning Caufe,
"Why your Redeemer thus abufed was.
Now
Sacred to Praftical Virtue ^^Holinefs. 277
Now look on him whom ye have pierc'd and
And never more to finful Folly turn ; [mourn
But now devote each darling Luft to Death,
That pierc'd his Heart and ftopt his vital Breath.
*
SECT. IV.
The Refiimfcon of C H R I S f.
Ti U T now, my Mufe, a brighter Theme af-
fume,
Lo, JESUS wakes and leaves the dusky Tomb
On the third Day the joyful News was fpread,
JESUS no more is found among the Dead -,
In vain the Grave would try the LORD to hold 5
For Death (the Conqu'rour) is by him controul'd.
Its Arms before fuch Pris'ner ne'er embrac'd,
By Power divine, behold, he is releas'd /
Tho' firmly bound within its mafly Chains,
He burft its Bonds, and now triumphant reigns.
'Twas his own Will that made him yield to Death
By his own Power, lo, he recalls his Breath.
He died the holy Law to fatisfy :
He rofe again, Sinners to juftify. *
Here Wifdom, Power, and Love do all combine,
And feem to vie each other to out Chine,
Each^/hines with Luftre fo divinely bright
As dazzles ev'n the higheft Seraph's Sight.
* Rom. iv. 25.
B b T'rT
278 D i v i N E MISCELLANIES, [Part II.
Th' Angelic Hofts with Tranfports fweet adore,
This matchlefs Scene unparallel'd before.
."But, O ye Cbriftiani, think what Caufe have you
lour thankful Songs forever to renew !
O may this Scene of Love make you adore
GOD'S matchlefs Goodnefs, and each Luft abhor.
SECT. V.
CHRIS? appearing to bis Difciples,
and giving them Gommiffion to Breach
his Gofpel j and a fc ending up into Hea-
ven.
E T little CHRIST'S Difciples underftood
The grand Defign of the eternal GOD j
Tho' JESUS of his Sufferings had them told,
Yet they his Meaning could not then unfold.
"When he was taken, they were fill'd with dread,
And ev'ry one deferted him and fled.
"When he was dead and bury'd in the Tomb,
Their Faith bewilder'd was in dreadful Gloom:
And when they heard that he again was rifen,
Their Faith was yet confin'd in Senfe's Piifon.
Thus were they fill'd with gloomy Doubts and*
Fears,
Till, lo, their LORD again to them appears,
And with frefh Comfort their dull Spirits
clears.
He
Sac fed t6 Pra&ical Virtue and Holinefs. 279
He made their very Senfes plain perceive
The real Truth, before they would believe :
Then they their Alafter gladly did embrace
And he their Faith did mightily encreafe.
Then lo, he fends them forth to go and teach
All Nations, and his hcly Gofpel preach.
To ev'ry human Soul beneath the Skies,
Go preach (faith he) my Gcfpel and baptizt :
Inftrufling them t' ebjerve all my Commands
Which I have here committed to your Han.h.
And e~Sry humble Soul that doth believe,
And is baptiz'd> a 'Pardon Jhall receive.
Shew this to Sinners all that can be nam'd
l fbe Weak, the Strong, the Blind, the Hah,?
the Maim'd :
Te U them the Uttbdleverjball be damn'd.
Go no-iv, ye faithful Heralds of your LORI),
jtodjpnad the triumphs cfmy powerful Word.
With Courage bold, go, and the 'Truth proclaim,
And never yield to fwful Fear or Shame.
But this know alfo, that ye foon Jhall meet,
With thofe "Mho will you mofl unkindly treat :
And as they've ufed me, fo will they you :
This you'll remember when you find it true.
They'll caft you out, and Jhamef idly revile yott,
And count they do G02> Service when they kill you
T"hefe things I've told you that you may not fear*
But patiently thefe jhort Afflictions bear 5
Nor count ieftrange ivhen by the World abhor' d ;
For the jDifdple's not above his LOR'D ;
B b z Count
DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part II.
Count it not barb tho* ye no better fpeed
tfhan I your LOR2) before you alfo did.
jlndlo, Ino unto tie Father go,
Leaving my Saints as Pilgrims here below 5
jBut yet Ilea-ce ycu net without a Friend,
Ike Confer ter to you I'll alfofexd,
Who fiall inftruft and teach you ivkat to do,
.dndfiail ivith Strength and Courage fill you too.
.And now tbo* to the Father lafcend, O
Tet h, Tm with you 'till the World flail end-> S
To le your Guardian and almighty Friend. ^>
But at Jerufalem abide yeftill>
Untill this ^Prcmife 1 to you fulfil ;
T'henjhallye be en&ifd ivith mighty Tower,
iTo arm your Souls in the dijlrejfive Hour.
Thus JESUS fpake, and took his glorious Flight
Up to the Regions of eternal Light :
Thus his 2)ifeiptes faw (with wond'ring Eyes)
Their glorious LORD afcend the lofty Skies,
Till radient Clouds receiv'd him from their Sight
Into the Realms of everlafting Light,
Myriads of holy Angels from on high,
Bure him triumphant to his native Sky,
Saying, All Glory to tby holy Name,
O glorious GOT), O glorious Jlaughter'd Lamb !
Worthy art thou, ef Might and Majefty,
Glory and Honour, tiro" Eternity !
Worthy art thou, O G02), to be ador'd,
lvitb thy Blood htf dying Men rejtor'd !
Te
Sacred to Practical Virtue and, Holinefs. 281
Te heavenly Gates, your fpacious Leaves difplay t
'To make the mighty G02>, the Saviour May :
Laden tvith glorious Spoils from Earth and Hell ',
Behold he comes ! He comes with GO'D to d-ivell.
And now before his heavenly Father's Throne,
He pleads the glorious VicVries he hath won.
Father ('the glorious Saviour humbly Cries,!
Behold rhe All-fufficient Sacrifice.
Which here 1 offer at thy gracious ^Throne*
I'hat for my c Peop!e*s Guilt I may atone.
The Father looks and with propitious Eye
He fmiles, and lays his dreadful Thunder by j
And guilty Rebels that deferv'd his Sword,
Are now become the Fav'rites of the LORD,
Juftice is fatisfied, and pleas'd to fee
The Sin condem'd, and yet the Sinner free,
Mercy is magnified, and highly pleas'd,
Revenging Wrath and Vengeance is appeased.
The Elders all around the glorious Throne
Fall down and wcrfliip Jefits Cbrijl the Son,
Afcribing Glory, Honour,. Praife and Power,
To him who dy'd, and lives forevermore,
Saying, O LORD, thotfrt worthy to receive
Far greater f Praife than ever tongues can give*
And all the heavenly Hoft (with one accord)
Afcribe Salvation unto CHRIST the LORD i
Vvith elevated Joy, and Pleasure fweet,
They caft their Crowns beneath his facred Feef->
And everlafting Praifes to his Namf %
They ev r ry one with joyful Heart proclaim j
Bb 3
282 DIVINE M isc ELL AN IE s [Part II.
And all the heav'nly Arches fweetly ring
^ ith Praife to JESUS the anointed KING.
Then /hall not dear redeemed Souls below
Afcribe Salvation to their JESUS too ?
Oh ! let your thankful Songs with Fervour rife,
And echo to the Songs above the Skies.
SECT.
The giving of the HO L T-G HO S T..
ACT. ii.
when our bleflfed LORD afcended high,.
In captive Chains he led Captivity :
On his Difciples glorious Gifts beftow'd,
To f^read the Wonders of his Power abroad.
In order firft he twelve slfcftles made,
The Glory of his Go/pel Grace to fpread.
Thefe he endu'd with Graces from on high,
"Which plainly prov'd rheir grand Authority.
Thefe did (as their dear LORD commanded.
Continue ftill at fair Jcrufalem t [them
Untill th' illuftrious Day olTexteccjl,
In order to receive the Holy-gbofi)
"Which their dear Mailer promis'J them to fend
To be their Teacher, Comforter and Friend.
Now when the Day vtVentccofi was come,
Th' Jpojlfas all were gathered in one Room,
Wafting
Satrtdto Practical Virtue *JHolinefs. 283
Waiting with Patience for the promis'd Hour
That GOD on them the Holy-ghojl would pour.
Net were they there detain'd with long Sufpenfe
Before the happy Moment did commence 5
Lo, on a Sudden round the filent Room,
A mighty rufhing Wind frem Heaven did come,
And then the Holy-ghoft upon them came,
And fat on each like cloven Tongues of Flame I
Then they began to fpeak with other Tongues
GOD'S wond'rous Works in new celeftial Songs.
