cloathed sit At thy beloved Saviours glorious feet I cannot but admire that bounteous grace That takes such sinners to so sweet a place Yet when I think what floods of tears below From thine even almost drowned eyes did flow How oft thou bath'dst thy Saviours feet and then With thy torn locks didst wipe them dry agen I should have wondred if that place had bin Too good for such a soul t' have lodged in Tears mixt with faith such power in heaven do bear That they can place the greatest sinners there Vpon John 20. 13. Epig. 2. MAry her buried Lord she thought had lost Yet see how dear this small adventure cost Her tender heart mark how she wept and prai'd To know but where her breathless Christ was laid But thou my sencelesse soul Oh dreadfull word Canst loose the presence of thy glorious Lord Days without number yet scarce find a tear To witnesse that thou once didst hold him dear Ah my vile heart if thou thy Christ didst prize As Mary did thou wouldst have Maries eyes Vpon Mark 16. 9. and John 20. 17. Epig. 3. SEe here what links of comfort meet to crown Her drooping head who but even now powr'd down Such streams of tears no mortall eye must see Their raised Lord till first his Mary be Blest with the Vision till those eyes that wept So much for grief as much for joy have leap'd Nor is' t enough to feast her eyes alone With this glad sight hee 'l use her lips upon A glorious Message to his Brethren she Shall an Apostle to the Apostles be Themselves he means shall see the truth ere long But they shall owe it first unto her tongue So carefull is our gracious Lord that those That mourn for him shall not by mourning lose James Apostle Vpon Acts 12. 2. cum Mat. 20. 21. Epig. 1. GReat James the first of all the twelve I think Thou of thy Saviours bloody cup didst drink But grieve not at it 'T was the readiest way To gain that room for which thou once didst pray Who holds it now let bolder tongues report This onel ' I know thou didst bid fairly for 't Vpon James and John the two sons of Zebedee Epig. 2. GOod God what odds 'twixt these two brethren lyes This first that last of all the Apostles dies This an untimely bloody death abides That in a gentle quiet slumber glides Out of the world if he at all be gone From hence and must not rise again anon Both sued indeed mov'd with a like unfit Ambition on their Lords two hands to fit And undertook in lieu thereof to sup Their parts with him of his unpleasant cup This had a share but that for reasons best Known to his Lord 's reserv'd for longer rest How little is it Lord that we can know Of men by what betides them here below Some die for Christ and those that do not so Are oft as dear to him as those that do To will to die for him though 't do not come To pass in his account is Martyrdome Vpon both the Jameses Epigr. 2. NEither of the Jameses ever was in Spain They had their tasks elsewhere that did detain Their pains and persons Paul indeed we know Had a design into those parts to go Which if he did not execute the blame If any from his troubles onely came Which kept him back not from his changed mind Which firmly still to serve them was enclin'd Yet how it comes to passe I cannot tell But Paul that had deserv'd of them so well Is laid aside and James receiv'd alone To be the Patron of that Nation Yea not content with this through blinded zeal In points of Faith from Paul they do appeal To James his doctrine as if heaven's had made Him to be judge of what the other said And that his purer Comments must give light To those more doubtful texts that Paul did write But fools they one day to their cost shall know That one same Spirit in both their pens did flow And that these wretches that dishonour Paul Shall that day find no friend of James at all August 1. AVgustus name this Month inscrib'd doth bear A name that still is sweet to every ear Sweet for the peace he gave the world for though At his first entrance Seas of Blood did flow Ore all the earth he stopp'd the deadly spring And golden rest into all lands did bring But that which made him most unparallel'd Is that his reign the Prince of peace beheld The Feasts of August 2. AVgust the twenty fourth to Bart'lemew The twenty ninth's the headless Baptists due Bartholomew Apostle Epig. 1. HOw is it Lord that there 's no mention made In all thy book of what was done or said By this thy great Apostle other men Of meaner rank and gifts thy sacred Pen Finds time to speak of but of him alas There doth not one bare word distinctly passe Was it to teach us that those Tapers are Not ever of most worth that brightest glare That deep-fraught souls lie always snug and low Whilst empty hulks loom big and lofty show Or is' t enough that thou hast let us see A proof in some of what the others be Men bring not all their wares to open test A few found right give credit to the rest Lord we submit and by the things we hear Of Peter judge what all his brethren were Vpon Luke 22. 