11To the Drunkards of England, who were my Companions in the Kingdom of Darkneſs, whom my Soul pities.
THE deſire of my Heart is, that all Men might come to the Knowledge of the Truth, and be ſaved, that thereby they might obtain Freedom, and come forth of Egypt, where Darkneſs remains, to the Supper of the great King, where Bread ſhall be given them, and their Waters ſhall be ſure; therefore why ſhould any periſh with Hunger, and the Way of Life and Fulneſs ſo near to every one, even within them, Truth in the inward parts, which is ſufficient to lead out of all Error, and to guide their ſteps in the Paths of Peace: therefore the Way is not ſo hard, as the Souls Enemy would have People believe it is, though it be ſaid to be Narrow, it is but to that part which cannot inherit God's Kingdom; and thoſe that come to Chriſt, who is the Way to his Father, who is the Light of Men, to lead and guide them to his Father, and to make his Yoke eaſie, and his Burden light are his Witneſſes, who is that12 true Prophet Moſes writ of, Whom the Lord would raiſe like unto me, (ſaith he) him ſhall you hear; and every one that will not hear that Prophet, ſhall be deſtroyed. So all you who have not obeyed nor regarded that Prophet, though you have been often check and reproved by him in your Hearts and Conſciences, though you obeyed him not, loving your own Wills and Carnal Pleaſures better then the God of your Life; and if he ſhould leave ſtriving with you, you are left without Excuſe, for he hath appeared to you, who appeared outwardly in the days of his Fleſh, and hath now in theſe laſt days appeared inwardly by the Light of his Spirit, according to the Scriptures, which ſaith, Chriſt within the hope of glory; And bleſſed be the Lord, thouſands be living Witneſſes of this Eternal Truth, which is herein declared of, not out of any Self-Exaltation, but for the Praiſe of God whom I honour; and the deſire of my Soul, and the end of my Writing is, (according to the good Will of God) that all may come from under Death's bonds, into the Light of the Lord Jeſus, which will let them ſee the Evil within them, and the Deceivers without them, who abide not in Chriſt's Doctrine, but teache for Doctrine the Commandments of Men, who are of the World, whoſe Ways and Worſhips are vain, who are Men-pleaſers, and reſpect mens Perſons, and receive Honour one of another, contrary to Chriſt and his Royal Law, who though he were13 a King, he ſaid he received not Honour from Men; but thoſe men are ſet up by man, and are not true Followers of Chriſt, nor keep his Sayings, therefore I am bold to call them Seducers, who follow the Luſt of the Fleſh, Covetouſneſs, Drunkenneſs and Pride, whoſe Lives are Prophane, and Works are abomination to the Lord, and I know they are ſeen by many, who will confeſs they are ſuch men as ſerve not the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, but their own Bellies, and yet will not be diſwaded from them, but love to follow their pernicious ways, rather then the Light of Chriſt Jeſus, which manifeſts them, and though they be Convinced that they be not Godly Teachers, nor ſent of him, yet they will not be Converted from them, to the Light of Chriſt Jeſus, which would turn them from the Power of Satan, to the Power of God, wherein is Salvation to every one that believes, to the Jew, and alſo to the Gentile; therefore is it not a ſad thing to ſee how the Devil betwitcheth People, and blinds their minds, leſt they ſhould be turned to the Truth, in this Day of the Lord's Power, wherein he is more plentiouſly pouring forth of his Spirit upon the Seed of Jacob, and his Bleſſings upon his Off-ſpring, which makes them cry to the Inhabitants of the Earth, who have any ſence, and be not paſt feeling, to come out from amongſt them, and touch not the unclean thing, and the Lord will receive them. Have you not read in the Scripture•of Truth,14 of a certain Rich Man, that Chriſt ſpoke of who was