A1r

Mortalities
Memorandum,

With
A Dreame Prefixed,
imaginarie in manner;
reall in matter.

By Rachel Speght.

Live to die, for die thou must,

Die to live, amongst the just.

London
Printed by Edward Griffin for
Jacob Bloome, and are to be sould at his Shop in
Pauls Church-yard at the signe of the Grayhound.
16211621.

A1v A2r

To
the worshipfull
and vertuous
Gentlewoman, her most respected God-
Mother Mrs Marie Moundford, wife
unto the worshipfull Doctour
Moundford
Physitian
.

Amongst diversitie of motives to
induce the divulging of that
to publique view, which was
devoted to private Contemplation,
none is worthy to
precede desire of common
benefit. Corne kept close in a garner feeds not
Mat. 5.15. the hungry; A candle put under a bushell doth
Mat. 25.30. not illuminate an house; None but unprofitable
servants knit up Gods talent in a Napkin.
These premises have caused the Printing presse
to expresse the subsequent Memorandum of Mortalitie,
by which if oblivious persons shall bee
incited to premeditation off, and preparation
against their last houre, when inevitable Death
seazing on them, shall cease their beeing upon A2 earth, A2v
earth, I shall with Jacob say, “I have enough:” Gen. 45.28. I levell
at no other marke, nor ayme at other end, but
to have all sorts to marke and provide for their
latter end. I know these populous times affoord
plentie of forward Writers, and criticall Readers;
My selfe hath made the number of the
one too many by one; and having bin toucht
with the censures of the other, by occasion of
my mouzeling Melastomus, I am now, as by a
strong motive induced (for my rights sake) to
produce and divulge this of-spring of my indevour,
to prove them further futurely who have
formerly deprived me of my due, imposing my
abortive upon the father of me, but not of it.
Their varietie of verdicts have verified the adagie
quot homines, tot sententiæ, and made my experience
confirme that apothegme which doth
affirme Censure to be inevitable to a publique
act.


Unto your worthy selfe doe I dedicate the sequel
as a testimonie of my true thankefulnesse
for your fruitfull love, ever since my beeing,
manifested toward me, your actions having
beene the Character of your affection; and that
hereby the world may witnesse, that the promisemise A3r
you made for me, when I could make
none for myselfe, my carefull friends (amongst
whom I must repute your ever esteemed selfe)
have beene circumspect to see performed. I
would not have any one falsly to thinke that
this Memorandum is presented to your person to
implie in you defect of those duties which it requires;
but sincerely to denote you as a paradigma
to others; for what it shews to be done,
shewes but what you have done; yet ere I leave,
give me leave to put you in minde of Paules
precept, “be not wearie of well-doing, for in due time
you shall reape if you faint not.” Gal. 6.9.
Thus presenting
unto God my supplication, and unto you my
operation, the former to him for your safetie,
the latter to you for your service, I ever remaine

Your God-daughter in dutie
obliged.

Rachel Speght.

A3v

¶ To the Reader.

Readers too common, and plentifull be;

For Readers they are that can read a, b, c.

And utter their verdict on what they doe view,

Though none of the Muses they yet ever knew.

But helpe of such Readers at no time I crave,

Their silence, than censure, I rather would have:

For ignorant Dunces doe soonest deprave.

But, courteous Reader, who ever thou art,

Which these my endevours do’st take in good part,

Correcting with judgement the faults thou do’st finde,

With favour approving what pleaseth thy minde.

To thee for thy use, and behoofe, I extend

This poore Memorandum of our latter end.

Thus wishing thee wellfare, I rest a true friend.

To those which (Art affect,
And learnings fruit) respect.


Rachel Speght
.

A4r

The Dreame.

When splendent Sol, which riseth in the East,

Returning thence tooke harbour in the West;

When Phœbus layd her head in Titans lap,

And Creatures sensitive made hast to rest;

When skie which earst look’t like to azure blew,

Left colour bright, and put on sable hew.

Then did Morpheus close my drowsie eyes,

And stood as Porter at my sences dore,

Diurnall cares excluding from my minde;

Including rest, (the salve for labours sore.)

Nights greatest part in quiet sleepe I spent,

But nothing in this world is permanent.

For ere Aurora spread her glittering beames,

Or did with roabes of light her selfe invest,

My mentall quiet sleepe did interdict,

By entertaining a nocturnall guest.

A Dreame which did my minde and sense possesse,

With more then I by Penne can well expresse.

At the appoyntment of supernall power,

By instrumentall meanes me thought I came

Into a place most pleasant to the eye,

Which for the beautie some did Cosmus name,

Where stranger-like on every thing I gaz’d,

But wanting wisedome was as one amaz’d.

Vpon A4v 2

Upon a sodeyne, as I gazing stood,

Thought came to me, and ask’t me of my state,

Inquiring what I was, and what I would,

And why I seem’d as one disconsolate:

To whose demand, I thus againe replide,

“I, as a stranger in this place abide.

The Haven of my voyage is remote,

I have not yet attain’d my journeyes end;

Yet know I not, nor can I give a guesse,

How short a time I in this place shall spend.

For that high power, which sent me to this place,

Doth onely know the period of my race.

The reason of my sadnesse at this time,

Is, ’cause I feele my selfe not very well,

Unto you I shall much obliged bee,

If for my griefe a remedie you’le tell.”

Quoth shee, “if you your maladie will show,

My best advise I’le willingly bestow.

My griefe”, quoth I, “is called Ignorance,

Which makes me differ little from a brute:

For animals are led by natures lore,

Their seeming science is but customes fruit;

When they are hurt they have a sense of paine;

But want the sense to cure themselves againe.

And ever since this griefe did me oppresse, Instinct of nature is my chiefest guide; I feele disease, yet know not what I ayle, I finde a sore, but can no salve provide; I hungry am, yet cannot seeke for foode; Because I know not what is bad or good. And B1r 3 And sometimes when I seeke the golden meane, My weaknesse makes me faile of mine intent, That suddenly I fall into extremes, Nor can I see a mischiefe to prevent; But feele the paine when I the perill finde, Because my maladie doth make me blinde. What is without the compasse of my braine, My sicknesse makes me say it cannot bee; What I conceive not, cannot come to passe; Because for it I can no reason see. I measure all mens feet by mine owne shooe, And count all well, which I appoint or doe. The pestilent effects of my disease Exceed report, their number is so great; The evils, which through it I doe incur, Are more then I am able to repeat. Wherefore, good Thought, I sue to thee againe, To tell me how my cure I may obtaine.”

