I declare that ev'ry idle word That men shall speak before the dreadful Lord Shall be computed for in that great day Of Judgment when he will their Sins display Much more shall they be to a reck'ning brought Who have such words as yours are given out Words full of Defamations and of Lies Great slanders and notorious Blasphemies For these they shall the dreadful doom receive Of the damn'd Spirits and their Torments have As they shall cleared and rewarded be For words that good are to Eternity Then when the Scribes and Pharisees had heard These stabbing truths which Jesus had declar'd Dissembling in their hearts the deadly hate They bore unto him humbly did intreat That he a Token would from Heaven give Whereby they might upon good grounds believe That the undoubted Christ of God he was Sent from him to instruct them in his Laws But Jesus who did never guess amiss Knowing they had a different end in this That notwithstanding all their fair pretence 'T was but a snare to trap his innocence That their chief cause in asking such a Sign Was but to take occasion to begin A quarrel with him which with much more ease They might commence about such things as these Than about them which in their natures are Unto the outward Senses much more near Thus said A vile and wicked People call And seek for Signs but there shall none at all But that of Jonas granted to them be Who is a true and lively Type of me For as three days and nights the Prophet lay Excluded from a life-infusing Ray Within his moving Scaly-Tomb shut fast And was by God restor'd alive at last So shall the Son of Man of heav'nly Birth Almost three days and nights within the Earth Entombed lye and then again shall rise The third day crown'd with lasting Victories And they who by this means will not be wrought And to conviction and repentance brought Nor to the preaching of my Follo'wers give A willing ear and what they teach believe Shall by the Ninivites adjudged be Because though they were in a high degree Sinful so sinful that before the Face Of the great God came up their wickedness Crying aloud on them to shower down His dreadful vengeance from his sacred Throne Yet from the Prophets freedom from his Goal The slimy Belly of the monst'rous Whale And Preaching to them they in Sack-Cloath went And did sincerely of their Sins repent Whereas against my Preaching you are now So stubborn and so stifly bent that though I am by much a greater Prophet known Than Jonas being the Eternal Son God having testify'd of me this same By a loud Voice which from the Heavens came Yet to my Resurrection you 'l not give Credit nor be perswaded to believe What my Apostles by my Spirit shall Instruct you so as to repent at all That Famous Aethiopian Queen likewise Shall up i' th' Judgment ' gainst this Nation rise And it condemn because she came from far The Wisdom of King Solomon to hear Whereas against me you have entertain'd So great displeasure that you won't be gain'd To come and be inform'd of me although To do 't you need no tedious Steps to go And sure to most of you it must be known That I am greater much than Solomon And highly him in Wisdom do surpass And therefore abler am than e're he was To give you both instructions and advice How to attain to be divinely wise His Wisdom being in such things as here Occurr'd and Natural and Humane were Not such a Wisdom as was like to mine Perfect in matters Sacred and Divine And such a Wisdom that would you but be Perswaded to embrace it heartily Would mrke you wise and so direct your feet That you at last with endless Joys should meet But as for you and likewise for the rest Of this your Nation who have been so blest With all-sufficient means to bring you to A timely Sorrow for your Sins and who Have had so many Wonders 'mong you wrought So many Fiends of the Possest cast out And yet so far have hitherto been known From walking worthy of these Mercies shown That ye the God of Love blasphemed have By whom I Work and who me Power gave That let me tell you ye are highly in A sad Condition through your wilful Sin And that your State is much more hopeless now By Satans second coming into you Than 't was before I liv'd among you here Or than it would have been if I had ne're Cast Satan out for now he 'll with him take That he may safe his regain'd Conquest make More and worse Spirits than he did before To tempt you unto Sin and make you more Wicked each day than other until he Hath you involv'd in endless Misery Many more Wonders than we here do write Jesus perform'd in his Disciples sight These are recorded that you all might know Him the Messiah which was promis'd you And that believing him to be the same You might have Life through his Eternal Name The Prayer of the Most Holy Jesus before his Apprehension Saint John 1. NOw when the great and glorious Son of Love Who for our Bliss forsook his own