clothed with Purple and fine Linnen and fared Sumptuouſly every day, who dyed, and was buried, and being in great Torments, deſired to have one ſent to his Father's houſe, for he had five Brethren, that he might warn then leſt they ſhould come to that place of Torment; but it was denyed him. Though it be this day teſtified to you through one who was dead, and is by the Power and Reſurrection of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt raiſed from Death to Life, to warn People, who are yet in Darkneſs, and under the ſhadow of Death, and under the power of a ſtrange King (to wit, the Soul's Adverſary) to come forth of the Darkneſs, and ſhew themſelves in the Light of the Lord Jeſus, which lighteth every man that cometh into the World, and will ſhew them their evil deeds, and lead out of them, and brings Salvation to all that are faithful, and obey him, which was the very end of his coming, to ſave loſt Men and loſt Women from their Sins, and to deſtroy the Works of the Devil, (which is Sin) under which burden of Sin and Corruption the Spirit of the Lord hath ſuffered, and the Lamb as one ſlain, whoſe Bowels of Love and Merey now flows forth to his Creation, Men and Women, and would have them come to him, that they might have Life; but the God of the world hath blinded the Eye of their underſtanding, whereby they are ſettled in a Life below the Son,15 the end thereof will be more bitter than Death, for their Reſt is (out of the Truth, out of the holy Mountain) in Egypt, where the Innocent ſuffered, and ſuffers, and the Darkneſs remains upon ſuch to this day, and they will not give up to ſet forwards towards the Land of Peace and Reſt, for the way is tedious to that Nature they are in, and the Enemies numerous, therefore it is high time to feel after the good Old Way, to the Land of Promiſe.
So in the fear of the Lord caſt away the works of Darkneſs, (Sin and Evil) and come to the Light of Chriſt Jeſus, that you may be armed with it, whereby you may be drawn out of your Luſts, out of your Pleaſures, out of your Pride, out of your Covetouſneſs, out of vain Worſhips, out of your idle talking and fooliſh Jeſting, out of your Drunkenneſs, Wantonneſs and Ʋncleanneſs, yea, and from all manner of Sin, into that which is Pure, into that which is Holy, which is of God's begetting, and is of more value then all Created Objects; is not that of God which teſtifies againſt Sin, and Ʋngodlineſs? yea, I can truly ſay that was it, which judged me, and condemned me when I was young, before I was made ſenſible what it was.
So all dear People, fear the Lord, and take heed of loving your Luſts, better then the God of Life that manifeſts them, with the brightneſs of his coming, and with his breath, would deſtroy them; ſo then if you periſh in your Evil ways,16 your Deſtruction is of your ſelves, in neglecti••ſo great Salvation, and not prizing your Sou••Redemption, which is freely tendred in the Covenant of Light and Life, which is Mercy〈◊〉ſpeakable; and that you ſhall one day confeſ•you are left without Excuſe to your eternal W•…and Miſery for evermore, if you go on in yo••Rebellion againſt the Lord, and you ſhall remember you were warned by one, who was〈◊〉Companion with you in your unfruitful Works〈◊〉Darkneſs, called,
17The true Teacher found, which manifeſteth mens Teachings unprofitable, who deny the true Teacher within.
WHere is the Word, the Life and Law,
Which keeps the Children in the Awe?
Where is the Truth, the Grace, & Peace,
Which makes all Jars and Wars to ceaſe?
Where is the Light that ſhines ſo bright
Throughout the Nations in the Night?
Where is the true and ſafe poſſeſſion,
The righteous Law, above Profeſſion?
Why do the Nations 'gainſt it riſe?
Is't not becauſe it teſtifies
Againſt their deeds, that they be evil,
Acted in ſervice of the Devil?
Why doth the Woman Jezabel preach,
Who is forbidden for to teach,
And to ſeduce poor Souls with Lyes,
With painted ſhows and feigned cryes.