Quoth she, “I wish I could prescribe your helpe;

Your state I pitie much, and doe bewaile;

But for my part, though I am much imploy’d,

Yet in my judgement I doe often faile.

And therefore I’le commend unto your triall

Experience, of whom take no deniall.

For she can best direct you, what is meet

To worke your cure, and satisfie your minde;”

I thank’t her for her love, and tooke my leave,

Demanding where I might Experience finde.

She told me if I did abroad enquire,

’Twas likely Age could answer my desire.

B I sought, B1v 4

I sought, I found, She ask’t me what I would;

Quoth I, “your best direction I implore:

For I am troubled with an irkesome griefe,

Which when I nam’d, quoth she declare no more:

For I can tell as much, as you can say,

And for your cure I’le helpe you what I may.

The onely medicine for your maladie, By which, and nothing else your helpe is wrought, Is Knowledge, of the which there is two sorts, The one is good, the other bad and nought; The former sort by labour is attain’d, The latter may without much toyle be gain’d.

But ’tis the good, which must effect your cure,”

I pray’d her then, that she would further show,

Where I might have it, “that I will,” quoth shee,

“In Eruditions garden it doth grow:

And in compassion of your woefull case,

Industrie shall conduct you to the place.”

Disswasion hearing her assigne my helpe,

(And seeing that consent I did detect)

Did many remoraes to me propose,

As dulnesse, and my memories defect;

The difficultie of attaining lore,

My time, and sex, with many others more.

Which when I heard, my minde was much perplext,

And as a horse new come into the field,

Who with a Harquebuz at first doth start,

So did this shot make me recoyle and yeeld.

But of my feare when some did notice take,

In my behalfe, they this reply did make.

First B2r 5

First quoth Desire, “Disswasion, hold thy peace,

These oppositions come not from above:”

Quoth Truth, “they cannot spring from reasons roote,

And therefore now thou shalt no victor prove.”

“No,” quoth Industrie, “be assured this,

Her friends shall make thee of thy purpose misse.

For with my sickle I will cut away

All obstacles, that in her way can grow,

And by the issue of her owne attempt,

I’le make thee labor omnia vincet know.”

Quoth Truth, “and sith her sex thou do’st object,

Thy folly I by reason will detect.

Both man and woman of three parts consist, I. Thess. 5.23. Which Paul doth bodie, soule, and spirit call: And from the soule three faculties arise, The mind, the will, the power; then wherefore shall A woman have her intellect in vaine, Or not endevour Knowledge to attaine. Luke 19.23. The talent, God doth give, must be imploy’d, His owne with vantage he must have againe: I. Sam. 2.3. All parts and faculties were made for use; The God of Knowledge nothing gave in vaine. Luke 10.42. Twas Maries choyce our Saviour did approve, Because that she the better part did love. Cleobulina, and Demophila, With Telesilla, as Historians tell, (Whose fame doth live, though they have long bin obscuredunknown Did all of them in Poetrie excell. A Roman matron that Cornelia hight, An eloquent and learned style did write. B2 Hypatia B2v 6 Hypatia in Astronomie had skill, Aspatia was in Rheth’ricke so expert, As that Duke Pericles of her did learne; Areta did devote her selfe to art: And by consent (which shewes she was no foole) She did succeed her father in his schoole.

And many others here I could produce,

Who were in Science counted excellent;

But these examples which I have rehearst,

To shew thy error are sufficient.”

Thus having sayd, she turn’d her speech to mee,

That in my purpose I might constant bee.

“My friend,” quoth she, “regard not vulgar talke;

For dung-hill Cocks at precious stones will spurne,

And swine-like natures prize not cristall streames,

Contemned mire, and mud will serve their turne.

Good purpose seldome oppositions want:

But constant mindes Disswasion cannot daunt.

Shall every blast disturbe the Saylors peace? Or boughes and bushes Travellers affright? True valour doth not start at every noyse; Small combates must instruct for greater fight. Disdaine to bee with every dart dismayd; ’Tis childish to be suddenly affrayd. If thou didst know the pleasure of the place, Where Knowledge growes, and where thou mayst it
gaine;
Or rather knew the vertue of the plant, Thou would’st not grudge at any cost, or paine, Thou canst bestow, to purchase for thy cure This plant, by which of helpe thou shalt be sure.
Let B3r 7 Let not Disswasion alter thy intent; ’Tis sinne to nippe good motions in the head; Take courage, and be constant in thy course, Though irkesome be the path, which thou must tread. Sicke folkes drinke bitter medicines to be well, And to injoy the nut men cracke the shell.”

When Truth had ended what shee meant to say,

Desire did move me to obey her will,

Whereto consenting I did soone proceede,

Her counsell, and my purpose to fulfill;

And by the helpe of Industrie my friend,

I quickly did attaine my journeyes end.

Where being come, Instructions pleasant ayre

Refresht my senses, which were almost dead,

And fragrant flowers of sage and fruitfull plants,

Did send sweete savours up into my head;

And taste of science appetite did move,

To augment Theorie of things above.

There did the harmonie of those sweete birds,

(Which higher soare with Contemplations wings,

Then barely with a superficiall view,

Denote the value of created things.)

Yeeld such delight as made me to implore,

That I might reape this pleasure more and more.

And as I walked wandring with Desire,

To gather that, for which I thither came;

(Which by the helpe of Industrie I found)

I met my old acquaintance, Truth by name;

Whom I requested briefely to declare,

The vertue of that plant I found so rare.

Quoth B3v 8

Col. 3.10. Quoth shee, “by it Gods image man doth beare,

Without it he is but a humane shape,

Worse then the Devill; for he knoweth much;

Without it who can any ill escape?

By vertue of it evils are withstood;

‘The minde without it is not counted good.’ Prov. 19.2.

