though the Tithes some Annually collect Amounting in each Parish to the summe Of hundreds twice yet the poore Curates roome Is scarcely worth nine or ten pounds a yeare Nay some there be which counting that too dear Hire yearely Cocks for halfe that sum to crow And what Soule-food such creatures chaunt you know Nor Parish-poore helpe they nor Churches Rate But as it were in sinne Inveterate Cloath with Church-goods their Sacrilegious backs Not dreaming once of Hell or inward Racks For their converting Tythes to private store Which were ordain'd for Churchmen the Poore Nor weighing yet what Temporalâ— despight And fearefull plagues on tythe-ingrossers light Upon their house and Crime-partaking fry Here in this world to rot their memory And some of these I knew in Jayles to lye For Treasonâ— Debts and some die sodainly And some likewise I knew their Widows Heires And Children tir'd with Broyles Law-affaires Take Learnings hire away Learning decayes Unlesse Gods Spirit by unusuall wayes Immediately to bring rare things to passe Inspire some wits with new Caeâ—estiall grace But if both faile what Chaos may ensue I le leave to scan till Time brings them to Rue And waile with howling paine and soule-sicke groane Alacke the Day that we our Mothers moane Contemn'd and pill'd her bare since Saracens Her dues to keepe fear'd like the Pestilence All Labourers deserve their Day-reward But much more they who watch the soule to guard To this I adde the scandall and offence Which they procure to sects of tender sence Who taxe our Church and Levites Common-weale With Jeroboams Plot and want of zeale For gracing Clerkes of blind inferior ranke As though we had no Church but Babels Banke On Willow trees our Trumpets up to hang Or those sad Layes which there the Captives sang Denouncing Fate farre worse then Iewries woes With Plagues to light on Sions jeering foes So Romish Scribes quip us with scurrile songs Unjustly for conniving at such wrongs And twit our Church with Coblers and Sow-gelders When as the fault lies not upon our Elders But on some gracelesse greedy minded wights Who seizing on the Tithes put out our Lights As formerly their Monkish Hypocrites Had like to Kites snatcht up those Tithing Rights So Popes were taxt for granting Tythes and Tolles To men more fit to feed their Mules then Soules So though Carmarthins Clerkes for Parishes Enrowl'd fourescore yet fifty three of these The Popes for Drones improperly assign'd Their Tythes which were of Old by Caesars sign'd For painefull Bees and made Authenticall To their sole use by Councells Generall Whence Sions Vines like Osneyes nipt at first By Wolsey in the Spring quencht Henries thirst In Summers rage and serv'd in Autumne since As baites for sinne but now gone from the Prince To Chapmens hands in time of Winters cold Church-Farmes by them are dearely set and sold With small regard to Clerkes or the New-borne As if Hels-stormes their consciences had torne Hence grow Mault-wormes unlicenc'd Ale and Beere With Shifts to rack for what men farm'd so deere O would these Lines like pricking Goades might prove To stirre up zeale with more Seraphicke Love Or now at last that some would imitate Those few which rendred backe unto the State Tith-spoyles as did the Noble Huntington And in our dayes Religious Dodington For I avow they Achans stile deserve Who rob the Church her good Shepherds starve Or cause in them the New-mans zeale to freeze By their unjust purloyning of her Fleece I speake not of that Fleece which Orpheus sung But of true Prophets there by worldlings wrung Of their Fee simple rights and lawfull Fees Not due to Drones but to industrious Bees Whoss Art spreads Sermons forth like Chrysostomes Sweeter than Honey or the Honey-combes For if they starve how can the Flocks survive How can they rise to Faith in Knowledge thrive Since Faith by hearing springs Love by Gods word Since both waxe dark where Prophets are abhor'd Hearts unprepar'd for vowes and Fasting dy Or rave with Pride or pine with Malady And then their soules like Slaves are bought and sold When Sathans Ambush breaks into the Hold For want of Guides and watchfull Centinels Whose Meanes were stopt by worldly Machivils Our Parliament mov'd with their Brethrens teares Their Civill Iarres their grievances and feares Proclaim'd some publicke Fasts for Sacrifice With vowes of late for their enormious vice That so they might the wrath of God allay And by good Jacobs Ladder make their way With Abstinence to stint the fuming blood As with Soule-sighes our Angell Guardians Food But if the Shepheards Limbes with Frost benumme Lye languishing or of the Palsie dumbe How shall their Flocks the use of Fasts discerne Or learn what may the minds true health concern How shall they Fast and feele for Discord griefe If they be barr'd of Sermons Soules reliefe How shall they Fast from inbred Avarice If none shew them the way to Sacrifice How shall they fast from foule Conspiracies From Rapines Bribes Deceits and Piracies How shall they stand secure from Perjurers If no man them from cursed Oathes deterrs And when such Slaves uncatechized sweare Who lives not of false proofes in dayly feare How shall our Juries wave Knights of the Post If they as these contemne the holy Ghost How shall we scape these last nam'd Philistines Dwelling in Mesech or with Libertines Hence I collect that there ensues this curse Where Teaching failes there Soules grow worse and worse Proud Nemrod will not leave his rufling Port Nor crouch to Christ in Penitentiall sort With vile Attire much lesse with inward Shrift As for sinnes Guilt hath been old Suppliants drift But fool'd by Lust he knowes Dame Pleasures house More than Gods Church or the Old man to touse Nay in the Church he dares his Bravery Of Plumes to shew or rather Ravery The Drunkard still goes on to play the Sott And more then Fasting Rules to ply the Pot. By heath'nish healths mad fits and lavish cost Polluting gifts breath'd from the Holy Ghost So that moist vapours to the Head ascend And Rheums from thence into the lungs descend The fourefold humours foame the blood inflames More capable of Pestilentiall Flames Then of mild Natures heat vowd for impression Of Gifts divine to hinder Fiends Oppression Our Gluttons will not cease to breake the Law Nor spare one dish to ransome Lazars Jaw But what the Earth the Sea and Aire produce Their Panders dresse for their full panches use With Spice exchang'd for Englands dearest wealth Without regard to Soules or Bodies health For which delight Dayes Fasting to prophane Some wish they had the long necke of a Crane That so they might like to the ravenous Wolfe Powre downe more store into the Gurmands gulfe And though their penance were to take a Purge To have the Cramping Gout or the like scourge Yet will they feed on Cates varieties At the same meale in spight of Maladies Of Lawes advice of friends
Physitians threats And the repugnant Nature of the meates Nay though they know some meats may cause offence Unto the Weake the Old man will dispence That on a Friday in a Papists sight They feast on Flesh his Conscience to despight Against the rules of Civill Modesty As if they meant their Neighbours Swine to tye To Meazeld troughs against the Owners Will Who bred them up with other kind of Swill As bad perhaps as Sugar-sops or Fish Which raise up Lust more than the fleshy dish Of old it was not so Good Christians then In feeding with the Jewes like Prudent men Abstain'd from Porke and puddings stuft with Blood They liv'd content with their Mosaicall Food To win weak soules to Christ they seem'd content lawes With all things except sinne indifferent For whose deare sake they would each Countryes Observe and weare a Fooles coate were there cause And so sometimes we play the Humourists Faiths essence sav'd to raise up Catechists But since our Head commands a Publicke Fast How dare the Members gape for much Repast But mutually joyne with their Christian mates Of the same Church to calm the threatning Fates On Jonathan a thundring sentence past Because he brake unwittingly a Fast And shall our Gulles unpunished escape Who wilfully commit an Heath'nish Rape And violate the Law with carnall taste Out of crosse-spleene conceite and wanton waste Nor for restraint of Wind necessity Or for raw Ayre but of meere Vanity A little serves the Hungry Maw to heale Why then will they devoure more at a Meale Than twice five ounces of substantiall Food And so much weight of drinke to do them good More frugall yet when Fasting dayes commence Least Fumes oppresse the Braine Sleepe presse thâ— sence To keepe in plight thereby the Bodies Frame For the Soules Feast and Belly Gods to shame Such Food as will not over soone corrupt Bisket Rice Pulse or soft Panades supt A smal thing cheeres the heart Midriffe calmâ— As wines one draught kept Timothy from Qualmes Why then will Christians play the Epicures And frustrate make the Soules and Bodies Cures By causing Fumes to breath up to the Braine Where they beget the Soules and Bodies paine Excesse of Meats beyond the Golden Meane Turnes into Fat and Excrements uncleane It taints the blood breeds Dropsies Feavers Gouts Or duls the wit and makes them heavy Louts Unweildy for Faiths Active Qualities To please our God with humble Sacrifice Of Vessels some are Rough some Porcellane Of Bodies some turne Pure and some Prophane Note this in Beasts their dung lets us to weet That Swine and Dogs smell rancke the Stags more sweet Now Gryllus chuse thy mould Hogs Stags or Dogs If Stags be scant Dogges stinke then take the Hogs And wallow in his mire untill thou feele The meazell'd Plague and like a Dizzard reele These Points and others moe grave Levites preach Where they enjoy their Rights how the breach Of Fasting comes which makes me tel my friends He that neglects the Churches moane offends For which and the like crimes he ought to sob Who thinkes it no offence Gods Tythes to rob The Arts contempt and robbing them of Hire Cause many Plots and strange combustions fire In humane breaâ—ts Divines to Simonize And other Wits to raile and Libellize At Lawes or Times or else they fly from home To Doway Spaine Saint Omers or to Rome Whence what ensues I leave for Politiques To judge while others turne home-Empiriques False Sycophants or Mountebanks to seeme More wise or skilfull in the worlds esteeme When to themselves they guilty are of fraud But Need allures dame Beâ—uty like a Baud To prostitute or rather want of Grace That makes the Whore the Modest to outface Yet now I hope our forraigne-built Plantations Will Britaine free from many Imputations When Drones remov'd the rest more elbow roome Shall have to thrive like Honey-Bees at home Unlesse which God avert the Pestilence Abate our swarmes and crosse good mens Intents Mean time the world on wheels runs mad by fâ—ends And furies led whom they mistake for friends One while they tempt to Apish imitation Whilst Pygmies swell with Gyaâ—â—s transformation With â—urld bold Ruffians Haire immodest face Proud costly robes with Gold and needlesse Lace And thriftlesse puffes winkt at perhaps to raigne For Trades increase Customes or Mercers gaine For whose support with rich Caparizons Tâ—ades with Coach-mares make oft comparisons By these our Off-springs tainted 〈◊〉 Turne Harpyes Peacockes or Hermaphrodites By these high sailes hath Hospitality Sunke in deepe Gulfes with Christian Charity The multitude of sinners gone amisse Makes â—inne to seeme the lesse and so doth this Another while our Gentry with delights They traine to tread Gods gifts with dogs kites Or else to gape for Others goods at Play Oft to the losse of their owne worldly stay Whilst Satans wily fiends subordinates Confirme such Gamesters for his Reprobates But late they triumph'd when against the Rheume Some did create a God of Indian Fume Whereby men craz'd their memory and wits And parcht their Vitall Blood more then befits O Custome charm'd besotting Christendome Besotting Braines against the day of Doome Tobaccoes smoake no other Humour drawes Then Spawling which it selfe doth chiefly cause Nor doth this Hells evaporating Puffe End here although worse then a Candles snuffe To qualify the Dampish sooty Braine It must be moistned oft for Tavernes Gaine With Wine or Beere that the heate Naturall May swim with Flegme as the Moist Radicall Lies dampt with drouth of sense-benumming smoake And this they doe so long untill the Heate Of Nature failes corrupt with sulphures sweate The Braine thus soild how shall Gods grace erect The Spirits Temple in the Intellect By hearing Faith gets roome but if by fits Their senses quaile their quailing hurts the wits Then let this be in Brasse or Marble plac't Who smoakes Tobacco much he doates at last Who can deny but Satan in our Age Is let more loose with violence to rage And with his Angels daily goes about To batter Faith and true Zeale to roote out He is let loose to range about at Pleasure And more then Love pricks men to dreame of Treasure We prate of Faith but Pride eates up the fruites We talke of Peace but that ends in Law-suites For feare of humane Plots Saints oft are dumbe And Love is by the Dragons wiles become A thing of naught a Cypher without fellowes Whilst Golden hopes of Lucre blow the bellowes As Passengers their ship being weake and riven To sâ—ndry Coasts for many Leagues are driven Of gusts and stormes of Gulfes they make report Before they can arrive at Safeties Port So now are Saints by Gog and Magog vext And glad to fly with civill Broyles perplext Out of their Native soyle to Strangers Armes For refuge against Mars his fierce alarmes As witnesse now of late the Valtoline France Belgia Hesse all Dutchland and the Rhine So others are by suits and quarrells
