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Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A10264) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 15925) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 1001:16) The historie of Samson: written by Fra: Quarles Quarles, Francis, 1592-1644. [8], 142, [2] p. Printed by M[iles] F[lesher] for Iohn Marriott, in S. Dunstans Church-yard in Fleetstreet, London : 1631. In verse. Printer's name from STC. Running title reads: The history of Samson. The last leaf is blank. Reproduction of the original in the Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery. eng Samson -- (Biblical judge) -- Poetry -- Early works to 1800. eebo The historie of Samson: written by Fra: Quarles. Quarles, Francis, 1631 126 27980 0 0 0 0 0 25 2680.49 F The rate of 2680.49 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the F category of texts with 100 or more defects per 10,000 words. 2002-03 Assigned for keying and markup 2002-04 Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2002-05 Sampled and proofread 2002-05 Text and markup reviewed and edited 2002-06 Batch review (QC) and XML conversion

THE HISTORIE OF SAMSON :

Written By FRA : QVARLES .

LONDON , Printed by M. F. for IOHN MARRIOTT , in S. Dunstans Church-yard in Fleetstreet . 1631.

for the time , but quickly leaves us to our former darknesse : The overtaken Lanthorne is the true Friend ; which , though it promise but a faint light , yet it goes along with us , as farre as it can , towards our Journies end : The offered Linke is the mercenary Friend ; which , though it be ready enough to doe us service , yet that service hath a servile relation to our bountie . Sir ; in the middle ranke I finde you , hating the first , and scorning the last ; to whom , in the height of my undissembled assection , and unfained thankfulnes , I commend my selfe , and this booke , to receive an equall censure , from your uncorrupted judgement : In the Bud , it was yours ; it blossomd , yours ; and now , your favour able acceptance confirmes the fruit yours : All I crave , is , that you would be pleased to interpret these my intentions to proceed from an ardent desire , that hath long beene in labour to expresse the true affections of him

That holds it an honor

to honor you

FRA : QVARLES .

TO THE READER .

THE tyranny of my Affaires was never yet so imperious , but I could steale some howers to my private Meditations ; the fruits of which stolne time I here present thee with , in the History of Samson : Wherein , if thy extreme severity checke at any thing , which thou conceivest may not stand with the majesty of this sacred Subject ; know , that my intention was not to offend my brother : The wisest of Kings , inspired by the King of Wisedome , thought it no detraction from the gravity of his Holy Proverbs , to describe a Harlot like a Harlot , Her whorish Attire ; her immodest Gesture , her bold Countenance ; her flattring Tongue ; her lascivious Embraces ; her unchast Kisses ; her impudent Invitations : If my descriptions in the like kinde , offend ; I make no question but the validitie of my Warrant will give a reasonable satisfaction : Hee that lifts not his feet high enough , may easily stumble : But on the contrary , If any be , whose worse then Sacrilegious mindes shall prophane our harmelesse intentions with wanton conceits , to such I heartily wish , a Procul ite ; Let none such looke farther then this Epistle , at their owne perils : If they doe , let them put off their shooes , for this is holy Ground : Foule hands will muddle the clearest waters : and base mindes will corrupt the purest Text : If any offence be taken , it is by way of stealth , for there is none willingly given : I write to Bees , and not to Spiders : They will suck pleasing hony from such flowers : These may burst with their owne poyson : But you , whose well-seasond hearts are not distempered with either of these extremities , but have the better rellish of a Sacred understanding ; draw neere , and reade .

I Sing th' illustrious , and renowned story Of mighty Samson ; The eternall glory Of his Heroicke acts : His life , His death : Quicken my Muse with thy diviner breath , Great God of Muses , that my prosp'rous rimes May live and last to everlasting times ; That they unborne may , in this sacred story , Admire thy goodnes , and advance thy glory .
THE HISTORIE OF SAMSON .
SECT. 1. ARGVMENT . A holy Angell doth salute The wife of Manoah , and inlarge Her barren wombe with promis'd fruit Of both their loynes . The Angels charge . WIthin the Tents of Zorah dwelt a man Of Iacobs seed , and of the Tribe of Dan ; Knowne by the name of Manoah ; to whom Heaven had deni'd the treasure of the wombe ; His Wife was barren ; And her prayres could not Remove that great reproach , or clense that blot Which on her fruitless name appear'd so foule , Not to encrease the Tribe of Dan one soule : Long had she , doubtles , stroven with heaven , by prayres Made strong with teares and sighes ; Hopes and despaires No doubt had often tortur'd her desire Vpon a Rock , compos'd of frost and fire : But Heaven was pleas'd to turne His deafned eares Against those prayres made strong with sighes and teares : She often praid ; but prayres could not obtaine : Alas ; she pray'd , she wept , she sigh'd in vaine : She pray'd , no doubt ; but prayres could finde no roome ; They proov'd , alas , as barren as her wombe . Vpon a time ( when her unanswer'd prayre Had now given just occasion of despaire , ( Even when her bedrid faith was growne so fraile , That very Hope grew heartlesse to prevaile ) Appear'dan Angel to her ; In his face , Terrour and sweetnesse labour'd for the place : Sometimes , his Sun-bright eyes would shine so fierce , As if their pointed beames would even pierce Her soule , and strike th' amaz'd beholder dead : Sometimes , their glory would dispeirce , and spread More easie flames ; and , like the Starre , that stood O're Bethlem , promise and portend some good : Mixt was his bright aspect ; as if his breath Had equall errands both of life and death : Glory and Mildnesse seemed to contend In his fayre eyes , so long , till in the end , In glorious mildnesse , and in milder glory , He thus salutes her with this pleasing story . Woman ; Heaven greets thee well : Rise up , and feare not ; Forbeare thy faithlesse tremblings ; I appeare not Clad in the vestments of consuming fire ; Cheare up , I have no warrant to enquire Into thy sinnes ; I have no Vyals here , Nor dreadfull Thunderbolts to make thee feare : I have no plagues t' inflict ; nor is my breath Charg'd with destruction ; or my hand , with death . No , no ; cheare up ; I come not to destroy ; I come to bring thee tydings of great joy : Rowze up thy dull beliefe ; for I appeare , To exercise thy Faith , and not thy Feare : The Guide , and great Creator of all things , Chiefe Lord of Lords , and supreame King of Kings , To whom an Host of men are but a swarme Of murmring Gnats ; whose high prevayling arme Can crush ten thousand worlds , and at one blow Can strike the earth to nothing , and ore-throw The Losts of Heaven ; he that hath the keyes Of wombes ; to shut , and ope them , when he please ; He that can all things , that he will , this day , Is pleas'd to take thy long reproach away : Behold ; thy wombe's inlarg'd ; and thy desires Shall finde successe : Before long time expires , Thou shalt conceive : Eretwise five months be runne , Be thou the joyfull mother of a sonne ; But see , thy wary palate doe forbeare The juyce of the bewitching Grape ; Beware , Lest thy desires tempt thy lips to wine , Which must be faithfull strangers to the Vine . Strong drinke thou must not tast , and all such meate The Law proclaimes uncleane , refraine to eate : And when the fruit of thy restored wombe Shall see the light , take heed no Rasor come Vpon his fruitfull head ; For from his birth , Soone as the wombe entrusts him on the earth , The child shall be a Nazarite , to God ; By whose appointment , he shall prove a Rod , To scourge the proud Philistians ; and recall Poore suffring Israel from their slavish thrall .
MEDITAT. 1. HOw impudent is Nature , to account Those acts her owne , that doe so farre surmount Her easie reach ! How purblind are those eyes Of stupid mortalls , that have power to rise No higher then her lawes , who takes upon her The worke , and robbes the Author of his honor ! Seest thou the fruitfull Wombe ? How every yeare It moves thy Cradle ; to thy slender cheare , Invites another Ghest , and makes thee Father To a new Sonne , who now , perchance , hadst rather Bring up the old , esteeming propagation A thanklesse work of Supererogation : Perchance , the formall Mid-wife seemes to thee Lesse welcome now ; then she was wont to be : Thou standst amaz'd , to heare such needlesse Ioy , And car'st as little for it , as the Boy That 's newly borne into the world ; nay worse , Perchance , thou grumblest , counting it a curse Vnto thy faint estate , which is not able T' encrease the bounty of thy slender Table : Poore miserable man what ere thou be , I suffer for thy crooked thoughts ; not thee : Thou tak'st thy children to be gifts of nature ; Their wit , their flowring beauty , comely stature , Their perfect health ; their dainty disposition , Their vertues , and their easie acquisition Of curious Arts , their strength 's attain'd perfection You attribute to that benigne complexion , Wherewith your Goddesse , Nature hath endow'd Their well-disposed Organs ; and are proud ; And here your Goddesse leaves you , to deplore That such admir'd perfections should be poore : Advance thine eyes , no lesse then wilfull blind , And , with thine eyes , advance thy drooping mind : Correct thy thoughts ; Let not thy wondring eye Adore the servant , when the Master 's by : Looke on the God Nature : From him come These underprized blessings of the wombe : He makes thee rich , in children ; when his store Crownes thee with wealth , why mak'st thou thy selfe poore ? He opes thee wombe : why then shouldst thou repine ? They are his children , mortall , and not thine : We are but Keepers ; And the more he lends To our tuition , he the more commends Our faithfull trust : It is not every one Deserves that honor , to command his Son : She counts it as a fortune , that 's allow'd To nurse a Prince : ( What nurse would not be proud Of such a Fortune ? ) And shall we repine , Great God , to foster any Babe of thine ; But t is the Charge we feare : Our stock 's but small ; If heaven , with Children , send us wherewith all To stop their craving stomacks , then we care not : Great God! How hast thou crackt thy credit , that we dare not Trust thee for bread ? How is 't , we dare not venture To keepe thy Babes , unlesse thou please to enter In bond , for payment ? Art thou growne so poore , To leave thy famisht Infants at our doore , And not allow them food ? Canst thou supply The empty Ravens , and let thy children dye ? Send me that stint , thy wisedome shall thinke fit , Thy pleasure is my will ; and I submit : Make me deserve that honour thou hast lent To my fraile trust , and I will rest content .
SECT. 2. ARGVMENT . The Wife of Manoah attended with fearefull Hope , and hopefull Feare , The joyfull tydings recommended to her amazed Husbands eare . THus , when the great Embassadour of heaven Had done that sacred service , which was given And trusted to his faithfull charge , he spred His ayre-dividing pineons , and fled : But now , th' affrighted woman apprehends The strangenesse of the Message ; recommends Both it , and him , that did it , to her feares ; The newes was welcome to her gratefull eares , But what the newesman was , did so encrease Her doubts , that her strange hopes could find no peace ; For when her hopes would build a Tower of joy , O , then her feares would shake it , and destroy The maine foundation ; what her hopes , in vaine , Did raise , her feares would ruinate againe : One while , she thought ; It was an Angell sent ; And then , her feares would teach her to repent That frightfull thought : But when she deeply waigh'd The joyfull message , then her thoughts obay'd Her first conceit ; Distracted , with confusion , Sometimes she fear'd it was a false delusion , Suggested in her too beleeving eares ; Sometimes she doubts , it was a Dreame , that beare No waight but in a slumber ; till at last , Her feet , advised by her thoughts , made hast Vnto her husband ; in whose eares she brake This mind-perplexing secret thus , and spake ; Sir . As my discur sive thoughts did lately muse On those great blessings , wherewith heaven doth use To crowne his children , here ; among the rest , Me thoughts no one could make a wife more blest , And crowne her youth , her age with greater measure Of true content , then the unprized treasure Of her chast wombe : but as my thoughts were bent Vpon this subject , being in our Tent , And none but I , appear'd before mine eyes A man of God : His habit , and his guise Was such as holy Prophets use to weare , But in his dreadfull lookes there did appeare Something that made me tremble ; In his eye , Mildnesse was next with awefull Majesty ; Strange was his language , and I could not chuse But feare the man , although I lik'd his newes ; Woman ( said he ) Cheare up , and doe not feare ; I have no vialls , no nor Iudgements here ; My hand hath no Commission , to enquire Into thy sinnes ; nor am I clad in fire : I come to bring thee tydings of such things , As have their warrant from the King of Kings ; Thou shalt conceive , and when thy time is come , Thou shalt enjoy the blessings of thy wombe ; Before the space of twice five months be runne , Thou shalt become the parent of a Sonne , Till then , take heed , thou neither drinke , nor eate Wines , or strong drinke , or Law-forbidden meate , For when this promis'd child , shall see the light , Thou shalt be mother to a Nazarite : While thus he spake , I trembled : Horrid feare Vsurpt my quivering heart ; Only mine eare Was pleas'd to be the vessell of such newes , Which Heaven make good ; and give me strength to use My better Faith : The holy Prophets name I was affraid t' enquire , or whence he came .
MEDITAT. 2. ANd dost thou not admier ? Can such things Obtaine lesse priviledge , then a Tale , that brings The audience wonder , entermixt with pleasure ? Is 't a small thing , that Angells can finde leisure To leave their blessed seates ; where , face to face , They see their God , and quit that heavenly place , The least conception of whose joy , and mirth , Transcends th' united pleasurs of the earth ? Must Angells leave their Thrones of glory thus , To watch our foot-steps , and attend on us ? How good a God have we ! whose eyes can wincke , For seare they should discover the base sincke Of our loath'd sinnes : How doth he stop his eare , Lest , when they call for Iustice , he should heare ? How often , Ah , how often doth He send His willing Angells , hourely to attend Our steps ; and , with his bounty , to supply Our helplesse wants , at our false-hearted cry ? The bounteous Ocean , with a liberall hand , Transports her laden treasure , to the land ; Inriches every Port , and makes each towne Proud with that wealth , which now she calls her owne ; And what returne they for so great a gaine , But sinckes and noysome Gutters , back againe ? Even so ( great God ) thou send'st thy blessings in , And we returne thee , Dunghills of our Sinne : How are thy Angells hacknei'd up and downe To visit man ? How poorely doe we crowne Their blessed labours ? They with Ioy , dismount , Laden with blessings , but returneth ' account Of Filth and Trash : They bring th' unvalued prize Of Grace and promis'd Glory , while our eyes Disdaine these heavenly Factors , and refuse Their proferd wares ; affecting , more , to chuse A Graine of pleasure then a Iemme of glory ; We finde no treasure , but in Transitory And earth-bred Toyes , while things immortall stand Like Garments , to be sold at second hand : Great God ; Thou know'st , we are but flesh and blood ; Alas ! we can interpret nothing , good , But what is evill ; deceitfull are our Ioyes ; We are but children , and we whine for Toyes : Of things unknowne there can be no desire ; Quicken our hearts with the celestiall fire Of thy discerning Spirit , and we shall know Both what is good , and good desier too : Vouchsafe to let thy blessed Angell come , And bring the tydings , that the barren wombe Of our Affections is enlarg'd ; O when That welcome newes shall be revealed , then , Our soules shall soone conceive , and bring thee forth The firstlings of a new , and holy birth .
