,the ,augustan ,reprint ,society ,,an4 ,,collins ,,divine ,,songs ,,and ,,meditacions 7#afec7 ,selected1 with an ,introduction1 by ,stanley ,n4 ,stewart ,publication ,number #id ,william ,andrews ,clark ,memorial ,library ,university of ,california ,los ,angeles #aifa ,,general ,,editors ,richard ,c4 ,boys1 ,university of ,michigan ,ralph ,cohen1 ,university of ,california1 ,los ,angeles ,vinton ,a4 ,dearing1 ,university of ,california1 ,los ,angeles ,lawrence ,clark ,powell1 ,clark ,memorial ,library ,,advisory ,,editors ,john ,butt1 ,university of ,edinburgh ,james ,l4 ,clifford1 ,columbia ,university ,arthur ,friedman1 ,university of ,chicago ,louis ,a4 ,landa1 ,princeton ,university ,samuel ,h4 ,monk1 ,university of ,minnesota ,everett ,t4 ,moore1 ,university of ,california1 ,los ,angeles ,james ,sutherland1 ,university ,college1 ,london ,h4 ,t4 ,swedenberg1 ,jr41 ,university of ,california1 ,los ,angeles ,,corresponding ,,secretary ,edna ,c4 ,davis1 ,clark ,memorial ,library ,,introduction ,in #ahae1 the library of ,thomas ,park1 which had already passed from ,park to ,thomas ,hill to ,longman1 was sold4 ,in the catalog of that collection1 a volume of devotional and autobiographical verse written by one ,anne ,collins1 ,divine ,songs and ,meditacions 7#afec71 was described as so rare as to be probably unique4#a ,that same year1 ,longman and his associates published an anthology of ,old ,books in ,english ,literature1 ,revived1 edited by ,sir ,egerton ,brydges and entitled ,restituta4 ,brydges1 who acknowledged the help of ,park in editing the four volume work1#b reprinted long passages from the ,songs and ,meditacions4 ,by mid-century1 the book had passed through the possession of ,james ,midgeley1 ,sir ,mark ,masterman ,sykes1 ,thomas ,thorpe1#c and ,richard ,heber4 ,in #ahgh1 ,alexander ,dyce reprinted all but the last stanza of ,another ,song exciting to spirituall ,mirth1 and some twenty years later1 ,s4 ,austin ,allibone included reference to ,anne ,collins in his ,critical ,dictionary of ,english ,literature4 ,by this time1 however1 the remaining copy of ,divine ,songs and ,meditacions seems to have slipped from sight2 scholars were a long time finding it1 but in #aibd1 the unique copy bearing the autograph of ,thomas ,park was removed from the library at ,britwell ,court and sold by ,sotheby to ,a4 ,s4 ,w4 ,rosenbach1 who acted in behalf of ,henry ,e4 ,huntington1 in whose memorial library it now remains4 ,if a second edition of the work ever existed1 as claimed by ,allibone1#d it has vanished 7to my knowledge1 without a further trace72 for all practical purposes1 ,anne ,collins and her ,divine ,songs and ,meditacions are unknown even to scholars of seventeenth-century literature4 ,though it appears that the verses of ,anne ,collins have been spared extinction1 it is problematic whether they will escape obscurity4 ,dr4 ,johnson and ,warton did not mention them4 ,yet knowledgeable1 if lesser1 men found the ,songs and ,meditacions worth reading4 ,we may infer1 for example1 that ,thomas ,park1 who was praised by ,southey as the most distinguished authority on ,old-,english poetry1 admired the ,songs1 for it seems probable that he recommended to ,brydges the passages finally anthologized in ,restituta4 ,in any case1 for their metrical variety1 spiritual tone1 and structural quaintness1 ,brydges found the ,songs and ,meditacions to be of value4 ,allibone reprinted ,brydges' commentary1 implying 7at least7 that he had no strong quarrel with it2 and in our own century1 ,i4 ,a4 ,williams1 having read the single poem in ,dyce1 described the lilt and diction of the language as charming1 and called for a new edition of the work4#e ,it may be that a wider knowledge of her writing would rescue ,anne ,collins only from oblivion into abuse4 ,but if that is so1 it is only fair to say that she wrote with a full awareness of her poetic limitations4 ,referring to herself as unskilfull1 she claimed to have written only to occupy her mind1 and then only that1 in her lingering illness1 she might not fall victim to ,sloth4 ,anne ,collins may not have been a ,puritan1#f but her verses are1 in several respects1 a form of the diary4 ,to her1 questions of aesthetics1 at least as we would normally think of them1 were quite irrelevant4 ,she was convinced that the expression of a dedicated heart was of greater value than a polished line4 ,even if that expression were in the form of somewhat unsteady verses1 it would not be without merit3 ,yet for theyr matter1 ,i suppose they bee _/ ,not worthlesse quite1 whilst they with ,truth agree4 ,we are dependent upon the autobiographical quality of the work for all we know of its author4 ,she might have been any one of the many ,annes who1 during the first half of the seventeenth century1 married into or out of the ,collins name 7or the name might be a pseudonym74 ,but especially in the first third of the work1 in the prose ,to the ,reader and the metrical ,preface and ,discourse1 we recognize the autobiography of a woman who was1 from early childhood1 the chronic victim of disease4 ,in ,the ,discourse 7omitted here because of its length and repetitiousness71 she describes the life of one whose hope lay in her adjustment to pain4 ,drawing upon the imagery of spiritual autobiography1 ,anne ,collins describes her youth as a wilderness1 her soul as a withered flower4 ,only when she takes direction from her sorrow does her soul draw in the rain of grace4 ,and that regenerating force is the recurrent theme of her writing1 the sole enduring source of peace2 the world offered only the appearance1 the counterfet of satisfaction4 ,thus1 as ,anne ,collins composes her devotional verses1 she is impelled by four pious reasons4 ,these are indicative1 not only of how the author justifies her writing from a poetic point of view1 but of how completely she has explained away all the claims of a world that had once tortured her with longing4 ,first1 all creatures had been ordained to praise ,god2 this1 in her songs and meditations1 she attempts to do4 ,recognizing that her talents are few1 she recalls that even the man with a single talent would be called to account4 ,third1 she wishes that some kinsman out of interest in her writing might be encouraged to read the ,scriptures4 ,and last1 she thinks of those who will never meet or know her2 by reading the ,divine ,songs and ,meditacions1 they may look upon the image of her mind1 and from that learn how ,god takes pity on even his most lowly servant4 ,the selections in this reprint have been made in the hope of fairly representing ,anne ,collins to the scholarly reader4 ,within the range of possibilities1 an attempt was made to preserve the proportions in the original work among the various kinds of writing attempted by the author4 ,perhaps deletion of ,the ,discourse defeated this purpose4 ,but it was decided also that no individual poem would be cut4 ,thus1 to have included the #ajb stanzas of ,the ,discourse would have required dropping several more songs and meditations4#g ,the poem on the ,civil ,war1 like the paraphrase on the fifth chapter of ,ecclesiastes1 was eliminated because its subject matter was not thought representative of the work as a whole4 ,the notes will direct the reader to parts of ,anne ,collins' work which may be found in previous publications4 ,the ,huntington copy of ,divine ,songs and ,meditacions is a small octavo volume1 measuring slightly larger