Flesh to thratle Tales Dreames Here they shall find despis'd by worldly Men Saints basely layd as in a Dungeon Den. Here they shall finde Gods Babe in poorest Bed Though borne to tread upon the Serpents Head Yet though Dull Men were silent in his Praise The holy Angels with Harmonious Layes And shouts of Joy divulg'd his Horoscope They sung of his sweet Grace and future hope They chanted out Gods Glorious Name with Mirth Good Will and Peace to men through Christ his Birth For at this Time when All One Colour wore Whilst Epicures out-slept their Dainties store Some Shepheards watch't their Flockes neere Bethlems Towne To whom the Angels made these Tidings known For Drowzy Drones here is Authenticke warning Some Mysteries disclosed for their Learning The first Man in the Spring was form'd of Earth Of God and man in Autumne Christ his Birth Began and with more Light rose from the East But now it sets in Stormy Winter West Some thinke Christs-Tide false beares Decembers Date Because the Taxe was by the Romane State Exacted in September as they prate And S. Johns Birth beares March for antedate Abiaes Course cast up for Zachary Yet this supposed true to shunne their Cry I say what if the Fiery Comforter Christs Deputy the Churches wise Supporter Indifferently Dispenc'd with this Exchange That with S. Mathewes Memory we change The same and with S. Michaels Jubilee Whereof the first records Christs Pedegree And Birth as th' other serves to represent His Churches State through Civill Discord rent Or else because the World shrunke to old Age This changed Feast calmes Melancholies rage To comfort us amidst our Stormes and Snowes When to the Root the Sap fall from the Boughes Perhaps rude Goates Coucht under Capricorne Now Good Men tame or Tares divide from Corne New Hearts presenting with the New yeares Sunne For Incense Gold and Myrrh unto Gods Sonne Who at this Feast tooke Flesh and Circumcision Whereto his Starre led Wisemen in Procession Proclaiming him in Salem King of Jewes For all fierce Herods craft vext with the Newes That Israels Prince Whose Spring of Pedegree Eternall was in Bethlem borne should be His Craft availd him not for they by God Were the same way home to Returne forbod And though in stead of Christ poore Babes he slew He did by death his Deed soone after rue But why came they to Christ with Gold Store Of precioue Gummes who might from Heav'n have more Was it to shew that Christ our Royall Head High Priest and Judge Commands the Quick and Dead By vertue of his God-heads Triple Mace Of Justice Mercy and Inspiring Grace Vniting Man to Gods Conformity â—y these three Gifts Types of the Trinity A Priest to Mediate Preach and Sacrifice A King to Raigne a Judge to Punish vice And that more oft than Incense Myrrh or Gold God might with Faith perfumed Hearts behold Or did these Sages of their owne accord Present such Gifts as welcome to the Lord Or which is likely did Gods Spirit move Those holy Pilgrims to expresse his Love And Care for his Beloved in Distresse Who at that sudden pinch were Money-lesse That with such needfull Meanes they might supply Their wants when he forewarned them to fly To Egypt from the Tyrants bloody sword Till their Returne from Exile by his Word When they that sought the Infants Life were dead And Herods Sonne Installed in his stead This Passage sure beleeve it as your Creed God never failes the New Man in his Need But gives his Angels charge as for his Sonne That he dash not his Foot against a Stone But missing Christ why were poore Infants slaine That for the Head the Members suffer paine And that their Types as Blazing Stars display Who Christians slay they Christ himselfe wouâ—d slay And why blest He a Virgin with his Birth And made her first Christs Temple here on Earth That was no Lady Crown'd with worldly Honor Nor with Rich glaring Robes tooke State upon her And why grac'd he poore Shepheards with these Newes Not full-fed Peeres Princes nor wealthy Jewes Not Rabbies Popes nor Lordings of the Church Who lookt for Christ yeâ— liv'd upon the Lurch Let Dogmatists resolve these Doubts that know Why Thunder smites high Trees spares the Low Gods Grace Pride can never brooke each other Nor dwells Humility and Pomp together The Former doth our Breach with Heaven repaire The Latter whilst it swells bursts into Aire For there some play with Aiery Fancies Elves Till Hell devowrs the Tempters and themselves Gods Church seemes poore to Carnall Libertines In Heavens she sups though hard on Earth she dines God chose the weakest to confound the Wise That Man with Christ by simple means mighâ— rise Embracing more his Crib for Soules behoofe Than Satanâ— Crowne in this our world of proofe Yet God allowes to shun an Anarchy For Orders sake a kinde of Hierarchy With Pastours Pow'r in every Christian State To Bind or Loose or Excommunicate To heale the sickly and to bath his Flocke With Waters streaming from the Living Rocke More fishing for Mens Soules then Carnall Preyes More glorying in the Crosse than worldly swayes Whom Christ bids Feed and not like Wolves to bite us Whom Christ bids Watch as Paul exhorted Titus Yet Little Flocke that bleat'st through Tyrants Rage Grudge not there shortly comes a Newer Age. He that reveng'd on Herod and his House The Blood of Bethlems Babes will right his Spouse The Blood late spilt in our West Christian Lands God will require at Gogs and Magogs hands God will his Servants wrongs ease or conclude Whom Tyrants snar'd in Aegypts Servitude God will revenge their Cause Complaints and Teares Whom our Make-bates by Tricks set by the Eares No Motion Plea Decree nor false Demurre Of Jarring Braines can Heavens Sentence blurre For with the Beast and Lords that tooke his part They shall in Tâ—phets Flames for ever smart The Members for their Plots Bribes Misdeeds Their Perking Heads for iustifying their Deeds For suffering Elies Sonnes on Saints to prey For sparing Agags whom the Lord bids slay Be patient then Yee Servants of the Lord Poore Nabaoths who feare the slaughtring Sword The Sunne will shine after some Thunderclaps New Heavens Joyes will smoother all Missehaps And God will plague those Lords who make a Prey Of Christians Goods nay worse who Christians flay Let none that holds of Faith the smallest Graine Despaire but that with cheerefull minde againe Though girt with Flames as the three Children were He may without Annoy or Servile Feare Of the Soules Guilt escape from his Distresse If he beleeves that Gods bright Word tooke Flesh And di'd for him he cannot doe amisse Gods Grace appeares in dangers most extreme Betwixt the Bridge and the devouring streame Nay plunged in the Deepe ore Head and Eares God may reprieve or rid him of his Feares Transplanting him to that Eternall Rest Where griping Griefe shall never him molest As the good
harme the Soule Then let not worldly wits our New Man Scorne Though vile he seeme or of the Hope forlorne For he that outwardly lookes vilified May passe yet for a Creature Justified Whil'st that he beares the Cribbe where Christ was borne In mind with his Red Crosse and Crowne of Thorne Be meeke therefore ye States and people all All from the Kings Bench to the Coblers Awle Thanke God for them whom for your Good he sends And ponder that which to your safety tends Repent ye of your Sinnes depend on Grace That so Christs merits may your sinnes deface Thinke Daily on the New Mans Crucifixe And Christ his Cratch in your Remembrance fixe Pray oft against lewd Francies Provocation And let your Deeds to Love have more relation Compare our yeares from Christ his Incarnation With the Floods Time from Adams first Creation And one Thousand sixe Hundred fifty sixe May to the World a Fatall Period fixe In Desolation to all hardned Hearts In Dissolution of our Earthly Parts If all the Signes foretold by Daniel Christ Paul and S. John fall out with Antichrist True Signes indeede which Faith and Love withdraw By Warres Pride Schismes and Wiles in winding Law Besides this Signe that Gods two Prophets lay Martyr'd ere Babel could her charmes display And who can tell but when th' Electors fayle Romes Empire sets and Doomes Day shall prevaile That Empire which began when Christ was borne Ere he returnes shall set and be forlorne Since that which barr'd in Paules time his Revealing Lies waste what bootes the Antichrists Concealing Now whilst we looke for Times extreamest Date And Christ his Comming either soone or late Let us salute his Cratch his Birth admire And pay our vowes to him wiih zealous fire Great Abraham rejoyc'd to see his Dayes When rapt to Paradise he felt his Rayes So did that Baptist Babe in Mothers Wombe Spring by Instinct with Joy to heare him come Conceiv'd in Flesh of that Immortall Flame Which promis'd was Sinne Death and Hell to shame So Angells sung of him Propheticke Layes So Simeon sung with Anna songs in praise Of Bethlems Babe both ravisht at his sight When Mary cloz'd her due Mosaicall Rite Acknowledging the true Messias Borne Of Evahes seed to save the Soule forlorne And so shall we in minde feele Musick rare If we muse on our New Mans Birth with care I meane that Sparke which at our Baptisme rose Within our Hearts three Monsters to oppose Then freely we his Gospell may imbrace And sing this Lullaby with measur'd pace The Holy Ghost to save fraile Adams Race Breath'd a sweet Flame in Mary full of Grace This Flame infus'd in Flesh both Man and God We greet and cloze his Birth with Simeons Ode Thy Birth and Name doe saving Health betide O Maide-borne Man God by the Fathers side Thou art the Gentiles Light Emanuel The Glory Head and Crowne of Israel Whose Glimpse we having seene in sacred Trance Lord now in Peace us to that Light advance That Light which thou conceived'st in our Flesh To save Mankind and Satan to suppresse The Light of Soules thy true essentiall Forme Of Mary borne Eves Off-spring to reforme Whom with Thee and thy Spirit three in one We honour praise and serve Great God alone Without depending upon Angels Saints Or such whom Baal for Advocates be Saints A Hymne in Memory of our Saviours Birth and Incarnation ALL yee that are of Spirit mild And long to greete the Virgins Child Lay by a while your worldly Cares The Outward mans bewitching snares And let us now submissive sing The Cradle-cratch of Heavens King Blest be the wombe which Jesus bare Blest be his Name that saves from care Fraile Adams seed if they repent Their time mispent to Satan lent Christs onely Name doth Satan shame Then let us all sound Christ his Fame Let every Heart submit to Christ For without Christ none can subsist Blest be the Brests which gave him sucke Blest be thy Cratch which hadst the lucke O Bethlem with a Starre to boote To spread abroad King Davids roote In thee was the Messias borne Jewes Shiloh Prince yet held in scorne Because he did not personate A Royall Babe with open state But that he lay in Manger base They waigh'd not well the Mysticke Case That Mary did Eves want supply Our New-man Adams qualify How Christ was come to humble Pride And by Low Ebbes Flouds to divide That Christ at first grew like a Graft From Heaven sent to put downe Craft Whence like a shrub but Cedar now The hugest Tree he makes to bow And so must we stoope often Low Ere we shall like this Cedar grow We must embrace his Cribbe and Crosse Ere parted be our Gold from Drosse We must Cashiere wilde Fancies wags Our high Conceits and Merits brags Then Yee that hope Gods Babe to meet Waigh more then Plumes your Peacocks feete Sith Christ before a bed of Downe Preferr'd a Cratch beate Pleasures downe I meane those snares which ye shall fâ—nd To cheat good Time and mad the mind And beare about you more his Markes Then Carnall Toyes or Nine dayes sparkes Observe what things ye vow'd of late At your New Birth to shun and hate Ere ye presume to kisse this Child O yee that are by Nature wild The Third Dayes EXERCISE The Argument The Life which Christ led in our vale of Teares Vntill of Age he grew to Thirty yeares How then he was Baptiz'd by Holy John And tempted thrice by Satan thereupon THough Christ a Child inherent Righteousnesse Originall and Actuall did possesse And in his Youth sufficient gifts inherit To cope with Hell yet by the Sacred Spirit He was not led into the Wildernesse Till to more yeares he grew of Manlinesse That in all points like us excepting sinne He might on Earth his Humane course begin Cloath'd with our fâ—esh expos'd to scorners gall Temptations Death and yet o'recomming all For never God his children leaves for trials Till he them armes gainst Satans false espials Now I review the shadow of his Diall Backe to his Swathes with a short true Memoriall Of his rare gifts and Heavenly Qualities Which more more shot forth with properties Convenient for his greene and tender Age Whil'st here he went his earthly Pilgrimage From his Conception Birth and Cradle Blest I doe proclaime of Babes this Babe the Best Nature and Grace contended in his Feature Till they it form'd a peerelesse lovely Creature And what they did if ought at all let slip His God-head made compleat their workmanship O would my Lord now doe the like for This This weakeling which with awfull sense I kisse This Embryon or Conception of my braine Christs Portraiture which I shall draw in vaine Except the Spirit of th' Evangelists The Holy Flame which guided to the lists Of the Triple Combat this Man of men Doe purify my style from Blots uncleane And my swift Trance from Superstitious fury Whilst I from Wales to
time got Captiv'd John And through a frisking Wench slaine thereupon I heare quoth he that thou a Prophet art From Heaven sent Salvation to impart Thy Deeds import no lesse for who but One Of Gods owne Choyce or his beloved Son Can doe such workes beyond set Natures reach Or utter such deepe points as thou dost preach Enflamed with the sparkes of thy renowne Which flyes abroad throughout our spacious Towne I come to thee desirous to be taught In the true way and so to Heaven brought Our Saviour turn'd to our Faiths Alphabet And him to learne Truths A.B.C. did set Not Principles of mens Philosophy But Rules which Stony hearts doe mollify He must said Christ who will Gods Kingdome see Become New-borne and so an Infant be That saying is quoth Nichodemus strange How can I now my Ancient yeares exchange For a New Birth I shall get sooner roome In an old Tombe than in my Mothers wombe Jesus convinc'd his Errour and mistake With this reply Thou dost my speeches take In a wrong sense for truth I tell to thee None enters Heav'n nor shall Gods Kingdome see Except he be of Water and the Spirit First borne and then that place he shall inherit That part of Man borne of the Flesh is Flesh More Old than of the Spirit which is fresh Young and Gallant he which is borne hence Leads a new Life and voyd of Lusts Offence When the wind blowes thou hear'st a noyse and sound But know'st not whence it comes nor whither bound So fares it with the Holy Spirits man How he came rapt with Blisse he can not scan He knowes not how his Spirit New became By Grace unseene from the Great Spirits Flame When Nicodemus heard this Lesson rare He answered these things not likely are How can it be that Man without Commotion Of Natures sense should apprehend this Motion Of his New-Birth by the quicke Spirits Seed And grow so strong except some thing him feed Except some Rayes which we not Outward see Or God-head rap the Mind how can this be Bear'st thou a Doctours Style and dost thou teach Said Christ and know'st not this which I doe Preach I speake the Truth and what my Soule hath seene I testify yet all in vaine hath beene If when I speake of Earth youâ—le not beleeve Sure if I tell of Heaven you will grieve None ever yet that Glorious place ascended But through the word which from that Place descended Yea none comes there but who by faith on earth Beleeves Gods Word the second Adams Birth The Womans seed foretold in Paradise Who should confound the Charmers Sorceries Who was fore-doom'd to be sâ—ung in the Heele By the Old Serpent and Gods wrâ—th to feele Whom men lift up and wicked Satan stung As the Brasse-Serpent in the Desart hung Out of this Text all ye who are misled With glozing sinnes your destiny may read That no man shall behold Gods Glorious Face Unlesse by Grace Regeneration raze Sinnes aspicke stings for those stings that zeale And Love be stampt in him with Heavens Seale Unlesse we leave to serve the Old Mans Lord And hate his Life and Lawes in thought and word Unlesse we looke on Him who was lift up On Calvares Crosse and pledge him in his Cup Unlesse we leave our sinnes and to conspire Against his Saints Hell is indeed our Hire Hell is Mans Hire Except his Earthly Clod Be sanctify'd and rebaptiz'd from God His Braine Heart Tongue and Soules chiefe Faculties In one must with Christs Nature sympathize Which spight of sinne Gods Spirit soone or late By Grace effects in the Regenerate Which