O God most Just and for his sake we trust Thou of meere Grace wilt us repute as Just Before we be by Satan crusht Before our Bones lye in the dust Now is the Time or never to us ayd For after death when we in earth are layd What Sacrifice what Offering wilt thou have Thy Christ hath ransom'd us and thou dost crave No more then his deserts to save Sinners from Hels devouring grave Christ is our Head him onely we adore Christ is the Saint whose helpe we still implore Christ is the Light which harts more cold then Ice Hath warm'd and chear'd by the Soules Exercise Christ is the Lambe that paid the price To Justice due for humane vice This Sacrifice regardfull of the strife Twixt Heaven Earth for our sicke soules releife Most gracious Lord we to thy Grace present Not to fulfill Romes Amulets intent Or unction charm'd for Sacrament But with pure Faith Loves Balme to vent Both which thou hast from Heaven sent Both which on Earth yeeld thee content Amen The Second Dayes EXERCISE The Argument The Mystery explain'd of Christ his Birth Why he came poore and strange to Carnall Mirth Here they are toucht who soile his Feastivalls With Riot Pomp or drunken Bacchanalls THe Scribe of late who blaz'd the Churches state From Christs Ascent till this yeares present date Now represents a more Soule-quickning part And to win strayes drops on the stony heart Alluring them by sacred charmes to watch And waite on Him who made poore Bethlems cratch Borne there without Male-Sire in Judaes Land Like Daniels Mountaine-Stone cut without hand More glorious than the Romane Capitoll Or Rhodes Colosse in the Sev'n Wonders Roll. For this sweet Trance to rebaptize the Will To rowze the Braine the Soule with zeale to fill Draw Christians neere and view the Stable-Cratch Where lay the Virgins Son Draw neere dispatch And humbly greet this Heav'ns Earths umpeere Whose Joyfull Feast good Christians every yeere Do solemnely renew for twelve Dayes space Till that bright Starre ends at his Native place Wisemen they were who did this Light partake Led by that Flame which through the Prophets spake Had we their Star or Iacobs Staffe for Guide Diviner Dreames our Fancies would betide We might then hope with safety and with Ease To passe the Spanish Straights and Mid-land Seas In spite of Moorish Pirates or Algiere And without feare of Turkes to domineere Till we arriv'd at last on Joppaes Strand And so from thence survey that Holy Land Where dwelt sometime a Shepheard Royaliz'd Out of whose Ligne Our Saviour Humaniz'd The second Adam our soules Shepheard came As well from God as from Just Abraham But how cam'st thou quoth Zeale to found out Truth In tuned forme a worke for Joviall Youth No humane skill can ancient yeares exchange From whence then spring these Tunes these motions strange In thee whose Beard bewrayes that Melancholy Strives to supplant the sanguine humour wholy He that inspir'd poore Fishermen to rowle Deep Mysticks with New Tongues and to enrowle For after-times his Gifts on them conferr'd Hath now fresh Heat into my veines transferr'd To scare the Proud to cure the crazed Foole Like that which sometimes stirr'd Bethesdaes poole He guided me to Bethlem Nazareth To Jordan Salem and Gennesâ—reth Whence by Christs Birth Deeds Crosse and rising up From death to Life we cheere up Soules that droop For there is no distemper nor disease But if we fixe on Christ we shall find ease Christ paid the Price for our infirmities Christ onely is the New mans Sacrifice To honour Him with Soule-rapt Extasie God breath'd in me sweet-working Poesâ—e Slight not then Readers my conceites but heare With spungy eares what I deliver here God grant that these work more sung of his Sonne Then all my former workes and I have done Old things are done we must be borne anew Rise Libertine and Christ his Birth renew Rise up thou lazy Soule thou pampred Sot T is neere Sun-set leave we this sensuall Cot For Castawayes who spend their time in pleasure And cannot in a yeare find one dayes leasure To meditate upon Christ crucifyed With humble thoughts and vessels sanctifyed Nor on Christs Birth how that his Incarnation Availes us more than Adams first Creation O why came he into the world a stranger And would be borne in a poore homely Manger Why did the Lord of Lords himselfe abase To take on him our faults but to give place To Justice which equality requir'd Which to shame Pride harmoniously desir'd Gods Righteous Zeale did satisfaction aske But Man could not performe so great a taske The infinite high Wisdome was offended And for a price as infinite intended The whole world shooke the Elements did warre The Planets starres and humours fell to jarre All chang'd their former course The Sun lookt pale Fiends into Hell were like Mankind to hale There were but two and they from goodnesse fell How could their Race then be but slaves to Hell Soft hasty wit I saw the New man comming Just at their Fall to curbe the Devils cunning I saw their Griefe their Penitence and Crosse I saw Gods Grace Conditionall after Losse I saw Gods Seale of Pardon for their Sinnes When their bare Limbs he cloth'd with Coates of Skinnes For when our Parents sinn'd they were asham'd Shâ—me wrought remorse Then Christ Gods Mercy claim'd The second of the Glorious Trinity Tooke pitty on Mans losse of unity The Word that spake when Light and Life began Claim'd share of Grace for his Reformed Man As a Just Sire and his Mild wife do treat How their lewd Child they might reclaim or beat So Justice did and Graâ—e expostulate What should become of Adam and his Mate Justice alleadg'd their voluntary Fall But Grace oppos'd the Serpents Charmes and Gall The One protested Death but the kinde Other Sought with Gods Love the sting of Sinne to smother The One did Man a Turne-coat Traâ—tour name The Other on his Frailty layd the blame The One Mans wicked Thoughts insisted on The Other Mans Repentance stood upon Justice strict Law but Grace against Laws Scourgâ— Gods Court of Conscience did most strongly urge And sweetly pray'd her Sister not to ranke Mankind with Fiends for One though mortall Prank This Matter then of mighty consequence Betwixt them Both yet standing in suspence With various Pleas concerning our Salvation Or in Hells Flames our finall Reprobation The Virgins two did mutually agree To compromit the same to Gods Deâ—ree On which Suspence these Glorious Attributes With Zeale and Love concluded their Disputes Th' Almighty then consulted not with any Of Angels Ranke though there he had full many Not for their Zeale with Seraphins approv'd Nor Cherubins though them he dearely lov'd They Spirits were but of a Creatures mould Then mystickly the Father did unfold The Matter to his Sonne and Holy Ghost Gods Honour sav'd how Man might not be lost Nor left depriv'd of Light and Favour