than five by three inches4 ,the pages have been cropped and the margins have worn away2 thus1 in some instances 7pp4 #ej1 #ef1 #fh71 text has been lost4 ,the original volume is now sandwiched within protecting leaves of blank paper1 and the entire volume is bound in thick1 brown calf4 ,the title page1 once detached1 has been backed and cemented to the second leaf1 but this repair was made long before the blank leaves were inserted4 ,the original volume is made up of #eb leaves2 the first gathering consists of four1 the remaining six of eight leaves4 ,there are #ajb pages of text4 ,this material is reproduced by permission of the ,librarian of ,the ,huntington ,library4 ,stanley ,stewart ,university of ,california1 ,riverside ,,notes ,,to ,,the ,,introduction #a;,a4 ,f4 ,griffith1 ,bibliotheca ,anglo-,poetica 7#ahae71 p4 #fg4 ,griffith quotes the first two stanzas of ,the ,preface as detailing the cause of the poems being written4 #b,sir ,egerton ,brydges1 ed41 ,restituta 7#ahae71 ,,iv1 xi4 ,brydges reprints passages from ,the ,preface1 ,to the ,reader1 ,the ,discourse1 ,a ,song declaring that a ,christian may finde tru ,love only where tru ,grace is1 ,a ,song shewing the ,mercies of ,god to his people4441 ,another ,song exciting to spirituall ,mirth1 ,another ,song 7,,ii71 and ,the ,fifth ,meditacion1 ,,iii1 #abc-abg1 #ahj-ahd4 #c;,catalogue of the ,splendid1 ,curious1 and ,extensive ,library of ,sir ,mark ,masterman ,sykes 7#ahbd71 p4 #ci4 ,thorpe bought a very large percentage of the books in the ,sykes collection4 #d,s4 ,austin ,allibone1 ,a ,critical ,dictionary of ,english ,literature 7#ahgh71 ,i1 #daa4 #e;,i4 ,a4 ,williams1 ,bibliographical ,notes and ,news1 ,london ,mercury1 ,,ix 7#aibd71 #ebi4 #f;,her poem on the ,civil ,war suggests that she was not in sympathy with the left wing of the ,puritan movement4 #g,the ,discourse relates ,miss ,collins' interest in ,theologicall employments1 especially as these filled her once empty life4 ,there are #bi stanzas treating of the nature of the ,trinity and the ,law4 ,in ten more stanzas1 she paraphrases each of the ten ,commandments4 ,the remaining #cd stanzas summarize the steps to salvation1 and the joys of the ,christian life4 ,these theological verses follow the initial #bf stanzas1 which are repetitious of ,the ,preface in their autobiographical matter and pious observations4 ,in addition to ,the ,discourse1 the following titles have not been reprinted here3 ,a ,song demonstrating ,the vanities of ,earthly things2 ,a ,song manifesting ,the ,saints eternall ,happinesse2 ,a ,song exciting to spirituall ,alacrity2 ,a ,song composed in time of ,civill ,warr1 when the wicked did much insult over the godly2 ,the third ,meditacion2 ,the fourth ,meditacion2 ,the fifth ,meditacion2 ,verses on the twelvth ,chapter of ,ecclesiastes4 ,divine ,,songs and ,,meditacions ,composed ,by ,an ,collins4 ,,london1 ,printed by ,r4 ,bishop4 ,anno ,dom4 #afec ,to the ,reader ,christian ,reader1 ,i inform you1 that by divine ,providence1 ,i have been restrained from bodily employments1 suting with my disposicion1 which enforced me to a retired ,course of life2 ,wherin it pleased ,god to give me such inlargednesse of mind1 and activity of spirit1 so that this seeming desolate condicion1 proved to me most delightfull3 ,to be breif1 ,i became affected to ,poetry1 insomuch that ,i proceeded to practise the same2 and though the helps ,i had therein were small1 yet the thing it self appeared unto me so amiable1 as that it enflamed my faculties1 to put forth themselvs1 in a practise so pleasing4 ,now the furtherances ,i had herein1 was what ,i could gather 7by the benifit of hearing17 at first from prophane ,histories2 which gave not that satisfactory contentment1 before mencioned2 but it was the manifestacion of ,divine ,truth1 or rather the ,truth it self1 that reduced my mind to a peacefull temper1 and spirituall calmnesse1 taking up my thoughts for ,theologicall employments4 ,witnesse hereof1 this ,discourse1 ,songs and ,meditacions following2 which ,i have set forth 7as ,i trust7 for the benifit1 and comfort of others1 ,cheifly for those ,christians who are of disconsolat ,spirits1 who may perceive herein1 the ,faithfullnesse ,love1 ,tender ,compassionatnesse of ,god to his people1 in that according to his gracious ,promise1 ,he doth not leave nor forsake them4 ,heb4 #ac4e4 ,but causeth all things to work for theyr good4 ,rom4 #h4bh4 ,this ,i doubt not1 but most ,saints in som measure1 do experimentally know1 therefore ,i will not seek by argument1 to prove a thing so perspicuous4 ,and now 7,courteous ,reader7 ,i have delivered unto you1 what ,i intended1 onely it remains that ,i tell you1 ,that with my ,labours1 you have my ,prayers to ,god through ,jesus ,christ2 whose ,i am1 and in him1 ,yours1 in all ,christian affection ,an ,collins4 ,the ,preface4 ,being through weakness to the house confin'd1 ,my mentall powers seeming long to sleep1 were summond up1 by want of wakeing mind1 ,their wonted course of exercise to keep1 ,and not to waste themselves in slumber deep2 ,though no work can bee so from error kept ,but some against it boldly will except3 ,yet sith it was my morning exercise ,the fruit of intellectuals to vent1 ,in ,songs or counterfets of ,poesies1 ,and haveing therein found no small content1 ,to keep that course my thoughts are therfore bent1 ,and rather former workes to vindicate ,than any new conception to relate4 ,our glorious ,god his creatures weaknesse sees1 ,and therefore deales with them accordingly1 ,giveing the meanes of knowledg by degrees1 ,vnfoulding more and more the ,mystery1 ,and opening the ,seales successively1 ,rev4 #f4 ,so of his goodnesse gives forth demonstracions1 ,to his ,elect in divers ,dispensacions4 ,in legall wise hee did himself expresse ,to be the only ,lord ,omnipotent ,a just avenger of all wickednesse1 ,a jelous ,god in power emminent1 ,which terror workes1 and pale astonishment2 ,sith plagues for sin are holden forth thereby1 ,but with no strength to crush inniquity4 ,now with the ,law the ,gospell oft appeares1 ,but under vailes1 perspicuous unto few ,who were as those which of good tydings heares1 ,rejoyceing much at the report or show ,of that the ,saints now by possessing know2 ,oft spake the ,prophets ,evangelicall1 ,whose words like kindly drops of rain did fall4 ,but when the plenerie of time was come ,the springs of grace their plesant streams out deald ,felicitie did evidence on her some ,salvacion and the way thereto reveald1 ,who wounded were in spirit1 might be heald2 ,here ,god declares the ,beauties of his ,face1 ,great ,love1 rich ,mercy1 free ,eternall ,grace4 ,this time was when the ,sonne of ,righteousnesse ,his ,luster in the world began to spread1 ,which more and more to his he doth expresse ,in tearms so large that they that run may read1 ,and to himselfe he doth the weaker lead2 ,he to his bosum will his ,lambs collect1 ,and gently those that feeble are direct4 ,isa4 #dj4 #aa ,and so in them a life of grace instill ,whereby they shall be able to obay ,all ,gospell precepts suting with his will1 ,and that without regard of servill pay1 ,but with free hearts1 where ,christ alone doth sway ,causing the apprehensions of his love1 ,to gender love1 which still doth active prove4 ,where ,christ thus ruleth1 ,i suppose remaines ,no heart that hankers after ,novelties ,whose ground is but the ,scum of frothy braines ,perhaps extracted from