Now at that Time in fair jferufalfm^
Dwelt Men of ev'ry Nation, ev'ry Name
Beneath the Circuit of the lofty Skies,
Who faw this Miracle with wond'ring Eyes;
For foon this wond'rous News was nois'd abroad,.
And thoufands ran to fee the Works of GOD.
Who (with Surprize) faw thefe illiterate Jew*
The Language of their fev'ral Countries ufe!
CJ O
Akde, 'Perjian, Lybian, ^Arabic^ and Greek,
They with furprizing Eloquence did fpeak !
And ev'ry other Language under Heaven
To them to fpeak and understand was given.
And thus they Ihew'd the wond'rous Works of
G0D,
And fpreadhis Wifdom, Power and Love abroad.
This ftruck the Multitude with ftrange Surprize,
Not knowing whence this Miracle did rife :
Bat fome vile Mockers boldly ftarted up,
And laid Jbefe Men too free have tofs d the Cup
But
* '
284 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part II.
But Peter (landing up (with the Eleven
To whom the Hdy-ghofl was newly given)
And with found Arguments and Courage bold
Did foon their wilful, mad Miftake untold ;
And from the ancient faithful Prophecies
Did fairly fet the Truth before their Eyes;
"With fuch convincing Proofs of Truth divine
As made the Gofpelfcbeme with Luftre fhine.
And prov'd that JESUS whom they'd crucify'd
"Was truly CHRIST, tho' they had him deny'd :
With many more fuch quick and powerful Words,
Which pierc'd their Hearts like fharp two-edged
Swords.
This made their waken'd Confciences to cry,
(With Fear and dread in their Extremity)
2)e/ir Men and 'Brethren ! O ~v hat pall we do
That we may 'fiape this jiift deferved Woe,
Which is 9ur T)ue ! Is there no Ifay to take
Whereby to 'Jcape the black injernal Lake.
To whom they fpake in Words of Confolation,
Tea, here's a Way you may obtain Sal-vat ion \
Repent, believe, and be baptized each one
In jESU's Name, GOZ)'s own eternal Son,
Sojbull his 'Blood for till your Guilt atom,
for lo, the graeioits 'Promife is to you
(If ye believe) and to your Children too :
Nor only unto you, but unto all
Both far and near > who e're the LORT> pall call.
And thus with Words of wholfom Exhortation
They fhewM them plain the Way of GOD'S Sal-
vation*
Not
Sacred to Praftical Virtue and Holinefs. 28$
Nor was their Preaching left without Succefs,
Their faithful Labours GOD did largely blefs:
To this Day's Work three Thoufand Souls were
. given,
Which caus'd Rejoycingboth in Earth & Heaven:
For if one new-born Soul gives Caufe of Mirth
Both to the Angels, and to Saints on Earth, *
With what Delight muft Saints and Angels fing
This glorious Conqueft of their heavenly King !
Now all who faithfully rece-iv'd the Word
Were then baptiz'd and joined to the LORD :
And in the Faith of CHRIST continu'd they
With fleadfaft Hearts from that illuftr'ous Day.
And many glorious Miracles were done
By the dpofiles of the holy One.
And all the faithful did remain together,
And freely did diftribute to each other 3
And ev'ry one, who Houfes had, or Lands,
Sold them, and gave the Money with their Hand*
Unto each other as they flood in Need :
Thus were they faithful both in Word and Deed.
And no Man any Thing his own did call,
But what each had was common to them all.
Thus chearfully did they to each impart,
And eat their Bread with Singlenefs of Heart:
And daily to GOD'S Houfe they did repair,
With one Accord, to join in Praife and Pray'r:
Likewife from Houfe to Houfe (the Scripture
fays)
They daily went to join in Pray'r, and Praife ;
* Luke xv. 7.
And
2S6 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part 11.
And to commemorate their dying LORD,
In breaking Bread, according to his Word.
The LORD was pleas'd to fee how they behav'd,
And added daily fuch as Ihould be fav'd.
And ftill new Miracles ih' Afoftles wrought,
"Which prov'd the Truth, of what they daily
taught.
SECT. VIL
The PRIMITIVE BEAUTY of
CHRISTIANITY,
Set forth in tie holy Cwdutt of the APOSTLES.
Chiefly gathered from the 3d. 4th. and 5th Chap-
ters oftbt ACTS.
Join and <Peter t at the Hour of Pray'r,
Did to the Temple zealoufly repair
To worfhip GOD in his appointed Place,
And humbly feek his kind aflifting Grace.
Now when they came up to the beauteous Gate
Lo, there a poor unhappy Mortal fate,
"Whom (out of Pity) four had carry'd there
To beg for Alms at the Time of Prayer ;
So helplefs that he could not change his Place,
But only tell the Mifs'ry of his Cafe.
Now when rhefe two dpoftles thither came,
He earnefly an Alms befought of them,
Who
Sacre & to Practical Virtue and Holiivefs. 287
when they faw and heard him begging thus,
They kindly faid, 'Poor Mortal, look on us.
Now when he heard this Soul reviving Word
He hop'd they would an Alms to him atfbrd j
And tho' his Expe&ation here was croft,
Yet he receiv'd the Alms he wanted moft :
Stiver and Gold we've none (faid they) but lo,
Such as iee have do toe on thee beftoK,
In JESWs Name of Nazareth arife,
And glorify the GO*D that built the Skies.
Then lo, immediately his Ancle 'Bones
And ev'ry Joint received Strength at once !
Then Teter ftoop'd and took him by the Hand,
And on his Feet he uprightly did ftand !
And leapt for Joy, and prais'd his Maker GOD,
While many thoufands round him wond'ring ftood
And all the Multitude were in Amaze
To fee him walk and fing his Maker^ Praife 5
For all the People knew 'twas he that fate,
And begged Alms at the Beauteous Gate.
Then all the People ran (with ftrange Surprize)
And on thefe two Apoftles fix'd their Eyes,
Wond'ring what Sort of Men, or Angels more,
That could this helplefs Criple thus reftore !
But c Peter anfwer'd them, Why ga-ze ye thus,
And iv by lookyefo farneftly on us,
As if by our own Holt fiefs or 'Power
We did this Impotent to Strength reflore ?
Te Men c/lfrael, be it known to you ,
( rt)e 'Praife and Glory is your JM^r's due j
288 Di v i NE Mi sc E L L A NI ES, [Part 11.
And not to its Is this to be imputed,
Let Jgfioranre forever be confuted,
The GO*D efyour Forefathers hath this %)ay
Thus glorify' 'd bis Son, wbom ye did fay
Was an Jmpoftor ; and bis Name deny*d,
Whom by your Orders Pilate crucify* d,
When be would willingly have let bim go,
'But ye malicioujly replied NO /
-And in hisftead a cruel Murd'rer chus*d,
While faljly ye tbe Prince cf Life ac.cufd.
Now t bis fame JESUS ivbom ye thus dcny*d,
And obftinately had him crucify* d,
The LOR'D hath raifed up to his Right-hand,
And bath put all ttings under bis Command 5
And we, ttro* Faith in his moft holy Name,
Have wrought this Miracle upon the Lame :
Yea, by tke Faith of JESUS CHRIST alone,
T'his Man flands found before you ev'ry One.
Sut now, my Brethren, this we alfo know
Ik at ye thro* Ignorance this Faff did do 5
As were your Rulers alfo all combin*d
A&ainft the LORD, thro* J^oravce of Mind.
Sutbe it known to you, tbe LORD of old
Hath by his faithful Tropbets this foretold,
That CHRIST fowldfuffer thus, and be defpis*d t
And for Man*?, Guilt be jbouH befacri/ir*d.
Now have you fe en thefe 'Prophecies fulfird,
Wben JESU'S Shod upon the Crofs wasfpil*d.
Repent ye therefore , and on him believe,
So pall tbe LORD (thro* him) your Sins forgive:
And
Sacred to Practical Virtue tfw^Holinefs. 289
And ye flail have afiveet fefrejlring Word
Of 'Pardon from the <Pre fence of the LORD,
When he jfj all fend this JESUS CHRIST his Son
Whom all the Prophets preached to you each One,
And whom the Heavens retain ''till the lafl jDay $
T'hen jhall he come in glorious bright Array
To judge the Qidck and %Jead, as was foretold,
By all hisfaithj-ul ATeJJ'engers of old :
For Mofes truly to the Fathers faid,
A Prophet Jhall the LOR<D raife in my Stead,
Of your own Brethren : Him jhall ye obey
In allT'kings whatfoever he foallfay.