Tho' ſhe be decked as a Queen,
18 All her Adulterous skirts are ſeen,
By thoſe that cannot to her bend,
Nor ear unto her Witchcrafts lend,
Her Prieſts againſt deluſion cries,
Although themſelves be in that guiſe,
Being ſtrangers to the Living way,
Amongſt the dead they have their prey,
Tho' they the Scriptures often read,
Crying peace, peace unto the dead,
Yet they cannot the myſtery ſee,
Whoſe minds are dark i'th' Enmity,
Tho' humane Learning they have ſtore,
That makes them but adore the Whore,
Being enriched by her gain,
Cauſeth them labour with their brain,
To keep in Darkneſs all they may,
Leſt they ſhould turn from them away
Unto the Truth, (which was before
Falſe Prophet or the Scarlet Whore)
Which is the Way, Chriſt, the Churches Head,
Who gives his Children living Bread,
That they may never hunger more,
Being fed by his Eternal ſtore,
Which flows forth to his Children dear,
Who are kept low in dread and fear,
19 Therefore all Souls that feed below
The Bread of Life; your Food we know
To be no more than fed with death,
Feeding of that which is beneath
The Son of Righteouſneſs his Seed,
Who is Salvation ſure indeed,
To all that in his Light believes,
But Sorrow to them his Spirit grieves:
Oh come to him! who crys within,
And he'l redeem you from all Sin;
For he hath often for you waited,
To have you turn from that he hated,
Who was not far from you, (unknown)
Checking for Sin to preſs it down;
He calls to all that would be free
From Sin and all Iniquity,
To ceaſe from man, whoſe breath's ſoon ſpent,
And hear but him who breath him lent,
Who is to his a perfect Teacher,
And is the only Spirit reacher,
Who came men's Lives not to deſtroy,
But Souls to ſave from all anoy,
Who walks in vertue of his Life,
Knows that which kills both Luſt and Strife,
20 Of which a meaſure you have within,
That never gave conſent to Sin,
But ſtood always a Witneſs pure,
Againſt him that would you allure:
So if Redeemed you would be
Into the Chriſtians Liberty,
Slight not your day of Viſitation,
By looking at Predeſtination,
Not owning Chriſt that he ſhould reign
I'th' hearts of men, Sin to reſtrain;
Therefore come ſearch and try, and hear,
Without Money in God's pure fear,
And willing be on him to waite,
Till he appear, tho' it ſeem late,
Within your Breaſt you may him find,
If him to hear you be inclin'd.
So while it may be ſaid to day,
Come, come, and ſee where the Lord lay;
But all that will not hear his Call,
Eternal plagues ſhall on them fall,
Which ſhall for evermore endure,
And be to them their portion ſure.
21The dangerous ſtate of all People, who are out of the Covenant of Life.
A Few words to all ſober-minded,
Who with darkneſs have not combined,
To ſerve that Prince for term of days,
Which he perſwades, without delays,
Servants to be to Sin and Evil,
It is the covenant of the Devil:
For no leſs time he will agree,
Then during Life, his Slaves to be.
So all that would your freedom know,
From Sin and Satan here below,
While you are in this Houſe of Clay,
Regard not outward Bonds I ſay,
For there the Enemy may prevail,
And cauſe your Faith thereby to fail,
Looking at things that here we ſee,
Which ſeems unpoſſible to be,
Being not ſeen with Eye of Faith,
Cannot pleaſe God, as Scripture ſaith,
22 But come down to God's witneſs near,
Which ſtands i'th' Conſcience alway clear
To ſhew unto you Words, and Deeds,
Whether ſavoury, or ſtinking Weeds:
And whether you hear, or forbear
That which reproves Sin, will be clear,
Which is moſt pure and light alſo,
And ſhews man Sin where-ever he go
Which is God's Love to all mankind
To give them light that were full blin•
Bleſſed are they that faithful be
To what the Lord doth let them ſee
To be their duty, day and night,
Acting as in their Maſters ſight;
Then nothing can be done in haſte,
But light their Counſellor, will taſte
And judge that down, which doth〈◊〉
If it be not i'th' holy fear.
