A brief and short treatise, called the Christians pilgrimage to his fatherland Sheweth the troubles that he shall meete withall in passing this world as a wildernesse, to the heavenly Canaan, which is the true Christians fatherland. By Thomas Odell Englishman.

A Pilgrams Meditation , to let ech understand , The Christians Pilgrimation unto his Fatherland . Christ maketh declaration For such as seeke salvation , Them counsell doeth aford , Wills them make meditation , Their prayers preparation , By searching in his word , Which is a light , will guyde them right , Christ putting too his hand , Will hold them fast , so they at last Shall find their Fatherland . WHo now will take for his soules sake This journey for to goe , To him we say , first learne the way , The Scripture teacheth so . Thus sayth the Lord search in my word There thou the way shalt finde , Seeke him with hart , he will impart , And let thee know his minde . The Lord did tell to Daniell That in this latter day , Many should goe both too and froe , And aske after the way . And how some wife should them advise , Lead them in righteousnes , And that the Lord would such reward , Yea them for ever blesse . Christ doeth relate straight is the gate And narrow is the way , In which regard bids us strife hard Without shall many stay . Take head to all that will the call , And say come goe with me , The way I know and many moe , The way is faire and free . I know it well and can thee tell From place to place throughout , Leave of to read common with speed There is no feare or doubt . But goe thou on let them alone , Dispute not with such men , Whose words are faire , yet like a snare To draw the back againe . For many preach and others teach , Yet they themselves are blinde , Puft up with pride , and cannot guyde Which many thousands finde . But take thou head , the Scripture read , Then God will be thy guyde , Sease not to pray both night and day , So shall thy foote not flyde . Faith , hope and love from God above See that thou take with thee , Seeke them with hart , he will impart , For God is kinde and free . What father is so hard to his Children , that aske him bread , To give a stone , we see ech one Would have his children feed . Much more the Lord his Spirit aford To such as aske in faith , It is the word that Christ our Lord Unto his servants sayth . These gifts of grace where the take place The Lord doeth well approove , Amongst them all she principall Is faith that works by love . Faith , hope and love are from above And may not be devided , Faith doeth unfold , hope taketh hold , When both by love are guyded . When man once hath obteyned faith , He is like ship forth sayling Upon the seas in storms alwayes , His currage often quayling . When storms arise , then faith outcryes And will not leave of sounding , Till he can say , hope make a stay For here is sure grounding . Then hope in haste will anker cast , Where faith hath found abiding , And keep the ship from sand and clip , So long as it lyes riding . When storms are paste , then in all haste The anker up is taken , Faith will not fayle , but hoyst the sayle , And waight till winds doe waken . Then sayles he forth , east , west , south , north , As God shall give direction , By rocks and sands , by fearefull lands , Still finding Gods protection . Though God thus blesse , give good succes , Thy faith yet will he try , But all for good , well understood , Though ofte he make the cry . Yea when storms rise in fearefull wise , And make thee pray with weeping , Thou shalt descerne , Christ at the sterne , Who then will not be sleeping . But up will stand , the winds command And cease to cease their swelling , Which must obey , without delay , Gainst him is no rebelling . Then gone is feare the Heaven neare , Where thou shalt make thy stay , In Fatherland at his right hand , To live with him for aye . Thus much for all in generall , But now to you , O Queene , We shall relate those of hie state , Which here have Pilgrams bene . As Paul doeth write and eke resight , The greater sorte of olde , From age to age , their Pilgrimage Unto the Iewes unfould . He brings a trayne in golden chayne , The lovely Patriarkes , Which did by faith , as there he saith , Great things , well he that marks . This worke begun hee doeth anon In order set them downe , As Abell , Enoch , also Noah Three men of great renowne . But here we shall not speak of all , Though the were men of worth , In other place , we touch there case , But here wee chose on forth . A faithfull man , whose life now can Learne us , if we take head , And have good care , because we are Accounted for his seed . For Paul he saith , that we by faith , Are Abrams children , And if that we his children