And it Jhall ccme to pafs that whojoe'er
Will not this great and holyfProphet hear y
He jhall be then cut of, e'vnfrom the Ground,
And endlefs Cttrfes Jhall his Soul confound.
'this is that 'Prophet, whom ice preach to you,
Whom ye condem d, and Pontius Pilate flew.
And ever fince good Samuel of old,
'the Prophets all have of thefe ^Days foretold.
O then, ye Sons of faithful Abra'm's Race,
Come now and feek your heavenly Father's Grace
Te are the Children of the Prophets Good,
And of the Covenant, noivfeal'd with Blood :
Jleirs of the 'Promife unto Abra'm^fy^,
c l"hat in his Seed all Nations under Heaven
Should be (thro* Faith) with facet Salvation
bleft,
And of immortal Happinefs poffejl.
No-iv, firft to you, GOD hath this Offer made,
Since he hath raised up jEsvsfrom the Z)ead t
Cc &
D I V I N E MlSC EL L ANI ES, [Part II.
'70 bhfsyoufirfti in turning you away
From all your black Iniquities this Tlay.
Thus did they faithfully the People warn,
T'xhorting them to mind their great Concern.
Thus they improv'd all Opportunities,
Still to inftruft, and make the Simple Wife.
.All Self-Applaufe they perfeftly difclaim'd j
And at tbeir Matter's Glory only Aim'd,
%Yith large SuccvifsGoD made their Labours meet
V^ hich made their Work ftill moft divinely fweet.
But as CHRIST'S Kingdom daily did increafe,
Span's black Empire thenmuft needs grow k-fs:
Thisrnov'd his Jealoufly, and furious Spite
To raife an Army for his Caufe to fight,
Then lo, he fends forth his obedient Tribes,
'Prieft, 'Pharifees, the Sa(tducets t and Scribes.
(But why fhould wife Men be furpriz'd at this,
Where e'er CHRIST'S preach'd the Serpent Ke
will hifs
Thefe all perceiv'd their Credit foon muft fail
If thus CHRIST'S Int'reft daily did prevail:
For this they knew, it could not be deny'd
They were the Men that had him crucify 'd.
Now envy burn'd like Fire within their Breaft,
.And their impetuous Spirits could not reft,
To fee thefe mighty Preachers, who fo bold
The Doctrines of CHRIST JESUS did unfold
Before the People, who attentive heard
Their holy Doftrine with fo much regard.
So
Sacred to Pra&ical Virtue anil Holinefs. 291
So into Prifon haftily they lay 'em 5
(Having the Will, but not the Power to flay 'em)
And there confin'd them fail 'till the next Day,
Hoping their Courage they /hould now difmay>
With dreadful Threats if they fliould more pre-
fiime
To preach in JESU'S Name fortim^ to come.
Thus they confulted on 'till the next Bay,
Then brought the Prif'ners forth without Delay,
Before the High Prieft, and his haughty Train
Of 'Priefts and Scribe s, and fuch great learned Men*
And all the num'rous Croud that gazM around
They thought their Courage they fliould now
confound.
Now he on whom the Cure was wrought likewifa
Stood here before the whole Affembly's Eyes.
Then lo,thefe haughty Dons ("with cloudy Brow)
Begin t' examine thefe Apoftles now.
By iv hat Authority, cr by what Name,
Have ye reftor'd this Man ye fay was lame ?
Then 'Peter (filled with the holy Ghofl)
His numerous Hearers boldly did accoft,
Te mighty Rulers cf good Jacob's Trilcs^
Ye Reverend 'Priejls^ and all ye learned Scribe 5-,
If thus ice are examined here this tDtfy
By what Authority and in what Way
We have this Cripple to full Strength reftor'cl,
ll r e here declare to you before the Lo RD
Of Heaven and Earth, and all created things,
LORD cf LORDS, and fov^rdgn King of
Kings ,
C c 2 In
292 Di VINE MISCE LLANI ES, [Part II.
In JESU'S Name of Nazareth alone,
*Ihe true Meifiah, GOD'S eternal Son,
Whom ye with cruel Hands did crucify,
Tet hath the LORD exalted him on higb
dbove allToiv'r, and all Authority.
Noiv, by the To-iver of JESUS CHRIST alone
'I'his Man ftands found before you ev'ry one :
This is the Stone, you Builders, did defpife,
Which feem*dfe defpi cable in your Eyes :
'fkis GOD hath chofe to build his Church upon 5
'fbe ftrong Foundation and head corner Stone*
Nor is there any other Name befile
Whereby a, Sinner can be juftify^d,
'SavejEsvs CHRIST, tie great 'Propitiation,
In him alone flail Men obtain Salvation.
Now when the Rulers faw thefe Men fo bold
The Do&rines of the Scriptures thus unfold,
They were furpriz'd and ftruck with Wonder then
Uecaufe they knew thefe were unlearned Men!
But they perceiv'd they had with JESUS been,
For that was in their holy Conduit feen.
But what did moft thefe Rulers Hearts confound*
There flood the Criple cur'd, both fafe and found!
This ftop'd their Mouths 3 they knew not what
to fay,
'Till John and Peter they had fent away ;
Then lo, a private Conferance they hold
How to prevent tkefe holy Men fo bold :
And being all aflembl'd there together,
They then began to fay to one another,
Wat
Sstcred to Praflical Virtue fini Holinefs. 293
What ft all we do 9 , thefe Men appear fo bold,
What can be done that they theirTeare may hold ?
For that a glorious Miracle (to ev'ry Eye)
Is done by them : 'This ive cannot deny !
Btff that it may abroad no farther fpread,
%y a-ivful T'hreatnings ive^ll excitt their jDreadi
f Jhat they may dare prtfume to teach no more
Jn JESU'S Name, as they have done before.
Then lo, they call'd thefe two Apoftles in,
And then to charge and threaten they begin ;
That if they any more fhould dare prefums
To teach in JESU'S Name for Time to come,
"What dreadful Puni/hments they'd on them lay,,
Thus having done they bid them go their Way.
But the Apoftles anfwer'd boldly then,
117. ether 'tis right t" obey rle LORD, or Men*
Judge ye j ar.d let your Cv'ifciences decile,
For ive thffe facred Truths can xever bide,
Which cev have fcen and beard, and are com"
manded
Tofpcak, the' fill the WorU jhould fill ivit^anA'
it.
Now v^'hers thefe Rulers faund 'twas all in vain,
They nofrife could thefe holy Men retrain ;
Nor finding what they more to them could do.
They farther threatenM them, and let them go :
Fortho' tlu-ir Hearts were full of Difcontcnt, .
They knew not how their vicious Rage to venr ,
For all the People fpake the P/aife of GOD,
>Mro ha<l hisOoodnefs thus d-ispens'd abroad!
C c 3 So >
294 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Partll.
So they did fear the People would them flone,
If they let not thefe holy Men alone.
Ev'n Life itfelf (faid they) in ^Danger /lauds
Jf-'ve on themprefume to lay cur Hands.
Thus Cowardice the Tyrants Hands did bind
That they could not fulfil their cruel Mind 3
But not without GOD'S over-ruling Pow'r,
"Which makes the raging Ocean ceafe to roar :
Satan and all his Agents flrive in vain
To fir etch an Inch the Limits of their Chain T
For Man and Devils, all are at his Beck ;
He flays their Forces with an humbling Check.
"Without his Ordeis, nothing can befall,
For lo, his Kingdom ruleth over all ! *
Ard tho' fome Things feem dark to human Rea-
fon.
All /hall /hine bright in their appointed Seafon.
And ev'ry Thing (however feeming hard)
Shall bring forth Good to them that fear the
LORD.
Peace then, ye Saints, who now in Darknefs
mourn,
GOD'S loving Kindnefs fhortly will return.
But let us now apply our Thoughts again
To trace the Conduit of thefe holy Men.
Now they are refcu'd from the bloody Foe,
To their own Company behold they go,
"With joyful Hearts thefe wond'rous Things to
fpread,
\\hich alfo made their Brethren's Spirits glad.
Pfal. ciii, jy.
Then
to Praflical Virtue and Holinefs.
Then lo, they nil began with one accord
To blefs and Praife, and magnify the LORD 5
"With facred Raptures in that very Place
They thus addreft his holy Throne of Grace,
Great GOD, thou Make r both cf Heaven anit
Earth,
Wbo with a Word gave ev'ry 'Thing its 'Birth !
Ev'n Nothing beard t by great refiftlcfs Word,
And Ml produced at tby Command, LORD /
Thou fcv'reign art o'er Heav'n and Earth
Seas,
T'by Tr evidence fulfils tby great ^Decrees,
Who by the Mouth of holy David faid,
Why did the Jews and Gentiles join their
Kings and Trincei cf the Earth combine
the LORD j a&aifi his CHRIST they
join ?