Who wanteth Knowledge is a Scripture foole, Against the Ignorant the Prophets pray; And Hosea threatens judgement unto those, Whom want of Knowledge made to runne astray. Without it thou no practique good canst show, More then by hap, as blind men hit a Crow. True Knowledge is the Window of the soule, Through which her objects she doth speculate; It is the mother of faith, hope, and love; Without it who can vertue estimate? By it, in grace thou shalt desire to grow; John 17.3. Tis life eternall God and Christ to Know. Great Alexander made so great account, Of Knowledge, that he oftentimes would say, That he to Aristotle was more bound For Knowledge, upon which Death could not pray, Then to his Father Phillip for his life, Which was uncertaine, irkesome, full of strife.”

This true report put edge unto Desire,

Who did incite me to increase my store,

And told me ’twas a lawfull avarice,

To covet Knowledge daily more and more.

This counsell I did willingly obey,

Till some occurrence called me away.

And B4r 9

And made me rest content with that I had,

Which was but little, as effect doth show;

And quenched hope for gaining any more,

For I my time must other-wayes bestow.

I therefore to that place return’d againe,

From whence I came, and where I must remaine.

But by the way I saw a full fed Beast,

Which roared like some monster, or a Devill,

And on Eves sex he foamed filthie froth,

As if that he had had the falling evill;

To whom I went to free them from mishaps,

And with a Mouzel sought to binde his chaps.

But, as it seemes, my moode out-run my might,

Which when a selfe-conceited Creature saw,

Shee past her censure on my weake exployt,

And gave the beast a harder bone to gnaw;

Haman shee hangs, ’tis past he cannot shun it;

For Ester in the Pretertense hath done it.

And yet her enterprize had some defect,

The monster surely was not hanged quite:

For as the childe of Prudence did conceive,

His throat not stop’t he still had power to bite.

She therefore gave to Cerberus a soppe,

Which is of force his beastly breath to stoppe.

But yet if he doe swallow downe that bit,

Shee other-wayes hath bound him to the peace;

And like an Artist takes away the cause,

That the effect by consequence may cease.

This franticke dogge, whose rage did women wrong,

Hath Constance worm’d to make him hold his tongue.

Thus B4v 10

Thus leaving them I passed on my way,

But ere that I had little further gone,

I saw a fierce insatiable foe,

Depopulating Countries, sparing none;

Without respect of age, sex, or degree,

It did devoure, and could not daunted be.

Some fear’d this foe, some lov’d it as a friend;

For though none could the force of it withstand,

Yet some by it were sent to Tophets flames,

But others led to heavenly Canaan land.

On some it seazed with a gentle power,

And others furiously it did devoure.

The name of this impartiall foe was Death,

Whose rigour whil’st I furiously did view,

Upon a sodeyne, ere I was aware;

With perceiving dart my mother deare it slew;

Which when I saw it made me so to weepe,

That teares and sobs did rouze me from my sleepe.

But, when I wak’t, I found my dreame was true;

For Death had ta’ne my mothers breath away,

Though of her life it could not her bereave,

Sith shee in glorie lives with Christ for aye;

Which makes me glad, and thankefull for her blisse,

Though still bewayle her absence, whom I misse.

A sodeine sorrow peirceth to the quicke,

Speedie encounters fortitude doth try;

Unarmed men receive the deepest wound,

Expected perils time doth lenifie;

Her sodeine losse hath cut my feeble heart,

So deepe, that daily I indure the smart.

The C1r 11

The roote is kil’d, how can the boughs but fade?

But sith that Death this cruell deed hath done,

I’le blaze the nature of this mortall foe,

And shew how it to tyranize begun.

The sequell then with judgement view aright,

The profit may and will the paines requite.

Esto Memor Mortis.

C Mortalities C1v 12 C2r 13

Mortalities Memorandum.

When Elohim had given time beginning,

“In the beginning God began to make
The heavens, and earth,” Gen. I. I.
with all that they containe,

Which were created for “his Glories sake;” Prov. 16. 4.

And to be Lord of part of worke or’e-past,

He Adam made, and Eve of him at last.

In Eden garden God did place them both,

To whom Commaund of all the trees he gave,

The fruit of one tree onely to forbeare,

On paine of Death (his owne he did but crave,)

And Sathan thinking this their good too great,

Suggests the Woman, shee the man, they eate.

Thus eating both, they both did joyntly sinne,

And Elohim dishonoured by their act;

Doth ratifie, what he had earst decreed,

Gen. 2. 17 That Death must be the wages of their fact;

Thus on them, and their of-spring thenceforth seaz’d

Mortalitie, because they God displeas’d.

In “Adam all men die,” I. Cor. 15. 22. not one that’s free

From that condition we from him derive,

By sinne Death entred, and began to raigne,

But yet in “Christ shall all be made alive.” Rom. 5. 12

Who did triumph o’re sinne, o’re Death, and hell,

That all his chosen may in glorie dwell.

C2 Considering C2v 14

Considering then Jehovahs just decree,

That man shall surely taste of Death through sinne,

I much lament, when as I mete in minde,

The dying state securely men live in;

Excluding from their memories that day,

When they from hence by Death must passe away.

Ephes. 2. I The Scripture mentioneth three kindes of Death,

The first whereof is called Death in sinne,

When as the bodie lives, and soule is Dead,

This sort of Death did other Deaths beginne.

I. Tim. 5. 6 The Widowes, whom Saint Paul doth specifie,

Their life in pleasure caus’d their soules to die.

The unregenerated sinnefull man,

That seemes to live, but is in spirit Dead,

Lives to the world, and daily dies to God,

Prepostrously his course of life is led;

He lives and dies, but cannot die and live,

“The Childrens bread to Whelps God will not give.” Mat. 15. 26

The second kinde of Death is “Death to sinne,” Rom. 6. II

Whereby the faithfull and regenerate man

Doth daily Mortifie his ill desires,

That sin doth neither raigne in him, nor can.

Thus dying in this life, in Death he lives,

And after Death to him God glorie gives.

The third and last of these, is Death by sinne,

Which as a roote two braunches forth doth send,

The former bough whereof is Corp’rall Death,

The latter Death eternall without end.

Which end without end God doth destinate,

To be the stipend of the Reprobate.

