To
the
very
Honorable
Knight
,
and
Magnificent
Baronet
,
Sr.
RICHARD
HOVGHTON
of
Houghton-Tower
:
All
Health
,
Honor
,
and
Happinesse
.
Most
Honor'd
Sir
:
THe
heauenly
Light
of
Diuine
Truth
shining
in
the
sacred
Scripture
,
hath
enabled
our
Soules
cleerely
to
see
their
owne
Excellence
;
viz.
that
they
are
by
Creation
Spirits
[
a
](A13277-e23090-b)
a
Eccles.
12.7
.
or
spirituall
Substances
;
of
an
[
b
](A13277-e23100-b)
b
Mat.
10.28
.
immortall
Nature
;
in
Duration
,
eternall
;
as
being
(
in
Tertullians
phrase
)
Afflatus
oris
Diuini
,
the
immediate
Handiworke
of
God
;
and
consequently
[
c
](A13277-e23130-b)
c
Quicquid
ex
nihilo
fit
,
est
incorruptibile
.
incorruptible
.
Yea
,
such
is
their
exquisite
Beauty
and
absolute
Perfection
(
considered
in
their
owne
[
d
](A13277-e23140-b)
d
The
Essence
of
God
,
Angels
,
&
Soules
,
is
knowne
to
God
alone
exactly
.
Athanas
.
Tract
.
de
Definitiombus
.
Essence
)
as
the
most
amiable
Reflex
of
Diamonds
,
the
Virgin-blushes
of
Rubies
,
the
azure
veines
of
Saphires
,
the
greene
lustre
of
Emeralds
,
the
various
beames
of
Iacincts
,
and
the
radiant
constellations
of
the
fairest
and
most
Orient
Vnions
,
are
neuer
able
to
parallell
.
Thus
Nobly-descended
and
rarely-qualified
is
the
Soule
;
a
Creature
of
such
Angelicall
Serenity
,
as
that
the
MAIESTY
of
HEAVEN
(
enamour'd
on
his
owne
bright
Image
)
made
this
goodly
Globe
of
Heauen
[
e
](A13277-e23240-b)
e
Ita
S.
Chrysost.
and
Earh
for
her
solace
and
Contemplation
,
wooed
her
with
most
ardent
and
inflam'd
Affection
,
stiling
her
[
f
](A13277-e23260-b)
f
In
Salomons
Song
.
his
Loue
,
his
Doue
,
his
Sister
,
his
Spouse
:
and
lastly
,
married
her
to
Himselfe
for
euer
,
by
assuming
our
Humane
[
g
](A13277-e23310-b)
g
Deus
&
humana
natura
vniuntur
:
non
Deus
&
Homo
;
quia
non
Persona
&
Persona
.
Assumpsit
Deus
non
Hominem
sed
Humanitatem
Nature
,
.
which
hauing
hypostatically
and
indissolubly
vnited
to
his
DEITY
,
hee
accomplisht
in
it
the
most
Admirable
Worke
of
our
Redemption
,
inuested
it
with
Jmmortality
by
his
Resurrection
,
and
aduanced
it
to
his
Heauenly
Kingdome
(
far
aboue
all
Coelestiall
Powers
)
by
his
Ascension
.
And
now
is
MAN
,
in
regard
of
this
superexcellent
Honour
,
become
(
in
this
point
)
superiour
to
the
ANGELS
,
as
being
participant
of
the
[
h
](A13277-e23320-b)
h
St.
Pet.
Ep.
2.
chap.
1.
v.
4.
Diuine
Nature
subsisting
in
the
most
Sacred
Person
of
our
euer-blessed
Lord
JESVS
,
whose
glorified
Humanity
is
most
triumphantly
enthroniz'd
at
the
Right
Hand
of
God
on
High
.
Thus
hath
the
King
of
Angels
(
in
his
ineffable
loue
to
our
Soules
)
exalted
this
humane
Flesh
,
aboue
the
highest
Hierarchy
;
to
the
amazement
of
those
Heauenly
Spirits
,
(
as
the
[
i
](A13277-e23350-b)
i
St.
Pet.
Ep.
1.
chap.
1.
v.
12.
Prince
of
th'
Apostles
intimateth
.