SECT. 3. ARGVMENT . Manoah's wonder turnes to Zeale ; His zeale , to prayre : His prayres obtaine The Angell that did late reveale The joyfull newes , returnes againe . NOw when th' amazed woman had commended Her tongue to silence , and her tale was ended ; Perplexed Manoah , ravisht at the newes , Within himselfe , he thus began to muse ; Strange is the message ! And as strangely done ! Shall Manoah's loynes be fruitfull ? Shall a Sonne Blesse his last dayes ? Or shall an Issue come From the chill closset of a barren wombe ? Shall Manoah's wife give sucke ? and now , at last , Finde pleasure , when her prime of youth is past ? Shall her cold wombe be now , in age , restor'd ? And was 't a man of God , that brought the word ? Or was 't some false delusion , that possest The weaknes of a lonely womans brest ? Or was 't an Angell , sent from heaven , to show What Heaven hath will , as well as pow're , to doe ? Till then thou must refraine to drinke , or eate , Wines , and strong drinke , and Law-forbidden meate ? Euill Angells rather would instruct to ryot , They use not to prescribe so strickt a Dyet ; No , no ; I make no further question of it , 'T was some good Angell , or some holy Prophet . Thus , having mus'd a while , he bow'd his face Vpon the ground ; and ( prostrate in the place , Where first he heard the welcome tydings ) pray'd , ( His wonder now transform'd to Zeale ) and said : Great God ; That hast engag'd thy selfe , by vow , When ere thy little Israell begs , to bow Thy gratious eare ; O harken to the least Of Israel's sonnes , and grant me my request : By thee , I live , and breathe : Thou did'st become My gratious God , both in , and from the wombe ; Thy precious favours I have still possest , And have depended on thee , from the Brest : My simple Infancy hath bin protected , By thee ; my Child-hood taught , my youth corrected , And sweetly chastned with thy gentle Rod ; I was no sooner ; but thou wert my God : All times declare thee good ; This very houre Can testifie the greatnesse of thy power , And promptnesse of thy Mercy , which hast sent This blessed Angell to us , to augment The Catalogue of thy favours , and restore Thy servants wombe , whose hopes had even given ore T' expect an Issue : What thou hast begun , Prosper , and perfect , till the worke be done : Let not my Lord be angry , if I crave A boone , too great for me to beg , or have ; Let that blest Angell , that thou sent'st , of late , Reblesse us with his presence , and relate , Thy will at large , and what must then be done , When time shall bring to light this promis'd sonne . About that time , when the declining Lampe Trebles each shadow ; when the evening dampe Begins to moisten , and refresh the land , The Wife of Manoah ( under whose command The weaned Lambes did feed ) being lowly seated Vpon a Shrubbe ( where often she repeated That pleasing newes , the subject of her thought ) Appear'd the Angell ; he , that lately brought Those blessed tydings to her : up she rose ; Her second feare had warrant to dispose Her nimble foot-steps to unwonted haste ; She runnes with speed , ( she cannot runne too fast ) At length , she findes her husband ; In her eyes , Were Ioy and Feare ; whilst her lost breath denyes Her speech , her trembling hands make signes ; She puffes and pants ; her breathlesse tongue disjoynes Her broken words : Behold , behold ( said she ) The man of God , ( if man of God he be ) Appear'd againe : These very eyes beheld The man of God : I left him in our field .
MEDITAT. 3. HEav'n is Gods Magazen ; wherein , he hath Stor'd up his Vials both of love , and wrath ; Iustice and Mercy , waite upon his Throne ; Favors and Thunderbolts attend upon His sacred Will and Pleasure ; Life and Death Doe both receive their influence from his breath ; Iudgements attend his left ; at his right hand Blessings and ever lasting Pleasures stand : Heav'n is the Magazen ; wherein , he puts Both good and evill : Prayre is the key , that shuts And opens this great Treasure ; T is a key , Whose wards are Faith , and Hope , and Charity . Wouldst thou prevent a judgement , due to sin ? Turncbut the key , and thou maist locke it in : Or wouldst thou have a Blessing fall upon thee ? Open the doore , and it will shower on thee . Can Heav'n be false ? Or can th' Almighties tongue , That is all very truth , doe Truth that wrong , Not to performe a vow ? His lips have sworne , Sworne by himselfe , that if a Sinner turne To him , by prayre ; his prayre shall not be lost For want of eare ; nor his desier , crost : How is it then , we often aske and have not ? We aske , and often misse , because we crave not The things we should : his wisedome can foresee Those blessings , better , that we want , than wee . Hast thou not heard a peevish Infant baule To gaine possession of a knife ? And shall Th' indulgent nurse be counted , wisely kinde , If she be mov'd to please his childish minde ? Is it not greater wisedome , to denie The sharp-edg'd knife , and to present his eye With a fine harmelesse Puppit ? We require Things , oft , unfit ; and our too fond desire Fastens on goods , that are but glorious ills , Whilst Heaven's high wisedome contradicts our wills , With more advantage ; for we oft receive Things that are farre more fit , for us , to have : Experience tells ; wee seeke , and cannot finde : We seeke and often want , because we binde The Giver to our times ; He knowes we want Patience ; and , therefore he suspends his grant , T' increase our Faith ; that so we may depend Vpon his hand : He loves to heare us spend Our childish mouthes : Things easily obtain'd , Are lewly priz'd ; but what our prayres have gain'd By teares , and groanes , that cannot be expest , Are farre more deare , and sweeter , when possest . Great God! whose power hath so oft prevail'd Against the strength of Princes , and hast quail'd Their prouder stomackes ; with thy breath , discrown'd Their heads , and throwne their scepters to the ground , Striking their swelling hearts with cold despaire , How art thou conquer'd , and orecome by Prayre ! Infuse that Spirit , Great God , into my heart , And I will have a Blessing , ere we part .
SECT. 4. ARGVMENT . Manoah desires to know the fashion And breeding of his promis'd sonne ; To whom the Angell makes relation Of all things needfull to be done . WIth that , the Danite rose ; being guided By his perplexed wife , they , both divided . Their heedlesse paces , till they had attain'd The field , wherein the Man of God remain'd : And , drawing neerer to his presence , stai'd His weary steps , and , with obeysance , said : Art thou the man whose blessed lips foretold Those joyfull tidings ? Shall my tongue be bold , Without the breach of manners , to request This boone , Art thou that Prophet , that possest This barren woman with a hope , that She Shall beare a Sonne ? He answer'd , I am He : Said Manoah , then : Let not a word of thine Be lost ; let them continue to divine Our future happinesse : Let them be crown'd With truth ; and thou with honour , to be found A holy Prophet : Let performance blesse And speed thy speeches with a faire successe : But tell me , Sir ; When this great worke is done , And time shall bring to light this promis'd Sonne , What sacred Ceremonies shall we use ? What Rites ? What way of breeding shall we chuse T' observe ? What holy course of life shall he Be trained in ? What shall his Office be ? Whereat th' attentive Angell did divide The portall of his lips , and thus replide : The Child , that from thy fruitfull loynes shall come Shall be a holy Nazarite , from the wombe ; Take heed ; that wombe , that shall enclose this Childe ; In no case be polluted or defilde With Law-forbidden meates : Let her forbeare To tast those things that are forbiddenthere . The bunckbacke Camill , shall be no repast For her ; Her palate shall forbeare to tast , The burrow haunting Conie , and decline The swiftfoot - Hare , and miredelighting Swine ; The griping Goshauke ; and the towring Eagle ; The party-collour'd Pye must not inveigle Her lips to move ; the brood devouring Kite ; The croaking Raven ; The Oule that hates the light ; The steele-digesting Bird ; The laisie Snaile ; The Cuckow , ever telling of one taile ; The fish-consuming Osprey , and the Want , That undermines ; the greedy Cormorant ; Th' indulgent Pelican ; the predictious Crow ; The chattring Storke , and ravenous Vulter too ; Of all good Counsells ; and , from whom , proceeds A living Spring , to water all our needs ; How willing are his Angells to discend From of their throne of Glory , and attend Vpon our wants ! How oft returne they back Mourning to Heaven , as if they griev'd for lack Of our imployment ! O , how prone are they To be assistant to us , every way ! Have we just cause to joy ? They 'l come and sing About our beds : Do's any judgement bring Iust cause of griefe ? They 'l fall agreeving too ; Doe we tryumph ? Their joyfull mouths will blow Their louder Trumpets ; Or doe feares affectus ? They 'l guard our heads from danger , and protectus : Are we in Prison , or in Persecution ? They 'l fill our hearts with joy , and resolution : Or doe we languish in our sickly beds ? They 'l come and pitch their Tents about our heads ; See they a sinner penitent , and mourne For his bewail'd offences , and returne ? They clap their hands , and joyne their warbling voices They sing , and all the Quire of heaven rejoyces . What is in us poore Dust and Ashes , Lord , That thou should'st looke upon us , and afford Thy precious favours to us , and impart Thy gracious Counselcs ? What is our desert , But Death , and Horror ? What can we more clame , Then they , that now , are scortehing in that flame , That hath nor moderation , rest , nor end ? How doe's thy mercy , above thought , extend To them thou lov'st ! Teach me ( great God ) to prize Thy sacred Counsells : Open my blind eyes , That I may see to walke the perfect way ; For as I am , Lord , I am apt to stray And wander to the gulfe of endlesse woe : Teach me what must be done , and helpe to doe .
SECT. 5. ARGVMENT . Manoah desires to understand , But is denide , the Angells name ! He offers by the Angells hand : The Angell vanishes in a flame . SO said , The sonne of Israel , ( easly apt To credit , what his soule desir'd , and rapt With better hopes , which serv'd him as a guide To his beliefe , o'rejoy'd ) he thus replide ; Let not the man of God , whose Heavenly voice Hath blest mine care , and made my soule rejoice , Beyond expression , now refuse to come Within my Tent , and honour my poore home With his desired presence ; there to tast His servants slender diet , and repast Vpon his Rurall fare : These hands shall take A tender Kidde from out the flockes , and make , ( Without long tarriance ) some delightfull meate , Which may invite the man of God to eate : Come , come ( my Lord ) And what defect of food Shall be , thy servants welcome shall make good : Where to the Angell ( who as yet had made Himselfe unknowne ) reanswer'd thus , and said . Excuseme : Though thy hospitable love Prevaile to make me stay , it cannot move My thankfull lips to tast thy liberall cheare ; Let not thy bounty urge in vaine ; Forbeare To strive with with whom , thy welcome cannot leade To eate thy Kid ; or tast thy profer'd bread ; Convert thy bounty to a better end , And let thy undefiled hands commend A burnt oblation to the King of Kings ; T' is he , deserves the thankes ; his servant brings But that bare message with his lips enjoyne ; His be the glory of the Act , not mine . Said then the Israelite ; If my desire Be not to over rash , but may conspire With thy good pleasure , let thy servants eare Be honour'd with thy name ; that whensoere These blessed tidings ( that possesse my heart With firme beliefe , ) shall in due time impart Their full perfection , and desir'd successe To my expecting eye , my soule may blesse The tongue that brought the message , and proclame An equall honour to his honour'd name . To whom , the Angell ( whose severer brow Sent forth a frowne ) made answere ; Doe not thou Trouble thy busie thoughts with things , that are Above thy reach ; Enquier not too farre ; My name is cloath'd in mists ; T' is not my taske , To make it knowne to thee ; nor thine , to aske : The generous Spaniell , loves his Masters eye , And licks his fingers , though no meat be by ; But Man , ungratefull Man , that 's borne , and bred By Heavens immediate powre ; maintain'd and fed By his providing hand ; observ'd , attended By his indulgent grace ; preserv'd , defended By his prevailing arme ; this Man , I say , Is more ungratefull , more obdure then they : By him , we live and move ; from him , we have What blessings he can give , or we can crave : Food for our Hunger ; Dainties , for our pleasure ; Trades , for our buisnes ; Pastimes , for our leasure ; In greife , he is our Ioy ; in want , our Wealth ; In bondage , Freedome ; and in sicknes , Health ; In peace , our Counsell ; and in warre , our Leader ; At Sea , our Pilot ; and , in Suites , our Pleader ; In paine , our Helpe ; in Triumph , our Renowne ; In life , our Comfort ; and in death , our Crowne ; Yet Man , O most ungratefull Man , can ever Enjoy the Gift , but never minde the Giver ; And like the Swine , though pamper'd with enough , His eyes are never higher then the Trough : We still receive : Our hearts we seldome lift To heaven ; But drowne the giver in the Gift ; We tast the Skollops , and returne the Shells ; Our sweet Pomgranats , want their silver Bells : We take the Gift ; the hand that did present it , We oft reward ; forget the Friend , that sent it . A blessing given to those , will not disburse Some thanks , is little better then a curse . Great giver of all blessngs ; thou that art The Lord of Gifts ; give me a gratefull heart : O give me that , or keepe thy favours from me : I wish no blessings , with a Vengeance to me .
SECT. 6. ARGVMENT . Affrighted Manoah and his wife Both prostrate on the naked earth : Both rise : The man despaires of life ; The woman cheares him : Samsons birth . WHen time , ( whose progresse moderates and outweares Th' extreamest passions of the highest Feares ) By his benignant power , had reinlarg'd Their captive senses , and at length , discharg'd Their frighted thoughts , the trembling Couple rose From their unquiet , and disturb'd repose : Have you beheld a Tempest , how the waves ( Whose unresisted Tyranny out-braves And threats to grapple with the darkned Skies ) How like to moving Mountaines they arise From their distempred Ocean , and assaile Heavens Battlements ; nay when the windes doe faile To breathe another blast , with their owne motion , They still are swelling , and disturbe the Ocean : Even so the Danite and his trembling wife , Their yet confused thoughts , are still at strife In their perplexed brests , which entertain'd Continued feares , too strong to be refrain'd : Speechlesse they stood , till Manoah that brake The silence first , disclos'd his lips and spake ; What strange aspect was this , that to our sight Appear'd so terrible , and did affright Our scattering thoughts ? What did our eyes behold ? I feare our lavish tongues have bin too bold : What speeches past betweene us ? Can'st recall The words we entertain'd the time withall ? It was no man ; It was no flesh and blood ; Me thought , mine eares did tingle , while he stood , And commun'd with me : At each word , he spake Me thought , my heart recoil'd ; his voice did shake My very Soule , but when as he became So angry , and so dainty of his name , O , how my wonder-smitten heart began To faile ! O , then I knew , it was no man : No , no ; It was the face of God : Our eyes Have seene his face : ( who ever saw 't , but dies ? ) We are but dead ; Death dwells within his eye , And we have seen 't , and we shall surely die : Where to the woman , ( who did either hide , Or else had over come her feares ) replide ; Despairing Man ; take courage , and forheare These false predictions ; there 's no cause of feare : Would Heaven accept our offerings , and receive Our holy things ; and , after that , bereive His servants of their lives ? Can he be thus Pleas'd with our offerings , unappear'd with us ? Hath he not promis'd that the time shall come , Wherein the fruits of my restored wombe Shall make thee Father to a hopefull Sonne ? Can Heaven be false ? Or can these things be done When we are dead ? No , no ; His holy breath Had spent in vaine , if he had ment our death : Recall thy needlesse feares ; Heaven cannot lye ; Although we saw his face , we shall not dye . So said ; they brake off their discourse , and went , He , to the field ; and she into her Tent : Thrice forty dayes not full compleate , being come , Within th' enclosure of her quickned wombe , The babe began to spring ; and , with his motion , Confirm'd the faith , and quickned the devotion Ofhis believing parents , whose devout And heaven-ascending Orizans , no doubt , Were turn'd to thankes , and heart-rejoycing praise , To holy Hymnes , and heavenly Roundelaies : The child growes sturdy ; Every day gives strength Vnto his wombe fed limmes ; till at the length , Th' apparant mother , having past the date Of her accoumpt , does onely now awaite The happy houre , wherein she may obtaine Her greatest pleasure , with her greatest paine . When as the faire directresse of the night Had thrice three times repair'd her wained light , Her wombe no longer able to retaine So great a guest , betrai'd her to her paine , And for the toilesome worke , that she had done , She found the wages of a new borne Sonne : Samson , she call'd his name : The childe encreast , And hourely suckt a blessing with the brest ; Daily his strength did double : He began To grow in favour both with God and Man : His well attended Infancie was blest With sweetnesse ; in his Childhood , he exprest True seeds of Honour , and his youth was crown'd With high and brave adventures , which renown'd His honour'd name ; His courage was supplide With mighty strength : His haughty spirit defide An hoast of men : His power had the praise 'Bove all that were before , or since his dayes : And to conclude , Heav'n never yet conjoin'd So strong a body , with so stout a minde .