comes to passe by pondring Truths Record Christs Testament his Covenants and word Shunning Scandall the cause of foule offence By a pure Life Faith Love and Penitence And lastly by oft cheering up the Soule With that Repast which Nature doth controule That Mysticke Lambe unseene yet reall flesh Slaine yet living now Soules to refresh Thus doth the Holy Ghost worke and Create A new borne Babe a Soule Regenerate Ev'n He that quickned Christ in Maries wombe Will breath on him and make him then become By Motion calme unseene and secret meane Christs lively Member pure Reformed Cleane Conformed to the Head our Elder Brother Whose last command was this Love one another Now by these signes our Britaines sure may know Whether they be of his true Christian Row To be Baptiz'd without the Sacred Spirit Is surely never Heaven to Inherit They be but Nurles half Christians dwarfes or elves Nor Hot nor Cold which doe perswade themselves By Baptisme bare with Water the Communion And Outward workes to be of Saint-like union For what will our great Charters Seale availe If to performe the Covenants we faile That is to love our New mans Lord and Head Learne his New Law and a New life then lead God by Christ's death more power did restore With that Free-will which Adam lost before Grace gave to us this Supernaturall Free gift to cope with the Will Naturall This Will our New-man hath from Bondage free Because true Faith brought Bondage on his knee Which as Love-tokens each good Christian hath Left him by Grace to lead him in Christs path But if he slights this Path being Catechiz'd How can he be with Flames Characteriz'd How dares he say that he doth harmelesse save His Sureties triple vow except he rave If he delights in Carnall talke or Lust More than Gods Word his Faith lies in the dust Devotion failes whilst sinne in Man doth raigne Whilst Satans raigning fancy guides his braine Nor can Gods Graâ—e within his heart fix anchor Till it be cleans'd of rust and Natures rancour Or if it burne it quickly may expire By Carnall meanes and blasts except the Fire Of zeale be kept still in by daily use With watch and ward from Holy things abuse Except the Soule for God Faiths Tything powres Heapt daily from the foure and twenty houres This is a Mystery which few observe And fewer like but give themselves to serve The vicious Times more for Promotion striving Or Plots to please rich humourists contriving Then Grace to beg with humble hearts and sorry Then first to seeke before their owne Gods Glory Joyne we our wills to his we shall be pure For Christ his death Old Adams Plagues did oure But now a dayes in worldly Policy Some temporize to hide their Lunacy Like Adams nakednesse till time more mellow And ripe shall change their Youthfull haires yellow Or else because against the Holy Ghost For sinning they doe tremble to be lost If once New borne of the same Flaming Spirit They lose their Talent or chance to bury it O causelesse doubts like to Hob-goblins Feares As though Gods spirit loathes the sighs and teares Of his poore Converts nay he will assure And helpe to make their rathe Election sure No Fits stop them like Agues stormes or Raine But Grace moves to their Centred Hearts againe Though I confesse that
stones meete our Willes conformity Though Nature doth Impostumated swell Or burne with Feavers like the fits of Hell The Spirit yet more strong in the Vacation Will overcome and settle our Vocation Gods Mercy will with Natures moods dispence If fixing on his Sonne our Confidence And Rest we kneele twixt Love and reverend feares To Him alone with contrite sighes and teares Unfaignedly sweet Abbaes sound to greet Oft looking downe on our vile Peacockes feete O would these Layes might now rebound with Ecchoes And pierce the Eares of Earths Magnificoes With sad Portents reverberating Rue And Wormwood moods for slighting what is true Because they doate despising Saints Correction On Idoll-praise of Good my Lords reflection And derogate from Gods Prerogative Not giving thankes to him by whom they thrive With Titles more than Donâ— then Gundamore Like Herod or proud Babels scarlet Whore Gods wrath in spight of all their brave reputes Will squeeze their Pompe and Popelike Attributes Truth echoed Ruth and he that scornes her Eccho Pigmaâ—ion turnes Don Quishot or a Hicco Truth spake this doome with Trumpets sounding loud God helpes the meeke and tumbles downe the proud So spake her voyce in them that bad us shunne High Seats rich Robes to weare the homely spun Old Sackecloathes weed plaine stuffe or Camels haire Contritions Garbes puft Honours to impaire So spake bright shining Truth that Noble Dame In them that warn'd the Outward man to tame Who by Saint John at the Lambes Feast records That Fouâ—es shall eate the flesh of Mighty Lords When poorest Saints and meanest of Esteeme Shall feed with Christ though they unworthy seeme To Carnall Eyes and whilst those Potentates Or pamp'red Lords with all their Glistring states For want of Wedding Robes shall be excluded And to become a shamefull prey concluded Meane while to gaine a Name like Alexander Some live by Bloudy spoyles or else they squander Their surest Meanes on Earth for the support Of their high pompe and blazing starres report But after death O Fooles what Harvest shall Ye reape by Fame or Port Pontificall Or if perchance ye live to dappled Age Will not a lingring hell abate your Rage Would God these Lines might prove Angelicall That they were stampt in Letters Capitall For never Age durst be so bold to call Like Ours Damn'd Pride of Graces Principalâ— Christ wils us not to Judge men for that sinne Whereof we know our selves have guilty beene For looke with what rough measure we doe mete To others God will make the like complete Upon our score To cure a Brothers sight T is fit our owne be cleare to Judge aright We must not give Gods holy things to dogges Nor Minister his Mysteries to hogges For hoggeâ— in Mire the finest Pearles will tread And envious dogs with Bruitish Passions led Will snarling-wise their Masters Guests molest Whom he invited to his marriage Feast These dogs and â—ogs Christ warnes us to prevent Full cautiously lest us they circumvent And interrupt our entry into blisse The Gate whereof is straite and many misse To find it out Although they have been Call'd Yet very few are chosen and install'd True Saints so narrow is the heavenly Gate Some know the Way but comming there too late They are repuls'd some boast of Miracles And of great Merits yet find Obstacles And for their vaunts are dasht Not every one That cals Lord Lord or knowes Gods murthered Son Shall enter there with glozing snares and Nets The hollow Hearts prove then the greatest Lets As doe their Bragges of Meritorious workes Or naked Faith Here the slie Serpent lurkes Unseene of Carnall eyes and will betray Soules with faign'd Ecchoes till they lose their way But if they like our highest Fathers will They must shun ill and so climbe up his Hill How many thousands doate on worldly Pleasure So long untill they lose Soules sacred Treasure Sometimes Hels theeves breake in and all is gone Some other time wanting the Corner stone Their house fals downe which whilst they build againe Death summons them or tortures them with pain That they forget their Master and their charge And lose thereby his Grace and their discharge All yee therefore that mind the Heavenly Palace Take Christs advise Build not for carnall solace On Bog or Sand but build upon the Rocke Your Temple where you need not feare the shocke Of Tyrant-waves nor foggy Earths eruptions Nor undermining Fankes nor Theeves irruptions And then you shall be sure though Natures date Concludes your State to meet with happier Fate To Counterfeits much blame Christ did impute And such as gave their Almes for vaine repute He willes us not to strive for Wealth or Place Nor for Good workes to looke for Humane Grace To love his Friends and not on them to prey Nay to forgive and for our Foes to pray We must not on a Brother wrecke our teene Nor let the Sunne goe downe upon our spleene We must remit not onely seven Times But Seventy times seven and that betimes Lest that we run that wretched Stewards race To whom his Lord compassioning his Case Suspended all his Debts untill he heard How he had dealt with others sore and hard He God forbad with Babling to abuse But when we pray the briefest Termes to use More tending to his Praise then our supplies Which last wee season must sometimes with sighes Not Parrot-like by roate but from the Roote And Bottome of the Heart with Abbaes Note The Module whereof himselfe declar'd Thus having us from tedious Formes debarr'd Father most High thy Name be glorâ—fide Thy Kingdome come As doth in heaven betide Thy will on Earth be done Food daily give To us As we our Foes Lord us forgive And let us not be tempted by the Devill The World or Flesh but free us from all Evill This pithy Forme the Lord to us did leave For patterne pure if we it well conceive We must in chiefe looke on Gods Sacred Power And sanctifie his Name before we powre Devotions forth for our owne Private Ends. We must doe nothing worldly but what tends More to his Praise than to our owne respect He warnes that we false Christians must expect Who the true Faith to bring into neglect Will forge strange things well-nere to foole the Elect False Balaams who not holding Love for Roofe Would cover Faith with Golden Clouds aloofe False Teachers like the Scribes and Pharisees Who should seduce the world with Dreames and lies Who like Jewes Rabbies for Supremacies Should gape and Hunt for Lordly Primacies Over his Members whom he Brethren styles A Caveat true for Antichristian Wiles Yea and for Lords if they good Christians grieve Under pretext of Gods Prerogative To these he other addes signes that portend The Judgement day at hand and the worlds End When that we see strange Plagues Fraud Famine Jarres With Massacres of Saints and Bloody warres When Mauzzims Type raignes in Gods holy place Like Caesars set for Sions last disgrace When
therefore the Fiend Conspir'd to bring to passe his damned End Which was to ruine Christ and all his Crew Before he could on Earth Gods Church renew But could none other of th' Apostles winne Save this Perditions Child to act that sinne Judas suborned thus his Instrument Against his Lord and Master did invent An ambushment Christs Body to betray Though he his owne and Soule did cast away To Satan for a Prey For when he saw As Purser that he could no money draw More than he had by Christ his Company And that at Simons house in Bethany Whilst he summ'd up with avaricious Care His Theft he markt how Christ went poore and bare Not caring for the world or worldly gaine His chiefest ayme and would not then restraine The woman which powr'd Nard upon his Head And feete an Oyle that might him much bestead If to the Druggist sold he murmur'd sore He could not catch as he had done before This when our Saviour mark'd Why doest thou grudge Judas said he like a pelfe-serving drudge This Oyntment sold disposed to the poore I grant might have their wants relieved more But they are alwayes here so am not I. Embalmed thus know I shall shortly dye And through the world where shall be read my story Her loving deed shall publisht be with glory These words distasted foule Iscariots thought And to betray him now he hourely sought Away he went to the Chiefe Priests in hast And told them of Christs life and of this waste Now is the Time quoth he for you to take him Whilst he at night to Prayers doth betake him He names himselfe the Christ. I heard him say He would Gods Temple raze and â—ast away And afterwards râ—build it up as well In three dayes space in spight of Men and Hell The Priests were all of such a Chapman glad And presently a Contract with him made That their Catch-poles might without jeopardy Arrest him by the Nights obscurity For thirty peeces of that Countrey Coyne Which to their Treasure house they did purloyne By shifts and fraud for which they were reprov'd Of Christ before which them to malice mov'd Farre more for that than any other cause Though they surmiz'd the breach of Moses Lawes For plucking Corne upon the Sabbath day Or bringing downe their Temple to decay About that time the Paschall feast to hold On Maundy Thursday so enstyl'd of Old Jesus did sup that Evening tide his last At Salem in an upper roome where plac't With his Disciples twelve he first tooke Bread Bâ—est brake and gave it them whereon they fed After his blessing This my Body is His body sure Mans sacrifice for Blisse If rightly tane by a Just true Receiver With Inward taste and of a true Believer For otherwise who toucht Christ in the Prease Aswell as the Blood-flux'd had found more ease In the remembrance of his body naild Vnto the Crosse whereby the Saints stand baild From terrours here and in the world to come Nay warranted in Spirit they become Against doomes-day from the darke second death He blest the Cup alike with holy Breath After the New mans way and bad them drinke The Sacred Wine and on his Blood to thinke As lately at our New mans Sacrifice With bright day-light confounding Heresies My ravisht Muse beheld the Heavenly Vine With Purple Grapes for Mortals prest to Wine â—This costly food Soules Manna purging vice The figure of his Bodies Sacrifice This Type of Blood unbloudyed Mystery Christ left for Saints to keepe in memory His death untill his comming from above Where yet he sits to intercede and move For Penitents his Father wrong'd by Man This way I feed through Faith And who dares scan Another sense yet with Humility Let him here stop as with the Trinity Of Persons in the Godhead which he ought More to admire than by transcendent thought To soare more high than Eagles to the Sunne Where by the stame his sense may be undone Since how wee change to Christ no more hee knowes Then Babes the manner how the Spirit blowes The Sunne drawes up Earths vapours And so can Christ lift like Stephen up our Inward Man This humblenesse of mind when Christ had supt That Evening as it were to interrupt Our Future doubts he shew'd by stooping downe To wash his Servants feete with Love unknowne To which he added that the Marke for ever True hearted Christians from the false to sever Was mutuall Love which a Commandment New He styl'd for without Love Faith proves untrue Our soules and bodies are the Church where God In the third person holds his sweete abode But if we hate good men God dwels not there For the true Churches Roofe Love ought to beare The Sacrifice all done Christ went his way Out of the City as he us'd to Pray Accompanyed with his Disciples true For Judas was departed to his crue His Masters nippe made him the sooner goe Doe quickely that which thou intend'st to doe To execute his Treason and Compact And to receive his bire while Jesus rackt With griefe prepar'd by Fervent Love aswell As Faith and vowes against Sin Death and Hell With his ensuing griefes he had acquainted His Chosen Mates how he should be attainted Bound and arraign'd that night how thereupon As scattered Floâ—kes his servants would be gone And him would leave amidst his Bloody foes Enthrall'd and sore distrest with dismall woes But Peter trusting to his rusty sword Seem'd to distrust his Lords Propheticke word No Mortals force nor death nor Furies grimme From Gods deare Sonne should ever sever him Before the Cocke crow thrice thou wilt deny Replyed Christ me and my Company Thou and thy Mates before the Mornings peepe Will flye for feare like weake and heartlesse Sheep There close unto Jerusalem confin'd Neere Olives Mount a place for him assign'd By Destiny which was his Fathers Will To vent the throbs which did his Inside fill A Garden styl'd of Old Gethsemanee Secure at Nights from Worldlings Company There Jesus felt what might the stoutest quell A world of griping cares of Torments fell The dreadfull vengeance which the Godhead past Upon Mankind his owne so over cast And almost sunke with Agonies of sorrow That one had thought he could not live till morrow His tender Body did extreamely languish And did partake of more and sadder anguish Then other mens wanting the Nature Male In the mixt frame of his Conception Female Or weaker earthly Flesh whereby he stood So tortur'd that he sweated drops of Blood So sensible so full of piercing paine That he could not but more then man complain Like him whose youthfull Lockes chang'd into Gray In one nights space on fame that the next day He should be slaine But Sweates to sacrifice Of streaming Blood exceedes all prodigies And shewes that Saints by meanes most violent Win Grace to Natures sore astonishment Christ by this Strange Pro-passion tortured Shewes that his Mind as Body languished His Agony surmounted all mens