be , So are wee Pilgrams then . If we refuse , we doe abuse , Christ Iesus in his word , Who tels us this , the servant is , Not better then his Lord . This Abraham meeke as a lam , When God did call him forth , Left friends and land , and toke in hand A journey of great worth . A Covenant the Lord did grant To him and his for ever , Who liu'd upright in his Gods sight , Who also fayld him never . To Canaan this faithfull man With wife and Loth came thither , And ranne his rase from place to place This sayd he knew not whether . For God did try him presently , Sent famin in the Land , And then must he to Egypt flee , Yet found Gods helping hand . In Egypt there he liv'd in feare , Through bewty of his wife , He feared sore that some therefore Would take away his life . Then Abram sought away he thought Would take away this feare , He sayd to all , both great and small That she his sister weare . When as the King , had heard this thing Tooke Sara into cort , But God therefore did plage him sore That small was his comfort . Sent them away without delay From Egypt the must part , To Canaan and there anan , Hee tasted this like smart . He sayd like thing unto the King Abimelech by name , Who tooke hir then from him againe , Yet God did help the same . The Lord him lov'd this King reproud , Who gave him hir againe , So strife did cease , and he had peace , Which did not long remaine . He labored soore , diged wels store In that his time of rest , This Kings heardmen strove with him then And tooke away the best . But Abram would not that it should Continue in their hand , He that redeems for that it seems It was the best in land . He loved deare , that water cleare , And held it all his life , Gave it a name , fit for the same Call'd it the well of strife . These trials heare kept him in feare , Yet were they not quiet done , The great'st of all did him befall , When as he had a sonne . Which must be tayne , and also slayne , And offred to the Lord , For sacrifice Abram likewise Did straight obey his word . He tooke Isaack , layd on his backe The wood to make the fier , The Altar make the wood up layd Then Isaac did inquire ; Now for the lamb . And Abraham Sayd , God would it provide , Layd him thereon , and thereupon Ae Angell to him cryde . When he did stand with knyffe in hand To slay his onely sonne , With words so mild , kill not thy child , This work was now neare done . Looking aside a Ram he spyde And that he offred there , Thus God did proove his faith & love , And bleste him every where . The Lord was nye and stood him by , And did increase his strenght , That he went forth as man of worth , And won the pryse at lenght . For why truely he looked hie , He sought a city faire , Built by the Lord , who did aford It him , who now is there . Whose children all , both great & small Which seeke the things are best , Their time well spend , shall in the end Therein his bosome rest . Though Sara weak , God would not break , The Covenant he made , Gave hir Isaack , of whom we spake , Which was a lively shade . For she at lenght , by faith got strenght Concev'd and bare this sonne , By faith alone , all sinnes were gone By faith this prise she wonne . Gods promis made , gave his faith ayde Where to she had an eye , Who made hir seed , as we may read Like starres upon the skye . Hir Daughters all , that follow shall Hir lowelynes in life , Made hir man Lord , in deed and word , Although she were his wife . Who lov'd hir deare , yet Godly feare Made hir him reverence , I doe not feare , the faithfull heare At this will take offence . Humility exalteth hie , Be it with great or small , When such as pride doe make their guyde At lenght shall cache a fall . Those parents blest are at their rest , That ran a Godly race , Now shall we know how God also Did high exalt the base . Rahab may not be quite forgat Who did receve the spyes , Though she seem'd light by faith upright Found favour in Gods eyes . She dwelt we know in Iereco , Which was a sinfull city , These spyes came there in deadly feare , And she on them had pitty . She heard ech day that Iosua Was come to take the land , And did beleeve that God would give The same into his hand . These spyes were sought , but she so wroght , That thee preserved were , Who let hir proove their faith and love Which tooke away hir feare . A token they gave hir that day , To hange over the wall , Hir house thereby did stand firmely , When all the rest did fall . And Iosua to spyes did sayè Performe your promis made , Who brought hir thence with hir parents And friends under hir shade . After we read of Iudahs seed , One tooke hir to his wife , And through the same Christ Iesus came Which is the Lord of life . Let all learne here that live