broome Of Discipline sweeping foule Lusts away And the Worlds love which bring into decay The Heavenly Seed choakt up with Pompe cares Like Earthly Graine with Cockle Thornes Tares What makes a Surgeon use Corroding Waters For Festred Soares but that they are Abaters Of the proud Flesh why doe Physitians give Their Bitter Pilles unto the Sicke that grieve Of causes hid but that the bodyes sink Cannot be Purg'd of Filth and Humours stink By sweet Receipts no more should Gods Eâ—ect The Joyes of New Jerusalem expect Without first passing through the Bloud red Seas Of Sorrowes deepe to gaine perpetuall ease I meane not Griefe for losse of worldly wealth Or Carnall Friends but losse of Saving health Griefe for the wordes ecclipse Griefe for our sinne Griefe for the Snares which Saints are toyled in Who to this dying Doctrine will encline His Heart and to Austerity confine His Life he shall be crowned for his durance With Heavens Blisse whereof Christ gives assurance With these true Golden Rules seal'd in the Heart None gaines the Godheads love without some Smart Who Christ his markes more here of Torture beares In Heaven be the brighter Garland weares A Hymne explaining the cause of our Saviours Sufferings on the Crosse together with the effects of his Buriall WE were the Cause and none but we Why Christ was naild unto the Tree We were the Cause worse then the Scribes Nay worse then Judas with his Bribes Of Christ his death and Guiltlesse Bloud We tore his Flesh like Vipers Brood We drunk his Bloud like Cannibals Who men Redeem'd when they were Thralles The Jewes misus'd Him but one day Whereas we dayly him betray And Crucify the Lord againe Saints in his Limmes for spite or Gaine We rave farre worse then did the Jewes Our Carnall Lusts and Ghostly stewes Our Pride Deceites and Avarice Our Riots Feasts and Fopperies Our Healthes Debates and losse of Time Shew why Christ up the Crosse did climbe Let us then waigh with Penitence Sinnes fiery sting the Crosses sence Let us bewayle our wretchednesse Which brought our Saviour to distresse And think upon these Rules with Feare That Trees which are both dry and seare Shall sure be fell'd since blooming Wood Hath beene destroyed as with a Floud And that all Soules shall suffer losse Unlesse they muse upon the Crosse And thereby hope for inward Peace The Spirits gifts and sinnes release By vertue of that Costly Price Which hung thereon for Sacrifice For which high Deed while we have breath We never will forget his Death But in our Mindes wee will infixe His Merites Love and Crucifixe His Living Rock can hide our Soares As Josephs Vault entomb'd his Coarse We may to Blisse rise up from Bale As Jonas did from out the Whale If on his Wounds wee fixe our Soules Like Doves that pitch on Rocky Holes The Seventh Dayes EXERCISE The Argument Old thinges made New now is Jewes Sabbath Day Chang'd to the Lords to mind our Saviours sway Who Rose stay'd here sixe Weekes then went his way To Heav'n Men Inspir'd on Whit-sunday OUr two Dayes storme is cleer'd come let us sing And Tribute pay to our Triumphant King Who trampling on our Foes hath led the way To Resurrections Port on the third Day After his Death which first of their Weekes Date â—ld Hebrewes Calendar did Calculate O Blessed Day most blest in the Exchange Whilst we do not from zeale like worldlings range But all with joy for this our Worlds Creation And Christ his Rising minding our vocation As likewise for the Holy Ghosts descent On Whit-sunday ten dayes from Christs Ascent We Holy keepe our Lords this Seaventh day And in his Prayse our thankfull Hymnes display Who did because our sinnes the Old withstood Transferre a newer Feast cleer'd by his Bloud Though Christ was Lord Sabbaths prime perfection The manheads Crowne yet he to make defection Of that Dayes Rest did never Condescend But left it us untill Times finall End He left it us to mind th' Eternall Day When Time with baldnes never shall decay That Feast of Feasts with none can paralell For it above all Triumphs beares the Bell The Harmony whereof no Tongue can tell And more doth Our then Our the Sixe excell The which whilst we looke for let us foregoe Our Deeds prophane and Pious dutyes doe On this High day Let us congratulate With Jubilees our Resurrections state And our through Christ redinte-gratious Peace With God the Father in his Flockes increase Let us cheere up our Soules with Joyfull Psalmes ' And shew our Love by Prayers Vowes and Almes Let all the Earth let Christians all rejoyce And heare Gods word the Lord of Sabaoths voice Not in a Language strange or Noise unknowne But in that Tongue which men doe terme their owne Let them with understanding sound his Fame And Glorify Jehovahs awfull Name With Voices Musick sound and Symphony With Davids zeale and Asaphs Harmony Unanimous let us proclaime his Glory Not dreaming wise but in a reall story To be admir'd of all the Sonnes of Men And Registred with adamantine Pen All Glory be to thee as heretofore In Persons three one God for evermore Who least that Cares might dull our Inward sight Hast Weekely left us one of brighter Light Aswell to match the Hebrewes as to rayse New zeale on it for our Redeemers Praise Because Christs Faith stood firme not shakt at all His Manhead calling God God heard his Call Because his Manhead spurn'd Hells Crown of strife Preferring here on Earth an Humble Life And constantly endur'd the dreadfull shock Of Perills like a Shepheard for his Flocke And to his Father deare did pray alone For helpe he at the last did heare his Mone When he his Bloud had on the Altar shed Soone as he sayd All is now finished His sacred Soule straight way to Paradise Leaving the Crosse and his Bodyâ—â—yes â—â—yes Whence in Earths wombe after two Nights repose Brave Gyant-like refresht with wine he Rose His Body Rose from Grave from the Whales Belly Rays'd Jonâ—s-like to live Triumphantly For how could he whom God ordain'd to save Old Adams Seed be captiv'd in the Grave Thou art my Sonne Mens Light whom I begot Sayd his just Father and here take thy lot In choisest Soile The Hâ—athâ—n I give to thee For Heritage and all the world in Fee To bruize or breake for thy owne pretious merits Thou by thy bloud hast tam'd the wily Spirits O murther'd Lambe Hence-forth on my Right hand Sit in thy Humane shape none shall withstand Thy Powerfull will in Heaven Earth or Hell For thou shalt judge all Men and Furyes fell My sentence just thou hast appeas'd alone For which mysterious deed wee both are One. Because the Wine-presse thou alone hast trod Thy Flock shall ever dwell with mee their God Because for Sinne thou hast endured wrong Thou shalt divide the lest spoyle with the strong And for thy love to Man bought with