and coyn'd Transubstantiacion Then Vulcans built Soules Purgatories Forge And by those Flames phantasticke lies did forge For neere about that time did Alchymy Begin to raigne with Schoole-Theology When Satan was let loose from his Restraint To play upon the Conscience of a Saint Woe to the Time that our Wâ—st Church forsooke The New-Mans way which Berengarius tooke And dar'd Christ Body so to understand Which till Doomes day doth sit on Gods Right hand Since his Ascent and there in Heaven stayes Till Saints at rest his Foes supprest he layes Thence Purgatory sprung Romes forged Bull Of Satans plot to fill their Bellies full Like Bels false Priests by making men believe They could Redeeme or Purge poore Soules that grieve In that Third place for their Offences past Which Pardons bought with money might lay wast And frustrate if Romes Indulgence assure When she her selfe of Sicknesse cannot cure By Miracle or Charme nor stop one houre Of Deaths Arrest by her Transcendent power Much lesse can she fraile Mortall wight abate Anothers paine when Physicke comes too late Some Fathers dream't at doomesday not before Soules should be purg'd with flames or lesse or more But in this Life where time is limitted Soules must be purg'd or they are forfeited Soules may be purg'd with Sighs Fasts Contrition By Faith with workes which some hold in derision Soules may be purg'd and that with Sacred fire If them Gods Grace with Faith and Love inspire T is not enough to have a Christians Name Except we be Baptiz'd with Christ his Flame The Jewes did vaunt of Abraham for their Father Where they should joy of Abrahams Faith the rather T is not enough to be Baptiz'd alone For so were Jewes in Jordans Floud by John Nor yet sufficient to Communicate So Judas did yet Excommunicate The gentle Sparke that stirres the Heart and Braine Must pray Gods Spirit in those Seates to raigne For whose Content as he was Catechiz'd So with Loves Flame he would be Re-baptiz'd Which done he harmelesse growes an Infant twice In worldly Craft and in Christ onely wise Though tempting fiends with carnall baites he feares Yet Serpent-wise a newer Coate he weares A Coate quite voyd of Seames or Factious Schismes Which with Gods Word he weares for Exorcismes Soules Comforter then to Gods Sonne doth marry The Vnderstanding Conscience Memory Those Three-fold parts of this adopted Soule Whose Name with Saints New Man hee doth enroule And signes with Abbaes Seale The Man vowes Love And this rare vow the Trinity approve Thence-forward giving him the Two fold Flame Of Christ his Crosse and Zeale with Christian Name To purge his Outward Man of Earthly drosse Which may be styl'd our Purgatories Glosse Long since God earn'd the New man for his Sonne And gave through Christ him Free-will thereupon Which for his Faiths support can never faile him But in the proofe and combat shall availe him The Sonne by whose deare Blood he 's Justified Loves him because his Will is purified He loves and makes his first Election firme By sending One his Conscience to confirme Because he chose his Patterne and his Crosse When as he mought false joyes and wealth ingrosse According to the Freedome of his Will Which Grace restor'd and Faith had School'd from ill He carkes for him and sues for his Persev'rance He heares his griefes warrants his delivrance The Holy Ghost as Mans Love ebbes and flowes His sweet gifts more or lesse into him blowes And chiefely him he graceth who is mild Free-hearted Just and not with wiles defild One that adores not creatures nor yet swells With Merits puffe In such a one he dwels In such a mind He breathes Truthes gentle gales Which scornes old charmes vaine legends dreams and tales Thus Sanctified with Christ incorporate A Bastard slip becomes Legitimate 〈◊〉 with Christ partaking of that Feast Of Vnity which brings eternall Rest. Thus is a Man borne of Immortall seed A Saint new-made a Priest a Prince indeed Nay a true King commanding Lordly passions Which Monarches have enthrall'd in fearefull fashions Thus Saints are Crown'd and thus is tendred grace If men doe not their Charters Seales deface But not before the Old man be supprest Shall any mortall wight be this way blest O Grace more rich then Chinaes glittring Treasure O Love more sweet then Mahomets faign'd pleasure Elected tby he Father without merit At the Sonnes suite and sealed by their Spirit This Grace suite and Seale of Gods Majesty The persons working in the unity For dust and ashes sinfull Mans Salvation And with New flames his Spirits inspiration Doe wonder-rap my Soule with Extasies In gazing on their Lights supremacies With glaunâ—es more beseeming Prophets visions Then those which Arrians blurr'd with blind misprisions That to speake much of their Transcendencie Would me confound halfe put in Jealousie Lest I offend my God or goe awry With narrow bounds to stint this Mystery Like Lucifer who for opposing Christ Was throwne to Hell to father Antichrist Thence with his Mates to tempt and poyson such As dare to scan Gods Secrets over much â—ith our weake Braines can hardly apprehend Those Axiomes which to Quadrate circles tend How dare we Clouded with infirmity Rake for more Light of Heavens Trinity Whose knowledge long lay hid from sinfull Men For our first Parents fall till Christs time when It pleased God three persons to reveale By Him which he did formerly conceale From Carnall wits as from Crownd Popes he did The Gospels use and which as yet lyes hid From their crownd-shaven Crew and Babels Rable Who darkling grope for Christs Communion Table As they doe likewise for that Orbe of Rest Which for good Soules departed God hath blest Yet our New man sees by his rayes reflection As through a glasse enough of Gods perfection And roome enough without such purging flames For Saints to sing Allelujahs Psalmes To satisfie our Faith whilst by high mounting Some meet with Aiery foes their strength surmounting Nor must we scale the Sun-beams with those Eagles Whom glory pride or curious Art inveagles To know Gods will conceal'd from humane breast Or to eate more than gluttons can digest This sure I know by Holy Inspirations God breathes in humblest mindes most Revelations For when our Hearts with lofty thoughts arise Fiends scrue themselves into our phantasies Yea they will tempt the most Regenerate And Holiest Men as the most reprobate Some under Forme of Art they slily Charme With hired plots to work their Neighbors harme That by their sowing daily Tares of strife The Father Sonne the Husband and the wife Friends kindred Towne and Country Folkes may vary So as with Christ their Soules can hardly marry Such sleights use Hellish Fiends though few suspect Their shining Baytes yet surely Gods Elect Know that all make-bates have just cause to tremble As well as they who being at Masse dissemble These Members helpe to make up Antichrist For without Parts how can the head
THE SOVLES EXERCISE In the daily Contemplation of our Saviours Birth Life Passion and Resurrection BY WILLIAM VAVGHAN Knight LONDON Printed by Thomas and Rich. Cotes for Humphrey Blunden and are to be sold at his shoppe in Cornehill at the signe of the Castle 1641. TO THE KINGS MOST EXCELLENT MAIESTY 1. WHile Mammon blurr'd the Word within oâ—r West Which rose like Lightning from the radiant East God lent me Zeale and clear'd my Inward sight To draw the Type of our Incarnate Light 2. Within this Map your Royall Grace shall find Some Sparkes to raise a true Nathaniels mind Above the Clouds in spite of tempting vice By the review of the Soules Exercise 3. Here Men may see in Christian Crystall glaesse That None from Earth shall up to Heaven passe Unlesse they be Refin'd and from Above Baptiz'd with Flaming zeale and streaming Love 4. Here wrangling Wits and Make-bates may behold What shall become of them who plot for Gold To crucifie the Sonne of God againe By wronging of his Members Saints for Gaine 5. Here Age may learne some harmelesse Rapsody To rap the Soules of Youth with Melody Like that which Saul found for his Malady Except they stop their Eares and raving dy 6. Here Peace is taught Old Simeons swan like song To wavering Minds to Sick Folkes the strong With Notice cleare to speake it without boast Why Some receive Some lose the Holy Ghost 7. What Milder means can be for Jarres Correction Then Christ his Cratch Life Crosse and Resurrection In Numbers sung with an attracting voyce Since Babes and Bees are charm'd with tinkling Noise 8. What more can please the Fancies curious Tast Than Types before the Vnderstanding plac't In tuned Forme the Senses to rouze up When surfeited with Copious prose they droup 9. Nay Soules perhaps which Sermons faile to win They may Convert asswage or scare from Sin If as Raines many Drops hard Marble pierce The Agents play on them with fluent Verse 10. So Moses Miriam Job and Debora When Hebers wife had hammer'd Sisera So David did and Jeremias call Men to praise God by vowes Numericall 11. The like rare Sound shapes the New Testament In Zacharies and Maries Ravishment In Simeons Ode and in Our Saviours Deed Who sung a Psalme ere He in Sweat did bleed 12. The Soule some write consists of Harmony And that good Angels sing none can deny Witnesse their Musick which Saint John describes Who then dares breake on Sions Muse his Jibes 13. Among the Actes which Canterburies Sire Grave Cutbert made within the Churches Quire He will'd his Clergie every day to sing In Saxon Tongue the Praise of Heavens King 14. Among the Gifts rankt of Scholasticke Scope Which grace Great Vrban now the Romaine Pope His Booke of Poems wins him most renowne The Laureat Wreath excells his Triple Crowne 15. But if my Layes seeme to some Worldlings light Excuse the Scribe O Britaines sweete Delight Say that he aim'd at Love not bubbling Fame Reward nor Strife nor Justice to defame 16. My Straine is plaine the Matter most sublime No Levite I. Then what doth grace my Rime With willing mind the New-mans praise I sing For moulding in shrewd times so milde a King Whom with his Royall Spouse and Hopefull Fruite Like Saints I pray the New-mans Lord to suite Amen So Prayes your Majesties most Humble Subject William Vaughan The Preface To the Queenes most Excellent Majesty ACcept great Queen from a poore Cambrian Knight This sparkling Pile wherewith the Soules delight You may discerne an Empresse most divine The Glory of the Gender Feminine The Lady Grace I meane Gods gracious Light Which saves Mankind from a despairing plight If they in Will their Outward Man resist And daily waigh the Birth and Death of Christ But since we are bath'd in her streaming Love I know you will my New-mans Flames approve Cull out the best which with Gods Word agree And leave the rest as Fire-drakes unto me If I sing well as Seraphins require Then take my Sparklings like Nehemies Fire Which in the Pit lay hid late found againe Not kindled by the New-mans Zeale in vaine But for a Pious end by Numbers dint Our Saviours Forme in weakelings to imprint This Forme through worldly fraud lay hidden long None durst translate it to the Mother tongue Untill the Lord of his unbounded Grace In pitty of his Churches wretched Case Lookt downe of late on his two Prophets slaine And breath'd New life into their Corpse againe With Heavenly Oyle He sent the Holy Ghost To scoure Faiths rust when we were almost lost Lost through our sloth and Pride neere in Despaire To be snatcht up by Fiends into the Aire There till Doomes-day to Goblin it at least Or which is worse with Tophets Dampe to feast But if my Tune like gaggling Noise of Geese Displease I then reserve it as a Peece Or Fragment fit for some Sidanens Eare Of sleighted Wales with hooboobs Bray to feare Night-walkers from purloyning of her Flocke Rather then I become a flouting-stocke To English wits I will at night retire Couurez le feu put out my Light and Fire And live immur'd as in a Cynicks Cell Untill I can in sweeter Layes excell Howere this proves I lay it at your Feete Not daring starres with glozing phraze to greete Nor stare too long upon the Sun-shine Light Least I be chang'd into a Bird of Night Or as Old Poets faign'd of Niobe Contesting with a Goddesse least I be Transmuted to a stone or stupid wight For thrusting forth to Your Majesticke sight This Ghostly taske my New-mans Exercise With Oaten Pipe and in a poore disguise Before I know your Pleasure and your Will Whether you can affect a Mountaine Quill And brooke that a rude Bardh or Corydon Should screw his Songs with your Court-Helicon Sometime Great Dames the Blossomes of the Field Have paralell'd with those which Gardens yeeld So though by Fits or Chance I may expose Old Edens Good and Ill the Thorne as Rose Shall a few Slips of thorny Doubts downewaigh My New-mans Hopes more faire then Flowers in May But least some say that Sybill-like I rave Or that I doe the Higher Thrones outbrave I here submit and humbly sue to sing These Layes A Cat may looke upon a King Both Towne and Countrey strive for Courtly Grace And shall not I then wish to see your Face To see of Kings the Daughter Sister Wife And Mother borne to calme great Nations strife Not fawning wise but hoping that you stand For Our New man I long to kisse your Hand Like Philips Greekes who Christ desir'd to see Like One who to that end climb'd up a Tree And thus I bid Great Britaines Queene Adieu With Sacrifice my vowes and Service due To the Princes Highnesse MOst Noble Prince Great Britaines Royall Heire The Hope of Wales where first I breathed Aire And where I live from Troubles Home-retir'd But never for your Good with Prayers tir'd