For cf a, Truth, againft thy holy One>
Ev*n JESUS CHRIST, thy dear beloved Son,
Whom thoit baftfet upon thy hcav'nly Throne,
And hath put all things underneath his Feet
jlnd made his Foes unwillingly fubmit.
Herod and, Pontius Pilate, with the Jews,
Jlnd Gentiles too, coxfpir'd thy Son to bruife,
'But iv bat hath all their Spite and Malice doi;$
T^JESUS CHRIST, thy great coequal Son,
Sut what was written in thy great ^Decree,
Jnd foreordained eternally by Thee ?
396 D i v i K E MISCELLANIES, [Part- II.
And, now beheld their dreadful
LORD,
And Strength ant Courage tmto us
?kat r xe with Beldnefs Jlill may fpeak thy
Word.
And grant that Signs and Wonders may be Hone
By j, t bro* Faith in thy beloved Son :
lhat all may fee, and own thy 'Portr divine 5
And be the fcw'r end Glcry ever thine ,
As iias, an} is, aid jbc.ll forever be t
Thro* all the Ages cf Eternity.
Now whn they'd fini/h'd this their humble
Pray'r,
The Place was fhaken where they gather 'd were
In Token of GOD'S gracious Approbation,
Atid peaceful Anfwer to their Supplication.
Nor was their Suit detain'd with long fufpenfe,
For prefently (ere they remov'd from thence)
They had the Anfwer of their faithful Pray'r,
They with the Holy-ghoft all filled were!
And they GOD'S Word declar'd with Courage.
bold j
And did his -Myft'ries skilfully unfold :
And all the faithful Multitude were join'd
In Bonds of Love, and of one Heart and Mind.
And no Man counted ought he had his own,
But all was common 'rtiongft them ev'ry Onet
And with great Pow'r th* Apoftles witrefled-
That JESUS CHRIST was rifen from the Dead.
And Multitudes of Convert? ev'iy Day
Sold their Pofleffions, and the Price did lay
At
Sacred to Pra&ical Virtue and Holinefs 297
At the Apoftles Feet, with chearful Heart,
And they the fame did faithfully impart
To ev'ry one according to their Need,
To clothe the naked and the hungry feed.
But one nam'd Anania3 > with his Wife,
Did fooli/hly forfake the Path of Life,
And having harken'd to the Tempter's Breath,
They thereby found the ready Road to Death.
He having a Pofieffion alfo fold
The fame, and Part did of the Price withnld,
And brought the Reft to the Apoftles Feet,
Affirmir.g that it was the Sum complete.
But, ah, how foon the Fal/hood was found out T
"Which his Deftruftion quickly brought about ;
When *Pefer looking earneftly upon,
Said, Ananias, Ah! what haft thou done ?
* Why haft thou fuffer'd Satan thus to fill
4 Thy Heart with Falfhood, thy own Blood to
fpill ?
' For lo, thou haft not only ly'd to Man,
* But unto GOD, whofe piercing Eye doth fcan,
* The deepeft Secrets of Men's Hearts within,
* Before their Lips can utter what they mean!
* Now thou haft kept (by Falfhood and Deceit)
* Part of the Price: Ah ! fooli/h Hypocrite !
* Before 'twas fold, thou know 'ft it was thy own,
* -And when 'twas fold, 'twas at thy Will alone
* To ufe the Money as thou faweft fit,
* Without contriving this deceitful Cheat.
. A free-will Offering only, GOD refpecls,
* But all Deceit he utterly rejecls.
Why
295 DIVINE MISCELLANIES [Part II.
* Why haft thou then contriv'd this wicked Lie
* Thus to provoke his dreadful Majefty."
When this he heard, his Spirits then were loft,
He ftraightfell clown and yielded up the Ghoft!
And all the Church the awful News did hear,
And ev'ry Breaft was fill'd with holy Fear.
Then the young- Men arofe, and ftrait away
Did Manias to his Grave convey.
But little did his Wife Sapbira know
Of what had happen'd to her Husband ; fo
In three Hours Time, lo, fhe likewife came In,
Then did th' Apoftles thus with her begin,
* Did ye for fo much Money fell your Land
* As we received at thy Husband's Hand ?'
* Yea for fo much (faid /he) and for no more,
* As Ananias alf ) faid before.'
But Peter anfwer'd, { How is it that ye
4 Did in your Hearts thus wickedly agree?
* Ye have confulted both with one Accord
* To tempt and grieve the Spirit of the LORD !
* Audacious Wretch ! behold thy Husband's dead,
' And with him thou fhalt fpeedily be laid 3
* For lo, the Feet of them are at the Door
* That have thy Husband bury'd : Yea and more
* They fliall rhee alfo carry forth likewife,
4 And bury thee where thy own Husband lies.'
When this flie heard, fhe prefently did fall,
And yielded up the Ghoft before them all.
Then the young Men ftraight carry-'d her away,
And bury'd her where Ananias lay.
And
Sacred to Practical Virtue and Hoiinefs. 299
And great Fear came on all who heard or view'd
How Goo'sjuft Vengeance Hypocrites purfu'd.
And this is jfo left upon Record,
That we may fear the juftice of the LORD.
And thus he purged them from all Deceit j
Amongft them was not found an Hypocrite 5
For Hypocrites durft not amongft them join,
Becaufe GOD'S Judgments did with Terror fhine.
And glorious Miracles th' Apoftles wrought,
And Multitudes of Impotents were brought
To them, all round about Jerufalem^
And all were healed, whether fick or lame.
And evil Spirits out of Men were caft,
Ev'n by their Shadows as the Streets they pad.
And many to the Streets in Beds were brought,
"Who only for their happy Shadows Sought ;
And all who underneath their Shadow came,
Were firmly healed, whether fick or lame.
And ev'ry Day did many Converts bring.
Ev'n faithful Subjects unto CHRIST their King.
But Oh ! how this did grieve Abandon's Heart
To fee his Captives daily him defert !
Then like a Lyen he began to roar,
And rouzs his Agents as he did before ;
Ev'n the high Trie]}, with all his chofen Tribes,
The Sadduces, the 'Pbavafees and Scribes.
Thefe all obedient at his vicious Call,
Uponth' Apoftles like Blood-Hounds did fall,
And into Prifon ftraight did them convey,
Thinking they'd fafely now fecur'd their Prey.
But,
3 00 D I V I N E M I S C E L L ANTES, [Part II.
But, ah, how vain was this their black Dfcfign,
To try CHRIST'S faithful Servants to confine /
If he permit not, they as well might try
To overthrow his glorious Throne on high !
Behold he fent his Angel down that Night,
And brought his faithful Servants forth to Light,
And bid them go and in ths Temple ftand,
And boldly teach as C H R IST did them command J
"With chearful Hearts they did his Word obey,
And to the Temple ftraight did bend their Way,
And eaily in the Morning thither came,
And taught the People without Fear or Shame !
Undaunted they the Gofpel did unfold,
And well apply'd the Prophecies of old.
But the high Trieft (not knowing what was
And all the Senate with him every One, [done)
Confulting clofe what Method they muft rake
To caufe thefe Men this Doftrine to for fake.
Now when each one his Vetdicl here had fpent,
They Officers unto the Prifon fenr,
To bring thefe Men before them once again,
To try to make them leave this Gofpel Strain.
But lo, when to the Prifon Gates they came
They found a Blank^nd fo return'd with Shame :
Sad News they had to tell the Senate then,
That in the Prifon there were no fuch Men !
T'he 'PrifonGatesand'Docrs (faid they) we found
Ml fafely jhut, and all tie Guards around -,
Sut lo, the *Pr 'is' 'tiers they are fled and gone .'
Within the Trifov tbsre remains not One.
This
Sacred to Practical Virtue /TflrfHolincfs 3-1
This flruck the Senate all with fad Surpriz?,
And wh^t to do they could not then derife \
In raad Confuiion all their Thoughts were now,
Fearing Come flrange Event might next enfuc:
While in the Midft of all their Confternition,
Lo, one comes in and brings them this Relation,
Behold tbe Men, whom ye laidfafl in Hold,
Are in the temple teaching very bold!
When this they heard no one can well devife
How they were flruck with Terror and Surprize !
Then flraight the Captain of the Temple went
To bring th' Apoftles by their own Confenf,
And not by Violence, for well he knew
W 7 hat Danger then he muft himfelf go through 3
As ajfo did the Reft of thefe great 'Dons
Expel to meet a ratling Shower of Stones :
Therefore they wifely did their Paffion keep,
And thought it beft in a whole Skin to fleep.