in feare , To love and logde such spyes , Which now doe preach , & them cá teach And set before their eyes . Their wofull case in such a place , Where soul can have no rest , And so them bring to Christ their King , Where they shall both be bleft . Here followeth the tryals of Queene Hester , with hir Unckle Mordicai , that captive in Babylon , and how the Lord did highly exalt them . HEre shall we find , how Hester kind With hir friend Mordicai , God turn'd their grief into relief , Their sorrows into joy . We find it thus , King Assurus Did make a royall feast , Which lasted long , his love was strong , And stretched to the least . Upon a day in Royall ray , He for Queene Vasta sent , That ech might see the Queene bewte , But she would not consent . Wherefore the King , about this thing , Tooke counsell of his wise , Who told him hence a great offence Might to them all arise . Their wifes might say , shall we obey , Queene Vasta hath deny'd , Thus shall ech man be vexed than , His wife will him deryde . These wise then sayd , seeke for a mayd Throughout your Kingdoms all , And let your grace give hir the place , Which did to Hester fall . For she was faire , had godly care , For which the Lord hir blest , That she found grace for the Kings face , And Vastas roome possest . She brought to light all Hamans spite , That would the Iewes destroy , The ground of this envy of his He tooke from Mordicai . Who did resort , and sat in porte Of King Assurus place , And safte his life from men of strife , Who afterward found grace . This Hamans head was exalted , And lified up so hie , All charged now to bend and bow , When as he past them by . But Mordicai would not obey , No honour he would give To Haggagite an hypocrite , So longe as he did live . He knew indeed of wicked seed , This Haman up was sprong , For he no doubt typed one out , Whose dayes will not be long . Then he abus'd , and sore accus'd The Iewes before the King , Charging them hie with trechery , And so obtayn'd this thing . This King then sent incontenent Throughout his Kingdoms all , By such a day to take away , Their lives and spoyle them all . Then Mordicai did fast and pray , And rent his cloaths likewise , He put a sacke upon his backe , Made many bitter cryes . With grief he goes doeth this disclose To Hester contenent , And gave hir charge with speeches large , Where to hir eare she lent . For thus sayd he thinke not to be At rest or save thy life , Seeke to the King about this thing , To take away the strife . It may be thought , that God hath brought Thy here unto this place , Herein to use , and save the Iewes , In this their wofull case . Hester did say to Mordicay , Command the Iewes sayd she , Three dayes to faste , no foode to taste , And likewise pray for me . She was in feare , none might com neare Till he had for them sent , Yet live or dye , now goe will I , And to the Court she went . She found time fit , the King did sit Upon his Royall seat , Which Scepter by did Hester spye , On whom his love was great . Held Scepter out , then gone was doubt On Scepter she tooke hold , Though he sat hie , spake lovingly , His words made Hester bold . Now free from feare she drew him neare , Who asked hir intent , What she did crave or sought to have , He would there to consent . She pray'd the King with him to bring This Haman to hir feast , This feast she made was but a shade To cover hir unrest . The night before this King was sore Trouble no rest could take , Sore was he try'd on every side , The Lord kept him awake . For God would not have that forgot , Which should preserve the Iewes , Put in his mind , this way to find , His time that night to use . He made with speed men for to read , Things that recorded were , In reading they found Mordicai , That lov'd the King so deare . And sav'th his life from men of strife , And yet had no reward , But now the King did minde the thing , And that with good regard . Went to the feast which then was drest But Haman was not there , For he did lurke had other worke , A gallos did prepare . For Mordicay and would that day Have hanged him thereon , The King knew not this wicked plot , And sent for him anon . The King did than aske of Haman His counsell in a case , What he should doe to that man who He minded for to grace . Haman him told things manyfold , Which feare we need not name , His minde was hie , though who but I , Which turned to his shame . Then sayd the King performe ech thing On Mordicai the Iew , This like a dart in Hamans hart His currage overthrew . Then Mordicay he did aray In Kingly cloathing faire , On Kings horse he must mounted be Led through the city there . With crowne on head a great man led His horse from place to place , And all the