MEDITAT. 6. HOw pretious were those blessed dayes , wherein Soules never startled at the name of Sin ! When as the voyce of Death had never yet A mouth to open , or to clame a debt ! When bashfull nakednesse forbare to call For needlesse skinns to cover Shame withall When as the fruit-encreasing earth obay'd The will of Man without the wound of Spaide , Or helpe of Art ! When he , that now remaines A cursed Captive to infernall chaines , Sate singing Anthems in the heavenly Quire , Among his fellow Angells ! When the Bryer , The fruitlesse Bramble , the fast growing weed , And downie Thistle had , as yet , no seed ! When labour was not knowne , and man did eate The earths faire fruits , unearned with his sweate ! When wombes might have conceiv'd without the staine Of sinne , and brought forth children , without paine ! When Heaven could speake to mans unfrighted care , Without the sense of sin-begotten feare ! How golden were those dayes ? How happy than Was the condition and the State of man ! But Man obay'd not : And his proud desire Cing'd her bold feathers in forbidden fier : But Man transgrest ; And now his freedome feeles A sudden change : Sinne followes at his heeles : The voice calls Adam : But poore Adam flees , And , trembling , hides his face behind the trees : The voice , whilere , that ravisht with delight His joyfull eare , does now , alas , affright His wounded conscience , with amaze and wonder : And what , of late , was musicke ; now , is Thunder : How have our sinnes abus'd us ! and betrai'd Our desperate soules ! What strangenesse have they made Betwixt the great Creator , and the worke Of his owne hands ! How closely doe they lurke To our distempred soules , and whisper feares And doubts into our frighted hearts and eares ! Our eyes cannot behold that glorious face , Which is all life , unruin'd in the place : How is our natures chang'd ? That very breath Which gave us being , is become our death : Great God! O , whither shall poore mortalls flie For comfort ? If they see thy face , they dye ; And if thy life-restoring count'nance give Thy presence from us ; then we cannot live : How necessary is the ruine , than , And misery of sin-beguiled Man ! On what foundation shall his hopes relie ? See we thy face , or see it not , we dye : O , let thy word ( great God ) instruct the youth And frailty of our faith ; Thy word is truth : And what our eyes want power to perceive , O , let our hearts admier , and beleeve .
Which entertain'd my pleased thoughts , appear'd A sairer object ; which , hath so endear'd My very soule , ( with sadnesse so distrest ) That this poore heart can finde no ease , no rest ; It was a Virgin ; in whose Heavenly face , Vnpattern'd Beauty , and diviner Grace Were so conjoyn'd , as if they both conspir'd To make one Angell ; when these eyes enquir'd Into the exc'lence of her rare perfection , They could not choose but like , and my affection Is so inslamed with desire , that I Am now become close prisoner to her eye ; Now if my sad Petition may but finde A faire successe , to ease my tortur'd minde ; And if your tender hearts be pleas'd to prove As prone to pitty mine ; as mine , to love ; Let me , with joy , exchange my single life , And be the husband of so faire a wife . Whereto , th' amazed parents , ( in whose eye Distast and wonder percht ) made this reply ; What strange desire , what unadvis'd request Hath broken loose from thy distracted brest ? What! are the daughters of thy brethren growne So poore in Worth , and Beauty ? Is there none To please that over-curious eye of thine , But th' issue of a cursed Philistine ? Can thy miswandring eyes choose none , but her , That is the child of an Idolater ? Correct thy thoughts , and let thy soule rejoyce In lawfull beauty : Make a wiser choice : How well this counsell pleas'd the tired eares Of love-sicke Samson ; O , let him that beares A crost affection judge : Let him discover The woefull case of this afflicted lover : What easie pensell cannot represent His very lookes ? How his sterne Browes were bent ? His drooping head ? his very port and guise ? His bloodlesse cheekes , and deadnesse of his eyes ? Till , at the length , his moving tongue betrai'd His sullen lips to language , thus ; and said : Sir . Th' extreame affection of my heart does leade My tongue , ( that 's quickned with my love ) to pleade What , if her parents be not circumcis'd ? Her issue shall ; and she , perchance , advis'd To worship Israells God ; and , to forget Her fathers house ; Alas ; she is , as yet , But young ; her downy yeares are greene , and tender ; Shee 's but a twigge , and time may easly bend her T' embrace the truth : Our counsells may controule Her sinfull breeding , and so save a soule : Nay ; who can tell , but Heaven did recommend Her beauty to these eyes , for such an end ? O loose not that , which Heaven is pleas'd to save , Let Samson then obtaine , as well as crave : You gave me being , then prolong my life And make me husband to so faire a wife . With that , the parents joyn'd their whispering heads ; Samson observes ; and , in their parly , reads Some Characters of hope ; The mother smiles ; The father frownes ; which , Samson reconciles With hopefull feares ; She smiles , and crownes His hopes ; which , He deposes with his frownes : The whispring ended ; jointly they displaid , A halfe resolved countenance , and said , Samson , suspend thy troubled minde a while , Let not thy over charged thoughts recoile : Take heed of Shipwracke ; Rockes are neere the Shore : Wee 'l see the Virgin , and resolve thee more .
MEDITAT. 7. LOve is a noble passion of the heart ; That , with it very essence doth impart All needfull Circumstances , and effects Vnto the chosen party it affects ; In absence , it enjoies ; and with an eye . Fill'd with celestiall fier , doth espy Objects remote : It joyes , and smiles in griefe ; It sweetens poverty ; It brings reliefe ; It gives the Feeble , strength ; the Coward , spirit ; The sicke man , health ; the undeserving , merit ; It makes the proudman , humble ; and the stout It overcomes ; and treads him vnder foote ; It makes the mighty man of warre to droope ; And him , to serve , that never , yet , could stoope ; It is a Fire whose Bellowes are the breath Of heaven above , and kindled here beneath : T is not the power of a mans election To love ; He loves not by his owne direction ; It is nor beauty , nor benigne aspect That alwayes moves the Lover , to affect ; These are but meanes : Heavens pleasure is the cause ; Love is not bound to reason , and her Lawes Are not subjected to the imperious will Of man : It lies not in his power to nill : How is this Love abus'd ! That 's onely made A snare for wealth , or to set up a trade ; T' enrich a great mans Table , or to pay A desperate debt ; or meerely to allay A base and wanton lust ; which done , no doubt , The love is ended , and her fier out : No ; he that loves for pleasure , or for pelfe , Loves truly , none ; and , falsely , but himselfe : The pleasure past , the wealth consum'd and gone , Love hath no subject now to worke upon : The props being falne , that did support the roofe , Nothing but Rubbish , and neglected Stuffe , Like a wilde Chaos of Confusion , lies Presenting uselesse ruines to our eyes : The Oyle that does maintaine loves sacred fire , Is vertue mixt with mutuall desire Of sweet society , begunne and bred I' th soule ; nor ended in the mariage bed : This is that dew of Hermon , that does fill The soule with sweetnesse , watring Sions hill ; This is that holy fire , that burnes and lasts , Till quencht by death ; The other are but blasts , That faintly blaze like Oyle-for saken snusses , Which every breath of discontentment puffs And quite extinguishes ; and leaves us nothing But an offensive subject of our loathing .
SECT. 8. ARGVMENT . He goes to Timnah : As he went , He slew a Lyon , by the way ; He sues ; obtaines the Maides consent : And they appoint the mariage day . WHen the next day had , which his morning light , Redeem'd the East from the darke shades of night ; And , with his golden raies , had overspred The neighbring Mountaines ; from his loathed Bed , Sicke-thoughted Samson rose , whose watchfull eyes , Morpheus that night had , with his leaden keyes , Not power to close : His thoughts did so incumber His restlesse soule , his eyes could never slumber ; Whose softer language , by degrees , did wake His fathers sleepe-bedeafned eares , and spake ; Sir ; Let your early blessings light upon The tender bosome of your prosp'rous Sonne , And let the God of Israel repay Those blessings , double , on your head , this day : The long-since banisht shaddows make me bold To let you know , the morning waxes old ; The Sunbeames are growne strong ; their brighter hiew Have broke the Mists , and dride the morning dewe ; The sweetnesse of the season does invite Your steps to visit Timnah , and acquite Your last nights promise : With that , the Danite and his wife arose , Scarce yet resolv'd , at last , they did dispose Their doubtfull paces , to behold the prize Of Samsons heart , and pleasure of his eyes ; They went ; and when their travell had attain'd Those fruitfull hills , whose clusters entertain'd Their thirsty palats , with their swelling pride , The musing lover being stept a side To gaine the pleasure of a lonely thought , Appear'd a full ag'd Lyon , who had sought , ( But could not finde ) his long desired prey ; Soone as his eye had given him hopes to pay His debt to nature , and to mend that fault His empty stomacke found , he made assault Vpon th' unarmed lovers brest , whose hand Had neither staffe , nor weapon , to withstand His greedy rage ; but he whose mighty strength Or sudden death must now appeare , at length , Stretcht forth his brawny arme , ( his arme supplide With power from heaven ) and did , with ease , divide His body limme from limme , and did betray His Flesh to foules , that lately sought his prey : This done ; his quicke redoubled paces make His stay amends ; his nimble steps oretake His leading parents ; who by this , discover The smoake of Timnah : Now the greedy Lover Thinkes every step , a mile ; and every pace , A measur'd League , untill he see that face , And finde the treasure of his heart , that lies In the faire Casket of his Mistresse Eyes , But , all this while , close Samson made not knowne Vnto his parents , what his hands had done : By this , the gate of Timnah entertaines The welcome travellers : The parents paines Are now rewarded with their sonnes best pleasure : The Virgin comes ; His eyes can finde no leasure , To owne another object : O , the greeting Th' impatient lovers had at their first meeting ! The Lover speakes ; She answers ; He replies ; She blushes ; He demandeth ; She denyes ; He pleads affection ; She doubts ; Hee sues For nuptiall love ; She questions ; Hee renewes His earnest suite : Importunes ; She relents ; He must have no deniall ; She consents : They passe their mutuall loves : Their joyned hands Are equall earnests of the nuptiall bands : The parents are agreed ; All parties pleas'd ; The day 's set downe ; the lovers hearts are eas'd ; Nothing displeases now , but the long stay Betwixt th' appointment , and the mariage day .
MEDITAT. 8. T Is too severe a censure : If the Sonne Take him a wife ; the mariage fairely done , Without consent of parents , ( who perchance Had rais'd his higher price , knew where t' advance His better'd fortunes to one hundred more ) He lives , a Fornicator ; She , a Whore : Too hard a censure ! And it seemes to me , The parent's most delinquent of the three : What ; if the better minded Son doe aime At worth ? What , if rare vertues doe inflame His rapt affection ? What , if the condition Of an admir'd , and dainty disposition Hath won his soule ? Where as the covetous Father Findes her Gold light , and recommends him , rather , T' an old worne widow , whose more weighty purse Is fill'd with gold , and with the Orphans curse ; The sweet exubrance of whose full-mouth'd portion Is but the cursed issue of extortion ; Whose worth , perchance , lies onely in her weight , Or in the bosome of her great estate ; What , if the Sonne , ( that does not care to buy Abundance at so deare a rate ) deny The soule-detesting profer of his Father , And in his better judgement chooses , rather , To match with meaner Fortunes , and desert ? I thinke that Mary chose the better part . What noble Families ( that have out growne The best records ) have quite binoverthrowne By wilfull parents , that will either force Their sonnes to match , or haunt them with a curse ! That can adapt their humours , to rejoyce , And fancy all things , but their childrens choice ! Which makes them , often , timerous to reveale The close desiers of their hearts , and steale Such matches , as , perchance , their faire advice Might , in the bud , have hindred in a trice ; Which done , and past , O , then their hastie spirit Can thinke of nothing , under Disinherit ; He must be quite discarded , and exilde ; The furious father must renounce his childe ; Nor Prayre nor Blessing must he have ; bereiven Of all ; Nor must he live , nor die forgiven ; When as the Fathers rashnesse , often times , Was the first causer of the Childrens crimes . Parents ; be not too cruell : Children doe Things , oft , too deepe for us t' enquire into : What father would not siorme , if his wild Sonne Should doe the deed , that Samson here had done ? Nor doe I make it an exemplar act ; Only , let parents not be too exact , To curse their children , or to dispossesse Them of their blessings , Heaven may chance to blesse : Be not too strict : Faire language may recure A fault of youth , whilst rougher words obdure .
SECT. 9. ARGVMENT . Samson goes downe to celebrate His mariage , and his nuptiall feast : The Lyon , which he slue of late Hath hony in his putrid brest : WHen as the long expected time was come , Wherein these lingring Lovers should consumme The promis'd mariage , and observe therites , Pertaining to those festivall delights , Samson went downe to Timnah ; there , t' enjoy The sweet possession of his dearest joy ; But as he past those fruitfull Vineyards , where His hands , of late , acquit him of that feare ( Wherewith the feirce assaulting Lyon quail'd His yet unpractis'd courage ) and prevail'd Vpon his life ; as by that place he past , He turn'd aside , and borrowed of his hast , A little time , wherein his eyes might view The Carkas of the Lyon which he flew ; But when his wandring footsteps had drawne neere The unlamented herse , his wandring eare
MEDITAT. 9. HOw high , unutterable , how profound , ( Whose depth the line of knowledge cannot sound ) Are the decrees of the Eternall God! How secret are his wayes — and how untrod By mans conceipt , so deeply charg'd with doubt ! How are his Counsells past our finding out ! O , how unscrutable are his designes ! How deepe , and how unsearchable are the Mines Of his abundant Wisedome ! How obscure Are his eternall Iudgements ! and how sure ! Lists he to strike ? The very Stones shall flie From their unmov'd Foundations , and destroy : Lists he to punish ? Things that haue no sense , Shall vindicate his Quarrell , on th' Offence : Lists he to send a plague ? The winters heate And summers damp , shall make his will compleate : Lists he to send the Sword ? Occasion brings New Iealousies betwixt the hearts of Kings . Wills he afamine ? Heaven shall turne to brasse , And earth to Iron , till it come to passe : With stockes , and stones , and plants and beasts fulfill The secret Counsell of his sacred will , Man , onely wretched Man , is disagreeing To doe that thing , for which he hath his being Samson must downe to Timnah ; In the way , Must meete a Lyon , whom his hands must slay ; The Lyo'ns putrid Carkas must enclose A swarme of Bees ; and , from the Bees , arose A Riddle ; and that Riddle must be read And by the reading , Choller must be bred , And that must bring to passe Gods just designes Vpon the death of the false Philistines : Behold the progresse , and the royall Gests Of Heavens high vengeance ; how it never rests , Till , by appointed courses , it fufill The secret pleasure of his sacred will . Great Saviour of the world ; Thou Lambe of Sion , That hides our sinnes : Thou art that wounded Lyon : O , in thy dying body , we have found A world of hony ; whence we may propound Such sacred Riddles , as shall , underneath Our feet , subdue the power of Hell and Death ; Such Misteries , as none but he , that plough'd With thy sweet Hayfer's , able to uncloud ; Such sacred Misteries , whose eternall praise Shall make both Angells , and Archangells raise Their louder voices ; and , in triumph , sing , All Glory and Honour to our highest King , And to the Lambe , that sits upon the throne ; Worthy of power and praise is he , alone , Whose glory hath advanc'd our key of mirth ; Glory to God , on high ; and peace , on Earth .