And here's the Exerciſe indeed
Of Chriſtians, as they are freed:
Yet ſuch as will not Truth retain,
But in their Luſts ſtill will remain,
Aſſure themſelves this is a warning
From that which gives a true diſcernin•
23As he can ſay who liv'd i'th' Luſt,
Before he came to know the Juſt,
And was as bad as they can be,
Until the Lord did let him ſee
By his pure Light, what he had done
Againſt the Record of his Son;
And then it was a time of trouble,
To ſee himſelf worſe than a bubble,
And he not only in that ſtate,
But all that did the Light ſo hate;
And then he wept with Sorrows grief,
Until the Lord ſent him Relief,
Which was his preſence to refreſh
His fainting Soul near to periſh.
So all wait low in Chriſt who's pure,
Till him you know your Souls to cure,
Who is the good Samaritan,
To cure and heal the wounded man,
And thoſe that will not own his cure,
Eternal Plagues ſhall all endure;
And ſuch from Sorrow can never ceaſe,
Nor have therefrom any Releaſe.
24Concerning Perfection.
ALL you that ſcoff at Purity,
Perfection looking not to ſee,
While you are here on this ſide Grave,
Nor any thing that ſhall you ſave
From Sin, and ſinning, while you'r her•
Yet hopes at Death you ſhall be clear;
And then to paſs to Reſt and Peace,
And have with Death a full releaſe;
So that no judgment can you grieve,
Becauſe you do on Chriſt believe.
Is this your Hope and Faith indeed,
Who lives i'th' Luſt, and have no need
To be redeem'd from that condition?
But ſtill runs on without ſuſpition,
Without the ſence of deadly danger,
Being to Truth a very ſtranger,
And him who is the good Phyſitian,
Who would cure with much contrition
And none but Chriſt can do that Cure
Of your Diſeaſe which brings moſt ſure
Eternal death to all that love it,
And none but he can remove it.
25Take heed therefore no time delay,
Leſt you ſhould miſs of Cure I ſay
Of that ſo dangerous Diſeaſe,
Which without Cure brings Plagues, not caſe;
Therefore it's good to weigh the cauſe
Before you dye, to have a pauſe
How that your Souls may be delivered,
When that from Bodies they be ſevered;
For this will be both ſure and true,
That every one receive their due,
And likewiſe be rewarded ſo
According to'th' Deeds they did do
In the Bodies where they had place.
Before they had run out their race;
And look how Death doth ſtop their Wind,
So Judgment ſhall them ſurely find,
And then the Judgment ſhall proceed,
According as hath been decreed;
And all that have not walk't with God,
Aſſuredly ſhall feel his Rod,
And likewiſe many grievous Woes
Shall then be added to the Foes
Of the great God of Power and Might,
Who to all men hath given a Light
26 To lead them ſafe from the dark Power
And from the Sorceries of the Whore:
But to his Enemies will be torment,
Becauſe they thought not to repent,
Nor would believe that they ſhould dye,
When they tranſgreſs'd continually;
Therefore they'r left without excuſe
Who did his Witneſs then abuſe,
When they prefer'd their pleaſures here
Before the Lord, who bought them dear,
And if the Lord ſhould ſtriving ceaſe,
And ſorrow ſend, and no more peace
Unto thoſe Souls that have not priz'd
The day of God, by them deſpis'd,
How great will be their cry, and ſorrow
When day is paſt that hath no morrow
Therefore all you that loves delight
In that which is darker then night,
Awakened be, and ſtand upright
To Chriſt Jeſus in his pure Light,
Which ſhines i'th' Hearts, to let men ſee
What is not good nor pure to be;
And if obeyed in its leadings,
Will not admit ſuch proceedings,
As brought them on with ſuch an hand
As ſcarcely one to make a ſtand,
For to conſider of their end,
27 That do their time ſo vainly ſpend,
Their end therefore will ſadneſs bring,
Who counted Truth a lying thing,
And the pure Light a fooliſh guide,
To keep their ſteps, they ſhould not ſlide;
By which Lord keep us in thy power,
On thee to wait for evermore.
