hight That the last part on this Worlds Stage was shown Else to vpbraid as a prodigious sight Them who did haste what bent to haue ouer-thrown And others all thus rais'd more glad do ryse Of Soules birth once then of their Bodies thryse 106 There come those two from whence no Flesh can know Yet not more soone then whom fraile Eyes saw dead Of which as Types one to each World did show That Mortalls might be straight Immortall made Grosse Bodies mount and some Death not ouerthrow A Laberinth whence Nature none can lead In most euill tymes most good to be mark'd so Those did from hence mans common Way not go 107 That godly man by GOD judg'd Iust to be Translated was that he might not see Death Being Death to him his LORD despis'd to see Whilst poysond with vile Mens blasphemous Breath Or else at last from Pangs and Horrours free He priuiledg'd from all the signes of Wrath Did part not die from Sinne not Life estrang'd Soules must remoue else haue their lodging chang'd 108 Whilst him saue GOD who ought disdain'd to feare Vile Baals Scourge of Kings who scorn'd the Ire With flamming Steeds a burning Coach did beare The Wind being Wagoner an Angell Squire Twix this grosse Globe and the celestiall Spheare Zeale did triumph euen as it fought with Fyre That Heauen and Earth both might his Glory know As earst his Toyles when but contemn'd below 109 As where he liue or lyes to turne or stay To dispute easie is hard to conclude The LORD perchance committed him to Clay As one with whom He on Mount Tabor stood Else not dissolu'd but changd when borne away And some thinke kept apart yet to do good For without all no Saints perfected be The Maide-borne-bodie so Heauens onely see 110 A loude Alarme still doubling from aboue The Word Eternall may make Breath abound All this vaste Circuit doth a Trumpet proue Whose Concaue wastes not but maintaines the sound At the first blast nought else saue it did moue As drearie Silence had prepard the ground But till all Eares be fill'd it higher swells A horrid Echo roaring from the Hells 111 Those guiltie Soules what further comfort shields From sleepe whose Conscience with the Bodie stares Then when they see as Grasse ouer all the fields Men grow about them O what frozen Hearts Earth labour'd long a Monstrous Haruest yeelds Which straight Heauens Husband loe grindes sifts and parts Who can but thinke how such endure this sight And yet what they attend makes it seeme light 112 He who them hates that he should others grace Both Grief and Enuie tortures them at once Of two who rest companions in one place One pleas'd doth joy the other desp'rat moues One parts as pointed for Eternall Peace The other sign'd for paine stayes howles and grones Thus of the Godlies good the first degree Is from the wicked that they parted be 113 Those Creatures who still sound did neuer fall That fatall Summons do no sooner heare Then those whom it forth from the Dust doth call Where they had slept euen manie a hundreth yeare Soules lodgings thus which had bene ruin'd all Straight builded then first perfect do appeare The Iust they first the Reprobat last moue Which bide below whilst others flie aboue 114 Those Temples then which not dissolu'd still stay A Mysterie difficult to conceaue All debt of death not dying shall defray The other life being com'de ere this them leaue The Bodies then all frailtie burn'd away Being quintessenc'd new qualities receaue Which though still quicke yet in their Sinnes being dead Ere mortall prou'd shall be Immortall made 115 If oft to gaze a multitude remaines To hold his Court whilst it some Prince attends Who still being mette with many stately Traines Doth make a Musters of imagin'd friends As by small Brookes a Flood swolne when it raines Till that on him it seemes the World depends That Pomp to all a reuerent aw imparts And strykes with Terrour Malefactours Hearts 116 Thinke with what glory CHRIST must wondring wonne Whilst thundring Terrour and yet lightning Grace He might come clad with Starres crown'd with the Sunne But to his brightnesse such as base giue place His court at first of heauenly Hostes begunne From hence enlarg'd is in a litle space O what strange noyce doth all the World rebound Whilst Angells sing Saints shout and Trumpets sound 117 My rauish'd Soule transcending Reasons reache So earnest is to surfet on this sight That it disdaines what may high thoughts empeach Whilst mounting vp to Contemplations hight Which flight so farre doth passe the power of speech That only Silence can pursue it right And that my Spirit may be refresh'd that way It must a space amidst dombe Pleasures stray FINIS
Mountaines moue As Townes for Trafficke Palaces for Ease And of all Sorts did furnish forth a Band As if to People not to winne a Land 68 To braue the Heauens whilst Giants would assay The LORD their Power would wonderfully bounds One litle Barke their Nauie did dismay The mightie Man a VVoman did confound All Elements did arme their Course to stay That VVicked Men might not pollute our Ground For Pride disdain'd for Crueltie abhorr'd Spaine beg'd a Slaue where looking to be Lord 69 O happie those for whom the Heauens will fight Of Angels Armies campe about them still VVhilst Haile and Thunder from Heauens Store-house light Rush armed VVinters forth sterne Tempests kill The stormie VVinds conjur'd in Time charge right As traind in VVarre to spend their Power with Skill Still to the Author Mischiefe doth returne And in the Fires they make the VVicked burne 70 The tumid State a Number doth afford VVho only there could quensh ambitions Fire And Auarice with many hath it stor'd VVho only there could bound their waste Desire Though of