)
Neuerthelesse
,
if
an
exact
Suruey
be
taken
of
this
present
World
,
will
there
not
be
found
in
all
Estates
such
a
generall
Apostasie
from
the
Loue
of
God
,
as
if
Men
were
altogether
Soule-lesse
;
or
(
at
least
)
Sense-lesse
how
infinitely
the
Creator
of
the
World
values
that
peerelesse
Pearle
,
which
this
shell
of
Mortality
containes
:
[
a
Pearle
so
inestimable
,
as
nothing
in
Heauen
or
Earth
,
but
the
very
[
k
](A13277-e23370-b)
k
Our
Sauiours
Heart
was
pierced
with
the
speare
for
our
sinnes
:
O
that
our
hearts
might
be
pierced
with
true
compunction
and
Repentance
!
otherwise
wee
haue
no
part
in
his
Passion
.
HEART
BLOOD
of
the
ONELY
SONNE
of
GOD
could
redeeme
]
To
instance
this
sottish
Madnesse
,
and
Epidemicall
Corruption
in
all
Degrees
and
Delinquents
,
were
infinite
J
will
therfore
(
in
present
)
cull
out
onely
some
,
that
are
(
in
their
owne
Conceits
)
the
Creame
of
Christendoms
,
the
purest
and
demurest
Professants
,
in
comparison
of
whom
the
obedient
Children
of
the
Church
of
England
,
are
reputed
prophane
and
Vnsanctified
Persons
.
[
l
](A13277-e23420-b)
l
Eccl.
Hist.
lib.
8.
cap.
7.
Eusebius
(
an
Authenticke
and
approued
Author
)
hath
a
memorable
H●storie
appliable
to
this
purpose
.
He
relates
how
he
saw
at
Tyre
(
a
City
of
Phoenicia
)
diuers
naked
Christians
exposed
by
their
Persecutors
to
cruell
Panthers
,
mighty
Beares
,
and
[
m
](A13277-e23480-b)
m
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
wild
Bores
,
to
be
deuoured
by
them
:
which
rauenous
Beasts
,
although
they
were
prouoked
by
the
Christians
to
assaile
them
,
(
for
so
were
the
poore
Soules
commanded
)
yet
they
vtterly
refused
to
hurt
or
approach
them
:
but
on
the
contrary
,
they
slew
at
the
Insidels
(
without
the
Barres
)
which
exasperated
them
against
the
Christians
.
To
make
some
Application
and
Vse
of
this
rare
and
miraculous
Euent
:
I
haue
learned
by
good
Intelligence
,
and
your
Noble
Selfe
,
with
many
Thousands
(
in
plagâ
hyper-Boreâ
)
were
ocular
Witnesses
,
that
certaine
externall
Professors
[
n
](A13277-e23510-b)
n
Of
these
,
see
an
excellent
Sermon
,
called
Corona
Charitatis
,
pag.
28
,
29
,
30.
of
Christianity
,
yet
internall
Contemners
of
the
Ordinance
of
Christ
in
the
Ministration
of
their
owne
[
o
](A13277-e23540-b)
o
Heb.
13.17
Pastors
,
.
hauing
long
panted
after
their
Extirpation
and
Destruction
,
combin'd
together
at
last
(
as
close
as
[
p
](A13277-e23560-b)
p
See
Iob
c.
41.
v.
15
,
16
,
17.
Leuiathans
soules
)
to
strip
them
of
their
Reuenues
,
incarcerate
[
q
](A13277-e23590-b)
q
A
Diabolicall
Act.
Reu.
2.10
.
Thus
the
Arrians
raged
against
Orthodox
Teachers
,
especially
against
Athanasius
,
who
was
faine
to
slye
from
their
hellish
furie
.
See
his
Apologie
for
his
Flight
,
&c.
and
his
Epistle
ad
Solitarios
:
where
he
writes
,
that
hauing
beene
twice
depriued
by
2
false
Synods
,
he
was
at
last
absolued
,
and
restored
to
his
Church
,
notwithstanding
the
former
Sentences
of
the
Hereticall
Bishops
,
who
(
as
he
elegantly
termes
them
)
were
rather
Catascopi
then
Episcopi
,
Catchpoles
then
Bishops
.
their
Persons
,
disseaze
them
of
their
Frecholds
,
(
by
Bribery
and
Legall
Sleights
)
dissipate
their
Goods
,
ruinate
their
Families
,
begger
their
Posterities
,
and
(
to
teare
them
quite
in
pieces
;
O
most
detestable
Immanity
!