This C3r 15

This is that Death which sacred Scripture calls

The second Death, or separation

Of soule, and bodie from the love of God;

The sinners lot, just Condemnation.

Which “cannot be to them, that are in Christ,” Rom. 8. I.

“Whose life is hid with him in God the hyest.” Col. 3. 3.

A Corp’rall Death is common unto all,

To young, and old, to godly and unjust;

The Prince, that swayes the scepter of a Realme,

Must with his Subjects turne by Death to dust.

This is the period of all Adams lyne,

Which Epilogue of life I thus define.

When soule and bodie by one spirit knit,

Unloosed are, and “dust returnes to earth,” Eccle. 12.7.

The spirit unto God that gave it man,

By which he lives in wombe before his birth;

The bodie voyd of soule, bereft of breath,

Is that condition called Corp’rall Death.

This is that Death, which leades the soule to life,

This is that friend, which frees us from our paine,

This is the Portall of true Paradise,

Through which we passe eternall life to gaine;

This is the leader unto joy or woe,

This is the dore, through which all men must goe.

Gen. 3. 19. Death was at first inflicted as a curse,

But “Womans seede hath brooke the Serpents head,” Gen. 3. 15.

His bitter Death for us hath gained life,

His agonie hath freed his owne from dread.

Death is that guest the godly wish to see;

For when it comes, their troubles ended be.

All C3v 16

“All things doe worke together for the best Rom. 8. 1.

To those, that love and are beloved of God;”

If all things, then must also sinne and Death,

Sicknesse, and sorrowes, worlds owne scourging rod:

For in despight of flesh, the world, and Devill,

God to his Children brings good out of evill.

First, we by Death are freed from present woe,

And such Gods spirit hath pronounced blest,

As in the Lord depart this irkesome life;

For “from their labours they for ever rest.” Revel. 14. 13.

’Tis Death Conducts us to the land of peace,

Then welcome Death, which doth all sorrowes cease.

If man were fettred in a loathsome goale,

Without one sparke of hope to come from thence,

Till Prison walls were levell with the ground,

He would be glad to see their fall Commence.

Thy bodies ruine then rejoyce to see,

That out of Goale thy soule may loosed be.

What worse Bocardo for the soule of man,

Then is the bodie, which with filth is fraught;

Witnesse the sinkes thereof, through which doe passe

The excrements, appoynted for the draught.

Evacuations, loathsome in their smell,

Egested filth, unfit for tongue to tell.

“From out of Prison bring my soule O Lord,” Psal. 142. 7.

Was Davids earnest and sincere desire,

I. King. 19. 4. Eliah in the anguish of his heart,

Did Death in stead of irkesome life require.

“Vile”, “Live”, and “Evil”, have the selfe same letters,

He lives but vile whom evil houlds in fetters.

The C4r 17

The Heathens make report, that Argia,

To yeeld requitall for the toyle and paine,

Which Biton and Cleobis for her tooke,

Desir’d the goddesse Juno, they might gaine

The greatest good, she could to man bequeath,

Which graunted was, and paid with sodeine Death.

The Thracians sadly sorrow and lament,

When as their Children first behold the light,

But with great exultation they rejoyce,

What time their friends doe bid the world Good-night.

2. Sam. 12. 20. When Davids Childe was sicke he would not eate,

But being Dead, he rose and call’d for meate.

By Death we secondly delivered are,

From future sorrowes, and calamities,

“The godly perish and are ta’ne away Esay. 57. I.

From ill to come”, as Esay testifies.

I. King. 14. 13. And thus God cut off Jeroboams sonne,

Because he saw some good in him begun.

We thirdly are, by Death exempt from sinne,

And freed from bondage of inthralled woe,

’Tis true, that life’s the blessing of the Lord,

But yet by it sinne doth increase and grow.

And sinne is but the of-spring of the Devill,

Then blest is he, whom Death frees from this evill.

To some the Lord in mercie graunteth space,

For true repentance of committed sinne,

And reformation of those evill wayes,

Which through corruption they have walked in;

And other some, who sinne as earst before,

He takes away, that they may sinne no more.

Death C4v 18

Death Corporall in fine is as a dore,

Through which our soules doe passe without delay

Into those joyes, which cannot be conceiv’d;

This truth is proved plaine, where Christ doth say,

“To day thou shalt be with mee” Luke 23. 43. to that theefe,

Which at last gaspe did beg his soules reliefe.

What is this world, if ballanced with heaven;

Earths glorie fades, but heavenly joyes indure,

This life is full of sicknesse, want, and woe;

But life through Christ hath no disease to cure.

In heaven there is no maladie or paine,

But melodie, true comfort to maintaine.

There Saints are Crown’d with matchlesse majestie,

Invested with eternall roabes of glorie;

There Sunne doth shine, and suffers no eclips,

Earths chiefest joyes are vaine, and transitorie.

Unconstant, fading, fickle, and unsure,

But heavens pleasures permanent endure.

There is not penurie, or choaking care

For present time, or the succeeding morrow;

But there are riches without toyle attain’d;

Myrth without mourning, solace without sorrow.

Peace without perill, plentie without want,

Where without asking, God doth all things grant.

I. Cor. 2. 9. The eye of man hath never yet beheld,

Nor hath his eare attended once to heare,

Ne yet his heart conceiv’d, or understood

The joyes prepar’d, and purchas’d for the deare

And chosen Children of our heavenly Father,

Who doth his sheepe into one sheepe-fould gather.

And D1r 19

And as our soules possesse true happinesse,

So shall our mortall bodies vile and base,

Phil. 3. 21. Be rais’d immortall by the power of Christ,

And with our soules enjoy a glorious place,

That re-united they may joyne in one,

Ephes. 2. 20. To sing the praises of the Corner-Stone.

The day of Death, saith Salomon the Wise,

(Which paradox the Godly approbate)

“Is better then the day that one is borne;” Eccles. 7. 3.

For Death conducts us to a blisse-full state.

’Tis Lazars friend, though it seeme Dives foe,

But life inducts us to a world of woe.

The Mariner, which doth assay to passe

The raging seas into some forraine land,

Desireth much to have his voyage ended,

And to arrive upon the solid sand.