And thy pure Truth preſerve & ſpread,
That they may live which now are dead.
To the Backſliders in Heart.
YOu that have ſeen the holy Land,
Wherein ripe Grapes ſo fully ſtand,
And ſome of you did taſte the Fruit,
That grew therein, tho now turn'd brute
And chuſes rather with Beaſts to feed,
Then to be followers of that Seed
Which would have led you to the ſame,
And given you an eternal Name,
If you had ſtood within your Tent,
And not for fear of men relent,
But to the Lord had faithful been,
Then you like Willows had been green,
And likewiſe fed under your Vine,
Alſo refreſh'd as with new Wine:
28 But now you've gotten other Lovers,
And hopes beſide to have ſome covers,
Becauſe of Truth you got ſome Words,
Which will prove to your ſides like Swords;
How will you anſwer the juſt Judge,
Who do againſt his Witneſs grudge,
Which would have led you out of death,
And all things elſe that are beneath,
If you had been but honeſt-hearted,
And from the Truth never departed,
The Lord to you had been a portion,
Preſerving you from all abortion,
To teſtifie againſt the dark
Which have no covenant with the Ark:
But now you'r in a ſad condition,
By refuſing your commiſſion,
And gone to ſerve under the Beaſt,
Who promiſes your Souls to feaſt;
But you that's by the Serpent led,
And likewiſe by the Hireling fed,
Poor food it is unto your Souls,
You feed on Earth amongſt the Moles,
The duſt you know is Serpent's meat,
And Plagues is to them that do eat
Of any Bread, but that is living,
Which is not of the Father's giving,
29 Which he keeps for his Children dear,
Even thoſe that do him always fear,
Then thoſe that have their birth-right ſold,
For their Belly muſt pine with Cold,
And hunger muſt them pinch beſide,
Becauſe the Lord they have deny'd,
Who would have fed them to the full,
And cloth'd them better then with wool:
But ſeeing the Lord you have deny'd,
Before you came for to be try'd,
What you could ſuffer for his Name,
Rather then to deny the ſame,
The greater Plagues will be your due
Then if you had not been i'th' view,
Of ſuch things as are not fading,
Freely given without upbraiding
Unto all thoſe that faithful be,
Who lives and walks in purity.
But you that have prefer'd your Lives,
Children, Houſes, or your Wives,
Before the Lord, that bought you dear
That you his Name might always fear,
Better you had not profeſt his Name,
Nor have made mention of the ſame,
Seeing you proved ſo deceitful,
And to the Truth turned hateful,
30 What may you now of him expect,
Who doth his Grace and Love reject;
For thoſe that know their Maſter's will,
And accordingly do not fulfill,
More ſtripes are due unto their Back,
Then them that do ſuch knowledge lack
Repent, repent I ſay, with ſpeed,
That from your Sin you may be freed,
For God is near to pardon all,
That in his Life do cry and call,
Or with the Wicked receive your hire
Eternally in flames of Fire.
To the ſuffering Seed and Birth Immortal.
TO the Seed which yet in bondage lies,
And under great oppreſſion cries
To be delivered from ſuch thrall
That it is preſſed down withall,
By the ſad weight of earthly power,
Through the Enchantments of the Whore,
Which is gone forth over the Lands,
And's not excluded with great Bands;
31 For all Nations under the Globe
Polluted are with the Whore's Robe,
And none can ſtand againſt her Horns,
But in that Might that bore the Thorns,
And that's the force that will ſubdue
Her filthy and rebellious crue,
By which he will likewiſe make way
For his own Seed, without delay
To paſs as through a Sea of Water,
And all his Enemies ſoon will ſcatter,
Even Pharaoh like, withall his Hoſt,
And leave them not a man to boaſt
Of what they've gotten by their Might,
In all their Fightings in the Night:
Therefore all come and lay to heart
The honeſt thing, and ſet apart
That which is evil in the ground,
And keep within the modeſt bound,
And you will ſee an Army great,
That in your hearts have got a ſeat,
Which will be work enough to quell,
For by your ſtrength you'l not repel,
Nor any force beneath the Sun
Can that remove they have begun;
Unarm'd therefore you cannot ſtand,
Before the power of ſuch a band.