old ,heresies1 ,new formd with ,glosses to deceive the eyes ,of those who like to ,children1 do incline ,to every new device that seemes to shine4 ,i am perswaded they that relish right1 ,the ,dainties of ,religion1 ,food divine1 ,have therby such a permanent delight1 ,and of best ,treasures1 such a lasting mine1 ,as that their hearts to change do not incline1 ,i therfore think theyr tastes of ,truth is ill1 ,who ,truths profession1 quickly alter will4 ,i speak not this to manifest despight ,to tru ,religions growth or augmentacion1 ,nor do ,i take offence of greater ,light ,which brings probatum est1 or commendacion ,from ,truth it selfe1 having therto relacion1 ,but rather with the ,saints ,i doe rejoyce1 ,when ,god appeares to his in ,gospel-voyce4 ,now touching that ,i hasten to expresse ,concerning these1 the ofspring of my mind1 ,who though they here appeare in homly dresse ,and as they are my works1 ,i do not find ,but ranked with others1 they may go behind1 ,yet for theyr matter1 ,i suppose they bee ,not worthlesse quite1 whilst they with ,truth agree4 ,indeed ,i grant that sounder judgments may 7,directed by a greater ,light7 declare ,the ground of ,truth more in a ,gospel-way1 ,but who time past with present will compare ,shall find more mysteries unfolded are1 ,so that they may who have right informacion ,more plainly shew the path-way to ,salvacion4 ,yet this cannot prevayl to hinder me ,from publishing those ,truths ,i do intend1 ,as strong perfumes will not concealed be1 ,and who esteemes the favours of a ,freind1 ,so little1 as in silence let them end1 ,nor will ,i therfore only keep in thought1 ,but tell what ,god still for my ,soule hath wrought4 ,when ,clouds of ,melancholy over-cast ,my heart1 sustaining heavinesse therby1 ,but long that sad condicion would not last ,for soon the ,spring of ,light would blessedly ,send forth a beam1 for helps discovery1 ,then dark discomforts would give place to joy1 ,which not the ,world could give or quite destroy4 ,so sorrow serv'd but as springing raine ,to ripen fruits1 indowments of the minde1 ,v,vho thereby did abillitie attaine ,to send forth flowers1 of so rare a kinde1 ,v,vhich wither not by force of ,sun or ,v,vinde3 ,retaining vertue in their operacions1 ,v,vhich are the matter of those ,meditacions4 ,from whence if evill matter be extracted ,tis only by a spider generacion1 ,whose natures are of vennom so compacted1 ,as that their touch occasions depravacion ,though lighting in the fragrantest plantacion3 ,let such conceale the evill hence they pluck ,and not disgorg themselves of what they suck4 ,so shall they not the humble sort offend ,who like the ,bee1 by natures secret act ,convert to sweetnesse1 fit for some good end ,that which they from small things of worth extract1 ,wisely supplying every place that lackt1 ,by helping to discover what was meant ,where they perceive there is a good intent4 ,so trusting that the only ,sov'rain ,power ,which in this work alwaies assisted mee1 ,will still remain its firme defensive ,tower1 ,from spite of enemies the same to free ,and make it useful in some sort to bee1 ,that ,rock ,i trust on whom ,i doe depend1 ,will his and all their works for him defend4 ,a ,song expressing their happinesse who have ,communion with ,christ4 ,when scorched with distracting care1 ,my minde finds out a shade ,which fruitlesse ,trees1 false fear1 dispair ,and melancoly made1 ,where neither bird did sing ,nor fragrant flowers spring1 ,nor any plant of use3 ,no sound of happynesse1 ,had there at all ingresse1 ,such comforts to produce1 ,but ,sorrow there frequents1 ,the ,nurce of ,discontents1 ,and ,murmering her ,mayd ,whose harsh unpleasant noise ,all mentall fruits destroyes ,whereby delight's convayd4 ,whereof my judgment being certifide ,my mind from thence did move1 ,for her conception so to provide1 ,that it might not abortive prove1 ,v,vhich fruit to signifie ,it was conceaved by ,most true intelligence ,of this sweet truth divine ,who formed thee is thine1 ,esay4 #ed4 #e ,whence sprang this inference2 ,he too1 thats ,lord of all ,will thee beloved call1 ,though all else prove unkind2 ,then chearfull may ,i sing ,sith ,i enjoy the ,spring1 ,though ,sesterns dry ,i find4 ,for in our ,vnion with the ,lord alone1 ,consists our happinesse4 ,certainly such who are with ,christ at one ,he leaves not comfortlesse4 ,but come to them he will ,their ,souls with joy to fill4 ,and them to ,fortifie ,their works to undergo ,and beare their ,crosse also1 ,v,vith much alacrity3 ,v,vho his assisting grace ,do feelingly imbrace1 ,v,vith confidence may say1 ,through ,christ that strengthens me ,no thing so hard ,i see ,phil4 #d4 #ad ,but what perform ,i may4 ,but when the ,soul no help can see ,through sins interposicion1 ,then quite forlorn that while is she1 ,bewailling her condicion2 ,in which deplored case ,now such a ,soul hath space1 ,to think how she delayd ,her ,saviour to admit ,who shu'd to her for it1 ,and to this purpose sayd1 ,open to me my ,love1 ,my ,sister1 and my ,dove1 ,can4 #e ,my ,locks with dew wet are ,yet she remissive grew1 ,till he himselfe with-drew ,before she was aware4 ,but tasting once how sweet he is1 ,and smelling his perfumes1 ,long can she not his presence misse1 ,but griefe her strainth consumes3 ,for when he visits one ,he cometh not alone1 ,but brings abundant grace ,true ,light1 and ,holynesse ,and ,spirit to expresse ,ones wants in every case2 ,for as he wisedome is1 ,so is he unto his ,v,visedome and ,purity1 #a ,cor4 #a4cj ,which when he seemes to hide1 ,the soul missing her guide1 ,must needs confused lie4 ,then let them know1 that would enjoy ,the firme fruition1 ,of his ,sweet presence1 he will stay ,with single hearts alone1 ,who but their former mate1 ,doe quite exterminate3 ,with all things that defile ,they that are ,christs1 truly1 ,the ,flesh do ,crucifie ,with its affections vile ,gal4 #e4 ,then grounds of truth are sought ,new ,principles are wrought ,of grace and holinesse1 ,which plantings of the heart ,will spring in every part1 ,and so it selfe expresse4 ,then shall the ,soul like morning bright ,vnto her ,lord appeare1 ,can4 #f4aj ,and as the ,moone when full of ,light ,so fayr is she and cleare1 ,with that inherent grace ,thats darted from the ,face ,of ,christ1 that ,sunne divine1 ,which hath a purging power ,corruption to devour1 ,and ,conscience to refine2 ,perfection thus begun ,as pure as the ,sonne1 ,the ,soul shall be likewise ,with that great ,blessednesse1 ,imputed ,righteoussenesse ,which freely ,justifies4 ,they that are thus compleat with ,grace ,and know that they are so1 ,for ,glory must set ,sayle apace ,whilst wind doth fitly blow1 ,now is the tide of ,love1 ,now doth the ,angell move2 ,if that there be defect ,that ,soul which sin doth wound1 ,here now is healing found1 ,if she no time neglect2 ,to whom shall be reveald ,what erst hath been conceald1 ,when brought unto that ,light1 ,which in the ,soul doth shine ,when he thats most divine1 ,declares his presence bright4 ,then he will his beloved shew ,the reason wherefore she ,is seated in a place so low1 ,not from all troubles free2 ,and wherefore they do thrive ,that wicked works contrive2 ,christ telleth his also ,for who as friends he takes ,he of his ,councell makes1 ,and they shall secrets know3 ,iohn #ae4ae ,such need not pine with cares ,seeing all things are theirs1 ,if they are ,christs indeed2 ,cor4 #c4ba4 ,therefore let