above the room are plac'd The Sunne to rule the day the Moon is given To guide the night the stars made signes in heaven But O what need is there in heav'n of them God's presence gilds the new Jerusalem 8. Fish ch 1. v. 20. The fruitfull Sea gives sundry creaturs birth More and more monstrous then or ayre or Earth Thetis whilst these she dandles in her lappe Wayles in salt teares her speechlesse issues happe 9. Birdes and Fowles ch 1. v. 21. Fowle the first liveing creatures did repaire Into the open mansion of the Ayre Where though their bodyes confin'd are to th'sky Mans soule a far more lofty course doth fly 10. Beastes and creeping things ch 1. v. 24. After the Ayre was filled and the sea The Earth brought forth her beastly progeny But since Man fell from keeping God's behests Hee 's turn'd more foule then Fowle more beast then Beastes 11. MAN Created ch 1. v. 26. His Palace fully furnisht MAN was made To enter it and be by all obeyd Who with a reasonable soul indu'd Doth in himself another World include He hath o're all the creatures mastery Thrice happy if God's servant he could be 12. The end of the CREATION ch 2. ADAM He was in paradise in innocence But haveing fell from grace he fell from thence Well Adam yet be cheerd in this hard happ Thou falst no lower then thy Mothers lapp 13. Aliud ch 3. v. 7. Adam who dureing his first state had none Then first sought clothes when righteousnesse was gone Truth naked is when truth from him was fled Noe mar'l he sought a cloak for what he did 14. On the forbidden fruit ch 3. AD EVAM Shee 'l eate it though for eating it she dye O'tis a pretious apple in her eye 15. CAIN ch 4. Is' t not a faire example thou dost give Bloud-thirsty Cain to them that after live That thus times Annalls should record of thee The first man borne the first manslayer he Hold hold thy impious hand but t is too late Thy brothers bloud cryes lowd at heavens Gate Lowdlike A-Bell for vengeance who being slain Thou' rt markt Hell knowes thee by that brand again 16. Aliud ch 4. Who first the art of Tillage found With 's Brothers bloud manur'd his ground A fruitfull harvest followed A crop of Vengeance on his Head 17. ABEL ch 4. More innocent more harmlesse then those sheep Whome though he kept himself he could not keep His Offring GOD accepts he there fore dyes Unto his Brother's wrath a Sacrifice 18. SETH ch 5. Seth's pillars which inscrib'd with learning stood Firme'gainst th'incursions of the swelling flood Are now consum'd with time and so is he These lines help to support his memorie 19. ENOCH ch 5. v. 24. Blest Enoch in the Heavens is thy abode Thou walkst with God before thou walkst with God 20. METHUSALEM ch 5. v. 27. Good Enoch lived here a little space And was translated to a better place Methuselah liv'd long how was this done The Sire translated's years unto the son 21. NOAH ch 6. When men from Adam sin from men had birth And both were now grown Giants on the Earth God sent a flood whose proud o're-flowing waves Drowne great and little world his Arke Noy saves But when the world shall be destroyed agen Then AH-NO Arke shall be for mortall men Aliud ch 6. The World is drown'd Noah no deluge feares For he had drown'd himself before in teares 23. Aliud ch 6. When all mankind found in the sea their graves His fireof zeale Noy from the waters saves 24. NOAH's Husbandry ch 9. After the flood Noah begann To plant and play the husbandman But too much wine carousing downe In drunkennesse himself doth drowne He now too had been sav'd I guesse Had he the Arke of Sobernesse 25 NOAH's Sonnes ch 9. HAM came and saw his Fathers nakednesse But SHEM and JAPHET cover't Noy doth blesse These two this curse bequeatheth to their brother That he should bow the ham unto the other 26 ABRAHAM ch 12. V. 7. With this good Patriarch God did covenant Unto his seed blest Canaan to grant But ere God to fulfill his word began Himself possest the heavenly Canaan 27. LOT ch 9. Agodly life he liv'd great wealth he got God pleas'd with Lot and Lot pleas'd with his lott Yet this strange sin by him was strangely don He was the Grandfather of his owne son 28. SODOM and GOMORRAH ch 19. Sinne reigned heere God therefore on this towne Doth raine from Heaven fire and brimstone downe Which as a sad praeludium doth foretel What they heerafter must expect in Hell 