32Nor are you likely to prevail,
But muſt before them ſurely fail,
If not well armed with the Sword
Of the Spirit, which is the Word
O'th God of Life, of Power and Might,
Able to drive all out of ſight
That ſhall oppoſe his holy Will,
And likewiſe can their Blood ſoon ſpill;
So then its not the ſtrength of Arm
Of Fleſh that can preſerve from harm,
Nor any force of humane Nature,
That can preſerve men in that ſtature,
But that they muſt even ſoon decay,
If not refreſhed day by day
With the pleaſant and living ſtreams,
Which ſhines ſo bright with Chryſtal beams,
Which ſprings, and flows in theſe our dayes,
And fills our Hearts and Mouths with praiſe,
That we cannot now ſilent be,
But to declare what we do ſee,
And if the Enemy ſhould prevail
To caſt our Bodies in ſome Goal,
As he hath done, ſome heretofore,
Which faithful Teſtimony bore
33 Againſt the Rulers in thoſe times,
Who Spirit-worſhip counted crimes
In this his day that God hath rais'd
A Seed, for which his Name be prais'd;
And if our Mouths be ſtopt, from ſpeaking
In this good day of Light out-breaking,
We know the Lord can raiſe the dead,
To come with praiſes on their head,
Tho' they were dead as any Stones,
And had no moiſture in their Bones,
Yet that would not be Conſolation
To thoſe poor Souls in Reprobation,
But as we abide in the Spirit,
We ſee the wicked cannot inherit
The promiſes made to the Seed,
According as hath been decreed;
Therefore they hate us every way,
Yet for them we can freely pray
The Lord to open their blind Eyes,
That they may ſee whom they deſpiſe,
And this we can deſire at large,
The Lord lay not unto their charge,
What they againſt us here have wrought
When they our Lives & Livings ſought:
So Lord, if it ſtand with thy Will,
Bring many Saints to Sion's Hill,
34 To hear thy Voice, and pleaſant Song,
Which thou haſt ſent the Babes among,
To be their comfort, in this time
Where Innocency is counted crime,
Which is a time of great tryal,
To prove if we will make denyal
Of our true Faith, and our Profeſſion,
As thoſe have done who want poſſeſſion
Of that ſweet Life that ſhall endure,
And be to thine a comfort ſure,
In which, O Lord, us always keep
That we be ſafe, when others ſleep
In their carnal ſecuritie,
Blind i'th' darkneſs they cannot ſee,
From which, O Lord, keep us alwayes,
In thy pure Life, thy Name to praiſe.
To the Hireling Shepherds.
ALL you that Preachers, made by man,
See who requir'd that, of you than
To teach and preach for Lucres ſake,
Under pretence Chriſtians to make,
35 But your chief aim is for your gain,
Which makes you run with might and main,
To get your Merchandizes ſold
At a dear rate, both new and old,
For to maintain your greedy paunch,
Which is your God, him for to ſtanch,
A Law you have for to compel
People to come, to buy and ſell,
Without approving of your Wares,
They muſt accept them as their ſhares,
Altho' they be not worth the buying,
Yet pay they muſt without denying:
Are not theſe ſad and unjuſt things
To pay for them no profit brings?