above Had ended his Discourse with lift up Eyes And elevated Hands to Heav'n he cryes 2. Father the hour of my Death draws on For all Mankind now glorifie thy Son That I may be enabled to go through The weighty business which I come to do 3. And as my Power doth extend to All To give Eternal Life permit the fall Of none of those whom I came down to save Let them the Merits of my Passion have 4. All thou requirest to Enthrone Men there Where Joys most perfect and Eternal are Is this to own thee as the Supreme One Thy Laws obey and to embrace thy Son 5. This I have publish'd since I came below I have not fail'd thy sacred Will to show Having now finish'd what I came for here Attend O heavenly Father to my Pray'r 6. When I have suffer'd what is due to Man Receive me up unto thy Joys again Give me that Glory which I had with Thee Before the World was from Eternity 7. As for those Men whom from their Callings thou Gav'st to attend me hear thy Will they know From thee I did receive them thine they were My Will as thine they have obey'd with care 8. Those glorious things for which I did come down I have not secret kept but made them known They have embrac'd that Message brought by me Firmly believing that I came from thee 9. For these peculiar Men to thee I pray Confirm their Faith that no Temptation may Seduce their hearts nor Terrors e're withdraw Their skilful Tongues from publishing thy Law 10. For th' impenitent I no mention make Let them the fruit of all their Sins partake For them I pray and for their constancy Who are thy Gift and who have served me 11. These I commend unto thy gracious
The joyful Mary came and did declare How she had seen the Lord and likewise what He did command but they believ'd her not When in the Ev'ning of that day they were Assembled with the Doors close shut for fear Of the malicious Jews in Jesus came They knew not how anâ—â—â—hers saâ—uted them Peace be unto you when he had so said They trembling stood most terribly affraid Concluding that it could not Jesus be But a delusion which they tâ—ere did see Yet when he show'd his Hands and wounded Side Those Marks which he receiv'd when Crucify'd The Souls rejoyc'd and all with one accord Acknowledg'd him to be their Sov'raign Lord. He therefore to confirm their Faith begun T' expound the Scriptures which had long foreshown His cruel Death and Resurrection And by his Spirit made them plainly see The full import of ev'ry Prophecy And now farewell said he yet 'fore I go The same Commission I do give to you Which I receiv'd to plant a Church I came Do ye succeed me and compleat the same Be of good comfort to assist you here I 'le send you down the blessed Comforter But here attend ye till he doth come down Then did he go and breath on ev'ry one And by so doing did his Followers fit For that unerring guide the Holy Sp'rit Which at the Feast of Pentecost came down And sate like flaming-Fire on ev'ry one He gave the Keys of Heav'ns glorious Gate Into their Hands to Excommunicate The stubborn Sinner to absolve or bind They Power had as they just cause did find But Thomas called Dydimus the Twin Who was not with them when the Lord came in Now being come they up and told him how Jesus had with them been but even now But he declar'd unless his Eyes did see And Hands did touch his Wounds he 'd faithless be When his Disciples that day sev'nights were Met at their usual Place to joyn in Pray'r The Lord of Life the second time did come They knew not how into the close-shut Room Thomas said he since you will not believe Your Fellow-Servants that I am alive Except your Hands do touch and Eyes do see Those cruel Marks bestow'd on me Behold my Wounds thy Fingers thrust into This Side of mine and be not faithless now My Lord and God! said Thomas now I know And am convin'd the very God art thou Had'st thou before believ'd what thou hast seen Thy Faith said Jesus had then nobler been Than now it is my blessing I do give To them who see me not and yet believe His Ascension Full forty days th' Eternal Son of God After he rose again on Earth abode Teaching his Followers what they ought to do To make the World his Fathers Will to know And now just ready to ascend his Throne To take possession of his purchas'd Crown He went unto Mount Olivet with them Sev'n Furlongs distant from Jerusalem Upon whose lofty Brow with Hands lift high Unto the sacred Throne of Majesty He blessed them which having done a bright And shining Cloud convey'd him from their sight Up to the glorious Seat of Bliss where He Triumphant sits to all Eternity To the Eternal Three above Father Son and Spirit of Love By all the glorious Host in Heav'n And Men on Earth be Glory giv'n On Christ's Sufferings LOrd what is Man that thou from Bliss Where Love in full perfection is Should'st send thy Son thine only One To be contemn'd and spit upon To be the abject and