the VVealth of diuerse Lands made Lord Who by no Meanes Contentment could acquire Till like themselues still taking fill'd with Nought The Sea and Hell them to Aboundance brought 71 What fearfull thoughts their quaking Stomacks fling When with each Waue a Wound Death seemes to giue That so to charge do for a vantage striue Saue Lightnings whyles some suddaine glances bring Clouds masking Heauen ouer all do darknesse driue That whilst they nothing see and too much heare Falne on the Depths Hells Shaddow doth appeare 72 Some scap'd such Stormes whilst they secure remaine Whose cruell Couetice to render vaine They yield as faint till Foes toward them repaire Then Powder kindled by a lingering traine They all at once are thundred through the Aire In Water burn'd weake thralls kill Victors strong And suffring act reuenge preuenting wrong 73 Thus by the Sea a number is bewray'd Whose dying Eyes a friend did neuer close Not in their Fathers no in no tombe layde Which had when dead no part where to repose But are by Waues to euery Rocke betray'd Till this last Day do of all Flesh dispose Which as would seeme most readie those may find Whom Earth not burdens Wynding-sheets not bind 74 The Face of Earth like those a number yeelds Who for last lodgings could not get a Graue Yet where they fell as hauing wonne the Fields Them dead a tyme from all who liu'd did reaue Thrown in the Dust drawne from their bloodie Shields Whilst naked there they what they clad did saue Till Beasts with some did runne with some Fowles flie As Bodies first Bones bare at last did lie 75 The Bloud of some did staine that golden age To stryke with Iron ere malice did inuent On Ruines Altar offring vp to rage Wrath wants not Weapons when for mischiefe bent Then Indignation Mortalls did asswage With Stones sharpe Stings and what by force was rent From gored Bellies Puddings did gush out And Heads with Braines were compassed about 76 But when Man spud whilst venging wrong by chance That Life was lodg'd in such a fortresse fraile To Court Vaine-Glory which to fooles did glance Some as for Sport their Neighbours did assaile Then last their State of purpose to aduance Stray'd Valour would by violence preuaile All Armies first were by Ambition led Till Auarice a greater furie bred 77 Who first from Death by Deeds redeem'd their Names And eminent magnanimously grew Their fancies frying in ambitions Flames They onely Praise not Profit did pursue And as for Glory who contend in games Sought others to exceed not to subdue Such Scythia one another Egypt gaue From conguer'd Lands who did but Honour craue 78 Those Weapons first were fond which pierc'd or brus'd Ere dreadfull Cyclops made their Hammers reele Of Mars chiefe Minions Sword and Lance were vs'd Ere Men did marche as Statues all of Steele What furie in proud Mindes this rage insus'd That they would suffer to make others feele And striue to further ere to hinder ill Then saue themselues more bent their Mates to kill 79 What Mountaines were of murthred Bodies made Which till falne dust the dust did not receaue Of Ashur Persia Greeks and Romanes dead Who whilst that they more Earth them Earth would haue Whilst of the World each striuing to be Head Those Members main'd which it to rule did craue Then though all Lands one onely did adore As pent in too strict bounds whilst one sought more 80 Of Bones vnburied what huge Heapes were rear'd By Teutons Cimbers Gaules great by doing harmes By Vandalls Allam Hunnes and Gothes long fear'd Danes Longobards and Sarazens in swarmes For which long tyme those Fields could not be ear'd Where they to death had offred vp their Armes Whilst where to lieu to winne more Lands being set Where they might die they onely Land could get 81 Then Nature strong as in her perfite Age As Bees their Swarmes Lands Colonies sent forth Which forc'd by wants else moou'd by generous Rage In Tempests huge inunded from the North Else that high Hopes dream'd Richesse might asswage They sought the South as held of greatest worth To what it pleas'd whilst Power a right did clame Oft with their Dwellers Countries chang'd the Name 82 That Heathnish Hoste by Juda so abhorr'd Whose Captaines railing Vengeance to contriue A godly King did spread before the Lord Whose Wrong his Soule did most of peace depriue Till that an Angell with iust Wrath being stor'd Did kill of thousands thryse threescore and fiue Those who blaspheming GOD by him were slaine Must ryse with feare to looke on GOD againe 83 Thence thousands ryse with Strangers or their own Where still to Broyles the Grecians were inclind Where all the VVorld at Fortunes Dyce was thrown Twixt Syr and Sonne in Law not loue combind By Vertues Clients fall which Fields were known Of all who onely the Scates good design'd None Vertue should adore all reuerence must Men should delight in it not in it trust 84 Thence neuer buried many Bodie springs Where of all Lands oft Armies did contend Slaue by the Senat Emperours or Kings But most by Him who did to Carthage send Reft from Romes Nobles Bushels full of Rings And by Barbarians Lord s of all in end Thus Italie all Nations did obey And to all Nations was expos'd a prey 85 That Field yeelds thousands where VVrong squaring Right For famous Captains twyse a fatall Stage Great Pompey did with Mithridates fight And Tamberlane the Terrour of that age On lightning Bajazet did thundring light Tam'd for a Foot-stoole in an Iron Cage Thus that great Monarch was made worse then thrall Pryde hated stands and doth vnpitied fall 86 All then must marche at this last Trumpets sound Who Fields entomb'd damn'd Floods and Ditches fill'd Whilst Ottoman to make his Crescent round Blood as but Water prodigallie spill'd His Bassaes dash'd ryse groning from the Ground Which oft by