way , this must he say , Thus doeth the King him grace . And honour so that he may goe , Estemed of all men , This being done , they goe ech one Unto his place againe . And so that day came Mordicay Againe to the Kings porte , And Haman went told this event His friends in wofull sorte . His wife she resh did not refresh , Or comfort him at all , His words she heard , and for reward Did prophesie his fall . This King then sent incontenent , For Haman to the feast , This hearing than he came anan His banket now was drest . Whereat the King did aske what thing It was that Hester sought , Were it halfe his she should not mis See here what love had wroght . For to be short in humble sorte , She asked but hir life , And of the Iewes which made him muse , Loe here begun the strife . She did unfold , sayd we are sold , To be destroyed all , But had it beene for servants then , My suite I had let fall . The King sayd than , were is the man That doeth presume so hie , Then answ'red she Haman is hee , That sits the King so nye . The King was wroth , stood up went forth , But Haman begged grace , Of Hester kind , but none could find , He now had runne his race . He sat upon , or leaned on The banke where Hester sat , The King came in , then did begin His heart to rise thereat . Who sayd likewise before mine eyes Will he now force the Queene , Therewith came in his chamberlin , And told what he had seene . After the Pallas stood a gallos , That was exceeding hie , Hamans invent , whereon he ment To hang up Mordicai . But God the Lord would not aford , That it should come to pas , But let the King Haman to bring , Who thereon hanged was . Queene Hester then , begun attaine With meeknes and with teares , Sought of the King , that he would bring , The Iewcs out of their feares . Who letters sent incontenent Performed hir request , For breake did he that trecherie , So that the Iewes had rest . House of Haman the King gave than To Hester that same day , Tooke Hamans ring a costly thing , And gave it Mordicai . The words of one call'd Salamon May here be seene of all , Humility shall mount up hie . When pride shall have a fall . O worthy Queene , here have you seene Queene Hesters Pilgrimage , With great & small , so goes it all , And hath from age to age . There are none free , if that they be Children of Abraham , By saith in Christ , Sonne of the hiest , That meeke and lovely lamb . Who for our sake did undertake A Pilgrimage on earth , Paye Adams debt , and us doeth set , In favour by new birth . He us outsought , and dearly bought , We now are not our owne , He will us proove , how we him love Who hath his love thus showne . What had we in all dead in sin , Whence did this love arise , He lov'd us first , that were acurst , And so his enimies . O love of loves , well he that prooves And yeelds him love againe , Counts worlds love los , & like to drosse , So he may Christ attaine . Who with words meek , wils us to seek His Kingdome first of all , And righteousnes for to possesses The other things he shall Give us indeed , as we have need , And that from day to day , He faithfull is , and will doe this , To all that him obey . True faith this day is in decay , The most seeke worldly welth , Stryving for it , their soules forget , Seeke not Gods saving health . Yet he hath thus forbidden us , Our treasure here to lay , Where rust or mot , may cause it rot , Or theeves may take away . Lay it with love in Heaven above , From thence it shall not part , It cannot mis , where treasure is , There also is the heart . Paul doth confesse , that Godlynes It is the greatest gaine , If we consent therewith content , For that shall still remaine . When other stufe more then I n'ofe , Shall vanish in the wind , And they no rest , that had possest , Such things as made them blind . Th' Apostle Paul tooke vew of all Such thinges he had before , Put them to flight , set his delight In Christ that gave him more . Of heavenly wealth , for his souls health , And for good of us all , In his worke we may read and see , His tryals were not small . His Pilgrimage unto old age , No feare could cast him downe , For his reward , Christ had prepar'd In Heav'n for him a Crowne . Not him alone , but for ech one That runne his race throughout , Shall have likewise a Crowne for prise , Their is no feare or doubt . This Crowne for prise in Heaven it lies Under the Fathers hand , This find we may , Christ is the way Unto our Fatherland . Thus doeth he say , I am the way , The truth and life also , And that no man without me can Vnto the Father goe . Which shewes that we by nature be But things of little worth , For dead in sin , we must begin , To seeke a second birth . His Kingdome we els cannot see , Muchles the