That they who at thy Table feed In spirit must Christs Passion heed O let us then with Holy Traunâ—e From Carnall sense our Thoughts advance Let Christ behold us in the West Like to those Wise men of the East Greeting his Crosse and his Vprising As they his Birth and Manger Prizing Let Christ our vowes of Thankes behold Our Faith more Pure then Ophirs Gold Our Hearts more bruis'd then Myrrhes Perfume Our Love more sweet then Incense-fume This good Advise we will ingrosse Within our Soules and mount the Crosse. His Crosse we feele But now we heare An Angell say He is not here Christ whom yee seek is Risen up Having now made your Foes to stoup Untill Doomesday his Body none Shall see on Earth for he is gone To Heaven There behold your Christ On Gods Right hand a King a Priest An Advocate without a Fee Pleading to have Faiths Household free Draw neere his Throne and without doubt The Golden Scepter he holds out He will extend his Spirits Grace Whilst yee in Spirit seek his Face Not wresting your Soule-Feast more reall Then Paul who termes it Christs Memoriall This Traunce stirres up true Saints to Joy Like Him who though an Embryon Boy Within the Wombe seem'd to rejoice Soone as his Damme heard Maries voice The Babe did spring and so do we At our Soule-feast with Jubilee Unto the Father Sonne and Holy Ghost Be Prayse both here and throughout every coast As of Old time hath been is now their due And ever shall in Heaven and Earth renew Let Heaven and Earth by Angells Saints and Men To God rebound with Glories sound Amen The New mans Song of Thanksgiving after our Ordinary Meales 1. THe Lord be Blest who gave us Food In season for the Bodyes Good Our God be prais'd for evermore Who our desires supply'd with store Of Meat and Drinke more then would serve For Natures use or we deserve No Need we feele no want we know So doth the Lord his Giftes bestow 2. He never leaves his Saints in need But Carks for them and for their Seed He leaves them not with Beggers shame To starve if they call on his Name He taught them how to blesse their Meate By giving Thankes for what they Eate No Need we feele c. 3. Unto his Flock just Abrams stock He Water gave out of the Rock With Manna fill'd their Hungry Mawes And Cloyd with Quayles their longing Crawes He Car'd for Ravens and their Breed And Ravens made Elias feed No need we feele c. 4. He David holpe in Banishment He Daniel made with Pulse content He with wilde Fruit did John sustaine And his Elect from Dearth maintaine He Thousands in the Desert fed With a few Fish and Loaves of Bread No need we feele c. 5. One Day He sends us store of Flesh Another time Fish salt and Flesh And commonly Bread Ale and Beere Milke Fruite and Wine our Hearts to cheere Yea Junckets fetcht from Sun-burnt Spaine Which do too oft our Tables staine No need we feele c. 6. How Gratious is Almighty God Unto vile Man an Earthly Clod Thus to provide and Carke for him That oft himselfe filles to the Brimme With more then serves for Nourishment For hungers sauce or Soules content No need we feele c. 7. God graunt that we his Creatures use Do Thankfull take without abuse Not loathing them as over-cloyd Nor them devouring over-joy'd That as of Need Saints toyle for Wealth So we Feast not for Lust but Health No need we feele no want we know So doth the Lord his Giftes bestow The New mans Triumph in English and Latine measures presented to the Kings most excellent Majesty WHo Christ his Birth Life Death and Rising up From Death to Life observes He soone shall stoup And quash the plots of Hells black Darkned Troup And likewise make the Outward man to droup With all his false Designes and fond Conceits Sprung from the Flesh or from the Worlds Deceites For as the Morning spreades the Dawning Light So Faith by Teaching shines and Daunts the Might Of that Huge Whale which waites with triple throat To swallow Soules as Preyes of Chiefest Note So much new Light spreades by the Gospells sound They now prayse Christ who were in Fetters bound And Sinnes keen Edge wherewith the Divell was wont To boare our Hearts turnes on the suddaine blunt And so remaines unlesse they grinde againe Their Augurs on the Whetstone of the Braine But how fares then our Souldier in that plight With Davids sling he doth the Monster smite Whether the Fiend within or from without Shootes Fire he doth for Christ stand bravely out For at the Broile his Inward Guardian springs Baptiz'd Fire-sindg'd and Grac'd mith Burnisht wings Of mounting zeale who thus the Triumph sings O happy wight which hath escapt the stings Of Mortall Jarres who though he understood His Foes Allures yet loath'd them and their brood O happy Soule which dar'd with Saints to side Against Gods Foes the Luciferian side Whom with Christs Merits arm'd nor swelling Tide Nor fiery Triall could from Christ divide Whom neither Charmes nor yet a thousand Braves Could terrify nor yet the rowling waves But to safe Port with Joy she brings the Crosse And Christ his Ship which Pirats did ingrosse Where she with Saints the Crosse Triumphant reares That Crosse which Saints on Earth have wonne â—ith Teares Happy is he who brooks a wrong-attaint For by the Crosse he lives a Canon'd Saint A Name indeed which overtops so farre The highest Spire or style of worldly Starre As doth Gods Grace above mens sinnes abound Or the Lambes Bloud more then our Merits sound Thrice happy Man I say whom Angells greete And whom Christs Will made for that Honour meete So Happy be the Best of Kings if these Our New mans Songs to judge he gently please For with our Crosse there growes sweet Inward Ease And with Our Crowne of Thornes a wreath of Peace The same in Latine Hexameter Novi Hominis Laurea Triumphalis QVi Natalitium Vitam Miracula Mortem Et Christi Corpus Redivivum mente revolvit Ille tenebrosae reddet Molimina Gentis Irrita Conatus Hominis veterisque repellet Seu de Carne fluant seu sint Phantasmata Mundi Sicut enim radiis Primordia Mane Diei Dilatat per opaca Fides sic sparsa coruscat Tergeminumque domat Monstrum Caetumque Trifaucem Qui vorat omne pecus Praedasque absorbet opimas Tantum Numen inest Fidei ut modo Carmine Christum Compede qui vincti quondam latuere salutant Quin acuta quibus terebrabat Pectora Daemon Tela repentino fiunt obtusa reflexu Sic que hebetata manent nisi devia forte voluntas Illa super Cerebri renovet Terebrata molare Quomodo tum Miles valet in discrimine tanto Nempe studet monstrum Jaculis superare Davidis Seu vis Hostilis tonat aut Civilis amictu Fraudis in orbe furit Christo Constanter adhaeret Nam Novus ex gemina Genius Baptismatis aura Numinis afflatu Zeloque micantibus alis Nascitur intus agit victoris ille Triumphum Sic canit O Faelix qui tot Certamina vidit Illaesus qui vafra Hostis stratagemata novit Et tamen haec spernit generoso pectore Miles O Faelix qui sacra Dei Praedonibus aufert Ausus ad extremum Fidei defendere causam Contra Luciferum Meritis innixus Jesu Non scloppi reboante sono non Marte nec arte Non Pugnis non mille Minis nec territus undis Donec in optati Navem ferat ostia Portus Et Crucis abductae renovata Piacula Christo Immolet Aetherea Laudes resonante Caterva Faelix quem signat Crux Ignea Nomine Sancti Nomine Pyramidas tanto exsuper ante vel Astra Quanto Peccatis existit Gratia major Quanto Hominum Meritis Sanguis praestantior Agni Ter Felix inquam quem Christi summa Potestas Angelicos inter Coetus dignatur Honore Sic quoque tu Faelix qui nostros imbibis Hymnos Judicio sensuque pio Rex optime Regum Cum Cruce nam crescit dulce Levamen Amen Eccho Cum Spina Sertum fulget O vale Vale Eccho FINIS z This Story is largely set out in that Treatise entituled Les Comptes du monde Adventureux Imprinted at Paris 1572.