29 30. Epig. 2. IT is not much great Bart'lemew indeed That of thy works and labours we do read But this we from thy Lords own mouth do find That thou a Throne and Kingdom hadst assign'd As well as John and Peter had whose pains The holy Text so punctually explains And who will think that servants labors came Short of his Mates whose wages is the same Vpon Acts 5. 12. Epig. 3. INto the Temples Porch the twelve withdrew And thou amongst the rest great Bart'lemew There you all preach and work such mighty things As no man else dare think of equalling What thou distinctly dost I do not hear But of one stamp 't is sure your actions were So great and glorious as did justly strike A fear in all men to attempt the like Some souls thou winst I doubt not too for who Can think such gracious words in vain did flow From thy blest lips as yet indeed they be But like the windfall's to the loaden tree Thy work lies further off where heavens intend Whole Nations to thy powerful voice shall bend The Circumcision's Peters charge but thine God knows how many Regions shall confine John Baptist beheaded Epig. 1. YOu that for love of outward peace or gain From preaching all the truths of Christ refrain That dare not touch the times nor lance the sore Of States and Courts which ranks more and more That see the great ones run themselves to Hell And damn their souls with sins too palpable Yet you stand dumb the while and will not go And tell
wounded head Is not agreed But this is sure no hand Of men or Devils is able to withstand Those whom that Champion aides let him but fight On Englands side and we will dare the spight Of all the adverse world no power can harm Them who are guarded by so strong an arm Needs must his might all other force repell Before whose feet the Dragon conquered fell Saint Mark Epig. 1. CHrist is the Lambe so sacred Writs define To Mark a Lions Figure they assign Yet see what Miracles from grace can spring The Lamb is now become the Lyons King Epig. 2. DRead not poor sheep this roaring Lion here Goes not about your trembling flesh to tear The World is chang'd those paws that us'd of old To rend the flock do now preserve the fold But would you know by what means this is done Saturn was then in Leo now the Sun Vpon the State of Venice or S. Marks arrogating the dominion of the Adriatick Sea Epig. 3. I Wonder not if all the Earth doth fear Venetia's power her Patron Mark doth bear A Lions figure whose stern voice doth make The neighboring desarts all about to shake Nor do I wonder when the Beast doth spread His wings abroad if all the air do dread Thus far there 's reason for 't the Earth and Air Are both th'amphibious Monsters thorow-fair And 't is not to be wondred if he fills Both Tracts with terror of his voice and quills This only I admire upon what right He Lords it over the blew Amphitrite Why Seas should fear him whose curl'd waves are free From his proud threats and roar as loud as he May 1. SUch due respects wise Romans to their grave And hoary Elders though but Heathens gave That next their guardian Deities they set Their Names upon this Months fair Frontelet Which it keeps still unraz'd and to this day From those Grand Majors is sirnamed May. Age crown'd with wisdome high regards doth claim Ancient of days is Gods own glorious name Whose more especial stamp doth seem to be Engrav'd upon their snowie gravitie Yet such is our foul sin oh wo the while We slight the duty though we own the stile The Feasts in May 2. PHilip and Jacob May the first doth own The twenty ninth Charles re-ascends his Throne Philip and Jacob Epigr. 1. GReat pair of Saints when your two names I see Coupled together in the Epigraphie Of this fair Feast I 'me ready strait to cry That surely Sol's in love with Gemini Before his time the horned Bull forsakes And with the beauteous Twins his lodging takes This certainly the glorious Saints I know That when your lovely souls were hous'd below A brighter Sun in them did fix his rayes Not for a Month alone but all your days And now though rap'd from hence he hath lodg'd you where Full of himself you ever may appear Epigr. 