Galilee in Jury Am carryed with a rapid zealous Flame To see how Christ a Child a Man became A Man Baptiz'd as we his Members â—e Tempted by Satan yet got bravely free Though Jesus had escapt the Hunters snare Yet Judgement crost the Tyrants jealous Care For out of hand after the Butchery Of Bethlems Babes deceas'd in Misery With entrailes scorcht proud Herod to his Sons Leaving his State waving in dissentions First having caus'd even in deaths agony His Eldest Sonne to beare him company When three of them stood for their Fathers place And each of them would beare a Royall Mace With factious sides to make their challeng good These Aliens borne of Edoms-viper-Brood Contended for their Sires usurped Throne The Rule of Laws from Jewries People gone Since Shiloes Birth Gods messenger of Peace The vigour of their Lawes began to cease As afterwards by Titus came to passe Who did their Laws and Nations state deface As likewise when in fierce Domitians raigne And Trajans Davids stock were sought and slaine But all their claimes appealed unto Rome The Brethren stood confind to Caesars doome Who by Decree for taming of their fury Most Politique then Tripartited Jewry To Archelaus by style of Ethnarchy South-jewries Land he gave the Tetrarchy Of Galilee and Jordans Land betwixt The other two he left for portions mixt The Brothers broyles thus quieted at last When all those stormes were overgone and past Joseph advis'd from Heaven with his Bride Brought backe the Child from Aegipt But aside Turn'd doubting Archelaus the Tyrants Son Who then to sway South-judaes Land begun To Nazareth Northwards in Galilee Where suckled was the Infant Jesus free From worldly Broiles as to a Nazarite Belong'd His head unpoll'd by Legall Rite There Mary not omitting any mild Or watchfull care for nursing up her Child Directed him now weaned from her breast One while to goe another while to rest His Infants time beguil'd wiâ—h Lullabies With gentle smiles sweete songs or soft replies She fed him not with Suckets nor Conserves But with that meate which strengthens tender nerves To dyet him for health was her chiefe Care Not urging him to eate of dainties rare But victuals fit for Nature thin and spare Butter and Honey were his daintiest fare She knew that Soules in pampred bodies pine That Both corrupt through lushious cheere and Wine But no man him with Idolls durst present Nor with those sights whose pictures represent Horn'd Bugges or Houshold gods for she her selfe Could never brooke to see a Labans Elfe Woe to those fondling dads who tempt the soules And pliant braine of their soft little Fooles With such Trim trash the unmarkt Nursery Of Faithlesse Feares and blind Idolatry She those defects with sacred Care repair'd Which Mother Eve by Satans fraud impair'd Gods Instrument to beare and breed that Child Which jarring Earth with Heaven reconcil'd And when more yeares came on she did assay To teach his tongue a Psalme or else to Pray Whereto his Will became more forward bent Then Courtly Lads to learne smooth Complement No Boye 's permitted she her house to haunt Such Rakehel Boyes which us'd to lie and taunt Like those rude Impes which heretofore did yalp And call Bald pate Elishaes reverend scalp No Mayd of hers durst sing a wanton song Within her eares or his nor to the Throng Of Reprobates those whom she knew defil'd Would she from home adventure out her Child And if she had such was his Inclination His inward Lore prevented Education There is no doubt but by Infusion He Had needfull what the Spirit knew to be Soone as his Childhoods Stature did encrease His mirthfull-fits began soone to decrease For without griefe how could that Heavenly spark Heare men to sweare like fiends like curres to bark How could he but lament to see them crouch To Stockes and yet the Godhead to avouch How could he chuse but grieve at their Extortions Debates and spending of their dearest portions To see a Brother fight the Courtier faigne The Lawyer lye and all for cursed gaine To see men strive for Place and Soveraignety Like fiends for pride who lost their dignity To see the Townesman pawne his soule for wealth The Husbandman Cornes price to raise by stealth Successively there budded every yeare New Hopes of him which did his Mother cheare His godly talke delighted Josephs heart And made him oft his labours lay apart Both Joseph and the blessed Virgin much Astonisht were to heare his Childhood touch On such profound and Heavenly Mysterieâ— Concerning Faith and Love how they arise In Adams Sonnes and why they set againe Wherefore it stormes and why God sends us raine His onely Reading was the Prophets Booke He would not once on lying Legends looke But on his Fathers Lawes both day and night He fixt his mind with all his will and might While other Lads were aw'd with Tutors curbe He serv'd the Lord that swayes the Heavenly Orbe He never tooke a meale but still the Lord He glorify'd with his Thankes-giving word And as himselfe liv'd Innocent and pure So by his faire ensample from impure And childish crimes he many Children drew To give God praise as still in yeares he grew When Jesus had twelve tedious Winters past He travell'd to Jerusalem at last In company of his supposed Sire And his deare Mother-maid in whom the fire Of zeale then burnt to see and solemnize In Abibs month the Legall Sacrifice Where when they had beheld the Rites past over At their great Feast then stil'd the Lambs Passeover These sacred Saints returned homewards bound But with the Stuffe when Jesus was not found They after search their friends and company Forsooke and backe againe most heavily They hyed fast and lookt him all about Among their Kinsfolke every where throughout The City till they found Him in the Temple Where Saints Gods works accustome to contemple And there amidst the Doctors of the Law They saw and heard how Jesus put in awe And pos'd Grave Rabbies whom he out did single For Questions deepe that made their eares to tingle His Arguments their Fallacies did quash That they were stroke as with a Lightning flash So faire a square so just a Symmetry The Godhead held with his Humanity His Actions sure his Godhead did expresse Yet in his Flesh we mortall him confesse That to dash Lyes brave Flames he never wanted With smiles he pleas'd and with his frownes he daunted His Godhead darted Awe and Majesty His Humane Presence shone with Lenity They wondred at his words well coucht so sage So well compos'd to put by wrangling rage On Scriptures Ground without Chymeres of Clerkes Without Latriaes or Douliaes Quirkes Such Doctrine in a Child such sparklings rare Amazed them as late did Bethlems Starre Such thoughts confus'd most sensible of Signes Doubting th' effects rack't perplext their minds Whilst with the Scribes Christ thus disputing stood Mary to meet her darling almost proud Betwixt Seraphicke Love and
attempt And bring to passe which Satan well foreknew Although he strove Gods Judgements to eschew In vaine he strove our Sun-shine to eclipse Where such as these come from a Christians lippes Alas what poore weak Fame a Nine dayes wonder Doe worldlings rove at if their Ends they ponder When men ground Faith on Humane Policy The Lord reputes it but Hypocrisie When he vouchsafes to lend some Miracles He doth it to confirme his Oracles To be divine and not Humane positions He doth it freely without Compositions And with a Caveat too that none waxe proud As though the gift were for their Owne allow'd Why should a Saint expect for Miracles Whilst he enjoyes Faith and Truthes Oracles For this regard did Jesus put to flight With Holy writ the Fiend with all his slight Thou shalt not tempt by any meanes said he The Lord thy God who first Created thee That is the Scripture thou shouldst muse upon And if infring'd what vengeance hangs thereon Thus Jesus twice already for our faults Endured had the Devils bold assaults Him now againe the third time he assayles To captivate or make him strike his sayles And knowing nothing in this worldly frame Can tempt a Saint like to Ambitions Flame Nor sooner can the finest wits defile As is Recorded on old Athens File Then to be pointed at by Peoples Prease Loe this is he the rare Demosthenes He comes no more with Scripture in his mouth But with the whole worlds Empire North and South The Eâ—st and West he labours to entangle Christs Senses like to Tybers Fishing Angle Wherewith his Vicar Crownes like Gudgeons tooke That Beast with Lambes two Hornes Dragons hooke So long agoe described by Saint John The man of sinne and that Perditions Sonne Whom Cardinalls at his Installment Grace With Triple Crowne and on Masse Altar place He rapt him in the twinkling of an eye To a high Mountaines Top thence to descry As from Mount Neâ—o where Canaan was showne To Moses many Kingdomes of his owne All the round world he there made to appeare In a false Mappe doubling the Hemisphere The like Romes Prelate scarcely could install For his to Right Castile and Portingall So Satan did his Monarchy contrive As Neptune stood on his Prerogative That great Command with triple forked Mace By Lot to me and not to him did passe Out of meere Grace and Love I beare to thee Sayes he to Christ if thou wilt worship me And homage doe these Crownes I give in Fee These States for thee and thine for ever be No greater snare could Lucifer invent Our Second Adams minde to circumvent No Motive nor more working Argument Then Scepters or a Mitred Governement As Mahomet tooke hold upon the First With th' Alcoran and of them all the worst Of Christian men usurp'd aspiring higher Both swords to manage and approaching nigher To the red Dragons claymed Jurisdiction With Soules and Bodies sale and interdiction But Gods deare Sonne did out of hand Controule These Lofty towring Flames Soules tainting foule He would not listen to Supremacies Nor to the worlds suggeste Primacies His Kingdome was not of this worldly station Of mortall Stampe but for sick soules translation By Fiery Tryalls to Jerusalem Not built with hands a place which fooles contemne To coole therefore our Thoughts irregulare Our Saviour thus put by the Serpents snare Not asking him as our late Exorcists Vaine questions but him packing from the Lists He could no longer his Just zeale refraine But instantly repuls'd him with disdaine Avant Satan make here no more abode Packe hence I charge thee in the Name of God Thou of my Faith hast made sufficient Triall But of his Rights I cannot brooke denyall I cannot heare with Patience Blasphemy Against my Fathers endlesse Royalty Who swayes this Globe by Aristocracies Democracies and awfull Monarchies The Lord thy God as Scriptures doe observe Thou worship shalt and him alone must serve Such Checking Words spoke with a Conscience cleane Free from ambitious thoughts and Deedes obsceane With vowes and Fasts aswell to purifie Themselves as the Old man to mortifie Oft naming Jesus Christ our Advocate Will quickly Satan chase or subjugate There needs no Charmes Masses nor Exorâ—ismes No holy water Reliques Crosse nor Chrismes To dispossesse or send the Devill packing Let such those trust where Faith Love are lacking When as I know as who is free my selfe â— braine or dreame neere cast upon this shelfe With Gales of worldly winds in shew most faire Gulling my Sense like Atomes in the Aire With false Selfe-love by him an Idoll prays'd With subtle Theames by his suggestions rays'd Such as on wits for want of vowes have play'd Or with such Quirkes as our late Sects display'd Or with wild fits and moods extravagant Let me but say with Jesus Christ Avant At their first comming with a pious mind At Christs sweete Name God sends them backe confin'd Let me review his Wounds I may be bold To conjure Satan from his strongest hold This Shield I take no other helpe I looke From Heaven or Earth against this Fishers â—ooke Christs coate I weare no other Ayd I crave Then His who other crave doe surely rave To other Saints whom they Gods Courtiers caâ—â— I say with Job Poore helpers are ye all Against Sinnes Rage and Satans proud Bravadâ—â—s Against his Plots his wiles and Ambusâ—adoes My Faith though weake supported mee witâ— Armes Contritions Grones prevented all my Harmes In Christ his Robes I feared no Annoyance Fenc'd with his shield I â—â—ung at him defyance After Resisting I did ever finde My Foes departed and good motions sign'd Or printed in my Heart unknowne to me From brutish Elves to guard my New-man free This should be writ in Cedar or in Gold The man Newborne who is for Grace enrold Shall sure be tempted by some wicked Fiend Whom if at first he doe suspect for Friend And not receive his Baytes with hearts delight That Man shall winne the Field through Christ his Might And from thenceforth with greater dowries blest Shall surely live and dye a Saint profest His Soule with Christ shall rest in Paradise His Body at Doomes-day with Joy shall rise In this we have our Master for Example Who by the Crosse on Satans head did trample As living he his motions had repell'd And with Gods Word three times had him refell'd Although he was alone and destitute Of Humane helpe yet he made Satan mute After his Conflicts to congratulate And him releeve in the like hungry State As was Elias who in Horeb past His Forty daies by meanes of fore-repast It is recorded that the Angels came Which shewes Gods Care Faiths strength Satans shame But here 's a doubt a question scrupulous Which to decide for me were perillous Lest that I seeme in Negromanticks vers'd Or that my Rule by Saints might be revers'd Whether these Assaults Reall were or visions Or mixt with Satans Jugling Apparitions To argue that Gods Sonne