Now when th' Apoftlcs were before them bro'r
The Hi&h- f Priefi ask'd them, faying, 'Did we net
Straitly command and charge you heretofore*
70 teach in this fame Jefu's Name no more 7 .
But now this City's with your 'Doftrine fi'fd,
And ye would make believe that ive have fpilfd
The 'Blood df that lafe Fello-iv wrongfully, ^
Whom Ponrius Pilate /^/r/y doomed to die
For T'reafon, and for horr'd Blafphemy. 5 ,
Te mean to raife afreJJj Rebellion then
That ye do not this 1)oRrine yet rejrain $
Seeing we ftraitly charged you before
That ye fiould mention this fame Name vo more r
1) d
302 D x v i K E MISCELLANIES [Part II.
With Courage bold th' Apofiles anfwer'd thea,
ll'e owe Obedience more to GOD than Men :
Therefore ive will tl:e LORD our GOD o&ey,
Nor fear what Men can either do cr fct\.
The G0D of Abra'm, and cf all his Race,
Who do like him the 'Paths of Virtue trace*
Hath rais'd up JESUS CHRIST his Son, 'jcbcmyt
Have c.ruc.'fy d and hanged on a Tree,
And hath exalted him on high to ft and [hand ">
A PRINCE and SAVIOUR at his own Right- >
And hath put all things under hi s Command : ^
That he to Ifrael may Repentance give,
And ^Pardon that the ^Penitent may live.
And it'e (his Witneffes) here , ell if y
That JESUS CHRIST afc ended is on high :
tfor is our Herd A vain or empty Boajt,
So alfo tejlijies the HOLT-GHOST, {_Heatfn\
Which GOD (the fo'S reign LORD of Earth and
Hath freely to his faithful Servants giv'n. [preft,
Mow when th' Afojllfs had thefe Words ex-
The Rulers Hearts were grievouily pofleft
With Rage and Fury, mad and cruel Spite ;
Then they confult to flay thefe Men outright }
Sutftay (faid wife Gamaliel)jtay and hear
The Words 1 have to drop into your Ear t
<Put forth thefe Men (faid he) a little Space
*Till I my Coutifcl give about tfiis Cafe.
This being done he then proceeds to tell
"What Judgments had on paft Iropoftors fell,
And
Sacrtd to Practical Virtue ar.d Holinefs. 333
And thence concludes that fuch would fall on
thefe
If they were fuch, Juftice would on them feize :
For if this 'Dottrine be of Men ffaid he)
*ivi& come to Nothing lue Jhall quir.kiy fee :
'But if it be of GOD, 'tis plain you fuioiv
That H6fif can bis grand 'Purpofes overthrow.
Men oft do that in hafte their Rage to vfnr y
Which after-ward they bitterly repent ',
therefore do nothing rajb thro* Rage cr Spite*
Left ye he found againfi the LORD to fight.
Then to his Words they all gave their Confenf,
To flay and fee what would be ths Event.
Then the Apofiles they weie call'd again,
And that they might forfake this Go/pel Strain
They beat them fore, and then they let them go,
Not knawing what th^y more to them could do :
For this they knew ('tho* much incens'd with
Wrath)
They had no Pow'r then to put Men to Death : *
Therefore they only charg'd them fas before)
That they Ihould teach in JESU'S Name no more.
But all their Threats and Charges were in vain,
Nothing could fright them from the Gofpel Strain.
Now the jlpoflles being let depart, [Heart
They prais'd the LORD with thankfulnefs of
That they were counted worthy to partake
Shame and Reproach for their dear MASTER'S
Sake.
* Note> It was not in the Power of the Jt'ws at that Time to put
any Man to Death by Law, for they were then under the Roman (M-
T eminent. See Dr, Watts'* Scripture Hiftory, gage 30$.
D d 2 And
504 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part H.
And faithfully they did their Talents ufe,
Both in the Temple and from Houfe to -Houfe :
f
And without Fear they preached Cfoift the Lord*
"While thoufands daily did receive the Word.
Amazing Gifts the LORD on them beftow'd, ~
And fpread the Trophies of his Grace abroad* (^
\\hich made the \\orld confefs the Pow'r of ^
GOD. ^
'Twas plain that nought but fov'reign Grace di-
vine
Made mean unlearned Men fo glorious fhine.
Surprizing Miracles by them were done,
And glorious Victories the Gsfpel won.
SECT. VIII.
rimitive Seauty cfC H R
farther Jet forth in tke glorious Order of the
'Gcfpd JUJHISfRT. . t ,
JI U S the ^fofrles firft in order came,
The glorious Gofpel Tidings to proclaim 5
Endu'd with Gifts that Cbrty on them beftow'd,
Vt'hich prov'd their grand Commiffion was from
GOD.
Kor were thefe Gifts and Miracles alone
Afforded Men to build their Faith upon;
ttut by the Law and antient Prophecies,
Th.y prov'd the Truth of what they faid like-
wife,
Knowing-
Sacred to Pradical Virtue tfw/Holinefs. 305
Knowing" the Law prefigur'd but the Things
"Which CHRIST (the Subftanct) by the Gofpel
brings.
The antient Prophecies obfcurely told, "^
By all GOD'S faithful Meflengers of old, S.
They by the Gofpel plainly did unfold . ^
And thus they prov'd their DoSrine was divine.
And made the Truth with faireft Luftre flune.
Then JESUS next Evangel ifts did fend,
"Who faithfully his holy Gofpel pen'd.
And 'Prcpbcts too in order to declare
His Will to all, who ready were to hear.
Thefe all infpir'd with Wifdom from on high,.
That Men might fafely on their Word rely.
And la (I of all (with equal good intent)
Rafters and Teachers thither too he fent :
Thefe to continue till the World fhall end,
And to inftruft from what the former pen'd:
0ver the Cbriftian Churches to prefide,
And in the Scripture Paths the Saints to guide,,
And edify the Body cf th'.ir LORD
From thefe rich Treafures of his holy Word j
'Till all the Saints are fitted and prepatM
To dwell forever with their H^ad and LORD .-.
And thus to leave all Men without Excufe
\\ho will not of thefe precious Means make ufe..
Now at jfernfalem they firft begun,
But thrs' the \Yorld the joyful Sound muff run v
DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [ Part II.
And ev'ry one who truly doth believe,
Repent, and is baptized, /hall receive
A Pardon free j yea, all that can be nam'd,
Butlo, he that believes not /hall be damn'd !
Thusdid the ZcW(by Wifdom Lov-e and Pow'r)
Contiive a Way poor Sinners to reftore,
On eafier Terms than by the fiery Law,
That Penitents might hence true Comfort draw j.
Tor in tjie Law there's not one Promife nam'd,
But ev'ry one who finneth muft be damn'd ! *
But in the Gofpel, 'tis declar'd w-e fe-e,
Refent, Mieve, andfavedttioujbalt be ! f
O/ Sinners, then, awake, make Hafte- and fiy !'
Behold your Danger and your Remedy /
3,ct net Preemption /hut your floggi/fa Eyes,
Nor fu&r dull defparing Thoughts to rife.
Eeiieye in C/-At}?, the glorkm flaughter'd Lamb,
B:s Blood will fcreen you from eternal Elame /
True Faith will mate Goo's-tender Bowels move.-
Aad turn his \Vrath to kind forgiving Love.'
But here perhaps fome trembling \Vr c rchmay fay,
/ t-cwjball J this Cuwftl gcvdobey-?
Which vxy (bull J obtain this-'Fahh divine
Ik&t -would n:ake Chrift, tke dear Redeemer mine ? '
For of my fe If lean no more believe
7han tofulf.l the LA<&\ etfn> Do and live.
To this 1 anfwer, True, You can't believe,
Unlefs of GOD you do the Pow'r receive :
But if you would this precious Grace obtain.
To reconcile you unto GOD again 5
* GL iii* 10. t Ads ii, ^7, Xbi
Sacred to Praftical Virtue *0fcJ Holinefs. 307
This precious Faith that makes his Bowels move
And turns his flaming Wrath to pard'ning Love.
This comes by hearing of the Go/pel Sound,
"Which doth with joyful Tidings rich abound/
Then diligent attend the facred Place,,
"Where GOD difplays the Riches of his Grace ;
And humbly beg- his holy Spirit's- Aid
To guide you in his holy Paths to tread.
This is the Way this precious Grace t' obtain :.