such confesse ,they are not comfortlesse1 ,nor left in time of ,need4 ,a ,song shewing the ,mercies of ,god to his people1 by interlacing cordiall ,comforts with fatherly ,chastisments4 ,as in the time of ,winter ,the ,earth doth fruitlesse and barren lie1 ,till the ,sun his course doth run ,through ,aries1 ,taurus1 ,gemini2 ,then he repayres what ,cold did decay1 ,drawing superfluous moistures away1 ,and by his luster1 together with showers1 ,the ,earth becoms fruitful plesant with flowers ,that what in winter seemed dead1 ,thereby the ,sun is life discovered4 ,so though that in the ,winter ,of sharp ,afflictions1 fruits seem to dy1 ,and for that space1 the life of ,grace ,remayneth in the ,root only2 ,yet when the ,son of ,righteousnesse clear ,shall make ,summer with us1 our spirits to chear1 ,warming our hearts with the sense of his favour1 ,then must our flowers of piety savour1 ,and then the fruits of righteousnesse ,we to the glory of ,god must expresse4 ,and as when ,night is parted2 ,the ,sun ascending our ,hemisphear1 ,ill fumes devouers1 and opes the powers ,which in our bodies are1 and there ,he drawes out the spirits of moving and sence ,as from the center1 to the circumference2 ,so that the exterior parts are delighted1 ,and unto mocion and action excited1 ,and hence it is that with more delight ,we undergo labor by day then by night4 ,so though a ,night of ,sorrows ,may stay proceedings in piety ,yet shall our light like morning bright ,arise out of obscurity1 ,then when the ,sun that never declines ,shall open the faculties of our mindes1 ,stirring up in them that spirituall mocion ,whereby we make towards ,god with devocion ,when kindled by his influence ,our ,sacrifice is as pleasing incense4 ,now when we feel ,gods favour ,and the communion with him we have1 ,alone we may admit of joy ,as having found what most we crave1 ,store must we gather while such gleams do last ,against our tryalls sharp winterly blasts ,so dispairacion shall swallow us never1 ,who know where ,god once loves1 there he loves ever ,though sence of it oft wanting is ,yet still ,gods mercies continue with his4 ,so soon as we discover ,our souls benummed in such a case1 ,we may not stay1 without delay ,we must approach the ,throne of ,grace1 ,first taking words to our selves to declare ,how dead to goodnesse by nature we are1 ,then seeking by him who for us did merit ,to be enliv'd by his quickening ,spirit1 ,whose flame doth light our spark of ,grace1 ,whereby we may behold his pleased face4 ,from whence come beams of comfort1 ,the chiefest matter of tru ,content1 ,who tast and see1 how sweet they be1 ,perceive they are most excellent1 ,being a glimce of his presence so bright1 ,who dwelleth in unapproachable light3 ,whoso hath happily this mercy attayned1 ,earnest of blessednesse endlesse hath gayned1 ,where happinesse doth not decay ,there ,spring is eternall1 and endlesse is day4 ,a ,song declaring that a ,christian may finde tru ,love only where tru ,grace is4 ,no ,knot of ,friendship long can hold ,save that which ,grace hath ty'd1 ,for other causes prove but cold ,v,vhen their effects are try'd2 ,for ,god who loveth unity ,doth cause the onely union1 ,which makes them of one ,family ,of one mind and communion4 ,commocions will be in that place1 ,v,vhere are such contraries1 ,as is inniquity and grace1 ,the greatest enimies1 ,whom sin doth rule shee doth command ,to hold stiff opposicion ,gainst grace and all the faithfull band ,which are in her tuision4 ,this is the cause of home debates1 ,and much domestick woes1 ,that one may find his houshold mates ,to be his greatest foes1 ,that with the ,wolfe the ,lamb may 'bide ,as free from molestacion1 ,as ,saints with sinners1 who reside ,in the same habitacion4 ,by reason of the ,enmity ,between the womans ,seed ,and mans infernall enimy1 ,the ,serpent and his breed1 ,the link of consanguinity ,could hold true friendship never1 ,neither hath neare affinity ,united freinds for ever4 ,for scoffing ,ishmael will scorn ,his onely true born brother3 ,rebeckahs sonns together born ,contend with one another1 ,no bond of nature is so strong ,to cause their hearts to tarry ,in unity1 who do belong ,to masters so contrary4 ,the wicked ordinarily ,gods dearest children hate1 ,and therfore seek 7though groundlesly7 ,their credits to abate1 ,and though their words and works do show ,no colour of offences ,yet are their hearts most 7they trow7 ,for all their good pretences4 ,and those that strongest grace attain1 ,whereby sin is vanquished1 ,by ,sathan and his cursed train ,are most contraried2 ,because by such the ,serpent feeles1 ,his head to be most bruised1 ,he turnes and catches at their heeles1 ,by whom he is so used4 ,his agents he doth instigate1 ,to vex1 oppose1 and fret1 ,to slander and calumniate1 ,those that have scap't his net1 ,who servants are so diligent1 ,that like to ,kain their father ,they whose works are most excellent ,they mischiefe will the rather4 ,yet there are of the gracelesse crew ,who for some private ends ,have sided with prefessors tru ,as trusty pious friends1 ,but to the times of worldly peace ,their friendship was confined4 ,which when some crosses caus'd to cease ,the thred of league untwined4 ,such friends unto the ,swallow may ,be fitly likened1 ,who all the plesant ,summer stay ,but are in ,winter fled3 ,they cannot 'bide their freind to see1 ,in any kind of trouble1 ,so pittyfull 7forsooth7 they bee ,that have the art to double4 ,such will be any thing for one ,who hath of nothing need1 ,their freindship stands in word alone1 ,and none at all in deed1 ,how open mouth'd so e're they are1 ,they bee as closely handed1 ,who will 7they know7 their service spare1 ,they're his to be commanded4 ,therefore let no true hearted one ,reliefe at need expect1 ,from opposits to vertue known1 ,who can him not afect3 ,for his internall ornaments1 ,will ever lovely make him ,though all things pleasing outward sence ,should utterly forsake him4 ,in choise of ,freinds let such therefore ,prefer the godly wise1 ,to whom he may impart the store ,that in his bosome lies3 ,and let him not perniciously ,communicate his favours1 ,to all alike indifferently1 ,which shewes a mind that wavers4 ,gods children to each other should ,most open hearted bee2 ,who by the same precepts are rul'd1 ,and in one ,faith agree1 ,v,vho shall in true felicity1 ,where nothing shall offend them ,together dwell eternally1 ,to which ,i do commend them4 ,another ,song exciting to spirituall ,mirth4 ,the ,winter being over ,in order comes the ,spring1 ,which doth green ,hearbs discover ,and cause the ,birds to sing2 ,the ,night also expired1 ,then comes the ,morning bright1 ,which is so much desired ,by all that love the ,light2 ,this may learn ,them that mourn ,to put their ,griefe to flight4 ,the ,spring succeedeth ,winter1 ,and ,day must follow ,night4 ,he therefore that sustaineth ,affliction or ,distresse1 ,which ev'ry member paineth1 ,and findeth no relesse2 ,let such therefore despaire not1 ,but on firm ,hope depend ,whose ,griefes immortall are not1 ,and therefore must have end3 ,they that faint ,with complaint ,therefore are too blame1 ,they ad to their afflictions1 ,and amplify the same4 ,for if they could with patience ,a while posesse the minde1 ,by inward ,consolacions ,they might refreshing finde1 ,to sweeten all their ,crosses ,that little time they 'dure2 ,so might they gain by losses1 ,and harp would