All creatures with desire doe seeke for rest,

After they have with labour beene opprest.

The Pilgrim, which a journey undertakes,

Feeding his fancie with exoticke sights,

Deemes not his way much irkesome to his foot;

Because his paine is mixed with delights.

For ’tis his joy to thinke upon that day,

When he shall see the period of his way.

Men are as Saylors in this irksome life,

Who at the haven alwayes cast their eye,

As Pilgrims wandring in a uncouth land.

Then who is he, that will not wish to dye?

And he whom God by Death doth soonest call,

Is in my minde the happiest wight of all.

D When D1v 20

When Simeon had embraced in his armes,

His Lord, whom he had waited long to see,

He of his Saviour instantly desir’d

A “nunc dimittis,” Luke 2. 29. that he might be free

From bitter bondage of unpleasant life,

Where flesh and spirit alwayes are at strife.

By their Contraries things may best be seene,

Jet makes the Ivorie most white appeare,

’Tis darknesse which doth manifest the light,

And sicknesse makes us value health most deare.

Lifes miserie doth best make knowne the gaine,

And freedome, which by Death we doe obtaine.

Consider then the evils of this life,

Whose pleasures are as honie mixt with gall,

Or bankes of flowers, which cover lurking snakes,

Snares to intrap, and blocks whereat some fall.

What wise-man then of them will reck’ning make,

Or wish to live for fading pleasures sake?

It were some motive to induce delight,

In living long, if life would certaine last,

But Infancie and Childhood scarce are seene,

Before that both of them are overpast.

Juventus sodeinly doth flie away,

Adoloscency makes but little stay.

Virilitie doth not continue long,

Old-age is short and hastens to an end,

Our longest life and pleasure is but briefe,

Thus tedious griefes on every age attend.

Which like to sable clouds eclips our sunne,

And makes our glasse of life with sorrow run.

Consider D2r 21

Consider man in his abridged time,

What pricking perill he therein doth beare;

Youth is incumbred with untimely harmes,

Continuall care doth Middle-age out-weare.

Old-age is testie, subject unto griefe,

Diseases steale upon it as a theefe.

The bodie is in danger (every part)

Of hurt, disease, and losse of sense, and lym,

Auditus unto deafenesse subject is,

Visus of blindnesse, or of being dym,

Gustus of savours, bitter, tart, and sowre,

Olfactus unto loathsome stinks each houre.

Tactus is subject to benummednesse,

Our goods to spoyle by theeves, or sodeyne fire,

Good name is lyable to false reports,

Invective obtrectations, fruites of ire;

Our kindred and acquaintance subject are

To like mishap, which falleth to our share.

Our soule in danger is of vice and errour,

Our bodie subject to imprisonment,

To hurt by beasts, as horses and the like,

Or else to spoyle by creatures virulent;

Which with their stings doe give untimely wound,

Or else to squatts and bruises on the ground.

Those dewes, which Sol attracteth from the earth,

Prove most pernicious when they doe descend,

To number all the evills of this life,

May have beginning, but can finde no end.

For new enormities, new plagues procure,

’Tis just to scourge, where love cannot allure.

D2 What D2v 22

What course, or trade of life, is free from griefe?

Or what condition voyd of all annoy?

To live in office, trouble is our lot,

To live at home is uncouth without joy:

To worke in field is toylesome, full of paine,

At sea are feares, in traffique little gaine.

In journey jeopardie doth us attend,

In marriage griefe and care oppresse the minde,

The single life is solitarie, vaine;

The rich can little joy in riches finde;

For having much, his care must watch his wealth,

From secret pilfring, and from open stealth.

If poverty be our appointed lot,

Our griefe is great, reliefe and comfort small,

We must endure oppression, suffer wrong,

“The weake in wrestling goeth to the wall”:

If we be bit, we cannot bite againe,

If rich men strike, we must their blow sustaine.

If we be eminent in place of note,

Then stand we as a marke for envies dart,

Conjecture censures our defect of worth,

Inquirie doth anatomize each part,

And if our reputation be but small,

Contempt and scorne doth us and ours befall.

The infant from the wombe into the world

Comes crying, by the which it doth presage

The paines, and perils, it must undergoe,

In childe-hood, man-hood, and decreped age,

He that most knowes this life, least doth it love,

Except affliction may affection move.

Mans D3r 23

Mans life on earth is like a Ship at Sea,

Tost on the waves of troubles to and fro,

Assayl’d by pirates, crost by blustring windes,

Where rockes of ruine menace overthrow.

Where stormes molest, and hunger pincheth sore,

Where Death doth lurke at every Cabbin dore.

Yet some afflictions in this irkesome life,

God doth in mercie to his Children send,

Thereby to weane them from the love of that,

Which is but noysome, and will soone have end.

That so their “liking may be set above,” Col. 3. 2.

Upon those pleasures which shall never move.

Phil. I. 23. Which made the Chosen vessell of the Lord,

That he might be with Christ, desire to die,

Job. 6. 8. 9. And Job to wish his dayes were at an end,

Because his life was naught but miserie.

The godly man is tyred with his breath,

And findes no rest, till he be free by Death.

What then is life that it should be desir’d?

Or what advantage by it doth man winne?

Is not this world a net to snare the soule?

Doe not long livers multiplie their sinne?

Is not this life a mappe of miserie,

The quite contrarie of tranquilitie.

For though the seeming pleasures of this life

Doe cause us love it, yet the paines may move

Us to contemne the bait, which hides the hooke,

And rather loath, then either like or love,

A path of Ice, where footing is unsure,

Or bitter pills, though guilded to allure.

But D3v 24

But some (who live as Dives did) may say,

That life is sweet, and comfort doth afford,

That there are few whom sicknesse doth arrest,

But wish most earnestly to be restor’d.

I. King. 20. 3. That Hezekiah wept when he heard tell,

That God would have him bid the world farewell.

As also David to the Lord did say,

“Let my soule live, that it may praise thee still;” Psal. 119. 175.

Luke 22. 42. And Christ did pray, his Cup might from him passe,

If so it were his holy Fathers will:

But Hezekiah wept, because that yet

He had no issue on his throne to sit.