Kone ever fought aright, and fought in vain,
Then be not flothful to obtain this Grace,
Kor doubtful that ye fliall have no Succefs.
But fome perhaps may. here enquire again,
How flail iv e know if we true faith obtain?
Is there no proper Mark whereby to kno-iv
Whether it be trite, favixg Faitb t . or no- ?
To this 1 anfwer, Yea, the good Effeft
Is the befl Mark that I can here, direct.
Faith is the Mother of each other Gj-ace
That /hines fo bright in each true ChrifUan'sFaco.
For lo, it purifies the Heart within,
And makes the Soul to fland in awe to fin..
It.alfo works by true and filial Love,
And makes the Wheels of Duty fweetly move*.
It makes Devotion a moft fweet Delight,
And the moft heavy Burden feel but Jighf.
It makes ev'n tim'rous Souls with Patience beaf-
The fharpeft Sufferings that they meet with here 5 ,
Becaufe by it they fee the bright Reward
That is for. them in Hsav'n abqve prepar'd.
Sweetly
308 DIVINE MISCELLANIES Part II.
Sweetly it triumphs over earthly Things,
Nor heeds the "Worlds fair Smiles, nor dreads its
It is unto the Soul both Eye and Ear, [Stings.
And brings the fartheft diftant objefts near.
By thefe few Marks you now may plainly know
\Vhetheryou have this Grace obtained or no.
If you have none of thefe, great is your Danger,
For faving Faith is yet to you a Granger /
And without this (you'll find it in GOD'S Word)
That it's impoflible to pleafe the LORD, f
Tet if you find in you but feme of thefe
You may have Hope ; but do not reft at cafe,
But ftill purfue with earneft keen Defire
Untill you do thefe Marks in full acquire.
This is the Way true Comfort here to finc? v
And eafe the Burdens of your rroubl'd Mind.
This is the Way t' obtain eternal Reft,
And after Death to be forever bleft. [fhine
'Twas this that made the firft brave Chriftians-
\Yith ev'ry Virtue and with Grace divine/
Patient in SufPrings, rend'ring Good for 111,
In fweet Obedience to their Mafter's Will.
Great wastheirZeal for GOD, and in them fliin\l>
Love, Truth and Honefty to all Mankind.
They in the World like glorious Stars did iliinc,
And fairly prov'd the Ghriftian Faith divine.
Such were at firft th' Effects of Chriftian Faith,
And fuch they're ftill where it the Maft'ry hath*.
u &t
SECT*
Sacred to Praftkal Virtue *</ Holinefs. 209
SECT IX.
Objections againft Cbrifliamty anfwer'd.
OBJECTION' I.
"RUT frfidcls may now objeft ami fay,
Where is this Chriftian-Faith all fled away t
Of which you boaft it didfo glorious Jhine,
j4nd fairly provd itfelf to be 'divine?
In whatftrange Country doth it now rfftie ?
Why doth it new itfelf fo f-lojly hide ?
l Tho many bear ('tis true') the Chtiftian-Name,
They don't appear to us to be the fame
Which you defcribe, but are as oppofite
jTo that bright Character as Slack anl White*
Ton fay they did with moral Virtues pine
j4midft the World y 'who had this Faith divine,
But furely wvo this taith is fled and gone,
In -~vkich your Anceftors jb fairly Jbone>
If this be true, which boldly you ajfert,
'That this bright Character was their 2>efert.
'But who fo weak fuch Fables to believe ?
Tqur A&ions prove what we of you conceive.
U'here is your Love and Friend-Jbip to each other.,
When eVry one would cheat his very Brother ?
Where is your T'ruth and Jufiice to be found \
When Faljbood and Opprejjion do abound ?
Ye b&aft of Love ev'n to your Enemies >
But, ak y for Jb time forbear fiich fiat t* ring Lie,s!
Talk not of Lcve at fuch a lavijh Rate
While yt do ev'n \curfellow Chriftians batt.:
Nay
310 Dl V I NE Ml SCEL L A SI E S, [Part II.
Nay, per/ecu tt and kill eacb other too
For the fame Faith which yeyourfelves avoiv.
Is this your Chriftian-Love of which you freajl,
It was diffnfel by the Holy-Ghoft ?
Js this your Faith which brings Morality ?
vain 'Pretence ! y tts all a, wicked Lie.
Can that Religion ever be divine [line
doth with Hell t and its black Fiends com-
> grofs ^Deceit ! what can be more abfurd ?
And what Religion more to be abhor d ?
It was at firft by Fijber-Men begun,
That followed Chrift a poor Mechanick's Son j
And Fi(bingftill is their delightful Craft :
Ihey/pread their Nets to catch a golden 1)r aught*
They alfo make the Chriftian-Faith a 'Bait
3o cat&b their 'Prey by Flattery and ^Deceit j
For lo y their lordly Priefts appear like Kings,
I'heir fpacietts Craft fttch large Revenue brings.
Are thefe your holy Teachers? Ah 'forjbame
Let's, fjgver more hear of the odious Name !
Our wije Philosophers far brighter Jhine,
And give much better Proofs of Trutb divine :
More Selfdenial t and more fervent Tains,
Without dtfiring fucb unlawful Gains.
Ah I they have nofuch Avarice in -r/V-70
As thefe your crafty Chriftian PticStuptr/Sel
Tea, they demonftrate that the Truth's divine*
While they with glorious moral Virtues foine.
Then boaft no more of Chrftianity,
While your own Affions give your Words the Lit.
A N S.
Stcred to PraSical Virtue and Holinefs. 311
ANSWER.
But flop, ye Infidels ; be not fo bold,
While ye oar Chriftian Character unfold :
Shoot not your Bolts promifcuoufly at all,
Who by the Name of Chriftians you may call 5
For tho' amongft us Numbers do abound <^K
In whom nor Faith nor moral Virtue's found ;
Yea, tho' thefe be the greateft Number far,
They are not Chriftians, but vile Mockers are :
For to Chrift's Righteoufnefs they have no claim,
Tho' they are called by his holy Name :
Thefe at the great and awful Judgment Day,
Like Chaff before the Wind will flee away !
But thofe who are true Chriftians indeed,
And do according to CHRIST'.I Rules proceed ;
Thefe are the Chriftians that fhall be renown'd,
And with immortal Joy and Glory crown'd !
Thefe have a Witnefs in their Hearts more clear
Than can in all the World befides appear.
This doth fuch fweet celeftial Joys create,
No Heart can think, nor mortal Tongue relate,
To fuch CHRIST gives a white celeftial Stone,
With a new Name engrav'd by him thereon,
Which none can read, fave they to whom 'tis
given :
Thefe are the chofen faithful Heirs of Heaven/
And they are fure their Faith is not in vain,
Becaufe their Souls are truly born again.
A fupernat'ral Change is wrought within,
Which makes them hate the very Thoughts of Sin
A
5 1 2 DIVINE MISCELLANIES. [Part II
A glorious Profpeft is before their Eyes,
And they do run for an immortal Prize !
There's no allowed Guile that fuch live in :
Their .Souls new moulded (land averfe to Sin.
Andtho' fome Failings in the beft are found
(While their abode is on this earthly Ground)
Yet yield they not to fin habitually,
Butilill purfue the Paths of Purity,
"With all their Powers and That continually.
"When Faith hath fixt their Eyes on Things divine
All vain Delights they freely can refign,
And count the faireft Things that grow belo w,
All, empty Trifles, full of Grief and Woe !
When they behold the bright immortal Prize,
Laid up. for them with CHRIST above the Skies;
All Worldly Threats, and Smiles to them appear
Alike unworthy of their Love or Fear /
Thefe are the Chriftians who deferve the Name,
The faithful Followers of the holy Lamb.
But this to you a Myft'ry may remain,
This wond'rous Change of being born again.
'Tis true indeed 'tis ilrange to carnal Senfej
The beft Expounder is Experience.
Tea, many here who bear the Chriftian Name
(Tho' this with Grief I fpeak unto their Shame)
\Vho know as little of this Change as you.
( O that the Number of them were but few ! )
But here that this may yet appear more plain,
That all true Chriftiaus muft be born again,
Take this Aiort Hint and then it will appear
That this is Truth I have aCferted here.
Man
Sacrtd to Practical Virtue and Holinefs. 5,5
Man is by Nature prone to all that's ill ;
By Grace a Change is wrought upon his Will :
Yea, the whole Soul, with all its Faculties
( Ere it be lit for Heaven's eternal Joys )
Muft be renew'd, by Influence divine,
And o'er the whole the Pow'r of Grace mufl
This is no Ficlion but a certain Thing, [reign.