sweet procure2 ,but if the minde ,be inclinde ,to ,vnquietnesse ,that only may be called ,the worst of all ,distresse4 ,he that is melancolly ,detesting all ,delight1 ,his ,wits by sottish ,folly ,are ruinated quite2 ,sad ,discontent and ,murmors ,to him are insident1 ,were he posest of ,honors1 ,he could not be content3 ,sparks of joy ,fly away1 ,floods of ,cares arise1 ,and all delightfull ,mocions ,in the conception dies4 ,but those that are contented ,however things doe fall1 ,much ,anguish is prevented1 ,and they soon freed from all2 ,they finish all their ,labours ,with much felicity1 ,theyr joy in ,troubles savours ,of perfect ,piety1 ,chearfulnesse ,doth expresse ,a setled pious minde ,which is not prone to grudging ,from murmoring refinde4 ,lascivious joy ,i prayse not1 ,neither do it allow1 ,for where the same decayes not ,no branch of peace can grow2 ,for why1 it is sinister ,as is excessive ,griefe1 ,and doth the ,heart sequester ,from all good3 to be briefe1 ,vain ,delight ,passeth quite ,the bounds of modesty1 ,and makes one apt to nothing ,but sensuality4 ,this song sheweth that ,god is the strength of his people1 whence they have support and comfort4 ,my straying thoughts1 reduced stay1 ,and so a while retired1 ,such observacions to survay ,v,vhich memory hath registred1 ,that were not in oblivion dead4 ,in which reveiw of mentall store1 ,one note affordeth comforts best1 ,cheifly to be preferd therfore1 ,as in a ,cabinet or ,chest ,one jewell may exceed the rest4 ,god is the ,rock of his ,elect ,in whom his grace is incoate1 ,this note1 my soule did most affect1 ,it doth such power intimate ,to comfort and corroberate4 ,god is a ,rock first in respect ,he shadows his from hurtfull heat1 ,then in regard he doth protect ,his servants still from dangers great ,and so their enimies defeat4 ,in some dry desart ,lands 7they say7 ,are mighty ,rocks1 which shadow make1 ,where passengers that go that way1 ,may rest1 and so refreshing take1 ,their sweltish ,wearinesse to slake4 ,so in this world such violent ,occasions1 find we still to mourn4 ,that scorching heat of ,discontent ,v,vould all into combustion turn ,and soon our soules with anguish burn1 ,did not our ,rock preserve us still1 ,whose ,spirit1 ours animates1 ,that wind that bloweth where it will ,iohn #c4h ,sweetly our soules refrigerates1 ,and so distructive heat abates4 ,from this our ,rock proceeds likewise1 ,those living streames1 which graciously ,releives the soule which scorched lies1 ,through sence of ,gods displeasure high1 ,due to her for inniquity4 ,so this our ,rock refreshing yeelds1 ,to those that unto him adhere1 ,whom likewise mightily he sheilds1 ,so that they need not faint nor fear ,though all the world against them were4 ,because he is their strength and tower1 ,whose power none can equalize4 ,v,vhich onely gives the use of power ,which justly he to them denies1 ,who would against his servants rise4 ,not by selfe power nor by might1 ,but by ,gods spirit certainly1 ,zach4 #d4 ,men compasse and attain their right1 ,for what art thou1 ,o mountain high6 ,thou shalt with valleys1 evenly4 ,happy was ,israell1 and why1 ,jehovah was his ,rock alone1 ,deu4 #cc4bi ,the ,sword of his ,excellency1 ,his sheild of ,glory mighty known1 ,in saving those that are his own4 ,experience of all age shewes1 ,that such could never be dismayd ,who did by ,faith on ,god repose1 ,confessing him their onely ayd1 ,such were alone in safty stayd4 ,one may have freinds1 who have a will ,to further his felicity1 ,and yet be wanting to him still1 ,because of imbecility1 ,in power and ability4 ,but whom the ,lord is pleas'd to save1 ,such he is able to defend1 ,his grace and might no limmits have1 ,and therefore can to all extend ,who doe or shall on him depend4 ,nor stands he therefore surely1 ,whose ,freinds most powerfull appeare1 ,because of mutabillity ,to which all mortalls subject are1 ,whose favours run now here1 now there4 ,but in our ,rock and mighty ,fort1 ,of change no shadow doth remain1 ,his favours he doth not ,transport ,as trifles movable and vain1 ,his ,love alone is lasting gain4 ,therefore my soule do thou depend1 upon that ,rock which will not move1 ,when all created help shall end ,thy ,rock impregnable will prove1 ,whom still embrace with ardent ,love4 ,another ,song4 ,the ,winter of my infancy being over-past ,then supposed1 suddenly the ,spring would hast ,which useth every thing to cheare ,with invitation to recreacion ,this time of yeare4 ,the ,sun sends forth his radient beames to warm the ground ,the drops distil1 between the gleams delights abound1 ,vr brings her mate the flowery ,queen1 ,the ,groves shee dresses1 her ,art expresses ,on every ,green4 ,but in my ,spring it was not so1 but contrary1 ,for no delightfull flowers grew to please the eye1 ,no hopefull bud1 nor fruitfull bough1 ,no moderat showers which causeth flowers ,to spring and grow4 ,my ,aprill was exceeding dry1 therfore unkind2 ,whence tis that small utility ,i look to find1 ,for when that ,aprill is so dry1 7,as hath been spoken7 it doth betoken ,much scarcity4 ,thus is my ,spring now almost past in heavinesse ,the ,sky of pleasure's over-cast with sad distresse ,for by a comfortlesse ,eclips1 ,disconsolacion and sore vexacion1 ,my blossom nips4 ,yet as a garden is my mind enclosed fast ,being to safety so confind from storm and blast ,apt to produce a fruit most rare1 ,that is not common with every woman ,that fruitfull are4 ,a ,love of goodnesse is the cheifest plant therin ,the second is1 7for to be briefe7 ,dislike to sin4 ,these grow in spight of misery1 ,which ,grace doth nourish and cause to flourish ,continually4 ,but evill mocions1 currupt seeds1 fall here also whenc springs prophanesse as do weeds where flowers grow ,v,vhich must supplanted be with speed ,these weeds of ,error1 ,distrust and ,terror1 ,lest woe succeed ,so shall they not molest1 the plants before exprest ,which countervails these outward wants1 purchase rest ,which more commodious is for me ,then outward pleasures or earthly treasures ,enjoyd would be4 ,my little ,hopes of worldly ,gain ,i fret not at1 ,as yet ,i do this ,hope retain2 though ,spring be lat ,perhaps my ,sommer-age may be1 ,not prejudiciall1 but benificiall ,enough for me4 ,admit the worst it be not so1 but stormy too1 ,he learn my selfe to undergo more then ,i doe ,and still content my self with this ,sweet ,meditacion and ,contemplacion ,of heavenly blis1 ,v,vhich for the ,saints reserved is1 who persevere ,in ,piety and ,holynesse1 and godly ,feare1 ,the pleasures of which blis divine ,neither ,logician nor ,rhetorician ,another ,song4 ,having restrained ,discontent1 ,the onely ,foe to ,health and ,witt1 ,i sought by all meanes to prevent ,the causes which did nourish it1 ,knowing that they who are judicious ,have alwaies held it most pernicious4 ,looking to outward things1 ,i found ,not that which ,sorrow might abate1 ,but rather cause them to abound ,then any ,greife to mittigate ,which made me seek by supplicacion ,internall ,peace and ,consolacion ,calling to mind their wretchednesse ,that seem to be in happy case ,having externall happinesse ,but therewithall no inward grace2 ,nor are their minds with knowledg pollisht ,in such all vertues are abollisht ,for where the mind 's obscure and dark ,there is no vertu resident1 ,of goodnesse there remaines no spark2 ,distrustfullnesse doth there frequent ,for ,ignorance the cause of