his death when Saints rose from their Tombe How many Jewes turn'd Christians in one day Who had the gift of Tongues on Whitsunday Some Christian Jewes when Roman Rage had rent Judaeas state to Jordans Pella went To Antioch Tyre Arabia Babylon To Corinth Creet Damascus Macedon And to remoter Coasts in hope of rest Whence after James decease in time distrest Some fell some grew By these the Gentiles rose From darkenesse to Soules light tooke up the Crosse Preacht Christ mixt with Jewes they were ingraft In one faire stocke untill by Satans craft The Nicholaites and the Nestorian Sect Did with false drugges the Easterne world infect In vaine therefore we looke for more Conversion Of moderne Jewes before the Worlds subversion Then what is past unlesse which Jewes abhor Our Romanists leave off Shrines to adore Much lesse Elias to descend in Flesh With Enoch since their Spirit some possesse And since the Formers gift infus'd in John He clear'd the way for the Creators Sonne Already hath the Gospels Larum rung To quicken soules whom the Red dragon sâ—ung Yea Nations to our Auncestors unknowne Heard lately of Mount Olivets renowne And might unto the Christian Faith be wonne If Britaine Spaine and Holland joyne in one Religious League to traffique on the Mayne For Indian Soules more than for Worldly Gaine As Spaine exchang'd her wares for Gold and spice So we by Peters Net may sacrifice And catch more Preyes for Christ then Spaine hath done Except henceforth our New Mans course she run What braver gaine can be then Soules to win From Heath'nish spoyles and superstitious sin What taske can Pilgrims take more happily Then th' Abissine for Manuscripts to try Who as they say hath those unknowne to us Which will strike dumbe all Sects Idolatrous What easy meanes and secondary wayes Hath God lent us now in these latter dayes Since Printing and the Loadstone he made knowne To cleare the darke and put the Poâ—e-starre downe That so his Word might with the setting Sunne Conclude the worke which in the East begun O Noble Europe how I pitty thee If that great Plague which some Divines foresee Due for thy Wiles and Pride light on thy flocke Americans raised to the Living Rocke Whereof sometime thou vauntst in Aprill-youth While Feasts for Fasts and Lies thou take for Truth But I leave these as secrets of the Lord As yet thou hast his Pledges and his Word Which may till Doomes-day last if thou repent And banish Schisme the Baâ—e of Loves content How many stout Confesâ—ouâ— like bright Starres Hath God inspir'd to 〈◊〉 our jarres How many men of Ghostly Ranke as Lay Yea Mitred Saints have gone the Martyrs way Grave Cranmer Ridley Hooper Latimer And Ferrar fam'd in Englands Register Not fearing like true Members of their Head To suffer rather death then be misled Or to connive with false dissembling Brow At Babels Charmes though ne're so faire of show How many Heraulds hath he sent of late Yet slighted all to warne each Christian state To sue for Grace their follies to forbeare And to prepare with true Religious feare For their New Birth and Spirits Renovation Before the day of wrath Earths conflagration Among the rest his Grace enlightned me In Britaines Isle Soule-dangers to foresee And by a Sparke lent from his Heavenly Flame To Sacrifice and spread the Newmans Fame To this effect and that I might regaine Some swarmes for Christ I chose a tinckling strain Wherewith I found like John in Jewry-Land Repent Repent Gods Kingdome is at hand Admonitio Christiana EXitus Orbis adest Chaos fatale diei Extremae subit atra brevi Campana sonabit Vos igitur moneo Praeconis more Litate Pectoris ex imis Christo Nova sacra Monarchae Ille Dei Sermo concludet Ovesque Luposque Judicii extremi Sermone Venite vel Ite Ite hinc in Furias in Topheâ— ite Ferae Fida sed ad Ferias Turba venite Poli. A Christian Admonition THe Fatall end which shal the world confound Draws neere Doomes-dayes Bell will shortly sound In Preachers Type I warne you then to bring New Offerings from the Heart to Christ our King For He Gods word will cloze the Latter day Thus by his word Come Sheep Wolves pack away Packe hence to Hell ye Creatures wild To Heaven Come ye the True and milde A Hymne of Repentance to be sung for the ease of an afflicted Conscience WHat strange assaults of sins surrounding tide Breake in upon our Soules on every side How fearefully Gods darts of vengeance glide So neere they glide we cannot turne aside We feele enough to pull downe Pride More terrours then we can abide It is no wrong but Justice which we feele Though we were scourg'd with Wires of keenest steele Or broiled on the Coales or flay'd alive We merit not Doomes respite nor reprieve Because in time we did not grieve For sinne nor sought in Grace to thrive Sinne is the cause of our Law-suits and jarres Sinne is the cause of our late Civill warres The former robs us of our meanes of Thrift The latter of our friends with bloodier drift For want of shrift and hearts uplift Fiends doe as Wheate our Passions sift We ought indeed more godâ—y to have beene Before we felt Gods Judgements for our sinne We ought indeed his Arrowes to prevent With Prayers Vowes and houres more frugall spent Yet we repent with heart neere rent His Talents use by us mis-spent We will not yet of Freedome quite despaire No Gracious God we know thou canst repaire Our drooping state though plunged in the mire Of mangie sinne or scortcht with Troubles fire Thou canst refraine thy Judgements Ire Our Temples cleanse our Soules inspire Thou at a becke Soules-tortures canst remove Or else asswage our griping fits above Straind Natures reach as thy Sonne Jesus did Poore Publicans of their diseases rid Yea though griefes were of causes hid Their utmost sting thou canst forbid To thee alone for Mercy we appeale Who heretofore the Israelites didst heale By Serpents stung and sundry others cure By Miracle thou canst Soule-ease procure Nay health assure and cleanse us pure As thou didst Naaman though impure Lord pitty us and blesse our Second Birth As thou with heate showres dost barren earth As Peter Paul the Thiefe in Calvary And her whom Jewes tooke in Adultery Thou didst cheere up in misery Because they did for Mercy cry Behold how Satan wheeles about our braine More busy now than ever with his traine Of fiends unseene to circumvent our will He knows us weake and therefore bends his skill The more his mallice to fulfill Because we are so craz'd and ill He stiles our Heathenish spoiles states purging pills Our jarring Pleas as necessary ills Our Niggardize good thrift Pride decency Our drunken healths kind Fellowship and why He knowes that Carnall fallacy Enwraps the Soule in Lunacy Against his snares we have no other fence Then thy Sonnes merits Blood and Innocence
so thou please 2. As thou didst drowne proud Pharaohs Host And guid'st thine owne through Marine Coast So thine Elect through every Age Thou didst preserve from Satans rage So didst thou raise to life againe Thy Prophets twaine in Sodome slaine So didst thou Lord in Judgement meete In Eighty eight the Spanish Fleete And save us then and since againe From Ruine Losse and Powder-traine Lord grant us Peace our Crosses ease Or them release if so thou please 3. Their Leaguers force thou did'st divide When we most fear'd Hels raging Tide Reforming Faith in Publicans Among the Britaines Dutch and Danes Bohemians Swethens Polanders The Swizzers French and Hollanders To counterpoize Great Babels side And by thy Word to tame her Pride Which neere hath rent her Triple Crowne When every Bird requir'd their owne Lord grant us Peace our Crosses ease Or them release if so thou please 4. O Gracious God how strange is this That thou hast cal'd blind Strayes to Blisse And didst for us New Kings beget When Old Elizaes Sunne was set The Tent she pitcht James setled sure And Charles now Raignes like Cynosure With Golden starres encircled round He doth not slight the Gospels sound But still renues the Holy Fire Bequeath'd him by his Royall Sire Lord grant us Peace our Crosses ease Or them release if so thou please 5. When Bavares Duke and Ferdinand Had yok't thy Flocke in Germane Land