A ♡ DOOMES-DAY OR THE GREAT DAY OF THE LORDS IVDGEMENT BY Sr. WILLIAM ALEXANDER KNIGHT AH Printed by ANDRO HART and are to be solde at his shop on the North-side of the high Street a litle beneath the Crosse ANNO DOM 1614 TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE ROBERT Viscount Rochester Knight of the most noble order of the Garter and one of his Majesties most honourable priuy Councell THAT the World may haue some publicke testimonie of that priuat loue which your Vertues long since had begotten with my thoughts my Lord this is a small sparke flowne from a great Flame towardes you whose glory is that you onely of all the subjects of this Isle haue the Altar of your honour adorned with offrings from both the Nations in this kind as if your Worth were the Center where both our affections should meete making an vnion in minds a course both worthy of the credite of your place and of your estimation with the world Who more great with Augustus then Mecoenas none so great with the Muses This subject may be thought by some of too melancholicke a Nature for your youth and state but yet is vnnecessarie for neither it may serue for that Macedonians Page who vsed euery Morning to call to him PHILIP thou must die though not so importunatly vrging yet when looked on it is a dumbe remembrer both of death judgement of all what was in the World of what is likely to be when it ends But long may you liue your Fortune still striuing to equall your Worth your Worth to exceed your Fortune and the World to admire both both being ripe before your yeares This for the present is but like vnripe fruits an imperfect piece wrested from a mind many wayes distracted involued in doubtfull designes the successe of some whereof I hope hereafter hauing purchased me fame from the World who for that effect will leaue no way of worth within the compasse of my power vnattempted may make me the more able to communicat it with another for none can giue what he hath not himselfe alwayes I purpose when my mind is more calme to end this Worke but neuer that desire which I haue To serue your Honour S. WILLIAM ALEXANDER To. Sr. W. A. LIKE Sophocles the hearers in a trance With Crimson Cothurne on a stately Stage If thou march forth where all with pompe doth glance To moue the Monarches of the Worlds first Age Or if like Phoebus thou thy Selfe aduance All bright with sacred Flames known by Heauēs Badge To make a Day of Dayes which scornes the Rage Whilst when they end it what should come doth Scance Thy Phoenix-Muse still wing'd with VVonders flies Praise of our Brookes Staine to old Pindus Springs And who thee follow would scarce with their Eyes Can reach the Spheare where thou most sweetlie sings Though string'd with Starres Heauēs Orpheus Harpe enrolle More worthy Thine to blaze about the Pole WILLIAM DRVMMOND A DOOMES-DAY OR THE GREAT DAY OF the Lordes Iudgement The first Houre THE ARGVMENT GOD by his workes demonstratiuely prou'd His Prouidence impugning Atheisme vrg'd The Deuills from Heauen from EDEN Man remou'd Of guiltie Guestes the World by water purg'd Who never sinn'd to die for Sinne behou'd Those who him scourg'd in Gods great wrath are scourg'd Some temporall Plagues and feareful Iudgements past Are cited bere as Figures of the last 1 THou of whose Power not reach'd by Reasōs hight The Sea a Drop we Earth a Mote may call And for whose Trophees stately to the sight The Azure Arke was rear'd although too small And from the Lamp of whose most glorious light The Sunne a sparke weake for weake eyes did fall Breath thou a heauenly Furie in my brest I sing the SABBOTH of eternall rest 2 Though All in all defin'd by nought confin'd O thou whose Feet the Cloudes for Dust afford Whose Voyce the Thunder and whose Breath the Wind Whose Foot-stoole Earth Seate Heauen Workes of thy Word Guards Hostes of Angels mouing by thy Mind Whose Weapons Famin Tempest Pest and Sword My cloudy Knowledge by thy Wisdome cleare And by my Weaknesse make thy Power appeare 3 Loe rauish'd LORD with pleasure of thy Loue I feele my Soule enflam'd with sacred Fires Thy Iudgements and thy Mercies whilst I moue To publish to the World my Spirit aspires LORD by thy Helpe this Enterprise approue That the Successe may second my Desires Make Sathans race to tremble at my liues And Thine rejoyce while as thy Glory shines 4 Yee blinded Soules who euen in Frailtie trust By moments Pleasures earning endlesse Paine Whilst charg'd with liuing Chaines vile Slaues to Lust Of Earth and earthly till en-earthd againe Heare hold and weigh my Words for once yee must The strange Effects of what I tell sustaine I go to Sing or Thunder in your Eares A Heauen of comfort or a Hell of feares 5 All my transported Thoughts at randone flie As stray'd to search that which they can not find Whilst silent Wondring makes a settled Eye A huge Amazement clouded hath my Mind How some dare scorne as if a fabulous Lie That Those should rise whom Death hath once declin'd And like to Beastes a beastly Life they leade Who nought attend saue Death when they are dead 6 But yet what I admir'd not strange doth seeme When as I heare O Heauens that such should breath That there be Men if Men we may esteeme Tronkes which are voyde of Soules Soules voyde of Faith Who all this World the Worke of Fortune deeme Not hoping Mercy nor not fearing Wraith There is no GOD Fooles in their Harts do say Yet make their Harts their Gods and them obey 7 The glassie Heauens which Glory doth array Are Mirrours of GODS admirable Might There whence forth spreads the Night forth springs the