the scorn Of ev'ry Villain to be torn With cruel Rods to be revil'd And live as 't were a live exil'd And after all this ignomy To hang on the accursed Tree That the eternal God above Should chuse this way to show his love To such as we who do return Instead of gratitude our scorn That he his only Son should send To suffer an inglorious end And make the Innocent to be An Offering for Impiety It raises wonder but 't was so Jesus did all this undergo Not by compulsion 't was his choice He suffer'd that we might rejoyce All this he did for to regain Lost Souls from an eternal pain And Jesus shall not we express Our thanks to thee for happiness Had'st thou not dy'd we had remain'd As Satans Victims ever chain'd No act of ours could e're have wrought That Reconcilement thou hast bought With thy dear Blood thou Heav'ns Rage Did'st fully with thy Death asswage Such obligations Lord should move Our stony-hearts to melt with Love And in the strictest duty bind To thee the Souls of all Man-kind CANTATE DOMINO CANTICVM NOVUM Praise the Lord up on the harp sing to the harp with a psalm of thanksgiving EIGHTEEN OF David's PSALMS PARAPHRAS'D By the same Hand LONDON Printed by R. E. for R. Bentley and M. Magnes in Russel-Street in Covent-Garden 1680. Eighteen of Davids Psalms Paraphras'd PSALM 22. MY God my God! Why am I left Helpless in my distress bereft Of that protection I have had Why are my Foes with Conquest clad I call and weep both day and night To thee my God to thee for right But O my Crys and Tears are vain There 's no redress no ease of pain All this shall not discourage me Since I do know thou just wilt be And true to ev'ry promise Thou Hast bound thy Self to me by Vow And though Thou let'st mine Enemys Insult and deaf art to my Crys Yet Lord thou holy art and still Deserv'st the praise of Israel Our Fathers they rely'd on thee Thou Lord wast their security When dangers did their Souls surround To thee they call'd and freedom found But I my Foes most deadly scorn With patience hitherto have born The vulgar and ignobler sort Do make my misery their sport In an insulting way they cry Let his Salvation now draw nigh He trusted in the Lord that he Would help him in adversity Let him stretch out his arm and save If either strength or pow'r he have But Lord their scorn and cruelty Shall not dismay or trouble me Since I have always found thine arm Able to rescue me from harm Since from the Womb I came alone Thou hast been my Salvation And from my Mothers tender Breast My God my hope wert and my rest Now be not far from me but save Permit not the triumphing Grave Insaâ—â—te as my cruel-Foes My Life untimely to enclose Redeem my Soul there 's none I know Except my God can help me now For I am close besieg'd and brought To that distress I can't get out Like as a rav'ning Lyon doth Roaring pursue with open mouth The helpless Creature that he may Affrighted fall and be his Prey So do my Foes threaten and rave To bring my Soul unto the Grave So week and feeble I am grown Wasted to nothing ev'ry bone Disjoynted from its place doth start Like Wax dissolv'd so is my Heart And as a Potsheard so my strength Is dryed up my Tongue at length Cleaves to my Jaws my earthly-Frame
due to Thee ERRATA PAge 14. l. 1. Assembly r. Synagogue l. 14. include in a Parenthesis p. 18. l. 22. needful r. sacred p. 24. l. 15. tyr'd r. tyred p. 39. l. 2. work r. works p. 40 l. 8. Disciple r. Disciples p. 50. l. 27. unto r. into p. 55. l. 11. inconsistant r. inconsistent p. 57. l. 23. ingen'ous r. ingenuous p. 63. l. 5. r. make p. 65. l. 6. hear r. here p. 68. l. 17. r. when to the three p. 69. l. 16. hea'vny r. heav'nly p. 88. l. 25. the r. their Souls p. 90. l. 2. those cruel marks the Jews p. 119. l. 12. soon r. some p. 136. l. 2. coule r. could p. 137. l. 13. r. and communion p. 145. l. 15. mounful r. mournful p. 152. l. 21. false r. base lyes p. 165. l. 6. Age r. Ag'd l. 7. looked r. look'd l. 19. are r. was tan'e p. 168. l. 11. r. Turn thou us Lord p. 169. l. 14. Sin r. Sins p. 170. l. 4. r. we have against thee done p. 187. l. 9. should r. shouldst l. 15. Women r. Woman p. 192. l. 18. higer r. high'r A SACRED POEM The Birth of S. John and the most holy Jesus Luke the first SInce there are many who have undertook Of those great Wonders to compile a Book Which of late years were in this Nation done Just in that order as they were made known To them by those who at the same time were Eye-witnesses of what they did declare To me who from the first have understood Exactly sev'ral things it seemed good To write Divine Theophilus to thee This following matter as 't was told to me That thou the truth of all those things may'st know Which I suppose was taught thee long ago In Herod's days who King of Jewry was There liv'd a sacred Priest call'd Zacha'ras One of Abia's Course he had to Wife Elizabeth of an Exemplar