There rose up from the Northerne Zone A Machabee who eas'd their moane Nor is it lesse miraculous That thou hast rais'd great Bourbons House Against the Eagle to make head When Both would gripe thy Turtles dead And this diverting of their Force Spinnes Truce for us in them Remorse Lord grant us Peace our Crosses ease Or them release if so thou please 6. A thousand yeares the Fiend was curb'd And no great Plague true Saints disturb'd He made no fierce prodigious warre Till Wichliffe preacht what Berengare And former Saints had vow'd with cares Against the Masse and Mauzzimes wares But afterwards when by thy Word Some were Reform'd with Fire and Sword He then pursu'd thy New borne Flocke Because they chose Faiths living Rocke Lord grant us Peace our Crosses ease Or them release if so thou please 7. Even to this day Hels Magogs still Thy Servants racke their Blood doe spill O when shall we poore Pilgrimes be From Satans wiles and tumults free O when shall we their Period see And sing to thee our Jubilee Exempt from cares and Carnall stings O Glorious God and King of Kings Not in this world till Christ doth come In person first all Soules to doome Lord grant us Peace our Crosses ease Or them release if so thou please Amen The Fourth Dayes EXERCISE The Argument Christ having Preacht the Gospel and New-Birth Confirm'd the same by wondrous signes on Earth The Priests conspire his Death Judas revolts His Supper Bloody Sweate and sore Assaults IF I had dranke at pale Pirenes well As to the wise Bellerophon befell Or that I had Vrania for my guide I might transcend the Starres and hope to ride On the Pegasean Steed with Azur'd Reines Untill the Poles resounded with my Straines Such Lofty wishes through Poeticke guile Farre be they from my Low and trembling stile Not Phaeton nor waxe-wing'd Icarus But Lucifers and Adams Fall should scare us From mounting high to Pinacles and Towers Where Lightnings Flash where raigne the Aiery Powers Which may our Carnal thoughts blow to despaire Such mighty sway beare Spirits in the Aire Like them whose Hearts once toucht with hallowed Fire Have quencht the Flame by ruffâ—ing to aspire Or like our Eves who in this Evening Age When they should kneele climbe up proud Honours stage Where Mammon they adore and Christ by halves As if Gods Grace would breathe on Golden Calves No sure his Spirit loathes Ambitious Fires But the milde Soule and humble he inspires Such as of Yore were Jewries Fishermen The Virgin Mary Anna Magdalen God will not hold him guiltlesse that presumes To touch his Ark with Flanting robes or plumes Avaunt then Gallants with your Idoll-Fumes Depart ye Ladies with your nice perfumes Kisse not Gods Sonne ye proud imperious Lords For he abhorres High lookes Bug-beares bigge-words A simple Garbe contents our Saviours Cratch Smooth glozing Termes take those who Termely catch Sad Sackeclothes weed becomes this age of Our Where Fiends unseene waite ready to devoure As lawfull spoyles our Kingdomes fairest flower This suites me plaine my Applications sowre Yet wholesome like to Lemmons in a Fever To curbe those putrid Fumes of Head and Liver Which now of late the Gentry of this Isle With Riot Pride and costly Feasts defile Then O Great Britaine take it for no wrong If I enchaunt thine eares with a meane song Not grounded on false Druydes Antique Tales But wrapt in Christ his Swathes found in Wales From that wild Place where Satans Policy Failed to tempt his Will and Phantasie Arrived then to thirty yeares of Age Our Saviour to perfect his Pilgrimage Returned backe to Galilee againe In the third lustre of Tiberius Raigne Where he on Truth at Nazareth commented But thence repuls'd the next Coast he frequented With this true Note by that respectlesse Towne No Nation heeds a Prophet of their Owne And having chose his Prime Apostles there Who to that end predestinated were He Preacht good Newes unto the true Beleeveâ— To cherish his New Church and to releeve her Good Newes indeed which thralled Soules restore To greater Grace then Adam lost before The Tree of Life that of Old Adams foiling And it of all Luxuriant Sappe dispoyling Christ did transferre to Mortall men on Earth Who hardly could beleeve the Second Birth They thought that none but an Old Serpent could Cast off his Skin and so renue his Old Inveterate New None but the Phaenix dead Could of his Ashes reare another Head With lively Parts as burnisht as the First This seem'd a worke Divine which no man durst Attempt before our Saviour made it plaine That Humane Impe must here be Graft againe And re-baptiz'd by the bright Holy Ghost Whose Name and Gifts he blaz'd through Jewries Coast. Elixirs dreame nor Pythagorean Change Could work this Feate Ghostly Willes exchange Not Sun nor Stars not Humane sâ—ed nor Sence Could breed or cause this quickning Quintessence That spirit which breath'd on the Waters crude When that earths Lumpe confused lay and rude From a thicke Chaos th' Elements did sever And with all quickning Thaw did Ice dissever Transforming what he would have new straite Harmoniously by Number Measure waight This Love-bred Flame grac'd the pure Virgins wombe And none but him such wonders great become This Doctrine Christ to Nichâ—demus taught Who then of him Soule-Consolation sought When at the bruite of his strange Miracles This Learned Scribe to heare Christs Oracles Had stole to him at Salem in the night Fearing the Factions of th' Herodians Might Who nere about that
stones meete our Willes conformity Though Nature doth Impostumated swell Or burne with Feavers like the fits of Hell The Spirit yet more strong in the Vacation Will overcome and settle our Vocation Gods Mercy will with Natures moods dispence If fixing on his Sonne our Confidence And Rest we kneele twixt Love and reverend feares To Him alone with contrite sighes and teares Unfaignedly sweet Abbaes sound to greet Oft looking downe on our vile Peacockes feete O would these Layes might now rebound with Ecchoes And pierce the Eares of Earths Magnificoes With sad Portents reverberating Rue And Wormwood moods for slighting what is true Because they doate despising Saints Correction On Idoll-praise of Good my Lords reflection And derogate from Gods Prerogative Not giving thankes to him by whom they thrive With Titles more than Donâ— then Gundamore Like Herod or proud Babels scarlet Whore Gods wrath in spight of all their brave reputes Will squeeze their Pompe and Popelike Attributes Truth echoed Ruth and he that scornes her Eccho Pigmaâ—ion turnes Don Quishot or a Hicco Truth spake this doome with Trumpets sounding loud God helpes the meeke and tumbles downe the proud So spake her voyce in them that bad us shunne High Seats rich Robes to weare the homely spun Old Sackecloathes weed plaine stuffe or Camels haire Contritions Garbes puft Honours to impaire So spake bright shining Truth that Noble Dame In them that warn'd the Outward man to tame Who by Saint John at the Lambes Feast records That Fouâ—es shall eate the flesh of Mighty Lords When poorest Saints and meanest of Esteeme Shall feed with Christ though they unworthy seeme To Carnall Eyes and whilst those Potentates Or pamp'red Lords with all their Glistring states For want of Wedding Robes shall be excluded And to become a shamefull prey concluded Meane while to gaine a Name like Alexander Some live by Bloudy spoyles or else they squander Their surest Meanes on Earth for the support Of their high pompe and blazing starres report But after death O Fooles what Harvest shall Ye reape by Fame or Port Pontificall Or if perchance ye live to dappled Age Will not a lingring hell abate your Rage Would God these Lines might prove Angelicall That they were stampt in Letters Capitall For never Age durst be so bold to call Like Ours Damn'd Pride of Graces Principalâ— Christ wils us not to Judge men for that sinne Whereof we know our selves have guilty beene For looke with what rough measure we doe mete To others God will make the like complete Upon our score To cure a Brothers sight T is fit our owne be cleare to Judge aright We must not give Gods holy things to dogges Nor Minister his Mysteries to hogges