Day He fixt the Fountaines of this temporall light Where stately Starres enstall'd some stand some stray All sparkes of his great Power though small yet bright By what none vtter can no not conceaue All of GODS Glory Shaddowes may perceaue 8 What glorious Lights through crystall Lanternes glance As alwayes burning with their Makers loue Spheares keep one Musicke they one Measure dance Like Influence below like Course aboue And all by Order led not drawne by Chance With Majestie as still in Triumph moue And prodigall of light seeme showting thus Looke vp all Soules and gaze on GOD through vs. 9 This pondrous Masse though oft deform'd still faire Great in our sight yet then a Starre more small Is ballanc'd as a Mote amidst the Aire None knowes how hung yet to no side doth fall And yearely springs growes ripe fades falls rich bare Mens Mother first still Mistresse yet their Thrall It centers Heauens Heauens compasse it both breed Bookes where of GOD the gnorant may reed 10 What ebbes flowes swells and sinkes who constant keepes Which from the Earth burstes in aboundance out As she her Brood would wash or for them weepes
Apostasie applauded all Then to vsurpe Heauens Throne did bend their care So hasting on the Horrour of their fall Whose traitrous Head made lyke a Whoore that strayes His burning Beauties prodigall of Rayes 48 Whil'st vainlie puft vp with preposterous Aymes He euen from GOD his Treasure stryn'd to steale The Angels good Those not deseruing Names With sacred Ardour boldly did appeale Their Eyes shot Lightning and their Breath smoak'd Flames As rauish'd with GODS loue burnt vp with Zeale All listed vp their Flight their Voyce their Hands Then sang GODS Praise rebuk'd rebellious Bands 49 This Mutinie a monstrous Tumult bred The place of Peace being plenish'd thus with Armes Bright Michael forth a glorious Squadron led Which forc'd the Fiends to apprehend their harmes The Lights of Heauen lookt pale Clouds thundering shed Windes roaring Trumpets bellow'd lowd Alarmes Thinke what was fain'd to be at Phloegra bounds Of this a shadow Echoes but of sounds 50 O damned Dog who in a happie State Could not thy Selfe would not haue Others byde Sinne Death and Hell thou opened first their Gate Ambitions Bellowes Fountaine of all pryde Who Force in Heauen in Paradise Deceat On Earth vs'd both a Traitour alwayes try'd O first the Ground still guilty of all Euils Since whom GOD Angels made thou made them Deuils 51 When them He view'd whose Power nought can expresse To whose least Nod the Greatest things are thral Although his Word his Looke his Thought or lesse Might them haue made Dust Aire or what more small Yet he their pryde though purpos'd to represse Grac'd by a Blow disdain'd to let them fall But them reseru'd for more opprobrious strypes As first of Sinne still of his Iudgements Types 52 Those scorned Riuals GOD would Iudge not fight And then Themselues none else more fit could find Brands for his Rage whilst flamming at the hight To cleare their Knowledge it with Terrour shin'd Whose guilty Weaknesse match'd with his pure Might Did freeze with Horrour each amazed Mind Their Conscience kindled who from GOD rebell Hell first is plac'd in Them then They in Hell 53 That damned Crue GOD hauing spy'd a space First lightning Lookes then thundred forth those Words Woods for my Wrath that haue abus'd my Grace As once of Light of Darkenesse now be LORDS Where Order is since forfaiting your place Passe where Confusion euery thing affords And vse your spight by pyning and being pyn'd Not Angels no Do EVIZS as Deuils design'd 54 If with Great things we Small things may compare Or with their Maker things which haue bene made As when the Falcon fierce soares through the Aire The litle feathred Flocks foll downe as dead As Darknesse flies Heauen like a Bryde lookes faire When Phoebus forth doth fyrie Coursers lead Like some Bryde-grome bent for his wedding place Or lyke a mighty Man to runne his race 55 Euen so as Lightning flashing from the Skie Doth die as it descends gone with a glance More fast then follow could a Thought or Eye Heauens banish'd Rebels fell downe in a trance Then abject Runnagats ouer all did flie As seeking out some place to hide their Chance O what a deadly Storme did then beginne When Heauen rain'd Deuils to drown the World with Sinne 56 That Forge of Fraud Euils Center Spheare of Pryde From Blisse aboue whom GODS owne Breath had blowne He who his Strength in Heauen in vaine had try'de As Dogs byte stones for him who hath them thrown GODS Image did pursue in Adam spy'de And did despite his state despise his owne It neuer ended yet which then beganne His Hate towards GOD his Enuy vnto Man 57 Ere tainted first with that twyse fatall Cryme Then Adam liv'd more blest then can be thought Babe Infant Chylde Youth Man all at one tyme Form'd in perfection hauing need of nought To Paradise preferr'd from abject slyme A graine of Earth to rule it all was brought Him to content whilst all things did contend GOD walk'd and talk'd with him as with his Friend 58 Then of his pleasures to heap vp the store GOD Euah form'd adorn'd with Beauties rare Such as none since a Woman did decore Thinke what it is to be perfectly faire And then imagine her euen much then more She principall the rest but Pictures are No hight of words can her Perfections hit The Worke was matchlesse as the Worke-mans Wit 59 The Worlds first Father what huge Ioyes did fill Whilst Prince of Paradise from trouble free The fairest Creature entertain'd him still No Riuall was he could not Iealous be Being onely wretch'd in hauing all his Will And yet discharg'd the tasting of one Tree Let one haue all