life The Virgin was before she knew his Bed Nor was she less devout when married Both righteous were both blamelesly did live In all those Laws God to the Jews did give No Child they had nor e're were like to have Elizabeth too old was to Conceive It came to pass while that he went to burn Within the Temple Incense in his turn Before the Lord and all the People were Without devoutly on their knees at Pray'r On the right hand o' th' flaming Altar he Perceiv'd an Angel of the Lord to be His aged Limbs scar'd at the Vision shook Trembling he stood until the Angel spoke The Promise of John's Birth and Office Fear not said he thy Prayers are heard a Son Thy Wife shall bear and thou shalt call him John Thousands of hearts glad at his birth shall be As well as thou and praise the Lord with thee He shall be great in the Almighty's sight For abstinence a perfect Nazarite Not tasting Drink that 's strong nor any Wine Endu'd early with the Spirit Divine Many of Isr'el's Children to the Lord Shall be converted by his pow'rful Word He shall before the true Messiah go I' th' Pow'r and Spirit of Elijah so That he shall make the Ceremonious Jews Admire Justice and her Paths to chuse And so prepare them to be wise that they Shall Christ receive and his Commands obey How shall I know since I am now grown old Said Zacharias what thou hast foretold Shall come to pass my Wife is likewise known Through heatless age past hopes to have a Son Gabriel's my name by the great God's command Before whose sacred presence I do stand With these glad Tydings I am sent to thee But since thou faithless art and wilt not be Perswaded of the truth of what I say Deaf shalt thou be and dumb until that day Thine aged Wife shall bring forth to thy joy From her now barren Womb this promis'd Boy Long did the People with amazement wait For Zacharias at the Temple Gate Forth at the length the aged Priest did come Deaf as the Angel said and likewise dumb Soon they perceiv'd something reveal'd had been By a wing'd Herald which he there had seen Beck'ning he stood but could not for his heart What he had heard and seen to them impart The Conception of S. John Baptist It came to pass so soon as he had done His priestly Office and the Crowd was gone The silent Priest departed to his home And streight his Wife receiv'd a pregnant Womb. Five Months from home not willing to abide The People's Censure she withdrew aside Although assur'd she was her marr'age Bed Was never stain'd with a disloyal deed She knew this Mercy in her aged days Was an unwonted Gift and so gave praise Unto the Lord who had remov'd that day From her the shame of barrenness away In the sixth Month the glorious Gabriel came From the Almighty to a Town whose name Was Nazareth within whose happy Wall There liv'd a Virgin whom they Mary call Youthful and florid as the blooming May Devout and piously imploy'd each day Of Body chast and humble too in mind In whom all Heavenly Graces brightly shin'd She was betroth'd to Joseph for a Wife A man all just and of a pious life And was descended from that valiant King Who Isr'el freed with a smooth Stone and Sling To her the Angel came as she alone On bended Knees was praying to the Throne Of the great God and thus to her he said The Salutation Hail thou most lovely person happy Maid The Lord is with thee thou art highly blest Of all thy Sex thou art the happiest When she beheld the glorious Messenger Who in this manner had saluted her A Rosy Blush diffus'd it self all o're Her lovely Face and shame-fac'd on the Flore She cast her Eyes troubled and in her mind seeking th' importance of his words to find But while she musing was silence he broke And thus the borrow'd Form to Mary spoke The Promise of Conception of the most Holy Jesus Fear not thou lovely Maid from Heavens King Before whose Face thou hast found Grace I bring Most joyful news Thou shalt conceive a Son Who shall to Isr'el bring Salvation Him thou shalt Jesus call he great shall be The happy product of Divinity He shall his Father David's Throne ascend His Scepter over Isr'el shall extend Of his Dominion there shall be no end To him the Rulers of the Earth shall bring Their borrow'd Crowns and own him as their King How can I hope blest Gabriel said she While I a Virgin am that this to me Can ever happen to conceive a Son A thing ne're heard off nor was ever known Thy God doth know how I have always led Throne A single life and ne're defil'd my Bed Therefore said Gabriel from the glorious Of the most High his Spirit shall come down And fruitful make thine hallow'd Womb to bear Jesus the Son of God thy Saviour What I have said th' Almighty will fulfill His Pow'r is able to effect his Will And as a Token