And Davids wish from reason did proceed;

For he was then perplexed with his foe,

Who would with exultation have affirm’d,

That God in wrath had wrought his overthrow.

Gal. 3. 13. And of Christs prayer this was the reason why,

Because he was a cursed Death to die.

When godly men doe dread the sight of Death,

Their fearefulnesse it is but natures errour,

“The spirit’s readie, but the flesh is weake,” Mat. 26. 41.

Assisting grace will mitigate their terror.

Yet some mens feare doth issue from mistrust,

That they shall never shine among the just.

The conscience of whose life in sinne mis-led,

At sight of Death doth make them trembling stand,

Dan. 5. 6. And like Belshatsar change their wonted lookes,

Because that their destruction is at hand.

For when that God o’re them gives Death full power,

Grave takes their bodies, hell their soules devoure.

They D4r 25

They know that sinne deserves eternall Death;

And therefore feare when they depart from hence,

And that their Lampe of life is quite extinct,

Their pleasures shall conclude, and paines commence.

The worme of Conscience gnawes so in their brest,

As makes their terrour not to be exprest.

Num. 23. 10. And then (too late) with Balam they desire,

(When they perceive their latter end draw nie)

That they the righteous may assimilate

In their departure, and like them may die.

But holy life is that portendeth blisse,

He that lives well can never die amisse.

That man which lives a sanctifyed life,

Yet doth not die with outward peace and rest,

Through conflicts had with Sathan and his lusts;

Judge not amisse of him, whom God hath blest.

In leading by the gate of hell to joy,

Where he shall be exempt from all annoy.

For sometimes ’tis the lot of wicked men,

Which in impietie their life have led,

To outward view to leave this world in peace,

Without so much as strugling on their bed.

The Death of Nabal who so noteth well,

I. Sam. 25. 37. Shall finde that many passe like stones to hell.

Death is the messenger of weale and woe,

Gen. 40. 13. 19. Like Joseph, which foretold of dignitie,

That Pharoah on his Butler would bestow,

But to the Baker fatall miserie.

He did predict should sodeinly ensue,

Which, as he said, did quickly fall out true.

Vnto D4v 26

Unto the faithfull, Death doth tydings bring

Of life, of favour, and eternall rest,

How they from out the prison of this world,

In which with griefes they have beene sore opprest,

Shall be receiv’d through Christs eternall love

To live for ever with their God above.

For though that Death considered in it selfe

Be fearefull, and doth many terrors bring,

Yet unto them there is no cause of dread;

For by Christs Death grim Mors hath lost it sting.

That as a toothlesse Snake no hurt can doe,

No more can Death procure the godly woe.

I. Cor. 15. 56. The sting of Death the Scripture sayth is sinne,

Christs powerfull Death hath tooke Deaths power away,

Hosea 13. 14. That by the merit of his Conquering word;

To Death and Hell we may with boldnesse say,

I. Cor. 15. 55. Death where’s thy sting, Hell where’s thy victorie?

In Christ we live maugre thy tyrannie.

The godly onely comfort finde in Death,

They view the end, and not regard the way,

And with the eye of faith they see, that God

Intends more good to them, then earth can pay:

And though to die they dare not supplicate,

Yet for their dissolution they doe waite.

So that if Death arrest them unawares,

Yet can it not them unprepared finde,

And if with respite they depart this world,

Their wel-led-life doth consolate their minde,

And makes them welcome Death with joy of heart;

’Tis happie newes that they from life must part.

But E1r 27

But to the wicked Death brings word of Death;

For why to them it hath not lost it sting:

It is but the exordium of their woes,

And as a Goalor doth from Prison bring

Their guiltie soules, to suffer for their sinne

Those paines which end not, though they doe begin.

Within them terror doth affright their mindes,

Above them they the face of justice see,

Beneath them horrour doth affront their sight,

About them ugly Devils readie bee,

With watchfull eyes, most willing without grudge,

To execute the pleasure of the Judge.

Death takes them as it findes them, and forthwith

It doth present them, as it doth them take,

Unto the Lord, who censures their deserts,

As they are found, when they appearance make.

And as they are adjudged, so they must,

For ever under-goe their sentence just.

Mortalitie is Gods exact decree,

Which as the deluge of his kindled ire,

Hath overwhelmed with a dying life

Decaying man, whose state doth still require,

And pregnantly induce to thinke on Death,

Ere it obstruct the passage of his breath.

Three motives moving man to meditate

Psal. 89. 48. On Death, ere Death, I briefely will declare;

Deut. 31. 14. First the Necessitie that men must die,

By which they are forewarned to prepare,

Against that time, when they must goe from hence,

This strict Oportet will with none dispence.

E Those E1v 28

Those daily objects man doth speculate,

Present unto his thought, that he must die;

For all things in this world declare and shew,

That man is subject to Mortalitie;

Those vegetives, which bud and spring out most,

Doth Hyems kill, and cut away with frost.

I. Pet. 3. 10. The elements must be dissolv’d with heate,

The Macrocosmus it must passe away,

Luke 21. 33. And man the Microcosmus needs must die,

Both young and old must goe to Golgotha.

Faire buildings levell with the ground must lye,

And strongest Citties come to nullitie.

Dan. 6. 15. The Medes and Persians did their lawes confirme

So strongly, that they could not altred bee,

And this appointment “all men once must die,” Heb. 9. 27.

Is as infallible, as their decree.

“We needs must die,” 2. Sam. 14. 14. to pay what God doth lend,

Life had beginning, and must have an end.

From earth man came, to dust he must returne,

This is the descant of Deaths fatall dittie,

All men are mortall, therefore must they die,

And Paul sayth, “Here is no abiding Cittie.” Heb. 13. 14.

Job 7. 6. Mans dayes consume like wax against the Sunne,

And as a Weavers shittle swiftly runne.

That thing, which may bee, may be doubted off,

And as a thing uncertaine passe neglected;

But things that must be, greater heed require,

And of necessitie must bee expected.

Then thinke on Death, ere Death, for truth doth show,

That Death must come, but when we may not know.

The E2r 29

The second motive mooving thought of Death,

Is the impartialitie of it,

Respecting neither persons, age, or sexe,

By bribes sinister it doth none acquit;

Friends nor intreaties can no whit prevaile,

Where Death arrests it will admit no Bayle.