SECT. 10. ARGVMENT . The Bridegroome , at his nuptiall Feast , To the Philistians , doth propound A Riddle : which they all addrest Themselves , in counsell , to expound . NOw , when the glory of the next dayes light Had chas'd the shadows of the tedious night , When coupling Hymen , with his nuptiall bands , And golden Fetters , had conjoyn'd their hands ; When jolly welcome had , to every Guest , Expos'd the bounty of the mariage Feast ; Their now appeased stomacks did enlarge Their captive tongues , with power to discharge And quit their Table-duty , and disburse Their store of enterchangeable discourse , Th' ingenious Bridegroome turn'd his rolling eyes Vpon his guard of Bridemen , and applies His speech to them : And , whilst that every man Lent his attentive eare , he thus began ; My tongue 's in labour , and my thoughts abound ; I have a doubtfull Riddle , to propound ;
MEDITAT. 10. THere is a time , to laugh : A time , to turne Our smiles to teares : There is a time to mourne : There is a time for joy ; and a time for griefe ; A time to want ; and a time to finde reliefe ; A time to binde ; and there 's a time to breake ; A time for silence ; and a time to speake ; A time to labour ; and a time to rest ; A time to fast in ; and a time to feast : Things , that are lawfull , haue their times and use ; Created good ; and , onely by abuse , Made bad : Our sinfull usage does unfashion What heaven hath made , and makes a new creation : Ioy is a blessing : but too great excesse Makes Ioy , a Madnesse , and , does quite unblesse So sweet a gift ; And , what , by moderate use ; Crownes our desiers , banes them in th' abuse : Wealth is a blessing ; But too eager thurst Of having more , makes what we have , accurst : Rest is a blessing ; But when Rest withstands The healthfull labour of our helpfull hands , It proves a curse ; and staines our guilt , with crime , Betraies our irrecoverable time : To feast and to refresh our hearts with pleasure , And fill our soules with th' overflowing measure Of heavens blest bounty , cannot but commend The pretious favours of so sweet a friend ; But , when th' abundance of a liberall diet , Meant for a blessing , is abus'd by Riot , Th' abused blessing leaves the gift , nay worse , It is transform'd , and turn'd into a curse : Things that afford most pleasure , in the use , Are ever found most harmfull in th' abuse : Vse them like Masters ; and their tyrannous hand Subjects thee , like a slave , to their command : Vse them as Servants ; and they will obey thee ; Take heed ; They 'l eyther blesse thee , or betray thee . Could our Fore-fathers but revive , and see Their Childrens Feasts , as now a dayes they be ; Their studyed dishes ; Their restoring stuffe , To make their wanton bodies sinne enough ; Their stomacke-whetting Sallats , to invite Their wastfull palats to an appetite ; Their thirst-procuring dainties , to refine Their wanton tastes , and make them strong , for wine : Their costly viands , charg'd with rich perfume ; Their Viper-wines , to make old age presume To feele new lust , and youthfull flames agin , And serve another prentiship to sinne ; Their time-betraying Musicke ; their base noise Of odious Fidlers , with their smooth-fac'd boyes , Whose tongues are perfect , if they can proclame The Quintessence of basenesse , without shame ; Their deepe mouth'd curses ; New invented Oathes , Their execrable Blasphemy , that loathes A minde to thinke on ; Their obsceaner words ; Their drunken Quarrells ; Their unsheathed swords ; O how they 'd blesse themselves , and blush , for shame , In our behalfs , and hast from whence they came , To kisse their graves , that hid them from the crimes Of these accursed and prodigious times . Great God ; O , can thy patient eye behold This height of sinne , and can thy Vengeance hold ?
SECT. 11. ARGVMENT . The Philistins cannot unsolve The Riddle : They corrupt the Bride ; She wooes her Bridegroome to resolve Her doubt , but goes away denyde . NOw when three dayes had run their howers out , And left no hope for wit-forsaken doubt To be resolv'd , the desp'rate undertakers Conjoyn'd their whispring heads ; ( being all partakers And joynt-advisers in their new-laid plot ) The time 's concluded : Have yee not forgot How the old Tempter , when he first began To worke th' unhappy overthrow of man , Accosts the simple woman ; and reflects Vpon the frailty of her weaker Sex ; Even so these curs'd Philistians ( being taught And tutord by the selfe same spirit ) wrought The selfe same way ; Their speedy steps are bent To the faire Bride ; Their hast could giue no vent To their coarcted thoughts ; their language made A little respite ; and , at length , they said ; Fairest of Creatures : Let thy gentle heart Receive the crowne , due to so faire desert ; We have a Suit , that must attend the leisure Of thy best thoughts , and joy-restoring pleasure ; Our names , and credits linger at the stake Of deepe dishonour : If thou undertake , With pleasing language , to prevent the losse , They must sustaine , and draw them from the drosse Of their owne ruines , they shall meerely owe Themselves unto thy goodnesse , and shall know No other patron , and acknowledge none , As their redeemer , but thy love alone : We cannot read the Riddle , where unto We have engag'd our goods , and credits too ; Entice thy jolly Bridgroome , to unfold The hidden Myst'ry , ( what can he withhold From the rare beauty of so faire a brow ? ) And when thou knowst it , let thy servants know : What ? dost thou frowne ? And must our easie tryall , At first , reade Hieroglyphickes of deniall ? And art thou silent too ? Nay , wee 'l give ore To tempt thy bridall fondnesse any more : Betray your lovely husbands secrets ? No , You 'l first betray us , and our Land : But know , Proud Samsons wife , our furies shall make good Our losse of wealth and honour , in thy blood : Where faire entreaties spend themselves , in vaine , There fier shall consume , or else constraine : Know then , false hearted Bride , if our request Can find no place within thy sullen brest , Our hands shall vindicate our lost desire , And burne thy Fathers house , and thee , with fire : Thus having lodg'd their errand in her eares , They left the roome ; and her , unto her feares ; Who thus bethought ; Hard is the case , that I Must or betray my husbands trust , or dye ; I have a Wolfe by th' eares ; I dare be bold , Neither with safety , to let goe , nor hold : What shall I doe ? Their minds if I fulfill not , 'T is death ; And to betray his trust , I will not : Nay , should my lips demand , perchance , his breath Will not resolve me : Then , no way , but death : The wager is not great ; Rather the strife Were ended in his losse , then in my life ; His life consists in mine , If ought amisse Befall my life , it may endanger his : Wagers must yeeld to life ; I hold it best , Of necessary evills , to choose the least : Why doubt I then ? When Reason bids me doe ; I le know the Riddle , and betray it too : With that , she quits her chamber , with her cares , And in her closset locks up all her feares , And , with a speed untainted with delay , She found that brest , wherein her owne heart lay ; Where resting for a while , at length , did take A faire occasion to looke up , and spake : Life of my soule , and loves perpetuall treasure , If my desires be suiting to thy pleasure , My lips would move a Suite ; My doubtfull brest Would faine preferre an undenyde request : When strength of wit , and secret power of fraud Grow dull , constraint must conquer , and applaud With ill got vict'ry ; which , at length obtaind , Alas , how poore a trifle have we gaind ! How are our soules distempered ; to engrosse Such fading pleasures ! To ore-prize the dresse , And under-rate the gold ! for painted Ioyes , To sell the true ; and heaven it selfe for Toyes ! Lord ; clarifie mine eyes , that I may know Things that are good , from what are good in show : And give me wisedome , that my heart may learne The diffrence of thy favours , and discerne What 's truly good from what is good , in part ; With Martha's trouble , give me Maries heart .
SECT. 12. ARGVMENT . The Bride shee begs , and begs in vaine : But like to a prevailing wooer , She sues , and sues , and sues againe ; At last he reads the Riddle to her . WHen the next morning had renew'd the day , And th' earely twilight now had chac'd away The pride of night , and made her lay aside Her spangled Robes , the discontented Bride ( Whose troubled thoughts were tired with the night , And broken slumbers long had wisht for light ) With a deepe sigh , her sorrow did awake Her drowsie Bridegroome , whom she thus bespake ; O , if thy love could share an equall part In the sad griefes of my asflicted heart , Thy closed eyes had never , in this sort , Bin pleas'd with rest , and made thy night so short ; Perchance , if my dull eyes had slumbred too , My dreames had done , what thou denide to doe : Perchance , my Fancy would have bin so kinde , T' unsolve the doubts of my perplexed minde , I was a small suite , that thy unluckie Bride Must light upon : Too small , to be denyde : Can love so soone — ? But ere her lips could spend The following words , he said , suspend , suspend Thy rash attempt , and let thy tongue dispense With forc'd denyall : Let thy lips commence Some greater Suite , and Samson shall make good Thy faire desiers , with his dearest blood : Speake then , my love ; thou shalt net wish , and want ; Thou canst not beg , what Samson cannot grant : Onely , in this , excuse me : and refraine To beg , what thou , perforce , must beg in vaine . Inexorable Samson : Can the teares From those faire eyes , not move thy deafned eares ? O can those drops , that trickle from those eyes Vpon thy naked bosome , not surprize Thy neighb'ring heart ? and force it to obey ? O can thy heart not melt , as well as they ? Thou little thinkst thy poore afflicted wife Importunes thee , and wooes thee for her life : Her Suit 's as great a Riddle to thine eares , As thine , to hers ; O , these distilling teares Are silent pleaders , and her moistred breath Would faine redeeme her , from the gates of death ? May not her teares prevaile ? Alas , thy strife Is but for wagers ; Her 's , poore Soule , for life . Now when this day had yeelded up his right To the succeeding Empresse of the night , Whose soone-deposed raigne did reconvay Her crowne and Scepter to the new borne day , The restlesse Bride ( feares cannot brooke deniall ) Renewes her suite , and attempts a further tryall ; Entreats ; conjures ; she leaves no way untride : She will not ; no , she must not be denide : But he ( the portalls of whose marble heart Was lockt and barr'd against the powerfull art Of oft repeated teares ) stood deafe and dumbe ; He must not , no , he will not be orecome . Poore Bride ! How is thy glory overcast ! How is the pleasure of the nuptialls past , When scarce begun ! Alas , how poore a breath Of joy , must puffe thee to untimely death ! The day 's at hand , wherein thou must untie The Riddles tangled Snarle , or else must die ; Now , when that day was come wherein the feast Was to expire ; the Bride , ( whose pensive brest Grew sad to death ) did once more undertake Her too resolved Bridegroome thus , and spake : Vpon these knees , that prostrate on the floore , Are lowly bended , and shall nev'r give ore To move thy goodnesse , that shall never rise , Vntill my Suite finds favour in thine eyes , Vpon these naked knees , I here present My sad request : O let thy heart relent ; A Suitor sues , that never sued before ; And she begs now , that never will beg more : Hast thou vow'd silence ? O remember , how Thou art engaged by a former vow ; Thy heart is mine ; The secrets of thy heart Are mine ; Why art thou dainty to impart Mine owne , to me ? Then , give me leave to sue For what , my right may challenge as her due ; Vnfold thy Riddle then , that I may know , Thy love is more , then only love , in show : The Bridegroome , thus enchanted by his Bride , Vnseal'd his long-kept silence , and replide : Thou sole , and great commandresse of my heart , Thou hast prevail'd ; my bosome shall impart The summe of thy desiers , and discharge The faithfull secrets of my soule , at large ; Know then , ( my joy ) Vpon that very day , I , first , made knowne my'affection , on the way , I met , and grappled with a sturdy Lyon , Having nor staffe nor weapon , to relie on , I was enforc'd to proove my naked strength ; Vnequall was the match ; But , at the length , This brawney arme , receiving strength from him That gave it life , I tore him limme from limme , And left him dead : Now when the time was come , Wherein our promis'd nuptialls were to summe , And perfect all my joyes , as I was comming That very way , a strange confused humming , Not distant farre , possest my wondring eare ; Where guided by the noise , there did appeare A Swarme of Bees , whose busie labours fill'd The Carkasse of that Lyon which I kill'd , With Combes of Hony , wherewithall I fed My lips and thine : And now my Riddle 's read .
MEDITAT. 12. THe soule of man , before the taint of Nature , Bore the faire Image of his great Creator ; His understanding had no cloud : His will No crosse : That , knew no Error ; This , no ill : But man transgrest ; And by his wofull fall , Lost that faire Image , and that little all Was left , was all corrupt : His understanding Exchang'd her object ; Reason left commanding ; His Memory was depraved , and his will Can finde no other subject now , but Ill : It grew distemperd , left the righteous reine Of better Reason , and did entertaine The rule of Passion , under whose command , It suffered Ship-wracke , upon every Sand : Where it should march , it evermore retires ; And , what is most forbid , it most desires : Love makes it see too much ; and often , blinde ; Doubt makes it light , and waver like the winde ; Hate makes it fierce , and studious ; Anger , mad ; Ioy makes it carelesse ; Sorrow , dull and sad ; Hope makes it nimble , for a needlesse tryall ; Feare makes it too impatient of deniall . Great Lord of humane soules ; O thou , that art The onely true refiner of the heart ; Whose hands created all things perfect good , What canst thou now expect of flesh and blood ? How are our leprous Soules put out of fashion ! How are our Wills subjected to our passion ! How is thy glorious Image soil'd , defac'd , And stain'd with sinne ! How are our thoughts displac'd ! How wavering are our hopes , turn'd here and there With every blast ! How carnall is our feare ! Where needs no feare , we start at every shade , But feare not , where we ought to be affraid . Great God! If thou wilt please but to refine Our hearts , and reconforme our wills , to thine , Thou 'lt take a pleasure in us , and poore we Should finde as infinite delight in Thee ; Our doubts would cease , our feares would all remove , And all our passions would turne Ioy , and Love ; Till then , expect for nothing that is good : Remember , Lord , we are but Flesh and Blood .