29. BRAHAM offering his son ISAAC ch 22. V. 10. When he with willing heart and outstretch'd hand Was ready to fulfill the hard command When now the fatall knife was drawn which so Was to have slaine all Israel at one blow God for the Offering did with him dispence Pleas'd with the offer of 's obedience 30. On the Ram caught in the Bush ch 22. V. 13. Ram this with thee will prove a bloudy day Thou with thy life the price of life must pay For Isaack thou art made a Sacrifice And Christ the Paschall lambe for Sinners dyes 31. ESAU ch 24. V. 33. When Esau toild with hunting now was come To take up toyles and spoyles returning home Fainting for hunger he his birthright gave For pottage his neere fleeting life to save O foole that hunted had so hard all day Yet let ts at last his brother take the prey 32. ISAAC ch 27. Just Abraham in his old Age begat Isaac heir of his blessings and estate Who blind with age yet with foreseeing minde The future fortunes of his son 's divin'd No blessing gave to Esau he lov'd best But Jacob whom he loved not he blest 33. JACOB Getting the blessing ch 27. Whilst Esau ranging seekes for Venison Mean space the blessing which he sought is gone For Harts and fallow Deer seeks every whore And looseth what is to his heart most deare 34. JACOB's Ladder ch 28. V. 13. Jacob by pious fraud and honest theft Supplanted Esau of his birthright ' reft Him of his blessing more what could he do He did his best to have been born first too Nor was lesse force then wisedome to him given By which he wrastled and prevayl'd with heaven At last worne out with age his staffe layd by He takes his ladder and so scales the sky 35. JUDAH ch 38. From Judah Jacob's third but strongest sonne A greater lyon then himself there sprung 36. JOSEPH ch 39. Joseph th' art sold a slave but yet made free From their malicious hands who envy'd thee A prisoner both for thine and for their good Sent into Egypt to prepare them food Thy Mistresse would perswade thee to her will But found thee trusty honest Joseph still And when thy garment snatchd from thee was gone Thy naked truth more cleere then ever shone Liber secundus Mosis dictus EXODUS 37. MOSES ch 1.
HIs cradle's made of rush he layes his head On Nile's proud backe that is his feather-bed Had he not bin so lost hee 'd nere been found If not cast out to drowning had been drown'd Blest Babel all things conspire thy good and chance Out of thy danger works deliverance 38. The burning bush ch 3. v. 3. 4. In midst of fire and unconsumed yet This doth a wonder in my minde beget A fire of zeale this was made by heavens-art Not to inflame the bush but Moses heart 39. PHARAOH ch 7. For Pharaoh's pride against the LORD of Hostes An universall darknesse shades his coastes A darknesse such as might be felt a night That long usurped baffled Phoebus right He yet continu'd obstinate wee finde The greatest darknesse then was in his minde THE TEN COMMANDEMENTS Command 1. 40. Heare O ISRAEL I am the LORD thy GOD c. Israel that GOD who gave requires thine eare He deignes to speake and shouldst not thou to heare So heare as after hearing to fulfill The holy tenour of his heav'nly will Who hopes that GOD should heare him when he praies Attend what GOD attend what justice sayes Should we so ill requitall to him make Who fore all other people did us take To take a god'fore him place him behind The fancy'd Idols of our idle minde We have created gods indeed below To whome obedience honour love we owe. Whome would we see rightly to serve O let Them fore our eyes but GOD fore them be set Command 2. 41. Thou shalt not make to thy self any graven Images c. Whilst to Bulls Dogs and Cats th' Egyptians bowe They an egregious Hieroglyphick showe Of vaine Idolatry but little more Of reason then those Animals they adore For why should Man into whose soule his maker Hath heavenly light infus'd and made partaker Of his own image worship things that are Inferiour to himself in worth so farre Or worship God by Proxy dare to sett Of what we never saw the counterfett If ' gainst this we a remedy would finde Conserve these precepts graven in our minde Command 3. 42. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vaine c. Thou hurtst God's name with vaine and idle chat But Foole thou hurt'st thy self far more then that Thy words are wind but when great God doth speak Thou 'lt find he silence can in thunder break 43. Aliud Is God thy fellow that thou still Dost take his holy name at will The word that fram'd thee thou dost mock And makest it thy laughing-stock Thou oft invokest God to heare Take heed too soon hee 'l lend an eare Command 4. 44. Remember thou keep holy the Sabbath day c. 'T is hard if out of seaven we can't afford One day to be kept holy to the Lord Rest then from Labour and blesse him that we In sixe dayes toyle of him may blessed be This Sabbath sanctifie an earnest 't is Of that eternall one of heav'nly blisse Bestow some hours in pious meditation Though we work not on Gods work the creation And if to that grand secret we would climbe Of our Redemption O redeeme this time What though the day be chang'd as 't was heaven's will Keep our devotion on 't unchanged still Command 5. 45. Honour they Father and thy Mother c. Honour thy parents and obey What they and what God here doth say To them observant if thou be And honour'st them others will thee Long life is promis'd a reward For those who this command regard A long life shall on earth be given A longer afterwards in heaven 46. Aliud Honour and love thy father naturall Politique and Ecclesiasticall For in so doing all may clearly know Whether thou truly honorest God or no. Nature's laws charge the first which who resists Is of the rank of rankest naturalists Thother's enjoyn'd us by civility And that imp'd with a smack of policy The third which teacheth why this should be showne T' all three's the summe of all religion Command 6. 47. Thou shalt doe no murther Murther 's so foul a crime 't may not be wrought By us indeed in deed in word or thought To boyle with anger is manslaughter nay We shall for grudgings be arraign'd one day Of murth'ring there be many peices mo Then death which comes by murth'ring piece's blow Command 7. 48. Thou shalt not Commit Adulterie O have a care and bridle each ill thought Which this command may violate let nought That is but unbeseeming be in thee Do thou avoyd all wanton company Let not thy love be firmly fixt upon Her that 's another mans and not thine owne Yet on Christ's spouse the Church fixe thy firme love Although her proper husband be above Command 8. 49. Thou shalt not steale We are forbid to steale and if we do In hell we shall be punisht and here too Whilst though we work in darknesse like the mole And steal another steals from us our soul Command 9. 50. Thou shalt not bear false witnesse against thy neighbout God is the Father of all truth but lies Are onely wicked Satan's properties If thou then must bear wittnesse don't through fear Speak false God will not with a liar bear Command 10. 51. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbours house c. This last and least of Gods commandments lies In order next which we ought not despise Howe're if ought we would contemn begin With detestation to despise this sinne Of coveting what 's not our own yet still Covet what 's not our own to have like will With our Divine Creatour that were rather To keep then break the Law of him our Father What should I covet poor babe under age But Christ my elder brother's heritage That and his love I prize all things before And covet I may covet nothing more The third book of MOSES called LEVITICUS 52. The fire shall be ever burning c. ch 6. v. 13. THe Priest lest holy fire should decay Duly each morn did on it fuell lay So lest our fire of zeal should die 't is fit Our prayers each morning give new life to it Whilst we this flame foment we need not doubt But that the fire of Gods wrath will go out This on the Altar of our hearts being kept God us and our peace-offering will accept 53. NADAB and ABIHU burnt ch 10. Your minds were kindled with a strange desire Of offering incense with as strange a fire This 't was incens'd Gods anger made you wish You had been strangers to such deeds as this Fire sent from God your death and ruine was Made heavenly martyrs though not for heav'ns cause Whilst these unsanctified flames you bring Your selves are turn'd to a burnt-offering Sinne-offering you were none since no expence Of sacred fire could expiate your offence Yet a sinne-offering too you were for in Your offering there was nothing else but sinne Had you one spark of grace then had not heaven Needed ethereall fire thus to have
O see How heav'n and earth strive for the deity He in suspense as dubious yet is loth To leave one for the other but midst both Nor midst his sufferings suffers to resigne His humane nature or put off's divine Yet though he doubly hath obscur'd his light By humane nature and with pains too bright He is for my aspect my eyes grow dim Thus long with gazing upon glorious him He now drinks up the dregs of 's cup which are A mixt compound of gall and vineger So he a dove in life at his death shall Take in what 's not innate unto him gall The God of love drinks vineger O pow'r Of love which overcame with sweet that soure He takes that wormwood potion down that we Might in the gall of bitternesse ne're be His hands are nail'd but not a-crosse he stands As ready to embrace with open hands They 've hit the proverb right Sharp nails are sped Through both the hands of him who is our head O let these wounds suffice he doth sustain Let us not crucifie him o're again Between two thieves he hangs who held to be Equall with God no part of robberie So I'twixt grace and sin but fain from sin Would be dissolv'd O so a tract begin My cauterix'd my iron heart one thief Upbraids O th' impudence beyond belief And were 't not Gospel I should take 't to be As farre remote from all belief as he Impenitently sinfull sinfull more In this then ere he shew'd himself before If thou beest Christ he did his worst I see To robbe our Lord of his Divinitie The other meekly chides him and begins Now at his end t' ask pardon for his sinnes Good pious thief who thus past hope hast stole To heaven and cheat'st the Devil of a soul A title 's o're our Saviour writ and all In letters like their own crime capitall Now capitall it needs must be because Both o're his head and ' against our Head it was Hebrew Greek Roman which may signifie He for all languages alike did die This is the title of our King by this He gives us title to a throne of blisse This is the title of our King nor need it Explained be for he that runs may reade it Our Saviours sorrows are at heighth each scribe As he by-passes spends some quip some gibe If thou be Christ so said the thief 's to me Doubtfull if he the Christ your Christ will be If thou beest Christ come down what would you do Should he descend you needs must lower go That we this miracle beholding may Give credence that thou art whom thou dost say Come down and save thy self what would you have Should he himself alas who should you save So difficult you are faith to receive T will be a miracle if you believe Midst pangs beyond our reasons dull belief Eternall torments and internall grief Our Saviour cries in this extremitie Eli Eli lamasabachthani Heav'n now heav'n gates are shut they now begin T' refuse to let the King of glory in Those doors against their maker closed be By him for us op'd to eternity His Fathers ear is stopt justice doth move So much his fury that it clouds his love Hell gapes and the infernall monarch glories Hoping t' engulf him in his territories Vanisht Hosannaes are all signes of gladnesse Through th' universe an universall sadnesse But the mistaking Jews believe amisse Elias to his help invoked is Elias was not of that mournfull song The burden but 't was EL God farre more strong Yet as that Sire in flaming chariots hurri'd To th' Apotheiosis was rapt and carri'd So he 's to come involv'd with flames of fire And turn the world to cinders in his ire Then happy those whom guilt doth not appall Who theirs can Israels carre and horsemen call There now remains one thing for him to do Then are his acts and passions ended too He thirsts who thirsty unto him are brought He gives lifes waters for an heavenly draught That sponge of vineger which they thought good Enough for him he 'l fill it with his blood And as a signe their safety he doth mean Purge them with Hyssop that they may be clean And now 't is finish'd O that I and all Could in the houre of expiration call On God as he My spirit I commit My God to thee thou gav'st receive thou it Father forgive their sinnes they do not know Father forgive their trespasse what they do O see his goodnesse in his greatest pain He did not leave to intercede for man Even in his change when just he was to part His sp'rit flew forth in pray'rs to change their heart And with these words resigning