)
infame
them
with
a
thousand
virulent
Aspersions
and
venemous
Jmputations
:
assuring
themselues
,
though
their
tongues
ranne
neuer
so
false
a
Gallop
,
yet
some
maleficiate
or
other
would
beleeue
them
:
[
the
credulity
of
the
Vulgar
(
especially
in
Clorgie
mens
Cases
)
being
such
,
as
if
a
Gnat
but
spread
his
Wings
betweene
them
and
the
Sunne
,
to
thinke
it
eclipsed
.
]
These
things
being
so
,
let
any
Christian
or
Pagan
iudge
,
whether
those
wild
beasts
in
Eusebius
,
were
not
infinitely
more
humane
,
compassionate
,
and
mercifull
to
the
designed
Martyrs
;
then
were
these
vnchristian
Kernes
,
masked
Miscreants
,
and
Diabolicall
Decoy's
,
to
their
conformable
Preachers
;
in
whose
Coats
seeing
they
could
not
finde
a
hole
,
they
resolued
to
fret
one
.
Vndoubtedly
(
you
bloody
Bores
,
selfe-admiring
Libertines
and
Cyclopicall
Canibals
)
your
crying
Sinnes
and
thundering
Crimes
of
Oppression
and
Ravine
(
though
mantled
with
Hypocrisie
,
the
Deuils
Masking-sute
)
haue
entred
the
[
r
](A13277-e23720-b)
r
Iam.
5.4
.
eares
of
the
Lord
of
Hosts
.
For
howeuer
this
vnhallowed
Crew
may
(
in
a
spirituall
Phrenzy
)
flatter
and
hug
themselues
in
their
abhorred
Rapacity
,
and
sing
Requiems
and
Lullabies
to
their
senselesse
Soules
,
and
cauterized
Consciences
,
as
if
they
should
neuer
tremble
before
the
terrible
Tribunall
of
the
Iudge
of
all
the
World
,
for
these
blacke
Deeds
,
and
execrable
Enormities
:
yet
certainely
these
artificiall
Villanies
are
Vulnera
in
capite
canis
,
such
mortall
Wounds
to
their
inward-bleeding
Soules
,
as
those
Saluages
shall
neuer
licke
whole
with
a
generall
and
superficiall
Confession
of
their
sinnes
,
nor
be
once
admitted
to
Gods
sacred
[
s
](A13277-e23800-b)
s
Obserue
well
what
our
Sauiour
saith
touching
this
point
,
Matth.
5.
v.
23
,
24.
Altar
,
to
make
their
peace
with
him
,
till
they
be
first
reconciled
to
their
offended
Brother
,
and
haue
(
to
their
vtmost
Ability
)
made
due
Repaire
of
Honour
,
and
Restitution
of
Liuelyhood
to
the
Parties
so
hamously
wronged
.
And
albeit
this
Canting
Fraternity
seeme
to
haue
made
a
League
with
Satan
,
and
are
yet
insensible
of
the
Horrour
of
the
Fact
:
notwithstanding
,
as
that
which
is
written
with
the
juice
of
a
LIMON
,
apreares
not
at
first
,
till
you
hold
it
to
the
Fire
:
So
,
when
these
dis-gallanted
[
t
](A13277-e23830-b)
t
See
Act.
14
,
from
the
11.
v.
to
the
20.
Lycaonians
shal
one
day
,
(
without
speedy
and
effectuall
Repentance
)
haue
the
full
Vialls
of
Gods
Vengeance
powred
and
prest
on
them
,
(
roaring
in
Hell-fire
with
[
u
](A13277-e23860-b)
u
In
an
old
Manuscript
lately
found
at
Chester
,
it
is
recorded
,
that
Pilate
was
called
Pontius
,
à
Ponte
,
of
a
Bridge
;
and
not
of
the
I
le
Pontas
:
Howeuer
,
he
is
generally
held
a
damned
miscreant
.
PONTIVS
Pilate
,
Barabbas
,
and
other
Infernall
Monsters
)
then
shall
they
cleerely
reade
in
the
blacke
Bookes
of
their
vast
Consciences
,
their
Barbarous
Acts
,
and
Deuilish
Complots
,
written
in
the
hugest
Capitals
.