What is become of Absolom the faire?

David the Victor, Salomon the wise?

Cressus the worldly rich, Dives the wretch?

Sampson the strong, that was bereft of eyes?

From these, and more then these, with whetted knife,

Death hath cut off the silver thread of life.

It is hereditarie unto all,

“Lazarus dead, Dives must also die,” Luke 16. 22.

Passe from his downe-bed to his bed of dust,

And untill doomes day in earths bowels lye.

Death scatters that, which life had carking got,

And casts on youthfull yeares old ages lot.

Like Jehues shaft it spares not Jorams heart,

2. King 9.24. But makes Kings subject to it awelesse power.

David must yeeld to tread the beaten path,

I. King 2.2. When Death with open mouth meanes to devoure.

And having changed corps to dust, who then

Can well distinguish Kings from other men?

The greatest Monarch of earths Monarchie,

Whom God with worldly honours highly blest,

Deaths Beesome from this life hath swept away,

Gen. 5.5. Their stories Epilogue is Mortuus est.

For Death to all men dissolution brings,

Yea, the Catastrophe it is of Kings.

E2 Great E2v 30

Great Alexander Conquer’d many Lands,

And savage Creatures he bereft of breath;

But in the Records of his famous acts,

It is not writ, that he did Conquer Death.

The stoutest souldiour fitted for the field,

Maugre his might to Death his life must yeeld.

Methushelah, one of the longest livers,

Could not escape the peircing dart of Death,

But when the sand out of his glasse was runne,

Mors stopt the passage of his vitall breath.

Death from the stately throne to grave dejects,

No more the Prince then Peasant it respects.

It doth dissolve the knot by friendship knit,

From David it takes Jonathan away,

And Children of their Parents it bereaves,

Parents their Children must not have for aye.

Without respect of any or remorce,

It workes the husband’s, and his wifes divorce.

’Tis so impartiall, that it spareth none,

But doth surprize the rich as well as poore,

It was not Tullies learned eloquence,

That could perswade Death to passe by his dore.

Nor is it wealth or prowesse that can tame,

Gen. 3. 19. Deaths vigour, for it sends men whence they came.

The third and last is the uncertaintie

Of Deaths approach, as when or at what time,

It will arrest us, whether in old age,

Or our Virilitie and youthfull prime.

The which must cause continuall thought of Death,

That unawares it may not stop our breath.

Time E3r 31

Time turnes the heavens in a certaine course,

“The Storke and Crane appoynted seasons know,” Jer. 8.7.

The starres their constant motions doe observe,

Tides have their times to ebbe and over-flow.

Mans fickle state doth onely rest unsure

Of certaine course, and season to endure.

The Tenant thinkes upon that date of time,

Which will his lease of house or land expire;

But of the end or punctum of this life,

Whereof we have no lease, who doth inquire?

We in this life are Tenants but at will,

God onely knowes the time we must fulfill.

The Preter time, which is alreadie past,

Was ours, but never will be so againe;

The Future time perhaps shall not be ours,

To make account thereof is therefore vaine;

The instant time which present we injoy

Is onely ours to mannage and imploy.

I make no doubt but many men would mourne,

If they exactly knew their finall day

Should be within a yeare of present time,

Yet now with mirth they passe their time away;

When as perhaps they shall not live one houre,

Nay in a moment, Death may them devoure.

Some tender Infants in their Cradle die,

Like blooming blossomes blowne from off the tree;

2. Sam. 12. 18. Davids young sonne must die, it is decreed

That length of dayes he shall not live to see.

Thus greedie Death plucks buds from off the tree,

When fruits mature grow and ungath’red bee.

There E3v 32

There is no man on earth that can foretell,

Where Death, or in what place will us select,

Abroad, at home, in cittie, or the field,

It is Uncertaine, that we may expect

Deaths comming alwayes, and in every place,

To make compleate the currant of our race.

The manner of Deaths comming, How ’twill be,

God hath conceal’d to make us vigilant.

Some die by sicknesse, others by mishap,

Some die with surfeit, other some with want:

Some die by fire, some perish by the Sword,

Some drown’d in Water swim unto the Lord.

Pope Adrian was stifeled with a Gnatt,

Old Anacreon strangled with a Grape,

A little hayre did choake great Fabius,

Saphira could not sodeine Death escape.

Into this life we all but one way came,

But divers wayes we goe out of the same.

If God from perill did not us protect,

Our daily food might stop our vitall breath,

The things we neither doubt, nor feare, may prove

The instruments of an untimely Death.

And in a moment worke our lives decay,

When we least thinke upon our ending day.

’Tis God omniscient which doth onely know

The time of life, that man on earth must live,

At his appoyntment “Moses must goe die,” Deut. 32. 50.

Who bounds and limmit unto time doth give:

Man happen may to aske Where, When, and How,

Death will surprize, but God sayth Thus, here, now.

Of E4r 33

Of lifes decay man information hath,

From certaine monitors, which Usher Death;

The first whereof proclaimes th’uncertaintie

Of time determin’d for mans use of breath.

The second doth discover miserie.

The third inevitable certaintie.

The first of these is sodeine casualtie,

Which doth suggest that Death may doubtfull be,

The second sicknesse, which with irksome groanes

Declares, that Death may grievous be to thee.

Thirdly old-age this rule doth verifie,

“Young men may faile, but aged men must die.”

It therefore is most requisite for those,

That wish to be upright in judgement found,

Not by their workes, but for their Saviours meed,

To thinke they alwayes heare the last trump sound,

That they their soules in readinesse may make:

For when Death comes ’twill no excuses take.

Deut. 32. 29. Jehovah by his Utinam doth shew

His great desire, that men should have respect

To understand and thinke upon their end,

Which want of wisedome causeth them neglect.

For surely where the Lord doth knowledge give,

Men live and learne to die, and die to live.

To entertaine a Legate from a King

In costly manner, many will prepare;

Yet Death that comes from him, that’s King of Kings,

Welcome to bid, there are but few that care;

But “as the tree doth fall, so shall it lye,” Eccl. II. 3.

And men must rise to Judgement as they die.