same inherite , Except we then be borne againe Of water and of Spirit . Which if we seeke with prayers meeke And with a lively faith , He will it give , that we may live , For it is our soules breath . Which will us guyde on every side , If we there to give eare , And at the last , will set us fast , And learne us Godly feare . Such feare as this beginning is , Of wisdome from above , Which hath too by for company A lively faith with love . If other feare , doe come us neare , It standeth us in stead , It lights the mind , this shall we find , When we the Scripture read . It stands us by , helps memory , And brings lost things to light , It will give strenght , so at the lenght False feares must take their flight . This gift of Christ , it is the hiest , Which he had promised , From Heav'n to sent , unto the ent , We thereby might be led . In his Gospell , and knew him well , And his Kingdome also , For want of this , many of his Did him not rightly know . His worke then done , had overwon The Devill , Hell and Death , He came againe , to these weake men , And breathed on them breath . Then did he call , and bad them all , Receve the holy Ghost , And so by it , he made them fit , Whieh gift he never lost . This comforter exceedeth farrs All comforts in the earth , Then must we read , and take good head , We lose not this new birth . Though much it cost , yet may be lost , Which heare we shall make knowne , This Spirit is sent , and is but lent , And that to helpe our owne . The Law doeth Paull a shadow call , Whose substance was in Christ , Isaac no doubt , typed him cut , Which was one of the hiest . Rabecka she then heare must be A shadow of great worth , In whose womb we doe read and see Too stryved for the birth . Esaw came first , allthough the worst , The birth-right yet he got , Iacob came last , held his heele fast , And after hath his lot . Esaw did hunte , made light account , His birth-right quickly sold , For cup of porrige , that could his currage , And made his heart full cold . The birthright gone , blessing was none His heritage was lost , Iacob was blest , he dispossest In Edom live he must . The like succes through carelesnes , Befell unto King Saull , The Lord did send , him to this end , To slay the Mallachits all . The King he spard , had no regard , But sought to blind Gods eyes , Some beasts he brought , to please hee thought God with a sacrifice . But all this cost was labour lost , God tooke from him that day , The spirit of grace , and in the place Sent one did him dismay . As then with Saull , so now with all , That doe his lawes abuse , This thing doeth here learne all to feare , And it a right to use . The Lord is hie , judgeth justlie No person doeth respect , Both great & small , this find they shall Which doe his lawes neglect . Yet hath regard and doeth reward As ech deserved hath , Some through weaknes his lawes transgresse , Yet saveth them by faith . When they repent their sins lament , And call to him for grace , He will draw neare , their prayers heare , And help them in this case . Thus doe will he , that all may see Him mercifull and kinde , And will not break , a reede so weak But rather it upbinde . Nor quench with strokes , the flex that smokes , But rather maks it burne , No pleasure hath in sinners death , But seeketh his returne . He doeth not like to Moses strike , Saying fulfill the Law , That done hath he , and yet must we Still learne to live in awe . Law doeth relate , shewes us our state In sinne against the hiest , Are gone too far , like scolemaster , It brings us backe to Christ . Then must we learne , for to descerne , In what estate we stand , Then if we see we laden be , Christ holdeth out his hand . Calls us anon , bids us put on His yoke that easie is , Which quicken will , and our harts fill With peace and joy of his . Doeth us advise and learne likewise , He lowly is in heart , Which brings us rest , that is the best , And easeth all our smart . Yet are not we , now quite set free , We must take up our crosse , It under goe , both too and froe , And count worlds pleasure lose . Nor yet must we compelled be Like Symon of Syreen , Christ bare the smart , this after part , Is for Gods childeren . To flesh and blood , this seems not good , But flesh must beare no sway , To fleshly lust we may not trust , The Spirit must be our stay . The flesh is rude , the Spirit renewde Must guyde us to the end , If we be feed , and thereby leed , Then shall we not offend . It will us guyde on every side , If we thereto give eare , And at the last , will set us fast , And free us from all feare . It will us bring to Christ our King , At his appointed day , Int' Fatherland , at his right hand To live with him for aye . FINIS .