things good abstract some Toy That Want more grieues then all he hath giues Ioy. 60 Through Edens Garden stately Euah stray'd Where beauteous Flowres her Beauties back reglanc'd By Natures selfe and not by Art array'd Which pure not blushing boldly were aduanc'd With dangling Haires the wanton Zephyrs playd And in rich Rings their floting Gold enhanc'd All things concurr'd which pleasure could incite So that she seem'd the Center of Delight 61 Then could she not well thinke who now can tell What banqueted her sight with objects rare Birds striu'd for her whose Songs should most excel The odoriferous Flowres perfum'd the Aire Yet did her Breath of all most sweetly smell Not then distemper'd with intemperate faire No mixtures strange compos'd corrupting food All naturally was sweet all simplie good 62 But ah when she the Apples faire did spie Which since reseru'd were thought to be the best Their preciousnesse suppos'd enflam'd to trie By being discharg'd she lookt where they did rest Luxuriously abandon'd to the Eye Swolne languishing like those vpon her Brest Ah Curiousnes first Cause of all our ill And yet the Plague which most torments vs still 63 On them she doubtfull earnestly did gaise The Hand being oft aduanc'd and oft drawn bak Her State and Beautie entring thus to praise Whilst subtle Sathan in a Serpent spake Your State is high you may it higher raise And may as Gods your Selues Immortall make This precious Fruit GOD you forbids to eate Lest knowing Good and Euill you match his State 64 Those fatall Fruits which poyson'd were with Sinne She hauing tasted made her Husband proue What could not Words of such a Sirene winne O Wo to Man that Woman thus can moue He Him to hide his Falls first Course did rinne VVhom Knowledge now had learn'd to loth and loue Death from that Tree did shoot through Shaddowes dark His Rest an Apple Beautie was his Marke 65 Thus Good and Euill they learn'd to know by this But Ah the Good was gone the Euill to be VVhen They so monstrously had done amisse They Clothing sought poore Shift from Shame to free Loe the first Fruits of Mortalls Knowledge is Their Nakednes and Miserie to see Thus Curiousnes to Knowledge is the Guide And it to Miserie all Toyles when tri'de 66 Marke Adams answere when his
we should alwayes fight the Heauen to gaine By Prayers Plaintes and charitable Deedes To raise vp Earth on Earth our Strength we straine So base a Courage worldly Honour breedes This doth prouoke the Darts of GODS Disdaine By which of some the wounded Conscience bleedes All headlongs runne to Hell whose Way is euen But by a narrow Path are drawn to Heauen 77 Of Vengeance now the Store-house opned stands O what a Weight of Wrath the World now beares Through Terrour straight why tremble not all Lands When GOD in Rage aThrone of Iustice reares And pours down Plagues whilst brandishing his Brands The Pest being past the World next Famine feares Still thinke that Mischiefe neuer comes alone Those who feare more what is the lesse doe moue 78 Since that the World doth loath celestiall Food That spirituall MANNA which Soules Nectar proues By Grace drawn forth from the Redeemers Blood A Gift no Guerdoun giuen to whom he loues Those who terrestriall things thinke only good Them Want shall trie whom no Aboundance moues For Ah of some so fat the Bodies be That of their Soules they not the Leannesse see 79 GODS Creatures oft condemn'd shall once accuse Those who in VVantonnesse them vainly spent And justly what vnjustly they abuse Shall vnto them more sparingly be lent That which they now superfluously vse Shall made a Curse not Natures Neede content A barren Soule should haue a barren Earth Oft temporall Plentie breedes a spirituall Dearth 80 Those in the Dust who still prophanely roule Whose thornie Thoughts do chock that heauenly Seede Which by the Word was sown in euery Soule Shall likewise want what should their Bodies feede What Most they trust shall once their Hopes controule By earthly Hunger heauenly Thirst to breede Thus those like Babes whose Iudgement is not deepe VVho scorn'd a Treasure shall for Triffles weepe 81 What Sauces strange a Fault which Custome clokes To vrge the Bodies Appetit are made Which Natures selfe sufficiently prouokes But of the Soule when carnall Cates it leade The Appetite which Ah euen Nature chokes What Art is vs'd to quicken it when deade VVhen Bodies do too much Soules nought disgest But when the Others fast are fit to feast 82 Base Belly-gods whose Boord is Sathans Bate Whose Iudgements to your Taste rest only thrall The LORD in wrath shall cut away your Meate And for your Honny furnish you with Gall Like lothsome Beasts since you the Acornes eate Yet looke not vp to see from whence they fall Sonnes prodigall who from your Father swerue You keeping worse then Swine shall justly sterue 83 To waken some which sleepe in Sinne as dead The LORD ere CHRIST do come all States to try Since being abus'd shall breake the Staffe of Bread And as we him make Earth vs fruits deny The Corne shall wither and the Grasse shall fade Then to nurce Men being rather bent to die As dutifull to him by whom they breed GODS Creatures pure his Rebels scorne to feed 84 Now in this Tyme which is the last esteem'd The Spirits impure do all in one conspyre And worke that GOD by Men may be blasphem'd To purchase partners of eternall Fire That who should them condemne hath vs redeem'd Makes Enuie blow the Bellowes of their Ire The wicked Angells irritated thus Not seeke their safetie but to ruine vs. 85 More neere doth draw Saluation to the Iust The more the Dragons Mind doth Fnuie wound That Men the Slaues of Death the Sonnes of Dust As Heires of Heauen