SECT. 13. ARGVMENT . The Philistines , by her advice , Expound the Riddle : Samson kild Thirty Philistians , in a trice ; Forsakes his Bride : His Bed's defilde . NO sooner was the Brides attentive eares Resolv'd and pleas'd ; but her impetuous feares Calls in the Bridemen ; and , to them betraid The secret of the Riddle thus , and said : You Sonnes of Thunder ; T was not the loud noise Of your provoking threats , nor the soft voice Of my prevailing feares , that thus addrest My yeelding heart to grant your forc'd request ; Your language needed not have bin so rough To speake too much , when lesse had bin enough : Your speech at first , was hony in mine eare ; At length , it prov'd a Lyon , and did teare My wounded soule : It sought to force me to What your entreaties were more apt to doe : Know then ( to keepe your lingring eares no longer From what ye long to heare ; ) There 's nothing stronger Then a fierce Lyon : Nothing more can greet Your pleased palats , with a greater sweet , Then Hony : But more fully to expound , In a dead Lyon , there was Hony found . Now when the Sun was welking in the West , ( Whose fall determines both the day , and Feast ) The hopefull Bridegroome ( he whose smiling brow Assur'd his hopes a speedy Conquest now ) Euen thirsting for victorious Tryumph , brake The crafty silence of his lips , and spake : The time is come , whose latest hower ends Our nuptiall Feast , and fairely recommends The wreathe of Conquest to the victors brow ; Say ; Is the Riddle read ? Expound it now ; And , for your paines , these hands shall soone resigne Your conquerd prize : If not ; The prize is mine : With that , they joyn'd their whispring heads , and made A Speaker ; who , in louder language , said ; Of all the sweets , that ere were knowne , There 's none so pleasing be , As those rare dainties , which doe crowne The labour of the Bee : Of all the Creatures in the field ; That ever man set eye on , There 's none , whose power doth not yeeld Vnto the stronger Lyon . Whereto th' offended Challenger , whose eye Proclaim'd a quicke Revenge , made this reply : No Hony's sweeter then a womans tongue ; And , when she list , Lyons are not so strong : How thrice accurs'd are they , that doe fulfill The lewd desiers of a woman's will ! How more accurs'd is he , that doth impart His bosome secrets to a womans heart ; They plead like Angells , and , like Crocadiles , Kill with their teares ; They murther with their smiles : How weake a thing is woman ? Nay how weake Is senslesse Man , that will be urg'd to breake His counsells in her eare , that hath no power To make secure a secret , for an hower ! No ; victors , no : Had not a womans minde Bin faithlesse , and unconstant , as the winde , My Riddle had , till now , a Riddle bin ; You might have mus'd ; and mist ; and mus'd agin , When the next day had heav'd his golden head From the soft pillow of his Seagreene bed ; And , with his rising glory , had possest The spatious borders of th' enlightned East , Samson arose ; and , in a rage , went downe ( By heaven directed ) to a neighbring towne ; His choller was inflam'd ; and , from his eye The sudden flashes of his wrath did flie ; Palenesse was in his cheekes ; and , from his breath , There flew the fierce Embassadours of death ; He heav'd his hand ; and where it fell , it slew ; He spent , and still his forces would renew ; His quick-redoubled blowes fell thicke as thunder ; And , whom he tooke alive , he tore in sunder : His arme nere mist ; And often , at a blow , He made a Widow , and an Orphane too : Here , it divides the Father from the child ; The husband , from his wife ; there , it dispoild The friend on 's friend , the sister of her brother ; And , oft , with one man , he would thrash another : Where never was , he made a little flood , And where there was no kin , he joyn'd in blood , Wherein , his ruthlesse hands he did imbrue ; Thrice ten , before he scarce could breathe , he slue ; Their upper Garments , which he tooke away , Were all the spoiles the victor had , that day ; Where with , he quit the wagers that he lost , Paying Philistians , with Philistians cost ; And thus , at length , with blood he did asswage , But yet not quench the fier of his rage , For now the thought of his disloyall wife , In his sad soule , renew'd a second strife , From whom , for feare his fury should recoile , He thought most fit t' absent himselfe awhile ; Vnto his fathers Tent , he now return'd ; Where , his divided passion rag'd , and mourn'd ; In part , he mourned ; and , he rag'd , in part , To see so faire a face ; so false a heart : But marke the mischiefe that his absence brings ; His bed's defiled , and the nuptiall strings Are stretcht and crackt : A second love doth smother The first ; And she is wedded to another .
MEDITAT. 13. WAs this that wombe , the Angell did enlarge From barrennesse ? And gave so strickt a charge ? Was this that wombe , that must not be defil'd With uncleane meates , lest it pollute the child ? Is this the Nazarite ? May a Nazarite , then , Embrue and paddle in the bloods of men ? Or may their vowes be so dispens'd withall , That they , who scarce may see a funerall , Whose holy footsteps must beware to tread Vpon , or touch the carkasse of the dead ? May these revenge their wrongs , by blood ? May these Have power to Kill , and murther where they please ? T is true : A holy Nazarite is forbid To doe such things as this our Nazarite did : He may not touch the bodies of the dead , Without pollution ; much lesse , may shed The blood of man , or touch it , being spilt , Without the danger of a double guilt : But who art thou , that art an undertaker , To question with , or pleade against thy Maker ? May not that God , that gave thee thy creation , Turne thee to nothing , by his dispensation ? He that hath made the Sabbath , and commands It shall be kept with unpolluted hands ; Yet , if he please to countermand agin , Man may securely labour , and not sin ; A Nazarite is not allow'd to shed The blood of man , or once to touch the dead ; But if the God of Nazarites , bids kill He may ; and be a holy Nazarite still : But stay ! Is God like Man ? Or can he border Vpon confusion , that 's the God of order ? The Persian Lawes no time may contradict ; And are the Lawes of God lesse firme and strict ? An earthly Parent wills his child to stand And waite ; within a while , he gives command ( Finding the weakenesse of his Sonne opprest With wearinesse ) that he sit downe and rest ; Is God unconstant then ; because he pleases To alter , what he wild us , for our eases ? Know , likewise , O ungratefull flesh and blood , God limits his owne glory , for our good ; He is the God of mercy , and he prizes Thine Asses life , above his Sacrifices ; His Sabbath is his glory , and thy rest ; Hee 'l lose some honour , ere thou lose a Beast : Great God of mercy ; O , how apt are wee To robbe thee of thy due , that art so free To give unaskt ! Teach me , O God , to know What portion I deserve , and tremble too .
SECT. 14. ARGVMENT . Samson comes downe to reenjoy His wife : Her father does withstand : For which , he threatens to destroy And ruine him , and all the land . BVt Samson , ( yet not knowing what was past , For wronged husbands ever are the last That heare the newes ) thus with himselfe bethought ; It cannot be excus'd : It was a fault , It was a foule one too ; and , at first sight , Too greate for love , or pardon to acquite : O , had it bin a stranger , that betraid Reposed secrets , I had onely laid The blame upon my unadvised tongue ; Or had a common friend but done this wrong To bosome trust , my patience might out-worne it ; I could endur'd , I could have easily borne it ; But thus to be betraied by a wife , The partner of my heart ; to whom my life , My very soule was not esteemed deare , Is more then flesh , is more then blood can beare : But yet alas , She was but greene , and young , And had not gain'd the conquest of her tongue ; Vnseasond vessells , oft , will finde a leake At first ; but after , hold : She is but weake , Nay , cannot yet write woman ; which , at best , Is a fraile thing : Alas young things will quest At every turne ; Indeed , to say the truth , Her yeares could make it but a fault of youth : Samson , returne ; and let that fault be set Vpon the score of youth : forgive ; forget : She is my wife : Her love hath power to hide A fouler error ; Why should I divide My presence from her ? There 's no greater wrong To love , then to be silent over long : Alas , poore soule ! No doubt , her tender eye Hath wept enough ; perchance she knows not why I 'me turn'd so great a stranger to her bed , And boord : No doubt , her empty eyes have shed A world of teares ; perchance , her guiltlesse thought Conceives my absence as a greater fault Then that , of late , her harmelesse Error did ; I 'l goe and draw a reconciling Kid From the faire flocke ; My feet shall never rest , Till I repose me in my Brides faire brest ; He went ; but ere his speedy lips obtain'd The merits of his hast , darknesse had stain'd The cristall brow of day ; and gloomy night Had spoild and rifled heaven of all his light : H'approach'd the gates ; but , being entred in , His carelesse welcome seem'd so cold and thin , As if that silence meant , it should appeare , He was no other , then a stranger , there ; In every servants looke , hee did espie An easie Copie of their Masters eye ; He call'd his wife , but she was gone to rest ; Vnto her wonted chamber he addrest His doubtfull steps ; till , by her father , staid , Who taking him aside a little , said . Son ; It was the late espousals that doe move My tongue to use that title ; not , thy love : T is true ; there was a Mariage lately past Betweene my Childe , and you ; The knot was fast And firmly tyed , not subject to the force Of any powre , but death , or else divorce . For ought I saw , a mutuall desire Kindled your likings , and an equall fire Of strong affection , joyned both your hands With the perpetuall knot of nuptiall bands ; Mutuall delight , and equall loyes attended Your pleased hearts , untill the feast was ended ; But then , I know no ground , ( you know it best ) As if your loves were measur'd by the Feast , The building fell , before the house did shake , Loves fire was quencht , ere it began to slake ; All on a sudden were your joyes disseis'd ; Forsooke your Bride , and went away displeas'd ; You left my childe to the opprobrious tongues Of open censure , whose mabitious wrongs , ( Maligning her faire merits ) did defame Her wounded honour , and unblemisht name ; I thought , thy love , which was so strong , of late , He thus began t' attempt his first conclusion ; The patient Angler , first , provides his baite , Before his hopes can teach him to awaite Th' enjoyment of his long expected prey ; Revengefull Samson , ere hee can appay His wrongs with timely vengeance , must intend To gaine the Instruments , to worke his end , He plants his Engines , hides his snares about , Pitches his Toiles , findes new devices out , To tangle wilie Foxes ; In few dayes , ( That land had store ) his studious hand betrayes A leash of hundreds , which he thus imployes , As Agents in his ragefull enterprize ; With tough , and force-enduring thongs of Lether , He joynes and couples taile , and taile together , And every thonge bound in a Brand of Fire , So made by Art , that motion would inspire Continuall flames , and , as the motion ceast , The thrifty blaze would then retire and rest In the close Brand , untill a second strife Gave it new motion ; and that motion , life : Soone as these coupled Messengers receiv'd Their siery Errand , though they were bereiv'd Of power to make great hast , they made good speed ; Their thoughts were diffring , though their tailes agreed : T 'one drags and drawes to th' East ; the other , West ; One fit , they run ; another while they rest ; T' one skulks and snarles , the t' other tugges and hales ; At length , both flee , with fier in their tailes , And in the top and height of all their speed . T 'one stops , before the tother be agreed ; The other pulls , and drags his fellow backe , Whilst both their tailes were tortur'd on the racke ; At last , both weary of their warme Embassage , Their better ease discride a fairer passage , And time hath taught their wiser thoughts to joyne More close , and travell in a straighter line : Into the open Champion they divide Their straggling paces ( where the ploughmans pride Found a faire Object , in his rip'ned Corne ; Whereof , some part was reapt ; some , stood unshorne ) Sometimes , the fiery travellers would seeke Protection beneath a swelling Reeke ; But soone that harbour grew too hot for staie , Affording onely light , to run away ; Sometimes , the full-ear'd standing-wheat must cover And hide their shames ; & , there the flames would hover About their eares , and send them to enquire A cooler place ; but , there , the flaming fire Would scorch their hides , and send them sing'd away ; Thus , doubtfull where to goe , or where to stay , They range about ; Flee forward ; then retire , Now here , now there ; Where ere they come , they fire ; Nothing was left , that was not lost , and burn'd ; And now , that fruitfull land of Iewry's turn'd A heape of Ashes ; That faire land , while ere Which fild all hearts with joy , and every eare With newes of plenty , and of blest encrease , ( The joyfull issue of a happy peace ) See , how it lies in her owne ruines , void Of all her happinesse , disguiz'd , destroy'd : With that the Philistines , whose sad reliefe And comfort 's deeply buried in their griefe , Began to question ( they did all partake In th' irrecoverable losse ) and spake , What cursed brand of Hell ? What more then Devill , What envious Miscreant hath done this evill ? Whereto , one sadly standing by , replide ; It was that cursed Samson ( whose faire Bride Was lately ravisht from his absent brest By her false father ) who before the feast Of nuptiall was a month expir'd , and done , By second mariage , own'd another sonne ; For which , this Samson heav'd from off the henge Of his lost reason , studied this revenge ; That Timnits falshood wrought this desolation ; Samson the Actor was , but he , th' occasion : With that , they all consulted , to proceed In height of Iustice , to revenge this deed ; Samson , whose hand was the immediate cause Of this foule act , is stronger then their lawes ; Him , they refer to time ; For his proud hand May bring a second ruine to their land ; The cursed Timnite , he that did divide The lawful Bridegroome from his lawfull Bride , And mov'd the patience of so strong a foe , To bring these evils , and worke their overthrow , To him they hast ; and , with resolv'd desire Of blood , they burne his house , & him with fire .
MEDITAT. 15. Dost thou not tremble ? Does thy troubled eare Not tingle ? nor thy spirits faint to heare The voice of those , whose dying shriekes proclame Their tortures , that are broyling in the flame ? She , whose illustrious beauty did not know Where to be matcht , but one poore houre agoe ; She , whose faire eyes were apt to make man erre From his knowne faith , and turne Idolater ; She , whose faire cheeks , inricht with true complexion , Seem'd beauties store-house of her best perfection ; See , how she lies , see how this beautie lies , A foule offence , unto thy loathing eyes ; A fleshly Cinder , lying on the floore . Starke naked , had it not bin cover'd ore With bashfull ruines , which were fallen downe From the consumed roofe , and rudely throwne On this halfe-roasted earth . O , canst thou reade Her double story , and thy heart not bleed ? What art thou more then she ? Tell me wherein Art thou more priviledg'd ? Or can thy sinne Plead more t' excuse it ? Art thou faire and yong ? Why so was she : Were thy temptations strong ? Why , so were hers : What canst thou plead , but she Had powre to plead the same , as well as thee ? Nor was 't her death alone , could satisfie Revenge ; her father , and his house must dye : Vnpunisht crimes doe often bring them in , That were no lesse then strangers to the sinne : Ely must dye ; because his faire reproofe Of too foule sinne , was not austere enough : Was vengeance now appeas'd ? Hath not the crime Paid a sufficient Intrest for the time ? Remove thine eye to the Philistian fields ; See , what increase their fruitfull harvest yeelds : There 's nothing there , but a confused heape Of ruinous ashes : There 's no corne , to reape : Behold the poyson of unpunisht sinne ; For which the very earth 's accurst agin : Famine must act her part ; her griping hand , For one mans sinne , must punish all the Land : Is vengeance now appeas'd ? Hath sinne given ore To cry for plagues ? Must vengeance yet have more ? O , now th' impartiall sword must come , and spill The blood of such , as Famine could not kill : The language of unpunisht sinne cryes loud , It roares for Iustice , and it must have blood : Famine must follow , where the Fire begun ; The Sword must end , what both have left undone . Iust God ; our sinnes doe dare thee to thy face ; Our score is great ; our Ephah fill's apace ; The leaden cover threatens , every minut , To close the Ephah , and our sinnes , within it . Turne backe thine eye : Let not thine eye behold Such vile pollutions : Let thy vengeance hold : Looke on thy dying Sonne ; There shalt thou spie An Object , that 's more fitter for thine eye ; His sufferings ( Lord ) are farre above our sinnes ; O , looke thou there ; Ere Iustice once begins T'unsheathe her Sword , O , let one pretious drop Fall from that pierced side ; and that will stop The eares of vengeance , from that clamorous voice Of our loud sinnes , which make so great a noise ; O , send that drop , before Revenge begins , And that will cry farre louder then our sinnes .