terribly affraid The Publication of Christ's Birth Fear not said he most joyful News I bring To you and all the World this day a King And a Redeemer's born the Christ is He To Bethle'm haste and your Salvation see Yet that you may not when you come mistake And for the Lord of Life another take Within a Stable you shall find him lye With none but Joseph and his Mother by Then with the Angel of the Lord there stood An Host of heav'nly Spirits praising God Singing this following Hymn By those above Angels Archangels to the God of Love Be glory given for this Infants Birth And to the good a lasting peace on Earth Up from the Earth unto Heav'ns radiant Throne This blessed Quire was no sooner gone But that the trembling Shepheards by consent To see what they were told to Bethle'm went Thither they came there the Child they saw Lye in the Stable on a heap of Straw With Joseph and his Wife abroad they spread What they had seen and what the Angel said And all who heard them with amazement were Seiz'd at the Story which they did declare But Mary ponder'd these things o're and o're And grew in Faith and knowledg more more Back to their Flocks the joyful Shepheards went And all the time of their returning spent In glorifying of th' Almighty's Name For all those things which he reveal'd to them The Circumcision On the eighth day after the Child was born The pious Joseph early in the Morn With his Redeemer to th' Assembly came Who Circumcised was and by the Name Of Jesus call'd as Gabriel order gave Unto the Virgin e're she did conceive And when her forty days accomplisht were According to the Law they did repair With the Messiah to Jerusalem His Presentation in the Temple Where to the Priest they both presented him For by the Law the First-born Male among The Jews unto Jehovah did belong E're since that fatal night wherein he smote Aegypts First-born and thence his Isr'el brought Two Turtle Doves she for her self did bring Although a poor yet legal Offering Unto the Lord from out the bleating Flock A Lamb she could not purchase with her Stock Within the Town of Solyma liv'd one Who just and pious was call'd Simeon Full of the Holy Ghost attending there When Isr'els Consolation would appear To him the Spirit did reveal that he Should e're he dy'd the promis'd Blessing see He by divine impulse to th' Temple came Just as the Father and his pious Dame Arriv'd with the blest Off-spring of her Womb To do for him what the strict Law did doom Where in his presence they a tender made Of their First-born and his cheap ransome paid Then in his feeble Arms old Simeon took The heav'nly Babe and thus divinely spoke Nunc Dimittis Lord let me now into the silent Grave In peace depart since with mine Eyes I have Beheld the Christ which thou hast long foretold Whom now thy People in this place behold A Light to those who do in Darkness dwell And the great Glory of thine Israel Joseph and Mary much surprized were At those mysterious Truths the rev'rend Seer Concerning Jesus in that place declar'd Such as before their Ears had never heard Simeons Prophecy Then Simeon blest them and to Mary said Behold this Child of thine thou lovely Maid Is for the ruine of the Ungodly sent And the redemption of the Penitent And for a Sign in Isr'el he shall stand ' Gainst whom the wicked of the World shall band That all the thoughts of men which are conceal'd Both of the good and bad may be reveal'd And thou the Mother of this blessed Son When thou behold'st their barb'rous cruelty Shalt find thy Soul with sorrow over-run Some great affliction it shall bring to thee Anna's Prophecy Into the Temple at this instant came Of Asers Tribe a Widdow who by name Was Hannah call'd who in her younger life But seven years had liv'd a married Wife Eighty and four years old this woman was A strict observer of the Jewish Laws Who duly did the Temple-Prayers frequent And every Week two days in Fasting spent She likewise thank'd the Lord and spoke of him To all who dwelt within Jerusalem Now when the Parents had the Law fulfill'd Both unto Bethlem with the blessed Child Return'd again where for a while they were Till in a Dream th' Almighty did appear To Joseph with a strict command that he Should take the Child and into Aegypt flee There they remain'd until the Tyrant's death And afterwards return'd to Nazareth In Spirit strong and Stature Jesus grew Whom God with mighty Wisdome did indue When twelve years old the blessed Jesus was His Parents who devoutly kept the Laws Of the great God the time now drawing near To celebrate the annual Passover Took this same hopeful Child along with them To keep this great Feast at Jerusalem And when the days of it accomplisht were Joseph and Mary homewards did repair With their Acquaintance and Relations who In Naz'reth did dwell or near thereto Christ's stay at Jerusalem and conferring with the Doctors Onwards they travell'd but ne're mist their Son Who in Jerus'lem staid to them unknown Until they had a whole days Journey gone Then ' mongst their Kindred and