error ,may also be the cause of terror ,as doth the ,sun-beames beutify ,the ,sky1 which else doth dim appeare ,so ,knowledg doth exquisitly ,the ,mind adorn1 delight and cleare ,which otherwise is most obscure1 ,full of enormities impure4 ,so that their ,soules polluted are ,that live in blockish ,ignorance4 ,which doth their miseries declare ,and argues plainly that their wants ,more hurtfull are then outward ,crosses ,infirmities1 ,reproach1 or ,losses4 ,where saving ,knowledg doth abide1 ,the peace of ,conscience also dwels ,and many ,vertues more beside ,which all obsurdities expels1 ,and fils the ,soule with joy ,celestiall ,that shee regards not things ,terrestiall4 ,sith then the ,graces of the ,mind ,exceeds all outward ,happinesse1 ,what sweet ,contentment do they find ,who are admitted to possesse ,such matchlesse ,pearles1 so may we call them2 ,for ,precious is the least of all them4 ,v,vhich when ,i well considered ,my greife for outward crosses ceast1 ,being not much discouraged ,although afflictions still encreast1 ,knowing right well that ,tribulacion ,no token is of ,reprobacion4 ,another ,song4 ,excessive worldy ,greife the ,soule devouers ,and spoyles the activnesse of all the ,powers1 ,through indisposing them to exercise ,what should demonstrate their abilities1 ,by practicall improvment of the same ,unto the ,glory of the givers name4 ,though ,envy wait to blast the ,blossoms green ,of any ,vertu soon as they are seen1 ,yet none may therfore just occasion take ,to shun what ,vertu manifest should make1 ,for like the ,sun shall ,vertu be beheld ,v,vhen ,clouds of ,envy shall be quite dispeld2 ,though there be some of no disart at all ,who no degree in worth can lower fall1 ,prefer'd before the ,verteous whom they taunt ,onely because of some apparent want1 ,which is as if a ,weed without defect ,before the ,damask ,rose should have respect1 ,because the ,rose a leafe or two hath lost1 ,and this the ,weed of all his parts can boast2 ,or elce as if a monstrous ,clout should be ,prefer'd before the purest ,lawn to see1 ,because the ,lawn hath spots and this the ,clout ,is equally polluted thoroughout ,therefore let such whose vertu favours merits1 ,shew their divinly magnanimious spirits ,by disregarding such their approbacion ,who have the worthlesse most in estimacion1 ,for who loves ,god above all things1 not one ,who understands not that in him alone ,all causes that may move affection are1 ,glimpses wherof his creatures doe declare1 ,this being so1 who can be troubled ,when as his gifts are undervalued1 ,seeing the giver of all things likewise ,for want of knowledg many underprise4 ,another ,song ,time past we understood by story ,the strength of ,sin a ,land to waste1 ,now ,god to manifest his ,glory4 ,the truth hereof did let us taste1 ,for many years1 this ,land appears ,of usefull things the ,nursery1 ,refresht and fenc'd with unity4 ,but that which crown'd each other ,blessing ,was evidence of ,truth ,divine1 ,the ,word of ,grace such ,light expressing1 ,which in some prudent ,hearts did shine1 ,whose ,flame inclines those noble minds ,to stop the ,course of ,prophanacion ,and so make way for ,reformation4 ,but ,he that watcheth to devour1 ,this their intent did soon discry1 ,for which he strait improves his power ,this worthy work to nullify ,with ,sophistry and ,tiranny1 ,his agents he forthwith did fill ,who gladly execute his will4 ,and first they prove by ,elocution ,and ,hellish ,logick to traduce ,those that would put in execucion1 ,restraint of every known abuse2 ,they seperate and 'sturb the ,state1 ,and would all ,order overthrow1 ,the better sort were charged so4 ,such false ,reports did fill all places1 ,corrupting some of each degree1 ,he whom the highest ,title graces ,from hearing slanders was not free1 ,which ,scruple bred1 and put the ,head ,with primest members so at bate ,which did the ,body dislocate4 ,a ,lying ,spirit mis-informed ,the common peeple1 who suppose ,if things went on to be reformed ,they should their ancient ,customs lose1 ,and be beside to courses ty'd ,which they not yet their ,fathers knew1 ,and so be wrapt in fangles new4 ,great multitudes therefore were joyned ,to ,sathans plyant instruments1 ,with mallice1 ignorance combined1 ,and both at ,truth their fury vents2 ,first ,piety as ,enimy ,they persecute1 oppose1 revile1 ,then ,freind as well as ,foe they spoyle4 ,the beuty of the ,land's abollisht1 ,such ,fabericks by ,art contriv'd1 ,the many of them quite demollisht1 ,and many of their homes depriv'd ,some mourn for freinds untimely ends1 ,and some for necessaries faint1 ,with which they parted by constraint4 ,but from those storms hath ,god preserved ,a people to record his praise1 ,who sith they were therefore reserved ,must to the heigth their ,spirits raise ,to magnify his lenity ,who safely brought them through the fire ,to let them see their hearts desire ,which many faithfull ones deceased ,with teares desired to behold1 ,which is the ,light of ,truth professed ,without obscuring shaddowes old1 ,when spirits free1 not tyed shall be ,to frozen ,forms long since compos'd1 ,when lesser knowledg was disclos'd4 ,v,vho are preserv'd from foes outragious1 ,noteing the ,lords unfound-out wayes1 ,should strive to leave to after-ages ,some memorandums of his praise2 ,that others may admiring say ,unsearchable his judgments are1 ,as do his works alwayes declare4 ,meditacions ,the first ,meditacion4 ,the ,morning is at hand1 my ,soule awake1 ,rise from the sleep of dull security2 ,now is the time1 anon 'twill be to late1 ,now hast thou golden opportunity ,for to behold thy naturall estate ,and to repent and be regenerate4 ,delay no longer though the ,flesh thee tell1 ,tis time enough hereafter to repent1 ,strive earnestly such mocions to expell1 ,remember this thy courage to augment ,the first fruits ,god requir'd for sacrifice1 ,the later he esteemed of no price4 ,first let's behold our natural estate ,how dangerous and damnable it is1 ,and thereupon grow to exceeding hate ,with that which is the onely cause of this2 ,the which is ,sin1 yea ,disobedience ,even that which was our first parents offence4 ,the reasonable ,soule undoubtedly ,created was at first free from offence1 ,in ,wisdom1 ,holinesse1 and ,purity1 ,it did resemble the ,divine ,essence1 ,which being lost1 the ,soule of man became ,like to the ,serpent1 causer of the same4 ,the ,understanding1 ,will1 ,affections cleare1 ,each part of ,soule and ,body instantly ,losing their purity1 corrupted were ,throughout as by a loathsom ,leprocy ,the rayes of ,vertu were extinguisht quite ,and ,vice usurpeth rule with force and might4 ,this sudden change from sanctitude to sin ,could but prognosticat a fearfull end1 ,immediatly the dollour did begin1 ,the ,curse that was pronounc'd1 none might defend1 ,which ,curse is in this life a part of some1 ,the fulnesse thereof in the life to come4 ,the ,curse that to the ,body common is ,the sence of ,hunger1 ,thirst1 of ,sicknes1 ,pain3 ,the ,soules ,calamities exceedeth this1 ,a ,tast of ,hell shee often doth sustain1 ,rebukes of ,conscience1 threatning plagues for sin1 ,a world of ,torments oft shee hath within4 ,unlesse the ,conscience dead and feared be1 ,then runs the soule in errors manifold1 ,her danger deep shee can in no wise see1 ,and therefore unto every sin is bold1 ,the ,conscience sleeps1 the ,soule is dead in sin1 ,nere thinks of ,hell untill shee comes