quietly His soul he who can never die doth die The sunne amaz'd reins in his steeds and shrouds His muffled face in black condensed clouds Thinking it more preposterous to see The sunne of righteousnesse eclips'd then he A three houres darknesse straight invelops all The land the night is a night typicall For each houre count a day our Saviour hath Just so long walked in the vale of death Nature 's turn'd topsy-turvy from her station Earth's fabrick mov'd with fear moves her foundation The rocks now that grand Rock of help is shook Tear their hard entrails up as thunder-strook Mosaick rites of right with him now ending 'Gin vail to him the veil o' th temple rending The heavens above flash lightnings out of measure The earth reveals her own and Gods best treasure The saints arise and shew themselves abroad And in that shewing shew the power of God Yet as the holy city now sees them They may see those i' th' new Jerusalem This the Centurion sees and on the quaking O' th' earth hath fixt his faith beyond all shaking The Jews high-feast is nigh at hand and they For greater celebration of the day Ask't that the crucifi'd might forth with be Dispatcht outright and taken from the tree Who t' execute this hard command were sent Straight brake the two thieves legs sans complement Do break them without help of legs the one Will make a shift to paradise to run But when they to our Saviour came whose breath Was gone they satisfied with his death Broke not a bone the Scriptures so had spoke Had they broke them they Gods decrees had broke Those were the marble columnes his spouse praised On whom the basis of the Church were raised But one more boldly curious then the rest Resolv'd to put the truth unto the test And thrust his spear into his side a spout Of bloud and water severally gush'd out Both streams were for mankinds eternall good Onely deny'd to him that made the flood Why cast they lots for 's coat since none would be ' Mongst them content to wear his livery Oh think they clad in that same woollen coat Each shall a sheep be thought and not a goat Alas they can't act Saints parts without doubt Th' all-knowing God will find dissemblers out Our
Though in this darker Shade there somthing lyes Might bee the load-stone of all learned eyes There 's ne'r a leafe in which I cannot spie Th' Author in 's more true Anatomie Yet All 's too little Hee is but made less By th' Painters Pencil or the Printers Press SION and PARNASSVS OR EPIGRAMS On severall texts of the Old and New Testament To which are added A Poem on the Passion A Hymn on the Resurrection Ascention And feast of Pentecost By JOHN HODDESDON Horat. de arte Poet. Omne tulit punctum qui miscuit utile dulci. LONDON Printed by R. Daniel for G. Eversden and are to be sold at his shop over against the little north gate of S. Pauls Church MDCL Imprimatur Iune 7. 1650. Nath. Brent To my worthy friend and honoured Uncle CHRISTOPHER HODDESDON Esquire Secundary of the Upper bench SIR THe happy although too late acquaintance which I have had with you as a Friend and the kind reception which I have found from you as a Kinsman hath encouraged me to dedicate these Epigrams to you not doubting but that you who have already owned the Authour will also Patronize the Work Sir I shall not herein seek my self or flatter you That I present you with this book is more out of respect to you then any designe for my self and not so much to beg new favours as to give thanks for such as I have already received The great reward that I look for is onely your kind Acceptance by which yet I shall be a gainer your name in the frontispiece will adde credit to the book and grace to Your obliged and ever dutiful nephew J. HODDESDON Ad Juvenem optimae spei atque indolis JOHANNEM HODDESDON Hujus libelli autorem NOstra juventatuos pingat Cithereia vultus Suspendatque comis carmina vana tuis Tu sacrata nova texisti Biblia veste Primaque divinum pagina tractat opus Nulla Venus nulla his lascivit Lesbia chartis Nec Minus est facies inde venusta libri Charta Deum brevis illa capit liber atria coeli Et pius doctus quid volo plura Tuus Hoc Juvenis folio juste-mirabilis in se Omnia quod potuit claudere clausit opus Tuis Amicus studiis Henricus Bromley To his much respected friend the Authour on his divine Epigrams NO more ye Roman Theaters reherse