Of which true Faith full Evidence will brin:
O
And this alone is that myfterious Change,
Which feems to you fo very odd and ftrange.
And what tho' JESUS CHRIST liv'd her* un-
Accounted but a mean Mechanics Son: [know:..
So much the brighter /hall his Glory fhine,
And give the fairer Proof of Truth divine ;
As will appear with plaineft Demonftration,
If you will calmly hear this /hort Relation.
Man having broke his great Creator's Law,
Which on his Head did Condemnation draw :
Yea, he and all his future rifing Race,
Were thus condemned to that dreadful Place,
Where GOD'S juft Fury burns with quenchlefs
There mufl: they feel his everlafting Ire: [Fire,
For 2)eatb, not temp'ral, but eternal too
Was juftly now become the Rebel's Due $
Except a Saviour of infinite Pow'r
Would undertake the Wretches to reftore j
But lo, the Ranfom mufl be infinite,
For GOD 's ftrift Juftice won't abate one Mite.
Now none could execute this grand Defign,
But he muft be both Human and Divine j
E e For
314 D i v i N E MISCELLANIES [Part II.
For GOD alone could never die or fuffer,
Nor Man alone a perfect Ranfom olfer :
Yet GOD had promfs'd that it Jhould be done
By fuch an One, ev'n his eternal Son :
And that this was the Perfon, it appears
By Prophecies of near four thoufand Years.
His Birth, his Life, his Death and RefurrecUon,
The 'Prophets all foretold in full Perfection.
Befides the FATHER'S glorious Proclamation
At his Baptizing, and Transfiguration.
And whattho' he liv'd here on Earth unknown,
All Nature did his glorious God-Head own :
The Seas like folid Ground beneath his Feet
Did freely tc his fov'reign Pow'r fubmit.
The Fifhes too came f wift at his Command
To 'Peter's Hook, with Tribute to his Hand;
The f wetting Waves, obedient at his Word, [Lord.
Grew calm, and ownM him for their fov'reign
Yea, ev'ry Thing his pow'rful Word obey'd,
And own'd 'twas he the whole Creation fway'd.
But above all, this condefcend ing Love
To leave his glorious Throne and Courts above,
To fuffer thus, and die his Foes to free,
Appears fo bright a Miracle to me
As makes me wonder that each Heart of Stone
Don't melt, and Atbeifts ev'n his God-Head own.
Now all thefe wond'rous Things of him foretold,
By all his faithful MefTengers of old,
Each to a Tittle pefeftly fulfil'd, [il'd :
Tkts makes me think each Doubt Ihould be ex-
Sacred to Praaical Virtue And Hoiinefs. 3 r 5
For, pray what better Proofs can be requir'd
Than Gft/'s own Word, and Men's by him infpir'd?
Thefe are fufficient to convince all thofe,
Vv'ho do not wilfully the Light oppofe.
Thus CHRIST did freely out offender Love,
From true Believers the black Curfe remove :
His Sufferings j Death, and glorious Refurelion>
Gave to the Law for them full SarisfaSion.
Now which of all your ^Deities can fhew
That they have done fuch mighty things for you?
And tho' y ou fay his ^Foll'wers were but mean
Unlearned Fijber'men that did begin
To preach his GOSPEL. Th's we own is true,
And this doth alfo evidently (hew
It was no cunning Craft of Mens Device,
Whereby they fought the fimpJe to entice :
But fuch amazing Gifts on them beftow'd,
Did plainly prove it was the Power of GOD :
For all the Wit, and Craft of Men alone
Such glorious Miracles have never done,
As hath been plainly teftify'd before,
How they did both the Sick and Lame reftore
To perfect Health and Strergth, ev'n with a ^
Word ; /
Thefe do fufficient Evidence afford f
That it was by the Spirit of the LORD. J
Their Self-denial alfo plainly /hews
That they were void of carnal felfi/h Views :
Yea, this doth alfo evidently prove
That they were animated from above :
E e 3 For
3i6 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part Ii.
For they regarded neither worldly Pelf,
Honour, norEafe, nor Health, nor Life itfelf:
All thefe they did account as Dung and Drofs,
And gloried only in their SAVJOUR'S Crofs \
The Love of CHRIS Talone did themconftrain,
To feek his wand'ring Sheep (the Souls of
Men)
And bring them back fafe to his Fold again.
For CH R 1ST, the Sweets of Senfe they did efteem
As Nothing, that they might be found in Him,
Not having on their own felf righteous Drefs,
But cloth'd upon with his pure Righteoufnefs
Their wonderful Succefs did alfo /hew
That GOD did crown their faithful Labours too :
For tho'they had no Learning of the Schools,
Their Conduct ihew'd they walk by wifdom's
Rules.
Now which of your 'Pbilofophers can give
Reafons fo ftrong their Doclrines to believe ?
\Yhich of them all did fo illuftr'ous fhine,
Or give fuch folid Proofs of Truth divine ?
Which of them ere could dive beyond the Grave,
To Ihew what after Death you fhould receive,
According as your Lives have here been fpent,
What kind Reward, or what juft Puni foment ?
No $ all the beft Inftructions they have given
Could never /hew the glorious Path to Heaven.'
Butlo, the Go/pel of our Saviour hath
Plainly fc-t forth the Path of Life and Death.
Ard
Sacred to Praftical Virtue and Holinefs. 317
And tho' you fay our Chriftian-T'e ackers now
Do only after Worldly Wealth purfue ;
And that they follow ftill the fifhing Craft 5
And fpread their Nets to catch a Golden Draught 5
And that the Gofpel is their guilded Bait
To catch their Prey, by Falfhcod and Deceit :
And that they live like haughty Lords and Kings,
This fpacious Craft fuch vaft Revenues brings.
This we rnuft own with humble Grief and Shame*
Too many fuch affume thefacred Name ;
But here take notice, fuch unjuftly bear [are,
The Name of Chrift: Like wand'ring Stars they
For whom GOD hath referv'd eternal Chains
Of Darknefs, where immortal Vengeance reigns!
Their /hort liv'dPleafures foon will fade away
And endlefs Night fucceed their fmiling Day.
But fhoot not here your Bolts pmmifcuofly,
Left you fhould Wound theharmlefs Standersby?
For (notwithftanding thefe) a Number ftill
Do preach the Gofpel out of pure Good-Will:
And hold the glorious Torch to guide the Way
Ol true Believers to the Realms of Day,
Where everlafting Peace, and Pleafurcs dwell,
Beyond the Power of mortal Tongues to tell.
And thus (I hope) I've prov'd \hcCbriflian Scheme
Is not a Fable nor an idle Dream :
But that it is (with fulled Demonftration)
A bright, divine, and glorious Revelation.
E e 3 But
DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part II.
But this I kno#, Strangers will {till defpife
The Beauty of rhef* gloiious Myfteries,
'Till CHRIST the Scales remove from offi
their Eyes :
For in the nat'ral Stare of all Mankind,
A Vail of Ignorance beclouds the Mind :
But when this is remov'd (with glad Surprize)
They'll fee the Truth of thefe bright Myfteries
Now if you thirk a Heav'n of endlefs Joy
Is worth your feeking 5 all your Powers employ >
And humbly feek, and fo /hall ye obtain 5
None truly feeks our gracious GOD in vain.
Fcrfake your flupid Idols, deaf and dumb,
And to oar GOD with Supplications come
fcegleft not now the Means he doth afford,
Faith comes by hearing of his holy Word :
Thcnheazken duly, and your Souls /hall live,
For Grace, and Glory he doth freely give
Toev'ry one that's willing to receive.
//<?, f-very one that thirfteth (is his Call)
Come freely to ite Waters and ye pall
f Satisfy' d with living Streams divine ,
And without Money Jiff d ivitb Milk and
Why ff end ye Monty for ivtat is not Bread*.
Your Labour for ivbatftandsyou in no Stead?
Wty dc ye pray to JJcls dumb and deaf t
Wkich cannot in tbe leafl afford Relief ?
Jncline your Ears and hearken now to me,
le, kere*s Warden and Salvation free.
Ztbott
Sacred to Pra3ical Virtue ani Holinefs
Beheld pve raised /^CHRIST mine only SON,
For all believing 'Penitents r' atone.
Come then, ye Infidels > obey his Call,
His Arms are open to receive you all :
And he tliat comes by Faith and doth not doubt,
Our gracious GOD will never caft him out.
But if you ftand it out and will not come,
Puting your Truft in Idols deaf and dumb }
Then muft you in th'excefs of Torments lie
Thro' all the Ages of Eternity :
For, lo, there is Salvation found in none,
Save in the Name of JESUS CHRIST alone.