their Friends they went Inquiring for him but no news they learnt With thoughtful care for their neglect of him They back return'd unto Jerusalem After a three days search their Child they found Within the Temple Porch encompass'd round With the most noted Rabbies of the Jews Asking such things which did the Scribes amuse So that they all with wonder seised were At his wise answers and discourses there When ' midst the learned of the Jewish Land His Mother and her Husband saw him stand Th' amazed Virgin to her Son did go Jesus said she thou did'st unkindly do To raise such fears within thy Fathers mind And mine as thou did'st by thy stay behind But he reply'd the fittest place for me Is where I am know ye not I must be About my Fathers business But they could Not this mysterious Speech of his unfold However back to Nazareth he came With his ore-joyed Parents at that same Laborious Calling eighteen years he wrought Which Joseph did profess and him had taught And to their just Commands was never known To shew himself a disrespectful Son His Baptism Up to the Age of thirty years being grown He forthwith went to be Baptiz'd by John Who at the River Jordan was that time Baptizing sev'ral that did come to him But John this Office at the first did wave Until the Ever-blest such Reasons gave To have it done that in the Peoples sight He there conferr'd on him that needful Rite When lo th' Eternal Spirit from above Hov'ring descended on him as a Dove And from the Clouds at that same time was heard A thundring Voice which these same words declar'd This is my well-beloved Son in whom I
am well pleas'd who from my self did come On purpose to reveal my Will below That all might know what 't is they ought to do Jesus indu'd with power from on high Took on him now the publick Ministry And taught the People Doctrines so Divine The Sun not clearer than their Truths did shine Confirming them with Wonders such as ne're Eye saw before nor ear did ever hear MIRACLE I. Jesus his turning Water into Wine at a Marriage Feast in Cana of Galilee THe first he wrought was in a certain Town Of Galilee by th' Name of Cana known Where the blest Virgin to a Nuptial Feast Was by the Bridegroom call'd to be a Guest Jesus and his Disciples likewise were Bid with some others and all present there Down sate the Bridegroom chearful as the day And by his side the blushing Bride all gay The welcome Guests around the Table sate With sev'ral sorts of healthful Viands fraight All Dinner while a diligent Slave did stand With watchful Eye and with a ready hand Behind each Guest to fetch what he did need Not with a Leaden-heel but nimble speed No loose Discourses at the Table were Civil the Guests were no Buffoon was there One who imagines he doth glory get To be discoursive in the dregs of Wit Yet harmless mirth and flowing Goblets went Around the Board till all the Wine was spent Mary who knew the Bridegrooms Store was gone Unto her Son the want of Wine made known She told him 't was a fit occasion now In publick his Mirac'lous Pow'r to show By doing that they all would judge Divine With an Almighty Word create more Wine Jesus who knew his time of action best Unwilling yet his Pow'r to manifest Unto the World he gently did repress His Mothers too impatient forwardness Yet he assur'd her that the Guests should be Supply'd with Wine but done so privately That none but she and his Disciples should With those who serv'd the Miracle behold Straight to the Waiters did the Virgine go And what he will'd commanded them to do Within the Room six Cisterns stood each one Holding three Firkins all of Marble-stone These in their order on their sev'ral Stands Were fill'd with Water for to wash the Hands Of the invited Jews an act prophane Esteeming it to eat with hands unclean Up to the Brim with Water Jesus bid The Servants fill these Vessels which they did Straight he commanded one of them to bear A full Glass of it to the Governour Who when he tasted of the Work Divine The Water turned into gen'rous Wine He call'd the Bridegroom of the lib'ral Feast And askt him why he had reserv'd his best Of Wines till last all men says he at first Bring their best Liquors but at last their worst But thou the noblest Wine of richest taste After w' have freely drank hast brought at last This Wonder Jesus the Eternal Son Perform'd in Cana and his Pow'r shone So bright in his Disciples Eyes that they Own'd him the Son of God from that same day MIRACLE II. His Cure of a Noble Man's Son who lay Sick of a Feaver at Capernaum IN Galilee a Noble Man there was Belonging unto Herod Antipas Whose Son did Sick at Capernaum lye Past all the hopes of Physick's remedy Hearing that Jesus was to Galilee Out of Judea come away went he To Cana and besought him to come down Unto his house and heal his dying Son Now Christ who knew the Galileans well To be of Tempers