SECT. 16. ARGVMENT . He makes a slaughter ; Doth remove To Etans rocke ; where , to repay him The wrongs that he had done , they move the men of Iudah to betray him . THus when th' accurs'd Philistians had appaid The Timnits sinne , with ruine ; and betraid Th' unjust Offenders to their fierce desire , And burn'd their cursed Family with fire ; Samson , the greatnesse of whose debt denide So short a payment ; and whose wrongs yet cride For further vengeance , to be further laid Vpon the sinne-conniving Nation , said , Vnjust Philistians , you that could behold So capitall a crime , and yet with-hold This well-deserved punishment so long , Which made you partners in their sinne , my wrong ; Had yee at first , when as the fault was yong , Before that Time had lent her clamorous tongue So great a strength , to call for so much blood ; O , had your earlie Iustice but thought good To strike in time ; nay , had you then devis'd Some easier punishment , it had suffic'd ; But now it comes too late ; The sin has cryed , Till heaven hath heard , and mercy is denied : Nay , had the sin but spar'd to roare so loud , A drop had serv'd , when now a Tide of blood Will hardly stop her mouth : Had ye done this betimes ! But now , this hand Must plague your persons , and afflict your land : Have ye beheld a youth-instructing Tutor , ( Whose wisedom's seldome seene , but in the future ) When well deserved punishment shall call For the delinquent Boy ; how , first of all , He preaches fairely ; then , proceedes austerer To the foule crime , whilst the suspitious hearer Trembles at every word , untill , at length , His language being ceas'd , th' unwelcome strength Of his rude arme , that often proves too rash , Strickes home , and fetches blood at every lash . Even so stout Samson , whose more gentle tongue , In easie tearmes , doth first declare the wrong , Injustice did , then tells the evill effects That mans connivence , and unjust neglects Does often bring upon th' afflicted land ; But , at the last , upheaves his ruthlesse hand ; He hewes , he hacks , and , fury being guide , His unresisted power doth divide From top to toe ; his furious weapon cleft , Where ere it strucke : It slue ; and never left , Vntill his flesh-destroying arme , at length , Could finde no subject , where t' imploy his strength : Here stands a head-strong Steed , whose fainting guider Drops downe ; another dragges his wounded rider : Now here , now there his franticke arme would thunder , And , at one stroake , cleaves horse and man in sunder , In whose mixt blood , his hands would oft embrue , And where so ere they did but touch , they slew : Here 's no imployment for the Surgeons trade , All wounds were mortall that his weapon made ; There 's none was left , but dying , or else dead , And onely they , that scap'd his fury , fled ; The slaughter ended , the proud victor past Through the afflicted land , untill , at last , He comes to Iudah ; where , he pitch'd his Tent , At the rocke Etan : There , some time he spent ; He spent not much , Till the Philistian band , That found small comfort in their wasted land , Came up to Iudah , and there , pitch'd not farre From Samsons Tent ; Their hands were arm'd to warre : With that , the men of Iudah , strucke with feare , To see so great an Armie , straight drew neare , To the sad Campe ; who , after they had made Some signes of a continued peace , they said ; What new designes have brought your royall band Vpon the borders of our peacefull land ? What strange adventures ? What disastrous weather Drove you this way ? What businesse brought you hether ? Let not my Lords be angry , or conceive An evill against your Servants : What we have , Is yours : The peacefull plenty of our land And we , are yours ; and at your owne command : Why , to what purpose are you pleas'd to show us Your strength ! Why bring you thus an army to us ? Are not our yearly Tributes justly paid ? Have we not kept our vowes ? Have we delaid Our faithfull service , or denied to doe it , When you have pleas'd to call your servants to it ? Have we , at any time , upon your triall , Shruncke from our plighted faith , or prov'd disloyall ? If that proud Samson have abus'd your Land , T is not our faults ; Alas , we had no hand In his designes : We lent him no reliefe ; No aid ; No , we were partners in your griefe . Where to the Philistines , whose hopes relyde Vpon their faire assistance , thus replyde : Feare not , yee men of Iudah ; Our intentions Are not to wrong your peace : Your apprehensions Are too-too timerous ; Our designes are bent Against the common Foe , whose hands have spent Our lavish blood , and rob'd our wasted Land Of all her joyes : T is hee , our armed band Expects , and followes : Hee is cloysterd here , Within your Quarters : Let your faiths appeare Now in your loyall actions , and convay The skulking Rebell to us , that we may Revenge our blood , which he hath wasted thus , And doe to him , as he hath done to us .
MEDITAT. 16. IT was a sharpe revenge : But was it just ? Shall one man suffer for another ? Must The Childrens teeth be set on edge , because Their Fathers ate the grapes ? Are Heavens lawes So strict ? whose lips did , with a promise , tell , That no such law should passe in Israel : Because th' injurious Timnites trecherous hand Commits the fault , must Samson scourge the land ? Sinne is a furious Plague ; and it infects The next inhabitant , if he neglects The meanes t' avoid it : T is not because he sinnes That thou art punisht : No , it then begins T' infect thy soule ; when , thou a stander by , Reproves it not : or when thy carelesse eye Slights it as nothing : If a sinne of mine Grieve not thy wounded soule , it becomes thine . Thinke yee that God commits the Sword of power Into the hands of Magistrates , to scower And keepe it bright ? Or onely to advance His yet unknowne Authoritie ? Perchance , The glorious Hilt and Scabberd make a show To serve his turne ; have it a blade , or no , He neither knowes , nor cares : Is this man fit T' obtaine so great an honor , as to sit As Gods Lieutenant , and to punish sinne ? Know leaden Magistrates , and know agin , Your Sword was given to draw , and to be dyde In guilty blood ; not to be laid aside , At the request of friends , or for base feare , Lest when your honor 's ended with the yeare , Ye may be baffled : t is not enough that you Finde , bread be waight ; or that the waights be true : T is not enough , that every foule disorder Must be refer'd to your more wise Recorder : The charge is given to you : You must returne A faire account ; or else , the Land must mourne : You keepe your Swords too long a season in , And God strikes us , because you strike not sinne : Y' are too remisse , and want a Resolution : Good Lawes lye dead , for lacke of execution : An Oath is growne so bold , that it will laugh The easie Act , to scorne : Nay , we can quaffe And reele with priviledge : and wee can trample Vpon our shame shrunke cloakes , by your example : You are too dull : Too great offences passe Vntoucht ; God loves no service from the Asse ; Rouze up ; O use the Spurre , & spare the Bridle ; God strikes , because your Swords , and You are idle ; Graunt , Lord , that every one may mend a fault ; And then our Magistrates may stand for nought .
SECT. 17. ARGVMENT . The faithlesse men of Iuda went To make him subject to their bands : They bound him by his owne consent , And brought him pris'ner to their hands . SO said : The men of Iudah ( whose base feare Taught them to open an obedient eare To their revengefull and unjust request ) Accept the trecherous motion , and addrest Their slavish thoughts , to put in execution The subject of their servile resolution : With that , three thousand of their ablest men Are soone imploy'd ; To the fierce Lyons den They come , ( yet daring not approach too neare ) And sent this louder language to his eare ; Victorious Samson , whose renowned facts Have made the world a Register of thy Acts , Great Army of men , the wonder of whose power Gives thee the title of a walking Tower , Why hast thou thus betraid us to the hand Of the curs'd Philistines ? Thou know'st our Land Does owe it selfe to thee ; There 's none can clame So great an intrest in our hearts : Thy name , Thy highly honour'd name , for ever , beares A welcome Accent in our joyfull eares ; But now the times are dangerous , and a band Of proud Philistians quarter in our land ; And ; for thy sake , the tyranny of their tongues Hath newly threatned to revenge thy wrongs Vpon our peacefull lives : Their lips have vow'd And sworne to salve their injuries with our blood ; Their jealous fury hollowes in our eares , They 'l plague our land , as thou hast plagued theirs , If we refuse to doe their fierce command , And bring not Samson prisoner to their hand ; Alas , thou knowst our servile neckes must bow To their imperious Yoke ; Alas , our vow Of loyalty is past : If they bid , doe ; We must ; or loose our lands , and our lifes too ; Were but our lifes in hazard , or if none Should feele the smart of death , but wee alone , Wee 'd turne thy Martyrs , rather then obey'm , Wee 'd dye with Samson sooner then betray'm ; But we have wifes , and children , that would be The subjects of their rage , as well as wee : Wherefore , submit thy person , and fulfill What we desire so much against our will : Alas , our griefes in equall poisure lye ; Yeeld , and thou dyest : Yeeld not , and wee must dye : Whereto , sad Samson , whose faire thoughts did guide His lips to fairer language , thus replide ; Yee men of Iudah , what distrustfull thought Of single Samsons violence hath brought So great a strength , as if you meant t' orethrow Some mighty Monarch , or surprise a Foe ! Tour easie errand might as well bin done By two or three , or by the lips of one ; The meanest childe of holy Israels seede Might conquer'd Samson , with a bruised reed : Alas , the boldnesse of your welcome words Need no protection of these staves and Swords : Brethren ; the intention of my comming hither Was not to wrong you , or deprive you , either Of lives , or goods , or of your poorest due ; My selfe is cheaper to my selfe , then you ; My comming is on a more faire designe , I come to crush your tyranous foes , and mine , I come to free your country , and recall Your servile shoulders from the slavish thrall Of the proud Philistines ; and , with this hand , To make you freemen in your promis'd Land ; But you are come to binde me , and betray Your faith full Champion to those hands , that lay Perpetuall burthens on , which daily vex Your galled shoulders , and your servile necks : The wrongs these cursed Philistines have done My simple innocence , have quite outrun My easie patience : If my arme may right My too much injur'd suffrance , and requite What they have done to me , it would appease My raging thoughts , and give my tortures ease ; But ye are come to binde me : I submit ; I yeeld ; And if my bondage will acquit Your new borne feares , T is well : But they that doe Attempt to ruine me , will ransack you : First , you shall firmely ' engage your plighted troth , By the acceptance of a sacred oath , That , when I shall be prisoner to your bands , I may not suffer violence by your hands : With that , they drawing nearer to him , laid Their hands beneath his brawny thigh , and said , Then let the God of Iacob cease to blesse The tribe of Iudah , with a faire successe , In ought they put their cursed hand unto , And raze their seed , If we attempt to doe Bound Samson violence ; And if this curse Be not sufficient , heaven contrive a worse : With that , the willing prisoner join'd his hands , To be subjected to their stronger bands : With treble twisted cords , that never tried The twitch of strength , their buisie fingers tied His sinewy wrists , which being often wound About his beating pulse , they brought him bound To the forefront of the Philistian band , And left him captive in their cursed hand .
MEDITAT. 17. O What a Pearle is hidden in this Field , Whose orient luster , and perfections yeeld So great a treasure , that the Easterne Kings , With all the wealth , their colder Climate brings , Nere saw the like : It is a pearle whose glory Is the diviner subject of a Story , Penn'd by an Angells quill ; not understood By the too dull con ceitof flesh and blood ! Vnkinde Iudeans , what have you presented Before our eyes ? O , what have you attented ! He that was borne on purpose , to release His life , for yours ; to bring your Nation peace ; To turne your mournings into joyfull Songs ; To fight your Battells ; To revenge your wrongs ; Even him , alas , your cursed hands have made This day your prisoner ; Him have you betraid To death : O ; hee whose sinowy arme had power To crush you all to nothing , and to shower Down strokes , like thunderbolts , whose blasting breath , Might , in a moment , pufft you all to death , And made ye fall before his frowning brow , See , how he goes away , betraid by you ! Thou great Redeemer of the world ! Whose blood Hath power to save more worlds , then Noah's flood Destroyed bodies ; thou , O thou that art The Samson of our soules , How can the heart Of man give thanks enough , that does not know How much his death-redeemed soule does owe To thy deare merits ? We can apprehend No more then flesh and blood does recommend To our confined thoughts : Alas , we can Conceive thy love , but as the love of man : We cannot tell the horror of that paine Thou bought us from , not can our hearts attaine Those joyes that thou hast purchas'd in our name , Nor yet the price , thou paidst : Our thoughts are lame , And craz'd ; Alas , things mortall have no might , No meanes to comprehend an Infinite : We can behold thee cradled in a Manger , In a poore Stable : We can see the danger The Tetrarch's fury made thee subject to ; We can conceive thy poverty ; We know Thy blessed hands ( that might bin freed ) were bound ; We know , alas , thy bleeding browes were crown'd With prickling thorne ; Thy body torne with whips ; Thy palmes impeirc'd with ragged nailes ; Thy lips Saluted with a Traitors kisse ; Thy browes Sweating forth blood : Thy oftrepeated blowes ; Thy fastning to the crosse ; Thy shamefull death ; These outward tortures all come underneath Our dull conceits : But , what thy blessed soule ( That bore the burthen of our guilt , and Scroule Of all our sinns , and horrid paines of Hell ) O , what that soule endur'd , what soule can tell !
SECT. 18. ARGVMENT . He breakes their bands ; And with a Bone , A thousand Philistians he slue : He thirsted , fainted ; made his mone To heaven : He drinkes , His spirits renew . THus when the glad Philistians had obtain'd The summe of all their hopes , they entertain'd The welcome pris'ner with a greater noise Of triumph then the greatnesse of their joyes Required : Some , with sudden death , would greet The new come Guest ; whil'st others , more discreet , With lingring paines , and tortures more exact , Would force him to discover , in the Fact , Who his Abettors were : others gainsaid That course , for feare a rescue may be made : Some cry , T is fittest , that th' offender bleed There , where his cursed hands had done the deed : Others cryed , No , where Fortune hath consign'd him , Wee'lk : H him : Best ; to kill him , where we finde him : Thus variously they spent their doubtfull breath , At last , they all agreed on sudden death ; There 's no contention now , but onely who Shall strike the first , or give the speeding blow : Have yee beheld a single thred of flax , Touch'd by the fier , how the fier crackes With ease , and parts the slender twine in sunder , Even so , as the first arme began to thunder Vpon the Prisners life , he burst the bands From his strong wrists , and freed his loosned hands ; Hee stoop'd ; from off the blood-expecting grasse , He snatcht the crooked jaw-bone of an Asse ; Wherewith , his fury dealt such downe-right blowes . So oft redoubled , that it overthrowes Man after man ; And being ring'd about With the distracted , and amazed rout Of rude Philistians , turn'd his body round , And in a circle dings them to the ground : Each blow had proofe ; for , where the jaw-bone mist , The furious Champion wounded with his fist : Betwixt them both , his fury did uncase A thousand soules , which , in that fatall place , Had left their ruin'd carkeises , to feast The slesh-devouring fowle , and rav'nous beast : With that , the Conquerour , that now had fed And surfeited his eye upon the dead His hand had slaine , sate downe ; and , having flung His purple weapon by , triumpht , and sung ; SAmson rejoyce : Be fill'd with mirth ; Let all Iudaea know , And tell the Princes of the earth How strong an arme hast thou : How has thy dead inricht the land , And purpled ore the grasse , That hadst no weapon in thy hand , But the Iaw-bone of an Asse ! How does thy strength , and high renowne The glory of men surpasse ! Thine arme has strucke a thousand downe , with the jaw-bone of an Asse : Let Samsons glorious name endure , Till time shall render One , Whose greater glory shall obscure The Glory thou hast wonne . His Song being ended , rising from the place Whereon he lay , he turn'd his ruthlesse face Vpon those heapes his direfull hand had made , And op'ning of his thirsty lips , he said : Great God of Conquest , thou by whose command This heart received courage , and this hand Strength , to revenge thy quarrels , and fulfill The secret motion of thy sacred will ; What , shall thy Champion perish now with thirst ? Thou knowst , I have done nothing , but what first Was warranted by thy command : T was thou That gave my spirit boldnesse , and my brow A resolution : This mine arme did doe No more , then what thou didst enjoyne it to : And shall I dye for thirst ? O thou that sav'd Me from the Lyons rage , that would have rav'd Vpon my life : by whom I have subdu'd Thy cursed enemies , and have imbru'd My heaven-commanded hands , in a spring-tyde Of guilty blood ; Lord , shall I be denyde A draught of cooling water , to allay The tyranny of my thirst ? I , that this day Have labour'd in thy Vineyard ; rooted out So many weeds , whose losty crests did sprout Above thy trodden Vines ; what , shall I dye For want of water , thou the Fountaine by ? I know that thou wert here , for hadst thou not Supplyde my hand with strength , I ne'er had got So strange a vict'ry : Hath thy servant taken Thy worke in hand , and is he now forsaken ? Hast thou not promis'd that my strengthned hand Shall scourge thy Foemen , and secure thy Land From slavish bondage ? will that arme of thine Make me their slave , whom thou hast promist , mine ? Bow downe thy eare , and heare my needfull cry ; O , quench my thirst , great God , or else I dye : With that , the jaw , wherewith his arme had laid So many sleeping in the dust , obayde The voice of God , and cast a tooth , from whence A sudden spring arose , whose confluence Of christall waters , plentiously disburst Their pretious streames ; and so allaid his thurst .