That E4v 34

That thing, which at all seasons may be done,

When ever done, is not done out of season;

A daily expectation of that guest,

Which any time may come proceeds from reason.

Jerusalem her latter end forgot,

And therefore desolation was her lot.

Invading Mors without remorse devoures,

And if we be not arm’d ere it assault,

We shall be foyled ere we can be arm’d;

If we be taken tardie ’tis our fault.

For sith ’tis certaine, Mors will surely strike,

We must expect Deaths poyson-pointed pyke.

That unawares we may not be surpriz’d,

But readie to receive that fatall blowe,

Which cannot be resisted when it comes,

No more then force of flouds which overflow.

Premeditation is the best defence

Against this foe, which will with none dispence.

For from continuall thought of Deaths assault,

Doe sundry speciall benefits arise,

Carelesse securitie it first prevents,

Wherewith our ghostly foe doth blind our eyes;

And by the which he makes us quite forget,

That there’s a Centre in our Circle set.

By thought of Death (in second place) we gaine

Acquaintance, with our foe afore our fight,

Expected dangers loose their greatest force.

Pauls “dying daily” I. Cor. 15. 31. put false feare to flight.

Those faces, which at first have ugly hew,

Grow into liking through their often view.

Thirdly F1r 35

Thirdly by thought of Death, ere life decay,

We shall contemne this world and hold it vaine,

Into the which we nothing brought at first,

I. Tim. 6. 7. Nor from it can we carrie ought againe.

As also know whil’st on this Sea we floate,

We are but strangers, from our home remote.

Gen. 8. 9. The Dove, which Noah sent from forth the Arke,

Could finde no rest, till shee return’d againe;

Nor can the faithfull, till they goe to Christ,

True rest and quiet without griefe obtaine:

Heaven is the haven of the faithfull wight,

Christ’s love the object of their soules delight.

Psal. 42. I. The soule of David panted after God,

And thirsted oft his presence to obtaine;

Heb. II. 9. The father of the faithfull liv’d in tents,

And stranger-like in Canaan did remaine.

That he might no where settle his abode,

But in the Cittie of the living God.

Fourthly, premeditation of our Death,

Doth cause us crucifie our sinfull lust,

Gal. 5. 24. And by the spirit mortifie the flesh,

That soule may live when bodie turnes to dust;

And makes us know that costly roabes and meate,

Doe decke and nourish food for Wormes to eate.

Fifthly, the thought of our decease by Death,

Doth move us seriously to waigh in minde,

How that our first materiall was but earth;

Job. 7. 7. That life is short, unconstant as the Winde:

Job. 9. 26. Like mist and dew, which Sunne doth drive away,

Or swift as Eagles hasting to their pray.

F Man F1v 3736

I. Pet. I. 24. Man is in sacred Writ compar’d to grasse,

Which flourishing to day sends forth it flowre,

With’ring at night, is cast into the fire,

Of short persistance, like an --04Aprill showre.

For who so now perceives the Sunne to shine,

His life is done before that it decline.

Psal. 102. 3. Our dayes consume and passe away like smoake,

Like Bavens blaze soone kindled, soone extinct,

Job. 9. 26. Or like a Ship which swiftly slides the Sea,

Uncertaine, fickle, irkesome, and succinct.

Recite I all the fading types I can,

Yet none so momentanie as is man.

Job. 8. 9. Unto a shadow Job doth life compare,

Which when the bodie moves, doth vanish quite,

Job. 20. 8. To vanitie, and likewise to a dreame,

Whereof we have an hundred in one night.

Psal. 39. 5. David’s resembling life unto a span,

Doth shew the short continuance of man.

If happinesse consist in length of dayes,

An Oke more happie then a man appeares;

So doth the Elephant, and sturdie Stagge,

Which commonly doe live two hundred yeares:

Psal. 90. 10. But mortall man, as Moses doth unfould,

If he live fourescore yeares is counted old.

When Xerxes with ten hundred thousand men

Attempted warre, his eyes did showre forth teares;

To thinke, not one of those, whom he imploy’d,

Should be alive within one hundred yeares.

For Adams heyres ingaged doe remaine

To pay, what he receiv’d, and lost againe.

The F2r 3637

The day wherein we first behold the light,

Begins our Death, for life doth daily fade,

Our day of Death begins our happie life,

We are in danger, till our debt is paid.

Life is but lent, we owe it to the Lord,

When ’tis demanded, it must be restor’d.

A false imagination of long life

Luke 12. 19. Made Dives sing a requiem to his soule,

Inlarge his Barnes, disport, and make good cheare,

Till just Jehovah did his thoughts controwle.

Who calls him foole, and quells his fond delight,

By threat’ning judgement to befall that night.

Sixthly, the thought of Deaths most sure approach,

Doth move contrition for our preter sinne,

And workes restraint of present ill desires,

Inspiring constant purpose to begin,

A faithfull life by Gods assisting grace,

That to his glory we may runne our race.

Lastly, premeditation of our Death,

Induceth us to commendable care,

For setling and disposing our estate

To those, whom we intend shall have a share,

That when we are departed from this life,

Our goods may prove no coales to kindle strife.

When Hezekiah Judahs King was sicke,

And at the entrie of Deaths dore did lye,

The Prophet Esay came to him, and sayd,

“Put thou thy house in order, thou must die;” Esay 38. I.

Which paradigma plainely doth ingrave

That ’tis a dutie God himselfe doth crave.

F2 Neglect F2v 38

Neglect of which disturbs us at our end,

When we should be exempt from worldly care,

When doubt of who shall reape what we have sowne

Distracts our thoughts, and doth our peace impaire;

Withdrawing our affections from above,

Where we and no where els should fixe our love.

Unto that place prepar’d for Gods elect

Afore the world, the Lord conduct us still,

And grant that we the measure of our dayes,

To his good pleasure may on earth fulfill;

That when wee to our period doe attaine,

We may with Christ in glory ever raigne.


Amen.

Lord Jesus come quickly.

Finis.

Faults escaped in Printing.


  • Page 10.line 16.for perceiving read pearcing.

  • Page 18.line 26.for attended read atteined.

  • Page 23.line 15.for naught read nought.