OBJECTION II.
"VT O W fome (perhaps) may like Ayrippa
* Almoft thou haft perfivaded me this 'Day
'To be a Chriftian : 'But one Thing dift rafts
My troubled Sreaft 5 thtre are Jo many Sefts
Amongft you Chriflians, thatfi widely jar*
.And keep amongfi you a Ztomeftic War 5
So ttat if IJboufd in your Faith confilt,
1 know not which TO chafe to be my Guide.
One Tarty fays theirs is the only Way
That leads to Realms of everlafti'njr c Day :
Sut Senje an A Reafoa I muft lay afide*
And in tbe.tr Words- implicitly confide 5
And if I err from them but in the leaft,
fhtn h, lm dmi'd, they ail fcclart in bajte
320 DIVINE MISCELLANIES. [Part II.
Tarty fays, if I belt eve
Thefe Men, they will me certainly deceive ;
But if Til walk with them tbey'lljhew me plain
Ibe Way I may eternal Life obtain.
Another fays that Way is dang' r off s too,
But if Til walk ivith them they '11 fully Jheiv
The plain and eafy <Path that leads to Heav'tt,
By the mofl fertain Rules that can be giv'n.
Some fay fuch Ceremonies muft be us dj
Others that thefe ought all to be refused :
Jlnd that thefe Men do only (I rive in vain
?1> teach for 1)oBrines the Commands of Men.
Some fay Imufi on legal Works defend,
Jfup to ijeav'n I ever hope t'afcend :
Wbiljl others fay. Faith is the only Ground
On which alone Salvation may be found :
Others that Faith and Works mufl fweetly join,
Or tlfe my Faith ca-n never be divine 5
For Faith (fay they) doth always work by Love }
Good Works alone the Truth of Faith can prove.
jjnd thus you are continually at Odds,
Jls if each <Party worjbip'd different Gods.
How can a jlran^er fafely then confine
Jn any 'Party for a faithful Guide ;
Since cv'ry One pr(fejj'es theirs is right,
' ev'n as oppofite as "Day and
ANSWER.
To this 1 anfwer, If you fain would learn
The Things belonging to your great Concern :
JVltho* your Queftion is exceeding nice,
let if you're willing to receive Advice,.
I'll
Sacred to Practical Virtue ami Holinefs. 3*1
I'll drive impartially to folve your Doubt,
And drive all thefe diftra&ing Troubles out.
If you believe the holy Scripture's given
By Infpiration of the GOD of Heaven ;
Then fcarch thofe facred Treasures, and you may
Soon fee the Dawn of everlafting Day.
Search well the holy Prophefies of old,
Which faithful Men by Infpiration told :
Thefe will direcl you (if you mind with Care)
As th'eaftern Magi by a new born Star :
For there you may with open Eyes behold
The gracious Promifes of CHRIST foretold.
Then read th' Evangelifts t which plain record
The Birth, the Life, and Sufferings of their Lord
And there you'll fee thofe wond'rous Things ful-
Which was fo long by Prophecy reveal'd. [fil'd,
Then beg of GOD (the Giver of all Grace)
Your Faith and Knowledge daily to increafe :
And that he may hii holy Spirit fend,
T' inftruft and guide you to your Journey's En4.
Then ftrive with Faith and Patience to purfue
Thofe Tracks that CHRIST and his Jpoftltt
drew.
Search well their Dofti ines, & their Lives obferve,
And from their Rules fee that you never fwerve.
But ftill implore the holy Spirit's Aid,
To guide you in their holy Steps to ttead.
And then when thus you carefully have done,,
Becaufe it is not fafe to walk alone,
Mind thofe who walk the neart-ft to their Rules*
\\hofe Lives declare they've learn'd in NVifdo's
SchooJs,
Then join yourfelf to them with Heart finccre,
And of their Joys and SufPrings take your Share :
Then
-**,**.
322 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Partll.
Then ne'er diffent from them while thus you fee
Their Lives and Doftrines do with Truth agree.
This ii the only Way true Peace to find,
And chafe the Troubles of a burden'd Mind,
For here youll find ths happy Road to Blifs,
"Where endlefs Joy, and perfeft Pleafure is.
SECT. X.
A Serious Reflection upon the
AN D now all ye who bear the Cbrijlian Name "\
"^ See how the Gcfpel daily fuffc-rs Shame C
By their ill Conduct who proftfs the Same. C
If e humble Chriftians, view the Times of Old,-*
And fee how dim is now become the Gold !
Yea, the fine Gold like Brafs does now appear?
For Chriftians now are not like what they were !
See how the firft brave Cbrijlians did fhine
With ev'ry Virtue, and with Grace divine !
But now inftead of Faith that works by Love,
Profanenefs does our Unbelief reprove.
Inftead of Charity to one another,
Lo, ev'ry one ftrives to defraud his Brother !
Inftead of Love, lo, Envying and Spite !
Inftead of Truth, lo, Fal/heod and Deceit !
Inftead of low Humility , here's Pride,
And haughty Looks, which GOD cannot abide.
Inftead of holy Zeal t and Courage bold,
L/o, now Luke-warmnefs, neither hot nor cold,
Inftead of Hope, and Godly Fear, Preemption !
Inftead of Growth in Grace, lo fad Confumption!
Inftead oiUnity, what fad Divifion /
Inftead of Honour > we've deferv'd Derifion I
Inftead
Sacred to Practical Virtue and Holinefs. 323
Inftead of Knowledge, Ignorance mod blind 5
Yea, wilful Ignorance beclouds our Mind/
Inftead ol\Tbankfulnefs, Ingratitude,
For all the Favours we receive from GOD /
Thus is not ev'ry Chriflian Grace defac'd,
A.nd in their (lead contrary Vices plac'd ?
But let's confider that the Cbriftian Name -y
"Will never fcreen us from eternal Shame C
If thus we walk contrary to the Same. C
O no, my Friends } 'twill but inhance our Woe ^
And prove our everlafting Overthrow /
The Heathen (who our Faith do now defpife)
At laft againft us will in Judgment rife ;
For they (ev'n by the Light of Nature Jed)
Do clofer in the Paths of Virtue tread
Than we, to whom our Maker doth afford
The glorious Sun-Shine of his holy Word /
For many by th' immoral Lives they live
Great Room unto God's Enemies do give
The Dc&rines of his Gofpel to blafpheme,
And heap Reproach upon the Chriflian Name.
Others for needlefs Trifles ftill contend,
And thus the Bnnds'of Unity they rend :
Thus Love declines, and daily waxeth cold,
As alfo was by CHRIST himfelf foretold.
While others fuch erronious Doctrines broach,
The faithful Sheep dare not the Fold approach :
And then like rav'ning Wolves they tear and flay
All that forfakc their bafe pernicious Way :
Yet thefe are the mofl arrogant Profeflbrs,
And boaft that they're th' jpoflk'ltn*
But how their Practices hereto agree,
The very Heathens with Dtrifion fee :
For
324 DIVINE MISCELLANIES, [Part II-
For lo, the * golden Rule they lay afide,
Which Chrift laid down to be our conftant Guide.
Thus may we fee (with humble Grief & lhame)
How Christianity doth bear the Blame
Thro' their ill Conduft, who profefs in Word
Tobe the Followers of CHRIST the LORD.
But O What dreadful Vengeance waits to light
On fuch, to dafh them to eternal Night !
Much better had they never heard the Sound
QfGofpel Grace upon this earthly Ground,
Than thus to bear the holy Cbriftian Name,
And be the Caufe of its Reproach and fhame:
For furely Sodom and Gomorrah will
Never Such weights of fiery Vengeance feel :
Except Repentance fpeedily prevent
Their dreadful Doom and endlefs Punifliment !
Come, let us then begin with one Accord
To fearch our Ways, and turn unto the LORD.
Let's humble now ourfelves before his Face i
With fervent dies implore forgiving Grace :
For lo, our GOD is juft and gracious ftill,
And faithfully his Promife will fulfill, |
That alt true Penitents fhall be fororiv'n,
And alfomade the joyful Heirs of Heav'n.
Come, let us then with humble Hearts return,
Nor more at his rich loving Kindnefs fpurn :
But let us now r-folve (thro' Grace) this Day
To Love the LORD, and keep his holy Way :
Then 'Death, pale Tteath Ihall not our Soul's af-
But be a Meflencrer of fweet Delight, [fright
To waft them fafely to the Realms of Peace,
Where Sin and Sorrow Ihall forever ceafe.
* Matth. vii. 12- t Ifoi. lv. 7.
F I N I S.
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