therein4 ,thus is the ,conscience of the ,reprobate1 ,either accusing unto desperacion1 ,or elce benummed1 cannot instigate ,nor put the ,soule in mind of reformacion2 ,both work for ill unto the castaway1 ,though here they spent their time in mirth and play4 ,yet can they have no sound contentment here1 ,in midst of laughter oft the heart is sad3 ,this world is full of woe hellish feare ,and yeelds forth nothing long to make us glad ,as they that in the state of nature dy ,passe but from misery to misery4 ,consider this my soule1 yet not despaire1 ,to comfort thee again let this suffice1 ,there is a ,well of grace1 whereto repaire1 ,first wash away thy foul enormities ,with teares proceeding from a contrite heart1 ,with thy beloved sins thou must depart4 ,inordinate affections1 and thy ,will1 ,and carnall wisdom1 must thou mortify1 ,for why1 they are corrupt1 prophane and ill1 ,and prone to nothing but impiety1 ,yet shalt thou not their nature quite deface1 ,their ruines must renewed be by grace4 ,if that thou canst unfainedly repent1 ,with hatred therunto thy sins confesse1 ,and not because thou fearest punishment ,but that therby thou didst ,gods ,laws transgress ,resolving henceforth to be circumspect1 ,desiring ,god to frame thy wayes direct4 ,each member of thy body thou dost guide1 ,then exercise them in ,gods service most ,let every part be throughly sanctifide ,as a meet ,temple for the ,holy ,ghost2 ,sin must not in our mortall bodies raign ,it must expelled be although with pain ,thou must not willingly one sin detain1 ,for so thou mayst debarred be of blis1 ,grace with inniquity will not remain1 ,twixt ,christ and ,belial no communion is1 ,therefore be carefull every sin to fly1 ,and see thou persevere in piety4 ,so mayst thou be perswaded certainly1 ,the ,curse shall in no wise endanger thee1 ,although the body suffer misery ,yet from the second death thou shalt be free2 ,they that are called here to ,holinesse ,are sure elected to eternall blisse4 ,a ,taste of blessednesse here shalt thou say1 ,thy ,conscience shall be at ,tranquility1 ,and in the ,life to com thou shalt enjoy ,the sweet fruition of the ,trinity1 ,society with ,saints then shalt thou have1 ,which in this life thou didst so often crave4 ,let this then stir thee up to purity1 ,newnesse of life1 and speedy ,conversion1 ,to ,holinesse and to integrity1 ,make conscience of impure thoughts unknown ,pray in the ,spirit with sweet ,contemplacion ,be vigilant for to avoid ,temptacion4 ,the ,preamble4 ,amid the ,oceon of ,adversity1 ,neare whelmed in the ,waves of sore ,vexation1 ,tormented with the ,floods of ,misery1 ,and almost in the ,guise of ,despairacion1 ,neare destitute of ,comfort1 full of ,woes1 ,this was her ,case that did the same compose3 ,at length ,jehovah by his power divine1 ,this great tempestious ,storm did mittigate4 ,and cause the ,son of ,righteousnesse to shine ,upon his ,child that seemed desolate1 ,who was refreshed1 and that immediatly1 ,and ,sings as follows with alacrity4 ,the ,second ,meditacion4 ,the storm of ,anguish being over-blown1 ,to praise ,gods mercies now ,i may have space1 ,for that ,i was not finally orethrown1 ,but was supported by his speciall grace2 ,the ,firmament his glory doth declare1 ,psal4 #ai4 #a ,yet over all his works1 his mercies are4 ,psal4 #ade4 #i ,the ,contemplacion of his mercies sweet1 ,hath ravished my ,soule with such delight ,who to lament erst while was onely meet1 ,doth now determine to put griefe to flight1 ,being perswaded1 hereupon doth rest1 ,shee shall not be forsaken though distrest4 ,gods ,favour toward me is hereby proved1 ,for that he hath not quite dejected me2 ,v,vhy then1 though crosses be not yet removed ,yet so seasoned with pacience they be1 ,as they excite me unto godlinesse1 ,the onely way to endlesse happinesse4 ,wch earthly muckworms can in no wise know ,being of the ,holy ,spirit destitute1 ,they savour onely earthly things below2 ,who shall with them of saving ,grace dispute1 ,shall find them capable of nothing lesse ,though ,christianity they do professe4 ,let ,esaus porcion fall onto these men1 ,the ,fatnesse of the ,earth let them possesse ,no other thing they can desire then1 ,having no taste of ,heavens happinesse1 ,they care not for ,gods ,countenance so bright1 ,their ,corn and ,wine and ,oyle is their delight4 ,to compasse this and such like is their care1 ,but having past the period of their dayes1 ,bereft of all but miseries they are1 ,their sweet delight with mortall life decayes1 ,but godlinesse is certainly great gain1 #a4 ,tim4 #f4 #f ,immortall blisse they have1 who it retain4 ,they that are godly and regenerate1 ,endu'd with saving ,knowledg1 ,faith1 and ,love1 ,when they a future blisse premeditate1 ,it doth all bitter passion quite remove2 ,though oft they feel the want of outward things ,their heavenly meditacions1 comfort brings4 ,they never can be quite disconsolate1 ,because they have the onely ,comforter ,which doth their minds alway illuminate1 ,and make them fleshy pleasures much abhorr1 ,for by their inward light they plainly see ,how vain all transitory pleasures bee4 ,moreover1 if they be not only voyd ,of earthly pleasures and commodities1 ,but oftentimes be greviously annoyd ,with sundry kinds of great ,calammities1 ,whether it be in ,body1 ,goods1 or ,name1 ,with pacience they undergo the same4 ,and why8 because they know and be aware ,that all things work together for the best1 ,to them that love the ,lord and called are1 ,ro4 #h4bh4 ,according to his purpose2 therefore blest ,doubtlesse they be1 his knowledg that obtain1 ,no ,losse may countervail their blessed ,gain4 ,which makes them neither murmor nor repine ,when ,god is pleasd with ,crosses them to try1 who out of darknesse caused light to shine1 #b ,cor4 #d4f4 ,can raise them ,comfort out of ,misery ,they know right well and therefore are content ,to beare with patience any ,chastisment4 ,this difference is betwixt the good and bad2 ,when as for sin the godly scourged are1 ,and godly ,sorrow moves them to be sad1 ,these speeches or the like they will declare3 ,o will the ,lord absent himselfe for ever8 ,will he vouchsafe his mercy to me never8 ,v,vhat is the cause ,i am afflicted so8 ,the cause is evident ,i do perceive4 ,my ,sins have drawn upon me all this woe1 ,the which ,i must confesse and also leave1 ,then shall ,i mercy find undoubtedly1 ,pro4 #bh4ac4 ,and otherwise no true prosperity4 ,whilst sin hath rule in me1 in vain ,i pray1 ,or if my ,soule inniquity affects1 ,if this be true1 at tis1 ,i boldly say1 ,the prayer of the wicked1 ,god rejects2 ,pro4 #ae4h4 ,if in my heart ,i wickednesse regard ,how can ,i hope my prayer shall be heard4 ,psal4 #ff ,if ,i repent1 here may ,i ,comfort gather1 ,though in my prayers there be weaknesse much ,christ siteth at the right hand of his ,father ,to intercede and make make request for such1 ,rom4 #h4cc ,who have attained to sincerity1 ,though somthing hindered by infirmity4 ,i will forthwith abandon and repent1 ,not onely palpable inniquities1 ,but also all alowance or consent ,to sinful motions or infirmities2 ,and when my heart and wayes reformed be1 ,god will with-hold nothing that's good from me4 ,psal4 #hd4 ,so may ,i with the ,psalmist truly say1 ,tis good for me that ,i have been afflicted1 ,before ,i troubled was1 ,i went astray1 ,psal4 #aai ,but now to godlinesse ,i am adicted2 ,if in ,gods ,lawes ,i had not took delight1 ,i in my