Feares Whose eyes for sin gush seldome out with teares Nor can they force one brinish pearly drop Nor fetch true sighs thogh sighs might vengeance stop To which I joyne the burden which he bare Of Adams sins which did augment his care His delicate smooth mortall Flesh did strive With Hell and as it were sought to reprieve The comming vengeance of the Godheads Doome To every Mortall due even from the wombe And after he had crav'd his Fathers Ayd For his true Church thus for himselfe he pray'd Deare Father now let not my Soule become For Sinners debts charg'd with a greater summe Than Nature can repay But let me passe Without more paine poore man is like to glasse Soone broke bruis'd or like the wither'd grasse Unlesse he be supported by thy grace Unlesse thou please the Torture to abate Or give him strength hard is the Martyrs Fate I st possible thy Lees and wrathfull Cup To passe that I shall not sins banquet sup Ah no The Ordred course of things to come Must correspond with thy Eternall Doome Therefore my will to thine Lord I submit I kisse thy Crosse I love and honour it Such piteous plaints Christ with a troubled spirit Powr'd when no curse he for himselfe did merit And no marvell for he endur'd the scourge For all mens sins and all he sought to purge He tooke on his owne backe on his owne score The whole burthen which made him groan the more Of meere Free will and Love not by constraint He tooke on him our frailties as our shape That from the Hunters snare we might escape Our Pride our lusts mallice and wiles he bare And bath'd them in his sweat teares blood and care He suffred for all Adams Progeny Unlesse some madly crosse their Destiny And chuse the Kite the Foxe and Leopard Before the Spirits Dove or Lambe for Guard All Christians reape his Passions benefit Save those who had renounc'd him of despite Or those who fixt their hope on others Fate Distrusting him to be Sole Advocate O that men markt what their Redemption cost How Christs deare Blood hath Gods Hand-writing crost And that they waigh'd the Persons dignity Abased thus out of meere charity To Sacrifice his owne most guiltlesse Blood For saving from hell-fire fraile Adams Brood With weeping eyes and with a bleeding heart He came to his Disciples gone apart And in this posture sad besmear'd with signes Of griefes excesse Teares shed like brackish Brines He calls to them whom fast he found asleepe Awake my Friends from sleepe can you not keep Your selves one houre to watch and pray with me Arise I say for now my time I see Drawes neere I may not shunne what is decreed In Heav'n that I must ransome Adams Seed The Fatall Houre drawes neere that I must smart For Humane kinde Come let us hence depart With such Propheticke words he them awakt Although his heart strove with deepe sorrowes rackt And thereupon the beaten path they tooke Neere Olivet to crosse Old Cedrons Brooke Which running through Jehosaphats faire vale Did where they were bedew the Garden pale A Hymne in honour of the blessed Trinity for our New Birth and Spirituall Regeneration LEt us extoll with Sacred Mirth The Triple Spring of our New Birth The Father Sonne and Holy Ghost Recalled us from every Coast When we were tost And almost lost The Father chose us for our Good The Sonne redeem'd us through his Blood The Holy Ghost came from Above And seal'd us Faith with Flaming Love Yea Jordans Dove Taught us to Love The Turtle Dove loves onely One But losing Him she lives alone And so doe we as heretofore â—n Persons three one God adore One God implore For evermore The Sonne of God who represents The Fathers Person Excellence And Majesty we daily blesse And sue unto in our distresse For wrongs redresse Or more or lesse Above the Starres three persons shine Of God-head One One will Divine Who bath'd our Wounds and gave us Wine When we for paine were like to pine Christ is the Vine His Crosse the signe By them we change from Death to Life By them we hate fell Passions strife By them we doe these Rayes partake That Pride and Lust we must forsake And Fiends which rake For Tophets Lake For our Old Lord the Tempter now We Christ for our New Lord avow And for old Plots and Carnall lies With our New man we sympathize And Christian-wise We Sacrifice By his deare Blood we doe confesse He ransom'd hath our wretchednesse If we represse the Rebell Flesh He will not leave us comfortlesse But us will blesse With Joyes Excesse He as our Head Faiths Living Rocke Both God and Man of Judaes stocke Was borne and bath'd in Jordans streame To wash us from sins foule extreame This Holy Theame The New-mans Dreame We to thy Throne present O King Supreame Dipt in the Spring which from thy side did stream The Fifth Dayes EXERCISE The Argument Christ is surpriz'd and Peter him forsweares But soone repents False Judas raves with feares Led after floutes to Caesars Judgement Hall Christ is condemn'd to stint the Jewish brawle By Pilate to the Crosse where pain'd he dies Then Joseph begges the Bodies Obsequies HE that affects th' eternall Sabbaths Rest There with the Lambe to live for ever Blest He that desires to be a Saint profest And to the Sonne of God a joyfull Guest Must in this world for sad Good Frydayes Feast Reserve one Day within the Weeke at least He must take up the Crosse with Love-dread Note And weare with Abbaes sound Christs seameles coate He must lay cares aside be mov'd to pitty And for his sake sing out a dolefull Ditty T is not a Poets feast of Prognes Cooking Her guiltlesse Child but heere 's one worth the booking And looking on without nice wits rebukes By Men of Lowest Ranke as Greatest Dukes A Feast in blood before the Father laid By his deare Sonne to save the Soule dismayd A Feast indeed which Carnall mindes despise Because it types the New-mans Sacrifice O Happy Guests for whom this Feast is drest O Happy me if I could cooke this Feast According to the New-mans appetite And without blame to doe the Founder right If it be drest like to a Hodge-podge say What meate God sent the Scullion marr'd to day If well give God the praise and not to me Give Him the Thankes who sent these Cates to thee Bought at a Costly rate to cleare from Lust And passions Gall thy Soule and mine I trust To further this we must first Purify Our selves with Fasts and Nature mortify Not like our Gulles or gutling Libertines Who slight all Fasts vowes and Religious Lines Packe hence therefore ye carnall Epicures Touch not this feast nor our Mount Calvares cures Good Frydayes Priest warnes them that went astray With Peters Teares to greete that mournefull day Which puts the Soule in minde twixt Love and Feare To heed the Crosse each Fryday
broome Of Discipline sweeping foule Lusts away And the Worlds love which bring into decay The Heavenly Seed choakt up with Pompe cares Like Earthly Graine with Cockle Thornes Tares What makes a Surgeon use Corroding Waters For Festred Soares but that they are Abaters Of the proud Flesh why doe Physitians give Their Bitter Pilles unto the Sicke that grieve Of causes hid but that the bodyes sink Cannot be Purg'd of Filth and Humours stink By sweet Receipts no more should Gods Eâ—ect The Joyes of New Jerusalem expect Without first passing through the Bloud red Seas Of Sorrowes deepe to gaine perpetuall ease I meane not Griefe for losse of worldly wealth Or Carnall Friends but losse of Saving health Griefe for the wordes ecclipse Griefe for our sinne Griefe for the Snares which Saints are toyled in Who to this dying Doctrine will encline His Heart and to Austerity confine His Life he shall be crowned for his durance With Heavens Blisse whereof Christ gives assurance With these true Golden Rules seal'd in the Heart None gaines the Godheads love without some Smart Who Christ his markes more here of Torture beares In Heaven be the brighter Garland weares A Hymne explaining the cause of our Saviours Sufferings on the Crosse together with the effects of his Buriall WE were the Cause and none but we Why Christ was naild unto the Tree We were the Cause worse then the Scribes Nay worse then Judas with his Bribes Of Christ his death and Guiltlesse Bloud We tore his Flesh like Vipers Brood We drunk his Bloud like Cannibals Who men Redeem'd when they were Thralles The Jewes misus'd Him but one day Whereas we dayly him betray And Crucify the Lord againe Saints in his Limmes for spite or Gaine We rave farre worse then did the Jewes Our Carnall Lusts and Ghostly stewes Our Pride Deceites and Avarice Our Riots Feasts and Fopperies Our Healthes Debates and losse of Time Shew why Christ up the Crosse did climbe Let us then waigh with Penitence Sinnes fiery sting the Crosses sence Let us bewayle our wretchednesse Which brought our Saviour to distresse And think upon these Rules with Feare That Trees which are both dry and seare Shall sure be fell'd since blooming Wood Hath beene destroyed as with a Floud And that all Soules shall suffer losse Unlesse they muse upon the Crosse And thereby hope for inward Peace The Spirits gifts and sinnes release By vertue of that Costly Price Which hung thereon for Sacrifice For which high Deed while we have breath We never will forget his Death But in our Mindes wee will infixe His Merites Love and Crucifixe His Living Rock can hide our Soares As Josephs Vault entomb'd his Coarse We may to Blisse rise up from Bale As Jonas did from out the Whale If on his Wounds wee fixe our Soules Like Doves that pitch on Rocky Holes The Seventh Dayes EXERCISE The Argument Old thinges made New now is Jewes Sabbath Day Chang'd to the Lords to mind our Saviours sway Who Rose stay'd here sixe Weekes then went his way To Heav'n Men Inspir'd on Whit-sunday OUr two Dayes storme is cleer'd come let us sing And Tribute pay to our Triumphant King Who trampling on our Foes hath led the way To Resurrections Port on the third Day After his Death which first of their Weekes Date â—ld Hebrewes Calendar did Calculate O Blessed Day most blest in the Exchange Whilst we do not from zeale like worldlings range But all with joy for this our Worlds Creation And Christ his Rising minding our vocation As likewise for the Holy Ghosts descent On Whit-sunday ten dayes from Christs Ascent We Holy keepe our Lords this Seaventh day And in his Prayse our thankfull Hymnes display Who did because our sinnes the Old withstood Transferre a newer Feast cleer'd by his Bloud Though Christ was Lord Sabbaths prime perfection The manheads Crowne yet he to make defection Of that Dayes Rest did never Condescend But left it us untill Times finall End He left it us to mind th' Eternall Day When Time with baldnes never shall decay That Feast of Feasts with none can paralell For it above all Triumphs beares the Bell The Harmony whereof no Tongue can tell And more doth Our then Our the Sixe excell The which whilst we looke for let us foregoe Our Deeds prophane and Pious dutyes doe On this High day Let us congratulate With Jubilees our Resurrections state And our through Christ redinte-gratious Peace With God the Father in his Flockes increase Let us cheere up our Soules with Joyfull Psalmes ' And shew our Love by Prayers Vowes and Almes Let all the Earth let Christians all rejoyce And heare Gods word the Lord of Sabaoths voice Not in a Language strange or Noise unknowne But in that Tongue which men doe terme their owne Let them with understanding sound his Fame And Glorify Jehovahs awfull Name With Voices Musick sound and Symphony With Davids zeale and Asaphs Harmony Unanimous let us proclaime his Glory Not dreaming wise but in a reall story To be admir'd of all the Sonnes of Men And Registred with adamantine Pen All Glory be to thee as heretofore In Persons three one God for evermore Who least that Cares might dull our Inward sight Hast Weekely left us one of brighter Light Aswell to match the Hebrewes as to rayse New zeale on it for our Redeemers Praise Because Christs Faith stood firme not shakt at all His Manhead calling God God heard his Call Because his Manhead spurn'd Hells Crown of strife Preferring here on Earth an Humble Life And constantly endur'd the dreadfull shock Of Perills like a Shepheard for his Flocke And to his Father deare did pray alone For helpe he at the last did heare his Mone When he his Bloud had on the Altar shed Soone as he sayd All is now finished His sacred Soule straight way to Paradise Leaving the Crosse and his Bodyâ—â—yes â—â—yes Whence in Earths wombe after two Nights repose Brave Gyant-like refresht with wine he Rose His Body Rose from Grave from the Whales Belly Rays'd Jonâ—s-like to live Triumphantly For how could he whom God ordain'd to save Old Adams Seed be captiv'd in the Grave Thou art my Sonne Mens Light whom I begot Sayd his just Father and here take thy lot In choisest Soile The Hâ—athâ—n I give to thee For Heritage and all the world in Fee To bruize or breake for thy owne pretious merits Thou by thy bloud hast tam'd the wily Spirits O murther'd Lambe Hence-forth on my Right hand Sit in thy Humane shape none shall withstand Thy Powerfull will in Heaven Earth or Hell For thou shalt judge all Men and Furyes fell My sentence just thou hast appeas'd alone For which mysterious deed wee both are One. Because the Wine-presse thou alone hast trod Thy Flock shall ever dwell with mee their God Because for Sinne thou hast endured wrong Thou shalt divide the lest spoyle with the strong And for thy love to Man bought with
thy Bloud I Cancell quite against Old Adams Brood Their Bodyes Death excepted my Decree Of vengeance due if they beleeve in thee Without adhering to Idolatry To their owne works and humane Foppery Be thou their Patron and sole Advocate Who trust to other Courtiers I doe hate Sue thou for them in thy Humanity Before our Throne of endlesse Majesty And for thy sake I will Elect them sure For unto thee all Glory I assure Till th'Elect come in and thy Foes in Thrall That then our God head may be all in all To this effect our Heavenly Father spake When his deare Sonne his Body Rais'd did take From Josephs Tombe when by the dawning day Those Women came there where his Body lay Entomb'd with mind to sacrifice their woes For Him whom they saw Martyr'd by his Foes To solemnize his sacred Funerall Out of true Zeale and hearty love withall Thither they came not Superstitiously Nor yet for Fashion sake but really With an intent on his Dead Corpse to powre Most pretious Oyles but by the Heavenly Pow're They were debarr'd For as they did adventer To shew their Love and in the Vault would enter An Angell all in white of lightning hew Them interrupted with these Tidings true What would yee now poore Soules embalme his Coarse Whom late your Nation wrong'd without remorse Why seeke yee here the Quick among the Dead God 's living Sonne within an Earthly bed God would not let his Sonne Corruption see Nor could his Body long enclosed be Within this Rock The third day now is come Christ Risen is from Tombe as from earths wombe Then goe your wayes and his Disciples tell What Newes yee heare what Lot to him befell The women shudder'd and distract almost With the strange sight as if some wondrous Ghost Had them encountred ran away from thence Such is the nature of weake mortall sense When they meet Objects of Immortall Frame Reason lyes hid as under Ashes Flame But Pilates watch with horrour sore agast Forsook their charge and fled away more fast Then did the women at the Angells Noise For they good Soules were soone repleat with Joyes And when their Witts they recollected had â—hrists true Disciples they acquainted made With these glad Tidings who them held too good To be so true untill in zealous mood Christ did himselfe expostulate the cause With two of them who travell'd to Emaus The selfe same day when he did Rise from Death O simple Soules voyd of Caelestiall breath Ought not quoth he Messias to be slaine By sinners hands and all these wrongs sustaine Do not the Prophets all agree in one Which men refus'd should be the Corner stone That evermore Melchisedech's high Priest By David sung should rule that Jesus Christ Messias should be first smote with the Rod Due for your sinnes by your Dread-loving God Though as Gods Sonne he might have chose to feele The Taunts and Nippes of men more hard then steele Yet he of meere good will not by constraint Enthrall'd himselfe to sinners false complaint He opened not his mouth nor them withstood But as a Lambe before the shearer stood Dumbe Patient Meeke whilst for your Treacheries He wounded was And these perplexities With Tortures Stripes and scornes he underwent To ransome Adams seed from Punishment But now yee are by his Afflictions healâ—d And through his Crosse shall shortly be enseal'd A Gospell New a Testament of Grace An easy yoake with covenants to raze The former Curse If yee beleeve that Christ Is Gods owne Sonne your Saviour Prince and Priest If like to him yee humbly live together As he rose up so shall each faithfull Brother These say'd and more then my weake thoughts record By giving thankes and breaking Bread the Lord They knew and then he vanisht from their sight He vanisht from them Twaine and in the Night He did appeare to his Apostles where For zeales devotion they assembled were And catechized them for Faith and Love With other points which might their Soules improve Nor can I overship my ready Pen From laying downe his