MEDITAT. 18. THe jaw-bone of an Asse ? How poore a thing God makes his powerfull instrument to bring Some honour to his name , and to advance His greater glory ! Came this bone , by chance , To Samsons hand ? Or could the Army goe No further ? but must needs expect a foe Iust where his weapon of destruction lay ? Was there no fitter place , for them to stay , But even just there ? How small a thing 't had bin ( If they had beene so provident ) to winne The day with ease ? Had they but taken thence That cursed Bone , what colour of defence Had Samson found ? Or how could he withstood The necessary danger of his blood ? Where Heav'n doth please to ruine , humane wit Must faile , and deeper pollicie must submit : There , wisedome must be fool'd , and strength of braine Must worke against it selfe , or worke in vaine : The tracke , that seemes most likely , often leads To death ; and where securitie most pleads , There , dangers , in their fairest shapes , appeare , And give us not so great a help , as feare : The things wee least suspect , are often they , That most effect our ruine , and betray : Who would have thought , the silly Asses bone , Not worth the spurning , should have overthrowne So stout a Band ? Heav'n , often times , thinkes best , To overcome the greatest with the least : He gaines most glory in things , that are most sleight , And wins , in honour , what they want in might : Who would have thought , that Samsons deadly thurst Should have bin quencht with waters , that did burst And flow from that dry bone ? Who would not thinke , The thirsty Conquerour , for want of drinke , Should first have dyed ? What mad man could presume So dry a tooth should yeeld so great a Rheume ? God does not worke like Man ; nor is he tyed To outward meanes : His pleasure is his Guide , Not Reason : He , that is the God of Nature , Can worke against it : He that is Creator Of all things , can dispose them , to attend His will , forgetting their created end : Hee , whose Almighty power did supply This Bone with water , made the Red sea ; dry : Great God of Nature ; T is as great an ease For thee to alter Nature , if thou please , As to create it ; Let that hand of thine Shew forth thy powre , and please to alter mine : My sinnes are open , but my sorrow 's hid ; I cannot drench my couch , as David did ; My braines are marble , and my heart is stone : O strike mine eyes , as thou didst strike that bone .
SECT. 19. ARGVMENT . Hee lodges with a harlot : wait Is laid , and guards are pitcht about : Hee beares away the City-gate Vpon his shoulders , and goes out . THus when victorious Samson had unliv'd This hoast of armed men ; and had reviv'd His fainting spirits , and refresht his tongue With those sweet christall streames , that lately sprung From his neglected weapon , he arose ( Secured from the tyrannie of his Foes By his Heaven-borrow'd strength ) and boldly came To a Philistian City , knowne by th' name Of Azza ; where , as he was passing by , The carelesse Champion cast his wandring eye Vpon a face , whose beauty did invite His wanton heart to wonder and delight : Her curious haire was crisp'd : Her naked brest Was white as Ivory , and fairely drest With costly Iewells : In her glorious face , Nature was hidden , and dissembled grace Damaskt her rosie cheekes : Her eyes did sparke , At every glance , like Diamonds in the darke ; Bold was her brow ; whose frowne was but a foile To glorifie her better-pleasing smile ; Her pace was carelesse , seeming to discover The passions of a discontented Lover : Sometime , her op'ned Casement gives her eye A twinckling passage to the passer by ; And , when her fickle fancy had given ore That place , she comes , and wantons at the doore ; There Samson view'd her , and his steps could finde No further ground ; but ( guided by his minde ) Cast Anchor there : Have thy observing eyes Ere mark'd the Spiders garbe , How close she lies Within her curious webbe ; And by and by , How quicke she hasts to her entangled Flie ; And , whispring poyson in his murmring eares , At last , she tugges her silent guest , and beares His hampred body to the inner roome Of her obscure and solitary Home ; Even so this snaring beauty entertaines Our eye-led Samson , tamperd with the chaines Of her imperious eyes ; and he , that no man Could conquer ; now lyes conquerd by a woman . Fayre was his welcome , and as fairely ' exprest By her delicious language , which profest No lesse affection , then so sweet a Friend , Could , with her best expressions , recommend : Into her glorious chamber she directs Her welcome guest , and with her fayre respects She entertaines him ; with a bountious kisse , She gives him earnest of a greater blisse ; And with a brazen countenance , she brake The way to her unchaste desires , and spake ; Mirrour of mankinde , thou selected flowre Of Loves faire knot , welcome to Flora's bowrs ; Cheare up , my Love ; and looke upon these eyes , Wherein my beauty , and thy picture lyes ; Come , take me prisner , in thy folded armes ; And boldly strike up sprightly loves alarmes Vpon these ruby lips , and let us trie The sweets of love : Here 's none but thee and I : My beds are softest downe , and purest lawne My sheets ; My vallents , and my curtaines drawne In gold and silkes of curious dye : Behold , My Coverings are of Tap stry , inricht with gold ; Come , come , and let us take our fill of pleasure ; My husbands absence lends me dainty leasure To give thee welcome : Come , let 's spend the night In sweet enjoyment of unknowne delight . Her words prevail'd : And , being both undrest , Together went to their defiled rest : By this , the newes of Samsons being there Possest the Citie , and fill'd every eare : His death is plotted ; And advantage lends New hopes of speed : An armed guard attends At every gate , that when the breaking day Shall send him forth , th' expecting Forces may Betray him to his sudden death ; and so , Revenge their Kingdomes ruine at a blow : But lustfull Samson ( whose distrustfull eares Kept open house ) was now possest with feares : Hee heares a whisp'ring ; and the trampling feet Of people passing in the silent street ; He , whom undaunted courage lately made A glorious Conquerour , is now afraid ; His conscious heart is smitten with his sinne ; He cannot chuse but feare , and feare agin : He feares ; and now the terrible alarmes Of sinne doe call him from th' unlawfull armes And lips of his luxurious Concubine ; Bids him , arise from dalliance , and resigne The usurpation of his luke-warme place To some new sinner , whose lesse dangerous case May lend more leisure to so foule a deed : Samson , with greater and unwonted speed Leaps from his want on bed ; his feares doe presse More haste , to cloath ; then lust did , to undresse : He makes no tarryance ; but , with winged hast , Bestrides the streets ; and , to the gates , he past , And through the armed troupes , he makes his way ; Beares gates , and bars , and pillers all away ; So scap'd the rage of the Philistian Band , That still must owe his ruine , to their land .
MEDITAT. 19. HOw weake , at strongest , is poore flesh and blood ! Samson , the greatnes of whose power withstood A little world of armed men , with death , Must now be foyled with a womans breath : The mother , sometimes , lets her infant fall , To make it hold the surer by the wall : God lets his servant , often , goe amisse , That he may turne , and see how weake he is : David that found an overflowing measure Of heavens high favours , and as great a treasure Of saving grace , and portion of the Spirit , As flesh and blood was able to inherit , Must have a fall , to exercise his feares , And make him drowne his restlesse Couch with Teares : Wise Salomon , within whose heart was planted The fruitfull stockes of heavenly Wisedome , wanted Not that , whereby his weakenesse understood The perfect vanity of flesh and blood : Whose hand seem'd prodigall of his Isaacks life , He durst not trust Gods providence with his wife : The righteous Lot had slidings : Holy Paul He had his pricke ; and Peter had his fall : The sacred Bride , in whose faire face remaines The greatest earthly beauty , hath her staines : If man were perfect , and entirely good , He were not Man : He were not flesh and blood : Or should he never fall , he would , at length , Not see his weaknesse , and presume in strength : Ere children know the sharpnesse of the Edge , They thinke , their fingers have a priviledge Against a wound ; but , having felt the knife , A bleeding finger , sometime , saves a life : Lord , we are children ; and our sharpe-edg'd knives , Together with our blood , le ts out our lives ; Alas , if we but draw them from the sheath , They cut our fingers , and they bleed to death . Thou great Chirurgion of a bleeding soule , Whose soveraigne baulme , is able to make whole The deepest wound , Thy sacred salve is sure ; We cannot bleed so fast , as thou canst cure : Heale thou our wounds ; that , having salv'd the sore , Our hearts may feare , and learne to sinne no more ; And let our hands be strangers to those knives , That wound not fingers onely ; but our lives .
Of your true servant ; who , would never rest , Till she had done the deed : But know , my Lords , If the poore frailty of a womans words May shake so great a power , and prevaile , My best advis'd endeavours shall not faile To be imploi'd : I 'le make a sudden triall ; And quickly speed , or finde a foule deniall :
MEDITAT. 20. INsatiate Samson ! Could not Azza smother Thy flaming lust ; but must thou finde another ? Is th' old growne stale ? And seeks thou for a new ? Alas , where Two's too many , Three 's too few : Mans soule is infinite , and never tires In the extension of her owne desires : The sprightly nature of his active minde Aimes still at further ; Will not be confinde To th' poore dimensions of flesh and blood ; Something it still desiers ; Covets good ; Would faine be happy , in the sweet enjoyment Of what it prosecutes , with the imployment Of best endeavours ; but it cannot finde So great a good , but something 's still behind : It , first , propounds ; applauds ; desiers ; endeavours ; At last , enjoyes ; but ( like to men , in Feavours , Who fancy alwaies those things that are worst ) The more it drinks , the more it is a thirst : The fruitfull earth ( whose nature is the worse For sinne ; with man partaker in the curse ) Aimes at perfection ; and would faine bring forth ( As first it did ) things of the greatest worth ; Her colder wombe endeavours ( as of old ) To ripen all her Metalls , unto Gold ; O , but that sic-procured curse hath child The heate of pregnant Nature , and hath filld Her barren seed , with coldnesse , which does lurke In her faint wombe , that her more perfect worke Is hindred ; and , for want of heate , brings forth Imperfect metals , of a baser worth : Even so , the soule of Man , in her first state , Receiv'd a power , and a will to that Which was most pure , and good ; but , since the losse Of that faire freedome , onely trades in drosse ; Aimes she at Wealth ? Alas , her proud desire Strives for the best ; but failing to mount higher Then earth , her error grapples , and takes hold On that , which earth can onely give her , Gold Aimes she at Glory ? Her ambition flies As high a pitch , as her dull winges can rise ; But , failing in her strength , she leaves to strive . , And takes such honour , as base earth can give : Aimes she at Pleasure ? Her desires extend To lasting joyes , whose pleasures have no end ; But , wanting wings , she grovells on the Dust , And , there , she lights upon a carnall Lust : Yet nerethelesse , th' aspiring Soule desires A perfect good ; but , wanting those sweet sires , Whose heate should perfect her unrip'ned will , Cleaves to th' apparent Good , which Good is ill ; Whose sweet enjoyment , being farre unable To give a satisfaction answerable To her unbounded wishes , leaves a thrist Of reenjoyment , greater then the first . Lord ; When our fruitlesse fallowes are growne cold , And out of heart , we can inrich the mould With a new heate ; we can restore againe Her weakned soile ; and make it apt , for graine ; And wilt thou suffer our faint soules , to lie Thus unmanur'd , that is thy Husbandrie ? They beare no other bulke , but idle weedes , Alas , they have no heart , no heate ; Thy seedes Are cast away , untill thou please t' inspire New strength , and quench them with thy sacred fire : Stirre thou my Fallowes ; and enrich my mold ; And they shall bring thee ' increase , a hundred fold .
SECT. 21. ARGVMENT . False Delila accosts her Lover : Her lips endeavour to entice His gentle nature to discover His strength : Samson deceives her thrice . SOone as occasion lent our Champions eare To Delila , which could not choose but heare , If Delila but whisper'd ; she , whose wiles Were neatly baited , with her simple smiles , Accosted Samson ; Her alluring hand Sometimes would stroke his Temples ; sometime , span'd His brawny arme ; Sometimes , would gently gripe His sinewy wrest ; Another while , would wipe His sweating browes ; Her wanton fingers plai'd , Sometimes , with his faire locks ; somtimes , would brai'd His long dishevell'd haire ; her eyes , one while , Would steale a glance upon his eyes , and smile ; And , then , her crafty lips would speake ; then , smother Her broken speech ; and , then , begin another : At last , as if a sudden thought had brake From the faire prison of her lips , she spake ; How poore a Grisle is this arme of mine ! Me thinkes , 't is nothing , in respect of thine ; Of having : Wealth will rouze thy heart lesse friends ; Make thee a potent Master of thy Ends ; 'T will bring thee honour ; make thy suites at Law Prosper at will ; and keepe thy Foes in awe : Art thou Ambitious ? He will kindle fire , In thy proud thoughts , and make thy thoughts aspire ; Hee 'l come , and teach thy honour how to scorne Thy old acquaintance , whom thou hast outworne : Hee 'l teach thee how to Lord it , and advance Thy servants fortunes , with thy Countenance : Wouldst thou enjoy the pleasures of the flesh ? Hee 'l bring thee wanton Ladyes , to refresh Thy drooping soule : Hee 'l teach thine eyes to wander ; Instruct thee how to wooe ; Hee 'l be thy Pander : Hee 'l fill thy amorous soule with the sweet passion Of powerfull Love : Hee 'l give thee dispensation , To sinne at pleasure ; He will make thee Slave To thy owne thoughts : Hee 'l make thee beg and crave To be a drudge : Hee 'l make thy trecherous breath Destroy thee , and betray thee to thy death . Lord ; if our Father Adam could not stay In his upright perfection , one poore day ; How can it be expected , we have power To hold out Seige , one scruple of an hower : Our Armes are bound with too unequall bands ; We cannot strive ; We cannot loose our hands : Great Nazarite , awake ; and looke upon us : Make hast to helpe ; The Philistines are on us .
