When That Great Gen'Ralissimo Of All Poem by Edward Benlowes

When that great Gen'ralissimo of all
Infernal Janizaries shall
His Legions of Temptations raise, enroul,
And muster Them 'gainst Thee, my Soul:
And Ranks of Pleasures, Profits, Honours bring,
To give a Charge on the right Wing:
And place his dreadful Troops of deadly Sins
Upon the Left, with murth'ring Gins:
And draw to his main Bodie thousand Lusts,
And for Reserve, wherein he trusts,
Shall specious Sanctities Brigade provide,
Whose Leader is spiritual Pride:
And having treacherously laid his Trains
In Ambush, under Hope of Gains
By sinning, as so many Scouts, to finde
Each March and Posture of thy Mind:
Then, Soul, sound an Alarm to Faith, and presse
Thy Zeal to be in Readinesse;
And leavie all thy Faculties to serve
Thy CHIEFE. Take Pray'r for thy Reserve
Under the Conduct of his SPIRIT; See
Under the Banner that they be
Of thy Salvations CAPTAIN: Then be sure
That all thy Out--works stand secure.
Yet narrower look into th' indenting Line
Of thy ambiguous Thoughts: Designe
With constant Care a Watch o're every Part;
Ev'n at thy Cinque--ports, and thy Heart
Set Centinels: Let Faith be Captain o're
The Life--Guard, standing at the Dore
Of thy well--warded Breast: Disloyal Fear
That corresponds with Guilt, cashear.
Nor let Hypocrisie sneak in and out
Thy Garrison, with that Spie, Doubt.
The Watch--word be IMMANUEL: Then set
Strong Parties of thy Tears; and let
Them still to salie forth prepared stand,
And but expect the Souls Command;
Waiting until a blest Recruit from High
Be sent, with Graces free Supplie.

Thus where the LORD of Hosts the Van leads, there
Triumphant Palms bring up the Rere.