For hoggeâ— in Mire the finest Pearles will tread And envious dogs with Bruitish Passions led Will snarling-wise their Masters Guests molest Whom he invited to his marriage Feast These dogs and â—ogs Christ warnes us to prevent Full cautiously lest us they circumvent And interrupt our entry into blisse The Gate whereof is straite and many misse To find it out Although they have been Call'd Yet very few are chosen and install'd True Saints so narrow is the heavenly Gate Some know the Way but comming there too late They are repuls'd some boast of Miracles And of great Merits yet find Obstacles And for their vaunts are dasht Not every one That cals Lord Lord or knowes Gods murthered Son Shall enter there with glozing snares and Nets The hollow Hearts prove then the greatest Lets As doe their Bragges of Meritorious workes Or naked Faith Here the slie Serpent lurkes Unseene of Carnall eyes and will betray Soules with faign'd Ecchoes till they lose their way But if they like our highest Fathers will They must shun ill and so climbe up his Hill How many thousands doate on worldly Pleasure So long untill they lose Soules sacred Treasure Sometimes Hels theeves breake in and all is gone Some other time wanting the Corner stone Their house fals downe which whilst they build againe Death summons them or tortures them with pain That they forget their Master and their charge And lose thereby his Grace and their discharge All yee therefore that mind the Heavenly Palace Take Christs advise Build not for carnall solace On Bog or Sand but build upon the Rocke Your Temple where you need not feare the shocke Of Tyrant-waves nor foggy Earths eruptions Nor undermining Fankes nor Theeves irruptions And then you shall be sure though Natures date Concludes your State to meet with happier Fate To Counterfeits much blame Christ did impute And such as gave their Almes for vaine repute He willes us not to strive for Wealth or Place Nor for Good workes to looke for Humane Grace To love his Friends and not on them to prey Nay to forgive and for our Foes to pray We must not on a Brother wrecke our teene Nor let the Sunne goe downe upon our spleene We must remit not onely seven Times But Seventy times seven and that betimes Lest that we run that wretched Stewards race To whom his Lord compassioning his Case Suspended all his Debts untill he heard How he had dealt with others sore and hard He God forbad with Babling to abuse But when we pray the briefest Termes to use More tending to his Praise then our supplies Which last wee season must sometimes with sighes Not Parrot-like by roate but from the Roote And Bottome of the Heart with Abbaes Note The Module whereof himselfe declar'd Thus having us from tedious Formes debarr'd Father most High thy Name be glorâ—fide Thy Kingdome come As doth in heaven betide Thy will on Earth be done Food daily give To us As we our Foes Lord us forgive And let us not be tempted by the Devill The World or Flesh but free us from all Evill This pithy Forme the Lord to us did leave For patterne pure if we it well conceive We must in chiefe looke on Gods Sacred Power And sanctifie his Name before we powre Devotions forth for our owne Private Ends. We must doe nothing worldly but what tends More to his Praise than to our owne respect He warnes that we false Christians must expect Who the true Faith to bring into neglect Will forge strange things well-nere to foole the Elect False Balaams who not holding Love for Roofe Would cover Faith with Golden Clouds aloofe False Teachers like the Scribes and Pharisees Who should seduce the world with Dreames and lies Who like Jewes Rabbies for Supremacies Should gape and Hunt for Lordly Primacies Over his Members whom he Brethren styles A Caveat true for Antichristian Wiles Yea and for Lords if they good Christians grieve Under pretext of Gods Prerogative To these he other addes signes that portend The Judgement day at hand and the worlds End When that we see strange Plagues Fraud Famine Jarres With Massacres of Saints and Bloody warres When Mauzzims Type raignes in Gods holy place Like Caesars set for Sions last disgrace When
therefore the Fiend Conspir'd to bring to passe his damned End Which was to ruine Christ and all his Crew Before he could on Earth Gods Church renew But could none other of th' Apostles winne Save this Perditions Child to act that sinne Judas suborned thus his Instrument Against his Lord and Master did invent An ambushment Christs Body to betray Though he his owne and Soule did cast away To Satan for a Prey For when he saw As Purser that he could no money draw More than he had by Christ his Company And that at Simons house in Bethany Whilst he summ'd up with avaricious Care His Theft he markt how Christ went poore and bare Not caring for the world or worldly gaine His chiefest ayme and would not then restraine The woman which powr'd Nard upon his Head And feete an Oyle that might him much bestead If to the Druggist sold he murmur'd sore He could not catch as he had done before This when our Saviour mark'd Why doest thou grudge Judas said he like a pelfe-serving drudge This Oyntment sold disposed to the poore I grant might have their wants relieved more But they are alwayes here so am not I. Embalmed thus know I shall shortly dye And through the world where shall be read my story Her loving deed shall publisht be with glory These words distasted foule Iscariots thought And to betray him now he hourely sought Away he went to the Chiefe Priests in hast And told them of Christs life and of this waste Now is the Time quoth he for you to take him Whilst he at night to Prayers doth betake him He names himselfe the Christ. I heard him say He would Gods Temple raze and â—ast away And afterwards râ—build it up as well In three dayes space in spight of Men and Hell The Priests were all of such a Chapman glad And presently a Contract with him made That their Catch-poles might without jeopardy Arrest him by the Nights obscurity For thirty peeces of that Countrey Coyne Which to their Treasure house they did purloyne By shifts and fraud for which they were reprov'd Of Christ before which them to malice mov'd Farre more for that than any other cause Though they surmiz'd the breach of Moses Lawes For plucking Corne upon the Sabbath day Or bringing downe their Temple to decay About that time the Paschall feast to hold On Maundy Thursday so enstyl'd of Old Jesus did sup that Evening tide his last At Salem in an upper roome where plac't With his Disciples twelve he first tooke Bread Bâ—est brake and gave it them whereon they fed After his blessing This my Body is His body sure Mans sacrifice for Blisse If rightly tane by a Just true Receiver With Inward taste and of a true Believer For otherwise who toucht Christ in the Prease Aswell as the Blood-flux'd had found more ease In the remembrance of his body naild Vnto the Crosse whereby the Saints stand baild From terrours here and in the world to come Nay warranted in Spirit they become Against doomes-day from the darke second death He blest the Cup alike with holy Breath After the New mans way and bad them drinke The Sacred Wine and on his Blood to thinke As lately at our New mans Sacrifice With bright day-light confounding Heresies My ravisht Muse beheld the Heavenly Vine With Purple Grapes for Mortals prest to Wine â—This costly food Soules Manna purging vice The figure of his Bodies Sacrifice This Type of Blood unbloudyed Mystery Christ left for Saints to keepe in memory His death untill his comming from above Where yet he sits to intercede and move For Penitents his Father wrong'd by Man This way I feed through Faith And who dares scan Another sense yet with Humility Let him here stop as with the Trinity Of Persons in the Godhead which he ought More to admire than by transcendent thought To soare more high than Eagles to the Sunne Where by the stame his sense may be undone Since how wee change to Christ no more hee knowes Then Babes the manner how the Spirit blowes The Sunne drawes up Earths vapours And so can Christ lift like Stephen up our Inward Man This humblenesse of mind when Christ had supt That Evening as it