most inflexible That to his Doctrin they would not be brought To give belief except he wonders wrought Resolv'd forthwith from his tormenting pain To raise this Courtiers Son to health again But he poor man impatient of delay Thinking his Son could not out-live the day Importun'd Christ to come immediately And work this Cure before his Son did dye Jesus who saw the faithful Parents Tears Willing to rid him of his anxious fears Told him he might unto his home retire His Son was well and that the raging Fire Which did inflame the Blood in every Vein Was now extinguisht and all calm'd again Which when the Father heard he went his way Fully believing what the Lord did say Unto his house as he was trav'lling down The welcome news of his recover'd Son Came to his Ears brought by the nimble care Of some who his domestick Servants were His Arms around the first Man's Neck he flung Tell me said he tell me my Friend how long 'T is since the burning Feaver did depart From my recover'd Son my dearest heart Just at the seventh hour thy Son said he Whom we concluded past recovery All on a sudden yesterday was well And so we left him as these here can tell Who in the joyful news did all accord So home they went with their rejoycing Lord. Arriv'd at length to his beloved Son After a thousand kind expressions shown He in the hearing of his Wife and those Who of his houshold were did straight disclose The wondrous manner of his Child 's great Cure And what great grief his fears made him endure And then precisely reck'ning up the time Of 's Sons being well and Christ's so telling him They all concluded when these things they knew To his Almighty Word the Cure was due And with their Lord to the great God did give Glory and in his Son the Christ believe This second Wonder Jesus wrought when he Came from Judea into Galilee No doubt but sev'ral more were done by him Both in Judea and Jerusalem Only these two as done the first year stand Upon Record writ by the faithful hand Of his beloved John and now we go To tell what in the next year he did do MIRACLE I. In the second year of Christ's publick Ministry The taking of a vast draught of Fish at the command of Jesus to launch out into the Deep c. ASsist me Lord while I the Wonders pen Which thou hast wrought among the Sons of Men. Near to Gennes'reth's Lake as Jesus was Teaching aright the much abused Laws Unto the People who long while had been Falsly instructed by their Priests therein From neighb'ring Towns the Crowd did so encrease That he was well nigh stifled in the Press Close to the Shoar two Boats a float did lye The one belong'd unto old Zebedee And his two Sons his Partners James and John Andrew and Peter did the other own These all the night a Fishing in the Lake Had toyling been but ne're a Fish could take And now upon the Shoar all tyr'd stood Having made clean their Nets within the Flood Jesus who 'fore he taught these Boats did see With much ado got from the Company And went into the Boat which did belong To Simon Peter from the gazing throng And causing him to thrust it from the Land The People taught who on the Shoar did stand When his discourse was ended and each one Of the confused Rabble home were gone Simon said he launch out into the Main
care Now I am going hence protect them here I come to thee O holy Father keep From the devouring Wolves these harmless Sheep 12. O let no Errour in their Doctrin be Make them in that as thou and I agree That in the end when they their course have run They may sit down with an Immortal Crown 13. While I was with them I have lost not one But that same Rebel of Perdition Of whom the Prophet Prophecy'd to be Ordain'd of Old for this Apostacy 14. But now I come to thee yet Lord before I leave this World I publickly implore That they may always in my absence have That joy and courage which my Presence gave 15. They 'l be expos'd because they heav'nly are To Perils and Afflictions ev'ry where Where they shall Preach that Faith they had from me They 'l find the World their mortal Enemy 16. Yet I intreat thee not to take them hence But keep them safe and be their sure defence That the approaching danger may not be Of force enough to shake their Constancy 17. The World to them as well as me they 'l find Will always prove most envious and unkind Yet sanctifie them so to Preach thy Word That it may fruitful prove where-e're 't is heard 18. To preach thy Will into the World I came I have impowr'd them to do the same For them I intercede and give to thee My Self to fit them for the Ministry 19. Yet pray I not for these alone but all Who by the power of their Preaching shall Conform unto thy Word that they as we May here be one and in thy Faith agree 20. That all who yet are unconverted may Acknowledge thee and all thy Laws obey And of their gross Idolatries repent And be convinc'd that I from thee was