Your Maro's Ovids or Tibullus verse Here 's such an honour as great Virgil mist Though to attain't he turn'd Evangelist This work which metaphras'd in prose requir'd A Septuagint and often Synods tir'd Is perfected by one if one he be Who hundreds seems in ingenuity Onely this work in one thing don't agree But differs quite from our Theology Both sacred pages old and new in it Make but one testament of th' Authours wit R. Marsh To his friend the Authour on his divine Epigrams LO here 's a muse whose active nimble wings Soar up aloft to reach at heavenly things Who makes a higher Helicon his abode With eager pride scorning the common rode Of vulgar meditations one whose wit Aim'd at the noblest subject and most fit The holy Bible and although this story So ex'lent be that none can adde more glory Yet heathens which do most respect the letter Will be allur'd to like it farre the better Go on go on if thy first enterprise Doth mount so high we must get eagles eyes To see thy next but if thou fliest high'r Then all that we can do is to admire Fear not mortality Gods name shall be Which here you mention thine 's eternitie W. Iames. To his friend the Authour on his divine Epigrams THou hast inspir'd me with thy soul and I Who ne're before could ken of Poetry Am grown so good proficient I can lend A line in commendation of my friend Yet 't is but of the second hand if ought There be in this 't is from thy fancy brought Good thief who dar'st Prometheus-like aspire And fill thy poems with Celestiall fire Enliven'd by these sparks divine their rayes Adde a bright lustre to thy crown of bayes Young Eaglet who thy nest thus soon forsook So lofty and divine a course hast took As all admire before the down begin To peep as yet upon thy smoother Chin And making heaven thy aim hast had the grace To look the sunne of righteousnesse i th face What may we hope if thou gost on thus fast Scriptures at first Euthusiasmes at last Thou hast commenc'd betimes a saint go on Mingling Diviner streams with Helicon That they who view what Epigrams here be May learn to make like in just praise of thee Reader I 've done nor longer will withhold Thy greedy eyes looking on this pure gold Thou 'lt know adult'rate copper which like this Will onely serve to be a foil to his J. Dryden of Trin. C. THE CREATION OF THE WORLD Come and behold the works of God PSAL. LXVI COME and behold the works of God and see If any greater then our God there bee Come and behold his works by whose words sayd The fabrique of this Universe was made And when th' hast view'd all the world doth containe Looke on thy selfe and view them o're againe GENESIS 1. God eternall Ch. 1. In the beginning God did all things make Himselfe from no time did beginning take 2. The Chaos Ch. 1. v. 11. This rude unmoulded masse this Four-in-One Earth Water Fire and Ayre made Union In discord but could not have long subsisted The Fire had Water Earth had Ayre resisted And infant-Nature worne with jurres at length Had been consumed with her proper strength But that great word which first did bid them be Made separation and yet unitye 3. Light created ch 1. v. 3. All things were cloath'd with universall Night When God created beames of radiant light In imitation strive we that we may Be children now not of the night but Day 4. The Firmament ch 1. v. 7. 'T was now high time God should fulfill's intent To build his high Watch-Tower the Firmament Which might divide the waters here below From those Nectarean streames that there doe flow This is his Palace whose all-searching eye The inmost cavernes of the earth doth spy Vast is the House but heere the wonder is Himselfe is greater then the Aedifice 5. The Sea separated from the Land ch 1. v. 9. The Ocean 's wide wombe yawnes and Earth ginns peepe From out the confines of the watry deepe 'Twixt whom so firme a fixed league is plight That neither dare usurp the others right These senselesse Elements thus cease to jarre Yet Man with earth seas Heav'n himself doth warre 6. The earth bringing forth fruit ch 1. v. 12. Plenty ensues on this establisht peace Trees flowrs roots herbs grasse seeds yield their increase O Let us to bring forth good fruits begin Onely be barren in the fruits of sin 7. The Sunne and Moon created ch 1. v. 16. The earth replenish't thus adorn'd and grac'd The candles now