were to interrupt Our Future doubts he shew'd by stooping downe To wash his Servants feete with Love unknowne To which he added that the Marke for ever True hearted Christians from the false to sever Was mutuall Love which a Commandment New He styl'd for without Love Faith proves untrue Our soules and bodies are the Church where God In the third person holds his sweete abode But if we hate good men God dwels not there For the true Churches Roofe Love ought to beare The Sacrifice all done Christ went his way Out of the City as he us'd to Pray Accompanyed with his Disciples true For Judas was departed to his crue His Masters nippe made him the sooner goe Doe quickely that which thou intend'st to doe To execute his Treason and Compact And to receive his bire while Jesus rackt With griefe prepar'd by Fervent Love aswell As Faith and vowes against Sin Death and Hell With his ensuing griefes he had acquainted His Chosen Mates how he should be attainted Bound and arraign'd that night how thereupon As scattered Floâ—kes his servants would be gone And him would leave amidst his Bloody foes Enthrall'd and sore distrest with dismall woes But Peter trusting to his rusty sword Seem'd to distrust his Lords Propheticke word No Mortals force nor death nor Furies grimme From Gods deare Sonne should ever sever him Before the Cocke crow thrice thou wilt deny Replyed Christ me and my Company Thou and thy Mates before the Mornings peepe Will flye for feare like weake and heartlesse Sheep There close unto Jerusalem confin'd Neere Olives Mount a place for him assign'd By Destiny which was his Fathers Will To vent the throbs which did his Inside fill A Garden styl'd of Old Gethsemanee Secure at Nights from Worldlings Company There Jesus felt what might the stoutest quell A world of griping cares of Torments fell The dreadfull vengeance which the Godhead past Upon Mankind his owne so over cast And almost sunke with Agonies of sorrow That one had thought he could not live till morrow His tender Body did extreamely languish And did partake of more and sadder anguish Then other mens wanting the Nature Male In the mixt frame of his Conception Female Or weaker earthly Flesh whereby he stood So tortur'd that he sweated drops of Blood So sensible so full of piercing paine That he could not but more then man complain Like him whose youthfull Lockes chang'd into Gray In one nights space on fame that the next day He should be slaine But Sweates to sacrifice Of streaming Blood exceedes all prodigies And shewes that Saints by meanes most violent Win Grace to Natures sore astonishment Christ by this Strange Pro-passion tortured Shewes that his Mind as Body languished His Agony surmounted all mens
thy Bloud I Cancell quite against Old Adams Brood Their Bodyes Death excepted my Decree Of vengeance due if they beleeve in thee Without adhering to Idolatry To their owne works and humane Foppery Be thou their Patron and sole Advocate Who trust to other Courtiers I doe hate Sue thou for them in thy Humanity Before our Throne of endlesse Majesty And for thy sake I will Elect them sure For unto thee all Glory I assure Till th'Elect come in and thy Foes in Thrall That then our God head may be all in all To this effect our Heavenly Father spake When his deare Sonne his Body Rais'd did take From Josephs Tombe when by the dawning day Those Women came there where his Body lay Entomb'd with mind to sacrifice their woes For Him whom they saw Martyr'd by his Foes To solemnize his sacred Funerall Out of true Zeale and hearty love withall Thither they came not Superstitiously Nor yet for Fashion sake but really With an intent on his Dead Corpse to powre Most pretious Oyles but by the Heavenly Pow're They were debarr'd For as they did adventer To shew their Love and in the Vault would enter An Angell all in white of lightning hew Them interrupted with these Tidings true What would yee now poore Soules embalme his Coarse Whom late your Nation wrong'd without remorse Why seeke yee here the Quick among the Dead God 's living Sonne within an Earthly bed God would not let his Sonne Corruption see Nor could his Body long enclosed be Within this Rock The third day now is come Christ Risen is from Tombe as from earths wombe Then goe your wayes and his Disciples tell What Newes yee heare what Lot to him befell The women shudder'd and distract almost With the strange sight as if some wondrous Ghost Had them encountred ran away from thence Such is the nature of weake mortall sense When they meet Objects of Immortall Frame Reason lyes hid as under Ashes Flame But Pilates watch with horrour sore agast Forsook their charge and fled away more fast Then did the women at the Angells Noise For they good Soules were soone repleat with Joyes And when their Witts they recollected had â—hrists true Disciples they acquainted made With these glad Tidings who them held too good To be so true untill in zealous mood Christ did himselfe expostulate the cause With two of them who travell'd to Emaus The selfe same day when he did Rise from Death O simple Soules voyd of Caelestiall breath Ought not quoth he Messias to be slaine By sinners hands and all these wrongs sustaine Do not the Prophets all agree in one Which men refus'd should be the Corner stone That evermore Melchisedech's high Priest By David sung should rule that Jesus Christ Messias should be first smote with the Rod Due for your sinnes by your Dread-loving God Though as Gods Sonne he might have chose to feele The Taunts and Nippes of men more hard then steele Yet he of meere good will not by constraint Enthrall'd himselfe to sinners false complaint He opened not his mouth nor them withstood But as a Lambe before the shearer stood Dumbe Patient Meeke whilst for your Treacheries He wounded was And these perplexities With Tortures Stripes and scornes he underwent To ransome Adams seed from Punishment But now yee are by his Afflictions healâ—d And through his Crosse shall shortly be enseal'd A Gospell New a Testament of Grace An easy yoake with covenants to raze The former Curse If yee beleeve that Christ Is Gods owne Sonne your Saviour Prince and Priest If like to him yee humbly live together As he rose up so shall each faithfull Brother These say'd and more then my weake thoughts record By giving thankes and breaking Bread the Lord They knew and then he vanisht from their sight He vanisht from them Twaine and in the Night He did appeare to his Apostles where For zeales devotion they assembled were And catechized them for Faith and Love With other points which might their Soules improve Nor can I overship my ready Pen From laying downe his love to Magdalen Whilst her confused thoughts twixt doubt and Feare Rov'd what became of his Dead Corpse elswhere He kindly call'd her by her proper name Shew'd her his person and confirm'd the same By Message which unto his friends he bid Her to declare Thus sundry times he did Appeare to them whom formerly he knew To be th'Elect and his Disciples true That they might be Eye-witnesses and blaze To all the world this wonder of amaze And that true Flesh his Body was become He eate with them Bread Fish and Honey-combe To shew himselfe a Perfect Man indeed And not a Ghost Christ hungred and did feed Immortall he with Mortalls as a Guest Tooke what was next at hand not curious drest To let men know what Nature might suffice And that with Men He man did sympathize Among the rest when Thomas Didymus Was absent first and all unanimous Excepting him believed what they saw Although the Newes might well his senses draw To credit them yet he stood off and sayd Unlesse I see I am not well appayd Unlesse these Eyes his Person shall behold How can these Newes for currant true be told Unlesse my selfe shall feele his nayled hands And side late pierst by the fell soldiers Bands At sight of which deepe Wound by Romane Speare The lookers on appalled were with feare I will not you beleeve Therefore the Lord His wavering Creed to settle and record To future times his love a sev'night after His first appearance he againe did enter Into the Roome where Thomas with his Mates Were then shut up and there Christ animates Commanding him to touâ—h him and to ponder With Faith and understanding rapt with wonder His misbeliefe and told him for our Rest Who so beleeves what he had seen is blest When Jesus had conversed forty dayes On Earth halfe way twixt Sions walls he stayes And Bethany where his Disciples met Upon the Summet of Mount Olivet The place where he the night before his Passion Had powr'd forth bloudy sweates his antepassion Which over-peeres Jerusalem and all The Countrey round about with stately fall Where likewise some do Critickly conceive That all men shall their Finall doome receive There He full Powr ' to his Disciples gives Their sinnes to loose that vow to lead new lives As also those to Excommunicate If they offend that were Regenerate This Charge to them and Peter Christ prescribes Joint as to judge hereafter Israells Tribes Thus speaking in the Plurall Go your wayes And Preach to bind or loose yee have the keyes Above all rules on Faith he most insisted And fruitfull Love both which who so resisted With wanton spleen or contumacious willes He prophesied Damnation for their Illes But saving-health to them who should confesse Such faithfull love as Peter did expresse Assoone as Christ his documents had ended Some did presume who on him there attended To aske him whether
conceiv'd for Hauking fit Others more Sage in Types describe that Place A Starry Soile engâ—rt with Crystall Glasse Or Sea translucent with stones pretious rankes Pearle Amber Beds of Corall on the Bankes These may as Tropes rowze up the drowzy mind But to empale Gods Mansions were to blind The Artizans and to confound the Sense If curiously they break to Edens fence The azur'd Spheare wherto my hopes are bound Spirituall stands above this massy Round Of lively frame not like our mortals Land Or Temples built by carnall Creatures hand A Common-wealth secur'd from fiendes alarmes Wonne by our Saviours bloud and Ghostly Armes Which long before he promis'd to prepare For them that would through Faith his Foes out-dare There in the midst of Saints God rear'd for them A Metropole the New Jerusalem Not of Materialles wrought in Earthly mould But of Celestiall stuffe more bright then Gold Then Diamonds which Liquids may deface Or Canker-fretting Time the Fabrick raze The structure might be one with Fixed Starres Or like that Lamp which â—â—â—ting stints our cares An Orbe so farre transcending Edens site As doeth the Sunne the Moone the Day the Night Where He that made the Sunne more glorious spred The New mans giftes then Schoolemen ever read A Region of incomparable Light The Globe or Seat whereof no Humane sight Till Glorified can pry into nor Art By reason of the Lustre can impart No more then Paul by Christ in spirit brought Up to that Orbe of it could utter ought No more then we dare scan the Trinity Or weak Eyes see the Sunnes resplendencie Since puzled we in Natures secrets be What Natures Lord conceal'd how can we see Nay why should we presumptuously aspire To peep into Gods Ark or steale his Fire Old Scribes Prometheus voucht of Grace bereft For robbing Joves bright Fire a heynous theft Now more then this least Fancies me deceive I blaze not of that Orbe what I conceive Mansions of endlesse Joyes and sweet Repose God made for Men and Angels whom hee chose For Men and Angels who should side with Christ Against Hell-fiendes the Beast and Antichrist But whether in our Zones chang'd or refin'd Or Higher Orbes I leave it undefin'd Let this suffice no object represents There more then God to Soules departed hence Which honour'd Christ nor can divert their Sight From fixing on his Beames their whole delight Chiefly at that Eternall Jubilee When Saints shall from Hell-squadrons parted be By his great Light through Christ Saints there shall shine So bright that their new shape will turne Divine Compacted of the purest Quintessence Which Aire and Flame could work in Humane sence The Body which on Earth so clog'd the Soule Terrestriall shall no more that Guest controule But mounted up in Ovall Coach of Fire Elias-like doeth to the Heavens aspire And like high Eagles wings both here and there Comports with Christ the Manhead up to beare Of Motion swift of Strength without compare Like Seraphins all Love of beauty rare Leagu'd with the Soule in sympathizing frame Of Qualities aethereall mixt with flame Of glorious mould not subject unto sinne Disease or griefe as the first man hath been Like Cherubins all Light compos'd of Light Saints then shall raigne in a farre happier plight Install'd then Chinaes King or Tibers Priest With triple Crowne which cannot long subsist For these at death leave Corpse and States behind As those beare Bodies new like Christs refin'd With whom they reap more pleasures and content Then Tongue can tell Eares heare or Fancies vent No Sexes Forme shall then preoccupate The Sense since Fate had procreations date Worne out and cancell'd Lust in Evaes Race Her Choisest blest with even blooming Grace Because on Earth they trusted God alone And lov'd his Saints he made them with Christ One Both Young and Old though maimed burnt or drown'd Shall flourish then alike with Members sound Of Body span'd yet purg'd of Drossy Masse Perhaps like Christs which some would force to Masse With Knowledge ripe of Goodnesse voyd of Ill From Passions free and rectified in Will Perhaps at the same Age when Adam fell Or Christ Rose up triumphant over Hell There they shall sing and prayse the Lord alway Not having need at all to sue or Pray O how they move with mutuall zealous fire To prayse the Lord for sparing in his Ire Old Jacobs Tribes for chusing him and them While he did Esau and his Brood contemne They see themselves cull'd from the Gentiles throng Though they deserv'd to sing their howling Song For though God did all future things foresee He did till then no Reprobates decree But them reserv'd with Divells to partake Till Christ judge them to Tophèts burning Lake They know the state of all the damned Crew And thereupon their thankfull shoutes renew Ascribing Prayse with Hymnes Angelicall To Alpha and Omega God in all Of one consent one will one yea and nay With the like Musick and Harmonious Lay. Such Blisse on the eternall Sabbath day Crownes them when God their Bodies shall array Who in the Lambe believ'd and did their best By doing Good to gaine his Sabbaths Rest. As meaner Men made Lords weare Habites new So shall our Bodies then be chang'd anew The good invested with perfections rare The bad with hideous shapes and hellish Care Then many now which stalk with Peacocks Plumes With various Garbes with Licks and Baudes perfumes More ugly shall appeare then Toades or Bugges Which Children scare from screaming for the Dugges Nor will the Good then pitty the Distrest Because Gods love had Natures Foames supprest Embosom'd Couples which on Earth embrast The one shall be receiv'd the other cast Where humble Saints shall surely be preferr'd And Tenants set above their Lords that err'd Our Saviour Enoch and Elias led The way to shew that God the Quick and Dead Can raise that Mortalls have regain'd their Breath Yea from their Graves Saints rose at Christs his Death This Doctrine seemes to Carnall Sadduces â—carce true although they see in Summer Trees â—nd Corne to sprout with other vegetalles â—hough they see yearly many Animalls â— Swallowes are Silkwormes and Butterflies â—evived when the Sunne doth hotter rise Then since Those Life by the Sunnes heat have wonne Why should not Men by Him that made the Sunne Such Sotts have been and such I feare there are Too many Faithlesse ones that never care Here in this Life the certaine meanes to gaine Of glorious Shape in time to come againe Like skittish Maydes who at the fairy Game Do Daunce untill their Bellies swell with shame Nor how fares Truth nor what a Christian ailes Will they yet learne untill the Fiend prevailes What shall become of Body or of Soule So they may Feast and drinke without controule The Mirrours of the Moone are trimm'd a new Whose Face the foure Weekes Terme had dimm'd the Hew See they not bred of Putrefaction Flies And Barnacles from Wood or Pitch to rise To heare