love to Magdalen Whilst her confused thoughts twixt doubt and Feare Rov'd what became of his Dead Corpse elswhere He kindly call'd her by her proper name Shew'd her his person and confirm'd the same By Message which unto his friends he bid Her to declare Thus sundry times he did Appeare to them whom formerly he knew To be th'Elect and his Disciples true That they might be Eye-witnesses and blaze To all the world this wonder of amaze And that true Flesh his Body was become He eate with them Bread Fish and Honey-combe To shew himselfe a Perfect Man indeed And not a Ghost Christ hungred and did feed Immortall he with Mortalls as a Guest Tooke what was next at hand not curious drest To let men know what Nature might suffice And that with Men He man did sympathize Among the rest when Thomas Didymus Was absent first and all unanimous Excepting him believed what they saw Although the Newes might well his senses draw To credit them yet he stood off and sayd Unlesse I see I am not well appayd Unlesse these Eyes his Person shall behold How can these Newes for currant true be told Unlesse my selfe shall feele his nayled hands And side late pierst by the fell soldiers Bands At sight of which deepe Wound by Romane Speare The lookers on appalled were with feare I will not you beleeve Therefore the Lord His wavering Creed to settle and record To future times his love a sev'night after His first appearance he againe did enter Into the Roome where Thomas with his Mates Were then shut up and there Christ animates Commanding him to touâ—h him and to ponder With Faith and understanding rapt with wonder His misbeliefe and told him for our Rest Who so beleeves what he had seen is blest When Jesus had conversed forty dayes On Earth halfe way twixt Sions walls he stayes And Bethany where his Disciples met Upon the Summet of Mount Olivet The place where he the night before his Passion Had powr'd forth bloudy sweates his antepassion Which over-peeres Jerusalem and all The Countrey round about with stately fall Where likewise some do Critickly conceive That all men shall their Finall doome receive There He full Powr ' to his Disciples gives Their sinnes to loose that vow to lead new lives As also those to Excommunicate If they offend that were Regenerate This Charge to them and Peter Christ prescribes Joint as to judge hereafter Israells Tribes Thus speaking in the Plurall Go your wayes And Preach to bind or loose yee have the keyes Above all rules on Faith he most insisted And fruitfull Love both which who so resisted With wanton spleen or contumacious willes He prophesied Damnation for their Illes But saving-health to them who should confesse Such faithfull love as Peter did expresse Assoone as Christ his documents had ended Some did presume who on him there attended To aske him whether
then he would restore To Israel the Kingdome as before Forgetfull so of Jesus Crucifixt Were they and to a Carnall Monarch fixt Whereto Christ answer'd It concernes not you To know the times and seasons which ensue Such secrecies the Father doth reserve Unto himselfe Do you my words observe Who am your King the Head of humane-kind As I to you so to my Flock be kinde My Gospell Preach the weak ones Catechize See that my Sheepe yee feed my Lambes Baptize Invoking on as you have learn'd of me The Father Sonne and Holy Ghost all three Which Last shall shortly you Baptize with Fire As John with Water and your Soules inspire As Gods Viceroy or Angell of the Lord By Heat of what I taught the saving word Untill I come in Person from Above See that yee Watch and one another Love Such or like words when Christ had fully ended He in a Cloud up to the Heavens ascended Where he as God and Man all thoughts beholds Preferred by the Father and there holds As Man for Men a Mediatours place On Gods right hand Saints joyfull to imbrace As God and Man Paules Fury he did fright As God and Man Saint Steven saw his Light So did Saint John from Pathmos see his glory When he reveal'd his future Churches story By Visions have some others ravisht beene That they from Earth his Power there have seen For had we seen him here with Carnall sight Our Darknesse could not comprehend his light Whilst his Disciples there with carefull Eyes Watcht as he went two Angells humane-wise Apparell'd white appearing to them said Yee Galileans why are yee dismai'd Why gaze yee up This Jesus who is hence To Heaven gone shall so returne from thence Seeke not therefore his reall presence heere On Earth untill as Judge he do appeare Meane time on Gods right hand a Prince and Priest He raignes and doeth you in your vowes assist On Whitsunday next after Christs ascent He ravisht his Disciples with content Who then attended at Jerusalem For the last promise which he made to them That he would send Gods Spirit in his steed To rectify and ayde them in their need And while the world should last his Church informe In some or other place with wondrous Forme When that high feast of Pentecost was come And for that end they meeting in one Roome With one consent there fell a bustling noise Or suddaine sound replete with stirring joyes As of a mighty Breath and rushing Wind Which fill'd the House and wonder-rapt the mind For Cloven Tongues appear'd to them like Fire And sate on each of them and did inspire Their Soules with giftes of the great Holy Ghost So that the Standers by of Aliens Coast Astonisht were th'Apostles joyes to heare Men of a diff'rent Tongue and Climate there Poore Hebrew Fishermen that never went Far out of Jewry Land extatick bent With them in their owne Language to agree And in their zeale to God to be so free And fluent of their Phrase that Babels Breach Seem'd reconcil'd by their harmonious speech Some thought they were like Bardhs Enthusian rapt Or that strong Wine in them such Blabs had clapt That men before the third houre of the day Should rave with Wine they wondred with dismay They were amaz'd till Peter made it knowne That for Christs sake God sent this wonder downe Not for Mad fits but for Soules joyfull feast God sent the Holy Ghost this wondrous Guest O Wondrous Guest that vents forth Abbaes Cry Within the Heart the will and memorie O wondrous Guest the Heavens Harbinger That scornes not to become the Messenger Betwixt our Soules and God to beare our Love And our weak Faith to strengthen and improve That sever'd Earth from Chaos medley Puddle And rays'd our Orbe out of the lumpish Huddle And though the Earth were heavy hung it faire With store of stuffe in the loose fleeting Aire This is that Prime and ever quickning Mover Of all the world Angells and Mens approver That spirit which through all Gods Prophets spoke Which taught the sense of Mysticks to unlock Which clear'd the Wits of simple Fishermen To preach those Newes which Doctours fayl'd to pen Which rulâ—d in every Age since Christs Ascent The Church and dayly yeelds Soule-nourishment Which at our feast Christs Body doeth convay Into our Hearts by his Spirituall way Which sent the gift of Printing now of late Old Babels spelles and mists to dissipate And by the Word to rescue Thralles from death As he at first the gift of Tongues did breath Which animates the Saints with courage rare In midst of Tortures Tyrants to out dare Which glads the Lowly and the Penitent And thousands doth unite in one Consent Of Christian Faith though sundred much in place Tongues rites or forme yet one in sacred race O Holy-ghost how strange is thy proceeding Angells and mens capacities exceeding No pen can limne thy Raptures most profound No humane voice can thy hid Graces sound One thing I blunder out what thou conceal'st From carnall Clarkes to Children thou reveal'st Then let my Soule O Lord be like these last Whilst others feast on Peacocks let me fast Or tast no other Food but what conduces To praise thy Name without prophane abuses And let all them who view these humble Lines Prove better'd in their thoughts with contrite signes If the old man they labour to deface And do their best the new man to imbrace Not like our moderne Gulles who grow Profane Lest they be markt with brand of Puritane Let us Gods Spirit by these Wonders seeke These Wonders wrought the first day of the Weeke Our sevenths Light now styled The Lords day Thrice hallowed and sanctifi'd for Ay For this rare Blisse to Christian Soules accrewes That Christ his rising up their hopes renewes To Rise like him ingrafted in his stock To quench their thirst with him the living Rock To bud a new as Branches of his Vine To feed on Angells food his word divine He led the way to Resurrections blisse And us invites to follow him in this High flight without diverting towards Earth But with due care of the new Spirits Birth Our former resurrection in this Life To gaine th' immortall prize through strong beliefe With those true joyes which did but Monarchs know They would foregoe their Crownes the same to ow A glimpse whereof for undestanding Soules Wee read by John reveal'd in mystick scroules With those delights wreathes and immunities Which God allots to Saints in Paradise But for the Temper Place Degrees or Site No Astrolabe nor Braine of worldly wight Can apprehend the height Dimension Rayes Unlesse they fall on false Poetick wayes Yet Paradise some to the Moone confine And there to be another World define Of moving Groves by Galilees late Glasse Where Apuleius found his Golden Asse Whence likewise came Dame Errours Charmed Lamp Which kindled Legends of th' Elisian Camp And Limboes field which Royall James to hit False Dreamers home
those Joyes through worldly Toyes Lord here we yeild thee thanks though soyld with Errours And round about beset with many Terrours For turning Brittaines Iland from a Beast To be Baptiz'd and of Baptiz'd the Best While she doeth firmely to thy Pledges stick To thy true Seales and Spirits Candlestick Praysed be thou who hast to us reveald The Certaine Meanes whereby we may be heal'd Of Natures Spots and those Contagious Evills Heapt on us by the World the Flesh and Devills More in these Latter Times then heretofore When our Great Tempter lay enthralled more And of his Stings curb'd by the Holy Ghost Till Babels Whore perk'd up and rul'd the rost Which sacred Meanes we humbly pray thy Grace May still support us in our New-mans Race As we begunne so with more Love to burne Untill thy Sonne Incarnate shall returne With Finall Doome to judge the Dead and Quick The Dead in Faith and the Church Catholick A joyfull Hymne to be sung on the Lords Day winding up the Sevenths Dayes Exercise REjoyce yee Saints hoyse up your highest Sayles And magnify with loud Hosaâ—â—aes hayles The Lord that first saluted from the Grave Fraile Adams Sonnes and them their debts forgave Spread forth his Sabbaths Palmes sing joyfull Psalmes Attend his word and to the Poore give Almes How Amiable and Cordiall is thy Word Above all Objects els O mighty Lord How ravishing with Pleasures Manifold Surmounting Musick Pomp or heapes of Gold Sounds in our Hearts the Heavenly Bridgroomes voice How sweetly ring those Peales of Hallowed Noise Thrice Holy sung by Hoasts of Cherubins Thrice answer'd by Love Flaming Scraphins O Unity thrice blest in Trinity O Trinity thrice blest in Unity For the pursuit of which Harmonious straine Though fully we cannot as yet attaine To that brave Pitch by reason of our Fogges Thy Grace yet drawes the will and dries our Bogges So if we glaunce as through a Glasse a while At their sweet Tunes and in thy Laud Compile Some zealous worke to testify our Love And ready will which therewithall may move Thy Saints on Earth to warble forth thy Prayse Thou art well pleas'd as with the Widowes Mite Who Abrams deed didst by a Ramme acquite Teach us O Christ to waigh th' effect and Cause Of this Dayes Rest like those whom at Emaus Thou mad'st with zeale to burne the selfe same day When thou didst Rise and metst them by the way That we with Vowes and Sabbaths true Delight May think on thee without the least despite Of Spleene or Gall which might prophane the Time And blacke our Soules with a Notorious Crime If we neglect our Duties and thy Call Now to appeare at this thy Feastivall Wâ—thdraw our mindes from Natures fond desires Or Ruffling showes which might put our Fires And make some justly call our Day of Rest A Carnall Time or Saturnalian Feast Restraine our Longing Fits from all excesse Of Meats and Drinke which might our Wits oppresse And by their mounting Fumes up to the Braine Thee to neglect our Noblest Part constraine And cause us Nabal-like the Sots to play When we to Thee our Thankfull vowes should pay For on this Day thy Cabinet stands ope And we on it for store of Jewells hope O let us not like to that Thorny Ground Be choakt with worldly Cares but Fruitfull found And watchfull still attending on thy Word At this thy Sabbaths Feast it to record And edify our Neighbours as our selves Before our Crimes link us with frantick Elves Or to Conclude before thou do remove As Sonne of Man in Person from Above To judge Mankinde which shortly we expect And on the seventh Day as some suspect Good Lord by vertue of thy Sabbaths Rest According to thy will grant our Request That as thou didst with Body Glorified Rise up from Death so we Soule-purified May Rise from Sinne and up to Heav'n ascend And not to Hell like damned Ghosts descend All Glory be to Thee as heretofore In Persons three one God for evermore Amen Another Hymne in our Redeemers Prayse LEt all that soil'd the Precepts Ten New Day-light crave through Christ. Amen And let all Angells Saints and Men For ever blesse Christs Name Amen Amen Amen sound we like Thunder That at our Zeale the World may wonder That at our Noise the World agast May turne to Christ now at the last To tune his Prayse with Newer Tongues And with the Heart more then the Lunges Let Christ be Alpha in our Songes And our Omega as belonges To Catholickes of Christian stock The Spirits seed Sheep of one Flock Let all our Thoughts conspire in One To fixe our Faith on Christ alone And with one voice aloud to Sing Christ is our Head Judge Saviour King The Prince of Angells Gods Delight The Crowne of Saints Mens only Light The Womans Seed the Sonne of God Which on the Head of Satan trod The Lion borne of Judaes Ligne The Root of Jesse Mount Calvares Signe The Glorious Starre of our New Birth Whence springs our Peace and sweetest Mirth The second part BOth First and Last as we begunne Let us applaud our Makers Sonne With lowd Hosannaes every day Like chirping Birds in Moneth of May Like Consorts Tune or Ring of Bells Let us shew how our Love excells And never cease Christs Name to ring Till we meet all as in one Ring Or Circle round whence no Disunion Shall ever part our Hearts Communion Like Nightingales in Summers Bowre Let us on Christ thinke every howre And never leave to blaze his Story Untill we meet this Lord of Glory This Lord of Lord that crusht the sting Of our great Foe for which we sing All prayse to him that conquerd Sinne And did for us the Triumph winne Amen The New-mans Song of Thankesgiving after the Receiving of the Communion WE took this Day Christs Flesh and Bloud Drest in the Forme of sacred Food We fed on Bread surmounting Wealth We drank Christs Wine of Saving Health O Mystick signes O Grace Divine Transferred from the Heavenly Vine And Living Bread that came from God To warme and change our Earthly Clod We took those Signes like Baskets rare But opening them most dainty Fare We found to please our Spirits Tast We found enough to break our Fast. We felt our Soules cast in New Mould And changed from the Creature Old Love made us all of one consent Faith wrought in us the Lords Intent To mind his Passion Death and Love Till He to Judge comes from Above By these two Gifts we grow to be Christs Body from disunion free By them like Floure bak't in one Loafe The Lord feedes us under our Roofe By them like Lines we meet in one Firme Center in Gods Truth alone Gods Truth that blest our Christian spouse With happy Lot like Obeds House Blest for the Ark while there it stayd When Others were by it dismayd The second part WE yeeld thee Thanks most Gratious Lord Who doest Faiths Light to us record