with Glory should be crown'd And that perpetuall paines they suffer must Though all Immortall to no Bodies bound Nought true repose to the enuious brings Whom their owne harme or others good still stings 86 Mans Foe who first Confusion did deuise By long Experience grown profound in skill Through strength oft try'd our Weaknesse doth despise And knowes what best may serue each Soule to kill He to his part our Passions doth entise And to betray our Wit corrupts out Will Whom GOD not guardes those Satan soone may winne Whilst Force doth charge without and Fraud within 87 That Heire of Hell whom justlie GOD rejects Who sought by subtiltie all Soules to blind Not onely Shafts in secret now directs By Inspirations poysoning the Mind But euen a Banner boldly he erects As this Worlds Prince by publick power design'd From shape to shape this Proteus thus remoues Who first a Foxe and last a Lyon proues 88 He since his Kingdome now should end so soone Doth many Circes and Medeas make That can obscure the Sunne and charme the Moone Raise vp the Dead and make the Liuing quake Whilst they by Pictures persons haue vndone Do giue to some from others substance take Three Elements their tyrannie doth thrall But oft the fourth takes Vengeance of them all 89 Whilst in his Hand the Bolts of Death he beares Still watching Soules the craftie Hunter lyes With inward Fancies and with outward feares Whom he may tempt continuallie he tryes Whyles rumbling Horrour sounds assault the eares Whyles Monstrous Formes paint Terrour in the Eyes He who with GOD euen in the Heauen durst striue Thinkes soone on Earth Mens Ruine to contriue 90 As many did possess'd by Spirits remaine When first CHRIST came Saluation to beginne So lykewise now before he come againe Some Bodies daylie which they enter in By desp'rat meanes would be dispatch'd of paine Else bound in Body loose their Soules to Sinne And if that GOD not interpos'd his Power Straight euery Soule Hells Tyrant would deuoure 91 In some whom GOD permits him to abuse The Lord of Darkenesse doth at diuerse Houres His subtill Substance fraudfullie infuse Till they his Spirit his Spirit their Soules deuoures He as his owne doth all their Members vse And they as Babes with Kniues worke with his Powers O monstrous Vnion Miracle of Euils Which thus with Men incorporates the Deuills 92 When earst in Delphos after vglie cryes The Priestresse Pithia seeming to be sage Big by the Deuill delyuered was of Lies She to the Terrour of that senselesse Age Still panting swolne Hell flamming through her Eyes Roar'd forth Responses by Prophetick Rage She to her LORD whilst prostituted thus An Image was of whom he filles with vs. 93 Of those who are possess'd in such a sort Some to themselues whom Sathan doth accuse They Mad or He in them whyles brag whyles sport And whilst they would the Lookers on abuse Do secrets to themselues not known report And of all Tongues the Eloquence can vse All what each Age deuis'd obseruing still The Deuill knowes much but bends it all to ill 94 O Heauens be hid and lose thy Light O Sunne Since in the World O what a fearefull thing The Deuill of some so great a power hath wonne That what was theirs he doth in bondage bring Then from their Bodie speakes as from a Tunne As sounds from Bells or Floods through Rockes do ring Deare Sauiour ryse and in a Iust disdaine
This Serpent bruise this Liuiathan raine 95 The Sunne and Moone now often-times looke pale As if asham'd the Shame of Men to see Or else grown old their force beginnes to faile That thus so oft eclips'd their Beauties be And ouer their Glory Darkenesse doth preuaile Whilst faint for Griefe their Ruine they foresee For as superfluous they must shortly fall When as the light of Light doth lighten all 96 The Heauenlie Bodies as being grown lesse strong Do seeme more slacke as wearie of their Race So that Tyme rests reform'd as being runne wrong All Climats still new Temperatures embrace What strange Effects must follow then ere long Some Starres seeme new and others change their place So altred is the starrie Courts Estate Astrologues want intelligence of late 97 Each element by diuerse Signes hath showne That shortly euill must be discern'd from good The Earth ag'd Mother now is Barren grown Whose Wombe oft worne now torne doth fâ—ile in Brood And may since staggering else be soone ou'rthrowne What wonder Weake through Age and drunke with Blood With Blood which still to GOD for Vengeance cryes And as o'reburden'd groning groueling lyes 98 The liquid Legions by tumultuous Bands Whose bellowing Billowes to transcend contend Do whyles vsurpe whyles leaue possessed Lands In Monsters fertill fishes rarely lend Whilst crown'd with Clouds each murmuring Mountain stands Which acted first but suffer must in end A mighty Change Heauens Monarch novv concludes Floods first quensh'd flams flams straight shall kindle floods 99 The Aire whose Power impetuous Nought can bound Doth cite all Soules to GODS Great Parliament Whilst thundring Tempests roare a rumbling Sound And the last Trumpets Terrour represent Those Blasts denounce the Ruine of this Round Which Heauen in Showres seemes weeping to lament Thus Waters wash Winds wipe and both conspire That Earth so purg'd may be prepar'd for Fire 100 The Water Earth the Aire would it ou'rthrow Whose Rage by Ruine only is represt The High things still insulting ou'r the Low Till once the Highest haue consum'd the Rest The fourth must end what the first three fore-show Whose proofe is last reseru'd as being the Best A firie Triall euery thing defines And All at last to a Perfection fines 101 Then Natures Selfe not strong as of before Yeeldes Fruits