troubles should have perisht quite4 ,such gracious speeches usually proceed ,from such a ,spirit that is ,sanctifide1 ,who strives to know his own defects and need ,and also seekes to have his wants supplide2 ,but certainly the wicked do not so ,as do their speeches and distempers show4 ,at every crosse they murmor1 vex and fret1 ,and in their passion often will they say1 ,how am ,i with ,calamities beset6 ,i think they will mee utterly destray1 ,the cause hereof ,i can in no wise know ,but that the ,destinies will have it so4 ,unfortunate am ,i and quite forlorn1 ,oh what disastrous ,chance befalleth me6 ,vnder some hurtfull ,plannet ,i was born ,that will 7,i think7 my ,confusion be1 ,and there are many wickeder then ,i ,who never knew the like adversity4 ,these words do breifly show a carnall mind ,polluted and corrupt with ,ignorance1 ,where godly ,wisdom never yet hath shin'd ,for that they talk of ,destiny or ,chance2 ,for if ,gods ,power never can abate1 ,he can dispose of that he did create4 ,if ,god alone the ,true ,almighty be ,as we beleive1 acknowledg1 and confesse1 ,then supream ,governor likewise is he ,disposing all things1 be they more or lesse2 ,the eyes of ,god in every place do see ,the good and bad1 and what their actions bee4 ,the thought hereof sufficeth to abate ,my heavinesse in great'st extremity1 ,when ,grace unto my ,soul did intimate ,that nothing comes by ,chance or ,destiny1 ,but that my ,god and ,saviour knowes of all ,that either hath or shall to me befall4 ,v,vho can his servants from all troubles free ,and would ,i know my ,crosses all prevent1 ,but that he knowes them to be good for me ,therefore ,i am resolv'd to be content1 ,for though ,i meet with many ,contradictions ,yet ,grace doth alwayes sweeten my ,afflictions4 ,,publications ,,of ,,the ,,augustan ,,reprint ,,society ,,publications ,,in ,,print #aidg-aidh #ab4 ,essays on the ,stage1 selected1 with an ,introduction by ,joseph ,wood ,krutch4 #aidh-aidi #ac4 ,sir ,john ,falstaff 7pseud471 ,the ,theatre 7#agbj74 #ad4 ,edward ,moore's ,the ,gamester 7#agec74 #ae4 ,john ,oldmixon's ,reflections on ,dr4 ,swift's ,letter to ,harley 7#agab72 and ,arthur ,mainwaring's ,the ,british ,academy 7#agab74 #af4 ,nevil ,payne's ,fatal ,jealousy 7#afgc74 #ag4 ,nicholas ,rowe's ,some ,account of the ,life of ,mr4 ,william ,shakespeare 7#agji74 #ah4 ,of ,genius1 in ,the ,occasional ,paper1 ,vol4 ,,iii1 ,no4 #aj 7#agai72 and ,aaron ,hill's ,preface to ,the ,creation 7#agbj74 #aidi-aiej #ai4 ,susanna ,centlivre's ,the ,busie ,body 7#agji74 #bj4 ,lewis ,theobold's ,preface to ,the ,works of ,shakespeare 7#agcd74 #bb4 ,samuel ,johnson's ,the ,vanity of ,human ,wishes 7#agdi7 and ,two ,rambler papers 7#agej74 #bc4 ,john ,dryden's ,his ,majesties ,declaration ,defended 7#afha74 #aiej-aiea #bf4 ,charles ,macklin's ,the ,man of the ,world 7#agib74 #aiea-aieb #ca4 ,thomas ,gray's ,an ,elegy ,wrote in a ,country ,church ,yard 7#agea72 and ,the ,eton ,college ,manuscript4 #aieb-aiec #da4 ,bernard ,mandeville's ,a ,letter to ,dion 7#agcb74 #aiec-aied #dc4 ,john ,baillie's ,an ,essay on the ,sublime 7#agdg74 #dd4 ,mathias ,casimire ,sarbiewski's ,the ,odes of ,casimire1 ,translated by ,g4 ,hils 7#afdf74 #de4 ,john ,robert ,scott's ,dissertation on the ,progress of the ,fine ,arts4 #df4 ,selections from ,seventeenth-,century ,songbooks4 #aied-aiee #di4 ,two ,st4 ,cecilia's ,day ,sermons 7#afif-afig74 #ej4 ,hervey ,aston's ,a ,sermon ,before the ,sons of the ,clergy 7#agde74 #ea4 ,lewis ,maidwell's ,an ,essay upon the ,necessity and ,excellency of ,education 7#agje74 #eb4 ,pappity ,stampoy's ,a ,collection of ,scotch ,proverbs 7#affc74 #ec4 ,urian ,oakes' ,the ,soveraign ,efficacy of ,divine ,providence 7#afhb74 #ed4 ,mary ,davys' ,familiar ,letters ,betwixt a ,gentleman and a ,lady 7#agbe74 #aiee-aief #ee4 ,samuel ,say's ,an ,essay on the ,harmony1 ,variety1 and ,power of ,numbers 7#agde74 #ef4 ,theologia ,ruris1 sive ,schola ,scala ,naturae 7#afhf74 #aief-aieg #fa4 ,elizabeth ,elstob's ,an ,apology for the ,study of ,northern ,antiquities 7#agae74 #fb4 ,two ,funeral ,sermons 7#afce74 #aieh-aiei #gd4 ,seventeenth-,century ,tales of the ,supernatural4 #ge4 ,john ,joyne1 ,a ,journal 7#afgi74 #gf4 ,andr ,dacier1 ,preface to ,aristotle's ,art of ,poetry 7#agje74 #gg-h4 ,david ,hartley1 ,various ,conjectures on the ,perception1 ,motion1 and ,generation of ,ideas 7#agdf74 #aiei-aifj #gi4 ,william ,herbert1 ,third ,earl of ,pembroke's ,poems 7#affj74 #hj4 ,p4 ,whalley's ,an ,essay on the ,manner of ,writing ,history 7#agdf74 #hb4 ,henry ,fuseli's ,remarks on the ,writings and ,conduct of ,j4 ,j4 ,rousseau 7#agfg74 #hc4 ,sawney and ,colley 7#agdb7 and other ,pope ,pamphlets4 #hd4 ,richard ,savage's ,an ,author to be ,lett 7#agbi74 #aifj-aifa #he-f4 ,essays on the ,theatre from ,eighteenth-,century ,periodicals4 #hg4 ,daniel ,defoe1 ,of ,captain ,misson and his ,crew 7#agbh74 #hh4 ,samuel ,butler1 ,poems4 #hi4 ,henry ,fielding1 ,ovid's ,art of ,love 7#agfj74 #ij4 ,henry ,needler1 ,works 7#agbh74 ,william ,andrews ,clark ,memorial ,library3 ,university of ,california ,the ,augustan ,reprint ,society ,general ,editors ,r4 ,c4 ,boys ,university of ,michigan ,ralph ,cohen ,university of ,california1 ,los ,angeles ,vinton ,a4 ,dearing ,university of ,california1 ,los ,angeles ,lawrence ,clark ,powell ,wm4 ,andrews ,clark ,memorial ,library ,corresponding ,secretary ,mrs4 ,edna ,c4 ,davis ,wm4 ,andrews ,clark ,memorial ,library ,the ,society's purpose is to publish reprints 7usually facsimile reproductions7 of rare seventeenth and eighteenth century works4 ,all income of the ,society is devoted to defraying costs of publication and mailing4 ,correspondence concerning subscriptions in the ,united ,states and ,canada should be addressed to the ,william ,andrews ,clark ,memorial ,library1 #bbje ,west ,adams ,boulevard1 ,los ,angeles #ah1 ,california4 ,correspondence concerning editorial matters may be addressed to any of the general editors4 ,the membership fee is #d4jj a year for subscribers in the ,united ,states and ,canada and #ae_/- for subscribers in ,great ,britain and ,europe4 ,british and ,european subscribers should address ,b4,h4 ,blackwell1 ,broad ,street1 ,oxford1 ,england4 ,publications for #aifa-aifb ,john ,gay1 ,alexander ,pope1 and ,john ,arbuthnot1 ,three ,hours ,after ,marriage 7#agag74 ,introduction by ,john ,harrington ,smith4 double issue ,john ,norris1 ,cursory ,reflections ,upon a ,book ,call'd1 ,an ,essay ,concerning ,human ,understanding 7#afij74 ,introduction by ,gilbert ,d4 ,mc,ewen4 ,an4 ,collins1 ,divine ,songs and ,meditacions 7#afec74 ,introduction by ,stanley ,stewart4 ,an ,essay on the ,new ,species of ,writing ,founded by ,mr4 ,fielding 7#agea74 ,introduction by ,alan ,d4 ,mc,killop4 ,hanoverian ,ballads4 ,selected1 with an ,introduction1 by ,john ,j4 ,mc,aleer4 ,,the ,,augustan ,,reprint ,,society ,,william ,,andrews ,,clark ,,memorial ,,library #bbje ,west ,adams ,boulevard1 ,los ,angeles #ah1 ,california ,make check or money order payable to ,the ,regents of the ,university of ,california4 ,transcriber's ,notes --,illegible characters were reconstructed according to the sense1 comparing other online versions where ,,dp proofers remained undecided4 --,for illegible words1 proofreaders found either a persuasive reconstruction1 or a plausible reconstruction supported by other editions4 --,page numbers were omitted3 they were unclear or missing on the scans4