sent 21. That Power Father which thou gav'st me here Of working Wonders my Disciples are Invested with the same grant them to be No whit inferiour in their Works to Me. 22. That by those mighty Deeds which they shall do When I am gone the stubborn World may know I came from thee that thy affections are To them as great as unto me they were 23. Father I will that all my Servants may Be where I am for ever to injoy Thy gracious Love that they may all behold The Glory which I had with thee of Old 24. O Righteous Father though the Worldly-wise Dis-own my Message and thy Love despise I know thy Will my Servants know the same From thy Eternal-Self they know I came 25. Therefore those glorious Attributes of thine And Will I have and will declare to mine All things I 'le give them which thou gav'st to me Both Wisdom Power and Fidelity On Jesus his Apprehension Examination Death Resurrection and Ascension WHen the Eternal Son these words had spoke Unto the Mount of Olives o're the Brook Of Cedron with his Followers he went Where was a Garden which they did frequent Jesus who knew the Tragedy of Sin Must in that hallow'd-Plot of Ground begin Bid his Disciples at the Door to stay And thence not move while he went in to Pray Then taking with him Peter James and John The three which once beheld th' Eternal Son Cloath'd with a dazling-Cloud of shining Light Upon the Mount that they the dismal Night Might see of Sorrow which his Soul for Sin Was in that instant to be clouded in Came to the place which he design'd should be The doleful Theatre of his Agony When to three he freely did impart What pungent Sorrows did assail his Heart Commanding them upon their Guard to stand And pray against the threatning Storms at hand Not suffering Sleep upon their Eyes to creep But a strict Watch over their Souls to keep While he the troubles of an Innocent And spotless Soul in Pray'r to Heaven sent Sad unto Death he found himself now brought When he beheld the deadly bitter draught The Cup of Vengeance flowing to the Brim Fill'd by the Hand of God and reach'd to him Then did the pressures of that monstrous Load Our crying Sins and the fierce Wrath of God Cause his most guiltless Soul to groan and bow Under the weight and purple drops to flow Down his most sacred Body through each Pore Dying his Garments and the Ground all o're On which he thrice did fall and thence sent up As oft this Pray'r Father remove this Cup With such an humble Resignation still That he submitted to his heav'ny Will. The careful Shepheard whom no Sorrows could With-hold from looking to his little Fold Betwixt the intervals of fervent Pray'r Went and awoke them who fast sleeping were And twice the Three he gently did reprove That they for him should show no greater Love Amid'st his troubles than they had exprest Sleeping while he with Sorrow was deprest But at his third return their fill of Sleep He bid them take in vain it was to keep A Watch since now what he had oft foretold Was come to pass the Son of Man was sold Into the hands of Sinners who were now Entring with that bold-Wretch who this did do His Apprehension VVhen lo the Traytor to the Garden Door VVas come and enter'd with a number more Of armed Men who by the Sanhedrim VVere order'd as a Guard to wait on him Jesus who this and all things else foreknew Instead of flying meets the armed Crew And boldly asks them wherefore they came out VVith Lights and VVeapons whom it was they sought Straight as one Voice the servile Slaves do cry Jesus of Naz'reth Jesus made reply I am the Man ye seek no sooner he Had this confest but they immediately Fell to the Ground as if with Lightning strook At his Almighty Voice and dreadful look Grov'ling upon the Earth they speechless lay Till he again the second time did say VVhom do ye seek At this they all arise With trembling Limbs and with distorted Eyes And told him Jesus Jesus was his Name Who preach'd Sedition and for whom they came Lo said the Holy Jesus I am he If you seek me give these their liberty Then had that saying of his I lost not one Of all thou gav'st me its completion Now Simon Peter all enraged drew His long-sheath'd-Sword into the Crowd he flew With a most zealous Courage void of fear At the first stroke he cuts off Malchus Ear And while his sturdy Arm was dealing blows On ev'ry hand amid'st his Masters Foes Jesus calls out and bids him sheath his Sword His Fury stopt at his commanding Word Peter said he shall I not drink the Cup Sent by my Father yes I 'le drink it up Since 't is determin'd Souldiers come away What Heav'n commands I must and will obey Then came the Souldiers and the sacred Hands Of Jesus bound with their thrice-twisted-Bands Unto the house of Annas who then was Prince of the Sanh'drim and to Cajaphas Father in Law immediately they go And with big looks their willing Captive show His Examination Forth of