But
to
returne
where
WE
BEGAN
,
and
to
leaue
these
mercilesse
Wretches
to
the
Judgement
of
God
;
whom
(
from
the
Center
of
my
Soule
)
I
beseech
to
giue
them
the
Grace
of
[
x
](A13277-e23940-b)
x
The
proper
●ct
of
Peni●nce
(
in
this
Case
)
is
Restiution
or
Sa●efaction
;
without
which
●t
nothing
a●aileth
the
Delinquent
,
●hough
he
●hould
hang
●imselfe
with
Judas
.
Repentance
:
J
haue
here
(
Most
Honor'd
Sir
)
presum'd
(
in
lieu
of
your
many
signall
Fauours
)
to
present
you
this
small
Manual
of
Meditations
in
Verse
,
published
vnder
the
Coniunction
and
sweet
Aspect
of
most
eminent
STARS
,
and
written
(
as
I
am
credibly
certified
)
by
a
Diuine
Laureat
(
deceased
;
)
whose
maine
Drift
is
to
eleuate
the
Soule
to
Heauen
,
from
these
bewitching
Vanities
of
the
[
y
](A13277-e23960-b)
y
The
Earth
was
made
for
Man
〈◊〉
Man
for
Earth
.
Earth
:
A
Noble
and
Coelestiall
Theme
,
and
neuer
more
seasonable
then
now
:
In
which
regard
,
I
was
confident
it
would
be
no
vnwelcome
Newyeeres-gift
to
your
Noble-spirited
Selfe
,
whose
Heroicke
Disposition
and
pious
Affection
to
Diuine
Exercises
,
and
Composures
,
accompanied
with
a
liberall
Hand
to
learned
and
Orthodox
Ecclesiasticks
,
and
a
piercing
Iudgement
wisely
to
discerne
betwixt
an
accomplisht
Scholler
,
and
a
popular
Parakito
,
or
Skip-Iacke-Fellow
of
empty
Boldnesse
;
as
also
your
frequent
Largesses
to
the
Peore
,
and
Donatiues
to
the
Distressed
;
your
graue
Moderation
and
prudent
Dispensation
of
Iustice
;
your
generous
Hospitaelity
,
rare
Affability
,
and
vnexampled
Humanity
;
your
resplendent
Dignity
,
Illustrious
Family
,
and
Honourable
Deportment
,
haue
purchas'd
you
the
singular
Loue
and
Obseruance
of
all
good
Patriots
.
Your
Magnifique
Entertainement
of
his
late
[
z
](A13277-e23990-b)
z
King
Iames
:
(
In
his
Return
from
Scotland
.
)
Maiestie
(
of
Sacred
Memory
)
at
your
Basilicall
TOWER
,
[
one
of
the
brauest
Seates
in
Europe
]
was
no
small
Renowne
to
your Selfe
,
and
your
most
Nobly-accomplisht
[
a
](A13277-e24030-b)
a
Sir
Gilbert
Honghton
.
Sonne
:
But
your
Munificence
to
the
oppressed
and
afflicted
members
of
Iesus
Christ
,
[
seasoned
with
true
Faith
and
[
b
](A13277-e24050-b)
b
Contritio
est
extremitas
doloris
.
Contrition
;
and
sugred
with
Holinesse
,
without
[
d
](A13277-e24070-b)
d
Reu.
2.10
.
which
,
no
man
shall
see
the
Lord
]
will
gaine
you
(
at
last
)
Coronam
Amarantinam
,
an
Imperiall
Diadem
[
c
](A13277-e24090-b)
c
Hebrewes
,
chap.
12
,
v.
14.
of
Blisse
(
with
your
peerelesse
Lady
deceased
)
in
the
Empyréall
Heauen
.
Thrice
Happy
,
O!
and
most
Heauenly
Soules
,
whom
the
blessed
Angels
shall
so
beare
in
Triumph
to
that
Glorious
Ierusalem
!
To
which
Soueraigne
Felicity
,
that
your
euer-honor'd
Selfe
,
your
Worthy
Sonnes
,
and
Excellent
Daughters
(
the
Crystall
Mirrors
of
Modesty
)
may
arriue
(
at
the
end
of
this
Span-long
Life
;
)
is
the
hearty
Prayer
of
Augustae
Trinobantum
.
Festo
Theogonias
.
Your
Noble
Vertues
most
affectionate
Obseruer
,
IAMES
MARTIN
,
One
of
his
late
Maiesties
Preachers
,
and
Commissioners
Ecclesiasticall
in
the
Prouince
of
Yorke
.