2. VVHen I inscrib'd upon this day had read The name of Jacob I straight fancied Some supplantation like to what of old Of the first Jacob Holy Writs have told But here is no such thing our Jacob here Doth not with holy Phillip intervere Here are no such contentions neither feels The others hand surprizing of his heels Here is no strife for birth-right mov'd nor yet Which shall the Fathers happy blessing get Both are content and both indeed obtain That which the other Brothers sought to gain From one another with so much ado Both have the birth-right and the blessing too Vpon the two Phillips the Apostle and the Evangelist Epig. 3. THe Macedonian Philips glorious name His own and Sons great actions do proclaim The World yet rings thereof and will do still While men shall use their tongues or hold a quill Yet 't is not all the Fields that Warrier won Can match what our two Philips power hath done Small narrow bounds his conquests did confine Theirs stretch themselves on either side the line Even to the untrodden Poles his power and sway Is long ago expir'd and swept away By Times rude hand of all the sprouts that shot From that rich stem one sprig remaineth not To shade the earth but by a wondrous fall Are quite extinct even root and branch and all But from our Philips verdant stock there still Spring such fresh boughs as no keen frosts shal kill Nor pruning hooks lop down whilst that bright pair Of Lamps with splendid beams shall guild the air Their fruit shall still increase and day by day Wax still more fair and further from decay So that hereafter when unerring Fame Shall set true value on the Philips name The other meaner acts she shall decline And t' ours alone the names of Fair assign Regicipium Or the Return of Charles the second being also his Birth-day Epig. 1. TWelve years black night our Royal Sun had hid 'T was long indeed the Stygian Nadir did From our sad coasts his cheerful rayes detain Whilst we poor creatures scarce e're look'd again To see the Morning dawn or one bright beam Of his through our Horizons vaults to stream But heavens be blest the long-wish'd day at last Is broke again and those thick clouds that cast Such dismal shades ore all this Islands frame Are thrust again to Hell from whence they came Go happy Brittains you whose eyes have done So long a pennance greet your rising Sun With more then Persian adorations they Wh'have felt such darkness well may prize their day Epig. 2. VVHat name great Charles shall this blest Isle assign To those propitious heavenly beams of thine Englands bright Sun shall we entitle thee That name indeed would best of all agree To thine immense perfections which suffice Alone to glad so many kingdome eyes Only t' would make us fear that envious night For all this yet would rob us of thy sight And who can think of losing such a Sun And not even mad with startling horror run Shall we then call thee our bright Arctick star She bears 't is true thy name upon her carr And which to us sounds best ne're sets at all But yet alas her beams are weak and small Like an obscure Rush-candle's match'd with thine Which clearer then the mid-days Chariot shine What then remains Dear Prince but that we pray That since thy lustre and our wishes may By neither of these Lamps dis-joyn'd be shown Their married Powers in thee may meet in one That thou may'st shine like Sol when he displayes 'Twixt Cancer's claws at noon his brightest rays But like the Northern Bear may'st never sleep In Thetis watry covertures but keep In thy full strength thy radiant Zenith still And with perpetual day these Kingdoms fill Epig. 3. 'T Is no small honor these three Realms do pay Of right great Prince to this auspicious day Which brought thee first into the world and gave Us hopes of those rich fruits which now we have This crown'd it much indeed but 't is far more Endear'd since that upon another score Thy
such good words as may remove despair From their sad thoughts which kills as much or more Then all their sickness cast in still such store Of seasonable advice as may dispose Them for a better life then that they lose Yet ever be at hand to recommend Such congruous medicines as through Grace may tend To their recovery that when all is done We may get love though little else be wonne Epigr. 3. ANd why great Luke did Ancient times assigne An Oxes form to such a soul as thine A soul that breathes such heavenly streynes as well Might fit an Angell's glorious tongue to tell Was it because thy holy book begins With a relation of those offerings Which in Abrah's course were now to be Perform'd by old religious Zachary Or was 't because thou more then all the rest Thy Saviours doleful Passion hast exprest Who like an Oxe was to the slaughter led And di'd to ransome sinners that were dead Or was 't thy self and not thy books that were Decipher'd by this Oxes character The Oxe we know doth fitly represent The lab'ring Pastor in his government And this apt embleme truly could not be Referr'd to any better then to thee Thy feet trod out much corn for us indeed On which God grant our souls may gladly feed Simon and Jude Apostles Epigr. 1. THe name imports not much the good and bad Have oftentimes the self same title had The Sorcerer and Cephas both did bear The name of Simon yet was Peter nere The worser thought of for vile Magus sake Nor do accurst Iscariots treasons make Thaddeus James his Brother lov'd the less Because they both were called Judasses Good names do well indeed and yet we see That names and things do often disagree Eve call'd her first born Cain as hoping well He might have prov'd that man that was to quell The Serpent's rage but he alas became His Brother's Butcher and his Parents shame Lord give me that new name the which alone 'T is sure was never given in vain to none Vpon Simon the Canaanite Matt. 10. 