deform'd as from a bastard Seede That monstrous Minds may be admir'd no more Whilst monstrous Bodies more Amazement breede All the Portentuous Brood of Beasts abhorre And since prodigious ominously dreade From their first Forme since all things thus decline All in another Shape must shortly shine 102 Few Signes or none remaine Mens Minds to moue Till of the Sonne of Man the Signe craue Sight That Glory which vnspeakable doth proue CHRISTS Substance no his Shaddow yet our Light Whose Majestie and Beautie from aboue Shall ere he shine make all about be bright The Comming of the LORD that Signe bewrayes As Lightning Thunder as the Sunne his Rayes 103 Yet this vile Age what Rage some Mockers breeder That big with Scorne disdainfully dare say What change mad Minds with such fond Fancies feedes From the first Forme since nought below doth stray The Sommer Haruest Winter Spring succedes The Moone doth shine by Night the Sunne by day Males procreat and Females do conceaue Some dayly Life do lose some it receaue 104 O Atheists vile else Christians voyde of Care From GODS Tribunall who in vaine appeale That CHRIST to judge the World doth straight prepare You thus contemning Signes a Signe reueale Whose Harts obdur'd the Nearenesse doth declare Of your Damnations our Saluations Seale And whilst your Hart both Heauen and Hell derides Your Iudgement Heauen your Torment Hell prouides 105 Yet foolish Soules their Pleasures still affect And marrying Wiues what Mirth may moue deuise But whilst asleepe their Safetie they neglect CHRIST as a Theefe against them shall arise And in a Rage when they Him least exspect Shall slouthfull Seruants suddainly surprise As Such shall wish their Talents strictly try'd That from his Face them Hilles them Hells might hide 106 O Multitude O multitude as Sand A day of Horrour strange shall straight appeared Come down and in the threshing Valley stand The threshing Valley lo the LORD drawes neare And else doth take take heed his Fanne in Hand Light Soules as Chaffe with Wind euanish heere The Haruest is ripe and the Wine-presse is full Yea Wickednesse ou'rflowes all Harts are dull 107 Seale Viall Trumpet Seuenth opens poures sounds What doth not intimate GODS Great Decree Which Natures Course Mans Faith GODS Mercy bounds Euen in a time when Time no more should be The Fire is kindling else which All confounds GODS Hand lo writes his Ballance rais'd we see When Souls are weigh'd GODS wondrous Works to crown The Weightie must mount vp the Light fall down 108 But ere the Depthes of Wrath I enter in When as Repentance shall no more haue place As GOD a while deferres some Soules to winne I will suspend my Furie for a Space That ere the Hight of Horrour do beginne My Thoughts may bath amidst the Springs of Grace To cleare some Soules which Sathan seekes to blind LORD purge my Spirit illuminat my Mind DOOMES-DAY OR THE GREAT DAY OF THE LORDS IVDGEMENT The third Houre THE ARGVMENT WHilst Angels Him conuoy Saints attend The Heauens as Smoak all fled before his Face CHRIST through the Cloud With Glory doth descend With Majestie and Terrour Power and Grace What flie walke grow swim All What may ende do end Earth Air and Sea All purg'd in litle Space Strange Preparations that great Court preceede Where All must meet whom any Age did breede 1 IMmortall MONARCH Ruler of the Rounds Embaume my Bosome with a secret Grace Whilst lifted vp aboue the vulgar Bounds A Path not pau'd my Spirit aspires to trace That I with brasen Breath may rore forth SouÌ„ds To shake the Hart fixe Palenesse in the Face LORD make my swelling Voyce a mighty Winde Lift vp the Low beate downe the lofty Mind 2 What dreadfull Sound doth thunder in my Eares What pompous Splendor doth transport mine Eyes I wot not what aboue my selfe me beares He comes He comes who all Hearts Secrets tries Showt showt for Ioy who long haue rain'd down Teares Houle houle for Griefe in Ease who wallowing lies Now shall be built and on Eternall Grounds The Hight of Horrour Pleasure passing Bounds 3 Now no more firme the Firmament doth flie As leapes the Deere fled from the Hunters face Loe lyke a Drunkard reels the Crystall Skie As Garments olde degraded from their grace All folded vp the Azure Pallions spy Which with a noyse doth vanish from the Place The Lanterne burnt Light vtters vtter Worth Drawne are the Hingings MAIESTIE comes forth 4 Who can abide the Glory of that fight Which kils the Liuing and the Dead doth raise With Squadrons compass'd Angells flamming bright Whom Thousands serue ten thousand Thousands praise My Soule entranc'd Rest rauish'd with
surpryse Such in such Sinnes which do from GOD rebell But euen all those who euills by Night deuise And louing Darknesse shall in Darknesse dwell Who with a Conscience calme all Feares despise As when that Cerberus slept they might take Hell Such to an Owle make GOD inferiour be As if by Night Nights Maker nought could see 13 Wing'd Messengers may then euen some arrest Who rioting till quite exhausted all Whilst in their Vomits wallowing they rest From Men to Beasts from Beasts to nought do fall Those dead though liuing who can but detest As Natures Monsters Mankind to appall In them who haue their Reason drown'd in Wine No Sparke of GODS nor Natures Light doth shine 14 Some rating Pleasure at too high a pryce Who with the Light do lay all Shame asyde Do prostitute their Soules to euery Vyce If not then free by beastlinesse from Pryde Then their whole States oft venter on the Dyce As who in nought but Fortune do confide By manie odious Oath then mock GODS Migh True workes of Darknesse worthie of the Night 15 Fond Worldlings there inuolu'd in vaine Delight Who to the Senses