SECT. 22. ARGVMENT . She sues againe : Samson replies The very truth : Her lips betray him : They binde him ; They put out his eyes , And to the prison they convay him . WIth that ; the wanton , whose distrustfull eye , Was fixt upon reward , made this replie ; Had the deniall of my poore request Proceeded from th' inexorable brest Of one , whose open hatred sought t' endanger My haunted life ; Or had it bin a stranger , That wanted so much nature , to deny The doing of a common curtesie ; Nay , had it bin a friend , that had deceiv'd me , An ordinary friend , It nere had griev'd me : But thou , even thou my bosome friend , that art The onely joy of my deceived heart ; Nay thou , whose hony-dropping lips soloften Did plead thy undissembled love , and soften My deare affection , which could never yeeld To easier termes ; by thee , to be beguild ? How often hast thou mockt my slender suite With forged falshoods ? Hadst thou but bin mute , I nere had hop'd : But being fairely led Towards my prompt desires , which were fed With my false hopes , and thy false-hearted tongue , And then beguilde ? I hold it as a wronge : How canst thou say thou lov'st me ? How can I Thinke but thou hat'st me , when thy lips deny So poore a Suite ? Alas , my fond desire Had slak'd , had not deniall blowne the fire : Grant then at last , and let thy open brest Shew that thou lov'st me ' , and grant my faire request : Speake , or speake not , thy Delila shall give ore To urge ; her lips shall never urge thee more : To whom , the yeelding lover thus betrai'd His heart , being tortur'd unto death , and said ; My deare ; my Delila ; I cannot stand Against so sweet a pleader ; In thy hand I here entrust , and to thy brest impart Thy Samsons life , and secrets of his heart ; Know then my Delila , that I was borne A Nazarite ; These locks were never shorne ; No Raisor , yet , came ere upon my crowne ; There lies my strength ; with them , my strength is gone : Were they but shaven , my Delila ; O , then , Thy Samson should be weake as other men ; No sooner had he spoken , but he spred His body on the floore , his drowzy head He pillow'd on her lap ; untill , at last , He fell into a sleepe ; and , being fast , She clipt his locks from off his carelesse head . And beckning the Philistians in , she said ; Samson awake ; Take strength and courage on thee ; Samson arise ; The Philistines are on thee : Even as a Dove , whose wings are clipt , for flying , Flutters her idle stumps ; and still , relying Vpon her wonted refuge , strives in vaine , To quit her life from danger , and attaine The freedome of her ayre-dividing plumes ; She struggles often , and she oft presumes To take the sanctuary of the open fields ; But , finding that her hopes are vaine , she yeelds : Even so poore Samson ( frighted at the sound , That rowz'd him from his rest ) forsooke the ground ; Perceiving the Philistians there at hand , To take him pris'ner , he began to stand Vpon his wonted Guarde : His threatning breath Brings forth the prologue to their following death : He rowz'd himselfe ; and , like a Lyon , shooke His drowzy limmes ; and with a cloudy looke , ( Fore-telling boystrous , and tempestious weather ) Defied each one , defied them all together : Now , when he came to grapple , he upheav'd His mighty hand ; but , now ( alas , bereav'd Of wonted power ) that confounding arme , ( That could no lesse then murther ) did no harme ; Blow was exchang'd , for blow ; and wound for wound : He , that , of late , disdained to give ground , Flies backe apace ; who , lately , stain'd the field With conquer'd blood , does now begin to yeeld ; He , that , of late , brake twisted Ropes in twaine , Is bound with Pack thred ; He , that did disdaine To feare the power of an Armed Band , Can now walke prisoner in a single hand : Thus have the trecherous Philistines betray'd Poore captive Samson : Samson now obay'd : Those glowing eyes , that whitled death about , Where ere they view'd , their cursed hands put out ; They led him pris'ner , and convai'd him downe To strong-wall'd Azza ( that Philistian towne , Whose gates his shoulders lately bore away ) There , in the common Prison , did they lay Distressed Samson , who obtain'd no meate , But what he purchas'd with his painfull sweate ; For , every day , they urg'd him to fulfill His twelve howres taske , at the laborious Mill ; And , when his wasted strength began to tyre , They 'd quicken his bare sides , with whips of Wire : Fill'd was the towne with Ioy , and Triumph : All , From the high-Prince , to th' Cobbler , on the stall , Kept holy-day , whilest every voice became Hoarse , as the Trumpe of newes-divulgeing fame ; All tongues were fill'd with shouts : And every care Was growne impatient of the whisperer ; So generall was their Triumph , their Applause , That children shouted , ere they knew a cause : The better sort betooke them to their knees ; Dagon must worship'd be : Dagon , that frees Both Sea , and Land , Dagon , that did subdue Our common foe : Dagon must have his due : Dagon must have his praise ; must have his prize : Dagon must have his holy Sacrifice : Dagon has brought to our victorious hand Proud Samson : Dagon has redeem'd our land : We call to Dagon ; and our Dagon heares ; Our groanes are come to holy Dagons eares ; To Dagon , all renowne and Glory be ; Where is there such another God as Hee ?
MEDITAT. 22. HOw is our story chang'd ? O , more then strange Effects of so small time ! O , sudden change ; Is this that holy Nazarite , for whom Heaven shew'd a Miracle , on the barren wombe ? Is this that holy Thing , againe whose birth , Angells must quit their thrones , and visit Earth ? Is this that blessed Infant , that began To grow in favour so , with God and man ? What , is this hee , who ( strengthned by heavens hand ) Was borne a Champion , to redeeme the Land ? Is this the man , whose courage did contest With a fierce Lyon , grappling brest to brest ; And in a twinckling , tore him quite in sunder ? Is this that Conquerer whose Arme did thunder Vpon the men of Askalon , the power Of whose bent fist , slew thirty in an hower ? Is this that daring Conquerour , whose hand Thrasht the proud Philistines , in their wasted land ? And was this He , that with the help of none , Destroy'd a thousand with a silly Bone ? Or He , whose wrists , being bound together , did Breake Cordes like flax , and double Ropes like thrid ? Is this the man whose hands unhing'd those Gates , And barethem thence , with pillers , barres , & Grates ? And is he turn'd a Mill-horse now ? and blinde ? Must this great Conquerour be forc'd to grinde For bread and water ? Must this Heroe spend His latter times in drudgery ? Must he end His weary dayes in darkenesse ? Must his hyer , Be knotted cords , and torturing whips of wyer ? Where heaven withdrawes , the creatures power shakes ; What miserie 's wanting there , where God for sakes ? Had Samson not abus'd his borrow'd power , Samson , had still , remain'd a Conquerour : The Philistines did act his part ; No doubt , His eyes offended , and they pluck'd them out : Heaven will be just : He punishes a sin , Oft , in the member , that he findes it in : When faithlesse Zacharias did become Too curious , his lips were strucken dumbe : Samson whose lustfull view did overprize Vnlawfull beautye's punisht in his eyes ; Those flaming eyes seduc'd his wanton minde To act a sinne ; Those eyes are stricken blinde ; The beauty he invaded , did invade him , And that faire tongue , that blest him so , betrayd him : That strength , intemperate lust imploy'd so ill , Is now a driving the laborious Mill ; Those naked sides , so pleas'd with lusts desire , Are , now , as naked , lasht with whips of wire : Lord ; shouldst thou punish every part in me That does offend , what member would be free ? Each member acts his part ; They never lin Vntill they joyne , and make a Body ' of sin : Make sinne my burthen ; Let it never please me ; And thou hast promis'd , when I come , to ease me ,
SECT. 23. ARGVMENT . They make a feast . And then to crowne Their mirth , blind Samson is brought thither : He pulls the mighty Pillers downe ; The Building falls : All slaine together , THus when the vulgar Triumph ( which does last But seldome , longer then the newes ) was past , And Dagons holy Altars had surceast To breath their idle fumes : they call'd a feast , A common Feast ; whose bounty did bewray A common joy , to gratulate the day ; Whereto , the Princes , under whose command Each province was , in their divided land ; Whereto , the Lords , Leiutenants , and all those , To whom the supreme Rulers did repose An under-trust ; whereto , the better sort Ofgentry , and of Commons did resort , With mirth , and jolly tryumph , to allay Their sorrowes , and to solemnize the day ; Into the common Hall they come : The Hall Was large and faire ; Her arched roofe was all Builded with massie stone , and over lai'd With pond'rous Lead ; Two sturdy Pillers stai'd Her mighty Rafters up ; whereon , relied The weighty burthen of her lofty pride . When lusty diet , and the frollicke cup Had rouz'd and rais'd their quickned spirits up , And brave triumphing Bacchus had displaid His conquering coullers , in their cheeks , they said ; Call Samson forth ; He must not worke to day ; T is a boone feast ; Wee 'le give him leave to play ; Does he grinde bravely ? Does our Millhorse sweat ? Let him lacke nothing ; What he wants in meate , Supply in lashes ; He is strong and stout , And , with his breath can drive the Mill about : He workes too hard , we feare : Goe downe and free him ; Say , that his Mistresse , Delila would see him : The sight of him will take our howers short , Goe fetch him then , to make our Honours sport : Bid him provide some Riddles ; Let him bring Some songs of Triumph : He that 's blinde , may sing With better boldenesse : Bid him never doubt To please : What matter , though his eyes be out ? T is no dishonour , that he cannot see ; Tell him , the God of Lov 's as blinde , as hee : With that they brought poore Samson to the Hall ; And as he past , he gtopes to finde the wall ; His pace was slow ; His feet were lifted high ; Each tongue would taunt him ; Every scornefull eye Was filld with laughter ; Some would cry aloud , Hee walkes in state : His Lordship is growne proud : Some bid his Honour , Haile ; whilst others cast Reproachfull termes upon him ; as he past ; Some would salute him fairely , and embrace His wounded sides ; then spit upon his face : Others would cry ; For shame forbeare t' abuse The high and great Redeemer of the Iewes : Some gibe and floute him with their taunts and quips , Whilst others flurt him on the starting lips : With that ; poore Samson , whose abundant griefe , Not finding hopes of comfort , or releife , Resolv'd for patience : Turning round , he made Some shift to feele his Keeper out , and said ; Good Sir : my painefull labour in the Mill Hath made me bold ( although against my will ) To crave some little rest ; If you will please To let the Pillour but afford some ease To my worne limmes , your mercy should relieve A soule , that has no more , but thankes , to give : The keeper yeelded : ( Now the Hall was filld With Princes , and their People , that beheld Abused Samson ; whilst the Roofe retain'd A leash of thousands more , whose eyes were chain'd To this sad Object , with a full delight , To see this flesh-and-blood-relenting sight ; With that , the pris'ner turnd himselfe and prai'd So soft , that none but heaven could heare , and said ; My God , my God : Although my sinnes doe cry For greater vengeance , yet thy gratious eye Is full of mercy ; O , remember now The gentle promise and that sacred vow Thou mad'st to faithfull Abram , and his seed , O , heare my wounded soule , that has lesse need Of life , then mercy : Let thy tender eare Make good thy plentious promise now , and heare ; See , how thy cursed enemies prevaile Above my strength ; Behold , how poore and fraile My native power is , and , wanting thee , What is there , Oh , what is there ( Lord ) in me ? Nor is it I that suffer ; My desart May challenge greater vengeance , if thou wert Extreme to punish : Lord the wrong is thine ; The punishment is just , and onely mine : I am thy Champion , Lord ; It is not me They strike at ; Through my sides , they thrust at thee : Against thy Glory 't is , their Malice lies ; They aym'd at that , when they put out these eyes : Alas their blood bedabbl'd hands would flie On thee , wert thou but cloth'd in flesh , as I : Revenge thy wrongs , great God ; O let thy hand Redeeme thy suffring honour , and this land : Lend me thy power ; Renew my wasted strength , That I may fight thy battells ; and , at length , Rescue thy Glory ; that my hands may doe That faithfull service , they were borne unto : Lend me thy power , that I may restore Thy losse , and I will never urge thee more : Thus having ended , both his armes he laid , Vpon the pillours of the Hall ; and said ; Thus , with the Philistines , I resigne my breath ; Andlet my God finde Glory in my death : And having spoke , his yeelding body strain'd Vpon those Marble pillour , that sustain'd The pondrous Roofe ; They crackt ; and , with their fall , Downe fell the Battlements , and Roofe , and all ; And , with their ruines , slaughter'd at a blow , The whole Assembly ; They , that were below , Receiv'd their sudden deaths from those that fell From off the top ; whilst none was loft , to tell The horrid shreekes , that filld the spatious Hall , Whose ruines were impartiall , and slew all : They fell ; and , with an unexpected blow , Gave every one his death , and Buriall too : Thus died our Samson ; whose brave death has won More honour , then his honourd life had done : Thus died our Conquerour ; whose latest breath Was crown'd with Conquest ; triumph'd over death : Thus died our Samson ; whose last drop of blood Redeem'd heavens glory , and his Kingdom 's good : Thus died heavens Champion , & the earths bright Glory ; The heavenly subject of this sacred story : And thus th' impartiall hand of death that gathers All to the Grave , repos'd him with his fathers ; Whose name shall flourish , and be still in prime , In spight of ruine , or the teeth of Time ; Whose fame shall last , till heaven shall please to free This Earth from Sinne , and Time shall cease to be .
MEDITAT. 23. WAges of sinne , is death . The day must come , Wherein , the equall hand of death must summe The severall Items of mans fading glory , Into the easie Totall of one Story : The browes that sweat for kingdomes and renowne , To gloryfie their Temples with a Crowne ; At length , grow cold , and leave their honour'd name To flourish in th' uncertaine blast of fame : This is the height that glorious mortalls can Attaine ; This is the highest pitch of Man : The quilted Quarters of the Earths great Ball , Whose unconfined limits were too small For his extreme Ambition , to deserve , Six foote of length , and three of bredth must serve : This is the highest pitch that Man can flie ; And after all his Triumph , he must die : Lives he in Wealth ? Does well deserved store Limit his wish , that he can wish no more ? And does the fairest bounty of encrease Crowne him with plenty ; and , his dayes with peace ? It is a right hand blessing ; But supplie Of wealth cannot secure him ; He must die : Lives he in Pleasure ? Dóes perpetuall mirth Lend him a little Heaven upon his earth ? Meets he no sullen care ; no sudden losse To coole his joyes ? Breathes he without a crosse ? Wants he no pleasure , that his want on eye Can crave , or hope from fortune ? He must dye : Lives he in Honour ? Hath his faire desart Obtain'd the freedome of his Princes heart ? Or may his more familiar hands disburse His liberall favours , from the royall purse ? Alas , his Honour cannot soare too high , For palefac'd death to follow : He must dye : Lives he a Conqu'rour ? And doth heaven blesse His heart with spirit ; that spirit , with successe ; Successe , with Glory ; Glory , with a name , To live with the Eternity of Fame ? The progresse of his lasting fame may vye With time ; But yet the Conquerour must dye : Great , and good God : Thou Lord of life and death ; In whom , the Creature , hath his being ; breath ; Teach me to under prize this life , and I Shall finde my losse the easier , when I dye ; So raise my feeble thoughts , and dull desire , That when these vaine and weary dayes expire , I may discard my flesh , with joy , and quit My better part , of this false earth ; and it Of some more sinne ; and , for this Transitory And teadious life , enjoy a life of Glory .
The end .