4. Mar. 3. 18. Epigr. 2. FRom Canaan's cursed stock some good doth flow Even Christ himself to Rahab's loyns doth ow The flesh he took and she who begg'd a crum Fallen from his board from that vile race did come You need not therefore wonder at the sight If ' mongst the twelve you find a Canaanite The gifts of Grace are free bestow'd alike Upon the Jew and also on the Greek The Spirit breathes where 't list that none may vaunt Of too much plenty nor despair for want Vpon Simon Zelotes Epig. 3. THe Canaanite receiv'd into the train Of Christ Zelotes name doth quickly gain From that great zeal no doubt which he express'd Unto his new chose Masters interest And to say truth it is not seldome seen That those strange branches which are grafted in Bring forth more plenteous and more lovely fruit Then those which nature thrusteth from the root 'T is sad indeed it should be thus that they Who came into Christs School but yesterday Should outstrip those who many years before Did put their sluggish feet within his dore Yet thus my God with my poor Soul it stands Those that but now did put their labo'ring hands Unto thy Plough have rid more work away Then I that here have pingled many a day I grudge not Lord at what these Zealots do May they still thrive in Grace and adde unto The fire they have for thee all that I pray Is that thou make me burne as well as they November 1. THe Muses here put in their claime and cry That this of right is their Festivity That I am bound this Month in every line To Eccho forth the honor of the Nine But they must pardon me these sacred Layes Do own no influence but Vrania's They know no Nines save such as couched be In the Thrice-great Thrice-holy Trinity Th' are all my Muses from their bounteous Throne My Artless quill derives her ayd alone November his Feasts ALL Saints unto Novembers first repair The fift the Powder-Plots discovered are The thirtieth is to that blest Saint applyed Whom John first to the Lamb of God did guide All Saints Epigr. 1. THe Saints deceas'd which now securely rest In Abraham's bosome of rich joys possess'd Cry strongly yet no doubt to re-obtain An union with their buried Corps again And being alike convinc'd that they and we Who still below in these dark Mansions be Make but one Body they as strongly pray That we may gain those joys as well as they We also here on Earth having learn'd that those Blest Spirits which now in blissful joys repose Are part of us and have assum'd their Throne In our behalf as well as in their own Do praise thee Lord for them whom thy good grace Hath rapp'd from hence into so sweet a place Thus whilst our praises and their prayers do meet Knit up together at thy glorious feet Whilst they our wants and we their joys partake And each the others state their own do make This is that true Communion indeed Of Saints that we are taught out of the Creed Epig. 2. WE are not able Lord to comprehend What numerous troopes of glorious Saints attend About thy blessed Throne and yet we know That there 's not one of them to whom we owe Not a Religious reverence for those shares Which we are sure we have in all their prayers Which due regards lest we should haply miss In paying to their several Memori's Athenian-like but in a juster way To th' unknown Saints we Dedicate this day Epigr. 3. THe meanest of thy Saints O God we find Have left such patterns of their lives behind And now such advantageous prayers do make At least in general for their Brethren's sake That we can never pay thee what we owe For what from one of these rich springs doth flow How much more then when all their streams unite Into one flood must that be infinite Th' are thus indeed being view'd by our weak eyes Which make alas but poor discoveries Although compar'd to what thy Christ hath done Th' are all but like a spark unto the Sun Gunpowder Treason Epig. 1. ROmes Mitred Shepherds rage like Wolves and rend With their fell teeth the flocks they ought to tend But I admire not at it for 't is sed Her founders with Wolves milk at first were fed And this approv'd experience daily showes That from the breasts men suck their nature flows Epig. 2. VVHose Vicar Romes High Priest's most like to be This dayes curst fire-works teach sufficientlie The devil no doubt first taught this murthering skill And th' are his Impes alone that use it still Epig. 3. 'T Was thought that such grosse hereticks as we Could scarce be sav'd or Gods bright Presence see When lo the tender Romanist being sorry To have us damn'd prepar'd a Purgatory A new-found blast of Sulph'rous flames wherein Cleans'd from the gross impurities of