fraile indulgent are And as soft Sounds the Courage do inuite With measur'd Madnesse march vpon the Aire Whilst from themselues by Pleasure rauish'd quite What it prouokes no kind of sport they spare Their Eares attending Musickes soule to haue Of this dread Blast the first assault receaue 16 By Stratagems a Captain boldly wise His Enemies Campe not look't for whyles confounds But when he first doth Sentinells surpryse That all about the Neighbouring Bounds rebounds In Brests vnarm'd what Terrour strange doth ryse Whilst Drummes yeeld deadly Trumpets liuely Sounds Whilst Showtes make deafe Amazement dumb Dust blind Ere Swords the Bodie feare doth kill the Mind 17 So shall it be with all those broken Bands As for the Godlie they watch still prepar'd Then when Lifes LORD doth come to judge all Lands Like Fishes angled or like Beasts ensnar'd Those whom Hells Badge for endlesse Darkenesse brands Not hauing Power to wish are straight despar'd And soone do see what now they not attend Ere thought by them begunne all at an end 18 What hideous Charge all to compeare compells Whose sound may show what Breath the Blast doth feed No Canons Thunders Tempests Trumpets Bells Nor yet all joyn'd so huge a Noyse could breed Since heard in Heauen on Earth and in the Hells Till dreadfull Silence doth ouer all succeede The harkning World seemes all become one Eare The Graue giues place the Dead His Voyce do heare 19 All you who on or in the dull do lodge A Great-great Court I cite you to attend Euen at CHRISTS Instance where himselfe is Iudge To heare that sentence which none can suspend Of boundlesse Ioyes or else of Anguish huge Which he design'd and you deseru'd in end What from his seruants mouth none would conceaue Heare from himselfe euen what doch damne or saue 20 Passe passe swift Angells ouer all quarters range Force all to ryse who euer down did ly What in their Essence Elements did change Bid them restore that CHRIST all flesh may spy You are the gatherers this that Vintage strange Which in all Soules what Stuffe hath bene must try Twixt Heauen and Hell this is a Iudgement great To Iudge each one their own Contentions date 21 The Word them giues by which they thus are sought Power to obey else were the charge but vaine That Word which first did make them all of nought May now of some thing make them soone againe Past numbring Numbers are together brought That some may thinke what Bounds can them containe Who makes the Dead to rise at his Decree May make a Roome where they may marshald be 22 The Heauenly Soules which with fraile Bodies bound Did act together on this earthlie Stage Though subtill-they oft diuerse Depths did sound In which grosse Organs could not then engadge Yet in all Actions equall Partners found By Reason led or head-long borne by Rage Though once diuorc'd they marrie must againe To ioyne in Ioy or in eternall Paine 23 Those heauenly Sparkes which are flown vp aboue To shine in Glory and in Zeale to burne And shall of Pleasure the Perfection proue With mortall Vailes which mask'd of late did mourne They from their Place a Moment must remoue With CHRIST in Triumph glorious to returne Their twise-borne Bodies when put on they haue First from the Bellie last now from the Graue 24 Those gather vp their Garments from the Dust Which prison'd are in Plutoes vgly Celles Though loth to part thence where returne they must Since by their Conscience being committed else They know their Iudge as terrible as just Will but confirme their holding of the Helles Yet all their Processe must deduced be That Saints GODS Iustice and their Faultes may see 25 Foure Elements with foure Complexions make This mortall Masse soone rais'd and soone ouerthrowne And when that it turnes to Corruption backe With what accrest each doth craue backe the owne The Waters all the liquid Substance take Aire Breath Fire actiue Heat Earth Earth well knowne Which all though thus in their first Fountaines drown'd Not take nor leaue but are the same still found 26 The LORD doth not which some would fondly doubt As once in EDEN a Creation vse As if the first consum'd were all worne out That he not knowes their Substance where to chuse No these same Bodies which we beare about The LORD will raise and cleare or else accuse When done by GOD then Wonders are not strange The Qualitie and nothing else doth change 27 Of our fraile Spoyles each Part where made a Prey Who ouer our Dust doth watch will straight require That which the Waters washed haue away What was in Flames exhausted by the Fire That which Winds scorne toss'd through the Air did stray And what to Earth all rotten did retire All at an Instant shall together rinne To recontinue not againe beginne 28 The Husbands Hopes which Ceres first renown'd Must buried rot made lesse to be made more Yet wrestle vp though in the Earth still bound In Forme more pleasant multiplied in Store So shall our Dust though swallow'd in the Ground Spring from Corruption brighter then before In Bodies new whose State none can surmise Laid mortall downe but must immortall rise 29 Those creeping Creatures which with Silkes conceaue Bred first of Seede their Food with Toyles acquite Then what they win must all to others leaue And lye stretcht out wrapt vp in Funerall white Yet straight reuiu'd where buried burst the Graue And mount aloft with Wings all altered quite In Wormes Mens Types those who do marke this Change How can they thinke the Resurrection strange 30 As Man like Milke was at the first pour'd out Then straight like Cheese turn'd all to Cruds at once Till clad with Skinne his Sexe being free from Doubt With Sinewes joyn'd and fortified with Bones When as the Moone