Meat out of the eater: or, Meditations concerning the necessity, end, and usefulness of afflictions unto Gods children. All tending to prepare them, for, and comfort them under the cross. / By Michael Wigglesworth.Meat out of the eater: or, Meditations concerning the necessity, end, and usefulness of afflictions unto Gods children. All tending to prepare them, for, and comfort them under the crosse. / By Michael Wigglesworth.
Michael Wigglesworth 1631–1705printed by S.G. Samuel Green for John Usher of Boston, 1670
208 p. ; (8vo) · 23k words · Evans 158 · Wing W2104
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Flesh.
[1]
But oh me-thinks the Lord
Is angry with my Prayers,
The more I cry to him for help
The worse it with me fares.
The more I sue for grace
And beg for some relief:
The more he lets me be distressed,
And doubled is my grief.
[2]
I fear he reckoneth
My Prayers to me, for sin,
And rather is displeased therewith.
Then takes delight therein.
If God reject my Prayer,
I fear he me rejects.
For how can he despise their Prayer
Whose persons he respects?
Flesh.
[1]
BUt oh me-thinks the Lord
Is angry with my Prayers,
The more I cry to him for help
The worse it with me fares.
The more I sue for grace
And beg for some relief:
The more he lets me be distrest,
And doubled is my grief.
[2]
I fear he reckoneth
My Prayers to me, for sin,
And rather is displeas'd therewith.
Then takes delight therein.
If God reject my Prayer,
I fear he me rejects.
For how can he despise their Prayer
Whose persons he respects?
And he'll be pleased with▪ thee:
He'll turn to thee his face, if thou
Turn from iniquity.
[5]
Some-Times the Lord delays▪
And makes us long to wait▪
For other ends▪ as for to make
Us more importunate,
Unto the greater height,
That his Salvation might appear
More glorious in our sight.
For these, and other more,
Such great, and gracious Ends
The Lord defers to hear our prayer,
For he no hurt intends.
[7]
God may deny to grant
That thing that we request,
Yet answer in a better thing,
For he knows what is best.
[8]
Be silent then frail Flesh,
Thou savourest not these things:
Thy wisdom doth but vex my Soul;
Leave off thy Reasonings.
Satan by Serpents mouth
Mankind did undermine:
And I perceive he now assays
To ruin me by thine.
Spirit.
[3]
Against his people's Prayers
The Lord sometimes may smoke,1
When some sin unrepented of
His anger doth provo•e▪2
If David sin regard
God will not hear his Prayer:
To search for, finde out, mourn for sin,3
My Soul make this thy care.
[4]
God puts thee upon search,4
Would have thee diligent
To finde out what offensive is▪
And to be Penitent.
Be thou displeas'd with s•n,5
And hee'll be pleas'd with▪ thee:
Hee'll turn to thee his face, if thou
Turn from iniquitie.
[5]
Some-Times the Lord delayes▪
And makes us long to wait▪
For other ends▪ as for to make
Us more importunate,6
To try our Self-denial,
Our Faith, Love, Patience.
Sometimes to make his Power shine forth
In-our deliverance.
⟨p. 72⟩[6]
He lets our troubles grow
7Unto the greater height,
That his Salvation might appear
More glorious in our sight.
For these, and other more,
Such great, and gracious Ends
The Lord defers to hear our prayer,
For he no hurt intends.
[7]
8Our Prayers are sometimes heard,
Not just unto our minde,
Yet heard they are, and answered
In some far better kinde.
9God may deny to grant
That thing that we request,
Yet answer in a better thing,
For he knows what is best.
[8]
Be silent then frail Flesh,
Thou savourest not these things:
Thy wisdom doth but vex my Soul;
Leave off thy Reasonings.
10Satan by Serpents mouth
Mankinde did undermine:
And I perceive he now assayes
To ruine me by thine.
Flesh.
[1]
Soul thou hast cause to fear
Thy Faith will not hold out:
And that it is but counterfeit
Thou dost so often doubt.
See what a mighty power
Of Unbelief prevails
From time to time! and how thine heart
And Faith thee often fails!
Flesh.
[1]
SOul thou hast cause to fear
Thy Faith will not hold out:
And that it is but counterfeit
Thou do'st so often doubt.
See what a mighty power
Of Unbelief prevails
From time to time! and how thine heart
And Faith thee often fails!
Spirit.
[2]
Oh sly and sinful Flesh!
Thou art a treacherous Thief,
That robs me of my Faith, and then
Condemns for Unbelief.
They're thy suggestions vile
(That dost with Hell comply)
That make me doubt, who otherwise
On Christ alone rely.
⟨p. 74⟩[3]
1Whole Christ with all my heart
I earnestly embrace;
And for my whole Salvation I
Rely upon his grace:
Renouncing all my own
Both Righteousness, and Sin▪
Endeavouring Holiness, as well
As Happiness, to win.
[4]
And blessed be the Lord,
2Who will complete my Faith,
Weak though it be, as he the same
At first begotten hath:
3Mean while he it supports;
And as himself doth tell,
It never shall be vanquished
By all the force of Hell.
Spirit.
[2]
Oh sly and sinful Flesh!
Thou art a treacherous Thief,
That robs me of my Faith, and then
Condemns for Unbelief.
They're thy suggestions vile
(That do'st with Hell comply)
That make me doubt, who otherwise
On Christ alone rely.
⟨p. 74⟩[3]
1Whole Christ with all my heart
I earnestly embrace;
And for my whole Salvation I
Relie upon his grace:
Renouncing all my own
Both Righteousness, and Sin▪
Endeav'ring Holiness, as well
As Happiness, to win.
[4]
And blessed be the Lord,
2Who will compleat my Faith,
Weak though it be, as he the same
At first begotten hath:
3Mean while he it supports;
And as himself doth tell,
It never shall be vanquished
By all the force of Hell.