And this you ſell without controul,
Which adds no comfort to the Soul,
Nor all the feigned words you ſteal
Cannot a wounded Conſcience heal,
But daubing with untempered durt,
Inſtead of Cure, you do them hurt;
For ſtill you ſeem to be in nature
Ravenous Wolves in humane ſtature,
Which doth both raven and devour
Rich mens Eſtates, as alſo poor,
Tho' you be clothed with Sheep-skin,
The Wolf's alive in you within,
36 Which makes you rob & ſpoil the flocks,
And utterly deſtroy men's ſtocks,
You'r Truth-reſiſters, by your ſigns,
Being the men of corrupt minds,
And ſuch as now cumber the Ground,
For no good Fruit in you are found;
So you are prov'd the fruitleſs Trees,
And like the drones which ſpoil the Bees,
Altho' you read the Scripture true,
Without the Spirit, what doth enſue
But only for your carnal Wills,
You keep poor Souls in that which kills,
To which purpoſe you make a trade
Even to delude Man, Wife, and Maid,
Keeping their Souls in bondage ſtill,
If you can but the ſame fulfill,
To make them run for what you read,
And give you Money for that's no Bread;
For ſhame therefore let it ſuffice
That you be drunk with Avarice,
And ceaſe teaching and ſilent be,
And wait on Chriſt he'l let you ſee
What is your duty, and your place,
Obedient be think't no diſgrace.
That you may not be of that ſort,
Which of the holy Reſt come ſhort,
37 But that you may rewarded be
VVith them that lives in puritie,
VVhich will be ſweeter to your ſpirit,
Then all without you do inherit,
And bleſſed you will be alſo,
In every thing you do undergo,
And as you come t'obey the Light,
Surely your peace will be in ſight.
Lord God it grant, if that thou pleaſe,
That all that ſeek thee may find eaſe,
Through Faith in Chriſt as he's reveal'd
VVho hath the wounded always heal'd.
The Concluſion.
NOw to conclude, leaving what hath been ſaid
To all that reads it, with impartial Eye,
Which to believe they need not be afraid,
Being true Words, in which there is no Lye,
Tho' Godly men were always ſcoft and ſcorn'd
For the Name of Chriſt, which was their chiefeſt good,
Yet they rejoyc'd to ſee his Truth adorn'd,
Tho' for ſo doing it coſt ſome their Blood,
38 Which was but that they then had left to ſpend,
That they thereby might gain a better prize,
Which would be ſweeter to their Souls i'th' end
By therein dwelling where true vertue lies,
Wherein is ſweetneſs, much better than Life
To Souls Immortal in the quiet place,
The Godly Ones who are made free from ſtrife,
Who are engag'd to run the holy race,
And come away to witneſs for the Lord,
And his pure Truth reproach'd in theſe our days,
Tho' for ſo doing they have been abhorr'd,
Which is no other but what hath been always
For Truth, is Truth, and all that do err from it,
Muſt once confeſs how they have done deſpite,
To th' Grace of God, and his holy Spirit,
By making Sin their paſtime and delight;
Yet they ſhall know to their eternal ſorrow,
That they were warn'd of what was then to come
Of a dark Night, which could bring forth no morrow,
Which is the portion and the Wicked's doom,
Who have not priz'd the day of Viſitation,
In which all men are left without excuſe,
By ſhewing them wherein is Condemnation
To all the World, that doth the Light abuſe,
In which true ſence, Lord, keep thy tender Flock,
Alive in thee for their ſafety and Rock.
39A Godly Requeſt.
LOrd God of Life and Power, thy Truth more ſpread,
That they which truly ſeeks within may read,
For Truth i'th' inward parts that thou requires,
To which, O Lord, ſtrengthen all weak deſires,
That Grace & Peace may grow in theſe our dayes
By quickning of the dead, thy Name to praiſe,
That ſo thy glorious Name may be exalted,
And that kept down which hath from thee revolted
Which Work, O Lord! thou haſt with us begun,
Through ſhining of the Light of thy dear Son:
Therefore, O Lord! if that it ſo pleaſe thee,
Shine forth on more thy Glory for to ſee,
That ſo thy Praiſes may with men encreaſe,
And thou mayſt know, who art the God of Peace,
That they with us, and we with them may ſing
Hallelujahs, and Praiſes unto thee our King.
THE END.