That they who at thy Table feed In spirit must Christs Passion heed O let us then with Holy Traunâ—e From Carnall sense our Thoughts advance Let Christ behold us in the West Like to those Wise men of the East Greeting his Crosse and his Vprising As they his Birth and Manger Prizing Let Christ our vowes of Thankes behold Our Faith more Pure then Ophirs Gold Our Hearts more bruis'd then Myrrhes Perfume Our Love more sweet then Incense-fume This good Advise we will ingrosse Within our Soules and mount the Crosse. His Crosse we feele But now we heare An Angell say He is not here Christ whom yee seek is Risen up Having now made your Foes to stoup Untill Doomesday his Body none Shall see on Earth for he is gone To Heaven There behold your Christ On Gods Right hand a King a Priest An Advocate without a Fee Pleading to have Faiths Household free Draw neere his Throne and without doubt The Golden Scepter he holds out He will extend his Spirits Grace Whilst yee in Spirit seek his Face Not wresting your Soule-Feast more reall Then Paul who termes it Christs Memoriall This Traunce stirres up true Saints to Joy Like Him who though an Embryon Boy Within the Wombe seem'd to rejoice Soone as his Damme heard Maries voice The Babe did spring and so do we At our Soule-feast with Jubilee Unto the Father Sonne and Holy Ghost Be Prayse both here and throughout every coast As of Old time hath been is now their due And ever shall in Heaven and Earth renew Let Heaven and Earth by Angells Saints and Men To God rebound with Glories sound Amen The New mans Song of Thanksgiving after our Ordinary Meales 1. THe Lord be Blest who gave us Food In season for the Bodyes Good Our God be prais'd for evermore Who our desires supply'd with store Of Meat and Drinke more then would serve For Natures use or we deserve No Need we feele no want we know So doth the Lord his Giftes bestow 2. He never leaves his Saints in need But Carks for them and for their Seed He leaves them not with Beggers shame To starve if they call on his Name He taught them how to blesse their Meate By giving Thankes for what they Eate No Need we feele c. 3. Unto his Flock just Abrams stock He Water gave out of the Rock With Manna fill'd their Hungry Mawes And Cloyd with Quayles their longing Crawes He Car'd for Ravens and their Breed And Ravens made Elias feed No need we feele c. 4. He David holpe in Banishment He Daniel made with Pulse content He with wilde Fruit did John sustaine And his Elect from Dearth maintaine He Thousands in the Desert fed With a few Fish and Loaves of Bread No need we feele c. 5. One Day He sends us store of Flesh Another time Fish salt and Flesh And commonly Bread Ale and Beere Milke Fruite and Wine our Hearts to cheere Yea Junckets fetcht from Sun-burnt Spaine Which do too oft our Tables staine No need we feele c. 6. How Gratious is Almighty God Unto vile Man an Earthly Clod Thus to provide and Carke for him That oft himselfe filles to the Brimme With more then serves for Nourishment For hungers sauce or Soules content No need we feele c. 7. God graunt that we his Creatures use Do Thankfull take without abuse Not loathing them as over-cloyd Nor them devouring over-joy'd That as of Need Saints toyle for Wealth So we Feast not for Lust but Health No need we feele no want we know So doth the Lord his Giftes bestow The New mans Triumph in English and Latine measures presented to the Kings most excellent Majesty WHo Christ his Birth Life Death and Rising up From Death to Life observes He soone shall stoup And quash the plots of Hells black Darkned Troup And likewise make the Outward man to droup With all his false Designes and fond Conceits Sprung from the Flesh or from the Worlds Deceites For as the Morning spreades the Dawning Light So Faith by Teaching shines and Daunts the Might Of that Huge Whale which waites with triple throat To swallow Soules as Preyes of Chiefest Note So much new Light spreades by the Gospells sound They now prayse Christ who were in Fetters bound And Sinnes keen Edge wherewith the Divell was wont To boare our Hearts turnes on the suddaine blunt And so remaines unlesse they grinde againe Their Augurs on the Whetstone of the Braine But how fares then our Souldier in that plight With Davids sling he doth the Monster smite Whether the Fiend within or from without Shootes Fire he doth for Christ stand bravely out For at the Broile his Inward Guardian springs Baptiz'd Fire-sindg'd and Grac'd mith Burnisht wings Of mounting zeale who thus the Triumph sings O happy wight which hath escapt the stings Of Mortall Jarres who though he understood His Foes Allures yet loath'd them and their brood O happy Soule which dar'd with Saints to side Against Gods Foes the Luciferian side Whom with Christs Merits arm'd nor swelling Tide Nor fiery Triall could from Christ divide Whom neither Charmes nor yet a thousand Braves Could terrify nor yet the rowling waves But to safe Port with Joy she brings the Crosse And Christ his Ship which Pirats did ingrosse Where she with Saints the Crosse Triumphant reares That Crosse which Saints on Earth have wonne â—ith Teares Happy is he who brooks a wrong-attaint For by the Crosse he lives a Canon'd Saint A Name indeed which overtops so farre The highest Spire or style of worldly Starre As doth Gods Grace above mens sinnes abound Or the Lambes Bloud more then our Merits sound Thrice happy Man I say whom Angells greete And whom Christs Will made for that Honour meete So Happy be the Best of Kings if these Our New mans Songs to judge he gently please For with our Crosse there growes sweet Inward Ease And with Our Crowne of Thornes a wreath of Peace The same in Latine Hexameter Novi Hominis Laurea Triumphalis QVi Natalitium Vitam Miracula Mortem Et Christi Corpus Redivivum mente revolvit Ille tenebrosae reddet Molimina Gentis Irrita Conatus Hominis veterisque repellet Seu de Carne fluant seu sint Phantasmata Mundi Sicut enim radiis Primordia Mane Diei Dilatat per opaca Fides sic sparsa coruscat Tergeminumque domat Monstrum Caetumque Trifaucem Qui vorat omne pecus Praedasque absorbet opimas Tantum Numen inest Fidei ut modo Carmine Christum Compede qui vincti quondam latuere salutant Quin acuta quibus terebrabat Pectora Daemon Tela repentino fiunt obtusa reflexu Sic que hebetata manent nisi devia forte voluntas Illa super Cerebri renovet Terebrata molare Quomodo tum Miles valet in discrimine tanto Nempe studet monstrum Jaculis superare Davidis Seu vis Hostilis tonat aut Civilis amictu Fraudis in orbe furit Christo Constanter adhaeret Nam Novus ex gemina Genius Baptismatis aura Numinis afflatu Zeloque micantibus alis Nascitur intus agit victoris ille Triumphum Sic canit O Faelix qui tot Certamina vidit Illaesus qui vafra Hostis stratagemata novit Et tamen haec spernit generoso pectore Miles O Faelix qui sacra Dei Praedonibus aufert Ausus ad extremum Fidei defendere causam Contra Luciferum Meritis innixus Jesu Non scloppi reboante sono non Marte nec arte Non Pugnis non mille Minis nec territus undis Donec in optati Navem ferat ostia Portus Et Crucis abductae renovata Piacula Christo Immolet Aetherea Laudes resonante Caterva Faelix quem signat Crux Ignea Nomine Sancti Nomine Pyramidas tanto exsuper ante vel Astra Quanto Peccatis existit Gratia major Quanto Hominum Meritis Sanguis praestantior Agni Ter Felix inquam quem Christi summa Potestas Angelicos inter Coetus dignatur Honore Sic quoque tu Faelix qui nostros imbibis Hymnos Judicio sensuque pio Rex optime Regum Cum Cruce nam crescit dulce Levamen Amen Eccho Cum Spina Sertum fulget O vale Vale Eccho FINIS z This Story is largely set out in that Treatise entituled Les Comptes du monde Adventureux Imprinted at Paris 1572.
Ravishment Lay like the Doctors in Astonishment As men rejoyce in a darke Cloudy day To see the Sunne his suddaine Beames display So did they startle at Christs Lightning words Whilst her soft greetings Mary thus affords My loving Sonne why hast thou stayd behind And not as doth thee Natures duty bind Return'd with us Behold I and thy Father Have sought thee sad for three dayes space together Soone as we found thee missing by the way We hither came and sought thee night and Day We searcht with carefull thoughts most diligent The City where we used to frequent With heavy hearts God knows we lookt for thee Whom Christ undaunted answer'd grave and free I st possible that you forget so soone The favours late which God for you hath done Deare mother wot you not that I must goe About my Fathers Businesse t' undergoe More travels yet you know the Prophesies Of Ancient Seers you know the Mysteries Disclosed by the Angell Gabriel That I am sent to ransome Soules from Hell That I must preach to Spirits thrall'd in Jaile My Fathers will which shall o're sinne prevaile You know what meanes Heavens word mens Light Gods Breath From Simeon Anna and Elizabeth And in your selfe the Spirits ravishment Reveales the cause of my Birth and Discent My Fathers zeale so burnt within my breast Against these strayes I could not but contest Whose Oracles of me and many more Your true Beleeving heart layes up in store Although the same as yet you seeme to smother You cannot but remember them good Mother These words of his the blessed Virgin waigh'd And safe them up within her mind she layd Out of the Temple then wtth her he goeth And presently they set for Nazareth Where Mary found his Will with hers agreeing Though Him she held the Authour of her being And her sole Head yet then the Head subjected Unto the Limbes and nothing he rejected To Undergoe in his Minority For their behoofe and best commodity Or murmur'd at which his deare Mother Maide Or Josephs voyce of charge upon him laid But as a Sonne or rather Servant true He yeelds them Honour and Obedience due What they at home or else abroad assign'd Labour or care in Body or in minde As an Apprentice Carpentary Drudge To toyle for them he never once did grudge But wrought his Taske and servile Trade uprighâ— Not needing checkes nor frowning oversight Base idlenesse by Nature he abhorr'd Which made him worke when some as Outlaweâ— roar'd For he accounted meat not duely got If daily for the same he labour'd not He for our sakes sustained poverty To purchase wealth for us and Dignity In this poore plight the curse Christ underwent To earne his bread with sweate and small content Yet what he gain'd would scarce weak Nature feed And it griev'd him to see his friends in need What therefore he of meat earn'd by his sweat The Overplus he gave the Poore to eate Thus Christ shot up in shape and thriv'd in Grace And all Good men lov'd him that saw his face For he preferr'd Gods praise before his owne More prizing Truth then they Judae as Crowne But to describe his worth his modest lookes And qualities would fill up many Bookes The matter farre exceeds my strength and wit My Forme turnes proud except thou temper it O Holy Ghost and curb'st my swelling sense Above fraile Natures botched excellence With humble thoughts Christs Innocence to quote To note his plaine Attire and seamelesle Coat Worne in his Youth but parted since which now To burne as tainting Rage false Christians vow To seeke gay clâ—aâ—hes never did curious Pride Tempt him he onely car'd his skin to hide He knew that Man attir'd in ruffling Robes Begs seldome Grace and vents but faigned sobbes Nor can he shed salt teares our Guardians food Nor well submit for his perpetuall good As for this cause they used heretofore In vilesi weeds Gods Favour to implore He knew that our First Parents bare and poore Went till Figge leaves Coates of Skins they wore Which like these Lâ—nes our Gallants now would scorne For Satan prompts they were more Nobly borne Wherefore to rob their Factours must persever Silke wormes and Beasts for Shamois Plush Bever No Pleasures shape so farre his minde endeares To Idolize the same though young of yeares No Envious Stings nor motions Arrogant Once prickt his heart nor thoughts extravagant For he was so sincere sweete Natur'd mild That none with Passions knew him once defil'd Though from without he often Temptings had As Man while he conversed with the Bad Yet with contempt and a most brave disdaine He past them by not soyled with one staine For as the Sunne the worlds faire radiant Eye Doth Dunghils touch and stinking Jakes survey And yet his Beames escape from tainting free So this blest Youth though he did daily see Notorious sinnes and Beast-like filthinesse Himselfe he kept untoucht from wickednesse He labour'd oft in Childing woman-wise Of our fraile Passions and infirmities He had as Man our Naturall Affects But yet without Excesses or defects And not as we orecome with their delight Or seeming Good or spurr'd on with despight In midst of Darkenesse shone Divinest Light Errour he turn'd to knowledge wrong to Right The words contempt he changed into Grace Fables to Truth our slips to surer pace He did exchange our Lustfull sports to sorrow And on to worke our Humane Natures borrow For Lazarus he shed forth Teares of Griefe And he much Griev'd for Salems unbeleefe Ambition did his Man-heads Fancies raise But that Flight was to raise his Fathers praise His High desires stretcht plyant Soules to win To blissefull Joyes from Sathan death and sinne His mounting sparkes to Magnanimity Extended mixt with zeale and Charity His lofty thoughts aspir'd but to the Crosse That Theater which ransom'd Adams losse He Chastly long'd yea and he lusted too With flames of Love for he the Church did wooe He sought her Love with zealous Oracles Sometimes with teares sometimes with Miracles He Coveted for wealth not worldly wealth But for Eternall Goods mens saving Health He felt within his Soules essentiall Parts Great Joy to heare of True Beleevers hearts For barbed Steed he chose a bare-backt Asse Fishers for Mates for Pallace the Low Grasse He burn'd with wrath when he drove from Gods House Those Huckesters out whom he with whips did touze But his short wrath converted into zeale Not for Revenge but for the sinners weale He seem'd to grudge or Envy at the Priests Because he saw them live like Antichrists He much repin'd that Purenesse went to wracke That Satans sway did keepe Gods Kingdome backe He languished with Feares and Agonies The night before his deaths Extremities But those deepe Feares sprung of weake natures sense Not of Despaire or want of Innocence So from our Passions Christ as Mithridate Of Vipers wrought good Motions New begat For Jewish Thalmuds he the Gospel taught For their Old